Less is More Challenge #374

While checking over at Less is More, where the current challenge is




I was inspired by Sarah's card 



Here's my card

At first, I wasn't sure what a 'bits' box was. Then, I figured it was the box where all of my leftover stuff goes. The stuff that just didn't quite work out the way I thought or the leftover stuff when you ink up a whole card panel but only needed a strip. I dug through my 'bits' box and found this bright panel. There are lots of treasures in my 'bits' box. I should check there more often.

I think that I had inked it up with distress inks (ripe persimmon, picked raspberry and maybe abandoned coral). I then lightly spritzed up Simon Says STAMP's Bold Flower Outline stencil and applied it, wet side down onto the inked panel. I pressed the stencil down and let it sit for a few minutes before carefully removing the stencil. I've seen this technique described as stencil stamping. I inked up two small areas, one with ripe persimmon and one with picked raspberry. I brushed perfect pearls over each before diecutting with Paper Smooches Balloons dies. I stamped the sentiment from Simon Says STAMP's Floral Bliss stamp set on a scrap of red cardstock and trimmed it. To complete the card, I used some silver baker's twine for the balloons strings and a scrap of striped colored printed paper. 

Thanks for stopping by
sue

AAA Cards: CAS Game # 118

I was inspired by the current challenge at AAA Cards




Here's my card

I started with a white card base and lightly marked with a pencil, a rectangle roughly 3" x 3". Then, I stamped a variety of small flowers and leaves using Hero Arts inks (Butter Bar, Orange Soda, Field Greens, Passion Flower, Tide Pool, Pale Tomato) within the rectangle. Once complete, I carefully erased the pencil marks and drew a frame, not worrying too much if the lines weren't perfectly straight. I die cut from a scrap of black cardstock, the word "thanks" using Simon Says STAMP Script Thanks die and adhered it in the middle of the frame.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

CAS(E) this Sketch # 277

Found another sketch challenge. This time it's at CAS(E) this Sketch. Here's the sketch.




Here's my card

This is a one layer card. I used the Hero Arts Spring Hello by Lia stamp set, Hero Arts inks (emerald green, cornflower, grape juice, strawberry, orange soda, butter bar) and my regular sized MISTI. I have found that it was easiest for me to position the card into the corner of the MISTI, place the stamp, ink the stamp, stamp (by closing the lid) and then re-position the card by 0.5" each time. Of course, I cleaned the stamp each time before re-inking with a new color. In this way, I didn't have to fuss with the lining up of the stamped images. I would have never attempted something like this without the MISTI. For the sentiment, I used Hero Arts charcoal ink. 

Thanks for stopping by
sue

The Paper Players PP#399

I love sketch challenges. They provide me with enough direction to help me get inspired but are "loose" enough that i could use whatever supplies I have (or can find!). There's a sketch challenge at The Paper Players




Here's my card

I started with a kokeshi doll stamp from a stamp set I purchased several years ago and have no idea what company or what the name of the stamp set is. I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and added color with Copic markers. The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn's Let's Roll stamp set, punched out with a 1.5" circle punch and matted with purple using a Spellbinders scalloped circle die. For the background, I used Darice's Bamboo embossing folder with dark green cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #26

UGH! I missed the "deadline" to post last week with the "odds", so I'm joining in with the "evens" this week. It's time for another challenge at The Merry Christmas Challenge where the challenge is

Anything Goes + Christmas

(optional: star)

Actually, there are going to be some changes here at The Merry Christmas Challenge after this challenge. We're going from a weekly challenge to monthly challenges, posted on the 15th of each month and there will be no optional themes - just Anything Goes + Christmas.

Here's my card

OK - so it's a bit of a stretch to think that I used the optional theme. However, there IS a star! I started with Simon Says STAMP's Color Me Trees stamp set, which I stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink on 96lb bristol. I added color with my Gansai Tambi Pearl Colors paint and a fine paint brush. I just love the shimmer these paints make. Here's a close-up

I fussy cut the trees and STAR. The sentiment is from Hero Arts' Winter Silhouettes stamp set where it was heat embossed with silver embossing powder on a black card panel. I adhered the tree and STAR with some liquid glue.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #270

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




Here's my card

I started by stamping the floral image using Stampin' Up's Artistically Asian stamp set using my MISTI. I added color with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers (one color at a time) and spritzing with a fine spray of water before stamping onto 96 lb bristol. It gives a watercolor look to the image. I trimmed the panel to 3.75" x 2.75". I added the sentiment from Simon Says STAMP's Lots of Thanks stamp set with Hero Arts charcoal ink. I matted the panel with red cardstock and found a strip of plaid printed paper for my vertical element. A bit of organza ribbon tied into a bow, completes the card.

We'd love to see what you create starting with this week's sketch.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

a2z Scrapbooking - June 25th post

I'm up on the a2z Scrapbooking blog. It's going to be my last post as a member of the design team at a2z Scrapbooking. The current challenge is



Here's my card

I stuck to the monochrome challenge. I started with Hero Arts SA116 Scrollwork Stencil and added color with spiced marmalade and an ink blending tool, stamping off once for a muted look. I only inked up the upper left corner of the card base. Next, I stamped using Hero Arts CM264 Color Layering Tiger Lily stamp set. I used Hero Arts Orange Soda, Tangerine and Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie inks for each of the three layers. Of course, using my MISTI, made the layering pretty easy. I fussy cut the flowers out. The sentiment was stamped onto a scrap of orange cardstock. When completing the card, I adhere two of the flowers directly onto the card base. The middle flower, I popped up with dimensionals.

We'd love for you to join us - there are a couple of days left.

Thanks for stopping by
sue