CAS-ual Fridays Challenge 140 - Summer!

It's Friday!!  Now that my girls have been out of school for a full week, every day kind of feels like Friday.  But this one is just a tad more exciting than the others...it's time for a new CAS-ual Fridays Challenge! 

Michele, the fabulous woman behind the curtain at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps, has come up with a fun, summery theme.  When she thinks of summer, she thinks of tans, brightly painted toes, and wearing summery white clothes.  So for these cards, we used tan, white and one bright color.

Here is the card I came up with:

I mixed some white embossing paste with Picked Raspberry distress ink, then spread it randomly along a fun stencil.  While that was drying, I stamped the sentiment from Exclamations with a tan-colored ink (Crumb Cake from SU) and cut it into a small strip.  After adhering that with some foam squares, I finished off the card with some tan and pink enamel dots.  I think it turned out so fun!

That's all from me today!  Head on over to the Challenge blog to link up your creations!  I can't wait to see what you come up with.  :) 

Until next time...

A Sketch and Color Challenge!

Hello, all!  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!  I have gotten my card making groove back after a couple month hiatus and decided to play along with some challenges.  I have missed participating in them, so I am excited to be back! 

Here are my prompts:

And here is the card I made:

I didn't have the exact colors on hand, but I had very similar Stampin' Up! colors that I used instead...and I love how they blended together!  I started by cutting a piece of watercolor paper with a die, then wetting it with a clean brush and water.  Then I stamped the ink pad directly onto a large stamp block that was big enough to fit all four colors.  I then took another clean, wet brush and dabbed on some of the ink color.  The wet background allowed the ink to flow and move.  It dried with the look of a sunrise and made me so happy.  I thought I would convey that feeling with the Avery Elle sentiment I used.  I also used minimal embellishments because I didn't want to cover up the watercolor panel any more than I already had.  I just love how this card turned out! 

That is all for today!  I will be back soon with more of what I have been making lately!

Until next time...

CAS(E) this Sketch #93

Now that it is officially Fall, I was in the mood to pull out my Sweet Stamp Shop Foxy set and make a cute card with it. I used this week's CAS(E) this Sketch to guide me along.

Here is the sketch:

And here is the card I made:

I used the washi tape from My Mind's Eye's Cut and Paste Charm collection for this card.  I lined a bunch up on a piece of scrap cardstock, then cut out the outside frame with a die.  Then I cut a similar-sized square in the front of the card.  Before I adhered the frame, I put the washi tape border on and the washi pennant on the side (which was backed on cardstock to make it more sturdy).  I then marked on the inside where the open area would be on the card, and got stamping!

I colored the fox using my water pen and the same ink color that I stamped it in.  I masked off the fox and then stamped the grass in two contrasting greens.  I think he turned out so cute!

I put the sentiment in the speech bubble using complementing ink colors, then cut it out and adhered it to the frame.  Then I used some Charm enamel dots to finish everything off.  Don't you just love when something looks exactly like you pictured it in your head?

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

Until next time...

You Win Some, You Lose Some...

Wow, it's been a bit, huh?  I guess I was in a bit of a creative slump for a while and didn't feel the urge to create anything lately.  Don't worry, though.  I've turned the corner and am back at my table, creating away.  :) 

I thought I would share a couple cards that I made and submitted for publishing that weren't picked up.  I'll be honest, I don't submit my cards too often.  But when I do, I am usually very lucky and get picked up.  (Compared to the many, many layouts that I submitted in the past that weren't picked up.)  I really loved the two cards that I submitted, so I wanted to put them out there "on the computer" as my girls say. 

Here is the first card:

For this card, I created a stencil using my Cameo and acetate paper.  Then I used some embossing paste and mixed it with some Black Soot distress ink.  I had originally wanted it to be a black background, but I was happy with the color that it turned out to be.  I spread the embossing paste all over the card, then sprinkled a bit of glitter over it before I removed the stencil.  I removed the stencil and let it dry, then stamped the simple sentiment and mounted it on a think strip of colored cardstock.  I added three enamel dots to add more visual interest and that was it.  I think it turned out beautifully. 

Here is the second card:

For this card, I created my own overlay with my Cameo and cut it out in cardstock.  Then I used my distress inks in Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers to create the fun color pattern.  I then took a thin paint brush and lightly flicked water onto the overlay.  I knew I was going to make this a shaker card, so when the overlay was dry, I traced the circles onto the card base so I would know where the holes would be, then I stamped the fun confetti background and sentiment into the openings.  I used some acetate and foam tape to make the shaker windows, then added the sequins and adhered the overlay to the top of the card.  I. LOVE. how this turned out.  The sentiment was heat embossed with my delicious silver embossing powder.  It's just a fun, shiny, happy card. 

That's all I have for today!  Thanks for stopping by.  :)  I'll be back tomorrow with a card/stamp set that is sure to keep me out of a creative rut for a while.  :)

Until then...

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...

Runway Inspired Challenge #66

Good morning, everyone!  Today I am participating in this week's Runway Inspired Challenge.  Here is the inspiration photo:

 And here is the card I made:

I was inspired by the bursts of color and the white (or blue) space.  I stamped this flower in the red and pink distress inks and then used my water brush to color them in with the same colors.  I stamped the sentiment and some little flowers in navy blue, then added some dark, glittery enamel dots to finish it off.  I am happy with the way it turned out.

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

That is all I have for today, folks!  I'll probably be playing along with more soon, so stay tuned!

Until next time...

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge: Anything Goes

Happy Saturday, Friends!  Today I am playing along with this week's Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge .  I used the sketch from this week's Retro Sketches.  Here is the sketch:

And here is the card I made:

I thought I'd go the non-floral route this time and get a head start on my teacher cards for this year.  This card is simple and to the point.  My favorite kind of card.  :)
 
That's it for today!  Have a great weekend!

Until next time...

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge: Designer Drafts

Happy Monday!  Today I am here with something special.  I was making a card for this weeks Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge when my oldest daughter, who is 7 years old, came over and asked if she could make one, too.  She did a great job, so let me get a move on this post so you can see her card.  :)

Here is the sketch:

And here is the card I made:

It's been a while since I made a card using patterned paper, so I felt a bit out of my element.  I think it turned out pretty, though. 

Here is my daughter's card:

Aside from the busy patterns of the paper, I think she did a fabulous job!  All I did is cut the papers for her.  She did everything else.  If you look closely, she heat embossed the sentiment in the bottom right corner.  Looks like I have a little card maker in the family.  :) 

That's all for today!  It's another good week for card challenges, so I'll be back with more soon!

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...

Card Concept Challenge #14

Hello again!  Today I am playing along with a challenge that I just recently stumbled upon.  It's called The Card Concept challenge.  Here is the color swatch: 

And here is the card I made:

 

This card was so quick and easy to make.  I used my Avery Elle Aim High stamp set, plus a few arrows from other random sets.  I stamped the sentiment and various arrows, then threw on some enamel dots and twine.  See?  Easy!  I love how it turned out!  

That is all I have for today!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!  

Until next time...  

Happy Half-way Point!

I've never been a fan of the term "hump day," so let's just call it the half-way point, shall we?  :)  Today I am playing along with a color and a sketch challenge.  This is what I was working with:

And here is the card I made:

I have never made a split card like this, so this is something "novice-y" for me.  I stamped cardstock with the floral pattern I wanted, then cut it so it would create an empty space in the middle.  I would normally use masking to get this effect, but this is another fun way to get the same idea.  I added the sentiment and some enamel dots and this card was finished.  I think it turned out pretty nice, if I do say so myself.  :)

Thanks for stopping by today!  Until next time...

 

Fusion Card Challenge {Red, White and Blue}

As the title says, last night I played along with this week's Fusion Card Challenge.  Ok, so this card isn't red, white and blue, but pink is close to red and there's white...so it's close, right?  :)

Here is the sketch I used:

 
And here is the card I made:

I think this card turned out so fun!  I masked off the triangle and then used one of the stamps from Avery Elle's Woodgrain & More stamp set.  I love this pattern!! The sentiment is from Avery Elle's Handwritten Notes set and I used Picked Raspberry and Spun Sugar distress inks.  Throw on some coordinating Trendy Twine and some Doodlebug sprinkles and this card is done!  Easy peasy!  Oh, the chipboard shape is from the MME's Cut & Paste Adorbs buttons.

Here is a close up of all of the details:

That is all for now!  Until next time...