Happy Hello

 Hi! It's me, coming back with a happy hello after a bit of time away from the craft table. I hope you're happy to see a new week and a new post! 

It's time for Team X and a new board from Betty at Tic Tac Toe Challenge #292!

I had ideas for other options when I set out to create, but I found one option that I was excited about so I pulled out cream card stock and ran with it.

I love techniques, so I tried something a bit new with today's card. There are many floral stamps with matching embossing folders and stencils. Have you ever thought of stamping an image and then using a different embossing folder layered on top? I wish I could remember where I saw this idea - I sure didn't think of it! But I'm so glad that I tried it. Here's the result. 

I stamped the Soft Blossoms floral spray image (Altenew) on cream card stock with black ink, and colored it using markers. I needed a large image or pattern on the embossing folder, and I chose the Floral Fence of Togetherness folder (Spellbinders), finding it to be just right, as it is also large in size, 5.50 x 8.50 inches. 

I ran the colored image panel through with the folder and I love the way it adds a subtle texture behind the colored flowers, while adding a rich pattern in the background. This folder features flowers vining  across the bottom, and just two or three more flowers growing up the left side. 

The sentiment from the Altenew set was heat embossed on black card stock. Black spatters were used to tie the ink and contrasting black mat together. 

I chose the middle row across: Floral, FREE, and White/Cream.

Please join us and share your work in our gallery!  We would love to have you inspire us!

Thanks for your visit to my blog today. 
TicTacToe Challenge
NBUS - my new to me Floral Fence Embossing Folder 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft             
                 Make something beautiful!  

Calming Cluster Florals for Freshly Made Sketches

 Hi there, I'm here to share a quick post with you today. Crafting time has been sparse the last couple of weeks, but I was able to make this card yesterday, just for fun! 

I have a pile of new stuff I just couldn't wait to explore and play with! The Calming Cluster Stamp set from Altenew was first on my list. It comes with a matching set of dies, an embossing folder and stencils which I look forward to using later. 

I chose to use a new technique of coloring to me. Using Copics, it's two tone coloring, which involves no blending. It's so easy to do and fits with the whimsical style of the florals. Spatters of white ink. I just couldn't resist their playful addition. 

I was inspired by the great sketch at Freshly Made. 

and I will be entering this at NBUS as well.  It's so wonderful to have these challenges as a way to keep us stamping and inspiring each other. I appreciate your visit today! You are such an encouragement to me. Wishing you a very happy Friday! 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Pop Up Fun with Hello Bluebird

 Hello, it's Tuesday and I've another card to share just for fun! I combined a new-to-me double layer pop up technique and the sweet Balloon Buddies stamps and dies from Hello Bluebird for this special birthday card.  I did easy coloring with Copic markers and used the dies to cut out these cute images. 

Inspired by THIS wonderful tutorial by Jennifer McGuire I followed her directions for making the box pop up elements and assembling the card. No special dies needed. Yaay! I love that part.  

Another plus is that the card stands up on its own. The photo below gives a peek of the side view.  

 

 I added what I thought were silver gems but discovered in different light that they are pearls.  Too late now, lol! These stamps are new to me, so I'm joining the challenge at NBUS once again. Also, playing along at Time Out. 

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you have a wonderful day!

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Inspired By Hello Fall

 Good morning to you! There will be two posts from me today, so let's get started! First up, at Inspired By we're back with two photo options or a sketch for you to try. My project is inspired by the Hello Fall prompt, and I decided to step it up and make a shaker card. 

I was thrilled to see my friend Nancy's link to a whole sheet shaker card, including a link to a great video tutorial. What fun this was to create and I'm excited that it is fairly flat to mail. I LOVE shaker cards but don't love making them with foam tape.

Nothing says fall like bright sunflowers and a wreath, don't you think? I've had this autumn sequin mix forever, and I am glad to use some of it up. The images and die cuts are from WPlus9  Autumn Blessings set. I colored with watercolors. The wreath is adhered to the card base, and the banner is placed over the acetate layer.

I hope you will join the fun at Inspired By this week. Can't wait to see your creations!

I am joining Just Us Girls challenge to make a shaker card.  Hope you have a wonderful day, thanks for visiting!

 

Inspired By...Hello Baby Flowers

Hi there, have you been inspired lately? I've been seeing foiled cards everywhere and was inspired to get out my foil and laminator and prepare a few backgrounds last week. One came in handy for the challenge at Inspired By! I went with the theme of Hello and Flowers. Here's my card.

I love mint and peach together so it was easy to incorporate those hues in my design. A few details: I used Thermo Web Deco Foil in gold and Transfer Gel with a stencil to create the foiling. Adding gold thread behind the focal point repeated that element. The stamps and dies used are from The Greetery: Opposites Attract (new stamps to me and I will surely be using them often!) and Birthday Blooms. We are thrilled to have so many participating in our challenges, and it's delightful to see your beautiful work in the gallery. 

Hope you will be inspired to play along! I will be adding this link to the wonderful challenge at NBUS, where I go to be inspired! 

Thank you for coming by, have a great day.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Fiesta!

Hello, how are things for you today? 
I expect it will be a fabulous day as I will be going to a very special birthday celebration for Sweet G who's turning 5! Seeing dear ones will be a delight after such a long time and I can't wait! 

My purpose today is to share a birthday card made with the Let's Fiesta stamp set from PTI. I am still working on pulling out stamps and papers that have been neglected in my stash although I do have a box of new things on my desk too. 

The images on this set were perfect for bright colors and assembled die cuts for a focal point. I love filling the basket with flowers!

I used one of my favorite techniques of using vellum in order to tone down bright colors or busy patterns on paper.  Inspired by day 7 of Spring Card Camp 2, "Vellum Overlays." I wasn't quite sure of mixing pinks with red, but I think with the addition of vellum - it works. What do you think?

I popped one yellow enamel dot on the center of the pink flower.

That's all for now, hope to see you back soon! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Plant Love

Hello friends, welcome to a new week! 
I didn't get much stamping in last week, it seems my energy and motivation disappeared. Don't we all just need a little extra kindness right now?  I spent some time coloring this sweet bear for today's card. 

I bought a few sets recently for simple coloring and card making including the Plant Sunshine set from Penny Black.  I love the sentiments that come with this set! 

For day 10 at Spring Card Camp 2 we were encouraged to use an image to substitute for a letter in a word.  I chose the small flower bouquet and added a tiny heart underneath instead of the O. Adding details with black Nuvo drops, a white gel pen and shimmer completed the card.

Thanks so much for your visit today! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Penny Black - Plant Sunshine, WPlus9 - Whimsy Alpha and dies

INK: WPlus9 - Beanstalk, Gala Red, Wild Mango

Accessories: The Greetery - Nordic Die

Spring Card Camp Day 2

Hello, welcome back to my blog! Our Easter day was very quiet but we enjoyed special face time and calls with our loved ones. 

I've taken many Online Card Classes and loved them, so I was excited to sign up for the Spring Card Camp when Kristina and Jennifer announced it. I always love learning new techniques or just having the prompts to make cards that aren't in my usual wheelhouse. 

I enjoyed using the My Whole Life stamps from WPlus9 to stamp once and then make two panels with the cards.  After randomly stamping I stenciled soft yellow dots in one area to pull it all together. Using a sponge dauber, I blended a second layer of inks on some of the images. I kept them very simple and one layer. 

The class goes on all month, it's not to late to join in! A great value and they are geared towards using supplies that we already have. Just the kind of diversion I need now while stuck at home.

I'll be keeping these posts short so that I have more to time to stamp and keep up with posting. I'd be happy to answer questions if you have any in the comments about the supplies I used. Thanks so much! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Peonies For You

I'm happy to have a project for you today and a special one for tomorrow. I am thrilled to see sunshine out my window as I write this afternoon post. It's been a crazy couple of weeks to say the least. I've tried several ways to put my mind at rest but it's been hard settling down to stamp. Last night I pulled out my best therapy - markers inks and stamps to do some no-line coloring! 

I gave Tombow markers a try for coloring using a paintbrush and water to spread the inks onto Fabriano water color paper. Being a rarely used coloring medium for me, some of those markers were dry then I substituted Distress Markers. Trying something new took lots of concentration and it was good for me to focus for an evening. 

Fussy cutting the flowers, I used foam tape to add them to a panel inked with Antique Linen, Lucky Clover and Chipped Sapphire DOX inks. I love the way these flowers stand out against the dark panel. Splattered with white paint, bedecked with a few jewels and it is done. 

Thanks so much for coming to my blog today. Writing helps me too, and I think reaching out is good for all of us! Sending hugs and well wishes to you all. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Altenew - Adore You. Sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp: Mandy's Flowers embossed with Altenew Rose Gold powder

Make Mine TALL

Good morning all! It is the middle of the week and officially fall. Cooler temps today and I'm in frisky spirits. Just in time for another card with the bushel and a peck theme! 

The opportunity to create a tall card was perfect for this large image. I stamped the bushel basket on woodgrain patterned paper, and added shading details with Copics and clear jewel drops for dimension. This card measures 3.5" x 7". I constructed two panels and adhered one flap over the back. 

Happy to be sharing this at The Paper Players today.
Enjoy your day!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Honey Bee Stamps - Bushel and a Peck and matching dies

Paper: SU - Very Vanilla, and retired DSP "Color Me Autumn" still one of my absolute favorite papers!

INK:Simon Says Stamp - Intense Black

Accessories: Nuvo Crystal Drops - Morning Dew, Cotton Ribbon - SU, twine

Watercolored Thanks

I pulled out the Look for the Rainbows Stamp set from the September Card Kit again today. 

This time I wanted to watercolor those gorgeous flowers. One thing that attracted me to this set was the large flowers with petals big enough to color generously. And that is what I did! 

I love to watercolor but I'm still in the learning stages. I used my Peerless watercolors but the colors were a bit more intense than I wanted. Once I realized that I was stuck with that, I added details over the blossoms with Copics, and flicked on spatters in black and metallic gold. I added a pale yellow background and black card stock with the sentiment embossed with Liquid Platinum. And I liked the results!

 Using a black mat, I mounted the card front onto Very Vanilla card stock for the base and added a few jewels.

Thanks so much for coming by today! Thank you for your kind words and comments. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

My last name is BEACH

Yes, that's a reminder in case some of you only know my blog name or don't know me at all. Cindy Beach is a great name! 
So when I saw the beautiful prompt at Inspired By ...the Sea, I just had to join in! 

There were many ideas to jump off from the photo, but I chose the shells and blue tones as I've been wanting to use the Cloche Quarters and Summer Fillers sets from Papertrey Ink. 

I was also highly influenced by THIS gorgeous card by Kelly. I loved the way she inked narrow paper strips to form an ombre colored background. I inked the strips in various blues to create this technique. I can't wait to try it again! 

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit. I don't usually post on weekends but you know what? I am on a roll with challenges now and I'm loving it! 

The more often I create, the easier it gets to create. Right now I'm happy with that, and have given up the notion that every card has to be a knockout. Does that make sense? 

Til next time, have a wonderful day! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink : Cloche Quarters and CQ Summer Fillers and coordinating dies; Papertrey Ink - Salt Air Flora and dies

Paper: Neenah Solar White,Kraft

INK: most stamped inks were from PTI; DOX for the blended strips

Accessories: clear dewdrops, kraft twine

Just a quick Hello!

A quick hello....How often I start an e-mail or text this way, especially when the hello is overdue. Don't know how I missed posting this week as I had some cards ready to go. 

I recently pulled out some designer papers to use and today's card was planned around the pretty floral pattern from the Beau Jardin paper pack from Penny Black. I rarely use black as a background but decided it was about time to! Love the dramatic effect. 

Using the My Whole Life stamps and dies and the Welcome dies from WPlus9 made it easy to create the focal point.

I stamped a few black dots - meant to be flower centers - to anchor the sentiment die. The sentiment continues at the bottom of the card with "I just miss you" from the Hello and Thanks set. 

That's it for me today, hope your summer is going wonderfully! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

The Greetery - Robins and Wrens Tips for You

Hi everyone! I hope your July 4th celebration if you're in the USA was fun and happy. 

If you're like me, after all the hubbub of family visits and cookouts with friends died down, you got to refresh yourself in your craft space. I had a great time experimenting with the Robins and Wrens set from The Greetery over the weekend. I am head over heels in love with Betsy's innovative designs!

I kept my card simple and the lines clean for a summer birthday using the larger wren from the set. I love how pert and cute this little birdie looks on the branch.

Here are a few tips for stamping this and other multi-layered images:

• Order of stamping - the first image includes all of the bird and the underbelly, the second layer adds detail. I found it really helped to stamp the second image, THEN the first image. That way they are easier to line up, since the darker image shows up and the first stamp image should be lightest.  
• I found I could stamp the second image and then use the same color for the first image, by stamping it off once to make it lighter the way the underbelly would be.
• Remember, you don't need four different colors of ink to stamp the bird. Experiment with generational stamping, or sponging the ink onto the image for a softer look.
• As with all layering stamps - take time to set up your best lighting even if you use a stamp positioner. 
• No worries if you don't line things up perfectly. These stamps are easy and so forgiving! 
• I stamped all the parts of my bird, EXCEPT the beak and legs, then die cut the image. Stamping the beak and legs after the image was die cut assured that I placed them at the correct angle. 
• Have fun adding details! I used a white gel pen on the wings area and Nuvo drops for the eyes and flower centers.

I guess those tips were more than a few, glad you read to the end! I hope that you've enjoyed my post today and found the tips helpful. I enjoy sharing the things I learn and create with you! Hope your Monday goes wonderfully well.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Robin & Wren stamp set and dies, Blooming Branch stamp set, Sentiment Suite: Birthday and Basics Dies

Paper: Neenah Solar White, WPlus9 - Fog card stock

INK: the blues on the bird are from Altenew

Accessories: twine, Nuvo gloss dots, Plus 9 - Clear Cut    Stackers Hexagon Dies, white embossing powder

Summer Roses Gatefold

Hello, and a happy good morning to you!

Now that it is officially summer, I am pulling out the kind of roses that I grow - the ones in my craft room, lol! Well, I must correct that - we do have a gorgeous yellow rose bush by our back door. I am lucky if I can cut each bud before the deer eat it.

Let's get onto the card now! 

I'm in love with the Rose Builder stamps from WPlus9 Design and I had stamped and layered many images awhile ago in a ton of colors. I picked out aqua roses and a pale yellow rose for this card.

The card base (Fog card stock) has a stamped background that I heat embossed in white. 

I made an off-center gate fold card that begins with a panel cut 5-1/2 by 8 inches. The flaps are scored and folded at 2-1/2" and 1-1/4". I slid the A2 sized aqua panel for the inside of the card, and used a vellum belly band to hold the card closed. 

The sentiment and background images are also from WPlus9 Design, the Hello and Thanks stamps and dies. 

I'm playing along with the Flower Challenge that asks us to do some background stamping.

So happy that you stopped by! Hope you'll be back soon.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!