Birthday Wishes - and a Tutorial -- for Digi Choosday

It's Tuesday, and that means Digi Choosday, with the awesome 24 hour digi code -- take advantage of this! Our theme for the next 2 weeks is Winter Blues.  It's also my turn to share a short tutorial with you.
First, the finished card:

This awesome digi is from the Twiggy & Toots Collection, found here in CD and here in Digital Download.  Just the strawberry cupcake image can be found here. I colored the cupcake image using Copic markers.  The cool blue background paper is from the Frosted Winter Octavia Collection (CD or Download). Then, the fun begins.  To make your own rainbow ribbon, follow these easy instructions:

Gather your supplies.  This technique can be done with a varieties of white ribbons.  I've used either inks or alcohol markers.  For this ribbon I wanted a "soft" look, so I chose distress inks.

Alternating every inch or so, ink your ribbon.  I cut 13 inches of ribbon for this card.  Here I am, getting started on it.

Here's the completed striped, multicolored ribbon --

One more view of the completed card, now that you know what to focus on:

The card shape was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo, using a Lori Whitlock cutting file.  The stars and circles were made with a Minc foil machine. 

I hope you can join us the next 2 weeks for our Winter Blues challenge!  Our CAS challenge at Digi Choosday goes on for one more week.  Plus, don't forget about the Digi Choosday Crafting Group on Facebook. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create -- ATG with optional twist -- birthday
Classy Cards & Such -- Bright & Cheerful
A Gem of a challenge -- female birthday
D.L. Art -- January Linky Challenge
Inspiration Destination Challenge Blog -- ATG

You and Me -- a Tutorial for Crafty Sentiments

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  I have a tutorial for you all today.  I'm guest designing for the next 6 months (yes, SIX!) for the Crafty Sentiments Inspirational Blog. This is my first post, and my first tutorial.  I'm showing you how to take ordinary white ribbon and make it extraordinary!

But first, your image.  I loved this Crafty Sentiments rubber stamp  from the 2014 Romance Collection called "You've Got Heart." 

Here's the stamped, uncolored image

I generally color my images with the papers that I want to use in front of me, like this. I colored this image with Copic Markers. These papers are from Close To My Heart.

That way, I know everything will match when I'm finished.

Now, for the ribbon fun.  

Cut a piece of white ribbon.  I used 1/4 inch May Arts silk, but any white ribbon will work. My ribbon is about 14 inches long.  Then, pick out inks that match your papers.  You can see, I'm using 3 shades of Tim Holtz Distress Ink here, but other inks work also.  I've got sponge daubers, but I've used makeup sponges, too.

Now, for the fun.  Dab ink on the ribbon, covering it completely, alternating colors about every inch or so. Here's the ribbon, partly done.

Once your ribbon is done, it's time to assemble your card.  I used a couple of dies from Lawn Fawn on this, but a paper trimmer would achieve the same effect.

Here's all my supplies, including the sentiment -- cut out from the edge of a 12x12 piece of paper.

And, once again, the finished card.  Notice the inked ribbon running length-wise, and tied in a bow.  Isn't it a neat affect?

Now, wasn't that easy?  OK, get going!  And, once you get your own pretty ribbon made, don't forget to enter it in the Crafty Sentiments Challenge. Make the Crafty Sentiments Inspirational Blog a part of your regular routine.  There's tons of great inspiration there! Don't forget the Crafty Sentiments Facebook Page for even more fun and inspiration.

I'm Recycling, and saying Goodbye -- for Pinque Peacock

Hello, and happy Friday!  Today, I'm posting for Pinque Peacock.  It is my last post for Jessica and her wonderful products.  I will miss the great camaraderie I've experienced with this team, but know I'll "see" many of these gals around blog land.

I received a bar of soap awhile ago, and thought to myself, "I could do  something with that box."  I saved it, recycled it, and created a treasure box of Pinque Peacock products.

This is what the box looked like when I received it with the bar of soap inside.

Here's the front of the box, recycled:

I covered the box with some Echo Park Dots & Stripes paper, tied a bow out of May Arts silk ribbon, and added a big, bold Pinque Peacock 1.5 inch fabric covered button.

Inside the box...

I tucked some 3/4 inch Pinque Peacock fabric covered buttons.

Make sure to visit the Pinque Peacock blog for tons of inspiration, and check out the Pinque Peacock Challenges and Link ups for the latest Challenge.

Watercolor butterflies

Happy Tuesday, everyone.  I promised to announce the winner of my blog candy today, and I will, but I want to share a couple cards with you first.

I have a tutorial on the All That Stickles blog today. It's Tips and Techniques Tuesday.  I used a "watercolor paints and Stickles" technique to create this card:

 

 

The card was made using an inexpensive watercolor paint set, a 5x7 watercolor paper card by Strathmore, Crystal Stickles, & May Arts white silk ribbon dyed to match the butterfly (and painted with Stickles).  The butterfly is a Unity stamp called "Bold Butterfly".  The sentiment is from the Joy's Life "Pun in the Sun" stamp set. I used Tim Holtz distress ink in Stormy Skies on the butterfly and distress stain in the same color on the ribbon.  The sentiment was stamped using Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim ink.

The second card is for the Unity Show & Tell group, using the free Unity digi from yesterday (7-22).  Unity is having a Creative/Color contest, and I'm entering this card in the Show & Tell group to be eligible.

 

 I love the free image by Angie Blom.  It was very fun to create with.  The sentiment is by Joselyn Nielsen.
Here's the Copic colors I used:

The one Ciao marker is YG 63.
 

And now, I promised a winner for the blog candy from Sunday's All That Stickles blog hop! 

I used the comments from all weekends' blog posts (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).  Random.org chose -2 -- Saturday's post.  Then, using Random.org again, it chose "3".  That comment is Karen Nofziger.  Her comment?  "Super cutie patootie"  You gotta love that one!  Congratulations, Karen!  You win the goodies.  More Stickles coming your way, plus other stuff.

I'm hopping with the Joy's Life team this Saturday and will have more blog candy from this weekend's posts, (I'm counting 7 from Thursday-Saturday) so visit often to increase your chance to win!

 

 

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:

 

Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes

Oozak.com -- anything goes with texture

Pin and Tack -- anything goes
D.L. Art Thankful Thursday Linky Party -- anything goes
Color Me Creative Copic Challenge Group -- anything goes