Happy WCMD!

I started a card yesterday and finished it up today.  Hope you had some crafting time.  I'm not big on Halloween, but I do like to send a few cards.  Couldn't resist Poppystamps Witches Shoe die for $1, but took me awhile to decide how to use it.  Here's what I came up with.  

The background was made by ink blending Distress Oxides crackling campfire, abandoned coral and spiced marmalade.  I brushed the edges with Distress Ink black soot which made a huge difference!  I splattered black ink and sprayed with Distress Spritz spiced marmalade.  Oh my goodness--so gorgeous in person!  Even the video I posted in IG doesn't do it justice.

I used Altenew purple glitter cardstock for the shoe and Memory Box Parker Lowercase Alphabet.  The old MFT pumpkins were colored with the ink left in my brushes and I used a purple Copic for the stems.  The shoe trim and Poppystamps cats (a freebie) were die cut from Memory Box black glossy cardstock.  I'm entering Poppystamps October challenge, Color Hues, DCD, WAW and SSS WCMD.

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

Time Out Challenge #265

Hard to believe, but it's already June and school will soon be out in our neck of the woods.  I enjoy seeing all the flowers when I walk Fritz.  Speaking of flowers, Time Out Challenges wants you to be Inspired by Words using the quote by Henri Matisse.  You can use the entire quote or any of the words.  The winner chosen by the DT will get a $15 store credit from our sponsor, Altenew, as well as an invitation to guest design for a future challenge. 

I bought my first die cutting machine so that I could use embossing folders.  Before I began making cards, my favorite stationary was dry embossed.  I finally bought a die cutting machine months after they came out when I learned they were used with embossing folders which cost a lot less than dies.  Of course, my "no buying dies" resolve soon ended! 😀 

I'm hooked on 3D embossing folders and the black out technique that is so popular right now.  I've used black and dark blue for the background previously, but have been wanting to see how dark brown would look.  Here's the result.

I used Altenew's Flower Bed 3D folder and colored the debossed side of the panel with Distress Oxides Worn Lipstick, Fossilized Amber and Cracked Pistachio.  It's not precise coloring, so is fast and stress free.  I dried the ink and then swiped my Versafine Clair Acorn ink pad over the panel.  That's when the detail of the debossed design really shows.  Again, it's not precise, but I really like the look.  You do want to use a light hand with the dark color (especially is you have a juicy pad) and just repeat until you're happy.  Most of the examples I've seen add splatters and I do prefer my panels after they're splattered. 

For this card I used both white and gold.  I decided a bit more gold was needed, as my splatters are tiny.  An old Pentel Sparkle Pop gel pen in my stash still works perfectly.  That's what I used to color the flower centers and the stitching of my Frantic Stamper Arch diecut.  I got the Arched Labels in 2017 before they were so popular, as I loved a card using a "banner" die that a friend sent me.  We both searched for months to find a die similar to the retired one that she used.  Now everyone has caught up to us and lots of companies have Arch dies, which I still love.  This time I decided to make a frame with the 2 largest dies, as well as making a shaped card.  Poppystamps Scribble Hello was die cut from SSS Matte Gold cardstock, stacked and glued in place.  I stamped just the word friend from a PTI Scripted sentiment in Acorn ink and added Altenew Satin Gold sequins.  There's lots more inspiration at Time Out Challenges along with all the details.  Hope to see you in the gallery.

I'm entering Die Cut Divas and Inkspirational.

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

Friendship and Sympathy

The Altenew April Inspiration Challenge is about to close.  I've seen a lot of embossed black out cards lately.  Two of the designers are Barbara Tarayao and Karen Dunbrook.  Decided to give the technique a try using Altenew's Floral Acanthus embossing folder. 

I colored the images on the debossed side using a small blending brush and Distress Inks fired brick, dried marigold and weathered wood.  Have to say, I love those colors together!  Then I used my Versafine Clair Nocturne ink pad to cover the panel.  I love how there's a bit of the black on the images that gives them more definition.  Almost forgot the white splatters and they really do step it up. I used black glossy cardstock for the mat and Altenew's Fancy Hello.  Finished with black enamel dots.  Now I'm anxious to try more folders and different color combos.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

I needed 2 sympathy cards for sisters who lost their nephew to colon cancer.  I prefer simple cards to send condolences and usually use nature images.  

My stencils from The Greetery have been waiting to be used and made the perfect background for the silhouette image from The Cat's Pajamas.  The stenciling was done with Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue and the silhouette was stamped in PTI Weathervane.  I used Versafine Morning Mist for the sentiment from PTI Wildflower Garden.  I used MFT rectangle dies to cut the Weathervane and white panels.  

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

Christmas and Friendship

I finally got some pictures of cards today so I can enter some challenges.  One is about to close, so I'll start with Caffeinated Christmas Card Flower Challenge.  I love fancy cups & mugs.  Boy would I love to have one like this...and a whole set of china! 

I used Pigment Craft Co Cup of Happy die & a beautiful sheet of paper from Spellbinders Merry Wishes pad.  I added some gold foil accents with my Quickie Glue Pen--so fun & easy.  The W&W sentiment is gold embossed on a piece of my favorite pink cardstock--Romance by Bazzill.  I colored the cup's handle using Distress Inks evergreen bough & pine needles to match the printed paper.  Finally got to use a strip of this fun, gold & white Altenew Washi tape. 

The card front is dry embossed with an evergreen branches folder & really adds something when you see it in person.  I didn't like any embellishments I tried.  Finally, I decided to add my old gold glitter dots to the rim of the cup.  It'd be hard to drink from, but we can do what we like creating cards--right?!  

Next is my entry for Woodblock Wednesday & Rudolph Days.  I still have a lot of Woodblock stamps to choose from.  This time I chose to use Penny Black's 2013 stamp called Christmas Reds & Greens along with the 2009 PB sentiment.  

I stamped the leaves in Avery Elle Celery pigment ink & embossed with Hero Arts Sparkle powder.  I covered the berries in Christmas Red Stickles & added some splatters of the green ink. 

Originally I planned to center the panel on the black mat, but I really liked it this way for a change.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

Hero Arts was one of the first companies I was introduced to about 25 years ago.  I still have many, many HA flower stamps--some woodblock & some cling.  Decided to use the Zinnia Style bloom from the 2005 Fashion Flowers woodblock set.  This card design was inspired by Cecile, whose work I admire so much.  

I began by blending Pigment Craft Co Himalayan & Blush inks through The Greetery Color Spots stencil onto a square of Bristol paper.  Then I stamped the bloom in Versafine Clair Nocturne.   The little sentiment from Altenew's Floral Frame was stamped a couple times in the same black ink.   I added a black satin "tab" & a couple cardstock layers for dimension before adding it to the 4 inch square mat of Bristol.  Finished off with a black enamel dot.  I'm entering the flower challenge at Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero & 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.

Three More Cards

I made a second card for the April Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  I used the same Distress Inks & Embossing Folder as my first entry, but got a totally different look.  

This time I sponged a watercolor panel with fired brick, barn door, mowed lawn & twisted citron.  I kept playing & adding ink until I was happy.  After it dried, I embossed with the Altenew Rose Bouquet folder.  I added black & white splatters plus a heavy spritzing of shimmer. 

There's a short video showing the shimmer in my IG post.  Altenew's Fancy Hello diecut was stacked with the top layer cut from a black scrap covered in packing tape.  I added old black gems & a black mat.  

Next is my entry for Color Hues Purple and Green Challenge.  I really love having stencils to use for coloring.  This card is made with the beautiful GKD Radiant Roses embossing folder & stencils.  

I used Memento Inks Elderberry, Sweet Plum, Cottage Ivy & Northern Pine on a very old light purple cardstock I've had forever.  I wanted sparkle, but nothing too thick, as this is fairly lightweight paper.  Took a chance & used my finger to spread Star Dust Stickles through the stencil.  It worked great!

Poppystamps Scribble Hello was stacked with the top layer cut from the same black scrap covered in packing tape that I used for the last card.  The stamped black splatters are from Precious Remembrance Shop Fall Colors & PTI Rainstones provide embellishment. 

I'll end with my entry for Poppystamps April Challenge, Cute Critters.  I'm not sure my card will qualify as featuring cute critters, but I did end up with a card I really like.  

Sometimes you don't realize how lovely a die is until you cut with it.  That was true for me with the Memory Box Bellflower Circle Wreath that I cut twice from white scraps.  I used a variety of ink pads & markers until I was happy with the look.  I've been wanting to do some cross stitch again.  Maybe threading the needle & adding pale pink floss to the big flower centers will motivate me--haha!  The cute bee is from Poppystamps Little Kindness while the butterfly & sentiment are from Friends & Flowers.  I stamped the critters in VersaMagic Wheat & the sentiment in VersaMagic Gingerbread.  Lawn Fawn glitter pen was used to "color" the critters & I added tiny chino pearls.  You can see the shimmer in the video in my IG post.  Amazing what a difference it made to round the corners before adding the panel to the mat cut from a kraft scrap.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday & 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.

Floral Cards

Last month I forgot to entry my card, so decided to get my April Altenew Challenge entry posted while I'm thinking about it.  The photo inspiration showing a beautiful red rose made me immediately think of the Rose Bouquet embossing folder. 

I embossed a panel of Bristol cardstock & colored using sponge daubers with Distress Inks Fired Brick, Barn Door, Mowed Lawn & Cracked Pistachio.  I used the 2 lightest colors just outside the raised areas.  I splattered with white gauche & attached the panel to silver & black mats.  

One of the Essential Sentiment Strips was die cut from a black scrap & attached to silver & black mats.  Finished off with black enamel dots.  I'm also entering TTTC204 with Enamel Dot/Free/Floral.  Mailing this one to a friend with lots going on.

I also recently made a card inspired by the flowers theme for the Pinkfresh Studio April Challenge.  I used PFS Modern Layered Florals, Dainty Blossoms, Braided Tag & Sweet Friend Floral. 

The Altenew inks are Fuchsia, Baby Pink, Aqualicious & Dew Drops.  Glad I thought to add some vellum diecuts behind the bouquet for added interest.  Always amazing what a difference it makes to add white gel pen dots which I did to the tiny flowers.  The rest of the flowers have some brushed on shimmer.  

The card front was splattered, pink gems were added & the sentiment strip was added.  This one was already sent to a friend recovering from surgery.   

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