Clean and Simple- Color and a Sketch

Hi Again Stampers!  

I am still trying to work on my Clean and Simple style (which is a real struggle for me- I always want to add more embellishments, etc. :-)) so I decided to try the CAS(E) This Sketch #50 Challenge  along with the DD75 Dynamic Duos Coluor Challenge (for card #2). .

If you have the time to stop by their sites, check out their Design Team cards as well as the other entries!!

To create the 1st card:

In My Digital Studio (MDS), open a blank 8.5 x 11 custom page and insert the Sunflower background stamp image and re-size to fit the A2 card size. 

While in MDS, insert a rectangular punch, re-size to cover the center of the Sunflower image and fill in with Whisper White (send the Sunflower to the “back”).   Insert the stamp brush sentiment of choice – for the 1^st card I used Heard from The Heart and the 2nd card, Watercolor Trio (both are from retired stamp sets in rubber but still available in digital- another reason I love using MDS for cards :-)).

Print the images onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock and for the 1^st card, color around the Sunflower with the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker and also draw a Sahara Sand line at the edges of the image.  Trim and mount onto the Basic Black card base.

Stamp Sets:  Sunflower (background),  Heard from the Heart – both MDS

Ink: Printer Ink- Black, Stampin’ Write Marker- Sahara Sand

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories:  none

To create the 2nd card that uses the DD75 Dynamic Duos Color Challenge: 

Create the images as noted above and color around the Sunflower image using the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker and the petals using the Tangerine Tango Stampin’ Write Marker .  

Draw the lines above the sentiment using a Stampin’ Up! retired Watercolor Pencil.  Trim and mount the image onto Basic Black cardstock and again onto Tangerine Tango cardstock.

Using Illuminate ink, stamp the En Francais background onto Basic Black cardstock and adhere to the Tangerine Tango card base.   Adhere the focal image panel to the card base.

Add the Tangerine Tango button with a scrap strip of Basic Black cardstock as “thread” to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Sunflower (background),  Watercolor Trio – both MDS

Ink: Printer Ink- Black, Stampin’ Write Marker- Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango, SU! Watercolor Pencil   

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Tangerine Tango

Accessories:  Tangerine Tango button

Thanks again for stopping by- have a wonderful Tuesday!

Above & Beyond- A Color and Sketch Challenge :-)

Hi Again Stampers!!

Here is the second card that I created using the CQC211 ColourQ Challenge Colors along with the PPA176 Sketch at Pals Paper Arts (although I am too late to link up to the PPA sketch- I still wanted to share :-))

Again, I hope you will take the time to visit each site – amazing inspiration from all of the Design Team projects as well as the other entrants!

This card was quick and easy for me since I used quite a few scraps that were already pre-punched (remember, I punch out all of my layers that you do not see and use them for other cards :-))...comes in handy when I need a quick card :-)

To create this card:

Using the Big Shot™ emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Chevron Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and adhere the Basic Black diagonal piece of cardstock per the sketch.

Stamp the sentiment from One in a Million using White Craft Ink and adhere the panel to a background piece of Whisper White and again onto the Basic Blaxk card base.

Add the Basic Black cardstock strip along with the piece of Whisper White (all from my scraps) and trim to size.

Create the flowers- use the Pansy Punch and Strawberry Slush cardstock,  the 5 Petal Punch for the leaves from Lucky Limeade cardstock and the 7/8” Scallop Circle Punch from Whisper White cardstock for flower centers.  Add the retired Pumpkin Pie corduroy button brad to the flower centers and adhere the flowers to the diagonal panel. 

Create the paper bow with the XL Oval Punch and a few scrap pieces of Strawberry Sluch cardstock- add the retired Pumpkin Pie corduroy button brad.  Adhere to the strip at the bottom to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  One in A Million

Ink: White Craft Ink

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Strawberry Slush, Lucky Limeade (retired)

Accessories: Big Shot™,  Chevron Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder,  Punches- Pansy, 7/8” Scallop Circle, 5 Petal , XL Oval; retired Pumpkin Pie corduroy button brads

Thanks again for visiting- have a great evening!

Friend to Friend- A Fun Color and Sketch Combo

Hi Stampers!!

I decided to try the bright, fun colors from this week’s CQC211 ColourQ Challenge and actually ended up creating two cards- this is my first attempt and also incorporates the fabulous CCMC273 Create with Connie andMary Sketch Challenge.

 

If you have not had a chance to visit either site yet, I would highly recommend stopping by and checking out all of the different Design Team projects as well as the many other ideas from the weekly participants.

To create this quick CAS card:

Stamp the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes using Basic Black Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock and punch out using the Word Window Punch.

Using the Big Shot™ emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Chevron Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and use the 2 ½” XL Circle Punch to punch out eh circle element for the sketch. Adhere to a piece of Basic Black cardstock and again to a piece of Strawberry Slush and finally onto the Basic Black card base.

Punch the flower from an embossed piece of Strawberry Slush cardstock (using the Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder) and the Pansy Punch to punch out a piece of embossed Whisper White cardstock (using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder).

Attach the flower layers together, add the Pumpkin Pie button to the center and add the Lucky Limeade leaves (from the Bird Builder Punch).  

Mount the flower in the center of the circle per the sketch to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Basic Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Strawberry Slush, Lucky Limeade (retired)

Accessories: Big Shot™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders- Beautifully Baroque, Perfect Polka Dots, Chevron; Punches- Bird Builder, Blossom, Pansy, Word Window, 2 ½” XL Circle, Pumpkin Pie button

Thanks again for stopping by- I will be posting the other card using this same color combo shortly…

Bright Hopes for a Merry Christmas

Hi Stampers! 

I wanted to create another Christmas card design for the CCC13 Splicoaststampers Christmas Card Challenge and decided to use this week’s FMS108 Freshly Made Sketch.   

If you have not visited either site yet, I hope you will take the time to do so- Freshly Made Sketches has a great Design Team with over 80 entries this week and Splitcoaststampers has too many to count :-)!!

This card is a "hybrid" in more ways than one- I have been organizing a bit in my craft room and decided to utilize a few scraps, pre-cut die cuts as well as digital images ….

To create this card:

In My Digital Studio (MDS), open a blank 8.5 x 11 custom page and insert the snowflake stamp image and Merry Christmas sentiment from Bright Hopes (re-size both images).  Print the images using your computer printer and trim to the desired size, create banners for the sentiment either with the 1” Square Punch or by hand and layer onto Basic Black cardstock.  

Use the Big Shot™ with the retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Silver Foil Cardstock. Layer onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock and adhere the snowflake image onto the panel.

Cut a snowflake in half (this was a previously cut snowflake from the retired Northern Frost Decorative Strip die) and adhere one half to the underside of the sentiment and the other to the underside of the entire panel.  Attach the sentiment to the panel using Stampin’ Dimensionals (bowing it out a bit for additional dimension).

Adhere a piece of Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper (DSP) to the Basic Black card base and add the darker panel to the card front (this darker panel is a piece of the retired Mocha Morning DSP mounted onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock- a bit difficult to see the flocked images in the photo but it adds more texture).

Add the side panels (created from scraps of the embossed Silver Foil, Black and Whisper White cardstock) and add the focal panel to the card front as well.

Add the Rhinestone in the center of the snowflake to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Bright Hopes (MDS)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Silver Foil, Designer Series Paper- Eastern Elegance and Mocha Morning (retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, retired Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die, Rhinestone

 Thanks again for stopping by- stay tuned for more cards including a new SU-Only Challenge tomorrow!

Birthday Wishes- Fall Florals for Three Challenges :-)

Hi Stampers! 

I wanted to take to take a break from creating Christmas cards and share this card created using the colors from this week’s DD74 Dynamic Duos Challenge along with the AtlanticHearts Sketch Challenge #25 and the monthly theme at the Stampin' Celebration SCIC71 Inspiration Challenge.

If you have not had the chance to visit any of these sites yet, I hope you will take the time to do so – again, great inspiration!

To create this card:

Using So Saffron Classic Ink, ink up your brayer roller and roll the ink a bit sporadically onto a piece of Vary Vanilla cardstock.

Stamp the larger flower (dotted line) image from Stippled Blossoms using Calypso Coral Classic Ink, stamping off for some of the images to create your own Designer Series Paper (DSP).  Trim this panel to 4” x 5 ¼”.

Add the Crochet Lace and Satin Ribbon (both from my stash) per the sketch.  Adhere the entire panel to the Calypso Coral card base.

Create the rolled flowers using Scallop Circle Punches (2 3/8”, 1 ¾” and 1 ¼”) from So Saffron and Calypso Coral cardstock.  Spiral cut from the outside using a wavy pattern toward the middle, roll up starting from the outside toward the center and use Mono Multi Adhesive to adhere the layers together.

Punch out a few leaves using the Bird Builder Punch from Pistachio Pudding cardstock and punch out the sentiment using the XL Oval Punch (this sentiment is from the retired set, Watercolor Trio and was printed from My Digital Studio onto Very Vanilla cardstock). 

Also punch out two additional XL Ovals from Calypso Coral cardstock for the frame behind the sentiment, attach the two Calypso Coral ovals together (spread apart a bit) to create a frame for the sentiment and adhere the sentiment to the center.

Mount the sentiment onto the background layer (per the sketch) and add the rolled flowers and leaves.  Add a few Pearls to the sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Stippled Blossoms, Watercolor Trio (MDS)

Ink: Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Printer Ink- Black

Paper/Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Pistachio Pudding

Accessories: Brayer, Punches- Scallop Circle- 2 3/8”, 1 ¾”, 1 ¼”, Bird Builder, XL Oval;  Pearls, Crochet Lace and Satin Ribbon (from my stash)

Thanks again for visiting- I hope you have a terrific Thursday!!

CAS Christmas Card- 10 Minute "Stepped Up" Version

Hi Stampers!

I wanted to share the “stepped up” version of the 5 Minute Clean and Simple (CAS) card from my previous post using Jaydee’s PP167 colors from The Paper Players and the Acrylic Block Technique. 

This version took a few more minutes and would be a 10-15 Minute card - I was able to complete in 10 minutes but I did use a few scraps in my stash for the layers...

Again, if you have not had a chance to stop by and visit The Paper Players yet, I would urge you to do so- they generally have 50+ entries each week and a wonderful Design Team with some of my all time favorite card artists!

To create this card:

Ink the Stampin’ Up! Acrylic Block D using the Pool Party Classic Ink pad and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

Ink the Festive Flurry stamp using Midnight Muse Classic Ink and stamp over the Pool Party block.   Trim to size and mount onto a piece of Pool Party cardstock.

Add the piece of Midnight Muse cardstock to the Whisper White layer, stamp the sentiment using Midnight Muse Classic Ink and mount onto the Midnight Muse card base. 

Add the focal image using Stampin’ Dimensionals®, adhere the 3/8” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin triple ribbon bow along with the Rhinestones to finish off the card. 

Stamp Sets:  Festive Flurry, More Merry Messages

Ink: Midnight Muse, Pool Party

Paper: Whisper White, Midnight Muse

Accessories: Rhinestones, 3/8” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon

I have yet to use my coordinating Festive Flurry Framelits™ and will be making an even more “stepped up” version using this color combo, so stay tuned...

Thanks again for stopping by- have a terrific Tuesday! 

A Quick 5 Minute Christmas Card!

Hi again Stampers!!

I am still working on my October CCC13 Christmas card designs and wanted to create a CAS five minute card for the CASology #65 Crisp Challenge along with Jaydee’s PP167 Color Challenge at The Paper Players,   I have been waiting to create an Acrylic Block Technique card with the Festive Flurry set and as soon as I saw the PP167 colors, I knew what I wanted to create (love it when that happens:-))

I hope you have a chance to stop by to visit all of the challenge sites- great cards and entries by all! 

To create this quick five minute card:

Ink the Stampin’ Up! Acrylic Block D using the Pool Party Classic Ink pad and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

Ink the Festive Flurry stamp using Midnight Muse Classic Ink and stamp over the Pool Party block.

Trim to size, stamp the sentiment using Midnight Muse Classic Ink and mount onto the Midnight Muse card base using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Add the Rhinestones to finish off the card. 

Stamp Sets:  Festive Flurry, More Merry Messages

Ink: Midnight Muse, Pool Party

Paper: Whisper White, Midnight Muse

Accessories: Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- off to finish more for my Christmas stash! I hope all of you have a wonderful Sunday!! 

CAS Christmas- 2nd Attempt at a Color and Sketch :-)

Hi Again Stampers!!

I was not completely satisfied with my last post using this week’s Create with Connie and MaryCCMC272 Colors along with the CAS Colours and Sketches #46 Sketch Challenge- I know, OK I admit it, I am a perfectionist who is rarely satisfied with my creations but while I still had all of the supplies out, decided to give it one more try and am more satisfied with this CAS card :-))

This one still did not come easy- not sure but I think I may have a problem...first step is admitting, right?  It seems as though when the colors are challenging and I am trying to create a CAS card (Clean and Simple), my brain freezes up! :-)

I thought that the Masking Tape Technique may look better so used the tape with So Saffron Classic Ink onto Whisper White and stamped the smallest snowflake from Festive Flurry in Bermuda Bay, then Rich Razzleberry, punched them out and even had them mounted onto Rich Razzleberry cardstock but still did not seem right (did set these aside for possible future use)...

Then I thought possibly Vellum...tried one in Bermuda Bay and larger in Rich Razzleberry and as I just layered them to see the effect, they were not dry (duh!) and smeared ... 

Then I decided to stamp the Festive Flurry snowflake with Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink onto Whisper White, trimmed and decided to cut it in half to put the sentiment in the center... did not like that look so I cut into fourths but since I did not cut into fourths from the beginning, the squares were not the same size... so I glued it back together and what now??  Should I start over again or just give up???  

Decided to color with the markers and thought, oh no, can you see the seam??  What about the Woodgrain folder- couldit  hide the seams of my mistake??  

So there you have it- you know all my secrets and the story of my creative process...I think I need help!!!  And if you look too close, you can see the seams!!  Oh well, I have learned from my mistakes and if I create any additionals, I will not cut them apart :-))     

To create this card:

Stamp the Festive Flurry image (second from the largest snowflake) using Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink onto Whisper White and trim to size. 

Mount onto So Saffron cardstock and emboss using the Big Shot™ with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and adhere to Rich Razzleberry cardstock (again, trim to size). 

Using Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink stamp the sentiment from More Merry Messages onto the Bermuda Bay lbackground layer  and add the Designer Series Paper cut on a diagonal per the sketch (I used the other half from the last post- Rich Razzleberry piece from the retired International Bazaar).

Adhere this entire panel to the Rich Razzleberry card base and add the focal image using Stampin’ Dimensionals®- add the Pearl to the center to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Festive Flurry, More Merry Messages

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Stampin’ Write Markers-  Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry ,So Saffron

Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry , So Saffron, Designer Series Paper- retired International Bazaar

Accessories: Big Shot™,  Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Pearl

This card reminds me of the Lancaster PA region and the Pennsylvania Dutch creations that you sometimes see painted on the barns…need to take another visit to that beautiful part of our country :-)

Thanks again for visiting- have a wonderful, relaxing Sunday and God Bless!