HEC #15

HEC, it's time for Ted's Happily Ever Challenged again! (Details here.) For March, Ted's challenge requirements were that the card 1) include a shamrock (with three leaves not four!) and 2) be in the colors of the Irish flag: green, white, and orange. So here's my entry. I made my own shamrock, using three heart die cuts and a free-cut stem. I distressed the white layers with a little neutral distress ink and the orange layers with white. The ribbon is Martha Stewart seam binding. Right now, my Michael's has a ton of Martha Stewart ribbon on clearance for $1, regular price $6.99! I went a little crazy. ;-> I feel like I'm kind of stuck in a rut with those side loops w/buttons, but ribbon is generally my biggest challenge in card making. I need a remedial ribbon class, help! :-D

Supplies
Stamps: Impression Obsession--Mini Messages
Paper: PTI--S.S. White; Zoe Pearn digital paper--Hawaiian Sunset; stash
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Fresh Snow; Ranger--Pumice Stone Distress Ink; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear
Dies: PTI--Heart Prints; Spellbinders--Labels 8
Misc.: Border Punch--Fiskars; Embossing Folder--Cuttlebug; Copic--T1; Buttons--Foof a La; Baker's Twine--stash; Ribbon--Martha Stewart; Corner Chomper

HEC #9

And now for something completely different . . . Ted's challenge on Happily Ever Crafter for August was to keep it simple, stamps and pens only. This was really, really hard for me. I had a basic idea, but as I made the card, I kept starting to reach for dies . . . more cardstock . . . glitter . . . you name it. :-) Well, I did finally get something I liked, despite so-so masking and some questionable stamp lining up, LOL! I used a PTI set that hadn't seen love in awhile, Garden of Life. With the small leaf image, I stamped "grass" in various green inks. I stamped and masked FF #5, then stamped the two-step flowers. I colored their centers with a glittery pen, and then added the sentiment to the center of the Fillable Frame. It's actually a long sentiment, all one line, so I had to break it up by inking one part at a time. There! Something I'm pretty sure I haven't done before--a one-layer card! Think you're up to the challenge? Details are here on Ted's blog.

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Garden of Life; Fillable Frames #5
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream
Ink: PTI--Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Plum Pudding, Terracotta Tile & Dark Chocolate; Color Box--Yellow Citrus
Pens: atyou Spica--Red & Yellow

HEC #8 / SSIC #46

WARNING: Do not make fun of my Copic "skillz" or your computer will self-destruct! :-D

Tonight I am posting a card I made for two challenges: Firstly, Ted's Happily Ever Challenged #8 (here) which challenges us to use red, white and blue. I hope my green leaves don't disqualify me! I could have made blue or red leaves, but that would have looked really strange. ;-> I also decided to enter the Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge #46 (found here). It's my first time playing with them.

I was inspired to make this card by Peggysue at Roses By My Window. This card here just took my breath away. Isn't it amazing? My card doesn't look anything like it, but I did go make it right after seeing Peggysue's card!

So, I inked up YOF: Roses for the first time! I was intimidated, but I just went for it, Copics-wise. Practice makes perfect, right? I'll get there. I used some PP scraps I've had forever (one of them was printed with "1998" on the back, LOL!) for the backgrounds and the leaves. And that dotty Cuttlebug embossing folder--I think that particular one gets more use than all the others combined! I decided on a sentiment, punched out a tag, and then had to ink the sentiment one word at a time to split it so it would fit.

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI--YOF: Roses, Paper Tray, and Round & Round
Paper: PTI--SS White, stash
Ink: Watermark; Memento--Tuxedo Black; Color Box--Sky Blue
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear Detail
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Floss: DMC--White
Dies: Spellbinders
Eyelet: Doodlebug Design
Punch: McGill--Multi Tags Scallops
Copics: R27, 29, 59; YG63