Happy Golden Anniversary

July 23, 2009

Here is a card I made playing around with the new Lattice Pendant die that was revealed by Spellbinders last month. I really had lots of fun making this card.

For this card, I die cut 25 pieces of the little square lattice die cut from the set using cream colored cs. I then used a Gold Spica Pen to outline all the edges of the cut. Adhered the pieces to my cream colored based using Zig 2 way glue. Die cut the bigger center Lattice Pendant, embossed it and then sponge the exposed parts before removing it from the die. Went around the edges with the Gold Spica pen once more. Used the bigger pieces from the cut parts which I raised with double sided foam tape and place them back on the spots they came from. Die cut the smaller center piece and used the same technique on sponging and outlining. Then got gold cs and free cut it to mat the center pieces. Before placing all the pieces onto the card base, I adhered some ribbon with was colored with Pale Sepia Copic markers. The 2 ends of the ribbon was inserted into the holes from the die cut and tied in a knot.

New Crafty Secrets Thanksgiving Stamp Set

July 23, 2009

Sandy revealed the new Thanksgiving Stamp set in the Heartwarming Vintage blog last Saturday. This set will be available in the CHA Show in Florida. Here are a few card samples that I made using this large stamp set that has 22 separate stamp images.

This first card was stamped with the girl and boy pulling the wish bone. Image was stamped with Tuxedo Balck Memento ink on cream colored cs and colored with Copic markers. Used the Labels 4 nestabilities to die cut the layers on the card which was lightly sponged with Antique Linen Distressing ink. Background paper is from the Earthy Paper Designs of Crafty Secrets. Added some half pearls around the image. Ribbon was a cream colored ribbon that I colored with Pale Sepia Copic markers. I really love how this Copic color gives a golden color to the ribbon..

This next card uses the fruit platter image which I again stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto cream colored cs which was distressed with Walnut Stain distressing ink around the edges. Image was then colored with various Copic markers The sentiment is also from the Thanksgiving stamp set and was stamp just below the fruits.

Below the image I used the new Lattice borderabilities from Spellbinders which I die cut and embossed. I then distressed the exposed parts of the die before removing it from the die cut. I inter-twined some ribbon into the holes on the die cut. Two accent die cut pieces on either side of the main image is from the Floral Accent Shapeabilities.

For this third card I used yet another cute image from the Thanksgiving set. Same thing, it was stamped then colored with Copic markers. Used the Labels 4 nestabilities for the layers and cut the center of the one with the image with an oval coluzzle. Background paper is from Crate paper and the accent flower was cut from the DP. Ribbon was tied around the bunch of flower and added some half pearls on the 2 corners.

This last card I am sharing with you today is another sentiment from the same stamp set. Sentiment was stamped on cream colored cs. I traced around the centre part of the pendant die and cut the cs out and sponge the edges with Walnut Stain distressing ink. I then adhered some Sookwang double sided sticky paper sheet to cs and die cut it with the Lattice Pendant die. After die cutting the piece I removed the backing and Sprinkled some Cinnamon Glitter Ritz Opaque Micro Fine Glitter and burnished it with my finger to let the shine of the glitter come out. Love this technique which is called "Burnished Velvet". Layered the background with more cream colored and brown cs. Just free hand cut the background cs to match the shape of the die. On the top of the card I used the matching Lattice Borderabilities to die cut brown cs, added some half pearls and a strip of double sided tape with I sprinkle with Cinnamon glitter and burnished it with my fingers.

Hope you enjoyed the cards I have shared with you today.

Vintage Postcard Kits - Crafty Secrets

July 20, 2009

In just a week, the big summertime crafting event (CHA) will be taking place in Florida. For this event Crafty Secrets is coming out with their Vintage Postcard Kits. Check out the Heartwarming Vintage blog as Sandy has revealed 4 of the new kits that will be available at CHA. They are:

* Baby Girl

* Story Time

* Halloween

* Christmas

I have made 4 projects, 2 using 2 different images from the Halloween set, 1 from the Christmas set and another one from the Baby Girl Set. These postcard kits are so fun to use. You can make Postcards, banners, mini brag books, and the list goes on and on. The images can be dressed-up with glitter, fun flock, flower soft, pearls, beads, buttons, etc.

Here is the first hanging postcards that I made using the Halloween image. For this first Halloween hanging postcard, I added some black fun flock on the cats, used a black thin wire with beads as the hanger piece and then I hung one of the smaller images on a beaded wire. I wraps the wire around a narrow wooded piece to get it to curl up. Unfortunately, I didn't have the stamp set that comes with this postcard kit at the time that I made my first postcard, so I used stamps from the Halloween and Journey Stamp Set for the back of the postcard. All around the edges of the front and the back I used a gold Sakura gel pen.

The Second Halloween postcard was made using another image from the Halloween Set. This time I sprayed the front image with Sunflower Glimmer Mist, added some black glitter all along the edges, raised the stars on the hat, stamped some stars on the top edge of the image and added some orange and black rhinestones. For the hanger, I used a black wire that I added some black and orange beads. Again, I twirled the ends of the wire on a piece of round wood and then I added ribbon between the 2 holes. For the back of the postcard, I sponged some Summer Sun and Spiced Marmalade Distress ink to try to get the same shading as the front of the postcard. Then I used stamps that came with the postcard kit and the owl image that was also part of the kit. The edges were sponge with Black Soot Distress ink.

This next one uses an image from the Christmas set. For the Christmas Tree, I used some Flower Soft for texture. Then sponged the edges with Walnut Stain Distress ink and added gold edges using a Sakura pen. For the hanger I used gold wire that I twisted around a pen and added little holly buttons and one of the small images that I glued to the chipboard star.

And for my last project, I made a mini brag book. This is only the first 3 pages that I made before I bound it together with snap rings and ribbon. The front of the brag book and the 2 following pages uses images that is found in the Baby Girl Postcard Set. For the front cover I distressed the edges with Rose Romance and then added some white fun flock all around the edges. The flowers, creases on the bedding and the words were all sprinkled with ultra fine crystal glitter and a glue pen. The 2 inside pages uses die cuts from the Labels 4 nestabilities, which goes perfectly with the shape of the postcard chipboard. Did some stamping using the Baby Girl stamp set, buttons with stickers from the Baby Girl Vintage sticker and another postcard stamp image that come with this set.

Hope you all enjoy playing around with these great Postcard kits. I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Enjoy,

Marisa

P.S. Sandy has some giveaways at the Heartwarming Vintage blog. 2 lucky winners will receive the 4 postcard kits and other one will receive the 2 stamp sets - Mouse Party and the Thanksgiving set.

Wishing You the Best Today

July 12, 2009

Today's card was made for Darlene's Crafty Secret challenge that she hosts every Sunday at Paper Craft Planet. For this challenge we were to use Gingham in our project.

Stamps used for this card is from the Mice Party stamp set of Crafty Secrets Clear Art stamps. This was stamped on an off-white cs with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and the colored with Copic markers. Background DP is from Basic Grey's Lemonade Paper Pad. Machine Stitched the edges of the DP and added some ribbon for accent. Flower was made using the Flowers Creations 3 and Pink Japanese Paper. Added some punched ferns (MS).

Hope you all are having a sunny weekend.

Crafty Secrets DT Step-by-Step Sisters Vintage Shadow Box Frame

July 6, 2009

Today is a very exciting day for the Crafty Secrets Design Team. We are each sharing with you either a tutorial or step-by-step pictorial of our projects.

For this project I made a Sisters Frame, which I will be giving to my sister who will be having her birthday this month. She is the one who started me off in this craft. Thanks to her, I have been able to find the passion for this art form.

The project started off with a shadow box frame that I purchased in one of the Dollar Stores. As you can see in the raw picture, it was a very simple unfinished wood frame. The very first thing that I did was paint it with taupe acrylic paint and then the second layers was a brown acrylic paint. I lightly sanded the wood after the paint dried to bring out the woodgrain. By painting it with a lighter first base color I was able to enhance the woodgrain after sanding it. I then colored it more with some Coffee Shop Glimmer Mist to give it a shimmery glow. Then I proceeded to outline the frame with some strips of gold Class-A-Peel stickers. I then put the frame aside while I started to work on the borders.

The borders were die cut with the Classic Lace Border die of Spellbinders. I die cut 4 strips with a tan colored cs and embossed the strips. Before removing the strips from the die, I distressed it with Walnut Stain distressing ink. Some of the little pieces that were cut were dabbed with the Coffee Shop Glimmer mist which was later on glue back to the strip. Cut 4 single points of the borders for each of the corner of the frame. Here are all the pieces that I used to go around the frame.

Once the strips were done I then proceeded to work on the inside of the frame. I used an image from the Girfriends Images and Journal Notes for the main image. This I die cut using the Labels 4 from Spellbinders along with the matting that I used behind the image. I outlined the main image and the matting with a gold Sakura Glitter Pen, dotted the hats, sleeves along the wrists and collar with a Gold Spica pen and then added some half pearls to the points. The letters that spelled "SISTERS" was taken from the "Girls Alphabets & More" Heartwarming Vintage Booklets. These letters were cut and then distressed with Walnut Stain distressing ink then matted onto brown cs. Added some chipboard to the back of each letter to raise it up in the finished frame. Background paper is from the Pastel Paper Pad of Crafty Secrets, which I distressed the edges and added some ric-rak and flower stickers from the "Little Girls" Heartwarming Vintage stickers. I also used the sentiment from this same sticker collection.

After all the pieces were ready, I proceeded to finish the frame. I added the borders strips and corners to the frame and then sprayed it with Irridescent Gold Glimmers Mist. Added some of the little pieces from the die cut to the borders and added a norrow pink ribbon around the inside edge. All along the inside of the frame I added a biege lace. Also used a beaded strip along the bottom of the frame. Other accessories that I used to go on the frame are some glass leaf pieces on the 2 bottom corners, a Prima flower on the top left corner and some half pearls on the right corner. For the inside of the frame I assembled all the letters to spell "Sisters", added the main image and the sentiment.

Here is my finished project. Picture was taken without the glass cover that slides into the shadow box so that it will not produce a glare. I am hoping that you all enjoyed this special project with step-by-step pictures.

Now don't forget to check out the Heartwarming Vintage blog, Crafty Secrets gallery and all the blogs of our talented Design Team. They have made special project for you today. Just click on each of their names to access their blog.

* Vicki Chrisman

* Lisa Zappa

* Linda Duke

* Anna Wight

* Pam Hooten

* Michele Kovaks

* Heidi Blackenship

* Vivian Peters

* Michelle Van Etten

* Melissa Philipps

Hope you all have an enjoyable Monday.

Marisa

This weeks cards

July 5th, 2009

This week I have been neglecting by blog. I keep forgetting to upload the card that I have made for various challenges. So here are all 3 cards for this week.

The first card is for the Crafty Secrets Forum challenge as well as the Wednesday Sketch challenge over at Splitcoast stampers. For the Crafty Secret challenge we were to use a virgin stamp set, one that you have either neglected to use or have never used. I combined it with the sketch challenge for the week. Stamps used was from the "Sew Special" stamp set of CS.

The second card is for the Featured stampers challenge from Splitcoast. Today's featured stamper is Sandra. Check her gallery out, she has great stuff. The image I used for this card is from a free digital image from Victoria Case. I colored the image with copic markers and the DP used is from the Lemonade Paper Pad of Basic Grey.

Finally, the last card is for the Crafty Secret group challenge that Darlene hosts every Sunday at Paper Craft Planet. Today's challenge is "Christmas in July" This card used stamps from the Vintage Christmas and Christmas Joy stamp set of Crafty Secrets.

Sweet Tara

July 1, 2009

HAPPY CANADA DAY! Today it is Canada's Birthday. Wishing all my Canadian friends a day filled with fun and celebration.

Today I am sharing with you a card that I made using a Digital image from Victoria Case. This is a freebie that I got and is available if you email her. Go check her site out, she is an amazing artist. Her challenge blog also host a weekly challenge and this card is for the challenge posted on June 25th. Today, noontime is the deadline to submit your entry. Hope I made it on time.

This challenge is a sketch challenge and you can find the sketch in the challenge blog. Paper used for this card is from makingmemories - Chloe's Closet. Size the image in my Scrapbook Factory program to the size that would fit my card and printed it on Copic compatible paper. Colored the main image with copic markers, cut it out and mounted it onto white cs with double sided foam tape. Colored 4 more flowers with copics, cut them out and arranged it around the bottom part of the main image. Wanted Tara to be surrounded by all the flowers. For a final touch as I was assembling the different layers of this card I add a ribbon in the center of the card.

Hope you enjoy this card.