Blog Takeover: Deborah

Deborah Nolan here of Lily Pad Cards and the Society of Stamp- & Scrap-aholics!

You hear a lot about 12-step programs but they never sound like very much fun. Today, I created a 12-step program to share while I'm guest-hosting Jill's blog, and I'm hoping you'll have fun with it! My mission was to create a card inspired by one of Jill's cards. 

Like that's easy.

Only ONE?!

Seriously, I thought I'd have better luck if I tried to find one that didn't inspire me, but despite a very thorough search, I found no clinkers in Jill's gallery, so I ended up spending a lot of time mulling over her entire collection. I picked so many different favorites it got kinda ridiculous. Jill's cards are all inspiring, but it was this one here that captured my attention most.

(Actually, there were about five of them that were all screaming my name, and I ended up having to draw lots!) I've been on a real resist-Perfect-Pearls kick ever since CHA, so I took this opportunity to play around with it yet again. Jill does a lot of resist techniques, so I'm hoping my card will appeal to all the other resist nuts out there, too!

And I did it in just 12 Steps! Check it out:

1. On Strathmore watercolor paper, stamp Hero Arts S5264 using Ranger Distress embossing ink and emboss with Ranger's Seafoam White detail embossing powder.
2. Apply Ranger Distress Victorian Velvet and Concord Grape inks using foam ink applicators. You will get the best results if you do this on a Ranger craft mat and work in a gentle, circular motion.
3. Once you're satisfied, use a Ranger water mister to generously spritz Perfect Pearls solution (Perfectly Pearl and water) onto your watercolor panel. Set panel aside to dry.
4. Cut a circle using a Nestability die but don't remove the paper from the die. Using the die as a mask, apply Victorian Velvet ink with a foam ink applicator. When satisfied, remove the die. (Now you have a circle of color with a white edge.)
5. Stamp leaves (from Hero Arts CG286 set) on Giant Dwarf felt with Hero Hues black ink. Heat set and cut out.
6. Using Sizzix die (Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers) cut two flowers from Giant Dwarf felts.
7. Once watercolor panel is dry, cut panel to desired size and mat on purple card stock, then adhere mat to card base.
8. Adhere paper circle to card.
9. Adhere leaves and flowers to card.
10. Thread button with twine, and glue to flower. 
11. Stamp sentiment (from Hero Arts CL371 set) with Hero Hues black ink.
12. Attach gems (Mark Richards).

Thank you, Jill, for inviting me to post on your blog - it's been a great honor and a delight!

Thank u, Deborah, for always amazing me with your art AND always making me SMILE! :) 

HUGE thanks to Elizabeth, Lin, Vicky, Alice, Britta, and Deborah for their beautiful cards, kind words, and fun posts this week.  AND big thanks to all of you for your visits and wonderful comments.  I'll see ya next week with lots of NEW stuff--- a new PB&J video and card AND a new featured artist. 

Deborah's Inspiration - Day 6

Today is my last day of inspiration with Deborah. Here is her awesome card!

I love the balance on this pretty card. The metal ring around the center embellishment draws your eyes to the focal point of the card. Another aspect of this card that is simple but great is the rounded corners on the small squares. Finally, I love how Deborah used the negative of the punched heart--what a great idea with so many endless possibilities. This card is so sweet and I can imagine it being a lovely handmade valentine!

Here is my take:

I used lots of distress ink, water splotches, and UTEE to create the texture on my card.

Many thanks to Deborah for all of the inspiration this week and for being my first victim on the blog! :) Don't forget to check back Saturday to see who the next "Inspired by" stamper will be!

Stamps: Sentiment (Making Memories)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Stampin' Up Black Ink

Other: UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel), Black Twine, EK Success Corner Rounder, Paper Shapers Square Punch, Marvy Uchida Heart Punch, Misc. Cardstock

Deborah's Inspiration - Day 5

Hi everyone! Welcome to day 5 of inspiration by Deborah! I decided to make another card based on the inspiration card in this post. Her card was so amazing I just couldn't stop at one! :)

Here is my second take. I tried to stay with the warm background colors from Deborah's card and I added in the teal as an accent.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to visit tomorrow for our last day with Deborah!

Stamps: Trees (Unity Stamp Company), Sentiment (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Stampin' Up Black Ink

Other: Embroidery Floss, Misc. Button, VersaMarker, Clear Embossing Powder, Fiskar's Border Punch, Misc. Cardstock

Deborah's Inspiration - - Day 4

Welcome back! Thanks again for all of your kind comments and for stopping by!

Here is Deborah's inspiration card:

This card is stamping at its best! I love that pale blue background with the surrounding white border. I think of blue skies and summer when I look at this card. The butterflies are great and what a fun design idea to have the butterfly wings extend past the blue background. Finally, the sentiment on this card is perfecto!

This card is so great I just had to make a twin! Besides changing a couple of stamps, I owe all the creative thinking on this card to to Deborah.

Speaking of creative thinking- did you know Deborah makes demo videos?? Here is her latest on youtube--a must see!

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to come back tomorrow for another day inspired by Deborah.

Stamps: Sentiment (Hero Arts), Butterflies (Martha Stewart), Text (Inkadinkado)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Stampin' Up Black Ink

Other: Dimensional Adhesive, Adhesive Rhinestones (K & Co.), EK Success Corner Rounder, Misc. Thread and Cardstock

Deborah's Inspiration - Day 3

Welcome back! This is Day 3 of inspiration by Deborah Nolan!

Check out her spectacular, one-of-a-kind card!





Right away this card caught my eye. Check out that beautiful background! The reds and oranges blend together perfectly and remind me of a beautiful sunset. What a unique fish, too! The texture on the fish adds so much. And Deborah never forgets the little details--I love the twine wrapped at the bottom of the tag and at the top. This little fish swam by just to say "Hi!" So fun!

Here is my take on her card:

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Sentiment (Inkadinkado)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Stampin' Up Black Ink

Other: Martha Stewart Circle Punch, Black Twine, Misc. Sewing Thread, Misc. Cardstock

Deborah's Inspiration - Day 2

Hi everyone! Thanks for all of the sweet comments yesterday! Here is Deborah's card for today's inspiration:

This is such a soft, tranquil card. I love the stitching on the leaves and the beautifully inked flowers. The flowers are arranged perfectly and the heart shaped buttons make fabulous embellishments. Finally, the scalloped border ties all of the colors together, and adds another beautiful, feminine detail. I'm sure that receiving this would make anyone smile!

Here is my take on Deborah's card:

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Butterfly (Martha Stewart), Fern (Rubber Stampede), Text (Inkadinkado), Sentiment (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, ColorBox Chalk Ink, Black Stampin' Up

Other: Stampin' Up Watercolor Pencils, EK Success Slimline Punch, White Gel Pen, Misc. Cardstock