GOLDEN LEAVES

 

Hi friends!

Playing along with this FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES challenge by Michele (ends 8/31)

 

SOME DETAILS

This leaf die set includes a base and an openwork die in each size. So I cut both bases from a speckled mustardy yellow, and also the openwork dies from white and gold cardstock. Then it was just a matter of gluing in some inside pieces as shown - the gold pieces into the white frame, and the white pieces into the gold frame. 

The dark brown square was embossed with a SU Subtle folder. 

SUPPLIES

sentiment stamp - SavvyStamps Happy Fall Sans Script #697B

leaf dies - Paper Trey Ink Leaf Silhouettes set

dies - Spellbinders Push Pin Notes #S3-550

brown square embossing folder - Stampin’ Up! subtle

tree trunk embossing folder -  Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations 

flat back pearls and gold balls

Thanks for stopping in today!

BEACH CHAIR

 

Hi friends!

Playing along with this THE PAPER PLAYERS challenge

(ends 8/28)

and this DRAGONFLY DREAMS Beach or Seaside challenge 

(ends 9/5)

Congratulations to The Paper Players team on so many years of consistent work to bring us a wonderfully interesting and beautiful challenge!!! You are much appreciated!

 

SOME DETAILS

Umbrella and chair were colored in with alcohol markers.

Ocean and sky were colored with various SU inks and blending brushes. My blending brush had a lot of dry finely caked on ink in it which lent itself well to providing a little visual texture to the ocean area. 

I added some reflective silvery white solid sequins to mimic seashells/sand dollars on the beach

SUPPLIES

 chair stamp and die - Paper Trey Ink Love Notes set

umbrella stamp and die - Gemini Road Trip set

sentiment stamp - Paper Trey Ink Button Bits set 

alcohol markers

Gina K Designs sequins

Stampin’ Up! inks

Thanks for stopping in today!

KITE FLYING

 

Hi friends!

Playing along with this FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES challenge (ends 8/24)

 I took a pretty literal approach to Cecile’s new sketch because this kite set came to mind right away - I’m thrilled to get it out for its first of many outings!

SOME DETAILS

I stamped the kite on four colors of card stock and heat embossed them in white.  I cut each kite at the dividing lines as shown and pieced them together. 

While I was die cutting the colored card stock I also cut a few pieces from white heavyweight scrap to give the final kite some height. I cut the cross piece from brown card stock and glued it over the seams. 

Sentiment was heat embossed in white on the same brown card stock and foam tape mounted over the kite. 

Kite string was glued down at intervals to get a floaty feel. 

*TIP*

If you want twine to trail as naturally as possible let it find its own comfort zone - if it’s been wound up for awhile it won’t pay to try to go against the natural bent.  

SUPPLIES

kite stamp and dies - Sizzix #663196 

sentiment stamp - Creative Worship Stamps #SNS-16-001 Be Encouraged

 cloud die - Stampin’ Up! Sunshine & Rainbows

Thanks for stopping in today!

BIRTHDAY FLORALS

 

Hi friends!

Playing along with this FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES challenge by Jen B

(ends 8/17)

Digging into the dark card stock today to pack a punch with my yellow flowers! It’s a deep purplish blue in real life. 

This stamp set with dies is new to me and I love it! It has it all! I usually pull from various companies for card making sessions, but it was so nice to not need to for a little change. And I’m always so impressed by how clean the Stampin’ Up! dies release the cuttings - such great quality. 

 

SOME DETAILS

The included background petals die was used twice, end-to-end, to get the perfect sized diagonal for this sketch. 

I brushed a bit of yellow ink on white card stock for the main flower bodies. 

The last flower on the branch is foam mounted. 

The sentiment is stamped in dark purple ink, tho it probably appears black here. 

SUPPLIES

 all stamps and dies - Stampin’ Up! Delightful Wishes polymer set and coordinating dies

Thanks for stopping in today!

GARDENING BOY

Hi friends!

Another H is for Horticulture-themed card to share with you. There is still a week to join in at the Alphabet Challenge!

Playing along with this user-friendly sketch at Sunday Stamps

(ends 8/21)

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Image was colored in with alcohol markers and highlighted with white gel and silver pens. 

Both rectangles were die cut with a wonky stitched pattern. 

Main image mounted on fun foam. Accents pieces were fussy cut and foam mounted. 

Hello die was stacked three times. 

SUPPLIES

boy, trowel and pot stamps - Rare Image Rubber Stamps Garden sheet

Hello die - Spellbinders Simon Hurley Foliage Hello #S2-382

frame dies - My Favorite Things Wonky Stitch Rectangles MFT-0839

plaid patterned paper - KaiserCraft 6x6 Bundle of Joy

polka dot patterned paper - Pebbles 6x6 Spring Fling

alcohol markers

white gel pen

silver pen

Thanks for stopping in today!

SILLY CATS POSTAGE

 

Hi friends!

Playing along with this fun sketch by Michelle over at the 

ATLANTIC HEARTS SKETCH CHALLENGE

(ends 7/26)

…and this SUYP Cats Only - Summer/or Anything Goes - challenge (ends 7/31)

..,and this CRAFT ROCKET challenge

 #138 Animals (ends 7/29)

…and this AS YOU LIKE IT Favorite Pet challenge (ends 7/29)

Love all house pets, but cats would have to be it - the more ridiculous the better. As long as they’re also loving and loyal. 

So I’ve had these sets of mini cat stamps from Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers a lonnnnng time. I don’t know if anyone remembers, but they had the most amazing catalogs and artwork, and super-creative images even for those times, which were a period of real individuality in the stamping world. 

 

THE PROCESS

First steps: I die cut the postage panels first, then used some black Versafine ink to stamp a different cat on each one. 

Next, I lined up the edges of the “stamps” and used assorted inks and shapes to stamp a colorful background.

I heat embossed the sentiment on a textured orange panel using Versamark and white detail embossing powder. 

To finish: I layered a piece of kraft card stock on a white card base, backed the postage panels with black card stock and layered those on as shown. The sentiment strip was mounted on a couple scraps of heavyweight white card stock and adhered in the center. 

SUPPLIES

cat stamps - Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers Art Parts Cats #1 & 2 sets

sentiment stamp - SonLight Impressions #WS 872-C

splotch stamp - JudiKins #3106 D

small dots circle - unmarked thick peg stamp

all other circles, etc - Hero Arts assorted

postage dies - Waffleflower Nesting Postages

black, white  & kraft card stock

Versafine Onyx Black ink pad

Versamark ink pad

Catherine Pooler Party Collection minis set

white detail embossing powder

Thanks for stopping in today!

SWEET BEE TRIO

Hi friends!

Playing along with this very cool sketch by Jen M for FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES challenge  

(ends 7/27)

I kept seeing one of these sweet little bees used on a sample card in my nearest papercraft supply store, and finally inquired.  A customer overheard my question and generously searched the web, figuring the source out in no time.  But my heart fell a bit at hearing it was a monthly kit item, and from years back 😭 

After buying a few of my newest treasures in-store, I got in the car, held my breath, and searched for the set online.  I was determined to buy the stamps with the dies, and the only set preowned and available, was listed for more than a few pretty pennies!  But I was grateful to find it at all, and I don’t have any buyer’s remorse. The seller sent it fast and it was just as I had imagined.  I can’t wait to make many more cards with it…

 

THE PROCESS

First steps: I cut the honeycomb from yellow glitter card stock, then used the same circle die to cut a solid yellow card stock circle to back it. After gluing these pieces together, I backed them with a white card stock circle for stability, and to give the back view of the card uniformity. The excess honeycomb scrap from the glitter card stock was glued along the bottom edge as shown. 

*TIP of the Day*

The easiest way to get even spacing when using up die cut scraps is to lay down a die cut piece and while gluing, just rest the desired scraps in the spaces they came from. Use the glue sparingly and remove the die cut pattern as soon as possible to avoid gluing it to your project accidentally - ask me how I know 😂

All the bees were stamped, colored with alcohol markers and die cut.  The wings were dabbed with glitter glue. 

To finish: I used some Distress Peacock Feathers ink to lightly shade the top of the card front. I used the black ink to stamp the sentiment. 

The stacked circles and bees were adhered as shown.  Some of the wings have small foam dots underneath. 

A few black enamel dots were applied to help ‘round out’ the scene 😁

THE SUPPLIES

bee stamps and dies - Hero Arts January 2021 monthly kit

sentiment stamp -  “    “

honeycomb die -  “     “

circle die - Spellbinders Nestibilities

black ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

blue ink - Distress Peacock Feathers

alcohol ink markers

black enamel dots - Altenew

glitter glue - Stickles Frosted Lace

yellow glitter cardstock - Hero Arts January 2021 monthly kit

Thanks for stopping in today!

CLOSE-UP ROSE

Hi friends!

Playing along with this COLOR HUES challenge (ends 7/29)

and this FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES challenge (ends 7/20)

I really love the look of a square card but almost never make them. Something about putting a square card in a rectangular envelope hurts my brain (see Monk ‘Secret Santa’ episode. You’ll thank me later 😂)

 

THE PROCESS

To start: I spritzed a piece of 6 x 6 white Neenah card stock with a water mister and ran it through the embossing machine with the rose folder. I pressed it lightly between two acrylic panels to dry as flat as possible while still retaining the deep flower embossing.

I die cut two different size nesting squares at the same time on shiny black card stock to get a narrow frame. 

I also die cut the smaller square from a large heavy weight cardstock (in a color I hate and will never use up otherwise!) to use as the template to color in the center. This was done by using a blender brush and a red ink pad. 

I mounted the frame on heavy weight card stock strips and glued it centered on the red as shown.

*TIP of the Day*

When attaching anything paper-related directly to embossed panels, I’ve found it works best to use strips of heavy weight card stock vs. foam as the dimensional - it will be less likely to conform to the ridges of embossing. It’s a pesky nuisance when the layered elements all follow the contours accidentally.

I used a black Versafine ink and clear detail embossing powder for the sentiment to refer back to the shine of the frame. Very pleasantly visually textured in person. 

To finish: I used the rub-on sheet to transfer a butterfly to white card stock, which I fussy cut and mounted as shown. Solid shiny white sequins highlight the sentiment in a demure fashion 😁

SUPPLIES

sentiment stamp - Anna Griffin

butterfly rub-on - Brea Reese Press %& Design Butterflies

square dies - Spellbinders Nestibilities Classic Squares

embossing folder - Altenew Rose Bellevue3D

red ink pad - Stampin’ Up! Ruby Red

black ink pad - Versafine Onyx Black

solid sequins - Gina K Clear Quartz

clear detail embossing powder

gold metallic, red & glossy black card stock

Thanks for stopping in today!

SELFIE BEAR

 Hi friends!

Playing along with this FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES Challenge

(ends 7/13).

UPDATE:

Thrilled to get a shout-out from Cecile as a Princess of Clean!

and this CRAFT ROCKET Challenge #138 Animals

 (ends 7/31)

Well I just love Donna’s Polaroid theme! Unlimited possibilities, but you know I’m going to pick a sassy animal every chance I get 😂

 

THE PROCESS

Starting out: I built my little bear using kraft card stock and a couple patterned papers. He got a bit of flush on his cheeks using a mini blending brush and pink Distress ink. The phone was die cut from silver card stock, and lined with irredescent vellum. The frame was cut using a couple basic rectangle dies. I lightly blended some blue behind where his head would be.  Red stars were punched out and affixed as shown. 

Next: I needed to computer print the sentiment I had in mind, and I mounted that on some heavyweight card stock, and then to the frame

Finishing up:. The frame was foam mounted, and also the bear and phone. I actually couldn’t find a star embossing folder so apparently I don’t own one 😂 In lieu off, I punched out some larger stars and glued them down randomly. 

*TIP of the DAY*

You can use nearly any die or punch to create the look of an embossing folder. Just cut out shapes matching your background paper, and glue down tightly!

THE SUPPLIES

bear dies - Dress My Craft Cute Teddy Bear #DMCD5742

phone dies - Miniature Mobiles #DMCD7205

rectangle dies - Spellbinders Nestabilities

star punches - assorted from stash

blending brushes

random patterned paper

assorted colored card stock

silver metallic cardstock

iridescent vellum 

Thanks for stopping in today!