Happy Sunflowers

Hi everyone.  Today  I'm sharing a card inspired by a few challenges.  This time I wanted to celebrate the upcoming Fall season with sunflowers.

I stamped these lovely sunflowers (Pop Sunflowers - Stampendous) in black ink and clear heat embossed before watercolouring with distress inks.  I die-cut an oval from an older die set that I rarely use, and dry embossed the oval using a new-to-me embossing folder (Mason Wall - Altenew).

This layout and design is curtesy of Ceal, following the challenge at AAA Birthday to CASE one of Ceal's beautiful cards (see photo below).  Thank so much for the inspiration Ceal!!

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Sending the above card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies - Spellbinder's Oval - rarely use this die.  Second entry

NBUS #78 Challenge - never-before-used-schtuff - first time using the mason wall EF

AAA Cards (CAS) #298 - Follow Ceal's Lead

Color Hues #117 - Orange and Green

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Pop Sunflowers (Stampendous); Spring Sentiments (Stampendous

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress inks:  Mowed Lawn, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, Fired Brick, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, Oval die (Spellbinders Nestabilities), Mason Wall embossing folder (Altenew), 

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS #78 Challenge - never-before-used-schtuff

AAA Cards (CAS) #298 - Follow Ceal's Lead

Color Hues #117 - Orange and Green

Christmas Star

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another Christmas card using the Posted stamp and die set (Penny Black).

I stamped the postage outline in soft gray and then masked off the outside border.  The sweet image (The Star - Penny Black) was stamped on the inside of the masked area with black ink and clear heat embossed before watercolouring with distress inks.  Diluted white paint was splattered for falling snow before popping up the panel onto my card front, which is covered in dark green paper.  A simple white embossed sentiment finishes the card.

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Sending this card to:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #64 - Anything Christmas Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Posted (Penny Black); The Star (Penny Black); Jolly Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Green paper (unknown)
Ink:   Shadow Grey Archival Ink (Ranger); Black (Memento); Distress inks:  Salvaged Patina, Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Posted die (Penny Black), masking tape, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), watercolour paint brushes, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #64

Embossing with Dies - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  Today at Group of Cardmakers, we are sharing our experimenting of Embossing with Dies.  This is a super simple technique that uses your dies and makes them into an embossed image. :)

Check out the post at Group of Cardmakers for links to wonderful videos and more sample cards from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

First up, my fav card of this post ... a pretty Peace Rose.  I watercoloured the rose in colours of a Peace Rose that I had in my garden at my last house.  The bloom was a delicate pink.  The edges turn to soft yellow when it opens.  I stamped my flower in black ink, heat embossed in clear; then watercoloured using Distress inks.  I used the matching die to cut it out before mounting it on my debossed background of a pretty leaf die.

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Sending the above card to:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Embossing with Dies (2nd entry)

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A Christmas card featuring a holly die.  I created a deboss of the holly image for the background, then die-cut the same die from Mixed Media paper and watercoloured, placing it over top.  A simple sentiment is added to finish the card.

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I've made two cards using a postage frame die.  And I used it two ways, embossed with the cut side of the die showing a thin outline; and debossed with the backside of the die recessed (thicker outline).  That is a bonus to this technique.  With most dies, you can use either side of the embossed image depending on the look you want.  See below two cards using the same die but different sides of the embossed impression. 

Thin outline of die (embossed)

Thick outline with die (debossed)

One more card with a different way of doing this technique.  Sorry for the long post, but as you can tell, I had a lot of fun playing! :) 

This time I used a stamp and matching die to stamp the flower onto mixed media paper, heat embossing in silver.  Then I watercoloured the image using Distress re-inkers.  I finished by placing the matching die over top of the image, but instead of cutting it out, I embossed the image so that my stamped image has it's own outline.  This also adds texture and a bit of dimension to my otherwise flat card. :)  It's subtle in the photo above, but so pretty IRL. :)

* * * * *

Bonus ... you can take a lot of your dies and turn them into embossed images, then use the same die to cut matching stencils to use over top of your images.  Lots and lots of options!

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Enchantingly (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black ink (Memento); Disttress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Delicate Leafy Branch die (Simon Says Stamp); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Enchantingly die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes

Card #2:

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Posted die (Penny Black), Autumn Decor dies (Penny Black), sponges 

Card #3:

Stamps:  Love & Magic; Jolly Snippets (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Posted die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, red chalk

Card #4:

Stamps:  Handy Christmas Sentiments (Amy R - long retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Holly and Berry Branch die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Card #5:

Stamps:  Amazing Things (Pinkfresh Studios)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark;  Distress Re-Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, Amazing Things die (Pinkfresh Studios)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Embossing with Dies (2nd entry)

Summer Ride

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by the latest challenge at Seize the Birthday #311 - No Flowers. :)  I pulled out a bicycle die after seeing a card on-line (sorry, don't know who made it), using this wonderful colour combination.

I die-cut the bike from mixed media paper and watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I created the background using the Acetate Smooshing technique and the same colours.  I stamped the sentiment (Signature Greetings - Memory Box), and then added a little more ink to ground the bike.  Very simple card that was fun to make!

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Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Signature Greetings (Memory Box)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Bicycle die (AliExpress), Acetate sheet, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #311 - No Flowers

Lovely Iris

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a CAS Mixed Media card.  I started by using a background that's been in my stash for a long time.  The background is coloured using blue powdered inks.  Once dry, I placed a flourish stencil over top and used glitter paste to fill in the design.  It's so pretty in real life ... but glitter is almost impossible to photograph.

I added a die-cut Iris, that is watercoloured using Distress Inks.  A simple rectangle frame was popped up over top with the sentiment stamped in purple ink.

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Sending this card to:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Powdered Inks, Flourish stencil, Glitter Paste, Palette knife, Iris die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

Happiest of Birthdays

Hi everyone.  I was inspired by three challenges for today's card - YAY! :)

I wanted to make a dainty, feminine card. :)  A layer of dry embossed vellum is added overtop of my card front.  I was hoping it would show more in the photo, but it looks as though I simply dry embossed my card front.  In real life, you can see the difference.  My card front this time is ivory ... not my usual white. 

The vase of flowers is stamped twice in black and heat embossed with clear before cutting out with matching die.  I watercoloured the flowers only on one of the images and cut out around the bottom of the flowers.  I popped the flowers up over top of my vase of flowers to add some extra dimension and then placed it inside a frame.

To finish, the sentiment is stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear to match the rest of the stamping on the card front.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers - hosted by my dear friend Hilary

2)  Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry) - 2nd entry - used both Heat and Dry Embossing

3)  Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Wings and Vases (Penny Black); Watching Bloom Sentiment (Memory Box - retired)

Paper:   White card stock base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour brushes, Wings and Vases Cut Out (Penny Black), Whirl Frame Cut Out (Penny Black), Dots & Dashes embossing folder (Penny Black)

Challenges:

We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry)

Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Sleding Sweetness

Hi everyone.  I pulled out a fairly new Penny Black set to play with (Sleding Sweetness) - my first time using this set.  Their critters are so adorable, especially the winter bears.  I had fun colouring these adorable images. :)

I started by sponging the card front with Distress inks (Mustard Seed, Salvaged Patina).  I stamped the branches in the background (Refined - Penny Black) in Hickory Smoke ink and added a torn snowhill at the bottom.  The bear and mouse are stamped in black and clear heat embossed on mixed media paper, before cutting them out with the matching dies (Sleding Sweetness Cut Out).  More Distress inks were used to watercolour.  I splattered the background and the images with diluted white acrylic paint before putting them all together.  A simple "JOY" sentiment (Full of Christmas - Penny Black) finishes the card.

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Sending this to Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks.  And I'm also sending it to Darnell's other challenge - NBUS Challenge #77.  Both these challenges help to keep me making cards and using a variety of my supplies, along with NBUS items that might normally languish in the cupboards for years!  Thank you, dear friend!!  :)

Also sending this to PBSC August Challenge - Optional:  Embossing.  I used heat embossing for my images and sentiment. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Sleding Sweetness (Penny Black); Refinded (Penny Black; Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Mustard Seed, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Hickory Smoke, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, watercolour paint brushes, Sleding Sweetness Cut Outs (Penny Black), diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Weekly - 1) Inks

NBUS Challenge #77

PBSC August Challenge - Optional:  Embossing

Birthday Wishes for Bonnie!

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for my sweet friend, Bonnie (Stamping with Klass).  It's her birthday and I made a special card to celebrate.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BONNIE!!

I was inspired by an earlier challenge at Seize the Birthday - Fancy Folds, to dig out this fun Box Card die from Honey Bee that I've had for probably two years.  It's the first outing!! :)  Unfortunately, I didn't get the card made in time for the challenge ...

I started by cutting my pieces from white card stock.  I then stenciled the outside of the main box layer with Wander & Find Stencil (Carta Bella - retired).  I used Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint distress inks with sponges.  I love how it turned out.  It gives me a base of stylized "leaves" to show off the flowers inside.  The flowers are an older set from PoppyStamps (Peony Stems & Blossoms).  I stamped in black, clear heat embossed, and then watercoloured with more distress inks.  I used the matching die to cut them out.  The sentiment (gift from a dear friend), was stamped in more of the Peeled Paint ink and then cut out with a matching die.

I then assembled the box card following this wonderful video.  It was pretty easy to put together, but I did fuss a lot with where to place the flowers and sentiment. :)

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I'm also sharing a photo straight on and one with it folded up for mailing (creates a card that fits a standard A2 envelope).

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Seize the Birthday #309 - Anything Birthday Goes

2)  Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies.  2nd entry.  Used dies for the box and for all the flowers.

3)  NBUS Challenge #76 - first time using this box die

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Peony Stems & Blossoms (PoppyStamps - retired); Signature Greetings (Memory Box) - gift from a dear friend

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Box Card die (Honey Bee); Wander & Find Stencil (Carta Bella - retired); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponges, watercolour paint brushes, Signature Greetings die (Memory Box)

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #309 - Anything Birthday Goes

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #76

Birthday Celebration

Hi everyone.  Today's card was inspired by Seize the Birthday Challenge #309 - Food and/or drink.  I've had this sweet birthday cake image for a long time and haven't used it on a card yet.  I stamped the cake with black ink and heat embossed in clear before die-cutting using the matching die.  Then I lightly watercolour using Zigs.

I placed it over a paper towel background (leftover ink mopped up with a paper towel, spritzed with water and then pressed into card stock).  The background looked great behind the cake, but I felt it needed a little more, so I doodled confetti, streamers, and stars using a fine black pen.  The card was finished with a white embossed sentiment (Simply Sentiments - Lawn Fawn) on black cardstock, with the cake popped up over top.  Easy, peasy and fun card to make! :)

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Seize the Birthday #309 - Food and/or drink

2)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

3)  NBUS Challenge #76 - first time using this image and die

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Birthday Cake (Gemini by Crafter's Companion)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs (light yellow, dark yellow, light pink, red); Versamark
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, white embossing powder, fine black marker

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #309 - Food and/or drink

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #76