Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Insomnia chatter...and more designing fun!

GOSH, I'm feeling chatty tonight! Have you ever found new stamps, and just can’t do anything else till you play? That’s me today! Oh my oh my oh my! I’ve known for a couple of weeks that I’ll get to play with these a lot in future, as I’ll be designing much more with Louise's stamps (she owns “Art Journey” stamps in the Netherlands). This is my first post with her delightful musical pear...a MUSICAL PEAR...how QUIRKY is THAT!? Love it!

Once I opened Louise's shipment, and my dog settled back down after my hoots and hollers and shrieks, I went right to my computer to find some challenges to do.

So, this card’s been designed to meet several: Project Tuesday (make a folded paper frame), Crazy Amigo (birds...see the wee Crafty Secrets bird on the frame?); Three Muses (hats and crowns and wings and things...I glued a gold crown onto my little bird); Papertake Weekly (do something different...my folded paper frame); Gingersnap (use Kraft paper...I used Kraft from Jillibean); Wednesday Stamper (use something Tim Holtz...I used one of his grunge flourishes, painted it black, and I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink...LOTS of it); Creative Card Crew (April showers bring May flowers...or in this case, grunge flowers); Pollycraft and Diecut Dreams (make your own flowers); Stampin’ for the Weekend (use a favourite book...I used pages from a favourite book for altering, and created my paper flower from a page); Creative Cottage (circles); Tuesday Taggers (their theme is “memories,” and whenever I use anything at all musical, I think of my little sister , who would practice for hours and hours every day when we were children, and who has since become a “real grown up musician..." doing what she LOVES...a classical pianist...living in England...siiiigh...she’s SO gifted...and she STILL practices...and teaches...for hours and hours every day).

WHEW!! So...the card...I computer generated the sentiment at the top right of the stamped image (using the Two Peas Hot Chocolate font I bought years ago, one of my very favourites, use it lots), then stamped the pear image with Ancient Page Black ink, added a little colour with chalks, distressed the edges of the panel, then popped it in the folded paper frame. I stamped Tim Holtz Vintage Photo ink randomly, using sequin waste as a mask. These flowers are so simple to whip up! I just die cut six scalloped circles all the same size, crumpled them all up small, straightened them out, spritzed them with a little Olive Vine Glimmer Mist, then, once they’d dried, sewed the layers together with a black button and a little gold thread.

If you like handmade flowers, I posted a tutorial here yesterday for paper roses, and I’ll be posting another one here on my blog this Saturday for handmade lace and ribbon posies, in conjunction with the Crafty Secrets designer challenge and giveaway extravaganza...hope you can come back to visit!



Here are a couple more cards done with my first play with these Art Journey stamps...LOVE the stark contrast of black and white, with the images stamped on glossy cardstock. The sentiments are computer generated. Love this stamp! My husband and I engage in "social dance" twice a week these days...such FUN! So this card will be tucked somewhere for him to find.




Now THIS is the stamp that resulted in my new obsession with Art Journey! Oh my. It's always difficult for me to find stamps to use with cards for the crowds of men in my life (lol), and as soon as I saw this, I knew it needed me. Isn't it amazing!? I've seen this one used in many different vintage and distress ink formats, and it's beautiful, but I wanted that black and white contrast again. You can see the stamp here at Art Journey.



Thanks SO much for stopping by today!

28 comments:

Tracy said...

lovely card, the flower is gorgeous. Thanks for joining in this weeks Creative Cottage Challenge i hope you will join us again. Hugs Tracy x

Becky said...

How gorgeous Deb, love your flower, that's so gorgeous, it's great when you're in the mood to just play with all your stash isn't it!!
Thanks so much for joining us at The Creative Cottage!
Love Becky xx

Susie Sugar said...

Fab card love your flower its so sweet great work
Thanks for playing our Karens Make your own flowers challenge with us at DCD this week please come back soon for more fun
Hugs Susie & Vikki xx


PS Just to let you know that if you have word verification switched on in the future the DCD team will not be able to leave you a comment (you might not even know you have it switched on)
It is so easy to switch off and if you us comment moderation you can still monitor your comments, and if you switch off word verification you will get lots more comments from your readers
Heres what to do if you don't already know;
Click customize
Then click the settings tab
Then click comments , scroll down to "Show word verification for comments?" and just clock "No"
At this point if you want to turn on "Comment moderation" you can just fill in this section with your email address etc on the same page, personally I don't have this on either and I don't get any problems
I hope you don't mind me saying this its just that word verification slows us all up and take the fun out of blogging
Hugs Susie xx

Linda Ledbetter said...

I love this! What a beautiful addition to our Gingersnap Kraft Challenge!

Congratulations on your design gig! The pear stamp is so cool, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your art.

Jean Addis said...

What a fun stamp image. You've done a marvelous job of featuring it with all your extra touches. It's just lovely. Thank you for joining us at Project Tuesday.

Taluula said...

Oh a beautiful card, I particularly like the flower.

.:♥Marit Pettinga-Meijer♥:. said...

I love your card! That flower is stunning! Thanks for joining us at Pollycraft this week.
Hugs, Marit.

Kathy2eggs said...

Fabulous! I love the black and white.

Mandy said...

fabulous projects Deborah!

Thank you for joining in with our challenge this week at PTW.

Mandy

Shelly said...

Fabulous cards...love the simplicity of the b & w cards! What a super flower on your 1st card...gorgeous! Thanks for joining us at The Creative Cottage!
Shelly ;)

Mummylade said...

very nice cards. Thank you so much for entering DCD this week and good luck. And btw, I don't know if you've noticed but you have word verification enabled...

Hermine said...

They all are gorgeous

Anonymous said...

Your cards are gorgeous! Love your paper flower!

Dan said...

I love the pear stamp too! Thanks so much for joining in with this weeks Gingersnap Creations challenge!

~*~Patty Szymkowicz said...

your cards look great Love the paper flower!
oxo

KimS said...

What a great card!!! I love that flower!!! Thanks for playing along with us at Project Tuesday!!!

LivArtNow said...

Gorgeous card!! love the flower!!

Linda

jaine drake said...

Oh wow how wonderful, I absolutely love the flower on the first card.

Pauline C said...

3 fabulous cards - so stylish! Fab flower on the first card, and love the dancing image. Thanks for joining in the CCC Challenge this time.
Pauline x

Rose said...

oh i love your cards!!! thanks for playing with us on PT this week :)

vikkithescrapjunkie said...

Thankyou for joining in the DCD challenge with your beautiful card, Your handmade flowers are gorgeous.
Love n hugs
Vikki xx

Nicola said...

Beautiful cards and colour combos, your image and handmade flowers are gorgeous.
Thank you for joining us at Die Cut Dreams.
Hugs,
Nicola -x-

Sally H said...

Wow! That's stunning! Thanks for sharing with us at TT this week!

Christy said...

Waaaay awesome!!!

My Creative Outlet by Janna said...

Beautiful work! I love the classic images! Beautiful flower on the first card! Thanks for playing at Creative Card Crew!

Janna :)

Suzanne C said...

What lovely images and cards! Beautiful use of the white and black contrast!

Gunn (Merete) said...

Wow, really great cards.
Thanks for joining us at SFTW.
*Gunn*

Anonymous said...

This is fabulous! Thanks for taking the Gingersnaps Color Challenge!