God is Our Refuge

 

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you are having a great summer so far! This week we are celebrating July with a special on all Kaisercraftpapers, embellishments, etc. at Stamp Simply!

Today I am sharing a floral card designed with the new Pretty Poppies Bundle along with a verse sentiment from the Fear Not stamp set , Kaisercraft Pen & Ink paper and Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Pearls  (plus other dies/supplies from Stamp Simply)!

Most of you who follow my blog know that I love to participate with online challenges- I will be linking this card to the Tic-Tac-Toe #121 Challenge (Pink, Embossing, Lace/Doily plus Bouquet, Embossing, Glitter), the Watercooler Wednesday Helen’s Challenge #319 “All Things Feminine” Challenge and the Word Art Wednesday #499-#500 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the Stamp Simply blog or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

From the Kaisercraft Pen & Ink 6x6 paper pad, trim a piece of the script design as well as the lace design from to approx. 4” x 2 ¾”. 

Distress the outside edges of each piece of designer paper and mount onto a piece of dark brown cardstock (overlapping a bit in the middle).

 Use a stencil brush to apply antique linen distress ink (to “age” the paper).

To cover the raw edges of the designer paper in the center of the panel, add a strip of 3/8” Natural Crochet Lace (approx. ½” below the top of the raw edge). 

Cover the top of the lace with a piece of May Arts ⅝” Sage Twill, wrapping and adhering the twill ribbon behind the panel.

Mount the background panel onto a white card base.

Ink the poppy floral image from Pretty Poppies with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto white cardstock and heat set the ink with a heat tool. 

Watercolor the image with water-based markers and die cut with the coordinating Pretty Poppies Die (FYI- I also die cut two additional poppies from white cardstock to layer behind the watercolor image).

De-static another piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the verse sentiment from Fear Not with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing for the sentiment has cooled, die cut with the Spellbinders Amazing Grace- Hemstitch Ovals Dies (I used the frame only of the second largest oval).

Die cut two additional ovals from white cardstock and adhere behind the sentiment oval.

Use a stencil brush to apply antique linen distress ink (to “age” the paper) and mount the sentiment oval to the card front with dimensional foam and/or chipboard.

Adhere the floral image to the card front with dimensional foam (and/or chipboard).

Use a clear glitter marker to add shimmer to the flower petals and a white paint pen to add a few highlights to the flower centers.

Finish off the card by adding Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Pearls to the edge of the sentiment oval as well as the upper left and lower right-hand corners of the background.

Stamp Sets:  Pretty Poppies  (part of Pretty Poppies Bundle), Fear Not (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Granny Apple Green;  Tim Holtz™ Antique Linen Distress,  Zig Wink of Stella Brush- Clear Glitter Marker; Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: White, Chocolate; Kaisercraft Pen & Ink 6x6 Paper Pad

Accessories/Tools:  Gemini, Jr. , Stamp Simply Steel Dies- Pretty Poppies (Pretty Poppies Bundle), Spellbinders Amazing Grace- Hemstitch Ovals, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Distressing Tool, May Arts 5/8” Twill- 30 yd spool, Sage, May Arts 3/8” Crochet Lace- 15 yd spool- Natural, KaisercraftSelf-Adhesive Pearls- Pearl, Blending Brush

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- praying that you have a wonderful week, sweet friends!

Catch of the Day- Another Easel Card

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing a card designed with the new Graphic 45 Catch of the Day 8x8 Paper Pad and a sentiment from the Stamp Simply Words of Encouragement stamp set along with dies/supplies (from Stamp Simply)!

 

I absolutely love this Graphic 45 Catch of the Day  paper!  

So many gorgeous patterns and perfect for summer cards as well as for masculine cards for the men in your life!

I decided to create another easel card was able to incorporate the Splitcoaststampers’ SC488 Sketch into the layout!  FYI- those of you who follow me know that I have a personal goal to create a card for each of the over 850+ SCS sketches- one more to mark off my list, woohoo!

I am also participating in the  Simon Says Monday “Red, White and/or Blue” Challenge  and the Simon Says Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge.  

If you have not had a chance to visit the Stamp Simply blog or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Create the easel card base from 4 ¼” x 11” white cardstock (score at 5 ½” and on one of the 5 ½” panels, score again at 2 ¾”)- see the   Splitcoaststampers’ Easel Card tutorial for additional instructions.

Trim the panels from the Graphic 45 Catch of the Day paper – for the card front (sketch layer #5) from the red background paper- trim to approx. 3 ¾” x 5” .  For sketch layer #3 (from the dark blue patterned rectangle)- trim to approx. 2 ½” x 3 ½”.  Trim the lighthouse (for layer #4) from the cut-apart paper to approx. 3 ¼” x 4 ¼”.  

For the lower easel part of the card: from the red background paper- trim a piece approx. 3 ¾” x 2 ½”. Trim the strip of postage stamp border to approx. 3 ¾”.

Mount each of the above trimmed panels onto white cardstock, trim close to the edge.  Using a blending brush, apply Antique Linen Distress ink to the edges to “antique” the paper. Mount all onto navy cardstock and trim again, close to the edge.

To create the main card front panel, add the dark blue patterned rectangle (layer #2) directly to the red patterned background panel (layer #1).

Adhere a few pieces of cheesecloth to the upper and lower right-hand area, and to the middle left-hand near the top edge of the dark blue rectangle panel.

Adhere the lighthouse panel with dimensional foam (or chipboard)- for layer #4.

Fussy cut the postage stamp images from the designer paper, mount onto navy cardstock and trim close to the edge.

Adhere two postage stamps over the cheesecloth on the left (for layer #3 of the sketch) and one on the lower right (for layer #5).

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Words ofEncouragement with Versafine Onyx Black  ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Die cut the sentiment with a circle die, mount onto a piece of navy cardstock (die cut with a larger circle die).  Use a blending brush to apply Antique Linen Distress ink to “antique” the paper.

Adhere the layered postage stamp strip to the red patterned paper rectangle (for the easel base) and mount the sentiment using dimensional foam and/or chipboard.

Adhere the sentiment panel onto the lower portion of the easel base with dimensional foam (or chipboard).

To finish off the card, adhere the layered lighthouse card front to the upper part of the easel base.

Stamp Sets: Words of Encouragement (Stamp Simply)

Inks/Mediums: Versafine Onyx Black

Cardstock/Paper: White, Navy, Graphic 45 Catch of the Day 8x8 Paper Pad

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., Spellbinders Nestabilities- Standard Circles SM , Spellbinders Nestabilities- Standard Circles LG, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dritz Cheesecloth- 36" x 3 yds

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! Hugs and I hope all of you have a wonderful 4^th of July weekend!

One Nation Under God

 

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing a Mixed Media Patriotic card designed with the new Red, White & Blue Bundle along with the Old Glory Bundle and other dies/supplies (from Stamp Simply)!

I fell in love with the Old Glory Bundle when it was released last spring and absolutely love the new coordinating Red, White & Blue Bundle, don’t you?  

The flag image, block sentiment stamp plus all of the other sentiments are perfect for so many summer cards!

This week we are celebrating the new Red, White & Blue Bundle release by sharing patriotic cards on the Stamp Simply blog!  I hope you have had a chance to check out the fabulous inspiration from the rest of our Design Team!

I decided to create an easel card since I wanted to use the patriotic map of the USA as well as the flag images. 

As many of you know, I love to participate with online challenges and will be linking this card to the Double D “Signs of Summer” Challenge (I was inspired by the red, white and blue stripes in the little girl's bathing suit as well as the celebratory theme of the parade in the inspiration photo).  

I am also participating in the  Simon Says Wednesday “Red, White and/or Blue” Challenge  and the Word Art Wednesday #497-#498 “Anything Goes” Challenge.  

If you have not had a chance to visit the Stamp Simply blog or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Ink the block image from the Red, White & Blue stamp set with Tim Holtz™ Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink and stamp at the top and the bottom of a 3 ¾” x 5” piece of white cardstock and onto another piece of white cardstock approx. 3 ¾” x 2 ½”.

Once the ink has dried, apply Tim Holtz™ Picket Fence Distress Stain over the entire panel to tone down the color a bit.  Allow to dry and distress the edges of the panels with a distressing tool.

Use a blending brush with Tim Holtz™ Pumice Stone Distress Ink to “age” the panels, mount each onto white cardstock, trim, and mount again onto red cardstock, trim and finally mount onto navy cardstock.

Ink the block image from the Red, White & Blue stamp set with Versafine Onyx Black Ink and stamp onto another piece of 4 ¼” x 5 ½” white cardstock (stamp near the bottom of the panel).

Ink the US map image from the Old Glory stamp set with Versafine Onyx Black Ink and stamp onto the top of the same panel as the flag image (this way you can die-cut both from the same piece of cardstock).

Die cut both images using the coordinating dies and watercolor the images with watercolor pencils (I use Derwent™ and a few Stampin’ Up! – see in the list below).

Create the banner flags from the Echo Park America 6x6 Paper Pad using the smallest banner die from the Fishtail Sentiment Banners and once die cut, split the banner in half (FYI- I used the little strips that you normally cut off the top of the 6x6 paper when you remove it from the pad.  There is a hole in the center, and you can get two of the smallest dies cut into banners, resulting in four when you split them in half).

Gently apply Tim Holtz™ Pumice Stone Distress Ink to “age” the banners with a blending brush. 

Use a glue gun to adhere the banners to a string of knotted patriotic twine and mount on an angle to the large background panel (FYI- I used a glue gun to add a drop of glue to each end of the twine as well as a small amount under the twine in the center to adhere to the panel).

Using Versafine Onyx Black Ink, stamp the “One Nation Under God” and “Always Remember Freedom Isn’t Free” onto white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing has cooled, carefully color the “Nation” in red (I used a sharp red watercolor pencil).  Die cut the “One Nation Under God” sentiment with a medium banner die from the Fishtail Sentiment Banners, distress the paper with the pumice stone distress ink, distress the edges with a distressing tool (or the edge of scissors) and trim off the left-hand side to mount along the main background panel (under the banner).

Cut the “Always Remember Freedom Isn’t Free” sentiment in half, distress the edges and set aside.

Create the easel base from a piece of 4 ¼” x 11” piece of heavy white.  Score at 5 ½” and on one side at 2 ¾”.  Fold along the 5 ½” score line for a tent fold, the fold the 2 ¾” upward to create the base for the main panel. 

Once you have the easel base folded, I tend to trim a bit off the edges (approx. ⅛”).  This way when you mount your front panel and smaller piece at the bottom, the white cardstock will not show.   Please refer to this tutorial at Splitcoaststampers for more details and info on how to create an easel card base.

Adhere the main front panel to the small fold at the top of the easel (I use strong adhesive to adhere this panel).

Add the layered smaller panel at the bottom of the easel with dimensional foam (or chipboard).

Adhere the die cut US map image to the card front with dimensional foam and/or chipboard as well as the flag image at the bottom of the easel.

Adhere the “Always Remember Freedom Isn’t Free” sentiment layers with dimensional foam and/or chipboard onto the lower panel and finish off the card with a few silver rhinestones in the upper right-hand and lower left-hand corners of the flag panel.

Stamp Sets:   Red, White & Blue Bundle, Old Glory Bundle (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine Onyx Black Ink, Watercolor Pencils- Derwent® #19- Madder Carmine, #28= Delft Blue; Stampin’ Up! – Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Basic Black, Night of Navy; Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink- Chipped Sapphire, Pumice Stone, Picket Fence Distress Stain

Cardstock/Paper: White, Red, Navy; Echo Park America 6x6 Paper Pad

Accessories/Tools: Gemini, Jr., Stamp Simply Steel Dies- The Red, White & Blue Flag, Patriotic Stars & Stripes (Old Glory), Fishtail Sentiment Banners, May Arts Patriotic Twine, Distressing Tool, Blending Brush, Scoring Tool, Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Silver Rhinestones

Also, don't forget that Stamp Simply still has the following special for June (also, a free shipping offer) :

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and visit! I hope you are having a great summer so far and, for my US friends, as we approach Independence Day, I hope you are thankful for those in our armed forces (and their families) serving currently and in the past.  We know that “Freedom Isn’t Free”. May we always remain “One Nation Under God”.  

Hugs and God Bless, sweet friends!

Happy 70th Birthday with Tool Shed

 

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing a card that I designed for a dear friend of ours who turned 70 last year in April.  I had mailed him a different card originally, but he never received it (maybe one day it will show up).  I am sure that the Post Office was overwhelmed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was the original card mailed:  

The original card (above) was quite a bit darker and was designed with the retired background stamp, Tool Shed (from Stampin’ Up!) along with a sentiment from a current set, A Godly Man from Stamp Simply.  

Below was the replacement card that I created (just delivered by hand to him recently) and it uses the same background stamp and the same verse, but this stamp is from the retired Verve Stamp set, Scripture Medley 3.

As I mentioned in my previous posts, I am working on creating a card for each of the Splitcoaststampers’ (SCS) Sketch Challenges and the original card uses the SC# Sketch for the design (I will link this later once I find my original note, lol!).  

FYI- The original card was created in the same way as the newer version, with just a bit more distressing and gold metallic added to the chipboard numbers.

I am participating with the As You See It #252 “Apply the Y” Challenge (masculine card) and the WordArt Wednesday #497-#498 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not taken the time to visit the challenge blogs, I hope you will do so- gorgeous inspiration from all.

To create both cards:

Ink the background Tool Shed stamp with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto white cardstock (for the replacement card) and on kraft paper for the first card, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

For the replacement card, use various distress inks- Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain to “antique” the paper.  For the original card, darker distressing was created by applying more ink, etc.  Use a small splatter stamp from Timeless Textures (retired SU!) to add additional distressing with black soot distress ink onto the background panel.

Distress the edges and adhere to a piece of black cardstock.

For the newer version, add a strip of 1” black satin ribbon at the top of the card. 

Create holes for the grommet type eyelets with a Crop-A-Dile™ and set the eyelets.

Add a scrap strip of black cardstock behind the panel where the openings of the grommets are located before mounting the panel onto a white card base.

Stamp the sentiment in the same manner as above, distress and mount onto black cardstock.  Adhere to the card front with dimensional foam (or chipboard).

Paint the chipboard numbers with black acrylic paint and adhere to the card front.

Stamp Sets: Tool Shed background, Timeless Textures (retired Stampin’ Up!), Scripture Medley 3 (retired Verve Stamps), A Godly Man (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz™ Distress Inks- Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain; Black Acrylic Paint, Gold Metallic Acrylic Paint

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Kraft

Accessories: Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Distressing Tool, 1” Black Satin Ribbon, Pewter Grommets/Eyelets, Crop-A-Dile™, Chipboard Numbers (from my stash)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you are having a great week so far!