Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 59

I love Waltzingmouse Stamps!

I actually own quite a few of them.

I only realized this when I was going through them to find something for the latest sketch challenge. ;)

I've been watching WMS sketch challenges for some time, always intending to participate but this is my first actual entry! And it's not even my favorite sketch!

I was inspired by a woman's shirt that reminded me of this sketch. The card actually looks NOTHING like what I started out to do. I started with a one-layer CAS card and ended up with something vintage!

Not my typical style and so I'm not sure if I nailed it or not.  ;)

I've had those gorgeous Maya Road pins for a little while just begging to be used. Finally got them in!  ;)

The snowflakes were heat embossed in silver. Then I sprinkled on a little loose powder and heated it from underneath to get it to stay put while I finished the embossing process on top. The blue panels were then inked up a bit and sewn around the edges.

The sentiment circle was created by clear embossing the stamp on white and then using 3 distress inks and a spritz of water.

The bow/flower was a serious pain. I had no idea how to do what I wanted to accomplish and ended up winging something else. I inked the silk ribbon with 2 distress inks (both sides) and then trimmed the sides to give it an antique, frayed look. The grommet stud (can't remember what the brand is) in the center is hiding the knot while glue and Scor-tape are keeping it together!

[Edited to add:] This card shared Top Mouse award with 2 other contestants! I'm so thrilled!!

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies}

• Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky (both Papertrey Ink), white card base (Recollections)
• Stamps: Musical Backgrounds, Season's of Love - Tags, Very Vintage Christmas (all Waltzingmouse Stamps)
• Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Antique Linen, Old Paper, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Smoky Sky Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Ranger)
• Dies: Circles (Spellbinders)
• Other Tools: sewing machine/thread, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), silk ribbon (Papertrey Ink), vintage pins (Maya Road), grommet/stud (unknown), clear and silver embossing powder (Filigree)

I Win!

Don't you love winning prizes??

Can you believe that I've won not one, but two prizes recently?!

I won a $500 gift certificate to a bra and swimwear store off of the radio! Something I desperately need!!

I also won 2 Paper Smooches sentiment sets from Lynn Miller's blog, Millers Ink! Check out the fabulous goodies I received!

She made a sweet packet for the stamps to go in!

And check out this card!

 This gorgeous tag was attached to the stamp packet:

Thanks so much, Lynn! (I made her a card but I don't know if I'm going to send it... It's def not my best work...)

Denim Rose(tte) Tutorial

I found a fabulous denim rosette tutorial at Craft Passion! Just what to do with the scads of jean cut-off scraps I have waiting for some crafty use!

CAS-ual Fridays: First Challenge!

If you are looking for this week's Playing in Paradise challenge post, please scroll down... (It also happens to work for this CAS-ual Fridays challenge!)

Today is CAS-ual Fridays' first challenge! I've been really looking forward to this since I already admire so many of the new Design Team members! The challenge is to use text on a CAS creation.

I have to say that this type of challenge is something I should participate in regularly... It was so quick and painless! I think I put too much pressure on myself when I make cards...

I've been waiting for just such a perfect time to pull out my Hero Arts My Type stamp set (isn't that CAS-ual Fridays graphic perfect?!). I stamped the typewriter first and then masked it off to stamp the strip of text in Versamark ink. I heat embossed with clear powder. I paper-pieced the page in the typewriter and then added rhinestones.

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Sweet Blush, Stamper's Select White
• Stamps: My Type (Hero Arts), Background Basics: Text Style II
• Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Versamark (Tsukineko)
• Other Tools: clear embossing powder (Filigree), rhinestones (dollar store), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Stamping Vacation DT: Lots of Paper Challenge

This month's Lots of Paper challenge over at the Stamping Vacation blog asks us to use paper that looks like fabric, such as linen or gingham. I hunted through my collection and was ecstatic to find some denim-looking paper!  With it, I created these:

I think of them as my "Bald Dragonfly" cards... I hope Karen doesn't mind! ;)

I couldn't decide which one I liked better...

Anyone have an opinion?

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Kraft
• Patterned Paper: denim (unknown brand)
• Stamps: Fillable Frames #1, Fillable Frames #2
• Ink: Dark Chocoalte
• Buttons: Terracotta Tile
• Other Tools: jute twine

Before and After

Remember the card dud here?

Well, I remembered a tutorial by Jennifer McGuire that mentioned she used a white gel pen to fill in white embossing issues.

So I went back and turned this:

...into this...

Still not perfect, but much better! Usable, even!

Perhaps that little white gel pen tip will benefit someone else out there!

Thanks, Jen!

The Stamps of Life: Card Dud

Edited to add: View the fix-up here!

Our sponsor this month over at the Stamping Vacation blog is The Stamps of Life. The exciting part for me was that I had actually already heard of this company and owned some of their stamps. They're so fun!

I decided to create a card that would show off the versatility of the stamp set youare2kind, but ended up making a dud. So why post it? Maybe in the hopes of reminding myself not to repeat errors!

I tried to make this in the easiest way possible. I placed all the stamps on the card and then applied a large block to them so I could stamp them all at once. Now I was actually wary of not getting enough Versamark on the stamps, but it made no difference. Next time, I will SATURATE!! ;) Or the mistake could have been uneven/un-thorough pressure on the stamping block...

Here, you can see my unmanicured, brutally dried out cuticles how the card looks when it is closed... It had potential. I think I would've added some bling if the card hadn't been a lost cause...

Feel free to give advice!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: True Black, Stamper's Select, Clear
• Stamps: youare2kind (The Stamps of Life)
• Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Pure Poppy
• Die: Small Scalloped border
• Other Tools: white and clear embossing powder (Filigree), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Papertrey Playhouse: Stamped Background (2)

How easy is it to create cards with stamped backgrounds? So fun!

I made another card with the Papertrey Playhouse stamped background challenge in mind...

This one was inspired by Lisa Johnson's argyle card from this post. Simple yet engaging!

I didn't like this card when I made it but liked it alright the next day... :)

The sentiment is hiding a stamping blooper (who hasn't had one of those?) but it ended up working out.

I love this color combo!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Blueberry Sky, Stamper's Select
• Stamps: A Little Argyle, Mega Mixed Messages (sentiment)
• Ink: Fresh Snow, Smokey Shadow, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
• Die: Labels 8 (Spellbinders)
• Other Tools: white gel pen (Signo Uni-ball)

Papertrey Playhouse: Stamped Background

The first challenge of the year is up at Papertrey Playhouse! Adele has asked us to get creative with stamped backgrounds. I decided to be daring and try something new for me.

I stamped a background pattern from Asian Fusion on to a section of vellum in Berry Sorbet. Then I used the tiny solid flower stamp to cover over the solid flowers with Pure Poppy. Using ink blending foam, I inked the edges and corners with the Pure Poppy, though it blended with the Berry Sorbet to make a lighter color.

After the vellum was dry (next day), I flipped it over and adhered it some white cardstock. Attached some gorgeous flowery tulle (discovery from Laurie Willison) across the front and pasted the whole thing to a Pure Poppy card base.

The sentiment is from Mega Mixed Messages, stamped in Pure Poppy on a Tiny Tag (Cuttlebug die), heat embossed with clear powder and edge-inked with Berry Sorbet. Threw on some silk ribbon and adhered to the card.

This card is different for me; I'm still on the bench about it.

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select, Vellum
• Stamps: Asian Fusion, Mega Mixed Messages
• Ink: Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet
• Ribbon: Bloomer's Deluxe Card (Webster's Pages) (gray), 1/4" wide silk (creamy-white)
• Die: Tiny Tags (Cuttlebug)
• Other Tools: clear embossing powder

Inspiration Moment: Heather P.

Heather of Witty Title Here posted this gorgeous creation here!

Love that white embossed vellum flower! The card and it's layers remind me yet again that I should use my Cricut more often! (She uses a Silhouette.)

Another Moment of Heart-Stopping Inspiration from Laurie

Oh. My. Goodness.

Enough said!

(Find Laurie's card here.)

Lawnscaping

Can you believe that there is now a challenge blog dedicated to Lawn Fawn stamps? I'm so excited! They're the cutest stamps of the most amazing quality! It's called Lawnscaping and the first challenge is All About Snow. The inspiration is incredible and the prize is any Lawn Fawn stamp set! I haven't had a chance to make up anything yet but wanted to pass along the link!

Inspiration Moment: Laurie

Laurie Willison of Soapbox Creations is one of my favorite creators and I couldn't resist posting some of her most recent cards...

On this one, I love the colors, I love the text frame and the crested border... I love the dotted background and the one rounded corner... I love Laurie's signature silver rhinestones, too!

 This one features delicious colors and engaging texture!

[Edited to add one more card!]

This stunning beauty was added Dec 30th!!

Blog Candy Giveaway and Mark's Finest Papers

Christmas approaches and t'is the season to give!

This month, Mark's Finest Papers is sponsoring the Stamping Vacation blog and, as a design team member, I received a beautiful stamp set to promote! So the team here at Aspiring to Creativity put together a lovely blog package for one lucky commenter to receive!

Included:
Mark's Finest Papers stamp set (as pictured)
Stampin' Up Christmas stamp set
Hero Arts stamp set
Basic Grey bitsy stamp set
Studio G assorted holiday stamp sets (2)
assorted American Crafts and other ribbons
Cuttlebug die and embossing folder (Tricks and Treats)
Cricut Cuttlebug Companion embossing folders (Once Upon a Princess)
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Frost and Peppermint Stick)
Tim Holtz Masks (Concerto Music and Flourish)

To Enter:
Go to Mark's Finest Papers and take a look at their excellent quality stamp sets! Choose one that you like, come back here and tell us which it is and what you like about it.

Also, if you have a blog, please post about our giveaway! Thank you!

End Date:
This giveaway will end November 30th at 11:59pm MDT. Comments will be closed at that time. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced sometime on December 1st.


Thanks for visiting!

Clear Christmas Cards with "Tinsel"

Glitter is so messy to work with, but none more so than tinsel glitter. *shudder*  Being glutton for punishment after a "brilliant" idea, I proceeded to work with it anyway, along with my Xyron and some vellum cardstock.

There are usually things I would change about completed cards and these are no exception. However, they're still very pretty! ;)

This one uses Papertrey Ink's Vintage Ornaments dies and Victorian Lace border die. Lots of silver heat embossing...

This card was inspired by this one from the most recent Denami Blog Hop. Sorry for the glare... The border is the negative from the Victorian Lace border. I got this idea from Niki Estes, though I do try to use my scraps.... :)

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

Vintage Ornaments

• Cardstock: Clear, Stamper's Select, Vellum
• Patterned Paper (envelope liner): Bitty Dot Basics
• Stamps: Inside & Out: Holiday, Vintage Ornaments
• Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Tuxedo Black (Memento)
• Other Tools: silver embossing powder (Filigree), Vintage Ornaments dies, Victorian Lace die, Xyron, Sterling Silver tinsel glitter (Martha Stewart)

Merry & Bright

• Cardstock: Clear, Enchanted Evening, silver (unknown brand), Vellum
• Patterned Paper (envelope liner): Bitty Dot Basics
• Stamps: Through the Trees, Signature Christmas
• Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Fresh Snow
• Other Tools: Labels (Spellbinders), silver embossing powder (Filigree), iRock and assorted rhinestones (Imaginisce), Victorian Lace border die (negative), Sterling Silver tinsel glitter (Martha Stewart), Xyron

Saddlestitch Ribbon Flower Attempt #1

Okay, so since the last custom card I made for a man's wife didn't work out, I tried one last time. (These cards also coincide with Papertrey Playhouse's Challenge #3 which is now over.)

I'm really happy with this one. The colors are what was further specified and the design is unique. I meant it to look like a present but not sure it turned out. The main thing I want to focus on is the ruffly thing...

Laurie gave a fabulous tutorial on how to make saddlestitch ribbon flowers (see photo below) and I failed miserably. I watched her video several times but didn't have it handy when actually making my creations. Hers are fabulously lush and fluffy.... Mine ended up falling tragically and woefully short. :(  In the photo above, I had to hide the deficiency with a brad (thanks, Mom).

My ruffly thing is a bit better this time around (I made the ribbon longer) but still not a flower... So I threw on another brad.

These cards actually only took an hour each for me to do, a sort of record for me! I think they're quite nice!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Blueberry Sky, Pinefeather, Stamper's Select
• Patterned Paper: Library Ledger, Christmas Prints, Bitty Dot Basics
• Stamps: Fillable Frames #9, Fillable Frames #4, Background Basics: Retro, Round & Round
• Ink: Versamark, Jumbo Java (Versamagic), Aegean Blue (Versamagic), Pure Poppy, Pearlescent Ivy (Brilliance)
• Ribbon: Blueberry Sky saddlestitch, Pinefeather saddlestitch, Pure Poppy saddlestitch
• Dies: A2 Envelope Liner, Fillable Frames #9

Crumpled Flower Tutorial

I happened upon a super easy crumpled flower tutorial here!

New Papertrey Playhouse Challenge

The latest Papertrey Playhouse challenge is too perfect! It's called Pop of Color and your creation must be black and white with, you guessed it, a pop of color! Shown below are Deb's inspirations from the PPH blog as well as her own! So awesome!! I love this type of color scheme! I'm entering my card from the Embellish Magazine challenge (even though it has gray in it as well) but I can't wait to make some more!

Cricut Cards

I really need to give Cricut cards more of a chance. I always intend to use terrific images from my cartridges for my papercrafting but usually get distracted with other tools and methods (like stamping!). But it is cards like these that remind me that there is definitely a place for the Cricut in the card-making realm!

Diane of Capadia Designs is a wonder with her Cricut, Design Studio and Gypsy and she has tons of freebies available! One of the things I like about this card is that she used vinyl for the sentiment... Apparently, it's great with detail cuts and the adhesive back saves you some time!

Linda of The Paper Boutique has tons of remarkable work but this card she made using SVG Cuts and Sure Cuts a Lot is too cute to ignore!

There are tons of other Cricut cards out there! Sites I get regular updates from are Everyday Cricut, Obsessed with Scrapbooking and Courtney Lane Designs.

CricutSearch.com is a new site available to help find images amongst your Cricut cartridges! Try them out!