CAS-ual Fridays Challenge 140 - Summer!

It's Friday!!  Now that my girls have been out of school for a full week, every day kind of feels like Friday.  But this one is just a tad more exciting than the others...it's time for a new CAS-ual Fridays Challenge! 

Michele, the fabulous woman behind the curtain at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps, has come up with a fun, summery theme.  When she thinks of summer, she thinks of tans, brightly painted toes, and wearing summery white clothes.  So for these cards, we used tan, white and one bright color.

Here is the card I came up with:

I mixed some white embossing paste with Picked Raspberry distress ink, then spread it randomly along a fun stencil.  While that was drying, I stamped the sentiment from Exclamations with a tan-colored ink (Crumb Cake from SU) and cut it into a small strip.  After adhering that with some foam squares, I finished off the card with some tan and pink enamel dots.  I think it turned out so fun!

That's all from me today!  Head on over to the Challenge blog to link up your creations!  I can't wait to see what you come up with.  :) 

Until next time...

Hello!

Happy Sunday, everyone!  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!  Today I am playing along with this week's Cutting Edge and CAS(E) this Sketch challenges.  Here is what I was working with:

 

How could I NOT play along with the Cutting Edge challenge...it's my colors!  :)  Here is the card I made:

I started by masking off a stencil I made a while back using my Silhouette.  Then I used Peacock Feathers and Picked Raspberry distress inks to fill in the background.  After that was finished, I flicked on some Graphite Glimmer Mist (since I didn't have any black).  I cut out the Winnie and Walter sentiment with my Silhouette twice.  Once with black cardstock and once with black glitter cardstock.  I adhered the two together and to the card using Glossy Accents.  I added the pink cardstock strip and I was done!  I love how it turned out!  Here is a close up of the details:

   
That is all I have for today!  Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

You Win Some, You Lose Some...

Wow, it's been a bit, huh?  I guess I was in a bit of a creative slump for a while and didn't feel the urge to create anything lately.  Don't worry, though.  I've turned the corner and am back at my table, creating away.  :) 

I thought I would share a couple cards that I made and submitted for publishing that weren't picked up.  I'll be honest, I don't submit my cards too often.  But when I do, I am usually very lucky and get picked up.  (Compared to the many, many layouts that I submitted in the past that weren't picked up.)  I really loved the two cards that I submitted, so I wanted to put them out there "on the computer" as my girls say. 

Here is the first card:

For this card, I created a stencil using my Cameo and acetate paper.  Then I used some embossing paste and mixed it with some Black Soot distress ink.  I had originally wanted it to be a black background, but I was happy with the color that it turned out to be.  I spread the embossing paste all over the card, then sprinkled a bit of glitter over it before I removed the stencil.  I removed the stencil and let it dry, then stamped the simple sentiment and mounted it on a think strip of colored cardstock.  I added three enamel dots to add more visual interest and that was it.  I think it turned out beautifully. 

Here is the second card:

For this card, I created my own overlay with my Cameo and cut it out in cardstock.  Then I used my distress inks in Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers to create the fun color pattern.  I then took a thin paint brush and lightly flicked water onto the overlay.  I knew I was going to make this a shaker card, so when the overlay was dry, I traced the circles onto the card base so I would know where the holes would be, then I stamped the fun confetti background and sentiment into the openings.  I used some acetate and foam tape to make the shaker windows, then added the sequins and adhered the overlay to the top of the card.  I. LOVE. how this turned out.  The sentiment was heat embossed with my delicious silver embossing powder.  It's just a fun, shiny, happy card. 

That's all I have for today!  Thanks for stopping by.  :)  I'll be back tomorrow with a card/stamp set that is sure to keep me out of a creative rut for a while.  :)

Until then...

A Rainbow of Thanks

This week Winnie and Walter stamps and Simon Says Stamp are working together and throwing out some challenges in the process.  I am playing along with one today, with the theme of using a rainbow color palette.  I have been a fan of Winnie and Walter stamps since I stumbled upon them, but I have yet to get my hands on any of them yet.  I am so glad that they have cut files that go along with their stamps so I can still play along!

Here is the card that I made: 

I created a stencil using my Silhouette and then filled it in using Distress Inks.  I cut out the sentiment using gold glitter paper and then added coordinating sequin colors for added interest.

Here is a close up of the details:

This was another super quick and easy card and I love how it turned out! I am also submitting it to this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Anything Goes.

That is all for today!  I appreciate you taking the time to stop by!

Until next time...

Runway Inspired Challenge #66

Good morning, everyone!  Today I am participating in this week's Runway Inspired Challenge.  Here is the inspiration photo:

 And here is the card I made:

I was inspired by the bursts of color and the white (or blue) space.  I stamped this flower in the red and pink distress inks and then used my water brush to color them in with the same colors.  I stamped the sentiment and some little flowers in navy blue, then added some dark, glittery enamel dots to finish it off.  I am happy with the way it turned out.

I am also submitting this for this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The theme is Anything Goes!

That is all I have for today, folks!  I'll probably be playing along with more soon, so stay tuned!

Until next time...

One More, For Good Luck!

Hello!  I am back with the third card I made using this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge sketch.  Here is the sketch again:

And here is the card I made, also using this week's Avery Elle AEIHeartU Challenge theme of sequins:

I love this fun, colorful card!  I applied Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers distress ink to one of my stamp blocks, then misted on some water.  This makes the block kind of like one big solid stamp.  I applied the block to the card a couple times, which allowed the ink to make a solid stamped area.  I love the colors that the ink made in the middle.  I used some sequins that were very similarly colored and applied them in the areas that matched their color.  I just love how it all turned out.  Clean and simple and colorful!

That is all for today!  I hope you have enjoyed seeing the very different cards I made using the same sketch! 

Until next time...

Same Sketch, Different Day

Happy Monday, all!  Today I am back with another card I made using this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge sketch. 

Here is the sketch again:

I also used the photo prompt for this week's Card Concept challenge.  Here's the photo:

Here is the card I made:

This card looked a bit different in my head, but I still think it turned out nice.  I wanted to go clean and simple for it, since the bedding in the picture was so crisp and clean looking.  I made a stencil with my Silhouette, then used Crushed Olive distress ink to color it in, directly on the card itself.  I also cut out a frame that was colored with the same color to put around the flower.  Then I stamped the sentiment on a Paper Smooches banner and that was it.  Very quick and easy.  My kind of card!

That's it for today!  I have one more card to show you tomorrow.  Have a wonderful day!

Until next time...

Little Tangles Challenge #42

Hello again!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!  I am back today with a card I made for this week's Little Tangles Challenge. 

Here is the card I made:

I. Love. This card!  I used a stencil I made with my Silhouette and applied Worn Lipstick and Peacock Feathers distress ink in varying shades.  It looks like confetti falling from the sky.  So fun!  Next, I 2nd generation stamped the balloons, cut them out, then covered them with glossy accents.  Seriously.  Glossy accents takes forever to dry!!  The last time I used it (some three or so years ago), I was an avid scrapbooker and it took me hours to complete one layout.  So I could apply it at the beginning of the project and be done with it at the end.  Now that I prefer card making, I was SO antsy waiting for these balloons to dry.  It killed me that I had to leave them overnight to dry (I was making this at 10pm).  That might seem so bizarre, but I make cards because they are quick and (mostly) brainless.  Scrapbook layouts gave me headaches.  Cards clear my head.  Glossy Accents is of the devil.  Just kidding.  But man, doesn't it make those balloons shine??

I love how this card turned out.  I stamped the sentiment using some seriously yummy silver embossing powder that I found at my local stamp shop.  This stuff melts like butter and it is SO shiny!  This picture doesn't do it justice at all. 

That is it for today!  I am so glad you stopped by to take a look!

Until next time...

AEIHeartU Challenge #13: Kraft

Hello, all!  I sit here in utter disbelief that my biggies goes back to school tomorrow...and that she'll be starting 2nd grade!  Where does the time go?! 

I thought I'd share a card I made for this week's Avery Elle AEIHeartU Challenge.

Here is the card I made:

I used Avery Elle's Thanks A Bunch stamp set with Distress Inks.  The pinks just kind of pop off the page, don't they?  I wanted to keep with the natural look of the watercolor paper, so I backed it with a Kraft cardstock.  I love how it turned out. 

That is it for now!  Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

AEIHeartU Challenge #11: One Word

 
Hello, All!  I am back after an eventful family trip at the lake and am getting back into the challenge game!  I feel like I am missing out if I am not playing along.  Am I the only one who feels that way? 

Tonight I am playing along with this week's Avery Elle AEIHeartU Challenge: 

Here is the card I made: 

Guys, I am IN LOVE with this card!  It's not often that I finish a card and fall in love with it, but this one definitely did that for me.  I've been anxiously waiting for this Avery Elle Storybook stamp set to make it's way to me.  It's been sold out basically since it debuted.  But man was it worth the wait!

I started by masking off the edge of the white cardstock. Then I stamped the images where I wanted them.  Before I moved on, I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I wanted the sentiment to pop out from the background.  Then here's the secret next step:  I covered the stamped images with rubber cement!  I knew I didn't want to die cut the images, so covering them with the rubber cement was my next choice. Once the rubber cement was dry, I created the background with Distress Inks.  Seriously, why did I wait so long to jump on the Distress Ink bandwagon??  I rubbed off the rubber cement, colored the images with colored pencils, added some glitter glue to the shooting star, then adhered the whole thing to my card base. 

Here is a close up of what the masking did while I was applying the Distress Inks:

     
If you look closely, you can see where the rubber cement was applied outside of the stamped image line.  I just love it!

That is all for today!  Hope this card makes you as happy as it makes me.  :)

Until next time...

A Card For All Challenges

Good Evening!  I am not usually one of those people who can find a million challenges to squeeze one card into, but I am going to have to make an exception for this card.  First, let me show you the card I made:

 
I made the mask/stencil using my Silhouette.  I found the triangle pattern and then removed some of the triangles to come up with this unique pattern.  The card turned out pretty simple, but I didn't want to take away from the background by adding a bunch of stuff.

Now here are the challenges I will be submitting the card to, and why:

 I pulled the colors from these two challenges.

 I pulled the clean and simple design, plus the black accents from this challenge.

And I used the die cut feathers for this challenge.

Like I said, I don't normally do this, so forgive me if this has gone a bit far.  I'm normally a 1-2 challenge per card kind of gal.  :)  

That's it for tonight!  I'm off to watch the weather as a wicked storm just started up!  

Until next time...

Fusion Card Challenge {Red, White and Blue}

As the title says, last night I played along with this week's Fusion Card Challenge.  Ok, so this card isn't red, white and blue, but pink is close to red and there's white...so it's close, right?  :)

Here is the sketch I used:

 
And here is the card I made:

I think this card turned out so fun!  I masked off the triangle and then used one of the stamps from Avery Elle's Woodgrain & More stamp set.  I love this pattern!! The sentiment is from Avery Elle's Handwritten Notes set and I used Picked Raspberry and Spun Sugar distress inks.  Throw on some coordinating Trendy Twine and some Doodlebug sprinkles and this card is done!  Easy peasy!  Oh, the chipboard shape is from the MME's Cut & Paste Adorbs buttons.

Here is a close up of all of the details:

That is all for now!  Until next time...

More with Distress Inks and Stencils

I had so much fun playing with stencils and Distress Inks in my last post, that I decided to do it again.  I am playing along with a couple more challenges this week, so let's get started!

First off, I am playing along with Cure for the Monday Blues.  Here is the photo prompt:

I was inspired by the pink in the comforter, the brightly colored rug and the black lines in the rug as well.  Here is what I came up with:

  
I created a stencil with my Silhouette using a transparency.  (Which may or may not have taken me over two hours to do, due to trial and error using a different, thicker kind of plastic, and screwing it up many times.)  I masked off the area where I did not want color and then used Picked Raspberry Distress Ink to color in the area shown.  I love the flowers, leaves and feathers in the rug, as they show two-tone coloring.  I tried to mimic that by stamping a distressed-looking stamp with various colors of Distress ink, then using the Paper Smooches feather dies to cut out feather shapes with the two-tone ink on them. 

I love how the feathers turned out.  I used one of the Paper Smooches Streamers dies to cut out the banner, then stamped it with a sentiment from Avery Elle's Handwritten Notes set and Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.  I added some black sequins and a teal base to keep with the color scheme from the picture.

I am super happy with the way this card turned out.  It's kind of out of my comfort zone with all of the layering and such, but I love it!  I am also submitting this card to this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The theme:  stencils!

That is all for today!  Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...