Asian Birds in Cherry Blossoms

Welcome! My Blog Candy Deadline is February 28 - click here for details.

This card was made in a No Glitter Create Zone! How did that happen? ...out of my comfort zone with this Asian theme card, created for a Swap with the Florida Stampers Yahoo Group.

It was my first attempt using clear EP resist with watercolors technique.

Everyone else's looks so pretty. I need to practice this technique to learn how to apply the shading and color intensity.

Another first: A fellow blogger explained how to crumple, dye, and adhere the seam binding ribbon in a distressed manner. It is the first time I've used seam binding (courtesy of Barbara). The ribbon is tied with thread, and an antique button from my great aunt's sewing stash from the 1950s is sewn in the middle.

New-to-me Decorative Labels 27 SB dies (4 layers).

Does anyone know if release/ejection foam will work on SB's detailed dies?

The designer papers, Hero Arts Bird stamp, antique button and seam binding are from my stash - been in my stash for at least a year, and all virginal. ~smile~

The edges of the card base, the designer paper panel, and one SB die panel have been distressed with gold detail embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle. (The detail clear EP is also courtesy of SNS).

Hero Arts K4892 Decorative Birds
SNS Clear Detail & Gold Detail embossing powders
Raisin dye ink, VersaMark ink
SB Labels 27 and Decorative Labels 27
Kraft, DP, White and Burgundy cardstock

This card was submitted to the following challenges:

Artistic Inspirations - #29 Buttons and Bows (ribbon is died, tied with thread, and an antique button sewn in center of bow)

Crafty Bloggers Network - #8 Anything Goes

Crafty Boots Challenge - "Out of Your Comfort Zone" (used new-to-me techniques - Watercolor Resist, died and distressed ribbon with different style bow, sewn with a button)

Created With Love Challenges - #29 Things that Fly (birds in stamped image and butterflies in DP)

Deep Ocean Challenge - #45 Anything with Letter "B" - (Bow, Birds, Butterflies, Blossoms, Button)

Loves Rubber Stamps - #40 Lots of Layers (4 die cuts, ribbon designer panel, base card)

Make It Monday - #128 Anything Goes

Make My Monday - Ribbons and Buttons (distressed ribbon with antique button sewn in center)

Victorine Originals - #53 Stamp, Emboss, Embellish (image is clear embossed, 3 layers distressed embossed with gold EP, 1 layer is dry embossed, embellished with ribbon and antique button)

Alphabet Challenge Blog - Anything With Wings (Birds, Butterflies on DP)

Thank you for pausing to visit my blog today!

Stamping hugs,

"It's A Cultural Thing" Blog Hop with Prizes!

Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle "It's A Cultural Thing" Blog Hop! If you hopped here by way of artsy Dawn Thomas, then you're in the right place! If you're just beginning here, you might enjoy starting at the SNS Home Blog, to become eligible for a grand prize and three "mystery" prizes! This is my last blog hop as a Sparkle Staff Member - so thanks for stopping by. SNS has such a diverse selection of images, we decided to combine many of the stamps featuring themes which create American culture. 

I was very fortunate to have been raised on the West Coast, then in New England, and finally to the Gulf Coast of Florida. My parents were very open to interesting ideas. Growing up my siblings and I always enjoyed the influences of Asian, European and Latin customs - in our meals, celebrations and home decor. My fondest memories include those earliest childhood years which were in southern California. Horticulturally and architecturally, we thrived with Asian influence. So my projects today are reminiscent of Asian filigree and an Asian garden.

Today I'm showing a "card gift box" which will hold an assortment of coordinating and beautiful cards. These will become a Christmas Gift for a dear person (no names - don't want to give anything away LOL). This idea came from a wonderful mother and daughter team on The Craftiblog.

8.5" x 11" card stock was used.

The gift box is actually a repurposed cake mix box, top cut off, carefully opened flat, spray paint on the printed side, and reassembled with the kraft side out. Just click on the photos below to see how to create the gift box or visit my Gallery at the SNS site (one last time) here.

A Martha Stewart border punch cut gold glossy card stock to provide additional stability and to show off  the lace, which has been attached with 1/2 Tear-ific Tape, and then burnished with one of my favorite glitter colors -  Fantasy Gold, also on special this month!

The card stock was randomly stamped with the Lotus Flower Plant image from the Oriental set 181, embossed with rich Gold Coast Cosmic embossing powder, and highlighted with more Fantasy Gold glitter.

The medallion flower was created with Flowers in the Square image, fussy cut, and combined with purple, navy, and gold glossy layers created from Spellbinders Rose and Carnation Creations sets, cut on their Grand Calibur.

The gold glossy leaves are cut from a Sizzix Sizzlet die.

The box is the perfect size for 5x7 (A7) size cards.

The coordinating A7 card below uses the same background creation, Spellbinders "In Spades" borderabilities die, Butterflies Two shapeabilities die, and the Flowers in the Square image cut from navy and olive, embossed with Gold Coast and Dark Night Cosmic embossing powders. (Cosmics are my favorite EPs - so rich and creamy). The butterfly is embossed with Gold Tinsel EP. The recipe for my card is available on the SNS Art Gallery.

Thanks for stopping by!

Your final destination is the SNS Blog! To become eligible for the Grand Prize and three mystery prizes, please leave a comment on my blog below and return to the SNS blog and answer one or both of the following questions. There are no right or wrong answers LOL

What is your favorite tradition which was “brought over” by another culture? Does your family celebrate this? If that’s too ambiguous, how about what special thing do you especially enjoy about American Culture? Answering these questions back on the SNS Home Blog makes you eligible for the Grand Prize and 3 other secondary prizes! Good Luck!


Stamping Hugs,

Asian Cards with Embossing and Mica Powders

One of my great loves in creating cards is using embossing powders. I recently created a few cards in honor of Kim's 7th wedding anniversary, each one slightly different, using an assortment of stamps, EPs, mica powders - but all the same colors. The first one uses open rice sheaths in clear detail embossing powder found at Sparkle N Sprinkle. Next the Asian Characters were stamped and embossed with SNS gold detail powder. The edge was torn and embellished with more gold EP.

This card was cut with decorative cutters (another oldie but goodie in my stamping closet) The teal green leaves are stamped with VersaMark ink and then rubbed gently with the mica powders. This step is done after all the embossing is complete.

It's always a pleasure celebrating someone's special day, isn't it? I'll be making more backgrounds with the EPs, and listening to those "old" tools crying out in my stamping closet.

Thanks for stopping by,