Wednesday 30 August 2017

AAA Cards Game #97

I have a card for the current challenge at AAA Cards where the current challenge is




Here's my card



I used post-it tape to mask the "water" while inking the sky and punched a 3/4" circle from a post-it note to mask the sun. For the sky, I used distress inks (mustard seed, spiced marmalade, picked raspberry). I carefully removed the post-it tape and masked the sky. I then added salty ocean distress ink for the water. I removed the post-it tape and post-it note circle. I added the grass using Technique Tuesday's Wildflowers stamp set. I then used a circle die to die cut the panel. The sentiment is from Hero Arts Color Layering Bouquet stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Addicted to CAS Challenge #118

Joining in at Addicted to CAS where the current challenge is 



Here's my card



I started by stamping using Simon Says STAMP Look for the Miracles stamp set. I added colour with distress inks (mustard seed, peacock feathers, seedless preserves, picked raspberry) using ink daubers. I fussy cut the flowers. The sentiment used Catherine Pooler's Friendship Collection Stamp of Approval's CASual Fridays Girlfriend stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Less Is More Challenge #343

Super fun challenge at Less is More this week




So, this really made me think. What "real" object could I add to my card? I looked around and picked up the Hero Arts I'm A Puffer for You stamp set and the thought of googly eyes. I hope they qualify as a real object. Here's my card



I inked the background with salty ocean distress ink and an ink blending tool. I stamped two fish using the Hero Arts I'm A Puffer for You stamp set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added colour with Copics and fussy cut the fish. The sentiment is from the same stamp set. I adhered the fish and using glue dots, added the googly eyes to the fish.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Tuesday 29 August 2017

a2z Scrapbooking - August 29th post

It's my turn to be "up" at a2z Scrapbooking. I have a Christmas card for you. After all, it's less than four months until Santa comes to visit. I have a lot to do before then. Getting a start on my Christmas cards helps.

Here's my card



I used Hero Arts DC215 Holiday Ornaments Stamp & Cut and my MISTI. I like using clear stamps as one can curve stamps, when you need to, like I did with the sprigs stamp to get them to overlap. I used Hero Arts Mid-Tone Field Green Shadow Ink for the sprigs. For the bow, I stamped using Hero Arts Strawberry Bold Ink and die cut the bow using the Stamp & Cut set. I felt that the stamped panel was a bit too much white space, so I matted the stamped panel with a dark neutral. The sentiment is from the same stamp set. I added Nuvo drops for a bit of dimension and shine.

There are just a couple of days left for you to join us at a2z Scrapbooking for our current monthly challenge - just be sure to use a Hero Arts product as the focus.


If you're looking for Hero Arts products, check out the a2z Scrapbooking Etsy store. When your cart reaches $25, use my code Sue15 for 15% off.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Monday 28 August 2017

Tic Tac Toe Challenge TTTC012

I'm enjoying participating in the challenges at Tic Tac Toe Challenge because I feel I have a bit of control as I choose three-in-a-row elements for my card. I find my cardmaking is more inspired when I have either a sketch or elements to include. Here's this week's board




I chose the bottom row - die cut, sentiment, floral. Here's my card



I lightly marked off a 2" x 3" area. I stamped flowers and leaves using Hero Arts Spring Hello by Lia and Hero Arts Garden Flowers by Lia. I erased the marks and drew a frame using a thin black marker. The sentiment uses the Simon Says STAMP Thanks die. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #227

I'm the champion procrastinator. I don't know if I need that jolt of extra adrenaline to push me to the finish line or what. I have the hardest time trying to complete tasks ahead of time. And ... when I have part of the job finished ahead of time, I don't finish the task until, well, the last minute!

Fortunately for me, I attended a two and a half day crafting retreat and I was able to work ahead. Thank goodness for uninterrupted crafting time and someone to prepare meals and clean-up!

Here's this week's sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Image may contain: text

The sketch is for a square card. I stretched out the sketch to make an A2 card. I'm just too lazy to make or find an envelope for a square card!

Here's my card




I started with Simon Says STAMP's Star Flower Background stamp and my MISTI. I added ink (Hero Arts Soft Pool, Green Hills and Butter Bar) to the stamp and "closed the MISTI" to reveal an awesome image. I trimmed it down and matted with dark gray, to set it apart from the white card base. I added a shimmery silver bow on the top, before adhering the panel to the card base. The sentiment on teal is from STAMPlorations Fond Expressions 2 stamp set. 

Can't wait to see what you create from this great sketch.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Sunday 27 August 2017

CASology: Week 263

Joining in at CASology where the cue card is




Here's my card



I interpreted the word "bud" as the early stage of a flower. I used Altenew's Hello Sunshine stamp set. I pulled two stamps of what looked like buds to me. I masked off an area of my card and stamped these two stamps randomly, covering most of the area. I added colour with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I removed the masks and drew around the perimeter with a fine black marker. The sentiment is from Hero Arts Color Layering Fuchsia. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse Challenge #230

Great inspiration card by Kim Heggins at Muse this week


It was one of those cards that made me really think - that's a good thing! 

I was inspired by:

  • the colours
  • big yellow (gold) die cut
  • black and white accessory
Here's my card




Well, I don't own any pineapples - don't really understand the appeal, except when eating (yum). So, I looked through my dies for something that I could make gold/yellow. I picked Memory Box's Twirling Snowflake. I die cut from two gold cardstocks - one a bit shinier and one with shimmer. I inlaid one and used the other as the outline. I adhered it onto a light green cardstock and backed it with a darker shade of green cardstock. I used Your Next Stamp's Stripe-tastic Diagonal Edge stamp with black ink to create the border stripe. The sentiment is from Hero Arts Color Layering Bouquet.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Thursday 24 August 2017

Paper Smooches - July/August Challenge (part 2)

So proud of myself. I found inspiration and time to create a second card for the current challenge at Paper Smooches







I'm thinking that with just over 4 months to Christmas, I better start thinking about my Christmas cards for this year. This one is a contender.



I started with Paper Smooches' A Blessed Christmas and stamped with wise men. I then heat embossed with gold embossing powder the star. Using an ink blending tool and chipped sapphire distress ink, I inked up the "sky". I placed the card on black and gold embossed the sentiment. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

Paper Smooches - July/August Challenge

Found some time to join in at the current "anything goes" challenge at Paper Smooches








Here's my card



I used my favourite stamp set of all time. Whenever I'm looking for some mojo, I pull out the Paper Smooches Reflections stamp set. I stamped the leaves with Hero Arts Green Hills ink and the blossoms (are they blossoms or buds?) with Hero Arts Fresh Peach ink. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches Uplifters stamp set. 

Thanks for visiting
sue


Ellen Hutson: August Pin-Sights Challenge

Finally, the stars have aligned and I've been able to complete a card for a challenge at the Classroom at Ellen Hutson. My collection of Ellen Hutson products is a bit limited (gotta fix that) and sometimes I just lack the creativity and motivation to join in. However, this month, I was inspired by the Pin-Sights board

5f9076c9c287ff2296554f84f0423b43


Here's my card



I loved the colours. I stamped the flowers and leaves from Ellen Hutson's Bold Blooms stamp set and coloured the images with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I fussy cut out the blooms and leaves. I arrangement them on my background and stamped the sentiment from Ellen Hutson's Mondo Magnolia stamp set. I matted with a bold black border. 

Thanks for visiting
sue


Sunday Stamps Challenge SSC159

Super summery colour challenge at Sunday Stamps




I couldn't resist the yummy colours. Here's my card



I stamped using Altenew's Bamboo Rose. I added colour using Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a water brush. I fussy cut the flowers (left out the leaves). I arranged the flowers on my card. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Keep It Simple: Thank You stamp set. For a bit of added interest, I added two horizontal score lines, using my scoring tool. Here's a close-up.



Thanks for visiting
sue

Camp Create 2017 - Day 5: Delightful Die Cutting

Love that My Favorite Things blog holds Camp Create to show new techniques with videos and to offer great incentives to us to give the techniques a try.



For Day 5 - it's delightful die cutting.



Here's my card



i started with MFT Stencil Fish Net and added colour with distress inks (tumbled glass, salty ocean and mermaid lagoon). Using MFT Happy Hellos die, I die cut the sentiment from the inked panel and also from a piece of fun foam, being sure to save all the little bits from the inked panel. I adhered the panel and then "popped" up the hello sentiment on the fun foam. It feels sort of camouflaged. Here's a close-up.



Thanks for visiting
sue

Camp Create 2017 - Day 4 Monochromatic Magic

Love that My Favorite Things blog holds Camp Create to show new techniques with videos and to offer great incentives to us to give the techniques a try.



For day 4, the technique is monochromatic scheme.



Here's my card - you might need some sunglasses!



It's a simple card. I used MFT Stencil Sun Ray and added mustard seed distress ink. I found a sentiment that worked with the sun. I matted the card with yellow. It' pretty bright but it's happy!

Thanks for visiting
sue

Wednesday 23 August 2017

Camp Create 2017 - Day 3: Background Bonanza

Love that My Favorite Things Blog holds Camp Create to show new techniques with videos and to offer great incentives to us to give the techniques a try.



So for day 3, the technique is background bonanza.



Here's my card



i started with MFT Stencil Abstract and added colour with distress inks (cracked pistachio, ripe persimmon, peacock feathers, abandoned coral, salty ocean, picked raspberry, wilted violet) in stripes. I matted the panel with black and for the sentiment, I die cut using a paintbrush happy die and a birthday stamped on a teal banner.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Camp Create Day 2: Magnificent Masking

Love that MFT holds Camp Create to show new techniques with videos and to offer great incentives to us to give the techniques a try.



For Day 2 at My Favorite Things Camp Create, the technique is masking.



Here's my card



I used some post-it tape to mask my scene. I used a 3/4" circle punch on a piece of post-it note to mask the sun. I used distress inks (mustard seed, spiced marmalade, picked raspberry) and arranged them to mimic a sunrise (or sunset). I carefully removed the post-it tape and sun mask. I re-applied the post-it tape to cover the sunset side and inked the water with distress inks (tumbled glass, salty ocean). I again carefully removed the post-it tape. I stamped some plant silhouettes, using MFT LJD Peaceful Wildflowers stamp set. I cut the scene out using a circle die. I popped the focal point with foam tape. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Camp Create 2017 - Day 1 Inlaid Made Easy

Love that My Favorite Things Blog holds Camp Create to show new techniques with videos and to offer great incentives to us to give the techniques a try. 



So, the first class this session, is to use the inlaid technique. 




Here's my card.



I used distress inks in rainbow colours and ink blending tools to colour a wide strip of cardstock. I used MFT Thank You Die-namics and used post-it tape to position the two dies together to die cut the black panel. I used the same dies (obviously) to cut the rainbow panel. I adhered the black panel to my card base and then inlaid the rainbow letters. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

Tuesday 22 August 2017

CAS(E) this Sketch #235

Joining in at CAS(E) this Sketch where the sketch for this week's challenge is




Here's my card



OK - I admit it. The idea in my head was much simpler than what it turned out to be. I inked up STAMPlorations Ethnic Organic One ARTplorations stencil with distress inks (mustard seed, spiced marmalade and picked raspberry) with ink blending tools. I trimmed the panel to match the sketch. Actually, this was my third and final attempt. It was definitely more difficult to keep all the little pieces organized. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The sentiment used Simon Says STAMPS Script Thanks die.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Monday 21 August 2017

Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge

Made a card for the current challenge at Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge

Add A Sentiment
This week we are showcasing Impression Obsession Products. You don’t have to use them for the challenge but if you have them we would love to see them used.

Here's my card



I started with MFT's Fishnet stencil and added distress inks (mermaid lagoon, salty ocean, peacock feathers) with ink blending tools. I used MFT's Spotlight Sentiments, stamped with VersaFine Onyx Black ink. I added a few sequins and matted the panel on black to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Tic Tac Toe Challenge TTTC011

I'm having fun participating at Tic Tac Toe Challenge where the current board is




Here's my card



I chose the left column - burlap, flower, leaf. For the burlap, I chose a "natural fibre" ribbon, with a knot for a bit of interest. For the flower and leaf, I chose Altenew's Bamboo Rose. I stamped the images on 96 lb bristol and used Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a water brush for a watercolour-look. I fussy cut out the flowers and leaves. The sentiment uses Papertrey Ink's Keep It Simple: Thank You stamp set. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

Sunday 20 August 2017

CASology: Week 262

I really had to put on my thinking cap this week to participate at CASology where the cue card is




You see - I looked around my craft room for something prickly, cactus - nope, porcupine - nope, pineapples - nope. Then I remembered a CTMH Born to Ride stamp set that had a barbed wire stamp. My next challenge was to figure out how to make that into a card. Here is my card



I gently added some tumbled glass distress ink with an ink blending tool. I stamped the barbed wire. After masking the bottom, I added some grass using Technique Tuesday's Wildflowers stamp set. The birds are a stamp by Lavinia Stamps, called birds. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Keep it Simple Birthday Stamp set. I think that this would work as a masculine birthday card.

Thanks for visiting
sue