So much fun...so little time...

I can't believe how fast the days are going by now that the sun is shinning! I just want to spend my days outside. I have even resorted to dragging a table outside my stamp I have so many things I want to share with you I just don't even know where to start. The questions, the projects, the cards...
For today, I am going to stick with a card and some answers to the questions you asked me a while back.
Today's SCS challenge was a sketch challenge using many angles. Since I am not that technical I just went with it...
I truly encourage you to get involved in the daily challenges. Seriously. I will keep telling you that because I am still in *SHOCK* about how it has helped me become a better stamper.

**Edited to add: I can't believe I forgot the most important part! The background of this card was embossed--yes you read that right an embossed background was embossed. After I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder, I used a brayer (with the rubber attachment) and rolled it into VersaMark. Then I rolled it over my background. Next I poured clear embossing powder over the background and heated it using my heat tool. It is really neat to see the shine. This is a MUST try. I had some fun using some of the other Provo Craft Embossing Folders too.



Birthday Wishes Bird Card Recipe

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Bashful Blue, MOD DP (Autumn Leaves)
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Bashful Blue, VersaMark
Stamp Set(s): Bird on Egg (Savvy stamps), Birthday Wishes (A muse)
Accessories: Paper Frills (Doodlebug), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Dots and Spots Embossing Folder (Provocraft), Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Scallop Punches (Marvy), Prismacolour Pencils, Gamsol, Dauber, Pebble Brads (Making Memories)

Now to the questions...Alli vs the Questions Round 4

1. What is the biggest mistake (or pet peeve) that you see other card creators make?
Wowza! This is an important question and you had me thinking hard! I personally think, this is only my 2 cents, that some card creators are just trying to be the next (you fill in the name) and expend so much energy to capture that designers style that they loose sight of their own creative path. Each person has such a unique style and it is not to say that we shouldn’t learn from others, but that we should stay true to ourselves.

2. What is your favorite stamp or stamp set?

I have a few, my classic favourite is Petal Prints and my new favs are Butterfly Kisses and Green Thumb…but LOOK OUT WALLET there is another Papertrey Ink release that will be screaming design.

3. I love your style, very clean and crisp. I'm curious about what your stamp space looks like and how you organize everything.

Most people that walk into my stamp space can tell that I am an organized person. In fact, some of them have asked me to come and organize their space. That being said, I am a MESSY crafter. My room looks like a tornado went through it after I have been stamping for a few hours. I took some pics of my stamp room earlier this year (February 11^th). It has actually changed a little bit since then as I acquired some more things *lol*

As you can see, I organize my stamps by size, my ink colours by family and type, paper colours by similar colours, and accessories that are like go in the same drawer. I label just about EVERYTHING! I have a few more plans to decorate my room and reorganize again this summer when I am finished teaching for the year. I will post more pics as the summer progresses and I promise to include some close ups. I might even share one of how messy my spaces gets after a day of crafting

4. On your Petal Prints window card, you gave the recipe, but could you give some of the directions. I would love to try this.

The window cards are fairly easy actually. Start by stamping your image using Staz-On and then let it sit. I always stamp on an acetate sheet that is about an inch wider than my open space. Since you have ink on your stamp I normally “stamp off” on a piece of scrap DP for the centre of the flower.

Next, punch a hole in your designer paper using a large punch (like the scalloped square Marvy punch). Once you have that hole, line it up with the edge of your card base and punch a hole using your square punch. I usually punch it through the DP hole so that I know the exact placement. If you want to add ribbon, I suggest tying it at this stage before you start to glue. You can also cut glue the center of your flower to the acetate sheet. Begin gluing the acetate sheet to your card base. I suggest gluing as closely to the edge as possible as you want to avoid getting a “tape” look through the window. Then glue the remaining layers. As for the spine, I will take some photos later today and post them for you. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to make.

5. My question is: What is your favorite card/project you have ever made?

Just one??? I will name a few...The silk scarves I stamped and gave to my mum and grandma a few years ago for Mother's Day. I liked them because I matched the tamped colours and images to their personalities. My most recent fav is my strawberry card. I love that one so much because it just came together for me.

Because I love to stamp and you do too!
Alli