Trust The Lord and "Let It Flow" :-) !!

Hi Stampers! 

I had such a fabulous time yesterday creating and stamping with friends- thanks Robbie for your hospitality and thanks to all of the “girls” for their fellowship and encouragement! 

They wanted to me to show them how I created the watercolor backgrounds so I decided to CASE one of my own cards and change it up using the Splitcoaststampers’ CC536 Color Challenge- Marina Mist, Night of Navy and Real Red (I skipped dessert) for a patriotic color combination (see details here and gallery here) along with the Simon Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge.

The steps to create the background are identical to the original post and since it is all just one watercolored panel layered onto the card base, it is very easy to mail and does not require additional postage :-).

To me this is a Clean and Simple card, but to others, maybe not so Clean or Simple (watercolor can be fun but a bit messy)  :-)

We had a blast and they were teasing me since I kept reminding them not to be too perfectionistic with the ink, “Just let it flow, let it flow!”- lol!!

If you have any questions on the process, please let me know.  Since many of my cards are created with techniques I have used in previous blog posts, I will most likely start linking to the previous posts to save time (FYI- sometimes it takes longer for me to create the blog post than the actual cards themselves)  :-)

Stamp Sets: Choose Happiness, Trust God, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Real Red; Stampin’ Write Markers- Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Real Red; White Gel Pen and/or Faber-Castell® White Pitt Pen

Paper/Cardstock:  Watercolor Paper, Whisper White (heavier for card base)

Accessories: AquaPainter, Water Spritzer Bottle or Mister

Thanks again for stopping by- have a great week, my friends!

TCC38 Mixed Media - Weathered Daisies :-)

Hi Stampers!!

It’s time for the new Card Concept #38 Inspiration Photo Challenge!  I love all of the texture from the peeling paint on the chair along with the cheerful daisies and used that as my inspiration for my Mixed Media card.  

This scene reminds me of the summers that we would spend in rural New York State with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins...there were so many gorgeous older buildings with weathered wood- an artist's dream :-)

I combined our Card Concept challenge with the Splitcoaststampers’ WT536 “Get A Little Grungy” Challenge (see details here and gallery here).

The Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a number of design styles that you can choose from to create your card- Clean and Simple, Clean and Graphic, Clean and Layered, Shabby Chic, Freestyle Collage, Classy and Elegant and Mixed Media.   

Hope you can find some time to gather your supplies together and come join in on the fun!! 

To create this card:

On a retired piece of Newsprint Designer Series Paper (DSP), apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Picket Fence Distress Stain to give the appearance of white washed paint.

Add a bit of Ranger® Tim Holtz® Weathered Wood and Shabby Shutters Distress Stain to build up layers (using a Heat Tool to dry between layers of ink).

Once you have the background the desired color, randomly apply Judikins MicroGlaze™ to the areas that you would like to “weather”.

Use a spatula or old credit card to add Studio 490® Wendi Vecchi® Crackled Texture Paste and carefully dry with the Heat Tool.

Once dried, use a paper towel to gently rub some of the crackle paste and background color away (to mimic the peeling paint).  It is a bit difficult to see in the photo but the background definitely has cracks and looks like it has peeled :-)

Once you have achieved the desired effect, use a foam brush to apply Mod Podge® to seal the surface.

Using Stāz-On® Stone Gray Ink, ink and s

Trying to show the crackle, can you see it?

tamp the Musical Score (retired background stamp) onto random areas of the background.

Use the Distressing Tool to distress the edges and mount the panel onto a piece of Basic Gray cardstock (also distressed with the Distressing Tool).

Mount the entire background panel onto a 5 ½”square Whisper White card base.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Daisies Flowers #2 Bigz™ Die to cut out two sets of daisies from Whisper White cardstock.

Use a foam brush to apply Gesso to the daisies and once dry, assemble the flowers and had the Daffodil Delight button centers (with a piece of DSP as the “thread”).

Create the leaves from Wild Wasabi cardstock with the Martha Stewart Leaf Punch and adhere the leaves along with the large daisy to the card front.

Cut a 1” strip from the Newsprint DSP, apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Picket Fence Distress Stain and allow to dry.

Adhere ½ of a White Tea Lace  Doily (distressed  with Ranger® Tim Holtz® Old Paper Distress Ink) to the card front on  an angle, cover the doily edge with the Newsprint DSP strip and tuck a few of the daisy petals behind the strip.

Add the remaining daisy and leaves along with Pearls in the corners.

Ink the sentiment using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

Create the banner points with the Hexagon Punch and add a bit of Ranger® Tim Holtz® Old Paper Distress Ink to “antique” the paper.

Mount the sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Bloom with Hope (retired hostess), Musical Score (retired background)

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Ranger® Tim Holtz®  Distress Stains- Picket Fence, Weathered Wood, Shabby Shutters; Ranger® Tim Holtz®  Distress Ink- Old Paper

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Wild Wasabi, retired Newsprint DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Daisies Flowers #2 Bigz™ Die, Gesso®, Mod Podge®, Judikins Microglaze™, Studio 490® Wendi Vecchi® Crackled Texture Paste, Heat Tool, Distressing Tool, Hexagon Punch, MS Leaf Punch, Sponge Dauber, White Tea Lace Doily, Pearls, retired Daffodil Delight buttons

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a fantastic week and come play along with us at The Card Concept!

SUO125 Sending Wishes- A Fun Banner Edge and Nautical Theme

Hi Stampers!   

It’s time for the new SUO125 “Cutting Edge” Challenge (make a card edge that is not straight) so I decided to create a banner edge to a nautical themed card.   

FYI- The images on the focal panel are created using masking with ink and markers (so the main panel is all one layer) and of course, the banners are more than one layer and are the "cutting edge" to this card :-)

I also incorporated the Create with Connie and Mary CCMC360 Color Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers’ Free For All F4A277 “JUNE Recipe” (J=Jewels, U=Uneven Edge, N= Nautical and E= Embossing)-see details here and gallery here.

I hope you will find the time to check out all the rest of our Design Team ideas at SUO Challenges as well as those at the other two challenge sites- great inspiration from all!

To create this card:

The angle of my camera lens makes  this card  look a  bit crooked, but trust me, it is not :-)

Ink the lighthouse image from the new set, From Land to Sea with Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Stamp another image onto a piece of scrap paper to use as a mask.

Mask the lighthouse image and ink the map image from The Open Sea using Chocolate Chip Classic Ink and stamp onto the panel (also stamping another map onto a piece of scrap paper to create a mask).

Keep the mask in place for the lighthouse image and mask the map image. 

Use Smoky Slate Classic Ink to ink the script stamp from By The Tide, stamp off once before stamping onto the panel, re-ink the stamp, stamp off and repeat the steps to cover the background. 

Using Island Indigo Classic Ink to stamp the seahorse and compass images from By The Tide (re-inking and stamping the seahorse twice).

Using Smoky Slate Classic Ink, stamp the coral image from By The Tide onto the panel.

Remove the masks, use an AquaPainter™ with Island Indigo Classic Ink to  color  the lighthouse and add shadows with the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker.

Add color to the compass with the Island Indigo, Chocolate  Chip and Sahara Sand  Stampin’ Write markers.

Re-mask the lighthouse and map, ink the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge using Island Indigo, stamp off onto scrap paper a few  times, huff onto the stamp and add a  bit of  splatter to the background.

Stamp the sentiment from Butterfly Basics using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink, trim the background panel and mount onto a piece of Smoky Slate cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of  Chocolate Chip cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Island Indigo cardstock.

Create the banners using embossed Whisper White cardstock (embossed with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder), mounted onto Smoky Slate cardstock and again onto Chocolate Chip cardstock (I used the Hexagon Punch to create the banner points since they were of varying widths and shorter lengths).

For the small banners, use the Banner Punch to punch out banners from Smoky Slate, Island Indigo and Chocolate Chip cardstock.  Layer the banners in a rectangle shape onto a scrap piece of paper and stamp with the ledger stamp from The Open Sea using Island Indigo Classic Ink.

Mount the layered focal image panel onto a 5 ½” x  5 ¼” Square card base from Whisper White cardstock.

Add the banners on the edge starting with the larger embossed banners first, next layer the smaller stamped banners on top.

Finish off the edge with a strip of Island Indigo cardstock layered onto a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock.

Create the photo corners from a scrap piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock- Use the  1” Square Punch to punch out a “notch” from the scrap piece of cardstock, then re-position the punch from the notch to punch out the “photo corner,”, create the angle on the edges with your scissors and there you have it, a photo corner  

Use the same steps as above to create another photo corner from the remaining cardstock for the opposite corner.

Add the photo corners to the card front and add the Rhinestones to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  By The Tide, From Land to Sea, The Open Sea, Gorgeous Grunge, Butterfly Basics

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Chocolate Chip, Island Indigo, Smoky Slate; Stampin’ Write Markers- Chocolate Chip, Island Indigo, Sahara Sand

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Island Indigo, Smoky Slate

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Punches:  Hexagon, Banner, 1” Square, Rhinestones, scrap paper (for masking)

Thanks again for stopping by – I hope to see your Stampin’ Up! Only project in our “Cutting Edge” Challenge  gallery!

The Heavens Declare The Glory of God:-)

Hi Again Stampers! 

Here is my final Splitcoaststampers’ Virtual Stamp Night card for the JUN15VSNJ  “Your Happy Place” Challenge (see details here and gallery here) along with the SC545 Sketch Challenge (see details here and gallery here) and the ColourMe...Subtle! CMCC76 Challenge.

For the past 20 years or so, my husband and I have only been able to take a day off here and there from work, therefore, we have not been able to travel too far from home so our favorite “Happy” place right now is Shenandoah National Park :-)  

We love the majestic vistas and overlooks and this was the first place I thought of when I saw this challenge :-)  

I used masking along with sponges to create this landscape card but it is very difficult to capture the splendor and glory of Shenandoah with mere stamps and sponges...this card made me long for Shenandoah- I think we need to visit our “happy” place again soon!

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you visit the linked sites to check out the marvelous inspiration by all!

To create this card:

Create a mask for the mountains using scrap paper and just tearing the edge.

Position the mountain mask along with a circle for the moon onto Whisper White cardstock and sponge Coastal Cabana ink along with just a hint of Elegant Eggplant for the sky area.

Remove the masks and re-mask the sky area and mountain ridge, sponge Elegant Eggplant onto the cardstock, remove the masks and repeat to create the mountain ridges.

Add Old Olive at the bottom of the scene.

Ink the tree images from Lovely As A Tree with Stāz-On® Jet Black ink and stamp onto the sponged background, mask the hills,  re-ink the stamp and stamp again.

Add a bare tree to the left using the Faber-Castell® B Black  Pitt Pen marker and  add a  few birds as well.

Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Big Shot™ and Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim the panel and mount onto the Elegant Eggplant cardstock.

Print out the verse sentiment onto Whisper White cardstock and create the banner points with the Hexagon Punch.

Use the Big Shot™ with the MFT Stitched Circle Die to cut out the focal image and mount the sentiment onto the front.

Create a few banners from scraps of Elegant Eggplant, Coastal Cabana and Old Olive cardstock using the Hexagon Punch and adhere behind the sentiment.

Mount the entire focal image layer onto the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Add a few Rhinestones to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Lovely As A Tree, Digital Verse from Word Art Wednesday

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Coastal Cabana, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive; Faber-Castell® B Pitt Pen Black marker

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, MFT Stitched Circle Die, Hexagon Punch, Sponge Daubers, scrap paper for masking, Rhinestones

Thanks again for stopping by- off to do some neglected housework now :-)  Have a fabulous weekend, my friends!

JUN15VSNI Happy Together with Betsy the Beekeeper :-)

Hi Again Stampers!!

This card was created for the Splitcoaststampers’ Virtual Stamp Night JUN15VSNI “Happy Together” Challenge (see details here and gallery here) using the CC535 Color Challenge- Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight and Rich Razzleberry with dessert to add a punched or die cut element  (see details here and gallery here) as well as the SC540 Sketch Challenge (see details here and gallery here).

Woohoo!!  I was able to incorporate all of the nine elements for this “recipe” challenge and pulled out one of my favorite retired stamp sets, Betsy the Beekeeper (just love this gal with her honey hive and jars :-)).

Again, if you have not already done so, I hope you will find the time to visit the above sites to check out the wonderful Design Team samples as well as the galleries!

To create this card:

Ink the retired stamp image, Betsy the Beekeeper using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.

 Using an AquaPainter™, apply Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink to her dress and use Stampin’ Write Markers-  Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry and Sahara Sand  (for shadows) to finish coloring the image.

Use a sponge dauber with the Mini Punchenella stencil by Balzar Designs to add Daffofil Delight with the Honeycomb portion of the stencil to the background.

Trim the image and mount onto a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock.

Trim a piece of retired International Bazaar Designer Series Paper (DSP) and mount onto a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock.

Create the Whisper White square card base and adhere a piece of retired Rich Razzleberry DSP (solid color from a retired Hostess Level I selection years ago) and add the 5 ¼”  x 5 ¼” square of  retired Beyond the Garden DSP.

Adhere a paper doily to the background (I used a Royal Lace 6” diameter doily from my stash) and add the DSP on an angle per the sketch.

Add a few pieces of Rich Razzleberry ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon loops to the side of the focal image and adhere the Bermuda Bay Sequins (cut from the Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim) to the side of the card near the ribbon and add the Pink Rhinestones to the centers of the sequins as well as the flowers on her dress (the pink rhinestones were from a retired Stampin’ Up!  Flower cardstock sticker pack- sorry, I do not recall the name:-)). 

Add the focal image to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Add the strip of Rich Razzleberry cardstock with Stampin’ Dimensionals® and adhere the Rich Razzleberry bow (created with the Bow Builder Punch) along with the retired Daffodil Delight button.

Close up of Betsy the Beekeeper :-)

Stamp the sentiment with using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.

Use the retired Word Window Punch to punch out the sentiment, create the banner points using the Banner Punch and adhere to a strip of Bermuda Bay cardstock (also creating banner points with the Banner Punch).

Mount the sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Betsy the Beekeeper, Moon Lake (sentiment)

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Rich Razzleberry; Stampin’ Write Markers- Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand

Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry; retired International Bazaar, Beyond the Garden and Hostess Level I Pack DSP; Royal Lace 6” diameter Paper Doily

Accessories: Punches- Banner, Bow Builder, retired Word Window; Sponge Dauber, Bermuda Bay SequinTrim, retired Daffodil Delight button, retired Rich Razzleberry ¼” Grosgrain ribbon, retired Pink Rhinestones, Mini Punchenella stencil by Balzar Designs

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I have one more VSN card to upload and  will do so shortly :-) 

Hugs and have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

JUN15VSNH- Clean and Simple Apple Pie :-)

Hi Again Stampers!!

This Clean and Simple (CAS) card was created for the Splitcoaststampers’ Virtual Stamp Night JUN15VSNH “Bake Up Some Happiness” Challenge (see details here and gallery here). Now we all know that baking apple pie is definitely not Clean and  Simple- lol!!

I used a free digital image from Free Vintage Digi Stamps (“A is for Apple Pie”) along with the Home Sweet Home image from the retired My Digital Studio (MDS) to create this "hybrid" card. 

This is the orig image :-)

Again, if you have not had the chance to do so, I hope you will find the time to visit the Splitcoaststampers’ site- tremendous inspiration from all!

To create this quick and easy card:

Open MDS and position the digital images onto a blank 8.5x 11 document.  Open up a square punch element to crop the image, color fill with Whisper White and print out the document using black ink.

Use a Faber-Castell® XS Black Pitt Pen to create cross-hatching in the background to fill-in the void from the digital punch and color the focal image using Spectrum Noir™ Alcohol Pens  and Stampin’ Write markers (the cross-hatching is difficult to see in the photo but it is there:-))

Trim the images and mount onto Real Red cardstock.

Trim a piece of Whisper White cardstock and mount onto a piece of Real Red cardstock, trim again and mount this background panel onto the Night of Navy card base.

Adhere the focal image and sentiment to the card front and add the Real Red punched heart (from the Owl Builder Punch) to finish off the card.

Quick and easy- I am starting to love this one hour time limit  :-)

Stamp Sets: Home Sweet Home (MDS), free Vintage Digi Stamp- A is for Apple Pie

Ink: Printer Ink- Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Real Red, Stampin’ Blendabilities Light Smoky Slate Marker; Spectrum Noir™ Alcohol Markers- CT2, CT3, DR3, TB5; Faber-Castell® Pitt Pen XS Black Marker

Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Real Red

Accessories: Owl Builder Punch

Thanks again for visiting-only two more Virtual Stamp Night cards to go!

JUN15VSNF The Latest Buzz...

Hi Again Stampers!

This card was created for the Splitcoaststampers’ Virtual Stamp Night JUN15VSNF “Choose Happiness” Challenge (see details here and gallery here) along with the SC539 Sketch Challenge (see details here and gallery here).

This was the first shaker card that I ever created and it took the entire hour to complete (and that was pushing it- lol!).   I love this retired stamp set and thought it would be perfect for a shaker element :-)

Again, if you have not visited the challenge sites yet, I hope you will find time to do so- terrific Design Team designs and as well as their galleries!!

To create this card:

Stamp the bee image and sentiment from the retired set, Honey Bear using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock (make sure you position to leave room for the die cuts). 

Color the images using Stampin’ Write markers- Bear’s Fur and Bee Suit: Daffodil Delight, Delightful Dijon, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Black; Sentiment and Honey Jar: Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Sahara  Sand, Delightful Dijon, Daffodil Delight.

Cut the images out with the Big Shot™ along with the MFT Stitched Circle STAX Die and cut a larger stitched circle from Basic Black for the frame on the bear.

Emboss a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock using the Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (I still had a bit of Delightful Dijon ink on the interior of my folder from the last card).

Decide where you would like the sentiment shaker element to be positioned and punch out a hole with the 1 ¾” Circle Punch.

Dry-fit the bear with the frame and use the 1 ¾"  Circle Punch to cut out a notch to fit  around the treat cup.

Cut a strip of retired Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper (DSP) and mount onto Basic Black cardstock (also punching part of a circle to fit around the treat cup).

Add the retired In-Color Sequins to the treat cup, adhere the sentiment to the back, insert the treat cup into the opening and mount the Bermuda Bay layer onto the Basic Black card base.

Add the Botanical Gazette DSP layer and adhere the bee circle with the frame to the card front.

Use a Sponge Dauber with the Mini Punchenella Stencil to carefully add the Delightful Dijon Classic Ink through the honeycomb part of the stencil.

Use the 1 ¾” Circle Punch to punch  out a 1 ¾” Circle from Basic Black cardstock and position the 2” Circle Punch over the opening (created by the 1 ¾” Circle Punch in the piece of cardstock) and punch out the 2 “ Circle to create the black ring- adhere to the outside of the treat cup.

Close-up of the Treat Cup Shaker Element :-)

Mount a scrap strip of Basic Black cardstock to mimic ribbon and add the triple ribbon bow (Black Organdy) along with the retired More Mustard button to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Honey Bear

Ink:  Stāz-On® Jet Black, Delightful Dijon; Stampin’ Write Markers-  Daffodil Delight, Delightful Dijon, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, retired Botanical Gazette DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, MFT Stitched Circle Dies, Circle Punches- 1 ¾” and 2”; 2013-2015 In-Color Sequins, Treat Cup, Black Organdy Ribbon, More Mustard Button, Mini Punchenella Stencil, Sponge Dauber

Ok, the challenge was to make a card that would make someone  smile…do you think I succeeded :-) ?

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a fabulous Friday and weekend !

Vintage Graphic45 French Bee for Two Challenges :-)

Hi Again Stampers!

This vintage style card was created for the Splitcoaststampers’ Virtual Stamp Night JUN15VSNE “Bee Happy” Challenge (see details here and gallery here) along with the FabFri66 Sketch at Fab Friday.

I left the sentiment off so I can add at the time of mailing (or maybe use as a note card) :-). 

Again, if you have not had the chance to do so, I hope you will find the time to visit each of the above sites- tremendous inspiration from all!

To create this quick and easy card:

The bee focal image is from the retired Graphic 45 French Country cut apart. 

Trim the bee image and mount onto a piece of Delightful Dijon cardstock.

Cut the frame for the bee image from Basic Black cardstock using the Big Shot™ with the Spellbinders™ Fleur des Lis Rectangle die and mount the bee image onto the front of the die cut frame.

Ink the interior of the Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder with Delightful Dijon Classic Ink , insert a piece of Delightful Dijon cardstock and emboss with the Big Shot™.

Trim the honeycomb embossed panel and mount onto the Basic Black card base.

Cut the strips of designer paper from the retired French Country 6x6 Patterns and Solids collection and mount onto Basic Black cardstock.

Add the vertical strips to the card front and mount the bee image using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: None

Ink: Delightful Dijon

Paper: Basic Black, Delightful Dijon; Graphic 45- French Country

Accessories: Big Shot™, Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Spellbinders™ Fleur des Lis Rectangle Die

Thanks again for visiting-a few more of the Virtual Stamp Night cards to go!

JUN15VSNC You Are My Happy- A Tribute to My Husband :-)

Hi Stampers! 

I received my order from the new catalog this week and could not wait to create something with the new stamp set, The Wilderness Awaits. 

I love all of the realistic wildlife images in this set and thought it would be perfect for the Splitcoaststampers’ Virtual Stamp Night JUN15VSNC  “You Are My Happy” Challenge (see details here and gallery here).

In addition to only having one hour to complete your card, this challenge wanted us to let the person that receives this card to know why they are our "happy" :-)

I created this card for my husband…some of you are aware that he has been undergoing chemo treatments since November and I am so thankful for his love for the Lord, for me, the 32+ years we have spent together, his attitude of gratitude during this time of medical issues and the moments we get to share together- all of this is precious to me and he is "my happy" :-)

We both love nature and watching wildlife and even though we have never had the pleasure of seeing an elk in the wild, we are hoping one day to travel to some of the more Northern and Western State Parks and possibly see this majestic animal in their natural habitat.

I decided to incorporate the Splitcoaststampers’ CC533 Color Challenge as well (Basic Gray, Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral)- see details here and gallery here .  

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you visit the linked sites to check out the marvelous inspiration by all!

To create this card:

Ink the elk image with Stāz-On® Jet Black ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Create a mask for the elk using a piece of scrap paper and also use a circle punch for the “moon”.

Place the elk mask onto the stamped image and position your “moon”. 

Apply Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral to the sky area using Sponge Daubers and when satisfied with the sky, remove the masks.

Use the Stampin’ Write Basic Gray marker to color the elk image and add additional details with the Faber-Castell® XS Black Pitt Pen marker.

Add additional color to the sky area with the Calypso Coral Stampin’ Write Marker and sponge the edges with Calypso Coral Classic Ink.

Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock along with a scrap piece of Basic Gray cardstock with the Big Shot™ and Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.

Trim the embossed Whisper White panel, mount onto a piece of Calypso Coral cardstock, trim and mount onto the Basic Gray card base.

Use the Big Shot™ with the MFT Stitched Round Rectangle Die to cut out the focal image as well as a scrap piece of Whisper White and the embossed woodgrain scrap piece of Basic Gray cardstock.

I did add addtional detail to the elk with the Pitt Pen marker - close up of the details :-)

Stamp the sentiment using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto the embossed piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and create the banner points with the Hexagon Punch.

Line up the die cut stitching with the focal image panel and adhere the sentiment to the focal image.

Line up the embossed die cut piece of the Basic Gray cardstock with the die cut stitching of the focal image (you may need to trim a bit off the top of the scrap piece) and adhere to the focal image.

Mount the layered focal image onto the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Add two pieces of retired Calypso Coral Stitched Satin Ribbon (from the SAB Sycamore Street Collection) to a retired Antique Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware clip and secure by tying Natural Linen Thread around the ribbon.

Add the clip to the card front with Mini Glue Dots® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: The Wilderness Awaits

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral; Stampin’ Write Markers- Basic Gray, Calypso Coral; Faber-Castell® XS Pitt Pen Black marker

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Basic Gray

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle Die, Hexagon Punch, Sponge Daubers, scrap paper for masking, Natural Linen Thread, retired Calypso Coral Stitched Satin Ribbon, retired Antique Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware clip

Thanks again for stopping by- I will be sharing a few more of the Virtual Stamping cards later today