Pearls and Lace

Hello!

It's been a wild ride for the past few days with first my computer's router going out (and thus losing internet connection) and then my phone going kaput as well (which was my internet backup connection).  Frazzled?  You bet.  I had to go to my daughter's home and use HER laptop to get my last couple of blog posts up right before leaving town for the weekend, but now I'm back, the phone's working again, I'm using it to connect my computer to the internet until the computer guy comes this afternoon with my new router, and all is well while I get back up to speed.  Technology - it's a love/hate relationship with me.  (And right now I'm back to loving it again.)

Today's card was made for the latest Fussy and Fancy Challenge, the theme of which is "Pearls and Lace."  I love pearls and I love lace, and I love challenges like this because there's a lot of room for interpretation.  Pearls and lace don't always mean frilly pastels.  Today I was in the mood for bold red and black because I might be using this for a masculine thank-you card.

I've used stamps from Inspired By Stamping: All Year Wishes I and Fancy Labels II, the latter of which is from Joanna's newest collection released earlier this month.  I don't have the Fancy Labels II dies yet so I've fussy cut the shapes, but I'll certainly be getting them soon - isn't that shape gorgeous?  So versatile!

I heat embossed the frame and greeting for a little added texture and popped them up on foam dimensionals.

By the way, the pearls were light brown, but I colored them with a black Copic marker. 

And while I'm on the subject of IBS products, check out Joanna's blog to see the latest blog hop, the subject of which is "backgrounds."  She will select 2 random winners on June 17th. These talented crafters will win a stamp set of their choice, plus the lucky winners will be featured on her blog!  

Thanks for joining me today, and I hope you're already having a lovely week!  (My sweet but naughty puppy is in doggy daycare today for the very first time, so my week is starting off GREAT!)

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Fussy and Fancy #89 - Pearls and Lace

Simon Says Stamp & Show - Favorite Ink (Versamark - I love to emboss!)

Eclectic Ellapu - Pink Team Anything Goes

Amelia

Hello!

It's time for this week's challenge over at A Gem of a Challenge, and this week (Challenge #80) we have a sketch drawn by the lovely Lisa.  This challenge will run from 8:00 AM May 18 to 6:00 PM May 24, and the prize for the winner will be 2 individual digi images (NOT SETS) from Pink Gem Designs. So do head on over and see what the rest of the lovely Design Team have created, then join us, won't you? We'd love to see you!

My card today uses one of Janet's gorgeous new drawings, "Amelia."  Isn't she adorable?  And she's a breeze to color, too.

 

 

 

Janet includes some shading in her latest images making them very easy to color, but they lend themselves to adding some shading of one's own, too.  I colored her with Copics.

 Close up of the flowers.

 

And a close up of the bow and faux stitching.  I've taken to letting the tails of some of my bows stay a little long lately and attaching them towards their tips.  Some pearls on each corner finish this card.



And that, lovely readers, is today's card.  Please do head over to A Gem of a Challenge to play along, won't you?  We'd love to see you!


Happy crafting!

 

Challenges entered:

 

Dream

Hello!

Today's card was made using a chipboard tag that I had painted with Creative Inspirations Paints in Tutu Pink and Mellow Yellow.  I love pink and yellow together as it reminds me of spring flowers (think roses especially), so I use them together every chance I get.  Once the paint was dry I stamped it with the sentiment and some leafy flourishes.

I also wanted to use a piece of background paper that I had made months ago using the acrylic block technique and waterbase markers on a piece of glossy paper.  The finished product looked so like a sunset and I've been waiting for a chance to use it ever since.  The marbled colors on the tag sort of blend in with the sunset-ty colors, don't you think?

Here is a view of the tag and orange mat that show the shimmery qualities, especially of the mat.  It was dark coral, but I brushed the edges with Rose Quartz which turned it a slightly pinker color, then I inked the edges with distress ink. 

Look closely at the tag for a sneek peak of a new product that Creative Inspirations is about to release.  Fun!

A satin bow and some rhinestones complete this card.  Thank you for joining me, and I hope you'll head on over to the Creative Inspirations challenge blog and play along.  This fortnight's challenge is Mother's Day.  See you there!!

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Inspired By Stamping Blog Candy

This is my second post of the day.  For my French-inspired card using Creative Inspirations Paints and IBS stamps, please look here.  (Or scroll down.)

Good morning!

Just a quick note to let you know that Joanna over at Inspired By Stamping is offering two lucky winners some yummy blog candy.

Winners will receive, Fancy Labels 2 Die, Small Fancy Labels 2, Little Leaves, White Curly Flowers, Princess Crochet Trim. Total value of $42.

Deadline May 31st @ 11:59PM Brisbane Time

Head on over to Joanna's blog for full details, and good luck!!

 

Paris (or...I can dream, can't I?)

Hello!

Today's card is a "just because" kind of card that I've made using the ever delightful Creative Inspirations paints.  I love, love, LOVE them, and one of my favorite ways to use them is the marbled background technique, which you can find here.  It is my new favorite technique and I've already done it several times.

This time I've used Tutu Pink, Mellow Yellow and Pink Highlights, the last of which is interesting because it looks ivory until you turn it towards the light, then the shimmery pink shows up.

I had to photograph the card at a couple of different angles to try to capture the shimmery goodness.  See that slight pink?

Here's another closeup.  You can see more of the pink down there to the right.  I really wish I could have a video within a picture so I could move the card around and show you the shimmer.  It is a fascinating way to create an interesting background that can pretty much stand on its own.

I used some lovely product from the Inspired By Stamping shop, including the always versatile Paris stamp set, the new Background Basics III stamp set (behind the word "Paris"), the Fancy Labels Die, and some Colonial Rose Satin Ribbon.  Some dots of gold glitter glue at the bottom finish this card.

And that, dear friends, is today's card.  Thanks so much for joining me and I wish you a lovely, craft-filled day.

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Divas By Design - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons #45 - No Design(er) Paper
Delightful Challenges - Stash It (use from stash - gold embossing powder, gold glitter glue)
Fussy and Fancy #88 - Anything Goes