Altenew, Pinkfresh, Poppystamps

Short month, so I'm posting 3 cards today for challenges.  First is the Altenew September Inspiration Challenge.  The inspiration photo is a branch of beautiful apples, but the color combo of red, green and brown made me want to create a Christmas card.

The shade of red is not one I would have thought to use, but really like it.  I found a cardstock in my stash that was very close to the color in the graphic and used it for Altenew's Poinsettia 3D die set.  I brushed the petal edges with Coral Red and added a bit of shimmer with a pen.  The flower center and Fancy Peace sentiment were die cut from scraps inked with Mocha followed by Versamark so I could emboss with clear sparkle powder.  I found green cardstock in my stash that was very close to Fresh Leaf and embossed it with Altenew's Perfect Poinsettia folder.  I inked the edges with Fresh Leaf, but it was too similar.  So I used Olive Grove to deepen the corners and edges--does make a difference.  I inked the card front with Mocha to tie it all together and decided against any embellishments.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday, TTTC 302 (Diecuts, Free, Embossing) and WAW.

Next is my entry for the September Pinkfresh Challenge using 3 favorite PFS products:  Delicate Wreath, Layered Wreath and Perfect Sentiments.  

I stamped the wreath in CN9 Artichoke, purposely making some random areas darker.  Then I overstamped in Delicata Golden Glitz for a beautiful shimmer.  I used the same inks for the card edges.  I colored a scrap with CN9 gorgeous Plumberry ink and then used it for the berries die from Layered Wreath.  After gluing down the berries, I covered them with glaze.  A long time ago I cut apart the one piece Perfect Sentiments so I could stamp directly onto cards.  Here I used Versafine Clair Acorn and then embossed with a matte clear powder.  Finished off with Artichoke splatters.  You can see the shimmer and shine in my IG post.  I'm also entering Color Hues and WAW.

I'm posting my September CCC card early.  It reached the recipient and I want to enter Poppystamps September challenge and WAW.  I used the colors and the sketch.

I masked off the area I wanted to ink blend with Altenew's Pinkalicious, Purple Wine and Ruby Red.  Then I dry embossed the panel with Altenew's Flower Bed 3D folder.  Poppystamps Layered Pointy Petals were inked in the 3 colors and I added Stickles.  The white branches are from CN9.  Poppystamps Scribble Hello was stacked and also covered with Stickles.  You can see the sparkle in my IG post.

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

Wild Blooms

Loosing myself in cardmaking, as much as possible.  It's been quite awhile since I used PTI Wild Blooms layering stencil set, so pulled it out for stencil week at JUGS.  

I used a cream panel laying on my table with Altenew inks Blush Rose, Wisteria and Sagestone plus CN9 inks Pink Lemonade and Artichoke.  It was night when I finished stenciling and I wasn't sure I liked it enough to use it for a card.  Decided to leave it overnight and see what I thought in the daylight.  Next day I cut it down and brushed the edges with the Sagestone ink.  Then I used my finger to apply gold wax through the stencil for the flower centers--so beautiful!  Now the panel was growing on me, so I mixed a bit of water with some of the wax and splattered it over the panel.  I picked up the leftover with a small brush and went around the edges.  The mat was brushed with Blush Rose to match and I attached the panels to the center of a cream card.  Debated about the sentiment and decided on an old Winnie and Walter stamp/die set.  The little word was stamped in Artichoke and spring was die cut twice and brushed with a shimmer pen.  Pulled out the new to me Poppystamps Bunches o' Butterflies.  I chose one, inked it with Pink Lemonade, dabbed a bit of gold wax on the tips of the wings and attached a gold glitter dot to the body.  You can see the shine and shimmer in my IG post.  Glad I didn't toss the stenciled panel as I ended up with a card I really like.  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.

Just a Note and Happy Birthday

Squeaking in with a last minute entry for JUGs Photo/Mood Board Challenge.  The first time I looked at it, I thought of pink tissue paper flowers.  

I die cut Poppystamps Layered Pointy Petals using 3 layers of pink tissue paper at once.  Then I pulled apart the layers and glued 2-3 different size flowers together.  Instead of the diecut centers, I used pink transluscent enamel dots.  Couldn't resist the recent 50% off flash sale at The Greetery and picked up 2 dies.  This is my first card using It's a Wrap: Mini Posy Pocket which I die cut from PTI printed paper.  Decided my flowers needed something, so I added Memory Box Garland Greenery die cut from vellum.  The embossed panel is SSS Dibble Tile and the sentiment stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist is from PFS Perfect Sentiments.  Glad I had enough Sweet Blush cardstock for the mat, which actually is just a frame.  I cut a smaller rectangle from the center to use for another card.  I'm also entering NBUS.  This is the first outing for the flower wrap, flowers and greenery.

Next is my card for Uniko's 14th BD Celebration.  I admire Beverley's designing skills and ability to run her own company.  And I'm happy to count her as one of my friends.  

I used CN9 inks for the floral image and Versafine Clair Nocturne for the sentiment.  The base stems/leaves layer of Beautiful Blooms III was stamped in Artichoke, the fill-in color in Parsley and the veins in Artichoke.  For the flower and berry I used Pink Lemonade and Dragonfruit.  I wasn't happy with the flower outline and didn't want to start over, so I carefully traced it using a Gelly Roll Clear Star pen.  Thankfully, that gave me a look I liked.  Floral Vines is another Uniko stamp set I really like, but this time I just used the birthday sentiment.  I splattered black ink and added 3 pearly white sequins.  The black dry embossed background was made with  Altenew's Angled Mosaic.  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.

Valentines

I'm still working on Valentines.  Luckily, cardmaking friends appreciate happy mail whenever it arrives.

First is my card inspired by Color Hues Red and Pink Challenge.  Finally pulled out Uniko Layering Flower Fusion stencil set and I love it just as much as Picked Posies.  

My inks are CN9 Honeysuckle and Poppy plus PTI Weathervane.  I used Versamark through the flower centers stencil so I could silver emboss them.  SSS Layered Bird Bunch has just the right size little birds.  I colored one by brushing the pieces alternating with the red and pink inks--red being the head.  I used Stamplorations circles cover plate for added interest.  I flipped the cut down panel so the bird could be popped up on the branch next to the Alex Syberia die cut word.  I used vellum for the shadow and silver cardstock for the word.  The Valentine sentiment is inside.  I'm also entering SSS Monday and DCD, if I didn't use too much gray.

My next card was made with Gina K Wreath Builder Template and Sketched Wreath Builder stamp set.  Hadn't used the template in awhile and it really is such a fun technique.  

The inks are CN9 Sweet Pea, Ballet Slipper, Parsley and Sprout.  Even though I stamped the tiny hearts 3 times, they were barely visible.  So, I stamped over them twice using PTI Sweet Blush and got the look I wanted.  The embossed panel was done with a very old folder that has tiny hearts at each intersection of lines.  Love the difference it made compared to using a plain white panel.  I'm entering Time Out Challenges using the words Pink and Heart.  I have light pink hearts and darker pink flowers, plus the tiny white hearts in the embossed background.  

Last is another Valentine using a paper pad given to me long ago by my sweet friend, Cat.  I love the gold and kraft papers, but I struggle to use printed paper.  So glad I watched Juliana Michaels' Craft Your Stash video recently.  Again I used her basic sketch and this time covered the seam with a strip cut from one of the papers with the reverse side up.  

Couldn't come up with any additional colors I liked with these papers.  I found a yellow vellum that looked like gold and used that for the shadow of  SSS Simple Happy Valentine's Day.  The words were cut from the reverse side of the paper, like the strip.  Clear embossing the words let them stand out and perfectly match the card.  Gotta say, I love how this turned out, although I wasn't so sure in the beginning.  By the way, did you see the SSS tip to cut down a silicone basting brush to use with glue?  Check this out!  Someone recently gave me 2 of the brushes, so I tried it out.  Worked great to attach the words to the shadow.  I'm 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.

Thanksgiving and Christmas

I was intrigued by Brenda's recent card using a real leaf as a "stamp."  Plenty of leaves laying on the ground, so I picked up a few and gave it a try.  My first attempt went in the trash--used way too much water.  I tried again with a smaller leaf and Distress Oxides spiced marmalade and crackling campfire on a cream panel.  

The very old PTI trees were stamped in Versafine Clair Pinecone--a very dark brown.  Added some small splatters and used gold metallic cardstock for the mat.  The sentiment is from SSS Full of Thanks.  I covered the card front with slightly lighter brown textured cardstock.  I'm entering Color Hues and WAW.

I love layering stencils and really had fun using the Miss Ink cups set.  Decided to make a red, teal and silver Christmas card.  

The inks are CN9 Poppy, Oceanside and Delicata Silvery Shimmer.  The little snowflakes and berries are Uniko.  The Precious Remembrance Shop sentiment was embossed with Sparkle powder and I added Stickles to the snowflake centers.  I'll put a Christmas sentiment on the inside.  I'm entering Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

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

Another Z Fold and Friendship

Decided to make another simple Z Fold card.  This time I used the 2007 Penny Black Woodblock stamp called star dance.  Surprise, surprise--another wreath! 😉 

I stamped in Versafine Clair Green Oasis.  Then I drew over the bow and stars with Pentel gold Sparkle Pop pen.  You can see the beautiful sparkle in my IG post.  Here's a view where you can see the Z.  

The sentiment and scalloped circle frame are Pinkfresh.  I used SSS Fluted Forest Decor 3D folder for the dry embossed panels.  I'm entering DCD, SSS Wednesday and WBW.   

I'm also sharing my August exchange card for CCC a couple days early.  I love stencils, including SSS Layered Flowers.  

I tried to use the color option of Fuchsia, Tangerine & Violet.  As soon as I tried a small area with my orangy ink, I knew it wasn't what I liked.  So instead, I used CN9 Grape Soda, Fig, Tidepool and Oceanside.  Luckily, I had enough good area to use with my new Penny Black Curvature die.  Thought this little 2013 Penny Black sentiment was perfect.  I added some Stickles and tied on white crochet thread.  I'm entering JUGS 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.