Dirty sketches combined

It's been a hectic and stressful week for me - we've had some serious drama at work, and then we also had a pretty good earthquake to get all our nerves rattled pretty good! I've experienced a couple of pretty strong earthquakes in my eight years in California, but the one Tuesday was probably the strongest and the closest I've been to the epicenter. I'm just hoping there aren't any more coming any time soon! Anyway, I haven't done any crafting all week, and I am ready for the weekend so I can get back to it! In the meantime, here are a couple more cards from the Dirty Dares at Splitcoast. Both are sketch challenges that I also combined with another challenge. The first card is for Holly's sketch and Joan's silhouette image challenges. I stamped the image in three colors, and topped the darkest, top image with some tiny Kaiser Craft pearls. I love those little gems.
Supplies:
Stamps: Close as a Memory, CHF backgrounder
Ink: Basic gray, bayou blue, soft sky
Paper: basic gray, bayou blue, soft sky, vanilla
Accessories: ticket punch, gray taffeta ribbon, Cuttlebug, Kaiser Craft pearls, CM oval cutter, pre-punched vanilla scallop from LSS
The second card is for Jen's sketch and Taylor's cupcake challenge. I picked up this Whipper Snapper cupcake and the Hero Arts sentiment last weekend at a stamp/scrap expo. There wasn't much to the expo, so this was all I bought! The card measures 5.5 inches square.
Supplies:
Stamps: Whipper Snapper, Hero Arts, Short and Sweet from SU (tiny cupcake)
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copic markers
Paper: tempting turquoise, real red, pixie pink, Basic Grey Lollipop Shoppe
Accessories: Corner rounder, slot punch, stickles, ribbon

Dirty pick-ups

I think I need to give this stamp set back to my friend! It's been my go-to set lately! I used it for a couple of cards during the Dirty Dares. The first card was for Kittie's "Make a scene" challenge. I don't really think in "scenes" so this was a real challenge for me! I used the Loads of Love and accessories, along with the pine bough from Peaceful Wishes to make the trees. I did a ton of masking then sponged the background layers for road, grass and sky. I also drew in a few blades of grass here and there.
Supplies:
Stamps: Loads of Love and accessories, Peaceful Wishes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, Copics, caramel, chocolate chip, basic brown, green galore, hunter, soft sky, cool caribbean, turquoise
Paper: Kraft, pumpkin pie, handsome hunter, neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: hodgepodge hardware, ribbon and twine
This was for Michelle's masculine challenge! I made this card for Sean and the folks at NameMedia, the new owners of Splitcoast. I colored the truck with my Copics and printed the sentiment on the computer.
Supplies:
Stamps: Loads of Love and accessories
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics
Paper: Soft sky, chocolate chip, pumpkin pie, Neenah classic crest ivory
Accessories: twine, corner rounder, We R eyelets

More dirty dares

I managed to finish all 20 of the Dirty Dare challenges for the Splitcoast Fan Club! I was a stamping machine over the weekend. I combined six challenges in three cards, so I in all I have 14 cards complete. My card stash is nice and full now, which is a nice feeling! The first card was for Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge. Sharon always uses such wonderful ribbons and embellishments to make her cards look elegant and sophisticated. That's what I tried to do here.
Supplies:
Stamps: Heartfelt thanks
Paper: Old olive, mellow moss, vanilla, My Mind's Eye DP
Ink: Pumpkin pie, apricot appeal, mellow moss, old olive
Accessories: ribbon, Kaiser Craft pearls, CM oval cutters, pre-punched scallop oval
This card combined two challenges, Laura's distressing challenge and Christine's watercoloring challenge. I'm not a very good watercolorist, but I thought this image turned out pretty cute! or the distressing, I used my Tonic distresser on the edges of the layers, and sponged the saffron background layer. I also tore the designer paper and sponged that edge.
Supplies:
Stamps: Friends are like flowers
Ink: Stazon black, ruby red, saffron, bordering blue, hunter
Paper: Ruby red, saffron, watercolor, My Mind's Eye DP
Accessories: hardware, ribbons, tearing edge

The last of mini VSN

Today I'm sharing the last two cards I made for the mini Virtual Stamp Night this weekend. You can find out all about VSN HERE. The challenges are open through Aug. 8 and we'd love to have you join us for them. My first card is for JoAnn's challenge, based on the Shel Silverstein poem "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out." She challenged us to use only the things left on our stamp table to make our cards. Fortunately, I had quite a pile of scraps growing on my table; unfortunately, I didn't have much in the way of ink. I was limited to black stazon and four reinkers. So I flipped through the scraps and pulled out paper that went with my reinkers. I started by stamping the bloom in stazon and watercoloring it using pretty in pink and pomegranate reinkers, but I didn't like how it looked. So I did a pale pink watercolor wash over the top, then stamped the image again using pomegranate while the paper was still wet. I think it turned out pretty cool!
Supplies:
Stamps: Embrace Life, Amuse sentiment
Ink: Stazon black, pomegranate, pretty in pink
Paper: Basic gray, neenah classic crest white, pretty in pink, pomegranate, basic grey pink patterned paper
Accessories: ribbon, brads

The final challenge card is a surprise pop-up. Karolyn challenged us to use this technique, a challenge inspired by one of her kids' favorite childhood books. I had never made one of these before and found it to be a real challenge! I think the final card looks pretty cute, though!
Supplies:
Stamps: One of a kind
Ink: pretty in pink, pomegranate, chocolate chip
Paper: berry bliss, cocoa, pomegranate, pretty in pink, neenah classic crest white
Accessories: Nesties, CM circle cutter, ribbon, round tab punch

WINNER!!!!

We have a winner for the blog candy! Thank you all so much for entering. I hope to visit all of your blogs and galleries over the next few days and admire your work!
Now for the winner: I used random.org and here's what it came up with:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

6 

Timestamp: 2008-07-27 19:03:25 UTC

Number 6 is Robin (Tqmnurse). Congratulations! You can visit Robin's blog at http://tqmnurse.blogspot.com. Robin, email me at eliotstamps (at) gmail.com with your address and I will get your candy out this week!

Sushi for VSN

LAST REMINDER: The blog candy contest closes at noon Sunday, July 27! If you want to be entered in the drawing, click HERE!
Now on to the card: I made this for one of the mini Virtual Stamp Night challenges that went up Friday. Mandy's challenge called for using Dr. Seuss as inspiration for your card. I chose "One Fish, Two Fish" as my inspiration and pulled out my Stampendous Sushi set, and the sentiments, Sushi's Favorite Words, for this card. I figured the fish, the bright colors, and the funky fibers were pretty Seuss-like! If you'd like to play this or any of this month's VSN challenges, you can find out all the details HERE!
Supplies:
Stamps: Sushi, Sushi's Favorite Words (Stampendous)
Ink: Stazon black, bold bright markers
Paper: Tempting turquoise, pixie pink, green galore, pumpkin pie, Neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: Fibers, Stickles, Cuttlebug

July Mini VSN - Tim Holtz style

First, a REMINDER! My blog candy contest closes at noon, Sunday, July 27. If you haven't entered yet, go to this post to put your name in! Thanks to all who've entered so far!
Now, on to the main post. It's time for another round of mini Virtual Stamp Night! There are five new book-themed challenges to play over the next two weeks and we'd love to have you join us. You can find out all the details about Virtual Stamp Night by clicking HERE! The above card is for Luvlee's challenge - she was inspired by "To Kill a Mockingbird" and asked us to use distressing on our cards. It seemed like the perfect challenge for channeling Tim Holtz, so I pulled out this Stampers Anonymous image, my Tonic edge distresser and my foam blending tool to make this card.
Supplies:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous, Amuse
Ink: chocolate chip, bayou blue, soft sky
Paper: chocolate chip, bayou blue, soft sky, Neenah classic crest ivory
Accessories: ribbon, eyelets from We R Memory Keepers, distresser, sponges

The next challenge is from Jennifer/Badgergirl. She was inspired by the book "Sea Glass" and asked us to use the polished stone technique on our cards. Since I've been channeling Tim Holtz so much lately, I decided to continue with this card. I used my Ranger alcohol inks and metallic mixative to make the polished stone background and used the Stampers Anonymous image again. I also inked the hardware to make it look a little more aged and less bright. The Scenic Route chipboard butterfly was sponged in black ink, then spritzed with iridescent gold Glimmer Mist.
Supplies:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous
Ink: Ranger archival black, alcohol inks
Paper: taken with teal, more mustard, basic black, glossy white
Accessories: Making Memories hardware, suede ribbon, Scenic Route chipboard

Dirty dares in pumpkin

This week on Splitcoast, the Dirty Dozen and DD alumni are hosting a week of "Dirty Dares" for members of the SCS Fan Club. It's a way for fan club members to get to know the Dirty Dozen and have a chance to emulate their work. I've had a chance to play a few of the challenges so far this week, and here are the first couple of cards. For some reason, this week I've really been drawn to pumpkin pie, so it's showing up A LOT in my cards!
The first card is for a challenge from JulieHRR to create a clean, white, one layer card. I colored carefully with my Copic markers so the color wouldn't bleed through.
The second challenge combines the challenges of Mytime (Lauren) - to use a monochrome color combo - and Lauraly (Laurie) - to use vellum. Supplies for both cards are listed at the end of the post. But first two reminders:
1) Don't forget to enter to win the blog candy. You can enter HERE! The post will be open til noon Sunday, when I pick a winner.
2) Friday night, July 25, is the next mini Virtual Stamp Night, with five more book-themed stamping challenges. Please join us HERE if you'd like to play along. We'd love to have you.
Supplies:
Stamps: Embrace life, One of a Kind, Wonderful words, Amuse sentiment (thinking of you)
Ink: Memento rich cocoa, pumpkin pie, apricot appeal, Copic markers
Paper: Neenah classic crest solare white, pumpkin pie, apricot appeal, parchment vellum
Accessories: ribbon, Cuttlebug, Primas, tearing edge, brads, Stickles

Embossed anniversary

My friend asked me to make her a card for her in-laws' anniversary. I always like to offer a couple of choices, and these are the cards I came up with. I also used my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities for some dry embossing since that was the challenge this week at Our Creative Corner. The only request my friend had was to use blue, so the first card is traditional blues and the second card is a little more modern.
Also, don't forget to enter the blog candy contest if you haven't already! It runs through noon Sunday! Post a comment HERE to enter!
Supplies:
Stamps: Simply Said, Artfully Asian unknown sentiment
Ink: bashful blue, brilliant blue, soft sky, blue bayou, versamark
Paper: bashful blue, brilliant blue, soft sky, blue bayou, Neenah classic crest solar white, silver
Accessories: CB, nesties, ribbon, cord, embossing powder, ticket punch

A little cheer

Lately I've been making a lot of "Thinking of you" cards, since I seem to be going through them lately and can't keep them in my stash. So I sat down the other night to make another card to cheer a friend and just couldn't do it. I wrestled for two hours, tossing out several different images, scrapping layouts and more until finally, I went simple and came up with this card. I love the colors - so bright and cheerful, just what was in order for this particular occasion. It also reminded me of KISS - keep it simple, stupid! I'm generally happier when I keep my designs simple!
Also, don't forget the blog candy giveaway - it runs through Sunday at noon! Leave a comment on this POST to be entered.
Supplies:
Stamps: Simply said
Ink: Memento black, Copic markers
Paper: saffron, caribbean, green galore
Accessories: Nesties, CB, ribbon, Stickles, CM circle cutter

It's time for a little CANDY!

It's been more than a year, nearly 300 posts and finally, 10,000 hits for my little blog. That is definitely worth celebrating! I started this on a lark but found it to be a fun way to chronicle my crafting adventures (and occasionally share silly photos of my cat!) Thank you all for reading, commenting and coming back! As a thank you, I'm offering up a little blog candy: a magnetic post-it holder I made, a big bag of ribbon (25-30 yards, I lost count!) , a package of pink scalloped notecards, Doodlebug sugar-coated brads, yummy Prima fancy flowers and a package each of self-adhesive brads and rhinestones.
If you'd like to enter the contest, please leave a comment on this blog and either link me to your blog or your card gallery so I can see what my readers have been up to in their craft rooms. If you don't have either, say hello anyway! The contest will be open until noon Pacific time, Sunday, July 27, when I will pick a random winner.
Thank you again for visiting and good luck!

Scotch scraps and coming attractions

Today's card uses the sketch from Taylored Expressions' weekly challenge. I had some scraps left over from a card I made last weekend using my butterscotch alcohol ink and the copper and pearl metallic mixatives, so I stamped some flower images, and punched out a few more, and used those in place of the various circles in the sketch. It was a great way to use up some scraps and the pretty alcohol ink background did not go to waste then!
As for the coming attractions: I have managed to make five - yes five! - cards already this weekend, so I will have some fun things to share the next few days. Also, next Friday night commences the last of the summer mini VSNs (the big VSN weekend is in August) - hope you can join us for some great book-related challenges. And last, but certainly not least, my blog counter finally rolled over to 10,000!!!! Blog candy will be coming as a result. Stay tuned tomorrow for details!
Supplies:
Stamps: All natural, Simply Said, Friendship Flowers, All Year Cheer
Ink: Stazon brown, saffron, mustard
Paper: saffron, mustard, chocolate chip, glossy white, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Accessories: flower punch, Tonic distressor, alcohol inks, Cuttlebug, We R eyelets

RIBBON!!!!!

I found what could only be described as ribbon mecca over the weekend. There's a place in Long Beach, Calif., called Fabric Barn, but really it should be called Ribbon Barn. I had heard about for ages, but never managed to get there. Then this weekend I realized it was not that far from the stamp convention I would be attending. And it's not that far from my house! I couldn't believe the deals when I got there. Grosgrain and satin ribbon was five yards for $1 for 5/8-inch and eight yards for $1 for 1/4 inch ribbon. The spools of organdy ribbon in the picture above are 25 yards each and I got them for $1 each! The only exception was the white organdy with the black paw prints - it was $4 for 25 yards, but totally worth it because it is so cute! I will definitely go back for more ribbon soon. Oh, and the white in that mass is white twill - I thought it would be a fun change from the natural twill.
Also, for my few loyal readers out there, I will be giving away some of this ribbon and some other goodies in a blog candy giveaway in a few days, just as soon as my counter finally turns 10,000! Please keep checking back for the announcement!

More little pick ups

This little pick-up makes such fabulous Thinking of You cards. I've needed a few lately so I've been putting this set to work! It is so much fun to color with my Copics and the colors go so well with my Basic Grey Euphoria paper. Hopefully these will cheer the recipients.
Supplies:
Stamps: Loads of Love
Ink: Memento, Copics
Paper: orchid opulence, cool Caribbean, ballet blue, pretty in pink, Neenah classic crest solare white, BG Euphoria
Accessories: Ribbon, ticket punch, scallop punch, CM circle cutting system, eyelet, CB swiss dots

Hairball!

My friend Joni/jstarbright sent me a beautiful card and included a this fun little clear Inkadinkado stamp set inside! Joni is a sweetheart, but also has a sense of humor, as you can see! I decided my first card with this set would also be a great time to use my new Nestabilities. I had resisted them for the longest time, but then I found a good deal at the stamp show I attended over the weekend and figured I'd get one set and try them out. I got the petite scallop circles and I might just be in love! I got these because I knew I could use my Creative Memories cutting system to make plain circle layers. It worked great, but I suspect I will be investing in more Nesties soon.
Supplies:
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics
Paper: Taken with Teal, basic black, recycled product packaging for DP; Neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: Nesties, CM circle cutting system

Polished butterscotch

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. My mojo went MIA for a few days, then my computer had major issues which involved re-installing EVERYTHING! I basically had to rebuild from scratch. Also, I had not backed up my files in awhile, which was especially painful when it came to my I-tunes and my picture files. Yikes! Please learn from my mistakes - back up frequently!!!
Now, on to the card. I had the pleasure of watching Tim Holtz demonstrate all his great products yesterday at a stamp show in Carson, Calif. It was just Tim and his tools, and a group of his fans gathered around! I watched for probably an hour. He is amazing - he moves fast, isn't afraid of mistakes and has a great eye. My style is very different from his, but I learned a ton. (I also spent a little $$. Tim doesn't need a sales pitch. Once you've watched him for a few minutes, you want all the tools he's got!)
So today when I sat down to create, I knew I wanted to channel Tim. I pulled out my alcohol inks and played around, trying to remember some of Tim's tips. First and foremost, I was using too much of the metallic mixative. ONE DROP is all you need for a 12x12 piece of paper, according to Tim. I also wasn't leaving enough drying time between layers. My polished stone is much improved now! Thanks Tim.
The colors for this one were inspired by this week's Our Creative Corner challenge, which was an inspiration piece. I used my butterscotch alcohol ink with some blending solution and a drop of copper mixative to make a quarter sheet of polished stone paper. I then stamped the flowers in Versamark, embossed them in white, and cut them out. I also used my new Ranger Cut and Dry foam to do a very light sponge of saffron over the mustard-stamped sentiment. (You can click on the picture to see the details a little better.)
Thanks for a great challenge, ladies.
Supplies:
Stamps: All Natural, Friendship flowers
Ink: saffron, mustard, versamark
Paper: saffron, mustard, glossy white, Neenah classic crest solar white
Accessories: brads, sponge, alcohol inks

Punch of purple

I haven't been stamping much lately, but I need to get back in the groove. Challenges are usually a good way to do that for me. I'm enjoying the new blog Our Creative Corner and their weekly challenges and decided to give this week's challenge, a sketch from Jennifer, a try. It was a great sketch for this flower image I had colored with my Copics that was sitting, waiting for a card. It turned out to be a lot of PURPLE! I kind of like it, though, and it's definitely a color change for me!
Supplies:
Stamps: Embrace Life, A muse sentiment
Ink: Memories black, Copic markers
Paper: basic black, Neenah classic crest solar white, Basic Grey Euphoria DP, unknown purple cardstock
Accessories: CB swiss dots folder, May Arts ribbon, Stickles

Wishing it were fall

It is HOT HOT HOT! right now! I'm talking 100+ degrees this week! That has been the biggest change for me with my move. I went from coastal to desert and it has been quite a rude awakening! So I guess you could say I'm already looking forward to fall, when the nights start cooling off. This card represents my wish for fall! I am continuing my Cuttlebug coloring practice and this image is a fun one to color. I only have a few markers - I think 28 in all - but I've managed to get quite a few color combinations out of them. I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out!
Supplies:
Stamps: Small script, Friends are like flowers
Ink: Memento cocoa, Copic markers
Paper: chocolate chip, saffron, shimmery white, My Mind's Eye DP
Accessories: ticket punch, hodgepodge hardware, ribbon

My biggest challenge

My biggest card-making challenge is masculine cards! Especially masculine birthday cards! I think part of the problem is that I just don't own a lot of masculine stamps. And that ribbon is sort of taboo on men's cards! Ribbon and glitter are my cardmaking staples, and without them, I struggle! Still, I needed to make a card for my cousin's birthday, so here's what I came up with. I used kraft cardstock, twine and some sponging on the Cuttlebugged background for this card. I also used my Spica gold glitter pen to add some sheen to the candles - it's a little more subtle than Stickles or other glitter and worked well for this masculine card, I think. So tell me, what's your biggest card-making challenge?
Supplies:
Stamps: Birthday whimsy
Ink: night of navy, always artichoke
Paper: kraft, night of navy, artichoke
Accessories: twine, Cuttlebug die and embossing folder, Spica pen, sponge

Euphoria!

I just got an order of goodies from Lindsey at Jacksonbelle Embellishments, and in it was this fabulous Euphoria paper from Basic Grey! This paper is so deliciously yummy! Lindsey also is providing a prize for the latest challenge on the new blog Our Creative Corner. The challenge is to use Basic Grey! So this is what I came up with. The trio includes a card, a pillow box filled with ribbon and a magnetic post-it holder. The goodies were a gift to my friend Karolyn, who has been helping me with my Copic addiction!
For the card I used a retired Stampin' Up image from Friends are like Flowers and colored it with my Copic markers. I layered the image on gable green and cool Caribbean and mounted it on the base using dimensionals. The card base is Caribbean, with a layer of pretty in pink and then a piece of Euphoria. The pretty green satin ribbon is also from Lindsey's store.
I had this pillow box in my stash and filled it with a selection of pink and green ribbons (Karolyn's favorite colors). I then added a band of Caribbean with another piece of Euphoria. A layered scallop punch and more ribbon finished it off.
The post-it holder is a coaster covered in even more Euphoria; the removable clip has a magnet on the back. I finished it off simply with some Primas and brads and another bit of the green ribbon. Thanks Lindsey for the goodies, and thanks to the Our Creative Corner team for a super fun challenge!