Sandi's Trophy Card and Beate's Sketch Challenge...

Sandi Lotter's shoebox swap that we made yesterday was this super adorable Trophy card (guess what September's Challenge is going to be for my Inner Circle Card Swap team?).

I absolutely loved it and still had it in my head this morning when i was looking at Beate's Sketch Challenge. I took inspiration from this card to make my card version of Beate's Sketch Challenge.

This is Beate's Sketch Challenge number 14 layout.






And here is my card using the Season of Joy stamp set. Real Red, Always Artichoke and Soft Sky cardstock and classic ink as well as Blue Bayou double Stitch ribbon.

Crop-("of-love")-A-Dile

How many accessories does it take to make a super cute 3x3 card you ask? Well, let's count them!

1) Paper Cutter
2) Scissors
3) Crop-of love-A-Dile for brad embossing and eyelet setting. Have I told you today how much I LOVE that crop-a-dile? lol
4) Eyelets
5) Scallop punch - Mucho love goes to this new punch also...kissy kissy...
Ok, back to earth...
6) 1-3/8 round punch
7) 1-1/4 round punch
8) Ribbon - but of course!
9) Sponge for feathering
9 accessories....It's SOOO worth it don't you think?

Here is a close up of the embossed brads. It so fast and easy to get this effect.
Set your Crop-of-love-A-Dile to settings A and 1. Use the black edge of the C-A-D to evenly space your "embossed brads" or go freestyle like me :)

Here's a word of advise.Practice first so you can work out how hard to press without poking a hole through your paper :D

I found that adhering the designer paper to the cardstock first and them using the Crop-A-Dile works best as the DP is thinner and tears easily.

Oh I nearly forgot! I used River Rock cardstock as the base for the 3x3 card. Apple Cider Double Sided Designer Paper, Blue Bayou double stitch ribbon, Antique Brass Eyelets. Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and Very Vanilla cardstock for the centerpiece. In The Spotlight Hostess set and Sweet Shapes stamp sets. Soft Sky and Mellow Moss Classic Ink for the center center and close to cocoa for the feathered edge.

Halloween Garland...

One of the ideas at convention which I fell in love with was Home Decor. When I saw the Halloween trims and dressings, I just about died and went to heaven. Of course, you can take this garland concept and apply it to any or all seasons with the right papers and I doubt it would ever get boring!

For those of you who participate in my classes or long distance class packets, you can bet your bottom dollar, this will be included in September's Halloween class! :-)

Oh and yes, I went a little crazy with the picture taking but then I couldn't decide which ones to post, so I posted all of them lol...sigh...yes sometimes I'm a doofus :D

Let me know if you like it or not!

21 ways to use Marvelous Markers

I have always loved my Marvelous Markers but after I found out there were 21 ways to use them, I love them even more now!!!

1. Coloring book:
Fill in your image as if you were coloring in a coloring book.











2. Coloring on Craft Ink:
This works best on cardstock. Stamp your image with your choice of craft ink pad - light colors work best on dark cardstock - in this case, White Craft on Purple cardstock. Heat set your craft ink and then color over your craft ink.






3. Altering B&W photos:
Direct to photo technique works best with light colored markers to give you that vintage & retro look.








4. Watercoloring:
Step one: Spread marker color onto plastic - top of the stamp set holder works great!








Step two: With your aqua painter filled with water, pick up the color/s you want and color away until your image is complete.










Final project: How faboo! :-D






Warning: This next technique will make you squirm and is not for the faint hearted but if you are game and you trust me, it works and no damage will occur to your marker..none what so ever!

This technique works fantastically well with the dynamic duo combos on your Stampin' Up! color wheel.

5. Shading:
Drop a dollop of ink of the darker color re-ink bottle onto your stamp set cover.






Take your lighter colored marker and with the tip, pick up some of the ink of the darker color. (don't panic). Then with the marker on an angle, run the length of the tip onto some paper.

When you are satisfied with the angle of the pen and the level of coverage, pick up more ink and begin shading your image but running the marker around the outline.






Finish project: ta-da!

To clean your marker, just write on paper until the dark in has run out (3 seconds).






6. Omitting:
We all know this one. With your marker just color the part of the image you want stamped and "omit" the rest.



7. Embossing:
OK this one may make you squirm a little also but again, don't panic, don't scoff...it works :) Stamp your image with versamark, then color with your marker directly onto the versamarked rubber and stamp it off onto your cardstock and emboss with clear embossing powder.

8. Direct to Rubber Shading:
Using three tones, light, medium and dark of the same color, use the direct to rubber technique and shade your image from lightest to darkest starting in the center.

Here is another Direct to Rubber Shading card

9. Water Misting:
This give you a faux watercolor look. Apply your marker colors directly to the rubber image. Spritz with water and stamp.

10. Color Spritzing for backgrounds:
Using the Spritzing tool, place your marker in the bracket and spritz randomly over cardstock. Switch out your markers to add multiple colors and dimension.

11. Color Spritzing on Background stamps:
Stamp your background stamp with a light base color. Using the above technique, spritz color onto the background stamp. When you have achieved the effect you want, stamp away!

12. Thumping:
This technique works best with detailed stamps. Stamp your stamp with a neutral tone as a base color (vanilla, grey, creamy caramel work well). Then hold your marker as a chopstick and "thump" or "tap" the marker against the rubber. Use multiple colors for depth.

13. Backgrounds:
To create cool backgrounds, cut the bottom and side of a sheet protector so it folds open. Choose your marker colors and swirl them on the page protector on one side of the page protector and spritz with water. Place a piece of glossy cardstock, glossy side against the swirls markers and close the page protectors. Run your fingers over the top smooch the
colors together until you have the effect you want. Whallah! :)

14. Direct to Ribbon: Color white grossgrain ribbon by directly coloring it with the marker of your choice


15. Dyeing Pretties flowers:
Use your markers to dye the flowers from the pretties kit. Use two colors to add depth.
16. Dyeing Pretties Pearls: Because the surface of the pearls are non-porous, sealing the ink is important. Color the pearl with your marker of choice, dip it into clear embossing powder and heat set. Wallah! This photo includes the Dyeing of the Pretties and the Pearl :)

17: Dyeing Hair! Yes you can temporarily dye your hair - great for Halloween and kids parties because the markers are non-toxic and water based so it easily washes out!


18: Markers with Classy Brass templates
Markers work great with the Classy Brass templates to add flare and depth to your designs!

So sweet!

and another sample

19. Direct to Wheels
This is fun. Ink your wheel as normal. Pick the elements on the wheel you want to pop with additional color. Remove the ink with a sponge dauber and then use your markers of choice to color in the popping elements.

20. Freehand doodles and journaling
How obvious but how often don't I do this! Why not use the fine points of your makers to journal and to freehand doodle?

21. Freehand flowers
Use the side of the markers to create hearts and flowers.