My Pink Stamper Design Team Call!

It's that time of year again when Robyn puts out her Design Team call and all of us crafters get to work. Robyn's instructions are to create a project using the colors, green, brown, orange, and turquoise.

Unfortunately, I don't have any of Robyn's stamp sets (*gasp*, I know, I'm not sure why. I want them so badly I can't stand it.) So, I began going through my stamp collection and rediscovered my 40:31 Creations Say Something set. I've been dying to use this sentiment on a project (I'm a coffee fiend). Then, using http://www.mycutsearch.com/, I searched Cricut images for a coffee cup. Using my Gypsy, I cut this image at 3 1/4" from the Graphically Speaking Cartridge. I used Basic Grey's Sweet Threads, Stampin' Up cardstock, and for the steam, velum from my stash.

I used my Martha Steward Punch-around the paper to create a lace doily. I finished by adding stitching with my Gelly Roll pen.

I can't believe it's only been a year since I found Robyn's videos and http://www.mypinkstamper.com/. If it weren't for Robyn there's no way I would be typing on this blog today. She is the reason I got back into crafting and found a piece of myself I didn't even know was missing. Unfortunately, I'm not surrounded by people who understand my obsession with crafting, so Robyn's introduction to the online "support group" was exactly what I needed. Being on her design team would be a dream come true. Thanks Robyn, for everything you've given me.

Recipe

• Cricut
• Gypsy
• Cricut Cartridge Graphically Speaking
• 40:31 Creations Say Something Sentiment
• Stampin' Up Woodgrain background stamp
• Papertrey Ink cardstock Terra Cotta Tile
• Basic Grey Sweet Threads patterned paper
• Stampin' Up Ink in Soft Suede
• Stampin' Up Whisper White cardstock
• Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise
• Stampin' Up Crumb Cake cardstock
• Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip cardstock
• Martha Steward Punch-Around the Page
• Sakura Gelly Roll pen
• The Paper Studio Velum

 Wish me luck and as always, thanks for stopping by,

Dana Desmond

Thank You Card

Thank you card using a Stampin' Up image colored with my Copic Markers.

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up, 40:31 Creations

Papers: Papertrey Ink, DCWV Nursery Stack

Ink: Stampin' Up, Copic Markers

Embossing: Cuttlebug, Border folder

More ATCs with Metallic Embossing

Here's a few more ATCs I made over the weekend. I'm having so much fun with these. Since these use a small amount of materials, I'm a little more willing to experiment with new techniques.



This one is made out of leftovers from my Valentine's project. The ticket stamp and die set is from Papertrey Ink, but I added the word Foxy from 40:31 Creations Love stamp set.



The key and heart stamps are from two completely different sets, but they work so well together. I embossed them using bronze powder. The background paper is brown packing paper from one of my Papertrey Ink shipments. Using clear embossing powder, I added the text. Then I stamped the key image using Tim Holtz Distress ink in Antique Linen. To give the entire card an aged look, I used my Tsukineko walnu ink spritz before I added my elements.

If you are interested in trading ATCs, leave a comment and we will work something out.

Thanks for stopping by,
Dana Desmond

My Pink Stamper Blog Hop Project

Here's a 4x4 card I made that could be used for many different occasions. I made the background using white cardstock, post-it note cut into a cloud shape, and Tim Holtz Distess Ink in Tumbled Glass.

 The ballon is cut from the Create-a-Critter cartridge. The sentiment is from 40:31 Creations Love stamp set.

The face is from the Everyday Faces from Peachy Keen Stamps(sorry about the glare).

Thanks for stopping by,
Dana Desmond

Valentines Art Project

eatThis project is a little different than anything I've ever done. It's been in the back of my mind for quite a while. I knew I wanted a red and black corset to be the focal point. I wasn't sure what else I wanted to add, but when I got started everything just came together.

I started by making all the elements for this project. I looked on the internet for a good image of a corset, but I couldn't find one. So, I freehand cut one out of  paper from the DCWV Autumn stack. I used my Versamark pen and and Ranger black embossing powder to add the boneing. I distress the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad inVintage Photo. I didn't have a piece of black lace, so I used black ink to die a piece of off white crochet lace. I added this to the bottom of the corset and set it aside. 

I made the tickets by die cutting Rustic cardstock with the Papertrey Ink ticket die. I stamped it with stamps from the Just The Ticket stamp set, adding the word Foxy from the 40:31 Creations Love stamp set. When they were combined, I liked the little naughty message it created.

I found this high heel shoe stamp in the $1 bin at Michaels yesterday. I started with a piece of the same Rustic paper I used for the background of the project. Using Tim Holtz Distress ink, I stamped the text backgroung with a new Stampendous stamp I bought last week. I embossed the shoe in black and the word Sexy in gold. I really wanted the word Sexy to be in a script font, but all I had was block letters from Fiscars. So I used the kiss method to grundge them up a little before stamping and embossing. I tore around the images and distressed with Vintage Photo Distress ink.

I decided it need a little bling, because bling is sexy. I happened to have this lock and key on a chain and thought it was perfect.

  

On a piece of 7x6 craft wood, I added a piece of white core textured card stock over the wood and sanded the edges and distressed the surface. I used Tim Holtz Distress in in Vintage Photo to darkent the edges and  embossed the swirl background in gold. I used my Smooch Spray to distress the lace,background Rustic paper, and flowers. I added all of this onto the background board.

This is by far my favorite project so far. I have it displayed in my living room. The colors are perfect, now if my husband would just let me paint our white living room dark red, it would be perfect.

I also made a large tote bag for a coworker this weekend, but it needs a few more details. I haven't quite decided what I want to do. Maybe I will finish it and have it posted later this week.

Thanks for stopping by,
Dana Desmond

It's been a while...

The weather has just thrown me all off. I've been working extra hours to make up for the time I had to take off for the blizzard we had here last week. I did get a few cards done while I was off, but I didn't get them posted.

I tried to go down and craft last night, but I spent all my time running up and down the stairs trying to cook supper, make a snack for snack day at work and clean the kitchen. I finally gave up.


I've informed my family that starting Friday night, I will be spending all my time in my craft room and I don't plan to resurface until Sunday.
 
Here's a few of the Valentine's cards I worked on while the blizzard was happening. It was so cold in our basement, but I managed to brave it long enough to make these.
 

This one is my favorite. I'm going to make more

of these in different colors and patterns.

The blue one was another happy accident. I cut the heart out of white paper and added the same swirl stamp to it that I used on the background, but the image was too delicate and there wasn't enough surface area on the heart to tell what it was. So, instead of cutting the heart again, I used my Pacific Point stamp pad and completely saturated the heart with ink. I found that the edges of the image picked up more ink that the center, giving it an outlined look. I still wasn't happy with the results. So I covered the whole surface with Versamark Dazzle ink and used clear sparkle embossing powder over the entire surface. When this was cool, I repeated the process. I love the iridescent look it gave. 

All cards are 4x4 and use Stampin' Up cardstock. I've found that it cuts the best on my Cricut. While at my Stampin' Up club meet a couple of weeks ago, I learned a new aluminum foil technique and had to try it. I love how it turned out. I had a little trouble on the card with the stacked hearts. I put too much glue on the foil and it "popped" though the front, so I sprinkled glitter over the glue. It turned out OK, but the next time I used the foil, I put just enough glue to make it slightly sticky and it worked better.

I used my Gypsy to plan these about a month ago and I can't remember all the different cartridges I used. I know for sure I used were Doodle Charms, Gypsy Wandering and Create-a-Critter.

Thanks for stopping by. I promise I will do my best to keep up with my posting. Have a great day!
Dana Desmond

Peachy Keen Stamps LFIF - XOXO

This week's Let's Face It Friday challenge at http://peachykeenstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ is to create a project using any of the Peachy Keen Stamps faces. The we must include "XOXO" somewhere on the project. I decided to make my project out of "XOXO."

Using my Gypsy, I made the card base by welding together the shadow image for the XOXO from the Sentimentals cartridge to the base image for the raccoon from the Create-a-Critter cartridge . Then I copied this welded image, flipped it and welded it to the front to make the back of the card so that when it folded it would be a shaped card. I cut the card base using black cardstock from Stampin' Up. 

I cut the red layer for the XOXO using Real Red Stampin' Up cardstock, added it to the card base and added the stitch lines. My arthritis is acting up this week, so I had a little trouble with the stitched lines, but they aren't too bad.

I cut all of the layers for the raccoon and adhered them to the base. I stamped the raccoon face using the medium Critter Faces from Peachy Keen Stamps. I love this stamps set so much, I'm going to order the large critter faces. I colored in the eyes with my Gelly Roll pen and pink Copic Marker.

You can't see it very well, but I used my new 40:31 Creations Love stamps to emboss the "Happy Valentine's Day" on the inside of the card. If I'd had white ink, I would have used that instead.

Right now I don't have any other projects ready to post. I'm hoping I will get some of my Valentine's cards started. Last Friday I received my Martha Stewart scoring board and I didn't even take it out of the box. There's a few techniques I want to try using the score board.

I'll try to post at least something tomorrow. Until then...

Thanks for stopping by,

Dana Desmond

40:31 Creations - Always and Forever

I as I promised last night, here's my next project using my 40:31 Creations Love stamp set. I decided to use the "always and forever" stamp as my inspiration for this card. 

All papers are Stampin' Up unless I indicate otherwise. I used a 4 1/4 x 5 inch card base in Basic Black. I layered a piece of pattered paper from Me and My Big Ideas, leaving about 1/2" on the left side of the card. I stamped my image in Momento Tuxedo Black ink. Usually when I get a new set of clear stamps I have to prep the surface before it will ink properly. That wasn't the case with these stamps. Believe it or not, I didn't even do a test image (brave or crazy, I can't decide), this is my first impression with this stamp. I looks great. I love the quality.

I added a piece of scalloped card stock along this edge. This card does not actually have any ribbon. The lines on the left of the card were drawn on using my Gelly Roll pen. 

I used my Gypsy to cut the heart image from the Create-a-Critter Cricut cartridge. I believe the love image is from Sentimentals. Added black stitching around the hearts using my Zig marker. I added the pink hearts to the card front and popped up the red heart and "love" on the card. I used 3 Prima flowers and a glitter brad and attached that to the card.

I've been in such a crafting glum the last few days. I had no desire to make anything new. Who would have thought a stamp set could get me motivated? I cannot wait to start my Valentine's cards for my coworkers. I have a couple of challenges I want to work on first, then its Valentine's madness. I already have 24 different designs waiting on my Gypsy to be cut. I was just waiting on this stamp set so I could finish them. Thanks Lauren, you did a great job. I'm more that pleased with these stamps.

Thanks for stopping by,

Dana Desmond

40:31 Creation Stamps are In The House, Just in Time for Throwback Thursday!

I had finally given up hope of posting a project today. I just couldn't seem to make myself go down the to craft room...that is until I checked the mail. I received my first set of 40:31 Creations Love Stamps by Lauren at laurenscraps.blogspot.com. If you haven't checked out her new stamp line, head over there. She has several unique sets. I've been waiting, not so patiently, for these. I went straight to the basement and started working on a card for My Creative Time with Emma's Throwback Thursday.

The rules for the Throwback Thursday are to use the Paperdolls cartridge, if you have it, and make a project using some type of embossing. If you don't have that cartridge, you can use anything, as long at it has embossing on it.

(Like the inky fingers?)

For some reason my favorite stamp in this set is "how you doin'" This is one of my most favorite lines from Friends. So this is the stamp I chose to use.

I wanted a character that would fit the stamp. I decided the seal from the Create-a-Critter Cricut cartridge was perfect. He's kind of lounging back and I picture his head bobbing like Joey's, as he winks and says, "how you doin'?" Cheesy, I know.

All cardstock is from Stampin' Up and the patterened paper and ribbon is from Papertrey Ink.

I cut the seal at 2 1/2" and the platform at 3". I used my Gypsy to hide the facial features on the cuts. I used my Critter Faces from Peachy Keen Stamps to stamp the face. Using the Spots and Dots folder, I embossed the top portion of my card with my Cuttlebug. I added the ribbon and attached the background to the card base.

I freehand cut the heart and stamped it with the XOXO stamp from 40:31 Creations. Using my Gelly Roll pen, I filled in the image. and added stitch lines. I popped up the focal image on the background.

As soon as I get the funds, I'm going to buy a couple more sets from 40:31 Creations.

I started on a couple of other projects using this stamp set. I can't wait to show you the results. The next stamped I used was "always and forever." Check back tomorrow to see what came up with.

Thanks for stopping by,

Dana Desmond