Branch Out...Birthday

I was spending the morning responding to posts, going through my e-mail and trying to visit a few blogs.  I felt behind, although I've felt worse!  Somewhere in hour two I had the overwhelming urge to make a card.  So, that's what I did!

Now, I also need to take care of a little business.  I was just tickled pink to win a few honors over the last week.  One at Freshly Made Sketches for THIS card.  I was chosen a "Perfect Princess" by the lovely Cindy Hall!

This week is a sketch by Allisa (also very lovely.)  So, my first thought for the shape was a Christmas tree, but that changed.  It may be a little obscure but the sketch is there!

The other challenge I did well with...Stampin' Royalty.  I made their top three with THIS card and have been given the title of "Goddess."  Hee!  Hee!  This week they have a gorgeous photo to play with!  I knew exactly what stamp I wanted to use.

Then, a glitter challenge over at City Crafter Challenge.  I don't use glitter too often.   Love the effects, not the mess!

Anyway, here's what I came up with:

I'd like to share a few tips about the glitter I used.  I hope you find them useful.

This is a close-up my test sample.  Sorry, it's out of focus!  But see how the pink glitter has migrated onto the silver?  Also, the black isn't very vibrant on that white paper.  I "fixed" that by adhering the glitter to strips similar to the glitter color BEFORE I adhered them to the card.

My favorite technique for making glitter stick is using adhesive like Sticky Strip (Scor-tape) or a sticker maker (like a Xyron.)  This is one of my strips before peeling away the backing and adding the glitter.

It worked great!  Super easy and my strips are very straight.  Success!

OK, now that I have that out of my system...I will go back to commenting and blog surfing! 

Saying Good-bye to Branch Out

Today is the last day to get one of my favorite stamp sets, Branch Out. Any color combo looks great with it. Plus, it makes any card look so classy! Don't be surprised if I still use it from time to time. I just can't let go of it so easily!I decided to use it today for Stacey's Curtain Call Color Challenge. You would think it wouldn't be that tough for me to make a card using one of my favorite colors, Old Olive. It did take me a little while to get going, though. Partially because I thought using Branch Out was a little too easy, it makes such a good looking card! I ended up not fighting fate and just went for it!I considered not putting a sentiment on the front. Let's face it, this card would work for many different occasions. I like to have a few cards on hand without sentiments. Then, when the occasion arises I can make my choice. That wouldn't "show" as well, so I stamped it! Do you ever set cards aside without sentiments? It's a great idea my friend Deb mentioned one time.

Oh, the ribbon. That wasn't where I wanted it to go. I snipped off a scallop sending it through the Big Shot so I felt I had to cover my mistake. Oh well!

Halloween Cards....Just in Time???

Well, I'd admit, these cards are being posted with no time to spare! But what do you do? The friends these cards are going to read my blog. A girl has to keep a secret or two.The first is a card I CASED from Connie Babbert. She used the Good Friend set, which I failed to read until I did mine and figured out my mistake. I used the On Board pieces So Tweet which are slightly larger so I had a bit of trouble fitting everything on my card. On the positive side, it forced me to be creative and NOT do a straight CASE. Also, Connie used glitter on her birds, I used some glitter paint I had in my stash.
The second card came about because I was going to participate in a challenge here. But the goofball I can be, I forgot to use one of the colors required! So, here it is MINUS the Certainly Celery it was suppose to contain! I can't believe I waited so long to buy Branch Out! You know, even though it's not in the catalog it's not retired, just dormant right now. I would highly recommend it. It's one of those sets that makes you look a bonafide ARTISTE! You can't mess it up So, I added a little masking and the bats from the retired Halloween backgrounds and VOILE! Elegant Halloween card.

Just to add, I used my new Perfect Details Texturz Plate on the Pale Plum. For added dimension I used a brayer and inked the plate before sending it through the Big Shot. Love the texture.

No promises, but I am working on another Halloween post! Stay tuned!