Lisa from The Craft's Meow has some friends that will help guest design on a rotational basis. Guess who is helping The Craft's Meow preview their July's release? *wink wink* Let me just say that you are in for a treat, so stay tuned. Previews start tomorrow - so check back.
This week at Mami Doodles we are creating cards with the theme Heavy Metal. If you are like me, then there is this slight panic that stirs up. I don't create many things with charms, metal frames or brass buttons. I have always wanted to, but never got around. So, what does a girl do when she doesn't have many metal things at hand? Pull out the aluminum foil out of the kitchen drawer...
Stamps: (Millie) Mami Doodles; (Vintage Banners) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: (Paper Basics Card Stock - Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink; (School Spirit Collection) Crate Paper
Ink: (Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versamark) Tsukineko
Embellishments: (Soft-core Color Pencils) Prismacolor; (1/8" Circle Eyelets Multi Pack Primary Colors - Orange) Making Memories; (Glitter Essential - Fire Opal; Embossing Powder - Ebony) Martha Stewart; (Thread - Cream) Coats & Clark; (Aluminum Foil, Copier Paper)
I started by coloring Millie in a fun orange color. It was one of those cold rainy days and I was wishing for nice, scorching hot sun. So the warm colors really appealed to me :) While coloring, I was thinking of what to do for metal, and that's when I decided to pull out the foil.
The windmill is made with aluminum foil. My first attempt ended in epic fail. The foil is too thin, so it tears when trying to insert and get an eyelet to set. My second attempted I glued the aluminum foil to a piece of copier paper to give it more durability. The finish attempt is on the card. To give it more zing and orange flair, I dipped the edges into orange glitter - have to use the opportunity to get rid of some of my glitter stack!
Since I felt so adventurous, I decided to dust of Lilo and do a little bit stitching. A quick little sentiment later and voila!
So I hope you feel inspired to get some metal cards going. Check out the rest of the Mami Doodle DT work. Come play along for a chance to win a set of Mami Doodle digis. And if you use an image, you get an extra entry - did you know that?
June is the month of weddings, and the rule seem to apply to my social calendar - two weddings within three weeks. One was even in Europe. I'll share pictures when I get all of their permission :) I promise...
So when Scrap Our Stash's June Challenge was to use Something new, Something old, Something borrowed, Something blue, I was really happy to hear the wedding theme.
For my card, I used new, blue cardstock from PTI, an old (but favorite) Waltzingmouse stamp set, and the idea to use that stamp set on a wedding card was borrowed from a friend. Ok, I realize I'm stretching that last bit, but you'll let me get away with it, right? ;)
Stamps: (Big Blooms - Chrysanthemums, Say It Loud) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: (Paper Basics Card Stock - Spring Rain, True Black) Papertrey Ink
Ink: (Memento - London Fog) Tsukineko
Embellishments: (Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder - Silver; Perfect Pearls - Perfect Pearl) Ranger; (Tiny Twinkles) Taylored Expressions
I wanted to mimic background paper with a metallic sheen, and thought to stamp the chrysanthemums in grey outline, but brush the solid flowers with some pearls.
Lastly, I decided to emboss the greeting and one of the chrysanthemums in embossed silver, to give it that extra wedding feel. It fits perfectly to this wedding's colors - heh, I would know, since I picked out the bridal bouquet & cake (among other things ;) A few more blue little gems and I call this done - simple & elegant.
So, come join in on our Scrap Our Stash's June challenge. You have almost two weeks to throw something together that fits the theme. It does not have to be wedding-related. If you need more inspiration, check out the rest of the Design Team's work!
With Independence Day creeping up, I see many challenges calling for "Red, Blue & White" and "4th of July" themes. As an American, I do hold this holiday near and dear to my heart, because of the privilege of living in this amazing country, based on founding principles such as "freedom of speech" and "freedom of religion." But I must sadly admit, I don't really send cards out for this holiday. I find it hard to create cards that I would normally not gift myself...Do you gals relate?
So this week's PaperPlay Challenge theme - Stars & Stripes - was difficult for me to create with. My imagination was stuck in a rut with stars, flags, Independence Day. I was almost convinced that I will be creating a Fourth of July card, when I saw what this week's sponsor Just Some Lines provided. A couple of fun digis that were not Independence Day themed, and that's when it clicked! It could be love, birthday, or encouragement theme...who cares? It's just stars & stripes!
So here is my interpretation of this week's theme:
Stamps: (Emo Amber and Aleks Sitting) Just Some Lines; (Mega Mixed Messages) Papertrey Ink; (Claire Brennan Images - Star Quality) The Craft's Meow
Paper: (Paper Basics Card Stock - White) Papertrey Ink; (Basic Card Stock - White) Recollections; (Popculture - Silly String) KI Memories
Ink: (Memento - Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko
Embellishments: (Soft-core Color Pencils) Prismacolor
I'm so in love with this sweet image. I decide to paper-piece the Alek's shirt and add little hand-drawn little stars onto her dress..."Stars & Stripes sitting in a corner, singing k.i.s.s.i.n.g ..."
For a fun background, I pulled out a cute star image I have been dying to use. I purchased it along with one of The Craft's Meow kit and it was designed by Claire Brennan (the Waltzing Mouse) herself. I think creating everything in black and white and giving just the two some color really works...The rest of the card kinda says it all, and didn't require much more: just a hand-drawn line to give Amber and Aleks a "wall" to hang out on and a little "Love" sentiment. Voila!
Did you enjoy that? If so, head over to the rest of the PaperPlay Design Team and come play along with us this week!
By the time this challenge closes, I'll be with chilling with my extended family (who are visiting from the UK) on a beach, enjoying a good read, some volleyball, and lots of sun & ocean! If you are celebrating Independence Day, what are your plans for the Fourth?
In case you were wondering where I have disappeared to, I was internet-less for the entire weekend. They had to re-do the entire line across the street and feed it back into my house...but now I'm back online and loads happier that I am connected again and can share some exciting news that I have been dying to tell you!
My online, crafting buddy Janna was sadly announcing her departure from DYSU (Do You Stack Up?) and at the same time I saw a call for the new Design Team. I threw my name into the hat and never thought I'd make the cut, but yours truly is a proud new member of the DYSU Design team. It's such a great challenge blog, since the gals are really from all over the world!
Check out the post, I can hardly believe it! And I am looking forward to working with this exciting group of gals!
Wow, I'm back in the country. It has been a whirlwind of travel - but more later. Now, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things with my crafting & blogging. It's time for another PaperPlay Challenge theme - Father's Day or Masculine Card. Our sponsor for this week is Love to Stamp, a company to get all your lovely paper crafting supplies. Winner this week gets a $15 voucher to redeem at the store.
So without further ado, here's my Father's day card, inspired with some manly Archaic Basic Grey paper:
Stamps: (Bitty Banners, Way Out West, Victorian Alphabet) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: (Paper Basics Card Stock - Spring Rain) Papertrey Ink; (Basic Card Stock - Cream) Recollections; (Archaic) Basic Grey
Ink: (Memento - Summer Sky) Tsukineko; (Jenni Bowlin No. 11 - Brown Sugar) Ranger
Embellishments: (Rustic Button Jute Twine) Papertrey Ink
I've been on a banner binge lately. Absolutely versatile in how they can be used...
So head over to the rest of the PaperPlay Design Team and come play along with us this week. Plus, it's never too early to think of Father's Day - Jun 19th in the States!
