Final Cards for March

Once again I waited until the last minute to make my card for the Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  Gotta say, I enjoyed using Flower Vine stamp & die for the first time, I think.  

The image is so small I decided to do some coloring.  Wasn't as intimidating & I do like how it turned out using Memento Bamboo Leaves & Cantaloupe markers along with Copic BV00.  I thought the background in the photo was a light lavender, but after I watched Therese's video I realized it's a gray.  Oh well, too late!  

The branch looked pretty on a white panel, but I liked the contrast using Altenew Forest Glades cardstock.  I really like Altenew's Essential Sentiment Strips die set.  I cut Happy Birthday from both black & white cardstocks.  Debated a bit, but really liked the look of the black one, so went with that.  Finished off with yellow Stickles & black Pico Embellisher dots.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday via IG & Snippets Playground with a black scrap for the sentiment.

Next is my card for Stay Crafty with Hero.  I've used HA Greenery Medallion Fancy die for Christmas cards, but decided to use it for a Spring Wreath this time. 

I colored with Jade Green Tri-Blend Spectrum Noir pen that was given to me.  I did a little blending, although it's hard to tell.  The berries were covered with Nuvo Silver Moondust Glitter Drops which I also used on the SSS Painted Hugs shadow layer.  

The blue cardstock is from a pack I bought on clearance years ago.  I'm not fond of most of it, but this shade of blue I like.  The panel has white gouache splatters & the top layer of the sentiment is covered in Nuvo Glaze.  I could put an Easter sentiment inside or just use it for a friendship card.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

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

2 Challenge Cards

Finally came up with a card for the PFS March Challenge.  I used 3 favorite PFS products:  Fancy Oval Frame die, Dainty Blossoms die set & Delicate Wreath stamp set.  

My card started by die cutting the frame from SSS Champagne glitter cardstock & 2 cardstock layers.  Then I looked for cardstock to go with the frame which has little bits of pink & green when you hold it in the light.  Just wasn't happy using either color, so luckily I found this beautiful Bazzill Vanilla textured cardstock in my stash.  It's a great match & a beautiful option when I want an off white.  It doesn't have a yellow cast to it at all. 

The flower was simply colored with alcohol markers & I added an extra layer to make it a bit more sturdy.  Used my Misti to stamp the word in Versafine Clair Acorn thinking it might have to be restamped.  Actually, it stamped great even with the textured cardstock.  Looked at adding pink gems, but ended up liking the Rainstones best.  Plan to put an Easter sentiment inside.  I'm also entering CAS on Sunday.

Here's my card for the sketch challenge for Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine Spring Issue release.  I started with a panel of Bristol die cut with the Spellbinders rectangle die in the Circular Stitch Background die set.  Using Bristol makes it so easy to brush on Distress Ink blueprint sketch inside the masked area. 

I used Lawn Fawn Manatee ink (soft gray) to stamp an old text stamp & images from PTI Prominent Petals.  Then I added texture with a PTI embossing plate which makes such a difference in the look.  The die cuts are PTI Into the Blooms II die cut from 2 shades of blue, 2 shades of green & gray cardstock in a small pack from Hobby Lobby. 

The sentiment from Winnie & Walter is stamped in Versafine Clair nocturne & die cut with a PTI flag die. Finished off with Shimmer Pico Embellisher dots in the flower center & navy enamel dots. 

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

More Cards

In case anyone missed Jennifer's video on how to flatten cutting plates, I can tell you it works!  So happy I don't have to spend money on a cutting plate when there are so many fun products I'd rather buy!

Recently Shery, the owner of Stamplorations, told us she's facing a battle with breast cancer.  She has 2 young children which makes this even more heartbreaking.  I feel like I know her, even though we've never met in person.  She was part of the cardmaking blogging world long before she started her company.  Anyway, I feel so helpless, but at least I could send her a card.  

I used Stamplorations die set called Trendy Spring Blooms cut from white scraps & covered in shimmer.  I used a piece of acetate to add the spots of Distress Oxide colors & stamped the words from an old Our Daily Bread Designs set.  Finished off with black splatters & white sequins with a mat of Soft Stone. 

Edited to add: entering Stamplorations Never Ending Challenge.

Next is a bright & cheery mini slimline BD card.  I used SSS Square Dance stencil with Distress Oxides candied apple, abandoned coral, fossilized amber, rustic wilderness, prize ribbon & wilted violet.  

Then I used my revived glitter paste which gives a beautiful sparkle.  I stamped SSS Sketch Ranunculus blooms using 2 inks for each one.  SSS Painted Happy Birthday was die cut from black & white scraps & the top layer is covered with Nuvo Glaze.  

Finished off with white Pico Embellisher dots.  I showed the finished card to hubby & asked if it worked for a guy.  He surprised me & said yes, so it's on the way to a male relative.  I'm entering DCD, SSS Monday & Tic Tac Toe using Rainbow, Free, Stenciling.

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

Easter Cards

I didn't make many Easter cards last year, but this year I'll be sending quite a few.  Here are my latest cards starting with my entry for the PTI challenge to make an Easter card.  I made a vellum stencil from Cutaway Tags: Spring die.  Came out great!  Using a sponge dauber, I inked over it with Versamark & then embossed with 3 old powders, one at a time. 

I chose pink, light gold & purple--all with glitter.  They have a beautiful iridescent sparkle when tilted in the light.  The images weren't distinct enough, so I added more Versamark to my stencil & embossed in Stampendous Moonstone ep.  Just love how it looks over the colors.  

The mat is Shape Shifters: Circle 3 die cut from pink cardstock.  The card & sentiment flag from Tag Sale: Quilted are Vintage Cream cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment from The Craft's Meow in Versafine Clair Acorn & splattered the card front with a brown Zig.

Next is my card for SSS Flickr Challenge 197 to make a Spring slimline card.  I inked SSS Bouquet of Roses stencil with SSS Apricot & Mint Green and VersaMagic Pink Grapefruit & Aquatic Splash.  Then I spread on glitter gel, which was really too dried out.  

I made it work & then asked Thermoweb how to revive it.  Would you believe, they told me to add a couple teaspoons of gel hand sanitizer & leave it capped over night.  Then stir with a metal spoon or fork.  If it's still too hard, add another teaspoon & wait again.  It was much better, but I did add another teaspoon.  I'm anxious to see how it is tomorrow. 

The sparkle really is beautiful in person.  The sentiment from an old TPC set was stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist.  I added white Pico Embellisher dots & attached my panel to a gray mat making a 3 1/4 x 6 1/4 card.

I recently received an order from Simply Graphic, a French company with dies I had been admiring when Cecile used them.  Shipping was about the same as a lot of companies here charge.  My good friend, Lisa Elton, is the hostess for Just Us Girls where the challenge is to use this gorgeous color combo:  Ivory, Soft Rose, Sage Green.  

I inked the branches in Distress Ink bundled sage & the colored panel in victorian velvet.  The same inks were used to stamp the background images from PTI Text Style & Prominent Petals.  I colored white crochet thread with the victorian velvet ink.  

The sentiment from an old TPC set was stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne.  I die cut PTI Vintage Cream cardstock with AJVD & Spellbinders rectangle dies.  The colored panel actually looks softer in person--hard to get a decent picture.

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

Birthday & Easter

I'm so grateful that PTI continues to have challenges with random drawings for gift certificates.  Here's the card I entered via IG for the challenge to create a card with multiple prints.  

I used 3 of the Sweet Blush sheets a friend gave me a few years ago.  It's so pretty in person, but I can't get a good picture.  The sentiment from Simple Stems is stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist which is gray--not brown like it looks in the picture.  Really love Shape Shifters: Circle 3 die cut from the pretty paper.  Need to remember to do that again.  Recently a friend on IG used a Fancy Foliage Details die cut branch which reminded me to get out that set. 

I used white scraps to die cut 2 of one branch & one of another.  I left out the bits that stayed on the cutting plate & brushed the branches with a shimmer pen.  Finished off with 3 Rainstones.  I'm also entering SSS Monday & Die Cut Divas.

Next is another card inspired by Martina & this time I used the sketch at FMS.  I didn't want these beautiful leftover smooshed blooms to go to waste.  

The card base was stamped with images & a sentiment from PTI Prominent Petals using Weathervane, Smokey Shadow & Versafine Clair Nocturne.  I splattered Gansai Tambi gold watercolor & added the flowers after attaching them to vellum circles.  

Looked through lots of embellishments & finally found these little gold glitter dots I've had forever.  They're just the right shade to add some sparkle without being overpowering.  I'll put an Easter sentiment inside.  Really love how this turned out & you'll probably see more using this design.

I'm also entering the PTI Challenge to create a With Love card.

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

PTI, Poppystamps & Memory Box

Yesterday I discovered Marion's Video thanks to Martina's example of the technique.  Over 20 years ago I learned to melt ultra thick embossing powder on a chipboard shape in an electric skillet.  Haven't done it in years.  Marion uses regular WOW embossing powders, a heat gun & parchment paper--no skillet needed.  You can do the technique on paper or chipboard or just peel the "skin" off the parchment paper & attach it to a card, as I did here.  You also get 2 "skins" at once.  

I used some very old powders in colors that make me think Spring.  I glued the cooled piece to a PTI Soft Stone panel.  PTI Into the Blooms II flower has 3 layers which I die cut from thin vellum.  I colored on the backs with a yellow Wonder Stix & smoothed it out with a damp brush.  The water makes the vellum curl which is just what I wanted for my ruffly looking 3D flower.  

The sentiment is PTI Hello Thick & Thin with the shadow die cut from thin vellum & the letters from white cardstock x3.  The letters were colored with a Copic that exactly matches the purple embossing powder.  I tied on yellow floss & added a yellow jewel & Rainstones.  Think this will have an Easter greeting inside.  I'm entering PTI March 7 challenge to make a card with a vellum accent & WAW.

The March challenge at Poppystamps is to use pretty papers.  I pulled out an older MME pad called On Trend.  The papers are gorgeous & I thought they'd make a great Easter card using the challenge at FMS.  

I die cut Poppystamps Easter Bunny Egg 3 times from white cardstock scraps.  Then I taped little pieces of scraps that had the colors I wanted for the paper piecing to the die & ran it through until I had what I needed.  I added a bit of color to the bunny face & shimmer to the body.  

The words from W&W sets were stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist.  Have to admit, this simple card took me 1/2 a day to complete, but I just love how it turned out.  I'm also entering Snippets Playground & TTTC 152 using Die Cut, Spring Colors, Floral.

The March Challenge at Memory Box is Miss You/Thinking of You.  I thought that would be perfect for another card showing support for Ukraine's fight to keep their country independent. 

The dies are 2 of my old favorites from Memory Box:  Jasmine Frame & Kaleidoscope Butterfly.  The frame was die cut from white & a shimmery yellow paper I recycled from a store bought card.  I used blue metallic cardstock for the butterfly & added matching blue pearls from my stash. 

The PTI Soft Stone card front was splattered with white gauche & the sentiment from PFS Sweet Friend Floral was stamped in Delicata Sapphire Blue.  I'm also entering WAW via Flickr & ModSquad.

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