IDEAS - Anything Goes

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Darnell's IDEAS Challenge to use NBUS items.   This week is "A" - Anything Goes.

Since Stencils are listed for the fifth Monday (which only happens a couple of times a year), I thought I'd use a NBUS stencil for today's card as my Anything Goes. :)

I bought this layering stencil (Leaves All Around - The Greetery) several months ago.  This is it's first outing.  It's a beautiful image to frame any large sentiment, die-cut, or other stamped images.  I used Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Saltwater Taffy, and Abandoned Coral to sponge the three layers of stencils.  Easy, peasy ... and very fast.  This card took less than 10 minutes to make, which is rare for me. :)

I stamped the sentiment (Special Sentiments - Penny Black) in Gathered Twigs Distress Oxide ink.  I sponged a scrap of paper with Saltwater Taffy ink, die-cut the small heart, and then sponged Abandoned Coral ink around the outside edges of the heart.

Close-up ...

I'm also sending this card to NBUS Challenge #59 (never-before-used-schtuff). :)

... and ... sending to February Stencil Fun Challenge - where the optional theme is "Love / Hearts". :)

Edited to add:  Entering into the JUGS Challenge #715 - Anything Goes Stencil Week, hosted by Bobby.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral; Gathered Twigs Distress Oxide Ink (all from Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Leave All Around Stencil set (The Greetery), sponges, small heart die

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge

NBUS Challenge #59

February Stencil Fun Challenge

JUGS #715

Crocuses

Hi everyone.  Today I'm dedicating this post to my wonderful, smart, funny sister Dee who passed away yesterday.  She had a short but difficult battle with cancer.  I love you so much Dee!

I bought this lovely crocus die (BontaniCuts - The Greetery) after seeing my sweet friend Marcia use it on a couple of her amazing cards, including this recent one.  I was totally inspired by Marcia's card  and you can see that I CASED it for the design above. :)  Thank you Marcia!

I die-cut the flowers and leaves from mixed media paper and sponged with distress inks (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet, Poisonious Villian, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness).  I assembled the flowers and leaves and then added some soft sponged sky for the background (distress ink Salvaged Patina).  I die-cut a circle aperture from my card front and then dry embossed it with Blossom Field Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp.

I used my white Posca pen (acrylic ink) to add some splatters to the crocuses and then added the flower bouquet over the sponged background.  I popped up the card front over top and added a white heat embossed black banner with sentiment (Happy Snippets - Penny Black).

Second card ...

I used the leftover die-cut from the above card, which is dry embossed with the same Bloom Field (SSS).  This time I watercoloured the yellow crocuses and leaves, making a small bouquet and attaching to the dry embossed circle.  I made a white heat embossed black banner using another of the Happy Snippets sentiments (Penny Black).

I'm sending the first card over to the Just Us Girls Challenge #631 - Flowers (hosted by Vicki).  I love making flower cards (no surprise to those who know me).

And I'm sending the same card to Can You Handle The Pressure - Anything Goes with a Twist of Pastels.  This will be my second entry! :)  I have the dry embossed card front and have used pastel colours. 

I'm sending the second card over to Let's Squash It! Challenge #20 - Squash those Scraps.  I believe this is the first time I've entered this challenge.

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Card #1 & #2:

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet, Poisonous Villian, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Unicorn White Pigment Ink (Hero Arts) 
Accessories:   BontaniCuts Crocus Die (The Greetery), sponges, paint brushes, White Posca pen, Bloom Field Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp), white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
JUGS #631 - Flowers

Can You Handle the Pressure - Anything Goes with Twist of Pastels

Let's Squash It! Challenge #20 - Squash those Scraps

Distressed Window Box

Hi everyone.  Today's card started by receiving a lovely gift from my friend, Julia (Create with Me).  She sent me these wonderful dies for the distressed brick.  I used them to make a stencil and then sponged through onto my card front.  Thanks Julia!

I added a die-cut window with a flower box filled with watercoloured, spring flowers.  To match the disressed look of the exposed brick, I tried (not very successfully) to add some distressing to the window and box as well.  Thankfully, the flowers are pretty and hopefully distract from my feeble attempt. :)

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Script Sentiments (AliExpress)
Paper:  White Cardstock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (for watercoloured flowers) Strathmore 140 lb.
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Pumuce stone, Broken China, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, paint brushes, sponges, Brick Layer Die (The Greetery), Cherry Blossom die (Penny Black), Small Madison Arched Window die (Poppy Stamps), Small Flower Box die (Poppy Stamps)