176,177, 178

Simon’s Monday Challenge is NO RULES.  I was inspired by my good friend Angela  to create this card.  Here is a link to hers. I loved using the distress inks to make a soft sky.  I used my very very old Stamping Up cloud stencil which has some stars in the middle of it and the stars looked rather large after I embossed them.  Hmmm.  what to do?  Well a single element wasn’t going to work with those honkin’ big stars.  Maybe my StampScapes would look good on here.  I grounded them out on a hill of green and love the way it turned out.  This will go out to our son-in-law hopefully on time.  I am 21 days ahead of the date.

I used clear embossing powders and heat set the stars after using versa mark ink to rub over the stencil.  Then sponged two colors of Distress inks over the stars.  They resist the color.  Then I misted the card with water so there were no harsh lines.  I dried it with heat gun.  Then stuck a punched circle down and held it in place and went over the circle with the sponge again creating the beautiful moon. 

This uses three different stamps from StampScapes.  The cabin, the windmill and the geese.  It’s always fun to build a scene with their images.

SUPPLIES:

Images: StampScapes

Sentiment: MFP

Clear embossing powder

Distress Inks: Pumice Stone and Broken China

Dies: My Favorite Things

Brad

A little bit of thanks

This is indeed a little card measuring 4.25” x 2.75”.   I had this cup and saucer sitting on my desk for way too many months and wanted to get it onto something.  I decided to make it into a sweet little thank you card.  All from scraps. 

SUPPLIES:

Top Dog Dies

SU Scallop Punch

MFT Scallop border die

Sentiment Hero Arts Clear

Stickles in pink

Tea Dye Distress ink on cup

Technorati Tags: Thank You,Top Dog Dies

Stamp 176 # SU

Still trying to use up the Embrace Life set by SU; I made this wonderful creation with MFT Sketch 169.  Also wanting to add another card to SSS using buttons.  I found this fabulous vintage button in my own button box given to me by my mother-in-law years ago. It works perfectly with the glittery background.

Using some more of that fun burlap was the starting thought.  I started with a Kraft base of MFT card stock and later realized I needed to border it in black for the colors to really shine.

My first step was to use double sided adhesive paper and die cut with the Textle Rectangle Die. I then peeled the layer and sprinkled it with very fine white Stampendous glitter and outlined the die cut with a black marker.  Then I stamped the sentiment SPRING but it looked a bit bare.  I really wanted to use another of my stamps and this one worked well stamped in Distress ink peacock blue.

Now…dig for something to go with.  I found this scrap of mixed media that I had made previously and it was perfect for this.  I did jazz it up a bit more by spreading the same distress ink over it and spraying it with plain water and making a few drops.  Then the top portion, I ran through the Big Shot for a Spring Song theme.  I don’t know the name of this color of MFT card stock but I sure like it.  Adding a scrap of striped paper and layering the burlap piece over it pulled it all together.  I  just snugged the Jumbo Rick Rack Die from MFT close to the previous cut and thus I got two pieces out of one cut.   The Simon Says butterfly has also been hanging around on my desk since last spring and needed using.  I love the sketch challenge to kick off my creativity.  Thanks MFT.  Two of my favorite on line companies. Simon Says and My Favorite Things.

Technorati Tags: Use it up goal,Spring,Thinking of You,Hello,MFT challenge,Simon Says,SU

Fun with SSS & MFT sketch

Simon Says anything goes with buttons.  You can find that challenge by clicking HERE. 

I missed two of the MFT sketch challenges while being away from home but I like to make them anyway.  This was challenge # 167.  I really wanted to try that ZigZag sketch.

A friend sent me some burlap in the mail and this was the first thing I tried it with.  I really like how this all turned out.  I thought the genuine Vintage button would be a nice touch with the burlap.  For the Hello die I cut it four times out of black and then once out of DP and adhered them all together.  I offset the DP one just a tiny bit for a shadow effect.  This was all made from scraps with the exception of the base and burlap.

SUPPLIES:

Sizzix die for mat layer

MFT Happy Hello’s; Large Rick Rack

Creative Memories paper buttons and Vintage Button from Edith.  (she’s 97…she has some cool vintage buttons in her stast)

Technorati Tags: Thinking of You,Hello,Buttons,MFT,Simon Says,Burlap

Stamp 175-All Night Media

Wanting to make a cracked glass image for Simon Says Monday Transparent challenge.  It’s been a long time since I tried that technique and oops I forgot to let it dry before I put it in the freezer.  Ookay, putting it in the freezer without drying it doesn’t work! 

I know it’s another Sympathy card.  It seems there is never a lack for them.  My stash is depleted once again and this one is set to go out to a dear friend that was like a mother to all of us growing up.  She has lost her youngest daughter who was not yet fifty.  She was a tag a long baby and was well loved by all of young teens at the time.  So it is with heavy heart that I mail this card out to the mom.

I’ve put together a bit of tutorial to show how I made the decorative edges for this piece.  None of the other edges I had worked because of the size and shape of this large Spellbinders die cut.  I used the same die for the corners as I did for the matting.

SUPPLIES:

Image: All Night Media

Inks: SU and Staedler Water Color Pencils with water pen brush

Dies: Spellbinders Fancy Oval Large

Cream colored cardstock

Technique: Cracked glass

TIP:  Cover image entirely with Crystal Effects.  LET DRY~ Put in freezer til hardened and then bend it it will crack

Technorati Tags: Use it up goal,Sympathy,Cracked Glass

Stamp # 174

Using a very very old Inkadinkadoo stamp I found it to be the perfect add on for this sympathy card.  using my diffuser mat  to leave the oval opening for stamping in.  I then used Dream Weavers Glossy Black embossing paste with the Stampin Up Brass stencil of sentiments.  Once that dried I added the stamped image, colored it with SU markers and outlined the flowers with a black fine tip marker to help them stand out a bit.

This is the last piece of this beautiful old SU ribbon that I have.  That beautiful organza ribbon, I don’t even know if they sell it any more but I have never had anything tie as nicely as theirs.

I am entering this into Dream Weavers March Madness as I got the idea for using the sentiment stencil from them, so it fits the Thinking Outside the box challenge of digging things out and using them, in many ways. I also used some linen like papers I found in cream and black and it all fit together very nicely.

Technorati Tags: Use it up goal,Stencils,Dream Weaver,Sympathy

Stencils

I have fun using stencils.  This card uses a plastic and a brass stencil.  I wanted to use Wink of Stella on the sentiment but my fine little pen wouldn’t leave enough of a mark on the shiny embossing paste.  I used a textured linen cream paper for the top layer.  I rubbed pumice stone distress ink over the stencils and then pressed it onto the linen card stock.  Love the ancient look of it.  Then I used a brass stencil and shiny embossing paste to emboss the THANKS.  I received the beautiful mat die cut in the mail and thought it made a perfect back ground for this.  Since Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is glitter I wanted to use that goldish glittery piece for the other mat.  I got that in the same box of goodies that I won.

I glittered the Thanks with stickles and a small paint brush.  I found these buttons in my stash, I picked them up on clearance, and they were perfect for this.

SUPPLIES:

Stamping Up Brass Stencil

The Crafters Work Shop Plastic Stencil old watches

My Mind’s Eye buttons

Playing with greys

MFT Sketch Challenge 168 seemed a great way to jumpstart my creativity this morning.  I have never really used much in the grey line of colors.  Now for this layout I am using really really old sizzix papers from way back when sizzix was the only die maker out there and they had these paper packs that were precut to fit those huge dies they had.  It was all fun back then.  I never owned one but used my friends, let’s just say she must have had a lot more storage space than I did. 

Thought process:  Once I decided on grey, I saw this really cool piece of acrylic with grey dots in my stash and thought it would make a really nice strip down the side.  I then went looking for papers to match it and found that Sizzix pack.  (never through things away is my motto)   at least not in the stamping room.

My first inclination was pink but the pinks I have were to warm looking for these cool colored greys.  I chose a cool yellow from my MFT pack.  I switched out the circle for an oval and filled in the top space with a couple of home made small flowers (MFT dies)  I looped some silver thread under the larger flower, stacked the Hello die cut six times, and called it done.

SUPPLIES:

All papers except acrylic are Sizzix

Acrylic piece is The Paper Studio (clearanced )

All dies are My Favorite Things

Blueprints 3 and 5 and Oval Stax 2 and Hello dies

Changing the scenery

Thanks to Dream Weavers  and the Dream It Up Blog I won this fabulous stencil.  I wanted to quick make something with it and when you just come back from twelve days of no stamping at all you have to jump in kind of simply.  This stencil was the perfect way to start.  I am showing this two ways as you could use the first way for a card on it’s own.  Simple, quick, get it in the mail card.  I will enter that version into One Layer Simplicity.  On hind site, if I wanted to keep this as a one layer card I would take a ruler and draw lines around the edges about 1/4 inch in.

But I really had the second version in my mind when I made the card.  I thought it was fun that Susan from Simplicity pulled out her spectrum pads as I had wanted to do the same.  We were just at the Portland Zoo and watched the flamingos.  So goofy standing on one foot most of their lives.

I will also enter this into the Dream Weavers Challenge of March Madness to use things that have gotten kind of forgotten.

Jumping all over here, I love the way the Spectrum Pad transferred it’s texture to the card.  I did spritz it with water to blend the lines a bit so they weren’t quite so stark looking as I ran the pad across a couple of times. The Simplicity challenge was to Just Add Water.  I was surprised it didn’t make any water splotches but maybe misting with a fine spray doesn’t do that.  Also this wasn’t water color paper.  I added the teeniest of gems for the dot over the “I” in the sentiment.   And on the second card I dressed it up with a big gem too.  So there we have a one layer card and a dressed up CAS card.

Technorati Tags: Dream Weaver,Stencils,Birds,Birthday

Tick Tock

I entered this card into Simons Challenge the week of March 10. The challenge was Tick Tock show something that shows the passage of time in some way.

It was the easiest card I have ever made.  The image came from a thrift shop and was given to me. I have no idea whose it is.  I stamped it on ivory textured cardstock with memento brown.  then ran it through the Big Shot with a frame around the photo.  Add some chalk with a Q-tip and added some vintage photo corners that I got out of my mom’s old scrap book album.  So glad I decided to keep them things. 

Stamp 172, 173 Parisian Coffee

I bought this little Parisian set a long time ago thinking I would make cards for my daughter-in-law who teaches French.  It got used a couple of times and then what to do with it?  Can’t make her the same card every year!  So it’s been kind of sitting there and if I really challenged myself I could probably use all the stamps in the set.  VSN on SCS had a challenge to use umbrellas.  Daughter-in-law and Daughter are gong to Paris this spring.  I made a card for Sarah during this challenge so why not make one for Kirstin too.  I don’t think either of them reads my blog so I should be safe.

SUPPLIES:

Image:  I didn’t see a name on the images

Sizzix embossing folder

Technorati Tags: Use it up goal,Paris,France,VSN

Stamp 171

Easy enough they say, to do that blow ink around on your paper with a straw, yeah well that part wasn’t so hard, but what to DO with that glossy blotchy cardstock when you’re done wasn’t such an easy task.  I do however really like how this turned out.  Would I do that technique again?   Only for another challenge.   

SUPPLIES:

Image: JRL large butterfly

Sentiment: Hero Arts clear

Die: Simon says curved banners

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Grapesickle CS  MFT

Staz-on ink ~Viva Liquid Pearls in gold

Stamp 170 Door County Rubber Stamps

In like a lion, out like a lamb.  I am so ready for Lamb weather.  Part of the VSN challenge.  I love this cute little image.  Faux stitching.

SUPPLIES:

Image: Door County Rubber Stamps (see side bar)

DP: FancyPantsDesigh~Park Bench

Flower Recollections

Ribbon: Craftsmart Michaels

Technorati Tags: use it up goal,door County Rubber Stamps,sheep,VSN

next up~multi color

I wanted to get that last piece of that butterfly and grass border off the desk.  This will work for a grad card that will be used in May.

SUPPLIES

Sentiment: You raise me up Simon Says Stamp

Border: scrap

Clouds:  Simon Says

Embossing folder: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots.

#166 around the world

Our daughter and daughter-in-law are going to France this summer.   They will be taking six young people with them.  Our DIL teaches French and she takes the students every year.  I thought this would be a nice send off for our daughter who has never gone before.  I used the chalkboard technique and then adhered the cut out globe to the black piece.  No I didn’t fussy cut between the globe and the stand.  I colored it in with black marker.   That’s your tip for the day.    Faux stitching of course. 

SUPPLIES:

Image: GKD

Sizzix banners, Spellbinders labels

Authentique designer paper

162-163-164-165

Challenge me!  VSN challenged us to use four images on one card.  Here you go.  I always did like this set and rarely use it.  I have also been wanting to use the postage stamp cut that I have had for years.  I see more things coming out using that edge and of course, I want to be On Trend.    Can you tell I’m trying to get my paper button collection used up, well all my buttons for that matter.

SUPPLIES:

IMAGES:  Stampin Up

Button: Creative Memories

Stickles

Die: Sizzix Postage Stamp

Ribbon: Paper Studio

No stamps, new technique

I think I have only attempted this technique once.  Here is a link to the video I watched.  She explained it so much better than the last time I attempted this.  This is for the VSN challenge on SCS and I will be loading it to both places.

Supplies

Patterned papers~ Authentique-Something for all seasons

Die: Blueprint MFT button, Blueprint 6 scallop

SU button

STAMP 161 a little magic

Just a little magic wish.  Made this for my sweet niece who turns thirty nine this year.  She has a special place in my heart because so many people say she reminds them of me.  What’s not to like about that?????  So here you go Ginger, Happy Birthday. 

I received that embossed piece in the mail as a protection for a card that was sent me.  I couldn’t let it go to waste.  What a great back drop for the fairy.

SUPPLIES:

Image: MFT- Make a wish

Die: Spellbinders Fancy tags

Recollections :ribbon and enamel dots

Stamp 160

singing the blues!! I haven’t used blue in a long while.  I don’t think I’ve every inked up this stamp.  it was a rummage sale purchase, the entire set.  so got a few more pieces to use out of it.  I love how it stamped.  I never used that sentiment before either and I almost think it came with this set.  I don’t keep my sentiments with the sets.  I found I was missing out on too many nice sayings b/c they were buried with the sets.  I keep them all in clam shell containers by type.  Sympathy, New Baby, Wedding, Birthday, Thanks, Thinking of You.  It’s a good system for me.  That’s what I do with the wooden ones.  the clear ones all stay with their sets because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to read them.  this way they attach themselves onto that little acrylic sheet and I can see them.  Harder to store all the wooden ones.

SUPPLIES:

Image: Stampin Up

Die: MFT from the blue prints

Punch: Martha Stewart

167,168,169

Thought I would try out that stamp again with a different background.  This card uses the grass, the leaves, the small BG leaves and the main flower image all from the same set.  I would never have chosen these colors and in real life the flower is more of a lighter purple but this is how it shows up.  Anyhoo, this is the color challenge at MFT this month.  I rather like it all together but it probably won’t be the first thing I reach for.

I cut two of the medium scallop dies out and layered them to give a more interesting look since the image is quite plain.  The little tag and dots are from MFT blueprints.

MFT dies are all used on here for the added interest to the card.

SUPPLIES:

Image: SU retired set

Dies:  MFT

Technorati Tags: Use it up goal,SU,flowers,MFTCOLOR,MFT

Stamp 159

Been digging into my really old stash of Stampin Up.  Got lots and lots of em.  I need to create and blog in two different places 15 cards so the next fifteen are likely going to be Kwik and Kute.  Like this one.  It took less than ten minutes to put it together out of scraps.

SUPPLIES:

Dies:  Frond is Tattered Lace, Button and label are  MFT

Sentiment is Simon Says

Image: SU

white gel pen

my own brayered back ground.  SU real button

Stamp 158 never been inked

Thought process:  I saw in a SU catalog that they cut a circle out of a larger label die.  What a great idea.  Also want to use more of that diagonal stripe design I made with /Simon Says Stencil  for their Challenge here and used earlier last week.

How did this sweet single rose escape my attention for all these years.  and what a simple card to make.  I inked up a large SU back ground stamp. Grabbed my MFT dies and thought a heart would look good with this.  I fussy cut the flower after coloring with the blender pens and Dove marker. I ran the larger die cut through the Big Shot with and embossing folder for a bit of texture and then when I cut the heart out of it it kind of flattened down but I like the subtle pattern it gives to the solid pink.

I added a square of that diagonal piece that I had used translucent paste on for the pink stripes.  (I colored that paste with gelatos before smearing it on)   I’m excited about how this turned out simple and beautiful.

SUPPLIES:

All Stamps: Stampin Up retired

Dies:  MFT Textile Label and BluePrints 1

Recollections Ribbon

Stencil : Simon Says Stamp diagonal stripe

Ink and paper:  Rose Romance SU

Stamp 155 & 156 Sympathy

Using Mark’s Finest Papers Stamps I used water color paper and stamped the flowers first.  Then I masked it (and KEPT the mask for another time) Then I stamped with Brilliance ink over the mask and used an espresso embossing powder on the bricks.

Using the Dove Blender pen (I found them, yes, I did)  and SU markers I created a water color look.  Matted it and picked out matching cardstock.  Ran that one piece through the Big Shot for some texture.  I like what happened with the ribbon. 

I computer generated this poem which I have always thought was beautiful and adhered it on a separate sheet as the inside sentiment.

Rose Beyond the Wall
by A.L. Frink

A rose once grew
where all could see,
sheltered beside
a garden wall,
And as the days passed
swiftly by,
it spread its branches, straight and tall...

One day, a beam of light
shone through
a crevice that had
opened wide ~
The rose bent gently
toward its warmth
then passed beyond
to the other side

Now, you who deeply
feel its loss,
be comforted ~ the rose blooms there ~
its beauty even greater now,
nurtured by
God's own loving care.

TIP:  Use your pearl pens to make brads ahead of time.  I had squeezed some of my different color pearls onto my craft mat and let them dry over night quite awhile ago.  They worked perfectly by adhering them with tiny glue dots to the ribbon.

SUPPLIES:

Images: MFP Brick Wall

embossing powder in espresso

ribbon from Michaels

Pearl Pen

Technorati Tags: Use it up Goal,MFP,Sympathy,Flowers,Brick Wall

Simon Says Stamp #157

I wanted to play in Simon’s Work it Wednesday challenge for the month.  The challenge was to use Exclusive Simon products on the card.  I have been wanting to try this double sided adhesive paper for quite a while now and just got my hands on some last week.  I don’t know what I was expecting.  It wasn’t this but I love how it turned out.  I did the YOU first and was like WOW!! but then of course, I realized I had to pull off the rest of the adhesive around it and, uhmmmmm…that would leave that portion all sticky. I decided to go two-tone glitters.  Then for the other side I chose the scripted font and opposite colors.  I have had this diagonal striped piece that I made with the Simon Diagonal Stencil hanging around since way long before Valentine’s day.  I thought I was going to use it on one of my V cards but alas, nothing seemed to work out for it.  I had so much fun making that piece.  It worked perfectly to cut the scalloped border out of.  I had to pink and red together because I love the combo.  I SHOCKED my elderly sister-in-law and she laughed, yes, laughed at me because when we went traveling together last spring, I wore a red scarf and PINK shoes.    Well, that would be me in a nutshell, defy convention!  Who says, I can’t wear red and pink together.  I wear it with confidence and everyone is jealous!  and shocked!  Well not so much in today’s world but in the world I grew up in, yah!!

SUPPLIES:

Image: Simon Says greeting

Dies: MFT~ Thank You

Stencil: Simon Says Diagonal Stripe

Stamp #154

I didn’t even know I had this stamp.  But I did know I had that scrap of mixed medium paper left over.  I cut it square and started from there.  I stamped the image in Memento and thought I would use copics but it seemed it wanted to be softer than that.  The cardstock itself has a touch of grey to it and is textured a bit.  Once I added the sentiment, it looked just fine but I wanted to give the idea of a sunset and used chalks on the image.  I love the soft way it turned out.  Then I sprayed it with hair spray.  Added the brown punched border and oh my, look what I found.  This wonderful butterfly twill that fits this ever so perfectly.  I think I wll be making a couple of these for my own stasth.  Isn’t it lovely and so simple?

SUPPLIES:

Image: Art Impressions (stored w/my stampscapes)

Technorati Tags: Use it up Goal,Masculine,Sympathy

Stamp #152 & 153

Really old Stampin Up images.  But I have always loved them.  they sat unused for far too long.  Love them colored in copics.  I used my Scor-Buddy to give a bit of interest with the lots of white card.  Almost out of that pretty ribbon too.  Yep my supplies ARE going down a bit. 

SUPPLIES:

Images: Stampin Up

SU organza ribbon

Scor-buddy

Technorati Tags: Use it up Goal,SU,Sympathy,Flowers