Fly By - Masculine

Because I come from a family of aviators, it's always fun to make a card with an aircraft theme. One of my brothers has a birthday in April so made this card with him in mind. I kept the design low profile for ease in mailing it. The card is being used for two challenges:

1. Brown Sugar Challenge #288  (Transportation Theme)

2. Double Trouble Challenge #24  (Using something metallic with a twist to follow a Transportation Theme.)

The images were stamped on alcohol-ink-friendly cardstock. They were colored with Copic markers. One challenge has added a twist to use metallic on the card so I added silver ink. The tiny dab of silver ink on the nose, propeller and wheels was applied with a very tiny dauber I saw on Jennifer McGuire's blog. The focal piece was backed with red cardstock. Onto a white card base, a panel of silver textured cardstock was adhered. The focal panels were backed with foam tape and adhered to the silver base. The inside was decorated with a coordinating stamp, also colored with Copic ink.

Be sure to visit the challenge blogs to play along with a handmade project! Click here:  BSC #288 and DTC #24.

Materials
Stamps: Avery Elle "Fly By"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Delicata Silver, Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Real Red; P-E-T textured foil (silver)
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); The Essentials Disposable Micro Applicators (MA-100 in "regular" size)

Hello Spring (Bunnies and Chicks)

Because I liked the sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #307, I decided to join in. I enjoy using these sketches when I need a little inspiration. I turned the sketch for a landscape orientation so my selected images would fit better.

 

I selected the stamps from this set, stamped, colored, and die cut them. I also die cut four stitched rectangles, dusted them with ink using a brush, then adhered all of my little images. (The little flowers were adhered to two of the bunnies. Most of the images are popped up for dimension. This focal panel was adhered to a white card base that I covered with a panel of yellow striped paper. The sentiment and a tiny flower was stamped, die cut, and edge-sponged. The inside of the card was stamped with a tiny Easter basket and flowers then colored. The inside sentiment was stamped, die cut, colored and adhered.



 

 

 

Pay a visit to the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #307!

Materials
Stamps: Sunny Studios "Chubby Bunny"
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers, Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Perfect Plum & Blushing Bride
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Elegant Eggplant, Spectrum Noir for alcohol ink
Paper: Stampin' Up! Painted Petals (retired)
Dies: Sunny Studios "Chubby Bunny", Gina K stacking/nesting scalloped circles, Unbranded stitched rectangles w/rounded corners
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); dusting brushes by Judikins

Advice from a Cactus

Never did I ever think I would ever live in Arizona. Florida? Yes! Arizona? Never! But here I am spending my retirement years in the Sonoran Desert's Valley of the Sun - and liking it. And I have learned to see beauty in a cactus landscape. When I saw the inspiration photo (below) for the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #399, I decided to use these stamps to build a cactus garden and disregarded the sketch. This challenge has three options:

1. Use the inspiration photo.

2. Use the sketch.

3. Use both the sketch and the photo.

 

Photo:

 

Sketch:

Using alcohol-ink-friendly cardstock, the images were stamped and then colored using Copic alcohol markers. The images were masked so that the background could be colored blue using a soft brush and pouncing the color onto the card. The sentiment was stamped directly to the image panel. ("You are fan cactus.") Finally, two panels - one pink, one a green woodgrain - were angled and adhered to the white card base and the image panel topped it off.  The inside of the card was stamped with another sentiment and decorated with cardstock scraps and another stamped, colored and fussy-cut cactus image.

 

Be sure to visit the TSOT challenge blog. The challenge runs through Monday, March 25, 2019.

Materials
Stamps: Scraps of Love "Advice from a Cactus" (card front) & Cactus Doodle (inside)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! Soft Sky; Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Sweet Sugarplum; Spectrum Noir for alcohol ink
Paper: Sunny Studio "Amazing Argyll" (back side has wood grain)
Misc.: Judikins brush

Just Because...

Using a favorite stamp is always inspiring and this "Extra Special" stamp is definitely a personal favorite for the biweekly Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #333. This is a Tic-tac-toe challenge using the grid below. After selecting a specific row for my project, the challenge allowed one neutral not on the grid. In addition, participants can add more colors as long as they appear on the grid. I selected the top horizontal row (Lemon, Lagoon, Sapphire) plus gray as my permitted neutral. I did not use any of the additional colors in my design.

The image was stamped twice, colored with Copic Alcohol Markers, then die cut. The Lagoon cardstock was a scrap simply adhered on the diagonal and trimmed to fit along the left edge. Another floral shape was die cut from Sapphire cardstock and adhered directly to the card base. The first floral die cut image was adhered using foam tape slightly offset over the Sapphire cut, allowing the dark cardstock die cut to create a shadow. The second floral die cut was fussy cut into pieces and the flowers were added directly to the card base. The yellow hearts were added for color. The sentiment was die cut from Lagoon cardstock and backed with Sapphire cardstock. The inside was decorated with a remaining piece of the second floral die cut and a yellow heart.

Give our color challenge a try - you may use colors from your stash as long as they are similar to those in the grid at Color My Heart Color Dare #333. Our biweekly challenge runs through March 21, 2019.

Materials
Stamp: Altenew "Extra Special"
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Lost Lagoon; CTMH Sapphire; Spectrum Noir (for alcohol ink)
Dies: Altenew "Extra Special" (flowers) & Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson CEDSS003 (word die plus shadow)
Misc.: SU! Dimensionals (foam tape); Illustrated Faith Hearts (yellow)

St. Paddy's Pig

 

Over at the Double Trouble Challenge Blog, #23 is now open for entries through Sunday, March 17. Partnering with the Heart2Heart Challenge makes it even more fun to play along. Visit the blogs to ensure you understand the theme and guidelines then let the creativity begin!

 

The photos were taken outside on my porch. I live in Arizona and it was a sunny day so the photography in sunshine over-emphasizes the gold hot foiling on the images. I also included the color orange on my card, as my Irish ancestors came from Northern Ireland not the Republic of Ireland.

 

This card is so easy to make. It's a new twist on an old technique - decoupage. Recently, while visiting one of only two scrapping stores in the Phoenix area, I found a packet of images that can be stacked using foam tape. Once that's done, then  the card base is created using the maker's own stash. Adhere the stacked images to the base, finish as you wish. I selected a pig in clover image along with the flower with clover and combined for this St. Patrick's Day theme. I included a gold frame to satisfy the optional "twist". The sentiments were computer generated, die cut and matted, then adhered with foam tape. The inside was decorated with a scallop strip and another sentiment.

Join in the challenges when you visit the blogs: DTC #23 & H2H!

Materials
Stamp: Computer generated sentiments. Front: "Kiss me, I'm Irish" and inside "Lucky You".
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Gumball Green; P-E-T textured foil (gold)
Paper: Doodlebug "Swiss Dot" (limeade, tangerine)
Die: Poppy Double Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Frames; Gina K stacking/nesting ovals
Other: Hearty Crafts "Good Luck" Easy 3D Toppers w/glitter paint & hot foil finishing (HC 8694)

Thanks so Much

The new challenge is underway at Try Stampin' on Tuesday. This is challenge #397 and runs until Monday, March 11, 2019. In addition to the sketch, we are partnering with the Retro Rubber Challenge #105. A rubber stamp is NOT required but a retro stamp is - so check their guidelines to play along. For this challenge I flipped the sketch horizontally then gave it a landscape orientation instead of portrait.

 

Onto a gray card base, a panel of yellow patterned paper was adhered and then a smaller panel of the same gray cardstock. The floral panel was then adhered. The bird image and the sentiment were stamped and die cut using several sizes of oval dies. The bird was simply colored using Copic markers. The stamped images were adhered to the stacked oval cuts and then adhered using foam tape. In keeping with the sketch, three slim strands of cardstock were added rather than banners. A few yellow gems and the card front was finished. The inside was lined with white cardstock and trimmed with a little yellow patterned paper.

In keeping with the requirements at Retro Rubber Challenge, my stamp was a Stampin' Up! hostess stamp set sold in 2014, making it more than one year old.

Take a look at the challenge blogs for TSOT #397 and the Retro Rubber Challenge #105 and submit your creative project!

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Simply Sketched" (2014)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics for bird image
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Basic Gray
Paper: Jillibean-Soup "You Make Miso Happy"
Dies: Gina K stacking and nesting ovals
Misc,: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape) & gems from stash

You're the Best

At the last minute I decided to make a card for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #304. This is one of my favorite sources for inspiration - they have great sketches!

The stamping was done using two ink colors on white cardstock. This stamp set has a matching punch so I used it for the sentiment. The foliage and bow were die cut from cardstock. On a gray card base, a die cut scalloped frame was adhered. To this, a dry embossed panel was adhered using foam tape for dimension. The surface and edges of the embossed panel were smudged and dusted with ink using a brush. The sentiment and foliage was adhered using foam tape. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock with a scalloped edge and decorated with leftover foliage pieces.

My photo was taken outdoors. It is a bright sunny February morning here in Arizona. After several days of rain, the desert foliage has turned from brown into many shades of green. Such a pleasure to sit outside and soak up the sunshine.

Be sure to stop by and visit AHSC #304 to play along. It's always fun to give it a try.

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, punch cutting, dry embossing, ink dusting
Size: A2 (5.5" x 4.25")

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Label Me Pretty"
Inks: Stampin' Up! Smoky Slate, Crisp Cantaloupe
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Crisp Cantaloupe
Dies: Frantic Stamper "Wreath and Swag", Poppy "Double Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Frames"
Punch: Stampin' Up! "Pretty Label"
Embossing Folder: Spellbinders "Gridiron"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); Judikins ink brush

Sympathy with Silhouettes II

Crops can be fun and inspirational. I attended one this past weekend with a plan to complete a card for an upcoming color challenge and also four sympathy cards. In the end, two of my sympathy cards worked for the color challenge and two of them will be added to my personal card stash. (It's so much better to have a sympathy card already made when someone passes.) Following is what I made that are not for the color challenge and have been added to my personal stash. The challenge cards made at the crop can be viewed HERE.

A panel of embossed cardstock was added to the black card base. Using a masking technique the circle was sponged. The image was stamped over the moon, die cut then backed with scalloped die cut circles. This was adhered using foam tape for dimension. The sentiment was stamped, trimmed, backed with a scrap of black cardstock and popped up with foam tape. Two black gems were added. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper plus a stamped design and sentiment.

 

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, dry embossing, sponging, masking
Size: A2
 

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Serene Silhouettes" & "Simply Sketched" (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! Crisp Cantaloupe
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe

Dies: Gina K stacking & nesting dies

Misc.: Stampin' Up! TIEF, Dimensionals (foam tape); black gems from stash

Sympathy with Silhouettes I

Crops can be fun and inspirational. I attended one this past weekend with a plan to complete a card for an upcoming color challenge and also four sympathy cards. In the end, two of my sympathy cards worked for the color challenge (one portrait, one landscape) and two of them (both portrait), which did not suit the challenge, will be added to my personal card stash. (It's so much better to have a sympathy card already made when someone passes.) To view the additional cards made at the crop go HERE.

Here is another photo with portrait orientation:

The color challenge can be found at the Color My Heart Color Dare blog. This is #331 and is open now through Thursday, March 7, 2019. The required colors are brown and white plus another of the maker's choice. I selected Lost Lagoon.

A panel of embossed cardstock was added to the card base. I then embossed a smaller panel of Lagoon cardstock using my scoring board and a bone folder. The image was stamped and die cut than backed with scalloped die cut circles. This was adhered using foam tape for dimension. The sentiment was stamped, trimmed, backed with a scrap of Lagoon and popped up with foam tape. Three candy dots were added. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper plus a stamped design and sentiment.

Here is the second card in landscape orientation:

The color challenges at Color Dare are always fun and the Design Team appreciates your participation. Be sure to visit!

 

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, dry embossing, hand embossing,

 

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Serene Silhouettes" & "Simply Sketched" (sentiment)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Baked Brown Sugar

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Lost Lagoon

Dies: Gina K stacking & nesting dies

Misc.: Lawn Fawn EF; Stampin' Up! candy dots, Dimensionals (foam tape)

Magical Unicorn Valentine

Over at the Double Trouble Blog Challenge #22 we are partnering with Use Your Stuff Challenge #347 through March 3, 2019. The DTC #22 is based on a Tic Tac Toe grid shown below. I used the center row (sentiment, stamped image, sparkle). To achieve the "Magical" theme, I used this cute card that I made after taking a Copic class. The Copic instructor provided the image for coloring along with a variety of die cut panels and frames to be used as each individual student wished.

The panels were embossed and layered onto the white card base. The heart borders were added for color. The label die cut was raised using foam tape. The Copic-colored, die cut unicorn and the fussy cut shooting star were adhered using foam tape. Finally, the pink heart was adhered to the unicorn along with the die cut sentiment and rhinestones were added for sparkle. Afterwards, I added Wink of Stella to the shooting star.

Be sure to visit the challenge blogs for Double Trouble #22  and Use Your Stuff #347. Join the challenge fun!

Materials
Stamp/Die Unicorn Bundle: Paper Smooches "Spectrum"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pool Party & Sweet Sugarplum
Other Dies & Embossing Folder: Provided by Copic instructor
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); ZIG Wink of Stella (clear); rhinestones from stash

It's a Girl!

Baby cards are something I rarely make but I recently found some pretty patterned paper in my stash and decided to use them for Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch Challenge #395, with the optional theme to use ribbon or twine. The challenge runs through February 25, 2019, so take a few minutes to visit the blog and join in.

A panel of cardstock and two panels of patterned paper were die cut to achieve the lacy scalloped edges. These panels were adhered to the white card base. Two strips of glittery ribbon were added. The focal image was cut from patterned paper and adhered using foam tape for dimension. In keeping with the sketch, three rhinestones were added along with a satin bow. The inside was decorated with coordinating patterned paper and the word Congrats! was die cut and adhered.

Be sure to visit Try Stampin' on Tuesday for the sketch challenges. There is a new challenge each week lasting for two weeks.

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe
Paper: Lawn Fawn "Birthday Candles" (blue) & Graphic 45 "Cuddle Time" (plaid and focal image)
Dies: Peachy Cheap "Congrats!" and Lawn Fawn Fancy Scalloped Rectangle Stackables (LF1322)
Misc.: CTMH glittery ribbon (Glacier) and Stampin' Up! ribbon ( Whisper White); rhinestones from stash

Criss Cross Birthday

It's time for a new challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare #329. The requirement is to select at least three colors from the grid below. Gray and white are permitted to be used as neutrals if desired. The bi-weekly challenge continues for two weeks, closing on February 21, 2019.

I selected Peach, Smoothie, Mint and Gold for my card, matching the challenge colors closely from my existing stash. I used dark gray and white as permitted for neutrals. A leaf stamp with mint ink was used on the mint card base to add interest. The gold criss-cross background was die cut and adhered to the card front. The flower was stamped and colored with Copics using several markers to achieve a blend of Peach and Smoothie. Gold glitter glue was used for the center of the flower. The flower was fussy cut and adhered with foam tape to the

gold die cut background piece. The sentiment "best wishes" was die cut from cardstock in three colors - charcoal, peach and white and adhered to the card front.

 

The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock, stamped with a few leaves and decorated with a partial image of the same flower used on the front of the card. In addition, I added a die cut "Happy Birthday" in peachy cardstock.

 

 

The Color Dare Design Team invites you to play along at the challenge. Visit our blog to learn about us and Challenge #329.

 

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Bloom with Hope" (flower); Uniko "Originally Organic" (leaves)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Mint Macaron; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Mint Macaroon, Crisp Cantaloupe; CTMH Charcoal; P-E-T textured foil (gold)

Dies: Paper Smooches "Criss-Cross"; Peachy Cheap words

Misc.: Stickles (gold); foam tape