Less is More Challenge #373

Loved the current theme challenge at Less is More, that I had to make two cards. 




I'm so grateful for the friendships that I have with people, mostly online. I call them my imaginary friends because they live in my laptop. However, I have had the opportunity to meet some of them at crafty retreats in TX and VA. They are the people I can count on  - when I need a shoulder to lean on. When i saw the current them challenge, I was inspired to make a couple of cards which I can send to some of these imaginary friends to thank them for being there for me.

Here are my cards

For both cards, I used Catherine Pooler's Giggles stamp set for the flowers and leaves and Catherine Pooler's Everyday Mod for the sentiment. I used Hero Arts inks for both cards.

Thanks friends for stopping by
sue

STAMPlorations 5th Birthday Blog Hop - STAMPgirl post

I'm so very honoured to be one of the STAMPgirls at STAMPlorations. This month, we were invited to participate in STAMPlorations 5th Birthday Blog Hop. Who could resist an opportunity like this one - certainly not me.



I created one new card for the blog hop

For this card, I started by randomly stamping birthday gifts from STAMPlorations Party Mates stamp set, on a card panel with Hero Arts Soft Granite ink. I colored in the gifts using Copic markers. I then stamped STAMPlorations Typografia in Faith - Every Perfect Gift stamp with Hero Arts Charcoal ink. I like to think of each of the individual gifts on my card as a gift from God - sunshine, good health, time to craft, good friends - you get the idea. I believe that it's important to remember that He provides for us. 

Here are three of my favorite STAMPlorations cards

For our challenge this month, we're inviting crafters to CASE one (or more) of our cards and post here (you'll need to scroll down to the end of the post). Will you be one of five lucky crafters who CASE a STAMPgirl's card to win a $50 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store? If you're shopping at the STAMPlorations store, please use my code STAMPGIRLSUE for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

CAS(E) this Sketch #276

I love sketches. They give me a starting place, especially when I'm stuck. I have quite the collection of stamps, stencils and dies. So typically, I can find something that will work. Here's the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch



Here's my card

I flipped the sketch upside down. I started by inking up part of Hero Arts Mermaid Sea Waves stencil with distress inks (cracked pistachio, peacock feathers, mermaid lagoon) onto a card panel. Then on some scrap white cardstock, I stamped the three fish from The Alley Way's Sea Mates stamp set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added color with Copic markers and fussy cut them out. I added Glossy Accents to the eye of one of the fish. Side note - you know those plastic string things that hold price tags on clothing? Well, I have found that by sticking one into the opening of a glossy accents bottle, that every time I need to use it, the glossy accents flows out nicely. I don't have to use a needle to unclog the bottle. OK, PSA over. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Best Fishes stamp set, stamped with Hero Arts Tide Pool ink. The card panel was matted with teal cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #269

Start of a new week so it must be time for a new challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Here's this week's sketch. Won't you join us this week?



Here's my card

I started with a scrap of a background I made with distress oxides (broken china, salty ocean, faded jeans) and glossy cardstock. I smooshed the ink onto a craft mat, spritzed a bit of water and then moved the cardstock through the ink. I heat set the ink after each color and kept adding more layers until I was happy with the look. I used my Stampin' Up's Ornate Tag Topper punch to make the tag and finished the tag with some silver cord. I stamped various fish using The Alley Way's Sea Mates using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and added color with Copic markers. I fussy cut the fish out and added glossy accents to the bottom fish's eye. The sentiment uses both Simon Says STAMP's Best Fishes and Your Next Stamp's Happy Everything stamp sets.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

Muse Challenge #270

Like the post before this, I'm rushing to finish my card and post it here on my blog. I started it last Wednesday. Where does the time go? I had such good intentions with this card, started it early BUT I just finished it. I need to complete the cards when I start them and post them here on my blog, right away! It's time for a new challenge at Muse Challenge. This week's Muse card was created by Tracey McNeely



I was inspired by:

• the floral arrangement with greenery
• the pink and green color scheme
• a birthday sentiment stamped on white, popped up
• gray card panel, colored with colored pencils 

Here's my card

I started with WPlus9's Beautiful Bouquets: Dahlias stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink on a gray card panel. I added color with colored pencils (or as us Canadians refer to them, as pencil crayons). For the flowers, I used three shades of pink and colored over them with white to blend the colors. For the leaves, I used two shades of green. I found the coloring to be very relaxing. Might just ink up some more panels and color them. The sentiment, stamped on a scrap of white cardstock, is from Simon Says STAMP Birthday Messages. The sentiment strip is popped up with dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

CASology: Week 304

It's incredible how fast days go by. I see various challenges online and think that I have a few days to make a card, take a photo and write a blog post. Then "poof", it's close to the deadline and i'm rushing. I need to figure this out better. I don't need the extra stress! Well, here it is, less than 12 hours before the deadline and I'm writing this post. It's for the current challenge at CASology




Here's my card

I started by inking up a small panel of cardstock with distress inks (picked raspberry and wilted violet) with ink blending tools. I then immediately brushed on some Perfect Pearls to the inked panel for some shimmer. Using We R Memory Keepers Geometric embossing folder, I added some texture and dimension to the inked panel. I matted the panel with purple cardstock. I added adhesive pearls at the intersections of the panels. Here's a close-up.

For the sentiment, I used both of the same distress inks (picked raspberry and wilted violet) to ink the sentiment, from Simon Says STAMP Flower Friend stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

Time Out Challenge #111

Joining in at Time Out Challenges for their current challenge




Here's my card

I chose to add the optional twist - one layer card onto my Christmas holiday card. I started with Gina K's Wreath Builder bundle - well, the stencil part (again). I used the holly leaves and berries from Hero Arts Bird Words stamp set inked with Hero Arts Field Greens and Pale Tomato inks. The little sprigs are from Hero Arts Color Layering Joy Message stamp set inked with Hero Arts Green Hills ink. The sentiment is from The Alley Way's Mistletoe Kisses stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by
sue