Sunday, February 28, 2010

Elegant Wedding Card


(I think I need a "how to photograph shiny things" class!)

I have a wedding to go to this summer and I thought the new Heart Strings set from FireCracker Designs by Pamela would be perfect.

For the background I simply stamped the image randomly in Versamark ink and embossed in clear. For the main panel, I masked the image so I would get just the heart. I stamped in Versamark and embossed in silver. I repeated this step for the 2nd heart - positioning the heart so it would be "entwined" with the first heart.

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Heart Strings
Paper: Papertrey White, Silver from Mike’s
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Clear detail embossing powder, silver embossing powder


Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Ribbon Storage


As you have heard me whine...life has been very full lately and I've lost my focus. Every once in a while I do a reality check and realize that my blog has switched from "you, you, you" to "me, me me". So let me get back on track here by giving you a tip and also catch up on a promise.

This is for Sue from Oregon. I promised her I'd blog about my ribbon storage. I use the Ribbon Rings (bought mine at Pink Hedgehog Papercrafts). Pink Hedgehog also made this easy for me to setup as I bought their 1 yd groups of ribbon to get me started. I keep the ribbons organized by color (all greens together on one ring, etc.).

I love them because:

1. I am a very visual person (big surprise, eh) and I like everything out in the open. If its put away...I'll forgetaboutit.

2. I think these rings of ribbon are absolutely beautiful hanging there. Almost a work of art!

3. It is easy to tell when I need to purchase more ribbon. I just pull the long ends out and the short ones reveal themselves to show which ones I need more of. See:




4. And lastly, its easy for me to pick the ribbon for my project without making a big mess. For example, let's say I'm working on a project and I'm thinking it may need a pink or red ribbon. I like to "try them on" before I decide which ribbon is best. I used to grab the spools unroll a bit from each one and lay them across my card. If I didn't like them, I had to roll them all back up and put them away. Now I just grab the ring with pink and red, select a few ribbons and drape them across my project to see which one I like. When I'm done, I just grab the ring and hang it back up. So easy! Here's what I mean about "trying the ribbons on":





What? You don't remember the card in this example? That's because it "didn't make the cut". I still have it laying there. Maybe someday I'll figure out what it needs.


Enjoy!

Michelle B.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Collage in Blue


I just recently discovered I *LOVE* collage stamping like this! It is so fun and free. I love the variation in colors and I love how much is going on in every square inch of the piece! I thought the variety of images from the new Love Bites set from FireCracker Designs by Pamela would be perfect for this technique! (with a little help from the swirls from Heart Strings)

If you've never tried this type of stamping before, here's the recipe:

Color - You need at least 4 variations of the same color. I have: very light (Soft Sky), medium light (Baja Breeze), medium dark (Blue Bayou) and dark (Not Quite Navy).

Images - One kinda large mostly white or very light image. Swirls or leafy vines of some sort are a must. Several other images of different sizes.
  • First, place the large mostly white image off center. Mask or clear emboss. Surround by the lightest ink (I used Soft Sky).
  • Color the bottom 1/3 with the medium dark ink (I used Blue Bayou).
  • Color the top 2/3's in the medium light ink (I used Baja Breeze). This is best if done kinda sloppy - leave some lighter and darker areas. Don't completely cover your lightest area with that main image.
  • Add some areas all around randomly with the darkest ink (I used Not Quite Navy).
  • Then fill in with various images and colors of ink. I started with the larger. I added the swirls in 2 colors for depth.
  • Add one image in black (the wolf print).
  • Fill in the rest with smaller images/sentiments in various blues.

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Love Bites, FireCracker Designs by Pamela Heart Strings
Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: Corner Rounder, Clear detail embossing powder

Enjoy!

Michelle B.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Baby's Clothesline


Ahh, can't you just feel that spring breeze drying these cute little clothes? This is another new image from Artful INKables Newborn Blessings.

This was actually a very quick card. Why? Because the other day I was making a scene and I accidentally got some green ink into my sky. Ack! So I trimmed that part off and kept the little sky and grass piece that was still good. Turns out it was just perfect for what I needed here today. Maybe I'll make a few grass/sky pieces and keep them for another hurried day! All I had to do was stamp my clothesline onto the sky. I stamped the clothesline again onto a piece of GP110 and colored that one with Copics. I cut out the colored images and paperpieced them into place on the sky.

Stamps: Artful INKables Newborn Blessings
Paper: GP110, Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana (I’m really liking that color lately!)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Soft Sky, Old Olive
Accessories: Copics, Nesties, slit punch (to round edges of sentiment panel)


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Redbird Aglow

Wanna know how I created that glowing effect around this birdie on that way cool branch? Check out the tutorial I wrote for Artful INKables HERE for all the details.

Stamps: Artful INKables A Bird’s Song
Paper: GP110, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey DP (Wassail I think?), Red (was it Real or Riding Hood? Doh! I wrote this about a month ago and can't remember. Glad I now photo my supplies with my finished piece so I don't forget!)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copics, Nesties, White Prismacolor pencil (highlights), SU ribbon


Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Classic Michelle Style


This is my 2nd post today so be sure to scroll down!

This is my last piece for my fun as Guest Designer for All That Scraps. Boo Hoo! It was really fun and I am grateful for the opportunity! As part of the Guest Designer program at ATS is to find out a lot about that person, I figured I wasn't giving the true picture of myself unless I did one of these types of cards with a sketch spotlighting an element in a scene.

I'm going to break these instructions up in sections:

IMAGES - I started by coloring the monkey and several flowers and cutting them out. Now you don't think I cut those tiny flower stems or lady bug antennae out do you? Of course not! When I am cutting, I cut all those tiny parts right off! You'll see why in a sec.

SCENE - So, then I sponge a sky area (with a torn paper mask) and a grassy area onto a piece of cardstock. I use a Nestie to cut out the main rectangle. I remove that rectangle piece and back it with a piece of red cardstock. So now, I am left with a scene with a whole in it. I take that piece and make two vertical cuts (so that I actually remove a tiny sliver) and then I make two horizontal cuts (again removing a tiny sliver). This is a pretty simple scene but when I am doing more complicated scenes, removing the sliver of cardstock rather than just spreading everything out, ensures that all the elements of the scene line up.

PAPERPIECING - I need to get those tiny flower stems and lady bug antennae into my scene so I stamp those images into place on the scene using my stamp-a-majig. I simply paperpiece the images I colored into position.

Wanna see more?

HERE is some tips on how I cut images out.

Hmmm looks like I need to do an updated tutorial on how I cut scenes apart since I am now using Nesties. HERE is a tutorial that is pretty close. HERE is another tutorial except that back then I used to cut then ink because I was making all the cuts on a paper cutter and was prone to error (so glad I bought Nesties!).

Stamps: C.C. Designs Flower Power, C.C. Designs Presents AmyR Stamps All Women Sentiments
Paper: GP110 (for colored images), Whisper White (for sponged scene), Real Red
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Old Olive, Garden Green, Baja Breeze, Soft Sky
Accessories: Copics, Nesties


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
And this type of card is why I was called "Queen of the Scene"

Vintage Grape Fairy


Here's where my brain went for this one: Grapes = Tuscan = Vintage = Brown on everything. Ha!

The fairy was colored with Copics and cut out. Then I sponged all her edges with Creamy Caramel. I wanted some shine on those grapes so they are covered with Glossy Accents. The "sky" is dp but those clouds were too bright white. So, I sponged Creamy Caramel on those as well.

Stamps: C.C.Designs Presents Sweet November Fruit Of The Month Grape
Paper: GP110, DP by American Crafts, Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copics, Glossy Accents, Nesties, Textile Texture embossing folder, white Prismacolor pencil


Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Surfer Riley


Oops, I made this card last October for a challenge but I don't think I ever posted it. Can't remember what challenge I was trying. I think I didn't quite make the deadline for the challenge and well....here we are.

Uh....what supplies did I use? Your guess is as good as mine! Ha! I'm seeing Surfer Riley, MotherMark Clouds, D'Vine Swirls embossing folder, Real Red DP, Copic coloring, EK Success Dotted Wave Punch, Nesties. I remember that the "waves" have a darker ink sponged on the bottom of them and white across the top.

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene" and forgetful too!

Craftin' with DD


I've been holding out on you! These were made last October by my 11 yo DD and I. For her birthday, she took a couple girl friends roller skating. These were her thank you cards. I have this image (CC Designs Swiss Pixies Gretel) in digital form so I simply brought it into my photo editing software and added some little circles to her feet to emulate the roller skates. You could get the same effect with some small circle punches or maybe you have a small circle stamp. I love images I can use in many ways like this! I showed her how to mask and sponge the floor in and she took it from there.

Stamps: CC Designs Swiss Pixies Gretel, Papertrey Polka Dot Basics II, Hanna Stamps Things Hanna Would Say
Other: I dont' share my crafting space very well so I took off. I have no idea what she was using! Ha!

Enjoy!
Michelle B. & DD

FCD - Romantic Lyrics Hop



"You're always on my mind, in my heart, in my soul"
--You're the Inspiration by Chicago

Welcome to the February Firecracker Designs By Pamela Blog Hop! This month's theme is "Romantic Lyrics." {insert winey voice here} Oh this was sooo hard for me! {ok, you can turn off the winey voice now}. My taste in music,um, not even close to romantic. I thought about this for a while and then, I knew I had to do it. I had to call in the one person who can help me out when I get stuck on a card idea......my husband! He quickly offered a the lyric above and I was off and running with the "you" in my heart idea.

NOTE: The official start time of this Hop is Friday, at 8:00 AM (EST). If you arrived early, please be patient as all the links may not be live yet.

This is a “circular blog hop” where the only beginning is wherever you start!! You will know you are at the end of your blog hop when you’ve come back to the blog you’ve started from! (It’s not a huge circle…so it should be easy to remember where you started.) The winner will be chosen from a mystery blog hostess that we don’t even know who it will be until the hop is over…so that’s why you’ll want to leave a comment on EVERY blog, so you don’t miss out!**To find out if you’ve won… you will be contacted by Pamela via e-mail (so be sure to leave it with your comment.) and you can also find out on Pamela’s blog after the blog hop ends on Mon, at 8:00 PM (EST).

Now, to continue the circle, you will need to hop on over to SHELLY'S BLOG!!!!

Deets on this card: I masked off the top 2/3 of the card. I stamped the scroll image in Virsamark on the bottom 1/3 of the card and embossed in clear. Then I colored those same scrolls in with Virsamark and clear embossed. I repeated this step again to make sure that no black ink leaked in. Then I sponged black ink all over the bottom 1/3. I removed the masks and stamped the scroll image in black on the top 2/3. For the main panel, I stamped the heard image. I stamped the "you" in the center and colored with Copics.

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Heart Strings
Paper: Papertrey White, Basic Gray
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Virsamark Pad & Pen, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Ribbon from Pink Hedgehog

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
Designer for FireCracker Designs by Pamela

Tired of Snow?

Then let's go to the beach! So Taylor has just hit the 100 sketch milestone! Congrats to Taylor! Taylor's sketches are near and dear to me because they are some of the first challenges I ever played and because that is the first thing I ever won! So for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge 100, I wanted to make something REALLY special. I looked at the sketch and kinda saw an island in that half circle and I took of running from there.

It felt really good to go back to the "real me" here and create one of these scenes in a sketch again. I've been very busy with DT work lately and I don't normally do these for DT work (people say they are too hard!).

So, we are going to take the "how to" in steps here.....
  • BACKGROUND - I brayered Cool Caribbean top and bottom. I used a scrap paper to mask off the horizon line and sponged Tempting Turquoise downward from there.
  • ISLAND - I cut an oval of River Rock and sponged River Rock and Creamy Carmel on it to create my island. I adhered my island to the background.
  • SKETCH - I used a circle Nestie to cut out the center circle part of the sketch. I used a larger circle to cut out a red mat for this piece. For the vertical part of the sketch, I used my paper cutter to cut downward towards the island. Note that I made 4 cuts this way so I actually removed pieces here so that the red card based showed thru rather than matting this piece. Why? Really cuts down on bulk and I didn't actually cut this piece totally off...it was still attached to the island at the bottom so it would have been difficult to get a mat in there.
  • IMAGES - Were colored with Copics, cut out, and adhered into place during assembly.
  • FAUX BRADS - You can see how I create faux brads HERE.
  • MORE - Still needed something so I added the sentiment on the island.

PS: My friend JenMarie has some great blog candy on her blog HERE.

Stamps: Artful INKables Paradise Island
Paper: GP110, Whisper White, Real Red, River Rock
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise, River Rock, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate ChipAccessories: Oval and Circle Nesties, White Prismacolor Pencil, Stamp-a-majig for sentiment placement, Martha Stewart Scallop Dot Punch (for the faux brad circles)


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Glam Bird Cage

Whoo hoo, I just received my SU order and I now have Sahara Sand paper & ink. Love it! I created this card for the Clear Dollar Stamps Glam It Up Challenge and used the sketch from Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #61 (first time I've done this challenge....great sketches here!).


My "glam" was the bird cage which I embossed in gold and the rhinestone "chain" the birdhouse is hanging from. I couldn't get a good photo of the card and glam at the same time so here's a closeup of the glam:



The little bird was stamped in Rose Red and then I used Bravo Burgundy and my Blender Pen to add some shadow. I then stamped the cage in Versamark and embossed in gold. Sponged the edges and added rhinestones to finish this panel. The little panels on the side were cut from the same Nestie and then I just trimmed off the sides. Embossing and sponging here as well.

Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Pretty Perches
Paper: Papertrey White, Sahara Sand
Ink: Sahara Sand, Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: Nesties Labels 4, detail gold embossing powder, embossing buddy, Versamark Pad, Versamark Pen, Kaisercraft Rhinestones, Textile Texture embossing folder, blender pen

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Baby Favors - NICE!

When I first saw these cute little babies from the new Artful INKables Newborn Blessings set I couldn't wait to color them. Look at those cute little cheeks! So obviously, I choose to go NICE for the AI Naughty or Nice challenge HERE. You've got plenty of time so I hope you'll play along for a chance to win free stamps!

I decided to use these babes to make favors that could be given at a baby shower. I took my cue from this Matchbook Post-It Note Tutorial HERE. But I wanted these to be tiny so I just inserted some cut GP 110 into mine and stapled it into place like a real matchbook. They measure 2 inches wide and about 2 1/4 inches tall. Here's a pic of the inside:

The background panel was an alternate shade of cardstock stamped with a sentiment from this set and edges sponged. The babies were colored Copics, cut out, and adhered into place.

WARNING: I normally set all my pieces into place before I adhere them down to make sure I like them. However, when I let go of this one, the top of the matchbook acted like a sling shot and a little baby went flying thru the air! Ha!

Stamps: Artful INKables Newborn Blessings
Paper: GP 110, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Whisper White, Rose Red, More Mustard
Accessories: Copics, Scallop Edge Punch, Score-Pal, Stapler


Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Photo Album for my Niece



This is my 2nd post today so be sure to scroll down.

Whenever there is a new baby in the family I make them a little photo album of all the members of our family. I started this when my kids were little and it really shortened the time it took for them to warm up to people at family gatherings because we had looked at those photos and talked about who those people were so many times. I am continuing this tradition here for my new baby niece. It is even more important for her because she lives out of town.



The making of this clear envelope book was based on THIS tutorial. Here's a peak inside:




The front was decorated with the new image, Sparkle Thistleweed, from All That Scraps. Her eyes are awesome! I also enjoyed coloring her hair green.....another "something I never do". I punched the grass, embossed, and sponted a bit across the bottom. Have I told you yet how excited I am to finally have a grass punch! I stamped some white clouds and the word "Niece" to create the sky. My niece's initials were cut from the Cricut, embossed, and sponged also.

PS: I used double layers of cardstock on the front and back covers to make this more sturdy for little hands.

Stamps: C.C.Designs Presents Sweet November Sparkle Thistleweed, C.C. Designs Presents AmyR Stamps All Women Sentiments, C.C. Designs Sugarplums Scenery
Paper: GP 110, Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion, Green Galore, Lovely Lilac
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red
Accessories: Copics, Stamp-a-majig, Cricut Storybook, ribbon from Pink Hedgehog, Large Brads from Archivers, Swiss Dots embossing Folder, MS Grass Punch, Angel Wingz Shimmers, Spots & Dots embossing Folder, Score Tape, Crop-a-dile, clear envelopes


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Fairy on a Branch


Here's another piece for the All That Scraps Guest Designer gig. I love the face on Ginger and even had to add some eye shadow (something I don't normally do).

I started by brayering the sky and ground. Next I cut out the circle where Ginger would eventually be placed. This beautiful little fairy needed something to sit on so I embossed some green cardstock with the Leafy Branch embossing folder. I sponged a darker green on the bottom half of the leaves and added some white Prismacolor pencil highlights. The leaves were cutout and arranged into position here.


Ginger was colored with Copics and cut out. She has Shimmerz on her wings for sparkle. I bent her wings forward a bit and put pop-dots on the back of the wings so they would stick up a bit. Then I adhered Ginger into position. Here's a closeup:



Stamps: C.C.Designs Presents Sweet November Ginger, C.C. Designs Presents AmyR Stamps All Women Sentiments
Paper: GP 110, Whisper White, Old Olive, Lovely Lilac
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Garden Green
Accessories: Copics, Stamp-a-majig, White Prismacolor pencil, Nesties, Angel Wingz Shimmerz, Leafy Branch Embossing Folder, pop-dots

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"



Monday, February 15, 2010

February Artful INKables Hop Time!


Welcome to the Artful Inkables hop! If you arrived here from Jen's blog, then you are in the right spot! If not, you should begin the hop on Kristin’s Blog (Artful Inkables), so that you can get the full show.

Of course, when I saw these cute birdhouse images from the new Artful INKables set Any Birdy Home?, you know I thought of all sorts of scenes I could make with them! (and is that name fun or what!?) Today I have the birdhouse up on a "pole" with sunflowers growing beneath. I can get carried away sometimes so I kept these scene simple by using DP for my sky and punched/embossed paper for the grass.
Next stop along the way is Crystal. Hop on over and be sure to leave her a kind comment as she always does for so many others.

Stamps: Artful Inkables Any Birdy Home?
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery, kraft, GP110, SU Bashful Blue DP
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copics, Swiss Dots embossing folder, Nestabilities Labels 8, MS Grass punch, MS Garden Trellis punch, EK Success Rock Fern punch (with leaves cut off to use as sunflower stems)

Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy V-Day!



Just a quick card today as this is a busy weekend. This piece features the new set from FireCracker Designs by Pamela called Heart Strings.

I have been seeing a lot of people coloring with Copics on kraft paper and also combining white with kraft. These are things I don't normally do so I thought I'd give it a try. This was a fun change!
Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Heart Strings
Paper: Papertrey White and Kraft
Ink: Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, corner rounder punch, Martha Stewart edge punch
Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Ground Sponging Tutorial

I wrote a little tutorial about sponging a ground around images for Artful INKables. If you haven't seen it yet, you can find it HERE.

NOTE: This sketch is from Fall To Layout #52. You can find it HERE.

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Think Ink Challenge # 13



How about a Clean and Simple card today? This was inspired by the sketch in the current Think Ink Challenge. There is still time so I hope you'll play along for a chance to win some Artful INKables stamps!


For the main panel here, I first inked the main flower image in Virsamark. Then I inked my flower image with Old Olive in the stem areas and Almost Amythyst and Perfect Plum in the flower areas. (Sorry, no markers here!) Finally I stamped the image on the paper. A little dusting of clear detail embossing powder and a shot from the heat gun and I am ready to add the leaves. The leaves were first inked with River Rock and stamped off on a scrap. Then I stamped (without inking again) onto my piece. Because my flowers were embossed, I could simply rub any River Rock ink right off of them with a paper towel. I love the effect of those soft leaves in the background!


Stamps: Artful INKables Plant Prints, Artful INKables A Bird’s Song (sentiment)
Paper: Papertrey White, Bazzill Black, Perfect Plum
Ink: Old Olive, Almost Amethyst, Perfect Plum, River Rock
Accessories: Clear detail embossing powder, Stamp-a-majig (sentiment)


Enjoy!

Michelle B.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

DH Bday & FCD News


I saw a piece of art used by a designer on a television show the other day and I wanted to re-create that here (Can you see me pausing the TV and taking a pic with my phone so I wouldn't forget what the piece looked like? ha!). I gave this to my husband for his recent birthday.

I brayered the sky with Creamy Caramel. I masked the ground with a torn paper and sponged a bit of Apricot Appeal along the horizon. I masked the sky with torn paper and sponged in Old Olive and moved the mask around to create some hills (remember: darker in front and lighter in back to create distance). I stamped in the tree and colored in the trunk with Copics. I used a blender pen to add some darker areas to the tree top. The sentiment is a rub-on. I used some embossed & sponged pieces in various colors in the background.

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Scenic Byways
Paper: GP 110, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Garden Green, Creamy Caramel, Apricot Appeal
Accessories: Copics, Sentiment Rubon from SU


----------------
FCD NEWS
A. FireCracker Designs by Pamela has some new FREE digi's. You can find out how to get them HERE and HERE (these are fabulous for Valentine's Day!).

B. Share the LOVE of FCD Celebration! to celebrate reaching 100 members on FCD FaceBook:

1. Just for being an FCD FB member, you'll have a chance to win a 10$ gift card. To enter, all you have to do is join the FCD fan page, before Feb. 14th!! Easy huh? One randomly chosen member will win. If FCD reaches 150 members before Feb. 14th, FCD will draw TWO winners!

2. FCD is having a contest! Create ANY piece of art that uses ANY FCD image you have, submit it to the fan art by uploading in thru a post on the FCD wall, and you are entered to win a 15$ GC! ONE entry per person, one randomly drawn winner will be chosen.

Don't own any FCD rubber? No problem! You can use an FCD digital to enter! AND to kick things off, FCD has uploaded TWO brand new freebies to the digi page, so EVERYONE can play!! What are you waiting for? Go get creating!! Deadline is Feb. 13th!

Drawings will be held on Feb. 14th!!

------------
Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Bday Photo

This is my 2nd post today so be sure to scroll down!

When I saw this cute little Trevor I was thinking of a birthday photograph hanging on the wall. So......

I used DP for my wall paper. I made a "frame" for the picture by cutting the outter edge with a Labels 8 Nestie and then cutting the center out with a rectangle Nestie. I sponged some chocolate ink in various spots around the frame to give it some depth (note to self: Next time use lighter cardstock so you can really see the sponging!). I stamped Trevor and colored him with Copics. His shirt is paper pieced. I added a little shading to the dp on the shirt. I sponged a little ground for him and cut him out. Instead of trying to cut out that thin little ballon string, I left the piece between Trevor and the string and just colored it with Copics to blend into the DP. Ta Da!

Stamps: All That Scraps C.C. Designs Sugarplums Balloon Trevor
Paper: GP 110, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Archaic DP
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Creamy Caramel, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copics, Nesties


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Bee Happy

Time for another All That Scraps Guest Designer spotlight! Whoo Hoo! You can read the All That Scraps posting HERE. I saw the little bee accessory stamp included here with Darby and I decided to carry the bee theme to the extreme.

I stamped the bee on the yellow layer to make my own DP. This layer was also sponged all around the edges with 2 darker colors of yellow ink and finished with an edge punch. Darby was colored with Copics (sticking to my black and yellow bee theme) and I sponged a little ground for her to stand on. Finally, I stamped some sentiments from All Women to make the sentiment here. I used the B from "Birthday", the e's from "celebrate" and the word "happy". To make sure the letters stood out from the white background, I sponged a little around the edges of each piece before attaching them in a whimsical pattern. The idea to do the sentiment like this came from that list I've been keeping of things I never do but wanna try!

Stamps: All That Scraps C.C.Designs Presents Sweet November Sprites Darby & Bumbles, All That Scraps C.C. Designs presents AmyR Stamps All Women Sentiments
Paper: GP 110, Basic Black, Barely Banana
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, So Safron, More Mustard
Accessories: Copics, Martha Stewart Scallop Dot Punch

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Gotta Howl!

As soon as I saw this Love Bites set from FireCracker Designs by Pamela, I knew I had to do the wolf howling in the moon kinda scene! This is another versatile sentiment from this set too! A "howl" could be a YIPPEE or a BOO HOO or a "just be you" message.

To create the night sky, I punched a sticky note with my circle punch. I placed the outside piece (the piece with the hole in it) into position. I sponged the lightest color ink into the circle. I gave it a minute to dry and removed the sticky note. Then I stuck the circle shaped sticky note onto the moon as a mask. I sponged the next darkest shade of blue around the moon. I moved out a bit and sponged with the next darkest ink and kept repeating until I had black at the edge. I thought the moon needed a bit of clouds so I used my Bayou sponge without re-inking and just swiped right across the moon a few times. I then stamped the wolf into place and gave him a few white highlights on the right side.

Stamps: FireCracker Designs by Pamela Love Bites
Paper: GP 110, Soft Sky, Basic Black
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy
Accessories: sticky notes, 1.5” circle punch, stamp-a-majig, white Prismacolor pencil


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Tropical Gift Bag & a Tip

I love to make my own DP and this gorgeous flower from the Artful Inkables Paradise Island set was perfect for this! When it comes to wrapping gifts, I am a "last minute lucy" so its prolly a good idea for me to have a few of these around!

HERE's the link to the instructions for how to create the gift bag.

All I did to create this DP was stamp the flower in black right in the center, color that one with Copics, and randomly stamp the flower on the rest of the piece with various coordinating inks.

And now for the TIP: I am often preparing my DT pieces days or even weeks ahead of when you see them. I often "hunker down" in my stamp area for hours and complete many projects in one sitting. By the time I get upstairs to write up the the blog posting (which may be days later....), I have completely forgotten what supplies I used. I thought about putting them in a basket until I post but then if I need to use the same item twice its a problem. I thought about writing it all down but that takes time. I think I finally have a simple solution - Just take a pic of all the supplies with the finished piece! Here's an example of the pic I took for this piece:



Stamps: Artful Inkables Paradise Island
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Whisper White, Regal Rose, Rose Red
Accessories: Copics, Ribbon from Pink Hedgehog, Round Tab Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, ¼” circle Punch, Score-tape

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

On a Gift




This is my 2nd post today so be sure to scroll down!


And now for my next trick.......This little girl needed a gift to gift to sit on!

I cut out two pieces of dp to serve as the lid and base of the box. On the base piece, I sponged black ink all along the top. When I put the two pieces together as you see here, it appears as if the box lid is hanging over and shading that base piece. In real life, this is flat as a pancake....no pop dots or anything! How fun is that!

I did not want to cut out that tiny balloon string to add this girlie to the scene so after I made the gift box, I stamped this little cutie into the box. I stamped her again on a piece of GP 110, colored her, and cut out her body and baloon. Then I simply paper pieced her body and balloon in and I didn't have to worry about the string. You can find out more about my cheaters for trimming images HERE.

Stamps: All That Scraps CC Designs Sugarplums Balloon Emma, All That Scraps CC Designs AmyR All Women Sentiments
Paper: GP110, Basic Black, Basic Grey Urban Prairie DP
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black,
Accessories: Copics, Ribbon from Pink Hedgehog


Enjoy!
Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Quilty Girl


I'm back to show you my first piece for the All That Scraps February Guest Designer spot. When I first saw this little girl, I thought her boots looked kinda old fashioned. I have also been seeing a lot of folks do faux quilts on their cards lately so I decided to give it a try.

Yep, I tried my hand at quilting for a bit so I had some old quilt books around. I found a pattern I liked and I sketched it all out on paper first. Then I drew the pattern in pencil onto the blue dp. I cut out the pieces for the red dp and pieced them into place. The image was colored in Copics and cutout. The dp for her dress and ribbon were shaded a bit with Copics and pieced into place. The panel she is standing on was first stamped with the words in the background, then sponged the edges, next sponged the "ground" and finally, stitched around the edges with a sewing machine to add to the quilty feel.



Here's an EXTREME close up:




Stamps: All That Scraps CC Designs Sugarplums Party Emma, All That Scraps CC Designs AmyR All Women Sentiments
Paper: GP110, Pacific Point, Basic Grey Marrakech
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Creamy Caramel, River Rock
Accessories: Copics, sewing machine

Enjoy!

Michelle B.
"Queen of the Scene"

Monday, February 1, 2010

This is BIG...really BIG!

Whoo Hoo! I'm so excited to tell you that I am the February Guest Designer over at All That Scraps! You know I love their images and I purchase many of my supplies there too! You can read the complete article right HERE. There will be a new article each Monday in February so I'll link you up each time, k? I'll be back later to post a review of my samples....want you to see them at All that Scraps first! Whoo Hoo!

Enjoy!
Michelle B.