Monthly Challenges

I tend to put off the challenges that give you 3 or 4 weeks to enter.  Finally sat down to make an entry for the PFS April Challenge.  Decided to use Circle Frame with Botanicals because I thought it'd be pretty embossed with my new WOW Sea Turtle embossing powder--a lovely green with some yellow flecks.  

I pulled out my old PFS Felicity collection & found a cardstock tag, cardstock bird, yellow Washi sticker & puffy flower sticker that worked great with the frame.  I stamped a flower cluster from Modern Layered Florals in white pigment ink on the Classic Kraft card & splattered with Lindy's Magicals Bling-Y Blonde--hard to see in the pictures.  I attached the Washi to a white scrap before gluing it to the card so that it would be bright, like the bird.

I stamped the sentiment from Delicate Wreath on the tag, added Stickles to the puffy flower, used a black glaze pen on the eye & finished off with white sequins.  Fun to make something a little different.  I'm also entering The Snippets Playground (scraps for the frame & under the Washi).

Christmas doesn't make me think rainbow, but I wanted to enter the Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge.  I finally got the idea to decorate Pigment Craft Company's Cup of Happy die cut with a rainbow of snowflakes.  

I began by diecutting the panel with PFS Blanket Stitch Rectangle.  Then I die cut the cup from the panel & 3 more from scraps to add dimension when I inlaid it back into the panel.  The snowflake from GKD Mini Wreath Builder was stamped in Memento Rhubarb Stalk, Morocco, Dandelion, Cottage Ivy, Nautical Blue & Grape Jelly.  I used a Versamark pen so I could silver emboss the handle & edges. 

The sentiment from PTI Snowflake Flurries was stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne.  I wanted a subtle background, so stamped a snowflake from Penny Black's Crystalline in Brilliance Platinum Planet.  Finished by adding tiny clear gems.  I may add a pocket inside for a coffee shop gift certificate.  

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

Cards for Next Easter

I've always loved dry embossing & now there's more to love with all the 3D folders.  I'm using one of my newest, Memory Box Blooming, to make an Easter card for the April Poppystamps & DRU challenges.  Love the beautiful Bazzill Starmist textured cardstock that was used for the embossed panel & the butterfly.  

Poppystamps Luscious Script Hello word was embossed with WOW Hydrangea embossing powder.  Memory Box Moonlight butterfly was heat embossed with WOW Clear Ultra High ep making it darker than the embossed panel.  

Memory Box Kaleidoscope Butterfly was attached on top along with the body which was die cut from the embossed piece used for the word.  The little words from W&W sets were stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist.  The PPP sequins were a perfect match & finish it off.  

I recently got Lindy's Magical set called Drop Dead Diva.  The shimmery colors are beautiful!  I watercolored a panel of each color & then used them to die cut Memory Box Classic Eggs.  

The top layer is MB Filagree Egg which I cut from some of my overflowing white scraps!  I used old W&W stamp sets for the greeting which I stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist on a PTI Soft Stone panel which I splattered with white gauche.  Finished off with white sequins & a bow.  I'm entering the April Memory Box challenge.

I'll finish with my chocolate bunny card which I've wanted to make for awhile.  Finally did, but won't go out until next Easter.  I used a scrap of brown felt to die cut Poppystamps Serene Rabbit.  

Being a lover of pink, I had to get the new saltwater taffy Distress Oxide which I used with a sponge dauber through the SSS Falling Snow stencil.  Copic R22 is a great match to the DO, so I used it to color the natural hemp which I tied around the bunny.  I used the same W&W words as the last card, but stamped them in Versafine Clair Acorn.  A brown gem was used for the bunny's eye.  Came out pretty cute, if I do say so myself!  I'm entering AAA Card Challenge & TTTC158 (Free, Die Cut Shape, Stencil).

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

Happy Easter

He is not here: for he is risen as he said.  Matthew 28:6

I made this Easter card with SSS church die cuts my friend, Cat, sent to me last year. Luckily, I knew where I'd put them. The Spellbinders die was ink blended with DO squeezed lemonade, spiced marmalade & abandoned coral. 

I stamped the card front with a Poppystamps branch using Memento Desert Sand. It's subtle, but makes a huge difference in person.  The church is brushed with shimmer & the sentiment is from W&W.

A recent PTI challenge asked for a Spring card using an embellishment found on Melissa's inspiration card.  It was fun to make something a little different for me.  

I previously dry embossed PTI Pretty Frame Cover Plate onto a Fine Linen panel.  I trimmed it down a bit so the Classic Kraft card front would show.  The edges were embossed with my seldom used Stampendous Aged Taupe & Aged Ivory Embossing Enamels.  Thanks to Melissa for the inspiration to use it!  I added hemp & a bit of lace, also inspired by Melissa.  I looked through my notebook of old PTI monthly color combos to decide on my Into the Blooms II bouquet colors which are Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Sweet Blush, Melon Berry, Simply Chartreuse  & Ripe Avocado.  My friend, Vikki, gave me the old PTI buttons die & I used a tiny one cut from Classic Kraft.  The other flower centers are matte pinkish sequins.  I stamped the sentiment from Prominent Petals in Versafine Clair Pinecone.

I'm way behind on blogging cards, so I'll finish this post with my latest card made for the Gina K Monthly Mix April challenge to make or add a tag, ModSquad's final challenge & The Flower Challenge to add a heart.  

I love using Gina K Wreath Builder templates.  For this card I used the 4 inch template, images from GK A Happy Hello & Holiday Tapestry and PTI inks Berry Sorbet, Spring Moss & Harvest Gold.  The sentiment is stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn.  I die cut the freebie Sizzix tag from the center of the wreath & added additional layers before attaching it back in place.  I used clear sequins for the flower centers & added a tiny GK heart embellishment colored brown & covered with Shimmer Pico Embellisher.  

I made the brown mat with the Acorn ink pad direct to paper & used Berry Sorbet cardstock for the card front.  This morning I found the little white crochet thread bow on my table & not on my card!  Too late for my IG post, but I retook pictures for my blog.  Such a little thing that makes a huge difference.

A couple nights ago I dropped a jewell.  Luckily, I didn't immediately see where it was, so got on my hands & knees to feel for it under my chair & table.  Next to a table leg I picked up some hair, etc. to throw away.  There was a tiny squishy thing--wondered what it was.  Luckily, I looked closer & realized it was the 3 dot stamp from Uniko's Rustic Wreath set that I lost January 2020!  I don't know how many times I swept the rug with my hand looking for that little stamp!  

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

Easter and Christmas

As I mentioned before, I've been inspired by some new to me artists on IG.  Here's my version of Diana's wonderful card.  

I didn't have papers like she used, but I did use a scrap of PFS Felicity paper to die cut the Memory Box Classic Egg.  I used Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large to die cut the centers of the white & Soft Stone squares which I attached to a dark gray square.  The Craft's Meow sentiment was stamped on a PTI flag die cut from the same white cardstock I used for the IO berry branches & the card itself.  The top layer with the oval die cut is a slightly different shade of white. 

The egg was brushed with a shimmer pen & mounted with foam tape.  I added a tiny gem & a crochet thread bow.  Time to get my Easter cards in the mail!  I'm entering JUGs, SSS Monday & DRU. 

I can't remember the last time I made a Christmas card & usually I make one at least every couple weeks.  ModSquad Challenge is anything goes, so I pulled out Gina K Stellar Snowflake stencil & Festive Flowers stamp set.  

You might remember that I revived my Gina K Glitter Gel & I was anxious to use it again.  I resprayed my stencil with Pixie Spray as it was finally not sticky enough.  Not sure how many times I had used it.  I positioned it on a white cardstock panel & brushed on Distress Oxides prize ribbon & faded jeans.  Then I spread on the gel which dries surprisingly fast & is so beautiful in person. 

The sentiment was silver embossed on a vellum strip which I wrapped around the panel & attached to a matte silver panel.  I'm also entering ABC Christmas Challenge with G for glitter.

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

Easter and Birthday

I don't really have kid images, so I pulled out PTI Balloons & Banners to make a card for a 10 yr old boy which is also my entry for the PTI Challenge to create a card with a repeating element in ROYGBIV or monochromatic. 

I made a mini slimline using my MISTI to stamp the balloons in Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Bright Buttercup, New Leaf, Blueberry Sky, Amethyst Allure & Dark Indigo.  I added the strings with a black pen & the highlights with a white gel pen.  The card front is Dark Indigo cardstock & the sentiment cut twice from a white scrap is Poppystamps Happy Birthday Poe Script.  I'm also entering Snippets Playground.

I couldn't get my idea to work for the PTI Challenge to create a card using your favorite cover plate.  I switched gears still using the same die cuts plus a few & ended up with a card I love!  

The cover plate is Herringbone, the flowers & leaves are from Into the Blooms II & the flag is from Tag Sale: Quilted.  This is my entry for the PTI Challenge to use a cover plate.  I brushed Pale Peony on the tips of the blooms & Vintage Jadeite on the leaves.  The card front was splattered with Gansai Tambi gold watercolor.  I used the paint in my brush to add gold to the blooms & leaves.  

The shimmer & shine is gorgeous in person!  The gold embossed sentiment is from The Craft's Meow & I added Kaiser Scrapbook Chino pearls that go great with the kraft cardstock.

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

Final Cards for March

Once again I waited until the last minute to make my card for the Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  Gotta say, I enjoyed using Flower Vine stamp & die for the first time, I think.  

The image is so small I decided to do some coloring.  Wasn't as intimidating & I do like how it turned out using Memento Bamboo Leaves & Cantaloupe markers along with Copic BV00.  I thought the background in the photo was a light lavender, but after I watched Therese's video I realized it's a gray.  Oh well, too late!  

The branch looked pretty on a white panel, but I liked the contrast using Altenew Forest Glades cardstock.  I really like Altenew's Essential Sentiment Strips die set.  I cut Happy Birthday from both black & white cardstocks.  Debated a bit, but really liked the look of the black one, so went with that.  Finished off with yellow Stickles & black Pico Embellisher dots.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday via IG & Snippets Playground with a black scrap for the sentiment.

Next is my card for Stay Crafty with Hero.  I've used HA Greenery Medallion Fancy die for Christmas cards, but decided to use it for a Spring Wreath this time. 

I colored with Jade Green Tri-Blend Spectrum Noir pen that was given to me.  I did a little blending, although it's hard to tell.  The berries were covered with Nuvo Silver Moondust Glitter Drops which I also used on the SSS Painted Hugs shadow layer.  

The blue cardstock is from a pack I bought on clearance years ago.  I'm not fond of most of it, but this shade of blue I like.  The panel has white gouache splatters & the top layer of the sentiment is covered in Nuvo Glaze.  I could put an Easter sentiment inside or just use it for a friendship card.  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.