Four You Birthday

Hi there!  Tonight I have a card to share that I had fun making for the current challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch (linked below).  I had a panel of Neenah Solar White that I used to practice ink blending with Distress inks but didn't get the smooth blending I was hoping for, so it was set aside in the reject pile.  Then, when I saw the CTS sketch this week, I knew I found a use for it!

CTS 216

The panel was blended with Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks.  It was cut into different size strips for the sketch and layered on a #110 Neenah Solar White card base.  I also varied the distance between the strips, leaving enough room for the sentiment.

After laying out the strips but not fully adhering them to the base, I put the card into my Misti to ensure the sentiment was stamped straight, using Versafine Onyx Black.  Then I used a respositionable adhesive to attach the strips, giving me the ability to adjust my layout until I was satisfied with how it looked.  The final touch was adding the silver enamel shapes.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Have a great weekend!

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Four You (Stampin' Up!)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White both 110# (card base) and 80# (panel)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black; Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks

Other:  Metallic Enamel Shapes (SU), Ranger Mini Blending Tool, Misti

Tin of Cards Birthday

Welcome back!  I have a second card to share using a Distress ink blended panel.  As I explained in my post earlier today using a different blended panel (Wild About You), I was experimenting with ink blending and finally settled on using Bristol paper for the best results.  With this panel, I used 3 of the Distress Ink reds and created a card that I will give to a friend at work next week for her birthday.

For the sentiment, I heat embossed on a flag of Basic Black card stock the word "birthday" from Tin of Cards by Stampin' Up!, a stamp set with a load of sentiments with delightful fonts.  I liked this one combined with the scripty Brushstroke Birthday die cut.  The inked panel was trimmed with a Simon Says Stamp Wafer Stitched Rectangle die (still love the extra "umph" these dies bring) then layered upon a square of Basic Black card stock covered on one side with the black striped patterned paper.  The entire thing was then mounted on the Neenah Solar White card base with foam tape.

This close up better shows the three ink colors of Worn Lipstick, Barn Door and Aged Mahogany, and the Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins and Simply White NUVO Crystal Drops, my latest embellishment crush.  ;-)

I'm joining a couple of challenges with this card.  The first is the current birthday themed challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where they are celebrating the challenge's 8th year.  The other is Seize the Birthday where the theme is Anything Goes.  I've linked to both challenges below so be sure to head over there and check out all the amazing inspiration!

SSS Wednesday Challenge Happy 8th Birthday

STB Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

Wild About You

Hello friends!  I've been working on my Distress Ink blending skills and created a couple of backgrounds that I was happy with.  I don't know about you but I have a tough time blending the inks smoothly enough for my satisfaction on regular card stock, even with the Ranger Mini Blending tool, so I chose to work with some Bristol paper.  It was a waxier finish that makes it easier to move the inks around (e.g. more forgiving!).  Last week I received my monthly card kit from Simon Says Stamp, which contained the most darling stamp set called Wild About You.  I used the adorable elephant on this card but the stamp set also has a lion, penguin and giraffe plus hearts and a couple of fun sentiments.

I think it's the eyes that really get me, plus the enormous ears.  Love!  Anyway, after stamping her (yes, "her" don't you think, with pink toe nails?) on Canson XL watercolor paper with Versafine Onyx Black, I set the ink by heat embossing with clear embossing powder.  Then I water colored the little elephant using Gray and Light Pink Zig markers.  When completely dry, she was fussy cut and set aside as I worked on the ink blended panel.  I had previously blended the panel with Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks.  Using my Misti, the hearts and sentiment was lined up then stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

The panel just didn't pop enough against the white card base, so I mounted it onto a slightly larger piece of Rich Razzleberry card stock then used foam tape to attach to the base.  I kept the finish simple and just added the sequins and popped the elephant up on foam tape as well.

Thanks so much for visiting and as always, I love to hear from you if you have a moment to leave a comment!  I'm entering this card into the current birthday themed challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where they are celebrating the challenge's 8th year.  I've linked it below so be sure to head over there and check out all the amazing inspiration!

SSS Wed Challenge - Happy 8th Birthday

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Wild About You (SSS)

Paper:  110# Neenah Solar White, Rich Razzleberry (Stampin' Up!), Strathmore Bristol

Ink:  Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Distress:  Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves; Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers:  Gray, Light Pink

Other:  Hero Arts White Embossing Powder, Stampin' Up! Clear Embossing Powder, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear and Sweet Pea Mix Sequins, Ranger Mini Blending Tool

Friends Sympathy

Hi there!  I finished a couple of cards this afternoon and am sharing the one made with the awesome sketch at Mojo Monday and using the beautiful color challenge at Stamp Ink Paper.

Mojo 490

SIP 92

These colors were so inviting, and the blue and light brown reminded me of some long retired Stampin' Up designer series paper that I have held onto for the last several years that I decided to pull out a couple of pieces and see if I could create a card also tying in the light and dark purples.  I think it worked out okay but I'm not totally sold on with the Baja Breeze and Wisteria Wonder mix.

I looked through my older stamp sets and found the Friends 24/7 stamp set that was also released the same year as the dsp and inked up the bird image with Crumb Cake and then a light layer of Soft Suede, stamping it on a piece of Whisper White.  The sentiment from Petite Pairs was stamped in Blackberry Bliss, then I mixed some Wisteria Wonder and water in the lid of the ink pad, dipped an Aqua Painter into the mix then lightly splattered it on the panel.

Before adhering all the layers, I sponged a bit of Crumb Cake ink lightly around all the edges.  After the damask layer was adhered onto the flower print panel with Dimensionals, Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon was wrapped around the layers and tied with a knot.  After popping the focal point up over the ribbon with more Dimensionals, the entire piece was adhered to the Blackberry Bliss card base. 

Thanks so much for visiting!  I've added links above to the respective challenges, so do be sure to use them to check out all the beautiful inspiration.

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Friends 24/7, Petite Pairs

Paper:  Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Blackberry Bliss, Baja Breeze, Parisian Breeze dsp

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Blackberry Bliss

Other:  Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon, Aqua Painter

Basket of Wishes

Hello again!  I had a chance to whip up a pretty quick card yesterday, using two of the Basket of Wishes images.  It's a fun stamp set because you have choices of baskets and contents to add, and since they are clear stamps, it made it pretty easy to line up the flowers after stamping the basket.

I used a water brush and a variety of Stampin' Up! reinkers to color the basket of flowers, after stamping with Basic Black on watercolor paper.  A light wash of Marina Mist ink was applied to the background and used a bit of Smoky Slate to ground the basket.  Once dry, I used a few Prismacolor colored pencils to deepen the darker areas and brighten up the yellow petals, then it was die cut it with one of the SU Stitched Shapes framelits and adhered to a Marina Mist scalloped circle.

The sentiment is from the Dragonfly Dreams stamp set.  It was stamped on a 4.25 x 5.5 inch panel of Whisper White, first with Versamark, then Wild Wasabi, and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  To add the ribbon above, I put a piece of double sided tape on each side of the back of the panel and then wrapped it around to the other side.  Once I got the first one even, then the next two were a bit easier to line up.  After popping the focal point up on Dimensionals, I thought it needed just a little embellishment, so I dug out some retired Candy Dots to add below the sentiment.

The challenges at Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches provided the color and layout of my card.  I've added links below to both challenges, so be sure to head over there and enjoy all the wonderful inspiration!

CTD 436

FMS 281

Thanks for visiting! 

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Basket of Wishes, Dragonfly Dreams (both SU)

Paper:  Whisper White

Ink:  Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasbi, Marina Mist, Versamark

Other:  Daffodil Delight 1/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Stitched Shapes and Layering Circles Framelits, Clear Stampin' Emboss powder, Aqua Painter, Candy Dots, Prismacolor Colored Pencils

Elphie Birthday Wishes

Hello friends!  Today is the final day of the 30-day Coloring Challenge and I used the adorable Elphie Selfie stamp set to create a cute birthday card to join the challenge.  Unfortunately, as I was trying to quickly finish my card tonight in order to get it uploaded, I accidentally cut one of my fingers (those darn super sharp paper snips!) and the bandage is making my typing very slow, so this will be a brief post.  I hope to come back in the next day or two to add more details.

The adorable elephant and balloon were stamped on Tim Holtz watercolor paper and colored with a water brush and Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and die cut with the matching Lawn cut dies.  I also used the new Perfectly Plaid dsp from Lawn Fawn atop the Neenah Solar White card base.

The Paper Players provided my card design inspiration with their current sketch challenge, and I'm also entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes) and the very first Lawn Fawnatics Challenge (birthday).  All links below.

30 Day Color Challenge

PPA 337

SSS Wednesday Challenge

Lawn Fawnatics #1

Thank you so much for visiting.  Please be sure to use the links above to visit the challenges and enjoy all the amazing inspiration!

Stef

Adore You Hello

Hi there friends!  Today I have a couple cards to share that I'm making as part of a birthday gift for a friend.  For the first card, I've used the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for my card design.

FMS 280

Well, I just had to pull out my new Adore You stamp set again and use a couple of the beautiful floral and leaf images from the set.  I started by stamping them on Bristol paper with Versamark then heat embossing them with clear embossing powder.  After water coloring with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a water pen, they were die cut with the matching die set.

Believe it or not the Zig marker I used from the flowers was Purple, but the photo came out more like a fushia color in the lighter areas of the petals.  The color also changed a bit when I added some clear Wink of Stella.  For the background panel I ran a piece of Neenah Solar White through my Big Shot, first with the Large Polka Dot embossing folder, then the largest Wafer Stitched Rectangle dies.

The sentiment was an unused leftover from another project.  I trimmed down the ends to fit the space on the card, then layered on the die cut flowers and leaves.  After the panel was added to the card base, a few sequins were adhered.

The next card was a work in process for a while.  The stamp is one I bought before Valentine's Day but did not use for that occasion, instead using it to make a card one could use any time.

The Impression Obsession stamp was heat embossed with Copper embossing powder on watercolor paper and colored with Zig markers and a water brush.  Originally I had tried to use a lighter blue in the background but it didn't have enough contrast against the turquoise color used for the sentiment.

After a few days of letting it languish in the reject pile I decided to try adding purple to the background and love how it turned out. 

I trimmed down the watercolor paper, leaving a wide border so I could add the word "you" that was die cut from Copper Foil paper.  That was mounted onto a Bermuda Bay card base, then sequins and Copper Penny Nuvo drops were added to finish things off.

Thanks for visiting, as always it's so appreciated!  I've added a link to the challenge above, so please be sure to use it and enjoy all the beautiful inspiration.

Stef

Product details

Card #1

Stamps:  Adore You (Altenew)

Paper:  80# and 110# Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol

Ink:  Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

Other:  Large Polka Dot embossing folder (Stampin' Up!), Wafer Stitched Rectangle and Handlettered Greetings dies (Simon Says Stamp), Adore You matching dies, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, Clear Wink of Stella

Card #2

Stamps:  Love (Impression Obsession)

Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Watercolor, Copper Foil

Ink:  Versamark, Zig Markers

Other:  Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder (SU), Kuratke Water Pen, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, Nuvo Copper Penny Crystal Drops, Handlettered Greetings die (SSS)

Big on Green

Hi there!  I've made a rather bold, green birthday card that I think is pretty spare (in the CAS sense) that I think you could use for either gender.  I've used the current challenges at Freshly Made Sketches and Color Throwdown for my creative inspiration.

FMS 279

ctd 434

I saw the color challenge and love the combo, but since I don't send cards for St. Patrick's Day, I made a birthday card instead using that fabulous sketch from FMS.

This is a very simple card, in fact the hardest thing was to get the sentiment centered on the panel before heat embossing with gold embossing powder.  Fortunately, my Misti came to the rescue, making that part fairly easy.  The white and black horizontal pieces were trimmed down and then I hand cut the flag ends.  Next, the embossed panel was layered on the smaller gold foil piece then popped up with Dimensionals. Adding the gold enamel shapes was the final touch. 

Thanks so much for visiting!  Be sure to use the links above to the two challenges and check out all the amazing inspiration!

Have a great week!

Stef

Product details:

Stamps:  Big on Birthdays

Paper:  Whisper White, Emerald Envy, Basic Black

Ink:  Versamark

Other:  Gold Stampin' Emboss power, Gold Enamel Shapes

Sending Love

Hello and welcome back!  I have a card to share with you that I made using the current sketch at Mojo Monday.  I'm also joining Kathy Racoosin's fun 30 Day Coloring Challenge.  Already half way through I finally had a piece to share!  If you're not familiar with her challenge, be sure to use the link below to Day One and all the gorgeous subsequent posts. 

Mojo 488

30 Day Coloring Challenge - Day 1

I started by stamping and heat embossing two flowers and leaves from the gorgeous Adore You stamp set from Altenew on some watercolor paper.  I then grabbed some pink Zig Clean Markers and my waterbrush and went about coloring the flowers.  Two of the pinks are more of a salmon color and the others more of a candy pink (I guess?).  Love the mix anyway.

Once the water coloring was done and the images die cut, I worked on the white card stock panel using a stencil and some Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  My tool was a Clarity Stencil brush and it worked beautifully to lightly spread the ink over the stencil.  Once complete, I cut that panel and the smaller one with Simon Says Stamp Wafer Stitched Rectangle dies.  Foam tape was used to add the large panel to the card base and the flowers to the small panel.  The final touches were to add the sentiment (from the same stamp set) and various sequins. 

As always your visit and comments are so appreciated!!  I've added links above to both challenges, and I strongly urge you to use them to check out all the amazing inspiration.

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Adore You

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Basic Black, Tim Holtz Watercolor

Ink:  Versamark, Spun Sugar Distress Ink

Other:  Zig Clean Color Markers:  Light Pink, Peach Pink, Tea Rose, Pink Flamingo, Mid Green and Olive Green, Yellow and Bright Yellow; Hero Arts White embossing powder, SSS Wafer Stitched Rectangle dies, Adore You dies, Kuretake Detail Water Brush, Tim Holtz Bubble Stencil, Clarity Stencil Brush, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear and Sweet Pea sequins

Sorbet Celebration

Hello, I'm back with my second post of the day.  It's the beauty of a super CAS card - you can knock it out in just a few minutes.  This card was made using the fun sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch.

CTS 212

As soon as I saw the sketch, I knew I was going to use it for a birthday card for one of my co-workers.  Digging through my stash of designer series paper scraps, I found two patterns from Sweet Sorbet, which was available free during the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration three years ago.  I love the colors and some of the designs also include black, which gives it a nice pop.  But for this card I settled on designs with softer colors.

I first added the strip of Sahara Sand card stock to the white card base, then adhered the pieces of dsp, then trimmed everything that was overhanging the card.  I wanted the ease of using a die cut sentiment but I didn't have a birthday one that would fit, so then I remembered I had some wood sentiments and it fit perfectly.  The last step was to add the colored dots in colors similar to those in the dsp.

That's it!  As always, your visit and comments are so appreciated!  I've added a link above to the CTS challenge, so be sure to head over there and check out all the amazing inspiration.

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  None

Paper:  110# Neenah Solar White, Sahara Sand, Sweet Sorbet dsp

Ink:  None

Other:  Subtles Candy Dots, Expressions Natural Elements

Hello

Hi there!  Hope your weekend is going well!  Today I'm sharing a card that required no ink or stamps and was a snap to put together.  I've used the sketch challenge from Fab Friday and also the color challenge at The Paper Players as inspiration for my card.

FF 107

PP 335

I started with a 110# Neenah Solar White card base, layered a slightly smaller piece of minty green and white designer series paper, then added the doily and ribbon.  Did I mention this card came together so quickly?  ;-)

Next I took a strip of embossed Mint Macaron card stock, adhered it to a slightly larger piece of white card stock, then popped it up on foam tape.  The sentiment, cut 3 times with a die from MFT and layered to help it pop up a bit more, was then glued it to the embossed panel.  Added a few silver enamel shapes and, done!

Thanks for taking time to visit!  Please be sure to head over the both the challenges and enjoy the beautiful inspiration - the links above will take you directly to the current challenges.

Have great week ahead!

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Mint Macaron, Birthday Bouquet dsp

Ink:  None

Other:  Tea Lace Paper Doily, 5/8" White Organza ribbon, Elegant Dots embossing folder, Metallic Enamel Shapes, Hello There die (MFT)

Wonderful Friend

Hello, I'm back again with another card to share.  Today I had some fun creating a wet on wet background on watercolor paper, using Bermuda Bay and Rich Razzleberry inks.  It took a few tries to get the "Goldilocks" moment where the colors were just right, but it was fun to mess around with different looks.

After drying the water colored panel with my heat tool, I flicked clean water drops on it with my paint brush, patted dry with a paper towel, then added flicks of white gouache and Clear Wink of Stella.  It was trimmed down and strips of Copper Foil were added to the sides.  The dragonfly and sentiment were both heat embossed with Copper Stampin' Emboss powder and die cut with Thinlits.  After the panel was added to the card base with foam tape, the clear droplets were adhered to the front.

I used the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for inspiration for my card layout.  I've added a link below to the challenge, so be sure to head over there to enjoy all the beautiful inspiration!

FMS 278

As always, your visit and comments are so appreciated!  Thanks for coming by and I hope the remainder of your weekend is enjoyable!

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Dragonfly Dreams

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Tim Holtz Watercolor paper, Copper Foil

Ink:  Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Versamark

Other:  White Gouache, Pretty Pink Posh Clear Droplets, Detailed Dragonfly and Gift Card Envelope Trim Thinlits, Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder

Flower Patch Birthday

Hello again!  I have a card to share with you that I made for 3 different challenges - the color challenge at Sunday Stamps, the sketch challenge at Mojo Monday and The Paper Players theme challenge to "Cut it Out".

SSC 147

Mojo 486

PP 334

I ended up using a color mix of peach, aqua and crumb cake {love!}, with a little green, and using the flowers and a leaf from the Flower Patch stamp set.  I am ever so grateful to have my Misti to stamp the solid images - it has already paid for itself in the amount of paper I have saved from the recycling bin LOL!!  Once the stamping was complete, the images were cut out with the coordinating die set.

Julee's fun sketch this week gave us fun tilted panels, on the largest of which I layered the big, peach flower and stamped the sentiment from Mixed Borders.  The smaller panel was made with a fun stamp from the long retired Bitty Backgrounds.  The peach paper in the background is actually a piece from the In Color Envelope Paper collection.  It's a lot lighter weight than normal designer series paper but works perfectly layered on a card stock panel.  And I love all the little dots and circles.  Although there are a lot of layers, this card came together relatively quickly.

As always your visit and comments are so appreciated!  I've added links above to the respective challenges, so be sure you head over there to see all the beautiful inspiration.

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Flower Patch, Mixed Borders, Bitty Background

Paper:  Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, 2016-2018 In Color Envelope paper

Ink:  Peekaboo Peach, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, Bermuda Bay, Versamark, Basic Black

Other:  Flower Fair Framelits, Linen Twine, Crushed Curry Stampin' Emboss Powder, Candy Dots