A Different Direction

afternoon kids!
today i'm playing in the Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge #8, on dawn mcvey's blog called "my favorite things". she's really into photography and takes some awesome pics! i've been waiting for her to post this challenge cuz she's been promising for a few days that it was coming soon... and today's the day!

stuff used:
Tim Holtz - French Market stamp set
Hero Arts - polkadot background stamp
- embossed cream cs
chocolate & kraft cs
Imaginisce - copper brads
Maya Road - vintage stickpin
Bazzill Basics - monochromatic browns ribbon
jute
Recollections - pink fabric flowers
StazOn - cherry pink ink
Brilliance - pearlescent chocolate
Tim Holzt - Distress ink in vintage photo


today's colours are cream, chocolate, kraft and bright pink. i just got this tim holtz clear stamp set a couple of days ago so i sorta went in a different direction for this challenge cuz i wanted to play with it. i don't usually go for the 'cutsie' look anyway, but collage stamping is a big fave of mine. this set is called french market from his visual artistry collection. i totally dig all things tim holtz, and wish his products were as cheap in canada as they are in the states! the stamp sets cost $24.99 canadian at michael's, but they are only $14.99 at the michael's in bellingham. even with the exchange it's way cheaper. really worth the occasional trip over the border for a little shopping excursion!


my sister Sheila and her husband Vance arrived last night for a 4-day trip from whitehorse (that's in the yukon, for all you americans/others who don't know) to celebrate their anniversary, leaving their twins at home. they have gone out golfing so i'm playing on my own. me and 2 of my sisters all have our anniversaries within 2 weeks of each other (not planned by any means) and we're having a family party on saturday to celebrate all together. our weather is supposed to kick ass so i can't wait to slap on the sunscreen and hang out in my sister's fab yard! my point is that i might not have time to craft-it-up for a couple of days while they're here, but that's because i'll be out having FUN!! a little shopping and perhaps even a spa visit. ahhhhhh, gotta love the spa! the toes could use a pedicure for open-toe shoe season!

cheers!
crafty girl

hand-made elements

TGIF to all! our weather is supposed to rock this weekend so i've got my sprayon sunscreen stashed in the car, just in case i get caught outside somewhere. me & my freckles and strawberry blonde colouring fry faster than a cat on a hot tin roof! (grin)

this week on the hero arts club blog, the challenge is to make manly cards. always tough, but i think this example below fits right in!
i love working with great elements and embellishments to add to my cards, but man, they can be expensive, especially here in Canada!
i took matters into my own hands, so to speak, and made my own! i used some plain chipboard pieces that I multi-layered with embossing powder (platinum UTEE used here, 3-4 layers). when the final layer was still molten hot, i pressed patterned stamps into the EP then let it cool. voila! cheap and might i say AWESOME looking embellishments! you could also use thin cardboard, and cut out shapes using a Cuttlebug or other diecutting machine. i inked my stamps with versamark first to be sure they would release easily from the hot EP.


what do you think? give it a whirl - i'm sure you'll love the results as much as i do!

stuff used:
Basic Grey - [un]dressed Chipboard Elements
Tim Holtz - Visual Artistry clear stamp sets Life's Possibilities & Regal Flourish
Hero Arts - Geometric circles stamp
Judikins - Thin Lines cube (4-sided stamp with great patterns)
Tim Holtz Distress - multiple inks & walnut stain EP
Ranger - platinum UTEE & ink blending tool
gunmetal brads and screw-top brads
PearlEx powder - Micropearl
white, chocolate and purple cs

cheers,
crafty girl