Monochromatic - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month the Group of Seven are showcasing another Design Element - Monochromatic.  Gof7 definition is shades of one colour, plus small accents of white, black, or metallic.

Please check out the many wonderful inspiration cards from members of the Group.

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Monochromatic

For the card above I used the Peony Bundle embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp) with mixed media paper.  I started by sponging lightly with small detail sponges over the raised design in shades of orange distress inks (Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire).  It turned out OK, but the colour was not smooth, so I went over the sponging with a wet waterbrush and more ink to get a smoother finish.  I did go outside the lines of the embossing a few times and used a small amount of bleach with a brush to clean them up --- worked great!

To finish, I used a white pen to add details for the flowers and leaves and then added a simple sentiment (Endless Birthday wishes - retired SU!), stamped in more Crackling Campfire.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Can You Handle the Pressure? - Anything Embossing Goes - I did not use the optional twist this time.

* * * * *

This time I used different shades of gray, along with black and white card stock.  I decided to make a sympathy card, but this card could be used for many other occasions.

This was a very simple and easy card to make.  I started with a panel of black card stock and the lovely Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp).  I inked the inside raised design (direct from stamp) with Lost Shadow Distress Oxide ink, placed my black panel inside and ran it through my Gemini Jr.  The ink transferred to the debossed side to create a lovely background panel for my leafy sprig (Dignified - Penny Black).  I popped up the panel onto my white card base and stamped a sentiment (Many Everyday Messages - retired - Hero Arts) in Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide ink.  

Close-up ...

Sending this card to Simply Clean & Simple June Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes - retired (SU!)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Peony Bundle embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), detail sponges, watercolour brushes, bleach, white acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Card #2

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages - retired (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Smoky Slate card stock (SU!); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Oxide Inks:  Lost Shadow, Hickory Smoke (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp); Dignified die (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Group of Seven

Can You Handle the Pressure? - Anything Embossing Goes

Simply Clean & Simple - Anything CAS Goes

Twofer #36 Challenges

Hi everyone.  It's the start of a new Twofer Challenge.  This month Darnell has added a new type of challenge - Your Choice.  It's the same as Anything Goes ... just make sure to mention what your choice is in your post in case it's not obvious.  I used Ornate Background (Simon Says Stamp) for both cards.

As always, please follow the prompt below ...

For my first card I stamped the image in black and heat embossed in clear.  Then I fussy cut around some of the images to create a large border for my card.  I watercoloured with distress inks and then added the border to my card front.  Finished by stamping the sentiment (Happy Messages - Stampendous) in black and clear heat embossing to match the image.  This is an encouragement card to hopefully brighten a friend's day.

For the second card I used the same background, this time stamping in Smoky Slate ink.  I added the sentiment (Brushed Words - Stampendous - retired) in black and clear heat embossed to make it stand out.  I added a thin black strip of card stock to finish.  This is a sympathy card I'm sending to my brother-in-law who recently lost his uncle.

I hope you'll come play along with this fun challenge.  Make sure to follow the prompts above and include a photo of both cards in your post in order to follow the rules.

Hope to see you in the Twofer gallery!

Products

Ornate Background - Simon Says Stamp

Happy Messages - Stampendous

Card #1 - friend

Stamps:  Ornate Background (Simon Says Stamp); Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, waterbrush

Card #2 - Thinking of You

Stamps:  Ornate Background (Simon Says Stamp); Brushed Words - retired (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:   Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!); Black (Memento)
Accessories:  Clear embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Twofer Challenge #36 - Your Choice

Twofer Challenge #31

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the Twofer Challenge #31.  I used some backgrounds that had been in my stash for a while.  Always great to have them handy to make some quick cards.

This first card is coloured with leftover inks from another project.  I don't want them to go to waste so always smoosh the leftovers with a piece of mixed media paper.

I have had this stamp for a very long time.  It's Pine Tree (Stampscapes) and it's so beautiful.  I stamped a few of the trees in black (1st and second generation stamping) and used a light gray ink for the background trees.  I have already sent this off to a dear friend who lost his mother recently.

The second card started with another piece from my stash - watercoloured tissue paper.  I love the colours and bit of texture from the wrinkled tissue paper.  Stamped Pine Tree (Stampscapes) again twice and then mounted my image on a black card base with circle aperture.  A simple "HELLO" finishes the card.

Edited to add:  Several of you have mentioned that these cards remind you of the fires burning in Oregon and California.  I made these cards a few months back, long before the fires started and did not intend on making cards to reflect the terrible devastation that is happening now.  Sorry if my post has upset anyone.

Card #1: Your in my Thoughts
Stamps:  Pine Tree (Stampscapes); Best Thoughts - retired (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:

Card #2: Hello
Stamps:  Pine Tree (Stampscapes); Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Tissue Paper; Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestability die - retired (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
Twofer Challenge #31

Coral Peonies

Hi everyone.  Not sure if peonies come in coral, but that's the great thing about making our own ... freedom to choose whatever colours you want.

I had three things on my mind when making this card.  First, I wanted to join in the Poppy Stamps challenge this month which is CAS.  Then I wanted to use navy and one other colour for The Flower Challenge.  I also needed a sympathy card and when I was figuring out the sentiment for this card, it just worked.  I rarely use navy on my cards so thanks to TFC for taking me outside my colour box!

   

Masked off the bottom and side of my card front and sponged with Chipped Sapphire.  Placed a stencil over top and used a baby wipe to remove some of the colour, leaving a subtle design for my background.  Stamped and heat embossed the peonies in liquid platinum, watercoloured with distress inks, and die-cut using a matching die to my image.  Stamped the sentiment and popped up the flower for added dimension.  This was a quick and easy CAS card to make! :)

Close-up ...

Hope you are all staying safe.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Peony Stems & Blossoms (Poppy Stamps)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress inks:  Chipped Sapphire, Abandoned Coral (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Masking tape, sponge, Wander and Find stencil (Carta Bella), baby wipe, Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brush

Challenges:
Poppy Stamps Challenge #69 - clean and simple
The Flower Challenge #45 - Colour - Navy + one other

Spontaneous Joy

Hi everyone.  I havve had this stamp in my NBUS box for a long time.  After seeing my friend Robyn's card HERE, I just had to ink it up!  Thank you so much for the inspiration Robyn!!

Entering this top card into the May Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  I followed the Anything Goes and didn't add the twist this time.

This is such a beautiful and elegant image.  I placed it in my misti and coloured just the stems and leaves with a ink pen.  I spritzed with just a little water and stamped onto mixed media paper.  I spritzed again slightly because the ink was too dry the first time.  I moved around the excess ink with my paint brush.  I wiped down my stamp and started again, this time inking all of the flower heads in coral.  Spritzed with water and stamped, etc. until I was happy with it.  Then applied a bright red just to the parts of the flower heads that I thought should be darker, spritzed with water and stamped.  Once I was happy I let it dry before adding a sentiment and then splattered more coral over the card front.

Close-up ...

Happy with how this turned out but could not get my camera to see the true colours.  The flowers are coral and red --- so pretty! :)

I made a second one pretty much the same, just changing up the colour of the blooms.

This time I wanted to add stenciling to the background, which I did with a pale gray.  The stencil was too busy so it took away from the pretty flowers.  I used a damp paper towel to remove most of the gray ink, but the wet paper towel also got on a bit of the flowers.  You may be able to see a faint outline of stenciling in the close-up ... and how the colours bled a little.  And you can tell the card front has a gray haze about it, but I think it adds character.  :)  I added a sentiment and then got a little carried away with splattering. :)

Close-up ...

Updated:  Since this is a NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) stamp, I'm sending the purple version above over to the NBUS Challenge #14. 

Penny Black Products:
Spontaneous Joy (40-597)
Special Sentiments (30-574)
Eloquence (30-162)

Stamps:  Spontaneous Joy, Special Sentiments, Eloquents (all Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Stampin' writers: Gumball Green, Real Red (Stampin' Up!); Distress Markers: Abandoned Coral, Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, paint brushes

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday May Challenge - Anything Goes
NBUS Challenge #14

With Sympathy

Hi everyone.  Unfortunately, there are times for all of us when we need sympathy cards.  I wanted to share this one I made for a special friend this week.

I used a stamp set from AliExpress.  It's got two parts to the leaf sprig (outline and solid).  I stamped the outline first with Versamark onto my black card base.  I heat emboss in Princess Gold (Ranger).  It's a yellow gold that I really like.  I then did the solid leaves, again stamping in Versamark and this time heat embossing with copper.  I added a heat embossed sentiment to match.  A very simple yet elegant sympathy card.

Close-up ...

* * * * *

Jessie helped herself to my warm chair when I got up to a few minutes.

This happens all the time. :)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Leaf Sprig (AliExpress); Sentiment - Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Princess Gold embossing powder, Copper embossing powder (both from Ranger)

Monochromatic Sympathy

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder card for CAS Watercolour November challenge - Monochromatic, hosted by the lovely Karen.

Today is all about gray.  I used a beautiful Penny Black flower stamp called together, inked it lightly with smoky slate ink, spritzed with a little water, and stamped onto mixed media paper.  I repeated the process, this time using a darker shade of gray (basic gray) to give some contrast.  The watercoloured panel was adhered to a light gray card base and framed with the same gray.  I thought this would be a beautiful sympathy card, adding my sentiment in versamark and heat embossing in white.

Close-up ...

It's been fun trying out monochromatic designs, something I have rarely done.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Check out the reminder post for more inspiration from our Designers and Guest Designer, Birgit.  There's still over a week to play along before the challenge closes.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  together (Penny Black);
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Smoky Slate card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Smoky slate, basic gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools: water mister, Rectangle frame die (Spellbinders), white embossing powder heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour November Challenge - Monochromatic

Wedgwood Blue

Hi everyone.  It's time for the reminder post for the CAS Stencil October Challenge - Patterned Paper, hosted by me!

I dug through my many containers of patterned paper and came across an "old-fashioned" look of designer paper.  I love the soft blue and cream.  I wanted to have the look of "Wedgwood Blue" china which has a very dry look to it.  I used embossing paste, coloured with distress ink Stormy Sky.  I didn't have the re-inker, so smooshed the ink pad on my palette several times, mixing with the white paste until I got the colour I wanted.  Worked great.  I used my Stencil Pal to spread the paste evenly and you can easily scrape the leftovers off to use again later.  Once dry, I fussy-cut the heart and popped it up on my card front with a simple sentiment stamped below.

Everytime I mix up paste with colour I always end up with way too much (better than too little). :)  So this time I used it all up and ended up with three pretty cards.

Second card - using another stencil cut with my silhouette cameo.

For the last card I used a large piece of the designer paper so there isn't very much white space on my card, so it's not for the CAS challenge, but wanted to share with you.  I used the Layered Roses stencil from Tim Holtz.  Works perfectly with this old-fashioned looking patterned paper.

Please check out the reminder post to see new cards from our talented Designers, and this month's wonderful Guest Designer Gundi.

Challenge is still open for another six days.  Come play along!

Stamps:  Fond Expressions (STAMPlorations); Large Fancy Sentiments (Just Write Stamps)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned paper ?
Ink:  Black (Memento); Stormy Sky Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing paste (Dreamweaver); palette knife, stencil pal, Stencils: Layered Roses (Tim Holtz); Leafy Heart and Tulips - Silhouette America cut files, Silhouette Cameo, Acetate sheets

Challenges:
CAS Stencil October Challenge - Patterned Paper

Penny Black with Gilding Flakes

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing two cards using gilding flakes on Penny Black's Berry Bramble and First Waltz images. 

I have some heat and stick powder from SU! for years and never used it.  I saw a video about using it with gilding flakes and wanted to give it a try.  Got together with my friends Susan, Christine and Trina and we all played with the heat and stick powder.  It worked great!!  It's one of the best products for gilding flakes that I've used.  The card above is the Berry Bramble image, which is a very versatile image that may be used for many occasions.  I think this is very elegant and beautiful.  The gilding flakes do all the work! :)  They look best on black, although you can use other colours.

Here's a close-up ...

I finished the card by adding a birthday sentiment heat embossed with gold tinsel embossing powder.  I love the sparkle of this powder, but it doesn't photograph well.

I did a second card using the First Waltz image.  Again, I'm so happy how this turned out ...

This time I used gilding flakes called Red Speckle and it's mostly silver.  I used silver tinsel embossing powder for the sentiment.  Next time I will stick with plain gold and silver embossing for my cards. :)

Penny Black Products:
Berry Bramble - #40-580
First Waltz - #40-536
Heartfelt - #30-286
Eloquence - #30-162

Stamps:  Berry Bramble, First Waltz, Heartfelt, Eloquence (Penny Black
Paper:  Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Heat & Stick Powder (SU!), Gilding Flakes - ? and Red Speckle (Cosmic Shimmer), Gold Tinsel embossing powder (Ranger), Silver Tinsel embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Tribute to Melissa

Today I'm joining in the Tribute for Melissa Lane of honeybeelane, being held on the STAMPlorations blog.

Melissa sadly and suddenly passed away on Oct. 2nd.  This tribute it to honour her and at the same time let her family know how much she was loved in the crafting community.

I worked with Melissa on the same design team for a year in 2015.  She was always positive and upbeat.  Melissa happily shared her love of her family, along with her amazing talents.  She was a shining light and will be missed.

Melissa loved butterflies, so I have made a card featuring a butterfly on a red (one of Melissa's favourite colours) and purple background.  I will be sending the card to the family via Shery's generous offer to collect cards and forward them on.

If you knew Melissa, please join in.  The linky is HERE.  There are also instructions for mailing the cards to Shery if you would like to do so.

Thank you.