Red Rocks Birthday - Masculine

11/12/2017 Update: Triple Winner of Favorite of the Week at Splitcoast Stampers for the week ending 11/11/2017.

Over the past few months I have taken a few Copic classes. Here is a card that I made using some of the new techniques that I have learned. It reminds me of Sedona, Arizona, only a few hours from where I live. I have already addressed an envelope to the recipient - a friend of ours who plays poker with my husband will be celebrating a birthday in a few days.

The card was easy to assemble. The image was stamped and colored. The brads were added then the panels were adhered to a white card base.

This card is being submitted to:

1. Addicted to Stamps and More #267



2. Color Throwdown #468







3. AAA Cards #102 (Ink Blending)







Techniques: Stamping, Ink Blending w/Copics
Size: A2

Materials
Stamp: C. C. Designs
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: White (made for alcohol ink); Kraft, green, orange from stash
Misc.: Brads from stash

Make A Wish

11/14/2017 Update: Artist's Pick at HSS Color Challenge #276.

I was inspired to create a card today in response to a few challenges. I have a new set of dies (String Flowers) that I was eager to use and I wanted to use the fall colors.

In keeping with the sketch, two scalloped rings, an eyelet circle and a plain circle were die cut. They were adhered to a panel of white cardstock. The sentiment was stamped on the plain circle, adhered to the eyelet circle and backed with foam tape. I had no Pumpkin Pie cardstock remaining so used the ink pad with white cardstock to create enough for this card. The flowers were die cut, sponged with Pumpkin and Fig inks and popped up with foam tape. Black gems were adhered to the flower centers. The card was assembled with other panels of cardstock onto a card base. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with a die cut flower.

My card is being submitted to the following challenges:

1. Watercooler Wednesday #144










2. Dies R Us #84 (Anything Fall)









3. Hand Stamped Sentiments #276







4. Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #125







5. Seize the Birthday (Use circles)




Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamp: Studio G "Wish"
Inks: Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie, Fresh Fig; Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Fresh Fig, Lemon Lime Twist
Dies: Gina K Designs Stacking Circles, Spellbinders Eyelet Circles, Sue Wilson String Flowers
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); gems from stash

Autumn - A Second Spring

11/14/2017 Update: Diamond Award at the Color Dare Challenge #267.

Challenges... gotta love 'em! It's what keeps me inspired to create cards. My card is the result of four challenges.

Using a scrap of yellow cardstock, I used a green dye ink to water color, hoping it would not turn blue. I kind of smooshed it and tried a brayer for texture. Once dry, I ironed it to keep it from warping and to soften it. I die cut the double-stitched rectangle. The leaf was stamped three times. One was ink blended, one was colored and one was left plain. They were all die cut. The sentiment was die cut twice. I do not have a "Thankful" die so used "Grateful" instead.

The card was assembled, using the plain leaf as a shadow for the ink blended leaf. The colored leaf was backed with foam tape for dimension. The two sentiments were also attached and popped up with clear foam tape, one providing a shadow for the other. The inside of the card was stamped with a verse and decorated with three stamped and colored leaves.

My card is being submitted to:

1. CAS(E) This Sketch #246









2. Just Us Girls #418








3. Dies R Us #84





4. Color My Heart Color Dare #267



Techniques: Stamping, coloring, ink blending, die cutting, watercoloring
Size: A2

Materials:
Stamps: Dare 2 B Artsy "Tangle Leaves"
Inks: Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip, CTMH Fern, Goldrush; Copics
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White; CTMH Goldrush
Dies: Paper Smooches "Grateful"; Gina Marie Designs Double Stitched Rectangles; Dare 2 B Artsy "Leaf Dies 15"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Aquabrush, Dimensionals (foam tape); Kool-Tac clear foam tape

Bloom where You Are Planted

11/07/2017 Update: Artist's Choice at Watercooler Wednesday #143.

The colors in this color challenge drew me in and I was eager to use them on a card. I especially like blue-green colors and teal is at the top of the list. The layout was inspired by a sketch challenge and using this new floral stamp and die set was influenced by a feminine theme challenge.

The card was stamped and colored with Copic markers. The flowers were die cut twice. The first layer of flowers was adhered directly onto the card then another flower layer backed with foam tape was adhered over the first layer. The chevrons were punched and adhered. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with die cut flowers and a punched chevron.

I am submitting this card to the following challenges:

1. Color Throwdown #467 (red, teal, green)








2. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #266








3. Watercooler Wednesday #143








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

Materials
Stamps: Uniko Originally Organic
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz
Die: Uniko Originally Organic
Punch: Stampin' Up! Chevron
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

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)