My Grace is Sufficient

Hi Friends!

I designed this card using a stamp set that I purchased on clearance over a year ago- Everlasting (Kaisercraft) and this is the first time I have had a chance to ink it up.  I decided to pair the birds with a sentiment from another stamp set that has been un-inked lately- The Vine (Unity Stamp Co).   

I am making a dedicated effort to try to use stamps and paper that I already own (although I do still purchase a few)- I find it so difficult to resist those 40-50% off or more sales- don't you? 

I am also challenging myself to work my way through all of the Splitcoaststampers’ Sketch Challenges (now at 800) that I have not used yet so I incorporated the SC160 Sketch layout into the design of this card.  This sketch was from 2009 (the SCS challenges do not expire) and I thought it would be a good layout for the branch image.

I enjoy participating with online challenges as well and will be linking this card to the Simon Says Monday “Spritz and Splatter” Challenge along with the A Bit More Time to Craft #115  “Anything Goes” Challenge.

Since the Simon Says Monday Challenge was "Spritz and Splatter", I decided to create a Shabby Chic/Vintage Mixed Media card.  

To create this card:

Apply distress ink to the inside of a woodgrain embossing folder, insert a piece of white cardstock and emboss the panel.  Spritz the panel to allow the ink to spread a bit and also use a water brush to apply additional brown distress ink as needed (see all of the colors used below).

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of black cardstock. Adhere the background panel to a white card base.

Ink the background stamp (Chalkboard Vine) with the same brown distress ink (, lightly stamp over the designer paper before cutting the paper into three panels.  Mount onto black cardstock and add directly to the card front.

Ink the birds on the branch image (from Everlasting) with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto a piece of white cardstock,  apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the image has cooled, water color with brown distress ink along with brown and gray water-based markers.

Apply the distress ink directly around the edges of the image and stamp with a texture splatter stamp to achieve additional distressing and “antiquing”.  Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die and mount onto black cardstock.

Stamp the sentiment from The Vine (Unity Stamp Co) with embossing ink (I used the Versafine™ Onyx Black since my Versamark™ was not nearby), apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Trim the sentiment (I used a scrap piece of black paper and it was not trimmed evenly so I had to cut into the area where the “M” would be cut-off, therefore, I fussy-cut around the “M”).  Mount the sentiment onto the bird panel.

Adhere the bird panel to the card front using chipboard or dimensional foam (I prefer chipboard for extra stability, plus I have a lot of chipboard on hand, lol!).

To finish the card, use an extra fine white paint pen to add a highlight to each bird’s eye.

Stamp Sets: Everlasting (Kaisercraft), The Vine (Unity Stamp Co), Chalkboard Vine (Divinity Designs, LLC), Timeless Textures (Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers-Gray Granite, Soft Suede; Tim Holtz™ Brushed Corduroy Distress;   Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Prima Lifetime Collection Designer Paper

Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1 Dies, retired Stampin’ Up! Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy®, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

I am so thrilled that you took the time to visit my blog- I hope all of you are staying healthy and safe during the worldwide pandemic!

I am planning on posting a few more cards this week and, if you have the time, please stop  by again soon!  Hugs, sweet friends!

TCC84 My Grace Is Sufficient

Hi Friends!!

We had a little break over the Christmas/New Year holiday but we are so thrilled to be back with The Card Concept #84 {Sweet Inspiration} Challenge!! 

I love this beautiful vintage photo and was inspired by the beautiful roses, vellum flowers, pearls and vintage feel to create a Shabby Chic/Mixed Media card.

I am also linking this card to the Sunday Stamps #169 "Cool Winter Love" Challenge  and the Dies R Us #88 “Anything Goes” 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). Ink the Roses & Prayers (Unity Stamp Co) with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto a piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor the rose image using water-based markers.

2). Use a stencil brush with antique linen distress ink to “antique” the paper.  Using the brush with antique linen along with a stencil, apply additional ink around the flower image.  Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die.

3). Use a craft knife to cut around the lower leaf and stem, mount the panel onto a piece of crumb cake cardstock, adhere the striped designer paper (Graphic45 Botanical Tea ) along with the strip of crocheted ivory lace and a strip of 1” gray satin ribbon, wrapping the ends of the ribbon behind the panel.

4). Mount the entire panel onto a piece of dark gray cardstock, mount the entire panel onto a white card base.

5). Ink the sentiment from The Vine (Unity Stamp Co) with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto the scrap piece of stenciled cardstock from step #2,  cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, die cut with a stitched rectangle die.  Mount onto the card front under the cut leaf and stem image.  Adhere the die cut roses along with the punched leaves and pearls. 

6). Finish off the card using a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the die cut roses and stamped rose petals.

Stamp Sets: Roses & Prayers, The Vine (both from Unity Stamp Co, designed by Graciellie Designs)

Inks/Mediums:  Versafine™ Onyx Black; Tim Holtz® Antique Linen Distress Ink; Stampin’ Write Markers- Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Powder Pink, Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Vellum (all Stampin’ Up!); Graphic45 Botanical Tea Designer Paper (retired)

Accessories: Big Shot™, Dies- MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1, MFT Mini Royal Rose Dies, Impression Obsession Mini Rolled Flower Dies; Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Clarity™ Stencil Brush, Memory Box Texture Flourish Designer Stencil, Martha Stewart Leaf Punch, 1” Gray Satin Ribbon, Pearls

 Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you will be able to join us for the #84 “Sweet Inspiration” Challenge at The Card Concept! 

Mixed Media Floral- Sending Prayers

Hi Friends!

I have another card to share today using a few “new to me” stamp sets from Unity Stamp Co. designed by Graciellie Designs – Faith & Hope and The Vine.

I love participating with online challenges and incorporated the Just Add Ink #390 Sketch Challenge along with the Happy Little Stampers December 2017 Watercolour "Anything Goes" Challenge and the Word ArtWednesday #312-#313 “Anything Goes” Challenge into the design.

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

To create this card:

1). Die cut a piece of white cardstock using the MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set #1 Dies.  Ink the floral image from Faith & Hope with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto the lower left corner and upper right corner of the panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

2). Once the embossing has cooled, color with a water brush using a red watercolor pencil and follow with water-based markers until you are satisfied with the color (I have the colors I used listed in the card recipe below).

3). Use an alcohol marker to fill in the background and stencil blue distress oxide ink using a honeycomb stencil. Mount the entire panel onto a die cut piece of black cardstock (using the next size die in the MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set #1 Dies).

4). Die cut a panel of white cardstock with the largest die from the MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1 Dies, mount onto a piece of black cardstock and adhere to the white card base.

5). Die cut a piece of designer paper with the MFT Horizontal Strip Dies, cut the die in half before mounting onto the card base (per the sketch).  Mount the focal image panel with dimensional foam.

6). De-static a piece of black cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from The Vine with Versamark™ ink, apply white embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Trim and add the sentiment to the card front (again per the sletch).

7). Finish off the card by adding shimmer to the flower petals with a clear glitter pen, white highlights to the flower centers with an extra fine white paint pen and a few sequins.

Stamp Sets: Faith & Hope, The Vine (Unity Stamp Co.)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Versamark™, Tim Holtz® Distress Markers- Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Squeezed Lemonade; Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Ink- Salty Ocean; Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils- Real Red, Old Olive; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen and VB1 Alcohol Marker; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black; misc. designer paper (magenta- not sure of manufacturer)

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Dies- A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1, Horizontal Strip Dies; Balzer Designs® Honeycomb Stencil, Sponge Dauber, Sequins (Red Asst-Crafter’s Medley), Embossing Buddy®, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for visiting- I hope all of you have a very blessed week and Merry Christmas!