Loads of Love set & Stampscapes stamps

This is a bit of a departure for me: more masculine cards. This is also the first card I've made with my "Stampscapes" stamps (Click the link here if you're curious). The stampscapes stamps are true to their name landscape stamps; they're also very popular for fantasyscapes. The ones used here are the Cracked Earth 181G (foreground) and layered Aurora Borealis: Rays 001G with cloud (Altocumulus) 194G (sky). So, I'm learning the names of cloud types... I've also changed my card size for a little variety with this one.

I got the idea for the trailer from page 52 of the Stampin' Up catalogue. I added a few silly little details (got carried away!) :0) This truck has chrome detailing, a trailer hitch (made with silver seed beads) and a little window part way rolled down. The window is easier to see in person. It's made with an overhead sheet.

I also added crystal effects to the body of the truck for more depth. The next one will have people and dogs in the truck and something in the trailer...but I needed to whip this one together quickly.

Thanks for looking,

Mel

Orange Ya Glad it Isn't Blue?

Okay, it's NOT blue! (though it does have turquoise--heehee). I made myself do something a little colourful. (Charles and his awesome Mum Esther have been worried about my "blue period") ALL of those hundreds of primas and water coloured images I have been making are blue. I've decided to give selling cards a real full-time go this fall (for the first time) and my kind-hearted critics are concerned that blue, blue, blue will be boring boring boring. They're so right, but they'll be happy that I have secret (code name "diverse") plans, muhahahahaha! ;0)

So, I assured them that I do plan on making other colours (if I MUST!) Now, I'm moving onto warmer colours: orange, red, and I may even go to therapy about my unnatural aversion to pink. Maybe...

:-) Thanks for looking,

Mel

Canned Primas

I have been insanely busy making homemade primas. After I made them I wondered where I should store them. So, I put 'em in canning jars. Each small jar holds about 15 and the tall one in the middle holds 40 or so. These were embossed and water-coloured, then cut out and embellished. (Crystal effects is the perfect adhesive for the beads etc...)

The water-colouring process included two steps: edging around the outside of each flower in a chocolate chip reinker wash and wet into wet painting with two aqua painters (light wash and darker tone in craft ink for saturation of colour). The brown centers were easiest to do. I found that I could just slop on a circle of wash and go back in with darker tones, since I'd be trimming anyway.

I can't wait until my S.U. order (with more blue-bayou and soft-sky cardstock) comes in. I'm also waiting for a BIG order of gorgeous water-colourable stamps from eat cake graphics. Sighhhhhhhhh...

Mel

EDITED TO ADD: More details

I use an aqua painter and reinkers. These primas were done in combos of: tempting turquoise & not quite navy (with chocolate chip centers); bordering blue & blue bayou; bordering blue & ballet blue.

I do several whole sheets of cardstock at once that way painting is faster (and I don't have to wait for them to dry between steps (I'm so impatient!).

First, I go around the edge with a light brown wash, then let it dry. After that, I use a wet into wet technique: just paint the flower quickly with a light wash of blue (sometimes twice depending on how quick it seems to be drying: you want it wet enough) then I go in with the dark ink in spots. It's fun when it bleeds into the light colour.

Then, yup (the tedious part) I cut them all out, BUT thankfully I just sent my paper snips out for sharpening (and with a wash around the outside you don't have to worry about perfection). Also this is a doodley set, so it's forgiving).

:0) Mel

Snaps for Brads

Just a very simple card. I was dying to use the snaps as brads. I have to get in the mood to design some less boring layouts. But, I've been water colouring my brains out (this is one of the images I've worked on). I think I've made enough images for over 100 cards. I actually bruised the thumb muscle in my hand! (formally known as the thenar muscle apparently, lol). The stitching is done on a sewing machine (I still can't sew a straight line to save my life); My Mom, the seamstress, is cringing.

:0) Thanks for looking, Mel

My 2 cents Worth (snaps = money sense)

Okay, I should work at Dressew... I am in LOVE with the place. These snaps gave me an epiphany: use 'em as an embellishment! Someone out there has already thought of this, I'm sure..but I've never seen it. They are 25 cents for 24 of them. That price is making me actually enjoy math (and that is saying something!)

Here's why I'm so stoked:

Eyelets are 5 cents a piece.
Brads are 6 cents per brad.
Gem brads are 23 cents--each!

It takes a male & female pair of snaps to replace all of those. So snaps are only 2 cents each time you use them! Okay, now I haven't totally flipped my lid; I still plan on using brads, eyelets, and gems but snaps offer a super affordable alternative.

These are homemade primas that I embossed and water-coloured with aqua-painters and diluted reinkers.
The center of each one has a snap. [Click on the picture to see the details close up]. The middle one has black seed beads glued around the snap (With crystal effects gluing is a snap. OH GROAN! Sorry couldn't resist that 'knee-slapper').

Adding the snap is easier than you can imagine. Just punch a hole in the center using a 1/16 inch hand held circle punch. Then put the flower(s) over the "male" snap. The "female" holds everything together--of course ;0). With a double flower the snap lets you turn it to the right spot. See the middle bloom on the bottom though? It slid out of position on me. When I saw that, I was tempted to start this post all over again with a new picture (me, a perfectionist? maybe...) but then I thought explaining might be useful to someone so: if you want the flowers to stay in the place you set them up, then just put a little bit of adhesive between the layers.

Two great things about snaps is that they're in any notions department: dirt cheap--'just the way I likes it' And they can be used late at night when hammering is prohibited :0).

Now snap to it! heehee,
Mel

Hand-dying Ribbon:I suggest latex gloves!

These are ribbons (technically called "braids" apparently) that I bought at Dressew in downtown Vancouver. I got a SWEET deal on 'em. I'll never want to overpay for embellishments again! :0) These will make excellent handles for totes and purse "boxes" and general add-ons for cards. Some were .49 cents & .99 cents/ meter. When I did the math for comparison with Craft store prices, I was floored. The variety at Dressew was out of this world. Overwhelming! It was a good thing that they were closing when I went, or there would've been trouble! Trick to dying your own ribbons is to be sure that the varieties you buy are made with enough cotton to be able to take the reinker (as dye).


You can see how these are different monochromatic hues; that's because they're different textures. (I only used "bordering blue" & "blue bayou" reinkers on these).

So, how do you do it? Three easy steps:

1. Just put a little water in a ziplock baggie or a bowl & then add several drops of reinker (amount depends on how intense you want it).

2. Plop the ribbon in & after saturating it, just slide two fingers over--removing excess water (let the drops fall back into your zip lock for more dying.) Gloves are great for this step.

3. Finally, there are two ways to dry it. Just hang it over your shower rod and pull the ribbon back and forth (with one end in each hand & the middle slung over the rod: letting the rod provide pull that "irons" it. Alternatively, you can lay it flat on a counter (one that won't stain). I also used my hair straightener! LOL :0)

E.T.A. Here's an alternative great way to do it

Groovy Doodle Skies

Can't get enough of this "Groovy Skies" SplitCoastStampers colour challenge. This card is a little wild for me. (nope, I don't get out much, lol). I was inspired by "cheryl l rowley's" take on the challenge to use patterned paper. Thanks Cheryl! Check out her stunning card here:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/647363?cat=fav

Patterned paper is from the GYPSY line by BasicGreyGYP-539 Hippie. The "Doodle This" flower is embossed in chocolate chip craft ink on naturals ivory (with clear e.p.), then I watercoloured the edges with the ink left over on the stamp and my aqua painter. The rest of the water-colouring was done wet into wet with a mix of tempting turquoise & blue bayou.

Thanks for checkin this out!

Mel

Ginormous Friendship

Playing with the designer series paper. It seemed a little high contrast, so I brayered it with soft sky to tone down the white.The define your life stamps got a bit smudgey yucky while distressing, but we'll call it "rustic"--Ya, that's it!

The "friendship" is embossed and flowers are emboss resist. (ginormous bloom: tempting turquoise on soft sky. Front baroque flower: Clear e.p. on soft sky c.s. then tempt. turq. reinker daubed on).

Thanks so much for checkin' this out,

Mel

For more details, here's my gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...p;ppuser=85088

Whale delighting in "Groovy Skies"

This is my first ever splitcoaststampers colour challenge. (The challenge was groovy skies: soft sky & groovy guava). Love these colours together! I do have to admit that I cheated ;-) by adding a hint of black behind the image and some cool caribbean for the sea.

DETAILS: I used white craft ink first to do the mist and then stamped the critters. (I was worried about the show through, but I guess it's okay. I painted the "shadows" on the "mist" with the not quite navy wash.(Man, "Shadows on the Mist" sounds like the title of a really BAD book!).I'm hooked on colour challenges now. (Gotta break free of the blues!) Thanks "emilymomto3boys" for putting them out there.

Have a great day,
Mel

"Go Froggy Go" in the lilly pads (eat cake graphics)

The water lillies are embossed in choc. chip on naturals ivory, then I watercoloured the edges with the ink left over on the stamp and my aqua painter. The rest of the water-colouring was done wet into wet with a mix of tempting turquoise & blue bayou. I just cut the bloom in half and then cut one off of one half and stuck it in behind.


The liily pads & the flowers little "stems" are cut from another paisley card identical to the background (paisely in sahara sand on river rock card stock.)The froggy is a little sloppy (on his back) but he's a new fave called "go froggy go" from eat cake graphics (you gotta check out Holly, eat cake's rubber artist's stamp designs): http://www.eatcakegraphics.com/

Thanks so much for looking,
Mel

Dipping into the Hoard: Bohemia paper

I've been getting lazy when it comes to colour combos and details, so I thought I'd take some patterned paper out of my hoard. (I swear I shiver with pain when I slice into a new piece of patterned paper! lol).

The bloom is embossed in choc. chip on naturals ivory, then I watercoloured the edges with the ink left over on the stamp and my aqua painter (Wow, I sound cheap, but really I'm just lazy!) The rest of the water-colouring was done wet into wet with a mix of tempting turquoise & blue bayou.

The patterned paper is "Bohemia 'blue bird "baby" paisley/light blue #BH1188"here's a teensy gem in the center and the ribbon is lightly melted on the ends.The matts are blue bayou & not quite navy. There's linen background stamped on the soft sky square & faux stitching with not quite navy stamp'n'write marker.

Here's my gallery if you want to check out more cards:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=85088

Vampire tendencies (gift card totes)

Took all the patience I had to wait until daylight to take a decent picture! lol. When I stamp I am a vampire.These are the first 3-d project I've made and the first gift sets I've made to sell.

Thanks to leslierich for her great blog "Runing with Scissors" http://leslierich.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/07/30/ruby-tuesday-stellas-tote-n-tutorial/

These really are easy. If i can do it...!!:-)

Thanks so very much for looking,

Mel

INGREDIENTS: Stamps: S.U. Paisley Background, Ginormous Flowers, Define your Life, and mystery paisley (embossed in white) [ETA: my very favourite paisley stamp finally has a source: above the mark stamps.] blue bayou (designer series paper) textured paper in blue bayou & soft sky. Basic Grey Blitzen collection "BLI-348 Polar Blue" Glossy white (trim). Clear e.p. silver brads, hand dyed twill tape ribbon (with soft sky & blue bayou reinkers). The blooms are embossed on soft sky with two tones of ink: not quite navy craft with blue bayou classic sponged on. (and clear e.p.)

The 5 petal flower punch bloom is punched out of bubble paper: "bubble glossy paper" (made by pouncing aqua painter dipped in reinker onto glossy c.s.).TIP: (in case you find scoring as tricky as I do) Only pull the little scoring tool (from the cutter kit) towards you; don't push it away from you...and have a high ruler like the perfect layers...

Thanks for checkin' 'em out,

Mel

Note Card Set: "Oh So Lovely Berries"

Another of the notecards for the gift sets. I hope Esther likes them. They were so much fun to make. I plan on making some more for craft sales and christmas presents. For a tutorial to make your own see the fantastic blog of Leslie Rich (" leslierich" on splitcoaststampers) here:

http://leslierich.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/07/30/ruby-tuesday-stellas-tote-n-tutorial/

Thanks for Looking,

Mel

Note Card Set: "We'll always be Tight"

This is one of four cards in some notecard sets.

Ingredients: PAPER--Textured paper (in colours) blue bayou, Naturals ivory. Basic Grey Blitzen collection "BLI-348 Polar Blue". Blue Bayou c.s.

DETAILS--Not quite navy ink & watercolouring with soft sky & blue bayou reinkers. Not quite navy craft ink (definitions) embossed with Clear e.p.

Flower: "Bubble glossy paper" (made by pouncing aqua painter dipped in reinker onto glossy paper) punched out with the 5-petal flower punch and with a 'soft sky' ICE gem brad in the center.

Thanks for looking,

Mel

Note Card Set: hand-dyed silk flower & twill tape

This is one of four cards of some notecard sets

Ingredients: PAPER--blue bayou (designer series paper and c.s.) Naturals ivory.

Main card--White craft ink brayered onto paisley stamp (embossed with clear e.p.).

Accessories--Clear e.p. silver brad, hand dyed twill tape ribbon (with water,soft sky, & blue bayou reinkers in a plastic bag). Chocolate chip craft ink to emboss the flower from the "Oh so Lovely" Hostess set. Crystal effects over the flower. Sewing machine to do faux stitches & white signo gel pen.

Thanks for looking,

Mel

Note Card Set: slipping you some "Laundry Notes"

This is one of four cards in some notecard sets I made for my mother-in-law Esther (the world's best m.i.l.) to give as birthday presents.

Ingredients:

I used up a whole package of both 'blue bayou' and another of 'soft sky,' so I had to cave and use my hoard of textured paper ("in colours".) [It was either that or actually make cards that aren't blue, hahaha! fat chance.]

The main image is on Naturals ivory cardstock. The center strip is from the Basic Grey Blitzen collection ("BLI-348 Polar Blue.") The distressing is done with one of my all-time favourite tools: "the distressing tool" (It's part of the "Cutter kit" on page 184 of the 2007-8 S.U. catalogue.)

I used not quite navy ink for the main image (slip), and I watercoloured it with soft sky & blue bayou reinkers, adding highlights with a white signo gel pen. The phrases are stamped in not quite navy craft ink (the "define your life" set); they're finished with embossing for more texture(using clear embossing powder).

For the Flower: I used "bubble glossy paper" (made by pouncing aqua painter dipped in reinker onto glossy paper; see my tutorial if you're curious) It's punched with the 5-petal flower punch. The center has a sparkly gem brad. (I can't get enough of those!) Hafta order more soon...

Thanks for checking this out,

Mel

Eat Cake Graphics: "You make life so much easier"

The inside of this card says "so much easier" It's the first phrase I printed on the computer. It seems to stand out as a kind of stark detail on the front, but it's what I wanted to say, so whaddya do?

I will always be a Stampin Up! fan (and of course I'm a demo) but I have to say, "variety IS the spice of stamping." This is a card that combines images from my new latest favourite stamp design company: "eat cake graphics." Holly designs some incredibly cute stamps that you can see here:

http://www.eatcakegraphics.com/

You can get them unmounted to save money. I like that (makes life so much easier, lol) The little grasshopper is on a piece of a pop-up glue dot to make him 3-D.
The water background was an eBay special. (I am SO BAD) heehee! thanks so much for looking, Mel

Proof of my recent "blue period." (Dare I compare myself to Picasso, no!) but I'm having a creative blue period none the less.

The new Stampin Up! "In Colours" are ENTIRELY to blame: here I've used soft sky cardstock (the round scalloped shape: new punch!) and blue bayou reinker to do the emboss resist flourish band.

The scalloped row on the bottom is my first attempt at using my corner rounder sans guard to create a scallop. It has holes punched in it where the corner rounder left handy little impressions in the cardstock.

The faux stitching is done with a paper piercer and then stitches were drawn in with the silver end of a zigpainty pen.

The blooms were watercolured with the aqua painter. I felt guilty for so long for buying that little contraption, but have since learned it was worth every cent. One holds bleach and one holds water. Perfect tools.

Thanks for checkin' this out, Mel