You Are a Lifesaver for Freshly Made and CASology

It was a creative day, as I have one more card to share with you today.  This one couples the nautical theme from CASology with the sketch from Freshly Made. 

 I used supplies from the July Simon Says Stamp card kit.  I stamped the lifesaver, colored with Copic markers and then popped and "hung" it from my circle die.  I let the pattern paper in the kit do the rest of the talking . . . well, except  that I added my sentiment. 

Hoping to find some time throughout the week to create . . . and hoping you find some time too! 

Supplies Used - You Are A Lifesaver

Supplies for this card came from Simon Says Stamp July Card Kit

Additional supplies:

• Simon Says Stamp Circle Stitch Dies
• Simon Says Stamp and Hero Arts Ink
• Copic Markers

Filled With Love for Reverse Confetti Challenge

I created a shaker card for this month's Reverse Confetti Challenge. 

 Since the sentiment was "filled with love" I thought it appropriate to include some silver and red foil hearts in the shaker.  It seemed appropriate.  The Confetti Cuts worked great for my shaker.  And I truly love that circle sentiment stamp. 

If you've not ever made a shaker card, I highly recommend it.  They are truly great fun! 

Supplies Used - Filled With Love

Cardstock:  Bazzill

Pattern Paper:  Stampin' Up

Stamps:  Roundabout Additions and Sweet Thing from Reverse Confetti

Dies: Circles and Scallops Confetti Cuts from Reverse Confetti

Ink:  Hero Arts

Other:  Sequins and Beads from Pretty Pink Posh and Glimmer Tape from Close To My Heart

A Couple of Colour Challenges using Studio Calico

I have two projects to share in this post, and both were created for color challenges using kit supplies from Studio Calico. 

First up a card for Colour Me, a gorgeous combination of colors . . .

And here is my card . . .

Now this is not my typical style of card.  For someone reason, Studio Calico's kits always have me stepping outside of my comfort zone.  I created my own background paper with the X's and O's in the colors of the challenge.  I actually used two of my Studio Calico kits . . . Far Far Away and the newest kit, Galileo. Love that little bunny!  

My second card was created for the Colour Q challenge.  Here is there awesome color palette . . .

For this card I went more with the darker blue. 

I used supplies from the Far Far Away kit from Studio Calico.  The yellow is a bit buried in that pineapple, which was stamped on a yellow pattern paper.  

Love that light blue, satin, scallop border. 

Hope you found some time to create this weekend. 

Supplies Used - XOXO Sweet

Supplies for this card came from:

• Studio Calico Galileo Card Kit
• Far Far Away Card Kit

Additional supplies:

• Bazzill Cardstock
• Simon Says Stamp Circle Stitch Dies
• Versamark and Ranger Embossing Powder
• Hero Arts Ink and Stampin' Up Ink

Supplies Used - You're So Sweet

Supplies for this card came from Studio Calico Far Far Away Card Kit

Additional supplies:

• Versamark and Ranger Embossing Powder
• Stampin' Up Ink
• Inktense Pencils

"Wheely" Great Birthday for Color Throwdown

I created a card for the Color Throwdown challenge using supplies from one of my kits from The Stamps of Life.  Here is the color combination . . .

And here is my card . . . 

 I did pull one additional color into this card, and that was the black.  I really needed my panel to "pop". 

I also "distressed" the panel to make it look like those bikes were moving, by dragging the edge of the ink pad on the panel. 

I hope you found some time to create over the weekend.  And the workweek begins . . .

Supplies Used - "Wheely" Great Birthday

Cardstock:  The Stamps of Life*

Pattern Paper:  The Stamps of Life*

Stamps:  bicycle2stamp from The Stamps of Life and Card Kit Set from

Dies:  Bicycle Dies from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Hero Arts Black

Ribbon:  Twine from The Stamps of Life*

Other:  Bicycle Clips from The Stamps of Life*

*from November and February Card Kits

Color Burst, Perfect Pearls and Whales!

They're here!  My Ken Oliver Color Burst Watercolors have arrived, and I had a chance to play with them this afternoon, and I created cards for two challenges.

So let me first talk about the Color Burst Watercolors, which were really fun.  I have used a lot of different products to create water color backgrounds, and my favorite thus far has been Ranger Distress Ink.  Let me tell you that these were super fun to play with.  I only tried two colors today . . . the pthalo green and ultramarine blue.  I was going for the sea, as I had a new whale stamp and die.

First up, for Freshly Made Sketches, here is the sketch . . .

And here is my card . . .

Now this was my first try with the Color Burst watercolor.  Once I had them down and they were still a little wet, I also spritzed with some Perfect Pearls to give a shimmer that is not visible in the photo.  Once the watercolor piece was dry, I stamped the whale over the background using Versamark and then embossed in white, stamping the outline and face with black ink.

For this second card, I set out to create a card for CASology.  

I set out to create a fun scene for a kids card.  Now I will admit that the second panel using the Color Bursts turned out better than the first.  Chalk it up to experience!  On the card itself, I only used the wave pieces.  I have another larger panel that I will use on a future card . . . wait for it!

In the meantime, here is my card . . .

That bottom wave has some fun, bold watermarks from the "bursts" of color.  I think this is what sets this new product out from others.  I again used the Perfect Pears to get that amazing shimmer.  The combination of the Color Burst and Perfect Pearls is just amazing.

See that shimmer?!

My whales were created using a Bazzill cardstock that looked like stone.  I used a stamp and die set from The Stamps of Life.  I love how they came out.  The only items stamped were the spouts of water and the sentiment.  The splashes were part of the same die cut set.  Cute! 

If you're on the fence about the Ken Oliver Color Burst, let me give you that push.  They were so fun to play with.

Happy crafting!

Supplies Used = Get Whale Soon

Cardstock:  The Stamps of Life and Bee Watercolor Paper

Stamps:  Whale2Stamp from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Ken Oliver Color Burst Watercolors, Versamark, Ranger White Embossing Powder, Hero Arts Black Ink

Ribbon:  Twine from The Stamps of Life

Other:  Perfect Pearls, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, Glimmer Tape from Close To My Heart

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  The Stamps of Life, Bee Watercolor Paper, Bazzill Cardstock and American Crafts White Embossed Paper

Stamps:  Whale2Stamp from The Stamps of Life

Dies:  Whale Dies from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Ken Oliver Color Burst Watercolors, Stampin' Up, Hero Arts Black Ink

Ribbon:  Twine from The Stamps of Life

Other:  Perfect Pearls, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, Glimmer Tape from Close To My Heart, Silly Eye from Pretty Pink Posh

Bokeh Thanks

This week's color palette at Colour Me Card Challenge were some of my favorite shades . . .

I used distress markers to create the background on some watercolor paper, and then created a bokeh background using stamps and white ink.  I've done this technique before and always enjoy the results.

I think one of my favorite elements of this card is the way the sentiment stands out on top of that bokeh background.   I did not expect such a bold result. 

Great color combo from Colour Me.  I hope you get a chance to play with some stamps and ink this weekend!

Supplies Used - Thanks for Everything You Do

Cardstock:  Bazzill* and Bee Watercolor Paper

Stamps:  Hand Lettered Winter Wishes*, minis4circles and award2stamp from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Simon Says Stamp White Pigment Ink*, Ranger Distress Markers and Stampin' Up

Other:  Simon Says Stamp Pearls

*from January Simon Says Stamp Card Kit

Peace for Muse Christmas and Just Us Girls

Today's card is a combination of two challenges.  The first was the Muse Christmas Visions challenge.  Here is their photo . . .

 And then with that I used the "trend" challenge at Just Us Girls which was to use stacked dies.

My inspiration was that circular image in the lower left corner, and I had a set by Avery Elle that I thought would be fun to play with.  I can honesty say that it wasn't my intention to use the same color die as was provided in the inspiration photo.  But the red with the berries just made it all pop, and I had a red scrap large enough for both a mat and those multiple cuts for that stacked sentiment. 

Love the dimension provided by the stacked sentiment!  I considered adding some Glossy Accents, but kept them on the berries!


If I were to make this card again, I think I'd like to try that "earth" in a light blue.  Next time! 

Hope you find some time to play around with some challenges . . . or to just create. 

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Bazzill

Stamps:  Joy to the World by Avery Elle

Dies:  Peace by Julie Ebersole for Essentials by Ellen

Ink:  Stampin' Up, Versamark and Ranger Silver Embossing Powder

Other:  Glossy Accents

Happy Mail for Colour Me

When I saw this week's photo for the Colour Me challenge . . . that striped tie . . . I knew just the paper I would be digging out for this challenge.  Specifically it was the diagonal striped pattern paper in my card creation below. 

And when I pulled out the paper, I knew just the sketch that was going to inspire me, as it was one with diagonal cuts that was presented to StampNation members in one of our features about sketches.  The sketch definitely lent itself to that pattern paper. 

One of the other patterns had some lighter shades of blue and red, and I used two neutrals - white and the kraft color in that pattern paper where I stamped my sentiment.  But it all went very well with the Night of Navy and Real Red Ink.  

Supplies Used - Happy Mail

Cardstock:  Bazzill*

Pattern Paper:  Pink Paislee Pen Pals*

Stamps:  Sending Happy Thoughts Stamp Set*

Ink:  Stampin' U

Other:  Puffy Stickers from Pink Paislee Pen Pals*, Wink of Stella, and Irresistible Pico Embellisher from Imagine Crafts

*from Simon Says Stamp July 2014 Card Kit

Layered Stamping for Paper Smooches

"Anything Goes" was this week's challenge at Paper Smooches.  Here is my creation . . .

The sentiment and cupcake were stamped on white cardstock, and then the sentiment was stamped on the frame that was also cut from white cardstock.  

Supplies Used - Happy Birthday - Paper Smooches

Cardstock:  Neenah

Pattern Paper:  The Paper Studio

Stamps:  Scripty Sayings and Birthday Bash from Paper Smooches

Dies:  Frame 3 Die from Paper Smooches

Ink:  Memento

Other:  Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and Graffix Acetate Sheet

Crafty Creations for Just Add Ink and Time Out Challenge

I have two cards to share today, the first is for Just Add Ink who had some photo inspiration for their challenge this week.  Here is the photo . . .

And here is my card . . .

I was inspired by the balloons, and I loved mixing up inks on this one.  The supplies used were from my April Simon Says Stamp Card Kit.  The toughest part was the tiny holes that I punched and threaded and tied single strands of gold thread.  Worth the effort? 

For my second card I used the inspiration photo at the Time Out Challenge.  There challenge was to use the photo, but give it your own twist. 

I was inspired by the layout of this card, but also the white ink on the dark background.  My twist was was to pull a similar card off using some bright colors. 

Instead of a jar . . . a gumball machine.  Instead of flowers . . . some colorful gumballs.  I was on the fence as I created this card, but I love the end result.  Those gumballs are so darn cute.  I cut them from a multicolored hexagon paper from The Stamps of Life.  

Hope you find some time to get crafty.

Supplies Used - Celebrate

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  Bazzill Gold Foil*

Stamps:  Big Birthday Wishes*

Ink:  Encore, Memento and Stampin' Up

Other:  Gold Ombre Washi tape from PinkFresh Studios* and DMC Gold Thread

*from Simon Says Stamp April 2015 Card Kit

Supplies Used - Bubble

All supplies from The Stamps of Life April Card Kit except for the following items which were also used:

Stamps:  bubblegum4me from The Stamps of Life

Dies:  Bubblegum Dies from The Stamps of Life

Ink:  Color Box