Walking in a Winter Wonderland - CAS(E) this Sketch #97

Hey, I'm back with one more quick post tonight!  This time I'm playing along with CAS(E) this Sketch #97.  Here's the sketch provided by Sam Simpson.

Here's what I created.

I've been using my distress inks more and more lately.  I love creating scenes and these inks blend so well...perfect for the look I wanted to create.

I die cut the birch trees from a die by Taylored Expressions, then masked off the two sides to create a narrow scene down the center of the card.  Three shades of ink were sponged over the die cut negative spaces to create the sky.  After removing the birch tree die cut piece and masking...there was my sky!  It's always fun to lift away a piece of masking, to see how the inked areas turned out.

To finish the card, I stamped a sentiment in black ink then stamped 3 little Cardinals on the tree branches.   Done!

Thanks for taking a look!

Supply list ~
card stock: white (Recollections)
ink: stormy sky, broken china, faded jeans, fired brick (Ranger distress inks), onyx black (Versafine)
stamps: in the meadow (PTI)
other: birch tree cutting plate (Taylored Expressions)

Happy Holidays at Festive Friday #43

I'm playing along with Festive Friday Challenge #43 today.  I love the photo inspiration provided in this photo.  Soooo pretty!

I was inspired by the mix of patterns in the gift wrapping.  Here's what I came up with.

I pulled all of these patterns from a 6 x 6 pad by Teresa Collins.  I scattered the die cut pieces across the card panel, then sewed them in place with some red thread.  I tied the ends in tiny bows...kinda fun. :)
After stamping the sentiment, I thought the card still needed something.  So, I pulled some clear gemstones from my (neglected) stash and placed one on each banner.  Then, just for good measure, added one to dot the i in Holidays.

That's it!

Supply list ~
card stock: white (Recollections)
stamps: think big favorites #8 (PTI)
ink: onyx black (Versafine)
patterned paper: santa's list 6 x 6 pad (Teresa Collins)
other: iridescent clear gems (The Paper Studio), red thread, sewing machine

Boo!!!

Hey there!  Yesterday my friend Roberta H. and I spent the day stamping together.  The sun was shining and I got to stamp and chat all day.  Good stuff!!!

This was the first card I made.  It's the only Halloween card that I made this year.  Where has October gone?

This was so much fun to create!  I used 3 distress inks to create that glowing sky outside the window (well, a window die cut actually).   Then I stamped the spider web and spiders.  Of course, I had to add some black enamel accents to the bodies of the spiders to make them look a bit more real.  Ick.  Maybe too real.  I do NOT like spiders!

I glued together 3 layers of the window die cut, so that it stands out a little from the card front.  The final touch is the heat embossed "BOO!" sentiment.  That's it!

Thank you for stopping by and Happy Halloween!

Supplies ~
card stock: whisper white, basic black (SU)
inks: wild honey, dried marigold, spiced marmalade, black soot (Ranger distress inks)
stamps: bite me (SU), been boo'd (PTI)
die: grand madison window (Poppy Stamps)
other: tangerine tango embossing powder (SU), black enamel accents (Ranger)

Seize The Birthday Challenge - Washi tape!

Our new 2 week challenge at Seize The Birthday has a Toppings option of Washi Tape.   I'm so glad, because it forced me to dig into my stash of washi and actually USE some of it. Lol!

You don't have to use our Toppings option, if washi isn't your "cup of tea".  Anything goes, as long as it's a birthday card!

Here's what I created, using washi on my die-cut Happy sentiment.

I simply covered a piece of white card stock with strips of washi tape, placed the die on top and ran it through my Big Kick a couple of times to make sure the die was cutting through both layers.

I carried the circle theme over to the piece of navy cardstock, which is dry embossed with a circle designed cuttlebug folder.   This card will be going out to one of our nephews, who has a birthday in a few days.  I hope he likes it!

Ok, now click on over to the Seize The Birthday challenge blog to see what my team mates have created for your inspiration!

Thanks for stopping in!

Supply list ~
card stock: white (Recollections), pumpkin pie, night of navy (SU)
stamps: phrase play #5 (PTI)
ink: night of navy (SU)
dies: tipped tops (PTI)
other: circles embossing folder (Cuttlebug), circle print washi (from my stash)

Reindeer Christmas Card

Hi!  Just sharing a card (actually I made 4 duplicates) that I made yesterday.  No card challenges.  It was such a fun card to make, that I wanted to show you AND provide a link to Jennifer McGuire's blog, where I learned this technique. I CASE'd her card, actually.  For you non-stampers that means Copy And Share Everything.

Here is Jennifer's card, below.  And HERE is the link to her blog post, which includes a video.

I don't often make "cute" Christmas cards, but her card was just adorable.   So...I created this.

Yeah..I changed very little from Jennifer's card.  My stamped image is from a retired Stampin' Up! set that I still love. It's called Merry & Bright.  I colored this little deer using the technique that I learned in the video and (like Jennifer) covered him with some clear Wink of Stella.  Too cute!

Thanks for taking a look!

Supply list ~
card stock: 140# watercolor paper (Artist's Loft), kraft (PTI), crisp cantaloupe (SU)
ink: tuxedo black (Momento), crisp cantaloupe...for his tiny ears, baked brown sugar (SU)
stamps: merry & bright (SU), christmas blessings (PTI)
dies: stitched mats squares (Lil' Inkers Designs)
other: clear wink of stella, brushes, water

Autumn Leaves

Hi all!  This has to be a quick post.  I created this card last night, but had no time to photograph and post it until now.  And since I worked late, it's a short evening!

I'm playing along in 3 challenges with this card. All 3 fit together so perfectly.  I think so, anyway!

CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS #96

City Crafter Challenge Blog - week #232, Leaves

Simon Says Stamp Blog, Wednesday Challenge - Use Watercolors

Since I love the colors of autumn leaves and I love to use watercolors, I just HAD to find the time to create this card.  I used this technique recently on another card, and it was so much fun.  Time consuming, but fun!

I swirled my leaves (die cut from watercolor paper) through several colors of watered down distress inks, then stamped the veins and added a bit more color to the veins with a small brush.  Once dry, I coated each leaf with glossy accents.  Then w.a.i.t.e.d. for them to dry.  I was finally able to attach the leaves to my card, right before heading to bed.  Yikes!

Ahhh...love watercoloring and glossy accents!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies ~
card stock: 140# watercolor paper (Artist's Loft)
ink: worn lipstick, antique linen, frayed burlap, barn door, walnut stain, fired brick, dried marigold (distress inks by Ranger), early espresso (SU)
stamps: leaf prints, signature greetings (PTI)
other: glossy accents, mini mister (Ranger), paint brushes, water

Seize The Birthday - Sweet Day!

Yes, it's already time for a new challenge at the Seize The Birthday challenge blog!  For this 2 week challenge there is NO Toppings Option.  Anything goes...as long as it's a birthday card!

I've been seeing some amazing creations by Birgit recently on Pinterest and was inspired by her work with inks and/or watercolors.  HERE is a link to her blog.  And a link HERE to her cards on Pinterest.

Here's what I created...

I had SO much fun playing with distress inks and water to create this card.  Loved it!
The leaf was die cut from 140 lb water color paper.  I smooshed ink onto my craft sheet, then misted it, generously, with water.    I placed my leaf onto the wet inks and moved it around a bit.

Then...the scary part.  I lifted it and turned it over to see how it looked.  Success!
I dabbed a bit of darker ink around the edges of the leaf.  Once the leaf was dry, I stamped the veins and used the tip of the brush to add more ink to them.  I finished the leaf with a coat of Glossy Accents, letting it dry overnight before adhering the die cut leaf to my water colored card panel.

Thanks for stopping by!  Now it's time to check the inspiration from the rest of the Design Team at Seize The Birthday.  Just click on the link!

Supply list ~
card stock: 140 lb cold press watercolor paper (Strathmore)
ink: frayed burlap, vintage photo, spiced marmalade, fired brick, barn door, walnut stain (distress inks by Ranger), vintage sepia (Versafine)
stamps: leaf prints, garden variey (Papertrey Ink)
die: leaf prints (Papertrey Ink)
other: glossy accents (Ranger), water, brushes

O' Tannenbaum

I've been busy making Christmas cards this weekend.  Here is one I created, to play along with Virginia's View Challenge #8 - Clean and Simple

Here's the inspiration Virginia provided for this challenge.  Great mix, right???

I used the greenery that I saw in the floral photos, even though I used a Christmas theme.

Here's my card.

I used green and gold on this card.  The matting layer is brushed gold card stock and the gold stamping was done with Delicata Golden Glitz ink.  Love that ink.
I stamped, then fussy cut the tree stand, just to add a little more dimension.  Clean and simple, but a lot of fun to create.

Thanks for taking a look today!

Supply list ~
card stock: white (Recollections), brushed gold (SU)
ink: baked brown sugar, wild wasabi (SU), delicata golden glitz
stamp: o' tannenbaum (PTI)

Peace

Sharing a card that I created for the CAS(E) this Sketch #95 Challenge.  This sketch is by Chrissy Larson.  It's a fun one!

Here's my take.

It's been a while since I did some collage stamping and I thought this sketch worked perfectly for what I had in mind.  It was SO much fun.  I used stamps from 5 different sets and 3 manufacturers for this card.  A bold, layered die cut was used for the main sentiment.  Three layers, glued together.
I might be making a few more of these. :)

I'm glad you stopped by!

Supplies ~
card stock: white (Recollections), real red (SU)
ink: onyx black (Versafine), real red, soft suede, crumb cake (SU)
stamps: ornamental pine (SU), in the meadow, snowflake medley (PTI), holiday wishes, Christmas (The Precious Remembrance Shop)
die: wonderful words holiday (PTI)

Sending You Season's Greetings

I'm continuing to add to my Christmas card stash! This time I'm playing along with the challenge at Festive Friday #41.  This rustic themed inspiration photo reminds me of Christmas scenes from the past. You know, the ones from old holiday cards and movies.  Ahhh...nostalgia!

My card.

The pine panels/siding in the photo inspired me to use kraft card stock.  I love the pop of the white skates and door, so I wanted to work that into my card, too.  Then, a couple of die cut pine branches along with a few red gems added to my die cut panel...and that was about all.  Oh, and my stamped "season's greetings".
I cut several of the kraft panels to get the thickness I wanted.  The narrow frame within it and the die cut "you" are only one layer, though.  I like to vary the thickness of layers on a card to give a feeling of more depth and dimension.

Thanks for stopping in!

Supplies ~
card stock: mossy meadow (SU), white (Recollections), kraft (PTI)
ink: mossy meadow (SU)
stamps: phrase play #6
dies: phrase play #6 (PTI), pinecone corner (Memory Box)
other: red gems (Want to Scrap)

Happy Fall !

I've got several posts to write, so I'll try to make this quick.  We'll see how that goes, huh?  :)

I've been checking out a fun challenge by Taheerah lately, and I finally had time to play along today.  I love her inspiration photos...see for yourself!

Cure For The Monday Blues #31 Challenge

I looked at all of the details in this photo - and there are many - before deciding what elements really caught my eye.  The art deco design on the headboard was the first thing I saw, so my eye kept coming back to that piece.  I was also drawn to that whimsical, bright pink chicken in the frame above the bedside table.  Then, of course, the yellow and white pattern of the comforter.

Anyway (rather long winded, aren't I?), this is how I combined those elements.

It's fairly easy to see the elements I mentioned above.  See that bright pink bird standing in the nest?  My version of the pink chicken in the inspiration photo.  I couldn't resist...she was just so much fun.

Thanks so much for looking.  I hope you'll leave a comment!

Supplies ~
card stock: hello honey, very vanilla (SU)
patterned paper: breeze 6 x 6 paper pad (MME)
ink: soft suede, crumb cake, strawberry slush, tangelo twist, hello honey (SU)
stamps: birds & blooms, wreath for all seasons (PTI)
Other: cover plate deco die (PTI)