Laura Evylin Cinefro!

I have a new grand-niece!

Introducing Laura Evlyin Cinefro!
Born June 26, 2012

She's named after my sister, Laura Ann. And her great-great grandmother, Ruth Evylin and mother, Jessica Evylin. I love that Jess and Nate followed OLD Norwegian tradition naming children after their grandparents. (Ever wonder why there were so many Ole Olson's in the world?? grin)

I wanted to make a WELCOME BABY card that was an expression of me. I think the paper is a My Mind's Eye Valentine paper. But who said Valentine paper was just for Valentine's Day? The Red Lead faerie was stamped over the word LOVE. "WELCOME BABY" is from a PaperTrey Ink set.  I did a quick watercolor for her dress and used a glitter pen over her wings.

Of course big brother, Julian, who isn't quite 2yrs old yet also needed a card.  This little turtle from Inky Antics caught my eye.

Because he has a fun pop-up shell in the middle.

The Copics I used to color the turtle.

GC142: Border Punches

This month at Gingersnap Creations we're celebrating our heritage. I planned to use my own family pictures in my pieces. (More on that in a bit...)

We also have a FAB! sponsor Retro Art Cafe, who generously let us pick digital collage sheets to use in our creations. When I saw the Ferris Wheel on the Circus Collage Sheet by Debrina Pratt - DP178 #DP178 sheet, I *KNEW* what I was going to do! I have a black & white photo taken in the 1960's of my Uncle Ron in his Air Force uniform and some shiny Ray-Ban sunglasses. Unfortunately, after 2 hours (at both my house and my mom's) AND 20 boxes of old photos....I *COULD NOT* find the photo. So I turned to the handy Google and started looking for a period photo that was similar. I found "Bob" here in a Ray-Ban ad, of all places. (grin)

Our challenge this week was to use border punches. I used two border punches and one corner punch. I remember a cool technique by Becca Feekan (Amazing Paper Grace) using corner punches to create an inner border. I used an old Stampin Up! punch to create the blue inner border. The outer border was done with a Martha set (corner and border).

I wanted to show you a close up of "Bob's" sun glasses and mouth. I used Glossy Accents on the lens. His mouth is one of those subtle details that makes me giggle. I used a cherry soda bottle cap. I thought his lips might be red after drinking a cherry soda...so with my R37 Copic and the blending marker - I painted his lips. To get a really subtle color use brush some color off your marker with the tip of the blender. To clean the color off the blender just rub it on a scrap paper. Good as new!!

1GCSP11: LEAP Year!

HAPPY LEAP DAY!!

Today on Gingersnap Creations we're celebrating with a Blue Moon challenge - THINGS THAT LEAP!

My leaper (ok - hopper) is a stamp I've had for a while. I like cute. But cute doesn't always like me. (wink) So this poor fellow sat around for a while.

My intention was an Easter card, but then I found this Inky Antics sentiment (also collecting dust), and I couldn't help myself. A birthday card was born!

The bunny and carrots were colored with Copics.

And highlighted with glitter pens.

Stamps: RubberNecker Stamps (rabbit & carrots); Inky Antics sentiment
Ink: Memento
Paper: Bo Bunny
Accessories: Copics & glitter pens

GC135: Favorite Paper

Oops...the Monday holiday thru me. I forgot to get this posted this morning!

We're using up our scraps over at Gingersnap Creations this month. Today's challenge is to use your FAVORITE PAPER.

Well my "favorite" (can a paper hoarder have a favorite??) paper has long been Basic Grey. So I sorted thru my BG scraps and used my heart Nesties. Little Quasi here was stamped and colored with Copics. Fun and fast! AND USED SCRAPS!

Thanks to this month's sponsor Stampotique!

Stamps: Stampotique QUASI #6015; "GIVE SELF A HUG" #4010
Ink: Memento
Paper: Basic Grey scraps
Accessories: ribbon, Copics, heart Nestabilities

GC134: Ribbon

Wow...this is my first blog post of 2012! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This month on the Gingersnap Creations blog we're getting organized! AND we have a fabulous sponsor this month - Stampotique Originals! Today we're cleaning up the RIBBON!

Getting organized for me that includes using bits and pieces that have been hang around my craft area - discarded from other projects.

The best way I've found to "glue" down ribbon scraps is to run them thru my Xyron sticker maker.

Take your bone folder and rub all over and around each edge to get a "clean" sticker.

Lay the ribbons down side by side and trim off the excess. I used scraps to paper piece Heart Throb and colored his head, hands and shoes with Copics.


Stamps: Stampotique HEART THROB #6057; "HUG ENCLOSED" #5244
Ink: Memento
Paper: scraps
Accessories: ribbon, Xryon label maker, pink puffy heart sticker

You have a month to create a Ribbon masterpiece and post it on Gingersnap Creations!

GC132: Soft Yellow and White

This month's color challenge at Gingersnap Creations is Soft Yellow and White. Ok...so this isn't a soft yellow, but I love the snow flake paper by Graphic 45.

Sorry I can't remember where I got the angel stamp. She's colored with most of my yellow Copics. And I had to make her a "ginger"!

Please join us and post your soft yellow and white creation on the Gingersnap Creations blog. You have a month and you might just become a GINGER GEM!

GC129: Starry Night

This December, Gingersnap Creations is celebrating Holiday Lights and we will be focusing on candles, votive holders and all things wax.

For today's project I'm focusing on a luminary for a votive or tea light. It's a quick project with lots of possibilities. Different shaped windows, embossed vellum windows, different die-cut edges - the list goes on and on! The tutorial is on SplitCoast Stampers.

I started with a 12x12 piece of silver glitter paper. I cut the piece a bit longer than 5.5" called for in the tutorial because I wanted to die-cut the top edge.


To cut the window, I drew a pencil line inside and then positioned the nestie with washi tape. I folded the box in half to cut the top. The polar bear is a Memory box stamp. And I die cut stars and covered them with blue glitter embossing powder. If I could have found a tea light or votive I would have fired it up for you. Sadly all the little candles are in a "very safe place" right now.

These are the Copics I used. The warm greys are great for shadows.

I hope to have a second post today inspired by Tim's Day#7 tag...stay tuned!

Tim Tag 2011 - Day 6

Ok. Let me just say...I hate Tim's tag today. It's messy. It's sloppy. To me, he called this one in...

My challenge was to do something I liked out of the un-inspiration of Day 6. AND I LOVE WHAT I DID!!

I was looking thru my embossing folders and came across this musical note folder. And I remembered my resin birds - and BANG! I was inspired.

I don't have the big wide sheet of heavy foil Tim had, but I've had this roll of flashing tape for years. It's shiny. It has an adhesive backing. It's cheap. You can find it in the hardware store near the venting materials. The only down fall is that it's 2-inches wide. But I just laid two strips together and when embossed you don't really notice the joint.


What I disliked most about Tim's tag was the messy paint dabber painting. So, I colored the tag with my COPIC R29. Since Copics are alcohol based they act just like the Ranger's Alcohol Inks. Better yet..since Copic has like million colors you can get the EXACT shade you want (if you have it that is...).


The alcohol dries quickly but leaves the metal tape feeling a bit sticky. After I used the sander to remove color and distress the tape, I sprayed it with Workable Fixatif.


Here's my resin bird. I also colored with Copics.


The branch was a Prima product which I just hot glued to the tag. Added some ribbon and "Merry Christmas" - which is part of a Memory Box stamp. I also spot colored that with a Copic directly to the stamp.

Here's hoping Day 7 is more inspiration...

Rogue Redhead: Milliner Misses

Over on the Rogue Redhead blog, our current Rebel Challenge is to use one piece of designer paper. So, I decided to dig out some Christmas paper and came across a 6x6 pad of Basic Grey's Wassail paper. I love the delicate holly leaves.

The one of the newest Rogue Redhead release is Milliner Misses. I just love these sweet-faced ladies.

I used Copics to color her because she needed to stand-out against the paper. It's been a while since I colored with Copics and I've forgotten the vibrant colors! I used BG10 to outline her and then sponged some Distress Ink Forrest Moss around the edges.

I dressed up this Miss' hat with a sprig of holly and a few rhinestone; added a little glitter on her collar; and the gold hairy cord - and this Miss is already for Christmas shopping (just in time for Black Friday)!!

Here are the Copics I used.

Stamps: Rogue Redhead Designs MILLINER MISSES; Inkadinkado sentiment
Ink: Archival Black, Amuse Studio Cranberry
Paper: Basic Grey Wassail
Accessories: Martha Stewart holly punch, Copics, glitter, red rhinestones, gold cord, Nestabilities

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

GC114: Baby Wipes

Hello!

This month at Gingersnap Creations we're celebrating the JOYS OF CHILDHOOD! Today's Spicy Supply challenge is all about BABY WIPES. There are several great techniques out there that use baby wipes to create beautiful backgrounds. I'm using a SplitCoast Stampers tutorial by Beate Johns.
Below are the two backgrounds I did. Besides the strip I used curves and swirls; and even dotted a bit.

The cute crocodile image is from a cute little set I ordered from England. Woodware Crafts - Jungle Pals. I pulled out my Copics to color...it's been so long I was worried they might have dried up. I stamped the leaves on the swirl green baby wipe section and then layered with foam tape.


background #1 - SU! Certainly Celery & Old Olive

Background #2 - Tempting Turquoise & Taken with Teal.

I hope you'll drag your baby wipes and post your creation on Gingersnap Creations!!

SP08: 3 words, 3 papers, 3 buttons

Every now and then a month has 5 Wednesdays in it. And when that happens the Gingersnap crew does a BLUE MOON challenge! This month's blue moon challenge is "3 words, 3 papers, 3 buttons"!

It's been a LONG time since I did an ATC (working size is 3.5" x 2.5"). But now and then a small canvas is a good ting. This little dress is from a Stampington & Co set. I love the party dress. And it seemed in keeping with the month long theme of "SHOPPING" over at Gingersnap Creations. The dress is colored with Copics to give it some highlights. So,

3 words: Linen, Lace, & Pearls
3 papers: all from Basic Grey's WISTERIA set
3 buttons: the tiny stars at the bottom (they're really beads but you get the drift!)

GC99: Fans

Continuing with the Asian inspiration over on Gingersnap Creations - today's challenge is FANS!

I took this more figuratively then literally. I opted to make a fan-fold medallion to highlight my koi.

When I make a background with a spray and/or ink method, I will use a clean tag to "clean-up" any extra color on the mat. I did this background tag last week when I did the "mist" background.

I did a simple fan-fold medallion. This is two pieces of 12 x 1.5 - scored every 1/4 inch.

It's been a LONG time since I colored anything with Copics but I did do the gold fish.

Stamps: Great Impressions KOI, Memory Box DOT CIRCLE
Paper: tag, orange scrap
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Glimmer Mist, Twinkling H2O's, left ribbon, pearls, yarn

Deb's Recipe of the Month Club - September

Being unemployed takes a toll on your psyche. Everybody wishes for DAYS of crafty time but when it actually came for me...all I could think about was finding a job. And not being able to spend $$, I ended up staying away from blogs so I wasn't tempted. As a result, my creative UMPH disappeared. I never knew how many ideas I got from reading other peoples blogs. Not CASEing...just "Oh, I never thought of that". And putting my own spin on things.

So the September recipe is LATE! I knew what I wanted to do. And found great paper, but that last bit of "magic" just wasn't happening.

There are two recipes that my Mom makes that I will miss when she's gone. And that's not to say, I can't make them...but I think it's the LOVE inside that makes it taste different. I still miss my grandmother's banana bread and she's been gone for 29 years now. APPLE CHEESE CRISP is one of those recipes my mom makes better than anybody!! In fact, it's often my birthday "cake". (GRIN)

The trick is in the cheesey crust and until food processors became kitchen MUST HAVES....I couldn't come close. I do better now - but I'll eat Mom's!

Red Apple Copics

Pail Copics

Green Apple Copics

Stamps: Stampin Up! BASKET FULL OF FUN
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Imaginisce
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Copics, glitter pens, Scrappers Floss, brads, Marvy punches

Happy Birthday Adam!!

My nephew, Adam, turns 14 today. So I sent him this cute little surfer guy card!

The background paper is the Inkadinkado WELLSPRING stamps in chalk ink and covered with clear/glitter embossing powder. The surfboard frame was airbrushed first with a blue and then a green. I soaked a washcloth with blending fluid and then dabbed the green/blue for the "splotchy" look. Surfboards and Surfer Chickie all colored with Copics.


Stamps: Denami Designs SURFER CHICKIE, sentiment, and SURFBOARD TRIO; Inkadinkado WELLSPRING
Paper: white
Ink: VersaMagic Turquoise Gem & Aquatic Splash; Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic airbrush system, clear glitter EP, circle punches, Copics

Baby Shower Card

My niece's baby shower was this weekend. I couldn't go (it was in the Chicago area) but this is the card I sent. I don't know what's coming, so I picked green/purple for the card!

I used a Copic marker to color the silk ribbon, which was white, to match the card.

Stamps: I Brake for Stamps
Paper: Basic Grey
Ink: Archival Coffee & Distress Ink
Accessories: Silk ribbon, Copics, rhinestones, Prima rose, EK Success fern punch
Technique Junkies: Antiqued Glimmers

Here's Jessica and "Julian" in Miami recently.

CAS74 - CELEBRATION

I always look at the SplitCoast Stampers challenges - I love the Sketch challenge on Wednesdays and the Clean and Simple (CAS) challenge on Mondays. But you *KNOW* how I struggle with CAS!!! But last Monday's challenge was to take inspiration from a website of wedding cakes. I loved this cake - and it immediately brought to mind my hew Hero Arts stamp!

Pretty clean and simple for me, huh? I had to add a bit of bling with the rhinestone. But I don't think it takes it over the edge!!

These are the Copics I used to color the image.

Stamps: Hero Arts LONG STEM FLOWERS
Paper: Neenah SOLAR WHITE; red cardstock
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Copics, silver cord, rhinestone

Didn't Publish

My friend, Heather, convinced me to submit these cards to Paper Crafts STAMPING ROYALTY contest. I had my doubts, but did it. I love Paper Crafts magazine but they really aren't my style of cards. As I expected none of these made the cut (grin).

LOVE - this was a Distress Ink background - smoosh 'n' spray. The stamp is a Christmas stamp but other than a bit of holly on the spray and the sentiment it's great stamp. The sentiment was Stampin Up! I used a small sponge to highlight areas of the image

Stamps: Penny Black CHRISTMAS IN PARIS; Stampin Up! SHORT AND SWEET
Paper: Pink & white card stock
Ink: Distress Ink
Accessories: Nesties & rhinestones

HELLO/THINKING OF YOU - the image was colored with Copics and cut out. The rest is just that great Basic Grey ORIGINS paper.

Stamps: Stampendous SCENIC SUNFLOWER
Paper: Basic Grey
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Nesties, rhinestones, Copics

THANK YOU - Stamped the bamboo image on plain card stock. Then layered the HAIKU paper. The doll image was colored with Copics.

Stamps: Hero Arts FOUR DOLLS and ASIAN FRAMES
Paper: Stampin Up! HAIKU
Ink: Memento and VersaColor BAMBOO
Accessories: flower, Copics, pearls, border punch

CHRISTMAS - I love this Santa! It's such an iconic image. I stamped with Distressed Ink and no other color.

Stamps: Rubber Stampede SANTA COLLAGE
Paper: Graphic 45
Ink: Distress Ink
Accessories: Prima flower, Martha Stewart punches, ribbon

Deb's Recipe of the Month - June

This is a breakfast favorite of my families. It's one of those breakfast casseroles that you can make the night before and just throw in the oven the next morning!!

I am *NOT* a morning person. So I can totally relate to "BUNNY". She's colored with Copics. But she's such a long stamp that I had to turn the recipe card up on it's side.

Stamps: Rubber Romance BUNNY; Amuse Sentiment
Paper: Bo Bunny
Ink: Memento black, SU! Pink Passion
Accessories: Copics and Nesties