CAS New Creature

Hi Friends!

It feels like it has been forever since I had a chance to share a card with all of you!  I apologize for my delay in posting- my hubby had recent surgery on his bladder and has been diagnosed with bladder cancer (this is in addition to his non-Hodgkins lymphoma known as WM for Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia).  

Thankfully he was being scanned regularly as a follow-up to his chemo for the WM and the small bladder tumor was detected early.  He will be having the first chemo treatment this week for his bladder cancer and will have to have the treatments once every six weeks.  

Again, we are so thankful that the bladder cancer seems to have been caught in the early stages although the doctor noted that his tumor is considered an agressive type.  We are praying that the initial treatments will "kill" all remaining cancer cells and he will be in follow-up mode only after the treatments conclude :-)

Believe it or not, I have been stamping in between the surgery and doctor's appointments but am finding it difficult getting my blog posts completed (oh, did I mention that my laptop "crashed" during all of this and had to be repaired?) :-)  You know what happens when you pray for patience, right?  

But I am comforted by this verse-

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

We are so thankful that the Lord has protected us through all of this and we know that He is in control- what a wonderful Savior, is Jesus our Lord!! 

Today I am sharing a clean and simple (CAS) Mixed Media Watercolor card with Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps Birds & Blooms (from the March release) and the previously released stamp set, New Creature.

I incorporated the Splitcoaststampers CC681 Color Challenge along with the CAS Watercolour April “Bird” Challenge and the Word Art Wednesday #330-#331 “Anything Goes” Challengeinto the design.

 

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the bird image from Birds & Blooms along with the sentiment from New Creature with archival black ink, stamp onto the prepared panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, use a water brush along with ink from water-based markers to color the bird and distress ink for the background (please see below for colors and supplies used).

2). Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto a piece of indigo cardstock (also die cut with a stitched rectangle die) before adhering to the white card base.

3). Use an Extra Fine White Paint Pen to add a highlight to the bird’s eye and use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the bird’s feathers.

4). Finish off the card with a few crystal jewel drops.

  

Stamp Sets:  Birds & Blooms, New Creature (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Flirty Flamingo, Island Indigo; Tim Holtz® Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Nuvo™ Sea Breeze Crystal Jewel Drops

Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched A2 Rectangle STAX Set #1 & #2, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you have a wonderful week and visit again soon!  Lord Willing, I will be sharing several more cards over the next few days :-)

SUO196 Cross of Hope

Hi Friends!   

It’s time for the #196 “Spring is About to Spring” Challenge at SU-Only Challenges!  

Easter is only a few weeks away and I have not had a chance to create a card yet with the new Crosses of Hope Framelits™. 

I decided to incorporate the Splitcoaststampers CC677 Color Challenge into the design along with the  Tic-Tac-Toe #038 Challenge (Green, Sparkle, Happy) and the International Art & Soul #28 “Emboss and Use A Die”Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to stop by the SU-Only Challengesite to check out the rest of the Design Team’s samples or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Use Stampin’ Write Markers- color the flower spray image from Hold On To Hope using Emerald Envy for the stems and Calypso Coral for the flowers. “Huff” onto the stamp to re-moisten and stamp onto a piece of Peekaboo Peach cardstock. “Huff” again for a second generation stamping, re-color the image and stamp a few more times.

2). Trim the panel to 4” x 5 ¼”.  Stamp the flourish image from Timeless Textures with Versamark™ ink repeatedly around the edges and score at the bottom and top of the panel.  Mount onto a piece of Emerald Envy cardstock, trim and mount onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

3). Die cut the main cross from Crosses of Hope Framelits™ from Calypso Coral cardstock and the intricate cross from Whisper White cardstock.  Layer the two and add shimmer to the Calypso Coral areas with Clear Wink of Stella®.

4). Loop a bit of Gold Metallic Thread behind the area where the cross will be mounted and mount the cross with Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

5). Ink the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with Versamark™ and stamp onto a scrap piece of Emerald Envy cardstock.  Apply Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool. Hand trim and add a flag banner on the end before mounting onto the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

6). Add a Pearl to the middle of the cross to finish off the card.

  

Stamp Sets:  Hold On To Hope, Timeless Textures, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™, Stampin’ Write Markers- Emerald Envy, Calypso Coral; Clear Wink of Stella®

Paper: Whisper White, Extra Thick Whisper White, Emerald Envy, Peekaboo Peach

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, Crosses of Hope Framelits™, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Write® White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Gold Metallic Thread, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and I hope that you will create your own Stampin’ Up! Only project and join us for our “Spring is About to Spring” challenge! 

Autumn Blessings

Hi Friends!

I loved this week’s Splitcoaststampers CC660 "Crazed Over Crushed Cherry Cobbler" Color Challenge with an optional dessert option of "Gratitude"- don’t you?  

The leaves are all in there spectacular glory here on the East Coast and I wanted to play along so I decided to create a fairly quick Mixed Media card using Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps- Skeleton Leaf Background (designed by Korin Sutherland) and So Grateful (designed by Gloria Stengel).  I love both of these sets together- so many possibilities plus there is a chance to win the So Grateful stamp set with our Facebook giveaway this week- check out the details here!!

I also am participating with the Little Red Wagon #419 “Harvest Time” Challenge (fall, harvest, leaves)  and the A Bit More Time to Craft #55 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!  

Plus, we are celebrating our 10th Birthday at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps- there are so many promotions along with a few giveaways! Come check out the details here!!

To create this card:

1). Tap Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks onto a silicone craft mat- Fossilized Amber, Candied Apple and Fired Brick (I worked with two colors at a time).  Lightly spritz with water, place a piece of white cardstock into the ink, “smoosh” around, lift up and repeat until you are satisfied with the coverage :-).

Ink the Skeleton Leaf Background stamp with archival black ink, stamp onto the panel prepared in Step #1, re-ink and stamp partially to fill up the panel.  Dry with a heat tool (to speed up the drying process), trim to approx. 3 ¾” x 5” and cut into three panels.  Mount each panel onto black cardstock and trim close to the edge.  Add a bit more color with water-based cherry and cajun inks as needed. 

3). Trim a piece of white cardstock to 4” x 5 ¼”, mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim close to the edge and mount onto the white card front.

4). Add the leaf panels to the card front with dimensional foam.

5). Ink the sentiment from So Grateful with archival ink, stamp onto a piece of vellum, apply gold embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Trim the sentiment and adhere to the card front (I used adhesive in the top left corner and behind the letters). 

6). Add the looped thin black satin bow with the antique brad center to the left corner (hides the adhesive for the vellum) and a few copper sequins to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Skeleton Leaf Background , So Grateful   (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks-Fossilized Amber, Candied Apple, Fired Brick; Stampin’ Up! Classic Ink- Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze

 

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Acessories/Tools: Embossing Buddy®, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1/8” Black Satin Ribbon, Antique Brad, Copper Sequins

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you have a blessed week, sweet friends!

We Blossom and Flourish

Hi Friends!

This morning I am sharing another quick and easy card that I designed this past weekend using the clear stamp set, Season of Change (retired now but orginally purchased from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps - designed by Dina Kowal dba dkdesigns).

This card was a bit of an experiment and I used the Splitcoaststampers CC653 "Don't Eat Olives with Cherry and Pumpkin Pie" Color  Challenge (dessert option- leaves) along with the Little Red Wagon #412 “Leaf it to Me” Challenge and my second card for the AAA Cards Game #99 “Autumn Colours” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to check out the challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Ink the maple leaf image from Season of Change with carved pumpkin distress ink, lightly sponge Fired Brick onto the image and stamp onto a piece of white cardstock.

2). Create a mask for the maple leaf, mask the stamped leaf, ink the smaller oak leaf image with peeled paint distress ink, sponge carved pumpkin ink onto the image and stamp onto the panel.

3). Repeat the steps above with the maple leaf again using fired brick, aged mahogany and carved pumpkin distress ink and stamp onto the panel. 

4). Lightly mist the ink and use a heat tool to dry the entire panel. The leaves were pretty at this stage but I lost some of the detail with the watercolor (experimenting :-)) and so the next step helped bring back the detail.

5). Re-align the stamps over the inked images, de-static the panel with an embossing powder tool and stamp the leaf images one at a time using Versafine™ Black Onyx Ink (masking as needed).  Apply clear embossing powder, heat with the heat tool and repeat.  Use a water brush to add additional ink as needed and a light wash behind the sentiment area.

6). Ink the sentiment from Season of Change using Versafine™ Black Onyx Ink, apply clear embossing powder, heat with the heat tool and allow the embossing to cool.  Add a few splatters to the card with a small splatter stamp and peeled paint distress ink.

7). Die cut the panel with the MFT Die-namics™ Blueprints 20 Stitched Rectangle Frame die, mount onto a piece of black cardstock and adhere to the white card base.

8). Finish off the card by adding shimmer to the leaves with a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets: Season of Change (retired dkdesigns from SNSS), Timeless Textures (Stampin' Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Tim Holtz® Distress Ink- Aged Mahogany, Carved Pumpkin, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories/Tools: Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™, Big Shot™, MFT Blueprints 20 Die

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! Hugs and I hope all of you have a wonderful week!

Fabulous Mediterranean Moments

Hi Friends!!

Today I am sharing another quick card using an image colored with a water soluble graphite pencil with a bit of color from the Splitcoaststampers CC649 Color Challenge and a touch of scoring for the CAS(E ) This Sketch #235 Sketch Challenge.

If you have not already had a chance to visit the above challenge sites, I hope you will do so- wonderful examples from their Design Teams as well as in their galleries!

To create this card:

1). Score a 3 ¾” x 5” piece of Stampin’ Up! Whisper White cardstock on the bottom and along the right hand edge for the CTS235 sketch design (I already had this image stamped and watercolored in graphite so I could not add as many score lines to the bottom as I would have liked per the sketch :-)).

2). Ink the Mediterranean Moments scene using archival black ink, heat set with the heat tool and watercolor with a Derwent® water soluble graphite pencil. 

A bit darker shot to try to show the scoring :-)

3). Add color with Stampin’ Write Markers- Lemon Lime Twist for the leaves and Bermuda Bay for the motor scooter.

4). Trim a piece of Basic Black cardstock, mount the watercolor panel and adhere to the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

5). Ink the sentiment from the retired Absolutely Fabulous stamp set with archival black ink and stamp onto the card front.

6). To finish off the card use a Clear Wink of Stella® glitter pen to add shimmer to the motor scooter.

Stamp Sets: Mediterranean Moments, Absolutely Fabulous (retired)

Ink/Mediums: Archival Black; Stampin’ Write Markers- Lemon Lime, Bermuda Bay; Clear Wink of Stella® Glitter Pen, Derwent® Water Soluble Graphite Pencil

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Extra Thick Whisper White

Accessories/Tools:  AquaPainter™ , Scoring Tool

Thanks again for stopping by- hugs and I hope all of you have a terrific week!

SUO181 Butterfly Basics- Brick Wall Technique

Hi Friends!   

It’s time for the #181 “Butterflies and Dragonflies” Challengeat SU-Only Challenges!  

I wanted to try the Splitcoaststampers TLC650 “Another Brick in the Wall” Technique challenge (see tutorial here) and decided to use the CC647 Color Challenge (including “dessert”).  I am also linking this card to the Word Art Wednesday #294-#295 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to stop by the SU-Only Challenge site to check out the rest of the Design Team projects or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Tap the So Saffron Classic Ink pad onto an acrylic block or silicone mat, spritz with water and lay a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock into the ink.  Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the results. Heat the paper with the Heat Tool to dry between layers of ink.

2). Ink the fern image from Butterfly Basics with Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink and stamp repeatedly onto the background panel. Stamp the honeycomb image with So Saffron Classic Ink repeatedly over the panel and add a bit of splatter with the small splatter stamp from Timeless Textures using Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink. 

3). Trim the panel and using the Paper Trimmer, cut the panel into ½” horizontal pieces (as you cut, lightly number the pieces on the back in 4 different places- trust me, this will help immensely in remembering where the pieces go back into place).

4). After you cut the horizontal strips, take each strip and cut into “bricks” (I used 1 ¼” and 1” segments).  Lightly sponge Soft Suede Classic Ink over the edges and adhere to a piece of Pear Pizzazz cardstock.  ***FYI- On my first attempt, I did not number the rows as I cut the initial strips and put them in order on my craft mat, but as I sponged the pieces, I accidentally flipped my mat and after a few hours of trying to piece them back together, I gave up and started again. The second time I numbered the rows as I cut the strips and it worked so well.***

5). Stamp the honeycomb image with So Saffon Classic Ink onto another piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, sponge the edges with Soft Suede Classic Ink, trim and mount onto a piece of Pear Pizzazz cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Berry Burst cardstock.  Adhere the panel to the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

6). Ink the flowers from Butterfly Basics using Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black Ink and stamp two sets of the images onto Whisper White cardstock.  Using Berry Burst and Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink, watercolor the flowers with an AquaPainter™ (adding shadows with the same colors of Stampin’ Write Markers).  Once you are satisfied with the coloring, fussy-cut each of the flowers.

7). Adhere the background flowers directly to the card front and mount the flowers in the foreground using Stampin’ Dimensionals®. 

8). Use Clear Wink of Stella® to add shimmer to the flower petals and the White Gel Pen to add a few highlights to the flower centers.

9). Ink the butterflies from Butterfly Basics using Berry Burst Classic Ink, fussy-cut the butterflies and mount onto the card front.

10). Stamp the sentiment from Rose Wonder using Berry Burst Classic Ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock, die  cut with the Stitched Layering Framelits™ , sponge Soft Suede Classic Ink over the edges and mount onto a die cut circle of Berry Burst cardstock (die cut with the Layering Circle Framelits™). 

11). Adhere a strip of Berry Burst cardstock with Stampin’ Dimensionals® (on the area around the popped-up flower), add the Berry Burst bow (created with the Bow Builder Punch) and mount the layered sentiment.  Mount the retired button with a strand of burlap ribbon to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Butterfly Basics, Rose Wonder, Timeless Textures

Ink/Mediums: Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black, Classic Ink- Berry Burst, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede, So Saffron; Clear Wink of Stella® , White Gel Pen

Paper: Very Vanilla, Berry Burst, Pear Pizzazz, Extra Thick Whisper White

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, Stitched Layering and Layering Circle Framelits™, Heat Tool, Bow Builder Punch, retired items- Subtles Button, strand from 1 ¼”  Burlap Ribbon

Thanks again for taking the time to visit and I hope that you will create your own Stampin’ Up! Only project and play along with our “Butterflies and Dragonflies” challenge!

His Wings- Sending Prayers Your Way

Hi Friends!

Wow! This week has been a hectic one but I finally had a chance to relax and create a card using the Creative Worship stamp set, His Wings (designed by Korin Sutherland) along with Floral Greetings (designed by Graciellie Design) both available from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps.

I used the Splitcoaststampers CC645 "Delightfully Wild in the Pacific" Color Challenge for the design and will also be participating in the Simon Says Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). On a piece of white cardstock, scribble yellow, green and blue color with a Zig® Clean Color Brush Marker, spritz with water and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the panel has  thoroughly dried, de-static with an embossing powder tool, stamp the feathers from the His Wings stamp set with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Add a bit more color as needed (I also added additional blue with a Stampin’ Write Pacific Point Marker).

2). Once the embossing has cooled, fussy- cut the feathers (cutting into the design a bit) and set aside.

3). De-static a scrap piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the bird image from His Wings with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, heat emboss with clear embossing powder and once cooled, fussy-cut the image. 

4). On a piece of Strathmore® Bristol Smooth paper, apply the same three colors using the Zig® Clean Color Brush Markers, spritz with water and heat set with a heat tool.  Drop additional water onto the panel, press a paper towel to soak up the water and some of the ink, heat with the heat tool to dry. 

5). Once you are satisfied with the background, de-static the panel near the bottom with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Floral Greetings usingVersafine™ Onyx Black ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Trim the panel, mount onto black cardstock, trim again and mount onto the white card base.

6). Add the feathers directly to the card front and mount the bird with dimensional foam.

7). Finish off the card with Nuvo™ Jewel Crystal Drops and use an Extra Fine Sharpie® White Paint Pen to add a few dots to the top feather.

 Stamp Sets:  His Wings, Floral Greetings (Sweet‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Pacific Point Marker, Zig® Clean Color Real Brush Markers- Yellow, Light Green, Cobalt Blue; Extra Fine Sharpie® White Paint Pen; Nuvo® Jewel Drops- Sea Breeze, Limoncello, Key Lime

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black; Bristol Smooth

Accessories/Tools: Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

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

His Wings- Creative Worship by Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps

SNSS Floral Greetings