You're Absolutely Fabulous- Cards for a Worthy Cause

Hi Stampers! 

I have been busy this week creating cards for the Splitcoaststampers' April 2016 MISSION-Cards for A Cause.  

This month, encouragement cards are being sent to the Miami VA Medical Center for the Homeless Veterans Program (see details here).   

I am honored to have a chance to possibly give a little back to those who have sacrificed so much for our country and to think that they are now homeless and in medical need.....if you would like to send cards to this cause, there is still time  (again, please see details here- if you do not have a Splitcoaststampers’ sign-on, it is free to sign up).

I have several cards finished for this card drive and will share over the next few days- this one was designed using the Mojo443 Sketch Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers’ WT578 “Shabby Chic”Challenge.

To create this card:

Ink the Landscape Silhouettes image from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) using Early Espresso Classic Ink and stamp onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock (I used my MISTI® Tool so I could stamp several times for a very dark image).

Use the 1 ¼” Circle Punch with sticky note paper to create a mask for the “sun/moon” and place over the stamped image.

With a Sponge Dauber and Dusty Durango Classic Ink (retired) apply ink to the sky , lift up the mask and sponge a bit onto the sun/moon.

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock.

The background layers were created using retired Stampin’ Up! Outlaw Designer Series Paper (DSP), distressing the edges with the Distressing Tool and mounting onto Early Espresso cardstock (some of the background pieces were die cut with stitched square or rectangle dies).

The card base is retired Dusty Durango cardstock and the star border was cut from Very Vanilla cardstock with the SNSS Hearts and Stars Scallop Border Die Set.

The other three stars were cut from My Favorite Things (MFT) Stitched Stars STAX Dies and the smaller two stars are layered onto Wplus9 Clear Cut Stacker Stars Dies.  

The tiny stars (Very Vanilla) in the centers of the stitched stars are the negative die cut pieces from the SNSS Stars Scalloped Border Die- woohoo, nothing went to waste!

The sentiment is from a retired Stampin’ Up! set, Absolutely Fabulous and the banner points were created with the Hexagon Punch.

Stamp Sets: Absolutely Fabulous (retired Stampin’ Up!), Landscape Silhouettes (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Early Espresso, retired Dusty Durango, Faber-Castell® Black Pitt Pen Marker

Paper/Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, retired Dusty Durango, retired Outlaw DSP

Accessories: MISTI® Tool, Big Shot™, retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder,  Heart and Stars Scallop Border Dies (SNSS), Stitched Rectangle, Square and Star STAX Dies (MFT),  Clear Stacker Stars Dies (Wplus9), Distressing Tool, Sponge Dauber, Sticky Note Paper, Punches-  Banner Triple, Hexagon, 1 ¼” Circle

If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment section- I truly appreciate your visits and comments- they are such an encouragement to me!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend- hugs and God Bless!

PP289 Western Thinking of You

Hi Again Friends!

I had a chance today to create a card for The Paper Players PP289 “WesternTheme” Challenge along with the Mojo442 Sketch Challenge.

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

To create this card:

De-static a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock with the Embossing Buddy®, ink the Nature Silhouettes (retired Stampin’ Up!) tree and wolf image using Versamark™ Ink, stamp onto the prepared cardstock, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Early Espresso Embossing Powder (retired) and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Once the embossing powder has cooled, trim the image, mount onto Early Espresso cardstock, trim again and mount onto a piece of retired Dusty Durango cardstock.

Trim a few pieces of the retired Outlaw Designer Paper (Stampin’ Up!) and use a sewing machine with the zig zag stitch to attach the pieces to Early Espresso cardstock for the elements of the sketch.

Mount the background panel to the Dusty Durango card base, add the wolf focal image with dimensional foam, add the sentiment and Vintage Brad with the ribbon detail.

Stamp Sets:  Nature Silhouettes (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Versamark™, Early Espresso Classic Ink

Paper/Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, retired Dusty Durango; retired Outlaw DSP

Accessories:  Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sewing Machine, White Thread, Hexagon Punch, Antique Brad, 1” Peach Satin Ribbon (from my stash)

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I hope you have a fabulous week, my friends!

HYCCT1503 Strength of a Warrior

Hi Again Friends!

This card was created for Splitcoaststampers' HYCCT1503 Kathy’s “I Am A Warrior”Challenge along with the WT535 “Go West!” Challenge, CAS-ual Chic CCC04 “Tic, Tac Toe” Challenge (Stitching, Coloring and Distressing), Friday Mashup! FM228 “It’s ASilhouette” Challenge and FUSION “Falling Leaves” Inspiration and Sketch  Challenge  (I was inspired by the colors and used the sketch) 

I hope you have a chance to check out the challenge sites- so much inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Create a mask for the moon using the 1 ¼” Circle Punch and sponge  Delightful Dijon, Tangerine Tango and Blackberry Bliss onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.

Ink the Sweet ‘n Sassy Landscape Silhouettes stamp using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink and stamp onto the sponged background.

Add additional foreground with the Faber-Castell® Black Pitt Pen marker, trim the panel and stitch onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock (layered onto Early Espresso cardstock).

Distress the edges of the retired Outlaw DSP and emboss the lower panel using a star embossing folder.

Stitch all of the layers onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock, distress the edges with the Distressing Tool.

Ink the paisley stamp from the retired Wanted set using Blackberry Bliss cardstock and stamp over the central stitched panel.

Lightly sand the stars and use a Sponge Dauber to lightly add Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink over the background. 

Mount the entire background onto the Very Vanilla card base.

Stamp the Four Feathers stamps using Hello Honey Classic Ink and sponge Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink over the images.  Carefully fussy-cut the feathers and fringe the edges.

Mount the focal image to the card front along with the feathers using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Use the Blackberry Bliss Stampin’ Write Marker to selectively ink the sentiments from the retired script stamp in Strength & Hope and stamp onto Very Vanilla cardstock, punch out with the retired Jewelry Tag Punch, sponge with a bit of Hello Honey and Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink and mount onto the card front.

Add the Antique Brad to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Landscape Silhouettes (SNSS), Retired SU!- Four Feathers, Strength & Hope

Ink: Hello Honey, Blackberry Bliss, Pumpkin Pie; Faber-Castell® Black Pitt Pen Marker

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso; retired Outlaw DSP   

  

Accessories: Big Shot™, Star Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine, Distressing Tool, Sponge Dauber, scrap paper for masking, Jewelry Tag Punch, Antique Brad

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you can join in on the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges this month :-)

Celebrate!! Happy 13th Birthday to a Wonderful Nephew!

Hi Again Stampers! 

I had a wonderful Sunday and wanted to take a moment to share one more card with you.  I created this one for my nephew’s 13^th Birthday- he is definitely growing up too fast!!

For this card, I chose a Western theme since he has decorated his bedroom in a Country/Western flair and I utilized The Friday Mashup FM93 Make A Wish Challenge along with the PPA151 Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge.

Again, I hope you will take the time to visit each site and check out their great Design Team projects as well as all of other Challenge entries.

To create this card:

Use the Big Shot™ with the Square Lattice and Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss two pieces of of Well Worn Designer Series Paper (DSP- retired).  Very lightly sand the Woodgrain embossed piece and adhere both to the Early Espresso card front.

Use the Big Shot™ and the 3 ½” Circle Originals™ Die to cut a circle from River Rock cardstock and another circle from Early Espresso cardstock.  Cut the Early Espresso cardstock circle in half and set aside. 

Stamp the cowboy image and the sentiment using Early Espresso Classic Ink onto River Rock.  Use The Aqua Painter and watercolor with Bravo Burgundy, Marina Mist and Soft Suede Classic Ink.  Use the Color Spritzer Tool with the Soft Suede Stampin’ Write marker to “distress” the cardstock.   Sponge the edges using a Sponge Dauber with Soft Suede Classic Ink.

Punch out the sentiment using the XL Oval Punch Stamp and two other ovals from Early Espresso cardstock.  Layer the two Early Espresso cardstock ovals behind the sentiment oval to create the border.

Punch out four stars using the retired Small Star Punch – add the Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware Brads (retired) .   Attach three to the knotted Hemp Twine to create a “banner”.

Layer the pieces per the sketch using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Feeling Sentimental, Out West (retired)

Cardstock: Early Espresso, River Rock, Well Worn DSP (retired)

Ink:  Early Espresso, Bravo Burgundy, Marina Mist, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Square Lattice and Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, 3 ½” Originals™ Die, Color Spritzer Tool, Aqua Painter, XL Oval Punch, Small Star Punch (retired), Antique Copper Hodgepodge Hardware Brads (retired), Hemp Twine (retired)

Thanks again for visiting- my nephew seemed to enjoy this card and of course, the cash that was within made it a bit sweeter :-)

Have a great week stamping and creating- God Bless!!