TCC219 I Will Give You Rest

 

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back to The Card Concept!  We are starting our monthly challenges again with our September #219 Butterflies and Blooms with two new designers on the team!

We hope that you will take the time to check out the Design Team's cards for even more inspiration! 

I was inspired by the florals and colors for my simple Mixed Media card and I decided to pull out a few of my retired Stampin’ Up! sets- Summer Silhouettes, En Francais along with the sentiment from Words of Encouragement from Stamp Simply.

I have been trying to ink up some of my older stamps and thought that this set would be perfect for the florals/background on this card.  I also have not had a chance to play around with my oxide inks in a while.  

If you follow my blog, you know that I enjoy playing along with other online challenges and will be linking this card to the As You Like It "Favourite- Layered or Flat and Why?" Challenge.  

I tend to gravitate to layered cards and love using lace and ribbon along with pearls.  The more layers, the more for me!

To create this card:

Using distress oxides (the colors I used are listed below), layer the inks onto a piece of white cardstock using a stencil brush.

Dry the inks with a heat tool before stamping the floral images using Versafine Black Onyx ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Continue layering the floral images with the above process, applying white embossing powder to some of the petals.

Ink the background image from Summer Silhouettes with Crushed Olive Distress Oxide ink and repeatedly stamp over the background (gently wipe off the ink from the floral tops).  Apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Ink the background stamp, En Francais with Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide ink and randomly press over the background.

Once satisfied with the background, trim to approximately 3.75” x 5”.  Mount onto a piece of white cardstock, trim close to the edges.  Mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim once more.

Add a strip of white crochet lace to the card front. 

Adhere a piece of black and white checked ribbon to the card front, wrapping the ends behind the card front.

Mount the entire card panel onto a white card base.

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the verse sentiment from Words of Encouragement with Versafine Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing has cooled, die cut the sentiment with a stitched circle die.

Mount onto black cardstock (I die cut two circles from the same circle die, layering for a small frame behind the sentiment).

Adhere to the card front using dimensional foam and add a few pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Words of Encouragement (Stamp Simply); En Francais and Summer Silhouettes (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Inks/Mediums: Versafine Black Onyx, Distress Oxide- Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Crushed Olive

Cardstock/Paper: White, Black

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., MFT Stitched Circle Dies, Stencil Brushe, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, White Crochet Lace (Hobby Lobby), Black and White Checked Ribbon, Pearls

I hope you have had a chance to stop by The Card Concept to see how the rest of the Design Team were inspired as well as check out the other challenge gallery entries! Gorgeous work from everyone!

We hope you are inspired to create a card and join us for our #219 Butterflies and Blooms at The Card Concept!  The deadline to play along is Monday, October 6^th at noon EDT.

TCC104 Peace on Earth

Hi Friends!

It's time for The Card Concept #104 {Elegant Holiday} Challenge!

Wow, what a gorgeous inspiration photo Lesley found for us!  The various shades of metallic silvers along with the green and pinecones inspired me to create a Classy and Elegant/Mixed Media Christmas card!

I love participating in online challenges and incorporated the Mojo Monday #504 Sketch Challenge along with The Flower Challenge #27 “Use an Older Stamp or Die” Challenge (I used a flower image I have owned for several years as well as a retired stamp for the sentiment and background), the International Art & Soul Challenge #48 “Add Some Sparkle” Challenge and the Dragonfly Journeys #130 “Handmade Holiday Magic”Challenge into the design.

Just a reminder that the Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a suggestion of design styles that you can choose from to create your card- Clean and Simple, Clean and Graphic, Clean and Layered, Shabby Chic, Freestyle Collage, Classy and Elegant and Mixed Media (or you can combine several styles for your own style).

If you have not had a chance to visit us at The Card Concept or the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will find time to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static two pieces of white cardstock (4 ¼” x 5 ½”) with an embossing powder tool.   On one panel stamp the poinsettia image from Poinsettia (Power Poppy by Marcella) with Versamark™ ink, apply pewter embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, fussy-cut the poinsettia image and set aside.

2). On the other prepared panel of white cardstock, stamp the sentiment from the retired Beyond Measure (Verve Stamps) with Versamark™ ink, apply pewter embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. Die cut the panel using a stitched rectangle die, mount onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock, trim close to the edge.

3). Stamp the retired En Francais (Stampin’ Up!) background stamp onto a piece of Pear Pizzazz cardstock using Early Espresso Classic Ink.  Trim the panel, mount onto Early Espresso cardstock and adhere the strip to the card front.  Add the silver metallic ribbon and mount onto the white card base.

4). Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched circle die, mount onto another circle die cut from Early Espresso cardstock and mount to the card front with dimensional foam.  Adhere the fussy-cut poinsettia image directly to the circle and add a bit of shimmer to the petals using a clear glitter pen.

5). Use a branch punch to cut out several branches from silver metallic paper and add to the card front behind the poinsettia image.

6). Finish off the card by adding the triple silver metallic bow, the string of rhinestones and pearls to the center of the poinsettia.

 Stamp Sets: Poinsettia (Power Poppy by Marcella), Beyond Measure (retired Verve Stamps), En Francais (retired Stampin’ Up!) background)

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™ , Early Espresso Classic Ink (Stampin’ Up!), Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz (Stampin’ Up!)

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot™, My Favorite Things Dies- Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX,  Stitched Circle STAX Dies, Circle Dies (retired SU!), Branch Punch (Martha Stewart),  Embossing Powder Tool, Pewter Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 3/8” Silver Metallic Wired Ribbon (Darice®), Silver Rhinestones, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope you will join us for our {Elegant Holiday} Challenge at The Card Concept- we would love to see your card in our gallery!!

Love Begins in A Moment

Hi Friends!!

This Mixed Media card was created using the ColourQ #339 Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers’ MIX2 “It’s Not Hard To Resist”  Challenge (details here and gallery here) and the Simon Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not visited the above galleries yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- great inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Die cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock using the My Favorite Things® (MFT) Blueprints 16 Stitched Rectangle Die and de-static with the Embossing Buddy®.

Ink the retired Day of Gratitude medallion with Versamark™ ink and stamp repeatedly onto the prepared panel, apply Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Once the embossing powder has cooled, use a Sponge Dauber to sponge Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink over the entire panel, wipe off the excess from the embossed images.

Use a Sponge Dauber to “pounce” Night of Navy and Marina Mist Classic Inks onto the retired En Francais background stamp and lay the embossed panel over the stamps, pressing down randomly to ink the panel.

Gently wipe the blue inks off the embossed images with a paper towel and mount the panel onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock.

Wrap a strip of 1 ¼” Navy Grosgrain Ribbon over the panel, add the 5/8” Organza Ribbon along with the retired ⅜” Pumpkin Pie Taffeta Ribbon and add a strand of Pearls to the center of the Pumpkin Pie ribbon layer.

Mount the background panel onto a Whisper White card base.

Create the roses with Marina Mist cardstock using the Big Shot™ and the MFT Royal Rose and Large Royal Rose Dies.  Use the Crimper Tool to crimp the die cut roses before rolling up and adhering with glue in the center (I use Hot Glue for this step).

Create the leaves from Pear Pizzazz cardstock with the Martha Stewart® (MS) Leaf Punch, add the leaves to the back of the roses (again, I used Hot Glue) and apply Gesso® to the flower petals and leaves with your fingers or a paint brush.

Ink the sentiment from the retired Stampin’ Up! Occasional Quotes using Stāz-On® Midnight Blue Ink onto a piece of Vellum, use the Hexagon Punch to create the banner ends.

Layer the vellum on top of a piece of Whisper White cardstock (stamped with the Timeless Textures stamps using Pumpkin Pie and Marina Mist Classic Ink).

Mount the sentiment using dimensional foam and add the roses to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Day of Gratitude, Occasional Quotes, Timeless Textures, En Francais background stamp

Ink: Stāz-On® Midnight Blue, Versamark™, Classic Ink- Pumpkin Pie, Marina Mist, Night of Navy

Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz; Vellum

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Blueprints 16 Die, Royal Roses Dies,  1 ¼” Dark Navy Grosgrain Ribbon (from my stash), Stampin’ Up! Ribbon- ⅝” Organza and ⅜” Pumpkin Pie Taffeta, Pearls, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Hexagon Punch, MS Leaf Punch, Sponge Dauber 

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope you have a terrific week, my friends!

A Friend Loves At All Times- using Toilet Paper for a Paper Cast :-)

Hi Friends!

When I saw Sabrina's (Cook22)Try A New Technique TLC582 “Paper Cast” Challenge at Splitcoaststampers, I decided to give this fun technique a try and create a card :-)

After all, using toilet paper to create a focal image- who could resist? 

But, even after I created this Mixed Media card, I was not sure if should share it with all of you (after all, it is toilet paper), but here it goes....(no pun intended)  :-)

Yes, you read that correctly, you will need toilet paper for this technique- just plain regular toilet paper known as "TP" here in the U.S. (I used Charmin Extra Soft but you can use whatever brand you desire).  

Basically you stack several layers of the TP, press your stamp onto a clear block with the image facing up toward you (or use a wood mount stamp, lay the dry TP stack over your stamp and spritz the area of the image carefully with water (avoiding the edges of the TP), press the TP into the stamp and continue to press with a kitchen towel (I used a microfiber towel that I have in my stamping area), carefully lift the “paper cast” TP off of the stamp and set aside to dry.

Allow the paper cast to dry completely (I used a Heat Tool carefully to speed up the drying) and color if desired.  There are complete details here at the TLC582 challenge forum plus a video tutorial  :-)

This was the first time I had ever tried this technique, so I used six layers (as noted in the video) of the Charmin Extra Soft, die cut the TP with the Big Shot™ using the second to the largest My Favorite Things® (MFT) Stitched Rounded Rectangle Die before proceeding with the steps above to create my paper cast with the flower image from You’ve Got This.

After drying, a few of my paper cast layers separated, so I carefully removed them, colored the floral image with Spectrum Noir® Markers (DG2 for the leaves and BP6 for the petals) and I used the tip of a very fine paintbrush to add Titanium White Acrylic Paint to the flower center.

FYI- I did notice as I photographed the card that the ink on the flower petals bleed a bit when the alcohol markers dried, so I would recommend if using alcohol markers to avoid coloring up to the edges as I did.

Since I noticed several of the ladies in the challenge forum were mentioning that traditional adhesive was not recommended (it would tear the TP, etc.) so I decided to pull out my sewing machine and attach with a zig zag stitch.

I finished off the card with a heat embossed sentiment, added ModPodge® to the butterfly wings  (I mounted the sentiment and butterflies using craft foam and hot glue) along with pearls to the butterfly centers. 

***Please note *** I had the butterflies previously stamped and colored from a prior project, but the original black ink was very light so I used a Black Extra-Fine Point Sharpie® to darken the butterfly wing patterns before adding the ModPodge® and used a White Pitt Pen Marker to add the white highlights after the ModPodge® dried :-)

Close-up of the Paper Cast Floral image :-)

Not sure if I would try this technique again right away, but it was fun and the focal image is very soft looking and a bit fuzzy (difficult to capture in the photos)....

I am also linking to the Simon Says Monday Challenge "Butterfly Beauty" Challenge  as well as the Splitcoaststampers' MIX126 "What If?" ( to get over your fear and try something new....this paper cast technique was definitely new to me :-)).

I hope you will find the time to visit all of challenge sites (fabulous inspiration from all)! 

Stamp Sets: You’ve Got This, Blessed by God, Papillon Potpourri, retired En Francais background stamp

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™, Pear Pizzazz; Stampin’ Write Marker- So Saffron; Spectrum Noir® Alcohol Markers (DG2, BP6); Titanium White Acrylic Paint, Black Extra-Fine Sharpie®, Faber-Castell® White Pitt Pen Marker, ModPodge®

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle Dies, Toilet Paper, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Note Punch, Pearls, Sewing Machine, White Sewing Thread, #2 Paint Brush

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- oh, and don’t forget, now you will need to stock up on your TP for the craft room- lol!!

TCC41 Happy Anniversary

Hi Friends!!

It is time for the new Card Concept #41 "Autumn Neutrals" Photo Inspiration Challenge- love all of the texture for inspiration!

I also decided to incorporate the Splitcoaststampers’ Mix-Ability MIX130 “Crack Me Up”  as well as the Free For All F4A271 "Getting Hitched"  and the HYCCT1507 Jacqueline's "Trash Cancer" Challenges (T=Texture Paste, R= Roses, A=Acrylic Paint, S= Satin Ribbon, H- Hexagon Punch)   into the design.

The Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a number of design styles that you can choose from to create your card- Clean and Simple, Clean and Graphic, Clean and Layered, Shabby Chic, Freestyle Collage, Classy and Elegant and Mixed Media.   

Hope you can find some time to gather your supplies together and come join in on the fun!! 

To create this card:

Apply Gesso® to a piece of retired Designer Series Paper (DSP)- this is one way to use up patterns that you are not too fond of – allow to dry.

Add a few drops of Soft White Acrylic Paint to a Gelli® Arts Printing Plate, brayer over the plate and add a drop of Soft Black Acrylic Paint (using a brayer to gently blend with the white paint). 

Use an old credit card to draw lines in the paint (gently so you do not mar the Gelli® Arts Printing Plate).  Lay the prepared DSP onto the plate and lift the paper.

Allow the paint to dry, apply Wendy Vecchi® Crackled Texture Paste over the panel, allow this layer to dry, apply Mod Podge® with a foam brush and allow to dry to the touch.

Using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink, stamp the En Francais background sporadically to the background. 

Use the Distressing Tool to distress the edges and add the gray crocheted lace along with the gray satin ribbon.  Mount the panel onto the 5 ½” x 5 ½” Whisper White card base.

Ink the Tim Holtz® Papillon stamp using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, ink a portion of the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) Chalkboard Vine Background stamp using a Stampin’ Write Going Gray Marker and stamp over the sentiment.

Trim the panel and mount onto Basic Gray cardstock.  Apply Gesso® with your finger lightly over the panel and allow to dry.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Spellbinders™ Timeless Rectangle Die to cut out the frame from a piece of Basic Gray cardstock.  Mount the sentiment panel onto the die cut frame and adhere the sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Stamp the sentiment from the Graphic45® Time to Flourish#2 stamp set using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, create the banner using the Hexagon Punch, mount onto a piece of Basic Gray cardstock (creating banner points with the Hexagon Punch as well) and apply Gesso® to the sentiment with your finger.

Mount the sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Use the Big Shot™ with the MFT Royal Rose and Mini Rose Dies to cut roses from Whisper White cardstock- roll up the flowers and mount onto the card front with leaves created from Basic Gray cardstock with the Martha Stewart® Leaf Punch.  Add a bit of Gesso® to the roses and leaves.  

Adhere a few Pearls to the corner to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  En Francais, Time To Flourish (G45), Papillon (TH)

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Acrylic Paint- Soft Black, Soft White

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, retired DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Royal Rose and Mini Royal Rose Dies, Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles Die, Gelli® Arts Printing Plate, Embossing Buddy®, Gesso®, Punches- Hexagon, MS Leaf, Crackle Texture Paste, Gray Satin Ribbon, Gray Crochet Lace, Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a wonderful week and come play along with us at The CardConcept!

A Floral Birthday- A Color, Sketch and Designer's Choice Challenge :-)

Hi Friends!

I had a chance to create a card last night that using the Create with Connie andMary CCMC374 Color Challenge along with The Paper Players  PP264 Sketch Challenge and the Can You Case It?  CYCI#88 Designer's Choice "Anything Goes" Challenge. 

Again, I hope you will take the time (if you have not done so already) to visit the above challenge sites to check out all of the Design Team entries as well as the galleries- tremendous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Ink the retired background stamp, En Francais using Calypso Coral Classic Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Blushing Bride cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Watermelon Wonder card stock.

Use the Big Shot™ with the retired Finishing Touches Edgelit™ to cut out the strip from Whisper White cardstock, add to the bottom of the panel along with a scrap strip of Calypso Coral cardstock.

Emboss a piece of Blushing Bride cardstock with the Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and use a sewing machine to add the embossed panel to a piece of Calypso Coral cardstock.  Trim and mount onto the Whisper White card base.

Ink the honeycomb background from Butterfly Basics with Blushing Bride  Classic Ink and stamp onto a piece of Blushing Bride cardstock, trim and stitch to a piece of Calypso Coral cardstock for the horizontal strip in the sketch. 

Add this panel to the stamped panel created in the first step and mount to the card front.

Ink the floral image from Butterfly Basics using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Color the image using Stampin’ Write Markers- Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral and Watermelon Wonder (using an AquaPainter™ behind layers to soften the edges).  Add a few white highlights to the flower center with the White Gel Pen.

Create a loose mask from scrap paper to cover the flower and stamp the honeycomb image using Blushing Bride Classic Ink.  Add the canceled stamp image using Watermelon Wonder Classic Ink and a few shadows to all of the images with the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker.

Trim the panel and mount onto Blushing Bride cardstock, trim again and mount onto Calypso Coral cardstock.

Mount the panel onto the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Ink the butterfly using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, color with the Blushing Bride and Calypso Coral Stampin’ Write Markers and punch out with the Elegant Butterfly Punch.

Add the butterfly to the card front (I used Hot Glue for this step and part of a dimensional behind the butterfly).

Ink the sentiment with Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, punch out with the Word Window Punch and add a layer of Blushing Bride and Calypso Coral cardstock (also punched with the Word Window Punch and all three punched on the end with the Hexagon Punch to create the banner points).

Adhere the sentiment to the card front and add the Pearls to the corners.

Create a Calypso Coral bow with the Bow Builder Punch and mount to the card front along with the Antique Brad to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Butterfly Basics, Papillon Potpourri, Teeny Tiny Wishes, En Francais (retired)

Ink:  Stāz-On® Jet Black, Blushing Bride, Watermelon Wonder;  Stampin’ Write Markers- Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Watermelon Wonder, Sahara Sand; White Gel Pen

 Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral

Accessories: Big Shot™, Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Finishing Touches Edgelits™ (retired), AquaPainter™, Sewing Machine, Punches- Elegant Butterfly, Bow Builder, Word Window, Hexagon, Antique Brad, Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a glorious day and stop by tomorrow for the new SUO Challenge!

DTGD15jbgreendawn Vintage Happy Birthday

Hi Stampers!!

Even though the official 2015 Dare to Get Dirty Challenge week is now over, I wanted to share another card that I created as a sample maker for my good friend, Stacy’s DTGD15 jbgreendawn Challenge :-)

***FYI*** You can still create cards throughout the year and link to the DTGD15 challenges although the official challenge is over and you would not be eligible for the drawing for any of the vendor prizes  :-)

Again, one major rule of participation in the Dare To Get Dirty Challenges is that the actual challenge details are secret to all except the Fan Club Members…I can share the card but not the details on the actual challenge (unfortunately, any details on this card will reveal the challenge details, so if you have any questions, please let me know in the comment area).  

I am also linking this card to the Splitcoaststampers’ F4A262 “Let’s Get Krafty” Challenge (see gallery here). 

The background panel on this card was created by stamping the En Francais (retired background stamp) using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink, embossing with the Parisian (Tin Holtz®) Folder that was inked with Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink before embossing, applying Tea Dye and Picket Fence Distress Stains, then applying with my fingers diluted Frost White Shimmer Paint and finally Gelatos Iced Chai (or Iced Coffee- I forgot to label them). 

Stamp Sets: Express Yourself , En Francais (both SU!); Girl Image from Crafty Individuals CI-065

Paper: Kraft, Basic Black

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Ranger® Tim Holtz® (TH) Tea Dye Distress Ink, TH Picket Fence & Tea Dye Distress Stain, Frost White & Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Gelatos® Iced Chai

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Royal Rose Dies, Parisian TH Embossing Folder, MS Leaf Punch, Crochet Lace (from my stash)

Thanks again for visiting! I hope to share a few more of the samples for the DTGD15 hostess challenges shortly.