Favorite Color Combo

ATC

There are so many possibilities when it comes to color combos that limiting it to just one combo is nearly impossible for me. But I did it and you can too! :)

~Favorite Color Combo~

is the new challenge at Top Tip Tuesday and I went with a blue, green and brown combo for my ATC's. I love how the colors blend together and I added a little interest with the addition of Czech glass beads. 

Here's a look at my second ATC.

I used a wash on this ATC which muted the colors a bit. Czech glass beads were added as well as a stamped image from Tim's Nature Walk set.

Here are a few photos of my process.

Both ATC's started out as playing cards and each received a light coat of Gesso. I used embossing paste and a TCW-Mini Specimens 6x6 stencil to add texture and design. 

Broken China Distress Stain was dabbed over the butterflies once they dried.  You can see the back of the playing cards through the light coat of Gesso. ;)

Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo Distress Stains were then dabbed on to round out the color. At this point I dabbed some of the color off with a paper towel and used a mix of Picket Fence Distress Stain and water to mute the colors. On my first ATC I added layers of color and wanted to see what the opposite effect would be on this one. 

For dimension, texture and an infusion of color I added Czech glass beads by mixing a few drops of Antique Linen (re-inker) with Liquitex Glass Beads and mixed well. I applied it to my ATC with a palette knife and sprinkled the beads over the mixture while gently pressing them in. At this point I left them to dry for a whole day so the beads would set and any loose stragglers were brushed off afterwards. I can keep them for my collection or I thought about mounting each one to a piece of sticky back canvas and framing. Not sure what to do so I'll wait on that step.

So there you have it, my favorite color combo. Well, one of them anyway! :)

Kenny K is offering 3 free digital images to our lucky winner!

That's all for me today, thanks for looking and be sure to visit my teamies to see what their favorite color combo is. Have a great day everyone!

Lisa xx

Boys and Girls Come Out to Play

 

 Hello!

 

I've been on a DT break the past few weeks but I'm back with a Top Tip Tuesday half-way reminder card. There's another week to play along with this fun challenge and all we ask is that your creation includes a boy or girl. You can see inspiration from the design team by clicking HERE and the half-way reminder post HERE. I'm using Kenny K's digital image, Batter, on my card and this guy is bringing it home for the team. :)

 

 

 

 

The Prize of 5 Digi images of the winners choice.

 

 

A huge thank-you to Kenny K for supplying the DT with images.

 

 

Fancy being a guest designer?

Top Tipper - Guest Design spot!

 

The Top Tipper will be awarded a Guest Design spot on Top Tip Tuesday, so get out your thinking caps and think of a Tip to share with everyone.  

Don't forget to tell us your Tip is for Top Tip Tuesday. 

*Remember to type TIP after your name when you link up.*

 

 

Good Luck Everyone!

Hugs,

Lisa xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laviously Lucious Layers at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello and welcome, it's time to kick off a new challenge at Top Tip Tuesday and this one is all about layers. Paper, buttons, ribbon/trim, flowers, bling-the more the merrier! A friendly reminder that if you would like to be in the running for our guest designer spot then leave a tip on your blog and put (Tip) beside your name when you link up. Good Luck!

My card features Scene It-Ladybugs digi image by Bugaboo Stamps and I colored it with Copic markers and added a touch of bling to the flower centers. A white gel pen accents the eyes of the cute ladybugs and the large leaves. This image reminds me that spring is just around the corner (sorta) and I'm so ready. To see more fun images drop by their online shop and browse their fantastic selection. There's something for everyone! 

Here's my Tip-to achieve an easy sky background simply stamp (with a blending tool) Tumbled Glass Distress Ink all over. Work quickly and keep it light adding more depth as needed. Note: I always color my image first.



 

My inside sentiment is from Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages and the bling ladybug is by Zva Creative. The red panel was embossed with a Cuttlebug Polka Dots 5x7 embossing folder and the black panel was the negative of my frame die on the front. A white gel pen was used to create the border and I stamped the sentiment on the negative of the smaller frame die (part of the set by Spellbinders) and popped the smaller frame up on foam dots for dimension. I do hope I haven't confused anybody lol.

 

 A big thank you to Bugaboo Stamps for providing the design team with images    

 

 

 

and for offering the winner 7 Digi images of their choice.  



 

 Top Tipper Prize - Fred She Said $20 voucher!

 

 

 Our fabulous January Designer Clarissa wowed us with two amazing creations this month. 
Thank you Clarissa for joining us!  



That's all for me today, glad you dropped by and spent some time with me. I do hope you'll pop by my teamie's blogs to see what they have in store for you. You can view their beautiful work at TTT or click their links on my right sidebar.

Have a wonderful day everyone!
Lisa xx

Happy 4th of July USA

Hello and welcome! In the U. S. Independence Day is just around the corner and several challenges are honoring it through our country's colors, our flag {stars & stripes} or the holiday itself. So naturally I played along with Tip Top Tuesday's #79 and Just Us Girls #141 challenges to express my patriotism. My sketch inspiration comes from the one and only, Jen Shults, and her sketches are always a challenge {that's why I love them!}. You can see the current Deconstructed Sketch #56 plus visit the archives for past sketch inspiration. I believe most of them are open to link throughout the year so it's not too late. The Crafty Catz #137 Embossing was great to play with because it gave me another opportunity to use my Stars Impression Plate by Taylored Expressions to emboss my vertical navy panel.

The colors of red, white and blue were established by the JUGS challenge and Independence Day or Stars & Stripes were challenge requirements of Tip Top Tuesday. I incorporated both on the TTT challenge and my stripes are represented by the red/white twine. The patriotic banner in the 4th of July Wreath set make my Picket Fence Border Die look festive. I punched three .5" circles using an EK Success punch and stamped the letters USA from You're My Type-Upper. Blue stars were strung onto red burlap string and red liquid pearls add another pop of color and visual interest. White brads anchor the four chomped corners and finish it off nicely.

Here's a Top Tip for you, to center your sentiments it is helpful to use a grid acrylic block and place all of the stamps & embellishments on it so you know everything will be centered properly. Also, It is much easier to stamp after punching but before when using a die. It just makes life easier! Another thing I did was to stamp my banners in blue ink so it would blend better. Seasoned stampers know this already but maybe it will help a newbie out there. :)

I'd like to welcome my newest blog followers and thank everyone for their encouraging comments. BTW, most of my recent posts have been CAS due to Father's Day and recent masculine birthdays but I'm happy to report that some "girl stuff" is on the way. :) Have a swell hump day {a.k.a. Wednesday}!

Note: I "Caught Their Eye" at Top Tip Tuesday with this Stars & Stripes card. WooHoo!
~Lisa

Supplies:
Ink: Memento Paris Dusk, ColorBox Chalk Ink Lipstick Red
Paper: Choice Snow White (TE), red, blue & white cs (Bazzill Basics)
Accessories: Take Note Frame 3 (TE); We R Memory Keepers 1.5" corner chomper, brads (PS); buttons (Hobby Lobby); red/white twine (Doodlebug); red burlap string (Maya Road); Copics B28 & R29; Ruby Red Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

Tip Top Challenge 57-Trick or Treat

Hello and Happy Halloween to all those who celebrate this holiday. I am dropping by with the first of two posts today so I can enter this card in the Tip Top Tuesday Challenge and this week's theme is Trick or Treat. I couldn't pass up this one and I am sliding in under the wire, again. Ugh!!! So here's my card and this little vampire is definitely a "trick" in my book. He reminds me of my son when he went as a vampire in '94 and his little sister was only six weeks old. Good grief time flies!

I found this stamp in the clearance bin at Hobby Lobby and snatched it up, so glad I did! I colored him with Copic markers and used the Mojo Monday Week 139 sketch as inspiration. Okay, I am cutting this close so need to get this posted and link up. Hope you'll check out all of the entries because there's so much talent there that will get those creative juices flowing, hehehe.

Be back later with a card I whipped up early this morning....
Happy Halloween,
~Lisa

Stamps: Block Art Give Candy (Stampendous)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: cardstock
Accessories: Lg. Deckled Rectangles (Spellbinders); brads, ribbon (PS); button from stash; lilac twine (MFT); bracket border punch (EK Success)