Birds & Blooms- Thoughts of You

Hi Friends!

I had a chance this past week to create a few cards with Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps.  This quick mixed media card features the previously released stamp sets, Birds & Blooms, Long Stem Silhouettes and Texture Tiles I.

I have mentioned before that my husband and I love to watch birds, so I wanted to create another card with the Birds & Blooms stamp set and thought this set would be perfect for the Hand Stamped Sentiments #HSS288 “Inspiration Photo”Challenge ( I was inspired by the photo in the lower left) using the Match The Sketch #227 Sketch Challenge (I flipped the sketch) for the layout.   

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1).  Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die, de-static the cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the blossom branch image from Birds & Blooms with Versamark™ ink, apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

2). Once the embossing powder has cooled, watercolor the images using ink from water-based markers.  Watercolor the background as well and add a bit of splatter with the splatter image from Texture Tiles I.  Mount the panel onto a piece of black cardstock (die cut with the next largest rectangle die) and adhere directly to a piece of white cardstock, trim and mount onto the black card front.

3). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink bird image from Birds & Blooms with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor with ink from water-based markers and fussy-cut the image.

4). Mount the fussy-cur bird image with dimensional foam. Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the feathers and an Extra Fine Sharpie® White Paint Pen to add a highlight to the bird’s eye.

5). De-static a piece of black cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Long Stem Silhouettes using Versamark™ ink, apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, cut the sentiment apart and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

6). Finish off the card with a few Nuvo™ Morning Dew Crystal Drops.

Stamp Sets:  Birds & Blooms, Long Stem Silhouettes ,Texture Tiles I  (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black,  Versamark™, Zig® Clean Real Color Markers- Lt. Pink, Green, Brown, Lt. Blue; Stampin’  Write Markers- Dapper Denim, Marina Mist, Calypso Coral; Nuvo™ Morning Dew Crystal Drops, Extra Fine Sharpie® White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Designer Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Dies Set 1 & 2, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! Hugs and I hope you have a chance to visit again soon!

CAS New Creature

Hi Friends!

It feels like it has been forever since I had a chance to share a card with all of you!  I apologize for my delay in posting- my hubby had recent surgery on his bladder and has been diagnosed with bladder cancer (this is in addition to his non-Hodgkins lymphoma known as WM for Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia).  

Thankfully he was being scanned regularly as a follow-up to his chemo for the WM and the small bladder tumor was detected early.  He will be having the first chemo treatment this week for his bladder cancer and will have to have the treatments once every six weeks.  

Again, we are so thankful that the bladder cancer seems to have been caught in the early stages although the doctor noted that his tumor is considered an agressive type.  We are praying that the initial treatments will "kill" all remaining cancer cells and he will be in follow-up mode only after the treatments conclude :-)

Believe it or not, I have been stamping in between the surgery and doctor's appointments but am finding it difficult getting my blog posts completed (oh, did I mention that my laptop "crashed" during all of this and had to be repaired?) :-)  You know what happens when you pray for patience, right?  

But I am comforted by this verse-

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

We are so thankful that the Lord has protected us through all of this and we know that He is in control- what a wonderful Savior, is Jesus our Lord!! 

Today I am sharing a clean and simple (CAS) Mixed Media Watercolor card with Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps Birds & Blooms (from the March release) and the previously released stamp set, New Creature.

I incorporated the Splitcoaststampers CC681 Color Challenge along with the CAS Watercolour April “Bird” Challenge and the Word Art Wednesday #330-#331 “Anything Goes” Challengeinto the design.

 

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the bird image from Birds & Blooms along with the sentiment from New Creature with archival black ink, stamp onto the prepared panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, use a water brush along with ink from water-based markers to color the bird and distress ink for the background (please see below for colors and supplies used).

2). Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto a piece of indigo cardstock (also die cut with a stitched rectangle die) before adhering to the white card base.

3). Use an Extra Fine White Paint Pen to add a highlight to the bird’s eye and use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the bird’s feathers.

4). Finish off the card with a few crystal jewel drops.

  

Stamp Sets:  Birds & Blooms, New Creature (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Flirty Flamingo, Island Indigo; Tim Holtz® Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Nuvo™ Sea Breeze Crystal Jewel Drops

Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched A2 Rectangle STAX Set #1 & #2, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you have a wonderful week and visit again soon!  Lord Willing, I will be sharing several more cards over the next few days :-)

Timeless Hymns- Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you are having a fabulous week so far!  I had a chance to create another card using several new Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps sets- Birds & Blooms , Timeless Hymns and Texture Tiles I (the March stamp of the month- see details here). 

I love all of the lines of the hymns included in the Timeless Hymns  Clear Stamp set- so many of my favorites!  Written by Louisa M.R. Stead in 1882 but still so revelant today :-)

I designed this card using the Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #131 Sketch Challenge and am also participating with the Simon Says Monday “Easter/Spring” Challenge and the Word Art Wednesday #324-#325 "Anything Goes" Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool.  Ink the smaller bird image from Birds & Blooms with archival black ink, stamp onto the prepared cardstock panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Watercolor the image with distress inks and markers, fussy cut and set aside.

 

2). Die cut an oval from white cardstock, de-static with an embossing powder tool, ink the branch images from Birds & Blooms with archival black ink, apply clear embossing powder, heat set with a heat tool and once cooled, watercolor the image with distress inks and markers.  Once the watercolor has dried, ink the grid image from Texture Tiles I with hickory smoke distress ink.

3). De-static the watercolored oval with an embossing powder tool, ink the sentiment from Timeless Hymns with archival ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

4). Create the pink background using distress oxide inks on a craft mat, pressing the paper into the wet ink and smooshing the ink around.  Continue to re-apply the ink until you are satisfied with the results. Once the ink has dried, ink the music image from Texture Tiles I with Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, stamp repeatedly over the panel and cut the panel into strips.

5). Die cut three pieces from black cardstock using a stitched strip die.  Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die, add the layered music strips and the horizontal black die cuts (per the sketch). 

6). Add additional texture with the grid stamp from Texture Tiles I using hickory smoke distress ink. Mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim and mount onto the raspberry card front.

7). Layer the oval die cut along with the bird image using dimensional foam. 

8). Adhere the black organza ribbon bow with the button and a few white highlights with the Extra Fine White Sharpie® Paint Pen and shimmer with a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets: Birds & Blooms, Timeless Hymns, Texture Tiles I (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks- Candied Apple. Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick; Hickory Smoke Distress; Distress Markers-  Picked Raspberry, Gathered Twigs, Mowed Lawn; Stampin' Write Markers- Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Cajun Craze, Calypso Coral; Extra Fine White Sharpie® Paint Pen,  Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Dies- Stitched Oval STAX, A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1, Horizontal Stitched Strips; retired Rich Razzleberry button, retired SU! 3/8” Black Organza Ribbon, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! I hope all of you have a great week and visit again soon- hugs, sweet friends!

Birds & Blooms

Hi Friends!

I am sharing a card today created with the new Birds & Blooms Clear Stamp Set along with the March Stamp of the Month, Texture Tiles I Clear Stamp Set from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps March release!

 

The main panel for this card is just one layer- the images were stamped and heat embossed before using markers and ink to watercolor the panel. 

I love all of the different sentiments as well as floral and bird images in the new Birds & Blooms Clear Stamp Set as well as the beautiful texture in the Texture Tiles I Clear Stamp Set – both are perfect for all types of cards, home décor, Bible Art Journaling and more!

 

Please stop by Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps to check out all the details on the Pre-Order Release of the new stamp sets here.  For every $75 purchase (not including discounts or shipping), you will receive the Texture Tiles I Clear Stamp Set free for the month of March plusfree shipping and handling (in the US) so this is a great deal!!

 As you know, I also enjoy participating with online challenges, so I  am linking this card to the Simon Says Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge and the Simon Says Monday "In My Garden" Challenge.

 If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge site or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the bird image from Birds & Blooms Clear Stamp Set with Versafine™ Onyx Black, stamp onto the panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Repeat these steps with the floral branch image as well as the sentiment.

2). Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor the images with water-based markers and ink, re-applying color as needed.  Deepen some of the shadows and background with watercolor pencils and stamp the script tile from Texture Tiles I Clear Stamp Set onto the background using distress ink.  Once you are satisfied, die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die.

 

3). Mount the panel onto a piece of coral cardstock (also die cut with a stitched rectangle die), mount again onto a piece of blue cardstock and onto the white card base.

4). Finish off the card by adding white highlights to the flowers and the bird’s eye with a Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen and shimmer to the bird’s feathers with a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets:  Birds & Blooms , Texture Tiles I  (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black,; Stampin’ Write Markers- Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Calypso Coral, Cajun Craze, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi; Tim Holtz® Salty Ocean Distress Ink, Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils- Basic Black, Pacific Point; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Pacific Point

Acessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1 & 2, Embossing Buddy®,  White and Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you have a fabulous week, sweet friends!