Happy Little Stampers ~ August Watercolour Challenge

Hello Crafty Friends! We have a new challenge at Happy Little Stampers ~ Watercolour Challenge, where our challenge is always Anything Goes.

Here's my card

For this card, I used Simon Says STAMP's Spring Bloom background stamp with distress inks (bundled sage, saltwater taffy, scattered straw). I have the mini distress ink cubes which I pressed onto the stamp, attempting to keep the rose-like flowers colored saltwater taffy, the daily-like flowers colored scattered straw and the leaves colored bundled sage. I was ok if some of the colors overlapped. I then spritzed the ink on the stamp generously with water and pressed a 96 lb bristol card panel onto the stamp. I left the bristol in place for a bit to permit the color to transfer. I carefully lifted the bristol and picked up any blobs of water with a paper towel. I left the panel to air dry. For the sentiment, I used Your Next Stamp's Cool Tag Banner Sentiments with silver embossing powder on a strip of vellum, as I didn't want to cover up my watercoloured panel too much. I trimmed the bristol panel slightly, so that I could mat with a light gray A2 card panel. I adhered everything to a white A2 card base to complete the card.

We'd love to see your watercoloured creations in our gallery. We're not expecting Monet but rather any creation where you've used water in some way. If you're Monet, we'd love to see your creations too!

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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It's Christmas in July with Die Cut Divas and Elizabeth Craft Designs

It sure is nice to think about Christmas when it's hot outside. There is something cooling about snowflakes, snowmen and Santa Claus. It's our July challenge at Die Cut Divas

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Our sponsor this month is Elizabeth Craft Designs who will be awarding our winner a $25 gift certificate.

Here's my card

I started with Elizabeth Craft Designs Winter Greens dies. I die cut several of each die and to add a bit of dimension and interest, I did a bit of ink blending with speckled egg, forest moss, old paper, aged mahogany distress inks applied with oval ink blending brushes. For the sentiment, I used Catherine Pooler Designs' Hip Holiday, which I heat embossed with gold embossing powder on a kraft A2 card panel. I arranged the die cuts on the left side of the panel and glued them down. I adhered the kraft panel to a white A2 card base to complete my card.

There is still a bit of time for you to join us in our gallery this month. Crafting "Christmas in July" is a great way to cool down. Please remember to use at least one die cut, since we are, Die Cut Divas!

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #483

I was away for the weekend so I'm a day late for the new challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Here's our sketch 

Here's my card

Going to be honest here, I struggle with layers. I'm much happier making clean and simple cards - maybe even one layer cards! However, with these sketches, it's "interesting" to challenge oneself and push outside our own comfort levels, once in awhile! I started with the floral die cut which was made with PinkFresh Studio's Peony Fantasy stamp set, layering stencils and dies. I stamped and heat embossed the flower with gold embossing powder. I added color with the stencils and distress inks (fossilized amber, spun sugar, abandoned coral, picked raspberry, twisted citron, mowed lawn) applied with oval ink blending brushes and then die cut it. I searched through my collections of 6x6 paper packs looking for something with similar colors. I chose 4 patterned papers and cut them according to the sketch. For the sentiment, I used Your Next Stamp's Mini Monkey stamp set, stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink on a scrap of white cardstock. I trimmed it down and punched a small hole with my Crop-o-dile. I made a nest of silver thread for under the flower and added silver cord for the upper detail and tag holder. I adhered the pieces to a light gray A2 card panel which was then adhered to a white A2 card panel to complete my card.

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

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Try Stampin' On Tuesday ~ Challenge #566

It's early Tuesday morning so it's time for a new challenge at Try Stampin' On Tuesday. Here's the sketch for the next fortnight.

Optional theme: Polka dots

Here's my card

While I didn't deliberately include polka dots on my card, I am noticing that the small strip of patterned paper does have dots. I guess I inadvertently included polka dots on my card - LOL! I started with Altenew's Weekend Doodles stamp set. I stamped one of the images with Versafine Onyx Black on Strathmore 140 lb watercolor paper. I added color with a water brush and distress inks (abandoned coral, mustard seed, speckled egg, mowed lawn). I smooshed some distress ink on a plastic mat and picked up the color with the water brush. I trimmed the panel down to 2 3/4" x 4". I matted the watercolor panel with black. I checked my stash of patterned papers and found this patterned "dots" paper. I cut a 1 1/2" x 4 1/4" strip for the bottom of the card. For the left border of the watercolor panel, I used Stampin' Up's Scallop Trim border punch with black cardstock. I adhered everything to a light pink A2 card base. The sentiment uses Clearly Besotted's Many Mini Messages stamped on a scrap of yellow cardstock. I punched it out using Stampin' Up's Oval punch. I used double sided tape to glue the A2 panel to a white A2 card base to complete the card.

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

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Addicted to CAS ~ Challenge #225

Hi Crafty Friends! We have a new challenge for you at Addicted to CAS

Isn't "NAUTICAL" a great code word? It certainly made me think. I looked through my stamps to see if I had anything that would work. I found a Lawn Fawn stamp set called Float My Boat. Here's my card

I stamped the sailboat with Gina K's Soft Stone ink on a scrap of white cardstock. I fussy cut it out. I found some striped patterned paper and stamped the sailboat on it, again with Gina K's Soft Stone ink and fussy cut the sails. I glued the sails to the original sailboat on the white cardstock. For the waves, I used one of Sizzix - Stephanie Barnard's Border dies and some blue cardstock. To add a bit of dimension to the waves, I ink blended using blueprint sketch and salty ocean distress inks, added with an oval ink blending brush. I adhered the waves to a light blue A2 card panel and tucked the sailboat behind the waves. For the sentiment, I used the same stamp set and again with Gina K's Soft Stone ink, stamped the sentiment near the bottom of my card. I adhered the card panel to a white A2 card base to complete my card.

We'd love to see your "NAUTICAL" creations in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #434

Hey there Crafty Friends! Ready for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!? 

I was looking for some inspiration for this challenge. I looked through my stamp collection and came across Rubbernecker's Neighborhood stamp which I picked up at a Stamp and Scrapbook Expo in Puyallup several years ago. I stamped it on a white A2 card panel with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I knew that I wanted to color the houses, just like they are in St John's Newfoundland. 

I'm borrowing this photo by Getty Images so you get an idea of how colorful their houses are.

Here's my card

I added color with Copic markers - B02, BG23, G14, R05, V15, Y02, YR16. For the sentiment, I used Your Next Stamp's Whatnot Sentiments Four. I trimmed the panel slightly and matted with a black A2 card panel, which was then adhered to a white A2 card base to complete the card.

We'd love to see your card in our gallery. What occasion will you pick?

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Perfectly CAS ~ Challenge #29 July 2022

There is something really calming and peaceful about clean and simple cards. I love making clean and simple cards and playing with paper! We have a new challenge at Perfectly CAS. This month, our challenge is

When you see the word, FESTIVE, what do you think of? I think of a party, a celebration. Here's my card

I heat embossed with silver embossing powder, the image and sentiment using Unity Stamps' Bright Spirits stamp set. I added color with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers. I trimmed the panel slightly so that I could mat with silver cardstock. I adhered the panel to a white A2 card base. Cheers!

We'd love to see your FESTIVE cards in our gallery. Please remember to keep your card clean and simple and to cover one-third or less of the card panel. 

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Try Stampin' On Tuesday ~ Challenge #564

Hoping your summer so far hasn't been too hectic for you and that you're finding time to craft at your craft table. I love spending time playing with paper. It makes me so happy!

We have a new challenge at Try Stampin' On Tuesday

I pushed myself to use both the sketch and the inspiration phrase "SHINE". Here's my card

I started with Unity Stamps' Glowing & Beautiful stamp set, 140 lb Strathmore watercolor paper and Versafine Onyx black ink. I made sure that the ink had dried before watercoloring. I added the yellow using Mustard Seed distress ink, applied with a water brush. The actual stamp was a bit too large for the black circle, so I fussy cut the bulbs out and adhered it to the black circle, die cut with a Sizzix circle die. I found some patterned paper that went with the yellow of the bulbs. For the sentiment, I used two different stamp sets (one word from each), The Alley Way - an unnamed stamp set and Craftin' Desert Diva's Treasure Trolls stamp set stamped with Versafine Onyx black ink on a strip of yellow cardstock. I adhered everything to a light gray A2 card panel which was then glued to a white A2 card base to complete the card.

We'd love to see your creations in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #481

Yeah! I think that summer has finally arrived here in the Pacific Northwest. I was starting to wonder if we would ever have sunny, warm days. I mean we did have three sunny, warm days but that was a couple of weeks ago. Since then, it's been cool and cloudy, if not rainy!

It's not really crafting weather when it's so nice out. However, I do love to play with paper. We have a new challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, that we hope will inspire you.

Here's my card

For my card, I started with Ellen Hutson's Essential by Ellen's So Matcha stamp set. I love this little Japanese girl. I stamped her with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on some white cardstock. I added color with Copic markers - BG13, E02, E41, R32, V15 and fussy cut her out. For the background, I used Clearly Besotted's My Bam-boo stencil and Simon Says STAMP's Waves & Hills stencil (on top of one another) and distress inks (mowed lawn, tumbled glass, bundled sage applied with oval ink blending brushes. I die cut the photo frame with Lawn Fawn's Say Cheese, Again dies from white cardstock. The sentiment uses Waffle Flower's Konnichiwa stamp set and Versafine Onyx Black ink. In case you're wondering, the Japanese characters spell out "arigato", which does translate to "thanks". I found some pink patterned paper which I placed behind the photo frame and focal image. I adhered everything to a kraft A2 card panel, which was then glued to a white A2 card base to complete the card. 

We'd love to see how you were inspired by our sketch by joining our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Die Cut Divas ~ Christmas in July Challenge

Typically at this time of year, it would be refreshing to think about Christmas. However, this summer, it hasn't felt like summer at all, well, except for 3 days! It's been cool and rainy - kind of typical weather for spring in the Pacific Northwest. We're all wondering if summer will ever come. The three day teaser just doesn't seem right!

Nonetheless, it's time for our July Challenge at Die Cut Divas. Our challenge is, yup, you guessed it, 

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Our sponsor this month is Elizabeth Craft Designs, who will be giving our winner at $25 gift certificate for their shop.

Here's my card

For my card, I was inspired by the northern lights. Seeing the northern lights is definitely on my bucket list. I started with a white A2 card panel. With some mini distress ink cubes (kitsch flamingo, wilted violet, salty ocean, chipped sapphire), I did direct ink to paper and moved the ink cube from the bottom towards the top to try to mimic the northern lights. To darned the sky, I used black soot distress ink and ink blended with an oval ink blending brush. For the forest, I die cut a bunch of trees using Elizabeth Craft's Winter Scenery die set and black cardstock. I glued the trees to give the illusion of a forest. For the sentiment, I heat embossed with silver embossing powder and Simon Says STAMP/Clearly Besotted's Magical Christmas stamp set. 

We'd love to see your Christmas in July creations in our gallery this month.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Addicted to CAS ~ Challenge #224

We have a fun challenge for you at Addicted to CAS. For the next fortnight, our challenge is

I was a bit stumped on what to do. I looked through my stamp sets for inspiration but none came. So then, I headed to Pinterest and found something that caught my eye that would be perfect for a KIDS code word. Here's my card

These characters are inspired by three much loved characters who live on Sesame Street. I used punches for most of the characters. For the characters' heads, I used Stampin' Up's 1 3/4" scalloped circle punch. For the eyes, I used EK Success' 1/2" circle punch and a regular office hole punch of the pupils. I also used the 1/2" circle punch for Big Bird's eye lids, inside Oscar's mouth and Elmo's nose. For Oscar's eye brow's, I used a Stampin' Up's 3/4" circle punch. For Elmo's mouth, I used a EK Success 1" circle punch. For Oscar's mouth and Big Bird's beak, I used the Creative Memories' Oval Custom Cutting system. I found some fun polka dot patterned paper for the background. For the sentiment, I was looking for a whimsical font, and used Clearly Besotted's Feeling Sheepish stamp set and Gina K's Red Hot ink. I like to think that kids big and small would love a card like this.

We'd love to see your KIDS-inspired cards in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Happy Little Stampers ~ July Stencil Challenge

Happy July! It's time for a new challenge at Happy Little Stampers ~ Stencil Challenge

Here's my card

 

I was inspired by Gina K Designs' Reverse Stencil technique - click here for her video. I ink blended distress inks (picked raspberry, abandoned coral, carved pumpkin, mustard seed, mowed lawn, mermaid lagoon), in rainbow order on a white A2 card panel with oval ink blending brushes. Using my Wendy Vecchi's Make Art Stay-tion, I positioned STAMPlorations Evolution stencil over the inked panel. I then added black soot distress ink with an oval ink blending brush. I trimmed the panel slightly so that I could mask with a black A2 card panel. For the sentiment, I stamped using Your Next Stamp's Cool Tag Banner Sentiments on a thin strip of light gray cardstock. I adhered it in place and then adhered the entire panel to a white A2 card base to complete my card.

We'd love to see your stencil creations in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #433

Greetings! How are you doing? Hope you're doing well. I'm enjoying a well-deserved week off. I'm supposed to be retired but worked 16 days in June. While my bank account is happy, I didn't really have time to sit and craft, which is really what I love to do. Hopefully, I'll have more crafty time in July. 

We have a new challenge for you at Addicted to Stamps and More! For the next fortnight, our challenge will be

Here's my BIRTHDAY card

Wouldn't you love to receive a gift like this? I certainly would (assuming of course, they are plushies and not "real" animals. For this card, I used Avery Elle's Critter Crew stamp set. I stamped the main image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added color with Copic markers - 100, B02, C3, C5, E02, E25, E29, E33, E41, E47, E71, G07, R22, R32, V15, Y06, Y17, YR16.

I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I trimmed the white A2 panel slightly so I could mat with black cardstock. I adhered everything to a white A2 card base to complete the card.

We'd love to see your birthday cards in our gallery this fortnight.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Happy Little Stampers ~ Christmas Challenge

Well, we had three days of summer weather and then it went back to Spring. I'm not really complaining though. I don't function well when it's hot ... unless I'm at the beach! LOL! Let's cool off and think about Christmas instead. We have a new challenge at Happy Little Stampers ~ Christmas Challenge

Here's my card

For my card, I tried to use the optional theme of gold. I heat embossed with gold embossing powder and the mat is made with gold cardstock. The image uses Avery Elle's Merry Flowers stamp set, heat embossed on 96 lb bristol cardstock. I added color with a water brush and distress inks (candied apple, mowed lawn, tumbled glass). I smooshed the ink on a plastic place mat and picked it up with a water brush. The sentiment is also heat embossed with gold and is part of the Avery Elle stamp set. 

We'd love to see your creations in our gallery this month.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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Happy Little Stampers ~ July CAS Challenge

When it's hot and sunny, it's nice to think about Christmas. It helps to keep me cool. At least, that's what I try to tell my brain. We have a new challenge at Happy Little Stampers ~ CAS Challenge

Here's my clean and simple Christmas card

For my card, I used Simon Says STAMP's Chunky Christmas stamp set. I stamped the JOY and then stamped the holly and berries, as if they were supposed to be attached to the word, with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I then added color with Copic markers - BG13, BG15, r29, YG63, YG67. I then stamped the "to the world" from the same stamp set, beneath the word JOY to complete my one layer card. 

We'd love to see your one-layer cards in our gallery this month.

Thanks for stopping by

sue

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