Delight in Little Things

Hi everyone.  First of all, thanks to all my friends for their wonderful birthday wishes, cards and gifts - I am blessed to have so many wonderful friends!  I am excited to share my first card with you, using my new camera that I got for my birthday.  Yep, the old one was on it's last legs and I haven't been happy with the clarity for a long time, so I dropped some (strong) hints to my hubby, and voila ... a new camera. :)  Still learning how to use it, so please bear with me as I navigate the learning curve :)

Today's card is for CAS(E) this sketch! #34 challenge.  The green material (used for panel on front and strip on inside of card) ... is the packing that came with a pot of begonias that I got from my friend Liz.  It's almost like facing material ... a bit stiff, but a little transparent.  Anyways, I thought is was such a beautiful color that I couldn't throw it away, so I used some on my card - so fun!

I scored two lines on my card front to represent the horizontal strip, but they didn't show enough, so I pierced a line above the top, and below the bottom scored lines to add more definition.  The maple leaf is done with the watercolor spritz technique ... and the sentiment is a sweet one that I just received from my friend Peggy - thanks Peggy!! :)

Here's the sketch:

Stamps:  Gently Falling (SU!); Delight in little things (studio g)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); watercolor
Ink:  Old Olive, Gumball Green, Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), scoring tool; paper piercing template, tool & mat; water mister, Stamp-a-ma-jig, green material, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

I cut two frames from white and glued the green material between them to hold everything in place.

The maple leaf is a 2-part stamp ... I inked the inside randomly with Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit and Gumball Green stampin' write markers.  I misted it with water and stamped onto watercolor paper.  Once dry, I inked the matching outline stamp with Gumball Green ink, misted with water and stamped on top (using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for lining up).  I fussy cut the leaf out.

Here's a close-up:

Fly Away With Me

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS.

This challenge is being run by the super-creative Karen B (Serendipity Dragonfly), and she chose this fabulous word ...

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  4 digital images from Delicious Doodles

(please follow the rules to be eligible to win)

Stamps:  Fly Away with Me (C.C. Designs); Sunny Sentiments (Amy R)

Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Whisper White, Sycamore Street DP (SU!)

Ink:  Pool Party, Island Indigo (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Up and Away Dies (kite) - C.C. Designs, Puffy Clouds (Memory Box), Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), sponges, cloud template (hand-made), Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

I stamped the kite and then cut out with matching die ... it took me a while to get a good one and will have to research the proper way to line these dies up - I know there's a trick, I just need to find it :)

I sponged the background sky using my own template and Pool Party ink.

The card front is popped up for more dimension, along with the kite and clouds.

Here's a close-up:

I hope I have inspired you to join in our fun challenge ...  Addicted to CAS - Take Flight. Come check out all the wonderful creations by the other Design Team members.

First Christmas Card for the year ...

Hi everyone.  My first Christmas card for the year ... it's a bit early for me, I usually wait until about August to get started, but I saw this beautiful card done by my friend Susan, and I was inspired.  Susan included a link to the Weekly Christmas Card Challenges that she made the card for ... it's a photo inspiration challenge ... and when I saw the photo I knew I HAD to enter.  Thanks Susan!!

Here's the photo inspiration:

I took the challenge quite literally and focused on the front door.  It needed some decoration, so I made a small wreath to jazz it up.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Handy Christmas Greetings (Amy R)
Paper:  White, Real Red (SU!)
Ink:  Real Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Classic Screen Door die (Memory Box), Pine Branch die (Cheery Lynn), Small circle nestie (Spellbinders), 5/8" circle punch, Woodgrain embossing folder (SU!), green and red glitter glue (Studio G), sponges, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

I used the screen door die from Memory box.  I've had it for over a year and never used it so it's a NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) ... as Darnell would say. :)   I glued pieces together to change it to a paneled front door.  I also used my new woodgrain embossing folder from SU! (love it!) ... to add some texture.

I cut a small circle frame for the base of my wreath, and then cut small sprigs from my pine branches and overlapped them to make the wreath.  I added a little green glitter to the branches to give them some bling ... and added red glitter "berries" as well.

The sentiment is stamped on a separate piece of white cardstock and popped up ... hopefully it looks like it's the front step, because that's what I was going for :)

Here's a close-up:

Hello Strawberries

Hi everyone.  Here is my design team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More #51 - Anything Goes.  I used an adorable image from our sponsor (Di's Digi Designs).  This time I colored everything with Copic markers, added a little chalk for her cheeks ... and some Crystal Effects to the strawberries to make them look shiny and delicious!  :)

This is my last design team card for Addicted to Stamps & More as I am stepping down at the end of June.  I want to thank Kylie for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful challenge blog.  And I want to thank Caz, Danielle, Deepti, Florence, Monika, Nonni, Sandie, Shana, Sue and Kylie for their support - I've really enjoyed being part of this creative and fun team!

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  $10 Voucher

(must follow challenge rules to be eligible to win)

Di's Digi Designs is sponsoring the whole month of June!

Stamps: Hello Strawberries (Di's Digi Designs); Sweet Sentiments (Amy R)

Paper:  White (C.C. Designs)

Ink:  Copics:  E00, E01, Y32, Y21, YR24, R27, R29, E77, E49, BG72, BG57, G43, YG67, YG95, W4, YR07, 0
Accessories & Tools:  Crystal Effects, white gel pen, red chalk, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Be sure to check out the fabulous designs from the Design Team at ATS&M!

Brayered vellum

Hi everyone.  Second post for today ... that hasn't happened for a while!  Just couldn't resist playing along with SCS Ways To Use It Challenge (WT432 - vellum).

Haven't used vellum for such a long time ... or brayered either, but when I saw a card done by Shana Gaff where she brayered the vellum - wow!!!  Had to give it a try.  Thanks for inspiring Shana!

Used the colours from the Colours & Sketches Challenge #30 - colours: cajun craze, gumball green, primrose petals).  Three very bold and saturated colours - but they worked perfectly for this brayered background - love them together!

Stamps:  Inspired by Nature (SU!); Thoughts of You (Rubber-Art Stamps)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Vellum Paper (SU!)
Ink:  Cajun Craze, Gumball Green, Primrose Petals, Basic Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Speedball Rubber Brayer, Stamp-a-ma-jig, heat tool, acetate sheet, sticky strips, and dimensionals

I brayered the vellum with the three colours ... green ink on the bottom, primrose petals ink from the top all the way down to just above the green (leaving a small white space) and then cajun craze ink on top of the pink at the top only.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig for placement of the grasses and stamped in black ink.  I used my heat tool to dry the vellum (being careful not to over-heat).  I found that the ink still smudged when I handled it, so decided to place an acetate sheet over the front to protect the ink.

I framed the brayered vellum and acetate sheet between two layers of white cardstock, both with the rectangle die-cut from the center.  Then I popped the card front on top of my card base.  Love how it turned out!

Here's a close-up of the brayering:

You are my Sunshine!

Hi everyone.  Today's card was fun to make using my sunflower die from C.C. Designs.  I love this die ... and have used it a few times, including this yellow gingham sunflower card I made last week.

Stamps:  Sunny Skies (Lawn Fawn)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Tangerine Tango, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso (SU!)
Ink:  Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Sunflower die (C.C. Designs); Tender Leaves die (Memory box), Mandarin Twine (The Twinery), sponges, stylus and mat, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up of the sunflower:

____________________

I have been seeing some of my card candy popping up on cards around blogland ... it makes me happy!! :)

Thanks to everyone that commented on my latest Card Candy Giveaway - #4 (Fun in the Sun).  I used the True Random Number Generator to pick the winner of the Card Candy:

True Random Number Generator Min:  Max:   Result: 3 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Mary H

Congrats Mary ... please email your mailing address to me (click on the "Email Me" in the right-hand column near the top), and I'll send you the Card Candy.

Izzy and the Bee

Hi everyone.  Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge blog is celebrating it's ...

1st Birthday!!!

Kylie and the Design Team would like to thank everyone that has entered the challenges and followed along with the blog over the past year.  It's been a great success ... thanks for all your support!!!


Back to our latest challenge ... here is my design team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More #50 - Photo Inspiration.  I used another sweet image from our sponsor (Di's Digi Designs), coloring part of the image with Copics and paper piecing the rest (with a little paper tole added in for extra dimension).  Even though this is a CAS (Clean and Simple) card ... it took a long time to make.

CAS doesn't always mean simple and quick to make.  This card has a lot of details ... and the paper piecing were teeny, tiny pieces, so it was a little time consuming ... but I enjoyed every minute of it! :)  Hope you like.

I focused on the bumble bee and the colors in the rest of the photo (turquoise, pink, yellow).  This photo can be interpreted in many ways ... find one that talks to you and join in the fun!

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  $10 Voucher

(must follow challenge rules to be eligible to win)

Di's Digi Designs is sponsoring the whole month of June!

Stamps: Izzy and Bee (Di's Digi Designs); Happy You - sentiment (SU!)

Paper:  White, More Mustard, Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise polka-dot DP (SU!)

Ink:  More Mustard, Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black (SU!);  Copics:  E00, E01, Y21, Y32, YR24, E49, E77

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Grass border die (C.C. Designs), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Square Lattice embossing folder (Sizzix), cloud template (hand-made), blender pen, sponges, chalk (for cheeks), glue, glue dots, adhesives, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Be sure to check out the fabulous designs from the Design Team at ATS&M!

Copper Leaves

Hi everyone.  And a special "hi" to my friends Nancy and Carole ... both of whom had emergency heart surgery this week.  So happy that everything went well ... take care and rest up!

Today's card is for a "new to me" challenge called Fusion (Challenge #11).  I used the sketch only part of the challenge (fabulous sketch by Jackie).  I kept the card very CAS with lots of white space, which really highlights the beautiful spray of copper leaves.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Just Believe - sentiment (SU!)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs)
Ink:  Brown (ColorBox)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Copper metal sheet .005 thickness (K&S Precision Metals), Mini Butane torch, 1 1/4" square punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, glue dots, and dimensionals


I die-cut the copper leaves and then heated them with my butane torch until the color changed.

I punched out 12 - 1 1/4" squares from white cardstock and glued three layers together for each of the four squares and placed them on my main panel (dry fit) to figure out where I wanted the sentiment.  I removed the squares, stamped the sentiment, and then adhered the squares into place, popping them up for added dimension.  The main panel was then attached to the card base, again popped up for more dimension.  I attached the copper leaves using three glue dots.

Here's a close-up of the leaves:

Edited:  The mini butane torch I used is actually a creme brulee torch that is sold in cooking shops.  Perfect size for heating the small copper die-cuts.  Please make sure to have your copper on a heat-proof surface when using the torch (I used a 8"x8" brick).

Surfer Dude!

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS.  I used a fun image from this challenge's sponsor, coloring with copics and adding a little detailing with a white gel pen and some dazzling details.

This challenge is being run by the multi-talented Vicki Dutcher (All I Do is Stamp), and she chose this awesome word ...

This challenges sponsor is

Prize:  7 digis from Bugaboo Stamps

(must follow challenge rules to be eligible to win)

Stamps:  AKVS Surf (Bugaboo); Word Salad (Paper Smooches)

Paper:  White; Bermuda Bay (SU!)

Ink:  Copics:  E00, E01, Y32, YR07, R17, G43, YG67, BG52; Stampin' Write marker Basic Black (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Dazzling details (SU!), white gel pen, glue, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up:

I hope I have inspired you to join in our fun challenge ...  Addicted to CAS - Teenager. Come check out all the wonderful creations by the other Design Team members.

Card Candy Give-away #4

Hi everyone.  Here is my latest card candy ... and you'll recognize a lot of the pieces from this card I posted a few days ago. :)  I've had a lot of fun making these ... using SU!'s cardstock ... just love these colors together (Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay).  I have added pop-dots to some of the items (sun, flip-flops, beach ball, umbrella), but left the others attached with a temporary adhesive, which can be easily removed before adhering to cards, scrapbooks, etc.

The waves were my last addition to the set and I decided to add a white layer in behind, slightly above so it looks like the waves have whitecaps - so happy with how they turned out.  :)  These waves can be cut to size for your card ... layered with one or two or three sets of waves, or you can use one set on three different cards - lots of choices.

Here's a close-up:

____________________

Would you like some of the card candy above??


I'm again offering the above to one person that leaves a comment on this posting before June 20th.  I will use the "True Random Number Generator" to determine which comment will receive the candy.

I have seen some of my card candy in action around blogland and it makes me so happy!!  I'm glad that so many are enjoying using it on their cards.

Thanks for stopping by ...   :)

Sunflower Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card is the this week's Color Challenge at SCS (CC430 - Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight) ... or the closest colors you have.  I am loving the new Pear Pizzazz ... it's not new, new ... it was an In-Color, but has returned to SU! as one of the new permanent colors, so I bought the paper, ink and pen and am ready to go!  I also used washi tape on this card ... although it just looks like a strip of yellow gingham paper (with the sentiment stamped on top).  I could have used the same paper as the sunflower, but the washi was handy ... love how it adheres so easily and also easy to reposition if you make a mistake (bonus!!).

After making the main panel, I was going to just pop it up on the white card base, but really felt it needed something more.  So I added a 1" strip of Old Olive just under the bottom of the main panel to ground it.  I like how it turned out ... it's just a little different.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz (SU!); Yellow Gingham (Making Memories)
Ink:  Black, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Sunflower die (C.C. Designs), Tender Leaves die (Memory Box), Yellow Gingham Washi tape (SU!), sponge, stylus and mat, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

The sunflower is two layers of yellow gingham, with the top layer shaped with the stylus and mat .  The center is cut from Pear Pizzazz cardstock (as is the leaves) and the edges are sponged with Old Olive ink.  The center is also shaped with the stylus and mat and the popped up in the center of the sunflower.

Here's a close-up:

You're a Special Friend

Hi everyone.  Here is my design team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More #49 - Addicted to CAS.  My very special friend, Nancy, sent me a lovely package of molded clay roses and vases ... and I used one of the small roses on the card above.  I colored the rose using my Aqua Painter and coral ink - love how it turned out.  The leaves are leftovers from a Flourish die-cut from Cheery Lynn.

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  $10 Voucher

(must follow challenge rules to be eligible to win)

Di's Digi Designs is sponsoring the whole month of June!

Stamps: Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)

Paper:  White, Old Olive (SU!)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Label punch; Piercing tool, template and mat; Leaves, Molded Clay Rose (Nancy), Aqua Painter, glue, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!

Take a Bite Out of Life

Hi everyone.  Here's a fun card for today's SCS CAS challenge (CAS224 - colours:  melon mambo, crumb cake, pear pizzazz, white).  I used an adorable digi stamp from Lisa's Doodley Doos called "What a Melon".  I used my new SU! gingham wheel stamp to create the pink gingham ... but had a bit of difficulty lining up the rows of gingham ... you'll see there's a thin white line in the center.  My plan is to take the stamp off the wheel and use it as a regular stamp so that I can line things up better with my Stamp-a-ma-jig, but I need a few supplies first.  This was recommended to me by my friend Bonnie, and I think it will work much better.  I tried several times to line things up and this was the best of the lot and I decided to just go with it. :)  Hope you like.

Stamps:  What a Melon (Lisa's Doodley Doos)
Paper:  Crumb Cake, White, Pear Pizzazz, Black (SU!)
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Curly-Q border die (C.C. Designs - used the cast-aways as the seeds), ruler, sponges, glue, Crystal Effects, and dimensionals

I sponged around each of the pieces of watermelon with the corresponding colors of ink to give the image some depth.  I coated the "seeds" with Crystal Effects ... and colored the "juicy drops" with my Melon Mambo marker and then cut them out and glued them to the card front.  The melon is popped up for added dimension.  As with all my paper piecing ... if the outline image is done in black ink, then after cutting each piece, I run my black marker around the edge to give each piece a more finished look.

Here's a close-up: