Thursday, February 26, 2009

So close!

Spellbinders announced their Design Team today! Check the story here.

I didn't quite make the Design Team. I was chosen as first alternate! If one of the other Design Team members can't fulfill the year, I'm the back up person. So very close!

Yes, I'm disappointed. I was really bummed last night. I had my hopes up pretty high. Today, I'm ready to be proud of where I finished. I'm very honored to be chosen First Alternate!

I've also been offered an opportunity to be involved with Spellbinders in a different way. I'm excited about it but can't tell you more just yet. I don't even know the details.

Thank you to everyone for your support! I truly appreciate it! Every comment and word of encouragement means the world to me.....smiles to you all! You're the BEST!

-judy

Monday, February 23, 2009

A Scrapbook Page!

Tonight I'm posting a scrapbook page. A scrapbook page????
All my friends know I don't scrapbook!
Well, one of the requirements for the Spellbinders Design Team application was a 12 x 12 layout. So........I created a page. Once I got started, I enjoyed it!

I chose a favorite photo.......
my little princess......which made it so much easier.
I'm really happy with how it turned out. I may even try a few more pages. Maybe a page or two for each grandchild......good idea. I have a feeling that's all it will be for awhile.
Yesterday, I submitted my final card design for the Spellbinders contest. Now, I wait. Wednesday, Stacy, co-owner of Spellbinders, will call the new Design Team members. Do you think I'll be nervous that day?!!! I'll probably jump every time the phone rings at work. I know for sure I'll have a lot of nervous energy! I promise to keep you posted whatever the outcome.
Keep stamping.....or even make a scrapbook page!
-judy

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Just For You

Hello everyone!


This week, I'm working on my final submission for the Spellbinders Design Team. It's due on Sunday evening at 11:59 p.m. The requirements are to make one card along with instructions & a supply list. Just one photo, one card......so it's got to be good!


I have the card done......well, maybe a little tweaking left. I'm working on the directions. I think I'll wait until Saturday to photograph it so I can have good natural daylight. I plan to submit it Saturday evening or Sunday morning.


In the meantime......since I haven't created anything new to post....here's a card that I submitted with my original application.


I used Spellbinders dies for the dotted mat with cut-out as well as the bird & various leaves. The heart was cut with 2 QuicKutz dies. The red branches, flowers & birds are from a Hero Arts Poinsettia background stamp. In fact, the dotted and swirl papers are holiday designs from Cloud9. The little verse is from CHF Essential Expressions.

Enjoy!
Happiness is stamping!
-judy

Monday, February 16, 2009

Love

I know, I know........Valentines' Day is over. I just didn't get a chance to photograph & post this on Saturday.



I made this card for my husband. He made my day when he noticed all the details & appreciated the design.
I painted the Grungeboard letters with gold Crackle paint from Ranger. The heart is cut from red craft metal with a Spellbinders die . I used 2 different QK embossing plates to add the pattern. The metal takes the pattern so well....one of my favorite things to do! I applied black acrylic paint over the heart & buffed some if off. I also rubbed some of the red finish off to expose the aluminum color. I stamped script in gold across the black mat. The background paper is from Cosmo Cricket with some Distress Black Soot added around the edges. Once I had the letters mounted on the heart, it didn't seem quite finished so I added 3 narrow ribbons at each end to set it off.
Keep creating!
-judy

-judy

Sunday, February 15, 2009

A Birthday Coupon


Here's a fun birthday card using all Hero Arts stamps.


I started with the coupon stamped on craft paper & colored with Copic markers. I added the little "happy birthday" in order to pull in more color.
The printed paper was actually stamped repeatedly in brown ink with a "happy" definition stamp. I added some flourishes in a pale aqua & underlined the word "happy". The scrolly background was made with a Cuttlebug embossing folder using Core'dinations paper and sanded to reveal the under color. Several flowers from Hero Arts, dotted ribbon, a button and some pearls finish it off.

Hope you're inspired to create!
judy

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day!

Some cute little Valentines for my grandsons.....







Both little dogs are Penny Black images from different clear sets colored with Copic markers. I found the "XOXO"s on a little Hero Arts set. The "love you" is from Technique Tuesday. I cut the big red hearts & the tiny pink hearts with Spellbinders Nestabilities as well as the scalloped card. Fun to make!





















For my little princess....





....paper & accessories from Imaginisce. The little chipboard paper dolls stickers are soo cute!













Thursday, February 12, 2009

Valentine Greetings

A few of the Valentine's cards I made for my family.......




....created with Wendy Vechi's Studio 490 "Art from the Heart" stamp set. I used different Cosmo Cricket papers & changed the layout a little.

Sending Love,
-judy

Monday, February 9, 2009

Spellbinders Final 24

Today, I received an email from Spellbinders telling me that I made the Final 24 in their Design Team Contest! I can hardly believe it! I'm so excited!

I sent my application & projects on February 1st. The requirements were: a stamped project, an altered project, a card, and a 12 x 12 layout. Those of who know me, can you believe I did a scrapbook layout? It was a challenge, that's for sure. I was pleased with how it turned out. I'll post it once the contest is over.

In order to make the 2009 Design Team, each of the Final 24 will choose to design a card or layout using a die that Spellbinders sends to us. I plan to make a card..... that's pretty obvious, huh? I have to complete the project and email a photo by February 20th. The Design Team will be announced on February 25th.

If you'd like to see the annoucement on the Spellbinders blog, click here. There's a list of all the 24 finalists.

Smiles....
-judy

A Bright Good Morning!

For a challenge this weekend, I tried this sketch from the Card Positioning Sytems Blog. I usually work totally from my own ideas so this made me try something different.

I started with some new papers from Imaginisce. I love the shiny bright red polka dot! Then I went looking for a verse to put in the center. A new set from Technique Tuesday came to mind....wonderful verses. I used a few Spellbinders dies and a Martha Stewart punch. Bright and Cheery!
Have a bright shiny day!
-judy

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Einstein and Family

Einstein and family........now that's a combination!

Today, I added these 2 cards to the Artistic Outpost blog....

Not Everything Counts is created from the Geek Is Chic stamp set.
Since I really like the Einstein postage image, I started with it using StazOn on glossy paper. I added color simply by picking up Adirondack Denim, Stream or Oregano ink on my finger and rubbing it on the image, then buffing to bring back the paper shine.
It's really hard to see it but the background is the numbers stamp with scattered ruler & compass images added. The verse is stamped in Black Versafine & embossed with clear to make it stand out. The embossing also protects the verse when I add inks to the background. I added white accents with the Ranger Inkessentials white gel pen. Do this step last otherwise the white ink smears. The ribbon was black & cream.......it didn't really fit with the card colors but I liked the style so I colored it with Copic markers. It's amazing how well they color ribbon!
Familias was designed using stamps from Distant Generations.
I started with the frame on this card. I had this frame already cut.....it started as white with orange ink rubbed over the embossed areas. Sure doesn't look like that now, does it? I rubbed various Distress inks into it until I liked the look. There's even a little bit of gold ink over the embossed parts. The "photo" is stamped on glossy white paper with black StazOn. The image didn't stamp perfectly but I decided it fit with the vintage look I wanted. I rubbed Antique Linen & Vintage Photo over it. The frame seemed to need a bit more dimension so I added the black glossy frame. The scrolly design (same stamp set) is stamped with Memento brown ink on paper by Imaginisce that has a faint script pattern. The other paper is by Graphic 45. I used Distress inks on both papers after I put them together. I colored the ribbon with brown Copic markers. "Familias" is stamped with black & embossed with clear. Then I cut it out with a Spellbinders ribbon slide. I trimmed off the ribbon loops and distressed it. I added a black edge with a marker and distressed it more. Then I embossed it completely with clear powder. Because the Distress inks stay moist a long time, the clear powder stuck easily.
Until next time....make time to create! It nourishes the spirit.
-judy

Friday, February 6, 2009

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday, Jennifer!
Sending you wishes for a happy day celebrating YOU!
I used various Spellbinders dies for the bird, leaves, frame & circle to create this card for my daughter. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the tiny branches. The paper is an older design from Imaginisce except for the bird. That paper is from the Christmas Joy collection from Cloud9.
Have a super day!
-judy
-judy

Thursday, February 5, 2009

With Age

This verse seems appropriate for a birthday card.......

It's new from Penny Black. I really like it! It seems to fit me! They have several new verses for birthdays in their 2009 catalog. You can see the complete everyday catalog on the Penny Black website.
I added sparkle with Spica markers to the leaves. I also sprayed the whole card front with Irridescent Gold Glimmer Mist......it doesn't show well in the photo. The paper flowers and pearls are from Hero Arts.
Find time to create!
-judy

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Tim Holtz at CHA

Back from CHA......

I have a tag to share that I made at a Make & Take in the Avantus booth. Advantus distributes Tim's Idealogy line of fun stuff. The metal flower is one of the new releases. The tag itself is made of grungeboard but the strap is made from grungepaper......new at CHA. It's much thinner than the original grungeboard. It should be thin enough to cut with Spellbinders or QuicKutz dies.
The "J" is from one of Tim's new cling stamp sets. The design under the J was created with a new mask. The color on the tag was done with a paint dabber over the mask. Then Distress Brushed Corduroy was rubbed into the area after the mask was removed.




Tim taught this Make & Take at the Ranger booth one afternoon while I was there. I waited about 40 minutes to get my turn. Here's a few candid shots I took while in line.......




...a bit out of focus but this photo shows Tim with the pin in his hand


....patience as everyone works on their pins


.....a bit of emotion



......a point made



.....my finished pin

The pin is created with one of Ranger's 2x2 Memory frames with glass in the back. The front domed cover is a new product.......an acrylic topper that leaves space for dimensional items. I certainly thought it was worth the wait.....what do you think?

-judy