So Sweet... Thank You/CAS

This card came to mind while sitting on my patio enjoying morning coffee. I was noticing how industrious the ants were in their search for food. I have a stamp set of insects that has only been used twice so thought this would be a good opportunity to use it again.

The layout was inspired by a CAS challenge sketch. To ensure that my elements match the sketch, I download the image to Word, size it to A2 and print to use as a template. The front was stamped with the insects, peppermint candy and the sentiment. A light spatter of ink and the card front was finished. The inside was decorated by stamping the ants and a Thank You sentiment.

The card is being submitted to:


CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #240



Techniques: Stamping, CAS
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Beetles & Bugs" (ants), "Sweets for the Sweet" (peppermint candy) and "Honeycomb Happiness" (sentiment)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Regal Rose
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White (heavyweight)

Pretty Plaid (Using Copics)

09/27/2017 Update: Winner of the Color Dare Sapphire Award in Challenge #260.

My card was inspired by a Design Team member's card that can be found HERE. I CASE'd the card but things changed as I moved along. In the end, in spite of the differences, I like my card and believe the recipient will enjoy receiving it.

The front of the card base was dry embossed. The plaid was made with Copic markers on a panel of white cardstock. The plaid panel was adhered to a panel of charcoal cardstock. The punched flowers were adhered and Nuvo drops were added to the centers. The sentiment was adhered to a strip of vellum and adhered to the plaid panel. This was adhered to the card base. The inside was decorated with coordinating cardstock and punched flowers.

This card is being submitted to:

1. CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #239







2. Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #260






3. Happy Little Stampers September Challenge






Techniques: Handmade Plaid, die cutting, punch cutting, dry embossing
Size: A2

Materials
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers (C5, G14, RV25)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Gray, Strawberry Slush, Vellum; CTMH Bashful
Die: Peachy Cheap "Happy Birthday"
Punch: Stampin' Up!
Misc.: Nuvo Crystal Drops (Morning Dew)

So Very Loved

09/27/2017 Update: Top Three Award Winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #230.

One of my dearly loved nieces celebrates her 37th birthday soon so this card is for her.

The various panels of cardstock and patterned paper were adhered to a vanilla card base. The ribbon was added along with two punched banners. The sentiment panel was die cut, stamped, decorated with flowers and Nuvo drops and popped up onto the card for dimension. The inside was stamped with the word, "loved" along with some tiny hearts and decorated with a strip of coordinating paper. I left space for a personal message.

My card is being submitted to:

1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #230









2. Crafting from the Heart #175 (Anything Goes)







3. Happy Little Stampers September Challenge






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

Materials
Stamps: Wplus9 "That Is All"
Inks: Stampin' Up! Sweet Sugarplum, Tip Top Taupe
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Sweet Sugarplum, Tip Top Taupe
Paper: Moda Scrap "Sweet Vintage Rose" Collection
Dies: Gina Marie Designs "Pleated Lace" rectangles
Punch: Stampin' Up! Banner
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape), Nuvo Crystal Drops (Sherbet Shimmer), ribbon & flowers from stash

Good Bye Summer!

School has been back in session for a month here in my town. The return to school reminds us that summer is about gone and fall is approaching. The card layout was inspired by a sketch challenge. I elected to vary the placement of the sentiment. The topic, "Back to School", is in keeping with another challenge where I am a Design Team member and the card is posted as inspiration to challenge participants.

The digital image was downloaded, sized and printed twice - once on yellow cardstock and once on white cardstock. The image on the yellow cardstock was fussy cut and used for the school bus. The images on the white cardstock (bus driver, children, bumper and two tires) were colored with markers, fussy cut, backed with foam tape and adhered to the school bus. The sign along the side of the bus was computer generated and adhered.

A panel of green cardstock was adhered to the white card base followed by a panel of white cardstock that was embellished with two rows of die cut grass and a strip of black cardstock as a roadway. The bus was adhered with foam tape. A few lines were drawn to highlight the headlight on the bus. The sentiment was computer generated, adhered to yellow cardstock and adhered with foam tape.

This card is being posted to Brown Sugar Challenge #268. Please join the challenge HERE beginning on Monday, September 18.

The card is to entered into the following challenges:

1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #229










2. Crafting from the Heart #174 (Anything Goes - Just for Fun)






3. Crafty Creations #350 (Anything Goes)




4. Happy Little Stampers September Challenge






Techniques: Die cutting, fussy cutting, coloring, digital
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Bugaboo Digital Stamps "Kidz Bus"
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers, silver marker
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Garden Green, Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black
Paper: Spectrum Noir paper for alcohol ink
Die: MFT "Fresh Cut Grass"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

Happy Heart - Watercolored Blocks

09/19/1027 Update: Ruby Award in Challenge #259 at Color My Heart Color Dare.

The idea for this card came from a technique challenge requiring watercolor blocking. This is the first time I have done watercolor blocks. The design also includes a color challenge.

On three panels of watercolor paper, using dye ink pads and an Aqua Brush, the watercolor panels were created. After drying them, the panels were cut into blocks and added to a white card base along with some black cardstock blocks. Three small banners and three small hearts were cut from punches and added as well. The sentiment was fussy cut from a paper scrap and popped up on foam tape. The inside of the card was decorated with a block of black cardstock and a heart punched from each watercolor panel.

This card is being submitted to:


1. Just Us Girls Trend Challenge #410







2. Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #259









3. Crafting from the Heart Challenge #174 (Anything Goes - Just for Fun)






4. Crafty Creations Challenge #350 (Anything Goes)




Techniques: Watercoloring
Size: A2

Materials
Inks: CTMH Goldrush, Stampin' Up! Emerald Envy, Distress Dusty Concord
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White (heavyweight), Basic Black
Paper: Strathmore Watercolor
Punches: Stampin' Up!
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Aqua Pen & Dimensionals (foam tape)

Thanksgiving Memories

9/18/2017 Update: Splitcoast Stampers Favorite of the Week (week ending 09/16/2017).

Changing leaves are not something we see in the Phoenix area but having lived in New England and New York, I know they can be very beautiful. I always loved fall and especially Thanksgiving Day with the whole family gathered together. Our family is widespread now and my parents and a brother have passed on but the memories remain.

The leaves were heat embossed with white powder, sponged with various dye ink colors, wiped clean and then fussy cut close along the edges. On a vanilla card base, a panel of tan cardstock was adhered, followed by a panel of wood grain paper. In keeping with the sketch, a panel was die cut and edge-sponged, a ribbon was added for color. This panel was adhered across the card. The large die cut banner was cut from orange vellum and adhered. The leaves were backed with foam tape in varying heights to give the card dimension. The bow was added. The inside was decorated with a copper metallic heat embossed leaf, a leftover from another project.

This card is being submitted to:

1. Tuesday Morning Sketches Challenge #419









2. Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #258



3. Crafty Creations #349 (Anything Goes)




4. Happy Little Stampers September Challenge



Techniques: Heat embossing, embossing resist, die cutting, fussy cutting, sponging
Size: A2

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamps: Vintage Leaves
Inks: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar
Cardstock: Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla
Misc.: Dimensionals (foam tape), EP (white), Pumpkin Pie cotton ribbon

Other Materials
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Bo Bunny Felicity Collection (wood grain); WRMK DIY Party Vellum
Die: Lawn Fawn

All You Need Is...

Who doesn't love a new pair of shoes? Whether they're gym shoes or red stilettos, it's always a good feeling to buy a new pair, and if they're on sale, it's even better! The layout was inspired by a sketch with a twist. I almost missed the twist but am hoping the card still qualifies. Celebrating a 30th wedding anniversary is a far cry from celebrating new shoes but here's my card.

The image was colored with Copics on "alcohol ink-friendly" white cardstock then die cut with an oval and matted with gray cardstock. The sentiment was die cut into an oval. A strand of silver ribbon was adhered to a panel of white cardstock, which was then adhered to a card base. The remaining die cut elements were adhered using foam tape on the focal image and sentiment. The sketch calls for a bow, but I elected to use these tiny roses instead. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with a die cut strip of pink cardstock with matching silver ribbon.

The card is being submitted to:

1. Just Us Girls Word Challenge #409 (Shoes)








2. Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #120 (Include pearls with a love theme.)








3. Water Cooler Wednesday #135 (Feminine AG)








4. Happy Little Stampers September Challenge (AG with dies.)




Techniques: Stamping, coloring, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: DSB "Rachel Loves Shoes"
Inks: Copic Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Spectrum Noir (for alcohol ink)
Dies: Gina Marie Stitched Oval; Gina K Nesting/Stacking Ovals
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals foam tape, pearls; ribbon, flowers from stash

You Are Awesome - CAS

9/11/2017 Update: Splitcoast Stampers CAS Favorite of the week ending 9/10/2017.

CAS cards have been catching more attention from me and I have been participating in more CAS challenges. I'm still learning when enough is enough and sometimes it's difficult not to add more. The colors on this card are supposed to be ROYAL BLUE & LIME GREEN. I substituted a different shade of blue because I don't have any royal blue ink - not a drop!

On a white card base, a circular stamp was masked and inked with lime green ink and then again with blue ink. The sentiment was stamped across the image in keeping with the sketch.

The right edge was die cut with a row of little circles as a complement to the tiny dots of the stamped image. The inside of the card was decorated with a strip of green cardstock using the same die but placed so that the green cardstock shows through the little holes.

The card is being submitted to:

1. CAS(E) This Sketch #237









2. Less Is More Color Challenge #344 (Royal Blue & Lime Green)





3. Crafty Creations #349 (Anything Goes)




Techniques: CAS, stamping, masking, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Altenew Half Tone Circles & Simon Says Stamp Big Scripty Greetings (sentiment)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Lemon Lime Twist, Distress Oxide Broken China
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White (heavyweight) & Lemon Lime Twist
Die: Lawn Fawn