thestampingbughaswings: January 2011

TAC™ Contributing Artist Dream Team

Yes, you've guessed it! Several of my fellow Angels suggested I try out for the Dream Team so I thought, why not! Heck, I'm already in the swing of stamping and playing with my newest stamps, so I thought it would be fun to create some additonal cards and projects specifically for this call. What do I have to lose right???

So today, I'm posting three cards and a fun project. Brand spankin' new and hot off my workspace! Oh yes, some of these items also help me spotlight other current TAC promotions as you will soon see below.

So let's start out with one of my most favorite things to do: Making Sketch Challenges...I try to create at least 7 sketches a week so I decided to use one of those sketches-one I posted for a challenge I'm hosting in an online gallery.

Here's my Sketch:

Here's my card:

Here's a closer look:

I think More Mimi patterned paper is so delicious and every time I use it, it makes me think of LOVE....so I created a card for February...The MONTH of LOVE...and used two stamp sets: Date Discs and Pick A Date. The flower was stamped with Memento's Juicy Purples ( Lilac Posies ). I also used Copics G21, E77 to add a little coordinating color to the pearl stick pins (I buy white embellishments and add color using my Copics!) Are you wondering how I created that sparkly heart? I stamped it in Versamagic Pixie Pink ink then cut it out. With the heart placed on non stick pad, I applied gold stickles and let it dry...perfectly beautiful heart, don't you think?

And now on to the next card. I wanted to work with February's Stamp Of the Month and it was pretty amazing coloring this adorable pooch named Ruffles! I've never owned a dog stamp before but when I saw him, I knew I needed to take him home. I mean look at those eyes...He's just beggin' for someone to take him home! For this card, I focused totally on that pooch...Because I wanted a BOLD BLACK image, I decided to ink Fluffles up with Versafine Onyx and heat set it to allow me to color with my Copics. Now some say you can't use Versafine Onyx with Copics, but with the coloring technique like this and my heat setting the ink, I was able to create as much to a realistic look as I could. If you look closely at the background paper you will see that I stamped it with Ruffles too!

To create the background I stamped Ruffles using Wheat Versamagic then embossed it with white embossing powder. After that, I used a dry pad of Jumbo Java to distress over the white and the edges. And you know me, I HAD to add a little ribbon and some machine stitching! Isn't he cute???

Copics Used: W1, 3, 5, E 31

Now on to card #3...

For card # 3 I wanted to create a card using another sketch I made. This time, I made the sketch specifically for this call and after creating it, went right up into my craft room to build something from it...CHALLENGE...Right!

Here's the sketch:

Here's my card:

For this "Flower Pot" card (doesn't it remind you of a flower pot?), I decided to bring a little spring sunshine and wanted to use one of my most favorite TAC sets called I LOVE EASTER. This is a wonderful set if you love to COLOR and includes several adorable bunnies like the one featured here. I used SO many Copic colors for this card as I just kept adding colors until I was happy with the outcome. Do you do that??? I did keep track, so if you want the colors I used, get a pen!

Copics Used:

E000, 13, 15, 33, 53

Y17, 23, 26, 32, 35

YR 14, 16, 24

YG 03, 11, 23

G000

BG0000, 10

V95, 91, RV10

W00, 1

N0, N2

Instead of adding circles as a trim (as in my original sketch), I opted to use the RUNNING STITCHES stamp set. It's probably one of the most popular stamp sets of all time and I LOVE IT!!!

This was such a fun card to make. The orange strip (DCWV) is a little belt that slides over the card to hold it together and keep it closed. If you are interested in a video tutorial for this card, let me know and I'll film one.

Now for my final submission for the call, I wanted to create a project that was fun and useful in my craftroom; something that would help me contain all my acrylic blocks and most used tools...right on my desktop... So here's the project. I call it "The Blox Box".

...If you would like a copy of my step-by step instructions-including step-out photos, please leave a comment and I'd be happy to share!

"THE BLOX BOX"

For this simple project, all you'll need is some mat board cut to size, YES! Glue (or PVC glue), patterned paper (I used two sheets from the Tutti Fruti Collection), T2820 Just A Note, and a little ribbon.

Hope you've enjoyed my collection of projects created especially for this call. Cross your fingers xxx...

Hugz-Ker

Had no school yesterday... then it snowed... then my power went out... no school today...my power is back...no school tomorrow....I'm stamping!!! IT'S FRIDAY and PAYDAY to boot!!! WOOO HOOOO!!! Can't get any better than that!

Yahoo!!! I LOVE snow days. That's ONE perk of being a teacher. I'll be babysitting tomorrow too but for tonight and the weekend, I'm hunkered down for some good old stamping time. I made SEVERAL cards today, but this one is special...Oh so cute and I think my favorite of the year!!!

I have had this set for several weeks now and have been wanting to play around with it. I stamped and colored the images then decided I needed a ROUND mat and layout to feature this card. I think it turned out well!

Copic Colors Used:

Poodle: C00, C0, C2, C5; R35, RV42

Cup: YR0000, YR24; Y21, Y23; E35

I used two sets to create this card: T3411 Cup of Love $19.95 (the cup, the poodle and the sentiment) and TA3286 Basic Blooms-a level A Hostess Set (the background embossed in white).

Of course you know me...I have to add some ribbon, buttons and a little bit of Stickles...That poodle is shi-shi you know and shi-shi poodles have to sparkle!!!

If you are interested in purchasing this stamp set, email me!

Kerry