Thou Stillest Them

 

Hi Friends!

Welcome to the #228a Summer by the Sea or #228b Christmas in July Challenge at The Card Concept!  

As I mentioned in my previous post, this is our last challenge for the summer, so we decided to have two inspiration photos.  Our challenge will run until the end of August, and we hope that you will be able to create a card (or two) and join us!

I was inspired by the Summer by the Sea theme for my second Clean and Layered/ Mixed Media card.  It has been a goal of mine to use stamp sets from my massive stash, lol!  I pulled out the retired Stampin’ Up! Uncharted Territory and paired it with a sentiment from The Sea (Creative Worship Stamps).

We hope you will take a moment to stop by our challenge blog and check out how the rest of our wonderful Design Team were inspired- gorgeous inspiration from all!

I enjoy playing along with other online challenges and will be linking this card to one of my favorites- Word Art Wednesday #756-#757 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

To create this card:

De-static a piece of white cardstock and ink the lighthouse and bird images from Uncharted Territory with Versafine Onyx Black ink and stamp onto the prepared panel.

Apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Using watercolor pencils along with markers, color the image.

Add the verse sentiment from The Sea, following the steps above,

Trim the panel to approx. 4 x 5 ⅛””, mount onto black cardstock, trim to 4 ⅛” x 5 ¼”, add the knotted twine (wrapping the ends behind the panel).

Mount onto a panel of red cardstock before adhering to the white card base.

Stamp Sets: The Sea (Creative Worship Stamps), Uncharted Territory (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Inks/Mediums: Versafine Black Onyx, Derwent Watercolor Pencils- Ultramarine 29; Graphite Water-based Pencil; Red Gel Pen

Cardstock/Paper: White, Black, Real Red

Accessories/Tools: Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Blue/White Twine

We hope you are inspired to create a card and join us for our #228a Summer by the Sea Challenge (or #228b Christmas in July Challenge).  The deadline to join us is Monday, August 31^st at noon EDT. 

TCC224 Measure of A Life

 

Hi Friends!

Welcome to the #224 {Monochromatic Green} Challenge at The Card Concept! 

I was inspired by the greens (of course) to create my Mixed Media card.

I decided to pull out another one of my neglected /retired Stampin' Up! stamps from the Measure of a Life hostess set (I believe from 2005) and created three different versions with the main dragonfly/verse image :-) 

We hope that you will take a moment to stop by our challenge blog and check out how the rest of our wonderful Design Team was inspired as well!

 Our challenge is for the entire month, so hopefully you will have time to create a card and join us.

I enjoy playing along with other online challenges and will be linking this card to the Word Art Wednesday #738-#739 "Anything Goes" Challenge.  I hope you have a chance to stop by the Word Art Wednesday Challenge and check out their gorgeous DT and gallery as well. 

To create these cards:

Ink the dragonfly image with Versafine Black Onyx ink, stamp onto a piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor the image using water-based markers.

Trim close to the edge and mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim close to the edge.

For the different layouts, layer cardstock or designer paper onto black cardstock, add the white paper doily and ribbon trims.  FYI- I pulled out pieces that were already embossed or previously cut (from my stash) for several of the cards.

Add the Frost White Shimmer Paint with an AquaPainter™ to the wings to finish off the cards.

Stamp Sets: Measure of a Life (retired Stampin’ Up! hostess set)

Inks/Mediums: Versafine Black Onyx, Gumball Green, Stampin’ Write Markers- Lemon Lime Twist, Old Olive, Gumball Green, Emerald Envy ; Frost White Shimmer Paint

Cardstock/Paper: White, Black, Certainly Celery, White Paper Doily (retired Stampin’ Up!), misc retired Stampin’ Up! designer series paper

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., retired Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Sizzix French Script Embossing Folder, 1” Black Satin Ribbon, 1” misc Green Satin Ribbon, 1 ½” wired Black Gingham ribbon (both from my stash), Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

I hope you have had a chance to stop by The Card Concept to see how the rest of the Design Team were inspired as well as check out the other challenge gallery entries- gorgeous inspiration from all!

We hope you are inspired to create a card and join us for our #224 {Monochromatic Green} at The Card Concept. The deadline to play along is Monday, March 9^th  at noon EDT. 

TCC222 Christmas Light

 

Hi Friends!

Today, we are starting our December #222 Christmas Gathering Challenge at The Card Concept today and I was inspired by this beautifully decorated kitchen,  colors, and Christmas theme from our photo this month to create a Mixed Media card.

We hope that you will take a moment to stop by our challenge blog and check out how the rest of our fabulous Design Team was inspired as well!

I have been trying to ink up some of my neglected stamp sets and decided to pull out the retired Christmas Light stamp set and coordinating die from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps to create this quick Mixed Media card.

This is the season for giving and Karen L. (one of our designers) has graciously offered a cute stamp set to one of our gallery entries (USA only, sorry).  

We hope you can play along with us, you may be the lucky winner!  The deadline to join us is Monday, January 12th at noon EDT. 

To create this card:

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the sentiment from Christmas Light with Versafine Black Onyx ink, stamp onto the upper left-hand area of the prepared cardstock paper and apply clear embossing powder.

Heat set the powder with a heat tool and once cooled, trim the panel to approx. 4” x 5 ¼” and mount onto a piece of black cardstock.

Repeat the embossing steps above for the candle image, and when the embossing has cooled, watercolor with distress oxide inks and water-based markers.

Die cut the image with the coordinating die, layer onto another die cut from white cardstock.

Trim a piece of plaid designer paper to approx. 2 ½” x 3 ¾” and mount onto the lower part of the card front.

Add a strip of white crochet lace, layer a piece of 1” black satin ribbon over the lace and wrap the ends behind the card front.

Mount the entire panel onto a white card base.

Loop the gold cord and adhere to the card front before mounting the die cut candle image with dimensional foam.

Add a few black rhinestones to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Christmas Light (retired Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Inks/Mediums: Versafine Black Onyx, Distress Oxide- Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough, Forest Moss, Candied Apple, Hickory Smoke; Stamoin’ Write Markers- Hello Honey, Gumball Green

Cardstock/Paper: White, Black, Tartan Plaid (Craft Consortium)

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr. Christmas Light Die (retired SNSS), Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1” Black Satin Ribbon, Crochet Lace, Gold Cord, Black Rhinestones

I hope you have had a chance to stop by The Card Concept to see how the rest of the Design Team were inspired as well as check out the other challenge gallery entries- wonderful inspiration from all!

We hope you are inspired to create a card and join us for our Christmas Gathering Challenge at The Card Concept!  The deadline to play along is Monday, January 12^th at noon EDT. 

TCC221 Gather Together

 

Hi Friends!

Today, we are starting our November #221 Give Thanks Challenge at The Card Concept today and I was inspired by the colors, autumn elements and theme from our photo this month to create two cards (see this post for the first card I designed for this challenge).

We hope that you will take a moment to stop by our challenge blog and check out how the rest of our fabulous Design Team was inspired as well!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have not had a chance to create cards lately, so I decided to pull out some of my older Autumn stamp sets and created two cards at the same time.

For this card I used the Artistic Outpost Seed Packets Background stamp (still available at 70% off at Divinity Designs LLC) and paired it with a sentiment from the retired Painted Harvest stamp set from Stampin’ Up!  

To create this card:

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the Seed Packets Background stamp with Versafine Black Onyx ink, stamp onto the prepared cardstock paper and apply clear embossing powder.

Heat set the powder with a heat tool and once cooled, use an AquaPainter to watercolor the image with distress oxide inks (the colors I used are listed below),

Once you are satisfied with the coloring,“antique” the image with a stencil brush using antique linen and stone ink.

Trim the image close to the edge, mount onto aqua cardstock, trim again and mount onto black cardstock.

Adhere the entire panel onto a white card base.

Add a few pieces of burlap strings under the layered/embossed sentiment (from the Painted Harvest stamp set) to finish off the card.  FYI- I had a few of these strings hanging around, and thought I would use them, lol! 

Stamp Sets:  Seed Packets Background (Artistic Outpost), Painted Harvest (retired Stampin’ Up!_

Inks/Mediums: Versafine Black Onyx, Distress Oxide- Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Crushed Olive, Peacock Feathers, Antique Linen, Pumice Stone

Cardstock/Paper: White, Black,  Bermuda Bay (retired Stampin’ Up!),

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., MFT Banners Dies, Stencil Brush, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

I hope you have had a chance to stop by The Card Concept to see how the rest of the Design Team were inspired as well as check out the other challenge gallery entries- gorgeous inspiration from all!

We hope you are inspired to create a card and join us for our Give Thanks Challenge at The Card Concept!  The deadline to play along is Monday, December 8^th at noon EDT.  

TCC219 I Will Give You Rest

 

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back to The Card Concept!  We are starting our monthly challenges again with our September #219 Butterflies and Blooms with two new designers on the team!

We hope that you will take the time to check out the Design Team's cards for even more inspiration! 

I was inspired by the florals and colors for my simple Mixed Media card and I decided to pull out a few of my retired Stampin’ Up! sets- Summer Silhouettes, En Francais along with the sentiment from Words of Encouragement from Stamp Simply.

I have been trying to ink up some of my older stamps and thought that this set would be perfect for the florals/background on this card.  I also have not had a chance to play around with my oxide inks in a while.  

If you follow my blog, you know that I enjoy playing along with other online challenges and will be linking this card to the As You Like It "Favourite- Layered or Flat and Why?" Challenge.  

I tend to gravitate to layered cards and love using lace and ribbon along with pearls.  The more layers, the more for me!

To create this card:

Using distress oxides (the colors I used are listed below), layer the inks onto a piece of white cardstock using a stencil brush.

Dry the inks with a heat tool before stamping the floral images using Versafine Black Onyx ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Continue layering the floral images with the above process, applying white embossing powder to some of the petals.

Ink the background image from Summer Silhouettes with Crushed Olive Distress Oxide ink and repeatedly stamp over the background (gently wipe off the ink from the floral tops).  Apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Ink the background stamp, En Francais with Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide ink and randomly press over the background.

Once satisfied with the background, trim to approximately 3.75” x 5”.  Mount onto a piece of white cardstock, trim close to the edges.  Mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim once more.

Add a strip of white crochet lace to the card front. 

Adhere a piece of black and white checked ribbon to the card front, wrapping the ends behind the card front.

Mount the entire card panel onto a white card base.

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the verse sentiment from Words of Encouragement with Versafine Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing has cooled, die cut the sentiment with a stitched circle die.

Mount onto black cardstock (I die cut two circles from the same circle die, layering for a small frame behind the sentiment).

Adhere to the card front using dimensional foam and add a few pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Words of Encouragement (Stamp Simply); En Francais and Summer Silhouettes (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Inks/Mediums: Versafine Black Onyx, Distress Oxide- Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Crushed Olive

Cardstock/Paper: White, Black

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., MFT Stitched Circle Dies, Stencil Brushe, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, White Crochet Lace (Hobby Lobby), Black and White Checked Ribbon, Pearls

I hope you have had a chance to stop by The Card Concept to see how the rest of the Design Team were inspired as well as check out the other challenge gallery entries! Gorgeous work from everyone!

We hope you are inspired to create a card and join us for our #219 Butterflies and Blooms at The Card Concept!  The deadline to play along is Monday, October 6^th at noon EDT.

TCC216 Charm is Deceptive

Hi Friends! 

It’s time for our April #216 “Spring Celebrations” Challenge at The Card Concept!

I was inspired by the colors, graphic elements and the leaves on the wall for my Clean and Layered Mixed Media card.

I bought the Bird Collage 4 image from Impression Obsession several years ago and have not had a chance to ink it up in years.  I love this sweet image and was so sad to hear that I/O has gone out of business (but, you may find this stamp on the secondary market).

I decided to pair the bird image with a verse from Words of Encouragement (Stamp Simply) and a stencil from Simon Says Stamp.

I enjoy playing along with online challenges and will be linking this card to the Tic-Tac-Toe #267 Challenge (middle row across Pastels-Free-Birds or Chicks) and the Allsorts #820 Anything Goes optional Spring Flowers Challenge. 

This card was so simple to create-

Heat emboss the bird image onto white cardstock, mask the bird and apply distress oxide inks with the stencil for the background.

Add the black gingham ribbon and embossed sentiment, finish off the card with shimmer paint and pearls.  

FYI- I created the card first without the shimmer paint (see above and in the header), but decided to add it to the background to soften it a bit.  I diluted the frost white shimmer paint with water and used a water brush to layer the paint over the entire background and bird.  It is hard to see in the photo below but it gives a soft shimmer over the entire card. 

Another fairly quick and flat card for mailing!

I hope you have stopped by The Card Concept to see how the rest of the Design Team were inspired as well as check out the other challenge gallery entries!

Stamp Sets: Words of Encouragement (Stamp Simply), Bird Collage 4 (retired I/O Stamps)

Inks/Mediums: Versafine Black Onyx, Distress Oxide Inks- Broken China, Scattered Straw, Mowed Lawn; Stampin’ Write Markers- Hello Honey; Frost White Shimmer Paint

Cardstock/Paper: White, Black

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., My Favorite Things Stitched Circle STAX Dies, Debra Stencil (Simon Says Stamp), Stencil Brush, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, ⅜” Black Gingham Ribbon, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! I hope you are inspired to create a card and join us for our #216 Spring Celebrations at The Card Concept!  The deadline to play along is Monday, May 11^th at noon EDT.  

Nature Silhouettes

 

Hi Friends! 

I am sharing another quick card designed using Distress Oxide inks for the background and heat embossed silhouettes from Creative Worship Stamps (formerly Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps).

I enjoy playing along with online challenges and wanted to play along with The Color Throwdown #829 Challenge as well as the Shopping Our Stash #543 “Think Ink”Challenge and the Word Art Wednesday #691-692 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

All three stamp sets used are several years old and have not been inked in a while.  The Shopping Our Stash Challenge is one that encourages you to use your stash, perfect for my own personal challenge to use what I have.  

If you have not had a chance to check out the galleries at the challenge sites yet, I would encourage you to do so- beautiful inspiration from each of the Design Teams as well as the galleries!

To create this card:

Press Twisted Citron Distress Oxide ink onto a silicone mat, spritz with water and press a piece of white cardstock into the ink. 

Use a heat tool to dry the ink and repeat the process with Broken China and Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide ink, continuing to layer the ink.

Thoroughly dry the ink and use and embossing powder tool to de-static the panel.

Ink the Nature Silhouettes 1 and 2 stamp images with Versafine Black Onyx ink, stamp onto the prepared background, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing powder has dried, die cut the background panel with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto a piece of black cardstock and trim close to the edge.

Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto black cardstock and adhere to a white card base.

Ink the script image from Texture Tiles 1 with Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide ink, repeatedly stamp over the white and background panel.

Add white highlights with an extra fine white paint pen to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Nature Silhouettes, Nature Silhouettes 2, Texture Tiles 1 (Creative Worship formerly Sweet ‘n SassyStamps)

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Distress Oxide Inks- Broken China, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers; Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Paper/Cardstock: White, Black

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Dies Set 1 and 2, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool  

Thanks again for visiting- hugs and I hope you all have a wonderful week!

TCC214 Love Is In The Air

 

Hi Friends!

It’s time for our February #214 “Valentine Fun” challenge at The Card Concept!

I know that not everyone mails Valentine cards, but the theme of love is one that can be used year round for Anniversary, Birthday, Friendship and other cards, for sure!

I was inspired by the vintage style of the photo along with the light pink roses, hearts and gold bird cage for my Shabby and Vintage Mixed Media card! 

I have a personal goal to ink up stamps that have been in my stash in a while as well as use my massive stash of dies, lace, ribbon and other supplies. 

For those of you who follow my blog, you know that I do enjoy playing along with other online challenges and will be linking this card to Alphabet Challenge Blog “V is for Vintage” and the Just Us Girls #761 “Die Week- Hearts” Challenge.

I hope you have stopped by The Card Concept to see how the rest of the Design Team were inspired as well as check out the Alphabet Challenge and Just Us Girls galleries to see their fabulous creations!

To create this card:

Die cut the heart from a piece of cream cardstock. 

Die cut another heart from cream cardstock (to layer behind the initial heart die cut in the above set).  Adhere to the back of the original heart die cut (this will give your heart more strength and dimension).

Ink the Christ the Lord is Risen Today background stamp with Brushed Corduroy and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide ink , lay one of the pieces from the above steps onto the stamp image and randomly press the cardstock onto the stamp.

Trim the cream stamped background panel to approx. 3 ¾” x 5” and distress the edges with a distressing tool (or the side of scissors) and mount onto a piece of kraft cardstock (trim to approx. 4” x 5 ¼”) on a slight angle.

Adhere the heart die cut back into the opening that remained from the initial die cutting process.

Die cut several of the flower images from light pink cardstock and mount onto the heart.

Add a piece of ivory crochet lace to the front of the background panel and adhere a strip of chocolate grosgrain ribbon (wrapping the ends of the ribbon behind the panel).

Add a piece of pleated light pink ribbon onto the background panel.

Mount the entire background panel onto a piece of light pink cardstock.

Use a stencil brush with Brushed Corduroy and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide ink over the edges to distress both panels and mount the entire background panel to a kraft card base.

De-static a piece of cream cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the verse sentiment from God Verses 2 with Versamark ink, stamp onto the prepared paper, apply gold embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing has cooled, die cut the image with a stitched oval die (also die cut another oval from kraft cardstock to layer behind the sentiment oval).

Mount the sentiment onto the front of the card with dimensional foam.

Finish off the card by adhering pearls to the flower centers.  

Stamp Sets: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, God Verses 2 (Divinity Designs, LLC)

Inks/Mediums: Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Oxide- Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso

Cardstock/Paper: Cream and Kraft (Hobby Lobby- Paper Studio); Blushing Bride (Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., Bloomin’ Hearts Dies (retired Stampin’ Up!) MFT Stitched Oval STAX, Embossing Powder Tool, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 3/8” Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon (from my stash), 3/8” Pleated Blushing Bride Ribbon (retired SU!), .75” Venise Lace- Lucia- Ivory, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! I hope you are inspired to create a card and join us for our #214 Valentine Fun Challenge at The Card Concept!  The deadline to play along is Monday, March 10th at noon EDT.  

Wishing You Joy

 

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing a Christmas card featuring the Vintage Christmas Background, the Vintage Christmas Images Bundle along with dies and other supplies (all from Stamp Simply)!.

The Vintage Christmas Background stamp is so versatile and can be used with many other stamp sets.  Paired with the Vintage Christmas Images stamp set, you can have at least four different versions.

I am also linking this card to one of my favorite online challenges, the Word Art Wednesday #669-#670 “Anything Goes” challenge.

If you have not had a chance to check out the rest of my Sister Design Team cards on the Stamp Simply blog, or the Word Art Wednesday challenge site yet, I hope you take the time to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

De-static a piece of 4” x 5 ¼” woodgrain designer paper (from the Carta Bella Welcome Winter paper pad) with an embossing powder tool, stamp the Vintage Christmas Background stamp with Versamark ink, apply gold embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

De-static the area in the oval of the image with an embossing powder tool, ink the sentiment from the Vintage Christmas Images stamp set with Versamark ink, apply gold embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of white cardstock, trim again and mount onto a piece of green cardstock.  Trim once more and mount onto a white card base.

Die cut several twigs from green cardstock using the Floral Cluster and Sprigs dies.

Mount onto the card front and add a red seam binding bow.

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the skate image from the Vintage Christmas Images Bundle set with Versafine Black Onyx ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Color the image with watercolor pencils and water-based markers.

Die cut with the coordinating die, layer onto another plain die cut from white cardstock.

Add the image with dimensional foam to the card front.

Add a few red rhinestones to the card front to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Vintage Christmas Background, Vintage Christmas Images Bundle (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine Black Onyx, Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress- Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Stampin’ Write Markers- Garden Green, Mossy Meadow, Flirty Flamingo, Cherry Cobbler

Cardstock/Paper: White, Mossy Meadow; Carta Bella Welcome Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., Stamp Simply Steel Dies- Floral Cluster and Sprigs,  Vintage Christmas Images Bundle; Embossing Powder Tool, Heat Tool, Clear and Gold Embossing Powder, Seam Binding Sampler- Christmas- 30 yards, Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Rhinestones- Lippy Red

Don’t forget to stop by and check out the sale at Stamp Simply!

Thanks again for visiting and I hope you have a blessed week!