Land of the Free

Hi Friends!!

Today I am sharing yet another Clean and Simple (CAS) patriotic card using the retired Stampin’ Up! Land of the Free. 

I incorporated the Splitcoaststampers CAS436 “Show Your Patriotism” Challenge and the AAA Cards #93 “Words Take Center Stage" Challenge.  I know that the words on this flag image are not large and bold, but to me, they have “power” for sure!

If you have not already had a chance to visit the above challenge sites, I hope you will do so- they both have fabulous Design Teams as well as inspiration in their galleries.

To create this card:

1). Using Stampin’ Write Night of Navy and Cherry Cobbler Markers, color directly onto the Land of the Free stamp and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.  Die cut the image with the MFT Stitched Rectangle STAX die and mount onto Night of Navy cardstock, trimming close to the edge.

2). Using the Big Shot™, emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Sizzix™ ©Ellison Star Scroll Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock, trim once more before mounting onto the Whisper White card base.

3). Die cut a few stars using the MFT Stitched Star STAX from Cherry Cobbler and Night of Navy cardstock, layer a few stars directly onto the card front, add the flag sentiment along with a few smaller stars with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Land of the Free (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Stampin’ Write Markers- Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy

Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT™ Stitched Rectangle STAX Dies, MFT™ Stitched Star STAX Dies, Sizzix™ ©Ellison Star Scroll Embossing Folder

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you have a fantastic week!

God Bless America

Hi Friends!!

I hope all of you had a great 4th of July and I wanted to celebrate with a few more Clean and Simple (CAS) cards! This one was designed using the retired Stampin’ Up! a la carte stamp, God Bless America (circa 2001) and as much as I love this image, unfortunately, I have not inked up this stamp in years :-). 

I incorporated the Splitcoaststampers CAS436 “Show Your Patriotism” Challenge, the Simon Monday “Red, White and/or Blue” Challenge and the Less is More #335 “Colours of Your Country’s Flag” Challenge.

If you have not already had a chance to visit the above challenge sites, I hope you will do so- they all have fabulous Design Teams as well as inspiration in their galleries.

To create this card:

1). Using Stampin’ Write Night of Navy and Cherry Cobbler Markers, color directly onto the God Bless America stamp (omitting the sentiment) and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.  Die cut the image with the MFT Stitched Square STAX die and mount onto Cherry Cobbler cardstock, trim close to the edge.

2). Using the Big Shot™, emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Cuttlebug™ 3D Stars Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, trim once more before mounting onto  piece of Night of Navy cardstock, then adhere to the Whisper White card base.

3). Clean off the God Bless America stamp, dry thoroughly and ink the sentiment only with the Night of Navy Stampin’ Write Marker, stamp onto a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and create the banner with the retired Hexagon Punch.  Mount onto a sliver of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, also creating the flag banner points with the Hexagon Punch.

4). Mount the flag image and sentiment with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: God Bless America (retired Stampin’ Up! circa 2001)

Ink/Mediums: Stampin’ Write Markers- Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy

Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT™ Stitched Square STAX Dies, Cuttlebug™ 3D Stars Embossing Folder

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I have one more quick and easy patriotic card to share, so I hope you will stop by again soon!  Hugs and have a great week, sweet friends!

CAS Trust In The Lord

Hi Friends!!

After Awana this evening, I had a chance to create a Clean and Simple (CAS) card for the Splitcoaststampers’  CC550 Color Challenge (optional dessert is sky) and I am so thankful that I can finally participate in this week's color challenge before the challenge officially "ends" (well, they are open "forever" technically but at least before next week's starts) :-)

I decided to combine the challenge with the SC560 Sketch Challenge and the CAS308 New Year’s Resolution Challenge (depict something that you will be trying to accomplish this year­- I am still playing “catch up” on the 2015 CAS Challenges).

This retired stamp set has always held a special place in my studio and this image along with the verse sentiment is definitely "a goal of mine" this year- to trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding.  

I am trusting in Him for strength and healing for my husband, wisdom for our upcoming retirement and finances as well as growing in my knowledge of the Bible and "resting" in Him with Bible Study and Bible Art Journaling. 

October will be a very busy month for me for card designing- I am now on four Design Teams as a regular member (The Card Concept, SUO Challenges, Sweet –n- Sassy Stamps and "fifth Thursday" SCS "Free For All" Challenge sample maker) and will be participating on four different Design Teams as a Guest Designer for October (Our Daily Bread Designs and the other three will be announced as each is announced on the challenge blogs). 

The "toes in the water" on the stamped focal image reflects the steps that I am taking with my stamping and venturing into different avenues of styles and designs- I love anything that has to do with art and,  of course, stamping and am trying to design at least one card each day!

As always, I find that Splitcoaststampers is the best site for stamping inspiration and I hope you will find the time to check out each of the above gallery links- gorgeous samples by all!

To create this card:

Ink the image from the retired set, Summer By The Sea using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

Color using an AquaPainter™ and ink from the Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist and Soft Sky Stampin’ Write Markers (also using ink from the Soft Sky Classic Ink Pad for the sky mixed with the Marina Mist Marker).

Add additional black details with the Faber-Castell® Black Pitt Pen Marker (I added three birds, extended the boat image and added a water line for the horizon) and add a few white highlights to the water with the Faber-Castell® White Pitt Pen Marker.

Use the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker to add shadows and once the panel is dry, cut it out with the Big Shot™ and the retired Window Collection Framelits™ die.

Another view- straight on :-) Which view do you prefer??

Stamp the verse sentiment from Trust God using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto a piece of  Whisper White cardstock, trim and mount the strip of Daffodil Delight and embossed Marina Mist cardstock (embossed with the Big Shot™ and the retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder), trim once more and add the ¼” knotted Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain ribbon.

Mount the panel onto a piece of Marina Mist cardstock, trim and mount onto the Daffodil Delight card base.

Add the focal image to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Summer By The Sea (retired), Trust God

Ink:  Stāz-On® Jet Black, Soft Sky; Stampin’ Write Markers- Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Soft Sky, Sahara Sand; Faber-Castell® White and Black Pitt Pen Markers

Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist

Accessories: AquaPainter™, Big Shot™,  Retired Products- Window Collection Framelits™, Square Lattice Textured Impressions™, ¼” Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a terrific Thursday!  Hugs to you, my friends!

CAS85 Upsy Daisy

While I had the Upsy Daisy set out, I decided to create a couple of cards using the fall colors for the Clean and Simple (CAS) Challenge from Splitcoast (see http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=all&si=CAS85&what=keywords for their gallery submissions) along with the new SUO Challenge #2 Big Shot (see http://suochallenges.com/?p=36). 

The first card uses the emboss resist technique along with sponge daubers with Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red and Tangerine Tango. 

Stamp Sets:  Upsy Daisy, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Ink: Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango

Accessories:  Big Shot, Finial Press EF, Sponge Daubers, Word Window and Modern Label Punch, 5-in-1 Distressing Tool, Color Spritzer Tool, Early Espresso Marker, 5/8” Early Espresso Satin Ribbon. 

The second card uses the same set but instead of emboss resist, I punched the Very Vanilla circle out with the new 2 ½” XL Circle punch, sponged the colors with the sponge daubers and then stamped the Upsy Daisy in Early Espresso. 

I used the new embossing folder, Elegant Lines, and half of a previously embossed Top Note die cut and some more of that luscious Early Espresso Satin Ribbon. 

Stamp Sets:  Upsy Daisy,  Heard From The Heart

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Ink: Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango

Accessories:  Big Shot, Elegant Lines and Square Lattice EF, Sponge Daubers, Color Spritzer Tool, Early Espresso Marker, 5/8” Early Espresso Satin Ribbon. 

Thanks again for visiting!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I hope all of you are able to take time to have some fun stamping- it is so therapeutic!