Hello You

I have so many ideas for the Stamp It! challenges over at the Moxie Fab blog that I am glad to know I have a month (almost) to get them all done. I did manage to whip these cards up last night for the Hello Stamp It! challenge though. I wanted to play along with the Mojo Monday sketch challenge and thought it would be a good time to use my Trendy Trees from PTI. The sketch was for either a circle or square card and I chose the square b/c I could get a second card out of it. I cut the c/s for a normal A2 base, folded it, and cut it down to the square. This left me with a scrap card left.

 
For the square card I used some old Basic Grey paper (I am so trying to use up my paper stash before i buy more) for the pattern strip. I stamped the tree trunck and top onto white c/s and mounted it onto some olive green paper. I thought this would be a fun card to have the sentiment come through a window on the front. To achieve this I but everything together with removeable tape and used a circle die to cut/emboss the opening. With all of the layers it didn't cut through even after severl passings but the embossed circle made it super easy to then complete the cutting for each individual piece. The sentiment (from the same stamp set) was stamped onto white c/s that was mounted onto kraft c/s that I sponged to get it the same color as the trunk. Love how it peeks through. To soften it a little I rounded the corners of card base. I am so digging those circles too (which is perfect for the CAS-Friday challenge).

With the scrap piece I had I decided to try creating a cute little scrap card (it is the 1.25 width of the above card). I wanted it to match the bigger card so I used the stamp tree top from Trendy Trees but this time stamped the tree off the edge some. The sentiment was placed above the card and this time I decided to try for the ground and sky so I sponged them on. LOVE how this one came together and super fast. This would look great attached to a gift.

The sun is peeking through

I had just created a card for the Sweet Sunday sketch challenge and was still inspired by my color scheme so I decided to create a second one. I also wanted to see if I could use this for the Moxie Fab Stamp It! Hello card challenge. To see the first one just scroll down to the post before this one. I used a couple of PTI stamps to create this card: Up, Up, & Away (clouds and dies to cut them out), Hello Sunshine (the rays and sentiments). I also used a Hero Arts polka dot background stamp and a banner from a WMS set. I used the sketch from the Sweet Sunday sketch challenge as is this time. I wanted my sentiment to pop so I used shades of greys on everything but the sentiment panel. Vellum stamped with the smaller clouds created the wide strip. The clouds where stamped in white after I die-cutted them to soften the lighter grey some and then embossed with PTI's linen plate. I created my rays by alternating between Scattered Straw and Mustered Seed. Again, I like how the rays look like they are coming out from behind the clouds as it gives me a feeling of hope after a storm. The sentiment was stamped with Wild Honey. I then sponged the sentiment card stock with mustered seend and wild honey to soften it as well as rounded the corners.

You Make Me Happy When

...when skies are grey. I have been playing around with this idea for a couple of days and have finally gotten a chance to put it to paper. I used several PTI stamps to create this card: Up, Up, & Away (clouds and dies to cut them out), Hello Sunshine (the rays), Framed Out #3 (hello sunshine), and We Go Together (you make me happy...). I also used a Hero Arts polka dot background stamp and a banner from a WMS set. I used the sketch from the Sweet Sunday sketch challenge and  turned it for my design and The Little Red Wagon's Sentimental You challenge. I wanted my sentiment to be pop so I used shades of greys on everything but the sentiment panel. Vellum stamped with the smaller clouds created the wide strip as well as used it to back some grey washi tape so that it could become a banner. The clouds where stamped in white after I die-cutted them to soften the grey and then embossed with PTI's linen plate. I create my rays by alternating a single stamp off and a double stamp off of ink so that is blended into the background allowing my pieced together sentiment to really shine. I like how the rays look like they are coming out from behind the clouds (just like they do after a storm in real life...gives a since of hope).

For my sentiment I decided to play around. I knew I wanted to use the two lines from the song, but I wanted a little something more in the way of color. I first tried stamping them all in Spice Marmalade but it didn't look right. Then I played around with the rays by playing with different shades of yellow/orange. Once I decided that I really like the stamp off look using the same color I knew it was the sentiments that needed some tweaking. That was when I decided to create a third "sentiment" embedded in the two: Sunshine, you make me happy. To do this meant that I was going to have to use two colors on my sentiments. I stamped the larger one first by inking up with PTI's Smokey Shadow, then carefully (with a q-tip) wiped off the ink from the "you make me happy" phrase, and then stamping where I wanted it. I cleaned the stamp to ink up the phrase I left out with Spice Marmalade and used the q-tip again to wipe off the parts I didn't want inked. I then stamped over the sentiment on the c/s to place my now colored phrase in its place. I did the same thing with the smaller sentiment. Love how it plays off of each other now. As I was putting the card together I thought that the sentiment sorta looked like a patch so I added black faux stitching lines.

Just BEEcause

I decided to play along with There She Goes stamp Sketch Challenge this week. I used the cute little Bee Happy set for the card. For the honeycomb background I used one of the honeycomb shaped flowers from the set. First I took some white c/s cut to size and sponged Wild Honey all over it. For a very subtle texture effect I flicked water on it before I stamped the image. Once everything was sponged, flicked, and dried, I used the same ink and just repeated the image until the paper was covered. Lining it up was easy although I did mess up a few times b/c I wasn't really focusing on it (had a DH, dog, and two wee boys trying to get my attention while I was doing this, lol). For the image I sponged different blue inks and then stamped my little scene with sentiment. I stamped the bees a second time on plan white c/s and colored them with my copics. They were then cut out and popped up on the now blue strip. After I pieced everything together I thought my little string bow looked rather sad and I stamped the smallest bee on to some vellum and heat embossed it with black before I colored it with copics. Once I cut it out I simplely used some glossy accent to glue it to the center of the bow. I also went back and faux stitched on the green paper.

Just Because

Took me a little longer than I thought for me to get back here. Sorry about that. I have just a quick one for you today as I am trying to wrap some stuff up here at home before the weekend. I will be going to my soon to be sister-in-law's first wedding shower this weekend and I made a set of 15 notecards for them (ok, her really b/c I just don't see my brother writing cards to any one but  her, lol). I used PTI's Botanical Silhouettes (it was an annv set) for the set. I have lots of embossed notecards left over from when I made thank you cards for a friend's wedding last fall and decided to use some for this simple set. I do believe I have found some teacher gifts for next year once I finished these. I like how clean they look.

Sending You Sunshine

Thought I would try another Make-it-Monday from PTI. I kept it CAS style but don't like how my rays came out. I don't think I centered it very well. On the plus side it was very easy to do and I will be doing it again. I used the Hello Sunshine set from PTI.

It's Getting Hot Over Here

and so I thought I would think of cooler weather and create a Christmas Card. I used the WMS Christmas Cards challenge from the froum and their WMS sketch challenge to create my rustic holiday card. I took my white gel pen and create the faux stitching on the cream panel and then distress the edges (didn't want the look of the scallops with this design). I stamped the holly leaves from WMS's Festive Foliage on the rustic cream c/s with Antique Linen and Old Paper distress ink. The sentiment in from WMS's Complements of the Seasons that I stamped onto a strip of cream paper that I then sponged with Antique Linen, Old Paper, Vintage Photo, and Pine Needles after I made it a banner. I then stamped the holly leaves and berries onto scrap cream paper using Peeled Paint/Pine Needles and Festive Berries/Fired Brick. I put them each on some foam dots to raise them since I curved the banner to give it some depth. The kraft base was stamped in Walnut Stain ink with a woodgrain image from Hero Arts and then stonged with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain (I also did that with the cream piece).

Happy Father's Day

A quick a simple card I made for my DH for his day. I used one of the circles from PTI's Tree Tops stamp set and the sentiment from one of the male sets (sorry, I can't remember which one). I wanted to keep it very simple. We are enjoying a quite day after our vacation.

Market Street Block Party

I am joining in on my first Market Street Block Party. I don't have any of their stamps yet but have many on my wish list, lol. However, they are providing a FREE digi for those withough once you join their Neighborhood. I had so much fun putting this little card together.

This was my inspiration for my card.

Once I saw it was off and stamping. I scaled and printed the image three times (with one being on some red pattern paper). On the red paper I sponged Festive Berries and Barn Door to get the color to what I liked, on one of the white images I used my scored board and scored the stripes. I then took my copics and gave the white some shading to give it more depth. The third one was where I colored the silver/grey parts and then I masked the parts that I didn't what stamped/sponged and created the scene. The grass is from a PTI's Peaceful Garden that I stamped in two different greens and then on some scrap paper that I then punched out with my grass puncher. The camper was then pieced together with the punched grass layered on top. I then gave the grey parts a coat of Glossy Accent to some added texture and depth. The rays were created on another sheet using Mustered Seed and Wild Honey. The whole thing was put on a white c/s base with the sentiment pieced together from PTI's Think Big Fav #15 & Flipping Out. To achor everything a bit more I added stitch lines using a black copic multiliner and rounded the bottom corner with my corner chomper.

Day or Night Mojo

Everytime I see this set and the name I think of the great love "Night and Day" by Mr. Blue Eyes himself Frank Sinatra (I love the Rat Pack). In memory of that great song I used the amazing There She Goes stamp set for another Mojo Monday card. I don't really have any charms but did find this sweet little 'love' one in my stash. Everything on this card was stamped and I had fun stamping them.

Let's start with the sun base. I used the rays from Practicing Creativity's You're Dandy set to create the day background. First I sponged the whole c/s in Mustard Seed ink, then I sponged the sun and big rays in Spice Marmalade (although Wild Honey would look nice I am sure), next I went over the whole thing in the MS ink and the edges in SP. Rounded the bottom corners too. For my night time strip I sponged on Broken China, Faded Jeans, and Chipped Sapphire and round the edges. Then I used two stars (one from Half Pint Heroes and the teeny tiny one from Day or Night TSG set to heat emboss in white. Just like how I am limited on charms I am limited on ribbon. I also could find the one roll of white ribbon I do have so I used my white string again. To continue the theme I cut out the frame I stamped (a WMS frame) and layered that on top of my stamped Day or Night scene. I sponged the c/s the with the same colors I've been using on the card only now my sun and moon didn't stand out. What's a girl to do? Cut them out of course. The wee little star was just a little too small for me to cut so I tried just coloring it in with some copics - not quite the look I was going for but it worked. Looking at it now I feel that the bottom of the night panel needs a little something. Oh if only I have the star border die from PTI. Oh well, lol.

My postings may be sparse for a few weeks as I am trying to make some presents/gift sets for my brother and his fiance since the are getting married next month :)

You're So Cool

It has been a long while since I last joined in on a Mojo Monday sketch challenge. The mojo has come back for the moment and I have taken advantage of it too. I pulled out my Verve Happy Days. The pattern paper I used was from my stash (love it but don't remember the brand). The sentiment/frame was created by white embossing it onto white c/s and then I sponged Broken China and Faded Jeans DI to it. To tie in the orange of the main background I stamped the flowers onto white c/s and then colored with my copics (Y17, YR01, YR04, YR07, G99, YG17, YG67). To tie the white of the focal sentiment/frame to the rest of the card I used a border punch that was more wave-y on white c/s and then found some white thread to wrap around the top place. I really liked how it made me think of swim trunks so I opted to leave of the embellishment & bow that was to go with it. My favorite part might have been the use of some old paper b/c I have quite the supply of it. Guess I should start scrapping again too. I hear that might help my paper problem, lol.

Hello Sunshine

With summer comes sunshine and flip-flops and for my two boys LOTS of outdoors (although mommy is so NOT an outdoor person). That being said I do love my flip-flops and the sun isn't so bad either. I decided to play along with PTI's Make-It-Mondays (MIM) challenge this week using sunshine and flips-flops as my theme. Nichole gave several sketches we could choose from and I foudn that (that I tweaked just slightly):

With last month's release I had gotten several things and two of them were the flip-flop stamps (with dies) and the Farm & Barn set. I had already stamped and embossed the big sentiment onto vellum from another project and decided that this was the time to use it. I trimed the width of the card down to 3.75" so that I could have the vellum wrap around one side of the card and hang off of the other side. I knew I wanted some sunshine color behind the sentiment but didn't want the whole card that color so I got my thinking cap on. After several minutes went by (ok, I was watching PBS's Sherlock Homes - oh my gosh that is a great show - and got hooked) it came to me: wooden decks! These lovely decks are outside in the sunshine. Wouldn't that be great (yes, I am not the first to come up with the idea and that's ok) but how to impliment it when I still  want my yellow/orange color behind the sentiment. Did I mention that I was trying to achieve a card with as little layers as possible? Here's how I achieved the look: sticky notes and two scored lines. I scored where I wanted my sunshine color to be and then masked it off with thin sticky backed paper (think large sticky note). I sponged on Distress Ink's Old Paper and then used Frayed Burlap for the wooden beams (I am loving this background). Once that was dried I used sticky notes to mask the "deck" and sponged on Distress Ink's Mustered Seed and Spice Marmalade for my color behind the sentiment. What I really liked about this sponging technique is that the rised embossed lines stayed white so it worked as a great frame for the veleum sentiment banner. For the smaller sentiment undernead I just heat embossed it in white (the small sentiment is from TSG's Day & Night set). Once I got the background the rest came together quickly. The flip-flops were die cut out, stamped, and put together. The color of choice was DI's Festive Berries (again, I really need to get the newest seasonal colors). For the flower I swiped the pad on some scrap white c/s and then die cut the flowers out using small pearls for the center.

Ahoy there summer

While I was playing with ideas for my boys end of school year cards I had inked up this fun little sub from WMS's Half Pint Heroes. Yesterday I decided to put it to good use. Both of my boys will be doing swim lessons this summer and they are excited but very scared/nervous too. I thought I would make them some cards for them at the end of their class as a way to say way to go for their hard work. If it looks like they are struggling through the lessons maybe I'll even make some smaller/faster cards.

For the first card I used WMS's 100th sketch challenge. I don't get to play near as often as I would like as their sketches are always great, but I couldn't pass up a big milestone of their's. The pattern paper is from Basic Grey's lime rickey. To atchieve the water I sponged Distress Ink onto white c/s using Evergreen Bough (this reminds me that I still need to get the newest colors), Broken China, Faded Jeans, and Chipped Sapphire. Of couse after I sponged it to the color I wanted I just had to do the water fleck technique for the "bubbles". I then stamped lots of times the cutest little fish from the HPH set and then colored them in with my copics. I colored the life preserver with my copics too and then I just split the sentiment from the same stamp set.

Of course I have lots of the little fish left over so I decided I needed to do another card. I used the same colors to achieve my color for the water and the flicking too. I decided this one would be cute as one of those dare to be different kinds of card. Love how I turned the same little fish around Since I don't have any sentiments that work with that I improvised and pieced together my sentiment using two different sentiments. The "be" came from "berry" in PTI's Fruit Fusion: Berry stamp set and "you" is from "love you" found in the HPH stamp set from WMS. I wish it was more centered but the whole sentiment idea came as an after thought. The sketch is from OWH and I thought both cards would also fit in with Cupcake Inspiration and Stamptacular challenges.

Summer kick-off

With summer here I thought I would share what I made for the teachers my boys had this school year. Their main teacher got a little notecard, notepad, and set of notecards for the teachers to use. We also put a gift card to a bookstore, bubbles, a pen, and a book for the classrooms. All of this was put in a platic bucket for the teachers to use to kick off their summer vacation. I really liked this and think I will use it again next year. The flip flops are from There She Goes Stamps called Get Your Thong On.

Both of my boys have an "after schoo" teacher at their daycare that watches them for no more than two hours so I thought I would gift them a little something too. For their gifts I used PTI's Fruit Fusion: Berry. Since I went with the strawberry stamp I got strawberry scented goodies for it: chapstick, hand sanitizar, and gum. I think the whole thing for this cost me $5 and can so see me doing this again too. In fact, I ended up making these for my co-workers because of all the help they gave me while I was dealing with some mystery medical thing right before our state testing. Good times.
 

Starting the tradition with the little one

The only cards I have made for my youngest are birthday cards. This week I decided it was time for him to start getting his own "just because" cards from me. I don't do these often for my boys. Just whenever the mood stikes. In fact, I think I made one for the oldest around the same age - 3. The card is very simple but I like it. I think I may be in a CAS mood as of late because that seems to be the cards I am currently making.

Summer time is now upon us here and for the first time in a long time it will be a busy one. The boys have swim lessons, 2 different Vacation Bible Schools, soccer and lego camps, a beach vacation (although we won't be spending much time at the beach - as of right now I have outdoor boys but NOT water boys), a wedding that the oldest and DH is in (my little brother is getting married to an amazing lady), some inservice for me (and a few days of summer school that I have to work), and your everyday outings. On the plus side there is no getting up and going at 6:00 AM so I can sleep in till 7 or 7:30 and stay up late.