Very Merry - Hand Stamped Sentient #419

 This card was made for the sketch challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiment. I used one of the new On Line Exclusives "So Very Merry" for this challenge.

The image of the Gingerbread House was embossed with black embossing powder on Vellum card stock.  The sentiment, from the same stamp set, was also embossed with the same powder.

The image was then coloured with Stamp'n Blends on the wrong side using the following colours:  Pecan Pie, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Shaded Spruce, Balmy Blue.

The completed image was die cut using the circle die from the Stylish Shaped dies set.  I die cut a second identical circle in Basic White and adhered the two together.

The card base is Basic White.  

The art piece is a 3 3/4 by 5" piece of Basic white embossed with an embossing folder. In the upper right corner, I added a triangle cut from the" One Horse Open Sleigh DSP.  Two 3/4" diagonal strips of left over from the same DSP was added below the triangle. To add interest, I added some 1/8" gold trim on top of these two strips. 

This piece was matted with a slightly larger piece of Night of Navy card stock.

After adding some twine behind the image piece, it was adhered to the card front using dimensionals.  

To finish the card, I added 3 Adhesive backed sparkle gems.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  So Very Merry

Inks:  Versa Mark, Stampin' Blends, Balmy Blue

Papers: Basic White, Night of Navy, One Horse Open Sleigh DSP, Vellum

Accessories:  Black Embossing Powder, Adhesive Backed Sparkle Gems, Stylish Shaped Dies, twine, 1/8" gold trim, Embossing Folder.

Treats for Easter bunny - Hand Stamped Sentiments #409

 For the sketch challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments #409, I decided to make an Easter card using the Easter Bunny stamp set.  The bunny punch was sold out so I used my Scan n cut to cut out a number of different bunnies and treat eggs.

The card base is Coastal Cabana, layered with Basic white embossed with one of the Basic 3D Embossing folders.

I used the Fabulous Frame die to create the focal shaped image in the front center. I used Coastal Cabana to tie the card elements together.  Before adhering the shaped die cut to the embossed layer, I cut a piece of Dandy design DSP (polka dot pattern) fitting it around the base. I added a strip of glitter Washi tape (from Halloween) to the bottom.

Inside the "frame" I added a flower pot that is actually a 3D sticker and added Egg treats layered on the top.  They were coloured with Stampin blends after which I added glitter. Just in case the bunny wanted a carrot I added a carrot in with the eggs.

The bunny was coloured with Smoky Slate blends with Liquid Applique heated on the tail to make it look like cotton.

The eggs and the bunny were added using dimensionals.

Here's the inside of the card

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Easter Bunny

Inks:  Black Memento, Stampin Blends various colours

Papers:  Coastal Cabana, Basic White, Dandy Design DSP, Glitter Washi tape

Accessories:  Basic 3D embossing folder, vase sticker, Liquid Applique (tail), Dimensionals, Fabulous Frames Die, glitter, Glossy Accents

Happiness Abounds Birthday - Hand Stamped Sentiments

 This card was made for the sketch challenge with Hand Stamped Sentiments #389

The card base of Night of Navy is layered with Basic White cardstock embossed with the Animal Prints embossing folder. The images of the impressions remind me of little flowers rather than animal prints so perfect for this flower themed card.

The art piece is a Basic White banner which is die cut in the middle with one of the dies from the Blooming Happiness dies. I did not know initially what this die was for or what it did, until I did an experimental cut. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the die did not cut an outline image, but a pattern with tiny pop up features. I placed a piece of Night of Navy card stock behind it to bring out the elements of the die cut. 

It reminded me of a trellis, so the two die cut flowers ( die cut from the Hues of Happiness DSP ) were snuggled on it.  The flowers already have their leaves. Attached to them so I did not have to add those.

The banner and Night of Navy card stock were added to the card front using dimensionals.

The birthday sentiment was white embossed on a strip of Night of Navy card stock notched at both ends.  It was added using dimensionals below the flowers.

The card needed a pop of glitter, so I added 3 glossy dots and a bow made with the 1/8” sweet sorbet metallic ribbon.

I die cut the same image on the envelope flap and placed a piece on Night of Navy behind it to bring out the pattern.

Another piece of Basic White cardstock was added to the inside. An extra die cut flower with leaf was added to the inside.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Happiness Abounds

Inks:  Versa Mark

Papers:  Starry Night, Basic White, Hues of Happiness DSP

Accessories:  Blossoming Happiness Dies, 1/8" Sweet Sorbet metallic ribbon, White embossing powder, Glossy dots, dimensionals, Animal prints embossing folder

Happy Hedgehogs - Hand Stamped Sentiments #386

 Where has the time gone?  I can't believe that I haven't posted since the end of March!

Today's post is a card I made using the sketch challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments #386.  It features the cute little Hedgehog and friends.

The card base of Granny Apple green is layered with a trimmed piece of New Horizon DSP. This DSP comes in 6 by 6" pieces so this piece was trimmed to 4 by 5 1/4" and then added to the card front

On the left side I added a 1 1/4" strip of Beauty of the Earth DSP which in retrospect looks like a green wall or the side of a tree.

The various images were stamped with Black Memento ink and coloured with Stampin blends after which they were fussy cut. Before adding them to the card front I stamped some grass directly onto the DSP near the “Tree”, using Evening Evergreen ink.

The toadstool was added first because the Hedgehog is using this as a means to climb up to catch the butterfly.  All images were added using dimensionals.

Some garden gems were added at the base of the toadstool (mushroom).  Do you know that they glow in the dark?

The sentiment is from the stamp set, stamped using Evening Evergreen ink, and die cut using the 

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Happy Hedgehogs

Inks:  Black Memento, Evening Evergreen, Stampin' Blends (Light & Dark Stamp'n Blends (Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Evening Evergreen) and die cut using the Hippo and Friends die

Papers: Granny Apple Green, Basic White, Beauty of the Earth DSP, New Horizon DSP

Accessories:  Hippo & friends die, Happy Hedgehogs punch, Garden Gems Dimensional

Thankful for You - Team sketch challenge

 At the end of our meeting on September 21, the team requested to do another sketch challenge. Below is the two sketches  I sent them.

The challenge is to use their favorite stamp set, DSP, ribbon and an embellishment to make their card.

I thought I would do the challenge myself and my option was to make a square card.

Dimensions and Supplies:

• Blackberry Bliss 5 by 5" card base
• Blackberry Beauty DSP 4 3/4 by 4 3/4"
• Blackberry Bliss Banner 2 by 4" Embossed with 3D Old World Paper EF
• Cinnamon Cider banner 1 1/2 by 4 1/4"
• Cinnamon Cider card stock 4 3/4 by 4 3/4" inside
• Basic White 4 1/2 by 4 1/2" added to Cinnamon Cider on inside
• Scraps of DSP and Blackberry Bliss to add to Basic White on inside
• Gold Foil banner 1 by 3 3/4"
• Gold Foil wreath die cut with Seasonal Swirl die
• Blackberry Bliss wreath die cut with Seasonal Swirl Die
• Punched leaves and acorn with retired punches
• Basic White oval for stamped sentiment
• Blackberry Bliss oval cut in half to mat sentiment oval
• Gold ribbon bow
• Gold foil 2 1/4" die cut circle
• Brushed metallic dots (3)
• Dimensionals
• Mini glue dots

Stars - Try Stampin' on Tuesday #486

 For the sketch challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #486 I used the Rainbow Glimmer paper as a background for some layered silver foil stars. And because there is a lot of glitter on this card it was really hard to get a quality picture.

I started out by die cutting 3 different sizes of stars using silver foil as I knew I wanted to use them on this card. Quite by accident one fell upon some Rainbow Glitter paper I was using for another project.   The rest is history! 

The Rainbow Glitter paper was matted with Whisper White card stock and then mounted on a Night of Navy card stock base.  Towards the bottom half is added a 1" strip of Night of Navy card stock embossed with the Dainty Diamond Embossing Folder. and matted with Dazzling Diamond glitter paper.

Eight stars in total were die cut - 2 for each star- a solid stitched star, and a more intricate patterned star. The two same size stars were adhered together and then added on the card front as shown. A rhinestone was added to the center of each star.

The sentiment, from Itty Bitty Greetings, stamped in Night of Navy ink, was punched with the Classic Label Punch and matted with Silver foil. It was added to the card front along the center strip.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Itty Bitty Greetings

Inks:  Night of Navy

Papers:  Night of Navy, Whisper White, Rainbow Glitter, Dazzling Diamond Glitter, Silver Foil

Accessories:  So Many Stars Dies, Dainty Diamond Embossing Folder, Rhinestones, Classic Label Punch,

Pretty Postage Birthday - Unscripted Sketches #163

This week Unscripted Sketches has a piggyback challenge i.e. use vellum on the sketch provided.
I love doing their piggyback challenges, and here is my card:

 

I used vellum in 2 ways:  First I made a vellum window into which the focal image was inserted.  Secondly, I used vellum as an embossed layer.

Vellum window:

1.  Cut as piece of vellum 2 by 2" and find the mid point

2.  Take each corner and fold so that the corner point is at the center mid point.

3.  Fold each triangle back folding over 1/2" forming the frame.

4.  Insert your focal point.

Before I started I used a marker to color one side of the vellum.

Vellum layer:

After cutting to the right size, it was embossed with the square lattice embossing folder.  The wrong side was then colored with a marker and the edges sponged.

Stamp: Pretty Postage

Ink: Markers of various colors, Riding Hood Red

Papers: Baja breeze, Whisper White, Vellum, Midnight Meuse, Patio Party designer paper

Accessories: 1 3/8" square punch, 1/4" white stitched grosgrain ribbon, Square lattice embossing folder, Fancy fan embossing folder, dimensionals

Elements of Style Birthday Wishes - Stamping 411

I've been hiding indoors because its been so hot outside.  For the last 2 days the thermoments has hit the high 30's early 40's.  Thank goodness for air conditioning!
Taking advantage of the much cooler air in the basement where my work station is, I decided to make some cards and get caught up on the challenges I normally do.
This card is for the Saturday sketch challenge with Stamping 411 here

 

Stamps:  Elements of Style, Petite Pairs

Inks: Midnight Muse 

Papers: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Patio Party designer paper

Accessories: Square Lattice embossing folder, Fancy Fan Embossing folder, Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/4 by 7/8" Oval punch, Pearls, 1/4" white stitched taffeta ribbon, dimensiionals,

Horse Frontier Birthday - Try Stampin' on Tuesday $70

Hope all of you had a wonderful Father's Day weekend.  My family sure did.  My father is not here anymore and at times like this I really miss him.  However, I did help my sons celebrate this day with their father.  We all met for Chinese food - and I ate way too much.

The weekend started off a little nerve wracking.  My neighbours on the other side of the back fence moved out on Friday, leaving behind a pile of rotting garbage adjacent to the fence.  The smell in my yard was -well you can imagine.  No knowing these people, who were tenants, nor the owner, I had no choice but to call the City to lodge a complaint. I was pleasantly surprised that an inspector assessed the property the same day but is giving the owner the opportunity to clean the mess up.  So far there is no evidence of any activity over the fence. The only activity is in the form of wildlife - racoons and skunks.  Patience Maria------

This card is for the sketch challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #70 here
For this card I turned the sketch on its side.

 

While making this card my thoughts went to my sister who just loved horses.  If it wasn't for the fact that she met her husband she would have become a vet.  My sister, this card is for you.

Stamps: Horse Frontier, Petite Wishes
Ink: Soft Suede
Papers: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Country Comfort designer paper, Cajan Craze
Accessories: Tasteful Trim die, Crimper, Early Espresso Baker's twine, Neutral's button,

You Are Loved - Technostamper #224

It's a hot day today - too hot to be in the garden, but not too hot to stamp.  I don't usually like to be in the basement on a nice day, but the heat gave me no choice.
This card reminds me of the peonies blooming in my garden.  Because of the warm weather they are blooming about 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
I used the sketch with Technostamper here

 

Stamp:  You are Loved

Ink: Lucky Limeade, SU Markers (Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green), Primrose Petals

Papers: Primrose Petals, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Summer Smooches designer paper

Accessories: Polka dot embossing folder, dazzling diamonds, pearls, 1/2" Old Olive Scallop dots ribbon, dimensionals

Here is a picture of the peony that was an inspiration for this card:

Fabulous Florets Sympathy - Unscripted Sketches 161

This is my card for the challenge with Unscripted Sketches this week. I used the color challenge with the LNS group: Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, and Wild Wasabi in conjunction with the sketch.

 

The floral image was stamped with Daffodil Delight, embossed with clear embossing powder, cut out and attached to the embossed stem and leaf with a Stampin' Dimensional.  The leaf and stem were embossed with Wild Wasabi embossing powder.

Stamps:  Fabulous Florets, Loving Thoughts

Inks: Basic Black, Versa Mark, Daffodil Delight

Papers: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Melon Mambo

Accessories: Square Lattice embossing folder, Wild Wasabi embossing powder, Clear embossing powder, 5/8" White Satin ribbon, Scallop border punch

Aviary- Try Stampin on Tuesday #69

I decided to make a card for the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch challenge here  using some of the new products that I have.

Here is the sketch:

 

Stamp:  Aviary

Ink: Midnight Muse, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede

Papers: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Midnight Muse, Country Comfort designer series paper, Summer Starfruit

Accessories: 2 1/2" circle punch, Scallop circle die, 3/8" Whisper White taffeta ribbon dyed Midnight Muse, Polka dot embossing folder, Itty bitty flower punch, Pearls

I did not put a sentiment on the card until I have need of a specific card.

Just for You - Need for Speed - The Friday Mashup #60

"Boys will be boys" - the theme with the Friday Mashup this week here.  And when I think of boys I think of racing cars.
I live quite close to 2 major racing tracks, so car racing is part of the culture here.  So this card might just be appropriate for a special man from this area.

The car was stamped several times backwards from the main image to give the car the illusion of motion and speed.  It was colored with markers and an aqua painter.

 

Stamps:Need for Speed, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Black Stazon, SU markers, Not Quite Navy
Papers: Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, Well worn Designer Series Paper, Whisper White, Cajun Craze
Accessories: Harlequin texturz plate, Early Espresso/white baker's twine, Aquapainter, dimensionals

Fruit & Flowers - Sketch Frenzy Friday

Market began this week, but it was pretty quiet.  This market started 5 years ago with maybe 10 vendors, myself being one of them.  The purpose was to raise funds for a medical center that was being built in the community.
Now the medical center is built, doctors have moved in, and the market is thriving.  Yesterday there were 52 vendors - quite a growth.  If only the customers were there, but it is early in the season.  The Trent Severn waterway just opened and the long weekend is over.  Next week a bus load of 50 people will be arriving to take in the market then go for a boat cruise.  Hopefully the sales will be better.

Today, being Friday, is blog hop time with Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Hope you have the chance to join us, visit all the team members blogs and check out their creations.
This week's creation is by Robbie Rubella.  The sketch will appear at the bottom of the post because for some reason Blogger is picking the top picture, the sketch, to feature on facebook, my blog posts etc
I did not put a sentiment on this card, choosing to put one on later when I have need for a specific card.

Stamp: Fruit & Flowers
Inks: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade
Papers: Calypso Coral, Whisper White,  Berry Blossoms designer paper, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: 3/8" ruffled Lucky Limeade ribbon, Two step owl punch (center of flowers), Button, dimensionals

Here is the sketch by Robbie:

 

Now it's time for you to make a creation of your own using Robbie's sketch.  When done, upload it to the SFF home page here 

Your next stop on the tour is Patrice's blog here 

Take time to visit the other team members blogs.  A link to the next stop will be on Patrice's blog or check the sidebar of this blog.

I can hardly wait to see your creations.

Have a wonderful week.  Stay well, stay active, and I'll see you next week.

Best Wishes - In Wildness - Stampin' Queen's Challenge #40

I have been making a lot of masculine cards this week, and the card for the sketch challenge with Stampin' Queen's challenge #40 here is no exception.

Just a slight change from the sketch.  Seeing as my card is a masculine one I chose not to put a bow on it, but rather a piece of ribbon tied in a knot.

Stamps: In Wildness, Petite Wishes
Inks: Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy
Papers: Not Quite Navy, River Rock, Well Worn designer paper, Whisper White, Early Espresso
Accessories: Small oval punch, 1/2" denim ribbon, Square lattice embossing folder, dimensionals, Sizzlet buttons

The Open Sea Retirement - Unscripted Sketches #159

I love doing the challenges with Unscripted Sketches, especially when there is an additional Piggyback challenge to the sketch. The additional challenge this week is to add ink, which could be a stamped image, distressing, or anything creative.
Here is my card.  I decided to make it a retirement card because a lot of us feel like sailing off into the sunset when our full time jobs are finally behind us.  Wouldn't it be lovely just to sail the open seas without a care in the world?

I added ink in several ways.  First of all the background which was created by dropping reinkers onto wet watercolor paper and letting the colors run.  Before the ink dried I added a bit of coarse sea salt creating the design in the background that almost looks like fireworks going off.
The second way was stamping the image using Black Stazon ink and embossing with clear embossing powder.  The focal image was then distressed by inking the edges with Early Espresso ink.  Actually all the edges of the various card elements were distressed with Early Espresso ink.

 Here is a close up of the focal image showing the reinker created background.

Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Reinkers (Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Pacific Point), Black Stazon, Early Espresso
Papers: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Retired SU designer paper, Watercolor paper
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Hodgepodge hardware (vanilla), 1" circle punch, Word Window Punch, Oval Punch, 1/8" Early Espresso taffeta ribbon, dimensionals

Now here is the sketch:

Medallion Christmas - Try Stampin on Tuesday #37

I saw an image similar to this in a cardmaking magazine and in the November issue of Stampin Success (on line version) magazine, and after several attempts ended up with this version of the Medallion ,which I put on a card for the Try Stampin on Tuesday sketch challenge here

Stamps: Hand - Penned Holidays
Inks: Chocolate Chip
Papers: Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Chocolate chip, Real Red, Holly Berry Bouquethttp://trystampinontuesday.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-37.html Designer Paper
Accessories:Simply Scored tool, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, 3/4" circle punch, Eyelet border punch, Old Olive button, Baker's twine (white and early espresso), hot glue gun

The medallion was made by cutting a 1 3/4 by 12" strip of designer paper and punching one edge with the eyelet border punch.  After punching, the strip was 1 1/2" wide which was what I wanted to make the medallion the right size for the card.

Forest Festivities - Rubber Redneck TRSS2

This is my card for the sketch challenge with Rubber Redneck Stampede, with the hope that I will win some blog candy and a pass to the Rubber Redneck Winter Wonderland 2011 edition

Stamp: Forest Festivities
Inks: Black Stazon, watercolor crayons, Early Espresso
Papers: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Watercolor paper, Letters to Santa designer paper
Accessories: Aqua brush, Silver glass glitter, dazzling diamonds, Modern Word Label Punch, 3/4 `` circle punch, 1 3/4 by 7/8`oval punch, dimensionals, rhinestones