Burst of Awesome! CAS

My 39-year old niece is such an awesome young woman - bright, college educated, pretty and a talented pianist and vocalist. I have always been so proud of her achievements. This lovely young woman begins chemo treatments today for triple negative breast cancer. I was inspired to make a card for her as she begins this difficult journey.

This appears to be a direct-to-paper technique using ink pads to achieve the color but it's actually patterned paper. The fine splatter was added by tapping an inky paint brush over the paper. The patterned paper was trimmed to size and adhered to a panel of black cardstock and then to a white card base.

The sentiment was die cut from black cardstock and adhered. The inside was decorated with a strip of the patterned paper leaving sufficient space for a personal message. I also lined the envelope (no photo) with patterned paper and stamped a small balloon cluster on the outside of the envelope.

This card is being submitted to:

1. CASE This Sketch #217








2. Happy Little Stampers April Challenge
(Anything Goes with Dies)




3. Crafty Creations Challenge #339
(Anything Goes)

Technique: Clean & Simple (CAS)
Size: A2

Materials
Ink: Stampin' Up! Strawberry Slush (splatter)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black
Paper: Day Spring Illustrated Faith
Die: Paper Smooches "Awesome"

Magnificent Bridge

Another masculine card... Is a bridge considered architecture? I have a family member who is educated in Civil Engineering and Architecture so I verified that bridges can be considered both architecture and engineering. I have had this die for a few years and have never used it so decided this theme challenge was the perfect chance to use it.

A panel of blue cardstock was masked and sponged to depict water. The ink was touched up with a white gel pen to add some foam for movement. The bridge was die cut from silver foil and adhered to blue panel. The cork was die cut and adhered to depict the shore. The clouds were die cut and one was cut in half horizontally and adhered directly to the card front. The other cloud was adhered with foam tape.

The tree die was used to cut the same tree twice using different shades of green cardstock. The dark tree was adhered directly to the card front. The light tree was turned over to give a different profile and adhered with foam tape. The right edges of the trees were trimmed off at the edge of the blue panel. The inside of the card was decorated with a strip of cork and a strip of silver foil. No sentiment was added at this time.

This card is being submitted to:

1. The Male Room Challenge #58 







2. Happy Little Stampers April Challenge



Techniques: Masking, sponging, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Inks: Stampin' Up! Island Indigo; Uniball Signo Gel Pen (white)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Soft Sky, Garden Green, Mossy Meadow, Silver Foil; DCWV Cork
Dies: Memory Box "Magnificent Bridge"; Sizzix (Tim Holtz) Pine Tree; Mama Elephant Landscape Die; Reverse Confetti Clouds
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

True Friend

04/18/2017 Update: Artist Pick at Hand Stamped Sentiments Color Challenge #261.





Color challenges are always, well, a challenge. I always want to add a little green here and a touch of pink there... you get the idea.

Using a die, the image was cut from Pool Party cardstock. Sections of the die were used to cut pieces for inlay from white and coral cardstock. The die cut image was adhered to a panel of slate cardstock. The die cut pieces were inlaid. The coral panel was adhered to the white card base, then the main panel was adhered. A thin strip of Pool Party was adhered to the right edge for color balance.

A square was cut from slate and backed with foam tape. The flower was added to the center of the design. Three enamel dots adhered and the sentiment was stamped directly to the card front. The inside was decorated with strips of cardstock.

I think substituting a different center in place of the flower would make the card gender neutral.

This card is being submitted to:

1. Hand Stamped Sentiments Color Challenge #261





2. Happy Little Stampers April Challenge (Anything Goes with Dies)



Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, die cut inlay
Size: A2

Stampin' Up! Materials
Ink: Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker (flower center)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Calypso Coral
Misc.: Candy Dots, Dimensionals

Other Materials
Stamp: Winnie & Walter "True"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Die: Spellbinders "Contemporary Diamonds"
Misc.: Flower from stash

Need Hugs?

Living in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona for more than 11 years has given me an appreciation for the rugged beauty of the environment. When I saw this cute stamp set at Paper Smooches, I knew it was for me!

Using a sketch for the design layout, the sentiment was stamped on cork, die cut and backed with foam tape. The tall cactus (Saguaro) was stamped and die cut. The smaller cacti (Prickly Pear) were stamped, colored and fussy cut. The Desert Iguana was stamped, colored in tones of gray and brown as found in nature, then fussy cut. Googly eyes were added to the iguana. All of the cacti were touched up with a white gel pen to give them a little texture, then backed with foam tape.

On a card base of white cardstock, a panel of texturized cardstock was adhered along with a strip of Washi tape. Another smaller panel of patterned paper was adhered to the card. The elements were then added to the front of the card. The inside was decorated by stamping and coloring more Prickly Pear cacti.

This card is being submitted to:

1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #207






2. Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge #165 (Theme: Animal Antics)




3. Addicted to Stamps & More #237 (Theme: Make Your Mark)






4. Crafting from the Heart #153 (Theme: Anything Goes)




Techniques: Stamping, coloring, die cutting, fussy cutting, dry embossing
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials
Stamps: Paper Smooches "Southwest Charm"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Tangelo Twist
Paper: Doodlebug Cactus Garden; DCWV Cork
Dies: Spellbinders "Postage Stamps"; Paper Smooches "Desert Icons"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Diagonal TIEF; Washi tape & Googly eyes from stash; Uniball Signo white gel pen

Grandpa's Garden

Miracles happen in Grandpa's garden! As a child, I recall my grandfather working diligently in his garden every spring and summer. He grew flowers, fruits and vegetables in great abundance and my grandmother would go through the work of canning much of the food. My card shows Grandpa working in the garden and enjoying the resulting miracle that spring brings.

The focal point is a downloaded image printed on watercolor paper. Watercolor pencils were used to color the image and an Aqua Painter was used to watercolor the design. The colors were chosen from a color challenge and tones of brown and flesh were used as neutrals, which is permitted.

A panel of patterned wood grain paper was adhered to a panel of black cardstock and then to a card base of white cardstock. The focal image was backed with foam tape and adhered. The tomato was fussy cut from patterned paper and popped up with foam tape. The sentiment was stamped then sponged with ink and popped up. The inside of the card was decorated with a smaller fussy cut tomato.

The card is being submitted to:

1. Cardz 4 Guyz #164 (Theme: Easter or spring)




2. Color Throwdown #437
    (Red, green, yellow, soft aqua + neutrals)









3. Inkspirational #132






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

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamp: Bloomin' Marvelous
Ink: Mossy Meadow
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Mossy Meadow
Paper: watercolor, Farmer's Market Collection
Misc.: Dimensionals foam tape, Aqua Painter

Other Materials
Stamp: Mo's Digital Pencil
Ink/Paint: Memento Tuxedo Black, Derwent Inktense Water Pencils
Paper: Bo Bunny Felicity (wood grain)
Die: MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangles

Big Hugs - Masculine

Pondering the weekly sketch for inspiration, I was reminded of a gemstone or diamond. Then my mind wandered to a boulder. Voila! I thought of our past vacations in Boulder, Colorado, and decided to use mountains as the focal point.

The mountains were die cut from white cardstock and sponged with ink. They were popped up & adhered to a die cut oblong shape. The sun was die cut and adhered behind the mountains, the cloud to the front of the scene. This piece was adhered to a panel of white cardstock, texturized by an embossing folder.

Washi tape with tiny fir trees was added, in keeping with the sketch design. The large die cut fir tree was added with foam tape. The sentiment was die cut twice and adhered to give a shadow effect. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with Washi tape.

This card is being submitted to:

1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #206








2. Crafty Creations #338 (Anything Goes)



3. Addicted to Stamps & More #236 (Anything Goes)


4. Brown Sugar Challenge #245 (Anything Goes)






5. Happy Little Stampers April Challenge (Anything Goes
with Dies)



Techniques: Sponging, die cutting, dry embossing, shadow effect
Size: A2

Materials
Inks: Stampin' Up! Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Mossy Meadow
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Pool Party, Barely Banana, Elegant Eggplant, Mossy Meadow
Dies: Sizzix (Tim Holtz) Pine Tree, Lawn Fawn Stitched Mountain Borders & Big Scripty Sayings, Reverse Confetti Sun 'n Clouds, MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangles
Misc.: Stampin' Up! TIEF (zigzag dots); Dimensionals foam tape, Washi tape from stash

In the Country - Masculine

My ongoing quest to use up paper from my stash continues with this card. I was inspired by several challenges and did use up a bit of paper.

A panel of vanilla cardstock and a panel of patterned paper were adhered to a cardstock card base. Two tags were created by simply cutting them on the cutter and punching holes in the top. Hemp was added to the top of the tags. The cute bear cub was stamped and colored, then die cut and popped up with Dimensionals foam. The fish was finished off with a white gel pen and clear Wink of Stella. The sentiment was stamped and popped up on the smaller tag. The smaller tag was also backed with foam tape for dimension. a tiny tent was fussy cut from the patterned paper and added to the sentiment. The inside of the card was lined with vanilla cardstock and decorated with a colored stamp of a tent and a strip of patterned paper.

This card is being submitted to:


1. Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge #163
    (Theme: In the Country)



2. Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch Challenge #314
    (Option: Baby animal)







3. Tag You're It! Challenge #68







4. Brown Sugar Challenge #244
    (Theme: Anything Goes)



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

Materials
Stamps: My Favorite Things "Warm & Fuzzy Friends"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake
Paper: Photoplay "Hidden Lakes"  (both sides)
Dies: My Favorite Things "Warm & Fuzzy Friends"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals foam tape, hemp, ZIG Wink of Stella (clear), white gel pen

So Sweet

04/05/2017 Update: Top Three winner in the AHSC #205.

In response to a sketch challenge, I decided to use cones filled with sherbet. Yum! Okay - so it's really die cut cork and cardstock but it won't be long before we'll be looking for cold snacks.

A panel of white cardstock was die cut to add the stitching on the edges. Four strips of Washi tape were added. The cones were die cut from a cork sheet and sponged with ink. The sherbet scoops were die cut in sweet colors and popped up with Dimensionals foam tape. A coat of Perfect Pearls powder was lightly added. The sentiment was die cut and the stars and sequins were added.

Note to self: Perfect Pearls does not photograph well under bright light!

The inside of the card was lined with white die cut cardstock to match the stitching on the front panel, then a strip of Washi tape was added. Sufficient space was left on the inside to write a note.

This card is being submitted to:

1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #205







2. Crafting from the Heart #152








3. Watercooler Wednesday #112







4. Brown Sugar #244

 

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting

Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

 

Stampin' Up! Materials

Inks: Daffodil Delight, Crisp Cantaloupe, Strawberry Slush, Rose Red, Mint Macaron, Soft Suede

Cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Crisp Cantaloupe, Strawberry Slush, Rose Red, Mint Macaron

Misc.: Dimensionals, stars and sequins

 

Other Materials

Dies: Impression Obsession Scoops & Cone; Spellbinders Phrase Set I; Craftin' Desert Divas Crazy Stitched Frames 

Misc.: DCWV Cork; Washi tape from stash; Perfect Pearls powder