Florals

When I made the Altenew card in my previous post, I also made another panel with their beautiful Flower Bed 3D embossing folder.  Again I inked a white panel with Blush and Velvet, but changed the green to the softer Sweet Leaf.  After embossing, I inked the raised edges with a white pigment pad--same as the last card.  But then, instead of adding a gold spray, I used Heidi Swapp white Color Shine.

It's so beautiful and you can see it in my IG post.  The Sweet Bouquet sentiment was stamped in Blush, embossed in Hero Arts Sparkle powder and attached to a vellum strip.  I wanted the panel to be the star, so I just added Botanical Wreath Builder blooms and leaves die cut from vellum.  Finished off with 3 pearls.  I'm entering Altenew April Inspiration Challenge and DCD.

One of my favorite PFS products is Sweet Friend Floral.  It has a one piece stamp, one piece die and stencils to color the images.  Here's what I made for the April PFS Challenge.

I first embossed the images in SSS Rose Gold powder.  Then I used the stencils with Altenew Inks Blush, Rouge, Velvet, Pink Sand, Toasted Mauve and Redwood.  PFS Nested Rectangles Postage Edge dies were cut from white scraps.  I wasn't happy with the plain white background for the florals, so dry embossed with a very old Cuttlebug folder.  Amazing the difference that made.  The larger rectangle's edges were embossed with the Rose Gold Powder and everything was arranged and glued in place.  Hello from PFS Perfect Sentiments was stamped in the Velvet ink and attached.  Finished off with beautiful PFS gems for a touch of sparkle.  There's a short video in my IG post.  I'm also entering Time Out with floral/stencil and TTTC268 with stencil/free/embellishments.

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

Greta

Altenew and Poppystamps

The April Altenew Inspiration Challenge has a color combo I love with shades of pink and green.  I used several Altenew products for my card.  It was an easy choice to use the gorgeous Flower Bed embossing folder. 

First I covered a white panel with Blush, Velvet and Grass Field inks--putting the Velvet near what would be the flower centers and the green near the leaves.  The rest of the panel was covered in Blush.  After embossing, I swiped across the raised edges with moderate pressure using a white pigment ink pad.  Just love the result!  But I couldn't stop there--had to spray with Fossilized Amber Distress Spritz for a beautiful golden shimmer.  You can see it in my IG post.  Sparkled Frame is one of my favorite products from when I was a guest designer.  Here I die cut it from SSS Champagne metallic cardstock--a lovely softer gold.  The words of the sentiment from Floral Acanthus were stacked 2 high, brushed with the pink inks and covered with Shimmer Pico Embellisher.  The shadow was cut from the Champagne cardstock.  Finished off with TE matte gold enamel dots.  I first put the focal point on a green card front, but felt it was distracting.  Luckily, I was able to cut off my focal point since the frame edge wasn't glued down.  That also meant there was an extra layer of cardstock behind my framed piece, which worked out great for a bit of dimension.  I'm also entering Die Cut Divas.   

I seldom make scene cards, but I ended up with one for the April Poppystamps challenge.  My last Poppystamps purchase included Layered House Globe die.  I thought the snowbank might work for a lake and die cut it from MB pastel blue pearl paper. 

The solid house diecut was double clear embossed for the windows.  The top layer was brushed with light gray ink and I left the top and door white.  The IO trees and grass were inked in Parsley, Clover and Evergreen.  The Poppystamps Serene Rabbit was die cut from white felt and I used a tiny gem colored with a black Copic for the eye.  The sentiment from Poppystamps Grateful Heart was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn.  I'm also entering JUGS and Time Out using water and pastel.

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

Greta

Guest Designer at Word Art Wednesday

I'm happy to be guesting at WAW this month. 

I stenciled and stamped The Greetery's Peaceful Olive in Altenew Toasted Mauve, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades and PTI Plum Pudding.  Had to add some purple splatters!  I used matching cardstock to mat the verse.  Almost left it as was, but decided to add Poppystamps Layered Lovely Flowers die cut from vellum, inked on the back with Plum Pudding and embellished with a tiny gem. 

You can find all the challenge details at Word Art Wednesday.  Hope to see you in the gallery.

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

Greta

Easter and Friendship

I missed the last Color Hues deadline, so this time I didn't put off making a card.  Color Hues: Orange and Teal was a challenge, for sure.  Honestly, orange is not a color I reach for very often.  Layering stencils are a big favorite, right now, but it's been awhile since I used TE Modern Eucalyptus.  I have 3 shades of teal ink with PTI Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores and Tropical Teal--just what I needed.  

I first tried using Orange Zest for the branches--way too much orange for me!  So I turned the panel over and redid it using PTI Terracotta Tile and that worked.  The rectangles were die cut with GKD Master Layouts 1 and 2.  Poppystamps Proper Happy Easter was just the right size.  The letters were covered with a shimmer pen which you can see in my IG post.  I found the perfect tiny gems in my stash and I actually do like how this card turned out.  Just don't expect to see me using a lot of orange now! 🤣 I'm also entering JUGS.

I haven't entered FMS in a long time, but the current sketch immediately caught my attention.  The IO branch cling stamp is one of my favorites, so always love using it.  

This time I first inked the branches and random parts of the leaves in Versafine Clair Green Oasis.  Then I inked the entire stamp in the lighter Grass Green--one of their newer colors.  Really love how it came out.  At that point, I realized I meant to stamp the splatters from Unity's Serene Silhouettes in Altenew Sand Dunes first.  The branch was still in my Misti, so I stamped in Versafine and clear embossed.  Then I could see exactly where I wanted the splatters, so actually worked out for the best.  

The rectangles were die cut with GKD Master Layouts 2.  The sweet Alex Syberia Friend die was the perfect sentiment.  I liked the white card front, but decided it was time to use an old favorite element of stamping the edges.  That really changed the look and I love it.  Not sure they were needed, but I ended up adding white sequins. 

Edited to add:  Also entering WAW. 

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

Greta

CCC Reveal

Here's the card I sent to Jeanne for the March card exchange.  The panel had been sitting on my desk for a long time.  It was the 2nd one I made after watching Lydia's video using foil, gesso, an embossing folder and alcohol inks.

I let the colors bleed together too much, so it's looks like all I used was purple.  That worked great for the choice of black, white and one other color.  I used SSS Cherry Blossom 3D folder which includes  3 flower dies.  I used vellum for the flower diecuts and for the shadow layer of  Memory Box Friend Daily Script.  The letters were die cut from MB glossy black cardstock.  Love my newest PTI frame die called Reflections: November.  The stark white was distracting, so I lightly brushed it with Altenew Wisteria ink.  Tiny black dots for the vellum flowers finished it off.  I'm also entering DCD and WAW. 

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

Greta

Uniko and Hero Arts

Uniko Layered Picked Posies stencil set is one of my favorites, so wanted to use it for an Easter card.  This time I didn't add the small blooms or change the position of any images.  I did discover that some brushes work better than other for stencils.  

My first panel was ruined, but that gave me a chance to see exactly which ink colors I liked the best.  I ended up with Altenew Strawberry, Dusty Pink, Blush Rose, Lime and Fresh Leaf.  I splattered Champagne Gold watercolor and used it to color a white scrap for the Poppystamps Proper Happy Easter shadow.  The letters are covered in shimmer which you can see in my IG post.  Added gold and pink sequins.  I'm entering JUGS and SSS Wednesday.

Edited to add:  Also entering WAW.

Here's my last minute second entry for the March challenge at Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero.  I took the 2010 Flower Medley stamp off it's block since I knew it had to be stamped several times to get a good impression.  Love the new Versafine Clair Hawthorn Rose color and thought it'd be lovely for an Easter card.  I had to add warmth to my photo to show the Rose color, but that, of course, made the white look cream.  Better color in my IG post, at least when I look at it using my phone. 

I die cut Spellbinders Labels 18 from the image and then spritzed both pieces with Heidi Swapp white Color Shine.  It gives a beautiful shimmer which you can get an idea of in my IG post video.  I added a couple white cardstock layers before gluing the diecut in place.  The stitched rectangle is Gina K and the sentiment is an old one by TPC.  I added Moonstone sequins and inked the card front edges to match.  I'm also entering Snippets Playground as I used scraps for everything but the card base.

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

Greta

Christmas and Easter

I graduated from college many years ago.  Apparently I've forgotten more than I realized.  For example, I didn't know that Freedom of Speech means we have the right to say positive things about our government and to say we agree with the leaders.  Something to be proud of, right?!

I love making Christmas cards year round, so took a break from Easter cards to make a couple.  First up is my entry for Woodblock Wednesday.  

One of my favorite companies when I started stamping was Magenta.  Can't remember the last time I used this beautiful candle image and I know I didn't white emboss it on kraft cardstock.  Gotta say, I really love the look for a change.  I fussy cut and colored with markers.  The candles were covered with a sparkle pen.  You can see the sparkle and shine in my IG post.  Love the Pinkfresh Diagonal Stitch squares and rectangles.  The Savvy Stamps sentiment was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn and I finished with kraft cord tied in a bow.  I'm also entering ABC Christmas.  

The current Christmas Kickstart Challenge is to make a card without using red, green or gold.  I decided to stick with kraft and white, but add pink.  

PFS Layered Wreath was die cut twice and the edges were brushed with Altenew Mocha ink.  Then I layered them offset and added pink cardstock berries.  I used vellum for the Classic Holiday Words shadow and white cardstock for 2 layers of the words.  The berries were covered in WOW Peachy Keen Sparkles and the words were covered in Sparkle Pico Embellisher.  You can see the sparkle and shine in my IG post.  I used a dark brown Zig for the splatters.

I do have another Easter card to share, inspired by Color Hues Lemon and Lime.  Unfortunately, I missed the deadline.  It's been awhile since I used my Brilliance ink pads and I remembered that I have Pearlescent Lime.  I used direct to paper on a white cardstock scrap and used it to die cut Alexandra Renke's egg with foliage.  

I decided to add more foliage, so pulled out another Alexandra Renke die and Memory Box Tall Frilly Leaf Stems.  I brushed the diecuts with the Lime ink using a lighter touch.  PFS Blanket Stitch Elongated Oval was brushed with Altenew Fresh Lemon ink--darker on the edge and fading out to white in the center.  After attaching the egg and extra foliage, I stamped the little butterfly from an old TPC Studio set.  

The IO bunny was die cut from my lightest yellow felt attached to lightweight paper for extra stability.  I brushed the edges with the Fresh Lemon ink and used a pink Copic for the center of the ears.  The eye is a tiny clear jewel colored with a black Copic.  Instead of adding cotton to the tail, I covered it with WOW Ice Pop Sparkles--kinda fun!  The very old woodblock sentiment was stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne, edged with Fresh Lemon and raised with a couple cardstock layers.  My favorite Hero Arts translucent enamel dots in yellow were the perfect finishing touch.  Hubby is not a fan of yellow, but he gave this card a good review!  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday and TTTC267 using the center vertical row.

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

Greta