Embossed leather floral

Hey there - I rarely post twice in the same day but I was inspired for Let's Squash It!! Challenge 11 to try embossing leather as Gail (Crafty Nomad) did in this post!!

After making my earlier card with embossed vellum, I went on my usual Target run for a Starbucks and some essentials. Our local Hobby Lobby resides in the next strip mall over so I headed there to look at their leather. Much of it was very thick and inappropriate for my idea, then I spotted this thin, gorgeous lime green stuff! I had so much fun with the Altenew 3D embossing folder earlier that I had to try it in leather. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio black

Leather -  Hobby Lobby Asst Leather Bright Solids/Naturals

Embossing folder - Altenew Decorative Florals 3D

Dies - Whimsy Stamps Wonky Stitched Rectangles

Other - SSS sentiment strips

First I die cut a wonky rectangle from a leather strip trimmed off the large sheet. Next I embossed it with the Altenew ef & glued to my card. Popped on some sentiment strips - done! Do I ever love this card and it's no thicker than it would be with heavyweight card stock. Hobby Lobby had some other colors of this leather so I'm thinking my future holds a return visit!!

Here's a bonus card that I'm not entering at LSI because the limit is 3 and I've got some cool vinyl I'll try for my 3rd entry.

Supplies: Paper - Lawn Fawn plaid;

Paper Studio pink & black; Crate Paper Pretty Party

Leather -  Hobby Lobby Asst Leather Bright Solids/Naturals

Dies - Whimsy Stamps Wonky Rectangles;

Hero Arts Birthday Stamp and Cut;

Spellbinders Floral Oval (retired);

A Jillian Vance Design Mini Slim Backdrop Set

Sunny Studio Botanical Backdrop Die

Embossing Folder - Sunny Studio Cable Knit

Other - Honey Bee gems

I die cut & embossed this leather panel as a trial piece. The embossing folder I used is not a 3D one so you can see the detail is much softer but still present and lovely. The cable knit reminds me of leaves for some reason so I popped a flower onto it. I have a pile of Spellbinders and Sunny Studio flower pieces laying around, leftover from making "kits" for my sister Tami. She wants to make cards with me but requested pieces to be cut out for her already - she calls them kits. We'll be doing cards with kits on Sunday....

Well, I'd better get something done around the house today. Thanks for visiting - again!!

Embossed vellum

Hello crafty friends - hope your day is going well. I typically start the morning with breakfast at my laptop visiting my friends' blogs. Today I got busy on a card for an upcoming Die Cut Diva challenge (no hints - sorry) and forgot all about breakfast until that card was done!! 

Once in front of the laptop with my Cheerios I spotted Gail's Crafty Nomad post with inspiration for Let's Squash It !! (which is much further down the alphabetical blog list). Quickly finished breakfast and off I went. I made this simple card for August's Let's Squash It!! Challenge 11 - Not Paper, Not Card:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card; Paper Studio black

Embossing folder - Altenew Decorative Florals 3D

Vellum - Stamp On It Irridescent Mix (sadly retired)

Other - Copic Markers (greys, golds and V05);

CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Happy

Hi I'm Linda & I am a Paper Hoarder!! I have this lovely coverweight vellum purchased at a stamp expo many years ago and I use it sparingly, especially now that it's retired. Luckily I knew right where to find it in my stash - it works perfectly with embossing folders, giving a crisp image with little tearing. The piece I chose has a pale silver sheen to it - so beautiful. I embossed with the Altenew ef and added some Copics to the back. Glued to a black mat. Oops, some of my glue wasn't hidden good enough and showed through as grey. I took some grey Copics and tried shading it on top of the vellum. Looks much better in real life than in the photo (maybe I'm kidding myself...). I also applied a little more gold to the top of the vellum flower centers - done! Makes an elegant wedding card, I think.

The vellum pack contains assorted colors, including a gorgeous gold so I'm sure to be back with another card for this fun challenge. The vellum was a handy choice but I'd like to look around for some other mediums to try. How about you - what would you emboss if not paper or card?

Thanks for stopping!!

Another Bookshelf!

Hey crafty friends - I'm sharing a card for the current Day of the Month Card Club challenge. I was introduced to this challenge by Gundi (papierelle) who I met through the Card Chain Challenge. She's on the Design Team for Day of the Month Card Club and you'd think I'd go there more often. This, however, is only my second time playing.

They're celebrating Book Lover's Day this month - yay! Definitely something I can get into - can't tell you how many books I've read this year - oodles! I'm currently reading the International Bestseller "The Jane Austen Society" by Natalie Jenner & enjoying it immensely! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; Ms Sparkle A2 card

Stamps - Hero Arts Bookcase Peek-a-Boo Parts

Other - Copic Markers; clear lacquer; Honey Bee gems

The image fills up an A2 card and takes plenty of time to color and shade. I spent several hours on it yesterday and probably should've done more! I added clear lacquer to the piggy and to anything that would be glass. I stamped the sentiment HELLO in about the only open spot and highlighted it with the 3 gems. If desired, see what I did with this image previously HERE. I did Kathy's (The Daily Marker) 30-day Coloring Challenge last year but I couldn't summon the energy to do the one going on right now. Kudos to those who are doing it, including Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) who's done some incredible pieces of art!! 

And here's a bonus - a bookmark:

Supplies: Paper - Momenta; Neenah

Stamps - A Jillian Vance Design Coffee and Books

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Minnie Pearl Bookmark Set

and Quatrefoil Bookmark Overlay

Other - Copic Markers; upcycled tassel

I made this recently for a friend and hadn't shared it yet. I absolutely love the bookmark products at A Jillian Vance Design (sadly I don't have them all...), especially the Quatrefoil overlay - so pretty!! Gundi made bookmarks for her DT project & asked if anyone would send her a bookmark - I will! I made one similar to this for Gundi. It'll go out to her in tomorrow's mail. 

Thanks for visiting and happy reading (and crafting too!)!!

Sled Mini Slim

Hey friends - hope you're enjoying your weekend!! I'm trying to catch up on Christmas card production and what better way than to enter some challenges?! Jo & elf Hilary offered up such an amazing, detailed inspiration photo for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge 53 that I had to play again! This time, the little sled up against the fireplace (to right of the tree) caught my eye.

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Christmas Collage;

Paper Studio holiday & kraft;

Hero Arts Decorative Woodgrain Vellum

Stamp w/die - Hero Arts From the Vault Home Scene

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Antique Sled and Skis Set

and Mini Slimline Backdrop Set

Other - Park Lane gems; foam tape;

May Arts string twine; Copic Markers;

Simon Says Stamps Sentiment Strips Extra Large Christmas

My AJVD order with the sled just arrived and I had to have a first play with it. Cut the sled from kraft card stock and shaded a bit, then added the string twine. Cut 3 pine boughs from the same set. Stamped, colored, and diecut the Hero Arts wreath plus an extra bow which I fussy cut & popped on with foam tape. Die cut 4 layers of the backdrop set - 2 for the card base, a patterned layer and a woodgrain vellum layer. My patterned deer paper echoes the wooden deer right in front of the fireplace. Assembled the pieces & added a sentiment strip (edges distressed and inked for a vintage feel) - done.

I'm also adding my sled card to the current NBUS Challenge 29 since the sled die set is new. And while I'm at it, here's a card I made with the other bear Gundi (papierelle) sent me with her July CCC card. Thanks again, Gundi!! I used patterned papers from the same BoBunny pad & sentiment strip pack I used above, plus BoBunny Winter Getaway. I hand wrote the Merry Christmas in the crossword blocks.

Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!!

 

Belle Ornament

Hey crafty friends! I missed a few CAS Christmas challenges this year but I got back on track (barely) in July. Thought I'd work on my August one right away - Decorations - yay, right up my alley!

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card; Neenah white;

Paper Studio colored and glitter cardstock

Dies - Birch Press Design Ornament Basics &

Belle Ornament Layer Set

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Ornaments Stamp & Cut (retired)

Other - Park Lane gem stickers; May Arts ribbon

Birch Press Designs was our awesome July sponsor for Die Cut Divas & I loaded up on supplies, including two ornament sets. I went a different direction with my DCD inspiration cards and thought I'd finally give some love to my new ornament dies. I was a bit surprised, given other Birch Press layered sets I've seen, that the ovals around the outside match up on every layer. Just the oval at the bottom has the "eye". This is a good thing - sometimes the "eyes" get a bit much for me. I cut my base layer from white and then the Belle layers from scraps of red, green, and yellow. The topper was cut from gold glitter paper and I used gems for the hanger. I stamped my sentiment right down to the base layer, saving the labels that cut with every ornament layer. The extra labels will be great for other projects or more ornaments if I decide to layer them in. 

I'm adding this to the current NBUS challenge too since this is the first card I've made with my new ornament sets. Thanks everyone for the fun challenges - don't know how motivated I'd be without them!!

Thanks for visiting!!

 

Merry Garland

I was excited to see the new Christmas Kickstart Challenge posted - for #53 Jo and elf Hilary have a lovely and very detail-loaded inspiration photo! My eye went right to the garland hanging from the fireplace - here's my take on it:

Supplies: Paper - Lawn Fawn Let's Bokeh in the Snow;

Doodlebug Friendly Forest (striped for letters);

Paper Studio; Hero Arts; Neenah 

Stamps - Penny Black Christmas Story;

Taylored Expressions Gifted Background

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 21 (retired);

Honey Bee Oval Thin Frames

QuicKutz Evergreen Punches (retired)

a retired alphabet I think was Taylored Expressions??

Other - Copic Markers & Doodlebug Sprinkles;

foam tape

A bunch of teal ornaments on the tree lead me to pick a teal card base. I thought the neutral bokeh was a nice background for the colorful toppings. Spotting the little pine trees, I went for some die cut ones. After die cutting the trees, I decided to stamp them with text using a PB background. I just inked it facing up and pressed my trees onto the stamp. A bit of a mess on the fingers, oh well... The tree die cuts a row of alternating styles so I used them that way, deciding to make the second and fourth ones 3d. I cut another couple trees, scored them vertically down the center and glued to the flat ones just along the score line. It gives lovely dimension and will flatten for mailing. 

In the inspiration photo the banner elements seem to be hanging from a white ribbon. I used two parts of a Honey Bee oval frame for mine. I didn't like the letters alone so decide to incorporate the white dots from the photo as circles behind. I raised them with foam tape. On the extra 2 dots, I added some striped presents like the ones under the tree in the inspiration photo. The space between the trees looked empty so I thought of adding circles, then found the rainbow enamel dots - so fun!!

That's it for today, crafty friends - hope you have a great week! Thanks for stopping!!

July 2021 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Yes, friends, it's that time again! Time to reveal cards that flew around the world for the July Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-five people participated in July; you can see the entire chain HERE. My card went to the delightful Nelleke (farmerblog) in the Netherlands:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove White A2 card;

pink, blue and yellow scraps

Stamps - Pink and Main Pocket of Sunshine

Cornish Heritage Farms Denim Background

Hero Arts Color Layering Water Lilies (word friend)

Dies - Pink and Main Pocket of Sunshine

Stencil - Taylored Expressions Here Comes the Sun

Inks - Taylored Expressions Oreo & Pineapple;

Squeezed Lemonade Distress; Hero Arts Navy

Other - Copic Marker Y19; white gel pen;

Hero Arts clear lacquer

I used the sketch - not exact but close enough, I hope! If not, there's always the theme of friendship so I made sure to put the word friend on there!! The rest of the sentiment says Happy Greetings in an unusual but fun font. Isn't that sun the cutest?! I stamped the denim background on blue cardstock - doesn't it look just like a jeans pocket? I love the little sunglasses and Nelleke did too!!

The card below arrived last week from the talented Gundi (papierelle) in Germany - so adorable!! Just love the little bear and Gundi sent me a couple die cuts to play with. Thanks Gundi!!

 

I couldn't resist playing with the white bear Gundi sent. I need Christmas cards so I whipped up this one, so easy with the premade bear!! I gave him some Christmas gifts to hold. I've said it before but I love, love, love the gifts from Taylored Expressions which I stamp and diecut by the dozens. They're ready in a stash to be colored to match any card design. I think this one has a masculine vibe so I'm adding to Tristan's Watercooler Wednesday Challenge All Things Masculine.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove White A2 card;

BoBunny Winter Getaway; Paper Studio red & black

Dies - bear from Gundi;

Taylored Expressions Gifted Cutting Plate;

My Favorite Things Blueprints 32 (retired);

Spellbinders Snowflake Splendor

Stamps - Taylored Expressions Gifted Background

Other - Copic Markers;

CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Christmas

Thanks for visiting and, if you're interested, you can sign up HERE by August 6th to play in the August card chain. Hope you have a crafty day!!