Bricks Along the Journey

Hi Everyone
Sunday I went to a great silent auction to raise money for breast cancer research. The function is known as Bricks Along the Journey.  Just thought you'd like to take a few minutes to see some great art submitted by a lot of artists in order to raise money for the research.  This was the 10th year for this event and it was my 2nd year for submitting. All of the submitted artwork has a brick included in the creation, somewhere.

 I have posted about one fourth of the bricks that were entered. This was a silent auction and they also had a raffle for a whole host of prizes. I didn't win any of the raffled gifts but my bricks were auctioned off. Yahoo!!!There were 2 bids on the bid sheet so I know someone took my creation home with them. I believe the opening bid was either $50. or $75. The winning bid was higher than the opening bid.

Without further ado, click here to go over to the new page that houses the pics of some of the fantastic bricks that were submitted this year.

Thanks for stopping by,

Barbara

Happy Birthday

Hi Everyone,
Well today is Thursday and you know what that means?? It's the beginning of the Weekly Art Impressions Challenge . Each Thursday Art Impressions introduces a new challenge. The theme this week is A Card for a Young Boy. And as I tried to figure out what Art Impressions image I was going to use, I remembered that I had a carousel horse and all kids love to go to the amusement park to ride the rides. I used a Happy Birthday sentiment, and covered it with a semi-transparent glitter - Sparkling Snow. I thought this card would be too cute for a a young boy.

Supplies used:

Carousel Horse -T1255 Art Impressions

Happy Birthday sentiment - G669 Art Impressions

Sparkling Snow Glitter - G1003

Copic Markers - YG45, B28, E15, E43, Y35, R29

Spica Pens (by Copic) - Olive, Buttermilk

Card stock/Paper - Designer Paper, White CS, Yellow CS

Embellishments-Gold Acrylic Stone 

Frame - Spellbinders S5-012

Hope you are inspired and I will see you soon.

Fir Trees

Hi Everyone,
Barbara here with another of my Wednesday Creations. This card came about because a few of my friends are going to a cabin in the Tennessee woods for a weekend of fun and hiking. And that got me thinking..... hmm....They will be out in the forest, a forest with some fir trees and before I knew it I had made this card.

I wanted to use a card shape that was just a little different so I used this labels shape die and since it is so large, I folded it in half. It makes a nice thinner card (6 3/4"X3 1/2"). Next I stamped on the other label shape, layered it on the front, and was just a perfect fit. The flourishes add the finishing touch.

Supplies I used:

J3238 - Large Mountain Fir -Art Impressions

G3237 - Mountain Fir (Smaller version of the Large Mountain Fir) Art Impressions

Copic Markers - E33

Inks: Fresco Chalk Finish Dye inks: Indigo Velvet, Giovanni's Garden, Medici Marble

Card Stock - White CS, Green Parchment looking CS

Swirl - Sizzix Die

Glitter - Parisian Mist

Card Shape - Spellbinders Grand Labels One, Layered shape - Spellbinders Labels Four

Don't forget to check the Art Impressions blog Thursday for the next weekly challenge, it's going to be another fun one!!!

Snowflakes

Hi Everyone,
Since it is getting closer to Christmas and the holidays, I thought I'd share with you a card that I will be sending out this holiday season. I used one of the brand new punches that are available now over at Just Imagine Crafts/Kreations, and it is so perfect for your holiday and winter season cards and layouts.

This great snowflake punch ,punch 312, makes a beautiful border and corners and..... well look at what this punch enabled me to create.

Make sure you save those punched out snowflakes, they'll look great on your card too!!!
This is a 6" square card. I used the C insert to punch the corners on that shimmery blue panel. I decided a border punched on a center band would look great on this card.The band started out as 1 3/4" wide and I punched it on one side for the 1st punch then I turned the card stock band around to punch the other side. As I alternated the sides I punched,  I just lined the punch up with the large snowflake. Next I attached the band to the card front and then I added my sentiment to the center. Then I glued the larger and the small flakes to the card and it's finished and in no time flat.

Well have a great week and I will see you soon.

Lace

Hi Everyone
Today I have another card for you, using Art Impressions stamps. I used some beautiful lace that I picked up Sunday in my shopping at the last antique show of the season.

I have a few stamps along this theme, kind of country-ish and I just really like the look they give. When I was coloring this image I wanted to add colors that would remind one of dusk. As I was finishing this up, I added a little gold color using a product called Inka Gold. Its at the bottom edge of the rick rack circle. This product has bee's wax in it and it goes on with a sponge and according to the label, its called a gloss paint. It's a nice product and I am going to be looking at other effects I might be able to get with this.

Supplies used:
Country Lamp Post -L1211
Copic Markers - V04, C-5, E40, YG45, Y28, Y11, Y000, C-0
Inka Gold - Gold
Inks: India Ink - Black, Distress Ink -Tea Dye, Fresco Chalk Dye-DaVinci Violet, Fresco Chalk Dye-Sistine Sky, Fresco Chalk Dye- Indigo Velvet
Sponge daubers
Card stock/paper - Dark Blue CS, Blue Speckle CS, White CS, Designer Paper
Old Lace from antique dealer

That is all for now. Hope you get some ideas using lace.

Have a great day,

The Toy Shoppe

Hi Everyone,

I thought you'd like to see the Christmas Toy Shoppe card I just completed. It turned out so cute.

Christmas is going to be here before we know it and I am trying to get a head start on my cards for the upcoming Christmas holiday season. 

I used one of the Art Impressions Doorways stamp sets, 3525- Christmas Toy Shoppe. This is really easy to put together to make your scene. Hope you try this set out!!

Supplies used:

Christmas Toy Shoppe - 3525

Paper - Handmade  Red Lokta Paper - Brick, White CS, Black CS

Copic Markers- YR65, Y000, 28, Y17, Y06, E000, E15, E18, E33, E37, E08, E43, E93, G85, YG45, R46, B000, B28, B45, BV29, V09, V12, C-0, C-5

Thursdays post will be another Art Impressions card creation. See you then.

Have a great day

Hi Everyone,
I mentioned in my last post that I worked a convention and used some Hero Arts/Sizzix Products. Well I brought home a stamp set with the dies and I designed this card. This was my favorite set. The  stamps and dies to cut out the images come packaged together. No more intricate cutting. How cool is that!!! I stamped the dogwood image 4 times and cut out each one, using the die that comes with the set. I colored the stamped images with those wonderful  Metallic Cream Chalks by Pebbles. The butterfly on the card is in the set as well. I just placed the dogwoods next to each other to form a swag, of sorts.

As I worked with the cream chalk product, I absolutely fell in love with the way this cream blends. Easy to use and the results are quite stunning!! And no chalky mess since this is a cream.And since this is a metallic cream you still get that beautiful metallic sheen.

Well, that is it for now. Stop back Wednesday for a post using Art Impressions stamps. 

Have a great day,

What a busy weekend

Hi everyone,
Well the weekend is just about over and it's been a busy one for me!!!

I have a few pictures to share with you.
First off, Friday and Saturday, I worked at the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention at the Duke Energy Convention Center  in downtown Cincinnati. I worked at the Stamplistic booth and demo'ed the new Hero Arts/Sizzix stamp and die sets and the Hero Arts/Sizzix stamp and embossing folder sets.  I also used the Metallic Cream Chalks by Pebbles to color the stamped images.I had never used these in the past (where  have I been), but let me tell you, I fell in love with those cream chalks. So easy to use and what beautiful colors in the palette. Wait til you see some of the cards I've made with this( new to me) product. The blendability of these cream chalks is great, and did I mention how pretty the end result is??  (LOL) Stamplistic also offered a  M&T  in the booth and that was manned by Mara, and you could make a fabulous medallion using Holly Berry stamps. Customers were given the option of making it into a pin. There was a steady stream of customers doing that. Jennifer, the owner of Stamplistic and my friend, was there to answer questions and ring up the purchases.

Here is where sat and demo'ed. I used the Vagabond and it is such a great tool. This was the first time I used it and found it so easy to use, and cut and embossed super. Customers were very fascinated with this little powerhouse of a tool.

Thought you'd like to see the display of the Medallions and those were a huge hit!!! Great examples of what you can do with those medallion stamps. These  also make fabulous Christmas ornaments.Lots of cutting but so worth the effort. And this picture really does not do these justice. They are 4-5 layers and so, so fabulous!!!

Here are 2 of the many cards that were on display.

Those 2 days were fun and I saw so many familiar faces. It was great to catch up with people I haven't seen for a long time.

OK, now its on to Sunday..........

I went to the last show of the season at the Burlington Antique Show. I usually always find something at this show. Today the weather was so warm and sunny. It was extremely windy though. That made for some booths having to run after stuff that was blowing off the tables. And the place was packed with vendors as well as customers.

 I loved this topiary, should have got it but passed it by.

 This was at the same booth. Too cool.

OK, I was on my way thru the last aisle and I saw this witch, on a bike. So, this became the last place I stopped. Everything in this booth was metal art. This witch is so great!!!

There were so many other pieces in this booth, it was late and they were packing up, but I just had to show you a few other pieces. Sorry the composition of the pics is so poor. I was tired and I was trying to get these before they got packed away.

This was the last show of the season. The next show will be in April 2012. That will be here in the blink of an eye, however, that means winter is quickly approaching. Arrrr........

Here are the treasures that I wound up toting home.Ribbon, wooden blocks, and some vintage papers. Be on the lookout for some of that ribbon appearing on some upcoming cards.

Hope you have a great week and I will see you soon,

Tags for the holiday

Hi Everyone,
Just thought you might like to see a tag I made for the Art Impressions challenge for this week.

I thought I'd use one of the stamps I just received from Art Impressions. I ordered the whole Polar Pals collection, and they are so darned cute!!!! The stamp I used is called Walking Polars.

I made this to resemble a snow globe. I cut a circle and stamped it, and colored with Copics. Next I covered the whole circle with VersaMark and then covered it with an embossing powder called Shimmer and heat set it. Next I used a Labels Four die and cut a label out of black cs. I then cut the label in half, and turned it upside putting the flat cut side down and mounted the globe right under the label.And there is your snow globe. I added some snowflake ribbon to finish this off.

Supplies used:

Art Impressions - Walking Polars M4079

Embossing Powder - Shimmer EP137 Sparkle N Sprinkle

Spellbinders Labels Four S4-190

VersaMark

India Ink Black

Copic Markers: Y17,Y21, Y28, YG45, B24, R29, C-1 

Ribbon

Tag made using die from AccuCut

Card Stock - White, Blue Shimmer, Black

Thanks for stopping in today, see you soon

EEK, It's a Spider

Hi everyone,

Check out Sylvia. She's out for a walk and it looks like she's run into a spider. She's scared of spiders.Petrified is probably more like it!! And from the looks of things she's in big trouble. LOL

Supplies used.(Stamps are from Art Impressions)
Sylvia - J1550
Tree and Leaves - T883
Sm. Spider Web - H3042
Sm. Spider - AA3049
Grass Line - A1371

Copic Markers:YR09, YR61, E33, V12, V17,
0, R37, E51, 100
Inks: Fresco Chalk Dye Ink -Sistine Sky, Giovanni's Garden, India Ink Black
Sizzix Die - Tag
Card stock- Black, Blue, White
Ribbon

Sylvia is such a cutie and so versatile.

Have a great day!!

Barbara

A Pumpkin Patch

Hi Stampers,
I wanted to share with you a card I made a few weeks back. I learned how to make this card a long time ago. Years ago!!!It is super easy to make but you can't just pop it in an envelope and mail it, it has too much volume. It really should go in a box. I call this design "The Pocket Card". I hope you like it.

I plan on making a video showing how to make this card but it will be a few weeks before I can get to that. So as soon as I get that done I will let you all know and you can see how his card is made. This type of card would make a great Christmas scene

I built this scene using stamps from Heartfelt Creations. As you can see, this card will stand on its own. 

That's all I have for you right now. I am going to leave you somewhat intrigued but I will start on the video.

Hope you have a great start to your week. Stop back Wednesday for Art Impressions inspiration.

The Pumpkin Patch

Hi Everyone

I am little late in this post, but I wanted to share with you a card I designed with the Art Impressions weekly challenge in mind. This weeks theme is Stripes.

I used the pumpkin stamp and added some die cut leaves and ribbon and a bow.

Supplies used:

Art Impressions Pumpkin stamp P2101

Ink-Distress Ink -Ripe Persimmon, Brilliance Pearlescent Orange

Spellbinders leaf  S4-

Card Stock - Brown - Core'dinations, Pop Tones Orange & Green

Crimper

Cuttlebug Folder

Sponge

Hand Punch

Ribbon

Please stop over at the Art Impressions blog and check out this week's blog challenge and enter a card. You might win a $10.00 gift certificate to spend in their store.

Thanks for stopping in today,

Have I got a deal for you.

Hi everyone,
Have I got a deal for you. If you sign up to follow my ippity blog, (ippitydoda.blogspot.com) I will put your name in the hopper for a drawing for one new stamp set. One winner will receive:

This set (IPK-157) is so cute and as you know, (or maybe you don't know) all ippity stamps are red rubber, mounted on cling.  Ready for you to use on your acrylic block. Also, ippity stamps are a line of stamps made by Unity Stamp Company and this stamp line is only available from ippity chicks and are not available in the traditional brick and mortar stores. And yep, I'm a chick!!! So that means you can buy your {ippity} stamps directly from me at creativeessences.

So please go over to ippitydoda, become a follower, and you'll be eligible to win this great brand new set, with the drawing to be between Noon and 2:00 P.M. Tuesday October 11.The winner will be announced over at ippitydoda. 

Next, you'll want to check out the new sketch challenge blog. It's called Chick Challenges with {ippity} and they are hosting their first ever sketch challenge that you will definitely want to enter. Click here to check it out.

Thanks for stopping in and see you soon.

{ippity} blog hop winner and new sets

Hi Everyone,

Here are the new ippity releases for October . 

And if you scroll down you will see the name of the winner of the stamp set I am giving away.

The new sets are here 

  IPK 157 Thanks for all things

IPK 156 Time for ... friends and wine. 

Aren't these new sets great. Set 156 is  perfect for a girls night out party or a wine tasting party invitation, or a whole host of other things. And the set 157, well what can I say, thank you cards are always in order.
The above new stamp sets are in stock and ready to be shipped to your mailbox Don't forget, free shipping on every order.

OK OK On to some other fun stuff:

October 1 - 5 the Chick Challenges {with ippity} blog, had a blog hop and they are awarding 2 stamp sets to be announced on their blog. I was in the blog hop on day 1 and I also am awarding a new stamp set to one of the new followers to my blog. Due to a blog  glitch, I actually posted my blog hop on my other blog, artandsoulcreations.blogspot.com. So I had new followers sign up over on that blog to follow me. I have a blog that is dedicated to {ippity} stamps and I would love it if you would follow me over there as well. It is called ippitydoda so please check out that blog as well.

Here is the winner chosen from all the new followers to my blog.

Dee in N.H.

Congratulations Dee please email me (bbruder at fuse dot net)  with your name, address etc. so I can send you the stamp set!!!!
You will be receiving  the stamp set below.  Dee you will have 48 hours to email me your info so I can mail your stamp set!!!!

Thank you all so much for signing up to follow my blog. There is another hop in the works so stay tuned for more inspiration and prizes. 

Walk a Path

Hi everyone,
I have a card that I needed to make for a guy and thought you'd like to see what I came up with.

I think we all find cards for the men in our lives difficult to make from time to time. Hope this will inspire you for the next card you need to make for that guy in your life.

Supplies used:

Egret - G3258

Eagle Head  - I3232

Walk a path - F3241

Ribbon

Card Stock: Brown Shimmer CS, Brown CS, Bronze CS, Dark Brown CS, Cream CS

Copper Leaf Pen

Thanks for stopping in today and stop back tomorrow for more Art Impressions inspiration.

Sparkle N Sprinkle World Animal Day Blog Hop

Hi There
Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle World Animal Day Blog Hop.If you arrived here from the Sandy's blog then you are in the right spot. If you just happened by, you will want to start at the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog to get all the details on the prizes and please make sure to leave comments along the way.

Tomorrow Oct. 4 is World Animal Day and since we are celebrating the critters in our life, I have designed 3 cards and 2 of the cards are in honor of the critters in my life. I have 3 cats and have had cats in my life ever since I have been 3 years old.

This little guy reminds me of Buddy, the newest member of my feline family.Buddy just appeared at my house one day and has never left. I think someone dumped him. Buddy looks just like Morris, the cat but he's just not as famous, but we aren't telling him. Click here for directions.

The other 2 "cuties" in my house are Lucy and Coco and they are rescues. They are mother and daughter and I have had them for 10+ years.They are pals and are always together and this stamp just reminded me of the "girls".

Click here for directions for card below.

I've included a third card so lets take a quick trip over to Africa to look at one more critter. 

 Nope not another cat, this one is a Zebra. I have always loved this stamp and wanted to show you how cool this critter is. Click here for directions for the zebra card.

Your next stop on the critter hop is Dawn. Hop over and check out the critters in her blog.

Thanks for stopping and don't forget to leave a comment to become eligible for a prize.

Chick Picks Blog Hop

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2011

Chick Picks Blog Hop

Welcome to the Chick Picks Blog Hop, celebrating the official launch of our brand new challenge blog, Chick Challenges {with Ippity}! Chick Challenges was created by the Unity Endorsed Ippity Chicks to provide you with inspiring sketches, creative project ideas, and the chance to win some fabulous Ippity stamps!

Our blog hop will run from Oct. 1 to Oct. 5.  Each day, we will feature 5 new Ippity Chicks and their projects.  We will be sharing projects made using our favorite Ippity stamp sets.  To sweeten the deal even more, Chick Challenges is giving away Ippity stamp sets to (2) lucky commenter's!

To win, you must: 

1) become a "follower" of the Chick Challenges blog (www.chickchallengeswithippity.blogspot.com); 

2) visit each stop on the hop and leave a comment; and 

3) come back to the Chick Challenges blog and tell us what YOUR favorite Ippity stamp set is.  

(You can view all of Ippity's stamp sets by clicking on the "catalog" tab at the top of the Chick Challenges blog.)

Here is the hop order for Day 1:

Chick Challenges: http://www.chickchallengeswithippity.blogspot.com/

Jenny Johns: http://www.jenscupofcreations.blogspot.com/

Angie Reece: http://www.stampingsoftheshug.blogspot.com/

Barbara Bruder: http://www.artandsoulcreations.blogspot.com/ that's me

Maria Levine: http://www.riacreations.blogspot.com/

Patricia Cousins: http://www.mycraftycreationspatricia.blogspot.com/

Chick Challenges blog: http://www.chickchallengeswithippity.blogspot.com/

**************BLOG CANDY from here at ippitydoda:***************

And to sweeten the deal even more, and to be eligible to win a stamp set from me, here at ippitydoda, sign up to follow my blog and don't forget to leave me a comment. I will randomly draw a name from all the new followers on my blog. I will announce my winner, here on my blog, on October 6.  The winner will receive one stamp set. Winner will have 48 hours to respond with all the mailing info to receive a free {ippity} set. If the set goes unclaimed after 48 hours, I will draw another name.
That means you could possibly win a free set from me and a set from the Chick Challenges blog.

****************************************************************

OK OK enough of the necessary info stuff, lets get to the fun stuff.
Let me show you my projects:
I decided to show off set  IPK150 The BEST, and it actually is a perfect set to welcome you to this blog hop "event".

This set is soooo versitile. The stamps in the set are perfect for cards as well as scrapbook layouts. 
Check out the complete set here. 

My next project is another card is along the same lines. Welcoming you to the neighborhood (the Blog). I hope you plan on coming back to have more fun at Chick Challenges and here at ippity do da.  

The stamps used to make this card are in set IPK131 House A Home. 

Check out the complete set here. 

My final project is a great set that is perfect for cards for children, Fathers Day, graduation or many other reasons that you will come up with. It would be perfect in that layout for Dad's day or how about when your son or daughter won that swimming event and came in first. You know, all those times that you want to recognize the effort put into whatever they did.

 The stamps used on the card are again from set IPK 150 The BEST.

Click here for a complete viewing of that set

Thanks for stopping in at ippitydoda today and now it's time to hop over to Maria Levine's blog  Click here to view her creations, and don't forget to leave a comment before you leave.