WIW RI Sketch Challenge

Hi there!  Today, I am back to share another Repeat Impressions Sketch Challenge with you.  Wendy has created an awesome sketch for us to use this week.  Be sure to check out her The House That Stamps Built blog for the sketch and a chance to win a fabulous prize.

As soon as I saw the sketch, I knew exactly which Repeat Impressions Stamp I wanted to use.  I love it when the idea in my head comes out just how I pictured it would. You can see Wendy's fabulous sketch below.

I started with a white card base and added an aqua layer to the front using some Tombow Mono Adhesive Dots and next I popped up the red layer using some Tombow Foam Tabs. I added the red striped strip to the top of the red layer and stamped RI Glitter Star Ornament #3305M on aqua cardstock and embossed with silver powder.  I added a little Broken China Distress ink to the edges of the ornament and aqua panel.   I stamped just the words "Merry Christmas" from the RI May Your Heart #2203H in red ink.  I added ribbon to the ornament and a few red gems to finish off the card.

Here is Wendy's awesome sketch:

Be sure to stop by each of the design team blogs to see how they used Wendy's amazing sketch!

Cheri 
Deonna 
Joy 
Joyce  
Karen  
Geri
Brenda

Melissa (you are here)

Want to play along and have a chance to win?  Click here to be taken to The House That Stamps Built blog where you will find all of the details.

Birthday Bucket of Flowers

Hi y'all!  I had a little break in blogging and now I am back to share a fun bucket of flowers with you.

I know that Sunday is Mother's Day, and this would make a great everlasting Mother's Day bouquet for sure, but I decided to create a birthday card as this is a class project I am teaching for the end of the month.  

I started with a cut file from SVG Cuts and used that for the bucket and the roses. The blue flowers are a Silhouette cut file.  I used Tombow Mono Multi to put the bucket together.  A tip when using Mono Multi on a project like this is to use the Mono Multi sparingly.  If you glop on too much, the paper will become saturated and it will take way to long to dry.  To attach the print panels to the bucket I used Tombow Mono Dots Adhesive. 

For each of the flowers, I sponged the petals and then glued them together with Tombow Mono Multi, stacking the petals catty wompus of each other so that the pieces form a flower. I did this for both types of flowers.  To add a finishing touch to each of the blue flowers, I adhered a button to the center using a 1/4 of a Tombow Power Tab.  The Power Tabs are clear and very easy to cut with your regular scissors.

To create the card I used some Tombow Mono Dots Adhesive to adhere the print papers to the card.  The flower was created as I stated above.  The leaves were embossed and then folded in the center to add some dimension.  I attached the leaves with Tombow Foam Tabs.

Here is a picture of the completed project.  I really think this would make a great gift for someone special.

GRS Color Challenge and Chef's Choice Giveaway

It's color challenge time on the Gourmet Rubber Stamps blog and today I am sharing two cards using the fun color scheme below.  I went with a coral instead of the pink...looks like the rebel in me is coming out!  :)

Be sure to scroll all the way down, because we are giving away one of the April Appetizer sets away to one lucky person!  

For this card I used the new Say It Big Appetizer set to create this quick and easy card. Mask off the area in the center and then swipe different colors of ink across to create an ombre effect.  Remove mask and stamp sentiment in black ink.  Add a few dew drops and your done.  Easy peasy!

For this one I masked off lots of different sizes of circles and sponge ink to create the fun dotted background.  Next, I stamped the KJ Butterfly in aqua ink randomly. I stamped the butterfly again in coral colored ink onto a scrap of white cardstock and added the sentiment from the Everyday Sentiments set in aqua ink and layered with some coordinating scraps.  The sentiment panel is popped up on foam tabs.

Here is the inspiration photo, see I told you I changed it up a bit!

Be sure to visit the rest of my teamies blogs as they have some amazing cards to share with you!

GRS Blog

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Melissa Cash

Lori Barnett

Joy Stagg
Meridith Ethington

Are you ready to WIN????

We have a fun announcement that you are going to LOVE!  Today we are starting the "Chef's Choice Giveaway" for each of our monthly color and sketch challenges.  It's super easy to enter and I know you'll want to win the great prizes we have planned!  Here's how you can enter...

1) Just leave a comment on any of the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Facebook posts between April 25th-27th.

2) Visit each designers blog & leave comments between April 25th-27th on their challenge post.  (The blog list will be posted on each blog or click on the photos above.)

3) If you want an extra chance to win,  play along on our challenge and post your lovely creation to our Facebook page.   We'll add your name for another entry to win.

On April 28th, we will select one of our designer's as our Chef's Choice Blog.  The winner will selected from the comments left on her blog and on her card posted to the GRS Facebook page.

The Chef's Choice winner will receive one of the recently released Appetizer sets & will be announced on the GRS Blog & Facebook page.  You'll have one week to claim your prize

just, just, just

wanted to say.....thanks for stopping by.  

Today, I am sharing a card I created for the Gourmet Rubber Stamps April Sketch Challenge.

I just loved this sketch and had fun putting this card together.  I stamped the fun retro phone from the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Just Wanted to Say Appetizer set in Punch Chalk Ink (Hero Arts) twice on some white cardstock and cut them out separating the handset from the phone.  One image was attached to the dot print paper and the second image was popped up on foam tabs.  For the fun little phone cord, I wrapped some May Arts Metallic String around an orangewood stick and set the curl with my heat gun.  It just takes a couple of seconds with the heat gun, go easy so you don't burn the cording.

Here is our inspiration sketch:

Be sure to head on over to the GRS Team Members Blogs and check out their amazing creations:

GRS Blog

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Jennifer Ingle

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Taylor Usry
Melissa Cash

Lori Barnett

Joy Stagg

We would love it if you would play along.  If you do, please share with us on the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Facebook page.  We would love to check it out!

Have a beautiful day...

Hi there!  Today I am sharing a card that I created using a fun technique that creates a pretty watercolor effect.

A few weeks ago, I shared this card on the Tombow blog and one of our followers named Ann suggested that I create the background with Tombow Dual Brush pens instead of the inks that I had previously used.  So I did just that!

I started by embossing the Penny Black Damask Pattern stamp with black embossing powder and then I scribbled ink in #676 Royal Purple, #679 Dark Plum and #725 Rhodamine Red onto a craft mat and spritz with water.  The picture below is the markers before the water was added.  After spraying the scribbles with water, I smooshed the embossed image around to pick up the pretty colors.  I used Tombow Stamp Runner, Foam Tabs and Power Tabs and Mono Multi to adhere the parts of the card together.

Give this simple, fun technique a try, you will love it!

Little Girls and Boys

Good morning!  

I am thrilled to be sharing four cards that were created with the two new Appetizer sets from Gourmet Rubber Stamps.  The sets are called Magical Birthday and Have a Ball.  Take a look, I think you will love them!

Today, I am sharing a few quick and easy cards with you. The first two would be great for the special little girls in your lives. 

Both cards were created using the Magical Birthday Appetizer set from Gourmet Rubber Stamps.  I inked up the butterfly using green, pink and orange pigment inks from Clearsnap and embossed it with clear powder. For the Unicorn, I inked up the stamp with blue, aqua and purple pigment inks from Clearsnap and embossed with clear powder. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the the GRS Happy Birthday Truffles set.  I used Tombow Stamp Runner to adhere the print panels to the solid cardstocks for both cards and the striped panels were lifted up with Tombow Foam Tabs.  The pretty ribbons are from May Arts.

Now, I wouldn't want to leave the boys out, so these next two cards were created using the Have a Ball Appetizer set from Gourmet Rubber Stamps.  For the first card I stamped the image/sentiment with black ink onto white cardstock and then layered the sentiment to a red scrap of cardstock.  The black panel is embossed, although you can't see it in the picture.  For the basketball card, I stamped the image/sentiment in Clearsnap's Candied Yam Chalk Ink onto Kraft cardstock and added a navy layer under the sentiment panel.  The embossed and sentiment  panels were added to the cards using Tombow Stamp Runner and then the sentiment panels were popped up with Tombow Foam Tabs.  Although these cards are for the wee boys in our lives, I added just a bit of ribbon from May Arts to each one.  Nothing to fru fru for the boys though :)

Be sure to stop by the following blogs and check out the teams amazing creations.

Gourmet Rubber Stamps

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Jennifer Ingle

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Taylor Usry
Melissa Cash
Jeanne Streiff (Guest Designer)

Watercolor Beauty

Happy, happy Friday!  

It has been awhile since I have watercolored with my Tombow markers and I knew the moment I saw this stamp from Penny Black, that it would be perfect to watercolor.

I stamped the Penny Black Trailing Beauty stamp in black Archival ink and used  a waterbrush and Tombow Dual Brush pens in the following colors to make this card come to life!

From bottom to top:  #451 Sky Blue, #620 Lilac, #665 Purple, #679 Dark Plum, #761 Carnation, #873 Coral, #885 Warm Red, #062 Pale Yellow, #076 Green Ochre and #098 Avocado

I started by coloring the stems and most of the leaves with the Pale Yellow marker and blending it out with a Niji Waterbrush. I was careful to let each layer of color dry before adding the next color.   Next, I added the medium green tone and blended and continued the color, blend, dry process for each of the sections. I used the Sky Blue marker around each of the flower/leaf sections as highlight being careful not to over saturate the paper with water and blend the blue into the other colors.  I added some Diamond Stickles to the centers of each of the flowers as a finishing touch.

I used Tombow Mono Adhesive Dots to adhere each of the flat layers together and Tombow Foam Tabs to mount the image panel onto the base card.  I wanted a little less lift for the sentiment panel so I used Tombow Power Tabs as they are a tad thinner than the foam tabs.

Here is a close up of the flowers in all of their glittery goodness!

Butterfly Dreams

Hi there!  Welcome to one of two Gourmet Rubber Stamps releases this month.  Today I am sharing a card from the GRS Laura Hunter Series.  

Laura's images are classic and beautiful and I know you will love them.

I tried something a little different with this card.  I started by stamping the Butterfly image onto some white cardstock and then inked up the entire thing with Colorbox Pigment inks from the Jelly Beans Queue and then covered the image with a glue pad and then added Warm Highlight glitter from Elizabeth Craft Designs over the top.  Next, I used  a Tombow Mono Zero Eraser to remove the glitter from the butterflies and then I added some Glossy Accents to give them shine and dimension.  The image is layered onto orange cardstock and then popped up onto some yellow print paper with Tombow Foam Tabs and then added to a purple card base using Tombow Stamp Runner.  I finished the card with some pretty purple ombre ribbon from May Arts.

Please be sure to stop by the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Blog and the design team blogs below to check out their amazing creations.

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Melissa Cash
Jeni Allen

Queen Bee and Bubble Sentiments

Wooo Hoooo! It is release day at Gourmet Rubber Stamps!

Today we are sharing two new Appetizer sets with you. 

First up is: Queen Bee

This set has an adorable hive and honeycomb background along with two great sentiments that are especially for Mom.  I stamped the honeycomb in a caramel colored ink and the hive in black ink.  I picked up a bit of the caramel ink with a waterbrush and colored the hive, going over the outer edges a second time to add a little depth. The sentiment was added with black ink.  The ribbon was black/white check so I ran the ribbon over the caramel ink pad to tint the white checks and have a perfect match.

Next is the Bubble Sentiments set

This set has four great sentiments in thought bubbles.  The nice thing about these images is that they have a bit of that chalkboard look to them that is so popular right now.  I can't wait to try them on dark cardstock with some white ink.  I paired the You Rock sentiment with the typewriter and sentiment from the GRS Just Wanted You to Say set. The typewriter and sentiments were stamped in Slate ink which aids in that distressed look.

Be sure to stop by the GRS Blog and each of the GRS DT blogs today and check out their amazing offerings with these two new sets.

Gourmet Rubber Stamps

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Jennifer Ingle

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Melissa Cash (you are here)...thanks for stopping by. 

Trick or Treat BLD Style

Tricky, treaty Tuesday y'all!

Our Tuesday post over at By LORi Designs is to trick or treat ya.  Well, I am no magician so I am hoping that my card will be a little treat for you.

To play along with the BLD31 Trick or Treat Challenge, click HERE

This week I am using the adorable Marvin Mummy image from By LORi Designs.  I have paired it up with some print cardstock from Bazzill and some solids from American Crafts. The cool spidey webs are from this Silhouette cut file.  

Be sure to check out the By LORi Designs blog today and check out the tricks and treats my fellow teammates are sharing.

deconstructed 73/TPE169 Scarecrow

Happy Sunday everyone.  My hubby and I just got back from having a yummy mexican lunch at one of our local restaurants.  Today I had the vegetarian quesadilla and it was so big that I had to bring half home for later.  Oh darn!

Today's card definitely has fall written all over it, although it is supposed to warm up again     mid week which is good because I am not ready for it to be cold yet.

I combined The Pink Elephant and Deconstructed Sketch challenges for this week to create  today's card.  The print papers are all from Farmhouse Paper Company.  I fell in love with this paper line at the Summer CHA show and was so glad when we got it in at work. I stamped the scarecrow from the Our Craft Lounge Fall Scarecrow set and colored it with markers and did a little paper piecing for his coat and the trim on his hat.  The little leaves under the buttons are from this EP Silhouette cut file.

This beautiful photo and awesome sketch were my inspiration.

Notecard Box

Hi there!  I hope this finds you looking forward to the weekend.  We have finally gotten into some cooler weather and that is a good thing.  

Today I am sharing a notecard box and one of four notecards/envelopes that fit nicely inside.  I am giving these to someone special.  I know she will love them.

I cut this envelope box diecut with my Silhouette Cameo out of some American Crafts textured cardstock and used Tombow Mono Multi Adhesive on the glue tabs and the bottom envelope flap to hold the box closed.  Tombow Mono Multi is great when you need to glue paper to paper and you need it to take hold quickly.  To add all of the paper layers I used Tombow Mono Adhesive Dots.  

Here is the closure side of the box.  I used a Tombow Fastener Tab on the flap to allow the box to be opened and closed.  These tabs are self adhesive which makes them very easy to place just where you need them.

miss you

TGIF!  I am so glad to see the end of the week.  I am looking forward to a nice, relaxing weekend for sure.  

Today I am sharing a card that I created for Operation Write Home.  My local stamp store is getting ready to ship off a big box full of cards and this is one of the cards that I will be adding to the box.  If you are not familiar with Operation Write Home, be sure to check them out.  This organization does amazing things!

I decided to add a few "miss you" cards to the box.  I created this card using print cardstocks from We R Memory Keepers.  I started with a soft olive green base card and added an ivory and plaid panels with Tombow Mono Dots Adhesive.  Next I adhered three print pieces to ivory cardstock with more of the Mono Dots Adhesive to create the  banners.  These were attached flat to the card.  Next I stamped this adorable owl from the Paper Smooches Chubby Chums set and colored him in with a combination of Tombow Dual Brush pens and Irojiten Dictionery Color Pencils.  I used the pens for the base color of the owl and then added some texture to the feathers with the colored pencils.  It is not necessary to use only one medium when you are creating, mix them up as they can play nice together. :)  I mounted the image panel up on some Tombow Foam Tabs.  The sentiment is from the Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler set and it was created in the same manner as the banners.  A few finished (tied) buttons were added to complete my card.  I hope when the OWH box reaches our wonderful servicemen/women that one of them will enjoy sending this card home to someone special.

katie & grace

Good Morning, it has been a long, long time since I created a scraptastic card and while I was surfing through my sketch folder I saw this great layout from the Mojo Monday 251 and thought it would be perfect to use some scraps that were left over from a recent class I taught.  

The image is the Puddle Jumpers Katie and Grace Digi from By LORi Designs.  The image is printed on Neenah Solar White cardstock and colored with Copic markers.  The two print papers are from Darcie's and some Gina K. Designs Pure Luxury Jelly Bean Green and was embossed with the CB Seeing Spots EF.  Each panel was layered onto some GKD PL Kraft.  The pumpkin layer is from American Crafts. The diecut flower is the new Layered Rose Die-namics from My Favorite Things.

Wishing you the best day ever!

Summer CHA Folder

Hi, I hope you all are surviving the heat.  Before you know it fall will be upon us.  I don't mind the heat but anything over 100 degrees is a bit much, even for me. :)

Today I am sharing a decorated CD/DVD folder that is quick and easy to make and a nice way to dress up CD/DVD's that you might give as gifts.  Below you will find a PDF with the  measurements/instructions to create one for yourself.

After cutting, scoring and folding the cardstock to create the folder, I cut an opening in the front flap of the folder with a decorative punch.  Any punch will work, be creative!

Once that part is done, you will want to run some strong adhesive onto the glue tabs and then fold in half to create the pocket.  I used Tombow Mono Adhesive Dots and it worked perfectly!  I also used the Tombow Mono Adhesive Dots to adhere the pretty print cardstock from Authentique to the front of the folder.  To hold the button firmly in place, I used Tombow Power Tabs.

Quick tip:

Remember to finish off your buttons with some floss, twine or ribbon to give your project a "finished" look.

Click HERE for a PDF file of the instructions.  If you create a folder (or two), come on back and leave me a link, I would love to see them. 

Happy Birthday TPE155

Hi there and happy Monday to you all!  

This week I am going to share a series of cards I created using an adorable sheet of cardstock from Echo Park called Patchwork. 

When I sat down at my desk I pulled together 1 sheet of the Patchwork cardstock, 3 sheets of solid colored cardstock, white cardstock and some embellishments.  I ended up making 4 cards.  I will share another one with you on Wednesday and the final two on Friday.  I hope you will stop back by and check them out.

Isn't she adorable?  She is Lollipop Watermelon Smile digi image from By Lori Designs.  I created this card for the TPE155 challenge.  We were to use the inspiration photo below which immediately said picnic to me.  What is better at a picnic than a big slice of yummy watermelon?  The sentiment is from the Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler.

I wrapped the twine around the card five times and finished off the card with a button tied with a twine bow.  Remember, always take a minute to finish off your buttons with some type of thread, twine or ribbon.  

"No naked buttons allowed"  

The aqua cardstock that I used is some of the new Card Shoppe cardstock from Bazzill.  I love it!  This cardstock has a nice smooth surface and is a hefty 100# cover weight. The  dark pink cardstock is from American Crafts.

Check out The Pink Elephant's blog here.