Saturday Morning at the Paris Bistro!

 Mon dieu!Since I missed out on the opportunity to play with the new release images from Lizzie Anne in time for the sneak peeks, I'm trying to make up for lost time now. I love the new Bonjour set of stamps...Eiffel Tower, Fleur de Lis, Bistro Set, and great sentiments to go with. I had the perfect background paper to create a harlequin look, which I stamped and embossed in gold the Fleur de Lis, as well as on the turned up corner. I stamped the Eiffel Tower on crumpled up kraft paper, embossed the torn edges, distressed the edges of the card. Finally, I stamped and embossed the Bistro Set on a Tim Holtz Fragmentz tag, and attached with twine and a ribbon. I had so much fun playing with this set...so plan on more in future posts! Mais oui! Meanwhile, be sure to come back for another visit on Monday, the 14th, for the Virtual Valentine Hop. Great inspiration, great prizes, and lots of "LOVE-ly" creations!

Lizzie Anne Designs Bonjour stamp set
Versamark ink
Stampendous Pirate Gold Embossing Powder
Tim Holtz Fragmentz tags
Recollections print paper
Coredinations cardstock
kraft paper
ribbon, twine
corner rounder
sanding block

Monday the 14th-Virtual Valentine Blog Hop!

Come hop along with the over forty participants in the "Virtual Valentine Blog Hop", on Monday, the 14th, beginning at 8 am. So far, around twenty prizes are available for the hoppees. The more hopping that you do, and the more love you leave at each stop, increases your opportunity to win one of these great prizes including stamps from Stampendous, paper packs from Scrappy Chick Boutique, a gift certificate from Lizzie Anne Designs, and a stenciling gift pack from Dreamweaver Stencils, plus so much more! Mark your calendar, leave Post-its all over your house, tie a string around your finger...whatever it takes to remember to join in the fun!

Dream Schemes Colorway: Pink & Brown

 This week's Dream Schemes challenge was a colorway, specifically pink and brown. I decided to keep in the Valentine mode, and chose the fun Cupid and the new release Tole Heart. Both were paste-embossed using a mixture of Pearlescent Embossing Paste and Cocoa Metallic F/X. Photography does not quite do this combo justice. There is a beautiful sheen which also seems to add to the texture of the paste. The background paper was created using the Damask stencil, also a new release at CHA last month. I used my Copic Airbrush System with a deep shade of brown and pink for the variations in color. I also airbrushed some extra color over the Prima flowers. A wispy effect from tulle and a satiny ribbon knot complete this card...just waiting for Cupid to deliver it to that special someone! Flit with him over to the rest of the Dream Team's blogs as well as the Dream It Up! blog for more inspiration using pink and brown and gorgeous stencils from Dreamweavers. Be sure to leave some comments...we love to hear from you.

Dreamweaver Stencil's Products:
LL3010 Tole Heart
LM216 Cupid
LX7001 Damask
DPP Pearlescent Embossing Paste
FX18 Cocoa Metallic F/X
palette knife, 3M Scotch brand temporary tape

Misc.:
Copic Sketch Markers E29, R85
Copic Air Brush System
Prima Flowers
Bazzill Blossom and Nutmeg CS
Mohawk White CS
felt brad fastener
tulle
Nestabilities Circles and Scalloped Circles dies

So Sweet...She Should Have Calories!

 Check out this little cutie! The image is from Stampendous' new Valentine line, and called "Blockart Love". I watercolored her for this particular card, which I created for the Stampendous October release catalog. I used the "Happy Day Square" stamp for the border, along with some fun print paper, which was also used to paper piece the heart and flowers of the image. She is such a sweetie, that she could be used for so many occasions where CUTE is the definitive word!

Stampendous:
Blockart Love (V191)
Happy Day Square (F205)

Onyx Versafine ink from Tsukineko
watercolors
Bazzill Dotted Swiss Cardstock
Mohawk White Cardstock
striped print
double-sided foam adhesive

Dreamweaver New CHA Releases to CROW About!

Another new CHA release from Dreamweaver Stencils. This Rooster was paste embossed with a "sludge" technique. After taping the stencil to the paper, matte yellow and matte orange pastes were placed on the stencil. When the palette knife swipes over the surface, the colors smear into each other. Another way to create a similar technique is to save your paste mixes in a separate container and use them just for this type of look. The border across the bottom was create with the same pastes, using the new Stripes stencil. Paste emboss one direction. Allow to dry. Then paste-emboss the stripes in the opposite direction to create a plaid effect. Be sure to continually check the Dream It Up! blog and the rest of the Dream Team's blogs for more inspiration!

 Dreamweaver Stencils:
LG732 Rooster
LX7002 Stripes
LG704 Birthday Words
DMYP Matte Yellow Embossing Paste
DMOP Matte Orange Embossing Paste

Bazzill Cardstock
white cardstock
buttons

A Stampendous Valentine Treat!

 Today's post is a cute and quick gift idea for Valentine's Day. A pocket is created from various print and solid cardstocks, punched borders, and stamped wrappers featuring Stampendous' latest Valentine's releases, "Happy Day Square" and Class A' Peel Mirror Red finish "Scrollwork Hearts". A ribbon is wrapped around the chocolate bar and tied at the top. A Nestie die cut layered medallion is attached at the top with the CAP heart sticker. The bar slides in and out of the pocket for easy access!

Stampendous:
"Happy Day Square" (F205) (also in Cling CRF205)
Class A' Peel "Scrollwork Hearts" (AC1010MRR)

Warm Red ColorBox Chalk Ink from Clearsnap
gingham paper
white, red cardstock
Fiskar Border Punch
Nestabilities Scalloped Circles, Classic Circles
polka dot ribbon
chocolate bar

Dream Schemes-Rainy Day Door (New Releases!)

 No, I am not a rainy day blogger. I know I've been away for several weeks, but believe me...I am so glad to be back to creating and blogging. My MIL passed away on January 16th. I spent her last three weeks caring for her and was there at the very end. I had promised her that I would be with her through it all, and I'm glad that I was able to keep that promise. We spent the last couple of weeks planning and having her memorial service, and cleaning out her mobile home. So exhausting. Her memorial went very well. So many came from all over to celebrate her life. We fed over 125 afterwards at the clubhouse in her mobile home park. She was really well known for her gardening skills, especially her beautiful plumeria. With the help of a plumeria expert, we gave cuttings to everyone

who attended along with instructions on planting and caring for them. She would have loved that. The day after her memorial, I was able to attend the Craft and Hobby Association convention in Los Angeles. For the first time, I got to meet several of my Dreamweaver Stencils Dream Team members. It's amazing how crafting can bring people together like old friends. The Dreamweaver booth was chock full of all of our team's beautiful samples, featuring wonderful techniques, and exciting new release stencil images. The card that I am posting today uses three of these new images. I loved the idea of looking out a window to watch the birds in the rain. The new Rain stencil was paste-embossed on acetate with translucent paste and glitter. The Birds on Bare Branches stencil was paste-embossed with black matte paste on white. The panel at the bottom of the door was Nestie cut and run through the Big Shot to emboss with an ink covered stencil for more contrast. Be sure to visit the blogs of the rest of the team listed at right, as well as the Dream It Up! blog for more amazing inspiration and peeks at all the latest new release images.

Dreamweaver Stencils:
Birds on Bare Branches (LG733), Rain (LJ905), Lovebirds Heart (LL3011)
Matte Black Embossing Paste (DMBP), Translucent Embossing Paste (DEPT)

Stampendous Multi Ultra-Fine Crystal Glitter (GM220U)
red linen, black linen, white cardstock
acetate
brad fastener (Queen & Co)
Nestabilities Small Labels