Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #260



Hi there everybody...so glad you could stop by!  Can you believe it's already time for another Timeless Tuesday Challenge over at Flourishes?  Where has the week gone?  I feel like I have been pedaling like crazy and not getting anywhere....do you ever have days like that?  I hear ya!  Well, why don't we just check out this week's challenge?

Timeless-Tuesday-New-Logo

Our hostess is the amazingly talented Cheryl and she has an awesome theme for us.....if you like math...just kidding!  You can read all of the details here.


Intrigued? Excited?  I was at first and then I got started on  my project and realized that sly Cheryl had really thrown me a curve ball!  I did not realize just how heavily I used my Copics....like, all the time!  Talk about Linus and his blue blankie....that is me and my Copics!  LOL!  All right, the throw down had been issued, so now what was I going to do?  I reached for the stamp set that was still sitting on my table and got to work!  I used the gorgeous set Cherry Blossoms....I think it is wishful thinking on my part, because I am so ready to see these blooming on the trees here....Come ON Spring!! 


 I used one of the smaller bloom images in the set and stamped it in pink ink a few times without reinking to give it a faded look on my little notebook page die cut from Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock.  I sponged on a little Ranger Distress ink in Antique Linen and Vintage Photo then stamped my sentiment, which is from the Botanical Bookplates set. Ok.....Cheryl said no coloring of the image but that doesn't mean this card has to be colorless, does it?  Noooo, so I added some very sweet papers I've been hoarding saving for just the right card.  I thought the colors in the rose patterned paper were so pretty so I added a couple more patterns in coordinating colors from the same paper pad to create my distressed layers and it just so happens that those are the same colors I used in my stamping! Coincidence?  ;)  I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities set, Large Labels , for my panel and backed it with some dark pink paper.  If you look really closely, you can see it......yep, a little gold leafing around the edge of that panel! 


 I guess the Krylon gold leafing pen is another one of my "blankies" but I didn't have to give that one up this time...lol!  I stitched a zig zag on my main panel to give a little interest and also borrowed a trick from a fellow stamper's bag, the wonderfully talented and super sweet Julie Koerber!  See that little white detail edge around my card?  I scored a line around the paper and then sanded it so it would mimic a stitch line....without the stitching!  At least, I think that is how she does it...lol!  That is what I did here, and I love the result! To finish, I added some satin ribbon, a few scattered buttons and there you have it....a non-colored but completely colorful card!  I sure hope you can play along with us this week! Before you go though, please stop by my team mates' blogs and see what they haven't colored for you! :)  Make sure you leave them some blog love while you are there, then get to work on your own "Less is More" creation!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!  Ya'll take care and I'll be seeing you soon!
~Katie

Finished card size is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Supplies:
Stamps:  Flourishes Cherry Blossoms and Botanical Bookplates
Paper:  Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock; Stampin' Up! Raspberry Ripple card stock, My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Two "Blush" 6x6 paper pad
Ink:  Ranger Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Vintage Photo; Stampin' Up! inks in Primrose Petals, Whisper White, and Coastal Cabana
Other:  Spellbinders Nestabilities "Large Labels"; notebook paper die; ribbon; buttons; Krylon Gold Leafing pen

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #259












Welcome back!  Are you having a good week so far?  I am getting a little worried about us down here in the Deep South....ice storms, snow, and now earthquakes...two to be exact in as many days.  I know it is not completely unheard of to have earthquakes here, but it definitely is not something that happens often.  The weather has been interesting here lately, to say the least.  But I am guessing you did not pop in for just a weather report, did you?  ;)  So why don't we talk about the Timeless Tuesday Challenge this week at Flourishes instead?  The amazingly talented Jenny is our hostess this week and she has an awesome challenge for us...


You can read all of the details here.  For my card this week, I really embraced the challenge and went all out polka dots!  I used the beautiful Think Pink Fight Like A Girl set.  Please notice that I am again trying to get out of my box and go a little more clean and simple...not a button, not a bow, not a bit of metallic leafing anywhere....just sayin'!  See, miracles never cease, do they?  ;)


 This set comes with a darling T shirt image and some images and sentiments to stamp on the shirt and also larger ones for general card sentiments.  For my sentiment on the Tshirt I had to tweak it a bit...I wanted it to be two colors so I stamped it first in pink ink and then went over part of it with a Copic Black Multiliner pen....it did pretty well, although I wished I had one with a finer point on it to make it a little easier to cover up the pink ink.  I shaded the T shirt with a few copics, then  fussy cut it and popped it up on foam dots to a Spellbinders circle die cut that I had sponged with some gray ink.  I added a little fussy cut ribbon image (from the same set) that I also colored with Copics for a little extra something something.  


My card base is some gray card stock from my stash with the top right corner rounded.  I used a polka dot embossing folder to give a little texture and then a bit of gray chevron stripe paper for a little contrast from all. those. dots.....lol!  Then I used two scales of pink and white polka dot paper to fill in this sweet little dotty border die that I have had forever and don't think I have ever used...I think it works great for this card!  I did go over the "girl" part of the sentiment with my Atyou Spica Clear Glitter pen and it looks great IRL but you can't really tell in the photos.  And that as they say, is that.  I think I met the polka dot requirement, don't you?  :)  Now, I hope you will check out all of the lovely projects that my teammates have created for your inspiration, leave them a little blog love, and then get going on your own Polka Dot creation.  Don't forget to link up on our site for a chance to win a prize! While you are there you really should check out the Gambler's Sale going on right now...a whopping 50% off!  I can't wait to see what you create and I'll be seeing you again real soon....so glad you could stop by!  Take care!


 *On a personal note- This card is going to a very special lady.  I may have mentioned that my family has certainly had it's share of breast cancer diagnoses in the last two years.  My mother and one of my cousins have undergone all of their treatments and most recently another cousin is in her battle.  I made this card for her.  She is tackling this with a style and grace that is so typically her.  My heart aches for what she is having to endure right now, but she is a woman of strong faith and I know that and the love of her family and friends is what is going to get her through this.  T- You are beautiful inside and out...many prayers and much love is sent your way on a daily basis.  You GO girl!  


Supplies:
Stamps:  Think Pink Fight Like A Girl
Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock; Color Made Easy Poppy Collection; Simple Stories' "SN@P" Color Vibe 6x6 pad
Ink:  Tuxedo Black-Memento; Antique Linen Distress Ink-Ranger; Basic Gray, Melon Mambo and Whisper White inks-SU!
Other:  Border die, Polka Dot embossing folder, Circle die
And these Copic Colors:  0, C1, C3, R81, R83, R85, R89

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #258











Hi there and welcome back!  Are you ready for another Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge?  This week, your hostess is yours truly and I have a question for you..."Wood" You Be Mine?

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That's right....I am challenging you to use any wood element on your card or project!  You can read all about it here.


Now, despite the play on words...it does not have to be specifically a Valentine's card, any card or project will do as long as there is some kind of wood element present...let your imagination run wild!  I decided to do a birthday card this week and use the gorgeous stamp set Cherry Blossoms for my main image.  This is the first time I have used this stamp set, but I am already besotted.  


You may have noticed this is not my usual card style...at all.  I wanted to try something a little different for this card. I was going for more clean and simple, although simple is an interesting word choice...it was anything but simple for me.  I thought the cherry blossom branch paired with a wood texture plate would make an interesting combination.  I ended up stamping my image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink on to Flourishes Classic White cardstock then coloring it in with Copics.  Next, I used the "Out of the Box" technique for my oval die cut/sentiment treatment...actually, this is the reverse of that with my fussy cut portion of the image spilling into the negative space, if that makes sense.  There is a wonderful tutorial on this on Splitcoast Stamper's website here

Next, I ran my panel through my Spellbinders Grand Calibur with a wood grain texture plate.  Now...I will just go ahead and tell you this for future reference, I will try using the texture plate first next time before I die cut my space because the little branch was so delicate, that when I ran it through to emboss....well, I bet you can guess....it tore the branch.  Soooo, I glued it back on.  I am hoping that it is not noticeable!  Live and learn, right?  The rest of the card is simply another white cardstock panel underneath the image panel and a card base of Tonal Neutrals Color Made Easy card stock.  I did pull out my trusty Krylon 18KT Gold Leafing pen for some of the vertical edges and I also sponged some Ranger Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass to give a little pop of color for my sentiment and some Ranger Distress Ink in Antique Linen for some detail around the edges.  And speaking of sentiment, it is actually from the Hollyhocks stamp set.  


For my finishing touches, I used my Atyou Spica Clear Glitter pen, a Faber-Castell Pitt artist pen in white, and some tiny pearls.  I am not sure if you can see it in the photo, but there is a little sparkle on the open cherry blossoms from the glitter pen.  

Well, that is all for my card this week.  I hope you are inspired to play along with us this week....but before you go getting all Paul Bunyan on your own project, please check out what my incredibly talented team mates have created for you...and make sure you leave them a little blog love while you are there!  Don't forget to link up your project on the Flourishes site for a chance to win a prize!  I can't wait to see what you come up with....take care and thanks so much for stopping by!  :)
~Katie

Supplies:  
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Ranger Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Tumbled Glass
Dies:  Spellbinders Classic Oval Large set
Other:  Wood Grain Texture plate, Pearls, Krylon 18KT Gold Leafing Pen, Atyou Spica Clear Glitter Pen, Faber Castell Pitt Artist pen in White, Foam Dimensionals
And these Copic Colors:  R000, R81, R83, R85, R89, E70, E71, E74, E77, E79

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #257










Hi there everybody and welcome back!  Before we get started with our challenge this week, have you heard about the sale going on at Flourishes?  You really need to check it out....30% off this week!  You can read all about it here.

Now, on to the challenge this week.  The oh-so-talented Deborah is our hostess this week and she has a beaut for you...."Feel the Love".  Yes....just in time for Valentine's Day....you need to incorporate "love" and the color red in your card or project.  You can read all of the details of the challenge here.


Now...I don't know about you, but nothing says love quite like chocolate....am I right?  So of course, I was instantly drawn to this darling image from the Love Sweet Love set.  That sweet little box of chocolates done up in red most certainly evokes love, don't you think?  :)


I started by stamping my image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on to Flourishes Classic White card stock.  I actually stamped it three times and fussy cut and stacked each layer with glue dots to give it a little more dimension.  The rest of the card is made up of die cuts from my most favorite die set from Marianne Design...it's called Anja's Squares and it still makes me giddy to use it...perfect for a Valentine, right?  I also used Spellbinders Heart and Scalloped Heart dies to build up my sentiment area.  Speaking of sentiment, isn't this one gorgeous?  I love the font! It is in the same set as the image and it is perfect for a Valentine for my Matt. The rest of the card came together pretty quickly using more Classic White card stock and some pretty papers from Carta Bella's "Beautiful Moments" 6x6 pad.  After I die cut the pink heart, I decided it needed a little something else so I put it back in the die and pierced a border around the heart to give a little more detail.  To finish it off, I added a few sparkly gems and we're done!  Here's a close up of those sweet little chocolates...


This brings back precious memories of when I was in elementary school and we had Valentine's Bags so all of your classmates could put your Valentines in it.  One year, somebody put a heart shaped box of chocolates (much like this one) on my desk because it would't fit in the bag!  Oh, what a wonderful day that was!  Now if this doesn't make you want to haul out your paper, scissors, and glue and get to work on your own Valentine, I don't know what will!  But before you get to work, please make sure you check out what my wonderful team mates have created for your inspiration...you will definitely be feeling the love there.....and make sure you leave a little blog love for them in return!  I am so glad you were able to stop by today....take care and I can't wait to see what you create! Til next time.....
~Katie

Supplies:
Stamps:  Love Sweet Love
Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock, Carta Bella "Beautiful Moments" 6x6 pad
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink, Stampin' Up!-Bravo Burgundy
Dies:  Marianne Design-Anja's Squares; Spellbinders Nestabilities Heart and Scalloped Heart sets
Other:  gems-Stampin' Up!
And these Copic colors:  R20, R22, R24, R27, R29, R59, RV11, RV13, RV14, BV000, C3, YG11, YG13, YG17, G28, E40, E42, E44, E47, E49, E51, E55, E57, E59