CHA!

Here are a couple of cards that I made for the Couture Cardstock booth at CHA before finding out that our team was being disbanded and the projects would not be needed...I'm sure that even though they're made with sets from last Fall, the Our Craft Lounge girls will be happy to have them in their CHA display!  As this post is going live, I'm boarding my plane, on my way to the Windy City!  Chicago, here we come!

I'll be helping to set up, working the booth and rooming with the OCL girls, and also spending some time walking the floor with the i {heart} papers team.  Can't tell you how excited I am to be spending time with my stamping friends!  It is so fun to actually meet in person the friends you've been chatting with online (or over the phone!)...when you finally meet IRL you feel like you've already known each other forever! 

If I had been free to do completely as I wished, I would have added the pop of some bright orange to these, but I was working on strict orders regarding what to use because the CCS booth had been carefully planned with regard to theme, color harmony, and project groupings...I absolutely adore stamping for Halloween, using these bright colors and sharp contrasts! 

No special techniques, except for the sign post which was cut from an extra tree trunk.  I tried to add lots of shading, depth, texture, layers, and detail to these cards.  They were so much fun to make, and I hope you've enjoyed seeing them!    

Notes:
Our Craft Lounge Holiday Cruiser, Ghostly Greetings, Granny's Potion, Peek a Boo
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
My Mind's Eye Meadowlark patterned paper 
Silk ribbon
Zva Creative crystals
Stickles
We R Memory Keepers flocked lace (for the "road!")
MS web punch
exacto knife

Couture Cardstock

It was only a couple of months ago that I excitedly shared the news that I was joining the Couture Cardstock team, and now I'm sharing sad news. Major financial changes within the parent company, Cardstock Warehouse, have been made, and major restructuring of Cardstock Warehouse is occurring. Despite the recent warm welcome that Couture Cardstock received in the industry, the new structure is leading the company in a direction that eliminates the positions of all the former staff (including Couture President CarrieAnne DeLoach).

It is uncertain what the long-term future of Couture Cardstock or Cardstock Warehouse will be.  Questions may be posed to Cardstock Warehouse staff directly.

It took me a few days to gather my thoughts for this post...the news came completely "out of the blue" when all of us were on a creative high, busy making Couture Cardstock projects for CHA.  It knocked the wind out of my sails and put me in a bit of a melancholy mood for more than a few days.  When that happens it is difficult to create, but it is the very act of creating that lifts the somberness...whether it be lifting voice in song, or putting stamp and ink to paper.

There's always a silver lining, and here the "positive note" is that I met some absolutely amazing designers and made treasured, lasting friendships.  I enjoyed every second that I served on this design team, and I will look forward to seeing where each artist's creative path leads.  To all of you, blessings and warm wishes!

Always Beautiful!

Here's a card made for Couture Cardstock using a beautiful sentiment from Lizzie Anne Designs' Vintage Verses, some glistening pink Zva swirls embellished with Kaiser pearls, and an amazing Prima blossom!  The card's Canvas card stock base was lightly sponged with Sage Shadow ink to emphasize those hues in the flower.  The soft pink satin bow was tied with the Bow Easy.

Notes:
A Rose by Any Other Name Collection:  Brandenburg (CCPK54) and Blessings (CCPK08)
Monochromatics White Collection:  Canvas (CCWH35)

Little Monster!

Don't you just LOVE this adorable Little Monster from Lizzie Anne Designs?! This image just cracks me up, and I don't think I could have had more fun making this card!  I love the mix of girlie-girl colors and frilliness with just enough distress ink and scariness to give this card a Tom-boy feel! Definitely quirky! ;)

Lizzie Anne Designs has an exciting promotion going on TODAY ONLY! We are listing four of our Monthly Mix sets at the club price of $25.00 today (Saturday, May 22nd!)! If you aren't a Mix Member and you would like to try out our stamp sets before deciding to join the club, now is your chance! The following stamp sets are $25.00 today:

It's Good to Be Queen
Singing in the Rain
Celebrate
Christmas Wishes

The retail price for these sets is $39.99 so get them today while you can... we know you'll love our Mix sets. They are a tremendous value.

Also, when you sign up for the club you can choose an additional Mix set for only $10.00! This is 75% off the retail cost. For more information, visit the Monthly Mix Club page HERE!

Visit the Couture Cardstock blog for the step-by-step instructions for the making of this quirky card.  Here's a list with links to the products I used from Lizzie Anne Designs, i {heart} papers, and Couture Cardstock.

Notes:
Little Monsters
Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink
Copic markers
Basic Grey Kioshi designer paper, buttons
Couture Cardstock (Detail Blending Paper, Artistry, Charcoal)
Circles, Labels 3, and Double-ended Tag Nestabilities
Sheer pink ruffle edge ribbon
Tiny pearls (colored w/ Copics), black brads

Artistic Grapes

I'm so excited that today is my first *official* post on Couture Cardstock's blog!  My assignment was to work with the monochromatic family A Rose by Any Other Name, which was a perfect fit for me since pink is one of my favorite colors!

The rich colors of tuber and coppelia inspired me to stamp this image from Hero Arts' Artistic Grapes.  I stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black on detail blending paper cut and embossed with a nestabilities label 10 die, and colored the grapes with a combination of Copic markers and a white Prisma color pencil for highlights.  A vertical strip of Applejack was edged with a MS edge punch and some strips of gorgeous two-toned satin ribbon.  All of the papers were distressed and sponged with Tim Holtz tea-dye ink.  I finished with a bow easy two-loop bow, and a few sparkling jewels.

What's Perking?

I guess I've really been in a coffee kind of mood lately! ;) This dainty cup is from Hero Arts' set, What's Perking, available at i {heart} papers. I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Couture Cardstock's "one sheet wonder," a 150lb white cardstock perfectly suited for one layer cards using Copic markers.  Oh, let me tell you, this stuff is a dream!  Nice, saturated color and NO bleed through!

This clean and simple layout uses Blessings (CCPK08) cardstock from the monochromatic family, A Rose By Any Other Name, punctuated by a lighter weight layer of charcoal card stock (CGBK05), a few black rhinestones and a sheer pink blossom.  The flowers on the cup were given a layer of Glossy Accents to mimic glazed enamel, along with rhinestone centers for more dimension.  The green of the cup and the ribbon ties the whole design together.

I don't know about you, but some hot coffee in a pretty cup just makes me happy!  ;)

Exciting news!

I am so thrilled to be able to share this news with you! I am joining the Couture Cardstock design team!  I feel so honored and blessed to be joining such a talented team of designers!  See 'em all here!

Can't wait for my first box of goodies to arrive!  ;)