Muse Challenge # 27

I managed to make a card for the Muse Challenge...I will be heading to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for 9 days tomorrow and will not be making any cards...so thought I would get up early this morning and try to make a couple.  I love Tracey McNeely's style and she is the one who gave us this Muse Card:
                                                           

                                                                                              
I pulled out two MFT sets:  Roses and Cheerful Blessings to make my card.  I did a little masking and changed up the colors.  I used MFT Red Hot for the larger rose, PTI Terra Cotta Tile for the smaller rose and new leaf for the leaves.  I liked how Tracey added those clear sequins to the card, it really takes the card up a notch I think.  I added some white sequins to my card.

Another Ghost stamping card

I made a couple of cards using the ghost stamping technique shown by both Jennifer McGuire and also Darlene DeVries.  I thought I would try the layout that Darlene used...so I followed her paper measurements and went to town.  I used PTI kraft paper, colorbox frosty white, distress inks: bundled sage and ripe persimmon.  My stamps were from PTI Beautiful Blooms and Turning a New Leaf.

My sentiment is an MFT stamp, Cheerful Blessings.  I added a hand drawn black line at the top and bottom of the card for balance.  I think I still need to work on that "ghost stamping" so that I can line things up better...maybe I should use the stamp-a-ma-jig!!

CASology ~ playing with GOLD!

Are you playing along with CASology this week?  the cue word is "gold"...you can go HERE to access the blog.  I stamped my flower with Encore ultimate metallic GOLD ink, I heat set it, then made a mask and stamped my leaves ...I used a stylist to add some veining to the simple leaf.  I cut out the sides and added a strip of PTI gold shimmer paper to the sides.  the sentiment is a Hero Arts stamp and is embossed with gold embossing powder.
                                                       

Papertrey Ink July blog Hop # 4 card

                                                                        



     These are the colors for this last card I made for the July Blog Hop going on at the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop...I used Up, Up and Away stamp set for this card.  I used summer sunrise reinker and used a paint brush to water color the background after placing some masking paper for the clouds and the hot air balloons.                                                      

Papertrey Ink July Blog Hop card # 3

These are the colors I used for my card, the stamp set is PTI Flower Garden. I did a little masking for the stems, and I also used the stems from Daydreamer stamp set and inked them up with a memento green marker pen.  The card and face of the card is stamper's select white, new leaf frames the stamped image and aqua mist pattern paper is attached to the sides.  The twine is from the Twinery.
If you want to play along, go HERE  to Nichole Heady's blog and check out all six of the color challenges.

Papertrey July Blog Hop ~ 2nd card

This time I used these colors:                                                                                                                        And made this card:

I stamped the ferns from Meadow Green using new leaf ink onto limeade ice paper; the big flower, or wisher, or Queen Anne's Lace  was stamped with summer sunrise, the stems in orange zest onto rustic white paper mounted on lemon tart.  The sentiment is also from the same stamp set using dark chocolate ink.   I notched the sides and added a little orange twine from The Twinery.                        

Papertrey July Blog Hop

This month the challenge is using  Fruits of Summer for our color inspiration...there are six different color charts to select and make a card.  Go check it out...there are fun color combos

Betsy Veldman was one of the guest designers for the Summer Camp Online Card Class...she used this format for making a card and so I followed her lead.  I loved it and decided to try it for this challenge.
I cut both solid and pattern paper from these color choices, then I die cut the "hello"...I stamped the phone from Heart 2 Heart # 4.

Ghost stamping

Jennifer McGuire demonstrated something she calls Ghost Stamping HERE and Darlene DeVries also demonstrated it HERE .  I really liked the looks of that technique and finally tried it out myself. 

I used the same technique on both cards.  The top one was stamped with color box red ink and I hand drew the lines around the card.  The second card was stamped with terra cotta tile and I did a little masking with that technique.  The stamp is PTI Flower Garden, the sentiments are Hero Arts.  the white ink is colorbox "frost white" pigment ink...I did heat dry it after each stamping to be sure the white dried and did not smear.

CASology # 54 ~ GOLD

         This week the CASology cue word is GOLD.  So I took a die from Memory box and die cut it three times and adhered each one to itself.  Then I rubbed versamark over it and embossed with gold embossing powder...I actually repeated that process a couple of times to give it a nice thick coating of gold.  Since I wanted this to be a sympathy card, I kept it really clean and simple...I embossed a strip with a Cuttlebug dot folder and adhered it to the face of the card, then added the "fresh daisies" die to it.  I embossed the sentiment with gold also...it is a Hero Arts sentiment.  You can access the CASology blog HERE.

                                                                         

Dynamic Duos # 62 and Seize the Birthday

The colors are coral orange and black...and if you want to add a butterfly, then that is considered the "desert".  I used a sketch from the Summer Online Card class and made this card:

You can go HERE to access the challenge over at the Dynamic Duos blog.  I used berry sorbet for the butterfly and stamped with versamark, then used clear embossing powder to give it some shine.  The sentiment is Side by Side Sentiments all from PTI.  The black twine is from the Twinery.  I embossed the sentiment on black with white powder.  I used some dimensional tape on the wings of the butterfly.
Also entering this in the Seize the Birthday Challenge where "anything goes"...you can go HERE  to access that challenge.
            
                                  

Festive Friday Color Challenge

Really pretty colors this time, go HERE  to access this challenge at Festive Friday.

I used a stamp that has never seen ink before...a Hero Arts Nordic Holiday.  I stamped with versamark onto some MFT pink paper and then embossed with zing "blush" powder.  I fussy cut the flower and then filled in some of the lines and center with a memento angel pink pen.  The branches were embossed with Hero Arts silver embossing powder and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink, Signature Christmas stamped with hibiscus burst ink.

Summer Card Camp 2 Week 1 Day 5

Another great card by Kristina Werner in the Summer Card Camp 2...a window card and the acetate is embossed with the cuttlebug swiss dot embossing folder.  The flowers are from MFT "Roses" and the sentiment is from a PTI set Happy For You.

I embossed the face of the card with a PTI striped embossing folder.  Then I die cut the circle using a nestabilities.  I placed a piece of pattern paper behind the acetate.  I tweaked the card design a little to make it a bit simpler for me. 

Studio Calico Day 13 and Merry Monday

Today the Studio Calico class was all about text stamping and journaling.  I used my Fabulous Frames and die cut it using a light pink from MFT and embossed my sentiment with Hero Arts silver embossing powder.  I die cut the bells from PTI silver shimmer paper and then stamped with memento black ink for the outline.  The bough is from Bells and Boughs cut with hibiscus burst and stamped with raspberry fizz.  I took an assortment of sentiments from about 5 stamp sets to add the text stamping inside the frame. 

I am also entering this into the month long Merry Monday Challenge, which you can access HERE. 
                                                      

Summer Card Camp ~ Day 3

Laura Bassen was a guest artist for this day in the summer card camp.  She used the banners sketch and mixed solid with pattern paper.  Here is my card: 

I lined up my banners alternating between pattern and solid paper...I adhered them to a piece of white card stock a little smaller than the length of the banners and stitched down one side.  I die cut some flowers from Happiness in Bloom and added a sequin to the middle.  The sentiment is from a Studio Calico set.

Clearly Besotted Challenge: Seeing Spots

My fourth and probably last card for this challenge.  I used all the darling little animals in the Cute and Cuddly set from Clearly Besotted Stamps.  The second challenge for this stamp company is "SEEING SPOTS" and Stephanie says you can interpret that any way.  For this card I made a bunch of stamped dots that actually have dots inside the dots...it is from a PTI stamp set called All About You...it is meant to be the center for the flowers...but I thought these would be perfect for this little card.

Here is that cute little lion...I stamped him in brown ink onto harvest gold paper and then I stamped again with versamark so that I could clear emboss him.  I then colored in some parts of him with copics.  I mounted him onto mat stack # 3 (ripe avocado).  The "cutie pie" is from the Cute and Cuddly set and I used white embossing powder for that sentiment.  Lots of spots and dots, for sure!  Are you playing along yet?  Go HERE to access this challenge...you must use one stamp from Clearly Besotted.

Clearly Besotted Challenge ~ using those Cute and Cuddly Stamps!!

Can you tell I am having fun with this Cute and Cuddly Stamp set from Clearly Besotted?  This is my third card...one more cute little guy to make!  The challenge is all about spots and dots, so I white embossed the little bear on chocolate brown bitty dot pattern paper and fussy cut him (thanks Stephanie for letting me know the dies are coming!!...you know I will be buying them!).  I stamped the 'welcome' from a PTI set called Baby Button bits and the 'boy' from Sweet Baby, the "Baby" was die cut three times from the Wonderful Words:  Baby set.  This is one of those clean and simple cards that Stephanie is so famous for!!

If you want to play along with this Clearly Besotted Challenge called "Seeing Spots", then go HERE  to access the fun.  All you have to do is use at least one Clearly Besotted stamp.

Another card for the Clearly Besotted Challenge

Another card from the Cute and Cuddly Stamp set by Stephanie at Clearly Besotted...I told you these little guys are so cute so I couldn't resist making another card.  This time I used the little giraffe who already had spots!  Before I adhered him to the card, I spritzed on some Heidi Swapp color shine in Teal using her stencil (it has dots, stars and hearts on the stencil, so I just used post it notes to mask off the other shapes).  Then I used the eraser end of a pencil and dabbed it into PTI chocolate brown and melon berry ink to add more dots.  I die cut two balloons (notice the one with polka dots!!) and the other balloon in melon berry paper...kept it simple so I could add the "2nd" to the balloon.  I added some twine from the Twinery and attempted to put it into the giraffe's mouth!  Another cute card, I think!

If you want to play along, go HERE and link up...

Clearly Besotted Challenge ~ Polka Dots!!

 The second challenge is going on over at Clearly Besotted Stamps.  Stephanie loves polka dots....so the challenge is:  Seeing Dots...and she says you can interpret this anyway you want.  Well, I stuck with my dots and used one of the sketches from the Summer Card class.  That cute elephant is from Cute and Cuddly.  I stamped and fussy cut him (wonder why there is not a die for these four cute little animals...hint hint, Stephanie!! *wink) and then added a little bit of color to him using some soft colored copics.    The word "birthday" is actually from a PTI stamp because I didn't plan very well when I cut my banners...the Birthday in the Cute and Cuddly set was too big to fit on the banner.  I love this set and think those animals are just too cute!

I was remiss in sending you to the blog for the challenge, HERE is where you need to go to enter your card in this challenge of "Seeing Spots"!!

Summer Card Camp Week 1 Day 2

Still trying to catch up, if I can...

The technique today was to use some gelatos, which I do not own.  so I just put some distress ink onto my craft sheet and spritzed it with water and ran my card piece through the colored ink.  I cut out the center with a spellbinder tag and then stamped my sentiment from PTI's All About You.  The YOU is a die cut from memory box which I cut out four times and glued the pieces together.  The flowers are from Bigger Blooms and the hearts are from Flipping Out.

Summer Card Camp ~ Week 1 third sketch

I have a SIL who will be having a birthday the first of August, so I am getting all my cards made a little ahead of time.  I really liked the sketches from the class so I decided to incorporate those with my cards.

This card was made with the third sketch from Week 1 of the Summer Card Camp.  It may be hard to see in the picture, but I actually 'crimped' the strip of white with the flowers, just to add some dimension to the card!  I used a white gel pen to do my faux stitching.

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink:  Flipping Out, Beautiful Blooms

paper:  PTI white, orange zest, colorbox pattern paper

dies:  Flipping Out

Summer Card Camp ~ different sketch, same colors

Another birthday card, this one is really special.  My Aunt is going to be 94 this Saturday.  A couple of months ago she suffered a heart attack and the doctors were sure she would not live through the night...but she did and she is doing just okay...some days are good, some not so good.  Her mind is failing her, but she loves to get the cards from me.  So this will be sent in the mail this week so she can receive it by Friday which is her birthday.  I used a sketch from Jennifer McGuire and the same colors as the previous card.

The birthday die cut is from PTI Wonderful Words:  Birthday, and the flowers are from Bigger Blooms.

Summer Card Camp

I missed a whole week of summer card camp...not a big deal....my BFF and I are getting together for a couple of weeks and we thought we would just take the class together.  However, I needed a couple of birthday cards right now, and I liked the looks of the sketches and the color challenges so I decided to make my two cards using them.  Up first is a birthday card for a friend who will actually be in Chicago for her birthday.  Her mom has been living with her for the last 6 years and she recently passed away...3 weeks shy of her 101 birthday!  Isn't that amazing?  My friend drove back to Chicago by herself to clear out her mom's house.  But I am going to send this card to her so it will be waiting for her when she gets home...I want her to know I have been thinking about her.

There is a piece of vellum that I embossed with a PTI impression plate and then stitched around the edges of that before adhering to the face of the card.  I used PTI bitty dot pattern paper for the color strips.  The sentiment and flip flops are from the Flipped Out stamp set.

Freshly Made Sketches # 94

This card is for my granddaughter...I think she is awesome...she kept us in stitches during our trip to Oklahoma.  I am entering this in theFreshly Made Sketches # 94.  She is truly a star (in our eyes!) and we love watching her play volleyball.    
                                                               
I used some paper from colorbox and the you is a memory box die from SSS the other sentiment is a Papertrey sentiment from Simply You stamp set.  the stars are just some I picked up at Walmart.                                                                     

Color Throwdown ~ Fifth Anniversary Celebration

Awesome colors for this special anniversary celebration going on over at Color Throwdown ~ check it out!

I used a Hero Arts summer stamp set and colored in the ball and the fish with copics.  Isn't that fish so cute?  He is jumping out of the water to pop the ball back to the shore!!
                                                                             
I used hawaiian shores ink for the "waves", and copics to represent all those colors above.  I am thinking a couple more Happy Summer cards will be made to sent out to my three aunts in July...oh, one has a 94 birthday coming up...I better get on it!

Studio Calico continued...

I have been missing in action, so I have a lot to catch up with.  My husband, daughter, Dina and grand daughter Ellie and I have been in Oklahoma for a week.  Ellie just turned 12 and was selected to go to an Olympic Volleyball training camp.  There were 36 try-outs in the U.S and she was one of 24 girls selected to come to camp for the libero position.  She had a blast...she lived in the dorms on the Central Oklahoma University campus with 136 girls from all over the U.S.  We did the tourist thing and visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial...that was a very sad scene...we also visited the site of the tornado that touched down in Moore, OK in May...such devastation.  One girl that Ellie became friends with was from Moore...her house had a little bit of roof damage and she lived 3 blocks away from the worst of the damage.

168 lost their lives in the Oklahoma bombing

"We come here to remember those who were killed.  Those who survived and those changed forever.  May all who leave here know the impact of violence.  May this Memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity."  This is inscribed on the entrance wall. 

Not much left of houses in this large area.  Workers were there cleaning up debris and making piles to be hauled off.  The Elementary school was gone...the whole area including the parking lot was all fenced off.  No one died in that school.

So the first thing I did was check out the Studio Calico "Inked" class and made this card.  The lesson for day 8 was ombre stamping.  I took the leaf image from Casual Fridays and inked it up with four different greens, starting with the lightest; spring moss, then added simply chartreuse, new leaf and ripe avocado.  I added some green sequins for a little bling to the card.

It feels good to be back in the craft room and I have a lot of catching up to do!

Festive Friday # 12 and Merry Monday Anything Goes

Another card for both the Festive Friday and the Merry Monday Challenges.  First up is the Festive Friday where the key word is "SNOW" and once again I had another stamp from the Sweet November set and thought this was an adorable snowman.  I colored him with copics, added a strip of PTI pattern paper to the side and embossed the sentiment from Tremendous Treats:  Christmas with red zing embossing powder.  I think these two snowmen have the cutest faces!  To access the Festive Friday Challenge go HERE  and to access the Merry Monday Challenge (which is lasting the whole month, until Sunday August 4th...and it is "anything goes" challenge!) go HERE .

           

Festive Friday # 12 ~ Trigger Challenge "Snow" & Merry Monday

The Trigger Challenge over at the Festive Friday Blog is the trigger word "SNOW"...and what better do make than a snowman? ...especially a cute one...and one that has has never seen ink before!!  so here it is:

Since we live in the Portland, Oregon area, we really don't see much snow, so I thought the sentiment "winter joy" was perfect!  We would love to have maybe two days of lots of snow...enough so there is no school and we can all go out and make snowmen and snow angels!!  This stamp is from Sweet November...it is one that I won for a challenge.  I colored it in with copics and the sentiment is from a Unity Stamp.  I added some Papertrey Pattern paper to the sides of the snowman and then adhered it to a white card base with foam adhesive.
Go play with some snow and enter this fun challenge...click on the blue Festive Friday above to access the challenge!!

I decided this card could also go into the Merry Monday Challenge where for the whole month of July it is "anything goes"...you can link up until Sunday, August 4th.

Inked Day 2 ~ adding glitter and glossy accents to stamped image

This is a card from day 2 and unfortunately the photo doesn't show it very well, but there is a dot of glitter at the bottom points of each chevron, it really does make a nice accent on this simple card.  I also stamped a row of stars around the sentiment and added a drop of glossy accents to the center of each star...it adds a little dimension and looks really nice.

Inked Day 5 ~ Tweaking A Stamped Image

Today's lesson was about using your stamps in a different shape then they come.  For instance, if you have a stamp that is straight, you can bend it to make it a circle or half circle...with this kit stamp set from Studio Calico, there was a leafy flourish stamp that was slightly curved.  Maile demonstrated how she changed the shape by following the grid lines on her acrylic block.  Here is my card:

The leafy flourish is an outline stamp, I used a copics (RV 19) and randomly colored in some areas.  The hello is from Happy Hydrangea cut with a spellbinders circle.  I added a strip of raspberry fizz pattern paper to the side and a little twine from the twinery.  I think I will look through my stash to find a stamp that I can do something with along these same lines...These classes sure help in stretching your mind to think outside the box and come up with different approaches for using your stamps.