Secret Sister Monthly Image - March

So this is my March submission for the SS Monthly Image Challenge. Our hostess this month was Imke and she gave us Birgitta from CC Designs. She's part of their "Swiss Pixies" group (Birgitta ... not Imke!). Imke also challenged us to use the sun charm on our card as well.

Since Imke sent me 3 images, I decided to use the Paper Tole technique. The "HOW TO" of paper tole is pretty simple: A duplicate of an image is stamped on a different paper, colored and carefully cut out. This duplicate is then mounted on top of the original with foam mounts, causing it to be raised (3D) and enhancing the natural shape. I popped her hair, boots, flower and leaf. I was going for something different. My husband HATED her hair ... "it looks too boufy" Whatever.

But then ... I wasn't sure. I wasn't crazy about how I colored her dress soooo, I used the third image to create a different card. Though ... looking at it now, the layout is pretty much the same!


Supplies
Card 1: Stamps: Birgitta, CC Designs; Miss You, SU
copics, MS punch, Nestibilities, ribbon, crystal effects, pop dots, stickles, SU embossing folder

Card 2: Stamps: Birgitta, CC Designs; Just Because, unknown
SU flower punches, Sizzix sizzlet swirl punch, Nestibilities, Sizzix embossing folder, brads, ribbon, bling, copics

Secret Sister Monthly Image Swap

OK, so a group of us on SCS are swapping images and then making cards from the this same image each month. This month's hostess with the mostess is Linda. She sent us "Waiting Tilda" to use ... a very cute image. I also used paper and other goodies sent to me from my Secret Sister (thanks, sis ... I loved the little berries and sentiment!) We have some seriously talented crafters in the group; check out the gallery of the cards on SCS!

For the most part, I like my card. In hindsight I wish I had embossed the pink rectangles BUT since I sewed them together ... I will live with it (seriously, it was bugging me so much that I almost took it apart to redo but then I forced myself to just get a grip!) The indentation on the rectangle is complements of my youngest who was coloring on top of it (eek!) Apparently he has a REALLY strong coloring style since it made a crease!

Supplies: stamps: Magnolia (I suspect that the sentiment and berries are as well, but I'm not entirely certain since they were part of a swap.)
Paper: Color: Stampin Up Melon Mambo, White: Neenah
Accessories: MS punch, copics, Crystal Effects (on Strawberries), Nesties, Sewing Machine.

Belated Valentines Day

It's past Valentines Day but ... I'm still posting my cards. Sorry. I'm a little behind the curve ... which is kinda the story of my life!

Here's the story on this card: I was browsing Facebook (the place where I seem to spend much of my free time sad to say) and I saw that Whipper Snapper had this cute football stamp in honor of the Super Bowl. The catch was that you had to spend $25 to get him. Sadly, it is not difficult to spend $25 in their store. I bought the policeman as a "what the heck" sort of purchase and LOVE HIM. I haven't even inked the football stamp but I've made three cards with Mr. Copper. Moral of the story ... spur of the moment purchases CAN be good.

Supplies:
Card One: Whipper Snapper Designs "Copper" stamp, SU stop sign

Card Two: Penny Black dog, SU phrase

More Craft Kits

You can't tell from this picture .... but this card is REALLY cute. The black and whites in this card are making my camera fit to be tied and well, these are not the best images I've ever taken. Sorry.

The better news is that this is the LAST post I will be making from this computer. I'm saying a not so sad sayonara to the Dell and a happy "hello" to the Mac. I can not say I will miss the sticky keys at ALL!

These cards are two that I made using my kits for Lena's High Hopes Card Kit Swap on Splitcoaststampers. It's not too late to sign up.

My first Valentines of 2011

I have to say that I had a rough time getting back into the crafting saddle. After the craziness of my Christmas crafts I was just plum worn out. My mojo had taken a hike and my crafting area looked like a bomb exploded over it. In fact, it took two entire days just to clean up!

So when I finally sat down ... I decided to go easy on myself and just do a card kit. Dipping my toes in the world of stamping so to speak since I didn't have to think about images, matching paper or even embellishments. This was a great kit. It's from my stamping sister Angela (MonkeyMama). She knew of my love of soft pinks and Mo Manning when she compiled this kit.

My companion as always, was Romy.

She looks slightly annoyed here because I had just moved her rump so she wasn't actually standing ON the card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Mo Manning digi image
All other items by SU: antique brass hardware, Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, flower punches, sewing machine

More Halloween

I'm back with more October holiday cards. If I were only allowed to keep 10 Stampin Up sets (out of the kabillions that I've bought), Best Fiends would make the cut. That's how much I love it. Frank and the witch from this same set are my number one "go-to" Halloween stamps.

And in keeping with the green skull theme I've got going, here is another Halloween card. These little guys are from DRS (except the sentiment which also comes from Best Fiends). The stamps are Ghost Family Portrait and Ghost in Socks. I popped the front ghost with pop dots. How stinking cute are those socks?

Back tomorrow with the last of the Halloweenies

It's November

Can you believe it's here already? And you know what that means ... fruitcake, mistletoe and Christmas are lurking around the corner. And even though snow is predicted this week, I can't really get into the fa-la-la spirit. So, for now, I'm going to share some more Halloween cards.

I bought a ton of new Halloween stamps this year (yikes, don't tell Ken) and this little mummy leapt into my cart as soon as I saw him. I hummed "Walk Like an Egyptian" all the way to the cash register.

This second card's stamps are from Stampin Up. I have a tendency to use the little skeleton and dog from the same set quite a bit but had never inked the bird up. It was the perfect image for a bird loving friend. I like the way it turned out (sorry for the blurry image). I'll be back later with .... yup, more Halloween.