Crackerbox Stamps - Autumn Breeze

I'm up on the Crackerbox Stamps blog today sharing my favorite Autumn card this year.  Love how it turned out!

I've listed the products used below.  In some cases, affiliate links are included. If you use these links to shop I may earn a small commission at NO cost to you.

• Crackerbox Stamps Autumn Dancing
• Crackerbox Stamps Skeleton Leaf 2
• Catherine Pooler Rocket Red, Samba, Orange Twist, Tiki Torch, Tiara, Aquatini, In the Park, Lime Rickey, Flirty Fuschia
• Versamark
• Ranger Gold Embossing Powder

ATSM #475 - Diecuts and/or Stencils

I thought I would go all out for the latest Addicted to Stamps & More Diecuts and/or Stencils Challenge.  

The stitching on this took me maybe 20-30 minutes with curious cats so not too bad. I used some fancy floss which also added to the time, especially that gold.  #worthit

I've listed the products used below.  In some cases, affiliate links are included. If you use these links to shop I may earn a small commission at NO cost to you.

• Spellbinders Stitched Joy
• DMC Embroidery Floss:  604, 5282, S915, S959

ATSM #467 - Christmas

The latest Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge is all about Christmas.  Anything to help build the holiday card stash, am I right?

I cut the Memory Box Classic Pair of Ice Skates in white, kraft and silver then used baker's twine from my stash to quickly stitch the laces.  The Taylored Expressions Vintage Sled is cut from two shades of kraft and red.  I was using up bits and bobs of kraft. I also used up some scraps with the Spellbinders greenery bits.  

I love how the Pinkfresh Studio Holiday Large Sentiments look on these designs in particular but the PFS Holiday Perfect Sentiments in silver hot foil look great too.

I've listed the products used below.  In some cases, affiliate links are included. If you use these links to shop I may earn a small commission at NO cost to you.

• Memory Box Classic Pair of Ice Skates
• Taylored Expressions Vintage Sled
• Spellbinders Holiday Blooms
• Spellbinders Parcel & Post Christmas Decorations
• Honey Bee Lovely Layering Holiday Bells
• Pinkfresh Studio Holiday Large Sentiments with Dies
• Pinkfresh Studio Holiday Perfect Sentiments Hot Foil Plate with Die
• Pinkfresh Studio Silver Metallic Pearls
• Mintay Merry Little Christmas Add-On 6x6 Paper
• LDRS Creative Mackenzie Christmas 6x6 Paper
• Distress Oxide Salvaged Patina
• Versamark
• Recollections Silver Detail Embossing Powder

DB - Aztec Coffee

I'm over on the Doodle Bugs Blog today with a bold and graphic coffee card!

Stamplorations CAS April Challenge Reminder!

Have you shared with us your Anything Goes CAS projects for April?  You still have time and can toss in some Stamploration products or a bit o' the spring green if you like.  Love this color!

I covered my card with images from the Party Mates set.  So cute!  I had such fun coloring them up with my Copics and a white pigment pen.  Next I embossed a few of the sentiments from the Party Time set and stitched the vellum panel to the card front.  The vellum helps to cut down on the busy-ness of the designs beneath, don't you think?  


I do hope you'll play along with us.  I promise the grass is greener over here!

Stamplorations CAS April Challenge

This month at Stamplorations CAS we have the usual Anything Goes with a twist of . . . can you guess from my card?  Spring green!

I needed a baby card like yesterday so kept the card really simple and, frankly, quick.  I die cut the mobile danglies from watercolor paper I had colored using Brushos and Color Burst.  I even dusted off the cat hair from my sewing machine and stitched the strings.  So cute!  I used my new Hero Arts ombre ink for the sentiment.

It's spring and time for all things green so come share your fabulous creations with us!

The Details:  Stamplorations Fond Expressions 2, Brushos cobalt blue, Color Burst Alzarin Crimson and Lemon Yellow, Hero Arts Ombre Neon Chartreuse to Blue, Avery Elle Finished Frames dies, PTI Cloud die, Recollections 110lb white cardstock, Tim Holtz watercolor paper, Pop Tone Sour Apple Cardstock

Celebrating Your Birthday

Today marks a new challenge at House of Cards where we ask you to incorporate stitching into your design.  Come join us!

I used a stitched die as well as a stamp with stitching, keeping it really simple.  I surprised myself by liking the background designer paper.  I initially was planning to use a black and white stripe but this seemed very fresh and happy.

The Details:  PTI Movers & Shakers sentiment, Great Impressions Stitched Flowers, mystery DP, Copics, Doodlebug Designs sequins, Versamark, Stampendous detail fine black embossing powder, Memento Tuxedo Black, Simon Says stitched rectangle die

Can You Smell That Coffee?

Today's the big day!  Time for the spring Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!  I went with a spring theme for my card and used my Smell the Coffee set for the first time.  And I used my new Hero Arts inks for the grass.  I've started collecting the HA Shadow inks to complement my Mementos.  I'm loving them so far.

Techniques here include masking, coloring, rocking, die cutting and faux stitching.

The Details:  Recollections 110 lb white cardstock base, Hammermill Color Copy 80lb Photo White Cover Stock, Simon Says stitched rectangle die, PTI cloud dies, Hero Arts mini bee, Sakura Pigma Micron 01 pen, Spectrum Noir OR1, OR2, GT1, GT2, HB1, HB2, CT3, and TN1, Memento Tuxedo Black and Pear Tart, Hero Arts Green Hills, Impression Obsession Smell the Coffee

I'm entering this in Simon Says Anything Goes, Mod Squad Spring Forward, and ColourQ #281

Sorta Freehand Peace on Earth

 

Fun experiment using leftover ink on my palette (the part that didn't make it onto Frankie's paws, that is; remind me to put that away when I'm done--LOL)!

This time I took a circle die and, using my fingers, held it against the watercolor paper as I filled the interior space with watercolor.  I kept the die in place as I added continents (please tell me you recognize them!).  I was so pleased when I removed the die, while still wet because I'm impatient like that, and found it had worked a treat.  The white on white card was my first attempt--a bit too much water.  The second is better in my eye because the idea of continental shapes comes through clearly but not too clearly.  Anyhoo, I used my new ME Peace on Earth sentiment which is where the idea for this card originated.  A twist on a familiar idea.

Now my question for you is, should I have added an ornament thingie on top so it looks like it could be hung?

The Details:  Distress Inks Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, and Salty Ocean; Tim Holtz watercolor paper, Mama Elephant Peace on Earth sentiment, Ranger gold embossing powder, Recollections white 110 lb cardstock and gold mirror board, MFT stitched circle die

I'm entering this in Darnell's NBUS #3, Pal Paper Arts #235 Color Challenge, Virginia's View #11 Clean Slate, Shopping Our Stash #183 Use Something New, Happy Little Stampers Watercolor

Iris

I'm ready for spring, aren't you?  I keep looking out the kitchen window wondering if I should get a start on plucking out those pesky unwanted plants in the garden; it's still too cold and wet but a few more degrees warmer and you know where I'll be.

Since I'm stuck inside, I've been practicing the watercoloring of flowers.  Most of them end up in the bin but I think this one a bit more successful--not as overworked--but also more realistic than I really wanted.  I'll keep at it!  I do like how the brick background I did freehand turned out.  I guess that's what I want out of my watercoloring sometimes--more a suggestion of an object/image.

The Details:  Gansai Tambi watercolors, Distress Inks Tea Stain, VersaFine Onyx Black, Hampton Art clear embossing powder, vellum, PSX Iris Botanical K-040, Hero Arts With Sympathy sentiment

I'm entering this in Simon Says Wednesday Something New (iris stamp) and Without Words Dreaming of Spring

Woodsy notecard

I really went wild with layers and embellishments with this card . . . for me, anyway.  I rediscovered these papers in my stash and felt really drawn to them. The paper does most of the work; I just added a scattering of tiny red flowers with gold centers to tie in that sturdy strap material.  Bonus--got to destash a whopping 5 brads and 2 feet of thread!  LOL.  Have any bird watches in your life?  I have a surprising lot once I started thinking about it.

The Details: DCWV Green Stack, PTI brown cardstock base, mystery ribbon, Viva Pearl Pen in Sunny (flowers centers), Hero Arts Tiny Backgrounds, Spellbinders dies, mystery brads from my kid sis

I'm entering this in Simon Says Anything Goes, The Male Room #22 Wood, Crafter's Cafe #88 Things with Wings, Crafty Cardmakers & More #126 Cut it Out

Enjoy Your Day

Man, this one took me forevah because of the layers--What color(s) should I use?  Is the layout too boring?  OMG, there's way too much happening.  There's not enough happening.  Augh!

At least I had no doubts about making the background.  I used a Penny Black background stamp and white pigment ink to create a subtle meadow.  I wanted flowers but not FLOWERS.  I colored the daisies with Distress Inks.  The blue flower background was created with a combo of Tumbled Glass DI and white pigment ink for faux clouds.

The Details:  Distress Inks, watercolor paper, Esse brown cardstock, Stampendous image, Lil' Inker sentiment, Penny Black Floral Tapestry background stamp, Colorbox white pigment ink, Memento Rich Cocoa, MFT stitched rectangle die, Pop Tone Sno Cone cardstock

I'm entering this in The Card Concept #21 Country & Sunflowers (clean and layered), Addicted to Stamps & More #117 Make Your Mark, Paperminutes #343 Layering, Paper Players #218 CAS (without gold or silver option)   

Bannerlicious

This year I volunteered to decorate for the office Halloween party.  So fun!  This meant:

1. I needed to stretch party dollars (used mainly old paper from my stash and kept the purchased items on the cheap)
2. The design must appeal to the majority (I hope so!)
3. Ideally reusable (it will last longer than I will!)

I used my Cameo to create the letters (Ravie font), bats, cats, witches, dripping blood circles and banner base.  The yellow circles I cut with my whatchathing manually.  I stuck everything together for each letter section then we laminated them at the office for longevity.  I used my Crop-a-dile to punch holes in the corners for stringing ribbon.  We also laminated a couple of foam bats (for added stability) to use as connector pieces.  More foam bats will be flying around the banner and hanging from the ceiling.

I also made a garland using orange and black circles sewed together randomly.  These will hang as a curtain.

(Please do excuse the pics.  I took them at the office under horrible lighting conditions with my phone.)

The Details:  yellow and orange papers from stash, Recollections 110 lb black cardstock, Paper Studio chevron 12x12 paper, Pop Tone red cardstock, Glossy Accents

I'm entering this in Creative Cutting Challenge #40 Halloween, Dream Valley #92 Anything but a Card, Addicted to Stamps & More #116 Anything Goes, Papertake Weekly Anything Goes, Simply Create Too #72 Halloween or Lots of Orange, Colour Me #41   

Sunflower Birthday

With this card I only used part of the image to allow room for the sentiment.  Don't you love that font?  I also love that there was room to add the cute little ladybug that I've had in my stash for 10 years to the sentiment.  I'm not sure what it is but suspect Hero Arts.  For the sunflower's ladybug I colored and cut out another to layer it on for added dimension.  A little stitching (as done by my son-in-law's girlfriend who had never sewn before--go, Julie!) added the final dimensional layer.

Btw, do you see the linen/burlap texture of the watercolor paper?  I hated this paper the first few times I used it because it sucked up more color than I was used to than the Tim Holtz but it's growing on me.  I think it lends itself really well to nature cards.

The Details:  Strathmore 110 lb watercolor paper, Distress Inks, Glossy Accents, Avery Elle So Happy sentiment, Martha Stewart corner rounder, Spectrum Noir, mystery ladybug stamp, Stampendous Sunflower stamp, mystery green cardstock base (from Impress)

I'm entering this in Virginia's View #8 CAS, AAA Cards #23 Watercolors, Allsorts #279 Autumn, Less is More #192 Autumn Shades, Shopping Our Stash #172 Autumn Colors  

Birthday Minion + Instructions

My stepson's girlfriend's nephew's birthday's coming up (say that 5 times fast!) and she mentioned the party was going to be minion-themed.  Could. Not. Resist.

Body

1. Cut a 4 x 5.25" piece of yellow card.
2. Round the top corners.
3. Attach to an A2  (4.25 x 5.5") black card base.

Goggles

1. Cut a .5 x 4" strip of black cardstock.  This is the goggles strap.
2. Adhere the black strip about 1.5" down the card.
3. Cut two 1.25" circles in gray (shiny silver if you've got it would be ideal).
4. Attach the two gray circles over the strip, centered vertically and horizontally.

Eyes

1. Cut two 1" circles in white.
2. Cut two .5" circles in brown.
3. If you're going to use tiny black brads for the pupils, do so now.  Otherwise, draw in or use black Enamel Accents like I did at the end.
4. Attach the brown circles to the white.
5. Attach the eyes to the gray circles, centering vertically and horizontally.

Hair

1. Cut narrow strips of 1.5" black cardstock.
2. Glue down in your preferred style.

Mouth

1. I used my largest circle die to cut a circle segment from black cardstock then cut it down to size.
2. You could also just draw it in.

Overalls

1. Cut a 1.5 x 2.5" piece of cardstock for the bib.  I used a dark blue here.
2. Attach the bib to the bottom center of the yellow layer. 
3. Cut two .5 x 3" strips of the same cardstock for the straps.  
4. If you're using brads instead of buttons for the snaps, do so now.  Otherwise, wait until the end.
5. Attach the straps to the bib at your preferred angle.
6. Carefully cut away the excess strap.  I used an Exacto blade.
7. Using a white pigment pen, draw in stitching lines as shown.

Now isn't that easy?

The Details:  Lifestyle Crafts circle dies, Enamel Accents, Sakura white pigment pen, Martha Stewart corner rounder, PopTone black licorice cardstock, PTI yellow cardstock, various scraps of other cardstock, Glossy Accents

I'm entering this in Seize the Birthday without Stars or Stripes topping, Cardz 4 Guyz DIY (the Minions from Despicable Me do everything from dusting to building spaceships--so cute!), Pal Paper Arts #211 Color challenge, The Sisterhood of Crafters Birthday

Daisy Birthday

I'm super busy at work right now, let alone trying to fit in gardening and landscaping, so haven't had much time to craft.  :-(    At least I am creating prettiness in the great outdoors or I'd be totally pulling my hair out.

This card is inspired by the current House of Cards inspiration picture/blog hop/DT call.  That's a lot happening in one place, right?!

I immediately focused on the flowers, the boldness of the numbering and the cork.  I stamped the sentiment first then the flowers before applying ultra fine embossing powder.  I brushed off any powder that covered the letters before heat setting.  I then took my watercolor pencils (any would have worked since I didn't wet them) to add white, yellow, and a couple of shades of green.  That bold yellow base and hint of blue in the stitching is also taken from the inspiration photo.

The Details:  Penny Black Flower Festival image, PTI sentiment and kraft cardstock, MFT Lemon Drop cardstock, Versafine onyx black ink, Versamark, Stampendous Detail White embossing powder, Derwent color pencils, foam tape

I'm entering in House of Cards DT Call and Seize the Birthday Summertime

Watercolor Class Day 9, Take 1

Spattered and dabbed and blobbed my own little meadow with a stand of lupine.  Maybe a better pic when the sun comes back--we're in for some gloomy rain so it's gotten quite dreary this evening.  Love, love, love the background wash.


The Details:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks and watercolor paper, Versafine Onyx Black, Papertrey Ink sentiment and cardstock

I'm entering this in  Charisma Cardz #11 May Flowers and Make My Monday Nature

Masking with Rubber Cement

Day 2 watercolor class homework which talks about creating a background wash and using rubber cement or liquid frisket to cover a stamp image so the watercolor doesn't bleed into it.  I used rubber cement.  It was odd painting that onto paper but I encountered no problems and it rubbed right off.  Oh, yeah, that thing where she tells you to wait until the watercolor is dry before rubbing the cement off--so very true.  I ended up with some friction balls on the paper on my first attempt. Impatient?  Moi?

I'm enjoying my new craft room layout where my sewing machine is now always at the ready.  More stitching in the future I hope!

The Details:  Simply Art watercolor paints, Penny Black Blooming Garden stamp, Hero Arts With Sympathy sentiment, Memento Tuxedo Black, Elmer's rubber cement, PTI pink and kraft cardstock, Artist's Loft 140 lb watercolor paper

I'm entering this in Tuesday Throwdown #195 Spring Blossoms, Penny Black Anything Goes, Addicted to Stamps & More #95 photo inspiration, Papertake Weekly Pretty Pastels, Virginia's View Stitching.

Happy Thoughts Inside

 

I'm back but will be hit or miss the next few weeks--have some home remodeling in the works.  Dust in my hair, ink on my fingers--it's all good.

With this card I:

• Offset the frame dies for interest
• Free-formed the flower--just gathered and stitched as I went along with the sewing machine-- then coiled some copper beaded wire from my jewelry-making stash for the center
• Heated some of the stray embossing powder before noticing  then added more because I loved the effect
• Originally used a decorative stitch on the scalloped border--too busy--then put another piece over it and straight-stitched.

The Details:  PTI kraft cardstock and sentiment, Brilliance Graphite Black, Stampendous black embossing powder, mystery designer papers, MME Hello Brad, Spellbinders border and frame dies, Robin's Nest Dewdrops, BoBunny doily, Glossy Accents

I'm entering this in:  Totally Papercrafts #208 Make it Shine,  Simply Create Too #56 Shop in Your Stash, Daring Cardmakers Sentimental, Let's Craft & Create #89 Embossing, Card Makin' Mamas CMM81 Stack It Up, As You Like It Favorite 3D Texture & Why, Papertake Weekly Anything Goes, Shopping Our Stash #141 3-2-1 (3 dewdrops, 2 Spellbinder frame dies, doily), Sentimental Sundays #196 Sketch  and Dream Valley #76 Vintage

Thankful for many things

  

Here in the Pacific Northwest, rain comes with Autumn.  We've got maybe 3 weeks of stunning fall color and then the leaves get knocked off if we have a big storm.  Bummer, huh?  But when it's a beautiful sunny day like today (and the first day of my vacation), I can't help but feel thankful for living in such an amazing place.

With this design I really liked how I colored the basket and flowers and even my attempt at recreating galvanized metal for the watering can.  I'm not satisfied with the leaves tho, especially the maples.  I had a very specific color  in my head but just couldn't capture it.  Maybe it's one of those things that can't be. 

The Details:

Northwood Rubber Stamps Apple Basket and Sunflower Watering Can, Spectrum Noirs, Spellbinders leafy squares die, Cameo for the sentiment, foam dots, Martha Stewart corner rounder, Gutermann thread, card stock from my old stash

Entering this in Designed to Color #21 Use a Die and Simon Wednesday Use a Stamp.