MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge - Sketch 304

Finally, made my way back to MFT blog to work on a card for their sketch challenge.

Here's the sketch





Here's my card

I started with MFT LJD Peaceful Wildflowers and my MISTI. I used two shades of distress inks on each of the flowers. I have learned that the small cubes are easier to work with. I decided to place a dark purple panel, die cut with MFT Die-Namics Zig Zag Stitched Oval Stax. The sentiment is from MFT On the Line stamp set and was heat set with silver embossing powder.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Freshly Made Sketches #260

Joining in with the gang at Freshly Made Sketches this week. Here is their sketch



Here's my card

I rotated the card 90 degrees. I started with Stampin' Up's Holiday Lineup stamp set. I coloured the hats, scarves and noses of the snow people with copics. They sure make me smile! The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Peace on Earth stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse Challenge #189

Found some time to play in my craft space and made a card for this week's challenge at Muse Card Club. This week's Muse card is this fun creation by Lucille K





OK, I'll be honest. I looked at the fun card and thought I guess that I won't play along this week. I don't have a doughnut stamp or die; I don't have a cupcake stamp or die. Then it hit me, it didn't have to be a doughnut - that's just the starting point, right? So I looked past the doughnut (anyone else craving a Krispy Kreme now?) and looked at the sketch/layout. Since, we're less than two months to Christmas, I thought I'd try to make a Christmas card. Here's my card

I was inspired by
- the general sketch/layout
- the multi-colour, repeated pattern of the vertical panel

I used Stampin' Up's Lots of Joy stamp set with SU's Real Red ink. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Holiday Hellos stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Paper Smooches: October Challenge

Finding some time to play over at Paper Smooches blog where the current challenge is a "color story".




Have you been to the Paper Smooches online store? Stop by to see what great stamps and dies are available.



 Here's my card

I looked through my various inks to find colours that worked. I inked up scraps of white cardstock with the various colours using daubers. I then die cut leaves using Paper Smooches Leaves 1 dies. Here's a close-up

The sentiment is from Paper Smooches Chit Chat stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking Post

The current monthly challenge at a2z Scrapbooking is

 

We’d love to see your creations. Just be sure that your focal image is a Hero Arts product.

Here's my card

I used Hero Arts CL980 Happy Mother's Day stamp set. I stamped the flowers, added colour with Copic markers and fussy cut the flowers. To achieve "layers", I stamped the leaves on the main card panel. I adhered the red flowers to the main card panel and then used dimensionals to adhere the blue flower. The sentiment is from Hero Arts CL949 You're So Lovely stamp set.

Here's a close-up

These stamp sets along with so many more are available at the a2z Scrapbooking etsy store. If you make a purchase over $25, use my code Sue15 for a 15% discount.

Thanks for visiting
sue

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown

Over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown, it's a technique challenge this week.



Here's my card

Using my MISTI and some snowflakes from Catherine Pooler's Stamp of Approval Holiday Magic Collection, Bring on the Snowflakes stamp set by CAS-ual Fridays, I inked up parts of the snowflakes with different color inks, every "impression". I kept adding colors until I was happy with the result. Without moving the stamps on the MISTI, I used versamark ink,  clear embossing powder and heat set the snowflakes. I used a bit of watercolors to make the background. The sentiment is also heat embossed with silver embossing powder. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Snow Much Fun stamp set.

Here's a close-up

Thanks for visiting
sue

CAS(E) this Sketch #195

Haven't had much opportunity to make cards lately. Hopefully, I'll find some more time to do what I love - making cards.

Loving the sketch for the current challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch.  So many possibilities and ideas swirling in my head.



Since we're in the midst of a beautiful autumn season here in Vancouver, I thought I'd make this card in honour of autumn. Here's my card

I started with the sentiment from Paper Smooches stamp set - Chit Chat and surrounded the sentiment with leaves from STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves stamp set. Each leaf was stamped with a main colour and then the edges of the leaf were inked using a different colour stamp pad to give each leaf a two-toned look.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse: Christmas Visions 67

I have found myself often playing with the group at Muse Card Club because I like the challenge of taking inspiration from a beautiful muse card and adapting it to my own style using the supplies I own. I guess that it was a bit difficult to think about Christmas until the latter part of the year. So, I'm here at Muse: Christmas Visions now.

Here the beautiful card that is the current muse by Cornelia Wenokor





Here is my card

I was inspired by
- the shiny silver and gold, with black of the Christmas tree
- the thin black border, with the offset tree
- a two-line sentiment

I used the shiny silver and gold cardstock from DCWV - foiled cardstock stack with Sizzix's Christmas Trees triplits dies. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches' Christmas Sampler stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

One-Layer Simplicity Challenge OLS32

Love the current challenge at One-Layer Simplicity Challenge. The challenge is to use

Red, Orange and Yellow 

on your one-layer card

 

 

Here's my card

 

 

I was inspired by this card by Toni at her blog Frankie Helps Craft 

 

 

 

I masked off an area - 1/4" to 1 3/4" with post-it tape. I added distress inks (Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed) with ink blending tools. I sprinkled a bit of water onto the inked panel to add a bit of added interest. I used STAMPlorations' ARTplorations Bloom Silhouettes stencil and added color with daubers and distress ink (black soot). The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMPS Lots of Thanks stamp set.

Thanks for visiting

sue

Muse Challenge #188

The current challenge at Muse Card Club is this beautiful creation by Jenni Murray




Here's my card

I was inspired by the
- general sketch
- light teal colour
- white die cuts
- simple "friend" sentiment

I don't own a nice leafy die cut so I substituted with My Favorite Things Die-Namics Fancy Flourish die. The flower is  from My Favorite Things Die-Namics Flower & Leaf Trio. I used Stampin' Up's Pool Party ink and Impression Obsession's Cover-a-card Thin Stripes stamp to create the striped cardstock used to make the banners. A piece of SU's Pool Party cardstock was used to mat the central white panel.

Thanks for visiting
sue

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown

There is a new challenge over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Here's the theme challenge.



Here's my card

I started with the cute deer from The Alley Way Stamps Fa-la-la stamp set. Anyone else super sad that this stamp company is no longer producing super cute stamp sets? I colored it with copics and fussy cut it. I added glossy accents to the nose - you know, to make it shiny like Rudolph's nose! To create the background, I started by using a dotted embossing folder and then die cut the panel with Simon Says STAMP Stitched Slopes and Hills die. For the sky, I used ink blending tools and distress inks (tumbled glass and salty ocean). The sentiment is from Paper Smooches' Christmas Sampler stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Calling All Sistahs Blog Hop - October 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 to the winner, the new release from CASual Fridays, including a new Calling All Sistahs style stamp set.to those leaving comments on the various stops of the blog hop. Only the comments left before 12:00am on the 19th of October will be considered for the great prize.

We'd love to have you join us on this important Blog Hop. So, next month, the Calling All Sistahs' Blog Hop will require the use of any CASual Fridays product, no longer restricted to the Calling All Sistahs' product line. Won't you join us and help us to spread the word?





Here's a list of those participating in this month's blog hop where the theme is to encourage a sistah!

Cas-ual Fridays Stamps

Jeanne Jachna

 

Julia Altermann

Kara Stainbrook

Kelly Griglione

Kimberly Rendino

Laurel Beard

Lisa Lahiff

Lori Kobular

Lori McAree

Lydia Evans

Nora Noll

Penny Ward

Rahmat Gouse

Sandi Pressley

Shona Chambers

Sue Nagata (that's me, and you're here!)

Vicki Dutcher

Heather North

Here's my card

I started with Kite Stencil's Aladdin's Screen stencil. I added different shades of pink with ink blending tools. I matted this panel with a bright pink. For the sentiment, I used my MISTI (who was I to think that I didn't need this tool?). The sentiment is from CAS-ual Fridays' Calling All Sistahs stamp set. I matted the sentiment using the same bright pink as the card matte using a Spellbinders die. It felt that the card needed a bit more, so I added some sheer pink ribbon.

Next on the blog hop is Vicki Dutcher

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking Post

The current challenge at a2z Scrapbooking is




Here is my card and a link to my post

I was trying to be a bit of an over-achiever and using a color layering stamp and with several layers of cardstock and a layer of a lace/weave/ribbon-thingy.

Thanks for visiting
sue

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown

Who doesn't love a color challenge, especially with non-traditional Christmas colors? Not me! Over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown, the current color challenge is




Here's my card

I masked off the top 0.5" and bottom 3.25" with post-it tape. I added the colour with ink blending tools and distress inks (broken china and twisted citron) in a random manner. I carefully removed the post-it tape. I used a stamp set from Unity Stamps - Ornamental Season, stamped with Hero Arts shadow ink - Charcoal. I used both the main image and the sentiment from this stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown

As the weather is getting cooler, it's starting to feel like Christmas is indeed coming. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to make Christmas cards. I found a new challenge (who doesn't need a new challenge) to expand my Christmas card collection, it's at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown

This week's challenge is a sketch challenge. Here's the versatile sketch.




Here's my card

I started with by cutting out a 2 3/8" circle from a scrap piece of paper to use as a mask. To add some definition to the circle, I used distress ink (pumice stone) applied with an ink blending tool.The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Holly Jolly stamp set. The holly is from Catherine Pooler's Holiday Magic Stamp of Approval box, Holiday Flourishes from The Ton.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge

Well, since Saturday was World Cardmaking Day, I had to make at least, one card. I like how this card turned out.

The current challenge at Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge is

Anything Goes

Here's my card

So, when this Simon Says STAMP One With Nature stamp set came out, I.had.to.have.it. However, this is the first time that I actually took it out of its packaging. Perhaps, I should have waited for one of Darnell's NBUS challenges! I stamped the trees on green patterned paper and then fussy cut them out. I like the added interest that the printed paper gives to the trees. The sentiment is by Catherine Pooler - Butterfly Notes. A little ribbon and bow and a thin black mat completed the card.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Freshly Made Sketches #256

Did you know that yesterday was World Cardmaking Day? Well, yes, most (if not all of you) who are here visiting of course, knew that! I was fortunate enough to be away at a weekend craft retreat where I was able to make a few cards.

For the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches, here is the sketch

Here is my card

I started with Tim Holtz' Latticework stencil with ink daubers and distress inks (ripe persimmon, picked raspberry and peacock feathers) applied in a random fashion. I cut the panel into a banner. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Flower Friend stamp set. Completed the card with a small bow and teal coloured background.

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z October Challenge

Here's my card for the October challenge at a2z Scrapbooking

This month's challenge is "Layer It".

Layers - not really my style to have frilly things, lots of texture and detail. I'm more of a Clean & Simple cardmaker. So, I was thinking that I might use one of Hero Arts' layering stamp sets. Then I remembered these tri-layer cards that were all the rage, not so long ago.

I used Hero Arts CL980 Happy Mother's Day stamp set. I added colour with copics only to the top layer. The sentiment is from Hero Arts CL925 Dare to Dream stamp set.

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

House of Cards October Challenge

Is it just me or has time sped up? How is it possible that it's already October? I have so much to do before Christmas, could someone please slow down the clock? I'd appreciate it. Since it is October 1st, it means that it's time for another challenge at House of Cards

This month the challenge is

OCTOBER 2016

Gatefold Cards and/or Colors

Here's my card

OK - I've never made a gatefold card before this challenge. I knew what it was, just never attempted one. I started with a cardbase cut to 3.5" x 11". Using my scoring board, I scored at 4" and 8.5" from one edge. The finished card would be smaller than an A2 card at 3.5" x 4.5". When folding the two edges up, the edges overlap. This is what we want.

Using MFT Die-namics Layered Heart border die, I cut through the top two layers using the solid heart border die. I also die cut the solid heart border from a piece of bright pink, which I adhered to the bottom of the top portion of the gatefold. I die cut the outline heart border from a piece of light pink, which I adhered to the top of the bottom portion of the gatefold. I was amazed that everything actually lined up.

With a piece of pink printed paper, I also used the solid heart border die to place on the top and bottom gatefolds. For the sentiment, I die cut a heart from Memory Box Cherub Hearts and stamped the sentiment from Simon Says STAMP Thanks stamp set. I found a small heart die cut, which I covered with crystal effects for a bit of shine.

Hope you can join us at House of Cards this month by creating a gatefold card or using the inspiration colors.

Thanks for visiting
sue