Beary Merry Christmas

Hi Friends!

I am so far behind on creating Christmas cards for this year (I normally try to create approx. ten each month so I am not behind when it I time to mail) so I decided to use the CAS(E) This Sketch #226 Sketch Challenge along with the Merry Monday #253 “Bears” Challenge and the Happy Little Stampers June 2017 “Anything Goes” Christmas Challenge for the design of this card.

I have not inked this retired Stampin’ Up! Beary Merry Christmas (2000) in years and since I collect Boyd’s stuffed bears, I love this sweet image of the bear on his rocking horse.

 If you have not had a chance to check out the challenge sites yet, I hope you will take the time to do so- gorgeous inspiration from the Design Teams as well as the galleries!

To create this card:

1). Ink the Beary Merry Christmas image and sentiment using archival black ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

2). Color the image with watercolor pencils, water soluble graphite pencil and Stampin’ Write Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler markers using an AquaPainter™ to blend the colors.

3). Trim the bear on the rocking horse image, mount onto Early Espresso cardstock and trim close to the edge.

4). Die cut the sentiment using the Circle Framelits™ and mount onto an Early Espresso circle die cut from the same size framelit™.

5). Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock using the Big Shot™ with the Tim Holtz™ Poinsettia Knit Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto Early Espresso cardstock, trim and mount onto Cherry Cobbler cardstock before adhering to the white card base.

6). Mount the bear image along with the sentiment using dimensional foam and apply a bit of shimmer to the mane, tail and saddle of the image using a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets: Beary Merry Christmas (Stampin’ Up!- retired 2000)

Ink/Mediums: Archival Black Ink. Derwent™ and Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils, Water-Soluble Graphic Pencil, Stampin’ Write Markers- Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler;  Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso

Accessories: Big Shot™, Tim Holtz™ Poinsettia Knit Embossing Folder, AquaPainter™

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

Bear Hugs- You're So Sweet

Hi Friends!

I had a chance to create another quick card this evening and decided to participate in the #60 Bear Hugs Challenge at What Will You Stamp? (a new challenge site for me)  along with the Stampin’ Celebration SC127 Sketch Challenge and the Splitcoaststampers' CC579 Color Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to check out the above sites, I encourage you to do so- wonderful samples from all!

I love this sweet bear set, but must confess, I truly struggle with designing "cute" cards...

The background was created with the Smakin' Acetate technique (I am addicted- lol!)....

Cut open a clear envelope (or transparency sheet) and gently press the Hello Honey Classic Ink Pad directly onto the acetate (not the whole pad only partial areas), press the envelope together, smoosh the ink around a bit, re-open the envelope and press a piece of Whisper White cardstock down onto the ink on one side of the envelope.

Once the ink dries, use the Big Shot™ with the retiring Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss the panel.

Trim and mount onto a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Basic Gray, trim and mount onto the Hello Honey card base.

Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the retiring Chevron Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Basic Gray cardstock and adhere onto the card front.

Ink the large bear image, the honeypot and the sentiment with Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock. 

Stamp the skirt image onto a piece of retired Moonlight Designer Series Paper using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Bear Hugs Framelits™ to cut out the bear and honeypot images (fussy-cut the skirt image).

Color the bear with an AquaPainter™ and Basic Gray Classic Ink and fold up the arms.

Use an AquaPainter™ with Lost Lagoon Classic Ink to color the skirt and lower part of the honeypot adding shadows to both with the Stampin’ Write Lost Lagoon Marker.

Color the honey with the Hello Honey Stampin’ Write Marker and add Crystal Effects™ over the honey (set aside to dry).

Trim the sentiment, create the banner points with the retiring Hexagon Punch, mount onto Lost Lagoon cardstock, trim and create the banner points again with the punch and add a strip of Basic Gray cardstock (also creating the banner points with the Hexagon Punch- I am going to miss this punch in the catalog). 

Wrap a few pieces of the retired SAB 2015 In-Color Thick Baker's Twine around the sentiment and set aside.

Mount the bear, sentiment and honey pot using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Add the two Lost Lagoon buttons (with separated and knotted Hello Honey Thick Baker’s Twine in the center) to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Bear Hugs

Ink/Mediums: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Basic Gray, Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon; Stampin’ Write Markers- Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon; Crystal Effects™

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon

Accessories: Big Shot™, Bear Hugs Framelits™, Honeycomb and Chevron Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Clear Envelope, retired SAB 2015 Hello Honey and Lost Lagoon Thick Baker’s Twine, retired SAB 2015 Lost Lagoon buttons

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

JUN15VSNF The Latest Buzz...

Hi Again Stampers!

This card was created for the Splitcoaststampers’ Virtual Stamp Night JUN15VSNF “Choose Happiness” Challenge (see details here and gallery here) along with the SC539 Sketch Challenge (see details here and gallery here).

This was the first shaker card that I ever created and it took the entire hour to complete (and that was pushing it- lol!).   I love this retired stamp set and thought it would be perfect for a shaker element :-)

Again, if you have not visited the challenge sites yet, I hope you will find time to do so- terrific Design Team designs and as well as their galleries!!

To create this card:

Stamp the bee image and sentiment from the retired set, Honey Bear using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock (make sure you position to leave room for the die cuts). 

Color the images using Stampin’ Write markers- Bear’s Fur and Bee Suit: Daffodil Delight, Delightful Dijon, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Black; Sentiment and Honey Jar: Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Sahara  Sand, Delightful Dijon, Daffodil Delight.

Cut the images out with the Big Shot™ along with the MFT Stitched Circle STAX Die and cut a larger stitched circle from Basic Black for the frame on the bear.

Emboss a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock using the Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (I still had a bit of Delightful Dijon ink on the interior of my folder from the last card).

Decide where you would like the sentiment shaker element to be positioned and punch out a hole with the 1 ¾” Circle Punch.

Dry-fit the bear with the frame and use the 1 ¾"  Circle Punch to cut out a notch to fit  around the treat cup.

Cut a strip of retired Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper (DSP) and mount onto Basic Black cardstock (also punching part of a circle to fit around the treat cup).

Add the retired In-Color Sequins to the treat cup, adhere the sentiment to the back, insert the treat cup into the opening and mount the Bermuda Bay layer onto the Basic Black card base.

Add the Botanical Gazette DSP layer and adhere the bee circle with the frame to the card front.

Use a Sponge Dauber with the Mini Punchenella Stencil to carefully add the Delightful Dijon Classic Ink through the honeycomb part of the stencil.

Use the 1 ¾” Circle Punch to punch  out a 1 ¾” Circle from Basic Black cardstock and position the 2” Circle Punch over the opening (created by the 1 ¾” Circle Punch in the piece of cardstock) and punch out the 2 “ Circle to create the black ring- adhere to the outside of the treat cup.

Close-up of the Treat Cup Shaker Element :-)

Mount a scrap strip of Basic Black cardstock to mimic ribbon and add the triple ribbon bow (Black Organdy) along with the retired More Mustard button to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Honey Bear

Ink:  Stāz-On® Jet Black, Delightful Dijon; Stampin’ Write Markers-  Daffodil Delight, Delightful Dijon, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, retired Botanical Gazette DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, MFT Stitched Circle Dies, Circle Punches- 1 ¾” and 2”; 2013-2015 In-Color Sequins, Treat Cup, Black Organdy Ribbon, More Mustard Button, Mini Punchenella Stencil, Sponge Dauber

Ok, the challenge was to make a card that would make someone  smile…do you think I succeeded :-) ?

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a fabulous Friday and weekend !

HYCCT1415 Beary Best Friends

Hi Again Stampers!!

Here is another card that I created for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenge (HYCCT) Card Drive at Splitcoaststampers. 

 

This card was created for HYCCT1415 dougnat aka Natalies’s “Soft and Cozy” Challenge - (see the gallery here and the details here) along with SC494Sketch Challenge :-)

To create this card:

Ink the bear image from the retired set, Beary Best using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock and color using Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils along with the AquaPainter™.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Circle Collection Framelits™ to cut out the bear image along with another circle (the same size) from Pacific Point cardstock.  Split the Pacific Point circle in half and adhere behind the focal image.

Mount a piece of Whisper White cardstock onto a piece of Pacific Point cardstock, trim and mount onto the Real Red card front.

Add a piece of retired Maritime Series Paper (DSP) to a piece of Pacific Point cardstock for the center vertical panel of the sketch.

Adhere a piece of Pacific Point DSP to a piece of Real Red cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Pacific Point cardstock.  Add to the card front for the horizontal strip.

Stamp the sentiment from the retired set, Heartspeak using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, trim and create the banner points using the Hexagon Punch.

Add the focal image and sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®. 

Adhere the Real Red Corduroy Button to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Beary Best, Heartspeak

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink,, Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Pacific Point, Maritime and Pacific Point DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Circles Collection Framelits™, AquaPainter™, Hexagon Punch, retired Real Red Corduroy Button

Thanks again for visiting- I hope all of you have a fabulous week!

HYCCT1412 Warm Beary Fuzzies

Hi Stampers! 

This card is another card (of the 35) created for the Hope You CanCling To Challenge (HYCCT)  atSplitcoaststampers.  This one is for LMcAree aka Lori’s  HYCCT1412 “Warm Fuzzies”  Challenge - (see the gallery here and the details here) along with the Splitcoaststampers SC347 Sketch Challenge.  

I decided to use a retired set, Beary Best along with retired Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP) to create this fun card- I just love this paper and the bear images are so cute and "fuzzy"!

To create this card:

Ink the bear image from Beary Best using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock and color using the AquaPainter™ with Stampin’ Up! Watercolor pencils (these are retired as well, but still work great!) :-)

Stamp the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge using Baked Brown Sugar Classic Ink, trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock, trim again and mount onto a piece of Cajun Craze cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ along with the Argyle Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of retired Autumn Spice DSP, lightly sand with the Sanding Block, trim and mount onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Cajun Craze cardstock.

Mount the embossed background panel onto the Very Vanilla card base. 

Add the vertical panel of Early Espresso Autumn Spice DSP (mounted onto a piece of Cajun Craze cardstock- this piece has a Cajun Craze design that did not show up well in the photo).

Stamp the sentiment using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock, distress with the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge using Baked Brown Sugar Classic Ink, mounted onto Early Espresso cardstock and again onto Cajun Craze cardstock. 

Add the bear focal image and the sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to the card front per the sketch. Create the horizontal strip using a scrap strip of Olive Green Tweed Autumn Spice DSP mounted onto strips of Early Espresso cardstock (to mimic a layer of Early Espresso under the DSP- love using my scraps for this!), add the scrap strip of DSP to the center and adhere two More Mustard Buttons (with very thin strips of DSP as “thread” in the centers). 

Mount this layered horizontal strip to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Beary Best, Gorgeous Grunge

                   

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, Baked Brown Sugar; Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils

Paper: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso; retired Autumn Spice Designer Specialty Series Paper

Accessories: Big Shot™, Argyle Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Sanding Block, AquaPainter™, retired More Mustard buttons

Thanks again for stopping by- I will post more of the HYCCT Challenges in the next few days :-)   I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!

HYCCT1406 A Teddy Bear for My Sister Challenge

Hi Again Stampers!

Here is last card that I created yesterday for the Splitcoaststampers Hope You Can Cling To Challenge (HYCCT) to promote Breast Cancer Awareness and create cards to encourage those with cancer and their families.

 

This card was created for LuvLee aka Lee’s HYCCT1406 “A Teddy Bear for My Sister” Challenge- (see the gallery here and the details here) along with the Splitcoaststampers CC502 Color Challenge and SC477 SketchChallenge  :-)

 

Again, I hope you will find the time to check out the links above and if you can, come play along!

To create this card:

Ink the image from the year 2000 retired set, Honey Bear using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock (I have been a SU! demo for a long time :-)).

Use Stampin’ Up! retired Watercolor Pencils along with the AquaPainter™ to color the image.  Trim and mount onto a piece of Marina Mist cardstock, trim and mount again onto a piece of retired Midnight Muse cardstock.

Stamp the sentiment using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, color using Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils and punch out with the XL Oval Punch (also punching ovals from Marina Mist and Midnight Muse cardstock).

Cut the Marina Mist and Midnight Muse cardstock ovals in half and layer behind the sentiment.

Create a banner from the retired Gumball Green Designer Series Paper (DSP) using a Square Punch and trimming the remaining points by hand.  Mount onto a piece of Midnight Muse cardstock (trimming the banner points by hand as well).

Add the banner to the Whisper White cardstock panel and mount onto the Midnight Muse card front.

Add the Bear image panel along with the sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Honey Bear

Ink:  Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, Watercolor Pencils

Paper: Whisper White, Marina Mist, retired Midnight Muse , retired Gumball Green DSP

Accessories: AquaPainter™, XL Oval Punch

Thanks again for stopping by- now off to complete some more of the challenges!