Monday, February 29, 2016

The Challenge #62

This week over on The Challenge blog, we have a Masculine Challenge Inspiration picture.


My eye was immediately drawn to the map on the wall. I based the rest of my card off of that image.


I stamped the map image from Concord and 9th's Map Love onto a light blue piece of cardstock using a soft brown ink. I wanted to replicate the look of the map for this piece. In order to highlight it, I cut a card panel from white cardstock and then cut focal point using a circle die. I adhered my original map piece behind the panel to draw more attention to it. I heat embossed the sentiment at the bottom in gold in an echo of the hinges on the trunk in the front of the picture. Keeping with the more masculine look, I tied some hemp twine around the card to break up the white space left on the panel. I adhered the whole thing with some craft foam to a navy blue card base (again echoing the trunk). I decided to skip any other embellishments for this one. I always feel like adding to many sparkly items like sequins or pearls makes a card feel more feminine. I left it simple with the gold sentiment and that's enough sparkle for me for once!

I think this card would make a great Graduation card. Too bad all the boys in my family are still in Elementary School!



Sunday, February 28, 2016

Miss Your Face

Today's card was made with a Distress Ink background, which fits right in with the CASology challenge: Distress.


I started by cutting the white panel with a die and then inking a watercolor paper panel to mount behind the opening. I used two colors of distress ink to create a an illusion of deep water. I stamped my dolphin images and used my Brother Scan N Cut 2 to cut them out. They were colored with copics and then popped up with foam tape. I stamped the sentiment on the white panel and then adhered it with more foam tape. I just love those adorable little dolphins!




Friday, February 26, 2016

Bear Hugz

I actually made this card yesterday, but it was late enough in the day that I had absolutely no light to take pictures. I had to wait until today so I could take something that didn't look like a shadowy blob!


I created this specifically for the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge which was to use a tag in your design. I don't normally use tags, but I happened to have gotten the Stitched Dress Up Tags die set a couple of months ago so that I could make tags for presents for my family. Definitely came in handy! I cut the main tag from Neenah Desert Storm and the top piece from Blushing Bride cardstock. I simply used liquid adhesive to adhere the pieces together and then set them under something heavy until they dried.

While I was waiting for the tag to dry, I stamped the bear image and then colored him in with copics. I used the matching dies to easily cut him out and then used foam tape to adhere him to the tag. I thought the white card base looked too bland, so I used the Falling Snow Stencil with a little matching Blushing Bride ink to create a confetti-like background. I adhered the tag to the base with a little more foam tape and then finished it up with a few Sparkling Clear Sequins.

I'm also going to enter this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge since it's Anything Goes this week!




Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Tic Tac Toe Design Team Member!


Super exciting announcement for today! I've been asking to join the Social Media Design Team for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge! If you haven't checked out this fun challenge yet, you really should! For instance, below is the current challenge...


You pick any row or column of 3 (including diagonals) and use that for the inspiration for your card! (Or you can be like me and choose multiples and make multiple cards!) It's an amazing source of inspiration and the whole team is an incredibly talented group of ladies that I'm honored to be joining. I hope you'll take the time to check out the page and maybe enter a card or two!

Monday, February 22, 2016

The Challenge #61

Welcome back for another week with The Challenge! This week is an inspiration photo for you to play with.


I took the woodgrain from the counter and the white flowers on the table along with the pink from the fridge and came up with this card -


I used a Tim Holtz embossing folder (which has since retired) for the texture on the background. I stamped the flowers and leaves from Altenew's Peony Bouquet set from their recent release. They have beautiful layering stamps at Altenew and I can't recommend them enough. They make you look so professional without having to try! I heat embossed the sentiment in gold embossing powder on vellum. I've been finding myself in need of sympathy cards lately, so I thought I'd use this opportunity to build up my stash a little.