So Blessed

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful week so far! 

My hubby and I were able to take a trip to Shenandoah National Park today (our favorite daycation spot). We saw one young bear, several deer, numerous squirrels and bunnies, a few chipmunks as well as a gorgeous male Scarlet Tanager and several male Indigo Buntings!  This was all in addition to the spectacular views along Skyline Drive- a veryfun and relaxing day for sure!

I had a chance to stamp several cards in the last few weeks and am trying to get caught up with my blog posts (the blog posts take almost as long to create as the cards :-)).

Tonight I am sharing another card designed with  Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps July release stamp sets, Brotherly Love and Texture Tiles 2 along with previously released stamp sets, Scripty Thoughts and Scripture & Sentiment Companions.

I am participating with the Try Stampin’ on Tuesday “For the Boys” Challenge, the My Time to Craft #373 “Stamped Background” Challenge, the Word Art Wednesday #340-#341“Anything Goes” Challenge.  I also incorporated the May 27^th Paper Players PP395Sketch Challenge (the deadline for the PP395 Sketch was 06/01 but I wanted to give credit to LeAnne for her great sketch!). 

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- fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Ink the individual components for the male image from Brotherly Love using archival black ink and stamp onto white cardstock. Layer the images using masks- I stamped the glasses first, then masked the glasses, stamped the hair next, masked the hair, then stamped the face.  Next stamp the neck/shoulders and add the neckline for the shirt. Stamp the moustache to finish the image.

2). Color the images with water-based and alcohol markers and once you are satisfied with the coloring, fussy-cut the image.

3). Die cut the banners, circle and background rectangles using stitched and regular dies.  On the light green rectangle panel, stamp the Texture Tiles 2 image using light green ink to create the background.

4). Stamp the “So Blessed” sentiment from Scripty Thoughts onto the plaid banner using archival ink, layer the banner and add the polished hemp twine.  Adhere a corduroy brad to the polished hemp twine bow (I removed the brad points from the brad and adhered to the center of the bow and strands with hot glue).

5). Layer the light blue stitched rectangle die cut onto a piece of light green cardstock, trim close to the edge, add the stamped light green background and mount the large banner with the twine bow.

6). Add the fussy-cut Brotherly Love image to the espresso circle die cut, mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

7). Ink the sentiment from Scripture & Sentiment Companions with archival black ink, stamp onto a piece of light green cardstock, add clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Trim the sentiment, create the flag banner (I used a punch), add a strip of light blue cardstock and use a handheld punch to create the holes for the antique brass brads.  Insert the brads and adhere the entire card front to a white card base.

8). Finish off the card using a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the glasses.

Stamp Sets: Brotherly Love , Texture Tiles 2 , Scripty Thoughts , Scripture and Sentiment Companions (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, retired Mellow Moss Classic Ink; Stampin’ Write Markers- Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Baja Breeze; Spectrum Noir™ Alcohol Markers- EB1, TB4; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Designer Paper: Whisper White, retired Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery and Murfield DSP (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, Dies- MFT Stitched A2 Rectangle Set 1 & 2, retired Stampin’ Up! Banner Framelits™, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Polished Hemp Twine, retired Soft Sky Corduroy Brad

I had fun creating this “dude” for my card and am looking forward to creating more images in the future :-)

Don’t forget, Texture Tiles 2 is the June Stamp of the Month- free with a net $75 (US$ order after all discounts and before shipping).  Plus, remember there is free shipping on any net $75 US!

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I hope you will find the time to stop by again soon!

Brotherly Love- Through the Trees

Hi Friends!

Woohoo! Welcome to the June Release at Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps! This month has a wonderful selection of stamp sets for cards, Bible Art Journaling and more!! hope all of you are having a great week so far!

Today I am sharing a card using the new stamp set, Brotherly Love along with previously released sets, Through the Trees (NinaB Designs) and Long Stem Silhouettes.

I incorporated the CAS(E) This Sketch #274 Sketch Challenge (I elongated the sketch a bit and used a square vs circle for the central element :-)) into the design and am also linking to the Simon Monday “Masculine” Challenge as well as the As You See It #177 “Greeting for Guys” Challenge (the hat and jacket are a "weathered" blue but look more grey in the photo :-)).

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).  Using archival black ink, stamp the images from Brotherly Love onto designer paper along with white and chocolate cardstock (I used a retired blue/woodgrain type of paper).  Stamp the bald head image along with the glasses and jacket/tie image onto white cardstock, the beard and moustache images onto chocolate cardstock and the hat along with the jacket/tie image onto the designer paper.  Fussy-cut all of the images and color the head image and sunglasses with water-based markers.

2). Paper piece the image of the man together with the pieces from step 1.

3). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the tree image from Through the Trees with archival black ink onto the prepared cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Die cut with a square stitched die, mount onto espresso cardstock and trim close to the edge.).

4). Die cut the woodgrain designer paper with a rounded stitched rectangle die, cut into two pieces horizontally, mount onto another die cut (using the same rounded stitched rectangle die) from espresso cardstock.

5). Using stitched rectangle dies, die cut a piece of white cardstock for the card front. and mount onto a larger piece of espresso cardstock (die cut with a slightly larger stitched die).  Position the pieces from step 4 and 3 onto the card front (do not adhere yet) to decide where to stamp the sentiment (per the sketch).  De-static the area with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Long Stem Silhouettes with an archival black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Mount the panel onto the die cut espresso card front and adhere to a white card base.

6). Mount the woodgrain rounded rectangle pieces directly onto the card front. Thread a piece of chocolate grosgrain ribbon through a pewter ribbon slide, add to the corner of the square tree image and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

7). Add the pieced Brotherly Love image with dimensional foam (at the bottom) and directly onto the stitched square tree panel.

8). Use a glitter pen to add shimmer to his sunglasses to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Brotherly Love, Through the Trees, Long Stem Silhouettes (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Blush Blossom, Aleays Artichoke, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Designer Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, retired Well Worn Designer Series Paper (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories/ Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Dies- Stitched A2 Rectangle Set 1 & 2, Stitched Square STAX, Stitched Rounded Rectangles, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, ½” Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Pewter Ribbon Slide

I had so much fun piecing this guy together! Without the beard, he could be my hubby (with hair under the hat- lol!).  Also, don't forget Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps has a new stamp of the month- Texture Tiles 2, free with any $75 US order.  

Thanks again for taking the time to visit! I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and stop by again soon!