Monday, March 18, 2024

Easter and Birthday

The March challenge for Poppystamps is Mixed Media.  I've moved one set of my Lindy's Magicals to their shaker bottles and wanted to try them out. 
I die cut a Poppystamps Tunnel Tag from watercolor paper and used Ponderosa Pines Olive and Tibetan Poppy Teal.  Wish I hadn't blended them together so much, but it did make a beautifully shimmery tag.  A smaller tag in the set was die cut from SSS Champagne glitter cardstock and Poppystamps Serene Rabbit was die cut from the tag.
Before attaching the little tag with foam tape, I stamped the Winnie and Walter words in Versafine Clair Nocturne.  I found a piece of green cardstock that went well with my Magicals mixture of colors and used SSS 3D embossing folder called Leaf Tumble.  I added a touch of gold ink to the small leaves and a "junk bow" a la Melissa Phillips to the tags.  You can see the sparkle and shimmer in a short video in my IG post.   
The Pinkfresh Studio March challenge theme is Frame it Up.  I missed last month's challenge and since I have PFS Fancy Oval Frame, couldn't let that happen again!  PFS Sweet Friend Floral is one of my favorites and the images are a great size to use with the frame.  
Matching stencils are a lifesaver for me, as coloring is at the bottom of my list of skills!  The CN9 inks are Sweet Pea, Dragonfruit, Parsley, Evergreen, Buttercup and Sunflower.  I added yellow Stickles over the yellow inks before arranging the flower stems on the side of the gold metallic frame.  Love the contrast of the pinks with the black background, but it was too stark to suit me until I added gold watercolor splatters.  
I love the font and the sentiments in PFS Perfect Sentiments.  It's a one piece stamp with a one piece die.  I tried many times to get the die lined up.  A couple sentiments would be good and the rest were not centered close enough to use.  Plus, I've wished I could stamp directly onto cards.  So...I decided to cut the sentiment stamps apart and I'm so glad I did!  Now I can cut a small piece of paper to cover the part of the die I need or cut them all to have extras for layering.  I do the usual method of lining up the stamped sentiment using the negative, pop in the diecut and stamp.  That's how I did the celebrate for this card.  I'm feeling so smart--haha!  Always so rewarding to be happy with a creation and I do love this card.  I'm also entering Seize the Birthday without the topping, Snippets Playground with white/gold/black snippets, SSS Wednesday and Word Art Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Time Out Challenge#259

We have a very special challenge for you at Time Out.  It's a collaboration with Just Us Girls and the theme is Birds of a Feather.  When you enter a project in the linky, you will automatically also be joining the challenge at Just Us Girls.  Talk about a great Twofer!  Plus, you'll have double the chances of being chosen as a favorite and of winning the $25 store credit to Waffle Flower.  
I'm still making Easter cards and knew exactly what I wanted to use for my card--Memory Box Serene Bird and Branch. 
I very lightly brushed the edges of the bird and separate wing with Distress Oxide pumice stone.  The beak was colored with DO vintage photo and a tiny black pearl was attached for the eye.  Behind the bird is an Alexandra Renke egg diecut inked with DO bundled sage and the branch from the bird die set inked with DO peeled paint and bundled sage.  
I laid MFT rectangle mask stencil on my panel and blended the edges with DO speckled egg.  This is one of my favorite card designs and it works for almost any style, I think.  The silver embossed sentiment was in my stash from last year, so I just die cut it with a PTI flag die and inked the edges lightly with DO pumice stone.  There's lots of inspiration on both challenge blogs and I hope to see you in the gallery.         
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.



Monday, March 11, 2024

Another Easter Card

Don't intend to blog 2 days in a row, but didn't want to miss entering Just Us Girls Challenge where the color combo also works for Color Hues!  Both challenge themes were chosen by blogging friends and I like to support them when I can.  

I compared a marker labeled turquoise with Distress Oxide peacock feathers.  Looked close to me, so that's what I used for turquoise.  It was easy to choose lucky clover and twisted citron oxides for the greens.  SSS Morning Blossom was die cut from white scraps and I used blending brushes to get the colors as I wanted them. 
I have a huge collection of Stickles and found that one of them was Turquoise, so had to use it!  The background is SSS Refracted 3D embossing folder on a panel of GKD Whisper cardstock which is a light gray.  Unfortunately it's not as obvious in the picture as it is in real life.  
I had some Easter sentiments already stamped from last year, so die cut one with a PTI flag die.  I never need to buy more sequins.😊 Turned out to be a good thing to have a great variety of colors as I found turquoise and greens that were a pretty good match.  I'm also entering SSS Monday.  
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Stencils and Dry Embossing plus Fritz!

Finally had to take time out to begin AGAIN purging craft goodies and making the guest room useable!  Not done, but made enough progress to see a lot of improvement.  Taking a break and rewarding myself with cardmaking and sharing 3 cards.😊
First is the card I sent last month for CCC.  Often I just make a friendship card or send one from my stash.  But for February I used the color combo and the stencil technique.  
I still love my old Brilliance ink pads and I have many, including Pearlescent Sky Blue, Yellow and Lime, so that's what I used with SSS Layered Flowers stencils.  I also used silver for the dots.  Stamplorations circle cover plate is fun to use over stamped or stenciled images.
Memory Box Hello Friend Posh Script shadow die was cut from vellum and the words from MB glossy black cardstock.  The scalloped die is Elizabeth Craft Designs.  Luckily, I found just the right sequins in my stash.
Dry embossed stationary was my favorite before I discovered cardmaking.  So it's no surprise I can't get enough of 3D embossing folders.  For this card I used Memory Box Blooming which is a favorite I've used many times. 
I inked one side with white pigment ink before running it through my die cutting machine.  It didn't show enough on the PTI Lovely Lady panel, although you can see some on the blooms.  I repeated with Altenew Puffy Heart which gave beautiful contrast.  I also added a bit more with the ink cube on the highest edges.
MB Moonlight and Kaleidoscope Butterflies were die cut from vellum.  The body/antennae piece was inked with Puffy Heart.  Impression Obsession Easter Joy was stacked and covered in Shimmer Pico Embellisher.  I'm entering Memory Box Challenge and TTTC242 using Floral/Embossing/Favorite Color of pink.

My next card used my newest Altenew 3D folder called Flower Bed.  I inked it with Brilliance Pearlescent Purple and added a bit more to the raised edges.  Love the sweet SSS Stitching Butterflies which I brushed with the same ink, darker in the centers.
SSS Easter Blessings shadow die was cut from vellum.  The words were stacked, inked with the purple and covered with Shimmer Pico Embellisher.  I added Stardust Stickles to the flower centers and butterfly edges. 
There's a video on my IG post showing the shimmer and sparkle.  I'm entering SSS Wednesday.  Hoping to get a few more Easter cards made, as I have products that need to be used!
It's been a long time since I shared a picture of Fritz who is now 10 years old!  He looks the same as he has for the past 7 or 8 years--so unfair!  We've had a few sunny days and even with his fresh haircut, one day was warm enough for a walk without his fleece jacket.  
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.


Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Time Out Challenge #258

We have a Photo Inspiration for Time Out Challenges #258.  Since today is Leap Day, we have a fun photo of a frog!  You can see a larger picture with more detail on the challenge blog.   
Our challenge winner will receive a $25.00 Lawn Fawn store credit and an offer to Guest Design at Time Out for a future challenge. 
My inspiration was the color combo of red and green along with images from the animal kingdom.  No frogs, but I did go for cute! 
A sweet friend gave me Lawn Fawn's Winter Sparrows stamp set & matching dies a long time ago.  I'm not much for coloring, but these are little and not so intimidating.  I covered them with glaze and glitter on the wings.  The vellum circle worked great to make them stand out from the embossed background. 
Great to have another Christmas card ready to go.  I'm looking forward to seeing the variety of cards in our gallery and hope you'll join in.
Edited to Add: I'm entering Christmas Kickstart and SSS Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.


Friday, February 23, 2024

Couple More Cards

I've seen a lot of cards with pretty containers filled with flowers, but now I remember why I don't usually make them!  Days later and it's finally finished!😊 
Poppystamps Potpourri Flower Set and Memory Box Backyard Floral Stems were die cut from PTI Lilac Grace and white cardstock.  The PTI Vogue Vase was die cut from cardstock covered with vellum.  I used Copic BV00 to color the center of the vase and to add shading to the flowers.   Poppystamps Heart Pattern Plate, a gift from a friend, was die cut from PTI Mint Julep.  If you have that cardstock, you know it's definitely a soft mint color.  The only way I could get it close in the photos was to have the white a bit warmer than it actually is.  A sentiment from Birch Press Marzipan Greetings was double stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist and die cut with MFT Fishtail Flags.
Another friend gave me MB clear Fairy Drops and I thought the tiny ones made great drops of dew.  I'm entering Color Hues and Poppystamps February Challenge.  
I just discovered that Distress Oxides tattered rose and saltwater taffy go together beautifully!  That's what I blended on Memory Box Magnolia Blossom diecut for this card.
The little center was inked with PTI Bright Buttercup and Harvest Gold.  For MB Magnolia Leaf Branch, I blended DO antique linen, vintage photo, bundled sage and rustic wilderness.  A sweet friend gave me MB woodgrain cardstock and I blended DO speckled egg very lightly where I was going to attach my focal point. 
I'm currently on a white sentiment with vellum shadow kick and MB Hello Friend Posh Script is a favorite.  Wish I'd picked up more of these beautiful, tiny irridescent gems years ago when they were just $1.50!  I'm entering Memory Box February Challenge, SSS Wednesday and WAW.
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.


Monday, February 19, 2024

Friendship Cards

I continue to post pretty much all my cards in IG and some of them are also in my blog.  Please do not feel the need to leave comments in both places.  That only makes sense, as we all need to conserve our time for creating!😊
Here's the card I made for a friend going through a difficult time.  I used Rose Gold powder to emboss Pigment Craft Co's Delicate Floral Background stamp.  
Took me a few tries using the matching stencils with mostly Pigment Craft inks to get it right, but glad I persevered.  The panel edge was embossed with Rose Gold powder after I die cut it with MFT stitched rectangle.  The scalloped rectangle is Elizabeth Craft Design, the diecut sentiment is Memory Box Just a Note Posh Script and the sub-sentiment is from PTI Simple Stems.  
I'm entering The Snippets Playground as I used only scraps for the die cut and stamped sentiments.  Finished off with the beautiful, yet subtle, Lucy's Irridescent Jewels.  
Kelly took a wonderful photo for this month's Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  I love the colors and dark background.
I was fortunate to get Altenew's Floral Acanthus product bundle when I had a gift certificate and it was on sale.  For this card, I stamped, inked the matching stencils and used the dies.    
I used a variety of my inks from Altenew, PTI and Hero Arts to get as close as possible to the photo.  I'm thinking it would have been better to use the pink in the graphic, rather than the color of the flower in the photo.  For some reason, I literally took over 30 photos in every room of the house with all different lights to try and show the soft, dusty pink & purple flower I inked.  The pictures looked good on my phone and in IG.  For some reason, they were not good transferred to my laptop.  Anyway, I finally got one that is pretty close, so called it quits!  The little white flowers are from Layered Floral Elements.  I used a detail blending brush with yellow ink to color the centers.  Deck Planks embossing folder is a favorite and I thought it made the perfect dark, gray background.   I remembered to blend out the color from the bottom to the top of the word for a look I really like, but seldom do.  I used soft yellow and crystal loose glitter for the stamens and flower centers, which you can see by enlarging the photo.  I decided against splatters and just added a few black enamel dots.
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.