Six New Cards

 

I finally had time to take photos of the recent cards I created!

I was working on them before I went on a road trip over Labor Day to Kentucky to visit family. I just didn't get a chance to photo and blog them.

I'm happy to be back in the North where we don't have the humidity that they have in the South. It just about kills me, I hate it! I know we have humidity here in Minnesota, but nothing like they have there. Normally when we visit we either go in May, June or July when it's even worse. We had one day that we could tolerate and that was the first day we were there! Anyway, it was nice to see family.

Moving on.....my first card the background was created blending distress oxide inks - fired brick, worn lipstick and fossilized amber. I then spritzed the background with water to get the droplets where the water reacted. The leaves are from a die called Outline Clustered Leaves from Simon Says Stamp. The sentiment is from a stamp set by Reversed Confetti called The Most Beauty.

 

For the card above and below I used a stencil called Wonky Grid from Altenew. 

I used Brusho Crystal Colours (which are similar to Ken Oliver's Color Burst). I used the colors gamboge, turquoise and cobalt blue. I laid my stencil down then sprinkled the power over the stencil and spritzed watered over it. I set a stamp block on top for a few minutes then lifted it. I cut the panel in two for two cards. The stamp used on the top card is called Bold Colour by Visibile Image. The sentiment used on the bottom card is from Simon Says Stamp called Handlettered Encouragement.

 

 

For the card about and below I used a stencil from Altenew called Ombre Stripes.

I applied distress oxide inks over the stencil on both. The colors used for the top card are cracked pistachio, salty ocean and blueprint sketch. For the card below I used blueprint sketch, hickory smoke and wilted violet. After I blended the inks I spritzed both cards with water to get the inks to react. 

The top card uses a sentiment from Visible Image called So Much Stronger. The card below uses a stamp for Gina K Designs called Lettered and Lovely. 

 

 

For my last card I used a stencil from Gina K Designs that I applied distress oxide ink through. The colors I used are fossilized amber, ripe persimmon and candied apple. I die cut my panel using a die called double stitched rectangles from Our Daily Bread (they've changed their name to Divinity Designs LLC now). The sentiment is from Gina K Stamps called Lettered and Lovely.

I am working my way through the pile above. I'm basically just deciding what sentiments to use on them. I may decide at last minute to add stenciling, embossing paste or die cut into flowers......the possibilities are endless...... I'm trying to keep the pretty clean and simple.

I've been working on the details for a crop I'm hosting the end of October/beginning of November. This will be our second year going to this particular retreat. It's always so fun to get together with others for three nights. I never get anything done, but that's okay! I hope we keep going year after year. The place is always booked so you reserve it a year in advance. 

This year I'm going to be doing a very casual card class. So, I'm thinking of ideas so that I can make a few sample cards for them look at. We'll be doing watercolor, stencils, paste etc so all cards will turn out different. 

We also have one of the ladies doing a Chalk Couture class, so that will be fun. I took her class back in April and loved it!

That's it for now! Thanks for stopping by!

Breathe

I'm back again with another card for three different card challenges!

I'm adding this card to the No Patterned Paper challenge for Dragonfly Dreams, the Anything Goes challenge for Dare 2B Artzy and I'm going to add a second card to The Flower Challenge. 

For my background I used four distress oxide inks. I used evergreen bough, hickory smoke, mermaid lagoon and blueprint sketch. I added the ink to my Tim Holtz glass mat and spritzed water over the ink. I took my alcohol ink cardstock and kept swiping into the ink. I used my heat tool to dry in between layers and proceeded until I was happy with the background. 

After the background was dry, I used the Wacky Boxes stencil from Dare 2B Artzy randomly on the background with hickory smoke distress ink. I splattered evergreen bough and blueprint sketch inks over the background with a paint brush. Once I made sure the ink was dry, I went over the background with Distress Micro Glaze. Because I had used oxide inks on alcohol ink cardstock the background looked a little milky. Using the Distress Micro Glaze makes the color more vibrant. It also seals the background. 

The flower is from the Sizzix Tim Holtz Wildflowers dies. To color the flower I used distress ink in these colors: crushed olive, peeled paint, mustard seed, worn lipstick and barn door. 

The sentiment is from Picket Fence called It's Going To Be Okay. I stamped it using my MISTI with Ranger archival ink in black soot. Instead of using a white card base like I normally do, I used a base from Papertrey Ink called new leaf. 

The Flower Challenge

Dragonfly Dreams: No Patterned Paper

Dare 2B Artzy: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

See Possibility Mixed Media Canvas

 

This is the second canvas I was working on yesterday. This morning the molding paste has dried and I was able to add items to the canvas and finish it. 

I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do with this one. Just like the canvas I posted about yesterday, I don't remember the colors of ink that I used for the background. I had created this over a year ago and just set it aside. I do love all the different colors in the background on this one. 

I added Golden Light Molding Paste in three different places using the gradient hex Tim Holtz layering stencil. I love how when it's wet it picks up the color of ink on the canvas.

 

I finally settled on just doing a random collage of ephemera. 

Most of the items I used are from my Tim Holtz stash of items with the exception of a few items.

The ace of clubs card,  hand, piece of ruler, circle with the N7 and the stamp are from an ephemera packet I've had in my collection for a few years. The small metal frame is the last one I had left and it's by Momenta. 

 

I cut apart two of the Tim Holtz Quote Chips sentiments and adhered all items with Distress Collage Matte Medium. A few of the items I used Glossy Accents. 

 

For some reason I thought both of these quotes fit with all of the collaged items. You just have to see that there is possibility everywhere for everything and you have to believe in yourself. 

I love the variation in color where I used the molding paste with the stencil!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Paper Players PP417: Claire's Theme Challenge

 

I'm linking this card to the Paper Players Theme Challenge below. 

This past Saturday evening I was working on cards at the crop I was at for the weekend. I was so happy when I finished this one. I was writing down all my products so that I could blog it when I got home and could get a decent photo. That's when I realized I had placed my image and sentiment in the wrong spot. Everything was pretty well adhered so I couldn't move anything. I set the card aside and then came across the Paper Players challenge. My card worked perfectly for this challenge!

 

I used distress oxide ink in walnut stain for my project. This is actually the second print using the Tim Holtz woodgrain layering stencil. When I pulled the stencil off the first print I spritzed the stencil with water and then laid my mixed media cardstock on top of the stencil to get the ink off. 

The leaves are some from my stash that I made with distress oxide inks using the stamp and die set from Reverse Confetti. I made quite a few to use in various projects. 

I diecut my circle using a Spellbinders die and stamped the image using Gina K Designs Autumn Wreath Builder stamp set. I love how this card turned out.  

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Addicted To Stamps and More! Anything Goes Challenge #316

One more card for a challenge today!

This one is being linked to the Addicted to Stamps and More! Anything Goes Challenge.

 

I love random thoughts. I adore Visible Image stamps. They have so many cool sentiments. 

This stamp is called Creativity. 

This was a second generation print using a stencil from The Crafters Workshop called mini chickenwire reversed and leftover ink from another card I had made. I used distress oxide ink for this print, but I'm not sure of the color. This was one of the prints I pulled from my overflowing container  of backgrounds. 

I used some bling from my stash to finish off my card. 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Freshly Made Sketches 361 Challenge

Another day, another challenge!

Today's card is going to be linked to the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

The sketch is below and my card is my interpretation of it.

I'm also linking this card to the Simon Says Stamp Flicker Challenge Let Your Stencils Shine.

 

Today I'm trying to link all the cards I made at a crop this past weekend to the challenges that are ending in the next day or so. I think right now I have three including this one that I have to link. 

I had to wait until I got home to get decent photos so I could submit them. 

I make a lot of backgrounds when I don't know what I want to do while in my craft room. I usually toss them into a container until I decide if I'm going to use them for a card or die cut sentiments from them. I was able to use a few of my backgrounds this past weekend and create cards!

For this card I used a PaperTrey Ink stencil along with distress oxide ink to create a watercolor background. The colors I used were wild honey and crushed olive. 

I die cut some garden greens using a Tim Holtz thinlet die from Sizzix. I've started die cutting more and just tossing them in a container for use on cards at a moments notice. 

The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp. The set is called Handlettered Encouragement. I love all stamps from Simon Says Stamp. They are one of my favorite companies.

I finished off the card with some cork bling from Recollections. 

That's it! Now on to the next card!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

CAS on Sunday Challenge #145

 

This is my clean and simple card for the challenge going on over on the CAS on Sunday: Challenge #145 blog. 

I was at a scrapbook retreat the last four days with a lovely, lively fun group of women. We had a blast! I don't usually get a lot done at these events because I spend more time socializing than I do crafting. I did get quite a few cards done for some challenges going on this week and this is the first one that I'm posting. Many more to come in the next few days!

 

I really love clean and simple cards. The theme for this card is to make a card to brighten someones day. That's not hard for me because I have a lot of stamps sets with positive sentiments, which are my favorite!

This card was pretty easy to put together. I applied distress oxide ink in mermaid lagoon over a Tim Holt layering stencil with a stencil brush. I don't have all my stuff put away yet and I neglected to write down the name of stencil. I stamped the triangles using the stamp set from Simon Says Stamp called Perfect Shapes. The sentiment is also from Simon Says Stamp called Handlettered Encouragement. 

The crop retreat I was at is in a cute little town in Buffalo, MN. On the first day of the crop I maybe got one card finished. The second day I was gone for quite a while because a few of us took a field trip to St. Cloud, about 50 miles or so away so that we could go to this wonderful craft store called Crafts Direct. The third day the same few of us went shopping around Buffalo, MN where the crop was held because all the stores were open. There are so many fun little boutiques, occasional sales and antiques stores to go through! We didn't hit them all but we did get to quite a few. 

Saturday evening I really got busy so that I would have cards for the challenges I want to participate in. I had a fantastic time, but it's back to reality and that means going back to work! Thankfully I was smart and took an extra day off so I can get all my stuff put away and just rest!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Simon Says Flicker Challenge 108!

I am really getting this card posted to the challenge last minute!

I'm normally running behind, but not this late!

My card is for the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge and it ends at 9am today!

I wanted to submit one more card because the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenges are one of my favorites and I love the "Anything Goes" challenges. 

Simon Says Flicker Challenge 108! Anything Goes

 

I love this stamp set! 

I actually created this background and two others at the same time. I've posted one card, but didn't know what sentiment I wanted to use on the other two. So this is the second one and I still have one more card to post. 

 

My background was created using distress oxide ink in salty ocean.

I stamped the image with versamark ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.

I then added the ink to my craft mat, spritzed water and dipped my cardstock into it and let it dry. 

The stamp set is called Sketched Flowers by Simon Says Stamp.

 

The die and sentiment is from Sugar Pea Designs called Grateful Greetings.

The stamp set has quite a few sentiments. I love this one!

I added a few clear sparkling droplets to finish off the card. 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

CAS(E) this Sketch!

My card today is linked to the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.

I had hoped to link some cards to a few more challenges this past week but time wasn't on my side!

CAS(E) this Sketch #294

 

My background was stamped using a stamp set from Gina K Designs called Whimsical Wildflowers.

This is a great set because there's also a set of dies that coordinate with the flowers and leaves. 

 

I used Distress Oxide inks for the flowers. The colors used were: fired brick, fossilized amber, wild honey, spiced marmalade, peeled paint and tea dye.

The background for my sentiment was created by adding fired brick ink to my mat, spritzing it with water and then dipping my cardstock into it. I stamped the sentiment with versafine ink in black onyx. 

I love this stamp set. I can't wait to play with it some more!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

CAS on Friday: Thank You Card & Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge

I'm back in my craft room!

I had started this card and two others using the same stamp set but didn't get to finish them before I left on vacation. Once I finish the other two I'll be posting them this week in some challenges I'm going to participate in. 

I spent some time over the weekend going through the challenges I want to play along with this week. We'll see how many I can actually do!

I'm linking this card to the CAS on Friday challenge. The card has to be clean and simple and be a thank you card.

The other challenge I'm linking to is the Simon Says Stamp Flicker Challenge. This challenge is for cards using Simon Says Stamp products and the theme is anything goes which is one of my favorite themes!

CAS on Friday: Challenge #143 Thank You Card

Simon Says Flickr Challenge #108 Anything Goes

 

The stamp set used for this card is by Simon Says Stamp and is called Sketched Flowers.

I love this set!

For the sentiment I used the stamp set Thank You Flowers also from Simon Says Stamp. 

My background was created using ripe persimmon distress oxide ink.

I stamped the image using versamark ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.

Be sure to check out both challenges and see all the beautiful cards that have been created!

Thank for taking the time to stop by!

AAA Cards - CAS Game #123 - Sketch

I created a card for a Clean and Simple Sketch challenge over at AAA Cards. 

AAA Cards - CAS Game #123 - Sketch

The white space on your card outside of the sketch has to be plain, non-patterned, and non-textured.

I think I achieved that. 

 

I really love challenges! I get so many more cards made by participating in them.

I've been playing along with challenges for quite a few years. I take breaks occasionally but I always come back. I find that I miss them when I'm not playing along. I like that there is such a wide variety of challenges. Every type you can imagine. 

For my background instead of a circle, I decided to go with a square.

I die cut a square from a piece of cardstock that was the same size as my card panel using the Sizzix Tim Holtz Framelits called stitched squares. I then placed the negative over my card base and used magnets in my MISTI to hold the stencil in place. The stencil I used is from Echo Park called Christmas Plaid.

I used a Clarity stencil brush to add four Distress Oxide inks over the stencil. The colors I used are: barn door, spiced marmalade, fossilized amber and crushed olive. 

 

I had a few leaves left over from another card I made. They were made using Distress Oxide inks and Rubbernecker stamps called Splatter Leaves and Die set called Fall Leaf. 

The sentiment is from Sunny Studios called Autumn Greetings.

I finished off the card by adding some sparkling clear droplets that I picked up from Kat Scrappiness.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Crazy for CAS #9 - Pinterest Inspired

For today's card I'm linking to a challenge from Crazy for CAS Pinterest Inspired. 

UPDATE: I tried to link my card to this challenge and their link isn't working.

Your card has to be inspired by a card that you saw on Pinterest. 

 I was inspired by the card below from Jen Nelson. Her blog is The Tiny Blue Butterfly.

My inspiration was the fall colors, the leaf and of course the black. 

This is really the first time I've ever created Fall/Autumn cards. 

I had a fall stamp set a few years ago, but only used it once or twice. 

I've created quite a few Fall cards this year with the stamps and dies I've picked up here and there. 

For the background of the leaf and for my sentiment I used Distress Oxide inks in these colors: crushed olive, barn door and wild honey. I put ink on my media mat, spritzed water on it and then kept dipping my card stock into it and drying it in between colors.

 

I die cut my leaf on the white panel. I stamped the leaf onto the panel I had watercolored with Distress Oxide inks. The stamp and die set are from Rubbernecker called Splatter Leaves and Fall Leaf Die set. After positioning the stamped leaf under the white panel I used foam tape to adhere the panel to my my card base.

Using another piece of the watercolored background I stamped my greeting. The sentiment is from Sunny Studios called Autumn Greetings. The frame is from Reverse Confetti called All Framed Up Confetti Cuts. Bling from my stash finalized my card.

 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!