Shamrock Thanks

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Mary is hosting this week and has chosen Call Me Clover, Basic Black and Gold with a dessert option of Anything Goes.  My dessert option was to make a shamrock from four heart dies.

I have to give full credit to the awesome Laura Bassen who came up with this design.  I've linked her post at the Simon Says Stamp blog where she has a great video demonstrating how she created it.  I changed things up by making this a shamrock with overlapping gold die cut hearts (her ink was in rainbow order and the hearts were die cut from vellum).  After the shamrock was complete I trimmed the white card stock panel to a 4.5" square, adhered it to a slightly larger gold panel, which was then mounted on the black 5" square card base with foam tape.  I created the die cut sentiment and black shadow but it didn't stand out from the shamrock sufficiently, so I found a vellum heart in my stash and that did the trick!

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always appreciated!  I've added a link to SCS above, so I hope you'll use it to check out this week's Color Challenge.

Stef


Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black, Tonic Gold Mirror, Vellum
Ink:  Lucky Clover Distress Oxide Ink
Other:  Script Thanks and Deco Heart dies (SSS), Nesting Hearts Infinity Die
 

Chubby Bunnies

Hi there!  I have a fun Easter card to share made with some of the cutest bunnies I've seen in a while.  I've made this for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.

FMS 376

For a long time I've been looking for a new Easter/Spring stamp set with images that I delighted in, and finally I found a set Sunny Studio came out with this year with the several cute bunnies, a couple of chicks and other Easter type images.  With this set I created a fun scene using a few of the stamps, creating hills in the background with Copic markers and lightly ink blending clouds in the sky with a stencil.

Aren't those bunnies so cute?  I masked the chick and the bunny on the left before stamping the rest of the images.  Next I used a cloud stencil and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink with a Clarity stencil brush to create the clouds in the background, working around the bunnies ears towards the bottom 3rd of the panel.  The bunnies, chick and basket were Copic colored, then I created the grassy foreground that fades off to some round green hills in the background, also with Copics.  Lastly, I put the panel back in my Misti to stamp the sentiment banner and colored it with markers used for the main image.  After the panel was die cut and adhered to a white card base, I added Tonic Nuvo Crystal Glaze to the banner letters.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated.  I've added a link above to the FMS challenge, so be sure to check it out!

Stef


Stamps:  Chubby Bunny (Sunny Studio)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Tumbled Glass Distress Ink
Other:  Cloud Stencil (MFT), Tonic Nuvo Crystal Glaze, A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax die (MFT)
Copics:
Bunnies - W3,1,0,R20,30
Chick - Y17, 15, 11, R20
Basket - YR23, 27, E27
Eggs - RV02, 04 BG11, 13 Y11, 15
Grass - YG01, 03, 11, 17, 63, 67 G09, 28
 

Climbing Clematis

Hi there and welcome back!  I have another card for the current challenge at The Flower Challenge, where the theme is to use your latest stamps or dies. 

The Flower Challenge #29

I recently purchased my first digi stamp from Power Poppy.  It's not a new stamp but it's new to me, and I was thrilled to find it as we have a Clematis in our backyard that looks identical.

I sized the image to fit on an A2 size card (although I ended up die cutting it smaller), then colored the it with Copic markers.  My husband had a picture on his phone of the blooms from last summer, so I was able to match up the color pretty closely.  This was a dream to color, the details are so amazing!  After using a stitched scallop die to cut out the panel, it was adhered to a white card base and a heat embossed sentiment added. 

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  Be sure to use the link above to check out TFC!

Stef


Stamps:  Climbing Clematis (digi, Power Poppy), Wild Meadow (sentiment/Mama Elephant)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Ink:  Nocturne Versafine Clear (sentiment), Gina K Amalgam
Other:  SugarPea Designs Card Front Builder Stitched Scallop Rectangle die
Copics:  RV69, 17, 55, 52, Y03, 17, 67, Y17, YR04, 15, 27
 

You Are Amazing

Hello friends!  Tonight I have a card to share made for the current challenge at The Paper Players, where we are to make a CAS monochromatic card. 

PP429

Over the years, my style has trended more towards CAS, but there are many definitions of what "that" it.  I do love creating a main image and not adding multiple layers or tons of embellishments, so I guess that would be my personal style of CAS.

For this challenge I began with an Altenew bouquet stamp and colored it with many different shades of brown Copics.  I die cut the panel and mounted it with foam tape onto a Desert Storm card base and added a sentiment. 

I totally love seeing this beautiful bouquet in various shades of brown.  I can't really describe why, but it was such a joy to color!  I guess it is the richness of the different browns coming together, they look so beautiful in their lush color variations, while still from the same family.  Wow, just like the human race I guess!  ;-)

The sentiment is a favorite of mine from a lovely stamp set from Simon Says Stamp; the sentiments in this set are so encouraging and life affirming.

Thanks so much for visiting, I am truly grateful!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the PP challenge!

Stef


Stamps:  Blooming Bouquet (Altenew), Sketch Lotus Flowers (SSS)
Paper:  Neenah Desert Storm and Solar White
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Versamark
Other:  SugarPea Designs Card Front Elements Stitched Scallop Rectangle Die, Bitty Banners Framelit (sentiment/Stampin Up), Copic markers (as in almost every brown I own LOL!)
 

Birthday Blooms

Hi there and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Pam is hosting this week and she has chosen the combination of Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz and White, with a dessert option to add rhinestones.  For my card I've combined the Color Challenge along with the current SCS Sketch Challenge.

I decided to use one of my favorite Stamping Up stamps, Birthday Blooms, coloring the stamped image with Copic markers in colors similar to the Challenge Colors.  White gel pen was added to the flower stamen, then it was fussy cut and added to a white die cut circle.  For the background, two yellow Distress Inks were blended in an ombre fashion, splattered with water, pearl acrylic paint and white gouache, then when it was dry, die cut with a stitched rectangle die.  I used a border die from the Flourish Thinlits to represent the diagonal piece in the sketch.  It wasn't long enough to reach from corner to corner, so I strategically cut it where it knew it would be covered by the circle then adhered it to the background.  The circle was added along with a sentiment, then the rhinestones were added to finish things off.

I'm so glad you visited!  I've added a link to SCS above where the challenges can be accessed, so I hope you'll check them both out!

Stef


Stamps:  Birthday Blooms (SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Squeezed Lemonade and Fossilized Amber Distress Ink
Other:  Ranger Pearl Metallic Acrylic paint, Winsor & Newton white gouache, Flourish Thinlit and Stitched Shapes Framelits (SU), A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax die (MFT), Basic Rhinestones (SU), Sakura White Gelly pen
Copics:  V01, Y08,06,02,11, YG03,17,67,91
 

Wild Flower Birthday

Hi there and welcome back!  The current monthly Flower Challenge has drawn me in, with it's theme to use out latest stamps or dies. 

The Flower Challenge #29
 

Well, I recently spied the lovely Wild Flower stamp set from Mama Elephant, and somehow it made it's way into my shopping cart and now in my craft room!  One of my lovely sister-in-laws is celebrating a birthday next week so I used it to make her a card.

The floral image was stamped on Neenah Solar White and colored with Copic Markers.  Lots of little images so it was a bit time consuming but what a delight to color!  I die cut it with the matching die then set it aside to create an ink blended background.  I started with Bristol paper to make blending easy, then chose three Distress inks that would complement the floral image.  After splattering with water drops and completely drying, the panel was die cut and adhered to a white card base.  The floral image was popped up on the card with foam tape, then a die cut sentiment was added above, along with a few sequins.  You can't really see it in the photos, but the final touch was to use an Aqua Shimmer pen to add sparkle to the sentiment and the flowers.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!!  I've added a link to the challenge above, so be sure to head over there and check it out!

Stef


Stamps:  Wild Meadow (Mama Elephant)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Seedless Preserves, Worn Lipstick, Tattered Rose Distress Inks
Other:  Happy Birthday Script and Stitched Rectangle die (Simon Says Stamp), Wild Meadow Matching die, Lucy's Iridescent Jewels, Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Tonic Nuvo Simply White Crystal Drops (used to dot the "i") and Aqua Shimmer Pen, Copic Markers, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen (dots on flower)
 

Woodgrain Deer

Hello and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Barbara is hosting this week and has chosen the Balmy Blue, Peekaboo Peach, and Early Espresso with a dessert option to add butterflies.  No dessert for me this week, frankly because I forgot until I was editing my card for upload tonight!

I'm also joining the current challenge at Just Us Girls, where we are to add "wood" to our card. 

Just Us Girls #474

I kept envisioning the peach and blue as a background and then when I saw the JUGs challenge I knew how I wanted to proceed.

Starting with a panel of Bristol paper, I ink blended a few Distress Inks similar to the SU peach and blue challenge colors.  The deer oval die was used to cut the image from dark woodgrain paper, then I traced around it on the ink blended panel, cut it out just slightly smaller than the die cut image, then adhered the two together.  I used a treeline stencil and Versamark ink to create the subtle background on a Desert Storm panel, then adhered a strip of burlap ribbon before adhering to the card base and adding the oval with foam tape.  I was going to add a sentiment but I didn't like how it looked, plus this gives me options to use it for a birthday or another occasion.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links to both challenges above, so be sure to check them out!

Stef


Product details
Paper:  Desert Storm, Strathmore Bristol, Brown Woodgrain (Simon Says Stamp), Peekaboo Peach (SU)
Ink:  Versamark; Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Distress Ink)
Other:  Deer Grove Oval (Memory Box), Forest Scenes stencil (Hero Arts), Burlap Ribbon (ret. SU), Stitched Rectangle die (SSS)
 

Colorful Bouquet

Welcome back, friends!  Today's card is another to be included in a series of note cards I will be giving to a dear friend for her birthday next month.  I've used the wonderful challenge at Color Throwdown for my inspiration plus I am also adding it to Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge.

CTD 529

30 Day Coloring Challenge

With the three colors from the CTD challenge in mind, I chose to use one of my more well loved stamp sets from Altenew with multiple flower images.  It was stamped on white card stock then colored with Copic markers.  I used neutrals in warm grays and light to medium brown colors for the foliage, which I totally loved and made me think I might have to color this beautiful bouquet with brown monochromatic colors next time around!

After coloring, the panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle die, wrapped with some linen thread and adhered to the light gray panel.  I kept it flat and simple so my friend could easily mail it and use it for any occasion.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always appreciated!  I've added links above to both challenges, so I hope you'll check them out.

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Blooming Bouquet (Altenew)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Fog (SSS)
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam
Other:  Stitched Rectangle dies (SSS), Linen Thread (SU)

Copic Markers
Yellow Flower:  V01, Y08, 06, 11
Red Flowers:  R39, 37, 35
Orange Flowers:  YR7, 15, 12
Leave:  W5, 3, 1; E77, 74, 71, 33, 31, 30, N4
 

Garden Silhouette

Hello again and welcome back!  Today I enjoyed working with a small stamp from Impression Obsession that I believe is a newer release (bought last week at my LSS), but nevertheless is new to me.  My card was inspired by the current challenge at Color Throwdown to use the colors red, orange and yellow. I'm also joining the current Seize the Birthday challenge with their Anything Goes theme, and of course Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge.

CTD 529

STB 158

30 Day Coloring Challenge

Because the stamp is a silhouette, I decided to stamp it with Versafine Onyx Black on Bristol paper, heat set it with clear embossing powder, then use Distress Inks to blend the sky behind it.  Using Bristol paper for the embossed panel made the ink blending a breeze.  I started at the bottom with Squeezed Lemonade, then added Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door and Fired Brick as I moved up the panel.  After the ink blending was complete, I used a shimmer spray to cover the entire panel, then sprayed a light mist of water from my Distress sprayer to create a bit more texture in the inked background, as Distress Inks are water reactive.

Once the panel was dry, I trimmed it down then added it to the scallop die cut layer, which was the popped up on Fun Foam and adhered to the card base.  I found an unused sentiment strip in my stash, trimmed it down a bit then added it to the panel with foam tape, and that completes my card!

Sorry about some of the harsher shadows in the photos, but I decided to shoot this photo in the bright natural afternoon sunlight in order to capture the amazing sparkle from the shimmer spray.  IRL this background sparkle just jumps off the page!!

Thanks for visiting today, it's always so appreciated!  Above I've added a link to all the challenges, so be sure to check them out!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Garden Silhouette (Impression Obsession), Brush Stroke Messages (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Versamark, VOB, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Fired Brick
Other:  SSS Ultra Fine Clear embossing powder, Tsukinedo Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz, SugarPea Designs Card Front Builder Elements die (scallop panel)
 

Love You!

Hello friends!  I'm sharing a card made for the current challenges at The Paper Players and Just Us Girls.  Both have a theme of "Love" which was perfect for the CAS card I wanted to make for my husband.

PP 427

Just Us Girls 473

I started by embossing the largest Folk Heart die from Ellen Hutson on a panel of light gray card stock, cut a mask covering the embossed heart, then used white pigment ink around the edges.  While that ink dried, I die cut the letters for the word love three times with lower case alphabet dies, ink blending the top layer with Mermaid Lagoon ink in kind of an ombre fashion.  I glued and stacked them, then they were added to the embossed panel in a layered fashion.   

The word "you" was stamped on white card stock in red ink, then with Versamark, and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I used my scissors to trim it down then added it to the die cut letters.  Metallic enamel hearts were added around the die cut sentiment, one of which I colored with red Copic markers.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links above to both challenges, so be sure to check them out.

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Label Love (Altenew)
Paper:  Island Blue, Fog (Simon Says Stamp), Neenah Solar White
Ink:  Unicorn White (Hero Arts), Real Red (Stampin' Up), Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide, Versamark
Other:  Bold Alphabet dies (Altenew), Folk Heart die (Ellen Hutson), Metallic Enamel shapes (SU)
 

Hello

Hi there and welcome back!  I have a quick post tonight, sharing a card made for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Anything Goes.  I'm also using it to join Day 5 of Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge.

SSS Wednesday Challenge

The 30 Day Coloring Challenge

I watched a video by Kristina Werner last week, making a "smooshed" ink blended background with Distress Oxide Inks, then heat embossing a background stamp over a portion of the panel, so I decided to channel my "inner Kristina" and incorporate those design elements into my card .  The colors I used were Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick and Faded Jeans, although the Tattered Rose isn't very evident in the final piece.

I smooshed the inks on a craft sheet, sprayed them with water and laid a piece of watercolor paper into the ink, lifting and letting the colors meld, dabbing off any pools of water and ink, then drying with my heat tool.  I repeated this process three times then let it completely dry before heat embossing the Star Flower background stamp, then die cutting with a Wonky Stitched Rectangle die.  After mounting on an Ivory card base, the die cut sentiment and iridescent jewels were added to the card.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated.  Be sure to check out both challenges, I've added links above.

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Star Flower Background
Paper:  Ivory, Gold Mirror (Tonic), Canson XL watercolor
Ink:  Versamark, Faded Jeans, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide Ink
Other:  Wonky Stitched Rectangle and Handlettered Greetings dies, Altenew Antique Gold Embossing Powder, Lucy's Little Things Iridescent Jewels
 

Blush Birthday

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  I'm hosting this week and have chosen the combination of Blushing Bride, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla and a metallic of your choice, with a dessert option to use a punched or die cut element.

CC725

I'm also joining Mojo Monday, using Julee's fabulous sketch, and the Simons Says Wednesday Challenge, where the theme this week is Anything Goes. 

MOJO 508

SSS Wednesday Challenge

I chose this color scheme primarily because I have been hoarding saving some beautiful patterened paper that was part of a Simon Says Stamp monthly card kit from over a year ago.  The Mojo sketch was PERFECT to add several layers. 

I just love the mix of the copper/rosegold metallic mixed with the pink and blue, plus there are flowers!  And polka dots!  The card came together very quickly; choosing the paper patterns took the longest!  The sentiment was heat set with copper embossing powder, die cut with a stitched oval and added to the card with foam tape (as was the polka dot layer).

That's it for my card, pretty easy peasy!  Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links to all the challenges, so be sure to check them out!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Happy Birthday Gorgeous (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Ivory (SSS), Blush patterned paper (My Mind's Eye)
Ink:  Versamark
Other:  Stitched Shapes Oval framelit, Copper embossing powder (SU)