Spring Birds Banner

Hello!

Today I thought I'd share one of my 3-d items from the Artisan Awards... I think it was my best project. It turned out just as I was hoping. But before I show you it, I have to brag a little... I'm vacationing on the coast in Washington State and I know a few of you will be jealous... I'm heading to Forks tomorrow! Hee! I know... dork! I'm so team Edward! My mom and I are taking the long way home just so we can get a peak at Forks high school and Bella's house. We are hoping to see just a few crazy fans who visit dressed up in thier vampire finest. Hee! OK... here is my banner:



And some closer shots of the pieces:





Most of these supplies are retired so I'm not going to list them all. If you have questions, just ask.

The idea for this came from a project I made for a crop I attended in January- I made giant lollipop flowers for a display and thought "wow! wouldn't these make a great banner?" The lollipops are easy enough to create- I cut various widths of 12" strips and accordion folded them at 1/2". After they were folded, I glued the ends together and flattened them out. I used a lot of chipboard for the embellishments. I covered them with ink, paper, glossy accents, and glitter. It was a lot of fun to make!

Anyways, if you haven't been to the other Artisan Award winner's blogs today, check them out. I'm sure you'll be inspired by each and every one of them!

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

Hope you have a great day! I'll try to report back tomorrow about Forks and all the vampires we see... hee!

Thanks for stopping by!

-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

July Color Challenge...

For our second month, Nicole and I swapped color challenges. This time I did mine first, and got them done early! Here is the inspiration...



A skirt by Carter's. They make the cutest little girls clothing! So, from this I chose Tempting Turquoise, Lavender Lace and Whisper White as the challenge. Here is what I came up with:

First, my card:




Goodies:
All by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Fabulous Flowers set and Heard from the Heart set
Ink: Tempting Turquoise and Lavender Lace Classic Stampin' Pads
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Lavender Lace, and Whisper White card stock
Other: Pretties Kit (pearl)

I stamped off onto my scratch paper to get the second generation image on my card. It gives it a lighter, distressed sort of look.


And now, here is my page:



Goodies:

Stamps: Fabulous Flowers and Big Deal Alphabet sets by Stampin' Up!
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Lavender Lace Classic Stampin' Pads
Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise card stock by Stampin' Up; purples from the mono pack, Dragonfly, and White textured card stock by Bazzill Basics
Other: Scallop Boarder Punch, Glitter and Dimensionals by Stampin' Up; Letter stickers by Doodlebug Designs

Have you ever used your stamps in your scrapbook?? I love that I can customize a layout to the exact colors I want! I can make my own patterned paper and embellishments to match! It is great!!!

For this page, I did second generation stamping with all the different flower stamps to make my own patterned paper. I created the layout, showcasing Natalie's photo and added embellishments and journaling. The flowers were stamped in versamark and tempting turquoise ink so I could use the heat and stick powder on them. After I heated it up, I added glitter and then heat set it again. Here is a close up of the larger flower. Doesn't the glitter look great!



Anyways, I am having a lot of fun with these color challenges! Tomorrow I have planned to head down to Scrapdoodles and drop off my cards for my upcoming class there! I'll be sure to post a few pictures for all you curious people out there! I hope you all can make it down on August 23rd!

Oh! More news!! Stampin' Up just announced that we will be able to shop online soon! You can order right through my website, any time, day or night! Don't you love that!!

Bye for now,

-tessa

Rusted Flower

I have been enjoying my new Fabulous Flowers set! Today I decided to use it to play along with Kristine Werner again...



She chose some great colors to challenge us with! I am drawn to these colors naturally. I can't wait for fall! Here is what I came up with:


Goodies:
Stamps: Fabulous Flowers set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: Real Rust, Close to Cocoa (inked edges) by Stampin' Up!
Paper: Real Rust, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, and Close to Cocoa card stock by Stampin' Up!
Other: small copper brads by Lasting Impressions; large copper brad by Karen Foster; swirl card stock sticker by Stampin' Up (part of the Summer Days Simply Scrappin' kit); ribbon, unknown (from Scrapdoodles!)

I cut out the layers of the flower out and crumpled them up to give it some texture. I used extra think pop dots to really make it stand out!

This week we celebrated my nephew Micah's 2nd birthday. His mama cut his hair. This is the after...



She didn't cut much off! I am glad! His curls are just too cute!

We are a Krispy Kreme family! Every birthday is celebrated with donuts! This is his cake:



Doesn't it make you want a donut! We got the originals fresh off the line, too so they were still warm! I love that!

Anyways, the week has flown by yet again! I am having my Collector's Club class tomorrow, as well as doing a little house hunting so wish me luck!!

Have a great weekend!

-tessa

Up to not much...

Hope you all had a great 4th of July! I spent it with my sister in Maryland. We took this picture of the kids. Pretty cute, aren't they! To marrow is my sister's oldest son's second birthday. She has been dreading it because she promised to cut his hair! I don't think she will cut much off. His curls are too adorable! Let me know what you think...



I've been shopping way too much online this week! I am excited though! Mr. UPS should be stopping by my house a couple of times! I am especially excited about the sneak peek goodies from Stampin' Up! That is my favorite part about being a demonstrator- the ability to get them first, and at a discount, too!! Hee Hee!

Today I am sharing a card I made in honor of my friend Sara's birthday. It is today! Funny, I didn't send this one. I sent a different one but this one turned out cuter...



Goodies:
Stamps: Fabulous Flowers set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: Lavender Lace, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White (craft), Chocolate Chip by Stampin' Up!
Paper: Kraft and Whisper White by Stampin' Up!; Dragonfly by Bazzill Basics
Others: Ribbon by American Crafts; Gem, unknown

Instead of dabbing my stamp in the ink, I rubbed the ink onto the stamp with the pad. It gave it a washed out look. I kind of like it! I also stamped three images of the large flower and then cut them at varying spots to give it some dimension. The scallops on this were done with my corner rounder but guess what Stampin' Up! is debuting in August... a scallop border punch that looks just like this! I can't wait!

Well, I better stop typing. I am trying to get my next collector's club class projects done by this weekend. They will be featuring the set above!

Have a great day!

-tessa