A couple announcements

Today is the last day to purchase the Dotty for You paper packet.  I can't tell you how much fun I have been having with this paper packet, you just have to experience it yourself!  I've posted numerous projects using this paper packet since mid-March.  Check them out to see how versatile this paper packet is.

Today is also the last day to purchase Friendship Bouquet, May's stamp of the Month.  I did not know I like this stamp set so much until I tried various things with it.  Today I'd like to show you my very first attempt of emboss resist using this stamp set:

What is emboss resist?
I first stamped the images using Versamark ink pad, then sprinkled the Clear Embossing Powder generously on the images and heat set the powder.  After it has solidified and cooled down, I used sponge daubers to absorb ink from ink pads, and rubbed across the images.  The raised image resist the ink and that's why it is called emboss resist.

My first attempt did not turn out too bad, partly because of the elegance of the stamp set, I think.  Neverthess, I've learned a new technique and I know I'll put it in practice in near future.

A note for you

I've adopted this sketch from Clean and Simple Blog for my card:

My card made use of the Sonoma paper packet and the stamp set from the Workshop on the Go:

The other materials used include the current stamp set Just for You and the retired Pewter Mini-Medley Accent Collections.

Mojo Monday - Happy Birthday

Thanks to the extra day this weekend I can work on the challenge on Monday and post it on Tuesday!
Mojo Monday Challenge presents two sketches: a round one and a square one:

I've chosen to make a square card:

The card was made with my beloved Dotty for You paper.  This paper packet is definitely amazing and it works with all kinds of project!  How can you resist such a versatile paper packet while you only need to purchase $35 from the idea book and buy it for $5?

If you have not purchase the Dotty for You paper packet, you'd better hurry.  It is only available for a couple more days until the end of this month. 

Materials used:
1.  White Daisy cardstock
2.  Dotty for You paper packet
3.  4 My Friend stamp set
4.  Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge
5.  Lagoon Exclusive Inks STap Pad
6.  Bulk Ribbon - Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon

Butterflies

Makeover Monday presented a card that says "Hi" with a butterfly and its trail.  The butterfly became the inspiring element for my card:

Make a Wish

Mojo Monday Challenge presents a sketch that I like a lot:

I've used the Dotty for You paper to create this card:

Recently I fall in love with watercolor pencils so I can't resist using a stamp that requires some coloring. 

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - distress

Heart 2 Heart Challenge wants to see how we use distress.  Distress, em......I have not forgotten how to distress.  At least I often distress the edges of the paper to define the outlines.  What other things do I do to distress my artwork? 

I like distress but not do it often.  This challenge presents an opportunity for me to review some of the techniques.  I have used the chocolate ink pad and a sponge dauber to distress all the edges of the pieces and the sanding kit to dry emboss the middle portion.  The major distressing part is the flower, of course. I tore the circles then use the edge distresser to distress the edges of the circles.  Then I used a damp cloth to blot on the circles to soften them up.  Before they were dry, I crumbled them up then opened them back into circles.  After they were dry, I used the sponge dauber and chocolate ink pad to distress the edges and also rub on their surface.  The leaves were prepared in the same way, except that I did not crumble them up.  Instead I just folded them in half to create the veins.

The card turned out pretty nice:

A Closer look at the flower:

I have a confession to make.  The yellow circle was torn accidentally when I was distressing its edge, and so was one of the leaves.  At first I wanted to replace them with an intact one, but upon second thought I think they enhanced the distress look so I just leave them in place.  Shhhh........

Materials used:
1.  Dotty for You paper packet
2.  Grey Wool cardstock
3.  Colonial White cardstock
4.  Waxy Flax - colonial white
5.  Bling Assortment
6.  Bulk Ribbon - Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon
7.  Card word puzzle stamp set
8.  Chocolate Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
9.  Smoothie Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Happy Friday!

Yay!  It's finally Friday and it is going to be a long weekend!  I have been looking forward to it to catch up on my projects!

I am going to start with making a card with sketch provided by Freshly Made Sketches:

I've used the Stella paper packet to make this card:

Yup, I am using watercolor pencils and waterbrush again.  I am so in love with this technique that I will use it whenever I have a chance.  The flower comes from the stamp set included in the Pemberley Workshop on the Go.  The outline of the flower gives me a lot of room for coloring.  However, this time I focus more on coloring than creating depth by blending colors.  It is just equally fun!

Materials used:
1.  Stella paper packet
2.  Pemberley Workshop on the Go
3.  Just for You stamp set
4. Tulip cardstock
5.  Cocoa Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
6.  Sparkles - Red, PInk & Purple Assortment

Make a Card in Five Seconds!

Yes, you can make a card in five seconds!  With a single stamp, you are done.  Want to see how it is done?  Check out the video below.

Happy Birthday with Sonoma

I have learned that when I am out of ideas and nothing seems to give me inspiration, go through the stash.
I do not enjoy the frustration that I am sitting alone waiting to be inspired, but I do like going through my stash.  On one hand it always reminds me of the great products that have been waiting to be put to use (it serves a budget control purpose!), on the other hand it does really give me inspirations.  In particular, when I am organizing my craft supplies, the process of sorting things through and putting them in order gives me a different perspective of how to put them to use.  Sometimes I will think of a new stamp set to go with a retired paper packet, sometimes I will want to mix and match different papers, and sometimes I will like to try a bold color combination.  This process could be an adventure!
I had undergone this process and made a simple card after that:

I like this card.  I like that I am using up the scrap pieces and came up with the sketch myself.  Now I can put the measurements in my binder and look forward to using the sketch again!

Materials sued:
1.  Sonoma paper packet
2.  4 My Friend stamp set
3.  The Best Things stamp set
4.  Smokey Plum Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
5.  Olive Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Coloring with watercolor pencils

As promised, I am sharing a card that I colored the rose with watercolor pencils then blended with watercolor brush.

The sketch came from Clean & Simple stamping blog:

I really love their sketches and my card looks like this:

And a closer look at the flower:

This is a really fun technique.  Try it out!

Materials used:
1.  White Daisy cardstock
2.  Dotty for You paper packet
3.  Card Word Puzzle stamp set
4.  Smoothie Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
5.  Cocoa Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Makeover Monday Challenge with Friendship Bouquet

To make a card to enter this week's Makeover Monday Challenge, I've used the sunflower from the Stamp of the Month, Friendship Bouquet. 

The inspiration came from Tracy's big flower on her card.  I wanted to make the sunflower to be the focus, then I used one of the sketches from Wishes to complete it:

I had a lot of fun coloring the sunflower using Close to My Heart's watercolor pencils.  The petals were colored with three different colors then the colors were blended using the waterbrush:

The colors became softer and muted right away. 

I've used the same technique on another card.  I'll share it with you later this week.

Thanks a Bunch

Have you got your Dotty for You paper packet yet?  Hurry!  It is only available until the end of this month.  This paper packet is so versatile that you really do not want to miss.  It is very affordable too, with a purchase of $35 of the current idea book you can buy it for $5.  There are 24 sheets of paper of 12 patterns.  How nice!

If you look at the previous posts you'll see how many cards I have made with this paper packet.  Yet I am not bored with it and can create a lot more.  Let me show you one today:

Heart 2 Heart Challenges - Polka dots and stripes

Heart 2 Heart Challenges asked us to prepare an artwork using polka dots and stripes.  Woo hoo!  I am going to use the Dotty for You paper!

I have always wanted to try the paper piecing technique but never got a chance to.  This time I'm trying it on the Dotty for You paper.  I've stamped the same image once on each colored paper, then cut out the petals and layer them to make the rose.  My first try.  I know there will be more attempts from now on because it is so fun!

Go to the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog to see what other talented bloggers have come up with.

Materials used:
1.  Colonial White cardstock
2.  Dotty for You paper packet
3.  Smoothie Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
4.  Creme Brulee Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
5.  Sunset Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
6.  Grey Wool Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
7.  Lagoon Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
8.  Lagoon cardstock
9.  Card Word Puzzle stamp set

Mojo Monday Challenge with Friendship Bouquet

I have not yet showed any artwork made by this month's Stamp of the Month Friendship Bouquet.  I love sunflowers but wasn't sure how to use them.  Then I saw the sketch from Mojo Monday:

It isn't a bad idea to substitute the circle with a sunflower, right?

I just stamped "Thanks so much" onto the card as it came with the stamp set.  The small rectangle serves its purpose to balance the weight of the card.

Materials used:
1.  Florentine paper packet
2.  Chocolate cardstock
3.  Sweet Leaf cardstock
4.  Creme Brulee cardstock
5.  Cocoa Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
6.  Friendship Bouquet stamp set

Birthday Greetings

Card Positioning Systems has provided us with a sketch that is clean and simple, just like my style:

I didn't make a long card, but made a regular 4.25" x 5.5" card using the Crusin' paper:



Materials used:
1.  Crusin' paper packet
2.  Just a Number stamp set
3.  Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Happy Birthday to You

Clean and Simple Stamping blog has provided us with this sketch:

It is of course, clean and simple and by using the Dotty for You paper, I've made this card:

The Dotty for You paper is just so versatile that I can't stop having more fun with it!

Materials used:
1.  White Daisy cardstock
2.  Dotty for You paper packet
3.  Sweet Leaf cardstock
4.  Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
5.  Sparkles - clear
6.  Paradise Paper Flowers
7.  Card Word Puzzle stamp set

Enjoy Every Mile of Life

Just in time to finish this card for a very special gentleman's birthday.  I'm going to put it in the mail to catch his birthday.  About a week ago I made another card that is similar to this one: using the Crusin' paper and the car going into the map.  I just want to use the same concept for this special gentleman's card.  So I adopted the sketch "Simple Side View" from Wishes and created this card.  For the sentiment I went a step further.  Instead of saying "Enjoy Life" I used masking techniques and put together "Enjoy Every Mile of Life". 

I hope this special gentleman will like the card, and more importantly, enjoy every mile of his life.

Materials used:
1.  Crusin' Workshop on the Go
2.  Enjoy Life stamp set
3.  Victory Workshop on the Go
4.  Juniper Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
5.  Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Front and Center

Do you like to put a little note on your handmade item to indicate that it is made specially for the recipient?  Do you usually put this note at the back of the item?

Watch the video to find out a clever way to put the note in the Front and Center of your handmade gift!

Celebrate

To participate in this week's Makeover Monday Challenge, I've picked the retired "You Rock" paper packet to make a card.  I've made a rather musculine card that says "celebrate."  It was fun to use the cricut machine to cut out all the stars.  At the beginning I wanted to scatter them in the empty space, then I started to layer them and thought that it was not a bad idea. 

Birthday Wishes

There are cards that you will always find you need more of those then you continue to make.  One of them is birthday cards.

There are paper packets that you continue to find creative juices flowing and you keep using it.  One of them is the Dotty for You paper.

I've used the sketch from Mojo Monday to make a birthday card:

My card follows the sketch quite strictly:

The Dotty for You paper is available until the end of this month. I can't emphasize enough that it is indeed the paper packet that keeps my ideas flowing in my head.  Hurry before it is gone.

Materials use:
1.  Dotty for You paper packet
2.  Sweet Leaf cardstock
3.  Grey Wool cardstock
4.  Bulk Ribbon - Color ready seam binding ribbon
5.  Smoothie reinker
6.  Grey Wool Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
7.  Just a Number stamp set

Congrats to the Love Birds

I have the joy to make a wedding card for my friend.  I have adopted the sketch from clean & simple blog because when I saw the two snails in the sketch, I already had an idea in my head spinning.

Snails in a wedding card might be awkward, but birds in a wedding card will be perfectly appropriate:

Believe it or not, it took me quite a while to figure out all the details of the card.  I've spent quite some time to determine which paper packet to use and finally settle with Veranda, one of my favorites.  After that I was trying to see how I can put in the sentiment "Congrats to the Love Birds" because I do not have such a stamp and the only way to do it is to use various stamps and masking techniques.  Do you see that their wings are elevated?  I took me some time to cut the 3-D foam tape small enough to be hidden below the flourish-cut. 

Nevertheless, it appears to be a cute card.  Congrats to the Love Birds!

Hip hip Hooray...

Have you seen the sketch on Card Patterns' blog this week?  It appears to be quite simple yet it has a lot of potential:

Since I am constantly in need of musculine cards, I've decided to make a manly card with the sketch:

What I really like about the card is that I'm using the back of a patterned black ribbon.  I am so happy that I can use it in an unconventional way.

Materials used:
1.  Crusin' paper packet
2.  Mini-Medley Accent Collection - Black
3.  Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
4.  Card Chatter - Birthday stamp set
5.  Black Floral Grosgrain Ribbon (retired)

The best things in life

I've adopted a sketch from Deconstructed sketch to make a card for a graduate:

Instead of using hats and gowns, I've used this quote "The best things in life aren't things" as the focus.  After all, a dream  job should be leading a happy life, rather than a fat salary.  Don't you agree?

Materials used:
1.  White Daisy cardstock
2.  Dotty for You paper packet
3.  Bulk ribbon - Sweet Leaf
4.  Sweet Leaf cardstock
5.  Olive Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - For a Wonderful Mom

Believe it or not, this year I've made more than twenty Mother's Day cards for my family and friends.  The list of recipients keeps growing each year as many friends are becoming moms!  This year I'll be celebrating with a lot of relatives so many of the cards go to them.

My mom's card keeps evolving.  I want to make hers most special, yet somehow carries the same theme as those I made for her sisters and her mom.  Her card involves a lot of consideration! 

Using the Dotty for You paper and a sketch from Originals, I've made this card for my mom:

Those for her sisters have the same layout but they are not as embellished. 

Materials used:
1.  White Daisy cardstock
2.  Dotty for You paper packet
3.  Cocoa Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
4.  Lagoon Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
5.  Baker's Twine - Paradise Assortment
6.  A Typeface stamp set
7.  Chocolate Alphabet stamp set - small
8.  Mini-Medley Accents Collection - White Daisy (retired)
9.  Mini-Medley Accents Collection - Spring Blossom (retired)

Life is Sweet

Life is sweet.  Don't you agree?
I am constantly going through my stash and trying to use it up by particpating in challenges.  Various challenges often give me some insights and inspirations to use the stash as they could deviate my thoughts from the preoccupation of how to use a certain stamp set or paper packet.

Today I came across the retired Passages paper packet and thought a sketch provided by Freshly Made Sketches:

So I made the card that says "Life is Sweet":

Birthday card with Sweetheart

This week's Makeover Monday challenge shows us a card that says "With Love."   It is a square card with some vintage-look patterned paper.  I've adopted the sketch to make a regular 4.25" x 5.5" card with the retired Sweetheart paper and the stamp set from its Workshop on the Go:

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Flowers

It's time for another Heart 2 Heart Challenge.  This week we are asked to use flowers.  This appears to be quite simple, right?  After all, who doesn't use flowers in her artwork?

At the beginning I wanted to make a card using Lucy Workshops on the Go.  Those flowers are so adorable.  Then I kept changing my mind and I eventually settled with this card because I just happened to need to send a Thank You card:

This is actually a CASEd card,  guess where I CASE it from?  Jeanette Lynton's blog.  Click here to see my source of inspiration. 

Materials used:
1. Dotty for You paper packet
2.  Sweet leaf cardstock
3.  White Daisy cardstock
4.  A Garden stamp set
5.  Smoothie Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
6.  Bulk Ribbon - Color Ready Seam Binding ribbon

Blooming Flourishes

Discover how to create a continuous border by combining the images of various stamps.  You'll be amazed at how easy it is!

More with Mayberry paper

I made a card using the Mayberry paper last Sunday to participate in a challenge.  After that, I just wanted to make more using the Mayberry paper.  I have made a simple simple simple birthday card with it, then I made a couple of variations - some with different ribbon colors, some with rhinestoes and some with a different patterned paper.  I've made six altogether and this is one of them:

Enjoy Life

It's time to participate in challenge.  This week Mojo Monday provides us with two sketches, a round and a square one and we have the choice to pick one of them:

I naturally grabbed my Dotty for You paper and started to play with it.  Eventually I think I'll try the sketch with the Footloose paper packet:

I used the method suggested in the instruction guide included in the Footlose Workshop on the Go to stamp the fish:  I first stamped it in Creme Brulee, then use a sponge dauber to dab some Sorbet around the edge of the two fish.  It looks really cool in person!

Materials used:
1.  Footloose Workshop on the Go
2.  Sweet Leaf cardstock
3.  Creme Brulee Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
4.  Sorbet Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
5.  Lagoon Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Colorful Pennants from Dotty for You

I'm entering the challenge hosted by Card Patterns.  A sketch was posted last Saturday:

The sketch reminds me of the insert in the Dotty for You paper because one of them uses the pennants in a scrapbooking layout.  I think it works just we well when they are used on cards:

Because the pennants are colorful I chose Grey Wool and the other complementary patterned paper that the pattern is not too busy.  The combination works pretty well!

Materials used:
1.  Dotty for You paper packet
2.  White Daisy cardstock
3.  Bulk Ribbon - Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon
4.  Buttons - Pink Assortment
5.  Embellishments - Bohemian Assortment
6.  4 My Friends stamp set
7.  Grey Wool Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad