My Country 'Tis of Thee

Hi Friends!

Happy Independence Day to all of my friends here in the United States!  I am so thankful that we live in a free country and grateful for all of the men and women who have fought for our freedom.

I wanted to create a patriotic Mixed Media card using the 2016 Artistic Outpost Spring Release Grunge Elements stamp set along with the previously released Hero stamp set and the Our Daily Bread Designs Patriotic 6x6 Paper Collection.

I absolutely love the images in the Hero stamp set for patriotic cards and thought that I would play around with a modified version of the Vintage Watercolor technique (see tutorial here at Splitcoaststampers) to add a bit of shadows and "antiquing":-)

I will be linking this Mixed Media card to the Simon Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge, the Word Art Wednesday #236/237 “Anything Goes” Challenge, the Alphabet Challenge “I= Ink it Up” Challenge and the Simon Says Monday "Red, White and/or Blue Challenge".

If you have not had a chance to visit any of the challenge sites, I hope you will find the time to do so- great inspiration by all!

To create this card:

Ink the flag image from Hero using Stampin’ Write markers- Dapper Denim for the stars and Cherry Cobbler for the stripes, “huff” onto the stamp to re-moisten the ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Use a Speedball® Elegant Writer® 2.0 mm Black Pen to draw lines around the image and an AquaPainter™ to watercolor the lines for the Vintage Watercolor technique (see tutorial here at Splitcoaststampers).

Add Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink with an AquaPainter around the edges of the image to “age” the paper and ink the splatter stamp from Grunge Elements with Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink to stamp over the image and add additional distressing.

Trim the panel close to the edge and mount onto Dapper Denim cardstock.

You can see a bit of her face (eye) in the upper right hand corner
in the middle of the star :-)

To create the background- ink the female Hero image with Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink and stamp three times over the trimmed panel of Patriotic 6x6 Paper (ODBD) (stamping across the entire panel with three separate images :-)).

Use the Big Shot™ with a Star Embossing Folder to emboss the stamped background paper, lightly sand the embossing and mount onto a piece of Dapper Denim cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Add the Beautiful Borders die cut (ODBD) along with the Cherry Cobbler 1” Grosgrain Ribbon and mount the entire panel onto a piece of Cherry Cobbler before adhering to the Dapper Denim card front.

Add the flag panel onto the card front using dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Grunge Elements, Hero  (Artistic Outpost)

Ink/Mediums: Stampin’ Write Markers- Dapper Denim, Cherry Cobbler, Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink, Speedball® Elegant Writer®  2.0MM Black Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Dapper Denim, Cherry Cobbler; Patriotic 6x6 Paper Collection (ODBD)

Accessories: Big Shot™, ODBD Beautiful Border Dies, AquaPainter™, 1” Cherry Cobbler Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Star Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug™)

Artistic Outpost Hero

Artistic Outpost Grunge Elements

ODBd Patriotic Collection

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you all have a fabulous week!

Artistic Outpost- Winter Walk Friendship Never Melts

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing my project from the Artistic Outpost blog :-)

I realize that spring has arrived and we are celebrating Easter this weekend, but I do like to create Christmas and winter cards all year round and just love the combination of the two Artistic Outpost stamp sets, Winter Walk and Skating Emporium :-)

I am also including this card in the Splitcoaststampers’ Ways to Use It WT567 “Baby It’s Cold Outside”Challenge (to use cool colors) along with the Mixed Media Monthly Card March Challenge #21 "Trees" with opt. birds and the TPD March Tic-Tac-Toe Card Challenge (diagonal- Ribbon, Stamps and Emboss).   

I hope you will take the time to visit the Artistic Outpost Blog as well as the galleries for the challenge sites linked above- fabulous inspiration :-)

To create this card:

Ink the interior of the Tim Holtz® (TH) Poinsettia Knit Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder with Ranger® TH  Evergreen Bough Distress Stain and emboss a piece of retired Stampin’ Up! (SU!) Baked Brown Sugar cardstock.

Trim the edges, spritz with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint Spray and use a sewing machine with the zigzag stitch to adhere to a piece of retired Forest Foliage (SU!) cardstock.

With the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) Beautiful Borders Dies, cut a border from Forest Foliage cardstock, adhere to the embossed background and add the strip of light taupe/gold satin ribbon (Offray®- Oatmeal from my stash) along with the strands of pearls.

Mount the entire background panel onto the Baked Brown Sugar (SU!) card base.

De-static a piece of Whisper White (SU!) cardstock with the Embossing Buddy®, ink the Winter Walk stamp set from Artistic Outpost(AO) with Versamark™  ink, stamp onto a prepared cardstock, add the retired Forest Green Stampin’ Emboss® Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Close up of the texture of the background along
with the pine branches :-)

Once the image has cooled, use a sponge dauber to apply TH Old Paper and Tea Dye Distress Inks over the embossed image, spritz with water to soften the ink and gently wipe with a paper towel.

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Forest Foliage cardstock, add dimensional foam to the back and adhere the panel to the card front.

Use the Big Shot™ with the ODBD Lovely Leaves Dies to cut the pine needle branches from Forest Foliage cardstock, mount the branches to the card front and add the triple light gold satin ribbon bow.

Hard to see the gold embossing on the sentiment - looks
better IRL :-)

Even though I like the plain version (I thought I could use it as a note card), I decided to add a sentiment and heat embossed the “Friendship Never Melts Away” sentiment from Skating Emporium using Gold Embossing Powder onto Forest Foliage cardstock.

Once the embossing powder cooled, I cut the sentiment apart and added to the card front to finish off the card (it looks better IRL since it is difficult to read the sentiment in the photo).

Stamp Sets: Winter Walk and Skating Emporium (Artistic Outpost)

Ink: Versamark™,Ranger® Tim Holtz® Evergreen Bough Distress Stains, Old Paper and Tea Dye Distress Inks, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint Spray

Paper: Whisper White, retired Forest Foliage and Baked Brown Sugar (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™,  ODBD Beautiful Borders Dies, ODBD Lovely Leaves Dies, TH  Knit Poinsettia EF, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Forest Green and Gold EP, Heat Tool, Sewing Machine, Pearls, 5/8” Oatmeal Satin Ribbon (Offray®)

Would you be so kind to let me know in the comments, if you were the recipient, which one would prefer to receive- with or without the sentiment?  I read each and every comment and would so appreciate your input!! 

Thanks again for stopping by- hugs and have a wonderful Easter weekend!

HYCCT1519 "Pinkalicious" Cup of Thanks

Hi Again Friends!!

This card was created for the Splitcoaststampers’ Hope You Can Cling To  HYCCT1519 Lee’s “Pinkalicious” Challenge (to create a card using a few of the unscrambled words from “Pinkalicious”- I used PINK, INK, CLIP, CUP and if allowed to use two “C”s CLOCK) and I used a friendship theme for the FM230 "So Sweet" Challenge.  

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will take the time to visit both of the above sites- great inspiration from all!!

To create this card:

Using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink, stamp the sentiment from Tea Shoppe onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock. Trim and create the banner points with the Hexagon Punch, layer onto a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock, using the Hexagon Punch for the points as well.

De-static a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Embossing Buddy®, ink the large tea cup from Tea Shoppe using Versamark™ ink and stamp onto the prepared piece of Whisper White cardstock, apply Light Pink Stampin’ Emboss® Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool. 

Once the embossing powder has cooled, use a Sponge Dauber to apply Melon Mambo Classic Ink over the embossed image and carefully cut out the tea cup.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Darice® Clock Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper (retired DSP), trim mount onto a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock and lightly sand with the Sanding Block.

Cut out the circle element behind the tea cup with the Big Shot™ using the Spellbinders™ Stately Circles Die from Whisper White cardstock.

Mount the Whisper White die cut (created with the Big Shot™ with the Our Daily Bread Designs Beautiful Borders Die) to the card front covering the edge of the DSP, adhere the 5/8” Pink Triple Satin Ribbon bow (wrapping the ends of the ribbon to the back of the panel) and mount the entire panel onto the Whisper White card base.

Stamp the sentiments from the Tiny Tags using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and Melon Mambo Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, cut out the images using the Jewelry Tag Punch, use the 1/16” Hand Held Punch for the openings at the top of the tag, slip the tags onto the Antique Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware Clip and slip the clip over the ribbon.

Adhere the tags using dimensional foam, add the die cut circle to the card front, mount the embossed tea cup with dimensional foam and adhere the layered sentiment.

Create the roses from Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette cardstock from the My Favorite Things™ (MFT) Royal Mini Dies, add leaves punched from Pear Pizzazz cardstock using the Martha Stewart® (MS)  Leaf Punch behind the roses and mount the roses to the card front to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Tea Shoppe, Tiny Tags (both retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink: Versamark™,  Stāz-On® Jet Black, Melon Mambo

Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP (retired)

Accessories: Big Shot™, Darice® Clock Embossing Folder, ODBD Beautiful Borders Dies, MFT Royal Mini Rose Dies, Spellbinders™ Stately Circles Die , Emobssing Buddy®, Light Pink Stampin’ Emboss® Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Antique Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware Clip, Jewelry Tag Punch, MS Leaf Punch, Sanding Block, 5/8” Pink Satin Ribbon

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday, my friends!

ODBDSLC259 Guide Us To Thy Perfect Light

Hello Friends!

Time for the new ODBDSLC259 Shining the Light "Verse and Seasonal" Inspiration Challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs!

I love the whites, blues along with all of the sparkle in this photo and decided to create a Mixed Media card using the Embossing Resist technique.

To create this card:

Use Sponge Daubers to sponge ink directly onto a piece of White cardstock (I used Stampin’ Up! Tempting Turquoise, Island Indigo and Wild Wasabi Classic Ink), ink the ODBD Wisemen Ornament image using Versamark™ ink and stamp directly onto the sponged background,  apply White Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Once the embossing powder has cooled, sponge additional ink over the image and lightly wipe with a damp paper towel.

Stamp Sets: WisemenOrnament, ChalkboardVine Background, We ThreeKings; 

Dies: Matting Circle Dies, Circle Ornament Dies, BeautifulBorders Dies, Pennants Dies

Cut the image out with the ODBD Circle Ornaments Dies and cut out pieces of Silver cardstock with the ODBD Circle Ornaments Dies (ribbon bow and ornament topper).

Also cut a large circle from the ODBD Matting Circle Dies from Silver cardstock, mount the die cut Wisemen Ornament image and add the silver die cut ornament topper and bow.

Ink the ODBD Chalkboard Vine Background stamp using Versamark™ ink and stamp onto White cardstock, apply White Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.  Sponge Tempting Turquoise, Island Indigo and Wild Wasabi Classic Ink over the image and wipe off gently with a damp paper towel.

Trim the embossed background panel and mount onto a piece of Silver cardstock, adhere the strip of embossed layer of Island Indigo cardstock at the bottom and adhere the entire panel to a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of Island Indigo cardstock.

Create the lacy border with the ODBD Beautiful Borders Dies from a piece of White cardstock, adhere to card front and add the 5/8” Silver Satin Ribbon.  

Add the layered Wisemen Ornament panel using dimensional foam and add the Silver Cord to the ornament topper wrapping the ends to the back of the panel.

Mount the entire panel onto the White card base and add the Rhinestones to the ribbon edges (tucking under the ornament layer).

Ink the sentiment from We Three Kings with Versamark™ ink and stamp onto a piece of White cardstock, apply Silver Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Cut the sentiment out with the ODBD Pennants Dies and mount onto the card front using foam dimensionals.

Add Rhinestones to the corners of the sentiment and bow center to finish off the card.

I am so thrilled to be designing alongside the talented ODBD Design Team and hope you will check out all of my DT sisters:

Chris, Diana, Paula and Robin.

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC259 or to join the challenge click here.  You have until October 25, 2015, at 8:00 pm EDT. By participating in the challenge, you have a chance to win a $15 ODBD Gift Certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the “stamps column” on the ODBD website, or to be spotlighted on the ODBD Blog at our next challenge. The random prize winner will be posted on our next challenge post. Please do not post on Flicker as many of us do not have the ability to comment on your cards nor can we spotlight your cards on the blog.

Stamp Sets: Wisemen Ornament, Chalkboard Vine Background, We Three Kings

Dies: Matting Circle Dies, Circle Ornament Dies, Beautiful Borders Dies

Thanks again for visiting and we hope to see your artwork in the Shining the LightODBDSCL259 "Verse and Seasonal" Inspiration Challenge gallery!  Have a fantastic week, my friends- hugs and God Bless!

ODBDSLC254 Our God, We Give You Thanks and Praise Your Glorious Name

Hello Friends!

The new Our Daily Bread Designs "Shining the Light" ODBDSLC254 Sketch Challenge starts today and I incorporated the sketch with the Splitcoaststampers' WT 533 “Favorite Tools” Challenge.

Since I love using die cuts and embossing folders on my cards, my favorite tool is the Big Shot™ and I rarely make a card without it!

I love the verse from the Thank You stamp set along with the picnic basket image and thought that it is so appropriate for many occasions including Thanksgiving (I know, I am a bit early but am trying not to procrastinate as much this year :-)).  I paired it with the beautiful flowers from the Fragrance set (love those roses) along with some distressing.

To create this card:

Stamp the rose image from the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) Fragrance along with the verse from ODBD Thank You using Stāz-On® ink onto white cardstock.  The rose was colored with a water brush pen using ink from the ink pads and fussy-cut.   

ODBD Stamps- Fragrance, Thank You; Dies- Ovals, Stitched Ovals, Beautiful Borders, Doily, Paper- Christmas Collection

The verse was cut with the Stitched Ovals Dies and layered onto cardstock cut with the Ovals Dies.

Add a distressed, embossed background panel along with a white doily cut from the Doily Dies (split in two) along with a strip  of gingham paper from the Christmas Paper Collection with the Beautiful Borders Dies and ribbon from my stash.

Add the gold twine and mount the layered verse panel with the fussy cut flower using dimensional foam.  Add a few pearls to finish off the card :-)

I hope you will check out my DT sisters:

 Chris, Diana,  Paula, and Robin

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC254 or to join the challenge click here.  You have until September 20, 2015, at 8:00 pm EDT. By participating in the challenge, you have a chance to win a $15 ODBD Gift Certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the “stamps column” on the ODBD website, or to be spotlighted on the ODBD Blog at our next challenge. The random prize winner will be posted on our next challenge post. Please do not post on Flicker as many of us do not have the ability to comment on your cards nor can we spotlight your cards on the blog.

Fragrance

Thank You

Ovals Dies

Stitched Ovals Dies

Doily Dies

Beautiful Borders Dies

Christmas Paper Collection 2013

Thanks again for stopping by, we hope to see your artwork in the Shining the Light ODBDSCL254 Sketch Challenge gallery!  Have a wonderful week- hugs and God Bless!

Boho Love- Praying for You

Hi Stampers!

I hope all of you are having a great week so far!  This card was created for the Our Daily Bread Designs ODBDSLC249 Color Challenge along with the Paper Players PP256 Square Card Challenge and the Splitcoaststampers’ SC552 Sketch Challenge. 

Again, if you have not visited the above sites yet, I hope you will find time to do so- fabulous Design Team samples and as well as the galleries!!

This card was fairly easy to make- the heart, extra flowers and the sentiment were stamped with Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink , the heart and flowers were colored with Spectrum Noir™ markers, the dies were all from Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD). 

The Shimmer Paint is hard to photograph but the top vertical layer and background are both Lavender Lace :-)

After stamping and cutting out the dies, a bit of dry embossing, adding Frost White Shimmer Paint with a water brush followed by a bit of Perfect Plum Classic Ink, add the elements to the card along with the Black Satin Ribbon and Rhinestones finish off the card.

If you have any questions on the process, please let me know in the comments :-)

Stamp Sets: ODBD- Boho Love, Boho Paisley Background, Doily Blessings (partial sentiment)

Ink:  Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Perfect Plum; Spectrum Noir™ Alcohol Markers- LV2, TB3, PP5, DG3, GB5; Frost White Shimmer Paint

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Rose Romance and Lavender Lace

Accessories: Big Shot™, ODBD Dies- Ornate Hearts, Beautiful Borders, Stitched Ovals, Boho Background; Darice Henna Embossing Folder, Water Brush, Rhinestones

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a wonderful Thursday and God Bless!

Sing to the Lord- Faith is Knowing that God Will :-)

Hi Stampers!

I hope all of you are having a great weekend so far!  My husband and I were able to go to Shenandoah National Park on Friday- it was a glorious day!  We love the vistas and viewing God's handiwork from the mountain- just gorgeous!!   

With that trip in mind, I wanted to create a card for this week's Our Daily Bread Designs Shine the Light ODBDSLC248 “Anything Goes” Challenge using two stamp sets I had not had a chance to ink up yet- Sing for the Lord and God Quotes. 

We love watching birds and the bird image in Sing for the Lord appears to be a finch so I decided to create a male American Goldfinch :-)  

Again, if you have not visited the ODBD challenge site yet, I hope you will find time to do so- fabulous Design Team samples and as well as their gallery!!

This card was a bit time consuming due to the “fussy cutting” but it is not too difficult to create:

Ink the images using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock (stamp a few extra blossoms).

Color the bird image using an AquaPainter™ with Daffodil Delight Classic Ink along with markers for the rest of the bird (as well as the blossoms)- Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Tip Top Taupe and Mossy Meadow.

Carefully cut out ("fussy-cut") the branches, blossoms and gold finch image and set aside.

Use the Big Shot™ with the ODBD Layered Lacey Square Die to cut out the sentiment and run the die back through the machine with the silicone mat and texture plate to emboss the die cut as well.

Use the Big Shot™ to emboss a piece of Vellum with the Perfect Polka Dot Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (I had this piece already pre-embossed in my stash) and adhere the embossed vellum to a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Trim the panel, add the ODBD Beautiful Borders embossed and die cut Whisper White piece along with a strip of 5/8” Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.

Trim the panel and mount onto the Pretty In Pink card base.

Add the sentiment panel, bird and blossoms along with the pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: ODBD Sing to the Lord, God Quotes

Ink:  Stāz-On® Jet Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Mossy Meadow, Tip Top Taupe

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Big Shot™, ODBD Layered Lacey Square Dies, ODBD Beautiful Borders Dies, 5/8” Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a fantastic day!