Sunflower Studio

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #38 - BIRTHDAY CARD

Late again...for once it's not late with the actual card...just late posting for Blogger's Challenge.  (I won't hold my breath yet that the card gets out on time either though...ha!)  This challenge for week 38 - that should have been posted on Friday 3/14 - was to make a birthday card.  My godchild's birthday is on April 1st and that always comes right on the heels of our Spring break vacation to Florida.  So I'm almost always late.  Poor little girl!  This year, maybe I can be on time....I'll take the card with me and try and mail it while I'm away...that should do it!
    I saw Nichole Heady make a card like this on her blog.  Is that woman an encyclopedia of beautiful, gorgeous, and endlessly creative ideas or what?!?  I am truly in awe of her!  You can see Nichole's card here.
I used my new Princess Elzybell and the Inner Princess sentiment to go with her.  On the inside, I used the Happy Birthday to You sentiment from A Muse.  Everything is colored with Prismacolor markers and I added some shine with a silver paint pen.  I also added a little dot of color to the crowns with my Sakura Souffle pens.  It was hard to keep the card closed for the photos, thus, the little paper clip on the edge.

Supplies:  Stamps - Princess Elzybell and Inner Princess sentiment by Elzybells, birthday sentiment by A Muse; CS - Papertrey White, Soft Sky, Lavender Lace, textured paper by DCWV; Ink - Graphite Black Brilliance ink; Other - silver paint pen, Prismacolor Markers, Souffle pens, transparency, scalloped scissors, dotted swiss ribbon.

GOLFING ELZY

    It's been a busy week and, while I have been stamping, it's all on things that I can't share yet! 
    I needed a quick birthday card for my MIL.  She's a golfer and I bought the little golf clubs stamp with her in mind.  The sentiment is by Art Gone Wild and since it's a little 'snarky' I thought that Bossy Elzy would be the perfect compliment.  She's a little 'snarky' too.

Supplies:  Stamps - Bossy Elzy and Golf Bag by Elzybells, sentiment by Art Gone Wild; CS - watercolor paper, textured CS by DCWV, green Madiera collection notecard from A Muse; Ink - Onxy Black Versafine and various SU! dye inks for watercoloring; Other - Nestabilities Scallop Rectangle die, ribbon from Michael's, waterbrush.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE LADY

   

    I needed a birthday card and I've been playing with this since last week.  I hate it when you realize that you're forcing yourself to create something using self-imposed parameters.  In this case, I wanted to use my new Papertrey cardstock, patterned paper, and ribbon and then I also wanted to use a new Elzybells image.  That was just too much stress for my brain! 
    Yesterday I decided to just get it together and get it out of here.  Jeesh...now it'll have to be a belated birthday card!  And for whatever reason, this turned into a long skinny card - it's actually 7.5"w by 3" h.  That would be perfect if I was including a check or some dollars.  Alas, not this time, but I'll have to remember the size for another day!

Supplies:  Stamps - sentiment from A Muse, Girl in Car by Elzybells; CS - Select White, Spring Moss, Aqua Mist by Papertrey, white textured by DCWV; Ink - Graphite Black Brilliance ink; Other - Papertrey satin ribbon, brads, Prismacolor Markers, thin black marker, SU! slit punch, 1/8" hole punch.

SO MANY SALES...

    Here's another stamp that hadn't been inked up before today.  As soon as I saw a card made with this little cutie I knew that I had to have her.  Come on....a shopping Elzybell!  She's perfect!
    This card follows this week's Sketch Challenge #163 and Color Challenge #153 at Splitcoast.  The background patterned paper is by EK Success and the smaller piece is by DCWV.  The sentiment is by Wordsworth.  Remember those Making Memories 'spring rings' that were all the rage a while back?  Dug those out for this card and it hangs the tag perfectly from the SU! Kraft taffeta ribbon. 
    The whole thing just makes me want to run to the mall....uh-oh...too late...spent the money for the day on Papertrey at 9am this morning!

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #24 - WATERCOLOR

     This week's Blogger's Challenge was to either use a watercolor technique or have your central image watercolored.  I decided to combine my watercoloring with one of the new December 2007 Technique Junkie newsletter techniques - Faux Layers. 
    It took four starts to get this card done.  You know....there was a time a while back when people like Julie Ebersole were all about these Fabriano Medioevalis notecards.  Of course, I had to have some too but I've had really terrible luck with them.  This card was no different and I used all four sides of the card...finally settling on this finished image on the fourth try.  To actually use this card I would need to cut it out and apply it to another card base.  That's all logistics though....I'll just go with it for the challenge and worry about the actual card later.
    So as you might have guessed from the name of the technique, there are no actual layers here.  There was much to learn with this technique and I'm sure I'll do some things differently on my next try.  It's pretty cool, though, how it does look like at least a few layers!

Supplies:  Stamps - igloo and holly & berries by Elzybells, ribbon stamp from A Muse; CS - Fabriano Medioevalis notecard; Ink - Black Versafine, various for watercoloring; Other - post it notes for masking, thin black pen, Nestabilities die, waterbrush, Twinkling H2Os, glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

    "Watercoloring" can be so widely interpreted.  I can't wait to see how all of the other BC girls decided to tackle this week's challenge....

A WINTER SONG

Jami Sibley recently challenged all of the Splitcoast Dirty Dozen members - past & present - to make a card using one of the new Elzybells stamps, A Winter Song.  The other requirements were that you did NOT use any patterned paper (that's hard!), that you used Pretty In Pink on your card, and that you posted your card on November 20th.  Make sure that you go here and look at all of the amazing cards that the girls made using this one image as a focal point.  The creativity of that group will astound you!

Supplies:  Stamps - A Winter Song by Elzybells, Snowflake sm, Surprise & Delight, and Fancy Borders clear set by A Muse; CS - Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Kraft, watercolor; Ink:  Black Versafine, White Craft, various for watercoloring; Other - Twinkling H2Os, waterbrush, Martha Steward craft seam binding, Nestabilities Scalloped Square die, glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

ATC SWAPS WITH TAYLOR

Taylor's hosting another round of ATC swaps!  This time you could sign up under various stamp companies.  What a great way to force myself to use some new stamps!  I signed up for four groups:  The Cat's Pajamas (of course!), Stampendous, A Muse Artstamps, and Elzybells.  All of these are 2.5" x 3.5" in size.  (Remember that you can click on any of the photos to see the images larger.)  Here's what I came up with this time...

HAVE A COOL YULE! - THE CAT'S PAJAMAS
Supplies:  Stamps - See No Evil (F-7495) and Cool Yule (D-7478) - these can also be found in the Kitty Christmas and Polar Holiday Clearly Swanky sets by The Cat's Pajamas; CS - Bashful Blue, Ruby Red, White from SU!; Ink - Black Versafine, Bordering Blue, Versamark; Other - MM star button, silver cord, Black Detail EP, SU! Markers, patterned papers by Scrapworks - Season of Joy collection.

HOPE YOUR HOLIDAYS ARE BRIGHT! - STAMPENDOUS
Supplies:  Stamps - Max Wheels (C201) by Stampendous and Bright Holidays (9-8206C) by A Muse; CS - Kraft, White by SU!; Ink - Black Versafine, Versamark; Other - wire, red Martha Stewart Seam Binding, Stardust Glitter Pen, Liquid Applique, Twinkling H2Os, Black Detail EP, waterbrush, Nestabilities Scalloped Circle Die, Creative Memories Circle Template, sponge, patterned paper by Basic Grey - Fruitcake Collection.

HAPPY WINTER - A MUSE ARTSTAMPS
Supplies:  North Pole (7-7138F), Happy Winter (9-8277B), and Snowflake sm (3-2021B) by A Muse; CS - Buckaroo Blue, White by SU; Ink -  Black Versafine, White Craft, River Rock; Other - Dazzling Diamonds, Glue Pen, Waterbrush, SU! Markers, sponge, waterbrush, Nestabilities Scalloped Oval Die, Creative Memories Oval Template, patterned paper by Scrapworks - Season of Joy (dotted swirls).

HAPPY WINTER - ELZYBELLS
Supplies:  Ice Skater (D0052) by Elzybells, Happy Winter (9-8277B) and Skinny Oval bl sm (3-5012C) by A Muse; CS - Baroque Burgundy (ret.), Wild Wasabi, white by SU!; Ink - Black Versafine, Ice Blue Colorbox Chalk ink (pond), Versamark; Other - fine black marker, various SU! markers, white Signo Gel Pen, Twinkling H2Os, waterbrush, Nestabilities Scalloped Oval Die, Creative Memories Oval Template, Black Detail EP, SU! slot punch,  Dazzling Diamonds, glue pen, patterned paper and ribbon by KI Memories.  (note - This is the size of an ATC but does open at the bottom.  I had been wanting to try a miniature version of Michelle Wooderson's Tent Topper card design.) 

MORE ELZYBELLS!

I got to play a little yesterday with more Elzybells stamps AND some new Spellbinders Nestabilities dies...yippeeeeee!  These things are so cool!  I'm looking forward to really experimenting with them.  I bought all of the scalloped edge sets and now I'm kicking myself for not getting ALL of them.  Hmmm...maybe for Christmas...

Supplies
left card: Stamps - Cheery & Bright (D0043) from Elzybells and Every Little Thing (B898) from Memory Box; CS - Old Olive and watercolor paper; Ink - Black Versafine and various for watercoloring, Basic Brown; Other - Nestabilities Scalloped Oval Dies, Dazzling Diamonds, waterbrush, paper piercer, Martha Stewart craft seam binding, red A Muse Kitchen Collection 4-bar notecard.
right card:  Stamps - Mary & Joseph (D0010) from Elzybells and Surprise & Delight (9-8153B) from A Muse; CS - Chocolate Chip and watercolor paper; Ink - Black Versafine and various for watercoloring, Basic Brown; Other - Nestabilities Scalloped Oval Dies, waterbrush,  Martha Stewart craft seam binding, green A Muse Madiera Collection 4-bar notecard.

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #18 - DESIGNER SERIES PAPER

I'm going to have to blame this week's purchases completely on Anna Wight.  (I mean, really, take a look at her blog...that girl could talk you into anything...she makes EVERYTHING look good!)  Well she sent me a link to a discussion going on in the Dirty Dozen Alumni Forum over at Splitcoast.  Those amazing gals had all just discovered Elzybells stamps.  It's a new line from England that A Muse Artstamps is now distributing.  I had resisted these stamps thus far but was pushed over the edge by a Dirty Girl blog challenge.  Ten minutes into reading the discussion...and $50 later...I had placed my first order.  And guess what?  That was late Tuesday night and my new stamps arrived today, Friday!  THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY THE CUTEST STAMPS.    They're just soooo sweet.  I wanna sqeeze 'em!  You can click here and go over to the Elzybells blog and place your order...you know you want some...resistance is futile!
    I chose to use my adorable little 'Pucker Up' Elzybells stamp in conjunction with Stampin' Up!s Wintergreen designer series paper for Blogger's Challenge #18.  I'll go way out on a limb here and suggest that this particular Stampin' Up! package of paper is their best EVER.  The color combination of Always Artichoke, Sage Shadow, Certainly Celery, and Soft Sky is trendy and gorgeous.  I can't get enough of it and there's not a bad sheet in the pack! (And you all know that has happened in the past with SU! papers - they're not usually on the cutting edge in the scrapbook paper department.)  Note to self:  I must remember to get some more before it possibly retires at the end of the year!
    Oh, and another little update, I DID go on over to Michael's today and buy a whole bunch more of that craft seam binding.  The colors are so great...I now have almost all of the available colors AND I bought a ribbon box to keep them in.  Did you know you can use your coupons on Martha stuff now?  BONUS!!!
    I'm heading off to check out the other BC gals now...wonder what they did with their DSP this week?  Don't miss them...the list is on the right.----->>>>
Supplies:  Stamps - Pucker Up (E0009) and Beautiful Christmas (9-8276) from Elzybells and A Muse; CS - Always Artichoke, Soft Sky, Certainly Celery from SU!; Ink - Black Versafine and various SU! dye inks for watercoloring; Other - Martha Stewart craft seam binding in Cloud, brads, Red Stickles, sponge, waterbrush.