The doors we open

Hi Y'all,
I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th holiday. My husband had Friday through today off so we decided to tackle a huge project we've been discussing for some years. We started earlier this summer building a rock wall around the inside of our 2,500+ gallon earthen koi pond. This weekend we did the other 2/3rds and finished up a couple of hours ago. Whew! What a lot of work but it is well worth it. When we've filled and drained it a time or two to get the water clear we'll put our koi back in the pond. They're not happy in their temp tanks so I know will be thrilled to get back in their home. I'll take pictures once Zippy and Company are back in and things have settled a bit.

Now back to stamping...

The theme this week for the Created Byhand Challenge is fireworks or metallics. I chose to use metal for my sample.

I started out with a Pepsi can I had carefully cut apart, cut is with Spellbinders Labels Eight #4 and #6, then embossed it with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. Sand both inside and outside edges for safety. I used a piece of duplex cardstock, possibly Stardream, that is silver with metallic blue on the reverse. Stamp and emboss saying (Quietfire Design) on piece of silver cardstock large enough to fit behind metal frame. Attach frame to saying layer with double-sided tape. Trace around inside edge of frame with blue gel pen, then while ink is still wet use fingertip to draw color into saying layer and onto frame.

Cut a piece of cardstock to 5"x7" and another to 4 1/4"x5 1/2". Use Scor-It and Scor-It Ruler to create starburst on both pieces. A wonderful tutorial for this can be found at Indigo Inklings. Look under Scor-It Ruler. Thanks Jay! Since the two sizes of layers didn't line up exactly I added lines as needed using the Scor-It and Ruler and just eyeballing it. Add ribbon to both layers, assemble with double-sided tape and attach to 5"x7" card.

Enabler's List:
Rubber Stamp
Spellbinders Labels Eight
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Swiss Dots
Scor-It
Scor-It Sliding Ruler
Gel Extreme Pen, Blue
Sookwang Double-Sided Tape

Thanks for looking.
Hugs,

Sunlight to My Heart

Hi Y'all,
Good morning and Happy Solstice. I glad to see the sun peeking through the clouds today after several days of very soggy weather. The theme this week at Created Byhand Challenges is Sun/Moon or yellow.

I started out by creating the background paper. I'm running low on colored cardstock and instead of rushing to buy more I'm using up some of my supplies to create my own background papers. This time I used Ecoline Watercolor Ink, Turquoise Blue. I used a Pipette, Shortie, to add the ink to a mini-mister, added water, then misted a piece of watercolor paper. Dry and repeat until you get the shade you want.

The sun was created by running a piece of yellow cardstock through a Cuttlebug using the D'Vine Swirl embossing folder. Cut out 4 pieces using Spellbinders Labels Three #2 and 1 piece using Spellbinders Standard Circles Large #2. Add a few drops of Brilliance Pearlescent Yellow ink to a dauber and sponge onto edges of all Labels Three pieces and all over on the circle. Stack the Labels Fifteen pieces in offset layers and put the Circle on top using double-sided tape.

Cut a Spellbinders Standard Circles Large #2 to use as a mask and use Painter's Tape to attach it to the area you want to position the sun. Use Brilliance Dew Drop inkpad, Sunflower Yellow, clear embossing powder and parts of the smaller Flourish (Quietfire Design) to create rays. Remove mask and daub Sunflower Yellow ink around center of rays, then attach sun.

Here's a closer look at the sun and rays:

Stamp and emboss saying (Quietfire Design) on white cardstock with Brilliance Graphite Black ink. Cut out using Spellbinders Labels Fifteen. While the cardstock is still in the die, daub edges with Brilliance Sunflower Yellow.

Attach Sun and background layer to 5"x7" piece of yellow cardstock, add a piece of lace and attach saying. Attach to base card.

Hop on over to Created Byhand Challenges to see what others have done with this them.

Enabler's List:
You are Sunlight
Flourishes 1
Spellbinders Labels Three
Spellbinders Labels Fifteen
Spellbinders Standard Circles Large
Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl Embossing Folder
Ecoline Watercolor Ink
Mini Misters
Pipettes, Shorties
Brilliance Dew Drop Inkpads
Embossing Powder
Arches Watercolor Paper
Sookwang Double-Sided Tape

Thanks for looking. I wish everyone a very happy Solstice, first day of Summer.

Hugs,

New Beginning

Hi Y'all,
Circles and Dots is the theme for the Created Byhand Challenge this week.

The background is white cardstock run through a Cuttlebug with Tim's Retro Circles embossing folder. It was colored using Portfolio Pastels. I scribbled on the various colors and rubbed them in with my fingertip, then spritzed with water to blend and set. Cut out using Spellbinders Labels Seventeen. Stamp and emboss saying (Quietfire Design) on a piece of light green textured cardstock. Tip: if you have broken lines fill them in with a Sakura Glaze pen. Cut out with Spellbinders Lacey Circles. Create basecard and emboss with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots. When assembled, add tiny rhinestones to saying layer.

Enabler's List:
Rubber Stamp
Portfolio Pastels
Tim Holtz Retro Circles
Spellbinders Labels Seventeen
Spellbinders Lacey Circles
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Hugs,

Created Byhand Challenge

Hi Y'all,
This week's theme is White/Breathe. Here's my card:

Sponge Lumiere Pearl White on piece of white cardstock. Stamp and emboss saying (Quietfire Design). Cut out with Spellbinders Labels Seventeen. Emboss a piece of white cardstock using Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl. While cardstock is still in folder tamp over raised area with Brilliance Moonlight White Dew Drop inkpad. Round corners. Create card base and sponge Lumiere Pearl While around edges. Assemble layers.
Enabler's List:
Rubber Stamp
Spellbinders Labels Seventeen
Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl Embossing Folder
Lumiere Pearl White
Brilliance Dew Drop inkpad, Moonlight White

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Hugs,