Beachy Birthday card, Just Add Ink challenge

 

Yes, it's been a while, I can't believe I haven't posted since Apr. That's about to change, I really get going once I have new Christmas stuff, and it's here now.  

Anyway, it's hubby's birthday in a few and for him it has to be beachy or patriotic, I have so many beachy sets, I went that way.

Inspiration for this is from Just add Ink, love this weeks sketch.  

Hop on over and see what the team did too. 

So, colors for this are Tahitian Tide, Starry Sky, Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Fresh Freesia.  Tahitian Tide is my new favorite of the current incolors, it reminds me so much of Tempting Turquoise, and I loved that one. 

The embossing folder is Seabed, of course from SU. 

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week.

Cat and Dog Nativity, #FF0095, a Christmas card.

 

I found this stamp set a while back and since I am a huge animal person it spoke to me. It was a no brainer to use it for this challenge.

 I don't often see a challenge that actually asks for cats! See all the wonderful projects here.

 I used my SU watercolor pencils for this, I just did a light coverage and then my water brush to blend it a bit, the sentiment and star is on vellum. And a pretty SU ribbon to tie it all together. 

Very simple, I did use the snowflake embossing folder on the gray.

Thanks for taking a look. 

 

Merry and Bright, Freshly Made Sketches #506

 

Inspiration this week comes from the fms#506 challenge. Be sure to check out the team and other players projects!  Go here to do that.

 

Such a fun sketch! So many possibilities.  I'm currently in love with these ornament dies so I just had to use one, this called for it.

My colors are from the Tidings of Christmas DSP, I used Evening Evergreen for the ornament and the shimmer gold in the Holiday mini catalog currently out. A  little gold cording and some Holiday Rhinestone basic jewels finish it off, so simple.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, hope I've given you some ideas.

 

Red, white and Gold Christmas, #PP560

 

I looked at the Paper Players challenge this week and it just called to me, what fun this one was. 

First, here is the Challenge, check it out, look at all the beautiful projects.

So many possibilities.  I choose the Merry Melody embossing folder to start with, then added a piece from the Tidings of Christmas DSP.  I put a little piece of the Be Dazzling paper (free from the SAB). 

I cut the squares using the retired Layering squares dies, then stamped and die cut my poinsettias using Merriest Moments stamps and dies. I used Itty Bitty Greetings for my sentiment.

Colors are White, Cherry Cobbler, and some gold foil.  A few tiny red rhinestones finished it up.

I hope you get some inspiration from this, thanks for stopping by.

 

Fall sympathy, JAI#573.

 

Fortunately I don't have a use right now for this kind of card, but it always helps to have one ready.  I am in love with this DSP and I paired it with Crumb cake and Merry Merlot, with a strip of silver that I think brings out the blues.

Inspiration for this is from Just add ink #573.  Check out the site for many more lovely projects.

This is one of my favorite challenges, I do it as often as I can.

 I'm finding so many useful extra items in the new sets in the mini catalog right now. The tree was cut from the other side of the same DSP, and popped up, just to add a little something.  

I hope you enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.

Poinsettia Joy, JAI#568

 

This sketch from Just Add Ink leaves it wide open for any fun you'd like to have with it.  

 I can't help but make Christmas cards with all the new fun stuff right now.   Lots of great cards from the team and other players, so be sure to click the link and check it all out.

I paired a retired, flocked vellum paper with the new Merriest Moments bundle.   

It's done in Merry Merlot, Evening Evergreen and while with a bit of gold foil.

Stitched Sweetly Dies frame the sentiment.   Pretty simple, although the dies can take a bit of time to cut them all out.  

Thanks for taking a look.  

Christmas Rose, #FMS497

 

Merry Christmas.   I know you think it's early, but I make everyone a different card each year. I just love making them, so It takes me months to get done. There are just so many gorgeous, fun sets to use.

This one is done with a challenge from Freshly made sketches.  Hop on over and check out all the lovely cards from the team.

 I just love the traditonal  colors of Christmas, occasionally I'll use something a bit different and toss in a bit of purple or? But mostly I love the greens, reds and metallics. And I love this new embossing folder, it can be used all year long, but is especially neat for Christmas I think. 

 The stamp set here is retired, put I never got the chance to use it enough and it's one of a kind I think.  It seemed the perfect set for this card, it's called Christmas Rose.  

I used Real red, Soft succulent, white and gold embossing. I also used little pieces of the new free glimmer paper, it's called Be Dazzling and comes in 6x6,  in the SAB right now, it was the perfect framing for my flower.

 

The embossing folder is new and is  in the Holiday Mini, it's called Merry Melody 3D embossing folder. 

I considered sponging some color around the rose group on the embossing folder, and altho I love that look, it just seemed perfect without. 

I hope I was able to get you some ideas. Thanks for stopping. 

Friendship is a Blesssing, Freshly Made Sketches #492

 

There has been a lot going on here lately, and I haven't been able to sit and make cards like I would like to, but the new sets are so gorgeous, I just had to get in and make another for fms#492,  Such an easy sketch to play with.   

Colors today are Shaded Spruce, White, Mint Macron, with some gold touches.

I used Artistically Inked Bundle, So Sentimental Bundle, the Tasteful Textures 3D Embossing folder and Expressions in Ink DSP.

I do love at least some texture on my white, it's hard for me not to do that.  The DSP is just gorgeous, every single sheet and comes in 6x6. 

I hope you enjoyed.
 

Summer Fun, Freshly Made Sketches #491, Sailing Home

 

Inspiration for this comes from the Freshly made sketches challege.   And since it's not only summer but a record high heat summer here in AZ, it seems fitting. Just wish I could be on one of those boats.

For the Background I used DSP from Sand and Sea DSP pack. Looks so much like ocean doesn't it? I thought about putting in some sand and beach area, but I felt like it would need a larger card to pull that off well. But I do love these sailing ships.  

Colors are Seaside Spray, (retired), White and a bit of Balmy Blue Blend, and Basic gray with a touch of Smoky Slate.  The red on the ships is also a blend.  

I feel cooler already!  Hop on over and check out all the lovely cards from the staff and players, bet you'll find some you just have to case. 

First Christmas card of 2021, #jai556

 

It's Slim card week at Just Add Ink this week. Slim cards are fun, and don't cost anymore to send, and if you have any #10 envys around, they will work great in them.  But I have to say, it's a little hard for me to wrap my mind around a long narrow card, I'm so used to the reg size, it takes me a bit of thinking. 

So, if you'd like to give it a try, it's a great week to get some examples to work from, just click here.

There are some really great card by the team and posters.

So, the stamp is a new background stamp in the 2021-2022 AC.  It, of course would do the whole long card, but what I did was use my stamp positioner and stamp and emboss each end of the card, leaving the middle without.Then I used the Bermuda Bay and my brush to add color.  The stamp is called Festive Foliage. 

The Holiday mini will be out before you know it, but for now the AC has some darling sets to get you started and this neat background.

The sentiment is a previous year as is the branch. The die set is from long, long ago, but I just don't part with some of this stuff.   Fairly quick and easy, no coloring except for the brushing over the embossing. 

Thanks for taking a look.

From there I am sorry, but I used some retired items, 

Wonderful Birthday, Paper Players#542,

 

First, I have to say, this was not the card in my head when I sat down to make one.  But there was this stack of brand new DSP sitting there, so instantly the card in my head changed. I know, I'm pretty strange. 

My inspiration for this comes from this weeks sketch for the Paper Players challenge.  Click on the linked text to see it all. There are some gorgeous cards both from the designers and posted cards from others. 

We continue to have the most beautiful DSP I have ever seen! This is Simply Elegant DSP, which goes with the Elegantly Said stamp and punch bundle.  The sentiment is part of the stamp set along with this flower and some other items.  

The pink is our new incolor Polished Pink, also used is Black, white and Copper embossed. 

As it's so new, I haven't yet bought any ribbon so went looking through my rather large stash of ribbon for something I could use. I could have used a little white ribbon, but found this Melon Mambo ribbon left over and was very surprised that it matched.  Melon is darker in color. So, what would be your favorite, should I have used the white or do you love the pink?  

Thank you so much for stopping by.  

Masculine Happy Birthday, Stampin Up, #JAI553

 

I found out last night that my grandson, the one living in Fl, will be home in CA this weekend. So, it's his birthday soon and I needed a quick card to get in the mail and there by sat.  I loved the sketch, looked really good for a nice masculine card, I know I and many of you, struggle with these. 

The Birthday die is a retired Stampin Up die, one I'll always keep, I used it with the retired Sparkle Glimmer paper. 

My base card is Crumb Cake, then 4 3/4" wide Night of Navy strips, then I cut a piece of Crumb cake from the Rectangle Stitched Dies, and cut a piece of Soft Suede using the next size down in the die set. I added the Birthday die, then stamped 2 of the candle stamps from the retired Piece of Cake set, And cut them out with a small circle die.  

Now I think I'll go make a more girly card with this sketch.  Thank you for stopping by.

Thinking of You, #fms484

 

I guess I'm stuck on yellow and pink, this is my 2nd card using them.  I guess it's just spring that got into me. I'm thinking gray and ? up next.  The interesting item on this card is that little piece under the flower, I'll tell you how to do that.

But first, the inspiration for this card was from Freshly Made sketches, they always do such nice sketches, very easy to use.  

If you find some strange things on my post today, I don't take credit. My mouse is acting up! Clicking twice about 80% of the time when it's only pushed once.  Hubby just last night told me, get a new set for goodness sake!  LOL.  So this morning I ordered one. I'm kinda into the higher end and the high end laser mouse is necessary to keep from making my shoulder from becoming very painful.  But this is a very very old set and I guess it's just time. 

So, can you see that pretty little piece under the flower? I used the SU alcohol Blends + alcohol + Vellum. One of the SU Demo's has a tut on you tube for the technique, that's where I saw it. Her name is Tina Zink.  I did one thing different.  So, you pick colors, color in some areas with them on the vellum, then use the alcohol with a plain brush to get the ink moving. 

I had a bit of trouble with some of my colors, it may have been because she used 90% alcohol and I only have 70% or may some of my Blends are older and not as juicy as they could be.  But I did get some pretty pieces.  She glues her vellum to white cardstock, instead, while it is still very wet, I turned the vellum over and smooched it down onto the white piece to transfer the ink. 

I used White, Daffodil Delight, and 2 new colors Soft Succlent and Polished Pink. To get my flower 2 colors, I used my stamp positioner, did one stamping in the pink, cleaned off the foliage and stamped that part in the green. You can also just make two flowers, one in pink and one in green and stick them together, the sentiment would have covered that part.

I used the Art Gallers stamps and Floral Gallery dies. A square vellum doily and rhinestones from the brand new incolor collection. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Sneak peek, Stampin Up annual catalog for 2021-2022. Elegantly Said bundle

 

I'm casing the catty today.  The bundle is called Elegantly Said. I changed the colors from what's in the catalog to a new incolor called Fresh Freesia, isn't it gorgeous?

I also changed some of that was done in the catalog. They started with White paper and gave it all the color by brushing and stamping it on, I decided to start with my color, do my tone on tone stamping then brush on extra color top and bottom.  

Then the embossing is over top of all that, with the sentiment on the punch that comes with the bundle.  I added some silver drops that are new this year, instead of the rhinestones that are used in the catty. They are hard to photograph, but so pretty on here. The set has a sheet of 3 designs, one sheet in clear and one in silver. The clear didn't show up well on this, but I love how the silver does. 

Thanks for  taking a look. 

River of Flowers, Freshly Made Sketches #480, Stampin Up

 

It's finally warming up here in AZ, a bit late this year, but still unpredictable.  At least now the wind is from the south so not so cold.  All too soon it will pass and then the heat will take over.  

For this card I've joined the challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. Check here for all the cards, there are many wonderful ideas. 

And here is this weeks sketch.  

But today I have this river of flowers to look at.  And I've used a brand new set from the 2021-2022 new Annual catalog. I've also used a couple of the new in colors, Polished Pink and Soft Succulent along with a Blushing Bride card base. 

For the top layer I've cut my piece the size I wanted for the final layer. FirstI embossed using the 3D texture embossing folder, then used a die in the  Penned Flowers die to do a stitched scallop close to the middle.  I cut the smaller side down even more to allow my river of flowers to show well, and that left room on the larger side for my large flower.  The stamp set is Hand Penned Petals, also sold in a bundle with the dies. And sold as a suite with the DSP included and the jewels. 

The DSP doesn't use the 2 new colors I choose, but with a bit of watercolor I was able to make them very close.  I stamped in black, then used my pink fill color, but then used a water brush to add just a tiny bit of pink from the stamp pad for the smaller flower, and did the same with the leaves using the Soft Succulent.  

My sentiment came from the set Inspired Thoughts and was cut using one of the Stitched Rectangle dies. I added the jewels from the new In color jewels for a bit of bling.  

I hope you enjoyed.   Thanks for stopping.

Easter Greetings, #fms476,

 

I love making a very simple card with something very special on it.  

In this case I used a retired embossing folder, I love embossing folders, there is so much you can do with them and they are so affordable.  

My inspiration for today's card came from the weekly challenge at Freshly Made Sketches here. 

 There are some gorgeous cards to check out over there. 

I used Rococo Rose and Misty Moonlight, both are incolors for Stampin Up.   I embossed my folder then used my craft white SU ink pad to lightly rub over the top of the paper. It left white on raised areas.  An alternative is to use a brayer to take ink from the ink pad and roll onto the background part of the folder before embossing, and then you'll have a white background for your rose colored card. 

I also used the brand new Brilliant Wings dies. And Rhinestones from the Noble Peacock rhinestones set of  colors. 

 

I hope I've inspired you just a bit.  

 

Butterfly Easter card, Freshly Made Sketches #474

 

I'm working on my Easter cards. And I'm doing them a little different this year, the Easter sentiment in inside, and I'm making them pretty spring cards with a simple message on the front. 

One great way to get started is using a challenge, so this one is for this weeks Freshly Made Sketches.

Hop on over to see what everyone else made.
 

I'm using a retired die set for my butterfly, Butterfly thinlits, and Bold butterfly.  I've kept it because I just love the whole set along with a couple other pieces like a stamp set and 2 punches with butterflies. 

The floral die is from the Ornate Border Dies, a gorgeous set of border with an equally pretty stamp set.  

My colors are: Rococo Rose, So Saffron, and white. I watercolored a piece of watercolor paper using my ink pads and water brush, and cut the top part of the big butterfly out of that, then punched the 2 little ones out of the left over.

I used the Noble Peacock Rhinestones on my large butterfly, and reg rhinestones on the two little ones. 

I hope I have inspired you some. Thanks for stopping.

 

Wonderful Romance, Just wanted to say

 

As a Stampin Up demo, most of what I buy in the stamping field is from Stampin Up.  But, I've always been a crafter so I'm always looking at what everyone is doing.   I get reg emails from several sources, often I find product SU doesn't have that looks like fun.  What started as make up brushes has come over to stamping now. I had that first for elsewhere.  SU wisely decided to carry them too, they are fab if you haven't tried them.

I remember when I first started stamping. There wasn't much to be had besides stamps. Stampers would buy lots of different things from all kinds of strange places to use.  One I remember well was from the lumber yard.  It was a product meant to tape walls together and it started showing up on cards. It was a lot of fun back then, but stamping has only gotten better and more fun.

So, I saw a card from one of my mailings that hit a nerve, and this is my take from it. It's not the same anything, it just spoke to me and I went off with an idea. The stamp set here is retired, but it's very much a favorite of mine, it's called Wonderful Romance and has matching dies. There are extra pieces to cut, but I liked it simple this time. 

I used Mango Melody, Soft Seafoam, Gorgeous Grape and white.  

My top layer of card stock was embossed using the Tasteful Textile 3D embossing folder. I love that it lets you add something subtle so your eye is drawn to the center.    I just stamped and embossed on vellum and softly colored on the back side adding my purple centers on the front.  I love the little extra that the dots give to the design. 

This is going out as an Easter card this year. Just got 3 or 4 more to go.

Thanks for stopping.

Art Gallery Thinking of you, JAI#541

 

If I had to choose a favorite tool it would have to be embossing folders, there is just so much you can do with them, especially considering how inexpensive they are.  

This is the Parisian Flourish folder, and I'm using it for the Blended background challenge for Just Add Ink this week. 

It's a gorgeous folder and I added another gorgeous item, the flower in the Art Gallery bundle that is in the new Mini.   It'll be good until the end of June.  

Colors: Rococo Rose, Coastal cabana, Dafffodil delight, Garden Green, Bermuda Bay Black and White. 

Normally I use white on the top on something like this, but something told me to try black, both on top and as a small frame under my background piece. I really like the way the black frames it.

I also used Stitched So Sweetly dies on this for that black cut out.  I considered using a bit larger die in the same set to make a frame instead, but I do love the pop you get this way.

I hope you enjoy.

Stampin Up, Purple birthday card 2. Hydrangea Haven

 

If you saw the last purple card I posted, that was birthday card #1, this is purple birthday card #2.   Such a gorgeous set, will be keeping this forever.  

I layered the 2 pieces together, (DSP and Grape CS) and cut them using the Curvy die at the same time, then slid purple out from under to where I wanted it and glued those down to the white card that was on top of the Highland heather card base after wrapping with the purple ribbon.

I stamped my flower using gold embossing, and die cut that out. Then I used my water brush and ink pad to add just a bit of the lighter purple, then a few blotches of the darker purple, did the same with the greens, Soft sea foam and Granny apple green.

Stamped Happy Birthday from the Piece of Cake set, and gold embossed that too.  Then cut out using a die from Stitched Sweetly dies. 

That was about it, if you haven't seen #1 just scroll down.  Thanks for stopping by.