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!

May 2013 NinaB Designs Blog Hop: Make It Masculine

Welcome to the NinaB Designs Blog Hop! The theme of this month's hop is Make it Masculine. Father's day is just around the corner. It's a great opportunity to honor those men who mean so much to us. I have two cards for you today. One that is more involved, in the Mixed Media-inspired style I've been loving lately. The other is clean and simple.

For my first card, I did an emboss resist technique for the background using Penny Black's Puzzle Parts, Music Background and Breezy. The horse and sentiment are from The Craft's Meow's Giddy Up. This set coordinates with Spellbinders' Grommet Tag dies, which I used to cut the sentiment frame. I used various Memento inks to sponge the background. I added little flags of patterned papers from Oct Afternoon for added interest.

My second card is clean and simple using PB Treemendous set. The reds ended up looking more pink, but who says you can't use pink on a masculine card? :) I stamped the tree heads on vellum. I mounted them with foam dots. I placed buttons to conceal them. The sentiment is from The Craft's Meow's Mother and Father set. I accented it with some Want2Scrap Chevron bling.

Here are the products I used:

The NinaB Designs team is giving away these TWO PRIZE PACKAGES:

Prize #1: Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two Dies

   Prize #2: $20 Gift Certificate to Want2Scrap.

Winners will be picked randomly from 2 of the designers' blogs:

Nina Brackett * Clare Buswell * Jennie Harper * Jessica Fick * Lea Lawson * Linda Lucas * Rae Barthel

Everybody is welcome to comment and be eligible to win. The winners will be announced on May 22 here on my Blog. Feel free to share this post on your Facebook page, Twitter and/or Pinterest. Finally, please consider liking the following Facebook pages that are represented on today's hop, so you don't miss the latest news and happenings:

NinaB Designs

Spellbinders Paper Arts

The Craft's Meow

Penny Black Inc.
 Want2Scrap 

Thank you for joining us today!

Vintage Flower Cards

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. And those who are moms celebrated your special day yesterday. My family spent the morning at church, then they took me to my favorite Chinese restaurant and a movie, and finished off with a trip to the ice cream shop. It was a great day!

I have 3 cards for you today that were posted previously on the Want2Scrap blog. First is a wedding card that uses TCM's Sweet Silhouettes and Timeless Tags stamp sets. The papers are Authentique. I used various Want2Scrap products on this. More details on the W2S blog.

My next two cards use my TCM Stitched Sentiments set and my favorite Want2Scrap bling.

More detailed info on the Want2Scrap blog.

The NinaB Designs team will be bloghopping on Wednesday. I hope you can join us!

Feeling Patriotic

Hi, friends! I have a few patriotic projects to share with you today that was posted on the SRM blog a few days ago. Make sure you check out the blog the last few days as SRM has a giveaway going on that includes some Fiskars punches.

First up is a set of tubes that were simply decorated with stickers borders, twine and die cuts. Inside are Hershey's Kisses. I love these tiny tubes and they're so fun to decorate.

Here's a card using some Bo Bunny papers from last year. I love how these papers create movement because of their graphic style (with a vintage touch...my favorite!). I decorated my card with some Want2Scrap bling, more twine and stickers.

Another card using the same papers, twine and stickers. I added the word sticker borders on the edges as a subtle frame.

This is it for me today. I'm off to see a doctor for my annual (more like every 3 years) check up. I am still battling a nasty cold and now, also starving as I am not allowed to eat until the tests are done. So it's probably not a good idea that I am looking through one of my new favorite sites, FOODGAWKER. It's like Pinterest but strictly for food. It has a sister site called CRAFTGAWKER and it's also fabulous. Well, I'd better get away from the computer before I break my fast. Have a great weekend!

Hello Sunflower Card

I have another card today inspired by mixed media. I am really enjoying the process in making these cards. I usually don't do techniques, but am inspired to try new things. I created a Mixed Media-Inspired Pinterest board specifically for this type of cards as I see myself doing this more regularly.

For today's card, I made a collage background using Penny Black's Music Background, Love Chapter set and Flourishes Sunflowers.  I stamped them with Versamark ink and heat embossed with white. I then sponged various Memento inks (Cantaloupe, Rhubarb Stalk, Potter's Clay, Pear Tart and Rich Cocoa) on the embossed panel.

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I water colored the sunflower using Memento inks as well. I colored the sentiment from Stitched Sentiments set with Copics to coordinate with the background colors. I adhered random Want2Scrap LeCreme pearls where I thought they were needed :)

As a final step, I sprayed Tsukineko's Goosebumps all over my card. This product was part of a prize package I won a while ago and I didn't know what to do with it, so it sat in a shelf. But let me tell you, I LOVE it! Instant texture that leaves a beautiful effect, don't you think?

The colors were inspired by Flourishes's Colorful Creations Challenge. I'll be back with more mixed media-inspired cards. For now, I have to tend to my sick family. It seems we're taking turns with a nasty cold. Have a good one!

The Craft's Meow's May Blog Hop: Flowers

Welcome to The Craft's Meow's May Blog Hop. Our theme this month is Flowers. If you came from Lindsay's blog, then you're at the right spot. Please check the TCM blog for the complete list.

I used a few sets for my card today. First I created a background collage. If you follow me on Pinterest, you might have noticed that I've been inspired lately by mixed media which is gaining more popularity among cardmakers lately. This card was inspired by that art form. I stamped the hexagons (from Thanks Bee to Thee), I love you collage (Sent with Love), cancelled stamp (Telegram) with Versamark ink onto a white card stock. I then heat embossed it with white. I blended a few Distress inks to achieve the colorful background.

I stamped the stems (from Flower Garden) on a Want2Scrap tag. I fussy cut the stamped flowers (also from Flower Garden) and adhered them using foam dots. I distressed the edges of the tag, sentiment and background panel. The sentiment is from the Telegram set. I finished the card with a natural Twinery twine and Want2Scrap LeCreme pearls.

One commenter will get a stamp set of their choice. He or she will be chosen from the comments left on ALL BLOGS. Deadline to be eligible for prize is11:59 EST, Thursday May 9th. Winner will be announced Friday, May 10th. Your next stop is Sharri Seffens. Happy hopping!

Penny Black For You

Happy Monday, friends! I have a card for Penny Black's For Family Challenge going on now. This card was made using three PB stamps: Flower Charm, Flower Flourish (background) and Sweet Wishes (sentiment).

I first stamped the background stamp on white cardstock and used that to paper piece the little girl's dress. I then added some Copic shadowing on her dress. The bottom panel was left over from the stamped background piece.

The rest of her was also colored with Copics, in a more messy way. She kind of reminds me of my curly-haired little girl. The sentiment was highlighted using Want2Scrap's LeCreme pearls.

I am also on the SRM blog today with some patriotic projects. They were so fun to make for expat me who misses the US a lot, but I do love living here in Croatia. I wish I could live in two places at once. :) Have a great day!

May Day Picnic

Our church family had a picnic yesterday, May Day, which is a national holiday here, at another beautiful part of Croatia. Isn't this a beautiful view? It reminds me of the Hobbits' shire. Our town is just as pretty, I think, so lush and green. I got to play photographer and enjoyed taking these photos. These are dear friends of ours and they are like family to us.

Some photos of my kids and their BFFs.

My daughter's pet for the day, a very hungry caterpillar.

Our dog Max photobombing our friends' engagement photos.

One of my favorite shots of the day. This happy, young couple will be married soon!

Our friends' daughter who has the prettiest blue eyes.

Trying to take a family photo is a little bit challenging with little kids. I remember going through this so many times. It's the stuff of memories.

Thanks for letting me share a little bit about life in beautiful Croatia. Do you celebrate May Day where you live?