CASE Study Challenge #84

This is the last week with CASE Study Challenge muse Laura Bassen and I can't pass up one last time to play along!  Laura's style is really impeccable and she makes it seem so effortless (which I'm sure it's totally not).  If you haven't already visited her blog, definitely check it out!  Here's her awesome inspiration card for CASE Study Challenge #84...

Recently I ordered from My Favorite Things for the first time and I finally got a few things that have been on my wish list for forever!  I know there are other rainbow dies out there, but I like the scale of this die and I *love* the fact that there are 7 colors in this rainbow:)  I'm from Hawai'i and you know we take our rainbows seriously, heehee!  

I cut the rainbow in blush pink, coral pink, hot pink, and red.  If you look really close, you can see that the cut "rainbows" are flush with the red background.  With so much color going on, I thought the extra layer would be distracting.  I finished it off with a clean and simple sentiment from My Cute Stamps.    

That's it for me tonight!  Thanks so much for stopping in and I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!  

{Aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Pop Flowers (My Cute Stamps)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Razmataz Berry, Strawberry Milk, Licorice Whips Black (Mark's Finest Papers); Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet (PTI)

Embellishments: Embossing Powder

Tools: Rainbow Die (My Favorite Things)

Moxie Fab Challenge: Fascination with Feathers ~ Modern Peacock 2.0

Ahhhhhhh!  That's me breathing a sigh of relief and satisfaction:)  You may have seen my first attempt at this design last week.  There wasn't anything crazy wrong with that card, but it left me unsettled.  Unsettled because I just couldn't get my IRL card to match the card in my mind!    

If you recall from my first attempt, the dark blue ink was not cooperating.  This time, I used a textured cardstock and I'm actually digging the uneven stamping!  The striated textured feels more like a real feather.  And the color of the new blue cardstock is so much more "peacock".  Those little tweaks made a world of difference to me.  So whether you prefer the old card, the new card, or neither, thanks for letting me get it out of my system!

I'm off to link this one up to the Moxie Fab World Fascination with Feathers Challenge too:)  I hope everyone is having a great day!  

{Aloha, jj}

Stamps: Holly Berry Vine (A Muse Studio), Teeny Trees (Waltzingmouse), Congratulations (PaperSource)
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI), Galaxy Gold (Tsusineko), Deep Lagoon Fluid Chalk (Clearsnap)
Paper: Blue Oasis (Bazzill), White (PTI)
Embellishments: Gems

Tools: Corner chomper, Square Punch (Fiskars)

Paper Crafts Challenge ~ Taste the Rainbow

This card is what happens when you pair the candy in this card and the sunburst mask of this card!  Since playing around with candy this weekend, I couldn't resist one more candy card:)   I was at Wegman's today and stopped by the bulk candy aisle to see what kind of goodies I could find.  Did you know that they carry colored M&M's in bulk?  (OK, fake M&M's)  I wish I had known this when I was planning my sister's baby shower last year!  I didn't buy any fake M&M's today, but I did get a big ole bag of gum balls that were the absolute perfect size.      

To start off my card, I created the sunburst with an old mask that I saved.  The sentiment is from A Muse Studio and I love the oversized font.  Just a tip for large stamps, use a matching ink pen to fill in bare spots in your stamping.  For black ink, my go-to inkpad/pen combo is Memento Tuxedo Black.  I also use the pen to edge paper piecing.  

I'm off to upload this one at the Paper Crafts March 2012 Flickr Gallery Challenge.  This month it's all about the colors of the rainbow.  As always, thanks so much for visiting!

{Aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Happy Everything (A Muse Studio)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Sunflower (American Crafts)
Paper: Outright Lemon (Mark's Finest Papers), White (PTI)

Tools: Spinner Die (PTI), Corner Chomper 

Other: Clear gift baggie, Gumballs

PTI March Blog Hop ~ Aqua & Yellow

It's the 25th of the month and that means PTI March Blog Hop time!  This month, Nichole has given us this fantastic pic to inspire us!  What's not to love about this pic?  The colors!  The candy!  The cheeriness!  

I wanted a card that had the same feel and, most importantly, to include CANDY!  I don't know about you, but I have to buy tools and supplies that can do double or even triple duty.  I bought the spinner dies a few months ago thinking I could use the long straight die for text box cut outs and popsicle stick shapes.  Now I can add candy holder to the list!

I used a clear gift goodie bag and fashioned it into a loose tube.  A ziplock bag or a tube bag would probably work too.  You want it a little loose because you will adhere the bag to the back of the cut out and push the candies through to the other side.  I used Lemonhead candies that fit perfectly!  Just think of all the other candies that could work with this technique!  

The front is finished off with a few chevron die cuts from my new My Favorite Things dies (love them!) and a rosette!  This one was so much fun to make and my mind is going crazy thinking of all the other candies I could try:)

I'm off to visit the other blog hoppers!  I know I'll see all kinds of fun stuff today!  As always, thanks so much for visiting!

{Aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Think Big #12 (PTI)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Sea Breeze (Mark's Finest Papers), Hawaiian Shores (PTI), Turquoise Dot (My Minds Eye), Yellow Dot (DCVW)

Embellishments: Embossing powder, button, twine

Tools: Spinner Die (PTI), Chevron Dies (My Favorite Things), Corner Chomper 

Other: Clear gift baggie, Lemonhead candies

Moxie Fab Challenge: Fascination with Feathers ~ Modern Peacock

Added 3/28/12: See the redone version of this card here!

Who knew that I had another feather card idea for the Moxie Fab World Fascination with Feathers Challenge?  This idea has been in my sketchbook for quite awhile, but this is my first attempt at an actual card.  Even though this version didn't turn out exactly as I envisioned, I haven't given up on it yet!  

While my feather card yesterday came together quickly and easily, this one definitely did not.  My first challenge was with the ink coverage. For flat stamps, I usually use A Muse or Fresh inks because the coverage is so much better.  Unfortunately, this was the only dark blue I had.  No amount of pouncing was working for me:)   

My second challenge was getting a decent pic.  The metallic gold ink, color-changing Ocean Tides cardstock, and late night lighting were definitely working against me.  Despite all my issues, I still enjoyed working on this card and trying something new! 

Well, I'm off to start my weekend! We have plans to go to the regional art show (my son has some art on display) but the rest of the weekend is (mostly) free!  As always, I do appreciate you stopping in and for your kind comments!  

{Aloha, jj}

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Added 3/28/12: See the redone version of this card here!

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Stamps: Holly Berry Vine (A Muse Studio), Teeny Trees (Waltzingmouse), Congratulations (PaperSource)
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI), Galaxy Gold (Tsusineko)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides (PTI)
Embellishments: Gems

Tools: Corner chomper, Square Punch (Fiskars)

Moxie Fab Challenges: Feathers & Scraps

Life is good when you can combine two challenges *and* use up a bunch of scraps in the process!   The two challenges I'm playing with today are Moxie Fab World's Fascination with Feathers Challenge and Paper Scraps Challenge!  The feather challenge is inspired by the projects in the Paper Crafts March/April issue and the scraps challenge is inspired by the new Practical Solutions for Paper Crafters special issue.  If you haven't gotten the special issue, I highly recommend it!  Good stuff!  

I have to admit that I have a serious scrap problem.  I have at least 3 buckets of  various paper, ribbon, and twine scraps and I see potential in every s-i-n-g-l-e one of those pieces:)  So you can see I was well-prepared for this challenge!     

This card actually came together faster than I anticipated.  I gathered all my long scraps and cut strips in a variety of widths.  Instead of using glue, I adhered the strips using my Xyron sticker maker.  To create the two halves of the feather, I cut the finished rectangle at a 45° angle.  {Easy-peasy if you cut on a sewing mat with 45° angle lines}  

The feather itself was cut freehand.  I hope it looks more feather-y and less surfboard-ish:)  I chose the sentiment because I love the handwritten look next to the stripes.  I really like how cheery and colorful it turned out!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great Friday!

{Aloha, jj}

Stamps: Happy Trails (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Rustic Cream (Papertrey Ink), Scraps
Embellishments: Buttons (PTI), Twine

Tools: Corner chomper, Xyron sticker maker