Jay Gee's Nook Challenge 8 Card

This is my first time doing Jay Gee's challenge.  I found it a nice challenge from what I usually do.  I started with a kraft card base, and stamped Hero Arts Cling Dots in Victorian Velvet distress ink.  I cut a piece of Certainly Celery cardstock 1 inch wide and 4.25 inches long, and stamped Hero Arts Friend Definition in Shabby Shutters distress ink. I adhered the Certainly Celery piece to the base cardstock.  With the circle, the flower image was originally stamped in Victorian Velvet ink, but it didn't show, so the flower (Hero Arts) was stamped in Chipped Sapphire ink on pink bling Bazzil cardstock, and I used a 2.5 inch circle punch to punch out. Once I knew where I wanted the flower to sit, I adhered some Sookwang tape to the card base, extending to the edge of the card.  Taking some Ribbon (Michaels) I attempted to do some ribbon pleating.  This was my first time doing that, and I am pretty happy with the result. I cut the end after I was done pleating, and taped it to the inside of the card.  I foam mounted the flower on top of the beginning of the ribbon to hide the other end.  I finished the card by stamping Hero Arts "Congrats" in Chipped Sapphire distress ink on the bottom right hand corner.

I realized a little too late that I had missed the entry deadline for this challenge, but it was still fun to do.

A Challenge Card

This card fulfills three challenges: the CAS-ual Friday challenge 8 card, which was to do something edgy with your card, The Play Date Cafe challenge 87, which was to use slate blue, barn red and grey on a card, and the current Hero Arts challenge, which is to do a congratulations card.  I started with a slate blue (as close as I had) base, cut folded and scored to a standard base card.  I then had fun, and tore the card to give an edge.   I inked the torn edge in Stormy Sky distress ink.  I used some gingham patterned paper in slate blue and barn red, cut it to length, and taped it to the underside of the card.  I tried to do a different edge again, but it didn't work.  I rounded the bottom corners.  Using Pumice Stone distress ink, I stamped the butterfly (Hero Arts) twice, once on the base cardstock, and once on the reverse of the gingham paper. I cut out the butterfly from the paper, and foam mounted it to the card.  I tucked just a touch of gingham ribbon in red from the tail of the butterfly.  I stamped "you did it!" (Hero Arts) in Pumice Stone ink. I finished by adding some grey pearls to the butterfly.

Playing with Watercolour Pencils

I was able to buy some Faber-Castell Watercolour Pencils for a great price a couple of weeks ago, and on the weekend I finally had some time to play with them.  All stamps are Hero Arts.  I started by stamping the flowers from Peeking Posies onto watercolour paper with Black Onyx Versafine ink.  I used a variety of colours to colour in the flowers (hey, it's a good excuse to see what each colour actually looks like :) )  Once I was happy with the colouring, I used a small paintbrush that I dipped into water, and smoothed out the colour.  I was happily surprised to see that the colour did indeed intensify with the water added to the pencil colouring.  I trimmed the images to size, then cut some black cardstock to be a .25 inch bigger all around, and mounted the flowers onto the black cardstock with foam tape.  I took some cardstock in coordinating colours and cut to a 4.25inch square card base.  I adhered the black squares onto the cardstock, then used the Just My Type set from Hero Arts to add the sentiments.  As tempted as I was to add some detail onto the background of the card, I resisted, because I really wanted the flower image to stand out.

I am now officially loving watercolour pencils :)  I think that Faber-Castell has 60 colours available, I will have to do a hunt to collect the other colours.

PDCC86 and CFC#7

This is my entry for The Play Date Cafe Challenge 86 and the colour block challenge for CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #7.  I started with some Making Memories League Varsity cardstock, that I've had for ages, and made a quarter fold card base with the orange side.  Taking the flip side (the hollyhock colour), I cut a one inch wide strip from it, stamped the Hero Arts Envelope Pattern on it in Worn Lipstick Distress ink, and mounted it to the top of the card base.  I used a 2.5 inch square of the sky blue on the Varsity cardstock, and stamped Hero Arts Musical Walk in Weathered Wood Distress ink, and foam mounted it on to the card.  The pink seemed a tad overbearing, so I cut a .25 inch wide strip of the pale blue, and adhered it to the middle of the pink strip. I used the Hero Arts stamp Enjoy and stamped it on the right hand block in Worn Lipstick Distress Ink.

Bird, Music and Masculine card

 This card fits in with the Scrapbook Expressions challenge (Birds and/or Music) and the PaperPlay Challenge (masculine) card.  I started with a white card base, and stamped the Hero Arts Musical Background in Antique Linen Distress Ink. Taking the bird on a branch stamp from Tim Holtz, I stamped it in the middle of the card in Vintage Photo Distress ink.  I took the crown, also from Tim Holtz, and stamped it on the card in Wild Honey Distress ink, and on some scrap white cardstock, cut out, and foam mounted on the card.  I used the sentiment (Studio G) and stamped it in Wild Honey Distress ink.  I finished the card by rounding the two right hand side corners.

The Lawnscaping Challenge 11

This is my card for the Lawnscaping challenge 11, which is a sketch.  I started with some Pink Pirouette Cardstock, and stamped the Envelope Pattern from Hero Arts in Spun Sugar on the card base.  I used some patterned paper from DCWV, cut a .75 inch width 12 inches long.  I cut the patterned paper in half, so that when I adhered it to the base cardstock, there'd be just a bit to trim on each side.  Once that was done, I stamped the carriage and sentiment (LawnFawn) in Plumeria chalk ink.  Using the same pattern paper (the other 6 inch strip), i stamped the carriage wheels and trim in the Plumeria ink, cut out and paper pieced to the card.  I finished the card by adding some white dash lines around the edge of the card... sadly, with the shadowing, it wasn't quite even, but gives a real homemade look to the card.

The Play Date Cafe 84 Card

This is my card for the Play Date Cafe challenge 84, which was to use a reddish purple, medium blue-green, and a light plum.  For my one layer card, I used Pale Plum cardstock from SU (retired) cut, scored and folded to a standard sized card.  I used a flower from Hero Arts Real Flowers set, and stamped it in Colorbox Berrylicious Chalk ink three times.  I then used a green marker from Marvy,  inked the stem from the same stamp set, and stamped the stem for the flowers, re-inking the stem for each image.  Once that was done, and I knew what I wanted to do with the sentiment, I realized the card needed something more.... so I used Milled Lavender Distress Ink, and stamped the Hero Arts Envelope Pattern on the card base.  I inked the sentiment (Hero Arts) with the green marker  and stamped it in the right hand corner.

This card also satisfies the CST challenge this week to use flowers on a card.

CAS-ual Friday Challenge 05 (2 Cards)

These are the two cards I've done so far for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge 005, which is a sketch.  For the top card, I used  Pink Pirouette base cardstock, Pure Pomegranate cardstock (SU), and a butterfly that I embossed from Magenta.  The doily half is from WalMart.  To do the butterfly, I inked it with pigment ink, heat set, edged it in white, heat set, then stamped the flower (Hero Arts) in Black Staz On ink.  I then covered the butterfly in Versamark ink, then used UTEE to emboss 3 times... I learned this technique from my friend Elaine R, who owns Scraps N More. I foam mounted the butterfly to the doily, then finished the card with some sheer white ribbon from Michaels.

For the second card, I started with a base of Real Red cardstock (SU), then cut the front about 1.5 inches from the top.  I took a piece of white cardstock, and adhered it to the red flap to make a full card.  Using the leftover piece of red cardstock, I cut the piece to size, and rounded the corners.  I added the white doily, which I stamped the flower (Hero Arts) in Mustard Seed distress ink. I stamped the sentiment (Hero Arts) in Colorbox Frost White ink.  I completed the card by adding some yellow ribbon from Michaels.

CAS-ual Friday and Hero Arts Card

These are cards I did for the Hero Arts challenge this month (flowers) and they also fit the CAS-ual Friday challenge (bling).  The flower images are done on alcohol inked vellum, then stamped in white ink, and embossed with white EP.  I tried just using Versamark, but my pad must be getting dry, I didn't get such great results.  I learned the technique from Sue HERE. 

Thanks for looking!

Lawnscaping and Scrapbooker's Paradise Challenge Card

This card I made yesterday for the Lawnscaping Challenge and the Palying in Paradise Challenge 16.  The Lawnscaping challenge was to use Polka Dots, and the Playing in Paradise challenge was to use only black and white on the card.   I started with a black card base, done to a standard sized card.  On some scrap white cardstock, I stamped the Hero Arts Cling Dot pattern in Versafine Onyx Black ink.  While I let that set, I found a white Cuttlebug embossed piece, trimmed it to 3.75 x 5 inches, rounded the corners, and adhered to the black base cardstock.  I rounded the corners of the black cardstock.   When the polka dots were dry, I stamped the dress from LawnFawn's Happily Ever After set, and cut out.  I also punched a 2.5 inch circle from the polka dotted cardstock.  I took the dress, which was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black, and added Star Dust Stickles all over the dress, and let dry.  While that was drying, I punched a 2 inch circle in black card, and a 1.5 inch circle in white card.  I layered them onto the polka dotted circle.  I stamped Cheers from Happily Ever After in the Onyx Black ink on the 1.5 inch circle.  Once the dress was dry, I trimmed a piece of scrap black cardstock to size, rounded the corners, and adhered the dress to the black cardstock with foam tape, then used foam tape again to adhere the black cardstock to the embossed piece.  I just used double sided tape to adhere the three layers of circles together, then used some foam tape to stick the circle to the white embossed piece.

PDCC82 and CFC3

Well, I actually had time to stamp today, when I wasn't helping hubby, who was being kind enough to make some templates on the computer for me :D.  This card fulfills 3 challenges, The Play Date Cafe Challenge 82, CAS-ual Fridays Challenge 3, and the Hero Arts monthly challenge, to use flowers.  I started with a chocolate brown card base.  To the base, I added some pale yellow patterned paper, cut to 5.25 x 4 inches, with 3 rounded corners.  I took a 3.5 x 4.75 piece of white cardstock, and using some straight edged scrap paper, distressed the middle portion in Tumbled Glass and Vintage Photo Distress ink.  Once I was happy with that, I stamped the flower (Hero Arts - Real Flower clear set) 3 times in Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Using the Tumbled Glass Distress ink again, I stamped the sentiment (Hero Arts) on the bottom white portion of the white layer.  I rounded 3 corners of the white cardstock, and adhered it off centre to the yellow patterned paper.  To finish the card, I added 5 pale blue gems to the top left hand side, and 3 tiny clear gems to the bottom, just underneath the beginning of the words.

Hero Arts Challengee May 14th

To make my cards, I started with a 3.75 x 5 inch pieces of white cardstock. I took a Hero Arts background stamp, and stamped it in Distress Ink. Using the Classic Fabric background stamp by Hero Arts, I used Versamark on  the stamp, added my stamped paper over top, then clear embossed. Once the embossing was dry, I used various Distress Inks to cover the areas that weren't resisted by the embossing powder. Once I was happy with the distressing, I ironed off the EP onto some scratch paper ( I used computer paper.. cheaper than cardstock). I stamped (the image) by Hero Arts onto the cardstock (cut/punched out) the image, and added a sentiment. With the myriad of Distress Inks I used, I ended up with three very different cards, but I like them all.

Publication reject cards

These two cards I did for the PaperCraftsMag Holiday Card issue, with quick and simple cards.  These are easy cards to make, they only took me a bout 5 - 7minutes to make, once the idea in my head.  For the top card, I started with some Cherry Cobbler cardstock (SU), cut, scored and folded to a standard sized card. I rounded all the corners on the cardstock.  Taking some DCWV Luxury Stack cardstock in gold, I cut it to 3.75 x 5 inches for a mat on the base cardstock, again, rounding all the corners.  I used a Quietfire Stamp (When This Christmas) and stamped it on white cardstock in Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.  Using a Marvy 3 inch circle punch, I punched out the sentiment, and edged the circle in Wild Honey ink.  I finished the card by mounting the sentiment on the gold mat with foam tape.

The second card might seem a tad familiar, since I've done this sketch a few times before.  I just really, REALLY, love this sketch.  I started with some So Saffron cardstock (SU) and cut it so the card measured 5.5 x 4 inches ( I trimmed a .25 inch off so that I could get three cards done with one strip of patterned paper).  I used some Susan Wignet Christmas paper (Holly) and cut a 1.5 inch strip off the 12x 12 paper, cutting it at 4 inches, and adhered to the card base.  Next, I took the stamp "Blessed is the Season" (Quietfire Design) and stamped it on the bottom of the card in Forest Moss Distress Ink.  On some scrap white cardstock, I stamped the Ornament stamp (Hero Arts) in Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.  I used a 2 inch circle punch from Marvy to punch out the ornament.  I finished the card by foam mounting the ornament to the cardstock. 

My Hero Arts NSD Challenge card

This card I whipped up to meet the Hero Arts National Scrapbook Day challenge... last minute, of course. I started with a dark brown card base, and used two coordinating pieces of patterned paper, one for the scalloped edge, one for the background. Taking some fancy green cardstock, I punched 3 1.25 inch circles. I used the circular "Birthday Wishes" from the Hero Arts birthday set, and stamped it twice on white cardstock with Versafine Black ink. I punched out the Birthday Wishes with a 1 inch punch, then layered the Wishes onto two of the circles. I took some SU Pink Pirouette cardstock, trimmed it to 3.25 x 1.5 inches, rounded the corners, stamped the Envelope Pattern stamp in Spun Sugar, and adhered the plain circle with double sided tape. The Wishes on the right had one layer of foam tape, the Wishes on the left has two layers of foam tape on it. I used a 2.5 square of Pink Pirouette cardstock, rounded the corners, and stamped the Envelope Pattern stamp in Spun Sugar. I then took the big flower from Real Flowers, and stamped it in Victorian Velvet Distress ink.. I finished the card by adhering the pink cardstock piece to the card, on a diamond shape.

CAS-ual Friday and Lawnscaping Card

This card satisfies  both the CAS-ual Friday and the Lawnscaping challenges this week.  I was to do a text based card for CAS-ual Friday, and a Celebration card for the Lawnscaping challenges.  I started with some blue based green cardstock (I think it might be the retired Glorious Green from SU), cut and folded to a standard sized card.  Next, using some Basic Grey Kioshi paper, I cut it to 5 x 3.75 inches, and with Scattered Straw Distress Ink, stamped the Hero Arts Friend Definition on it.  I took some scrap pale yellow patterned paper, and stamped the Dress ( LawnFawn) in Gamma Green Brilliance Ink.  I took a red punch out that I had lying around, and trimmed some more of that yellow patterned paper to fit inside of it.  I stamped Congrats (LawnFawn) in Gamma Green Ink.  I added some red bling   ( Recollections) to the middle of the dress.  I used Sookwang tape and adhered the yellow scrap with the sentiment on it to the red punch out, then adhered the punch out to the patterned paper.  I added some yellow sheer ribbon (Michaels) vertically to the card.  I adhered the patterned paper to the card base.  I used some foam tape to attach the dress to the card.

This card could be used as either a new job, graduation, or engagement card.

The Play Date Cafe Challenge 80

With the colours as red, orange and white, I did this weeks Play Date Cafe Challenge (#80).  I started with a white card base, cut and folded to a standard sized card.  Taking some scrap orange cardstock, I used Tim Holtz's Distress Ink in Dried Marigold, and stamped the Envelope Pattern stamp (Hero Arts) on the cardstock.  I rounded opposite corners.  I used some white cardstock, and stamped the  Letters and Flowers stamp (Penny Black) in Barn Door Distress ink. I rounded the two corners that were opposite the orange rounded corners, and adhered the white cardstock to the orange cardstock piece..  I took some sheer red ribbon (Michaels) and wrapped it around the orange cardstock, and tied a knot.  I then taped the orange layer to the white card base.  As a finishing touch, I added 5 tiny bling (Recollections) on the right hand side.

Thank You Card

There is a family that has kind of taken over for us as "parents" for my youngest, who is across country in university.  Since they have been so wonderful, I thought I could send them some cards to use, as well as a thank you card.  This is the Thank You card.   With SU Certainly Celery cardstock, cut and scored to a standard sized card, portrait style.  I took some Basic Grey Kioshi patterned paper, and cut it to a .25 inch smaller than the base cardstock, and rounded the bottom corners. Using Tim Holtz's nature Elements mini stamps (Stampers Anonymous)  I stamped the weed three times in Forest Moss Distress Ink.  I stamped the butterfly from the same set in Walnut Stain Distress ink once on to the patterned paper, then stamped it again on a scrap of the patterned paper.  I cut out the butterfly on the scrap paper, and foam mounted it right over where the butterfly was above the weeds.   I used a Hero Arts stamp "Merci" from the Paris clear set, and stamped that  in Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I took some polka dot ribbon (Michaels) and wrapped it around the paper, tying a knot just off centre to the left.  I finished the card by adhering the patterned paper to the card base, and rounded bottom corners on the base card stock.

PDCC79 AND FTL138

For this card, I combined the Play Date Cafe Challenge 79 and Clean and Simple Stamping FTL 138 challenges.  I used the Play Date Cafe colours ( grey, lime and red) and the sketch from the Clean and Simple blog ( FTL 138).  I started with a 5.5 x 5.5 inch square red cardstock base.  Taking some leftover DCWV silver and white cardstock, I cut it to 5 x 5 inches and layered it on the red cardstock.  I took a 4.5 x4.5 inch piece of white cardstock, and stamped flowers from Hero Arts Printed Flowers set, in Shabby Shutters Distress Ink and Barn Door Distress Ink (the Shabby Shutters was the closest ink I had to lime green), in the pattern on the sketch. Using some Colorbox silver pigment ink, I used the sentiment (Hero Arts)  and stamped it in the area of the sketch.  Once the pigment ink was dry, I took some .25 inch pieces of lime green cardstock, and framed the white cardstock with it.

Make it and Mail it Challenge 1 Card

Lisa Spangler is having a make it and mail it challenge, and here is the card I did.  I also wanted to do the Hero Arts Layering Stamps challenge for April, but I wasn't able to get it photographed and uploaded in time for that challenge. I started with a white card base, cut and scored to a standard sized card.  I took some DCWV LUXURY cardstock in black and white, cut it to being 5.25 x 4 inches, and rounded opposite corners.  With some Cool Caribbean scrap cardstock, I cut it to size and rounded the corners that were opposite to the black cardstock.  Using white cardstock, and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, I stamped Hero Arts Antique Letter Writing on the cardstock.  I used Versafine Black Onyx ink to over stamp Large Blossom (Hero Arts) on the white cardstock.  I went and rounded the opposite corners again. then layered the stamped panel to the Cool Caribbean panel to the black cardstock panel to the white card base.  To finish the card, I used some Autumn Leaves Chipboard Letters to write "for you" on the card.  This card is the one I am mailing on Monday to my birth mother in Ontario.

May Christmas Card Challenge

This is May's Christmas Card Challenge: use flower(s) on your card.  There is no specific flower you need to use, just as long as there is a flower on the card.  For my cards, I started with a grey cardstock, cut and scored to a standard sized card.  I added a strip of patterned paper to the right hand side of the cardstock, and stamped "Merry Christmas" (Hero Arts) along the bottom of the card.  The flower, a poinsettia, is a die cut from Quickcutz, if my memory is correct.  A friend has this die, and I was able to cut several poinsettias from the die on Pink Pirouette cardstock.