Easy Elegance Challenge

Here's another card that I made for SCS Dirty Dare '07. The challenge was to make an Elegant card and in the description of the card explain what it is about the card that makes it elegant.


This is the card I created:

Supplies: Cardstock: Sahara sand card base,
Georgia Pacific White cardstock, Almost Amethyst and Lovely Lilac; Stamps: Victorian Pattern backgrounder and Blooming Violas
(Asela Hopkins Design) by Cornish Heritage Farm - both unmounted; Ink: Sahara sand, Brilliance Graphite Black; Accessories: White grosgrain ribbon, Almost
Amethyst, Certainly Celery and YoYo Yellow SU markers, Gamsol, blending
stump, and colored pencils

So, why do I think this is elegant? The central image is the star attraction. There aren't a ton of accessories cluttering the image. It's just the flowers, their color, and the pop of the muted purples against a simple background that makes it elegant... to me.

There were plenty of other definitions to elegant, ranging from tone on tone or monochromatic to embellished with old world charm. I don't think any one definition is right or wrong... and that's what makes creating / stamping so much fun. It's open to interpretation. A blank page, an uninked stamp... the possibilities are endless!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

Dishin' the Dirt

Beginning last Wednesday, Splitcoaststampers has been hosting a series of challenges (design, sketch, technique, color, etc.). More specifically, it's being driven by past and present Design Team members (also known as the Dirty Girls) for the fan club members.

I've been stamping my little heart out and havin' a ball - attempting to play in the dirt pile!!!

As a result, I've been updating my SCS gallery like crazy lately. I'll be posting a new one each time I blog.

The first card I'm posting here was for a sketch challenge. I love to follow sketches. They are the building block for good design. I try to create a sketch for each of the classes I hold and show how easy and versatile they are to create and personalize. Of all the cards I've done for the Challenges... this is my favorite...

The card base is Night of Navy (stamped with the Weathered Background) with a panel of Brocade Blue, Going Gray, Basic black and white (I used Georgia Pacific White cardstock from Walmart... it is a fabulous cardstock with "tooth" and body / weight).

I stamped the Brocade Blue panel with Baroque Motifs swirl (brocade and whisper white). I added the flowers with Night of Navy kissed off first. The Grey panel has French Script background. The edges are distressed.

The main image was embossed with silver detail powder. The center flower was made using the Faux Metal technique, punched into a tag (3/4" circle), stitched on the center of the swirl with dark gray embroidery floss, and a black crystal glued to it. I used my scraps from the Faux metal piece to punch small circles for "faux brads" and glued them onto the panels. The small silver square was a Making Memories tin tile and is stitched to the cardstock with gray embroidery floss.

Tip: I glued the tin square to the cardstock and used my needle to
create "pilot" holes before attempting to stitch. This ensured that the
square would be exactly where I wanted it to be and I wouldn't damage the
cardstock, trying to hand-stitch blindly on paper.

There are tons of details to the card, but I really loved every thing about it. I rarely say that about a card I make.

Thanks for looking!

Lisa

p.s. This is slightly related... so I'll just add this here as a sidenote. I've had a couple of SCS top stampers either comment on a card of mine or post here on my blog. I can't even begin to tell you how exciting that is for me. Perhaps it's the validation... or maybe it's because they are celebrities in their own right... whatever it is, it's been great and I'm humbled!

Bright Tri-fold card

I'm finally getting back into the swing of things. I stamped most of the day on Sunday to get ready for a class I have on Friday evening.

But, I'd promised myself that I'd work on something I wanted to do.

This card is really bright, contrary to the shadows in the picture. I was having trouble getting a good picture for some reason. I bet my camera needs charging...

The card base started with a 6" x 12" piece of Rose Red cardstock, scored at 4" and 8" - essentially in thirds. I trimmed 2.5" off the front fold, so the middle flap could be seen from the front. I stamped the front with a Crosshatch background and the sentiment "Warm Wishes".

The central image is GinaK's Daffodil design, embossed with detail black embossing powder. I used Copic markers to color the design (Baby blue and Buttercup yellow)... I should add here that I don't have a vast supply of Copic colors, so I'm using what I have to determine my color combos. LOL! I punched the image out, pierced each scallop, and adhered to a larger oval of Wild Wasabi green (cut out using my coluzzle). The ribbon is attached to the oval with a large staple bar and it's all popped up on the card base with dimensional tape.

The middle flap has a section of Basic Grey Romani striped paper on it. I used my scallop deckle scissors to edge the designer paper. Using my slot punch, I cut a notch on the DS panel to leave an opening for the Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon.

I decided to send this to my mom's cousin, Lori, who was injured in a serious car accident over a year ago and has experienced a set-back with her health. I hope this brightens her day!

Thanks for sticking with me! I promise to have more soon!

Lisa

Nominated Blog!!!

How cool is this???? I was tagged twice by very talented ladies as a Rockin' Girl Blogger!



The first hit was from Donna B. Her blog, Serenity in Stamping, is a great site. I'm a frequent reader.

Then, LouiseG / Kard Krazy nominated me as well! If you haven't browsed through this blog, you must. Kard Krazy has amazing inspiration. The published list is absolutely stunning! I can only hope to be as successful!

So... I'm off to tag a few of my favorite blogs for their talented contributions to Blogging Excellence! I've listed five of my favorites:

Hop Art Studio

Inkfully Yours

The Willow Garden

Serving the King

Simple Dreams

I think a few of these talented ladies have already been tagged... so you know they're the top of their game!

Thanks,

Lisa

p.s. I'll actually have a card to post soon. I had a few minutes to play with a small set of Copic markers I bought. I LOVE them!

I'm home!!

And tagged! AJ tagged me and asked that I list seven interesting (and random) things about myself:

1. My first car was a Yugo. Other than being small, it was a good car.

2. My poor little Yugo was crushed in a head-on collision - not my fault. I'm lucky enough to have walked away from it.

3. I wore braces for 4 years. I was a terrible patient and refused to wear the head-gear. It was just too dorky. Sporting a grill for 4 years did finally get me to wear the rubberbands.

4. If tennis shoes could be worn 24/7, I would be the person to try it. I don't like to wear dress shoes for work. And I don't consider those cheap rubber flip-flops as a real footwear option. Not in my house, anyway.

5. I had LASIK surgery about 1.5 years ago and loved the results! I'm now 20/15.

6. My favorite vacation was a cruise, my husband and I took about 6 years ago.

7. I'm certified by PADI for open-water scuba diving... and loved it! There is an amazing feeling of flying, while underwater. It's liberating and exhilarating. My Dad and I were partners. To this day, I can't read a compass.

I'll have to get back to everyone with players. It's getting tough to find anyone that hasn't been recently listing goodies about themselves.

Thanks, AJ! This was fun!

Lisa

Rubber Stamping Fun Review set...

The review set from Rubber Stamping Fun is in the house! Yeah!!! I was on vacation all week and knew it would be here when I returned. I tore into the stack of mail, tossing bills (not too unusual for me) out of the way.

The set is five stamps, including:

1. Background stamp (1.5" x 1.5") of dots and flowers

2. Blossom and Branch (4.5" x 1.5")

3. Queen Anne's lace type of flower (I'm not 100% sure since I'm not that great at flower identification).

4. Sentiment: "Wish not so much to live long as to live well."

5. Sentiment: "Life's greatest happiness is to know we are loved!"

All that said, it's a beautiful set and I plan on using this a ton! I love that RSF mounts the sets (a huge time saver) and ships for free in the US.

My first card is a side-pocket card, made on a base of Bravo Burgundy cardstock, stamped with the background flowers/dots stamp. The flower branch was stamped with Palette Noir Hybrid ink and watercolored. The main image was then stamped with a fabric / canvas background with a khaki green (stamped off first) and the corners were rounded. The edges were also distressed and inked.

The sentiment was tied into the design by rounding the edges. A semi-circle notch was punched out of the sentiment "tag" to allow for the knot of the moss grosgrain ribbon to fit on the side of the card.

The card is a side-pocket, so the insert of the card has rounded edges and burgundy background flowers stamped across the left side.

My second card is decidedly masculine... and I LOVE it. In a mostly floral set, I'm convinced a man wouldn't mind receiving the card... and not just because I did it in manly colors.

The card base is Black with a spine scored at approximately 0.5". I added white eyelets and linen thread "stitched" through them to add texture.

The central image is layered, with the base of Kraft cardstock, stamped with the lacy flower in White pigment ink in a random patter. The vellum was stamped with a single flower and embossed in black. The spine design element was mimicked in the central image with a scored line. Black brads (by 7gypsies) adheres the vellum layer to the center. The vellum was torn at the base of the cardstock. This is matted on Real Red, that has been pierced along the bottom.

This image shows (hopefully better than I've described) the spine of the card. To offset the black interior, I added a Page of Kraft cardstock that was stamped with white pigment ink and the background flowers.

I really love this set. The set isn't on the RSF website, because it's new and yet to be released. I'll update my blog with a new entry when the set is available for purchase. Isn't it beautiful?

Thanks for checking in with me. I won't be posting for another week, since I have to travel for work next week. Let me know what you think of this set or the projects here. I'd love to know if this is something you'd buy for yourself.

Talk to you soon,

Lisa

Tagged...

I thought I'd post this quick entry because I've been tagged. Wanda at ucanstampit sent me a message that she tagged me... check out her blog. She has several great projects on-line.

Seven Random things about me:

1. My eyes are blue and I have naturally curly hair (which isn't that evident in my photo, but I have plans to change that soon... the photo, not my hair - nothing I can do about that).

2. I want most to be published and on Design teams. I'm working really hard at this, but I'm convinced that someone has to give you a chance too...

3. I'm a classic overachiever (see #2).

4. I love the ocean and the beach. I'd rather be at the beach than anywhere in the world (so says the girl in the middle of the US).

5. I am chemist turned project manager.

6. I love to read.

7. I cry for the sappiest reasons (movies, TV commercials, ANYTHING).


Thanks, Wanda, for the hit! This was fun! I challenge anyone that hasn't been tagged lately, to list off seven random things and link back here. I'd love to learn more about folks reading entries.

This is all from me for awhile. I will have access to email if anyone has questions.

I hope anyone that browses this way will stay tuned... I have some great projects coming up in the coming month. One of which is with Rubber Stamping Fun. I was selected to be on their Review panel for new stamp sets. If you haven't checked out their site (the link is active on their name above), you should. They have a great selection of stamps with more to come. And they offer free shipping on purchases. I think this is the ultimate in customer centricity!

Thanks again and be back soon!
Lisa

Stitched Petals

Hi! This will be my last card post for awhile. My family and I are making our annual trek south to Florida tomorrow! I'm really excited about it. The packing process is exhausting though. Usually, I don't mind... and look forward to the weeks of planning and anticipation. This year, I just want to be there. I guess it doesn't help that I have to travel to Europe for work the week I return. I'm tired thinking of it.



But, I made a couple of cards when I should have been packing yesterday. This card was really fun, using the new Pick A Petal stamp set by SU. I used the new Groovy Guava (In Color '08) as the card base, Blush Blossom for the center matte (with Canvas BG stamped on it). I used the Groovy Guava and Really Rust for the petals. I faux stitched the edge and marked with a chocolate chip marker. The stem is faux stitched with always artichoke and a mellow moss ribbon knot for the leaves.

It's a relatively simple card, but I love the warm colors of Blush Blossom and the Groovy Guava together.

Thanks for looking!
Lisa

Simply Lovely

I am truly a huge fan of Gina K Designs. I'd bought this stamp from her and had yet to ink it (I know... bad). So today, when I should have been packing and getting things ready for vacation, I took a minute in the madness to make a couple cards.

This card is simple. The base is Bashful Blue cardstock (4" square card). The central matte is in Barely Banana (with Weathered background used) and the Image matte in So Saffron. The inspiration for the color combo... well... it's pretty simple too. I have been wanting Copic markers since reading about their versatility and amazing attributes on Splitcoast. I have bought a total of 6... a light yellow, pale blue, cool grey and green being some of them. Basically, I picked the matching paper so I could use them. LOL! I'd give my eye teeth to have the full sets, but I don't have the moola it would set me back. Maybe someday... unless anyone knows of a fairy stamp-god-mother handing them out???? No... OK. I'll just have to keep my day job.

I did take someone's advice on the white cardstock and bought a pack of Georgia Pacific 110lb cardstock from Walmart. It really is very amazing for the Copics, for layering the colors. I didn't have any luck with the other ultrasmooth stocks I had around the house. Even with that said, I don't have enough practice with the Copics to know if I'll be a whiz at them or not, but as far as a first attempt goes, I'm really happy with the outcome.

These daffodils are truly lovely, aren't they?

Thanks for looking. Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Lisa

Sketch at Fresh and Fun

Beate Johns at SCS always has a sketch challenge on her blog, Fresh & Fun. I recently did one of her challenges and had a blast. The card in this post is what I created for her latest sketch.

I have a quick disclaimer... I took a little poetic license to the design, but it's still a great sketch.

The card base is the new In Color, Purely Pomegranate, which I love. I used the new In the Spotlight set with Purely Pomegranate and Regal Rose. Black accents the design (scallop, black faux stitching, and key tag punch). The central image was first inked in Regal Rose and rocked in the pomegranate.

I'm not 100% sold on my card (seems a tad bright and busy for me), but it was fun to join in with Beate.

Thanks,

Lisa

Sliding by...

I wish I was posting this for better reasons. An on-line friend of mine (AJ) sent me a message today, asking if I'd send a young man a card. I don't know the family, but every once in awhile, a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) is just what is needed. It's a small thing to send a friend a card, but it lends a smile and perhaps helps ease the worry for a minute.

This young man is not well... if you'd like to read more about it and send a card yourself (hint, hint)... read this entry on Splitcoaststampers.

The card I made tonight is really simple, but perfect for a boy. I used the new Zoofari stamp set. A friend sent me a few of the images stamped and thought this would be a great little man card.

The snake was watercolored with Watercolor crayons, mounted on a scalloped square in Mellow Moss. The card base is Always Artichoke, with a band of Only Orange and Night of Navy. The sentiment "Sliding by to say HI" was created with my Karen Foster Snap Stamps. I also added dimension to the base card with the Canvas background stamp.

I hope it brings Gary a smile...

Thanks,

Lisa

Love Trio Flowers!

Happy July, everyone! Where has this year gone? I can't believe we've passed the halfway mark for the year. I have so many personal and professional goals still on my to-do list... I'd better get a move on!

On a lighter note, I thought I'd post a quick card for you today. I made this card a couple of weeks ago and didn't get a chance to post it.



It's the second card I've made and posted with Flower Trio as the central image. I really love this stamp. I purchased it from GinaK about a month ago. It's a simple image... perfect for a detailed coloring...

The card base is Bordering Blue with a layer of Sahara Sand. The designer paper is Cosmo Cricket's Dutch Girl, which I purchased from a local Archiver's store. I could do some serious damage in that place... I made it out of the store, but only because my son was begging me to leave. I took pity on the boy...

The central image was stamped in Stazon Black ink, colored in with dye markers, and highlighted with prismacolor pencils. A small dot of silver Stickles was added to the flower centers for a little glitter shine. The flowers were matted on Ruby Red, which is a perfect match to the Dutch Girl paper. A little white organdy ribbon, dimensionals tape, crystal effects and silver cord are a few of the additional details to round out the card.

Thanks for checking in with me...

Lisa