Be Inspired Sketch Challenge - Unity Stamps on Facebook

So, something caught my eye while scrolling through Facebook, catching up on my friends. Unity Stamps has a closed group on Facebook "UNITY (show & tell) where they showcase projects highlighting Unity Stamps projects and right now there is a sketch challenge. I love sketch challenges. Often, they push me to create something I wouldn't have or to try things I wouldn't have. Instead of the same old, same old; it's good to try new things, especially among friends.

Here's the sketch




Here's my card

I used Unity's Itty Bitty IB-162 Matching Socks stamp. I just love it. It reminds me of a friend who never wears matching socks. I stamped the socks with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and added colors (as many as I could) using Copic markers. I found some patterned paper to mat the socks panel and as a background. I added some purple strips and some enamel dots to complete the card.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

Card A Day Blog - April 15-21

Yes, I'm late here anyway. I posted on time for the Card A Day blog. Thought I'd share my cards here too. Better late, than never - right?

Sweet and Simple Sunday

The theme for April is Spring Florals and the color scheme is pastels. For Sweet and Simple Sunday, the challenge is to create a clean and simple card using this month’s theme and color scheme.  For the flowers, I used Simon Says STAMP’s Floral Bookmarking stamp set and my MISTI. I have found lining up the flowers easier, if I use the original MISTI and move the card panel, rather than move the stamp. I used Hero Arts inks (Soft Cantaloupe, Tide Pool, Orchid) for the flower heads and Green Hills for the stem and leaves. For the sentiment, I stamped on some grey cardstock with Technique Tuesday’s Look Out World stamp set. I popped the sentiment strip for some added dimension.

Mistletoe Monday

The theme for April is Spring Florals and the color scheme is pastels. For Mistletoe Monday, the challenge is to make a Christmas/Holiday card. I started with Simon Says STAMP’s Poinsettia stamp set, Versamark and white embossing powder which was heat set on vellum. The bloom was fussy cut and I added color with Copics on the reverse side of the vellum.  I decided to put the poinsettia on a kraft tag which I made using Stampin’ Up’s Ornate Tag Topper punch. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP’s Ornaments stamp set and was white heat embossed.  I used some silver ribbon for the top of the tag. Used some green printed paper for the background.

Technique Tuesday

The theme for April is Spring Florals and the color scheme is pastels. For Technique Tuesday, the challenge is to use this month’s technique – watercoloring.  I used Altenew’s Adore You stamp set, stamped onto watercolor paper with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I added color with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and blended the ink with a waterbrush. I fussy cut the flowers and leaves out. For the background of the card, I used Cuttlebug’s Chicken Wire embossing folder with kraft cardstock. The sentiment is from Hero Arts Layered Topiary stamp set.

WOW Wednesday

Before:

After:

The theme for April is Spring Florals and the color scheme is pastels.

For WOW Wednesday, the challenge is to turn up the volume on a card.  The original card used Poppystamps’ Peony Stems and Blossoms stamp set. The spray of flowers was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink. Color was added with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a waterbrush to move some of the color around. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

To turn up the volume, I added some sparkly silver strips to the right side of the card and some rhinestones in the centers of the flowers.

Thursday in 3D

The theme for April is Spring Florals and the color scheme is pastels. The creation of a 3D card is a stretch for me. It’s something that I’m not really familiar with. I checked out Pinterest and found a video and templates to make a 3D card at http://www.queenbcreations.net/2014/12/birthday-card-in-a-box.html.  I found some pastel printed paper to decorate the box. I used Simon Says STAMP’s Artful Flowers stamp set with white embossing powder for the flowers and stems. I added color with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a waterbrush. I fussy cut the blooms and stems.  I arranged the flowers in the box. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches Salutations stamp set, stamped with Hero Arts Soft Granite ink on soft yellow cardstock, cut into a banner.

Freestyle Friday

The theme for April is Spring Florals and the color scheme is pastels.  For Freestyle Friday, the challenge is to create whatever I want. For this card, I repeatedly stamped the small branch included flowers using Poppystamps Peony Stems and Blossoms stamp set with Versafine Onyx Black ink on 96 lb Bristol. With a 1.5” circle punch, I punched out a section of the card panel. I added color with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers on only the punched area. Using a scalloped circle die, I die cut a border for the colored circle panel. The sentiment is from the same stamp set, stamped onto a banner and popped up with dimensionals. This technique is known as a spotlight technique.

Scene it Saturday

The theme for April is Spring Florals and the color scheme is pastels. For Scene it Saturday, the theme is to create a scene card. I looked through my collection of 6x6 paper packs for some pastel colored florals. I found three different printed papers. I stamped some trees from Simon Says STAMP One with Nature stamp set onto the printed paper. I fussy cut the trees. I used Simon Says STAMP Stitched Slopes and Hills dies to cut a sloped mask. I then inked up the panel with the mask in place, with distress inks – shabby shutters for the grass and salty ocean for the sky. I positioned the trees to create the scene. It felt like something was “missing”, so I added a flock of birds using Lavinia Stamps Birds stamp set. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Lots of Thanks stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

STAMPlorations Spotlight Project - Guest Designer - April 25

I'm so excited to be a Guest Designer over at STAMPlorations with a Spotlight Project. I chose to use the STAMPlorations The Birds and The Blooms stamp set




I thought that for this spotlight project, I'd use the spotlight stamping technique - clever, eh? Here's my card

I started by stamping the single bloom multiple times, in various orientations, on an A2 card panel using my MISTI until the panel was covered.  I stamped off the edge of the panel a few times, so I found that it was easier using my regular MISTI than the mini MISTI. 

On a piece of heavier weight cardstock, I stamped the single bloom with Versafine ink and added colour with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a water brush. Using a 1.5" circle punch, I punched out the main part of the bloom (trick, turn the punch over to see where you are punching).

I used a Spellbinders scalloped circle die to cut out a scalloped mat for the colored circle image. I carefully, adhered the matted circle directly over a bloom, matching up edges. For the sentiment, I stamped the "Hello" from the same stamp set. I was going to place it on a 1 1/8" horizontal strip but it didn't "pop" enough. So, I added a green mat (matching the circle's green mat) for the sentiment. Sometimes, we need to be flexible with our crafting. Stuff doesn't always turn out the way we anticipated. we need to be nimble and try alternatives. You may be surprised!

Thanks for stopping by
sue

a2z Scrapbooking - April 25th post

It's my turn to be up at the a2z Scrapbooking blog. I have a card using a digital kit by Sugartree Stamps, available exclusively at the a2z Scrapbooking etsy store.

Here's my card

I used Sugartree Stamps KN003 Mothers digital kit to create this card. I printed the Floral Borders 2 stamp onto cardstock using my inkjet printer, after I sized it to be approximately the size of an A2 panel. I added color with Copic markers. I printed out the sentiment using the Happy Mothers Day digital stamp. I made two tags, using Stampin' Up's Ornate Tag Topper punch. I added the sentiment, matted with purple onto the green tag. I added some silver ribbon to join the tags. I matted the entire panel onto black to make it pop.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #17

It's time for another challenge at The Merry Christmas Challenge where the challenge is

Anything Goes + Christmas

(optional theme - banners)

Here's my card

I started with Simon Says STAMP's Holiday Banners stamp set, which I stamped with Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink. I used silver embossing powder and heat set it, for the snowflake on the banner. I added a larger green banner and a thinner dark red banner to highlight the stamped banner. I found some pretty pattern paper for the background.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge # 261

Haven't been too active here lately. I've had two cataract surgeries in the past 6 weeks and have limited my time in the craft room. However, I think that I'm pretty much back to normal, well, not really, considering I've worn corrective lenses since Grade 2 and no longer require them. It's truly a blessing.

Anyway, I do have a card for the current challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Here is this week's sketch




Here's my card

I started by creating the background with Hero Arts waves background stencil and distress inks (cracked pistachio, peacock feathers, salty ocean) applied with ink blending tools. For the focal panel, I stamped using STAMPlorations Typografia in Faith's Jesus is the Way stamp. I added some cardstock to mat the focal panel and the horizontal strips.

We'd love to see how you're inspired by this week's sketch.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #15

There's a new weekly challenge at The Merry Christmas Challenge. The challenge is

Anything Goes + Christmas (optional: trees)

Here's my card

I started by heat embossing this row of trees from Winnie & Walter's Scenery: Holiday Trimmings stamp set with silver embossing powder on bright green cardstock. I wanted to use a non-traditional Christmas color, dark blue for the cardbase. To make the focal strip pop a bit more, I matted it with silver cardstock. The sentiment is from The Ton's Holiday Flourish stamp set and more silver embossing powder which was heat set.

We'd love to see what you create.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

STAMPlorations CUTplorations Phrase Dies Release

So excited to part of a release of new products at STAMPlorations. Click here to see the new CUTplorations dies. Also, click here to see how my teammates used these new dies.

I've made three cards. Here's the first one.

For this card, I used STAMPlorations Caffeinated Zen 2, stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I added colour with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I didn't add any water as I was looking for the bright colors. I masked the coffee cup and added ink splatters by scribbing on an acrylic block, adding a bit of water and flicking the ink onto the card front. For the sentiment, I scribbled some lines, using some of the same markers as I used to add color to the coffee cup and blended the ink with a water brush. I used this panel to die cut the sentiment from the new CUTplorations Phrase Art Happens die.

Here's my second card.

For this card, I used the ARTplorations Clouds stencil, actually the sun from that stencil and added distress inks (mustard seed, spiced marmalade). I then die cut the card panel and some yellow cardstock using the new CUTplorations You are My Sunshine die. I carefully inlaid the yellow die cut onto the card panel. I added some Wink of Stella to the die cut.

Here's my third and last card

For this card, I started with STAMPlorations In Bloom: Radiant Roses stamp, stamped onto 96 lb bristol with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I added colors with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. Using the bloom colors, I scribbled onto a scrap of bristol and blended the ink with a water brush. I then die cut using the new CUTplorations Life is Good die. To add some dimension and a bit of a shadow, I also die cut the sentiment from some black fun foam, which I adhered to the back of the die cut sentiment. 

Hoping you're loving the new CUTplorations dies at STAMPlorations. Can't wait to see what some of the STAMPlorations girls have created with them.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #259

There's a new challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Here's the sketch to inspire you. You can substitute your country, if it's not Canada.




Here's my card

I interpreted the challenge as creating something "national" &/or "patriotic". In my case, something Canadian. I thought about "what is Canadian" - poutine, moose, beaver, ice hockey? I decided to focus on our flag, the red maple leaf. I started with Altenew's With Gratitude stamp set. I chose a maple leaf and heat embossed with gold embossing powder. I was thinking about how proud I was to be Canadian after the 2018 Winter Olympics and felt that the maple leaf needed to be gold, on a red background. I added the two red strips on either side to re-create our flag. I looked around for a sentiment - finally settling on this sentiment from Clearly Besotted Life and Laughter stamp set. I feel being Canadian that we have the freedom to truly follow our dreams. O Canada!

Thanks for stopping by
sue

STAMPlorations April Challenge - Focus on the Sentiments

Wow - new month, new challenge at STAMPlorations




Here's my card

I focused on the sentiment. Actually, all I used was a sentiment stamp and of course, my MISTI to help me align the stamp. The sentiment stamp I chose is from STAMPlorations Notworthy 2 stamp set. I stamped it multiple times, occasionally off the panel using Hero Arts Charcoal ink. For the main focus, I stamped using Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink. For a bit of interest, I matted the stamped panel on some red/pinkish cardstock.

We'd love for you to join us at our challenge.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

a2z Scrapbooking - April 5th post

It's my turn to share a card over at a2z Scrapbooking. I used a couple of digital files to create my card. I'm starting to get more familiar with using digital files. The current challenge at a2z Scrapbooking is 


We'd love for you to join us.

Here's my card

I started with Hero Arts PT003 Bright Blossoms digital kit printed onto 80 lb cardstock. I chose the sunflower. I added color with Copics, because I find that they don't make the inkjet printer ink bleed. I fussy cut the blossom. For the background, I chose 96 lb bristol, scribbled several blue/teal Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and blended the inks with a water brush. I added more scribbles with the markers until I achieved the look I was hoping for. I printed out the sentiment using Hero Arts DK113 Chalkboard Frames and Messages digital kit. I trimmed it down and matted with black cardstock. 

Thanks for stopping by
sue

My Favorite Things Card Challenge: Sketch Challenge #378

Loving the sketch at My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge




Here's my card

I started by stamping the gift and ribbon from MFT's Celebrate You stamp set with Hero Arts Cornflower and Butter Bar inks. I stamped the sentiment from MFT's LJD Birthday Greetings stamp set with Hero Arts Charcoal ink. I trimmed the panel to 2.5" x 2.5" and matted with dark gray cardstock. I popped the panel up with some fun foam for added dimension.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

Muse Challenge #259

Another gorgeous card to inspire at Muse. This card was created by Barb Ghig.




I was inspired by:

• the layout/sketch
• the orangy/pink blooms
• the yellow/green leaves
• the scripty shiny main sentiment
• the simple print style of the rest of the sentiment

Here's my card

I started by making a couple of 96 lb bristol panels with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers using the required colors. I blended the colors with a water brush. I die cut using Paper Smooches Roses dies for the bloom and Paper Smooches Foliage 1 die for the leaves. For the sentiment, I used Memory Box's Paintbrush Happy die with shiny silver cardstock. The rest of the sentiment uses Your Next Stamp's Happy Everything stamp set. For the scalloped edge, I used Simon Says STAMP's Scallop Stitches die. I used some white/gray polka dot printed paper to complete the card.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

CASology: Week 293 Challenge

There's the perfect challenge for Easter at CASology. Here's the cue card



Here's my card

It's a clean and simple card. I was feeling reverent. I started with Stampin' Up's Crosses of Hope stamp set, Stampin' Up's Wisteria Wonder ink and cardstock. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Handwritten Greetings.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

House of Cards April 2018 Challenge

It's the start of a new month - April. This means that there is a new challenge at House of Cards. Here's the theme for the challenge


CAS Floral Corner and/or Colors



Here's my card

For the floral spray, I used Simon Says STAMP Floral Bliss stamp set, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added colors, close to the inspiration colors using Copic markers. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Flower Friend stamp set.

We'd love for you to join us. Thanks for stopping by.
sue

a2z Scrapbooking - April Challenge

It's April - well, actually April the 1st. This year it is both Easter Sunday and April Fools Day. Doesn't seem right, does it. Now, that it's April, it's time for a new challenge at a2z Scrapbooking. This challenge this month is



Here's my card

I started by printing out the Hero Arts PT003 Bright Blossoms digital kit. I chose one flower and added stripes using Copics and a ruler to create a plaid background. The sentiment is from Hero Arts DK113 Chalkboard Frames and Messages digital kit. I thought it was fun to keep the colour on the background and keep the bloom black and white.

We'd love for you to join us at a2z Flower Power challenge.

Thanks for stopping by
sue