Farewell to French Foliage- Love This Set!

Hi Stampers! 

I hope all of you had a great Tuesday!   I wanted to highlight one more of my very favorite sets that will be retiring on May 31^st- French Foliage.

This set is so versatile- not only can it be used for Autumn/Thanksgiving, but masculine and vintage cards as well.  The script and the splatter/dew stamps are wonderful for backgrounds and distressing and this set is perfect for the emboss resist technique.

Here are a few of the cards that I have created over the past few years using this beautiful set:

Triple Time Stamping Technique- Leaves with Script

Gold Embossed Leaves

Masking Technique 

Masking Technique- Non-Traditional Colors 

Leaves Only- fussy cut and another use of non-traditional colors 

Emboss Resist Technique and embossed again with Square Lattice EF

Emboss Resist- use masking and multiple ink layering 

Emboss resist with just one leaf 

Another non-traditional use of color plus script and leaf stamps :-)

 I hope you have enjoyed this farewell to FrenchFoliage- again, if this is one that has been on your wish list, it is only available until May 31^st. 

Fun, Brayered, Mosaic Background- Another New Technique for Me :-)

Hi Again Stampers! 

I had so much fun with the Just Add Ink's "Just Add A New Technique" the other week, that I knew I wanted to create a card for this week’s Just Add Ink JAI163 "Just Add A Fun Background” Challenge.  

I decided to incorporate Ann’s lovely PP143 Sketch Challenge at The PaperPlayer’s and since I used Sizzix products, it also is another example for the SU-Only Challenges SUO69 Anything Sizzix Challenge.    Again, if you have the time, check out all of these sites for wonderful ideas and inspiration!

To create this card:

Using your brayer (I use three separate brayers for this technique), lightly brayer a random pattern of Bashful Blue Classic Ink onto a piece of Glossy White cardstock.  Add another random layer of Baja Breeze followed by a light random layer of  Marina Mist Classic Ink.

 

Spritz the inked background with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (mixed with 70% alcohol) and let it dry a bit.  Ink the ledger stamp from The Open Sea using Midnight Muse Classic Ink and randomly stamp over the entire panel (it will run a bit since it is still slightly wet but this is OK- part of the distressed look).   

Now here’s where it becomes interesting…tear the panel into various size pieces and use a Sponge Dauber to heavily ink the edges with Midnight Muse Classic Ink (distressing some of the edges by hand- fair warning, your fingers will get inky in this process :-)).

Re-layer the torn edges in an overlapping mosaic pattern onto a piece of lightweight paper (I made the mistake of using Whisper White cardstock and ended up having to tear them off again for the final card since it was too thick).  

Use the Big Shot™ with the Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder to emboss the entire panel and then, tear again in thirds.  Ink the edges again to hide the white core (again, this is where I made my mistake and had to disassemble the entire mosaic and re-apply to my Whisper White card base). 

While you are working with the Big Shot™,  emboss a piece of Designer Series Paper for the central layer of the sketch along with a few strips for the horizontal banners with the Square Lattice EF (I used the retired DSP, Nautical).

Stamp the globe image, compass, anchor and sentiment onto Glossy or Whisper White cardstock using Midnight Muse Classic Ink.  Punch or cut out the globe image and compass (along with a corresponding layer of Midnight Muse cardstock for each) and use the Big Shot™ with the Bitty Banners Framelits to cut out the sentiment.  Carefully hand cut around the anchor.

Add the anchor to the globe layer with a Pewter Brad as well as adding a brad to the center of the compass.   Layer per the sketch and add the ½” Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon bow to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: The Open Sea, Itty Bitty Banners

Ink: Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Midnight Muse

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Midnight Muse, retired Nautical DSP, Glossy White

Accessories: Big Shot™,  Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Bitty Banners Framelits™, Punches- 1 ¼”, 1 3/8” and 2 ½” Circle, 1” Square (for banner points on strips), Pewter Brads, Brayer, Sponge Dauber, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, ½” Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon

Thanks again for visiting!  So what do you think of this fun background created using the Mosaic Brayer Technique (not sure if this is a formal technique or not:-))?  Too busy, too vintage or just right?  If you have the time, let me know- your comments mean so much to me :-)

Stop by again soon- have a fabulous Tuesday!!

Farewell to Just Believe- Another One of My Favorites to Retire

Hi Stampers! 

I hope all of you had a wonderful day!   

On to another farewell to a favorite set- this time to Just Believe, a wonderfully versatile group of stamps:-)

I loved using this set with markers to color the flowers or embossing- perfect for the sponged backgrounds. 

Again, I hope you enjoy this farewell to Just Believe- if you do not have this set yet, it is  only available until May 31^st. 

Farewell to Nature's Pace - Another One of My Favorites :-)

Hi Stampers! 

I wanted to share another set of projects created with one of my favorite soon-to-be retired set- Nature’s Pace.

Again, there are some wonderful new sets on the horizon, but I will miss having the one in our current catalog.   The bee image in particular, is one that I favor in this set (reminds me of my husband and I searching for antique honey dishes).

I hope you enjoy this farewell to Nature’s Pace- again,

 this set is only available until May 31^st.

Thanks again for visiting- have a wonderful Monday !!

Birthday Hugs & Wishes- A Color and Sketch Challenge

Hi Stampers! 

I hope you had a great weekend!  I was fortunate to some time in my craft room this evening and wanted to create a card using the colors from the CQC186 ColourQ Challenge along with the FMS83 Freshly Made Sketch.  Again, both sites have terrific Design Teams and I hope you have a chance to visit :-).   

Can you tell that this card has been partially created using My Digital Studio?  I have a lot of fun using this program to create what I call “hybrid” cards.

To create this card:

Print the dress from image from the Established Elegance Stamp Brush set and the sentiment from Hugs and Wishes onto Whisper White cardstock (I re-sized both elements).  Carefully cut out the dress form and use the Large Oval Punch to punch out the sentiment (along with another oval from Lucky Limeade cardstock).

On another piece of Whisper White cardstock, stamp the elements from Established Elegance using Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo and Crumb Cake Classic Ink.  Cut into a rectangle and round the corners using the ¾” Circle Punch.  Layer onto a piece of Lucky Limeade (round the corners with the ¾” Circle Punch), add the 1/8” Lucky Limeade ribbon along with the Rhinestone brad and the dress form image using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Use the Embossing Buddy® to de-static a piece of Whisper White cardstock and using Versamark® ink,  stamp the Gossamer Lace image.  Apply Melon Mambo Stampin’ Emboss® Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Tool.  Once cooled, carefully cut out and cut in half, overlap behind the focal image layer.    

Use the Big Shot™ with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Crumb Cake Designer Series Paper (DSP) and the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Flirtatious Specialty DSP.  Mount both pieces onto a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock and again onto Lucky Limeade. 

Add the Melon Mambo cardstock (crimped with the Crimper Tool) and layer the embossed lace images and focal image using Stampin’ Dimensionals®. 

Add the sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Established Elegance (stamp set and MDS), Gossamer Lace, Hugs and Wishes (MDS)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black, Versamark™, Classic Ink- Crumb Cake, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo

Cardstock: Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, Designer Series Paper- retired Crumb Cake and Flirtatious Specialty DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade and Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool, Melon Mambo Stampin’ Emboss® Embossing Powder, Large Oval Punch, 1/8” Lucky Limeade Organdy Ribbon (2013 SAB retired), Fire Rhinestone Brad (retired), Crimper Tool

Established Elegance and Gossamer Lace will be retired at the end of May- I will miss both of these sets in the current catalog but will definitely keep these two in my collection (who am I kidding...I love my stamps and keep all of them! :-))

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a wonderful Monday!!

Farewell to Nature Walk

Hi Stampers! 

This week and weekend have been extremely busy for me and I hope to be able to create and post something new before Monday evening.

In the meantime, I thought I would share some of the projects that I have made in the past with some of my favorite soon-to-be retired sets.   There are some wonderful new sets on the horizon, but I will miss having these in our current catalog.   I hope to post my "Farewell to.." series every so often- remember, these sets are only available until May 31st.

The first one I would like to highlight is Nature Walk,  I love the all of the images in this set and it has been special to my husband as well :-)

We both love to watch birds plus we collect antique honey dishes and the bee image in this set reminds us of our "antiquing" journeys together!!  I will definitely miss this set in the new catalog but will keep this one for sure in my ever growing collection.

Here are some of my favorite cards creating with Nature Walk:

I hope you enjoy this farewell to Nature Walk!!  Thanks again for taking the time to visit!

Happy Birthday! A "Hybrid" Card for A Sketch and Color Challenge :-)

Hi Stampers! 

I hope all of you are having a great Wednesday so far!  Last night while I was working with My Digital Studio, I decided to create a card for the DD49Dynamic Duos Color Challenge and the Pals Paper Arts PPA157 Sketch Challenge.  Both of these sites have wonderful Design Teams and are a source of inspiration for all- of you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will visit them soon :-)

To make this “hybrid” card:

Print the Postage Due Stamp Brush set and the sentiment from Watercolor Trio onto Whisper White cardstock (I "re-sized" both elements).  

Trim the area around the Postage Due image and use the XL Oval Punch to punch out the sentiment. Adhere the Postage Due layer onto Basic  Gray cardstock and again onto Whisper White cardstock.   

Use the Big Shot™ with the Large Scallop Edgelit™ to cut the edge of a piece of Whisper White cardstock and emboss using the Delicate Accents (Lace) Textured Impressions™ Folder.

Layer a piece of Basic Black Designer Series Paper (DSP) onto Basic Black cardstock (I used a piece from the retired Night and Day), add the additional layers of embossed panel and checkerboard DSP (again, retired SU! background paper from years ago, embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder).  Add the focal image and sentiment using Stampin' Dimensionals. 

Adhere the 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon bow with a Mini Glue Dot to finish off the card :-)

Stamp Sets:  Postage Due, Watercolor Trio (both MDS)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Designer Series Paper- retired Night and Day, retired Background Paper

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Delicate Accents (Lace) and Square LatticeTextured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, XL Oval Punch, 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a great day!!