CAS Sympathy- Three Challenges in One :-)

Hi Stampers!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful week so far!  I had a great evening with our Awana clubbers and once I arrived home, decided to spend some time in my craft area and create a card  for the PP227 Ann's Color Challenge Challenge along with inspiration from the FMS169 Sketch Challenge and the SR262 Inspiration Photo.  

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites yet, again, I would encourage you to do so- they all have wonderful Design Teams and tremendous inspiration from their galleries each week!

I chose to create another sympathy card since so many people in our lives have lost loved ones recently and I like to pray for them as I create the cards...

This Clean and Simple (CAS) card was fairly quick and easy since I already had the butterfly image embossed in my “organized” images from a previous project (believe me, not all of my images are organized, that’s for sure- a definite work in progress :-))  

Also, it was difficult to get a good photograph of this card- the Crisp Cantaloupe on the wings appears darker in the photo than IRL and the background is a bit greener IRL than the photo shows (where the Sahara Sand and Lost Lagoon overlap) - possibly due to the Frost White Shimmer Paint on the wings, and of course, lighting- ugh, always an issue!!  

To create this CAS card:

Ink the center of the retired background stamp, Medallion using Sahara Sand Classic Ink and using a Sponge Dauber randomly apply Lost Lagoon Classic Ink over the Sahara Sand (be careful not to cover the Sahara Sand completely).

Ink the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge using Lost Lagoon Classic Ink and stamp onto the Medallion background.

 

Ink the sentiment using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink and stamp onto the panel.  Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Crisp Cantaloupe, trim again and mount onto the Lost Lagoon card base.

Using the Embossing Buddy®, de-static a piece of Whisper White cardstock and stamp the butterfly image using Versamark™ ink. 

Apply Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Tool.  

Using the Crisp Cantaloupe and Lost Lagoon Stampin’ Write marker, color the image.   Carefully cut out (“fussy cut”) the butterfly out and mount onto the card front.

Using an AquaPainter™, apply diluted Frost White Shimmer Paint to the colored portions of the butterfly wings to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Wonderful Wings, Medallion, Love & Sympathy, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink: Versamark™,  Lost Lagoon, Sahara Sand; Stampin’ Write Markers-Crisp Cantaloupe, Lost Lagoon

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Lost Lagoon

Accessories:  Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge Daubers

Thanks again for visiting- you are all such an encouragement to me!!

SUO114 Happy Birthday "Dots, Dots and More Dots"

Hi Stampers!   

It’s time for the new SUO114 “Dots, Dots and More Dots" Challenge and I decided to enhance a piece of Lullaby Designer Series Paper (DSP) with additional dots.

This card also incorporates Seize the Birthday 01/01/15 Challenge (the toppings option is "Party" and all of the dots look like a “Party” to me :-))

I hope you will find the time to check the rest of the Design Team at all of the challenge sites and come join in on the fun!

To create this card:

Create the circle stencils using sticky note paper and the 1 ¾” and 1” Circle Punches.

Using Sponge Daubers with Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Ink, sponge additional circles onto the piece of Lullaby DSP and add additional “dots” with the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge using Coastal Cabana Classic Ink. 

Trim the DSP panel and mount onto a piece of Calypso Coral cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Bermuda Bay card base.

Stamp the sentiment using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto the card front.

Ink the flowers from the hostess set, Bloom with Hope with Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink and stamp twice onto Whisper White cardstock.

Use an AquaPainter™ with Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral Classic Ink to color the flowers.   Fussy-cut the flowers and mount onto the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Add the ½ White Tea Lace Paper Doily to the lower half of the card front and add a strip of Bermuda Bay cardstock to cover the edge of the doily.

Create the Bermuda Bay bow using the new Bow Builder Punch and add the Calypso Coral button to the center (use a small silver of Bermuda Bay cardstock to mimic thread in the button).  

Mount the bow to the card front to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Bloom with Hope, Express Yourself, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Bermuda Bay, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral

Paper/Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Lullaby DSP

Accessories:  Punches- 1 ¾” and 1 “ Circle, Bow Builder Punch, White Tea Lace Paper Doily, sticky note paper,  retired Sycamore Street Calypso Coral button

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by – I hope that you will join in on in on the fun with your Stampin’ Up! Only creations and create your own “Dots, Dots and More Dots” project!

Sending Love and Sympathy- A Color, Sketch using "Old" and "New"

Hi Stampers!!

I wanted to take a moment to share a card that I created for the PPA235 Color Challenge at PalsPaper Arts along with the Mojo379 Sketch and the Simon Says Stamp “Make New Friends but Keep the Old” Monday Challenge.

I decided to pull out an "old" retired stamp along with a retired embossing folder to create this card using some of the "new" Mixed Media techniques (well, new to me :-)) for the focal image panel...

 If you have not already visited the above sites, I hope you will find the time to do so- fabulous Design Team inspiration as well as galleries!  It always amazes me to see the creations that one color combination, sketch or inspiration photo can generate!

To create this Mixed Media card:

Apply Gesso to a piece of Whisper White cardstock and allow it to dry (you can use the Heat Tool to speed up the drying process).

Once dried, apply Soft Sky Classic Ink to the background, add water and spread using a paint brush and once dried, repeat with Pool Party Classic Ink (making sure not to cover all of the Soft Sky).  

Once dried, apply Gelatos™ (Bubble Gum and Coconut) to the background, add water and use your finger to smooth onto the background.  

Using a Sponge Dauber apply Island Indigo Classic Ink to the Honeycomb portion of the Mini Punchella stencil by Balzar Designs.

Soften the stencil with a paper towel and apply again if needed. 

 

Ink the retired Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel (this is the “old” item of the Simon Says Stamp Challenge) using Island Indigo Classic Ink and stamp repeatedly on the background.  

Repeat with the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel using Ranger® Tim Holtz® Vintage Photo Distress Ink  (** Note- this is one of the wheels that I have un-mounted and use as a stamp versus a wheel :-)).    Trim the panel, mount onto Island Indigo cardstock and add two strips of retired ¼” Sycamore Street Island Indigo Satin Ribbon. 

Add the embossed Soft Sky panel to a scrap piece of Island Indigo cardstock- I had both of these pieces in my organized scraps (the Soft Sky panel was previously embossed with the retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder- another “old” item- love using scraps when I can).   Oh, also, not all of my scraps are organized- still a work in progress, lol!!

Re-ink the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel using Pool Party Classic Ink and stamp onto the Pool Party background panel (some of the Distess ink also transferred to this panel).

Add the strips of retired ¼” Sycamore Street Island Indigo Satin Ribbon to the sides of the Pool Party background panel (lining up with the focal image panel) and mount onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Island Indigo cardstock, trim and adhere to the Whisper White card base.

Stamp the sentiment using Island Indigo Classic Ink onto a piece of Vellum.  Trim and mount onto a scrap piece of Soft Sky cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Island Indigo cardstock.

Assemble the card by mounting the embossed Soft Sky panel to the Pool Party background panel, add the Mixed Media focal image panel and mount the sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Create the rolled flowers using Island Indigo and Pool Party cardstock (use the Big Shot™ with the Sizzix Flowers 3D Originals™ Die) and create the leaves using the Bird Builder Punch from Island Indigo cardstock.

Adhere the flowers and leaves to the sentiment panel.

Stamp the butterflies using Island Indigo Classic Ink and punch out with the Elegant Butterfly Punch.  Lightly color the butterflies using the Soft Sky Stampin’ Write Marker and mount onto the card front.

Add the Pearls to the butterfly centers to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Love & Sympathy, Papillon Potpourri, Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel

Ink: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Soft Sky Classic Ink;  Gelatos™ -Bubble Gum and Coconut, Ranger® Tim Holtz® Vintage Photo Distress Stain, Stampin’ Write Soft Sky Marker

Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Soft Sky Regular and Textured, Vellum

Accessories: Gesso, Big Shot™, retired Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Sizzix Flowers 3D Originals™ Die,  Punches- Elegant Butterfly, Bird Builder; ¼”; Sycamore Street Island Indigo Satin Ribbon, Mini Punchenella Stencil (Balzar Designs), Sponge Dauber, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!!

HYCCT1417 Rocky Seas

Hi Stampers!

I finally have a chance to finish posting the cards that I created for this past year’s annual Hope You Can Cling To Challenge (HYCCT) Card Drive at Splitcoaststampers.   There were a total of thirty-five challenges and I did not start creating them until a week before the deadline- duh!!!   Lord Willing, next year, I am determined to start at the beginning of October versus the end :-)

We have been busy the past few months with doctor’s appointments, chemo treatments, scans, etc. for my husband Dave (he is doing as well as possible at this time) and of course, the holidays, so I apologize that I am a bit off schedule :-)

This card was created for HYCCT1417 Edna15’s “All That Binds Us” Challenge - (see the gallery here and the details here).  

I love the saying on this Graphic 45 By The Sea paper- it seemed to be an encouraging thought for those who are struggling with cancer, or other challenges in life, so I decided to leave it ”as is” versus adding another sentiment. 

To create this card:

Ink the seashell images from By The Seashore using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

Use Sponge Daubers with Baked Brown Sugar, Midnight Muse and Tangerine Tango Classic Ink to color the images.   Add the highlights using a Faber-Castell White Pitt Pen and “fussy-cut” each image.

Adhere a piece of the By The Sea paper to a Tangerine Tango panel and adhere to the Midnight Muse card base and add the Retro Fresh Washi Tape to the folded edge.

Mount the By The Sea image onto a piece of Tangerine Tango cardstock, trim and mount again onto a piece of Midnight Muse cardstock.

Add the focal image to the card front and adhere the fussy-cut shells to the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Stamp Sets: By The Seashore

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, Baked Brown Sugar, Midnight Muse, Tangerine Tango, Faber-Castell White Pitt Pen

Paper: Tangerine Tango, retired Midnight Muse; Graphic 45 By The Sea

Accessories: Retro Fresh Washi Tape, White Gel Pen

Thanks again for stopping by- have a fantastic day, my friends!

Card Concept #26- A New Design Team and Anniversary Challenge :-)

 Hi Stampers!!

Woohoo!!  This is my first card as part of the Design Team at The Card Concept and the  #26 Challenge is their One Year Anniversary Celebration!  

I will be designing under the new "Mixed Media" category (along with the talented Yoonsun Hur) and am thrilled to be part of this wonderful Design Team! 

In case you are not familiar with the challenge, The Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a number of design styles that you can choose from to create your card- Clean and Simple, Clean and Graphic, Clean and Layered, Shabby Chic, Freestyle Collage, Classy and Elegant and Mixed Media (see here for the style descriptions).

I loved the romantic feel of the inspiration photo and used the colors and flowers images to inspire the creation of my card :-)    I hope you have a chance to check out The Card Concept Challenge  site- choose a style and join in on the fun!!

To create this card:

Apply Gesso to a piece of Whisper White cardstock and allow it to dry (you can use the Heat Tool to speed up the drying process).

Once dried, apply Gelatos™ (Bubble Gum, Guava and Bubble Gum) to the background, add water and use your finger to smooth onto the background.

   

Ink the Notable Notions script stamp using Jet Black Stāz-On® Ink and randomly stamp over the background. 

Use a honeycomb stencil with a palette knife to apply Wendy Vecchi® Crackled Texture Paste to the background.  

Allow the texture paste to dry-  use a Mini Mister to apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Festive Berries, Pickled Raspberry Worn Lipstick Distress Inks over the texture paste.

Once the background panel is dry, adhere a portion of a paper doily to the upper right hand corner.

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Blushing Bride cardstock, trim again and mount onto the Whisper White card base.

Create the rolled flowers using Blushing Bride and Marina Mist cardstock (use Scallop Circle Punches- One from Marina Mist using the 2 ⅜” Scallop Circle Punch, Two using Blushing Bride cardstock using the 1 ¾” Scallop Circle Punch and Two from Blushing Bride and Marina Mist using the 1 ¼” Scallop Circle Punch).  

Hand cut a spiral from the outside edge of each scallop circle toward the center of the cardstock, scrunch the cardstock to break up the fibers and hand roll the flowers and adhere to the center of each scallop (I used Hot Glue to hold the flowers together)- here is a basic tutorial from Splitcoaststampers :-)

Create the leaves using the Bird Builder Punch from Wild Wasabi cardstock, crease in the center of each leave to mimic veins.  

Adhere the leaves behind the flowers and mount the flowers onto the card front (I used Hot Glue to attach the flowers as well as the leaves).

Using your finger, lightly apply Gesso to the flowers and add a bit of distressing.

Stamp the sentiment onto Whisper White cardstock using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, trim and create the banner points using the Hexagon Punch.

Add the sentiment to the card front.  Adhere the Pearls to the corners of the card as well as the sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Occasional Quotes (hostess set), Notable Notions

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, Jet Black Stāz-On® Ink , Gelatos™ -Bubble Gum, Guava and Bubble Gum , Ranger® Tim Holtz® Festive Berries, Picked Raspberry and Worn Lipstick Distress Inks 

Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride

Accessories: Gesso, Wendy Vecchi® Crackled Texture Paste, Punches- Hexagon, Bird Builder, Scallop Circle- 2 ⅜” , 1 ¾” , 1 ¼”; Paper Doily, Pearls, Palette Knife, Honeycomb Stencil (not sure of manufacturer)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- again, I hope you will find the time to visit us atThe Card Concept and join in on the fun!!

Designing for The Card Concept- 2015 !

Hi Stampers!!

I am so excited to announce that I have been invited to be a part of the Design Team in the Mixed Media category at The Card Concept Challenge!!  

Our 1^st challenge for 2015 will start tomorrow and I hope you will stop by to check outthe rest of the Design Team Samples- they are absolutely gorgeous and I am so honored to be part of this team!!

Here is a sneak peek of my project- tomorrow I will post the full picture and the rest of the details :-)

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you have a terrific Tuesday- God Bless!!

Another CC511_CCC15 Christmas- Joy

Hi Again Stampers! 

While I had the CC511 Splitcoaststampers CC511 “Old Cake Whisperer”Color Challenge Colors available, I decided to create a second card for both the CC511 Challenge as well as the CCC15 Splitcoaststampers Christmas CardChallenge :-)

Again, if you not have already visited the Splitcoaststampers galleries, I hope you will find the time to do so- wonderful ideas from all! 

To create this Clean and Layered (CAL) card:

Use the Big Shot™ along with the Chalk Talk Framelits™ to cut the tag from a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock.  Emboss with the Big Shot™ and the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.  

Add the 7/8” Sahara Sand Lace Trim to the bottom of the tag, add the strips of ¼” Green Satin Ribbon along with the strands of Pearls. 

Ink the Joy bell image using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.  Color the image using retired SU! Watercolor Pencils (undiluted) and add shadows with the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write marker, trim the image and mount onto a piece of Old Olive cardstock. 

Add the focal image to the tag using Stampin’ Dimensionals®. 

Create the paper bow with the Bow Builder Punch from Old Olive cardstock.  Add the Antique Brad to the center of the bow and adhere at the top of the tag.

Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock using the Big Shot™ with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and layer onto the piece of Crumb Cake cardstock used for the tag (the background layers will cover the tag cut-out and reduce the weight for mailing).

Add a piece of retired Merry Moments Designer Series Paper (DSP) to the lower part of the Crumb Cake card front and add the scrap piece of ¼” Green Satin Ribbon to cover the edges.

 

Ink the Joy bell image using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.  Color the image using retired SU! Watercolor Pencils (undiluted) and add shadows with the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write marker. 

Trim the image and mount onto a piece of Old Olive cardstock. 

Mount the tag to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Evergreen Holiday (Inkadinkadoo)

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, SU! Watercolor Pencils, Stampin’ Write Sahara Sand marker

Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Old Olive; retired Merry Moments DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Wood Grain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Chalk Talk Framelits™, Pearls, Bow Builder Punch, Antique Brad, ¼” Green Satin Ribbon (from my stash)

Thanks again for stopping by- have a wonderful Monday!!

CC511_CCC15 Clean and Layered Christmas Wreath

Hi Stampers! 

I hope you are having a great New Year so far!!  Instead of "resolutions" (which I always seem to break :-)), I like to set "goals" and this year one of my goals will be to create several Christmas cards per month…plus cards that have less layers and embellishments and that are easier to mail.... This past Christmas, I found that several of my cards were definitely hand delivery only :-)

This card was created using the Splitcoaststampers CC511 “Old CakeWhisperer” Color Challenge (Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Whisper White with a dessert option of ribbon) for the CCC15 Splitcoaststampers Christmas CardChallenge.  

If you not have already visited the Splitcoaststampers galleries yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- wonderful ideas from all! 

To create this Clean and Layered (CAL) card:

Emboss a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock using the Big Shot™ with the retired Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (this piece was already embossed and in my scraps with a “reject” stamped image on the back- now, you know all of my secrets :-))

Trim the embossed Crumb Cake layer and mount onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.   

Ink the wreath image using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock and color the image using retired SU! Watercolor Pencils and the Old Olive Light Stampin’ Blendabilities™.  Add highlights with a Faber-Castell White Pitt Pen and shadows with the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write marker. 

Carefully fussy-cut around the image and mount onto the Crumb Cake layer using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Stamp the sentiment from the retired Christmas Messages Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, create the banner points using the Hexagon Punch.

Add a piece of 5/8” Whisper White Satin Ribbon and layer a piece of ¼” Green Satin Ribbon in the center.   Mount the sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Add the entire panel to a piece of Old Olive cardstock and mount onto the Whisper White card front.

Stamp Sets: Christmas Messages, Evergreen Holiday (Inkadinkadoo)

Ink: Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, SU! Watercolor Pencils, Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Old Olive Collection, Stampin’ Write Sahara Sand marker, Faber-Castell White Pitt Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

Accessories: Hexagon Punch, 5/8” Whisper White Satin Ribbon, ¼” Green Satin Ribbon (from my stash)

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a wonderful Monday and stop by again soon… I will be on a new Design Team starting this week and will be sharing in the next few days :-)