Distressed Dream Card

Good Morning!

I'm back today with another one of my Artisan Award entries. Today's card was the last piece that I made to send in. It was done pretty late on the night before it was due and I just kept adding to it until it looked right. I used more of my favorite stamp sets and one of my favorite color combinations, too! Here it is:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Medallion, En Francais, Dreams Du Jour
Ink: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red classic inks; Whisper White craft ink
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Soft Suede cardstock; Pumpkin Pie textured cardstock; Thoroughly Modern DSP
Accessories: Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, Hemp Twine, Pretties kit, Aqua Painter, Signo White gel pen, paper piercer, Scallop Edge punch

This card feels like there is a lot going on, doesn't it? You can't even see where I used the En Francais stamp in the background but it could just be the picture. I distressed the whole thing with lots of Soft Suede classic ink.


Don't forget to check out the rest of the Artisan Award winners projects:

Heather Van Duker
Elizabeth Price
Renee Ballard
Angela Timms
Jodie Olver
Becky Cowley
Andrea Munro
Richard Garay
Tessa Wise (you are here)

Hope you are enjoying our little blog hop! Isn't everyone's work amazing!!

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by my little blog!

-tessa

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #6

I love participating in Dawn McVey's color challenge! Her color choices are always bright and cheerful and usually colors that I wouldn't normally put together. For this one, she used a light aqua, a bright corally pink, chocolate brown, and white. Here is her inspirational photo:



For me, stamping with mostly Stampin' Up supplies, it was hard to find just the right shades in my stash... I finally found some patterned paper by Chatterbox and kind of went from there! Here is the card I made:



Goodies:
Products by Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Polkadot background, Friends 24-7 set, Dreams DuJour set
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Cameo Coral Classic inks; Versamark
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White cardstock; patterned paper by Chatterbox, Seaside paper by Lasting Impressions
Accessories: Sander block, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Clear embossing powder, piercing tool, Dimensionals by Stampin' Up! Scallop Edge punch by Fiskars; miniature halfback pearls- unknown...

I love the look of the Polkadot background stamp on white paper. I stamped it with Versamark and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I think it just addes a little something to the background. I built up the layers on this card and had a hard time finding something to add to the middle as a focal point. I started with a large flower stamp, then tried a larger butterfly but since my inks are just a tad off, I went with the sentiment in brown... I added the butterfly last, using a stamped off version of Cameo Coral... it toned it down a little and matched the background paper a little better!

I am finally done with the big projects I was working on so I should be posting more regularly now! I am planning to work on Kristina Werner's latest color challenge this afternoon... if you have time, you should play along, too!!

Thanks for looking!

-tessa

Black and White Challenge

I love to play along with Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenges that she puts on every week. I think everyone else does, too! There have been soo many entries lately! This week she challenged us with this:



Funny- this was so simple but such a challenge! I really wanted to add another color to this! Here is what I came up with, a simple Monogram card:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Friends 24-7 set; Cute and Curly set; Dreams Du Jour set; Lovely Letter Alphabet
Ink: Versamark; Going Gray, Basic Black Classic Inks; Basic Black Craft Ink
Paper: Whisper White card stock; Basic Gray textured card stock
Accessories: Curly Label Punch, Clear embossing powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Valet Ribbon Originals, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Dimensionals

Thank you Kristina for always posting such great color challenges! Thanks to everyone else for popping by to take a look! Hee!

-tessa

A Carousel Note

I've had these Carousel notes since my first order out of the fall/winter catalog! Have I done anything with them? No! Here is my first card with them:



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

Stamps: Flower Fancy set, Dreams Du Jour set, En Francais background
Ink: Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip classic inks; Versamark
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White cardstock, Baja Breeze Carousel Note
Accessories: Piercing tool, White Signo Gel Pen, Dimensionals, ribbon- unknown supply

I stamped the En Francais background on the Carousel note but you can barely see it in the picture. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp out my flowers and leaves- it is so handy with these 2 step stamp sets!!

Hope you are enjoying your long weekend! We have a four day here in the DC area because of the inauguration. Is this a national thing or just a local thing because no one can get to work? Just wondering...

Thanks for taking a peek today!

-tessa

A Little Blueberry Flower Card

Today I am posting a little card I made this morning. I have almost a whole pack of the Maine Blueberry DSP left and since it is retiring, I thought I should try to use it rather then save it! Here is the little 4x4 card I made with it:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Petal Pizazz set, Dreams du Jour set
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Old Olive classic inks
Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue card stock; Maine Blueberry DSP
Accessories: Paper Piercer, Signo White Gel pen, Rhinestone brads, Filigree brads, Dimensionals

I am planning to make a little set of these this week for a Hostess gift to give at my next workshop.

Oh! I almost forgot! I am excited to say that a card I made was selected as a winner in January's "Flower Fest" contest in Stampin' Up!'s Demo magazine Stampin' Success. My card and picture will be in March's issue!! I also get to pick out three new stamp sets as a prize! Pretty great if you ask me!!

Anyways, thanks for stopping by and taking a peek today!

-tessa

A Fabulous Flower Card

When I first discovered Stampin' Up! this was the first set that caught my eye! I love the huge flower and the sentiment... Today I am using it as part of a color challenge on the demo side of Splitcoast Stampers. For this month's WICKED color challenge, we had to use Tangerine Tango, Always Artichoke, Bordering Blue, and Basic Black. I had fun trying them out! Here is what I came up with:



Goodies:
All goodies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Fabulous Flowers set; Dreams DuJour set; En Francais background stamp
Ink: Bordering Blue, Always Artichoke, Tangerine Tango, and Basic Black classic inks
Paper: Basic Black, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Bordering Blue card stock
Other: Dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Basic Black narrow grosgrain ribbon, Paper Piercer, Filigree Designer Brads, Sponge Daubers, Blender Pen, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I started by stamping the flower three times with Tangerine Tango ink on Whisper White card stock. I cut one out whole, one out around the middle section of petals and one out around just the center of petals. I used dimensionals to build them up into a three dimensional flower. I used a 2 way glue pen to trace one side of each petal and add Dazzling Diamonds glitter to it. What a mess I had! All those petals... hee!

Next, I got busy on the background pieces. I knew I wanted to use En Francais on the Bordering blue so I cut a square and stamped it out with Bordering Blue ink. I sponged around the edge- I think it gives it a more finished look. Then I added the piercings around the edge and gave it a mat. I distressed that a little bit with my Decor Elements tool- it is what you are supposed to use to put those giant rub-ons on your wall but it makes a great little distresser, too! Hee!

For the Always Artichoke piece in the background, I got out my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig and the butterfly stamp from Dreams DuJour. I stamped a pattern using Always Artichoke ink. I also sponged around the edges of this piece, too.

I decided to create my sentiment panel next, stamping it onto Whisper White card stock with Basic Black ink. Since I don't have the Stampin' Up! markers yet (please Santa bring them!) I used a blender pen with the residual ink from the Always Artichoke stamp pad to color in the 'fabulous' part. I cut the piece to the right size, added piercings around the edge then matted it in black, using dimensionals for a little more pop!

This is when I started the layout part of the card... I was planning on a square card so I cut a piece of Basic Black card stock to 11 x 5 1/2" and folded it in half. Next I set out my pieces where I thought they would go and moved them around until I saw what it needed... ribbon! I added a little piece around the bottom of the Bordering Blue panel. Then, I felt it needed a little something along the side... Filigree brads! I haven't used them yet and I love how they look here! I glued down the panels and added the sentiment and flower with dimensionals. And then I was done! I almost added leaves but my husband thought it would be too busy... I do love how it turned out though!

OK.... now that I've written a short novel about how I made the silly card, I better get back to my real job! My babies are pulling at my legs this morning wanting all of my attention! Off to play dress up and doll house!

-tessa

A Great Day for Cards!!

I am looking out my window as I post this morning and the sky is blue with little pillowy clouds in it. I can't wait to take the girls out to play! I love it when it is so pretty out!

Jeremy has been home all week and instead of having more time to create, I've had less! We've been busy doing so many other things! Today though, I've asked for a little time to create a few cards! I have my Card Creations class tomorrow at Scrapdoodles! and I have one more card to finish for the September class! Hopefully I will be able to post a sneak peak before I leave in the morning!!

Today I am posting the last 2 cards from my upcoming Collector's Club: Dreams du Jour edition class. Here they are!





The class will be held at Kristen's house in Lorton, VA. on September 13th. She is a great hostess! The cost is $30.00, which includes your own set of stamps! If you would like to join us, please send me a message and I'll get you all signed up! It should be a great class!!

OK. Off to enjoy that sunshine before it gets too hot!!

-tessa

Collector's Club: Dreams du Jour Edition is Here!

I am planning another edition of the Collector's Club for Saturday, September 13th at Kristen Mattingly's house. I haven't finished all the samples yet so I'll post a couple now and the rest next week. Here are the details...

Collector's Club: Dreams du Jour Edition:
Where: Kristen Mattingly's House in Lorton, VA
When: Saturday, September 13th, 2008 at 6pm.
Cost: $30.00

Please preregister and pre pay by August 25th so I have time to get all the supplies we will need.

We will be making 4 cards, 2 gift card holders, 2 gift bags with gift tags this time around. Each will feature the Dreams du Jour stamp set and the Bella Rose DSP from the new catalog. Along with all the goodies to make the items, you will receive your own premounted Dreams du Jour stamp set! As for what you will learn, we will be focusing on different watercolor techniques, glitter, faux metal embossing, faux dry embossing, and heat embossing.

Here are a couple of samples of the cards we will be making:





I've also updated my calender on my Stampin' Up! Website. Please check it out if you are interested in attending or hostessing a class!

-tessa

Real Red & Yo-Yo Yellow...

For the month of July, Nicole challenged me to use this as my inspiration to design a card and a scrapbook page:



From the cake, she took Real Red, Yo-Yo Yellow, and a splash of Only Orange as her main colors. Here is what I did with it:



Goodies:
All products Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Dreams DuJour Set; Polka Dot background
Ink:Real Read, Only Orange, Yo-Yo Yellow, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Yo-Yo Yellow card stock
Other: Stickles by Ranger, Dimensionals, water pen

I watercolored the butterflies and the flowers with my water pen and inks. The butterflies were hard to cut out but I'm glad I did! I love this card! Isn't the glitter pretty!

Here is a closeup of the butterflies:



I had made another card first. After I was done, I realized I've cased myself! I keep making the same card in different colors, Yikes! Here it is anyways:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Always set
Ink: Real Red, Yo-Yo Yellow, Only Orange, Basic Brown, Versamark
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Only Orange, and Yo-Yo Yellow card stock
Others: Clear Embossing Powder, 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Scallop edge punch, Dimensionals

I stamped the heart in Versamark before inking it up with the brown. That way I could emboss over it, even though it is a dye ink.

I do have a scrapbook page, too but I still have to add the pictures! I've been out of ink and time to have them printed so still it sets on my desk...

One more picture! My husbands Mom and Dad sent a package to the girls last week and this is what was inside! The girls loved them! All day suckers... only a Nana would buy, right! Hee! Here is Natalie enjoying her treat:



Hope you have a great weekend! I'm planning to spend some time making cards for a swap I joined and for the upcoming Collector's Club Class! I'll be holding one at Kristen's house on September 13th featuring Dreams DuJour set!!!

-tessa

My New Goodies!!

I've finally got them and found time to play!! The new in colors are great! And the stamp sets that I chose, I really like! Very versatile and can be used on a number of different projects... Here are a few samples:

This was the first that I made:



Goodies:
All products were by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Dreams Du Jour set
Ink: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, and Kiwi Kiss Classic inks
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, and Whisper White card stock; Bella Rose Design Series Paper(DSP)
Other: brads, ribbon, dimensionals, scallop boarder punch

The scallop on the bottom was done with the new scallop boarder punch. It is great! I used to use my corner rounder to do it one scallop at a time so this saves me lots of time! I love it!

Here is another card with another stamp set. It has been getting mixed reviews in the stamping communities... I like it though- it's a monkey! Hee Hee!



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Sock Monkey set
Ink: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Barely Banana, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa Classic inks
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, So Saffron, Red Riding Hood Red, and Whisper White card stock
Other: scallop circle punch, spiral notebook punch, hemp twine, dimensionals

I cased this design from this card at Split Coast. I just love the bananas!!

I love how this card turned out. I am partial to orange, since it is my favorite color! Here is the card:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Sprinkles set; Heard from the Heart set
Ink: So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss Classic inks
Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss, So Saffron card stock
Other: Scallop Circle punch, 1" Circle punch, Pretties Kit (jewels, dimensionals


OK. My last one is another using the Dreams Du Jour set. I think this will be my favorite out of my sneak peek bunch. The images can be used on so many different projects! Anyways, here it is:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Dreams Du Jour set
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red
Paper: Riding Hood Red and Whisper White card stock; Pink Pirouette textured card stock; Bella Rose DSP
Other: stampin' glitter, 1/2" circle punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, scallop circle punch, dimensionals

I made polka dots with my textured card stock to mimic dry embossing. I rocked the stamp in Riding Hood Red after inking up with Pink Pirouette so I could turn the edges a different color.

I hope you like what you see! The new catalog should be great! They have been showing us little sneak peeks in videos and magazines and I can not wait! Less then a month to wait now...

Hope you are all having a great day!

-tessa