IC370 Start with a Challenge

 

I’m starting this year off with a challenge!  I needed to make a nurse card today and needed a little inspiration.  Today’s challenge was perfect for me!  I was inspired by THIS image:

 

The tile floor was hand drawn in.  TIP:  Make the horizontal lines straight but angle the vertical lines from a center point to give the illusion of depth.

 

Stamps:  Stamping Bella Booboobella, Autumn Leaves Swirls V:I, Papertrey Ink Faux Ribbon

Paper:  GP 110, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Going Grey, So Safron, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red, Versamark

Accessories:  Copics, Glitter Pen, Nestabilities Labels Four

 

Enjoy!

Michelle B.

Love Shoes

My daughter recently had a birthday. She has been very busy this fall with soccer, volleyball and her very favorite - Dance! I happen to love shoes so I thought I would feature all her activities by the shoes she wears for them. I just stamped the images, colored with Copics and added a little sponging. Cut them to size and placed them on a card base featuring her favorite colors of turquoise and lime. A hit!

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Sporty Billy, H&M Living the Girl’s Live, High Hopes Settin Sara, Autumn Leaves Swirls V:I
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Green Galor, GP 110
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Soft Sky, Pear Pizzaz, Pink Pirouette, Basic Grey, So Safron, Creamy Caramel, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Copics, ribbon from Pink Hedgehog
Enjoy!
Michelle B.

30 Years

30 years.....how long since I posted last! No, not really but it feels like it! Life has just been me running as fast as I can! I'm sorry and I'll try to be back more regularly.

I really made this card as a 30th anniversary card. I love this little chef and believe he can be used for just about any occassion. I used my Cricut to cut out the black layer, the pattern paper layer, and also the "30". I colored the chef and cut him out (and when I realized I was going to have to cut out his mustache I was thinking maybe this wasn't such a good idea!!!). This all went together really quickly.

Stamps: SU Voila
Paper: Papertrey White, SU Mocha Morning DP, Basic Black, Real Red
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Cricut & Storybook Cartridge


See ya soon!
Michelle B.

PS: My photography skills clearly need to be brushed up on!

Harry Potter Starring Billy

I needed a Harry Potter card for my nephew's birthday. Now, I could have purchased an appropriate image, however, that would have given me a creativity score of zero today. So I asked Billy to star in my card (and he agreed!). To get Billy into costume, I drew in the glasses and scar on his face and added a magic want. I also used the graduation gown and added a tie and scarf. I sketched these items in with a pencil first, drew over the pencil sketch with a fine marker, and then went back and erased the pencil lines with a white art eraser.

I love stretching my stamps to be something other than the obvious! I hope you'll give it a try too!

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Dress Up Billy, Pink Cat Studio Lily and Billy Accessories, Pink Cat Studio, Limitless Limbs, SU One of a Kind (sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, GP 110, Basic Black, More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Close to Cocoa, Early Espresso
Accessories: Copics


Enjoy!
Michelle B.

I did it!!!!

Not a stamping thing but I just have to say "I DID IT!!!!". I ran the Go St. Louis half marathon (that's 13.1 miles). I finished in 2 hours and 20 minutes (great for me!). It was an AWESOME experience and I'm planning to do at least 1 more this year.

Enjoy! (and get some exercise today)
Michelle B.

Card Buddies

In just one more week, I'll be running my first half marathon! The training schedule has left me little time for stamping. To make good use of the time I have, I have started a "card buddies" program.

When I look over the list of people I need to make cards for this year, I find that there are many people with similar interested that don't know each other. For example, my husband and I both have someone in our families that like deer hunting. They become card buddies. I just need one deer hunting design, and I make two cards. This saves me time in both the design and production of the card. I also have the 2nd card ready and waiting for the event so saves me a little last minute stress too.

If I don't have an immediate need for a second card, I make it anyway and keep it generic. In this case, I am making this card for my in-laws for Easter. I don't know yet what I'm going to do with the 2nd card so I used a more generic sentiment. Hope you'll give this concept a try.

Now, for this card, I was inspired by THIS piece of artwork. I stamped the flowered branch and colored it in a bit with Copics. I them clear embossed the image TWICE (to make sure no green came thru). Then I sponged Sage Shadow starting at the outside of the image and working to the center so it would be lighter at the center. Finally, I sponged a little Chocolate Chip around the edges.

Stamps: SU Easter Blossoms, SU Clearly for You
Paper: Whisper White, Sage Shadow
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copics, Versamark pen, clear detail embossing powder, heat gun, ribbon from Mike’s, Stamp-a-majig

Enjoy!
Michelle B.

Running at Sunrise

My husband and I work at the same place. We recently joined some co-workers that run over our lunch hour 3 days a week. We also try to do a little longer run on Saturdays. Last week I logged 17 miles (my all time high!) and had a blast! I knew I wanted to make him a running card for his recent birthday. I didn't find a lot of running images out there...especially for a man. Luckily, I have the Cricut Sports Mania cartridge that has a running man image.

Now I needed a scene to put him in. I choose to CASE the background in THIS fabulous piece by Michelle Zindorf. I did notice that I don't like a lot of lines showing in my direct to paper pieces so I caught myself swirling the ink pad a bit to make it just a little smoother. As I always do with silhouettes, I gave the man the silhouette treatment!

Enjoy! (and get some exercise today!)
Michelle B.