Muse Challenge #239

Lately, I've been finding that work is getting in my way. So, I've decided that life is too short and it's time to retire. Hoping then, I'll have time for crafting. I haven't had time to play along with the gang at Muse Card Club. I check in every week, am inspired but never seem to find time to create the card. This week, it's different - I found some time to craft.

Here's the great Muse card by Stephanie Lanzalotto

Here's my card

I was inspired by:

- general layout/card sketch

- colours

- gold embossed graphic flowers

I started by inking up the background panel with distress inks (ripe persimmon, mustard seed, twisted citron, seedless preserves, tea dye). I then stamped the oak leaf from Newton's Nook Beautiful Leaves stamp set with Versamark and heat embossed the gold embossing powder. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Flower Friend stamp set. The sentiment and mat were die cut using Spellbinders Label 1 dies. Finished the card with some black and white baker's twine, tied in a bow.

Thanks for visiting

sue

a2z Scrapbooking - October 29th post

I'm up at the a2z Scrapbooking Blog with a card. Surprise! It's not a Christmas card. This month's challenge is 



Here's my card

So, I thought I'd make a card using "watercolor" as my inspiration. I started by making the background panel using distress inks (salty ocean, peacock feathers) added to 96 lb bristol with a water brush. I stamped the turtle using Hero Arts CM165 Color Layering Sea Turtle, distress inks (twisted citron, mowed lawn, forest moss) and my MISTI, spritzing each inked up stamp with water before stamping. I fussy cut the turtle. I added the seaweed with Hero Arts Field Greens ink using both first and second generation stamping. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Best Fishes stamp set.

We'd love for you to join us ... there are a few days left.

Thanks for visiting
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #40

It's the Holly & Ivy's team to post their cards this week for the challenge at The Merry Christmas Challenge where the challenge is always

Anything Goes + Christmas

Here's my card

I went for non-traditional Christmas colours for this card. I used Neat & Tangled's Merry & Bright Ornament stamp on 96 lb bristol. I added colour with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers (blue gray, purple, yellow green). I matted the panel with a lime green to make the card "pop".

A clean and simple card for today. We'd love for you to join us. It's less than 9 weeks to Christmas - a good time to get started on you Christmas cards.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #235

There's a new sketch challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge



Here's my card

I started by making the background using Hero Arts Tribal Shapes Stencil and distress inks (peacock feathers, seedless preserves, ripe persimmon). For the bottom, left corner, instead of flowers and leaves as seen on the sketch, I used three triangles in similar colours to those I used on the background panel. The sentiment is from STAMPlorations Fond Expressions 2 stamp set. For the edges, I used Stampin' Up's scalloped border punch.

We'd love for you to join us.

Thanks for visiting
sue

STAMPlorations CAS Reminder Post

I'm here with a new card for the STAMPlorations CAS blog. This month's challenge is




Here's my card

What a super fun set, STAMPlorations Fowl Play is. I love pun-ny stamps. I stamped the birds and added colour with Copic markers. I matted the panel with orange, our optional twist for the monthly challenge. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

We'd love for you to join us at our challenge. Players can join with up to 3 cards that are CAS and using (or not) the optional twist - orange. Prizes are a $10 gift certificate and $5 gift certificates for the top picks to STAMPlorations. 

Thanks for visiting

sue

STAMPlorations Typografia In Faith Blog Hop

We're back with a blog hop for the newly released Typografia IN FAITH stamp collection at STAMPlorations. 

The blog hop details:

Prize: One commenter will win their choice of 3 Typografia In Faith stamps. The winner will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers' blogs.

Commenting closes on October 23rd.

Winner announced on October 24th.

Check out all the Typografia In Faith stamps at STAMPlorations. Use my code STAMPGIRLSUE for an additional 20% off.

Here's my first card

I started by inking a panel with mustard seed distress ink. In retrospect, I probably could have used a piece of yellow cardstock. I stamped using the new Ask In Prayer - Typografia In Faith stamp and cut the oval using my Creative Memories Custom Cutting system. I looked around for some bright, colourful cardstock and found this striped paper. I added a green strip horizontally for a bit of added interest.

Here's my second card

I thought I'd try something new. I picked up some Confetti circles (1") cut from tissue paper. I watered down some white glue and adhered the circles a bit randomly, by applying the watered down glue with a brush. I made sure that the glue dried. The card warped a bit, so I weighted it down with a heavy book. I used my MISTI to stamp the Bless the Lord - Typografia In Faith stamp. I found that I had to stamp a few times to get good coverage, as the tissue paper isn't perfectly flat. I matted the card with a light blue cardstock and added some sequins for a bit of sparkle.

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking - October 14th post

It's my turn up at a2z Scrapbooking. I have another Christmas card for you.

I used the same stamp, from Hero Arts CM179 Winter Silhouettes set here. I used another non-traditional Christmas color, tumbled glass distress ink, for the trees. The light blue color reminds me of newly fallen snow. I added the deer for contrast - although, perhaps I should have added a friend for the deer. The deer looks a bit lonely. I matted the panel on teal to make the stamped panel "pop". The sentiment is from the same stamp set. I added some White Blizzard Nuvo drops for a bit of sparkle on the trees.

Join us at a2z Scrapbooking for our current challenge


Thanks for visiting
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #38

Well, it's the Holly & Ivy team's turn to post their cards at The Merry Christmas Challenge for this week's challenge

Anything Goes + Christmas

Here's my card

I love this card sketch. The images are from The Alley Way's Mistletoe Kisses. I really miss this stamp company - their stamps were so cute! I coloured the Christmas icons with markers. I trimmed the panels to 1.5" squares and adhered them to a 2" green strip. The sentiment is from the same stamp set, cut out with Stampin' Up's oval punch and embellished with Stampin' Up's scalloped oval punch. I found some festive printed paper to serve as a background. 

We'd love for you to add your Christmas-inspired projects to our current challenge.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #233

There's a new challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.



Here's my card

I started with Echo Park's Magical Plaid stencil. I added colour with distress inks (picked raspberry, cracked pistachio, wilted violet) and ink blending tools with a light hand. I wanted a subtle background. I stamped a flower from Hero Arts Color Layering Graphic Flowers stamp set with Hero Arts Passion Flower ink and fussy cut the image. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches Salutations stamp set. 

We'd love for you to join us this week. What will you create with the sketch?

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking Post

I have a new card posting at a2z Scrapbooking today. Since it's less that three months to Christmas, I'm adding to my collection of Christmas cards. Here's today's card.

I'm loving the 2017 Christmas release of Hero Arts stamps. I've used parts of three different stamp sets for this card - Hero Arts CM186 Color Layering Joy Message, Hero Arts CM181 Bird Words (just for the holly berries) and Hero Arts Color Layering Holly. I used Hero Arts inks (Field Greens, Cup O' Joe, Pale Tomato). I matted the panel on a piece of red cardstock.  That's my clean & simple Christmas card for today.

We'd love for you to join us at the current challenge at a2z Scrapbooking 

We've changed the rules up a bit. A winner will be chosen randomly and will win a digital stamp set - this month, it's Go Wild. If the winner also used a Hero Arts product, there's an additional prize of a $20 gift certificate to the a2z Scrapbooking etsy store. If you're looking for Hero Arts products, consider the a2z Scrapbooking etsy store. When your cart exceeds $25, use my code Sue15 for 15% off. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

STAMPlorations CAS October Challenge

And ... we're back. After a summer break, we have a new challenge at STAMPlorations CAS.



Here's my card

I started with STAMPlorations Blossom Sprays #3 which I stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I added colour using distress inks (carved pumpkin and pumice stone). I smooshed some ink on an acrylic sheet and picked up the colour with the waterbrush and added to the image. For the stamen, I added a bit of colour with a Stampin' Up Summer Starfruit marker. The sentiment is from STAMPlorations Fond Expressions 2 stamp set. To complete the card, I matted the panel on bright orange cardstock and added a few sequins for a bit of sparkle.

We'd love for you to join us at STAMPlorations CAS with your cards using any products you have, which either utilizes the optional color twist (or not). 

Thanks for visiting
sue

Stamp Nation - Challenge #259

Love the current challenge at Stamp Nation - Just Add Water. So, I'm still working on watercoloring - not sure if I should be using my Gansai Tambi watercolours or my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers or distress inks. I just need more time experimenting. 

I had heat embossed the image using STAMPlorations SKETCHED: Tulips stamp and white embossing powder on 96 lb bristol. While away on vacation, I added the colour with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a waterbrush and matted on some purple cardstock. 

To complete the card, I adhered the panel to an A2 card base and added a bow with purple shimmer ribbon.

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking October Challenge

The weather has been so hot here in Vancouver, it doesn't seem possible that it's already October. That means, there is a new challenge at a2z Scrapbooking

Here's my card

Well, it may not be watercolor in the traditional sense. However, I did use water to spritz the inked stamp, before stamping and of course, used a heavier weight 96 lb bristol for the card panel. I used Hero Arts CM180 Color Layering Holly stamp set and distress inks (twisted citron, mowed lawn and forest moss). For the sentiment, I used vellum, gold embossing powder and Hero Arts CM186 Color Layering Joy Message stamp set. I used small glue dots to adhere the vellum strip. I hid the adhesive under the small pearls.

We'd sure love to see your creations using this month's theme, Watercolor. We've changed our rules. Now you can use any products on your project. The winner will receive this free digital kit. If you also used a Hero Arts product, you'll win an additional $20 gift certificate to the a2z Scrapbooking etsy store. If you need Hero Arts products, check out the a2z Scrapbooking etsy store. When your cart reaches $25, use my code Sue15 for 15% off your purchase.

Thanks for visiting
sue

House of Cards - October Challenge

October 1st - how is that possible? Our temperatures this September have been so high that it still feels like summer. Well, except that the kids are back in school! It's time for a new challenge at House of Cards

CAS Halloween and/or Colors



Here's my card
























What does one do, when one doesn't own any Halloween stamps? I know - I need to rectify that. However, using ovals, using Stampin' Up's oval punch, I could "make" a pumpkin. I cut three ovals and inked the edges for some definition. I cut a small circle for the "top" and freehand cut a leaf and stem, which were also had the edges inked. I found some weathered boards printed paper, which I thought  was in line with the rustic look of the photo inspiration, while keeping the colours of the challenge in mind. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches Salutations stamp set.

We'd sure love for you to join us this month. Show us your CAS Halloween cards or create something using our colour inspiration.

Thanks for visiting
sue