CAS Pleasant Poppies- A Floral Sympathy Card

Hi Stampers! 

As I created this weekend, I wanted to participate in CASOLOGY#138 Blossom Challenge incorporating the Hand Stamped Sentiments HSSSC207 Color Challenge and the Splitcoaststampers CAS313 Think Spring Challenge (see details here and gallery here).    

I decided to create a very Clean and Simple (CAS) card, then “stepped” it up a bit with additional layering and embossing for a Clean and Layered (CAL) card (see the next post here for the “stepped-up” version) :-).

Again, if you have not stopped by any of the above sites yet, I hope you will have time to do so- fabulous Design Team samples and so much inspiration!!

To create the CAS version:

Open a blank document in My Digital Studio (MDS), position the Pleasant Poppies background stamp image (re-sizing if necessary) and print out onto Whisper White cardstock.

Color the poppy image using Stampin’ Write markers- Blushing Bride for the petals, Wild Wasabi for the stems and Crumb Cake for shadows. 

Carefully cut out the flowers (“fussy-cut”) and add a few white highlights using a White Gel Pen.

Ink the sentiment using Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Blackberry Bliss cardstock, trim and mount onto the Blushing Bride card base.

Add the flowers using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Pleasant Po

ppies (MDS version), Thoughts & Prayers

Ink: Printer Ink- Black, Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink, Stampin’ Write Markers- Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake; White Gel Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss, Blushing Bride

Accessories: Stampin’ Dimensionals®

Thanks again for stopping by-the next post will show the “stepped up” version :-)  I hope all of you have a wonderful, relaxing Sunday!!

TCC31 Birthday Wishes- A Mixed Media Monochromatic Card

Hi Stampers!!

It’s time for the new Card Concept #31 “Cupcakes” using our fun inspiration photo.  My Mixed Media card was inspired by the pink in the frosting as well as the beautiful crocheted lace doily.

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.

I decided to combine our challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers Free for All F4A257 Challenge (see details here and gallery here) as well as the Mix-Ability MIX104 Pick A Color, Any Color Monochromatic Challenge (again, see details here and gallery here). 

So pull your supplies together and come join in on the fun!! 

To create this card:

Apply a layer of Gesso to a piece of Whisper White cardstock and allow to dry (or use a Heat Tool to speed up the process).

Using Gelatos®, apply color to the background and spritz with water to dilute and allow to spread.  Again, dry with the Heat Tool and repeat the colors as needed.

Apply additional color with Ranger® Tim Holtz® Distress Stains- Worn Lipstick and Festive Berries spritzing with water and allowing the stain to dilute and spread over the background, dry with the Heat Tool.

Background before adding the QR Die Paper

Ink the retired stamp, Bella Toile using Stone Gray Stāz-On Ink and stamp onto the background panel.

Once dried, de-static the background panel using the Embossing Buddy® and stamp the Hello, Doily background stamp using Versamark™ Ink.  Apply Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Tool. 

Tear the Ultimate Crafts Quick Release Die Paper into small pieces and apply Mod Podge® over the background around the doily, applying the Release Die Paper and adding additional Mod Podge® over the paper.

Allow the panel to dry, use the Distressing Tool to add distressing to the edges.

Using My Digital Studio (MDS), print out the dress form image and the sentiment onto Whisper White cardstock. 

“Fussy-cut” the dress form image, color the image using the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write marker and apply Mod Podge® to the dress form- set aside to dry.

Add the strip of crocheted lace trim along with the 5/8” Basic Black Triple Satin Ribbon bow. 

Mount the panel onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock, distress the edges with the Distressing Tool and mount onto the Pretty In Pink card base.

Use the XL Oval Punch to punch out the sentiment and mount onto two ovals from Basic Black cardstock (punched with the XL Oval Punch and overlapped to create a frame for the sentiment).

Mount the dress form and the sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Create the rolled roses using the ⅞” and 1 ¼” Scallop Circle Punches (punch the scallop circles from Pretty in Pink cardstock, hand cut a wavy spiral toward the center of each scallop, roll up and adhere in the middle).    Add the rolled roses to the dress form and bow along with the Pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Established Elegance, Watercolor Trio (both MDS Versions), Bella Toile and Hello, Doily background stamps

Ink: Stāz-On® Stone Gray Ink, Ranger® Tim Holtz® Worn Lipstick and Festive Berries Distress Stain, Gelatos®, Printer Ink- Black, Stampin’ Write Marker- Sahara Sand, Versamark™

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Pretty In Pink, Ultimate Crafts Quick Release Die Paper

Accessories: Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder, Punches- XL Oval, Scallop Circle- ⅞” and 1 ¼”, Mod Podge®,  Pearls, ⅝” Basic Black Satin Ribbon, crochet lace from my stash

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday and find time to visit us at  The Card Concept and check out the rest of the Design Team samples  as well as pull out your supplies and play along!! 

FM200 Birthday Butterfly- A CAS Mixed Media Card

Hi Stampers! 

I had a chance to play around in my craft room this evening and decided to create another quick Mixed Media card for the 200th Challenge at the Friday Mash Up!  using the FM1 "Butterflies" with the FM5 "Nature with Embossing" Challenges  (plus- I was able to Mash It Up! for both challenges as well- woohoo! :-)) along with the Splitcoaststampers "Free For All" F4A254 "True Free for All" Challenge (here are the challenge details and the gallery is here)

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will find the time visit both challenge sites to see the terrific Design Team samples as well as the wonderful inspiration from the galleries!

To create this quick card:

Apply the Sweet Sadie Washi Tape strips to a piece of Whisper White cardstock and use the Big Shot™ to emboss with the Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and mount onto the Basic Black card base.

Using My Digital Studio (MDS), position the Swallowtail image (reduce in size) as well as the greeting from Wetlands and print out onto Whisper White cardstock.

Color the butterfly using Stampin’ Write Markers- Daffodil Delight, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pear Pizzazz and Rich Razzleberry. 

Use a Faber-Castell® Black Pitt Pen Marker to darken the black areas of the butterfly, carefully “fussy-cut” the image and apply Mod Podge® with a foam brush.

Use a Faber-Castell® White Pitt Pen marker to add the white highlights to the wings.

Trim the sentiment and create the banner using the Hexagon Punch. 

Mount the sentiment onto a piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock,  punch the banner points with the Hexagon Punch, mount again onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock and punch the banner points once more.

Stamp the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge using Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink over the embossed background panel and mount the sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

To finish the card, use Stampin’ Dimensionals® under the wing tips of the butterfly (to give the wings dimension) and Tombow® Mono-Adhesive under the body to securely fasten to the card front.

Stamp Sets: Swallowtail and Wetlands (MDS versions), Gorgeous Grunge

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Printer Ink- Black; Stampin’ Write Markers- Crisp Cantaloupe, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry; Faber-Castell® Black and White Pitt Pen Markers

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Big Shot™, Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Foam Paint Brush, Mod Podge®, Sweet Sadie Washi Tape Collection, Hexagon Punch

Thanks again for visiting- have a fabulous Monday, my friends!!

TCC30 Thinking of You- Mixed Media with MIX106 and SR270

Hi Stampers!!

Here is another card that I created for The Card Concept #30 “Thinking of You” Challenge along with the SR270 Watercoloring Challenge and the MIX106 I Love Color Challenge :-)  

I did not have a floral image with a vase, so I decided to use the inspiration photo to draw a quick sketch with a Faber-Castell® Pitt Pen Black marker on watercolor paper :-)

Again, I hope you have had a chance to check out both challenge sites!

To create this card:

Once the image is complete, use Rexel Derwent® Watercolor Pencils along with an AquaPainter™ to color the flowers. 

Allow the watercolor to dry, apply Mod Podge™ to the flowers to create a mask.  

Carefully apply Studio 490® Wendy Vecchi® Crackled Texture Paste to the vase and use a Heat Tool to dry.

Once dry, color the background with additional watercolor pencils and dilute with water. 

Ink the Dictionary stamp using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and distress the edges with the Distressing Tool.

Apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges and background.

Mount the panel onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.

Distress a piece of Botanical Gazetter Designer Series Paper (DSP) using the Distressing Tool, apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges and adhere to the Basic Black card base. 

 Mount the watercolored panel to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Stamp the sentiment using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and create the banner ends using the Hexagon Punch.

Trim and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock, creating the banner with the Hexagon Punch and distress the paper a bit with Ranger® Tim Holtz® Vintage Photo Distress Ink and the Dictionary background stamp.

Mount the sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals® and add the Pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Dictionary, Wetlands

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink, Ranger® Tim Holtz® Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Rexel Derwent® Watercolor Pencils, Faber-Castell® Black Pitt Pen marker

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Watercolor Paper, Botanical Gazette DSP

Accessories: Hexagon Punch (for sentiment banner points), Mod Podge®,  AquaPainter™, Studio 490® Wendy Vecchi® Crackled Texture Paste, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- have a fabulous weekend!!

Snowflake Monochromatic Faux Silk- Two Cards from One Panel :-)

Hi Again Stampers!  

Here are two additional cards that I created using the Merry Monday #149Monochromatic Blue Challenge for inspiration along with the Splitcoaststampers’CCC15 Christmas Card Challenge and the F4A261 Lucky to Have Tutorials Challenge. 

I had received a gift bag this past Christmas with this beautiful blue and white tissue paper, and of course, I had to save the paper for use in Faux SilkTechnique :-).  This monochromatic blue color challenge seemed to be the perfect excuse for me to try this technique and with one 4 ¼’ x 5 ½” panel, these two cards were the result...

Again, if you have not had time to visit the challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- great ideas and inspiration from all!

To create the Faux Silk panel:

Using the Splitcoaststampers’ tutorial here, apply Mod Podge™ to a piece of Whisper White cardstock, place the crumpled up tissue paper over the cardstock and sprinkle Dazzling Diamonds over the moistened tissue paper.

Once the layer was dry, cut the tissue paper into panels to create the cards.

This card was difficult to photograph- it is very sparkly IRL :-)

To create Card #1:

Cut the 2” wide panel into four sections and mount onto Night of Navy cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock, trim and mount onto the Whisper White card base.

Mount the four Faux Silk sections onto the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Stamp the sentiment from Brushstroke Angel using Night of Navy Classic Ink onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and create the banner points using the Hexagon Punch, mount onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock and use the Banner Punch again to create the banner points. 

Mount the sentiment to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Adhere the retired All is Calm Snowflake Embellishments with the retired Silver Cord. 

Add the Rhinestones to the centers of the embellishments as well as a few of the tissue paper snowflakes to finish off the card.  

  

Stamp Sets:  Brushstroke Angel

Ink: Night of Navy

Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy; Tissue Paper from my stash

Accessories: Big Shot™. Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Hexagon Punch, Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds, retired All is Calm Snowflake Embellishments, retired Silver Cord

To create Card #2:

Cut the Faux Silk panel into a 2” strip and punch the top using the Scallop Tag Topper Punch.  Cut another piece from Night of Navy cardstock and punch the top with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch as well.   Trim the Night of Navy to length and mount behind the Faux Silk panel.

Add a piece of crocheted white lace at the bottom of the tag and adhere a scrap piece of Night of Navy cardstock to hide the seam of the lace.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Northern Flurry Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock, trim once more and mount onto the Whisper White card base.

Add the tag using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.  Create a bow with the Bow Builder Punch using Night of Navy cardstock and adhere to the top of the tag.  Add the retired Frosted Finishes Embellishment to the center of the bow.

Stamp the sentiment from Christmas Blessings using Night of Navy Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, trim to 2” wide and adhere to the tag.

Add the Rhinestones to the bottom of the tag to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Christmas Blessings

Ink: Night of Navy

Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy; Tissue Paper from my stash

Accessories: Big Shot™. Northern Flurry Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds, retired Frosted Finishes Embellishment, crochet lace from my stash

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

CAS Brushstroke Angel- A Monochromatic Color Challenge

Hi Stampers!!

I had some time to stamp last night and decided to create a few quick easy cards for the Merry Monday #149 Monochromatic Blue Challenge along with the CCC15 ChristmasCard Challenge.  

The first card I created using the monochromatic color challenge uses a retired stamp set, Brushstroke Angel, that I have not inked in years….so many stamps, so little time :-) !

Again, I hope you will find the time to visit each of the galleries- great inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Ink the angel and sentiment along with the small snowflake (I believe this was from one of the older demonstrator incentive stamp sets) using Night of Navy Classic Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Using Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils, outline along the angel image and use an AquaPainter™ to dilute the watercolor pencil.

Add Two-Way Glue and add Dazzling Diamonds to the angel wings and use the Distressing Tool to distress the edges.

Mount onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock, trim and mount onto the Whisper White card base.

Add a few Rhinestones to finish off the card- quick and simple!!

Stamp Sets:  Brushstroke Angel, misc snowflake from SU! incentive stamp set

Ink: Night of Navy, Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils

Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy

Accessories: Distressing Tool, Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds

Thanks again for visiting- have a blessed Sunday, my friends!

SUO118 Happy Easter!!

Hi Stampers!   

It’s time for the new SUO118 “Easter's on the Way” Challenge and I decided to create a “hybrid” card using My Digital Studio (MDS) along with traditional card making techniques.

I decided to also play along with the FM200 Friday Mashup! Challenge and chose the FM72 Sketch Challenge plus the FM97 Marker and Texture Challenge. 

One of the reasons I love using MDS for creating “hybrid” cards is that some of the rubber/clear mount stamp sets that have been retired from the annual catalog are still available as “current” in MDS…plus, the storage issue is solved since they do not take up space in my craft room- oops, two reasons why I love MDS :-) !!

I hope you will find the time to check the both challenge sites and create your own Stampin’ Up! “Easter Fun” project and link up in our gallery!!

To create this card:

Using MDS, position the floral cross from Crosses of Hope and re-size.  

Insert the Easter sentiment from Well Scripted and insert "Happy Easter" from Teeny Tiny Wishes.   Insert a Square Punch image, re-size the punch image to hide the "Easter" portion from the Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiment and position the “Happy” above the Well Scripted “Easter” sentiment.  Arrange the two words with the invisible punch as a group and position on the page leaving enough room to punch the image out with the XL Oval Punch.

If desired, insert other stamp images on the page to fill in all of the space ((to be used in the future) and print out onto Whisper White cardstock.

Using the Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Light Markers in Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry, color in the flowers on the cross. If desired, use the Stampin' Write Crisp Cantaloupe marker over the Daffodil Delight (originally I was going to enter this into a color challenge as well and it needed to have Crisp Cantaloupe, but I changed my mind :-))  

Use the White Gel Pen to add crisp white centers to the flowers.

“Fussy-cut” the cross image out by hand and use the XL Oval Punch to punch out the sentiment.

Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Big Shot™ and the Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions™  Embossing Folder, trim the embossed panel, mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock, trim and mount again onto the  Rich Razzleberry card base.

Add the horizontal strip of Basic Black cardstock (I used a scrap piece and cut it in half with the separation behind the vertical panel- see another secret tip :-)). 

Use the Big Shot™ with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™  Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of  Rich Razzleberry cardstock, trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.  Add this panel to the card front per the sketch.

Adhere the sentiment onto two XL Ovals punched from Basic Black cardstock (overlapped to create a frame behind the sentiment) and mount onto the card front along with the cross image using Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Create the bow from Basic Black cardstock using the Bow Builder Punch.  Create a rolled flower using the 1 ¼” Scallop Circle Punch and Rich Razzleberry cardstock (punch one scallop circle and hand cut a wavy spiral toward the center, roll up and adhere in the middle- the leaves are from Old Olive cardstock using the Bird Builder Punch).

Add the bow with the rolled flower to the card front to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Crosses of Hope, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Well Scripted (all MDS versions)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black; Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Light Markers- Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry; Stampin’ Write Marker- Crisp Cantaloupe, White Gel Pen

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain and Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders,  Punches- Bow Builder, Bird Builder, 1 ¼” Scallop Circle, XL Oval

Thanks again for taking the time to visit – I hope that you will create your own Stampin’ Up! Only project and play along with our “Easter's on the Way” challenge!

Monochromatic Shades of Purple with Summer Silhouettes

Hi Stampers! 

I had a chance to play around in my craft room this evening and decided to create a 10 Minute Mixed Media card for the As You See It #077 Speed Stamping "Shades of Purple" Challenge and combined it with the Splitcoaststampers MIX104 MonochromaticChallenge.

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will find the time visit the above sites!  Great Design Teams and wonderful inspiration from both galleries!

To create this 10 Minute (actually 9:58 min) CAS card:

Ink the Summer Silhouettes leaves using Perfect Plum Classic and stamp onto a piece of retired Orchid Opulence cardstock.  

Add the stem and flower head images using Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink.

Stamp the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge with Perfect Plum Classic Ink, stamp off and stamp over the images.

Add the Blackberry Bliss Washi Tape (from the retired Colour Me Autumn Washi Tape Collection) and ink the retired En Francais background stamp with Perfect Plum Classic Ink.  

Stamp off the background image and place the panel face down onto the stamp and “finger stamp” the script background  around the edges onto the panel.

Trim the panel and emboss the lower part of the card only using the Big Shot™ with the Zig Zag Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.

On your craft mat, add some Titanium White Acrylic Paint using a liner brush to to the flower tops.  Dilute the paint with water and a wider brush to add a light wash over the background of the stems, washi tape and embossing at the bottom.

Add a few more strips of the same Washi Tape and mount onto a piece of Whisper White Textured cardstock.

Trim and mount the entire panel onto the Blackberry Bliss card base.

I was running out of time so I did not add the sentiment yet (but can add one later :-))

Quick and easy- love the fact that it was completed in under 10 minutes!

Stamp Sets: Summer Silhouettes, Gorgeous Grunge, retired En Francais

Ink: Perfect Plum, Blackberry Bliss

Paper: Whisper White Textured, Blackberry Bliss, retired Orchid Opulence

Accessories: Big Shot™, Zig Zag Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Titanium White Acrylic Paint, Paintbrushes- Liner and Wash, Blackberry Bliss Washi Tape (retired Color Me Autumn collection)

Thanks again for visiting- have a great Monday!!