Faux Mother of Pearl Birthdays

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Time Out Challenge #47 - Birthdays with an optional Technique Twist of sponging.  It's always great to have birthday cards on hand ... and I love to sponge, so this is a perfect challenge for me. :)

Today I made three versions of my card.  I started by using the Faux Mother of Pearl technique (click HERE to see my video tutorial).  I sponged on bright yellow and bright green over top of the pearl resist.  Love these colours together ... so fun! :)  I used the same sentiment for all three cards,  and also used the same splatter background for the first two.

I'm also using a new-to-me two part butterfly die that I got for Christmas.  I didn't realize until I cut my first butterfly that it doesn't cut all the way through.  Instead it leaves the body attached and the wings are loose so you can pull them forward to add dimension.  So cool!  I used as it was intended for the first card, with the butterfly partially cut from the card front and faux mother of pearl panel in behind (also partially die-cut).  And I used it as a regular die for the second card (just cutting to detach into a separate die-cut butterfly).  And since I had a little bit of my faux mother of pearl card leftover, I created a third card using a small panel.  I used a smaller die-cut butterfly to better balance the design ... the large butterfly used on the first two cards was too big.

Here's the other two versions ...

Stamps:  Mix Mash (Happy Little Stampers), Gorgeous Grunge (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade and Twisted Citron (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Frosted White Acrylic Paint (Tsukineko), cling wrap, sponges; Butterfly dies:  Asti Butterfly Wings, Willoughby Butterfly Wings, Moonlight Butterfly, Kaleidoscope Butterfly (all butterfly dies are Memory Box)

Challenges:
Time Out #47 - Birthdays with optional sponging

Cozy Christmas Stocking

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Merry Monday Challenge #187 (Plaid).

The only plaid I could find in my studio was woven ribbon, so I cut off the wire edges and attached the ribbon to a piece of sookwang tape.  It's so strong and will hold all the fibers together so it doesn't fray.  Then I cut out a stocking, white felt cuff, and a sprig of holly from some green felt.

I thought the stocking would be perfect with a stitched background.  A simple sentiment finished the card.  Fun, easy card to make.

Come play along.  Use plaid ribbon, plaid patterned paper, or make your own plaid by drawing some lines with a ruler.

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Real Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Stitched mat die (Lil' Inkers), Stocking die (Sizzix), Holly Vine die (Memory Box), plaid ribbon

Challenges:
Merry Monday #187 - Plaid

Happy Retirement

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I made for a friend who recently retired.  I have two friends that I used to work with years ago, both retiring at the same time, so you will be seeing another retirement card soon. :)

I made a CAS Mixed Media card.  The flower is from STAMPlorations and I got it as a free stamp along with one of my purchaes.  It's currently out of stock as it was so popular, but will be back soon as an addition to Shery's stamp inventory.  Click HERE to see.

I stamped the flower onto mixed media paper with archival (waterproof) black ink.  Then I added bits of colour with my distress markers, blending the colours out with a water brush.  I love how it turned out.  I used both orange and pink which created lots of tones of colour and depth.  I fussy-cut the flower and set it aside.  The background splats were stamped in Delicata Gold (my favourite gold ink) and then the flower was popped up over top.  The sentiment was stamped onto a banner and popped up for added dimension.

Once the card was finished, I thought the flower looked a little dull against the gold splats, so pressed some gold ink onto my craft mat, picked up the colour with my water brush and sloshed some of it over top of the flower.  It added some shimmer and sparkle ... love how it turned out.  Close-up picture below that hopefully gives you a better view.

I'm entering this into several STAMPlorations challenges that are running for January.  First up, the brand spanking new CAS challenge.  I didn't use the option this time.

Also entering this into STAMPlorations January Theme & Sketch Challenge ... my card is definitely CAS and looks a bit like the sketch ...

  

And also entering STAMPlorations Anything Goes challenge, as well as the Mixed Media Card Challenge - New Beginnings.  The mixed media on my card is stamps + ink, plus watercolouring, splats, fussy-cut and popped up flower and popped up sentiment --- hope it qualifies. :)

  

And last, but not least), entering the Snippets Playground to share and have some fun with Di and the gang.

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Helenium Large (STAMPlorations); Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!); Gorgeous Grunge (SU!)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Distress Markers: Ripe Persimmon; Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz); Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush

Challenges:
STAMPlorations January CAS Challenge
STAMPlorations January Theme & Sketch
STAMPlorations - Anything Goes
January Mixed Media Card Challenge - New Beginnings
Snippets Playground - Week 211

Celebrating with Fusion

Hi everyone.  Today I'm honoured to be Guest Designing at Fusion as they celebrate 2 Years of challenges --- YAY!  My good friend, Julia (Create with Me) is on the Design Team and she asked me to join her for this challenge ... thank you Julia!!

Here's the challenge ...

I LOVE this inspiration photo, and used several elements to make my card.  I used the Smooshing with Acetate technique to add the bright pink and yellow splats background, picking up the colours in the photo.  A bright yellow stamped chevron on the left hand side mimicks the table runner, and a die-cut white leaf sprig with punched flowers carries through the floral theme.  A soft gray stamped sentiment banner doesn't compete with the colours ... and a few clear sequins add a little sparkle to finish.

I hope you'll check out the Fusion Challenge and come celebrate.  Make a card using the photo for inspiration or the sketch ... or both. :)  See you there!

Stamps:  Mix Mash (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base and die-cuts (Neenah); Mixed Media main panel (Strathmore)
Ink:  Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade (Distress inks from Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  piece of acetate, water mister, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), clear sequins

Challenges:

Fusion - 2nd Year Celebration