When first viewing the card sketch challenge for this week I thought it would be difficult.  However, once I picked out the designer paper it seemed to all fall in to place.  I used a stamp set from The Stamps of Life called kites2fly.  I stamped the kite and then cut it out and placed it on a embossed panel.  Cut out a cloud from a die cut I purchased from Papertry Ink.  Stamped it with a Hello greeting from the same stamp set.  Also stamped the kite tails and cut them out and attached them to some black twine ribbon.  Found some ric rac ribbon and applied it over the background panels.  Then added an adhesive flower that was the same shade of blue green as the designer paper.  This sketch was a lot of fun to make and I really was happy with the results.  The members of Split Coast Stampers liked it too.  I received 20 positive comments after posting the card to my gallery.  This card will most likely go to a resident who lives in my park.  Hopefully receiving this card will uplift that particular someone in mind who is not feeling well.

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment

I was browsing through the Split Coast Stamper‘s gallery a few days ago and I saw a card that was made using the embossing resist technique.  You stamp your image with Versamark, add clear embossing powder and heat.  Then use an ink (I used Ranger Distress Ink-Dusty China and Dusty Concord) and sponged it over the embossed image.  When you have reached your desired coverage wipe off excessive ink from your image.  Other tools and embellishments used on this card were Stampin Up‘s ticket corner punch, Cuttlebug dotted swiss embossing folder,  Spellbinders circle, circle lace die and ribbon tag trio die, purple satin ribbon and white adhesive dots.  I used the same technique for my sentiment.  This was a technique I had tried when I was first introduced to it but hadn’t used it since until just recently.  I noticed that a lot of people have been trying it lately.  It just takes one person to inspire many.  No one special in mind to give this card to but I am sure it will come in handy when the time presents itself.

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment

When I uploaded this card to my gallery at Split Coast Stampers on Wednesday for the Card Sketch Challenge I received 18 positive comments which I believe is the most comments I have ever received for any one card.  That was exciting!   The image was a digital stamp I had downloaded and printed over a year ago but had never incorporated into a card.  I decided to really apply the color to these balloons.  I picked the designer paper at the far left to determine what color shades I would use and went from there.  Naturally  I used my favorite coloring medium Copic sketch markers.  Added a zig zag border with a Martha Stewart punch along with some white adhesive dots to create some additional interest.  This was a fun card to create for that well deserved someone in mind.

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment

It’s Wednesday again and here is my Split Coast Stampers‘ Sketch Challenge card.  I have no idea why I had so much trouble with this card because the sketch wasn’t that difficult to do.   I just couldn’t figure out what type of image I wanted for the center.  I finally just decided on a sentiment and it worked well.  The stamp I used was from Inkadinkado. I used some designer paper I purchased at a garage sale for 10 cents a sheet (what a deal).   I also used a star die from Papertry Ink and a embossing folder from Stampin Up called Petals A Plenty. Raised the center panel with pop ups and added some turquoise adhesive dots to the corners.  Pretty simple card but boy did I make it complicated.  Sometimes that’s just the way creativity happens.  This card will be for that special someone in mind on a very special day.

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment

I used an image from Bugaboo Digital Stamps for this card.  The image was a Friday Freebie.  I made this card with my nephew Michael in mind.  He will be celebrating his ninth birthday in May.  He’s not really a cowboy, however he does live in Colorado and I know he likes to go to the rodeos so I think he will like this card.  Next to Sympathy cards masculine cards are the hardest to create.  You have to keep all that bling in check.  I hope you can see the designer paper in this upload.  It depicts the siding on a barn wall which I think is quite appropriate for the cowboy image.  I used yellow felt stars to also tie in with the star on the cowboy’s chest and of course the sentiment also works well with the overall theme.   Once again Michael is my someone in mind.  Hope he has a super birthday!

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment

When I was viewing the cards posted for the Split Coast Stampers card sketch this week, I came upon a card made by a member called carol that had this fabulous image.  It was colored so well and the background was awesome.  The card really caught my eye so much so that I had to purchase the image from Sweet n Sassy Digital Stamps.  Here in Florida we have so many species of butterflies that it is just amazing.  Therefore, when I see butterflies incorporated in different card creations I get excited knowing that butterflies are one of God’s many gifts to us.  Used my Copic markers to color the butterfly/flower image.  The sentiment is from The Stamps of Life butterfly2build.  I used a bow making technique using black polka dot ribbon and a yellow button brad. Used black cardstock for my panels and  yellow polka dot designer paper to compliment the colored image.  This will most likely go to someone very special in mind.

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment

I made a discovery while making this card.  I have a Stampin Up Scallop Corner Punch that I realized goes very well with my new Spellbinder Lace Dies.  I also thought that they both worked really well with this free image from Bugaboo Digital Stamps.  The sentiment I use was from The Stamps Of Life stamp set called butterfly2build.  Used Copic Sketch Markers for coloring the image and used Stampin Up‘s Cherry Cobbler ink for the sentiment.  Use Cherry Cobbler cardstock for the back panel and for the die panel.  Also incorporated some miscellaneous designer paper which worked well with the overall design.  This card may go with the other cards I have saved for the Sunshine Lady to give to someone in mind who needs a little uplifting.

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment

Here is the card I submitted for this week’s card sketch challenge at Split Coast Stampers.  I decided to incorporate stitching on  my background panel by using the technique I found on Gina K Designs Stamp TV.  The stamped images are from a Stampin Up stamp set called The Back Nine.  This stamp set was retired back in 2006 but I still occasionally dig it out and use it again.  For the golf ball I used the smallest circle of the Spellbinders Nestibilities die set.  I dry embossed the circle with the Cuttlebug Polka Dot Embossing Folder and then applied Crystal Effects.   I don’t have a someone in mind for this greeting card, however I have several golfers in my family who could be the recipient of this particular card.

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment

This digital image from Bugaboo Digital Stamps was a freebie.  I love this site not only because I love the digital images but also because they give away freebies every Friday and in addition they have a rewards plan for their members.  I found a tutorial for making sharp looking bows at a site called Stamper Camper’s Corner. You will need a fairly large brad to make this type of bow. I used a light blue button brad for my black polka dot bow.    Once again I colored the image with my Copic Sketch Markers.  Used some miscellaneous designer paper for my panels and attached three white adhesive dots for an additional embellishment.  I have a friend back in my home state of Colorado who looks just like this image (she has a mouth though).  I had her in mind all along when I made this card.

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment

Wanted to try my hand again at card stitching with my Janome mini sewing machine.  I found a great video tutorial on Gina K Designs Stamp TV called Stitched Background.  You stitch together five panels measuring 5 inches x 1 inch and then stitch them to a 51/4 x 4 inch panel.  Then attach to your 51/2 x 41/4 inch card.  This was fun with good results.  I recently purchased a set of Spellbinder Circle Lace Dies and cut out my Bugaboo Digital Stamp image as well as my sentiment on my Cuttlebug.  I connected the two circles with two small gold rings.  Image was colored with Copic Sketch markers, by far my favorite coloring medium.  I have several nieces who would enjoy receiving this card for their birthday, so one of them will be the someone in mind when their birthday rolls around.

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Janine | Leave a comment