My DH and I were invited to an anniversary party this weekend, so I decided to make cards based on this design. I started with the card but instead of using designer paper I got out my Big Shotz and a Sizzix embossing folder. I think I may have cut the base card the wrong dimension since it ended up being a 6" square card instead of the A2 I made last time but it worked out great and I really liked the card. The sentiment on the outside is from a Hero Arts clear set and the interior sentiment "Congratulations" is a old wood mount Hero Arts set. A rather elegant card, if I do say so myself but somehow it just wasn't the card for Tom & Jen.

So I started again with a Penny Black animal stamp. Tom & Jen are such a fun couple. He has an incredible sense of humour and Jen is just so sweet. Elegant just didn't quite suit them. These cute little ducks look to me a like a fun loving couple. I coloured them with copics and once again realized how important the right paper is. I ended up stamping the ducks again and using Bic Mark-its instead of getting the right paper. The embellishment isn't on this card yet. The attachment it isn't necessary but I really like how it anchors the flap.

I absolutely love this card design. It is a great way to use up bits of designer paper or add texture with embossing folders. I can also see how diecut shapes could be added on the left panel f0r dramatic effect.

Happy Mother's Day

A customer came into the store last week to exchange some duplicate stamps. She also had stamps that she had purchased at another store. This stamp from Hampton Arts spoke to me, so I bought it from her.

I stamped the image with Distress Ink Fired Brick, Memories Artprint Brown and Distress Ink Vintage Photo. I then stamped a set of matching butterflies from the stamp and enameled the butterflies. I didn't know until recently Distress Inks could be embossed. I popped the coordinating butterfly over the butterfly in the image. I ran the brown layering cardstock through the Sizzix Floral Flourish embossing folder. I am still amazed at how deep these folders emboss. On the first image, I chose to put the raised embossed layer face down and on the second card, face up. I didn't get the Fired Brick image finished. I just didn't have the right layering paper out and decided to finish it another day.

The first card is for my Mom, whom I will never be able to thank enough for all she has done for me. Happy Mother's Day Mom.



Distress Ink Vintage Photo




Memories Artprint Brown



Distress Ink Fired Brick

April Challenge Cards

The April Challenge was selected by Darlene this month shown here.
These sketches are really challenging for us.

Barb asked if she could join our challenges and this is the card she created. Barb has a Cricuit and used it to cut the images as well as the word "love" which she cut and layered to give dimension. My photo really doesn't do Barb's card justice.



It was Jess' turn to participate in the challenge this month and she made this rather quick card. The bows are from dollar store hair ribbons as is the bling. The sentiment is Inkadinkadoo stamped on a Spellbinder tag which was popped onto the base card.



Laurilee's card was beautiful as always, although she said this challenge was really difficult for her. She cut the 3 scalloped circles with a punch and ran it through Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and layered onto some gorgeous Bo Bunny paper. Then she used the Martha Stewart butterfly (her favourite punch all time the note says) from the same paper and added glitter. Co-ordinating ribbon was attached under the punched strip. The tag is a Nestibility stamped with a sentiment from Papertrey Ink and edged with Martha Steward pink ink. Laurilee always send great instructions with her cards.





The front of my card was embossed with the Sizzix Floral Flourish folder. The images from Inkadinkadoo Round Frames set were stamped 6 times; one set was cut out and popped over the bottom 3 images. The edges dragged with Memories Midnight blue and layered onto blue cardstock.



Darlene's card this month is quite different from her previous cards. The images are cut from her Cricuit and embossed with gold. She also embossed the edges of the green paper she used underneath the images. The stamped sentiment is Rosewood stamps also embossed in gold. Darlene used the most interesting wood grained paper layered onto her white base card. I will have to ask her exactly how she did the embossing on this card when I see her next.



The card Donna finally settled on turned out beautifully. She cut the butterflies from a Spellbinder Shapeability. She layered them onto the brown ribbon and added dollar store bling. The sentiment is Hero Arts.



Cassie decided she wanted to make this challenge as well. Her card made use of a Martha Stewart edge punch and a Spellbinder Nestibility Scalloped Cicle. She alternated the circles over a piece of ribbon and added a sticker to the centre circle.



I guess I will have to show the results of next month challenge brought to us by Laurilee in 2 posts next month. If you would like to join our challenge, let me know and I will let you know where to send your images. I will post the May challenge tomorrow.

New Tool

I love my Cuttlebug but the Big Shot goes where the Cuttlebug can't. It easily accomodates most dies including Original Sizzix and the instructions for using the Big Shot are illustrated on the base plate. It is heavier. It doesn't slide on the table and it doesn't make that disturbing cracking sound when you pass something a little thicker through the machine.

Rose-Marie signed up to become a retailer for Sizzix products. Our new supplier gives us the opportunity to purchase promotion items with deep savings that we can pass onto our customers. One of those promotions was a Big Shot bundle. The photo shows all of the goodies that were included in the bundle. This bundle was available for limited time however the supplier has a new promotion that has recently started. Contact the store if you would like to order one or would like more information. The contact info for the store is located here at the bottom of the home page for Frog's Whiskers Ink. The promotions do change often and are available for a limited time only.