Everlasting Love Valentine

02/07/2017 Update: Artist Pick at Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge #256!

My card has been made for two challenges - one a sketch and the other a color. I decided to do another Valentine so I'll have a few for my family members.

On a white card base, two panels of cardstock were adhered. On a separate panel of white cardstock, the ink pad was applied directly to the masked paper to achieve the pink color. Above, the panel was masked and dusted with an ink brush for a light touch of color.

A die was used to cut the circular design - once in the aqua color for the frame and once from the designer paper with the writing on it. The DSP was backed with foam tape and adhered. The aqua frame was inlaid and adhered directly to the panel's surface. The hearts were punched from a scrap of inked paper, adhered and decorated with Glossy Accents. The sentiment was cut from a die set and adhered with foam tape. The inside was decorated with a die cut that says, "Be My Valentine," and a few of the punched hearts.

The two challenges are:

1. Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge #256









2. Color My Heart: Color Dare Challenge #228



Techniques: Direct-to-paper, die cutting, punch cutting, ink dusting, masking
Size: A2

Stampin' Up! Materials
Inks: Strawberry Slush (sub for CTMH Raspberry)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise (sub for CTMH Lagoon)
Punch: Heart from triple pack
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
DSP: Dayspring Collection "You Are Loved"
Dies: Lawn Fawn "Be My Valentine," Avery Elle "Hugs," Memory Box "Chesapeake Circle"
Misc.: Glossy Accents, Judikins Dusting Brush

Valentine XO

My card was inspired by a color challenge using pale pink, aqua and mint. I chose to use Valentine theme.

All of the elements were die cut. The flourish and hearts were heat embossed with clear powder to achieve the shine. All were edge-sponged and adhered to a panel of white cardstock using foam tape. The panel was dusted with a blend of the inks. The "xo" on the largest heart was die cut in two colors and adhered. The white pearls were added to finish off the card. The panel was adhered to a white card base. The interior was decorated with a word die set, "Hugs."

The card is being submitted to:
Color Throwdown Challenge #427:

Techniques: Die cutting, sponging, heat embossing, ink dusting

Stampin' Up! Materials
Inks: Mint Macaron, Pool Party, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Whisper White, Mint Macaron, Pool Party, Pretty in Pink
Misc.: Dimensionals foam, embossing powder (clear)

Other Materials
Dies: MFT "Stitched Flourish," Reverse Confetti "Love Note," Avery Elle "Hugs"
Misc.: Pearls, Judikins Dusting Brushes

A Valentine from the Heart

This card was inspired by a sketch challenge. Because St. Valentine's Day is approaching, I used a heart theme.

On a white card base, a panel of red cardstock and a panel of the checked paper were adhered. The heart was die cut and backed with a heart in vanilla cardstock. The three hearts were die cut and adhered. The heart was adhered to a panel of designer paper backed with red cardstock and foam tape for dimension. The sentiment and frame were stamped on vanilla cardstock and adhered.

This card is being submitted to the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #196.

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, fussy cutting
Size: A2

Stampin' Up! Materials
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
DSP: Birthday Bash Collection (retired)
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Stamps: Tim Holtz "Saying Stuff"
Die: Cheery Lynn

Dragonfly All Occasion

01/23/2017 Update: Emerald Award Winner at the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #226!

Isn't it peculiar how we enjoy putting insects like bees, ladybugs, butterflies, dragonflies, etc. on our cards? This is my second dragonfly card this week. I decided to participate in a color challenge and I needed to meet the deadline so used the stamp that was on my desk.

A panel of cardstock was scored diagonally every 3/4". The scores were folded and sponged. A die cut flourish was adhered and coated with Glossy Accents. Using a vent die with a scrap of black cardstock, the vertical design was cut and backed with white cardstock and foam for dimension. It was adhered over the flourish. The dragonfly was stamped, colored and die cut, then adhered with foam tape. On a card base of white, another vent die cut, but in white, backed with black, was added. The other layers were added. The inside was decorated with a dragonfly stamp. No sentiment has been added.

The card is being submitted to:


Color My Heart: Color Dare Challenge #226





Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, sponging, pillow top
Size: A2

CTMH Materials
Inks: Glacier
Cardstock: Glacier

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamps: Dragonfly Dreams
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Island Indigo (sub for Peacock)
Die: Dragonfly Thinlits
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers
Dies: MFT Die-namics Flourish, Simon Says Stamp Air Vent
Misc.: Glossy Accents, Wink of Stella (clear)

Scooting By to Say...

One of the themes I most enjoy in card making is a masculine card. With a husband, a stepson, three brothers and five nephews, I am always needing cards. With all those men in the family, it seems there's always a motorcycle in the mix. My card will probably result in a big grin from the recipient because it's not a big Harley-Davidson... it's more like a Vespa.

Sidenote: The More Mustard color looks very orange in my photos. Wish I knew more about photography!

On a white cardstock card base, two panels of cardstock, Marina Mist and More Mustard, were adhered. The scooter was stamped on white cardstock to be colored. I was disappointed with the mustard marker - it was much darker than the cardstock, so I paper-pieced the mustard cardstock onto the scooter. The blue area was colored with a Marina Mist marker. A black marker was used to color the handlebars and light rims as well as the zigzag on the tire. It seems that motorcycles should be really clean and shiny, so clear Wink of Stella was added all over and the headlight was covered in Glossy Accents.

The top layer of white cardstock was brushed with Marina Mist and More Mustard inks. Black cardstock was added to depict the road and the scooter was backed with foam tape and adhered. The sentiment was stamped along with two additional banners, and popped up across the top of the card. The inside was decorated with a Happy Birthday die cut. Lastly, the tiny black star was stamped on a banner, the scooter and inside the card.

I am submitting this to the following challenges:


1. Color Throwdown #425






2. Cardz 4 Guys #152




3. Happy Little Stampers January Challenge  (anything goes with dies)




Techniques: Stamping, ink dusting, coloring, paper-piecing, die cutting
Size: A2

Stampin' Up! Materials
Inks: Marina Mist, More Mustard
Stampin' Write Markers: Basic Black, Marina Mist, More Mustard
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Marina Mist, More Mustard
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Stamps: Paper Smooches "Spiffy Scooters"
Die: Paper Smooches "Scooter Icons"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc.: Judikins Ink Dusters, Glossy Accents, Wink of Stella (clear)

Dragonflies Birthday

01/18/2017: Top Three winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #194.




01/17/2017: Honorable Mention at The Water Cooler Wednesday Color Challenge #101.


In this morning's mail, I received a pretty card from Amy K (my Stampin' Up! demonstrator) made with the Dragonfly Bundle. I did not CASE the card but it provided just the inspiration I was looking for to make a challenge card.

I kept the card somewhat low profile to allow for mailing. The lattice was die cut and added to a base of white cardstock. One small panel of white cardstock was stamped with roses and leaves, the other with dragonflies and a sentiment. Both panels were backed with cardstock. One was adhered directly to the card base and the other was backed with foam tape for dimension and adhered.

In keeping with the sketch, a simple shape (scalloped oval) was die cut from a scrap of embossed cardstock. The dragonfly was stamped with black ink on white cardstock, colored

with Copics then die cut. The wings were covered with clear Wink of Stella and the Body was lightly coated with Glossy Accents.  Three sequins and a strip across the bottom were added.

The inside of the card was decorated with stamped roses and leaves and a small dragonfly. A birthday sentiment was also added.







This card is being submitted to:

1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #194







2.  Water Cooler Wednesday Color Challenge #101 (Used Island Indigo as a substitute for Bermuda Bay.)




3.  Crafty Creations #332
    (Anything Goes)


4. Happy Little Stampers January Die Challenge
    (Anything Goes)



Techniques: Stamping, coloring, dry embossing, die cutting, stamping off
Size: A2

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamp: "Dragonfly Dreams"
Inks: So Saffron, Sweet Sugarplum, Island Indigo (sub for Bermuda Bay)
Cardstock: Whisper White, So Saffron, Island Indigo (sub for Bermuda Bay)
Die: Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Stamps: Tapestry Peg Stamps "Rose Trio" & Stampability Small Dragonfly (yard sale)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic markers
Die: Spellbinders Basic Lattice
Misc.: Darice EF, Pretty Pink Posh sequins, Glossy Accents, ZIG Wink of Stella (clear)

Happy Birthday to Fran!

Today I made a birthday card for my friend, Fran. Her birthday is in February but I am trying to make cards one month earlier than I require them so there is no last minute panic. I've been trying to use some of my DSP stash but I used none for this card but I'm happy with it and it suits Fran's "glam" style.

Inspiration came from The Paper Players Challenge #326, which required a recycled item. I have been sewing all of my life and have a button box full of interesting old buttons. I selected the 1" black velvet button with gold metal as my recycled item, and developed the card from that. The button had a large shank on the back, but I was able to cut it off with wire cutters so the button would stay flat in spite of the rounded surface.

Panels of black, gold foil and red cardstock were adhered to a white card base. The white panel was stamped in stripes of gold ink. The flower was stamped in red ink on white cardstock. Two markers - one black, one gold - were used to add contrast to the red flower. The leaves were stamped on black cardstock in gold ink. Because my Scan 'n Cut would not cut the black leaves, I just decided to fussy cut all of the elements by hand. One leaf was adhered directly to the white panel. The other leaf and flower were backed with foam for dimension and adhered. The sentiment was stamped direct to paper. The top panel was adhered and gold sequins were added.

The inside of the card was stamped with a coordinating flower in red and some gold leaves. I used a matching font for the interior sentiment, "Happy Birthday," as is on the front.

I am submitting this card to:

1. The Paper Players Theme Challenge #326  (Recycled an antique button.)






2. Brown Sugar Challenge #233
    (Anything Goes)








3. Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #83

Techniques: Stamping, coloring, sponging, fussy cutting
Size: A2

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamps: Curly Cute (sentiments)
Inks: Real Red, Basic Black marker
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Stamps: Dare 2B Artsy "Blissful Blooms"
Cardstock: DCWV Gold Foil
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (sentiments), Delicata "Golden Glitz", Casemate Metallic Marker (gold)
Misc.: Pretty Pink Posh sequins, button from my sewing stash

A Celebration for Joyce!

I have decided two things:
1. I am going to reduce my DSP stash, and

2. I will try to make my personal cards one month in advance of an event and at least one Christmas card every week. So far, I've kept ahead of the birthdays and Valentine's Day but Christmas is a whole other subject. Throw in challenge cards, which sometimes double as personal cards, and it takes a chunk of time to conjure up the creativity.

My friend, Joyce, was born on February 29. Yikes! Imagine only celebrating your birthday every four years. Instead, we celebrate with her on February 28th. She doesn't follow my blog, so I decided to post her card early.

Panels of Whisper White and Lost Lagoon cardstock were adhered to a card base of Elegant Eggplant. A floral panel of paper was added. The die cut word "Celebrate" was backed with a shadow die cut. Foam was adhered to pop it up. Clear droplets were added and the inside of the card was decorated with stamped tiny leaves, a stamped heart and a "Happy Birthday" sentiment.

The card is being submitted to:
1. Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #83









2. Happy Little Stampers January Challenge







3. Brown Sugar Challenge #232
    (Anything Goes)







4. Crafty Creations Challenge #332
    (Anything Goes)



Techniques: Stamping, die cutting
Size: A2

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamp: Curly Cute (inside sentiment)
Inks: Soft Sky, Lost Lagoon, Elegant Eggplant (inside)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Lost Lagoon, Soft Sky
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Stamps: Tapestry Peg Stamps "Lace of Hearts" (inside decoration)
Paper: Graphic 45
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc.: Pretty Pink Posh clear droplets

You Are Invited, "Celebrate"



 

Congratulations to the ladies at Watercooler Wednesday! This week they are celebrating their 100th challenge and the theme of the challenge is just that: "Celebration!"

The layout was inspired by a sketch but I changed it too significantly to enter it into that challenge. I used one of the first stamps I ever purchased. I like that the rabbit is wearing a tunic decorated with hearts. I used Copic markers for the image, using colors I thought were festive and celebratory. The image was backed with a layer of plum and then pink cardstock. It is backed with foam for dimension. A googly eye was added to the rabbit.

The doily was sponged with various pink, peach and plum inks and adhered directly to the card base. The base for the word die is stamped in tiny hearts using the same inks as on the doily. It was also matted with plum and pink cardstock and popped up with foam. The word is cut from a die using black cardstock. The interior is decorated with more of the tiny hearts found under the word die.

 

The card is being submitted to:

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #100

Stampin' Up! Materials
Inks: Perfect Plum, Regal Rose, Peach Parfait, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink
Misc.: Dimensional foam

Other Materials:
Stamps: Tapestry Peg Stamps "Lace of Hearts" & Crafty Secrets (SL02)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copics
Die: Neat & Tangled
Misc.: Googly eye & doily from stash