Time Out Challenge #274

Time Out Challenge #274 is a great photo challenge which you can also think of as a theme challenge.  Our blog owner, Nonni, took this picture during a visit to New York City.  Our generous sponsor is Newton's Nook.

You can use any of the words or objects in the photo.  There's lots of inspiration from our GD and my teammates on the blog, along with details about our challenge.

I used just the word "coffee" as inspiration to open my Stamp Simply A Cup of Java die set.  Nonni's card for our last challenge actually gave me the idea to use the coffee cup negative for a shaker--so fun! 

I used a couple sheets of beautiful printed paper I picked up in a close out.  They're more for spring or summer, but I wanted to use some of the beautiful shaker filler given to me by my dear friend, Rosemary.  And besides, it's Spring in the southern hemisphere!  I used PTI Sweet Blush cardstock for the handle and covered it with Nuvo Glaze.  The steam was stacked a couple high and covered with a shimmer pen.  The Mama Elephant sentiment die was cut twice from white cardstock.  I inked the top one with Olive Twist and used the other one as a slight shadow which made it stand out much more from the floral paper.  PTI Olive Twist cardstock was used for the mat.  I don't make many shakers, but this was pretty easy and I love the result.  It's a great way to use printed papers, especially ones that are from the same collection so I know they go together.  

I'm entering SSS Monday Snippets Playground (all scraps except the paper showing through the shaker), DCD and WAW.

Edited to add: SSS WCMD Challenge.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Happy WCMD!

I started a card yesterday and finished it up today.  Hope you had some crafting time.  I'm not big on Halloween, but I do like to send a few cards.  Couldn't resist Poppystamps Witches Shoe die for $1, but took me awhile to decide how to use it.  Here's what I came up with.  

The background was made by ink blending Distress Oxides crackling campfire, abandoned coral and spiced marmalade.  I brushed the edges with Distress Ink black soot which made a huge difference!  I splattered black ink and sprayed with Distress Spritz spiced marmalade.  Oh my goodness--so gorgeous in person!  Even the video I posted in IG doesn't do it justice.

I used Altenew purple glitter cardstock for the shoe and Memory Box Parker Lowercase Alphabet.  The old MFT pumpkins were colored with the ink left in my brushes and I used a purple Copic for the stems.  The shoe trim and Poppystamps cats (a freebie) were die cut from Memory Box black glossy cardstock.  I'm entering Poppystamps October challenge, Color Hues, DCD, WAW and SSS WCMD.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Exchange Card and Hero Arts Christmas

For my September CCC card, I took apart THIS CARD from several years ago.  I loved the focal point, but not the card.  Here's the new version that isn't quite so CAS and has more interest.

I stamped PTI Simple Stems and Vogue Vase in Brilliance Starlite Black.   The vase was die cut, brushed with a shimmer pen and covered in Nuvo Glaze.  It almost looks like ceramic.  The CCC is celebrating 15 years--a big accomplishment!  Why not join us?

I posted a second card for the current Stay Crafty with Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero challenge on IG, but I prefer to enter from my blog.  Plus, I know some of you don't go on IG.  Anyway, if you're an oldie like me, you may have or remember Hero Arts 2011 Merriest Christmas Wishes stamp set.  This time I used it to make cards for hubby's cousins, which are always all alike.    

I had the stamp in my MISTI so I could stamp repeatedly until the Versafine Clair Blue Belle covered completely.  I did the same thing for the sentiment, stamping in Versafine Satin Red.  The cardinal was colored with Jane Davenport Thriller Jacket brush pen and Distress marker antique linen.  I used a white Posca pen over the snow dots--easy to do and didn't take very long.  A true one layer card that won't need extra postage.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Pinkfresh, Altenew and Poppystamps

Not sure how it got to be nearly the end of September!  I have 3 different cards to show you today.  First up is my entry for the Pinkfresh September Challenge: Leaves and Wreaths.  I have many wreath stamps/dies and PFS Dainty Wreath is definitely one of my favorites.  Not sure I ever stamped it in Fall colors, but I'm sure I will again.  

With the stamp in my MISTI, I randomly inked and stamped repeatedly with 4 or 5 orangy ink cubes, one at a time, until the entire wreath was inked.  I also used a green cube which made for an almost brown shade.  Really love how this turned out!  I used both the outer and inner dies which let me attach one end of the vellum sentiment flag under the left edge of the wreath.

The gold watercolor splattered white panel was in my stash.  I just rounded the corners and inked the edges in brown.  Finished off with small brown gems.  I'm also entering SSS Monday, DCD and WAW.

Next is my entry for the September Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  Couldn't miss this one with two beautiful shades of pink plus green!  Altenew's Sweet Bouquet is one of my latest purchases and a favorite, for sure! 

This time I stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist and used Altenew Rose Quartz, Puffy Heart, Firefly and Grass Field with the stencils.  I liked Michelle Short's idea of using a dark background to make the flowers pop, so I embossed a Smoky Shadow panel with Altenew Flower Bed 3D folder. 

The mat is Weathervane and I used Smoky Shadow to stamp the sentiment.  Hero Arts Transluscent enamel dots make beautiful dew drops, I think.  I'm also entering Just Us Girls and We Love Stamping.

My last card is for the September Poppystamps challenge.  I've hardly used the 2017 Sloping Hillside die, but really like it.

The light blue speckled paper has been in my stash forever and I love it for the background.  The trees were attached with rolled up glue dots for just a bit of dimension.  I intended to keep the trees white, but just couldn't resist adding WOW Ice Pop Sparkles--so beautiful in person!  

Dark Indigo cardstock was used for the mat and the W&W sentiment was white embossed. 

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Time Out Challenge #273

I think you're going to love Time Out Challenge #273 where we are inspired by these words:  "As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see."  Vincent Van Gogh

We're generously sponsored by Poppystamps who are giving a $20 store credit to the winner picked by the DT.

Autumn is probably my favorite season with cooler temperatures, changing colors and football!  You can be inspired by the whole quote or any of the words.  I tried a new technique after watching Lydia Fiedler's video.  

Basically, you attach foil to cardstock, emboss with a 3D folder, cover with gesso, add alcohol inks and cover the raised edges with gold.  Lydia brayered on gold paint, but I swiped with a gold ink pad.  I did find it tricky to not end up with the alcohol inks all mixed together, but this panel turned out like I wanted.  

I made it into a card using a sentiment and leaves from SSS Thankful for You.  Hope to see you in the gallery.  I'm entering SSS Wednesday and Double D.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Sizzix and Memory Box

I entered the IG challenge #12daysofsizzix Day 6: Gift Box using Sizzix Tim Holtz die sets: Funky Wreaths and Seasonal Sketch along with the words from Sizzix Scrapbook.com For You die set.  

I covered a small box with holly tissue paper from my stash.  The wreath was inked with Brilliance Coffee Bean and then attached to a vellum circle.  The solid poinsettias were covered with red Glimmer mists.  One diecut was watercolor paper and the other was red cardstock.  That made one poinsettia darker, which I actually like.  I added the die cut words to the center of the wreath and tied it on with green twine I've had for years.  You can see the shimmer in my IG post.

I'm entering SSS Monday.

Next is my entry for the Memory Box September challenge using Memory Box Layered Narrow Pines and Birch Press Warm Wishes Vintage Sentiment.  I'm always drawn to trees--maybe because I live in the Pacific Northwest.  I do have quite a few stamps and dies, but couldn't resist adding this layered die set to my stash last year.  

I die cut the base trees from watercolor paper covered with 2 green shimmer mists.  The top layers were cut from white cardstock and then embossed with Wow White Twinkle Powder.  You can see the shimmer and sparkle in my IG post.  The smooshed background was made with a piece of acetate and watered down Distress Oxides speckled egg and prize ribbon.  I die cut the sentiment words from the same panel as the trees and finished off with beautiful Taylored Expressions gems.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Time Out Challenge #272

Time Out Challenge #272 is a fun one as we challenge you to be snarky!  Our wonderful sponsor is Funky Fossil.

I wanted to make a birthday card and knew I could print my own sentiment, as I don't have snarky products.  Here's what I came up with.

The candles from Hero Arts May card kit were lined up kinda wonky in my MISTI and repeatedly stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne.  Then I messily watercolored with Distress Oxides candied apple, spiced marmalade, fossilized amber, lucky clover and prize ribbon.  I used a Quickie Glue Pen and gold foil for the flames.  I tied on white crochet thread and attached the panel to a black mat.  I found a fun font and printed out the sentiment to go above and below my raised panel of candles.  The embellishments are a yellow Hero Arts Translucent Enamel Dot and 2 black Gina K hearts.  All the details and lots of inspiration from our guest designer and my teammates can be found on the blog.

I'm entering SSS Monday and Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.