Play Date Cafe Challenge #102 - October 6, 2011 - Happy Halloween

Hi!  I am posting twice today - I don't know if I will have time tomorrow - since I have lots of running around to do.  I saw the inspiration for the Case Study and I started tearing apart my scrappy room - pulling out papers, and Spellbinders, and ribbons.  It looks like a tornado hit!  It will probably take me longer to clean up than it took to make the card : ) !! 

 I hate when I pull out a Spellbinder die and it gets lost under all the pop dots, paper remnants and scraps of ribbons!  I think I've bought the set of standard circles 3 times now!!  I'm thinking about putting a magnet strip somewhere and sticking them to it once I've cut out the shape.  I hate of how many times I've looked through the garbage or my paper recycle bag to see if I threw one out by mistake.  Maybe you've conquered this problem - if so I'd be happy to hear your solution!

See the thing is that sometimes I cut several shapes with the same size die.  For example the card I made today - I knew I wanted a circular image in the center but I wasn't sure which one.  So I wound up inking / coloring, and cutting probably 4 or 5 images before I settled with this one (which by the way was the first one I started with).  So it is easy to loose those little flat dies in the wake of my creativity. 

I hope you like this fun Halloween card.  I had a hard time photographing it because of all the black.  The ribbon is organza so it is shimmery, and I embossed the stamp.   If you'd like to play along this week at teh Play Date Cafe the details are here:   http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/2011/10/play-date-cafe-challenge-pdcc102.html

Supplies Used:  Finished size 5" x 7"

Stamp:  Catslifepress.com

Dies:  Spellbinders - Standard Circles, Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles, Picod Edge Circles, Parisian Motifs

Paper:  K&Co.

Border Punch:  Martha Stewart - Iron Gate

Twine:  Martha Stewart

Button:  Bazill Bling!

Embossing Powder :   Zing!Black

Ink:  Ranger/Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress

Stampin' Royalty Challenge #92 - October 5, 2011 - You Inspire Me

Hi!  I hope you are having a good week.  My husband has been working off hours this week so we've been sneaking out for lunch almost every day this week.  It's not very often we are on our own so we are making the most of it!

I made this card for the Stampin' Royalty Challenge #92.  The challenge this week is to make a card that uses primarily Olive, Mustard, Saffron and Eggplant.   So where to start?  Find the paper?  Pick a theme?    I started more than a few times before I came up with this one that I am happy with.   My first thought was sunflowers with a purple background - but that got quickly nixed - the stamp was too big, and the purple looked like night.  

I finally got to use my new Spellbinders Nested Butterflies Two set, and a great quote from the Just Rite Stampers "You Are My Anchor" set.  It feels like a bit of a departure for me - no big fat bow, but I did put a frilly flower on it. And there is still a tiny bit of bling - the silver flourishes on the butterfly, and the purple wire antennae on the butterfly!

If you are interested in playing along you can get the details here:  http://stampinroyalty.blogspot.com/2011/10/stampin-royalty-challenge-92.html.
I hope you have a great day and find some time for yourself to do something you love!

Supplies Used:    Finished Size 5" x 7"
Stamp:  Just Rite Stampers: You Are My Anchor Set
Die Cuts:  Spellbinders: Foliage, Nested Butterflies Two, Ornate Artisan Tags & Accents, Fleur De Lis Rectangle
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace
Sizzix Embossing Folder:  Diamond from Diamond & Tropical Paisley Set
Ink:  Momento Sweet Plum, Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Antique Linen
Flower: Prima Whisper Collection - Fairy

Mojo Monday #209 - October 3, 2011 - Butterfly

Are you getting your Mojo on?  This is the sketch challenge for Monday October 3.  Top picks this week receive a set of Verve stamp set of their choice!  

I just got the Papillon set of stamps from Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous and used them as my starting point for the challenge this week.   I like how the images look like they are from an insect field guide. 

I put the focus of my card - the butterfly - in neutral to draw your eye to it.  I used the K & Co. Tim Coffey Blossomwood paper collection because I like the "fabric" look it has and how it lends a little texture to my card.

Of course, you know me, I had to put some bling in there somewhere.  If I'm going to make a card I want it to be extra special and a little sparkle never hurts!   I included a big fat two color seam binding bow with a big gem bauble in the center, and a swirl of turquoise gems to give my butterfly a little magic.  Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!  I hope you are having a great day!

Supplies Used:  Finished Size 5" x 7"

Pattern Paper:  K&Co. Tim Coffey Blossomwood, Tim Holtz Kraft Resist

Stamps:  TIm Holtz Stampers Anonymous Papillon, For You from Stampin' Up!

Die Cuts:  Spellbinders Standard Circles, Picot Edge Circles,

Border Punch:  Fiskars - Tag Punch Stampin' Up

Seam Binding:  Snug Hug Elegant Peacock Blue, Havana Brown

Ink: Momento Rich Cocoa, Sand  Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Antique Linen
Twine:  Martha Stewart
Button:  Bazzill Bling!  Gem Swirl:  Recollections