Riley Golf

The Riley challenge this week was to create a masculine card. I've made my first tri fold card and it came together very quickly except for the handwritten the sentiment. I found some funny golf sayings on the web and instead of printing them out I wanted to work on my handwriting skills. The truth is I really don't like my handwriting and since nowadays I primarily type it hasn't gotten better, but it's something I want to work on. I'm in awe when someone has such a pretty handwriting that they can sign their cards without relying on stamps.

The top is the open view of the card and the bottom is the closed version. I know, I still need a lot of practice, but hopefully the humor makes up for the crooked handwriting.

Supplies :

• Stamps: Riley Golf
• Paper: SU Certainly Celery, Whisper White, We R Memory Keepers Good Day Sunshine DP
• Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, Memento Tuxedo black, Copics: E33, E35, E47, E49, W2, C-3, G21, G40
• Accessories: Basic Grey buttons
• Tools: Scor Pal

~Olgy

MFT Sketches

I was traveling part of last week and couldn't play along with some of the challenges I've been wanting to do weekly. Stamping and sports are so great at relieving stress, but since I haven't been doing much of either lately I've been grumpy. Why is the work week 5 days and weekend only 2?! Don't you sometimes wish you had a choice to work shorter weeks and scale the pay? I'd do that in a heartbeat if I could. Sorry, I don't mean to bring everyone down, after all, I have some cards to share today so it can't be all bad. If you have tips for carving out time for hobbies in a busy schedule or while traveling, I've love to hear them so please leave a comment.

The first card is for My Favorite Things sketch for guest designer challenge. I love the sketch, but don't have a lot of stamps yet and had to use an embossed sentiment instead of an image as a focal point.

The second card if also for MFT, but for the weekly sketch challenge on SCS. The sketch was perfect for using up some pattern paper, which I've been challenging myself to do lately. The die cut flowers and border are from MFT and the sentiment is from Riley. 

Supplies (All supplies are Stampin'Up! unless otherwise noted) :

• Stamps: MFT Valentines set from Dec Triple Scoop, Riley Funny Bones 
• Paper:Real Red, Very Vanilla, Kraft, Basig Grey Blush collection, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, More Mustard, Basic Grey Serendipity collection
• Ink: Versamark + red EP, Real Red, More Mustard
• Accessories: Metal heart from Craft Essentials Love & Wedding collection, Heidi Swapp heart shapes
• Tools: Nestabilities, MFT Die-namics Mini Royal Roses, Dainty Dots Border

~Olgy

Riley Make It Sparkle

I started on this card a while ago, but I kept playing around with different embelishments and nothing looked right. Sometimes when that happens it helps me to work on something different and come back to a project, but other times I just start from the beginning. I dind't have time to recolor the picture so I tried to salvage what I've had. Flourishes and Primas don't scream Las Vegas, but this is Vegas in Riley world after all...

I love adding bling to my cards so I have lots of sparkle for this challenge - Stickles on the sign, glitter paper and rhinestones on the flowers. I didn't stick with the actual Vegas sign colors, but you all know that in the stamping world its more important to coordinate with the papers :)

Supplies (All supplies are Stampin'Up! unless otherwise noted) :

• Stamps: Welcome to Las Vegas Riley
• Paper: SU True Thyme,  We R Memory Keepers Down the Boardwalk
• Ink: Memnto tuxedo black, Copics: E33, E35, E47, E49, RV21, BG93, Y21, BG15, C-1
• Accessories: MFT Die-namics Fancy Flourish, Prima flowers, rhinestone brads, Stickles, Nestabilities Labels One

~Olgy

CAS Christmas Candy

Popping in for another quick post. I had a chance to play along in the SCS Featured Stamper challenge today and case a cute CAS Christmas card from Allee's gallery. I know, its a little late... or early to be posting Christmas cards, but you could easily change it into a valentines day or birthday card.

The chanages I made from the original were to pop up the candies and wrap them up into clear packaging to look like real hard candies. I repurposed plastic cover from a paper stack, but you can also use the clear envelopes or other gift packaging. I also added silver chord and punched the bottom of the card.

Supplies :

• Stamps: Craftsmart candy stamp from Michaels, SU Best Yet
• Paper: GinaK white, chipboard
• Ink: SU Real Red, Versamark and silver EP
• Accessories: SU silver chord,  plastic packaging
• Tools: Martha Stewart scallop with 2 dots punch

~Olgy

Lulu Loves Poppies and Self Control

For those of you who are just interested in seeing the card for the "Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words" (no sentiments) Bellatastic Tuesday challenge, here is my Lulu Loves Poppies. The sketch is from the weekly MFT106 challenge, but I don't have enough MFT stamps yet that would work well with sketch so instead of fussing with something for a long time to try and make it work, I combined the two challenges. Leaving off sentiments usually isn't a problem for me, I often do that anyway and then I add on an appropriate one when  I'm ready to give the card. It's and old tip I got from someone and I love it because even when my card stash is low I can usually find a card that fits a particular occasion.

For those of you still reading, I have another side story to share about this card. You already know I'm a pattern paper addict, I've mentioned it before. Well right after I bought my Lulu Loves Poppies stamp, while it was still in the mail on its way to me, I was walking through Joann's on a mission to buy a new cutting blade and NOTHING else when I noticed a Heidi Grace Tweet Memories paper stack full of different poppies papers. Ok, I may have taken a slight detour down the stamp isle, but I justified it as being thorough in my search. I was standing there looking at this adorable paper stack, dual sided, with some glittery pages, great colors and a good mix of small and bold patterns and all I could think about is how perfectly it'll coordinate with my future stamp. Never mind that I told myself that I'm only buying one thing that day. Never mind that just that week I was going though my paper storage frustrated that I was out of room and telling myself that I absolutely have to use use some of my existing stash before I can buy any new prints. I decided I had to make an exception because the find was such an incredible coincidence and to top it off the paper was marked 40% off. I mean it just doesn't get better than that.  I grabbed the paper, happy and a little ashamed about my lack of self control at the same time and now, 2 months later it's finally made its way to a project. Please don't judge, at least I kept myself from buying multiples... How about you, what things do you find hard to resist be it paper crafting related or otherwise? I'd love to see your comments.

Supplies  :

• Stamps:Stamping Bella Lulu Loves Poppies
• Paper: SU basic black, Heidi Grace Tweet Memories collection
• Ink:Memento tuxedo black, SU Summer Sun, Copics: R27, R29, R59, RV21, E51, E53, G02, C-1
• Accessories: Making Memories ribbon tag, Glossy Accents
• Tools: Nestabilities oval die, Marta Stewart Arch Lattice punch

~Olgy

Winter Blues

I've come down with something. Not really sure what it is, its a flu or some sort of bug, but I spent the last weekend either in bed or on the couch and had no strength or motivation to do anything else. Even stamp [gasp]! I grabbed my box of Copics and some pre-stamped images and spent 6 hrs laying in bed and coloring. It was soothing and fun at the same time and I felt like a little kid. I also came to the conclusion that I really really need to practice my coloring technique (or lack thereof). I also convinced myself that getting more markers is the key :) All in all I colored 5 images (2 of which are usable) and I bought  30+ markers - seems reasonable, doesn't it? Copics are wonderful, but most of the time I can't dedicate enough time to color and perfect an image like I see so many talented artists do so we'll see how much use my markers will actually get. Hopefully I'll be posting improved cards here over time. 

For now here's a quick clean and simple card for for CASology winter challenge with some simple Copic shading. Love the GinaK 120lbs cardstock because the Copics don't show through the single layer. And I just can't resist adding Stickles or glitter to this image. Thanks for stopping by. 

Supplies :

• Stamps: Pile of Pinguins by Whipper Snapper, SU Warm Words
• Paper: GinaK white cardstock, SU Bashful blue
• Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics: B93, B97, B32, G02
• Accessories:Backer's twine, Stickles
• Tools:Oval punches

~Olgy

Basic Grey Blush Cards

I have a slight addiction to pattern paper. On average, for every sheet I use, I buy 10. Alright, sometimes its more. For example, the Basic Grey Blush collection, sure it's gorgeous, but I bought 3 stacks when it came out! Needless to say I still have tons of it. I still love it, but I'm looking for ways to use more DP and put a dent in my stash. This week's Mojo Monday sketch was perfect for that because of all the layers.

Since I already had all the papers laid out on my table, I also made a CAS version of the card for CASual Fridays Thank You card challenge. It's not a typical CAS card because of the pattern paper there's not a lot of white space, but its super quick and easy to make. Just punched out the flower center with a circle punch, added a stamped border and a rhinestone.

Supplies :

• Stamps: SU Seeing Spots, Inkadinkado cupcake
• Paper:Chocolate chip, Basic Grey Blush Collection - Fancy, Adore, Infuse 
• Ink:Chocolate chip, embossing powder; Copics R20, R22
• Accessories: Hobby Lobby pink ribbon, rhinestones
• Tools:Circle punches, piercing tool

~Olgy

Martha Stewart Microbeads

I've had a few jars of Martha Stewart microbeads for a couple of years now. They looked so cute in the bottle I just couldn't resist buying them. However, a few times I've tried them on projects in the past, I've had trouble with them staying put after some time and didn't look like they could make it intact in the mail. 

This time I was determined to find ways to adhere the microbeads and ensure they stay put. Here are a few fun results.

1. Shaker card filling. Since I originally had trouble with the adhesives I tried, the first thing that came to mind was something that didn't require adhesive at all. I wanted to make a shaker card with these for a while and it was perfect for a FS308 SCS challenge card.

You have tto flip the card on the side to uncover the 3rd pinguin. Its a fun little Christmas card. I think microbeads worked really well here, but the only plastic packaging I had was pretty thick so I'm not sure if I can send this card in a regular envelope.

2. Securing microbeads with Crystal Effects or Glossy Accents. This seemed to be the most popular method when I searched online. Definitely works better than regular glue, but I still found that some beads continued to fall off when the project was dry. Gently pressing the beads into the glue helped.

3. I didn't make a project for the 3rd example yet, but this is a Glue Dot covered in microbeads. I'd expect similar results with sticky tapes. They actually seem to stay on pretty well. 

Shaker Card Supplies:

• Stamps: Pile of Pinguins by Whipper Snapper
• Paper: Kraft, Snowfall Ice Blue by Basic Grey
• Ink: White embossing powder
• Accessories: Martha Stewart blue topaz microbeads, rhinestones, clear plastic from packaging
• Tools: EK Success snowflake punch

Bella Card Supplies:

• Stamps: Stamping Bella Pheobe Ketto
• Paper: Very vanilla, Me & My Big Ideas DP, SU Bali Breeze DP, shimmery pink cardstock from stationary store
• Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Sahara Sand (for sponging)
• Accessories: Stickles, liquid pearls, Glossy Accents, metal tag (sorry forgot the brand), lace
• Tools: Nestabilities

~Olgy

Bella White Space Challenge

Since it's New Year and I'm home I'm posting twice in the same day! I know, it's unheard of for me, but hopefully its a sign of things to come in 2013. 

I bought a whole bunch of Bella stamps recently. Actually, I bought a lots of other stuff over the break too. I can't keep up with using all of it and yet I just keep getting more because the its so cute and I just can't help myself. Like so many other of papercrafters out there, I'm addicted. As far as addictions go, it's not such a bad one, so I'm not seeking treatment any time soon :) Anyway, back to my new Bella stamps. You'll be seeing a lot more of Phoebe Ketto before Valentine's day, but here's my first one for Bella's December White Space Challenge. Phoebe's dress is shimmering from Liquid Pearls and I added Stickles to her wings because a girl needs some sparkle. 

And because I just love CAS cards and couldn't help myself, I made another quick Bella card using Branching Out Owlies. Lime green can be a challenging color, but I think it works well with the kraft cardstock. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies :

• Stamps: Stamping Bella Phoebe Ketto, Branching Out Owlies, SU Congrats
• Paper: SU Whisper White, Kraft, Real Red, Me & My Big Ideas DP (with words I love you, but not sure what it's called), scraps
• Ink: Memento black, Versamark, Zing! Cricket EP
• Accessories: Petal Pink Liquid Pearls, Icicle Stickles
• Tools: Nestabilities cirle and scallop, SU paper piercing template

~Olgy

Happy 2013!

2012 just flew by it seems. I hope my 2013 will be more laid back. What are you wishing for?

Since New Years Day is all about glitz and glamour, I wanted to share this card with a sensational Sensations! Penny Black image. Aren't these girls just adorable and ready for a night on the town? Unfortunately the picture doesn't show all the detail on the card and I already mailed it so I can't retake the photo, but the background is shimmery DP and the ladies and their accessories are covered in perfect pearls ready to party. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies :

• Stamps: The Sensations! by Penny Black with cow, pig and sheep
• Paper: SEI Eclair from the Chocolat collection, basic black, Gina K Pure White
• Ink: Momento, pretty in pink, Pefect Pearls
• Accessories: rhinestones
• Tools: Spellbinders ovals

~Olgy