Week 2 Guest Designing for JUGS

I'm back as the October JUGS Guest Designer with my card for Word Week: Halloween.

I don't make many Halloween cards, but I really had fun with this one.  Plus, I used a couple dies for the first time--yay!  Reverse Confetti Halloween Bits die set was in a destash giveaway some time ago and I won Memory Box Happy Halloween Posh Script a few months ago.  I also pulled out SSS Birch Tree Window die that I used once in the past for a Halloween card. 

I started by covering the bat in WOW Regal Sparkles (glitter) and the ghost in Ice Pop.  The bat was outlined with a silver pen and the ghost with a black one.  I backed the bat eyes with a scrap colored with the silver pen and the ghost eyes and mouth with a scrap colored with the black.  I ink blended the background using Distress Oxides fossilized amber and spiced marmalade.  The cardfront was covered with MB glossy black cardstock for a nice contrast from the plain black cardstock I used to die cut the window.  

I ink blended the Happy Halloween shadow to match the background and stacked it 2 high.  The words were die cut from the glossy black cardstock.  There's a video showing the sparkle and shine in my IG post.  Be sure to check out all the wonderful creations by the JUGS team and I'd love to see you in the gallery!  I'm entering SSS WCMD and WAW. 

"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."  Luke 6:31  I'm so sick of the ongoing threats, name calling and retaliation.  By the way, Portland, Oregon is not "war ravaged" or a "burning hell hole."  

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

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.

Easter, Friendship, Christmas

Happy Easter Sunday!  I have a fun bunny card I'll send to someone next year.  

I found the Poppystamps Tunnel Tag with the Serene Rabbit die cut from it in the envelope with the rabbit die.  Martina's IG reel using WOW Sparkles and JUGS Mood Board inspired my turning the tag into a card.  It's a bit of a stretch, but the top middle picture with the 3 pastel cake layers is what I used from the board.

I covered a white scrap with 3 strips of double-sided adhesive.  I exposed the adhesive one strip at a time, covering each with one of these WOW Sparkles: Jade, Peachy Keen and Santorini.  Then I glued the tag over the glittered piece and added a tiny gem colored with a black Copic for the eye.  You can see the sparkle in my IG video.  

I used the next size up tag die to cut the pink cardstock mat and added a crochet thread bow.  The light gray textured cardstock panel was stamped with an allover background stamp using Soft Stone.  I wanted subtle, but would have liked it a bit darker.  The sentiment is an old woodmounted stamp.  I'm also entering The Snippets Playground with white and gray scraps used.

Next is the card I made with my newest Altenew die set called Fresh Flowers.  I really like that it has 2 different styled flowers with none of them being huge.  There's also a leafy branch and individual leaves.  It has the keyhole system, but the pieces are so easy to assemble you really don't need it.  

As you can see, I used the current Color Hues lilac and aqua combo.  The inks are CN9 Lilac, Grape Soda, Aqua Sky and Oceanside plus PTI Soft Stone for the leaves and Versafine Clair Morning Mist for the sentiment.  I'm hoping the darker shades on the edges are allowed.  I made the frame with PFS Nested Elongated Oval Blanket Stitch dies.  The card front and sentiment strip are Soft Stone cardstock.  I added Stickles to the flower centers and finished with tiny lilac and aqua gems from my stash.  You can see the Stickles sparkle in my IG post.  I'm also entering DCD.

Yes, I know it's Spring, but I love making Christmas cards year round.  This card was inspired by Christmas Kickstart and Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero. 

HA Paper Layering Poinsettia was die cut from red and green felt with the center cut from CN9 gold glitter cardstock.  The background panel was embossed with SSS Holiday Greenery folder and the raised edges were rubbed with Delicata Golden Glitz.  Birch Press Merry Christmas Vintage Sentiment was die cut from white and the gold glitter cardstock.  The video in my IG post shows the sparkle.  Simple card, but just what I love.  

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 Easter

I graduated from college many years ago.  Apparently I've forgotten more than I realized.  For example, I didn't know that Freedom of Speech means we have the right to say positive things about our government and to say we agree with the leaders.  Something to be proud of, right?!

I love making Christmas cards year round, so took a break from Easter cards to make a couple.  First up is my entry for Woodblock Wednesday.  

One of my favorite companies when I started stamping was Magenta.  Can't remember the last time I used this beautiful candle image and I know I didn't white emboss it on kraft cardstock.  Gotta say, I really love the look for a change.  I fussy cut and colored with markers.  The candles were covered with a sparkle pen.  You can see the sparkle and shine in my IG post.  Love the Pinkfresh Diagonal Stitch squares and rectangles.  The Savvy Stamps sentiment was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn and I finished with kraft cord tied in a bow.  I'm also entering ABC Christmas.  

The current Christmas Kickstart Challenge is to make a card without using red, green or gold.  I decided to stick with kraft and white, but add pink.  

PFS Layered Wreath was die cut twice and the edges were brushed with Altenew Mocha ink.  Then I layered them offset and added pink cardstock berries.  I used vellum for the Classic Holiday Words shadow and white cardstock for 2 layers of the words.  The berries were covered in WOW Peachy Keen Sparkles and the words were covered in Sparkle Pico Embellisher.  You can see the sparkle and shine in my IG post.  I used a dark brown Zig for the splatters.

I do have another Easter card to share, inspired by Color Hues Lemon and Lime.  Unfortunately, I missed the deadline.  It's been awhile since I used my Brilliance ink pads and I remembered that I have Pearlescent Lime.  I used direct to paper on a white cardstock scrap and used it to die cut Alexandra Renke's egg with foliage.  

I decided to add more foliage, so pulled out another Alexandra Renke die and Memory Box Tall Frilly Leaf Stems.  I brushed the diecuts with the Lime ink using a lighter touch.  PFS Blanket Stitch Elongated Oval was brushed with Altenew Fresh Lemon ink--darker on the edge and fading out to white in the center.  After attaching the egg and extra foliage, I stamped the little butterfly from an old TPC Studio set.  

The IO bunny was die cut from my lightest yellow felt attached to lightweight paper for extra stability.  I brushed the edges with the Fresh Lemon ink and used a pink Copic for the center of the ears.  The eye is a tiny clear jewel colored with a black Copic.  Instead of adding cotton to the tail, I covered it with WOW Ice Pop Sparkles--kinda fun!  The very old woodblock sentiment was stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne, edged with Fresh Lemon and raised with a couple cardstock layers.  My favorite Hero Arts translucent enamel dots in yellow were the perfect finishing touch.  Hubby is not a fan of yellow, but he gave this card a good review!  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday and TTTC267 using the center vertical row.

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

Greta

Pinkfresh, Altenew and Poppystamps

Not sure how it got to be nearly the end of September!  I have 3 different cards to show you today.  First up is my entry for the Pinkfresh September Challenge: Leaves and Wreaths.  I have many wreath stamps/dies and PFS Dainty Wreath is definitely one of my favorites.  Not sure I ever stamped it in Fall colors, but I'm sure I will again.  

With the stamp in my MISTI, I randomly inked and stamped repeatedly with 4 or 5 orangy ink cubes, one at a time, until the entire wreath was inked.  I also used a green cube which made for an almost brown shade.  Really love how this turned out!  I used both the outer and inner dies which let me attach one end of the vellum sentiment flag under the left edge of the wreath.

The gold watercolor splattered white panel was in my stash.  I just rounded the corners and inked the edges in brown.  Finished off with small brown gems.  I'm also entering SSS Monday, DCD and WAW.

Next is my entry for the September Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  Couldn't miss this one with two beautiful shades of pink plus green!  Altenew's Sweet Bouquet is one of my latest purchases and a favorite, for sure! 

This time I stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist and used Altenew Rose Quartz, Puffy Heart, Firefly and Grass Field with the stencils.  I liked Michelle Short's idea of using a dark background to make the flowers pop, so I embossed a Smoky Shadow panel with Altenew Flower Bed 3D folder. 

The mat is Weathervane and I used Smoky Shadow to stamp the sentiment.  Hero Arts Transluscent enamel dots make beautiful dew drops, I think.  I'm also entering Just Us Girls and We Love Stamping.

My last card is for the September Poppystamps challenge.  I've hardly used the 2017 Sloping Hillside die, but really like it.

The light blue speckled paper has been in my stash forever and I love it for the background.  The trees were attached with rolled up glue dots for just a bit of dimension.  I intended to keep the trees white, but just couldn't resist adding WOW Ice Pop Sparkles--so beautiful in person!  

Dark Indigo cardstock was used for the mat and the W&W sentiment was white embossed. 

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