Stamping With Blue Moon Creations

Sun, Moon and Stars-Stamp Club Challenge

The two stamp clubs met this past weekend, and I must say I am very proud of those who participated in the swap challenge!  If you remember, their challenge was to find an image in a catalog or magazine and design a card using their interpretation of that image.  I will be uploading the swap cards along with the inspiration pieces over the next few days.  So, stay tuned...  In the meantime, here is my inspiration from the latest Hearth and Home catalog:

And here is my card: 

I used the retired set Sun, Moon and Stars.  I love this set, and it is one of the few retired sets I have kept.

The inspiration for the flowers came from  the beautiful wisteria and lilacs that are in full bloom in my neighborhood.  I pass by them on my daily walks with my dog Blossom.

The flowers were stamped using Blossoms Abound (a great two-step stamp) and Stem Silhouettes.  The background is sanded. 

Each sun and moon were stamped, colored with markers and cut out.  I added a touch of Spirelli string art around the sun just for fun.  The background circle was cut out using the Coluzzle cutting system.  Dimensionals were used to assemble the pieces for a little of extra dimension.

Stamp Club Challenge-Embrace Life

Ok, after spending waaaay too much time trying to recreate the other pictures, I decided it was time to move on.  I saw this outfit in the same Coldwater Creek catalog and knew instantly I could recreate it using Stampin' Up! colors.  The stamp set is Embrace Life.

Here's the inspiration.

And here's what I came up with.  I added a little touch of Ruby Red to add some pop. 

This one was a less frustrating challenge!

Coldwater Creek challenge sample #3

Whew, here is the final sample.  This challenge was a difficult one!

I embossed the images in white on black card stock, then added color using sponge daubers and Stampin' Pastels.  The bird came from Carte Postale and the leaves from Stem Silhouettes.

 

Coldwater Creek challenge sample #2

This was my inspiration from the Coldwater Creek catalog.

This is my second attempt.

This card was created using a combination of the Batik and Denise Carlson's Versamark Smooshy card techniques.  The images were embossed in white on Shimmery White card stock.  I then smooshed the colors on using craft ink spots and dye ink refills, blended and buffed with a paper towel. 

Stamp Club challenge

I was flipping through my latest Coldwater Creek catalog and came across these two beautiful pictures.

I immediately thought that they could be recreated into beautiful cards.  Then I thought what a great swap card challenge this would be for my two Stamp Clubs.  I presented this challenge in March for the April swaps: find a picture in a magazine or catalog that you like and recreate it using your interpretation of the image.

I spent this weekend trying to recreate these images.  It was a lot harder than I thought it would be!  After trying several techniques, I could not get what I had pictured in my head down on paper.

Here is the first sample: This card was created using a variation of the Batik technique.  The bird is from the Always stamp set and the leaves are from the  retired level 2 hostess set Stem Silhouettes.  They are both embossed in black.   

Here is a close up of the background.  Colors used were Brilliant Blue, Lovely Lilac and Green Galore craft spots smooshed around on glossy card stock and then blended together with a paper towel.

Stay tuned for my other attempts at this challenge!

Batik Seasonal Whismy

On the with challenge...Here's another card I created using Seasonal Whimsy.  I used one of my favorite techniques: Batik. The background colors used were Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral and Rose Red.  I stamped the background (Baroque Motifs) in Chocolate Chip craft ink rather than the traditional white craft ink.  I added one more step: I embossed the whole thing with clear embossing powder, so it has a little shine to it.  I used a lighter hand with the background for the summer scene so it wouldn't be as dark.  Contact me if you'd like to learn the Batik technique blumoon@comcast.net

Seasonal Whimsy Challenge

I challenged myself today to use a stamp set that I have not used in a long time.  My choice was Seasonal Whimsy.  Today was cold and windy, and I chose the summer scene because I am ready for warmer temps (and no wind)!

First, I inked up the image using Bashful Blue, colored in the rays of the sun using my Only Orange marker and stamped on white card stock.  Then, with different colored markers, I inked up each part of the stamp individually.  I then cut out the individual pieces and layered them on top of the original image using Stampin' Dimensionals and pieces of the rubber left over from trimming stamp sets. (This is a great use for all those little pieces of left over rubber.  To get double-sided adhesive, peel the rubber off the adhesive on one side and remove the paper backing on the other side.  Cut to size as needed.) The back ground stamp is Sanded, one of my favorites because it is subtle, yet very versatile.

 

 

 

Here's an up close view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a side view showing the raised images.

Flip Album class was a success!

Christy, Erin, Fran, Beth, Judy and I had such a great time at the Flip Album class last Sunday.  Each picked out the Simply Scrappin' kit they would use to make their flip album, box and lid.  Here are photos of Christy's album.  She used the Summer Days Simply Scrappin' kit.  Be sure to check out the Flip Album Gallery for more photos.  The gallery can be found on the right side bar, below the Featured Artist pages. 

Here's the outside of the flip album.  I love the bright colors!

Here's the box and lid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's 3 views of the inside panels.

 

Jan Hayward's Apple Salsa

My sister in law made apple salsa for my flip album class on Sunday.  It was a big hit, and I thought I'd share the recipe with you.  Enjoy.

2 apples finely diced

2 T lime juice

1/2 cup pineapple finely diced

1/4 cup onion finely diced

1/2 cup green pepper or jalapeno finely diced

1 clove garlic

2 T cilantro finely diced

1 T cider vinegar

1/2 t cumin

1 t olive oil

2 packets of hot sauce from Taco Bell

add sugar to taste

Mix together and serve with chips.  Yum, yum!

        

Celebrating Men Can Be Fun Card Class-Spirelli String Art and Faux Leather Techniques!

Celebrating men can be fun, especially if there is stamping and food involved!

Creating masculine cards always seems to present a challenge, whether it's for your husband, father, grandfather, son, grandson, boyfriend, co-worker or your child's teacher. Remember Father's Day is just around the corner.

Please join me for an afternoon of friendship, stamping and food during my Celebrating Men Can Be Fun card class.  We will create 4 great masculine themed cards using 3 different techniques. (These cards can be given to women too!)

When:  May 4, 2008 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Where: My crafting studio, 14500 Oakwood Pl NE, Albuquerque, NM  Please don't hesitate to contact me even if you don't live in Albuquerque, NM, but would still like to participate in the class.  I will mail you the supplies (excluding the stamps) along with full instructions.  Just add $3.95 to the class fee to cover the postage.
Cost and RSVP: $15.00- Payment and RSVP due no later than April 27, 2008.  Space is limited to 8, so please sign up early.  505-292-2980, blumoon@comcast.net

Class fee payment can be made using the PayPal link below:

 

Come join the stamping fun!

Projects will include:

Two cards featuring the Spirelli String Art technique,

One card using the Faux Wood technique,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and a bonus project-a fun shirt pocket card, great for giving gift cards.

Stampin' Pastels and Pretties kit flowers

If you haven't already, please sign up to receive my monthly newsletter.  April's newsletter has 4 great techniques for using Stampin' Pastels.  Here is a quick and simple project using Stampin' Pastels to color flowers from the Pretties kit.  The saying, "Bloom where you're planted" is Perfect Day rub-ons found in the Occasions Mini Collection 2008. 

Tart & Tangy Criss Cross Cards

Ok, these are the last samples I will upload using the Tart and Tangy stamp set and Summer Picnic Designer Series paper from the Occasions Mini Collection 2008.  I had a lot of fun using the stamp set and coordinating paper.  And I didn't even use any of the coordinating  A Perfect Day rub-ons.  I just might have to do one more sample....

For these cards, I referred to the criss cross card instructions provided by my good friend Teresa D'Anza.  You can view her Christmas criss cross card sample with full instructions on her Featured Artist page found on the right hand side of this web site. 

Basic instructions: Cut a piece of card stock 11" x 4 1/4" and score 3 1/4" from each end.  Cut each end from the top score line to the opposite corner making two triangle flaps. Cut a piece of designer paper 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" and cut in half to form two triangles.  Place one triangle of designer paper over each criss cross piece.  The belly band piece measures 1" x 11", is folded around and adhered at the back using Snail adhesive.

 

 

 

 

 

I set two eyelets using my Crop-A-Dile in order to close the bottom of the card.  The inside card measures 4" x 3 1/2", matted to 4 1/4" x 3 3/4".  No brads were used on the orange card.  I used Snail adhesive to seal the bottom.

 

Tart & Tangy Summer Picnic

This card was sooo simple to make.  I used my 1 3/8 and 1 1/4" circle punches.  I did forget to add the ribbon before I glued down the Summer Picnic Designer Series paper.  Oops, but not to worry.  I just cut a small  slit in the fold of the card using my personal paper trimmer and ran the ribbon through it.  This way, there is ribbon on the inside flap of the card too!

A Summer Picnic with Tart & Tangy

I love, love, love the Tart and Tangy stamp set and the coordinating Summer Picnic Designer-Series paper found in the Occasions Mini Collection 2008!  The colors and designs are so bright and cheery and they make me smile.

Click here to view the Occasions Mini Collection 2008

Tart & Tangy

Tart & Tangy is my new favorite stamp set!  It can be found in the Occasions Mini Collection 2008 through May 31.  These two birthday cards were very quick and simple to create. Click here to view the catalog online: Occasions Mini Collection 2008

 

Tart & Tangy Happy Birthday

I used the Tart  & Tangy stamp set from the Occasions Mini Collection 2008.  I colored the images using Stampin' Up! markers.  This is one of my new favorite stamp sets!