Di Hickman's card sketches - Apr 09

My cards for Di Hickman's Apr Sketches.

A post to remind myself as well how much I loved using these papers-

WRMK Tiffany line & CI Marah Johnson's Heiress pps.

when I made these cards

( & still have a load of them ! )

Webster's Pages June Card Challenge

Love Webster's Pages latest challenge -

to simply make a card!

Rather than let these lovely papers languish around

without a great idea for a layout yet, why not make a card ?

I can see it's easy to use up all the leftover WP A Sweet Life & Magical Wishes pps

if I can just focus on making more cards with them ( or a mini album...)

Also finally got round to taking part with CardPatterns weekly card sketch,

using their sketch 18 here.

WP Sweet Life pps,cardstock stickers, green trim,

Vintage Plastic Flower, Prima canvas tag

Teen In Paris

These days 

It seems we should no longer be satisfied with using patterned papers as is - 

admittedly I do like making shaped papers using other die cuts as templates

( i used a Bazzill scalloped die cut here as the template on the G45 pp ) 

Definitely a great idea towards making more unique layouts 

& putting your own stamp 

on your creations. 

My supplies : 

G45 Transatlantique pps, Primas , Dove of the East Shanghai vintage pp, 7 Gypsies Gaffer tape .

Sketch by Stacy Cohen . 

Our church friend , 13 yr old Eliza's first trip to Paris, in June last year .

ICSketches #20 - Go Places

The sponsor this week for ICS is a BRAND NEW company that was started by Melyssa Connolly. She has started Whimsie Doodles, a digital stamp and cutting file store, on etsy.
If you stop by her blog, you can also find out about her Design Team Call!!!!

Also this week on the ICS blog there is a Whimsie Doodles-This Bud's for you Digistamp for free. Now this is for all readers.
So be sure to grab it by clicking on the image.
Create a card or project with these amazing digistamps.

==================
Wow , that's quite a bit of fun going on at ICS !

It's a very nice, safe,warm place to go take part in a card challenge .
You will always be made to feel very welcomed .

& that's in no small part due to the philosophy of ICS' owner , Dawn !

Yes , so let's play on -

My card this week uses more MM Great Escape pps& journaling spot,
MM Passport sticker & button, DCWV Animal Crackers cardstock,
a scrap of Prima red glittered transparency ,
K&Co Life Journey journaling tag.

I tried to make a little scene ...

here,

but not really.

Check out what my friend , Carole Janson , Queen of 3D,

did with her Pink Paislee Layout Scene !!!

Now that's really taking 3D to the next level !

I'm only just figuring how to make things stand on a layout,

definitely not even exploring diorama concepts yet . lol.

Using my fave Rouge De Garance Adele line :les gourmandises pp & some Jolee's like dimensional stickers. & a bit of Seafoam Glimmer Mist. Sketch by Amanda Muirhead.

My photo( created at photofunia.com ) is that of a billboard so I thought it would be fun to make it stand here .

Otherwise , it is held down by 2 dimensional stickers on the left & right.

My journaling is prompted by the latest Creative therapy challenge :

Tell us about one thing you’d change about yourself (physical or otherwise).

2 more pics hidden & the
journaling reads :

Peaches and cream complexion !

Give me smooth face skin to change anytime!

Fortunately I can do that with my photos... anyday ...

I am not blessed with flawless skin , at the mo for sure .

Just having some fun , exploring ideas...

Di Hickman's May Card Sketches

"Wish" card for May #3
Supplies: Bazzill Swiss Dot CS ,Prima Florals , Vellum , May Arts Ribbon ,Tim Holtz's Adage ticket

This one was for May #4

supply list : Rose Moka pps , DCWV Sweets dimensional sticker, K&CO dimensional sticker , Cuttlebug Embossing Folder -D'vineSwirls

Di's doing a card sketch a day for the month of June .
She's re-visiting her old sketches
so do hop over & join in at anytime if you need to make a batch of quick & easy cards !

Postcard from Paris - G45/Dove of the East

I don't know why I don't create layouts like this one all the time . 

Definitely an all time fave using a 52weeks52sketches by Julie Bonner ! 

I can't believe I created this using a sketch as inspo too .

Lots of layers on foam pads  going on here : 

The base background paper is a Dove of the East Shanghai Vintage pp. 

The circle shape uses a G45 Transatlantique paper. 

The Eiffel Tower pp is from Dove of the East Paris Vintage collection as is the postcard layer . 

Some cutouts out of Prima Flocked transparency were added to give some pop in black. 

I absolutely loved doing these Paris themed layouts . 

Which reminds me , I should also try some layouts with Paris papers

 but not necessarily with Paris pics ! 

 

Ridiculously FABulous !!!!

I just learnt this new term today & had to share where it came from : 

http://www.shabbyblogs.com/

Check it out for more great blog backgrounds  &  extras ! 

And while we're at it 

some Ridiculously Fabulous links : 

Fairy Davis exquisite Ribbon Work 

Artistic Bliss Blog 

Graphic 45 Member Gallery 

Highly Original inspirations

 if I may say so ! 

ICS #19

My card as a participant this week for ICS #19 . 

Using new  MM Great Escape Journaling spot,pin, pp; DCWV cardstock ,

Colorbok Friendly Forest dimensional chipboard  sticker,

Primas , Love, Elsie Zoa epoxy sticker, MayaRd velvet ribbon 

TFL! 

My Little Sketch Blook Monthly Challenge

My friend , Liz , has decided to give out a little RAK each for using her sketches . 

& this month's RAK is the Crate Paper Lemon Grass collection kit ! 

Do check out her sketches here .

I had a go at her May 24th sketch 

which is also for the OLW Yes prompt . 

Using new Fancy Pants Kraft Cuts Letters Floral, Flair Design Fresh &  Fabulous pp , 

Purple Maya Mist , K&Co Journal Tags , Prima Swirls ,

 Chatterbox Oh So fabulous treasures ,Colorbok Forest Friends Chipboard shapes

Such Sweet Tierney first DT reveal !

For a full team reveal 

head on over to 

http://suchsweettierney.blogspot.com/

You will want to have these button in YOUR hands too 

after you see what my AWESOME DT team members 

did with them ! 

I made a total of 4 projects with the buttons I was given

 ( & I only had one pc left ) 

I'll be posting them on the Such Sweet Tierney's Flickr Group too. 

This card was meant as a Thank You card 

for my DS's Maths Teacher 

who was leaving the school.

So I also put the Crafty Little Secrets' Heartwarming Vintage Stickers - Teacher themed to good use here - together with some new Anna Griffin pps , Prima Cadoobles,Red & White  Vintage Baker's Twine , Webster's Pages trim in green , Fancy Pants pin 

Kitchen/ food themed cards

The latest mini challenge this weekend over at My Scrapbook Nook 

is to make 

cards with food themes! 

Anything kitchen related qualifies 

& we had to use chipboard !

 

Well the one time that I did not buy a coordinating 

Chipboard set with the Cosmo Cricket Early Bird  line 

proved its cost ! 

It definitely would have been much more fun to have them on hand for the challenge . 

So I simply made 3 cards to include food/kitchen inspired ideas

Featuring buttons from Such Sweet Tierney.

Be inspired by what's around us !

The latest mini challenge for us over at My Scrapbook Nook 

is to : 

Just look around with an artist's eye and see what pops out and inspires you! 

I choose my fave handbag 

( it didnt cost much , it's fabric - so light to carry ) &

people sometimes stop me to ask about it ! )

& here's my layout inspired by my bag : 

I thought of making paper ruffles at first to mimic those on my bag 

but decided to de-hoard one of my fave satin ruffled trim.

Supplies : Using Jenni Bowlin Die Cut pp , Crate Paper Lillian pp, CC early bird pps , Pink Paislee Fascinating pp & border sticker, , Distress Stickles, bling & pearls , Prima Canvas tag , AC Foam stickers, , MM Metal embossed butterfly , Doodlebug Design cs stickers

Keepin' It Real Challenge - My Scrapbook Nook

This was for a challenge that had to include a NEW self-potrait .
One that we had to take ourselves.
I thought I would definitely be ok with the taking it myself bit
& was pleasantly surprised that I had a coupla of usable pics
that I simply snapped at myself in various rooms of my home
& finally standing in my patio.
LOL.
I'm just happy they are my look for today -
having had my hair done just this Monday with fresh hair colors .
I was also just thrilled to have blue/green eyes from using my fave picnik.com
without having to resort to colored contacts !



My hidden journaling reads :

Just for Today. I'd rather be taking self portraits , than dusting.

I'd rather be playing at picnik.com.com than dealing with organized grime aka the laundry.

I'd rather be at my scrap table than have a spotless home.

( oops, a domestic engineer I am not! )

Just Keeping It Real.

Today!

ICS #18

This week's sketch is up & running 

& you are playing for some 

cute digital images by Paper Popsicle ! 

Check out what the awesome DT did with 

this week's great sketch for some instant inspo ! 

So Sketchy Page Guest Designer for May

This is my second layout as Guest Page Designer  for So Sketchy this May. 

I had a lot of satisfaction completing this layout - 

when i first printed out these pics 

the red is simply way stronger than even the original pic ! 

( I took a pic of the originals . )

I was pretty sure they would be  unscrappable .

Then along came these Rouge De Garance papers. 

I used the Mata utu pps to pick out the colors in my photos.

I finally noticed there is some blue on the car window glass .

Journaling : She chooses to see the world  

in bold, bright colors. 

Sketch / Attribute challenge - I am strong !

Over at MyScrapbook Nook this week -
a mini challenge that was issued today -

scrap an attribute about ourselves & use a Becky Fleck sketch.
We were also to include at least one butterfly.

So I finally got round to trying out painting using stamps as a guide -
using water colors inspired by
Gayle

The end of the journaling is sorta Helen Reddy inspired - I am woman ! lol

Supplies : MME Breaking Free , Rouge De Garance Marie Antoinette pp, Chatterbox felt embellies , rub on , Webster's Pages round journaling spot, CI glittered alphas , Daisy D's stitches rub ons


Maya road chipboard scroll which has been inked & then stamped with flourishes & embossed with silver embossing powder.

GCD Studios card sketch + giveaway

My card for the current GCD Studios card sketch challenge
using their Paris Nights pps & flocked pp.

Missed doing fast & furious challenges recently ! lol

ICS #17

Another fun sketch to check out this week ! 

The lovely Kendra from The Character Cafe is our lovely sponsor this week. She will provide 3 digital stamps to the winner. The winner will get to chose which 3 digi stamps they want out of their collection. And they do have amazing collection. 

Go have a look!

May Guest Page Designer at So Sketchy !

Here's my first layout as a Page Designer 

for So Sketchy this month ! 

Had fun with Rouge De  Garance 

& new MME Breaking Free diecut. 

Journaling reads : Our Drama Prince @ 9 , 

loves being styled from head to toe.

Allison's sketches this month 

have all been awesome

& are sure to take you on a creative adventure 

 with each sketch , 

I assure you ! 

as I had with this one . 

Allison also has a DT call for layout & card designers .

Check it out if you would like to get on a DT. 

Friends

The latest weekly challenge over at My Scrapbook Nook 

is to handcut a shaped paper , include 4 sentences of journaling & 

NOT to use the color pink . 

The hardest part for me 

surprisingly was NOT using pink . lol . 

How I've taken pink for granted before ! 

I love creating shaped papers too - & this MM shape is one I haven't used before. 

The photo was edited using my fave site picnik.com . 

I really don't remember how this pic became dreamy - 

it looks to me I may have used the Focal Soften effect. 

I used Rouge De Garance's Aile Ou Fleur & MME Breaking Free to avoid any pinks . I also used scraps of the same paper that I used to create the shaped pp to create some tendrils , so as not to waste them.

 Also tried smooshing some pps to add layers behind the pic. 


Journaling : You two.Friends since toddlers. And now growing into teenhood together. You share a special bond. 



other supplies : WP CoCo Ruffles,Prima floral ,leaves & glittered butterfly, stickles , RP lace, AC Tiara thickers , MM Shimmer flourishes.

ICS #16

This week's sketch is nice and easy 

with lots of creative possibilities .

&

This week's Prize is this set of  lovely IMAGES

 contributed by our very own Kim aka PaperBabe!

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Supplies : Rose Moka Pique-Nique pps, Core'dinations Vintage CS ,

MM epoxy photo corner, Bazzill ball trim 

Digiments

http://digiments.blogspot.com/

While waiting for the first big release

of new digital stamp sentiments 

by Digiments,

there's a little contest/giveaway 

to sample a Digiment. 

Here's my first attempt at using a digital stamp :

using Dream Street Papers MJ Sneaky 

& getting used to punching nicely

 with the Fiskars Apron Lace border  punch . 

a rare Masculine card , meant for an older relative 

using 7 Gypsies , G45 pps 

Crafty Little Secrets Heartwarming Vintage stickers

Happy Mother's Day 2009 !

a poem to share this day : 

----------------------------------

A MOTHER

A Mother does not come with instructions attached titled, 

“How a mother should be”

There are no numbered, lettered parts to put together in sequence.

She does not come with all the right knowledge or all the right tools.

There will always be parts left over and more to learn.

She gathers them all along the journey,

And assembles her love that began even before you were born.

If you are lucky, you will have many mothers.

They will come to you in many forms along your way.

You will learn much of who you can be from this journey.

With her, you will learn, when she is there and when she is not.

Maybe more so when she is not.

She may be happy, she may be sad.

She may be a lunatic or a genius.

She will be all these things at one time or another

or all at the same time, On the same day, in one hour or one minute.

She will be different from you and she will be like you.

She will have a part of you and you will have a part of her, from birth.

Alive or dead, Away or near, in love or in hate,

She will always be there, there will always be more....

When she is gone from this physical, living world,

Her spirit will dance, tantalizing, lovingly, in your bones, forever.

You get to choose to let it torment you or set you free.

Her bite will be loving; even harsh words a caress.

She is there to watch over you, to hold you when you need comfort

To warn you when danger is near.

She will feed you and provide for you as best as she is able,

Soothe your hurts, pick you up and dry your tears.

If you will let her, she will do this all your life.

With courage, love and sometimes fear.

What she fears, she may never show you.

What she loves, you have to seek.

When you find and accept both,

Your hearts may rest together in love and peace.

 Cynthia Hector Johnson 2001

Di Hickman's May Card Sketch 1

Supplies: Glitz Design Audrey pp, Prima Rebellious pp , Heidi Swapp Verb sticker , May Arts Ribbon , Fancy Pants pins, Queen & Company button 

These were some of my fave papers( the week I bought them ! now completely overtaken by Rouge De Garance ! sigh ! ) 

 - the Adrienne Looman's Rebellion paper line for Prima - 

until I saw the complete collection called Rock On Love 

 ( over at Adrienne's Facebook photos ) 

to be released exclusively in US Michael's stores 

ard June 1st , altho' some stores have it already ! 

Awesome !!! Droolworthy ! oh my ! 

Rouge De Garance- Jin

Rouge De Garance has finally landed here on our shores - 

wow !we have waited at least 2 years for that to happen ! 

& how ironical to have a French company do 

super fab designs with an Asian/ Chinese theme.

The Asian based scrapping brands simply have not arrived yet! 

at least not for me . 

& My Scrapbook Nook's fast & furious challenge 

to do a layout about ourselves

was a great excuse to use some up immediately ! 

Using the Rouge De Garance  Jin collection pps , 

Making Memories shimmer flourishes, vintage metal signs, 

Prima florals, canvas tag  & lace ,

October Afternoon Cherry Hill wild cards

stickles , KF sparkle brad 

This is a tongue in cheek reminder about beauty : 

Always Remember 

True beauty comes from within , 

From within tubes, bottles , jars ,compacts etc 

After 30 years of wearing make-up I should know. 

My makeup artiste  forthis photoshoot encouraged me 

to havethis kind of makeup EVERYDAY ! ( lol ) 

Fast & Furious

Besides weekly scrapping challenges , there are mini challenges also thrown unto our paths 

at the My Scrapbook Nook Scrap Off ! & do they come fast & furious! 

The first mini challenge up is to scraplift a DT member's layout

 & I chose Susan Lui's Parisian Sights layout 

( to use up this piece of G45 pp which is one of the few pps I buy more than one copy of ! ) 

There is still time for you to join in the fun - but do so by May 10 ! 

I just love how this touristy pic on the Champ Elysee with the Arc de Triomphe in the background 

worked so well with the G45 pp with cars & the Eiffel Tower in the background. .

ICS #15

There is an ongoing  design team call for ICS 

which ends May 14th. 

Dawn is looking for 8-10 designers .

Do check it out if you'd like to get on a card DT ! 

Our lovely sponsor this week is.....

Paper Blooms Etsy shop carries hand crocheted blooms in a wide array of colors, bloom style and sizes. Each bloom is handcrafted and is perfect for adding that extra special touch to any of your projects. 

Please visit the Paper Blooms shop at:http://paperblooms.etsy.com

Check out the sketch & see what the DT created with it this week : 

http://icsketches.blogspot.com/

My supplies : DCWV 8x8 scalloped CS, Prima Rebellion Journaling Spot, Sakura Aquaglaze pens, 

Love Else alphas, soft charms, Prima crystals

April Showers brings May Flowers ...

what sorta flowers you say ..... definitely the scrappin' kind ... 

Jenni Bowlin's Mid Season line 

Front Porch !!!!

Beautiful red roses, white daisies ...color BINGO cards ! 

& so I am de-hoarding in the meanwhile 

while waiting for the Front Porch line to land here. 

Also beatin' the swine flu blues around here by looking forward to

 some NEW scrappin' challenges in May  ....

First off , there's the My Scrapbook Nook Scrap-Off :

& in the words of Leah , the owner of the Nook - also a fabulous kit club & store , 

"If you choose to participate you will be in for five weeks of excitement, inspiration, challenges, and on your toes competition. One lucky winner will walk away with. . . wait no, actually, she'll STICK AROUND as a permanent member of the DT for the next 6 month term! Two more talented ladies will also play on filling guest designer spots!" 

& if you'd like to hang out there for a while - after reading 'bout it here - 

do tell them I sent ya ' - ;-)

  The more peeps in this, the merrier ! 

-------

now if  that's too exciting for you , there's a new technique blog to check out 

with the first tut up on May 4 .

Pals, Lucy , Beth & Gayle have gotten together 

to help scrappers re-purpose our HUGE stash with techniques & ideas 

in an artsy way  ! 

 

Such Sweet Tierney DT

I get to be on the same DT as these wonderful artistes too :

1. Sharmaine Kruijver
2. Tessah Aihara
3. Ashlee Halvachs
4. Jeremy Kroes
5. Michele Beck




For some awesome handmade chipboard epoxy buttons & more ,
designed by London Tierney
check out :

www.londontierney.etsy.com

Di Hickman's Apr Card Sketch #5

Gotta lurve these Barb Tourtillotte designed cupcakes !

Inspite of the amount of Primas I have

I just did not see flowers being used for the card sketch ! lol

Funny thing having too much choice in one's stash sometimes.

Supplies: CI Barb Tourtillotte Tasty Pink Glitter pp , WRMK Tiffany 6x6 pad,

Core'dinations white washed CS .

Life is Sweet - My Little Sketch Blook Apr 26th sketch

This was such a fun sketch to work with

 and certainly  a fave layout of the week for me . 

The sketch inspired me to pick out the SF Vintage Yummy Memory Lane pp 

which I found a little challenging to use - 

normally I would love to use such pps as is 

but I wanted to do more cutout work 

with Sassafras papers,

so I cut apart the pp in into 3 parts 

I pop dotted the middle arched part to be able to ink it 

& create more dimension.

I also cut an 8x8 scalloped die cut MM Flower patch pp into half

 & layered that following the sketch 

the hidden journaling ( on the tag behind the photo ) 

is about DD at this playgroup started by my neighbour 

She joined this playgroup at 18mths and in this pic she's 29 mths old.(she's in pink here ) 

Thank goodness for the date stamp in the pic 

else I wouldn't have recalled that much. 

Border Punch love

Trying out theEK Success Parisian Border punch here. 

Swiss Cheese EK Success Border Punch 

With my 2  earlier Fiskars acquisitions, I didn't use them immediately after getting them 

& they're just lying around still . 

So I had to make sure I broke into these ASAP . lol . 

Martha Steward Border punches 

are still some of the most desirable designs 

now that I have at least 2 brands on hand to know. 

Supplies : Sosketchy April card sketches , DCWV Blossoms & Butterflies , K&CO Dimensional Butterflies