You're the Top, Lollipop

Today's card is for SCS Color Challenge (CC390 - lucky limeade, rich razzleberry, daffodil delight).  Three very strong and vibrant colors!  I wanted to use my Lolli die (lollipop die) with matching sentiment stamp from C.C. Designs.  I just HAD to buy this ... who can't resist a stamp that has their name in it??!! :)

"You're the Top, Lollipop"

Stamp:  Sweet Treats Logo Stamp set (C.C. Designs)
Paper:  White, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Kiwi Kiss (retired), Rich Razzleberry DP (SU!)
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Lolli die (C.C. Designs), clear glitter glue, Lemondrop Twine (The Twinery), Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals



Edit:  I also entered this into SCS CAS challenge (CAS185 - summer treats) and SCS Sketch Challenge (SC400 - use any of the previous 399 sketches - I chose sketch 351 - triptych).

Hydrangea Blooms for Mary

I had a lot of fun making today's card.  This is in honor of this week's Featured Stamper at SCS --- Mary (jandjccc at SCS).  Mary has an amazing gallery of cards and I had a hard time picking one to CASE ... but finally settled on this beautiful card of violets.  Mary, congrats on being chosen Feature Stamper - so well deserved!

I changed the flowers to hydrangea blooms and used scoring for my faux-trellis background.  I sponged the edges of the white flowers with blue and the edges of the pale green leaves with medium green to add interest and dimension.  Hope you like.

"Hydrangea Blooms for Mary"

Stamps:  Sincere Salutations (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Certainly Celery and Wild Wasabi (SU!)
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Nestabilities Labels Two (Spellbinders), Leaves die (C.C. Designs), Fern punch (McGill), Hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), medium oval punch, mat pack and stylus, sponges, pale blue mini half-pearls, glue, adhesives and dimensionals

Here's a close-up of the spray:

Tip:  When making sprays, start by creating a triangle using your leaf sprigs and then build from there, tucking in fern sprigs and adding the flowers last.  Only glue the ends of the stems of your leaf sprigs and fern sprigs so that the spray has depth and movement.


I've learned a lot from reading Kittie Caracciolo's blog on how to make floral sprays.  If you want to learn from the master, check out Kittie's blog.

Pinwheel for You

Today's card is for the SCS CAS Challenge (CAS185 - summer treats).  Originally I was going to do a card with either watermelon or ice cream cones.  But I decided to go a different way and make a card that shows one of the fun treats (or toys) that we get to enjoy in the summer --- pinwheels!  I've seen a few dies available to make pinwheels, but it is so simple to do I decided to make my own.  I've included the construction steps below.  Hope you like.

"Pinwheel for You"

Stamps:  All About You sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White; Yellow Gingham (Making Memories); Just Eat Cake DP, Pumpkin Pie (SU!)
Ink:  Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Green glitter brad, Stamp-a-ma-jig

To construct pinwheel:

Cut a square from double-sided DP (mine is 2" square).  Using pencil, draw diagonal lines to form an "X".  Cut from each corner towards the middle 1"; erase pencil marks.

Add small square of sticky strip over center of pinwheel (approx 1/4").  Gently curl every-other point towards center and adhere point to sticky square.  Punch hole in middle of pinwheel large enough to feed brad.

Cut square support for back of post (mine is 1/2" square).  Punch hole in middle of support square and glue post (mine is 3/16" wide) onto support square, making sure to not cover the hole.

Assembly:  Place brad through pinwheel, then through support square with post attached.  Using my scissors as spacers, I added space between the brad and pinwheel ... as well as space between the pinwheel and post.  I bent the prongs of the brad and then removed my scissors.  This way the pinwheel freely turns on the post.  I know this sounds  a bit confusing, but it's actually very easy if you just take it step by step.

____________________

So I've been thinking about my blog and decided that I'm going to change it up a bit.  When I first started this, I was holding classes for my friends (and friends of friends), to show them how to construct cards and use different techniques.  Since most of them were beginners, I'd give them step-by-step instructions to take home with them for the cards we made in class ... and I continued that when I started my blog so that they could follow my instructions on-line.

Moving forward I will only include the recipe for the card (stamps, papers, inks, accessories and tools), plus any tips that I've learned along the way, or instructions on new-to-this-blog techniques or construction (example:  how to make the pinwheel above).  I hope that my detailed instructions for the 500+ cards in previous posts will guide those of you that are wanting help.  Thank you.

Sprinkles, please

Who doesn't love a delicious, ice cream cone in the summer ... with lots and lots of sprinkes??!!  I just love my newest die from C.C. Designs called Sweet Treats ... and the matching sentiment stamps.

This is for the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge (CFC67 - banners or flags).  Hope you like.

"Sprinkles, please"

Stamps:  Sweet Treat Logos (C.C. Designs)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Indie Chic DP (My Mind's Eye); Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango, Ruby Red (SU!)
Ink:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Sweet Treats die set (C.C. Designs), Orange glitter brad, hole punch, Honeydew twine (The Twinery), adhesives, glue and dimensionals

I die-cut three cones (one from Crumb Cake cardstock and two from white).  I sponged the Crumb Cake layer with Crumb Cake ink and then ran my Stampin' Write marker down the diagonal scoring lines to make them darker.  I glued them together to form a thick die with the Crumb Cake layer on top.

I die-cut three ice cream scoops (one from Summer Starfruit cardstock and two from white).  Glued them together with the Starfruit layer on top.  I die-cut white, Tangerine Tango and Ruby Red sprinkles, aand glued them to the top of the ice cream scoop.

I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso ink, cut the "V" into the end, and added the brad with twine to the other end.  I mounted everything to the white cardbase, popping up the cone, ice cream scoop and banner with dimensionals.

I added a strip of DP to the inside panel of the card for interest.

Feeling 'Ruff?

"OK Mom, enough with the puns!!" says Jeremy.  Can't help myself ... this adorable digi stamp and sentiment is from Hambo and I'm entering this card into their challenge this week ---  "Hambo Hoedown - You're my Beacon" --- include woodgrain on your card.  Inside the card reads "Hope you're feeling better soon".  Love the dog house with the bright red trim, window with shutters, and flower box ... too cute!

This card is also for SCS Free For All Challenge (F4A131 - Show us your colors!) ... I'm hoping the bright red trim and yellow flowers negates all the brown.  The polka-dot paper and yellow twine definitely adds lots of color.

"Feeling 'Ruff?"

Stamps:  Dog House (Hambo digital stamps)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Real Red polka-dot DP, watercolor (SU!)
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray, Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Blender pen, Lemondrop Twine (The Twinery), sticky strips and adhesives

Printed the image and sentiment onto white card front and set aside.  Also printed a sentiment "Hope you're feeling better soon!" on the inside white panel and set aside.  Printed the dog house onto watercolor paper, colored with inks and blender pen, and cut the house out.  Adhered the house on top of the printed image on the card front, using sticky strips.

Added a strip of Real Red polka-dot DP to the top, wrapped twine around and tied a knot off center.  Secured the card front to the white card base.

Added a strip of the polka-dot DP to the inside panel at the bottom and secured to the white card base.

Fun and easy card to make!

Agapanthus in Green ... and You're Special

I spent quite a bit of time in the art studio today ... makes me happy :)  I made two cards that are completely different.  I like so many styles of card, that I can't just make one - variety is the spice of life, right??!! :)

The first card is for two challenges:  SCS Sketch Challenge (SC399) and CASology #7 (Green).  I'm a little obsessed with the white-on-white layering and having a hard time doing anything else :)  I love the look of this style of card ... and paired up with two shades of green, it makes for a clean and fresh looking card.  Hope you like.

"Agapanthus in Green"

Stamps:  Agapanthus Long (Stampendous); En Francais and Pocket Silhouettes (SU!)
Paper:  Whisper White (SU!); Heavy white cardstock (Neenah)
Ink:  Kiwi Kiss (retired), Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), small oval punch, adhesives and dimensionals

I cut two card fronts from the heavy white cardstock, layered them on top of each other, and ran them through the Big Shot, cutting out the smallest square.  I put aside one layer and ran the other through again, this time centering the next larger square nestie over the cut-out.  I adhered my two card fronts together with the smaller cut-out at the back.

I inked the En Francais background stamp with Kiwi Kiss, stamped off once onto scrap paper, and then stamped onto a Whisper White card front.  I inked the Agapanthus stamp with Old Olive and stamped on top of the background.  I placed the stamped card front in behind the cut-out until I was happy with the placement, trimmed the stamped piece to approx. 3" square and then mounted it to a heavy white card base.  I mounted the layered, cut-out card fronts on top, popping them up with dimensionals to add depth.

I stamped the sentiment in Old Olive ink onto Whisper White cardstock, punched with the small oval and mounted onto the card front.

I stamped the Agapanthus flowers on the inside panel for interest.

____________________

The second card is a fun scene I created using die-cuts and punches with just the sentiment stamped.  This is for two more challenges:  Color Throwdown (CTD206 - Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Tempting Turquoise) ... and ... SCS Way's To Use It Challenge (WT389 - head in the clouds).  I did manage to use all four colors for the Color Throwdown ... you'll see that the pink is the teeny, tiny centers of the flowers.  Hope you like.

"You're Special"

Stamp:  Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Heavy White (Neenah); Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise polka-dot, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery (SU!)
Ink:  Early Espresso, Certainly Celery (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Picket Fence die (Poppy Stamps), Puffy Clouds die (Memory Box), Olive Branch die (C.C. Designs); Nestabilities Label 10 die (Spellbinders), Mini sun punch (Punch Bunch), sponge, mini pink half-pearls, mat, stylus, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

Cut a card front from heavy white cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot, cutting out the three clouds (negative).  Adhered the Tempting Turquoise polka-dot paper to the back of the card front.

Die cut three of each size of Puffy Clouds from the heavy white cardstock.  Used the Stampin' Write marker to add "stitches" around one of each size of cloud and then glued the same-sized layers together with the stitched cloud on top.

Die cut three of the picket fences from heavy white cardstock and glued them together.  Die cut two of the Olive Branches from Certainly Celery cardstock and wove them through the picket fence, adding small dabs of glue to secure.

Punched out several mini suns from Cameo Coral cardstock and shaped them with my mat and stylus.  Added a mini pink half pearl to the center of each blossom and glued onto the olive branch dies.

Sponged a piece of Whisper White cardstock with Certainly Celery ink and then cut it out with the Labels 10 die (to create a "hill").

Stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso ink and then mounted all the dies into the card front, popping up the stitched clouds and picket fence with dimensionals to add depth.

Mounted the card front onto a card base of heavy white cardstock.  Added a strip of Tempting Turquoise polka-dot paper to the top of the inside panel (1 1/4" wide) and mounted one large "stitched" cloud die off to one side and slightly off the polka-dot paper.

Card for Laura

Today I made a card for Laura Triem.  Laura is a lovely young woman who sustained severe injuries in a tragic accident late last year.  Laura is strong and is recovering well, but has a long way to go.  The "Teapotters" at SCS chose Laura for their challenge a couple of weeks ago ... with the participants sending their cards with messages of encouragement to Laura.  Here's a quote from the challenge:

______________________________________________

"This week our destination is Aurora, Colorado. If you would like a destination for your card, how about sending it to Laura. Laura was brought to our attention by fellow Teapotter Susie (paperpunchscissors). Laura was crossing light rail tracks while listening to music through ear buds. She stopped and waited for a train to pass not hearing the train approaching from the opposite side. She was hit by the train. She sustained a traumatic brain injury, subsequently suffered a stroke and pneumonia.

When Laura was growing up she went on cruises with her parents and grandparents. Laura's first cousins came along too. All girly-girls to the core, they loved to dress up and attend parties."

______________________________________________

I used a digital stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps --- Fashionably French --- which I hope Laura will like.  The dress is "tres chic" --- of course, that's stamped beside it, just to make sure you know :)

The picture of the card doesn't do it justice.  I have layered a vellum dress overtop of the stamped one, and it definitely adds a lot of visual interest (which is not captured in the photo).

"Tres Chic, Laura"

Stamps:  Fashionably French Digital stamp set (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Paper:  White, Vellum
Ink:  Computer generated image and sentiment; Stampin' Write markers:  Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  glue, and dimensionals

Printed the image and sentiment onto Whisper White card front, colored in the flower with Pretty in Pink and the leaves and swirl with Certainly Celery.

Printed the image a second time onto vellum, colored in the flower with Pretty in Pink and the leaves and swirl with Certainly Celery.  Cut out the vellum dress and glued on top of the image on the card front.

Printed another rose onto the inside panel, colored with Stampin' Write markers.

Life is better with Cupcakes

Isn't that the truth??!!  Today I made a whimsical birthday card using the Color Challenge from SCS (CC389 - Bravo Burgundy, Regal Rose, and Summer Starfruit).  I used a new die I purchased from All That Scraps and a sweet (pun intended!) saying to go with it from Amy R Sentiments.  Hope you like.

"Happy Birthday, Cupcake"

Stamp:  Sweet Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy polka-dot DP, Bravo Burgundy, Summer Starfruit, Regal Rose (SU!); Heavy White (Neenah)
Ink:  Bravo Burgundy (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Sweet Treats Set and Candle Border dies (C.C. Designs), D'Vine Swirl embossing folder (Cuttlebug), glue, and dimensionals

I cut out three of the cupcake papers (two white and one burgundy polka-dot), glued them together with the polka-dot paper on top.

I cut out three of the icing layer (two white and one Regal Rose).  I ran the Regal Rose layer through the Big Shot with the embossing folder before gluing the layers together with the embossed on top.  I cut out the squiggle of icing from Summer Starfruit cardstock and glued it onto the icing die.

I cut out two candle borders (one from Summer Starfruit; one from Bravo Burgundery cardstocks).  I choose one of the candles and cut it away from the rest of the border.  I cut the "flame" off of the Burgundy layer and glued it on top of the Summer Starfruit candle.  I glued the candle to the back of the icing layer.

I cut my main panel to size (5 1/8" x 3 7/8"), stamped the sentiment in Bravo Burgundy ink and mounted the cupcake layers, popping them up with dimensionals to add depth.

I mounted the main panel to the heavy white cardbase, popping it up with dimensionals.

On the inside of the card, I stamped "happy birthday" in Bravo Burgundy ink and added a two-layer candle (as above) to the bottom corner for interest.

Fun and easy card to make!

____________________

Many of you have been asking what I do with all the cards that I make.  I am a prolific card-maker so they do stack up quickly.  :)

I give many to friends and family as gifts ... but I also donate many of my cards.  I have donated to hospitals, senior homes, and community centers.

Today I am shipping off 40+ cards to B.C. Children's Hospital.  They have a program there called "Send a Smile 4 Kids (Canada)" where they collect uplifting, hand-made cards for nurses, staff and families to give to the patients to celebrate their birthdays, achievements and going home.

You may have noticed that I have been making more whimsical-type cards lately, and that's because I had this charity in mind when making my cards.  Send a Smile has a call out for Christmas cards, so I will start working on those soon.

If you'd like to donate to this worthy cause, please click on the link above to find out all the details.  Thank you!!

New Home

Today's card is for friends of Jer's, who have just moved into their first home together.  I'm so happy for them!!  I believe they'll enjoy this whimsical card that I made using a fun digital stamp from Bugaboo.

This card is for two challenges:  Paper Players #109 (paper piecing), and SCS Featured Stamper (FS289) - mamamostamps).  I used this card by Maureen as my inspiration, keeping her layout and changing up the other elements.  Hope you like.

"Congrats on your New Home"

Stamps:  House (Bugaboo digital stamps); Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Kiwi Kiss DP, Autumn Traditions DP (SU!); yellow gingham (Making Memories); heavy white cardstock (Neenah)
Ink:  Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: Maraschino Twine (The Twinery), glue

I copied the digital stamp into PowerPoint, resized and printed it onto a Whisper White card front.  I printed the image again onto computer paper and used that as my "master", adding cardstock over top and printing again in all the different colors.  I cut out and glued the pieces onto my card front.

I stamped the sentiment in Basic Black ink and added two pieces of twine wrapped around the top and tied in a knot off center.

For the inside of the card, I added a 1 1/4" strip of Real Red cardstock along the bottom, topped with 1 1/8" strip of the brown polka-dot dp (Autumn Traditions).

Sunflower and Watercolor

Today I was in the studio with Frances.  We had so much fun!! ... and both got two cards made.  We spent many hours crafting, gabbing, eating (always eating!) ... great time - thanks again for spending the day with me, Fran!!

The first card is fun and has sort of a country-feel to it ... it's the gingham - so sweet!  I used my new Sunflower die from C.C. Designs, but substituted the center of the flower for one made from my beloved sun punch (love those punches even though you get a workout using them ... at least my hands get a workout - whew - they are tough).  Love the yellow and Early Espresso together - so clean and fresh.  Hope you like.

"One of a Kind, Sunflower"

Stamp:  Word Salad (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Heavy White (C.C. Designs); Yellow Gingham (Making Memories); Old Olive, Soft Suede (SU!)
Ink:  Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Sunflower die (C.C. Designs); Little Leaves die (Sizzix); Medium and Small Sun punches (Punch Bunch), 1/4" Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon, mat pack, stylus, tweezers, adhesives, glue, sticky strips and glue dots

I cut out two sunflowers from the yellow gingham dp, shaped them with my mat pack and stylus and glued them together, offsetting the petals.

I punched one medium sun and six small suns from Soft Suede cardstock.  I sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink, cut each sun ray in half and shaped them with my mat pack and stylus.  With the six small suns, I cut into the middle of each one, twisted them into the shape of a cone and then glued the six cones into the center of the medium shaped sun.  I glued the sunflower center onto the petals.

I cut out three Little Leaves dies from Old Olive cardstock and glued them together to make a thick die-cut. 

I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso ink.  I glued the leaf sprig and sunflower to the card front.  I added a strip of yellow gingham dp to the top (1 1/4" wide), topped with the grosgrain ribbon.  I added another gingham strip and ribbon to the inside bottom of the card.

____________________

For the second card, I was inspired by this beautiful card by Susie Nelson on SCS.  I love her watercolor technique with the negative circle die with white die-cuts layered on top.  I used the same techique, layout and design, just changing up the colors of ink and dies.  I made mine smaller, so left off the sentiment.  Thanks Susie!

This card qualifies for the Technique Lover's Challenge at SCS (TLC391 - no stamping).

"Happy Birthday, Frances"

Paper:  Heavy white cardstock (C.C. Designs); watercolor paper
Ink:  Re-inkers Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Nestabilities circles (Spellbinders), Madera Corner die (Memory Box), Hydrangea Punch (Martha Stewart), Aqua Painter, mat pack, stylus, clear glitter glue, glue, sticky strips and dimensionals

I added a couple of drops of water to each reinker, misted my watercolor paper lightly, and added the reinkers using my Aqua Painter.  It took a few tries to get the look I was happy with ... watercolor paper has a mind of it's own!!  Once dry, I mounted the watercolored paper onto my white card base.

I ran a white card front through my Big Shot with the circle Nestie.  I cut out three Madera Corner dies from white, mounted two to the back of the card front - one in each of the diagonal corners, pulling the stems to the front.  You'll notice the corner die at the top right has less coming through than the corner die at the bottom left ---  I wanted it to be heavier on the bottom of the card.  The third corner die is attached to the inside panel for interest.

I punched out several hydrangea blooms, shaped them with my mat pack and stylus, and added clear glitter glue to the center of each blossom for some bling.  Once dry, the flowers were glued randomly onto the leaf stems.

Seas the Day!

I had so much fun making this card today ... I was giggling the whole time :)

I have to give lots and lots of credit to Pam Sparks (Expressions with Heart).  Pam creates the most intricate card scenes using lots of dies and stamping - I am in awe of her talent and how she knows exactly what goes together to create a "work-of-art" card.  Thanks Pam, for inspiring me and introducing me to the fabulous dies from C.C. Designs.

This card is for two challenges - Clear Dollar Stamps (CIC58) - circles; and CAS-ual Fridays (CFC66) - splish splash.  I used the adorable "Splash" digital stamp from Lisa Lara, colored with Stampin' Write markers.  All other elements on the card are die-cuts with the exception of the computer-generated sentiment.  Hope you like.

"Seas the Day!"

Stamps:  Splash Digital Stamp (Lisa's Doodley Doos - Clear Dollar Stamps); sentiment is computer generated
Paper:  Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White (SU!); White (Neenah)
Ink:  Basic Gray, Old Olive; Stampin' Write markers: Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big shot, Puffy Clouds die (Memory Box); Bubble Border, Olive Branch and Squiggles dies (C.C. Designs), sponges, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

I cut out all the dies, trimmed the bubble border by about 1/3, sponged the sea bottom (clouds) with gray ink and the seaweed with old olive ink.

I printed the sentiment onto a card front and also printed two fish (one large and one small), which were colored with Stampin' Write markers: Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi and Tempting Turquoise.

I trimmed the card front to 5" x 3 3/4" and mounted all the elements, popping up the large fish with dimensionals to add depth.  The main panel was mounted onto a heavy white card base, popped up with dimensionals.

I used about 1/2 of another bubble border die and a small fish to add interest to the inside.  Here's a close up of the bottom right-hand corner of the inside of the card.

Fun and easy card to make!!

Bird on a Branch

Today is the "Queen For the Day" Challenge at SCS (QFTD126 - ladybug91743) ... honor Marie-Alice by CASE'ing (copy and share everything) one of her lovely cards.  I have looked through her wonderful gallery and settled on this card.  I love the vintage feel from the colors and the bird cage.  Hope you like.

"Bird on a Branch"

 
Stamp:  En Francais (SU!)
Paper:  Soft Suede, River Rock, Old Olive (SU!)
Ink:  Soft Suede, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Fanciful Flourish die (Cheery Lynn); Vintage Bird Cage and Nested Bird dies (Poppy Stamps), sponges, adhesives, glue and dimensionals

I inked the En Francais background stamp, stamped it off once onto scrap paper and then stamped it onto River Rock cardstock.

I die-cut the flourish twice, once from Soft Suede cardstock and once from Old Olive cardstock.  I sponged the stems with Soft Suede ink to darken them slightly.  I sponged the green flourish (leaves only) with Old Olive ink to darken the base of each leaf.  I cut the leaves out and glued them on top of the Soft Suede flourish.

I die-cut the bird cage from black cardstock and the nested bird from Soft Suede (again, sponging the edges to give the bird some interest).

I mounted the branch, bird and cage onto my stamped card front, popping the cage up with dimensionals to add depth.  I mounted the card front onto a card base of Soft Suede cardstock.  The inside panel is River Rock and I added one branch with leaves to the bottom.

____________________

Just thought I'd share a tip with you today.  Sometimes I have trouble getting a clean die-cut ... not sure if it's my cutting plates that need replacing, or maybe I've used the die so many times it is getting a bit worn ... or my Big Shot rollers are not as tight as they used to be.  I find ones that have thin pieces (like the stems on the flourish above), a particular challenge.  I find it helps to have an emery board handy.  I use it to smooth out the rough edges.  It only takes a few minutes, but makes a huge difference.

Two more cards

Sorry for the second post today, but I'm on a roll ...  it happens sometimes when I haven't had much sleep - you'd think it would be the opposite (lots of sleep = lots of card making), but no.  I always have been backwards about a lot of things :)

Another card using Lisa's digital stamps ... this time her "Scoops" set.  This is for the Color Throwdown Challenge (#205) - lucky limeade, pool party, white, pumpkin pie, wisteria wonder).  I had to sub a couple of the colors - I don't have lucky limeade, pool party or wisteria wonder ... so used the closest colors I had.  Hope you like.

"Scoops of Fun"

Stamps:  Scoops Set (Lisa's Doodley Doos Digital Stamps - Clear Dollar Stamps)

Paper:  White, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Orchid ? (SU!)

Ink:  Images and sentiment computer generated; Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Marina Mist, Rich Razzleberry (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  sponges, and glue

I copied the images and sentiment into PowerPoint, sized it and then printed it onto Whisper White card front.

I printed the ice cream images several times to get five cones from Crumb Cake, two Ice Cream Scoops from Pumpkin Pie, and one Scoop each of Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze and Rich Razzleberry.  The extra cone and Pumpkin Pie scoop is on the inside panel of the card.

I cut out the cones, sponged the edges with Soft Suede ink and glued them to the Whisper White card front.  I cut out each of the different colored scoops of ice cream, sponged the edges with the cooresponding darker shade of color, and glued them to the card front.  The extra Pumpkin Pie ice cream cone was glued to the inside panel , bottom right-hand corner ... for interest.  Both panels were mounted onto a heavy, white card base.

___________________

Another card, this time using today's Sketch Challenge from SCS (SC388).  I found a star image on Google and printed it onto Daffodil Delight cardstock.  The "You're a" sentiment is computer generated ... and "ROCK" is Paper Smooches.  Hope you like.

Here's the sketch:

and here's my take (I left off the embellishments in the top left corner).

"Rock Star"

Stamps:  Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches); computer generated

Paper:  White, Daffodil Delight (SU!); Hello Sunshine DP (Bo Bunny)

Ink:  Basic Black (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  adhesives and dimensionals

Computer generated "You're a" onto White card front.  Printed star image onto Daffodil Delight cardstock, cut it out, and stamped with "ROCK" in basic black ink.

Mounted two pieces of background Hello Sunshine DP onto white card base.  Mounted star on top, popping it up with dimensionals. 

Easy and quick card!

AppleLicious Digi

Today is the newest release from Lisa's Doodley Doos (available at Clear Dollar Stamps) ... AppleLicious!  I love this set of digi stamps and had so much fun making this card.  I wanted the apple to be the main focal point, so I made the sentiment quite small ... of course, it's plenty big in real life, just a little hard to read in the photo below.  The sentiment is from another of Lisa's stamp sets - What A Melon and it reads "take a bite out of life".   I added a small Memory Box die to the top of the apple.  I just love the Real Red polka-dot DP from Stampin' Up! ... it's so cheerful and fun!  Hope you like.

"Take a Bite Out of Life"

Stamps:  AppleLicious, What A Melon (Digi stamps from Lisa's Doodley Doos)
Paper:  Whisper White, Gumball Green, Real Red polka-dot DP, Very Vanilla (SU!); White cardstock (Neenah)
Ink:  image and sentiment were computer generated; Soft Suede Stampin' Write marker
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Tender Leaves die (Memory Box), corner rounder, glue, and adhesives


Here's a close-up of the apple and sentiment:

I copied the digital stamps into Power Point and sized them before printing them onto Whisper White (card front).  The way I do paper piecing with digital stamps is to print out the image onto computer paper and then use removeable tape to adhere a piece of designer paper over the areas I want to paper piece (slightly larger than image), and then run the computer paper through my printer again and cut it out.  There's probably a better way, but this works for me.

The apple was actually run through twice, once on Very Vanilla cardstock and then again on the Real Red DP ... I wanted the "bite" to be a slightly different color than the white background.  I mounted the two layers of apple onto my card front and then colored in the stem with my Soft Suede Stampin' Write marker.  I glued the leaf on top.

I layered Gumball Green cardstock and Real Red polka-dot DP at the bottom and rounded both bottom corners.  I placed the same strip (albeit slightly narrower) on the inside - also rounded at both bottom corners.

___________________

I'm including a picture of Jeremy's latest art project.  The photo doesn't do it justice ... it is really amazing in real life.  There are three canvases, each 18" x 36" and the "dots" are 1" in diameter.  You can imagine the time and effort that went into this piece.  All that's left to do is put a couple of coats of varnish on top.  Right now, the time Jer has invested into this is approx. 100 hours.  I love the graphic and "pixelated" look of this modern piece of art.  It is going to look stunning in his new apartment.  This is absoluting amazing, Jer!!  Congrats!

Celebrate

I'm happy to be taking it easy today ... just playing in my art studio.  Yesterday was busy, busy, busy day ... but I did get a LOT accomplished.  Both sons were home for dinner last night and it was so nice to spend some time with the four of us.  Besides making dinner (which included Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie for dessert - one of Evan's favorites!!), I managed to make up five batches of Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, which I divided into 2 portion dinners - 25 dinners in all into the freezer to use throughout the year - yah!!

Today's card is for two challenges at SCS.  Technique Lover's Challenge (TLC390 - water stamping) and Clean & Simple (CAS183 - sketch by Tenia - summer DT member).  I struggle with diagonal or tilted images, so it took me a while to figure out how to work with the sketch.  In the end, it was easier for me to downplay that element ... so I added two scorelines with piercing along the lines.  Simple and subtle - perfect for me.  For the water stamping part of the challenge, I sponged bright orange and pink so the DP I created was very, very bright.  I overstamped the sponging with a leafy image from Pendant Park stamp set (SU!) ... on both the background paper of the card and also an extra piece that I used to punch the five-point flower.  It looks so much better in real life ... the camera just doesn't capture the subtle leafy design that is so pretty on these colors.  Hope you like.

"Celebrate"

Stamps:  Pendant Park (SU!); Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, paper piercing tool and template, five point flower punch, small sun punch, water, mat pack, stylus, glue dots, adhesives, and dimensionals

First I sponged two pieces of Whisper White cardstock with Tangerine Tango and Melon Mambo inks.  I find that Whisper White takes the SU! inks the best so I always use it when sponging ... then I layer the panels onto a heavy white cardstock for stability.  I used a small plastic food container lined with three layers of water-soaked paper towel as my stamp pad, "inking" my tree stamp from Pendant Park stamp set and stamping onto the sponged cardstock.  Once dry, I cut one piece to size for the card front (4 1/4" square) and punched a few flowers out of the other piece (I used one flower for the front and also added one to the inside panel for interest).  I mounted the sponged DP card front onto a heavy piece of white cardstock for stability, securing it with lots of sticky strips.  Not only does this add weight to my front panel, but it also smoothed out the DP in the process which has become a little warped from adding the water stamping ... so double duty.  I mounted it to the heavy white card base.

I cut a 3 1/2" panel from heavy white cardstock and pierced two rows on the diagonal, one inch apart.  I stamped the sentiment between the two rows in Melon Mambo ink.  I layered the pierced square onto another same-sized square cardstock to add thickness and then mounted onto my card front, popping the panel up with dimensionals.

I added a white sun (punched and shaped with mat pack and stylus) to the center of one flower (which was shaped with mat pack and stylus) and attached it to the card front using a glue dot.  I added another flower to the inside panel

Ombre card

Busy, busy day ... I have both my kids home for dinner tonight and it's really warm today.  So I thought I'd make Chili early this morning so that I didn't have to have the stove on in the heat of the day.  I'll place it in the slow cooker later this afternoon to heat up - love the slow cooker on those hot days!  I also had promised Evan that I would make Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie today, so I've already baked the crust and it's ready to be filled with sweet deliciousness!  I also picked up a pound of organic basil from an Herb Farm on Westham Island yesterday.  Today my plan is to make several batches of Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto that I will freeze to use throughout the year.

I had an idea for a card for this week's Free For All Challenge at SCS (F4A129 - Ombre, mon amie!) - shades of color ... or gradation of color.  I made it a priority to spend time on the card before I head back to the kitchen.

I decided to pull out my brayer which I haven't used in some time.  I brayered several shades of green ink onto Whisper White cardstock to create a background for my negative die-cut card front.  Love the look!  Hope you like this clean and simple card.

"Just for You"

Stamp:  Just Believe (SU!)
Paper:  White cardstock (Neenah); Whisper White cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  brayer, Big Shot, Meadow Leaf die (Poppy Stamps), Stamp-a-ma-jig, adhesives, glue and dimensionals

I brayered the green inks onto Whisper White cardstock, starting with the lightest and ending with the darkest.

I cut out two leaf images from my white card front using the Meadow Leaf die, staggering them slightly.  I lined up my brayered background behind the cut-out until I was happy with the shades of color (I have the lightest green at the top and the darkest at the base of the leaves), and then trimmed my brayered cardstock to size (I kept the trimmed pieces).

I mounted the brayered background onto my cardbase, and added the front panel on top, popping it up with dimensionals.

I used one of the trimmed brayered pieces to die-cut another Meadow leaf, which I glued to the bottom right-hand corner of my inside panel.

Quick and easy card.

____________________

I am determined to be more organized in my art studio (it's probably something to do with being a secretary for over 30 years - it's built in!).  So I was trying to think of what I call "time wasters" ... and it was going through my packaging to find the correct names for my dies.  Now that I have my dies all mounted on magnetic sheets (which are extremely handy, I might add), the packaging is thrown into a "barely used" cupboard ... but I want to make sure that I list the correct names of materials I use when I post my cards, and my memory isn't what it used to be :)

I decided I would take a cue from one of the scrapbooking stores in my area, and created sheets with labeled die-cuts.  I thought this would be a great time saver.  So I spent some time yesterday, making my first sheet (many, many more sheets to be done).  This is all my Poppy Stamps dies, with an example of each and the correct name listed.  My plan is to post these on a bulletin board above my computer for easy reference.  I think it will work really well!  The side benefit (once they are all done), is I will have a visual of all my dies that I can look at to be inspired - bonus!!

Blue and White Christmas Cards

A couple of cards to share with you today.  I actually made the background a couple of days ago, trying out the water stamping technique (click here for link to SCS tutorial).  I had made this type of background before (see last post with pond), by dropping water from a squeeze bottle onto my sponged background.  But I wanted to try the other variation of stamping with water using a wet paper towel as the stamp pad.

I randomly sponged a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of Whisper white with Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point inks.  Then I stamped snowflakes "inked" with water.  I had my paper towel quite wet, so the snowflakes blurred quite a bit ... I actually was really happy with the look.  I used the one sheet to make two cards.  This is for this week's CAS-ual Fridays Challenge (CFC65 - make a square card).  Hope you like.

"Joy to the World"

Stamps:  Flakier (GCS Artstamps); Merry and Bright sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White cardstock (Neenah); Whisper White (SU!)
Inks:  Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Versamark (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Postage Stamp Nestabilities die (Spellbinders), Star of Wonder die (Memory Box), sponges, paper towel, water, white embossing powder, heat tool, glue, and dimensionals

I randomly sponged Whisper White cardstock with Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point inks.  I stamped the Flakier stamp using water as the ink.  I let it dry and then ran it through my Big Shot with the postage stamp die.  I cut out two other layers of postage stamp die from white cardstock and layered them with glue, adding the sponged layer on top (this creates a thick panel).

I stamped the sentiments in Versamark and embossed in white using my heat tool.  I die cut the largest star and added it the main panel, popping it up with dimensionals.  The main panel was mounted onto the card base, again popping it up to add depth.

___________________

Here's the second card using the leftover piece of sponged and water stamped background.  This card was inspired by this beautiful card by SusanBri at SCS.

"Snowy Hills"

Stamp:  Flakier (GCS Artstamps)
Paper:  White cardstock (Neenah), Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Country Landscape and Star of Wonder dies (Memory Box), Sparkle Texture Effect (Martha Stewart), glue, and dimensionals

Die-cut the Country Lanscape from Whisper White cardstock and mounted onto my background paper.  Cut two more pieces to represent hills and mounted on top.  Placed a mask behind my scene to protect the background paper and added Sparkle Texture effect to the top of the hills, houses and trees.

Cut two more pieces of white cardstock the same size as my scene (4" square) and glued them together, adding the main panel on top (creating a thick panel).  Mounted the panel to the front of my card base, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.  Glued the small Star of Wonder die to the top right hand corner.

Toadally Amazing

Today's card is for three challenges ... count 'em, three!!  Less is More #79 - Blue and Green ... CASology #5 - Pond ... and SCS Ways To Use It - WT387 - Something old (choose from something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue - do one aspect or all four).

Blue and green is one of my favorite color combinations ... especially if the blue is turquoise.  To make the pond, I simply sponged white cardstock with turquoise and then dropped water on top, absorbing the excess with paper towel ... love the look and have used this before.  I first saw it done many months ago by Karen Dunbrook - she is so creative!

For the Ways To Use It challenge, I only covered off three of the four - something old (my ink and sponge), something new (digi stamp of Hoppers), and something blue (of course, the pond!).  I have donated cards a few times to the B.C. Children's Hospital ... they collect hand-made cards for nurses and staff to give to the younger patients to celebrate their birthdays, special events and milestones.  I'm thinking this card will be perfect to add to the collection I'll be sending their way soon.  Hope you like.

"Toadally Amazing"

Stamps:  Hoppers - digi (Lisa's Doodley Doos - Clear Dollar Stamp); Chit Chat (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White, Gumball Green (SU!)
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Gumball Green, Basic Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Printer, Big Shot, Grass die (Cheery Lynn), Nestabilities Oval die (Spellbinders), Tiny Bubbles embossing folder (Cuttlebug), sponges, glue, and dimensionals

I sponged a piece of Whisper White with Tempting Turquoise ink until it was fairly solid in color.  I dropped waterdrop on top, absorbing any excess water with a paper towel.  I let the cardstock dry and then cut it to size.

I die-cut the grass from Gumball Green cardstock and glued it along the bottom edge of my "pond"

I printed the "Toadally" sentiment from the Hoppers digi set onto white cardstock and used an oval die to cut out an opening.  I stamped the "you are" and "amazing" in black ink (paper smooches stamps).

I sponged a second piece of Whisper White cardstock with Gumball Green, ran it through my Big Shot with the bubbles embossing folder and then ran it through my printer with the toad digi.  I cut the toad out.

I mounted all the pieces, popping up the main panel with dimensionals as well as the toad.

Field of Poppies

Today has been a challenge.  My mom was scheduled for open heart surgery today ... and unfortunately, her surgery was postponed at the last minute, yet again.  She now has to wait until the end of August and we're hoping that third times a charm and the surgery will go ahead as scheduled.  For those friends and family who have been concerned, I thank you.  Please continue to keep my mom in your thoughts ...

On to the card for today.  I needed to come home and just chill out so I headed into the art studio - one of my favorites places to be.  I had die-cut  two poppies a while ago from watercolor paper and used the re-inker technique to color them.  I was happy with how they turned out, but just hadn't found the time to make them into a card yet.  Turns out that today's Color Throwdown Challenge #204 is Basic Gray, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla and Pumpkin Pie --- perfect, I could use my poppies!  I decided I wanted it to be bolder than the two-poppy die, so I cut out three more sets and used parts of them to make a small field of poppies.  Hope you like.

"Field of Poppies"

Stamp:  Sincere Salutations (SU!)
Paper:  Watercolor
Ink:  Basic Gray; Re-inkers:  Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Prim Poppy die (Memory Box), water mister, Aqua Painter, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue dots, glue, and dimensionals

I die-cut four sets of the two poppies from watercolor paper.  I cut three of them apart, creating individual stems, leaving one set intact.

I used the Re-inker Spread technique to watercolor the dies (see tutorial in Techniques section of this blog).

By combining Tangerine Tango and Real Red inks, I managed to get fairly close to the Poppy Parade color of the challenge.

I arranged the watercolored poppies on my watercolor paper card base until I was happy with them.  I glued down the stems and added dimensionals to the flowerheads and rolled glue dots to the buds.

I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement of the sentiment, which was stamped in Basic Gray ink.