Final August Challenges

Decided to make one more card for August challenges.  This one definitely took some patience, which I've been learning with one arm in a sling.  I love the colors for the August Altenew challenge.  Turned out I have some beautiful greener teal cardstock in a container of old 8 1/2 x 11sheets I bought years ago.  Unfortunately, in spite of numerous attempts, I can't get a picture to show the deep greenish blue color.   

Love Altenew Leafy Border die, but haven't used it much.  Thought it would be pretty to have the tan & beige behind it.  Pulled out several ink pads & decided Memento Peanut Brittle & Altenew Pink Sand were very close to the challenge colors.  I smooshed them onto a piece of mixed media paper with one ink across the bottom part that would show & the other across the top with just a bit of overlap.  I did the same thing to the scrap I used for Altenew Essential Sentiment Strips die.  The foliage was brushed with a shimmer pen & I added tiny old gems that were just the right color.  You can see the shimmer & sparkle in the IG video HERE.  I'm also entering SSS Monday challenge.

Thank you so much for taking time to stop by.  I really appreciate it & will hopefully soon be back to commenting on your blogs.

Fall Leaves

I had leftover Memory Box Wayfarer Leaves already spritzed with several green Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists.  But I wanted to make a Fall card for Freshly Made Sketches 600th Challenge & Memory Box August Fall challenge.  I simply added dark green, red, bronze & copper mists to turn them into beautiful shimmery Fall leaves.

For a bit of sparkle, I mixed copper & champagne Stickles to apply randomly on the leaves.  The background strip was made with an old wood mounted Magenta splatter stamp using white pigment ink.  

I used direct to paper with Versafine Clair Pinecone on a kraft scrap to use for Poppystamps Scribble Hello which I stacked 3 high.  I love pearls & thought these old brown ones were just what this card needed.  Another one handed card, but less than 3 weeks until the sling comes off.  There will still be restrictions, but I'm hoping life will be a lot easier.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by & for all the well wishes.

Final GD Card at JUGS

Prescheduled post:

I want to thank the JUGS DT for having me guest design with them this month.  I hope you've enjoyed my cards so far.  This is CAS week with the theme of Baby.  

I very seldom make baby cards, but I did keep a boy and a girl chipboard collection by Crate Paper that I won years ago.  The stork is so cute & I love the sentiment flag with the gold glitter end.  

I found the light pink speckled cardstock in a tub of old paper I'm trying to use up & it was just the right shade for the background.  I die cut it with Elizabeth Craft Dotted Scallop Rectangle which I love & need to use more often.  Gold metallic cardstock was used for the mat which was mounted to a Soft Stone card.  Hard to tell, but I added a dot of pink Stickles to the stork cheek & finished off with pink gems.  

Fun to use chipboard, for a change.  Have I inspired you to join the challenge?  Be sure to check out all the great cards from the DT.  

Thank you all for the kind words and wishes for healing after my shoulder surgery.  

Pinkfresh and Poppystamps

I'm glad my friend, Betty, showed me how to make a picket fence card when I visited her before my surgery.  I came home with a card base which I made into my entry for PFS August Sparkle & Shine Challenge.  

Hubby removed the lids from my newest Lindy's Magicals powders & I did everything else.  I painted the powders on pieces of mixed media paper & used them to die cut 3 of the PFS Dainty Blossoms.  So glad I can die cut by pushing a button!  Tried to figure out a way to use a trimmer, but that was a failure.  I managed to add one-handed black splatters--the hardest part of making this card as I like to tap the brush on a skewer.  The sentiment from PFS Perfect Sentiments was already done & fit perfectly.  Just finished with my favorite CN9 black enamel dots.  There's a video in my IG post that shows the shimmer & shine.

I was also able to make a card for Poppystamps CAS August challenge.  The rectangle diecut was leftover from making my JUGS Bee card as I didn't want to waste any paint made from Lindy's Bikini Magicals powder.

I used a scrap of Memory Box black glossy cardstock for Poppystamps Dream Butterfly.  Isn't it striking against the golden shimmery background?  I'll have a short video in my IG post soon.  Very proud of myself for managing to score a 1/2 sheet of cream cardstock that was on my table.  Had to go slow & keep pushing it back into place, but it worked!  I was also able to stamp the sentiment from Poppystamps Hope and Thanks in Versafine Clair Nocturne using my Mini MISTI with a sticky sheet.  I truly thank all of you for your support & well wishes.  To finish my card, I added 3 Memory Box Fairy Jewels in just the right color to tie into the background.  I'm also entering Snippets Playground & SSS Wednesday challenge.

Typing only with my right hand takes forever, as does pretty much everything else these days.  But I know it's temporary & hopefully will be well worth it.  I'm progressing as expected.  Thank you for your continued visits, but I totally understand those who don't.  I'll leave comments as I can, but realistically, most will be after I heal.

JUGS August Guest Designer, Week 3 card

Prescheduled post:

I'm back with another card as the August GD for JUGS.  This is Photo/Mood Board Week and there are lots of ways to be inspired.

Here's a larger picture so you can see more details.  There's clearly a summery, beachy feel, but I went in a different direction.

The card or notebook under the sunglasses caught my eye with the 6 different patterned squares.  I thought it'd be the perfect design to make use of a beautiful Prima paper pad I've had a long time.  I'm not good at putting patterns together, but experts always say it's done for you when you use papers from a coordinated pad.

I really had fun choosing 6 of the designs & what part of each one I wanted to cut with a small square die.  I did use some of the colors in the inspiration photo: gray, blue, pinkish & light tan.  Took me awhile to decide on the order & then I mounted the squares on a PTI Weathervane rectangle.  Another paper from the Prima pad had a soft textured look & I thought the color worked great for the mat.  Poppystamps Scribble Hello was die cut from Weathervane & the printed paper, stacked and covered with glaze.  

Wasn't planning to add gems, but these tiny ivory irridescent ones seemed to give just the right little sparkle.  Really fun to step outside my comfort zone & end up with a notecard I like!  You can find lots more inspiration from the DT and I hope to see you in the gallery.  

Update:  I'm still counting the days which are passing at a snail's pace!  I'm sure hubby feels the same with so much on him until I'm released from the sling.  Hopefully all worth it in the end.  I cannot catch up with commenting, but am determined to start fresh when I can use both hands.  Thank you for your patience & sticking with me. 

JUGS Guest Designer, Take 2

Prescheduled post:

This is Word Week at the JUGS Challenge & the word is BEE.  I had to put on my thinking cap for this one.  

Luckily, someone gave me Spellbinders Sweet as Honey stamp set & Sweet Honeycomb Stencil--just what I needed.  Martina's mixed media ATCs always inspire me & I also love the look of a wide border around the focal point panel of a card.  Here's what I came up with. 

I stamped the honeycomb in Versafine Clair Nocturne & white embossed the cone flowers on watercolor paper.  Then I black embossed the words & the bee.  I mixed a little Bikini Lindy's Magicals powder with water & painted over the entire panel, randomly adding more color until I was happy with the look.  It softened the look of the honeycomb images, which is what I wanted.  Of course, the heat embossing resisted the paint--so fun!  The shimmer is absolutely gorgeous in person & I added sparkle with little lines & spots of gold glitter.  Plus, the wings are painted with clear shimmer, so this is a pretty blingy card!

The edges were lightly brushed with black ink before I wrapped the panel with gold thread & added 3 black enamel dots.  The thin mat was painted to match & the black card front was stenciled with VersaMark Dazzle using a finger dauber.  You might see the honeycomb image if you enlarge the photo.  So happy this challenge got me to use the stamp, stencil & Lindy's powder for the first time.  Be sure to check out all the wonderful DT cards.  Why not play along?!
My recovery from total shoulder surgery is progressing.  Only 4 weeks to go wearing the sling constantly--yay!  

August Guest Designer at Just Us Girls Challenge

Prescheduled post:

I'm so honored the JUGS team chose my July Color Week card as the winner, giving me the opportunity to guest with them for the month of August.  It's time for another JUGS Color Week.  I found this combo perfect for a summery birthday card, but it could be used for any kind of card you like.  

I love wreaths, so decided to use my Gina K Wreath Builder Template with a leaf & flower from her Autumn Wreath Builder stamp set.  

I began by stamping the sentiment from GKD Sketched Wreath Builder in the center of the square using Versafine Clair Nocturne.  Then I stamped my wreath using CN9 Harbor & Clover.  I added white details with a gel pen & filled each flower center with Yellow Stickles.  I cut a thin, black mat & used a couple cardstock layers for a bit of dimension without needing extra postage.  Be sure to check out all the wonderful DT projects & I hope to see you in the gallery.

I'm recovering from left shoulder replacement surgery, but may be able to leave short comments soon.  Right now I'm pretty uncomfortable.  Thank you for all the positive thoughts, prayers and well wishes.