Inspired Designs

Goofy Owl Fun!

Oh man, do I feel yucky today.  I am just starting to get a summer cold and my head is pounding!!!  Summer colds always seem to be worse than winter ones.  I just hope it doesn't last too long.  Anyways, onto my owl card post - I can't even begin to tell you how much I love the new SU! owl punch.  All you have to do is scan the SCS gallery to see how much fun people are having with this punch.  I have seen the addition of scallop circle trimmed wings, colorful patterned bellies and even owls made into penguins.

I added two circular openings on my cardfront by using the mover and shapers die and the circle from the holiday windows dies.  I hadn't really played with these dies until recently and I have to say that I love them - they are so functional!  I created the look of a tree trunk by stamping the front with the woodgrain background in chocolate chip ink.  I added two diecut real red buttons with knotted linen thread centers.  I also decided to give this card a birthday theme by using the "look who's turning (     )" stamp from the On Your Birthday set.  I love the fact that you can add any age into this sentiment. 

Now onto the inside of the card.  I used the owl punch with a variety of different colors of cardstock and Greenhouse Gala dp to make my owls.  I also added a punched leaf/branch from the two-step bird punch.  The owls and branches were positioned so that they peek out of the holes in the tree trunk on the cardfont.

I decided to make one of my owls serious and the other kinda crazy because it fit so well with Ward Cleaver's sentiment from the Smarty Pants set, regarding age and goofiness.  The only changes I made to the owls was the position of the eyes and the pupils and I made my goofy owl hang upside down from his perch. 

I thought this card would be appropriate for any age group as well as males or females.  Infact, I just gave it to our friends who were celebrating their 40th birthdays.  I designated who was the serious owl and who was the goofy one on the card! ;) 

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday.  I will try to post my new scrapbooking pages tomorrow or on Friday.

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Stamps:  On Your Birthday, Woodgrain, Smarty Pants

Ink: Chocolate chip

CS: Crumb cake, real red, chocolate chip, pumpkin pie, old olive, whisper white, basic black, Greenhouse Gala dp

Accessories: Big Shot, movers & Shapers die, holiday mover & shapers die, buttons #5 die, linen thread, dimensionals, owl punch, two-step bird punch, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" circle punch

Paper Crafters August Sampler - Nature's Beauty

August, it's the month that nature is at its fullest.  Home gardens are flourishing from the fruits of our labor.  Sea creatures are abundant, enjoying the warmth of the ocean.  Trees and grasses are seeding, preparing for next years crop.  Let's not forget beautiful marmalade sunsets.

The Paper Crafters August Sampler offers ideas for incorporating “Nature’s Beauty” into your artwork. Each design team member created projects based on their own “Nature’s Beauty” perspective. Projects range from oak leaf candles, button birds to a charming peacock pendant. You can purchase your copy of this month's projects at the Paper Crafter's Sampler homepage.

 

Here is a small sneak peek of my project for the sampler this month.   I love the colors of a gorgeous sunset and the silhouette of nature's beauty against this marvelous backdrop.  I am hoping you will like it too!

I have a few other projects to share with you that I have been working on this month.  Unfortunately, my dd had dance camp all last week so there was no time to post any new projects.  I am planning to get another post up later today or tomorrow of a cute owl card that my technique groups made this month.  I absolutely adore the new owl punch and so do my girls.  If you haven't purchased it yet, it is an absolute must!  I will also have a new set of scrapbooking pages to share - camping was the theme and I loved how they turned out.

Take care and enjoy the rest of your day!

 

 

Hula Bear on the Beach

I had the best week!  My sister came for a visit and then we went to a family reunion on the weekend.  The reunion was held in the town where I was born and where my mother is buried so I spent time at her graveside.  My mother and some of her sisters look alike and share alot of the same mannerisms so it was comforting to be in their presence - it brought back good memories of Mom.

Enough of my muttering - onto the hula bear card!  I saw the cutest tilt card idea on Patti Lee's blog - Creations by Patti.  I altered her card slightly and made a hula boy bear with a grass skirt.  The hula bear's top of his body shifts from side to side when the card is tilted back and forth.  Here are two close-up's that demonstrate his hula abilities.  Look at that hip action! LOL

  

I used the woodgrain texture plate to emboss the tempting turquoise cardbase.  I thought it looked a little like waves on the water.  The white and old olive mats are cut with the top note die and layered on each other.  I also cut a top note crumb cake sandy beach, tore the top edge and sponged it with soft suede ink.  I inked the palm tree image from the Tropical Party set with chocolate chip and old olive markers and stamped the image twice on the whisper white top note mat.  I re-inked the leaves on the tree with an old olive marker and stamped it on scrap paper.  I cut it out and used a dimensional to pop it off one of the images on the whisper white mat.

I thought my bear deserved to hula in sunny weather conditions so I created a sun using punches.  The pumpkin pie mat on the sun was created using a post-it note, the scallop circle punch and pumpkin pie cardstock.  I added a so saffron circle to the center of the sun and adhered it in the right top corner of the mats. 

The hula bear was created using the bear image from the Under the Stars set.  I stamped it in early espresso ink on crumb cake and soft suede cardstock.  I used the belly and snout from the crumb cake image and adhered them over the soft suede image.  I cut the arms off and repositioned them on the sides of the body and I cut the lower half of the body off.  The lower portion of the body will remain stationary on the card while the upper portion tilts.  I punched a few different colors of flower shapes with the itty bitty flower punch and created a lei for the hula bear.  I also gave him some Island Oasis dp shorts and an old olive grass skirt. 

I used the hobby knife and cutting mat to create an opening behind the bears upper body.  The body tilts with the help of a penny and dimensionals.  The matted top notes are popped off the tempting turquoise base with dimensionals.  This added height also aids the tilting motion to occur.  The lower portion of the body with the berumda shorts is adhered to the crumb cake beach and remains stable while the upper portion moves!

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Stamps: Tropical Party, Under the Stars

Ink:  Early espresso, soft suede, markers - chocolate chip, old olive

CS:  Whisper white, tempting turquoise, old olive, crumb cake, soft suede, pumpkin pie, so saffron, rose red, pumpkin pie, Tropical Oasis dp

Accessories:  Big shot, top note die, texture plate kit #4, scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, itty bitty shapes punch, sponge, post-it note

Tropical Beach Scrapbooking Pages

Here are a couple of scrapbooking pages that I made.  I created them for our SU! cruise that we took in spring.  I haven't had a chance to set up my new printer to print the pictures from our trip so all you get to look at is the tempting turquoise mats for the pictures - sorry!

I loved the color combo that I used in the July editions of the Paper Crafters Sampler and I used it again for my tropical beach pages.  I think the color combo of rich razzleberry, so saffron and tempting turquoise creates a color background for any beach picture. 

I used the swirly die to create the waves for my ocean on each page.   A torn and sponged piece of crumble cake cardstock completes the beach.    The first page features a colorful beach ball made from the circle and oval punches.  I also added a couple of stamped tropical flowers to the beach area.

I used the middle of the swirly diecut cardstock to add a pattern to the so saffron mat of my sandal.  I layered the so saffron sandal on piece of rich razzleberry cardstock and freehand cut a mat around my sandal.  I used the cropadile, pewter eyelets and rich razzleberry grosgrain ribbon to create the thong portion of my sandal.  I added a diecut tempting turquoise flower and yellow rhinestone brad to the front of the ribbon.

The second page features the same color combo and a bright sun and coconut drink.  Once again the waves and beach were created using the same elements that I used on the first page.  The sun was created from a so saffron circle and a pumpkin pie scallop die cut piece of cardstock. 

The coconut drink was created from a chocolate chip circle diecut that had been run through the crimper a number of time to break the fibers in the cardstock.  I separated the two layers apart and cut the top edge of my drinking vessel.  I adhered it to a second chocolate chip circle diecut and trimmed the excess portions away.  I added three stamped flowers to my coconut vessel and created a colorful umbrella using the scallop circle punch and the 1/2" circle punch.

I can't wait to set up my new printer and print some pictures from the SU! cruise to add to my pages. I will also be adding some journalling to the textbook on the first page.

Well, I am off to the pool with the kids to enjoy the sunshine.  Someone mentioned that it might rain today so we better get out there while we can!  Have a great Wednesday!

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Stamps:  Tropical Party

Ink: Tempting turquoise, so saffron, rich razzleberry, soft suede

Cardstock:  Whisper white, tempting turquoise, so saffron, rich razzleberry, crumble cake, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip

Accessories:  Big shot, swirly die, cropadile, jumbo pewter eyelets, 1 3/4" circle punch, large oval punch, 1/2" circle punch, scallop circle punch, crimper, island blooms die, fire rhinestone brads, 5/8" rich razzleberry grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, sticky strip, sponge

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Paper Crafters Sampler July Sneak Peek

It’s summertime. This time of year offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation; baseball, Bar-B-Q’s, tennis and more.

While these outsides activities are fun, they’ll have you hankering for ways to keep cool, and keeping cool is what our July “Summer Breeze” sampler is all about.

We’ve got a refreshing twist this month. The projects within offer ideas for keeping you ‘cool’ during these hot humid days. Enjoy creating large funky circle shade trees, tropical drinks, beautiful beachscapes, and more.

You can order your copy of these wonderful summer breeze creations at the Paper Crafters Sampler  site.

Sorry for the late sneak peek this month but I have been having some major computer issues.  I am hoping they are finally solved!  Anyhow...onto to my sneak peek of my projects for the July sampler.  I picked a tropical theme for my creations, using the tropical party set and bright colors.  I loved the color combo of tempting turquoise, so saffron and rich razzleberry - colorful, bright and fun!  Finally some flowers and shimmery glitter added the perfect touches for creating some fun summer inspired items. 

I am planning on starting to post regularly now that my life has settled down so make sure you come back to see what I have been up to.  I can't wait to share some of the new things I have been working on with you!

Paper Crafters Sampler - June Sneak Peek

Summer has arrived along with family vacations. Whether you're visiting family or friends, show the hostess your gratitude by presenting her with a token of your appreciation.

Our June "Just Visiting" sampler offers several gift ensemble ideas. Projects range from beautifully packaged note card sets, embellished treat containers, note pad holders, bath and beauty and a beautiful hand-crafted quilt!

You are absolutely going to love the projects that the design team members have created for this months sampler!  I am incredibly honored to be a part of this talented team of creators.

The "Just Visiting" issue will be releasedJune  10th for subscribers and June 11th for the single issue.  To purchase the single issue click here.  Previous monthly samples are available.  Purchasing the full year gives you access to all previous issue and templates for the year 2010.

 

Here is a sneak peek of my projects for the June publication:

 

 

Soft Wishes From The Heart

Here is a sweet little square card for you!  I will dearly miss this awesome color combo - sniff, sniff.  It has to be one of my all time favorite ones. 

I think I am officially in love with the bride dp - what gorgeous dp and the fact that you can add color and the design resists the ink is truly an added bonus!  Once again, I am sorry for the brightness of my photo - the colors are a little washed out.  Anyhow...I used sponges to apply apricot appeal and regal rose ink to the bride dp - what a gorgeous effect this has for the card!  I layered this piece of dp on a regal rose mat and tied a length of whisper white satin around around it.  I added a matted stamped sentiment from the Watercolor Trio set and pulled some apricot appeal off the edge of the whisper white mat. 

The flower is created by running three punched scalloped circle images through a crimper and then pulling the seperating layers apart.  I saw this technique on another blog but I can't find it to give it proper credit.  Just know that I didn't come up with the idea for the flower on my own.  I love how the scalloped circle looks like a peony when it is layered and arranged.  I used a fire circle brad to hold my flower together and I love the touch of bling it adds to this card.  The leaves were created from running a punched 5 petal punch image through the crimper again to soft the texture of the cardstock.  I think the effect is stunning!

This card is like a breath of fresh air for me.  We came home from the SU! cruise to snow and rain - yuck!!!  At least this card reminds me that spring isn't too far off.  Have a great Wednesday!

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Stamps:  Watercolor Trio

Ink: Regal rose, apricot appeal

CS: Whisper white, regal rose, apricot appeal, bride dp

Accessories:  Big shot, scallop square die, sponges, crimper, fire circle brads, white satin ribbon, small oval punch, scallop oval punch, scallop circle punch, 5-petal flower punch, dimesionals

Elements of Life's Moments

I had made this card to use for a new mini catalogue swap but unfortunately my cards wouldn't have made it in time so I didn't get to participate.  It also matches the pyramid gift box that I made a couple of weeks ago.

I used Elements of Style on this card.  I absolutely love the hummingbird and floral/stem images from this set and I decided to use an old olive, always artichoke and rose red color scheme with them.

You will note that I only used about 3/4 of my top note on the cardfront and added a pierced border as well as ticket corner punched elements.  I also pulled a short length of the satin old olive ribbon through a punched slot on the edge of the top note.  I used some twine to secure the ends of my ribbon. I softened up the edge of the white top note mat by pulling old olive ink off the edges. 

Sorry if my picture is a little bright.  I am still playing around with our new camera and I haven't quite got the knack of adjusting the settings yet.  I am hoping it won't take to long to figure out what I am doing! LOL

Have a great Tuesday and thanks for stopping by my blog!

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Stamps:  Elements of Style

Ink: Old olive ink pad, markers - rose red, old olive, always artichoke 

CS:  Old olive, whisper white, rose red dp

Accessories:  Big shot, top note die, slot punch, 5/8" old olive satin ribbon, twine, paper piercer, mat, ticket corner punch, dimensionals

Paper Crafters Sampler - May Sneak Peek

June, one of the most sought after months for brides.  What better time than May to offer beautiful project ideas for this special event.

 

Our Together Forever, wedding issue offers ideas that are both charming and budget friendly.  Tap into your crafting supplies to create personalized invitation, favors and gifts for the bride and groom. 

 

As with each sampler issue, the projects can easily be used for various other functions such as birthdays, showers and gifts.  Our May issue offers a new template for subscribers.  The Pyramid Box offers great versatility as party favors, posey holder or table decor.

 

The "Together Forever" issue will be released May 10th for subscribers and May 11th for the single issue.  To purchase the single issue click here.  Previous monthly samples are available.  Purchasing the full year gives you access to all previous issue and templates for the year 2010.

 

Here is a sneak peek of my projects for the May publication:

 

 

 

 

Paper Crafters Sampler Pyramid Gift Box Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  Welcome to the next stop on the Paper Crafters Pyramid Gift Box Blog Hop. You just visited Andrea's amazing blog - isn't she talented!

I am in a spring mood today so I decided to use one of the new sets, Elements of Style, for my pyramid gift box.  I absolutely adore hummingbirds and this set is so beautiful.  I printed and cut out the gift box template on whisper white cardstock.  I used rose red and old olive markers to ink the floral/ leaves stamp and repeatedly stamped the image to create a beautiful background.

The hummingbird was colored with old olive, rose red and always artichoke markers.  I stamped it on scrap paper and cut it out.  I used dimensionals to pop it off the front of my gift box. 

The sentiment from this set was inked with rose red and olive markers.  It was punched with the large oval punch and I pulled rose red ink off the edges. I matted it on an old olive scallop oval and attached it just below the hummingbird. 

I printed the gift box template on old olive cardstock and cut a border for the top of my gift box.  I added some flat-backed white pearls from our Pretties kit to the border.  I also added a hat pin, clear bead and pearl bed to the bottom of my box.  I tied a piece of 5/8" old olive satin ribbon around the base of the hat pin.   

Please visit Melanie Schulenberg's blog to see her amazing creation.  I know you will enjoy your visit there!  Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  Elements of Style

Ink: Rose red, old olive and always artichoke markers

CS: Whisper white, old olive

Accessories:  Old olive 5/8" satin ribbon, cropadile, pretties kit, sticky strip, dimensionals, sponge dauber