I had to try...

When Paper Smooches put out a call for a new Sparks Challenge Design Team, I decided to throw my hat in the ring. I participate regularly in this challenge so I went back to some of the older challenges to make my cards. In the end they didn't pick me...what were they thinking?! LOL, but I thought I'd make a quick post to show you the cards I made for my application.  Beside each card pic is a pic of the Sparks inspiration image.

For this card I took inspiration from the colors and the apples.

 Supplies used: Stamps: Paper Smooches; Patterned Papers: Jillibean Soup, Crate Paper, Kaisercraft, Pink Paislee; Cardstock: Bazzill; Misc: Buttons, embroidery floss.

I love the placement of the shapes in this photo as well as the colors. Blue and yellow is such a classic color combo. I used the butterflies instead of the ovals in the inspiration photo, but I got the idea for the butterflies from the few tiny butterflies in the frames.

 Supplies used: Stamps: Paper Smooches; Patterned Papers: My Minds Eye, Kaisercraft, Authentique; Cardstock: Bazzill; Butterfly punches: Martha Stewart, Stampin Up.

This inspiration room is SO FUN! I recreated the pink and white polkadot wall by using white embossing powder with the polkadot border stamp by PS. I added the frog like in the photo as well as a little bit of black...every room should have a little black in it. I finished off the card with some glittery brads to mimic the buttons in the headboard.

Supplies used: Stamps: Paper Smooches; Patterned Papers: Best Creation; Cardstock: Bazzill; Embossing Powder: Stampendous; Twine: Devine Twine; Brads: Making Memories; Scallop punch: EK Success; Misc: button, jewels.

I absolutely loooove this inspiration photo! I have always wanted to own a little VW van (maybe not orange) and who wouldn't want to drive through a tree?!?! I used the woodgrain patterned paper to represent the tree, and the orange circles to represent the van. Since the card had a kind of nature theme going on I decided to add this adorable little owl as well.

Supplies used: Stamps: Paper Smooches; Patterned Papers: Crate Paper, My Minds Eye, Pink Paislee; Cardstock: Bazzill, Xpress It; Markers: Copics; Ink: Memento; Die Cuts: Spellbinders.

This is the one card where I included a stamp that wasn't Paper Smooches (maybe that's why they didn't pick me), but I had this flower from my Stampin Up stash that was perfect for this inspiration photo so I had to use it.  This card was inspired by the colors and the flowers in the inspiration photo. This photo isn't very good, but this card turned out to be my favorite of the group. 

Supplies used: Stamps: Paper Smooches (sentiment), Stampin Up (flower); Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye, misc; Ink: Tim Holtz Distress ink; Twine: The Twinery; Misc: button.

thanks for stopping by,
your kind comments make my day
~Becky

Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge

This month's SPARKS challenge over at Paper Smooches stamps is to use this photo from Pinterest as inspiration...

I'm always up for a challenge and Paper Smooches stamps are so fun to use, so of course I'll play along. 

I took my inspiration from the colors, layout and text of this photo and created a card that is totally out of my usual style.

Stamp sets used: Party Posse, Falling For You, Word Salad

I usually use pattern papers and do a lot of layering but this time I kept it simple like the inspiration photo.

My camera is still in the shop so I am stuck using my terrible old point and shoot and no matter how hard I try I just can't get nice photos. It is very frustrating and I CAN'T WAIT to get my camera back!

Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your kind comments

~Becky

Make your own Tissue or Washi Tape

Washi tape, tissue tape, chinese tape, paper tape, or what ever other name you have heard it called is all the rage right now.  It can be a bit pricy to buy rolls of all the different colors and patterns that you love so I'm going to show you how you can make your own!  This is a great way to save some money and also be able to customize your tissue tape to suit your project!

Please excuse the quality of the photos, I know they are not great but my hubby was helping me (bless his heart) AND it was a cloudy day :( but anyways, you get the idea...Let's get started!

Here is what you'll need...

A paper trimmer, scissors, tissue paper (preferably new without wrinkles) a sheet of double sided adhesive (I am using Scor-tape), Ink, and background stamps (Paper Smooches stamps work great for this! I am using Debonair, and Geo-Graphic)

The first step is to cut a single layer of tissue paper so that it is just slightly larger than the adhesive sheet.

Second, peel the backing off of the adhesive sheet.

Take the tissue paper and drape it back on itself with out creasing it.  Line the edge of the tissue up with the edge of the adhesive and attach just the edge.

Now slowly and carefully use your hand to spread the rest of the tissue paper onto the adhesive. Be as careful as you can to not get any wrinkles. If you do that is ok, but try to avoid it.

Once the tissue is totally attached use your finger, and rub over all the little wrinkles to make sure that it is as smooth as possible.

Take you scissors and trim off the excess tissue around the adhesive sheet

Since the tissue tape is now a whole sheet you can use your paper trimmer to cut the tape to the exact width that suits your project!  For my purposes today, I have cut my tissue tape to 0.75".

Ink up your favorite background stamp...

And stamp along your tissue tape.  I find that it works best if you don't have the stamp too 'inky'. The tissue tape can make your image a bit 'fuzzy' if you have too much ink on it so don't use too much ink, and don't hold the stamp down for too long.

and VOILA! you have your very own custom tissue tape! Easy right?!?!

I decided to use the tissue tape I made today to participate in the Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge.

 For this Sparks challenge we are asked to take inspiration from this photo...

I was having so much fun with the tissue tape I decided to make two cards for this challenge!

With the first card I took inspiration from the theme as well as the colors. I used the tissue tape to make the center of the egg.

Supplies used: STAMPS: Debonair, Geo-Graphic, A Little Lovin sets from Paper Smooches; PATTERNED PAPERS: American Crafts, My Minds Eye; CARDSTOCK: Bazzill; X-Press It blending CS; RIBBON: Renaissance by Design, STICKERS: Cosmo Cricket, ADHESIVE: Scor-tape, Scrapbook Adhesives 3D foam squares; COPICS: C0, C1, R20, R22; INK: Memento Tuxedo black, Palette Hybrid; MISC: Button, Embroidery floss,

For my second card I kept it pretty simple and let the tissue tape speak for itself; just using the colors for inspiration

Supplies used: STAMPS: Debonair, Geo-Graphic and Word Salad from Paper Smooches; CARDSTOCK: Bazill; EMBOSSING FOLDER: Cuttlebug; ADHESIVE: Scor-tape, Scrapbook Adhesives 3D foam squares; INK: Versafine, Palette Hybrid; MISC: Buttons, embroidery floss.

Well, I hope you learned something here today and that maybe you will give this technique a try!

Thanks for stopping by, I love to read your kind comments
~Becky :)

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

This month's Sparks Challenge over at Paper Smooches runs from March 8th to 21st.  The photo we are to use for inspiration is this...

I made two cards inspired by some aspect of this lovely felt flower wreath.

With the first card, I took inspiration from the colors, the felt, the and the flowers.  I used a Kraft cardstock base like in the inspiration image. The large white circle is felt that I cut out using my Spellbinders Nestabilities.  I did a very soft pink coloring on the kitty to stick with the pale feel of the inspiration image and added a few embellies to tie it all together. The sentiment is from the Word Salad set, and the Kitty is from the Party Posse set.

I added a few tiny bits of bling to the little kitty's collar to glam her up a bit. I thought it looked pretty cute.

Supplies used: Stamps: Paper Smooches; Cardstock: Bazzill, Xpress-It white;  Markers: Copics RV0000, RV21, B000, B02; Stamping Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Distress Ink: Ranger/Tim Holtz; Roses: Prima; Yellow fabric flower: Dollarama; Felt: Dollar Store; Die Cuts: Spellbinders Nestabilities; Rhinestones: Kaisercraft; Ribbon: Renaissance by Design; misc: buttons, embroidery floss

My next card took me out of my comfort zone a bit. I don't normally make such a plain card, but I always like it when others do it so I thought I would give it a try.

 Supplies used: Stamps: Paper Smooches; Cardstock: Bazzill; Ink: Stampin' Up, Memento; Twine: Devine Twine, Corner rounder punch: EK Success; misc: buttons.
This card is made with the My Guy set.  I saw this fun way to attach buttons on a card I pinned on Pinterest and this is the first chance I've had to try it out. I really like it and I'm sure you'll see me using this one again!

I am really missing my camera and I hope it comes home to me all fixed and ready to "snap" really soon, cause I'm just NOT lovin these pictures my old point and shoot takes!

Thanks for looking!
~Becky

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge #2

So I mentioned before that I don't really make Valentines cards, but I kind of got on a roll, and decided I would actually make one for this challenge. I was inspired this time by the pink and red and grey color scheme. I also used red embroidery floss and a heart, and included a zig zag cut on the white paper. I hope you like!

Here again is the inspiration...

And here is my interpretation...

"Love You Dearly" Products used: Pretty Phrases stamp set by Paper Smooches. Patterned Paper: MME. Cardstock: Bazzill. Red Dot Ribbon: Renaissance by Design. Misc: Buttons, embroidery floss. Distress Ink: Tim Holtz. White Ink: Stampin Up.

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

I LOVE Paper Smooches stamps! They are the cutest. I bought a bunch of them but haven't really had much chance to play with them up till now.  To get my creative juices flowing I decided to participate in the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

This challenge was to take inspiration from the photo below.

I was inspired by the color combo of grey and coral.  I probably should have been inspired by the heart/valentines day theme, but I don't really make Valentine cards so anyways, here is what I came up with.

Supplies used: Stamps: A Little Lovin set by Paper Smooches. Patterned papers: Crate Paper, sei, American Crafts, MME, Heidi Grace. Cardstock: Bazzill. Rose ribbon: Maya Road. Bakers Twine: The Twinery. Misc: button, grey ribbon.

I have enjoyed using a challenge as a starting point for a project.  I'm looking forward to participating again. And maybe I'll even win one of the Paper Smooches' awesome prize packs!