Birthday Bokeh

 A Bokeh Birthday with The Stamp Market

Hi all!

It's time for a new challenge over at AAA Cards Challenge blog!  The theme this time is Birthday themed Anything Goes.  So as long as its a CAS birthday card, you're in!  

I have to apologize for my photos, I have a new phone and new editing software I'm trying to figure out, so the photos aren't as crisp as I like them.  You'll get the general idea with them...I hope.  Any suggestions on editing software for an IMac?  I'm on the struggle bus here...

Any hoo...the card front was ink blended using The Stamp Markets Bokeh stencil set with Altenew's Frosty Pink, Sunkissed, Citrus Burst and Dew Drops Crisp Dye Inks using their fantastic mini blending brushes.  A background of the colors were added first, then repeated inking the colors using the 2 stencils in the set to create the colored panel on the card front.

The birthday sentiment is from one of my most favorite Simon Says Stamp sentiment sets, called Elegantly Modern Greeting.  It's a great basic set for any card maker, highly recommend.  It was stamped and heat embossed with Altenew gold embossing powder, then the 'birthday' was die cut with the coordinating die to create the window.  5 more pieces of card stock were cut and glued together to create the shaker element.  It's not how I would normally create a shaker card, but I thought I'd give it a go with this...don't think I'll do it this way again however.  Close up you can see the layers through the window, so I think I'll stick to my traditional foam core technique.  It also gives the shaker elements space to move more freely.

The sequin shaker pieces are iridescent in the same colors of the inks making it the perfect addition to the card.  The sentiment is finished off with a stamp from the same SSS set and a few confetti bits were added for more sparkle.

Now go whip up a CAS birthday card for your stash, and be sure to share it with us over at AAA Cards for a chance to be a guest designer!  Give those DT's some love too while you're at it...

Have a colorful day!

Late to the game...

Tim Holtz Distress Inks...who knew?

Hi all!

Welcome to another challenge with CAS on Friday!  I am so grateful you are here and hope you find inspiration for your personal creating.  Be sure to visit each of our DT's blogs and hear about their processes...you never know what you'll find out!

Like here's a little tid bit I bet you didn't know....I have never used Distress inks.  I know...for shame!  I am very late to the Tim Holtz Distress Inks game.  I purchased a bunch back in the fall, but just now pulled them out to see what the hype is about.  I don't understand the magic that these ink posses, but I think I get it!  The texture of the inks are so creamy without being sloppy and they do blend like a DREAM!  

Using Pickled Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Faded jeans, Villainous Potion and Hickory Smoke with Spellbinders sponge applicators and the Altenew Circle Mask and Stencil, the little glimpse into space is the perfect backdrop for my 'vintage' rocket stamp.  The stars are water splatters as well as splatters from metallic silver, blue and black watercolors.

This stamp is one of the very few maculine stamp sets I have in my extensive collection.  I probably should get a few more with a hubby, dad, brother and 2 nephews in my life!  They are sorely neglected.  Any hoo, this is an old Papertrey Ink set called Out of this World.  They have a new one in its place if you're looking for a cute outerspace set.

After stamping the sentiment with Altenew obsidian ink, cute little enamel stars were added to complete this little space scene.  I think I'll pop this card into the mail to my little nephew, he fell and cracked his knee cap over the weekend and hopefully it will cheer him up!

Now go check out the other DT's masculine cards to help ignite your creative process, I know I will be!

Have a colorful day!

Embossing Love

Embossing with Altenew's Craft Your Life LOVING YOU set on the Sisterhood of Crafters challenge!

Hi all!

So happy you are here to join us for another challenge at the Sisterhood of Crafters!  An with today being Valentines day, what better theme for our challenge than LOVE!  I know you have all been out there working on those cards for your loved ones, so let's see them!

I made this card for my dad to give my mom.  He has pretty advanced Alzheimer's disease, but most days he knows my mom, but even on the days he doesn't, he knows she's important to him.  The body just knows things even when the mind doesn't, ya know?  He does get excited to give her things still, which is amazing!

This card is made from Altenew's recent Craft Your Life series release, Loving You.  It comes with the stencil and the embossing plate...which is GORGEOUS!  I just adore this set and I know I'll be using it for years!  The main image is stamped then heat embossed with gold embossing powder which just makes it pop off the card.  Next, using the stencil, the blue flowers and their stems were inked, then finished off with some colored pencils on the main flowers. 

After die cutting the image out, the white edge was then colored with a marker to make it match the background paper and 2 more die cuts were used cut from the same colored paper to make it stacked and pop off the card front.  The sentiment from the same set was also heat embossed.  It was a difficult decision on what color to make it, it started off the same color as the background, but ultimately the blue won out, although you can still see a hint of that purpley-pink color peeking out in some places.

Finally, the background was simply made with the embossing folder using some old SU paper I have still on hand, couldn't give you the name it's been so long, but I think it's rose something?   

That's it!  I hope you'll join us for this challenge, I'd love to see what you do for love!

Have a colorful day!

Home is where my heart is...

 AAA Cards Challenge with NEW stamp sets!

Hi all!

Its time for another fabulous challenge at AAA Cards!  This time we have a sketch...what will be your take on it?

I used this adorable set from Simon Says Stamp called European Streets.  The background was masked to fit the challenge sketch, then stamped with the snow and brick images in the coordinating set.  It was then heat embossed with Altenew white powder.  Altenew's Fresh Dye inks in Dew Drops, Teal Cave and Navy were ink blended for the background to make the embossing pop.

Attempting to make the townhouse look 'snowy', the window image from the 3 layer stamp set was heat embossed with white powder.  Going along with this month's Simply Clean and Simple challenge, using a little pink, I opted to make the house my favorite color...well, one of them anyway.  The first and second layers were then stamped in Altenew Rose Quartz and Puffy Heart, with the awning colored with the coordinating alcohol markers from that color group, Cosmic Berry and Purple Wine.

To help take the 'snowy' effect home, glitter Stickles were added along the windows, awing, snow piles a few of the snowflakes and top of the building.  The card was finished with the sentiment from the set.  Easy CAS card with PINK for the challenges!

Now...show me your creation using the sketch, and be sure to visit the DT and show them some love as well.

Have a colorful day!

Loving Lunar Paste!

Channeling Dolly Parton with Simon Hurley's Lunar Paste!

Hi all!

I am a girly-girl through and through!  Don't get me wrong, I am in my element in a horse barn or camping as well, but I'm going to do it with pizzaz and some shimmer!  How about you?  Are you into the bling...the shimmer...the shine...the sparkle?  Then you'll love this post!

 

I have been obsessed with the Simon Hurley Lunar Pastes for a while, and even have quite the stash of them.  Using them in unexpected places on flower stencils or with eye popping color combos are some of my favorite ways of using them.  

The Simon Says Stamp Puppy Love stencil was perfect for this embossing paste background technique, simple and repetitive to make a texture with just a little design. Sticking with the Color Hues, Colorful Options and JUGS color challenges, using Prom Queen Lunar Paste color against red cardstock...oh gracious it is so YUMMY! The pink is just POPPING off the background...it's even more fabulous in person!

Since the background was so fantastic, the rest of the card needed to be simple...but there's nothing wrong with amping up the shimmer.  I channeled my inner Dolly Parton using more PINK and the Fancy Love You sentiment die from Simon Says Stamp cut from Altenew Tourmaline glitter card stock...look at it sparkle!!!

The whole thing is finished off with some sequins in red and white, because Dolly would have wanted it that way... 

That's it for today, have a colorful, shimmery, sparkly day!

Noted Hearts

Simon Says Stamp Noted Hearts for CAS on Friday

Hi all!

Welcome to another challenge at CAS on Friday!  This fortnight's challenge is VALENTINE'S!!  I used to love to exchange the little paper valentine's when I was in grade school.  Making a pretty little bag...no boxes in the late 70's-early 80's.  We would tape them to the front of our desks then drop in our classmates bags...up and down the rows...  I once made mine, it didn't go over well.  They were a hot mess, but also, kids didn't do that back then!  It was considered...weird...if they only knew how weird I would get!!🤣🤣🤣

First, I need to apologize for the quality of the photos.  My phone took a nose dive on my weekend trip to NOLA...it was innocent!  It fell out of my pocket when I was climbing out of a carriage tour, so no alcohol was involved even though I was at Mardi Gras.  Only the camera part and back were damaged which leaves the pictures a little wonky.  Coupled with the fact I am still working on learning my new computer with its' editing software, and it's a perfect storm for weird photos!  I'll be getting it repaired this weekend, but until then, hopefully we can endure it...  

This card features a new set from Simon Says Stamp Smitten collection called Noted Heart.  It's so cute and perfect for making tags and valentines for school aged kids and teachers.  Since I used to be a teacher, I think that is why I love this set so much!  The set has a variety of sentiments to go with the main statement, but since I love EVERYTHING about my high school aged daughter, I went with that. 

The notebook paper heart was stamped with Ocean Waves Crisp dye ink and little hearts with Coral Berry and Ruby Red.  The photo doesn't show the difference in the color...thank you broken camera...and I added red Stickles to the solid heart to make them pop!  Everything was stamped on a card front panel die cut with My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Rectangle Die set and added to a card base.

That's it for this week!  Be weird like me and make your Valentine cards, then share them with us in our gallery, we love to see your work.  

Have a colorful week!

Winter Blues

 Hi all!

Its that time again!  Another challenge for Sisterhood of Crafters is ready to roll!  I just love doing challenges, they really help me work outside my comfort zone and try different things.  This fortnight challenge is WINTER BLUES.  I have a friend that always gets sad during the winter months, so I went that route when making this card.  Some snail mail love to cheer her up, but also not remind her of the wintery mess outside.

This card has an acetate overlay with foil added to it from Altenew's Nordic Vines set done with Rose Gold foil.

The card base has the same foil plates 'letter pressed' into it.  I didn't have the BetterPress system at the time, so I just used a rubber mat I had with my die cutting machine.  Unfortunely, the edges of the plate show, which wouldn't happen with the BP, but it still looked good so I went with it.  It is also swiped it with some Dusk Crisp ink to make it stand out more.

It is finished off with a sentiment from the Versatile Greetings 2 die set, with the background cut from Topaz card stock.

Hope you're all staying warm!  Now go check out our DT's work to inspire you!  Have a colorful day!

Cozy Cold Colors

 Hi all!

Still figuring out how to work my new computer with photo editing.  It's always been a challenge...before, using my iphone to my Windows computer via Lightroom.  Now my phone and computer 'talk' to each other, but I can't figure out the Lightroom on the iMac.  Ahhh...first world problems!  I am grateful for all that I have, even though I hate technology.  In the meantime, I've made a card for the current Color Throwdown and Triple  B challenges, their color combos are very similar and just spoke to me!

Such gorgeous soft colors together!  I will have to save this combo in my bank for a future card...

I'm trying to decide if my blue wasn't 'dusty' enough.  I used Altenew Blush, Pinkalicous, Misty Morning and Cloudy Sky Crisp Dye inks for the flower and the leaves.  The blush was applied in 2 layers, I didn't want to go too red since the next color in the family was Rouge...definately not a blush.

The background was in my scrap bin, and made from Altenew's Fine Frames Cover Die set.  Using the rubber mat that came with my die cutting machine, the die was embossed onto the white card stock, then die cut it onto gold mirror paper.  

Some my think I'm crazy for having the scrap bins...they are even catagorized by theme so items can be found easily...and they certainly came in handy for this card! This sentiment from Essential Sentiments was in there, which is perfect for my bestie going through some hard times right now.  Snail mail hugs to the rescue!

That's it for today...If you have any suggestions for how to use an apple computer, please share!  I'm eager to learn some tricks!  Have a colorful day!

Having my apple and eating cake too...

Hi all!

How are you all with technology?  I'm TERRIBLE!!!  I have zero patience for all the changes that happen with apps and programs.  So when my amazing hubby purchased me an Apple iMac for Christmas since my laptop has been giving me issues, I've avoided setting it up...until now.  My guilt got the better of me every time I would walk into the studio.  I'm struggling with the conversion from Windows to a Mac.  Any suggestions?  In the meantime, I thought I would participate in the TGIF Challenge.

When I saw this challenge picture, I knew just the stamp set I had to use for it!  Altenew's Mini Delight, Cut the Cake stamp set with matching die!

It's a perfect fit, right?  The beauty of this stamp set, you can create any 'flavor' of cake you want based on your ink selections!  I only wish baking was this easy...

The background embossing panel was frankensteined using Altenew's Stellar Cascade embossing folder, I had to match it up and run it through the machine 2 times to do the entire slim line card.  Don't look too closely or you'll see the splice...

The great thing about this set, is it has dies for the cake, the whipped cream, the sprinkles and the 'cake' sentiment.  Great set eh?

That's it for me...off to figure out this apple contraption...  Have a colorful day!

 

Forgetful XOXO - TIC TOCK CHALLENGE 239 TEAM PICK!

 Hi all!

It's time for another AAA Cards Challenge!  This time we have a photo inspiration for you and it's beautiful in its simplicity.

See what I mean?  I love the texture from the white hearts against the red color of the 2 hearts.  It's a great inspiration for a CAS card, don't you agree?

Here is my take on the photo.  The new Simon Says Stamp Puppy Love stencil is ADORABLE!!  Look at those little toe beans...  Used with a swipe of some Altenew Embossing Paste and the perfect background to match the photo was made.  SO FUN!

The 'XO' die for the main sentiment has been floating around my studio for...well, years I guess?  During one of my 're-organization' days, it fell out of my old die storage case and I since I used to throw away packaging, I'm clueless...I don't do that anymore...any idea?  I'd be forever grateful for your brilliance...I've Google searched and get nada.  Anyway, it's really pretty cut Red Spinel glitter card stock from the Altenew Gradient Glitter Cardstock Red collection, against the texture behind it.

The added sentiment was stamped on a piece of card stock die cut with Altenew's Featured Sentiments Die set.  Using one of their sentiment strip dies is so handy for these little stamp sentiments.  This one stamp is from Simon Says Stamp Elegantly Modern Greeting.  I'm eager to use this set more, its a fantastic basic set with beautiful fonts...highly recommend!

I'm also entering this in the Inspirational challenge USE STENCILS and the Tic Tac Toe challenge, down the left side of the board; heart, red and die/punch.

 

Be sure to visit all our DT and give them some love, have a colorful day!!

Simple winter wishes...

 Hi all!

It's time for another CAS on Friday challenge!  This time around, we are focusing our challenge on WINTER...appropriate since winter has reared it's ugly head in the US this last week.  My daughter even had school cancelled because it was TOO cold...no snow...just cold.

In keeping with the cold...and in my opinion, if it's going to be cold, there may as well be snow...I decided to create a very simple CAS winter snow themed card and am also entering it into the Simply Clean and Simple challenge...Winter.

The background was created using Hero Arts Snowflake stencil and Altenew Embossing paste.  After allowing that to dry, Altenew Iridescent shimmer spray was sprinkled for a subtle effect...you can see it in the first photo and on the little house. 

Speaking of the little house, it was in my scrap bin from an earlier card using My Favorite Things My Neighborhood.  I did add some Stickles glitter to the house for some shimmer.  The sentiment was added using Simon Says Stamp CZ Designs Season's Greetings stamp set with Altenew Teal Cave ink.  An incredibly simple CAS card!

I hope this and the other DT's creations inspire you to create a WINTER themed card, so be sure to share it with us HERE and visit the other DT's and give them some love!

Have a colorful...and hopefully warmer...day!

White on white on white? - PEACE ON EARTH TOP 3!

 Hi all!

Super quick post here today.  I created this card with several challenges in mind and posted them on my INSTA, but I couldn't get it to translate onto blog posts, so I'm also adding it here!

 

I'm entering this card in the Peace on Earth challenge, the card encompasses 3 of the images from the inspiration photo.  I'm also entering this in the Timeout Challenge this round, inspired by the inspiration phrase in their photo...'Winter Solitude, in a world of one color, the sound of the wind'.  Great haiku...

Lots of layers and textures for this one!  My goal was to keep everything in a shade of white with lots of texture. I used my new SSS Grand Corner Leaves die and their Circle Sentiments Christmas stamp set…which I LOVE! 

The layered background was created using Altenew’s embossing paste with the Hero Arts Snowflake stencil over a panel made from Waffle Flower Dashed Snowflake cover die inked with Vanilla Cream Crisp die ink.

That's it for today!  Visit my INSTA post on this card to see the coordinating card made for the hop I participated in there.  It's a cutie too!

Have a colorful day!

Cold in paradise...

 Hi all!

I am here with another challenge for the Sisterhood of Crafters!  This fortnight's challenge is ICY COLD...  I live in the Northern Midwest of the US, so it can get pretty cold here in the winter.  Lucky for us, it's been pretty mild so far...knock on wood...we'll see how the rest of winter goes.

My family is currently planning our spring break, and while I want to go to someplace warm with a beach, my hubby wants to visit a big city like New York, London or Toronto.  I don't think we'll do any international travel, but anywhere in North American is always possible.  This dilemma has inspired this card!

In person, this card really shimmers like ice!  The paper the flower was stamped on was first sprayed with Altenew Iridescent ink spray.  It gave the paper a pale blue effect and in the light, it changes colors all in the cool spectrum, it's gorgeous!  I really wish it would translate in photos...  I am also entering this in the current Color Hues challenge given its beautiful light blue and navy colors. 

The flower was stamped with Altenew's Dynamic Duo Paradise Flowers from their November release.  I love all their Dynamic Duos...it's like one stop shopping with coordinating stencil, stamp and dies.  

Only the detail stencil was used for color on this blossom, the shimmer added enough color for the base color of the flower using Persian Blue.  The outline was stamped with Sapphire ink on the shimmer paper and Persian blue behind the die cut.  

The sentiment was stamped Versamark and white heat embossing to make it pop off the dark blue cardstock.  The finishing touch was splatters made with Sapphire blue and iridescent ink spray.  I hope you enjoyed this inspiration for ICY COLD.  Please be sure to visit and comment on the DTs posts and give them some love!

Have a ICY colorful day!