"favorite technique" challenge

these two cards are for southernbreezes "fav technique" challenge.

iris folding began across the pond using tea bag wrappers i think. the term iris refers to the center of the project that looks like the iris in your eye or the lens of a camera. it looks complicated but actually is quite simple. lots of bang for the effort !

in these two cards, i used wrapping paper and of course, the baby embossing folder from Cuttlebug.....love that little bug !

if you want great info, instructions and free patterns for iris folding....visit www.circleofcrafters.com....look for iris folding.

pet loss

a sad card for sure.....it is hard to lose a loved pet....

hard to see but the saying is
"Faithful friends always leave paw prints on your heart" .... so true

vellum + faux silk

this tiny bit of vellum (the top wings on the butterfly) enhances the faux silk technique of the background. faux silk is made by stamping on tissue paper, scrunching the tissue paper up, flattening it out (somewhat)and adhering to the card front. i inked over it to bring out the crease details.....

the vellum in the flutterby makes it a vellum challenge card (southernbreezes.com)

springy iris

dark purple paper is from papertrey ink....love those mini dots. the stamped iris is popped up on one of the flowers and colored with copic markers. i used crystal effects on both flowers for some dimension and shine. the backing CS is cut with scalloped rectangle nestabilites and run through the CB embossing folder....swiss dots.

i hope the dark color is still springy ! i am so ready for spring !!

hedgehog birthday

this is a penny black stamp.....ooooh, those little guys are cute as can be. stamped image with memento dark gray ink and colored with copics and added a bit of bling to the balloons with diamond dust. next time i will pop-dot the balloons to give it more zing.

zing and bling....a good thing

vellum challenge

it seems i must run vellum thru the CB, for this one i used the spots and dots folder......

this was a fun challenge (from www.southernbreezes.com)....made myself not do a feminine card....and that's another challenge for me

butterflies in flight

for this background i ran the DP through the stylized flowers CB embossing folder. the butterflies are made using gold peel off butterflies, stuck on velum and then colored with gel pens and cut out. i used a pop dot to give dimension and make them seem a bit more like they are in flight . gold embossed flouishes gave the flutterbys direction !!

upcoming cruise

we are celebrating 41 years of marriage....and will do that in style by cruising from Seattle to Alaska on the Holland America ship.....Zaandam....we arrive in Seattle on May 14th and set sail for Alaska on May 15, 2009.

hence the countdown clock .....pretty cool

simple gold embossing

this card is so easy to make....grasses stamped with versa mark and embossed with gold. the dots on each stem are made using gold squiggle paint. the glitzy background paper jazzes it up some i think.

easter container...challenge from southernbreezes.com

this week's challenge: make an easter container.
with a "safe cut" can opener i cut the bottom off a small can that has a pop top lid. emptied the contents and after washing and drying it and saving the bottom i ran pink CS through the CB with the stylized flower embossing folder. inked the raised parts in pink. the darker pink oval was made using my oval nestability die and sets off the bunny....she is made various two different sized ovals..... to finish it off.... all you have to do is fill the decorated can with candy, jelly beans....whatever....being sure to place something with your name on it inside the can. then use a strong adhesive....i use crystal effects... to put the bottom back on. the pink bow on top is looped through the pop top. this makes a unique gift for any occasion....a nifty surprise for the recipient. most are amazed..."how did you get that inside?" my DD put hockey tix inside one for a christmas gift for her honey.....

you can use any sized can that has a pop top lid. just be sure to use the safe opener so there are NO sharp edges.

paper piecing challenge

i made another paper pieced, faux quilt card. for this one i cut 1.5 in squares and placed them on a 4x5 piece of card stock. adhered the squares and then used my label #1 nestability die and cut.....a bit of ribbon, some diamond dust on the sentiment and quilt edges.....easy as pie.

papers were scraps....the solid lavender was run thru my CB with the swiss dot embossing folder for added dimension.....background on outside and inside run thru the stylized flower CB folder.... this time i included the inside of the card....i usually try to make the inside interesting as well. makes for a thick piece of mail though !!