Friday, September 23, 2011

Can you say Bling?


 If you've been here more than a couple times you have most likely noticed that I'm a no-frills card maker. A flower here or a button there, a bit of jute or baker's twine and I'm good to go. So when I heard that using bling was the challenge this week at the Lily Pad I had just a moment of panic. But then, they don't call them challenges for nothing. This challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. You can find all the stamps and supplies I used on my card at this wonderful one-stop online shop.



To get my card started I rummaged through my bins of hoarded supplies and came across some Hero Arts Snowflake Gems which gave me the creative spark I needed. Some great Lawn Fawn stamps, a bit of paper by Echo Park, assorted inks and miscellaneous silver gems and I was happy with this retro 60s inspired bling-y card.

The ornaments were silver embossed then Soft Pool Shadow ink and Fired Brick Distress ink were applied directly from the ink pad to the paper. I used a silver PITT Artist pen from Faber-Castell to fill in the tops of the ornaments.
You won't want to miss the blinged out goodness from the rest of the Design Team at Lily Pad Cards, those girls really know how to use bling!
~ Psalm 5:7 ~
"Because of Your unfailing love, I can enter Your house;
I will worship at Your temple with deepest awe."

blessings,
nancy



Wednesday, September 21, 2011

New Hero Arts Stamps and a Birthday Card

I love the new Hero Arts-Studio Calico stamps! They're fun, a little retro and so versatile, you can use them on anything! I inked mine up to make a birthday card for the new mommy, my sweet daughter-in-love.

I combined stamps from 3 sets: You are the Best, Hooray, and My Happy. The sentiment is from Bake Me a Cake by Lawn Fawn. The papers are Echo Park Country Drive.
~ Romans 5:1 ~
Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, 
we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

blessings,
nancy



Monday, September 19, 2011

Time to get small....

with inchies and mini cards!
I taught a class at Stamp Fever on Saturday with an inchie focus. I brought bags of scrap patterned paper to class so the ladies could make some bonus inchie cards. Here they are hard at work and having fun too!

Left to right is Kim, Evelyn, Karen, Jacquie and Sondra. In this class we finished THIS card that we didn't have time to do last month along with THIS card. Then we made some inchie mini cards.

Here's my inchie minis:

This card is 3.5 x 3.5 and uses scraps from October Afternoon, Basic Grey and The Girls' Paperie.
The stamps are from Hero Arts Sweet One set.

This 3x3 inch card uses Cosmo Cricket, Basic Grey and Hero Hues papers with Lawn Fawn sentiment from Sophie's Sentiments.

For this 3x3 inch card I did a reverse mask using a 1 inch square punch to create the grid pattern and stamped Hero Arts Friend Definition. Then I stamped the adorable specs and sentiment from Lawn Fawn's Clear to See set. I love the gems.  I only wish I had the chutzpah to wear glasses like these!

I'm entering these minis in the CAS-ual Fridays challenge:


~ Psalm 51:10 ~
"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
blessings,
nancy


Friday, September 16, 2011

Lily Pad, Hero Arts and a sketch

What could be better than new Hero Arts Christmas stamps? How about a Lily Pad Cards sketch challenge?
It's time for another Lucy's Lovely Lines challenge over at the pond so here's the sketch.....


and here's my cards using the clear set Reindeer Christmas and Snowflake Shapes Clings.....

I used a lot of Rock Candy Distress Stickles, Baby Blue Stickles and Glossy Accents to give this card some sparkle and shine!

details close up...I love how the Glossy Accents gives the reindeer googly eyes and make his nose shiny

Paper piecing was done with Crate Paper's Snow Day from last year, I love the whimsical colors and design of these papers.



This card uses both stamp sets again with Graphic45 paper, Tim Holtz tissue tape, Pink Paislee decorative tape. The leaves are an EK Success punch. 

To make the snowflake heart really glossy, I stamped it with red ink then cut it out leaving a 1/2 by 1 inch tab on one side. Then I applied Versamark ink to the heart and clear embossed it holding it by the tab with tweezers to keep from burning my fingers. I repeated this several times until it had a thick glossy sheen. You could use Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel and only repeat the embossing once or twice for the same effect. I added Crushed Olive Distress ink to the punched leaves.

Now check out the fabulous work from the rest of the Lily Pad Cards Design Team. I know you'll be impressed and inspired. I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch!

~ 1 Peter 4:7-8 ~
The end of all things is near.
Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins.
blessings,
nancy