Character Cafe Feature Friday

Christmas is almost here! Anything goes this week as long as it's sparkly! So, I used the snowman from this month's releases and put some Stickles over a flocked title.

Like It Love It Gotta Have it Challenge for January

Well, we had a little time off on the swaps for Paper Wishes, and I'm really glad - I over-committed myself in October and November and didn't know how I was going to get it all done. So welcome to getting ready for a new year! This will be posted on the Paper Wishes site on December 15 but it is for January so put your thinking caps on, but you can wait until January to dig in and create something fabulous!

What I'd like to introduce to you today is a technique I've seen in several magazines, and Gina K had a version of it on her videos - this is my first time trying it. Basically you stamp an image twice - once on one color background and with a complementary ink and embossing powder, then you stamp it again in reverse. Here I'm stamping white on red, and red on white.

The trick to this is being sure your image is exactly placed in the same place on both pieces of cardstock. If you have a stamp positioner, this is the time to use it! Unfortunately, this is one little gadget I have yet to acquire. So, I chose the size of my paper not too much bigger than the image so I could just center the image and hopefully all would come out alright and it did!

Here are my two images stamped on 5" x 5" squares. The first is using a white embossing powder on a dark red cardstock. The second I had some tensil embossing powder and decided to try using a glittered cardstock. I wasn't sure how the image would stamp on this type of paper, but it did great! So the glitter and tensil adds a little sparkle as well!

Then, I cut each image into 1" strips. When applying the strips to your base, you just alternate the pieces - one from the white image and one from the red image. The cool thing about this technique is you end up with two cards!

Like It

I cut mine into 5 pieces, but you can do just 2 - half and half. In fact I have an old card that does just this! Notice how the designer of this card made it extra interesting by using reverse colors on the background, and adding a dark border!

Not a stamper? Try this with two patterned papers - you can often find a single pattern printed in several colorways - see if you can match them up!

Love It

Try the 1" strips like I did

Gotta Have It

You could do more, smaller strips, or even cut them up and do a checkerboard pattern. You could even fussy-cut around the image and replace one side with the other instead of using straight cuts. Try this and see what you can come up with!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Character Cafe Feature Friday

This week we're looking for foil and shiny stuff. I used the new year baby image from this month's releases at The Character Cafe and used one of the great foil papers from Hot Off the Press - I love these papers - they're much thicker than average, so they're good not only for pages and cards, but also for making boxes.

Winner of Snowmobiling Image from the December Character Cafe Blog Hop

Julye - you're the winner! I've sent you the images in email.

CONGRATULATIONS!

List Randomizer

There were 2 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Julye
2. darling Ho

Timestamp: 2010-12-14 21:32:32 UTC

Feature Friday at The Character Cafe

I had some fun this week with one of the new December images at The Character Cafe. Our challenge was to use glitter, and it worked out well with one of my purchases from Black Friday! This cute rocket would be great for a kid's valentine! I got one of the 50-page bundles (well, I actually bought all three!) from Bo-Bunny. This paper was in the birthday/party pack and I thought it fit well with the rocket and a boy theme. So I glittered up the gears and swirls with Stickles and added some foil stars. I shaded the background with my Copics but the edges weren't as smooth as I'd like, so I used a stiple brush with black ink to smooth out the gradation of lighter blue to black in the background.

Like this image? You can get it here.

The Character Cafe December Blog Hop!

It's that time of the month again in a good way - blog hop time! This month my image is a fun one - snowmobiling! If you like this image (named Sledding) you can get it at The Character Cafe or leave a comment at the end of this post and you could win it!

Also, if you leave comments on all the blogs in the hop, and at the last stop, you could win a gift certificate to The Character Cafe as well! So if you started on my blog go to the Character Cafe Store to start at the beginning (the link is below).

Here's the order:

Start at The Character Cafe Store
DJ - Moon Rocket
Joyce - Sledding
Chelsea - Top Hat Baby
Lola - Snow Friendly
Jessica - Snow Friendly
Nancy - Sledding
Cleota - Top Hat Baby
Deanette - Sledding
Fink - Snow Friendly
End: The Character Cafe Blog

And finally, here's my card for this hop. Hope you like it. In December we're amping up the bling! You'll see glitter, foil papers, rhinestones, anything sparkly! On this card, I used irridescent watercolors for the sky, a pearlescent white cardstock that I embossed with a swirly design to simulate snow swirls, peel offs from Magenta, rhinestones, and a great product I found a couple of years ago called Faux Snow.

Another Challenge - Holiday Cards

This week I chose to use another Character Cafe design to enter the challenge at Our Daily Bread. This is a lovely Thanksgiving/Fall design:

Cosmo Cricket Challenge

One of the reasons I enjoy being on design teams is that you sometimes get assignments that are outside of your comfort zone - either in what you are to make, how you are to make it, or color outside of your favorites. One of the assignments I had from the local store I design for - Wiggles and Giggles, was to make a layout from the new Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 line, which is one of the trend you see now with the retro colors - which are REALLY not my colors! You know me - I love bright colors, especially jewel tones. This is about as far away from that as you can get! :)

Anyway - two of the phrases on the two embellishment sheets I was given sparked what pictures I might use: "You and Me. Always." and "Home is Where the Heart Is." At first I thought about recording all the places we had lived, but I couldn't find the pictures! (That worries me, and I'll have to follow up on where all my pictures are!) So then I decided to use pictures of us at different stages in our relationship. I found a picture from our wedding reception, a professional portrait we had done about 5 years in, and then one of us taken at Christmas a few years ago. I then added in a couple of pictures with the grandkids. I cut out some of the motifs from another piece of the paper in the collection, and added some pearls I had in my stash that matched the colors really well - I got them at Michaels - it had the red, green and gold all together!

I think it turned out pretty good in the end! What do you think? The pictures got a little skewed in the scanning, but you can get the idea.

Feature Friday at The Character Cafe

This week our challenge was to use neutral colors and to make a flower. I used the cardinal image released this month with a scrap of Anna Griffin paper I had that was just perfect -neutral colors and Christmas to boot! I then added a poinsettia I made out of a stamp from Holly Berry House. The center of the flower is actually a white brad that I covered with gold Stickles.

Winner of Last Week's Blog Hop - Festive Lion from The Character Cafe

Congratulations Linda S! You are the winner of the Festive Lion image from The Character Cafe!

There were 4 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

Linda S
craftymom205
Jennifer
Anne
Timestamp: 2010-11-12 13:43:58 UTC

Paper Sundae's Challenge #43 Let It Snow

I thought I would use The Character Cafe's new November release for this challenge. It is a nostalgic image of a father and son bringing home a Christmas tree. Like it? Get it HERE!

Christmas Layout Class at Wiggles & Giggles December 4

I'll be teaching a Christmas class at Wiggles and Giggles in Wethersfield on December 4 at 1:00. We'll make two layouts and three cards! Yeah, I know, ambitious! We'll be working with this cool kit from Creative Imaginations that comes with 23 sheets of paper and a sticker sheet and red gems! Even after we make the layouts and cards you'll still have paper to play with!

Here's what they layouts look like - the two-page spread was designed by Lori Gentile - I designed the rest. The layouts are fairly simple, so anyone can take the class. It does require some detail cutting, however, so if that's not your thing, you will want to consider that.

November Blog Hop at The Character Cafe - Friday 11/5

It's blog hop time again! The Character Cafe has some great holiday images just released for you. Come see what the design team has done! Visit each blog and leave comments at each, and at the Character Cafe blog, for your chance to win two new release images AND a $5.00 gift certificate to The Character Cafe. I will also be giving away my image, Festive Lion, from the folks leaving comments on this blog!

My image, Festive Lion is below. However, if you didn't come here from Chelsea's blog, and you want to participate in the blog hop, you need to start at the beginning - go to The Character Cafe Store to start.

Here is the complete order and what everyone is working on:

Jessica - Harvest
Joyce - Christmas Tree Shopping
Deanette - Cardinal
Georgia - Remy & Fredrik
Fink - Harvest
Cleota - Stefan & Katherine
Lola - Christmas Tree Shopping
Chelsea - Cardinal
Nancy - Festive Lion
Back to the Character Cafe Blog!

OK - here he is: Festive Lion! I colored him with my Copics, and mounted him using my Spellbinders Nestabilities. I used Christmas papers from Hot Off the Press's Ultimate Christmas Creative Pack and added a gold Dazzle border and some punched out shapes. Of course I had to add some bling! So I added Stickles to the punched elements.

Once you leave your comment here, proceed on to The Character Cafe blog! You're almost done! :)

Nancy

Exciting Give-Away on Etsy!

I belong to a group of cardmakers on Etsy called Etsy Greetings. Beginning Monday, and running the entire month of November, whenever you buy a card from one of the Etsy Greetings Team sites, you have the opportunity to be entered in a drawing (one entry for each card you purchase). Each member of the team has donated one card for the drawing with the theme of "Red." They can be holiday cards, but do not have to be - they just have to have red in them. The winner of the drawing will receive the entire package of cards!

To learn more about the give-away and see some of the cards in the drawing as well as others created by the team go to www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com.

To visit my shop (please!) go to www.sandersnan.etsy.com

Once you buy a card, you will need to go to the Etsy Greetings site above, and fill out a form to be entered in the give-away. You will need to record the transaction number and name of the site where you bought your card.

Good luck! Please visit our team's sites and enjoy what we have available - there are a lot of different styles from clean and simple to ornate! And of course, if you like dog and cat cards - buy from me! :)

Nancy

Friday Challenge at The Character Cafe

Happy Friday everyone! This week our challenge was to use orange again, this time with a die cut, 3 circles and ribbon. I used the same image as last week - the mallard, but look how different it looks with this layout! If you like this image you can get it at The Character Cafe.

Challenge #8 - Crafty Emma's

Crafty Emma has a challenge this week for a male birthday card. I thought this image from The Character Cafe would be perfect! I love nature scenes and what is better for a masculine card?! This is one of the new releases for the month of October. If you like it, get it here!

500 Followers Blog Candy at Feline Playful! WOW!

Check out this blog candy from Feline Playful! Wow - how generous!

As for the blog candy, you will get all this plus a $10 USD gift certificate to a place of the winner's choice: 300 sheets 6x6 designer paper (not shown) Sweet Shapes stamp set by Stampin' Up Good Friend stamp set by Stampin' Up Send A Celebration stamp set by Stampin' Up Birthday Best stamp set by Stampin' Up Wee Watercolors stamp set by Stampin' Up Tags and More stamp set by Stampin' Up Paint Prints stamp set by Stampin' Up Holiday Minis stamp set by Stampin' Up Small Script stamp set by Stampin' Up Polka Dots and Paisley stamp set by Stampin' Up Painted Posies stamp set by Stampin' Up Tag Alphabet stamp set by Stampin' Up Everyday Flexible Phrases stamp set by Stampin' Up Abstract Impressions Fancy Notes stamp set by Hero Arts Shaded Circles stamp set by Endless Creations Simplicity Corner Slot Punch by Stampin' Up Wrought Iron Corner Slot Punch by Stampin' Up Eyelet setter kit Tim Holtz ruler 5 sets of eyelets For a chance to win all this all you need to do is be a follower and mention the 500 Followers Blog Candy on your blog, either in a post or on your sidebar, with a link back to Feline Playful. Once you do please enter the draw using the linky widget below. Please enter only once though using your main blog URL, thank you! You will have until midnight on November 5th to enter the draw (see linky widget below for remaining time to enter). I will randomly select and announce the winner on November 6, 2010. This post will remain at the top until then so please scroll down for daily posts! Here is the link to Feline Playful.

Friday Challenge at The Character Cafe

This week the challenge was to use one of the new releases for October, to use orange, 3 squares, and 3 flowers. I decided to really make this a challenge and use the Christmas image - Christmas and orange!? Oh my! Here's what i came up with. Check out the Character Cafe Blog to see what the other design team members did!

Free Turkey Digi!

I found this cutest little free turkey digi at Digital Delights! Go get him here. They are having a contest with this image and you can get $10 in free digis! Here is the address for the challenge.

Paper Wishes Challenge for November

The Like It Love It Gotta Have It Swap for November at Paper Wishes is about doodling. I ran across an ad from Outlines Rubber Stamps using a technique I learned back in the 4th grade. Evidently someone has turned this into a major trend/fad - there are workshops to learn how to do it, there are products you can buy - you name it! It's called Zentangles.

Here's a link to the main Zentangles site and the Zentangles blog where you can see all kinds of intricate designs folks have made there. There are even Zentangled sneakers! Check out some of the things people have done:

Now let's bring this back to paper crafting! Here's the image that caught my attention from the Outlines Rubber Stamp ad:

To do this, you need to find an image that has a lot of open area to fill in with designs. I found this butterfly image from kpink worked well.

You're not limited to just black and white - you can use any color, but you want to be sure to use something that has enough contrast to make the design show up.

I look forward to seeing what folks come up with this month. To join the challenge, go to the Paper Wishes Message Board (www.PaperWishes.com). Click on Message Board and then go to the Challenges section.

And the Winner Is...

The winner of the drawing from comments on my blog for the Character Cafe Blog Hop last Friday is

scrappingdragon!

You win the featured digi that I used - Pokey (the little snail). I'll email you details on how to get your file.

List Randomizer

There were 8 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. scrappingdragon
2. racinggrandma61
3. Josephine
4. dj1952
5. Gail
6. Lora Oliver
7. Lawren
8. Thea

Timestamp: 2010-10-14 14:34:35 UTC

I always like to let you know about great deals and contests! Here's a chance to win a The Paper Tower from The Original Scrapbox! To enter go to Priscilla's Styles.

1. 
   
2. 
   

The Character Cafe Blog Hop October 8

Join in on the fun at The Character Cafe Blog Hop for October showcasing all the new releases this month! Complete a tour of all the blogs and you will be in a drawing to win a $5.00 certificate and 2 new release images. Leave a comment here and you will also be in a drawing for the newly-released image - Pokey!

To start at the beginning you should go here.

If you are already in the Hop, you should have come from Chelsea's blog. After you are finished here, you will go to Lola's blog.

To participate for a chance to win free digi's, leave a comment at each blog (it would be nice if you would become followers as well!). At the end, you will need to leave a comment at the Character Cafe blog.

Now on to the fun! Here's Pokey. He's a fun little snail released this month. Isn't it true? Snail mail IS the best mail!! Don't you just love getting a hand-crafted card from a friend in the mail?

Remember - leave a comment, then you will move on to Lola's blog....

Thanks for dropping by!

Thank you for voting!

Thank you everyone who voted for me in the Paper Wishes September challenge using Color-Me Papers. I was a runner up! I get a $25 gift certificate - yay! You can see the other winners on the Paper Wishes website (www.paperwishes.com). The next contest is using Christmas Dazzles - come join the fun!

Nancy

Paper Wishes Blog Hop

Come Join Paper Wishes for World Card Making Day and you can WIN! Starting October 1 at 8 AM EST and ending October 3 at 8 AM EST you will have a chance to win some great prizes worth more than $50 -

There will be three total winners, so you have three ways to win:

1. Hop to each blog listed below
• Leave a comment at each one
• Become a Follower at each blog
• Write down the Paper Wishes product featured on the blogs
• Send a Private message to Swaps Albums on the Paperwishes Forum: http://forum.paperwishes.com/member.php?u=2271 (If you have questions, email angela@sewmanycards.com for help) telling us all of the products being featured.

2. Hop to each blog listed below
• Leave a comment at each blog
• Become a Follower at each blog
• One random winner will be chosen from the comments


3. Hop to each blog listed below
• Leave a comment at each one
• Become a Follower at each blog
• Make a project using mostly Paper Wishes products
• Send a Private message to Swaps Albums on the Paper Wishes Forum: http://forum.paperwishes.com/member.php?u=2271 (If you have questions, email angela@sewmanycards.com for help) with a link to your project of a picture.

You should have come to my site from Jen's. When you leave here you will go to Precious Thoughts, .

Here is information for my project that you can get at Paper Wishes: (well not really the project that I made, but this is my assigned product that you need to record to enter to win.)

Paper Flair Feminine Card Kit plus 10 Cards & Envelopes

Price: $11.59

Now on to the next site! Have fun!


Never Try to Teach a Pig to Sing: http://unteachablepig.blogspot.com/
Cher-ing Paper Memories: http://cheringpapermemories.blogspot.com/
Montserrat Native: http://montserratnative.blogspot.com/
Becca's Heart for Creativity : http://www.beccasheartland.blogspot.com/
Crafty Imaginings by Jen: http://craftyimaginingsbyjen.blogspot.com/
Nancy's Creative Space: http://www.nancyscreativespace.blogspot.com/
Precious Thoughts, : http://www.preciousthoughtscards.blogspot.com/
Penny's Page: http://www.pennydouph.blogspot.com/
Crafty Patti' s Card Crafts: http://pattiscards.blogspot.com/
Sew Many Challenges: http://sewmanychallenges.com/

Red Robin Lane : http://redrobinlane-rgcarr.blogspot.com/

Friday Challenge at The Character Cafe

The Character Cafe has a challenge every Friday. This week the challenge is to use orange, 2 embellishments and ribbon. I was also given this "Simonstein" digi to use. Here's my sample for the challenge! Join in the fun at www.charactercafe.blogspot.com!

Vote for Me!

The Paper Wishes contest this month is using their new Color Me papers - I absolutely love these! They are made to resist ink and have beautiful designs. When heated, the resist areas can also take glitter! Oooh - the possibilities! Here is my submission. Voting starts tomorrow, Monday, September 27 - please vote for me! If I win, I get $100 in Paper Wishes product!

Go to www.paperwishes.com and click on the contest tab to vote.

Mosaic Card Class

Date has been set - I'll be teaching the Mosaic Card class at Stamp and Scrap Nest in Simsbury on Saturday, October 9. Hope to see you there!

Design Team!

I got selected for The Character Cafe's Design Team! Just got the word - more to come!

Mosaic Cards!

People always get excited at crops when they see me working on one of my mosaic pages. Susan at Stamp and Scrap Nest in Simsbury, CT gave me a challenge - the bulk of her customers are card makers so she wanted to see if I could put together a card class. Well! I'd never made cards with this technique but I love a challenge so....I went to the Mosaic Moments websites and got some ideas and this is what I came up with. One (the gift card holder is a direct lift from the design blog at Mosaic Moments.) The class will probably be some time in October.

For more information about card making and scrapbooking with mosaics, click the link I have on the right side of the blog.

Strips and Stripes - Seminole Patchwork

Here's another fun thing to do with strips and stripes! Seminole patchwork comes from the Seminole Tribe and is used in making clothing and decorative fabrics. Do some searches - there are many interesting patterns and they all have a story behind them!

Again I'm cutting my pieces, but you can use striped paper easily enough. This time I'm cutting 1" strips.

Just as in the Bargello technique, glue or tape your strips down to a base piece of paper or cardstock.

When all of your strips are applied, cut away the excess:

Then cut 1" strips across your stripes:

We're going to be laying these down at an angle like so:

Here's a way you can be sure you're getting the first piece laid down at the right angle: Draw a straight line exactly perpendicular. Then lay your first piece down so that the corners are directly on the line.

Then lay down all your additional pieces until your card panel is full.

Next, cut two 1" strips of coordinating solid paper and place them along the top and bottom of your design:

After looking at this on my base card, I decided I wanted the black strips to be a little narrower, so I trimmed them down:

And then all that's left is to add some artwork and a sentiment!