Celebrating the 4th and NBUS#76

 Hi,  Welcome to my blog.

Today I'm sharing 2 cards using the same stamp set. Both these cards have been mailed and on their way to brighten someone's day. Click to enlarge card for better detail.

The stamp set used on both cards is: Purr-ade Crasher Pissy Kitty from Unity Stamp Company.

For this card I started with a card base of Night of Navy (SU) and stamped the small start and the meowica sentiment in a random pattern.  Then I layered that with a piece of designer paper from USC, (Grand Ol' Flag) paper pack.

I stamped the kitty on watercolor card stock with Versa mark ink and embossed with black embossing powder (Bold Black-SU). Then I used ink pads and a water brush to color the kitty.  I added glitter to the fireworks and Wink of Stella to the stars on the shirt/sunglasses. Image was cut out with a circle die from Unity.  I stamped the sentiment on the same watercolor cs and cut it out with a fishtail die.

Then I added another piece of the designer paper cut with a larger fishtail die. I finished the card off with a small punched star and mounted the image and banners with foam tape.

You can see the sparkle here on the glasses, shirt and sparkler.

Card #2:

Same stamped image of Pissy Kitty this time on Basic White card stock. Colored with pencils and blended with Gamsol/blending stumps. Then I fussy cut the image out.  I also stamped a second image and colored the sunglasses which were then cut out and later mounted with foam tape over the image (more on that in a bit)

Card base is Basic White. - Layered with patterned paper also from Unity but this packet is called, (Yankee doodle Dandy)

More patterned paper was used for the star layer, striped layer and the 3 small stars on the card.  All were from the above named paper package.

Postage dies *Unity which are currently Sold Out.  I stamped the sentiment with Memento Tuxedo black ink and edged the die with some Misty Moonlight ink (SU). The larger star and the kitty image were mounted with foam tape to raise them up.

After coloring the sunglasses and cutting them out.  I used some Diamond glaze (JudiKins) to make them look like actually sunglasses.  This was a bit tricky since I accidentally cut the hole on my bottle a little bit to much so the glaze comes out sometimes a little faster then I want it to.  You will notice that in the close-up of the glasses.  But hey, it's still a fun little detail.

There you have it, 2 different cards with the same set. - I hope you like them.

Happy 4th of July to everyone in America!

First time using these stamps and papers so off to NBUS#76 they go.

Friends Ephemera card

Hi,  Thanks for stopping by. - Your visit and comments are greatly appreciated.

Today's card uses the same colors as yesterday's card but is quite different.  

For this card I started with a Tempting Turquoise piece of card stock and a scrap of the Unity designer paper that I had left over.  I also found a packet of American Crafts ephemera (Bungalow Lane) that I had received as a Christmas gift.  I opened it and discovered that it had several pieces that would fit the same color scheme as yesterdays card.  I chose 3 different pieces to use on this card.

First step was using an old SU retired background stamp, (Sanded) which I stamped on a smaller piece of the TT card stock with the Pretty Peacock ink.  Then I took the pieces of ephemera and jazzed them up a bit by adding ink to the edges of the larger flower, Wink of Stella to the centers of the flowers and glitter on the little side berries. 

I stamped the same sentiment with Versa mark ink and embossed with Black ep. - The flowers were then layered with foam tape and the punched heart was added along with 3 gems and finally another piece of the Washi tape was added to complete the card.  Simple and easy to create.

Again since I finally used the Ephemera I will add this card to NBUS #75 challenge.

Friends Make the World Beautiful - NBUS#75

Hello and Welcome!

Today's card is one I made for (no challenges at all).  I have a friend having a birthday this week and I plan to give this card to her.

The card is (loosely) based on this card: Created by Tonya Brooks.  You can view her video on how this card was made HERE

Originally I had planned to use some floral dies I had to look similar to the ones in this card.  However...as often happens when I start making a card mine took a detour and wound up looking like this:

So basically I start with an A2 size White card.  Then I took a piece of patterned paper from Unity Stamps (Jubilant Tapestry) and distressed the edges with, Pretty Peacock ink (SU).  Next I stamped 2 areas with a background stamp from the Feb. KOM (Happy Soul) with Memento Tuxedo black ink.  I then cut a piece of Tempting Turquoise (*retired SU) card stock and used a retired* SU punch to create the paper border.  I then distressed it with the Turquoise ink and wrinkled it up.  To create the brown section I used a piece of Core'dinations card stock and an embossing folder (SU - most like it's retired) After embossing it I sanded it with a sanding block so the peach color came through. That piece and the turquoise piece were then glued down on the patterned piece.

I cut a tag out of the same piece of brown card stock but turned it over to the peach side and distressed with SU Calypso Coral ink.

Next a sentiment from the Unity March KOM (Love and Good Vibes) was stamped with Versa Mark ink and embossed with Black embossing powder. I used a punch and a die from my stash for the 2 hearts which were glued and then stapled to the tag.  The flower is from an old SU punch and was distressed with the coral ink.  I added some gems and Washi tape and a piece of turquoise ribbon (SU*) that I frayed before threading it through the hole. This was mounted with foam tape.

Since the paper was new (or had never been used) along with the Washi tape, Sentiment stamp & one of the hearts I'll enter this for NBUS#75 which is offering a gift certificate to at least 3 people for participating in the challenge as they are celebrating 75 challenges!

Flap Card Attempt & Announcement

 Hello and Welcome! - I've been absent for a bit but not because I haven't been stamping. (More on that later in the post).

So awhile back I found a card that I had received in a card swap that had this cute little flap on it that had been closed with Velcro.  I wanted to try and make a card similar to that so I looked up flap cards and found a YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD51w3HslUs) on how to create an "easy" flap card.

I watched the video and followed the directions and while my card is nothing like the one she made and doesn't close like hers it's still a version of a flap card.

I used Sweet Miss Daisy (Unfrogettable) stamp set again for this card.  The images were stamped on Watercolor paper and colored with watercolor pencils and then fussy cut.  The balloon has crystal effects over it but doesn't show well in the photo.

Needless to say this card was not as easy as I thought it was going to be.  Oh the parts all came together just find but keeping it closed was another story.  I tried some Velcro (which wasn't very good quality) so I ended up ordering a different brand which eventually worked.

Anyway here are 2 shots of the card showing the Velcro and the inside of the card.

Hope you enjoyed my version of a flap card.

Now for my Announcement.  -  If you've never heard of, Splitcoaststampers.com   be sure to check it out. It's an amazing place to see all kinds of cards and projects for Free with one exception...see below.

I was asked to be on the Fan Club - Dirty Dozen Team! - So I've been busy making cards for the June theme (Golden Opportunity).  However since it's a paid membership you won't be able to see my cards here on this blog for now. - The membership is only $24.95 a year or 6 months for $14.95.  

Tomorrow is the day the Dirty Dozen posts their projects for June.

I'm just excited about being asked and I promise that while you won't see these cards unless you join the Fan Club I will still be creating cards for this blog that you can see like the one above.

Floral Challenge with TK

Hi and Welcome!

It's time for a new challenge between myself and TK (Time for Kards).

This time we are using another image from Penny Black called, 

Garden Trio which also features a matching die set, Garden Trio Cut-Out.  Plus circle dies from PB (Stitched Square and Circles).

Here is my card that I created with the images and dies that she stamped and cut out for me to use.

The flowers in this card reminded me of, (poppies) so I wanted to go with poppy like colors for my card.  I had a very old piece of designer paper from (My Minds Eye) in my stash that has never been used and decided to base my color scheme off of it.

Card Base: Tangerine Tango (retired SU - this was one of my favorite SU colors and I was sad when they retired it). Next layer is Costal Cabana - SU.  Then the designer paper.  Also used were Unity Stamps Rectangle and Scallop dies.

The sentiment is from PB - Blooms stamp set.

I colored the image with Colored Pencils and blended with a blending stump and Gamsol).  For a little touch of sparkle I used some Black Diamond stickles (Ranger). 

You can see some of the sparkle on this close-up section of the card.

To achieve the darker shading behind the flower I cut out another circle on masking paper and used it as a mask and ink blended some Pecan Pie ink over the patterned paper.  The flower, circle and sentiment are raised up using foam tape.  To complete the card I added some small white pearls.

Don't forget to stop by TK's blog (Time for Kards) and check out what she created.

Thanks for stopping by.

IB#336 - Lemons

 Hello & Welcome!

Today's card is being shared for the Inspired By challenge #336 - Lemons.

Here is the inspiration photo and sketch:

Here is the card I created for this challenge:

I was inspired by the colors of the photo and also the sketch which I altered a little to fit my squares into a patterned that worked for my card idea.

For this card I used a stamp set from Catherine Pooler,  Your Zest Life.  - I've featured this stamp set before on (this post) using the same paper but different stamps, So you'll have another idea for this stamp set.

Details: Card Base: SU - Night of Navy card stock.

Designer paper was purchased at a JoAnn's store. I used a Scallop Rectangle Die from Unity Stamps to cut it out.

Lemon slices stamped with Memento Tuxedo ink on SU Daffodil Delight card stock and cut out with the matching dies.

Lemon was stamped on SU Basic White card stock with Daffodil Delight Ink and cut out with the matching die.  I added sparkle to the lemon and slices with a Wink of Stella Pen.

The sentiment was stamped with Versa Mark ink and embossed with SU Bold Black embossing powder on a piece of textured yellow card stock.

The squares are from Stampin'Up! - Stylish Dies and were cut out with Navy textured card stock. I mounted the images over the squares with foam tape and added some homemade enamels dots:

thanks to Leslie Miller for this idea.

A sample of the sparkle from the Wink of Stella:

Thank you for stopping in and don't forget to check out the Design teams cards and 

Art Nudge#525A and Freshly Made Sketches #686

Welcome  and Thanks for stopping by.

Today's card is being entered for Art Nudge #525A  and Freshly Made Sketches #686

Here is my card for these two challenges:  Click to enlarge

Details:  Image and Sentiment - Sweet Miss Daisy - Unfrogettable

Designer Paper - Sweet Miss Daisy - Ribbit

Card stock: Distress Watercolor Card Stock - Ranger,

SU retired Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa - Also Old Olive which is not a retired color.

Inks: Distress Ink from Ranger: Mustard Seed, Crushed Olive,  also used Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Early Espresso

Distress Mica Spray - Antique Bronze

Punch - Birthday Candles EK Success

Circle Die

Water Brush SU

I'm trying my hand at "water coloring" and still have a ways to go but think this turned out okay.

Foam Mounting Tape 

I stamped the image with the Memento ink and water colored it then fussy cut it out. The Close to Cocoa panel was stamped with the bugs using the Early Espresso ink.  Then the frog image and panel were spritz with the Mica Spray. 

Lots of shimmer on this card.

This is going to be hubby's birthday card this year. - I'm happy with how this one turned out.

Paper Players #736 (Something Old, Something New), Freshly Made Sketches#685 & A Challenge with a Friend

 Hi,  Welcome to my blog.

So today I'm combining a challenge that I'm doing with a friend,  TK from Time4Kards along with this weeks Paper Players #736 challenge:

Something Old, Something New. and Freshly Made Sketches#685

My good friend, Terri (aka TK) and I met awhile back for a visit and coffee together.  She brought a long an envelope filled with stamped images and sentiments that she said we could use to do one of our challenges together.  We each used the same image for our cards.  

Since the Image is new to me and also the die-cut that I chose to use and I'm using very old card stock and a patterned piece of paper that I've had in my stash for a couple of years now I thought this card would work great for the Paper Players challenge.  

So without further ado here is my card:  Click to enlarge cards.

Here's another view of the card:

For this card I started with the patterned paper as my inspiration point along with this weeks Freshly Made Sketch #685.  I bought the designer paper at Hobby Lobby several years ago and have never used it.  Then I decided to use this image from the ones TK gave me.  It's from Penny Black (Blooms) and comes with a matching die although for this image I didn't have the die so I fussy cut my image.  I colored it with a mixture of Colored Pencils and Copic Markers.  I used 3 color pencils, Celadon Green and Powder Blue and Metallic Gold. The marker I used was, Powder Blue as well.  I added Wink of Stella, Gold Glitter and Tarnished Brass Mica Spray to the flowers and the Embossed Background and Sentiment Die Cut.

I used retired SU card stock colors, Sage Shadow and I believe, Bliss Blue.  Both have been long retired so that is my something old along with the patterned paper.

Other items used: Fishtail Die (MFT) Swiss Dot Embossing Folder, Hello Die (Unity Stamps), Rectangle Die (Unity Stamps) Small baby blue pearls and foam mounting tape.

This card has tons of shimmer on it.  Hard to see in the photos but this is a closeup of part of the card:

You can see some of the shimmer from the Mica Spray, the Gold patterned paper and the pearls.

Be sure to stop by TK's blog - Time 4 Kards and check out how she used that stamp.

Monster Mayhem3 - FMS#684

 Greetings! - Guess what? - It's another Monster Mayhem card!

This one I'm entering for FMS#684  *on a fun note if you want to skip all the details you can read about my stamping mishaps at the end. - I promise you will laugh.

My card is done the opposite direction and I used a rectangle image instead of the circle. Plus this is a bit different from my first two monster cards as very little coloring was done on this one. Plus I did not use the matching paper pack.  Instead I chose to go a more, "grunge" style and used a monochromatic color scheme.

Here is my card:

I finally found my cloud stencil that I was looking for a few cards back (I believe it was the mouse with the umbrella card).

So I started off by stamping the Monster with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Crumb Cake (Kraft) card stock.  Next I made a mask of him and place it over the image white I blended white ink over the cloud stencil to create clouds.  My white pad is not the greatest so you don't see the white that well.  I need to find a different white pad. Then I colored the eyes with a white pencil and added highlights to the monster's hair and horns with a Copper metallic pencil.

Next up I spritzed the image with Brushed Pewter Mica Spray. Cut out with rectangle dies and mounted it on a piece of Basic Black cs that I distressed.  Wrapped some twine around the 2 corners and set it aside.

Next up I stamped a piece of Crumb Cake cs with Memento Black ink and a stamp from Unity Stamps (Squared Impressions) stamp set, tore the edge and distressed it with my finger and also added the same spritzing of mica spray to it. Then I added a strip of white card stock cut with a punch from EK Success . I glued that down to a piece of Copper metallic card stock and layered it onto the black card base.  I stamped the sentiment on the kraft card stock and mounted it with foam tape. The main image was also mounted with foam tape.

This really sparkles in real life, I tried to get a picture to show it but it looks even better than the picture.

So yesterday while working on the 2nd Monster card, I realized that I couldn't find the circle sentiment I'd put together anywhere on my desk.  I spent about a half an hour looking for it before deciding to just make a new one.  Of course as soon as I did that I found the original one...stuck to the back of the main image panel!

It get's better...so today while I'm stamping the background panel I stamped off the first image and then stamped the 2nd one which had barely any ink on it.  I'm thinking to myself that maybe I didn't get enough ink on it so I stamped it down a couple of times on the pad and then realized I'm not stamping on my ink pad.  I was stamping on top of my cell phone!  Boy did I feel silly.  Thankfully I was able to clean the ink off and discovered that my stamping pad was on my right hand side and not my left where my cell phone was.

Does anything like this ever happen to you while you are stamping?

That's it for my first set of Monster Mayhem cards.  - My, She Monsters will hopefully be here Monday so be prepared for more monster mania! - Thanks for stopping by.

#IB334 - Inspired by

Welcome .

Today's card features those adorable (Mayhem Monsters) from yesterday's card.  Plus it's for this weeks, Inspired by challenge:

Inspired by...smoothie bowl.

The idea is to be inspired by either the sketch, the photo or both.

Here is my card:  I was inspired by the colors of the photo although mine are a bit different as I leaned more towards purple and green which are in the photo.  Plus the blueberry color for the splatters.

My original idea was to follow the sketch but as often happens this card took on a mind of it's own and the sketch went the way of the "wild goose" as they say. - I hope you enjoy my interpretation of the inspiration photo.

I stamped the image on white card stock and colored it with my pencils (blended with gamsol). For a fun detail I used some Diamond Glaze on the teeth and added Crystal glitter.  I masked the image off and stamped the splatters with Azure Afternoon ink.  Some enamel dots were added to finish the card off.

Supplies: Stamp set - Monster Mayhem (Unity Stamps)

Pattern Paper - Monster Mayhem (Unity Stamps)

Card Stock: SU - Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather and Basic White

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Azure Afternoon (SU)

Colored Pencils, Blending Stubs, Gamsol.

Enamel dots, Glitter, Foam Tape, Diamond Glaze

Thanks for stopping by.  If you leave a comment please include your e-mail in the comment if you want a personal thank you.  

Monster Mayhem - NBUS#73

Hello,  Thanks for stopping by.

Today I will be sharing a card that I created for no particular challenge whatsoever.  

 Here is the card:

This card features one of the adorable monsters from Unity Stamps,

Monster Mayhem stamp set. It also features matching paper with the same name.

Details: Card Base, Basic Black (SU)

Basic White cs(SU)

Patterned Paper, Unity Stamps (Monster Mayhem)

Color Medium - Copic Markers

Embossing Folder, Spots n Dots (Cuttlebug)* - retired

Heart Punch *retired SU

Circle Dies from both Unity and MFT

Staples, Googly Eyes, Foam Mounting Tape

I stamped the Monster with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with Copic Markers.  I am trying to learn how to use these markers so I've been watching a few video's - How do you think I did?

I just love this Monster set and what's even better is they came out with a girl monster set (I'm still waiting for mine to arrive) called,

She Monsters and patterned paper,  Love Notes  both available separately or in a Bundle package.  - I can't wait to use them.

Since this is my first time using this set I'm going to put it up on NBUS#73 

Have a great day.

Color Throwdown #830 and IB#331

 Welcome.  I hope you've been having a good week.  Mine has had it's, "ups and downs" but nothing to major.

Today I'll be sharing a couple of cards that I created for two different challenges.

First up a card for the ct830

Here is my card for that challenge:

This challenge was a bit hard for me.  I didn't have any patterned papers that had those 3 colors all together.  SO instead I just went with the colors through the paper and accessories.

I broke out a very old stamp set: (A.muse Studio - Bunny Business) and dusted it off for both of these cards.

Paper - Highland Heather, Mint Melody*retired & Basic White cs - SU

Embossing Folder - Paper Studio

Tag - Unity (Grunge Cuts - Tag Dies)

Flower Ribbon - A.Muse Studio

Other: Colored Pencils, Glitter, Heart Punch, Foam Tape

This is a very CAS card - Something I find hard to do but it worked out.

Next up : Inspired by...Bunnies (now mind you both of these cards would work for this challenge.

Here is my card:

For my card I was of course inspired by, bunnies.  I chose to do brighter colors for this card so perhaps the first card fits the pastel colors of the inspiration photo better but I'm sticking with this one for the challenge.

Papers: Only Orange and Basic White cs - SU

Patterned Gingham check - A.Muse Studio

Colored Pencils, Gamsol, Flower border Embossing Folder, Liquid Pearls-Cantaloupe from Ranger and Scallop/Rectangle Die (Unity)

Inspired by-IB#330 Rain

 Hello and Welcome.

Today's card is one that I'm sharing with the Inspired by blog,

IB#330

This was the Inspiration photo:

Here is my card:

For this card I chose this adorable little mouse from Unity Stamps,  Spring Mouse

Since this is just an inspiration point I decided to add another color, (green) to my card.  After all this is a Spring mouse!

My card stock colors: Basic White, Granny Apple Green & Azure Afternoon - SU.

The image was stamped in Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored with pencils blended with Gamsol.

I masked off the mouse image and created clouds by using a homemade stencil since I couldn't find my cloud stencil (my craft room needs serious organization!)

As you can see it's not perfect, I'm still learning stencil techniques.

I colored the border and drew in grass with my pencils.  Then I stamped rain using an old SU stamp from Itty Bitty Backgrounds.

The dies are Unity (Rectangle Scallops and Circles). Main image was mounted with foam tape.

Thank you for stopping by.  If you leave a comment could you include your e-mail address as Blogger seems to put comments into, No-Reply now and unless I know your e-mail I can't sent you a personal thank you for your comment.

ArtNudge#325D and Freshly Made Sketches#679 and NBUS#72

 Hello and Welcome!

Having some fun today with the Art Nudge challenge and the Sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

First the Sketch: FMS#679

The Art Nudge Inspiration photo: ArtNudge#325D

Here is the card that I created for these 2 challenges:

I was inspired by the colors of the inspiration photo and of course (chickens which lay eggs).

My starting point was this fun stamp set from Unity Stamps:

Impeckable Silhouettes and the fun patterned paper from Unity Stamps: Cluck and Bloom.

Card Base is: Lost Lagoon (SU). Then the layer of designer paper cut with a Unity Scallop/Rectangle Die.

The chicken was stamped with Calypso Coral Ink on White cs and cut with a Unity Scallop/Circle Die.

I cut a fishtail tag (MFT) on Old Olive cs and used a Chicken wire embossing folder.  I added another strip of designer paper (don't those dots resemble eggs).  The sentiment was stamped with Memeto Tuxedo black ink. I also used Petal Pink Paper and ink for the small chick and the circle under the chicken piece.  

This is my first time using this stamp set and paper so it's going in for NBUS#72 as well.

Thanks for stopping by.  I appreciate your visits and comments very much.  Happy Stamping.