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.

Turnabout Card

Surprise!  Yep--back in a day because Just Us Girls Color Week gallery is about to close.  I've been wanting to use one of my CN9 Turnabout stamps and decided Lovely Blossoms would work well using the challenge colors of Peach, Lavender, Gray.  

Pretty sure I've never used that combo before, but I do love pastels.  Decided silver would look good with it, so pulled out CN9 Nectar and Lilac along with Lawn Fawn Manatee.  I silver embossed the 4th turn.  Also hadn't used my Frantic Stamper arch dies in awhile, so used the largest one to die cut the panel.  An old Spellbinders die kit included the sweet flowers & stems that I thought went well with the background.  I used the same inks to color them and arranged them along the side.  The Pinkfresh Perfect Sentiments are such a great font and now that I've cut apart the stamps, I can actually use them!  Hello was stamped in Manatee and covered with Shimmer Pico Embellisher.  

I don't have all that many silver embellishments, but I did find very old Stampendous Diamond Dots in my stash.  The tiny ones fit perfectly in the flower centers and the big ones added a little sparkle to the card.  They're flat, so also mail friendly.  I wanted a bit more silver, but didn't have a larger arch die.  Luckily, I thought of just adding a strip of silver metallic cardstock and that was just what it needed.  Not a typical card for me, but it's fun to do something a little different.  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.

Another January Birthday Card

All diecutting for this January birthday card using SSS Leaf Tumble embossing folder, Frantic Stamper Arched Labels dies, SSS Happy Birthday Brush Script & SSS Morning Blossom dies.  

I love Gina K Whisper cardstock used for the tone on tone elements.  The flowers were die cut from scraps of green & purple cardstocks. 

I used vellum for the sentiment shadow, covered the words with Shimmer Pico Embellisher & colored over the flower details with a Clear Star Gelly Roll.  I also brushed the blossom edges with a light purple ink.

I'm entering Die Cut Divas and 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.

Note Cards and Christmas Cards

I have 4 cards to show you today & I'm starting with the last card I made.  The Stamp Market recently had a sale & I finally got a die set off my wishlist called Mini Autumn Leaves.  A watercolor panel I used to soak up leftover yellow Glimmer Mist was sitting on my table.  I pulled out more Glimmer Mists in a variety of greens, gold & purple plus Hero Arts brown metallic liquid watercolor.  Some of them I spritzed & some I used for smooshing.  In the end, I totally covered up the yellow, but I did get a beautifully shimmery panel for Fall leaves.  

I used gold glitter tape for the veins.  Years ago a friend sent me a Christmas card with a sweet angel image diecut with a banner die turned upside down.  Her die set was discontinued, but I bought Frantic Stamper's Arched Labels.  They are slightly different & I think I only used a die once.  Recently arched dies seem to be very popular & many companies have them.  I pulled out my set & decided it is just fine.  The 2 largest dies were cut from PTI Rustic Cream & the edges were brushed with Fine Linen ink.  I stamped a leaf from PRS Fall Colors stamp set using my MISTI so I could double stamp with Fine Linen.  I stamped the PFS Sweet Friend Floral sentiment in Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate & splattered Gansai Tambi gold watercolor.  

The leaves were glued in place & I used deep gold gems for embellishment.  The brown card front was also stamped with a leaf from PRS Fall Colors using Versamark ink.  Lots of beautiful shimmer & sparkle in person.  I'm entering Double D, Snippets Playground & SSS Monday.

Next is my entry for Poppystamps September challenge.  Recently a longtime cardmaking friend sent me a pack of printed paper.  I seldom use my printed paper, but wanted to make a card for her using it.  I used Poppystamps Small Curve Background & Lattice Small Curve Border along with a couple circle dies & Memory Box Posh Script Just a Note.  

Fun to pull out an old piece of green variegated trim.  The sentiment is covered in Shimmer Pico Embellisher & I added dots of Stardust Stickles to the flowers. 

My friend has a lot going on in her life, so hopefully this card will brighten her day.

Gina K's cards often inspire me & soon after watching her video, I made this card.  I love using the Wreath Builder Template, but don't think I've ever cut the wreath in half. 

I used images from 2 older sets I got from someone purging:  GKD Winter Hugs & SSS Peaceful Christmas.  The sentiment is an old one from Hero Arts I still use every year.  The inks are PTI Ripe Avocado, Prairie Grass & Ocean Tides.  I colored in the leaves with New Sprout Memento Marker.  The gap is covered with PTI Ripe Avocado cardstock & Ocean Tides printed paper a friend gave me.  The sentiment & vellum mat were die cut with Altenew Nesting Ovals.  

I used Ocean Tides cardstock to mat the panel, added shimmer to the leaves & attached 2 tiny light green gems for embellishment.  Really love how this turned out.

Here's a simple CAS, graphic Christmas card that took me 1/2 a day to complete!  The images are from SSS Peaceful Christmas & the inks are PTI New Leaf & Versafine Satin Red.  

I added a couple cardstock panels for just a bit of dimension which makes a big difference in person.  Decided it just needed 1 green pearl for embellishments.  I'm entering CAS on Friday.

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

More Easter Cards

Looking for a bargain?  Check out my sale pages.  Lots of new stamps & dies have been added.  

Thanks for the concern & well wishes for Fritz.  Still not himself, but doing much better.  I'm still working on Easter cards that need to be mailed soon.  Here are a couple more, starting with the other Poppystamps Powell Butterfly made when I created THIS CARD.  Really can't say I like one better than the other.  The textured gray pieces inlaid into the pink metallic outline do give a striking, elegant look which I love.  This time I used some very old wire in my stash to wrap around the body & form into the antenna.

I die cut the 2 Frantic Stamper banners & temporarily adhered the small one in place.  Then I did the dry embossing with the sweet floral folder (thank you, Lisa!).  I took them apart & embossed them separately to get a deeper impression.  A gray ink was lightly sponged on the edges & both pieces were sprayed with Shimmer Spritz.  I never tire of that look!

The small banner was backed with fun foam & attached in place.  I lightly bent up the butterfly wings & attached it with foam tape in the center.  The card is made from Soft Stone cardstock & the sentiment is Inkadinkado.  I'm entering Poppystamps,  DRU, Country View Challenges Easter/Spring & Time Out.

Next is my entry for PTI LFF.  This time the challenge is to create a project from a favorite inspiration source.  Often the challenges I enter provide the inspiration & I don't spend time going through magazines or Pinterest very often.  However, I have made cards based on items in my home including a dress, flannel sheets & a pot holder.  A few days ago I opened a new paper towel package & was immediately inspired to make a card!

I wanted a background of pink & orange with butterflies on top of it, so I started with a smooshed background of DI picked raspberry & ripe persimmon.  I did multiple layers of each color--drying in between.  Then I die cut PTI Butterfly Hope cover plate from white cardstock.  It was not the look I had in mind, so I finally opened my jar of Mother of Pearl Nuvo Mousse & spread it over the die cut with a cloth.  The sheen is beautiful & the soft goldish look works for Easter, I think.

The sentiment is made with words from W&W Big, Bold Seasons stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne.  The waterproof ink allowed me to then smoosh the sentiment strips in the same inks to match the background.  The words are matted with black & popped up with foam tape.  I added tiny black pearls to the antenna to tie in with the sentiment.  Not the usual Easter card, but I like it & hopefully the recipient will, too.  I'm also entering WAW.
 
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

A Few More Cards

Looking for a bargain?  Check out my sale pages.  Lots of stamps & dies available.

I had an idea for Christmas Kickstart Challenge 6 & finally got it done.  I entered via IG to meet the deadline earlier today.

The Frantic Stamper Arched Label was used for a window in a kraft panel which I splattered with white paint.  I stamped HA Tiny Snowflake Grid, embossed it with HA sparkle embossing powder & attached it behind the window.

The sentiment from HA Merriest Christmas Wishes was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn.  The EH Leaping Deer was die cut from red foil paper & glued on top.  I decided against any embellishments. I'm also entering Rudolph Days, ABNH, HA National Craft Month, ModSquad & SSS Monday.


Next is my entry for the Memory Box Challenge: Flower Power.  I die cut MB Arianna Sprig from a green scrap twice, a white scrap twice & a white panel.  The sentiment from Poppystamps Friends & Flowers was stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist & I added green splatters.

I stacked the die cuts with the green ones on top.  The solid die (included in the set) was cut from pink glitter paper & inlaid into the white panel with the stacked die cuts on top.  PTI Pinpoint Rectangle Frame die was cut from the same pink glitter paper.  The pink sparkle is just gorgeous in person.  I'm also entering ModSquad.

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