Simply Charming at StampNation

Hello!

Today's card features a tutorial that I am sharing over at StampNation on how to make shrink plastic charms.  I show several variations, and this card uses one of the resulting charms.

I love working with shrink plastic.  It's one of those things that lets me play like a little kid but is perfectly legitimate (and useful!) in the crafting world.

This particular charm was made with the same leaf stamp which I used on the card and used the same rock 'n' roll technique for the watercolor effect.

I used the same stamp to finish the inside.

Thank you for joining me, and I hope you head on over to StampNation for the full details and to see the other variations of this fun technique!

And don't forget to stop by and visit Catherine Pooler at her blog.  She'd love to see you!

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Color Throwdown #259 - Rust, sage, kraft, vanilla, chocolate
Eclectic Ellapu - Inspired By A Song ("California Dreamin'" which takes place in the autumn.  "All the leaves are brown....and the skies are gray...")
613 Ave. Create #37 - Anything Goes w/optional twist: Fall theme
Oozak #22 - Fall (Autumn)

IBS Inspiration Challenge

Hello and good morning!

Today's card is for a friend who isn't feeling very well.  I hope it cheers her up.  I'll get right to it since there are several pics.  I can't even begin to tell all of the techniques since I used so many on this card and I don't want to bore you to tears, but it was a lot of fun to make.  You should have seen my craft table afterwards...

BTW, I'm going to try to start shortening my posts somewhat, though I'll still post multiple pictures.  I love seeing the details of others' cards and will share mine too; however, I do tend to get a bit wordy and probably don't need to spell out every single thing I do to every single card.  If anyone has any questions on a particular design element that I haven't covered, please leave me a comment and I'll respond as quickly as possible.   Thanks!

 
The inspiration for today's card comes from Joanna over at IBS Inspiration Challenge who seems to always choose the most lovely images and color schemes with which to play.  This week is Challenge #41, and we are to use the colors light tan, rose and light brown.  Delicious.  Just like a softly colored hot fudge sundae (it's always about food with me).

And the sketch that I followed was designed by Julee over at Mojo Monday.  I love this kind of sketch, full of fun layers and embellishments.  And this is the first sketch of the month, so there's the prize factor as well! 

Note:  All paper edges have been inked.  And what started out as light tan has been inked up half to death, but you can see the tan on the inside of the card (photo included below).  :) 

I stamped the first layer with an allover French script stamp, them heat embossed the Eiffel Tower in gold.  Whoops, there I go, spelling things out.  OK, the two elements that ARE special enough to talk about are the flower and the heart charm.  

Aren't they cute?  The flower was pretty straightforward - die cut the shapes from printed and solid papers, spray them with water, scrunch them up, flatten them back out, stack them, and put an antique brad in their middle.  Oh yeah, and ink the petals.

The heart was the fun piece.  It's a Shrinky Dink that I die cut, stamped with rose Copic, shrunk with my heat tool, drew around the edge of the heart with a dark rose glitter pen, stamped overall with a French script stamp (I love that stamp), inked the edges, then coated with Glossy Accents.  Once that was dry, I applied gold leaf to the edges.  How CUTE is THAT!  It looks like a little jewel when the light hits it just right.

You can see the gold embossing on the edges of the greeting, and you can barely see the small strip of coarse burlap shot through with gold threads under the centerpiece.

BTW, the music is real music from over 40 years ago that was mine as a child when I was learning to play the piano.  It, too, has been sprayed, scrunched, misted, and inked to distress it because it was in surprisingly good condition when I rediscovered it in the garage a couple of months ago.

Here's a pic showing the different layers, and a peek at the inside.  Speaking of which...

See?  I really DID use a light tan.

Thank you for joining me today, and I wish you a lovely day with hopefully at least a little crafting time in it. 

Happy crafting!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Take It To Heart (on the little charm) - SU; All Year Wishes, Paris (IBS)
Paper: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla Neutrals DSP Stack, Regal Rose, Soft Suede (SU), rose-printed scraps
Ink: Versamark, various TH Distress inks for distressing edges
Extras: gold and brown embossing powders, music, Antique Brad, Shrinky Dinks, Glossy Accents, gold leaf, metallic burlap ribbon, crochet ribbon, SB Labels One, SU Framelits Hearts, Decorative Label punch, TH Tattered Flowers, Spica Garnet glitter pen.

Challenges Entered:

IBSIC #41 - Color Challenge 
MOJO Monday #275 - sketch
Oozak #10 - Anything Goes + Pink and Bling 
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Embrace the Old (vintage look, authentic vintage music)
Anything Goes - Just Good Friends (which is who this card is for)
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Delightful Challenges - Add Hearts 
SCS F4A151 - X Five