My FIRST challenge card!

I just completed my first challenge card for Pixie Dust Studios. I love their digi stamps, so...I decided to give it a try. The theme was "Old Photos" use color combo of black & white. I had just purchased this digi stamp, Robo Steampuff, from them and thought it would be perfect in the black/white palette. I used a scrap of argyle paper I had, embossed a grey piece with a Cuttlebug folder & inked it, then layered and added a bow. for the frame on the image I used my Creative Memories oval cutter to cut the frame and the bottom mat. I added the brads to carry out the robo theme. I like it...this digi is just too cute! However, I will add some red Stickles to the heart when I decide to use the card....me & my glitter:) Things I learned doing this challenge: I love Gamsol. I am not very steady at coloring...need to work on it a little.

ATC Exhibit in Ohio

Ok...one of the members on my FB group posted info about an ATC exhibit in Ohio (here's the link if interested: http://oxarts.org/index_files/Page638.htm ) I wanted to do it, but since I have not been doing this too long (have made 3 to be exact) I was a little hesitant, but then all these ideas came to me. You had to make three cards of the same theme....I finally settled on "Things with Wings". Here is what I came up with...
For the backgrounds on all three I used a technique I learned a long time ago...inking masking tape...it just gives it a little interest instead of flat color. I cut all the creatures with Spellbinders. I made all the wings out of thin metal paper...then added details with Smooch inks. Of course, I had to get some glitter in there so the flowers are all accented with Stickles in Diamond, as well as the bees' wings and the water by the dragonfly. So, let me know what you think....

ATC: It's Where You Live

So this is my ATC for a swap...the theme was "It's Where You Live". I decided to go with a literal interpretation of it. So many things came to mind that I wanted to include on the card....planes, cardinals, beavers, USAF, carnations, Wright Brothers, etc...if you haven't figured it out, I live in Beavercreek, Ohio...very close to Dayton and a huge AF base, Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Dayton is considered the "home of aviation" as it is the birthplace and home of the Wright brothers. Of course then you have our actual town, Beavercreek...well, they are just cute :) Then there are the state facts...flower, bird, etc... So, after a lot of sketching and re-sketching, this is what I came up with. I printed the beaver stamp on the computer and then covered it completely with Crystal Effects for dimension. I made the little carnations with tissue paper and floral tape. The state I cute on my Cricut using "50 States", inked the edges and added a brad for the capital. Unfortunately, one of the elements...the antique planes on the peachy background paper...get a little lost, but....if you look closely you can see them. I am really liking these little pieces of art. I think I am ready to do a series of three for an exhibit one of my FB friends shared with me....Hmmm...what to do, what to do...I am thinking "Winged Things"....butterfly, dragonfly, bumble bee??? We shall see...

What a fun way to recycle....

The TP mini album swap was such a success on my FB group that we did it again this month. The theme was "Summer Fun". Since I am in this "use it up" mode, I did not buy anything for this swap. I used papers & embellishments I had on hand by Imaginesce...cute penguins. I also tried out a new was to bind from the last one I made...instead of the rings I used large eyelets and ribbons. First I added a band to the end of each tube, adding an inch to the overall length of the tubes. Then, I punched the holes and added eyelets to the tabs. I ran a bunch of ribbon & raffia through the holes and tied to bind. Different....This is definitely a fun way to recycle...these are addicting!

Trying out digi stamps

I have been purchasing & downloading digi stamps for awhile, but haven't used them yet. This card I finally used one...the hummingbird and flowers are a digi from Fred She Said ( http://fred-she-said.blogspot.com/ ) You can buy them colored or uncolored...this one was uncolored. I colored with colored pencils then covered with a blend of rock candy crackle paint and Smooch inks...it gives the images a very dimensional effect. The card is a tent card. I added the lattice to the window for more interest. I like how this came out...and I will definitely start using my digi stamps...not only are the easier to store, but they are also less expensive.

ATC: Somewhere in Time

Here is my second ATC. It is for a swap and the theme was "Somewhere In Time". This one I took a more literal approach. I am not sure if I like it...it just didn't come out the way I had sketched and envisioned in my head.....it is growing on me. The background paper is velvet embossed. I hand pieced the hour glass with the "sand" flowing out. I added crystal effects on the glass part of the hourglass for dimension. I used glitter paper for the 'sand'. I thought it still needed something so I added the filigree corner by Flower Soft.

Makin' lemonade

This is my swap card for this month's FB swap. The theme was summer sun...had to have a sun or the color yellow. For some reason lemonade popped into my head & I just had to go with it. I knew I wanted to do the double pocket card...it is one of my favorite folds ( direction can be found here: http://splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/diagonal_double_pocket_card/ )
Now my dilemma was how to decorate...I found the paper and then just drew a blank. I had no stamps I liked...didn't want to do Cricut cuts...so I went surfing! I first looked for digi-stamps. While I ended up purchasing several, none were for this project, so on to plan B...clipart! I found images that I liked and then formatted on my computer. Then I had to figure out what to put in the pocket...that didn't take long...Kool-aid. I think they turned cute...if I do say so myself.