Bubble Wrap Mermaid Tag

I've been playing around with bubble wrap since I saw Shar post this tutorial on Gingersnap Creations. I had done several things (which I hope will get published) with the regular sized bubble wrap. Then I got a package that had mini bubble wrap and had to try some more!

So today I started with a white tag, embossed it with clear EP and then spritzed with Glimmer Mist. After it had dried I placed the tag between two sheets of typing paper and ironed off the embossing powder. Then I restamped with the bubble wrap and used a glittery EP powder (you can see it at the bottom of the tag).

Tag Tuesday's challenge this week is GLITTER. I stamped this little CRAFTY SECRETS mermaid with Archival and then did a Technique Junkies MARKER WASH on the mermaid and shells. After that was dry I went back with a glue pen and glitter. (LOVE THE GLITTER!) I tried to get a picture of all that shiny goodness but it's the wrong time of day. Trust me - WHOLE TAG JUST SPARKLES!

Here you can see the difference in size between the regular sized bubble wrap and the mini. Fortunately, I still have LOTS and LOTS of the mini left for other projects. Don't you love how the wrinkles in the bubble wrap translate on to the background?

Stamps: Crafty Secrets MERMAIDS
Paper: tag
Ink: Archival black & embossing ink
Accessories: glitter, bubble wrap, emboss powder (clear and Creations Unlimited: Caribbean Magic), Glimmer Mist (Lavender Fields & Sapphire), Martha Stewart branch punch, pearls, fish sticker, ribbon, and dry wall joint tape

Christmas Cards - Day 1

On Christmas Day, we flew to Milwaukee. My only niece will be getting married on January 2nd and we've arrived a week before to help with moving and pre-wedding arrangements and celebrations.

Last night we went to an incredible production of the Nutcracker by the Milwaukee Ballet Company. The costumes and sets were incredible!!

This week I'd like to share some of the wonderful cards I received from some of my stamping friends for Christmas. Today's card was sent to me by a new friend on SCS - Karen Murphy.

Karen's card has a fabulous fabric panel by Crafty Secrets. She also used some gold sticker material to highlight the card. I just love the extra bling!

Tim Holtz - Day 4 & A Crafty Secrets Card

Slowly catching up with Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas. I didn't have all the parts for the gorgeous charm on Day 4's tag. So I changed the tag a bit!
Tim's background was very similar to a Technique Junkies technique called Burnished Backgrounds, so I used the TJ method. Which includes embossing the background images in clear before adding the color. After the color was dry I cut a window in the tag for the bubble window.

A close up of the window. I cut the oval in a scrap of paper first to get a good fit. Then drew it on the tag (after stamping and burnishing). I put tape on the back of the tag and then all round the edge to keep the glitter inside.

This is also my entry for the WINTER WONDERLAND Challenge on the Gingersnap Creations blog!

Stamps: Oxford Impressions WINTER SNOW, Memory Box
Paper: tag, Graphic 45 (snowman in window)
Ink: Distress Ink: FADED JEANS, BROKEN CHINA, WEATHERED WOOD, and BLACK SOOT
Accessories: German Scrap, clear embossing powder, bubble window, metal snowflake charm, glass glitter, clear snowflake buttons, and ribbon.
Technique Junkies: Burnished Backgrounds

I also worked on another challenge card using a Crafty Secrets image.
Every week on SCS, Crafty Secrets has a challenge (CSSC97). I've been taking part lately. The truth is I don't have many CS images, so sometimes it's a challenge. Last week's challenge was any CS image or stamp and 5 embellishments. I used Glossy Accents to apply the glitter around the edge. Last week when I used the tinsel glitter it didn't stick well. This worked like a charm!

Stamps: None
Paper: Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket
Ink: None
Accessories: Martha Stewart Holly border punch, primas, gold nailhead rhinestones, silk ribbon and glitter.

Red and Green SING!

Gosh, can you believe it's the last day of November? Me either...

I combined two Craft Secrets challenges from SCS with this card. The first challenge (two weeks ago) was to make a RED and GREEN card. The second challenge (last week) was to make a card with a music theme. I found this great image in a Heartwarming Vintage booklet. I paired with some yummy Bo Bunny paper. The glitter edge around the image is with some tinsel glitter by Martha Stewart. My friend, Heather, gave me a box of 12 tinsel glitter tubes for my birthday. It's like the stuff that went on our Christmas tree in the 60's, but in flake form. Let me tell you...it GOES EVERYWHERE and STICKS to EVERYTHING!!! It's a great look though!

Stamps: none
Image: Crafty Secrets HEARTWARMING VINTAGE
Paper: Bo Bunny
Ink: none
Accessories: Martha Stewart Tinsel Glitter, glue pen, Prima leaves, frosted beads, doily, Glimmer Mist: Candy Apple Red & marshmallow.

Tag Tuesday Challenge #26 - Pink, Brown, Burgandy Christmas

After my busy week, I mostly took the weekend off! I did bake rolls & cinnamon rolls for Thanksgiving yesterday. Today, I'll admit to procrastinating. I do needlework finishing for one of my old store customers. I've been putting off working on it. My heart isn't in needlework at the moment - not even somebody else's.

But I did put the time to some good use...I worked on the Tuesday Tag challenge (I know...I'm a bit late with that too).

This week's challenge was the start of "COLORS OF CHRISTMAS: Pink, Brown, and Burgundy".

I started with a cream tag. I stamped a corner medallion (I don't think you can see it very well) in white acrylic paint and then brushed some of the paint in the middle. After that dried I sprayed with Glimmer Mist. Blotting and drying between each color. Then stamped snowflakes and words directly on the tag. The girl is stamped on glossy paper per directions from Oxford Impressions for a "picture" like image; and then cut out. Everything was then layered.

Stamps: Oxford Impressions WINTER SNOW; Penny Black CORNER PIECE
Paper: tag, glossy paper
Ink: Distress Ink: Fired Brick & Vintage Photo
Accessories: Crystal Snowflakes; Glimmer Mist: Creme de Rouge, Creme de Cocoa, Creme de Chocolat; paper doily, rhinestone snowflakes, Martha Stewart postage square punch, Hearthwarming Vintage letters.

Initial Technique

I found a new group on SCS. Craft Secrets has a weekly challenge. This week was to use your initials to select one or two techniques in the SCS Resources section and make a card. I selected D (distressed edges) and C (Cracked glass) for this card. The cracked glass techniques uses clear embossing powder, I used Crackle Accents. After the Crackle Accents dries, gentle bending the paper gives a vintage look. I sponged Vintage Photo over the cracks and over the distressed edges of the papers.

Stamps: none
Image: Crafty Secrets
Paper: Bo Bunny
Ink: Distress Ink: Vintage Photo
Accessories: Crackle Accents, Martha Stewart Holly punch, Stickles, and edge distresser.

Vintage Snow Couple

Just a little wintery couple to start the Christmas card collection!

This is for a challenge on SCS to make a card with a window (and a Crafty Secrets image). I had received an order of Crafty Secret images the day before and fell in love with this cute snow couple. My window was cut with two Nestabilities. After running them through my Xyron twice to put adhesive on both sides - I glittered once side. I also cut an acetate window sheet with the larger Nestie and stuck that on the other sticky side. Pop-dots all the way around made it into a shaker window. The tiny glass beads add a bit of movement.

The paper...well that comes from one of those pads of paper that the LSS (local stamp/scrapbook store) had in the clearance bin for like a $1. Hard to beat a pad of 6x6 paper for a BUCK! The vintage papers worked really well with the image!

And finally, I had to use my new Martha Stewart holly punch. I punched three boughs, creased each leaf in half and then brushed with my ever handy brown mini ink pad (Chestnut Roan - what would I do with out it???) Holly berries are Stickles!

Stamps: none
Paper: DaisyD paper pad, acetate sheet
Ink: Chestnut Roan
Accessories: Martha Stewart holly punch, Stickles, red bow, micro beads, pop-dots, Xyron sticker maker, and glitter.

A Grungey Tag and Inspirational Chunky Book pages

Well...it's STILL SNOWING. I shoveled 4-5 inches out of the driveway last night; and 8-10 more inches this morning. Probably one more run will be called for later tonight.

This tag is for fun! And a couple of challenges. One challenge was to make a "giggle" card using a Crafty Secrets image. The other challenge is for Kard Krazy's Tag Tuesday challenge: Paper Piecing.

Stamps: SU! What's Brewing, Inkadinkado sentiment
Paper: brown and turquoise scraps, tag
Ink: Distress Ink: Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, and Broken China
Accessories: Craft Secrets clipart, Glimmer Mist: Coffee Shop, Prima, and metallic turquoise nailheads.

These are altered 4x4 coasters for a "chunky" book swap on SCS. Once again I used a Glimmer Mist background with masks. Then I used Wet Water color method for the flowers - inking the stamp than misting with water before stamping. The half circle of dots is a fun think I learned at an Archiver's crop. Using the template below I used the largest circle of dots and placed a small dot of Glossy Accents in each hole. When it dries it adds a nice highlight to your piece.


Stamps: Stampers Anonymous CREATIVE MUSE, NATURE'S MOMENTS, NATURE'S DISCOVERY, and MONA'S SKETCHBOOK
Paper: 4x4 coasters
Ink: Distress Ink: Spiced Marmalade, Shabby Shutters, Worn Lipstick; Archival black
Accessories: Glimmer Mist (Sunkissed Peach, Tuscan Sunset, Golden Terracotta), maskes, ribbon, colored staples, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, rhinestones, Glossy Accents, and journaling template.

Close up of the chunky book pages.






























































And one funny note. Last week, I posted a picture of Jazz parking herself RIGHT BEHIND my chair while I'm working. Today I tried to set up an area behind my chair where she was blocked off. She still managed to park herself in the open space between the "fence" areas. Gotta love a smart Lab! :D