Mojo Monday sketch challenge

This layout is the current sketch from the Mojo Monday blog. http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2010/03/mojo-monday-128-contest.html The sentiment is stamped using Anna Griffin clear stamps. They seem to go so well with her paper, in this case the green. On this one the circles are about 1 3/8" diameter. I like this size for embellishing a card with more going on. The center of the flower is a button with the shank cut off.

Dahlia fold cards

I love Dahlia fold flowers so I was really glad to see the tutorial on the Stars and Stamps blog. I'd done some in the past but had forgotten how they were done. The refresher video was great!

http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2010/03/cardmaking-301-dahlia-fold.html This first one is a really big flower but it worked on this simple layout. The flower is made from 2 pieces of wrapping paper glued back to back and then cut with a scalloped circle die from Nestabilities. The gold backing circle is a larger size die by far. The center embellishment is made from the foil (not plastic) from the top of a wine bottle. It is adhered to chipboard and die cut in a circle. After dry embossing it in a Cuttlebug folder I added some Sharpie ink to the background. I really like how it came out! The Dahlia fold is great for making cards you can mail at first class rates. They fold flat but pop up when taken out of the envelope.

Stars and Stamps Color Challenge #2

Caro took this yummy photo at the Pikes Place Market in Seattle. Isn't it beautiful? One look and I knew just what I wanted to use for the background paper on my card. It is a Canson paper napkin. Ironed onto the shiny side of Freezer Paper from Reynolds it has enough body to adhere to cardstock.

The sentiment is done on the computer, then cut with a Nestabilities die and layered on another circle cut with a scalloped Nestie die. The hearts are cut with a Sizzix die. Flower is a Prima. The colors feel so fresh and warm. May they touch a child's heart.

Stars and Stamps Sketch #6

Velda's sketch came at just the right time for me. I'd purchased these wonderful dollar stamps by Inkadinkado and hadn't inked them up yet. The focal square on the sketch is the perfect use for them.

When I bought this stamp I knew I wanted to use it with this paper but didn't have an idea how. This layout is so easy to use and lets the patterned paper show so well. The image was stamped on the cream and the kraft papers which were cut and layered. The flower was colored using Prismacolor pencils.

I love the look of sunlight on the sea. On this one I also stamped on 2 papers, a light blue and white. It was colored with Prismacolor pencils, cut and popped on foam before layering. The silver corner pieces are die cut using a Cuttlebug die.

Stars and Stamps Masculine card challenge

Success! Wee Henry is camping out on my computer. He is a Hambo digital stamp that we were able to use for our mid-week card challenge at Stars & Stamps. He actually looks like someone I know...but I'll never say who, lol. Wee Henry and the sentiment were printed out using the computer and then colored with Prismacolor pencils.
Thanks to Sandy for helping with the digital download and to Tim and Monica Hunter of Hambo stamps! http://www.hambostamps.com/index.htm

Stars and Stamps sketch #5

Here is the sketch Caryl shared with us on the Stars and Stamps blog. I had fun playing with it. Not being a texter I had to look up ones to use with the Paul Texting image! Thank goodness for Google and the internet.

I'm in love with Mo Manning's digital images. She is a wonderful illustrator and we cardmakers are so lucky to get to use her work! If you haven't been before may I recommend going to her blog- http://digitalpenciltoo.blogspot.com/ I printed the image and sentiment with the computer. He was colored with Prismacolor pencils. The printed papers are from DCWV's Rock Star pad.

This little super hero and the sentiment were printed with the computer. He was colored with Prismacolor pencils. The blue patterned paper is an envelope liner.

Making cards for Operation Write Home I often wish I had more images for boy's cards. Mo has some great images of toddlers, boys and teen boys. They are such a pleasure to use. This little super hero is one image from a 4 image set. I'm already working on cards for the other 3 little heroes.

Reverse stenciling with color sprays

Reverse stencils can be as simple as leaves resting on a sheet of paper over which you spray with color or done using masks. I die cut Reynolds Freezer paper using my Sizzix to create masks. It was easy to iron the mask onto the paper but don't use too hot an iron or it won't come off. (Ask me how I know!) Tim Holtz has some very cool commercially produced masks which can be used this way.

These freezer paper masks were applied after I had done waxpaper resist on white cardstock before adding color sprays. The wax paper was run through the Big Shot using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The wax paper is placed between 2 sheets of cardstock and ironed until the wax melts. The wax then resists the spray ink creating an interesting pattern.

Any color sprays can be used. I made my own using Posh Impressions Inkabilities and small travel size spray bottles from Target. You need to add the inks to water until it reaches the strength you like. Trial and error on this one.

The bunnies made a cute background for an Easter card. I used The Cat's Pajamas stamps for the grass and sentiment. The egg is actually a small playing card I've had for some time.