The Flower Challenge #92 Use Our Sketch featuring Altenew

 Have you ever taken an Altenew Retreat? My first event was the Secret Garden Retreat in early spring. This project is my own, featuring the exclusive supplies we received and worked with during the retreat. I highly recommend these products (some are not yet on the market) and the retreat! 

We had several new inks to use and the gorgeous colors blended beautifully. Embossing folders, stencils and specialty card stocks and dies, plus fabulous teachers. End of my hearty endorsement, lol! 

Here is my card. 

I blended yellow and rose inks for the flowers. Yellow and teal inks for the embossed vining leaves, using a stencil.  The sentiment was die cut from silver glimmer paper and inked with teal. I added matte gold card stock as a border and for the embossed leaf die cuts. 

The beautiful sketch comes from The Flower Challenge and this will be our request all month long! We'd love for you to fill our gallery with floral cards floral cards using the sketch. 

It is unique and the simplicity allows for many variations. I can't wait to see what you will make! As always, our DT has provided wonderful inspiration. Please be sure to check it out!

Thanks for spending a bit of time with me today, it is always a delight to see you again! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: The sentiment is from Sissix. The colored card stock is Sea Glass from Concord & 9th.

Stellar Snowflake

 Hello again, I'm popping in to share my second card for this first week of the new year. I was hoping to get into creating more often but it's not happening quite that way. Am I the only one? I am caught up in 'new' outlooks and daily habit changes. I'd almost rather clean out my pantry than stamp. I know, that does sound crazy! Hopefully my mojo will kick in again soon. 

Although the sun is warm and the weather is breezy today, I pulled out the Stellar Snowflake stencil from GinaK that is new to my stash. Using Transfer Gel from Thermo-web and a laminator,  I foiled the design onto white card stock. Backing the panel with a black mat, I added bright blue card stock over the card base. 

The darling sentiments are from Honey Bee stamps. I love that they include the outline for the larger words, which I cut from vellum. 

There have been some recent changes happening that affect this stamping hobby of mine. I had to back up and completely move all my files onto a new computer as the old one was dying. In doing so my Photoshop Editor has become obsolete. Also, a new light box and lamp are challenging me to take better photos more consistently.  All these things are on quite a learning curve. If you have editing software that you love, I'd be happy if you'd share it with me!

I am off to clean and organize the pantry which involves getting on the floor but not having to think too much, HA! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Please know that your comments mean so much to me. They keep me going!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

 

I will be joining the following challenges: 

SIMON SAYS Something New

And with the lovely Jingle Belles: What did Santa bring you? My answer - a brand new snowflake stencil!

TGIF  Technique Challenge 

Thinking of You for Paper Players #578

 Hello, it's Sunday! LeAnne has a new challenge for us at The Paper Players and you'll love the springy hues she chose. We've had some warmer days, and I feel happy getting out my floral stamps. 

I tried a new to me technique today, after watching Jennifer's fabulous video HERE, showing how to use stencils for inking a background, also adding pressure to deboss the design. I just had to try it! 

Here's a close look at the slightly raised texture of the leaves background. 

Using  white card stock I sponged pale ink onto the stencil, then ran it through my Die cut machine for the stencil ink press result.

I know you will enjoy the beautiful combo, I can't wait to see what you make! 

Please check out the team inspiration and join us. Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope have a great week!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Must Love Dogs - You Have my Heart

She loves dogs and so do I, so using this set was a good thing to do! I love pulling out stamps I've owned for a few years and using them again on a card that is just right for the person who will receive it. From MFT, this is unfortunately out of stock. 

Here is the last of the Valentines for this year, they are in the mail! Always a good feeling. 

You know I also love inking, and the inked background gives my scene a fresh look! You may remember this POST where I created the background, and this is an extra one I had at the ready. I'm loving my Cute Hearts stencil! 

 Copic coloring the images, I added them to a die cut panel including some clouds and grass. I hope she loves it! 

Hoping you do too. Being able to share an extra card I made that's not part of a DT prompt makes me happy! 

Have a great weekend! 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Color Hues #27 Orange and Green

 It's time for a new month and new challenge at Color Hues! I love October as the weather turns cooler here but it's still most enjoyable to be outside. It also begins my frenzy of making Christmas cards which is one of my fav stamping seasons. 

For our challenge to use orange and green I began with an older kit that I still really love, Color Pop Autumn from PTI. It includes sturdy papers, stencils, stamps and pre-printed die cuts. 

Beginning with a charcoal textured card stock that has design in white (you can see a sample of that behind the card), I used the stencils and Distress Inks to color the leaves and blossoms in shades of orange and greens. Stamping over the images, I added details like the veining or berry centers. The sentiment is die cut in white and I stamped the thanks. The die and sentiment were part of the kit. 

I apologize for using products that are no longer available! These seemed perfect for the challenge and I am glad to have used them again after a long time of sitting on the shelf.

I sure hope that you will have fun creating and link your cards to the gallery! Have a wonderful weekend. 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Day 5 Watercolor Backgrounds with a Stencil

I've loved Online Card Classes for a very long time! I'm especially enjoying Spring Card Camp since the stay-in mandates have left me with LOTS of time to stamp. And at least for week 1 I've been able to keep up. 

For day 5 we are focusing on watercolored backgrounds. You know I love these, so I went right to work! 

The twist is to use a die cut: first as a stencil and then as a die cut over the inking on the second card. 

I used Fabriano Extra White watercolor card stock, and Distress Inks painted on with a brush for the colors. 
For both cards I used the Inside and Out Berry Branch Die (The Greetery). 

For the first card the die cut was used as a stencil.  It was spattered with paint but when I removed it the leaves outline remained. I loved the way this turned out.

 I took the stencil and adhered it over the background on the second card.

For both cards, I added accents of the die cut leaves in white to add brightness and texture. The lovely sentiments and coordinating die cut are from the Cotton Comforts set (The Greetery.)

Needing some shimmer, I embossed circles with Wow Sea Glass Embossing Glitter and added clear jewels. Here is a closer look.

I have no idea what I'll be making tomorrow. First I've got to clean up the huge mess in the craft room. I'll be back. 

Thanks for visiting! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Sending You Love with Cuddly Critters

One last post for you this week! I'm featuring the cute rabbit from the Cuddly Critters set (Simon Says Stamp.) 

This card is intended for our grandson who loves to rip off anything dimensional on a card, so I kept this one very simple with only one popped up image. 

The bunny was stamped, colored with Copics, then I masked the critter and sponged pastel inks behind. 

The triangles stencil (Pretty Pink Posh) added a bit of dimension to the card. Key word here: unremovable. I also added some clear drops to the eyes for shine and because it still needed something the stitched ribbon. 

As I am working my way through my stash, I have the goal to make cards that are gender neutral and could be used whatever the occasion. I am also telling myself to keep them simple. Sometimes I actually manage to do that. Today was NOT one of those days. Although simple, I wrestled with every little part of this card! 

Even with two great challenges to help me. 
Inspired By 

and CAS(E) this Sketch. 

It is good therapy for me to keep crafting so I'm being kind to myself in terms of my expectations, LOL! 

Hope you have a great weekend, see you soon! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!