ROMANCING THE CANVAS

PENNYS PAPER-CRAFTY CHALLENGE

This is my first blog from a new team I am on - PENNY'S PAPER-CRAFTY CHALLENGE. The womyn over there have been fantastic at WELCOMING me, so I know they will be equally as great at WELCOMING "you" when you enter the challenge.

Today's challenge is a

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PHOTO INSPIRATION

and our Sponsor(s) WAHOO are

and

I wondered how I was going to do a cute little bunny-ish card into these color's but when I was driving thought - "hey, Christmas has gone into all these funky colors, why not EASTER too! Though - shhhhhh - I do miss my Pink, Blue, and Purple egg and (my new bonnet, elbow high gloves and new shoes) "I" got at Easter Time.

So for this card I really had to put on the thinking cap. The Bo Bonny paper stock with the spikey edges helped my confidence a bit - in resembling at least the whip of the hair in the photo. What do you think?

I've used "Patsy Stamp Fairy from The Stamp Boutique".

SMILES AND HAPPINESS

Samara

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS

Welcome to another wonderful challenge by Sentimental Sundays (here)

Sponsor: SATURATED CANARY DIGI STAMPS (here)

Theme: LACE AND PEARLS (here)

How great a combo is that! Now, if you don't know yet about Saturated Canary Stamps (here), you are really missing something! These have to be the most yummalicious digis; the girls have the most beautiful wide eyes and the most wonderful FEET! Yes feet...and no, I don't have a foot fetish...I'm just in love with their HUGE boots and shoes and wonderful hair and eyes.You must take a look to see for yourself. I dare you to go over without purchasing at least one! I was given the same dare and yup, I had to buy the hippie with the guitar, because my son is a Musician, a Composor and a University Teacher (jordanmandel.com) (here).

This card is dedicated to my Oldest Cub and Son Jordan - 27 - who is engaged to be married to "Our" beautiful Laura in August 2012, (even though my digi is a gal - the music caught my eye - sorry Jordan!) I hope you like my card. I had tons of fun with it, as I always do with these big eyed wonders!

"PEACE OUT"

SAMARA

BLOCKHEAD STAMPS

http://www.blockheadstamps.com

I have had so much fun with these stamps as Blockhead's Guest Designer. I am using their Rubber Stamps, but they also have the Acrylic and also Digi Stamps. If you pop over to the link above (their Stamp Store) you will find an abundance of supplies. I didn't know where to start! But today I am going over to wet my palette and see if there is anything to add to my supplies; there are endless possibilities with their stamps because they are so Universal.

I've made up a few cards, so I will post one a week (just to tempt you) and give you a bit of information of how I made the card and the stamp set I used. I hope you enjoy the post. Smiles and Happiness, Samara

I photographed this with both the white background, showing you the mat and also with the black matting compliments of Photoscape (they have a bazillion types of framing possibilities if you are looking for that.)

For this particular technique I decided which stamp to use. In this case, I used a Stamp from the GRUNGE IT UP set. Looking at it on it's own, it looks extremely plain. This is why a technique is useful; it can jazz up any stamp you have in your collection, and of course we hope it is a BLOCKHEAD stamp! LOL

I covered my stamp with frosted versamark so it was really gooey and I stamped plain white card stock. I use white crest Neenah Paper, which I get in Toronto (in Vaughan) but you can order all around the world. I then used my chalks, but you can use sprays, you can use pastels, you can use acrylic paints, you can use Tim's distress dabbers (this looks great by the way) and I decided which colors to use.

I then took out my finger chalk dabbers and dabbed very deeply into my purple (see the middle.) I then connected to the purple with a lighter purple for just a second. Then moved onto a light blue, then a darker blue, then a different color of purple, but light, then the darker of the same shade and so on until I had a spiral.

I find that with this type of art, when the corners are finished, it is always a nicer look to finish in a dark color. Usually I will chalk, emboss, sponge, brayer or whatever with more intensity than in the rest of my project.

What I would normally do with this project would be to put normal versamark all over the card and then clear embossing powder. The reason to do this is to REALLY bring the colors out. (I resist always saying the word POP as I find it is a craft buzz word and I am one who LOVES being out of style in every sense! LOL) Just a tad of info about "Samara!" But when you heat up the clear embossing powder, and you can add some of BLOCKHEADS Ranger Holographic if you like, but on this particular card I would suggest ONLY a sprinkle around the entire card, because you don't want to lose the image under a holographic look *that card comes next week* so take care - just a sprinkle not a shake!

Then you mat up. You can spray your card with chalk sealant, but do this outside.

I hope you enjoyed learning this technique and will try it out for yourself with many different images. You can layer your images as well. Go ahead, be creative, be nasty, be crazy....with chalk you can NEVER make a mistake! HAPPY CRAFTING and please do visit the BLOCKHEAD store and also sign up to subscribe to their blog. They have fantastic DESIGNERS and you will learn something new each day!

SMILES AND HAPPINESS

Samara

Challenges will be added shortly
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.com/
http://mytimemadeeasy.com/blog/
http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/
http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/
http://creationsbygillm.blogspot.com/
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
http://forevernightchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/
http://raisethebarchallenge.blogspot.com/
http://nettiegsdandydigitalgems-challengeblo.blogspot.com/
http://smudgyantics.blogspot.com/2012/02/weekly-challenge-black-and-blue.html
http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-88non-cute.html

ONE STITCH AT A TIME!

There's a new challenge today at One Stitch At A Time and the theme is

Spring or Easter

This is in honour of the Mega Collaboration that all the Store Designers have contributed to. One lucky winner of our challenge will receive this as their prize donated by our sponsor

Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps

The DT are all using products from the new Collaboration pack. There will be a new one available every 2 weeks. This Mega Collaboration is free with a purchase from the store of only $12

Please head on over to the Stitchy Bear Store to take a look at some super duper stamps. There are stamps for every occasion possible and stamps that will surprise the pants off of you!

The creativity is beyond the beyond.

For my card, this is what I created using Stitchy's "DADDY DAY CARE" Stamp. How funny is this! Man oh man...those are alot of babies and look how calm that Daddy is - Ummmm! haha I love the digi stamp.

I am sure to use it over and over. Can't you see what a GREAT man's birthday card this would be, or new baby card...the possibilities are endless.

I hope you enjoy it!

Whoa look at that fire breathing chicklette! Any of yours like that? And that one in the back...just a Ho Hum! Must be the oldest... And the middle one who is getting the fire - just ignoring. Must be the middle dragonette (haha - a girl just like my 22 year old dragonette!) although she might just be the fire breathing one. Mommy loves you Ayla! xox For sure the one just watching it all and accepting "this is life on life's terms is my oldest son Jordan." He's the one who is my Rabbi (really a Musician and Composer) but I call him "my personal Rabbi!" LOL And the asleep one. OMGosh...that has to be my 14 year old...stayed up too late playing his PS3 and is comatose. And the 4th....something I don't know???? Hey! Maybe my grandchild to be!!!!! (sorry Jordan...I can wait - I promise :( no pressure from me @#$^%*%!)

Actually, I revise it all - the asleep one is me! LOL!

SMILES AND HAPPINESS

SAMARA

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/
http://www.gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.com/
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup
http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/
http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/
http://www.dillybeanschallenge.blogspot.com/
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/
http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/
xox

2012 - TIME FOR A NEW BLOG LOOK

I have chosen to go with a new 2012 blog look. Please excuse the previous blog posts that no longer fit on the page as the width dimensions had to change, knocking some of the posts and pictures outside of the parameters of the new template.

Smiles and Happiness,
Samara

DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES

Weekly Challenge | Use Pattern Paper

We can use any paper we like as long as it has a pattern. Don't forget to check at the store (just click anywhere here to get to the store) for the many varieties of great paper made by Wendy of Digital Designs!

Use your Scraps Challenge

As a Designer Member of DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES, (click anywhere here to see the challenge blog) it is always a great opportunity to learn new techniques and a way to see some beautiful art that you have put both your time and your heart into.

That is something I always appreciate when I make that click on your entry!

Fortnightly challenge Ribbons and lace

This challenge, to be honest, scared me! As a Designer, I don't use much lace, so as soon as I saw LACE I went EEK!

Challenge #90: Lets get Sentimental

Welcome to another Sentimental Sunday!

Thanks so much to everyone who played along in last week's "Shaped" card challenge. We really enjoyed seeing all your entries! There are always so many - which is a wonderful sign. It was a lot of fun to create the card myself for the inspirational card with the other Designers on the team.

STAMPING WITH THE DRAGON

Today is another great challenge for STAMPING WITH THE DRAGON.

This is the YEAR OF THE DRAGON, so it mixes perfectly with our site, given we celebrate our precious dragon in our images, as well as many other fantastic images. Why not pop over and take a look.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012

Challenge #89: Shaped Cards

Welcome to Sentimental Sundays!

Before, I continue with today's post, two of our dear design team members parents are in the hospital with very serious conditions and I would like to ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

I know what it feels like to be in their position and I also am a TRUE believer in the power and strength of prayer.

ROMANCING THE CANVAS

PENNYS PAPER-CRAFTY CHALLENGE

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS

BLOCKHEAD STAMPS

ONE STITCH AT A TIME!

2012 - TIME FOR A NEW BLOG LOOK

DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES

Weekly Challenge | Use Pattern Paper

We can use any paper we like as long as it has a pattern. Don't forget to check at the store (just click anywhere here to get to the store) for the many varieties of great paper made by Wendy of Digital Designs!

DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES

FOREVER FRIENDS CHALLENGE

Fortnightly challenge Ribbons and lace

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS CHALLENGE

Challenge #90: Lets get Sentimental

STAMPING WITH THE DRAGON

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS CHALLENGE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012

Challenge #89: Shaped Cards

Weekly Challenge | Use Pattern Paper We can use any paper we like as long as it has a pattern. Don't forget to check at the store (just click anywhere here to get to the store) for the many varieties of great paper made by Wendy of Digital Designs!

Challenge #90: Lets get Sentimental

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012

Weekly Challenge | Use Pattern Paper

We can use any paper we like as long as it has a pattern. Don't forget to check at the store (just click anywhere here to get to the store) for the many varieties of great paper made by Wendy of Digital Designs!