I can’t believe November is already here and the stores are gearing up for the Holidays! It seems like we were just getting home from our trip to Oklahoma (where we spent last Christmas).  Although I’m not a huge fan of Christmas decor out this soon – if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em – right?!?! With that being said, Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps is having a challenge over at SNR – all you have to do is create a card with holly on it – doesn’t even have to be one of their images.  The prize is an adorable winter digi-stamp from next week’s release and you have until next Thursday morning (November 12) to complete your card. Of course, I had to join in!

For the card base, I used Riding Hood Red CS shaped with fabulous SVG freebie from Lindsay (I’m borrowing my Mom’s little Cricut for a while so I had to create something). The bonbon is a doodle/digital stamp hand drawn by my dear friend and uber talented Kim of KimB’s Designs (you can snag this wonderful image between now and November 16th at DSO or DSV – it’s part of Kim’s birthday grab bag 1). I printed the image twice, colored the first one with Copics and Sakura pens, then colored the Holly from the 2nd image, trimmed it, and attached with glue dots for added dimension.  After trimming with my nestabilites, I sponged Rocket Red Brilliance ink around the edges.  The mat is from DCWV Glitter Holiday mat stack.  The DP is from the Harvest Holiday collection by Debbie Mumm that I accented with more glitter CS from the Mat Stack that I cut with a scallop edge punch by EK Success.  The sheer organdy ribbon is from my stash as are the accent pearls (I think I used most of my white ones on this card!).  I stamped the joy sentiment from SU with White ink and drew the faux stitching by hand with a white gel pen.  I’m actually quite pleased with the results although I think I’ll skip the Rocket Red Brilliance on the edge if I make another of these.

I’m still working on my card for Jaimie Cates/Spread the Love – I love the Sarah Kay image I chose, but now I’m having trouble with the rest of the card.  I haven’t been satisfied with any of my mock-ups yet.  Maybe I’m trying too hard??!?!!?

In other news, two of my favorite designers are having some super specials!. KimB is celebrating her birthday, so until Nov 16, both of her stores (DSO and DSV) are on-sale 50% off, in addition to her amazing Grab Bags! But wait, there’s more (in my best Billy Mays type voice), this Saturday Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff is on-sale for 25% off at My Grafico! Definitely time to go shopping!

I guess that’s all from me. Oh wait, another couple of teasers for you:  I had a couple of comments regarding using Paint.net and gradients, so I  downloaded the free program and created these tidbits – which I am currently working into a tutorial. I’ll let you guys know as soon as I’m done.

Have a fabulous Friday!

Welcome to another Lindsay Day – aka Thursday!  Last week I had several people ask how I created the multi-colored or gradient text fills and effects on my Elephant Birthday card.  So, I decided I’d do a quick tutorial for you.  I used a flower and a a sentiment from Lindsay’s Doodle Flowers set for this tutorial.

I launched PSE 6 and opened my two digital-stamps along with a new 6×6 file at 300 PPI.I centered the sentiment on my blank canvas and then added the flower.  I wanted the flower to fit inside the sentiment, so I adjusted its size by to 60% and kept the ratios locked so it wouldn’t be distorted. Now the fun (aka coloring) begins!  I created a new layer ABOVE my sentiment layer by clicking the new layer button (upper left corner of the layers palette) or you can go to Layer—> New—> Layer or Ctrl+Shift+N. Then I select my Gradient Tool (located just under the Paint Bucket on your toolbar) and pattern (this is from the default menu):Next draw a line across your canvas – I used a diagonal from upper left to lower right.  You can redraw them over and over until you get the look you want.Now take your mouse and Alt+Click on the narrow line between the Gradient Fill and your Sentiment layer to create the mask (filled the bottom layer with white so you could see the effect more clearly and to simulate being printed on white paper/cardstock): If you want your flower outline to match your text, you c an duplicate the Gradient layer by Right Clicking on it in the Layers Palette and selecting duplicate; then drag the duplicated layer ABOVE the Flower layer and Alt+Click to create the mask: You could print from here – color as you’d like or merely trim, embellish, and attach to your card. However, I thought I’d take it a step further and add some more color and texture to mine.  I created 4 new layers BELOW my flower stamp and above my Sentiment by selecting the Gradient Layer ABOVE the sentiment and clicking my Add New Layer button 4 times.  Then I double-clicked on the text of each layer and renamed it so I would know what I was working on. In this case my layers are titled, from top to bottom, Flower Outline Gradient, Flower Outline, Center Button, Top Petal, Bottom Petal, Leaves, Sentiment Gradient, Sentiment, and Background.Next, I selected my magic wand tool (7th button from the top on the toolbar). Then in my Layers Palette, I selected my Flower Outline Layer. I clicked inside the button to get “marching ants” or dotted lines around the button.Next I expanded my selection by 1 pixel – to do this go to your Select Menu –> Modify –> Expand          Enter 1 in the pop-up and click OK.Now, on your Layers Palette, select your Button Layer and fill it with color (it doesn’t matter what color you choose as we’ll be adding gradients above it anyway). Instead of the Paint Bucket tool, I used the Edit –> Fill Layer from the drop down menu. I selected Color… from the Contents drop-down and picked a light pink so I could see where my fill was.    Then I removed the marching ants by using Select –> Deselect (or Ctrl+D).I repeated the above steps for the top petal, bottom petal, and leaves to get this: Then I created a new layer above each of my Flower layers so I could add Gradient Fills to them as well. I played with my Gradients (the fill process is the same as above) until I was satisfied and ended up with this: You could save and print from here, but I wanted to add a bit of texture too. So, I simplified my Flower Layers (I selected my Gradient Layer and Ctrl+Clicked the corresponding Flower layer so that both layers were highlighted in my Layers Palette and then right Clicked and selected Merge Layers). My Gradients are no longer editable, but I can easily add texture now. To add Texture, I selected the Texture options from the Effects Palette (located above the Layers Palette)

You can use the defaults, or add your own.  I used a Texture from KimB  Designs (available as part of the DSV grab bag this month). Here’s my almost end-result:

Next I added a Scallop shape – I added a new layer BELOW my sentiment and then used my Custom Shape Tool (just below the Gradient button on the toolbar) to draw the Scallop (I also had my Shift button pressed while I was drawing so that my Scallop would be proportional. After I was satisfied with my Shape, I right clicked on the Scallop Layer in the Layers Palette and Simplified my shape. Again, you can print from here or add a bit of shadow to your flower layers to give them a more “pieced” look. To add the shadow, select the layer you want to work with, I selected my button fill first and worked down. Then in your Effects Palette, select Layer Styles (the button that looks like 2 frames), and then select Drop Shadows from the Drop-Down menu. Play with them until you find one you like (Ctrl+Z) will undo anything. My final stamped and colored image is now ready to printed and added to my card.

I hope you found this little tutorial helpful.  If you have questions, leave me a comment and I’ll see what I can do to help. Happy stamping! And, just for playing along, I have to gradient background papers for you (just click the image to download) – they are Fall colors and coordinate well with Lindsay’s Sketchy Leaves digital stamp set or any of her fabulous $1 Leaves and Acorns individual stamps.

Oh, and don’t forget, Lindsay’s DT call is open until November 7th, you can get the details here.  Also, be sure you stop by Lindsay’s blog as she has some fabulous eye-candy up this week and there might be a freebie in it for you as well.  You can visit the rest of the DT from there – the team is so talented and I know they have some amazing projects to showcase this week.

I’d also like to remind everyone of the Spread the Love Blog Hop and my Blog Candy – it’s all up until November 9 and such a great cause to support – why not use some of Lindsay’s digital stamps (where every $5 purchase earns you a FREE $1 stamp) to create a card for Jaimie – then come back here, leave a link, and be entered to win some candy?!?!

"On October 4^th, 4 teenagers armed with knives broke into a home in a small town in New Hampshire. Alone and sleeping inside were a mother and her 11 year old daughter. These 4 boys broke into this home with the intent to rob and kill anyone inside. They stabbed the mom, Kimberly Cates, to death and left her daughter, Jaimie, for dead in their driveway.  It was a completely random act, their home was chosen only due to its secluded surroundings."

Welcome to the Spread the Love – Stamp Something for Jamie blog hop! We’re so very happy to have you join us!  The hop starts November 2 and runs through November 9.  The Spread The Love – Stamp Something for Jaimie blog hop is intended to raise the Spirit of a little girl and her family – it is our hope is that everyone hopping around this week will stop for a moment and think about Jaimie and her father and what life must be like for them now. One moment in time – one senseless act of evil – has changed their lives forever. We are asking that everyone reading this message to please take a moment to make a card and send it off to Jaimie. You can make something very simple or much more involved, but please share some words of hope and love and let her know that people do care and want the best for her. Cards can be mailed here:

This story touched my heart – I cannot imagine the pain Jaimie, her Dad, and the rest of their family is going through.  I pray they find comfort and healing that only God can provide.  Here’s a sneak peak of my card – just a peak though as I haven’t finished all of the details yet!

Don’t you just love Sarah Kay images? I’ll post the whole card when I’m satisfied with it.  I want it to be something special for Jaimie.

In addition to the generous sponsor gifts, I have put together a little blog candy for you as well.  Included in the package are 2 K&Company Chipboard Element Sets (1 Flower and 1 Tag), K&Company Brights Eyelet Set, K&Company Rhinestones and Brads Set, Melissa Frances Thankful Heart Ticket Book,  2 Martha Stewart Glitter sets (White and Red), Martha Stewart 2-Way Glue Pen,  200-count  Dew Drops/Skittles/Baubles sampler from my friend Suzanne at Crafting-Connection, and 1 set of Pearlescent watercolor paints.

It’s easy to enter and is open to everyone:
1. Link to your Card for Jaimie (can be a blog or Gallery Link) with Mr. Linky.
2. Spread the word about our Spread the Love – Stamp Something for Jamie blog hop.  (blog post or sidebar link, email, twitter, facebook, etc.)
3. Become a Follower (not necessary, but appreciated).

I’ll announce the winner via random number generator Tuesday, November 10.

If you didn’t arrive here from Tanya’s Blog, be sure to visit Katharina’s blog to start the hop – you never know what treats you’ll find along the way. Your next stop on the hop is Dianne’s blog. That’s all from me – for now. Have a fabulous Monday – and don’t forget to Hug someone you love!