August 23 - Alcohol Ink

The background of this card was stamped and embossed white on glossy white paper. I used 3 different colors of alcohol ink on a blending tool and stomped the background on. It has a really neat effect. Alcohol inks are messy! I'm not a huge fan of heat embossing (because I'm no good at it), so I can't see myself running out to stock up on alcohol inks to make more cards like this. I did win a bottle as a door prize, so we'll see.... I also put copper alcohol ink on the back of this clear button. It took forever to dry, and made a huge mess when I tried to assemble the card. I guess I was not patient enough.

August 22 - Watercolor paper

This card was made from watercolor paper. The butterfly was inked with 3 different colors of distress ink and then misted with a water/perfect pearl mixture. The background stamp was done the same way. The stamped images have a bit of pearly sheen to them that you can't see in the photograph. The card was cut using Spellbinders dies. I have them, but have not taken them out of the package yet. I guess I have an idea what to do with them now.

August 21 - Sticky backed canvas

This card was made using sticky backed canvas. The butterfly was stamped and embossed with white embossing powder. Blue distress ink was rubbed on using an ink blending tool. Other people in the class used different colors - red, orange, green, or some combination of the colors. The card was embossed with one of the new Cuttlebug folders. I can't wait to see the new folders in person. I really like how this came out, but I can't see myself stocking up on sticky backed canvas anytime soon.

August 20 - Class Project #1

Holy moly, that class was intense! We used all kinds of materials that I've never touched before - sticky backed canvas, alcohol ink, perfect pearls, etc. It was lots of fun, but I was completely exhausted when I got home! I finished up the final touches on all 6 cards this evening. Here is the first one.



On this card, we used a cling stamp (which I LOVE and will become part of my collection very soon) and stamped with VersaMark ink. Then we brushed it with Perfect Pearls and misted it with water to set. It was a very simple process, and really turned out really pretty. It's tough to get a decent photo with the pearlescent front. The center part (under the pearled flowers) is what opens on this card. The brown background was run through the Cuttlebug, sanded, and then the dots were colored blue with a marker.

August 19 - Another favorite

I really, really like how this card came together. It's definitely one of my favorites of all of the ones I've made so far. I played with lots of toys to make it - the Cuttlebug, ribbon, stickles, sanded white core cardstock, a new stamp, etc.! I made 4 of this card, but I think I'll be making many more!

Tonight I am taking a class taught by Jennifer McGuire. I wish I had a quarter of the talent and creativity that she does. I am really looking forward to it - even if it does mean a drive to Cincinnati and a really long day. I should have a bunch of new cards when I get home!

August 18 - One last love stamp

When I broke out this stamp last week, I stamped it several times on white paper thinking I'd make multiples of the August 11 card. I made a couple, but then I got bored and started making other things with it. I used the last one on this card. It is stamped with Rose Red ink from SU! which conveniently worked with both red and hot pink cardstock.

August 17 - Lots of love

This is another one with the Love You Much stamp. It's hard to see in the photo, but I embossed the black with one of the Cuttlebug borders. I'm glad to use up some of this ribbon. It came as part of a set, and I had no idea what to do with it.

August 16 - Halfway there!

Yes, it is nearly 90 degrees today. I know this because my computer tells me so - not because I have stepped foot outside. I hate this hot and humid weather. What better way to 'celebrate' the weather than to make Christmas cards! I bought this stamp set last year just after Christmas, so this is the first time I've used it. Luckily I found these cute felt poinsettas last week and had a piece of the ribbon and rhinestone brads in my collection.

Happy holidays!

August 15 - Sending Happy Thoughts

I have been wanting to make this card for a while. I used a cute little Hero Arts stamp set that I've had for a while to stamp the flowers, then colored them in with pencil. You can't see it in the photo, but I also put diamond stickles in the centers of the flowers for a little sparkle.

August 14 - Snoozefest

I don't like this card. I have a whole stack of unfinished cards just like it - made with the same papers. It seems too plain to me, but I don't know what else to do with it. I debated about what ribbon to use, and the sheer lime polka dots (what was I thinking when I bought that?) seemed to match the best. I still don't like it.

August 13 - Love you much

This stamp is from one of my newer SU! sets and made its debut on this card. I also used the coordinating punch to punch out the 3 hearts at the bottom. Overall, I'm happy with this card although I think if Love was colored in with orange, I'd like it better. The red pencil looks a little pink.

August 12 - More Love

I got the inspiration for this card from Splitcoaststampers, and used the same stamp that I used on yesterday's card. I don't normally make square cards, but I had this card base already cut from when I was experimenting with the bridal shower invitations. It turns out that my inspiration card was also square, and so it ended up being almost identical. The inspiration card uses burgandy ribbon, but I didn't have any of that so I used this scrap of velvet rick rack instead. I like it.

August 11 - Better Late than Never

I almost forgot to post this card today!


I used not one, but two sets that have been sitting in my drawer for about 5 years as yet unused. Not only that, I broke out some decorative scissors! Who said those things went out of style?


This one was simple, but I like it. It would be an easy one to make lots of duplicates and would work for many different occasions, especially if I used one of the others in the set for the main image.

August 10 - A quick one

I have a stack of pre-cut and stamped card bases that need to be made into something. Last night I was busy, so I whipped this up quickly using one of them. I really like these colors and I love, love, love the felt rick rack! I think all rick rack should be made of felt. The card is a variation of a couple of others I've made. I like this recipe, and it's a good way to use up some patterened paper or scraps.

August 9 - A Freebie

On the way home from the stamping convention yesterday, I stopped at Archiver's. They were having one of their make-and-take weekends and I made this card there.

It's not really my choice for colors, but it was really quick to put together since they had everything all cut and ready! I do have some of those inchie stamps like I used on this card, so it gave me an idea for another way to use them. They also used chalk ink to stamp the inchies, and it really worked a lot better than the dye ink I've tried with mine. Something else to buy!

Today it's supposed to be really hot, and my goal is to stay inside and play with my new toys from yesterday- and go to the store and look at chalk ink. :-)

August 8 - A Butterfly!

This one is another Splitcoast-inspired design that kind of just came together. I flipped through a stack of paper that I bought back in the spring and found these two patterened papers that looked good together. More colors outside of my comfort factor! Also back in the spring, I kept seeing cards with this awesome butterfly on it, and knew I had to have it. So, I ordered the Cuttlebug die (along with a couple of others) and it has been sitting in the craft room unused for a couple of months. Time to finally break that thing in! I cut it out and embossed it and I really like it.

Today is the Stampaway USA Convention. I hope I don't get myself into too much trouble there!

August 7 - A Wild One

I made this card with my newest SU! set called Wild About You. When I ordered it, I thought it was cute, but I had no idea what I'd actually make with it. I saw lots of cute ideas on the Splitcoaststampers gallery, and finally settled on this one:

It's nearly identical to one I saw on Splitcoast using different colors. Following the theme this week, this card used paper from my stash, a yet unused stamp set, and ribbon from my stash. The ink was one of my new acquisitions.

And with this one, the first week of my self imposed challenge is complete! Maybe next week I'll shake this cold and feel more creative.

August 6 - New Ballet Blue

I recently acquired 13 new stamp pads. Crazy, I know, but I needed some variety in my collection. I decided to give the one called Ballet Blue a shot for this card. I just happened to have some blue cardstock in a 4.5"x6.5" mat stack that I decided to use, and when I started stamping, the color matched perfectly! Also, that stamp that says "Celebrate"? It was the first time that one's seen ink and I've had that set for several years. The stars are Hero Arts and I stamped them, cut them out, and put some diamond Stickles around the edges (and you can actually see it in the photo!). It also has "Happy Birthday" stamped on the inside.

August 5 - No Love for this Love Card

I admit, I don't love this one. I don't use yellow or orange much, and maybe that's why. It was simple to make and I do love 3 things about it: using paper from my stash, using ribbon from my stash, and using a stamp I've had for probably 5 years that had never seen ink.

August 4 - A Favorite

I really, really like this card. It's another Hero Arts stamp and idea from their site. Did I mention that I like their stuff? I made 4 of these since I had 4 already cut out. My button stash is a little lighter now too.