Monday, January 26, 2009

Another Valentine & A Row House

11:43 PM
As you can tell, I'm still fixated on Valentine Cards. I did another Valentine in reds. I used the Hero Arts birds becasue they are so dang cute. I submitted it to the Hero Arts Blog weekly challenge. It was lots of fun to create, but it didn't photograph too well. It's an acetate card & had a glare no matter what we tried.
I first stamped the Posh Impressions background stamp onto the acetate card with Cherry Red Staz-On ink. I stamped the birds from Hero Arts onto watercolor paper with Onyx Black Versafine Ink. I colored the birds with red & pink twinkling H2O's with a water brush. Once they were dry, I cut them out with detail scissors. I used my Oval Nestabilities to cut the top layers and the Long Rectangle Nestabilities to cust the bottom layers. I used my Cuttlebug machine. The pink layers were aged with the Staz-On inkpad. I stamped the top layers with a Hero Arts texture stamp and the Greeting is also from Hero Arts. I attached the birds with foam tape. The tiny Hearts are from K & Company & I found them at Wal-Mart for $1.50. That was for an entire sheet. The Nestability shapes are mirrored throughout the card so the received can't see the adhesive. So, there are four ovals on the cards & four rectangles throughout the card.


I also started a valentine mailbox. These little mailboxes are a really great way to give gifts. I've seen all kinds of them on blogs. They make grat goodie "bags" and a great way to deliver sweets or cookies. My oldest son just wants to make one with me to hold his skateboarding stickers! LOL! He selected a silver mailbox for his project. I'm sure I'll add it to this blog. The mailboxes were $1 in the Target dollar spot. I got some in red, white & silver. There are also some metallic pink ones out there.
The mailbox was pretty easy to cover. I took a piece of computer paper and cut it to fit between the edges of the mailbox. When I wrapped it around the mailbox the screw from the flag made an imprint onto the paper with a light rubbing of my fingers. I punched a standard size hole where the screw was and cut a small slit from the hole to the short side of the paper. I attached double stick adhesive around the mailbox and wiggled the paper into place around the flag hole. I pulled the release paper off of the adhesive once the paper was in place. I cut templates of the ends. The paper is a decorative paper from Sandy Lions. I got it years ago and have been holding onto it for the perfect project. I stamped the hearts (Inkadinkado-Clear $1 stamps from JoAnns) all over the decorative paper with Pearlescent Crimson Brilliance ink before I attached it to the mailbox. I attached ribbon to the side of the mailbox ends with double stick tape. The ribbon is tan & I ran my Brilliance inkpad over it for color. I plan to add more to it, but I son't have an exact plan yet. I know I'll do something to the flag. I will post it next week when I finish it.


Now for the Row Houses. These little works of art are tons of fun. I found out about them on a Club Posh Challenge. They're a really simple idea that has endless possibilities. You make them to add them to cards or other pieces of art. They're about the size of a trading card with a peak for the roof. You're supposed to name you row houses when they are completed. Mine is called
"House of Purple". I know, not very origional, but I couldn't come up with a better name becasue I'm not sure what the flower it is. I thought maybe a Dogwood, but I have no real idea. The stamps are from Posh Impressions, Stamp Cabana & The Artful Stamper. I'll plan to tell you all how the background was made in the future. It's basically a collage.
Until next time, JIL

Monday, January 19, 2009

I'm Back

4:39 AM
I know, it's been months since I posted, but I hope to change that. I plan to post cards with recipes and an occasional tutorial. I started a new job is August & have been on the fast track ever since. It's been a bit of an adjustment for me, but I am finally ready to blog again. I only find time to stamp on my work weekends, Sunday & Monday so don't expect too much from me. Here is one of my Valentines day cards. I plan to make at least one other design & maybe even two, but here are my first cards.


The House Mouse image was stamper with Versafine Onyx Blace ink & then colored with Copic Markers. The circles are the Nestabilities, Small Circles and Large Petite Scalloped Circles (confusing huh? The Large refers to the set of circles and petite is referring to the size of the scallop.) The pink paper was embossed with the Argyle Cuttlebug Folder. I used the large scaloped rectangles under that. I punched the corners of the brown layer with the ticket punch from Stampin Up. Those are dew drops in the corners. I use pearl dew drops and put a drop of Tim Holtz alcohol ink on each dew drop to make a custom color. I edged my layers with a Silver Pilot Paint Pen. The white dots on the scallops are a Signo pen. Many of the layers were accented in brown with the Chocolate brown Brilliance Inkpad.


Now, for another variation. I used many of the same elements. I changed up the colors and a few elements to make a card for the Club Posh Challenge. It's a great challenge to make a valentines card with a heart on it, but you can't use any shade of red! So I did up this card. I added in the Posh Impressions background.

Hope you enjoyed the two variations of this Valentine's Day card. I'll post again soon. JIL