The Peace of God

 

Hi Friends!

Woohoo- I am so excited! One of my very favorite stamp companies, The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store has invited me to be a part of their Design Team!!

I absolutely love The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store's  line of clear stamps/dies plus they have so much more in their store- an amazing line of ribbons, lace, paper, adhesives, mixed media supplies, etc.! If you have never visited, I certainly hope you will take a moment to stop by!

Unfortunately, I will not be able to design at 100% capacity for a while (due to my broken left wrist -see this post if you are interested for more details) but I just had to create a card this weekend (when I can not be creative, I get depressed)!  Does this happen to you?

Stamping with only one hand is doable (especially with the help of a stamping positioner tool and electric die-cutting machine), but trimming paper, stenciling, fussy-cutting, and layering are a bit trickier. Thankfully, I am right-handed, and in addition to the helpful tools, I have a wonderful hubby!

In the design of card, I decided to pair several Stamp Simply stamp sets, die as well as designer paper, an embossing folder and even a stencil from their store (although it is hard to see the stenciling in the photo). I had so much fun, I threw in the whole “works”, lol!  I have all the details below….

As many of you who follow my blog know that I also enjoy participating with online challenges.  This card will be linked to the Sweet Stampers #49 “Autumn or Halloween” Challenge along with the Word Art Wednesday #462-463 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to check out the above challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- so many wonderful designs from the Design Teams as well as their galleries! 

To create this card:

Here is where I would normally post detailed step by step instructions, but my left arm in a cast to my elbow, it is a bit difficult to type, so I will summarize the details on this card.  

But, please, if you have any questions at all, comment below and I will respond to you as soon as possible.

Trying to get a view to show the stenciling :-)

The top layer was dry embossed with a script embossing folder, the lower brown layer was stenciled (it is a piece of designer paper and I used brown oxide ink with the stencil).   The stenciling is very subtle and difficult, if not impossible, to see in the photo but it is there, lol!

The “lace” is a die available at Stamp Simply and the ribbon along the pearls were from my stash.

The main floral image was stamped, heat set and colored with water-based markers.  A clear glitter marker was used on the petals and an extra fine white paint pen was used to highlight the sunflower centers. 

The verse from Christmas Peace was stamped onto white cardstock and die cut with a fishtail banner die.  I love this particular verse for Christmas but it is also perfect for a sympathy or encouragement card (this set has several verses that can be used all year round)!

Both the sentiment and the floral cluster images layered onto additional dies from whit cardstock (to give them strength) before being mounted onto the card front with chipboard for dimension.

The following Stamp Simply supplies were used to create this card:

Christmas Peace Clear Stamp

Floral Clusters- Fall Flowers Clear Stamps

 Fishtail Sentiment Banners Dies

 Floral Cluster & Sprigs Dies (part of the Floral Clusters Bundle with Die)

Sizzix Thinlit Dies by Tim Holtz- Crochet

Darice Embossing Folder- Script Background

Studio Light Wonderful Autumn 6x6 Paper

Tim Holtz Layering Stencil- Flourish

 Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad

Zig Wink of Stella Brush- Clear Glitter Marker

 Other Supplies used from my stash:  

Dark Brown Satin Ribbon,    Adhesive Pearls,   Heat Tool,   Extra Fine White Paint Pen,      Water-based Markers - So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Blackberry Bliss, Soft Suede (all Stampin’ Up!);   Tim Holtz Ground Espresso Distress Oxide Ink, MISTI tool, Gemini, Jr. 

 I am so thrilled that you took the time to visit me today! I hope that I have inspired you to be creative this weekend, sweet friends and you are able to stop by again soon!

The Card Concept #142- Cast Your Cares

 

Hi Friends!

Welcome to the #142 {Autumn Bounty} Challenge at The Card Concept!

Isn’t this a rich and elegant fall scene? I was inspired by the colors, the leaves and pumpkins as well as the overall theme of autumn bounty to create an Elegant and Classy/ Shabby and Vintage style card!

Since I am still trying to limit my spending and use the stamps that I already own, I decided to pull out an image from the retired Gifts of the Earth stamp set (Stampin’ Up!) and paired it with a verse sentiment from the current stamp set, Fear Not (Stamp Simply). I love the combination of fonts in the verse sentiment, don’t you?

This verse has been very encouraging to me during times of trials- I know that the LORD will sustain me.  During all of my hubby's chemo and health issues as well as this past week, when I took a tumble off our platform ladder on last Tuesday afternoon.

I was on the platform (approx. 25” off the floor) using a handheld orbital drywall sander to smooth our textured ceilings, when the sander had “pulled” me off balance a bit and I had to step off the platform without a step ladder.

Thankfully, the only damage to my body was my left wrist (broke the radius and ulna- ouch!).  I have bruises in other places, lol, but am so thankful that additional damage was not done to my knees (I have been postponing double knee replacement for years) and I did not sprain either ankle- Praise the Lord!

Needless to say, creating this card was a bit difficult. Thankfully, I was able to use my MISTI tool to position the verse sentiment and the main image is on a wood block. The coloring was not too difficult since I am righthanded but using my paper cutter for all of the trimming was a challenge (my hubby was so sweet to help hold down the guard on the paper cutter while I trimmed). 

I am also linking this card to the Make My Monday #133 “Orange as a Dominant Color” Challenge along with the Word Art Wednesday #462- #463 “Anything Goes” Challenge!

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

To create this card:

Ink the Gifts of the Earth image with Versafine™ Onyx black ink and stamp on to a piece of white cardstock. Set the ink with a heat tool before coloring with water-based markers.

Once you are satisfied with the coloring, die cut the image with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto a piece of espresso cardstock and trim close to the edge. 

Use a distressing tool to distress the edges of the green designer paper as well as a piece of orange designer paper. Stamp the sentiment from Fear Not using Versafine™ Onyx black ink onto the orange designer paper and heat set with a heat tool.

Mount both pieces of designer paper onto a 4” x 5 ¼” piece of espresso cardstock.

Adhere the panel to a white card base.

Mount the focal image onto the card front using chipboard (or dimensional foam).

Create a twine bow, adhere to the upper left-hand corner of the focal image, and add a small orange button.

To finish off the card use an extra fine white paint pen to add highlights to the apples, a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the flower petals (which is difficult to see in the photo) and a few orange rhinestones near the sentiment.

Stamp Sets:  Fear Not (Stamp Simply), retired Gifts of the Earth (Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Arteza™ Real Brush Markers (sorry, I neglected to note the color #’s but oranges, yellow, greens, red); Stampin’ Write Markers- Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede; Wink of Stella™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso (both Stampin'Up!), misc. green and orange designer paper (from my stash)

Tools/Accessories: MISTI™, Gemini, Jr™, My Favorite Things™ Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1, AquaPainter™, Heat Tool, Distressing Tool, also from my stash: ⅞” Dark Brown Satin Ribbon, Polished Hemp Twine, White Crochet Lace, Pumpkin Pie button, Dark Orange Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to visit!  I hope you can find the time to create a card based on our {Autumn Bounty } photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see what inspired you! The challenge is open until November 2^nd  at noon EST.

The Card Concept #141- Adventure is a Good Thing

Hi Friends!

Welcome to The Card Concept #141 {Around the World} Challenge!

I was so inspired by this photo, that I decided to create two different style cards and will be posting each in separate posts (see this post for the other card)

This first card was inspired by the globe itself along with the flowers and textures and I decided to pull out a stamp set that I have owned for over a year (and not used yet) from Spellbinders called Wanderlust.  I thought that the globe image with the little flowers would be perfect for our challenge.  

  I decided to keep the card Clean and Layered, but it also incorporates heat embossing, watercolor, and other Mixed Media elements.

I am trying to create a card for each of the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenges and this card uses the SC487 Sketch for the layout.

I love participating with online challenges as well, and am linking to the Simon Monday “Dry Embossing” Challenge (the white background panel is dry embossed) and Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #145 "X + O" Challenge (Rhinestones, Die Cut or Punch, Metallic).  This stamp/die duo was produced in April 2017.  

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

To create this card:

Ink the globe/flower image as well as the sentiment using Versafine™ Onyx Black ink and stamp onto a prepared piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. 

Once the embossing has cooled, die cut both images with the coordinated dies.  Also, die cut and additional two pieces from white cardstock for the globe and the sentiment (layering these behind the stamped images for strength).

Watercolor the globe image with water-based markers, when satisfied with the colors, use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the petals (difficult to see in the photo) and an extra fine white paint pen to highlight the flower centers.

Using the Air Mail embossing folder, emboss a piece of 4 ¼” x 5 ½” white cardstock and use a Woodgrain Embossing Folder to emboss a 2” x 5 ¼”  piece of gray designer paper.

Trim the embossed white panel to 3” x 5 ¼” and mount onto a  4 ¼” x 5 ½” piece of black cardstock. 

Layer the embossed gray designer paper onto a strip of black cardstock (I used a scrap) and mount over the edge of the embossed white layer.  Adhere the entire background panel to a white card base.

Die cut a piece of black cardstock with a cross-stitch rectangle die, mount onto the card front with chipboard (or dimensional foam).

Add the sentiment and globe image with chipboard (or again, dimensional foam) and finish off the card with a few rhinestones.

Stamp Sets:  Wanderlust (Spellbinders)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers-Coastal Cabana, Granny Apple Green, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo, Gray Granite; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, misc gray designer paper

Tools/Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, Sixxiz™ Tim Holtz® Alterations Air Mail Embossing Folder, Woodgrain Embossing Folder (retired Stampin’ Up!), Spellbinders™ Wanderlust Dies, Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitch Rectangle Dies, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to visit!  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Around the World } photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see what inspired you! The challenge is open until October 19^th  at noon EDT.

The Card Concept #141 Around the World

 

Hi Friends!

Welcome to The Card Concept #141 {Around the World} Challenge! 

I love our inspiration photo with the globe and decided to create two cards- see this post for the other card.

I am trying to use some of my “unloved” stamps as well as dies and pulled out the Tim Holtz® Mini Globe Die (I have owned this die for several years and this is the first time I have used it) and also used the verse/sentiment from Divinity Designs LLC stamp set, Scripture Collection 11  (this link is for your benefit only, I do not receive any compensation). 

I also used the Splitcoaststampers SC472 Sketch Challenge and am also participating with the Word Art Wednesday #460-#461 “Anything Goes” Challenge and the Make My Monday #132 “Use Up Your Scraps" Challenge (the blue designer paper behind the globe image as well as the green designer paper were scraps).

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

To create this card:

Ink the verse sentiment using Versafine™ Onyx Black ink and stamp onto a prepared piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Trim the panel into a banner and distress the edges.

Mount onto black cardstock, trim close to the banner shape.

Use the globe die to die cut two globes, layer one on top of the other. 

Die cut a circle from the blue designer paper (one of my scraps), layer behind the black globe die cut and set aside.

Emboss a piece of white cardstock with a woodgrain embossing folder, paint the panel with platinum mousse and frost white shimmer paint.  Distress the edges, cut in half and mount onto a piece of black cardstock.

Distress the piece of green designer paper (from my scraps), mount onto the background panel.

Add a strip of black seam binding, wrap the ends behind the panel.  Mount the entire panel onto a white card base.

Add the verse banner and mount the layered globe die cut with chipboard (or dimensional foam). 

Add the triple seam binding bow and adhere a circle brad to the center (I cut off the prongs).

Use a silver glitter pen to add shimmer to the globe die cut and finish off the card with platinum drops.

Stamp Sets:  Scripture Collection 11 (Divinity Designs LLC)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Wink of Stella™ Silver Glitter Pen, Nuvo™ Platinum Crystal Drops, Nuvo™ Pure Platinum Mousse

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Birthday Brights (Divinity Designs LLC)- scraps, misc green designer paper (scraps)

Tools/Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, Sixxiz™ Tim Holtz® Mini Globe Die, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Distressing Tool, ½” Black Seam Binding Ribbon, Circle Brads (retired Stampin Up!), ½”Black Seam Binding

Thanks again for taking the time to visit!  I hope you can find the time to create a card based on our {Around the World } photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see what inspired you! The challenge is open until October 19^th  at noon EDT.

The Joy of Sets- Guest Designer for October

 

Hi Friends!

Woohoo! I have the honor of being a Guest Designer at The Joy of Sets Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge for the month of October!  

When you play along with the #JOSTTT Challenge, and if your card is chosen as a winner, one of the “perks” is being a Guest Designer for a month- how cool is that?

This month’s challenge grid is below:

I decided to pull out some of my retired sets (many of you who follow me know that I am making a concentrated effort to ink up the sets that I own) and decided to use the weathervane image from DC Life’s Direction (My Favorite Things) and paired it with the  Scripture Medley 2 verse sentiment (Verve Stamps).  Actually, I think that this may only be the 2nd card I have created with the weathervane set and I have owned it since 2015- too many stamps and too little time!

I went with the first column down:  Black, Script, Ribbon plus the diagonal from the far right down- Stitches (Faux), Silhouette, Ribbon and the center row across (Script, Silhouette, Checks).  

Wow, I just realized that I also have the far-right down- Stitches, Checks and Glitter- see how easy a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge can be? 

I incorporated the Splitcoaststampers Sketch #473 Challenge (from 2014) into the design (my sentiment is shifted a bit since my bow was so large, lol!).

FYI- Another goal of mine is to create a card for each one of the SCS sketches which is now over 800 and thankfully, they do not expire :-) 

In addition to the SCS Sketch, I will also will be linking this card to the Word Art Wednesday #458-#459 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to check out The Joy of Sets Challenge site yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful designs from the Design Team!  Plus, take a moment to check out the other challenges sites- so much gorgeous inspiration, sweet friends!

To create this card-

Using Distress Oxide inks along with a stencil and stencil brush, blend the ink onto the white cardstock for the background- Tumbled Glass at the top, Peacock Feathers in the center and Twisted Citron for the bottom. 

While still keeping the stencil in place, use a clear glitter pen to blend some of the colors and add shimmer.

Once you are satisfied with the background, spritz a bit of water to add additional distressing and dry  thoroughly with a heat tool.

Ink the weathervane image with Versafine™ Black Onyx ink, stamp onto the background, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Repeat the same process with the verse sentiment stamping in the lower right-hand corner.

Die cut the sentiment with a smaller rectangle stitched die, then die cut the entire panel with a 4” x 5 ¼” stitched rectangle die, mount onto black cardstock (there will be an opening in this panel from the sentiment die cut).

Mount both onto black cardstock and trim close to the edge.

Add the black and white checked ribbon strip over the card panel (this will cover up some of the die cut sentiment area).

Mount the sentiment in the lower right-hand corner using chipboard (or dimensional foam) and adhere the entire panel onto a white card base.

Create small photo corners for the sentiment (I just cut these out by hand) and add the black and white checked bow to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: DC Life’s Directions (retired My Favorite Things), Scripture Medley 2 (retired Verve Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide- Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron; Sepctrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, My Favorite Things™ Stitched Rectangle STAX A2 Set 1 & 2, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 7/8” Black and White Checked Ribbon, Claritystamp™ Stencil Brush, Memory Box™ Heartwood Stencil

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend/week!  Plus, today is World Card Making Day- will you be creating cards today?   

We hope you can create a project and join us at The Joy of Sets Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge!