Life is Better with Ice Cream- for sure!

Hi Friends! 

I wanted to play along with a few online challenges and decided to use a few Artistic Outpost (AO) stamp sets from the Spring 2016 Release - Ice Cream Shoppe, Bottle Caps Background and Grunge Elements along with ODBD Tag Trios Dies, Mini Bow Die and Bitty Borders Dies (all AO stamps and ODBD dies from Our Daily Bread Designs).

I have incorporated the Retro Sketches #237 Sketch Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers  ’CC597 "Tempting Red Emerald" Color Challenge into the design.

If you have not had a chance to visit The Artistic Outpost Blog or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- great inspiration from my sister Design Team at the AO Blog as well as from the other challenge DT and galleries!

To create this card:

To create the background panel, ink the AO Bottle Caps Background image with archival black ink and stamp onto white cardstock.

Trim the background panel into three vertical strips (between the bottle caps) and use water based markers in red, emerald green and turquoise to color the bottle caps in the center panel.

Use a water brush with vintage photo distress ink to age the three panels and stamp the large splatter image from AO Grunge Elements with vintage photo distress ink over the three panels as well.

Use a heat tool to dry the ink and apply picket fence distress stain over the two outside panels to tone down the color, layered the center panel onto black cardstock, trim and mount onto white cardstock, trim and mount once more onto black cardstock.

Add the two outside bottle cap vertical panels onto white cardstock, mount the layered center panel per the sketch and adhere the entire panel onto the black card base.

Die cut a tag from white cardstock with the ODBD Tag Trio Dies and also cut the same size die from black cardstock.

Create the background for the tag by repeating the steps above for the outer bottle caps panels and mount the black die cut tag behind the background tag (splitting the black tag in half to frame the background tag).

Die cut three banners for the lower part of the tag with the ODBD Bitty Borders Dies- one from turquoise, one from black and one from bright green cardstock, layering each so a bit of the color will show behind the tag.

Ink the girl image from AO Ice Cream Shoppe with archival black ink, stamp onto white cardstock, watercolor with water based markers, fussy-cut and mount onto black cardstock  (fussy-cut again before adding to the tag).

Mount the entire tag onto the card front with dimensional foam, die cut the bow from bright green cardstock using the ODBD Mini Bow Die, mount onto the top of the tag and add the turquoise button to the center.

Ink the sentiment from AO Ice Cream Shoppe with embossing ink, stamp onto black cardstock, heat emboss with white embossing powder, trim the sentiment by hand once the embossing has cooled and mount onto the tag.  

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the ice cream cone and colored bottle caps in the background to finish off the card.

I am so thankful that you visited me today and hope I have inspired you to create a project this week!  Hugs and have a great week, my friends!

Artistic Outpost Ice Cream Shoppe	Artistic Outpost Grunge Elements	Artistic Outpost Bottle Caps Background	Tag Trio	ODBD Bitty Borders Dies
Mini Bow

Happy Father's Day!

Hi Friends! 

I hope all of you are having a wonderful week so far!!    

I know, what- Father's Day?  This weekend is Mother's Day... and you are right!  I am not confused and am hoping most of you have already finished your Mother's Day cards, so I am looking ahead to Father's Day :-)

Birch Forest Dies

Tender Thoughts

Today it is my turn to share on the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps blog and I am sharing a quick Father’s Day card that I designed with TenderThoughts Clear Stamp Set, Shining Light Clear Stamp Set and the coordinating die set, Birch Forest Dies – I just love both of these stamp sets as well as the matching dies!

In addition to Father’s Day, I think that the images and sentiments from the Tender Thoughts Clear Stamp Set are perfect for so many occasions- Birthday, Sympathy, Thinking of You, Praying for You, Christmas, Get Well and many more, plus no fussy-cutting with the Birch Forest Dies (love saving time)!

Shining Light

The Shining Light Clear Stamp Set is just as versatile- love the lighthouse image and several verses of Scripture- again, perfect for so many occasions!

Combine the three and you have a fantastic combination of stamps and dies to create cards along with projects to bless those in your life all year round!

I am also linking to the Retro Sketches #213 Sketch Challenge as well as the Splitcoaststampers’  “WT580- Plant A Tree” Challenge.

I hope you will find the time to visit us at the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps blog as well as checking out the cards and galleries at the above challenge sites- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Ink the birch tree image from the TenderThoughts Clear Stamp Set using Smoky Slate Classic Ink, stamp onto white cardstock and die cut with the Big Shot™ and the coordinating die from Birch Forest Dies...(FYI- I use the magnetic platform with my Big Shot™ which helps immensely, but if you do not have the magnetic platform, you will need to use a quick release tape or Washi Tape to hold the die in place).

Repeat the above steps with the deer image from the Tender Thoughts Clear Stamp Set using Archival Stampin’ Pad™ Basic Black Ink (heat set with the Heat Tool).

Stamp the sentiment from the Shining Light Clear Stamp Set with Archival Stampin’ Pad™ Basic Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, trim and mount onto Basic Black cardstock (I created the banners  with a punch).

Create a few more banners from patterned paper ( I sponged the dotted layer using Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink and Tim Holtz® Vintage Photo Distress Ink), layer onto the dry embossed background and add a black button for interest.

Stamp Sets:  Tender Thoughts, Shining Light (both Sweet ‘nSassy Stamps)

Ink/Medium: Archival Stampin’ Pad™ Basic Black, Smoky Slate and Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink; Ranger® Tim Holtz® Vintage Photo Distress Ink

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

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Birch Forest Dies (Sweet ‘n SassyStamps), Heat Tool, Sponge Dauber, retired Basic Black button, White Thread, Sanding Block

Thanks again for stopping by- hugs and have a blessed weekend, sweet friends!

Nature Silhouettes- A Masculine Birthday Card

Hello Friends!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday- we are so blessed and are so thankfu!! 

We were traveling yesterday to be with family and I did not have access to a computer (I decided to take a day away from electronics)- sometimes you just need a day to unwind... we had a great time along with great food!

Today, I had a chance to create a card using the Retro Sketches#191 Sketch along

with the 4 Crafty Chicks #274 “Masculine” theme  and the 

Splitcoaststampers’ WT559 “Leftovers” Challenge (use your scraps/leftovers :-)). 

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge site galleries yet, again, I would encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Create a mask from sticky note paper or scrap paper using the 1 ¼” Circle Punch and place the mask onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Using Sponge Daubers, apply Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink along with Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry Classic to create the sky.

Remove the mask, de-static the cardstock with the Embossing Buddy®.

Ink the tree image from the retired Stampin’ Up! Nature Silhouettes stamp set using Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool. 

Once cooled, repeat the above steps with the deer image.

Trim the stamped panel and mount onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock (this was from my scraps), trim and mount onto the banner panel (again, this was from my scraps cut with the Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banner Die from My Favorite Things™).

Emboss a scrap piece of retired Rich Razzleberry Designer Series Paper (DSP) with the retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a scrap piece of Basic Black cardstock  (lightly sand with the Sanding Block).

Create the background  layer from Pumpkin Pie DSP using the retired Herringbone Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and the corners with the 1 ¼” Circle Punch, layer onto Basic Black cardstock punching the ticket style corners with the 1 ¼” Circle Punch and lightly sand with the Sanding Block.

Add the ribbons to the focal image banner panel (the loops were scrap pieces in my stash) and layer all of the pieces per the sketch.

Stamp the sentiment and create the layered banner with the Hexagon Punch, mount to the card front and add the Pumpkin Pie button to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Nature Silhouettes, Express Yourself (hostess set)- both retired Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Versamark™, Memento™ Tuxedo Black

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, retired Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzleberry DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™, MFT Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banner Dies, retired Herringbone and Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing  Folders, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Punches-  1 ¼” Circle, Hexagon; Pumpkin Pie button, ¼” Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon, 3/8” Pumpkin Pie Taffeta Ribbon, Antique Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware Ribbon Slide, Sanding Block

This card will be mailed to my Dad who will be celebrating his 81^st Birthday in a few days ( (shh...Aunt Pat- do not spill the beans- lol!)) .  Since he lives so far away, we do not get a chance to see each other that often but I hope he likes this card (it reminds me of the days that he used to hunt- he is quite the outdoorsman) :-)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend!

TCC44 Christmas In The Air

Hi Friends!!

It is time for the new Card Concept #44 Photo Inspiration Challenge- I just love this cozy homespun scene! 

I was inspired by the rustic stars as well as the traditional plaid for my Mixed Media card design.

Just a reminder that 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.   

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

I am also linking this card to the Retro Sketches RTS190 Sketch Challenge along with the Power Poppy November 2015 “Embellishments” Challenge.

To create this card:

Ink the retired Christmas Star stamp using Cajun Craze Classic Ink and stamp onto Very Vanilla cardstock. Use a Sponge Dauber to add Early Espresso Classic Ink to distress the star and create a rust finish.

Fussy-cut the star, score along all of the lines, folding the score lines to give a bit of dimension and use a foam brush to apply Mod Podge® to the star.

Using a foam brush, apply Gesso® to a piece of cardstock and once dry, use a palette knife with the Memory Box™ Heartwood Stencil to spread Finnabair® ArtExtravagance™ Copper Crackle Texture Paste onto the prepared cardstock.

Once the texture paste as dried, apply more Gesso® with your finger to tone down the copper and show the texture from the stencil.

Mount the stenciled background along with a piece of gingham designer paper onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock using a sewing machine with a zig zag stitch.

Add the 5/8” Green Satin Ribbon and Ivory Crochet Lace Trim wrapping the ends behind the panel.

Mount the panel onto the Always Artichoke card base.

Adhere the looped Copper Cord Trim to the card front and mount the star image using dimensional foam.

Stamp the sentiment using Early Espresso Classic Ink, roll lightly into a bit of Cajun Craze Classic Ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock, trim and create a banner with the Hexagon Punch.

Mount the sentiment using dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Christmas Star, Open Sleigh (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso

Paper: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Green Plaid Designer Paper (not sure of manufacturer)

Accessories: Gesso®, Finnabair® ArtExtravagance™ Copper Crackle Texture Paste, Memory Box™ Heartwood Stencil, 5/8” Green Satin Ribbon, Ivory Crochet Lace Trim, Copper Cord Trim, Sewing Machine, Thread

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