I have been playing with some Sassy images again.  This is a birthday card that I made with one.   I used a paper doiley and sewed it on.  I wish I would have used a different color thread.  I also sewed around the center panel.  I cut out the main image and popped it up.  The background is a background stamp from impression obsession.  I have a lot of background stamps, not sure why I don't use them more. 

Charolette

This is my entry into the challenge of Sassy Studio Designs. It is a running challenge which means  as long as you post a card with the currant image, you get the next one free.  I paper pieced the dress then blended a little copic marker on the edge to give it a little defination.  The flowers were punched out of water color paper with a five petal punch.  I colored them with ink, spritzed them with water, glued them together and added a few Martha Stewart microbeads in the middle.   Inside says "Every woman needs one perfect little black dress and one friend she can talk to about anything"

Secret birthday party.

Saturday our stamping group is having a birthday party secret gift swap.  Instead of celebrating each month all year, we decided to have a party once a year and swap gifts.  We draw names and buy a gift for the person whos name we recieved.  We all make a dish to share and just enjoy the day with each other.  Its a really fun day.  So I wanted to share with you the card I made for my secret birthday girl.  What I did was cut a paper that would fit into the center of my card base.  I stamped it with the background stamp that looks like a newspaper, tore a few pieces of flowered paper and glued them on. Then I took a few cats eye stamping pads that matched the torn paper and dragged them across the whole thing.  I consentrated on the edges with the darker ink.  I ran it through my cuttlebug with an embossing folder, embossing the top and bottom.  I left a space where I could glue a strip across for the sentiment.  Here I stamped Happy Birthday.  I used a stamp that looks like stitching down one side and a cornor stamp in the upper left cornor.  I stamped the flower on watercolor papr and used Tim Holtz distress inks to watercolor it.  It was mounted on the card with pop dots and then I added some little silver beads down the right side on the tips of the stitching lines.  Sounds like a lot of work but it really isn't.  Doing these kind of cards always makes me feel so artsy.  Enjoy

Flower stamp--Flourishes I love Roses
Background stamp--Darcies SCMM03
Sentiment--Hero Arts Birthday sayings
Stitched lines--Amuse fancy borders
Corner stamp--Inky Antics
Cranson water color paper

Redone top to my Baby cigar box

I really didn't care for the way my top came out on the baby's cigar box so I have redone it.  I made the flowers and then rubbed versa mark on the petals, sprinkled a little gold embossing powder on it and heat set it.  I think I like this better.  But now it doesn't want to photo to well.  The gold is causing me problems with reflecting the light but you get the idea. 

Die cuttng with wax paper

With all the detailed dies coming out, I have been looking for a way to cut them without them sticking in the die.  Well, I came across a blog that said to use wax paper between the die and the cardstock.  So what the heck it was worth a try.  Well, I'll tell you, what a great suggestion!!!  I just wish I could remember where I was so I could give her credit.  It worked great.  So here is a few dies that I cut out using the wax paper.  The oval is Spellbinders Floral Oval.  It is a bear to get out of the die.  The strip is from Cherry Lynn.  Its pretty detailed wouldn't you say.  So if you have a die that you have put aside because it is more trouble than its worth to use, try putting wax paper between it and the cardstock and then run it through your machine.  Good luck.

Dylan's Piano Teachers Box

I got another of those phone calls again.  You know the one that starts with "Mom, would you"  lol  This time someone who will remain nameless needed a box for a gift for a piano teacher.  So in short order I got this one together.  I really liked it when it was finished.  I sponged the edges in Fired brick distress ink by Ranger. It really made it pop. Now don't look at the messy desk.

First I would like to show you the box I made to put my baby album in.  I had a devil of a time trying to decorate the top. I used one of Rangers Keyholes on the side.  It kind of brought together the legs with the box.

Baby Album

Recently I made a mini album and finally got around to decorating it.  I love this paper from Graphic 45 called Little Darlings so I used it to decorate my album.  The pattern came from Laura Denison Designs at Following the Paper Trail.  The tags pull out so you can put a picture or journal on them.  There is a 4 x 6 mat inserted into the pocket to mount pictures on.  The flap lifts up for more real estate.  Enjoy