Good Coffee . . . Great Friends

 I do adore my creative time with shaving cream and ink . . . consider it like the cream in my coffee!

Today's card was inspired by the challenge at Creative Friday - Cafe. No matter what coffee shop I go to, the warm cup and sleeve are so inviting to grab, and amazing coffee brewing smells are incredibly comforting. 

I just love the look of those coffee beans, which is where the shaving cream and inks came into play. When I do this technique, I always wish I did it more often. It's a messy one, but it's so fun to see the marbled results.

My coffee cups made me want to hit the local coffee shop for a latte. Yum!

Make some coffee or make something crafty. And have fun!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Good Coffee

Stamps and Dies:  Joe to Go Stamp Set and Dies (Taylored Expressions);

Ink & Embossing:  Grass Skirt, Rockin' Red, Icing on the Cake and Orange Peel (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Solar White and Desert Storm Cardstock (Neenah);

Other: By the Beans Stencil (CAS-ual Fridays); Iridescent Preo Gold Acrylic Paint (Pebeo Studio); Celebration Confetti Mix (Pretty Pink Posh); 

Beverage of the Day

Coffee is typically my second beverage of the day (after water), and the aroma is my fave.  And so the prompt at Just Us Girls was right up my alley. 

I love nothing more than getting the shaving cream out, along with some brown inks, and preparing a coffee card.  For this one, I included some metallic paint. 

My sentiment is a bit off, because I drink my water first.  But does water count?  

I do love using a mix of stencils, shaving cream inks and paints when creating backgrounds.  For this one I used only a strip of my background (the best most colorful parts) as my border.  Adding acrylic paint to the mix gives some texture which you can feel but not really see.  

I added some sparkly to my lid and that little heart in the sleeve.  And a mini shaker in a cup!  What's not to love?

I hope you found some time to create today. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - But First Coffee

Stamps and Dies: Life Love Latte Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Icing on the Cake, Orange Peel, Oer Coffee (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Ginger Snap Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Daisy White Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other: By the Beans Stencil (CAS-ual Fridays); Barbasol Shaving Cream; Irridecent Prio Gold Paint (Pebeo); Seattle Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Fiery Volcano Stone Drops (Nuvo);

Perk Up

 Anything but a birthday card was the prompt at Sweet Stampin'.  And so, a card just to cheer someone using some of my favorite techniques and products.  

From a product perspective I've been playing a lot with the Peeking Pets set from Catherine Pooler.  Can't get enough of those critters peeking out over various objects.  This one is peaking over a coffee cup.  I've also been obsessed with the stencil that created my background strip.  

From a technique perspective, I love to stamp on kraft cardstock.  But lately I've been obsessed with using shaving cream, ink and acrylic paint with my stencils.

 

My dog Lola used to wait for me to leave the room and sip from my coffee. 😏 A happy memory, but also kind of gross.  Lola is the dog pictured on my blog here.  She crossed the rainbow bridge a few years back, but she left us with a boat load of awesome, crazy memories. 

Supplies Used - Perk Up

Stamps and Dies:  Peeking Pets and Life Love Latte Stamp Sets and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Icing on the Cake, Orange Peel, Oer Coffee, Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Ginger Snap Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Daisy White Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other: By the Beans Stencil (CAS-ual Fridays); Barbasol Shaving Cream; Irridecent Prio Gold Paint (Pebeo); Seattle Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Critters saying "Just Breathe"

How about a cute critter for Always Fun Challenge?  Created a few cards for my friends in a few different color combinations.  My favorite combo is the middle one.  

My face masks were just white cardstock that I scored and punched a hole.  Added some twine . . . because how else would the cute pups keep them on their faces? 

Die I mention this color combo was my favorite?  So tranquil with those clouds. 

But I won't lie . . . this last one makes me laugh, as I added a little sentiment.  He's a bit fiesty!

 

His bark is worse than his bite. 

I hope you find some time to create over this long holiday weekend.  

Debbie

 

Supplies Used - Just Breathe

Stamps and Dies:  Just Breathe Stamp Set and Peeking Pets Stamps Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Skylight, Green Tea, Sauna and Midnight (Catherine Pooler Ink);

Paper: Banana Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Cooper 6 x 6 Paper Pack (Bella Blvd.); Soft Suede Cardstock (Stampin' Up);

Other: Washi Tape (Little B); Something Blue Twine (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Supplies Used - Just Breathe

Stamps and Dies:  Just Breathe Stamp Set and Peeking Pets Stamps Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs); This Sucks (CAS-ual Fridays);

Ink & Embossing:  Royal Treatment, Seafoam, Skylight and Midnight (Catherine Pooler Ink);

Paper: Grape Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Cooper 6 x 6 Paper Pack (Bella Blvd.); Soft Suede Cardstock (Stampin' Up);

Other: Washi Tape (Little B); Something Blue Twine (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Supplies Used - Just Breathe

Stamps and Dies:  Just Breathe Stamp Set and Peeking Pets Stamps Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs); This Sucks (CAS-ual Fridays); Outside In Stitched Speech Bubbles Dies (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing:  Pink Champagne, Skylight, Orange Peel and Midnight Ink (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Cooper 6 x 6 Paper Pack (Bella Blvd.); Soft Suede Cardstock (Stampin' Up);

Other: Silver Shimmer Trim (Close To My Heart); Something Blue Twine (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Summer Inspired . . . Less Monday . . . More Summer

Created this card for Little Red Wagon Challenge Blog.  The inspiration was "summertime fun".  Honestly, this one was so fun!

That pattern paper needs to cover an ice cream truck.  This one was a combination of paper piecing and blender pen.  I literally want that ice cream truck to come past my house!  

This makes me want to die cut more trucks!

Go create! 

Supplies Used - Less Monday (Truck)

Stamps and Dies:  I Scream You Scream Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs); Merry Labels Die (CAS-ual Fridays);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Mint to Be, Icing on the Cake and Sand Castle (Catherine Pooler); Blender Pen (Marvy);

Paper:  White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Sum-Sum-Summertime Pattern Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other: Antique Rose Crystal Drops, Love Potion Dream Drop, Morning Dew Crystal Drops, Simply White Crystal Drops, Luxe Dream Drops, Apple Green Crystal Drops, White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo); Black Shimmer Trim (Close To My Heart); Watermelon Jewels (Pretty Pink Posh);

Stencil Background - Days Ending in "Y"

Created my own background for Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  I've really been into the shaving cream/ink/stencil backgrounds. Added some paint to this one to give a certain sheen to my coffee beans.  

 Mmmm . . . coffee!  I do love the swirl of the brown and orange ink in some of the beans, and then in others there is some texture and the hint of shimmer from the paint. 

 I hope you find some time to create over this holiday weekend. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Days Ending in "Y"

Stamps and Dies:  Joe to Go Stamp Set and Dies (Taylored Expressions); Coffee Days Stamp Set (CAS-ual Fridays);

Ink & Embossing:  Spruce, Icing on the Cake and Orange Peel (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Soft Suede Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Solar White Cardstock (Neenah);

Other: By the Beans Stencil (CAS-ual Fridays); Iridescent Preo Gold Acrylic Paint (Pebeo Studio); Gold Dots (Close To My Heart);

Toucan Do It for Color Throwdown

Saw the colors at Color Throwdown and was inspired to create.

Used a watercolor background that had the colors in the sketch, blue, purple, light blue, and green, and cut it with a cover plate die.

Then added just enough color for my toucan, who needed some spot of yellow.  I used a blender pen to color my images, which were on regular cardstock.

I have another watercolor panel and may need to create a similar card in that color scheme . . . but that's slated for another day.  

I hope you found some time to create today, and if not, there is always tomorrow.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Toucan Do it

Stamps and Dies:  To the Point Cover Die and Toucan Do It Stamps and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);  Merry Labels Die (CAS-ual Fridays);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Over Coffee, Eucalyptus, Spruce, Sauna, Daydream, Queen for a Day, Mandarin Spice (Catherine Pooler Inks); Blender Pen (Marvy);

Paper:  Watercolor Paper (Bee); Black Cardstock (American Crafts); White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other: Yellow Sequins (Simon Says Stamp)

You are . . . HLS CAS Challenge

This card was inspired by a memory board at my favorite crafty place, StampNation and by the Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge for Sentiment Only. 

I love creating on kraft cardstock, and I love the bold black words and how they pop off the background. 

I hope you find some time to create today!

Debbie

Supplies Used - You are . . .

Stamps and Dies:  Kind of Wonderful Stamp Set, Angled Squares Background Stamp (Catherine Pooler Designs); 2 You's Dies (CAS-ual Fridays);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks); Versamark; Sand Dunes EP (Wow);

Paper: Desert Storm Cardstock (Neenah); Glitter Paper (Close To My Heart);

Other: Gold Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh);

You've Got This

Sharing this card I created using paper and epoxy stickers from a card kit in my stash.  The colors did lend themselves to breast cancer awareness, so I pulled a stamp from CAS-ual Fridays. 

 The colors in the pattern papers did lend themselves to breast cancer awareness, so I pulled a stamp from CAS-ual Fridays and had to use that "Don't quit" puffy sticker. 

I hope you find some time to create today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Don't Quit

Stamps:  Calling All Sistahs (CASual Fridays)

Ink: Black (Hero Arts)

Paper:  White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs); Slate Cardstock (Simon Says Stamp); Live More Collection (Pinkfresh)

Accessories:  Live More Collection Puff Stickers (Pinkfresh); Pewter Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

A Pink Ribbon for Tic-Tac-Tuesday Card

My card today was inspired by Tic-Tac-Tuesday #1 - the board that was posted on Try Stampin' On Tuesday's site a week or so ago.  

 I went straight across the top for my card . . . black, die cut and pink.  

And there was some sparkle there!  Nothing like some sparkle to say "never give up hope".  

Happy weekend!  I hope you find some time to create. 

Supplies Used - Never Give Up Hope

Stamps:  Hope Ribbon (CAS-ual Fridays); Good Reading (Simon Says Stamp)

Ink: Black and Pink to Red Ombre (Hero Arts); Versaark; Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up)

Paper:  Slate Cardstock (Simon Says Stamp); White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Accessories:  Wanderlust Embossing Powder (Wow); Ruffled Ribbon (CAS-ual Fridays); Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Joyful for Merry Monday

Embossing was the challenge at Merry Monday this week . . . either dry or heat embossing.

I went with the heat embossing of my sentiment, but as you can clearly see, there was some dry embossing in my die . . . didn't notice until I popped it out of the die.  It's that very slight border of the die.

I hope you find some time to create today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Joyful Holiday Season

Stamps and Dies:  Merry & Bright Boughs Stamps and Peppermint Stick Background Stamp (Catherine Pooler Designs; Merry Labels (CASual Fridays)

Ink and Embossing: Cherry Cobbler (Stampin' Up) and Versamark; Opague Bright White EP (WOW)

Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Cherry Cobbler (Stampin' Up)

Accessories:  Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

A Year of Cardmaking Techniques - August

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.

We all love our stamp sets and we all love our patterned paper.  Well, this month we’re combining the two by stamping ON patterned paper for some unique projects.  It will be fun to see what stamps and papers our team decides to pair together.   And if you would like to check out our past technique hops, you can do that here:

• January-Shaving Cream Marbleizing

• February-So Sketchy

• March-no hop this month

• April-Stamp Set Showdown

• May-World of Watercolor

• June-Basic Card Folds

• July-Bleaching Your Card

Our amazing sponsor this month is Card a Day Challenge Blog.

Please take a moment to check out the CADC blog here.

And the awesome prize this month are these Unity Stamps . . . 

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,  August 27, 2017 on A Piece of (my) Heart’s blog, so be sure to go back and check her blog to see if you are the winner!  If you would prefer to be notified, please leave your email address in the comments and someone will contact you if you win.    The winner will have until September 9, 2017 to claim their prize.  

You should have arrived here from Card A Day Challenge Blog. 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 number of projects to share with you.  I'll take you through from easier to harder.  This first one is a sentiment on pattern paper.  Let's face it, sentiments are the easiest options for stamping on paper.  

 Alright, so it's easy . . . but is very clean and linear.  And I adore that sentiment.  And from the same paper pack from Close To My Heart, I created the card below which is a bit more masculine and includes a solid image and sentiment on pattern paper. 

Easy and clean.  But this next one is far from clean.  It is stamping and embossing on a pattern paper to create a whole new pattern paper, and a bit of a wild one at that.  

You'll notice on the left side of the card, I did not emboss and you can see that there are multi-colored hearts on the paper.  Hard to notice on the embossed side.  I was thinking that if I had embossed in black, it would have looked like stained glass.  While busy, I do love how this one turned out. 

Who says you can't color with markers on pattern paper?  I learned that with the right paper, it's possible.  I used a Close To My Heart pattern paper for these next too . . . the same sheet, but switched sides.  I also colored using Copic Markers.  Here is the first one . . .
 

The purples also managed to stand out on the grape an wine.  Hard to notice . . . I used some Liquid Glass on that wine glass. I used Wink of Stella on the grapes.  This one is earmarked for a friend's 50th.  Hope she is not reading!

And you flip that green paper over and there is a lovely gray that was equally friendly with my Copics.  

I am a fan of House Mouse, and this card just makes me smile.  I used a snow marker to create the dimension to ground my image and create my Santa hat. 

Oh that mouse. 

Now you’re off to visit with Amanda at My Thoughts and Scraps.   Hope you had fun and thanks for stopping by.  See you next month with another technique!

And, I hope you find some time to get crafty today.  Here is the hop list in case you  get lost along the way. 

Sharon
Claudia
Kim
Wilma
Jearise
Sandy
Jodie
Card A Day Challenge Team
Debbie
Amanda

Supplies Used - One In A Million

Stamps:  One in a Million (Close To My Heart)

Ink: Versamark

Paper:  Prickly Pear Paper Pack (Close To My Heart); Solar White (Neenah)

Accessories:  Bitty Sparkles (Close To My Heart); Detail White Embossing Powder (Stampendous)

Supplies Used - Type of Friend

Stamps:  Share the Love (Close To My Heart)

Ink: Ranger Archival Black Ink

Paper:  Prickly Pear Paper Pack (Close To My Heart); Solar White (Neenah)

Accessories:  Black and White Dots (Close To My Heart)

Supplies Used - You Have My Heart

Stamps:  All About You Stamp Set (Cas-ual Fridays); Lovely Lattice Background (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink: Versamark

Paper:  Believe (Bo Bunny); Solar White (Neenah); Licorice (The Stamps of Life): Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up); Black Glitter Paper (Close To My Heart)

Accessories:  Detail White Embossing Powder (Stampendous)

Supplies Used -  Time for Wine

Stamps:  Time for Wine (Simon Says Stamp)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers

Paper:  Blackberry Blliss (Stampin' Up); Solar White (Neenah); Pattern Paper (Close To My Heart)

Accessories:  Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); Liquid Glass (Close To My Heart); Celebrate Tile (Studio Calico)

Supplies Used - Joyful Holiday Season

Stamps:  House Mouse Santa Hat (Stampendus); Bright Baubles (Neat & Tangled); Scenery Holiday Trimmings (Winnie & Walter)

Ink: Cherry Pigment (Avery Elle); Memento; Copic Markers

Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Licorice (The Stamps of Life); Pattern Paper (Close To My Heart)

Accessories:  Snow Marker; Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)