Saturday, August 31, 2013

Tutorial: How To Paper Piece With A Digital Stamp


Have you wondered what cardmakers and scrapbookers mean when they refer to "paper piecing"? I did!

It turns out, paper piecing to stampers means getting patterned paper on your stamped image in places where you would normally color the image.  With rubber stamps the image is stamped twice: once on plain cardstock and once on patterned paper. Then, the patterned paper piece is fussy cut and glued on top of the card stock piece.

But how to paper piece with digis?   This is the simple way that I do it and it is really FUN!

Im using here the adorable Emily with Rabbit Toy digi from Handmade Harbour, which has tons of fun digital stamps.   The paper pieced parts are the dresses.


First, print out 1 copy of your digi image on card stock, the way you normally would print it.  Do not close out your program, because you will need to print again shortly.  I usually print my digis at about 3 or 4 inches because I like having a bigger digi to fiddle with.  



 Next, take a second sheet of cardstock and tape your patterned paper (I used My Mind's Eye "A Mother's Love" paper) on to the spot on your second sheet of cardstock that your digi printed at on your original printing.   I tape it pretty tight all around, and have never had any jams in my printer but use caution.   




Now go back to the image on your computer (which should still be open on your computer screen) and print the image again, this time using the cardstock you have taped with designer paper.





Cut around the portion of the stamp that you want to paper piece.  Usually I do dresses, but it can be anything - an umbrella, a car....you get the idea!  Here I cut out Emily's dress and the bunny's dress.




I usually color in the skin first and any parts that will be colored that are next to the paper pieced dress. Then I glue the dress on the stamp and finish up the card!





I hope this inspires you to try paper piecing with a digi...thanks for peeking!  






                           

Hello "Meet Anneke"...



From the Heart Stamps is having a DT call and I really wanted to apply since I adore Faith's digi images and her sketches.  I'm a regular challenge participant at that blog ever since I found it!  

This little card above I made new especially for the DT call and I had so much fun making it.  I purchased the "Meet Anneke" stamp found here at From The Heart Stamps....she is super fun to color! I paper pieced her dress.

(I also wanted to add the recent card I did for Sketch 32):-)



Card Ingredients:

Image - From the Heart Stamps "Meet Anneke"
Coloring - Copics (colors used below)
Embellies - My Minds Eye & handmade
Paper - Recollections from Michaels
Dress paper - My Mind's Eye
Die - MFT flower die for the rose





When I stamp I usually stamp out several of the same image and practice different colors.  First, I started out thinking Anneke was going to be a brunette, but i quickly realized I wanted her a red-head.  The second was too red, so I went for a more blonde-ish red.  It was so much fun to color her and I find it interesting after I make a card to look at the progress.



Also, I wanted to create some texture and layers so I decided to go with the twine from under the microwave drawer!




I was very excited to make my own felt rose here for the first time (the orange one in the middle).  I used orange felt and the MFT flower die and rolled it up then put a little dot in the center.

I would love to be a part of the Design Team for From the Heart Stamps.  I am currently on the Handmade Harbour DT which is a great group and we have tons of fun.  Thanks so much for considering me! You will continue to see me around no matter what at all your challenges.....:-)

Challenges entering:

7 Kids challenge Blog - Challenge 81, Anything Goes with Markers (Sept. 11)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes (Sept. 4)


Have a great weekend.....


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Happy "Hump" Day! and Gardens!

Happy Wednesday or as the camel in the Geico commercial calls it  Geico Camel Commercial...Happy Hump day! If you haven't seen this commercial take a peek, it will make you smile! I promise!

So for this morning I have a new little garden card....it is not my usual style as I typically have cleaner lines and less embellies, but i think it's so pretty and I like experimenting!

Stamp - Penny Black mimi
Paper - Crate Paper & Garden Harvest Recollections
Copics
Misc. flowers & twine & button
Color inspiration - Sparkles & sprinkles








Challenges entering:

Sparkles & Sprinkles - August Color Challenge (Aug. 31)
Sister Act - Challenge 21, Anything Goes (Aug. 29)
7 Kids challenge Blog - Challenge 81, Anything Goes with Markers (Sept. 11)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes (Sept. 4)
Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Challenge 100 In the Garden (Sept. 9)
Crafty Sentiments - Make it Girly (Sept. 2)
Loves Rubber Stamps - Challenge 67, Favorite Color comb (green & blue) (Sept. 2)(GDT)
Use It Tuesday - Challenges 62, Trends (I used stash trend TWINE baby!)(Sept.5)
CMC Challenge Group - Challenge 75 anything goes (aug. 31)
Cutie Pie Challenges - Challenge 51, Anything Goes (Aug.30)

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Simply elegant....




This little image was super fun to color.  I know I say that about all of them...but its true! Since she is such an elegant lady I wanted clean lines and a simple layout.  I found the gorgeous sketch at Sparkle creations.

Ingredients

Stamp - Little Blue Button Stamps digi
Sketch - sparkle creations
Coloring - Copics
Various designer papers & flower embellishment
Candi dots colored with copies



Challenges entering:

Crafty Sentiments - Colorful (Aug. 25):
Color Me Creative - Anything Goes (Aug.30)
Marker Pop - Challenge 29 Color Blue (3 weeks)
Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge 161 Use your scraps (Aug.27) --The scraps I used were the blue card stock  and the black designer paper--:
Pink Gem Challenges - Challenge 94 Anything with a "B" (her "Blue Boots") (Aug.30)
Pile It On - Challenge 34 Designer Paper (Aug.30)
Paper Take Weekly - Flower Power (Aug.27):
Paper Pretties - Girly Girl (Aug. 27):
Sister Act - Anything goes (Aug. 28):
One Crazy Stamper - Birthday (Aug.30)




Thursday, August 22, 2013

Happy Birthday To You...




Ok...its not my birthday...but this cake looks so yummy and it is the color inspiration from Yumi & Fumi.  Beautiful saturated colors and its unusual to see a hibiscus flower as decoration.


This little birthday girl card is from a Some Odd Girl digi. I don't own any Yumi & Fumi stamps yet, but I would love to win a Yumi & Fumi stamp as those are adorable and have such a "local" look I love.

Materials used:


Image - Some Odd Girl digi
Coloring - Copics
Paper - Michael's Recollections
Buttons - from my stash
Die - Nestabilities circles


Challenges entered:

Yumi & Fumi - Challenge 22 Cake Photo Inspiration (Aug. 30)
One Crazy Stamper - August Challenge Birthdays
Crafty Sentiments - Colorful (Aug. 25)
Cutie Pie Challenges - Challenge 51 (Aug.30) must be cute


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Creative Cuties...



I discovered this great blog that offers free digi images created by Heather Sybil Chavez. They are soooo cute. You can find "cute girl handstand" here Creative Cuties, but make sure you peek around her blog for other adorable digi images.  


Well I couldn't resist coloring this girl and amazingly she came out right the first time~! I've mentioned before how I usually stamp something several times and color the same image several times....just to test colors and see how I want to finalize it.  This little image was the first one Ive made that I was happy with it right at the beginning.  I really focused on the sun light on her left side and this image was easy and fun to color. I definitely have plans to check out more of her images in the future! 




Materials Used:

Digi Image  -  Creative Cuties by Heather Sybil Chavez
Pens  - Copics (sorry I forgot again to take a photo of the colors used
Sentiment - Gina K Designs
Plaque - Stamping up frames die
Flowers - Lawn Fawn flower die
Papers - My Mind's Eye "A mother's love"

Challenges Entering:

Crafty Sentiments - Colorful (Aug. 25)
Dis Digi Designs - back to school (aug. 30)
Cutie Pie Challenges- Challenge 51, Anything goes (Aug.30)

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Asking God for more...

It seems simple for others to share God's word on their blogs, and I admire them and get so much encouragement from their sharing.  But it is hard for me to write my inner thoughts here.  Having said that, today I feel strongly lead to share what I experienced this morning so here it is:

I got up early enough this morning and was able to have a devotional time.  100% honesty here - I have been really slacking in my devotional time..its probably been weeks. Its like the more I skip it, the easier it is to skip.  But I realize that even I with a toddler and 2 school age kids, can do 5-10 minutes in the morning, and when I started again yesterday it was so refreshing and peaceful that I woke up eagerly this morning wanted to be close to God in devotion again.

The devotional I am using is:


Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
I like it because it is quick and so relevant in my walk with the Lord.   

Today's sharing was about how "you have not because you ask not" (James 4:2).  Since God has set me on the path he has chosen for me (SAHM and not an attorney) my life has been so blessed.  Not with material things, although he has given us that in abundance seriously beyond my dreams, but in having my family back. My relationship with my husband and kids.  

In fact, I often feel I dont want to ask God for anything because it would be greedy and I dont deserve all he has given me so far.  Then I realize God chose to create me, so when i devalue myself I am making God sad because he thinks Im awesome.  So while it was hard for me to do, I prayed this morning and asked God to continue to bless me and my family.  God does not want me to feel that I am not worth blessing.  I know he feels the same way about you too.  

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Purple Fun...


This sweetie is a digi from Some Odd Girl.  I wanted to enter the Guest Design spot challenge for LOVES RUBBER STAMPS and I haven't done purple (or any other non-traditional color) hair before, so this was FUN!  Again, the hardest part for me is the card design...it takes hours.  Whereas the coloring with copics seems to fly by.  



Materials used:

Stamp - Some Odd Girl digi
Paper - Japanese rice paper; polka dot Recollections
Accessories - rhinestone & red bow Joannes.  
Sentiment - My Minds Eye sticker
Ink - Laser Jet & Copics & White Gel pen for eyes
Cardstock - Neenah
Dies - Sweet & Sassy Stamps sentiment die tags

Challenges entering:

Loves Rubber Stamps - Different Color Hair (Aug.19):
Color Me Creative - Anything Goes (Aug.30)
Simon Says Stamp - Make the Cut (Aug. 18) **I used die cuts on the sentiments**:
Marker Pop - Challenge 29 Color Blue (Sept.8)

Thanks for peeking!



Kids Summer Challenge Cade

Its Simon Says Stamp Kids Challenge....so what does that mean?  My 8 year old, her best friend, and my 10 year old in the stamps, ink and cardstock having some fun.  Here is what they created, I think its awesome don't you?

And another!





I think they all did fantastic and am glad they got a chance to enter the challenge!  

Challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp - Kids Challenge

Thanks for peeking!



Kids Summer Challenge Teagan

Simon Says Stamp wants a separate entry for each one so here it is!







I think they all did fantastic and am glad they got a chance to enter the challenge!  

Challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp - Kids Challenge

Thanks for peeking!

Kids Summer Challenge

Its Simon Says Stamp Kids Challenge....so what does that mean?  My 8 year old, her best friend, and my 10 year old in the stamps, ink and cardstock having some fun.  Here is what they created, I think its awesome don't you?



And another one.....

And another!!



I think they all did fantastic and am glad they got a chance to enter the challenge!  

Challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp - Kids Challenge

Thanks for peeking!
 - 


Thursday, August 15, 2013

Meow!



I wanted to keep things simple with this little cat.  I don't color animals often so it was a little tricky to get the fur....I definitely want to practice more animals.  

This is a cute digi from designed2delight stamps.
Colored with Copics.
Meow sentiment designed2delight stamps.
Banner die cut from LawnFawn.

Simple & sweet.  Thanks for peeking!

Challenges entered:

Designed2Delight - August Free stamp challenges (ends Aug.31)

Here Come The Boys - Challenge 58 Squares (ends Aug.23)

Marker Pop - Challenge 28 Anything Goes (ends Aug.18)

Crafty Sentiments - Dies & Punches (ends Aug.19):

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 196 Hot Hot Hot (ends Aug.17):

Simon Says Stamp - Make the Cut (ends Aug.18):

Crafting by Design - Anything Goes (ends Aug. 20):






Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Super News!



Super super news! I am so honored to be chosen as a member of the Design Team for Handmade Harbour! The Design Team is made up of some super talented ladies and you should check out their blogs for some inspiration!  Wendy at Handmade Harbour creates amazing digital stamps and this "Super Boy" is one of them.  

Be sure to check out their new CHALLENGES! Anything Goes is the first theme:  Handmade Harbour Challenge Blog



This card was FUN to make.  I wanted to keep the colors simple for a boy and I loved playing with the black/gray colors.  Definitely have to put that on my to do list to try again.

Materials Use:





Stamp - Superboy Digi from Handmade Harbour
Pens - Copics
Paper - Recollections and My Minds Eye
Embellys - Candi dots colored with Copics


Challenges entered:

Here Come The Boys - Challenge 58 Squares (ends Aug.23)

Marker Pop - Challenge 28 Anything Goes (ends Aug.18):

Crafty Sentiments - Dies & Punches (ends Aug.19):

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 196 Hot Hot Hot (ends Aug.17):

Yumi and Fumi - Challenge 21 Anything Goes (ends Aug. 17):

Simon Says Stamp - Make the Cut (ends Aug.18)

Crafting by Design - Anything Goes (ends Aug. 20)

Digi stamps 4joy - Challenge 73 Make your own embellishment (I made the Candi dots on my card):

Thanks for taking a peek!





Monday, August 12, 2013

Heart Girl



This little stamp is from Flat Friends and I love how quickly this card came together.  Sometimes even the simplest card takes forever, but this little one was quick and fun.  I really enjoy clean and simple cards with bright colors, so this was up my alley.

Digi:  Flat Friends
pens:  Copics
Sentiments:  Sweet & Sassy Stamps
Die:  Lawn Fawn heart die
         Nestabilities circles & scallop circles

I used the color inspiration from Flat Friend Challenge blog.




Challenges I am entering:

Flat Friends Challenge Blog  - Challenge 11, Color challenge - ends Aug.31
Color Me Creative Copic Challenge Group  - Challenge 74, Pretty in Pink  - ends Aug.16:
The Paper Shelter - Challenge 123, Punches & Dies  - ends August 13:
Marker pop - Challenge 28 anything goes


Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Birthday Boy


Birthday Boy


So my "baby" turned 2 and I made these invitations for his party.  It was just family but I use any excuse I can find to make cards.  I used the adorable TiddlyInks image and he is sooooo cute.




Materials Used

Image - Tiddly Inks Digi Image
Pens - Copics
Nestabilities Circle Die
Stampin Up Label Die & Sentiment "Party Time"
Sweet and Sassy Stamps - Sentiment "birthday"
Paper - Recollections from Michaels


Im entering him in these challenges:

Tiddly Inks - Challenge 115 Birthday Bash (ends August 18)

Natalie and Amys Challenges - Anything Goes (ends August 30)

Marker Pop - Challenge 28 Anything Goes (ends August 18)

Paper Parade - Challenge 1 Down by the Sea (ends August 18)

Thanks for peeking!



Friday, August 2, 2013

Emily with Bunny (Handmade Harbour)





I am so excited to find out that Handmade Harbour  http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/design-team-call.html is having a Design Team call.  


I made this Thank You card using another sweet Handmade Harbour digi stamp "toddler Emily with bunny" found at :
http://handmadeharbour.co.uk/ourshop/cat_735549-All-cc-pg_3.html



Here is a close up:




challenges entered:

Marker Pop  - Challenge 27 Lovely Locks
Word Art Wednesday - Challenge 91 anything goes

Thanks for peeking!

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Ginger Girl - (Red Hair)




This card was inspired by Psalm 118: 24   - This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!  

**

I have been playing around trying to find a red hair combination I like and can do and finally came up with this which Im pretty happy with.  I chose the bright yellow & purple because they make me happy!

Image - Some Odd Girl
Copics - Red Hair E11, E18, E09
Roses - from Walmart
Paper - Recollections from Michaels
Butterfly Sticker - My minds eye
Spellbinders Nestabilities Scallop circle


Challenges Entered:

Twist of Faith - Challenge #48 "children"

Natalie and Amy - Celebration   - Month of August

Marker Pop - Challenge #27 Lovely Locks

Word Art Wednseday - Challenge #91 Anything Goes