Ornamental

I worked at a booth at a stamping/scrapbooking show two weekends ago. I had planned to take an hour off to shop the show, but it was pretty busy and the only place I got to shop with the booth I was working at. One of my purchases was a set of Christmas stamps from Kaisercraft, and I put it to use making a couple of quick cards.
The cards are based on this week's challenge at The Paper Players, and it was a great excuse to utilize a bunch of snippets I had stuffed into a stack of Christmas paper from Echo Park. I really shouldn't save 1-inch strips, but with 6x6 paper, I end up with a lot of them.
The ornament is silver-embossed on red paper and popped up on foam adhesive. I used a little silver cording for something for the ornament to dangle from, and added a bow of sparkly fiber on each. (Those are snippets, too, the last I have of both the silver and gold versions of that  fiber).
I made the one with the black background first, then tried putting the banners at a slight angle -- I think the angles look a little jauntier, and I think I prefer that one.

I'm entering these cards in these challenges:
Rudolph Day July -- 2 cards
Papertake Weekly -- It's a jolly holiday
Holly Jolly Christmas -- Deck the Halls
Clear It Out -- Christmas with something sparkly
Pixie's Snippet Playground #135 -- lots of snippets here

Beach Break

We've had muggy, rainy weather all week, so it wouldn't have been a good beach week, but I can still dream, right?
This image is from Purple Onion Designs, and it always makes me think "Wish I were there." The image is colored with pencils, and I assure you there is blue sky (if somewhat pale) that simply didn't photograph. The lemonade has Glossy Accents on it.
I used snippets of a bunch of prints that look like beach blanket colors to me for accents, including the die-cut button (from MFT).  I cut three layers of card stock to give the button enough bulk to look realistic without it being too bulky for mailing.  The bow is made from two strands of baker's twine.

This card is being entered in these challenges:

Sketch Saturday, sketch 319
Die Cut Divas, Button and Bow
Loves Rubberstamps #113, Summer Fun
Creative Inspirations #275, Here Comes Summer
Simon Says Monday, Summer challenge
The Paper Shelter Summer Challenge, Anything Goes
Pixie's Snippet Playground #134, using snippets
Word Art Wednesday # 142, Anything Goes

Simple summer card

I tried a technique from the most recent Technique Junkies newsletter, doing an ombre (dark to light) watercolor background, then creating splatters on it. The reinker used for the watercolor is from Ranger, and it is called Stream. I used that as a background for this lovely shell stamp from Impression-Obsession, which is black-embossed onto the background. Summer makes me think of shells and the beach. I was going for a clean and simple look, so I used ribbon tabs as a discrete embellishment.

I am entering the card in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday, Mid-summer's challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, Emboss it
The Ribbon Girl July Colour challenge, turquoise
Word Art Wednesday #142, Anything Goes

Not too much like a flag

I challenged myself to do a red, white and blue card with stars and stripes and keep it from looking like a flag. I think I succeeded.

The layout  for this is the current sketch at Sketch Saturday.

The image is from Impression-Obsession, colored in pencils, with the sentiment from Mark's Finest Paper.  I used a variety of stars and stripes DP snippets to provide the various layers, and added a scalloped edge to what is a rather thin strip on the sketch.

I wasn't really sure what to use for the embellies near the bottom of the sketch until I stumbled upon these snaps that were a perfect color match.  I have a hoard of snaps and of eyelets that I hardly ever use because, let's be honest, they are a pain. But I took my time, measured out exactly where each one should go, and they actually came out straight and even.

I'm entering this card in these challenges:
Sketch Saturday #317
The Paper Shelter #166, birthday card with sentiment
Creative Inspirations #273, your favorite occasion
Papertake Weekly Challenge, Stars and Stripes
Loves Rubberstamps #111, Red, white and blue
Pixie's Snippet Playground #132

One-layer wonder

I am in awe of people who make fantastic one-layer cards. I've finally realized that masking is the technique that works for me on a one-layer, so that's what I did here. Since I knew what I wanted to do, I knocked this out in a few minutes, but I think it looks nice.

 I simply cut a oval in a piece of card stock, placed it over my card and sponged with Blue Bliss. I kept the mask in place while I stamped the butterflies (From Inkadinakdoo) in Night of Navy. Sentiment is by All Night Media. (Thankfully, I have no current need for a sympathy card, but I know it's good to have one on hand).

This card is being entered in these challenges:

Butterfly Challenge #10 -- just one layer
CAS on Sunday #37 -- One Layer wonder
Word Art Wednesday #140 -- Anything Goes