Birds of a Feather and a Fairy Together

I just got my new set of Letraset Aqua Markers.  They are so cool. It's like doing watercolors with a marker...more like paint than any other waterbased markers I've used.

Here is my first card made with the markers. I used one of my newest sets of Crafty Secrets Clear Stamps called, Fairy Wishes.

I am entering several challenges with this card:
Always Crafting - Fairies and Mermaids
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Birds of a Feather
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes, must use ProMarkers
Craft Your Passion - Things with Wings

I stamped the image in Memento Ink and then used my markers and a waterbrush to "paint" the image. I distressed the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Ink. 

I applied glitter to the fairy wings, and added the sentiment, which is from Flourishes' Cherries and Peaches Set.

The flower is made with Hollyhock CS from CTMH, and the beads are from WalMart. I used the

 Tattered Florals Die by Tim Holtz and inked the edges with his Distress Ink in Broken China.

The green cs is stamped with various images from the Fairy Wishes set, as is the white background piece. 

Since I didn't have any real "fairyland" paper, I made my own! The turquoise paper is distressed using water and crinkling it. I then distressed it with sandpaper and inked it.

The ribbon was melted with my heat tool...one of my all-time favorite techniques. I added gems to balance the design.

I hope you like it...and thanks for stopping by.

~Bev

Cutie Kitties

I was so thrilled to be asked by Sandy at Crafty Secrets if she could put one of my cards on her blog! Then, I was even more excited that she invited me to choose free stamp sets as a thank-you!

Wow...thank-you Sandy!

So, here is my first card made with one of the 2 sets I received...this set is called, Cutie Cats. I had to have it, since I own a Tabby...actually he owns me, if you know anything about felines.

I am entering this card in some challenges:

Designed 2 Delight - CASE challenge (along with a blog hop)

Bizzy Bec's Store Blog - Color!
Celebrate the Occasion - Birthday
Craft Spot by Kimberly - Hot Summer Colors
My Grafico Crafts- Bright Summer Colors

Here is the card I CASE'd at Designed 2 Delight. This card was created by Katie Tate. In case you don't know what CASE  means, it's "Copy And Steal Everything". I tried my best...

I used my Prismacolor Markers to color this image. A little Gelly Roll Pen was used to highlight the image.
The striped paper is Tres Chic, and the rest is CTMH "vintage"...as I have had it forever!

The label is also from the Cutie Cats set. I embossed with white powder. The lace border is a Martha Stewart punch. Red Ribbon completes the card, to echo the red bow tie.

Thanks for stopping by,
~Bev

Summer Dreamin'

This scene is so serene...but today in Florida, all the grass is waterlogged from Tropical Storm Debbie, so no one is lying on the lawn with a book!  Actually, this picture reminds me of lazy days as a kid. I wore skirts and dresses to school...no shorts or jeans! Do you remember?

These are the challenges I am entering with this card:

Corrosive Challenges by Janet - Summertime Girls

Milk Coffee Shop Challenge - Summertime

Sketch and Stash - must use one of their sketches/Free Choice

Charisma Cardz - Summer

All Sorts of Challenges- Any Die Will Do
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Girls, Girls, Girls

I discovered this wonderful blog of vintage images called Digital Two for Tuesday. If you love vintage, take a look.

The layout I used is number 7 from Sketch and Stash. 

I used paper that I have had for ages! The black card is from "Core-dinations" Black Cauldron series. The green CS is CTMH and the dotted blue is SU. The decor paper is Tres Jolie.

The lace border is from Crafty Secrets' Kitchen Kids Set. I sanded the white brads. 

I colored the image with chalks, as well as Prismacolor Pencils. I used an old CTMH cloud stencil, and a straight edge to give the picture a horizon line.I used a Gelly Roll Pen to highlight parts of the image. I like to give my images a white "glow" by erasing some of the chalk, because a lot of color on older cloth is mismatched and leaves a glow line. I guess I am in love with the vintage look...I don't know...

Anyway...

The ribbon is distressed by way of being melted with my heat tool. The little bird stamp is from Crafty Secrets "Bird Song" set. So is the little note paper stamp. The sentiment is from SeeDee's.

The rose was made using Tim Holtz' Vagabond Machine and Tattered Florals Die. I added a gem in the center. I just got my machine...and want more stuff to use with it.  Don't tell George!

~Bev

Wedding Memories

It's hard to believe it's been 5 years already!  My husband George and I have had many adventures in the past few years, but none is as sweet a memory as being whisked off to Las Vegas to get married!

Here is the list of challenges I am entering with this card:

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog - "Memories Are Made of These"

ATCs With Attitude - Anything Goes

Card Crafter's Circle - Wedding

Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Clean and Simple

Delightful Sketches - Anything Goes

Frosted Designs -Use What You Have

I have some old favorite stamps from when I was a CTMH consultant. So, I pulled out "Wedding Words" to make this heat embossed background. I also used some "vintage" grosgrain ribbon from CTMH in Outdoor Denim. I added three Studio G gems...I think it looks like a tuxedo shirt, don't you?

The picture is from my  CD which I bought of ALL the pictures taken at our wedding...it was expensive, but now look what  I can do with it! 

The frame is a Sizzlit  from Sizzix called Decorative Label Set. I used a corner rounder on the photo.

Inside this Cranberry Cardstock (also CTMH) card, I used a SeeDee stamp set to print, "Cherished Memories" 

I can't fit into that dress anymore, but the memory is still sweet.

Thanks for looking, and I hope I made you smile and reminisce.

~Bev

Enjoying the Challenges...Summer is Here!

My first official summer 2012 card is done:

I decided to "surf" the net (since it's summer), and found a few challenges to enter with this card:

Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Eyelets

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Ribbon, Gems, Punches

Cute Card Thursday - Summer Theme

Corrosive Challenge Blog - 2 or more punches or die cuts

Great Impressions - Dies and/or Punches
4Crafty Chicks - By the Sea

 I decided to use my newest stamp set, Seaside, by Crafty Secrets. I hand wrote on the "photo" as if I were making a scrapbook. I used a Martha Stewart punch on the left side of the card, punching vintage look paper. I also used a slit punch from SU! to run the gold ribbon through.

 The eyelets are from SU!. I distressed all the edges and gold embossed the edges of the image and the torn script paper. A gem is used in the center of the starfish, which I masked to stamp the sand dollar behind it.

The background paper is by Melissa Frances. It looks like vintage notebook paper. I stamped little flip flops on it. Then I stamped the sentiment in the bottom right corner.

Here you can see the ribbon which I heated to make it curl and melted some holes in it to age it. You can also see the layers which I distressed with my scissors along the edges, and inked with walnut ink distress ink by Ranger.

My adorable image is colored with Prismacolor markers and pencils, plus chalks. I also used a Gelly Roll Pen to highlight the edges of almost everything!

Thanks for looking, and Happy Summer!

Bev

A Child's Garden Birthday

I am so excited! I was asked to have one of my cards posted on the Crafty Secrets Blog!  What an honor. 

This card is also created with Crafty Secrets stamps. I used Garden Girls and Bird Song., There are also a couple of images from Hardware.

I used to be a CTMH consultant, so I have lots of "vintage" paper. The background is from a scrapbook kit...with its roses and stripes, it is the foundation for this card. I started tearing and layering and before I knew it, I had this lovely card.

I used Prismacolor markers and pencils, along with chalks to color the image. The ribbon is "vintage" CTMH...my favorite gingham. I used my heat tool to melt the ribbon a bit...it gives it a nice crimpiness (is that a word?).

If you look at the green oval in the main photo, you will notice some dry embossing which I did the old fashioned way, with a brass stencil of all things!

The little birds up in the right corner are one of my most used stamps...I guess you could say its one of my "go-to" sets. I used a CTMH cloud stencil and chalk to make clouds behind the birds.

The lacy border is a border punch from Martha Stewart. I layered it with more ribbon and a couple of glittery brads I found at Home Goods.

I used Tim Holtz' Distress Inks and glitter also. I little sanding block and sponges, cotton balls and a chalk eraser were important tools. They are so basic to vintage cards, aren't they? At least for me!

Here is my favorite part of this card. I have never done this before. I went out into my backyard and found a twig. I glued it to the card and sat a little chickadee on it. Behind the bird you can spy a little girl from some Melissa Frances paper.

I really had fun making this card. I am entering it into a few challenges...

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog, "It's A Girl Thing"
Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge, Fun Kid's Birthday Card
The Cheerful Stamp Pad, "In the Garden"

I really love creating these cards for challenges. I do better with a deadline. I am always pleasantly surprised when a card is finished...I never know what it will turn out to be!

Thanks for looking...please leave a comment. I value your opinion.

-Bev

My Take on Darlene's 3-Fold Card Design

This card didn't exactly turn out the way I thought it would. Notice I didn't say it didn't turn out the way I PLANNED, because I don't really plan a card. Do any of us, really?

There is oh, so much more color in the card than I thought there would be! And it's cuter, too!

It's my take on Dar's card, and there is a slight problem with mine, although I love the design and wouldn't change it at this point. The problem is, it won't stand up! Oh well...

I used Martha Stewart's punch and fern stamps, and Crafty Secrets Bird Notes set. The brads are from We Are Memory Keepers, the ribbon is organdy ribbon which I distressed with my heat tool. (I do that alot...no ribbon is safe from my heat tool!) I used Prismacolor pencils and Tim Holtz' Distress Ink in frayed burlap. The green ink is SU! Old Olive.

The gingham paper is good ol' CTMH, and so is the cardstock...Naturals. I took a punched out circle, and traced around it, cutting out the birds and leaving a moon shape in the background. Glitter dresses up the birds.

Hope you like it. Make sure to try this folded card. It turns out to be a perfect 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 card.

Happy Stamping!
~Bev