Altenew and Waffle Flower

Pinks, green and metallics are in the photo for the July Altenew Monthly Challenge.  I've been wanting to use Altenew's Plants & Vases stamp/die set again and I love metallic vases.  

Decided to use the light pink for my background.  I cut a panel of Bristol paper and ink blended Altenew Rose Quartz in the center.  It's hard to see in the photo, but is very obvious in person.  The vases were embossed with a mix of Gold and Moonstone powders to look more like those in the photo.  I used CN9 Sweet Pea and Altenew Firefly and Grass Field to stamp the branches.  The sentiment from the set was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn.  Decided on a strip embossed with Altenew Angled Mosaic folder to ground the vases.  I didn't want it stark white, so I lightly brushed the raised areas with Distress Oxide Antique Linen.  I did the same for the sentiment to make it match.  The thin mat was embossed with the same powders.  The background looked too plain, so I added Antique Linen splatters.  Made a big difference in person.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

My niece just got a new job, so wanted to surprise her with a card.  I was also debating about what to make for Color Hues Black and Red Challenge.  Since my niece likes red, her card works for the challenge.

I finally got some Waffle Flower Postage Collage products after Christmas and the only card I've made was a Valentine using the Rose stencil.  Now I've also used the Wild Flower Silhouettes stamp set and I love it!  I first die cut the panel from Bristol paper.  Luckily, a piece with a goof on one side was just the right size.  With the stencil in place, I blended Altenew Cherry Sweet and Coral Red--2 of my new red inks.  It did take me quite awhile to decide which images to stamp in which openings, but finally I had stamps in place in my MISTI.  Then came the scary part--stamping in Versafine Clair Nocturne!  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the images stamped great--right up to the edge of the stencil.  I removed the stamps and added others to fill in where I thought it was needed.  The tiny butterflies and dragonfly were stamped after I removed the stencil to allow some of them to stamp outside the openings.  Really happy with how it turned out and decided to leave it alone--no splatters or glitter.  PFS Perfect Sentiments Congrats! was the perfect size and I love the font.  Hard to see, but I added one tiny Poppystamps butterfly with a red gem just above the letter C.  I'm also entering JUGS Stencil Week, WAW and Time Out. 

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

Flowers and a Butterfly

Altenew April Inspiration Challenge has a beautiful color combo.  Once again I used my favorite Sweet Bouquet stamp/die/stencil products for an entry. 

The coloring was done with Rouge, Lime and Fresh Leaf inks brushed through the matching stencils.  I brushed Dew Drops in the center of the card front.  Sparkled Frame, another favorite, was embossed with matte clear powder so it would be more visible.  This card does have a different look from the others I've made with Sweet Bouquet because I added some Branches and Berries diecuts.  I really like this version.  Hard to see the Stickles in the flower centers and on the berries.  

The sentiment is from the same set and I used matching enamel dots.  I'm also entering WAW.

I combined Poppystamps and Color Hues challenges for my next card.  A friend recently gave me a sack of beautiful patterned paper sheets.  I picked out one with shades of green and used MB Texture Distressed Grid stencil with Distress Oxide Lucky Clover. 

I randomly inked and stamped an old woodblock text stamp with Distress Oxide Pine Needles.  It's subtle, but definitely changed the look.  I wanted just a bit more interest in the background, so used 2nd generation stamping of the flower from Poppystamps Friends and Flowers inked in Versafine Clair Grass Green.  Again, subtle, but visible in person.  If you enlarge the picture, you might be able to see that I used a PFS blanket stitch rectangle and splattered white gouache.  Poppystamps Dream Butterfly was die cut twice.  The outline layer on top was inked heavily with Distress Oxide Abandoned Coral.  I used a lighter hand for the bottom layer with the inside pieces kept in place and brushed with shimmer.  MB Just a Note Posh Script shadow was inked with the Coral and the words were die cut from the same patterned paper piece.  Finished off with white 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.

PRS/Imagine Crafts Blog Hop Day 2

I'm back today with 3 more projects using the PRS stamp sets School Days & Totally along with Imagine Crafts products.  The Blog Hop begins at Precious Remembrance Shop where you'll find all the details.  There are prizes to be won, so check it out! 

My first card shows how the School Days set doesn't have to be used just for teachers & students.  My sister-in-law was recently promoted to Sr VP of the company where she has worked for 20 years--so proud of her!  I'm happy to say she loves her card. 

I began by spritzing a panel of white cardstock with Wedding Dress irRESISTible Texture Spray.  Using the direct to paper technique I covered it with Memento Lilac Posies & Angel Pink.  A clean cloth wiped the ink off the white texture spray.  I die cut a Spellbinders flower from the panel & matted it with a white doily from PRS.  For the center I stamped the circle sentiment in Lilac Posies, punched it out & mounted it with foam tape. 

I used a Mama Elephant die for the card front which gave me a panel & a border.  I stamped the tracks image in Memento London Fog on each side of the panel, overlapping them, as you can see.  The little sentiment was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black on a vellum strip & attached before adding the scalloped frame which had been inked with Lilac Posies.  I'm entering The Snippets Playground.
Edited to add: also entering CropStop (Spellbinders flower die)

My second card uses an adorable image from the School Days stamp set along with gorgeous Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray in Tangelo, Rose Bud & Angel Pink. 

I stamped the image in Versafine Onyx Black on white cardstock & then spritzed with the 3 sprays.  Next I used a small paintbrush to color in the images with the sprays--giving it several coats to get the intensity I wanted.  The shimmery sheen is just gorgeous! 

I mounted the circle with foam tape to a panel with the 3 circle images stamped with the matching Memento inks.  I added tiny black splatters & attached it to the card front with black strips on each side.

My final card uses the Totally stamp set plus a little sentiment from Fall Colors. 

The big word was heat embossed 3 times with Imagine Crafts black embossing powder for a wonderfully shiny, raised effect.  I trimmed it out with scissors & worked on my card front.  First I stamped the wonderful border image in Delicata Rose Gold on black cardstock.  It is absolutely gorgeous & so fun to be able to stamp on dark papers with the Delicata inks. 

The little star was stamped randomly in Memento Tuxedo Black & I added some splatters.  Tied in the border by stamping the sentiment in Rose Gold on a black strip.  For fun, I attached the big word at a bit of an angle.  Flat card, but lots of interest due to the great images, texture & metallic ink.  That's it from me, but lots of inspiration at each stop of the hop.  Don't forget to check out the giveaway info at the Precious Remembrance Shop Blog.  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.

Congratulations

Recently we got a letter saying our doctor of 10 years is retiring.  We both really like her, but thankfully our previous doctor agreed to take us. She had left to spend more time with her young kids, but has been back for a few years now.  I have one last appointment with our current doctor & made a card for her.  

The beautiful Stamplorations butterflies were stamped using Hero Arts ombre red to pink ink pad.  I heavily spritzed the panel with Perfect Pearls--gorgeous shimmer in real life!  

This is my second card using the great sketch at Fusion.  Hero Arts ombre sequins sent by my blogging friend, Betty, provide embellishment.  Once again I used my favorite black ink, Brilliance Graphite Black, for the sentiment from Altenew which is mounted with foam tape.  I'm also entering 3 challenges at Stamplorations: Theme & Sketch (theme only), Things with Wings Blog Hop & Never-ending Anything Goes and Time Out. Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.

Graduation Card

On the way home so quick post using my phone--not easy, but can't get my laptop to work. PTI Happy Hexagons & Studio G sentiment for PTI MIM using vellum to soften bright colors.  Also entering Anything Goes at SSS Wednesday. I'll catch up with you soon.

Retirement Card for a Guy

I'm about to step down from one of my current DT assignments so decided to throw my hat in the ring for the DT Call at The Male Room. The requirements are to enter challenge #5 & #6 to be in the running.  My first card is posted HERE & today is my entry for the Under Water challenge.  My cousin has spent his entire career with a company that makes cases for equipment (like cameras) used by divers.  This means he's been "forced" to go on work-required diving trips to places like The Cayman Islands--LOL!  He's finally decided it's time to retire so I need a very special card for one of my favorite people in the whole world.  I began by making the background using my neglected brayer & Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze ink pad. Fortunately, I have a couple Fred Mullett fish stamps in my stash & I chose the smaller one to use as my tropical fish.  It is embossed with Zing! Neon Green, Neon Pink & Neon Purple.  I added some black splatters & mounted it to black textured cardstock.  The sentiment is a Studio G stamp from the $1 bin at Michaels & I embossed it in black.  Is it OK to say this came out just like I hoped?  I'm also entering the embossing challenge at Retro Rubber Challenge as both stamps are way over 1 year old & Anything Goes at Addicted to Stamps. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Congrats to the Buckeyes!

Sad times in Oregon as the Ohio State Buckeyes beat the University of Oregon Ducks in the championship game.  I'm still proud of the great year we had.  I don't subscribe to "winning is everything" or I'd have given up stamping long ago--LOL!  Anyway, it means I lost the wager with my friend, Maria, so I owe her a little package & a card.  I found the Stampin' Celebration Blog at the end of last year & wanted to play again. The sketch was just what I needed. 
Pulled out my almost never used old Hero Arts wooden alphabet stamps & white embossed them on crimson cardstock. Hopefully this is close to the right crimson for OSU.  Their other color is gray so I used more of the cardstock left from the card in my previous post & stamped the Studio G sentiment in Memento Gray Flannel.  The MFT Fishtail Flags were splattered with white paint using a water brush--symbolizing confetti.  Printed the picture of a football on photo paper, trimmed it out & mounted it with foam tape.  I used a COPIC marker to color the little wooden embellishment which is attached over some twine.  
Hope Maria enjoys my salute to Ohio State. The governors of the 2 states also had a wager with bigger gifts on the line, but doubt a handmade card is included--LOL! This card is going to Maria (& her hubby) & works for a guy so I'm entering the challenge at SSS Wednesday.Thanks for stopping by.