Sketchy Butterfly

Tomorrow there will be a new sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers and I still haven't posted the cards I made for last week's challenge.  Well, let's remedy that!

Here's the sketch

Here's card #1

The circle design uses the technique I showed on Monday's post.  It was stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with white.  Then I colored the flowers and leaves with markers.

And since the technique challenge last week was Same But Different, and the Free 4 All challenge was to use orange, I did this card too.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Just Believe

Ink: VersaMark

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White

Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, 1 1/4", 1 3/8", Scallop Circle, & Butterfly punches, Big Shot, Square Lattice & Whacked Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls

I'm so glad you stopped by.

Enjoy!

Bonnie

Nature, Nature

This is for the ColorQ challenge to use Kraft (or Crumb Cake), Cherry Cobbler, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango & White.

Here's my card.....

I had intended to send it over to the Friday Mashup challenge to have a popped up butterfly and I used the sketch from the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.  Unfortunately I didn't get it finished & photographed in time to  make those deadlines.

This is a 5" x 7" card.  I used my "whacked embossing folder" twice to deboss the top third of the card.  The butterfly was stamped & colored with a SU Marker, smacked with VersaMark and embossed with clear EP.  I did some paper piercing along the scalloped edge of the Cherry piece.  It doesn't show up in the picture though.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Inspired by Nature, Nature Walk
Ink:  Old Olive (instead of Kiwi Kiss), Black StazOn, SU Markers (Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango)
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories:  Whacked EF, Scallop Border Punch, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Clear EP

I've spent a lot of time the past couple of days holding and rocking Luke.  He's had a virus and I'm so glad he still likes to cuddle.  He'll be too big for that soon.  Hopefully he is on the mend and will be back to his regular chatty self tomorrow.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you come back soon.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Soft Baja Crumbs

These colors are from last week's Color Challenge on SCS, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze & Crumb Cake.  Dessert was to use something glossy, glittery or flower soft.

Here's what I came up with.....

When I used my "Whacked Embossing Folder" on the side, I had it backwards so I have a debossed look rather than embossed.  I really liked the look of  it better in this case, so I kept it.

I rubbed a couple of styrofoam balls together over a plastic sandwich bag then added a couple drops of Soft Suede re-inker to it and mashed it together.  It gives a real nice "bumpy" look to the center of the flower.

I sponged the edges a bit with Crumb Cake to soften the edges.  Ususally I like a crisp look but sometimes it makes life more interesting to do something different.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Greenhouse Garden

Ink:  Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Accessories:  Big Shot, Whacked EF, Baja Seam Binding, Faux Flower Soft, Stamping Sponge

Thanks for stopping by to visit and for the lovely comments!  Enjoy!

Bonnie

Wheely Birds

The good news is.... WE FINALLY SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!!!

The bad news is....With having to finish cleaning the house out and find a place for everything, I haven't had much time to visit your blogs like I would like.  I've been trying to do a quick hit and run so I could see what you're doing, but haven't left many comments.  Rest assured, you are inspiring me and I am enjoying your creations.  Hopefully, I will get caught up in a few days and have more time to spend in Blogland!

The card today is one I've been working on since last Thursday or maybe even Wednesday.  I finally got it put together.

I think I've finally mastered the large wheel.  My hands are very small and I had trouble getting enough pressure on the handle to get a smooth print.  By putting my left hand on the handle over the wheel, I was able to get a pretty good image.  I inked the wheel with Crumb Cake and colored the flowers and some of the swirls with a Pink Pirouette Marker.  Then I put a little Chocolate Chip dot in the centers.

The birds are from the Bliss set that you will find in the Sale-a-bration catalog.  I had stamped a row of them just fiddling and they were just laying there.  The breasts of the birds are colored with Pretty in Pink I think.  I used the blender pen to pull the color on the back, head and wings.  The flower is punched from Pink Pirouette with one of the flowers from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.

I used the Whacked Embossing Folder on the bottom for a little added interest.  (You can see how to whack it here.)

I'm entering this card in the SUO #12 challenge to use Stampin' Around Wheel.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Clearly for You, Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel
Ink:  Crumb Cake, SU Markers (Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip)
Paper:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette
Accessories:  Big Shot, Whacked EF, Blender Pen, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle


Also Stampin' B's #97 challenge to use a bird or birds on a card.  Thanks for the challenge Benzi and for all your wonderful encouragement!

And for the Sketch Challenge 319 on Splitcoaststampers.  Here's the sketch....

By the way, you can get the Bliss set free with a $50.00 merchandise order from Stampin' Up!  See my sidebar for details and to order.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Whacked Embossing Folder

I have had so many questions about my "Whacked" Finial Press Embossing Folder, that I decided it deserved a post all it's own.

Here is what it looks like.

My favorite is the skinny one in the middle.  I used it on the cards I showed you the past two days.

It's simple really.

•  Look at the folder and decide where you want to cut. 
• You can use a fine point Sharpie and draw your lines.
• Cut along the lines with a pair of sharp scissors. (I used SU Craft & Rubber Scissors.)  

I first saw this on Sandi MacIver's blog.  Just scroll down a bit on the page that is linked here.

I bought another Finial Press EF so I'd have the whole one, but I think I use the "whacked" one more!

If you scroll down and look on the sidebar, there is a label for Whacked Embossing Folder.  You can see the cards where I used it.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Inspired by Cindy B

Today's CAS102 challenge at SCS is to do a card inspired by cindybstampin's card here.

I've probably made more than enough Valentine cards, but this just seemed to fit the challenge.

After stamping the Punch Potpourri heart and letting the ink dry, I used a blender pen and ink to color the flowers in the heart.  The little hearts are punched out of a piece of Real Red embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  The Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit is a perfect mat for the punched design.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Teeny, Tiny Words
Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories:  Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Square Lattice EF, Whacked Finial Press EF, Full Heart, Small Heart & Heart to Heart Punches, Real Red narrow ribbon, Blender Pen, Basic Pearls

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Mmmm, Apples

I've been so busy getting samples ready for a class (see yesterday's post), bookmarks for the Newcomer's Club and a workshop, that I haven't had much time to just play. Well, I guess it's really playing to do all that, but I have had to ignore the challenges or at least put them on the back burner.

Today, I did a card for Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday challenge to do trees. The Ways to Use It challenge on SCS was to use one piece of cardstock. The challenge police might come after me because I used a little scrap of Real Red cardstock for the apples. Whoops!


Card Recipe:
Stamps: Season of Friendship, Bird on a Branch (sentiment)
Ink: Soft Suede, Old Olive
Paper: Naturals White, Real Red
Acc.: Whacked Finial Press Embossing Folder, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch

Note: I cut the embossing folder into strips with my rubber cutting scissors.

Let me see if I dare post this to the Ways to Use It challenge and take my chances with the Challenge Police.

I did another one that is honestly only one piece of cardstock, but it hasn't dried yet. Once it's dry, I think it's going to need to be flattened. Oh my, what a mess!

See you tomorrow.
Bonnie

My Garden

I'm teaching a class next week on doing embossed butterflies. This was left over from the dry run.


He's going to go in the Free For All challenge today to do a card based on your garden. My garden in non-existent. There are a few daisies by the front steps. One blossomed. I didn't plant any flowers because we were going to be moving from here this month. Plans have changed. We'll be staying here a while longer, but still no flowers to speak of. I have seen several butterflies though.

So my card has embossed flowers to represent the lone daisy. I used the whacked Finial Press Embossing folder to do the embossing. (You can let Sandi show you how to whack it here.) I embossed one side of the 3" x 4" piece of Whisper White, then put it back through with the embossing folder on the adjacent side.


The butterfly is stamped with Black StazOn, colored with Su Markers, smacked with VersaMark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

The mat is 3 1/8" x 4 1/8" Night of Navy. The sentiment is stamped with Night of Navy.


All of this sits on a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Daffodil Delight base card.


I guess the butterfly is leaving because he didn't find any flowers. Maybe next year I can plant some flowers.


Have a great weekend.
Bonnie

Side Swiped!

No, I didn't have an automobile accident. Today's Free for All on SCS is to do a side swipe.

This is salvaged from some discarded pieces the other day.

For the side treatment, I punched with the Scallop Trim Border punch and attached a piece of Whisper White that I embossed with the Whacked Embossing Folder. You can find a link to the whacking here. I punched the other side of the Whisper White, that overlaps on the inside, with the Scallop Trim punch too. It gives it a more finished look instead of looking like an afterthought. If you notice that the end scallops are missing, it's because the top one tore off so I had to trim the other side to match. I thought maybe it would become a new style! LOL! I always wanted to be a style setter!

The stamp was inked with SU Markers and stamped on scrap pieces. I like doing a little bit more of the branch in the corners and I embossed the corners of the sentiment piece too. I used the Clearlit Rectangle with the BIG GUY to create the mat out of Daffodil Delight. The ribbon is Bashful Blue Taffeta.

This is a card that can be mailed without any extra postage. I like that. I had a card returned in one of the clear envelopes last week needing extra postage. I've been sending cards in those envelopes for a long time. Maybe the machines are getting more sensitive!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
Ink: Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede SU Markers
Acc.: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Big Shot, Whacked Finial Press Embossing Folder, Clearlit, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon

Are you guys as glad that it's Friday as I am? Seems like it's been a long week that went by fast. Does that make any sense? I get to stamp with friends tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to that!

Have a great weekend and I hope you get time to stamp.
Bonnie

More New Toys

I have another new stamp set to share with you today. This is another Level 1 Hostess Gift. Did you notice that there are 6 superduperLevel 1 Hostess gifts this year? Usually there is at least one that I'm not too crazy about but not this year! It was hard to decide which one to get. I settled on the Silhouette Sentiments, and I'm really glad I did.

This didn't turn out quite like I envisioned it. (I envision, not sketch. I'm not good at sketching!) I wanted to use the new Clearlit. It's on p. 210 of the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog. I used it to make that adorable 1 1/2" x 2" scalloped rectangle. It has a clear top so you can see where your design is and you use it with the BIG GUY. Actually, I punched this one out and then stamped.

I used markers to ink the tall flower and stamped once, then the little flower (it looks like a lily to me) twice with one stamp off. After it was matted, I wrapped with a piece of Daffodil Delight 1/8" taffeta ribbon.

I inked the bird & branch with markers too. Then I inked just the end of the branch several times to fill up some of the white space. Usually I love white space but today it was just glaring at me! I stamped the tip of the branch a couple of times in the corners of the sentiment too. I really love the clear mount stamps because I can see exactly where I'm stamping.

I used my whacked Finial Press Embossing Folder. (I cut it up with scissors so I have 4 strips.) to put a little texture on the top & bottom of the largest design piece and two of the corners of the flower piece.

All the pieces were matted with Daffodil Delight. The card base is Marina Mist.

You can see the sketch layout here. It's a great sketch and perfect for this stamp set.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments
Paper: Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede, & Marina Mist SU Markers
Acc.: Daffodil Delight Ribbon, Whacked Embossing Folder, Big Shot

That's all for tonight. Thanks for stopping by and I really, really appreciate all the nice comments. Stampers are the nicest people!

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Whacked A Flutter

Hello Stampin' Friends. I hope you haven't given up on me. We had a wonderful vacation and I was able to see a lot of family that I hadn't seen in so long. I spent lots of time with my Dad who is 89 yrs. old today. The weather was as hot in VT as it was here in NC but Dad lives on a beautiful spring fed natural lake that never gets very warm. It's great for cooling off!

This is a card I made a while back. In fact I CASEd myself! I love this layout and the whacked embossing folder is perfect with this.

I have had some questions about directions for whacking folders. I have a link for it here. You will need to scroll down to the Sept. 17, 2009 post. Sandi MacIver, one extremely creative lady, put these directions on her blog. I whacked the Finial Press Embossing Folder and I have used the pieces lots.

On this card, I sanded the embossing a bit so it would stand out a little more.

Card Recipe

Stamps: All a Flutter, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Brocade Blue, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

Ink: Black Stazon

Acc.: Brocade Blue SU Marker, Big Shot, Whacked Finial Press EF, Scallop Trim Corner, Scallop Trim Border, Large Oval & Scallop Oval Punches

I have missed stamping and sharing with you. Hopefully I will get a chance to get to my table and do some stamping.

Enjoy,

Bonnie