June 30, 2010

Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peak 2 – A Cup Full of Happiness

This is another cute kitty project featuring A Cup Full of Happiness. But I must admit, as much as I like my project, I am a little sad posting it. This is my last post as a CDS Sneak Preview Artist! My three-month. temporary summer position is coming to an end. {{SNIFF SNIFF}}.

ACupFullOfHappinessRE1
OK, all together now, Awwww! Isn’t he cute? I use Max and Whiskers paper to  piece the cup and saucer, using a Copic marker to differentiate the saucer from the cup. This is the little calico kitty I coloured but didn’t use for my last post. He look much, much better in this cup and on this project.

ACupFullOfHappinessRE2
Here is a close up of the colouring.

ACupFullOfHappinessRE3
Did you realize you were looking at a 3-D project?  This is a sweet little kitty treat holder. I love having small goodies around when someone I know gets a new pet! The template for this is called a Boxy Bag or Bag in a Box, I can’t remember and I just came up with my own measurements, not looking at any directions so I don’t know exactly what it is called. I’m pretty sure that there are instructions at Splitcoast Stampers. These treats were only $2 or less at Wal-Mart but they sure look fancier!

I hope you loved this stamp set! Be sure to visit Clearly iStamp to view the set, other samples and get links to my team mates blogs! The set will be available July 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps:
A Cup Full of Happiness
Paper: chocolate, ruby CS-SU!, ivory, white CS-Taylored Expressions, DP-Max and Whiskers Basic Grey
Ink: Memento Black, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick Distress inks
Accessories: Nesties circles, ovals and Labels 3, Crop-a-dile, Jesse James buttons, twill tape, foam dots-Jody Morrow,

Copics Y21,38, YR16, W1,3, 100 (black), R11

Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peak-A Cup Full of Happiness

This is easily one of my favourite Clear Dollar Stamps sets yet! I love cats so much and this one is simply adorable!!

ACupFullOfHappinessRE4
I decided to go a bit shabby with this one. The tea cup is pieced with DP and the saucer is coloured as is the kitty.

ACupFullOfHappinessRE5  
I started colouring another kitty in calico colours (black, white and orange) but the orange didn’t jive so well with the soft colours of the DP so I re-coloured her in this soft white and pale brown colour which is perfect! The next post uses the calico kitty so be sure to check him out too.

I hope you love this little kitty as much as I do! Be sure to visit Clearly iStamp to see the full set and get links to more samples of this and other July sneak peak sets! This set will be available July 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps!

Enjoy, Rebecca

Stamps: A Cup Full of Happiness
Paper: white CS-Taylored Expressions, blush CS-SU!, DP-Blue Hill, Crate Paper
Ink: Memento Black, Copics E31, 33, R11,10,22, C1, W1,3
Accessories: Curved Rectangles Nesties, craft knife (to cut around the outside of the template to make a mat), flowers-Joan's Gardens, lace-stash,foam dots-Jody Morrow

Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peak-Picnic Time

I am thrilled to show you my projects for the last day of July Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peaks. This set is perfect for all of those summer time picnic cards and scrap pages.

Here is the set together:

PicnicTimeRE2
Next the card!

PicnicTimeRE1 
I had a fabulous time creating this fun picnic scene. The clouds are part of the BG paper but all the rest of the elements are from the set except the grass! This scene is multilayered with layers of foam dots. The tree trunk, lower leaves and bushes are at the back of the scene. Next are the grass and the food, at the front are the basket, table and table cloth. I cut the grass with fringe scissors I bought to cut up herbs but they worked fine here too!

PicnicTimeRE3Next part of the set is a box to hold lots of sparklers. I used slightly darker Copics for the basket this time and cut the outer squares off the checkered  table cloth to create a napkin lining the basket! I used my word window punch for the window in the box but also for the little tag on the bottom. Template: Tall Window Box www.impressionsbyrochelle.blogspot.com/2008/08/tall-window-box.html

Be sure to visit Lori at Clearly iStamp to see the full set and links to more fabulous cards and projects using this and all the other new July sets! These will all be available at Clear Dollar Stamps starting July 1.

Enjoy, Rebecca

 

RECIPE card

Stamps: Picnic Time
Paper: DP-MME and stash, white CS-Taylored Expressions, celery, black CS-SU!
Ink: Memento Black
Accessories: Art Institute Glitter (bee wings), fringe scissors, Foam Dots-Jody Morrow, Copics YG63,67, G14,17,24,28 BG10, E11,31,35,47,71 YR04,16, Y17, R29,35 W3, C7, 100

RECIPE box

Stamps: Picnic Time
Paper: DP-stash, white CS-Taylored Expressions
Ink: Memento Black, red-SU!, DP-MMe and stash
Accessories: fringe scissors, Foam Dots-Jody Morrow, Silver brad, Red EP, word window punch-SU!, Scor-Tape,Copics E31,33,35,37,43,47,49, R29,35, G14,28, YR07,16, C1

June 23, 2010

Snapdragon Removable Bookmark Card for Doodle Pantry

After making a fun bookmark with this snapdragon image, I decided to make another one.

snapdragon shabby chic card
This time the bookmark is removable with a magnetic back. I just posted all about it, then the battery ran out on my laptop and I thought I had longer than two minutes to finish and post. I lost the whole thing with how to add the magnets to the back and how to dye and crinkle the ribbon. I am too tired and annoyed to rewrite them so look for it later today.

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter at Doodle Pantry because most issues feature FREE images!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Later today.

June 22, 2010

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop

TE blast blog hop

I loved decorating this sweet little box with the bear from the set ‘Beary Special’. This set is close to my heart because it benefitted the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. I have been down there many times with clients (I used to work as an RN) and even had an echocardiogram done on my unborn baby’s heart there. He is now 9 and fortunately nothing was wrong. I still have a Sick Kids Hospital card with my name on it around here  somewhere…

te blog hop bear box 
I got the tin from PTI, it is about 5.5 x 3.5” and has a hinge. I couldn’t decide what to put inside and the bright silver wasn’t so pretty so I added some dividers. I winged the dimensions of mine but I believe Nichole has directions on her blog, {capture the moment}

The ribbon around the window was done by alternating loops of ribbon right and left while sticking them down to red line tape. I really think the look is quite cute. With different ribbon, it could be quite elegant too. The bear’s ears, feet and patch are all paper pieced and he is popped up on foam dots. The bear is coloured with Copics E33,35,37.

I really wish I had something more interesting, funny or witty to say! I am looking forward to visiting the rest of the blogs on the hop and I suppose you are too so get hopping!!

ETA: I’ve just noticed that the email version of this post (I send myself a copy to make sure everything posts properly) does not include the links to the other bloggers. So please visit my blog by clicking on Eclectic Endeavours or the post title at the top of this email to get the full list. If anyone knows why this is happening, I’d really appreciate an email at rebeccacell at gmail dot com. Thanks!!

 Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps:
Beary Special-Taylored Expressions
Ink: memento brown
Paper: ivory CS-Taylored Expressions, DP-SU!
Accessories: button, twine-PTI, flower-Michaels, Copics, foam dots-Jody Morrow

June 18, 2010

Retro Shaggy Kitty for Doodle Pantry

I love cats and I have the BEST cat right now! Jesse is a lovey-dovey, canine type of cat. He sits with us, wants to always be in a room with someone (except my 3 year old Spencer because Jesse is UNDERSTANDABLY scared of him!) and will rub his big ole head against you until you are covered in fur and drool-EWW but sweet! No aloofness for him! So I was thrilled to see a kitty in the releases this month from Doodle Pantry!

shaggy kitty retro
This chair reminded me of one I’ve seen with glitter right in the vinyl. Kind of  like the turquoise glitter vinyl found covering those wonderful counter stools in 50’s diners! So I tried to colour the seat so it would look like shiny plastic and the base so it would look like shiny metal. Not perfect, but I think you get the idea. I used a blossom Spica pen for the glitter. The background paper was made using a retro shape set I’ve had for soooo long! It was great to break it out and really have fun with it. I made a bigger sheet but it was too overwhelming for kitty so it got trimmed down a couple of times.

Kitty is blinged too. Well sort of. I added a Tiny Twinkle to her collar then decided to cut the image out with my Labels 1 Nesties. Ooops, yep, you guessed it, the rhinestone was smashed! Funny thing though, all of the pieces stayed in place and it does look kinda cool so I left it as is.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image:
shaggy kitty by Doodle Pantry
Stamps: retro shapes-unknown
Paper: eggplant, white CS-SU!, image CS-Taylored Expressions
Accessories: daisy chain ribbon-stash, rhinestones-Zva, Label 1 Nesties, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Inkssentials white gel pen-Ranger, Copic markers: RV02,13, W00,01,03, C1,3, R20, Spica blossom, clear

June 16, 2010

Cute Monster ATC for Swap-Bot

Have you seen the movie, Monsters Inc? I LOVE that movie, the monsters are so interesting and different and then there is the story of course, melts my heart to see those ‘scary monsters’ with that little girl. Anyway, that was my inspiration for this ATC.

cute monster ATC
I coloured them all with Copics, then I texturized the purple one with blender rubbing alcohol sprayed on my stamping rag, previously a washcloth. The result is subtle but interesting. I love how they pop on the black but of course, that presents a problem since their tail, legs and feet are too tiny to cut out. I had already used the copper EP to emboss the sentiment so it was a natural progression to use EP for their legs! I tried to only ink their legs and then I used a tiny paint brush to brush away the excess EP so it wouldn’t show underneath them if you look from an angle.

Like the top hat? I originally stamped it in black when I thought that I was going to put some sort of DP underneath the monsters. But when I decided to use the plain black background, I needed to change it. TIP: So I put some two-way glue on a little scrap of paper and allowed it to dry. Then I stuck the hat on it and pressed it into my Versamark ink. Then a quick dip into the silver EP then I heated it with my heat gun and voila! A perfect silver hat! No finger prints or tweezer marks.

I placed red line tape around the outer 3 edges of the card and applied splotchy, imperfect glitter. Then I tapped off the excess and applied another colour to get this fun border. The purple shows up pretty well in the picture but what looks yellow is really a fun, bright, almost fluorescent green! Very monsterish! Both colours are MUCH brighter in person!!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps:
Monsters INK-MFT
Paper: white CS-Taylored Expressions, black CS, SU!
Ink: Memento black, Versamark
Accessories: glitter-Art Institute, redline tape, foam dots- Jody Morrow, silver, copper EP-SU!, tiny twinkle-Taylored Expressions, Copics: V04,06,09, R17,29, YR04,07,16,68, Y38, YG03,06, G14

June 15, 2010

Handsome Gentleman ATC for Swap-Bot

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR DOODLE PANTRY POST.

I decided to host a swap on Swap-Bot for Handsome Gentleman ATCs. I figured I could use my new Proper Gentleman paper by Graphic 45 (I think) to make something really nifty.handsome gentleman ATC

Can you believe that only ONE other person joined me? AHHH! Oh well, I enjoyed making mine and will still get one back so that is all that matters. I’m just always hoping to come up with a swap that will attract big numbers, not even sure why!! Stupid right?Anyhow, I used a mix of stickers by Karen Foster and paper from the paper pack. Isn’t this a great mini booze case? It was my hubby’s grandfathers. He knew right away I’d love it, smart man!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp:
text background from Background Basics: hearts-PTI
Ink: burgundy-SU!, antique linen Distress ink
Paper: proper Gentleman-Graphic 45, burgundy, black CS-SU!
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, vintage stickers-Karen Foster, bracket sticker-stash

Stargazer Lily? for Doodle Pantry

I absolutely love this type of lily. I actually grew a lily like this one but it was called a Muscadet Lily. I think the one that is almost all pink is a Stargazer and the one I coloured is more like a Muscadet but I am really not sure. And since most people know the name Stargazer, that is how I decided to title it. Either way, it is a GORGEOUS flower!

stargazer lily

Just so you know, Laurie drew this and called it ‘Easter Lily’ so if you like this image and want to buy it, you should look for it under that name. Isn’t it so lovely? I think if you coloured it differently, maybe yellow or white with a yellow center, it would make a great sympathy card. There are so many possibilities!

Make sure you sign up for NEWSLETTERS from Doodle Pantry! You get a freebie each month available ONLY to subscribers and later it will end up in the store where you will have to buy it! So sign up soon! Doodle Pantry NEWSLETTER SIGN UP A visit to the store is a great idea anyway, be sure to pick up the store freebie while you are there!

stargazer lily closeup

I tried so hard to get a good picture of this card but it just doesn’t do it justice. I even messed around with it in my editing program and YUCK! It is much more springy and bright in person. {{SIGH}} I did think that showing you my inspiration photo might be interesting. Although I looked at these lilies every day in my garden for weeks, it was three or four years ago and this helped so much. Pretty close dontcha think?? I used Sweet Sketch 46 by Arlana Patten.

I printed two copies of this flower so I could paper tole it. I coloured the flower and bud only on one copy and cut them out. then I coloured the flower and bud only very basically, no shading and just around the edge but took my time colouring the leaves properly. Then I added the flower and bud with foam dots to give it some dimension. The bud was only popped at one end so it connected with the stem at one end. Much more realistic.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image:
Easter Lily by Doodle Pantry
Paper: pale green CS-Bazzil, green DP, melon mambo CS-SU!, white circle-tracing paper (similar to vellum), white CS-Taylored Expressions
Accessories: pearls-Dollarama, foam dots-Jody Morrow, ribbon-May Arts, tag die-Spellbinders, Cuttlebug embossing folder, circle and oval Nestabilities, Copic markers: RV000,02,19,29, YR04, E08, YG03,63,67, G85, blender

June 07, 2010

Colin and Melodie Wedding Card

I was asked to make a wedding card for a group gift for my cousin Colin. No problem! I don’t know the bride so I found out what colour the bridesmaid dresses are going to be (black) so I decided to use white, black and gold.

colin wedding card

I also decided to go with an elegant style, I mean, with black, white and gold, how can you go wrong?!

TIP 1: When using the Bow Easy before today, I noticed that when you wrap the ribbon more than once, when the bow is tied, the loops are hard to separate so they point different direction like mine. So, here is how I did it. Wrap the ribbon as usual but don’t tie yet. Scrunch each ribbon tightly and clip to the Bow Easy with a clothes pin on both sides and tie as usual. This won’t work with a huge number of wraps or very small bows because the clothespins won’t fit on the template. But I used the largest and it worked just fine. By scrunching and clipping the ribbons, they are not overlapped inside the knot. This makes it easier to spread the loops out.

TIP 2: Need a longer or wider rectangle Nesties than is available? Here is what I did to get this long, skinny Nestie (Yep, I know long ones are available but I don’t have them and this one is really long!): Start by setting up your paper and die as usual. Roll through your die cutter ONLY up to the last three scallops. REWIND your plates instead of rolling all the way through. Move your die up to the uncut area overlapping the last 3 scallops or as many scallops as required to get the length you need. Use repositionable tape to secure the die and roll through. If you need enough length that you have to roll through 3 times: for the middle section line up the die as described above. When you are ready to roll the plates through, offset the top plate so it does not overlap the edge of the die that sits on top of the area that is already cut. This will prevent cutting off the area you already cut! Then continue as above.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps:
flourishes-Autumn Leaves, verse-Cloud 9
Ink: Versamark
Paper: white, black, gold CS-SU!
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, Rectangle Nesties, gold EP-SU!, Pilot gold ink pen (edging), May Arts ribbon, Bow-Easy

June 05, 2010

Asian Garden for Doodle Pantry

Hey there! It’s time for another AWESOME release by Laurie of Doodle Pantry! There is a little something for everyone this month!

asian garden june5
I chose this wonderfully intricate image of an Asian garden. It looks so serene and peaceful and I LOVE the little bridge over the water. Of course, if I was really there it wouldn’t be so serene because my kids would be splashing in it, especially with the hot weather we have been having. But back to the card…

 asian garden june5 closeup
Laurie created a fabulous sketch for us to use and you can play too! Just for playing, you get to choose one of two new release images, FREE! Yep, Laurie will email it to you JUST FOR PLAYING! And one random winner will get a package of goodies worth $25!! Come on, you gotta play! To see the images, visit Clearly iStamp TODAY!

june sketch 
I used Copics (of course) to colour the main parts of the image but I wanted sky and water colours I really don’t have (yet!) so I pulled out something I bought but had never used, pastel pencils. They are like a cross between chalk and a dusty (not oily) pastel in a pencil crayon format so they are very easy to use. Especially since I printed this image a bit too small considering how intricate it is. I coloured the sky and water, then blended them with a cotton swab as it is quite dusty otherwise. I really like the effect and it was very easy to blend from a deeper colour under the bridge to a softer colour where there was no shadow.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image:
Asian Garden-Doodle Pantry
Paper: white CS-Taylored Expressions, sand, black CS-SU!, Asian paper-stash, green DP-MME
Ink: old olive reinker, sand-SU!
Accessories: copper Perfect Pearls (mixed with reinker to make a colour spritz), Glimmer Mist Masks, foam dots-Jody Morrow, ripe olive ribbon-CDS, Fiskars corner punch, Label 1 Nestabilities

June 02, 2010

Country Goat for Doodle Pantry

SCROLL DOWN FOR WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS WITH HUGE PRIZE!!
But read this first!!!

I LOVE this little goat image. When Laurie draws a sweet fuzzy baby animal, you know I am going to love it. This is the second time in a month I’ve used this little guy! You can see the other card HERE.

baby goat country
I went a completely different way with this card. I went with bright colours while the other card had super pale colours. It reminds me of an ad for Goat’s Milk Soap!

baby goat country closeup

Be sure to visit Doodle Pantry for some more fabulous images. And don’t forget to stop by Clearly Delightful June 5th for the month’s BRAND NEW RELEASES!!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image:
Doodle Pantry
Ink: antique linen and vintage photo Distress inks
Paper: white CS-Taylored Expressions, DP-Basic Grey Urban Prairie, riding hood red, black CS-SU!
Accessories: flowers and leaf-Prima, foam dots-Jody Morrow, buttons-Jesse James, thread, ribbon-SU!. Copics: C00, 01, 03, 05 , 07, R10, Y21, G21, 24, 94, blender pen, Eyelet Borderabilities

Laugh Out Loud for Whimsical Wednesdays and a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT

I had such fun with this inspiration photo! And I LOVE that quote.

photo 
I was so inspired by the way the plants around the outside reach into the center that I tried to recreate it. And such wonderful bright colours!

clear floral card 
If you’ve never made a clear card, you should think about sandwiching your clear acetate between your paper layers, mats and embellishments. clear floral card insideHere, the wavy paper is on the inside with most of the adhesive under the oval and flower. The pink layer is also on the inside of the front of the card with the glittery side showing through the front. The white CS writing area is inside the card back and the patterned paper layer is on the back. This way, all of the adhesive remains hidden.I also used Mojo Monday 141 and Skipping Stones Design Sketches considering they were very similar. I love it when I can do three or more challenges at the same time!

clear floral card back

The ovals I used are all much larger than any template or Nestability I own (Nesties don’t come larger). So here is how I got larger ovals.

 

 

 
I have a set of these little metal disks from a fine woodworking store. They are great for adding a set amount to a curved edge. clear floral card mat layerYou insert a pencil into the center of the disk and draw your line. SU! used to sell a small one of these. I used these for the pink cardstock layer and the DP layer. The inner oval was also traced because I wanted to exclude all of those flowers and it would have taken longer to trim them using the ‘out of the box’ technique.

OK, so now for the HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT. This is the only week in June that we will be having a challenge. You must create a project inspired by the photo above. You have until June 20 8 PM CST. I that is 9 PM EST. You may enter as many times as you like and the more you do, the more likely you are to win!! So what are you playing for???

ONE winner will receive:

TWO Kraftin' Kimmie stamps of Choice, sponsored by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

This HUGE prize from Tamiko's:

1.  Spellbinders Frameabilities Scalloped Edge Frame
2.  1/4" Scorepal tape
3.  Sticky thumb adhesive tape
4.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad
5.  Robin's nest tear drops
6.  Robin's nest dew drop
7.  Robin's nest mini dew drops
8.  2-3 bags of Lion coffee (a little something from Hawaii)

A FREE Digital Image sponsored by Daredevil herself, Sara Henton

TWO Rubber Stamps from a newly released  BabyBud Designs (manuf. by C.C. Designs) sponsored by Daredevil Krista VanTol!

ONE 4x6 Set of choice from The Greeting Farm

Can you BELIEVE the generosity of these sponsors???   I am SUPER stoked for this and it's nothing we've ever had the privilege to offer our players before.  I cannot WAIT to see who the random winner is!

clip_image002
clip_image002
clip_image001
clip_image001[4]
clip_image001[6]

So, go forth, create and have a blast doing it! For more inspiration, be sure to visit all of the DareDevils this week! I can’t wait to see all of your creations.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Paper:
DP-Imaginisce, CS-shimmer Bazzill, clear CS-PTI
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, K&Co-coloured rhinestones, floral rhinestone-stash, Oval Nestabilities, Zva-white rhinestones, white polka dot rub ons-SU!