Sail Away With Me

When I think of summer, I always think of water. My family typically went to the beach during summer holidays, so I guess it's only natural that my mind wanders there. I created this card for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which is all about summer and for the Addicted to CAS Challenge. Their code word this week is "splash." I immediately thought about ships and water, so I thought it was only natural to combine the two.

I used two separate stamp sets for this card: Ahoy Me Hearty from Paper Smooches and Sailing from Simon Says Stamp. I just love the pirate ship image from Paper Smooches, so I stamped it in black and then cut it out with a Stitched Circle die to make it look like I was looking through a telescope. I stamped the waves image onto vellum and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I colored the back of the image with copics to give it that transparent blue look. The sentiment was simply stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in white embossing powder. I cut a small heart with a die and then added glossy accents over the top. I didn't think this one needed any more embellishment than that!

Supplies:
Stamps: Ahoy Me Hearty (Paper Smooches), Sailing (Simon Says Stamp)
Dies: Stitched Circles and Mini Hearts Set (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Copic B15 Aqua
Other: White Embossing Powder, Glossy Accents

Missing You

The Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge has a gorgeous inspiration photo this time around and I couldn't help but play along.

I've always loved rainbows. They've always fascinated me because they're just a little bit magical. Even though I know how they're formed now (refracted light and all that), they still hold just a little bit of wonder.

I went traditional with this card and created an actual rainbow. I used Simon Says Stamps Stitched Circle dies and then cut them in half after nesting them together. Instead of having clouds at the end of the rainbow, I used a white sentiment strip to mimic it. I kept it simple with just a few sequins this time.

While I'm at it, I'm going to go ahead and enter this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge as well. I love Anything Goes week! I'm also going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which has the theme of Summer.

Supplies:
Stamps: Sending and Wishing (Simon Says Stamp)
Dies: Stitched Circles and Wishing (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Tempting Turquoise, Elegant Eggplant, Silver Foiled paper (Jo-Ann)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

ShowCASe Your Style #18

I'm playing along with the ShowCASe Your Style Challenge today. I actually made 2 cards, but I definitely felt like their was a clear winner between the two. I'll show them both to you, but I'm only entering the first one. I'm also going to enter it into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes!

I used the Tiny Spaced Hearts stencil from Simon Says Stamp to ink up my ombre background. The sentiment and image are from Mama Elephant's Ella and Friends. The sentiment is heat embossed with white embossing powder. I'm just loving this one. Super sweet and I think it'll be perfect for a friend of mine who recently had a baby.

Supplies:
Stamps: Ella and Friends (Mama Elephant)
Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp), Ella and Friends (Mama Elephant)
Paper: Lost Lagoon, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Island Indigo, Lost Lagoon, Bermuda Bay, Assorted Copics
Other: White embossing powder, Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

The first card I made was definitely a fail. We can't be happy with everything we make all the time. This is the perfect instance of that.

Don't get me wrong, it's cute. I'll probably keep it and use it later, but I just love the other card so much more. It just has that extra oomph that's missing in this one.

Supplies:
Stamps: Monster Mash (Lawn Fawn), Jessie's ABC's (Lawn Fawn), Falling Hearts (Simon Says Stamp)
Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp), Monster Mash (Lawn Fawn)
Paper: Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Basic Black
Ink: Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Fog (Simon Says Stamp), Assorted Copics
Other: Silver Embossing Powder, Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Sweet Birthday Wishes

I'm usually pretty quiet on the political front, but I have to do a little happy dance today. It's now legal for all of my friends to marry the person they love. I think that's cause for celebration. Regardless of how you fall on the issue, I think we could all use a little more love in this world.

On that note, I made a quick and simple birthday card. I simply stamped the cupcakes from Lawn Fawn's Baked With Love set in a line across my panel and then colored them with copics. I added the sentiment at the top and finished it off with some Wink of Stella on the frosting and some sequins. Easy-peasy, but it definitely has an impact.

I'm entering this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge for Anything Goes this week!

Supplies:
Stamps: Baked with Love (Lawn Fawn)
Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Assorted Copics
Other: Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Clear Wink of Stella

Ahoy, Matey!

Paper Smooches has a new challenge up on their Sparks Blog and it's one of my favorites: Anything Goes! I was thinking of making pirate themed cards for my twin nephews for their birthday, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity.

I used the Ahoy Me Hearty set and stamped the front panel randomly in Baked Brown Sugar on Kraft paper. I die cut a Stitched Circle from the top 2/3 of the panel and then stamped the image of the parrot through the hole so I was sure it would be in the correct position when I assembled my card. The parrot was colored with copics and I added some fun, colorful sequins for the shaker parts. I heat embossed the sentiment on black paper and drew in the faux stitching with a gel pen.

A little close up of the shaker portion and the coloring. I'm really loving this stamp set. I think I'll make another card like this for my other nephew featuring the ship in the shaker portion.

Supplies:
Stamps: Ahoy Me Hearty (Paper Smooches)
Dies: Stitched Circles (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Baked Brown Sugar, Assorted Copics
Other: White embossing powder, Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Stinkin' Cute!

Today's card is for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. I'm also entering it into the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge. The Monday Challenge is to use a spray mist and a stamp. The Flickr Challenge is to use embossing. I combined both of them by stamping a background stamp in Versamark and then heat embossing it with white embossing powder. I created a wash of color over the embossing by spritzing a spray mist over the top and letting it run down the paper. When it dried, it created a beautiful ombre effect.

I stamped the umbrella from Abby's Spring Showers and the Skunk from Stinkin' Cute and then colored them with copics. I die cut the umbrella, but had to fussy cut the skunk (boo, no matching die!). I stamped the first part of the sentiment directly onto the watercolor paper, but then heat embossed the second part on a piece of black paper to make it pop.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stinkin' Cute, Abby's Spring Showers, Falling Hearts (Simon Says Stamp)
Dies: Abby's Spring Showers, Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Strathmore Watercolor
Ink: Versamark, Black Licorice (Lawn Fawn), Memento Tuxedo Black, Raspberry Ripple (Reinker for the spray mist), Assorted Copics
Other: White embossing powder, Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

The Challenge #39

There's an inspiration photo over at The Challenge and it was one that I couldn't resist. I was having trouble putting together a card though. It felt like every idea I had kept falling flat during execution. I took a step back and decided that I was simply trying too hard. I was just adding too much to it. So I took a deep breath and re-imagined my original concept.

My original design had a ton of die cut leaves and foliage. I had sequins and all sorts of embellishments. It was just way too busy. So I went back to basics and did some simple stamping.

 

I attempted using chalk ink at first, but it just wasn't giving me the results that I wanted. I decided that I needed to go a little bolder, so I heat embossed my image on my "blackboard" instead. I really like it like this; it definitely draws your eye! I used WPlus9's Fresh Cut Florals to stamp my foliage behind my blackboard. I love using inspiration photos. These are elements that I never would have put together by myself, but I do like how it turned out. I find myself trying new things whenever I'm looking at a picture, so it's definitely one of my favorite types of challenges!

Supplies:

Stamps: Oolong (Sweet Stamp Shop), Fresh Cut Florals (WPlus9)

Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi, Gumball Green, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, Hello Honey, Versamark, Wild Rose (Lawn Fawn)

Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)

Other: White embossing powder

Photo Inspiration + Texture Paste

I've been super busy recently, but I finally got some time to spend in my craft room today! (Thank goodness!) I sometimes feel like I'm going crazy if I can't etch out a little time just for me. I've actually created a couple of cards recently, but haven't had the time to blog about them. If you're interested, I post them on Instagram and on Flickr as well and when I'm running short on time, some cards will only appear on Instagram and Flickr!

 

I took my inspiration for this card from the photo for the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge and from the Simon Monday Challenge. Paper Smooches has a beautiful photo and I pulled all that white space and the gorgeous blue chevron pattern into my design. I also used the yellow from the hanging lamp. The Simon Challenge is to use texture paste, so I used a stencil to ink on some turquoise chevrons to my tag and then added Dreamweaver Translucent Texture Paste over the top. Beautiful results! the images are all colored with copics and then fussy cut (I haven't gotten the dies yet!). I added a little Clear Wink of Stella to the top of the cupcake and the candle's flame, The heart on the lollipop has a little Glossy Accents.

I tried to get a better picture of all that gorgeous texture on the tag, but it's hard to capture in a photo.

My inspiration photo:

Supplies:
Stamps: Sugar Rush (Paper Smooches)
Dies: Tag Stitched (Paper Smooches), Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Assorted Copics
Other: Yellow Baker's Twine (generic), Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Glossy Accents, Clear Wink of Stella, White embossing powder

Love Machine

I was playing around with the Squeaky Clean set from Paper Smooches for the 30 Day Coloring Challenge and ended up using the images to make a really sweet card. Since Paper Smooches is hosting an Anything Goes challenge this week, I decided to enter it.

I think this would make a really cute Valentine. The images are just so sweet and they're so fun to color!

Supplies:
Stamps: Squeaky Clean (Paper Smooches)
Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Whisper White, Let's Polka designer paper (Lawn Fawn)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Assorted Copics
Other: Clear Wink of Stella, Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

A Little Prickly

I've really been running with my puns lately. It's a secret pleasure! I just love puns. I know that they can be cringe-worthy, but I just can't get enough of them. This card is no exception.

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is to show what you're making using plants or flowers. I get really burnt out using floral stamps, so I was super excited when I discovered Lawn Fawn's Stuck on You set. You can probably guess by the title of the set that they're images of cacti. This set just spoke to me when I saw it, so I snatched it up (it helps that I currently live in Arizona...).

I just love this. I'll probably have to give it to my husband eventually! I love having cute little apology cards laying around for when I've done something stupid or just put my foot in my mouth. I used part of the sentiment "sorry I was crabby" from the Life is Good set and just did some selective inking. I then created the word "prickly" with Claire's Alphabet to fill in the rest.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stuck on You, Life is Good, Claire's Alphabet (all Lawn Fawn)
Dies: Stuck on You (Lawn Fawn), Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink: Freshly Cut Grass, Wild Rose, Sunflower, Black Licorice. Celery Stick (Lawn Fawn), Crushed Curry (SU)
Paper: Whisper White, Let's Polka Designer Paper (Lawn Fawn)
Other: Clear Wink of Stella (on the flowers)

Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge and Watercolors

 

The Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge this time is to create something that reminds you of "Summer". Well, personally, that's ice cream! It's the time of year that's just perfect for the cold treat. And since the Watercolor Blog Hop is still going on, I decided to complete my card using watercolors!

I used the smooshing technique to created the splotchy background (and I just love it!). I stamped the ice cream in Versamark on some watercolor paper and heat embossed them in white. Using distress inks, I carefully watercolored each image and then fussy cut around each one. The sentiment is stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in white. To create the patterned paper behind the sentiment, I used the dot stamp from the set and carefully stamped it repeatedly to create my own paper! I think I love this one!

Supplies:
Stamps: Ice Cream Dream (Simon Says Stamp)
Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Strathmore Watercolor
Ink: Versamark, Rich Razzleberry, Assorted Distress Inks (I honestly can't remember which ones because I used so many!)
Other: white embossing powder

Make It Masculine!

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog is to make something masculine this week. It just so happened that I wanted to create a bookmark for my husband, so I thought this was a perfect opportunity!

What's more masculine than pretzels and beer? I can't think of anything either!

I used the Avery Elle bookmark die to cut out my bookmark shape and then used Sweet Stamp Shop's Festival 30 to stamp my images. I created a mask for the pretzel, so I could stamp the beer somewhat behind it. Then I used Lawn Fawn's Happy Summer to stamp the ants carrying off the second pretzel. Fun! I colored my images with copics and then to hide the bleeding on the back, glued another bookmark to the back. I tied some baker's twine through the hole and it was finished! Super simple and it made my husband smile when he saw it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Festival 30 (Sweet Stamp Shop), Happy Summer (Lawn Fawn)
Dies: Bookmark (Avery Elle)
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Assorted Copics
Other: Black & White baker's twine

A Second Entry to the Watercolor Blog Hop

I was thinking of a card for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and I kept going back to one I made about a week ago. It was a watercolor background with clouds at the bottom and a dragon in the sky. I really love that card and I wanted to recreate it with a "royal" twist to fit the theme for the challenge (Royal, in case you hadn't guessed). And since I was going to create a watercolor background again, I decided to add it to the Watercolor Blog Hop hosted by Pretty Pink Posh!

I changed it up a little. I still used the castle, but this time I added the frog prince in the bottom corner and changed up the sentiment. I nixed the sequins this time and went for some embossed stars instead. I have to say, I really love distress inks for watercolored backgrounds. They always give me such beautiful results! Add a little Glossy Accents in strategic places (the heart and ball in the frog's hands) and some Clear Wink of Stella (flags and crown) and it was done!

Supplies:
Stamps: Royal Wish (Sweet Stamp Shop)
Dies: Stitched Rectangles (SSS), Puffy & Delicate Clouds (Poppy Stamps)
Paper: Whisper White, Strathmore Watercolor
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Assorted Copics, Distress Ink (Chipped Sapphire, Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Broken China, Tumbled Glass)
Other: Silver embossing powder, Clear Wink of Stella

Watercolor Blog Hop

Pretty Pink Posh has a Watercolor Blog Hop going on today and I'm super excited to have created a piece in order to take part. I'm a novice when it comes to watercolor, so I just created a simple background.

I colored my kitty to look like the stray cat that lives in our bushes. She's actually very sweet, but she's scared of humans. I've been working on her for over a year now and she's to the point where she lets me pet her and always comes to see me when I leave the house. I'm hoping to be able to have her spayed very soon and maybe find her a very patient foster family until she can be adopted.

Anyway, got off on a tangent there... The images are from Paper Smooches and the sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. I heat embossed the sentiment and added Clear Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents to the fish bowl.

I'm also going to enter this card into Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge. It's Anything Goes this week!



Supplies:
Stamps: Nine Lives (Paper Smooches)
Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Whisper White, Strathmore Watercolor
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Assorted Copics, Distress Inks for watercoloring - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peacock Feathers
Other: Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Clear Wink of Stella, Glossy Accents

You Got This!

I'm participating in this month's The Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge and it's been awesome even though this is only the second day! The goal of the challenge is to take time to color something every day. Whether you only take a couple of minutes or a whole afternoon is up to you. I love to color, but I find myself consumed with other things, so it's nice to take a moment each day just for me and play with my markers and pencils.

Yesterday, I took the afternoon and colored A BUNCH of superheroes from Mama Elephant's Tiny Heroes set. I LOVE the way they turned out an it inspired this card.

The shades of pink make me think of an encouragement card for Breast Cancer. It could really be anything though. I just love how the Lawn Fawn paper works with the Peekaboo die from Pretty Pink Posh. (I think I'll probably add some sequins...) So in love with this design! I'll probably need to make a bunch of these in all sorts of colors now!

Supplies:
Stamps: Tiny Heroes (Mama Elephant)
Dies: Tiny Heroes (Mama Elephant), Peekaboo (Pretty Pink Posh), Stitched Rectangles (SSS)
Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Let's Polka (Lawn Fawn)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Wild Rose and Black Licorice (Lawn Fawn)
Other: Clear Wink of Stella