Autumn Whispers

Happy Friday out there! I know I haven't been keeping up my regular schedule of "special" blog posts - like the Tipster Tuesday, Friday Favorites, etc. To be honest, I haven't blurfed in two or three weeks! Can you believe that? It's been so busy here with the family, then the vacation to Florida. I hope to get back to it, but we'll have to see how it goes - I don't seem to have as much time to play as I used to and it's not fun!

But anyway, I do have some weekend inspiration of my own for you. I made this card for a challenge that Belinda from Clear Artistic Stamps sent out - to make a fall-themed card. Well, fall is my favorite time of year (although I have to say, those trips to the pool and the ocean last week might have me rethinking that one!) so I was all over it. This card uses Saffron, Chocolate and Rust. The image is from Whispers of Dreams from CAS and I did the background with my Scor-Pal -- if you don't have one, you NEED one. It is a must-have IMHO. If you click the pic, a GIGANORMOUS version will load and you can see all the details. Have a great weekend!

Whisper of Dreams in Pink

Well I know this card has been received so I can post it now! I sent this to Belinda at Clear Artistic Stamps as a thank you for having me as her April Guest Designer (yes, I know it's July. just....ssh!).

This card uses the Whisper of Dreams stamp set from Clear Artistic Stamps. Ink and cardstock is from Stampin' Up! in Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal and Pretty in Pink. Also GP 110# white cardstock and glossy white cardstock. I heat embossed the main image using white EP, made the lines with my Scor-Pal, used a template for the paper piercing swirls, and the border punch is from Martha Stewart.

Thanks for visiting me!

Black & Blue Hearts

Here's another card using Clear Artistic Stamps images. Do you recognize that color combo? I made a similar card for the Ballet Blue virtual swap that Danyelle hosted (actually made them at the same time at Scrap Mania awhile back!). I used Beate's WSC #37 sketch for this card.

This is such a simple one! Easy and fun to make. Cut 3 pieces of white to the following dimensions: one to 5.5" x 8.5", two to 2.5" x 3.75". Score and fold the large piece for the card base. Cut black cardstock to 4.125" x 5.25". Cut So Saffron and Ballet Blue to 2.25" x 3.5".

Now, we have to make a mask for the large heart. Stamp the image onto a Post it note (make sure you get some of the image over the sticky area) and cut it out. Once that is ready, stamp the full image onto your So Saffron cardstock, then place the mask over the top of the image you have just stamped. Then line up and stamp the heart again, right over the top of the mask. When you pull it off you'll see that it looks as though one of the images is behind the other without the overlapping lines of the image. Perfect! Add dots with the Ballet Blue marker (use the paper piercing template if you're bad with dot spacing). Mount onto white cardstock and set aside.

Stamp the vine image along the side of the Ballet Blue cardstock. Add the white rubons to the bottom and mount onto white cardstock. Adhere the black background to the white card base, then layer on your stamped image layers. Last thing to do is line up the corner areas and add lots of silver brads - just for fun. I like to add my brads AFTER I add my layers to the base card - even though they show through on the inside, the cardstock above lays much nicer because it doesn't have all the bumps from brad wings sticking up behind it, in between the layers.

Complete Supply List. Stamps - Sweetpea Sweetheart stamp set from Clear Artistic Stamps. Paper - Basic Black, Ballet Blue and So Saffron cardstock, GP 110# white cardstock. Accessories - Silver Brads, Ballet Blue ink and marker, Post it notes, paper snips, SU White Rub Ons, Paper Piercer and Template (for brads).

Rose Colored Butterflies - TSSC11

Here's a card I had created during my April Guest Designer time at Clear Artistic Stamps. I am quite fond of this one, and I just love these colors together - always have. I have a few other CAS creations to post too, now that Belinda doesn't need them for featured items on her site! :-) It's May already so there is a new guest designer busy creating projects - go check it out!

This card used Technostamper Sketch Challenge #11 - and I actually made it when the sketch was current but of course had to hold it to be debuted on the CAS website. That was a fabulous sketch, I must say. If you haven't checked out MJ's blog before, I urge you to swing by sometime!

Instructions for this card:

First let's cut paper!! Cut regal rose cardstock to 5.5" x 8.5", score and fold for the card base. Pierce the upper and lower right corners of the front of the card using the paper piercing template. Cut five pieces of white cardstock to the following dimensions: one at 3" x 3.25" and four at 1.25" x 1.25". Cut Wild Wasabi prints designer paper to 3" x 2.75". Cut So Saffron cardstock to 4.5" x 1.75" and Rose Red to 4.25" x 1.5".

Now, stamp the butterfly from Nature in Word stamp set onto two of the small white squares. Stamp the sentiment on another. Color the butterflies with colored pencils and gamsol. Sponge brown and rose inks on the edges of the decorated squares and arrange the butterflies and the blank white square on the piece of Rose Red cardstock so there is an even border all around. Use dimensionals to adhere the sentiment panel in the center. Mount onto So Saffron cardstock and set aside.

Mount the Wild Wasabi prints designer paper onto the white panel and adhere to the card base. Arrange the pearls along the side. Use dimensionals to attach the main image panel. Viola!

Complete supply list. Stamps: Nature in Word stamp set from Clear Artistic Stamps. Paper: So Saffron, Rose Red, Regal Rose cardstock, Wild Wasabi prints designer paper, GP 110# white cardstock. Accessories: self-adhesive pearls, gamsol, prismacolor pencils, dimensionals, Palette Burnt Umber ink, sponges, paper piercer and template.

Clear Artistic Stamps #3

Here's another card for my guest designer month at Clear Artistic Stamps! Yep, more glitter. :-) This was last week's featured project on the guest designer page - so that means there's a new card up now! Check it out here.

Card Instructions:

Cut Celery cardstock to 4.25" x 11", score and fold the long side at 5.5" and set aside. Stamp image from Nature in Word onto the acetate sheet (I used overhead transparancies) using Black StazOn. Once it is dry, flip it over and apply glue from the Quickie Glue Pen, using it just like a marker. Working in small areas, focusing on one color of glitter at a time, add glitter to the image. Be careful not to apply too much glue or go outside of the lines! Once you've coated the first area of your image in glue, cover with your first color of glitter. {I have a LOT of glitter, and I only use ultrafine art glitter. Mine is all from either Art Institute, or my local stamping store, which buys bulk and then sells in 1 oz jars.} Tap off excess. Repeat this series of steps for each section and/or color of glitter. Let the glittered images dry very well (I set them aside overnight).

Cut a piece of Artichoke cardstock to 5.5" x 1.5". Layer on the chocolate satin ribbon and adhere with mini glue dots. Over the top of that layer on the gold organdy and the RicRack. Put the finished panel onto the Celery card base using dimensionals. I cut out the glittered image and applied Mono Multi very lightly to a few of the glittered areas so I could adhere it to the card base. I used my Stampin' Up! photo corner punch {because it has 2 sizes} and made punches with Chocolate Chip and Artichoke cardstock. I layere them and added the Brilliant Blue brads using my paper piercing tool.

Here's a close up of the main image to try to show the sparkle!

Complete Supply List: Stamps - Nature in Word set from Clear Artistic Stamps. Paper - Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip and Always Artichoke cardstock (Stampin' Up!), Acetate sheet. Ink - Black StazOn. Accessories - 5/8" chocolate satin and gold organdy ribbon from RABOM, Green RicRack from May Arts, Quickie Glue Pen, Mono Multi glue, Mini Glue Dots, Lots of different colors of ultrafine art glitter from Art Institute Glitter and from my Local Stamping Store, Dimensionals, Brilliant Blue brads from Stampin' Up!, Paper Piercer, Photo Corner Punch from Stampin' Up!

Simple Rose Card

Here's a card that did not involve ANY challenges AT ALL! Wow! Just my very own thoughts. Can you even believe it?! heehee.

You may recognize it from last week's Guest Designer page at Clear Artistic Stamps. Since Belinda has another project up there for this week, I thought I'd post this one here for those who might have missed it. I loved this card and it was fun and easy to make. You should see the sparkle of this card in person! Here's a close up view of the glittered roses:

Project Instructions:

1. Cut white cardstock to 5.5" x 8.5". Score and fold the long side at 4.25". Stamp "Love" from the Sweetpea Sweetheart stamp set in the bottom right corner and set aside.

2. Stamp the rose image from the Nature in Word stamp set onto an acetate sheet (I used overhead transparancies) using Black StazOn. Once it is dry, flip it over and apply glue from the Quickie Glue Pen to the flower bloossoms. Be careful not to apply too much glue or go outside of the lines!

3. Once you've coated the blossoms, cover with Art Institute Ultrafine Opaque Glitter #1 "True Red". Tap off excess.

4. Repeat Step 3 for the stems. I used Art Institute #114 "Leaf". Let the glittered images dry very well (I set them aside overnight).

5. Using Nestabilities Petite Oval dies in the Cuttlebug, cut and emboss an oval in the front-center of the white cardstock you cut at the beginning.

6. Place your finished image into the oval frame (glitter side down) and adhere acetate to the inside of the card.

7. If the inside of the card looks messy where you adhered the acetate, you can cut another quarter-sheet of white cardstock with an oval window and cover it up - basically sandwiching the acetate between two layers of white cardstock with ovals cut out. The reason I say to cut the oval out of the second layer of cardstock is so that the front of the card has a completely see through window with glittery roses in it - like stained glass.

Complete supply list. Ink: Black StazOn. Stamps: Nature in Word & Sweetpea Sweetheart stamp sets from Clear Artistic Stamps. Cardstock: GP 110# white. Accessories: Nestabilities Petite Oval dies, Cuttlebug (for Nestabilties), Overhead transparancy sheet, Quickie Glue Pen, Art Institute Opaque Ultrafine Glitter in #1 True Red and #114 Leaf.

A New April Card

Check out my Guest Designer Page at Clear Artistic Stamps - Belinda has my second April design up complete with supply list and instructions. Enjoy!

My Page is Up!

My guest designer page for Clear Artistic Stamps is up!! Yay! The first project is already up too.

---> Click here! <--- {ETA: I fixed the link to point to the PAST Guest Designers to find me & my creations -- now that my term is over.}

I've also added the other Clear Artistic Stamps design team members to my left sidebar under their own blogroll so they're easy for you to find!

Whisper: WSC41, CC159

Remember last week I posted about the newest stamp set from Clear Artistic Stamps called Whisper of Dreams? Well the first run has sold out, however Belinda is still accepting orders at the special intro price of $10.95 through TODAY, March 31st. That's a great deal and these stamps are just so beautiful. It'll take about a month to get the set in since it's backordered from the manufacturer, but it's worth the wait!

Do you also remember when I said I was going to be a guest designer for Clear Artistic Stamps for April? It's true! There will be new projects up on the Clear Artistic Stamps main page each week in April - made by me! I'll get them posted here eventually too, but in the meantime, check out the site for lots of cool new stuff. This is the main reason I've been so quiet with the art lately - I'm making a lot of stuff but it's "hush hush" until Belinda debuts it. Fun!

Here's a card I decided to debut myself today because I just love it so much. :-) This one features the Whisper of Dreams stamp set {of course - it just came on Saturday, so I had to play!!}, as well as Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #41 (WSC41) and Color Challenge #159 on Splitcoast Stampers (CC159). I was so busy last week I didn't get to try anything with that color combo until last night - but it is FAB! One of my new favorites I think, so look for more with this one in the coming weeks. The colors are Basic Grey, Soft Sky and Whisper White. I also used some Soft Sky prints designer paper, and the ribbon is from PaperTrey. I didn't order any of the Aqua Mist cardstock yet, but from the ribbon at least, it is looking like a near-perfect match to Soft Sky. I'll be ordering some paper soon to check that theory - Soft Sky is such a gorgeous and versatile color - I want to keep it around for a long time!