You Are the Potter

Hi Friends!

I am sure by now that most of you are aware of the devastation in Texas and my hubby, Dave and I are praying for all of Texas!  We have many "virtual" friends that live in Texas and know that they have a long road ahead, especially those in the Houston area.

We hope that everyone is safe and will continue to pray for you.

In addition to the sadness in the news, today was a bit stressful for Dave and I as well as for both of my sweet kitties!  It was their annual dental appointment and they were not happy “campers”.  Between having to “fast”, the car ride and staying at the vets most of the day, they are getting re-acquainted with one another this evening and we are hearing quite a bit of "hissing" (sister "kitty" owners are fully aware of what I mean :-)).

A very rare moment in 2015
when they sat together on the same chair :-)

I know, many of you probably think we are a bit crazy- why would you take a cat to have their teeth cleaned?  In the past, we did not take our other four kitties (all are now at the Rainbow Bridge) for yearly dental cleanings since did not have the $$ to do so.  After our last male kitty passed away in 2008 at age 12 from cancer (he was a stray we rescued at age one and he already had poor gums/teeth),  we found out that Banfield Hospital (located in our PetSmart store) offers yearly dental cleaning as part of one of their Wellness plans. 

We made the decision to sign up on the Banfield monthly billing plan with our two “girls”.  We hope by doing so that the yearly cleanings may help avoid dental issues that could develop into more permanent health concerns.  They are now 12+ years old and we want them to stay alive and healthy as long as possible (our oldest kitty lived to be 18 so we are hoping at least 20 for these two :-)).

While the "girls" were resting and recovering from the vet visit, I had a chance to create a card using Potter’s Clay from Verve Stamps for the Viva La Verve SketchAugust 2017 Sketch Challenge.  I just love Julee Tilman’s sketches and wanted to sneak this card in before the deadline!

I am also participating with the Simon Says Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge.  If you have not had a chance to visit either challenge yet, I hope you will do so- wow, what fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Trim three pieces of patterned paper (I used a retired pattern from Stampin’ Up!) into 1” x 4” strips, distress the edges and mount onto the stitched rectangle die cut from espresso cardstock.

2). Trim a piece of vanilla cardstock, mount onto an espresso card front and adhere to the white card base.

3). To create the horizontal portion of the sketch, trim another piece of the designer paper, distress the edges and mount onto espresso cardstock (trimming close to the edge).

4). Ink the sentiment from Potter’s Clay with ground espresso distress ink, stamp onto vanilla cardstock (I used my MISTI® Tool and stamped three times).  Apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Die cut with a stitched circle die and layer onto another circle die cut from espresso cardstock.

5). Use a stencil brush to add brushed corduroy distress ink over the edges of the all of the panels and sentiment.  Ink a splatter stamp and stamp onto the panel and sentiment with ground espresso distress ink.

 6). Layer the horizontal strip directly to the card front, add the pieced designer paper panel with dimensional foam and mount the sentiment (using dimensional foam for the portion that hangs off the side of the dsp panel).

7). Ink the clay pot images from Potter’s Clay using distress ink- tea dye, rusty hinge for the smaller pot, ground espresso and brushed corduroy for the tallest pot and bundled sage with brushed corduroy for the vase.  Apply clear embossing powder on all, heat set with the heat tool and fussy-cut the images (FYI- Verve Stamps has a coordinating Potter Die Set but I do not own that yet :-)).

8). Mount the pots using dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Potter’s Clay (Verve Stamps), Timeless Textures (Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Medium: Tim Holtz™ Distress Inks- Rusty Hinge, Brushed Corduroy, Tea Stain, Bundled Sage, Ground Espresso

Paper/Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso; retired Outlaw DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangle and Circle STAX, Spellbinders™ Circles Dies, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss™ Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Hemp Twine, Distressing Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to visit! We are praying for all of Texas!  We hope that everyone is safe and will continue to pray for you as we know that Texas has a long road ahead.  Hugs and God Bless!

SC600 Floral Sympathy

Hi Friends!

Woohoo- it’s time for the new SC600 sketch at Splitcoaststampers!  This is such a fun sketch and wow, our Design Team did a fabulous job with showing off the versatility!

I pulled out a few retired Stampin' Up! stamp sets, Element of Style and Bloom with Hope along with Distress Oxide/Distress Inks for a quick Media card.  

I also incorporated the House of Cards August 2017 "Floral Images and/or Colors" Challenge along with the Word Art Wednesday #296-#297 “Anything Goes” Challenge into the design.  

If you have not had a chance to check out the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Gallery or the other challenge galleries yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- as always, gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Using Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks, press the Picked Raspberry pad onto a silicone craft mat, lightly spritz with water, lay a piece of white cardstock into the ink, lift up and press again.  Dry with a heat tool and repeat the process using Peacock Feathers and Seedless Preserves.  Once you are satisfied with the background, spritz water over the ink, press lightly with a paper towel and dry with the heat tool.

2). De-static the background with an embossing powder tool, ink the Elements of Style stamp set with an archival black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.

3). Use the AquaPainter™ with ink from Tim Holtz® Distress Ink pads- Seedless Preserves and Picked Raspberry to watercolor the flowers and the surrounding background around the flowers.  Color the leaves with the Mowed Lawn TH Distress Marker.  Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Blackberry Bliss cardstock, trim close to the edge.

4). Trim a piece of white cardstock, mount onto a piece of Blackberry Bliss cardstock, adhere the entire panel to the white card base.

5). Die cut and emboss the scroll corners from Blackberry Bliss cardstock using a Big Shot™ with the Shapeablilites© Fleur de Lis Accents dies, wrap around the corners (per the sketch) and mount the panel onto the card front using dimensional foam.

6). Stamp the sentiment from Bloom with Hope using archival black ink onto white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder, heat set with the heat tool and create the fish tail banner (I used a retired hexagon punch).  Mount onto a piece of Blackberry Bliss cardstock and adhere directly to the card front.

7). Add white accents to the flower centers with an extra fine white paint pen and shimmer to the flower petals with a clear glitter pen. Add a few pearls to the corners to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Elements of Style, Bloom with Hope

Ink/Mediums: Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black; Tim Holtz™ Distress Oxide Ink- Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves; TH Distress Inks- Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen; Extra Fine White Sharpie® Paint Pen

Paper: Extra Thick Whisper White, Whisper White, retired Blackberry Bliss

Accessories/Tools: AquaPainter™, Big Shot™, Shapeablilites© Fleur de Lis Accents Dies. Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Water Spritzer Bottle, retired Hexagon Punch, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! I hope you can find the time to come join us at Splitcoaststampers- we would love to see your artwork in our gallery!  Hugs and have a wonderful week, sweet friends!

SUO182 Blast from the Past- Equestrian Dream

Hi Friends!   

Woohoo! We are celebrating our 7th Anniversary at SU-Only Challenges with a fun  “Blast from the Past” Challenge! Our Design Team had such a great time coming up with ideas for this challenge and there is even a chance at some blog candy- we hope you will play along with us! 

I wanted to pull out a few retired stamp sets and chose Equestrian Dream and Tiny Tags.  I decided to pair them with retired Outlaw background paper, Lucky Stars Textured Impressions Embossing Folder™ and Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware.  

Since I have been a demonstrator since 1999, I have kept all of my retired sets (trust me, I have many favorites) but also wanted to participate with the Match The Sketch #191 Sketch Challenge as well as the Sunny Day Crafting “H is for Horses” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to stop by the SU-Only Challengesite to check out the rest of the Design Team projects or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Ink the retired Equestrian Dream image (circa 2001) with Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black Ink, stamp onto Very Vanilla cardstock, apply  Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

2). Die cut the image with the Stitched Shapes Framelits™, layer onto Early Espresso cardstock, trim close to the edge (I split the image behind the banner sentiment).

3). Use an AquaPainter™ with Soft Suede, Early Espresso and retired Baked Brown Sugar Classic Ink to color the horse images.  Sponge a bit of Baked Brown Sugar Classic Ink over the edges.

 4). Emboss a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock using the retired Lucky Stars Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock,  Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Baked Brown Sugar and Early Espresso Classic Ink over the edges and stars, mount onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

5). Trim a piece of Outlaw Designer Paper, mount onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock, trim close to the edge.

6). Stamp the sentiment from Tiny Tags with Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black Ink, stamp onto Very Vanilla cardstock, apply  Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool. Add a bit of Backed Brown Sugar Classic Ink (diluted), punch out with the retired Ovals Punch (trimming to fit if necessary), layer within the Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware label, add to the banner with two brads.

7). Add the horse image to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals® and add the banner to hide the cut edge in the center.   Create the photo frame corners using a 1” Square Punch and hand trim to create the “corners”.

8). Trim a piece of Outlaw DSP for the lower edge of the sketch, adhere to the front of the card.

9). Add a bit of distressing with the small splatter stamp from Timeless Textures with Early Espresso cardstock.  Add a few Pearls to the corner to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Equestrian Dream, Tiny Tags,Timeless Textures

Ink/Mediums: Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black, Classic Ink- Early Espresso, Soft Suede, retired Baked Brown Sugar

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Extra Thick Whisper White; retired Outlaw DSP

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, Stitched Layering Framelits™, Lucky Stars Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Pearls. Sponge Daubers, retired items- Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, Punches- Oval. 1” Square, Hexagon

Thanks again for taking the time to visit and I hope that you will create your own Stampin’ Up! Only project and play along with our “Blast from the Past” challenge!

CTS236 Hello

Hi Friends!

Woohoo, I am so excited! This week I have been invited to be the Guest Designer for the CAS(E) This Sketch #236 Challenge!

  I absolutely love participating in the CAS(E)This Sketch Challenges and am still working on my Clean and Simple style (a difficult one for me:-)) so I am very honored to have been asked to Guest Design this week- thanks Chrissy!

I decided to pull out some “new to me” stamps from Hero Arts (I have owned them for over a year but have not inked them up yet- yikes!!) and incorporated a background created with the new Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks along with a bit of die cutting and heat embossing.

I am also linking this card to the Addicted to Stamps and More #256 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to check out the CAS(E) This Sketch or the other  challenge sites yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- as always, wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). On a craft mat, press the Distress Oxide Ink pad to put a bit of ink onto the mat, lightly spritz with water, lay a piece of white cardstock into the ink, lift up, re-position into the ink again and heat set with the heat tool.  Using a water spritzer, add a few drops of water to finish up the background panel.

FYI- I have some misc. coated white paper that I received from my previous employer (not sure of the manufacturer) but Ranger Specialty Paper or Glossy Paper would work well.  I also used several colors of the Distress Oxide Inks for this background (Fozzilized Amber, Broken China and Peeled Paint) continuing to build up the color until I was satisfied. 

2). Once the panel has thoroughly dried, use an embossing powder tool to de-static the paper, ink the leaf image from the Hero Arts Stamp Your Own Plant clear stamp set with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp onto the background panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool. Repeat the process for another stem (stamping a bit lower on the panel). Once the embossing powder has cooled, ink the same leaf image with Peeled Paint Distress Ink and stamp repeatedly over the panel. Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of black cardstock (this piece was from my stash and already die cut with a stitched rectangle die).

3). Trim a piece of white cardstock, mount onto a piece of black cardstock and adhere to the white card base.  Add the embossed leaf panel directly to the card front (per the sketch).

4). Trim a piece of black cardstock, add a strip of white cardstock in the center and apply a clear glitter pen over the entire piece.  Set aside to dry.

The glitter strip and sentiment circle are
very sparkly and hard to photograph :-)

5). Use the Hero Arts “Hello” die from the Hello Stamp and Cuts® set to die cut three “hello” sentiments from white cardstock.  Layer the three dies together and mount onto a circle die cut from black cardstock.  Use the clear glitter pen over the “Hello” die as well as the circle.

6). Use dimensional foam to add the black cardstock strip along with the circle sentiment layer to the card front.

7). Finish off the card by adding a few drops of Tonic Nuvo™ Key Lime Jewel Drops.

Stamp Sets: Stamp Your Own Plant, Hello Stamp and Cut® (both Hero Arts)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide- Fossilized Amber, Broken China, Peeled Paint; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Tonic Nuvo™ Key Lime Jewel Drops

Paper: Misc. White (coated paper), Basic Black, Whisper White (Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, Hello Die Cut (Hero Arts- part of Hello Stamps and Cut® ), Stitched Rectangle STAX Die (My Favorite Things™), Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder

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

Peace, Be Still

Hi Friends!

 

I had a chance to finish off another card this evening using Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps The Sea (designed by Korin Sutherland) for the Inkspirational #141 Wave Challenge along with the Tuesday Throwdown #357 “Add Metal” Challenge and the Addicted to Stamps and More #256 "Anything Goes" Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Using a clean paint brush, apply clear water to the lower portion of a piece of white cardstock, drop a bit of Turquoise Brusho® onto a craft mat, pick up the color with the paint brush and watercolor the lower portion of the cardstock.  Dry with a heat tool, repeat the process for the sky using Yellow, Red and a bit of Purple Brusho®.

 

2). Once the panel has thoroughly dried, de-static with an embossing powder tool, ink the main image from The Sea with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp onto the panel (lining up the horizon line with the turquoise water color), apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.

3). Once the embossing has cooled, apply a bit more blue with Faber-Castell® Metallic Blue and Blueberry Gelatos™, rub off the excess from the embossed areas and die cut the panel with a stitched banner die.

4). Dry emboss a piece of white cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of black cardstock, add the watercolor/embossed banner with dimensional foam.

5). Stamp the sentiment from The Sea using Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, heat emboss with clear embossing powder,  die cut with a stitched circle die and mount onto a die cut piece of black cardstock.  Adhere to the card front with dimensional foam overlapping a portion of the focal image banner.

6). Add silver brads to a strip of black cardstock, mount at the top of the focal image banner with dimensional foam.

7). To finish off the card, use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the sky and sea as well as a water brush with the Metallic Blue Gelatos™ over the sentiment followed with the clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets:  The Sea (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Brusho®- Turquoise, Red, Yellow, Purple; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Faber-Castell® Gelatos™- Metallic Blue, Blueberry

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, Stitched Jumbo Fishtail Banners STAX , Stitched Circle STAX (both MFT), Tim Holtz® Sizzix™ Alterations French Script Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™, Silver Brads, 5/16" Handheld Punch

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

Pretty Potted Floral Birthday

Hi Friends!

While I had the colors out for the Splitcoaststampers CC649 Color Challenge for my previous post, I decided to create another quick Clean and Simple (CAS) card for a few more online challenges.

This card uses the Pretty Potted Florals Clear Stamp Set (designed by NinaB Designs) along with Long Stem Silhouettes (designed by Korin Sutherland) – both available at Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps.

I am also linking this card to Joanne's PP358 "Clean and Simple: Get Colouring" Challenge at The Paper Players along with the Seize the Birthday “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Ink the Pretty Potted Florals image using Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp onto white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. Once the embossing powder has cooled, use a water brush with ink from the Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay and Basic Gray Stampin’ Write Markers to watercolor the image.  Fussy-cut and set aside.

2). To create the background, slit open an acetate envelope (I use the clear envelope packaging from the SNSS stamp sets:-)), scribble ink from the Bermuda Bay and Lemon Lime Twist markers onto one half of the envelope, lightly spritz with water, close the envelope and “smoosh” the ink around, re-open the envelope and press a piece of white cardstock into the ink.

3). Trim the background, stamp the sentiment from Long Stem Silhouettes using Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink and mount onto a piece of gray cardstock.  Adhere the entire panel onto the white card base and add the fussy-cut flower with dimensional foam.

4). To finish off the card, use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the flower petals and the Extra Fine White Sharpie® Paint Pen to add white highlights to the flower center.

Stamp Sets:  Pretty Potted Florals, Long Stem Silhouettes (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray, Lemon Lime Twist; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White PaintPen

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Gray

Accessories/Tools: Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Clear Acetate Envelope, Water Spritzer, AquaPainter™ 

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