Thank You for the Support

Where to go with this post?  The history of women's undergarments?  The evolution of the corset? 

Soooo glad I don't have to wear these contraptions!!  Doesn't matter, you say?  Of  "corset" matters - to the ones who had to wear them.

Okay, poor attempt at humour there, but humour is the theme of this week's Paper Players Challenge #89 - Tickle Your Funnybone.  At first I thought that I didn't have any funny stamps or sentiments, but then I realized that one of my newer sets was perfect for the challenge.  Here is my creation:

I also used the MOJO Monday sketch #235 for the layout.  I love how it turned out.  I was skeptical about being able to create real shabby chic style cards using only Stampin' Up products, but it turned out to be completely possible and so beautiful!  Yay, Stampin' Up!   Here's the MOJO Monday sketch: 

I used Soft Suede cardstock for the base and the large flag, which was embossed using the Stripes embossing folder.  (You can barely see it now, but that's the creating process for you.)  I used a piece of Beau Chateau DSP for the back panel and some River Rock cardstock for the middle panel, edged with some Pretty in Pink punched with the Eyelet Border punch.  I used Very Vanilla edged with Crumb Cake ink using a sponge dauber for the stamp and part of the sentiment and matted it with Baja Breeze cardstock. The stamps are from the Rues des Fleurs stamp set, from the Occasions Mini catalogue. 

The small flag was stamped with another stamp from the same set on River Rock card stock and the end was separated and curled.  I inked the Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon with Crumb Cake ink, misted it with water and scrunched it up, then tied a bow and added it to the paper over top of some leaves die cut using the Little Leaves Sizzlit.  The flowers are made from SU's Paper Daisies and sponged again with Crumb Cake ink! 

And I think the sentiment has just the right amount of humour - not overendowed, and it didn't fall flat either! And I'd better quit while I'm abreast of the situation!

Steal Like an Artist

So many people assume that they are not creative.  But I believe that we all have a drive within to create in some way.  Some are just not willing to risk critique, especially their own.  A friend of mine posted this link on Facebook a while back and it was very freeing: Steal Like an Artist!

With that in mind, I'm going to share a couple of cards I CASE'd (Copy And Share Everything) from designs I found on Pinterest - a great way for the artist to be a collector.

This card was designed by Claire Daly and I found it on Splitcoast Stampers site - another great resource.  I modified only a little.  Since my card was larger, I added an extra butterfly.  The stamp sets I used were Creative Elements and Teeny Tiny Wishes, by Stampin' Up.  I downloaded and printed a manuscript to use behind the Pool Party panel in front.  The card base is Early Espresso.  I sponged and distressed the edges of both panels as well as using Crumb Cake ink to stamp some of the images on the manuscript in the top left corner.  The decorative label punch created the window in the front panel and I used an Antique Brad and some Basic Rhinestones from Stampin' Up to give it some bling!  I love the look!

The other card I want to share was CASE'd from a layout by Melanie Holtz, but I used different stamps and paper.

The stamp sets I used were Rue des Fleurs and Oval All from Stampin' Up and the DSP is Beau Chateau, also SU.  It gives the card a very French flavour, non?  I used a bit of SU's Victorian Crochet trim on one edge of two of the panels and some Making Memories antique copper brads to finish it off.  One thing I have been hesitant to try is sewing my cards.  I have a new sewing machine that is, as yet, untried and I don't want to dull the needle.  Do you use a special needle for paper crafting?  I just used a Soft Suede SU marker to create faux stitches.  The real thing would look better!