My Grace is Sufficient

Hi Friends!

I designed this card using a stamp set that I purchased on clearance over a year ago- Everlasting (Kaisercraft) and this is the first time I have had a chance to ink it up.  I decided to pair the birds with a sentiment from another stamp set that has been un-inked lately- The Vine (Unity Stamp Co).   

I am making a dedicated effort to try to use stamps and paper that I already own (although I do still purchase a few)- I find it so difficult to resist those 40-50% off or more sales- don't you? 

I am also challenging myself to work my way through all of the Splitcoaststampers’ Sketch Challenges (now at 800) that I have not used yet so I incorporated the SC160 Sketch layout into the design of this card.  This sketch was from 2009 (the SCS challenges do not expire) and I thought it would be a good layout for the branch image.

I enjoy participating with online challenges as well and will be linking this card to the Simon Says Monday “Spritz and Splatter” Challenge along with the A Bit More Time to Craft #115  “Anything Goes” Challenge.

Since the Simon Says Monday Challenge was "Spritz and Splatter", I decided to create a Shabby Chic/Vintage Mixed Media card.  

To create this card:

Apply distress ink to the inside of a woodgrain embossing folder, insert a piece of white cardstock and emboss the panel.  Spritz the panel to allow the ink to spread a bit and also use a water brush to apply additional brown distress ink as needed (see all of the colors used below).

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of black cardstock. Adhere the background panel to a white card base.

Ink the background stamp (Chalkboard Vine) with the same brown distress ink (, lightly stamp over the designer paper before cutting the paper into three panels.  Mount onto black cardstock and add directly to the card front.

Ink the birds on the branch image (from Everlasting) with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto a piece of white cardstock,  apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the image has cooled, water color with brown distress ink along with brown and gray water-based markers.

Apply the distress ink directly around the edges of the image and stamp with a texture splatter stamp to achieve additional distressing and “antiquing”.  Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die and mount onto black cardstock.

Stamp the sentiment from The Vine (Unity Stamp Co) with embossing ink (I used the Versafine™ Onyx Black since my Versamark™ was not nearby), apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Trim the sentiment (I used a scrap piece of black paper and it was not trimmed evenly so I had to cut into the area where the “M” would be cut-off, therefore, I fussy-cut around the “M”).  Mount the sentiment onto the bird panel.

Adhere the bird panel to the card front using chipboard or dimensional foam (I prefer chipboard for extra stability, plus I have a lot of chipboard on hand, lol!).

To finish the card, use an extra fine white paint pen to add a highlight to each bird’s eye.

Stamp Sets: Everlasting (Kaisercraft), The Vine (Unity Stamp Co), Chalkboard Vine (Divinity Designs, LLC), Timeless Textures (Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers-Gray Granite, Soft Suede; Tim Holtz™ Brushed Corduroy Distress;   Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Prima Lifetime Collection Designer Paper

Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1 Dies, retired Stampin’ Up! Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy®, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

I am so thrilled that you took the time to visit my blog- I hope all of you are staying healthy and safe during the worldwide pandemic!

I am planning on posting a few more cards this week and, if you have the time, please stop  by again soon!  Hugs, sweet friends!

Thank You For All That You Do

Hi Again Friends!!

This is the last card that I designed this past weekend in my stamping spree and this card incorporates the Splitcoaststampers’ (SCS) CC586 "Green Pool Mist" Color Challenge (minus the dessert :-)) and a new challenge site for me-  Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #40 "Kind of Sketchy" Challenge along with Our Daily Bread Design (ODBD) stamps.

The Retro Rubber Challenge Blog's challenges focus on using older stamps so I decided to pull out the retired stamp set, Serving the Lord (ODBD).  

I love the idea of using our older stamps since it seems as though most of us focus on the newer, more current stamps and our older, retired stamps are collecting dust :-)  I have decided that I am going to ink up at least one retired set per week and am so thrilled to have found the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog site!

The retired Serve the Lord stamp set (from 2011 in cling mount rubber) originally included several sentiments along with the Crocheted Circle Poppy image (this floral image is still available as a single clear stamp from ODBD along with the coordinating Crochet Circle Die :-)).  

If you have not had an opportunity to check out the above challenge sites, I hope you will find the time to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Ink the Chalkboard Vine Background (ODBD) stamp using Sponge Daubers with Pool Party, Marina Mist and Garden Green Classic Ink, spritz lightly with water and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Trim the background panel, layer onto a piece of Pool Party cardstock.

Add the embossed Garden Green cardstock layer (from my stash already embossed with the retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder), add the White Crochet Lace trim, 

1" Black Satin Ribbon  and the ¼” Stitched Pool Party Ribbon.

Ink the sentiment from Serve the Lord (ODBD) with Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp below the crochet trim (I used my MISTI® Tool for placement).

Layer the entire background panel onto a piece of Garden Green cardstock and mount onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

Ink the poppy image from the retired Serve the Lord (ODBD) with Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock (FYI-as I mentioned above, this pretty Crocheted Poppy image is still currently available as a single stamp from ODBD without all of the sentiments in the original set).

Use Stampin’ Write Markers to color the flowers (Pool Party, Marina Mist and Garden Green), add water with an AquaPainter™ to blend and soften the edges. 

Use a Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write marker for the shadows and apply Clear Wink of Stella® to the blossoms.

Cut out the image with the Big Shot™ and the ODBD Crocheted Circle Die and mount the die cut focal image with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Serve the Lord (retired ODBD), Chalkboard Vine Background (ODBD)

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Classic Ink- Garden Green, Marina Mist, Pool Party; Stampin’ Write Markers- Garden Green, Marina Mist, Pool Party, Sahara Sand; Clear Wink of Stella®

Paper: Extra Thick and Regular Whisper White, Garden Green, Pool Party

Accessories: MISTI® Tool, Big Shot™, ODBD Crocheted Circle Die, retired Lacy Borcade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, ¼” Pool Party Stitched Satin Ribbon, 1” Black Satin Ribbon, White Crochet Lace, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- hugs and I hope you have a fabulous week!

Psalm 129:8- The Blessings of the Lord

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you had a fun Valentine’s Day weekend!  I was able to spend a bit of time designing cards this weekend for a few of my Design Team challenges (will be sharing these later this week) but I also was able to create a card using the Our Daily Bread Designs "Shining the Light" ODBDSLC270 Sketch Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers’ (SCS) CC569 Color Challenge and the Just Add Ink  JAI298"Just Add V" Challenge (Verse for the sentiment).

If you have not done so already, I hope you will find the time to check out the Design Team samples and gorgeous gallery at Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) as well as the SCS and Just Add Ink galleries-  fabulous inspiration from all!

This card was very easy to create:

Ink the Quilts (ODBD) stamp image using Stāz-On® Jet Black ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

Use an AquaPainter™ to apply ink from Stampin’ Write Markers- Lost Lagoon, Old Olive and Watermelon Wonder to the quilt square and once dry, apply Clear Wink of Stella® to a few areas (this is difficult to see in the photo), fussy-cut the quilt square and layer onto a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ with the ODBD Double Stitched Circle Dies to cut out a circle and the ODBD Pennants Dies to cut out (and emboss the pennant) from Watermelon Wonder cardstock and the Layered Lacey Squares Die to cut out a piece from Whisper White cardstock.

Ink the ODBD Chalkboard Vine Background stamp with Watermelon Wonder Classic Ink and stamp off once before stamping onto the Double Stitched Circle die cut and Pennant Die Cut.

Emboss a piece of retired Old Olive Designer Series Paper with the retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, use a zig zag stitch with white thread to attach it to a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock, trim and mount onto the Watermelon Wonder card base.

Cut the Pennant Die cut (to split the die) and mount the Pennant Die cut along with the Layered Lacey Square die cut onto the card front.

Mount the Quilts image on a diagonal onto the Double Stitched Circle die cut and add the layered image the card front using dimensional foam.

Stamp the verse from the ODBD Doily Blessings stamp set with Stāz-On® Jet Black ink, stamp onto Whisper White cardstock and die cut with the ODBD Double Stitched Circle Dies.

Layer the die cut sentiment onto a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock (also die cut with the same size ODBD Double Stitched Circle Die) and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

Add the Lost Lagoon 3/8” Stitched Satin Triple Bow with Pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Quilts, Chalkboard Vine Background, Doily Blessings (all ODBD)

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Watermelon Wonder; Stampin’ Write Markers- Lost Lagoon, Old Olive, Watermelon Wonder

Paper: Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Watermelon Wonder, retired Old Olive DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™,  ODBD Dies- Layered Lacey Squares, Double Stitched Circles, Pennant; retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, 3/8” Lost Lagoon Stitched Satin Ribbon, Pearls, Sewing Machine, White Thread, AquaPainter™, Clear Wink of Stella®

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- hugs and have a blessed week, my friends!