Thursday, September 29, 2011

Butterflies and Fairies

I just picked up this cute little heart butterfly stamp by Outlines last week and just had to try it out.    I embossed the butterfly with silver.    I used my Tombows to paint the image.   For the background, I used Hero Arts Flourish stamps that I inked with 3 colours of Memento Dye Inks.  After stamping the flourishes I highlighted some areas with coordinating Prismacolour Pencils.  I like the effect for the background.   I used a sentiment from Kaisercraft's "Life Sentiments" set.   Fine glitter, ribbon, rhinestones and Starform holograph border stickers were added for the finishing touches.




Have a great day !

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Happy 50th Birthday Anneke !

My cousin Anneke, who lives too far away in Amsterdam,  turned 50 this summer.    She celebrated with a huge party this past Friday night which looked like a lot of fun in the photos !    In honour of her birthday a group of her 'scrapping' friends & family, better known as the 'Glossy Accents Ladies'  created a mini album (15 cm x 20 cm) to present to her at the party.

My sister Marn, who also lives too far away in Amsterdam, was here on vacation two weeks ago.   We had fun working together on this 'mini lay-out' for Anneke's album.  We picked a photo of the three of us on Queen's Day in 2010.   Orange is very prominent on that day, so we used it on both sides of our lay-out.    Everyone included a recipe on the back so Marn choose a recipe for one of Anneke's favourite dips !



Queen's day is an annual event on April 30th, downtown Amsterdam.  It's a great day where everyone comes out, young & old, to relax and socialize in a very festive atmosphere.  

Happy Birthday Anneke !

Outline Challege - Pick a Flower !

I won the draw for a $25 certificate in Outlines, Lots of Layers Challenge !  I am thrilled as it was the first challenge I've entered.

Check out this week's challenge here:   Pick a Flower !    I picked Outlines Zen Blossom H-367 Rubber Stamp for this card and layered it up again !


I stamped and embossed the Zen Blossom twice on Purple Designer Paper and once on Light Orange (it looks peach in the photo) and Metallic Brown cardstock.    I used my cuttle bug to emboss the orange paper.   I thought these colours were appropriate for Fall.   I cut and layered as the photo shows.   I cut the inner circle from the brown metallic flower in the 2nd layer.    A cool little bling in the centre, Diamond stickles, brown ribbon and Starform corner & border stickers add the final touches !    I also painted the purple paper with MicaColor Interference Paint - to add some dazzle, but it's a hard to see it in the photo.  I love using those paints !

 Have a great day, Shirley

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Shirley Doodle Cards

We are enjoying another perfect September day here in Ontario.    I'm in my craft room finishing up some details for this Saturday's class but hope to get out into the gardens soon ! 





I used Graphic 45 paper on the bird and tree cards.   The cute little square Happy Holiday stamp beside the tree is by Outline Stamps.  The Christmas Tree, Bird and Poinsettia images are Shirley Doodles stamps.

Have a great day !
Shirley

Monday, September 19, 2011

Outline Stamps Challenge, Lots of Layers !

I'm entering my first challenge today ! Here is the link to their blog:  Outlines Challenge, Lots of Layers 

I love using Outline Stamps and happy that I  finally have a Blog up & running to make an entry into one of their challenges !    There are so many Outline stamps that are awesome to use for adding layers to cards.    In my opinion the more layers the better !     


I used Outline Flowers for this card.  I stamped and embossed with gold the XLarge Jagged Posy,  the Large and Small Striped Petals once each on Brown Metalic and then Peach cardstock.   I cut and layered as the photo shows.   I continued layering with brown metallic and peach cardstock along with BoBunny's Gabrielle paper for accent.  I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the peach mat and to cut the brown metallic rectangle  & branch shapes.   Starform gold border & corner stickers and tiny gold beads (attached with glossy accents) in the centre of the flower were added for the final touches !

I've also added a side view photo here to show the layers.    

Have a great day !   
Shirley
 

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Cards with Smooch Ink Backgrounds

We are enjoying a perfect September day here in Ontario.    I've been busy with family activities as one Sister from Hong Kong and another from Amsterdam have been visiting.    I've also been busy preparing for upcoming workshops.

I designed these two cards for a workshop last June, we had a great time.  The backgrounds were created by blending Smooch Inks which have a wonderful sheen that add elegance to paper creations.     I learned this technique at a workshop over a year ago and I've been having fun 'smooching' ever since !  My husband doesn't mind :)


I stamped and embossed the Butterfly (by Outline Stamps) with gold.   It's a beautiful stamp.   I also used Smooch Inks to colour in the Butterfly.   I used Mermaid Stickles, Gold Border Stickers by Starform and ribbon for the finishing touches.


On this card, I stamped and embossed the images with White powder which were also coloured in with Smooch Inks.  (Feather stamps by IO and Flowers by Outline) .   I also stamped feathers using Brilliance Platinum Planet Ink on the background.  A couple of white pearls in the centre of the flowers add the final touch ! 

These great stamps are very versatile, I love them. 

Have a great day !
Shirley

Friday, September 02, 2011

Dragonflies & background

I'm teaching 2 workshops on Saturday that are 'all about backgrounds'.   I'm excited to share ideas on creating 'scenery' backgrounds using Distress Inks and homemade 'masks'.   It's a fun technique !   I saw a sample of this style at an amazing stamp store downtown Amsterdam (Posthumas) over a year ago and through trial & error I figured out how to create something similar.   


This 'sunset & weeds" card was created by using stamps from Hero Art & Inkadinkado


Have a great day !
Shirley