Hidden sentiments

The Technique Lover's Challenge at SCS this week was hidden sentiments. You simply attach the main image by a brad, so it swings up to reveal the hidden sentiment underneath. How easy is that? This week's Card Positioning System (CPS219) sketch worked perfectly for me to try the technique.

Details: Stamps by Impression Obsession; paper by Cosmos Cricket; Inks are SU Kiwi Kiss and Stampcraft Baby Pink. Other supplies: mini brad, nesties, piercing tools.

Make your own flowers

The theme this week for the Magical Monday Challenge is "make your own flowers." I went with a simple flower punch for the flowers on the bottom of this card, adding the centers with a marker. (There's always a free digi at the challenge, and the winner gets to choose two Paper Cupcakes images.)

The card is a CASE for SCS's Queen for the Day challenge, which honored one of my favorite stampers -- sleepyinseattle.

The Details: Sentiment by TPC Studio, flourish by Autumn Leaves. Stamped in Chestnut Roan chalk ink. Ribbon by KI Memories. Paper tearing by me.

Embellished Circles

I've been wanting to try a technique from the latest Technique Junkies newsletter for a while. It's called embellished circles, and the title pretty much says it all. As part of my haul of goodies from last week's yard sale (see previous post), I have a new pack of Autumn Leaves stamps that are all variations on circles, so I'm fully prepared.

I used the color scheme from the current Off the Wall Craftiness challenge (OTWC53, inspiration photo at right.)

I like the fun, casual effect of the technique.

Supplies -- Large circle is Impression Obsession, the rest are Autumn Leaves (except sentiment).

Inks -- Colorbox Prussian Blue; Ice Blue and Dark Moss; Versamark Sand and Bamboo.

Bow (Martha Stewart), rhinestones, silk flower and mini brad.

Enjoy the ride

I hit the jackpot while I was out visiting yard sales last week. One of the vet organizations (American Legion or VFW) had an entire table full of brand new stamping/scrapbooking supplies. They were selling stickers 4 packs for $1 and clear stamps 2 packs for $1. I got 4 packs of Martha Stewart premade bows, rub-ons, etc, and 2 packs of Autumn Leaves stamps. I should have bought more.

I used the ribbon colors my color inspiration for this card. The theme was inspired by the current Etsy-Inspired Challenge, EIC 168. The store this time is called Bear Creek Designs, and it features hand-felted little critters -- talk about cute! I was inspired by this needle-felted horse. (I'd be tempted to adopt him and bring him home if my son were younger,)

Carousel horse stamp from Sweet Impressions, colored with pencil and OMS. Sentiment is computer-generated. Ribbons by Martha Stewart (who makes much prettier bows than I can, what a surprise!)

On an angle

This week's challenge at There's Magic In the Air is a sketch challenge. I don't put elements at an angle very often (I've spent way too much in my life checking pages to make sure everything is straight to intentionally put things askew), so this was a fun change.

The image is a digi from Paper Cupckaes, colored with pencils. The sentiment from a set I picked up at Mike's on deep discount -- the pack says TPC Studio (that's a new one to me). The distressed paper is from my stash, and I love it -- it's so wonderfully summery. There's piercing a round both the angled pieces.

Happy Birthday, Bro

May is a big birthday month in our family, so this is a good month to find inspiration for birthday cards. I made this birthday card for my brother, thanks to inspiration from a couple of challenges. I used the same printed papers as for a father's day card I made, so I guess the Father's Day card goes to my FIL -- not that I seriously think my dad and brother would notice the similarities in papers. (Would yours?)

The sailboat inspiration is from this week's Etsy Challenge (EIC137). The shop is Imagine Studio, and it sells some amazing art prints. I took my inspiration from this one of three boats.
The layout is this week's Mojo sketch, MOJO189.

Finally, this qualifies for this week's Magical Monday Challenge, to make a birthday card.

Supplies: Stamps -- Stampin Up and CTMH. Ink -- Momento Tuxedo Black; colored pencils and OMS, border punch, red bakers twine, tiny ruby faux gems.

Out to sea

I don't even know the name of this SU set, but I've always liked it, and I picked it up for a song at a crafting consignment sale. One reason I like the set is that the images all work for masculine cards, like Father's Day.

This inspiration photo for the current Off the Wall Craftiness Challenges (OTWC52) helped nudge me to the nautical theme (see photo to right), and I had this pad of Making Memories paper that perfectly fit the color challenge -- yellow, red and blue.

The sketch is from last weekend's mini VSN at SCS. I just took some baker's twine, doubled it up and knotted it as the long embellishment. The star is simply a brad I found in the stash.

The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black, colored with pencils and OMS.