A Mixed Media Card and a Purse

I have two projects for you today that were shown previously in the SRM Stickers blog. But before that, have you seen the new Penny Black release? One of mine is being featured today on their blog.

First up is a mixed media card. I've been inspired lately by fellow paper crafters, Jill Foster and Michelle Wooderson, who make mixed media worth the try. Symmetry-obsessed and neat freak (when it comes to papercrafting, at least) that I am, I used to be afraid of mixed media stuff. As you have noticed lately, I am loving it! I still have much to learn but am enjoying the process.

Many people have asked how I make these mixed media cards.I first do an emboss resist (Youtube has tons of tutorials HERE) on the background using Versamark ink and white embossing powder. Then I spritz with Goosebumps for the random dots you see. Then I go crazy with whatever ink colors I want to use, usually Distress inks or Memento inks.

For my background I used Penny Black's Breezy, Love Chapter and Music Background stamps (my favorite 3 lately for backgrounds). The poppy is from PB Blooming Garden. The sentiment and stitches are SRM stickers.

The poppies were colored watercolor-style using Copic markers. I added the white dots for effects using white paint and a toothpick. I didn't adhere the elements flat for a more interesting effect as you can see below. I finished the card with Want2Scrap heart and pearl strips.

My second card features one of the new packagings that SRM Stickers now offers. Isn't this purse darling? My girls love it as I do! I used it to package a scarf. I left out the ends to tie in a bow as part of the box decoration. You can find more details HERE.

I used Spellbinders circle and Lacey Circle dies to highlight the SRM Label.

A little update on my health since some of you have asked...it looks like I will have surgery in the middle of June. I hope this will be the end of my gallbladder issues and can get back to normal quickly. Thank you for your prayers and notes of concern! You truly know how to make this gal feel loved. :)

TCM Cards and Winners!

Thank you all for the lovely comments from the OWH blog hop! Before I announce the winners, I have a couple of new cards that I wasn't able to share during The Craft's Meow's release previews.

The first one uses Wildflowers, a set of whimsical flowers with both silhouette (the image on my card) and line art for those who like to color and/or paper piece. It also comes with two sentiments with a lovely vintage font. I made a tag that I inked with Distressed Inks. The main image was stamped with Versafine ink. The papers are October Afternoon. I embellished my card with Want2Scrap chevron bling, ribbon, button and burlap twine.

My second card uses Let's Face It. This is a set that is outside of my norm, but I had so much fun designing it! I stamped a "face" of a hipster man with inks that match the October Afternoon papers. Some buttons and twine are just the perfect embellishments.

Here are the stamps I used: Wildflowers

Let's Face It

***AND NOW THE WINNERS!***

From the NinaB Designs blog hop: Prize package #1 is...Mary Ann!

Prize Package #2 is...Jan!

From the OWH Memorial Day Hop...Jennifer Leung!

Winners, please email (via Contact tab above) me with your info within 4 days (till June 1) in order to claim the  prize. Mary Ann and Jan, please put under Subject, "May 2013 NBD Hop Winner." Jennifer, please put "OWH Winner" under Subject. This will help with organization and to avoid getting your email lost in my ever growing inbox. Thanks for understanding. Thank you all for entering! Have a great day!

OWH Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop

Hello, friends! First of all, thank you for all your sweet comments and email regarding my recent health ordeal. I appreciate all your prayers and encouragement! Though I have slowed down a lot with designing due to my lingering pain, I couldn't back down from this worthwhile hop.

I am honored to participate in this year's Operation Write Home's Memorial Day Weekend Hop. If you're a frequent follower of my blog, then you'd know that I recently lost my grandfather who was a WW2 veteran and a Bataan Death March Survivor. You can read his incredible story HERE. I thank God for sparing his life during the war and as a result, my grandfather eagerly sought the truth and found it in the Bible. He introduced it to me and I am now a missionary overseas, a living testament of God's work in his life, for which I will be forever grateful. And it is my privilege to honor him and the many men and women who sacrificed so much to ensure our freedom.

For today's hop, I followed sketch #139 to create this masculine thank you card. I created a white embossed collage background using Penny Black's Breezy, Love Chapter and Music Background stamps. I then spritz it with some Tsukineko Goosebumps and blended various Distress inks. The vintage car is from Penny Black's Hot Rod set.

Here is a close up of the background, which was die cut using Spellbinders Labels 8. I embellished it with Want2Scrap pearls, May Arts ribbon and a strip of October Afternoon papers.

As a gratitude for your visit, I am giving away the following to one random commenter below: Spellbinders' Venetian Accents dies, Spellbinders' Venetian Motifs dies, The Craft's Meow's Take the Cake stamp set, LOC Fairy Wishes (retired)

 

If you want another chance for a prize giveaway, you can check out the NinaB Designs Make It Masculine hop going on till Sunday evening. A set of Spellbinder dies and a Want2Scrap $20 gift certificate are up for grabs. I will announce the winners from both hops on Monday Tuesday. Happy hopping!

A short update and a lot of giveaways!

Hi, all! If you follow me on Facebook, then you know why I have been absent here on my blog. Last weekend, I suffered my very first gallbladder attack and ended up in the ER. I didn't even know I had stones till a week ago when I had my regular systematic general check up. I can only compare the pain to labor pains but without relief, for 5+ hours, and without the joy of bringing home a sweet baby.

I'm still in a lot of pain, but not as bad as the attack. I'm doing tests and waiting for a surgery date, which I hope will happen in the next 2 weeks. In them meantime, there are FOUR chances to win amazing prizes from my favorite commpanies.

I missed The Craft's Meow's release hop. There is still time to join and win prizes. I have 4 stamp sets and 1 by Karen being released.

I am also part of the Authentique/Want2Scrap blog hop going on now. You can find my project on the Want2Scrap blog and get a chance to win a prize package.


Two of my Penny Black stamps are being featured on the Moxie Fab World blog today. Comment to win 5 PB stamps!

Finally, I will post the winner of the NinaB Designs hop this weekend. In the meantime, you can still enter! I hope to be back to normal soon as I have tons of projects to share with you all!

TCM Previews: Beautiful Hymns 2

Welcome to The Craft's Meow's May previews. Today we're showing a follow-up set to my popular Beautiful Hymns. I have included some more of my favorite hymns to this set that I hope you like, too.

I did the emboss resist on the background using Telegram, Celebrating You, Cherished sets. The white splash was achieved using Imagine Craft's Goosebumps.

You can see the background closer here. I embellished with Want2Scrap bling, Twinery and buttons!

Make sure you go to the TCM blog for more info on today's previews. And check out the NinaB Designs hop going on now. Have a great Friday!