Romance En Francais

Today's card is for two challenges - the Color Throwdown (#198) - Basic Gray, Pool Party, Tangerine Tango and Cameo Coral ... and ... Simplicity's OLW94 (make a one-layer card other than the standard size of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  Hope you like.

"Romance En Francais"

Stamps:  Bordering on Romance, En Francais (SU!)
Paper:  Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Gumball Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  acetate sheet, Nestabilities Labels Two (Spellbinders), post-it note, masking fluid, sponge, blender pen, clear embossing powder, heat tool

I used my Big Shot to die-cut the shape of my card, using the largest Nestabilities Labels Two die.

I used my Big Shot to die-cut the second-largest Labels Two shape from the acetate sheet - this is my mask which I placed over top of my Whisper White card.  I stamped the main image in Basic Gray ink inside the label cut-out and embossed it with clear.  I stamped the image again onto a post-it note and cut out the main flowers to mask my main image.  I used masking fluid to mask the small flowers.

Once the masking fluid was dry, I stamped the En Francais stamp in Basic Gray over top and then sponged more Basic Gray ink around the edges (reverse masking).  I removed the acetate mask, post-it note masks and masking fluid.

I colored in the flowers with Stampin' Write markers and blender pen (watercoloring with blender pens ... or ... marker layering technique).

Every Day's an Adventure

Today I CASE'd a card on SCS by Bridget Finlay.  She is an incredibly talented crafter and I love her style!  She made this card and I just fell in love with it and decided I wanted to make the same card.  I only made slight modifications.  Hope you like.

"Every Day's an Adventure"

Stamps:  On the grow (SU!)
Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Garden Green, Crumb Cake (SU!)
Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Die-namics tree and leaves (My Favorite Things), Sizzix circle die-cut, Big Shot, post-it notes for masking, clouds die-cut (Memory Box), Nestabilities circles, adhesives, Tombow glue, sponges and dimensionals

I cut out the large circle from a scrap piece of paper and used the reverse (the opening) as my mask ... this is called "reverse masking".  I covered the background with the mask, leaving the circle open.  I did the same by masking off all areas of the circle except for the bottom hill.  I sponged Wild Wasabi ink for the first hill.  Then I repeated this by masking all areas except one and moving my way up from the bottom, sponging as I went along.  For the sky, I used the cloud die-cut as my mask to create the randomly shaped scallops.

I ran a large piece of Whisper White cardstock through my Big Shot with the circle die-cut, this time making sure it was on the right hand side of the page and centered top to bottom ... this will be my card front.  I dry-fit the sponged image underneath until I was happy with the placement and mounted it onto a card base of Wild Wasabi.  I added dimensionals to the card front and placed it on top of my sponged image.

I ran the tree die-cut through my Big Shot with Crumb Cake cardstock.  I sponged the tree with Soft Suede ink, so that the embossing showed.  I ran several trio of leaves through the Big Shot with both Wild Wasabi and Garden Green cardstock.  I used small dots of glue to add the leaves to the tree.

I mounted the tree onto the card front.  I stamped the sentiment in Wild Wasabi ink, and mounted it onto a frame of Wild Wasabi.  I mounted the sentiment to the front of the card.

Butterflies in Flight

Today I'm posting two cards for tomorrow's CAS Challenge (CAS157) - Sketch by Nancy Littrell.  I had a lot of fun working with Nancy's fabulous sketch!!  With the first card I used the latest tutorial on SCS by Karen Barber - Marker Layering.  Nancy had made a card yesterday using this technique and sent me the link ... I just loved the way her images turned out, so checked out Karen's wonderful video tutorial and tried it out for myself (click here to see the tutorial).  I definitely need some practice, but it was fun and I like the way my butterflies look like stained glass!  Hope you like.

Nancy's original sketch:

Here's my version of the sketch:

"Butterflies in Flight"

Stamps:  Butterflies Cling (Inkadinkado); On the Grow - sentiment (SU!)  

Paper:  Basic Black, watercolor paper (SU!)

Ink:  Stazon Black, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Blending tool, sticky strips, glue dots and dimensionals

I stamped the butterfly image onto watercolor paper three times with Stazon Black ink (two are only partial images).  I stamped two extra butterflies on watercolor paper scraps.  I used my Stampin' Write markers and the blending tool to color in the butterflies with the Marker Layering Technique (click here for the tutorial on SCS).  I cut out both of the extra butterflies (one is for the inside of the card and the other was layered on top of the main butterfly on the card front).  The top butterfly was mounted using rolled glue dots and dimensionals to give it depth.

I stamped the sentiment in Basic Black ink onto watercolor paper, framed it in Basic Black cardstock and mounted it to the card front using sticky strips.

I mounted the card front onto a Basic Black card base.

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Here's the second card using Nancy's sketch.  This time I sponged a stencil I made using "Pair of Ferns" die-cut from Cheery Lynn.  I originally stamped the sentiment in Kiwi Kiss ink, but it was too light and didn't photograph very well, so I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement and stamped over in Black ink.  I can't believe how perfectly they lined up ... you can just see a hint of the Kiwi Kiss in the background (doesn't show in the photo).  Hope you like.

"Ferns"

  

Stamps:  A Word for you (sentiment) (SU!)

Paper:  Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss (retired), Urban Garden DP (retired) (SU!)

Ink:  Kiwi Kiss (retired), Old Olive, Basic Black (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Pair of Ferns die-cut (Cheery Lynn), sponge, small eye make-up sponge, removable tape, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and adhesives  

I ran both fern die-cuts (left and right) through my Big Shot with large scrap pieces of cardstock.  I removed the die-cuts and kept them to be used at a later time.  I used the cut-out as a stencil.  I positioned it on my Whisper White cardstock and secured it in place with removable tape.  I sponged the whole image in Kiwi Kiss ink.  I used a small make-up sponge and Old Olive ink to add more color down the stem and at the base of each leaf.  I removed the stencil.  I repeated this process using the other stencil (opposite angle), sponging only a partial image twice.  I removed the mask.

I stamped the sentiment in Kiwi Kiss ink and then over-stamped in basic black.

I mounted the main image onto a frame of Urban Garden DP and then onto a card front of Whisper White. 

I mounted the card front onto a card base of Kiwi Kiss (for stability).

Inspired Silhouette and Silhouette Spray cards

Another snowfall overnight leaves us with about 1" of fresh snow this morning. Not much, just enough to cover and make everything look fresh and bright. I love how the snow looks on all the trees in our backyard - it's like a winter wonderland.

I have made two cards for this week's CAS Challenge (CAS153) - Sketch by Loll Thompson (that's me!). I'm having so much fun being on the Design Team and coming up with cards that I hope will inspire others to join in the challenge ... that I can't seem to limit myself to making just one sample card. As it is, I have to control myself to just make two :)

For this sketch challenge, I made the original card back on Nov. 1, 2011. I used my Nestabilities Rectangles to cut out three different sized rectangles and then used the cut-outs to create overlapping color blocks by reverse masking. Tip: sponge the lightest ink color block first and end with the darkest color ink block. I finished the card by adding a simple silhouette on top of the color blocks. Very quick and easy card

I used the same technique (reverse masking) to create color blocks for today's first sample. The second sample card is completely different with the color blocks paper-pieced and the silhouette embossed overtop. Hope you like.

Here's my original sketch:

Here's the first sample card for the CAS153 Challenge: (second sample is below instructions).

"Inspired Silhouette"

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, En Francais (SU!)
Paper: Early Espresso, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities Rectangles, Big Shot, sponges, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and adhesives

* * * * *

I cut out the three rectangles from acetate so that I could place them and be able to see exactly how they overlapped, etc. (scrap cardstock will work too ... just a little more measuring to make sure the rectangles are parallel).

On a Whisper White card front, I used the largest rectangle mask first and sponged Crumb Cake in the middle of the cardstock, but off to the left side. Leaving the mask in place, I inked the En Francais stamp with Soft Suede ink and stamped on top of the Crumb Cake sponging. I wanted the script to be the second focal point (behind the silhouette) so needed to do that square first.

I then masked and sponged the other two squares, one at the top with Sahara Sand ink and the one at the bottom with Soft Suede ink.

I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement and stamped the smallest coneflower from the Inspired by Nature stamp in Early Espresso ink.

I mounted the stamped card front onto a card base of Early Espresso cardstock. Quick and easy card.

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"Silhouette Spray"

Stamp: Silhouette Spray (Hero Arts)
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Cottage Wall DP (retired); Rich Razzleberry DP (retired) (SU!)
Ink: Versamark
Accessories & Tools: White embossing powder, heat tool, and adhesives

* * * * *

I cut three different sizes of squares from Cottage Wall DP and Rich Razzleberry DP (polka-dot). I mounted them onto a card front of Whisper White cardstock. I inked my stamp with Versamark, stamped onto the DP and embossed with white embossing powder. I mounted the card front onto a card base of Rich Razzleberry cardstock. Super easy and fun card that only took about 10 minutes to make!

Lilies and Leaves

Today is the Sketch Challenge (SC349) from SCS.  I love this one!!  I can see myself using this layout over and over again ... so much fun!  I don't know about you, but when I make a card, lots of times I end up with an embellishment or background paper that's just not quite right for the card I'm making at the time.  There's nothing wrong with it, maybe it's just the wrong shade of color or not the right size ... so I have a large Ziploc box that I shove these things into with the intention of using them on another card.  Well, I rarely go back to the box and pick out things to use.  I just seem to keep adding to it and now, it's full.  So I challenged myself to use SOMETHING from that box.  Back in April, I made a Stargazer Lily card.  Usually when I'm embossing images, I make a couple of extra ones.  Sometimes things can go wrong and you need an extra image and I don't want to have to drag out my embossing powders, heat tool and then have to clean up afterwards again  - so it's really a case of laziness :)  When I made the card in April, I made two extra lily images and I used them for the card today - perfect!  The card below is made with all SU! products.   Hope you like.

"Lilies and Leaves"

Stamps:  Fifth Avenue Floral, Precious Butterflies (SU!)

Paper:  Always Artichoke, Whisper White (SU!)

Ink:  Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, VersaMark; Stampin' Write marker: Rose Red (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, Sizzix "Little Leaves" die-cut, Sizzix "Square Lattice" embossing folder, Big Shot, sticky strips, adhesives and dimensionals

* * * * *

The lilies where made as follows:  on Whisper White cardstock, I stamped two lilies with VersaMark ink and embossed in white.  I colored in the stem and stamens with a Rose Red Stampin' Write marker .  I sponged the lilies with Pretty in Pink ink and then using a small eye make-up sponge, added Rose Red ink to the centers of each petal.  I used the Rose Red Stampin' Write marker (thick end) to add dots to each petal.  I then cut the flowers out and set aside.

For the background:  on Whisper White cardstock, I randomly sponged Certainly Celery, Old Olive and a little Always Artichoke ink.  I went over the piece again with Certainly Celery to blend the inks.  I cut off a 7/8" x 4 7/8" strip to be used for the sentiment which was stamped in Always Artichoke ink.  I ran a scrap piece of cardstock through my Big Shot with the Sizzix Little Leaves die-cut.  I used this as a stencil and sponged it several times on the background paper

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I ran a large piece of Whisper White cardstock through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder and then cut to size.

I mounted all the pieces as shown in the picture above, popping up the lilies with dimensionals to add depth.

Silhouette Sprig

The other day I picked up a package of Bazzill white cardstock.  I love the texture and finish of the paper ... it almost looks like canvas.  And I've found when I sponge on top, I get a very subtle version of the ink I'm using.  I keep almost all my scraps and use them to experiment on.  Today I was just playing around with a small strip of Bazzill and came up with this reverse masking design.  I love my Fabulous Florets stamp set that I just purchased.  I can see myself using it a lot - especially the silhouette leaf sprig used here.  Hope you like.

"Silhouette Sprig"

 

 

Stamps:  Fabulous Florets (SU!)

Paper:  Soft Suede, Whisper White (SU!); Bazzill White

Ink:  Sahara Sand, River Rock, Soft Suede, Early Espresso (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  1 1/4" square punch, clear acetate, sponges, hemp twine, "Bloom" embellishment, Tombow glue, adhesives and dimensionals

 

* * * * *

 

I made a mask for sponging using the clear acetate and the 1 1/4" square punch.  I find the acetate works well because you can see everything underneath and it's easier to line things up.  I sponged the top square with Sahara Sand ink, the middle square with River Rock ink and the bottom square with Soft Suede ink.  I stamped the leaf spring onto Whisper White cardstock in Early Espresso ink and then cut it out.  I glued the sprig on top of the sponged squares with Tombow glue.

I cut a frame of Soft Suede cardstock for the main image and sponged around the edges with the same color ink to highlight the edge.  I also sponged around the outside edges of the card base.  I mounted the main image onto the frame, wrapped hemp twine around the bottom four or five times, and added the "Bloom" embellishment.  I mounted a background panel of Bazzill white onto the card base and added the framed main image, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.

Trio of Faith

A few days ago I received my latest SU! order which included two hostess sets from the new catalogue.  Today I wanted to make a card using "Faith in Nature".  It's such a pretty set and I love the script that is written in-behind the line images.  I do try all kinds of techniques and styles, but I find that I'm really most comfortable with either brayering landscapes or making CAS cards (clean and simple).  Today its' a CAS card.  Hope you like.
 

"Trio of Faith"

 

 

Stamps:  Faith in Nature (SU!)

Paper:  Old Olive, More Mustard, Whisper White (SU!)

Ink:  Old Olive, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  1 1/4" square punch for creating mask, sponges, 1/4" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon

 

* * * * *

 
The hardest part for me was figuring out how to make a mask that was evenly spaced, lined up and didn't involve having to erase a lot of pencil lines ... my first two attempts had lots of erasing and I smudged the ink :(

I finally just drew one line across to line up the bottom of the punch square mask and small tick marks at the center and 1/4" in from both sides.  Once that was in place, I sponged one square at a time with the three different colors.  I then inked the stamp with Early Espresso and stamped it in different directions for each square.

I added a thin frame of More Mustard cardstock and then tied a knot with the Old Olive ribbon.  I mounted the image onto the card base of Old Olive - easy peasy!