Gardenia Sympathy

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  Karen is hosting this week and she chose the lovely combination of Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Sugarplum and Garden Green, with a dessert option to use scallops.


I decided to use the lovely Build-A-Flower Gardenia layering stamp set with some Altenew inks that are similar to Sweet Sugarplum.  I hadn't used the stamp set before so I had a bit of a learning curve in lining up the layers, but once I figured it out, it worked beautifully.

I used the three lightest inks in the Rose Petal ink collection colors for the flower and the two darkest of the Tropical Forest collection for the leaves.  After die cutting with the companion dies, the flower and leaves were mounted with foam tape on a Rich Razzleberry card stock scallop circle.  Before adding to the white card base, two 1/8" strips of Rich Razzleberry card stock as a way to anchor the flower piece, then the sentiment was added below.  Because this is a sympathy card, I kept the embellishments minimal, adding only a few pearls.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to SCS main page above, so be sure to head over there, choose Color Challenge on the main page and enjoy all the beautiful inspiration!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Build-A-Flower: Gardenia, Painted Greetings (both Altenew)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Rich Razzleberry
Ink:  Rose Petal collection, Tropical Forest Collection (both Altenew), Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Gardenia Companion dies, Layered Circles Framelits (SU), Basic Pearls

Brighter Days

Hi there!  I hope you've had a great weekend.  I had a chance to break out the new Simon Says Stamp Monthly Card Kit with all the wonderful Spring images and of course had to put together a card!  There were two stamp sets in the kit, both with darling polka dot rubber boot images, but I chose the smaller one for this card.  While the kit is now sold out, most of the products in the kit are available individually.

The polka dots on the boots drew me in but I also like the whimsical flowers.  I used Distress Inks to watercolor the image, adding a bit of shadow at the bottom and light blue all around the rest.  When it dried I used a gelly roll pen to add white the dots and some highlights, and added Tonic Glitter Gloss pen to the flowers and "berries".

The white card base was layered with a piece of the patterned paper pack included in the pack that was cut with a stitched rectangle die.  The green tag was also made from a piece of the same paper pack and stamped with Versamark ink with a branch image from the kit stamp set.  It was then layered on a piece of card stock to give it more stability so it could be topped with the water colored circle and sentiment.  After wrapping  a bit of white twine around the top, it was added to the base with foam tape.  For the final touch, a few clear droplets were added around the card.

I used the wonderful sketch from the current challenge at Fab Friday for the basis of my card design.  I've added a link below, so be sure to use it to check out all the amazing inspiration!

FabFri 131

Thanks so much for visiting it's always so appreciated!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Choose Joy (boot and branch), Showers and Flowers (sentiment) (both SSS)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Canson XL, Spring Market 6x6 paper pad (Carta Bella)
Ink:  Versamark Onyx Black, Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Candies Apple, Tumble Glass, Black Soot
Other:  Stitched Shapes and Bitty Banner Framelits (SU), A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax Set 1 die (MFT), White Baker's Twine, Pretty Pink Posh Clear Droplets, Tonic Glitter Gloss, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Take Flight

Hi there and welcome back!  Tonight my card uses the new Come Fly With Me stamp set from Hero Arts.  I love the inspiring images and encouraging sentiments, and was happy to put ink to these stamps.

I started by stamping the main image on Bristol paper with Walnut Stain Distress Oxide Ink then heat setting with clear embossing powder.  Love the birds taking flight from the wind blown seed pods.


Next I used ink blending tools to add Sweet Sugarplum and Fresh Fig inks, focusing the darkest color at the bottom left.  After spritzing the image with clear water, dabbing with a paper towel then letting it dry, the image was cut with a circle die.

In putting the card together, I started by adding some gold watercolor splatter on a Bristol die cut panel and while I was at it, I decided to rim both the sentiment banner and focal point circle with the gold watercolor paint.  After the paint dried, the strip of woodgrain paper was added to the Bristol panel and the whole thing mounted with foam tape onto a Sweet Sugarplum card base.  After adhering the focal point and sentiment with foam tape, a few Sparkling Clear sequins were scattered about as a final touch.

I've used the current challenges at Freshly Made Sketches and The Color Throwdown for my design and color inspiration.  Links have been added below so be sure to head over to both challenges and enjoy all the incredible inspiration!

FMS 325

CTD 481

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Come Fly with Me (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Strathmore Bristol, Sweet Sugarplum cs (Stampin' Up), Bubinga Woodgrain cs (HA)
Ink:  Sweet Sugarplum and Fresh Fig (SU), Walnut Stain (DOX)
Other:  Hero Arts Clear Embossing Powder, Hero Arts Nested Circle Infinity dies, MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax Set 1, Gansai Tambi Starry Colors Metallic watercolors, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins

CAS Streaming Heart

Hello and happy Saturday!  I have a quick post to share with a very CAS card.  I started by water coloring blues and greens using Sakura Koi watercolors on watercolor paper, just laying down water, adding color and letting it mix.  Before those colors dried I added some gorgeous gold from my Fine-tec Pearlescent watercolors for a stepped up look.

Once the paints were completely dry, the panel was die cut with the Streaming Heart die, and a sentiment die cut from gold foil paper.  My card base is actually smaller at 3.5 x 5.5 inches and my original plan was to have the heart streaming off the edge, but when I mounted the pieces with from tape I didn't care for how it looked so I trimmed off the ends.  Before mounting the heart, the card base was lightly splattered with the same gold paint as used in the heart and once dry the heart, sentiment and strip of gold foil were added.

While the card is very CAS, I think the colors and the gold really add a nice punch.


I'm entering this card into the CAS Watercolouring Card Challenge February 2018.  This is a monthly challenge but of course I waited to the last day  of the challenge to join in (hopefully do better next month!).  Nevertheless, you should still use the link below and check out all the amazing inspiration from the DT!

CAS Watercolour Card Challenge

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!


Stef




Product details
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Gold Foil, Canson XL
Other:  Sakura Koi and Fine-Tec Pearlescent Watercolors, Streaming Heart (SSS), Blooming Bouquet sentiment die (Altenew)

Sew Glad

Hello and welcome back!  I'm sharing a second card tonight, using the same stamp set as here but this time for the Card Maker's Choice challenge at Stamp Ink Paper and a second card for the CAS Stitching Elements challenge at The Paper Players.  A big however, as this card is not so CAS, because I forgot that part of the PP challenge as I was making it.  Oops!  Hope the challenge police will let me still hang out!  While this may not be my favorite stamp set of all time, I just love how this card turned out, so I definitely wanted to enter it into both challenges (links below).

 
The wonderful old sewing machine was stamped on Ivory card stock and die cut with a heart die and set aside.  For the base I wanted to use some of the lovely patterned papers from Heart of Home so I found two larger pieces and one small strip, all left over from prior projects and adhered them to a panel of Neenah Desert Storm. 


Next I took a 3/4" strip of Desert Storm and trimmed it with an Eyelet punch.  Along with a die cut heart of the same paper, both were sponged with Tattered Rose Distress Oxide Ink and Unicorn White Hero Arts pigment ink.  Once the punched strip was attached to the panel, the entire thing was run through my Big Shot with the Wonky Rectangle die as though I was embossing it so it did not cut the paper, in order to create faux stitching around the edges.  Next, some lace trim was added above the punched strip, then the hearts were mounted with foam tape.  A button with gold cord and gold Nuvo drops were then added as the final touches.

Thanks for looking, it's so appreciated.  I've added links to both challenges below, so be sure to use them to enjoy all the beautiful inspiration!

SIP 138 

PP 381

Product details
Stamps:  Puns From the Past (SU)
Paper:  Ivory (SSS), Neenah Desert Storm, Heart of Home patterned paper (Pebbles)
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Unicorn White Pigment ink (HA), Tattered Rose Distress Oxide ink
Other:  Chantilly Lace Trim (ret. SU), Eyelet Border punch (ret. SU), Wonky Stitched Rectangle die (SSS), retired SU button and Gold Cord, Hero Arts Nested Circle Infinity Die, Ellen Hutson Folk Hearts die, Bright Gold Nuvo Crystal Drops

Pun Hearts

Hello!  I hope you've had a good week so far.  Tonight I'm sharing a card using a stamp set that has been long neglected in my craft room.  It's one I love and don't think I'll ever get rid of but don't always think to use it...until I saw LeAnne's challenge over at The Paper Players to make a CAS card with a sewing element.  Well, I am not a seamstress or one that cross-stitches (although I do have a sewing machine...that mainly just gathers dust), but I do have a stamp about sewing.  It's the ONLY one I have so I just had to use it for this fun challenge.  I also used the wonderful current sketch challenge at Sunday Stamps for my card design (links to both below).

I love the old fashioned sewing machine and of course the sentiment is such a sweet pun.  I stamped it on Ivory card stock then die cut it with a heart die  To start completing the card I created an Ivory card base and die cut a wonky stitched panel from the same.  The patterned papers are from a 6 x 6 pad that I am so in love with, Heart of Home from Pebbles.  They were layered on the die cut panel, then wrapped with jute twine.  To anchor the heart with the stamped image, I die cut a different style heart with pink card stock, adhered the stamped heart and popped them up on the panel with foam tape.  The final touch was to add clear sequins and wood hearts.

I've added links to both challenges below, so be sure to head over and check out all the beautiful inspiration.

PP 381 

SSC 172

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Puns From the Past
Paper:  Ivory (SSS), Powder Pink (SU), Heart of Home (Pebbles)
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Hearts & Stars Elements, Jute Twine, Ellen Hutson Folk Heart die, Hero Arts Nested Heart Infinity Dies, SSS Wonky Stitched Rectangle die, Sparkling Clear Sequins (PPP)

Birthday and Bird

Hi there!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers and Mary is hosting this week.  She has chosen an interesting combination of Dapper Denim, Lemon Lime Twist and Fresh Fig, with a dessert option of to make the card masculine.  Admittedly I struggled with this color combo at first but ended up making two cards!

This first card is what I consider a rather "buttoned down" look, which works for a masculine birthday card, and fortunately I have a friend with an upcoming birthday who will enjoy the look of this card.  I found patterned papers that matched the blue and green challenge colors so I layered those on a Dapper Denim panel and adhered the entire piece to the white card base.  Next I found a tag that was previously created out of white card stock but not used, and decided it would for the sentiment, which was stamped in Fresh Fig.  After adding the ribbon and Baker's Twine, it was mounted on card front.  The card still seemed a bit plain, so I remedied that by adding the wood star embellishments.

My second card is much more whimsical in nature.  I started by heat setting the Sheet Music background stamp with white embossing powder on Bristol card stock.  Then I ink blended Lemon Lime Twist and Dapper Denim on the panel, wiped the ink off the embossed image, trimmed it down and added it to the white card base.  Going with the music theme, I used the some of the Spoken Bird stamps and dies from the new My Monthly Hero kit for February 2018.  The bird and branch were stamped in Fresh Fig and die cut.  I then die cut a heart from white card stock and added a sentiment and music notes on the heart

Once the heart was adhered to the base, and the bird and branch added with as well, I again reached for wood elements to add a little bit of added interest.  Once the hearts were glued down, I added Glossy Accents over the top to give them some shine.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's so appreciated!  I've linked the Color Challenge above, I hope you'll be able to join us this week!


Stef




Product details
Card #1
Stamp:  Big on Birthdays (SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Dapper Denim, Little One (Kaisercraft) and Perfectly Plaid (Lawn Fawn) Patterned Papers
Ink:  Fresh Fig
Other:  Hearts and Stars Elements (SU), Scallop Tag Topper punch, Dapper Denim Ruched Ribbon and Baker's Twine, Pinking Shears


Card #2
Stamps:  Spoken Bird (My Monthly Hero kit Feb 2018), Sheet Music background (SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Versamark, Dapper Denim, Lemon Lime Twist, Fresh Fig
Other:  Hearts and Stars Elements, Hero Arts White Embossing Powder, Glossy Accents, Hero Arts Nested Hearts Infinity dies, MMH companion dies

Thanks a Bunch

Hello again!  I was so happy to pull out the stamp set that I used for the card I'm sharing tonight.  It's from last July's My Monthly Hero kit and I really haven't used it much, given an early start to making Fall/Christmas cards.  But now that we're heading towards Spring, I'm pulling out my flower stamp sets to think about the longer, warmer days to come, even if we're still expecting a bit of ice, snow and lots colder weather for the next week or so!

I started by stamping the images on watercolor paper, masking the water can before adding the bunch of Lavendar.  The images were water colored with Zig markers, the sentiment stamped then the whole thing die cut with a circle die.  After the Fog embossed card stock layer was added to the white card base, I cut a piece of Pale Plum card stock and adhered a small bit of lace trim, added it to the base with a bit of foam tape, then layered on the focal point, also with foam tape.  Lastly, sparkling clear sequins were added and Clear Wink of Stella painted on the flowers to add a bit of shimmer and sparkle.

I've used the current challenges at Freshly Made Sketches and The Color Throwdown as inspiration for my card.  I've added links to both challenges below, so absolutely be sure to use them to go check out all the fabulous inspiration!

CTD 480

FMS 324

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Summer Flowers and Creative Vases - July 2017 My Monthly Hero kit, Little Flowers (HA)
Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Pale Plum (both SU), Fog (SSS), Canson XL
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Layered Leaves embossing folder (SU), Hero Arts Nested Circle Infinity dies, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Sahara Sand Lace Trim (SU), Clear Wink of Stella, Sparkling Clear Sequins (PPP)

Bunny Bouquet

Hi there and welcome back!  Tonight I'm sharing a card I made for Tea Pot Tuesday at Splitcoaststampers.  Every week there is a "tea party" with an inspirational tea pot picture in coordination with a theme.  This week the theme is in honor of the Chinese New Year and the challenge is to use one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac on your card.  This year is the year of the dog, but I recently won a stamp with the cutest bunny on it so I decided the year of the rabbit would be represented with my card.


In addition to playing along with the theme, cards are created to be sent to a recipient that needs an uplifting or encouraging message.  This week we are sending cards to Alex in Canada that is recovering from a bone marrow transplant and is temporarily separated from her family while she recovers.  I hope she likes the card I sent!

This is the sweetest image from Crafter's Companion, and while it was a bit intimidating to watercolor, the packaging provides an excellent coloring guide so that's what I pretty much followed. I used several Distress inks and a #4 Silver Black Velvet paint brush to complete the water coloring, and when dry, used a black Sharpie to brighten the bunny's eyes and trace around the bunny, the blue wrap around the flowers, plus the larger flowers in the bouquet.  I also used a white gel pen to add highlights and dots to the flowers.  In retrospect, I wish I would not have added the dots, but what is done is done.  When the panel was completely dry, it was die cut with a stitched rectangle die and mounted with foam tape on an Island Blue card base.

I'm also entering this card into the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge to use a die cut.  I may have stretched the challenge parameters a bit but I did use a stitched rectangle die to cut out the water colored panel-hopefully that works!  I've added links to both challenges, so be sure to visit each challenge and enjoy all the wonderful inspiration!

SSS Wednesday Challenge
 

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Bunches of Love (Crafter's Companion)
Paper:  Island Blue (SSS), Canson XL
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black; Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, Squeezed Lemonade, Hickory Smoke, Pumice Stone, Pineneedles, Evergreen Bough, Shabby Shutters, Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Black Soot
Other:  Sakura White Gelly Roll pen, SSS Stitched Rectangle die, Black Fine Tip Sharpie, Clear Wink of Stella

Special Day

It IS a special day, because today I am honored to be this week's Guest Designer at CAS(E) this Sketch!  I am beyond thrilled, to put it mildly!  Here is the sketch for this week and a link to the challenge, which I hope you'll use to check out all the beautiful DT creations.

http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/

It was a hard decision as to what to use for this design (always a lot of second guessing myself lol!) but I finally decided on one of the beautiful designs from Persian Motifs to represent the vertical panel.  It was stamped on a piece of watercolor paper, then water colored with several Distress Inks.  This was actually my practice panel, and I thought I would want to use more of a yellow to green combo rather than yellow to blue but when the second panel was done I realized I love the brightness of the blue more, so I went back and finished water coloring the first one.

After the water coloring dried, some Squeeze Lemonade ink was blended in the center of the panel to represent the circle, then the sentiment, also from Persian Motifs, was stamped over it.

The panel was cut with a stitched rectangle die and mounted with foam tape on the Island Blue card base.  The final touch was to add Ebony Black Nuvo Crystal Drops.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I hope you'll use the link above and check out the current CTS challenge!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Persian Motifs (Altenew)
Paper:  Island Blue (SSS), Canson XL
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Squeezed Lemonade, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon, Evergreen Bough, Pineneedles
Other:  Hero Arts Ultra Fine Clear embossing powder, Clear Wink of Stella, Ebony Black Nuvo Crystal Drops, A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax Set 1 (MFT)

Big Hugs

Hello friends!  I hope you're having a good week and since I'm posting this on Valentine's Day, I hope it is lovely for you!  However, my card is not a Valentine but rather a colorful encouragement card.


I had some fun making the background with the new Folk Dance stencil from Simon Says Stamp.  I love the pattern and it seems to have a bit more girth than other stencils.  Distress Oxide inks were used for the colors, applied with sponge daubers rather than an ink blending tool to have a bit more accuracy in the color application.  Not to say that colors didn't overlap a little bit here or there, I couldn't seem to avoid a bit of it, but I am happy with how well the sponge daubers worked.  After the ink dried the panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle die and adhered to the white card base.

The tag was layered with different components, starting with the white sentiment panel banded on the top and bottom with leftover pieces of the background.  A scallop die cut frame was then added over the top and finally I took a 2 inch strip of the same green card stock and punched the top with a tag topper punch and layered it under the other components.  The ribbon and twine were then tied on the topper, then after the tag was adhered to the base, sequins and Nuvo drops were scattered about.

I'm joining two challenges with this card.  At Just Us Girls, it's tags for Trend Week, and at Stamp Ink Paper, it's a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge, where I used the left side vertical column (Sequins, Ribbon, Punch) on my card.  I've added links to both challenges below, so be sure to head over there and check out all the wonderful inspiration!

Just Us Girls 427

SIP 137

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!


Stef




Product detail
Stamps:  Big Scripty Greetings (SSS)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Green Apple (SSS)
Ink:  Distress Oxide - Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Twisted Citron; Versamark Onyx Black
Other:  Scalloped Tag Topper punch (SU), Scallop Stitched Rectangle Frame die (MFT), A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax -Set 1 (MFT), Hero Arts Ultra Fine Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge Daubers, Folk Dance stencil (SSS), White Baker's Twine, Green satin ribbon (EH), Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins, Apple Green Nuvo Crystal Drops

Hello Spring!

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  This week Robin is hosting and she has chosen the lovely combination of Peekaboo Peach, Berry Burst and Tempting Turquoise, with a dessert option of Baker's Twine.  While Stampin' Up colors are listed, any brand of ink close to the challenge colors can be used.  I hope you'll be able to join us this week!

SCS CC674

In addition to the SCS Color Challenge, I am entering my card in the current challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch.

CTS 258

For my card I started by stamping the new-to-me stamp Tulip Queue from Penny Black on Ranger watercolor paper.  The "queue" of flowers is actually quite a bit wider than is visible on my card, as I taped off two or three on each side while inking up the stamp in order to keep the image centered on the panel. 

Using various Distress Inks close to the challenge colors I did a simple watercoloring of the image, and when dry used very watered down Hickory Smoke ink to go around the edges of the image as well as between the flowers and stems.  It's pretty faint in the photos but IRL it helps make the image pop a bit.

Once the panel dried, the corners were rounded, it was wrapped with some Hemp Twine and then popped up with foam tape on a Neenah Desert Storm card base.  I think I may have taken a little bit of a liberty with the sketch by extending the twine all the way to the edges of the panel rather than centering a sentiment banner under the main image, but it just seemed like such an organic choice to use the twine that I just decided to go with it!  The circle tag with the sentiment was attached with a bitty bow of Peekaboo Peach Baker's Twine.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links above to both challenges, so please be sure to head over to each challenge!


Have a great week!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Tulip Queue (Penny Black, Circle of Spring (SU)
Paper:  Neenah Dessert Storm and Solar White, Peekaboo Peach, Ranger Watercolor
Ink:  Versamark Onyx Black, Dried Marigold, Spiced marmalade, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Peacock Feathers, Hickory Smoke
Other:  Hemp Twine, Peekaboo Peach Baker's Twine, Hero Arts Nested Infinity Circle die, SU Layered Circles framelit, Corner punch, Clear Wink of Stella

Teal Thinking of You

Hello again!  I hope you've had a great weekend!  My husband and I have been enjoying the Olympics, but of course I still found time to make a card.  I've used the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for the card design, and I've kept it very CAS for the current Addicted to CAS challenge.

FMS 323

ATCAS #129

This card was super simple and came together very quickly.

To add some interest without additional layers, I used a scallop frame die to emboss around the edges of the card base.  For the focal point I used a piece of teal polka dot patterned paper, layered it on a piece of teal card stock and placed a small strip of white card stock down the middle vertically.  After the sentiment was stamped, I cut it with a banner die, using it for the horizontal piece in the sketch, then I also added the sweet little butterfly, just because I am so ready for spring!!  After adhering the panel to the base, I used a few clear sequins to balance out the overall design.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always appreciated.  Please be sure to use the links above to both the challenges, there's a lot of great inspiration to enjoy!


Stef




Product details
Stamps:  Sheltering Tree, Hero Arts July 2017 card kit (butterfly)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Taken with Teal (ret. SU), Sweet Pea patterned paper (ret. SU)
Ink:  Versmark Onyx Black
Other:  HA kit matching die, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear  sequins, Clear Wink of Stella, Tombow Brights Collection marker (butterfly), Stitched Rectangle Scallop Edge Frame Die-namic (MFT)