Outlines Bleached Tulips

Outlines Rubber Stamp Company challenge: http://outlineswithkathy.blogspot.com/ gave me the incentive to use a Bleach It Or Not stamp  to create a card using the Bleach technique.  I stamped the image on a dull red cardstock that I had then used Spellbinders dies to cut out ovals.  A bit of torn edges, a corner rounder punch,  and a couple of layers then completed this card.  I'm still thinking of adding a bit of bling...but for now......

Swarovski Crystal Cat

Well, it may be 98 degress outside at 7:30pm ...soooo hot!  A perfect time to think of Halloween coming...cooler weather for sure!  Outlines Rubber stamps has a Keep it Krafty challenge - use Kraft paper as a focal point of the card.along with an Outlines rubber stamp.  I took a couple of my favorite Outlines stamps and began. Using Spellbinders ovals, I created the frame for the stamped, embossed in gold, and jeweled (swarovski crystals)Cleopatra Jewel  cat.  A little bit of Stickles was used to accent the round crystals in Cleopatra's ears and eyes. Then I took a piece of Kraft paper and wrinkled it by wadding it in a ball.  I pealed it open, lay it flat, and stamped the large Spooky Layering Collage stamp.  I pop dotted the cat frame on the stamped kraft paper, mounted that on a black paper, and mounted thw whole on the Kraft paper card.  now.....just waiting for Halloween!

PolkaDot Flower

A wonderful challenge from The Shabby Tea Room sponsored by Joan's Gardens; with inspiring colors of pinks and lime green, and I was ready to look around my craft room for appropriate "stuff". I used pink and green polk-a-dot papers, a piece of green and pink gingham (look closely) ribbon, a pink polk-a-dot flower and a lime green one that I co-joined and then added a center made from the ribbon; "warm wishes" stamp from Amuse Artstamps and Flourish stamps from Heartfilelt creations.  Stickles (cotton candy) was used to add dimension to the flourish.  I hope I'm invited to help eat the cupcakes!

............."recycled" New Happy Birthday

 There was "something" about the tile card I made several weeks ago that just didn't please me.  Naturally I decided to tweak it/fix it.   Only the "tile" remains after the teardown/salvage.  This is the new design.  Using Just Rite stamps and May Arts Ribbon, some FlowerSoft gold braid, Art Institute glitter, and a bit of bling and a couple sheets of cardstock were items used.    I first stamped/embossed  the Just Rite flower image on a piece of cardstock, then cut it into 9 one inch squares.  A tiny just rite stamp was used to create a "background" around the floral image.  Glitter was applied and squares were reassembled to form the whole flower.  Adding a bit of this and that, making the ribbon rose, and voila, the card came together.

A Little Bit of Romance (basket)

 

 A fun challenge was issued at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/.  Guest designer  Sue Walsh (http://a-consuming-passion.blogspot.com challenged us to use her tutorial to create our own similar project.  Using the provided heart shaped basket template, I started by using shiny gold cardstock as my basket base.  Then it was off searching my "stash of stuff" to find decorative elements.  I used:  silk ribbon (to create the lavender rose), glass beads, white and purpose pearls, paper flowers,  and laces.  Lots of glue and sticky fingers later, my basket it done.  A sweet little gift bag, I think.

Challenge Box

Oh!  what a great challege/tutorial that is at Joan's Garden.  Her garden blooms with flowers.  The challenge was to take a regular piece of typing paper and following the directions create a hammered metal look.  Instead of a cigar box which was highlighted in the http://glendabrooks.blogspot.com/2011/06/very-first-guest-designer-for-joans.html%20l tutorial  (which I didn't have) I repurposed an empty Schwan's box.  Instead of white typing paper, I had a piece of black and used silver, frosty blue, and a touch of pink Luna Lights paint (didn't have any reinkers!)  I love the resulting look!  Next was to create a paper flower - the tutorial used Spellbinders, ah ha!  so I did too.  After spraying color on the dozens of petal layers, I pierced them with a pearl brad.  The rest was box top decoration.  I wanted a simple/classic elegance which I tried to create using pearls, white roses, and a lace headband.  Lace headband?  Yep, that is what I am going to store in my new box!

Thank you Joan's Garden :)

Flip Flops

Ready for the beach!  I simply tied (knotted twice)  4" pieces of ribbon along the thong tops to create this jazzy pair of flip flops.

Umbrella at the Beach

What, No stamping?? No, this stairstep card (instructions on Splitcoast Stampers) was made using squares of May Arts ribbon.  The squares were folded, folded, and folded again to create the triangular shapes that a beach umbrella has.  Torn sandpaper sprinkled with flowersoft created the sandy beach, while copic markers and a cloud mask created the ocean/sky.  Shells found at the beach were used to embellish the card and I took a relaxing shortcut and used a label maker for the word "relax"...simple!