The Key To My Heart Canvas

Here's my entry to the MS Winter Challenge, using the bare tree as required.

It's a Mixed Media canvas.

I thought of the tree as a Keys tree, where one of the keys may be the key to my heart...

Materials used:

20 x20 cms (8 x8 inches) canvas

DecoArt acrylic colors

Basic Grey patterned paper

Ancient Keys die cut by All Occasion Dies

Silver CS for the keys, which was the cover of a disposable baking tray

Michael Strong Cloisonné Heart stamp

Red CS, for stamping the heart

Transparency sheet, for stamping the heart – 2^nd layer

Andy Skinner's HAVE YOUR SAY stencil

Modeling paste

Red ProMarker

Design By Ryn's Raindrop stamp

Ranger's Numbers Game stamp

VersaFine Onyx Black ink

Ranger's Fired Brick distress ink

Washi Tape

White Gel pen

Challenges

MS 2015/16 Winter Challenge

Designs By Ryn - March Customer Creation Challenge

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

Decorative Corner Bookmarks

This is my 4th creation for this week as Card Captain at the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.
It's Technique Thursday, so I used a tutorial I found in Hetty's blog - thank you, Hetty!

You can use any patterned paper and any flat embellishments to decorate your bookmarks.

Michael Strong's small stamps are perfect for decorating bookmarks, as well as other objects - they seem to fit everywhere!
Bookmarks are always useful (I read several books simultaneously), and a lovely addition to any gift, especially to books…

Supplies used:

ScorPal
Bone folder
Basic Grey and Making Memories 6" x 6" patterned papers
Recycled cereal box (white and kraft) and leather textured CS (red) for stamping
Ranger Distress ink - gathered twigs
Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool
Michael Strong stamps - Cloisonné Fan (small), Cloisonné Dragonfly (small), Hetty's Coffee Cup (small)
Emboss Ink
Embossing powder - black and brown
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
Purple Sharpie marker

You can find the Tutorial here. The steps are easy to follow, and there's also a video tutorial.

For double sided CS, I used it as it is.
For patterned CS with a white back, I used Ranger Distress ink - gathered twigs to color the white part which can be seen after folding.

I folded the papers according to the instructions.

I stamped Michael Strong's stamps - the Coffee Cup and the Dragonfly - using Emboss Ink, and heat embossed it using brown and black EP.
I stamped the Fan using VersaFine ink - Onyx Black.
I cut them all with scissors and glued each stamp on a folded bookmark.

Here's how the bookmark looks on a book.
Don't forget to keep on reading…
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Sweet Birthday Flower and Snowflake Rosette Card

This is my 3rd card for this week as Card Captain at the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.
It's a sweet birthday card, in vivid colors.
The ice cream reminded me of snow, so I used the Snowflake Rosette as a main motif.

Supplies used:
Cream CS for the card's basis
Red leather textured CS
Basic Grey patterned paper
White CS for the Snowflake Rosette and for the sentiment
Light blue leather textured CS for stamping
Ranger Distress ink - fired brick
Michael Strong Cloisonné Flower Stamp (small)
Emboss Ink
Gold EP
Gold ink
Plain round brad, hand painted with red nail polish
Tim Holtz Snowflake Rosette Die
Green Gel Pen
White, light green and pink half pearls with sticky back
3D double sided foam tape

I cut, folded and adhered the Snowflake Rosette, then I added some gold ink to make it more shiny and elegant.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower using Emboss Ink, and heat embossed it using gold EP.
I cut it with scissors and glued it to the center of the Snowflake Rosette.
I added a plain round brad, hand painted with red nail polish, for decoration and to hold the flower and the Snowflake Rosette together.
I added fired brick Ranger Distress ink to the BG paper and to the white CS, in order to enhance them.
The sentiment was hand written by me, using green Gel Pen.
I layered the papers, adhered the sentiment 3D, and added quite a few half pearls with sticky back, to fit the ice cream colors and for extra glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Happy Birthday Ornate and Owl Card

This is my 2nd card this week as Card Captain at the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.

For this card I chose brown and light blue as the dominant colors, and Michael Strong Cloisonné Owl Stamp as my main motif.

Supplies used:

White leather textured CS for the card's basis
Chocolate brown CS
Light blue CS (from the white CS pack cover)
Basic Grey patterned paper
White recycled CS for stamping (from a tea pack)
Sizzix Bigz Ornate Plate Die
Michael Strong Cloisonné Owl Stamp
Emboss Ink
Michael Strong embossing powder - Weathered Copper
ProMarkers
Light blue blings in various sizes
Clear blings
3D double-sided foam tape

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Owl using Emboss Ink, and heat embossed it using Michael Strong embossing powder - Weathered Copper.

It has a unique color mixture, which gives a very special and beautiful result.
I carefully cut it with scissors, colored it using ProMarkers, and added clear blings for the Owl's eyes.
Then I layered the papers, glued the Ornate Plate die and added the Owl 3D.
Finally, I added light blue blings in various sizes for extra glam.

You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Happy Birthday Butterfly and Rosette Card

 

This week it is my turn to be Card Captain at the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group (oh, how I've missed it!)

I created this birthday card for a dear friend, in warm colors and an elegant look. The main motifs are 3D and there are blings for glam.

Supplies used:

Cream CS for the card's basis

Chocolate brown CS

Basic Grey patterned paper

Black leather textured CS

Shiny gold paper

Red leather textured CS for stamping

Brown and dark beige CS for the Rosette

Michael Strong Cloisonné Butterfly Stamp (large)

VersaFine ink - Onyx Black

Spellbinders Nestabilities - Lattice Rectangles (medium)

Tim Holtz Paper Rosette Die

Red and clear blings

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly using VersaFine ink - Onyx Black.

I cut it with scissors and glued it only in the center, so the wings seem to be flying in the air.

I made a paper rosette in matching colors.

Then I layered the papers, glued the butterfly and the rosette 3D, and added red and clear blings for extra glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Leaping Reindeer Christmas Card

I made this Christmas card using a few of Tim's die cuts.

The colors are quite traditional.

I like the BG background paper, and it seems that the golden snowflake add some glam.

Most items were glued 3D for extra dimension.

Merry Christmas!

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Happy Birthday Flower Card

I created this birthday card for a dear friend, in vivid colors with a clean and simple look.

It is also my interpretation of May's sketch (#44) at the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group

Supplies used:
Cream CS for the card's basis
Basic Grey patterned paper - Boxer
Vintage musical notes sheet
Red leather textured CS for stamping
Michael Strong Cloisonné Flower Stamp (large)
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
Ranger's Distress Ink - fired brick

Large metal brad with a clear bling

Red blings

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower using VersaFine ink - Onyx Black.
I cut it with scissors and added a huge brad at its center.
I distressed the background patterned paper and the vintage musical notes sheet using Ranger's Distress Ink - fired brick.
Then I layered the papers according to the sketch and added red blings for extra glam.

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

Wonderful Heart Gift Box

I made this gift box for a special, wonderful woman with a very kind heart.
I think the design says it all.
I gave her this box with a tag and with a turquoise beads bracelet, hand made by me, as a gift to her.

Supplies used for the box:

Cream leather textured CS for the Box

Red leather textured CS

Basic Grey patterned paper - boxer
Ranger's Distress ink - Fired Brick
Wonderful stamp -DoCrafts
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Heart Stamp (large)

Embossing ink

Gold EP

Clear blings

Scor-Pal

1" circle punch

Double sided foam tape

First I created the box out of cream CS, following Michael Strong's tutorial

My addition is a tip for an easy opening of the box.

After scoring and folding the CS, but before cutting and adhering its corners, I used a 1" circle punch to cut a HALF CIRCLE opening at the front side, where the box opens up (I simply inserted the circle punch half way and punched).

It creates a perfect notch to slide your finger in to open the box without wrinkling it.

I distressed the patterned paper using Ranger's Distress ink - fired brick.

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Heart using Embossing ink.

I heat embossed it using gold EP, and cut it with scissors.

Then I stamped the Wonderful stamp using VersaFine ink - Onyx Black.
I adhered both stamped images using double sided foam tape for extra dimension.
I added clear blings for a glamorous look.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Flower, Rosette and Ribbons Card

Here is my 1st card for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group

I created this card for a dear family member who has recently (finally!) retired from work.
I hope he'll have many opportunities and a lot of free time to have fun, and to travel often - especially to Israel.

This card is especially suitable for a man, because of its strong and masculine color combo.

It is also my interpretation of this month's sketch (#42) at the group.

Supplies used:
White CS for the card's basis
Red and cream leather textured CS
Basic Grey patterned paper - Origins (2 pages)
Patterned paper for the Rosette (from a friend)
Spellbinder Nestabilities Classic Circles
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower Stamp (small)
StazOn ink - Black
Tim Holtz Rosette Flower Die
Polka Dot satin ribbons in 3 colors
Sentiment - "Happy Retirement" gold rub-on
Light green blings in various sizes
Double sided foam tape

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower using black StazOn ink.
I cut and layered the papers according to the sketch.
Well, I had to alter it a little bit.
So I moved the circles, the rosette and stamped flower to one side of the bottom circle to create an asymmetric look.
Then I added this whole stack a bit outside of the patterned paper square.
I added the ribbons the sentiment.Most elements were glued 3D for extra dimension.Then I added several blings for extra glam (men like it too, I hope…)

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Love Is In The Air

Here is my 1st card for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.
The theme is Love Is In The Air.
I created this card for my DH, my true Valentine and the love of my life.
This card is especially suitable for a man, because of its elegant and calm color combo along with the straight and diagonal lines.

Supplies used:
Black leather textured CS for the card's basis

Shiny gold paper

Basic Grey patterned paper - Origins
Recycled white CS
EK Success Plaid edger punch
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Cranes Stamp Set (small and large)
Embossing ink
Green EP - Ranger's Evergreen
Clear blings in various sizes

Double sided foam tape

I punched the shiny gold paper using my new EK Success Plaid edger punch (I love it!)
I layered the papers straight and diagonally to create some contrast.
Both cranes were stamped, heat embossed with green EP and glued 3D for extra dimension.

Then I added several blings for extra glam (men like it too, I hope… lol)

(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

Paisley & Flowers Card

This is my 3rd card this week as Card Captain of the Michael Strong's Yahoo group.
Ingredients:
Black leather textured CS for the card's basis
Basic Grey patterned paper - Pheobe
Michael's Strong's Cloisonné Paisley stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Black EP
ProMarkers - Cocoa, Pastel Pink, Coral
Making Memories Blossom flowers
Jewel brads
White half pearls
EK Success Corner Adorner
EK Success Morocco border punch

The Paisley was heat embossed with black EP and colored using ProMarkers.
The Paisley and the flowers werte glued 3D for extra dimension.
I added several white half pearls for extra glam.
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Spread Your Wings Dragonfly Card

This is my 2nd card this week as Card Captain of the Michael Strong's Yahoo group.
I wanted this card to express the power of nature in dramatic and vivid colors.
Ingredients:
Black leather textured CS for the card's basis
Basic Grey patterned paper - Pheobe
Pergamano Parchment (Vellum) paper
Michael's Strong's Cloisonné Dragonfly stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Carnelian EP
Brown ink
Black pen
Diamond Glaze
White half pearls

I distressed the patterned paper pieces with brown ink to give it contrasting edges.
The Dragonfly was heat embossed with Carnelian EP on Pergamano Parchment (Vellum) paper.
I cut the Dragonfly carefully using TH scissors and glued it using Diamond Glaze, only in the center, its wings hanging in the air to get the feeling of flight and movement.
The sentiment "Spread Your Wings" was hand written by me on the Basic Grey patterned paper and glued 3D for extra dimension.
I added several white half pearls for extra glam.

Take a look at the Dragonfly's close-up.
Can you actually see the Dragonfly in flight?

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Sweet Mini Butterflies Card

This is my 1st card this week as Card Captain of the Michael Strong's Yahoo group.

Every month there's a sketch challenge at the Michael Strong's Yahoo group and this is the sketch for June and July.

I used this sketch once and I loved the Birds Flight Card, so I created a similar card with mini butterflies.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Recycled CS from a magazine
Basic Grey patterned paper - Pheobe
Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonné Wings stamp set - Butterfly (small)
Dark pink organza ribbon with white dots
Embossing ink
Brown ink
Black EP
Black pen
Dark pink and clear blings
Dark pink artificial flower stamens
Double sided foam tape
EK Success Corner Adorner

I used Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly (small) from the Mini Cloisonné Wings stamp set.
I stamped it on a recycled CS from a magazine and heat embossed it with black EP.
Then I cut the mini Butterflies using TH scissors.
I used dark pink artificial flower stamens for each butterfly's antennas, taped on its back side.
I distressed the patterned paper pieces with brown ink to give it contrasting edges.
I glued the patterned paper and the mini Butterflies 3D, using double sided foam tape, for extra dimension.
The sentiment "Happy Birthday" was written by me on the Basic Grey patterned paper.
I added dark pink and clear blings for extra glam.
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Gatefold Card With Inner Money Pocket

Here's the 4th card I made for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.
Today is Technique Thursday, so I'm going to explain how to make this card.
When creating this card I was inspired by an Israeli scrapbooking friend from Eilat. Her name is Tal Solomons (she doesn't have a blog…yet) and the basic card was her idea. I upgraded it by adding the inner money pocket.
You can put a tag in this pocket instead of money. I left enough space inside the card for writing wishes.
This card was minimally decorated, and it's also suitable for men.
It took me more time to write the explanation than to make the card… it's easy and fun to make.
You're welcome to try it. I'd be happy to see what you created.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis (A4 size)
Basic Grey patterned paper - Boxer
Red and cream leather textured CS
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower stamp (small)
Stazon ink - Black
Clear and red blings
Double sided adhesion tape

I used one A4 sheet of cream leather textured CS to make the card's basis.
I cut it to the size of 28.5x15 cms.
I made creases and folded it into 3 exactly identical panels. The folds should be at 9.5 cms and 19 cms.
I made a diagonal cut on the right panel, starting at 4.3 cms from the top and ending at 4.7 cms from the bottom (be exact, as both panels should match).
I saved the cut-out piece to be used later as the money pocket.
Then, flapping the right panel on the left panel, I used a pencil to draw the exact line for cutting the left panel.
I cut the left panel along the line and checked that both panels flap to a nice closure.
Then I used double sided adhesion tape to attach the inner pocket (left from cutting the right panel, remember?) to the inner side of the left panel.

Here the pocket was made of the same CS as the card's basis, so it seems like an integral part of the card. To make the pocket more visible, use another paper or decorate this CS as shown on the outer panels.

I decorated the card's outer panels using Basic Grey patterned paper (Boxer), which I cut diagonally and a bit smaller than the flapping panels.
I punched regular and scalloped circles in 2 sizes (2 of each) out of red and cream leather textured CS.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower stamp on red leather textured CS using Stazon black ink, and cut the stamped images with scissors.
I glued the stamped flower on the circle and then on the scalloped circle twice, creating 2 identical motifs.
I attached one motif to the inner money pocket for decoration.
I attached the other motif to the outer side of the card on its right panel. It was glued in the middle of the lower diagonally cut side, only half glued to the panel and half not glued (this will close the card nicely).
Finally, I added clear and red blings for extra glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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