Happy Little Stampers ~ September Watercolour Challenge

How is it possible that summer is already over? I mean, kids will soon be back in school, if they haven't already returned. Wasn't it just June? 

It's time for a new watercolour challenge at Happy Little Stampers ~ Watercolour Challenge

Here's my card

I started with an A2 sized panel of watercolour paper. I added frayed burlap and salty ocean distress inks with a water brush, for the background. I then stamped the images using Lawn Fawn's Life is Good stamp set using Versafine Onyx Black ink. I added colour with a water brush and distress inks (brushed corduroy, mowed lawn, dried marigold, worn lipstick, pumice stone). The images were diecut with Lawn Fawn's Life is Good dies. I adhered them to the card to complete the card. I couldn't decide on a sentiment, so I left the card without a sentiment. 

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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AAA Cards ~ Challenge #147

I was intrigued by the current challenge at AAA Cards

I decided to try to come up with a card that had something "along the edge" and that was "inspired by a song". I remembered Simon Says STAMPS' Bring the Sunshine stamp set. One of the stamps contained some of the lyrics of "You are my sunshine". I thought that a "sun" rise along the bottom of the card would work best. Here's my card

I used Stampers' Anonymous' Rays Layering stencil with squeezed lemonade and mustard seed distress inks, applied with ink blending tools along the bottom of an A2 card base. I stamped the sentiment using Hero Arts Charcoal ink. 

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Addicted to CAS ~ Challenge #166

My favourite style of card is clean and simple. I'm really not into frilly, multiple layers, lumpy-bumpy. Perhaps, I just don't have the attention span to create one of those fancy works of art. 

The current challenge at Addicted to CAS is

Here's my one-layer card

I started by creating a circle mask using a repositionable label and a Sizzix's circle die. I also created a daisy flower mask using a post-it note and My Favorite Things' Flowers and Leaf trio dies. Once I had the circle and daisy masks in place, I added colour with an ink-blending tool and mustard seed and spiced marmalade distress inks. I carefully removed the masks. The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted's Flowers and Flourishes stamp set. I added an enamel dot, to complete the card.

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge # 331

It's Monday, which must mean that it's time for a new challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

Here's my card

I'll admit it - this was a difficult sketch for me. Perhaps, I made it more difficult for myself by starting with a busy background. Nonetheless, I like how it turned out. I started with Hero Arts Deco Pattern stencil and lots of distress inks (mowed lawn, peacock feathers, worn lipstick, twisted citron, dusty concord, seedless preserves, wilted violet, abandoned coral, mustard seed, salty ocean, tumbled glass, shaded lilac, cracked pistachio, picked raspberry, barn door, ripe persimmon), applied with ink daubers. I tried to restrict colors overlapping by using scrap paper to mask areas. When cutting the inked panel, I removed the thin strips where the black background comes through. Does that make sense? I didn't just cut the panel and move the pieces apart. The sentiment is from Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments stamp set. The small die cut heart was cut with Lawn Fawn's hearts die.

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge # 355

Hi Friends! It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! This week, it's a photo inspiration challenge.

Here's my card

I was inspired by the colours, the beachy feeling and the wood slats of the central photo. I used Avery Elle's Beside the Sea stamp set and coordinating dies. I stamped the beach houses and added colour with Prismacolor Premiere colored pencils. I used the die to cut out the houses. For the background, I used distress inks (tumbled glass and antique linen) applied with ink blending tools to create the sky and sand. When I placed the houses on the background, it looked "weird", as the stark white border didn't fit. So I inked the white spaces, so the sky and sand matched. I added a top sheet, from which a large circle was diecut out, to frame the scene. The sentiment is from the same stamp set, stamped with Hero Arts mint julep ink. I added a few sequins for a bit of sparkle.

We'd love to see how you are inspired by the photos above.

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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CAS(E) this Sketch! #335

Loving the new sketch this week at CAS(E) this Sketch!

I just had to join in. Here's my card

I went for a rainbow look using STAMPlorations ARTplorations Prim Triangles stencil and distress inks (salty ocean, twisted citron, mustard seed, spiced marmalade, candied apple, wilted violet). I used a post-it note to help keep the colours separate, so that the colours looked like strips through the stencil. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Many Thanks stamp set. I trimmed the panel down and matted on black cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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Less is More Challenge #402 OLC Stencils

I was stumped by the challenge last week at Less is More. However, this week, I was inspired.

Here's my card

On my white A2 cardbase, I masked off a 1.75" horizontal strip on the bottom half, with post-it tape. I used Hero Arts Mermaid Sea Waves stencil and added colour with Distress inks (cracked pistachio, peacock feathers, salty ocean) with ink daubers. I carefully removed the post-it tape. I stamped the sentiment and a few fish using Simon Says STAMP's Best Fishes stamp set. 

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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Your Next Stamp - Challenge #120

Congratulations to Your Next Stamp's 10th Anniversary! Their challenge right now, on their blog is 

THANK YOU

I don't know about you. I can always use more "thank you" cards. Here's my card

I used YNS's Many Thanks stamp set for my card. For this one-layer card,  I masked off a 1.5" area with post-it tape on my A2 card base. I stamped the many sentiments from the stamp set, using my MISTI, and Hero Arts charcoal and pale tomato ink. I then added some distress ink (spun sugar) to the masked area and carefully removed the post-it tape. 

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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AAA Cards CAS Game #146

There's a card challenge at AAA Cards - CAS Game #146

I decided to make a card for this challenge. Often, the time-consuming part is trying t decide what to do. If I'm trying to create something in a short period of time, I tend to go back to some of my favorite card styles. I decided not to add the optional twist of Summer to my card. Here's my one-layer card.

So, one-layer cards tend to intimidate me. I mean, what happens when you make a mistake or drop your stamp or smudge something? Right, it's just half a piece of cardstock. Move on ... right? I started by stamping the cute tea party image from Unity Stamps' Tea Love stamp set with Versafine Onyx Black ink onto an A2 card base, using my MISTI. I let the ink dry a bit before moving to my next step. I masked off an area, just over 1.5" wide using post-it tape. I then added distress oxides (peacock feathers, twisted citron, salty ocean) using one of those oval make-up brushes. Those make-up brushes are so easy to use and make ink application seem so smooth. I carefully removed the post-it tape - emphasis on "carefully". I have ruined a few cards by not carefully removing the post-it tape. I stamped the sentiment, from the same stamp set to complete the card. Once I decided what to do, it took me less than 5 minutes to complete. 

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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CAS(E) this Sketch! #334

WOW! Two cards posted on the same day. Hoping this creative mojo continues. I find that playing with paper is good for me - it's so relaxing, well, except when things don't go according to plan!

I have a card for the current sketch challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch!

Here's my one layer card

On an A2 card base, I started by stamping the sentiment from Simon Says STAMP's Flower Friend stamp set with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I used my MISTI to be sure of a good impression. I then lightly marked with a pencil, a rectangle, approximately 2.25" x 2.5". I did this to try to keep my stamping within the rectangle. I stamped various flowers and leaves from Hero Arts Spring Hello by Lia and Hero Arts Garden Flowers by Lia using Hero Arts Soft Cantaloupe, Fresh Peach, Green Hills and Butter Bar inks. I hand-drew a frame with a fine tip black marker. When I was sure that the ink had dried, I carefully erased my pencil marks.

Thanks for stopping by
sue



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Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge

It seems that my crafting mojo is making an appearance. I've been able to keep up with my design team obligations. However, I haven't seemed to find neither the inspiration nor the time to join in with other card challenges. Hoping that this is a trend that I can continue.

Today, I have a card for the current challenge at Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge

This week the challenge is

ADD A DIE CUT

We are showcasing Memory Box Products this week. You don’t have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used

Here's my card

 

It was difficult to chose the die to use. I have quite a few - many, in fact, that I've never used. I can't recall, if I've ever used this die before. It's Memory Box's Verona Bouquet. I die cut using white cardstock and kept the pieces together. I find it easier to add colour with ink daubers when the panel is still somewhat intact. I added distress inks (wilted violet, mustard seed and peeled paint) to the die. I felt that it looked best on kraft card. I stamped the sentiment from Paper Smooches Salutations stamp set with Hero Arts Soft Granite ink. I trimmed the kraft panel down and adhered it to a white A2 card base.

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #329

It's Monday, so it must be time for a new sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Here's my card

I started with STAMPlorations ARTplorations Leaves stencil and distress inks (mowed lawn, shabby shutters, lucky clover, peeled paint, twisted citron, tumbled glass). I used an ink blending tool and some scraps of paper (for masking) to add the color, just where I wanted the colors to be. I trimmed the panel down and matted with a green cardstock. I then used Hero Arts You're So Lovely stamp set with peeled paint and twisted citron distress inks, and my MISTI. I find that when stamping with distress inks, it can take more than one stamping to get a good impression. I also matted this panel with the same green cardstock. The sentiment is from Your Next Stamp's Whatnot Sentiments Four, stamped with Hero Arts Soft Granite ink. I adhered the panels to a kraft A2 card base and added a few adhesive pearls to add a bit of shine and dimension to finish the card.

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

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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a2z Scrapbooking ~ Guest Designer

It feels like going home - heading to some place, so welcoming and familiar. I'm back here at a2z Scrapbooking. I am honoured to be back as a guest designer and I have a card to share for this month's challenge

Here's my card

I used Sugartree Stamps' Party Animal digital kit for my card - specifically, the awesome partying penguin and the sentiment. I printed the penguin with my inkjet printer on white cardstock, trimmed to A2 card size and added colour with Copic markers. I printed the sentiment on some orange/gold cardstock and trimmed it to a double ended fishtail banner. To complete the card, I added a shiny "pompom" with a rhinestone. 

To the a2z folks, thanks for having me back. To all of you, thanks for stopping by.
sue


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Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #353

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!

It's interesting digging through my collection of stamps - you never know what you might find. Well, I find that I use the same stamps over and over again - that's why they're my favorites. However, it is refreshing to pull and "oldie" out of the stash. 

Here's my card

I "found" the Inspired by Stamping's Elegant Christmas stamp set and used the holly stamp for my tag. I heat embossed it, using silver embossing powder, and added color with Copic Markers  YG63, YG67, R29. I used My Favorite Things Die-namics Tag Builder Blueprints 2 die to diecut the tag. The sentiment was also heat embossed with silver embossing powder and is from Paper Smooches' Mistletoe Kisses stamp set. I used patterned paper from Teresa Collins 6x6 Christmas Cottage designer pad to complement the tag. I thought that the card would look good on kraft and added some jute twin on the tag to complete the card.

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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