You Are The Star Today!

Hello!  I have two cards for you today.  My first card goes with the title.  For a few days now, I have been around and around trying to come up with an idea for the grandson's 14th birthday.  I have so many cute animal stamps that I use on cards all the time, but for a teenage boy that tend to look to young.  So that  means they are not too young for someone 50 but they are for a 14 year old!  Go figure!  I went to my favorite source to see lots of cards in one place, Splitcoast Stampers.  I put in teenage boy in the search box and came up with quite a few ideas.  My card today is a take on one I saw there.  So let me get to it ... enjoy!

The main ingredients combines the music notes embossing folder layered over the gridlock embossing folder.  What a cool look, it is.  To make the star indention, I die-cut one of the stars with a piece of chipboard.  Then used the chipboard star to trace on the back side of the white panel and cut out the shape.  After I ran the white panel thru the music folder, I went over it with black ink, to create the black notes. But, I think the sentiment, which I was happy to find in my stash, completes the whole card.  It really ties together the music with the stars!  To the right, you can see my inside panel.   What do you think?

Recipe:

Paper - Cardstock White, Green, Blue, Black
Stamps - You Are the Star by Stamp Camp - Simple Sentiments Vertical Style set, Happy Birthday by Hero Arts
Ink - Versafine Black, Marvy Matchable Black (for music notes, easier to do with a smaller pad)
Tools - Sizzix (actually old Ellison) Stars die (has 4 different sizes on one die), Music Notes embossing folder by Crafts Too (purchased at Sweet Stamps booth at convention), Sizzix Tim Holtz Texture Fades Gridlock embossing folder, Sizzix Tim Holtz bracket die

Now, on to my second card... When I first saw the music notes folder at the convention, my first thought was of a stamp from My Favorite Things that I purchased last year but have never inked up.  She is from their Jolinne line and is holding an MP3 player.  I thought I should somehow combine the two.  So, that is what I did for my second card.  It seems this year, My Favorite Things has started having some sketch challenges.  I loved the sketch last week so I printed it off, mainly just to do sometime, not really planning to enter the challenge.  So, last night when deciding what sketch to go with, I decided to do the one I had printed out.  Found out this morning, that the challenge has passed, so I won't be entering that one.  But, that is no big deal.  I still am glad I did the sketch, because I really like it and I can see me doing the layout again.  Let's get to it ... enjoy!

 

She is pretty cute.  Not sure why I haven't inked her before now!  The sentiment is fabulous but truthfully, I had not planned to add it to the card, until ... I added those pink pearl hearts!  And then, I thought how perfect the sentiment would be!

Recipe:

Paper - Black & White by Recollections Black Damask (this is a text weight 12 x12 I purchased from Michaels), Pink Dots by My Minds Eye Tickled Pink pad, Cardstock White, Black
Stamps - My Favorite Things Heart Sing Jolinne
Ink - Versafine Black, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol
Tools - Crafts Too Music Notes embossing folder
Other - Heart Pearls by Hero Arts, Ribbon by Creative Impressions

That is it for me for the week.  Have a great weekend! 
Happy Stamping!
Tina

Hit Me, Cupid!

Hello!  Before I get to my card today, I want to say it is crazy that I have all these new stamps, but for today I turned to a repeated stamp favorite.  But it is for a very good reason!  You see, one of my favorite sketch challenges last year was Jen delMuro's Sketch For You To Try.  This year, she has a new format and is only having one sketch each month.  You can see the details here.  The big prize will go to the person that does all months.  So, I knew I wouldn't want to miss the first months sketch.  How hard can it be to once a month create a card with one of her great sketches?  As an added bonus, I guess each month, there will be a sponsor which will give a participant a chance to win something from them.  This month's sponsor is The Cat's Pajamas.  So, earlier in the month, my original idea was to take their bear, that I frequently used for different occasions last year, and make a card for New Year's, but now, since it's the middle of January, I decided to go with a Valentine's theme instead.  Yesterday, looking at blogs on my reader, I found an additional challenge from The Cat's Pajamas.  This one is a color challenge.  So, I am combining all the challenges into my one card today!  First, I will show you my card creation.  Following that, I will show you Jen's sketch, and The Cat's Pajamas colors for their challenge!  Enjoy!



Jen's sketch is a square but as you know I much prefer A-2 size cards so after seeing Jodi Collins card here, I knew I could change it to a size that would work better for me.  I have always stamped my bear in browns, but following the color challenge, I decided to make mine a black bear.   I did have to add the sentiment and the arrow from one of those Studio G dollar stamps to complete the card.  What do you think?   Do you like it?

Recipe:

Paper - Yellow and Red by My Minds Eye Love Me Do line, Red and White from Target $1 Pack, Yellow Dot from Bo Bunny, Cardstock White, Black, Red (Heart)
Stamps - The Cat's Pajamas Happy Camper set, Studio G
Ink - Versafine Black, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Tombow Red for Arrow
Tools - Sizzix Giant Scallops Die, Cuttlebug Tiny Hearts embossing folder, The Cat's Pajamas Flower Button Cut-Ups Die, Spellbinders Heart Nestibilities
Other - Linen Thread by The Cat's Pajamas, Red Rhinestones by Queen & Co.

Happy Stamping!
Tina

God Bless Texas!

Hello!  Coming up with Texas cards twice a month, I have just about used all the Texas stamps I own, so now I am borrowing stamps from friends!  So today's card, uses a couple of western medallion stamps I borrowed along with one I own of a Texas shaped stamp with the sentiment inside.  For the layout, I went through my saved card ideas from blogs.  My card is kinda different, but I like how it came out!  Here it is.  Enjoy!
  

What do you think?  At least making these Texas cards, I am doing more stamping ... yes, the background was made by me!  But, then I couldn't resist using the polka dot DP behind the Texas.  Do you like it?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  And be sure to check the other Texas Tues-Step blogs.  You can see the list on the right side of my blog.

Recipe:

Paper - Black & White dot by Bo Bunny, Cardstock White, Red, Black

Stamps - Deadbeat Designs
Ink - Versafine Black and Versafine Satin Red
Tools - Classic Circles, Lacey Circles Nestibilities
Other - Ribbon, Button, Linen Thread, Rhinestones by Queen & Co.

I should be back tomorrow or the next day with more for you!
Happy Stamping!
Tina 

With A Cherry On Top!

Hello! I have something new for you today. You see, on Saturday, I went to the second stamp convention and went straight to the Inky Antics booth, as they are one of my favorites!  I guess we at the local convention are guinna pigs for a new product that they will be introducing at the upcoming CHA, the big wholesale show!  And the little pig I am, jumped on it.  Their new product includes a honeycomb pop-up when you open the card!  So fun!  Let me show you my card and then I will give you more details and the how-to!  Enjoy!


The Front of My Card.



The Inside.  You see the Honeycomb Cupcake when the card is opened!

A Close-Up!

The Honeycomb!

The Stamp Set.

So, I wanted to show you all the parts, so you get an idea how it was done.  It was pretty darn easy.  The main trick to getting the honeycomb to work is in the last picture.  You have to stamp your image with the arrow in the same direction as is printed.  And then, you cut out the honeycomb piece with detailed scissors.  The last step is to glue (glue stick works well) the honeycomb piece into folded spine of the card.  One trick showed to us at the booth was to add a 1/16" fold line to your regular fold of the card.  That is so there is more room to house your honeycomb.   My tips would include to make sure when you cut out the image, cut on the inside of the black lines.  On the darker colors, like the brown, this probably would not matter, but on the pink, the outline showed and I had to try to pull it back after it was glued down to trim it.  My other tip would be to stamp and place all your inside elements before you add the honeycomb.  I didn't do this and it was difficult to work around the big cupcake.
   

There is only one 5 x 7 inch pad in the package, but I figured up that I could probably get 12 cupcake tops out of one package so that is not bad.  Each color package cost $5.95.  I got one pink one and one brown package.  But they also had packages in orange, green, yellow, and red.  And they had other stamps sets too.  I did get one other set - an elephant and the honeycomb stamp is to make a balloon!  Let's see if I can remember the ones I didn't get (And will probably wish I would have!)... they had a monkey set with stamps to make a brown and green tree, a bunny set with stamps to make a orange and green carrot,  a caterpillar set to make an apple, a frog set to make a mushroom, and maybe one more that I can't remember! 

Well, now that I have sold you on the sets, I am not sure where to tell you to go get them.  I bet they will be available on their website soon.  So, you could check there.  If I was still the LSS (local stamp store), I would have them in stock as soon as they were released, but I closed, so you, and I will have to find them somewhere else!



Just  a couple more details for you.  I love how the paper pad I used had a sheet with cherries  ... too perfect!  The brown shape on the front of the card is a new Spellbinders labels set I got last weekend.  The pink layer I created by tracing onto the pink around the labels die in pencil and then cutting out.  It is a way to mirror it exactly. And I paper pieced my little birds, just for fun!

Recipe:

Paper - My Minds Eye Fine & Dandy line 6 x 6 pad called Tickled Pink, Cardstock White, Brown, Pink, Inky Antics Honeycomb Pink and Brown
Stamps - Inky Antics Cupcake Birdy Honey Pop
Ink - Versafine Black, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol
Tools - Labels 16,  Classic Circle Nestibilities
Other - Ribbon by Creative Impressions, Pearls by Queen & Co.

Tomorrow is Texas Tues-Step. Stop back by to see another Texas card creation!

Happy Stamping!
Tina







Sloooowww to Say Thank You!

Hello!  I can see that I need to get back into my stamping rhythm where I have posts for you to see each morning.  But not today, as it is already the afternoon.  Next week I will try to do better.  So, let's get to today's card.  I have so many new stamps, papers, and supplies, I hardly know what to use first. (Plus, the second of two stamp conventions is tomorrow, so I am sure I will pick up a few more goodies, even though I pretty much spent my "allowance" last Saturday at the first convention!) I still have several stamps, and paper pads I purchased back before Christmas, that I have been dieing to use.  The holiday cards took precedent for way too long!  Let's get to today's card ... enjoy!  

Is this not one of the cutest turtles you have ever seen?  On the stamp, it says his name is Tyson the Turtle!  I got him at Stamp Salado back in October.  I can see his polka dots in all kinds of colors.  In this case, I went with the orange and yellow to match my papers.  I am using something new on this card and that is my new Lacey Circle dies from Spellbinders.  Love them!  One confession ... my sentiment ... is computer generated.  No stamp for this one.  I had to do it.  You see, my card is to be sent to a friend that I should have sent a thank you card to before now. 

Recipe:
Paper - My Minds Eye Fine & Dandy 6x6 paper pad, Cardstock White, Green, Yellow
Stamps - Cornish Heritage Farms -Tyson the Turtle
Ink - Versafine Black, Prismacolor Pencils, Gasmsol
Tools - Classic Circle, Lacey Circle Nestibilities, My Favorite Things Grass Die, Seeing Spots embossing folder
Other - Ribbon by Creative Impressions, Green Metallic Disks by unknown

That is it for me for the week.  I will be back on Monday or Tuesday with more card ideas.  

Happy Stamping!
Tina   

Happy Birthday To You!

Hello!  Sorry I skipped yesterday.  I love to go out to my little shack and stamp but the last few days with temperatures not getting out of the 20's to 30's, I just haven't stamped much.  I needed to get a card made for my hubby's son whose birthday is Sunday. And, I got it done ... yea!  Last week, I did the first week's of a monthly sketch for Verve over on Splitcoast Stampers.  For my birthday card for William, I decided to go with the sketch from the second week.  Funny thing though, I used the same stamp set I used on last week's sketch.  I probably should have used different stamps but when I looked at the sketch I just saw how those stamps would be perfect.  The first time I ever saw the Verve birthday set on one of the blogs, they used the same papers I used today.  When I found the paper line in a store, I got it and that was even before I ordered the stamp set.  This was my chance to use the paper with the stamps.  I love how it came out.  I will show you the card and then the sketch.  Enjoy!



Close Up of my Sparkler Bling



What do you think?  As you can see in my close up view of the cake, I went a little crazy with the sparkler sticker dots!  Love the bling!  Don't you love the paper pieced with the cake and the balloons?  I do want to add that I changed the sketch slightly by adding the corner punch on the right side on the smaller panel.  It was just that I thought it needed something there.  Please leave me a comment and let me know how you like my card.


Recipe:
Paper - Imaginisce B-day Bash Line - Hip Hip Hooray and Wish Big, Cardstock White, Brown
Stamps - Verve Birthday Bash
Ink - Versafine Black, Prismacolor Pencils
Tools - Classic Oval Nestibilities, EK Success Victorian corner punch
Other - Red Dot Sparklers from Stampendous, Stickles Glitter Glue, Ribbon by DeNami Designs

I will most likely have one more for you this week - look for it tomorrow!
Happy Stamping!
Tina
   

Hooo-Ray!

Hello!  Today's card is one I made for a stamping friend last week.  This again was a case where I wanted her to have it in hand before I posted it here.  I love how it came out.  Here it is ...enjoy!

 

Are these birthday owls not too cute?  I actually found this stamp at Michaels a couple of months ago but with all the holiday cardmaking, this was my first chance to ink it up!  I paper pieced the little present he is holding and the balloon.  Below is the inside of my card.  I have quite a few wood mounted stamps from Inky Antics with "owl" sentiments.  I often use them with other owl stamps from other companies like I did here. 

Recipe:

Paper - Fancy Pants Designs It's Your Day Line, Cardstock White, Red
Stamps - Owls by Stampendous, Sentiments by Inky Antics
Ink - Versafine Black, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol
Tools - Classic Scalloped Circle, Classic Circle Nestibilities, Polka Dots embossing folder
Other - Ribbon by May Arts, Pearls by Queen & Co.

Snow has melted, but it is still COLD.  I just went out to see who made the paper I used on this card and it was freezing in my shack.  My hubby's son's birthday is this weekend so I am sure that is the next card I will be showing you.  I just have to get me out there to make it!

Happy Stamping!
Tina