I was thinking today (watch out!) about all the different ways that a leaf can be used.  I use to only think about using leaf images during the fall and always colored them in fall colors.    Well this week I am going to try to think out of that fall box and use leaf images in other ways.  The leaf image itself is very powerful and can often be used alone.  This image is by Asela Hopkins from her new “Botanical Dreams” set is stunning.  This set can be found at Gina K. Designs, http://www.ginakdesigns.com/.

Ready to start this tutorial?  Let’s go.  🙂

Supplies:

Stamp leaf image with black ink on Whisper White Card stock.

Color image with a Gable Green Marker.

Color Inside of the leaves with an Old Olive marker.

Colored inside the Old Olive with a Always Artichoke marker.

Colored over entire leaf image with the Gable Green marker to blend and soften edges.

Colored over leaf image with a Versamark marker and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

You can’t see it in the photos, but I dotted the card stock all over with the Versamark marker and then heat embossed the dots with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  You will be able to see it in later steps.

Sponged on Soft Sky ink in a circular motion all over the card stock.

After the Soft Sky ink dried entirely, I sponged a bit of Versamark on the card stock to create a speckled background.  I covered the sponged versamark with clear embossing powder, but it seemed to be to thick so I took a sponged and sponged some of the embossing powder off before heating it with a heat gun.  Note:  this you will also see better in later steps.

Sponged on Blue Bayou ink.

Use the swirl Cuttle bug folder to emboss the card stock.

Sponged on some more Blue Bayou ink on the swirls around the leaf image to define them.

Sponged on Not Quite Navy ink leaving some light spots on the card stock showing.

Getting darker yet, sponged on Night of Navy ink.

Even getting darker on the left side and on the top right corner, sponged Black ink.

Assembled card and added Photo corner punches.

Added a brad to the photo corner punches and here the card is finished, measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

Well I had a wonderful day yesterday stamping with Mary Brown, Connie Babbert and Karen Barber.  Here is a picture of us together at a teahouse  we went to for lunch.

From left to right, Me, Karen Barber, Mary Brown and Connie Babbert.

We had the most fantastic time stamping together.  Here is a glimps of the projects we made, less mine, you seen mine on my post yesterday.  They are so very talent! 

They wip out 3D projects like they are nothing.  I struggle with 3D, that’s for sure!!!  Anyway, if you ever get the opportunity to stamp with any of these ladies, do it!  You won’t regret it.

Well that’s it for today!  Hope your Sunday is sensational!

Until my next post. . . . . . .

Michelle

This was created with a brand new set by Asela Hopkins “Botanical Dreams” that can be purchased from Gina K. Designs.  Here is the link to Gina’s online store:  http://www.ginakdesigns.com/

I’m going on a little drive to Columbus, OH today with my friend Karen Barber to meet two new stamping friends, Connie & Mary.  We are all bringing a shoe box swap to share with each other.  A shoe box swap is when you bring all the makings for a project for everyone to make one and kind of teach the stamp project to the people you are stamping with.  It is loads of fun and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for me.    I love stamping with friends old and new!  Anyway, if you are Karen, Connie or Mary stop reading this post! LOL.  This is my shoe box swap for today.  Wish you all could come and stamp with us, but since you can’t, are you ready for the tutorial?

Let’s get started.  🙂

Supplies:

Paper:  SU Whisper White, Not Quite Navy& Soft Sky

Ink:  SU Soft Sky, Basic Black & Not Quite Navy

Accessories:  1 3/8″ Circle punch, post it notes, Brads, Brayer, Sponges, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Old Olive Marker

Punched 1 3/8″ circle from the sticky part of a post it note to use as a mask for the moon.

Brayer on Soft Sky ink at the top half of the card stock.

Brayered on Soft Sky ink at the bottom 1/4 of the card stock.

Brayered Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the card stock not covering the Soft Sky ink completely.

Brayered Not Quite Navy ink at the very bottom of the card stock.

Covered the sky area of the card stock with post it notes.  The sticky part of the post it note is put were I want my horizon line to be.

Sponge on Not Quite Navy using a right to left swiping motion, right at the edge of the post it note onto the card stock.   This really defines the horizon line and gives a water look.

Removed post it note mask.

With an almost dry sponge, sponged with a swiping motion across the moon, leaving faint streaks of Not Quite Navy.

Stamp the plant image 4 times with Basic Black ink at the lower left corner of the card stock.

Using a Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement, stamp the sentiment with Basic Black ink.  What would I do without my Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I guess I would just send out cards with crooked stuff stamp on them (like in the old days).  LOL

Sponged Basic Black ink on the lower left corner using an up ward swiping motion to create a grassy effect.

Colored the plant leaves with an Old Olive marker.

Assembled the card and here it is finished measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.

One more thing, I want to tell you about the Spellbinders Nestabilities sale going on at Innovative Stamp Creations.  Here are the details.  🙂

 Innovative Stamp Creations 
15-16% OFF Spellbinders Nestabilities diecuts!
Discount has been applied on the shopping cart!
OFFER ends Sunday 6/22/08
Some nesties are in stock others will arrive next week! 
Have fun shopping!

Hey, when you make a purchase, tell them I sent you in the comments section when checking out.  🙂   Enjoy!

May all your dreams come true today!

Until my next post, because I’m out of here to go stamp and make new friends .. . . . . . . . .

Michelle

I created this card using the sketch challenge on Innovative Stamp Creations’ site and the Innovation Stamp Creations set Friendship.  Here are the details for the challenge.

ISCC6 Sketch Challenge

WIN a FREE ISC Stamp Sheet of your choice!
Super easy, use ISC stamps only on your design, then post your link in the comments section on the Innovative Stamp CreationsBlog
A random name will be chosen and announced on the blog!

Ends: 6/29/08 (c6)

Let’s get started on the tutorial.  🙂

Supplies:

Stamped face image on Whisper White card stock using Palette Noir black ink.

Cut the image in a circle using a circle Coluzzle template.

Sponge Soft Sky ink on the image using a circular motion and leaving a light area in the middle of the image.

Sponge Bordering Blue ink on the image, not covering the Soft Sky ink entirely.

Sponge Not Quite Navy ink around the edge of the image.

Colored the eyes with a Bordering Blue marker.

Colored the highlight in the eye with a White Gel Pen.

Background panel:  Brayered Soft Sky ink on Whisper White card stock.

Brayered Not Quite Navy Ink on the top and bottom of the card stock, leaving the Soft Sky ink showing in the middle.

Covered the bottom of the card stock with post it notes to mask it.

Ripped a Jagged edge in a piece of scrap paper to use to mask the top of the card stock and to create a mountain image.

Holding the scrap paper mask in place, sponged black ink in the unmasked area.

Removed both masks.

Turned card stock upside down and put post it notes on to mask a little bit of the card stock under the mountains to create a beach.  Sponged Not Quite Navy ink right at the edge of the post it notes using a swiping motion from right to left.  This creates the look of water.  

Removed mask and adhered friendship image to the background.

Using yet another post it note, I placed it on the card stock and sponged Not Quite ink at the edge of it to create rays of light.   Moving the post it note and sponging ink over and over again until I went completely around the image.

Using a ruler, added a line of White gel pen on each Not Quite Navy light ray.

Assembled card and using a Stamp-a-ma-jig, stamped sentiment with black ink.

Here is the finished card, measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will try putting rays of light on one of your projects.  🙂

One more thing before I wrap things up today.   We have a winner for the Basic Grey stamp set!  Note:  I ended up using a random number generator, because my husband thought it too much pressure to pick a number when there were over 400 entries and he didn’t want to make any one upset, lol.  Such a sweetie that man of mine is!    Drum roll please.. . . .. . . . . . .

It is comment 198 

Karen, who wrote: 

“Thanks for your wonderful tutorials- I have learned so much from you! And it seems I have the insidious CRS as well!

It’s so generous of you that you’d put out this blog candy as well as share your secrets- thank you!”

Karen I will be e-mailing you for your address.  🙂

A big thank you to everyone that played along.  All of your comments were heart warming and some very funny.   Stampers are the best people!

May your day be filled with sunshine.

Until my next post. . . . . .

Michelle

I have a couple hundred Stampin’ Up stamp sets and some times I just have to pull one of the old ones out and use it.  Like this morning.

 I can’t believe this is tutorial number 72.  Didn’t I just start this blog?  Hope you all are still out there following along. 

Let’s get started on today’s tutorial.  🙂

Supplies:

Stamped cheetah with basic black ink on Whisper White card stock.

Colored the Cheetah in with a Going Grey marker.

Colored over the cheetah with a Versamark marker and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Pictured below is the Stampendous Marble Texture Cube.  It has 3 sides to it.  To create a marble look with it.  You start with Side “A” and stamp your lightest color, over Stamp it with side “B” with your medium color and then finish with side “C” and your darkest color.

Over Stamped Cheetah with Side “A” and Cool Caribbean ink.

Over Stamped with Side “B” and Tempting Turquoise ink.

Over Stamped at the top with side “C” and Taken with Teal ink.

I wanted the background to blend a little more so I sponged Cool Caribbean ink all over the card stock, using a circular motion.

Sponged Taken with Teal at the top of the card stock.

Sponged Basic Black at the top and bottom of the card stock.

Stamped Marble Cube side “C” with Basic Black at the top of the card stock.

With the sponge I sponged black ink with I wiped it on my scrap paper until it was almost dry.  Then used it on my card-stock to soften the veins I just stamped.

Stamped Cube side “B” with Taken with Teal on a piece of Cool Caribbean card stock.

Stamped side “C” with Basic Black in at the top of the card stock.

Sponged Basic Black ink at the top of the card stock.

Assembled card and here it is finished measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.

Hope your day is cool and laid back.

Until my next post. . . . . . .

Michelle

This is the Father’s Day card I created for my husband this morning.   Nothing like waiting until the last moment to make a card, lol.  I hope he likes it. 

I always find cards for men very challenging.  Probably 90% of the stamps I own are femine in nature.  I hang onto the Stampin’ Up sets for men even though they are retired to help with my selection of manly stamps on hand to chose from. 

This card does not use any brayering.   Sponging seemed to be the way to go today.

Let’s get started.  🙂

Supplies:

On a 5.25″ x 5.25″ piece of Whisper White card stock I stamped a fish in each corner with Palette Noir Black ink, using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement.   I had to think about which way I wanted my card to go so I would not have any upside down fish. 

Colored the fish with a Primsacolor Deco Yellow marker.

Colored the specked areas on the fish with a Prismacolor Avocado marker.

Colored a stripe on the center of the fish with a Prismacolor Deco Peach marker.

Went over the top part of the fish again with the Prismacolor Avocado marker to blend the stripe in.

Colored the tops and top of fins of the fish with a Prismacolor Light Olive Green marker.

Colored the fish with a Versamark marker and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Sponged Soft Sky ink with a circular motion on the card stock.

Sponged Not Quite Navy ink on the card stock.

Stamped the flourish stamp twice at each corner of the card stock with Not Quite Navy ink.

For the main image panel I cut a 3.25″ x 3.25″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Using post it notes as a mask, I masked about 1/3 of the card stock at angle.  Sponged on Soft Sky ink at the top leaving some white space about the post it notes.

Sponged Apricot Appeal ink below the Soft Sky ink.

Flipped the post it notes so they now mask the sky portion of the card stock.

Sponged Soft Sky ink in the water area.

Sponged on Not Quite Navy ink on the card stock right where the post it notes meets the card stock.

Removed post it notes.

Sponged some Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the sky area and around the entire edge of the card stock.

Using the Stamp a ma jig for placement, stamped the fishermen with Basic Black ink.

Added some Not Quite Navy ink with a spong below the boat.

Assembled card front and colored the boat and the men with a Prismacolor Cool Grey 20% marker to define them more.

Put in these great screw brads at right and left corners of the main image panel.

Add some White gel pen streaks in the water area.

Here is is finished.  🙂

Thanks for following along with this tutorial today.  Why don’t you give sponging a scene a try?

Have a Super, super Saturday!

Until my next post. . . . . .

Michelle

I’m usually not a 3D project type person, but I’ve seen ornaments made out of squares before and thought I would give it a try with this great new image from Innovative Stamp Creations – Artsy Victorian Sheet that is being released today.   Here is the link to their online store:  http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

 I have to say I’m very happy with the results of this project although the Beaders out there that read this blog will probably cringe when they see my beading.  Anyway, I did it my way, having no beading knowledge, lol. 

Let’s get started with the tutorial.  🙂

Supplies:

Started out by stamping 5 images on Whisper White card stock using Brushed Corduroy Distress ink.  Note:  I used the distress ink because I like the color.  🙂

Colored part of the images with a Tempting Turquoise marker.

Colored part of the images with a More Mustard marker.

Cut the images out.

Made a score line from one corner to the other on all 5 of my squares using a Scorepal.

Rubbed my Versamark pad directly on top of my squares to cover them.

Covered the squares with Clear embossing powder and heat embossed them using a heat gun.

Used a Sharpie Gold Paint Marker and edged each piece all the way around.

Glued one half of the square to another until all where glue together, except for the last two.  Leave this open so you can put your wire.

Cut two lengths of wire and folded them in half together.  Twisted the top to create a loop.

Added a couple of beads to the top so the wire wouldn’t slide through my ornament. 

I just slide a bead on, twisted the wire, slide another bead on, twisted the wire.

Put my wire in the un-glued opening and then glued it shut.

Added beads to the wire at the bottom.  Put a bead on twisted one strand of wire around the bottom of it, put another bead on and twisted a strand of wire around the bottom of it and so forth.  Ended with one of the new Tim Holtz idea-ology Muse Tokens embellishments.  This one says “Moments” on it.

Here is the finished ornament.

I hope you enjoyed this 3D project tutorial and will give it a try.

May your day be one of happiness and joy.

Until my next post. . . . . .

Michelle

My tutorial today includes a sneak peek of two of the stamps that will be released by Innovative Stamp Creations on June 13, 2008.  The ladies face is from the stamp sheet “Thoughtfulness” and the flourish is from the stamp sheet “Artsy Victorian“.   Love them!

Here is a link to Innovative Stamp Creations online store:  http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

Let’s get started.  🙂

Supplies:

Using a Stamp-a-ma-jig for place, stamped the Thoughtfulness face with Black ink on Whisper White card stock.

Sponged Peach Bellini ink on the image.  Heavier on the eye lids.

Sponged Mountain Rose on the the image, leaving the upper left side lighter.

Sponged Aqua ink over the remaining white area of the card stock and a little around the edges of the image.

Sponged Stream ink on, leaving a light area to the left of the image.

Continuing to get darker yet, sponged on Denim ink really getting dark on the right and bottom.

Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig again for placement, stamped the flourish with Denim ink around face.  How did we ever get along without flourishes!

Put in a shadow by tracing the side of the flourish that is furthest from the face with a black marker.

Highlighted the side of the flourish that is facing the face with a white gel pen.  Now this helps create depth.

Glued main image panel to a panel of Apricot Appeal.  Stamped more flourishes using Denim ink of both the bottom panel and the main panel.

Sponged on Stream ink over the bottom 1/3rd of the card stock.

Sponged Denim ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Added Punched Photo Corners and a bottom layer of Night of Navy Card stock.

Decided to accent the flourishes last stamped with a black marker and a white gel pen the same as I had done on the main image panel.

Using my piercing tool I added brads to the photo corners.

Here you have it the completed card measuring 5″ x 6.5″. 

Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek tutorial and will accent those flourishes the next time you stamp them.  I think it makes a huge difference.  What do you think?

May your day be one of peace and serenity.

Until my next post. . . . . . .

Michelle