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

Quick Birthday Card

Vacations always fly by so fast and I have to go back to work tomorrow. I had so much fun catching up on stamping the past few days. Here's a quick card for SCS FS308 and Simon Says Anything Goes challenges. Love it when cards come together in under 20 min (that includes some measuring mistakes, embossing text and flower and cutting it out by hand).

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

• Stamps: Sincere Solutations, Embrace Life
• Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, white
• Accessories: Black and clear embossing powders, ribbon by the yard from local store, Liquid Pearls
• Tools: Cuttlebug embossing folder - Modern Wallpaper 

~Olgy

White Glamor - Wedding Gown Inspired Card

This card is for SCS Inspiration Challenge IC369 to make a card inspired by something on the Wedding  Bells site and I chose this picture of a wedding gown as my inspiration. I'm not big on yellow gold when it comes to my jewelry or even card making but in this case the touch of gold on the wedding dress caught my eye and I thought it'd be perfect to emboss a background stamp.

 

The "skirt" of the card is vellum that I first sprayed with shimmer and then ran through embossing folder. It's hard to see from the picture but the sentiment on the tag is embossed with iridescent powder and the edges are embossed in gold. I didn't have any gold cardstock to layer on my tag so I improvised with the gold embossing by layering a smaller circle punch inside the tag and then running my Versamark pad along the exposed edge. Couldn't decide wither to add the swirls or not, but I may do a more clean variation on this later. Thanks for visiting.

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

• Stamps: Stitched background stamp, Best Yet
• Paper: GinaK Pure White base, vellum
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Ribbon from Michaels, Pearl Glimmer Mist, White Gold Martha Stewart Glitter (for swirls)
• Tools: circle punches & Martha Stewart, Cuttlebug Modern Wallpaper embossing folder

~Olgy

Riley Anything Goes Challenge

Couch Riley is one of my favorite Riley stamps. I lost this stamp some time ago and finally caved and bought it again. I really like to use paper piercing technique with this image. For those new to stamping, paper piercing is done by stamping the image twice - once on the regular cardstock and once on patterned paper; the patterned paper is then cut out and glued on the cardstock. On my card Riley now has a stylish polka dotted sofa. 

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

• Stamps: Couch Riley by Riley and Company, So Very
• Paper: Chocolate Chip, Berry Bliss and Ginger Blossom DP
• Ink: Ruby Red, Copics (E35, E57, E47, E49) 
• Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets
• Tools: Oval punches, Lables One Nestabilities

~Olgy

I'm Back...

My poor little blog has been abandoned. Life took over and after a while the longer I waited, the more I felt like my returning post had to be really spectacular, deserving of fireworks and a welcome parade. It was a perpetual cycle and I stayed quiet.

Well, I'm giving it another go. No fireworks, but picking up where I left off with the occasional projects and see if it's something I want to continue dedicating time to. Kicking things off on a light note. Isn't this stamp a hoot? It reads "Listen Honey - The dress is by Ralph Lauren... The body is by chocolate chip!" It also seems appropriate around the holidays :)

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

• Stamps: Emerson American Art Stamp
• Paper:SEI Dill Blossom collection DP, SU Close to Cocoa
• Accessories: Button, twill
• Tools: SU scallop border punch

~Olgy

Secret Santa Swap

Jennie organized a really fun Designer Secret Santa Swap this year to make a chipboard album, a card, an ornament and a tag in time for Christmas. I used a lot of Basic Grey papers on my album, tag and ornament and the card was featured in an earlier post .

Here's the same picture showing the back of the ornament. It's the fist time I've ever made one and I was a bit at a loss so kept it simple and decorated the Basic Grey ornament template with rhinestones on one side and cut out some some Christmas DP and rub ons for the other.

My Secret Santa was Novell and I got an absolutely stunning album and gifts from her! Check them out on her blog.

~Olgy

Puppies!

I know, I haven't posted in ages and here's why... we got these furry kids a few weeks ago and they've taken over our lives. I'm running on just a few hours of sleep a night and the whole day is dedicated to housebreaking, feeding, spending time with them etc but with cute paws and faces like this make it worth it.

This sweet and super energetic girl is Mia. She's a Dane and is growing by the minute. I wanted to get a Dane for a really long time and she's mommy's "little" girl. Soon after we found Mia, Pete found this fluffy teddy bear Dex in a shelter's foster home and our household doubled.

Happy belated holidays!

~Olgy

Bella Birthday Hop

Welcome to the Bella Birthday Blog Hop celebrating her 3rd birthday! If you want to start at the beginning, visit Bella's blog today after 9am central. Now on with the party.

We got our first freeze in Austin last night and I can't wait for the winter to end. At least these Bellas are enjoying the sunshine on their birthday.

The Gardenbella is paired with spring colors, flowers and of course some glitter and pearls. What girl can go without them? The sketch is from SCS255 challenge.
Supplies:

• Stamps: Gardenbella
  
• Paper: BasicGrey Lilykate, My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie , gruvy guava & chocolate chip by SU
  
• Ink: Momento black, certainly celery by SU, Copics (E53)
• Accessories: Prima flowers, pink pearls, Stickles, clear button, twine, yellow SU ribbon, green Basic Grey ribbon

The Beachbella is doing even better on the sun and dressed up in the yellow paper pierced bikini and towel. The sketch is from SC254 challenge. I was singing the Yellow Polka Dot Bikini song as I was making this card, so I printed the lyrics on the inside.

Supplies:

• Stamps: Beachbella
  
• Paper: Bordering  from SU, DP from BasicGrey Offbeat collection and Plum Daisy from Chatterbox
  
• Ink: Momento black, Bordering blue, Copics (E53, Y21)
• Accessories: Metal Tag and clips, Prima flower, button, rhinestones
  
• Tools: Cuttlebug, punches

Thanks for stopping by my blog and your next stop on the hop is Margie's Blog or you can find the master thread of participants here.

~Olgy