Lens

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Love is in the Air

I used this adorable Lawn Fawn stamp set, which is more of a winter/holiday set, to make a Valentine. Since my penguin is carving a heart into the ice with his skates, this wasn't too much of a cognitive leap! I used Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Blush for the background -- I painted it on, rather than spraying, since I wanted more opaque coverage. Prior to that I mixed some color from a Guava gelato stick with texture paste and added textured hearts through a Heidi Swapp stencil. The red hearts and the penguin are colored with Derwent Inktense pencils; I like taking color off the pencils with my water brush. I added a few enamel hearts, in case the love theme wasn't completely apparent already. :) The background paper is from My Minds Eye, as is the velvety scalloped ribbon.  [The links are to the products I own, available at Simon Says Stamp, just as a thanks for their challenges! I'm entering this in the Monday challenge.]

Thanks for visiting!

~ Laura

 

Plaid Christmas cards

Inspired by Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #187, I made two cards with plaid backgrounds. I don't use plaid often, so it was nice to use this Pink Paislee paper from my stash. The next layer is a shimmery cream cardstock on which I stamped and gold-embossed the focal point image and sentiment (both Hero Arts stamps.) Clean and simple all the way! [Well, apparently the link up closed, so I can't participate on their blog this week, but I'm still glad I made the cards. :-) ]

Simon Says Stamp Challenges

The Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge this week is "Stencil It" and I used my Faber Castell gelatos through a stencil to create this card. Oddly enough,  the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge this week is . . . wait for it: "Ombre!" 

So, I'm posting this to both challenges. 

I used a Hero Arts stamp set (CL567) for the sentiment, some American Crafts sheer ribbon, enamel hearts from MME, and Derwent Inktense pencils to color the tag. 

[Note: These are not affiliate links, it's just my way of saying thanks to SSS for hosting the challenges each week.]

SSS Monday Challenge: Winter Wonderland

I haven't had a chance to participate in a challenge in quite a while, but am on vacation this week -- hurray! The Simon Says Stamp Monday blog challenge for the last two weeks of the year is "Winter Wonderland," which I thought dovetailed nicely with an adorable little Lawn Fawn stamp set I recently purchased. 

The penguin and its heart skating pattern, as well as the snowflakes, are from Lawn Fawn and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink. I did not intend to add in the purple color, but had used a scrap piece of cardstock to mask the snowy hill shape and there was purple on the back side which activated when I used water. Oops! So, I went with it and added a bit more. And now I've got a birthday card for my sister-in-law. :)

WOYWW 341: A week before Christmas and all through the house . . .

Here is a picture of my table taken this morning before I left for work. I'm making some cards and have painted some inexpensive wooden ornaments from the craft store that I'm going to add to a few packages. I ordered photo cards for the majority of our list, but always end up making ten or so. This way I can have the fun of making some without the grind of making them all. Next year I should be super organized and make four dozen cards in the summer or something -- I'm sure there are people who do -- and then have them all ready when the holidays roll around. 

Here is a large close-up of the vintage sheet music I've stamped & embossed in gold. This Tim Holtz set is perfect for music teacher Christmas cards! 

And here is a cute little elf tag. He is so adorable that I think he needs to go on a package for my Mom. 

Happy WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday) to all, and to all a good night! 

~ Laura 

WOYWW 331

Happy Wednesday, WOYWWers and other distinguished guests!

Here is my work table, which bears a strong resemblance to last week's table. I did make a fall card with some of the ombre-inked pieces I showed last week, plus a purple and green Halloween card featuring a witch stamp I really like.

 Here's a close-up of another Halloween card, featuring a long-hoarded piece of Heidi Grace Designs paper (from when Heidi Grace herself owned the company). I did tack down that errant bit of tissue tape that wasn't behaving. ;-) I have no idea how the paper on the top right got crumpled. Oh, well. 

 

And finally, just because I want to post it somewhere for reference, I tried out all the white pens I own to see how they compared with each other on black cardstock. The first time I wrote with the Sharpie I didn't shake it enough, so it got a second tryout.

 

Fall card

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog is challenging everyone to use ombre in a project this week. I pulled out my trusty Distress inks and inked up a piece of watercolor paper, then embossed it. I die cut some leaves and flowers and chose these three beauties for a focal point, along with a fabric brad I've had for ages. I layered it all on top of burlap for a fun fall card. 

A Halloween card & a challenge

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge this month is to make a project based upon words found in this word search. Fun! My card below has: a bat, a moon, a pumpkin, a witch, the color black, and the color purple. 

WOYWW 330

Hello, everyone! I'm participating in my favorite weekly blog hop called "What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday," so click on over if you want to find out how to join the party. 

Here's my table at gloomy o'clock this morning -- when will I remember to turn on more lights? (Rhetorical question) On the upper left is my bin of letter stickers, with a sheet of Halloween paper propped up inside it. On the near left corner is a pile of Halloween stamps. 

This is a close-up of the middle to right side of the table. Simon Says Stamp (online store) has weekly challenges; the Monday blog challenge this week is to use ombre on a crafting project. So I pulled out my Distress inks and went to town. I'm thinking I'll make a couple of tags and a card -- we'll see!

And finally, a layout made over the weekend:

Thanks for visiting! If you leave a comment I will happily return your visit. :-) 

~ Laura 

WOYWW 324: Card from last week finished & Disney scrapbook begun

Do you have a burning desire to share your crafty space with a group of like-minded folks around the world? Click over to Julia's virtual abode and check out WOYWW. 

Here is a grainy photo of my desk from last night -- really should've flipped on the desk lamp. 

I'm working on my Disney scrapbook, although I don't think I've done much of anything since the weekend. We've been going for walks in the evening, which has taken up some of my time. 

Here is the title page of the album, the design for which owes a debt of gratitude to Nancy Damiano, who created a similar page with a Simple Stories calendar paper, and which I've been inspired by here:

And here is the finished version of the card I was working on last week. Since you saw it last I've cut out and adhered the stamped flower, adhered the sentiment sticker, and misted the whole thing with Perfect Pearls mist (which doesn't show up much in this picture.)

Happy Wednesday -- I'll return visits to anyone who comments and will try to get around to others, as time permits.

~ Laura