It’s A Beautiful Day…. Happy 4th Weekend!

Remember Mr Rogers…
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, it’s a beautiful day for a neighbor….won’t you be mine.

Actually it is kinda dreary, hot and humid here today and not so “beautiful”! But I needed a title and one thing led to another!! LOL

Today’s Inspiration challenge on Splitcoast took me to Oopsy Daisy, lots of fun there!  Here is my inspiration

When I started out I was going to do the whole rolling hills/mountains thing… but it morphed into this!

This is Our Daily Bread designs Hydrangea from the Garden Collection and Large Scrapbook Words. I masked the Hydrangea in order to stamp them several times, then colored with Copics. The butterflies are the same stamp cut with Spellbinders Fanciful Flight. I layered “Beautiful” on Spellbinders Fancy Tags 3.
That’s Martha’s fence punch and the clouds were done using a template and distress inks. You can see how to them here. (now that I’ve gotten brave and done one video tutorial, I’ll do a cloud one too!)

Thanks for joining me today…
have a great 4th weekend!!
I hope to get some fireworks pics tonight!

Dawn

Spring Can’t Be Far…

They say March is perfect kite flying weather… well, today you’d better hang on because that wind just might take you to the next county! Whew! At least the SUN is shining and the temps are starting to be a little warmer.

Come on SPRING!!
It won’t be long till the Daffodils and Tulips will be blooming!

These are a couple of cards I made with some of the new release from Our Daily Bread designs.

This is Tulip Corner and Tulip Tag Set along with the Tag Die. Pretty simple.. even with the fussy cutting on the Tulips

Colored with Copics then spritzed with Honey Dew Glimmer Mist.  The DP is Basic Grey Curio. That’s a Martha Stewart deep edge punch, punched along both edges of the paper. I stuck another piece of cs just under below the center so the tag doesn’t slide all the way through.

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This is one I did yesterday for the Sketch challenge on Splitcoast and also the technique featured on Wednesdays, Double Embossing. It’s a beautiful technique IF you can get it to work properly. Just remember to use the correct sandwiches in whatever machine you use…and if you don’t think it’s going to go through… STOP!

For those of you that actually read what I write OR asked me on SCS what I broke… my Grand Calibur is on its way to Spellbinders to hopefully get fixed. A plastic (plastic!!!) housing piece around the handle cracked. I did back out as soon as I felt resistance, but the damage was done.

So, okay…here’s my card.

This is our new Exclusive Custom die Labels One. The two long narrow strips are “faux” layered. Saving on cardstock and bulkiness, take a ruler and a black marker.. voila… it looks layered!

One other tip… I love the looks of the glass baubles in my photos but I only had a few colors. Then one day…. LIGHTBULB… {said with my Despicable Me voice} I decided to color some with Copics! Airbrushing works best, but you can just scribble on them too! Now, my colored glass color is limitless!!

Enjoy your day!

Thanks for stopping!!

Dawn

The Answer To My Problem… and a Card Inspired

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I just love this quote! On Splitcoast today, the Inspiration challenge was from Serena and Lily, home décor. I chose to use this wall art for my card.

I used a quote from Anchor and the Fish Background, Our Daily Bread designs, stamped in Broken China. See that cool new label?! That’s ODBD Label 1 that will be coming out next week!! All cut on my Grand Calibur and popped up on dimensionals.
The wavy punch is an EK punch then I embossed with the Swirls Cuttlebug folder.

Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks for stopping

Dawn

How Do You See a Sketch?

When I first saw the sketch on Splitcoast, I immediately saw one image split in four pieces!

So that’s what I’m sharing with you today, two totally different cards, but done the same way!

This is Greet The Day With Gerber from Mark’s Finest Papers. For this one, I cut my squares first, kept them together and stamped the image. It’s colored with Copics then lightly sponged around the edges with Vintage Photo. Then I layered the squares on the MFP cardstock and heavily distressed them.

stamps: greet the day with gerber- mark’s finest papers

ink: ranger black soot, vintage photo

paper: mark’s finest paper cardstock, basic grey indian summer

other: copics, distressing tool, ribbon-mfp, foam mounting tape, ink applicator-ranger

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This next one is Our Daily Bread designs, Anchor.

This one I stamped the image, colored, then cut it apart. I think the other way works a little better as I obviously didn’t cut evenly…sheesh! LOL
I love how it turned out though. A great guy card! We stampers tend to struggle with masculine cards don’t we!

stamps: anchor- our daily bread designs

ink: memento tuxedo black

paper: gp white, collectionz dp, hallos black

other: copics, sakura white gel pen, foam dimensionals

Thanks for stopping!

Dawn

It’s Been a While!! I’m Home and Back in the Harness!

Has it really been since February 9th that I did a blog post?!

After lots of ice, snow, airfare price hikes and teary goodbyes, I made it home in the wee hours of the 17th! It took me several days to feel “normal” (and I use that word loosely! haha!) But it’s Monday, and a Technique challenge on Splitcoast got me back in the groove again.

Making a Bargello design was our challenge:

Bargello is a type of needlepoint embroidery consisting of upright flat stitches laid in a mathematical pattern to create motifs. The name originates from a series of chairs found in the Bargello palace in Florence, which have a "flame stitch" pattern.

Traditionally, Bargello was stitched in wool on canvas. Embroidery done this way is remarkably durable. It is well suited for use on pillows, upholstery and even carpets, but not for clothing. In most traditional pieces, all stitches are vertical with stitches going over two or more threads.

Traditional designs are very colorful, and use many hues of one color, which produces intricate shading effects. The patterns are naturally geometric, but can also resemble very stylized flowers or fruits. Bargello is considered particularly challenging, as it requires very precise counting of squares for the mathematical pattern connected with the various motifs to accurately execute designs.

Much simpler version for the cards though! Just cut strips of paper and adhere them side by side onto copy paper, then turn that paper 90 degrees and cut strips out of that. You’ll have a variegated patterned strip. Then arrange these strips however you want, getting the pattern you like, adhere them to a piece of cardstock and use as your background.

My first sample is done with Our Daily Bread designs, Wood Fish.

The paper is from The Paper Studio, base is Bazzill. Wood Fish was stamped in Ranger Fired Brick and popped up on Spellbinders Curved Rectangles.

This Bargello design is DCWV’s Pocket Full of Posies. Mark’s Finest Papers, Spring Has Sprung, colored with Copics and layered on MFP cardstock. Cuttlebug embossing folders, Polka Dots and Frills Borders for the base and strip.

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Thanks for being patient…
waiting for me to rest up and get find my mojo!

Have a wonderful day!!

Dawn

Black Friday Candy Winner… GO BUCKS…. and Loving Winter!

Here’s the winner!
Someone, who shall remain nameless… reminded me ever so gently that Black Friday was YESTERDAY, had I picked a winner yet?

Don’t believe I said WHEN I’d pick a winner, but because of Karen’s whining…. OOPS! Did I just say her name? btw, she didn’t comment here on my blog but on on Facebook, so I included her anyway. Sorry, Karen old girl, but you didn’t win!

Congratulations to Jan!! Jan I’ve emailed you your code so you can go on your shopping spree (from the comforts of your cozy home!)

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Here is a card I did some weeks back but never posted. It worked perfectly for the Inspiration Challenge today on SCS, the Country Porch. Cute stuff!

Anyhoo, this is Winter Snowman from Sassy Cheryl’s. It’s colored with Copics, liquid applique for the snow, snowflakes from Martha Stewart’s border punch and Spellbinders Beaded Circle.

Thanks for stopping!

Dawn

Signs of Spring

No, no violets yet, but it won't be long! One reason these new sets from Our Daily Bread designs are such a pleasure to color up... the beauty of Spring and Summer!

This is another sneak peek of one of the 3 sets being released March 1st. Did I mention PRIZES? Yup... Prizes! And then... Whoop!! Did you know March is Anniversary month for ODBD? Our Daily Bread designs Second Anniversary is Mar. 17th and we have five days of exciting events planned in celebration.

Daily Challenges running from Mar. 13 through the 16th, these challenges will be announced on March 7th on the ODBD Blog. Each challenge will run one day and the winner will be announced the next day… so start early so you don’t miss out on any of the great prizes!!!

Then a Blog Hop on Mar. 17th revealing the very special Anniversary Release sets, and lots of prizes! Don’t miss it!!! Woohooo!

Now, here's my card. Done for the sketch challenge on Splitcoast.

Colored with Copics, sponged with Distress inks while still in the Spellbinders Labels 11 die.

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We went to lunch with some friends yesterday... Cheesecake Factory, YUM!! I took some images along to color since it's a little bit of a drive. The roads in winter are not conducive to coloring in a vehicle! LOL! This is the one I'd started and had to finish this morning. Thought she'd look cute for the sketch too... flipped!

This is from Sassy Cheryl's, a digital image, Bubble Blower. Colored with Copics. The layer she's on is also Copic'd to match. It's layered on Prima Life in Colors.

Thanks for stopping!

Dawn

New To Me Digi's!

I've found another awesome digi illustrator! Sassy Cheryl's! Here's her blog too.

Ok, so I looked at the Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast this morning and figured at some point today I'd get around to it. Shortly after, I purchased my first Sassy Cheryl's! Why not combine the two!

Do you ever think one of these days I'll learn to quit...to just put it down and say NO, this is crazy, DO something else! (nah, I don't think so!)

So! I got this hair-brained idea of printing 3 of the same image (Birthday Lift) and doing a whole spotlight card with the sketch! Oooweee!

I should have just cut that center panel rather than using Spellbinders for this particular card...but oh well! Hindsight right?

But then I also had to have 3 "somethings" on the top panel, duh... I'd have to cover up my picture! Necessity is mother of invention right? Sooooo, I printed, colored AND airbrushed the parts I needed for my 3 "somethings". My Martha Stewart butterfly punch was the perfect size.

I carefully went around the edges with my black Copic marker. Then I embossed them...

*THIS IDEA IS NOT MINE*... I don't remember where I saw it, but it's brilliant! Just use a scrap piece of cardstock to make a "handle extender". I just put a drop of 2 way glue to hold it, dabbed it with embossing ink, dipped it in clear embossing powder and heat set.

I added some Zva bling, and just glued the butterflies down in the center so the wings could pop up some. Oh yeah, all but the base are my Cheater CS technique... a Copic marker.

There you have it! It only took me all afternoon to get this baby done! (Ok, I did have some phone calls and other things I did in between...) I'm no quitter! BWAHAHAHAHAH

Hey, thanks for stopping!

Dawn

Want Another Peek? You Know You do!

Our Daily Bread designs is releasing 4 beautiful sets on Feb 1st. Just when I think I have a favorite, there's another release and I'm torn between sets!

This bird is from the set called He Watches Me. If you saw this post, you saw a Goldfinch perched on thistles. Here I did a Sparrow and changed the thistles to just flowers! It's colored with Copics and sponged with Distress inks.

This is a "side-step card". It was the Technique today on Splitcoast, you can see instructions here.

Here's a side view

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Here's one I did for the Featured Stamper, Karen Barber. Karen is a fellow Ohioan who is soooo talented! We hope to get together one day!

I just love Chickadees! This is You Will Find Refuge. It's colored with Copics, masked and sponged with Distress inks. The black layer is "fauxed" using a ruler and black Copic on the edges.

Hope you're having a wonderful day wherever you may be!

Thanks for stopping...

Dawn

BLING it On! Jacksonbelle Tuesday

We're still BLINGING in the new year at 
Jacksonbelle Embellishments! 

My bling is from Zva Creations and my paper is BasicGrey Origins. Basic Grey is also the Product Feature this week. Mo Manning's AM Sweettooth is colored with Prismacolor pencils blended with baby oil. I also did the Scratch & Sniff TLC on Splitcoast. It smells like fresh baked vanilla-y goodies! The sentiment is by Penny Black

stamps: digital by Mo Manning, Penny Black

ink: ranger espresso

paper: basicgrey origins, prism suede brown dark, gp white

other: prismacolor pencils, baby oil. blending stumps, Zva bling, UTEE, potpourri oil, fiskars border punches, spellbinders labels, piercing tool/template, fine tip pen

Checkout the other JBE DT girls for more bling inspiration!

Amy Tsuruta

Dawn Lusk (that's me!)

Heather Lee-Reppen

Heather Pulvirenti

Jill Dunn

Julie Lacey

Lindsey Botkin

Lynda Benden

Pam Varnell

Shemaine Smith

Stephanie Severin

Tobi Crawford

Windy Robinson

Want to play along? Simply upload your bling card to your SCS or PCP gallery using the keyword JBEO88 or post a comment on the JBE blog linking to your blog. We would love to see what you come up with!

Thanks for stopping!

Dawn

Windchill 33...Good Day for Stamping!

And getting my Christmas

cards done!

Yesterday's sketch on Splitcoast and this darling Sarah Kay Noel Shepherd. It's colored with Copics, sponged with Distress inks. The layers and Lattice pieces are fauxed...I colored white cardstock with the same Copic as the image.

prism kraft, georgia pacific white, heidi grace dp,
tuxedo black, old paper, frayed burlap
copics, cuttlebug embossing folder, spellbinders lattice pendant, stickles, dauber

I just love these beautiful snowflakes, Peace & Joy, from Our Daily Bread designs. (wish we had snow rather than the rain last night!)

I stamped both snowflakes with Versamark, sprinkled with silver embossing powder and heat set. And cutting out wasn't too bad, using my craft knife...I love my craft knife.

The Lattice Pendant and each snowflake are popped up on dimensionals.

prism nautical blue, iced mint, sei dp, black
versamark
silver embossing powder, heat tool, spellbinders lattice pendant, cuttlebug embossing folders, foam dimensionals, craft knife

Hope your day is wonderful...filled with Christmas music, the smell of cookies baking, twinkling lights and things you NEED to get done! (that last part is for me!)

Thanks for stopping!

Dawn