Some Ombré Cards

Hey there - hope you're having a great week! Last night I watched Card Chaos Episode #32 where Irene Smith and a guest took turns making a card in 15 minutes. The theme was ombré & I had to play along! Here's my first card - made it in just under 15:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio pastel A2 card

Stamps w/dies - Inky Stamper Dragonfly & Butterfly;

Stamps - Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar Day 2

Dies - Hero Arts Tag Frames Infinity Dies

Other - foam tape; Copic Markers;

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink;

Broken China & Faded Jeans Distress Inks

I started with a pale blue A2 card and applied a medium and a darker blue ink to form an ombré background. I already had the dragonfly and butterfly stamped in the stash. Same with the sentiment label which, by the way, is from the 2024 Spellbinders Advent calendar. I'm making each daily item from 12/2024 during February & had stamped it earlier in the day yesterday. I'm really trying to use that NBUS!! The bugs are also used for the first time here.

I colored the previously stamped images very quickly since I was under the time crunch. After deciding where the bugs would go, I stamped the dashed trails & popped the bugs onto the card with foam tape, then added the sentiment.

Card two went a lot quicker:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts CL402 Valentine Sayings (retired)

Stencil - TCW Texture Love (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies;

Poppystamps Vintage Scalloped Heart

(retired at PS but still HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Other - foam tape; Worn Lipstick, Barn Door 

& Fired Brick Distress Inks; EKSuccess puffy hearts

For this one, I started with a pink ombré card base, then stenciled over it with ombré reds. Next I die cut an ombré pink heart and a dark pink scalloped heart and layered them. Stamped the sentiment in red and added some red puffy hearts. Popped the heart onto the card with foam tape and trimmed the overhang. Only took 10 minutes to create!

Card one will go Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 & also followed her IDEAS project (I for inks this week) since I made the inky background. Card two was made with Color Hues Challenge #126 in mind - Red and Pink.

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!

Another Easter card

Hi everyone - I have a quick post today. I wanted to play at a few challenges and made an Easter card before chorus last night. Just didn't have a chance to blog it until now.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Spring; scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Easter Set for Archivers (retired);

My Favorite Things August 2018 Freebie

Dies - Hero Arts Happy Easter Stamp Cut XL;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; Park Lane gem;

flowers from the bits box

It's been a while since I've played at Just Us Girls and Lisa (My Paper Tales) is hosting; thought I'd have a go at her gorgeous moodboard:

I purchased the new Hero Arts Easter Stamp & Cut from their February release - just using it here for the first time. I die cut the Happy Easter words twice and layered with one as a shadow. Next I cut the outline twice. Used one outline for the words and the other as a shadow. Adhered them overlapping a bit onto a stitched rectangle cut from a green plaid & added to an A2 card. Next I stamped and fussy cut a bunny and a lamb from old Hero Arts and MFT. Colored them with neutral Copics. Grabbed some bitty flowers (probably from Poppystamps &/or Spellbinders) from my bits box & layered them. Added those three elements, evoking some of the inspiration photo squares, around the sentiment. A small gem to the flower center finished the card.

I'm linking up to Just Us Girls Challenge #767 and to Color Hues #106 Lemon and Lime (was thinking of them when I die cut my sentiment). Also joining at Darnell's March IDEAS project where Anything Goes this week and to NBUS Challenge #72 since my sentiment dies were newly used.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you're having a crafty week!!

 

 

Pink Ornament on Aqua

Happy Sunday, everyone - I spotted Color Hues Challenge #99 yesterday and just had to play along! Marcia is hosting and chose Pink/Aqua as her color combo - so yummy!! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Recollection top fold A2 card; 

scraps; striped by unk; Betterpress Porcelain;

Dies - Simon Says Stamp Reeded Ornament;

My Favorite Things Blueprints 26 (bow);

Impression Obsession Pine Branch (retired at IO 

but a couple left at Frantic Stamper HERE);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set 

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders Seasons Greetings Evergreens

Other - foam tape; Hero Arts enamel dots

I just received an order from Simon Says Stamp last week. I couldn't resist their Reeded Ornament set from the new Festive Fun collection. It's getting first play on this card. I used a tried & true sketch of an ornament hanging from pine boughs. 

I die cut some aqua striped paper (it was a rogue piece, not with a pad so brand unk) using a stitched rectangle. Added to an A2 card. Next I cut two pine boughs from some aqua scraps (paper brand unk - might be MFT) & then the ornament from pink scraps (again, maybe MFT). The ornament hanger was cut from scraps of a neutral silver Tim Holtz kraft metallic. Assembled and added to the card. The Betterpressed sentiment came from the Christmas bits box. Die cut a bitty bow from a fave MFT Blueprints set & added it to the ornament along with a gem - done! 

I'll also play at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge #260 using the bottom horizontal row - Die Cut, Metallic Element & Festive Sentiment. And also at Darnell's November NBUS Challenge #68 since my ornament is newly used.

That's it for today, friends. I'm very behind on Craft Roulette - went to a party Friday night so missed the LIVE. Haven't watched the replay yet but hope to get to it later today...

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!! 

Floral Celebration Threefer

Hey everyone - hope all is well with you! I'm back with my second entry of three allowed at Just Us Girls Challenge #741 (Anything Goes Stencil Week) and third of three at Color Hues #93 (Orange and Yellow), plus I have a couple bonus cards.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections yellow glitter;

Paper Studio pastel A2 card; scraps;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Press Plate with Stencils - Spellbinders Floral Celebration and Stencil Bundle 

Press Plate with Dies - Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments 

Dies - Hero Arts Tag Frames Infinity Dies;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Park Lane gems; various inks; foam tape

I pressed the new-to-me Floral Celebration plate using Bark ink & colored in orange/yellow/brown (neutrals allowed) using the coordinating stencils. It's a 6 step process and I have a photo of step 6 along with the inks I used (lower right ink is a Hero Arts gold):

There was room at the top of my 5x7" panel to press a couple of sentiments which I did using Saffron ink. I die cut both plus some shadow layers. I die cut the floral panel with three different stitched rectangles from the same AJVD set so I had two extras for bonus cards:

Additional supplies: Scrappy Tails dies from Bloom Trio Bundle;

My Favorite Things plaid paper & scraps

Additional supplies: Elizabeth Craft Designs retired stencil

Spellbinders All You Need Sentiments

That's it for today! I'll also send card one to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #65 since my press plate bundle is newly used here.

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

More Orange and Yellow

Happy Monday everyone!! Since it's the third Monday of the month, Darnell (djkardkreations) and her IDEAS program participants are using E for embossing (wet or dry). I had the heat tool out for an upcoming Die Cut Diva post so went with wet embossing:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White;

Paper Studio pastel A2 card; My Mind's Eye patterned

Stamps - Penny Black Soft Wings & Eloquence

Dies - Taylored Expressions Easy Strips 1/4 & Easy Strips 1/8

Other - Hero Arts Lemon Drop, Creamscicle & Pitch Black inks; 

Memento Tangelo ink; clear embossing powder;

Versamark ink

I decided to combine this theme with a couple of challenges & use up leftover Kaleidoscope strips from previous cards. Check out the current Group of Seven Cardmakers technique post to learn more. Since my strips were Orange & Yellow, I made another card for Color Hues #93. I chose a beautiful butterfly from Penny Black as my focal point so it work for the August Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes (optional flowers).

I stamped and embossed the butterfly, then blended yellow & orange inks onto it. I've owned the stamp since 2012 & don't believe the coordinating die existed at that time. Didn't buy it later so I had to fussy cutting the image. Added it to a card onto which I'd arranged some patterned strips in the Kaleidoscope fashion. Stamped a sentiment from a PB clear set & left the rest plain. My card will go to a chorus friend who contracted Covid while on vacation - she's doing better after taking Paxlovid.

Speaking of plain, here's a bonus. I did a diagonal Kaleidoscope pattern on a second card and added a foiled sentiment (hard to photograph) from Memory Box (thanks Dave!). Simon Says Stamp has them - Happy Birthday Foil Greetings Black Circle Tabs. That uses up the strips I'd die cut.

That's it for today, friends. Chorus is singing at a senior's complex tonight so I'd better start organizing things. Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Kaleidoscope birthday cards

Hi all - TGIF!! I've been meaning to play with along with the current Group of Seven Cardmakers technique - Kaleidoscope. All seven shared wonderful cards on their technique post & it looked like such fun! Loll's beautiful reminder card got me motivated to try the technique this morning. And after seeing Marcia's lovely card for Color Hues #93, I decided to use the Orange/Yellow combo.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card

My Mind's Eye patterned; scraps of yellow

Stamps - My Favorite Things Itty Bitty Basics (retired)

Dies - Taylored Expressions Easy Strips 1/4 & Easy Strips 1/8

Poppystamps Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel Set

Other - Hero Arts Lemon Drop & Creamscicle inks; 

Memento Tangelo ink; enamel dots

An MME paper pad (The Sweetest Thing - Tangerine) with orange & yellow patterns was sitting on the table from a Diva post coming up next week. I pulled out an orange floral print which had some soft yellow in the background. I brushed yellow ink on some of the flowers and orange on others for some interest. Die cut the 6x6 piece using two TE strip dies, then cut the balance in half. Here's a view of the paper on the Vagabond:

I arranged the strips towards the bottom as Loll did on her card but I left no spaces. Stamped the MFT sentiment in orange. Next I cut some daisies from a Poppystamps set & arranged on the card. Added some enamel dots to the flower centers - done!

Since I had so many strips left, I made another card - this time orienting my strips vertically & leaving some space between them:

Additional supplies: Paper Studio pastel orange A2 card;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Park Lane gem

That's it for today, friends! It's a gloomy day here so perfect for staying inside to craft. 

Thanks for visiting!

Stitched Bow Christmas Card

Hello & TGIF everyone! I wanted to do another Christmas card for the current Color Hues Challenge #91 featuring Red & Green. My stash of cards is getting bigger but I still can use more! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler;

Paper Studio A2 card; Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Spellbinders Stitched All Wrapped Up (DOMST-Jul24)

Letterpress w/die - Spellbinders Betterpress Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

Other - DMC floss #347 

Spellbinders Betterpress Leaf ink

I die cut all the bow pieces, most twice and some three times. The stitching dies are separate from the outlines so you could use the bow without stitching. I used them on the appropriate pieces, stitched with DMC floss (3 strands), then backed with an outline piece. Not sure if Spellbinders gives this as a tip but I find it protects the stitching. It also gives a smooth backing to adhere to the card. The extra bow loops and tail pieces were added for dimension - here's a view of this:

I think the dimension adds a lot. This view better shows the bow's deep red than the overhead photo. The green looks more minty here but it is a deeper green in real life. I debated stamping some text on the card base but decided to leave it plain; the bow is the star here! Stitching while watching television is very relaxing; I did the bow last night watching reality tv. Assembled the bow on the card this morning and added a Betterpressed sentiment from the stash. Done!

I was excited to get to this stitching die set so soon after the July Spellbinders box arrived; usually I'm much slower!! I'll add my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge since the dies got first play today.

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!

Poinsettia Collage

Hello & welcome! I'm popping in with a quick post for a couple of challenges. The current Color Hues Challenge #91 features Red & Green - perfect for Christmas cards which I desperately need. For the current Day of the Month Card Club #65, they're celebrating postage stamps. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card; scraps of red & black

Dies - Waffle Flower Postage Collage &

Christmas Banners

Stencils - Waffle Flower Postage Collage Poinsettia

Other - Hero Arts red and green inks;

Park Lane gems

I stenciled the 4-step design onto Neenah. My Fiesta Red ink reads pinkish in the photo but it is red! I applied it lightly for the contrast with the medium red (unk name - from an old MMH kit). I used Red Royal for the flower centers but then covered most of it up with gems! Greens were Key Lime, another no-name one from an MMH kit, and Green Hills. Next I die cut the stenciled panel with the collage die (b4 adding the gems!). Adhered to A2 card. Die cut the banner from red and black scraps and layered for a shadow effect. Added to the card - done! 

You often see the collage in landscape but I chose to orient it as a portrait so my sentiment banner would stretch across the card. I could have/should have added some detail to the poinsettias but for this quick and easy card, I kept it simple. Oops - also meant to stamp some of the cancellation marks from the new WF Postage Collage North Pole Stamp Set - oh well.... 

I had placed a pre-order with Waffle Flower and just got the new Christmas bundle in the mail on Saturday - proud to use new stuff so quickly!! I'll add my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge since the poinsettia stencil set & banner die got first play today.

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

Rose Birthday

Hi & Happy Monday! I was inspired by Darnell (djkarkreations) who posted last week about her new plan to start a crafty routine on Feb. 5th. She's using the aconym IDEAS to do something each Monday and we're invited to play along! Luckily, it was right after lunch that I remembered to check her blog post (gorgeous blossom cards!) regarding this week's use of Inks. So off I went & came up with this card:

Supplies: Paper - Michael's A2 card; Hero Arts Pitch Black; 

Strathmore Cold Press Watercolor Paper;

Porcelain Betterpress Paper; scrap of grey

Dies - Spellbinders Peekaboo Trellis Panels (retired);

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Betterpress with Dies - You are Everything Sentiments

Other - Park Lane gems; Betterpress Black ink;

Hero Arts Azalea ink & Red Shimmer Spray

I was doing some crafty clean-up and found a Spellbinders die set from August 2022 - an APG (Amazing Paper Grace - they don't carry this line anymore). It hadn't been used yet so I decided today was the day. I went with the print-making coloring technique that Kathy Racoosin shared HERE.

I die cut the set's roses from watercolor paper and used another piece as a work surface while inking them. Also sprayed the larger outline rose with HA shimmer spray. There was a big blob of that on the watercolor work surface so I used that (once dry) to cut the background to the smaller rose. I die cut part of the work surface with a stitched rectangle, getting some of the stencil effect and shimmer sprayed area. I die cut a black mat layer and then the leaves from a scrap of grey. Added everything to a pale grey A2 card along with a Betterpressed sentiment. A few pink gems completed the card. 

I'm adding it to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge since the roses/leaves dies were newly used. Since I used the colors for Just Us Girls Challenge #712 & Color Hues Challenge #80 (neutrals allowed), I'll also add my card there. 

Thanks for stopping and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Rose Heart

Hey everyone - I'm back with another Valentine card! I had to pop down to my hometown yesterday for a funeral (cousin from Dad's generation passed) so today I'm catching up on some blog commenting. I spotted Betty's (created by bjk) gorgeous Boxwood Heart card for the current Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #240 with Vicky's fun board. Thought I'd play along - here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; Neenah white;

Hero Arts Pitch Black; Tim Holtz Jewel Kraft Metallic

Dies - Hero Arts Jan 2024 My Monthly Hero kit (heart and LOVE)

Stencil - Waffle Flower Postage Collage Rose

Other - sentiment strip (Taylored Expressions maybe?);

Altenew Tea Party enamel dots

Here's Vicky's board; I used the left vertical row (Enamel Dots/Stencil/Rose flower):

I made a few cards (see them HERE, if desired) using Waffle Flower's Rose Collage Stencil. I didn't want to make another one of those but thought it would be fun to use one of the set's layers to stencil a bunch of roses and then die cut into a heart shape. So that's what I did! I used various shades of Hero Arts pink and red inks and didn't mind if I overlapped them a bit. That same stencil has some bitty hearts so I used some Neon Pink ink to stencil a few over the roses. Next I die cut it with a heart die from the January MMH kit; also cut a second heart in red glitter for a shadow. 

Next I die cut 4 LOVEs from black and one from red metallic cardstock. Layered for dimension and used one black for a shadow. Added to the heart with a sentiment strip and then to an A2 card. Some heart-shaped enamel dots from Altenew - love, love, love - finished the card. Please excuse the glare off the red metallic - made my O look like it has a wrinkle - so hard to photograph!!

Since I used the colors for Just Us Girls Challenge #712 & Color Hues Challenge #80, I'll add my card there too. Will also send my card to Addicted to CAS #251 where the code word is HEARTS; spotted Jo's lovely entry after I'd finished my card & thought I'd play along. Great minds think alike with the big hearts!

Thanks for stopping and enjoy the rest of your weekend!