Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #109

 

I'm linking my card to the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #109 - Let You Stencils Shine!

I used a stencil called Square Dance from Simon Says Stamp for my background.

I thought the colors would be darker so I was a little surprised especially since one of the colors was distress ink in barn door. I used that color first. I then moved the stencil over just a bit and went back over the card stock with mustard seed distress ink. The colors look pastel. I did apply the color with a stencil brush so that does make a difference in how light the colors are. I love the pattern this technique created. 

 

For my sentiment I used a new set from Simon Says Stamp called Thanks and Leaves. I love this set!

Using my MISTI I stamped all the leaves and the sentiment and then heat embossed them with Hero Arts gold embossing powder. I like how the embossing turned out. It's difficult to get a good photo with the shine. I finished the card off with some sparkling clear droplets. 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Happy Birthday

 

My plan was to participate in some card challenges this week.

That didn't pan out for me.

I haven't done any crafting in the evenings this week after work. I've been recuperating because I managed to fall again! I fell two weeks ago Sunday and I haven't fully recovered from that fall yet. 

Sunday evening I was attempting to take photos of the cards I had made and I fell off of a chair backwards, LOL. Needless to say, I really did a number on my right arm (my right hand hasn't healed yet from my first fall!) and the right side of my back. Crafting can be dangerous!

On to the cards that I did get made. I watercolored a piece of Strathmore Mixed Media paper (my favorite!) with distress oxides. I used peeled paint, evergreen bough and bundled sage. I like to let my  paper dry naturally.

 

After the paper was dry, I die cut all the leaves out using the Sizzix Tim Holtz Garden Greens die.

 

That little magnetic bowl has saved my life!

I put my dies in there when working with them so they don't get lost.

I have one flower die I'm trying to find that has fallen on the floor and I haven't been able to locate.

I'm sure it's stuck behind something

For the background on this card I used the Cheesecloth background stamp from Rubbernecker Stamps. After adding my ink I spritzed water in the stamp and then layed my paper on stamp. 

I used distress oxide inks for both cards. 

For this one I used fossilized amber. 

The stamp is from Simon Says Stamp called Handwritten Borders.





For this card I used wild honey distress oxide ink.

I just stamped the background on this card. I didn't spritz it with any water.



The sentiment for this card is from Close To My Heart called Joyful Birthday Occasions.



I really love how the leaves turned out.

I still have some left to use with a few other cards. I'll probably make some more to keep on hand.



Now I'm off to see what card challenges catch my interest for this week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Simon Says Flicker Challenge #102 - You Are Wonderful

 

This is my card for the Simon Says Stamp Flicker Challenge #102!

The theme is "Favorite Technique".

My favorite technique is creating watercolor backgrounds with Distress Inks. 

 

I just love all the different patterns that can be made by either dragging your card through the ink or by splashing or smooshing your card into the ink. I don't think I can ever get board creating watercolor backgrounds. 

 

I just used two Distress Oxide inks for this background. 

I created a frame that I popped up around my stamped sentiment. 

I watercolored a second panel that I die cut the frame out of. 

This card is linked to the Flicker Simon Says Stamp Challenge. 

Products used for this card:

Distress Oxide Ink: Mermaid Lagoon, Fossilized Amber

Our Daily Bread: Double Stitched Rectangle Dies

Simon Says Stamp Stamp Set: Uplifting Thoughts SSS101623

Really Big Thanks

I know I keep using this stencil! When I created this card for another challenge I had all that wonderful ink left on the stencil so I made another print. I can't waste ink!

I didn't have time to post and link up my card this morning before work. I came home and when I went to work on this I discovered I had no internet! Nothing tests my patience more than not having internet. I've had so many issues with my carrier. Finally after being on the phone with them for over an hour it's working again. For how long, it's anyone's guess. 

I decided to link this card to two challenges: Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Flicker #79 Challenge. The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge uses their new products for STAMPtember. Since they are all new products I don't have any yet. You can also use any of their products that you have. I'm using their Thanks On A Line Die and their Really Big Thanks stamp set. The background was created using a Hero Arts stencil called Glorious Petal. All supplies are listed below.

After creating this card I spritzed my stencil and laid my cardstock on top to get the print for this card. I used three distress oxide inks. I wanted the die cut to match so I took candied apple distress ink and watercolored enough cardstock so that I could use the die to cut the word thanks.

I've linked my card to these challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Stamped It
Simon Says Flicker Challenge #79: Just Stamp It

Supplies:
Hero Arts Stencil: Glorious Petal
Simon Says Stamp: Really Big Thanks Stamp Set
Simon Says Stamp: Thanks On A Line Die
Distress Oxide Ink: fossilized amber, peeled paint, candied apple
Doodlebug Design Sprinkles: Beetle Black

Thanks for stopping by!

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Thankful For Your Friendship

 

Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying their three day weekend. I know I am! Last week I made a list of upcoming challenges that I want to participate in. Since then I've slowing been creating cards and deciding which ones I'll finish in time to link up to. I don't think I will get enough cards made to play along with all of them, but nonetheless I enjoy trying to!

I used distress oxide inks over a Hero Arts stencil using my Clarity stencil brushes. I love them and wish I had a few more! They blend ink so effortlessly. I've linked my card to the four challenges below. Be sure to check them out. Their design teams have created some gorgeous cards for all the challenges. 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Simon Says Flicker Challenge #79: Just Stamp It
Crafty Creations #349: Anything Goes
Creative Moments Challenge 125: Anything Goes

For my sentiment I used a stamp set from Simon Says Stamp. I stamped with Versafine black onyx ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. All supplies are listed below. 

Be sure to check out these challenges that I've link my card to:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Simon Says Flicker Challenge #79: Just Stamp It
Crafty Creations #349: Anything Goes
Creative Moments Challenge 125: Anything Goes

Supplies:

Hero Arts Stencil: Glorious Petal 

Simon Says Stamp: Lots Of Thanks Stamp Set

Distress Oxide Ink: fossilized amber, peeled paint, candied apple

Doodlebug Design Sprinkles: Beetle Black
Clarity Stencil Brushes
Versafine Black Onyx Ink
Hero Arts Clear Embossing Powder

Thanks for stopping by!

Spread Kindness

I created this card for two different challenges that I am linking to. The challenge over at CAS(E) this Sketch #234 is a sketch challenge (sketch is below). It's a great sketch!

For the second challenge over at CAS Watercolor Card Challenge, salt is added to the wet watercolor. I've done this technique before and I love the results!

I used three different colors of Kuretake Gansi Tambi on my card panel. While my panel was drying I accidentally got another panel with blue a little too close. There's a tiny bit of blue mixed at the bottom. All supplies are listed below.  For the salt I used table salt and water softener salt. The die is from Sizzix. It's Scribbles & Splat, a Tim Holtz Alterations die. Simon Says Stamp makes the sentiment that I used. 

Supplies:

Cardstock

Stamp - Simon Says Stamp - Uplifting Thoughts

Die - Sizzix - Tim Holtz Alterations Scribbles & Splat

Die - Our Daily Bread Designs - Double Stitched Rectangles

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Water Colours - #51 May Green, #52 Ocean Green, #53 Mid Green

Thanks for stopping by!

Your Face Makes Me Smile

I created this card for the Design Team Call over at Kat Scrappiness. In order to enter you had to create a new project. I like to combine cards I create with a few other challenges if I find something that is interesting me. Most of the time I just do one or two challenges at a time with one blog post. Today's card is also linked to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Splatter It. The challenge also uses Ranger products and of course splatter on your card. I'm also linking my card to the Simon Says Flickr group challenge.

For my Ranger product I used Distress Oxide Inks. Five inks were used. My card base was splattered with peacock feathers and spiced marmalade. Splattering is messy and so much fun! For my card panel I used three inks - frayed burlap, vintage photo and antique linen.

The die I used is the Sizzix Tim Holtz wildflowers. I splattered it with peacock feathers and spiced marmalade. Foam tape was added so that my card panel is popped up. The splatters peek from behind the Sizzix Tim Holtz mixed media die cut that I used on my card panel. Sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp called Choose Happy. The bling I used is called sparkling clear droplets from Kat Scrappiness. All products are listed below.

I just love these clear droplets! They are my new favorite embellishment!

Supplies:

Cardstock

Stamp - Simon Says Stamp - Choose Happy

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

Distress Oxide Ink: spiced marmalade, antique linen, vintage photo, frayed burlap, peacock feathers
Sizzix - Tim Holtz Wildflowers Die, Tim Holtz Mixed Media Die
Bling - 4 & 6mm sparkling clear droplets from Kat Scrappiness

Thanks for stopping by!

Floral Thank You

I created today's card using one of the layering stencils from Tim Holtz. I used distress oxide ink over the stencil and then decided to use it on the strip of cardstock that I added on the side. When you don't have paper to match the color of the ink you're using, applying it to cardstock is a good way to match your project. I then added my sentiment on the side. Added a little bling and it's done! This was a very quick card to make using only three products.

I've linked this card to the Flickr Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge #76.

Supplies used on this card:

Ranger Distress Ink: peeled paint

Doodlebug Design Inc: beetle black assortment

Simon Says Stamp: Handwritten Borders

Hero Arts: Clear embossing powder
Ink: versafine - onyx black

Thanks for stopping by!

Spread Kindness

I took the extra panel that I had leftover after creating this card and used it to diecut the flower image for this card. After I diecut the flowers the ink seemed a little light. I added more ink to my craft mat and ran the diecut through the ink to get it darker. For the background I used the same inks with a Tim Holtz layering stencil. I'm constantly losing things in my craft room! After looking for my PITT pen and not being able to find it, I took a Tim Holtz distress marker went around the stenciled image to make dashes. All supplies are listed below.

These cards are linking up to the challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More ATSM - Anything Goes, Stamping Sensations: July - Anything with Flowers! and the Simon Says Flicker challenge SSSflickrchallenge#76 Anything Goes.

I love that I've had time to participate in a few challenges the last few days. I hope to keep it up. It really keeps the creative juices flowing when surrounded by so much inspiration!

This card is linked to these challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More: Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations: July - Anything with Flowers
Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge: SSSflickrchallenge#76

Supplies used on this card:

Ranger Distress Oxide Ink: twisted citron, fossilized amber, peacock feathers

Recollections : Pearl bling

Simon Says Stamp Stamp Set: Uplifting Thoughts
Memory Box Die: Splendid Clarkia
Stampers Anonymous Layering Stencil: Grid Dot
Ranger Distress Marker: black soot

Hero Arts: Clear embossing powder
Ink: versafine - onyx black

Thanks for stopping by!

Stenciled Cards

I was able to finish my cards this evening. Actually one was done, I just had to stamp the sentiment on the card below. The process of making them is exactly the same as the cards I posted yesterday. You can see them here. The only difference is some of the products. 

For the card above I used the hand lettered thanks stamp set and matching die from WPlus9. Distress oxide inks used on this card are peacock feathers, fossilized amber and twisted citron. I added Nuvo crystal drops for the embellishments.

This thanks you card uses a stamp set from Simon Says Stamp called Thanks for Being There. I stamped everything with versatile onyx black ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Distress oxide inks used were broken china and wilted violet. 

Something I noticed that was interesting is on the large thanks stamp not all of the embossing powder embossed. It's fine on the other images. I have to wonder if the shimmer spray had something to do with it since the images is so large. 

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Smile & Hello

 

Today I pulled out a stencil I bought from Hero Arts called Graphic Patterns Stencil Pair. I'm not sure how old it is as I picked it up at a stamp show I just went to.  It may be a little older, but it's new to me. I create four stenciled panels. Since there are two stencils I used each stencil to make two panels using different colors of distress oxide inks. For the card above I used salty ocean and cracked pistachio. Fossilized amber and picked raspberry were used for the card below.

I used an Echo Park die called sentiments word die set for the first card. There are five dies in the set. The sentiments are: enjoy, thanks, hello, smile and today. For the other part of the sentiment I used a stamp set from Simon Says Stamp called choose happy.

After I stenciled each panel, I spritzed some water onto each panel to let the ink activate. I then misted some sheer shimmer spritz by Imagine crafts over each panel. The photos don't capture the shimmer on the cards, but it looks really cool. 

The card above uses a die from WPlus9 and the sentiment is from their matching stamp set called hand lettered hello. For each card I diecut the smile and hello dies three times and adhered them together. I also heat embossed the sentiments using clear and white embossing powder. On the second card I used ebony black Nuvo crystal drops. 

I'll post the other two cards in another blog post. 

Thanks for stopping by!

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Cards Using Distress Oxide Inks

I've been wanting to try this technique since I saw Karen's post on her blog Snippets. I bought my Distress Oxides quite awhile ago but haven't taken the time to play around with them. I've been on a mini book kick recently and haven't made any cards for awhile. When I sat down to start creating these cards, I was wondering if I'd forgotten how since it's been so long! Anyway, these cards were inspired by Karen's blog post.

The one above uses a stamp set from Stampin' Up called Flowering Fields and a sentiment from a stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy called Inspirational Work Art 2. 

For the card above and below I used two different sets from Sweet 'n Sassy. One set is Inspirational Work Art 2 and the other is Inspirational Word Art 1. I also used the Timeless Texture stamp set from Stampin' Up.

The card below uses a stamp set from Simon Says Stamp! called Uplifting Thoughts. I also used two different dies from a Tim Holtz Alterations set from Sizzix. It's one of the mixed media sets. I don't see a name on the package so I'm not sure what it's called. 

I do like these new distress oxide inks from Ranger Ink. They definitely are different than the regular distress inks. I have to try some more stamping with them before I form an opinion. 

Thanks for stopping by!

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Many Thanks

I love Dyan Reavelys Dylusions Paints! They are so creamy and fun to work with. I bought one of her journals to use the paints in but I've mostly used them on card backgrounds. 

This card uses a stamp set from Simon Says Stamp called Many Thanks. For the background I used Dylusions paints and bubble wrap.

Thanks for stopping by!

Do Things That Make You Happy

I worked on cards on and off all last weekend. I was working on cards for my swap partners for May and on cards that are called "Angel Cards". These are used for the swap groups when a swap partner can't sent a card to one of the members of their group. I didn't get finished with them and will post after they have been received. I tried to make clean and simple cards this month.

I did get a few cards finished that I'm not going to use for swapping. This card is one of them. I used Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions Paints with bubble wrap for my background. I then went in with a texture tool from Tim Holtz and added the second color. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp.

Thanks for stopping by!

March Swap Cards

These are my cards for the March card swap I belong to called Card Swap Pals.

They are basically all the same except for the patterned paper and the die cut. I used some older patterned paper from October Afternoon that I had in my stash. The die cuts are by Sizzix. They are from Tim Holtz Alterations called wildflowers. I absolutely love them! I also have the stencil and the rubber stamp set. 

Another one of my favorite stamps sets is from Simon Says Stamp called handwritten borders. I've used this set a lot and will continue to. It's such a versatile set. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Hello

 

 This card almost got filed in the trash. I bought some Faber-Castell glass bead glitter gel to try. This was my first experiment with it. I used the same butterfly stencil from Heidi Swapp that I used for this card. While letting it dry I thought it looked pretty cool. The next morning I decided I wanted to add some color. I put the stencil back on top of the butterflies and sprinkled several Brusho colors over the top and sprinkled with water.

After looking at it I think I was a little heavy handed with the color. I didn't want to waste it though because it didn't look that bad that it couldn't be trimmed down a little to make a card. I added a strip of yellow glitter paper but I don't think you can see that it's glittery in the photo. Next time I work with this glitter gel and decide to color it I'm going to be a little lighter with the color.

Thanks for stopping by!

November Swap Cards

These are the cards I sent out to my swap partners this month. For the one above I used a stencil and translucent embossing powder. Sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp.

For the card below I used a stencil with embossing paste and then covered the image with some distress ink. Sentiment from Hero Arts.

For the card above I used a stencil from Hero Arts along with some translucent embossing paste. Sentiment and diecut from WPlus9.

The card below is stamped with a Hero Arts stamp and heat embossed. Sentiment from Simon Says Stamp.

No cards will be swapped for the month of December. We will also be changing partners. I understand that they switch it up every couple of months.

Thanks for stopping by!