Rogue Redhead Victorian Valentine

Hello!  I'm trying desperately to get back to the land of art and papercrafting.  Our family have been on the go nonstop with sports.  I did, however, get a quiet moment today to create a flowery little number in the style of a Victorian scrap Valentine.  All of the floral images are from Rogue Redhead Designs' Floriculture plate, and the sentiment is from the Snow Hugs plate.  The floral images are stamped and colored with Copics (with the exception of the ferns, which are simply stamped in green ink).  The flowers and sentiment are layered over the top of a red paper doily and some patterned paper that I ran through a Tim Holtz Postmark embossing folder.  Of course, everything is shabby chic-ed up with some Distress Ink, in antique linen vintage photo, and tattered rose.

I hope everyone's staying safe and warm!

Rogue Redhead Rebel Challenge #3

Hello lovelies, I've finally gotten some time to play!  As some of you know, my kids go to a year-round school, and they have been tracked out for the last week..... you'll note, I haven't crafted in a week.  Coincidence?  I think not!  Anyway, I decided to play along with the Rebel Challenge over at Rogue Redhead Designs.  This time, the challenge is to "Think Outside the ATC."  We are to let some feature of our ATC break out of the 2.5 x 3.5 inch boundary. 

For my ATC, I used some Prima paper and the lovely little swinging children from the Relish Reading plate.  Colored them with Copics and let them "swing" from a diecut branch.  My "outside" element is the sun, which is an image from the Floriculture plate, punched out with a Martha Stewart punch that fits it perfectly.

I hope you'll have time to play along with Rebel Challenge #3.  You have until October 9th to link up your creation, you can use any products you'd like (you don't have to use Rogue Redhead stamps, but we'd love it if you have some!), and.... one lucky participant will win a $15.00 US voucher at the RRD Etsy store!  Oh yeah, some of this vintage goodness could be yours. Sounds fun, eh?  :)

(P.S..... special thanks to Linda of My Happy Place... I borrowed the cute little easel she sent me that usually holds her beautiful mini canvas on my desk.... it's perfect for taking photos of ATCs!  Thanks, Linda x!)

Less Is More Shades of Blue Challenge

I'm playing along for the first time today over at Less Is More.  The challenge for Week 22:

SHADES of BLUE

You can use a white card base, but they do want to see more than one color of blue, not just one!

I must admit I've been lurking over there for a while - the DT and the folks who participate are extremely talented!!!  I finally just had to take the plunge with this one.

My card uses Rogue Redhead Designs stamps - the "bluebells" are from the Floriculture plate, stamped three times and masked, and colored with Copics.  The background vintage Almanac image is from the Relish Reading plate (from Stamp Diva).  I added some Tim Holtz tissue tape, colored with Copics, to the top and bottom of the image panel to make it look like the image was just haphazardly stuck there.  The background is Glimmer Mists.  Very flat, very mailable, very fun ;).

 

Tomorrow I will finally have my second-ever blog candy.... Bluebird Blog Candy (say that 5 times fast!)... celebrating all of you lovely artists who inspire and encourage me every single day.  Hope all of my US friends have a fabulous and fun July 4th!

A Rogue Redhead at the Play Date Cafe

My post title almost sounds like a summer novella, LOL!  When I saw the new color palette PDCC88 at The Play Date Cafe, I immediately thought of this beautiful image of Blanket flowers from Rogue Redhead Designs' Floriculture plate.  I love the bright summery feel of both the image and the color palette.  The image is colored by scribbling Memento markers directly onto the stamp.  I then went in and added color using both Memento and Copic markers.  I found some gorgeous, bright patterned papers and diecuts in my stash from Crate Paper (Restoration - luv!) and Fancy Pants that were the perfect colors. I added a sentiment from the Bits and Pieces set, paper tape from 7Gypsies, some glittered butterflies (Martha Stewart punch), and a bit of lace trim.

I'd like to say Happy Canada Day to all our northern friends!  I hope everyone has a fabulous summer weekend.  I am seriously trying to get back into the swing of crafting.... sorry I've been away for so long, neglecting my little blog.  Since we got back from the beach I've been doing the spring cleaning that never got done during the proper season, lol!  I'll leave you with a few pictures from our trip.  We were on beautiful Topsail Island of North Carolina, watching the sunrise and the full moonrise, taking long strolls along the tideline, playing with crabs, and watching the dolphins.  It was a glorious time. *sigh*

Sunrise

Moonrise

Kids (with lots of sunscreen on!)

Crabs

Dolphins

Lilies on Kraft Glassine

Happy, happy Friday (the double happy is for the long weekend upcoming, LOL!).  I posted this card over at Rogue Redhead Designs and almost forgot to post here.  I wanted to do a little experimenting with Tim's new Kraft Glassine.  I must admit, I ordered it online and when I got it, I was somewhat disappointed.  It isn't at all like the white glassine of "envelope fame" that we all know and love - it's thicker, and much more opaque.  I put it away thinking I'd get around to figuring it out later, then sort of forgot about it.  Then I saw a few posts about it by Roni over at Ink Stains, and decided to get it out.

For this card, I stamped the Lily of the Valley image from the Floriculture plate using Archival black ink, then colored it in with Prismacolor pencils.  I was pleased with how well the pencil took to the paper.  (BTW, I didn't try coloring on the reverse side of this one... I'm not sure if it matters or not, that is, whether one side is "waxed" and one not).  I cut it out and attached it to some vintage music using 7 Gypsies patterned tape.  Very simple, easy, and different.  This would also make a cute series of cards, each using a different color tape and cardstock.

Blogger is still up to its tricks..... my followers have disappeared!  Hopefully blogger will find you soon. ;)

Rosy Notes Peek

A little peek at what I've posted over at the Rogue Redhead Designs blog today.... a bit of fun with some clean and simple vintage notes.  Yep, CAS and vintage, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!!  I'd love for you to pop on by and have a look.  Hope you all have a fun Friday!

Re-Posting a Rogue Redhead Card

Hmmmm.... in the great Blogger Blackout, one of my most recent posts mysteriously disappeared!  Has this happened to you?  And will they ever come back..... that is the question.  I must admit, it was very unsettling not to be connected with our little blogging community - everything felt so silent!  I'm re-posting this card (who knows, maybe I'll end up with two eventually), using the new Rogue Redhead Designs Floriculture plate.  I stamped on patterned paper and colored the lilies of the valley with colored pencils.  I also stamped and colored a small 1" circle of the same image with Copics, then adhered it to one of Tim's fragments to make a little charm to tie onto my bow.  The patterned papers are from Bo Bunny and Memory Box.

You can visit the Rogue Redhead Blog to see some more cards that I made... very summery and fun.  Hope Blogger behaves. Happy Weekend!

Floriculture from Rogue Redhead Designs

Back today with another card created with the new Rogue Redhead Designs plate, Floriculture.  For this one, I used the two rose images to create a soft, romantic background.  The two images are actually mirror images of each other, which is perfect for ensuring just the right amount of variation in a background like this.  I first inked up the cardstock with Tattered Rose, Antique Linen, and Tea Dye Distress Inks.  Then I stamped the two rose images repeatedly in Victorian Velvet.  The beautiful sentiment is from the Floriculture plate, as well.  Of course, I had to get my favorite embellies in there, too.... crinkly ribbon, vintage text, and bling. ;)  I think this would make a gorgeous wedding or anniversary card.

Happy Mother's Day tomorrow to all the US moms, grandmas, and "like-a-mother-to me's"!

Rogue Redhead Designs New Release!

Well, I said I'd have something fun and new coming up, and this is it!  This is a long post, but stick around to the end for a very special somethin'......  

April showers may bring May flowers and this Spring brings the new Floriculture plate from Rogue Redhead Designs!  This one is right up my street, for sure, with gorgeous vintage floral images.  Bringing together focal images, sentiments, and decorative elements, this set lets you create a variety of nature-themed projects.  Perfect for coloring or just on their own, these vintage botanical images are made with high quality, deeply etched rubber so you can make great impressions. Oh yes, this rubber is gooooood.

For the card above, I stamped and embossed the lily of the valley image onto vellum.  I made sure to use a strip of vellum cut "lengthwise", so that I could wrap it around the patterned paper panel.  Before I adhered it, though, I wrapped a length of silk ribbon around the panel twice, then tied it in a bow.  I love how you can see the wrapped ribbon through the vellum.  I added a sentiment created from a second RRD set being released today......

The brand-new Rogue Redhead Designs Bits and Pieces plate is a versatile collection of common sentiments, which you can mix and match.  In addition to the easy-to-use greetings, Rogue Redhead has also included some simple shapes to create fun effects on your cards.  A great set for lovers of the Clean and Simple style, this set may be used alone or in conjunction with any of the other Rogue Redhead plates.  And of course, since I can't just leave CAS alone, I had to use one of the images to make a little shabby chic type of card.  

For the background, I first blended Distress Inks in Victorian Velvet, Tea Dye, Antique Linen, and Tattered Rose all over the base.  Then I inked up the circle stamp from Bits and Pieces in various different Distress Ink colors.  Now, here's the thing.... in order to get the soft wash look, you have to "know your ink pad."  Some of my pads were very juicy, and I had to stamp off once in order to get a subtle color.  Others I could just ink up and stamp the first inking directly to the card.  Experiment on scrap first.  BUT, before stamping, I did one final step.  After getting the right amount of colored ink on my stamp, I used the "rock and roll" method around the edges, taking the circle and inking just the edges of it with Tea Dye.  Cool look, huh?  That cute sentiment is from the Bits and Pieces set, too.  The Cosmo bud is another great image from the Floriculture plate.

Okay, your reward for sticking with me.....  Rogue Redhead Designs is offering these great half-size plates for the introductory price of $12.00 each, 20% off their regular retail price of $15.00 each, until June 10, 2011.  Buy Floriculture and Bits and Pieces as a bundle and save even more!  Get both these new releases together for the bundle price of $22.50 until June 10, 2011.  That's 25% off their regular retail price!

Oh, but the best is of course saved for last......  RRD is also offering a "Spring Sale Big Vintage Bundle" - Relish Reading, Floriculture and Bits and Pieces - all for the low price of $42.00 plus shipping and handling.  That's a lot of beautiful rubber (one whole plate and two half plates!).  Vintage heaven, I tell ya. ;)  And yep, you guessed it, this one only lasts until June 10, 2011, too.  

Thanks for stopping by, and I urge you to go visit the Rogue Redhead Designs blog to get some spring stampin' fever.... I mean, more inspiration!