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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mercart Metal Embossing Class

Today, I helped with a class at CHA! In perspective, I was just a small part but it was certainly exciting for me.

Magdalena, from Mercart, taught the class called Everyday Embossing.

Each student made a pewter medallion using metal embossing tools on pewter. The best part was that I learned, too. I basically moved around the room to help anyone with questions. It was so gratifying to see the excitement of all the students. It's pretty amazing to see a piece of flat metal transformed into a dimensional design.

I'm inspired to get back to metal embossing!

Today, I can say.....

........from sunny California!

-judy