Hello Cards

So glad ITP has another Melissa's Fab Friday challenge.  The "hello" theme is perfect right now since I'm mailing lots of cards to friends.  I have a pack of Fine Linen cardstock that I've barely used, so I started by die cutting a panel with ITP Border Bling: Tin Stitch.

Then I browsed my PTI color combos to get some ideas & pulled out my PTI cardstock scraps.  I used several PTI Gathered Garden dies with Enchanted Evening, Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, Melon Berry & Sweet Blush.  I arranged the bouquet, added a blue twine bow, stamped the sentiment from PTI Scripted in Enchanted Evening & added Shimmer Pico Embellisher.  The Enchanted Evening mat made a big difference & only increased the card size 1/4 inch.  I'm also entering Double D Challenges & ModSquad.
 
Next is my homework for the Altenew Academy Quick & Simple Cards, Day 6.  We were to score a frame--something I like to do.  After I made the frame, I stamped the sentiment from Altenew Handpicked Bouquet in Versafine Vintage Sepia & added little splatters of DI peeled paint.

Instead of coloring & die cutting a flower like Laurie did, I finally used the Altenew Painted Fantasy Washi I got on sale along with coordinating dies.  Isn't it beautiful?  Finished off with Shimmer Pico Embellisher dots.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday & WAW.

Just in case you're wondering, the Corona Virus is NOT 99% harmless.  How is it we legislate that clothes must be worn in public, but legislating the wearing of masks in public is a violation of our rights?  Sad, depressing time in this country.  Very grateful for crafting & my crafting friends. 
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

The first slimline card I made was sent to Linda for the June CCC.  I used my new PFS Braided Circles slimline die & the Spellbinders Feb 2020 Small Die of the Month kit.

I purposely used purple since Linda & I were both born in February which has a birthstone of amethyst.  My first idea did not include using the Spellbinders dies, which were still unopened.  So glad I discovered they were just the right size circles.  Took some trial & error to come up with which paper to use for which layer. 

The PTI sentiment word was cut from the teal paper with vellum for the shadow.  I didn't add embellishments, but did use a shimmer pen on the foliage & Pico Embellisher on the word.  Glad Linda likes it.  I'm entering NBUS 16 & SSS Wednesday.

My next card combines 3 challenges:  ABNH, ModSquad & Retro Rubber.  I began by smooshing DI pumice stone & scattered straw using a piece of acetate.  Then I used an old JudiKins ep called Malachite for the leaves from HA Leaf Prints which  is a 2010 stamp set I still really like.  It also has a great selection of small sentiments. 

But the challenge at ABNH is to combine old & new, so I used a sentiment from the 2019 HA/GK collaboration set called Friendship Blooms.  I didn't want a bold sentiment, so I stamped in pumice stone on vellum & clear embossed.  That didn't show up enough, so I added another layer of vellum plus the same kraft I used for the narrow mat.

I also added an oval die cut from the same green I used on the card front & attached it to show only across the bottom.  The sentiment oval was attached with foam tape & I added some light brown sequins.  This could be for Thanksgiving if I don't mail it before then.

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

CAS Mix Up Guest Designer

I'm so honored to be one of the GDs for July's CAS Mix Up Challenge.  This month is the stencil challenge & the theme is Stencil Tracing.  I've seen some people do this technique, but hadn't really given it a try myself.  Gotta say--it's fun & easy!

I started with another of the Scrape Painting panels I made using DecoArt Acrylic Paint in Grape Taffy, Turquoise & Tutti Fruitti.  Then I laid SSS Square Dance Stencil over the panel & used a Uniball silver gel pen to trace around selected parts of the stencil.

I die cut a rectangle window in a silver panel & really love the look!  The PFS black die cut flower from Dainty Blossoms was stacked a couple high & glued in place.  The sentiment was made with clear stickers attached to a scrap of the silver paper & the only embellishment is a dot of black Pico Embellisher on the flower center.

I know lots of us have a collection of little used stencils, so why not pull them out & join the challenge!  You'll find all the details & lots of inspiration at CAS Mix Up.
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Impression Obsession Watercolored BD Card

I was so glad to see a birthday theme for the Obsession Impression challenge this time.  It's been awhile since I had products to use for the theme.  However, Happy Birthday 2 was in my last order & has quickly become a favorite sentiment stamp!  Here's my second entry which also uses Spring Flowers that I watercolored with summer colors using Altenew wc markers.

I added some splatters & Stickles before attaching my panel to a black mat.  As you know, I love pink & soft colors, but this card really looks happy to me.  I hope the recipient will think so, too.

Even little moments of happiness are important as we deal with a world in turmoil.  Our governor has now ordered the wearing of masks in public, indoor places.  I can only imagine the outcry from many who say their rights are being violated.  If only we didn't accept that over 125,000 deaths in the USA is unavoidable.  Seems too many people only change their behavior if someone they love is sick or dies.  It's easy to do the right thing when it doesn't inconvenience you or require any sacrifice.  Times like this are when true character is revealed.  I hope you all stay safe.  I'm also entering Seize the Birthday.

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

I apologize for not keeping up on your blogs.  I certainly do appreciate your friendship, but right now spending time on the computer is more challenging than usual for me.  I'm using IG more & more to enter challenges--so much faster.
I recently gave in to the slimline craze & ordered the Slim Braided Circles die from PFS.  You can cut off the 3rd circle for a smaller card & I like that versatility.  That order also included the Color Block Stripes die.  I combined the new products with my favorite Dainty Blossoms dies & Delicate Wreath stamp set to make a card for the PFS June Challenge & SSS Wednesday.

The stripes & blossom die cuts were inked with DO fossilized amber, shaded lilac & twisted citron.

Here's a simple one layer card for a male family member dealing with very difficult medical issues.  I used a favorite design:  ink blend a masked strip & then stamp solid images that extend beyond the strip.  

The inks are DI festive berries, spiced marmalade & scattered straw.  I stamped the leaves & sentiment from the 2010 HA Leaf Prints in Versafine Clair Pinecone.  Splatters are done with a brown Zig.  I entered Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge #11 & SSS Wednesday.

Had to use my other new PFS product: Nested Diamond pop out stamp.  I used PTI inks Pure Poppy, Lovely Lady, Harvest Gold, Blueberry Sky & Enchanted Evening.  

I cut out the center with my craft knife so I could pop the panel up on a card with the sentiment from PFS Delicate Wreath.  The stems from PFS Dainty Blossoms were covered in Stickles & I added a crochet thread bow & Pico Embellisher white dots.  

May end up "needing" some more pop out stamps--haha!  I'm entering PFS June Challenge & SSS Wednesday.

Here's the card I made with the inside pieces of the Poppystamps Dream Butterfly that were left over from This Card.  I embossed a scrap of black cardstock with the die & fussy cut making it easy to see where to glue each little piece.  Actually went pretty fast. 

Then I exposed the fun foam adhesive & pressed on holographic foil.  It looks totally different depending on the angle & light--so cool!

The card front was embossed with a Poppystamps Double Stitch Scalloped Rectangle Frame die & I stamped a sentiment from Poppystamps Friends & Flowers.  I'm entering Poppystamps June Challenge, The Snippets Playground (black scrap & left over inside pieces) & SSS Wednesday.

One last simple card to enter Rudolph Days.  I saved a card from last year I wasn't happy with.  Finally cut off the front, trimmed it down a bit, added green splatters & attached it to a red mat.  I used a clear star gel pen to add some sparkle to the branch.  

Now it's a card I can mail, so I'm glad I didn't throw it out.  The stamps are Hero Arts, I'm pretty sure.

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

Tic Tac Toe Guest Designer

I'm so honored to be the Guest Designer for Tic Tac Toe Challenge #070.  Here's the board we're using & hope you'll play along.

There are several options I considered using, but in the end I choose the bottom row of Summer, Bird & Sparkle. 

The bird & sparkle are pretty obvious.  In case you're wondering how I included summer, the SSS bird die is called Bird of Roses & roses are a summer flower where I live.  Secondly, I used what I consider to be summer colors represented by PTI inks New Leaf, Green Parakeet, Melon Berry & Bright Buttercup.  I first used the green inks with the Altenew Wonderful Wreath stencil.  The berries are included in the center of the stencil, so you can put them wherever you want or leave them off.  I added the cluster of 3 using Melon Berry ink.  The bird was die cut a couple times & glued together.  Then I drew around the die so I could cut a solid area with my scissors to color & back the bird.  The decorative top was inked in Bright Buttercup & the solid piece in Melon Berry.  Both were covered in White Blizzard Nuvo Drops which I used like glitter glue & also added to the berries.

For the solid piece, I spread it with an old credit card like using embossing paste.  The sparkle is really beautiful in real life.  I decided the bird needed more than the wreath to perch on, so I first added some Elizabeth Craft branches inked in the 2 greens.  The sentiment from Altenew Floral Frame was stamped in New Leaf & I added yellow splatters using a Zig watercolor marker.  I have several summer birthday cards to send & this one will be mailed soon.  You'll find lots of inspiration from the DT.  I'm 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.