Spring Blossoms- Spring Will Follow

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you are having a great week so far!  

Jaydee's PP383 challenge at The Paper Players is “Spring has Sprung” so I decided to create a floral card using Spring Blossoms Clear Stamp Set from  Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps.  Here on the East Coast, tulips blooming are definitely a sign of spring :-)

I love the tulip and daffodil in Spring Blossoms as well as the beautiful fonts in the sentiments, don't you?

Also, just a reminder about Sweet ‘n  Sassy Stamps new  March release as well as a new Stamp of the Month Stamp Set- Texture Tiles I. 

Texture Tiles I is free with any $75 order (before  shipping and after any other discounts) plus you will receive free shipping and handling (in the US). 

In addition to The Paper Players PP386 “Spring has Sprung” Challenge along with the As You Like It “Single or Multiple Layers and Why” Challenge ( I love multiple layers and find it difficult to create with just a single layer- for me, the more layers the better :-)) and the Word Art Wednesday #324-#325 “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- terrific inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Stamp the tulip image from Spring Blossoms Clear Stamp Set with archival black ink onto a piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor with water-based markers and when dry, fussy-cut the image.

2). Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die and another piece of white cardstock with a pierced tag die.  Using a stencil brush along with a flourish stencil, apply tumbled glass distress ink. 

3).  De-static the lower corner of the rectangle panel, stamp the sentiment from Spring Blossoms  with archival black ink onto a piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool .  Once the embossing has cooled, mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim and mount onto the white card base.

4). Mount the tie cut tag onto black cardstock, trim close to the die cut, add the green  triple ribbon satin bow to the die cut tag (wrapping the ends behind the tag) and add part of white paper before mounting the tag onto the card front with dimensional foam. 

5). Mount the fussy-cut tulip onto the card front with dimensional foam, tucking the stem under the ribbon.

6). Use a clear glitter pen to apply shimmer to the petals and a few rhinestones to the card front.

 Stamp Sets: Spring Blossoms (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz® Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, Stampin’ Write Markers- Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories/Tools:  Big Shot™, MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Dies Set 1, MFT Pierced Tag STAX Dies,  Clarity® Stencil Brush, MB Flourish Stencil, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1” Green Satin Ribbon (from my stash), White Tea Lace Doily, Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- hugs and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

TCC87 Monochromatic Green

Hi Friends!!

It’s time for The Card Concept #88 {Monochromatic Green } Challenge!!  Look at this fabulous inspiration photo! With the theme of travel, greens, golds, suitcases, tins, vintage lettering, etc. what would inspire you?

I was inspired by all of the shades of green along with the gold to create a Shabby Chic/Mixed Media with a bit of Freestyle Collage card-lol!  How’s that for a style :-) ?

I decided to pull out several neglected Stampin’ Up! sets- Ephemera Background (from 2005), Sunflower and Trust God (for the sentiment).  I also used the current Timeless Textures for a few splatter effects.

I love participating with online challenges and am linking this card to the Simon Says Work It Wednesday “Green” Challenge, the Time Out #104 “Bold” Challenge (I think that the sunflower is a pretty bold image- do you?, the Flower Challenge #18 "Anything Goes" Challenge and the Alphabet “Y is Your Choice” 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- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Press Twisted Citron Distress Oxide ink onto a silicone craft mat, lightly spritz with water and press a piece of white cardstock into the ink. Smoosh the cardstock around a bit before lifting and re-pressing into the ink as needed.  Dry with a heat tool and repeat the process with Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint and Lucky Clover Distress Oxide Inks.

2). Once you are satisfied with the background, ink and stamp the Ephemera Background stamp with Versafine® Onyx Black ink and heat set with a heat tool. 

3). Add a few shadows to the background with watercolor pencils (I used Pacific Point (SU!) and 46-Emerald Green (Derwent®).  Apply Nuvo™ Indian Gold Embellishment Mousse to some of the labels to give the appearance of metal, distress the edges with a distressing tool and apply the Indian Gold Mousse to the edges as well.  Use the Timeless Textures small splatter stamp with Versafine® Onyx Black ink (stamp off first) over the background to add additional texture.

4). Mount the background panel onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.   Add the 1 ¼” Burlap Ribbon along with the strip of black satin and bright green satin ribbon (all from my stash), wrapping the ends behind the panel.  Mount the entire panel onto the white card base.

5). De-static two pieces of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink and stamp the Sunflower with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink onto one panel and the sentiment from Trust God with Versamark™ ink onto the other panel.  Heat emboss the sunflower image with clear embossing powder and the sentiment with gold embossing powder.

6). Once the embossing has cooled, die cut the sentiment with the MFT Stitched Half Dome STAX Dies. Also die cut the same size dome from Basic Black cardstock, mount behind the embossed sentiment die cut and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam (tucking under the black ribbon strip).

7). Watercolor the sunflower with Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide Ink. Fussy-cut the image and split the sunflower in half.  Tuck under the burlap ribbon and adhere directly to the card front.

8). Finish off the card by adding the Polished Hemp Twine bow along with the black button and a few Pearls in the corners and on the sentiment panel.

Stamp Sets: Sunflower, Ephemera Background, Trust God (all retired Stampin’ Up!),  Timeless Textures (current SU!)

Inks/Mediums:  Versafine™ Onyx Blackm Versamark™, Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks- Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint, Lucky Clover; SU! Pacific Point Watercolor Pencil, Derwent® #46-Emerald Green Watercolor Pencil, Nuvo™ Indian Gold Embellishment Mousse

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Half Dome STAX Dies, Embossing Buddy®, Clear & Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1 ¼” Burlap Ribbon, 1 “ Bright Green Satin Ribbon, 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon, Polished Hemp Twine, retired Basic Black Button, Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you will be able to join us for the The Card Concept #88 {Monochromatic Green”  Challenge at The Card Concept!

SC687 It Is Well With My Soul

Hi Friends!

It’s time for the weekly sketch at Splitcoaststampers! Cathy  is our #SC687 sketch designer this week and I just love this pretty sketch she has created for us!

I decided to use the previously released Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps set, Nature Silhouettes 2 and the new release stamp set, Timeless Hymns along with the March Stamp of the Month Set, Texture Tiles I. 

 I love the March release sets and especially the March Stamp of the Month, Texture Tiles I. The texture tiles in this set are perfect for all sorts of cards and this stamp set can be yours free with a $75 order at Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps in the month of March (plus, don’t forget, you can get free shipping and handling with any net $75 order (US).

I enjoy participating with online challenges so I incorporated  the Inspired By All The Little Things #81 Challenge (I was inspired by the greens, natural elements and the Queen’s  Anne Lace),  The Flower Challenge #18 “Anything Goes” Challenge and the My Time to Craft #365 “Monochromatic” Challenge into my design.  Although after I linked to The Flower Challenge, I am not sure if this flower is large enough for their challenge.  No worries, I have another card with a larger flower to link tomorrow :-)

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

To create this card:

1). Create the background panel using Distress Oxide Inks.  Press the Oxide inks onto a silicone craft mat, lightly spritz with water and press a piece of white cardstock into the ink, smooshing a bit before lifting the panel and drying with a heat tool between layers.  I used Twisted Citron for the first layer, Cracked Pistachio for the second and Broken China for the third.  Continue to apply ink in this manner until you are satisfied with the result.

2). Using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, randomly stamp portions of the script mage from Texture Tiles I to the background.   Use a square die cut to cut out layer #3 and a border die to cut the angle  at the bottom for layer #2 in the sketch (I used the edge of the Swirly Die from Stampin’ Up!).  De-static the lower corner of the angled panel with an embossing powder, stamp the sentiment from Timeless Hymns with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

3).  De-static the square die cut with an embossing powder tool and stamp the floral image from Nature Silhouettes 2 with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

4). Frame the square die cut with a piece of black cardstock and mount onto the card front (covering up the opening created by cutting the initial square). *** Note- I do this often to help reduce the weight of a card and no one (except you, now) is the wiser.

Close-up to show some of the texture using Texture Tiles I

5). Add additional texture using images from Texture Tiles I - the splatter image with Broken China Distress Oxide ink and Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, the grid image  with Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide Ink. 

6). Add a few strands of polished hemp twine around the card (for layer #4) and add the hemp twine bow with the black button.

7). De-static a scrap piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool,  stamp the bird image from Nature Silhouettes 2 with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

8). Mount the bird onto the card front with dimensional foam.

9). Add a few Nuvo™ Grey Mist Jewel Drops to the background and use the Sharpie® Extra Fine White Pen to add highlights to the flower heads.

Stamp Sets: Timeless Hymns, Texture Tiles I, Nature Silhouettes 2 (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz®  Distress Oxide Ink- Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Broken China; Nuvo™ Grey Mist Jewel Drops, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, SU! Square Framelits™ and Swirly Thinlits™, Embossing Buddy®,  Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Polished Hemp Twine, retired Basic Black button

Thanks again for taking the time to visit! If you have a chance, we would love for you to join us at Splitcoaststampers for this week’s sketch challenge!  Hugs and I hope all of you have a great week, sweet friends!

Birds & Blooms

Hi Friends!

I am sharing a card today created with the new Birds & Blooms Clear Stamp Set along with the March Stamp of the Month, Texture Tiles I Clear Stamp Set from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps March release!

 

The main panel for this card is just one layer- the images were stamped and heat embossed before using markers and ink to watercolor the panel. 

I love all of the different sentiments as well as floral and bird images in the new Birds & Blooms Clear Stamp Set as well as the beautiful texture in the Texture Tiles I Clear Stamp Set – both are perfect for all types of cards, home décor, Bible Art Journaling and more!

 

Please stop by Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps to check out all the details on the Pre-Order Release of the new stamp sets here.  For every $75 purchase (not including discounts or shipping), you will receive the Texture Tiles I Clear Stamp Set free for the month of March plusfree shipping and handling (in the US) so this is a great deal!!

 As you know, I also enjoy participating with online challenges, so I  am linking this card to the Simon Says Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge and the Simon Says Monday "In My Garden" Challenge.

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

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the bird image from Birds & Blooms Clear Stamp Set with Versafine™ Onyx Black, stamp onto the panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Repeat these steps with the floral branch image as well as the sentiment.

2). Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor the images with water-based markers and ink, re-applying color as needed.  Deepen some of the shadows and background with watercolor pencils and stamp the script tile from Texture Tiles I Clear Stamp Set onto the background using distress ink.  Once you are satisfied, die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die.

 

3). Mount the panel onto a piece of coral cardstock (also die cut with a stitched rectangle die), mount again onto a piece of blue cardstock and onto the white card base.

4). Finish off the card by adding white highlights to the flowers and the bird’s eye with a Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen and shimmer to the bird’s feathers with a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets:  Birds & Blooms , Texture Tiles I  (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black,; Stampin’ Write Markers- Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Calypso Coral, Cajun Craze, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi; Tim Holtz® Salty Ocean Distress Ink, Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils- Basic Black, Pacific Point; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Pacific Point

Acessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1 & 2, Embossing Buddy®,  White and Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

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

SUO195 Favorite Sentiment

Hi Friends!   

It’s time for the #195 “A Favorite Sentiment” Challenge at SU-Only Challenges!  

I love using Scripture verses on my card so I decided to use the verse from the Occasions Mini stamp set, Hold On To Hope and incorporated the flowers from the Painted Harvest stamp set (carried over from the 2017 Holiday Mini) and a bit of splatter from Timeless Textures for a very simple card :-)

The main panel on this card is just one layer and since I did not have my ink pads near me when I created this card, I used masking along with Stampin’ Write Markers for the entire card (I love using markers for omitting and other techniques, don’t you? :-))

I am also participating with the Simon Says Monday “In My Garden” Challenge along with the TGIF #148 “Masking Technique” Challenge and the Addicted to Stamps and More #281 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

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

To create this card:

1). Ink the solid flower image from Painted Harvest with a Blushing Bride marker, stamp onto the lower part of a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Ink the more detailed petal image with a Berry Burst marker and stamp over the solid image.  Stamp another detailed petal image flower onto a piece of scrap paper (or sticky note/masking paper), fussy cut the image and use this as your mask.

2). Mask the first flower and repeat the steps above to stamp the second and third flower (re-masking each flower as you proceed).  ***FYI- I used Flirty Flamingo as the base for the last two flowers versus Blushing Bride***

3). Ink the flower center image with an Early Espresso marker and stamp in the middle of the petals.  Use an AquaPainter™ to blend any areas that are missing ink or may be a bit misaligned.

4). Re-mask each flower as you stamp the outline leaf image with a Lemon Lime Twist marker.

5). Ink the sentiment from Hold On To Hope with a Basic Black marker (the words on each top line), stamp onto the panel, then ink the “Made You”, “Carry You”, “Sustain You”, “Rescue You” with the Berry Burst marker and re-stamp onto the panel.

6). Add a bit of splatter with the small splatter stamp from Timeless Textures, inked with the Early Espresso marker. 

7). Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Berry Burst cardstock, trim again and mount onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

8). To finish off the card, apply shimmer to all of the flower petals with Clear Wink of Stella®.

Stamp Sets:  Painted Harvest, Hold On To Hope, Timeless Textures

Ink/Mediums: Stampin’ Write Markers- Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Berry Burst, Early Espresso, Lemon Lime Twist; Clear Wink of Stella®

Paper: Whisper White, Extra Thick Whisper White, Berry Burst

Accessories/Tools: AquaPainter™

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 “AFavorite Sentiment” challenge!  

Happy Together

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing a quick Mixed Media card using Happy Together and Grunge Elements 2 from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps. 

I love the Happy Together stamp set with the different sentiments and sweet silhouette images- perfect for friendship, Valentine’s Day and just overall general encouragement!

 

Also, don’t forget for every $60 purchase (not including discounts or shipping), you can receive the February stamp of the month- Hoppy Easter- isn’t he cute looking down  at his Easter egg?  Plus, Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps has free shipping and handling on your $75 order (in the US) so this is a great deal!!

 

 I incorporated Fab Friday #131 SketchChallenge along with the A Bit More Time To Craft #62 “Anything Goes” Challenge and  the Dies R Us #91 “Tag, You’re It”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- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Using distress oxide inks- Broken China and Peacock Feathers, tap the ink onto a silicone craft mat, lightly spritz with water and place a piece of white cardstock into the ink.  Lift up and continue to repeat the process until you are satisfied with the background (drying with a heat tool as you proceed).  Ink the heart image from Grunge Elements 2 with Peacock Feathers distress oxide ink and stamp onto the panel.

2). Once the panel is dry, trim and mount onto a piece of black cardstock. 

3).  De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the Happy Together image with archival black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Die cut the panel with a stitched banner die, sponge Broken China and Peacock Feathers distress oxide over the background and add a few hearts with the heart image from Grunge Elements 2.  Mount onto another banner die cut from black cardstock and adhere to the card front with dimensional foam. (FYI- I originally had the black flag below the sentiment and did not like the look so die cut another white flag banner and mounted after the fact- now you know:-)).

4). Using a water brush, apply splatter the background with a bit of Black Soot distress ink.

5). De-static a scrap piece of black cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Happy Together with clear embossing ink, apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Hand trim and mount onto the card front.

6). Finish off the card using a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the hearts (hard to see in the photo) and a few Grey Mist Nuvo Jewel Drops.

Hindsight being 20/20, I probably should have used watercolor paper versus plain white cardstock but I need to order a pure white watercolor paper- all I have right now has an ivory tint and I prefer white :-)

Stamp Sets: Happy Together,  Grunge Elements 2 (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Versamark™; Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide- Broken China, Peacock Feathers, TH Black Soot Distress Ink , Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Nuvo™ Grey Mist Jewel Drops

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Acessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banner STAX Dies; Embossing Buddy®,  White and Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

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