Thanksgiving Blessings in X-stitch

Some time ago, I discovered a Paper Smooches die that cuts a grid for x-stitching on paper. I have wanted to use it for a while and it was the only one on the market. I am seeing more of them now so decided to give it a shot. I am experienced at even-weave stitchery but stuck to the basics. The only "rule" I followed was keeping all of the x's crossed the same way.

In the future I think a heavier weight cardstock would be in order. I used six strands of DMC embroidery floss for the x-stitches, four strands for the backstitching and a size 18 tapestry needle. I wanted to keep the card CAS but it wasn't easy and may have too many layers.

The leaves are die cut and hand-embossed, backed with foam tape and adhered over the stitchery. The card was assembled onto a card base. The inside was decorated with a strip of patterned paper coordinating with the card front.

I am submitting this card to:

1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #236









2. Inkspirational Challenge #146










3. Crafty Creations #353


Techniques: Die cutting, hand-embossing, x-stitching
Size: A2

Materials
Stamp: Computer generated sentiment
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Hello Honey, Peach Parfait
Paper: The Paper Studio Fall Leaves
Dies: Paper Smooches Cross-stitch & Stamplorations Leaves
Misc.: DMC Embroidery Floss, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

Miss You - CAS

Attending a crop today gave me the opportunity to make several cards after a busy week at my sewing machine. The combination of challenges provided inspiration.

On a white card base, a panel of eggplant cardstock was adhered. A panel of white cardstock was stamped with the three challenge colors and the die cut sentiment was added. This panel was backed with foam tape to provide a little dimension. The inside of the card was decorated by stamping a small element in the three challenge colors.

This card is being submitted to the following challenges:


1. Color Throwdown #466 (plum, olive, rust)










2. CAS Colours & Sketches #246









3. Addicted to CAS #123






Techniques: CAS, stamping, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Uniko Nature's Treasures
Inks: Distress Oxide Seedless Preserves, Peeled Paint, Fired Brick
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant
Die: Peachy Cheap (sentiment)
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

So Blessed - CAS

After a busy week, I attended a crop yesterday and was able to get several cards made. I won some stamps in a past challenge and used them for this card.

A panel of vanilla cardstock was stamped, backed with foam tape for a little dimension and adhered to a vanilla card base. The inside of the card was also decorated with a coordinating stamp and ink colors.

I am submitting the card to the following challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps and More #265








2. CAS(E) This Sketch #245











3. Addicted to CAS #123






Techniques: CAS, stamping
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Uniko Natures Treasures II & Originally Organic Additions (sentiment)
Inks: Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie & Tip Top Taupe; Distress Oxide Fossilized Amber; Hero Arts Neon Ombre (Chartreuse to Blue)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

Funky Butterflies - CAS

Making a card on the run seems to be the norm lately so here's a CAS card for a color challenge. I have all the ink pads and cardstock for these exact colors but I was in Walmart this afternoon and noticed the array of paint chips. Using my phone to match the colors, I selected a few of the samples and used them on this card.

The white panel was dry embossed and adhered to a black card base. The punched butterflies were adhered and decorated with white pearls. The inside was lined with a white panel and three small flowers that are part of the punch. I elected not to add a sentiment at this time.

This card was inspired by Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #264. Be sure to visit the blog for challenge fun and a chance to win a monthly prize by participating each week.

 

Techniques: Dry embossing, punch cutting, CAS
Size: A2

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black
Misc.: Paint Chips to match CTMH colors Pacifica, Sapphire and Crystal Blue, EK Success punch, Stampin' Up! TIEF (leaves)

Moonstruck - CAS

After recently winning a CAS card challenge with THIS CARD, I was asked to be a guest designer at AAA Cards for CAS Game #101. The theme is "Inspired by a Film". After much thought about some of my favorites, I selected Moonstruck.

Just a few die cuts and some sponging and assembly and the card was finished. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and more of the theme using a die cut image.

The challenge goes live on 10/15/2017, so be sure to visit AAA Cards and have some CAS fun!

Techniques: CAS, sponging, die cutting, computer generated sentiment
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: none (computer generated sentiment)
Inks: Stampin' Up! Whisper White
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Night of Navy, Smoky Slate
Dies: Spellbinders Classic Circles, Memory Box "Cityscape Nightline"

Friendship Card - CAS

One of my oldest and dearest friends lives more than 2,000 miles away from me and does not use social media nor does she text. Occasional phone calls make it difficult to stay in touch with the everyday things of life so making all-occasion and friendship cards for her helps us stay up-to-date.

I decided to use a few challenges for inspiration, orienting the sketch from portrait to landscape without tipping the elements. The white card base was decorated with a die that punches a row of tiny holes. Next, I created a blend of watercolors using Brusho crystals. Once dry, I ironed the paper to flatten and soften it. The bold word was die cut from the watercolored paper and adhered directly onto the card base. The sketch calls for a little "something-something" on the lower right of the sentiment, so I added a punched butterfly with clear foam under the wings to add dimension. The inside sentiment was stamped and the punched heart added to cover a "happy accident" smudge.

My card is being submitted to the following card challenges:

1. Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch Challenge #341 (Option: Bold Words)










2. Less Is More Challenge #348






3. Inkspirational Word Prompt Challenge #144






Techniques: Watercoloring, stamping, die cutting, punch cutting, CAS
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Wplus9 "That Is All"
Inks: Stampin' Up! Blackberry Bliss (inside); Brusho Crystal Colors
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White
Paper:  The Paper Studio (lavender glitter); Strathmore watercolor paper
Dies: Winnie & Walter "Hi Cutaway" & Lawn Fawn border die
Punches: Stampin' Up! Butterfly & Heart
Misc.: Kool-Tac clear foam dots

A Basket of Blessings

10/10/2017 Update: Winner of the Sapphire Award at Color Dare Challenge #262.






I don't like to do anything in a hurry or under pressure. I like to plan, think and take my time, however, that doesn't always work out in the real world.

The card I am posting is in response to a color challenge that I allowed to overwhelm me because of the EIGHT colors. I did not have the coordinating paper pack for these colors, so I put it off until the last minute figuring, later, later. Like some brilliant idea was going to strike like lightning. I finally decided to get busy and give it a try. That's when I discovered I needed a minimum of FIVE colors, which is still a lot since most challenges are three. Now I was out of time... so here it is.

The front of the card base was texturized with swirls using a die. The basket and floral images were stamped, colored with Copic markers and fussy cut. The bow was die cut and colored. The card base was embossed and the various elements were adhered to the card. The basket, flowers and bow were backed with foam tape. The sentiment was stamped directly onto the card. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with a die-cut bow.

The card is being submitted to:

1. Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #262.








2. Sketch Saturday Challenge #483 (pick any sketch from the archives)








Technique: Coloring, stamping, die cutting, fussy cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Basket of Wishes"
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers; Stampin' Up! Basic Gray (sentiment)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Cucumber Crush, Smoky Slate
Dies: Stampin' Up! "Wonderful Wreath" (bow); Lil' Inker Designs "Stitched Spirals"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

Poppies Birthday Card

10/08/2017 Update: Splitcoast Stampers Favorite of the Week for week ending 10/07/2017.


10/07/2017 Update: Winner of The Cut Above Award at The Paper Players. 

Three months ago I started taking a Copics class to help me with my coloring technique. This card represents the results of my classes so far. It's perfect for a fall birthday card. I have one sister and three sisters-in-law with October birthdays so this will go to one of those lovely ladies.

The stamped images were colored with Copic markers. Before starting the assembly I added a dark blue-green chunky glass glitter to the centers of the poppies. The glitter does not photograph true to color.

A panel of cardstock and one of patterned paper were layered onto the card base. Before assembling, I had partially fussy cut the background flower, leaving some of the white cardstock intact and cutting some away. I adhered this to a narrow panel of cardstock and backed it with foam tape. The sentiment was matted and added. The final flower was backed with foam tape and added to the foreground. A die cut "Happy Birthday" was added to the inside with a little heart punched from cardstock.

This card is being submitted to the following challenges:

1.  Color Throwdown #462 (Use rust, green, orange and aqua.)






2. Addicted to Stamps and More #261 (Anything goes.)


3. The Paper Players #364 (Autumn Floral)









4. Inspired by All the Little Things #66






Techniques: coloring, stamping, die cutting, fussy cutting, punch cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Stampendous "Pretty Poppies"
Inks: Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Cajun Craze
Paper: Brick pattern from stash
Die: Peachy Cheap "Happy Birthday" (inside)
Punch: Stampin' Up! heart
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); chunky glass glitter

"For You" Birthday

10/04/2017 Update: Top Three Award at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #231.

Seems as if it has been forever since I made and posted a challenge card. The layout was provided by a sketch challenge. The colors were for a color challenge but I got carried away with too many colors.

The image was stamped and die cut. The stamp set is a multi-step set but I wasn't happy with it so using additional dye inks and an aqua pen, I watercolored the flowers and leaves. The paper is regular cardstock so I had to be cautious with the volume of water.

A panel of coral cardstock was embossed with butterflies. Onto a white card base, panels of green & embossed coral cardstock were adhered. The floral image was adhered with foam tape. Gold Stickles were added to the flower centers. The sentiment on the card front was die cut and adhered. The inside was decorated with a punched butterfly image and large Happy Birthday sentiment.

I am submitting to the challenges listed below:

1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #231









2. Aud Sentiments Challenge #189 (Use a two-word
sentiment.)



3. Just Us Girls Challenge #413 (Use die cut words.)

4. Addicted to Stamps and More #261 (Anything
Goes.)



Techniques: Stamping, watercoloring, die cutting, dry embossing
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Altenew "Extra Special" & Concord & 9th (inside sentiment)
Inks: Stampin' Up! Calypso Coral, Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive; Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Old Olive
Dies: Altenew "Extra Special" & Penny Black "Just for You"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! TIEF, Dimensionals foam tape