Oh So Pretty!

Greetings!  It's Wednesday and time for another Word Wednesday Challenge over at 365 Cards.  This time, our challenge is to use the word "Pretty" to create our card.  As I looked around my art studio, and went through some clip art images, this ethereal image by Gecko Galz of a beautiful woman holding and studying a bird caught my eye. The ephemera on either side of her, is also by GG.  Since I worked with an 8" x 8" card base in order to frame the paper doily, I wanted to fill in the background somewhat.  I decided to use a Dylusions Stencil and Dreamworks Embossing Paste (yes, the jar is probably a decade old).  I poured a small amount of Spun Sugar Distress Paint onto my craft mat and smooshed the embossing paste into it with palette knife to colorize it.  After it dried, I applied some Gesso to the embossed diamonds to tone down the pink a bit.  A length of pink lace along the bottom, some complimentary pink dyed seam binding, a metal embellishment, buttons softened with Gesso, (all compliments of one generous Linda Coughlin at The Funkie Junkie Boutique) a feather, some cheese cloth and some liquid pearls complete my card.  Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for your "Pretty" card.  My thanks to so many of you who wished me a Happy Birthday.  There is still time to sign up for my Birthday Blog Candy - see the sticky post at the top of my blog! Cheers, Yvonne

She Sends You Hope and Heart

Greetings! It is Saturday, and time for another Challenge by the Pink Team over at Eclectic Ellapu!  Our theme this week is very appropriate given it is summer.  We are to create projects around the theme of "Flowers!"  I must admit, I had numerous false starts on creating my own project.  I am some nearly three weeks away from my art studio and still working from a very limited selection of images and probably even more limited collection of embellishments.  Finally, my card came together in my mind while I battled insomnia last evening!  I began with a black pre-folded card. This beautiful flower by Paper Artsy was stamped using Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Paint.  I really like how it contrasts with the black card stock and Distress Ink would not have shown up if I placed it directly on the black card stock.  Some more Distress Paint in Wild Honey and Antique Linen was pressed through a Dylusions Stencil. The sentiment is by Red Lead and was distressed around the edges with Peeled Paint Distress Ink.  Simple embellishments include Tissue Tape by Idea-ology, buttons and burlap string and some vintage seam binding.  I hope you will pop over to EE to see the absolutely breathtaking inspiration pieces of the rest of the Pink Design Team and then submit a piece of your own.  Go on, get inky! Hugs, Yvonne

Life is a Circus

The weeks fly by and already it is time for another challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge!  This time around, our challenge is to "Try Something New."  It could be a new to you technique, new paper, ink, images... you get the picture!  I am really trying to learn more techniques, so I decided that was what I would focus on for my own card.  I began with a square of white card stock, sprayed Dylusions inks, spritzed on some water to add spots and then for my new to me technique, dug out some embossing paste and a spatula that has literally been sitting in my art room at least seven years and smooshed it through a Dylusions stencil.  Now when I purchased the paste and spatula, they were featured at my local stamp store for use with brass stencils!  Remember those?!  Life got busy and I never got around to it until now.  The paste was white, but the water based Dylusions Inks softened the white as they melded together.  Love the raised texture that was achieved and it was truly not difficult.  The images and sentiments are from Oxford Impressions.  They were stamped with Timber Brown StazOn Ink, trimmed, water colored with Distress Markers and distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The clown in the corner was raised a bit with foam dots.  I recently, while packing up my art room, found an unopened pouch of tiny jingle bells for which I have been searching for years.  They finally appeared and I thought it was a nice touch for the clown's hat.  Some Chrome Liquid Pearls and my card is complete.  I hope you will hop on over to FSC to see how my Design Team Sisters challenged themselves.  Then, I hope you will challenge yourself and submit a project of your own for a chance to win a $20 gift voucher from our generous sponsor, FlonzCraft!  Thanks for stopping by!  Yvonne 

Hello, Hello!

Time for a new Challenge over at Inkspirational and this time we are working from the sketch below.  I decided to work with a Dylusion Stencil to replicate the diamonds in the Sketch below.  

Pumice Stone and Tumbled Glass were stenciled on a 5x5 card panel.  The edges were distressed with Tumbled Glass and Distressed Photo DIs.  A selection of vintage buttons were applied to the panel and the sentiment was stamped with Black StazOn Ink.   The prepared panel was matted with black paper and mounted to the card base.  

I hope you will check out the Inkspiration pieces of my Design Team Sisters and consider sharing a piece of your own.  Our sponsor for May is Tammy of Creatively Me.   

Thanks for dropping by! Best, Yvonne

These Things Are Fun!

Greeting Fellow Followers!  Sharing a post with you this evening for a Challenge over at Sugar Creek Hollow where the theme is Numbers and Letters.  I began by spraying the card base with orange and pink Dylusions Ink Sprays.  Numbers were stenciled with Dylusions Stencils and Black Soot Distress Ink.  The focal image from the Think and Wonder plate by Artistic Outpost was stamped with Picked Raspberry DI and the edges were distressed with Ripe Persimmon.  The sentiment, also by AO, was stamped in Ripe Persimmon.  Finishing touches include a seam binding bow that was dyed with Picked Raspberry and Ripe Persimmon DIs and orange buttons.  There is just something juicy and sweet about a pink and orange color palette.  Thanks for dropping by.  Hugs, Yvonne 

Flower Power

This is my second attempt at a journal page.  This time, my post is for a challenge called "Flowers" over at Stampotique Designer Challenge.  I began by spraying orange, yellow and red Dylusions Ink Sprays onto my journal page.  The page was stenciled and stamped with more Dylusions stencils and stamp images.  Various quotes referencing flowers were added by hand with a black ink pen.  Thanks so much for dropping by today.  Yvonne 

My Beloved Bethany Beach

There's a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.  The theme for the next two weeks is "Journaling."  I love this style, but have not ever really tried it myself before.  I began with a "journal" page.  I sprayed four different colors of Dylusions Ink Sprays onto the page.  I stenciled several Dylusions Stencils with Picket Fence Distress Stain.  The bathing beauty, sea gulls and beach house are all images by Crafty Individuals.  The crab, starfish and shells are from Artistic Outpost.  I wrote on my journal page with black and white ink, several quotes that remind me of my days at the beach.   

While I resisted the urge to add embellishments, I did allow myself just a snippet of recycled white mesh in the lower left corner.  Now that I have officially started my journal, I think I will continue to fill the pages.  What fun!  I hope you stop by FSC to see all the gorgeous inspirational pieces of my Design Team Sisters and then create one of your own to share with us.  Have a wonderful weekend.  Hugs, Yvonne

Untie Your Wings

Greetings!  It is Monday, and that can only mean one thing, another challenge at Make My Monday.  This week, the challenge is to create a "One Layer Card."  There is to be no matting, layering or embellishments.  That's why it's a challenge!  I pulled out my white card stock, cut an 8x8 card base and got started.  I smooshed Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint and Weathered Wood Distress Paints onto my craft mat, spritzed water and drug the card base through it.  I tilted the card base to get runs and then air dried it.  Next I stamped this beautiful, new stamp image and sentiment from Red Lead Stamps with Black StazOn Ink.  I could not resist filling in a bit of the white space with Broken China Distress Ink stenciled through a Dylusions and Tando Stencil.  I'll also be submitting this card to the Frilly and Funkie Challenge for the Sunday Share as the Distress Paints were purchase at The Funkie Junkie Boutique at a great price.  I hope you have a beautiful week.  Hugs, Yvonne

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

Cherish the Adventure

The weeks are just flying by! It is hard to believe it is time once again for another challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.  This time around, the challenge is to "Mask It."  The interpretation is up to you.  I chose to use Dylusions Stencils for the background of my card.  I worked with Vintage Photo and Pumice Stone Distress Inks.  After preparing the background, I stamped several images from Crafty Individuals with Black StazOn ink.  The focal image, Clip Art by Crafty Individuals, was matted with white card stock, distressed and mounted to the card front with Kraft  Photo Corners.   Embellishments include snippets of lace, buttons, vintage text page, ChitChat stickers, vintage seam binding, burlap string, Liquid Pearls and a metal charm.  I hope you will consider creating a project for  a possible prize.  There is some really great inspiration by my Design Team sisters over at FSC. May they inspire you! Best wishes, Yvonne

Girl Power and an Announcement!

I am very excited to announce that I was recently selected to join the Design Team over at 365 Cards.  This challenge is very special to me.  It is one of the very first challenges I ever attempted when creating a blog.  It is so cool to know that every single day of the year there is a new challenge available to try.  As I look back my inventory of cards that I've made, I am amazed at some of my creations and know that 365 Cards has challenged me to make cards I could not have dreamed up otherwise.  I encourage each of you to check 365 Cards out!  I will be creating the challenge card each Wednesday.  I hope you will stop by often.  For my first Design Team Challenge, we are to use Neon Colors and make a big splash on our card with them.  For my card, I chose to spray Dylusions Ink Sprays in Hot Pink and Orange on my background panel.  The focal images by Art Declassified were stamped with Black StazOn Ink and water colored with Ripe Persimmon and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks and matted with black paper for maximum "pop."  Black flowers were stenciled with Dylusions Stencils and accented with a white Gel Pen and black glitter glue.  Black and orange buttons and black burlap string purchased from the Funkie Junkie Boutique and a couple of felt button flowers complete my card.  Thanks so much for dropping by today.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Greatest Show On Earth

Wow! The weeks just fly by.  Already, it is time for a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.  This time around, we have a challenge around "Good things come in small packages."  Now this was truly a challenge for me!  I can truly say I have never made a project with dimensions this small (2.5" x  3").  

 I decided to make a small accordion style booklet.  When opened, it unfolds between the front and back cover.  The images used are all from Artistic Outpost and the diamond and dot stencils are from Dylusions.  

I thought about several different color schemes, but in the end decided to use cream, black and red to maintain a vintage feel.  After stamping and stenciling, the booklet was distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  

I sure hope you will take a moment and stop over to see the brilliant creations by the rest of the FSC Design Team and I hope, also, that you will submit a project of your own.  Thanks for dropping by! Yvonne

Qualities of a Sister

Hello!  Sharing a card with you today for Challenge #182 over at 365 Cards.  This time, the challenge is to stamp on Textured Paper. I recently acquired this Macbeth stamp from Stampington.  She was stamped on textured paper with Black StazOn ink and her eyes and lips were colored in with Ranger Distress Markers.  The vine and dot were created with Dylusions Stencils and Distress Inks.  The panel was matted with Black paper and wrapped with vintage turquoise seam binding.  ChitChat stickers, by Idea-ology, extolling my sisters virtues were added and set off with Black Liquid Pearls.  Thanks for stopping by to take a look.  Best wishes, Yvonne