Always Be Your Own Kind of Awesome

Happy Friday!  Here is the next FANTASTIC creation from my guest designer, Becca Whitham, using one of my favorite words EVER!!!  See you later, alligator!

My favorite thing about stamping is how it has no creative limits.  The same stamp set can be used thousands of different ways.  Designer paper can be altered to fit your needs.  And, when you start combining a little from here and a little from there, the sky's the limit.

For design team duties over at Mimi, Myself, and I, I combined two stamp sets, a few papers, and several oldie-but-goodie stamping techniques to create a unique card by adapting a pattern from the Originals Card Confidence Program.

Here's the supply list with links for your shopping convenience:

• Stamps: Your Own Kind of Wonderful, You're the Bomb
• Ink: Glacier, Cocoa, and Slate
• Paper: Seaside, Cocoa cardstock, White Daisy cardstock
• Accessories: Slate Striped Ribbon, Liquid Glass, Sparkles Clear Assortment, Bronze ShinHan Marker
• Tools: Bonding Glue, Paper Trimmer, Micro-Tip Scissors, Foam Tape, Score Board, Sanding Kit, Sponge Daubers, Originals Card Confidence Program (p. 13, "Center Accent")

The first technique I used was to score my Cocoa cardstock every 1/4 inch then sand it to expose the white core.  I sanded both horizontally and vertically to get it nice and distressed.  I also distressed the edges on the Seaside paper and did a bit of sanding over the top of it as well.  Using a sponge dauber, I added Slate ink to the distressed parts.  I love how distressing plain cardstock and then sponging gives it the same shabby-chic feel of the cracked paint designer Seaside paper.

The second technique doesn't show up well.  I masked off the word "Wonderful" from the original sentiment (see below) and substituted "awesome" in Cocoa ink from You're the Bomb.

Liquid Glass is my "go to" accessory.  As you see in this close-up, I used it to give the butterfly bodies some shine and dimension.  It's also great to adhere a tiny, butterfly body because it's strong enough you can fold up the wings knowing it will stay put. I also used it to affix the tails of the ribbon where I wanted them.  I rarely get the tails of either knots or bows to naturally fall the way I like, and it used to bug me.  Then I saw someone dot tiny bits of Liquid Glass under the tails and cement them in place.  Genius!

There are a couple other things I want you to see about these butterflies.  The first is how I got that very cool swirly pattern on them.  I started by inking the largest solid butterfly from You're Own Kind of Wonderful (bottom, left) in Glacier ink and rolling the edges in Slate ink.  Then I inked the largest, swirly butterfly (top, left) in Cocoa ink.  I "kissed" the solid butterfly to the swirly one, twisted without taking the two images apart, then pulled them apart.


I did the "kiss and twist" technique a couple times to cover the entire surface of the solid butterfly.  I stamped it on a separate piece of white card stock, trimmed it out (cutting off the antennae), and colored the body with the Bronze marker.  I did the same "kiss and twist" technique using the same colors with the medium, solid butterfly (middle, right) and stamped it under my sentiment.  I had stamped my sentiment onto a rectangle of white cardstock that was extra long.  I then used my Paper Trimmer to slice up to the edge of the small butterfly and used scissors to trim out the bottom of the butterfly.  After I adhered the larger butterfly over top of the smaller one, I used a marker to re-draw the antennae.

Because I'd distressed my background paper, I had to touch up the butterflies with the sponge dauber to tone down the colors.

The last technique used on this card was adapting the card pattern from Originals.  As shown, it's a 4.75 x 3" card, but I wanted a standard 4.25 x 5.5" card.  Basically, I looked at the picture and created my own measurements. After creating my card base, I cut another piece of White Daisy cardstock at 4 x 5.25" and adhered the Seaside paper (4 x 3.75") and Cocoa cardstock (4 x 1.5"). Having a card panel that goes over the top of card base allows me to tape the edges of ribbon (or staple, or poke holes, or...) without the card recipient ever seeing my mess.

I want to re-create this card and substitute "Beautiful" for "Wonderful" then send it to my daughter. But that only uses one stamp set, and it's my job to make you want more than one. (**Big, cheezy grin**)

Until next time,
Becca --

I LOVE the You're the Bomb My Acrylix stamp set...AND it even provides a donation to Operation Smile when you purchase it!  BUT, it is ONLY available until the end of March...

Don't forget!  Any orders you place now until April 7th will qualify you for my March Madness Mystery Hostess giveaway, so make your wish list, and head on over to my website for a chance to win at least $25 in CTMH goodies!

 

Thinking Warm Thoughts in Layout Form

Hello everyone!  It has been a fast and furious few days in my life.  In case I haven't said it lately, thanks so very much for stopping in to read my blog and see what I have been up to in my craft room.

Today I wanted to share this layout I made by using the first book in the new series by the amazing founder of Close to My Heart, Jeanette Lynton.  Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1 contains the instructions for making 18 layouts and 12 cards with easy-to-follow pictures and cutting guides.  At just $7.95, this publication is a wonderfully affordable way to boost your creativity.

My layout is made with pictures from one of our family trips to Florida.  It is a bit chilly here in the midwest as of late, so I needed to feel some warmth with these beautiful beach pics to keep me holding on until spring break finally arrives.  I used pattern number 12 on page 28.

The gray spotted paper is from a special paper packet Close to My Heart had a while back called Dotty for You.  The shades of blue are Sky, Dutch Blue (retired), and Outdoor Denim.

I used two different My Acrylix sets for this layout, the retired Footloose Workshop on the Go (shell and sand dollar) and the currently available Just Chillin' (bucket.)  A few Opaques added some pretty pearls to my beachy scene.

These wooden shapes are also no longer available, but were just the perfect touch for my layout.  

I did add some extra photos to my layout, so it is a bit different from Jeanette's layout, but that is the beauty of our How-To books!  You get all of the design ideas without handcuffs!  ;)

I wanted to also let you know that two of our previously discontinued How-To books are back with our Spring and Summer Idea Book and more affordable than EVER!  They are now in a softcover edition for only $14.95 each!

 Reflections contains 100 scrapbook layouts.

 Originals gives you 100 card patterns to choose from!

Check them out by clicking on the links above.  Jeanette is brilliant, and they have truly become indispensable tools in my craft room.  :)