A Basket of Flowers - Just Add Ink #345

Maybe because January, the most depressive month of the year, is done with, or maybe its the extra sunshine that we have received, but I've had flowers on my mind lately. My downline and I were discussing flowers as well, so maybe that was a factor as well.
Whatever it was, for the sketch challenge with Just Add Ink, I created a basket full of flowers.

The Card:
The base card is Calypso Coral layered with Whisper White embossed with the Hexagon Texturized Impression folder.

Focal Point:
Two circles were die cut using the Shaped Stitched Framelits.  The larger circle is die cut using the Succulent Garden DSP; the smaller circle in Whisper White.  Between the two circles is a strip of Calypso Coral card stock.

Before the basket of flowers was adhered to the Whisper White circle, the background was stamped with Mint Memento ink using the dot stamp from the Avant-Garden stamp set.

The two layer flowers were made using the Petite Flower Punch.  Two of the flowers were punched with Sweet Sugarplum; the third with Calypso Coral. Each flower petal was sponged with the corresponding colour of ink.

A tiny slit was made between each petal after which each petal was curled with a wooden skewer.  They were adhered together using a glue dot. A green flower was punched and cut into 5 petals. These became the leaves of the flowers.

In the center of each flower, sprinkles embellishments were glued in place using tombo glue.

The flowers were adhered on a basket which was die cut using the Basket Builder Framelits, They were then adhered to the Whisper White circle.

Sentiment
The single word. highlighted with a Tip Top Taupe marker to omit the other word, was stamped on a scrap piece of Whisper White card sock and then punched with a small oval punch.  The edges of this oval were sponged with Tip Top Taupe ink and then applied to the front of the basket.

The smaller circle was adhered over part of the larger circle using dimensionals.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Good Greetings, Avant-Garden
Inks: Tip Top Taupe, Calypso Coral, Sweet Sugarplum, Mint Macaron
Papers: Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Sweet Sugarplum, Garden Green, Tip Top Taupe, Succulent Garden DSP
Accessories: Basket Builder Framelits, Petite Flower Punch, Embellishment Sprinkles, Shaped Stitched Framelits, Small Oval Punch, Hexagonal Dynamic Texturized Embossing Folder

Double Hearts Valentine - Try Stampin' on Tuesday #307

This is my first card as a designer for  Try Stampin' on Tuesday using the sketch below this card.  The optional theme was "hugs and kisses" so I made it a Valentine's Day card.

The base of this top fold card is Real Red cardstock. The front is embossed with the Lucky Hearts embossing folder.

The focal point consists of a piece of DSP with hearts on it, which is overlapping some Blushing Bride cardstock.  Adhered to the top of this, at an angle, is a dic cut Whisper White heart. On the heart is a pair of die cut swans with their heads together in such a way as to form the shape of a heart.

The sentiment, stamped on a strip of Whisper White, extends over the focal point.

Supplies Used:

Stamp: Good Greetings

Inks: Black Memento

Papers: Real Red, Blushing Bride, DSP, Whisper White

Accessories: Lucky Hearts Embossing Folder, Heart die, Valentine hearts die

Happy Valentine's Day - Try Stampin' on Tuesday #302

It's almost New Year's Day - only 2 more sleeps- and then on the 4th of January in the New Year the Occasions and the SAB catalogues are available to order from.
This Valentine's Day card, made using the sketch with Try Stampin' on Tuesday, will give you another sneak peak into some of the items from both of these catalogues.

For my card, I put the sketch on its side.

Art Piece:
Three heart images from the stamp set "Sealed with Love" were stamped with Versa Mark and heat embossed with White embossing powder, sponged with Real Red ink, and wiped with a paper towel to reveal the pattern.  They were fussy cut and then matted with Red Glimmer hearts die cut with the smallest heart of the Sweetheart framelits. 

Image Piece:
The Sending Love DSP was matted with Real Red card stock and a silver metallic ribbon attached to the bottom end.
The matted embossed resist hearts were adhered to this image piece with dimensionals.

Sentiment:
A real red marker was used to stamp the sentiment onto Whisper White card stock. It was punched with the Decorative Label punch, and matted with Red Glimmer card stock.  After trimming off the top 1/4, it was adhered to the underside of the image piece.

Card:
The basic black card stock is layered with the Falling Petals embossing folder.
The art piece is adhered to this layer with dimensionals.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Sealed With Love, Good Greetings
Inks: Versa Mark, Real Red Marker
Papers: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Red glimmer paper, Sending Love DSP stack
Accessories: Sweetheart framelits, White embossing powder, Decorative label punch, 3/8" silver metallic ribbon, Falling Petals embossing folder, Dimensionals.

Indescribable Gift Bleaching Technique

The card technique for the Canadian Die Cut Exchange group is  the bleaching technique.  There are several ways to do this , but I chose to paint my image with bleach and a brush and then return the colour back into the image.
I did not follow a tutorial to do this technique as I have done it several times before.
The stamp set I used is a beautiful Easter card, now retired (sob!) Indescribable Gift.

 

 On a 3 by 4" piece of Island Indigo the image was embossed with black embossing powder.  Then using a brush and some ordinary household bleach the image was "painted" with bleach and then heat dried with a heating tool. 

To get the colour I  desired I painted the areas twice, heat drying again after the second application.Then using an aqua painter and ink pads the image was repainted, and some Wink of Stella applied

Some glitter was added by randomly gluing some "In Color" sequins.

The corners were punched with the curvy corner trio punch.

The image panel was matted with 3 1/8 by 4 1/8" piece of Whisper White cardstock and this was matted with a 3 1/4 by 4 1/4" piece of Calypso Coral cardstock.

The base cardstock is Island Indigo, the front of which was embossed with the Decorative Dots embossing folder.  On the left hand side the spellbinder die "Fanciful Lattice" was used to cut a 5 by 3"  die cut.  A piece of 1/4" Whisper White ribbon was wound through the lattice holes on the outer side and adhered with tape on the bottom.  This die cut piece was then added to the card front.

The image panel was attached to the card front , using dimensionals, with the left side close to the woven ribbon.  A bow was made of the white ribbon and added to the left bottom corner with a glue dot.

The sentiment, from "Good Greetings" was punched with a small oval punch, the edges sponged with Island Indigo ink and attached to the card front with dimensionals.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Indescribable Gift, Good Greetings
Inks: Versa Mark, Calypso Coral, Tangelo Twist, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Island Indigo
Papers: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Calypso Coral
Accessories: Spellbinding Fanciful Lattice die, Decorative dots embossing folder, 1/4" Whisper White ribbon, Black embossing powder, Heat tool, Curvy Corner Trio Punch, Small oval punch, Wink of Stella clear glitter brush, In colour sequins, dimensionals, glue dot

Valentine card with Vine, Hearts and Roses - Try Stampin on Tuesday # 252

It's dull and raining today, but the temperature is expected to drop and the rain turn to snow by about 4 this afternoon.  It's a good day to be in the craft room, but as soon as I finish this post there is some cleaning to do.

Along with the sketch challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday there is an  added technique challenge - to add glitter to the card.  Since Valentine's day is so close, I made a Valentine's Day card.

• The Base Card of Pink Pirouette is 5 1/2 by 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4" and folded  to make an A2 card.
• It is layered with a 5 1/4 by 4" piece of Whisper White
• On top of that is a 3 5/8 by 5 5/7" of Love Blossoms DSP
• Attached along the right side of the DSP near the top is a small Garden Green banner.
• For the image, I first die cut a Garden Green vine, and then added 5 small red flower/heart units randomly along the vine.  The flowers were die cut and rolled.

• Red glitter was applied to the heart edges.

The sentiment is from "Good Greeting" and stamped on Whisper White using Black Memento, and matted with Real Red cardstock.  Both ends were notched, and then it was attached to the card front using dimensionals.  Two more small glittered red hearts were adhered to the sentiment.

Supplies Used:
Stamp: Good Greeting
Ink: Black Memento
Papers: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Garden Green, Real Red, Love Blossoms DSP
Accessories: Small heart punch, Red glitter, small flower dies (non SU), vine die (non SU) dimensionals.

Picture Perfect New Year - SUO Challenges #138

This isn't your typical New Year card, with stars bursting in air, champagne bubbles in hand, and fancy dresses.
This is my New Year -representing change and new life - like New Year's Resolutions.
Although it is snowing and freezing rain outside, look at the card and the New Year looks much more pleasant.  The flowers are wishing you a Happy New Year.

The challenge with SUO was to make a project with a New Year's theme.

Here is mine.  The stamp set will not be available until Jan. 5, 2016

• On a separate piece of paper, the hummingbird was stamped 3 times:  Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate and Melon Mambo.  A black marker was used to emphasize the eye, and a fine marking pen was used to emphasize the tail and wing feathers.  The bird was cut out by hand and the edges sponged with Bermuda Bay ink.  Some Clear Wink of Stella was brushed on parts of the bird to give it a shimmer effect.

• On another piece of Whisper White, three roses were stamped with 3 colors:  Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, and Rose Red.  The leaves were stamped with Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, and Mossy Meadow.  All were cut out by hand. The edges of the roses were sponged with Rose Red ink, and the leaves with Mossy Meadow ink.

• In the meantime, stars were stenciled using So Saffron ink, on a piece of Whisper White cardstock, This would provide the backdrop for the flowers and bird.
• Once the roses and leaves were adhered to the front of the card, a strip of 1/8" glitter Bermuda Bay ribbon was added to the lower part, and a bow placed at the left end.  Extra leaves are seen falling down the right side and bottom of the card.
• The sentiment, from "Good Greetings" (retired) was cut into 3 words, and each word was placed in the middle of a flower.  Glitter was placed on top of the words.
• The Hummingbird was added using dimensionals - with the beak pointing towards the rose and the sentiment.
• To finish the card, I place gold sequins randomly on the background.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Picture Perfect, Good Greetings (retired)
Inks:  Hummingbird:  Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate, Melon Mambo
          Roses:  Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, and Rose Red
          Leaves:  Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow
          Stars:  So Saffron
          Sentiment:  Black Memento
Papers: Garden Green, Rose Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Hearts and Stars Decorative Mask, 1/8" Bermuda Bay glitter ribbon, Gold sequins, dimensionals, Wink of Stella glitter brush (clear)

Happy New Year 2016 - The Friday Mashup #237

Merry Christmas Everyone, and may the New Year bring you health, happiness, joy and time spent with family and friends.

To make a New Year's card using the colours gold, silver and black was the challenge with The Friday Mashup this week.
New Year's Eve reminds me of flares exploding in the air, champagne in hand, sparkles and sequins on dresses.
So, that's what I tried to portray on my card:

• On a 3 1/4 by 4 1/4" piece of Silver glimmer paper, I die cut a star in the middle using a star framelit, then I rotated the same star framelit on the same spot at least 3 times to obtain this "explosing in air" effect. This was matted with Basic Black cardstock.
• The year "2016" was die cut using the alphabet thinlet dies, and adhered them to the middle of the "explosion".
• Gold sequins were randomly added around the date.
• Champagne glasses, fron "Making Spirits Bright" were stamped on a separate  piece of Whisper White cardstock.  The glass was coloured with Wink of Stella glitter brush (gold), and the glass contents with the clear glitter.  The bubbles were cut out and adhered to the solution inside the glass.  The glasses were then cut out and adhered to the card front.
• The basic card is Basic Black cardstock lined with design gold vellum paper.  Silver glitter ribbon was added around the vellum prior to adhering the vellum to the card base.
• a row of gold sequins was adhered to the bottom ot the card front.
• The image panel was added to the card front using dimensionals.
• The sentiment was from "Good Greetings", embossed in gold and matted with gold glimmer paper.

Supplies Used: 
Stamps: Making Spirits Bright, Good Greetings
Ink: Black Memento, Versa Mark
Papers: Basic Black, Designer gold vellum, silver glimmer paper, gold glimmer paper, whisper white
Accessories: Gold sequins, Star Framelits, alphabet framelits, gold embossing powder, silver glimmer ribbon, wink of stella glitter brush (clear and gold), Fine tip glue pen, dimensionals

Peace and Joy Pals Paper Arts#273

For this card I brought out a retired stamp set "Best of Christmas".  The Nativity Scene was speaking to me.

 

• I started by embossing the nativity scene in Early Espresso embossing powder on Whisper White cardstock.  The edges were sponged with Early Espresso ink and matted with Early Espresso cardstock.  The image was then painted with Champagne glimmer paint (retired) and a blender pen.
• I then placed a 2 1/2 by 5" piece of Early Espresso cardstock, placed the matted image piece on this strip, and adhered 1/2 circles of Neutral DSP on either side of this.  The image piece was then adhered to the strip using dimensionals.
• The Champagne mist glimmer paint and blender pen was again used to create shiny dots on the Early Espresso strip.
• The base card is Early Espresso, layered with Whisper White and then Neutrals Series DSP pack.  All edges were sponged with Early Espresso ink.
• The Early Espresso panel was then adhered to the DSP.
• The sentiment is from "Good Greetings"

Here's a side view of the card showing some of the shimmering going on

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Best of Christmas, Good Greetings,
Inks: Early Espresso, Versa Mark
Papers: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Neutrals DSP pack
Accessories: Early Espresso embossing powder, Champagne shimmer paint, blender pen, 2 1/2" circle punch

White Christmas and deer

 I'm still at a Craft Show today, but scheduled this post anyway.

I'm still making different Christmas cards using the White Christmas stamp set.  So far I have created quite a few which you have seen in past posts.
Here is the another one:

After colouring the trees and deer with blendabilities, I lightly sponged the sky with Soft Sky ink.  Then I added some dazzling diamonds to the ground.
The image panel edges were sponged with Soft Suede, and a piece of scalloped silver glimmer paper was adhered to the bottom.  This panel was adhered to an embossed crumb cake layer.  Some chevron ribbon and a bow was attached to the bottom of this layer.  The base card is Soft Sky.

Stamps: White Christmas, Good Greetings
Inks: Memento, Early Espresso, Soft Sky, Blendabilities
Papers: Soft Sky, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Silver Glimmer, Early Espresso
Accessories: 5/8" Natural chevron ribbon, Decorative dots Folder, Scallop border punch, Small star punch, Bitty Banner flamelit, Dazzling diamonds, dimensionals

Ornamental Pine and 3 Ornaments

 Today there are 2 cards for  Day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas.  Again the Ornamental Pine stamp set is used but I feature 3 ornaments, all of which are different colours.  The stamp-a-ma-jig is used to accurately place the hangers on the ornaments.

After stamping 2 pine branches, 3 ornaments were stamped at various levels, with the hangers stamped using a stamp-a-ma-jig for proper placement.
A 1/8" silver taffeta ribbon and a silver glimmer star was attached to each ornament.

Stamp: Ornamental Pine, Good Greetings
Inks: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Pacific Point, Rich Razzelberry
Papers: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Old Olive, Silver Glimmer
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, White satin ribbon, 1/8" Old Olive taffeta ribbon, 1/8" silver taffeta ribbon, small star punch, Bitty Banner framelit.

Ornamental Pine with Pine Cones

For the second card of  day 4 of the 12 days of Christmas, I'm still focusing on the Ornamental Pine stamp set, but this time I add  two pine cones to the pine branch.  This stamp set is so versatile that I'm having fun coming up with different cards I can make.

After stamping the pine branch, I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to properly place the pine cones.

Stamps: Ornamental Pine, Good Greetings
Inks: Old Olive, Early Espresso
Papers: Old Olive, Whisper White, Silver glimmer paper, Trim the Tree DSP pack
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Liquid Applique (non SU), Bitty Banner framelit, 1/8" Old Olive and 1/8" Silver taffeta ribbon tied together

Ornamental Pine - Peace and Joy - a CASE

This is my second card using this stamp set.  I cased it from Billie Moan (Rambling Rose Studio), only I changed the paper somewhat.  Other than the fussy cutting of the pine cones, the card is very easy to do.

I mimiced snow falling on Smoky Slate cardstock using Versa Mark, White Embossing powder and Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.
The branch was also stamped with Versa Mark and embossed with White embossing powder.  Using blendabilities I coloured over some parts of the branch.
Now the pine cones were a bit more fussy.  They were also embossed with white embossing powder on Whisper White card stock, and then cut out.  They were attached to the branch with dimensionals.

Stamps: Ornamental Pine, Gorgeous Grunge, Good Greetings
Inks: Basic Black, Versa Mark, Blendabilities (Old Olive, Early Espresso)
Papers: Cherry Cobbler, Smoky Slake, Whisper White
Accessories: White embossing powder, Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Linen Ribbon, twine, All is Calm Snowflake embellishment

Santa's Suit

It's beginning to feel like fall!  Last night the temperature dropped down to 10 degrees C, and the daytime highs have not been much better.  What happened to our summer?
I suppose its good Christmas card making weather, but I'd rather be working out in the garden.
Here is another card I made using a stamp from the Holiday catalogue.  It is a photopolymer stamp and I'm quite enjoying using them.

Stamp: Get Your Santa On, Good Greetings
Inks: Black Memento, Blendabilities
Papers: Real Red, Whisper White, Silver Gimmmer, Nordic Noel DSP
Accessories: Lucky Star Embossing Folder, Deco Labels Framelits, Liquid Applique (non SU), Dimensionals