Thursday 29 September 2016

a2z Scrapbooking Post

I'm back with a card that I made for a2z Scrapbooking.

Here's my card


I find one layer cards a bit intimidating. I know me - I'll put a lot of effort into making the card and then the very last thing I have to do, I'll smudge it or leave an ink blob or well, you know - mess it up! I kind of hold my breath until it's finished. Phew - this one worked out!

I drew really faint pencil marks to demarcate the area I wanted to focus on. I used Hero Arts Spring Hello with Lia stamp set with a variety of Hero Arts inks. The sentiment is from the same stamp set. I used a thin black marker to add a frame.

How would you like a 15% discount off of purchases of more than $25 at a2z Scrapbooking store? Use my code Sue15 for that 15% discount.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Friday 23 September 2016

Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Who doesn't love coffee? I love coffee, sometimes though, my tummy doesn't! It's time for the 2016 Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

 fall-hop-with-date

Here's my card







I used a variety of stamp sets to create this card. The cute coffee cups are from the Create A Smile Coffee First stamp set. I stamped the coffee cups on white cardstock and fussy cut them out. I also stamped the coffee sleeve area on printed cardstock and fussy cut them out. Finally, I stamped the heart area on white cardstock, coloured them in with copics, added a layer of crystal effects and then fussy cut them out (now, if I was really thinking, I could have stamped the heart area on red cardstock and skipped the colouring in step!) I assembled the coffee cups with the various pieces.

The sentiment was stamped with my MISTI. I used Papertrey Ink's Heart-2-Heart #1 stamp set.

For a bit of added interest, I masked an 1.5" area, where I lightly applied distress ink (antique linen) . The coffee stain ring from the Alley Way's Breakfast Club was inked using distress ink (tea dye).

I adhered the coffee cups in a random pattern, so I didn't have to struggle to perfectly space and line the up - LOL!

How would you like a 15% discount off of purchases of more than $25 at a2z Scrapbooking store? Use my code Sue15 for that 15% discount.

Thanks for visiting
sue


Saturday 17 September 2016

STAMPlorations - September CAS Card Challenge

Finally, I'm able to play along at STAMPlorations CAS Card Challenge

It seems that despite my good intentions, I don't seem to be organized enough to join the fun at STAMPlorations! I'm working on it though!




Here's my card



I used STAMPlorations Bloom Factory stamp set with a variety of pink inks. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Lots of Thanks stamp set. The card was matted on a piece of bright pink cardstock. I love the distressed flowers - adds just the right amount of interest.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Friday 16 September 2016

Calling All Sistah's Blog Hop - September Edition

Calling All Sistahs is a campaign started by Michele Gross of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps after her discovery of breast cancer.   The idea behind it is to remind our sistahs to do their monthly self exams and annual mammograms.  Michele designed the Calling All Sistahs collection during her cancer treatment and is now donating 50% of her profits from that line to National Breast Cancer Foundation.  This is an important reminder for all my sistahs.

Did you know that 1 in 8 women in the US and 1 in 9 women in Canada will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Look around, do you see 8 (or 9) women? Think about it, on average, one of them will develop breast cancer. It's up to us to do something to do what we can to reduce that incidence. Annual mammograms and monthly self exams are one way for us to take an active role. This is your monthly reminder.

Michele is being super generous by offering 3 - $15 gift certificates to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps to those leaving comments on the various stops of the blog hop. Only the comments left before 12:00am on the 19th of September will be considered for the gift certificates.



Here are those participating in this month's hop. We're highlighting girl power, while recognizing that men are not excluded from this type of cancer.

Lori Kobular


Here's my card


I started with CAS-ual Fridays Hope Ribbon stamp set, from their Calling All Sistahs collection, inked up with two shades of pink. I matted this with a piece of pink cardstock. I found a piece of striped printed paper that included pink, for a bit of added interest. The sentiment is from CAS-ual Fridays' Calling All Sistahs stamp set, also from their Calling All Sistahs collection. I added a few sequins, because I could - LOL!

Next stop on the blog hop is Lisa

Thanks for visiting
sue

Thursday 15 September 2016

One-Layer Simplicity Challenge OLS31

Joining in the fun at One-Layer Simplicity because I love a challenge! Honestly, I find one-layer cards intimidating. I'm such a klutz that I'll be working on the last stamp impression and I'll smudge the impression or accidentally stick a partial fingerprint somewhere or well, you get the idea. I like having the option of cutting down a panel because it "accidentally" landed on an open ink pad or the last impression got smudged or ...

When I saw the challenge 

 Back In Time. The challenge is to make a one-layer card that is either old-fashioned in some way (think retro, vintage) or time-themed (watches, clocks).

I just knew what to do. Here's my card


I used the Retro Mod Shapes stamp set from STAMPlorations - perfect for this challenge, right? I looked around for a suitable sentiment - "dude" seemed to work. It's from Paper Smooches' Word Salad stamp set. Phew - completed it without an unwanted smudge or partial fingerprint!

Thanks for visiting
sue

Wednesday 14 September 2016

a2z Scrapbooking September Challenge

Over at a2z Scrapbooking, the current challenge is "Make it a Tag". Here's my post at a2z scrapbooking.

I started with a tag, then added it to an A2 card. I'm not sure what I would do with a tag. However, as a card, I could definitely see myself sending it.

Here's my card


I started by randomly inking a piece of watercolor paper with Hero Arts Lucy's Floral Favorites ink cubes. I used a waterbrush to move some of the color around. I then mixed some Soft Cantaloupe ink with texture paste and applied the colored texture paste to the one of the stencils from Hero Arts Petal Stencils pair. I cut it down to a tag shape. I heat embossed the sentiment from Simon Says STAMP Lots of Thanks stamp set with gold embossing powder. I felt that the card needed a bit more pop, so for the background I chose a light lemon color cardstock which I passed through with a striped embossing folder for a bit of added interest.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Saturday 10 September 2016

CAS(E) this Sketch #189

Loving the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!




I love working with sketches. They make a nice starting point. Without them, I seem to sit at my craft table, almost paralyzed because there are too many options available.

Here's my card




I started by making a circle mask. I stamped flowers and leaves from Hero Arts Spring Hello by Lia stamp set. I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set on a scrap of cardstock. I like the way it turned out. I just realized that I could have made a one-layer card, by masking off the area for the sentiment. Hmmm - I think I see a variation of this card in my future.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Freshly Made Sketches #253

So happy to have had time to play with the group at Freshly Made Sketches.  Here is this week's sketch.



Here's my card


I started with Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Latticework. I inked up with distress inks (peacock feathers, twisted citron, seedless preserves) and ink blending tools to create the background panel. The sentiment is by Simon Says STAMP Big Scripty Greetings.

Thanks for visiting
sue

CASology: Week 214

Loving the current cue card over at CASology



I mean, who doesn't love the beach? Not, me - that's for sure. When I think of the beach, I think of Maui - it's paradise!

Here's my card



Found my "old" Stampin' Up Do the Hula stamp set. I stamped the hawaiian shirt, three times with different colours. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP All About Love stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Thursday 8 September 2016

Mojo Monday 464 Contest

Joining in the fun at Mojo Monday. Here is this week's sketch




I love working with sketches. It gives me much needed inspiration - a place to start. I often get stuck - too many decisions: sketch, colours, stamps, inks, embossing folder, dies, sentiment ....

Here's my card



I started with ARTplorations Merry Go Round stencil with distress inks (mustard seed, spiced marmalade and picked raspberry) applied with ink daubers. I found a scrap piece of printed striped paper and two scrap pieces of pink cardstock. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Big Scripty Greetings. To add a bit more interest, I used mauve cardstock for the card's background.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse Challenge #182

Another wonderful card to serve as inspiration over at Muse Card Club created by Anita Bowden




Isn't it beautiful? So much to draw inspiration from.

I was inspired by:
  • the colours
  • the general sketch/layout
  • the diecut letters
  • enamel dots
  • the shapes (gasp - I don't own balloons stencils, settled for circles)
Here's my card


I started with Simon Says STAMP's Irregular Dots stencil, distress inks (twisted citron, faded jeans, seedless preserves) and ink daubers. I placed the circles in a similar layout to Anita's card. Since the circles were considerably smaller than the large balloons, I added a smaller twisted citron to the upper left corner. The sentiment is a die cut also from Simon Says STAMP's Thanks on a Line die. I added some enamel dots to complete the card.

Here's a close-up



Thanks for visiting
sue

Monday 5 September 2016

Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge

I'm joining the fun the week at Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge
 
This week the challenge is

Anything Goes

They are showcasing Avery Elle Products this week.


Here's my card


While preparing to make a card for this challenge, I came to realize that I have very few Avery Elle stamp sets. Guess I'll need to do something about that. I used Avery Elle's Love Notes stamp set for my card. My MISTI definitely came in handy when trying to line up the four different stamps required for each cluster. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Sunday 4 September 2016

Muse Challenge #181

Finally, able to join the fun at Muse Challenge after several weeks away.

There is a stunning MUSE this week, the work of Sarah Platt, aka Sazzle Dazzle




Here's my card


I was inspired by:
  1. the multi-colored heart, with abstract lines
  2. the simple colored/patterned border on the bottom
  3. the sentiment - partially script and raised simple font
  4. general sketch/layout of the card
I used MFT Abstract stencil, with distress inks (mustard seed, twisted citron and peacock feathers), die cut with a Memory Box Cherub Hearts die. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP It's Your Birthday stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Thursday 1 September 2016

The Paper Players PP310

Finished just in time to join the fun at The Paper Players

I love working with sketches because it provides just enough guidance to get me on my way. If I'm stuck, I check out the great work by the design team for some added inspiration.

Here's the sketch



Here's my card



I started by heat embossing with white embossing powder using Hero Arts Leaf and Floral background stamp. I added distress inks (ripe persimmon, picked raspberry, peacock feathers and seedless preserves). The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Lots of Thanks stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking - September Challenge

Looks like summer is coming to an end. The temperatures are starting to drop and it's dark when I wake up - BOO!

I'm participating in this month's challenge at a2z scrapbooking where the challenge is "Make It A Tag".

Here's my tag



It measures about 2" x 3.5". I started by creating the background with my current favorite mini inks - Hero Arts AF355 Lucy's Floral Favorites. I started by applying a little water with a paint brush to a piece of watercolor paper. I then applied the mini ink directly in a random pattern. I moved a bit of the color around with a waterbrush. When it dried, I used one of the Hero Arts Floral Filigree stencil pair SA051 with opaque matte texture paste applied with a palette knife. I was sure to wash off the stencil and palette knife before the texture paste dried! While the texture paste was still "wet" on the background piece, I added gold embossing powder. I put the background piece aside to allow the texture paste to dry. Once it was dried (apparently it's important to let the texture paste dry before using a heat tool - I didn't experiment), I used my heat tool to set the embossing powder.

Here's a close-up.


On a piece of vellum, I used clear embossing ink and gold embossing powder and the sentiment from Hero Arts CL925 Dare to Dream stamp set, which was heat set.

To complete the tag, I used some embroidery floss in similar colors to create a tassel and tie.

Check out the a2z scrapbooking store and use the code Sue15 for a 15% discount off of purchases of $25 or more.

Thanks for visiting
 

House of Cards September Challenge

I guess this means that summer is over. It's September and you know what that means, it's time for another monthly challenge at House of Cards

Here's the inspiration


SEPTEMBER 2016
Add a Bird and/or Colors



Here's my card



Don't you just love the Tim Holtz' crazy birds? This bird is from the Tim Holtz Collection Stamps/Stencil Mixed Media 8. I coloured him in with copics, close to the colours of this month's challenge. I fussy-cut him out, added glossy accents to his eye and popped him up with dimensionals. To add the lime green colour from the challenge, I inked up the background with twisted citron distress ink in a random fashion with an ink blending tool. The sentiment is stamped from Lawn Fawn's Chit Chat stamp set, fussy cut and adhered to the card.

Thanks for visiting
sue