Blog Award

I received this wonderful blog award from Lori today. Thank you so much Lori! I love this award and appreciate you thinking of me when you spread the love. Lori is a such a sweet girl and does BEAUTIFUL work!! Please do check out her blog and see for yourself!

I am crazy busy right now...but I will be back to edit this post and award this to 5 others very soon.

Have a creatively wonderful day everyone!!

Bird Song - Artistic Outpost

Well! I guess this is a busy posting day for me. You are probably all getting tired of me, but I have one more card to share today. This one was made using the Serenity plate from Artistic Outpost. I did the polished stone technique on white glossy with alcohol inks. Let dry. Stamped main image with Versamark and embossed in black. Stamped the flourish stamp on the two corners and embossed in silver. Punched the left side with Threading Water punch. Stamped the flourish around the edges of black glossy card and embossed in silver. Layered the main panel on a piece of plain black glossy. Cut a strip of silver glossy, stamped and embossed with flourish and silver ep. Wraped around the edge of the card covering the holes from the border punch. Layered onto embossed black card.

Materials:
Serenity plate (Artistic Outpost)
High Gloss cardstock - black, white, silver (WorldWin Papers)
Adirondack Alcohol Inks-Stonewash, Stream, Pearl Mixative, Blending Solution (Ranger)
Versamark (Tsukineko)
Silver embossing powder
Black detail embossing powderTape N Roller Plus (Kokuyo)
Paper Trimmer, Threading Water punch (Fiskars)

Have a creatively wonderful evening!

Clear Dollar Stamps

Okay, so I just got a large order of Clear Dollar Stamps last week. I thought they were so cute and I needed them all! I didn't get all of them, but I wanted to. So, I have been making lots of cards using them over the past few days. Then, I discovered that they have a blog. And what do I find as a post yesterday?? They are doing a call for a guest designer for March. Oh, I want this soooooo bad!!!! So, I just had to enter. The theme is pearls. And luck would have it that I just got a new order of Kaisercraft pearls recently too!!!

So here is my first card:It makes me sad that I couldn't pick up the pearlescent sheen on this entire card. The white cardstock is pearlescent, the wings and petals of the flower are painted with Twinkling H2Os and then of course the Kaisercraft pearls and pearl trim. It is a very pearly card in real life. lol To make the flower, I drew a medium sized circle on white cardstock and then stamped 4 hearts around it. I repeated it a second time. Cut both out and curled the heart petals. I layered them on top of each other and added a pearl to the center. I can see myself usint these hearts (that are intended for wings) as flowers alot!

Then, I just had to make one more card:

This ducky is probably one of my favorite stamps right now. I have a thing for bird stamps lately. I want them all...ducks, chicks, owls, fancy birds, silly birds....maybe it is cuz my name is Robin?? Anyways, this one isn't as pearly as it is very sparkly. I used DCWV glitter mat stack and it just evolved. I added Stickles around the image panel and sentiment piece to tie it to the background papers. Before I did that, it seemed kind of flat. I painted Duckie with Twinkling H2Os, so you get pearlescent shimmer there. Finally, I added some blue Kaisercraft pearls to the bottom corner. So, there are pearls. I hope it counts!!!

Okay, I am off to add my entries to their blog. I am going to cross my fingers for the next few days!!! Wish me luck!

Have a creatively wonderful day!

Caardvarks challenge

I have decided I want to enter a few challenges when I have time. I need to have funtime, just because I want to, creating time, right? This week at Caardvarks, the challenge is to create a card using kraft cardstock. I haven't used alot of kraft cardstock, so I thought this would be a fun challenge! I also had to use my new Clear Dollar Stamps because I just love these little guys!

Materials:

Charlie stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)

Crafty Cardstock, Colormates-Heritage White, Awesome Aqua (WorldWin Papers)

Versafine-Vintage Sepia (Tsukineko)

Memories-Brown (Stewart Superior)

Cuttlebug folder-Perfectly Paisley (ProvoCraft)

Nestabilities-Lables One (Spellbinders)

Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol

Aqua embroidery thread, needle, paper piercer

Stamps and Smiles new stamps!

I just found this blog where Jennifer Meyer is announcing her brand new stamp line! The first set she has shown is so cute!!!! Here is her blog.

She is doing a sketch challenge a day to release each new stamp set. I just HAD to enter!!

I also just got my order from Clear Dollar Stamps and wanted to play with them. So, a sketch challenge was perfect for me today. The card is a 4.5" x 4.5" card with the front Cuttlebugged with Swiss Dots. Then, I cut the pp with Nestabilities Labels One. Stamped the bunny and colored her with Prismacolor Pencils. Added Puffy Fabric Marker for her tail and a touch of Stickles to work with the glitter in the pp. Cut it out in an oval with Nesties and layered onto brown and pink scalloped oval Nesties. Tied a ribbon and attached the oval piece on pop dots.

Materials:
Bunny/phrase (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Versafine-Vintage Sepia (Tsukineko)
Cascata-brown, pink (WorldWin Papers)
Colormates-Heritage White (WorldWin Papers)
Glitter Mat Stack (DCWV)
Nestabilities-Labels One, Scalloped Ovals, Ovals (Spellbinders)
Prismacolor Pencils
Gamsol/Blending stumps
Puffy Fabric Marker-white (Marvy Uchida)
Stickles-Star Dust (Ranger)
Satin Ribbon

The Pink Elephant Challenge #3

Well, it is that time again!! Another challenge from The Pink Elephant. This week we have a sketch challenge for all of you to enjoy! It is a fabulous sketch made by our very own Carol!! She makes very cool sketches that we hope you will enjoy working with. So, stop by and enter our challenges. They're great fun!

Here is my card for this week's challenge:

It is hard to see, but the background behind the bird is stamped in pink. Originally, I had stamped the entire image in black, but it seemed to busy with the PP. So, I restamped it in pink, cut out the original bird from the black and layered it over top. I liked it much better after that. I colored the bird with Prismacolor pencils and GooGone for blender (waiting for my new bottle of Gamsol to arrive and GG works great in a pinch!)

Stamps (Oxford Impressions)
Versafine - Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Mica Magic - pink (Clearsnap)
PP - Two Scoops (Basic Grey)
Colormates - Heritate White, Heritage Black (WorldWin Paper)
Lace Doily Punch (Martha Stewart)
Flower punches (McGill)
Pink Pearls (Kaisercraft)
Tape N Roller Plus (Kokuyo)
Paper Trimmer (Fiskars)

Playtime ATCs

I made these two ATCs using images from Artistic Outpost's Playtime plate. I really love these stamps. They are so reminiscent of my childhood.

Materials for Hitch Your Wagon:
Playtime stamps (Artistic Outpost)
White, Blue, Yellow cardstock
Versafine-Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Colorbox Pigment ink-yellow (Clearsnap)
Glaze Pens, Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura)
black string
Scissors, Paper Trimmer (Fiskars)
Tape N Roller Plus (Kokuyo)
Pop Dot

Materials for Playtime:
Playtime stamps (Artistic Outpost)
Versafine-Onyx black (Tsukineko)
Colorbox pigment ink-plum (Clearsnap)
White cardstock
Marcella by K-Anastasia's Attic (K&Co)
Prismacolor Pencils
GooGone for blending pencils
Silver leafing pen (Krylon)
Scissors, Paper Trimmer (Fiskars)
Tape N Roller Plus (Kokuyo)

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a creatively wonderful day!!!

Feedburner and important info!

I am finally free of Feedburner!!!! I found the setting that I needed to change to make my blog normal like everyone else's. lol

If you follow me now, you should get a properly updated blog feed. If you have me in your blogroll, please change it to http://rockinrobin1973.blogspot.com/
NO more need to do that feedburner address. I hope that you will all update your blogroll and possibly follow me now that it will work. What a relief this has been!!!!!!!
Have a creatively wonderful evening!

Blog Candy alert!

Christine is giving away an awesome blog candy on her blog!! She has yummy papers, glitter, alpha stickers, flowers, metal embellishments and a Martha Stewart punch up for grabs. But, if you want to enter this giveaway, you have to hurry because it ends tonight. I didn't know before or I would have posted this sooner!! So run, Forest, run!!!!!
Have a creatively wonderful day!

The Pink Elephant Challenge #2

Here is my challenge card for The Pink Elephant this week. Our challenge this week is All That Glitters-use rhinestones, glitter, etc.
I definitely used lots of glitter and rhinestones on this one! The image is painted with Twinkling H2Os, so she sparkles too, but that dosn't show well in the pic. Then, I added Stickles to her jewels on her forehead and her ring. Finally, I added a tiny rhinestone to her ring. I stickled various parts of the Cuttlebugged background and added LOTS of bling rhinestones.
We really hope to see you all over at TPE soon. We so enjoy seeing all of the entries!! The first week was such a success....let's see if we can make the second week even better!!
Have a creatively wonderful day!

OCC challenge

This week on Our Creative Corner they are having a sketch challenge. I haven't ever entered challenges, but I thought I would start! I really thought the sketch was a fun one.

Here is my entry card:

It is WAY out there for me. So not my normal card at all. But, I had fun. I just grabbed a pack of papers I had picked up ages ago at Big Lots (K&Co) and just went wild. In the picture, the purple strip is way brighter than irl. It is softer like the purple flowers in the background paper. I hate when colors show funny, so I always want to clarify that I CAN match colors. lol!

Materials: K&Co patterned paper, Brown & Yellow cardstock, Stamps (Technique Tuesday), Versafine-Sepia Brown (Tsukineko), Clear embossing powder, Nestabilites-circles (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug (ProvoCraft), CB embossing folder-Floral Fantasy (ProvoCraft), Stickles-purple, starlit (Ranger), Thread cutter (Tonic), Silk flower, tiny flower punch (Michaels), Paper Trimmer/Scissors (Fiskars), Tape N Roller Plus (Kokuyo)

Have a creatively wonderful day!

I have an invader in my studio!!

My oldest daughter, Shelby has invaded my studio!! She got a taste of cardmaking and she is addicted!

She asked to join the challenge over at The Pink Elephant and I explained that since I co-owned it, she wouldn't be eligible to win a prize. She didn't care. She just wanted to try to make a card like I make. She has been a scrapper for a long time, but never made a card (other than the traditional 'fold a piece of paper in half and write on it' style). Needless to say, I am extremely proud of her very first card!!

She made this card on Thursday night after school. Here comes the addiction part....she came home from theater practice yesterday and said "I kinda feel like making another card". So, she made this:

She said she wanted to make it pink, white and red. Then, she got this sparkle in her eye and asked if she could please use that cool velvet paper I use sometimes. So...the red is Kashmir cloth and she thinks it is so cool. Her idea to punch the hearts out and I love that she put the one up at the top to add some interest. The only thing I help with is the ribbon tying. I was also cutting paper in the beginning because she was terrified of my guillotine cutters. I have taught her the proper safety of them and she isn't so scared now.

and guess what? She just asked if she could make another card!! lol She set up a new blog for her new hobby. You can find her here. Her other new addiction is watching her counter, hoping people comment and wishing for more followers!! lol So, all are welcome to visit her blog if you desire!!

Have a creatively wonderful day!

One more Valentine

I know, I know...you are all probably getting tired of my Valentines. To tell you the truth, I am totally Valentined out and done with them. I just wanted to make one more with the "My Knight" plate from Artistic Outpost

I just knew that this stamp set would be perfect for Valentines!! This is a very simple card. It has alot more impact in real life though. The velvet paper (again) is so yummy and rich looking!!

Materials: My Knight stamps (Artistic Outpost), Kashmir Cloth-red (Gmund), Colormates-Heritage Black & High Gloss Gold Smooth (WorldWin Papers), Versamark (Tsukineko), Black detail embossing powder, Nestabilities-Labels One (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug (ProvoCraft), Tape N Roller Plus (Kokuyo), Paper Trimmer (Fiskars), Black Satin Ribbon

Chipboard Shapes Book Kit Sample

Okay, I said I would show you what else I am giving dh for Valentine's Day. This is a book kit from Debbie's Die Cuts called the chipboard shapes book kit. I absolutely LOVE this kit. It comes with 5 chipboard shapes that stagger to make a very cool book. I only used 4 shapes as is. I used the long rectangle to make an additional layer and extend the top shape a bit for binding. I will be honest and say that I decorated most of it before assembling, so I had to make an extension! lol Otherwise, the binding would have went through one of the bracket die cuts on the round page. See how I made lemonade?

I also did this book tall (rather than the intended wide version) and staggered the shapes even more. I instantly thought this would make a great "card" for dh for Valentine's Day. He will probably get a regular card also because I have made so many V cards, it is crazy!

Here is the book/card cover:I used Basic Grey's Scarlett Letter for the entire book. I think they have a romantic feel.

Here are the pages of the book/card:This is a glamor shot of dh and I from before we were married. He loves this picture, so I had to put it in the heart chipboard shape. I added a little sentiment to him on the opposite page.
These pages have our beautiful girls on them. I added some punched flowers with dew drop centers, lace and a little something about our girls being the greatest gift he has ever given me.
This final set of pages has a list of 10 things I love about my dh. On the opposite page, I have left it blank to add a family photo. This will probably make him happier than anything. I HATE having my picture taken more than anything in the world. I know what I look like and I am not happy about it. lol But, I will tell him that we can go get a family picture done to put on the last page. UGH
I just know he is going to love this so much. He was going nuts last night because I made this room off limits all evening. He usually comes in here and talks to me after he gets home from work and I wouldn't let him in. He knows I was making his something, but he has NO idea what. I love keeping him in suspense!

Materials: Chipboard Shape Book Kit, bracket die cuts (Debbie's Die Cuts), Scarlett Letter paper/Precision File Set (Basic Grey), Chipboard letters (dollar store), Chipboard hearts, arrows (Maya Road), Alpha stamps-Times New Roman Font (JustRite Stampers), Versamark ink (Tsukineko), Versafine-Black Onyx (Tsukineko), Distress Ink-Fired Brick (Ranger), Brilliance-Moonlight White (Tsukineko), Colorbox Fluid Chalk-Charcoal (Clearsnap), Bind It All/Black 3/8" wire (Zutter), Small Folk Art Heart Punch, Large Daisy Punch, Black Dew Drops, Lace, Ribbon, Fibers, Super 77 (3M), Crafter's Pick The Ultimate Glue (API), Tape N Roller Plus (Kokuyo), Scissors/Paper Trimmer (Fiskars)

Have a creatively wonderful day!!

Sweets for your Sweethearts

I have a new project up on the Paper Crazy blog. I had fun making these and I just know that dh and the girls will love getting them on Saturday.

Here are the ones I made for my girls. Shanyn gets the one with the bug on it because her nickname is Shanynbug. Shelby gets the frog because she has a thing for frogs. Her nickname is Punky, not Froggy. lol They will get these along with a book/bookmark and a Webkinz.Here are the adult ones I made using Kashmir Cloth cardstock. Think thick velvet. YUM. I will give him both, but he better share! lol I will make a new post with what else I am giving dh on Valentine's Day.The embossing doesn't show well in this picture, so I thought I would show some closeups so you could see it better. I just love embossing this Kashmir Cloth!

For supply list and complete instructions on how to make these for your sweetie, please go here.

Thanks for visiting!

The Pink Elephant Challenge #1

Hi everyone!! The Pink Elephant challenge for the week is now posted...a day early, but we just couldn't wait to get started!!

This week's challenge is a color one. Pink, black and white are necessary to enter the challenge. We just had to honor Ella and her favorite colors this week!

Here are my interpretations:

Materials: Bird stamp (Inkadinkadoo), phrase stamp (Melissa Frances), Versamark ink (Tsukineko), Black detail embossing powder, Twinkling H2Os-pink azalea (Luminarte, Inc), Polo cardstock pack (Making Memories), Colormates-Heritage black and white (WorldWin Papers), Nestabilities-Long Curved Rectangles (Spellbinders), Swiss Dots embossing folder (ProvoCraft), Satin ribbon

I also wanted to do something other than a card. I want anyone who comes across our blog to know that ANY type of paper art is eligible to be entered in our challenges. This is a fun way to give a little treat to someone you love on Valentine's Day.

Materials: Cascata cardstock-pink, Colormates-Heritage black, white (WorldWin Papers), Floral Fantasy, Swiss Dots embossing folders (ProvoCraft), Nestabilities-Petite scalloped circles, circles (Spellbinders), With Love stamp (JustRite Stampers), Tape N Roller Plus (Kokuyo), Satin Ribbon, Small baggie, chocolates

We hope to see you and your creations on The Pink Elephant challenge blog soon!!

Have a creatively wonderful day!

Announcing The Pink Elephant Challenge blog!!

Ella ©LoriBoyd2009 ; Banner ©RobinWillis2009

I can finally announced the opening of a fun new challenge blog!!! My friend Lori and I have been planning this for quite some time and are very excited to finally be able to share it with all of you!

What is The Pink Elephant? It is a blog where we will have weekly challenges (color, theme, sketch and recipe) with PRIZES!! The challenges are going to be fun and very open to all artists' interpretations. Each week's winning artwork will also be placed on a slide show on our blog for 6 months for visitors to see for additional inspiration. We will also do 2 tutorials a month so we want to hear from everyone what they want to learn about. What tools are you interested in learning more about? Are there any techniques that you would like to see further explanation of? Then, hop over to The Pink Elephant and let us know!! We are very excited to challenge and inspire all of you!! Our first challenge starts this Monday, so follow our blog so you don't miss a thing! While you are there, be sure to grab the little participant banner on the sidebar to place on your blog!!
Hope to see you there!!!

Peek a Boo!!!

I am very excited to tell you that there is something new and fun coming your way. My friend Lori and I have been working long on and hard for quite some time on something that will finally be revealed TOMORROW!!!!! Whew all the work to create something funky and fresh has paid off!

Here's a little sneak peek....

I know, I know....it isn't much a hint is it? You will just have to tune in tomorrow to find out what the excitement is all about!!!

The suspense is killing you isn't it?? Have a creatively wonderful day!

Blog Candy winners again

Well, I never heard from three of the winners. I didn't know how to contact them, so I drew three more names. This time, I just wrote the remaining names on pieces of paper did a draw for each remaining set.
Here are the winners:

Flo - Swirls & Twirls

Cassie - Punch It!

Eva - Fashion Plate

Congratulations!! I hope that you will all get your details to me so I can send these great stamps. I am sorry that I couldn't send them to the original three winners, but I waited 2 days longer than I said I would. I didn't think it was fair to wait any longer.
Have a creatively wonderful day!!

Chivalry is NOT dead

I saw this plate of stamps from Artistic Outpost called My Knight and it just screamed at me to use it to make some Valentine cards for that special man in my life. My dh is such a knight in shining armor! I have a few more cards in the works for Valentine's Day, but they aren't quite done yet. I love this one. It is quite simple card, but in real life, it is so yummy and textural.

To start, I did the polished stone technique on glossy cardstock using Cranberry & Red Pepper alcohol inks and Pearl Mixative. Then, I stamped the image with Versamark ink and embossed with black detail embossing powder. I added some detail with a white pen. The red cardstock is Kashmir Cloth that is just like velvet. I was amazed at how nice and crisp the words looked after being stamped on this paper! The scan makes it appear a little fuzzy, but in real life, it is very crisp and clear. I stamped the sentiment and ran the two strips of white cardstock through my Cuttlebug with the Textile folder. Layered it all together and it was done!
Materials:
Kashmir Cloth - Red (Gmund)
Colormates - Heritage White, Heritage Black (WorldWin Papers)
High Gloss - smooth white (WorldWin Papers)
My Knight stamps (Artistic Outpost)
Versamark ink, Versafine - Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Black Detail EP
White Inkssentials Pen (Ranger)
Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Red Pepper, Cranberry (Ranger)
Adirondack Mixatives - Pearl (Ranger)
Cuttlebug and Textile folder (ProvoCraft)
Tape N Roller Plus (Kokuyo)
Paper Trimmer, Scissors (Fiskars)

Have a creatively wonderful evening!

My blog rocks! lol

Well, according to Rita it does! I am not going to argue with her. lol Seriously, she was so nice to honor me with this award. I really appreciate receiving it and I can't thank her enough!
I need to pass this award on to 5 other bloggers. So, I am going to give it to some very talented friends of mine....

Lori
is a wonderful friend. She is also a VERY talented artist. She draws the most amazing pictures that I tell her need to be stamps so I can buy them. Besides making fabulous cards, she custom paints plates and other things. You have to check out what she does!
Tina
creates such beautiful cards. You must check out how beautifully she uses flowers and lace in her work!
Ann
make stunning cards too. You just have to go check out the one she just posted today! It is amazing!
Carol
also makes absolutely wonderful cards!! I really love her style. She is also having a great blog candy giveaway right now. Better sign up for that when you visit her!
Trudi
Is another amazing cardmaker. She has some great inspiration on her blog!! Plus, it is all decked out for Valentine's Day. I just love pretty blogs!

Love is in the Air!

I have two projects to share with you today. I was having fun this weekend creating 'love'ly projects!! First, I made a magnet. I love making magnets. If you read my blog, you already know that!!

This started life as a child's wooden domino that I picked up at Target in the $1 spot a year or two ago. I bought a few sets of them and pull them out when the mood strikes! I colored the base of it with alcohol inks. Colored the sides of the domino with black Sharpie. I stamped the image with Versafine ink on tissue paper. Decoupaged it onto the domino and then colored the image with alcohol inks. I added a strip of black paper down the side, some lace and a tiny strip of Ruche. I attached a string of pearls around the entire piece. Stamped the word on white cardstock and layered onto a piece of Ruche and glued it to the front. Add a magnet and it is done!

Materials: wooden domino, heart/rose image (Onyx Xpressions), Alcohol Inks (Ranger), Versafine-Black Onyx (Tsukineko), Heritage Black Colormates, Red Ruche (WorldWin Papers), lace, string pearls, tissue paper, Mod Podge, Crafter's Pick The Ultimate Glue, scissors

My next project is also one that you may have seen in different form before on my blog. I made another candle sleeve luminarie!! I had to make a Valentine's Day one!! This was so much fun to make and I love how it looks when it is lit. Please excuse the photo of it lit....my camera hates me and any photos taken without lots of natural light.

And here it is when it is lit...

For complete instructions on this project, please visit the Paper Crazy blog. It isn't up yet, but I will be sure to post when it is!

Have a creatively wonderful day!!!

Blog Candy winners!!!

Okay, bloggers! I am a bit late in posting this and I apologize for that. I had 31 comments on this blog candy, but I printed them off and eliminated the seconds posts that some made with their link sharing the blog candy love. So, I came up with 25 comments and numbered them in order. Here are the 5 random numbers that random.org gave me...

#3 is Veronica and she will recieve Punched!

#2 is Sue and she will receive Born to Shop (listed as her fav)

#20 is Cyndi - Dreams Unltd and she will recieve Girl Power (listed as her fav)

#21 is Lori and she will receive Cameo (listed as her fav)

#12 is Froggietalks/Karen and she will receive Swirls and Twirls

Congratulations!!!!!!

Thank you to all who commented and shared my blog and Art Declassified with others. It is really appreciated! I wish I had stamps to send you all!!!! Can the winners please contact me and give me their mailing addresses? If I don't hear from you in 48 hrs, I will have to draw another winner to replace you.

Have a creatively wonderful day!!