Penny Black - Captivate

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another new release from Penny Black.  This image is from the stamp set Captivate.  I've also used a frame from a new background die, All-in-One Octagon - Penny Black.

I love the simplicity of this off-the-edge CAS design.  The image is stamped in black ink and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring with Distress Inks (Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed).  I stamped and watercoloured the flowers of a second image, then fussy-cut the blooms and popped them on top of the base image (Paper Tole Technique).  It adds lots of depth to the flowers.

I finished the card with a lovely sentiment, Super Day - Penny Black, which is stamped in black and clear heat embossed to match the image.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to Seize the Birthday #280 - Spring Floral.  Great challenge Lin!!  Happy to be playing along!

Penny Black Products

Captivate (31-050)

All-in-One Octagon (51-816)

Super Day (31-044)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Captivate; Super Day (both from Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Fabriano 108 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes, All-in-One Octagon die (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #280 - Spring Floral

HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging

Hi everyone.  At Happy Little Stampers, it's the start of March's CAS Challenge ...

The above card uses two different sponging techniques.  One of my favourite ways to sponge is over a stencil to create some interest in the background. Here I partially sponged the background to bring focus to the area of my main focal point (the hibiscus flower).  I also added sponging to the petals of the hibiscus, giving the flower lots of colour and dimension.  I layered the die-cut, using a solid flower for the base, and then adding a second layer on top of the individually-cut petals, popping them up for dimension with rolled glue dots. Finally I inked a stamp from the Gorgeous Grunge set (SU!) in versamark and heat embossed with gold ... same embossing for the sentiment.

This month we are so happy to have Susan joining us as our Guest Designer.  I hope you'll check out her gallery ... lots of beautiful cards to inspire!  So happy to have you with us Susan! :)


And if you also add your card at the challenge of at Happy Little Stampers Forum, you are automatically entered for a randomly-drawn prize at the end of March.  :)

I'll be back in a week with a reminder card using a different sponging technique. :) See you soon! :)

Also, happy birthday to Virginia's View challenge!! :)  Congrats on turning one and congrats on hosting a fabulous challenge, Virginia!  I'm joining in for Challenge #13 - All Things Embossed (the gold sentiment and "splatters" are heat embossed).

And also entering this into the Less Is More Challenge (#213 - This makes me happy).  I am totally happy with this card.  I think it's the combination of mixed media in a CAS design with colours and techniques I adore. :)

And this is also a reminder of the current challenge at Mixed Media Card Challenge - Hints of Spring.  This card is definitely spring-y to me :)

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU!), Where the Heart Is (Simon Says)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Inks:  Distress inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Squeezed Lemonaide, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Hibiscus Flower die (Memory Box), Twigs and Berries die for leaves (Memory Box), blender pen, gold embossing powder (Hero Arts), heat tool, Branch Background cut file, Silhouette Cameo for cutting stencil, plastic sheet, sponges

Challenges:
HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging
Virginia's View - Challenge #13
Less Is More #213 - This Makes Me Happy
Mixed Media Card Challenge - March - Spring

Tropical Hello

Hi everyone.  Have been busy for a few days, but managed to find some time to create this card.  I started it last night ... and struggled and struggled ... nighttime is NOT my creative time!  Back at it this afternoon and still struggled.  Decided I needed to put everything away and forget about it.  I will move on to something else.  But I am stubborn :) ... so I pulled it back out and it finally came together.

You have probably noticed that I am totally "in love" with this layout ... have used it a lot lately - so that was the starting part that was easy.  And I knew I wanted to use coral and yellow - so I had my layout and colors.  The trouble I had was with the backing for the flower ... what to use.  Tried all kinds of leaf sizes and shapes along with some flourishes.  The leaves should be green, right??!!  It all looked so wrong.  As soon as I added the white leaves, I felt at peace :)  Struggling over - yay! :)

This is going to be a card for a class I'm holding this coming Saturday for my two cousins (sisters Joanne and Colleen) ... and Joanne's daughter Demi.  I am so looking forward to spending a crafty afternoon with them.  I wanted to show them how to make this beautiful (and easy) background.  This is the same background technique (faux mother-of-pearl), I used for the Peace Dove card shown here.  I just randomly pounced a squished up piece of Saran Wrap with some white enamel shimmer paint on my card stock (leaving lots of open space) and after it dried, sponged on yellow and coral inks.  So easy, so pretty and a great backdrop for this pretty 3-D hibiscus flower.

The two other things we will be covering in the class is how to add dimension to die-cuts.  Taking a flat die-cut and using a stylus and mat to add shape ... as I did with the leaf sprigs above.  It adds a lot to the overall look, without a lot of extra work - simple.  And the third thing I'm going to cover is how to add details to a flower to bring it to life, including layering (paper tole), sponging edges and shaping for dimension, and adding finishing details (veins and dots).

Now I just need to come up with two more designs to fit the course. :)  Here's hoping I'll be back soon with more cards.  :)

Edited to Add:  I'm entering this into the latest challenge at Curtain Call - Perfectly Peach.  Thanks for letting me know Lee-Anne! :)

Stamps:  Where Your Heart Is (hello sentiment) - Simon Says
Paper:  White (Neenah); Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Fresh Foliage and Hibiscus Flower dies (Memory Box), Frost White shimmer paint (SU!), saran wrap, sponges, white gel pen, stylus and mat

Love Inspired Flowers

Hi everyone.  I have been on a roll making cards this week ... my mojo has returned!!  It never completely left, but for the past several weeks, I struggled over every card I made ... things weren't flowing.  But things are flowing now and I have been having fun playing along with the LOVEFEST2014 challenges to SCS - this one is Challenge F - Color challenge (love inspired) hosted by Sweet 'n Sassy.

I think this pot of heart flowers is so adorable from Bugaboo and I immediately thought of it when I saw the challenge.  I colored the stem and leaves with my Copics and paper pieced the pot, ribbon and hearts.  I added a second layer of paper piecing to add dimension to the rim of the pot, the bow of the ribbon, and the heart blossoms (paper tole).  All the pieces were sponged to add depth and dimension, and I used my white gel pen to add some highlights to the hearts.  A simple sentiment and a shadow for the pot to ground it (drawn with Copics) finishes the card.  Another fun, easy and CAS card.

Stamps:  Flower Pot 4 (Bugaboo Stamps); Love Bug sentiment (Fiskars)
Paper:  White (Neenah), Snap Color Vibe (Simple Stories); Baked Brown Sugar, Real Red (SU!)
Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar, Real Red, Regal Rose (SU!); Copics:  G43, YG67, W4
Accessories & Tools:  sponges, white gel pen

Challenges:
LOVEFEST2014F - color challenge

Stitched Thank You

Hi everyone.  I made a quick (and fun) card for today's CAS challenge at SCS (CAS245 - stitching or faux stitching).  I stamped the three flowers on the tag and then paper pieced the flower heads, adding a second layer that is shaped to give dimension.  I added a small strip of designer paper and some raffia, along with faux stitching to finish.  Fun and easy!

Here's a close-up:

... and here's a third picture that shows the dimension of the flowers:

Stamps:  Easy Events (SU!)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Hello Sunshine DP (Bo Bunny)
Ink:  Black; Copics: YG95 (leaves)
Accessories & Tools:  raffia, circle punch, stylus and mat, glue, adhesives and dimensionals

Pot of Pink Flowers

Hi everyone.  Time for another Saturday Challenge at Bugaboo's Catch the Bug Challenge Blog.  Today it's a Theme challenge ...

Think Pink

I used both paper piecing and paper tole for this adorable image.  I wanted to add twine around the pot, but because it was such a light pink, it seemed to disappear ... so I took three strands of the pink twine and braided them together to make a thick "rope", looped it around the rim of the pot and added a pearl to dress it up - love how it turned out.  :)    I added a fun sentiment from Paper Smooches to finish.

Here's a close-up:

... and here's another angle so you can see the depth from the paper tole technique.

Stamps:  Flower Pot 1 (Bugaboo); Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White, Yellow Gingham; Regal Rose, Regal Rose polka-dot, Pear Pizzazz (SU!)
Ink:  Basic Black, Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Pink Sorbet Twine (The Twinery), pink half pearl, stylus and mat, sponges, glue, glue dots, adhesives, and dimensionals

I used both paper piecing and paper tole techniques for this card.  Links to tutorials of these techniques can be found on my "Techniques Page".

For the flower pot, I used my Regal Rose Stampin' Write marker to add pink dots in the centers of all the squares.

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge.  Please check out Catch the Bug Challenge Blog for the challenge details and see the Design Team's fabulous creations for "Think Pink". :)

Happy Summer!

Hi everyone.  Time for the another challenge at Addicted to CAS.  This time I paper pieced a sweet digital image from "by Lori Designs".  Her name is Lollipop and I just couldn't resist getting her!

Today's challenge is being run by the mega-talented Sue of Sue's Card Craft.  Sue has chosen this timely code word:

This challenge is sponsored by

Prize:  $20 gift voucher

(please follow the rules to be eligible to win)

I paper pieced Lollipop's dress, shoes, hair ribbons and watermelon, adding layers to give even more interest.  The watermelon is popped up for added dimension.  The rest of the image is colored with copics ... a little chalk to color her cheeks and a dot of white gel pen.  I wanted the polka-dots to really stand out, so didn't add any other embellishments.  A simple sentiment finishes the card.


Here's a close-up:

Stamps:  Lollipop Watermelon Smile; Beach Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Snap Color Vibe (Simple Stories); Kiwi Kiss, Melon Mambo (SU!)
Ink:  Black (SU!); Copics:  E00, E01, Y21, YR24
Accessories & Tools:  Red Chalk, white gel pen, glue, Crystal Effects, adhesives, and glue dots

I hope I have inspired you to join in our fun challenge ...  Addicted to CAS - Summer. Come check out all the wonderful creations by the other Design Team members.

Izzy and the Bee

Hi everyone.  Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge blog is celebrating it's ...

1st Birthday!!!

Kylie and the Design Team would like to thank everyone that has entered the challenges and followed along with the blog over the past year.  It's been a great success ... thanks for all your support!!!


Back to our latest challenge ... here is my design team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More #50 - Photo Inspiration.  I used another sweet image from our sponsor (Di's Digi Designs), coloring part of the image with Copics and paper piecing the rest (with a little paper tole added in for extra dimension).  Even though this is a CAS (Clean and Simple) card ... it took a long time to make.

CAS doesn't always mean simple and quick to make.  This card has a lot of details ... and the paper piecing were teeny, tiny pieces, so it was a little time consuming ... but I enjoyed every minute of it! :)  Hope you like.

I focused on the bumble bee and the colors in the rest of the photo (turquoise, pink, yellow).  This photo can be interpreted in many ways ... find one that talks to you and join in the fun!

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  $10 Voucher

(must follow challenge rules to be eligible to win)

Di's Digi Designs is sponsoring the whole month of June!

Stamps: Izzy and Bee (Di's Digi Designs); Happy You - sentiment (SU!)

Paper:  White, More Mustard, Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise polka-dot DP (SU!)

Ink:  More Mustard, Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black (SU!);  Copics:  E00, E01, Y21, Y32, YR24, E49, E77

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Grass border die (C.C. Designs), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Square Lattice embossing folder (Sizzix), cloud template (hand-made), blender pen, sponges, chalk (for cheeks), glue, glue dots, adhesives, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Be sure to check out the fabulous designs from the Design Team at ATS&M!

Daisy Just For You

Hi everyone.  Here is my design team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More #48 - Addicted to Colors (Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Perfect Plum) - or any colors that are similar.  I used a sweet image from our sponsor (Di's Digi Designs) and colored with Copics.  I paper pieced the flower and then added more dimension by using the paper tole technique (see tutorial here), and adding flower soft for the center.  A bit of twine to finish.  Hope you like.

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  $10 Voucher
(must follow challenge rules to be eligible to win)

Di's Digi Designs is sponsoring the whole month of June!

Stamps:  Daisy (Di's Digi Designs); Chit Chat (Paper Smooches)

Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Perfect Plum (SU!)

Ink:  Copics:  E0000, E000, E00, Y21, Y32, YR24, G43, YG67, W4, 0 (colorless blender)

Accessories & Tools:  Flowersoft, Peapod twine (The Twinery), sponge, glue, glue dots, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!

Happy BEE-day

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS.  I used an adorable digital stamp set from our sponsor, Bugaboo, which is paper pieced with glitter added to the wings and flower center.

This challenge is being run by our leader ... the fabulously talented Kylie (Kylie's Addicted to Stamps ... and now butterflies), and she chose this fun code word ...

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  7 digital images 

 (please follow the rules of the challenge to be eligible to win)

Stamps:  Cute Bee Flower (Bugaboo); sentiment is computer generated
Paper:  White, Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Just Add Cake DP (SU!)
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Tangerine Tango, Basic Black (SU1)
Accessories & Tools:  Dazzling Details (SU!), Orange Glitter Glue, sponges, glue, glue dots, adhesives, and dimensionals

The bee is paper pieced and I sponged around each piece with the matching color of ink to give more dimension.  The flower is done with the paper tole technique, cutting out a second flower, separating each petal, sponging around the edges and then attaching back to the base flower using glue at the center and rolled glue dots at the edge of the petals.  This gives the flower some dimension.  The center (Pumpkin Pie cardstock) of the flower is covered with orange glitter glue.  And I also covered the wings with Dazzling Details, but it's hard to see in the photo above.

Here's a close-up of the image:

and here's another angle so you can see the dimension on the flower ...

I hope I have inspired you to join in our fun challenge ...  Addicted to CAS - Birthday. Come check out all the wonderful creations by the other Design Team members.

Love Tweet Love and Scooting By

Hi everyone.  Two cards to share with you today.  The first one is my Design Team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More - Bingo #6.

Here's the bingo card:

I used the top horizontal line (digi, red, heart) ... and used an adorable image from Clear Dollar Stamps (this challenge's sponsor) called Love Tweet Love.

The sponsor for this challenge is

Prize:  $15 gift voucher

(please follow the rules of the challenge to be eligible to win)

Stamps:  Love Tweet Love (Clear Dollar Stamps)

Paper:  White, yellow checked, red glitter
Ink:  Real red, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Puffy Clouds dies (Memory Box), sponge, heart punch, owl punch (for small hearts), glue, and dimensionals

I printed out the two love birds onto yellow checked design paper, colored in their design (spots for the boy bird, hearts for the girl bird) using Stampin' Write markers and cut them out.  I then printed the sentiment onto white cardstock and cut it out using my cloud dies from Memory Box.  I layered of clouds to make them thick, and sponged Tempting Turquoise ink around the edge of the top layer.  The birds and clouds are popped up on the card front for added dimension.


Here's a close-up of the love birds:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!

I am also entering this into Splitcoast Stamper's CAS Challenge (CAS207 - Love is in the air).

____________________

The second card is for the SCS Color Challenge (CC413 - tangerine tango, lucky limeade, whisper white).  Love this color combination!  I used an adorable stamp set from Paper Smooches that I've had for a while, but hadn't inked up yet ... I have several of those!! :)  After mentioning to Bonnie at Stamping with Klass that I rarely used patterned paper on my cards, yesterday's card and both of today's cards use designer paper - go figure! :)

It isn't very often I use DP unless I'm paper piecing (as with the card below), but I'm so happy that I've been using a little of my huge stash.

Stamps:  Spiffy Scooters (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White; Orchard Harvest DP (SU!)
Ink:  Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss (SU!); Copics W4, Y32, YR07, R17
Accessories & Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge, glue, glue dots and dimensionals

I colored in the flames, seat, lights and tires with copics.  I paper pieced the scooter (full image) and then cut out a second set of the wheel covers, sponged the edges with Kiwi Kiss ink, and added them on top with rolled glue dots to create some depth (paper tole).


Here's a close-up of the scooter: