Creativity Takes Courage

Hello and happy Monday! Is there such a thing as happy Monday?! I didn't used to think so. Now that I don't have to get up and head to work, I believe there is!

I haven't posted anything on my blog for about a month. That's because I really haven't created anything. I'm never not doing something in my craft room, I just either haven't finished a project or I'm putzing around with something. 

I've been in sort of a creative slump lately though. I always know what I want to do, it's just getting it done. I'm also guilty of having too many projects going on at once, which is what I have going on right now. 

I always sift through the emails that I get for card challenges. I love card challenges so much! Over the weekend one caught my eye for The Paper Players. This one is a color challenge. You are to use black, white and one other color. Well, I knew right away that I would be doing this challenge because it's a no brainer for me. These are the kind of challenges I like.  

While I was at it, I looked to see if there were any other challenges I could submit my card to. I found that I would be able to add my card to The Flower Challenge. Flowers have to be the main focal point and my card fits the mold for that one. 

For my card I used an older Tim Holtz embossing folder from Sizzix for the background. I don't know what the name of this folder is as I don't have the packaging and I neglected to write the name on the folder. 

I've been die cutting tons of Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlets Wildflowers #1 and #2 and watercoloring them for use in future projects. I decided that Rusty Hinge Distress Ink would be the color that I would go with for this challenge. I love the color rust. I just watercolored a sheet of watercolor paper, let it dry naturally and die cut the wildflowers. 

For my sentiment I used a sticker from the Small Talk sticker book from Tim Holtz Idea-Ology. I diecut a banner using the Simple Strips Banner Die from Taylored Expressions. 

My card is linked to the two challenges below.

The Paper Players

The Flower Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!

It's Called Balance - Multiple Anything Goes Challenges

 

I love sentiments, especially humorous ones. We definitely need humor in our daily lives. This sentiment is from Taylored Expressions and the set is called Pitch Black. There's a lot of truth to this one!

I'm linking this card to multiple challenges, six of them! They are all Anything Goes challenges and I love those the best! Be sure to click the links below to check out all the cards for each of the challenges. 

Artistic Inspirations: Challenge 206 - Anything Goes
The Creative Crafters: Challenge #7 - Anything Goes
Creates and Makes Challenge #24 - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge 546 Anything Goes
Crafting With An Attitude 43 - Always Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - Challenge 28 - Anything Goes

 

For my background I used one of the Sizzix Tim Holtz 3-D Texture Fades. This one is called Lumber. I've picked up about three or four of these and I loved the texture and dimension you get when using them. 

Before I ran my paper through my Big Shot, I spritzed both sides of the paper with water. After it dried I used Distress Oxide inks over the paper in these colors: antique linen and ground expresso. 

For the sentiment I used VersaFine onyx black. The word Balance was stamped with Distress Marker in candied apple. 

That's it for today! Thank God It's Friday!!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Leave A Little Sparkle

 

The card I'm sharing today uses a stamp set, die and stencil I picked up in June when I went to the Rubber Stamp Expo held at Canterbury Park. I'm glad we have the two shows, one in May and one in June each year. I'm also glad it's just two times a year! It's so easy to overspend. 

Throughout the year I buy things here and there if I'm able to find them at local stores. However in this day and age most of my purchases are online because you can usually get anything you are looking for!

 

I used a stencil from Taylored Expressions called Blooming Beautiful. 

I used distress oxide inks on the background, but I don't remember what colors I used.

I wrote them on the back of the panel, which wasn't the brightest idea because I remembered that after I had adhered the panel to the mat!

The stamp set is from Sunny Studios. The die is called Sparkle Word and the stamp set is called Born To Sparkle. 

I watercolored a small strip of watercolor paper with the same colors I used for the background. Then I die cut the word sparkle. I used VersaFine ink over the word and embossed with clear embossing powder. I repeated this several times so I had a shiny finish. You can't see that very well in the photo. 

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Thursday!

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Taylored Expressions Mandala Cutting Plate

 

This past weekend I finished several cards that I had sitting on my craft table.

I had created the backgrounds a few weeks before, I just didn't know what sentiments I wanted to use.

I used this very fun Taylored Expressions Cutting Plate called Mandala. 

 

I used distress oxide inks for the backgrounds on the card above and for the thanks card below. 

 

The die is from Simon Says Stamp called Script Hello.

The one above is my favorite. 

 

The thanks die is from Simon Says Stamp called Painted Thanks.

I decided not to add bling or sequins. I thought they looked fine just the way the are. 

 

 

 

For this card I used alcohol ink and Yupo paper. I love how it looks marbled. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Products:

Yupo

Taylored Expressions Mandala Cutting Die

Distress Oxide Inks

Avery Elle Simply Said: You stamp set and die

Simon Says Stamp Die: Script Hello & Painted Thanks

You Are Awesome

 

While tossing some items from my craft table I was pleasantly surprised to find two die cuts that I forgot that I had cut!

 

I held them up against each other, offset them a little and decided I liked how they looked.

I'll have to try some other color combinations. 

I like the shadow effect so they were spared from going into the trash. 

 

The die is called Rosette Cutting Plate from Taylored Expressions. The same die I used for these cards.

The sentiment and die are from Avery Elle called Simply Said: You. I used VersaFine Onyx Black ink  for stamping.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cards Using Taylored Expressions Products

I'm sharing two cards today that use all the same supplies.

The only difference is that I die cut one using white card stock and the other using black.

I have quite the pile of cards ready to finish. I really enjoy creating backgrounds. I just sit and make a ton of them, sometimes for days - well, when I'm not at work! Then I decide what I want to do with them. I've chosen several and already have them ready to adhere to the base cards. I'm just going through and trying to figure out what sentiment and other embellishments I want to use on them. Sometimes I just die cut images out of the backgrounds if I don't like it enough to use for a card. 

I'm not going lie, out of both of these cards my favorite is the one using the black as the die cut.

The colors just pop off the card! The patterned paper is the same on both, but what a difference in how it looks using white. 

I bought this stamp set at the very popular Taylored Expressions booth at the Rubber Stamp Show here in Minnesota either last year or the year before that. This year when I visited their booth I bought the cutting plate. 

Their booth was so completely crazy busy! I stood in line just waiting to move along the wall of products they had displayed. My eye caught this cutting plate and I knew I wanted it. The ladies in front of me couldn't make a decision and it seemed like I was standing in the same spot forever and not moving! Finally I just asked one of them to hand me the cutting plate and a few other items I couldn't reach and off I went to the checkout! 

I'm going to try some other patterns with this cutting plate and see how they look.

The name of the stamp set is Plot Twist. The cutting plate is called Rosette Cutting Plate.

For the background paper behind the flowers and leaves I pulled out an older paper pad by DCWV called The Old World Stack. I chose some bling from my stash and stamped the sentiment using VersaFine onyx black ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Two Cards, Same Colors, Different Looks

 

I was playing around with some distress oxide inks today. 

I've created two cards using the same colors but they look very different.

 

I used distress watercolor cardstock for both cards. 

For my first card I used the smooth surface. 

I put some ink on my mat, spritzed with water and dipped each card panel into the ink. In order to layer the colors, I dried the cardstock after each color was applied.

 

The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions and so is the die I used for the coffee cups. 

I used a Stampin' Up stamp set and a Bo Bunny stamp set on the background.

I'll list the names of all products used below. 

 

For my second card I used the textured surface. 

The look created is way different than the first card. I like them both!

 

I did the same process to layer the inks for this card as I did for the first one. 

The sentiment used for this card is Funny Bones by Riley & Company.

I also use some sparkling clear droplets on this card. 

Products used: 

Taylored Expressions: Some Like It Hot & Coffee Time

Stampin' Up: Timeless Textures

Bo Bunny: Stained Textures

Ranger: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock

Funny Bones by Riley & Company

Distress Oxides: antique linen, fossilized amber, wild honey, peacock feathers, fired brick, vintage photo

Thanks for stopping by!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #233

 

This is my card for the design team for The Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge this week. We'd love it if you'd join us with your interpretation of the sketch shown below. 

 

I added distress ink to a background stamp from Rubbernecker, spritzed water on it and then added my cardstock on top. After smoothing the paper out, I peeled the paper off the stamp and ended up with this watercolor print. 

 

For my wreath I used some jute I have in my stash. I wrapped it around a Dylusions paint jar to get the shape. I tied a knot on one side to keep it together. I watercolored some cardstock and diecut a banner and then stamped my sentiment. The sentiment is an older one from October Afternoon. All supplies are listed below. 

I found some leaves in my stash. I picked these up a few years ago at Michaels. 

Supplies:
Rubbernecker Stamp: Branch Shadow
Taylored Expressions: Stitched Banner Stacklets Die
Distress Oxide Inks: spiced marmalade, abandoned coral, fossilized amber, lucky clover
Jute
October Afternoon: Fall Fun Stamp Set

Thanks for stopping by!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #229

It's hard to believe, but I used five dies for this card! I die cut the circle, the stitched banner, the hello sentiment, the flowers and leaves and the border on my background. All supplies are listed below. 

For my background I used distress oxide inks. I added the ink to my craft mat and spritzed water on it. I then crumpled up some plastic wrap, dipped it into the various inks and then dabbed it onto my card panel. I wasn't quite sure what ink combinations I wanted to use. I looked on my Pinterest board that I  have set up called Color Combinations and decided to use one that I pinned from Simon Says Stamp. Since I don't have mustard seed in distress oxide, I substituted fossilized amber. 

For my flowers and leaves I used a wreath die from Spellbinders. I just cut it apart and used what I wanted. I used the leftover scraps from by background pieces. 

This is my card as a Design Team member for this weeks Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge! Stop by and play along if you can, we'd love to have you!

Supplies:
Kat Scrappiness: Fancy Scalloped Stitched Border Dies
Taylored Expressions: Stitched Banner Stacklets Dies
Spellbinders Nestabilities: Standard Circles Small
Spellbinders Shapeabilities: Wreath
Simon Says Stamp: Painted Hello Die
Ranger: Distress Oxide Ink: fossilized amber, spiced marmalade, peacock feathers, picked raspberry
Nuvo Crystal Drops: Ebony Black

Thanks for stopping by!

A Birthday Hello

Today's card is for the Simply Create Too Challenge - Use Flowers. I made some panels this past  weekend using the large flower stencil from Hero Arts. For the color I used Brusho Crystal Colours and I love how bright and cheery this turned out! The sentiment is from WPlus9 and the word die is from Echo Park. All supplies are listed below. 

I die cut the word three times and adhered it together for dimension. 

Supplies:

Cardstock

Stamp - WPlus9 - Hand Lettered Hello
Die - Echo Park - Sentiments Word Die Set
Die - Taylored Expressions - Stitched Banner Stacklets
Bling - Doodlebug Designs Sprinkles - Bumblebee assortment
Stencil - Hero Arts - Large Flower Stencil
Brusho Crystal Colours - Lemon, Rose Red, Orange

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Floral

Today I'm sharing a CAS birthday card I created using an older retired stamp set from Stampin' Up called Two-Step Stampin' Painted Garden. 

I inked up the stamp with distress ink and spritzed with water and then stamped onto watercolor cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment which is from Gina K Stamps called Scripty Sayings and diecut with Taylored Expressions stitched banner stacklets.

 

I added glossy accents to all the flower centers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Foiled Cards

 

Sharing two cards I created using Therm O Web deco foil.

 

For the card above I used PeelnStick toner sheets from Therm O Web. I have to say I was really late to the party on using foiling on my cards. Actually I wasn't too interested. I took a class last September at the Mall of America that Gina from Gina K Designs hosted and I was hooked! I've followed Gina's blog and watched her videos on Stamp TV since 2008 so it was so nice to meet her. She is just a lovely person and so talented! 

Back to the card....after die cutting the Stampin' Up Rose Garden die with the toner sheet, I ran it through my Royal Sovereign laminator using summer rainbow deco foil. I love how it turned out! There were a few spots where the foil didn't adhere and I was fine with that. I like how that made it look more vintage. I adhered the rose to a panel that I ran through my Big Shot using a Cuttlebug embossing folder called script. The sentiment is from Gina K called All About You. I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment and die cut it using the large labels die from Spellbinders. The bling is from my stash that is from Recollections. 

For this card I used Therm O Web's deco foil transfer gel. What a game changer this stuff is! It's so nice to be able to use the stencils in your stash with foil! I smeared it on just like you would if you were applying embossing paste. I then added Therm O Web's aqua deco foil on top and ran it through my laminator. So easy! The sentiment is from Hero Arts called Acts of Kindness that I heat embossed and die cut with Taylored Expressions stitched banner stacklets. The stencil I used is called pixelated from Deco Art. I do like the look and I like the little bit of dimension that you get from using the transfer gel. 

I have made some more backgrounds with foil that I will share later. I haven't decided what sentiments I want to use with them just yet.

Thanks for stopping by!

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