Tuesday Morning Sketch #73: Embellish It!

 Stamps:  Papertrey 'Daily Designs' sentiment.  Cardstock:  GP110 white, Taken with Teal, silver.  Ink:  Versamark.   Accessories:  silver EP.

Welcome to Tuesday Morning Challenge #73! 

This week our sponsor is Paper Maniac and our challenge is to embellish your project in a non-traditional way.  I opted to create my own non-traditional embellish that also functions as a people embellishment -- have you seen these altered washers yet?

This technique involves a washer, alcohol inks, and Crystal effects and is so simple a kid can do it.  That's the truth -- my daughters created their own pendants as gifts for friends!  Here's a TUTORIAL if you want to try the technique with DPs.

To keep the emphasis on the pendant, I went with a CAS Fall-To sketch #121.

Be sure to admire the TMS Design Team's spin on this week's challenge:

Melissa
Angela
Theresa
Jacki
Tammy

Hollyanne, Jr. DT

Karen, December GDT

 Then link up your creations HERE to join in the fun and so we can admire your take on this sketch!

Saturday Spotlight Challenge #18: Around the House!

Stamps: Digi image by Victoria Case, Papertrey 'Mailbox Greetings'. Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst, Basic Grey 'Wisteria', GP 110 white. Ink: Copics. Accessories: jewel brads, hydrangea Prima, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, clear EP, grape Kool-Aid.

For this week's Saturday Spotlight challenge.....

The Spotlight Divas would like to challenge you to use something on your creation that is from your household, but NOT a craft item! :) Use saftey pens, dryer sheets, household cleaners for doing a technique...get creative and have fun!! :)!

For my card, I used a Kool-Aid drink mix mixed with clear embossing powder to make my own version of grape scratch -n- sniff on the image:

A few tips:
1) Clear Kool-Aid versions are best; mix about half and half with clear EP.
2) Try your mixture on a test sheet before using it on your final image.

3) Do NOT overheat mixture when embossing.

I followed steps 1 and 2, but was a little over zealous with the heat gun during embossing and my grapes ended up looking a little more ripe than I wanted!

Thanks to Midnight Madness sketch #40 for the layout inspiration!

For our Spotlight sponsor this week we have...

Victoria Case Art Designs

Click HERE to go to her store

One Lucky winner from Mister Linky this week will be randomly chosen to win four digital images of their choice from Victoria's store!

Be sure to check out all the 'homemade' creations by the Spotlight Divas:

Vicki (Stamped Smiles)
Chris (Twinkles Glows with Stamps)
Boni (Bonibleaux Designs)
Crystal (Crystal's Crafty Creations)
Darlene (Dar's Crafty Creations)
Dawn (My Stamping Thyme)
Erin (Scrap, Stamp and Be Merry)
Jodi (Inked Inspirations)
Maria (Joyful Stamper)

Take a new look at those household items to inspire us with your 'homemade' creations, then be sure to link HERE for your chance to win four Victoria case digis!

Gothic Tunnel of Love

Digi image and DP by Digi Scrap Graphics 'Gothic Love'. Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Black. Accessories: Stardust glitter pen, black satin ribbon.

Have you tried the tunnel card technique yet? It involves popping up layers of varying width on the same image to create a center 'tunnel':

It's a fun 3-D effect and Aisne of Digi Scrap Graphics takes all the guess work out of the technique with her digi sheets containing all layers and the coordinating DP for only $1.50!

Be sure to stop by Digi Scrap Graphics to see Aisne's other amazing tunnel card sheets, as well as decoupage and pryamid (sort of a reverse on the tunnel technique) sheets. There are also several fun digi paper packs, too!

Enjoy creating these quick and easy cards with major 'wow' factor!!

You Are My Sunshine

Stamps: Stampavie 'Giving Shelter', MSE 'Little Birdie' sentiment. Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Glossy White, Papertrey white, Basic Grey 'Lemonade'. Ink: Memento black, Copics, Rich Razzleberry. Accessories: Basic Grey 'Lemonade' brads, Circle Nestabilities.

Sometimes we need a little extra sunshine in our lives, don't we? Friends can definitely provide a little brightness on those not-quite-so-perfect days.

Sketchers week #64 inspired this sketch; I'm easily amused because I appreciate how the circle theme is echoed in the image and sketch layers.

This card also showcases a new technique I learned during a techniques class held at the Inkspot in St. Louis. It's my favorite type of technique -- easy, but a high 'Wow' factor! The full photo tutorial is over on the KLSNS blog, so let me know if I made it as easy to follow as it is to do the technique in person.