Twofers #17 ~ They Say It's Your Birthday!!

Jane chose Twofers theme for this challenge and it just so happens to be Zoe's 60th birthday.  I know how much Zoe loves cats and I just got the Cat Crazy Stamps and Framelits (because I'm a tad cat crazy, too) and I had a GREAT time coloring these guys in.  Here is my card:

How I made my Card:
White Card Base
Tim Holtz Cat Crazy Stamps, #CMS251
Sizzix/Tim Holtz Cat Crazy Framelits, #661209
Tim Holtz Crazy Things Stamps, #CMS237
Tim Holtz Crazy Things Framelits, #660953
Tim Holtz Crazy Talk, CMS236
Sizzix/Tim Holtz Labels #660060
Derwent Colored Pencils
Blender Pen
Watercolor Paper
Pop Dots

I colored in both cats and the balloons with my Derewent Pencils, then cut them out using the matching die cuts.  I wasn't positive of how I was going to attach the dies but I ended up just gluing the cats and balloons to the card base.

I also put a sentiment on the inside of the card, I searched forever to find a free font that matched the font used on Crazy Talk and I think I hit the jackpot with Arsenale White and I got it free from DaFont - just click the link to get it for yourself!

I don't typically decorate the inside of my cards, but I really I felt that everyone needed to know what happened to that loud mouthed bird.  So I printed out the internal sentiment and cut it our using the Labels set from Tim Holtz.  Pop dotted that to the inside of the card and after I glued a few pieces of feathers onto the hungry cat, I was done.

Now it's your turn to get a birthday card together and enter it in the Twofers Challenge.  You could win a $15 Gift Certificate to Alleystamp!!

Have a great day!! Christi

I am entering my Birthday Card into the following challenges:
Alphabet Challenges - C is for Cat
Aud Sentiments - Happy Birthday
SUYP - #4 Lucky Kitties
Allsorts - #357, Humorous  

Twofers Challenge #16 ~ Shoes

Hi there! For this fortnightly challenge at Twofers I chose shoes as the theme. Honestly, I am much more of a shoulder bag hoarder than a shoe buyer, but, my sister is moving to Denver this week and she is a major shoe-a-holic, we have bets on how many boxes of shoes she is lugging to Colorado from Florida!  I actually made 2 cards for this challenge, when the muse hits, it hits hard, and I asked my teamies which one they liked better and of course Zoe chose one and Jane chose the other! So, I relied on my own intuition and chose to use this one:

How I Made my Card:
Blue Card Base
White Panel
Silhouette Cameo
Silhouette Cameo cut file
Quietfire Designs, The Perfect Pair of Shoes,  #6340
Misc Colored Card Stock
Rectangle of white card & black card
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

I started this card by cutting out a bunch of shoes with my Cameo.  I initially wanted to have different shoes, boots, heels, etc. but I couldn't find a cut file small enough with enough detail so I just stuck with good old heels - easy peasy! I then arranged all the shoes on a white panel and glued them down.  I trimmed the panel and attached it to my blue card base.

Next I stamped my sentiment onto a piece of white card using the Jet Black Archival Ink, trimmed and matted that onto black card to give it a bit of pop.  That's it! I really love the stamps at Quitefire, the calligraphy makes everything look so elegant.  

I hope my little shoe card helps inspire you to join in our Twofers Challenge.  We are seeing more & more entries each challenge and the entries are so beautiful, you really should give it a try - after all, you could win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamp, our generous sponsor - that's right $20 to spend on real, delivered to your house, goodies!!  

Please be sure to read the rules - we don't have many, but we strictly enforce the few that we have.  Thank you SO much for stopping by, I appreciate it so much ~ Christi

I would like to enter my "shoes" card in the following challenges:
Silhouette Challenges - #35, Anything Goes
One Crazy Stamper (M) - March - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards (M) - March - #30, Anything Goes
Eureka Stamps - #184, Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - #11, Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafting - #269, Anything Goes
Craft Rocket Challenges - #11, Anything Goes
Craft Stamper - Take a Stamp, Anything Goes

Challenge #15 at Twofers ~ Let's get Organic!

It is the lovely Zoe's turn to chose a challenge theme and she chose "organic" - and for those struggling how to interpret the theme (as I was), Zoe has written out some "guidelines" on the TWOFERS blog.  I went with a flowing background design, using Ken Oliver Color Bursts in Bright, something I'd just gotten and never used before.  Here is my card:

How I Made my Card:
White Card Base
Ken Oliver Color Bursts Brights
Wendy Vecchi Stamp Set Heirloom Art, #LCS103
Ranger Watercolor Paper
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Wink of Stella in Clear

Since this was my first time playing with the Color Bursts I wanted to use the best watercolor paper I have at the moment, and that's the Ranger Watercolor Paper.  I need to get some more; I typically stamp at some point using watercolor paper and I really like the smooth side of the Ranger Paper.  All I did was poof out a few grains of the Color Burst onto the paper and then I saturated it with water using my spritzer.  I used my heat gun to help it dry fast since I didn't know if the color stayed the same or got lighter as it dried.  Turns out the color did get lighter, not a huge difference, but enough.

I used one of the sentiments from the Wendy Vecchi set Heirloom Art; stamped that onto the background using the Jet Black Archival Ink.  Then I used the clear Wink of Stella to add the swoosh. Honestly, that was a HUGE surprise - I had no idea the Wink pen was going to react that way with the Color Bursts, but I think it came out so cool! The Wink pen sort of removed the color from the background - I went over the swoosh a bunch of times, so I don't know if that's why the color disapeared, or if the same thing would happen regardless of how many times you go over it.  Judging from the bottom of the swoosh, I'd have to say that going over and over the same area with the Wink pen did cause the ink to lighten much more than it would have if I had just swooshed the ink once or twice - the color at the bottom of the swoosh is heavier where the swoosh tapers off.  Regardless, I think the effect is so cool and I can't wait to see if the same thing happens with the gold and silver Wink of Stella pens.  And seriously, the picture doesn't do this card justice at all - it is very striking in person!

Now, it's your turn to get organic with us at TWOFERS.  Simply enter your project and you will have a chance to win a $20 Gift Certificate to Alleystamp (Janine generously sponsors ALL our challenges so if organic isn't your type of theme, no biggie, just enter the next challenge that opens in 2 weeks!

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge - NBUS #6

Crafty Creations Challenges (M) - Sentiment as Focal Point
Creative Inspirations - #246 Pretty Projects
The Artistic Stamper (M) - Springtime
One Crazy Stamper (M) - Anything Goes

Challenge #14 ~ ANYTHING GOES at Twofers!!

For this challenge at Twofers, the lovely Jane has decided to go with ANYTHING GOES ~ you can't get a much easier challenge than that (provided you follow our rules).  I took the opportunity to use one of my very favorite stamp sets, Newton's Antics from Newton's Nook and a brand new set of 72 (!!) Derwent Inktense pencils my Valentine gave to me (I am SO blessed!).  This time I kept the cats relativily natural looking, but watch out - I can feel some colorful creations coming my way!

How I made my Card:
Red Card Base
White Card Panel
Newton's Nook Newton's Antics Stamp & Die Set
Paper Smooches Charmed Cat 2 Set
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Wendy Vecchi Ink in Red Geranium
Glitter Paper Punched Heart
Paw Print Charm (colored silver with leafing pen)
Dove Blender Pen
Pop Dots

I began my card by stamping the cats with the Jet Black ink on watercolor paper.  I colored them in using the Inktense pencils, and die cut them out.  

Dimension

I set the kitties aside and stamped the sentiment from Paper Smooches on white card using the geranium ink (by the way, if you are looking for a real red, Wendy Vecchi's is the BEST red ink I've found; archival, water proof and has matching embossing powder). I cut the sentiment out and edged it using the geranium ink as I didn't want it to blend in with the white panel.  I attached the sentiment, and glued with glitter paper heart on the end of it, finishing it off with the cute charm of a cat paw print.

I pop dotted the pair of felines onto the panel and I was done! The kitties look like they are in deep snuggle mode and I just think they are so freakin' cute! I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and that you will join us over at TWOFERS, you might even win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamp! Thanks so much, Christi

PS: Don't forget to enter my blog candy since you are here :)

Another Look :)

I would like to enter my Kitties card in the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments - #149, Cute & a Sentiment
Addicted to Stamps - #181, Anything Goes
SUYP - #3, Kitty Love
Cuttlebug Mania - I {heart} You
The Cat's Pajamas - #308, Use an Animal
Crafty Catz - #312, CAS
Eureka Stamps - #180, Feathers & Fur

Hey!! There are FIVE days to enter the TWOFERS Challenge!!

I have to say I thought with Valentine’s Day (I thought the number 14 would of been fairly popular!) being right around the corner (literally) we would have gotten more entrants to our TWOFERS numbers challenge. 

 Luckily, you still have 5 more days to craft up some fabulous cards or projects where NUMBERS are the feature.  Please consider joining, we'd love to have you!

PLUS, you will be in the running to win a fabulous prize - a $20 gift certificate from Alleystamp (who already has some of the new goodies from CHA in STOCK and ready to ship!) - now, they are on a well-deserved vacation at the moment, but by the time the challenge is over they will be back and just overflowing with goodies for you to choose with your gift certificate - IF you join in the challenge!!

(and do read the rules please!)

Thank you so much ~ carry on!

Christi

And Have a Happy Valentine's Day 

Marvelous Metals at Twofers ~ Challenge #12

Hello crafters! Welcome to my post featuring the new challenge at Twofers, challenge #12, Metal, chosen by Zoe. This time I took the theme literal and made an embellishment out of metal! Here is my project, which could be hung on a wall, stood on an easel or framed:

What I Used to Make my Project:
White Card
Fredrix 4" x 6" Canvas Panel, painted prior
Tin (I used a soda can)
Copics: G17, V09, RV04, R29
Tria Marker in V564 (pantone purple)
Spellbinders Inspire Die Plum Blossom, IN-046
DieNamics MFT Pierced Oval Stax, MFT-521
Sentiment from Hero Arts, C2768 Moments (disc.)
Thin Gold Decorative Paper
Embossing Fluid
Embossing Powder in Gold

The first step in making this project is getting the tin can ready.  I rinsed the

The die taped to the tin, & the tin taped to the metal
adapter.  You'll have to tape the tin down because it
will keep rolling up on you.

can out thoroughly, set it out to dry overnight and then cut the can with tin snips (wearing gloves AND goggles!), removing the top and bottom.  That leaves you with a nice piece of tin to work with.  I have cut tin with dies before and the only thing that is different is you have to use a metal plate adapter when you are using low profile dies.  I have found that the "regular" dies from Tim Holtz will cut the tin without a plate but the low profile dies seem to need that extra push.  I bought mine at a stamp convention from Tesslar Stamps/Scrapbook USA, but I imagine you can get them from other sources as well.  

The die cut with one coat of green alcohol ink

Next you want to paint your 4" x 6" canvas panel.  Mine was already painted; I used acrylic paint, I think it was called Champagne Gold, but it was months ago. If you have to paint your panel, set it aside to dry and start coloring your tin die cut.

I wasn't sure that the Copics and Tria markers would work on the tin, but I was pleasantly surprised at how cool the

Close up of the flowers

colors blended together.  Be very careful holding the die cut, it is VERY sharp and while it appears harmless, it isn't.  I held mine down while coloring it, and I started with the branches, which I colored green.  I then colored the rest of the die, using pinks for the flower buds, pinks & purples for the flowers and red for the bird (I do love Cardinals!).

I found that the ink would sort of swirl together, giving the appearance of texture.  I let the ink dry a bit, but I did go over the die quite a few times to get the dept of color I wanted.  While I was coloring the die I moved on to getting the rest of the piece ready.

I cut the oval die cut out and the metallic gold paper. Then I embossed the sentiment using gold embossing powder.  While the stamp isn't manufactured any more, you can find it online.  I trimmed the sentiment, placed everything where I thought I wanted it to go and glued the gold background paper onto the panel, then the sentiment. 

Once I thought the tin die cut was colored enough, I glued it onto the oval and set it under the floor tiles I have on my desk.  The tin really didn't want to stay

Shiny!

straight, having been curled when it was a can, so I needed the weight of the tile to hold it flush with the paper and to ensure the whole die stuck.  I let it sit overnight.

The next day I attached the oval to the panel and I was done.  I love reusing items that would just be thrown out, and since we don't have bottle or can returns here in Colorado, I saved this can from the landfill.  Even if you do have can returns, it's worth the few cents to have a little crafty fun.  I'll be coloring with alcohol inks on tin more now that I saw how the inks reacted with each other.  I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and got some inspiration to join our Metal theme at Twofers.  You have TWO WEEKS to enter your project, just make sure you follow the rules, and you could win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamps - yes, you can even pre-order all the new goodies coming out at CHA right now!!   

If you do have a moment, please stop by and marvel at the creations my wonderful teammates have made; you can visit Jane here and Zoe here.  Thanks so much for visiting and I'd love to hear what you think so please leave me a comment - Fondly ~ Christi 

I am entering my Marvelous Metals project in the following Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #346 Not a Card
Addicted to Stamps - #176, Anything Goes
Scrappy Land - #33, Anything Goes (you carry Spellbinders)
Die Cuttin Diva's - #248, Tweet, Tweet Use a Bird
Stamping Sensations (M) - Anything Goes with a die(s)
Create And Inspire -#37, Anything Goes

Birds with Twofers Challenge #11

Jane has chosen our theme for TWOFERS this fortnight and it's birds (I can't get the Hitchcock movie out of my head now) and I have chosen to once again use the Bird Crazy set from Tim Holtz.  I had a bunch of birds laying about from my recent coloring excursion so I decided to put them to good use.  Funny, no matter how many I use, they just keep multiplying. . .

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Bird Crazy Stamps, #CMS212
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bird Crazy Die Set, #660954
Dylusions How About Never Set, #DYR48466
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Embossing Folder Snowflake, #660041
Core'dinations Brights - Atoll Aqua
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Distress Ink in Mermaid Lagoon
Various Distress Markers, Zig Clean Color Brush Markers & Various Water Color Pencils
Water Brush
Dove Blender Pen
Sander

Truthfully, I had the embossed background paper on my desk already (I was anxious to see the embossing folder at work since I purchased it after the holidays last year and it supposed to be snowflakes), I love that you can sand the Core'dinations papers to get a two toned look, so I sanded this to see the different color blues I could get. Having that piece of paper on my desk, along with all the birds floating around gave me the idea for this card.  

After I sanded the background, lightly so I wouldn't take off all the texture, I began to arrange my birds.  Once I thought that they were in place I stamped and cut out Dyan Reaveley's sentiment - I thought it was PERFECT because it's so true and the birds are so colorful, and this time of year can bring some sadness for so many people - I hope this brightens someones day! I edged the sentiment with some Mermaid Lagoon ink and then I had to rearrange the birds because the sentiment was a bit larger than I had planned.  

So I rearranged them, fit everything where it belonged and glued it all together.  Now it's YOUR turn to enter your bird creations on Twofers ~ you have two whole weeks and you just might win a $20 Gift Certificate from our amazing sponsor

So get the muse humming! Do pop by my design team buds, Jane & Zoe, to get some more inspiration. Thanks so much for stopping by ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Birds card into the following challenges:
Creative Corner Challenges - (M) Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - #172, Feathers & Fur
That's Crafty Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - #406 - Anything Goes
Creative Ladybirds Challenge - (M) #11, Anything Goes
Eclectic Ellapu - (M) Purple Team - Cards to Die For (using Bird Crazy dies)
Crafty Girlz Challenge - (M) #10, Anything Goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - #11, Anything Goes

Still have ONE DAY to enter Twofers Holiday Challenge #10

There has to be some more people who have made holiday cards that will fit our Challenge #10 at TWOFERS!!

Come on now and join in the fun -

you still have 24 hours to link up and have a chance to win a

$20 gift certificate to

https://www.alleystamp.com/

where you can buy real, hold in your hand stamps, inks, or just about anything else - and if you don't see what you want, just ask! Chances are Janine can get it for you and in less time than you think!!

Yes, we have a few rules, you can find them here - but honestly

we aren't that hard to get along with, honest.

So please, spread the word far & wide - you never know, you might win! Tell your crafty friends and please help us spread the word.

We have some really fun challenges coming up & they are all sponsored by the fabulous

Come get inky with us! New challenge every other Saturday!

Fondly, 

Christi

PS: Please?

Twofers Challenge #9 ~ Flowers!

I think Zoe picked a perfect theme for Twofers 9th challenge.  Winter is settling in and I know that I could use the colorful boost of some flowers!  Bringing out the old style Adirondack ink pads brings back so many memories for me - I literally learned to stamp with these inks and I still have the very same ink pads years later.

 

How I Made My Card:
White Card Base
Magenta Stamp 9 Square Roses, #30.011.N
Sentiment from SU! Set Sincere Salutations (discontinued but plenty to be found)
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Ranger Adirondack Ink in Meadow
Derwent Intense Water Color Pencils
SU! Blender Pen
Green Card
White Card

I began the card by stamping the Magenta stamp on a piece of scrap white card, then colored it in using Derwent Pencils and an SU! Blender Pen.  Once that was done, I set the image aside to completely dry.

I decided the image needed a mat, so I chose the green card - I cut the image and the green card down to layer size, and mounted them onto the white card base.

Lastly, I looked for a green that I thought complimented the green layer, stamped the sentiment in the Adirondack Meadow color, layered that on another piece of trimmed green and glued that to the card. I didn't even realize that my card incorporates traditional Christmas colors! Tis the season!

Just another view

If you need a bit more inspiration take a peek at my teamies blogs, Zoe & Jane.  Now it's your turn! All you have to do is enter one project, follow the rules (you MUST rubber stamp on your creation!), and you will be eligible to win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamp!  Come play with us at Twofers (you have 2 whole weeks!) and you just might win ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Flowers card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Inspiration Station - #62, Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - #318, Traditional Christmas Colors
Creative Fingers - #99, Anything Goes
Just Add Ink - #291, Just add C - so I used C for color!
Simply Papercraft - #19, Anything Goes
Sisters of Craft (M) - Anything Goes
Allsorts - #340, Clean & Simple
Crafty Gals - #48, Anything Goes

Music ~ Twofers Challenge #8

Twofers Challenge #8 is music ~ can't believe we are on #8 already!! Anyway, I don't have many music stamps but I found this card in my stash that I made a while ago. So without further ado, here is my musically inspired card, lyrics by the phenomenal Mr. John Lennon:

How I Made my Card:
Yellow Card Base
Big Shot
Nellie Snellen Eastern Round Frame #MFD010
Artistic Outpost Chalkboard Wisdom Set #A067H (now at Our Daily Bread Designs)
SU! White Craft Ink
White Sharpie, water based ink, x-tra fine point
White Card
Black Card
DCWV Chalk Art Stack

I had the card base, it was pre-made - I got it in a kit and I was pleased to see the DCWV Chalk Art paper matched it perfectly.  So off I went!

I first cut the panel of the Chalk Art paper and sized it to fit on the card base.  I then stamped the sentiment with the SU! ink on black cardstock.  It didn't come out as bold as I wanted so I went over the sentiment with my white Sharpie pen.  I have issues with white ink and white embossing powder - it never seems to come out as "clean" as I expect it to.

Next, I cut the panels out of the stamped black card and the white card, layered them and pop dotted the black layer onto the white.   I attached the patterned paper to the card base and finished off by gluing the sentiment layers onto the card.

I have to confess, I no longer have this card, so the pictures aren't as good as normal - not that I'm a photographer or anything, but I would have taken some different pics of the card.  Oh well.  Please do stop by my teamies blogs, Zoe & Jane and get inspired by their work! I thank you for popping by and I hope you have some of your dreams come true ~ fondly, Christi

PS: Don't forget when you enter your musically inspired card in the Twofers Challenge you will get the chance to win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamps!!

You can see the pop dotted black panel in this pic.

I would like to enter my Music card in the following challenges:
Brown Sugar Challenge - #173, Anything Goes
Just Add Ink - #289, Just Add Music
Cut it Up - #84, Inspired by a Book, Movie or Song
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #163, Add a Die Cut/Punch Shape
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends - #22, Anything Goes

Golden Butterflies, Twofers Challenge #7

I have quite the collection of decorative papers from back in the day when I first started paper crafting.  It's not easy to take the stash from its hiding space, so when I do, I typically take pieces of a few different patterns I think I may like to work with. When I saw that my next challenge on Twofers was Things with Wings (yes, I try to work ahead, but, you know what making plans means) I decided to remake a card I had already designed. When I spied this stunning green & gold paper I knew exactly how I wanted to use it. So introducing my Golden Butterfly card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Vanilla Scrap
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Crazy Talk Set, SCMS236
Die-Namites Butterfly Wreath, #DN-1005
Quickutz Butterfly Die, KS-0799 (2 part die) (do a Google search for the part number)
Gold Cardstock
Green Cardstock
Green & Gold Designer Paper
Distress Ink in Forest Moss
SU! Corner Rounder Punch

I had actually had another card made with similar elements that I wasn't too thrilled with so I sort of CASE'd (CASE stands for Copy & Share Everything) myself.  I tore the other card apart, hoping to save some of the pieces, but no such luck. However, here is a picture of the first card:

First Card

As you can see I changed a bit, but the overall design is similar. The designer gold & green paper isn't as large, but that is because I didn't have a larger piece hanging around and I didn't want to pull the whole stash out to get more, and I actually like the vanilla card base showing through a bit more.  I cut the Butterfly Wreath and the butterfly wings out of gold card.  I set the gold wings aside and glued my wreath on a scrap of complimentary green cardstock; one of the things I didn't like about the old card was the green panel appeared so severe to me, so this time I rounded the corners of it.

I then die cut the butterfly body out of the same green card as the green square & set them aside.  I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of vanilla card using Forest Moss Distress Ink, and then edged the panel with it as well.  I positioned the sentiment panel behind some of the elements of the Butterfly Wreath and glued it on.

Lastly,  I attached the green and gold designer paper onto the card base,  centered the green square on the designer paper strip, glued it, then attached the green butterfly body to the gold wings and "fluffed" the wings up a bit to add some dimension.  Attached the butterflies onto the card and there you have it!

I would love to know which design you prefer, so if you could, just leave me a comment.  Thanks so much for popping by and I do hope you will consider playing with us at Twofers. You have 2 whole weeks to add a creation to our linky and that gives you a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to our wonderful sponsor, Alleystamps.  I would also be grateful if you'd consider becoming a follower. I am about 20 shy of reaching my goal of 100 new followers for 2015.  Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Golden Butterflies Card into the following challenges:

Lawnscaping Challenges - #117, Thinking of You 
Use Your Stuff - #198, Use Your Old Stash (the background paper is over 10 years old)
The Paper Girls - November - #91, Stamps
Addicted to Stamps - #112, Things with Wings
Left of Centre Challenges - #103, Things with Wings
Incy Wincy - Anything Goes

Please come and check out TWOFERS!

We need some entries - you may just win the $20 Alleystamps Gift Certificate up for grabs every 2 weeks!

The current challenge at Twofers is a color challenge - all you need to do is use Blue, Green & Yellow, along with some rubber stamping and join via the linky!! You only have to make one project, you can link to as many challenges as you want to - read the rules here.

As it stands we have NO entries, so that practically makes your entry a winner!! We have beautiful badges as well as the $20 Gift Certificate to Alleystamps - perfect chance to actually get some of that Tim Holtz product you've been dying to get, or, click here and she what new goodies the store has for you (awesome selection of W+9 stamps and coordinating dies).

So, please, pass it on! And please consider supporting us at Twofers ~ you can't win if you don't play!
Hugs, Christi

Challenge #6 ~ TWOFERS ~ Blue, Green & Yellow

Hi all you fabulous people! For Challenge #6, Zoe has chosen a color challenge and you can see the specifics at the Twofers Blog. A fun chance to get away from all the holiday projects and stretch yourself a bit. I needed to make a birthday card anyway, so it was the perfect opportunity to use the colors in the challenge.  Here is my blue, green & yellow birthday card:

How I Made my Card:
White Card Base
White Cardstock
Darice "Clouds Background" Embossing Folder
Paper Smooches Streamers Die Set, #KFBD-13-029
Quietfire Designs, Ten Tiny Tag Sentiments, #6382
Silhouette Cameo
Airplane & Sun Cut files
Core'dinations Cardstock in Pastels; Blue, Green and Yellow
Pebbles Chalks in Basic Brights
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Pop Dots

Let me tell you, buying the Ten Tiny Tag Sentiments from Quietfire Design has been one of the BEST purchases I have made - I use these little sayings so much!  I started the card with the concept of a sky scene, with a plane dragging a banner (I had just gotten the Paper Smooches Die set and was dying to use it - get it? LOL) with Happy Birthday on it, luckily the Ten Tiny Tag Sentiments fit on my banner perfectly! But I am getting ahead of myself. . .

I first dry embossed white cardstock with the Darice Clouds embossing folder. Funny as this was one of those purchases that caught my eye and I bought on impulse and this is the folder I seem to use most. Once my clouds were embossed, I chalked around the clouds and filled in the sky. like I did while making this Summer Fun card.  Once I was done with the chalking, I trimmed the panel down to fit on the card base, glued it and set it aside to dry.

While waiting, I went to my trusty Silhouette Cameo, found some free vectors which I turned into cut files and cut out my sun and my airplane.  It's so easy to use the Cameo machine and I honestly don't think there is anything it can't do, as long as you can find a picture, vector, saying or shape, you can convert it and cut it out!  So I cut out my airplane and my sun to use on the card and set them aside.

I chose a banner that I wanted to use, used my Big Shot to die cut it out of the green paper.  I stamped Happy Birthday, kind of on an angle, using the Jet

Black ink and started to assemble the card.  You can't really see it in the pictures, but I chalked the edges of the plane and the banner before I pop dotted them onto the cloud background. I also pop dotted the inside circle of the sun.  Lastly, I used a black sharpie and drew the rope that attaches the banner to the plane.  I hope my friend likes her birthday card :)

I am thrilled that you stopped by to check out my card - now you have two whole weeks to put together your own Blue, Green & Yellow card (or project) and enter it in our Twofers challenge. You might win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamps and be able to get yourself some real goodies! So come and join Zoe, Jane and myself, you just might win! Have a fabulous day ~ Christi

Another look 

I'd like to enter my Flying High Birthday Card in the following challenges:

Chalk N Stock (October) Anything Goes

Silhouette Challenges (October) Anything Goes

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Creative Ladybird's Creations Challenge (October) - Anything Goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters Die-lirious & Punchy

Scrapy Land - #27, Must Use a Brand of Die Sold in Store (Paper Smooches)

Sweet Stamps (October) - Anything Goes

Southern Girls Challenge - Let's Celebrate

Polkadoodles - #42, Use a Die Cut
Paper Smooches - (week 3) Anything Goes

1950's Housewife ~ Vintage/Retro Challenge #5 at Twofers!

This challenge gave me a chance to use some never before used stamps that I bought when Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers went out of business (the good news is ALL the stamps I used from RBBB are still available at StampFrancisco) and that was ages ago.  I love it when I can finally use a stamp - one I have been saving for ages for just the right challenge and TWOFERS challenge #5, Vintage/Retro certainly fit the bill! Here is my 1950's housewife, with a twist:

How I Made my Card:
White Square Card Base (5 1/4" x 5 1/4")
Vanilla Cardstock
Weekly Checklist stamp, StampFrancisco #106-1176
Time Schedule, StampFrancisco #106-1175
Hand on Head Woman, Large, StampFrancisco #106-1716
Sentiment from Stampers Anonymous, Wendy Vecchi, #G4-1857
Collage Papers, Green Cardstock, Buttons & Gem from my stash
Distress Markers in Weathered Wood, Wilted Violet, Ground Espresso & Shaded Lilac
Die from Sizzix Framelits Tree Blueprint from Tim Holtz, #659379
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Ranger Mini Blending Tool 

I knew I wanted to use both the woman and the sentiment stamp for this card, but I wasn't exactly positive how I wanted to incorporate them. I went ahead and stamped the woman, colored her with some Distress Markers and fussy cut

her out.  I am X-Acto knife challenged, so I was quite proud that I cut the little spaces where her arm crooks successfully (truthfully, most people don't allow me to be around sharp objects for a number of reasons).  I added the buttons and gem and set her aside.

Rifling through my stash I came upon some old collage papers I have had since the beginning of time and chose a few I thought would work as a background.  I then stamped the checklist and schedule stamps on vanilla cardstock and edged them with the ground espresso marker - I scribbled it on my craft sheet, spritzed some water and used the Ink Blender tool to edge the stamped images and then, after I cut and ripped my collage papers to my liking, swiped a bit of it onto the collage papers as well.  Helped them dry with my heat gun.

Once all the papers were set, I placed them onto my square card and glued

them down.  Then I set about looking for a die that would fit the sentiment as I wanted that to stand out and not get lost in the background.  The die from the tree blueprint (you will be seeing holiday cards made with this set - it's too cute not to use!) fit perfectly, so I stamped and then die cut the saying, then layered it on a small scrap of green card to further enhance it.  Lastly, I placed my woman and the sentiment on the card and I was done.  

I just love using my stash stuff! Not only does it justify me keeping all this stuff but then I don't feel so guilty when I buy more stuff. It's a win win! Thank you so much for stopping by and I encourage you to check out TWOFERS, as some rules have changed and we now have a sponsor! Yup, you could win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamp! So get creating! Fondly, Christi

Another Look :)

I am entering my 50's Housewife Card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (entry 2)
The House That Stamps Built  - Anything Goes
Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes (I did not use the optional sketch)
That's Crafty! - Girls will be Girls
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - (October) Anything Goes
Sisters of Craft - (October) Anything Goes