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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Dress for Success


Greetings! Still trying to get back on track with some challenges I previously enjoyed.  The current challenge at Dragon Dreams Tag Challenge is called Dress for Success.  We are to include a dress or mannequin, embossed surface and bling. I began by embossing the tag with a Cuddlebug floral embossing folder.  Anyone else wish these folders came in larger sizes? The focal image by Dina Wakley was stamped with Timber Brown StazOn Ink on sticky back canvas. I added a smidgen of Worn Lipstick Distress Marker using a Dylusions Stencil.  Some time ago, I rescued a dictionary that was going to be tossed at work.  It pained me to tear a page out of it, but I finally mustered up the courage and added the definition of 'success' to my Tag.  A bit of lace, buttons, a glittered heart sticker, a postmarked stamp, felt flower and Idea-ology ChitChat Stickers complete my tag. Thanks for dropping by. I appreciate every visit and word of encouragement. A special thanks to my newest followers! Best, Yvonne



Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Annie Don't Get Your Gun


Hello! Sharing a card with you today for the current Challenge over at Our Creative Corner where the them is "Woody with and Button."  I decided to work with the "Cowgirl Strength" plate from Artistic Outpost.  The focal image was stamped on Sticky Back Canvas and layered over a wood grain embossed panel.  The sentiment was stamped, cut apart and added to the card front. The lace was added for comic relief to the sentiment. Vintage buttons and some burlap string complete my card.  Thanks for dropping by. It means so much to me.  Best wishes, Yvonne

I Adore You!





Hello!  Here today with a new challenge at Inkspirational Challenges.  With a fifth week in our month, the challenge this time around is "Anything Goes."  I decided to work with a digi from our sponsor, A Day for Daisies.  She reminds me a bit of Scarlett O'Hara in one of her famous scenes in Gone with the Wind when
she wore a beautiful maroon gown.  She is layered onto silver card stock over a black card base.  Simple embellishments include Liquid Pearls, black seam binding, and ChitChat stickers.  I hope you will stop over to check out the rest of the Design Team's inspiration pieces and then submit one of your own.  Anything goes!  Thanks for dropping by! Yvonne

Retro Baby!

Hello! It's Wednesday, and that means it is time for another Word Challenge over at 365 Cards.  This week, the word is Retro!  For my card, I layered this scrap of salvaged gift wrap that has peace signs in it, if you look closely to a red card base.  The digi image is by this week's sponsor, Paper Pretties.  I chose a red and white palette for the ensemble and colored with Copic Markers.  The sentiment is also by Paper Pretties.  Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for the word Retro!  Best wishes, Yvonne

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Love is in the Air


Hello!  Sharing a bit of a different Valentine with you today for the challenge over at Try it on Tuesday.  A bit of insomnia last night, so I sat down at 3:30 a.m. to make a card.  As I began, I came across a panel that I had added PanPastels to in shades of yellow.  I had several Dina Wakley stamps that I stamped in black StazOn ink.  It was not until a pack of glitter hearts fell onto my desk that I decided to make this a Valentine!  Unusual colors, but I think it works!  Cupid is a Sissix die cut, corrugated card board is a recycled cookie box liner.  Thanks for dropping by.  Best, Yvonne

Monday, January 28, 2013

One for the Boys!

Greetings! It's Monday and that means a new challenge over at Make My Monday.  The theme this week is "One for the Boys."  I began by smooshing Old Paper, Pumice Stone and Evergreen Bough Distress Ink onto a craft mat, adding water and sopping up the inks.  The time pieces from the Auld Lang Syne plate from Artistic Outpost were stamped over the background.  The main image from the Think and Wonder plate, also by AO, was stamped on scrap card stock, matted and added to the card front.  The smaller image on the lower right is also from AO.  Lots of Tim Holtz elements finish off my guy card.  I found dark blue green buttons that go perfectly with the background, which really thrilled me.  Thanks for dropping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne.  

Baby, You're A Star!

There's a new challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show and the theme is Stars!  Lucky me, as I just purchased this gorgeous stamp set from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  It is an Artistic Outpost plate entitled Picture Star.  I was in the mood to work with my water soluble Oil Pastels again, so I began by using them to create this colorful background.  Various images from the Picture Star plate were stamped with Black StazOn Ink onto the colored background.  I decided not to color in the baby as I thought it just looked so retro in black and white.  Love this new stamp set!  Also entering this over at the PanPastels UK Blog Challenge.  Thanks for stopping by.  Yvonne

Hollyday Wish

A bit behind with my posts, so I hope you will forgive my multiple posts today.  This one is for the current challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.  This week we are trying a technique called Triple Time Stamping.  I have never heard of this technique before, and they kindly offered an outstanding video tutorial that includes precise measurements for creating the card.  I worked with images from Oxford Impressions.  The musical background was stamped with Old Paper Distress Ink.  The Holly leaves were stamped with Olive StazOn Ink and the berries were colored with a Fired Brick Distress Marker.  A bit of ribbon and some bits of red paper doily complete my card.  Thanks for dropping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Black and White and Read All Over

I discovered a new to me challenge site called Electic Ellapu through a blogging friend, Nicola, who just joined their design team!  Nicola has a beautiful blog that you should check out if you have not yet done so. The theme at Electic Ellapu this week is Black and White and Read All Over.  I decided to stamp the background of my card repeatedly with a text image from the Artistic Outpost plate called Birds of A Feather.  The sentiment and images are also by AO and come from the Bluebird plate. To complete my card, I added black lace and paper doily, and white seam binding tied into a bow and a white feather.  I'll also be entering my card at the AO January Referral Program.  Thanks for dropping by my blog today!  Best wishes, Yvonne

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Friends Forever


The weeks just fly by don't they?  It is time once again for a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.  This time, the challenge is to "Show Some Love."  With Valentine's Day soon upon us, the timing of of challenge could not be better.  For my own card, I chose this sweet image by Artistic Outpost and lightly colored it with Distress markers.  Simple embellishments include several paper doilies, vintage buttons and seam binding, die cut hearts (a complimentary thank you gift with a recent order at The Funkie Junkie Boutique) and Ranger Liquid Pearls.  The background paper is a digital print out by Gecko Galz.  I hope you will pop over to FSC and check out all the beautiful inspiration prepared by my Design team Sisters and I hope you, too, will submit an entry of your own.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Best wishes, Yvonne


Oh Day of Days!

Greetings! It's time for another new challenge at Inkspirational Challenges.  This week, we are working from the sketch below.  

For my post, I immediately though of my every ready stash of paper doilies!  Distressed, of course, with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, and layered over a checkered background paper.  The sweet little girl is from the Favorite Book plate by Artistic Outpost as is the Sentiment, which I stamped onto re-purposed ribbon.  Vintage buttons and snippets of burlap string and a bit of vintage seam binding complete my card.  We are excited to see what you do with the sketch above!  Thanks for dropping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Friday, January 25, 2013

Dino-mite!


There's a new challenge over at Bloggers Challenge today.  We are to create a card around "Birthdays."  Perfect timing for me as my dear little grandson turns two today.  So, I made the card above for him.  The image, stamped three times is by Studio G and the sentiment is by Heidi Grace.  I hope everyone has a great weekend. I am looking forward to seeing all of my family on Sunday when we celebrate my grandson's birthday.  Take care.  Yvonne

Afternoon Tea

I decided to give the latest challenge over at CASology  a try where the theme is to create a CAS card using the word "drink" as your inspiration.  I decided to make a card around a cup of tea.  The image and sentiment on my card are from Artistic Outpost.  I refrained from coloring in the teacup, opting instead for a more retro look in black and white. Though I found myself desperately reaching for lace, buttons and seam binding, I resisted!  Thanks for stopping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Thursday, January 24, 2013

12 Tags of 2013 - January


Okay!  I finally mustered up the courage to join the fun over at Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013!  I admit I was a bit worried, but I was totally amazed at how fast the whole process went with Tim's step by step directions.  Before I realized it, I was finished!  Tim's fabulous Tag for January 2013 is shown below.  I LOVE this style of art work and have slowly been building up my stash.  I just recently acquired the time piece embossing folder and cog wheel dies over at The Funkie Junkie and was thrilled to have them to use today.  I did not have the text below, but used another text from Tim Holtz.  Somewhere, I have a tin of film strip, but I could not find it, even though I just reorganized my craft studio, so I found an image of a film strip from a stamp purchased on eBay and used that.  


I truly love working with Distress Inks and tried Tim's trick of slicing through most of the top of my embossing folder to slide my tag into it.  But probably, my favorite part of this tag was stamping the ribbon and dragging it through Distress Ink.  Need to acquire more Distress Stains!!! Thanks for stopping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

A New Medium For Me!

Hello, I am sharing a tag with you that I created with a new to me medium, water soluble oil pastels.  I recently was looking at the PaperArtsy Blog and a post by Helen Chilton about working with oil pastels.  I knew immediately that I had to give them a go.  I just picked the pastels up this afternoon and could not wait to crack open the box when I got home.  I truly need to study up on working with them, but I am reasonably happy with my initial try.  The focal image is by Gecko Galz.  Stencil by Dyan Reaveley.  If anyone knows of any good videos or blog posts, I would love to hear from you.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Just Between Us

Back again for another challenge over at Our Creative Corner.  This week, the challenge is "White with a Decorative Edge."  We are to create a project using only white with the exception of the sentiment, which obviously must have color and we are also required to include a decorative edge.  I love to see White on White but have probably only ever made one other such card in my life.  After adding my decorative edge, I layered a paper doily onto my card base.  The mannequin,  thread spool and paper button are Tim Hotlz die cutsthat were a gift from a design team sisters, Brenda.  Bits of cheese cloth and corrugated cardboard, ChitChat stickers, a feather button, seam binding and liquid pearls complete my card.  Thanks for stopping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Happy Valentine's Day Sweetie Pie

There's a bit of a change over at 365 Cards on Wednesdays!  We will be challenged to create cards based on a specific word.  For this first challenge, the word is "Sweet."  My first thought was candy or ice cream, but in the end, I decided to create a card with a sweet baby on it.  The focal image is from Gecko Galz.  The sentiment is Studio G.  This card is also for the newest challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the challenge is to create a project that reveals :"What You Are Known For."  This was a very soul searching challenge for me.  I have gone through many, many styles in my lifetime.  I have always had a deep appreciation and love for things vintage, and I love early modernism.  I love color but I love monochromatic too.  I love lace, ribbon, buttons and all embellishments.  The card above truly reflects me!  Thanks for stopping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Yuletide Greetings!

Greetings!  Working on my Christmas Card Inventory with the latest Challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throw Down. The challenge this week is a recipe:  Patterned Paper, Glitter, and we most decorate the inside of our card.  In retrospect, I see a Valentine's Day influence on my card! But truly, the patterned paper by Martha Stewart is a leftover piece of Christmas card stock.  The postage stamp image by Inkadinkado was stamped with Red StazOn Ink.   I found myself breaking up the pattern a bit with the paper doily and lace trim.  Vintage seam binding and buttons, and a few ChitChat stickers complete my card.  For glitter, I used Red Ranger Stickles.  A close up below, hopefully gives you a better feel for the glitter.

I used more of the same paper inside and decided to add more Stickles as well!
I am still plugging away to create a total of seven of each week's design to meet my card goal for Christmas.  Wish me luck!  Best, Yvonne


Another Place and Time

Greetings!  I hope wherever you are, you are warm and crafting!  My first post today is for the CAS Challenge over at Make My Monday.  This week, we are to create a card based on the sketch below.  
I am the first to admit that I am uncomfortable with CAS!  How can something seemingly so simple be so difficult?  Not one to give up without trying, my take on the challenge is above.  The handsome gentlemen are from a Miniature Book by Crafty Individuals.  The cog is a Tim Holtz Die Cut purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and final embellishments include Viva Liquid Pearls and Idea-ology ChitChat Stickers.  I resisted the urge to add burlap string, button and more to my card, but it was not easy!  Thank you so much for dropping by.  It means so very much to me.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Loving Giraffes

I joined the Gecko Galz Forum recently and discovered that they were wrapping up a challenge TODAY, so I thought I would play along.  The challenge was to incorporate a new for you image from Gecko Galz, along with a recycled item (mine is a cookie box corrugated paper liner.) Sentiment is from Studio G.  Snippets of vintage sheet music, liquid pearls, die cut hearts and vintage seam binding complete my card.  Thanks for stopping by! Yvonne

The Pointe Is...

Greetings!  I hope you are having a great weekend.  We are at the beach in January after a four month hiatus.  I am trying to get back in the swing of things with favorite challenges in 2013, so I wanted to give Lisa's challenge a try.  Congratulations to Lisa on her 300th Bloggers Challenge! Below is the sketch we were to work from.
For my card, I decided to use to different lengths of lace  for my "panels."  The ballerina is from Gecko Galz's Tiny Dancer Collage Sheet and the sentiment is from Art Declassified.  Thanks for stopping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Won't You Be My Honey?

Hello!  My post today is a card I made for the current challenge over at Our Creative Corner called "Shabby Chic."  I used an image and sentiment from Stampsmith's "Won't You Be My Honey" plate.  The chipboard heart was included in my order from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  I used a Ranger Distress Stain in Pewter to paint the heart before adding Ranger Liquid Pearls.  A length of lace and vintage seam binding, a paper doily and some vintage buttons complete my card.   I am also entering this over at Simon Says Stamp and Show. I hope you are having a great day.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Dance Ballerina Dance

One of my favorite Challenge Sites is Frilly and Funkie. They not only challenge you bi-weekly, they cater to all sorts of styles by focusing on Frilly one week and Funkie the next within the same challenge.  They feature tutorials that offer a wealth of knowledge and outstanding designers and the owner, Linda Coughlin, is very generous with prizes.  I had not had an opportunity to play along much last year, but am hoping that 2013 brings more opportunity to do so.  For their first challenge of the new year, we are asked to Follow our Muse.  That certainly means different things to different people!  I decided to start with an image I really liked and really focus on creating a card that touched my heart and hopefully the eventual recipient.  The main image is by Gecko Galz.  The sentiment is by Art Declassified.  Part of my Muse is a love of recycled, often vintage, buttons, lace and vintage paper.  Thanks so much for dropping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Les Papillons


We are up to week three of our challenges at Inkspirational Challenges!  This week, we have a CASE challenge.  The inspiration is displayed below.

For my card, I chose to use this beautiful image from Crafty Individuals that fit the focal spot well.  The butterflies were water colored with Distress Markers.  The sentiment by Cavellini was stamped vertically to the left side of the focal image.  Simple embellishments include some Liquid Pearls and a few pieces of crocheted lace. As with the inspiration sample, I lifted the panels with foam dots for a bit of dimension.  We look forward to seeing your take on the challenge!  Thanks for stopping by today.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Private Door

It's Wednesday, and there's a new challenge over at 365 Cards.  Today, the challenge is "Knock Knock."  How you interpret it is up to you.  I went with this gorgeous image of a front door and accompanying sentiment, both from the Windows and Doors plate by Artistic Outpost.  How will you interpret the challenge?!  Have a great day, Yvonne

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

My Friend (A 3" x 3" card)


There's a challenge over at Moxy Fab Challenge called "Make an Itty Bitty Card."  We are to create a tiny card no more than 3 inches squared.  I used one of my favorite images from Stampington stamped in Black StazOn Ink.  Chitchat stickers, liquid pearls, some German Scrap, seam binding, lace and cheese cloth complete my card.  It was fun to make a tiny card!  Thanks for stopping by.  Yvonne

Dream With Your Eyes

Greetings!  It has been a while since I have been able to participate in the Stampsmith Challenge.  I LOVE their stamps, and am excited to have a chance to join their challenge again.  For the month of January, we are to create a project using at least one Stampsmith image and include a recycled item in the project, as well.  For my card, I chose this beautiful woman from the Won't You Be My Honey plate and the sentiment from the Say It With Flair plate.  As for recycling, I have include a recycled "mending kit" that we picked up on one of our overnight stays at a hotel and decided to incorporate into one of my cards.  Thanks for dropping by. Best wishes, Yvonne

Monday, January 14, 2013

Adoration

It's Monday, and that means a new challenge over at Make My Monday.  This week, the challenge is to create a project with Die Cuts and/or Punches.  I just received some crinoline in the mail today from the Funkie Junkie Boutique and I could not wait to try it with my Tattered Floral die cut!  The focal image and background paper are by Gecko Galz.  The stamped images are complimentary images by Crafty Individuals.  The ChitChat stickers and flower were "washed" with Spun sugar Distress Ink to soften the whiteness.  A Valentine for our precious granddaughter, I think. Have you checked out this great challenge blog yet?  Thanks for dropping by. Best, Yvonne

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Regal Greeting

Greetings! It's time for Week Two of 52 Christmas Card Throw down. This week, we have a color challenge.  We are to create a Christmas Card using "purple, white and metallic silver."  I decided to break out these ornament stamps from Stampin Up that given to me many years ago.  I confess, this was the first time they have been inked up.  The ornaments and sentiment were stamped with Seedless Preserves Distress Inks.  The ornaments were attached with foam dots and iced with silver glitter glue by Martha Stewart.  A bit of silvery ribbon, a paper doily, and some Chrome Liquid Pearls complete my card. Thanks for dropping by.  Yvonne

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Romancing the Train

Fashionable Stamping Challenge continues to be one of my favorite Challenge sites.  The Design Team has inspired me to grow my card making skills and I love the variety of challenges.  Speaking of which, it is time once again for a new challenge!  This time, the challenge is to create a project using "Trains, Planes or Automobiles."  Now while this tends to get me thinking of masculine type cards, I recalled this beautiful image by Crafty Individuals, and just could not resist incorporating it into my design.     They say a picture tells a thousand words, and when I look at this image, I just start thinking of their story and the role the train in the background played in it.  The stamped images are from various plates by Sam Poole.  Love her images!  A little hardware from Idea-ology, some black Liquid Pearls, and a touch of vintage black seam binding.  You will be delighted with what my Design Team sisters have created to inspire you, and we sure hope you will submit a creation of your own.  There's a prize for the top winner!  Thanks as always for dropping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Two Souls

Here we are at Week 2 of Inkspirational Challenges!  We are so excited that you have joined us.  Below is the Photo Inkspiration for this week.  

For my card, I was inspired by the heart, window and flowers.  I chose a paper heart doily, clip art from Crafty Individuals that I thought somewhat replicated the Inkspiration Photo and added some German Scrap roses.  The sentiment by A Muse stamp seemed fitting and was the first time I inked it up.  I hope you will stop over to Inkspirational Challenges and see the diverse designs of the Design Team and then give the challenge a try.  Have a great weekend.  Best, Yvonne

Friday, January 11, 2013

Be My Valentine


Greetings and Happy Friday!  I have been focused recently on some forthcoming Design Team pieces.  I decided to take a break this afternoon and make something just for fun.  Gecko Galz is offering this beautiful background paper and image absolutely free during the month of January.  I stumbled on this little stuffed valentine at the craft store and added it as a simple embellishment along with a paper doily, ChitChat stickers, Liquid Pearls and vintage seam binding.  I hope everyone has a great weekend.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Oh Baby!

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for another challenge at 365 Cards.  Today's challenge is to create a card using a Kraft card base and to ALSO use Kraft somewhere else on your card.  I recently was introduced to a company called Gecko Galz, and I have to tell you, I AM IN LOVE!  I am a very traditional person, and was a bit apprehensive about downloading and resizing images and designer background papers, but their line of products is stunning!  I used one of their image and some of their background paper for today's card. Please take a moment to check out Gecko Galz, and I hope you will drop by 365 Cards.  It's a great challenge with inspiration by a group of talented designers every single day of the year! Take care.  Best wishes, Yvonne 

Monday, January 7, 2013

Santa, I Believe

Yes, I know Christmas is over, and I have truly enjoyed moving on to Valentine's Day cards.  I recently came across a Challenge Site called 52 Christmas Card Throw Down, which encourages you to create a Christmas Card each week in preparation for next Christmas.  My husband and I send out approximately 300 cards, and no matter my intentions, I always get behind.  I am thinking about trying this challenge, with a bit of a twist, if I create six more of each week's cards, even if I miss a few weeks, I should have my cards for next year.  How life unravels throughout 2013 will determine if I accomplish my goal, but the first step is to have the goal, right?  The sketch for this week is below.

I certainly will understand if you prefer to skip over my Christmas posts until closer to the season!  Thanks for taking the time to read my post.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Tell Me More

I thought I would revisit the Vintage Stamping Challenge site where a number of my dear friends from Fashionable Stamping Challenge serve on the Design Team.  The newest challenge is Vintage and we are to make sure to use flowers in our project.  For my card, the background paper is a floral background, though it is a bit difficult to see.  The focal image is by Art Declassified and the girl is holding a bouquet of cut flowers. Embellishments include vintage seam binding, and buttons along with a bit of tulle and burlap string, a paper doily, liquid pearls and a metal charm.  Thanks for dropping by. Best wishes, Yvonne

Think it Through

It's Monday and Make My Monday Challenge is back for the New Year!  Yeah!  For this first challenge, we are asked to include Dry Embossing on our card.  I selected a Cuddlebug embossing folder with a seashell and script on it.  My thoughts went to Kraft for embossing along with light sanding, distressed edges and Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The focal image stamped in Black StazOn Ink is from Crafty Individuals.  Simple embellishments include burlap string, a metal seashell charm, Chrome Liquid Pearls and ChitChat Stickers.  Thanks for dropping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Inkspirational Challenges Starts Today!

The time has finally arrived!  The kickoff of Inkspirational Challenges starts today.  We are very excited about the format of this new challenge.  Each month, we will focus on a different weekly challenge.  For our very First Challenge, we have a color challenge! The colors:  Black, Dark Pink and Kiwi!
For my Design Team project, I am working with a Digi called "Lady Black Feathers" by A Day for Daisies, our sponsor for the month of January.  Isn't she a beauty?  Simple embellishments include green gems, vintage black seam binding and ChitChat stickers.  
There is a very special blog button being offered to everyone who joins us at Inkspirational Challenges for our inaugural challenge!  Please drop by Inkspirational Challenges and check out all the gorgeous inspiration pieces my Design Team Sisters have created to inspire you!  We hope you will join us all month long for a chance to win a gift card valued at $12 complements of our sponsor, A Day For Daisies.  Thanks for dropping by! Best wishes, Yvonne

For the Quiet Moments We Share

Greetings! I am sharing a card today with you for today's challenge of Love and Hearts over at 365 Cards.  Our sponsor for this entire week at 365 Cards is DRS Designs.  I chose this whimsical Heart Tree and touching sentiment from DRS Designs to create my card.  The panels were distressed with Spun Sugar Distress Ink and the Heart Tree was water colored with Distress Markers.  Bits of paper, vintage buttons, seam binding, burlap string, cheese cloth, and Liquid Pearls complete my card. A perfect opportunity to get started on your Valentines!  We hope you will join in!  Thanks for stopping by.  Best, Yvonne