Nothing Square About This Girl's Fashion

front of card

 

close-up of image showing paper pieced dress

 

close-up of face showing glittered earrings

inside of card

 

Challenge 12 at the Sugar Nellie Splitcoaststampers Forum is "NO SQUARES" whillst Challenge 37 at the Sugar Bowl is a sketch by Marlene with an optional them of "Girly & Feminine". It occurred to me that a girl's fashion accessories can be "not square" in the sense of not being staid or conservative.

An on-line dictionary of slang defines the word "square" as:

a) Noun. A person who is reactionary, old fashioned and set in their ways. Derog. 

b) Adj. Old fashioned, conservative, conventional.

The card I constructed is neither conservative in colour nor square in shape (& I don't think any single square element crept in either after I jettisoned the checked ribbon).

Recipe

Stamp Sugar Nellie Diane Duda Curtsy.
Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image), Distress Inks (Black Soot, Dried Marigold & rather aptly Worn Lipstick) for inking cardstock & paper edges.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Letraset Black Fine Line Drawing Pen, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue (Fruit Punch).
Cardstock White, orange, orange glitter, black & glossy black from "stash".
Papers Nancy Watt Collection - Cocktails & Fashion Accessories,  Craftime Handmade Paper Deco Borders.
Punches Woodware (circles & scalloped circles), Fiskars (ornate corner).
Gems Kanban.
Both the wide black & narrow pink ribbons were from "stash". 

Challenges Entered
Sugar Nellie Splitcoaststampers 12 - No Squares (see above)
The Sugar Bowl Challenge 37 - Marlene's sketch + Theme: Girly & Feminine
Oh Alice Ch 19 - Twinkle Twinkle: something twinkling glittery or sparkly (glitter card, glittered earrings, the two ribbons shine when the card is moved & the black gems twinkle)
Stampavie & More #101 - Sparkling (glitter card, glittered earrings)

ETA 1/7 I knew I had this on my list somewhere but couldn't find it when I was doing the links
Creative Inspirations Challenge #37 - Paper Piecing (dress on image)

Birthday Regency Stripe with a Whiff of Strawberries

front of card

close-up of image panel showing swirls

on textured glossy black cardstock

inside of card

Whiff of Joy Challenge #81 is a Photo Challenge. Both the colours & the image suggested "vintage" to me &, as the card is for a girl's birthday & we are in the midst of summer & Wimbledon Tennis, it seemed rather apt to use the Regency Stripe with strawberries motif patterned paper I had. The sketch I used (flipped to give the mirror image so that my image is facing the butterfly) was provided by Bev Rochester for the current Create4Fun  challenge.

Recipe

Stamps Whiff of Joy Kneeling Willow (image), Whimsy Proud Momma (sentiment), Artemio  Ref.10001037 (swirl).

Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image), Brilliance Lightning Black (sentiment plus inking paper & cardstock edges).

Colouring Copic Ciaos, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, ProMarker (butterfly charm).

Cardstock Black, textured glossy black, dark cream, dark & light green from "stash".

Papers Nancy Watt Collection from Making Cards July 2008.

Punches Woodware (ovals & scalloped ovals, scalloped circles, flowers).

Charm GCS Imports Ltd.

The gems & brad were from "stash".

Challenges Entered

Whiff of Joy #81 - Photo Challenge

Create4Fun Wk 26 - Sketch
A Pocket Full of Posies #1 - One For The Girls
Crafty Cardmakers #24 - Inky Fingers (all the papers & cardstock edges are inked & the charm was coloured using a ProMarker pen)
Everybody Art #97 - Birthday (see above)
ISB #28 - Swirls (I have stamped swirls onto the flower petals & there are swirls on the textured glossy black cardstock used for mounting the image upon)

Magical Crafts #18 - Flower Power

My Time to Craft #97 - Zig Zags! (ric rac ribbon)
Rosie D's #74 - Summer Birthdays (see above)

Secret Crafter #89 - Strawberries & Cream (see above)
Sew Many Challenges #19 - Anything Goes!
Stamp & Create #2 - Charms (Whiff of Joy Stamps are stocked by Stamp & Create)
Stamps + Fun = Creativity #1 - Summer (strawberries, flowers & butterflies are images denoting summer)
Stamp Something - Vintage with Flowers (see above)

Stamp with Fun #36 - Birthday (see above)

Li'l Miss Poppy in Pink

front of card

close-up of image panel

close-up taken with flash to show sparkle of hair ribbon

inside of card showing paper pierced scallops

(click on above image to show paper piercing in further detail)

The sketch I have used is that provided by Sketch & Stash. The daisy strip is punched from a recycled dark brown gold pearlised envelope I was given, though the photo doesn't show how sparkly it is. The small brown squares the buttons are mounted upon were punched from the same envelope. 

Recipe

Stamp Belles 'n Whistles Li'l Miss Poppy.

Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image), Worn Lipstick Distress Ink for inking most paper & cardstock edges.

Colouring Copic Ciaos, Letraset Black Fine Line Drawing Pen, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Sakura Stardust Pen.

Cardstock White, pink & dark brown from "stash".

Papers Patterned - Dovecraft Kate Knight Eastern Blooms, pink linen effect from "stash".

Punches Woodware (smallest squares, scalloped ovals & daisy border strip), Fiskars (ornate corner).

Buttons Woodware.

Challenges Entered

Belles 'n Whistles - White, pink & brown

Cute Card Thursday #118 - Reuse, Renew, Recycle! (see above)

One Stop Craft Challenge Wk 86 - Pink & Brown

Sketch & Stash #38 - sketch (the stamp is new, the pink buttons & patterned paper fall into the neglected/never used category)

One of THOSE Days with Favourite Things

front of card

close-up of image panel

close-up of flower showing paper pierced petals

inside of card

Turtles, Ladybirds/Ladybugs & Daisies are amongst my favourite images. So, this card should have been very easy - but it was one of THOSE days when it just would not come together. The brad on my butterfly charm snapped & it didn't look right hanging on the ribbon but I'd already very securely (!!) attached that beneath the paper so,  I replaced it with a flower & abandoned the charm. The butterfly on the stamped image which should sit on the turtle's head disappeared in a smudge of gooey card when I tried to watercolour with the Sakura Stardust Pens, trying to rectify that all that resulted was a hole - it seems that the card suitable for Copics does not like water!! So, I have turtle without friend but plenty of butterflies on the backing paper. I have used Aud's sketch from Friday Sketchers rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

Recipe

Stamp High Hopes Turtle's Friend.

Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image). Distress Inks (Worn Lipstick, Tattered Rose & Pine Needles) for inking all cardstock & paper edges excepting the punched green leaves.

Colouring Copic Ciaos, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue (Green).

Cardstock Dark green, dark & light pink from "stash".

Papers Patterned - Nancy Watt Collection from Making Cards May 2008, pink linen effect from "stash".

Punches Woodware (circle, scalloped oval & flowers), Nellie Snellen (leaves), Fiskars (ornate corner).

Organza ribbon & gems from "stash".

Challenges Entered

High Hopes #81 - Anything Goes!!

ABC Challenge - X is for Xtra Dimension (the image panel is adhered with 2mm foam pads & my flowers with their shaped & paper pierced petals are dimensional) 

Aly's ASC20 - Flower Power

Creative Craft Challenges - Stamp It Up

Everybody Art #96 - Green & Pink

Friday Sketchers #108 - Sketch

Fun With Shapes & More #59 - Distressing (all paper & cardstock edges - excepting punched green leaves - inked with Distress Inks)

Unembellished Blooming Roses

front of card

close-up of image panel showing paper pierced scallops

inside of card

"NO EMBELLISHMENTS" is Challenge 11 at the Splitcoaststampers Sugar Nellie Forum. I must have fulfilled the brief because as I was taking the photos my husband appropriately commented that he thought it a bit ordinary. Again it is one of those cards that could be used for a number of occasions - friendship, birthday, or a new baby boy card.

Recipe
Stamp Sugar Nellie Big Bunch of Love.
Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image). Broken China Distress Ink & Brilliance Galaxy Gold (either singly or combined) were used for inking all cardstock & paper edges, & the Broken China also for sponging the message panel's scalloped circle.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Sakura Stardust Pens.
Cardstock Bright gold cream Moondust, vintage gold Moondust, textured cream & turquoise from "stash".
Paper Nancy Watt Collection - Fashion, Flowers & Dots.
Punches Woodware (circles & scalloped circles).

Challenges Entered
Sugar Nellie Splitcoaststampers 11 - No Embellishments
Cowgirl's Sunday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafts & Me #7 - Birthdays (see above)
Create 4 Fun Wk 25 - Baby Card (see above)
Creative Inspirations Wedenesday Challenge #66 - Colour Scheme: Turquoise, Gold & Cream ONLY (Negative, flesh & hair colours are permitted so I used the hair colours for the shoes).
Forever Friends - Not Forever Friends
Simon Says Stamp - Friends (see above)

Hammered Vintage Fuse Wire

front of card

 photographed without flash

 

front of card

photographed with flash showing gloss on image & sheen of Moondust cardstock

inside of card

Another card for the non-cute gentleman. As he gives me things he thinks I might find useful for crafting (& lends me his tools) I thought it appropriate to use some of the ancient fuse wire he gave me some time ago instead of string/ribbon for the tag. I did have to hammer the fuse wire somewhat to enable me to thread it through the eyelet. I stamped & heat embossed my image onto a piece of die cut white cardstock & (starting with the lightest innermost) sponged the Distress Inks over it, then wiped over the embossing with a piece of kitchen paper. The following day I still had inky fingers but I was pleased with the result. Again the project evolved as I worked but I'm hoping the resultant effect is somewhat along the lines of a tool board to which an old charred picture has been attached.

Recipe
Stamp Creative Expressions LL219F.
Inks etc.... VersaMark watermark stamp pad & Stampendous Detail Clear Embossing Powder (image), Distress Inks (Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy & Black Soot) for sponging. The Vintage Photo was used by itself for edging all the cardstock.
Cardstock White, brown Moondust & bright gold cream Moondust from "stash".
Punches/Dies Woodware (tag), Spellbinders Nestabilities Large Deckled Rectangles
Eyelet Dovecraft.
Charms GCS Imports Ltd.
The metal studs were from "stash".

Challenges Entered
A Spoonfull of Sugar #109 - Good Luck/Best Wises (it's a 65th birthday card which is also marking the gentleman's official retirement)
Crafts & Me #6 - Friends & Family
Crafty Cardmakers #23 - Cards for Men!
Creative Inspirations Challenge #36 - Monochrome
Creative Inspirations Wednesdays Challenge #65 - One For The Boys!
Magical Crafts #17 - Something for a Male/Father's Day
One Stop Craft Challenge Wk 85 - One for the Boys

Pistachio Sugar & Spice

front of card

close-up of image

inside of card

There are two challenges listed below with summer or sunshine themes. I looked at the criteria quite carefully &, since the stipulations were to make a card inspired by something done in the summer/sunshine or colours associated with summer/sunshine, I decided that my card does qualify for these. The colours I used are the ice cream colours of pistachio & vanilla with the dark green being either candied angelica, green glace cherries or mint liqueur sauce. This combination immediately makes me think of sitting eating an ice cream sundae at one of those little ice cream parlours that seem to appear when you go on holiday. I have followed the sketch provided by this week's  Allsorts Challenge.  

Recipe
Stamp Belles 'n Whistles Beary Big Hugs.
Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image). Color Box Pheasant Gold for inking all cardstock & paper edges excepting the punched leaves.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen.
Cardstock Pale gold cream Moondust & dark green from "stash".
Paper Nancy Watt Collection - Fancy Framed Quotes & Florals.
Punches Woodware (scalloped square, circle & scalloped circle), Nellie Snellen (leaves).
The green bows are from a Hot Off The Press Bright Brad Pack ( I cut the legs off), the buttons are Woodware & the flower gems are from "stash".

Challenges Entered
Belles 'n Whisles - Buttons & Bows
Allsorts Wk 57 - Sketch
A Spoon Full of Sugar #108 - Sunshine Inspired Card (see above)
Bunny Zoe's Crafts #1 - Nice & Girly
Charisma Cardz #24 - All About Bling (gems, buttons & glossy metal bows)
Creative Inspirations Challenge #36 - Monochrome
Paperplay Wk 24 - Something Old (the dark green cardstock must have been amongst my initial cardstock purchases as it seems to have been amongst my "stash" for rather a long time.
Papertake Weekly - Ice Cream Flavours (see above)
Stamp Something - Something Summer! (see above)
Totally Gorjuss #35 - Sugar & Spice! (girly image)

A Different Musing to that Intended

front of card

close-up of image showing glittered wings &

sparkle on bracelet 

close-up showing textured glossy black cardstock,

floral ribbon & glittered shrink plastic flowers

inside of card

I set out with completely different colours in mind: green, red or blue in fact. It was the striped paper that caused the mauve to reappear - since I wanted to use stripes both horizontally & vertically it was this or various shades of black through to white. I still marvel at how a card makes itself as I work on it.

The card follows Sketch Challenge #3 given by Claudia Rosa on the Whiff of JoyTutorials & Inspirations Blog. 

As before the shrink plastic flowers were made from punched white shrink plastic with Stickles Glitter Glue for the flower centres.  

 
Recipe

Stamp Whiff of Joy Musing Melinda.

Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image). Black Soot Distress Ink for inking cardstock & paper edges.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Sakura Stardust Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue (Ice Stickles Cherry Ice).
Cardstock Moondust black, Moondust mauve, textured glossy black, white & pink from "stash".
Punches Woodware (circle & scalloped circle, flowers, edging punch).
Ribbon Hobby Craft.
Gem & Striped Paper from "stash".

High Hope Meljen's Designs Blog Hop

Melissa Jenkins has joined the High Hopes team & a Blog Hop  has been organized for this Friday when the stamps featuring her images are released. See here for further information.

Musing Over Tearing Paper

front of card

close-up of image showing glittered wings

& sparkle on bracelet

inside of card

(click on above image to see the sheen of the

Moondust mauve cardstock)

As I mentioned a few posts ago I have learnt much (& continue to do so) from the Whiff of Joy Tutorials & Inspirations Blog. This week Claudia Rosa has provided 2 very different sketches for inspiration with interpretations to be submitted by Friday 18th. I have completed Sketch #4 first - it had me thinking as there was an indication of torn paper being an element of the design. Tearing paper is not something I find easy - not because of damaging the paper - it's just that I don't seem to be able to get a reasonable result when I do attempt it. It occurred to me that the pattern on the sketch looked like deckle edging &, since I have a box of  decorative edging scissors languishing on a shelf, I thought I might experiment a little. I cut the paper, inked the edges & then fitted them back together again.

I thoroughly enjoyed colouring the image, I think it is the first time I have been able to colour & use the first image - the rubbish bin normally fills somewhat as soon as I start colouring. I shall be using Musing Melinda for the second sketch as I want to see what impact a different sketch & colours will have upon the same image. Hopefully I can complete the second project also before the deadline on Friday.

Recipe

Stamp Whiff of Joy Musing Melinda.
Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Balck (image). Dusty Concord Distress Ink for inking cardstock & paper edges.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Letraset Black Fine Line Drawing Pen, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Sakura Stardust Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue (Ice Stickles Lemon Ice).
Cardstock White, textured white & Moondust mauve from "stash".
Paper Joanna Sheen Gingham Paper Pad.
Punches Woodware (circles & scalloped circle, hearts & scalloped hearts).
Paper Edgers Fiskars Deckle.
Pearls Papermania.

Gems of a Summer Shower

front of card

close-up of image

inside of card

close-ups of various floral elements

'Anything Goes' is the tenth challenge at the Sugar Nellie Splitcoaststampers forum. It is sometimes more difficult to have an open rather than a specific brief so I was relieved when the Sketch & Stash sketch combined itself with the Pile It On theme of Summer Showers in my imagination & I could see the shape of an umbrella/parasol with a handle in the sketch. Turn the sketch ninety degrees clockwise & there it is with the image sitting beneath. Flipping the sketch over positioned the flowers more suitably for my image. I used teardrop shaped gems for the "handle" & a corner punch with the same shape to further the analogy of raindrops. Imagine the gems as a trickle of water hitting the image panel, splitting into two streams (the glitter) around the panel & joining at the bottom in a final drop (gem). The Stickles Glitter Glue that I used  is quite aptly named "Waterfall". Even the flowers fit the theme for the Summer rain encourages plant growth.

Recipe

Stamp Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Sitting.

Inks etc... Memento Tuxedo Black (image). Brilliance Galaxy Gold & Mediterranean Blue for inking cardstock edges.

Colouring Copic Ciaos, Sakura Stardust Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue (Waterfall, Golden Rod & Ice Stickles Lemon Ice). 
Cardstock Navy, yellow, blue, pale gold cream Moondust, blue Mirri & gold pearlescent - all from "stash".
Punches Woodware (circle & scalloped circle, flowers), EK Success (corner rounder), Fiskars (ornate corner).
Gems from "stash".

Challenges Entered
Sugar Nellie Splitcoaststampers 10 - Anything Goes
Pile It On #23 - Summer Showers! (see above)
Sketch & Stash #37 - sketch (my neglected stash are the Copic Ciaos I'm only now starting to use though they were a Christmas present that I chose myself in October 2009)
Stampalot Challenge June - "Punch It" (all my flowers are made using punches & see Recipe)

Stampin' for the Weekend #40 - Summer/Travel Theme (see above)

The Shabby Tea Room #14 - Summer Fun (see above)