My First Video

And the first thing I learned--don't name your upload "Joy Ride"!  Which is of course the name of the Hero Arts stamp set I am using!  Now I have to go back and re-name--hope I can.  Lots to learn--like omitting all the "and so thens" from my audio presentation.  But the card is kind of cute, I think!  Watch at YouTube to see full screen.

 Watch at YouTube

DeNami Blog Hop: Pretty Pastels

Welcome to my entry for the DeNami Pretty Pastel Blog Hop!  You should have arrived here from Michelle Gross:  http://studiomsg.blogspot.com/

I am really excited to be part of this hop--it is my first Blog Hop and thank you so much for participating!

Here is my first card:  

For this hop, I wanted to do some embossing on vellum.  I used Denami J30 Tulips and stamped on a vellum overlay with first Lime pigment ink from Clearsnap, and then with Orchid pigment ink from Clearsnap.  I used a stamp positioner to form the layout of the tulip trios, and then stamped each in turn, taking time to do the green leaves first, and then the pink flowers.  It took 6 passes, but I think they each stamped and embossed cleanly this way.  I then colored the back of each tulip, turning the vellum over, with coordinating colors of Tombow markers.   I then adhered the panel to a pink A2 notecard with Xyron adhesive.
     Next, I heat embossed CL-GD002 Spring Garden canopy using white ink and white powder on a separate vellum panel.  I again colored the back of the vellum with Tombow markers.  I cut out around the scallops and then adhered this panel below the tulips with Xyron adhesive.  Last, I stamped F148 Thanks a Bunch at the bottom of the notecard with Memento Rosebud permanent dye ink.
     This card is great when you need a flat card for mailing purposes.    The only dimension is in the heat embossing but the embossing gives it a lovely dimensional look.

     But, you might like a more layered look.   Here is another card with the same materials and the same technique, but the card has more layers.    This time I did not adhere the vellum with adhesive, but used a folded peice of vellum, laying it over a white notecard and attaching it with a ribbon.  I added a few extra butterflies this time from the Spring Garden set, and stamped the canopy with Orchid pigment ink before heat embossing with clear powder.

Thank you so much for looking!  Here is your next stop on the Blog Hop:  Tammy Hobbs at:   http://somewhereunderthesune.blogspot.com/

If you get lost along the way, you can always return to the DeNami site to get re-directed:  http://www.denami.blogspot.com/

Be sure and leave a comment if you want to be entered into the drawing for the prizes!

  Happy Hopping!

Joy Ride

Getting ready for Saturday!  This card shows a white embossed background, sponged with green ink.  The central motif is one bicycle deep embossed to make a tile.   I used matboard for the tile base and several layers of embossing powder for the tile.  I did add colored pencil to the image before embossing, and you can see the colors did not bleed.  I hope things are moving along for you!   Don't get run over in traffic!  Sometimes it seems like I'm just one roll of the wheel ahead!  Keep moving!

Happy Mother's Day!

Tomorrow I will be presenting this card.    I saw a card on the Hobby Lobby Facebook page a week or so ago that used this die, and I decided to go with a sewing theme, too.  I used Girl's Paperie as the background, and then inked around it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I cut the mannequin from Tim Holtz' Sewing Room die, and the scissor cut out is from the Cricut Sentimental's cartridge.  I distressed both with crackle paint.  Adding a lot of Tim Holtz embellishments completes the look, along with some stray buttons.  The inside features the same die cut with a special greeting.  I know sewing was really big with my mother and grandmother, and I used to sew a lot when my son was little. I made all his Halloween costumes and even some of his shirts.  I like the saying:  "Women are like buttons...they hold things together."  I hope you have a happy Mother's Day tomorrow, whether you are a mother, daughter, grandmother, or just a special woman in someone's life.

A Touch of Whimsey

Happy May!  I worked up one of my favorite subjects for this month's tag swap--the majestic peacock!  The theme was embossing folders and/or die cuts, so I used both.  I had this peacock die from Cuttlebug for a long time and never used it (sound familiar?!) so I decided it was time for him to go to work.  I first applied Evergreen Bough, Broken China, and Peeled Paint distress inks to the tag, spritzed it with Green Patina Perfect Pearl Mist.  After it was dry I ran the tag through a Tim Holtz damask embossing folder.   I cut the peacock from turquoise cardstock, the leaves from green, and the damask element at the top from gold.  It was work getting the little tiny pieces pulled from that peacock die!  I traced around the inner body of the peacock to make a template of white card and painted Radiant Pearls in shades of blue, green, and purple.  While that was drying I assembled the tag.  The leaves have InkaGold applied to them, in a shade called Lava Green.  I don't know what happened to my gold InkaGold--it completely dried up.  What's up with that?  I haven't even had it but about nine months.  Anyway, the lava green looks gold.  The bottom border is cut from that wonderful Royal Garden paper pack from DCWV I got from JoAnn's a few months ago.  I love this paper, and use it sparingly.  After putting the peacock together I added a few touches of Stickles, Smooch, and a few rhinestones.  The stamp is from Renaissance Art Stamp.  I used Stazon Jet Black because of the slick nature of the cardstock.  He sparkles!