Once in a Blue Moon-Gingersnapper's choice

Every few months,  Gingersnap Creations  end up with 5 Wednesdays in a month! That's where the Once in a Blue Moon Challenge comes in. As this is not a frequent event, they try and make it a little different than the regular challenges and often send us back into their archives or out into the blogosphere for inspiration! This time is no different! As they have now had over 100 challenges, they thought you might like to revisit some of your favorites. They challenge us to pick so I decided to pick GC44: Birthday challenge since I am into making birthday cards lately.

This is a fun tri-fold card and on the front of the card I used a piece of sequence waste to create a bubble looking background.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Duck - Duck - Goose!

Remember that game from childhood?  Really has nothing to do with this post just thought it would be fun for a title.  My niece moved up in her swiming team so thought I would send her fun mail. In VA. they take swimming serious, she is in a group called NOVA and she has been in this organization for years.
 Didn't have a fish in my stash of stuffed animal but did find this duck actuall I think it is a platapus (sp?).  Add a tag and off to the post office to mail. 

Ribbon flower

I like to call this an abstract ribbon flower all made with May Arts ribbons .  The bottom flower is a left over from my ribbon paper technique, you can see tutorial http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/2011/03/thursday-tutorial-ribbon-paper.html

For this card I made an abstract flower with crochet ribbon then sprayed it with Ranger Ink  cranberry spray wash. 

 Here's a close up of crochet abstract flower.









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Clark Gable

Used Clark Gable image from The Stampsmith .  He is inked up with Ranger Ink Distress pine needles ink pad, yes Distress inks work with fine detailed stamps.  The trick is how you press image to ink which you can read all about in my Photo Impressions article in March 2011  Scott Publications Catalog Scrap & Stamp Arts. To get a quick look click on Published in the tabs on top of my blog. 




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Thursday Tutorial - Ribbon Paper

Birdcage Flower Pot Easel card

Fabric is very popular in card making and scrapbooking so I decided to use ribbons instead to make what I call ribbon paper. It’s fun and easy alternate to fabric.

Supplies:

Stamps
happy birthday – Impress

Ink:
Colorbox violet chalk ink pad

Accessories:
3M double stick tape, foam mounting tape
Xyron adhesive machine
 Sizzix Big Kick personal die cutting machine
Brads
Ultra fine crystal glitter
Self-sticking crystals
  Sizzix     Tim Holtz  Alterations Tattered Floral, Caged Bird Bigz Dies

Ribbons:
    May Arts ribbons   HM07 Taffeta/Iridescent, BK32 Grosgrain multi-color Stripe, SK01 white silk, NP01 crochet, 351-01

Instructions for making ribbon paper:

1. Cut cardstock into usable pieces to fit into Xyron adhesive machine if you don’t own Xyron you can cover a sheet of cardstock with a full sheet of Red liner double stick tape then cut to size.

2. Place ribbons on sticker cardstock in rows.

3. Place ribbon paper on bird cage die and run it through Big Kick (or any personal die cutting machine).

Instructions for easel card:

1. Cut piece of cardstock 4” x 8”. Score & fold card at 2” and 4”.

2. Take 4” x 8” card and fold both score lines toward you which will create the easel part of card.

3. Tape 4” square card with double stick tape to bottom section of folded card.

4. Add brads to bottom of bird cage die then cut the bars of the cage. Add jump ring with pin embellishment to top of bird cage. Tie ribbon bow with lavender silk ribbon.

5. Use 1/8” double stick tape to tape bird cage to 3 ¾ “ square lavender card leaving the cut bars of the bird cage free of tape.

6. Tape little flowers from Tattered floral die with double stick tape and foam mounting tape inside the bird cage.

7. Add self-sticking crystals to flowers.

8. Adhere finished bird cage with flowers to 4” card that is on the easel of your card.

9. Mount one of the bigger flowers to top of card with foam mounting tape then tape bird with double stick tape over center of flower.

10. Stamp happy birthday with purple chalk ink on piece of white cardstock mount to bottom of card with foam mounting tape. Add another of the ribbon paper flowers to the left side of stamped saying. The mounting foam tape gives dimension to hold the card up to form the easel.


More examples:

Making this ribbon paper can become addictive especially when the Sizzix dies cut it out so well.

Here is a close up look at ribbon paper flower with glitter unfortunately it’s hard to see all the sparkle in a photo.

Used Sizzix Tim Holt’s snowman alternations die along with the Tattered Floral die.

Gingersnap Office supplies challenge

Over on Gingersnap Creations they are challenging us to use office supplies in our artwork.  I had made a bunch of these large paper clips last year for friends with their initial on it and had a few clips left over so thought perfect reason to pull them out.
For this one I did my ribbon paper flower (tutorial on Thursday) using May Arts ribbons .  This ribbon paper is so addictive!  Hope you think so when you try out my tutorial later this week.

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Spring flowers

Spring is here!  yeah!

Here is a peek at a card I will be showing at a later date.  Will have a tutorial on how I made this fun ribbon paper.  This ribbon paper can be addicting! 

***please join my following if you haven't yet.  will be doing a blog drawing in June (my birthday month).  also comments welcomed and appreciated so I know I'm not writing to myself. thanks.***

Blossoms are coming!

At least I hope blossoms are coming very soon since spring is official this weekend.

For this card I was thinking iris folding but did it with beautiful ribbons from  May Arts ribbons .  Only problem I had was that a couple of the ribbons I had were silks, which I love but for this technique not so good.  Silk ribbons are delicate so instead of folding the ribbons in half like you do with paper iris folding I decided to just do single layer.  Came out nice but think I will have to work on this faux iris folding technique a bit. 

***please join my following if you haven't yet.  will be doing a blog drawing in June (my birthday month).  comments welcomed and appreciated so I know I'm not writing to myself. thanks.***

Pretty Purse

I did this purse as a project for a design team but didn't make the cut for the team.  I'm disappointed but not discouraged.  If at first you don't succeed try, try again and I will.

Anyway thought now I can show it to all of you.  I've had this metal purse for awhile so at least it make me pull it out and do something with it and it won't go to waste because I plan on giving it to my niece.

I discovered that Ranger Ink Archival inks work well on metal!  Nice discovery.   Inside I added some decorative paper along the side and felt on the bottom.  Oh, yeah also made a few cards to fill it.  I'm sure she will like it and I know she appreciates cards when I give them to her.  She is at the age where she likes to send thank yous....that is so nice.  Her mom teaches her well. 
***please join my following if you haven't yet.  will be doing a blog drawing in June (my birthday month).  also comments welcomed and appreciated so I know I'm not writing to myself. thanks.***

Postcard Buddies - K

Today I am showing you our "K" Postcard Buddies and again all the same but different.

Mine if K for big & bold Hot Potatoes Fabric and Wall Stamps key. 
 Muriel did a wonderful Kokopelli (glad she spelled it for me. lol) postcard.

Petti did a sweet scene with three little kittens in bed.   Next is Grace and see what I mean about the same but different....we both used Key but they are totally different.  Love when that happens.  Leslie did a sour puss kid on a swing.  Maybe she wants to play on the slide. 

Here is Roberta's K for Kangaroo.  Isn't that a fun comic strip.

Be back soon with next letter.

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Faerie Tea

Do like this Faerie Song Art Stamps ~ Fantasy Themed Images Tea Faerie.  If you look on the top of my blog you will see another card very similar to this one.....difference is I colored this on in more with my favorite medium.....Prisma color pencils.  I'm back to using my kraft cardstock and coloring with Prisma pencils used to do it all the time years ago when I was into House Mouse images.  Hmmmmm gets me thinking maybe I'll pull those critters out and do something with them....have enough of them.  lol!  Anyway back to this card if you look in the corners you will see where I paper pierced some holes just to add some texture to it. 

Two night card class

***This post will stay here for two weeks.  Please scroll down for newest posts.***

Come One Come All!  Join in the fun making cards in a fun and creative atmosphere.
Call Denise at Milford Public Schools to register for class.
All Occasion Cards


NEW. Spend two evenings with Sue making an assortment of cards using stamps, papers, ribbons and other
embellishments to give your cards a special touch. Have a stack of cards all done so when you need a birthday, anniversary or thinking of you card, it is right there at your ready. A variety of sentiments will be at hand in class to customize your cards for any occasion. Bring a basic tool kit to class: scissors, ruler, pencil, double stick tape/foam mounting tape. All other materials will be supplied by the instructor. All levels of experience are welcome.
Limit: 10 students.
Wednesday/Mar.23,30/7:00-9:00p.m.

Gingersnaps Redhead Challenge - Crowns

Had a little fun with Gingersnap Creations Redhead challenge theme of Crowns.  Couldn't resist using one of Stampotique Originals gothic girls.

The crown on her head is a paper punch.....the big crown and saying embossed in gold is from  Starving Artiststamps new rubber stamp set. 

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Faux Barnwood

Believe it or not I have been having a lot of fun creating  Faux Barnwood .  Here is another card using another of those great girls from Stampotique Originals .  Used another fun saying this one from Inky Antics.  For the ribbon this time first I took the SK02 May Arts ribbons wide ribbon and pleated it across the card next cut a separate piece of the same ribbon and tied a bow and glued it on top of the pleats.  Check out some more of the pieces I have left from doing the Faux Barnwood technique. 

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Stampotique challenge - Faux Barnwood technique

Over on Stampotique Designer's Blog the challenge is to use http://www.techniquejunkies.com/Faux_Barnwood_Tutorial.pdf  technique.  I didn't think I would like this background but once I got started I couldn't stop making it.  I did change it around a little to fit the supplies I had on hand......instead of brown acrylic paint I used green and instead of white acrylic paint I used barely pink acrylic paint.  The other thing I changed was the brand of glue....in the directions they used elmer's glue but I used Aleene's Tacky glue which worked very well for me.
I stamped the girl on light pink cardstock then stamped her four more times on decorative paper.  Cut out the dress once completely then three more times just cutting out the bottom of the dress.  Made the dress into a formal gown with ruffles then added the saying What was I thinking?  Added some wide black silk  May Arts ribbons . 

Thursday Tutorial - Just a little Hello

Paisley Just a little Hello

Intermediate
Supplies





Stamps: Cloisonné Words & Phrases MS333EZ, Cloisonné Paisleys MS340EZ

Inks: Ranger Archival ink Jet Black, Distress Ink broken china, Adirondack alcohol blending solution, Adirondack alcohol inks – sail boat blue, stream, cloudy blue

Paper: Marco glossy kromecote, turquoise cardstock

Accessories: Ranger Liquid Pearls white opal, May Arts sk01 white silk ribbon, Ranger applicator tool with felt, foam mounting tape, double stick tape

Directions:

1. Cut 8 ½ “ x 5 ½ “ turquoise cardstock. Fold in half to form notecard.

2. Place a piece of felt on Ranger applicator tool. Squeeze on alcohol inks (will refer to AI) sail boat blue, cloudy blue & stream to felt. Tap applicator all over glossy kromecote cardstock. Next squeeze AI blending solution onto same felt on AI applicator. Tap this over the inked card to blend all the blue AI inks on card.

3. Stamp paisley background image on AI card with Archival jet black ink. Cut out and layer onto a piece of black cardstock approximately ¼ “ larger. Tape layered paisley piece to right side of turquoise notecard.

4. With left over AI inked piece stamp small paisley three times and cut out. To finish the three paisleys edge with Sharpie black pen for a professional finished look. Set aside till ready to assemble.

5. Punch a small hole in the fold of the turquoise notecard. Thread May Arts white silk ribbon through hole and tie a knot.

6. Mount one of the cut out paisleys with mounting tape over the knot in the ribbon.

7. Tape the other two paisleys with double stick tape above and below the mounted paisley.

8. Dot white opal Liquid Pearls on the three cut out paisleys. Allow to dry.

9. Inside card – cut 4 x 5 ¼ “ white card. Stamp paisley three times on right side edge with Distress ink broken china. Stamp little hello saying with jet black ink in center of card.

10. Tape stamped card with saying to the inside of card.

Ribbon Faerie

Thought it would be fun to show you this fun Ribbon Faerie.  What is a ribbon Faerie you ask?  Take a look and see................  the images are from Faerie Song Art Stamps ~ Fantasy Themed Images  I have been on Faerie Song's design team for a while now and still love working with their images.  The ribbons I used on this sample are from my scrap bag so don't know the company names. 

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