Sweet Woodland Animals

Coworker's baby boy card for May.  The animals were part of a long strip so I cut them apart into bite size nuggets and mounted them on the orange to showcase them.  The washi tape reminded me of woodland flowers.  The meadow flowers stamp in a barely there green balances this CAS card and emphasizes the woodland theme.

The Details:  PTI white card stock and sentiment, Pop Tone coverstock in Sno Cone, washi tape, Nana's Nursery Baby Girl 12x12 stack, Memento New Sprout and Rich Cocoa, Inkadinkado Meadow stamp, melon orange cardstock from old stash, foam tape

I'm entering this in Stamplorations Sketch #4, Crafty Creations #255 Seasonal, Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT CAS, Addicted to CAS #30 New, Twisted Tuesday 2TC68 Give Me T.A.P.E. (Papertrey Ink products and Pop Tone cover stock), Shopping Our Stash #136 Cabin Fever, Totally Gorjuss #220 Furtastic

I'm also entering this in Totally Papercrafts #203 One for the Boys and Keep It Simple #32 Square  

All About the Purple

 

 

I am so excited to be a guest designer over on CASology this week where the theme is "Purple".  Talk about open to interpretation, huh?  That's the fun part tho!  You should totally join in.

I wanted a big pop of purple color on my card.  I achieved that by using a PL4 (wide stripe) and PL3 Spectrum Noir marker.  I finally found a use for the broad end of a marker; the mind reels with the possibilities (plaid, anyone?).  So I've got this bold purple then I add in colors I love with purple including red and yellow.  I followed that up with a whimsical font/sentiment that leads the eye vertically (notice how the vertical sentiments run off the card like a scrolling banner) as well as horizontally.  There's lots and lots of interest for such a simple (and simple to make) card.

The Details:  PTI white cardstock, Spectrum Noir PL3, PL4, CT4, DR5, DR2, Colorbox Cranberry pigment ink, black Stazon, Heidi Swapp sentiments, ruler

Hello, Handsome

This card was so fun to make.  My partner is a silly dork whose love of me, donkeys and squirrels knows no bounds.  Like I said, silly.  I definitely tailored this card to him.  Ridiculous donkey on a wobble on his fav color.  I wish Valentine's Day were tomorrow I so want to give it to him now now now!

Fun fact:  the carrots are washi tape.  I was originally going to sew carrots (tapered zigzag stitch) then discovered I didn't have anything even close to orange thread.

The Details:  Spectrum Noir EB5, EB6, IG3, IG4, BG4, BG5, EB1, EB2, CR2, GB1, GB3; Paper Source Chartreuse cardstock, Bazzill Soft Stone cardstock, Hero Arts Operation Write Home sentiments, Papercraft Essentials image,  Memento Tuxedo Black and Love Letter, Stazon Black, washi tape, Martha Stewart branches punch, MFT Pierced Circle Die

I'm entering this in Simon Wednesday Let's Have a Laugh, Sentimental Sunday #191 Lovey Dovey, Pink Elephant TPE235 Love, Dream Valley #74 No Designer Paper, OLLCB #148 A Man Card, Crafter's Cafe #47 Very Funny, Totally Gorjuss #220 Furtastic, Totally Papercrafts #203 One for the Boys, Charisma Cardz #2 It's a Boy Thing, Card Makin Mamas #79 Move It! and Twisted Tuesday #68 Give Me a T.A.P.E (alcohol markers).

Here, Chickie Chickie

Gingham has a definite country flair to it in my eyes and it's one of my absolutely favorite patterns, especially when on the diagonal.  Gingham = country = farm = chickens.  I wanted just a hint of chicken wire so used the PTI stencil template I made earlier and sponged a bit of yellow.  The chicks read a little bland so I colored in their combs and beaks.  Pop!

Btw, I read on a couple of blogs recently where they used their Silhouettes and a transparency to create a stencil.  Oh my damn. So brilliant!

The Details:  PTI white card stock, black card stock from old stash, Martha Stewart gingham paper and corner rounder, Memento Tuxedo Black and Dandelion, Spectrum Noir markers, MFT Contempo Cafe sentiment, Studio G chicks

I'm entering this in Addicted to Stamps and More! #79 CAS, Ladybug Crafts Give Thanks, CAS on Sunday #25 Lovey Dovey, and Cute Card Thursday #305 So Sweet.

Birthday Squares

I've been getting inky today.  You should see my hands.  Lord.

The Details:  PTI white card stock and square stamps, Stampendous Happy Messages, Offray ribbon, assortment of Memento, VersaMagic and Brilliance teardrop inks

I'm entering this in CAS-ual Fridays CFC126 Color Blocks, Seize the Birthday without topping, Little Tangles #29 OLC, and Keep it Simple #32 Square.

Let's Boogie

Don't you love it when you're looking for something and you find something else along the way so get totally sidetracked into making X instead of Y?  At least I love that some of the time!  This little guy is so cutie patootie.  I didn't feel like fussy cutting but if I had I would have wobbled him.  Shake it!  For the sentiment, I printed that using a snowy font in Word then mounted the letters onto black.  Cute!

The Details:  Stampin' Up Penguin Paradise, Derwent watercolor pencils, Smooch, black and white cardstock from old stash


I'm entering this in Charisma Card Challenges #2 It's a Boy Thing, Cardz 4 Guys Monochrome, The Male Room Music, The Crafter's Cafe #47 Funny or Whimsical, Try It on Tuesday Celebration (retirement), and Alphabet Challenge Y for (card for) Young One.

First Time Easel

Way different than some of my other cards, huh?  My kid sis sent me the mystery designer paper (reminds me of sassy wallpaper) and I immediately thought of the current Fusion Challenge.  It's an easel card, my first and not sure I like the effect, but I like everything else. :)

I'm entering this in Fusion Card Challenge #2 and The Color Throwdown CTD276.

Bold Thank You

I really love how this turned out.  The hints of color in the flowers and that giant thank you.  Not going to miss that message, that's for sure.

The Details:  Penny Black Blooming Garden, Stampendous Happy Messages, PTI white card stock, Memento Tuxedo Black, Tangelo, Love Letter, Morocco, Olive Grove and Pistachio

I'm entering this in Keep It Simple #31 Text, One-Layer Simplicity #1 Restocking the Shelves, and Little Tangles #29 OLC.

Revived Technique

It has been a coon's age since I used my watercolor pencils.  Fun!  This weekend I plan to try coloring on kraft using the pencils.  As pencils, not watercolor, as I'll be using regular card stock.  Does kraft watercolor paper exist? 

The Details:  Penny Black Blooming Garden, Hero Arts Everyday Sayings, Aquarelle watercolor paper, Memento Rich Cocoa & Tuxedo Black, Environment Green Tea cover stock, Derwent watercolor pencils, trim from sewing stash, My Mind's Eye "My Favorite Things" 6x6 paper, Cuttlebug embossing folder


I'm entering this in Whoopsi Daisy Favorite Color Combo (muted orange), Incy Wincy Designs Add Texture, Simon Wednesday Challenge Emboss It, Tuesday Throwdown #178 Stripes, Without Words Spots and/or Stripes, and CAS(E) this Sketch! #60.

Flame On

Here's a birthday card for my BIL.   It took on a life of its own.  I wanted to try that technique where you ink part of the embossing folder.  That's the orange part.  Sounds like a great idea but it wasn't at all what I was expecting.  The flames were recessed.  I tried it again inking the opposite section and the flames seemed odd--hard to explain odd.  I was just going to toss it away then decided to run a stamp pad over the debossed part.  That turned out cool.  Like graffiti sorta kinda.  I feel so hip.

Update:  I forgot to mention on the inside I diecut another t-shirt and stamped happy birthday with enough room for personalization and signatures.  Also, my BIL loved the card.

The Details:  MFT t-shirt die and sentiment, PTI white card stock, Canson Effects paper in Cyber Gray, Martha Stewart corner rounder, Stazon, Memento Dandelion, Tangelo, Love Letter and Tuxedo Black, Darice embossing folder

I'm entering this in Cardz 4 Guyz #1 Happy Birthday, Simon Says Wednesday Emboss It, Totally Gorjuss #218 Manly, Seize the Birthday with coloring topping, and Dream Valley Challenges #73 Boys/Men.

Canned Love

I picked up a new canning jar stamp set from Michael's over the weekend.  Love.  Mix that with my Copic air brush and I'm happy dancin'.

I stamped the jar in a light blue then used the leaf section of my Queen Ann's Lace silhouette stamp for flower stems.  I did stamp in stages and masked the hearts at one point to put some of the leaves in the background.  I fussy cut the tag and adhered it over the stamped string.  Finally I added some tiny bumble bees.  Oh, wait, not finally.  After stamping the stems, I masked and airbrushed water then stippled the ground.  There.  Done.

The Details:  Recollections jar stamps, Inkadinkado Meadows stems, PTI Happy Hearts and white card stock, Spectrum Noir (TB1, TN1 and TN2), Memento Tuxedo Black, Summer Sky, Pear Tart, Rose Bud, and Bamboo Leaves

I'm entering this in Penny Black Love is in the Air, Less is More #154 OLC Hearts, One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #1 Restocking the Shelves, Crafting Cafe Anything Goes and Sentimental Sundays #189 It's a Buggy Bug World.

New Technique

I have admired Zentangle from (very) afar for a while but couldn't decide what my first project would be then, bam!, just was I was drifting off to sleep last night it hit me. The segmented sections of this stamp are perfect for playing with Zentangle.  Adding dark and light sections to create movement/folds in the flower took some thought but nothing where I couldn't start a design, change my mind, then morph it into something else.  As for the background washi tape frame, I made that a while back for a project that I ended up hating so I cannibalized it.  (Hello, Clarice.) 

You could totally jump onto the Zentangle bandwagon too.  It's an extraordinary technique that's not extraordinarily difficult.  Google a couple of zentangle images to get general design ideas, grab a fine pen and off you go.  You can be sure I'll do more Zentangle projects in the future; it's like socks in the knitting world--great mobile project.

The Details:  PTI white cardstock, washi tape, Sakura Zentangle 01 (.25mm) pen, Hero Arts Blossom Art flower, Stampabilities sentiment

I'm entering this in Casology #78 Dot, Alphabet Challenge X for X-traordinary, One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #1 Restocking the Shelves, Sweet Stampin' Girly but no Pink, and Without Words Spots and/or Stripes.

How Does A Garden Grow?

I encountered a card on KittieKraft that really struck me, enough that I ran with my own version three times; I'm thinking new baby, new home, new relationship/engagement/wedding.  My fav is the kraft without green version.  I love these new heart rhinestones and how the light plays with them.  Swoon. And the MFT frame die I got over the holidays?  I cannot believe I used to cut frames by hand; it's sooooo much easier using the die.

To create the dimension in the card, I only glued the grasses and fence down at the bottom.  They then naturally want to stick out with a little "fluffing".  For the butterflies I just squeezed their wings together then glued their thoraxes down.  I only used pop dots on the cloud to better create the illusion of floating.  Easy peasy.


The Details:  PTI white and kraft cardstock, mystery green cardstocks, Memory Box butterflies die, Marianne fence & grass, Cameo flower stems/tall grass, MFT Chalkboard Frame dies, PTI cloud die, TPC Studio Playful Expressions sentiment, Glossy Accents, foam dots, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Paper Studio embossing folder

I'm entering this in Try it on Tuesday In With the New, Sentimental Sundays It's a Buggy Bug World, Sisterhood of Crafters Out with the Old In with the New, Jellypark New Beginnings, and Shopping Our Stash #133 Use Something New.

Get Well Soon Restocking

I'm still enamored with the Copic airbrush.  It so easy to create sky.  I totally could have sponged but that seems so messy now. :)  Originally my idea for this card had the wildflowers in black but it didn't seem soothing enough so I visited opposite land.  I really like how the message takes center stage.  I also like how the embossing has a texture to it; almost grainy.

The Details:  PTI white card stock, Hero Arts Everyday Sayings, Inkadinkado Meadow, Spectrum Noir IB2, Memory Box bird die, Memento Tuxedo Black, Colorbox Frost White pigment ink, Imagine Crafts white embossing power

I'm entering this in One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #1 Restocking the Shelves and Addicted to CAS #29 Die Cuts.

Happy Birthday to Ewe

I learned a thing or two with this card.  First, my grass die wasn't as long as I wanted so I cut 3/4 of it as usual then repositioned my die further down and ran it through the machine in the opposite direction, again only cutting 3/4.  The two ends overlapped in the middle and I had the perfect size.

I also learned that when you put down glossy accents as a glossy accent, it's probably best to wait for it to dry naturally.  I was impatient so used my heat gun which made it get all gnarly.  Another coat, air-dried, and I ended up with a crackle/bubble finish.

And finally, plus the most exciting, my Copic airbrush system arrived and I promptly airbrushed grass and clouds.  The grass is done using my only Copic marker (YG61) and the sky is done with Spectrum Noir IB2.  Spectrum Noir markers are fatter than Copics so I carefully unscrewed the airgrip a bit  to allow it to expand about 3/16" in diameter to accommodate the larger barrel.

The Details:  My Mind's Eye "My Favorite Things" 6x6 paper, PTI white and kraft card stock, Bazzill dark gray and pumpkin card stock, Recollections Animal Farm stamp, Marianne grass die, Cameo for the 2, Copic YG61, Spectrum Noirs, Cuttlebug embossing folder

I'm entering this in Seize the Birthday with Numbers, Sketch Saturday #292, Try it on Tuesday In with the New, Fab 'n' Funky #198 Let's Celebrate, Addicted to Stamps & More! #77 Make Your Mark, and Make My Monday Embossing.

Kiss Mah Grits

With this 5x7 chalkboard card I wanted to evoke a diner given that my stepdaughter finished culinary school last year and now has a real job.  She has a fun style so I think this will be right up her alley.  If only her name were Flo or Alice, my world would be complete.  LOL.

The Details:  PTI white card stock, black card stock from old stash, Colorbox Frost White pigment ink, Derwent white watercolor pencil, PTI sentiments except for "Smile" which is from TPC Studio Playful Expressions, Spectrum Noir markers, Gourmet Rubber Stamps apron, Jolee's cherry sticker, Recollections puffy hearts, MFT Chalkboard frame, Martha Stewart gingham paper, mystery ribbon (does it remind you of an order pad at all?)

I'm entering this in Paper Players #177 Clean Slate, Addicted to Stamps & More #77 Make Your Mark, Seize the Birthday (without the Numbers topping), Sisterhood of Crafters Something New (cherries), Try It on Tuesday In with the New (new technique & stash).

X is for Xylophone

The piano card got me thinking about other easy to recreate musical instrument cards.  Duh . . . xylophone.  I can see using this all occasion card for a child.  It's so happy and fun.  Also, below you'll see the pic of the piano card officially on happy yellow.

The Details:  DCWV Silk Smooth Brights cardstock stack, silver brads, PTI white cardstock, Glossy Accents as glue, Hero Arts Everyday Sayings sentiment

I'm entering this in the ABC Challenge C is for Colourful.

 

Bee Grateful

Some recent card challenges have really got me contemplating all sorts of things.  It's not always easy to take a moment and live in the now and be grateful for where and who I am.  I hope in 2014 I'll be able to take a breath during my busier moments and remember how grateful I am for all that life has brought and will bring.

As far as the card goes, I cut out the PTI hexagon die and used the result as a stencil to sponge on the yellow ink. A bee and a word later, I had another thank you card to replenish my stash.  I did consider turning this into an encouragement card with the word "calm" (I love the sound of a buzzing bees) but I didn't like the font. LOL.

You should expect more cards in the future with my fun new PTI goodies I got over the holidays.  Look out, Valentines!

The Details:  PTI white card stock, hexagon die, and word from a Happy Hearts sentiment; Memento Dandelion and Tuxedo Black, Inkadinkado Patterned Bugs bee

I'm entering this in CAS-ual Fridays CFC125 In a Word, One Layer Simplicity Challenge #1 Restocking the Shelves, CAS(E) this Sketch! #58, and Simon Wednesday Challenge Something New.

CAS(ing) Ardyth

 

Back in November Ardyth posted a thank you card that I loved--anything with music and I'm pretty much there.  Back then I did a quick mock up and over the holidays worked it up into the real deal.  A really really simple card.

Starting at 1/2" from the bottom, I scored the card front every 3/4" to create the illusion of white keys.  Then I cut five 2.5 x 0.5" strips of black card stock for the minor keys.  These were glued down.  As a last step I stamped the sentiment just over the top of a black key.  Next time I may stamp it in a bright color for that little pop.

The Details:  PTI white card stock, Pop Tone Black Licorice Card Stock, MFT Contempo Cage sentiment, Memento Tuxedo Black

I'm entering this in Less is More Pick a Past Sketch (#46 Music), Crazy for CAS Anything Goes, Keep It Simple #30 Anything Goes, Here Come the Boys #66 Anything Goes.

After seeing the card online, it seems drab so I've taken a pic on yellow and red.  Ardyth so had it right putting it on a bright color.  Way sassier.  I'm going to dissect and mount it on the yellow.  Or maybe the red.  I like both.  You'll just have to wait and see!

I Heart Vespas

Vespas are ever so cute, aren't they?  Like shrink it down and carry it your purse cute.  Augh! 

For this card, I went in a totally different direction than I intended.  Love that.  I still have the other idea rolling in my head so it's like I got 2 cards for the idea of one.  Hee hee--rolling.   When I saw the new Curtain Call challenge I wanted to do two things:  1) play with the word smitten (I'm thinking of giving this to my boyfriend who I am still smitten with after all these years) and the colors of the inspiration photo and 2) pull out my knitting and make a hat.  The fair isle technique pictured is my favorite. 

Ha!  I knew I had a pic of my favorite toddler hat creation called Jest.  I plan to offer this one for sale some day.  I don't use a pattern when I knit my hats so writing up my patterns can be a chore (I also don't take many notes).  I love making them up as I go.  Just like card making!

The Details:  PTI white card stock, Pop Tone Gumdrop Green solid card stock, DCWV White Ginger 12x12 designer paper, Memento Love Letter and Rose Bud, black Sharpie, Heidi Swapp stencil, Stampabilities sentiment, MFT You Move Me scooter

I'm entering this in Sentimental Sundays #187 Pick a Previous Challenge (Love is in the Air), Curtain Call Smitten, Less is More #151 Any Past Challenge (#133 Round & Round), and Keep It Simple #30 Anything Goes.