A bit of Graffiti x 2

Another not-so-young but not-so-old nephew... graffiti design to the rescue! I fell in love with these series of stamps such a long time ago...it was fun to pull them out once again! My color scheme includes a shade of purple - here seedless preserves - as that is a favorite color of said nephew. Added a blue, a teal and a few pops of black. Made three backgrounds, and I have to say, the hardest part of these kinds of cards is that I fall in love with the backgrounds then hate to cover them up (or horror! cut them up!). I think I may actually add Very Little to the last background....but for now, it will reside in my 'to be finished' stash. Sadly, it will have lots of company there!

Once I had the background done, I created another strip of graffiti elements that I then cut into a fishtail end. After I created the sentiment strip, I added an arrow to help direct your eye to the sentiment. Because I just cannot do two things exactly the same, I used two different arrows on my cards. A very small difference, but that serves as a reminder of how indecisive I can be - a trait that adds unnecessary time to my cardmaking! Thanks for visiting my blog!

Supplies Used:
Stencils: Altenew: Splatter Stencil; Sugar Pea Designs: Concentric Circles  
Stamps: Hero Arts: Brush Strokes; Darkroom Door: Coffee Stain; Sugar Pea Designs: Greatest Hits, Stamps By Judith and Heather: Dots

Ink: Distress: Seedless Preserves, Chipped Sapphire, Evergreen Bough; VersaFine: Onyx Black; VersaMark
Other: White Fine Embossing Powder

 

Joyful Christmas

I fell in love with this stamp set from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store when I first saw it. I was so inspired by the designers' cards, that I was actually convinced that I could pull off making my own Christmas cards for 2020. That was way back in September when the illusion of having plenty of time made my goal seem like a realistic possibility. Fast forward to December, after which I had changed my mind at least half a dozen times, and there I was, stamping, embossing and coloring like there was no tomorrow. This was my first attempt at making a significant number of cards (50). It took way longer than I anticipated, but I was happy with the results. Still love the stamp set bundle. Motivated to do it again for 2021....promising myself I will start much early, though!

Once I decided on the design of my card and arranged all the pieces, the blank background was too boring for me. That's where a little bit of ink through a stencil added just the right amount of interest and color.  Since the stamp set contains only two ornaments and one string & one bow, the embossing took several iterations. The gold embossing really adds a classy look, so the effort was well worth it. Next, I had to color all of those tiny little diamonds....it took about 10 minutes per card to fill them all in! My Prismacolor colored pencils finally got a workout, and they didn't disappoint. Matted the panels on gold foil cardstock, which added another elegant touch. TFL!

Supplies Used: 

Stamps: Stamp Simply: Christmas Joy, Woodware: Sketchy Pine Branch

Inks: Distress: Mowed Lawn, Broken China; VersaMark; Stampin' Up: Real Red

Stencil: Picket Fence Studios: Points of Interest

Other: Ranger: Gold Embossing Powder, Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Nuvo Crystal Drops: Gloss: Red Berry

Loads of Birthday Wishes

My husband's nephew was born on my father-in-law's birthday which also happens to be the same birthday as one of my nieces! Because I like to make each card especially suited to the recipient, that means I have to come up with three very different ideas each October 11. I do try to get a head start whenever the mojo is flowing, and I was able to use a few pieces that I had made earlier which did help things along this year. 

For my first card (the one for my father-in-law), I was once again inspired with the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. It kind of morphed into a bit more than the sketch, but that certainly was my inspiration for this card! For my focal image, I used a pick-up truck that I had colored awhile back while practicing with my Prismacolor colored pencils. I usually use Copics to color my images, but I actually like the 'grainy' texture the pencils brought to the truck. I then stamped and colored the gift packages to add to the truck. I fussy-cut both images out, which is quite easy to do. I grabbed an orange-gold rectangle leftover from a Thanksgiving place card project then stamped and embossed a sentiment from the coordinating die set onto it. I still had some leaves from my previous card lying around, so I used these as little bushes/trees for some added interest (and to add a somewhat rounded look to more resemble the circle of the sketch). I was going to stencil a very subtle cloud background, but I thought the rectangle was too plain, so I opted for cloud diecuts instead. I also added a few puffs of smoke by stamping pieces of popcorn that I inked with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Honey Bee Stamps: Little Pickup and Sending You Sentiments, Sunny Studio Stamps: Autumn Splendor, The Stamps of Life: popcorn2stamp

Dies: Sunny Studio Stamps: Autumn Splendor, Nestabilities Rectangles, My Favorite Things: Cute Cloud Outlines

Coloring: Distress: Various, Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils

Happy Fall

I've been trying to get better organized, so I am attempting to inventory all my stamps. Oh my, what an enormous undertaking that has turned out to be! I don't actually know how many stamp sets I own, but I store them in binders, and at the moment I have about five thick binders full. Wonder if I will ever see the end of this Inventory Project?? At any rate, I came across these delightful fall stamps and decided to ink them up and create TONS of fall colored leaves. I had such fun experimenting with various color combos...I think I had about 20 ink pads out at one time! More fall cards are coming soon!!

 

I've entered this in the FMS Sketch Challenge 455 at Freshly Made Sketches. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used: 

Stamps: Sunny Studio Stamps: Autumn Splendor

Inks: Various Distress and Distress Oxide

Dies: Sunny Studio Stamps: Autumn Splendor and Spellbinders: Labels One

Other: Hero Arts: Leaf & Flourish Stencil, Twine

 

 

 

CTS #376

I made this quick card for the CTS #376 Challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch. 

Once I decided on using the lighthouse stamp, I grabbed some stencils and distress inks and created the clouds and sea. Used a few copic markers to add some color to the lighthouse, and finished the card off with a sentiment followed by a heart inked with more distress ink. TFL!

Supplies:

Stamps: ODBD: Light of the World, Altenew: Heartfelt Sentiments

Dies: Spellbinders Circles, SSS Stacked Hearts

Stencils: SSS: Clouds for Days, Stampendous!: water stencil

Inks: Distress Oxide & Distress, Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black

Holographic Wishes

Entering this in the SC786 Challenge at Split Coast Stampers. Thought this would be super-quick because I used a panel I created some time ago, but as usual, it took some time to decide on which papers to use (I love that Stargazer paper!) and how to add the sentiment. I ended up using only part of the sentiment 'wishing you a lot of' so that I could simply add 'Happy Birthday' inside. I bought the holographic paper on clearance, and I can't help myself from always using it for any star. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Paper: The Paper Studio: Stargazer Foil Pad, DCWV: Holographics Mat Stack

Dies: Sizzix Originals: Stars #2, Sunny Studios: tiny double star, Simon Says Stamp: Fancy Frame Rectangle

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp: Happy 3x4

Ink: Distress: Fired Brick, Faded Jeans, Iced Spruce, VersaFine Onyx Black

Other: Perfect Pearls, Altenew Cube Builder Stencil

Summer Mode #2

Here is my second card for the Fusion Challenge.  This time I used Crystal Drops in Morning Dew...love this stamp/die set from My Favorite Things! TFL!

SUPPLIES: 

Inks: Distress Oxide Inks: Broken China, Distress Inks: Picked Raspberry

Stamps: My Favorite Things: You're The Sweetest

Dies: My Favorite Things: You're The Sweetest, Sunny Studio: Fishtail Banner, Nestabilities Circles

Paper: My Favorite Things: Sweet Celebration

Other: Nuvo Crystal Drops in Morning Dew

Still in Summer Mode

Yes the kids are back in school and yes, Halloween is right around the corner, but I am still in Summer Mode! Love the sketch at Fusion but I'm following sketch only - just can't get my Halloween stuff out yet. I was able to squeeze in two cards for this challenge. I was able to use some Nuvo Crystal Drops that I made awhile ago. This has saved me as I am usually so very last minute that I don't have time to wait for those drops to dry before I have to get my card in the mail. I'm so happy I made a whole bunch ahead of time! TFL!

SUPPLIES: 

Inks: Distress Oxide Inks: Broken China & Spiced Marmalade, Distress Inks: Squeezed Lemonade & Twisted Citron, Altenew Rocky Shore

Stamps: My Favorite Things: You're The Sweetest

Dies: My Favorite Things: You're The Sweetest, Sunny Studio: Fishtail Banner, Nestabilities Circles

Paper: My Favorite Things: Sweet Celebration

Other: Nuvo Crystal Drops in Ripened Pumpkin, Apple Green and Caribbean Ocean

Sailboat with Vivid Sunset

Made this card for my dear father-in-law for Father's Day. First, I colored the sailboats and water swirl stamped images with Copics. I then used distress inks to ink up the water using the stencil that came with the Sailboat Stamps. I then masked off the stenciled water, created a circle mask for the setting sun and inked up the background using distress inks. I fussy-cut the sailboats and water swirls and glued them to the panel which was then mounted on brown cardstock which really made the colors pop. I just love how the copics blend to create such beautiful variations of color. TFL!

Supplies Used:

Inks: Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress

Stamps/Stencil: Stampendous Cling Sailboats & Stencil Set

CAS(E) this Sketch #185

This is the second card I am entering in ColourQ Challenge #354 (I hope multiple entries are allowed!). I have a feeling I am going to use this combo again & again because it is so striking! Again, I used a pretty blue rose but this time I used Sizzix Swirls instead of the MFT Medium Flourish. I think swirls/flourishes are so versatile, I imagine one can never have enough of these in one's stash! I added some black hearts under this sentiment and also used the more detailed leaf stamps from Altenew. The Vinatage Roses Stamps/Dies are one of my all-time favorites. It takes a little practice to get the layers lined up, but once they are just right, the MISTI makes creating multiple images incredibly easy. That tool is worth every penny! I'm also entering this card in the CAS(E) this Sketch #185 Challenge. TFL!

I was inspired by this awesome card by Wanda Cullen (sorry for not referencing this sooner):

Supplies Used:

Stamps: SSS: Happy (sentiment) and Sending & Wishing (hearts), Altenew: Vintage Roses
Ink: Distress: Black Soot, Memento: Tuxedo Black, London Fog and Bahama Blue, Stampabilities: Baby Blue, Colorbox: Cyan
Dies: Altenew: Vintage Roses, Sizzix Swirls
Other: SSS Diagonal Stripe Stencil, The Paper Studio scalloped scissors

Fab Friday 93

Oh how I just LOVE the color combo of ColourQ Challenge #354! This is the first of two cards I am entering in that challenge today. Wanted to use the gorgeous Vintage Roses Stamps & Dies and was very happy with how the cool blue rose turned out. When I saw the color challenge, I immediately decided to use my new diagonal stripe stencil in black. I cut a small scallop border on the blue paper before adhering my striped strip. The sentiment was stamped onto a piece of white cardstock I had die cut using the matting basics dies to which I added a black outline border with a marker. I stamped some plain, simple leaves in grey and tucked them under the rose and added a small scalloped strip of blue under the sentiment box. I'm also entering this card in the Fab Friday 93 Sketch Challenge. TFL!

I was inspired by this awesome card by Jen (sorry for not referencing sooner): 

Supplies Used:

Stamps: SSS: Happy (sentiment), Altenew: Vintage Roses
Ink: Distress: Black Soot, Memento: Tuxedo Black, London Fog and Bahama Blue, Stampabilities: Baby Blue, Colorbox: Cyan
Dies: MFT: Medium Fancy Flourish, Spellbinders: Card Creator A2 Matting Basics B, Altenew: Vintage Roses, Sizzix Swirls (leaves)
Other: SSS Diagonal Stripe Stencil, The Paper Studio scalloped scissors

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

Birthday Wishes

I followed the Sketch 575 from Splitcoaststampers. Lots of embossing and stenciling on this one! I used my new MISTI tool for all the stamping - every image is perfectly stamped and lined up. I love my new MISTI! Also got to use some new stamps and dies from Simon Says Stamp (SSS) along with some older ones from The Stamps of Life (TSOL). TFL!

Paper: The Paper Company (blue background), brown & white cs

Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia and Distress: Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick and Barn Door

Embossing: VersaMark, Clear EP, Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Embossing Paste 

Stamps: SSS: Sending & Wishing, TSOL: hot4balloons

Dies: SSS: Wishing, Spellbinders Circles

Stencils: TSOL: Cupcake Die, small split chevron stencil from my stash

Happy Thoughts

Created this card using the sketch at Fusion. Several different blues going on here: Background is a blend of Distress Blueprint Sketch, Salty Ocean and Faded Jeans. I first stamped the flowers in a random pattern with VersaMark then embossed with Clear EP & heat set. The individual flower die cuts were also embossed but with Sparkle N Sprinkle's Royal Blue EP. The sentiment was stamped using Simon Says Stamp's Happy Stamp Set and heat embossed with White EP. The word Happy was die cut from a Spellbinders Sentiments One 'Happy Birthday' Die. I glued three of them together for added dimension. Added some flourishes, a blue brad, scroll border & ribbon & done! TFL!

Supplies Used:

Paper: Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper & Royal Blue & White cardstock

Ink: Distress: Blueprint Sketch, Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans

Embossing: VersaMark, Sparkle N Sprinkle Royal Blue EP, Clear & White EP

Stamps: Heartfelt Creations Botanical Floral1 & 2, Simon Says Stamp Happy

Dies: Spellbinders Labels Eleven, Rose Creations, Sentiments One, & Twisted Metal Tags & Accents

Punch: EK Flourish Scroll

Bubbly Birthday

Made this birthday card using the  Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 287. Thankfully, that challenge is always open, as I didn't upload it before the next sketch was posted. Inspired by my paper pad from We R memory Keepers, I set out to use a bubble stencil & my distress inks to make my own version of their dotted paper. Only AFTER painstakingly sponging individual circles, I realized I should have just sponged the whole stencil in one color, then repositioned the stencil & sponge a second color - this would provide random colored dots much, much, faster than coloring the dots individually. Then the saddest realization hit me: why didn't I just USE the dotted paper provided in the paper pack?!! Ugh!!! Although, I did have fun sponging/stenciling and as practice makes perfect, my future attempts will now be easier & nicer (hopefully). 

I used an embossing folder for the background, embossed a cake image and colored it with the coordinating distress inks, added a border, sentiment & enamel dots. TFL!

Supplies Used:

Paper: We R Memory Keepers: Happy Campers

Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint, Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed, Walnut Stain

Stamp: Hampton Art

Dies: Spellbinders: Circles, Classic Edges One, Sentiments One

Stencil: Heidi Swap

Embossing Folder: Darice Diagonal Stripe

Other: Recollections Enamel Dots 

The paper that inspired me to make my own version

Quick Hello

This card was made some time ago using the left over Hello from another in-lay card that I made. I used a wood grain embossing folder then inked the design before cutting out the word. I added a bit of washi tape and some other left over paper pieces and I was done - quick & easy. It came out okay, but I think it is lacking some pizazz...but, I just love this Hello Die.  I am sure I will make many more versions of a 'hello card' in the future. TFL!

Supplies:

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Big Hello

Ink: Walnut Stain Distress Ink

Other: Darice Wood Grain EF, washi tape

Pink and Blue Butterfly Birthday

This is a card I made using an embossed panel I made awhile back. I love how the peacock blue and pink colors work together. I love the delicate butterflies, too. Added a few sequins for sparkle. TFL!

Supplies:

Stamp: Penny Black, TSOL,

Dies: Nestabilities Circles, A2 Curved Borders One, Simon Says Stamp! Leanna Butterfly

Inks: Distress, VersaMark, white ep

Other: Ribbon, sequins from my stash

Blue and Gold Graduation

Made another grad card using my Dreamweaver stencil and distress inks. I am entering this in the colourQ challenge #296. I paper pieced the graduation cap and tassel and added extra shine with the Wink of Stella pen. Thanks for looking!

Supplies: 

Paper: Ranger Speciality Stamping Paper

Dies: Spellbinders Sentiments One, Labels One & Circles, Sizzix Stars

Stamp: Northwoods

Ink: Distress Faded Jeans, Mustard Seed

Other: Wink of Stella Pen

Blue Grad Card

Love the new Dreamweaver stencil I picked up the other day. I don't have much experience with stencils yet, but I did learn that there is an enormous difference when you use the right paper with distress inks. The Ranger Speciality stamping paper (matte coated cardstock) allows the colors to glide over the paper so beautifully. Definitely going to have to stock up on that paper!

Supplies Used:

Paper: Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper, teresa collins Everyday Moments

Dies: Spellbinders Sentiments One, A2 Curved Borders One, Labels One & Circles, Sizzix Stars

Stamp: Northwoods

Ink: Distress Faded Jeans & Salty Ocean

Other: Sapphire ep, Dreamweaver Stencil