Just For Fun November Challenge

Wow! It is already November 1^st and time for a new challenge at Just For Fun Rubber Stamps Blog.  Halloween is past (barely) so now we can focus on Giving Thanks.

I chose to use the new JFF stamp, Stamptangle Gourds.  They were colored with Zig Watercolor Markers and fussy cut.  It was layered on a die cut wreath from Impression Obsessions Twig Wreath Die Set.  Small leaves were tucked around the edges.  These were cut with an older Spellbinders’ leaf die from paper colored with Distress Inks.

The “Thanks” is from Sue Wilson Designs Expression Collection.  This was cut from the card front allowing the second layer to show through.

Small brown pearls where added above and below the “Thanks”.

Check out the JFF Blog for more inspiration, along with all the details of the challenge.

E. Marie

Spiders and Cats, Oh My!!

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I have enjoyed having my youngest home for a few days, due to Hurricane Matthew.  So glad she could be home safe and hope those of you affected by this major storm have not suffered too much damage or loss.  Praying for everyone as the east coast tries to recover.

Halloween is on its way and these sweet little black kitties can’t wait.  These are some of the new Just For Fun Stamptangle images that can be seen in their online store here.

The “happy halloween” sentiment is from JFF's Sentiments 1 Unmounted Sheet.  It was stamped at the top of this die cut window, which was layered on orange decorative cardstock, edged with dark grey ink.  This was added to layers of black, orange designer cardstock, and green on the white card base.

The Stamptangle Cats were heat embossed in black and and fussy cut.  After coloring them with shades of grey, these cuties were layered onto the card front.  They are totally enthralled with that little black spider.

Have a great week.

E. Marie

You Did It!

This weekend one of my friends asked me how I came up with my ideas for cards and how did I plan out what colors and layout to use.  To be honest, I really couldn’t answer her.  Sometimes I am inspired by something else I see and then it grows from there.  Sometimes I just pick an image that meets the theme, color it, and then see where it goes.  Then sometimes something just pops into my head from who knows where.  Today’s card is one of those.

Impression Obsession has a challenge theme this week of “You Did It”.  I searched through all their stamps that I own, trying to come up with something that would somehow meet this theme, and decided I did not have anything that would work.  Then last night an idea popped in my head and I decided to try it.  Last year my daughter graduated with her masters in viola performance and before she could graduate she had to have her final recital.  I was visiting her and we were busy working on wedding invitations that needed to get out so the recital was not top in my mind.  I couldn’t come back to attend it, but did get to sit through several of her practice sessions and it was like a private performance.  Even though this card doesn’t say the actual words “you did it”, it represents the thought of her successful performance!

The sentiment is from IO’s Seashell Collage.  I used a marker to color only the saying and stamped this on a torn piece of musical designer paper, then added distress ink around the edges and the saying.  This was layered on a distressed piece of cream cardstock stamped with the Dance Party Collage.  I only inked the outer sections of this stamp.  Then I cut around it, colored by sponging with ink, and distressed the edges.  Behind this is another piece of cream cardstock that I stamped with the Damask Cover-a-Card, distressed and inked the edges, and layered on a light pink card base.  I had a few flowers and a strip of ribbon left on my table from another projects so I added this, along with some pink pearls inked with brown.

Is it too late to send her a card?

E. Marie

I entered this card in the following challenge:

Impression Obsession Challenge - You Did It!

Bunny Zoe's Crafts April Challenge:  Recipe -  Anything but Square and include Pink - Lace - Pearls

All Sorts Challenge Week 306 – Bingo (Lace, Flowers, Pearls)

Papertake Weekly Challenge – Words, Words, Words

Party Time Tuesday Challenge #197 - Anything Goes

LOVE

I wanted to share another Valentine’s/Love themed card.  This one uses two different background stamps and a floral heart shaped image, all from Impression Obsession.

For the background I stamped two of IO’s Cover a Card stamps with Barn Door Distress Ink on white cardstock.  The top section used the Cover-a-Card Rose Lace (CC087) and the bottom section used the Cover-a-Card Thick & Thin (CC008).  These were layered on black and pink and added to the card front.

The heart image is the Ladybug Vine Heart (D6337).  I stamped it in black on white cs and then colored a piece with the Barn Door Distress ink and stamped a second time on this.  I colored the stem and leaves with a black copic.  Then I fussy cut the little flowers from the second image, shaped them a little, and layered them on the image to give some dimension.  I did the same for the little ladybug.  I used a glitter pen on the flower centers and the ladybug spots.  I have to admit that my copic did a drip on this so I simply cut out a few extra flowers and covered it up.  We have to be creative when mistakes happen.

I really love how well these background stamps work – made the background look like designer paper.

Thanks for stopping by.

E. Marie

I entered this card in the following challenges:

Impression Obsession Challenge – It Must Be Love

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge – Use Rubber Stamps Only

Deep Ocean Challenge #97: "Love is All Around"

The Artistic Stamper February's Creative Challenge- Love

We Do Doobadoo UK Craft Challenge 3 - Hearts and Flowers

Happy 90th Birthday, Dad

This week is my father’s 90^th birthday.  He has seen so much in those 90 years and touched so many lives.  He has been a minister most of his life, trying to help others, and I am grateful for all he has taught me.  I thought I would share the card I have made for him.

One of his favorite things to do is go camping.  We did this all our lives - can you imagine having 6 children camping in a tent?  I loved to go fishing with him and remember sitting by the lake together as the sun set, hoping for one more bite.  Then it was off to roast marshmallows over the open fire.  Yum!

I based this card off of those memories.  I created a sunset scene on a square of white cardstock, sponging various Distress Inks around a paper circle.  Keeping the circle in place, I stamped the background with Impression Obsessions Cover-a-Card, Gradation (CC015 ), from top to bottom in grey and from side to side with black (stamped once on scrap paper first so not so dark).  After removing the paper circle and adding some yellow ink, I stamped it a third time on the top third of the card with Versamark ink and covered this with Dandy Dandelion Embossing Powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I brushed some of it off before heat setting, giving a soft sparkle.   Lightening bugs?

I added the lovely tree silhouette using IO’s Cover a Card, Pine Trees (CC101), and black ink.  The “Enjoy” is from IO’s EnjoyYour Day stamp (B5501).  Distressed the edges and sponged them with dark blue ink, then layered on black.  This was layered on a white square that distressed and inked with the same Distress Inks I used on the main background so they would coordinate.  All of this was adhered to a black card base.

For the final touch I added some die cuts to give the hint of being by water.  I used Impression Obsessions Cattails die (DIE087-P), die cutting from white cardstock and coloring with distress inks.  The cattail stems were darker but lightened as they dried, but I decided to just leave them.  I added some flocking to the cattails and a little glitter on the dragonfly wings.  Great birthday card and perfect for the current challenge at Impression Obsession – Beautiful Stamped Backgrounds.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

E. Marie

Products used:

Impression Obsession:

        Cover-a-Card Pine Trees Stamp (CC101)

        Cover-a-Card Gradation Stamp (CC015)

        Enjoy Your Day (B5501)

        Cattails Die (DIE087-P)

Sparkle N Sprinkle:

        Dandy Dandelion Embossing Powder (EP178)

        Sunny Daze Glitter (G1038)

        Sparkling Coffee Sparkle N Soft (SS105)

        SNS Brushable Glue (540)

        SNS Dimensional Glue (539)

Tim Holtz® Distress Ink:

        Mustard Seed

        Spiced Marmalade

        Ripe Persimmon

        Barn Door

        Stormy Sky

        Stormy Sky

        Bundled Sage

        Evergreen Bough

TimHoltz® Distressing Tool

Ranger Ink Blending Tools

Tsukineko Memento Ink:

        Tuxedo Black

        London Fog

        Paris Dusk

This card was entered in the following challenges:

Impression Obsession Challenge – Beautiful Stamped Backgrounds

Scrapy Land Challenge #1 – Anything Goes Using Dies

Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge – Create Your Own Background

Penny Black And More September Challenge - Autumn Colors

Loves Rubberstamps Challenges #120 - Glitter or Sparkle