Shoe Fly

Good Morning Ladies,
No challenges today. Just a simple card. And here it is...
Shoe Fly ....

 To create this card I used three solid colors of cardstock. The shoe fly image was stamped on Bristol board using Memento ink. This image was colorized using Prisma pencil and Gamsol. I used stickles on his wings and crystal laquer on his eyes. The bottom leafy trim is cut using a Martha Stewart punch. The flower was created ;using a Cheery Lynn die cut.

A close-up of the flower.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

WHAT IF? Wednesday ~ Sketch Challenge A1812

Good Morning Ladies,
Yes, I am off to a dog show this morning. But I am blogging first.
I am doing the WHAT IF? Wednesday ~ Sketch Challenge A1812 over at the house that cards built. You can check out the challenge at http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/sketch-challenges/what-if-wednesday-sketch-challenge-a1812/
Here is the card I created for the challenge....

To create this card I used the sketch. The four circles are cut from a spellbinder die set. Mushrooms and butterflies are stamped with Memento ink and colorized with Spica pens, liquid pearls, and stickles. The fairy is colorized using the same method. The scalloped border was created using a Martha Stewart punch. Three rhinestones grace the lower corner.

This is the inside of the card using the same spellbinders set as the front.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

2TC4 ~ For the Funny Kiddos

Good Morning Ladies,
Here with another challenge card before I go to work.
This is for the twisted Tuesday challenge 2TC4 ~ For the Funny Kiddos
You can see the entries or enter here..... http://twistedtuesdaychallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/2tc4-for-funny-kiddos.html
The requirements this week are...
Kid Themed
The twist...
Must include a funny sentiment.
So this is my take on the challenge...

I created this card using a crafty lounge clear set. I created my scene first on a square piece of bristol board. I stamped the ocean bottom, added the turtle, and last was the placement of the bubbles. This scene is colorized using Prisma pencil, art stix, and Gamsol. The bubbles are created using crystal laquer. I then cut this scene with a spellbinders set. My background paper is shimmer cardstock. I wrapped sew easy thread in green and white around the bottom of the first layer and added a rhinestone. My sentiment bubbles happen was stamped on a banner piece I cut using another spellbinders die set.
Ask any kid ....when  bubbles happen....it's funny!
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Joan's Challenge Butterfly Yellow or Gold

Good Morning Ladies,
Wow this has been a busy week. So my blog suffered. I am going to have to work that one out.
It's time for another challenge....Joan's Challenge Butterfly Yellow or Gold.
You can join us and see all the entries here.... http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2012/04/selma-has-created-this-beautiful-card.html
The requirements are...
Use any kind or size of butterflies
Use lattice or scallops
Use yellow or gold colors
Use a patterned paper for your background
Here is my take on this challenge....

 To create this card I used a vellum patterned paper from K&Company on my base. I used the Cheery Lynn lattice die cut from glitter paper. I backed this with a matching embossed patterned paper from the same collection as the vellum. My dog and cat image is from Inky Antics. It was stamped on Bristol board and colorized with Prisma pencil and Gamsol. I used pre-made flowers from Creative Imaginations. The leaves and flowers were layered with brads for the centers. These are from my old stash. I don't even know if they make them anymore. Across the top of the card I used a Martha Stewart punch to create my scallops. I placed a polka dot ribbon on top of this and added another flower. My butterflies are cut from a Cheery Lynn die out of shimmer cardstock. I think I covered all the bases of this challenge.

A side view of my butterflies. The Cherry Lynn butterfly dies are amazing!
Thanks Joan and Selma for another wonderful challenge! I look forward to them each week.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Koala Bear Birthday

Good Morning Ladies,
I have been busy doing a lot of challenges. They help to jump start the creativity. Today I made a card...no challenge. Remember my cards are in the Co-op shops in La Porte for you to acquire.
My card today is Koala Bear Birthday.

 This cute little koala bear is perched on bamboo. He is colorized with prisma pencil and gamsol on bristol board. The leaves are cut from a Memory Box die and the rolled flower is cut using a Cheery Lynn die. The die shapes that frame the bear are from two spellbinders sets. Grey ribbon to match the bear. The ribbon has a pearl slide. The background origami paper is layered over a white card.

The inside of the card.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Joan's Challenge Something Different rolled flowers

Good Morning Ladies,
I thought I would jump into the ring one more time over at Joan's. This is a pretty cool challenge this week. Go and check it out at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2012/04/this-weeks-challenge-something.html
So for my second challenge entry this is what I have created....Joan's Challenge Something Different rolled flowers.....

 In my stash I found a Debbie Mumm Noah's ark pad. This is where my background card stock came from. It was perfect with the rain drops. When I think of April I think of rain. So I stamped this umbrella girl from Whimsy stamps. She is colorized using Prisma pencil and Gamsol. Liquid pearls were added to the flowers on her boots and dress. I love the fence die from Cheery Lynn designs and it is the perfect place to put flowers. So that is my fence for this card. The vine is from Memory Box. This vine has been working very well for me. These are rolled flowers from a Cheery Lynn cuties die. I love rolled flowers. They are so easy to create. I added pearls for the centers. To top this card off I added ribbon and a pearl ribbon slide. All of the dies I used can be purchased at Joan's along with many other wonderful dies.

 This is a side view to show the flowers and the popped up umbrella girl.
Thanks Joan and Selma for another great challenge and a chance to participate in your blog hop in May.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Joan's Challenge Something Different

Good Morning Ladies,
I have been gone at a dog show over the weekend. So I have not blogged. But I am back so here we go.
Joan's Challenge Something Different is this week. You can see the challenge and entries here... http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2012/04/this-weeks-challenge-something.html
The requirements are ..
Make flowers using punches or dies.
Make it the prettiest you can.
The something different is they are choosing 6 of their favorite entries to participate in a blog hop in May.
Here is my entry....

This card was created using the Graphic 45 Little Darlings pad I purchased at Joan's. The baby image and tag were cut from this pad and the edges were inked using color box dune. The background paper also came from this pad. To create the flowers I used the sunflower die from Cheery Lynn Designs. Cut in cream and pink the petals were pinched and the pieces layered with pop dots. The bottom layer of the flowers were created with the polineasian die from Cheery Lynn Designs. This is the center piece you get when you cut the large oval. It fits the sunflower perfect to create a much larger flower. My table can get very messy, but out of this mess came this flower creation. So my mess was a creative blessing. I added nine large pearls to finish this card off.

A side view of the flowers.
Joan had everything to do with this card. Although neither one of us knew this at the time. And Joan is just finding out now. Here's how that happened. I was looking for a new frame die. I had a different one picked up when she suggested the one I used in the card. I also wanted a Graphics 45 tablet that I saw but it was for orders and she had to order one of those for me. She suggested this baby one and I don't do much baby stuff. But she opened the tablet and leafed through it so I could see all of the wonderful papers inside that could be used for things other than baby. Then it was a must. Joan suggests product and when she does boy is it wonderful. Thanks Joan!
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

2TC3 ~ Green, Pink and Red are in my Head!

Good Morning Ladies,
Thursday has come to meet us again! Of course it's laundry day. And I have created a card for the twisted Tuesday challenge. The theme is 2TC3 ~ Green, Pink and Red are in my Head!
The requirements are...
Use the colors green, pink, and red.
The twist is...
3 brads and a ribbon
You can see the challenge here...   http://twistedtuesdaychallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/2tc3-green-pink-and-red-are-in-my-head.html
I must say this was a challenge for me. I love red and I love pink, but I seldom put them together. So here goes...this is the card I created...

 The frog image is from Rubber Necker. He is colorized with prisma pencil and Gamsol. He was hand cut. The oval is cut from a die from Cheery Lynn designs. Under the oval is a red square punched with a Martha Stewart punch around the page set. The green is shimmer card stock. The red is a pink and red foil from K & Company. My brads are two lady bugs and a pink dotted brad. Frogs like bugs right? My ribbon is a red velvet.

 I repeated the color theme on the inside of the card.

A close up of the sentiment.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Poodles of Love

Good Evening Ladies,
I didn't have time to post this morning and this the first chance I have had. Here is my card for today....
Poodles of Love

 The poodle image and sentiment is from Inky Antics. The poodle was stamped on Bristol board and colorized with Prisma pencil and Gamsol. He is popped up on a spellbinders oval and label. The sentiment is stamped on a spellbinders banner. I curled the edges and popped it up. Ribbon with a pearl ribbon slide top this card off.

The inside sentiment is stamped a layered using the same spellbinders.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Joan's Challenge Flower Pot Card

Good Morning Ladies,
Another fine Monday. Glad to have slept with the windows open last night and hear the birds chirping this morning.
It is time for another challenge from Joan and Selma. This weeks challenge is Joan's Challenge Flower Pot Card.
These are the requirements....
Make or use a flower pot
Make flowers for the flower pot
Use some trailing greenery
Use any color combo
You can check out and enter the challenge here. http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2012/04/this-weeks-challenge_12.html
Here is my flower pot entry.....

 First off I must say I tried to use the tutorial at split coast and it was a fail on my part. I could not cut the angles right. So I thought I would not be joining the challenge this week. But then it dawned on me to check out the internet for a flower pot template. And I found a printable one. No problem. Then I was on my way to create this flower pot card. All the dies that are included on this project came from Joan's. The ivory rolled flowers and trailing vine are Memory Box dies, The loopy flowers are cut using a MFTdie. The leaf trio is from Cheery Lynn . I think I got them all correct. The little mouse is a stamped 2-D from grey wolf graphics.

This is a view with the floral insert pulled out to wish a happy birthday.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

DCC411 ~ Birds of a Feather Challenge

Good Morning Ladies,
It is off to work I go early this morning. So I am getting right to it.
I created a card for the DCC411 ~ Birds of a Feather Challenge over at http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/cards-by-theme/birds/dcc411-birds-of-a-feather-challenge/
The challenge requirements are to create a card with a bird or birds as the main focal point.
Here is my card entry...

 To create this card I used a heron image. I stamped this on bristol board and colorized it with prisma pencil and gamsol. The background and pond are the same color process. I used crystal laquer for the pond ripples. I added a moon or sun which ever you prefer. This was created using the center of the Cheery Lynn sunflower die. To finish the panel I stamped twisting vines at the top in black. And cat tails in black at the bottom of the panel. This panel was mounted on black textured card stock. I added a checked ribbon at the bottom. The feather began life as a white feather. So I did a little experiment and sprayed it with ranger color wash. I was very pleased at how well the feather took the color wash. I also dried the feather with my heat gun. This sped up the drying process. No fire, no damage to the feather. A good to know thing for the future. The flower was created using a Cheery Lynn cuties flower die. I rolled it up and added a pearl for the center. This was created on top of a white card base.

 A side view and close-up of the flower and feather.

A sentiment was added to the inside of the card using two different spellbinders sets.
This was a fun challenge!
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Dragon Birthday Wish

Good Morning Ladies,
The rain has started this morning. Along with it came some thunder. Is spring her now?
I am doing a working weekend. Duty calls.
I have a card for you today that I call Dragon Birthday Wish . Here it is....

 This card started it's life because of the dragon image from Sunday International. He was stamped on bristol board. He was colorized with prisma pencil, gamsol, and crystal laquer for his eyes. He laid on my table just waiting for a creative thought. I ordered some stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps. When they arrived this castle fit him perfect. The castle was stamped on bristol board. It was then colorized using prisma pencil, gamsol, spica pens, and crystal laquer for the windows and door. The iron fence was created using a Memory Box die from Joan's. In the upper corner I added the image word wish stamped on a die cut with a spellbinders set. The sentiment stamps used on this card are from Fiskars. These were purchased at Joann's.

This is the inside of the card.
The iron fence die was a must when I laid eyes on it. It brings back memories of these fences in town around grand homes on the avenues. They always got my imagination going to the past and creating a picture in my thoughts of the lives of the people who built these homes.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Matching Bag Topper and Card

Good Morning Ladies,
What a night. I am not very rested this morning. I have a son that insists on opening his bedroom window at night and somebody shut the heat off. It was like camping out under the stars. Too chilly for me and my cold.
Enough of that.
Today I have for you a Matching Bag Topper and Card...

 I created this card using shimmer cardstock, glitter cardstock, and white specialty cardstock. The racoon was colorized using prisma pencil and gamsol. He was cut with a spellbinder die set. The same set was used to cut out the Happy Birthday sentiment. The boarders were punched with a Martha Stewart punch. The blue sunflowers were created using a Cheery Lynn die. A ribbon tops this card off.

 This is the inside of the card.

 Here is a photo of the gift bag and topper. The extra dies used for the bag are the fence Cheery Lynn, and the vine Memory Box.

A photo of just the topper.
I created this for a special someone who has a Birthday this Saturday.
I learned how to make this bag topper over at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/ for a previous challenge. I love the challenges over there as I learn something I can use over and over again.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

2TC2 ~ I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Good Morning Ladies,
I am a bit under the weather. Yes, I have a cold. Anyone who knows me knows I am very bad at being a sick person. It just cuts into my time and my life. Maybe it's a way of slowing me down and regrouping. I don't know, but I don't like it.
I have been having a great time working on challenges of late. They seem to push me to the next level and use products I have recently purchased.
There is a new challenge blog. Twisted Tuesdays. This weeks challenge is

2TC2 ~ I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

You can find the challenge here.... http://twistedtuesdaychallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/2tc2-i-never-promised-you-rose-garden.html 

For the challenge this week you have to create a card. On this card you must include flowers. But no roses or rosettes allowed. 

Here is the card I have created for this challenge....

 To start to create this card I added a blue base to a cream card. I then added the vines. They were cut with a Memory Box die. The tree frame is also a die from Memory Box. I attached the vines to the tree die. This was then applied to the front of the card. I put my little mouse in the corner. He is 2-D. Then my sunflowers were added. The sunflowers are 3-D and cut from a Cheery Lynn die.

 A side view of the mouse.

 A side view of the sunflowers. 

Happy Scraps,

Mrs. Swandog

WHAT IF? Wednesday ~ Sketch Challenge A412

Good Morning Ladies,
Something must be in the air. I'm a little stuffy this morning.
Today I am bringing you a card created for WHAT IF? Wednesday ~ Sketch Challenge A412 over at http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/sketch-challenges/what-if-wednesday-sketch-challenge-a412/
This is a sketch challenge. Go on over and check it out.
Here is my card....

 I created this card using shimmer cardstock for the first layer. I then added a Prima dsp layer. I used a spellbinder set to stamp my images and sentiments on. I used prisma pencil and gamsol for the main coloring for the mouse fairy. I added pink spica pen to the body suit, antennas, and ballet shoes. I pulled out my stickles and used it on the wings and wand. I used a strip of the same shimmer card stock on the top and added a pearl. Pink and white checked ribbon at the bottom hold two squares of shimmer cardstock that I cut with a spellbinder set and turned on their sides. To top this card off I added two flowers that were cut from a Cherry Lynn cuties die.

 A close-up  of the flowers.

For the inside of the card I added get well soon stamped on a piece of shimmer cardstock cut with one of the same spellbinders set I used on the front.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Tri-Shutter Card Joan's Challenge

Good Morning Ladies,
Happy Easter! I tried two new recipes for this day. Tomato-Pesto Brunch Bake and Black Raspberry Bars. We have brunch at my mom's house on Easter. We all bring something. This will be a total surprise. They both look like they turned out great. Now the true test will be in the eating.
While I was creating these new dishes this morning I was also working on my Tri-Shutter Card Joan's Challenge and managed to finish it and photograph it.
The challenge was to...
Create a tri-shutter card
use more than one design paper
use something dimensional
use ribbon or lace
come join us at http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2012/04/this-weeks-challenge.html
I think I have it all covered. So here is my card....

 This is the front of my card. I used a collection from Graphic 45 for my two different design papers. No stamping on this one as Graphic 45 gives you all you need as far as images go in one pad. I just purchased the baby pad from Joan's, and wanted to use it. But since I have never made a tri-shutter card I decided to use an older collection. My dimensional item is a slice of a real sea shell. I thought it went perfect with this card. The woman and man look like they are at odds. I was going to stamp I love you in the middle panel, but decided that it requires something funny. This I will have to think on. So I have left it blank.The cardstock seashell and the starfish are from the Graphic 45 botanical collection. So even different pads work well together. I added ribbon behind the woman and the man as well as the other striped panels.

 A view of the man.

A side view of the shell.
It took me a couple of days to think about this card. And once again Selma and Joan got me thinking outside of the box. Thanks Joan and Selma for another wonderful challenge!!
For the rest of you shop smart ...shop http://www.atjoansgardens.com/
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Twisted Tuesday Challenge Clouds

Good Morning Ladies,
Running short on time again. Dog show entries slowing me down. LOL
Today I am entering in the Twisted Tuesday Challenge Clouds. You can check out the challenge here... http://twistedtuesdaychallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/2tc1-clouds-are-coming.html
The twist on the challenge is to use clouds that are not stamped. So here goes...this is my card.

 The products I used to create this card are Niki Sivils 6x6 dsp for the background. This dsp has clouds. The fence is cut from a cheery lynn die. The flowers are stamped and colorized with prisma pencil and gamsol. They were then hand cut. The image is from heartfelt creations. A pearl brad creates the center of the flowers. The vine behind them is cut from a memory box die. The butterfly is cut with a cheery lynn die in vellum. The sentiment is stamped on a spellbinder die and is from fiskars. The pegasus image is from Grey Wolf Graphics. I stamped this several times and cut different stacks to create a 3-D image. This was colorized using stickles, liquid pearls, and crystal laquer.

 This is a side view to show the stacks.

 A view of the vellum butterfly.

The inside of the card is created using the same dsp, spellbinder die with the sentiment from the same company. The dsp was shaped using a Martha Stewart punch set.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

DCC328 ~ Stair Step Card Challenge

Good Morning Ladies,
Another Thursday....more laundry!
I have been giving a go at the challenges over at Repeat Impressions. This week the challenge is DCC328 ~ Stair Step Card Challenge Click this link to join in http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/designers-choice-challenge/dcc328-stair-step-card-challenge/
This challenge is a stair step card. Here is my entry.....

 For my card base I used blue card stock. When creating this stair step card you want to use a heavy weight card stock. My bottom step is created using a Martha Stewart border punch and a K&Company ribbon with a slide. My second step is created using a Cheery Lynn picket fence die and a duck image from Stamping Sensations. My third step is created using a Maryanne medallion die, a oval spellbinders die and a butterfly die from Cheery Lynn. The sentiment is from an Autumn stamp set.

This is a side view of the stair step.
Thanks for the fun challenge!
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

Botanical Journal Graphic 45 and La Blanche

Good Morning Ladies,
I am back on track this morning. Welcome Wednesday!
I have been working on a project for about a week and a half. I have finished it. So today I am bringing you Botanical Journal Graphic 45 and La Blanche

 This journal started life as a plain black and white comp journal. The process started with a tutorial from La Blanche stamps. It is an amazing process. You take a La Blanche stamp and ink it up with Archival Ink. I choose the sepia pad. You heat up Utee in your melting pot. You pour the liquid Utee over the entire stamp. Never fear it won't ruin your stamp. Once it has cooled all the way it pops right off the stamp. You break away any parts that don't make it lay flat. That is what the panel in the center of the front cover is. The information on how to attach this panel was not in the tutorial. So that was my next challenge. I took a piece of card stock and ripped the edges. I inked them up with the same ink. I used US Art Quest PPA to attach the utee panel to the cardstock panel. I decided too soon that the panel was not going to adhere. In the end I found out it did adhere. I used my crop a dile to punch holes so I could add eyelets. Well the punching cracked the utee. But no project is ever lost. So I set my eyelets and reheated the Utee with my heat gun to join the cracks together. When this process was finished I liked the look even better. Then it hit me the graphic45 pad botanica was a perfect match. I used parts from this pad to create the rest of the journal. The only extra thing I added was rust piccot ribbon to the spine.

This is the back of the journal.
Thinking outside of the box can produce some wonderful projects. I am very happy the way this journal turned out. If you feel like taking an adventure be sure to try this technique!
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog

La Blanche Two Birds Layout

Good Evening Ladies,
This was a busy day. No time to blog this morning. I am waiting for pizza for dinner that I ordered. So now I have time to blog.
Today I bring you La Blanche Two Birds Layout. I have not made a lot of layouts lately. So now is the time to get some finished. Here is the first one....

 I created this layout using a La Blanche stamp. This image is stamped with black Archival ink on La Blanche paper. It is colorized using Tim Holtz distressed ink pads. The flowers are rolled flowers made with a die from Memory Box. The leaf vine is cut from a sizzix bigz die. The photo mats fit a 5x7 photo and a 4x6 photo.

 close-up of the rolled flowers....

Close up of the bird panel.
Some years back I was at a crop using 5x7 photos. Someone came up to me and asked if I was afraid to use 5x7 photos for layouts. My answer was no. I find a photo with a lot of impact in a 5x7 size is perfect for a scrapbook layout. With the advancement of photo processing and the price cut for 5x7's it's a no brainer. So get those awesome photos out and have them made into 5x7's and add some impact to your next scrapbook page.
Happy Scraps,
Mrs. Swandog