Autumn Prayers

Hi Friends!!

Today I am sharing a quick card using the Impression Obsession  “Colonial House in Spring” (although I colored it with autumn colors vs spring:-)) and paired it with a pre-printed digital sentiment from Power Poppy by Marcella (plus, I had this sentiment already pre-printed and in my “stash”:-)).  

I love this scene- it takes a few minutes to watercolor but overall, this card is very easy to create :-)

As I mentioned in previous posts, I am still trying to give my neglected and mostly retired, older stamp sets some “love” .  I have bought a few new stamp sets recently, but I am trying to limit my purchases since I have so many already (it will take years to ink them all :-))!   

I am linking this card to the Try It On Tuesday “Hot, Hot, Hot” Challenge (I used “hot” colors- reds, oranges, yellows), the PINspirational #248 Inspiration Challenge (I was inspired by the beautiful fall colors of the reds, oranges, yellows and greens) and the Simon Says Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge.

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

Stamp the Colonial House in Spring image with Versafine™ Onyx Black onto white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  After the powder has cooled, watercolor with water-based markers.

Die cut with a stitched rectangle die, layer onto espresso and rust cardstock before mounting onto the white card base.

Add the digital sentiment along with pearls to finish off the card.  Quick and easy for sure!

Stamp Sets: Colonial House in Spring (Impression Obsession), Roses and Chamomile (digi stamp set- Power Poppy by Marcella)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, Mossy Meadow

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso

Accessories: Big Shot™ , MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1, AquaPainter™, Pearls, Word Processing Program

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! I hope you have a blessed weekend/week and I hope to post another card later this evening!

1 Tim 6:6 But Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain

Hi Friends!!

I am finally having a chance to post some of the cards that I created this week in between working on organizing, etc. in preparation for our upcoming windows/exterior doors installation :-)

Also, while I have certain stamp sets out, I am trying to create a few cards to give them some "love", plus I found some items "ready to go" in my stash- I love what I can find when I am able to organize, lol!

I had the butterflies along with the flowers already stamped, colored and fussy-cut/punched in my stash as well as the digital verse sentiment (already printed and die cut).

I paired them with an embossed panel (again in my stash) and once I had all of my elements together, I used the layout from this week’s Freshly Made Sketches #404 Sketch Challenge along with the International Art & Soul #67 “Things with Wings” Challengeand the Word Art Wednesday #405-#407 “Anything Goes” Challenge to create the card .  

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

Stamp Sets: Choose Happiness, Papillon Potpourri (both retired Stampin’ Up!), Scripture Sentiment (free digi from the Word Art Wednesday challenge blog)

Ink/Mediums: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Calyso Coral, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Tangerine Tango,  Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Gemini™ Die Cutting Machine,  Ornate Lace Embossing Folder (Crafters Companion™), MFT Rectangle Dies,  Elegant Butterfly Punch (retired SU!), AquaPainter™, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to visit! I hope you have a great weekend and have a chance to stop by again soon!

Everything Is Better By The Sea

Hi Friends!!

We are currently working on some remodeling projects at our home and I decided to take a break from the pre-installation prep for the contractors to create a fairly simple Mixed Media card.

Again, I am focusing on inking up some of my older stamps and used an image from the retired Stampin’ Up! Summer by the Sea  stamp set (this set is at least ten years older) and paired it with a sentiment from the Divinity Designs, LLC By the Sea (now available as a stamp/die duos set)- another set at least two years old.

I incorporated The Color Throwdown #562 Color Challenge along with the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #120 Anything Goes Challenge and the Simon Says Monday “Stitch It” Challenge (I chose faux stitching using stitched dies).   

I also used  The Paper Players PP460 Sketch Challenge for the layout (turned the sketch sideways)- the challenge closed yesterday at noon but I want to give them credit for the sketch inspiration :-)

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

Heat emboss the Summer by the Sea image with clear embossing powder, once cooled, watercolor with water-based markers.  Die cut the image with a stitched circle die, mount onto a circle die cut from black cardstock.

Fold a 7” x 11” piece of cardstock in half, trim the length to 7” and score several lines along the edges.

Use the Coastal Cabana and Brilliant Blue marker to scribble some color onto a piece of acetate (I use a protector sheet cut in half), spritz with water, smoosh and apply to the front of the card front.  Dry thoroughly with a heat tool.

Mount the layered die cut circle onto the card front with dimensional foam (or chipboard).

Heat emboss the sentiment from By The Sea (Divinity Designs LLC) with white embossing powder, die cut with a stitched rectangle die and mount onto the card front.

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the water, a black marker to add a horizontal line for the water, along with a white paint pen to add a few highlights to the water and a couple of Nuvo™ Crystal Drops to finish off the card .

Stamp Sets: Summer by the Sea (retired Stampin’ Up!), By the Sea (Divinity Designs LLC)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Coastal Cabana, Gray Granite, Smoky Slate, retired Brilliant Blue; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Pilot V5 Black Pen; Nuvo™ Morning Dew Crystal Jewel Drops

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, White Cardstock (for the base- coated from my stash)

Accessories: Big Shot™,  MFT Stitched Circle STAX, MFT Stitched Rectangles; Sizzix™ Circles Dies, Embossing Buddy®, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Acetate, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for stopping by! I hope I have inspired you to create something this week – now off to finish up rearranging for the contractors :-)

TCC120 Sending Love and Sympathy

Hi Friends! 

Welcome to The Card Concept #120 {Cozy Cottage} Challenge!  Isn’t this a cozy picture- I can imagine a cottage in the woods with a beautiful scene from the kitchen window!  I was inspired by the blue, white as well as the soft yellow along with the patterns to create a Shabby and Vintage/Mixed Media card!

I decided to pull out a current Stampin’ Up! Set, Petal Palette and pair it with a sentiment from the retired set, Love & Sympathy.  I also used some very old blue checked and soft yellow patterned paper (Stampin’ Up! circa 1999 or so)- this is what they offered prior to their one-sided designer paper line, lol!  I still have many of the colors and patterns in my “stash” :-)

I used the Mojo Monday #423 Sketch Challenge for the layout and will be playing along with the Joy of Sets 009 Tic-Tac-toe Challenge (Love, Lace and Die-Cuts- far left column down). 

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!

The floral image from Petal Palette was stamped twice onto prepared white cardstock with with Versafine™ Onyx Black and were heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Once the embossing powder had cooled, the images were colored with Stampin’ Write Markers (see colors below) using a water brush to soften the edges before fussy cutting (also cutting some of the images apart to layer).

Layer the patterned and embossed papers per the sketch, add the grosgrain and crochet lace along with the pearls.  

Adhere the fussy-cut flowers to finish off the card. 

Stamp Sets:  Petal Palette, Botanicals, Love & Sympathy (all Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black,  Night of Navy Classic, Stampin’ Write Markers- So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy; retired SU! Patterned Paper- Navy Check, Barely Banana Plaid (circa 1999)

Tools/Accessories: Big Shot™, Gemini™, Ornate Lace 3D EF (Crafters Companion™), My Favorite Things™ Dies- Stitched A2 Rectangle STAX, Stitched Circle STAX; Sixxiz™ Ovals and Circles; Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1” Navy Grosgrain Ribbon, White Crochet Lace

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by!  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Cozy Cottage}  photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see your interpretation!! The challenge is open until Monday, October 7^th. 

The Card Concept #119 {Beautiful Butterflies}

Hi Friends!

Welcome back to The Card Concept!  We are starting off our fall session with The Card Concept #119 {BeautifulButterflies} Inspiration Photo!  I was inspired by the colors of the butterflies as well as the actual butterflies to create a fairly simple Mixed Media card!

I am still focusing on using some of my retired stamp sets as well as my stamps that are still available for purchase. This card was designed with the retired Swallowtail, Timeless Textures (Stampin’ Up!) along with a sentiment from Fear Not (currently available from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store).

I will also be linking this card to the Simon Says Monday “Stamp It” Challenge along with TheHouse That Stamps Built Designers Choice “DCCS419 Things That Start with ‘B’ “ Challenge (B= Butterfly).

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- fabulous inspiration from all!

The butterfly image (Swallowtail from Stampin’ Up!) was inked with a water friendly black ink onto white cardstock and colored with alcohol markers along with a gold and white paint pen for highlights.  After fussy-cutting the image, ModPodge™ was applied to give the butterfly more stability.

Add pink splatter with distress oxide ink to a white card base, heat emboss the sentiment from Fear Not (Stamp Simply Ribbon Store) and add a bit of texture with a texture stamp.

Trim and mount onto a white card base to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Swallowtail, Timeless Textures (retired Stampin’ Up!), Fear Not (Stamp Simply Ribbon Store)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz™ Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide, Spectrum Noir™ Alcohol Markers, ModPodge™, White and Gold Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White

Tools/Accessories: Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 

Thanks again for taking the time to visit!  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Beautiful Butterflies}  photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see your interpretation!! The challenge is open until Monday, September 23^rd at noon (EDT).

God Is Our Refuge and Strength

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you in the USA had a great Labor Day weekend!  I had a chance to create a few cards using a new to me stamp set, Sunflower from Unity along with a verse sentiment from the Stamp Simply set,  Fear Not.

I decided to incorporate the Sweet Sketch Wed 2 #166 Sketch Challenge along with the Simon Says Monday “Something Clear” Challenge (I used clear embossing powder) and the WordArt Wednesday #402-#403 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to stop by the above challenge sites yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- fabulous galleries and inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Once the background has dried, stamp the sentiment with Versafine™ Black Onyx ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

Stamp the sunflower image with Versafine™ Black Onyx ink onto a piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the image has cooled, watercolor with water-based markers and add distress oxide ink to the background before die-cutting the image with a stitched oval die.  Add white highlights to the center of the flower with a white paint pen and use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the sunflower petals.

Emboss the sentiment in the same manner as above and add a bit of distress oxide ink to soften the background before die-cutting with a stitched circle die.

Mount the dry embossed, layered panels per the sketch layout and add the black satin ribbon before adhering the entire panel to the white card base.

Mount the sunflower oval image along with the sentiment using dimensional foam and adhere the black satin bow.  Add a few pearls to the sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Sunflower (Unity Stamp Company), Fear Not (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black,  Tim Holtz® Tumbled Glass & Mustard Seed Distress Oxide; Stampin’ Write Markers- So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Designer Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Certainly Celery and So Saffron Designer Series Paper (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Gemini™, Ornate Lace 3-D Embossing Folder (Crafters Companion), retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, My Favorite Things Dies- Stitched Oval STAX and Stitched Circle STAX; Circle Dies (Sizzix), Embossing Buddy®, Clear Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™, ¾” Black Satin Ribbon, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I am honored that you have dropped in!  Hugs and I hope I have inspired you to create something this week!

I Can Do All Things Through Christ

Hi Friends!

I created several one-layer cards using the retired Stampin’ Up! set, Choose Happiness for the leaves and flowers along with a verse sentiment from Words of Encouragement (a current set still available at the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store).  

The background was created with splattered distress oxide ink and the flowers were adhered to the front.

I will be linking this card to the Just Us Girls #503 Wild Card Week “Splash Something on Your Card” Challenge, the Papercraft Crew #349 “Birds and Butterflies” Challenge and the Color My Heart #357 “Tic-Tac-Toe” Challenge (top across, diagonal and far left down columns).

If you have not had a chance to stop by the challenge sites, I hope you will find the time to do so- wonderful galleries and inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Fold a piece of white cardstock in half for the card base.  Press the Distress Oxide ink pads (see colors below) onto a silicone mat, spritz with water and “smoosh” the front of the card base into the ink to create the splattered background.  Once the background has dried, stamp the leaves and sentiment with Versafine™ Black Onyx ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

The flowers were also stamped with Versafine™ Black Onyx ink onto another piece of white cardstock  and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor the flowers and leaves with water-based markers and fussy-cut the flowers.

Adhere the flowers directly onto the card front (I split one of the flower petals in half), allowing the edges of the central flower to "curl" up from the card front.

Finish off with a clear glitter pen on the petals and a white paint pen for the flower centers.

Stamp Sets: Choose Happiness (retired Stampin’ Up!), Words of Encouragement (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black,  Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide- Tumbled Glass, Broken China; Stampin’ Write Markers- Pink Pirouette, Sweet Sugarplum, Rich Razzleberry, Blushing Bride, Sweet Sugarplum, Mossy Meadow, Sage Shadow; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Designer Paper: Whisper White

Accessories: Embossing Buddy®, Clear Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

Stay tuned for the rest of the "set" created with these images- I plan to share them in a later post :-)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you have a great Labor Day week!