TCC125 A Merry Christmas

Hi Friends!

Welcome to the #125 {Home for the Holidays} Challenge at The Card Concept! 

I was inspired by the buffalo plaid along with the colors to create a Classy and Elegant/Mixed Media card!

Since I am still trying to limit my spending and use the stamps that I already own, I paired the retired Bells and Boughs stamp set along with retired designer paper (all Stampin’ Up!).

I also incorporated the Splitcoaststampers SC423 Sketch Challenge for the layout (FYI-their sketch challenges never expire and this one is from Feb 2013).  I mentioned in a previous post, that I have made it a personal goal to try eventually to do all their sketches (they have over 770+ right now and I have completed possibly a third so far, lol)! 

I am also linking to the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #125 Merry Christmas challenge (this stamp set is from 2010) along with the Simon Says Wednesday "Traditional Christmas" Challenge. the Double Trouble #44 “Wrap It Up (Thing #1- use a patterned holiday paper, Thing #2- add ribbon and/or bows)  and share with the Artystamper Digitals #5 “Winter Holidays”  Challenge .

If you have not had a chance to visit us at The Card Concept or the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will find time to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Stamp the poinsettia image onto white cardstock with an alcohol friendly ink (I used Memento Tuxedo Black), color with alcohol markers until you are satisfied.  

Use colored pencils as needed to add additional shadows, etc. and fussy cut the image.

Die cut the two different musical designer series paper panels along with a piece of white cardstock (for the panel under the poinsettia) and the green designer paper (for the horizontal strip under the checked ribbon) with various stitched rectangle dies. 

Once die-cut, emboss the green strip with a music embossing folder and mount all onto black cardstock (trimming close to the edge).

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the sentiment with Versafine™  Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Die cut with a stitched oval die and mount onto another stitched oval die cut from black cardstock (I used the same size oval and split the die in half so that just a bit of the edge shows around the sentiment).

Layer the musical patterns per the sketch, add the green horizontal strip along with the strip of 1” Black and White checked ribbon (wrapping the ends of the ribbon behind the panel).

Mount the entire panel onto a white card base.

Add the die-cut white rectangle onto the card front with dimensional foam (or, I prefer using chipboard), adhere the sentiment and add the poinsettias (again, using chipboard or dimensional foam).

Add the bow to the corner along with a few pearls around the sentiment and upper right/ lower left-hand corners.

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the flower petals and an extra fine white paint pen to add highlights to the flower centers.

Close up to try to show the shimmer on the petals :-)

This card took a while to create but I did have the poinsettia image in my stash already colored and fussy cut, so that saved me quite a bit of time :-)!

Stamp Sets:  Bells & Boughs  (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Spectrum Noir™ Markers- various reds, greens, yellow (sorry I did not write down the codes), Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black: retired Merry Music designer series paper and Certainly Celery Hostess Level I Pack (all Stampin’ Up!)

Tools/Accessories: Big Shot™, Sixxiz™ Music Embossing Folder, Dies- My Favorite Things™ Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1 & Set 2,  Stitched Ovals STAX; Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1” Black and White Checked Ribbon, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop !by  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Home for the Holidays}  photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see your interpretation!! The challenge is open until Monday, December 16^th at noon, EST.

The Wilderness Awaits

Hi Friends!!

I am having so much fun using some of my neglected stamps!  When I pull out a stamp set that I have not inked up in a while, I have decided to ink several of the images so I can create more than one card from the set.

This weekend, I am sharing one of the cards that I designed with the retired Stampin’ Up! The Wilderness Awaits stamp set.  I love the naturalistic images in this set and especially this elk image.

I am also going back and trying to create a card for each of the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenges (currently in #777 and I have only used 1/3 of the sketches so far).  Yes, this is a lofty goal, I know. 

With that in mind, I incorporated the Splitcoastampers (SCS) SC121 Sketch for the layout of this card (the SCS Sketches do not expire and this sketch is from March 2011). 

I am also linking to The Male Room #125 “Inspired by Ugly Sweaters” Challenge and the Simon SaysWednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will visit the above challenge sites- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card- Ink the elk image from The Wilderness Awaits with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink and stamp onto white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat with a heat tool.

Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor the image with water-based markers, distress ink and distress oxide ink.  Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto chocolate chip cardstock and trim close to the edge.

Die cut a piece of designer paper with a larger rectangle stitched die, mount onto chocolate cardstock, trim close to the edge. 

Die cut another piece of designer paper with a larger stitched rectangle die, mount onto a piece of chocolate cardstock, trim close to the edge and mount onto a white card base.

Adhere the medium rectangle layer (per the sketch) and add the stamped focal image rectangle with dimensional foam (or chipboard).

Heat emboss the sentiment onto white cardstock (as in the first step for the elk image), die cut with a smaller stitched rectangle die, mount onto chocolate cardstock and trim close to the edge.

Trim a piece of chocolate cardstock and create the banner ends by hand.  Split the trimmed piece and mount onto the back of the sentiment layer. 

Add the two brass brads to the edges and mount onto the card front.

Using scraps of chocolate cardstock, hand trim to create a photo corner and add a brass brad to the center.  

Mount onto the upper left-hand corner to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: The Wilderness Awaits (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Soft Suede, Smoky Slate, Gray Granite; Tim Holtz® (TH) Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide, TH Distress- Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Tea Dye

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, retired Cozy Comfort and Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, My Favorite Things Dies- Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1 & Set 2, Blueprints 20; Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™,  Mini Brass Brads

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you have a blessed weekend/week!

Winds of Change

Hi Friends!!

This evening I am sharing a card that I designed using two Stampin’ Up! stamp sets- Winds of Change (in the current catalog) and retired Harvest Blessings. 

In an effort to ink up stamps I already own, I have had this new stamp set, Winds of Change for several months and this is the first time I have had a chance to ink it up.  The sentiment from Harvest Blessings has not seen ink in a while as well. 

This card was a birthday card for my sister-in-law who loves tulips and I thought that the Color My Heart Color Dare #368 “Horn of Plenty Colors” Challenge (orange, green, red, yellow) would be perfect for her November birthday.

I am also used the Splitcoaststampers SC774 Sketch Challenge for the layout and incorporated The House That Stamps Built N1319 Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge (diagonal – watercolor, designer paper, button) and Word Art Wednesday #414-#415 “Anything Goes” Challenge into the design.

 If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will visit the above challenge sites- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card- Ink the main focal image of the windmill image with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink onto white cardstock and on another white cardstock panel, stamp the individual tulip image and sentiment. 

Apply clear embossing powder to all of the images, heat set with a heat gun and watercolor the tulips and main image using water-based markers. 

Die cut the main image with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto black cardstock, trim close to the edge.

Fussy cut the tulip image and trim the sentiment into a banner.  Adhere a split banner of black cardstock behind the sentiment. 

The background panels were cut from designer paper (retired hostess sets from Stampin’ Up! from years ago) and they were embossed with a plaid embossing folder before mounting onto black cardstock.

Wrap a piece of 1” black satin ribbon over the designer series panel, wrap the ends behind the panel.  Add the strip of lace, wrapping the ends behind the panel before mounting the panel onto a white card base.

Mount the main focal image onto the card front with dimensional foam (or chipboard), add the fussy cut tulips and banner using dimensional foam.  Add the orange button (I used a strip of black cardstock to mimic thread).

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the tulip petals to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Winds of Change, Harvest Blessings (Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Smoky Slate, Lemon Line Twist, Old Olive; Tim Holtz™ Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Hostess Level I Paper Pack (Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle A2 Dies Set 1, Sizzix™ Plaid Textured Impressions Embossing Folder,  Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™. Hexagon Punch, 1” Black Satin Ribbon, White Flat Lace, Tangerine Button

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you have a great week!

TCC124 Christmas Bauble

Hi Friends!

Welcome to the #124{Ornate Ornaments} Challenge at The Card Concept!  

This beautiful photo of ornaments reminded me of the retired Stampin’ Up! Christmas Bauble a la carte  stamp that was in the SU! catalog in 2014.

Since I am still trying to limit my spending and use the stamps that I already own, I paired this ornament stamp with the sentiment from the retired Bells & Boughs set (also SU!). 

I was inspired by the different shades of blue, teal and aqua as well as the patterns on the ornaments and silver accents to create a Classy and Elegant/ Mixed Media card.

I decided to use the Splitcoaststampers SC251 Sketch Challenge for the layout (FYI-their sketch challenges never expire and this one is from May 2010).  I have made it a personal goal to try eventually to do all their sketches (they have over 770+ right now and I have completed possibly a third so far, lol)! 

I am also linking to the Addicted to Stamps and More #368 Holiday Challenge along with the Word Art Wednesday #414-#415 “Anything Goes” Challenge and the Retro Rubber BlogChallenge #124 Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge (diagonal- metallics, die cut /punch and twine- I used silver cord, hope that qualifies as twine :-))-Bells & Boughs is from 2010 and Christmas Bauble is from 2014. 

If you have not had a chance to visit us at The Card Concept or the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will find time to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the Christmas ornament image with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Use water-based markers and distress oxide inks to watercolor the ornament, layering color as needed.  Once the colors are to your satisfaction, apply Frost White Shimmer Paint over several areas on the ornament area and Platinum on the silver areas.

Fussy cut the ornament and add dimensional foam (or chipboard) behind the image, set aside.

Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto a piece of Island Indigo cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Coastal Cabana cardstock.

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the sentiment with Versamark™ ink, apply silver embossing powder, heat set with a heat tool.  Die cut with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto Island Indigo cardstock, trim close to the edge.

Die cut the designer papers with stitched square dies, mount onto Island Indigo cardstock, trimming close to the edge.

Mount the designer paper layers onto the card front per the sketch (I split the Pool Party layer in half), then mount the sentiment layer with dimensional foam (or chipboard). 

Add the ornament with dimensional foam, looping the silver cord in the top and wrapping the ends of the silver cord behind the panel.

Mount the entire panel onto the front of a white card base.

Punch the leaves from silver foil using a leaf punch, adhere behind the ornament.

To finish off the card, use an extra fine white paint pen to add highlights to the ornament and a few rhinestones to the corners.

Stamp Sets:  Christmas Bauble, Bells & Boughs  (both retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Versamark™, Tim Holtz™ Distress Oxide- Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn; Stampin’ Write Markers- Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Lemon Lime Twist, Tempting Turquoise, Island Indigo; Frost White and Platinum Shimmer Paint, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo, Silver Foil; retired Winter Frost designer series paper (all Stampin’ Up!)

Tools/Accessories: Big Shot™, Dies- My Favorite Things™ Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1,  Stitched Square STAX; Embossing Buddy®, Clear and Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Silver Cord, Martha Stewart Branch Punch, Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to stop !by  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Ornate Ornaments}  photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see your interpretation!! The challenge is open until Monday, December 2^nd at noon, EST.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi Friends!!

Today I am sharing a very easy card using the Impression Obsessions Wheelbarrow stamp for the main image and the Stampin’ Up! Day of Thanks stamp set for the sentiment.

I am participating with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday “Thank You/Thanksgiving” Challenge along with the Dies R Us “Give Thanks and/or Turkey” Challenge (used a stitched rectangle die) and the Alphabet Challenge“Q is for Quick and Easy”.

 If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will visit the above challenge sites- fabulous inspiration from all!

This was a simple card to make- stamp the main focal image of the barn/wheelbarrow with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink onto white cardstock, heat set with a heat gun and watercolor using water-based markers and pencils. 

Once you are satisfied with the coloring, use a heat tool to thoroughly dry the panel.  De-static the panel, stamp the sentiment across the image with Versamark™ ink, apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto espresso cardstock, trim close to the edge and mount onto cajun cardstock. 

To finish off the card, mount the entire card front onto a white card base.

Quick and easy, plus no additional postage required to mail!

Stamp Sets: Wheelbarrow (Impression Obsession), Day of Thanks (Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Versamark™, Stampin’ Write Markers- Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Bravo Burgundy, Smoky Slate, Lemon Line Twist, Old Olive, Soft Suede; Watercolor and Water Soluble Graphite Pencils

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Early Espresso. Cajun Craze (Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle A2 Dies Set 1, Embossing Buddy®, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you have a blessed week!

Give Thanks to the Lord

Hi Friends!!

Tonight, I am sharing another card designed with the retired Stampin’ Up! set, Countryside and retired Verve Stamps Scripture Medley 3.

This card was created for my Nephew's 19th Birthday- I hope the glittery numbers are not too feminine, lol! I am so thankful to have such a wonderful nephew- he is a godly young man and we are so proud of him!!

I am participating with the Double D “Neutral Fall” Inspiration Challenge (I was inspired by the colors as well as the truck image on the pillow) along with the Word Art Wednesday#412#413 “Anything Goes” Challenge and the AAA Birthday Challenge Game #7 "Include a Number". 

 If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will visit the above challenge sites- wonderful inspiration from all!

This was a simple card to make- stamp and heat emboss the image of the truck onto white cardstock, watercolor with neutral markers, die cut and mount onto a piece of black cardstock.

Stamp and heat emboss the sentiment onto kraft cardstock, stencil the background with a chevron stencil, die cut with a rectangle stitched die and mount onto a piece of black cardstock.

Die cut the numbers from black cardstock, layer several together to create dimension and use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer.

Add the diamond shape brads before mounting the background panel onto a white card base.

Add the truck image and numbers with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Countryside (retired Stampin’ Up!), Scripture Medley 3 (retired Verve Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Sahara Sand, Smoky Slate, Early Espresso; Tim Holtz™ Vintage Photo Distress Oxide; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake (Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle A2 Dies Set 1 & 2, Number Dies (retired Sizzix); Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Square Black Brads (from my stash), Memory Box Modern Chic Chevron Stencil, Sponge Dauber

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I hope all of you have a blessed week and Thanksgiving!