America The Beautiful

The Created By Hand challenge http://quietfire.ning.com/group/createdbyhandchallenge/forum/topics/fireworksmetallics-1 this week is fireworks/metallics which gave me the perfect excuse to pull out my alcohol inks which I haven't used in a while.  I also used some glossy paper which I haven't used in a very long time.  Glossy paper, alcohol inks, and metallic inks is an excellent combination for a shimmery background.  I didn't have any fireworks stamps or pictures so I used some of my Tim Holtz idea-ology Salvage Stickers - Seasonal collection.  I first used pool colored alcohol ink with Silver metallic ink (Ranger Inks) with my applicator and dabbed it all over my glossy paper.  I then added my stickers.  I first went over with Barn Door red and used perfect pearls blue sapphire.  I then painted liquid white pearls over the entire image.  I finished it off with True Blue Stickles and Icicle Stickles (Ranger Ink).

Lion and Lamb

Peace I leave with you; my peace I Give You John 14:27.  This card was made with my new favorite stamp set that I purchased from Our Daily Bread.  I took black card stock (Stampin' Up) and then took regular white card stock and used Forest Moss and Story Sky Distressed Inks for the grass and sky.  I then cut a small rectangle out and stamped the lion and lamb image and sponged this piece again with Forest Moss and Blue Sky.  I took my refillable ink pens with clover and colored in the grassy areas with Clover alcohol ink.  The lion I colored in with Sand alcohol ink.  I also "painted" over brushing my paint brush in the Forest Moss to blend in with the clover color a little better.  I left the lamb alone so she would remain white.  The bird was colored in with Citrus alcohol ink, and the tag on the bottom was sponged with Old Paper Distressed Ink and the verse was stamped using Adirondack Earthtones Pitch Black Ink pad.  I went over the border with Golden Rod Stickles.

Customized Cards

My mother-in-law asked me to make some Thank You cards to send to people for celebrating her ___th birthday a couple of months ago. I would have liked to play with the black and white picture a little more but I wanted to get these out. I used a tag and put some "newsprint" style paper on the tag. Distressed it with some Tattered Rose (Ranger Ink) and stamped some flowers (SU!) in Red Rose (SU!). I used some alcohol and Liquid Pearls and punched a bird and leaf out. The paper is from 7 Gypsies. 7 Gypsies is m graphic new favorite paper collection. I also have been drawn to paper from graphic 45 which you may have seen in other cards and also is shown here.

Pink Stitched Butterfly

This is to answer Created by Hand challenge "Take a Hike/Stitching" http://createdbyhandchallenge.wordpress.com/http://. I don't do very much stitching and this was a lot of fun. I decided to stamp using the ink applicator with Metallic Silver, Raspberry, and Purple alcohol inks. I punched out the scrolled circle and sponged in Warn Lipstick Distressed Ink and Mambo Mellon (Stampin' Up) because I wanted a brighter pink. I also stamped the words in Mambo Mellon. I added a Rhinestone for good measure and Fruit Punch Stickles.

Lavender Springtime Fun

I love this stamp. She is just so adorable. I used my new marker so now when I have pictures of people they don't have to be as white as a ghost. I can now bring some pinkish/peachy color. Mostly I enjoyed this card because I got to use my new 2 1/2 circle puncher from Stampin' Up and I tried sewing for the first time.

Layering is a bit of a challenge for me. I usually look to people like my friend Julie http://www.stampingimpressions.blogspot.com/ as she is an expert when it comes to layering. I used my background stamp Pretty Petals and I used my alcohol and metallic ink on glossy paper. I love using this technique as it always gives an extra dimension to projects. I used a mixture of Stampin' Up ink (markers) and alcohol ink (Fillable Pen). Enjoy!

Thank you for looking. Next time I hope to answer the challenge from Created by Hand http://createdbyhandchallenge.wordpress.com/ "Welcome/Yellow".

Pearls, Fairies and Pearls a Challenge Answer

Well, it sure took me long enough. I have been contemplating this card for an entire week and I am late. The new week's challenge is already up for http://createdbyhandchallenge.wordpress.com/. Well, since I finished this card, I guess I will go ahead and post it for you to see. The challenge was Fairy Romp, Beads, Pearls. I started with the middle piece where I punched the corners, stamped the swirl in Vintage Photo and painted with a mixture of Gold and Raspberry Liquid Pearls. I love the iridescent look that one captures using Liquid Pearls, and I just cannot wait to get my hands on all the new juicy colors that Ranger Ink is introducing this September. I then went over with the Tim Holtz Reinkers (filled with various alcohol inks). Today's colors are Watermelon and Clover. I used a little Fruit Punch Stickles in the middle of the flowers.

For the small square I punched the scallops and once again stamped the swirl in Vintage Photo. For this, however, I stamped off once on my scrap paper and then stamped again on this square. In this way I received a lighter image of the swirl. I then stamped over the swirl in Black Soot the saying "In the middle of Life, Love gives you a Fairy Tale." This is a beautiful card to send to an engage couple, to use as a wedding or even as an Anniversary Card. I went over this square with Tattered Rose, and Gold Metallic Ink and then painted over with Raspberry Liquid Pearl. I then swiped it over again using Icicle Stickles.

I used my Blending Tool stamped in Spun Sugar and Tea Dye Distressed inks on the card base front.

Thank you for looking. I will have to do better to catch this week's challenge. "Welcom/Yellow". http://createdbyhandchallenge.wordpress.com/

An old picture, some ink and butterflies

My husband's aunt flew in for my mother-in-law's birthday. I had asked her if she could bring copies of pictures of my mother-in-law when she was a child because I wanted to make a book for her. I miscalculated how much time I would actually have to work on the book and will have to make that as a gift and give to her another time. In the mean time, I took a picture of my mother-in-law (when she was a baby) and her grandmother. I painted around the pictures with alcohol ink. I also just gave a touch of a tint on the baby dress. I wanted to add some layers so I framed the picture by cutting a slightly larger square and punching the square with a scalloped corner punch from Stampin' Up. I colored it in Tattered Rose and also went over in Tattered Rose Distressed Stickles. I also added color with alcohol ink, and blending tool. The butterflies were also made by using alcohol ink on glossy paper, and metallic inc and then running the butterflies through the Cuttlebug machine. Finally, I finished the card off with two different size scallop circles and alcohol inc with the wording Look Who's Turning ( ). I am also answering the challenge from Created by Hand Challenge. http://createdbyhandchallenge.wordpress.com/

Tomorrow a customer used a Tim Holtz Mask to make a Beautiful Tie.

Simpler Times

I knew when we went on vacation to Pinetop, Arizona, I would find a different stamp than I usually see. I love the details of this stamp, and the rural setting which reminds me of Pennsylvania. This would have made a perfect stamp for a Father's Day Card for my dad if he were still with us. This stamp just brings back memories of the simplicity of my childhood which is another reason that I liked it so much. Simple. It is hard these days to lead simple lives and it seems that we are hit every day with something new to think or be concerned about and sometimes we just need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and place our faith in our Heavenly Father.

With all of that said, let me tell you a little more about this stamp. We strived on our recent vacation to relax (and that doesn't come easy with 3 young children). However, the goal was to enjoy the resort with the indoor pool, racquetball court, basketball court, pool tables, and ping pong. On some down time I planned on working with my inks but b/c space was limited I tried, really tried to think about what I might need. Paper and inks and that is where I stopped. I didn't bring Stickles with me (unless a couple of bottles accidentally fell into my container - oops) . I didn't bring glitter because I honestly didn't want to deal with embossing and that also would have meant that I would have needed to bring my heating tool so it was really right down to the basic.

I first stamped the image and then with a paint brush I "painted" by dabbing the brush in blue color the sky line. I also did that with the green grass using Peeled Paint. The leaves on the tree were made using a Tim Holtz Refillable Pen and Adirondack Alcohol Inks. I was nervous about bringing my alcohol ink bottles with me b/c of the mess that could be made so I only brought my pens with ink in them. That, I must say worked out perfectly.

Dabbers and Adirondack Alcohol Ink

Friday was like Christmas for me. My latest Ranger Ink order came so I spent Friday night playing with some products that I have been eyeing up for a while. I ordered Tim Holtz Textured Fades Emboss Folders - Damask/Regal Flourishes. It is a two-set embossing folder package. The example on the left is of the Damask Embossing Folder. I used a Pearl Dabber and a Sail Boat Blue Dabber on top of the embossing paper. Both of these are also new for me. I have been wanting to order them for a while but kept pushing it off. I then got some very positive feedback about the dabbers from my fellow on-line blogger, http://cards4ubylouise.blogspot.com/. I heavily dabbed on the outer edge of the larger centered card and then once again dabbed first using the Pearl Dabber. I then stamped my message and floral image. Before I dabbed again with the blue dabber I colored in using my alcohol inks. It made a very interesting effect. (To see a larger image of the card, double click on image and then you can click on the back arrow to come back to this post.)

I colored in the flowers and stems using Adirondack Alcohol Inks and Tim Holtz Refillable Pen. To add ink to the pen you need to use a tweezers and on the larger end pull at the base of the nib. However, do not pull on the nib itself but on the base. Once it is out take the tip of the alcohol ink and add in ink for about 3 - 5 seconds and then put nib back (you'll want to use the tweezers again). You need to then go to the smaller side and this time with the tweezers pull the nib out and once again add the ink for 3 - 5 seconds. Lay the pen down and wait for 5 minutes and then the nibs should no longer be white and you can start using the pen.

The priorities for Linda's Cozy Craft Corner is Customer Service and Great Prices. Please contact me regarding bundling a package together for you for even better prices. For the products above and more, please check out my Etsy store (www.lindascozycraftcorne.etsy.com).

Are you interested in a Tim Holtz or Ranger Ink product? If I have not shown it on my blog or have not listed on my Etsy store, please feel free to enquire to Lindascozycraftcorner@yahoo.com. Even if I don't currently have the item available, I might be able to order that item for you. If I can't obtain that item for you, I will try and direct you to another company that has that product. For example, perhaps there is a color or embossing powder that I do not currently have in stock. I have access to many different colos and would be happy to order a color that you need. Please feel free to contact me for Grungeboard products and Ideology products that I can make available. However, if I receive enough orders, I will be very happy to order it or add it to the next order that I place.