head on over to the Paper Smooches Blog for . . .

the February 2017 release PS DT Blog Hop!

It's Pep Rally Week on the Paper Smooches Blog.

Kim and the DT are sharing fun and fabulous projects using the

one new stamp set and five new dies from the February 2017 release,
 

CREATIVE INSPIRATION

CRAFTY TEMPTATION

AND

the chance to WIN one of FOUR $25 Paper Smooches gift certificates too!!!

AWESOME!!!

Head on over to the
Paper Smooches Blog

and get hopping now,
GOOD LUCK :)

Here are some links to their store if you want to check out all the crafty delights they have to tempt and inspire.  The new releases will be available to purchase 8pm PT 31st January 2017.

    

Welcome to my first project for . . .

the

Yes, it's true!

I'm super excited to be joining Team Lou at the Southern Girls challenge blog and share my first project with you today.

In 2017 the Southern Girls are trying something a little different, every so often we will be having a RETRO challenge.

These challenges are designed to have you dig into your stash and get rid of some of those older supplies that might be hanging around unloved.

For this fortnights challenge we would love to see you
use some Buttons and/or Brads on your projects for
Team Lou Retro Challenge - Smash That Stash - Use Buttons and/or Brads
Remember we are not just a card blog, we love to see scrapbook layouts, artjournal pages and all types of papercraft.

Thanks to our 2 amazing sponsors for this challenge.....

Today I am using the My Portret digital stamp from Ppinkydolls,
one of our generous sponsors for this challenge.

I printed the image on X-Press It blending card, heat set using my heat tool then coloured with Copic markers.  I fussy cut the middle of the image panel and went around the edge with a Memento Tuxedo Black dual tip marker.

For the base and layers of my card, I started with a free cut file from Monica's Creative Room (details below) and adjusted the file in my Silhouette Cameo to cut an easel card base and decorative layers.

I wove ribbon through the top layer, adhered the top layer to a white panel, pierced the middle of each flower and secured a brad in each hole, ensuring that they were pushed flat at the back.  Then I adhered another white panel to the back to securely hide the back of the brads.  The image panel was adhered in the middle of the decorative panel.

I scored the card base along the middle then across middle of the top layer to make the section where the top decorative panel gets attached.  I applied liquid adhesive to the bottom flap on the top of the card, aligning and securing the top decorative layer in place.

Although the card base is white, I thought I would add a little contrast inside, so I matted it with an olive panel then a smaller white panel.  I trimmed the top of these panels so that they fitted inside the top fold of the card.

I die cut the birthday sentiment six times, layered them together then adhered it in place so that the "b" of the birthday can be used to stand the front decorative panel of this easel card.  I used a strong bookbinding glue, so that the sentiment stays securely in place, even with the weight of the card front being wedged against.

*** INGREDIENTS ***

Ppinkydolls - digital stamp - My Portret

X-Press It - A4 blending card

American Crafts - 12x12 textured cardstock - 100 sheet value pack

Copic markers - skin - E0000 E000 E00

Copic markers - hair - E30 E31 E33

Copic markers - dress - R81 R83 R85

Copic markers - flowers - Y21 Y23 Y26

Memento Tuxedo Black dual tip marker

brads - lots of little yellow brads

May Arts ribbon - 3/8" - white knotted edge satin ribbon

Monica's Creative Room - FREE cut file - Framed Toppers 9c

Spellbinders - Die D-Lites - Sentiments Three

Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive (to adhere layers)

Helmar Professional Acid Free Glue (to adhere the sentiment in place)

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue (to adhere the sentiment layers)

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to Ppinkydolls for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor of the Team Lou Retro Challenge - Smash That Stash - Use Buttons and/or Brads with us at the Southern Girls.

    

I hope I have inspired you to create something with buttons or brads and look forward to seeing your project shared in the challenge gallery.

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

Addicted to Stamps and More

Challenge #226 - Anything Goes

   

~~~*~~~*~~~

CCC Digi Creations

Challenge #65 - Use Die Cuts and/or Punches

~~~*~~~*~~~

Colour It!  Create It!  Show It Off!

January Challenge - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

Morgan's ArtWorld

Challenge #1 - Anything Goes

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog

Pennys Challenge #313 - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

Scrapbook Stamp Society

Challenge #108 - Anything Goes with option Ribbon or Lace or Pearls

I woven ribbon through the decorative panel framing the image

~~~*~~~*~~~

Star Stampz

Birthdays Challenge

~~~*~~~*~~~

Through The Craft Room Door

TTCRD challenge for Jan 24th - 30th 2017 - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

Crafty Gals Corner - Challenge #107 - Anything Goes

It's time for another challenge with us at the

Crafty Gals Corner

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with
Challenge #107 - Anything Goes

The sponsors for this challenge are:

Morgan's Art World

   

Prize: 3 Digital Images

Sasayaki Glitter

Prize: 1 Digital Image

Today I have used the Teddy Heart
digital stamp from Morgan's Art World, one of our generous sponsors this week.

I coloured the teddy and flowers using Copic markers (details below), the fussy cut him out of the hearts, going around the edges with a Memento Tuxedo Black dual tip marker.  Not sure what came over me, but I used my finger-tip knife to cut the tiny area out from between the flowers up on the teddy's left-hand-side.  With the white doily behind him, it would have been OK with just leaving those areas uncoloured.  Oh well, at that stage I hadn't even thought of using the doily, definitely need to plan the design ahead of colouring next time!

I added a touch of white to his eyes using a gel pen then added Glossy Accents to his nose and eyes for a nice, healthy shine.

I used my Cameo to cut the three top layers of the stacking diamond design (enlarged 7.25" x 5.5", file details below), then I manually cut a white textured cardstock (to make the background for the diamond design) and two heavy weight smooth cardstock (to make the card base).  I scored the back panel of the card base at 0.75" to make the "top fold", adhering it with book binding adhesive.

I cut a the white decorative doily then a smaller circle from a foam sheet to give it some dimension.

I cut four "hugs" in the same colours as the stacking diamond layers and adhered them together, slightly offset for more dimension.

Here are some photos showing the cool Action Wobbler mechanism and dimension with it and the foam layers.  You don't even need to touch the teddy for him to get jiggy, just the slightest movement of the card and he is dancing away ... it really is fun!

   

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Morgan's Art World - digital stamp - Teddy Heart
X-Press It - A5 blending card
Copic markers - bear - E30 E31 E33 E35 E37 E39
Copic markers - nose - T7 T9 "100"
Copic 0.3 Black Multiliner - around the eyes, after gel pen
Copic markers - flowers - RV11 RV13 RV14 RV25 RV29 R46 Y17
Copic markers - leaves - YG25 YG17 YG67
Copic markers - ribbon - R08 R46
Signo uni-ball white gel pen - eyes
Glossy Accents - nose and eyes
Action Wobbler
Silhouette Cameo
Silhouette Design Store - cut file
- Design ID #165901 Lori Whitlock - A2 Stacking Diamonds

Sizzix Big Shot
Kaisercraft - decorative die - Doilies
Winnie & Walter - In A Word: Hugs Cutaway
foam sheet and foam tape
Tombow Mono Multi Adhesive
to adhere the diamond layers
Helmar 450 Quick Dry
to adhere the foam to the doily & foam to the card front and to adhere the card front to the card base
Helmar Acid Free Professional
to adhere the layers of the card base to make the secure top fold

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to Morgan's Art World for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #107 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

Addicted to Stamps and More
Challenge #226 - Anything Goes

   

~~~*~~~*~~~

CCC Digi Creations
Challenge #65 - Use Die Cuts and/or Punches

~~~*~~~*~~~

Colour It!  Create It!  Show It Off!

January Challenge - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

In The Pink

Challenge #111 - What's New? (in pink of course)

the stacked diamonds cut file is new from Lori Whitlock
a new background file and new style for me

~~~*~~~*~~~

Morgan's ArtWorld
Challenge #1 - Anything Goes

my card uses a Morgan's ArtWorld digital stamp

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog

Pennys Challenge #313 - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

QKR Stampede

Challenge #227 - Anything Goes or One For The Kids

this cute little bear is interactive with the action wobbler,
fun for kids and young at heart

~~~*~~~*~~~

Scrapbook Stamp Society

Challenge #108 - Anything Goes with option Ribbon or Lace or Pearls

~~~*~~~*~~~

Through The Craft Room Door

TTCRD challenge for Jan 24th - 30th 2017 - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

Crafty Gals Corner - Challenge #106 - Add A Heart

It's time for another challenge with us at the

Crafty Gals Corner

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with
Challenge #106 - Add a Heart

The sponsors for this challenge are:

The Paper Shelter

Prize: $10 Gift Certificate

Polkadoodles

Prize: $15 Gift Certificate

KennyK. Stamps

   

Prize: 3 Digital Stamps

Today I have used the Winnie Wonderland Steampunk Cogs and Wheels

digital stamp from Polkadoodles, one of our generous sponsors this week.

My steampunk easel heart card has combined several techniques and products.

I started with my Silhouette Cameo and set up my mat to be A4 size.

I opened the Winnie Wonderland Steampunk Cogs and Wheels image and the scalloped heart file, set the mat to show registration marks and adusted the size and placement to make the combined design 6 1/2" high.  To make the card base, I took a copy of the heart cut file and added it to a new 12x12 mat, duplicated so that I had four copies the same size.  I flipped one heart and aligned it with another vertically, overlapping so that they "touched" at the middle top of the heart then the magic happened when I clicked the weld button ... my base was formed, with the help of a little scoring for the two folds.  That left me with two hearts the same size, one for support under the top decorated panel (and so you can't seet the colour that bleeds through to the back) and one for the mat to go inside the card.  I reduced the "mat" layer to 90% and that left a nice neat gap between the scallops.

Now, back to the top, decorative panel.

I printed it off on an A4 sheet of X-Press It Blending card then cut the surrounding scalloped heart with the Cameo.

I coloured the cogs & gears using Copic markers.  I gave the panel a liberal dusting with powder then I went over each one with my Versamarker dual tip watermark pen and clear embossing powder.  I gave them all two coats to get a smooth, glossy coverage.

Next came the Distress Ink.  I inked the entire panel using Old Paper, with darker coverage around the cogs & gears and around the middle where the sentiment & flowers were to go.  This was my first time blending such a large area, so I was extra careful to tap off the blending tool to avoid streaks and lines.  (... sure is a lot slower than the high speed videos we see online)

I die cut the "love" sentiment five times, coloured the one using the YR24 YR27 Copic markers (same as some as the cogs & gears) and heat embossed it using clear embossing powders.  I layered them all together and popped using foam dots, surrounding it with pearl flourishes and paper flowers.  I adhered the flowers using Helmar 450 Quick Dry, it's a liquid adhesive that is like using a hot glue gun without the "hot".

I coloured some tiny chipboard cogs & gears using the same Copic markers and heat embossed with clear powder.  I adhered them in place inside the card to help the front panel stand up and embellish it a bit too.  I used the stronger "book binding" glue to secure them firmly in place (Helmar Acid Free Professional Adhesive).

Here are some other views of my hearty steampunk card.

   

*** INGREDIENTS ***

Polkadoodles - digital stamp - Winnie Wonderland Steampunk Cogs and Wheels

X-Press It - A4 blending card

Copic markers - C0 to C9

Copic markers - YR24 YR27

Copic markers -E87 E89

Copic markers - the trusty "zero" colourless blender

Versamarker dual tip watermark pen

WOW! - embossing powder - Clear Gloss Super Fine

Ranger - Mini Round Ink Blending Tool

Ranger - Mini Distress Ink - Old Paper

Winnie & Walter - In A Word - Love Cutaway

Imaginarium Designs - chipboard - Tinies 9 Cogs on Board

Helmar 450 Quick Dry Liquid Adhesive

Kaisercraft - Paper Blooms - Terracotta

Kaisercraft - Mini Paper Blooms - Terracotta

Helmar Acid Free Professional Adhesive

Bella! Bling - Frame - Pearl White

Bella! Bling - Vintage - Pearl White

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to Polkadoodles for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #106 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

CCC Digi Creations
Challenge #65 - Use Die Cuts and/or Punches


~~~*~~~*~~~

Creative Craft Cottage

Challenge #79 - Ribbons and/or Pearls

my card has several pearl flourishes

~~~*~~~*~~~

Creative Moments

Challenge #109 - Anything Goes + optional twist "Something New"

I have used a new digital stamp, new chipboard cogs and a new technique

~~~*~~~*~~~

Digi Choosday Craft Challenge (Polkadoodles)

 Week 3 - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

digistamps4joy

Challenge #132 - Anything Goes with + optional twist "All About Love"

my card is filled with so much love, from the sentiment
to the scalloped heart and everything in between

~~~*~~~*~~~

Inkspirational Challenges

Challenge #126 - Word Prompt "flutter"

my heart is all-a-flutter and my card is filled with love

   

~~~*~~~*~~~

Inky Chicks

Challenge #77 - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

Scrapbook Stamp Society

Challenge #108 - Anything Goes + option Ribbon, Lace and Pearls

my card includes several pearl flourishes

~~~*~~~*~~~

Through The Craft Room Door

TTCRD Anything Goes for week 01/17/17

~~~*~~~*~~~