Glittery card

This is Day 12, the final day of the 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV. Today we are to use Glitter on our card.

I don't have any Stardust pens so I used Glitz embossing powder to give the sparkle. I officially ran out of ideas for a sentiment from the Gina K stamps I have so I left it without a sentiment. I did stamp the middle snowflake on a separate piece of paper so I could replace it if I wanted to add a sentiment.

Here are the products I used:

Gina K Designs Snow Frame set and matching die cut
Versamark ink
Recollections Glitz embossing powder
Versafine Onyx Black ink
Recollections Rhinestone stickers

One layer card

For Day 11 of the 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV we are to make a one layer card that uses a die to make a border. You trace along the inside of the die to make the border on your card.

This is a very simple one layer card. I used Crayola markers to colour the stamps and I found that it worked better on the rubber stamp than the clear stamp. 

Here are the products I used:

Gina K Designs stamps: Love and Prayers set, Fabulous Holiday Fillers set, Fabulous Frame set

Crayola markers

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Jar Labels

Staedtler Fineliner marker

Heat Embossed Card

We're up to Day 10 of the 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV. This time we are to use a heat embossed background made with an embossing folder.

I had not done this technique before so it was another nice learning experience. I felt that this embossing folder really didn't need much in the way of embellishment so I only added the sentiment, and a small one at that!  I used a Sizzix embossing folder from the Doily set, Recollections Sapphire and Snow embossing powders and the sentiment is from the Gina K Designs Fabulous Frame set. 

Distressed letterpress card

The 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV are up to Day 9 with the distressed letterpress technique as the challenge. Here is my card.

I love this embossing folder and it seemed perfect for this technique. It is from the Spring set by Cuttlebug. I used Stampin' Up! Bashful Blue for the background and Peach Parfait for the design. The sentiment is from the Gina K Designs Fabulous Holiday Fillers and is attached with some foam tape. It is stamped with the Peach Parfait which was also sponged on the die cut.

Woodgrain card

Day 8 of the 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV calls for us to use the woodgraining technique.

This is another technique that I have not done very often. My deck is a reddish brown colour so that's where I got my inspiration. I don't have very many Gina K stamps so I am glad to get a new idea for a technique. 

Here are the products I used:

Ink - ColorBox Frost White, Stampin' Up! Bravo Burgundy

Gina K Designs Snow Frame set and Fabulous Frame set

Cut file for the snowflake

Gatefold card

The 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV is on Day 7 and the challenge is to make a gatefold card.

Instead of using wrapping paper for the background paper, I used the patterned paper to wrap the gifts on the card! I used some twine, coloured it with Spectrum Noir markers to match the presents and made the bows.

I used the following products:

Gina K Designs Cold Snap patterned paper and A Gift for You stamp set

Spectrum Noir markers DR5 and JG6

Simon Says Stamp postage stamp die

ColorBox Cranberry ink

Distressed Newsprint

For Day 6 of the 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV we were challenged to use distressed newsprint on our project.

I had never used this technique before so it was nice to tackle something new. My mother loves green, brown and orange so I decided to use those colours.

Here are the products I used:

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress ink- Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint; Recollections - Chestnut; Stampabilities -           Acorn Squash

Gina K Designs stamps - flower from the Love and Prayers set, sentiment from the Fabulous Holiday         Fillers set

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Jar Labels

Spectrum Noir marker EB3 on the flower middle

Card from a sketch

Day 5! On the 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV today we were given a sketch to base our card on.

I used the middle of the Fabulous Frame for the focal image and then used the belly bands on the sides. They don't quite fit, since the oval is turned the other way, but I think they work. I used the flower image and embossed it with clear embossing powder for the background.

Here are the products I used:

Gina K Designs products: Fabulous Frames, Especially for You set

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, ColorBox Frost White

Spectrum Noir markers: PL2, PL3, PL5, CT2

Recollections Embossing Powder:Clear, Snow

Bazzill Basics Simply Smooth white cardstock

Red, white and blue card

Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV asks us to make a project using the colours Turquoise Sea, Red Hot and White(or colours that are close). I used colours that are close.

I stamped the background using the stamping off technique and used a die to cut out the ornament.

Here are the products I used:

Impression Obsession ornament die

Cold Snap patterned paper (Gina K Designs)

Gina K Designs Fabulous Frame set - sentiment

Gina K Designs Fabulous Holiday Fillers - snowflake

Salty Ocean Tim Holtz Distress ink

Vellum card

The challenge for Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas on Stamp TV is to make a Stained Glass Vellum project. Here is my card.

After I coloured the yellow part and it dried, I thought it looked a little streaky so I went over it again. That got rid of the streaks but made it darker/brighter so I'm not sure it has the stained glass effect anymore. Oh, well. I do like the way the butterflies in the background shine in the light. You can see this on the right hand side of the card.

These are the products I used:

Spectrum Noir markers: OR1, OR2, OR3, EB4, CT4, JG7

Really Rust Stampin' Up! ink

Martha Stewart Copper Penny embossing powder

Gina K Designs Fabulous Frame set

Gift Card holder

The challenge on Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas StampTV event is to create a Gift Card holder. I am giving some gift cards this year so it was very timely!

I used some of the paper in the Cold Snap 6" x 6" paper pack by Gina K Designs for my patterned paper. I didn't have any of the matching Gina K cardstock so I found some in my stash that matched quite well.

I die cut an oval and while it was still in the die I sponged it with ColorBox Cranberry ink. Then I stamped the sentiment, from the A Gift For You stamp duo by Gina K, in the same ink. I used a Glue Dot to make a ribbon band that can be slipped off and attached the sentiment. 

Here is what it looks like when it is opened.

Marble background card

There is a new 12 Days of Christmas Stamp TV Event starting today. Each day there will be a new challenge. Today's challenge is to use a marble background on your project. You can see how to do this technique here.

I'm thinking that these will be clean and simple cards as I don't have a lot of spare time right now. I'm sure most other people are the same!  

I used Stampin' Up! Copper metallic ink refill with the marbles. When I first put it on the red cardstock it had a shine but that seemed to disappear as it dried, so now it just looks like tone on tone. I stamped the sentiment in VersaFine Onyx Black and the snowflakes in ColorBox Scarlet. Both of these stamps are from the Gina K Designs Fabulous Holiday Fillers set. I used a die from the Spellbinders Shapeabilities Jar Labels set and cut the top and bottom of the white cardstock but not the sides. I layered everything onto a white card base and added a bow with a mini Glue Dot.

Christmas card

I still have a lot of names on my Christmas card list so I needed a card that I could produce in quantity. I came up with this one.

It has a couple of embossing steps but the main image is just one stamp, with no colouring. The main image is from Inkadinkado, from their O Holy Night set, and is stamped in VersaFine Onyx Black. The star is from my stash and is embossed with Recollections Gold Tinsel embossing powder. The sentiment is a stamp from Michael's $1.50 bin and is stamped in ColorBox Cranberry ink and embossed with Recollections Clear embossing powder.

I thought it needed a little something extra so I went around the top layer with a Pen-Touch Calligrapher Gold metallic pen before matting it with red cardstock and adhering it to a white card base.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog: Holiday cards

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog: Christmas/Holidays

Hiding in my Craft Room: Christmas Colors

Snowman Birthday card

I needed to make a card for a birthday so I decided to use a snowman and enter the card in the Mod Squad Challenge Blog - Frosty the Snowman challenge.  

I cut the snowman and accessories with my Silhouette Cameo from Bazzill Basics Simply Smooth white cardstock and used Spectrum Noir markers to colour parts. I used Black, IG6 and the blender pen for the hat; OR2 for the carrot nose; DR2 and DR6 for the scarf and EB3 and EB5 for the twig arms. I wanted to use flocking powder on the snowman so I ran it through my Xyron Create a Sticker.  I didn't have any black brads so I coloured some green ones with the Black marker. I removed the sticker backing (from the front) and attached the brads for buttons and added the scarf, hat and arms. I sprinkled the flocking powder (Recollections) all over the snowman and pressed it down to make sure it was stuck on. I drew on eyes and a mouth and added the carrot with some glue.

For the background I started with a piece of blue cardstock and stamped the sentiment(Fiskars Birthday Bash set) with VersaFine Onyx Black ink. I made a score line above the sentiment and stamped a snowflake stamp from my stash with Versamark ink all over the top of the cardstock. Then I embossed it with Recollections 'Snow' Embossing Powder.

I attached the background to a white card base and used foam squares on the back of the snowman to pop it up.

I am also entering this in the Hiding in my Craft Room - Freestyle challenge.

Christmas card

This week on the Mod Squad Challenge Blog, we were asked to have music, or words from a Christmas carol on our card. I had music notes on my card last week so I decided to use words from a carol.

I started by stamping the image (Hero Arts) on a piece of Bazzill Basics Simply Smooth white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I coloured it in with Spectrum Noir markers: GG1, GG2, IG2 for the wings and sash' GB1, GB3, TN4 for the hair, LG4, LG5, JG5 for her robes and FS6, CR10 for her face and hands and GB11 for the horn.

I stamped the sentiment (Momenta) in Versamark, sprinkled Martha Stewart Antique Gold embossing powder on and heat set it. I sponged the edges of the card front with Stamp Craft Green ink and matted it with some patterned cardstock from the DCWV The Christmas Stack. I attached a piece of ribbon and adhered everything to a white card base.

I am also entering this in Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

One layer birthday card

My niece's birthday is coming up so I needed to make a card. I thought I would try the One Layer timed challenge on the Mod Squad Challenge Blog. I have to admit that I made this more than once. I was hurrying so much that I kept making mistakes!

It took me five minutes to make the card. Most of that time was spent embossing the sentiment and using the Stamp-a-ma-jig. Once I had stamped the branch I needed to place the bird and the wing in the right spot and the Stamp-a-ma-jig helped me do that.

Making a one layer card is harder than it seems so thanks for the challenge. It made me think 'outside the box'.

These are the products I used:

Sentiment: Quietfire Design

Bird and branch: Stampin' Up!

Notes: Recollections

Ink: Versamark watermark; ColorBox Fresh Green and Scarlet; VersaFine Onyx Black

Embossing powder: Recollections Black

Washi tape: Recollections

Christmas Tag

After a fairly warm fall so far, the weather turned cold yesterday and today. It got me in the mood to make a Christmas tag for the Mod Squad Challenge Blog - Tag Time. I decided to use traditional colours - red and green.

I used a Spellbinders Shapeabilites from the Labels and Tags set to cut the top of the tag and the white piece. When I ran it through my Cuttlebug I put the C plate on just the top of the die so only the top would cut. I trimmed the very top of the white piece so it would fit better.

I inked up the main part of the image (by PSX) in Fresh Green ColorBox ink and stamped it. I then inked up the poinsettia in Cranberry ColorBox ink and stamped it using the Stamp a ma jig. I wanted it to pop a bit so I went over it with Spectrum Noir marker DR4. I used CT4 to colour in the middle.

The background needed something so I stamped a snowflake, from my stash, with VersaMark ink. I used Recollections clear embossing powder and Glitter Ritz warm highlights micro glitter to give some sparkle.

I used the Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia die to cut out the smallest 3 layers and curled them slightly to give some shape. I stacked them, punched out a yellow circle for the middle, glued them together and adhered the poinsettia to the tag with a Glue Dot. I punched a hole in the tag and threaded a piece of green ribbon through.

One tag finished for my Christmas presents - many more to go!  

Thinking of You card

This week I made a card for a few challenges. The Mod Squad Challenge Blog wanted us to use a doily, the Simon Says Stamp Blog Wednesday Challenge wanted us to make a Thinking of You card and the Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge wanted to see how we were inspired by the Good Ol' Days.

I was at a conference all weekend so I had to make a quick and easy card. I covered the front of a white card base with some patterned paper by Louise Tiler from a pack called Floral Fantasy. I had a large doily so I cut off a piece to go over a corner of the card and cut a piece of Bazzill Basics cardstock to go over the doily. I stamped the Thinking of You sentiment by Recollections with Versa Magic Purple Hydrangea ink and inked the edges.

I used the hummingbird stamp from the Hummingbird set by Hot off the Press to tie in with the patterned paper and fussy cut it. I popped up the hummingbird with some foam dots and the card was finished.

I figured that the doily and the patterned paper made the card look a little like the Good Ol' Days.

Blue Christmas card

This week on the Mod Squad Challenge Blog the challenge is to make a blue Christmas card. It was like deja vu because I made a blue Christmas card last week! So I made a quick and easy one this week.

I sponged the background with Stampin' Up! Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue and Brilliant Blue. I stamped the Stampendous stamp with Brilliant Blue and the sentiment (Inkadinkado) with ColorBox Frost White. I embossed the sentiment with Recollections Snow embossing powder and used Stickles (Golden Rod) on the star to make it sparkle. I matted the card front with some blue cardstock and adhered it to a white cardbase.

I am also entering this in HIMCR - Any Holiday and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

Christmas card

I love playing with my Spectrum Noir markers. I can colour and get beautiful shading or I can make a background with them. In this card I did both.

I used the Gina K Designs digital image, printed it on Bazzill Basics Simply Smooth white cardstock and coloured it with TB1, TB3, TB4, TB5 and IG2. I used Stickles Star Dust on the gray part of the ornament to make it look like silver and sparkle.

I scribbled on my craft mat with TB9, TB6 and TB3 and spritzed with alcohol until the colours blended a bit. I used a piece of photo paper and placed it on the mat to pick up the colour.

I cut 2 scalloped ovals out of regular white cardstock and coloured the edges with TB5 and IG2. I used more Stickles on the outside of the gray oval. I trimmed the 'Joy' to fit inside the blue oval. 

When everything was dry I adhered it all together onto a white card base and added a small silver bow.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Stamp TV Mix It Up Monday Challenge - Christmas Comes Early

Mod Squad Challenge Blog - It's my Favorite

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes

Hiding in my Craft Room - Any Holiday

Recessed Christmas card

This is a card for the October Release Party Challenge. We had to make a card with a recessed focal image.

I printed the Gina K Designs digital JOY stamp on Bazzill Basics Simply Smooth white cardstock and coloured it with Spectrum Noir markers DR1, DR4, and DR6. I embossed the front panel with Baby's Breath Cuttlebug embossing folder, leaving an unembossed strip near the middle. I scored a line on each side of the strip and attached the AC Glitter ribbon in the middle.

I cut a hole in the panel so the focal image would show through. I matted the front panel with red cardstock and used foam squares to pop it up over the focal image. 

Thanks card

This card was made for four challenges. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is a color coordinates challenge. We have to use some of the following colors - Black, Slate, Orange Peel, Green Apple and Lavender. Hiding in my Craft Room asks us to use embossing. Mod Squad Challenge Blog wants us to use a real button and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is "O is for...". My 'O' is Organized Randomness!

I used a Sizzix Stampin' Up! embossing folder with some white cardstock and embossed the background. I took some scraps of orange, green and lavender cardstock and embossed them. I fussy cut the hexagons and adhered them on to the background in an organized random way!

I used some coloured brads from my stash to fill in some of the empty squares. I stamped the sentiment (from Hero Arts) with Adirondack Wildflower ink. This was an old ink pad that someone gave me. It used to have several shades of blue and purple but the colours have run together so it just gives a grayish slate colour now. I embossed another scrap of orange cardstock and cut out a small shape, big enough for the sentiment and the button. I cut around the sentiment to fit inside the orange shape.

I didn't have any baker's twine in the right colour so I used Spectrum Noir marker OR2 and made my own twine. I threaded it through the button, tied a bow and used a glue dot to fasten it to the sentiment shape. I used tape to adhere the sentiment and the sentiment shape and used foam squares to fasten the background onto an orange mat before taping it onto the slate card base.

Fall Birthday card

The two challenges that inspired me this week are Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Falling in Love with... and the Mod Squad Challenge Blog - Tag it. I love the fall colours, especially the oranges and browns so I made a card with fall colours and a tag.

I stamped the leaves (from an unknown set in my stash) onto white cardstock with Versamark ink and embossed them with Martha Stewart Copper embossing powder. I took the photo at an angle so you can see the shimmer on the leaves. I sponged some Really Rust Stampin' Up! ink all over the cardstock and used a kleenex to rub any ink off the leaves. I also used the same ink to make a small rectangle for the sentiment (Fiskars) which was also stamped with Really Rust. I framed both of these pieces with some orange American Crafts cardstock.

For the tag I used an oval scalloped die and cut and embossed some more orange cardstock . I stamped the leaves with the Stampin' Up! ink set - Pumpkin Patch. It has 5 separate colours that you can push together. I used various parts of the ink to get different colours for the leaves.

I used a piece of ribbon behind the sentiment and attached everything to the ivory card base. I attached a piece of gold thread to the tag and attached it to the inside of the card with a piece of Sookwang tape, leaving the covering on one side. I tucked the tag under the ribbon so it wouldn't swing too far. The recipient of the card can use the tag for someone else.

Sympathy card

Well, I completely missed World Cardmaking Day. I was at a meeting all day and then was out in the evening, too. Then I received the sad news that my aunt had died after a long battle with cancer. I knew I wanted to make a sympathy card and had just picked up some stamps from someone who was selling all of her craft supplies. The challenge on the Mod Squad Challenge Blog was to use pink in some way. At first I wasn't sure that pink would go well with a sympathy card but thought if I used a subtle shade it might work. Here is what I came up with.

I wanted to keep it fairly simple so I chose a couple of encouraging images. Flowers and butterflies always make me feel a little better and give me hope for tomorrow. I masked off the bottom of the flower image so it would fit on the square. I inked around the edge of each square very lightly. I embossed the white cardstock for a bit of texture and framed the small squares with the same pink that I used for the card base.

It's hard to tell from the picture but the piece of ribbon is a pale pink. I adhered everything together and popped up the sentiment with some foam squares.

For the inside I stamped the sentiment and the full flower image from the front of the card.

I used the following supplies:

Cuttlebug embossing folder

Hero Arts sentiment on front of card

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Martha Stewart Pink Dahlia ink

Chocolate Baroque flower stamp

Stampcraft butterfly stamp

Stampin' Up! sentiment inside card

pink and white card stock and ribbon from my stash

Christmas card

You can tell that September has hit as every day there is something scheduled! I missed last week's challenges but I have a card this week. It is a simple Christmas card. 

I started with a piece of white cardstock and used an embossing folder from Sizzix to make the frames. I coloured them in with Spectrum Noir marker LG5. I stamped the two images, both by Hero Arts, in Memento Tuxedo Black. I used another embossing folder from Sizzix to emboss LOVE and cut it out with the matching die. I stamped the sentiment, by Inkadinkado, in Colorbox Fresh Green pigment ink. I thought that frame looked a little bare with just the sentiment so I added the holly which is also Inkadinkado. I coloured in the holly with Spectrum Noir LG5, LG4 and LG2 and used DR2 for the berries.  I attached a piece of ribbon from my stash and then taped it on the card base.

I am entering this in:

Mod Squad Challenge Blog: Word Challenge - Holiday

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Finishing Touch

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes (with Hero Arts products, if possible)

Hiding in my Craft Room: Any Holiday

Fall card

Today I have a card I made for four different challenges. For the Hiding in my Craft Room Challenge we needed to use fall colours; for the Mod Squad Challenge Blog we needed to use stripes; for the Simon Says Stamp (SSS) Monday Challenge we needed to use a SSS product and for the Wednesday SSS Challenge we needed to make our own background.

I knew I needed to make my own background and needed to have stripes. We get extra brownie points if we use orange stripes and orange is a fall colour so I went with orange cardstock for my background layer. I  used the Simon Says Stamp Postage Stamp Edge Frame die to cut it out.

I wanted a little sparkle on the card so I used Perfect Medium and stamped some stripes. I actually used a rolling stamp that I had when I was a kid. It has little lines all along it. I stamped each stripe a couple of times so I was sure I had enough of the Perfect Medium on. I then used the Antique Copper Perfect Pearls to give the shine.

I used the smallest die in the set to cut out the cardstock for the greeting. I stamped the sentiment, from Inkadinkado Autumn Greetings set, with Stampin' Up Cajun Craze ink and stamped the leaf, by StampCraft, with more of the Perfect Medium. I used the Antique Copper Perfect Pearls on the leaves. I matted this with a piece of brown cardstock.

I wanted to put some twine on it but didn't have any in the right colour so I used Spectrum Noir marker TN4 and made my own. The postage stamp design made it easy to line up and it didn't slip out of place while I was attaching it. I used some foam tape to attach the sentiment onto the background layer and then onto the card base.

I took another picture from a different layer so you could see the shine!

Vellum and Acetate Christmas card

On the Mod Squad Challenge Blog this week, the challenge is to use both vellum and acetate on a holiday card. I knew I had some vellum but wasn't sure about the acetate. I found a piece that I think came from a package of some sort! Good thing I never get rid of anything! I am also entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge which are both about using stamps in celebration of STAMPtember!

I started by stamping the ornament and topper from the Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament set onto vellum using Versamark ink and then embossed with Martha Stewart sterling embossing powder. I cut a piece of red cardstock the same size and marked around the outside with a Sakura silver metallic pen. Some of the silver got on the back of the vellum and in trying to take it off I realized it had turned the vellum a slightly different colour. I decided I would use my mistake and made a little border around the edge of the vellum which you can see in the picture. I glued the layers together at the edge with Zig memory system 2 way glue and the silver pen just about hides the glue. I attached a piece of glittery thread that I made into a bow with a mini Glue Dot and I matted the vellum layer with white cardstock.

I cut two pieces of red cardstock to fit the front pieces of my card base. I used two more of the ornaments, stamped with Versamark and sprinkled Glitter Ritz Warm Highlight Micro Fine Glitter over. I attached the pieces to the card base with Mono Adhesive.

So then I had to use the acetate in some way. I decided to have another ornament that could be used as an embellishment. I stamped another ornament onto the acetate using Frost White Color Box ink. I used more glitter and let it dry for quite a while before I fussy cut it out, leaving a small border. I poked a hole in the acetate, threaded another piece of the glittery thread through and attached it to the card. It could be taken off and used as a real ornament, especially on a mini tree.

Thanks for reading!

Harvest card

Family was visiting over the weekend so I'm finally getting around to posting my card. It is a harvest card for the Mod Squad Challenge Blog - A Fruitful Harvest.  I am also entering it in Hiding in my Craft Room - Freestyle and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

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I decided to use pumpkins on my card which I coloured with Spectrum Noir markers and cut out. For the background I stamped the image several times with Versamark ink and used clear embossing powder to give a bit of a shine. I die cut a scalloped oval, and dry embossed it to bring out the middle. I used a Versamarker pen to colour the outside border and used clear embossing powder to match the background.

I used brown cardstock to create a small border around the background and wrapped some ribbon around the layers before they were attached to the card base. I popped up the oval with foam dots and used tape for the back pumpkins and more foam dots for the front two to give some dimension.

I used the following products:

Paper - White - Bazzill Basics Simply Smooth; Brown, Tan and card base from my stash
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa, Versamark watermark ink and marker
Stamps - Inkadinkado Autumn Greetings set
Embossing powder - Recollections clear detail
Die cut, Ribbon - unknown
Spectrum Noir markers - CR10, OR1, GB5, GB3, DG3

Beach card

This week on the Mod Squad Challenge Blog our task was to create a project inspired by all things coastal. I decided to do a beach themed card.  I am also entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes.

I started with some watercolour paper and cut it on a slant to make a cascade card. I dabbed some ink onto an acrylic block, added water and painted the water and sand. I made a darker line at the top of the sand to show that the sand was wet from the water. I stamped the images onto paper, scanned them into my computer, traced, offset and cut them out with my Silhouette Cameo. I then stamped onto the cutouts and sponged the edges. I stamped the sentiment with black ink. I probably should have used brown ink but I wanted to colour in the sun and wasn't sure how the ink would react to the Spectrum Noir markers. I also added a bit of colour to the shell stamp. I used tape to attach the sentiment and used foam squares for the other images.  

Here are the products I used:

Paper - Hilroy watercolour paper, Bazzill Basics Simply Smooth

Ink - Tim Holtz Salty Ocean

      - Adirondack Cabin Fever

      - Stampin' Up Peach Parfait and Elegant Eggplant

      - Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps - Inkadinkado Turtle, Fish and Seahorse

            - unknown Shells and Sentiment

Spectrum Noir markers - CT2, CT4, GB5, OR1

Masculine Birthday

I didn't have too much time to make a card this week because I was away. So I came up with a quick and easy card for the Mod Squad Blog challenge: Masculine Birthday. What took me the longest was finding the right paper for the image I had in my head!!

It was hard to get a good picture of this because I wanted to show that the paper at the bottom had some shimmer but I also wanted to make sure you could see the pattern. 

I used a brown card base, cut the patterned paper at an angle and attached it. I used some tan cardstock, stamped a cracked paint pattern on it and trimmed it to an arrow shape. I used a darker brown shade of cardstock, stamped a diamond shaped pattern on it and trimmed it. I attached the two pieces together with a brad and used some foam tape to adhere them to the card.

I stamped the sentiment above the two arrow pieces and I was done!

Here are the items I used to make the card.

Cardstock: American Craft and Bazzill Basics

Patterned paper: DCWV

Cracked paint stamp: Stampin' Up

Diamond stamp: Hero Arts

Sentiment: Jennifer Ellory, Bake a Cake set

Ink: Chestnut - Recollections; Rich Cocoa - Memento; White - ColorBox

Brad, tape and foam squares: from my stash

Sparkly Pink Paper Pieced Birthday card

A very long name for a card! I am entering it in four challenges: Mod Squad Challenge - Pretty Pieces; Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - In the family; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make it Sparkle and Hiding in my Craft Room - Keep it Simple Sweetie.

I started by stamping the cake image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. It is from a set called Bake a Cake by Jennifer Ellory. The two layers are paper pieced with some patterned paper from Provo Craft Celebrations paper pad. I stamped the candles with Stampabilities Cotton Candy ink and stamped the sentiment with Tuxedo Black. I cut and embossed the sentiment with a Spellbinders Shapeabilities die from the Labels and Tags set. While the paper was still in the die I sponged on some Cotton Candy ink, took it out of the die and gently sponged some more on the edges.

For the background I used a piece of a Wilton Fondant Imprint Mat, which is usually used for cakes you eat! I cut a piece off of the big sheet and inked it up with the Cotton Candy ink and laid a piece of pink cardstock on top and pressed down lightly. It gave a nice tone on tone effect.

I coloured in the striped part on the cake with a Spectrum Noir BP2 marker and used the same marker to colour a piece of ribbon. Then I added some glue to the ribbon and sprinkled on some Glitter Ritz Warm Highlights glitter. I attached the sentiment with a couple of sparkly brads over the ribbon.

I layered the background with some black cardstock and popped up the cake with some foam tape. For some extra sparkle on the candle flames I added a bit of Diamond Stickles.

For the In the Family challenge my family is the Pink family! I am not sure if it is simple enough for the Keep it Simple challenge but it isn't too fancy either!

Blue and Brown card

This week I am combining 3 challenges in one card. The challenge at the Mod Squad Blog is I've Got the Blues!, on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge we are to be inspired by the letter J and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes. I looked at this chair stamp and thought the fabric looked like Jacquard so that is my J inspiration!

I started by stamping the chair image (Stampendous) on some blue cardstock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I cut it out and embossed it using a scalloped oval die. I am not sure of the manufacturer as I purchased the set second hand. I cut out a larger oval from brown cardstock.

I stamped the sentiment (Inkadinkado) with Rich Cocoa onto a piece of cream cardstock and cut it out with a small die from the set and embossed it. I sponged around the outside with some Martha Stewart Blue Sky ink and then went around the edge with some of the Rich Cocoa.

I  laid everything on the cream card base and it looked a little bare so I used a stamp from the Mini Images Compilation set by Quietfire Design to make a background. I stamped the image with the Blue Sky and Rich Cocoa in lines, trying to match the ends of the stamp. I adhered the blue cardstock onto the brown and onto the card base with Tombow Mono Adhesive and used Pop Dots on the sentiment.

Shadow stamping

I tried a new technique this week for the Mod Squad Challenge - Shadow Stamping. I didn't do a very good job but I don't have time to make another card so this will have to do. I am also entering it in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Mid-Summer and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Emboss It.

I started with a piece of blue American Crafts cardstock made into a cardbase. I embossed it with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and inked up the raised edge with Salty Ocean Tim Holtz Distress Ink. I cut a piece of white AC cardstock to fit inside the border and inked the edges with the Salty Ocean. 

I stamped the branch with Green Pamass Pigment ink, the bird and wing with Stampin' Up Cajun Craze and shadow stamped them. The stamp set is from Stampin' Up.  I think I should have made a bigger shadow because this just looks like I smeared it when I stamped. Oh well, more practice needed! I stamped the sentiment (Impression Obsession , Inc.) with Memento Tuxedo Black. I thought the sentiment was appropriate for a bird!

It looked a little stark with just the white so I smeared some Blue Sky Martha Stewart ink over the whole white section. It doesn't show up very well in the picture.  I added a couple pieces of ribbon from my stash to finish it off.

Okay, so I just watched the video by Gina K. I definitely should have watched this before making the card!!

Christmas in July

Today I have a Christmas card for the Hiding in my Craft Room challenge.

I made a never ending card because I would like the spirit of Christmas to be never ending! People seem to be in a happy, generous and peaceful mood, which is echoed in the sentiment I used.

Basically I cut two pieces of plain cardstock 6" x 6", scored, attached them together and then cut the patterned cardstock to fit all of the smaller sections. I added the sentiment and a yellow rhinestone for the bird's eye and I was done.

If you would like the details of how to make this kind of card leave a message in the comments and I can send them to you or you can look on you tube.  I know there are lots of good videos.

Patterned cardstock - from the SEI Winter Song collection
Sentiment - Hero Arts
Ink - Rose Art washable marker
Rhinestone - Recollections

Here are images of some of the other 'sides' of the card.

Fruitful card

We're at the end of strawberry season here in Nova Scotia. To me, nothing says summer like a glistening bowl of juicy red strawberries. So when the challenge this week on the Mod Squad Challenge Blog was to have fruit on the card I knew I was going to use strawberries. We also had to use kraft, black and white on our card.

I used a stamp that I think is Studio G. It has one strawberry and the words You are Berry Berry Special. I masked off the sentiment, stamped the strawberry twice and then masked the strawberries and stamped the third berry. I used Spectrum Noir markers to colour in the berries. I stamped the sentiment and punched the border.

I used a piece of ribbon over the join between the red and black cardstock although it's hard to see in the picture. I attached the red and black onto a kraft card base with tape and then popped the white piece up with some foam tape.

Here are the products I used:

Strawberries stamp - Studio G (?)
Sentiment - Hero Arts
White cardstock - Bazzill Simply Smooth
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Spectrum Noir markers - DR3, CR8, CR10, CR3, LG4, CG4, TN2, CG2
Punch - Recollections
Red, Black and Kraft cardstock - American Crafts
Tape - Tombow Mono Adhesive
Ribbon and foam squares from my stash

Textured card

On the Mod Squad Challenge Blog this week the challenge is to put some texture on your card. So I thought of my crimper to make a crimped layer and some feathers for some soft texture. Here is my card.

I crimped a piece of orange cardstock with my Fiskars crimper, cut a piece of textured tan cardstock slightly smaller and picked out a couple of feathers from a bag from the dollar store. 

I stamped the sentiment (Stampendous Birthday Assortment) with Recollections Chestnut ink onto a piece of cardstock. I rounded two opposite corners and added two brads from my stash.

I assembled everything together, using some pop dots to raise the sentiment so the back of the brads didn't get in the way.  A quick and easy card!

Mini card

This week on the Mod Squad Challenge Blog the challenge is to make mini cards. I am just getting this in under the wire as I have been away.

Since it is a mini card I decided to make it a note card and thought the perfect note was a music note! The note is from a stamp from Recollections. It has a treble clef and four notes so I masked off all but the one note and stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black. I used the same ink for the sentiment which is from Hero Arts.

I used a background stamp by Anna Griffin All Night Media and used Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry Distress ink. I stamped off first on scrap paper because I wanted a subtler background. For the card base I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder from the Just my Type Borders set. Since it was just a border I had to emboss and then line it up and emboss again all the way down the front. It ended up a little bit crooked as you can see.

I layered the two smaller pieces with black cardstock and adhered all the layers with Tombow Mono Adhesive. I used a piece of string and made my own baker's twine using Spectrum Noir marker BP6. I threaded the twine through a button, tied a bow and attached it with a mini Glue Dot.

Graduation card

This week I made a card for my nephew's High School Graduation.  There were three challenges that my card would work with:
Mod Squad Challenge Blog: Charmed, I'm Sure!!
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: I ought to use this more

The thing I ought to use more is different card layouts and shapes. I was inspired by the Congrats! Grad card in the latest issue of CardMaker magazine. I was giving a gift card to my nephew and this card is made to hold a gift card. I used blue and white for the school colours. 

I started with a white piece of Colorbok textured cardstock and made the cuts where indicated in the magazine.  I then used some blue American Crafts cardstock and embossed it with a Cuttlebug embossing folder from the Wedding Suite set. I cut it up and adhered it to the card. I used my Silhouette Cameo and cut out the 2014 and the grad hats. I inked up the 2014 with some VersaMark ink and used Clear Recollections Detail embossing powder to heat emboss the numbers. I wanted to give them a bit of shine which I think you can see in the first picture.

I used a sentiment from the Art Gone Wild Inspirations set and stamped it with Stampin' Up Brilliant Blue ink onto a piece of white cardstock.  These stamps have a border around them so I used Spectrum Noir marker TB5 to colour in the outside border. I think it matches the blue cardstock quite well.

I used my Cameo again with a white Sketch pen and drew Congratulations onto a blue piece of cardstock and mounted that onto a white piece. I tied a piece of gold cord around the white piece and tied another piece of cord onto it. For the charm challenge, I took two of the grad hats, inked the tassle with Tsukineko Brilliance Galaxy Gold and joined them together with the gold cord in between. I frayed the end so it looked like a tassle. I mounted that onto a blue piece and adhered it onto the left hand side of the inside of the card.

I used a 1 1/2 " circle punch from EB tools to cut out 2 blue circles. I scored them, folded them in half and glued one half onto the back of the middle section. I folded the other half onto the front of the card and glued just the top edge so that the gift card can go in the middle.