Saturday 29 February 2020

Happy Little Stampers ~ Watercolour Challenge March 2020

It's crazy how the end of the month sneaks up ... I mean, January took forever to be over and although February has an extra day, it just flew by. Weren't we just eating Valentine's Day chocolates?

Anyway, it's time for a new challenge at Happy Little Stampers ~ Watercolour Challenge. This month, the challenge is



Here's my card


For me, this is the easiest way to achieve a watercolour look. I started with Stampin' Up's Artistically Asian stamp set. I inked up the stamp using Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and spritzed the inked up stamp with water before applying it to 96 lb bristol. A couple of areas, didn't look watercolour-ish enough, so I reinked and re-spritzed. I love the look and it's so easy!

I added a sentiment from Mama Elephant's Tiny Ninja stamp set. I trimmed the panel down slightly so that I could mat with black cardstock .

How will you be inspired this month?

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Addicted to CAS ~ Challenge #179

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS.




This is a tricky code word. It really made me think. Here's my card


I started by die-cutting A2 black and silver shimmer panels with Lawn Fawn's Puffy Stars dies. I die-cut the two panels at the same time - placing the star die in the horizontal center and slightly toward the top of the card. I then cut the two panels and stars in half. I assembled the "symmetry card" and adhered the pieces to an A2 card base. I couldn't figure out how to create a symmetrical sentiment. So this is where I'm taking a bit of creative license. My sentiment uses a stamp from STAMPlorations' Tweet Love stamp set, stamped onto a strip of white cardstock and popped up with dimensionals.

I'd love to see your creations using our code word - symmetrical.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Tuesday 25 February 2020

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge # 357

It's time for a new challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Here is this week's sketch

Image may contain: possible text that says 'Sketch 357 Sentiment Createdby Michele Stevart for Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge'

Here's my card


I went for a monochromatic look this week using Stampin' Up products. I used Stampin' Up's Regarding Dahlias stamp with Stampin' Up's pumpkin pie ink. I stamped the dahlia onto an A2 white card panel in the lower left corner and the sentiment in the upper right corner. I trimmed the panel and matted it with Stampin' Up's pumpkin pie cardstock. I completed the card by adding the panel onto some Stampin' Up pumpkin pie patterned paper and added a small bow of Stampin' Up's pumpkin pie grosgrain ribbon. I changed the location of the bow, to the upper left corner.

Hoping that this week's sketch inspires you

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Sunday 23 February 2020

STAMPlorations Stencil Sunday ~ February 23, 2020

Welcome back to my second Stencil Sunday this month for STAMPlorations. Working with stencils is a great way to create cards, quite affordably. 

Here's my first stencil Sunday card



For my card, I started by randomly adding distress inks (salty ocean, twisted citron, mowed lawn, candied apple, wilted violet) on an A2 card panel with an ink blending tool.

Here's a picture of what it looked like then.

I gave it time to dry and applied an embossing buddy over it, to ensure that there were no "wet" areas. I then used STAMPlorations' ARTplorations Art Flowers 1 stencil and applied Versamark ink. Clear embossing powder was heat set to achieve the background. I added a STAMPlorations' Clear Sticker from the New Day pack on a scrap of green cardstock which I turned into a fishtail banner. I popped it up with dimensionals.

Here's my second Stencil Sunday card


I did something a bit different and created a card similar to one I might have done with stamps. I started by creating a 3" circle mask. I added distress inks in a "sunset-like" fashion using mustard seed, spiced marmalade, festive berries, picked raspberry, faded jeans, chipped sapphire. I then used STAMPlorations' ARTplorations Bloom Silhouettes stencil and black soot distress ink to add the bloom silhouettes. I then carefully removed the circle mask. To complete this one layer card, I used a STAMPlorations Clear Sticker from the New Day pack.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Tuesday 18 February 2020

Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #377

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! Our challenge this week is



Here's my card


Sometimes, with the more generic challenges, I have difficulty trying to figure out what to do. I felt this way with this challenge. So, I checked out my "collection" of Stampin' Up stamp sets, since I haven't used one in awhile. I picked out one of my favorites - Serene Silhouettes. Using my MISTI, I added color with distress ink markers (another thing I haven't used in some time) - barn door and peeled paint. I used a tone-on-tone beige cardstock. To make the image "pop" a bit, I matted with green cardstock. I wasn't sure where to put my sentiment, and used another thing that has been collecting dust, my WeRMemory Keepers' envelope punch board. I used it to make the tab and stamped the sentiment from Ink Blot Shop's Botanical Borders stamp set. I adhered everything to a natural card base.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Saturday 15 February 2020

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #178

Our next challenge for you at Addicted to CAS is a yummy one.



I love cake - black forest cake, chocolate cake, carrot cake (gotta get my vegetables some way, right?). So, this challenge is right up my alley. Here's my card


I feel like the "crooked man" who walked a crooked mile and lived in a crooked house, might like the crooked cake! I started with Sugar Pea Designs Bring on the Cake stamp set and Hero Arts Fresh Peach, Soft Cantaloupe and Butter Bar inks. I die cut the cake pieces with Sugar Pea Designs Birthday Journal Card dies, along with the frosting strips. I used some scraps of blue cardstock as the background for the crooked cake. I stamped the sentiment with Stampin' Up's Baja Breeze ink. To complete the card, I added some Wink of Stella to the candle flame for a tiny bit of shimmer.

What will you create using our code word - cake? 

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Friday 14 February 2020

Perfectly CAS ~ February 2020

As an introvert, I find so much calm in clean and simple cards. The challenges at Perfectly CAS are right up my alley. Here's this month's challenge



Here's my card



With a challenge of "shapes", I looked around my craft space for "shape" inspiration. I found it with the Hero Arts Tiny Flags background stamp. I used this background stamp with Versamark ink and clear embossing powder on a white card panel and heat-set it with my heat tool. I used some scrap paper with clean edges to help me mask one diagonal row at a time, so that I could add one color at a time. For color, I used distress inks (picked raspberry, wilted violet, salty ocean). I trimmed the panel to roughly 1.75" x 4.25". I adhered it to a white A2 card. For the sentiment, I used Simon Says STAMP's Just Words No. 1 thanks die. I cut one purple and three white "thanks" words and with adhesive, stacked them up to give them dimension. I adhered the word onto the inked panel.

Here's a close-up


We'd love for you to join us. Please remember that your designs must only cover up to a third of your card because we're honoring clean and simple cards!

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Tuesday 11 February 2020

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #355

It's time for a new sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Here is this week's sketch to inspire you



Image may contain: possible text that says 'Sketch 355 Sentiment Createdby Michelle Stevart for Atlantic Hearts Sk ketch Challenge'

Here's my take on the sketch



I flipped the sketch upside down and have the textured (or more interesting) part of the card on the top. It didn't photograph well. Here's a close-up.



For the top of the card, I used the Sizzix-Stampin' Up Lacy Brocade embossing folder with white cardstock. I trimmed it to 4" x 3". I added some black grosgrain ribbon. I cut a piece about 1.75" long and cut the ends on an angle. I then used another piece of black ribbon, made a loop and passed the angled piece in the loop. I then pulled on the two ends of the ribbon, catching the angled piece in the tightened loop. It sort of looks like a bow - right? I adhered the ends of the ribbon on the back of the embossed piece. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP's Flower Friend stamp set, stamped with Versafine Onyx black ink onto an A2 card base. I adhered the embossed piece onto the card base to complete the card.

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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Sunday 9 February 2020

STAMPlorations Stencil Sunday ~ February 9, 2020

Welcome to another Stencil Sunday post for STAMPlorations. I like working with stencils - sometimes, it's a bit of a surprise what I'll find when I lift the stencil. Sometimes, it's a good surprise, sometimes, well, it goes in the recycle bin! Often, stencils make it look like I have some artistic talent when really, all I do is apply color.

I have two project for you to see today



For this card, I used a Sakura Clear Star gelly pen and outlined the stars using STAMPlorations Oh My Stars stencil on black cardstock. I then used my Wink of Stella clear glitter pen to color in the stars. I removed the stencil and trimmed the black panel to 2.75" x 4.25". 

Here's a close-up. 



You can see that the glitter spread. At first, I was annoyed but then I laughed because glitter goes everywhere and there are stars so far away that they may show up as a speck (of glitter)! 

I adhered the panel to a light gray card base. The sentiment uses the STAMPlorations Tweet Love stamp set stamped onto the same light gray and cut into a fish tail banner.

Here's my second project



For this card, I used STAMPlorations Tapestry stencil and some post-it tape to mask off areas. For colors, I used distress inks (mustard seed, carved pumpkin, candied apple, wilted violet, salty ocean, mowed lawn) applied with an ink blending tool. I had hoped that the colors would blend more, instead I ended up with some pretty sharp lines. 

Here's another view



I guess that was the trade-off, I could have "freehanded" the colors but then I wouldn't have been able to contain each color to about 0.5". In the end, I'm happy with all the color. For the sentiment, I used a STAMPlorations clear sticker from the Birthday Word Art pack, applied to a piece of black cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Saturday 1 February 2020

Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop ~ 2020


Hello Blogging Friends!!


Turner Syndrome is a genetic disorder where a female is born with only one X chromosome, instead of two, leaving her with life-long medical issues and learning disabilities. This condition occurs one in 2,500 female births worldwide, but is more common among pregnancies that do not survive to full term. That is why Turner Syndrome Females are considered MIRACLES!
Prize Winners will be announced on February 15, 2020.

Thirty-six caring Sponsors and five DT Members have partnered with us to bring Turner Syndrome Awareness to the Public. For details on how you might win any of these fabulous prizes, please see Lori's TS home page. Thanks for learning About Turner Syndrome




Nine designers are offering prizes on their personal blogs as well:


My TS related project is inspired by the TSA official color board:




Here's my card


I started with some glossy cardstock and alcohol inks (I chose colors close to those on the color board - pink, purple, lime green). I dropped a few drops of each color, as well as alcohol ink blending solution onto applicator felt on an alcohol ink applicator. I pounced the applicator randomly onto the glossy cardstock until I was happy with the effect. I actually made three different versions - each of varying color density (so I have extras for another project). When the alcohol inks were dry, I stamped two butterflies from STAMPlorations Grateful Flutters stamp set with Versafine Onyx Black (permanent) ink. I left the panel to dry overnight. I carefully fussy cut the butterflies. The sentiment from STAMPlorations Trendy Butterflies 2 was stamped onto a strip of purple cardstock and trimmed into a fishtail banner. I used pink and lime green cardstock to complete the card. The card seemed a little bland, so I used Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder with the lime green cardstock piece to add some texture. The card didn't seem "right" using a white card base, so instead, I used a natural (cream colored) card base. When I fussy cut the butterflies, I wasn't able to keep the butterflies' antennae. So, after the card was assembled, I added some antennae with a black, fine tip marker.

I had not heard about Turner Syndrome until last year's blog hop. One in 2500 newborn girls will be diagnosed with this condition, which in Canada is about 160 girls born each year. As a Biology-major, I find it intriguing that many of these girls only have one X chromosome (typically, there are two X chromosomes). I had no idea that it was even possible to live with only one X chromosome. Please leave me a note in the comments of one thing you've learned about Turner Syndrome.


Please visit the "It's A Girl Thing" Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop 2020  page to become eligible for prizes.


Thanks for stopping by

sue


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Addicted to CAS - Challenge #177

It's time for a new code word to challenge you at Addicted to CAS


When I saw the code word, I wasn't quite sure what "ombre" meant. So, I looked it up in the dictionary (Merriam Webster) - having colors or tones that shade into each other, used especially of fabrics in which the color is graduated from light to dark. 

Here's my card



I started with Hero Arts Lines Background Cling Stamp Basic Grey, which I used to heat emboss with clear embossing powder. I trimmed a strip - 5.5" x 1.5". I applied distress inks (cracked pistachio, peacock feathers, salty ocean, mermaid lagoon) moving from light to dark with a water brush permitting the colors to blend. I then added the sentiment on a scrap of cardstock and using Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments which I die cut into a banner with Simon Says Stamp's Small Folded Banners die. I added some dimensionals under the banner to help support it.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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