I'm Guest Designing Today!

I am so excited to be guest designing for Sweet Stamp Shop over on their blog today!  I was thrilled when Nicole emailed me offering me the chance to guest design and I am looking forward to sharing my creations with you!


I was given the Kiss Me set to work with:

How cute is that?!  When I first saw it, my head instantly filled with so many different ways to use this set.  You've seen a few of my cards over on the SSS blog today, but I'll show them again...and a few more!  Plus, I'll even be showing you how I made one of them, so be sure to stick around!  :)

Here are the cards that are featured over on the SSS blog:

Even though this set wasn't specifically designed to be used for chalkboard art, as one of the other SSS new releases was, I thought I would make a cute chalkboard card with these.  I stamped the kissing couple and heart with Versamark and sprinkled them with white embossing powder.  The result is much more bold than if I had just used a white ink by itself.

I thought the kissing couple would go perfectly with this paper from Echo Park's Everyday Ecclectic collection.  I tried to make it seem like these two were caught on camera sneaking some smooches at the fair.  :)

This was the very first card I came up with when I saw the set.  I will show you how I made it after I show off a couple more cards I made for your viewing pleasure...

Another chalkboard art creation that I think turned out so pretty!  I used a doily-esque edge punch and frilly seam binding to class it up, then added the push pins to finish it off.  The love heart sentiment is popped up with dimensional adhesive.  

I decided to attempt a new technique (you know, since I'm still claiming to be a "novice") for this card.  I stamped the kissing sentiment with versamark, then covered the images with clear embossing powder.  I then sprayed a sheet of waxed paper with three different colors of mist.  I added a few sprays of water, then placed the cardstock face down in the puddle.  This is how it turned out.  I love how the color isn't even.  The chevron patterned strip I used seems to echo that multi-toned look.  

Let's jump back to this card, shall we?

I used two stamps for this card:  The you+me hearts and the kissing couple silhouette.  I knew I wanted to attempt to try and make an *actual* kissing couple to fit my idea of them kissing in front of a carved tree better. 

 First, I lightly stamped the image onto a piece of scrap paper.  I didn't even try to cover the stamp completely with ink.  I just needed to be able to see the edges so I could cut them out. 

After I cut the silhouette out, I traced it lightly onto white cardstock.   

After I erased the lines minimally, I used my colored pencils to draw my interpretation of what they boy and girl would look like.  Keep in mind, I am NOT an artist.  I kind of surprised myself at how well the girl's hair turned out.  :)  After I finished coloring them in, I cut them out and put them aside. 

 

I created the tree trunk by dry embossing some dark kraft cardstock, but before I did so, I stamped some brown chalk ink onto one side of the embossing plate, so the texture of the tree would show up better.  Then I stamped the sentiment on light cardstock.  I paper pieced the background and grass and used my cloud punch to create big bushy leaves for the tree. 

Here it is again.  I have to admit that I'm surprised that my two dimensional brain came up with this one, but I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out! 

Thank you SO MUCH for stopping by today!  I had so much fun creating these cards for you all to enjoy.  Thank you to Nicole for giving me the opportunity to showcase her amazing stamps!

Until next time...


 

Sale Time

It's that time again!  I'm having a scrappy sale to find new homes for items I've been hoarding meaning to use but haven't that would love to be used.  :)  Click on the link in my header bar or here if you're feeling lazy.  :)  There are LOTS of stamps and embellishments up for grabs.  Hope you find something you can use!

Until next time...

Everywhere a butterfly...

Happy first day of Spring, everyone!  Seems kind of like it's been spring all winter long here, minus the few weeks we had 20 inches of snow on the ground from back-to-back blizzards in February.  Mother Nature is one bipolar chick, that's for sure!

Anyway, I have a couple cards I wanted to share today.  I used butterflies on both of these cards, which I have never done before.  Whenever I've seen or pinned a card with butterflies on it, I always thought they looked so beautiful and delicate, but I've never been inspired to actually use them before.  Well, until now.  :) 

This first card was commissioned by my brother-in-law.  My sister-in-law gave up a baby girl for adoption a couple years before she and my BIL got married, so they celebrate Birth Mother's Day, which is the day before Mother's Day, every year.  This is the card I came up with:

 

I wanted to make a card that was happy and pretty and not hokey in any way.  I had to print out the sentiment myself because, let's face it, stamp makers haven't rushed out to make stamps celebrating the incredibly difficult decision of giving up a child.  But I digress...  Here is a close-up:

I have known my SIL for MANY years and I was dating my husband when she was pregnant.  I have been lucky enough to have met the little girl she gave up for adoption a few times as my SIL has been very close with the family who adopted her.  Her birth daughter is a spitting image of her.  Just beautiful.  It was an HONOR to make this card for my BIL to give her this year. 

The second card I am showing you doesn't have quite as exciting of a story, sad to say.  I made it for a challenge.  :)  I actually might be entering it for TWO challenges, so this story is actually looking up a bit.  I made it for this challenge:

And here is what I created:

 

I wanted this card to be simple with little pops of color, which I think I accomplished.  In retrospect, I wish I would have chosen a paper that didn't have so much white in it, but it still works. 
 

I used a rainbow of colors for the gemstones in the center of the butterflies.  You can't really see them well in this picture, so just try to imagine them.  :)

The other challenge I will be entering this card in is this Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge:

My card isn't SCREAMING these colors, but the butterflies definitely have these colors on them in one way or another. 

Thank you for stopping by today to see my latest creations!  Until next time...

Chalkboard art

Today is my final How To'sday tutorial for the Scrapbook Steals blog.  Make sure you head over there to see how I created these cards:

I can't believe my term as a Scrapbook Steals design team member is already over.  :(  Those three months FLEW by!  I enjoyed my time with them and am thankful that they gave me the opportunity.  On to (hopefully) bigger things! 

Until next time...

More News!

I am excited to announce that I will be guest designing for Sweet Stamp Shop this month!

They are releasing some CUTE sets this month, so make sure you check them out today to see two of the newest sets:  Kiss Me and Chalkboard Sign. 

Here is a card I created with the Kiss Me set:

I love how versatile this set is.  It can be used to create backgrounds and all kinds of cute lovey dovey cards.  :)  I might even be tempted to use it on a layout sometime in the near future...we shall see!

For this card, I used Echo Park's Everyday Eclectic paper, My Mind's Eye washi tape and Basic Grey alphas.  Oh, and I dusted off the old sewing machine to stitch the border.  I love how it turned out.

I will be sharing everything I created for this release later this month, so stay tuned!

Until then...

I'm published!!

I am SO EXCITED to share that I am a published card maker!  Not so novice-y, eh?  :)  One of my cards was chosen to be in the April 2013 edition of CARDS!

Here is my card:

I'm sad they spelled my first name wrong, but what can you do, right?  Hopefully I'll get the chance again so they can spell it right.  :) 

Thank you for stopping by!  More news coming soon!  Until then...

Winner, Winner!

 I just wanted to thank everyone again for following along during my week as the Growing in Unity gal.  As promised, I have randomly chosen a winner for the two sets of Itty Bitty stamps. 

Here is the winner:

Congratulations, Ruby!!  Email me at onescrappynovice at yahoo dot com with your two Itty Bitty choices and we will get those sent out to you ASAP! 

Stay tuned for big news next week!  (And no, it is not of the baby sorts!)  :)  Until then...

Studio Calico Mister Huey's Masks and Mists

***If you are looking for my final day as the 

Growing in Unity gal, click here!***

 

I am up today over at the Scrapbooksteals.com blog!  Make sure you head over to check out this card and the other projects I created using today's steal, Studio Calico Mister Huey's Masks and Mist!

Growing In Unity, Day Five

Welcome back to the last day of my Growing In Unity week!  Every day this week I have been showing off a project I completed using Unity Stamps.  Make sure to leave me a comment because you will be entered to win your choice of 2 Itty Bitty stamp sets!  Sweet!

Here is the project I created for today's post:

I used the Dance in the Rain Itty Bitty set for this card.  I paper pieced the bird, boots and umbrella using papers from My Mind's Eye's Quite Contrary line.  How perfect do these rain-themed papers go with this stamp set?!  I wanted the papers to be cheery and bright.  I think it worked.  :)    

Thank you for following along this week!  You have until midnight tonight to enter a comment for the chance to win 2 Itty Bitty stamp sets from Unity Stamp Co.!  I will draw a winner tomorrow (Saturday) morning!

Until next time...

Pinspired Challenge #4

 I thought I would sneak in between my Growing in Unity posts to play along with this week's Pinspired Challenge!  I am sad to say that this is only my first entry, but luckily they are only on week 4, so I'm not too far behind!  :) 

 Here is the inspiration picture:

And here is my interpretation:

I decided to play off the wood grain background and use some papers from Basic Grey's Life of the Party collection, which all have wood grain on them.  Then I used the brightly colored stickers from Basic Grey's Shine On collection to jazz the card up a bit. 

Thank you for taking a look at my card!  Until next time...

Growing In Unity, Day Four

Welcome back to Day Four of my Growing In Unity week!  Every day this week I have been showing off a project I completed using Unity Stamps.  Make sure to leave me a comment because you will be entered to win your choice of 2 Itty Bitty stamp sets at the end of the week!  Sweet!

Here is the card I created for today's post:

This card is simple, yet elegant.  I put the "Thank You" sentiment from the Blossom Stackers stamp set on the inside of the card to keep the front from looking any more busy than it might be.  I also used the flower stamp from the Born an Original (Authentique Itty Bitty) set.   The twine is from the Twinery, in Pink Sorbet and Honeydew, and the paper is from Authentique.

That's all for today!  Make sure you check back tomorrow and comment for your last chance to win!  Until next time... 
 

Growing In Unity, Day Three

Welcome back to Day Three of my Growing In Unity week!  Every day this week I will be showing off a project I completed using Unity Stamps.  Make sure to leave me a comment because you will be entered to win your choice of 2 Itty Bitty stamp sets at the end of the week!  Sweet!

Again, I'm not going to beg for followers.  But if you want to follow me, click over there --->  Just sayin'.  :)   

Here is the card I created for today's post:

I made this card for a friend of mine who recently had a baby boy.  I loved the sentiment that came with this set, but I broke it up to fit a bit better and I covered the stars with Glossy Accents to make them stand out more.  The stamp set I used for this card is Twinkle, Twinkle (Simple Stories Itty Bitty).

Here is a close-up of the Glossy Accents.  It adds such a nice, unexpected touch to such a simple card.

That's all for now!  Make sure you check back tomorrow and comment for your chance to win!  Until next time...

Growing In Unity, Day Two

Welcome back to Day Two of my Growing In Unity week!  Every day this week I will be showing off a project I completed using Unity Stamps.  Make sure to leave me a comment because you will be entered to win your choice of 2 Itty Bitty stamp sets at the end of the week!  Sweet!

Here is the card I created for today's post:

I pulled out my Simple Stories Summer Fresh 6x6 pad for this one.  I thought the quilted chevron paper would go well with the stamp set I used, Stitched Greetings.  I used some burlap twine on this card, as well as a paper punch, to punch out the tiny buttons on the heart and star.

That's all for today!  Make sure you check back every day this week and comment for your chance to win!  Until next time...

Growing In Unity, Day One

ME!!  :)

I am so excited to be the Growing in Unity gal this week!  I feel relatively new to the stamping world (within the last year or so), so this is kind of a big deal for me.  Every day this week I will be showing off a project I completed using Unity Stamps.  Make sure to leave me a comment because you will be entered to win your choice of 2 Itty Bitty stamp sets at the end of the week!  Sweet!

I'm not going to beg for followers.  But if you want to follow me, click over there --->  Just sayin'.  :)   

Here is the card I created for my first post:

Anyone who has been following me for a while knows that I am an aqua hoarder.  Can't. Get. ENOUGH of it.  Something I enjoy even more?  Doilies.  And burlap string.  Not necessarily in that order.  :)  I stamped the sentiment on vellum.  This card was getting a little too fancy for my taste, so I had to throw in some burlap twine to ground it a bit.  I think it turned out beautifully.  

For this card I used the stamp set Blossom Stackers. 

That's all for now!  Make sure you check back every day this week and comment for your chance to win!  Until next time...