Memory Box and Poppystamps

What a time to be an American.  RFK in charge of our health?!  I told myself even Trump wouldn't do that.  But turns out sometimes things really are going to be as bad as you think.  

The background of my card for the Memory Box Monthly challenge was an experiment with gesso and Lindy's Magicals using a brayer over a stencil.  Need to try again without a stencil, but I didn't want to waste the panel. 

I used a splatter stamp with Versamark ink and Wow! Sea Turtle embossing powder.  Really like the result.  I used the same powder for Memory Box Verdant Leaves.  The sentiment from PTI's Essential Sentiments was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn.  Really like PTI Rustic Cream cardstock with the soft green.  Usually my sympathy cards are simpler, but I think this soft, monochromatic look also works.  I'm also entering WAW. 

Simple, elegant cards are my favorite, so this one makes me happy.  It's prettier in person, but this gives you the idea.

Memory Box Blooming embossing folder is definitely one of my favorites!  It's white here, in case you can't tell.  Poppystamps Dream Butterfly was die cut from cardstock covered with a double sided adhesive sheet so I could cover it with WOW! Celebration Sparkles--a bit chunkier, champagne glitter.  The butterfly needed something solid behind it and I ended up using Spellbinders Labels 18.  Instead of leaving them white, I brushed Altenew's Minty Mint ink on the larger one.  I used the next darker shade, Hunter Green, to stamp the PTI Scripted sentiment.  I'm entering Poppystamps and TTTC272 where my friend, Betty, developed the board.  I used Layers/Free/Floral-Foliage.

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 #270

Hello Friends.  Time Out Challenge #270 is a photo inspiration challenge.  You can use anything in the photo for your project, including images or colors.  Graciellie Design is sponsoring us and will give the winner a $25 store credit.  

Our 45th anniversary is next month, so that's probably why I focused on the white heart dishes.  Perfect inspiration for hubby's card!  

Alex Syberia Quirky Hearts die set worked great for my idea of having a raised edge since the bowls inspired me.  Luckily, this card doesn't have to be mailed as I stacked the hearts 5 high!  The center solid heart was covered in white pigment ink and embossed with WOW Ultra High Clear powder multiple times!  Since I didn't use chipboard, it bent a little and cracked when I tried to make it flat.  But I just kept adding layers of ink and powder until it was repaired.  

The background is Alex Syberia Tiny Hearts Cover Die which I spritzed with Distress Mica Stain Wicked Elixir and Hero Arts Ocean Blue Metallic Spray, since hubby likes blue and green.  SSS Love die set is a favorite and was the right size.  Debated about stamping a subsentiment, but decided to use Memory Box Parker Lower Case Alphabet dies with the same green cardstock I used for love and the mat.  Usually I make hubby's card a couple days before our anniversary, so feels good to have it done in plenty of time.  Plus, I think he will really like this one.  You can find all the challenge details and lots of inspiration from my teammates and our guest designer on the blog.  

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

Two Cards & a Tag

Need to get some cards entered into challenges.  I'll start with my entry for Woodblock Wednesday & Rudolph Days.  I used Penny Black's 2003 stamp called The Sound of Snow. 

I love the scene, but have had trouble using it for a card.  This time I stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn on an ivory scrap & it worked well.  I trimmed the panel down to fit inside the AJVD pierced rectangle die cut from SSS Matte gold cardstock.  I cut a frame to fit & popped it up. 

The Altenew sentiment from a mini stamp set was stamped in the same ink.  This reminds me of the old scenic Christmas cards, except for the red mat which is a beautiful rich color in person.  I'm also entering The Snippets Playground since I used ivory & gold scraps.

Next is my entry for the Memory Box March Floral Favorites challenge.  I used the gorgeous MB Blooming 3D folder which is definitely one of my favorites!  

I inked the raised edges & embossed with WOW Bee Kind powder--so beautiful in person!  Poppystamps Happy Easter Curve was stacked 6 high with a black layer on the bottom to help it stand out just a little more.  I embossed the top layer in WOW Clear Braille Ultra High which gives incredible gloss.  But I decided it really need the color, so I reinked & embossed with the Bee Kind powder.  That gave it a unique metallic look--almost a patina effect.   I'll definitely do that again. 

The corners were rounded & I added a couple cardstock layers before attaching the panel to the card.  

I'm always happy to see a new PTI Challenge & this time we are to make a BD Tag.  A friend die cut a bunch of PTI tags for me a few years ago & I still have quite a few to use.  I love the design of this one which she cut from watercolor paper. I masked off the top before stamping images from Bold Blooms.  The inks are Berry Sorbet, Melon Berry, Aqua Mist & Hawaiian Shores.  I spritzed the inked stamps & repeated until I liked the depth of color.  I brushed the top with Aqua Mist & used a fineliner pen for the black dots.  

Couldn't figure out how to add a sentiment that wouldn't cover up too much of the stamping.  Finally decided to stamp these 3 from PTI Scripted--different, but I like it!  Luckily I got the Berry Sorbet ribbon from my friend, Rosemary, a long time ago. 

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

Catching Up

As usual, I'm way behind posting cards on my blog.  Here are a few starting with my entry for PTI Melissa's Fab Friday.  It's always fun to use Melissa's inspiration for a card in my style.  For my pink, green & gold I used PTI Pale Peony, Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado, Prairie Grass & Delicata Golden Glitz.  

I stamped with Pale Peony multiple times to get the dark petals & love the result.  The images are PTI Joyful Florals, the border is Border Bling: Skinny Diagonals Frame & the sentiment is from Splits: 'Tis the Season.  Hard to see, but I also added Frosted Lace Stickles to the flower centers & berries. 

The PTI dotted paper is from a friend.  I absolutely love Lucy's Clear Iridescent jewels mix which adds beautiful subtle sparkle that is especially great with pink projects.  I tend to put my focal point in a corner or off center, so it was fun to copy Melissa's design of a center focal point.  I'm also entering Die Cut Divas.

Next is my entry for Stay Crafty with Hero.  I stamped the envelope inspired by a JUGs challenge I didn't enter.  

I've always liked this design & recently this card on IG inspired me to make a similar card.  I used an old PB stamp set in my stash called Delicate Silhouettes along with dots from PRS Fall Colors & a 2003 wood mounted Hero Arts sentiment.  The inks are Altenew Fresh Leaf & Hydrangea along with Versafine Clair Morning Mist.  Took me forever to actually draw the dark gray lines with a Staedtler Triplus Fineliner pen as I was afraid of ruining the card.  But then I realized I could always add a cardstock strip over the goof, but I didn't have to!  

Hard to see the white sequins which I chose because they don't compete with the stamped images.  This one went to a special blog friend.

Here's a Christmas card for Color Hues, SSS Flickr November & Snippets Playground.  I planned to make a wreath with SSS Etched Laurel Leaves die, but I really liked just layering them for a center piece. 

The branches were die cut from a scrap of white cardstock I smooshed with 4 different green Distress Oxide inks & splattered with Brushed Pewter Distress Stain.  Adding the SSS Village building was inspired by this card on IG.  I embossed a white scrap with WOW White Twinkle powder & then die cut the building.  

I backed the windows with a gray scrap which I also used for the HoneyBee black embossed sentiment strip which I matted with another white scrap embossed in the same powder.  I embossed a panel of beautiful red cardstock with my favorite SSS 3D embossing folder called Refracted.  Just couldn't get the red quite right in the pictures, but it's a great Christmas red--no orange at all.  Tried a bunch of embellishments & settled on clear sparkling sequins.

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

Halloween, Christmas, Friendship

As I said in my last post, I don't make many Halloween cards.  But I wanted to enter SSS Flickr October Halloween challenge.  Had something else in mind, but then I saw SSS Birch Tree Window die & here's what I did.  

Memory Box Parker Lowercase Alphabet dies are from a friend & were just what I needed.  Gotta say, WOW! Embossing Powders with sparkle are incredible!  Here I used Bee True & Persian Indigo.  You can see the sparkle in THIS short video on IG.  The blended Harvest Moon night sky was done with Distress Oxides spiced marmalade & fossilized amber.  I used a black Glaze pen for the bats.  You knew they were bats, right?😉

I used a couple cardstock layers to give the focal point a bit of dimension.  The mat is PTI Dark Indigo.  I'm also entering Memory Box October challenge & SSS Wednesday.

I really enjoyed making this Christmas tag for the Poppystamps October challenge using Poppystamps Tunnel Tags, Holly Outline & Merry Christmas Poe Script.  The holly outlines were stacked 4 high & I inserted only 1 layer of the leaves & berries colored with Copics YG03 & R20.  The stained glass look is done by filling the open areas with Nuvo Crystal Glaze.  Just couldn't get a decent close up picture. 

When it dried, I added the silver metallic outline diecut.  The words are covered with shimmer & I found a piece of twine in my stash with the same shade of blue as the old printed paper I used.  Now I want to use this color combo for a card!

So generous for PFS to give us a chance at 5 randomly drawn gift certificates by entering PFS WCMD challenge.  Here's my 3rd entry & this time I finally used Modern Layered Florals.  

Have to admit, I found using the layering stamps kinda tricky.  But my 2nd attempt was much better, so I just used the first one behind to make a thicker die cut.  The inks are PTI Sweet Blush & Melon Berry with Altenew Frayed Leaf & Forest Glades.  I die cut PFS Braided Tag from vellum & white embossed Lush Vines on the card front.  It was pretty with an all white background, but I decided to add the green ink in the center of the card.  I do love emboss resist!

I popped up a goil foiled PFS sentiment my friend, Vikki, gave me & finished off with a white crochet bow & PFS jewels.  This one is headed to a blog friend recovering from a serious illness.  Hope it makes her smile.  I'm also entering The Flower Challenge.

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

Friendship Cards

Color Hues is remembering their teammate, Lindsey, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer.  I didn't know her, but I know the sorrow of loosing loved ones to cancer.  Here's the card I made to join in honoring Lindsey using her chosen colors of Blue & Purple for a CAS card.  

I recently got the Altenew Nesting Ovals in a sale with the idea of making a rainbow which I saw someone do months ago.  I added glitter to my old blue & purple ep.  The middle arch is embossed in Hero Arts Sparkle ep after covering it in white pigment ink.  The sparkle is so pretty in person.  

I die cut & embossed light gray cardstock with a Spellbinders square die.  The GKD sentiment was stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist.

Poppystamps August challenge is to let the sentiment take center stage.  I decided to do that with a white on white background & a colored sentiment.  

I started by using Memory Box Texture Distressed Grid stencil with light molding paste not totally covering the stencil. Really love the look! Then I attached Poppystamps Flower Field Corner diecuts in opposite corners. I trimmed the large bloom from 2 more diecuts so I could add it on top for dimension. Poppystamps Luscious Script Hello is one of my favorite dies. I cut a couple shadows & a couple words from white cardstock scraps. The word was embossed in WOW BEE Kind & Spring Breeze powders--beautiful sparkle in person!

I used a Quickie Glue Pen to add the same powders to the blooms.  The secondary sentiment is Tim Holtz stickers on cardstock mounted with foam tape.  I added tiny gems to tie in the black.  

My final card is for JUGS Butterfly challenge.  I had several leftover diecuts I didn't want to store or throw away & now I have one of my favorite cards ready to send to a friend!  

The PFS gold embossed Small Butterflies were stenciled in Lawn Fawn Ballet Slippers & Peach Fuzz.  The background is made with Poppystamps Lattice Small Curve Border 2 high covered in Poppystamps Flower Field Corner diecuts--2 complete ones plus pieces left from the last card.  

Everything was attached to a beautiful Bazzill textured pink panel which I splattered with gold & white metallic watercolors. Love the font of the Mama Elephant sentiment which I stacked 3 high. I'm also entering SSS Monday.

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