Through The Purple Haze Challenge #147 Make It CAS

 

I love clean and simple cards.

Today I'm linking my card to the Through The Purple Haze Challenge #147 Make It CAS challenge.

This is a new challenge for me. I've not participated in their challenges before.

 

For this card I used Peacock Feather Distress Oxide ink for my water color background.

The thanks die is from Simon Says Stamp. 

 

I use this color a lot. I love it!

 

 

This card uses Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink for the background.

After the background had dried, I laid a PaperTrey Ink stencil over my panel and spritzed it with water. 

 

I also used the same thanks die from Simon Says Stamp on this card.

I make a lot of thank you cards. I'm not sure why, but they are one of my favorites to create along with a few others. I need a few thank you cards this fall so I'm making a pile of them so I have some many choices to choose from!

Again, this card is linked to this challenge:

Through The Purple Haze Challenge #147 Make It CAS

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Fun Backgrounds

Thought I'd share some of the cards I made over the weekend. The card above is made using one of the dies from the Scribbles & Splat from Sizzix & Tim Holtz. The word die is from Simon Says Stamp which was also used on the card below.

The word die below is also from Simon Says Stamp. 

The die above is from Memory Box and the one below is from Simon Says Stamp.

The die above is also from Simon Says Stamp. All the backgrounds except the second card were created using Distress Inks and a piece of acetate. For that card I used Brusho powders. 

I'm getting addicted to creating these backgrounds. I love how every one is so different! 

October Swap Cards

These are the cards I sent to my swap partners for the October Swap. I can finally post them! For the card above and below I used two different embossing folders from Darice. One is called Foliage and the other is called Leaves Assorted Pattern. For all the cards I used Distress Inks. I used a combination of these colors: dried marigold, wild honey, bundled sage, mowed lawn, fossilized amber, crushed olive and ripe persimmon. The sentiments are from an older stamp set I had in my stash called Autumn Foliage by Inkadinkado stamped onto acetate. 

For these two cards (above and below) I used a stencil from Echo Park called Branches. I used translucent embossing paste colored with distress ink. The one below used plain embossing paste colored with distress ink. All the leaves are from two different packages of leaves that I picked up at a craft store. 

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Card Swap Pals

I belong to quite a few craft related groups on Facebook. The newest group I joined I learned about through a group called Stamping Enablers. The group is called Card Swap Pals. I like swapping with others but I just don't do well if there is a theme as I really struggle with the constraints of that. I like to be able to just create whatever strikes my fancy. With this group you are assigned four swap pals and you can send all of them the same card or each something different and whatever type of card you want. This type of swap is right up my alley. Since this was my first time I decided to send four different cards. 

I want to back up a minute to the group I mentioned called Stamping Enablers. This group is by far one of the best groups I have ever joined! The group has grown to over 4200 members in a short amount of time. I have been in the group since it started. There are so many knowledgeable and wonderfully talented crafters from all over the world in this group. It's been a joy to be involved with such a wonderful people. You can join it by clicking here.

I like to create all kinds of random card fronts and then when I have a pile I make cards with them. This seems to work for me since I never really know what I want to make when I sit down and start crafting. It's also easier for me if I go craft with others. I don't feel like I have to get something done. 

The first card for one of my swap partners I created using a Tim Holtz layering stencil called wildflower. I used PaperTrey Ink white cardstock and I used worn lipstick distress ink. The sentiment and die cut is from WPlus9 called Hand Lettered Hello stamp set and Die. I stamped the hello sentiment with distress ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder and then die cut it. The sentiment "a note to say"was also stamped with distress ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I used Cloud 9 Design rain drops for my bling. I matted the image using DCWV canvas.

This card was created using using the smooching technique. I saw this technique from an email newsletter I received from Kristina Werner. Here's the link to her blog post. This is a fun technique and I know I'll be using it a lot! The die cut and sentiment are both from Wplus9 called Hand Lettered Thanks. I heat embossed the sentiment with black embossing powder. The You die was cut using foam. The bling is Hero Arts Hues Decor. I used PTI cardstock for my base and watercolor cardstock for the smooching. The blue mat cardstock is by Recollections. I don't remember what distress inks I used for this card.

 

Again I used the smooching technique for this card. I don't remember what distress inks I used. The sentiment is from Unity Stamps called Storms Make Deeper Roots. I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder. The base is PTI cardstock and the mat is by DCWV called The Jeweled Colored Cardstock Mattock. I also used watercolor cardstock.

This next card that was sent off to one of my swap partners is a technique I saw on the blog Pine Is Here. This was my first attempt and I loved it! I need to explore it a little more and go through my stamps to find more that will work. I used Hero Arts Delicate Leaf Cluster for the images. I heat embossed with white embossing powder. The distress ink I used is peeled paint. The die cut was cut from foam and is from Hero Arts called Thanks Stamp & Cut. I just used some pearls I had in my stash of supplies. Cardstock and base is from PTI. 

That's it for now. Time to start working on my swap cards for next month! I'll post the cards I receive.

Thanks for stopping by!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge: Sketch #101

Every day I get the newsletter from Paper Playful with all the daily listings of challenges. It's one the the emails I love to get and peruse to see if there are any challenges that catch my eye. The other day the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge looked interesting so I thought I'd give it a try. This is my first time playing along with them.

For my card I used Tim Holtz watercolor paper and inked it up with these distress inks: crushed olive, worn lipstick, scattered straw, tumbled glass and dusty concord. I found some thinner Bazzill cardstock in my stash and used two different Fiskars flower punches to create three flowers. I dusted the edges with versamark and then finished them off with white embossing powder. the sentiment is from a Tim Holtz clear set called Phrases 2. Base cardstock is from PaperTrey Ink. I used bling from various manufacturers: Recollections, Doodlebug Design and October Afternoon.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge: Sketch #1

Be sure to click the link about to go check out the submissions for this challenge! Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Morning Cards

Sharing a couple cards I made earlier today while listening to the wind howl and the rain hit the windows. 

For both of these cards I picked out some random patterned paper from my stash. Lord knows I have plenty of it! I love being able to use it with stencils. The red paper is from October Afternoon and the teal paper is from Core'dinations. I used Hero Arts Petals Stencil Pair with Ranger Texture Paste on both of these cards. The flowers on the teal card are some leftovers sitting on my craft table that I used on another card.

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Love Blooms

 

No challenge for this card.  I was just playing around with a older Woodland Park background stamp from October Afternoon and several colors of Tim Holtz distress ink. I also wanted to use a flower die from Heartfelt Creations that I picked up awhile ago and haven't had a chance to work with. It's called Arianna Blooms and I love it!

For the background I stamped the Woodland Park image with versamark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I then inked the watercolor paper the six colors below below.

Here's a close up of the background and the flowers. I used Graphic 45's Bohemian Bazaar patterned paper for the flowers. This Arianna Blooms die is so versatile and can make so many different variations of flowers. I can't wait to play around with it some more. 

The sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called Bloom & Grow. 

I've been using my new MISTI and I love it! I think this will be very helpful for me because with my Rheumatoid Arthritis sometimes I have a difficult time stamping a good image. Just from trying it out with various stamps I think the purchase of this product was well worth it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Sunday Challenge 261

I've been very neglectful when it comes to my blog. Exhaustion is what I've been feeling. I always over estimate how much time I actually have. For awhile I thought I was doing pretty good keeping up with what I love.....challenges! The reality is there isn't much time left at the end of the day to be able to craft every night. So, I've decided I'll do the best I can and participate in them as time permits. I'm sure there will be times when I'll be able to do more than other times. I'm just going to have to live with that. 

This card was made for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. For the background paper and the butterfly I used some handmade paper I picked up at Dick Blick Art Supplies last spring. The red background paper feels like there are small beads all over the paper. I love the texture! The butterfly was diecut using a Poppystamps die called Theo Butterfly. The kraft and the black cardstock is from PaperTrey Ink. For my sentiment I used a stamp set from Hero Arts called Good Friends that I stamped with versamark and embossed with gold embossing powder. 

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 261

Hoping to share more cards and or projects on a more regular basis. Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks

Hello and Happy Friday! Today I'm sharing yet another thank you card! For my background I used a Tim Holtz Layering Stencil called Speckles with some Golden Molding Paste. I mixed in some Vintage Photo Tim Holtz Distress Stain to give it a light brown color.

The images are from a stamp set by Hero Arts called Delicate Leaf Clusters. I stamped the same image three times with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tea Dye, Rusty Hinge and Wild Honey. The thanks die is from Simon Says Stamp.

I'm so happy it's Friday! Hoping to get to spend some time in my craft room this weekend. I'm going to go through all the challenges that are coming up and see if I can inspire myself into creating some more cards!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank You

No card for a challenge today. I used the same cling stamp from Hero Arts called Leaf and Floral Background that I used on this card. The only difference is that this time I used white embossing powder. On the first card I used clear embossing powder even though it looks like I used white. For the background I used patterned paper from BasicGrey. I really love this stamp and know that I will be using it over and over. The look is so different depending on what patterned paper you use behind it. Even coloring the background with distress ink like I did on the first card make it such a versatile stamp.

For the sentiment I used another Hero Arts stamp from the You're So Kind set. For the first time I used a Kraft Dye Ink that I bought from PaperTrey Ink. I've never used kraft ink before and it reminds me of how much it looks like you just stamped with versamark ink on kraft cardstock like I did with this card.

I added some bling from My Mind's Eye and inked around the edges with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo ink. Love how this card turned out!

Thanks for stopping by!

CAS(E) this Sketch #106

Today I'm sharing a very simple card I created for the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge. I was just perusing all the cards that have been submitted and all the design team cards and they are beautiful! 

For this card I used a Darice embossing folder on the edge of my card. It is one that came in a three-pack and is called Simple Pattern. I colored the pattern with Tim Holtz Distress inks in spiced marmalade, shabby shutters and mustard seed. The sentiment is from Hero Arts called Special Note of Thanks. The bling is by Doodlebug called sprinkles. 

CAS(E) this Sketch #106

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CAS - Colours and Sketches Blog: Challenge #107

Loved this challenge from CAS - Colours and Sketches Blog because it used three of my favorite colors! I used PaperTrey Ink colors since it wasn't required to use Stampin' Up products. 

For my image I used a stamp from the Hero Arts Delicate Leaf Clusters clear set and stamped it onto my cardstock with Versamark ink. For the sentiment I used another Hero Arts stamp set called You're So Kind. The bling is from BasicGrey called Candy Buttons. Pretty simple, quick and easy!

CAS - Colours and Sketches Blog

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Thanks

I love these large cling background stamps! I've got several from Hero Arts and October Afternoon. I've pulled them all out and decided to create some cards with them. I have so many stamps that I've collected and have never used. I've challenged myself to get them out and start playing with them!

For this card it looks like I've used white embossing powder, but I didn't. I took a pieced of Tim Holtz watercolor paper and stamped the Hero Arts Leaf and Floral background stamp with versamark ink. I then heat embossed the image with clear embossing powder. For the colors I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in peeled paint, dusty concord and rusty hinge. The sentiment is a die from Simon Says Stamp. I love these word dies and am planning on buying more of them. The bow is tied using three different colors of American Crafts twine.

Such an easy and fun way to create a card! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Thank You Very Much!

Another card using Golden Light Molding Paste. I'm really happy with how this card turned out. It makes me want to go out and buy some more stencils. I really love working with them!

For this card I used Tim Holtz Distress ink in Broken China to color the molding paste. The stencil design is by Heidi Swapp. I used a Hero Arts stamp from the Thanks A Bunch Set (CL663) along with the Broken China distress ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. The white base is from PaperTrey Ink and the island blue cardstock is from Simon Says Stamp. The bling is by My Mind's Eye.

I haven't had much crafting time this week after work. I've just felt tired and cold and haven't felt like crafting. What I don't like is when I get all these ideas going through my head as I'm having coffee before I have to leave for work and can't act on any of them. Hopefully I'll still have all this enthusiasm this evening so I can try some of my ideas out!

Thanks for dropping by today!

Cardabilities Sketch #114

I love the sketches from the Cardabilities blog. I was able to get this one done by the skin of my teeth! I was procrastinating a little because I had too many cards I was working on at once. 

I see so many possibilities with this sketch. I want to create more cards with it. I used PaperTrey Ink cardstock for my base in white. The colored cardstock is from the Jewel Colored Cardstock Mattock by DCWV. Love the texture of this cardstock! I used Nestabilities to cut my circles, the foliage and the pennant. The Thanks sentiment was cut from a die from Simon Says Stamp. The pearl bling is from Hero Arts and the ribbon is just a piece of scrap from my stash.

Cardabilities Sketch #114

Stop by and check out the other cards from their design team and other contributors for this challenge. The cards are gorgeous! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #324

This challenge made me so happy! I'm always up for creating a card with red, black and white. This is one of my favorite color combinations. 

For my background I used both a Sizzix and a Darice embossing folder for the black and red cardstock. The white is a Nestabilities Fancy Label that I die cut. I used the Tim Holtz Marker Spritzer to create the background on the label using Distress Markers in black soot and festive berries. The sentiment is a Simon Says Stamp die that I cut. I am really loving all of the word dies that I seem to be collecting. So much faster than always stamping!

I'm linking this card up to the Color Throwdown Challenge. There are really some beautiful cards over there from the design team and cardmakers that have joined the challenge. I hope you'll check them out!

Color Throwdown #324

Stay warm today! Temps will be in the 30's by Friday! Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Monday Christmas Challenge: Merry Monday #140 {Snowflakes} & The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up!

This year I've decided to link up to as many Christmas Challenges as I can throughout the year. I'm hoping this helps me to get more holiday cards made so I'm not down to the wire when Christmas rolls around. I really got a late start this past year and although I made cards, I never sent them out! Not a one. That just means I have a head start for this year!

I'm using this card for two challenges: The Merry Monday Christmas Challenge and The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. I decided to go with the snowflake theme for my card. For the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up the theme Father Time was optional so my card worked for both challenges.

I used a snowflake embossing folder from Cuttlebug for my background and inked it up with Tim Holtz distress ink in tumbled glass. I used a Tim Holtz Alterations Paper Snowflake Die for my glittery snowflake diecut from Recollections Brights Signature Glitter Cardstock. I also used the same paper for my mat and the word Joy cut from another Tim Holtz word die called Script. 

I REALLY love these word dies! I've been checking out all the new products coming out at CHA and I just know I have to have some of the new word dies from Tim Holtz! You can see them here on his blog! LOVE THEM!

Merry Monday #140 Snowflakes

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up
Challenge #1 Optional Theme: Father Time

Hoping to get some more cards finished for some other challenges today and keep working on a custom thank you card order I'm almost done with. So many challenges, so little time! Thanks for stopping by! 

Thanks

No cards for a challenge today. I created some card fronts and set them aside to finish working on at a later time and this is what I came up with for one of them.

I've seen so many challenges that look like fun for this week. I'm hoping to get some cards created in time for them!

For this card I used a Tim Holtz Watercolor Cardstock, a Heidi Swapp stencil and Golden Light Molding Paste. I then colored it with three different green inks from Tsukineko called #10 Circus. Base cardstock is from PaperTrey Ink. Gems are from My Mind's Eye and Doodlebug Design. Sentiment is by Hero Arts called Thanks A Bunch CL663.

Thanks for taking time out of your day to stop by!

Virginia's View Challenge #11 (Clean Slate)

I love the Virginia's View Challenges! The cards in this challenge never disappoint, they are always so beautiful. 

Here's what Virginia says this challenge is about:

~card design with a lot of white space

~one layer ( no layers; you can add embellishments, such as sequins, twines, ribbons..etc)

~masking technique 

~white on white (ex. white card stock with white textured/stamped designs) 

~layered stamping
~anything that involves WHITE

For my card I left lots of white space, created a one layer design using stencils, used a masking technique and I also did layered stamping. 

The stencils I used are from Plaid and Memory Box. The Memory Box stencil is called Delicate Butterflies. The inks are from Tsukineko Splendor called #10 Circus. Base cardstock is from PaperTrey Ink. The sentiment used for the card above is from Hero Arts and the one used on the card below if from Lawn Fawn. 

The second card below is just an extra. I didn't add it to the challenge. I was just playing around with another one of the Plaid stencils. I thought it looked like it would be a good choice for a birthday card!

Be sure to stop by Virginia's Challenge and check out all the gorgeous cards!

Virginia's View Challenge #11 (Clean Slate)

If you live in a state that is having frigid temps right now....enjoy it, Ha!

Thanks for stopping by!