November 21- Power Poppy Hues to Use Challenge Guest Designer

Hi Friends!!

Woohoo!! I am the Guest Designer for the Power Poppy "Hues to Use"Challenge for the week of November 21^st!!  

In addition to the monthly Power & Spark Challenge at Power Poppy, the "Hues to Use" Challenge is a weekly color challenge which does not have a link up expiration date, so you can play anytime!! One of the benefits of playing along is that you may be asked to be a Guest Designer in the future- which is such an honor and very exciting!!

I am so excited since I absolutely love Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley images and own several of her clear stamp sets as well as quite a few digital sets.  

I know, many of you may cringe at the thought of digital stamps and feel that digital images are too intimidating, but trust me, they are so easy to use!! You can import them into photo editing software (I generally use the retired Stampin’ Up! My Digital Studio™ program or Word) or you can use another word processing program.  

Also, what I love about digital images is that you can enlarge or reduce the image, flip it and/or crop it, then print it out on cardstock, watercolor paper or other paper.  Then you just color as you would a stamped image.  It is so easy to create different looks with just one image plus another major benefit for me is that they do not take up space in my stamping studio :-)

This week’s "Hues to Use" neutral palette is perfect for so many different types of cards and with the celebration of Thanksgiving this week here in the States, I decided to use the main image from the Olive and Oak digital stamp set and the sentiment from the Bittersweet Wreath digital stamp set.

I will also be participating with the Word Art Wednesday #308-#309 “Anything Goes” Challenge, the Curtain Call "Acorns" Inspiration Challenge and the CAS-Fridays #187 "Gratitude with Attitude" 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 challenge gallery at Power Poppy (as well as their other challenge sand blog posts).  Their Design Team is amazing and gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Open an 8 ½” x 11” document in your word processing/photo software program, import or insert the Olive & Oak image into the blank document (I enlarged it a bit) and import the sentiment from Bittersweet Wreath into another area of the document.  I positioned them both on the same page but made sure I had enough room to cut out the main image panel and that the sentiment would be the correct size for the 4 ¼” card (again, this is what I love about digital images!!).  Print the images using black printer ink onto white cardstock. FYI- you can use watercolor paper or other colored cardstock as well – just as long as your printer will handle the weight.  I tend to use an 80lb weight white cardstock that has a very smooth surface. 

2). Use a water brush with antique linen distress ink, watercolor the entire image.  Use a heat tool to speed up the drying and continue to color the image using watercolor pencils, distress ink and markers and shadows with a water soluble graphite pencil until you are satisfied with the results.  I also used an alcohol marker for the background (to try to achieve an antique paper look).  Use a stencil with antique linen distress ink to lightly stencil in the background.

3). Die cut the image with a rectangle stitched die, mount onto rust cardstock, trim close to the die cut edge and mount onto espresso cardstock. Create the photo corners using a square punch from rust cardstock and trim the edges for the photo corner. Add the chocolate brads in the corners and mount the entire panel onto a piece of rust cardstock. 

4). Using a tutorial from Splitcoaststampers for an easel card (see tutorial here), I cut a piece of espresso cardstock to 4 ¼” x 11” and scored at 5 ½” and 8 ¼”.  I folded on the score lines to create the easel.

5). Hand trim the sentiment to approx. 3 ¾” wide, watercolor with the antique linen distress ink and watercolor pencils for a wash over the sentiment panel and stencil around the edges with the same stencil as used above for the main image panel.  Mount the sentiment onto rust cardstock, trim and mount onto espresso cardstock, trim and mount onto rust cardstock again for the layers.

6). On a separate piece of espresso cardstock (approx. 4 ¼” wide by 5” tall), add the crochet lace and chocolate ribbon. Wrap the ribbon ends behind this panel and adhere the panel to the lower portion of the easel card.  Mount the sentiment with dimensional foam (this is the part of the card that will help keep the easel portion open).

7). Adhere the front panel onto the small flap of the easel card, test out the easel movement to make sure that it will work smoothly.

8).To finish off the card, add shimmer to the main oak leaf with a clear shimmer pen.

Stamp Sets: Olive and Oak, Bittersweet Wreath (both digital stamps from PowerPoppy)

Ink/Mediums: Inkjet Printer- Black Ink,  Tim Holtz® (TH) Antique Linen Distress Ink, TH Gathered Twigs Distress Marker, Stampin’ Up! (SU!) Markers- Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Rexel Derwent® Watercolor Pencils-#53 Sepia, #57 Brown Ochre, #62 Burnt Sienna, #64 Terra Cotta; Derwent® Water Soluble Graphite Pencil- HB Light Wash; Spectrum Noir™ GV1 Alcohol Marker & Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangle STAX Dies, AquaPainter™, Ivory Crochet Lace, Chocolate brads, 1” Satin Ribbon from my stash

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 Power Poppy “Hues to Use” Challenge!

Refuge in Him

Hi Friends!

This card was designed using the Creative Worship Clear Stamp Sets, Faith Quote Blocks (NinaB Designs) and His Wings (Korin Sutherland) from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps.  I love the images in both of these sets- perfect for cards, Bible Art Journaling, home décor as well as scrapbooking and other crafts.

 I used the layout from the Freshly Made Sketches #303 Sketch Challenge for the design along with the Curtain Call 09/01 “Dreamcatcher” Inspiration  Challenge for the colors and theme.  I am also linking to the Word Art Wednesday #298-#299 “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). For the background- tap Tim Holtz® Worn Lipstick and Hickory Smoke Distress Ink onto a silicone mat, lightly spritz with water, press a piece of vanilla cardstock into the ink, lift up and dry the ink with a heat tool.

2). Once the panel has thoroughly dried, ink the Faith Quote Blocks images with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp onto the panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Trim the panel and mount onto gray cardstock, trim again and mount onto a white card base.

3). Ink the feather images and the bird image from His Wings with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp onto vanilla cardstock, heat emboss with clear embossing powder and once the embossing has cooled, fussy-cut the feathers.  For the lighter colored feather, apply Worn Lipstick and Vintage Photo Distress Ink onto vanilla cardstock, ink the solid feather from His Wings with Versamark™ ink, heat emboss with clear embossing powder and once cooled, fussy cut the image.

4). Emboss a piece of woodgrain designer paper with a woodgrain folder, apply diluted white acrylic paint over the embossing with a paint brush, trim and mount onto black cardstock.

5). Add strips of polished hemp twine, layer the fussy-cut feathers, add the twine bow and antique brad.  Mount the woodgrain panel onto the card front and mount the bird with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Faith Quote Blocks, His Wings (Creative Worship from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Ink- Worn Lipstick, Hickory Smoke, Vintage Photo

Paper/Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray, retired Well Worn designer paper

Accessories/Tools: Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Antique Brad, Polished Hemp Twine

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I hope all of you have a blessed week!  

Two Challenges- Three Cards (well almost) :-)

Hi Stampers!  I have not had a chance to stamp since Monday evening and was starting to have withdrawal symptoms :-) ! 

I love the colors for this weeks Curtain Call Challenge (see http://www.stampinwithstacey.blogspot.com for more details) and decided to create a card using these colors along with the Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge #CCMC116 (see http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com for more details).

When I first looked at the colors this week, I immediately thought of Lovely as A Tree and the new set Day of Gratitude.

Lovely As A Tree is such a classic set and even though it has been around for awhile, I tend to turn to it quite often (especially for masculine cards). 

Also I have decided to start using all of the current sets that I own – even if they are not new to the 2010-2011 catalog.  Why buy stamp sets if you do not use them?

The first card I created also uses the new Decorative Label XL Punch with the medallion from Day of Gratitude and Sincere Saluations for the sentiment.  I also had a scrap piece of Always Artichoke already embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper EF and topped it off with the Early Espresso ribbon.  I decided not to add the three brads that were in the sketch, I felt that the three trees in the background would be a great substitute. 

The second card utilizes the same medallion from Day of Gratitude, the new Vintage Wallpaper EF, pearls, Whisper White ribbon and the piece of Always Artichoke was already embossed with the Texture Plate (love being able to pull things from my stash) and just sponged both of the embossed pieces with Early Espresso.

The third card uses the same colors but I wanted to use the oak tree from the set.  I hardly ever use the oak tree- I think it is beautiful, but I tend to stamp the large pine or the tree border.  Again, I wanted to update the look of this set with new accessories- the Vintage Wallpaper EF, Scallop Trim Border Punch and Early Espresso Ribbon.  I also used the Medallion Background stamp (center portion) on the label and background behind the tree.  Sponged and distressed the embossing and images to complete the look.

Thanks again for visiting- I love to read your comments!  You are such an encouragement to me and I thank the Lord for all of you! 

ACT45 and SSC166 Birthday Wishes

Since my first card using the colors from the Curtain Call Challenge #45 was a Christmas card, I decided to create another card using the same colors from the ACT45 Challenge (see http://www.stampinwithstacey.blogspot.com/) along with the sketch challenge #SSC166 from the Stamping411 Operators (see http://www.stamping411.blogspot.com/). 
 I decided to flip the sketch and added the sentiment separate from the main image:-)

Stamp Set: Watercolor Trio

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Ink: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice and Vintage Wallpaper EF, Ovals Die, Large and Medium Oval Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush SU! Markers, 5/8” Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Pearls, Dimensionals

I hope you like this card- God Bless!

ACT45 Merry Christmas

I created this card for the Curtain Call Challenge #45 (ACT45. See http://www.stampinwithstacey.blogspot.com/ for more details and other examples.

Using the new Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, ink up the folder using a brayer with Concord Crush and process this through the Big Shot with Whisper White cardstock. For the upper layer, use the same embossing folder with Whisper White and a sponge dauber with Concord Crush (tear edge with the Tearing Edge). Spray the upper layer with Frost White Shimmer Paint and attach the ribbon.

The sentiment is from Occasional Quotes and is stamped with Crushed Concord on Whisper White and layered with Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake and Crushed Concord (using the XL Decorative Punch and Large Oval Punches).  The snowflake embellishments are created with the Snowflake Punch and an Antique Brad topped with a pearl.

I hope you like this card- have a great week!