Pink Pearls From The Ocean Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
My 1st card for this week is a Seashell card in ice cream colors (yummy!) and it is also my entry to October's pink challenge.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Patterned background paper (from my stash) in pink and white
Light cream CS
Gold paper
Kraft CS
Swirl Edger Punch by EK Success
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Shell Stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Gold EP
ProMarkers - Vanilla, Cocoa and Pastel Pink
Pink half pearls
3D double sided foam tape

The main motif in this card is the Seashell, found in the ocean and related to pearls.
I used the Swirl Edger Punch by EK Success to create scraps with edges resembling waves, and stacked them on the patterned background paper.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Seashell on a very thick white CS (used for watercolor painting), heat embossed it with gold EP and cut it out using TH scissors.

Then I colored it using ProMarkers - Vanilla, Cocoa and Pastel Pink.
The Seashell was glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension.
I added several pink half pearls for extra glam.
Talking about pink…

Here's what my youngest son brought me when he came home from school.
The pink ribbon is so symbolic for this month that I had to take a photo of the Cyclamens before and after I opened my gift.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Steampunk Tags Swap

I created these tags for a Steampunk Tags Swap which took place at the AllThingsTim Yahoo group .
I made 9 similar (but not identical) tags. I've sent 7 tags and kept two - one for myself and one can be traded. If you're interested, please let me know.
I chose vintage colors and earth tones with some blue and striking red for a dramatic contrast.

Supplies used:
Manila CS
Patterned paper - commercials of a fashion designer
Shoe boxes recycled cardboard - blue (Reebok), and kraft and dark red (Saucony)
Red CS
Tim Holtz Steampunk stamp set
Tim Holtz Sizzix Bigz Die - Gadget Gears
Ranger's Distress Ink - Fired Brick, Tea dye, Weathered Wood
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
EK Success punch - Folk Heart
Pure alcohol
Ranger's Glossy Accents
Color changing soft fibers
Satin blue ribbon
Checkered ribbon with changing colors
3D double sided foam tape

For the tag's front side I've cut Tim's #8 tags out of commercials of a fashion designer CS.
It had old machine parts printed all over it, in vintage colors, which was perfect for my tags.
I distressed the papers with Tea Dye distress ink.
I added the text "Without heart we are just machines", printed on the same CS back side, and distressed it with Fired Brick distress ink.
I sprayed alcohol on each piece to enhance the colors and to fixate them.
The folk heart was punched out of bright red CS and was glazed with several coats of Glossy Accents for a shiny look.
I stacked several Gadget Gears dies, cut out of recycled shoe boxes cardboard in various colors.

For the tag's back side I've stamped 2 different stamps from Tim Holtz Steampunk stamp set using black ink on manila CS, and then distressed it with Tea Dye distress ink.
I added a few more Gadget Gears dies, cut out of recycled shoe boxes cardboard in various colors.

All the embellishments were glued using 3D foam tape for extra dimension.
I chopped the tags' corners with TH scissors, punched holes with the Crop-A-Dile and distressed the edges using Ranger's Distress Ink (Tea Dye).
Then I added colorful soft fibers, a blue satin ribbon and a checkered ribbon from my stash.
I also added my info on each tag's back side, printed and colored with Weathered Wood distress ink.

And here are all my 9 tags:

I have an extra tag - who wants it?
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Shiny Christmas Tree Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 5th card for this week. I used my new Christmas Tree Die Cutter to create a shiny Christmas card.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Red leather textured CS for the Christmas Tree cut-out
Patterned paper - Basic Grey - Wassail
White photo paper
Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter
Snowflake punch (1 inch)
Clear, green and red blings

I used Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter to cut a Christmas Tree shaped hole in my red CS. It cuts like butter, it's a pleasure to work with these cutters.
I used the background piece which was left from the cut-out tree (I'll save the cut-out tree for a later project).
I added the Basic Grey patterned paper at the back of the cut-out tree.
I added several snowflakes, punched out of photo paper which is very white and resembles snow.
I added quite a few clear, green and red blings to add some glam. You can never use too many blings…

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Iris Folding Christmas Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
For my 4th card for this week I decided to use the Iris Folding technique.
You can find a very clear tutorial in Hetty's blog.
You can find the pattern in Michael Strong's blog.
If you want your pattern to match the size of Michael Strong's large Christmas Tree Die Cutter, print it after resizing it to exactly 11.31x 14.86 cms (who said size doesn't matter? lol)
I used contrasting yet complementary colors in order to get a classical card.

Ingredients:
White leather textured CS for the card's basis
Black canvas textured CS for the Christmas Tree Iris Folding
Recycled gift papers – shiny red and silver with white dots
Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter
3D foam tape
Clear and red blings

I used Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter to cut a Christmas Tree shaped hole in my CS.
It cuts like butter, it's a pleasure to work with these cutters (I'll save the cut-out tree for a later project).
I created the Christmas Tree Iris Folding on the back of my CS and turned it over, its textured side up.
I used recycled gift papers - shiny red and silver with white dots, which reminded me of snowflakes.
The papers were so sparkly that it was difficult to take a good photo of the card.
I glued the finished CS using 3D foam tape onto the card's basis for extra dimension.

I added several clear and red blings to add some glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Ornamental Christmas Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps.
I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 3rd card for this week - it is an Ornamental Christmas Card.
We don't celebrate Christmas in Israel, yet I find the Christmas decorations very festive and elegant.
The main motif in this card is the Christmas tree, and the colors I chose are rather traditional Christmas colors.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Patterned paper - Christmas Background paper pad by Crafty Individuals
Gold paper
Dark grey leather textured CS
Spellbinders Nestabilities - LATTICE RECTANGLES (medium)
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree Stamp (small)
Embossing ink
Black EP
Brown ink
Gold organza ribbon
Red and clear blings

I chose these colors to create an elegant and festive card.
If you look closely you'll notice that unlike usual Christmas trees, the ornaments here serve as a background while the trees are situated on top of them.
The background paper was slightly distressed using brown ink.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Tree on dark grey leather textured CS, heat embossed it with black EP and cut it out using TH scissors.
The trees were glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension, and so was their gold background, which was cut using Spellbinders Nestabilities - LATTICE RECTANGLES (medium).
I added red and clear blings for extra glam.
I also added a piece of gold organza ribbon.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Early Christmas Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
My 2nd card for this week is an Early Christmas Card, but is it ever too early?
The main motif in this card is the Christmas tree.
I chose a nontraditional color combo.

Ingredients:
Red leather textured CS for the card's basis
Light blue leather textured CS
Patterned paper - Christmas Paper pad by Crafty Individuals
Gold paper
Dark grey leather textured CS
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree Stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Black EP
Red and clear blings

I chose these papers for a somewhat nontraditional color combo.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Tree on dark grey leather textured CS, heat embossed it with black EP and cut it out using TH scissors.
The Tree was glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension, and so was its backgound.
I added red and clear blings for extra glam.

I hope it isn't too early to get some Christmas inspiration.
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Fish Card for Rosh HaShana

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps.
I hope you'll find them inspiring.

My 1st card for this week is inspired by the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group monthly sketch #39, shown here:

The main motif in this card is the Fish, which is one of the symbols of Rosh HaShana (the Jewish New Year holiday).

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Black canvas textured CS
Gold paper
Light cream textured CS
Turquoise leather textured CS
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fish Stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Ranger's Distress Ink - Old Paper
Gold EP
Swirl Edger Punch by EK Success
EK Success Medium Corner Adorner
White and light blue half pearls

I chose these colors to create a dramatic contrast and to get an elegant color combo.
I used the edger punch to create the black and gold paper stripes to match the sketch.
I used the Swirl Edger Punch by EK Success to create scraps with edges resembling waves, and stacked them so the black waves and the gold waves were in opposite directions.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fish on turquoise leather textured CS, heat embossed it with gold EP and cut it out using TH scissors.
The Fish was glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension.
I added a piece of light cream leather textured CS, distressed with Old Paper distress ink and its corners rounded, as the background of the Fish image.
I added a white half pearl for the eye and several light blue half pearls which resemble the water bubbles.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly