Tres Chic

Today's CAS (Clean and Simple) Challenge at SCS is - CAS169 - It's time to be Chic!!

I watched a video by the talented Valita on how to make this hat (I improvised a little because I didn't have the exact punches she did).  I then just "winged" it to figure out the punch art stand.  Really happy with how this turned out and think it is very "tres chic"!!  Hope you like.

"Tres Chic"

Stamp:  Sentiment is computer generated
Paper:  Soft Suede, Whisper White, Basic Black (SU!)
Ink:  Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  medium oval punch, small oval punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1/8" Early Espresso ribbon, Boho Blossom punch (smallest flower), bronze half-pearl, sponge, glue, sticky strips, glue dots, and dimensionals

I punched out the hat as per the instructions on Valita's video (click here).  I then punched out the hat stand with Basic Black cardstock, using a small oval punch for the bottom, a medium oval punch for the top (cutting off a bit at the top so it fits inside the hat rim), and for the piece in-between, I punched two medium ovals quite close to each other and then used the shape in-between them for the post.

Casablanca Lily

Today I visited Valita's website (Valita's Fresh Folds) and watched her video on how to make a 3-D Lily.  After watching the video, I had to give it a try.  I used some pearl "stamens" that I purchased from Cherish the Thought in Coquitlam, rather than making the stamens in the video.  I also added a few Cajun Craze dots at the center of the flower so that it looks just like my Casablance Lilies that I grow each year.  This was fun and easy to make and would be a beautiful embellishment on a gift.  Hope you like.

"Casablanca Lily"



Paper:  Whisper White

Ink:  Certainly Celery, So Saffron; Cajun Craze Stampin' Write marker

Accessories:  Medium Oval punch, pearls stems, sponges, bone folder, glue, and sticky strips

I followed Valita's instructions on how to make the 3-D lily - click here to view.

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Yesterday I had two friends, Liz and Patt, over for a "High Tea".  We enjoyed tasty treats and had a wonderful visit.  Thanks Liz and Patt for coming over - it was so much fun!!

Here's a few pictures I took of our High Tea.

Savory:  Chicken Croissants with Honey Mustard Sauce, Spanakopita Rolls with Tzatziki Sauce, Egg & Chive Sandwiches



Sweet:  Mini Pavlovas with Strawberries & Kiwi, Brownies with Hazelnut Ganache, Bite-Size Banana Cream Pie, Lemon Scones, Date & Pecan Loaf

Polka-dot Sunflower

Today I've made a card for two challenges - CAS-ual Fridays (CFC51 - Happy Birthday) and Clean & Simple Sketch (FTL 189).  I used the Melonheadz free digital stamp of a sunflower, printed onto Daffodil Delight polka-dot DP and cut out the flower head.  Added a button and some twine and voila ... a quick and easy card.  Hope you like.

"Polka-dot Sunflower"

Stamps:  Sunflower (Melonheadz Digital Stamp); Happy Moments - sentiment (SU!)
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight polka-dot DP (SU!)
Ink:  Basic Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Button (SU!), Lemon drop twine (The Twinery), corner rounder, glue dot, adhesives, and dimensionals

I printed off the digital image onto polka DP and cut out the flower head.  I threaded twine through the button holes, tied a knot and secured the button to the middle of the sunflower with two glue dots.

I cut out a 2 1/4" square piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I cut a 7/8" strip of Daffodil Delight polka-dot DP and adhered it to the one side.  I used the corner rounder to round all the corners ... as well as the four corners of the Crumb Cake card base.

I stamped the sentiment in Basic Black ink onto the square panel.  I wrapped two strands of twine around the panel and tied a bow, securing the bow in place with a glue dot.

I mounted the square panel onto the card base, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.  I added the flower on top, also popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.

Birthday Bulrushes

Today is the "Ways To Use It" challenge at SCS (WT373 - Don't stress, Distress!).  I haven't made a distressed card for ages - it was fun!  I used a stamp that I've had for a while, but not inked yet ... there are several of those in my art studio :)  This is a beautiful stamp from Innovative Samp Creations which features bulrushes growing up out of the water.  I decided to watercolor the image using the watercolor spritz technique.  I'm really happy with how it turned out and have decided this will make a perfect birthday card for Jeremy ... I know he'll appreciate the watercolor which is one of his favorite mediums to work with.  Hope you like.

"Birthday Bulrushes"

Stamps:  Be Thankful (ISC); Wonderfully Worn, Happy Moments (SU!)
Paper:  Early Espresso, Confetti Cream, Well Worn DP, watercolor paper (SU!)
Ink:  Early Espresso, River Rock; Stampin' Write markers Old Olive, Early Espresso, Certainly Celery; Re-inkers Baja Breeze, So Saffron (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Large brush, mini mister, sponges, Making Memories distressing tool, small oval punch, medium oval punch, adhesives, sticky strips, and dimensionals

I started by making the main panel.  I added water to Baja Breeze re-inker and did a wash (using the large brush) on the bottom and very top of my watercolor paper.  I added water to So Saffron re-inker and did a wash in the middle.

Once the wash was dry, I inked the stamp with Stampin' Write markers, Early Espresso, Old Olive, and used Certainly Celery for the "reflection" as I wanted it to be lighter.  I lightly misted my stamp with water and then stamped onto the watercolor paper, lining up the horizon line of the stamp and wash.  Once my image was dry, I want back with a little watered down Baja Breeze re-inker and added more color just over top of the reflection.  Once everything was dry, I sponged Early Espresso ink around the edges to give the image an "aged" look.  I mounted the panel onto a frame of Early Espresso cardstock.

I used Confetti Cream cardstock for the background and stamped the Wonderfully Worn stamp in River Rock ink.  I used a sponge and River Rock ink to add more "aging" to the edges.  I mounted the background to a card base of Early Espresso.

I took two strips of the Well Worn DP and distressed the edges using the Making Memories distressing tool.  The roughed edges where white and I thought too stark, so I sponged all the distressed edges of the two pieces with Early Espresso ink.  I mounted the two strips on top of the background paper, one horizontally, one vertically.

I stamped the sentiment from Happy Moments Stamp Set onto a small scrap of Confetti Cream paper and punched out a small oval.  I then sponged River Rock ink around the edges and mounted the oval onto a medium oval of Early Espresso cardstock.

I placed the main panel in the center of my card, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.  I mounted the framed sentiment at the bottom corner of the main panel.

For the inside, I stamped the Wonderfully Worn stamp in River Rock ink onto Confetti Cream cardstock and then sponged more River Rock ink around the edges (just like the front background panel).  I added one distressed and sponged strip of the same Well Worn DP to the left side of the inside panel and then mounted it to the inside of the card base.