Autumn Blessings

Hi Friends!

I loved this week’s Splitcoaststampers CC660 "Crazed Over Crushed Cherry Cobbler" Color Challenge with an optional dessert option of "Gratitude"- don’t you?  

The leaves are all in there spectacular glory here on the East Coast and I wanted to play along so I decided to create a fairly quick Mixed Media card using Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps- Skeleton Leaf Background (designed by Korin Sutherland) and So Grateful (designed by Gloria Stengel).  I love both of these sets together- so many possibilities plus there is a chance to win the So Grateful stamp set with our Facebook giveaway this week- check out the details here!!

I also am participating with the Little Red Wagon #419 “Harvest Time” Challenge (fall, harvest, leaves)  and the A Bit More Time to Craft #55 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!  

Plus, we are celebrating our 10th Birthday at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps- there are so many promotions along with a few giveaways! Come check out the details here!!

To create this card:

1). Tap Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks onto a silicone craft mat- Fossilized Amber, Candied Apple and Fired Brick (I worked with two colors at a time).  Lightly spritz with water, place a piece of white cardstock into the ink, “smoosh” around, lift up and repeat until you are satisfied with the coverage :-).

Ink the Skeleton Leaf Background stamp with archival black ink, stamp onto the panel prepared in Step #1, re-ink and stamp partially to fill up the panel.  Dry with a heat tool (to speed up the drying process), trim to approx. 3 ¾” x 5” and cut into three panels.  Mount each panel onto black cardstock and trim close to the edge.  Add a bit more color with water-based cherry and cajun inks as needed. 

3). Trim a piece of white cardstock to 4” x 5 ¼”, mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim close to the edge and mount onto the white card front.

4). Add the leaf panels to the card front with dimensional foam.

5). Ink the sentiment from So Grateful with archival ink, stamp onto a piece of vellum, apply gold embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Trim the sentiment and adhere to the card front (I used adhesive in the top left corner and behind the letters). 

6). Add the looped thin black satin bow with the antique brad center to the left corner (hides the adhesive for the vellum) and a few copper sequins to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Skeleton Leaf Background , So Grateful   (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks-Fossilized Amber, Candied Apple, Fired Brick; Stampin’ Up! Classic Ink- Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze

 

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Acessories/Tools: Embossing Buddy®, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1/8” Black Satin Ribbon, Antique Brad, Copper Sequins

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you have a blessed week, sweet friends!

SC670 Harvest Blessings

Hi Friends!

It’s Wednesday and time again for the #670 sketch at Splitcoaststampers! Diane is our sketch artist this week and I love the versatile sketch she has created for our challenge, don’t you?  

You can create a clean and simple card or add additional embellishments to dress it up, whatever your heart desires :-)

In my continuing effort to make sure I am using all of my stamps (especially my neglected retired ones) I decided to create a Clean and Simple Mixed Media card using the retired Stained Glass and Harvest Blessings stamp sets from Stampin’ Up!

I also incorporated the Simon Monday “Thanks/Thanksgiving” Challenge and the Double D “Feeling Fallish” Challenge (I was inspired by the colors) along with a few other Splitcoaststampers’ challenges (which are mainly “personal” challenges such as Divine  Design Bible Verse Challenge BVC17-to create a card with Scripture and memorize the verse; the USEIT2017 Challenge- use your unloved or uninked stamps and supplies;  and the All Occasion Card Challenge- create and link up your occasion cards for the month) into the design.

If you have not had a chance to visit the Splitcoaststampers’ Sketch gallery or the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will do so- such wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Ink the stained glass image with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp onto a prepared piece of Whisper White cardstock (use an embossing powder tool first to prepare the paper), apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. 

2). Once the embossing has cooled, color the image with markers and use a water brush to blend.  FYI- I used various Stampin’ Write Markers along with Tim Holtz® Distress Markers (colors are listed below). Fussy-cut the image and cut into thirds (per the sketch).  Mount each panel onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock and trim close to the edge.

3). Cut a piece of Basic Black cardstock 4” x 4” for the card front.  Trim a piece of Whisper White cardstock 3 ¾” x 3 ¾”, de-static with a powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Harvest Blessings with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. 

4). Once the embossing has cooled, add the strip of 1/8” black satin ribbon and mount the panel onto the black card front.  Mount the entire card front onto the 4 ¼” square white card base.

5). Mount the stained glass stamped panels using dimensional foam and use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the edges of the stained glass image as well as the pumpkin.

6). Add a looped 1/8” black satin ribbon bow with the button to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Stained Glass, Harvest Blessings  (both retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Stampin’ Write Markers- Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi,  TH Distress Markers- Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn, Gathered Twigs, Ripe Persimmon, Salty Ocean; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories/Tools: Embossing Buddy®, Clear EP, Heat Tool, retired SU! button,  ⅛” Black Satin Ribbon (from my stash), AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- if you have time, come join us at Splitcoaststampers for this week’s sketch challenge!  Hugs and I hope all of you have a blessed week, sweet friends!

SUO187 Gather Together and Give Thanks

Hi Friends!   

It’s time for the #187  “Being Thankful” Challenge at SU-Only Challenges!  

I can always use a few more “thank you” cards in my stash so I decided to create a fall themed card using Vintage Leaves (along with the coordinating dies), Timeless Textures and Painted Harvest to create a Clean and Simple/Mixed Media card.

I also am participating in the Fab Friday #124 Color Challenge along with the Dies R Us #84 “Anything Fall” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to stop by the SU-Only Challenge site to check out the rest of the Design Team’s samples or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Tap the Pumpkin Pie and Tangerine Tango Classic Ink pads onto a silicone craft mat, spritz lightly with water and press a piece of Whisper White cardstock into the ink, left and re-press the paper in the ink.  Repeat the above steps with a bit of Fresh Fig Classic Ink and once you are satisfied with the colors, dry the panel with the Heat Tool.

2). Ink the leaves from Vintage Leaves with Fresh Fig Classic Ink and stamp onto the panel created in Step 1.  Die cut the leaves with the coordinating Leaflet Framelits™.

3). Using images from the Timeless Textures stamp set, stamp the grid image with Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink several times onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Stamp the polka dot image over the grid image a bit using Tangerine Tango Classic Ink and add a bit of distressing using Fresh Fig Classic Ink with the small splatter stamp.  Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Tangerine Tango cardstock, trim once more and mount onto a piece of Fresh Fig cardstock.  Mount the entire card front panel onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

4). Use Metallic Gold Thread to create a large loop (adhere to the center area of the card) and layer the long oak leaf directly to the card front and add the other two using Stampin’ Dimensionals® (tucking some of the leaves under the metallic thread).

5). De-static a piece of Fresh Fig cardstock with an Embossing Buddy®, ink the sentiment from Painted Harvest with Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss Gold Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.  Trim the sentiment and add to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

6). Finish off the card by applying a bit of shimmer to the leaves with the Clear Wink of Stella® Pen.

Stamp Sets: Vintage Leaves, Timeless Textures, Painted Harvest

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™, Fresh Fig, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango

Paper: Whisper White, Fresh Fig, Tangerine Tango, Extra Thick Whisper White

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, Leaflet Framelits™, Gold Metallic Thread, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and I hope that you will create your own Stampin’ Up! Only project and join us for our “Being Thankful” challenge!

So Very Blessed

Hi Friends!

This evening I am sharing a card that was designed using the 10/26/17 FUSION “Autumn Leaves” Challenge (sketch portion) along with the Just Add Ink #384 Inspiration Challenge (I was inspired by the blues, yellow and white), the Tic-Tac-Toe #022 Challenge (top row across- Vibrant, Thank You, Layers) and the International Art & Soul #20 “Add a Charm or Tag” Challenge.

I pulled out Painted Harvest and Timeless Textures stamp sets to create my own “designer” paper for the tag element of the sketch and for the background panel, used a piece of embossed paper from my stash (left over from a previous project/experiment).  I have had this inked/embossed diamond patterned background in my stash for years and thought it would be purr-fect for this card :-)

If you have not had a chance to check out the challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- gorgeous galleries and ideas from all!

To create this card:

1). Use the Big Shot™ with the Sizzix™ Backgrounds 1 Texturz™ Plate, ink the plate with Night of Navy Classic Ink and emboss a piece of Tempting Turquoise cardstock.  Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock.  Adhere the entire card front onto the white card base.

2). To create the “designer paper” for the tag-  a). Ink the solid image of the sunflower from the Painted Harvest stamp set with Daffodil Delight Classic Ink, stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, re-ink and rotate the stamp, stamp again over the first image.  Repeat this process for a total of five sunflowers on the panel.  b). Ink the detailed petal image of the sunflower with Crushed Curry Classic Ink, stamp over the bold images, rotate, re-ink with Crushed Curry ink and stamp again.  Continue until all five sunflowers are completed.  c). Repeat the same process with the detailed petal image of the sunflower using Soft Suede ink.  d). Ink the center of the sunflower with Pacific Point Classic Ink, stamp onto the centers.  Repeat the same process with the center of the sunflower using Night of Navy Classic Ink. e). Once you have completed the sunflowers, create a mask for the sunflowers using sticky note paper and the bold image stamp.  Mask the sunflowers and ink the solid stem image with Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink, stamp a few stems (masking each flower as you stamp) and repeat the process with the detailed leaf image using Night of Navy Classic Ink. f). Use an AquaPainter™ with ink from the Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink Pad and watercolor around the flowers being careful not to watercolor over the petals).  g). Once the watercolor has cooled, add a bit of texture with the small splatter stamp from Timeless Textures using Night of Navy Classic Ink.

3), Die cut the sunflower designed paper from the step above using a Big Shot™ with the MFT™ Pierced Traditional Tag STAX Dies.  Mount onto Night of Navy cardstock and trim close to the edge of the tag.  Add the ½ White Tea Lace Doily to the one side of the tag and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

4). Ink the sentiment from So Blessed (Technique Tuesday) with Night of Navy Classic Ink, stamp onto a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock, trim close to the edge.

5). Add the sentiment to the card front (per the sketch) with dimensional foam.

6). Add the hemp twine bow with the Tempting Turquoise button to the corner of the tag.

7). Cut three cats (one from Night of Navy and two from Whisper White cardstock) using the Cat Punch, layer with the Night of Navy cat on top and mount to the card front.  Add the twine bow and rhinestone for the collar.

8). Add a few Rhinestones to the card front to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Painted Harvest, Timeless Textures (both Stampin’ Up!); So Blessed (Technique Tuesday®)

Ink/Mediums: Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede

Paper: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Night of Navy

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, My Favorite Things™ Traditional Pierced Tag STAX Dies, Sizzix™ Backgrounds 1 Texturz™ Plate, Cat Punch, White Tea Lace Doily, Polished Hemp Twine, Turquoise Button, Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you have a wonderful week!

SC669 Let All Creation Sing!

Hi Friends!

It’s time for the weekly sketch at Splitcoaststampers and this week, our hostess, Cathy aka Cathymac designed the wonderfully versatile SC669 Sketch!

I decided to create another Christmas card so pulled out Season’s Greetings along with Jesus Is Born (both designed by Korin Sutherland) and available from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps.  

I also incorporated the Deep Ocean “Inspired by a Song” Challenge and the Simon SaysMonday “All Creatures Great and Small” Challenge into the design. 

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched circle die.  Using a stencil brush, apply Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks- Broken China followed by Stormy Sky to create the sky area (I masked the “hills” using sticky note paper and also used the scallop edge of a stencil for the clouds).  Die cut a piece of espresso cardstock with the same circle die, split the circle and mount behind the stenciled landscape die cut.

 

2).  Die cut the neutral snowflake panel using a stitched rectangle die, hand trim the green polka dot panel (for the layers #2 & #3 of the sketch), mount both onto espresso cardstock and trim close to the edge.

3). Trim a piece of white cardstock to 4” x 5 ¼”, emboss with a snowflake embossing powder tool, mount onto espresso cardstock, trim and mount onto green cardstock, trim again and mount onto the white card base.  Add the panel #2 & #3 created in step #2 directly to the card front.

4). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the bird images along with the large birdhouse image from Season’s Greetings with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp onto the prepared panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool. Once the embossing has cooled, use a water brush along with distress inks to watercolor the images.  Use markers to add shadows and additional color (see the listing below for the colors used). Fussy-cut all of the images, mount the birdhouse along with the standing cardinal image directly onto the circle die cut scene- this is the #4 element of the sketch.

5). Adhere the circle die cut scene (#4 in the sketch) to the card front with dimensional foam.  Stamp the sentiment from Jesus Is Born with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink onto a scrap piece of white cardstock, trim and create the banner, mount onto espresso cardstock, trim and adhere to the card front with dimensional foam. Add the wooden snowflakes (tucking a few under the circle and sentiment) and adhere a rhinestone to the center of each snowflake plus add a few to the card front.

6). Finish off the card by adding snowflakes with a Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen to the scene and shimmer to the birds with a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets:  Jesus Is Born, Season’s Greetings (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks-Broken China, Stormy Sky, Brushed Corduroy, Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn, Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Ground Espresso, Frayed Burlap; Distress Markers- Gathered Twigs, Festive Berries; Stampin’ Write Markers- Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Basic Black ; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Early Espresso; retired Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper (all Stampin’ Up!)

Acessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Circle and Rectangle STAX Dies; Darice® Snowflake Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Hexagon Punch, Rhinestones, Stencil Brush, AquaPainter™, Wooden Snowflakes (retired SU!)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you can join us this week at Splitcoaststampers! 

TCC81 Poinsettia Collage

Hi Friends!!

It’s time for the new #81 {Rich Holiday} Challenge at The Card Concept!

I was inspired by the beautiful red poinsettias as well as all of the gold and textures for my Mixed Media Classy and Elegant card. 

I decided to pair the Poinsettia Collage stamp (Our Daily Bread Designs) along with ODBD Christmas Collection 2013 6x6 Paper Pad for this quick card!  I chose to leave the sentiment off the front so, if desired, the recipient could display the card beyond the Christmas season :-)  Plus, I could not allow myself to cover any of the wonderful details of the ODBD Poinsettia Collage stamp!

I am also linking this card to the A Gem of A Challenge #206 "Ribbon and Pearls" Challenge and the Word Art Wednesday #306-#307 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will find the time to check out the rest of the wonderful Design Team cards at The Card Concept as well as the entries at the other challenge sites- fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Prepare a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the ODBD Poinsettia Collage image with Versamark™ ink, apply gold embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing powder has cooled, color the image using a water brush with distress inks and markers.  Trim close to the edge of the image, mount onto espresso cardstock and trim again.

2). Trim a piece of the ODBD Christmas Collection 2013 6x6 Paper to 4” x 5 ¼”, mount onto a piece of espresso cardstock.  Mount the embossed image panel created in step #1 to the center and add the gold triple ribbon bow (wrapping the ends of the ribbon behind the card front).

3). Mount the entire card front onto a white card base and add a few pearls to the lower right hand corner.

4). Finish off the card by adding highlights to the center of the poinsettia with an extra fine white paint pen and shimmer to the petals with a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets:  Poinsettia Collage (Our Daily Bread Designs)

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™, Tim Holtz® Distress Ink- Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn; Stampin’ Write Markers- Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Lemon Lime Twist, Soft Suede; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: ODBD Christmas Collection 2013 6x6 Paper Pad; Stampin’ Up! Cardstock- Early Espresso, Whisper White

Accessories: AquaPainter™, Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool, Gold Embossing Powder,  ½” Wired Gold Metallic Ribbon (from my stash), Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by!  I hope I have inspired you today and that you will be able to join us for the #81“Rich Holiday” Challenge at The Card Concept!