"bella luna" card

Challenge/contest time again!

This one is for: www.papersmoochesstamps.com >> 

The challenge was to use this color palette on a card/project:

 

Here's card #2 >>> I wanted it to look like the backs of the aliens as they are stargazing.  :)

Supplies:
This one was easy!  Colored cardstock, the "bubbles" Cuttlebug folder for the moon/planet, a star hole punch, Copic markers, a tiny bit of ink smudged around, and a Sakura white gel pen.. 

Stamps:
Aliens, moon -- Paper Smooches/
Quote -- All Night Media/

Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)

"wish you were here" card

Challenge/contest time again!

This one is for: www.papersmoochesstamps.com >> 

The challenge was to use this color palette on a card/project:

Here is card #1:

Supplies:
A lot of this card is just layered colored cardstock (I handcut the "sandy" area).  There is a tiny bit of yellow scale-patterned paper under the sentiment.  For the "sea foam" on the "beach", I used both dimensional 'snow' paint and sponged on sandy-colored ink.  For the ocean, I used both sandpaper and white ink to create "waves".  I also used blue & white ink and white Sakura gel pen on the clouds.  The whale and starfish were colored with Copic markers, and I added blue Sakura Souffle' pens to the swirls in the water.  I also added some silver and blue glitter glue to the "splashes" of water.  Final touches included: photo corners, a swirl paper clip, and hemp twine. 

Stamps:
Whale, swirls, water drops, starfish -- Paper Smooches/
Cloud --Making Memories/ (? I think?!  I will check.)
Quote -- All Night Media/

Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)

"faith, hope, love" card

Got a wedding to go to tomorrow...

{Oops about the crooked scans lately... this is the best I could get after many attempts.  I would take photos of my projects, but this is faster and shows more detail than my camera usually does when taking pictures of text!}

And here's the inside...

I also made a gift tag (just showing a slightly different way to color/embellish the same image):

Supplies:
I took color (black, white, hint of yellow) and pattern (flower pattern) inspiration from the wedding invitation.  The rest is pretty straightforward!  Both images were colored with Copic markers (which I just got this week after much deliberation and finding a big discount sale --pretty happy with 'em so far!).  I layered the main image (the edges were sanded) on a black cardstock mat, layered on top of a stamped strip (the floral background stamp is about 2" by 2.5"; all I did was stamp, trim, cut the cardstock in half, and splice the halves together to make a strip behind the image).  For the verse, I stamped and then sanded/inked the edges in black.  All that was was layered on a pre-embossed white card from DCWV.  As finishing touches, I added a section of white tulle tied with shiny white embroidery floss to add texture to the dress (I borrowed this idea from a Google Images search of cards made with this stamp; I can't take credit for it!).  I also added some detail with glittered/silver Sakura gel pens. The handwriting on the tag was done with a Sharpie pen. 

Stamps:
Happy Couple -- Stampendous/
Verse quote -- Stampabilities/
flower background -- Prima/
inside sentiment -- All Night Media/
Wedding Rings -- Rubber Stampede/

Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)

"hitchhiker's guide" card

So I decided to enter a challenge/contest again.

This one is for: www.papersmoochesstamps.com >> 

The challenge was to use this layout draft on a card/project:

For this one, I wanted to use my orbit-looking Cuttlebug embossing folder.  Here's how it turned out:

Supplies:
Another simple card!  To get started, I embossed a piece of black cardstock with the coolio Cuttlebug embossing folder.  To color the embossed areas, I used Pebbles metallic cream chalks (what looks white is actually very sparkly silver).  I then adhered the embossed panel to a black card.  To color the rocket and rocket afterburn, I used Sharpie markers with Sakura metallic gel pens.  The last step was to stamp the quote on silver cardstock with some Sakura silver gel pen dots.  I added the chevron-shaped embellishment tabs last -- they are made by cutting out part of the design made by the tiny stars Cuttlebug embossing folder and adding some white ink & silver Pebbles chalk.

Stamps:
rocket, afterburn flames, quote -- Paper Smooches/
 

Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)

"bat cave" card

So I decided to enter a challenge/contest again.

This one is for: www.papersmoochesstamps.com >> 

The challenge was to use this layout draft on a card/project:

Looking at this sketch, I started to think that it looked kind of like the entrance to a cave.  Here's how this card turned out:

Supplies:
I used a cereal bowl to trace the "fern" patterned paper -- I wanted it to give the feeling that there were vines and moss growing on the outside of the cave.  I paper pieced the bats onto brown cardstock, and added brown fuzzy flocking to their bodies.  I added two types of googly eyes, and used black Sharpie & colored pencil, white Sakura gel pen, and gray Sakura souffle pen to add detail to both bats. The branches were also paper-pieced onto brown cardstock, and the final touch was some green cardstock and stamping the sentiment, which I spliced together using two phrase stamps.

Stamps:
Bats, branches, sentiment - Paper Smooches/


Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)

"minions go bananas" card

So I decided to enter a challenge/contest again.

This one is for: www.papersmoochesstamps.com >> 

The challenge was to use this layout draft on a card/project:

Before I show you this card, I need to give you some background.  When I got my space-themed stamp set, the alien in the little spaceship reminded me of this:

(picture courtesy of Google Images)

 Further inspiration for my card came from going to see the Disney movie Brave a couple weekends ago.  Here is the preview we saw for Despicable Me 2:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXl8T6S5QHs

If you're not familiar with the movie, or the Minions' love for bananas, here's another short video clip to catch you up:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v49hHVEQFNY

I think that the Minions are hilarious.  ANYWAY, here's the card.  :)

Supplies:
I used a cereal bowl to trace the silver cardstock, then embossed it using the diamond plate Cuttlebug embossing folder to make it look like a factory wall.  I stamped the spaceship alien onto yellow cardstock, and went in and added googly eyes, goggle "frames" with Sakura silver gel pen, goggle "straps" with black Sharpie, and thread tufts for "hair".  I also stamped and cut out the tiny "gloved" hands from black cardstock with white ink.  I paper pieced the dome of the spaceship, as well as the "robo-arm" attachment.  For the saucer and engine/afterburn, I used Sharpie markers to color and added some blue, silver, and yellow glitter glue.  The bananas were also colored with Sharpie (and hung up with a wire hook made from a used guitar string).  The last step was to stamp and emboss the word "Bananas!" with yellow embossing powder and handwrite the rest of the sentiment with Sakura white gel pen.  Finally, I layered with foam dots to make it appear that the four minions on the bottom were peeking over the purple wall to watch, while the minion in the hovercraft was trying to retrieve the bunch of bananas (so there are actually three layers to this card, even though the scan doesn't show it very well).

Stamps:
Minions/(aliens), spaceship, rocket fire, extra hands, bananas/(moon), leaves -- Paper Smooches/
robot-arm --  My Cute Stamps/
"Bananas!" font -- American Crafts/


This card was super fun to design and create!!
Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)

"stargazers" card

So I decided to enter a challenge/contest again.

This one is for: www.papersmoochesstamps.com >> 

The challenge was to use this layout draft on a card/project:

I had this card idea when I got my space-themed stamp set, and this layout sketch went right along with it (all I did was flip the sketch vertically --over the y-axis).  Here's how it turned out:

 

And this is the inside:

 

Awww!!  ;)

Supplies:
I used a cereal bowl to trace the moon on gray cardstock.  I both embossed and then flipped it over to deboss "craters" using the snow Cuttlebug embossing folder, then I applied blue ink.  The aliens, telescope, and planets were colored with Sharpie markers and cut out.  (For the moon, I traced the "dark side" outline in pencil so you can see that it's round.)  I stamped the stars on the background with white ink and then added Sakura white gel pen to make them stand out.  I added the tiniest bit of silver glitter glue to make some of  them "twinkle".  For the inside, I used a combination of word stickers and stamps, plus a glittery star sticker and dots of silver glitter glue. 

Stamps:
Aliens, telescope, planets, moon, stars, sentiment - Paper Smooches/

Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)

"like peas and carrots" card

So I decided to enter another challenge/contest.

This one is for: www.papersmoochesstamps.com >> 

The challenge was to use this picture as inspiration:

I had another idea for my veggie stamps, and this is what came about:

Supplies:
Very simple!  The images were layered using kraft paper (which I colored with Crayola colored pencils and added Sharpie on top), some patterned paper (some paper piecing), and some plain colored cardstock (backing border).  (Other coloring supplies included white & green ink edging and my trusty Sakura white gel pen.)  As finishing touches, I used orange & green Studio G printed tape, twine, and rhinestones. 

Stamps:
Peas & Carrots - Paper Smooches/
Quote -- Lawn Fawn/

Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)

"peas & love" card

So I decided to enter another challenge/contest.

This one is for: www.papersmoochesstamps.com >> 

The challenge was to use this picture as inspiration:

I remembered I had a flannel/mesh textured embossing folder, so I dug it out to create this:

I also wanted to use my veggie stamps for the idea of "fresh food".

Supplies:
I used red cardstock for the background -- after embossing with the mesh Paper Studio embossing folder, I sanded the raised areas to create a red and white grid.  I centered that on a piece of white cardstock.  For the images, I used combinations of patterned paper and plain colored cardstock to paper piece, as well as a few foam dots for dimension.  The dots on the hearts are done with Sakura white gel pen ink.

Stamps:
Peas, hearts, sunshine, smile, quote -- Paper Smooches/

Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)

"cookin' monster" card

So I decided to enter another challenge/contest.
This one is for: www.papersmoochesstamps.com >> 

The challenge was to use this picture as inspiration:

I was wanting to do a kitchen-y just-for-fun-card.  Of course, I reached for the monster stamp...it seems to be giving me great ideas lately...

Here is the final result (kind of busy, but I think it's definitely fun) ~ I can almost smell fresh fruity muffins coming out of the oven:

 

Supplies:
I created the background kitchen scene with cardstock -- red for the wall, yellow for the floor, black for trim, & kraft for the tabletop.  I added the windows using blue cardstock, kraft trim, a small cloud punch, and red gingham patterned paper for "curtains".  The monster was cut out of lime green cardstock, and the bowl was cut out of teal.  Most of the coloring was done with Crayola colored pencils.  (A tiny bit of coloring was done with Sakura white and silver glitter gel pen, as well as a Bic fine-tip black permanent marker and black & brown ink.)  A lot of cutting, some red & white twine to trim the chef's hat, and some fringe cutting on red gingham paper to finish off a "placemat".  I am enjoying making scenes lately.  :)

Stamps:
Monster & monster's extra arm, chef's hat/(toast), mixing bowl/(mug), strawberry, milk carton, eggs, apple, "flour" and "sugar" canisters, wheat, twinkle, and leaf decorations, orange, steam/swirls -- Paper Smooches/
Oven/bun, muffins, tray/vase, coffee cup, lemon, heart decoration -- Lawn Fawn/
quote, spoon, flower decoration -- Bo Bunny/
tile floor pattern -- Prima/

Thanks for taking a look! ~ Amanda B., the manderbean :)