Skating Brittney

Happy Memorial Day, everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful and relaxing day with your families.

Today I am sharing this fun roller-skating girl from I Brake for Stamps. This Skating Brittney is from the Sarah's Girls sheet, and I colored her with Copic markers. The funky background is the Mono Dies technique from Technique Junkies, and I thought it was a fun and hip card base for this sweet girl.

I've got a busy week ahead of me creating lots of artwork which I will share with you very soon. June 1 marks the beginning of a couple of wonderful new adventures that I am embarking upon, so come on back here on Wednesday to hear the big news! :-)

Stamps: Skating Brittney from the Sarah's Girls sheet (use coupon code SAVE10HOLLY to save 10% off your order)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
CS: Turquoise, White, Yellow
Other: Copic markers, star punch, turquoise rhinestones
TJ Technique: Mono Dies

Plum Sparklers

Good morning! I've got a fun and different way to use the Creative Inspirations Paints to show you.

Can you figure out what I did here? Hee hee hee!!

I stamped the image with Versamark and embossed it with white embossing powder. Then I dipped my finger into a jar of Plum Creative Inspirations Paint, smeared it all over the cardstock, and then sprayed it with water. The paint thinned out and left this pale colored sheen all over. I crumpled up the cardstock to give it a little texture.

But wait, I'm not done yet. LOL! Then I dipped my finger into the same Plum paint and rubbed it in circles directly over the white sparklers. Isn't that a cool effect??

But wait, I'm still not done yet. Heheheee!!! The last thing I did was dip a paintbrush into the same Plum paint, and then I "thwacked" it against my finger so it would splatter all over the image. That's what the little dark dots are - paint splatters. :-) Here's a close-up so you can see the splatters and the gorgeous shimmer:

I hope you enjoyed this fun project. There are so many different ways to use these paints, and I hope you try these out for yourself. :-)

Creative Inspirations Paint: Plum
Stamps: Penny Black Sparklers
Ink: Versamark
CS: plum, pale plum, white
Other: white embossing powder, May Arts silk ribbon
TJ Technique: Splatter

Wonder - Masculine Collage

Happy Friday!! I've got a different sort of masculine card to share with you today. There are some guys who don't fish or hunt or play sports, and this card really fits the bill for them. This stamp set, called Find Your Way, from Class Act (click Chapel Road line, then Collage section), has this wonderful collage image as well as several sentiments.

I used a fun technique called Deconstructed Collage (from Technique Junkies) to give the collage a different look. Then I added the sentiment with a hardware frame and a bit of hemp twine sticking out of one end. The hemp twine was wrapped around the background layer, and this helps to ground the card.

Are you ready for a long holiday weekend? Ready to fire up that grill and let the kids run through the sprinklers? Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend!


Stamps: Find Your Way from Class Act (Chapel Road line)
Ink: Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze
CS: Soft Suede, Vanilla, Not Quite Navy
Other: hardware frame, aged copper brads, natural hemp twine
TJ Technique: Deconstructed Collage

Faux Denim - Cowboy Up

Good morning! This is my card for this week's Gingersnap Creations color challenge - denim, rust, and dust. I used the Faux Denim technique from Technique Junkies in the background, and I used kraft(dust) and rust cardstock that has been distressed. The boot and the hat are colored with Copics in the same color scheme, and I added some aged copper hardware to frame the sentiment.

I've really enjoyed this Wild West theme at Gingersnap Creations this month. It was fun to pull out some of my older stamps that haven't been inked up in a while. Why don't you pull out some older stamps and play along with this week's Gingersnap Creations challenge? You could win an awesome prize from Technique Junkies just for playing along! :-)


Stamps: DRS (boot and hat image), Cornish Heritage Farms (sentiment from The Ranch set)
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento, Tea Dye distress
CS: Kraft, Rust, Ballet Blue
Other: Copic markers, oval punch, Aged Copper hardware, twine, distress tool, sponge
TJ Technique: Faux Denim

Razzleberry Birthday Girl

Our family is gearing up for the big birthday bash where we celebrate two or three months of birthdays all at once, and this card is going to come in handy. I used this sweet Birthday Girl Quinn from the Sarah's Girls sheet at I Brake for Stamps to make this funky shaped card.

I colored the girl with Copic markers and paper pieced the balloon, and then I cut it out using the Out of the Box Nesties technique from Technique Junkies' Emboss or Die CD. For the card base itself, I went with a funky shape. I used a Grand Labels 4 Nestability to die cut the olive cardstock, and then I folded it in half to make the card base. Then I used the next smaller sized die and cut the designer paper and layered it onto the olive base. I added some strips to the left side and added the birthday girl to the center.

Have a wonderful evening!

Stamps: Birthday Girl Quinn from the Sarah's Girls sheet (I Brake for Stamps - use code SAVE10HOLLY to save 10% off your order)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
CS: White, Olive, Razzleberry, Cottage Wall dp
Other: Copic markers, oval dies, dotted scallop edge punch, Grand Labels 4 dies
TJ Technique: Paper Piecing, Out of the Box Nesties

Chapel Road Challenge - May 20, 2011

Happy Friday! This is my project for today's Chapel Road challenge - anything goes, but with a masculine theme. I wanted to use this gorgeous Northern River scene from Chapel Road, and I happened to have this die cut bag sitting on my stamping table. Hmmmm..... would this fit on the bag??

As luck would have it, this scene fits perfectly on this Tuck and Close Bag #01 from Creative Cuts and More. I didn't have to cut anything off to make it fit - it's absolutely perfect!

I stamped the scene in a blue color to match the bag, and then I used the Aged Tiles technique from Technique Junkies on it. I layered this onto some kraft cardstock, and then distressed the edges. I didn't add any buttons or ribbons because I want this to be a clean and simple masculine bag that I can give to someone for Father's Day. Guys don't want all the foo-foo - they just want something simple and easy to open. :-)

Check out what my fellow Chapel Road design team members have created for this challenge over on the Chapel Road blog. I hope you play along with this fun and easy challenge - you could win some free stamps!

Stamps: Northern River from Chapel Road
Ink: Brocade Blue, Kraft
CS: white, kraft
Die cut bag: Tuck and Close Bag #01 from Creative Cuts and More
TJ Technique: Aged Tiles

Gingersnap & Technique Junkies Challenge

Good morning! I am playing along with this week's Gingersnap Challenge, and we are doing scene stamping this week. It's been a long time since I pulled out my Stampscapes stamps, so I dusted off a few of those stamps to create this scene for y'all.

I stamped the trees first, then I added the horse and the flock of birds and set this aside to dry completely. Then I sponged some color onto this, but it just seemed to be too bright. I wanted to keep with the Gingersnap Challenge theme of the Wild West, so I sponged around the edges with some Antique Linen distress ink and some Walnut Stain distress ink.

While my scene was drying, I created a Sanded Core'dinations background (from the Emboss or Die cd from Technique Junkies) by using some of the fabulous Brown Bag paper from Paper Temptress. It's really cool paper - colored on one side and brown kraft on the other side. This gave me the perfectly distressed background for my Western scene card. You're going to be seeing more of this awesome paper from me in the months to come. :-)

I added some twine, some brads, and the sentiment to complete this card. Why don't you pull out some of your scene stamps and see what you can create? I hope you play along with this Gingersnap Creations challenge - you could win a fabulous prize just for playing along!


Stamps: Stampscapes
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Summer Sky Memento, Bamboo Leaves Memento, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Artichoke, Hunter, Antique Linen distress, Walnut Stain distress
Paper: glossy white, kraft, Olive Brown Bag from Paper Temptress, Black Licorice Pop Tones from Paper TemptressOther: twine, brads, sponges, oval punch
TJ Technique: Sanded Core'dinations (Emboss or Die cd)

White on White - Dress Up Anna

Have you seen the new releases over at I Brake for Stamps? Della released THREE new sets of stamps - wow! I had the pleasure of working with the Sarah's Girls set, and this cutie is called Dress Up Anna.

I used the White on White technique from Technique Junkies - it just seemed like the perfect technique to go with the sweet strand of pearls that this little girl is "borrowing" from her mommy. Hee hee hee! Don't you remember trying on your mother's shoes and clomping around the house in them?

I colored Dress Up Anna with Copic markers, and then I added in the tiny pearls one at a time to match up with the stamped pearl necklace. I added larger pearls to each of the four corners of the card.

Go check out the new releases on I Brake for Stamps. I'm drooling over the other two sets, and I want them in my hot little hands now. :-) Remember to use this code - SAVE10HOLLY - to save 10% off your order at I Brake for Stamps. Happy Shopping!!

Stamps: Dress Up Anna from Sarah's Girls set (I Brake for Stamps)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
CS: White
Other: Copic markers, pearls, oval dies, photo corner punch
TJ Technique: White on White

Pool Bear

Happy Sunday, everyone!

I had a post that was supposed to go live on Thursday directing you to go check out my new artwork on the Paper Temptress blog, but unfortunately Blogger had some technical difficulties. Hopefully they have everything fixed now, and I'm crossing my fingers that I can post this and it won't crash. :-)

I am one of the new members of the Paper Temptress Design Team, and I can't wait to show you my first project using Paper Temptress papers:

Isn't that cute??? Hehehehe! To start, I stamped this adorable Beach Bear image from I Brake for Stamps onto some Cryogen White cardstock from Paper Temptress. After I colored it with Copic markers, I used the Copic Texturizing technique from Technique Junkies and then I cut it out. I cut some of the leftover pieces of the same Cryogen White cardstock with a ric rac die and colored them with a red Copic marker. You can see how shimmery the bear and the red ric rac are in this picture below:

Isn't that awesome? It sort of looks like the sun is shining down on them and the water is reflecting off of them. See that soft blue paper that is all wavy and looks like water? That is the cool Sky Blue Ruche paper from Paper Temptress - how perfect is that for simulating water? I'm in love with this Ruche paper now and I've got all kinds of ideas for using these! :-)

I hope you've enjoyed my project today. Remember, when you go shopping at I Brake for Stamps, use this code - SAVE10HOLLY - to save 10% off your order. Enjoy your weekend!

Depth of Field Ferns

Hello readers! I hope you're having a wonderful Tuesday. It's a hot and humid day here in Texas, so I am really thankful for air conditioning today. I'm going to love it even more over the next few months as we head into the summer heat.

Today I have a masculine Chapel Road card to share with you. I used a really cool technique from Technique Junkies called Depth of Field on this background with these Ferns from Chapel Road (scroll down to the bottom). The sentiment is from the Northern River set, also from Chapel Road.

Since this is a masculine card, I didn't go crazy with ribbon or flowers or scalloped edges. I opted for a single dark green button and a small piece of twill tape sticking out of the side of the sentiment. I love how the background really stands out on this card.

Thanks for checking in to see what I've created today. Check back on Friday when I will have a special sneak peak for you. :-) Enjoy the rest of your week!


Stamps: Ferns (scroll down to the bottom) and Northern River set
Ink: Artichoke, Moss, Gray
CS: Artichoke, White
Other: twill, button, twine, sponge
TJ Technique: Depth of Field

Blue Woods

Happy Friday! Today I am posting a card using a gorgeous scene stamp from Chapel Road. I used the Watercolor Distress technique from Technique Junkies on this Beaver Swamp image and then I added some buttons and black magic mesh to the card. Just for fun, I decided to add a chipboard bird that I covered with some blue distress crackle paint. This card would be great to give to someone who loves the outdoors - just add any kind of sentiment inside and it's ready to go. :-)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Can you believe it is May already??


Stamps: Beaver Swamp image from Class Act/Chapel Road line
(this is in the Canadiana section under Chapel Road)
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Tumbled Glass distress, Broken China distress
CS: White, Black
Other: magic mesh, buttons, chipboard bird, Broken China distress crackle paint
TJ Technique: Watercolor Distress

Howdy Y'all Cowgirl

Howdy!! Today I'm sharing a fun cowgirl card with y'all, and I'm hoping you will play along with this fun challenge. Technique Junkies is sponsoring the Gingersnap Creations challenge this month, and their theme for this month is the Wild Wild West. Oh yeah, baby.......... living in Texas, I've got a nice little stockpile of rustic country and Texas stamps. Hee hee hee! How perfect!

Since this week's challenge is all about Cowboys and Cowgirls, I pulled out this sweet little cowgirl from Deadbeat Designs and this Texan sentiment stamp from jamnstamps (both found at a LSS called Stamp Salado). The cowgirl is colored with copic markers right on the kraft cardstock, cut out with an oval die, sponged around the edges and then distressed with a distress tool. I did the same with the sentiment and the larger rust oval layers.

The background is the COOLEST technique from the new Emboss or Die CD from Technique Junkies. It is called Faux Tooled Leather, and it looks so cool and so perfect for a Cowboy/Cowgirl card. You can order your own CD with 79 great techniques by clicking here.

The last thing I did for this card was I added a strip of burlap and wrapped some dark brown twine all around it. I didn't want to cover up the cool background, so I didn't add a lot of extras to this card. I hope you will play along with this fun challenge at Gingersnap Creations. You could win the Emboss or Die CD just for playing!


Stamps: cowgirl from Deadbeat Designs, sentiment from jamnstamps
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento
CS: Rust, Kraft
Other: oval dies (Spellbinders), distress tool, sponge, Copic markers, burlap, brown twine
Technique: Faux Tooled Leather (Emboss or Die cd from Technique Junkies)

Clown Bear

Happy Monday, everyone! It is a cold, gray, drizzly day here, so how about a sweet little clown bear to put a smile on our faces? This adorable Clown Bear from I Brake for Stamps is colored with Copic markers, and then I added some fun little pom poms to his hat and his shirt. The little stars are actually Faux Chipboard - a fun technique from Technique Junkies. The last thing I did was go over the confetti with a yellow glitter pen - you can't really see the shimmer but it's there. :-)

Remember - you can save 10% off your order at I Brake for Stamps by using this code - SAVE10HOLLY. You can use that to buy stamps, gorgeous flowers, Spellbinders dies, and even some gorgeous Bo Bunny papers. They are selling out fast, so you better hurry! :-)

Stamps: Clown Bear from I Brake for Stamps
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
CS: Kraft, Olive, White, Walk in the Park (Echo Park)
Other: buttons, linen thread, yellow glitter pen, pom poms
Technique: Faux Chipboard from Technique Junkies