Triple Play

I am the most inefficient card maker out there; I can't seem to make a decision and stick to it. In order to produce more in less time, I again tried to make duplicate cards. I came pretty close this time, but I still ended up changing my mind and using different things on each card. 

I started things off by using the sketch from this week's MFT's Sketch Challenge:

Stamped a baseball image three times and colored all with Copics (more or less all are the same at this point). Then I had to choose what size circle to mount the image on....chose two sizes and embossed them both. For Card #1, I popped up them main image and the banner, but the star paper ended up making the banner a bit uneven, so I didn't pop up anything on the other two cards. Since Card #2 was larger, I changed the sentiment and added the Banner Stamp. The blank white was begging for embellishment, so Card #1 got stamped Stars while Card #2 got die cuts. Card #3 got an embossed background panel with ticket-punched corners and a white circle. I think Card #3 is my favorite, so I am posting my photos in reverse order. 

While it still took me forever to create these cards, at least I managed to complete them, put away all the supplies used, AND post the blog entry all within 24 hours. I think that's a record for me! Maybe 2017 will be my year for efficiency....or at least a year for making lots more cards!! Thanks much for sharing my trials and tribulations. Happy Crafting!

Card #3

Card #1

Card #2

Supplies Used:

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, VersaMark, White EP

Stamps: Power Poppy Play Ball

Dies: Nestabilities Circles, Stars EF, Star Punch, Sizzix Doodle Dots, Tonic Ticket Punch

Freshly Made for You

I'm still recovering from the holidays, but while there are still a few things left to do to put my house back in order, I sorely needed to kick back and create! I followed the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches #270 and created an ombre look using distress inks for the Less Is More #310 - Colour Challenge - for which I JUST missed the deadline. UGH! Oh well, it was fun to do:

I applied the various blue inks through a stencil, then paired the blues with a range of purples for an accent. These are my two favorite colors, I tend to use them often! Added some black foam to the 'You' for shadow and extra dimension. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Inks: Distress in Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet and Dusty Concord, Memento Tuxedo Black

Dies: Simon Says Stamp: You, Nestabilities: Rose Creations

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp: You Matter, Heartfelt Creations: Botanical Floral 2

Stencil: Tim Holtz Latticework 

ColourQ#357

LOVE the color combo from ColourQ Challenge #357. When I saw Tracey's card, I knew I wanted to use my Friendly Flowers stamps, but I couldn't use my Stampin' Up Ink Pads to stamp them because they are outline stamps....and so began my big mess of trying to create those brightly colored flowers. My first mistake was to stamp the flower BEFORE applying the colorful ink with a dauber. Then I tried to add white accents with an old gel pen...very frustrating as it took a long time to cover the Melon Mambo. Then I used a black gel pen to go over the lines and I smudged it so badly I had to re-do a Pumpkin Pie flower. But I learned a lesson here so that last flower (the one on the bottom left) was stamped AFTER I applied the ink to the paper. Perfect!! 

For the rest of my card, I had in mind to put a black sequin swirl behind the flowers, but I should've checked my inventory first because I didn't have one. Instead, I used the multi-line circles from Party Patterns which coordinated nicely with the dot border stamp. I die cut the sentiment out of Pumpkin Pie card stock and added a shadow of Black behind it. I finished my card with a few black pearls I found while searching for the non-existent swirl. The end result is a rather clean & simple look, but it sure took a lot of effort to get there. I did learn a few lessons though, so it's all good! Now I just need to get some new gel pens and I will be all set. TFL!


I'm entering this in ColourQ Challenge #357:

and Freshly Made Sketch #252:

 






Supplies Used:
Dies: Spellbinders: Sentiments One
Stamps: Fiskars: Friendly Flowers, The Paper Company: Dots & Stripes, My Favorite Things: Party Patterns
Ink: Stampin' Up: Melon Mambo & Pumpkin Pie, Memento: Tuxedo Black
Paper: Ranger: Specialty Stamping Paper, Stampin' Up: Melon Mambo & Pumpking Pie

MOJO 462 #2

Here is the second Sympathy Card I made for Mojo Monday #462. This time I rotated both of the scalloped squares, added a white border and used a white swirl. The other card follows the sketch more closely, but I like this one a little better - I think the white makes it look a little brighter. TFL!

SUPPLIES USED:

Paper: Our Daily Bread Designs: Christian Faith

Dies: Our Daily Bread Designs: Ornamental Crosses, Sizzix: Swirls, Nestabilities: Scalloped Squares, EK Border Punch: Open Scallop

MOJO 462 #1

Sadly, I was in need of several Sympathy Cards. I always have such a hard time writing these cards out, so I prefer to stamp the sentiment inside while leaving the front free of words. I followed the sketch for Mojo Monday #462 using papers from Our Daily Bread Designs. Once I chose all the papers, I decided to rotate the inner square to frame the cross better. I struggled with what to use for a circle embellishment - buttons and bows didn't seem to belong on this sympathy card, I decided on using the swirl, but in retrospect I wish I would have die cut it in white so it would show up better. Thanks for stopping by! 

SUPPLIES USED:

Paper: Our Daily Bread Designs: Christian Faith

Dies: Our Daily Bread Designs: Ornamental Crosses, Sizzix: Swirls, Nestabilities: Scalloped Squares

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