Cheater's method.... Kristina Werner... and 2 fabulous SYTYCD auditions

I totally cheated on this card.  I took a scrapbook embellishment (YOU AND ME) and put it on a dimensional pop-dot.  The rose paper came from a card stock pack.  I mounted them on craft card stock and added white dash lines.  (Yea, such a cheater.  I'm sorry).
My intentions were to use these scrapbook embellishments that I had purchased that, in reality, I may never use.

A few posts-ago, I did a post on making your own square envelopes.  WELL!  Guess who did a video on that same topic.  KRISTINA WERNER.  I love her videos.   She also has her cat, Mannie, make appearances. I have NEVER heard such a vocal cat. That cat is ALWAYS talking.
I think Mannie should have his own YOUTUBE channel.



Anyway, check out her self-challenge videos below.  I encourage you to subscribe to her YOUTUBE channel and/or follow her website.   She's really creative and gutsy- She did a self-challenge-  "Make a card in 5 minutes"...  and she heat embossed!!! Is she crazy?  Check these two challenges to see if she made it.
CHALLENGE 1      CHALLENGE 2








Amuse-bouche:
OK, last night there were 2 fabulous audition on SYTYCD.
I couldn't wait to put both of these links on my blog...
LEROY MARTINEZ: I loved this guy.
The energy and pure spirit!!!
That's what I call DANCE spirit!



Mariah Spears
Amazing! Powerful! Sharp! Clean moves!

Simon Says Stamp Challenge- 3 papers

Here I go with another card entry into the Simon Says Stamp challenge.  I love SSS.  They have such a great variety of things-- and they sell PENNY BLACK!!! :)

Here's my card for the challenge (click HERE to see the challenge):

I used 3 different pattern papers.  I used a new Penny Black ("Mimi" series) image and colored it with Copics. I applied Glossy Accents to the umbrella.  The image was cut out using a Spellbinders diecut.  The sentiment came from My Creative Time.    I used a Spellbinder diecut to border the sentiment.  The ink I used was Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up) and I did use my Tim Holtz' piercer to make little holes in the scallops.

I thought this would be a nice card for OWH.  What do you think?

:)

Tremendous Treats with Paper Trey Ink

Here is a series of cards I made because I wanted to play with my Tremendous Treats - Valentines stamp set.  I colored the images with Copics.  I also incorporated some background stamps that I've been wanting to play with. 

Background stamp is from Hero Arts

Background is a Hero Arts CLING 'dots' stamp

Have a great weekend, everyone.

PS: Go check out Jennifer McGuire's site. She has the promo code to get 10% off of Hero Arts supplies.  [Check out those new ink pads.]  The code is good until 2/29/12.

AND I see that they have the Penny Black LONDON stamps in their stock (well, the ones I want are 'sold out.'  BUT AT LEAST THEY HAVE THEM!!!!) yay!!!

Amuse-bouche:

I LOVE THIS GUY...
He's hilarious.  He is so funny. 

Love you bunches....

Let's get to the card first and then those of you who like to read about my mundane life in So Cal can do so at the bottom:

For some reason, I really like the Preserves cartridge even though I have no clue why anyone would want a card with a mango on it.  I was thinking about how to incorporate it into a card for the Operation Write Home group....  VOILA!

I used a Jolee's punch that was on clearance at Michaels to make butterflies.  I used mini brads around the sentiment.

 On to my mundane life...

I've been super busy so I don't think I've had time to post about my latest investment (sounds good huh?... I invested in something.... as opposed to "I bought myself another toy.").  Custom Crops was having a sale... and I bought the Expression for $169. Now, PLEASE don't tell me that it's cheaper somewhere else. I've already been guilt-ridden for buying this... because I have several expenditures lined up for this spring/summer's budget:  Ipad2, Iphone5,....  What can I say?  I work hard... I play hard (well, by "play" I mean "eat" or "buy electronic toys").... 

To be honest, I was really annoyed that there are 3 cartridges that I have that can't be used to full capacity with a Cricut Create:  TBBM, Wild Card and Just Because. [Note: you can use them but just not make the envelopes for A2 cards as they don't fit on the 12x6 mat] 

I saw what  Christina   (I'm on a first name basis with her-- NOT!)   did with her carts using a big Expression and I decided... DARN IT!!! I want to do that too. (This kind of behavior is how those "name-a-city" Housewives became so annoying.)

SO, last night, my box came via UPS.  I got it opened but haven't had time to try it out because I had work to do and I still needed to get sleep from the last few days.

I also have realized that it's a bit bigger than I thought and I'm going to have to re-arrange my little studio area (haha, sounds so Artsy-Fartsy, doesn't it?) to make room for it.

But rest assured, one of the first few things I'm going to do is use the Wild Card or Just Because cartridge and make an ENVELOPE to go with a normal A2 size card!!!! 

Happy Friday Everyone...

Here is a card to celebrate Valentine's Single Awareness Day.  :)
This is a card that could be given to a good friend or a child. In this case, it's being donated to Operation Write Home. www.operationwritehome.org

Simply Charmed Cricut Cartridge, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, and a sentiment pack from Michaels (Heat Embossed with Opaque powder).

Holy Guacamole Batman.... she did it... in 1hour 45 minutes!!!!

Ha. Can you guess what that's all about?

Momo (www.madebymomo.blogspot.com) posted her challenge on her blog so I thought I'd try to enter a card.  I ruminated all day about what I would do... what stamp I'd use, what techniques I'll pull together into my masterpiece... and HERE IT IS... (drumroll.....)

AND.... the best part is... it took me 1hour and 45 minutes, including coloring the image. That's 3 days, 4 hours and 15 minutes less than NORMAL.

Everyone usually puts their card recipe however I'm really bad about that so I'll do the best I can.  The sentiment came from a Michaels' clear acrylic stamp set I got.  The image was from an old Stampin' Up set featuring a dragon.  The coloring was done by Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits (a la The Queen Marlene at www.disguisedasagrownup.blogspot.com).   The ribbon... hmm. I think it was part of a $1 pack at Michaels.  The light green paper was run through my Cuttlebug to make a scaly appearance.  (I took the photo of the card at night and I find that it washes out the color.  I will try to re-post the photo later
UPDATE: The photos are now re-posted). 

A close shot of the Prismacolor pencil shading

A closer shot of the background paper

I'm exhausted.  This was quite taxing.  I need to go lay down....  (Don't know how all you guys do it on a daily basis).

Oh... and on a side note:  Nicole (http://canadiannickelscrapn.blogspot.com) put up her video to show how she colors in her images with her Stampin' Up pens. I have been waiting since July to see this.  I hope to try it with my Marvy pens (I don't have SU pens).  But alas, if I simply cannot duplicate the art... I have my Prismacolor pencils.  I like the image they create as well.

Lastly, if you have hung in long enough to read all this babbling, don't forget about Nicole's bloghop on Saturday!!!!  Just click on the link to her blog above and you can bookmark her site.  Bookmark Marlene's too.  You'll enjoy it, trust me.

Amuse-bouche:

Tonight, I went to the local market (Sprouts) and picked up Taramatasalata by Krinos (in a jar).  It's a Greek type cavier dip.  I ate it with some blue corn organic chips from Trader Joes.  It's my new thing.  If you don't have Krinos in your market (which I completely understand), go to a Greek restaurant. It will probably be under the appetizer part.  Have it with some fresh warm pita.  (eyes. rolling. back. into. head).

Off to watch Glee...