Musical birds

 Sometimes you find the perfect patterned paper for an image. I think that happened with this card. I wanted to use this IO image of birds on a musical staff. While looking though my patterned paper, I found this vintage looking design with flowers and alight pattern of sheet music. The birds are black-embossed, and Distress Antique Linen ink was sponged around the edges of the panel. The sentiment strip is a Stamplorations sticker adhered to a little strip of coordinating paper. Gold watercolor was splattered over the entire card to add a bit of sparkle.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes 

The Paper Funday #90 -- anything goes 

Pammie's Inky Pinkie's #2634 -- anything goes 

Crafter's Cafe #333 -- anything goes  

Word Art Wednesday #766 -- anything goes  

Crafts Galore Encore #150 -- anything goes  

Corn harvest

 I made a fall-inspired card, using a little corn image that I may have never used before. It was stamped in three different colors of chalk ink on a cream layer. The bottom of the cream layer features two layers of torn-edge paper. The main panel is mounted on an oranne layer (with a thin reveal) then on a brown layer, The embellishment is an acorn-shaped button and two die-cut leaves.

This card is for the following challenges:

Pick Three -- orange, stamping, polka dots

Double Trouble #233 -- three colors, two stamps (corn and autumn), 1 button embellishment

Simon Says Stamp Monday -- lots of layers

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2634 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday # 766 -- anything goes

Holly-days

 Here's a simple Christmas card using some scraps of patterned papers. This card was inspired by a few challenges, including the Jingle Belles' masculine challenge and the Try a Sketch on Tuesday sketch. Masculine cards often have images of nature, such as a plant, without too much fru-fru or embellishments, so this fits that bill, I think. All the patterned paper panels are edged in red ink to give them some definition. The sentiment circle is popped up on foam tape.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Jingle Belles -- masculine merriment

Double Trouble #223-- 3 patterned papers, two sizes of holly die-cuts, 1 sentiment + TSOT sketch + popped up item  (sentiment circle) 

TSOT -- sketch #702

Simon Says Stamps Wednesday -- going around in circles

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2633-- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #766 -- anything goes

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes 

Polkadoodles challenge -- anything goes

Gem of a Challenge -- anything goes

 

Sledding toward Christmas

 Still summer, still hot. Let's think cool thoughts. How about a little sledding? I got this sweet penguin image in Alice Keegan's (Kit & Clowder/The Coloring Channel) Advent giveaway. Colored him with pencils and added some clear Stickles to the flying snow around the sled. Three patterned papers with snowflake designs are featured -- the black one, the gray one, and the red around the main image. 

Added some acrylic circles that feature snowflake patterns as a quick embellishment.

This card is entered in these challenges:

ABC Christmas -- P is for penguin

Double Trouble  #233 -- 3 patterned papers, two colors (red and green), one embossed sentiment

Word Art Wednesday #764 -- anything goes 

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2633 -- anything goes 

Pattie's Creations #245-- use an image

Gem challenge -- anything goes  

Beach vibes

 This die-cut sand dollar and shell patterned paper have been sitting on my craft table for a while now.  I was finally inspired to use them after seeing a video of this fun fold. I didn't catch the name of the fold, if it has one. Cut paper at 5.5 x11, score at 4.25 and 8.5. Cut circle in front flap of card, and attach the circle to the inside flap.

I have a variety of seashell stamps, so I used them to decorate the inner flap and inside of the card. The sentiment sticker is from Stamplorations. 

This card is for these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- monochrmatic

The Paper Funday #90-- fun fold

CRAFT #786 -- summer/vacation

Word Art Wednesday #764-- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2632   -- anything goes

Digi Choosday  -- anything goes

Pollkadoodles challenge  -- anything goes 

Inkspirational #373 -- beach vibe 

Sunshine and sunflowers

 The inspiration photo for Inspiration Station challenge #88 shows a beautiful field of sunflowers. To me, sunflowers and sunshine go hand-in-hand, and this lovely image and sentiment from Stamplorations conveyed that idea perfectly. The image is popped up on a stitiched oval, and backed by a sunshine-colored pattern paper.

 

This card is entered in these challenges:

Inspiration Station #88 -- inspired by sunflowers.

A Cut Above -- fall flowers

Stamplorations Never-ending Challenge -- feature Stamploration products

Word Art Wednesday #764 -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2631-- anything goes

Polkadoodles challenge -- anything goes

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes 

CRAFT 786 -- summer 

 

Spotlight on morning glory

 The last spotlight card I posted, maybe a year and a half ago, is by far the most popular blog post I've ever made. It's been viewed like double the next most popular post, and more than 10x the average post. I remember  being super intimidated by the technique when I first came across it, but it's so easy. 

For this card, I used a morning glory image. I picked out the area I wanted to color, cut it out with a circle die, and referred to an online photo of morning glories when choosing the purple, pink and green colors. Die-cut a slightly larger circle in purple, placed it over the spot the image was diecut from, then placed the colored circle on top, making sure the image lined up. Easy peasy.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms # 43 -- florals

Double Trouble # 222-- 3 layers, 2 colors, 1 sentiment plus optional twist of "more" (4 layers and three colors)

Simon Says Stamp Monday -- birthday

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2631 -- anything goes

A Cut Above -- include diecut

Triple B -- include blossom, bird, or butterfly

Paper Funday #90 -- anything goes

 

Ice cream time

 It's still very much summer, so how about some ice cream? 

This fun cone and sentiment are from Stamplorations. The cone is heat-embossed in black, watercolored with dye ink, and die-cut with the matching die. For the background, the same inks were swiped across an ice-cream-themed EF, creating a fun and colorful debossed side.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes

Can you Handle the Pressure -- use embossing folder

The Paper Funday #88  -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2630 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #762 -- anything goes

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes

Polkadoodles challenge -- anything goes 

 Stamplorations Never-Ending Challenge -- showcase Stamploration products 

Pressed flowers

 I tried a new-to-me technique that mimics the look of pressed flowers. I started by creating a possibly vintage-looking background by stamping script on tan cardstock, figuring out where to place the paper flowers, and lightly stamping in some leaf shapes around them. The flowers were then adhered to the panel and run through a flatish-pattern embossing folder. (The folder, from Marianne Designs, is a Never-been-used- supply (NBUS) that I have had for at probably 10 years. I can date it because I purchased it at the Atlanta Stamping Show, and it's been a decade since I've been able to attend.) The panel was then mounted on a slightly larger mat, placed on the top-fold card, and accented with dimensional paper flower held on with a brad.

This card is for these challenges:

NBUS #88 -- never before used item is the embossing folder

Beautiful Blossoms #43-- anything floral

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- make your own background 

Word Art Wednesday #762 -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2629 -- anything goes 

 

Summer butterfly

I

 I have a lot of butterfly stamps and I've kind of neglected them recently. (I miss Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge, which was always a reason to use a butterfly.) 

So, I've made a new butterfly card. The butterfly is black-embossed and colored with watercolors and reinker. After the paint dried, I stamped the butterfly on a Post-it note, cut it out and masked the butterfly to stencil the chevron pattern. Completed the card with a simple sentiment and a few sequins. Used foam tape to attach panel to topfold card base.

This card is for these challenges:

Pick 3 Challenge #7 -- purple, chevron, sequins

Stencil fun challenge -- patterns 

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2629 -- anything goes

Crafters Cafe #332   -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #760  -- anything goes

The Paper Funday #89  -- anything goes

Polkadoodles  -- anything goes

DigiChoosday  -- anything goes 

Presents under the tree

.

 Another Christmas card in July. This one is a Zfold, with a focus on die-cuts. I combined a tree from one set with gifts from a birthday set to create this little scene.  All the die-cuts were stamped, black-embossed and cut before being colored with markers.

This card is for these challenges:

Christmas Kickstart #112 -- grace us with your presents

Die-cut Divas -- Christmas in July

Double Trouble #220 -- Christmas in July recipe -- 2 layers, 3 colors, Christmas image

A Cut Above -- anything goes

The Paper Funday #89  - anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #760 - anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2628 - anything goes

 

Waving 'hi"

I made a "wiper" card -- when you pull on the left side of the folded card (see smaller photo to right), the little "wiper" hand pops up with a message. 

This card features a really sweet set of stamps from Simon Says Stamp -- The little tin-can telephone setup cracks me up.  I used silver gel pen on it to add a little metallic sheen, which you can see quite clearly in the pop-up wiper part of the card. The kitty is colored with pencils, and the greenery around him includes both stamped bits and blades of grass I just drew in with markers.  The message goes on the back of the card. (Instructions for the card are found in the SCS tutorials section.)

This card is entered in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- 4-legged friends

Word Art Wednesday #760 -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies 2628 -- anything goes

 

Pattie's Creations #244 -- use  stamped or digi image

 

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes

 

 Crafts Galore Encore #149 -- -- anything goes

 

Polkadoodles challenge -- anything goes 

 

Wish I were there

 Oh my gosh, it is SO HOT. A nice sea breeze would be quite welcome. At least I can create one on paper.

This card features a beach scene from Purple Onion Designs, colored in pencils. The striped segment is stenciled. 

This card is entered in these challenges:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2626 -- water

Creative Inspiration -- Summer sunshine

Paper Funday #89 -- Splash 

Simon Says Stamp Monday -- stripes

Word Art Wednesday #758  -- anything goes

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes

Crafts Galore Encore -- anything goes

 

Christmas candle

 

 The Jingle Belles have a sketch challenge going on.  This is a digi from The Stamping Boutique, colored with pencils and sparkled up with Wink of Stella on the snow on the window mullions and a silver glittery gel  pen on the candle holder. The sentiment is red embossed ( I have two different glittery red EPs, but decided plain red would be better... two sources of sparkle are all this card called for.)

This card is entered in these challenges:

Jingle Belles -- sketch

The Paper Funday -- stripes option

Creative Inspiration -- Christmas in June

Word Art Wednesday#758 -- anything goes 

CRAFT #782  -- anything goes 

Polkadoodles -- anything goes 

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes

One-layer roses

 I find one-layer cards intimidating, but I challenged myself with this one.  I masked off the central area and ussed blending brushes to apply yellow and coral inks. (The colors look so much smoother in person, I don't know if the eye just smoothes the colors out or what). After removing the masking, I stamped the beautiful roses (Studio Katia) in Memento Black.  I die-cut the sentiment from another piece of cardstock where coral ink was blended.  Added a few gems for a little sparkle.

This card is for these challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms #42 -- florals

Crafter's Cafe -- blooms optional

Pick 3 Challenge #6 -- ink blending, sparkle, sentiment, yellow

CRAFT #782 -- anything goes

Pattie's Creations #243 -- use an image

Word Art Wednesday #756 -- anything goes

 

Snowflake wreath

 A friend shared the idea of using die-cuts to create a wreath. I don't have a snowflake-shaped die, but looking through my stash of embellishments, I discovered a baggie full of snowflake-shapes in a white/slightly iridescent plastic. They have a tiny hole in the middle, so I guess they are sequin-esque? Anyway, I figured they'd work as well as die cuts to create a wreath. The center of each is embellished with a red gem. The sentiment is green embossed. (I don't normally buy EP in colors, but I bought a big box of stamping goodies at the thrift store a few years ago, and it included green EP. I don't think I've used it before today.)

This card is entered in these challenges: 

ABC Christmas -- L is for Let it Snow

Christmas Kickstart #111 -- Snow day 

Creative Inspiration -- Christmas in June

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2624 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #756 --  anything goes

CRAFT #782 -- anything goes

Camping fun

My family, especially my husband, loves camping (although, tbh, we gave up tent camping a while ago and enjoy a little travel trailer.) When the Double Trouble challengers asked for a card representing what "my guy" likes to do, camping was the  obvious choice. I created a starry night sky by blending inks and splattering a shimmery white water color, then die-cut the tent and a few trees to finish the scene of camping under the stars. I used the Try a Sketch on Tuesday layout and incorporated some plaid scraps (plaid = outdoors, right?)

This card is for these challenges:

Double Trouble #218 -- 3 strips, 2 die-cut items, masculine project; TSOT,; my guy twist

TSOT #697 -- sketch

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- add a sentiment

Die-Cut Divas -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2624 -- anything goes

The Paper Funday #88-- anything goes

A Cut Above -- use die-cuts

Word Art Wednesday #756 -- anything goes 

 

Masculine texture

 I purchased this plaid EF a while ago, but life intervened and I hadn't used it yet. Plaid is good for a masculine card, as is kraft. To add some color, I did a little color blocking with a mustardy strip and a drak green strip, then added a striped ribbon. I've had these burlap leaves forever, and they added a contrasting texture that worked well. 

This card is entered in these challenges:

Make My Monday -- embossing

Double Trouble #217 -- masculine with kraft

Word Art Wednesday #754 -- anything goes 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday  -- anything goes 

Polkadoodles challenge  -- anything goes 

Digi Choosday  -- anything goes 

Pammie's Inky Pinkie's #2622  -- anything goes 

Crafts Galore Encore #148  -- anything goes  

The Scenic Route

 

 I really enjoy hiking. I thought this Sheepski Designs image was perfect for a masculine card. The image is colored with pencils. The sentiment is heat-embossed in copper-EP on card stock with stripes of masculine colors including kraft and khaki. A few copper-colored sequins add a little sparkle.

This card is for these challenges:

Double Trouble #217 -- masculine with kraft-like element

The Paper Funday #87 -- optional mountain

Inkspirational # 368 -- word prompt: for the guys

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2621 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #754 -- anything goes

Crafts Galore Encore #147 -- anything goes

Pattie's Creations #242 -- must use an image

Digi Choosday -- anything goes 

Cute lion

 I have a drawer full of handmade backgrounds that I've decided I need to use. This particular one was was made with distress inks and a gold sparkly spray. I can't remember the exact technique, but it involves cling wrap. I think you put the medium on the wrap, spritz with water, put water color paper on top and sort of squish it around? 

Anyway, I used the background to create a little scene of a lion on the savanna, I guess. This is a really old set,  called Mindy's Zoo from Autumn Leaves. (I just checked, and it's available on Ebay.) I love the adorable animals it includes.

This card is entered in these challenges.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- cute critters

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2621 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #752  -- anything goes

Polkadoodles Challenge -- anything goes

Gem of a Challenge -- anything goes

Digi Choosday -- anything goes 

Flurry of butterflies

 I know there are a lot of names for this technique, where you cut a die-cut shape from a panel and elevate it on foam tape. This is the first time I've tried it, and I'm pleased with the results. The butterfly is popped up on two additional layers of cardstock cut with the die, plus foam tape. (The video I saw called it two-tier technique or something similar.) 

The butterfly die is from SSS, the butterfly stamp is Hero Arts (I think), and the ink is a fluid chalk ink.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday -- things with wings

Stamplorations spring fling blog hop -- spring 

Word Art Wednesday #750 -- anything goes

Pattie's Creations #242 -- use a stamped or digi image 

 

Gem of a Challenge  -- anything goes

 

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes

 

Crafts Galore Encore #147 -- anything goes

 

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2619 -- anything goes

 

Stamplorations Monthly Challenge -- anything goes 

 

 

 

 

30 years? Really?

 I'm not sure how my son is getting any older when I'm not aging, but here we are. I'm not really sure the big 3-0 is the milestone it used to be, but it seems like a big deal to me. 

 To create the card, I computer-generated the sentiment on white card stock. I selected a range of snippets in different colors and die-cut balloons. To attach the strings, I wrapped the string around the balloon, put a glue dot on the back,  and pressed one end of the string into the glue dot. 

The confetti is stamped in a variety of colors that are close to the balloon colors. (Anyone want to take my bet that he asks "what are all those squiggles?")

After getting that far, I realized my sentiment said "welcome to the big 30" instead of big "3-0". So, printed it out again, cut it with circle die, and cut another snippet into a circle so I could cover up the mistake. No one will ever know.

This card is for these challenges:

Die-cut Divas -- celebration

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- colorful

The Paper Funday #87 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #750 -- anything goes

Pammie's inky Pinkies #2619 -- anything goes

Snippets Playground # 532  -- use Snippets

Polkadoodles Challenge -- anything goes

Digi Chooseday-- Challenge anything goes 

 

 

So many die-cuts

 I rarely think to include scoring on my card, but SCS showcased a scoring technique that allows you to create a shaped scored area. (I used washi to hold the larger of the label dies in place, scored the white panel, then used two sizes of dies to create the frame and adhered it so the scoring showed through the frame.)

To decorate the frame, it was run through a Swiss dot EF to give more texture. Many flowers were die-cut from snippets of yellow, lavender, pink and green cardstock, then layered on top of each other to create the flowers and leaves. Snippets were also used for the blue frame and mat under the sentiment. The white panel was attached to a blue base card.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Double Trouble #215 -- 3 layers, 2 shapes, 1 dry-embossed element + option of flowers + entered in Beautiful Blossoms Challenge 

Beautiful Blossoms #40 -- floral

The Paper Funday #86 -- die-cuts or punches

A Cut Above -- pastels/die cuts

Snippets Playground 531-- use snippets (all the elements from colored card stock are cut from snippets)

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2617 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #750   -- anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday  -- anything goes 

 

What cat isn't quirky?

One of my favorite techniques is paper piecing, demonstrated here with this cute cat. I stamped the image on cream card stock, then again on striped paper.  The cat's body, minus the tail, was cut from the striped paper and applied to the main image. Also stamped the mouse and sentiment. The floorboards were dran by hand. The Try a Sketch On Tuesday sketch provided a chance to add some more funky patterned papers to the mix. The main panel is cut with Stamplorations funky stitching die for just another layer of quirky. 

This card is entered in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - quirky

Double Trouble #214 -- 3 patterned papers, two colors, 1 image + TSOT 

Try a sketch on Tuseday  #693 - use sketch

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2615 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #748   -- anything goes

Pattie's Creations #241 -- use an image

Digi Choosday  -- anything goes

Gem of a Challenge  -- anything goes

Polkadoodles challenge  -- anything goes 

Tulip birithday

 My MIL's birthday is coming up, and I was inspired to make this card for her by the Inspiration Station prompt photo this month, with pink flowers and a touch of yellow. The flower image is from Taylored Expressions, and it's colored with pencils. The "happy" die-cut is from Stamplorations, and the with-embossed "birthday" is from Smartworks.

The embossed panel is on foam tape -- not sure why it looks so flat on the lower right corner. Tricks of photography, I suppose.

This card is for these challenges:

Inspiration Station #84 -- inspired by flowers and colors in inspo photo

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- birthday

Die Cut Divas --Birthday 

The Paper FunDay #86 -- die cuts

Double Trouble #213 -- something anything (3 colors, 2 die-cuts, 1 image)

Word Art Wednesday #746  -- anything goes

Pammies Inky Pinkies #2614 -- anything goes

Pattie's Creations #241  -- use an image 

CAS Hyacinths

 Celebrating spring with some grape hyacinths, loosely watercolored. (The mats are dark purple, not black). 

This card is entered in these challenges

Beautiful Blossoms -- anything floral

Simon Says Stamp Monday -- Beautiful blooms

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- clean and simple

Winter Wonderland

 

 

 

Does the silhouette deer look odd next to the detailed tree? I had planned to use a die-cut tree outline, until I discovered this previously stamped and die-cut tree and decided to use it. The tree has white Stickles on it for the snow. I can't decide how I feel about the flatness of the scene (although the tree is on foam tape and I did sponge around the edges of the blue panel, but the ink is too similar to the paper I used for the sky.)

 

This card is entered in these challenges:

Christmas Kickstart #108 -- out of the woods

ABC  Christmas -- F is for foliage (tree)

The Paper Funday #85 -- fur or feathers

Double Trouble #212-- 3 colors, 2 images, 1 sentiment + optional 4-legged animal 

Word Art Wednesday #744 -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2611  -- anything goes

Pattie's Creations #240 -- anything goes 

 

Almost hummingbird season

 

The weather here has been crazy -- record-setting warm one day, freezing the next. Daffodils and flowering trees are starting to bud, and I'm afraid a hard freeze is going to come along and spoil all that spring beauty.

Since spring might be on the way, my thoughts turned to birds. I haven't used this IO hummingbird image in a long time, so I brought it out. At first I tried doing a marker-spritz version, to get a watercolored look, but it just wasn't working. In the end, I stamped it on watercolor paper and colored it with watercolors. For the background panel, I used the technique where you ink up the EF, run the paper through, and get color on the debossed areas. (I'm sure there's a name for it.)

All the papers used on this card are snippets, mostly in shades of green that seem more harmonious IRL.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday -- a bit of green

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- a bit of green

Double Trouble #211 -- 3 layers, 2 colors, 1 image

The Paper Funday #85-- fur or feathers

Triple B -- bird

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2610 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #742 -- anything goes

Snippets playground #527 -- use snippets (everything on the card)

 

 

Vintage rust

I got a piece of Stamplorations new Collage papers and decided to go vintage on a card. This paper is from the Faded Botanicals set. Since the flower is so pretty, I wanted to leave it largely visible.  I  used sentiments from Stamploration's Bloomfully Remember stamp set, stamped and heat embossed with an old embossing powder I have called Woven Tapestry from Personal Stamp Exchange.  It gives a slightly faded, distressed look to the sentiment and around the  edges of the panel.

To add to the vintage feel, I tried doing a faux rust technique. I found a YouTube video that called for acrylic paint, glue and cinnamon to create faux rust, but the result is an overall rust effect (see photo to the right), and I didn't want that much rust. So I decided to create my own technique. I took chipboard, covered it with Versamark, then applied silver EP and heated it. Then I mixed white glue with some brown and orange flocking material (Oh, the goodies I have stashed away!), applied it to the edges of the chipboard and let it dry. It's passable rust; if I do it again I'd add more of the orange flocking. (Cinnamon would work, too, but since I have this flocking I'll nver use for anything else, why not use it?)

    

This card is entered in these challenges:

Stamplorations -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #742   -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinki'es #2610  -- anything goes

CRAFT #775  -- anything goes

Gem of a Challenge  -- anything goes

Digi Choosday  -- anything goes

Polkadoodles  -- anything goes 

Cheery chicks

 I went cute and country with this card. The chicken and chicks are from an Alley Way set. They were colored with pencils and fussy cut. I used a marker and colored pencil to create the little tufts of grass. The sunflower ribbon adds another touch of cute and cheerful, and the gingham pattern background adds to the country feel.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Make it Cute.

Moving Along with the Times #187: Birds and Bees

The Paper Funday #85: Fur or feathers

Creative Inspirations: cute critters

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2609: Anything goes 

Word Art Wednesday #742: Anything goes 

Triple B --  birds/blooms

DigiChoosday -- Anything goes

CRAFT #775 -- Anything goes 

3 panels, embossed

 Today's card was inspired by the Beautiful Blossoms mood board photo and the Try a Sketch on Tuesday sketch. The mood board featured a vase with an array of purple, yellow and white flowers. I paired a digi image with a stamped sentiment for the focal point. For the background panel, I found snippets of yellow and lavender patterned papers that worked well together and enhanced the main image. After taping the three strips together, I ran them through an embossing folder. (It's called Textile and it's very old -- I think the first EF I purchased. I mention this because a few weeks ago someone posted a picture on FB trying to get info on the EF; since I still have the original packaging I answered. )

This card is entered in these challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms -- florals

Double Trouble #210 -- 3 colors, 2 pattern papers, one  embossed element + TSOT

Try a Sketch on Tuesday #689

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2608 -- anything goes

Crafters Cafe #327 -- for the girls

Word Art Wednesday #740 -- anything goes 

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes 

 

Music fun

:

 

       I found this cute digi image, called IPod Panda from Kitty Bee, and thought it would make a fun card (I read that wired headphones are making a comeback, although I've never completely given mine up). The image is colored with pencils, die-cut with a stitched square die, and matted on a green/red/blue/white patterned paper. I cut a tag from the same paper and added some die-cut some music notes. After figuring out where to place those two items, I black-embossed the sentiment on a coordinating patterned paper and added a ribbon on the tag. 

This card is entered in these challenges

Double Trouble #210 -- 3 colors, 2 patterned papers, 1 embossed element

Word Art Wednesday #740 -- anything goes

Stamplorations -- anything goes with an image

Digi Choosday -- anything goes 

Polkadoodles -- anything goes 

 Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2607  -- anything goes

 

Shabby chic collage

 

The Double D Challenge is to do a shabby chic design. That's not my typical style, for sure, but that's what makes it a challenge.  I made a shabby-chic/vintage collage.

I started with a piece of patterned paper with an extremely realistic pattern of buttons. (Did it fool you?) On top of that I layered white rick rack (which ended up getting almost completely covered as I progressed), some postage themed ephemera, a torn ticket, and an acrylic oval sentiment. Then I die-cut a few Tim Holtz wildflowers and sponged them with light pink and pale green inks.  A brown piece of baker's twine finishes it off.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Double D -- vintage/shabby chic

Word Art Wednesday #739 -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2606 -- anything goes

 

 

Splatters away

 This card features a background technique Ardyth has made a couple of videos about. Basically it involves using watercolors to create loose designs, and adding to the work until you like the results. This background features stripes of watercolor, augmented by stripes of a rosy/gold glittery watercolor. I also added splatters of the glittery gold and navy blue watercolors to add more interest. The background is fun, but it's a little much for a whole card front, so I added a fun die-cut to break it up.

This card is entered in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday -- spritz/splatter

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2606 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #739 -- anything goes

A Cut Above -- use a die-cut

Crafts Galore Encore -- Anything goes

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes 

 

Musical ornament

 

I am always amazed to see what old blog posts of mine are currently getting views. Recently I noticed that a card  I made more than a decade ago was getting a lot of views. I decided to make an updateed, musical-themed version of the card, which used ribbon behind a ornament-shaped aperture.

For this card, I die-cut a tag, then die-cut the ornament shape out of it. Cut the ornament again from green cardstock, placed the ribbon over the green ornament, and inlaid it into the tag. The background layers include sheet music and a strip embossed with musical notes for some texture. 

This card is entered in these  challenges:

Christmas Kickstart #107 -- Christmas Singalpng

Simon Says Stamp Monday -- add texture

ABC Christmas -- anything Christmas

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2605 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #738 -- anything goes

CRAFT #773 -- anything goes

Crafts Galore Encore #144 -- anything goes

  

Pink Christmas

 Non-traditional Christmas colors but fun, right?

Stamped, gold-embossed, and die-cut Christmas tree from pink carfd stock. Added gold stickles. Mounted on stitched panel, then on pink panel. Sentiment is gold embossed on card base.

This card is for these challenges:

Christmas Kickstart #106 -- dreaming of a pink Christmas

ABC Christmas A=anything Christmas, B=Bright

CRAFT #772 -- Christmas

A Cut Above -- use a die-cut 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #736 -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2604 -- anything goes

Gem of a Challenge -- anything goes

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes

 

Bird on a branch

 Die-cut bird with color sponged on. To create the "branch," I took a length of thin brown ribbon, doubled it, and tied a series of knots. (I tried this many years ago and totally forgot about the technique until I recently saw a photo the card I made.) Sentiment is gold embossed. 

This card is entered in these challenges: 

Simon Says Stamp Monday -- things with wings

Triple B  -- must use bird, blossom or butterfly

The Paper Funday #83 -- anything goes

Crafts Galore Encore -- anything goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2603 -- anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #736 -- anything goes

 

Digi Chooseday -- anything goes