Digital Stamps... Gotta Love The Versatility!

 

So, I've ventured into the digital stamp arena this year and I have to say, I'm loving them!  It's been fun getting to know all the different ways they can be so versatile.  And these CDD images are so adorable... here I put the Little Lovelies Mouse With Cookies with the Coffee Couple .. just a trio of good friends, hanging out, drinking coffee and eating cookies.. what's not to love!  Because they are digital I was able to size them and then layer them before I printed.

 

After the coffee hop I had to get some more plaids ... this plaid paper is from Lawn Fawn... it's a whole pad of plaid papers... mmmmm... hey!  I needed them!

 

Those eyes... right?  And those cute coffee cup faces... and the glasses!!  You may or may not know... Coffee Couple is one of my favorites and I've used it quite a few times.. and I printed a few more in different sizes so you'll be seeing them again for sure.  They have lots of friends!

 

  Here's a printing tip I've found helpful... at first I thought.. print at the best quality, right?  Well... that's when I had some trouble with bleeding of the ink... so I switched back to just regular quality... the images look great and no bleeding.  I usually print ahead of time and let them sit for a little bit, but there have been times when I just sit down and start coloring and it's been ok..

 

I love to use my traditional stamps along with the digital for even more fun.  I used Home Sweet Home to stamp a bunch of these flowers to add as embellishments.  And those banners from the Party Dies... LOVE!

 

So cool how you can use the STITCHED cutouts from the banners as extra embellishments.  And the Sprinkles make awesome centers to flowers as well as so pretty just scattered around.

 

Here are links to all of the CDD products I've used

 

Little Lovelies Mouse With Cookies Digital Stamp http://craftindesertdivas.com/little-lovelies-mouse-with-cookies-digital-stamp/
Coffee Couple Digital Stamp http://craftindesertdivas.com/coffee-couple-digital-stamp/
Fancy Frames Dies http://craftindesertdivas.com/fancy-frame-dies/
Party Dies http://craftindesertdivas.com/party-dies/
Got Coffee Clear Stamps (Stains) http://craftindesertdivas.com/got-coffee/
Home Sweet Home Clear Stamps (Flowers) http://craftindesertdivas.com/home-sweet-home/
Bumblebee Sprinkles http://craftindesertdivas.com/supplies/sprinkles/

 

Be sure to stop on over at the Craftin Desert Divas this weekend!  There is a new release Blog Hop going on and there are some awesome new goodies available now in the store!  Check it out!  You don't want to miss it!

 

Thanks for stopping and come again soon!  Lots of stuff coming up this next week including Atlantic Hearts and the Paper Sweeties April Release Sneak Peaks!

A Color Dare and Less is More?

Normally I try to mash up my Color My Heart Color Dare and my Atlantic Hearts, but it just didn't work out that way.  I made those pretty flowers with the Ken Oliver powders over the weekend and right away I knew the tag element on this week's AHSC would work perfectly ... plus... I had other ideas for the color challenge.  I've been kind of preplanning for a week when my colors were limited..lol... a color challenge for me really is the most difficult but I love the challenge to push myself... or in this case hold myself back as it were.  That being said...I'd really appreciate a little gold thrown in some week, Marie Flayer :) ...lol!!  I'm also playing along with Aud Sentiments who is having a birthday celebration!  Happy Birthday Aud Sentiments!  Make a Wish!

 

It always surprises me when I have someone make a comment that is more of a criticism on one of my cards.  Not because I think everyone is going to like it... I just assume they'll pass on by if they don't.  But fairly recently I had a hopefully well meaning person tell me that I should Keep It Simple and Less is More.  Well, that's like telling the sun not to shine here in Arizona.  I mean.. I do try... I really do... but when I am in the middle of a make and I see a blank space my head says.. Oh!  That would look perfect there!  And I pause for a second, probably more like a fraction...lol, and then I go to town.  I love stuff.. Sparkly Stuff, Shiny Stuff, Pretty Stuff, Grungy Stuff... all kinds of stuff really... Upcycled Stuff! (Speaking of which, you can check out my project for this month's Lessology here which is both grungy and pretty and upcycley.. if you'd like... unless you don't like stuff ... then I suggest you don't go there)

 



 

So anyway, I'm not saying this so you'll say.. oh no... don't worry about those people... don't listen... because really... I don't care... I mean, my response to this person was, "I don't remember asking, but thanks for the bump.".. I feel a little bit of a harrumph and I go about my day.  I make what I love and it's ok if someone else doesn't love it too.  It really is.  I try to live by this motto creatively:

But I think it's important to remember that people are putting themselves out there every day and for some it's a big leap to do that.  So if you like it say so and if you don't.. well.. don't.  Just my two cents worth.

 

That being said.. I LOVE all kinds of different styles.  I really admire someone who can create a beautiful clean and simple card.  Some day I'll achieve it.. maybe... or maybe I should leave it to the professionals.  Hmmm... maybe that should be a personal challenge to myself...we'll see.

 

 

So basically on this card I used a lot of cuts from CTMH cartridges.. Artbooking for the lattice and the vines with the leaves with the cute little heart cutouts.  I think the fern like leaves are from Artistry... not sure because I have a file in my Design Space with a bunch so I can cut them quickly...but I know Artistry has this type of leaf.  The glittery flowers are from Artistry also.  The pretty frames are dies from Craftin Desert Divas and I actually had cut for a different project including the one distressed with green inks.  The little paper flowers were premade from a package and the gems inside the flowers I got at my LSS.  And one of my favorite little dies from Poppy Stamps for the crown (it's a set of two and I always cut both because I know I'll use it on a future project).

 

 

Thanks for stopping and come again... if you want... it's not an order.. just a suggestion.. and don't forget to check out all of the other awesome creations on both Color My Heart Color Dare and the Aud Sentiments blogs... really cool stuff!

 

Happy Birthday Aud Seniments!

Lessology Challenge #57: Snail Mail Revolution

 

Welcome to April's Lessology Challenge.  The challenge is to decorate an envelope.  I'd been thinking about it for a long time.  I think I mentioned I hoard cardboard... but I also hoard envelopes.  Especially padded ones that I think I might be able to re-use either to mail something or as packing inside one of the cardboard boxes I've stowed away.  This is what I started with (the front and back is inset-forgot to take a pic before I started... this is after I began painting it with black gesso):

 

 

IDK ... probably some kind of crafty thing I ordered came in it... the seal was ripped, and I had to tear the label off.  I had bought this cool tissue paper a while ago I think from the Funkie Junkie and knew I wanted to cover the envelope with it and in the beginning I was going to make it in a manner that I could actually mail something in it, but as is usually the case, I got carried away.

 

 

The tissue paper is old timey newspapery.  I chose the black paint instead the white for the base because I wanted it to be dark.  Then I used some of my favorite washi tape all around the edges... in some places for decoration and in others to fix imperfections from me ripping open the envelope to get out whatever wonderful goodies were contained within.  Then I added some white paint (well... I had to because I tried stenciling on a lace pattern and it looked like a blob so....) I added some white paint and then gold paint to lighten it up before I got out the sponge brush and glue again.. and do you see that beautiful napkin that I modge podged on after?  I received that in the mail from none other than Yvonne Yam a few months ago ... I thought it added just the right touch of feminine against the dark vintage mess.

 

 

I got out all of my wonderful postage stamp sets and was going to stamp and emboss the postage on it and then I came across another envelope .. this one I'd saved because it had an important return address on it...but it also had on it these beautiful postage stamps!  Yes!  Stamps... not metered stickers!  So I added them and the modge podge really wasn't working so I had to use some fabric washi tape to be sure it stayed put.  Then I did stamp a little postage marking and do you see who I see ever so lightly in gold embossing?  It's Sassy Owl... I just love her.. of course they made a postage stamp of her! 

 

In the area where you'd normally put the send to address, I decided a doily was in order and when trying to decide what to put there... perhaps the name and address of the person this is going to?  Nah!  That would spoil the surprise.. I thought of this great stamp set from the Cutting Café Shop and knew it was perfect!

 

 

Even the back did not escape my modge podgery!  I created a tie to hold it shut with a couple wood pieces I recently received as part of a prize package.  I knew the buttons needed something on them and then I thought again of those gorgeous napkins.. don't worry... I still have one left... that's for me!

 

Hope you can play along with us this month and I can't wait to see what you create!  Come back tomorrow for more DT awesomeness!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #154

 

Welcome to this week's Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and another wonderful sketch by Michelle!  This weekend my friend Yvonne came over.  It's been an incredibly stressful couple weeks at work and yesterday was just what I needed to unwind a bit.  I mean I've been rushing to get things done and it was nice to sit and chat with a friend and she was oh so gracious to show me some great new techniques she recently learned at a stamp show.

 

I must tell you that she's the one who has left me her Ken Oliver Color Burst powders for ... probably a couple months now.  She's been over a couple times and keeps leaving them with me.  Yesterday she showed me a new technique which made me realize... I need to get some for myself.

 

I have to admit, I've been frustrated with them because I have so little control over them and it's been hard to figure out what the right amount of powder is... well, that is not an issue any more.  She showed me how you can actually watercolor with them and brush right onto a stamp, spritz and them stamp and what a beautiful watercolor effect you get.  I tried first on the background piece and I think I used too much water (she says it works best with a waterbrush) so it was blotchy... so I tried a second time and loved the look.. although I didn't stamp it completely so I added a little extra with a brush  and then I decided to add some leaves as well.  Then I used a lot of water and very little color to add the light touches of watercolor around... you know how I am about white spaces...lol!  Very happy with how it came out.  Of course... couldn't just throw away my botched attempt so I added more ... lots more.. color to it and ended up with this gorgeous background.. with a little help from my Heidi Swapp gold color shine... I think next time I'll just buy a barrel of that stuff.

 

Used my CDD dies from Pocket Pieces Hello for the "Hello" and the scallop...  a little Paper Sweeties crinkly seam binding in purple and a few of their gold sequins... some purple bling from CTMH, leftover leaves from a previous project, and done!

 

So thanks, Yvonne for making me love the Color Bursts more and thanks for leaving them with me once again!...lol... 

 

Now get on over to Atlantic Hearts and make this the day you decide to join the fun!

CDD Linky Party Black and White with a Splash of Color-Week 2!

 

Welcome to this week's Crafting Desert Divas Linky Party! The theme for this Linky Party at Craftin Desert Divas is “Black and White with a Splash of Color”!  Please play along and create something that fits this week's theme and link up at the Craftin' Desert Diva’s Blog.

Every other Monday is the beginning of a new semi-weekly Linky Party over at the CDD blog. We hope you will share your projects with us! And there are prizes! Every Linky Party will have a winner and a Top 3!  The more times you link up…the more chances you have to win!

 

Here is my project for this week's party (links to the CDD products I've used are at the bottom of the post):

 

 

I just love the look of blacks and greys as a backdrop for some shot of beautiful bright color!  I knew I wanted to use this Rainy Day Girl digital stamp with some kind of dark rainy day background and my first thought was my watercolors but I just couldn't get a good background that didn't look plain old muddy!

 

And one night in my thinking place (aka my bed in the middle of the night) it came to me!  I could use some great patterned paper and my awesome CDD dies to create the effect of a "gloomy" background.

 

I printed the digital stamp out on white paper and then again on two different design papers.  I cut out the white image and colored in every other panel of the umbrella and the little girl's leggings.  Then I cut out the pieces I wanted to use from the design paper.  And really, I printed two on white in the beginning thinking I was going to do something else so now I have enough leftovers to create another one, alike yet different!  I used my cricut to cut out some raindrops and a puddle.

 

I found this old sentiment in my stash and added a few flowers and some very awesome Doodlebug Sprinkles, a little baker's twine and done!  I love the way it turned out!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to check out all of the other Design Team creations and take some time to play along!  You could win some really great stuff!

 

 

The CDD Products I used are:

Rainy Day Girl Digital Stamp http://craftindesertdivas.com/rainy-day-girl-digital-stamp/
Fancy Frames Dies http://craftindesertdivas.com/fancy-frame-dies/
The Sky Is The Limit Dies http://craftindesertdivas.com/the-sky-is-the-limit-dies/
Doodlebug Bumblebee Sprinkles http://craftindesertdivas.com/bumblebee-sprinkles-self-adhesive-glitter-enamel-embellishments/

 

I'm also linking up to the Inkspirational Photo Challenge and the Just Us Girls Challenge Raindrops

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cutting Cafe Assorted Folded Cards

 

This week over at the Cutting Café we're featuring the Assorted Fold Cards and Assorted Fold Cards Set 2 .  I used the Circle Window Card from Set 2.  This was so much fun.

 

I decorated the first card using the 6x6 Authentique Springtime Collection paper pad that I got over at The Cutting Café Shop and the digital stamp set One Spring Day from The Cutting Café.  Before I put the printed paper layer on the card I cut two ovals a little larger than the window out of the clear cardstock that Regina sells in the Cutting Café Shop.  Glued one window on the top of the base piece window, placed some oh so cute paper confetti hearts on top of the clear oval.. then when I had them where I wanted them glued the second clear oval on top of that and then added the layer of printed paper.  So a "shaker" of sorts... but they don't move much and they must be flat... so Regina's paper confetti pieces are perfect!

 

 

I just love this digital stamp set collection... aren't these chicks adorable?!  You have to check this set out.. it comes with so many different images and sentiments and it's only $7.99.

 

 

The cattail spray with the ribbon is from One Spring Day also.  Happy Spring is from the clear stamp set Wheelbarrow Deliveries.

 

For this one I used my Doodlebug Spring Garden 6x6 paper pad also available in The Cutting Café Shop.  The flowers are from the One Spring Day digital stamp set.  I used my embossing pen to cover some of the center pieces and then embossed with gold.

 

I'm sure you remember Sassy Owl from the clear stamp set From Owl of Us.  And in between the two clear cardstock ovals for this one I used some flat sequins I got from Neat & Tangled.

 

And the mushroom and bee are from Animal And Bug Love.

 

Much fun!!  Checkout the Cutting Café Blog for other great examples using these card fold sets!  And check out these great Card Fold cards too!

 

Rhonda http://bumblcreate.blogspot.com/2016/04/a-super-cute-card.html

Three Amigos Blog Hop April 2016!

 

Welcome to Three Amigo April 2016 Edition!... We are three friends and Close to My Heart Consultants who challenge each other each month to create something with CTMH products.  Each month is a different challenge and 2016 is all about Three!  When you're done here be sure to check out what Donna and Susan have created!

 

This month we are using three tools on our projects.  My first tool was my Big Shot... I used it to emboss the pink background piece with some wood grain and then I used it to cut out a couple dies... the yellow background piece and the cloud.

My second tool was my Cricut to cut most of the circles and then I used a circle punch to cut out the sentiment piece after I heat embossed it in white.

 

This was a quick and easy card I mostly made while on the phone with my son last night.  It's all Penelope paper, PML cards and Complements.  The little pink gems are very old CTMH stash... can't figure out how I still have some left!...lol!

 

I'm also playing along with the Aud Sentiments 6th Birthday Celebration Challenge and the Between The Folds Weekly Challenge to Use CTMH Embellishments.  Check them out and play along!

 

Thanks for stopping and be sure to come back later for some more crafty goodness... I've got some cute window cards to show you a little later!  It's gonna be a BZ week here!