CASology #164: Umbrella

It's the weekend!!  Did this week last a lifetime for anyone else?  Just me?  :)  It was a rainy day yesterday, so I spent some time in my craft room.  I decided to play along with this week's CASology challenge, where the them is Umbrellas. 

Here is the card I made:

I used to be obsessed with all things brown in the craft world...kraft paper, brown inks of all kinds, earth toned papers, etc.  So it was nice to get out of my pink/teal phase for a bit and create something different.  The papers are from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2.  I love how it turned out.

I am also going to enter this in this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Die Crazy. 

That is all for today!  Thanks for popping by!

Until next time...  

Color Throwdown #360

Happy Friday, all!  Today I am playing along with this weeks Color Throwdown challenge.  Here is the color swatch:

And here is the card I made:

I used a smooshing technique for this card.  I started by smashing my Picked Raspberry and Faded Jeans distress inks on a large, clean stamp block.  After spritzing with some water, I used a piece of acetate to pick up the color, then pressed the acetate to the card front.  After doing this a couple times, I picked up some of the color with a brush and flicked a bit of it on the card.  The feather die cut is from My Mind's Eye and the sentiment and banner are from Paper Smooches.  I added some white thread and enamel dots to finish it all off.

I am also adding this card to this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is die crazy!  

That is all for today!  I'll be back soon with more creations!

Until then...

Color Throwdown Challenge # 352

Hello, hello!  Today I am participating with another fun Color Throwndown challenge!  I loved the color swatch and decided to use it in kind of an nontraditional way. 

Here is the swatch:

And here is my card:

 
I started by die cutting the diamond shape out of a piece of cardstock and a piece of glitter cardstock.  I then adhered the glittered piece to a piece of acetate and then adhered it to the back of the other diamond-cut cardstock.  I lined the back with foam adhesive, added some matte sequins in the aqua, green, and dark grey colors, then mounted it all on the front of the card base.  I die cut the sentiment with the same glittered cardstock and adhered it to the card, then stamped the rest of the sentiment around it.  Get all that?  :) 

I am also submitting this card to this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Sparkle and Shine!  

That is all I have for today!  Until next time...

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...

Watercolor Blocks

Happy Sunday, everyone!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful long weekend!  Today I am playing along with Winnie and Walter's challenge for day 3 of their Share the Love week featuring Simon Says Stamp.  Today's challenge is to create a background using one stamp or one stamp set.  I used Simon Says Stamp's Favorite Flowers stamp set for this card.

Here is the card I made:

First, I die cut the rectangles using Pretty Pink Posh's Stitched Duo Dies 1 and Tim Holtz watercolor paper.  Then, I assembled all of the rectangles so they were side by side and taped them together on the back so the images would line up.  Next, I stamped the images using Versamark and then heat embossed them with some clear embossing powder that has glitter in it.  Next, I watercolored the images.  Once they were dry, I assembled the rectangles in spaced out strips on the card.  I used my Silhouette to cut out the Winnie and Walter sentiment from silver glitter paper to match the sparkle of the watercolor paper.  To finish it up, I threw on some enamel dots and I was done!  I think this card turnd out so pretty!  I don't always think of kraft paper being pretty, but with the florals and glitter all over it, it definitely fits the bill.  :)

Here is a close up of the glittery details:

I am going to submit this card for this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Anything Goes.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope your weekend is wonderful!

Until next time...

Winnie & Walter Craft Dash

Happy Friday, everyone!  Today I am playing along with another Winnie and Walter challenge featuring Simon Says Stamp.  Again, I am so grateful Winnie and Walter has cut files to play with so I can play along with these challenges! 

The challenge I am participating in today is a nod to Pretty Pink Posh's 10 Minute Craft Dash challenge.  I loved that challenge and was lucky enough to win one!  I was so excited to get to do another one as it really is different putting a card together when you have less than 10 minutes to do so.  There is way less thinking involved so you don't have time to second guess yourself. 

First off, I gathered my supplies,  For these challenges, you are allowed to have all of your supplies handy, you just can't have anything assembled yet.  I pre-cut my sentiment, but honestly, it would only have added about 30 seconds to my time if I hadn't yet.  Here is everything I used:

Then I started the timer and got to work.  Here is the card with my finishing time:

It's hard to see in my pictures, but the sentiment is cut from black glitter paper.  I stamped some flowers and leaves onto white cardstock and then trimmed them out.  I adhered them and then applied the sentiment using Glossy Accents to make sure it stayed.  I threw on some enamel dots and I was done!  Love it!

Here is a better picture of the finished card:

I had so much fun participating in this challenge!  I am also submitting it to this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is anything goes.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Until next time...

A Rainbow of Thanks

This week Winnie and Walter stamps and Simon Says Stamp are working together and throwing out some challenges in the process.  I am playing along with one today, with the theme of using a rainbow color palette.  I have been a fan of Winnie and Walter stamps since I stumbled upon them, but I have yet to get my hands on any of them yet.  I am so glad that they have cut files that go along with their stamps so I can still play along!

Here is the card that I made: 

I created a stencil using my Silhouette and then filled it in using Distress Inks.  I cut out the sentiment using gold glitter paper and then added coordinating sequin colors for added interest.

Here is a close up of the details:

This was another super quick and easy card and I love how it turned out! I am also submitting it to this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Anything Goes.

That is all for today!  I appreciate you taking the time to stop by!

Until next time...

Color Throwdown #304

Hello!  So I dropped the ball on participating in more challenges last week.  My girls and I traveled with my parents to a small town in Wyoming for a family reunion last weekend
.  I got busy with laundry and packing and - much to my dismay - finding out there was a family of mice living in the basement.  ::shudder::  Luckily for me, my hubby dealt with the latter while we were gone.  So anyway, I'm back and ready to post again! 

Today I am participating in this week's Color Throwdown challenge.  Here is the color swatch:

I love these fun, vibrant colors.  They are similar to the challenge I participated in here.  Here is the card I made:

The papers from Fancy Pants' Off to School collection worked so well with these colors, so I decided to make a card for my biggie's teacher.  The bottom sentiment was stamped in Bermuda Bay and stamped the chalk with the Smoky Slate color.  I stamped and colored the apple with the Bermuda Bay and Real Red colors.  Unfortunately, when I brushed on the clear Wink of Stella, the red lightened up a lot.  I'm not sure why my Wink of Stella pen doesn't like me anymore.  It doesn't seem to work the way it used too.  :(  Anyway, I used some sequins to bring out the colors even more and to finish it all off. 

I am linking this up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Make It Sparkle.  Here is a close up of the hard-to-see glitter on the apple:

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

CAS(E) this Sketch #85

Hello!  Today I am back with a card I created for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.  Here is the sketch:

And here is the card I made:

For this card, I used my Simon Says Stamp Favorite Flowers stamp set.  First, I stamped the base of the flower and leaves.  Then I took the coordinated scribble pieces and stamped them with Versamark.  I heat embossed them with white embossing powder.  I love how this look turned out.  The sentiment is from Avery Elle's Oh Happy Day set.  I added a bunch of pretty sequins to complement the flower.  I love how this card turned out! 

I am also submitting this card for this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is spots and dots.  

That is all for today!  Thanks for stopping by! 

Until next time...

Some sparkly fun!

Well, folks, it's a new week.  And it's July 21st.  I'm not quite sure how that happened so quickly, but it did.  Anyway, I decided to play last night and wanted to share what I made.  Here is the sketch I used: 

And here is the card I made:

I used my new Neat and Tangled Photo Booth stamp set for this card.  (I won it from their Little Tangles challenge blog.)  First I stamped the photo strip in black ink, then I went over it with Versamark and covered it with some yummy clear embossing powder that has glitter in it.  Oh, I also used the glasses and mustache from Sweet Stamp Shop's Too Hip set.  Then I stamped the images and sentiments and added enamel dots.  I think it turned out really fun!

Here is a close up of the sparkle:

I am also submitting this card to this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Spots and Dots.

That is all for today!  I hope you all have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

CAS(E) This Sketch #79 and a Father's Day Card

Hello!  I'm back today sharing a card I made using this week's CAS(E) This Sketch as a jumping off point.  Here is the sketch:

And here is the card I made: 

This is one of those cards that looks different in your head and doesn't translate well to paper, but I am still happy with the way it turned out.  I colored the balloons using the same ink they were stamped with, only using a waterbrush to apply the color.  I have another idea for this sketch, so I might just have to do some card playing making tomorrow.  :) 


After seeing that I posted the cards I made using distress inks yesterday, my oldest (she's 7) told me she wanted me to put the card up that she made for daddy.  I helped her VERY minimally, only doing the initial embossing stuff, then she took off and did everything else herself.  Didn't she do a great job?!

 Here is the inside:

Here is the back: 

I think it's super cute.  :)  Lately my daughter has been asking if she can copy some of my cards, so I might have to start sharing her creations.  She's more of an artist than I ever will be, so she'll likely knock them all out of the park!  I'm submitting her card in this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday's Challenge:  Father's Day/Masculine! 

That's all for today!  Until next time...
 

Playing Catch-Up

Guys, I have a new obsession:  distress inks!  Ok, I know I'm late to the game on this one, but seriously, I love them!  I have been following Jennifer McGuire for a while and she does amazing things with distress inks.  I finally got around to getting all of the minis and have started playing with them. Here are a couple cards I made:

For this first card, I got to use a couple of my Stamping Royalty winnings: the Lil' Inker Dad die and the stamp set that goes along with it.  I love how this turned out.  It's masculine and cool.  I am submitting the card for this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Father's Day/Masculine.  

This second card is one of my faves.  The stamps I used are both Stamping Royalty prizes: Amuse Studio Haunted Mansion Background and the sentiment is from Neat and Tangled's Just for You set. 

For both cards, I started by stamping the background with Versamark ink onto watercolor paper, then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I used the mini inking tool to brush on the distress inks, then spritzed the paper with water to make the colors blend a bit.  After it dried, I used my iron to iron off the embossing so I was left with a smooth finish on the paper.  On the second card, I didn't have any pink paper that went with the colors on the card, so I used the picked raspberry on the edges of plain cardstock and then mounted the watercolor paper on top.  I love how it pulls the raspberry color out of the card.  

That is all for today!  I'll be back tomorrow with more goodies!  Until then...

A Quick Card

Hello, hello!  It's been a while since I have made or posted a non-watercolor card so I decided to knock one out really quickly tonight.  Making cards seems to be my therapy lately.  When I'm stressed out or have had a long day, putting a card together always seems to make me smile.  Isn't that what it's all about?  Plus, when a card is this quick and easy to throw together, it doesn't take a lot of thinking.  Which is good because right now my brain is mush.  :)

I wanted this card to be simple and fun.  I used my favorite colors (pink and teal) and my favorite embellishments (wood veneer and enamel dots).  Super simple. 

I'm submitting this card for this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The theme is Anything Goes!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll be back soon with more watercolor fun.  Yay! 

Until then...

More Watercolor Cards!

Today is the last official day of the Watercolor for Card Makers class.  Sad face.  But I have genuinely loved EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. of this class.  I've mentioned before that I am not an artist, but I am really good at faking it.  And watercoloring makes anything pretty, so that helps.  :)  I wanted to show you a few cards I made using techniques from three different days.

First up, here is a card using the heat embossing/watercolor wash technique I learned on day one.  (I also showed an example of this here.) 

First I drew lines on the page just above and just below where I actually watercolored.  I wanted to make sure I had somewhat straight lines when I was done with this wide border.  Then I stamped my sentiment with Versamark and embossing powder.  Next I used a clean, wet brush to do a water wash where I wanted there to be color.  I then took my brush and dabbed on color and let the water do it's job, spreading the color everywhere I had put water.  I used three varying colors of pink to get what you see.  While I was coloring the wide border, I also did the same thing on a scrap piece of watercolor paper, because I knew I wanted to die cut some hearts to put on the card.  Once the paint was dry, I used my iron to get rid of the embossing powder (put a sheet of paper above and below the watercolor paper).  The embossing powder did not want to come off cleanly, but that just adds to the messy watercolor effect.

It's hard to tell, but I used my clear Wink of Stella glitter pen on the hearts. 

For my next card, I used a technique I learned on day 5:  watercoloring stamped images.

First I stamped my images using my Stampin' Up! ink pads.  Once everything was the way I wanted it, I went back in with the same colored inks and added the watercolor effects.  I added purple inside the flowers to fill them in more, I used the green ink to add shadows on the leaves and I used the blue to give the jar some dimension.  I think it turned out so pretty!  I am submitting this card for this week's Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge theme:  anything goes.  

This next card uses more cards that I made from day 4 of class.  (See another example from this day here.)

I die cut a mustache with watercolor paper and watercolored it with the same Glimmer Mist color I used on the base cards.  Then I stamped the sentiment using similar colors from the card's color scheme.  My 7 year old laughed when she saw this card, so I'd call that a success!  :)  I am submitting this card for this weeks SimonSaysStamp.com Wednesday Challenge, which is Die Crazy!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'm sure I will have much more to share as I play around some more using techniques I've learned from this amazing class.  Until then...