More Stippled Blossoms - Amp'd Up!

I made this card for a dear friend - to thank her for a gift card I received. This is a CASE from a card I saw on a Stampin ' Up site, and tried to give it a bit of my own twist.

The Stippled Blossoms Stamp set is use for the base, stamped, and then trimmed along the flower edge. I used the Paper Doily Sizzlits Die to make the Doily you see in the background. (Look closely!)
I stamped, burnished, and punched the butterfly to pop him off the embossed surface of the card, and added some Baja Breeze ribbon.

I hope you enjoy this as much as my friend did!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Spectrum Noir Challenge - Holiday

I saw a challenge on Facebook for the Spectrum Noir coloring, and the prize is one of their 24 color marker sets.  I have all the base colors, but have asked my husband to get me the 4 sets of 24 to complete my collection.....  I think (hope) this will be a faster way to get them!

Plus, I'd like to have them to do some more seamless coloring, and color mixing.

I added pearls to the centers of the flowers, and used the alcohol markers on the pearls... they really glow!  So amazing. 

SO, here is one submission. (I have another planned for early next week.)  THIS is a link to the website where you can find coloring charts, tips, tricks, hints - everything you need to get started with the alcohol markers.

 

 

Poinsettias:  DR 1, 3, 5, and 7   Center:   CT3
Leaves:  CG 2, 3, DG 2
Pearls,  CT 3 and GB 5

The background paper is from a DCWV Christmas stack.
Poinsettia's Stamp:   A Year of Flowers set from Gina K Designs
Stampin Up products:  Pearls, Rhinestones, Sentiment, Word Window Punch, Label Punch, and Riding Hood Red ribbon.

Your comments are treasured!

Five Question Friday - Sept. 28, 2012

1. Do you prefer to drive to your vacation spot or fly?

We usually drive, simply because we like to explore and make stops along the highway.  I mentioned our "20 mile rule" earlier, but did not explain it... if there's an attraction less than 20 miles off our route that catches our attention, we'll stop and see it.  We've found lots of really cool places like that!!  Plus, if we fly, I turn green.  :)

 
2. If you could live any where in the world, where would you go and why?

TEXAS!  I lived there 18 years and loved it.  I'd also love to live in England for awhile to be able to tour the country extensively.

3. Should grown women wear leggings?

NO!  With the disclaimer that I shouldn't be one to comment on fashion! :) 

4. If you could change your name to any other name, would you? And what would it be?

That's a tough question - there are so many great possibilities, but I think I would like to be called Marianna, just 'cause I like the sound of it. 

5. What magazines to you have subscriptions to?

I LOVE my magazines!  Card Maker, Paper Crafts, and Tea Time (one of my favorites), I need to resubscribe to Teacher's Friend, and The Mailbox. I have a gift subscription from my favorite Uncle for Southern Living, and I held a long-time subscription to Taste of Home.  I still get the special magazines they put out for holidays, and the cooking school.

Your comments are treasured!

Five Question Friday - September 21, 2012

 

 

1. What is one grammar issue you cannot let go without correction?

 

Oh no... Only one?  I am what some people call a "grammar nazi"...  and I hate to use THAT n word. ;)  

 

My husband is not a native English speaker, so I'm after him constantly for verb tenses, double negatives (though he doesn't make that mistake as much), and word pronunciation.

 

Everyone else??  DOUBLE NEGATIVES!  Oh Lord!!  They make me crazy.  I know it's an unconscious thing, especially if people grow up with it in their homes, and that's not their fault. I understand..... but my opinion of someone falls just a little when I hear them.  So Sorry!!!!!   

2. What's your favorite thing about fall?

 

My absolute favorite thing about fall is the cool temperatures!!!  I love it when it gets cooler, and I can have the windows open, and the cool breezes blowing.  Love it!!

3. What's your favorite dish to take to a potluck?  

 

Taco Dip!!  So easy, takes a little preparation, and addicting!  So so good. :) 

4. When do you start Christmas (Holiday) shopping? 

I very much wish I was like my Mom who shops year-round.  I usually shop October - mid-December, and make lots of gifts myself. (Look around this blog...)

5. Did you move homes a lot growing up?

 

No!  My parents bought the house they still live in when I was 2, and I lived in it until I went away to college....  as an adult, I've moved A LOT!!!!!  So much more than I've ever wanted to... but always for very good reasons.

I still don't feel like I'm in the last place I'll live, so more moving coming sometime.

 

I grew up in Wisconsin, and then as an adult:

1.  South Texas - 16 years

2.  Houston - 2 years (I really LOVED it there!!!!!)

3.  One OK city 3 years

4.  another OK city 3 years.

5.  ready to move to the "last" place soon!!! Back to Texas if I get my choice.

I always wanted one of those bumper stickers:

I didn't grow up in Texas, but I got here as quick as I could!

**That is totally me!!

 

 

 

Your comments are treasured!

September's Christmas Card Challenge Winner

 September 25th!!

THREE MONTHS until Christmas!!  **Are you ready?  **Do you have enough Christmas cards made to send to all your family, friends, and co-workers?

I hope so!  If you don't, there are still 2 challenges coming.  October and November to make some cards for the 2012 Christmas season.

One thing - I already have the challenges set for 2013!  **Can you handle another year?  I hope so - I've had a FANTASTIC time making these cards all year.  It really seems to keep the Christmas spirit going, and I could deal with that for a LONG LONG time!

SO, to announce September's winner......  CONGRATULATIONS to

JPScraps!

Congrats, Jamie!!
I have PART of your prize package ready to go!  Will get it out in the mail soon - just need to ask you one question. ;)



Your comments are treasured!

Five Question Friday - September 7, 2012

1. What is your favorite fall family tradition?

I enjoy Halloween, carving pumpkins with the Pumpkin Masters patterns, giving candy to the kids and seeing their costumes, but my favorite is Thanksgiving!!!!
Even though there's just the two of us, I still make the whole Thanksgiving Dinner (at lunch time).  Turkey breast, roasted, homemade gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, and a bottle of wine.
I LOVE it!!  I have friends coming to visit this year, so it will be 4 at the table instead of 2.

2. If money weren't an issue, how many kids would you have?

I'd like to have 3, but would be careful of the middle-child thing... :) 

3. If you were to get a tattoo, what would it be and where would you put it?

My husband wants me to get a butterfly, and I can't tell you where he wants it! LOL Sorry!
At the Renaissance Festival in Houston when we lived there, I got a gorgeous Henna Butterfly on my arm from elbow to wrist.  It was AWESOME!  Pretty, and scrolly...  I really loved it.  

4. What condiment is a must in your house?

Hmmmm  Black Pepper!!  :)  Ketchup, I suppose, but it doesn't go on everything, like my husband had to growing up!   


5. How did your spouse/fiance propose?

We were at an Outback restaurant, and he had the ring in a wooden apple puzzle.  I had to get the puzzle open in order to get to the ring.  I was with him when he'd bought it the week before, but he wouldn't give it to me yet!! :) 

We went to see a movie, and then after dinner, he gave me the puzzle box.  It was very sweet. I could tell he was having a difficult time waiting for the meal to be over, and dessert to be served. :)  


Your comments are treasured!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - September!!

 

 Labor Day has just passed, and here we are, most of us are back in school already, and some are just starting up the school year 2012-2013.  Hopefully your year is GREAT!

The Christmas Card Challenge Theme for September is:  SHAPE Cards!

I thought of making it a Christmas Tree Shaped card, BUT there are so many awesome Christmas shapes out there, why limit your imagination!!??  Trees, Stockings, Gingerbread Men, Lights, Ornaments, OH I could got on FOREVER! :)

HERE is a link to the original post with all the rules.  

In short, make 6 cards based on the theme, link them here using the Linky at the bottom of the post by midnight on the 20th and get your friends and family to vote for your card creations!  Winners are announced on the 25th of the month, and I send out a prize package for your time and effort in participating.

Here are my shape cards for the month, with a link to a video tutorial on how to make them.

HERE is a link to the video from a Stampin' Up Demo, Melissa Stout who first posted this.  I watched it and LOVED it!  As you can see, my cards are a little different, but that's the fun!  CASE it, and make it your own.

As you can see, my cards are a little different from the video.  I forgot the peppermint candy, but will add it before I send them out.
I used DCWV patterened paper from one of their Christmas Stacks, and used Martha Stewart border punches in addition to my Stampin' Up punches.  The star was made with the new punch pack, and coordinating stamp set.

I hope you like the cards this month, I like them even more in person than on the video, and I LOVE that video!  Melissa did a fantastic job!

Remember to get your card creations entered in the Linky on/before September 20th at midnight, CST!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Flowers and Alcohol Inks!

Three weekends ago I was at the CKC Scrapbook Convention.

In my Card Maker magazine, I've been carefully reading and re-reading the Copic Coloring tutorials they've published, and I've tried the techniques with my Stampin' Up markers so far - It's worked pretty well, but I decided it was finally time to break into the alcohol based markers.

One thing...  $6 for ONE Copic marker??  334 markers??  That's $1,986 not including taxes, and shipping!  Sorry, but that's just too much for me.

While I was at the show, I saw another brand of alcohol markers:  Spectrum Noir.  I did a make-and-take using the markers, and LOVED them!  I already knew the shading techniques, and just had some questions for the 'leader'.

I didn't buy the entire set, but got the base sets, and will add the 4 I'm missing as I go - just need the Pastels, Lights, Brights, and Darks to complete the collection.  I have an awesome selection now, so I'm not feeling "deprived" of colors to use.

That said, here are the two cards I made using my new Spectrum Noir markers!

I used a Stampin' Up Sizzlits die behind the card on the left, and the Spellbinders dies on both cards - one for the sentiment, and the other for the flower and frame cut-outs.

I'm definitely having a GREAT time with these markers!  They blend so well, and really coordinate to get the look you want.

THANKS to my friend Dee on the advise to keep the flowers white... after I had worked the background a little, the white from the cardstock background really seemed to glow!  It's too bad you can't really see the vase - the blues were really pretty!!  Next time! :)


Your comments are always appreciated!

Halloween Kitty! Meow, Meow, MEEOOOOOOWWWWW

My Mother-In-Law is all of a sudden really crazy for anything Halloween - doesn't matter what time of year it is, she is always looking for Halloween items - trinkets, Kitties, etc.  You name it! :)

I saw this stamp in the new catalog, and put it right on my list.  In addition to loving kitties myself, I knew I'd use this for a super-cute card somehow, someway.

I was looking around online, and saw a version of this card, and knew I'd CASE it!

The kitty was stamped on white cardstock, embossed with black powder and heated, and then LIGHTLY - very very lightly, sponged to get the background color.  I tried stamping on gray, and then embossing, but the color was much too dark for my liking.

The background is white cardstock as well, but sponged!!!  Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, and Rich Razzleberry make that amazing evening sunset color.  I also used the new framelits for the Happy Halloween banner, and Martha Stewart's fence border punch for a kitty perch.

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.