Crafty Cat's Gorgeous Christmas Candles

Crafty Cat 957 has the most beautiful products available for download for crafters who want to try their hand at paper pieceing.  You can use your cutting machine, or scissors to cut the ready to go designs she creates.  For these cards I used her Christmas Candles This comes with mats, background papers, and two sizes of candle sets (holly, berries, candles, and flames) for you to use.  I did some sewing machine stitching to accent the top mat, and used some stickers, (or stamps) for the Merry Christmas sentiment.  Thank you Tracy for the beautiful, beautiful cards, and for being a part of my life.  

Believe

Some things have to be believed to be seen....These are some of the cards I've been working on today for our doctors, lawyers, merchants and chiefs!  These "Some things have to be believed to be seen" sure fit with "seeing is believing" with all my medical adventures this past year.

The products are stamps and punches and dies by Stampin Up. These products are available from Demonstrator Kathy Legan's store.

The blue paper is a Stampin Up product, together with stickers that I buy at Pop Ups Etc

The red paper is also SU, but it is overlayed with a vellum embossing and cutting folder by Marianne Designables.  # Ds0908.    The poinsettia is cut from vellum (Spellbinders die:  S5-055 Layered Poinsettias) This is burnished with Tim Holtz Distressing ink (festive Berries)  The Snowflake and gold tree are stickers also from Pop Ups Etc

Dramatic Christmas

The at Joan's Gardens Challenge this week is to create a black and white Christmas card, that has a frame.  The frame is created with Scor-Pal scoring on the outside edges of the black mat for this card, and it does not show well in the photo. I thought that using other frames detracted from the ornament itself, so I tried the more subtle one.  All the products except the pearls can be purchased at Joan's Gardens store.  The black matte is lightly embossed with Sizzix Holly Swirls and Sheet Music embossing Folders, set #657139.  The ornament is created using onyx high detail Versamark, embossed with black embossing powder on a Memory Box stamp (Drop Ornament Outline #G1877.  The Drop Ornament is cut from Memory Box Style #98378 die.  The Seasons Greetings sentiment is a sticker.  1/8 inch white satin ribbon, and Gelly Roll Clear Star pen highlighting some of the stamp's intricate details finishes this card.  If I was going to do this card again, I would stamp the ornament outlines on shiny photopaper, or on a shimmery white paper.

Craft and Red Thinking of You

This card is created for this week's challenge At Joan's Gardens, where we are to use craft colored paper (and red), and a bird  to create our card.   The sentiment is from Sizzix Textured Impressions Butterfly Migration set (656982) that is embossed with Core d'inations craft colored paper, sanded, then bunished with Tim Holtz Old Walnut Distressing ink. There are two little birds on the top of this embossing folder. The edges are punched with an old Emagination punch.  The red poppy is created with a Sizzix die from Susan's Garden collection (the Poppy  #658416). The  little bird is stamped onto a C&K decorator paper matte  with Old Walnut distressing ink using a La Blanche Stamp (#1276)  All of these products are available at Joan's gardens except the old Emagination punches.

Pink and white Thinking of You

This pink and white card with curves, flowers is created for the At Joan's Gardens Challenge this week  I used Marianne Design Designables DS0908, (with lots of curvy detail) available from Joan  for the pink and white paper topper (paper "Pink Distressed" by Recollections (Michaels)  The butterfly is spritzed with Sparkle Shimmer Spritz, and is cut from Spellbinders S4-395 Shapeabilities Les Papillions 2.  The butterfly's body is a little snip from Spellbinders Nestabling.  The little silver flowers are accents from the Thinking of You Sticker set by Starform.  These products are all sold at Joan's Gardens. The center oval is cut with a Lifestyle Crafts oval die, and burnished with Pretty in Pink (SU) ink. The edges are all  outlined with a Gelly Roll Clear Star pen. 

Papers 'N Pixels Club Fall Kickoff

We had our first meeting of the Fall for the Sun City Papers 'N Pixels Crafters Club today.   We elected officers, (see them HERE) and shared projects and planning for upcoming meetings and the Operation Write Home Workshop (on October 10th).  During the Make-it-and Take-It workshop, the President, Kathy Legan, (who is also a Stampin Up Demonstrator) helped us create some wonderful cards.

This one is a card we made where we tried out "faux tiling" using our scoring boards and doing some masked-sponging. 

This card is a gel card, where we used hair-setting gel that had been colored (with re-inker), over a stamped  sea-themed background. (The stamps are from By the Tide --SU #129120)

 Demonstrating masking and sponging techniques on the faux tiling card.

Some of the members learn how to position the die for the gel card.

Modified Tri Shutter Card

I created this card following Kim Score's tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.  I used decorator paper from my stash which I believe was from a Colorbok pad, and Core-dinations teal paper for the card-center matting.  I used stickers by Starform that I get at Pop-Ups etc and a K&Company paper flower.  The die for the leaves is a Marianne Creatables LR0156, purchased at Joan's Gardens.  The 'I love you' die is from SU Label Card Thinlits Dies collection (133479) and the hearts are also from SU, Fashionable Hearts Embosslits.  Fun card, and so versatile and quick.

Autumn Thank You Card

This card is created for the At Joan's Gardens challenge this week where we are to use fall colors, leaves, and trees or a bird for an Autumn themed card. The autumn leaf paper background is Shades of  Autumn by Reminisce.  The gold border and corner edging is an outline sticker I got at pop-ups etc. The sentiment greeting is a Starform Sticker (#303 (Text Stickers).  The dies I used are Spellbinders Nested Leaves Shapeabilities (S4-321).  Edges are glittered with Ranger's Stickles Glitter Glue.  The mulberry paper leaves are commercial.   The little bird is created with a SU punch.   The dies and glitter, and stickers are available at Joan's Gardens Store  as well as popups, scor-tape, and rhinestone accents and all your basic crafting supplies.

Autumn Leaves Birthday Wishes

This card is created for the At Joan's Gardens Challenge this week where we are to use fall colors, leaves and a bird or a tree on our card.  The textured cardstock base is sponged with Tim Holtz Old Paper and Walnut distress inks using masks on the negative cuts of the leaves. The leaves are die cut from Tim Holtz Alterations Bigz Die 656927 Tattered Leaves.  The brown cardstock leaves were pressed onto Kaleidacolor Autumn Leaves inkpad and then heavily spritzed with Gold Tushinko Spritzer.  The base for the leaves is die cut from Labels 20--Spellbinders S5-026 Die.  The cream colored paper for the sentiment has been pressed onto the Autumn Leaves Kaleidacolor inkpad to create the marbled background for the leaves and the top Fancy Tags Two S5-030 tag.   The oval on top is punched, and topped with Starform gold Happy Birthday sticker (#300 Starform Text  Stickers).  The little golden swallows are stamped with a little bird from Elementary Elegance stampset by SU, and heat embossed with detail gold Ala Mode embossing powder. All of these dies, inks, and spritzes, are available at Joan's Gardens.
 

Autumn Greetings

For the At Joan's Gardens Challenge this week we are to use fall colors, leaves, and either a bird or a tree on our card.  For this greeting I have used fussy cut leaves inked with Kaleidacolor Cappucino ink, and spritzed with Tushinko Gold Spritz Shimmer.   The stamp is an Inkadinkado Single Maple Leaf Mini.  The Maple Leaf with the sentiment is a Close to My Heart stamp A1130 called Bountiful Seasons.  The Stamp is die cut with Heartfelt Creations HCD732 Flower Pots with a gold leaf penned edge, and brushed with Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Old Paper.)  These products are available at Joan's Gardens.  The little bird is the center of the Four Seasons (Autumn) stamp from SU that was inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Marker (Rusty Hinge).  The cream matting is embossed with a Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder.  The brown cardstock base is by Bazzill (Cinnamon Stick) The rich gold glimmer over the leaves lights up this card.  Thank you Joan for another wonderful challenge.

Chickadee Winter

This wonderful textured chickadee paper is from the K&Company Elizabeth Brownd paper collection. I have used Sizzix 658283 Stamp and Emboss Snowflake background set that is heat embossed with Ranger Holographic embossing powder (which doesn't show well in the photo, but makes the card front glittery and icy).  Each snowflake is centered with a tiny pearl.  The Merry Christmas sentiment is stamped from a SU Delightful Dozen stamp, brushed with Tim Holtz old paper distress ink (and inked with the red brick Tim Holtz distress ink pen).  The sentiment is mounted on Spellbinders S5-030 Fancy Tags Two die sponged with old paper distress ink  and lightly brushed with green ink .  Most of these products are available At Joan's Gardens. 
The challenge this week at Joan's Gardens is to create a Christmassy card with warm cozy colors, snowflakes, and reflecting a Christmas theme.

Getting ready for Operation Write Home

I will be working with stickers in the card-workshop coming up at Sun City in October.  I want to thank the owners of Pop-Ups Etc for their very generous support of this Operation Write Home project that we have undertaken this year.  I buy almost all my stickers, foils, and holographic supplies from them.  I add sentiments, borders, or basic stickers to almost every card I make.  Here are a few of the example cards that we will feature in the upcoming workshop.  Again, our appreciation to the Stevens and their Pop Ups Etc store.  Thank you for  the wonderful tutorials, inspiration and new ideas on your site.  We so appreciate your generous donation of materials and papers for Operation Write Home this year, and we know our servicemen and women will treasure the cards creatively created with stickers.

Snowman Flip Card

This card is created for At Joan's Gardens using warm and cozy colors, a Christmas theme, and snow flakes. The snowflakes are on the cute two-sided designer paper called North Pole by Doodlebug Designs Inc. The Merry Christmas sentiment and edge borders (rings) and silver snowflakes are stickers available at Joan's Gardens through Elizabeth Craft Designs various Starform sticker options.   The snowman is a Dazzles stitched snowman sticker. (I also get stickers from Pop-Ups Etc.) The flip card is created with Stampin Up's Label Card die. I have used Stickles diamond glitter and rhinestones to finish this card, both are available at Joan's Gardens.

Christmas Cutout

The Challenge at Joan's Gardens this week is to create a Christmas Card in red and green, and include a cutout and stamped design, and theme it something from nature.  This Card uses the beautiful die, Swirling Snowflakes by Memory Box (98653), available at Joan's Gardens, punched through with Spellbinders Classic  Scalloped Ovals S4-113. By the way this is adhered with Glue n Seal available at Joan's gardens, That oval is backed with green mirror paper from Walmart, and edged in Stickles Star Dust. The centerpiece snowflake is a stamped and then stickered over silver paper Dazzles sticker, accented with Kaiser scrapbook Rhinestones I got at  Joans Gardens. The heat embossed green glitter sentiment is from an SU stampset Delightful Dozen.  My SU Demonstrator is Kathy Legan (my next door neighbor--lucky me).  Here's my first card for the challenge.

For Gerry J with sympathy

This card is for a friend and is created with Joy Crafts  6410/0017 flower stamp (from At Joan's Gardens), colored with SU Really Rust inks, and Tim Holtz distress markers with platinum Stickles touching them up. The inside sentiment is stamped with SU Thoughts and Prayers, "Praying for friends to comfort you, faith to uphold you, and loving memories to heal your heart."  The Thinking of you sentiment on the card front is from SU Sassy Salutations stampset. The delicate background is from SU in By the Tide. The paper ribbon is punched from a Fiskars edge punch, and the butterflies are SU Embosslits Beautiful Wings, spritzed with gold Tuskineko Shimmer.  Rhinestones are from Michaels.

 My Stampin Up demonstrator is my dear friend and next door neighbor, Kathy,  and I invite you to her website for tips and product information about SU.

A Matter of Moments

The card is created for At Joan's Gardens Weekly challenge  to create a vintage card, use scenic patterned paper, a bird, and a die cut sentiment.  The green matting papers are by Core-dinations (Tim Holtz) available at Joan's gardens.  The die I used to cut out the bird and sentiment is Spellbinders Labels 17( S5-025), sponged in Distress Ink Old Paper and Forest Moss available from Joan  The patterned paper is by Gypsy Chick (Pinkpaislee Butterfly Garden Flower Blooms).  The hummingbird and sentiment stamp is from Elements of Style (SU), and is inked in SU Old Olive.  Coordinating grosgrain ribbon and pearls finish the card.

OOPS!   This is not this week's challenge---it is last week's closed one!  

The Language of Friendship

This week for the At Joan's Gardens challenge we are to create a card using a purple and white theme with a die cut using the negative, a textured layer and leaves. This card is created with purple shimmer paper and purple gingham ribbon that is a sewn in flat bow that I taught in a tutorial at Papers and Pixels in the March 2013 edition of the Magazine.   The die I used is the Small Gothic Arch by Poppy Stamps #857 available at Joan's Gardens, and the texture is the Tim Holtz Embossing Folder Brick and Woodgrain Set of Texture Fades Sizzix 65664 also available from Joan brushed with Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Old paper).  The stamp and punches for the bird and flowers are by S from Language of Friendship Collection .

Welcome Home

This purple and white card is created for the At Joan's Gardens Challenge.  We are to use flowers, leaves, a textured layer, and a cutout.   The textured layer is under the cutout and is embossed with SU's Vintage Wallpaper. The cutout is created with the Romantic Rectangles (Spellbinders S5-059 that is edged with purple Copic V09) The two-sided decorator paper is by Rebok and the leaves are die cut from the green reverse of that paper. They are cut and trimmed from Holly Flourish  Cheery Lynn Borders B148.  The sentiment is Just Rite's Large Fancy Sentiments (all the dies and the Just Right Stamps are available At Joan's Gardens. The butterfly stickers are by  Dazzles, and the flowers are organza flowers by SU. The dies used for the White and Purple mat for the stamp are Spellbinders S5-030 Fancy Tags Two.

Purple Thank You

The Challenge this week at Joan's Gardens is to use the negative cut of a die, a textured layer, and leaves, worked in purple and white. For this card I used the gorgeous Marianne Designables DS908 which is die-cut through with the Large Spellbinder Fancy Tags S5-030.  This is cut through the textured  layer and stamped in Ink it up violet ink.  The Flower is sponged and backed with a lavender plaid ribbon (stash.)  The leaves are die cut from Flower and Leaves, Marianne Creatables (Lr0156.) All these products are available at Joan's Gardens. The sentiment stamp is SU Sassy Salutations. The paper is shimmer by core-dinations.

Cupfull of Good Thoughts

This card is a 5x5 inch card for the Joan's Gardens Challenge.  We were to use a doily, stacked up flowers, greenery and floral paper.  The floral paper is from K&Company's exclusive ancestry.com pad of designer paper.  The Cup is the largest stamp in the Heartfelt Creations China Fragments Precut set (that coordinates with Nested Tea Cups die. HCPC 3472).  The stamp is inked in brown Stazon on watercolor paper and colored with Tim Holtz Distress Markers.  This is finished with 3D Crystal Lacquer by Hobby Craft dotted over the edges of the cup and over the flower detail "porcelainizing" it.  The greenery is Cheery Lynn Borders die Holly Flourish (B148).  and the little stacked up flowers are punched. The doily is commercial (from under my cup in a restaurant) and is sponged with Tim Holt's Old Paper Distress ink.  Thinking of you is from a SU set.  The matting is sewing machine stitched with a decorative stitch using Madera rayon shimmery thread.  All these supplies and materials except the Stampin Up stamp are available at Joan's Gardens.

Floral Congrats

This 5x7 card is created for the At Joan's Gardens challenge this week where we are to use floral paper, a dimensional flower and greenery and a doily. The doily is commercial, cut from an oval doily and burnished with Tim Holtz Distress ink (Gathered Twigs and Walnut stain (which also sponges the edges of this card).   The paper for he flowers is from the Tim Holtz shimmer and the  Tim Holtz Distress collections by Ranger.  The die I used for the flowers is Tim Holtz Decorative Strip. by Sizzix 667824 Tattered Flower Garland.  All these products are available from At Joan's Gardens.  The floral paper is from a K&Company pad, accented with Paprika Stickles by Ranger. The Chocolate pearls are from Joan's Gardens. Congratulations stamp is by SU from Sassy Salutations inked in Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss) and edged with an old  Fiskars corner punch from my stash of  old punches.

In My Thoughts Glitter Sunflowers

This card is created using Glitter and sticker technique using Elizabeth Crafts Sunflowers stickers and Elizabeth Crafts micro-glitter and wide Scor-Tape. The stacked mats are embossed using Sizzix Flower Vine and  Twizzle Set (656799).  These products are available at Joan's Gardens following the tutorial Joan did for the technique. The sentiment sticker is from the black "just for you" series available from pop-ups etc. 

Christmas Elf

This Christmas Card is created for the At Joan's Gardens challenge this week where we are to use something from nature, and Christmas colors to create a card. The (something from nature)  snowflake overlay that is over green snowflake print paper is the Swirling Snowflakes die by Memory Box 98653 available At Joan's Gardens.  It is adhered with Art Quest's Perfect Paper Gloss glue.  
The little elf is colored with pencils and worked with Gamsol to blend. He is the artwork of Phee Mc Faddell, cut out with Spellbinders Labels 20 die S5-026 (available at Joan's Gardens)  The black embossed sentiment is from the SU collection. Delightful Dozen.

Fall Colors Thank You!

I expect that the recipients of this card will be our stateroom stewards on our Fall  Colors Discover Canada Holland America Cruise that my VBF and my sister and her VBF are going on.  It is coming up in just WEEKS now, and we are SO excited.  I always take some cards on cruises--they are so much fun to share with people you meet.

The paper is from Colorbok "Rosewood" collection, the curved line accented with Stickles "Paprika" is from "Ribbon Doilies" by Basic Grey, Inc.  The pearls and glittered velvet leaves are from my stash.  The Sentiment, inked in  Kaleidacolor Autumn Leaves,  is from the Sweetly Framed collection by Stampin Up, and it is cut with a matching SU punch. Edges of the card are sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Inks, "Old Paper."  The inside is a "Ciao" goodbye stamp from the  Ciao Baby! Stampin Up collection, stamped several times in Autumn Leaves. I will glitter the little inside punched frame before this card is finished, and will add tiny punched oak leaves.

Chickadee Holiday

This card was created for the At Joan's Garden challenge this week where we were to create a Christmas Card using traditional colors, and something from nature in the theme.  This is a stand-up shape card created with Spellbinders Labels Twenty S5-026.  The card was inspired by the tutorial by Laura Lipe  called "Layered  Window Frames."  The inside edges of the die cuts are sponged with Brilliance Galaxy Gold Archival ink, and the green matte is embossed with Hobby Solutions HSF C004 Holly embossing folder sponged in gold.  These dies and products are available from At Joan's Gardens.  The Chickadee is a SU stamp from the Beautiful Season collection, and the inside/reverse side sentiment reads "May your season be blessed with all things bright and beautiful." The Merry Christmas Sentiment is a sticker by Starform Stickers #353. The inside of the side mounts are lined with Bazzil Basics  red Stripe glazed cardstock, and sponged edges with green burnishing.  The stamp is heat embossed with black embossing powder and colored with pencils (and Gamsol)

Glittery Christmas

This card is created for At Joan's Garden challenge this week where we are to create a Christmas Card using traditional colors, and something from nature.  My white cardstock has been lightly spritzed with Shimmer (sheer) by Tushinko, and embossed with Tim Holt'z Alterations 658272 Holly Branch (and Pine Branch embossing folder set. This is sponged with Kaleidacolor inks (Fresh Greens) and with the red distress marker from the Tim Holtz group.   The little bird is by Elizabeth Craft Designs (0414) and glittered with Elizabeth Crafts glitter  True Red and Warm Diamond micro-glitters. See the how-to video HERE  The die I used for the sentiment pop-up is Spellbinders S4-113 Classic Scalloped Ovals (small set).These products are all available At Joan's Gardens.  The card is edged with black Starform Outline Stickers (#1082).  I get these from Pop-Ups Etc.   The sentiment is from SU Delightful Dozen collection embossed with Stampendous green glitter embossing powder and edged with Tim Holtz Stickles SG01898 red glitter, Rhinestones finish the corners.  

Stand Up Get Well

This shape card that stands up is created following the  Layered Window Frame tutorial at Split Coast Stampers by Laura Lipe.  The dies are the Sizzix 658694 Majestic Labels #2.  The decorator paper is Graphic 45's Precious Poesy from the Little  Darlings Collection.  The floral stamp and sentiment stamp are from Stampin Up Thoughts and Prayers 127805 stamped in SU Cameo Coral and finished with a studio G daisy punch sponged with rhinestone centers.  My perfect bow is created with the bow-maker created by Steve Boetto available at the Papers and Pixels Store.

Waterspotted Hugs

This silhouette and inked/waterspotted card is created with Fiskars edge punch, Starform black glitter lines that I buy from Pop Ups Etc, a clear stamp sentiment from an old cardset from Annies Attic, and a butterfly flower from a clear stamp set I got at Michaels.  (manufacturer unknown).  The background is inked with SU Ballet Blue, Yo Yo Yellow and Regal Rose, then spritzed with water following the Sponge and Spritz Tutorial at Split Cost Stampers by Korin Sutherland.  Black Ink is Versafine Black Onyx high-detail ink.

Welcome Home Rob

A very special welcome home from Afghanistan to a local Military Man!  The whole community has missed you very much and held you in our hearts, thoughts and prayers this past year. WELCOME HOME, ROB!

The papers are core-dinations sandable, and paper designed by Teresa Collins (World Traveler collection). Sentiment stamp is by Heartfelt Creations Large Fancy Sentiments collection (CR03815)

Get Well

This card is created for the At Joan's Garden Challenge this week where we are to use a fancy corner, a heart, built-up flower, and peaches,white and green theme.  I used Sizzix Susan's Garden--568407 Thinlits Mini Daisy die to create the stacked up flowers, with centers brushed with adobe ink. I followed the sizzix tutorial that is HERE The tiny daisies are punches centered with Stickles platinum and Stickles Buttercup liquid pearls by Ranger.   The corner is created with one of the dies from Lace Corner DecoA  Cheery Lynn Borders B161.  These products are available at Joan's Gardens Store  The graphic art is colored with copics, waterbrushed with Distress Markers (black soot), and accented with Stickles and with Glazed texture pens by Sakura. 
 I am pretty sure that the little daisy puppy was created by Wendy Hall at Digital Delights by Louby Lou, but I printed this a long time ago, and put it in my folder of  "to be colored" artwork.  I couldn't find it in her store when I looked for it today.    The Hope sentiment stamp is SU from the Blooming with Kindness set and the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  The papers are from Once upon a Springtime collection by Graphic 45 (Primrose Cottage) and the peach paper is from the Signature Series Graphic 45 core-dinations sandable papers.  The green is from the same set of papers.  (Graphics 45 products are available at Joan's Gardens.)  The little heart is a peach colored gel stick 0on.

Kitten Cuddles

The challenge at Joan's Gardens this week is to create a card using a peach, white, and green color theme, a heart, and stacked up flowers and a fancy corner.   The white cardstock is embossed with Flourish Dots and Ribbon set by Sizzix 656980.  The corner is created with peach and green paper using Spellbinders Shapeabilities Die D-Lites S2-009, and the lattice heart cut from a Martha Stewart Punch, backed (as the stamp is) with Sanded green core-dinations cardstock with decorative edge cut.  The single tiny leaf is from Flower and Leaves (a Marianne Creatable) LR0156. These products are available at Joan's Gardens.  The stacked up flowers are created with a small and a medium Recollections punch spritzed with Champagne shimmer.  The Stamp is a Lili of the Valley stamp, "Kitten Cuddles" colored with Tim Holtz Distress Markers in peach and greens. 

Peaches and Green

The challenge this week at Joan's Gardenshttp://atjoansgardens.com is peach, cream and white card with "stacked up" flower, a fancy corner and a heart.  I have no large fancy corners (beautiful small ones though), and so I cut a corner shape out of the beautiful Sophia's Heart die by Cherry Lynn (DL184)  I I used the heart from the center of this Doily Die for the heart this time, and bunrished those white pieces with Tim Holtz Distress Ink, "mowed lawn" .  The pearl flourishes are by recollections and the Happy Birthday sentiment is a Starform text sticker.  The peach colored paper backing is embossed and then flattened after embossing with crafts-too's Swirl Christmas Tree. (The swirls match the swirls in Sophia's Heart doily).
The stacked up flower is made with Punch Bunch's petals for building a flower and the center is a punch black stamen with white beaded stamens, and little peach colored roses from I Am Roses.com.  

Drawn Rose Bleaching

This sympathy card is created for At Joan's Gardens challenge this week, where we are to use two ovals, at least two colors, a sentiment, and a plain background for the card.The buff, black and cranberry mattes are the basis for this card.  The Rose is the "Drawn Rose Corner" by Donna Salazar Stamps.  The technique here is an unusual one; it is bleached paper inking.  Here's how that works.  You stamp the image in distress inks (I used Soot for this one), then immediately emboss it with clear embossing powder.  Then with a waterbrush dipped in household bleach, you work the areas inside the stamp's embossed borders, drying as  you achieve the amount of bleaching you want.  Afterward  you can come back (on well dried paper) and color with any coloring medium that you want.  I did some light brushing with Tim Holtz Distress inks to highlight petal edges and create a light watercolor wash look to the stamp.  The sentiment is a SU stamp from the collection Thoughts and Prayers.  The black scalloped oval frame is edged in Glaze Pen by Sakura.  The ovals were created with Spellbinders Classic Ovals S4-112, and Classic Scalloped Ovals (small) Spellbinders S4-113.    Inks embossing powder, distress markers, and dies are all available At Joan's Gardens, and the idea for the card was inspired by Beate at Split Coast Stampers 2008 tutorial on Bleached Out Images.

Just for You

This week the challenge At Joan's Gardens  is to create a card with a plain background, at least two colors, and two ovals plus a sentiment.   This card uses the two ovals from the stunning Radiant Rectangles, Spellbinders Nestabilities S5-161 dies.  This card is worked in turquoise and orange, with orange polka-dotted grosgrain ribbon over Elizabeth Craft Designs #2532 Poppies outline stickers.  The technique I used applies Scor-Tape to the sticker, and then you rub microfine glitter into the sticky areas you want to glitter.  For that I used both Elizabeth Craft and Art  glitters in Flax, Warm Diamond and Cavalado colors. These products and stickers are also available at Joan's Gardens. The Just for you sticker sentiment is a peel off sticker by Elizabeth Craft Designs.  The little black rhinestones are by Recollections (Michaels.)  A matching turquoise oval backs the sentiment area inside this card, which can be for just about anything.

Delightful Daisies Get Well

For the At Joan's Gardens Challenge this week (polka dots, vellum and butterflies), I created a card that was dry-embossed and inked with Tim Holtz Distress ink.  The folder is my favorite 3d M-Bossabilities, Delightful Daisies E3D-003, trimmed to A5 size and spritzed with Champagne Shine.  The embossed butterfly is topped with a Vellum S4-395 Les Pappillions Two butterfly filigree.  The stems and leaves (and the petals of the embossed card are worked with Glaze pens for accent.  the polka dots are on the ribbon and the lady bug,  Get well sentiment is a Starform sticker. The dies, inks, M-Bossabilities, and vellum are all available at Joan's Garden.  Looks very busy--doesn't it--but it is not.  It is dramatic and very elegant!

Butterfly Thoughts

This week the challenge At Joan's Gardens is a card (any color scheme) using polka dots, butterflies and vellum.  For this card I used The M-Bossabilities large embossing folder by Spellbinders (EG-002) that I ran through the electric Craftwell E Bosser machine  (both available at Joan's Gardens).  The Butterflies are Spellbinders Les Papillions Two (S4-395)  and the Vellum wings and pearl vellum used on the butterflies wings are from Sweet Stamps and sold at Joans Gardens. The doilies are from Walmart, shimmer misted with champagne mister by SU and the pearls are also SU .  Polka dots, butterfly wings and the edges of the doily are finished with Tim Holtz Distress Ink. The Thinking of You sentiment is a Starform Sticker.

Tropical Birthday

This card is created for the At Joan's Gardens challenge this week which is to use a plaid background, an embossing folder, dimensionals to create a Birthday Card.   I have used Starform transparent glitter stickers (#390) for the birthday sentiment and holographic edge accents on the card.  I used an Emagination punch for the edges of the flip-it card.  That die template is available at Joan's Gardens and is called the Rectangle Flip It (658704) by Sizzix. The dimensionals are from a 7 piece collection by EK Success in the Jolee's Boutique stick-ons (Michaels). The embossing folder on coordinating shimmer paper is the happy birthday word background embossing folder by Cuttlebug.  The paper is Pinecone Press Papers Plaid.  Leaf accents on the front of the card are from a Sizzlit (SU) Little Leaves.

Birthday Wishes

This card is created for this week's challenge AT JOAN's GARDENS where the challenge is to use plaid paper for a background, an embossing folder, and something dimensional and to create a birthday card for a friend. 
 For this card I  used a piece of plaid paper by Colorbok matted with coordinating burgundy cardstock.  The dimensional square of pale yellow plain and decorator paper is topped with a large fiber-paper flower, and centered with a flower I made from the PunchBunch petals punch available at Joans Gardens.  The center of the flower also from a punch, and that is topped with stamens that I got from Wild Orchid crafts, and a touch of Platinum Stickles.  The Happy  Birthday sentiment stamp is from Just Rite Crafts Large Fancy Stampset CR 03815 available at Joan's Gardens. The Corner punch squiggle is a Fiskars Lace corner punch (altered). The burgundy mat for the Happy  Birthday sentiment area is embossed with Textured Impressions (Sizzix --SU) Chevron embossing folder and the pearls are colored with markers to match the large paper flower.