Catching Up

I've been making lots of cards, but not getting blog posts written.  Part of the problem is getting pictures that my photo editing program says are a good quality.  On IG they look fine to me & it only takes a minute to do the editing.  Anyway, thought I'd share some.
First is the card I entered for ITP Project Reach Out: Dear to My Heart.  Lately I've seen random stamping of images with some overlapping & really love the look.

My version is done with ITP Bold Blooms stamped in Sweet Blush, Pale Peony, Berry Sorbet, Spring Moss & Limeade Ice.  Took awhile, but I finally found the stamps I needed for the sentiment.  The little words are from Little Yellow Bicycle & the big ones from Concord & 9th.  I used a black Zig for splatters & a piece of Limeade Ice cardstock for the mat.  A little busier than I usually make for sympathy cards, but it's in the mail.

Next is my entry for ITP Project Reach Out: Birthday.  A cardmaker on IG posted a request for people to send cards to her son who is turning 17 in about a week.  Because of the virus he won't be able to celebrate with his friends.  His sister is high risk & Johnny helps his parents without complaining.  That gave me just the inspiration I needed. 

I love using leaves for masculine cards, so pulled out my favorite PTI Turning a New Leaf.  The inks are Simply Chartreuse, Spring Moss & Prairie Grass.  The sentiment from PTI Boutique Borders: Birthday was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn & I added splatters with a brown Zig.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

Next is the card I entered in the Gina K May Monthly Mix challenge.

The gold embossed floral image from GK/HA Friendship Blooms was watercolored with Altenew watercolor markers.  The sentiment is from the same set.  I also entered SSS Wednesday.

Finally is another entry for the May Pinkfresh challenge.  I was inspired by TaeEun Yoo's green card with white outline leaves.  My card began by smooshing 3 green Distress Inks on a watercolor panel.

I also sponged ink on the edges & added gold paint splatters.  The white die cut leaves are PFS Dainty Blossoms.

The sentiment from PFS Delicate Wreath was stamped on a double vellum circle in green.  Another flat card ready to mail.  I'm also entering The Snippets Playground as both the leaves & the vellum circles were die cut from scraps.

I don't even know what to say about the horrible situation in the US with the virus & the riots.  Just when you think things can only get better, they get worse.  I'm grateful for all the blessings in my life, including friendships around the world through my hobby.

Christmas & Birthday

Hope everyone is doing well.  Hubby & Fritz both finally got haircuts.  We're so grateful to be in an uncrowded area where many people are wearing masks as recommended.  I'll get my haircut in a couple weeks.  The good thing is my hairdresser works alone in a shop at her house.  She's older than me, so hopefully is being super cautious.  Thought you might enjoy seeing Fritz before & after.

I do love the furball look, but he gets matted, baths take longer & he gets too hot with the warm weather.  Not to mention--he could barely see!
On to my cards.  I've made quite a few, but I'm having a terrible time getting decent pictures.  Gotta post these before challenges end.  I'm slowly cleaning my craft table which still had the other PPP tree die cut which is from the same smooshed piece as THIS CARD.  It looks very different because I didn't blend additional ink on these pieces.

The ends of the branches were colored with a white gel pen before I added Stickles Frosted Lace--another reason it looks so different from the first tree.  I waited several months to get the PTI Tin Stitch die & couldn't wait to use it.  It only stitches--no cutting.  The very old HA sentiment was stamped in Memento Cottage Green.  I really like the fresh look with the white card base & the contrast of the green.  I'm entering Rudolph Days.
Edited to add: Also entering SSS Wednesday.

When Stamplorations released their first Bloomtangled dies, I couldn't wait to get one.  Their Spring Fling challenge made me get it out & use it again--something I need to do more often.

I began by ink blending DO candied apple, abandoned coral, spiced marmalade & fossilized amber.  Then I covered the panel with Gina K Glitter Glitz gel & let it dry overnight.

I used spray adhesive to attach the white die cut & attached the HA vellum sentiment strip before adding it to the card base.  In addition to the gorgeous shimmer, the gel also softens the colors.  Maybe I'll make another one without the gel.  Then the colors would look more like summer than spring.  I'm also entering Seize the Birthday.
Edited to add:  Also meant to enter Stamplorations Never Ending Anything Goes.

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

Dragonfly Vine

I bought a big jar of acrylic white gesso quite a few years ago & it's barely been used.  When I saw the current CAS Mix Up challenge of Gesso Resist, I was intrigued.  One of the listed videos used Dylusions Spray Inks.  I have 2 of the Dylusions & a huge collection of Tattered Angels Spray Mists.  Loved the results in the video & it looked so easy.  I pulled out a bunch of scraps & a couple stamps.  After the images stamped in Gesso were dry, I started spritzing.

I hadn't thought about kraft cardstock not being a great choice.  However, I somehow managed to get one good panel using a red & a copper spray.  The pinkish look is actually from the copper & wish you could see the beautiful TA shimmer.

I cut the panel into 3 strips & mounted them to a red die cut rectangle.  The Altenew Painted Greetings sentiment was stamped in Versafine Pinecone.  My first time using the Stampendous Dragonfly Vine stamp which I've had for years, so I'm also entering NBUS.

Next is a card made from one of the vanilla cardstock panels onto which I stamped the dragonfly in Gesso.  I used blue & green Tattered Angels mists.  I also spritzed lightly with water & blotted with a paper towel, as I had seen in the video.  Unfortunately, the image was kind of a blob without definition.  The shimmery colors are so beautiful I couldn't bring myself to throw it away.  I used my old fashioned stamp positioner so I could stamp the image over the Gesso in Versamark & emboss in Antique Gold ep.

I added a kraft frame & used a light green textured cardstock for the mat.  When I bought the Elizabeth Craft Thanks die, I didn't realize how small it was.

For this card it was just what I needed.  I used the same ep for the top layer & added a couple cut from vanilla cardstock stacked together for a slightly offset shadow.  I'm entering FMS.

Finally is another entry for Poppystamps May Challenge, Winged Things.  Once again I used Freida Curve inked with Brilliance Pearlescent Jade.  I attached it to a white card spritzed with shimmer spray.  The beautiful big butterfly is Poppystamps Dream Butterfly which I die cut twice & attached just in the center.  I sponged on a little Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue & added glitter.  The PTI Wildflower Garden sentiment was stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist.

Glad to say my friend loves her card.  I'm also entering Time Out as butterflies are certainly free!

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

Second Post as the Guest Designer for Word Art Wednesday

I'm honored to be back with my second card as the May Guest Designer for Word Art Wednesday.

The sponsor for this challenge is Art Institute Glitter.  You can find details & lots of inspiration from the DT on the blog.  I don't use my printer much for cards, so wasn't sure if this printed paper was a weight that would work.  Hurrah--it did!  I used a pierced AJVD die to cut it out.  My original thought was to use the reverse side for die cut foliage.  I tried one leafy branch & saw that it wasn't going to work.  Since I really liked the verse printed on soft pink, I looked for other papers that might go with it--something I find challenging!

I bought a couple sheets of double sided paper for 25 cents each, not long before the virus hit.  This might be a record for how quickly I actually cut into them--haha!  I used PTI Scallop Stackers Medium to die cut the colorful panel which I attached to a dark green textured mat after tying on white crochet thread.  Hard to see, but the mat for the verse is a soft pink & white matching floral design.  The panel was mounted with fun foam for a bit of dimension.  Why not join 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.

Birthday & Christmas

I discovered Tic Tac Toe Challenge when my friend, Betty, was the GD.  The current board has an option that inspired this card:  Twine, Patterned Paper, Masculine.

I have lots of single sheets of 12x12 patterned paper & used 2 of them.  Luckily, I had the right shade of orange textured cardstock for the sentiment strip.  Above & below the strip I glued 2 pieces of brown twine & the strip was attached with foam tape.  The solid MFT leaves were die cut from cork sheets & the outline layers from black cardstock.  I stamped the Penny Black sentiment in Versafine Clair Pinecone--a very dark brown.
 
Next is another card for the Pinkfresh Studio May Monthly Challenge.  This card was inspired by Heather's Varigated Stamping video.  However, I used 3 embossing powders instead of 3 ink colors.

The wreath from PFS Delicate Wreath was stamped in Versamark on kraft & embossed in gold, silver & liquid platinum powders.  I added splatters with a brown Zig.

The panel was attached to a vanilla card & I die cut the MFT Joy from a scrap of the same cardstock.  Hard to tell, but the word was brushed with shimmer & covered in Nuvo Glaze.  Not a typical Christmas color combo, but I really like it.  I'm also entering Christmas Kickstart, ABC Christmas & The Snippets Playground.


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

Hugs & Be Merry

Back in 2011 a friend from the HA Flickr Group sent me a miniature card which I still keep on display in the room where I store my craft supplies.  I haven't made one in a long time, but decided it'd be fun to play along in the JUGs Mini Challenge.  It also gave me a chance to use the good part of a card I messed up for the Poppystamps May Challenge Winged Things.

Poppy Freida Curve was inked with Brilliance Pearlescent Jade & attached to a panel inked with Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue.  The sentiment from Poppy Grateful Heart was stamped in Brilliance Starlite Black.

I trimmed butterflies from Poppy Hampstead Butterfly Stem, stacked them 2 high & covered them with Nuvo Glitter Drops.  The card is 3 1/2 x 2 3/4.

The Pinkfresh May Challenge is to be inspired by a DT project.  I love Ivana's fresh, modern style.  Back in November, I was the lucky winner of Ivana's Christmas With Pinkfresh Kit giveaway.  I've taken out the contents several times, but didn't want to ruin anything, so just put everything back in the envelope.  Silly, I know.  Thanks to the challenge, I made a card inspired by the kit samples & THIS POST.

I really love the PFS Layered Wreath & Classic Holiday Words.  One day those dies will probably end up at my house!  Here's a shot from an angle so you can see the silver sparkly elements.  Hard to capture the beautiful soft pink of the panel, but lovely in person.

I love the scalloped edge, silver glittery strip & bow, sequins & tiny gems--all in the kit.  Lots of texture & dimension without foam tape, so it's flat for mailing.  I'm also entering Christmas Kickstart.

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