Kodomo Cards Series - Jolly Sparrows

Edited to add.. This class has been scheduled for Thursday, September 18th, from 10:30 to 2:30 or from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. To sign up for the class please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151.

Have you seen these new gorgeous stamps from Kodomo? They are rubber stamps that are permanently mounted on the acrylic block with the gorgeous picture of the image mounted on the back side of the block. These stamps look like little pieces of art and look good enough to be displayed as such!!





I am so happy that Geri (the store owner of Cranberry Hill Mercantile) had got them!! If you would like to get your hands on one of these beauties, please stop by the store or call them at 408-736-9151 to place an order (the stamps can even be shipped to you).

I will be making four cards using four different stamps from this collection for the class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. At the class we will make four cards, line the envelopes with Washi paper and will make a gift box to store the cards in. I think these will make a wonderful gift!!

Now, onto today's card.. This stamp is my favorite one of the four, so I had to start with it. The image looks just so gorgeous on the stamp, and I wanted to re-create the look and have it just like that on my card. Please note that even though there is sun (or moon) on the image, it is not on the stamp.

I stamped the image with Memento ink and colored with Copic Markers. I then used Versamark pen to cover the image and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. I then created the mask for the sun and brayered blue color starting from the top of the cardstock. Sponged green on the right side and in the top left corner. Then I had a lot of fun adding more color to the image with Copic Markers, White Gel Pen and Zig Gold/Silver Painty pen. There are Gold Microbeads in the centers of some flowers.

I kept the rest of the card very simple to let the image stand out. The layer on the left side of the card is the Brushed Gold cardstock.

On the inside of the card, I stamped the part of the image with the brunch and the flowers and colored it with Copic Markers.

I will show you more cards as soon as they are completed.

All supplies used on this card are available at Cranberry Hill Mercantile.

:) Irina

If the Broom Fits.. AKA the Purple Skies

As promised, here is the second card made with the witch stamp from Whipper Snapper. I just love this image!! Look at the cat holding on for his life on this wild broom ride, too funny..

This card measures 5 1/4" x 5 1/4".

The image was heat embossed on the Esse White paper (this paper has some texture and looks kind of like watercolor paper) and then colored with Twinkling H2Os and Pearlesent watercolors. I created the mask and sponged the moon behind the image. Then with my cloud template sponged some clouds in purple. Put orange stickles on her hair and on the broom. Layered the image on black cardstock and used pop-up dots to adhere it to the card.

The bats are made with Cuttlebug die-cut and emboss combo. I adhered the bodies of the bats, but put little pop-up dots under their wings. The label was done with oval and circle punches and there are black brads on the sides of it. The greeting is from Whipper Snapper as well.

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This class is scheduled for:

Tuesday, September 23rd, 11 am to 2:30 pm
Sunday, September 28th, 11:30 am to 3 pm

To sign up for the class, please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151.

:) Irina

Best Witches!!

Isn't it funny, really.. I've been making summer cards for such a long time, and now it feels like a jump straight to Fall, Halloween and Christmas.

Here is the card that I made today, it is the first one for my "Whipper Snapper Halloween" card class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. I am still working on the second one and will show it to you within a couple of days.

Please click on the photos to enlarge if you want to see all the shimmer and sparkle :) .

This card measures 6" x 6".

The image was heat embossed with Black Detail Embossing Powder, then colored with water based Markers and Pearlesent Watercolors. I also added Orange Stickles to her hair, buckles on her shoes and a little bit on the broom. The moon was created by reverse masking and sponging yellow and orange ink. Then I sponged black and purple ink all around the image.

The corners were cut with Cuttlebug, it one of the corner dies. Black Brads on the corners of the green layer as well as on Witch's dress.

On the inside, I inked the edges of the white cardstock with purple ink. The sentiment is from Whipper Snapper as well. The brackets around the sentiment are the negative parts of the corners on the front of the card (clever, huh?).

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This class is scheduled for:

Tuesday, September 23rd, 11 am to 2:30 pm
Sunday, September 28th, 11:30 am to 3 pm

To sign up for the class, please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151.

:) Irina

Farmer Edwin?

Here is the card that I made today for my "Fall Tilda and Edwin" card class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. For the card with Tilda please see my previous post.

I got these Edwin and the Hay stamps from Diana Crick, thank you Diana!!

This card measures 6"x 6".

I stamped the hay image three times, and sat Edwin on the top of the stack. I put pop-up dots under his head and under his feet, and the rest of his body is glued to the card. I like how it gives his dimension, but still looks like he is sitting on stack of hay.

Both pumpkins were stamped, colored and then cut out. You would never guess what stamp I used to add dots to the pumpkins as well as the orange cardstock layer.. The flower center from the Ruffled Bloom Set by Stampendous (please see the first photo above)!! Isn't that just so clever of me? ;-)

Clouds behind Edwin were sponged with Blue Sky Memento ink using the punched out scalloped oval as a template.

I didn't take picture of the inside of the card, but there is a white layer with two stamped pumpkins in orange ink.

All images were stamped with Memento ink and then colored with Copic Markers. I just love Memento ink, it doesn't smear when you color and dries instantly.

I used my new toy, Score-Pal, on this card also. See the embossed border around the main layer? I just love how it adds dimension to the card, almost like Nestabilites..

This class is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16th, 11 am to 2:30 pm. To sign up for the class please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151.

:) Irina

BIG (HUGE) News!!! plus "Give Thanks Tilda"

Do you remember my "shadow box" style cards? The one with the chickens and the one with monkey? Well, Diana Crick (the creator of the Score-Pal) has contacted me asking if I would be a Guest Designer for Scor-Pal with this project. She asked me to make a tutorial on the "shadow box" card with the Winter or Christmas theme project. What can I say?! I felt so honored! Of course I accepted the invitation. Once I told Diana, she sent me a package (!!) with the Scor-Pal, Score-mat and two Magnolia stamps. I have not started on the tutorial yet, but wanted to share the news with you :-) .

Today I needed to make a card with Tilda for my upcoming class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. I wanted to keep the card simple since all my Tilda classes seem to run for 4 to 5 hours. And, I really LOVE how this card has turned out!!

This is a long card, it measures 3 3/4" x 9" and fits in the regular US size envelope.

I had hard time taking photos of this card, please click on the photos to enlarge to see all the details.



Once I saw this pumpkin die-cut and emboss combo for Cuttlebug, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I thought that Farmer Tilda would be perfect for this card. I stamped Tilda with Memento Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers. Cut her out and added Gold Brads in place of buttons on her overalls. I cut and embossed three pumpkins, sponges some orange ink on them for more dimension.

I put the orange layer on the card and it needed that little something.. Since I have a Scor-Pal now :-) I decided to try to make a border. I just love, love, love how it looks!! It really tied up the design with the embossed pumpkins and I didn't have to add extra layers.

I think this card can be used for any Fall occasion, not necessarily just as Thanksgiving card.

I will be making another card for this class, one with Edwin and will show it to you in a few days.

This class is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16th, 11 am to 2:30 pm. To sign up for the class please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151.

:) Irina

It's Your Birthday - Pop Up

OK, I promise the next card I make will be with Tilda.. Oh, I missed her so much, and already have an idea for a fall card with the Farm Tilda.. But today, here is another pop-up card made with the Penny Black stamps.




The front of this card is pretty simple. I stamped the image on Coconut Swirl Bazzil cardstock with black Stazon ink and then watercolored with Memento re-inkers. Diamond Glaze and Stickles on the cupcake. Then, I used the rectangular die from Nestabilites to emboss the border around the image. I just love how that looks!

Inside, there are two pop-ups on two different levels. The first one is the scalloped circle (Marvy Urchida pink punch) with the greeting from the clear stamp set by Penny Black, the greeting was overstamped with yellow ink with the candles from the same stamp set . The second one is the cut out cupcake from the same image as on the front of the card. I also put Diamond Glaze and the stickles on this one.

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To sign up for the pop-up cards class, please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151. To see the other card we'll be making in the class please see the post below or click here.

Thursday, September 11th, 11 am to 2 pm
Thursday, September 11th, 5 pm to 8 pm

:) Irina

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Make Lemonade!!

Am I on the Penny Black roll or what?? Here is one more card with the Penny Black images, this one is a pop-up style. I've been wanting to make this style of card for a long time. I don't know what I'd been waiting for, it's so easy..

The greeting is computer generated.. I found it kind of funny that Penny Black makes these adorable stamps and names them "when life gives you lemons.." and the other one "make lemonade". But yet, they do not have stamps with the greetings to go with the images. So, I had to make them on the computer, not biggy..

I stamped the images with Stazon ink and watercolored with the re-inkers. Couldn't resist and added just a hint of stickles to the lemon on the front of the card and to the lemonade bubbles on the inside.

I used Flower Cube from Stampendous on the blue and yellow layers on the front of the card and also in the corners on the inside.

Circles on the front of the card were made with Nestabilites.

I used my new light box to take the photos today.. do you see the difference? are they better? what do you think?

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If you like to learn how to make this style card, come to my class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile.

Thursday, September 11th, 11 am to 2 pm
Thursday, September 11th, 5 pm to 8 pm

To sign up for the class, please call Cranberry Hill at 408-736-9151 .

:) Irina

One more Cracked Glass Christmas Card

Here is the second card for my Cracked Glass technique class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile (to view the first card, please see the post below or click here).. I just love how this one turned out, it is simple but yet so elegant.

The stamp was inked with Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink, and then I went over with red marker over the berries before stamping the image. Embossed image three times with UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) and place in the fridge for a few minutes. Then I bent the cardstock a few times in different directions to create the cracked glass appearance.

Main image was placed over Red cardstock and then on the top of the Brushed Gold cardstock. Greeting was heat embossed with the gold embossing powder.

Added gold cord to the brunch, and DONE!!!

Stamps used on this card are from Penny Black and are available for purchase at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. Did you know that the store will ship your purchase if you don't live in the area?! They will even ship you your favorite Tilda (and Edwin, and accessories) stamps!! Just give them a call at 408-736-9151.

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To sign up for this class please call Cranberry Hill at 408-736-9151.

Tuesday, September 9th, 11 am to 2:30 pm
Saturday, September 13th, 11 am to 2:30 pm

:) Irina

Cracked Glass Poinsettia

I haven't done Cracked Glass technique for a long time, in fact I think the last card I made with it was last Christmas.. I love-love-love how this card has turned out!!

Both stamps, the Poinsettia and the Script, are from Penny Black. I stamped Poinsettia on Vanilla cardstock using little pads from Memento. Sponged yellow ink around the ages. Then embossed with UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) three times, placed the piece into the fridge for a few minutes. When I got it out, I lightly bend the embossed surface to create the "cracked glass" appearance.

For more details and step-by-step tutorial on Splitcoaststampers, click here.

Oh, I also added some glitter into my UTEE. I am not sure if you can see it in the photos, but there is a lot of sparkle there.

Using my Zig Gold pen, I outlined the petals, stem and the leaf's of the flower. Added Diamond Glaze to the center of the flower and poured over some Gold Microbeads.

On the green layer, I stamped the script in the top right corner and the lower left corner. Added ribbon to the center of the card.

The layer with the flower and the red layer under it, are raised on pop-up dots.

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This will be one of the cards for my upcoming class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile.

Tuesday, September 9th, 11 am to 2:30 pm
Saturday, September 13th, 11 am to 2:30 pm

To sign up for the class please call Cranberry Hill at 408-736-9151.

:) Irina

Penny Black Halloween 2

As promised, here is the second card for my upcoming "Penny Black Halloween" card class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. To see the first card please click here.

Just like the first card, this card measures 6" x 6". All printed paper is from Imaginisce and so is the sentiment inside of the card.

I stamped the image on a separate piece of the light yellow cardstock, colored with Copic markers and then cut out cat's feet and the balloon. Added Diamond Glaze to the balloon and also some Orange Stickles. The balloon and the cat's feet are raised on the pop-up dots.

Scallops on the striped paper were created with the corner rounder punch with the removed guide (I just love when I can use the same tool in different ways).

I sponged the yellow ink around the image and also on the inside of the card.

To sign up for the class, please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151.

Sunday, August 31st, 11:30 - 2:30
Tuesday, September 2nd, 11:00 - 2:00

:) Irina

And the WINNER IS...

The winner of my 20,000 Blog Candy is....

Drum roll please...

I used the service from http://www.random.org/ website to generate the number, and the number 9 came up. The number 9 entry was from Marilyn, and here is what she said:

Marilyn said...
"Your shadow box frames are great, and I would so love to win one of them. Too bad I don't live closer - I would take your class in a heartbeat!!"

Thank you so much Marilyn and congratulations!! Please email me your choice of the Shadow Box (Tilda or Edwin) and also your mailing address.

Thank you to everyone else who participated, I loved all your sweet comments.

:) Irina

Penny Black Halloween 1

Today I was making cards for my upcoming "Penny Black Halloween" Card Class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile.

This is one of the cards, and I will show you the other one tomorrow.

The card measures 6" x 6", I guess I am still into making square cards. On this card I used two stamps, one is the Cat with Pumpkins and the other one with the Mouse. I stamped the Cat and the Mouse on the separate piece of paper, cut them out and mounted onto the card with pop-up dots.

Pumpkins, Cat and the Mouse are covered with Diamond Glaze. There are orange Stickles on pumpkins and on the scallops of the black circle.

Circles were cut with Nestabilites. I sponged yellow ink around the edges of the light yellow circle.

Printed paper is from Imaginisce, love-love-love their Halloween collection.

This is the inside view. I don't usually put printed paper inside of the card, but this one just called for it.. The edges of the white paper were sponged with the yellow ink. The sentiment is from Imaginisce as well.

To sign up for the class, please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151.

Sunday, August 31st, 11:30 - 2:30
Tuesday, September 2nd, 11:00 - 2:00

:) Irina

Winter Tilda

I was without the Internet for a few day, and finally got it fixed today!! If it wouldn't be for my IPhone, I don't think I would make it.. jk

Here is the card that I made yesterday, it is the second card for the upcoming Card Class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. To see the other card, please see this post.

I kept this card pretty simple comparing to my other Tilda cards, but I really like how it has turned out and very pleased with it.

Swirls on the blue cardstock were embossed with the Cuttlebug Swirl embossing folder, and then I added Crystal Stickles over the swirls.

Tilda was stamped with black Memento ink and colored with Copic Markers. I also added more snowflakes around the image. The "buttons" on her coat are the clear dew drops, I colored them with red Copic marker on the flat side. I used Liquid Appliqué on her hat and the boots. And, more stickles, of course!!

Snowflakes on the bottom right on the card are the Cuttlebug die-cuts. Yet, more stickles..

Inside of the card, I stamped the snowflakes all over the white layer and then stamped the sentiment over the snowflakes. I just LOVE this sentiment, the stamp is by Penny Black.

To sign up for the class, please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151. Dates for this class are:

Tuesday, August 26, 11-2
Thursday, August 28, 11-2

Thursday, August 28, 5 - 7:30

Don't forget about my Blog Candy and the Sketch Challenge. See details on the post below, or click here.

:) Irina

I got over 20,000 hits!!

With me moving, I haven't even noticed that I have over 20,000 hits on my blog already!! WOW!! if I can say that myself... You know what that means, time for some CANDY!!

I am so blessed to have so many people visiting my blog. I had even made some cyber friends (you know who you are..). I love reading all of your comments and appreciate you taking time to leave them.

Now, for the blog candy.. I will give away one of these Shadow Box Frames, your choice of Tilda or Edwin!! Wouldn't you like to have "an Irina original"? ;-)

Please click on the photo below to enlarge if you would like to take a closer look..

To enter, just leave a comment on this post, that's it!!

To receive two entries into the raffle and to double your chance of winning, make a card using the Sketch below. Then leave a comment under this post with the link to your card (either on your blog or on Splitcoaststampers). When uploading onto Splitcoaststampers, please enter EPCSC3 in the keyword section so we can all take a look.

If you do not have a blog and do not post onto Splitcoast, please leave a comment under this post and email me the photo of your card.

Just to give you an idea, this sketch is based on the Penguin card that I made a few weeks ago, check it out here.

I would also appreciate it if you mention my sweet candy on your blog.

I will draw the name this Friday, August 15th at around 9 pm PST. That should give you plenty of time to make a card..

And, I will even ship internationally!!

Don't forget that if you don't win, you can come to my class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile and make one for yourself :-) .

:) Irina

Claudia got some CANDY!!

By now, most likely all of you know how much I adore Claudia's work. In fact, I visit her blog every single day to see her wonderful creations.

Now, if you leave a comment on Claudia's blog under this post, you will be entered for a chance to win some Magnolia stamps and other goodies!! Isn't that just great?!

And, while you are there, look around.. Claudia's work is amazing!!

:) Irina

Shadow Box Edwin

So, yesterday I made a frame with Tilda and today is one with Edwin.

Everything was done exactly the same way as Tilda's frame... Painted the frame, then added printed paper, ribbon and dew drops.

Edwin, Robin (the bird) and the wall were stamped with Black Memento ink and colored with Copic Markers. Sponged clouds onto the sky. Edwin and the bird are raised on pop up dots. The whole main panel is raised on pop up dots as well to create a shadow box effect.

I will be teaching a class with this Shadow Box and the one with Tilda (check this post).

Thursday, September 4th, 11- 2:30

Thursday, September 4th, 5- 7:30

Please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151 to sign up.

When you sign up, please specify what project you will be making (Tilda in Purple, Tilda in Pink, or Edwin).

:) Irina

Framed Tilda with Lilacs

I had this idea in my head for a loooong time, and finally got to make this project today.

I used a 6" x 6" tile frame, painted it with lilac color acrylic paint and then covered the front of it with printed paper. Ric Rac ribbon and the large flower are from Prima. I used Dew Drops (again..). They are in the center of the big flower and also in each corner of the frame

Tilda, wall and Robin (the bird) were stamped using Memento Black ink and colored with Copic Markers. Tilda and Robin were cut out and raised on pop up dots. The whole front panel with the wall is raised on pop up dots as well.

There are Stickles on Tilda's wings and the flowers, I am not sure if you can see that in the photo.

I can definitely see this piece of art displayed in some little girl's room. But I will have to keep this one for myself and have it on the wall in my craft room.

This will be a project at the Cranberry Hill class.. I will make another frame with Edwin and they will have a choice of making a "girl" or a "boy" project.

All supplies were purchased at Cranberry Hill Mercantile.

:) Irina

Lovely as a Tree

As I was unpacking, I found the box with the cards that I had cut the layers for, but never finished. So, I had to stop unpacking and instead worked on this card..

The card measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", card base is a Bazzil cardstock, do not remember the company that is printed paper is made by. It is very pretty, has metallic look to it. I used Bazzil metallic Copper cardstock to emboss the trees on (in copper embossing powder). Then cut that layer in three panels. I really like this layout.

Check out the inside view of the card.. I stamped the trees in light brown color and then stamped the greeting over them using darker ink.

The trees stamp is from Stampin Up' set "Lovely as a Tree" and the greeting is from Stampin' Up set called "It's your Birthday".

You have to forgive me for the poor quality of the photos, I still have to figure out the right place in the house to take photos of the cards. I am thinking about investing in a light box...

Now I am working on the Winter Tilda card, and will show it to you within a few days.

:) Irina

I have moved!!

I don't have any cards to share with you just yet, I am still unpacking and settling in my new house. I don't even have any tables for my craft area yet.. I am planning on checking out some garage sales this weekend, hopefully I find something very soon. I plan on starting making new cards within a few days though (on my coffee table ;-) ).

Please come back and visit my blog soon..

Hugs,
:) Irina