CAS Birthday Wishes

Hi Friends!!

Here is another Clean and Simple (CAS) card that I created with a quick watercolor technique using the Pals Paper Arts PPA275 Color Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers Clean and Simple CAS351 “Fall Leaves” Challenge and the TLC524 "Stamped Acrylic Block Background" Challenge. 

 Again, if you have not already visited the above sites, I hope you will take a moment to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Lightly spritz water onto a piece of watercolor paper, ink an acrylic block with Hello Honey Classic Ink and roll into Tangelo Twist Classic Ink, pressing down onto the watercolor paper and re-inking.

Lightly spritz the inked acrylic block images to allow the ink to spread and dry with the Heat Tool.

Ink the branches from the retired Watercolor Trio using Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink and stamp repeatedly over the acrylic block background, spritz with water to diffuse the branches and dry with the Heat Tool.

Once you are satisfied with the background, ink the branches again using Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink and stamp onto the background, lightly spritz and dry again with the Heat Tool.

Use a paint brush to drop water onto the panel and dry with the Heat Tool.

Stamp the sentiment with Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink, trim the panel and mount onto the Blackberry Bliss card base.

Stamp Sets:  Watercolor Trio (retired)

Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist

Paper: Watercolor, Blackberry Bliss

Accessories: Acrylic Block, Water Spritzer Bottle, Paint Brush

Thanks again for stopping by- have a wonderful week, my friends!

Monochromatic Floral Birthday Wishes- Having Fun with Watercolor :-)

Hi Again Stampers!

I am celebrating the 4^th of July in my craft room today since my hubby has to work all day :-(  and I wanted to share another card that I created using a simple watercolor technique.

This card was designed using the IN{K}SPIRE_ME #205 Color Challenge along  with the SR284 Flowers Challenge.

Again, I hope you have the time to stop by the above sites to check out the inspiration from both Design Teams as well as the other wonderful gallery entries!

To create this card:

Using the same techniques as noted in this original blog post (minus the masking) stamp the images using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock,  color with the AquaPainter™ using Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant and Blackberry Bliss Classic Inks and add details with Stampin’ Write markers in the same colors.

Trim the image, mat onto Wisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant cardstock, add a few photo corners created with the 1” Square Punch and mounted onto a Whisper White card base to finish off the card.

I just love using inks and markers for watercolor- so relaxing and fun!!

Stamp Sets:  Gorgeous Grunge, retired Elements of Style and Watercolor Trio

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Blackberry Bliss, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder; Stampin’ Write Markers- Blackberry Bliss and Elegant Eggplant

Paper:  Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder

Accessories: AquaPainter™, 1 “ Square Punch (for photo corners), Hexagon Punch (for banner points on sentiment), Pearls

Thanks again for visiting- have a wonderful weekend, my friends! 

April Showers- A Mixed Media Birthday Card :-)

Hi Stampers! 

I hope you are having a great weekend so far!  I have been organizing my pre-printed My Digital Studio (MDS) images and chose a fun umbrella image for the Colour Me!CMCC66 "Colour Me Striking" Challenge along with the Simon Says Wednesday "April Showers or Spring Flowers" Challenge, Seizethe Birthday Anything Goes Challenge (I chose to skip the “topping” this time :-)) and the Splitcoaststampers WT526 April Showers Challenge (see the details here and gallery here). 

Again, if you have not stopped by any of the challenge sites yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- terrific inspiration from all!!

To create this card:

Open a blank document in My Digital Studio (MDS), position the umbrella image from Rue Des Fleurs image (re-sizing a bit) and print out using Black Printer Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.

Position the birthday sentiment from Watercolor Trio onto another blank document and print out onto Very Vanilla cardstock.   Punch out the sentiment using the X-Large Oval Punch and set aside.

Color the umbrella image using So Saffron and Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Markers, add additional white highlights on the lace area with a Faber Castell White Pitt Pen marker and carefully “fussy-cut” the image.

Apply Mod Podge® to the entire image and allow to the finish to dry completely.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and the retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of retired Afternoon Tea Designer Series Paper (DSP).

Mount the two embossed pieces onto a piece of Marina Mist cardstock, trim and mount onto the So Saffron card base.

Use the XL Oval Punch to punch out a piece from Marina Mist cardstock and mount behind the sentiment oval. 

Adhere the sentiment oval to the lower part of the card and adhere a strip of Marina Mist cardstock to “mimic” the ribbon.

Add the umbrella image using Stampin’ Dimensionals® and Mini Glue Dots®.

Use the Bow Builder Punch to create the bow from Marina Mist cardstock and add the Antique Brad to the center of the bow.

Cut a White Tea Lace Paper Doily into quarters and adhere a quarter piece to the corners of the card front.

Add the Pearls to finish off the card. 

Stamp Sets:  Rue Des Fleurs, Watercolor Trio (both MDS versions)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- So Saffron, Sahara Sand; Faber Castell White Pitt Pen marker

Paper: Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Marina Mist, So Saffron; retired Afternoon Tea DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Stylish Stripes and Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Punches- XL Oval and Bow Builder; Antique Brad, Pearls, White Tea Lace Paper Doily

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend!!

Two Cards, One Layer and a bit of Scoring!!

Hi Stampers! 

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Sunday!  When I checked out this week’s  PP159 Challenge at The Paper Players, I was surprised to see that it was “Ann’s CAS One Layer Challenge”  :-)  Ann and I both struggle with one layer cards and since she made a fabulous one, I knew I would have to take the challenge as well- thanks for the inspiration Ann!!

Again, if you have not taken the time to visit their site, check it out!!  So many lovely Design Team samples and entries!

Originally I was going to create a masked background but I struggle with creating a "clean" one layer card (I always seem to smudge something or stamp the sentiment crooked) so I decided to take the My Digital Studio (MDS) route again!  For those of you who love the real rubber stamps (I do as well) and are tired of the MDS cards, I promise, they will be coming out to "play" this week :-)

To create the first card:

Open a blank 8.5 x 11 custom page and insert the stamp brush set Swallowtail.  Re-size and position onto the far right hand side of the page (so when you print and score down the center, the image will be on the front of the card).  

Click on the image to allow the “handles” to appear and position your mouse over one of the corner handles until you see the curved arrow (this is the symbol for rotating).  Hold the mouse button down and click on the handle to drag the image into a slight curve.

Insert a Square Punch and enlarge to place over the wing area on the right- change the color of the punch to Whisper White (so it will disappear). 

Position the sentiment from Watercolor Trio under the butterfly (retired set as a rubber stamp set but still "current" in MDS- love it!!).

For the second card:

Follow the same steps above with the Sunflower background stamp brush set, the Square Punches for the sides and angle one of the punches for the bottom right and insert the sentiment from Lovely Romance.

Print the cards onto Whisper White cardstock, fold in half and with the Simply Scored Scoring Tool, add Score Lines along the top, sides and bottom of the card.

Clean and simple (CAS) and only one layer- woohoo, I did it!!

Stamp Sets:  Swallowtail, Watercolor Trio, Sunflower, Lovely Romance  (all MDS)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black

Cardstock: Whisper White

Accessories:  Simply Scored Scoring Tool

I think I will make a few more for a set for quick mailings :-)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- your visit is such an encouragement to me!! 

Have a wonderful Monday!!

Happy Birthday! A "Hybrid" Card for A Sketch and Color Challenge :-)

Hi Stampers! 

I hope all of you are having a great Wednesday so far!  Last night while I was working with My Digital Studio, I decided to create a card for the DD49Dynamic Duos Color Challenge and the Pals Paper Arts PPA157 Sketch Challenge.  Both of these sites have wonderful Design Teams and are a source of inspiration for all- of you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will visit them soon :-)

To make this “hybrid” card:

Print the Postage Due Stamp Brush set and the sentiment from Watercolor Trio onto Whisper White cardstock (I "re-sized" both elements).  

Trim the area around the Postage Due image and use the XL Oval Punch to punch out the sentiment. Adhere the Postage Due layer onto Basic  Gray cardstock and again onto Whisper White cardstock.   

Use the Big Shot™ with the Large Scallop Edgelit™ to cut the edge of a piece of Whisper White cardstock and emboss using the Delicate Accents (Lace) Textured Impressions™ Folder.

Layer a piece of Basic Black Designer Series Paper (DSP) onto Basic Black cardstock (I used a piece from the retired Night and Day), add the additional layers of embossed panel and checkerboard DSP (again, retired SU! background paper from years ago, embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder).  Add the focal image and sentiment using Stampin' Dimensionals. 

Adhere the 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon bow with a Mini Glue Dot to finish off the card :-)

Stamp Sets:  Postage Due, Watercolor Trio (both MDS)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Designer Series Paper- retired Night and Day, retired Background Paper

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Delicate Accents (Lace) and Square LatticeTextured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, XL Oval Punch, 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a great day!!

CQC84 Mother's Day

Hi Stampers! 

Last week we did were not able to join my sister-in-law for Mother’s Day and I decided to create a new card for tomorrow’s celebration (well, looking at the time- today’s celebration).  Since she loves yellow, I decided to use this week’s CQC84 colors from the ColourQ Challenge (see http://colourq.blogspot.com).  

To create this card:

Stamp the floral spray from Watercolor Trio (retired) with Old Olive (first stamp off on a piece of scrap paper) onto Whisper White.  Color the floral image with SU! markers in Not Quite Navy (NQN), Old Olive and Daffodil Delight.  Use the Color Spritzer Tool with the NQN marker to spritz the image and round the corners with the Corner Rounder Punch.  Sponge the edges with Crumb Cake and lightly in the center to antique and tone down the white.

Punch a piece of Daffodil Delight and NQN with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch. Layer with additional pieces of Daffodil Delight and NQN (embossed with the Finial Press EF).  Layer onto the stamped image and add pearl strands.

Use the Big Shot to emboss a piece of Crumb Cake with the Finial Press EF (on the edges only leaving a flat area in the center).  Use a Sponge Dauber to lightly apply NQN over the embossed panel and attach scraps of Daffodil Delight and NQN (embossed with the Square Lattice EF) and Whisper White punched with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.  Stamp the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes and punch the sentiment using the Word Window Punch.

Layer all onto Whisper White and again onto Old Olive.

Stamp Sets:   Watercolor Trio, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  NQN, Old Olive, SU! Markers- Old Olive, NQN and Daffodil Delight

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, NQN, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice and Finial Press EF, Word Window Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Sponge Daubers, Pearls, Color Spritzer Tool

Thanks again for visiting- I hope all of you have a blessed Sunday!

Friends 24-7

Hi Stampers!

Today’s card was created for this week’s Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge (see http://www.stamping411.blogspot.com/ for the great Design Team samples and all of the gorgeous entries). 

To create this card:

Cut the Designer Paper into four sections 3/4” wide x 4” high and mount these layers onto a piece of Early Espresso Cardstock.

Emboss a piece of River Rock using the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper EF and lightly distress with Early Espresso Classic Ink using a Sponge Dauber.   Mount the previously created DP layer onto the embossed River Rock layer and set aside. 

With the Big Shot and the Top Note Die, cut one piece from River Rock and the other from Early Espresso.  Trim the River Rock Top Note shape along the perforated edge and lightly sand to smooth the edges. 

Stamp the bird image from Friends 24-7 into Versamark Ink and then into Early Espresso Classic Ink.  Heat emboss with Clear EP.  Ink the En Francais background stamp with Early Espresso and stamp over the bird image.  Lightly wipe off the ink from the bird image and layer this piece over the Early Espresso Top Note.   

Stamp the sentiment with Early Espresso Classic Ink onto River Rock.  Using the Curly Label Punch, punch out the sentiment and also punch out one in Early Espresso.  Cut the Early Espresso in half and trim the edges at the top point so only the east-west sides of this darker layer show the when mounted below the River Rock sentiment layer.

 Mount the Top Note layer onto the DP layer and add the sentiment with SU! Dimensionals .  Spray the entire card with Frost White Shimmer Paint (mixed with 70% alcohol). 

Mount the entire layer onto Early Espresso, attach the bow and add the pearls.

Stamp Sets:  Friends 24-7, En Francais, Watercolor Trio
Cardstock:  Early Espresso, River Rock, retired DP
Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso

Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper EF, Top Note Die,  Clear EP,  Sanding Block, 5/8” Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, Curly Label Punch, Pearls, Dimensionals  

Thanks again for visiting- have a blessed week!

CQC49 Razzle Dazzle

I decided to make another card this evening since I most likely will not have time to stamp tomorrow evening.

I absolutely love the color choices this week's ColourQ Challenge #49- see http://colourq.blogspot.com for more details.

I will most likely make another card for this challenge but my first card is using a stamp set that has been somewhat neglected- Razzle Dazzle. I like the main image but at times find it difficult to think of ways to use it – it reminds me of Pennsylvania Dutch artwork so I thought that these colors may work well together with this main image in this set.

I inked the entire floral image with Marina Mist and then using sponge daubers, “pounced” Soft Suede, Night of Navy and Pacific Point around the image in various areas. I stamped this main image onto Whisper White- I love to see the blended colors with this technique.



I punched the main image out with the XL 2 ½” circle punch and used a circle cutter to cut the Pacific Point and Marina Mist circles. I feel that I always need to use an Embossing Folder (what did we ever do without our Big Shot?) and I used the Finial Press EF folder on the Whisper White and Soft Suede background layers.

Finished off with 5/8” Night of Navy Satin Ribbon and the sentiment from Watercolor Trio stamped in Night of Navy and layered on a Marina Mist Scallop Oval. The first photo is without pearls and since it seems that I can not make a card without pearls anymore, I added them and took another photo.

Here's the one without the pearls-

Which one do you like better?

UPDATE- What an honor- this card was chosen as one of the Courtiers!  Thank you for all of your kind comments and encouragement!

Thanks again for looking- enjoy your Wednesday!

CCMC114 Sketch Challenge

This card was created for the Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge #CCMC114 (see http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com for more details).

Since I still had the black and white theme on my mind, I decided to make another card using Elements of Style. To me this card is a simple one (it may look complicated but trust me, it is not- just a few extra steps).

I embossed two layers of Whisper White with the Vintage Wallpaper Folder and trimmed to size. Mounted these layers onto Basic Black for the background layers and attached the 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon.

Stamped the main floral image from Elements of Style and trimmed to a smaller size for the top panel, mounted this onto Basic Black.

The original tutorial I saw for this flower technique was from another demonstrator, Lynn Pratt http://stampndesign.blogspot.com/2010/04/scallop-circle-punch-flower.html.  I created the flower using the Scallop Circle Punch, cut four circles (two for each flower) from Basic Black cardstock. Run the circles several times through the Crimper Tool, and scrunch by hand to break up the fibers. Carefully separate each of the layers in two (you should now have eight layers), Line up four of the circles. Punch a hole in the center and insert a brad. Scrunch the flower layers up until you have the desired shape.

The sentiment is from Watercolor Trio and I used the Medium Oval Punch and the Scallop Oval Punch for layering.

Stamp Sets: Elements of Style, Watercolor Trio

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper EF, Punches- Medium Oval, Scallop Oval, Scallop Circle, 5/16” handheld, Pearls, 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon

Thanks for visiting- I hope you like it- God Bless!

Elements of Style

One of my favorite sets in the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog is a “carry over” set from the Summer Mini Catalog- Elements of Style.    You can stamp the images and watercolor, use pastels, markers or just allow the image to remain plain and it still makes an elegant card.

With Sympathy
This evening I decided to pull this set out to create a CAS (Clean and Simple) sympathy card for the family of an older lady who was part of an Adult Bible Fellowship class that I used to attend- she went to be with the Lord this week and is now at peace with her Savior.

Stamp Sets: Elements of Style, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Modern Label and Word Window Punch, Pearls and 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon

Birthday Wishes

This card was originally created for a demo swap earlier this spring and I made a few extra for some of my closest friends. This card implements the SU! Markers for coloring along with "antiquing" using a sponge dauber.

Although this card is not considered CAS, I wanted to show you another idea of how the set can look so different.  I made 32 of these cards and it took quite a while to create the paper flowers and layers, but it was a labor of love.

Stamp Sets: Elements of Style, Watercolor Trio (sentiment)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke

Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede

Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Punches- Medium Oval , Scallop Oval, Scallop Circle, 5 Petal Floral and 1/16” handheld, Crimper Tool, ¼” Artichoke grosgrain ribbon, Frost White Shimmer Mist Paint, SU! Markers- Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Color Spritzer Tool, Sponge Dauber

Thanks for again for visiting and thank you to those who are "Following" this blog- that is such an encouragement to me.

 I hope you like these cards and have a wonderful Labor Day weekend- God Bless!

ACT45 and SSC166 Birthday Wishes

Since my first card using the colors from the Curtain Call Challenge #45 was a Christmas card, I decided to create another card using the same colors from the ACT45 Challenge (see http://www.stampinwithstacey.blogspot.com/) along with the sketch challenge #SSC166 from the Stamping411 Operators (see http://www.stamping411.blogspot.com/). 
 I decided to flip the sketch and added the sentiment separate from the main image:-)

Stamp Set: Watercolor Trio

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Ink: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice and Vintage Wallpaper EF, Ovals Die, Large and Medium Oval Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush SU! Markers, 5/8” Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Pearls, Dimensionals

I hope you like this card- God Bless!