Rejoice in the Lord Always

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing a card designed using the retired Stampin’ Up! Sunflower background stamp (digital image) along with a sentiment from the retired Verve Stamps set, Scripture Medley 1 and retired designer papers. 

I wanted to participate with the TGIF Challenge #275 Inspiration Challenge- I was inspired by the colors as well as the sunflower :-)  and incorporated the Splitcoaststampers SC161 Sketch Challenge into the design.

I am also playing along with the Word Art Wednesday #450-#451 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

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

To creates this card:

I already had the Stampin’ Up! Sunflower background image printed out in my stash (it was reduced in size in the retired My Digital Studio™ program).

Fussy cut the sunflower and color with yellow and brown alcohol markers.

Die cut the various pieces of designer paper with stitched rectangle dies, layer onto espresso cardstock, trim close to the edge.

Mount the die cut layered pieces onto a white card base per the sketch.

Color the sunflower image with alcohol markers, fussy cut and use a black marker to color the edges.

Stamp the verse sentiment with black embossing ink onto white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder, heat with a heat tool. Once the embossing powder has cooled, die cut with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto espresso cardstock, trim close to the edge.

Adhere the layered sentiment onto the card front using chipboard (or dimensional foam).

Add the fussy cut sunflower to the upper left corner.  

Finish off the card with a few brown sequins and a white paper lace doily (another scrap, yea!).

Stamp Sets: Sunflower background stamp (retired Stampin’ Up!- digi version), Scripture Medley 1 (retired Verve Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Printer Ink- Black; Versafine™ Onyx Black, Arteza™ Alcohol Markers- various Yellows, Ochre, Browns)

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Early Espresso, retired Stampin’ Up! and misc. designer papers, White Tea Lace Doily

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr™, My Favorite Things™ Stitched Rectangle STAX A2 Set 1 & 2, Embossing Buddy™, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Brown Sequins

I am so thankful that you took the time to visit- hugs and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Bless the Lord, Bless His Holy Name

Hi Friends!!

I am finally getting a chance to share another card I designed this past weekend.  This was a quick and easy card using the retired Stampin’ Up! Sunflower background stamp along with the retired set, Good Work by Verve Stamps.

I am participating with a few online challenges- Just Add Ink #478 “Just Add ‘H’” Challenge (H= Heat Embossing,the word “Holy”), Little Red Wagon #518  “Cut It Out” Challenge (I fussy cut the sunflower plus used dies for the banner and background) and the Word Art Wednesday #408-#409“Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to drop by the above challenge sites yet, I hope you do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

Ink the sunflower image using Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Color the cooled image with water-based markers and fussy cut the image.  Cut the image in half (you can create two cards from one image).

Heat emboss the sentiment using the same steps as above, die cut with a banner die and layer onto a piece of black cardstock (trimming close to the edge).

Layer a piece of black and white designer paper onto a piece of black cardstock, trim close to the edge and mount onto a white card base. 

Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die, layer onto a piece of black cardstock, trim close to the edge and mount onto the card front.

Add the layered banner sentiment with dimensional foam or chipboard.  Adhere the sunflower, overlapping the sentiment layer a bit.

Finish off the card with a few pearls and add shimmer to the petals with a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets: Sunflower (Stampin’ Up!), Good Work (Verve Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black,  Stampin’ Write Markers- Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black; retired SU! Background Paper

Accessories: Big Shot™ ,  MFT Dies- Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1, Fishtail Flags Layers STAX Die-namics; Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder

I am so thankful that you stopped by- hugs and I hope you have a blessed weekend/week!

God Is Our Refuge and Strength

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you in the USA had a great Labor Day weekend!  I had a chance to create a few cards using a new to me stamp set, Sunflower from Unity along with a verse sentiment from the Stamp Simply set,  Fear Not.

I decided to incorporate the Sweet Sketch Wed 2 #166 Sketch Challenge along with the Simon Says Monday “Something Clear” Challenge (I used clear embossing powder) and the WordArt Wednesday #402-#403 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to stop by the above challenge sites yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- fabulous galleries and inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Once the background has dried, stamp the sentiment with Versafine™ Black Onyx ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

Stamp the sunflower image with Versafine™ Black Onyx ink onto a piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the image has cooled, watercolor with water-based markers and add distress oxide ink to the background before die-cutting the image with a stitched oval die.  Add white highlights to the center of the flower with a white paint pen and use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the sunflower petals.

Emboss the sentiment in the same manner as above and add a bit of distress oxide ink to soften the background before die-cutting with a stitched circle die.

Mount the dry embossed, layered panels per the sketch layout and add the black satin ribbon before adhering the entire panel to the white card base.

Mount the sunflower oval image along with the sentiment using dimensional foam and adhere the black satin bow.  Add a few pearls to the sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Sunflower (Unity Stamp Company), Fear Not (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black,  Tim Holtz® Tumbled Glass & Mustard Seed Distress Oxide; Stampin’ Write Markers- So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Designer Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Certainly Celery and So Saffron Designer Series Paper (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Gemini™, Ornate Lace 3-D Embossing Folder (Crafters Companion), retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, My Favorite Things Dies- Stitched Oval STAX and Stitched Circle STAX; Circle Dies (Sizzix), Embossing Buddy®, Clear Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™, ¾” Black Satin Ribbon, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I am honored that you have dropped in!  Hugs and I hope I have inspired you to create something this week!

TCC87 Monochromatic Green

Hi Friends!!

It’s time for The Card Concept #88 {Monochromatic Green } Challenge!!  Look at this fabulous inspiration photo! With the theme of travel, greens, golds, suitcases, tins, vintage lettering, etc. what would inspire you?

I was inspired by all of the shades of green along with the gold to create a Shabby Chic/Mixed Media with a bit of Freestyle Collage card-lol!  How’s that for a style :-) ?

I decided to pull out several neglected Stampin’ Up! sets- Ephemera Background (from 2005), Sunflower and Trust God (for the sentiment).  I also used the current Timeless Textures for a few splatter effects.

I love participating with online challenges and am linking this card to the Simon Says Work It Wednesday “Green” Challenge, the Time Out #104 “Bold” Challenge (I think that the sunflower is a pretty bold image- do you?, the Flower Challenge #18 "Anything Goes" Challenge and the Alphabet “Y is Your Choice” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will find the time to check out the rest of the wonderful Design Team cards at The Card Concept as well as the entries at the other challenge sites- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Press Twisted Citron Distress Oxide ink onto a silicone craft mat, lightly spritz with water and press a piece of white cardstock into the ink. Smoosh the cardstock around a bit before lifting and re-pressing into the ink as needed.  Dry with a heat tool and repeat the process with Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint and Lucky Clover Distress Oxide Inks.

2). Once you are satisfied with the background, ink and stamp the Ephemera Background stamp with Versafine® Onyx Black ink and heat set with a heat tool. 

3). Add a few shadows to the background with watercolor pencils (I used Pacific Point (SU!) and 46-Emerald Green (Derwent®).  Apply Nuvo™ Indian Gold Embellishment Mousse to some of the labels to give the appearance of metal, distress the edges with a distressing tool and apply the Indian Gold Mousse to the edges as well.  Use the Timeless Textures small splatter stamp with Versafine® Onyx Black ink (stamp off first) over the background to add additional texture.

4). Mount the background panel onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.   Add the 1 ¼” Burlap Ribbon along with the strip of black satin and bright green satin ribbon (all from my stash), wrapping the ends behind the panel.  Mount the entire panel onto the white card base.

5). De-static two pieces of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink and stamp the Sunflower with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink onto one panel and the sentiment from Trust God with Versamark™ ink onto the other panel.  Heat emboss the sunflower image with clear embossing powder and the sentiment with gold embossing powder.

6). Once the embossing has cooled, die cut the sentiment with the MFT Stitched Half Dome STAX Dies. Also die cut the same size dome from Basic Black cardstock, mount behind the embossed sentiment die cut and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam (tucking under the black ribbon strip).

7). Watercolor the sunflower with Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide Ink. Fussy-cut the image and split the sunflower in half.  Tuck under the burlap ribbon and adhere directly to the card front.

8). Finish off the card by adding the Polished Hemp Twine bow along with the black button and a few Pearls in the corners and on the sentiment panel.

Stamp Sets: Sunflower, Ephemera Background, Trust God (all retired Stampin’ Up!),  Timeless Textures (current SU!)

Inks/Mediums:  Versafine™ Onyx Blackm Versamark™, Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks- Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint, Lucky Clover; SU! Pacific Point Watercolor Pencil, Derwent® #46-Emerald Green Watercolor Pencil, Nuvo™ Indian Gold Embellishment Mousse

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Half Dome STAX Dies, Embossing Buddy®, Clear & Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1 ¼” Burlap Ribbon, 1 “ Bright Green Satin Ribbon, 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon, Polished Hemp Twine, retired Basic Black Button, Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you will be able to join us for the The Card Concept #88 {Monochromatic Green”  Challenge at The Card Concept!

TCC62 Sunflower Thanks

Hi Friends!!

It’s time for the #62 “Thanksgiving” Challenge at The Card Concept!  I just love our inspiration photo with the beautiful colors of the sunflowers, dinnerware, tablecloth as well as that dramatic black and white gingham. 

Since I was so inspired by the sunflowers as well as the overall colors and decided to pull out two retired Stampin’ Up! stamp sets for this card- Sunflower Background and Short and Sweet.

I also incorporated a few of my favorite online challenges- the Viva La Verve November Sketch #1 Challenge as well as the Simon Says Monday “Thanks/Thanksgiving”Challenge and the Retro Rubber Challenge #51 “Be Thankful” Challenge (the sunflower stamp as well as the sentiment is several years old) into the design.

I hope you have a chance to visit us at The Card Concept to check out the rest of our Design Team samples as well as the Verve, Simon Says Wednesday and Retro Rubber Challenge sites- fabulous inspiration from all!!

To create this card:

Distress the edges of the designer paper with a distressing tool (I used a miscellaneous piece of designer paper for the dark background and a piece of retired Epic Day This and That DSP for the orange layer), layer and mount onto a piece of a piece of Early Espresso cardstock.

Add the black and white gingham ribbon and mount the entire panel onto the white card base.

Ink the retired Sunflower Background stamp with archival black ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

Color the sunflower image with watercolor pencils using an AquaPainter™ adding additional color with Distress Inks (I used Wild Honey and Ripe Persimmon) along with Stampin’ Write Markers- Delightful Dijon and Crushed Curry, fussy-cut the image and set aside.

Distress a piece of retired Autumn Meadows DSP, mount onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock and layer the fussy-cut sunflower, trimming the edge off the side.

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the petals of the sunflower.

Ink the sentiment from the retired Short & Sweet stamp set with archival black ink onto white cardstock, create the banner points with the retired Hexagon Punch, mount onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock and add to the card front with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Sunflower Background, Short & Sweet (both retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink: Archival Black; Derwent® Watercolor Pencils, Tim Holtz® Distress Inks- Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon, Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain; Stampin’ Write Markers- Crushed Curry, Delightful Dijon; Clear Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso; retired Autumn Meadows and Epic Day This and That DSP, misc DSP

Accessories: AquaPainter™, Distressing Tool, retired Hexagon Punch, 1” Black and White Gingham Ribbon

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by!  I hope all of you have a fabulous week and you will be able to join us for the #62 ThanksgivingChallenge at The Card Concept!

Prim Blessings- Keep Your Face to the Sunshine

Hi Again Friends!

I wanted to share one more card that I created last night using the Pals Paper Arts PPA274 Color Challenge along with the Mojo422 Sketch Challenge.

I decided to pull out Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) Prim Blessings along with their coordinatingdies to create this fun card.

This card was fun and fairly easy to create:

Stamp the Sweet ‘n Sassy (SNS) Prim Blessings images using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.

Color the sunflower images using Stampin’ Write Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip and Calypso Coral Markers.

Use the Big Shot™ with the coordinating Prim Blessings Dies to cut out the sunflowers.

Layer the sentiment panel onto Chocolate Chip cardstock and add the Natural Linen  Thread above the sentiment.

Layer the embossed Calypso Coral Designer Series Paper (DSP) onto Whisper White cardstock, trim and add to the Chocolate Chip card base.

Layer the 1 ¼” Burlap Ribbon onto a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock, mount the retired Crushed Curry DSP onto Chocolate Chip 

cardstock and layer the panels to the card front per the sketch.

Mount the sentiment panel to the card front using dimensional foam and add the Natural Linen Thread bow along with the sunflowers. 

Add the Chocolate Chip button to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: PrimBlessings (SNSS)

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Crushed Curry, Calypso Coral, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, retired Calypso Coral and Eastern Elegance DSP (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, Prim Blessings Dies (SNSS), Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Natural Linen Thread, retired Chocolate Chip button (Stampin’ Up!)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and have a blessed day, my friends!

Faith, Hope and Love- Fun with Prim Blessings

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you are having a great weekend so far!  I finally had a chance to play with some of my new Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps and decided to create a Mixed Media card using Prim Blessings for the  Splitcoaststampers’ F4A290 “Hopeful Change” Challenge as well as the HYCCT1502 "Cancer Free" Freestyle Collage Challenge.

Sunflowers are such a fun sign of summer and to me the hopeful change is when they produce the seeds that the birds will feast on in the fall and winter!  My husband and I love to feed the birds and black oil sunflower seeds are one of their favorite treats :-)

If you have not visited the Splitcoaststampers’ F4A290 gallery yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- great inspiration from all!

This card was fairly easy to create but did take a bit of time with all of the stitching :-)

Stamp the Prim Blessings sunflower and  sentiment onto white cardstock, color with markers and a water brush, carefully cut out the images (or you can use the cute coordinating Primrose Blessings Die Set), add the stenciling to the background paper and use a sewing machine to stitch the distressed layers onto the card.

Finish with a natural linen thread bow and a few punched leaves.

Stamp Sets: Prim Blessings (SNSS)

Ink: Basic Black Archival Ink, Delightful Dijon, Daffodil Delight; Stampin’ Write Markers- Daffodil Delight, Delightful Dijon, Early Espresso, Soft Suede; Faber Castell White Pitt Pen marker

Prim Blessings 

Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pool Party; retired Epic Day This and That and Botanical Gazette DSP

Accessories: Sewing Machine, AquaPainter™, MS Leaf Punch. Natural Linen Thread

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and have a blessed day, my friends!

Shades of Pink in Less than 10 Minutes :-)

Hi Stampers!

This card was created using As You See It “10 minute Shades of Pink” Challenge for inspiration (The card took 8 minutes 55 sec to create).

Speed stamping is not my easy for me but I always have some card fronts of Whisper White cardstock as well as card bases cut and ready in my stash- this definitely helped save some time :-)

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

This card was very simple (and quick) to create- brayer on the pinks, stencil the darker pink, de-static the cardstock and emboss the sunflower and sentiment, mount onto the card base, add the gingham ribbon and bow along with the white faceted gems to finish off the card- total time to create- 8 minutes 55 secs

Stamp Sets:  Sunflower, Scripture Collection #9 (ODBD)

Ink: Versamark™, Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White

Accessories:  Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Mini Punchenella stencil by Balzar® Designs,  misc. gems from my stash

Thanks again for stopping by- I will be sharing another card shortly :-)