Friday, September 30, 2011

Are you seeing Spots?

Speedy the cats challenge #75

gatefold butterfly

Come on over to Speedy the Cat’s blog and play along in our challenge to use DOTS. You could win a free set of stamps. 

If you click on the picture image you can see the dots on the pretty paper better.

All these papers are from Mark’s Finest Papers.  Most were from the Premium paper pack the SpringTime pack.  The dark mahogany brown that is super luxurious looking is from the newest pack that has been put together for you.

Mark's Finest Papers Neutrals Premium Paper Combo Pack 28 sheets for only $7.99

It’s a great way to purchase a variety of papers and MFP has THE best prices on paper packs.

I used a bit of Stardust clear on the butterfly spots. The pearls are done with a pink pearl pen.  Love that stuff!  The gatefold just seemed to be the perfect fold for this creation.

Thanks for stopping by. Storm cloud (it’s been raining all week)

Friday, September 23, 2011

Speedy the Cat Challenge # 74

Things with wings

What a great time to have a challenge using things with wings.  I’m thankful for this brand new set by Mark’s Finest Papers called Autumn glory.  Isn’t this pheasant gorgeous.  You could join us over at Friends of Speedy the cat and win a beautiful soon to be released set.  They stamp so beautifully I am always amazed when I look at the stamped image how crisp it is.

MFP Sept 24 wk 74

Colored with Copic markers

Friday, September 16, 2011

Speedy the Cat Challenge #73

one layer card

Linda challenged us with a one layer card.  Now this really is a challenge for some of us who are used to layering for depth and contrast. However, when I first started stamping I never layered anything and I didn’t have a lot of cardstock or back ground papers so I used to cut my own templates and make masks like this.  The image is a new one from Mark’s Finest Papers, called Autumn Glory. This set is a beauty and you get a lot of stamps for the price of ONE wood mounted stamp.  Check it out here. MFP Sept 17 wk 73

This looks like a multi layered card but the only layer is the corner pieces.  Shown below is a tutorial I have put together for you to see how to do this, especially if your supplies are limited.

BLDG 1 LAYER CARD (2)First cut a piece of CS just slightly smaller than the front of your card.  I did a quarter inch all the way around. Adhere it to your base piece with removable tape.

BLDG 1 LAYER CARD (3)

Next sponge around it with the color you want to look like a base piece. In this case I chose Forest Foliage.

 

BLDG 1 LAYER CARD (4)

Sponge all the way around the mat or mask that you have laid on the base.  Take a coordinating pen and outline your mask before removing it.

BLDG 1 LAYER CARD (5)

 I use this wonderful little gum rubber adhesive remover to get the temporary adhesive off the base.  LOVE this tool.  Grateful to whomever thought this up and informed the rest of us.  I use it a lot.

BLDG 1 LAYER CARD (6)Now you will cut out a mask for the next layer, if you don’t have a die cutter you can trace around an object you have at home like an odd shaped jar bottom or just cut a template you like.  I use old calendar backs b/c they are a bit sturdier and I don’t need to waste a piece of card stock. (keep the templates you cut) I cut the calendar piece to the size of my card base and center the die cut and then run through the Cuttlebug.

BLDG 1 LAYER CARD (7)

Once again use removable adhesive and tape the mask over the entire front of your card.  This time you will sponge inside the mask.  Notice the first time you sponged outside the mask.

BLDG 1 LAYER CARD

Final step, I leave the inside a bit lighter so my image will be highlighted a bit. Take a marker in a coordinating color or a dark color and carefully trace around the inside lines of the template.  This will take away from the flat look of the stencil design and give the illusion of a piece of cardstock layered on.  Clever, eh?

Now remove the mask and use the gum rubber eraser to remove the adhesive again. Now you have a layered look, like the top picture . to stamp your image on. 

Fun technique, eh?  I hope this is useful for some of you and you can practice with it. Happy Autumn. Coffee cup

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Mark's Finest Papers September Blog Hop

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!
This week's new releases are:Autumn Glory, Boo To You, Covered Bridges, Get Your Broom On .For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.
So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set:Get Your Broom On? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)
For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Get Your Broom On. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.
Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

Get your Broom on and fly along with us on the last day of this hop. THIS is one of the most fun Halloween sets ever. I had such a blast making cards with this set. Fun for you is the fabric pieces that MFP is now offering in their store. I used two of their different pieces on this stair step card. This was the perfect set to make a stair step card with. I know you will have just as much fun with this set as I did. Hope you're the one who wins it. heh-heh-heh.


Have fun, it's not too early to start your Halloween cards.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!
This week's new releases are:Autumn Glory. Boo To You, Covered Bridges, and Get Your Broom On.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.
So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Autumn Glory? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)
For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Autumn Glory. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.
Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

I'm not on the official blog list, however,I'll appreciate any comments you leave. I so love it when you feel moved to do that. :) Have fun with this hop and stop by the blogs of my fellow talented designers and leave them some love for a chance to win this beautiful set.


I am posting two photos of this card to show you that sometimes Less IS more. I kept looking at the first photo and wondering if it needed something and so added some ribbon but really, it is such a beautiful scene that the ribbon only detracts from it. I took it off and like the plain beauty of this Autumn Glory.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

IN MEMORY OF…..

sEPTEMBER 11, 2001

9-11

9/11  :  You remember, don’t you?  You remember exactly where you were when you heard the sad news.  It was said with such a terrible impact it was hardly believable and yet so believable.  How could anyone do that? 

We have many friends in New York City, what a frustrating time to try to get a hold of them by phone.  They were crying, we were shocked, after three days they were all accounted for, all alive.  What a relief, what a blessing.  Oh, our hearts break, still today for all those lives lost.

A personal friend of Gilbert,  is Michael Lamonico,  the head chef for the restaurant Windows on the World, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center.  He lost so many people he cared about.  Lost all the people he worked with on a day to day basis.  He is alive because he had an eye doctor appointment on the lower levels that day.  He can hardly take it in, he is alive and everyone else is gone.

This post is a tribute and a memorial for all those who lost their lives, all the ordinary people, all the fire fighters, all the families, for every single person who was affected that day because of a senseless act against innocent people. 

We remember you all…your memory is forever etched in our hearts. Red heart

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PENTEL OIL PASTEL CRAYONS

USING BABY OIL

foxy pumpkin

Here’s another sneak peek at the new MFP releases coming out Tuesday.  This fall set called Autumn Glory is such a beautiful set for masculine cards and thank you cards.  The main image is from that set.  The sentiment is from the stash at Edith’s house. Smile She and I had such great fun coloring these images and creating a couple of cards.  We used the Pentel Pastel Oil crayons that I found at Good Will for ninety-nine cents.  I see online though, that these would be a very inexpensive way to get beautiful shading.  A box of 16 in only $2.99.  You could probably find these at any hobby store. 

The technique:  You simply outline your image with a darker color, rough color the large spots with a lighter color of the same family.  Take a Q-tip, pull off some of the cotton so you have more control of where the color is going.  Dip the end in baby oil and in a small circular motion begin blending the colors together.  It leaves you with a gorgeous finish, don’t you think?

I even rescued the brown cardstock from her garbage pile, it was the back of a store bought card, then I ran it through the Cuttlebug with a Sizzex embossing folder.

Edith didn’t have any black brads and I used her  black Copic marker to help with that little issue. 

So this really was a cobbled together card.  The entire thing is made from scraps.  Thumbs up

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Friday, September 9, 2011

SPEEDY THE CAT CHALLENGE #72

USE A PUNCH

Carol, bless her heart, gave us an easy challenge this month.  Use a punch.  I love using punches and for this one I used Martha Stewarts fence punch.  Aren’t these Halloween Stamps just the greatest?  Here’s a sneak peek for you on the release coming up this week at Mark’s Finest Papers

mfp witchy seminar

The card went together quickly and it was just FUN to make.  Why don’t you hop on over to Speedy the Cat’s blog and make a card with us…you could win a great stamp set being released next month.  You get yours right away, though, you won’t have to wait ‘til next month. Alien

Friday, September 2, 2011

Speedy the Cat challenge #71

colleen said let’s use bling

BLING??? that’s all that shiny and rhinestone, diamonds and such, right?  Well, okay then, I have just been waiting to find a reason to use this beautiful lacy bling that is from Mark’s Finest Papers.  It is all one piece and very easy to use.  I’m tellin’ ya, they offer more embellishments to purchase than you can believe.  It’s so fun to browse through it all.

…….waiting for the drum roll…..TA-DA…. here it is.MFP diary train

All papers, stamps and embellishments are from Mark’s Finest Papers.   Both sentiment and image are from the All Aboard set. Thanks for looking.