He Has Made Everything Beautiful

 

Hi Friends!

I am creating a quick card using a retired verse sentiment from Verve stamps and a retired bunny image from Impression Obsession. 

If you follow my blog, you know it is a personal goal of mine to create cards using my older stamp sets and I have not inked up either one of these images in years.

This card was so easy to create since the stamps do all the work, lol!  The main image and sentiment were both stamped with Versafine Black Onyx ink onto white cardstock and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

A bit of coloring with distress oxide inks and water-based markers, stenciling with distress oxide ink and a few rhinestones help finish off the main layer.

The background panel was framed with soft yellow cardstock and mounted onto a black card front to finish off the card.

I enjoy playing along with online challenges and will be linking this card to the Double D “Easter” Challenge (inspired by the bunnies and chicks in the photo), the Tic-Tac-Toe #268 Challenge (diagonal left to right, Stencil- Free- Embellishments) and the C.R.A.F.T. “Spring/Easter/Anything Goes” Challenge. 

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

Stamp Sets: G2535 Impression Obsession, Inc. (I could not find the name- Bunny and Chick?), Scripture Medley 3 (retired Verve Stamps)

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Distress Oxide Inks- Tumbled Glass, Hickory Smoke; Stampin’ Write Markers- So Saffron, Soft Suede, Granny Apple Green, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Perfect Plum, Twisted Citron

Paper/Cardstock: White, Black, So Saffron

Accessories: Tin Tile Stencil (Casual Fridays). Stencil Brush, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Rhinestones

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

Cast Your Cares

 

Hi Friends!

This week on the Stamp Simply blog, the Design Team has been sharing sympathy/encouragement cards.

Unfortunately, it seems as though I have been mailing quite a few of these type of cards lately.  We have lost almost 30 people in our church this past year (including my beloved hubby) not to mention there has been a lot of illness/surgeries, etc.  Our church has approx. 700 in attendance and around 20% are over 60. They say that you reach a certain point when you have more friends in heaven than on earth.  I am not there yet but getting closer....

When I send a sympathy, get well or encouragement card, I tend to prefer to use Scripture on the front so that the recipient has the option to display the card year round (if they desire to do so).  This card was for good friend of mine who lost her mother.  

I pulled out stamps and dies along with other supplies from Stamp Simply for this poppy card.

I enjoy participating with online challenges and will be linking to the Festive Friday #FF0126 Wear Red Day Challenge (Red, Ribbon and Texture) along with the Tic-Tac-Toe #193 Featured Designer Silke Challenge (center row down- Flower, Vintage and Ribbon) and the Word Art Wednesday #579-#580 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

This card incorporates several layering steps including a bit of water coloring. 

The poppy flower image was stamped with black ink, colored with water-based markers and die-cut with their coordinating die.

The large script stamp from the Pretty Poppies Bundle was heat embossed using Versamark ink and white embossing powder onto white cardstock (it is hard to see this in the photo but it is on the flat panel in the upper area behind the flowers).

Another piece of white cardstock was dry embossed with a 3D brick embossing folder, the edges were torn before layering the panel onto the heat embossed background panel.

Lace and ribbon were layered before adding the heat embossed sentiment and floral image.

As I mentioned in my previous post regarding any of the techniques, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment area below.

Stamp Sets:  Fear Not, Pretty Poppies Bundle (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark; Stampin’ Write Markers- Poppy Parade, Flirty Flamingo, Mellow Moss, Granny Apple Green; Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/ Paper: White

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., Sizzix 3D Texture Fades A6 Embossing Folder- Brick, Stamp Simply Dies- Fishtail Sentiment Banners, Pretty Poppies Bundle; Rachel 1.5” Lace – 3 yds White,  Green Seam Binding, Embossing Powder Tool, Heat Tool, Clear and White Embossing Powder

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by!  I hope you will check out the Valentine products at Stamp Simply-it’s almost here!

Have a great weekend, sweet friends!

I Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you as healthy as possible with social distancing.  Hopefully, soon we can get back to a new “normal” , but until then, I have been stamping more than ever.  

Unfortunately, I am finding it difficult to set aside the time to post to my blog :-)  I have over fifty different card designs to post and am still working on inking up images that have been neglected and/or never inked before.  Plus, while I have the neglected stamps out, I am making several different card designs with each set.

Today I am sharing a card using the Pretty Peonies stamp set (SugarPea Designs) along with a verse sentiment from Fear Not (Stamp Simply).  I find this verse to be such comfort, especially during this time in our lives. 

This is the first time I have had a chance to ink up the Pretty Peonies image (I have had this set in my stash for almost a year) and for this card, I used the SC281 Sketch Challenge from Splitcoaststampers for the layout.  This sketch was from 2010 and I am so thankful that the SCS challenges do not expire :-)

In addition to using the neglected floral stamp, I was able to incorporate several patterns of the retired Domestic Goddess designer paper from my stash.  While it will most likely take the rest of my life to use up all of my supplies, I am having fun creating and even with just a little bit of paper, etc. on the cards, I am making some progress, lol!

In addition to the sketch challenge, I am playing along with the Simon Says Wednesday “Flower Power” Challenge, the Word Art Wednesday#436-#437 “Anything Goes” Challenge and the Tic-Tac-Toe #061 Challenge.  I was able to use almost every square on the tic-tac-toe board (except “pink”) and that is if faux stitching is allowed for “stitching”. 

If faux stitching does not qualify as "stitching", this card uses the following rows for the Tic-Tac-Toe #061 Challenge- top row across (Markers- Blooms- Ribbon/Twine), the middle row down (Blooms- Designer Paper- Layers) and the far right row down (Ribbon/Twine- Rectangles- Red).

This card was a bit time consuming due to all of the layers but very easy to create:

Stamp the images and sentiment with archival black ink onto white cardstock and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

Watercolor the floral image with water-based markers (drying the layers in between and being careful not to "scrub" the paper).  

Once you are satisfied with the watercolor, use a clear glitter pen on the petals for a bit of shimmer.  

Stencil the background behind the floral with distress oxide ink and die cut the image with a stitched rectangle die.

The background layer was dry embossed with a retired embossing folder (love using my stash!) and all of the rectangle/oval layers were mounted onto black cardstock before adhering to the card base.

A bit of silver cord (twine) was looped behind the oval sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Pretty Peonies (SugarPea Designs), Fear Not (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Bermuda Bay, Poppy Parade; Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide, Spectrum Noir™ Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, retired Stampin’ Up! Domestic Goddess Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Gemini, Jr.™, My Favorite Things Dies- Stitched Oval STAX, Stitched Rectangle Set A1 STAX, retired Square Lattice Embossing Folder, AquaPainter™, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Memory Box Heartwood Stencil, Stencil Brush, retired Silver Cording

I have been very busy creating cards and will try to post more frequently, but I must be very slow at the posting stage (it takes me at least several hours to create a blog post with the photographing, etc.) :-)

I have not monetized my blog since I prefer to keep my art as a hobby and not a business.  I love the friendships I have found with those of you who share the same passion and hope that my cards and blog posts inspire you to create. 

I have tried to simplify the steps in my blog posts, but I know some of you are new at cardmaking, so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments.

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- your visits are so encouraging to me!  I am planning on posting a few more cards throughout this week (The Card Concept's new challenge will start on Wednesday) and I hope you will have a chance to stop by again soon!  Hugs, sweet friends!

SUO188 Star of Light

Hi Friends!   

It’s time for the #188 “Celebrate Winter Holidays!” Challenge at SU-Only Challenges and since I still need a few more Christmas cards, I chose to create a quick card using the Star of Light stamp set with the coordinating Starlight Thinlit™ Dies.    

I have owned this stamp set with the dies since last year and this is the first time I had a chance to create a card- pitiful, I know :-)  I have so many stamps and so little time!! I love the intricate cuts on the inner star and think that this set may become one of my new favorites!! :-)

You know that I love to participate with online challenges so I also incorporated the Paper Craft Crew Challenge #268 Sketch Challenge, the Addicted to Stamps and More #268 Holiday Challenge, the A Bit More Time To Craft #56 “Anything Goes” Challenge and the Tic-Tac-Toe #024 Challenge (Greeting, Elegant and Circle) into the design.

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

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of Whisper White cardstock with an Embossing Buddy®, stamp the flourish image along with a few of the miscellaneous small star images from the Star of Light stamp set with Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Silver Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool. 

2). Once the embossing has cooled, use largest circle from the Stitched Shapes Framelits™ to die cut the circle element.  Use the Simply Scored™ Tool to score a few vertical lines along the left hand side of the remaining panel, trim to 4” x 5 ¼” and mount onto a piece of Perfect Plum cardstock. Mount the entire card front onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

3). Die cut a circle from Perfect Plum cardstock using the retired Circle Framelits™ and mount behind the circle cut in the above step.  Adhere the layered circle onto the card front (lining up the flourish image) using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

4). Using the Starlit Thinlits™, die cut the open star from Perfect Plum cardstock and the large intricate star from Silver Foil.  Layer the two together and set aside.

5). De-static a scrap of Whisper White cardstock with an Embossing Buddy®, stamp the sentiment from the Star of Light stamp set with Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Silver Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.  Trim and create the flag banner points by hand (I used the retired Hexagon Punch). Mount onto Perfect Plum cardstock, trim and adhere to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals®. 

6). Add the layered die cut star and finish off the card with a Rhinestone in the center of the star image. 

Stamp Sets: Star of Light, Painted Harvest

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™

Paper: Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Silver Foil, Extra Thick Whisper White

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, Stitched Shapes Framelits™ , Starlit Thinlits™,  Framelits™, retired Circle Framelits™,  Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Simply Scored™ Tool, Rhinestone,

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and I hope that you will create your own Stampin’ Up! Only project and join us for our “Celebrate Winter Holidays!” challenge!

So Very Blessed

Hi Friends!

This evening I am sharing a card that was designed using the 10/26/17 FUSION “Autumn Leaves” Challenge (sketch portion) along with the Just Add Ink #384 Inspiration Challenge (I was inspired by the blues, yellow and white), the Tic-Tac-Toe #022 Challenge (top row across- Vibrant, Thank You, Layers) and the International Art & Soul #20 “Add a Charm or Tag” Challenge.

I pulled out Painted Harvest and Timeless Textures stamp sets to create my own “designer” paper for the tag element of the sketch and for the background panel, used a piece of embossed paper from my stash (left over from a previous project/experiment).  I have had this inked/embossed diamond patterned background in my stash for years and thought it would be purr-fect for this card :-)

If you have not had a chance to check out the challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- gorgeous galleries and ideas from all!

To create this card:

1). Use the Big Shot™ with the Sizzix™ Backgrounds 1 Texturz™ Plate, ink the plate with Night of Navy Classic Ink and emboss a piece of Tempting Turquoise cardstock.  Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock.  Adhere the entire card front onto the white card base.

2). To create the “designer paper” for the tag-  a). Ink the solid image of the sunflower from the Painted Harvest stamp set with Daffodil Delight Classic Ink, stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, re-ink and rotate the stamp, stamp again over the first image.  Repeat this process for a total of five sunflowers on the panel.  b). Ink the detailed petal image of the sunflower with Crushed Curry Classic Ink, stamp over the bold images, rotate, re-ink with Crushed Curry ink and stamp again.  Continue until all five sunflowers are completed.  c). Repeat the same process with the detailed petal image of the sunflower using Soft Suede ink.  d). Ink the center of the sunflower with Pacific Point Classic Ink, stamp onto the centers.  Repeat the same process with the center of the sunflower using Night of Navy Classic Ink. e). Once you have completed the sunflowers, create a mask for the sunflowers using sticky note paper and the bold image stamp.  Mask the sunflowers and ink the solid stem image with Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink, stamp a few stems (masking each flower as you stamp) and repeat the process with the detailed leaf image using Night of Navy Classic Ink. f). Use an AquaPainter™ with ink from the Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink Pad and watercolor around the flowers being careful not to watercolor over the petals).  g). Once the watercolor has cooled, add a bit of texture with the small splatter stamp from Timeless Textures using Night of Navy Classic Ink.

3), Die cut the sunflower designed paper from the step above using a Big Shot™ with the MFT™ Pierced Traditional Tag STAX Dies.  Mount onto Night of Navy cardstock and trim close to the edge of the tag.  Add the ½ White Tea Lace Doily to the one side of the tag and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

4). Ink the sentiment from So Blessed (Technique Tuesday) with Night of Navy Classic Ink, stamp onto a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock, trim close to the edge.

5). Add the sentiment to the card front (per the sketch) with dimensional foam.

6). Add the hemp twine bow with the Tempting Turquoise button to the corner of the tag.

7). Cut three cats (one from Night of Navy and two from Whisper White cardstock) using the Cat Punch, layer with the Night of Navy cat on top and mount to the card front.  Add the twine bow and rhinestone for the collar.

8). Add a few Rhinestones to the card front to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Painted Harvest, Timeless Textures (both Stampin’ Up!); So Blessed (Technique Tuesday®)

Ink/Mediums: Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede

Paper: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Night of Navy

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, My Favorite Things™ Traditional Pierced Tag STAX Dies, Sizzix™ Backgrounds 1 Texturz™ Plate, Cat Punch, White Tea Lace Doily, Polished Hemp Twine, Turquoise Button, Rhinestones

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