Embellish Magazine Challenge (Text)

A quick post of my take on the latest Embellish Text Color Challenge. This challenge requires you to create a card, scrapbook layout, or altered item using the color challenge with text. Text can be stamped, book print, embossed, or even handwritten.

Since the sponsor is Hero Arts (yay!) , I would love to give it a try! I used my favorite Hero Arts stamps--International Skyline, Friends Definition, My Type (the sentiment).

 

 Thanks so much for commenting on my last post about how I take card photo. I'm enjoying doing the new feature: Did You Know....?. This was how I took this card photo.

 My next post will be a project for the SRM Stickers!

Did you know...?

Did you know how I take my card photos? Like most of you, I have my special spot/corner to get the card photo taken. I had taken over at least 1000 photos for my cards since 2008. I tried a few spots around my house before, but I think I have finally found the "perfect" spot for the card photo. For my new Monday's feature: "Did you know....", I shall share this happy corner of my house.

 I started in this solarium room/exercise room that we have off the family room.

I still exercise, but I used the card corner more! You see, that is a TV stand in front of the treadmill and exercise bike. The TV is covered with an old table cloth. On top of the TV, it is a piece of Corian chopping board. It is solid and heavy and most of all, flat.  I layered it with two pieces of cream colored paper.

 A closer look here...behind the setup is a binder like this

 

I also keep a stack of 12x12 color paper on the side to change the background (depending on the colors of the cards).

 

So this is how I take my card photo!
This snail card was featured in CREATE blog (denim Challenge). I stamped the snail over Dr. John's old jeans (already has holes from my previous stamping project). Love the textures of the fabric on the snail. I created a little scene here! Aren't those two cute together?

This past Saturday I joined the Hero Arts 90 minute Scramble Challenge (see here). The theme was to make card with your LEAST favorite color. I chose my two least used colors--yellow and grey.  It took me less then an hour to make this card. I embossed the butterflies in white and then blended colors in Scattered Straw and Mustard Seed. I also colored them a bit with a sunny yellow Prisma color pencil.

These two colors actually make beautiful color combo together!

Thanks for visiting my happy sunny corner ! 

Have a FABULOUS week!

Tuesday Trigger-Pyrex Effect

I have discovered the color orange since I started stamping again in 2008. My favorite color was always red, but most recently I find myself making more and more cards with the color orange! I can't help making a card after seeing The Pyrex Effect at Moxie Fab World

My interpretation

This stamp seems to be perfect for this. I stamped it in Versamark ink and embossed it in white. I blended the color layers by layers with Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Scattered Straw and Spiced Marmalade.  So it has a few shades of orange. The little lines and sentiment are from SRM stickers.

Are you loving the orange ?  I am :)

CAS-ual-Fridays Challenge #4

YAY! It's Friday! We had 242 entries(!!!) for last week's CAS-ual Fridays Challenge (Bring the Blings) !! UNBELIEVABLE!! We thank you so much for playing and now...let's get our CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #4 started! 

Yup, it's that time of the year!! I had made quite a few grad cards this year! How about you? I hope you get some inks and stamps out and start to play! Our Sponsor is:

I had the pleasure of choosing a set of Market Street stamps. Thank you, Market Street Stamps, for sponsoring! My choice was Follow Your Heart . It's not your typical graduation stamps....BUT that doesn't stop me there. I stamped the big bird over my old dictionary page " graduate " (click for closer image). I used the SRM Stickers for the grad hat and sentiments ("you did it" and "congrats"). And ta-da!! 

 As you can see, you don't have to have grad stamp to make grad card...well, some grad symbols from stickers or logos can be incorporated into the grad card. Easy, huh?

Please check my DT's amazing work for more inspiration. Let me tell ya, they ROCK!! Be sure to link up your card to CAS-ual Fridays  by Wednesday June 1, midnight Eastern time.  I can't wait to check out what you create  for this challenge! Enjoy your weekend!

FIRST publication!!...and rejects!

Well, I thought this day will not come for a long while...but here I am , sharing some happy news!

Over 2400 submissions to the Paper Crafts Magazine Card-A-Day call! 366 were chosen (2012 is a leap year)! And guess what!? My card got lucky and made itself to the 366th one!!!

I submitted 4 cards for the last Papercraft " A Card A Day--2012" submission call and one of them got picked (!!!) ! When I got the happy e-mail from editor Susan Opel last Friday , I jumped UP from my chair and shouted "YAY"!! My DD Stephanie thought I had gone MAD (LOL). Well, she was almost right..but the excitement was just too much to bear!

Obviously I can't share the card  that will be out in the publication on November 8, 2011 (can't wait!). But I thought I'd share the ones that didn't make it. I would have submitted more cards, but the writing of the instructions and supplies almost killed me turn me off (grrrr..)! I am terrible with reading/writing instructions (just ask my family) ! Need to work on that....

 I'm joining Dr. Amber's blog hop for this submission rejects (see here). You may want to check them out!! Here are my 3 "rejects"... simple stamped card with faith sentiments "God Bless You" (from SRM Stickers).

"Praise the Lord"

And lastly, it's this pink card that I made...it was so last minute! I used the Envelop stamp for the background and solid flower for the design. Then I colored the center of the flowers with bright pink Marvey markers. Add the Glossy Accent, sentiment and gems and paper-piece holes around it--Voila!

As a newbie for card submissions, I have lots to learn.  There are over 800 cards in my Flickr photo stream since the  fall of 2008. It took me a lot of practice to get  to this point. Yes, I am really S.--L.--O.--W....If you make LESS than 800 cards and get published, then you are a natural and a genius!! But if you have made 800 cards and just start submitting....I wish you all the luck as it IS totally doable! 

EDITED note: HERE is the interview of the creative editor Susan Opel with Little Light Studio. Susan gives tips as to how to get published!!  

 HERE is what NOT to do when submitting cards--a FUN read :)

When I got back to stamping (after the kiddies need less of me), I was merely having fun with my long lost hobby. Having a card in the Paper Craft publication is just something that I would have never dreamed of. I often tell  my kids: "Just keep trying...if you don't, you'll never know what will come along...." So true! And last but not least, thank you, for your tireless support and sweet comments.

 You make me want to be a better stamper/card-maker :)

SWEET Cards

I am sharing some sweet cards that I made recently. What is a SWEET card? In my view, it's the kind of card that makes you want to go :..."Aw.."....and put a smile on your face. Let's see some examples. I love how versatile this bird set from Market Street Stamps is, you can make any combination and designs to your liking! This card is almost 100% stamped (except the white line paper background from Basic Grey).

Wee Memories is having a "Stamp It" Challenge theme. The creation is to use rubber or acrylic stamps. It is sponsored by Market Street Stamps (see here). I'm entering this "you're such a sweetie "card for the challenge.
Next is a 100 % pink card  that I made for CREATE blog (featured here). This Hero Arts Life of a Party Birthday is super fun to have. If you haven't made anything sweet and cute lately, this set will sure give you a jump start!

 Hope these cards make you smile! Have a SWEET day!

Color Inspiration Challenge

I'm LOVING the Papercraft Color Inspiration Challenge. I mean....look at the COLORS! Delicious! 

This color combo can be found on p. 16 of Color Inspiration of Card Makers. The Bazzill equivalents are Beetle Black, Lily White, Pink Fairy and Tangelo Blast:

I combined my 3 favorite stamps for this card-- Silhouette Burst, Sillhouette Spray and an old favorite Dandeloin. I did a few trials and errors as to how exactly I want to stamp these images in the these bright pink and orange combo. First I used Color Box chalk ink for the colors. To my surprise, it was NOT bright enough. Then I tried the Distress Inks (Worn Lipstick and Spiced Marmalade), it was alright...but not as bright and cheery as I would have liked. Finally I brushed the images with the good old stand-by Marvey Markers and yup, I like it! If you look closely on the tallest Silhouette Burst, I had fainted 2nd image with the first impression. It is very cool, huh? I applied the white SRM Sticker over the black strip and they work like magic!

Are you having a color overdose? Lastly I am sharing a picture of what I received from Two Peas in a Bucket with one stamp--embellish three ways win.

I don't have any Maya Road stamps and they look pretty cool! Can't wait to play with them.

I just hosted a grad party for my daughter Stephanie last night. We had 12 colleges kids for dinner and three stayed overnight. The house was full of yummy food and laughter! Time sure flies! It was in her second year of university that I picked up stamping again, and now look at where we are at! I cherish all the moments and I am feeling very blessed!

Etsy Inspired Challenge # 139

Hello Saturday!! Welcome to Etsy Inspired Challenge! Our shop is: Paula Art. This shops offers recycled pipe vases, contemporary wall clocks & mixed media originals for your home or office.  All the collections are hand made, using as much recycled, reused, and reclaimed items as possible.

Winner Prize: A Beautiful Votive Candle from Paula Art. 

Sponsor:  Shery K Designs
winner prize: 3 of her best-selling packs

My interpretation of the recycled pipe vase. I happen to have this cute Hero Arts Flowers in a can stamp. I used the SRM Stickers here as I cut up the strips of LIVE in the moment. Love how this turns out!

Please check out the Etsy Inspired DT's work:

( May guest design)  Ellie A
Ashley, Angi, Carole , De
Emily, Jackie, Joy,
Kerry, Ruby, Savannah , Sherry
Virginia (you are here)
Please link your project to Etsy inspired Challenge here. Enjoy your weekend!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #3

Are you getting into the swing of things from week to week? Well, it's Friday and that means we are starting another new challenge today! Are you ready? 

Don't you just LOVE the blings!? Well, this is the chance to get the gems that you have been hoarding saving for a special occasion. It's time to get them out to play!

Our sponsor is

 You must go to CAS-ual Fridays to check out the awesome prize!! I am sure that will get your card engine started. Here's my take....I embossed the Hero Arts Chandelier image over silver card stock. Then I added the blings! I also applied the Japanese Washi tape and then added the SRM Stickers "Congratulations" over it.


It is definitely CLEAN and SIMPLE. What is CAS?

Clean And Simple

uncluttered, lots of open space, one clear focal point

You can have color, pattern, embellishments and even layers...
Your style can be graphic, fun, elegant or even vintage...

It comes down to the design...

Clean And Simple

  I can't wait to see your take on this challenge! You have time till May 25,  (midnight )Wednesday Eastern time to link up your project to CAS-ual Fridays . Good luck and have FUN!

Did you know....

This is my 2nd time featuring "Did You Know...". Instead of featuring me and my family like last time  (see here), this one is stamp -related!  So...

Did you know that you can make a flower from a Snail? (huh?)

 This was one of those happy finding when you really "study" a new stamp. When I chose my winning prize from Hero Arts March Challenge (yup, lucky me), I was craving for some cute stamps.

Father's Day Card

Today I am sharing Father's Day card with the SRM Stickers! I created this card with a bit of a heavy heart as I had lost my Dad almost a year ago. I can't believe a year has gone by already. I think of my father often and always remember how he made me smile! He shaped me and made who I am today. I'm forever grateful to my Dad.

This card was made for my Father-in-Law who is kind and gentle. I'm very blessed to have him as my FIL. He is still living 6 hours away with my MIL in the big house that my DH grew up in. Over the years we tried to persuade them to move closer to us, but they will not move an inch since they love the way it is. Well, we respect their choice.  Here's the Father's Day card.

 

I combined two stamps for this card-- A village for the background, one of the tree image from Creative Tree. The wooden button and raffia are the perfect embellishments for this design. I love how they look with the SRM Stickers. You can find this sticker set here. Hope this gets you in the mood to create one. There's still lot of time to make one before Father's Day! 

~IMPORTANT~

You MUST check out the SRM blog and become a follower (if you haven't) on Wednesday.....and all this week!!!  Please go to here 

Reasons:  1. You will be "inspired" (well, my card will be featured on Wednesday)!  2. There is a GREAT giveaway---just say something "incredible" (like, SRM is incredible! or.. ..Virginia is incredible !!)  3. Because you love me :) 

Did you know....? Look, Ma!

There will be no card to share today. Instead I thought it would be fun to share something that you did not know about me and my family. I was prompted by this question at Hero Arts Fickr discussion thread (see here). I think I will start this feature in my blog called : Did you know.... And I will share fun things with you once in a while...how is that? So here is my first time feature.

We met the world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma in March 2008.

Our former neighbor (who is the CEO of a world-renowned tech company) had a private event and he invited Yo-Yo Ma to this exclusive event. AND my family were invited!

It was too bad that I didn't have photo with Yo-Yo Ma. We were all so star-struck.... I was lost for words, as you can imagine.  Yo-Yo was all sweet and kind...just like his amazing and dazzling cello performance! You can tell...my kids were THRILLED.  He is their cello idol! 

I'll be back on Wednesday to share a Father's Day project with you. Hope you visit me soon.

Playing with Flower Stamps

As you can tell, I love the flower image from Earth Flowers. I made a card for the Wee Memories Challenge (see Get Sticky). The theme is to use use stickers, rub-ons,etc. Anything that is 'sticky'. Please check out the challenge as you can win a pack of SRM Stickers(!!!). Here's my little card to join the fun and hopefully to get you inspired. The lady bug and sentiment (over  the ribbons ) are both SRM Stickers! FUN stuff, huh?

"In case" you can't get enough of  flower image. Here's another card that I made for the Hero Arts Scramble challenge. I made it within half hour! My latest stamp Silhouette Burst is so fun to stamp.

The challenge was to use Distress Inks. The sentiment is from Hero Arts stamp called Paris Design. All inks are from Tim Holtz Distress Inks --Scattered Straw, Tea Dye, Honey Mustard, Spiced Marmalade and Vintage Photo. Now I need to play with some other kinds of stamps...hm...what's your latest favorite? If you have any, do share! I 'd love to hear them!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #2

Due to Blogger problems, this post and CAS-ual Fridays post for the challenge #2 have been delayed. Please check the latest posts for updates. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello Friday! First I want to thank you for the wonderful support to the CAS-ual Fridays that I'm proud to be part of. The overwhelming response and comments for our first challenge really make our DT so happy. Here is our CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #2 !

Our sponsor is 

   You must check out the awesome prize for this challenge at CAS-ual Fridays.
So how fun are buttons and twines? They are the MUST-haves for card-makers these days. I kept my design super simple and used the Danami buttons in my card. I made a Scallop Square card and embossed  with one of the stamps called Earth Flowers from Hero Arts. The sentiment is from the SRM Stickers. Add the Twinery and buttons. Done!

Please check out our uber talented DT as I know you will be inspired.
You have until 11:59 pm EST on Wednesday 
to link your project to  CAS-ual Fridays
Can't wait to see what you come up with!!
Happy creating!