Miss You Cutie XOXO

I had this idea for CAS(E) this Sketch #106 but have bronchitis and just didn't make the deadline.  In fact, today is the first day I've sat upright for more than a couple of hours at a time.  I will be so glad when my energy is back to normal!

For this card, I designed a curved panel and cut it out using my Cameo.  I then covered it in strips of washi tape.  I thought about embossing the white portion of the card front but nixed that in favor of letting the panel speak for itself.  And speaking of speaking, I cut out some conversation hearts and popped those up on top of heart washi, allowing the first to overhang.  Isn't the resulting sentiment cute?

The Details:  Recollections Washi tape and 110 lb white card stock, Impression Obsession Conversation Hearts stamp & die, Scotch foam tape

I'm entering this in Paperminutes #367 Keep it Simple, Addicted to Stamps & More #128 Holiday, TIME OUT Valentine W Optional Hearts, Simon Says Have a Heart

Vibrant Love

I really like the camouflaging diecuts technique that I saw over on PTI Make It Monday.  Oh my, that was back in mid-December but feels like yesterday.  And I wonder why I miss so many card challenge deadlines--LOL!  But not this time.  I am entering this in a few card challenges including The Card Concept; this style I would call clean and layered due to the stacked die cuts and having to mount the watercolor paper on a card stock base.

I did a watercolor wash of 3 colors of Distress Inks and set that aside to dry.  It needs to be dry because if you try to diecut it while still damp, it gets wacky, trust me. I cut out the word 4 times and stacked them before putting them back.  It's a cool effect.  I then added the stenciled floating hearts and the sentiment.

The Details:  PTI Love die (I think), Sweet Stamp Shop Across the Miles partial sentiment, Tim Holtz watercolor paper, Distress Ink Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick and Festive Berries, Recollections 110 lb cardstock base, Heidi Swapp stencil, Memento Tuxedo Black

I'm entering this in Inkspirational #74 Ombre, TIME OUT #23 Valentine's Day w Optional Hearts, The Card Concept #27 Love,

Miss You Map

Ultra clean and simple one layer card today. 
I need to send something to a friend of mine in Jersey and thought I'd enclose a card.  We keep in touch but it's not the same as seeing each other regularly, you know?  I miss you, J!

The Details:  Recollections 110 lb white cardstock, Sweet Stamp Shop Across the Miles

I'm entering this in Simon Says Stamp It's a Guy Thing, CASology #130 Friend, Less is More #207 Friends

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

Happy 2015!

Did you all have a wonderful holiday and are you ready to dive back into card making?  I know I am!  I am hoping this year to make one holiday card a week or so; this is the first, just in time for The House of Cards January challenge.  Isn't the inspiration photo fab to draw from?  You can use glitter or the colors.  Lots o' possibilities.

For my card I stamped and embossed the background image then watercolored it with Distress inks.  After air-drying, I ironed off the embossing.  I then stamped the sentiment in Versamark, embossed it with gold and ironed that off.  Some of the gold remains but it's completely flat.  Next I restamped over it in black to create a golden shadow.  I then embossed the sentiment.  Love that shine.  I mounted the panel on gold mirror board and added a few sequins to bring in the champagne gold.  Love!

The Details:  Distress Inks Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers, Versamark, VersaFine Onyx Black, Stampendous Detail Black embossing powder, Ranger gold embossing powder, Mama Elephant Peace on Earth sentiment, Hero Arts S5633 background stamp, Glossy Accents, stash sequins

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Now that the sun comes up so late, I'm able to watch the sunrise.  Even if I can just catch a glimpse of the sun under the cloud cover before a dreary day, I am set.  Yesterday was exceptional because the sun stayed out all day.  Looks like that's going to be true today too.  Yay!

For this one layer card I created a mask using the Seattle skyline die from Savvy Stamps.  I then sponged the sunrise around the skyline and the black of the reflected city in the water.  Lastly I stamped and embossed the sentiment.

The Details:  Savvy Stamps Seattle Skyline die, Impress sentiment, Memento Tuxedo Black, Cantaloupe, Angel Pink, & Danube Blue, Hero Arts Passion Flower, VersaMark, Recollections Detail Fine silver embossing powder and 110 lb white cardstock

I'm entering this in CAS(E) This Sketch #104 and Simon Wednesday Anything Goes

Quick Penguin Card

I was commissioned to make a couple of penguin cards for the holidays.  Cute although I would like to push the sentiment 1/8" to the left or so.

The Details:  Memory Box die in the back, Mama Elephant Arctic Penguins, Jolly & Merry, and Landscape Trio, Spectrum Noir DR3, DR4, blender, GB1, OR1, Distress Ink Festive Berries, Tumbled Glass and whatever the heck blue was left on my sponge from before, Memento Tuxedo Black, stash sequins, Scotch foam tape, Glossy Accents

I'm entering this in The Male Room #25 Christmas,  Simon Says Winter Inspiration, Addicted to Stamps & More #126 w/o Optional Twist of Love, Papertake Weekly Festive 

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Candy Winner

Woo hoo!
Becca Cruger is the winner of the Memory Box Darling Poppies die.

Becca, I've sent an email to you asking for your deets.

And Frankie is leaping for joy for you!

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop & Candy

Have you heard about the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop?  Well, you certainly have now!  I had some serious fun with these coffee/hot beverage-inspired cards.  Mmm...I do love me some cocoa during cold weather but so rarely indulge.  It is a gateway drink after all.  ;-)

With the first card I reworked a design I made for Caring Hearts but never got around to blogging about.  This time I wanted to use non-traditional colors.  I really like how this turned out tho wonder if I should have left off the bottom washi strip.  Ribbon candy?  With the second, I used the same layout but added a shadow Space Needle behind the scene.  I love the pop of blue.  Very modern.

 

The Details Card 1:  PTI Fresh Snow hybrid ink and aqua mist cardstock base, Flavours Gourmet Smoked Sea Salt 12 pt coverstock, washi tape, vellum, Impress stamps, Versamark onyx black

The Details Card 2:  Memento Tuxedo Black, London Fog, Danube Blue, Impress mug, stars and interior sentiment, Lawn Fawn Love You a Latte saucer

Thanks to Amy et al for setting all this up and to the fab sponsors.  Have you checked all of them out?  Talk about candy!  You can see the full listing below.  But before you do that,  I'm offering up some of my own--my first!  

One of the lucky commenters will win a Memory Box Darling Poppies die.  Apparently I like what I like because I accidentally purchased two.  Just leave a comment on this post by Sunday, December 14th, at midnight PST for a chance to win.  Please leave contact info or I won't be able to reach out to you if you're the winner and will have to choose another.  You wouldn't want that, would you?  So comment here, there and everywhere to increase your chances of winning additional prizes.  It would be great if you're not already a follower to go ahead and follow me; there's a variety of choices to do so on the sidebar.Woo hoo! 

17Turtles	Veronica Zalis	Chris Franco
Add a Little Dazzle	Butterfly Reflections Ink	Color Cast Designs
Create a Smile	Hero Arts	Kraftin' Kimmie
Kreative Kymona	Latina Crafter	Neat & Tangled
Newton's Nook	Pickled Potpourri Designs	Poppystamps
Reverse Confetti	Stamp Academy	Stamp Simply Ribbon Store
STAMPlorations	SugarPea Designs	Sweet 'n Sassy
The Alley Way Stamps	Two Paper Divas	Verve Stamps
Whole Wild World	Your Next Stamp	Paper Smooches

17 Turtles:  $15 Store Gift Card

A Muse Studio/Chris Franco:  Cup of Good Cheer stamp set

Add a Little Dazzle:  $25 Store Gift Card

Butterfly Reflections Ink:  Prima Coffee Break

Color Cast Designs:  Coffee Lovers kit

Create a Smile:  Monster Party stamp set

Hero Arts:  A Little & Today's Special stamps/Cup 'O Joe Shadow ink

Kraftin' Kimmie:  $25 Store Gift Card

Kreative Kymona:  Fancy Mug Giveaway

Latina Crafter:  Cafe Wood Veneers + $25 Store Gift Card

Neat & Tangled:  Warm Wishes stamp set

Newton's Nook:  $15 Store Gift Card

Paper Smooches:  $25  Store Gift Card

Pickled Potpourri:  $7 Store Gift Card

Poppystamps:  Tea Cup Stack Die

Reverse Confetti:  $15 Store Gift Card

Stamp Academy:  2 classes

Stampin' Up/Veronica Zalis:  $20 Store Gift Card

STAMPlorations:  $10 Store Gift Card

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store:  Coffee Cup Prize Pack

SugarPea Designs:  $20 Store Gift Card

Sweet 'n Sassy:  Pick Me Up Clear stamp & die set

The Alley Way Stamps:  Tea Par-tea stamp set

Two Paper Divas:  Your Warm My Heart stamp set

Your Next Stamp:  $20

Verve Stamps:  $25

Whole Wild World:  Coffee before Talkee mug

●●Sponsorship prizes are eligible via random draw from linked hop participants only●●

Update 12/11/14:  added pic of blog candy