'In the Classroom' Homework for Lesson 6

Hello again,

I have been a busy(ish) bee.  After seeing Barbara Gray's post on facebook encouraging people to get their homework in from lesson 6, I decided to get off my duff and do just that.

The stamps for lesson 6 are the gorgeous, and I had a lot of fun working with them.

First project was a card directly from the lesson project - and here is mine..

I pretty much followed the lesson point for point, other than choosing some different pro marker colors.  I decided on this simple layout for the card itself to make sure the artwork keeps the spotlight.  There are a few (or probably more than a few) flaws in my stamping, but all in all I am happy with the way it turned out - especially considering this was my first pass at it.

Next, I decided to do another card with my own 'design'.  I did use a stamp not in the lesson set for the sentiment, but I thought it went perfectly with the floral theme.

Here 'tis....

I stamped the flowers and the verse with versamark and embossed with Zing Pewter embossing powder.  It is not quite as shiny as it looks in the picture - but that is what flashes do..lol.  Also, the verse is a bit more clear than it appears in the photo thanks to the reflection of the flash on the embossing powder.

The flowers are colored with pro-markers and I did some distressing on the edges of the image layer with milled lavender distress ink.

I was originally going to do a DL card, but I thought I needed something on the card to accentuate the blue in the flowers a bit.  I decided to make it a half A4 card and added the blue vintage ribbon on the bottom.  I wish the photo did the card justice, but I as I will be sending both in to Barbara Gray as my lesson homework so she can pass them on through her charity, I just have to hope the recipient will like it.

Anyway, I just thought I would share these cards here as well.  I hope you like them.

I did decide to enter the second card in the Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge which has a theme of 'Distressing'.

Don't forget to check out the current challenges over at Crafty Boots (No Girls Allowed theme) and Just Inspirational Challenges (photo inspired and sponsored by Delicious Doodles).  There is still plenty of time to enter both, and I absolutely love seeing all the wonderful creative projects you all come up with.

Take care and please feel free to leave a comment.  I do hope you pop back soon.

xx Denise

Crafty Boots Nautical Challenge

Ahoy there!  This week's theme at Crafty Boots Challenges is 'Nautical'.  I have to admit, I had a bit of trouble deciding what to make for my design team card.  I don't tend to do a lot of nautical themed projects, but sometimes it is good to go outside my comfort zone.

Anyway, when I was trying to find inspiration looking through all my digi images etc., I thought I remembered seeing some nautical themed images and papers in a Forever Friends pack that I bought ages ago.  Sure enough, I found this cutie and decided to use him.

I was going for a 'scene' look, so I used a Spellbinder die to cut the wave layers and  I used a bit of coredinations paper for the shore.  I brayered the sun and the sky.  The sun was done with Mustard Seed Distress Ink and  the sky with Adirondack Stormy Sky and with a Big and Juicy.  Though the effect is very subtle, I also dabbed a bit of Versamark on the sky before brayering to try to get the look of whispy clouds.

The image itself is decoupaged.  The original image included a port hole, but as I wanted the bear and puppy to be outside I cut that off.  The sentiment is also from the Forever Friends set, and the backing layers for that are done with Spellbinder dies.

I was happy with the way the card turned out.  Now I just have to think of someone to give it to..lol.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Pile it on Challenge #14 - Create a Scene
CES Challenge # 79 - No Girls Allowed
Wishcraft - Waste Not Wednesdays (forgotten Forever Friends Decoupauge) - Week 13
Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Challenges - No Patterened Papers
The Pixie Cottage - Cute and Cuddly


I am so glad that I am a DT member at Crafty Boots Challenges (as well as at Just Inspirational Challenges) because it forces me to allow myself time to craft.  Sometimes we do things for others that we wouldn't do for ourselves because we don't have time or it would take too much effort.  Although it may take me a while to get started and to finish the cards for these challenges, I always feel a bit better about myself, and maybe even fulfilled. 

Ok, not sure where that ramble came from.  Guess I am going stir crazy being essentially home bound with my bad back and need to vent a little every now and then.  However the business of this post is sharing my creation and encouraging you all to join in with this fun Nautical challenge over at Crafty Boots.  Check out the rest of the DT projects if you need a bit of inspiration and link up your creations to join in!

Thanks for looking and feel free to leave a comment.  I love reading them!! 

Take care and happy crafting.
xx Denise

It's a Clarity Christmas!

****Spoiler Alert*****

if you are one of my co-workers, neighbors or family in Germany, do not look any further ;)

Ok folks, they have been a long time in the making, but the Christmas cards I will actually be giving out to most on my card list are finally done.  My other half and I decided to pick a card to give out to everyone each year so we would not have to worry about to whom we gave which card.  This year, we chose to use one of the lovely designs introduced by Barbara Gray using her Clarity Stamps.  I tried to mix it up a bit, but the essence is definitely Barbara's lovely design.

A couple of my favorites

A random sampling

A closer look at the top row

There is no doubt that these cards took a bit of time and effort, but I think they were worth it.  I cannot take credit for all of the coloring as I did have some help from my other half and a dear friend.  Speaking of the coloring, they are done with Letraset Flex Markers and Pro Markers.  The stamps are all Clarity Stamps which were stamped with clear Versamark heat embossed with a variety of embossing powders in gold, silver, gold sparkle, pewter and even one in iridescent blue.

I will be proud to give these out, and I cannot thank Barbara Gray and her uber talented team enough for their products and ideas.

Now I am off for a nap I think.   Take care and have a happy and healthy holiday season!

xxDenise

When did I buy this?

Inspired by last week's 'Never Been Inked' Challenge held by Christmas Stampin' All Year Long, I was encouraged to have a much closer look in my stamp stash.  Lo and behold I came across a beautiful set of Kanban winter stamps that I completely forgot I bought months ago!

(Hi, my name is Denise and I am a craftaholic)

Anyway, sometimes my addiction leads to something good.

I heat embossed this beautiful Kanban Reindeer stamp using Versamark ink and Wow black embossing powder.  The tricky bit was embossing on the holographic cardstock, but I got there in the end. 

The black layers are Hunkydory embossed card and the layer in between is a floral 'pabric' from the Glitter Girls.

Although perhaps loosely, I think this card fits the criteria for this challenge:
Craft Your Passion:  Let it Snow   (if you note the snowflakes on the reindeer)


Right, well time to see what else I can find (well maybe I should get some sleep and start fresh in the morning!

Happy Crafting!
xxDenise

Christmas White on White

Another few days, another several cards done....and I thought I would throw my hat into to a few more challenges.

A little Christmas cheer

I used my brand new Milton and Company stamp.  I just love their images!   She is coloured with Letraset Flex Markers  - which I am completely addicted to using.  I was so glad when they released more colors and have been building my stash little by little.

The 'doily' layer is made using a linen textured cardstock punched with the X-Cut Multi-shaper Blossom punch. Then I stamped one of my Clarity Stamps with Versamark Ink and heat embossed using WOW Sparkling Snow Embossing Glitter.   The layer beneath is a glittered acetate which is fastened to the card using solid top eyelets.

The initial inspiration for this card came from the Passion for Promarkers White on White Challenge. 

I decided to try to include the themes from the Polka Doodles:  Swirls and Pearls and Letraset giveaway challenge  and the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long:  Never Seen Ink challenge.

 I would also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Hooked on Craft Challenges:  Something Punched
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge:  Punch It
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenges:  Anything Christmas with Pearls

and thanks to Dawn for the head's up.... the card fits this challenge as well:
The Crafty Pad: White on White

I hope you like the finished product.  Thanks again to all the challenge blogs and their mega-talented design teams for the inspiration and motivation!


Happy Crafting
xxDenise