Nature- In All Your Ways

Hi Friends!

Spring has arrived here on the East Coast and many people believe that robins are the first sign of spring, but unknown to many in this area, robins in the Mid-Atlantic do not migrate south for the winter. They tend to congregate in large groups in wooded areas during the winter in this area and since our winter has been milder than normal, we have seen them in town (well, the suburb) all winter long :-)  

We love watching robins as they hop along and tilt their heads to listen for worms, plus we have a returning couple that nests on top of our back parch light each year :-) What a treat it is to watch this beautiful bird and wonder at the Majesty as well as the incredible imagination of our Creator-  God is so Awesome!!

I was fortunate to find several of this robin image printed and ready to go in my stash. This particular image was from the digi set, Nature from Stampin' Up! (using the retired My Digital Studio software program- remember that?).  The digi set only had a few of the images from the main stamp set, Nature Walk.

Since I am still making an effort to use up my stash, I went ahead and hand colored four of the images that I had found along with four different layouts and sentiments.

For this card,  I added a sentiment from the retired Scripture Medley 2 stamp set from Verve Stamps and used the SC355 Sketch Challenge from Splitcoaststampers for the layout.  Many of you know that I am slowly working on trying to complete a card for every one of the 795+ Splitcoaststampers' Sketch Challenges- this sketch was from 2011 so thankfully they do not expire :-). 

I wanted to participate with Joanne’s PP484 Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge at The Paper Players (top row across  Ribbon, Rhinestones, Patterned Paper) and am also linking to the Try It on Tuesday “Beauty of Nature” Challenge as well.

This card was fairly easy to create- in fact, the most time-consuming part was coloring the robin image.  I used several different watercolor pencils and a paint pen for the highlight in the bird’s eye and colored the four images basically in the same colors.

The different layers for this card were designer paper from my stash and were mounted onto black cardstock.  The blue polka-dot paper (behind the robin) was embossed with a retired Stampin’ Up! embossing folder Lacy Brocade.

The 1” black ribbon was added before mounting the entire panel onto a white card base and I added a few black rhinestones along with pearls from my stash as well!

Stamp Sets: Nature (digital Stampin’ Up! stamp set), Scripture Medley 2 (Verve Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Printer Ink- Black; Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Stampin’ Write Gray Granite Marker, Derwent™ and Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils- Black, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Scarlet Lake, Terracotta; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Designer Series Paper (Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: My Digital Studio, Gemini, Jr.™, MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1 (for frame on background panel for the embossed panel), Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (retired SU!), AquaPainter™, 1” Black Satin Ribbon, Black Rhinestones, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope to share a few more "robin" cards soon!  

Praying that all of you are staying isolated and healthy and that you are heeding the state, federal and CDC warnings.  Thankfully, we have a hobby that allows us to enjoy staying home – "virtual hugs" to you and I hope you are able to visit again soon!

Another Card with CQC74 Colors and SSC193 Sketch

Hi Again Stampers! 

I decided to create another card using the same colors from the CQC74 Challenge (http://colourq.blogspot.com/ ) along with the Stamping411 Sketch Challenge SSC193 (http://www.stamping411.blogspot.com/ ).  If you get a chance, check out all of the Design Team samples as well as the other cards submitted for both challenges.

To create this card:

Using My Digital Studio (MDS) print out the bird image from Nature on Whisper White cardstock.  Mount onto Early Espresso.  Stamp the sentiment onto Whisper White using Early Espresso and punch out with the Medium Oval Punch. 

Adhere the focal image and sentiment onto Pear Pizzazz. 

Using the Big Shot with the Framed Tulips EF, emboss a piece of Baja Breeze.  Emboss a piece of Tangerine Tango DSP (retired) with the Vintage Wallpaper EF.  Lightly sand the Tangerine Tango with the Sanding Block.  Adhere the two together and attach the 5/8’ Early Espresso Satin Ribbon. 

Add  Pearls, Antique Brad and scraps of ribbon.

Stamp Sets:  Nature MDS, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Early Espresso, Printer Ink

Cardstock:  Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango DSP (retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips and Vintage Wallpaper EF, Antique Brad, Pearls, 5/8" Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, Medium Oval Punch

 Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you are enjoying your weekend! 

You're In My Thoughts- Color and Sketch Challenge

Hi Again Stampers!

I loved the colors from this week’s CMC137 Create with Connie and Mary Challenge (http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com) and the SSC190 sketch challenge at Stamping 411 (http://www.stamping411.blogspot.com/). The Design Team creations from both sites are fabulous- if you have time, check them out! 

I needed to make a quick card for a dear friend and decided to use My Digital Studio (MDS) again to create another hybrid card (I hope you are not getting too tired of the hybrid cards:-).

To create this card:

Use the Big Shot and the new Tulip Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock.  Using a piece of Pear Pizzazz embossed with the Background Patterns Texture Plate (herringbone pattern- I already had this embossed piece in my stash), punch the edge with the Scallop Trim Border Punch and then align the Tulip EF to emboss the edge above the punched border. 

Using MDS, print the floral image from Elements of Style, the bird image from Nature (mirrored to face the left) and the sentiment from Word Play onto Whisper White.  

Color the flowers using SU! Markers in Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze and Pear Pizzazz.  Using the Rose Red marker and the Color Spritzer Tool, spritz the floral image and thje sentiment.  Mount the floral image onto Baja Breeze Cardstock and adhere the Rose Red Seam Binding. 

Use the Pink Pirouette and Basic Gray marker to lightly color the bird image and “fussy cut” the bird (be careful around the feet). 

Use the Tag Punch to punch out the sentiment and layer onto Baja Breeze cardstock (also punched with the Tag Punch and the Scallop Trim Punch).

Assemble the card, mount onto Pear Pizzazz and Rose Red cardstock.  Add the pearls and Rose Red Seam Binding bow to finish the card. 

Even though there is not one stamped image, I hope you like this card- I had a great time creating it! 

Thanks again for stopping by- have fun stamping and God Bless!

PP32- Paper Players Blog Hop

Hi Stampers! 

As promised, here is the set of cards that I made for this week’s PP32 Blog Hop Challenge at The Paper Players (http://www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/).  This week, The Paper Players is hosting a Blog Hop- if you have arrived here from the Blog Hop, I am stop #5 on the tour!   Please leave a comment and click here to visit Leanne for your next stop on the "hop"!   There will also be a link for the all of the stops at the end of this post.

I decided to try a "hybrid" card using My Digital Studio (MDS) images from the new Occasions Mini (see side bar on the left for complete Mini catalog) .  I have owned MDS since it first was available, but to be honest and I have not used it as much as I should.  Now that I have taken the time to try a hybrid card, I will be sharing more in the future- so stayed tuned  :-) 

To create card #1:

Using MDS, print the bird image from the Nature Brush Set and the definition “inspire” from the Define Your Life Stamp Brush Set onto Whisper White in Basic Black.  

I printed several images on a 8 ½”x 11’ sheet- one great thing about MDS is that you can have hundreds of stamp images on the go, plus you can enlarge and reduce the size of the images (not to mention that it is ideal for those of you who may be “storage challenged).   

After printing and cutting/punching out the stamp images for this card , I colored with the bird with SU! Watercolor Pencils, sponged, “spritzed” and mounted onto Basic Black. 

I created the background layers using the En Francais background stamp with Crumb Cake ink, The Tearing Edge and the Big Shot with several embossing folders and, of course, Sponge Daubers :-) 

Add the ribbon, bow, label and pearls and viola! the card is finished!

Stamp Sets: En Francais

MDS Stamp Brush Sets: Define Your Life, Nature, Thoughts & Prayers

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice and Vintage Wallpaper EF,  Sponge Daubers, The Color Spritzer Tool, Early Espresso and Crumb Cake SU! Markers, SU! Watercolor Pencils, Modern Label and Medium Oval Label Punch, 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon, Pearls

To create card #2:

Using MDS, print the bird from the Nature brush stamp set (this time a larger size) along with the sentiment from Thoughts & Prayers onto Very Vanilla and print a piece of the Botanical DSP on Whisper White.

Tear, distress, sponge the Botanical DSP, Newsprint DSP scrap along with a piece of embossed Chocolate Chip.  Not Quite Navy (NQN) with the Finial Press EF is used for the background.

Sponge and “spritz” the bird image, mount onto Chocolate Chip and NQN.  Create a tag for the sentiment, add the 5/8 “ Victoria Crochet Lace and Vintage Brad. 

Stamp Sets:  None

MDS Stamp Brush Sets: Define Your Life, Nature, Thoughts & Prayers

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Chocolate Chip, MDS Botanical Garden DSP

Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press and Square Lattice EF,  Sponge Dauber, The Color Spritzer Tool, Distressing Tool, Chocolate Chip SU! Marker, 5/8” Victoria Crochet Lace, Antique Brad

Once the design was determined, both of these cards were quick and easy to create plus my husband could not tell that they were digitial images- if I had not told you, could you?

     To continue on with The Paper Players Blog Hop Challenge #32, click here . 

The order of the blog hop is as follows (you can jump on wherever you like!):

1.     Anne-Marie Hile- www.stampinanne.blogspot.com

2.     Ann Schach- http://www.stampinchic.com/

3.     Jaydee- http://www.jaydeestamping.com/

4.     Jeanne Kupsh- http://happy-jeannie.blogspot.com/

5.     Julie Gearinger- http://stampingwithjuliegearinger.blogspot.com/

6.     LeAnne Pugliese- www.weeinklings.blogspot.com

7.     Lesley Croghan- http://www.alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.com/

8.     Marlene Peters- http://marlenehandson.blogspot.com/

9.     Nance Leedy- http://nanceleedy.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for visiting my blog- please continue on the blog hop!   I hope all of you have a blessed week- have fun stamping!