Simple Masking

Valentine's Day has past, so it is time to start thinking about Easter cards! I picked up this adorable A Muse stamp at my local stamp store last week - and I just adore it (almost as much as I love the candy!). I couldn't resist adding a little detail to it, notably:


Yes, I made the last one without an ear! Couldn't help it, as it is the first thing that I always eat with Peeps. It was so easy to do, that I thought I would share this simple masking technique with you today and you could give it a whirl, too.

First, grab a Post-It Note. I decided that for the appearance of 'teeth marks', a scalloped edge would be perfect. I cut my Post-It with a petite scalloped circle die from Spellbinders, but you could just as easily use a scalloped punch to achieve a similar look. Once you Post-It has been edged, you're ready to stamp.



Lay your Post-It down on the surface that you're going to stamp. Use your favorite technique for positioning your stamp (eye-balling, stamp positioner, etc.) and stamp, making sure that the ear portion stamps onto the Post-It, while the rest of the image goes onto the white.



When you take away your Post-It, you have a great edge that looks like someone was being sneaky with the Peeps! See how easy it is? By playing around with your stamps, you will find that masking can give new life to your images. I hope you give it a try and post back so we can see it!

Be well, Jenn

SUPPLY LIST
Cardstock: (Stampers Select, Summer Sunrise) Papertrey Ink
Ink: (Summer Sunrise) Papertrey Ink, Versafine Onyx Black
Stamps: A Muse Art Stamps
Dies: (Classic Square, Petite Scalloped Circles) Spellbinders Paper Arts
Other: (Waterfall Stickles) Ranger

Card Sketches and Challenges

Hi!
My name is Anabelle and I love to make cards! ;)
Lately, I've been finding myself drawn to some of the many card sketch or challenge sites that are out there. It's really fun to participate in the challenges. Usually, they involve trying something I didn't think of doing. And the sketches are great, too. I love how you can interpret them literally or take pieces of them that work for you. I decided that for today's post, I wanted to assemble as many sketch/challenge site links as I could find. I'm sure the list is incomplete, but here are the ones I've found.

Sketch This

Cardalicious


CPS Card Sketches

2 Sketches 4 You

Caardvarks

Kristina Werner Color Challenge

Our Creative Corner

His Holy Name Challenge

Colour Create

Sketch Saturday

Friday Sketchers

Cute Card Thursday

Everybody Art Challenge

Daring Cardmakers

Roses on Paper Challenges

Thank God it's Friday

Magnolia Vs. Stampavie

Just Christmas and Birthday Cards

Tales from Pollycraft

A Spoon Full of Sugar

Whiff of Joy Challenge

Dutch Dare Card Challenge

Stamp Something

Forever Friends Challenge

House Mouse Monday Challenge


Card Patterns

The Pink Elephant Challenge

Cuttlebug Challenges

Sketches! (By Tamara)

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Arty Girlz

Fab's Big Christmas Cards Challenge

Mojo Monday

Splitcoast Stampers: Try a New Technique Challenge

Created By Courney Sketches

Inspirational Card Sketches

Splitcoast Stampers Color Combinations Challenge

Color Throwdown

Splitcoast Stampers: Card Sketches Forum

Splitcoast Stampers: Ways to Use It Challenge

Prairie Paper and Ink Sketches


Splitcoast Stampers: Limited Supplies Challenge


Tag You're It Challenge

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge

Splitcoast Stampers: Inspriation Challenge


Ann's Creative Nook

Page Plans

Basic Grey Challenges


Card Sketch a Day

My Time to Craft Challenge

Scrummy Stash Cafe

Cupcake Craft Challenge

So Sketchy

Taylored Expressions

3D Design Challenge

Di Hickman Card Sketches

Scrapaddicts Sketches

Little Book of Sketches

Card Maps (On Becky Fleck's Pagemaps Site)

Colour Create

My Sketch World

Ooh La la Creations

Papertake Weekly

Sketch and Stash

Tanda Stamps
I'm sure this is not a complete list of all the card sketch and challenge sites out there. So, if you know of another, please link it and I'll add it to the list.

So, here are a few examples of cards I've made using some of the sites...

This first one is a card I did for Cardalicious' challenge last week. I needed to make a thank you card using the color pink, some stitching and some felt.





This next one was based on this week's CPS sketch, 103. I made a gift tag. I used a Tattered Angels glimmer screen and sprayed Key Lime glimmer mist onto it to create the background.




And finally, here is the one I did for 2 Sketches 4 You last week. It's based on Laura's Sketch 19.




(I can't seem to stop using pink right now. Must be because I live in a house filled with testosterone. I gotta get my girly fix somehow!)

Well, I hope this list will help get your creative juices flowing! And remember, if you have another site you'd like me to add, please leave it in the comments.

Have a great day~ Anabelle

Be Mine Flower

What can I say...I love February. And it's not because of the weather..because I'm NOT a cold weather girl. And it's not because it's the 2nd month of the year. Rather I love February because it has Valentine's Day in it. I get all giddy when I spy the conversation heart candies, the decorations all pink and red, the cute kids valentines to hand out at parties, red heart boxer shorts for your sweetie...red hots!

I think you get the picture...I heart Valentine's Day. And I love to leave a little bit of that around me..and not just for the holiday. I've grown to love finding unique ways to incorporate decorations that I can make into my home decor. And when I mix those ideas with flowers..my other love..it's a win-win or maybe I should say love-love!

Here's my newest creation for the holiday that just may stay out quite a bit past the 14th!

Supplies:

Bo Bunny Sweetie Pie Squeeze, Bo Bunny Sweetie Pie Sigh, Bo Bunny Sweetie Pie Smooth, Bo Bunny Double Dot Licorice Ribbon, Blush dot, Tutut Dot, Wild Berry Dot Pink Punch Dot Cardstock, Bo Bunny Gettin In Shape Bleached Chipboard, Mega & Giga Marvy Uchida Scalloped Circle punch, Felt Heart, Heidi Swapp Felt Butterfly, Foam Adhesive, Paper Shaper Large Heart Punch, Colorbox Chalk Inks: Warm Red, Lime Green and Blush.

Instructions:

1) I used a green, stryofoam circle for the base of the flower. I covered the back and front with the pink dotted cardstock. The front circle is larger than the styrofoam circle...extending about a 1/4 past.

2) I then added layers of chipboard and papers using foam circles to pop them up for dimension. The felt heart I found at Hobby Lobby and could not pass it up! I tied a small length of the black polka dot ribbon. Added a small Heidi Swapp pink felt butterfly.

3) I punched hearts that I layered around the backside of the circle.

4) For the stem I painted a wood dowel then added diecut leaves (Cricut - Accent Essentials) that I layered the new Bo Bunny Chunky Charms Swirls in Clover on.

5) Last I used black river rocks I found on clearance at Target. Added those to a cute red, speckled bucket..and added in the flower.

After making this I realized it would look cute to tuck in two smaller, simplier versions of the flower on shorter stems...so I may just do that.

But for now..this definitely is one flower that will "Be Mine!"

Julia

Love is in the Air

I find that quotes can be a wonderful starting point for a card or layout. With Valentine's Day less than 2 weeks away, I thought this would be a great time to share some inspiring love quotes.

All love is sweet, given or returned.
-Percy Bysshe Shelley

If I know what love is, it is because of you.
-Herman Hesse

Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
-Elizabeth Browning

Paradise is always where love dwells.

-Jean Paul F. Richter

The life and love we create is the life and love we live.
-Leo Buscaglia

For you see, each day I love you more
Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.
-Rosemonde Gerard

Trip over love, you can get up.
Fall in love and you fall forever.
-Author Unknown

Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart.
-Author Unknown

A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you.
-Author Unknown

A man is not where he lives, but where he loves.
-Latin Proverb

True love stories never have endings.
-Richard Bach

Love is being stupid together.
-Paul Valery

Harmony is pure love, for love is a concerto.
-Lope de Vega

Love is friendship set on fire.
-Jeremy Taylor

My heart is ever at your service.
-William Shakespeare

In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing.
-Mignon McLaughlin

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
-Helen Keller


Enjoy,