Whirlpool of Imagination

"X" Marks the Spot

Ack- I meant to post this yesterday and fell asleep early instead! Conor has a birthday coming up and if you are a regular reader of my blog, you know I try to challenge myself to come up with cute/neat invitations. After last year's Darth Vadar marathon of cutting, I want something a little easier on me. So I decided to play with fire instead!

I must stop here to extol the virtues of digital stamps. This project would not have been possible without the ability to resize the image to whatever size my heart desired. The theme of the invites was a pirate treasure map. I debated on a couple but I went with a cute one from.....I can't remember so if you know please let me know.....

Here's the finished map:

 

But it didn't start that way so let's go through the process.

I first resized the pirate map in Microsoft Word and printed it out on vellum (laser printer).

 

Since there was extra vellum around the edges, I cut close to the map outlines.

Now I broke out the flames. I used a lit candle since that was the easiest. (I tried to take pictures at this point but it was just me and trying to juggle the camera and the burning vellum at the same time was not working and I really didn't want to burn down the house).

I took a tiny area at a time and touched it to the flame. As soon as the vellum caught fire, I would blow it out. The vellum would bubble and scorch as well as burn so it gave it a cool look. I worked all the way around the map with this process (and after doing 8 of these I was ready to pass out from all the flame blowing out activity). I then would lightly swipe the back side of the map over the flame to just get the back of the vellum sooty (like you were soot stamping) but don't hold it there to long because you will extinguish the flame.

Here's a close of of a corner:

Meg has written a cool poem/invite so if I can find it, I will print that out and roll it up with the map. Here's the finished map rolled up.

Okay, easy part done. Now I have three weeks to figure out what to do with thee boys at the pirate party!

Have a great day!

New Technique for Mom

A couple of weeks back, Gina K did a piece on making gatefold cards. In my 18+ years of stamping/scrapping, I have never tried this card layout before. I figured it was about time.

I'm still making Mother's Day Cards but I think this may be one of the last for the season. I need to move on to dads and grads.

I started with the black base and white embossed layer panels. And that sat for several days before I could decide what to do next. Then it was Papertrey stamps to the rescue. I stamped the image and sentiment circle in Memento tuxedo ink and layered it onto a scalloped circle.

Here's the card opened...

 

Fun technique = I do believe I need to try more of these.

I am in the process of possibly creating another blog devoted to other aspects of my life besides the craftiness because I'm not sure I'd keep all my faithful readers if I was constantly adding non-crafty stuff. Let me know what you think - is it a good idea to separate the craftiness from the non-craftiness and go with two blogs?

Happy Anniversary!

Oh joy! The regular routine has returned! While I enjoy having the relaxed vacation schedule, I am always ready for a steady routine again. And now I can get back to some serious stamping. I realized that my store inventory does not include any anniversary cards so I decided to make one today.

 

The cardstock was embossed with an embossing folder and then the sentiment from Verve Visual was stamped with Memento tuxedo ink. I added a couple of clear Swarovski crystals for some sparkle. I have five of these lined up ready for envelopes and bagging and boy, do they all sparkle together!

And since I seem to be suffering from an acute case of exclamationpointitis, I'm signing off here. Have a great night!!

Stripes of All Colors

Happy Friday! We had a great day to end April vacation. Mo and I took the kids on a day trip to Newport. There was some kite flying, a bit of lacrosse playing and frolicking at the beach. I have realized that no matter what, Conor can find a way to get dirty. He kept telling me he was mad I didn't pack his bathing suit. I told him that no way would he do more than dip his toe in that frigid water. Well, he proved me wrong. That kid was running in the water and getting covered head to toe in sand. Thank goodness I had an extra pair of clothes in the car!

Since we were gone all day, I didn't hang out in the studio at all. I don't think I've shown you these before though..........

I love these 3 x 3 mini cards! I started with Doodlebug boutique stripe patterned paper (limeade, bumblebee, bubblegum, tangerine, ladybug, blue jean), layered the fabulous cardstock ric rac (made from the Papertrey die) and stamped the Papertrey sentiment with Memento tuxedo ink.

These are so bright and cheery in person!

And now that I've gotten the kids to bed early after our long day, I must say that I'm not far behind. Have a fantastic night!

One More Blossom

When you design a layout, sometimes you just have to try it in all colors. That is the case with today's card.

The Papertrey blossom is stamped with Stampin' Up Rose Red ink. Since Riding Hood Red ink is coming back to the SU color family, I decided to use it to stamp the Papertrey sentiment.

Other ground breaking news is that I've realized I like quinoa. Part of me just likes saying the word but I actually tried it and I'm sold. And that really is the most exciting thing I can say for today - which, in some ways, I am very grateful for because it's nice to have a boring day once in a while!

Have a great night!

Blue Blossom for Mom

Wow - another week has flown by! Hope your Monday goes well. Now on to another card for Mom.

I think I need a vacation in a beach spot - those turquoise colors have become my go to color! Both the sentiment and image are from Papertrey. The image is stamped with Memento bahama blue and the sentiment is stamped with Memento danube blue. And that's all I have to say on that.

Spent the afternoon at the Yankee Candle flagship store in Deerfield. That place is awesome and my credit card is feeling the pinch this morning. I could gladly wander there for hours.

I hope your weekend went well ~ here's to a fabulous upcoming week!

Pretty Way to Hold Photo's

Who loves office supply stores? I'm waving my hand here. I know - it's odd but I could happily wander the aisles of Staples any day. And what's better than taking a plain old office item and changing it into something pretty and useful.

My anything but a card challenge today at Splitcoast was to create a way to display photo's not using frames. So I grabbed my office supplies, namely binder clips, and went to work.

I first covered the clips with patterned paper from Stampin' Up. I have no clue what paper pack as I break the sets apart when I get them. I then decided to play with some of the new Papertrey felt, blossom dies and the Big Shot. Heaven, I tell you. Those dies cut that felt like it was butter....no frayed edges, no sticking. I must get more!

I used a brad to finish off the flowers and adhered them to the clips with Scor-tape. Add a bit of ribbon as a way to keep the photo's in place and we are good to go. I used to have a bunch of these made up but sold them out at my craft fairs. I think I need to make some more and stock up the store! I just need Papertrey to start releasing those felt colors faster!

Hope you all have a great night - PTI release at midnight but I'm sound asleep at that time - hopefully there's something still left when I check in tomorrow morning....

Going Cute for Mom

Happy Monday my blogging friends. Did you miss me?? I decided to take a wee vacation from blogging and now I'm back and raring to go! Let's talk Mother's Day - it's coming and will be here before you know it so I need to work on cards that I can add to my store inventory. Today I went for cute.

This little bunny is a digital stamp from Soft Pencil. I colored it with copic markers.

Copics: YR68, YR65, G19, C1

The sentiment is from Verve Visual and stamped with Memento tuxedo ink (is there any other black ink for me??I think not)

The patterned paper is from Bobunny (coral dot) and that ric rac is made from cardstock using Papertrey's new ric rac die. Let's swoon for a moment - that die is fabulous. I am addicted to it. I am in the process of making these adorable 3x3's using it. It is my single most favorite tool (at this moment) to use.

Alright, enough about the ric rac. I must be off to go get my kids from school. Speaking of my kids....have you ever seen a giant purple ant? You will sometime this week because I adore the imagination of my kids.

Have a great day!

Just Because

I lied. I told you I would be showing you a Mother's Day card but I'm not. I have real problems with my elbows/arm, carpal tunnel like problems because of all the fine motor work I do. Well, today it was bad, really bad. So I'm showing you a quick card that doesn't require much typing info.

 

All stamps are from Papertrey and of course I used Memento ink (love that stuff) - Bamboo Leaves and Tangelo. I adore this layout. So much in fact that you will be seeing more of this design in different color combo's with different sentiments. That, I can promise is not a lie.

I'm totally bummed about my challenge efforts tomorrow. I couldn't do much today so be kind when you see it tomorrow.

Have a great night.

Don't Forget Dad

I know I'm jumping ahead here for Father's Day but I pulled out one of my sets from Raisin Boat and felt the need to create with it. What's Raisin Boat you ask? Think Netflix but with stamps. You rent stamp sets, use them as often and as much as you like and then either buy them and keep them or mail them back in the postage paid envelope and then receive a new set. The stamps are clear polymer stamps and ink up VERY well. I am so hooked. I bought the first set I rented and am liking this one too so it may just stay here with me.

Everything but the word "Dad" is from Raisin Boat. The Dad is from Papertrey Ink. Everything is stamped with Memento cocoa bean ink. I debated on leaving the top area blank but it looked just a bit too blank so I picked up some chocolate twill ribbon from Taylored Expressions and knotted it. And then I stopped. And I'm happy with the outcome.

I've been working on Mother's Day as well so I can stock up in my store. I'll show you something for Mom tomorrow. Have a great night.