Nothing Is Worth More Than This Day

Hi Friends!

I am sharing another card today that I created recently using several retired Stampin’ Up! (SU!) stamp sets- Summer by the Sea, Stipple Shells and Summer Afternoon. 

As I have mentioned in my previous posts, I am still trying to focus on using stamps that I already own and have not used in a while.  Once I pull out a retired set(s), I am trying to create a few cards in order to give all of the images some "love" :-)  

For this card, I decided to incorporate the Fab Friday #169 Sketch Challenge along with the Time-Out#141 “Relaxation” Challenge and the Simon Says Wednesday “Anything Goes”Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to stop by the above challenge sites, I encourage you to do so- fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the Summer by the Sea image using Versafine™ Onyx Black ink onto white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor using ink from water-based markers and distress oxide ink (see colors used below).

2). Die cut the image with a stitched dome die and die cut another dome (the same size) from black cardstock.  Split the black dome die-cut at the bottom, layer the focal image over the split die allowing just a bit of the black frame to show.

3). Emboss a piece of white cardstock with a woodgrain embossing folder, mount onto black cardstock and trim close to the edge.  Adhere the layered background to a white card base.

4). De-static a piece of black cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Summer Afternoon (retired SU!), apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, trim close to the edge of the sentiment (sizing to fit under the dome shape of the focal image).

5). Mount the layered focal image and sentiment onto the card front with dimensional foam.

6). Using black India ink, stamp the shell images from Stipple Shells onto white cardstock, heat set the ink with a heat tool and watercolor the images using water-based markers.  Fussy-cut each of the shells, use a black marker to finish off the cut edges of the images and a sponge dauber with distress oxide ink to add a bit of color.

7). Mount each of the shells onto the card front using dimensional foam.

8). Finish off the card using a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the shells.

Stamp Sets: Summer by the Sea, Stipple Shells, Summer Afternoon (all retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Ken Oliver Black India Ink, Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide- Ground Espresso, Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink; Zig® Clean Color™ FB Markers-  Olive Green, Pale Pink, Yellow, Violet, Brown, Pink Flamingo; Stampin’ Write Markers- Pacific Point, Sahara Sand; Faber Castell® Bold Black Pitt Pen, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Designer Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Big Shot™, My Favorite Things™ (MFT) Dies- Stitched Rectangles A2 STAX Set 1 and Stitched Dome STAX,  Embossing Buddy®, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge Dauber, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- hugs and I hope you can stop by again soon!

SC662 Nothing is Worth More...

Hi Friends!

Woohoo- it’s time for the new SC662 Sketch Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  I think that Diane created a very versatile sketch, don't you? 

 I hope you will find the time to check out the gallery and see what a great job by DT Sisters did with this sketch- amazing talent for sure!

I decided to create a masculine card for my stash and pulled out two retired sets from Stampin’ Up!- Angler and Summertime Afternoon and paired them with the current Timeless Textures stamp set. 

I love the art work in both of the retired sets and since all three of the stamp sets are over a year old (Angler dated 2004, Summer Afternoon dated 2012, Timeless Textures 2016), I am also linking to the Retro Rubber #71 “Anything Goes”Challenge as well.

If you have not had a chance to check out the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Gallery or the Retro Rubber Blog Challenge gallery yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Ink the Angler image with Versafine™ Black Onyx Ink, stamp onto Whisper White cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, use an AquaPainter™ with Tim Holtz® Distress Inks to watercolor the image (I used neutrals and they are listed below).

2). Use a stitched oval die to die cut the image, mount onto a Basic Black oval die cut (cut with the same die, split in half to just show a tiny portion at the top and bottom).  Ink the Timeless Textures small splatter stamp with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and stamp onto the image (in the sand area).  Soften with the water brush and set the image aside.

3). Repeat the steps above for the fishing lure (fly) image from Angler and fussy-cut the image once it is completely dry.

4). Ink the sentiment from Summer Afternoon with Versamark™ ink, stamp onto a scrap piece of Basic Black cardstock, apply white embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.

5). Trim a piece of the retired Kraft Specialty Paper (I used the piece that had a woodgrain pattern already embossed in the paper), die cut a small circle from the area that will be hidden by the oval image (little tip to save paper :-)) and mount the entire woodgrain panel onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.  Trim and mount onto the white card base.

6). Die cut a larger circle from Basic Black cardstock.  Layer the woodgrain circle from the step above onto the black circle element, adhere to the sentiment.

7). Mount the layered oval focal image and sentiment to the card front with dimensional foam.  Add the fishing lure image with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Angler, Summer Afternoon, Timeless Textures

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Basic; Versamark™; Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink- Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso, Vintage Tea, Walnut Stain

Paper: Extra Thick Whisper White, Whisper White, Basic Black; retired SU! Kraft Specialty DSP

Accessories/Tools: AquaPainter™, Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Oval STAX Dies, Circle Framelits™, Embossing Buddy®, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! I hope you can find the time to come join us at Splitcoaststampers- we would love to see your artwork in our gallery!  Hugs and I hope all of you have a safe week, sweet friends!

Thoughts & Prayers- Nothing is Worth More than This Day

Hi Friends!!

Woohoo! I had a chance to create another Clean and Simple (CAS) Mixed Media card using an alcohol ink technique on vellum last night. One thing I forgot to do was work in a well ventilated room- lol! I must remember that for the next time :-)

I created this card for the August CAS Mixed-Media challenge and chose to use vellum versus Yupo® paper (I have the Yupo® as well as Glossy cardstock but neither one was in the area where I actually stamp right now, so I pulled out a piece of vellum instead) and the Simon Says Wednesday "Splatter It" Challenge.

My design style normally does not lean toward CAS cards but lately I have been trying to participate in CAS challenges and force myself to think CAS.  I am having so much fun with this style and who knows? I may be converted soon- lol!!

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

OK, I have to admit, this card was an experiment so I did try a few different things ( I refused to give up :-)) :

1). Using alcohol inks for the “smoosh” technique (***Note- epic fail on vellum but it is part of this card ) place a few drops of Ranger® Adirondack™ Alcohol Inks- Ginger, Latte and Terra Cotta onto a silicone craft mat, spritz with alcohol blending solution and lay the piece of vellum into the ink. Immediately lift up the vellum, allow the inks to merge and blend.  The problem I had with this method on vellum was that I had too much of the ink on the mat (and too similar of colors) so the colors became one brown color (I decided to wipe it off the vellum and start over...)

2). Using  Spectrum Noir™ Alcohol Markers, color with the large flat nib back and forth over the panel- GB5 Yellow at the top, OR1 Orange in the center and the DG4 at the bottom. Once the marker has dried (only a few moments), spritz a bit of alcohol blending solution over the panel and allow that to dry.

3). Trim the vellum, de-static the alcohol marker ink side with an Embossing Buddy®, stamp the tree from Thoughts & Prayers using Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, apply Clear Embossing Powder and carefully heat set with the Heat Tool.

4). Using the Big Shot™ with the MFT Stitched Rectangle STAX, cut the frame from Basic Black cardstock and adhere the vellum panel to the frame.  Mount the entire frame onto a piece of So Saffron cardstock (I had this piece in my stash already die cut with the same rectangle die).

5). On a piece of Whisper White cardstock, stamp the sentiment from the retired Summer Afternoon stamp set with Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink at the bottom, trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.  Adhere the entire background onto the white card base and add the vellum panel.

6). Die cut the cat from Basic Black cardstock with the Poppystamps™ Sitting Cat Die (I also had this die cut ready in my stash)- mount onto the card front with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Thoughts & Prayers, Summer Afternoon (current and retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Alcohol Inks, Spectrum Noir™ Alcohol Markers- GB5, OR1, DG4

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Vellum

Accessories/Tools:  Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangles STAX Dies, Poppystamps™ Sitting Cat Die, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

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