Sunday, May 29, 2011

Driving by


I'm a bit sad to say this is my last project for Stamp-by-Step  as their guest designer for the month of May.  For this project, I used a stamp set by  Our Craft Lounge called Holiday Cruiser.  Technically, this set was designed for Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas themed projects.  But I thought the woman (the witch) also looking like she was enjoying a fun drive in the country with the top down on her convertible.  Now would you have guessed that she was supposed to be a witch?  It's all about the coloring.

I fussy cut my image out and then pop dotted it onto papers cut with Spellbinder's Classic Diamond (#5,7) shape.  My card base shape is a bit different as well.  I was playing around, not really with anything specific in mind, and this was the end result.  I must say, I'm very happy with it.  

Basically, you begin with a sheet of cardstock that, when you fold it in half, becomes a square (4"x8"; 5"x10", 6"x12" - you get the idea).  Next I folded the top right corner toward the bottom left corner, but not all the way so it would leave a bit of a border.  I adhered my image to that folded down edge.  An extra step I decided to do was to adhere this complete card to a slightly larger square panel of cardstock to give it an added dimension.  I chose the same colored cardstock and inked the edges of the main card so it would stand out.  This additional piece of cardstock isn't necessary, but I liked the way it looked, especially when the card was opened.  Maybe we can call it the Anne-fold technique since there is a Joy fold card too    :-)   or there might already be something out there similar to this fold, but I've not come across it.

Here's the inside, which is covered by the front panel image when the card is closed.  Since the sentiments in the stamp set were all holiday related, I created my own on the computer.

I just want to give a big thank you to Cheryl for asking me to be her guest designer this month at Stamp-by-Step.  I have had a lot of fun and have thoroughly enjoyed making all these projects.  Hope you've enjoyed them too and maybe gotten a few ideas along the way as well.

Copics used: T1, T2, T3, T6, T7, Y32, Y35, Y38, BG000,Y02, R24    E00, E01, E11, R20    B21, B26    R22, R35, R59




Thursday, May 26, 2011

BBall Barry - SDD Challenge


Are you ready for today's challenge from Stamping with the Dragon?  It's a really fun one and is sponsored by Dude Time Doodles.  The challenge is to make an easel card and the winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate.


 I used BBall Barry and Spellbinders dies (Curved Rectangles #2, 5, 6) to make my shaped easel card.  The sentiment is also cut from the same die family and is by Raindrop Echo Designs.  Copic markers were used to color the image.  The pennant is an older Sizzlet die that I airbrushed with Copics.


You have two weeks to upload your fabulous easel card at Stamping with the Dragon.  Be sure to go see what the other team members have come up with - there are some pretty cool easel cards you won't want to miss (and don't forget to leave some love along the way).


Copics used: B91, B95, B97    YR68, colorless blender    YR20, YR31, YR23    E00, E01, E11, R20    E33, E31    E37, E35    W00, W1    E25, FY1, FV2, R27, YG07, B95, B97

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

DTD June New Release Blog Hop


Meet Fred Eccs.  He's having a tough day.  To begin with, he mixed up his day job uniform with his night job uniform (Big Brown really frowns upon guys who work for the competitor).  Then, every house he's delivered to has been up a huge hill and now, it looks like a very fragile package is about to fall and probably break.   If it's from where Fred thinks its from,  based on the Robin's Egg blue color of the box, (Tiffany's), then it could cost more than a month's salary.

Even though Fred is having a tough day, your day will be a breeze hopping through the Dude Time Doodles New Release Blog Hop. 

The Blog Hop doesn't have a starting or ending point; so no matter where you hop, you're at the right place.  Just keep on hopping until you've gone full circle and hopped to each of us.  Don't forget to leave each of us some love along the way.   All New Releases will be available in the STORE at 10am EST.

You should have arrived here at Anne-Made directly from Dude Time Doodles blog.  From here, you can hop on over to Miss Cleota's and see what she has in store for you (you'll love it!).  Here's the list of Dudette's in case you get so dazzled by all our artwork and you loose your place. 



Here's a reminder of some other exciting things going on at Dude Time Doodles.  

  • First of all, don't forget about the Design Team Call going on now until June 15th.  Good luck to all who apply to be a Dudette!
  • You can now get 10% off your purchases at Stamp-by-Step (just use the coupon code DTD10).  (If you click to see the Guest Designer projects, you can see how I used a number of their products in various projects.  I'm Stamp-by-Step's Guest Designer for the month of May).  



Copics used: E25, E27    E0, E01, E11    E35, E18    B69, YR68    B91, B93, B97    B02, B04, E70, E43, E81, E42    W1, E08, E19, E27, E29    E50, E31, E35, E25;   airbrushed sky: B21, B24

Monday, May 23, 2011

friends are like flowers....


....you can never have too many. 

Today I'd like to share another project I created as guest designer for Step-by-Step.    Spellbinder's Labels Eleven was used to cut the focal point background and Distress Ink (Bundled Sage) accents the edges.  The "friend' is a metal word that I've had in my stash for a bit and I colored it with Copic marker 110 to make it black.  (The original silver color didn't pop at all.)  I added a punched border to either side of the Label and a bit of ribbon to finish it off. 

You can find most of the supplies used in this project in the store, including the Spellbinders dies, and lots of other things as well.

I also want to let you know that Stamp-by-Step and Dude Time Doodles have partnered together to offer you discounts.  Stamp-by-Step is offering a 10% discount to DTD shoppers. The code is DTD10 and anyone who shops will receive the discount in addition to the great sales that are already in full swing.



Sunday, May 22, 2011

Dude Time Doodles Design Team Call




Dude Time Doodles is looking for TALENTED DESIGNERS to work exclusively with digital artwork provided solely by Bonibleaux Designs.  If you are interested in joining an amazing team please apply.  You have until June 15th to apply.



Please select Page Tab "DT OPEN CALL **6/15/11** on the DTD Challenge Blog for all of the details on how to apply.


New design team members will be announced on June 29, 2011.  If chosen, your term will run for four (4) months beginning July 1 and ending October 31, 2011.


Good luck to everyone!




Friday, May 20, 2011

Plums



Plums are such a delicious fruit (at least I think so).  Today, I've created a very clean and simple card using this image from Stamping Dragon Designs.  I colored the image with Copic markers, fussy cut it out, then used Glossy Accents to highlight the fruit.  The sticker is one I had in my stash and I think it sums up pretty well how I feel about this type of fruit.

You still have time to join us for the Stamping with the Dragon challenge that's going on now, Recipe and a Sketch.  Be sure to check out the other team member's creations too (see tab above for blog addresses).

Copics used: BV11, BV13, BV17, BV69, BV08    YG63, YG67, G29    E57, E59


Thursday, May 19, 2011

Favorite Little Pill




AiFactory's Monster Cuties are used to introduce today's challenge on the AiFactory challenge blog.    The theme is Boys will be Boys, so you can make any boy oriented project.   I tell my son that he's such a pill sometimes (jokingly of course), that as soon as I saw the pill, I knew that's what I was going to use.

After printing the clip art, I cut it out and pop dotted it for added dimension.  I created the sentiment on my computer and added glitter to the edges.  I also added glitter to the background paper cut with Spellbinder's Curved Mega Rectangles (#5).  The party hat and presents complete the party theme. They are cardstock stickers from Creative Memories that I've had in my stash for quite awhile.

You have one week to upload your boy inspired project to the challenge blog.  Be sure to check out all the other wonderful creations our design team has made for you today.

Other ingredients: Spellbinders Curved Mega Rectangles (#5); glitter; Glossy Accents; Creative Memories stickers; papers: DCWV and Creative Memories


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Super Hero Vacation Fun



It's the third Wednesday of May, and you know what that means........ the inspirational challenge at Dude Time Doodles.  As soon as I saw the board, I knew I wanted to do a Hawaiian vacation themed card.  I also wanted to make something a little different today, so I decided on a side step card.
As the sentiment says, even a super hero needs a vacation, and Henry Hero is no exception.  In fact, Henry wasted no time getting out of his super hero costume and into his super Speedo.....see that tan he's already gotten?

The sky behind Henry was created using the salt background technique.  The sun and clouds are dies from My Favorite Things and the stickers are from Creative Memories that have been in my stash for a long time.

Now it's your turn to be inspired.  Here's your inspiration board to get you jump started.


Here are the guidelines for the Inspiration Challenge:

1. Use inspiration board and creations from the Dudettes to get your mojo moving.
2. You are not required to use BDD images although it would make us really, really happy and giggle a lot if you did!
3. MUST be a masculine themed card; you can use humor, innuendo, be a little naughty, sarcastic, but it has got to be for a DUDE!
4. Be sure to use the InLinkz at DTD to submit your creation.


You have one week to upload your project using InLinkz; the winners will be announced on the
Dude Time Doodles Challenge Blog.

You don't want to miss what the other Dudettes have come up with to inspire you either (see tabs above for blog addresses). If you like what you see, let us know - that always makes our day!

Aloha!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Summer fun - Stamp by Step project


How many of you played with pinwheels when you were a kid?  I know I did and had lots of fun making it go round 'n round.  I wanted to create that same fun feeling for today's project as well as the guest designer at Stamp-by-Step.

I adhered two pieces of patterned paper together to make my own double sided paper for the pinwheel.  There are lots of tutorials out there on how to make one, but it's pretty simple.  Take a square sheet of paper, figure out where the center is and cut a slit from each corner toward the center on a diagonal.  Don't go all the way to the center though, leave a bit of space (maybe 1"-2").  Fold each point up to the center and attach.  I threaded a brad into a button to decorate the center of my pinwheel.

I don't usually decorate the inside of a card, but this time I did.  Here's what the inside looks like:

Hope this fun card brings back fun summer memories for you as well.




Sunday, May 15, 2011

Winter Fun


For my monthly challenge as Stamping Diva at Challenge Masters, the challenge is to pop dot certain elements of your image (rubber or digital) for added dimension.  It can be the entire image, or just a part of the image. 

Not only did I fussy cut out the Snowman and then pop dot the entire image, I went a step further and pop dotted his arms a second time.  I decided to use this new winter themed digital image from Stamping Dragon Designs for two reasons: our Auzzie friends are just about to welcome cold weather; plus I have a head start on all my Christmas cards.

I covered my Snowman with Cake Sparkles from Wilton.  Yes, this is normally used on cakes and cookies, but I thought the flakes looked a lot like snow, so I decided to try it - and it looks great in person.  The camera doesn't quite capture all the sparkle and shimmer.  I colored the background of the base card with Copic markers and adhered to my patterned paper, which is from Creative Memories that I've had for a long time.

Be sure to check out all the other challenges at Challenge Master.  There are lots to chose from each month and it's free to join.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Tigers and Butterflies


The challenge this week at Stamping with the Dragon combines both a sketch and a recipe (1 digi, 2 patterned papers, 1 embellishment).   Our sponsor is Di's Digi Downloads and the winner will receive five digi images from the store.



Here's the sketch:

As you can see, I flipped the sketch sideways and used the Tigers and Butterflies image.  This cute little image is colored with Copic markers and is cut with Classic Squares Large (#7) from Spellbinders.  I added a bit of glitter pen to the flower centers and the spots on the butterfly.  My embellishment is a little butterfly brad that I had in my stash.  The sentiment is a rubber stamp (manufacturer unknown) and is stamped on a ticket created from the Tim Holtz Decorative Strip Ticket Strip.

You have two weeks to upload your project to the Stamping with the Dragon blog site.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created for you too.

Copics used: YR16, YR18, R20    Y32, Y04, Y06, YG13, YG23    V91, V93, V04, V05    B0000, B00    E31, YG09, YG17

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Birds of a Feather



This Little Birdie (Set I) is one of the Latest Releases at AiFactory and I decided to incorporate two of the digital images into today's project.  The theme of this week's challenge is Nature Walk; Things You Would See in Nature and you have until next Wednesday night to upload your creation to the AiFactory challenge blog.

I used the "out of the box" technique to cut out my sentiment and image with Spellbinders Labels Ten (#6).  Copic markers were used to color the little birdie and I highlighted the word "life" with a black Spica glitter pen. 

Be sure to head on over to the challenge blog to see what all the other design team members have in store for you as well. 

Copics used:RV55,RV66, RV63    Y15, Y18, Y19, Y35    BG01, BG02, BG05, BG09
Other ingredients: Spellbinders Label Ten (#6); Martha Stewart border punch, papers: Graphic 45, Heidi Grace Designs

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Jack Janitor


It's the second Wednesday and that means it time for the Freebie Challenge at Dude Time Doodles.  Meet Jack Janitor.  Now, head on over to the Dude Time Doodles blog, grab this cutie, then create your masculine card and upload it for a chance to be our guest design team member for a month.  How cool is that?


Jack is colored with Copic markers and cut with Spellbinder's Curved Mega Rectangles (#4) using the out of the box technique.  The background was created using the Grand Labels Eleven (#2) and the sentiment, by Raindrop Echo Designs, is cut with Spellbinder's Standard Tag die (#2).   After coloring in his pants, I dabbed a paper towel soaked in colorless blender all over to simulate a bleached, worn effect.  


Be sure to check out what the other Dudettes have created for you using Jack Janitor as well.


Copics used: E00, E51, E40, E99, E57, C3, C1    YG93, YG97, colorless blender    N1, N3    E27, E29    E00, E11, R20    E97, E99    G20, G24, 28    




Sunday, May 8, 2011

Guest DT Stamp-by-Step Project

I have two projects to share with you today as guest designer for Stamp-by-Step.  The first project uses a rubber stamp set from Penny Black.  This is such a sweet image and can be with or without the sentiment, making it very versatile.  This works well for both a Mother's and/or Father's Day card.

The image is colored with Copics and the sentiment is stamped and distressed with Distress Inks.  Both the image and sentiment are cut with Spellbinders dies (Deckled Rectangles and Ribbon Tag Trio).  I also distressed and inked the edges of the patterned paper as well.  Added a bit of ribbon, a few brads, and voila!




Here is my second project for you today, where I've used a number of Spellbinder dies to create this Thank You card. Lacey Circles (#1,2) were used to create the flower. These are very easy to make. Cut out the circles, lightly spritz them with water, and crinkle them up a bit. Once they have dried, pierce the center of each circle, layer them, and insert a brad in the center. You can uncrinkle them a little or a lot, until you're happy with the results. I like the decorative edge the lacey circle #2 gives to the outside layer of the flower.

Next, I used Labels Eleven (#6) to cut the center out of the front card panel and placed my patterned paper cut with the same die on the inside of my card. I also cut another piece of cardstock with the same die, folded it like a mini envelope and attached it to the patterned paper, clasping it with twine and a button.

Here's the inside of the card, when opened.  I attached a page from a very old book as my background paper, adhered the Label and my sentiment.


Happy Mother's Day



Friday, May 6, 2011

Grandfathers....



I combined two different digital images to make these cards: Floral Frame #3 and Grandpa's Sentiments, both from Stamping Dragons Designs.  These two cards show how versatile digital images are.  You can resize them, merge two (or more) images into one image, and much more.

For the first card, I elongated the frame and colored with my Copic markers.  Behind the frame is the Lotus Pendant die cut from Spellbinders.  

Copics used: BG0000, BG000, BG01, BG02, BG45, BG49   Y13, Y18   Paper: Rusty Pickle


For the second card, I left the frame square and added a different sentiment, then colored with Copic markers.  Even though I used the same three Copic colors for the blue flowers, they appear to be different; this is because I changed up the order of where I placed my light and dark shades.  I also changed the color of the sentiment in my Word document (Format, Picture).  To finish the card, Baker's Twine (Lemon Drop) and buttons were added, creating a clean and simple card that any grandpa should love.

Copics used: B32, B34, B37  YR21, YR23, YR 24


Thursday, May 5, 2011

Flower - AiFactory


The challenge this week at the AiFactory challenge blog is Mother's Day and I chose to work with this flower image from AiFactory.  I must say right off the bat.....I love how this turned out!  It's a very simple design, but for whatever reason, I'm really happy with it.

Copics were used to color this image and the center was highlighted with a Spica glitter pen.  The background layer, from Scenic Route, was cut with Labels Fourteen (#5) from Spellbinders and adhered to my card base (which was spritzed with Vanilla Shimmer from Smooch Spritz).

You have until May 11 to upload your project on the challenge blog.  While there, be sure to check out what the other design team members created for your viewing pleasure.

Copics used: G03, G07, G09    YR61, YR65, YR68, YR09
Other ingredients: Spica glitter pen; Spellbinders Labels Fourteen (#5); brads; Smooch Spritz (Vanilla Shimmer); papers: Scenic Route, Creative Memories

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

K.I.S.S. Guinness Gwen


The Dude Time Doodles Sketch challenge is Anything Goes, with a Twist.  The twist is that you need to incorporate a flower somewhere in your project since it's the month of May.  Our sponsor this month is Raindrop Echo Designs and I've incorporated one of their sentiments on my card. Also be sure to check out my new signature line at the bottom.  This is from Raindrop Echo as well.


I decided to use Guinness Gwen and I colored her with Copic markers.  My flowers are a bit subtle - they are in her shirt, which I paper pieced and I also dry embossed the main panel with a Sizzix Texture Plate (Floral Expressions).  They show up really well in person, but it's really hard to see them in the photo.  I  printed out the image twice so I could pop dot the Guinness beer (notice the layers going from dark to light, like a real Guinness) and the table.  I also added a bit of Liquid Applique for the beer head.  Here's a closer view:



The main image is cut with Labels Ten (#5) from Spellbinders and Distress Inks were applied to the background.  Just as the sentiment says, I kept my card simple and the rest did fall into place.

Don't forget to see what the rest of the Dudettes has designed for you too (see tabs above for blog addresses).  You have one week to upload your sketch to the DTD Challenge Blog.

Copics used: E29, E27, E25, E30    E00, E01, E11, R20    R17, R27    E23, E35   BV0000, BV000, BV00, BV01    G20, G24, G28    E23, E35, E15, E18




Sunday, May 1, 2011

M is for MOM; G is for Guest Designer!

I'm so excited!   I was asked to be the Guest Designer at Stamp-by-Step for the month of May. I'll be sharing different projects with you each week.  Almost all the supplies in each project can be found at the store.

Since Mother's Day is next week (better get those gifts ready!), my first project is for all the moms.  I decided to make a criss-cross card (here's a tutorial) to better showcase the image of a mom surrounded by little ones. 




This is what the card looks like when you pull up on the ribbon to reveal the image (and any sentiment you wish to add).  I love all these bright papers and the old fashioned feel of this image.


Be sure to come back next week to see what else I've created with products from Step-by-Step.