Inspired by InkspiredTreasures

When I saw this card on Connie Babbert's Inkspired Treasures blog, I was more than inspired, I was determined to copy it! I just put it in the mail a few hours ago to my BF's sister.

She uses a new Stampin Up punch called Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch. I was in love at first site, so I created a similar (very similar) version in the Silhouette Software and made myself a bunch of bouquets!! I love cutting these kinds of embellishments in white and having them on hand when I'm doing a card. I can grab a handful, use my distress inks, and color them any shade I need!!

If you have a silhouette or any digital die cutter that can use GSD files, I'm happy to share it. Just leave a comment or send me an email and I'll get it to you as soon as I can!

Paper is Club Scrap: unknown white and Poetic yellow.

I think the yellow felt ribbon came to me as a blog candy I won some time ago.

The buttons were all white and I colored them with my Bic Mark Its

Squirrely Challenge - Foam Stamping

Hmmmm? could it be I'm ahead of a deadline for once? Possibly. Nancy at SquirrelyArt is challenging folks with another Technique Junkies gem called Foam Stamping and it's from the April/May 2011 newsletter. However, it seems that she has not yet posted the challenge, so I'll quietly put mine up here until she does...no rush Nancy....I will wait patiently...just whenever you get around to it....

All Club Scrap Paper - mostly bits and pieces found in my scrap drawer. Teal from Collections, Orange from Salsa, white is unknown.

The top color on my color trio is really orange, but it's coming across as red in this photo...it's not. I colored the gems orange with my "redneck" copic (Bic Mark Its) color Sunset Orange .

HAPPY EASTER!!

I know this is a serious and very important, religious holiday, but I just couldn't resist making this cute little easel card. I hope I don't offend anyone. Have a wonderful Easter!

Challenges:

ECP Challenge #36 - Easter

CYDA #18 - Easter

Scrappy frogs Challenge - Easter

Papers: Club Scrap Jubilee & Autumn Splendor

Bunnies & Sentiment shape cut on Silhouette

Grungy Monday 4 - Thunder Island

For this week, Linda is having us follow Tim’s technique which involves inking or stamping on a texture fade/embossing folder before inserting your paper as demonstrated here. When I read the challenge, I immediately thought of doing a sunrise or sunset using his rays folder. Simultaneously, I’ve been itching to try a Michelle Zindorf inspired background and voila…the two came together perfectly in this piece. Coincidentally, Simon Says stamp & Show was running a similar challenge to use a Tim Technique.

As I have explained, I initially planned to theme all of my GM submissions around songs. I naively thought that I would come up with the song I wanted to use and then make my piece for it. That has rarely been the case. As I worked on my background and then found the Ralph Burch Mermaid art, I found myself humming (& yes, sometimes singing) the 1978 one hit wonder Thunder Island by Jay Ferguson. I’m very pleased with the way it all came together and may be my favorite one so far. Thanks for looking.

Sha-la-la-la-la-la my lady
In the sun with your hair undone
Can you hear me now calling your name
From across the bay
A summer's day laughing and a-hidin'
Chasing love out on Thunder Island

Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spice Marmalade, Barn Door, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot

Other: Glossy Accents, Pearl Glimmer Mist, Silhouette, Ralph Burch, Mermaid art printed from the internet, Hibiscus shape is Club Scrap with minor alterations

Club Scrap Paper: Paisley Orange, Expressions Black. Sand is from DCWV travel stack

Squirrely Challenge - Faux Artisan Tile

I joined in on Nancy's Squirrely challenge this week and here's the result. Out of respect for Technique Junkie's I won't give a lot of detail. I'm quite pleased with the way these faux tiles look IRL.

I'm going to add this 8x8 to my album of techniques which so far only has my Grungy Monday submissions.

All papers are from Club Scrap's Memoirs Kit. (love that yummy kraft like color)

The tile stamp is from inkadinkadoo's Bold Damasks stamp set

Grungy Monday 3 - True Colors

This week, Linda at Studio L3 is having us get our color wash on!! I only own 1 flavor in this yummy lineup (for now?) and it's the sailboat blue. Don't know what to do with these? Have no fear, T!m shows you a few clever ideas here. I'm also submitting this for the Color Throwdown #137 challenge to use teal, summer sun and celery.

I'm making all my submissions 8x8 size so that I can put all of them in an album easily. I've used a variety of mediums on my mini canvases; color wash (teal/sailboat blue), glimmer mist (pearl), claudine hellmuth paint (purple palette) and metal craft paint (celery/bright green). I've sewn them onto a piece of yellow from Club Scrap's Science kit and then mounted that onto the purple from the same kit. The stamps are all from the Raku kit.

Continuing with the song/music theme, I've used True Colors by Cyndi Lauper. I've also chose to feature my wonderful Sister; my best friend in the world! Her birthday is Tuesday and I wanted to celebrate that! Love you so very much sissy.

I see your true colors shining through

I see your true colors, and that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show your true colors

True colors are beautiful, like a rainbow.

Grungy Monday 2 - Hello in there

The technique put forth by Linda at Studio L3 this week for Grungy Monday is a matte medium resist that T!m demonstrates here. I don't own any steel rule dies so I couldn't make my own foam stamp, but I used a stencil instead and it worked beautifully. The base is an actual page from our local phone book business section and the rest of the paper is Club Scrap (of course) from an older kit Autumn Splendor. The phone stamp is also from the Gimme A Ring kit by Club Scrap. The design of the page is from a Club Scrap challenge this month to use this sketch:

My song inspiration is a very sad and touching song by John Prine (a favorite of my family's) called Hello in there. I've used the chorus on the upper right corner of my piece and below:

Ya' know that old trees just grow stronger,
And old rivers grow wilder ev'ry day.
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello."

I don't fancy myself an artist...I simply like to play with paper, but it's interesting what a journey art can take you on if you are open to it. I created this piece with my brother in mind. He passed away 4 years ago tomorrow at the age of 47. Sometimes I still can't believe he's gone and other times I'm amazed he stayed as long as he did. He had a tender heart, but a troubled soul and although he didn't grow old, he definitely grew lonesome. I just wish he could have heard our "hello's". I hope he has found peace; I love you big bro.

Yet another Christmas Card - yes, i'm tired of these now too!

I think i'm done making Christmas cards for a little while. I can only take so much Christmas cheer when it's not the actual time of the year. Also, I've grown weary of the Comics kit!!

The plaid background was made using a technique T!m showed here . It is great fun, and quite addicting.

All paper is from Club Scrap's Comic's kit (with the exception of the glossy cardstock used for the plaid).

Here are the challenges I'm submitting it to:

Card Patterns Sketch 109 - sketch

Christmas Card Challenge #18 - stitching

Christmas Cards all year Round - use an oval

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge - christmas foliage

TFL

A Brand New Challenge

Linda has conceived a new challenge over at Studio L3. We've finished all of the Compendium of Curiosities and have moved on to any and all of T!m's techniques. For the inaugural week, she has chose this lovely creation from 2008 to inspire us:

Along with this challenge, my sister Jennifer and I have decided to challenge ourselves by theming our submissions using Songs as inspiration. She is choosing to limit her choices to the solo and collective works of the Beatles. I'll be placing no such limits on myself, but I will be trying to use songs that mean something to me (altho i may have a random odd choice here and there :) )

My song choice this week is Elusive Butterfly by Bob Lind. It's been done by Dolly Parton & Cher, and I'm sure a number of other artists as well. I was fortunate to be raised with a great appreciation of all kinds of music. My mom and dad always seemed to have music playing and they had varied tastes, so I am thankful that I do as well. This is one i remember quite well, but i won't be surprised if you don't!

Across my Dreams with nets of wonder;

I chase the bright, elusive butterfly of love.

I am also submitting this for:

-The Flutter by Wednesday challenge #48 (use a button and a bow)

-Pals Paper Arts PPA#86 challenge (embossing) - correction: I'm 2 late for that one! maybe next time!

paper: graphic 45 and Club Scrap (Poetry & Adobe)

stamps: butterfly/magenta

Sil cuts: inspired by Tim's gears

distress inks: broken china

other: copper shimmer memories mist,

club scrap copper foil embossing powder,

pearlescent watercolors

netting (bath puff!)