New Week, New Challenges

Happy Sunday, friends!  I am back today with a couple cards I created for a few different challenges.  One of the challenges has already expired, but I am posting the card anyways because I love how it turned out.

My first card is for this week's Color Throwdown and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Get in Shape.  Here is the color pallete I used:

 

And here is my card:

The photo doesn't do this card any justice, thanks to the overcast weather we are having.  This week's Wednesday Challenge was to make a shaped card.  I don't have any fun large dies, so I decided to go simple and just create a banner-shaped card.  I started by masking off the center part of the card, then I used some distress inks to color it in.  It is much more vibrant in person.  I die cut the sentiment used my Silhouette to cut out the butterfly.  Once it was all assembled, I cut the notch out at the bottom of the card and that is it!  Super quick and easy.  My favorite.  :)

For my second card, I used this week's Runway Inspired Challenge photo prompt.  (This is the challenge that is already closed, but I still wanted to share what I created.)  I am entering this card in this month's AEIHeartU Challenge, where the them is Sparkle.  Here is the photo:

And here is my card:

I started by stamping the background image with Versamark ink and heat embossed it using clear, pearl embossing powder.  Then I die cut the diagonal panel and stamped the sentiment using Versamark ink and yummy silver embossing powder.  I finished it off using some sparkly sequins. 

That is all I have for today!  Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

One More, For Good Luck!

Hello!  I am back with the third card I made using this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge sketch.  Here is the sketch again:

And here is the card I made, also using this week's Avery Elle AEIHeartU Challenge theme of sequins:

I love this fun, colorful card!  I applied Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers distress ink to one of my stamp blocks, then misted on some water.  This makes the block kind of like one big solid stamp.  I applied the block to the card a couple times, which allowed the ink to make a solid stamped area.  I love the colors that the ink made in the middle.  I used some sequins that were very similarly colored and applied them in the areas that matched their color.  I just love how it all turned out.  Clean and simple and colorful!

That is all for today!  I hope you have enjoyed seeing the very different cards I made using the same sketch! 

Until next time...

I Heart Sketches

Hello!  This weekend I have been having fun playing with the sketch for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge, so I wanted to share one of the cards I made.  I'll share the others in the next couple days. 

First off, here is the sketch:

And here is the card that I created, keeping in mind this week's AEIHeartU Challenge theme of sequins:

First, I masked off the rectangle and then stamped the background using one of the stamps from Avery Elle's Woodgrain & More stamp set.  This card was the first time that I attempted to make a double die cut piece.  I started by die cutting the goose, making sure to keep the edge of the die by the feet hanging off the block.  So when it was cut out, the rest of the body was cut but the area below the feet was still attached to the paper.  Then I took my Paper Smooches banner die and did the same thing, making sure to keep the area by the feet hanging off the edge again.  It turned out a bit wonky, so I had to trim the banner a bit to make it look right, but I think it turned out pretty cool.

Here is a close up of what I am talking about:

 
I realize now that it is hard to see, but the goose is attached to the banner right behind it's heel.  Next time I'll make one that is a bit more obvious.  :)

That is all I have for today!  I'll be back tomorrow with another card I made with this sketch.  Thanks for stopping by! 

Until next time...

AEIHeartU Challenge #13: Kraft

Hello, all!  I sit here in utter disbelief that my biggies goes back to school tomorrow...and that she'll be starting 2nd grade!  Where does the time go?! 

I thought I'd share a card I made for this week's Avery Elle AEIHeartU Challenge.

Here is the card I made:

I used Avery Elle's Thanks A Bunch stamp set with Distress Inks.  The pinks just kind of pop off the page, don't they?  I wanted to keep with the natural look of the watercolor paper, so I backed it with a Kraft cardstock.  I love how it turned out. 

That is it for now!  Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

AEIHeartU Challenge #11: One Word

 
Hello, All!  I am back after an eventful family trip at the lake and am getting back into the challenge game!  I feel like I am missing out if I am not playing along.  Am I the only one who feels that way? 

Tonight I am playing along with this week's Avery Elle AEIHeartU Challenge: 

Here is the card I made: 

Guys, I am IN LOVE with this card!  It's not often that I finish a card and fall in love with it, but this one definitely did that for me.  I've been anxiously waiting for this Avery Elle Storybook stamp set to make it's way to me.  It's been sold out basically since it debuted.  But man was it worth the wait!

I started by masking off the edge of the white cardstock. Then I stamped the images where I wanted them.  Before I moved on, I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I wanted the sentiment to pop out from the background.  Then here's the secret next step:  I covered the stamped images with rubber cement!  I knew I didn't want to die cut the images, so covering them with the rubber cement was my next choice. Once the rubber cement was dry, I created the background with Distress Inks.  Seriously, why did I wait so long to jump on the Distress Ink bandwagon??  I rubbed off the rubber cement, colored the images with colored pencils, added some glitter glue to the shooting star, then adhered the whole thing to my card base. 

Here is a close up of what the masking did while I was applying the Distress Inks:

     
If you look closely, you can see where the rubber cement was applied outside of the stamped image line.  I just love it!

That is all for today!  Hope this card makes you as happy as it makes me.  :)

Until next time...

Addicted to Watercoloring!

Ok friends, I think I may have watercolor issues now to go along with my enamel dot, wood veneer and burlap twine issues.  I guess there are way worse things to be addicted to, right?

Today I played along with this week's AEIheartU Challenge.  Here is the card I created:

I decided to just watercolor a random background onto watercolor paper using one color.  Next, I stamped the image and sentiment with Versamark and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.  Go figure that heat embossing over watercolor never seems to work out for me (hence the wonky "you" in the sentiment).  But I love everything else about the card, so I am willing to live with it.  :)

I embellished the corners with watercolor splashes and various colors of pink sequins that I got from Avery Elle.  I think it pulled everything together nicely.

I am also created this card for this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The theme is Happy Birthday! 

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...

Simon Says Glitter It!

Happy Monday, Everyone!  Today I am going to share a card I made for this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Glitter.  If you've been following me as of late, you'll know I am obsessed with my Wplus9 Fresh Cut Florals stamps and Avery Elle Oh Happy Day sentiments.  They just make me so happy and are so beautiful together.

Here is the card I made:

And here is a close-up of the glitter.  I just started using my Wink of Stella glitter pen and I think it will be easy to become obsessed with it.  :)

I am also entering this card in this week's AEIheartU Challenge:

 

The various colors of blue that I used all work so well together!  Thanks for stopping by today!  Until next time...

Ghost Stamping and Masking

I had some free time to make some cards this week and I can't wait to share them with you.  As you know, my blog states that I am a "novice."  Mostly this just means that I am always learning about/trying new techniques.  The card I am sharing with you today uses a technique I haven't tried before:  ghost stamping with white ink and a darker background.

Here is my card:

I first learned of this technique from the uber-talented Jennifer McGuire.  You can learn about it here and here.  

I masked the center of the card with contact paper and then stamped all of the images I wanted to use with white dye ink.  Next, I stamped the flowers with colored ink and then masked them with post-it's before I stamped all of the leaves.  It's not embellishment heavy (even though I am entering it in the AEIheartU Challenge this week for embellishments), but I threw some enamel dots on it and used my Wink of Stella brush to sparkle up the flower centers.

That is all for today!  I will share another new card tomorrow!  Thanks for stopping by!

AEIheartU Challenge #1

Good Morning!  Yesterday I played along with the AEIheartU Challenge blog and I wanted to share what I created.  This week's challenge theme is Happy Birthday. 

Here is the card I created:

I decided to try a new (to me) technique for this card.  I stamped the backgrounds twice, once using regular inks and once using Versamark and clear embossing powder.  For the top layer, I used watercolor paper because I love how the stamped image shows through.  I love the mix of bold and soft colors on this card.

That's all for now!  Thanks for stopping by today.  Until next time...