Once Upon A Birthday

Every card maker I know has a type of card that creates "crafter's block"... where the creative juices just refuse to flow.  For me, it is birthday cards... and especially for people I know.  It is so bad that I have given up on most family members opting for a store bought cards.  (now don't you gasp--there are some very nice cards sold today)

So my dear older brother has a birthday next week and this year I was determined to make him a card this year--conquering two tough cardmaking topics for me: Birthdays and Guys.

My brother is a great guy and deserving of the royal treatment:

 Details:

• Stamps: Antidepresstamps~Royality from Starving Artistamps; 
• Ink: Memento tuxedo black; Tim Holtz antique linen;
• Paper: Graphic 45 and Die Cuts With a View patterned paper; white and black cardstock;
• Accessories: Copic Markers; foam tape; Stickles and Liquid Pearls (gold); Spellbinders and Sizzix dies;

Here is a tip:

• Whether you are using markers, watercolor, chalks, or pencils, I find that that when coloring faces a little white dot on each cheek bone to put a little life and whimsy to the character you are coloring.  

Here is a question for you:
What is your tough cardmaking audience/occasion??  Sympathy, birthday, mother's day (another toughie for me)??

I look forward to your comments!

I’m a Paper Piecing Fool!

LOL!  Well, not exactly, but I have a paper pieced fool to show you!

The Moxie Fab World blog is having a paper piecing challenge to celebrate the “Stamp It” techniques magazine.  Of course I thought of the Starving Artistamps stamp set  “Antidepresstamps ~ Royality"!”

*BTW—there is a special at Starving Artistamps through March 17th!  Check out the home page for details.*

On the jester, I used colored pencils to add detail and dimension to the pieces.  The edges of the flags and other elements were inked with Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

Card details:

• Size- 5.5” x 5.5”
• Stamps: Antidepresstamps~Royalty from Starving Artistamps;
• Ink: StazOn Jet Black (sentiment and outlines of Jester and flags; Tim Holtz Distress Ink Walnut Stain and Brushed Corduroy;
• Patterned Paper: Sweet Nectar die cut card pad and tag pad by K & Co.;
• Cardstock: Bazzill;
• Accessories: Colored pencils, Wire, Foam tape, Stickles (glitter glue)

There are many other fabulous examples on the paper piecing challenge post at the Moxie Fab World blog!!  Take a gander!

As always, thank you for taking the time to stop by my blog today!

~Juliana

It IS good to be Queen!

Starving Artistamps has a brand new collection debuting this week! Coming all the way from Denmark designed by the WONDERFULLY talented, Nina Aaslund!!

I am so excited to finally show you Nina's newest collection “Antidepresstamps Royalty”!  I love this set and all the images—and I am sure you will love them, too!

Here is my first creation with this set:

Materials:

• Stamps: Antidepresstamps Royality
• Papers: K &  Co. and Stampin’ Up!
• Ink and Coloring Media: StazOn Jet Black and Memento Pear Tart; Colored Pencils and gold gel pen;
• Other Materials: Stickles; Spellbinder’s die; foam tape;

Please take the time to head over to the Starving Artistamps Gallery blog and see the truly stunning my design teammates have made with this FUN set!

Have a ROYALLY good day!

~Juliana