Positive/Negative Die Use

I am always wanting to use the negative space as well as the positive when I'm cutting dies, but often I set one or the other aside and never get around to using them.  I set out to actually use both for these two cards, and I coupled them with two StampNation challenges.

First up was a challenge to use red . . . which was the original challenge that had me cutting this die.  For this card I used three different colors of Ranger Distress Inks to create this bokeh technique card, but instead of circles, I used heart dies.  A bit of a different twist . . .

Love bokeh technique!  I used Stickles to enhance the word. 

So now I had this piece of white with "love" cut out.  The challenge . . . a tic tac toe challenge from StampNation . . . gave me inspiration.  I chose 1) Love You, 2) Die Cut, and 3) Sequin.

So hard to see in these photos, but I actually embossed images on the card.  I used a "frost" embossing powder from Ranger!  It has a nice subtle sparkle.  So hard to see in the photos . . . but there are some hearts and some X's and O's!   For this one, I used Wink of Stella to enhance the red hearts and the word "love".

Nice that I actually followed through with using a negative image right away.  I hope you find some time to create!

Supplies Used - Love - Bokeh - Positive Die

Cardstock:  Bazzill and Bee Watercolor

Stamps:  minis4circles, award2stamp, hearts2diefor and love2die for from The Stamps of Life

Dies:  Handwritten Love Die from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Simon Says Stamp White Pigment Ink and Ranger Distress Markers

Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins and Stickles

Supplies Used - Love - Negative Die

Cardstock:  Bazzill and Close To My Heart

Stamps:  hearts2diefor and love2die for from The Stamps of Life

Dies:  Handwritten Love Die from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Versamark and Ranger Frosted Crystal Embossing Powder

Other:  Pretty Pink Post Sequins and Wink of Stella Clear

Direct to Paper Technique for Color Throwdown

I've been wanting to try out the direct to paper technique, which was a challenge thrown out at my crafty place, StampNation.  When I saw the color combination at Color Throwdown, I decided this would be my opportunity.

I used Avery Elle pigment ink for the technique, and I created a tag for a shaker card.

Hardest part was the placement of all the images and trying to find the perfect color for my sequins - easier said than done. 

 

Supplies Used - A Little Birdie Told Me

Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White

Stamps:  Wish Big from Ellen Essentials

Dies:  Stitched Duos 3 from Pretty Pink Posh

Ink:  Hero Arts Black, Avery Elle Pigment Inks

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins and Beads

Crossed the Border to Shabby Chic for The Card Concept

I swear this started Clean and Layered, but I think it borders on Shabby Chic with the addition of the doily, the banners, the twine and the heart stones. 

Here is the inspiration photo at The Card Concept . . .

I started out thinking I was going to cut all those little cupcakes out, but before I knew it they were creating their own little border  I went with it.  I just love this color combination . . . the desert storm cardstock with the white and the pink.  Right up my alley! 

And that Pretty Pink Posh die that cuts the little banners also cuts the little hearts and stars.  Be still my heart! 

So fun to play along with this week's challenge, even if I seemed to lose control at some point. 

Supplies Used - The Card Concept

Cardstock:  Neenah Desert Storm

Pattern Paper:  Crate Paper's Kiss Kiss

Stamps:  Happy Birthday Sentiments Collection from Whimsy Stamps

Dies:  Stitched Labels 1 from Pretty Pink Posh

Ink:  Versamark and Ranger White Embossing Powder

Ribbon:  Twine from The Twinery

Other:  Doily from Stampin' Up and Heart Gems from Prima

Getting My Craft On w/Colour Me Challenge

I spent the afternoon creating some cards for a few challenges.  One of those creations was for Colour Me, using Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and a neutral color.  Here is my creation . . .

I used two new sets for this card, both from Stampin' Up.   I tried to stay as clean and simple on this one as possible, although I did layer with a card base. 

Afterword, I noticed the sharp contrast between clean and crisp on the top of the card, and a bit more abstract and random on the bottom. 

Love me some contrast.  And I love these colors together!  Great color combination.  So glad I got to play along.

Supplies Used - Thank You for Colour Me

Cardstock:  Bazzill and Stampin' Up

Stamps:  Painted Petal and Because You Care from Stampin' Up

Ink:  Stampin' Up

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Simon Says Stamp Pearls

Some of My Favorite Stamps

Two very different cards to share today, both of them using sketches, and both of them using stamps from two of my favorite stamp companies. 

The first is for Paper Smooches challenge.  For this one I stretched my card out a bit from a standard card by using a flip-it card from Sizzix.  The center of that flip-it card is a square, and that is where I used the sketch to decorate the focal point of the square.

I love how clean this card came out, with all that white space.

My second card was inspired by Reverse Confetti's sketch challenge. 

For this one I used two different stamp sets, two different die sets and three different pattern papers to create my design.

I stretched my tag out by cutting it where the rectangle of pattern paper would hide the gap.  I love the look of the tag, as it provides a different design element that also includes a ribbon tie.  I thought about sequins, but in the end went with the arrow clip for embellishment.

This one would work for a masculine card, even with the ribbon. 

Hope you found some time to create today, and if not, there is always tomorrow! 

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Bazzill

Pattern Paper:  Authentique "Classique Beauty"

Stamps:  Welcome Wagon from Paper Smooches

Dies:  Welcome Word from Paper Smooches

Ink:  Ranger Archival Black

Other:  Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Neenah Desert Storm

Pattern Paper:  The Paper Studio

Stamps:  Roundabout Additions and In a Big Way (inside sentiment) from Reverse Confetti

Dies:  Tag Me Too and Circles and Scallops Confetti Cuts from Reverse Confetti

Ink:  Versamark, Ranger Black Embossing Powder, Memento

Ribbon: Stampin' Up

Other:  Arrow Clip from Stamping Up and Glitter Tape from Close To My Heart

One Image - Two Ways

The challenge for Inkspirational was "She Art or Image of a Woman".  I played around with two designs using the same stamp set from Unity.  I colored the first card using watercolor paper and my Gansai Tambi watercolors.  

I'm still quite new to this technique, and my biggest difficulty is in the background and getting it to be smooth, and not so splotchy.  This one was particularly tough because my subject was hunting fireflies in the night, so a darker background was required. 

For my second shot, I went with some markers that I had in my stash from Close To My Heart.  I think they've since been discontinued and replaced with newer ones.  But I need to use what's in my stash - if I empty the ink in the markers, I gain about 32 square inches of space!

Same difficulty with this one . . . that darn background.  I think if I were to try this card again, I would go go the trouble of masking my image and sponging a background instead of using markers.  I do love this image from Phyllis Harris!  She's such a fun artist.  

Note to self . . . practice backgrounds!  Research!

Hope you find some time to create. 

Supplies Used - Card 1

Cardstock:  Neenah Desert Storm and Bee Watercolor

Pattern Paper:  The Paper Studio

Stamps:  Miracle of Light and Dark from Unity

Dies:  Fiskars Circle Die

Ink:  Versamark, Ranger Black Embossing Powder, Gansai Tambi Watercolors

Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

Supplies Used - Card 2

Cardstock:  Neenah Desert Storm

Stamps:  Miracle of Light and Dark from Unity

Ink:  My Favorite Things and Close To My Heart Alcohol Markers

Other:  Wink of Stella and Twine from The Twinery

Color Week Creation for Just Us Girls

I found this new challenge - Just Us Girls - and decided to play along this week.  Challenge #285 was a color challenge to use black, white and a third color.  I used my Simon Says Stamp Card Kit supplies to create my card, so of course I had to go with yellow.  I adore that color combination. 

My card was pretty simple - hardest part was getting that die to cut straight at the bottom.  

I said I like this color combination, as if it is one of the only ones I love.  Truth is there are a lot of color combinations that I love, and when I saw all the linked up cards at Just Us Girls . . . eye candy!  They're all fabulous. 

I hope you find some time to create! 

 

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  Authentique Classique Beauty*

Dies:  Medium Line Dots*

Ink:  My Favorite Things

Ribbon:  Twine from The Twinery

Other:  3 x 4 journaling cards from Authentique* and Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

*from Simon Says Stamp March Card Kit

Seizing the Sentiment for Seize the Birthday

The current challenge for Seize the Birthday included a "topping" option of making your sentiment the focal point.  I did just that using a stamp set from Avery Elle. 

I inked up a border stamp in three shades of Avery Elle pigment ink, and kept the colors a bit muted so the my sentiment would stand out.    I love the way I could piece different colors into my sentiment - the black, blue and green.  This was a fun card to make. 

Fun to play with ink and paper, as always.

 

Supplies Used - Celebrate Your Day

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up

Stamps:  Avery Elle Simply Labels and Link It Up

Dies:  Avery Elle Simply Labels

Ink:  Avery Elle Pigment Ink

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Queen & Co. Rhinestones

Pattern Paper Card Creations

Two cards to share with you today, both using pattern papers from card kits in my stash.

The first is for Freshly Made Sketches (the sketch is noted below with the supply list). 

 I used my February kit from The Stamps of Life, along with a few other supplies to create this card. 

My second card is for  CAS-ology.  Some blossoms were in order for this one . . .

I adore this color combination (black, white, gray and yellow) which runs rampant in the Authentique paper that was included in my card kit from Simon Says Stamp.  Also love the perfect pearls! 

 So many great supplies . . . so little time.  Hope you find some time to create today. 

Supplies Used - Amazing Things

Cardstock:  The Stamps of Life*

Pattern Paper:  The Stamps of Life*

Stamps:  The Stamps of Life*

Dies:  Sizzix Majestic Die Labels

Ink:  Memento

Ribbon:  The Stamps of Life*

Other:  Felt Flower*, Glitter Tape*, Simon Says Stamp Pearls, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher Staples

*from February Card Kit by The Stamps of Life

Supplies Used - Thank You Friend

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  Authentique "Classique Beauty"*

Stamps:  On My Mind*

Ink:  Stampin' Up and Simon Says Stamp

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Ranger Liquid Pearls Black Onyx*

*from March Simon Says Stamp Card Kit

Critter Creations

So happy to be creating again!  I have two cards to share today.

First up, for Merry Monday and StampNation, is a card with gifts on it (the Merry Monday challenge), which also includes some critters for StampNation).  I got caught up in Copics for this challenge.  Nothing like coloring on a Saturday afternoon.

Hard to see, but I used three tiny red beads for the berries next to that bottom gift.  Also hard to see is the sparkly shimmer from Wink of Stella (love the wink!).   

Cute little pups!

Second up is my card for Paper Smooches.  The challenge this week was "anything goes", and since it includes a critter, I will submit it over at StampNation as well.  Here is a a sympathy card for the loss of a kitty using one of the newest dies in my collection.

 I love the background paper on this card, although after it was done I realized it was upside down.  Not that noticeable, and I've read that it adds a unique interest when the paper is upside down. 

Always fun to create on a Saturday afternoon.  I hope you found some time to create today! 

Supplies Used - Merry Monday/Inky Antics

Cardstock:  Bazzill

Pattern Paper:  Stampin' Up

Stamps:  Inky Antics Christmas Kitties and Pups

Ink:  Memento and Copics

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Simon Says Stamp Beads and Wink of Stella

Supplies Used - Loss of Furry Friend

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  October Afternoon*

Stamps:  Feline Friends from Paper Smooches

Dies:  Feline Friends from Paper Smooches

Ink:  Hero Arts

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Public Library Stickers from October Afternoon* and Wood Dots by Teresa Collins*

*from September 2014 Simon Says Stamp Card Kit

Make Mine Milk Chocolate!

Let it be known . . . I would take vanilla over chocolate for cake or ice cream.  But when it comes to chocolate, make mine milk chocolate.  White chocolate would be second . . . dark chocolate is dead last. 

My shade of brown is a little more dark chocolate than milk chocolate, so I had no fear that I might eat the chocolate bunny off this card!  Here is a little something for Retro Sketches. 

The little bunnies are on the pattern paper were the inspiration for this card.  Here is the sketch from Retro . . .

 

 Most of my supplies came from my monthly card kit from The Stamps of Life.  Love my kits!  

 I hope you find some time to create. 

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  The Stamps of Life*

Pattern Paper:  The Stamps of Life*

Stamps:  Stamp Set from February Card Kit*

Dies:  Chocolate Bunny and Bow Dies from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Versamark and Ranger White Detail Embossing Powder

Ribbon:  Twine from The Stamps of Life

Other:  Google Eyes and Flower Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh

*from The Stamps of Life February Card Kit

Happy You're My Friend for The Paper Players

Sharing a card today for The Paper Players challenge.  This one is a clean and simple floral card.

I used my Simon Says Stamp March card kit to create this card.  I loved the floral stamp, which came with some great sentiments (love the font). 

 Always fun to create!  Hope you find some time to fit a little stamping into your day. 

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Simon Says  Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  Authentique "Classique Beauty"*

Stamps:  On My Mind*

Dies:  Medium Line Dots*

Ink:  Stampin' Up and My FavoriteThings

Other:  Ranger Liquid Pearls Black Onyx*

A Couple of Challenge Cards

I have two cards to share today.  First up is a card created for the ShowCASe Your Style.  Their inspiration photo for their color challenge is posted down with my supply list.  Here is my card . . .

I used supplies from my November Stamps of Life Card Kit.  

 My second card was created using supplies from my March Simon Says Stamp Card Kit.  I used the sketch from CASe this Sketch.

I loved the newsprint paper, although I wished the print had been a little lighter.  It was a nice change to stamp on. 

I hope you all find some time to create! 

Supplies Used - Happy Birthday

All supplies from The Stamps of Life November Card Kit

 

Supplies Used - Thank You Friend

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  Authentique*

Stamps:  On My Mind*

Ink:  Simon Says Stamp and Stampin' Up

Other:  Ranger Liquid Pearls Black Onyx55