Happy New Year - Chinese Style

Today is the Chinese New Year. It's the year of the rabbit.The rabbit it is said is the luckiest of all signs, you are also talented and articulate, affectionate, yet shy, you seek peace throughout your life.

Visit this site for more great information pertaining to the Chinese New Year, etc.

So in honor of this New Year, here is a card I designed.

The stamp in the bottom right is the word eternity.
I hope your new year is a good and prosperous one.

That's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

MMSC80 and Fall {ippity} Stamps

Here is the MMSC80 design for this week. My design this week is from a set from the latest fall line of {ippity} stamps. The fall {ippity} stamps are in and they are really nice. These stamps are very deeply etched and they are all foam mounted and are a line made by Unity stamps, so, you know they are quality.

Here is a card using the stamps from set IPK-140 Sing a New Song.

Click here to go to ippity do da, my online ippity store, to view the complete new Fall 2010 line and to place your order. The store is open 24/7 for your shopping convenience.

 

That's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

 

Barbara

Inchies and Inchies+

We all have probably made a card and added a small stamped square to the card. Well I needed to make a few cards with inchies on them so I thought I'd share my creations with you today. These cards are perfect for Valentine's Day. I know, that is a long way off but it really is right around the corner. Stamps used are: Sparkling Daisy 1040-211D and Tossed Hearts 1041-211B from set 221 and the sentiment Happy Valentine’s Day 3202-401B is in set 401

I really like the Nymph stamp I used on this card. She is really awesome isn't she. Here are the stamps I used on this card: Flower Nymph 1034-211E , Posy Cluster 1039-211A and Hearts & Stars Swirls 1036-211G are in set 221

This card that is appropriate for the fall season. The stamps used are: Swirly Maple 3279-410M, Swirly Oak Leaf  3280-410A, Swirly Acorn 3286-410A , Faith 3283-410B. These are all in set 410

All of the stamped images featured in these cards are from Sparkle N Sprinkle. Clink on the link to see the stamp sets and the other stamps in those sets.










That is it for now,thanks for stopping by, and I will see you soon,

Barbara

October is Breast Cancer Month

Hi Everyone,

I had a request the other day to post this card, so, in response to that request, here is a card that I made using two stamps from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  The ribbon is stamp 3246-407G and the background is stamp 3222-408V. I used White Detail embossing powder EP298 on the pink cardstock and Princess Rose embossing powder EP387 on the white cardstock. The ribbon was embossed using the Princess Rose embossing powder. Hope you like this card and gives you inspiration. This card is dedicated to Helen, one of my best friends who passed away from this dreaded disease on June 20, 2008. Click here to go to my post that I made after her passing, her picture is on the post as well.


Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Card Patterns Sketch 82

Hi Everyone,

Today's card is based on the card sketch from Card Patterns. The  pumpkin is cut from an AccuCut die that I own and I used paintable wallpaper instead of cardstock. I love the texture on this paper. Next I used inks and Copic markers to color the pumpkin. I then used VersaMark to ink all over the pumpkin and covered the pumpkin with shimmer embossing powder and heat set it.This gives the pumpkin a great glow. This verse is from Ippity stamps.

Well that is it for today, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #72 (MMSC72)

Hi Everyone

It's time for this weeks Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge.Their challenges are posted on Tuesday of each week. You can view the challenge on Priscillastyles blog.

I received some lace from a friend and the colors in the lace became the inspiration for this color combination.

Here is the design that I came up with based on the challenge sketch.

Here is a list of the items I used:

Cardstock - PopTones(Blu Raspberry and Gumdrop Green)

Patterned Paper - ProvoCraft

Flowers - Prima

Stamp Image - Ippity Stamps

Ink - Distressed Ink (Walnut Stain)

Lace - A gift from a friend

Brads



I hope you like the design

That's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Card Patterns Sketch 79

Hello and thanks for stopping by today,

Card Patterns has posted their latest challenge. So I went to my stamps to find the "perfect" stamp,the stars made me think of the heavens and angels and  after looking at a few stamps I found this wonderful image from Innovative Stamp Creations.

Here is the card I designed with the pattern in mind. This card was difficult to photograph, because the image is stamped on glossy paper. The paper picked up a glare in many of the positions that I tried. Also I noticed the lines in the stamped art work, also presented some visual problems in the photo.Those lines play tricks with the lens. Probably the best way to upload this would have been to scan the card. But here is the card. I stamped with StazOn on glossy paper. I used a  blender marker and markers (Marvy) to color the stamped image. Stars are from Spellbinders Nestabilities. Cardstocks - unknown.







Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #69 (MMSC69)

Hello

It's time for this weeks Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. This weeks sketch has circles involved and as soon as I saw this sketch I had my idea.The sketch can be viewed on Priscillastyles blog.

I used a Martha Stewart corner punch on a circular piece of CS to achieve the doily effect.
Cardstock is from Co'ordinations.
Designer paper-Wild Asparagus
Buttons and ribbon - Michael's
Stamp - Innovative Stamp Creations
Markers - Copic

Hope you enjoy the card, I had fun designing it for you.

That's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Sparkle N Sprinkle's Mystical Treasures Blog Hop Day 3

We've shared ideas with you for 3 days using the Dani’s Garden Umbrella, Dani’s Garden Swing, Fairy Dust, Dream Fairy, and Garden Fairies stamp sets. Please visit the blogs listed below and leave a comment on each blog, then your name will be entered once for each blog you comment on for a daily drawing of your choice of any of the 5 stamp sets on cling cushion.

Today is the last day of the Sparkle N Sprinkle 3 day blog hop. I hope you have gotten inspired and seen some new ideas.

For today's card I used 2 stamps from Dani's Garden, set 393, Dani Reading and the sentiment "Thanks". I used a border punch to make the mint green piece down the center. Next I used a corner adorner punch to make the circular yellow piece. After I punched this out it looked like a fancy sign, so, I used a die to cut out a bracket to use as a sign holder. I cut it out of dark brown cardstock. Next, I used white ink, in a direct to paper technique, to tone down the dark brown paper.I adhered the bracket over the mint green cardstock and used twine in the holes and tied it to the "fancy sign". I stamped Dani Reading, using Black StazOn and colored her with markers and cut the image out. Next I positioned her in the middle of the circular "sign". I stamped the sentiment "Thanks" then cut an oval shape using a Spellbinders die. I colored the words with various soft colors and then mounted it under the yellow "sign". To add a finishing touch I used a glue pen and traced the swirl portion of the yellow sign and added Lemonade Glitter to the sign.

This is my "Thanks" card to you for participating in the Blog Hop. Please leave a comment on my blog to be eligible for the last prize then click on the names and hop along to the other blogs for more inspiration and more chances to win.

Barbara - art & soul creations - You are here
Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog
Jill - Stampinhands
Julie - Just Write Designs
Eleanor - Stamping in Virginia

Sparkle N Sprinkle's Mystical Treasures Blog Hop Day 2

We will be sharing ideas with you for 3 days using the Dani’s Garden Umbrella, Dani’s Garden Swing, Fairy Dust, Dream Fairy, and Garden Fairies stamp sets. All you have to do is visit the blogs listed below and leave a comment on each blog, then your name will be entered once for each blog you comment on for a daily drawing of your choice of any of the 5 stamp sets on cling cushion.

Today I used two stamps from the Dream Fairy Set, set # 395. The Heart Fairy(3141-395M) and the sentiment, Missing You (3144-395AA). I used printed paper for the background and tore it to fit on the cardstock but still show a small frame area. Next I used another printed paper to compliment the first print and tore a rectangle shape and mounted it onto the square print. Using cardboard pieces, I tore a piece that fits on the front of the card and wrapped lace over the cardboard, added twine to the piece and mounted to the card front center. Used Spellbinders oval dies to cut a smaller oval out of printed cardstock and stamped the sentiment onto the oval. Cut out of cardboard a slightly larger scalloped oval from the Spellbinders Scalloped Ovals set  and mounted the sentiment onto the cardboard and then positioned on upper left of card.I stamped Heart Fairy onto white cardstock, colored her in, added Sparkling Snow Glitter(G1003) on to her wings and her dress and cut her out. Using the same printed cardstock used on the sentiment,  I cut a slightly larger Scalloped Oval and mounted the fairy to the scalloped oval. I placed the oval with fairy over the lace on the card.

Now off to the next blog for more inspirations:) just click on the names and hop along!

Barbara - art & soul creations -You are here
Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog
Jill - Stampinhands
Julie - Just Write Designs
Eleanor - Stamping in Virginia

Christmas Ornaments

Christmas.... Ornaments.........OK, OK, I know, it is only the first week of  June. But you will probably agree with me, Christmas will be here before we know it. So if you have the time now, why not get started and you will have more time as the holiday season starts, to sit back and enjoy yourself and your family and not be stressed. It will all be done. Doesn't that sound great. You know these make great gifts for those special people also.
These medallions are from Sparkle N Sprinkle. There are 4 medallion sets, set 144, set 182,set 208,set 350. Click here to go to the page on the Sparkle N Sprinkle website for sets 144, 182 and 208. Click here for website page for set 350.
If you attended the West Springfield, Mass. Heirloom show, Sparkle N Sprinkle  had these on display. Hope you were at the show and got to see them. If not, well, the pictures here are the next best thing.

  

Can you just picture these on your tree?? How about when your best friend opens up one of the boxes you have given her, and there it is, this beautiful ornament. The moment will be priceless. Trust me.

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

New Stamps - My Rose Garden

Sparkle N Sprinkle has announced a new stamp set, My Rose Garden, set #402. I think this set is beautiful. It contains 9 words stamps and 3 flower stamps. I don't know about you, but I never seem to have enough words. So, if you are like me, this set will definitely help you add to your words and give you 3 flower stamps. Click here to go to the Sparkle N Sprinkle site to check out this set and all the other products that they have to offer.

Here are a couple of cards that preview the rose stamp. You're going to love this set.

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping  by, see you soon,

Barbara

Fathers Day is coming

Fathers Day will be here before we know it. So, to get you in the mode, I made a fathers day card. You all know, man cards are sometimes a challange to make. I have a stamp from Paulines Kit Club and I thought it would be the perfect image. If you notice the background, it looks like wood. Quite appropiate for masculine cards, I think. Hope you like the card.

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

The Rose

I just recently received this stamp from Sparkle N Sprinkle. The stamp is really pretty so I decided to stamp it using India Ink and use colored pencils to color in the rose. I also used gamsol to shade the colors. Seems like every time I use colored pencils, I automatically get the gamsol out. I rarely use my pencils without the gamsol anymore. Gamsol allows the colored pencil to melt, so to speak, and gives you the capability to shade. I generally work from the outside to the center. You will need to work with paper stumps and I usually get mine at Hobby Lobby.

Added a little glitter some ribbon and now the card is done.

Have you tried any of those Martha Stewart corner punches yet??? They are great!!! I have quite a few an they really add a great look to the card.

Well, that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Easel Cards

Have you seen an easel card lately. Well I have just developed two different easel cards using Sparkle N Sprinkle stamps.

This first card is a round easel card using stamps from set209, Floral Berry.

Look how it is able to stand up. What a nice way to display this card if you were the recipiant

After working the round card up, I went back to a card design that I was having trouble finalizing. Well, the easel card made me come up with the final design using a stamp set called Medallions -Flowers Set208 from Sparkle N Sprinkle.

Here is the card closed.

Here is a side view of the card opened.

And here is a front view of tis card opened.

I love how this finally came together. These easel cards are easy, fun and really make quite a statement in their own right. If you look closely, you will see the vase in the background, behind the medallion flower. That flower is mounted on a transparency. I love the way this finally came together, don't you???

Well, that's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Making Your Own Background Paper

I have been in a mode to clean out and "thin the herd" so to speak. In my endeavor to clean out and rearrange, I ran across a stamp that I love to use to make a great background sheet. So I made a few sheets of background and then made a card using a piece of that background paper.

I start out using white or cream CS. Next I ink up the stamp using a shadow ink from Memories, then I take a darker dye ink and run it along the edge of the stamp.(Sorry the Fresco pad is so grundgy looking, this is my go to green. Love the Fresco colors and there are 30 different colors in all and they all remind me of Tuscany) The stamp I use is from Hero Arts, 2005, so, it's not available anymore but I bet you have something similar in your stamp stash.

So, when you stamp your CS you will get a rectangle with a darker edge. Getting started, I start in the center of the CS and stamp.

Next I reink the stamp in the same manner, ink the rubber in a softer color and then ink the edge in a darker color of the same color family, turn the stamp in the opposite direction and overlap the new image onto the stamped image already on the CS. You want to continue in this manner til the CS is totally covered. I find that right angle stamped images look better than randomly stamped rectangles all over the paper. But, you may find that you like that look, so try it and see which you like better. Next, cut your paper into the background size that you need and you now have a great background piece in whatever color you need. You can stamp an image onto it or layer over it.

Here is the card I finished,using my own background paper. This really lends itself to so many possibilities, don't you think??

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

For Mother On Her Day

I made this card with my mother in mind. She has been gone for 17 years and I still miss her. My mother loved to sew and she made all my clothes til I was in high school. My mother was so gifted, she could even make her own patterns. In her later years she quilted and I have two of her masterpieces.

She was a great cook too!!! Boy, I remember her making jelly and jam and spaghetti sauce and goetta and fruitcake. (Yep I am a fruitcake lover. Now don't get me wrong, there are fruitcakes, and then there are fruitcakes.) The only other fruitcake I have tasted that compares to my mother's, is from Gethsemani Farms, close to Bardstown Ky. Yummie, if you like fruitcake.

So, with her in mind, as she always is, I made this card.

The stamp I used is from My Sentiments Exactly. I stamped it in Versamark and embossed it in black using Black Detail (EP171) from Sparkle N Sprinkle. Next I trimmed all the way around the dress and added a thin piece of pink ribbon to look like a sash. If you click on the pic, you will notice that I used pink ribbon at the bottom of the dress. I used my Spellbinders frame (S5-011) on pink cardstock. Affixed the frame onto white glossy cardstock and and the white glossy CS to the pink card. Last, using dimensional tape,I popped the dress up on the white glossy CS. Hope this inspires you to make your mother a Mothers Day card.

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Saturday's Retreat

Last Saturday I attended a retreat for the Altered Arts group that I am a member of. We learned 3 new projects. We etched metal, made fairies and learned soldering. I took a soldering class a few years ago and really needed a refresher in this so I was quite happy to revisit this technique.We started out with soldering.

I have not mastered attaching jump rings yet. You need 1-2 more hands to get this set right. I did find a tool that actually will hold the piece, freeing your hands for other actions. Love it. I am looking forward to using it on the next soldering project.

Jump rings are not supposed to be laying flat.Isn't this just pitiful (LOL). I WILL master this. Soldering is really not hard but it takes a lot of practice to really master it.

This is a piece of glass that I bought at Michael's and I soldered tape onto it to make it look like a gift. It just needs a bow. I am working on that .

Hard at work on my soldering. You really need more than 2 hands.

Next we learned to make Fairies out of chenille, yarn, a bead, fabric strips and florist tape.

They need wings and then they will be true fairies. Aren't these cute?? I love these and they are so easy to make.

Last but not least we learned to etch metal. This works well with brass, tin, copper but does not work on aluminum. Muriatic acid, peroxide and baking soda for the rinse and after 15 minutes or so you have an etched piece.This is not hard to do but you really need to work in a ventilated area and wear eye protection and wear rubber gloves. Here is the end result:

The day was perfect and we had a great time learning 3 new projects.

My thanks to Angie, Carla, Beth and Sandi for their hard work in getting their classes together and for their time.

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Is it an envelope ?

I saw an interesting tutorial, using a die that normally makes an envelope. Using 4 envelopes you can end up making a box. Since I knew I had an envelope die I set off to try this. As luck would have it, my envelope die is way too big. So as I looked at all the dies I have, I ran across a smaller one and tried the technique. Here is the end result.

 After I made the box, I used patterned paper for the background panels and then added a stamped flower on each panel and to further enhance the box I added leaf ribbon. This will make a nice small gift box or a little treat box. I will post more info on how to make this cute box and include photos to show how easy it really is to do, on Sunday.

Tomorrow I will be getting ready for my brothers wedding so I will be to busy to post.

Well, that's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

It's Monday and it's still overcast and chilly

OK, when is spring going to get here..... and stay??? Today the weather was chilly and overcast. I am so ready for spring. So, on that note, I made a card that reminds me of spring. Maybe it's the yellow cardstock. I used another Sparkle N Sprinkle set to make a card with flowers. The yellow flowers are actually Apple Blossoms (3164-399G) but I thought a yellow color would look great on this card. The background is called Spring Branch Background (3162-399G) and really gave this card some punch. This card gave me spring fever, I'm sure of it. This is set 399 in case you might want to order a set for yourself.

Can't wait for all the flowers to be in bloom and warm days and warm evenings. It's coming, I can feel it.

Well that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara