Sunday, December 31, 2017

Life in the middle of my chaos

I got crafty today with a Simon Says Stamp kit and created a few cards.  I love devoted time with matching product.  


The pattern paper and matching puffy stickers were perfect for this card, and I enjoy the challenge of stamping on pattern paper.  


I hope you find some time to create today.

Debbie


Supplies Used - Thanks for Everything You Do
Stamps:  You + Me = Stamp
Ink: Black (Hero Arts); Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Slate Cardstock (Simon Says Stamp); Live More Collection (Pinkfresh)
Accessories:  Live More Collection Puff Stickers (Pinkfresh);

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Paper Smooches Challenge

I was challenged today by the inspiration photo in this month's Paper Smooches Challenge


 For my card, I used a three different blue inks fro Catherine Pooler Inks and instead of a pine tree, used a different type of tree stamp from Paper Smooches.


 I created a bit of a wintry scene which will make a great sympathy or encouragement card.  


Was so glad to have time to create today. 


Supplies Used - God Will Be With You
Stamps and Dies:  Winter Groves and New Beginnings 2 (Paper Smooches)
Ink & Embossing:  All That Jazz, It's a Boy, Something Borrowed and Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks); Copic Markers (various for coloring of bird)
Paper: Solar White (Neenah) and Sky (The Stamps of Life)
Other: Diamond Dust Glitter

Joy to the World for CAS on Friday

Played along with CAS on Friday's challenge for Christmas.


 Kraft, black and white along with stamps and dies from Catherine Pooler that came in my Stamp of Approval box. 


I hope you find some time to create today!


Supplies Used - 'Tis the Season
Stamps and Dies:  'Tis the Season Stamps and Here We Come A-Caroling Stamps and Dies (Catherine Pooler/Stamp of Approval Winterhaven Collection)
Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler); Versamark; Wanderlust Embossing Powder (WOW);
Paper: Desert Storm and Solar White Cardstock (Neenah); Ruby Cardstock (Close To My Heart);
Other:  Sparking Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh);

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Sweetest Wishes for Merry Monday

I was inspired today by Merry Monday . . . a tic tac toe board inspiration where my line was "stamping, pattern paper, emboss."

Okay, so not necessarily in that order.  It was more like "stamp, emboss, stamp, emboss, pattern paper. 




So, first came the stamping and embossing of that House Mouse image on watercolor paper.  I used distress inks to watercolor the image. 

 Next came the stamping and embossing of the sentiment. 


And then finally, the creation of the card, including the pattern paper. 


I do love my House Mouse images. 

Happiest of holidays to all, and I hope you find some time to create. 


Supplies Used - Sweetest Holiday Wishes
Stamps:  Carrying Mints (House Mouse); Candy Cane Lane Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Stamps)
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx; Distress Inks (various) for watercolor;
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); pattern paper (CTMH); Watercolor paper (Canson)
Accessories:  Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); Wink of Stella (Zig); Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger)


Friday, December 15, 2017

A Year of Card Techiques: Stamp Your Background



Welcome to the



Welcome to A Year of Card Techniques Blog Hop where each month we feature a different card technique. We’ve assembled a team of card makers who range from new to advanced, so you’ll see a great variety of cards and ideas. This month we’re going to stamp our own background for a unique customized look. 
Hopefully, we’ll inspire you to try one yourself.  If you would like to check out our past technique hops, you can do that here:
Our amazing sponsor this month is Claudia Henderson of Close to My Heart
 


Please take a moment to check out her store here.
 

And the awesome prize this month is:



We really appreciate feedback, so please leave a comment on each of the blogs in the hop today.  Since this is our last A Year Of Card Techniques hop and the holiday season is just around the corner, we are going to give you some extra time to hop!  The winner will be announced on Saturday, December 30, 2017 on A Piece of (my) Heart’s blog, so be sure to check her blog on Sunday. The winner will have until January 6, 2018 to claim their prize.  If you would like to be notified by email, please leave your email address in the comments.

You should have arrived here from Crafting with a View (the talented Claudia).  If you're visiting here first, you might want to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing and increase your chances of winning by commenting on each blog.

I have a few stamped backgrounds for you today.  This first one is a floral background. 

 
Some sequins and a pop of black elements, and a finished card. 
 
This next one has two versions with one sentiment.  


Again, same card . . . different sentiments and layout of sentiment and sequins.  


 This next one is black and white with a pop of color . . . color as in glitter. 


I used some metallic thread behind the sentiment.  I do love how this one turned out.  



And then of course, for the holiday . . . this mint stamp.  I used one color of ink and stamped off to get the variation of color. 

One additional note on this one . . . after stamping all the mints, I flipped the stamp and used the back of the acrylic image to stamp a circle of Versamark over each of the mints.  I embossed with a sparkling clear embossing powder.  



Now you’re off to visit with Wilma at Stampin' to the Oldies.  Hope you had fun and thanks for stopping by.

I hope you find some time to stamp and try out this technique.  

Here’s the full line-up in case you get lost:




Supplies Used - You Are Amazingly Amazing
Stamps:  Lovely Flowers Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink: Sunset, Topiary, Lagoon, Gypsy Inks (Close To My Heart), Black (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah), Licorice (The Stamps of Life), Orange Peel (Bazzill)
Accessories:  Lovely Flowers and Banners Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs) and Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Supplies Used - Love Always and Beautiful You
Stamps:  Beautiful You (Catherine Pooler)
Ink: It's a Girl, Bellini, Garden Party, and Pixie Dust (Catherine Pooler Inks); Versafine Black Onyx Ink
Paper:  Lucky Limeade (Stampin' Up); Licorice (The Stamps of Life); Solar White (Neenah)
Accessories:  Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger)

Supplies Used - Leave a Little Sparkle
Stamps:  Flip Flop Stamp (Dab a Little); Born to Sparkle (Wow!)
Ink: Black (Hero Arts); Versamark
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Black (Bazzill)
Accessories:  White Embossing Powder (Hero Arts); Silver Thread (Darice); Scallop Punch (Fiskars); Fine Glitter (The Stamps of Life)


Supplies Used - Sugar and Spice
Stamps:  Mint Stamp (Dab a Little); Candy Cane Lane Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink: Rockin' Red (Catherine Pooler) and Versamark
Paper:  Marshmallow (Bazzill); Licorice (The Stamps of Life);
Accessories:  White Embossing Powder (Hero Arts); Sparkling Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger); Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh);

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Amazing for Freshly Made Sketch

A bright and colorful card using Freshly Made Sketch as inspiration.



These are some bold colors, but I think it came together nicely, and I love that intricate "amazing" die.  


I hope you can carve out some time to create. 


Supplies Used - Amazing for Freshly Made Sketch
The Stamps of Life Kit of the Month - November 2017
Sizzix Circle and Scallop Circle dies

Friday, November 17, 2017

A Year of Card Techniques November - Masking

Welcome to
Welcome to A Year of Card Techniques Blog Hop where each month we feature a different card technique. We’ve assembled a team of card makers who range from new to advanced, so you’ll see a great variety of cards and ideas.
This month we’re going to explore masking techniques.  There are so many variations of masking, it would be difficult to list them all here.  But, since pictures speak louder than words, we’ll let our team show you the masking techniques they opted to try.  Hopefully, we’ll inspire you to try one yourself.  If you would like to check out our past technique hops, you can do that here:
Our amazing sponsor this month is Jodie Park of Close to My Heart
Please take a moment to check out her store here.
And the awesome prize this month is:

We really appreciate feedback, so please leave a comment on each of the blogs in the hop today.  The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 26, 2017, on A Piece of (my) Heart’s blog, so be sure to check her blog on Sunday. The winner will have until December 14, 2017, to claim their prize.
You should have arrived here from Stampin' Jodie CreationsIf you're visiting here first, you might want to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing and increase your chances of winning by commenting on
I often start with a confession about the technique.  So here it goes . . . 
I have had success in the past with masking in detailed ways.  In fact, I will share my favorite masked card ever!  But the ones I created for this blog are a bit more simple.  This first one was a simple masked circle.  I used a circle punch . . . applied Versamark to the mask, and then embossed with an amazing embossing powder.  
This next card is an example of a masked sentiment.  I'm not sure I'm a fan . . . so I'll get back to you on this one. 

And this last one is an example of direct to paper ink application  The leaf images were masked, and I used an ombre ink pad for the direct to paper. 


And finally, I'll share my favorite masked card EVER!  I made this one several years ago, and a simple masked circle made my day.  But there is a story. 


 I saved it for years and years waiting for the right special person to send it to.  On the day I pulled it to send it, I left the room to get a stamp and came back to find my 4-month old puppy chewing it.  And what does a dog lover do?  They assess whether the recipient is also a dog lover, and then they send an undamaged card and the chewed card, with a note saying, "I saved this card for someone very special, and when I finally had the right opportunity to send, my puppy had other plans.  But I know you are a dog lover, and you will appreciate the teeth marks and missing pieces.  Know that you were that special person and that you were in my thoughts."  

Can I just say . . . big hit.  And gave the grieving person a chuckle.  Be real, that's my advice. 

Now you’re off to visit with Crafting with a View. Hope you had fun and thanks for stopping by.  See you next month with another great technique!
I hope you find some time to create! 
Here’s the full line-up in case you get lost along the way:
Sharon
Kim
Wilma
Amanda
Jodie
Debbie
Claudia




Supplies Used - 'Tis the Season
Stamps and Dies:  'Tis the Season Stamps and Here We Come A-Caroling Stamps and Dies (Catherine Pooler/Stamp of Approval Winterhaven Collection)
Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler); Versamark; Wanderlust Embossing Powder (WOW);
Paper: Desert Storm and Solar White Cardstock (Neenah); Ruby Cardstock (Close To My Heart);
Other:  Sparking Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh);

 
Supplies Used - So Very Thankful
Stamps and Dies:  Autumn Blessings Stamps and Thankful Die (Catherine Pooler)
Ink & Embossing:  All That Jazz and Midnight (Catherine Pooler Ink); White Pigment Ink (Simon Says Stamp
Paper: Desert Storm (Neenah); Black Cardstock (Bazzill)
Other:  Enamel Dots (Close To My Heart)

 
Supplies Used - Autumn Blessings
Stamps and Dies:  Autumn Blessings Stamps and Fallen Leave Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);
Ink & Embossing: Butter to Orange Ombre Ink (Hero Arts);  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Ink);
Paper: Solar White (Neenah) Black (Bazzill);
Other:  Enamel Dots (Close To My Heart);
 


Supplies Used - Thinking of You
Stamps and Dies:  minibanners2cut (The Stamps of Life)
Ink & Embossing:  Dreamweaver Embossing Paste; Variety of Stampin' Up and Ranger Inks; Versamark; Hero Arts White Embossing Powder
Paper:Desert Strom (Neenah); Black (Bazzill)
Other:  Circle Punch; Post-it Labeling Tape; Ribbon (Stampin' Up); Stencil (Add a Little Dazzle)