Floral Hello - Tall & Skinny

Tall and skinny cards are something I rarely make but I did find a purchased card blank in my stash so decided to use it for this challenge. The colors used  are from the colourQ Challenge #314 and the sketch came from the Mojo Monday Challenge #421.

A panel of Old Olive was adhered over the white card base. A strip of black cardstock was adhered to the left of center and then two die cuts were adhered to the right of the black strip. Three flowers were cut, the edger sponged with Raspberry Ripple ink and adhered to the card. Two cuts were popped up with Dimensionals. A black die cut center was added to the third flower and it was adhered flat to the card.

An floral image from DSP was fussy cut, sponged along the edge and adhered. The sentiment was die cut and adhered. The inside was decorated with a strip of cardstock and another sponged floral cutout, leaving space to write a message.




















Techniques: Die cutting, fussy cutting, sponging
Size: Tall & skinny (4" x 8")
Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Cardstock: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango
Paper: "Into the Woods" Collection
Dies: SU! Flower Fair Framelits & Greetings Thinlits
Misc.: Dimensionals

Rose Inlay & Paper Piercing

Sketches provide assistance in card design even if the card is not being entered into the challenge. I thought I had missed the deadline on this one but wanted to use the sketch anyway. When I looked for the copy of the sketch, I realized I still had time to submit my card. This CAS card was inspired by a sketch designed for the Sunday Stamps Sketch Challenge #112.

The front of the Smoky Slate card base was pierced with a die that creates a match to the roses used on the card face. A panel of Strawberry Slush was added at an angle as shown in the sketch. Three roses were created by die cutting from Blushing Bride and Strawberry Slush cardstock. The pieces were separated and then inlaid for the color variance. The roses were adhered to a panel of Basic Gray backed with a mat of Blushing Bride. The card was lined in Whisper White cardstock and another inlaid rose, with reversed colors, was adhered inside.

Sunday Stamps is a biweekly challenge so there is still time to join in at SSC112.

Techniques: Piercing, die cutting, inlay
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")
Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy (inside)
Inks: Basic Gray (inside)
Paper: Whisper White, Strawberry Slush, Blushing Bride, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray
Dies: Lil' Inker Designs "Quilted Flowers"

The pierced design on the Smoky Slate cardstock is visible in the photo at left.

Zentangled Halloween Card

My card was inspired by two challenges: The Paper Players Challenge #268 provided the sketch and Inkspirational Challenge #94 provided the theme.

A panel of cardstock was embossed for texture and adhered to the card base. Three strips of DSP were adhered to the textured cardstock panel. The pumpkin was stamped with Stazon Jet Black ink and colored with Stampin' Write markers then fussy cut. The cat was die cut and glitter paper was adhered to create the yellow eyes. The cat's nose is a black gem. The pumpkin was adhered to the cat and then they were adhered using foam Dimensionals for height.

The sentiment was computer generated, adhered to black cardstock and popped up with foam Dimensionals. Three black gems were added to the sentiment. The inside of the card was lined with vanilla cardstock and a strip of the green DSP.

Visit the challenge blogs and join in the fun at PP268 and Inks94!

Techniques: Stamping, coloring, die cutting, Zentangling, textured embossing, fussy cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")
Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamp: Just for Fun "Stamptangle Pumpkin" (medium size)
Ink: Markers in Tangelo Twist, Peach Parfait, Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz, Gumball Green, Stazon Jet Black
Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, yellow glitter paper from scraps, DSP from scraps
Die: Paper Smooches "Cat Icons"
Misc.: Dimensionals, black gems, TIEF Zig-Zag

Fall Birthday - Masculine

For some reason, I always find shaker cards stressful to make but when I saw the sketch for this challenge, it just called out, "Shaker," to me. The card was inspired by Can You Case It? Sketch Challenge #92.

The card base was cut from Mossy Meadow cardstock. A panel of Very Vanilla was added then a piece of masculine fall paper. The Happy Birthday was die cut from Very Vanilla cardstock and adhered to acetate. Very thin strips of foam tape were added around the perimeter of the frame. Since this birthday card will be mailed, I kept it low profile by using thin foam tape that still provides enough space for the sequins to shake.

A small assortment of orange, bronze and green sequins were placed in the upper center of the card and the die cut frame was adhered over the sequins. I used a powder tool on the acetate before placing it over the sequins to reduce the static. I purposely chose to leave the fall paper visible through the shaker box.

The sentiment was stamped on a banner of cardstock and popped up with foam tape. A few sequins were also adhered to the banner. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of Very Vanilla cardstock and a strip of the fall paper.

Don't forget to join in the fun at CYCI #92!

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")
Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Watercolor Wings (sentiment)
Ink: Soft Suede
Paper: Mossy Meadow, Very Vanilla, fall paper (Joann's)
Die: Lil' Inker Designs "Boxed Up Birthday Greeting"
Misc.: Assorted sequins, foam tape, Window Sheets (acetate)

Hand-Sketched Floral Latch Card

After seeing the tutorial HERE and this week's sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #130, I was inspired to make this latch card. It is made totally from scraps of cardstock and paper.

The card was assembled following the directions from the tutorial. The large flowers were sketched with pencil on "aged" paper. Two sketched flowers were outlined with Stampin' Write markers and sponged with Cajun Craze for color. Other sketched background flowers were colored with a taupe colored pencil.

A square and a rectangle were die cut
from brown cardstock, then images were stamped with Soft Suede ink and backed with melon cardstock, and sponged with Soft Suede ink. They were backed with craft foam to add height and dimension. The melon frame was die cut, backed with foam and adhered to the square on the left side of the card. The rectangle was adhered to the right side of the card just off of the edge of the card front and serves as the latch.

The inside was lined with Very Vanilla cardstock, stamped with Soft Suede ink. The candy dots were added in keeping with the sketch.

Join in the challenge fun at the AHSC blog!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials
Stamp: Gina K. Designs "Harvest Wishes"
Ink: SU! Soft Suede, Cajun Craze; Stampin' Write markers in Melon Mambo and Watermelon Wonder; taupe colored pencil
Paper: Stash of scraps, SU! Very Vanilla cardstock
Dies: Lil' Inker Designs Dotted Squares, Simon Says Stamp Double Stitched Rectangles
Misc.: SU! Candy Dots, craft foam

The Peaceable Kingdom (using corrugated cardboard)

10/21/2015 Update: This card placed in the Top Three at AHSC!

Living in Arizona is a blessing in the winter but having been born in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, I must admit that I miss the sights, sounds and scents of fall. I always enjoyed hiking through the woods during the fall with the leaves crunching under my feet. Autumn also evokes memories of celebrating Thanksgiving on a chilly day warmed by the love and joy of family.

The card design was inspired by Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #129.

On a card base of Mossy Meadow, a panel of Very Vanilla cardstock was adhered, then a panel of Cajun Craze, topped off with a scrap of Birch Bark. Three strips of fall-themed paper were sponged with Cajun Craze and adhered to the green corrugated cardboard cut on the diagonal then adhered to the Birch Bark. An evergreen tree was cut from green corrugated cardboard and cut into three pieces to follow the sketch. Wink of Stella was added to the tree.

The corrugated cardboard gives significant dimension and texture to the card.

The deer was die cut from Early Espresso cardstock, then adhered to Very Vanilla cardstock and fussy cut to outline it. The wood sentiment was lightly sponged with Cajun Craze ink and adhered to the card. The inside was lined with a
panel of Very Vanilla and decorated with a strip of Cajun Craze cardstock and a strip of the fall-themed paper.

Please stop by the AHSC blog and consider participating in the challenge!

Techniques: Die cutting, fussy cutting, sponging
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")
Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Ink: Cajun Craze
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Mossy Meadow
DP: Birch Bark, DCWV corrugated cardboard (green), fall-themed paper (Joann's)
Die: Memory Box "Deer Trio"
Misc.: Wink of Stella (clear), Dimensionals, Little Yellow Bicycle (wood sentiment)

So Grateful

10/14/2015 Update: So Grateful in Gold won a Top Three Award at the AHSC
#128 challenge!








This week's sketch for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #128 was a little tricky for me because of that vertical strip just left of center.

 

A panel of Very Vanilla cardstock was adhered to a card base of Soft Suede. A panel of golf foiled cardstock was adhered. Next a square of Birch Bark paper was adhered.

 

The horizontal strip was made by stamping some bare tree branches in Soft Suede on Very Vanilla cardstock. Leaves were then stamped with Versamark and then heat embossed using tinsel embossing powder. The edges were sponged and the piece backed with craft foam and adhered to the card. Click on the photo at the left for a large close up.

 

The large leaf was stamped with Versamark on a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, then heat embossed with Tinsel embossing powder. The leaf was die cut and the edges were sponged with Soft Suede ink. The leaf was backed with craft foam and adhered to the card.

 

Next the smaller leaf was stamped with Soft Suede ink, covered with Tinsel embossing powder and heat embossed and die cut.  It was backed with craft foam and adhered. The sentiment was stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Tinsel embossing powder. A punch was used for the shape.

 

Finally, that troublesome vertical strip was made from a piece of gold foiled cardstock by using an embossing folder to give it texture and then adhered to the card. The inside was lined with a panel of Very Vanilla cardstock decorated with leaves stamped in Soft Suede ink.

Please visit the AHSC blog and join in the weekly challenges!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting, heat embossing, punching, dry embossing

Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

Stamps: Flower Patch, Lighthearted Leaves; Impression Obsession "Branches of a Tree"

Ink: Soft Suede, Versamark

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Birch Bark paper, DCWV Gold Foiled Cardstock

Punch: Modern Label

Dies: Flower Fair Framelits, Leaflets Framelits

Misc.: craft foam, Stripes EF, Recollections Tinsel EP

Thankful Wreath

This card was made for three challenges: a sketch challenge for Hand Stamped Sentiments #221, a color challenge for colourQ #310 and a photo inspiration challenge at Inkspirational #92.  In the color challenge, Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red are retired colors that I do not have, so I substituted Pear Pizzazz and Real Red.

Four square panels of different color cardstock were adhered to a piece of paper. Then the wreath die was placed so that about each quarter of the wreath covered a different color. The paper was die cut and the results were the multi-colored wreath. The acorns were also die cut from cardstock.

The chevrons were punched from various scraps of DP and the sentiment was stamped on a strip of cardstock than adhered to another strip and cut into an arrow shape. The white cardstock was stamped and the edges sponged. The card was then assembled to a green card base. The sentiment and acorns were popped up with foam. The inside of the card was lined with white card stock and decorated with punched chevrons.






Visit the HSS221, cQc310 and Inkspirational92 challenge blogs to join in the fun!


Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting, punching
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")
Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge & Lil' Inker Designs "Really Rosemaling" (sentiment)
Ink: Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz
DSP: Scraps from stash
Die: Poppy Grendon Wreath
Punch: Chevron Border
Misc.: Dimensionals

Just for You - Dragonflies

10/7/2015 Update: This card won Top Three in the AHSC Challenge #127.

A friend of mine is scheduled for some lengthy and painful dental surgery this week so I made this card for her, using the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge # 127 for inspiration. I also decided to enter the Can You Case It? Challenge #88 because I wanted the opportunity to make a card using a variety of papers - there are four different prints on this card.

I found a 6" x 6" pad of paper in my stash that featured my friend's favorite color - purple. She likes all hues in the blue-red family. I also liked the turquoise spots on the wings of the dragonflies so used Island Indigo to highlight those spots of color and to create contrast.

Several panels of coordinating paper were layered on the Island Indigo card base. The banners were cut from vellum then sponged along the edges for definition. They were attached at the top and then die cut flowers backed with Dimensionals were
adhered. The sentiment was stamped in Island Indigo ink and adhered with a glue dot. The gems were added to the flowers and sentiment banner. The inside was lined with a panel of Whisper White cardstock and two die cut flowers.

For some stamping and design ideas, visit the AHSC and CYCI challenge blogs!

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, sponging
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials:
Stamps: Stampin' Up! Watercolor Wings stamp set (sentiment)
Ink: Stampin' Up! Island Indigo
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Island Indigo, Whisper White, white vellum
DSP: Journeys by dcg studios
Dies: Lil' Inker Designs Perky Posies
Misc.: Dimensionals, gems from stash

Whitewashed Flowers

9/30/2015 Update:

The Whitewashed Flowers won a Top Three position at AHSC #126.

Today's card was made for a dear friend who will soon be celebrating her 75th birthday. I used the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #126 for design inspiration and a whitewash technique that I saw at THIS BLOG and the tutorial HERE.

I used the Secret Garden stamp set. Although retired it's one that I turn to often for pretty flowers. The flowers were stamped on a panel of Crumb Cake cardstock using Versamark ink, then heat embossed with white powder. I followed the technique instructions using Crisp Cantaloupe and Whisper White Craft inks.

The card was dried using a heat gun. Once dry, the leaves were stamped and the twine added. A panel of white vellum was die cut. The back of the vellum was sponged with ink and dried with a heat gun using an oval die as a stencil. In order to pop it up, another smaller scalloped rectangle was die cut from green cardstock and adhered behind the vellum. The sentiment was stamped on the front of the oval using Versamark ink and then heat embossed with white powder.

The green panel was backed with craft foam and adhered to the card. The butterfly was punched from a scrap of cardstock and embellished with pearls. The entire card was assembled on a card base of Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with stamped floral and leaf designs.

Visit the AHSC blog and join in the challenge!

Techniques: whitewashing, heat embossing, embossing resist, die cutting, stamping, sponging, punching
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Secret Garden (retired) and Birthday Blossoms (sentiment)
Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White Craft, Versamark
Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Wild Wasabi, white vellum
Dies: Die'sire Scalloped Rectangles, Gina K. Designs oval used as a stencil.
Punch: Bitty Butterfly
Misc.: Pearls, Crisp Cantaloupe thick twine, white embossing powder, craft foam