Photo Rehab!

Thanks to a link from Kristina, I found THE BEST card photo tips I've seen to date. Check out the posts here and here on sideoats + scribbles! And the best part (aside from the fact that it WORKS) is that it is so easy! I used the instructions from that second link to get these before and after photos of the card I made today. Check it out:

The first photo is done using a photo light tent and the indoor/no flash setting on my little hand held Canon PowerShot SD750. Next you see the same photo using the white balance instructions from Lisa that took all of 30 seconds in Photoshop Elements 5.0. I am seriously excited about this.

I went through a few old card photos that were still stored on my computer. These were photos that I had already edited using the "auto quick fix". It even made those so much better. And it worked every single time. Too cool, I say! Here are a couple of those. They were both taken outside with natural daylight.

So anyway, here are the details for today's pink flower card (the first one) using this week's Splitcoast sketch challenge. I colored directly on the rubber stamp (Silhouette Blooms I from Cornish Heritage Farms) with celery, olive, regal rose, rose red, and so saffron markers, spritzed with a light mist of water, and stamped on SU! whisper white.

Stamps- Silhouette Blooms I (CHF)

Paper- pretty in pink, white, choc chip, rose red, Bali Breeze (SU!)

Ink- celery, olive, regal rose, rose red, so saffron (SU!), vintage photo distress ink (Ranger)

Accessories- scallop punch (Martha Stewart), Dashes Dots & Checks ribbon

So, now can anybody tell me why there are no spaces in this post? Because there are as I'm typing in Blogger. Drives me crazy that it does that sometimes.

Hinged Circle Card

Here's something a little different for you today, at least it's a little different from my norm. And it was such a snap to put together, even if my directions seem a bit wordy.

Cut two of the largest Nestablities scalloped circles for your card base. These are about 4.25 inches in diameter. I actually used Cool Caribbean for the front and white for the back. The black circle was in my scrap folder. I believe it was cut with a Coluzzle. Cut one patterned circle with the largest circle die.

Adhere the two bases only at the top, scoring front and back about a half inch down so the card will open easily. I suggest you make sure the fold is placed at such an angle that TWO scallops rest flat on the bottom. This allows your card to stand upright as shown, rather than teeter to the left or right.

Stamp the flower from Silhouette Blooms I (Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms) three times with black ink. Layer on the black circle. Stamp "thoughts of you" from the same set on a long scrap of white paper. Rub the edges along the ink pad. Layer on Cool Caribbean.

You can see here how to use that same large circle die to cut the sentiment layer.

Adhere circles to card front and score crease again. Adhere sentiment strip (so that it is straight). Apply gemstones (optional). If you'd like ribbon, punch a hole between two of the scallops and knot ribbon.

Recipe:
Stamps-silhouette blooms I (Cornish Heritage Farms); Paper-white, caribbean, black, Bali Breeze (Stampin' Up); Ink-noir (Palette); Dies-Nestabilities large scalloped circle and circle; Punch-1/8"; Ribbon-Dashes Dots & Checks; Gemstones-icon (Me & My Big Ideas)

I Used It ALL!

My order from Cornish Heritage Farms arrived yesterday, and I used EVERY piece of new rubbah on this card! One stamp set and two backgrounders. What do ya think?

I stamped the Lined Paper on an angle in going gray. For the two flowers: I colored with markers directly to the rubber stamp, then spritzed lightly with water and stamped.

This Lined Paper seems so fun to me. I can't wait to give it a try mixed with some bolder colors.

I also used Taylor's sketch from last Friday.

What's In It?

Stamps: Silhouette Blooms I, Pretty Pattern, Lined Paper (Cornish Heritage Farms)

Paper: Perfect plum, pale plum, white (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Perfect plum, pale plum, certainly celery, going gray (SU!)

Other: large oval punch (SU!); scalloped scissors (Provo Craft); brads (Making Memories); ribbon (Dashes Dots and Checks); dimensionals; water bottle

two little lovebirds

This card uses today's sketch challenge as the layout. Well, it's so late, it's now actually yesterday's sketch challenge. The birds and heart are from the Cute Curls stamp set by Kim Hughes at Cornish Heritage Farms. Aren't they darling? And how cute is this new sentiment from Verve Visual? Just perfect with all the popular bird images right now.

I stamped on Pearlized white paper and colored with a water brush and inks. The sentiment is stamped on a word window punch and layered on a large oval punch with added dots. The taffeta ribbon is layered on a strip of card stock.

What's In It?
Stamps: Cute Curls (Cornish Heritage Farms); Canvas (Stampin' Up!); Flirty Phrases (Verve Visual)
Paper: Pearlized white (Paper Accents); CoCo Collection (Webster's Pages); Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, Very Vanilla (SU!)
Ink: Onyx black (Versafine); Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Brocade blue, pretty in pink, ballet blue, regal rose, creamy caramel (SU!)
Accessories: chocolate taffeta ribbon (SU!); large oval, small and large circle, word window and photo corner punches (SU!); white Glaze pen (Sakura); Gemstones (Hero Arts); dimensionals; water brush

No Coloring Required!

Have you tried any of Cornish Heritage Farms' Thomas Kinkade stamps yet? Oh my word! I'm in love. I put off buying them because I figure I won't be able to color them. But you don't need to color them. They stamp so beautifully and with such depth and shading, using only one ink. I inked up the stamp with my brayer to get even coverage, (Can't remember where I read that tip.) and stamped onto whisper white.

And one of Verve Visual's most recent releases, Wonderful Wishes, works so well with these classic images. This one reads "Wishing you life's greatest comforts". What a heartfelt sentiment, hmm?

I made this card using today's sketch challenge at Splitcoast. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy stamping!

What's In It?
Stamps: It Doesn't Get Much Better (Thomas Kinkade by Cornish Heritage Farms); Wonderful Wishes (Verve Visual); Canvas (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Bordering Blue, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Bordering blue, Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Whisper White (SU!); Screen Door (My Mind's Eye)
Accessories: 1-3/8 inch circle punch, chocolate chip taffeta ribbon (SU!); antique brads (Lasting Impressions); scallop circle die (Nestabilities); dimensionals

Is More Always More?

Please, satisfy my curiosity. Is more always more? I started this card for the sketch challenge at Splitcoast this week. I think I like the plainer version better though. Although, the one with background papers is growing on me. What do you think?
This stamp is from my recent purchase at Cornish Heritage Farms. It was the first time I ordered from them, and I couldn't be happier. What a variety of stamps! I can't wait to use the rest of them. I even decided to give a Thomas Kinkade stamp a try. I got the guy fly fishing, since i have no masculine stamps. It's actually called "It Doesn't Get Much Better". But this one is from the Asela Hopkins artwork, "West Quoddy (Lighthouse)".

I colored with markers and a watercolor brush, then added a VERY thin layer of star dust stickles to the lighted areas (lighthouse and windows).

What's In It?
Stamps: West Quoddy lighthouse (Cornish Heritage Farms); Thoughtful Phrases (Verve Visual)
Paper: Watercolor, very vanilla, choc chip (Stampin' Up!); Old World mat stack (DCWV)
Ink: onyx black (Versafine); chocolate chip, ruby red, cert celery, so saffron, old olive, going gray, close to cocoa, sahara sand
Accessories: Star dust stickles, paper piercer, watercolor brush