TCC64 Parisian Postcard Hello

Hi Friends! 

Welcome back to The Card Concept Challenge for 2017!  Our challenge is open for two weeks and I just love this fun inspiration photo for our first challenge in January! 

I was inspired by the gold, white, black as well as the different patterns and flowers and decided to create a Mixed Media Freestyle Collage card using Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) Parisian Postcard ClearStamp Set along with Grunge Elements and the new Creative Worship stamp set, Rebecca Script Alpha (all available at Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps).

I also incorporated the Hand Stamped Sentiments HSSS254 Sketch Challenge as well as the final Mixed Media Card Challenge #31 “Change” with optional water into the design. 

This card reflects “change” for me since it is primarily a clean "Mixed Media Freestyle Collage" card design versus my normal "Shabby Chic" style for The Card Concept Challenge.   This year the designers at The Card Concept Challenge can choose whatever design style they prefer or even combine styles- my goal will be to try all the different styles throughout the year!

Also, I am sad to see that this will be the very last challenge at the Mixed Media Card Challenge but understand that change is necessary- I wish all the best to their fabulous Design Team and know that I will see their artwork in other challenge galleries. 

If you have not had a chance to visit us at The Card Concept Challenge yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- gorgeous inspiration from the rest of our Design Team!  

Plus, I hope you will find the time to visit the other challenge sites- wonderful DT samples and galleries at both the Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge as well as the Mixed Media Card Challenge!  It always amazes me to see all of the different designs that are created in inspiration, color and sketch challenges.

To create this card:

1). Ink the SNSS Parisian Postcard ClearStamp Set Eiffel Tower image with Versamark™ ink, stamp onto a piece of white cardstock, apply black embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

2). Once the embossing has cooled, fussy-cut the image and set aside.

3). Ink the floral image from the SNSS Parisian Postcard Clear Stamp Set with black soot distress ink, stamp onto white cardstock, create a mask for the image and stamp the remaining collage images from the SNSS Parisian Postcard Clear Stamp Set with antique linen distress ink.

4). Ink a few of the postage images along with the postcard image from the SNSS Parisian Postcard Clear Stamp Set with  Versamark™ ink, stamp onto the panel, apply gold embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

5). Remove the mask for the flowers and use water-based markers to watercolor the flowers (being careful around the edges since the black soot distress ink is not waterproof), dry with the heat tool.  

After the ink had dried, I used a thin black marker to redefine a few of the lines on the petals and stamped the SNSS Grunge Elements image (I used a small piece of the large splatter stamp) with black ink to add the splatter between the images.

6). Trim a piece of white cardstock, mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim once more and mount onto the white card base.  Add the striped gold vellum cardstock (I used glue beneath the gold stripes to hide the adhesive).

7). Trim the collage panel, mount onto a piece of black cardstock and mount onto the card front.

8). Ink the letters from the SNSS Rebecca Script Alpha Clear Stamps to spell “Hello” with black soot distress ink and stamp onto white cardstock.  

Create the banner by hand cutting the flag end before mounting onto black cardstock and mirror cutting the banner.

9). Add the hello banner directly to the card front and mount the SNSS Parisian Postcard embossed Eiffel Tower image with dimensional foam.

10). Add a few black shimmery sequins to finish off the card.

I hope I have inspired you to possibly try a new style for your card making this year!  

Thanks for visiting and we hope you can join us in The Card Concept #64-Pretty Things Challenge.  Hugs and have a blessed week, sweet friends! 

Parisian Postcard by Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps

Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps Grunge Elements

SNSS Script Alpha

Music to My Ears

Hi Friends!  

I hope all of you are having a great week so far!  This card is a sneak peek of the new stamp set from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps, Music to My Ears that will be released today and I paired it with the previously released sets, His Wings (Creative Worship by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)  and Grunge Elements.

I love the background sheet music as well as the sentiments in the Music To My Ears stamp set and decided to create a vintage style card incorporating the FabFri93 Sketch Challenge and the Splitcoaststampers' MIX185 "Birds of a Feather" Challenge into the design.

 To create this card:

Ink the Music To My Ears background panel with archival black ink and stamp onto a piece of white cardstock.

Use a water brush to add “antique” the paper with distress inks- Antique Linen and Brushed Corduroy over the entire panel and stamp the Grunge Elements splatter image with Vintage Photo.

Use a distressing tool along the edges and sponge additional Vintage Photo distress ink on the edges as well.

Cut the panel (per the sketch), mount onto black cardstock, trim and mount onto the white card base.

Heat emboss the sentiment from MusicTo My Ears with white embossing powder, the feathers and bird image from His Wings with black embossing powder and fussy-cut the feathers and bird.

Add a few white dots to one of the feathers with a Sharpie Extra Fine White Paint Marker.

To finish off the card, add the gold looped cord onto the card front, adhere the feathers and mount the sentiment with the bird image using dimensional foam. 

Thanks again for stopping by, I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!

Music To My Ears- Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps

His Wings- Creative Worship by Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps

Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps Grunge Elements

Summer Fun Winnie- Happy Independence Day!

Hi Again Friends! 

I hope all of you are having a wonderful 4th of July so far!! 

I am sharing this card tomorrow on the Sweet ‘n Sassy blog using the brand new Summer Fun Winnie clear stamp set (designed by Wynne Gettelfinger) for Sweet‘n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) along with the previously released Grunge Elements and Heart & Stars Scallop Border Dies (all SNSS) and wanted to share with you here as well :-)

Since I love participating in online challenges, I decided to incorporate the Splitcoaststampers CC589 Color Challenge along with the SC589 Sketch Challenge and Just Us Girls #350 Word Week “Summer” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit any of the challenge sites yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Ink the banner image from Summer Fun Winnie clear stamp set with Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock and heat set the ink with the Heat Tool.

Ink and stamp the banner onto a piece of sticky note paper, fussy cut the image to create a mask.

Mask the banner, ink and stamp the girl image from Summer Fun Winnie clear stamp with Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black Ink over the masked banner and heat set the ink with the Heat Tool.

Also create a mask of the girl image, mask the girl (keep the banner mask in place) and use a modified version of the Smakin’ Acetate technique to create the contemporary “flag” background (using Island Indigo and Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Write markers for the ink).

***Modified Smakin’ Acetate technique*** Take a clear acetate envelope (or packaging from your Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps), cut the top and bottom off as well as cut up one side of the envelope to create a “book”, open the envelope, apply (in this case I used markers so I scribbled the ink  onto one page of the acetate), lightly spritz the ink with water, close the envelope,  use your fingers to gently “smoosh” (or “smack”)  the ink, open the envelope and I press the paper into the ink in the areas that I want the ink to show.

After the Smakin’ Acetate, “define” the flag a bit by inking the small splatter stamp from Grunge Elements with the Stampin’ Write Island Indigo marker and stamp in the “star” area.

Ink the smaller line image from Grunge Elements with the Stampin’ Write Rose Red marker and stamp in the “stripe” areas.

Remove the mask from the images, stamp the “Happy” in the banner and color the Winnie girl image with Stampin’ Write Markers and an AquaPainter™ (I used Elegant Eggplant and created a little arm band to cover up a bit of splatter that leaked through during the Smakin’ Acetate step).

Add a few shadows with the Stampin’ Write  Smoky Slate marker, color her hair with Delightful Dijon marker and add a horizon line with a Faber-Castell® Pitt Pen Black XS marker.

Trim the stamped panel, mount onto Rose Red cardstock, trim again and mount onto Island Indigo cardstock.

Using the Big Shot™ with the Hearts & Stars Scallop Border Dies (SNSS), cut four star scallop die pieces from Island Indigo cardstock, add to the stamped panel, hand piecing and rounding the cut corners to create the frame.

Stamp the “Independence Day” sentiment from Summer Fun with Winnie using Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, die cut and layer the sentiment (retired SNSS Prim Blessings dies) and add the Elegant Eggplant button with Silver Thread.

For the card base, trim a piece of Whisper White cardstock and mount onto a piece of Rose Red cardstock. 

Adhere the entire panel to the Extra Thick Whisper White card base and mount the framed Summer Fun Winnie panel to the card front with dimensional foam.

Add the looped Silver Cord and mount the sentiment with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Summer Fun with Winnie, Grunge Elements (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink:  Basic Black Stampin’ Archival™, Stampin’ Write Markers- Island Indigo, Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, Smoky Slate, Delightful Dijon; Faber-Castell® Black XS Pitt Pen Marker

Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Rose Red

Accessories: Big Shot™, Hearts & Stars Scallop Border Dies (SNSS), retired Prim Blessings Dies (SNSS), AquaPainter™, Heat Tool, Clear Envelope, Sticky Note Paper, Silver Cord, Silver Thread, Button

Summer Fun Winnie- Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps

Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps Grunge Elements

Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps Heart & Stars Scallop Border Dies

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

I Am Loved and We Are Free!

Hi Friends!  

Today it is my turn to post on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog and I designed a card that reflects a bit of patriotism, summer flowers and the freedom that we have here in the United States.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends".  John 15:13  NKJV

Today is Memorial Day here in the United States and may we never forget the men and women who laid down their lives to defend our country and the families that they left behind....we are free because they were faithful. 

This card was designed using Grunge Elements, Grunge Elements 2, I Am Loved and Prim Blessings Clear Stamp Sets all from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

I also incorporated the Splitcoaststampers' WT585 "May Flowers" Challenge and the Alphabet Challenge Week 19 "S" Challenge (Sunflowers, Stripes, String) into the design :-)

I hope you will take the time to visit the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog- my Creative Design Team "Sisters" post frequently and there is so much inspiration in their designs as well as those at the Splitcoaststampers' galleries.

To create this card:

Using sticky note paper, create a masked area in the upper left hand corner of a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Ink the heart image from Grunge Elements 2 with Versamark™ Ink, stamp onto the masked area, apply white embossing powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Allow the embossing powder to cool for a few minutes and use a sponge applicator to apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Faded Denim Distress Ink, wipe off the excess ink from the embossed areas, remove the mask and re-mask over the “heart-star” area.

Ink the strip image from Grunge Elements using Ranger® Tim Holtz® Fired Brick Distress Ink and stamp onto the card front createing the stripes (overlapping the images in a row for the length of the paper).

To tone down the brightness of the background , apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink and a light layer of Gesso®.

Use the Big Shot™ with the woodgrain embossing folder to emboss the panel, trim the panel and add a piece of knotted hemp twine.

Mount the panel onto the black card base.

Ink the sunflower images from Prim Blessings with Staz-On Jet Black Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Cut out the flowers, color using a water brush with distress ink and markers and sponge a bit of Ranger® Tim Holtz® Antique Linen Distress Ink over the images.

Add Clear Wink of Stella® over all of the flowers and mount onto the card front (I used Hot Glue).

Ink the girl image from I Am Loved using Versamark™ Ink, stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, apply black embossing powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Carefully fussy cut the image and mount to the card front with dimensional foam.

Heat emboss the sentiment from Prim Blessings with black embossing powder, trim and create the banner points with a punch, mount onto black carstock and distress with Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink and the Grunge Elements small splatter stamp.

I Am Loved

Color the hearts in the sentiment with a red marker and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Prim Blessings

Grunge Elements

Grunge Elements 2

Stamp Sets:  I Am Loved, Prim Blessings, Grunge Elements, Grunge Elements 2 (all Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Versamark™, Staz-On Jet Black, Ranger® Tim Holtz®  Distress Ink- Tea Dye, Faded Denim, Fired

Brick, Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo; Stampin' Write Markers- Crushed Curry, Cherry Cobbler; Gesso®; Clear Wink of Stella®

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy™, Stampin' Emboss® White and Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Hemp Twine, Hexagon Punch, sticky note paper for masking, Sponge Applicator

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a blessed Memorial Day :-)

Winnie's Garden- Bloom Where You Are Planted

 Hi Friends! 

I hope all of you are having a fabulous week so far!!   Today it is my turn to share on the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps blog and I created a card using the Grunge Elements along with the brand new stamp set, Winnie’s Garden.

I used the Smakin’ Acetate Technique (again, I am addicted to this “oldie” but “goodie” technique) and the Splitcoaststampers’ CC580 Color Challenge along with the MIX-Ability MIX64 "April Showers" and the Mojo Monday #445 "Square or Round"  Sketch Challenge .

To create the background with the Smakin’ Acetate technique, use a clear acetate envelope (like the ones used for the packaging of the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamp Sets) and cut one side of the envelope and the bottom so that the envelope would open like a “book”.

Open up the envelope and gently pat the Island Indigo Classic Ink pad onto the acetate (just a few small taps of the corner will do for this card), spritz the ink with just a bit of water, close the envelope over the ink, smoosh the ink with your fingers through the acetate, re-open the envelope, insert the piece of Whisper White cardstock and press into the ink (lift up and continue to press until you have the desired effect).

Whew!! Sounds like a lot of steps but really it is quick and I love how each background turns out a bit different.   

To finish the rest of the card:

Once the background is finished, ink the Grunge Elements splatter stamp with Island Indigo Classic Ink to add a few additional splatters, trim the panel and mount onto Garden Green cardstock, trim again and mount onto Island Indigo cardstock.

Adhere the retired Island Indigo Designer Series Paper (DSP) to Garden Green and Island Indigo cardstock and mount onto the card front.

Ink the cute watering can image from Winnie’s Garden with Stampin’ Archival Black ink, heat it gently with the Heat Tool to set the ink and use an AquaPainter™ with ink from the Garden Green and Island Indigo Classic Ink pads to color the image.

I also added the gray with the retired Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blendabilities™ markers and colored the flowers with the Stampin’ Write Daffodil Delight Marker.

Additional color was added to the grass with the Garden Green Stampin’ Write marker and it is hard to see in the photo, but I added Clear Wink of Stella® to the water.

Trim the stamped image panel, mount onto Garden Green cardstock and again onto Island Indigo cardstock.

Ink the Grunge Elements splatter stamp with Island Indigo Classic Ink and add to the corners of the focal image (this was an afterthought for me so you may want to do this before layering).

Ink the sentiment from Winnie’s Garden with Stampin’ Archival Black ink  (OK, do not faint, but I cut it apart first so I could layer and use a circle punch :-)), punch out with the 1 ⅜” Circle Punch and mount onto a circle punched from Garden Green and Island Indigo cardstock (I punched out two additional circles from both Garden Green and Island Indigo cardstock, layering onto each other to create the frame behind the sentiment).

“Huff” onto the Grunge Elements splatter stamp to re-moisten the Island Indigo Classic Ink and stamp onto the sentiment.

Mount the entire background panel onto the Whisper White card base and add the watering can focal image along with the sentiment using dimensional foam.

Add a few Rhinestones under the sentiment and to the background to finish off the card.

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

Ink/Medium: Stampin’ Archival Black, Stampin’ Classic Ink- Garden Green, Island Indigo; Stampin’ Write Markers- Daffodil Delight, Garden Green; retired Stampin’ Blendabilities™- Light and Medium Smoky Slate, Clear Wink of Stella®

Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green, Island Indigo; retired Island Indigo DSP

Accessories: Acetate Envelope, Water Spritzer Bottle, AquaPainter™, 1 ⅜” Circle Punch, Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I hope you will find the time to visit the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog as well as the other two challenge sites!  Hugs and I hope you have a blessed weekend!

Happy Together- True Friends Are Always Together In Spirit

Look at all of the Ridges
(farthest one approx. 35-40 miles)

Hi Friends! 

I hope all of you are having a great week so far!! Yesterday my hubby and I were able to take a trip to Shenandoah National Park and drive 80 miles along Skyline Drive (160 miles round trip in the park) and we had a great time!

The weather was absolutely gorgeous and there were only a few other visitors, so we basically had the park all to ourselves (just the way we like it!)  The vistas are amazing....beautifully serene and peaceful and barely a cloud in the sky- just a perfect day!

I had a chance to create a Clean and Simple (CAS) card Thursday that I am sharing today over on the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) blog and wanted to share it with all of you here as well.  

This card was designed using the brand new Happy Together stamp set (designed by Korin Sutherland) along with Grunge Elements and the Ticket Dies.

I used the Splitcoaststampers’ SC588 Sketch Challenge along with the Free For All F4A316 “Mellow Yellow” Challenge and the Just Add Ink JAI307 Colour Challenge.

To create this card:

Ink the Grunge Elements (SNSS) image with Delightful Dijon Classic Ink, stamp off before stamping onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock- repeat this step three times.

Ink the same Grunge Elements image using Crushed Curry Classic Ink and stamp at the bottom.

Ink the silhouette images from HappyTogether (SNSS) with Stāz-On® Stone Gray Ink and stamp over the yellow background (I used my MISTI® Tool so I could repeatedly stamp the image).

Die cut the image into a circle and layer a die cut circle of Basic Gray cardstock behind the focal image.

Stamp the sentiment from HappyTogether (SNSS) using Stāz-On® Stone Gray Ink onto Whisper White cardstock (again, I used my MISTI® Tool for positioning and repeated stamping). 

Cut the sentiment out with the Big Shot® and the largest die from the Ticket Dies (SNSS) and also cut the same size die from Basic Gray cardstock.

Split the Basic Gray Ticket Dies die cut in half and layer behind the sentiment (spreading the Basic Gray die cut apart a bit so the layer will show on the sides).

Cut the retired Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper (DSP) on an angle and layer a strip of Basic Gray cardstock at the top of each angled piece.

Layer a piece of Whisper White cardstock onto the Basic Gray card base, add the angled DSP pieces and mount the sentiment with dimensional foam.

Add the focal image circle with dimensional foam to finish off the card- quick and easy!

Stamp Sets:  Happy Together, Grunge Elements (SNSS)

Ink:  Stāz-On® Stone Gray, Delightful Dijon, Crushed Curry

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray; retired Eastern Elegance DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Ticket Dies(SNSS), Stitched Circle Dies (MFT)

Thanks again for stopping by- your visits are such an encouragement to me :-) I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! 

Choose Faith- Count It All Joy

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Friends!

I wanted to create a card using green for St. Patrick’s Day (after all. I do have Irish in my blood :-)) and decided to give myself a real challenge and create a one layer card.  

That’s right- just fold a piece of cardstock in half and stamp onto the card front for a one layer card.   I know that this should sound easy enough to do but for a gal that loves vintage, shabby, layers, textures and embellishments, it is easier said than done :-)

Shhh...here's a secret- this card also has a sneak peek with the sentiments from the upcoming Creative Worship Choose Faith clear stamp set (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps) :-)  I combined the sentiments from Choose Faith to create the hope, faith, joy along the stems as well as the main sentiment "count it all JOY".  

This is from James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials"...and it continues in verse 3 "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience"...

Joy in all things is something that I have to continually remind myself as well as remember that the trials are for testing of my faith and helping to produce patience... something that I know I need to work on in my life- how about you?

I am looking forward to the release of the Choose Faith stamp set- I know you will love all of the sentiments and fonts!  It is perfect for Bible Art Journaling as well as card making and I paired it with two other clear stamp sets from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps (SNSS)- Precious Poppies and Grunge Elements.

I found that this month’s One LayerSimplicity “Let Green March In” Challenge to be very inspiring for my one layer card and am also participating in the Splitcoaststampers’ CAS366 “GlitterySentiments” Challenge (hard to see in the photo but the large JOY has Clear Wink of Stella® over the letters) as well as the Two Paper Diva’s March Tic-Tac-Toe Monthly Challenge (Green, Stamps, Flowers).

I hope you will have a chance to check out the galleries at the above challenge sites- tremendous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

See- it really is only one layer :-)

Using a MISTI® tool, position the poppy image from Precious Poppies (I cut this image apart from the largest group of poppies in the set) along with the sentiments and words from Choose Faith, ink with the Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad™ and stamp onto retired Naturals White cardstock (I scored the card panel and stamped directly onto the folded card).

Create a mask for the poppy flowers using scrap paper (or sticky note/masking paper) and position over the petals and stems.

Using Sponge Daubers, ink Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi and retired Gumball Green Classic Ink over the Heartwood Stencil by Memory Box®. 

Remove the stencil and the masks, color the stems with the Wild Wasabi Stampin’ Write Marker, add dots between the hope, faith and joy sentiment along the stems using a Faber-Castell® Black Bold Pitt Pen marker and color the petals with the Smoky Slate Stampin’ Write marker.

Hard to see but the sentiment is glittery :-)

Use an AquaPainter™ to soften the coloring on the petals and add Clear Wink of Stella® to the petals as well as the large “JOY” in the sentiment.

Ink one of the inkblot images from Grunge Elements with Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink and stamp a few times onto the card front to finish off the card.

Quick and easy...I will count it all joy :-) !

Stamp Sets:  Choose Faith, Precious Poppies, Grunge Elements (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Basic Black Archival Stampin’  Pad™, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, retired Gumball Green, Stampin’ Write Markers- Wild Wasabi, Smoky Slate; Faber-Castell® Black Pitt Pen Marker, Clear Wink of Stella®

Paper: Naturals White (retired)

Accessories:  Sponge Daubers, Memory Box® Heartwood Stencil, MISTI®

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