OWH Sketch Challenge #244

We have a new sketch hostess!!!   I will miss Marlene's fun posts, and am so excited for Sybrina, our new hostess!  She has some big shoes to fill, but I am sure she will do a great job.  Sybrina is my dear friend and cohort in our Words2ScrapBy.blogspot.com challenge blog.  

This week's sketch and my version:

Our Daily Bread Designs challenge this month is to make a card with primary colors.  I think this one qualifies!  I used a mish mash of products.  Patterned paper from Bazzil, die cut from Provocraft, sentiment from Our Baily Bread Designs.  Red card base, button and floss from my incredible Marti stash.  Trying to make a few love cards to send to OWH before the end of the year. 
 
Don't forget to play along with our Words2ScrapBy.blogspot.com December Challenge - Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!!!

Shopping Our Stash #180: Favorite Technique

This week's challenge is to create a project using our favorite technique.  If you follow my blog, you know that I love embossing of any type.  I was lucky to have attended a class by Cheryl from The Paper Hollow in Michigan, and learned about a product that highlights dry embossing with a metallic finish - Inka Gold:

I have received a lot of questions about how I have made these cards.   Since I am not savvy enough to make craft videos, I will try to explain.  Inka Gold is a beeswax based paint medium.  It is really thick, like a chapstick that has softened a bit in your pocket.  I used the Tim Holtz Pine Bough embossing folder, and dabbed copper and green Inka Gold on the raised part of the design.  The applicators look like foam marshmallows, and the paints add amazing shine.  Best of all -  not expensive!!!  The paints are about $3 each, and the foam daubers are 3 for a $1, and can be cut into smaller pieces.  I am not affiliated in any way with The Paper Hollow, but they are one of the few places that carry the small containers.  A little bit of the paint goes a long way.  The copper metallic paper and heat embossing match a lot better in person than they do in the picture, I thought it was more important to show the beautiful sheen of the paints!!!

The Male Room Challenge #25 - Christmas

The challenge is to create a masculine, Christmas-themed paper project. 

Here is mine:

Silver embossed Lovely as a Tree and unknown sentiment.  DCWV Winter Wishes paper.  Really pretty card.  The picture?  Not so much.  I have a real problem photographing mirrored paper.  Any suggestions?

Don't forget to play along with our Words2ScrapBy.blogspot.com December Challenge - Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!!!

W2SB December Challenge - Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!

This month's challenge at Words 2 Scrap By is "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!"  Our challenge is to create a card or project that represents this month-long season of eating, drinking, and merry making!

Here is mine:

Image is from Repeat Impressions Wine Time set.  Since I cannot color, I paper pieced the wine, cork, bottle, and label.  I used a magnifying glass, and added just a touch of color to the label.  The red background was embossed with a Darice folder (I just HAD to have, but had no idea how I might use) named "Cork Tops".   I love it when random elements come together!!

Come play along with us!

Red Friday and Small Business Saturday

Today is Small Business Saturday, when we are encouraged to shop local, small businesses.  I shopped at a LSS only a few miles from my house.  I want to like that store - I really do.  They have a good selection, the prices are competitive with on line sources.  I had a friend shop with me once.  She didn't like it either, even without me telling her how I felt about the place.  I go in a few times a year, hoping to feel welcome, or at least not unwelcome.  Maybe next time.

I did buy a great Spellbinders Cascading Hearts die.  I saw how Sharon used a background die on her card on the OWH Red Friday blog hop, and wanted to try one for myself.

For my first try, I die cut the white, backed with with black, and mounted onto a red card base.  Corners rounded with my 1/4" We R Memory Keepers chompers.  Sentiment heat embossed.  I like it, but it just didn't have a wow factor for me.  A die that pretty should be on a card with a wow factor!  On to round 2...

 I layered the white die cut onto mirror paper, then onto a red base.  I added a Cuttlebug die cut sentiment.  The picture does not show how fabulous the second card is!  I will be making more of these for OWH during their winter card lull, as it could be used for Valentine's Day or just a general love card.   Your thoughts?

OWH Red Friday Blog Hop

Operation Write Home is sponsoring a blog hop today, and I was particularly inspired by Paula's post. 

Here are my versions:

Papers from 7 Gypsies, Sizzix Music Notes texture plate.  

I like them both, for different reasons.  Which do you like better, and why? 

OWH Sketch 242

This sketch is from a few weeks ago, I am just a bit behind...

Not a favorite, but forced me to create outside of my box!!