Belli Challenge #36 - leaves

Today's Belli Challenge is to use leaves on your card or project. We all have leaf stamps, don't we? Well, I can never have enough. I recently bought Chrissy's latest Autumn Blessings from Sweet N Sassy Stamps. It is a GORGEOUS set; I love it!

Since I love to read books, and I have only about 5 million books in this house, it makes sense that I would need some bookmarks, right? These bookmarks are so fun and easy to make.

I simply sprayed Glimmer Mists on the bookmark until I got a color combo that I liked, and let it dry. Then I stamped the quote and the leaves on there with Stazon Jet Black ink and let that dry. I couldn't find a ribbon the right color, so I grabbed the Red Velvet Glimmer Mist and sprayed a piece of ribbon. Isn't that just cool? Now it all matches!

Check out what the rest of the Belli Team has done:

Shelly Koskinen
Chris Dickinson
Christi Thorsen
Ceal Pritchett
Danita Hollander
Courtney Fowler
Lorie Ames


Stamps: Autumn Blessings (designed by Chris Dickinson, available for purchase at Sweet N Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Jet Black Stazon
Paper: Paper Reflections Creative Tags (Michaels)
Glimmer Mists: Golden Terracotta, Mistletoe, Sunflower, Coral, Red Velvet

Season of Change

I just got the new Autumn Blessings (Sweet N Sassy Stamps) set in the mail yesterday, and I wanted to combine a sentiment from that set with the pumpkin stamp from Stampin Up. Courtney had a perfect sketch (CBCC06) for me to combine these with - thanks, girlie! You can find her sketch here.

I used my aquapainter and reinkers to watercolor the pumpkin image. I love to watercolor - it's so relaxing. I love to see all the colors mix and blend.


Stamps: Harvest Home (SU), sentiment from Autumn Blessings (www.sweetnsassystamps.com)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versafine Vintage Sepia, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Pumpkin Pie
CS: Chocolate Chip, Naturals White, Old Olive
Paper: Summer Picnic dsp (SU)
Other: nestabilities, sponge, aquapainter, Chocolate Chip poly-twill ribbon

Belli Challenge #35 - metal tags

This week's Belli Challenge is to use metal tags on your card or project. I chose to add a metal edge tag to my card. The tag was originally silver on the edge, but I used my Copic marker to color it pink to match my card. Isn't that cool??

Not only did I color the little girl image and the tag with my Copic markers, but I also transformed a white Prima flower into a chocolate flower. There are so many cool things we can do with Copic markers.

I stamped the "hugs" sentiment (from CHF) and the little girl image (from SNSS) with Adirondack Espresso ink. The designer paper is from the new Basic Grey Eva collection, the flowers are Prima, and the ruffly chocolate ribbon is from a retired Stampin Up Flirty Ribbon Originals collection. Below are the Copic markers I used to color in the little girl. I'm really happy with how this turned out, considering it is only the third thing I have colored with Copics.



Check out what the rest of the Belli Team has done with metal tags:

Rochelle Wick
Debby McGillivray
Shelly Koskinen
Jennifer Greco
Chris Dickinson
Christi Thorsen
Ceal Pritchett
Danita Hollander
Courtney Fowler


Stamps: Scripty Words (Cornish Heritage Farms), Fanny's Cuddle (Sweet N Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Adirondack Espresso
CS: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, White
Paper: Basic Grey Eva
Other: Prima flowers, Copic markers, Pearl dew drops, metal edge tag (Stampin Up), chocolate ruffly ribbon, linen thread

Alzheimer's Disease

Cammie is holding a blog candy contest over on her blog here. My paternal grandmother has been in a nursing home for about 10 years now, suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, just like her own mother before her. I just read an email last week from my stepmother saying that things are not looking good for my gramma. My stepmother has been the one to see gramma all the time, checking on her, and keeping in touch with the nursing staff at the nursing home. In keeping with Cammie's rules, I am sending THIS card to my stepmother. My hope is that maybe she can show this to my gramma and they can share a smile.

Why don't you send a card to someone you care about today? Send one to your grandparents, to your mother, maybe an aunt or uncle whom you only send Christmas cards to every year? Put a smile on someone's face this week.

Candle Tin

I bought this stamp from Ellen Hutson when I bought my Copic markers, and I wanted to try coloring this. This image is my second try at coloring with Copics. The first one is the card I posted yesterday.

I started out by stamping the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, letting it dry, and then figuring out what each shape was. I saw oranges studded with cloves, pumpkins, grapes, pears, a squash, and an apple, along with the candle, leaves, and basket. So I went from there and picked out colors to sort of go along with those fruits.

Can you see the little halo of light outside the hurricane glass? I picked the palest palest color of yellow to give me that soft glow. After I did that, it suddenly struck me. Why make a card?? How about a tin full of tealight candles??

I was on a candle-making kick a few years back, and I had made a huge stash of tealight candles, along with other various shapes of candles. I found where I hid them, and they still smell like the wonderful vanilla scent I put in them all those years ago. Mmmmmmm........

I fit 6 tealights inside a nugget tin (you can find these at PaperTreyink), wrapped a Pumpkin Pie designer paper belly band around the tin, and adhered the candle/fruit image on top. Now my problem is that I love this too much to give it away.

Below is a picture of the Copics I used to color in this image.




Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Co.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
CS: White, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pumpkin Pie dsp
Other: nugget tin, tealight candles, Copic markers

Hello Cutie!

When I see my nieces, I always call them "cutie pie." LOL I don't have a cutie pie stamp, so this is as close as I could come to it. I combined two stamps from CHF's Scripty Words set to make "hello cutie." This adorable little girl is a Lily & Milo stamp from SNSS called Teddy's Travels (in the Rachelle Anne Miller collection).

I finally hopped on the Copic wagon! Yup, I held out this long, and finally broke down and bought some Copic markers. Hey, when Ellen Hutson has a sale, who can resist??? :-) Below is a picture of the Copic markers I used to color in the little girl image.




I wanted to give the little lollipop some sparkle, so I pulled out my Angel Wings Shimmerz paint and brushed a little bit on. Who can resist a shiny and sparkly lollipop?


Stamps: Scripty Words (CHF), Teddy's Travels (SNSS)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
CS: Real Red, Kiwi Kiss, Brocade Blue, White
Paper: Basic Grey Cupcake
Other: Copics, nestabilities, Angel Wings Shimmerz paint (Jacksonbelle Embellishments)

Belli Challenge #33 - squares

This week's Belli Challenge is to make a card or project with squares. For my card today, I decided to make a square card with smaller squares on it. I had to utilize my math skills to figure out exactly what sizes would fit, and I did cut a couple pieces either too big or too small, but I finally got exactly the right sizes for everything. :-)

All the images on this card are from a set called Let's Get Stuffed from Cornish Heritage Farms. This can be found in the Kim Hughes line over at CHF.

Look at the pumpkin and the apple. I paper-pieced these two images with papers from the Summer Picnic designer paper (Stampin Up!). The rest of the images are colored with Stampin Up! markers. I used some grape-colored Dew Drops to mimic the grapes in the cornucopia.

Check out what the rest of the Belli Team has done with their "square" challenge:

Rochelle Wick
Debby McGillivray
Shelly Koskinen
Jennifer Greco
Chris Dickinson
Christi Thorsen
Ceal Pritchett
Lorie Ames
Danita Hollander


Stamps: Let's Get Stuffed (Cornish Heritage Farms)
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Stampin Up markers, Cool Gray Copic
CS: Tangerine Tango, Eggplant, Olive, Naturals White, Summer Picnic dp
Other: Dew Drops

Happy Fall with Fanny's Cuddle

Isn't that a darling little girl holding a cute little puppy? When I saw this image, I had to buy it right away. This is a Sarah Kay stamp from Sweet N Sassy Stamps called Fanny's Cuddle.

I wanted to make it a fall card (it was only 82 degrees today - YAY!!!!!!), so I colored the girl's dress with yellows and oranges and browns. I used Prismacolor pencils (just plain pencils, no gamsol). I think I need to make another one but use Christmassy colors for the next card. Wouldn't that be cute?

Stamps: Sarah Kay - Fanny's Cuddle (Sweet N Sassy Stamps), sentiment is a $1 stamp from Michaels
Ink: Adirondack Espresso
CS: Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, K & Company paper
Other: orange dotted ribbon (blog candy from Deedee - thank you!!!), nestabilities, Prismacolor pencils, Cool Gray copic marker, scallop edge punch

Acorn Card

I fell in love with the acorn card that Kim Hughes created in the latest PaperCrafts magazine (October 2008), and I just had to get the pattern and make my own. I traced the template onto Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa cardstocks and cut them out. When I looked around to decide what to stamp this with, I went to my Cornish Heritage Farms backgrounder stamps. The cocoa cs is stamped with Tiled Scallops backgrounder, and the caramel is stamped with Fine Houndstooth Scrapblock. I sponged the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink to "age" it a bit.

The little tag is stamped with "Enjoy" from Baked with Love (Cornish Heritage Farms) and tied on with some twine that I got from Ellen Hutson's store. This is such a cute little card to give with a pecan pie or some cookies with some nuts in them. Hmmmm...... I think I need to go bake something now. :-)

Stamps: Tiled Scallops backgrounder, Fine Houndstooth Scrapblock, Baked with Love (all from Cornish Heritage Farms)
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Walnut Stain distress ink
CS: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, White
Other, sponge, twine

A Christmas Wish

You are seeing a sneak peak of a new Stampin Up set that will be in the new Holiday Mini catalog. This is called Home for Christmas. This is the first set that screamed out for me to buy it. :-)

I stamped the image with Chocolate Chip classic ink, and colored it in with a combination of markers and watercolor pencils. I only used 2 watercolor pencils - white and a dark hunter green. I used the green pencil to color in the wreath and the swag.

Did you see the little white felt snowflake at the top? That is a new embellishment that is also in the Holiday mini catalog. I love these felt snowflakes!!! They come in a set of 3 colors - white, red, and Baja Breeze. You'll be seeing more felt snowflakes over the next few months as we get closer and closer to Christmas.

Oh my gosh - just a little over three more months til Christmas!!! We better get those cards done!


Stamps: Home for Christmas, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Sanded
CS: Real Red, Handsome Hunter, Kraft
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Going Gray, Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, Bordering Blue, Sahara Sand
Other: watercolor pencils, sponge, distressing tool, Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon, Felt Snowflake, dimensionals

Where to find Shimmerz

Several people have asked me where to find the Shimmerz paints. Here is where I bought mine:

Jacksonbelle Embellishments

You can also look at the Shimmerz blog for more ideas. Keep in mind, these are little pots of paint, so you will need a paintbrush to apply the paint with. You probably "could" use your finger if you are in a hurry, LOL! The colors are yummy, and I love the shimmer. I only bought a few colors for now, but I would love to have ALL of them. :-)

The color I used on my card HERE is called Angel Wings. It doesn't really have a color. In the pot, it looks white, but it really goes on more as a clear shimmery glittery color. I'll have to play with the other colors to see how they look.

One thing to note - if you are painting this Shimmerz over a colored image, be aware that some things will run. If you color with dye-based reinkers/inkpads, these colors will most definitely run. If you color with Copics or Prismas, these will be fine - no running nor smearing.

In the card I mentioned before, I had used Ranger Distress inks, which are dye based. I had sponged Broken China along the snowdrifts, and then colored on top with the Shimmerz. The blue ink did actually start smearing and running a little bit, but it was okay for this particular card. I just wanted to let y'all know before you start coloring and ruining your project(s) and yelling at me. Hee hee hee!

That said - check out the sites I posted above and have fun looking at all the colors! Let me know which ones you pick! :-) (BTW - Lindsey from Jacksonbelle said she has more Angel Wings on order - I told her to stock up!! LOL)

A Rare Friend

I participated at the release party for the new SNSS stamps last weekend. They had a few challenges and one was a sketch challenge. This is the card I made for that challenge. Since I don't have many SNSS stamps (I only have Chocoholic - of course...), I was so happy when they said we could use any stamps for the challenges.

If I would have had some of their wonderful Scripture stamps, I would have used one of those on this card. It would have been beautiful on here! I rooted around and found this quote from Cornish Heritage Farms to use instead. I just love how it all came out.

Stamps: Friend Centers (Cornish Heritage Farms)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
CS: Pink Pirouette, Artichoke, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Basic Grey Sugared
Other: Chocolate Chip wide satin ribbon, primas, dew drops

Doodle Poinsettia

Are you in the mood for Christmas yet? It's still in the 90's here in Texas, and I am sooooooo ready for cooler weather. I made this quick and simple card to get me started on my Christmas cards.

I stamped the big flower from Doodle This onto Real Red cardstock two times, and once on Glorious Green cardstock. After I cut them out, I turned them over so the stamped image was on the back. I took each petal between my fingers and just sort of curled them over to give them some texture. I also smooshed my ink pads over them (Real Red on Real Red, and Green on Green) to give them additional depth.

After I let them dry, I simply put a green flower on the bottom, and two red ones on top of that, staggering the petals. I punched out the middle and put a yellow rhinestone brad in the center, and attached the whole thing to the card with dimensionals. These would make some fast and easy Christmas cards! :-)

Stamps: Doodle This, Many Merry Messages
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Glorious Green
CS: Real Red, Glorious Green, Kraft
Other: Fire square rhinestone brad

Shimmerz Sleigh Ride

I had to see how this looked, and it turned out pretty similar to what I "saw" in my head. Wouldn't you just love to go on a sleigh ride in the skies with Santa??

I tore the white papers at the bottom, edged them with Broken China distress ink, and then covered them with Angel Wings Shimmerz. Oh MY! I love these Shimmerz!! (I got mine from Jacksonbelle Embellishments - such a sweet gal!) These shimmerz are little pots of paint and they are incredibly shimmery. Check out more information here: Shimmerz Blog. You have got to try these!

This Angel Wings is a white-ish, clear-ish paint, and it was perfect for new-fallen snow in those snow drifts. Don't you just love how fresh snow seems to sparkle? (I'm speaking from gilded, long-ago memory here...... LOL)

All the stamps on this card are from Cornish Heritage Farms. They are part of the Rummage Bin line. I just love the vintage-y looks of these stamps.

Stamps: Primitive Christmas, Winter Vintage Signage (Cornish Heritage Farms)
Ink: Broken China & Vintage Photo distress inks
CS: White
Other: sponge, Angel Wings Shimmerz paint, paintbrush, Stampendous Turquoise Sparklers

Belli Challenge #31 - Back to School

This week's Belli Challenge is a theme - Back to School. I don't really have any "school" stamps, so I figured an apple card would be close enough. A child could give this to his teacher any time of the year.

I thought I would give you a little tip regarding the new Scallop Edge punch that is new in the Fall/Winter 2008 Stampin Up catalog. After you have punched out your row of scallops, save the little strip that is left over from the punching. You can see I used a tiny green strip of cardstock at the bottom of the red apple paper. That is the leftover piece after I punched out my scallop edge. :-)

Check out what the Belli Team has designed for this challenge:

Debby McGivillary http://debbysstampinheaven.blogspot.com/
Laurie Serino http://www.stampingforgodsglory.blogspot.com/
Shelly Koskinen http://shellysstamping.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Greco http://glitterinmyhair.blogspot.com/
Chris Dickinson http://www.chrissyd723.blogspot.com/
Christi Thorsen http://cici510.blogspot.com/
Lorie Ames http://www.live-love-laugh-create.blogspot.com/
Danita Hollander http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-Sq2CKRgzaK0KuqThCyDdel9j

Stamps: Tart and Tangy, Short and Sweet
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip
CS: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Real Red, Summer Picnic dsp
Other: scallop circle punch, 1 1/4 & 1 3/8 inch circle punches, scallop edge punch, Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon