My first Dylusions creation

This is my first attempt at trying out the "Art Journaling" style that seems so popular right now. However, I really like making cards so I turned it into a card instead. I started out with a 4x6 card base from 3 Birds Design, and then I placed the altered cardstock which was a plain cream one from Recollections, onto the card base. Really simple because I just wanted to try out the stuff I got. I used 4 colours, which is all I have right now, but I'm hooked so that could change really really soon. I used Crushed Grape, London Blue, Vibrant Turquoise, and Lemon Zest. Wow! These colours are so vibrant  I love them!

The sentiment is from Tim Holtz's Urban Chic stamp set from Stamper's Anonymous, and so are the swirls on the corners. The hand stamp is from Dylusions stamp set called Curious Corrin. The main image is also from the same stamp set. All of them are stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

I coloured the main image with Distress inks. I purposely coloured outside the lines. This style is so liberating! LOL. Definitely not what I'm used to, but I love it! The distress inks are not as vibrant, but it works too. It just goes to show that you can use what you have and you don't have to get absolutely every colour of every line that comes out. I then used my white gel pen to put some little dot accents on the swirls. Finally, I distressed the edges using my We R Memory Keepers Heart Attack tool.

Grateful for Blessings

Another Thank you card, ladies and gentlemen.. :) I'm really loving this Thank You stamp that I got from the 2$ bin from my LSS. I can't get enough of it! Also my heart is full of gratitude this week because I still can't believe I got the job that I wanted for soooo long! Anyway, this card is for no one in  particular, but I'll save it for somebody special. This is the first time I tried the dimensional stamps technique and I still have a lot of room to improve. I love the effect though. Also here I used Perfect Pearls again. I really really like them! Kinda messy to work with but the effect is so pretty :)

I took the picture at night so it's kind of hard to get the lighting right, oh well. So here I used a 4x6 card base from 3 Birds Design. It's just a plain blue card stock. I matted a paper from the Prima Fairy Belle pad, which I used the embossing resist technique on. I used a small butterfly stamp from Pink Paisley London Market stamp set, embossed it with clear embossing powder and then inked the paper with Milled Lavender Distress Ink. I then stamped a background from Hero Arts with Versamark ink and used Heirloom Gold, Blue Patina, Pewter, and Green Patina on the stamp, set it with water and dried with my heat tool. Again, the picture doesn't do it justice but in the light it's so shiny!!

The image is Magnolia's Tilda Catching Stars. I didn't include the stars though, because I wanted her to be pointing at the sentiment. I inked the stamp with Staz-On ink and stamped it twice (so I can cut one up) on 190gsm Canson Watercolor Paper. I used my Distress Inks to colour the image. Here are the colours I used:

Hair: Tea Dye, Antique Linen

Skin: Tattered Rose

Socks/Crown/Wand: Antique Linen

Dress: Forest Moss

Shoes: Weathered Wood

I then used foam dots to give dimension to the stamped pieces. I think I did a pretty decent job for my first attempt :) Now, on to the sentiment. I used the Thank You stamp again from Hero Arts that I got from the 2$ bin! Yay for deals! I embossed it using gold embossing powder, and used foam dots again to give dimension. I also used some roses from Prima and adhesive pearls. Finally, I used my Memory Box die called Macarena Corner and placed it beside the sentiment. I love this card!

I am entering into the following challenges:
Magnolia Stamp Lovers- Distress, Simply Magnolia- Garden Blooms, Bunny Zoe's Crafts- Girls Girls Girls

Perfect Pearls

I've been on a crafting kick lately, as you can tell by how many posts I've made the past week LOL. My oven is broken and I'm really sad that I can't bake right now, so I guess I've been channeling that energy to creating cards, which is not a bad thing ;) So I've been to my local scrapbooking store (again) and picked up some Ranger Perfect Pearls and I've been playing around with them. I also am getting into embossing and I've been trying out different techniques that I've seen on Youtube.

I'm waiting on my order from Simon Says Stamp and I'm getting really impatient. It's my first time ordering from them and unfortunately I think it will be the last. I ordered June 2nd, it didn't ship until the 7th and I still haven't gotten it. Mind you, I'm in Canada but I've read that some people in Canada have received their orders in a week or so.. and I'm also afraid I'd end up paying duty because my order was 103$ and I've heard that if it's about 100$, you get charged around 20$. Any Canadian scrappers out there who had ordered from SSS?

:( I should've just gotten the reinkers locally. It probably ends up being the same price with the USD conversion and the duty, plus I wouldn't have to wait this long. Oh well... enough ranting... Where was I? Perfect Pearls, right...

I started out with paper from the Prima Fairy Flora pad. I used Versamark ink for this "floral" background that I got from a 2 for 5$ deal at Michaels. It is by Hampton Art. I then used the Perfect Pearls all over the image. I used all the colours in the Aged Patina set: Heirloom Gold, Blue Patina, Pewter, and Green Patina. I set it with a few spritzes of water and dried it with my heat tool. The picture doesn't show it but when it hits the light it's really shiny and so pretty. 

For the central image, I used a stamp from Hero Arts, embossed it with gold embossing powder on cardstock from Me and My Big Ideas. The lilac ribbon added a nice touch. So simple, but I love how it turned out. Here's the inside of the card.

I used the same purple cardstock I used on the front of the card, but this time I embossed it with a glittery clear embossing powder using the same background stamp I used on the front. I then used another paper from the Prima Fairy Flora stack on the right side and stamped a "tree" but it actually is a flower using Versamark ink.. The stamp is from Hero Arts. I used Blue Patina and Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls for the tree. Again, it doesn't show the shine but in the light it does. This card is for the unit I work at now, because I will be transferring in July.

Happy Father's Day

I made this card for my dad. I was going to their house right after my night shift so I had to make sure I had the card made the day of my night shift. I didn't get a lot of sleep time in the afternoon but it was worth it because I really liked how the card turned out :)

I made an easel card that's also a criss-cross card. I used a paper from Cosmo Cricket, called Hey Sugar: Honey Honey. Don't you just love that name?! LOL I used Recollections plain cream cardstock as my base. The swirls are made from a Cheery Lynn die called fancy flourish. I also added a champagne couloured satin ribbon around the card. I love that colour! The butterflies are cut out from pink cardstock from my stash using an EK success layered punch. The flowers are from my stash. I heat embossed the sentiment "I love you" and I matted it on red cardstock that I punched the side with a Recollections edge punch. The tag that says "Family" was from a garage sale.

The image is "Tilda with Lace Shoes" and it is one of my new Magnolia stamps. I stamped the image using Staz-On ink on 90gsm Watercolour paper and coloured them using Memento inks and Ranger Distress Inks. The colours I used are:

Hair: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo
Skin: Tattered Rose, Vintage Photo, Victorian Velvet (blush)
Shirt: Cantaloupe, Dandelion, Tattered Rose
Pants: Tattered Rose, Vintage Photo
Shoes: Milled Lavender, Victorian Velvet

I also inked the white edges with Antique Linen, and stamped a little "dandelion" stamp with Cantaloupe ink from Memento. Here's the "inside" of the card.

I used a plain white cardstock from Recollections, punched the edge with the same Recollections edger punch, and the sentiment is from Hero Arts. I used the same dandelion stamp on the sides of the sentiment. The sentiment is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

My dad really loved his card :)

Ballerina Tilda

I am really getting into Magnolia stamps lately. I am actually waiting on an order from Scrappin' Great Deals. They had a 30% off Stamps a few days ago and I was able to get some Tilda goodies! :) I can't wait!! Anyway, out of the 3 Magnolia stamps I have, this is my favourite. I made this card for my friend, Gloria. It is her birthday, and I hope she likes it. This is my first attempt at a "shabby chic" kind of style. I'm very pleased with it. :)

I used Magnolia's "Ballerina Tilda" stamp on watercolour paper using Staz-on Ink. I then colured it with Distress Inks. Here are the colours I used:

Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo

Hair: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo

Dress/ Pointe shoes: Milled Lavender, Victorian Velvet

Crown: Shabby Shutters

Tights: Antique Linen

Shadow: Weathered Wood

I used printed papers from my scrap stash (I am challenging myself to use up my papers). I inked all the edges using Vintage Photo ink. I used a Cheery Lynn die called "English Tea Party" for the center doily. The corner die cuts are from Memory box dies called "Macarena." I also used a cuttlebug folder for the pink cardstock across the card. I put a satin cream coloured ribbon around it. And, of course it wouldn't be complete without flowers. I used a lot of flowers from my stash, and out gems on the center of some of the flowers. On the large pink flower on the side, I used Adirondack Acrylic dauber in Pearl to give it a more "shabby chic" feel. I also stamped "Just for you" using Memento Magenta ink on a scrap card stock and punched the edge with Recollections lace edge punch.

And as a final touch, I used my Cricut Expression (Once Upon a Princess, and Storybook cartridges) to cut out the tags and the letters to spell out Gloria's name. I really hope she will like it.

I am entering the following challenges: TOMIC -1st Anniversary Challenge, Midweek Magnolias - Anything Goes, The Ribbon Girl -Ribbons or Lace, Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Layers, Stampalot Challenge - Pink Brown Bling

Lovely Mommy-to-be :)

One of my good friends is expecting a baby boy. How exciting! I made her this card to celebrate this great news. It's a really simple card to put together, but the real surprise is that I actually made the printed paper I used for the background. But before that, here is the card:

I used a Kraftin' Kimmie image called "Caroline." I used Memento Rich Cocoa Ink to stamp the image on Copic Xpress- It card stock. I coloured the image with Copics, of course. Here are the colours I used:

Skin: E21, YR0000, R20

Hair: E17, E13, Y23

Dress: B02, B000, B0000

I used flowers from my stash, and I coloured the big blue flower with Adirondack Acrylic dauber in Pearl. I also used pearls stickers on the center of the flowers. The sentiment is from the same stamp set, and I used a Studio G ink pad on just plain white card stock. 

Here's the cool part. I used double embossing resist technique on a plain white card stock. I used an Inkadinkadoo bird wood stamp, a Hero Arts cling background stamp and Clear and Glitter Clear embossing powder. I also used Ranger Distress Inks in the process. I used Milled Lavender, Victorian Velvet, Weathered Wood, Tattered Rose, Shabby Shutters and Broken China. 

I am entering this card into the following challenge: Ink It Up Challenge - Favourite Embellishments

Why Hello, Sweet Pea!

I only have one Sweet Pea stamp- and I used it on this card, which I made for my dear friend, Ashley. We've been friends since Nursing school and we've always worked together in the same hospitals. I wasn't able to go to her birthday dinner so I will give this to her at the end of the month, when we meet for our other friend's birthday.

I actually didn't list the colours I used to colour the image, because I initially thought I wasn't gonna use it, but after putting it all together, I really liked how it turned out. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink on regular white Recollections card stock, and coloured the image with copic markers. 

I used ranger distress inks a lot on this card. I used Broken China and Shabby Shutters around the image. I used Antique Linen to stamp Inkadinkadoo clear stamps around the image. Again, I'm challenging myself to use up my scrap papers, so the printed papers behind the image are from my stash. I inked the edges with Vintage Photo ink. I also used white faux stitching around the printed papers. 

I added flowers from my stash, and put gems at the center of the flowers. Finally, I used a Memory Box die called "Catalina Wreath," inked it with Vintage Photo again and placed it behind the image. I think it really came together. 

For the inside of the card, I used some more printed paper scraps, inked them with Vintage Photo and Broken China, and another one of the Catalina Wreath die cuts. I used a sentiment from AmyR's stamps and I spelled Ashely with an alphabet set from Studio G.  

I'm entering this card into the following challenges: Deep Ocean Challange - Sewing and Truly Scrumptious Challenge - Flower Power

1st Wedding Anniversary

My sis and her hubby just had their first wedding anniversary last week. They went away for the weekend and now that they're back, I decided to make them a card to celebrate their first year together as husband and wife. The colours of their wedding were red, black and white, so I decided to use the same colours on my card. Here it is.

The stamp I used is from Kraftin' Kimmie called "Ever After". It is stamped on X-press it card stock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I coloured it with copic markers. The colours I used are:

Tuxedo/ Girl's Hair: 100, C9, C7,C5, C3, C1
Skin: E53, E00, R20 (for her cheeks)
His Hair: E27, 15, 13
Roses/tie: R39, R29, R24
Wedding Dress: E41, W3, BG93

The challenge I wanted to take on for myself was to use up my scraps. I used mostly scrap printed papers and card stock so I don't really know what brand they are, sorry. I do know though, that my plain card stock is from Recollections.

I used a die from Cheery Lynn Designs called "Fanciful Flourish." The flowers, which are my favourite embellishments, are from my stash and i put lots of blingy gems in the center of the flowers. Also, the picture doesn't show it but I put Studio G glitter glue all over the wedding dress and the die cut. It looks really lovely in the light. So sparkly!! :) I hope they like my little present :)

I'm entering this into Whoopsiedaisy Challenge - Bling,  Let's Ink It Up - Favourite Embellishments, and Hooked on Crafts - All That Glitters

Just a Li'l Something

The Hand Hygiene Campaign in the hospital I work at is at full swing.. and heading the campaign for my unit, I was so proud when we reached 100% completion for the module. I got these little tokens of appreciation for the nurses in my unit. Inside is a nurse watch that I got from ebay. It was really affordable, anout CAD 2$ each.. I hope they like it. I will give it to them tomorrow. :)

There are 3 male nurses in my unit so I got them a pocket sized hand sanitizer instead. I don't think they nurse watch would have been too useful since the design is pretty girly. Anyway, here's how I packaged them. I really like how they turned out and am so glad I got to craft again. There has been a lot going on since the beginning of the year. I am going to a take on a different position temporarily until the fall and I am excited about that! It's gonna be a great learning opportunity. 

I used patterned papers from my scrap stash.. mostly My Mind's Eye I think. I cut the shape out using my Cricut Expression and the Elegant Edges Cartridge. I then used my Martha Stewart Scoring Board to score two lines so when I fold it it leaves enough space for the base. I also cut out scalloped circles using the same cartridge. I inked the edges using a sponge dauber from Stampin' Up and Grape Jelly ink from Memento. The stamp is from Popcorn the Bear deluxe set (the baby one). I felt like using the duck because it kinda reminds me of spring, I don't know why, really hehe. I coloured the duck using Copics. I only used two colours Y02 and YR16. I finished it off with yellow twine that I had from my cross stitching days. I'm excited to bring them to work tomorrow!

Love is patient, Love is kind

Hello again everyone! It has been a while.. and it feels great to be crafting again. A lot of things happened since Christmas. I was ill and then my sleep-wake cycle was messed up because of working too much over the holidays. Needless to say I was not my usual bubbly, happy, chirpy self.. and if it were not for my hubby's support and patience, I don't think I'd be back to doing the things I love like crafting, baking and yoga yet. Anyway... I made this card for him to show how much I appreciate his efforts :)

I made my first "window" card. I don't know the proper term for it, sorry guys. But I really love how it turned out. I used my Cricut and Elegant Edges cartridge for cutting out the frame and the oblong out of the card base. The image is suspended by dental floss that I just taped to the inside of the frame. The plain card stock and card base is Recollections, and the patterened paper is from My Mind's Eye Totally Girl paper pad. The image I used is one of my favourite ones- she is Bessie Lulu from Stamping Bella. I coloured her with Prismacolor pencils and odorless paint thinner. I really love the soft effect of the pencils with the detail of the image. The colours I used are as follows:

Skin: Beige, Peach
Hair: Burnt Ochre, Sienna Brown
Dress/ Shoes: Sand, Light Aqua
Flowers/ Stems: Imperial Violet, Lilac, Burnt Ochre
Shadow: French Grey 50%

I used glitter glue from Studio G all over the frame, the flowers and her shoes. For the inside of the card I used the same patterned paper, and plain purple cardstock. The sentiments are stamped with Memento ink onto plain white cardstock. They are from AmyR's Lovely sentiments. I thought it was very fitting for what I wanted to tell my hubby. I hope you guys like it!