Scor-Pal :: new to me

Every time I get back into the stamping groove I find out that there are the neatest new gadgets that are must-haves. On Splitcoaststampers I've heard the name Score-Pal batted around and decided to check out just what it was. I found this demo on YouTube and I can see what all the hubbub is about. It's a bit pricey ($39.95), but I can see that it would pay for itself just in making it easier to do different projects with ease. This video shows some of the projects you can do with it. Pretty neat! I wonder if I can find a cheaper deal?

Mojo Monday Father's Day cards

I was over at Julee Tilman's awesome blog recently and was inspired to do my Father's Day cards using her Mojo Monday Week #39 design. It's so much easier to use a predetermined design.



This card was done for my hubby. I realized afterwards that the ribbon wasn't exactly like the design I was trying to replicate. Oh well. I used the dad and son stamp from SU Seaside Sketches and the "amazing" came from (interestingly) the SU Amazing to Zany set. The "dad" part was from "Girls are Weird", an alpha set by Purple Onion Designs. I used 2 different Cuttlebug embossing folders for the red CS and the designer paper (Basic Grey), Before cuttlebugging the red CS, I stamped it with the SU Print Pattern background stamp using VersaMark ink (might be a little hard to see).



For the dad and son part I stamped in black dye ink on the white CS background. Then I stamped the image again on another piece of white. I colored the image with various SU markers, using the smaller end of the Old Olive marker to do the grass. Then I cut it out and adhered it with Dimensionals to the white background. I used lots of Dimensionals!

Recipe:

Stamps: SU Seaside Sketches, SU Amazing to Zany, Purple Designs "Girls are Weird" alphas, SU Print Pattern
CS: Always Artichoke, Black, Real Red, Basic Grey designer paper, More Mustard
Inks/Markers: Basic Black, Real Red, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun (with Close to Cocoa in the hair), Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, Blush Blossom, Old Olive
Other: Cuttlebug embossing folders: "Mesh" and "Tiny Bubbles", Zigzag ribbon, 1" circle punch, 1&1/4" circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals



The second card is for my dad. He loveslovesloves to fish out in his boat, so I've gotten a lot of use out of the SU Fishin' set for him, but I think I'm due for a change. This set has served me well, though.

I did the cuttlebugging on the circles designer paper (Basic Grey), which I LOVE (I'm trying to keep myself from buying too much designer paper. It can become addictive! So I'm using what I have for as long as I can stand it). The fishing scene was actually done using 3 stamps from the set using my beloved Stamp-a-ma-jig. I stamped the basket first, then made a mask and covered the basket. Then I stamped the cat tails once and then with the grassy stamp several times to cover up the "water" under the cat tails. I removed the mask and colored the images with markers and a water brush and ink pads.

The "awesome dad" alpha set is one I got...somewhere. Can't remember who made it. I've had it for quite awhile and have rarely used it. Lots of Dimensionals on this one, too. Where would I be without Dimensionals??

Recipe:

Stamps: SU Fishin', unknown alpha set
CS: Always Artichoke, Black, Basic Grey designer paper, Glossy white
Inks/Markers: Basic Black, Old Olive, Really Rust, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Bordering Blue, Close to Cocoa
Other: Cuttlebug embossing folder "Tiny Bubbles", Zigzag ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals, Sizzlets oval die (for larger oval), oval punch (for smaller oval)

Fairy dream card using CTMH Toadstools set

I love the Toadstools set by CTMH, but I rarely use it. Today I decided to play with it and some, you guessed it, designer paper.



First I ran the designer paper through the Cuttlebug using the "Stylized Flowers" embossing folder. Then I sponged it with some dark brown ink to pop it out.

I punched out a black oval and punched 3-1/16" holes in it for the mini-brads. I also punched out 3 squares (1/4") and punched holes in those, too. I assembled the whole lot and adhered it with Dimensionals.



For the word stamp, toadstools and fairy I stamped in a golden brown ink and then marked up the stamps with a black marker. Then I huffed warm air onto them and stamped. That gave a nice multi-colored effect. I used Mini Pop Dots to pop out the fairy. I made an extra pair of wings so the fairy would look more dimensional. I sponged black and moss green inks over the toadstools and fairy. I used Dimensionals to pop out the Dream/fairy scene.

Recipe:

Stamps: CTMH Toadstools, "Dream" stamp by TAC
CS: Dark brown, Basic Grey designer paper, Black, White
Inks: Black, Dark brown, Mossy green, Vintage Photo (golden brown) distress ink
Other: Cuttlebug "Stylized Flowers" embossing folder, oval punch, 1/4"square punch, 1/16" punch, antique copper mini-brads, plaid ribbon, Black marker, sponges, Dimensionals, Mini Pop Dots

Mother's Day cards

I was able to get all the Mother's Day cards made this afternoon. I kept them similar in color and style with some variations. It simplifies things. I'll put up recipes later. Too tired to think that hard right now.

The 2 "Mom" cards are for my mom (obviously) and hubby's mom. The other 2 are for my grandmother and my aunt. I like to acknowledge all the elder women in my family who are moms. The basic designs are designer papers, Cuttlebug embossing folders, ribbons, sponging of inks, and mini-brads. More later!

Recipe (combined for all cards):

Stamps: Print Pattern, Love Without End, Non-SU

CS: Black, designer papers (Basic Grey, I think)

Inks: StazOn Jet Black, various colors I sponged on over the designer papers

Other: Cuttlebug embossing folders "Stylized Flowers", "Tiny Bubbles" and "Script", black ribbon, plaid ribbon, gold thread, leather ribbon, 1/16" hole punch, 1/4" square hole punch, 1/2" circle hole punch, silver mini-brads, antique bronze mini-brads, black mini-brads, Dimensionals, sponges, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Card using Stampin' Up! Sweet Herbs set for a friend's challenge and a Mojo Monday design challenge

This card uses a design challenge I saw on Amy Westerman's blog.



I wanted to stamp some more so I asked Teresa to challenge me with her choice of stamp set. She chose Sweet Herbs (retired Stampin' Up!) as her first choice. I'll admit that as much as I like this set, I find it a challenge to use creatively. But I like a challenge and decided to give it a more current look. Designer papers are all the rage in the stamping world, and I have plenty to play with even though my collection is minuscule compared with some stampers. So you might recognize these papers (from the Blitzen Collection by Basic Grey). I've used them many times before. They're very versatile. I stamp right on the papers and they take the ink very well.

I used the Cuttlebug and the Script embossing folder for the strip across the bottom of the card. Cuttlebugging always adds a nice touch, don't you think?

I made a little mini purse by punching out 2 squares of designer paper and punching holes in a symmetrical pattern around 3 of the edges. Then I used 3 strands of dark brown embroidering floss and a cross stitching needle and sewed around the edges. Nothing fancy, but I like the contrast. I made a handle for the purse with another 3-strand piece of embroidery floss, tied it to the top holes and left a little fringe. I tucked a smaller punched square of vellum that I stamped (before punching), and then adhered it with a couple of Dimensionals so it would stay put and "float".



In fact, I used a lot of Dimensionals on this card. It's popping out all over the place, just the way I like it. :) Hope you like it, too.

Recipe:

Stamps: SU Sweet Herbs (retired), SU Amazing to Zany
CS: Black, Designer papers from Basic Grey's Blitzen Collection, Vellum
Ink: StazOn Jet Black
Other: Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug "Script" embossing folder, Black mini-brads, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Square punch, 1/16"hole punch, Brown embroidery floss, Cross stitching needle, Dimensionals

I stamped today! Fresh Fruits set

It's been a long time.



This is a simple design to start back with. I had to use a flash to get the colors right. I oomphed it up a bit by using the Cuttlebug and the Mesh embossing folder on the pumpkin cardstock. To bring out the relief image of the embossing, I sponged some pumpkin ink over it. Of course, I used black as an accent color, as anyone who knows my card-making style would expect. ;)

To make the pineapple bottom, I used 2 colors of ink: mustard and ruby red - both together created a pumpkin-y color. I stamped first in the mustard, and then in the red, and then on the white cardstock. For the top I used mustard and olive green, stamping in the mustard first, then the olive. Then I rubbed a black marker around the edges of the stamps and stamped over the inked images. I use a Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to position the second images properly. I huffed on the stamps before stamping every time, btw.

Here's a close-up of the pineapple so you can see how nice the inks mesh together and how cool it looks to outline the images:



I really like how the image turned out! I'll be doing this again.

Recipe:

Stamps: SU Fresh Fruits, Amazing to Zany
CS: Black, Pumpkin, White
Inks: More Mustard, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie
Other: Basic Black marker, Cuttlebug, "Mesh" embossing folder, zigzag ribbon, oval punch, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, silver mini-brad, Dimensionals

So outside the (shirt) box!

This is the coolest card design that I've seen in awhile. It was done using Beate John's sketch challenge. Very creative!

Published!

For the last year or so I have been submitting some of my artwork to various magazines, thanks to the loving prodding of Kimm Bennington-Thompson, an awesome friend and fellow stamper. And I am finally in print!

My card is on page 21 of the Jan/Feb issue of RubberStampMadness magazine.

I had submitted that card last January, I think. I'm thrilled to have been picked! My style isn't quite like theirs, so I'm surprised they even used my card (they have lots of collage-y stuff and use a lot of cards made with images from smaller, more avant garde stamp companies, whereas I tend toward a more mainstream Stampin' Up! style). Not that I'm complaining or anything! ;)

Below is the published text from my conversation with Galilee Weldon from RSM magazine. She asked me if I had any frog stories I could share. So I did the best I could. hee

(click pic to enlarge)

I want to again thank Kimm BT for pushing me to send in my artwork. Now, maybe if I clean up my disaster of a study I can find the urge to stamp again under there somewhere!

Hubby's Father's Day card

Recipe:

Stamps: Classic Pickups, Smorgasborders (sentiment)

Paper: Black, Basic Grey Urban Culture designer paper, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black pigment ink, "Vintage Photo" Distress Ink by Tim Holtz, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Only Orange, Summer Sun, Real Red

Accessories: bleach, water brushes, sponges, Detail Black embossing powder, Prismacolor silver and gold pencils, Dimensionals, Diamond Glaze, antique brads, leather strips, 1/16" hole punch, 1/2" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch, sm. oval punch, Cuttlebug

Techniques: Bleaching, heat embossing, cuttlebugging

This is the card I made for my hubby for Father's Day using Beate's sketch challenge #5.

I really loved this simple design. Sometimes the simplest designs are the most satisfying to play with, don't you think?

As you can see, I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder yet again! I can't help it, I love the look, especially on designer paper.

I made this card as a 5.25" square to fit in my 5.5" square envelope. The directions are on Beate's blog (through the above link).

I used black as my background cs. For the inside, I made a square of Chocolate Chip cs to go inside so the sentiment phrase would be visible. I sponged the inside square's edges with Chocolate Chip ink after stamping the sentiments. Then I adhered it inside the card. Sorry for the poor sentence structure. :)

For the outside front, I used pieces of Basic Grey designer paper (Urban Couture, I think) and rubbed them with a vintage distress ink by Tim Holtz. Then I cuttlebugged them using the Mesh embossing folder. It was really tricky trying to line up the holes for the brads as they had to go through a little 1/2 circle piece of cs, the leather strip and the cuttlebugged cs. Very difficult. I won't even try to explain what I did. There's probably an easier way than mine. ;) The look was worth the trouble to me, thankfully.

For the oval sentiment, I used the smaller oval punch and sponged it with Chocolate Chip ink and punched 1/16" holes on either side. Then I punched 1/16" holes in black cs and, turning a 1/4" circle punch upside down, punched to get the smaller holes in the center - like a tiny doughnut. I used antique-finish brads and adhered them as you see. I used a bit of Diamond Glaze (Crystal Effects) on some Dimensionals to adhere the sentiment to the card front. That helps it adhere better to the Cuttlebugged surface.

For the pickup truck feature, I first powdered a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock with my embossing buddy pillow thingy. Then I stamped the truck using Brilliance Graphite Black pigment ink and heat embossed it with Detail Black ep. Then I bleached the inside design of the truck completely and colored it with a combination of waterbrush/inks and Prismacolor pencils (silver/gold for the chrome portions). I just kept applying color until I got it the way I wanted it. When finished, I sponged the area around the truck with Chocolate Chip ink, then mounted it to black cs. I adhered that piece to one side of the card with Dimensionals.

Thanks to Miz Beate, for the inspiration!

Father's Day card

Recipe:

Stamps: Horse stamp (can't remember maker), alphabet stamps by CTMH "Storytime alpha lower"
Paper: Black, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Urban Couture designer paper
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black pigment ink, "Vintage Photo" Distress Ink by Tim Holtz, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard
Accessories: bleach, water brushes, sponges, Detail Black embossing powder, Dimensionals, Diamond Glaze, antique brads, leather strips, 1/16" hole punch, 1/4" circle punch, sm. oval punch, Cuttlebug "Mesh" embossing folder
Techniques: Bleaching, heat embossing, cuttlebugging

This card is for my dad using the same technique as this card.

I just used different colors and images. I bleached out the horses and used Chocolate Chip, Vintage ink by Tim Holtz, and More Mustard to get the dimensional look of the horses. The white parts are where I left the bleached part alone.