Halloween Zombie Bunny

I've seen a lot of cards using normal images that were turned into something else by adding small details and then coloring in unexpected colors.  They are such fun that I wanted to try one for my Halloween card!  I used one of the cute little bunnies from the MFT stamp set called Somebunny.  It was so much fun to zombify her!  I inked the background with Distress Inks and splattered some water on it.  I cut the moon using MFT circle STAX then stamped the spatters on it with Versamark Ink using MFT's Distress Patterns stamps.  The tree is an edgelit die from Stampin' Up called Halloween Scenes.  I'm not sure who makes the pumpkin and jack-o-lantern stamps.  They were in my halloween stamp box but didn't have a name on them.  

Here is a photo of the inside of the card...

I hope you enjoyed seeing my zombie bunny card!  Thanks for visiting.  Have a nice Halloween!

Janet 

Cheerful Little Cards

I have two simple cards to share with you today.  Both were made to cheer up friends who are going through a rough time.  The first card used a bathing suit stamp by Lizzie Anne Designs.  I looked for a  link but couldn't find one :(  For the background I used a textured stamp by Savvy Stamps called Patterned Tic-Tac Background.  I couldn't find a link to this stamp either.  I used 3 different colors of Distress Ink.  I used the mini pads to make it easier to get the color onto the stamp.  The colors are Spun Sugar, Cracked Pistachio and Brushed Lilac.  I like how using multiple colors on the background stamp gave me something to match when I was coloring the bathing suits! 

I used Copics to color the bathing suits and a retired Stampin' Up card stock for matting called Almost Amethyst.  It was one of my favorites so when I heard they were discontinuing it, I bought a lot!  It goes well with the Brushed Lilac Distress Ink.  I used an MFT die called Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle STAX to get the scalloped edge and the stitching.  Stitching adds so much to a card!

For my second card I used one I saw by Kay Miller for inspiration.  I absolutely love the cards she makes.  You can see Kay's card here.  I have to admit, Kay is one of my favorite designers.  I love everything that she makes!  I used leaves from an old Stampin Up set called Best Blossoms.  It's a leafy branch.  I'm sure if you look in your stash you have something similar.  I used Cracked Pistachio Distress Ink on the tips of the leaves and inked the rest with Mowed Lawn to get the two-tone look.

The rest of the stamps are all from My Favorite Things.  The dog is from a set called Lucky Dog, the cat is from the Cool Cat set and the flower is from a set called Blissful Blooms.  I colored them with Copic markers and cut them out so I could raise them up with a little foam tape.   The sentiment is from the Lucky Dog set, too.  I used the Misti to stamp the words so I could get them nice and dark to show up on top of the leaves!

I hope you enjoyed the cards today and I hope that you are finding some time to stamp!

Janet 

Spaceman

Today I have a birthday card to show you.  I made it for a special 4 year old little boy and I thought he might like an interactive card. I used the Space Explorer set from MFT.  I started by making the background on Strathmore watercolor paper.  I smooched some Distress inks onto my craft mat, sprayed a little water on then dropped the watercolor paper on and moved it around, then I dried it.  I wasn't thrilled with the results because it was way too light.  Next I put some Worn Lipstick, Broken China and Faded Jeans Oxide inks on my craft mat, spritzed a little water and dragged the paper around through it.  After I dried it, I still wasn't happy because it was still too light.  Next I took Ranger blending tools and sponged on Blueprint Sketch, Wilted Violet, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot Distress inks.  I was a lot happier with the darkness but felt it still needed something so I got out my Denim Adirondack Color Wash spray and spritzed it a couple of times...bam...it finally looked like what I had in mind!  I watered down some white acrylic paint and splattered it on to look like stars and my background was done!

Next I took two circle dies that cut two circles about 3/8" apart, taped them together with Post-it Tape and cut a channel out of the background for the interactive part.  I stamped the astronaut, 2 planets, a bunch of stars and the little space ship and colored them with Copics.  

To assemble my card, I attached the space sky background and center circle to a folded Night of Navy card with extra thick foam tape.  I punched out a 1/2" circle of Night of Navy and glued a Spin & Slide Disc (MFT) to it.  I then glued that onto a washer and put it into the channel.  I glued the little space ship onto the disc so it would slide freely around the channel.  The weight of the washer made it move much more easily on it's own. 

I finished the card off by gluing the astronaut onto the center circle, and the planets and stars around the edges.  I loved the sentiment from the Space Explorer set!  It was perfect for the inside of my card.  I added a "Happy Birthday" from the Ocean Pals set from MFT.  I hope little Oliver has fun with my card.  

Thanks for visiting.  Keep stamping!!

Janet

Penguins in Paradise Birthday Card

I LOVED the June release from My Favorite Things!!  I look forward to their new releases every month, but this one was so much fun.  There were so many stamp sets and dies that I liked it was really difficult to decide on what to buy!  I had some time this afternoon so I played with the Penguins in Paradise set.  I was drawn to the little guy with a beverage in his hand, he is so cute...but I wondered if I could make him look like he was holding something else.  I noticed that there was a balloon in the Happy Pandas set and decided to see if I could make that work.  I stamped the penguin on watercolor paper and used Peerless Watercolors to color him.  When I stamped the balloons I was really pleased to note that I could move the balloon string on my acrylic block so I could stamp it to look like a bunch of balloons!!  WooHoo...I'm going to be using that balloon a lot!  Here's how my card came out...

I made the background a few days ago using a technique I saw on Pinterest.  First you use a background stamp with Versamark Ink to make a pattern on watercolor paper (I used Canson Aquarelle) and emboss it with white EP.  Next you put Distress ink on your craft mat, spritz it with a little water and then rub your embossed piece into it...changing colors as you go until you are happy with how it looks!  The background stamp is Simply Circles from MFT.

Here is a close up...There was so much color in the background that I wanted to add more color to the main image so I stamped out 3 balloons on a separate piece of watercolor paper and added the little hibiscus flower randomly on each balloon.  When the card was finished I put Crystal Lacquer on the balloons to make them shiny.

I was having so much fun that I did a little scene for the inside of the card, too!

Here's one more pic.  I took it so I'm including it!!!

Thanks so much for visiting!  
Janet

Supplies Used:
Stamps: MFT Penguins in Paradise, Happy Pandas, Simply Circles Background
Cardstock: Canson Aquarelle Watercolor paper, Cougar Opaque White 80 lb, Stampin' Up     Pacific Point
Inks: Versafine Black, Distress Inks: Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade & Salty Ocean, Versamark Ink
Miscellaneous:  White embossing powder, embossing buddy, Heat gun, Peerless Watercolors, water brush, round paint brush, Crystal Lacquer 

Regarding Dahlias

Regarding Dahlias is not the kind of stamp set I typically buy, but I went to stamp camp and my demonstrator Susan Kirk made such a quick and simple...and gorgeous card with it that I had to have it and I bought it!  I was really happy that I did when I saw Connie Collins' exquisite card on Pinterest...you can see it by clicking here!  I was inspired and just had to try and see if I could make something like it!  I didn't have the inks that she used and I have Copics instead of Blendabilities, but I was determined to make something pretty with what I had.  Here is how my card turned out...

For some reason I wanted to 3-D this flower so I cut some layers and added some foam tape and gave the flower some shape.  I also messed up when I was coloring the background with Ranger Distress inks and my new mini blending tools so I had to cut around the flowers and add them to a different background layer.  I don't know if you can see in the photo, but doing this gave a little more depth.  It was one of those happy mistakes because the flowers looked even better after.  

Supplies:
Stamps:  Stampin' Up: Regarding Dahlias, Gorgeous Grunge & Perfect Pennants
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress: Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy, Peacock Feathers & Seedless Preserves
Copics: V000, V01, V12, V15 & V17
Cardstock:  Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant & More Mustard and Cougar Opaque white

I want to thank Connie again for her beautiful card and the inspiration it provided!!

Here is a photo of the card I made at Susan's stamp camp.  Isn't it pretty?  And so quick and easy to make.  I thought a set in different colors with different designer paper would make a really nice gift for someone who doesn't stamp...or even someone who does!!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Janet

Twine Flower

My friend, Mary, found the directions for making a twine flower embellishment and I wanted to try it.  It was fun and much easier than I thought it would be!  Isn't it adorable??!!  I can't find the specific link right now, but I Googled "twine flower" and found some instructions, so it's not too hard to find if you want to try it.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  My Favorite Things - Vertical Greetings, Essential Sentiments

                    & DC Notched Tag Sentiments 

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Ruby Red, Cougar Opaque - White

                    K & Company - Que Sera Sera 12 x 12 pad

Inks:  Ranger Distress Ink pads - Shabby Shutters, Tattered Rose

                    Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold & Fired Brick

Dies: My Favorite Things - Die-namics Button Border

Miscellaneous: Red Twine 

By The Tide - Triple Time Stamping

This was a really fun card to make!  I wanted some color for the background so I started off by using Ranger Distress Inks and sponges to build up color.   I splashed on a little water to give it a spotted underwater look.  When the water dried, it looked pretty cool.  Then I stamped the plant with more Distress Inks and the fish with black.  I didn't like how the fish kind of blended into the background, so I used Stamping Up markers and a paint brush to add a little more color.  I liked that, too!  Some YoYo Yellow made the fish eyes come alive! Thanks for visiting!! 

Stamps:  Stampin' Up - By the Tide

Inks: Ranger Distress Inks

     Background: Scattered Straw, Shabby Shutters, Broken China, Faded Jeans

     Stamped images:  Aged Mahogany & Chipped Sapphire and Memories Black

Cardstock:  Cougar Opaque White, Stampin' Up Black