Party Patterns in Gold

I was inspired by this awesome card by Deb Valder:

Although I don't have that same background stamp, I do have My Favorite Things Party Patterns which has similar images. I figured I could recreate this card no problem, I'd just have to stamp the circles separately. How hard could it be? Well, first off, I only had two different sizes of the outline circles, which made me have to really think about placement of all the circles since the above card had several different sized circles. Also, I wanted to enter ColourQ Challenge #351, so I decided to make my circles gold. Then I got fancy and decided to emboss them in gold. Well, I did use an embossing buddy before I embossed, but the pretty gold ep left a shimmery film EVERYWHERE on my card. Not the look I was going for, but the card was still usable, so I continued on by adding my bold SU inks for the inside of the circles. I have such a love-hate relationship with these ink pads! I LOVE the coverage you get and all the pretty colors, but I just can't seem to use them without making a big inky mess of things. I'm getting the hang of tapping lightly, but I need to be more careful and not get my fingers all inky because I end up ruining my cards. After all my planning and embossing and stamping, my card was filled with inky splotches. UGH! Rather than start over, I decided to cut out all the white (and white-with-ink-splotches) out and paste this fussy-cut image onto a card base that I adhered a gold frame to. But when I went to put my sentiment in the perfect spot, I realized I had pasted my image on UPSIDE DOWN. UGH!! Now I had to cut the card front off and paste it onto another card. It's a little thick, but now I was able to put the sentiment right where I wanted it, so I am quite happy with the result. But holy moly did it take me a long time to finish this!! I will try this background again - I am sure it will be much quicker if I don't emboss and also if I remember to be more careful when stamping! Thanks for stopping by!

Ink Splotches

Fussy-cut pieces

Second Card

Supplies Used:

Stamps: My Favorite Things: Party Patterns, Close To My Heart: Celebration (sentiment)

Inks: Stampin' Up: Pacific Point, Bermuda Bay & Rich Razzleberry; VersaMark w/gold ep

Horse Love

Adding these cards to the Mix It Up Challenge #8 at Sugar Peas Designs. Their sketch was a good starting point for me as I knew I wanted to use these horse stickers (since my girls are at Horse Camp this week), but I just needed a sketch idea to get a design going. I've been trying to figure out how to add a little something to get that 'complete' look to my rather simple cards, and for these cards, distress inks seemed to do the trick. They make all the elements pop - a big difference in real life I took a photo of a before shot to help illustrate what a little distress ink can do. I just love my distress inks (perhaps that is why I own so many!!). TFL!

Before & After Inking:

Supplies Used:

Dies/Punches: Sizzix Heart #2, Simon Says Stamp Mini Hearts Set, Fiskars Bubbles Border Punch, EK Flourish Scroll Border Punch
Inks: Distress: Mermaid Lagoon, Walnut Stain & Wild Honey
Darice Wood Grain EF
Paper: We R Memory Keepers: Happy Campers
Other: the Paper Studio Puffy Horse Stickers, Darice Twine

Sending Smiles MFTWSC289

Made this for My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #289 which uses this sketch:

I used brown fun foam to pop up the sentiment which not only gives it dimension but adds a shadow effect as well.  I will be sending it to my older daughter who is at another week of camp. I love this paper pad, I have to try not to make ALL their camp cards with it! TFL!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: MFT Party Patterns, Simon Says Stamp: Sending & Wishing
Ink: Distress Inks: Mermaid Lagoon, Peeled Pain, Tea Dye, Versafine Vintage Sepia, Wink of Stella
Paper: We R Memory Keepers: Happy Camper
Dies: Simon Says Stamp: Sending

Love Flower Power

Another week of camp, another crazy frenzy to create and get into the mail before the mailman comes. Hope I made it! Entering this card in Sketch Challenge 245 over at Freshly Made Sketches. Love their challenges! TFL!

Supplies Used:

Paper: Ki Color Crush

Stamps: Fiskars Friendly Flowers

Dies: Simon Says Stamp mini hearts, Nestabilities Labels Eleven, EK Open Scallop Punch

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Don't Flip Out Card

Hoping to bring some reassurance to my youngest camper. Soon after we dropped her and her sister off at camp, a tornado watch was issued for the area. Luckily the storms passed without a tornado developing, but more storms are in the forecast. Maybe I should send this card to myself to remind ME not to flip out!! I'm entering this card in the Cas(e) this sketch #179 Challenge. TFL!

Supplies Used:

Paper: doodlebug design: take note

Stamps: TSOL flipflops2stamp

Ink: SU Tempting Turquoise

Dies: Spellbinders scalloped circles

Other: Sequins

Enjoy Camp Card

Well it's that time again - time to make thinking-of-you-while-you-are-at-camp cards which need to be sent asap so that they arrive before the camper returns home.  I picked up this delightful paper pad on clearance; should have purchased two. I just love the bright color combos. Hope they send some cheer my girl's way as the weather looks pretty rainy the whole week at Camp O. I entered this in the MOJO 455 Challenge. TFL!

Supplies Used:

Paper: doodlebug design: take note

Stamps: TSOL flipflops2stamp

Ink: SU Pacific Point & Tempting Turquoise

Dies: Spellbinders scalloped circles

Other: Heart punches, Stickopotamus Mini Brush Letters Stickers