Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

Hi Friends!

I am still celebrating Independence Day!  This card was another one that I designed using the Stamp Simply Patriotic Bundle Trio (stamps sets- Old Glory, Patriotic Sentiments along with the coordinating Patriotic Stars & Stripes Die).

I decided to go Clean and Layered for this card and am participating with the Cardz 4 Guyz #248 “Red,White and Blue” Challenge, The Male Room #139 “Use Die Cuts” Challenge and the Make My Monday #126 “Stars and/or Stripes” Challenge.

To create this card:

Using Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp the USA image and sentiment onto white cardstock.

Color the images with watercolor pencils and water-based markers. 

FYI- My coloring on the sentiment went a bit outside of the lines due to frayed marker tips- oops! So I used an extra fine black marker to create a slight shadow to cover up the mistake....the actual sentiment from the set stamps so well- time to buy new markers, lol!

Use the coordinating die to die cut the USA image and cut an additional two more dies from white cardstock.  Layer behind the colored image and add dimensional foam (or, use chipboard), set aside.

Create the sentiment banner by trimming and cutting flag ends by hand.  Mount the sentiment onto red cardstock, trimming to match the banner ends.

Emboss a piece of white cardstock with the swirled embossing folder, trim and mount onto red cardstock.

Add the 1” red satin ribbon strip, wrapping the ends behind the panel.  Mount the layered sentiment with dimensional foam or chipboard.

Die cut stars from red and navy cardstock along with silver foil.  Adhere the sentiment to the card front and add the stars around using dimensional foam/chipboard.

Mount the USA image to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Old Glory, Patriotic Sentiments (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Derwent™ and Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils- Reds and Dark Blue/Navy; Stampin’ Write Markers- Real Red, Night of Navy

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Night of Navy, Silver Foil

Accessories: Gemini, Jr.™, Swirls and Stars Embossing Folder (Darice™), Patriotic Stars and Stripes (Old Glory) Dies,  AquaPainter™, 1” Red Satin Ribbon

Thanks again for stopping by- I will be sharing one more patriotic card soon! Hugs and I hope all of you have a fabulous week!

SC677 Great is Our Lord

Hi Friends!

It’s time for the SC677 sketch at Splitcoaststampers!  

Allison designed this unique sketch this week and I decided to create a Clean and Layered card.  

I am also linking this card to the Word Art Wednesday #314-#315 “Anything Goes”Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the SC677 Splitcoaststampers’ Sketch gallery or Word Art Wednesday Challenge site yet, I hope you will do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Using the small snowflake die from the Swirly Snowflakes Thinlit™ Dies, die cut the snowflakes in the pattern of the sketch from Whisper White cardstock.  Remove the snowflakes and set aside.  Trim the panel to 4” x 5 ¼”.  Using a Scoring Tool, score along all of the die-cut snowflakes.

2). Die cut the cross image from the Crosses Dies (Little B) from Whisper White cardstock, another cross from Basic Black cardstock and layer the two die cuts together.

3). De-static the left hand corner of the die cut card front, stamp the verse from Scripture Collection 11 using Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

4). Mount the entire panel onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock, trim and mount onto the Whisper White card base.

5). Re-insert the snowflakes directly into the openings.  Mount the die cut cross with dimensional foam.

6). Add a few Rhinestones to the snowflake centers and the larger Rhinestone accent to the center of the cross to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Scripture Collection 11 (Our Daily Bread Designs)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, Swirly Snowflake Thinlits™ (SU!), Crosses (Little B), Scoring Tool, Rhinestones

Thanks again for stopping by to visit! If you have time, we would love to have you join us at Splitcoaststampers for this week’s sketch challenge!  

Hugs and I hope all of you have a safe and fun New Year, sweet friends!

TCC83 All Ye Faithful

Hi Friends!!

It’s time for the new #83 {Parisian Postale} Challenge at The Card Concept! I was inspired by the kraft, red, white and black colors as well as the script for a Clean and Layered/Mixed Media card! 

This will be our final challenge for 2017 and we will be back with more challenges on January 10, 2018!

I decided to use the new STAMPlorations™ All Ye Faithful Typografia Christmas stamp for my focal image tag and paired it with a retired Stampin’ Up! (SU!) background stamp.

I am also linking this card to the Dies R Us #86 “Christmas Carols” Challenge ("O Come All Ye Faithful" is one of my favorite Christmas hymns) along with the STAMPlorations “Never -Ending Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will find the time to check out the rest of the wonderful Design Team cards at The Card Concept as well as the entries at the other challenge sites- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Using a silicone craft mat, tap Tim Holtz® Festive Berries Distress Ink onto the mat, lightly spritz with water and lay a piece of kraft cardstock into the ink. Dry the panel with a heat tool.

2). With the retired background stamp on the table with the stamp side facing up, ink the stamp with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink and press at random points with your fingers the kraft panel from step #1 into the ink. Lift up and dry with the Heat Tool.  Press a piece of red cardstock (I had this in my stash already die cut with a stitched die) into the script background stamp as well. Die cut the background kraft panel with a stitched rectangle die and mount onto another panel of black cardstock (die cut with a larger stitched rectangle die) and adhere the entire panel onto the white card base.

3). Layer the red script die cut horizontal panel onto a black horizontal panel (again, already in my stash die cut and ready to go).  Wrap the baker’s twine repeatedly over the layer and mount onto the card front.

4). Ink the All Ye Faithful Typografia Christmas stamp with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto another piece of kraft cardstock and heat set with the heat tool.  Die cut with a pierced tag die, lightly press into a bit of the Festive Berries Distress Ink and use a Faber-Castell® Ploychromos™ White Pencil to color the background of the “All Ye Faithful” part of the image as well as the little leaves.

5). Mount the tag onto black cardstock and trim close to the edge.  Add the twine bow and adhere the entire tag onto the card front with dimensional foam.

6). Apply Nuvo™ Festive Berries Crystal Drops to the berries on the sprigs to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: All Ye Faithful Typografia Christmas (STAMPlorations™), French Script background (retired SU!!)

Inks/Mediums:  Versafine™ Onyx Black; Tim Holtz® Festive Berries Distress Ink, Faber-Castell® Polychromos™ White Pencil; Nuvo™ Festive Berries Crystal Drops

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake , Real Red(all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™,  Dies- MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX 1 & 2, MFT Horizontal Stitched Strips, retired MFT Pierced Traditional Tag STAX; Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine (retired SU!)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by!  I hope I have inspired you today and that you will be able to join us for the #83 “Parisian Postale” Challenge at The Card Concept! 

Birthday Blooms- A Color, Sketch and Inspiration Challenge

Hi Friends!

I hope you are enjoying your week so far!   

I needed to create a few more birthday cards for September and decided to incorporate the Pals Paper Arts PPA318 Sketch Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers’ CC601 Color Challenge and the Just Add Ink JAI329 Inspiration Challenge into the design (love all of the pinks and greens in this photo).

Woohoo!!  I was even able to use up a small piece of retired Designer Series Paper from the Print Poetry DSP Stack (even though the main background is Midnight Muse, the lettering appeared to be close to the Dapper Denim :-)).  Love using up part of my "stash"- lol!!

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

To create this card:

Ink the sentiment from Rose Wonder with the Basic Black Stampin’ Archival™  Ink Pad and stamp onto the lower portion of a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Add a bit of texture with the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge using ink from the Dapper Denim Stampin’ Write Marker.

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Dapper Denim cardstock, trim again and mount onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

Use the Basic Black Stampin’ Archival™  Ink Pad to stamp the floral image from Birthday Blooms onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock and heat set with the Heat Tool .

Color the flower using an AquaPainter™ along with ink from the Stampin’ Write Markers (FYI- I "scribble" the ink from the marker onto an acrylic block or a silicone craft mat and lift with the water brush).  I used Melon Mambo for the flower petals and Mint Macaron for the leaves  (adding darker shadows with the marker directly to the image and blending with the AquaPainter™).

Fussy cut the flower and add the white highlights with the White Gel Pen.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Mint Macaron cardstock and mount onto a piece of Dapper Denim.

Cut a 2  1/4" square piece of the retired Print Poetry Designer Series Paper (DSP) and mount onto a piece of Dapper Denim cardstock.

Create the Melon Mambo banner with the Banner Triple Punch, lightly stamp the grid image from Timeless Textures using Melon Mambo ink (from the marker), layer the embossed Mint Macaron layer directly to the card front and adhere the Melon Mambo banner over the edge of the Mint Macaron layer.

Adhere the fussy cut flower to the Print Poetry square layer and mount onto the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Finish off the card with a few Pearls in the corner and adding Clear Wink of Stella® to the blossoms.

Stamp Sets: Birthday Blooms, Gorgeous Grunge, Rose Wonder, Timeless Textures 

Ink/Mediums: Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad™, Stampin’ Write Markers- Dapper Denim, Melon Mambo, Mint Macaron; White Gel Pen, Clear Wink of Stella®

Paper: Whisper White, Dapper Denim, Melon Mambo, Mint Macaron; retired Print Poetry DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, AquaPainter™, Heat Tool, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and have a great week!

How's It Growing?

Hi Friends! 

I hope all of you had a great Father’s Day weekend!! I am so thankful that my father is still alive and he had safe travels to his home in Florida.  Although we have not seen each other in a while, I was able to talk with him today on the phone and he is doing as well as possible:-)

Today I am sharing this card on the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps blog today and wanted to share with you here as well.

This Clean and Layered (CAL) card was designed using the new Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) set Winnie’s Garden (designed by Wynne Gettelfinger) using the Mojo Monday Mojo452 Sketch Challenge (I decided to flip the sketch and it is too late to link to their gallery:-)).

If you have not had a chance to stop by the Sweet ‘n Sassy blog or the Mojo Monday Challenge site, I hope you will find the time to do so- wonderful inspiration from all of my Creative Team Sisters as well as the fabulous Mojo Monday gallery!

To create this card:

Ink the girl image with flowers from Winnie’s Garden (SNSS) with Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black Ink onto watercolor paper and heat set the ink with the Heat Tool.

Color the stamped image using Stampin’ Write Markers with an AquaPainter™- Dapper Denim (jeans and head scarf), Hello Honey (hair), Blushing Bride with Sweet Sugarplum (tee shirt), Real Red (tulips and lips), Garden Green (leaves),  Rich Razzleberry with Sweet Sugarplum (large flower) and Blushing Bride with Sweet Sugarplum (remaining flowers).

Use the AquaPainter™ with Ranger® Tim Holtz® Distress Markers- Salty Ocean (sky) and Mowed Lawn (grass) to create the landscape.

Die cut the image using the Big Shot™ with the My Favorite Things® (MFT) Stitched Square Dies and mount onto Dapper Denim cardstock (trimming close to the die cut to create a thin frame).

Repeat the above steps for the sentiment from Winnie's Garden as well.

Use the Big Shot™ with the retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Dapper Denim cardstock (scrap piece in my stash) along with a piece of retired Tempting Turquoise and Wild Wasabi Designer Series paper mounted onto a piece of Wild Wasabi cardstock.

Layer the embossed DSP onto the Dapper Denim card front and mount onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

Die cut a piece of Home Sweet Home Graphic 45® Designer Paper with the MFT Stitched Circle Die (also die-cutting a piece of Dapper Denim)- layer the two together and adhere to the card front.

Add the Winnie’s Garden focal image panel along with the embossed Dapper Denim strip (per the sketch) and mount the layered sentiment with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Winnie’s Garden (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink:  Basic Black Stampin’ Archival™, Stampin’ Write Markers- Dapper Denim, Hello Honey Blushing Bride, Sweet Sugarplum, Real Red, Garden Green, Rich Razzleberry; Ranger® Tim Holtz® Distress Markers- Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn

Paper: Watercolor, Dapper Denim, Wild Wasabi; Graphic® Home Sweet Home 6x6 Paper, retired Stampin’ Up! Tempting Turquoise and Wild Wasabi Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Square and Circle Dies, retired Swuare Latticve Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for stopping by- I am so encouraged by your visits and sweet comments!  Have a blessed week, my friends!

Very Merry- Christmas in June

Hi Friends!

I had fun in my stamping studio this past week and created a few cards- this Clean and Layered (CAL) Mixed Media card was designed using the FreshlyMade Sketches FMS240 Sketch Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers’ CC582 "A Real Picnic in the Sand with Cucumbers" Color Challenge (dessert option was picnic- obviously I skipped dessert :-)).

I pulled out a few of my retired stamp sets to create a Christmas card for this year- I am so behind on my Christmas card stamping (I had hoped to start in January) and will have to start soon to get all of my Christmas cards created on time to mail ( I know I have several months but I do have a large Christmas card list :-)).

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge galleries yet, I encourage you to do so- it always amazes me how many different cards can be designed with one color, sketch or theme challenge!

To create this card:

Ink the Ageless Adornment image with Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

Color the image with an AquaPainter™ and ink from Stampin’ Write Markers- Real Red, Cucumber Crush and Sahara Sand.

Add Clear Wink of Stella® to the background area.

Color the frame around the image with the retired Stampin’ Dazzle Gold Marker, fussy-cut the image, mount onto Basic Black cardstock and fussy-cut around the edge.

Use the Big Shot™ with Sizzix® Textured Impressions™ Folders (Holly and Poinsettia- I do not know the actual names) to emboss a piece of Real Red, Cucumber Crush and Sahara Sand cardstock, trim and mount each onto Basic Black cardstock (per the FMS240 Sketch).

Ink the sentiment from the retired set, Short & Sweet with Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock, create the banner with the Hexagon Punch, mount onto Basic Black cardstock and use the Hexagon Punch to create the banner.

Trim a piece of Whisper White cardstock, mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Sahara Sand cardstock, trim and mount onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

Add the embossed layers per the sketch, add the Gold Cord Trim and mount the sentiment along with the stamped holly focal image to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Ageless Adornment, Short & Sweet (both retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Real Red, Cucumber Crush, Sahara Sand; Stampin’ Dazzle™ Gold Marker; Clear Wink of Stella®

Paper: Whisper White, Extra Thick Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Cucumber Crush, Sahara Sand

Accessories: Big Shot™, Sizzix® Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders (Holly & Poinsettia), AquaPainter™, Gold Cord, Hexagon Punch

Thanks again for stopping by!!  I will be sharing the rest of the cards shortly so if you have a chance, I hope you will drop by again soon :-) 

Hugs and have a great week, my friends!

The Wilderness Awaits- Thinking of You :-)

Hi Again Stampers! 

I wanted to share another card that I designed using the RS171 Retro Sketches Challenge along with the Paper Players PP252 Ann's Theme Challenge (The Great Outdoors).

 

As soon as I saw the theme, I thought of the new stamp set, The Wilderness Awaits  I just love the realistic animal images in this set and for some reason, this elk image seemed to call out- use me- lol!!  

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will find the time to visit the above challenge sites to check out the Design Team samples as well as their galleries- terrific inspiration from all!

This was a quick, easy card to create- ink the sentiment and elk image using Stāz-On®

Jet Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock, color the elk with a Tip Top Taupe marker and AquaPainter™, layer the retired DSP onto Early Espresso and Pool Party cardstock, add the embossed woodgrain panels and frame the image using a stitched die and layering.

Add a clip with some ribbon along with the banner sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: The Wilderness Awaits, Wetlands

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Stampin’ Write Marker- Tip Top Taupe

Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pool Party, retired Sweater Weather DSP, This and That Epic Day DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, MFT Stitched Square Die, Hexagon Punch, retired Sycamore Street Pool Party Stitched Satin Ribbon, retired Hodgepodge Hardware Clip, Natural Linen Thread

Thanks again for visiting- stop by again soon for the new SUO Challenge :-)  I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!!

Summer Fun with A Color, Sketch and Theme Challenge :-)

Hi Again Stampers! 

I hope all of you are enjoying your weekend!  My hubby had to work the whole weekend, so I decided to spend some time designing cards :-)  Any excuse to spend time crafting, right??

I just love the fresh color combination in this week’s Pals Paper Arts PPA258 Color Challenge, so I pulled out my new stamp set, Awesomely Artistic and combined it with the Freshly Made Sketches FM193 Sketch Challenge and the Simon Monday “Summer”Challenge. .

 Flowers and dragonflies definitely remind me of the summer vacations that we would take to rural New Yorl- my grandparents had a cabin on a river and the dragonflies would be flitting around as well as the blossoming summer flowers...I remember as a young child chasing the rabbits and trying to catch one :-)  Oh, to be a kid again- lol!!

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will find the time to visit the above challenge sites to check out the Design Team samples as well as their galleries-wonderful inspiration from all!

This was a quick, easy card to create- stamp the images using Stāz-On® Midnight Blue ink onto Whisper White cardstock, color with Stampin’ Write markers, trim and mount onto Night of Navy and Cucumber Crush cardstock.

Add a few Rhinestones and you are finished!  

Easy, peasy as one of my fellow demonstrators loves to say :-)

Stamp Sets: Awesomely Artistic

Ink: Cucumber Crush, Stāz-On® Midnight Blue; Stampin’ Write Markers- Cucumber Crush, Night of Navy, Watermelon Wonder, White Gel Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Cucumber Crush, Night of Navy

Accessories: Big Shot™, retired Starburst Collection Framelits™, Rhinestones

Thanks again for visiting- if you have any questions, please let me know in the comments.   Hugs and have a wonderful week, my friends!