Handmade Fabric Flowers

I love the textures fabric can bring to our crafts- especially when it's ripped or ruffled! Here are a couple of examples of quick, fabric flowers I made recently...




Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

So have you tried your hand at fun, fabric flowers?

Hope you are enjoying your day! I've been spending time with my mom who's in town- we're heading out for a fun day of shopping to start our weekend off right! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

A Fun Felt Flower

Hi!

Today is rainy and gloomy outside so my girls and I are getting our craft on! Nat and Zoey have been busy creating play-doh treats and boy is it keeping them busy- they've been at it all afternoon! Since they were having so much fun, I sat down and made a fun card to play along with the latest Embellish Magazine Challenge. Here is what I made:



All Supplies by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, A Word for You
Ink: Early Espresso classic ink; Versamark
Paper: Very Vanilla cardstock; Pink Pirouette textured cardstock; Playdate DSP
Accessories: Subtles designer buttons, Clear embossing powder, paper piercer; baker's twine and felt- craft supply

I created the flower by hand. I started by cutting five ovals out of the felt. I folded each of them in half and ran a running stitch through the folded side. When they were all finished, I knotted the ends of thread together tightly to create the flower shape. It didn't take too much time and I think it turned out pretty cute!

I wanted to keep the design simple so that the flower would really stand out. I added a few swirls using the Baroque Motifs set to the background and heat embossed them with clear powder.

OK! I better get dinner started- I'm going to make curry so I have lots of fresh veggies to chop. Hee! It's all worth it though- curry is my favorite! Hope you are enjoying your day! Thanks for popping in to check out my card.

-tessa

Christmas Ornaments in Brown...

Look at Me! I'm blogging again! Hee! I've been busy lately- it started with a girls weekend away and before I even got to unpack I was hit with a week with a workshop and two classes planned, project deadlines, friends coming home from overseas, buying a new car, and now Thanksgiving holiday! Hee! The holiday really feels like sort of a vacation after that last week!

I thought I'd share a card I made recently. I got the idea from the famously clever Jan Tink who has been taking pictures of fun store bought cards and using them for inspiration at home. While I was shopping for some odds and ends at Walmart, I hit the card isle just in case and inspirations struck! Sorry for the crappy cell phone picture:



And here is my homemade version:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Tree Trimmings set; Christmas Greetings set; Baroque Motifs set
Ink: Soft Suede, Basic Black Classic inks; Versamark
Paper: Soft Suede and Kraft cardstock; Christmas Cocoa DSP
Accessories: Kraft Taffeta ribbon; Clear Embossing powder; White Signo gel pen, paper piercer, Scallop Edge punch, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Dimensionals

For the ornaments, I started by painting the Soft Suede cardstock with a thin coat of Champagne Mist shimmer paint. Next, I inked up my ornament stamps with Versamark and then Soft Suede ink and stamped them onto the shimmery paper. I embossed them with clear embossing powder and cut them out. I love how all of these elements worked together!

Well, I hope all of you out in blog land are having a wonderful Thanksgiving week! I am enjoying the quietness this week... nothing going on but cooking in the kitchen and visiting with my friends and family! I love that!

-tessa

More Chic Boutique!

My new sets are always the ones I use the most! Chic Boutique came in the mail a couple of weeks ago and I am having lots of fun with it!! Today I used the Eiffel Tower image as my focal point... here it is...



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Chic Boutique set; Baroque Motifs set
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede, Creamy Caramel Classic inks
Paper: Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede cardstock; Thoroughly Modern DSP
Accessories: Very Vanilla wide grosgrain ribbon, Fire Circle rhinestone brads, Curly Label punch, paper piercer, stamping sponges, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

I stamped the Eiffel tower image onto Very Vanilla cardstock with Soft Suede ink. Next, I colored some of the image with my Pretty in Pink marker and added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the same areas with my 2-Way glue pen. I have a brand new one so it makes the tiny parts pretty easy to get! Hee! When the glitter was dry, I sponged around the edges with Creamy Caramel ink and then Soft Suede ink to give it an aged look. I added two rhinestone brads to the corner. Next, I matted it with Rose Red cardstock and roughed up the edges with my Design Elements applicator. I used Dimensionals to pop it up and added another mat in Soft Suede. Next, I built up my card base, which started out as a A2 Soft Suede card. I cut my Rose Red DSP to fit and sponged around the edges with Rose Red ink. I adhered it to the base. Next, I cut a strip of Pretty in Pink cardstock and stamped over it using the swirls from the Baroque Motifs set. I added some pierced holes along the long edges and distressed them as well. I wrapped it with Very Vanilla ribbon. Before I tied it, I laced it through the mats of the Eiffel tower image so that it was under the top two but over the last. I added a hint of Pumpkin Pie by adding a torn piece of cardstock to the bottom edge. Before adhering all of this to the card base, I first stamped the swirly image underneath where I wanted my sentiment to be. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to get it just right. I also colored in the swirl ends to make it stand out a little with my Soft Suede marker. Once it was all adhered down, I added my sentiment which was stamped on Very Vanilla with Soft Suede ink and punched out using the Curly Label punch. I inked around the edges with Pretty in Pink ink and popped it up using Dimensionals.

Well, it is a great afternoon for staying indoors (to hot and muggy out!) so I think I should have some more goodies to share with you tomorrow!!

Thanks for stopping by and if you get a chance, please pop over to Paper Crafts Magazine's Gallery Idol Contest to vote for your favorite! I am currently in the top 10! Hee!

Have a great day!

-tessa

A Red Butterfly...

I'm so excited to participate in Kristina Werner's 50th Color Inspiration Challenge! These challenges really get me out of a funk when I'm in one and help me to learn to use my products in different ways! Thanks Kristina for posting such great inspirations!

Here is her challenge for us:



And here is what I made:




Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Simple Friendship set, Baroque Motifs set, Polkadot Background
Ink: Summer Sun, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise Classic inks; Versamark
Paper: Whisper White, Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red cardstock; Bella Rose DSP
Accessories: Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Scallop Edge punch, Piercing tool and guide, White embossing powder, 1 3/4" Circle punch

When I think of this set, I don't think of these colors and I think that's why I chose to use it! Well, that and it was already on my desk... Hee! First, I stamped the background of the cardbase with polkadots in Real Red. I love the look of color on color... it's subtle but gives some texture at the same time! Next I stamped and embossed the swirls stamp from Baroque Motifs on a strip of Summer Sun cardstock. I matted it with Tempting Turquoise, tearing it on the bottom edge. I added another torn edge of the Chocolate Chip polkadot DSP and also a crumpled strip of white with the bottom edge scalloped. I tied my ribbon around it and stuck it in the middle of my card base. I added the friend next. Then I started working on the focal point. I wasn't sure what color I wanted the butterfly to be so I cut out one of each color and accidentally doubled them up and liked the way it looked! I stuck them together using a dimensional and added glitter to his wings. I made a little distressed square for him to live on and added it to my cardbase.

See! With out Kristina's color inspiration, I'd probobly never see a pretty red butterfly! I love it! If you have time, I hope you can participate, too!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Gotta Love Swaps!

Last week I had two swap cards due. One for a small group of SCS friends and the other for my Recollections girls! We haven't been able to get together for soo long so it was great to see everyone who came! I ended up making four different cards to choose from on Friday... Here are the winners!

For the SCS monthly swap:



Goodies:
All Products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Always set
Ink: Versamark; Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive Classic Inks
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy card stock; Holiday Treasures DSP
Other: Silver brads, Scallop Edge Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

This card is a case of my own from earlier this year. I love the way the heart turned out with the blues- I used the emboss resist technique on it. I also love this color scheme- I think it may have been one of Kristina Werner's challenges!

For the Reco Girls:



Goodies:
All Products by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs set, Best Yet set(Hostess, Polkadot Background stamp
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow, More Mustard Classic Inks
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White card stock; Autumn Vines DSP
Other: Flower by Prima; Rounded Tab Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Corner Rounder, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch all by Stampin' Up!

I thought I'd make a pocket card since they are kind of special. And, I've had this Autumn Vines DSP since preorder but only used it once so far! I love the colors in it!

And, here are the rejects... although I'm sure most of the Recollections girls would have preferred something a little easier!! (it was a shoebox swap)



Goodies:
All Products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy set, Best Yet set (hostess)
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Paper: Kraft, Pirouette Pink, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip card stock
Other: Vanilla wide grosgrain ribbon, Curly Label punch, Scallop edge punch

Pretty and simple... my kind of card!

One more:



Goodies:
All Products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Best Wishes and More set, Polkadot Background stamp
Ink: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Chocolate Chip Classic Inks
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Chocolate Chip card stock
Other: Silver Brad, Scallop Edge punch, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals

I decided to veto this one because of all the cutting... three snowflakes on each card! Yikes!

Anyways, those are my shares for now! I hope they inspire someone out there to get out the ink! Hee!

-tessa

A Quick Color Challenge!

So, after a pretty busy day of hanging out with my girls and my sister and her boys, I decided to kick back and make a card! Since Ms. Kristine was challenging us, I used this as my inspiration:



And here is what I came up with:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs set, En Francais
Inks: Versamark; Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, and Regal Rose classic stampin' ink
Paper: Soft Sky, Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red, Whisper White card stock
Other: Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Rhinestone Brads, dimensionals; White brads by American Crafts; Liquid Pearls by Ranger

So, this isn't a color palette I usually use. It was a little tough for me to put this together but over all, I think it is interesting and will make a good sample for my workshops! It definitely won't be up in the top ten this week! Hee!

Anyways, thanks for taking a peek!

-tessa

Scrapbooking Page... a Challenge!

It is weird because I started out as a scrapbooker. I started making cards as a way to use up my scraps from my pages. Somewhere along the way, cards became easier for me! Today though, I am posting a page! My friend Nicole swapped color challenges for the month of June and challenged each other to make a few cards and a scrapbook page. Here is mine using her challenge for me, to use Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, and Basic Black all together:


Here is a closeup of the floral embellishment:


Funny, this didn't come together very quickly! I had the idea for the layout in my mind at the beginning of the month and added a little here and there until this morning, when it finally came together! I had to alter the letter stickers a little, I used the same stamp as the blue flowers and I think they look OK.

I also made one more card for her challenge:

This one is growing on me! At first, I thought it was way too busy to look at but now I like it. I love the way the outer floral pattern came out. The idea for this came from my friend Dawnette! She did this with another stamp and I just loved how it turned out!

Anyways, as you can see, I had a lot of fun with Nicole's challenge this month! I'll post a few from my own color challenge tomorrow!! Mine was a little more difficult...

Have a great day!

-tessa

Nicole's Color Challenge!

Today I am posting my first of a few things I made for Nicole's color challenge! For June, she challenged me to use this as my inspiration:

She chose Not Quite Navy, Basic Black, and Whisper White as her colors! So, here is the first project I came up with:

Goodies:

Stamps: Fresh Cuts set, Together Forever set, and Baroque Motifs set, all by Stampin' Up!

Ink: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery, Old Olive

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Basic Black, Whisper White card stock by Stampin' Up!; patterned paper by American Crafts

So, I love how this turned out but I totally cased a card I found on SCS! There is always such great inspiration there! If you haven't already checked it out, do! You can search by Stampin' Up sets as well as by other companies and by techniques!

I made the white background paper by stamping one image over and over. To get this just right, I used a Stamp-a-ma-jig! It is a must have for stampers who have the need to be perfect. I inked around the edges of both patterned papers before adhering it to the black card base. I then added the Not Quite Navy strips, which are bordered by black and faux stitched. The sentiment comes from the Fresh Cuts set. I just cut it out and rounded one end. i also inked around its edges and added a brad before adhering it. The main little image is two different stamps from the Together Forever set. I stamped both separately and cut them out, delicately. I watercolored the floral design and then popped it up with dimensionals in the center of the second stamped image.

I'll post more from our color challenge tomorrow!!

-tessa

Baroque Butterfly

So, I am finally posting my 5th card for the Collector's Club Series- Baroque Motifs class that I am holding on July 12th. This one is my favorite, by far! I love the way the butterfly turned out!

For this card, I will be teaching the masking technique, heat embossing, and fussy cutting... It will be a fun class so don't miss it! Give me a call or email for more details!!

Hope you have a fun weekend! If you get a chance, stop by Two Peas for their Worldwide Stamping Week Celebration. It is starting tomorrow with classes, challenges, and prizes!

-tessa

Cherished Motifs

Back again with another card from my upcoming Collector's Club Class! Can you tell I'm excited about it??

Here is sample #3:



On this card, we will be using a few different techniques! We will stamp with Versamark; we will use the Stamp-a-ma-jig; we will heat emboss; we will do 2nd generation stamping; and we will be doing some fussy cutting! Funny, since it is a fairly simple card!

Hope you are enjoying my cards!

-tessa

Fresh Cut Kindness

Happy Friday! I always love Fridays because the weekends are always packed with fun, out of the ordinary activities! Tomorrow I am planning to hit Starbucks early and garage sale for a couple hours with my sister- something we haven't done in years! Then we get to take the kids to their friend Judah's birthday party- with promises of a rocket cake, we are pretty excited! After the kids have their fun, I have a girls night planned at my friend Dawnette's house. We plan one almost every weekend and I always look forward to hanging out and making cards...

My post for today is another card from my Collector's Club Class coming up. I used a new product Stampin' Up is offering as part of the Sneak Peek Promotion- the Fresh Cuts Notes. They are 4x4" note cards with a laser cut flower in the middle. It is fun coming up with ways to use these little guys! I kept it simple this time and used the Baroque Motifs set to decorate it!

The class will be held in Woodbridge, VA on Saturday, July 12th, at 7pm. If you are interested in joining us please email me for more information!

Have a great weekend!

-tessa

Cherish Flowers

This is the first of my 5 cards I made for my Collector's Club class coming up. I loved the idea of using the swirl stamp as vines with flowers growing on them. I used the rock-n-roll technique to stamp the larger flowers, giving them the duo tone color. I love their pearl centers, too!
I still have room in the class so if you are interested in joining us, please let me know! The class will be held in Woodbridge, VA on Saturday, July 12th, at 7pm.

All products by Stampin' Up!

Pretty Baroque Class

I thought I'd share a picture from an upcoming class I'm holding:

Collector's Club: Baroque Motif Edition

Cost: $35.00



I got the idea from SCS of a monthly class where we make 10 cards (2 each of 5 designs) with one stamp set. The best part? Everyone gets to take the set home with them! For my first go around, I chose Baroque Motifs as the stamp set used. I really like this one because it is so versetile and pretty. I chose Cameo Coral, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White for my color scheme. I tried to make the cards with all different techniques so that the people who will be attending will be able to play with all sorts of different tools... I always think that's fun so I hope they do too!


It should be a fun one! If you are interested, check out my Stampin' Up website or email me!
-tessa