Marilyn

For my second card today, I'm going in a different direction from my last CAS card.  The lovely Narelle challenged me to go shabby chic for challenge No. 2 at The Card Concept.  So here goes my second submission for The Card Concept's texture challenge:

I decided to play along with the challenge colors at Dynamic Duos and its dessert option of umbrella.  I was looking through my stamp catalogue looking for umbrella stamps and came across a selection of photo stamps I've had for years and years.  I thought this image of Marilyn would look suitably vintage/shabby chic.  I love this stamp from Stampsmith - I had a quick look on their website but couldn't see this image nor a brilliant one of Audrey Hepburn that I've also got.  Photo stamps aren't the easiest to stamp because they are so finely detailed but it's so worth it.  This really looks like a photo cut out of an old newspaper.

I lightly colored Marilyn's dress using a Melon Mambo marker and layered it onto a piece of Very Vanilla.  Further texture was added using some flocked paper from Mocha Morning DSP, some torn DSP from Newsprint and Brights DSP and some colored Vanilla Trim Flowers.  Some black twine and a paper clip finish off my card.

So, in summary, I couldn't find an umbrella for the dessert option at Dynamic Duos, but I really love this card anyway :)

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Stampsmith

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Mocha Morning DSP, Brights DSP, Newsprint DSP, Very Vanilla, Xpress-it

Accessories:  American Crafts twine, paper clip, Vanilla Flower Trim, Melon Mambo Marker

Cheers

Karren

Santa Money Holder

My boys are at the age where all they want for birthdays and Christmas is cash - preferably high denomination cash!  So I thought I'd better whip up something a bit Christmas-y to hold the cash.  This idea tied in quite nicely with both the Just Add Ink challenge to Just Add Your Christmas Project and the color challenge at Dynamic Duos which is Black, Cherry Cobbler with a dessert option of sparkle.

Now this idea is not the least bit original as I've seen this sort of thing around blogland before, but I worked from memory and imagination and came up with this.

I measured a $100 note and cut my cardstock to fit.  I sponged the edges in Cherry Cobbler to give a bit of dimension and added some Flower Soft to the top and bottom of the front.  The belt has a Silver Glimmer Paper buckle made from some Nestabilities Labels dies.  The buttons are from the retired Buttons #5 sizzlet.

Pretty simple, but my boys aren't big on appreciating the aesthetics of anything unless it's a car LOL.

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock:  Basic Black; Cherry Cobbler; Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories:  Buttons #5 Sizzlet; Nestabilities Labels Two dies; Polar White Flower Soft

Silver Greetings

I spent the whole of yesterday (in between loads of laundry) making Christmas cards, which I'll post in a couple of weeks.  This morning, I thought I'd have a break from Christmas cards and decided to check out the challenges and ended up making, you guessed it, a Christmas card!

This card is for the sketch challenge at Just Add Ink and the Dynamic Duos challenge.  I love circle elements on cards so I had to play along with Just Add Ink this week.

I used a set called Peaceful Season for the sentiment and holly, both of which are silver embossed on black.  The card base is embossed using the Lacy Brocade EF then spritzed with Silver Smooch Spritz.  The DSP is from a Halloween pack called Ghostly Greetings.  I had to dust off my Circle Scissor to cut all the circles, which were layered onto Smoky Slate cardstock.  

I finished off the card with some silver ribbon and one of the Frosted Finishes embellishments.

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Peaceful Season
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Ghostly Greetings DSP
Accessories:  Frosted Finishes Embellishments, Silver Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Smooch Spritz, Lacy Brocade EF

Edited to Add:  This card got top honours at Just Add Ink.

Cheers
Karren

Leaf Text

I got up early this morning (Sunday) and instead of folding laundry, I decided to make a card (not much of a debate with myself over that decision, I might add).  I combined challenges from Create with Connie & Mary; Dynamic Duos and Friday Mashup to come up with this card:

Firstly, I need to apologise to the Dynamic Duos team.  I saw the challenge this morning and went off to make my card.  However, I thought the challenge was Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black.  I really, really wanted to use Tangerine Tango, but told myself "No, stick to the challenge colors" doh!  I do think this card would look better in Tangerine Tango but it is what it is.  That'll teach me that at my age, I really should write things down rather than rely on my memory!

Anyway, onto the card.  I finger-walked the Dictionary stamp onto Very Vanilla cardstock, using Crumb Cake ink.  I then over-stamped with a couple of the spatter stamps from Gorgeous Grunge.  The circular panel was made by stamping the leaf from Faith in Nature (after I mounted it - NBUS!) in Black Stazon onto watercolor paper.  I then dripped water onto the paper and swirled Pumpkin Pie ink over until I was happy with the result.  Once it was dry, I lightly sponged the edge in Crumb Cake ink and mounted it onto a scrap of Faux Suede Pumpkin Pie cardstock that I'd had in my scrap folder forever.

I wrapped some Early Espresso Baker's Twine around the vanilla layer (oh how I wish that came in black!) and then stamped and cut the sentiment to fit under it.

I don't know if leaving the circle over the edge of the card is quirky or dorky, but decided to leave it as it is.

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Faith in Nature; Gorgeous Grunge; Dictionary
Ink:  Black Stazon; Pumpkin Pie; Crumb Cake
Cardstock:  Basic Black; Very Vanilla; Pumpkin Pie; Watercolor Paper
Accessories:  Early Espresso Bakers Twine; sponge

Cheers
Karren

Bundle of Joy

Here's a card I made which covers three challenges:  SUO Challenges (welcome, baby); Dynamic Duos color challenge and the sketch challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments.

I used a single stamp called Bringing Baby and stamped it in Stazon onto Shimmery White cardstock.  I then lightly colored it using Primrose Petals; Blushing Bride and Smokey Slate markers.  I cut it out using an oval framelit.  The background layer is Primrose Petals Core'dinations, run through with the Needlepoint Border EF and lightly sanded.  The retired Blushing Bride pleated ribbon was stuck down using Sticky Strip but still manages to look crooked LOL.  Some Primrose Petals ribbon is folded behind the stamped image.  A button from Twitterpated and a tiny Baker's twine bow finish the embellishments.  The sentiment comes from the retired set Little Angel.

Thanks for looking.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamps:  Bringing Baby; Little Angel
Cardstock:  Whisper White; Shimmery White; Primrose Petals Core'dinations
Ink:  Black Stazon; Primrose Petals
Accessories:  Blushing Bride, Primrose Petals, Smokey Slate markers; oval framelits; Needlepoint Border EF; Blushing Bride Pleated Ribbon; Primrose Petals ribbon; Twitterpated button; white baker's twine.

Edited to Add:  This card was chosen as a Top Pick at SUO Challenges.

Cheers
Karren

Soft Leaves

I'm just squeaking in with a card for this week's Just Add Frames challenge at Just Add Ink.  I also used the colors at Dynamic Duos which are yellow and soft green.   When I went to save the graphic to write this post, I saw the challenge colors were So Saffron and Pistachio Pudding.  I went from memory and used So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz, so apologies to the Dynamic Duos team for my shonky memory!

My frame was made using masking tape and sponging within the rectangle with both So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz inks.  While the mask was still in place, I stamped some images from French Foliage in Crumb Cake ink.  I then removed the mask and stamped the postmark images, also in Crumb Cake.  Finally, I stamped some leaves in Pear Pizzazz.

I layered this panel onto Pear Pizzazz then wrapped some White Baker's Twine around before mounting onto the card base using dimensionals.

All up, this card only took about 20 minutes (which is quick for me!).

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  French Foliage
Cardstock:  Whisper White; Pear Pizzazz
Ink:  So Saffron; Pear Pizzazz; Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Masking Tape; White Baker's Twine

Edited to Add:  This card received an Honorable Mention at Just Add Ink.

Cheers
Karren

With a Side of Butterflies...

This is my second post today.  Scroll down for my nautical card.  It's also my second card for this week's color challenge at Dynamic Duos, which is Calypso Coral and Basic Black, with a dessert option of butterflies.  When I thought of butterflies as a dessert option, the phrase "with a side of butterflies" popped into my head and now I can't get it out - hence the title of this post!

I used the sketch at Paper Players which is a lovely CAS sketch, using one of my favorite card elements - a circle.

I again used the delicious Modern Medley DSP and this time used it with a new-to-me stamp from Papertrey Ink.  I have to say, though, that it really, really bugs me that the panels on the newsprint DSP are not printed straight.  I checked both sheets in the pack and they are both the same. 

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Thing Big Favorites (PTI)

Cardstock:  Calypso Coral; Modern Medley DSP; Very Vanilla

Ink:  Calypso Coral

Accessories:  Calypso Coral Baker's Twine; Beautiful Wings Embosslit; Basic Rhinestones

Cheers

Karren

 

White on White Butterflies

Today is the first day of a week off work - yay!  I spent the morning doing a bit of re-organising in my stamp room and this afternoon I stamped a couple of cards.

Here's the first one, which uses the sketch from CAS(e) This Sketch, the theme challenge of Get Well from SUO Challenges and the color challenge at Dynamic Duos.

It's quite hard to see in the photo, but I punched 4 white butterflies, curled their wings and adhered them to a white card base using a glue dot in the center.  I then stamped another butterfly in Calypso Coral and punched that out for the focal point.  Three pearls down the body of the stamped butterfly, a stamped sentiment and this very CAS card was done.

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Papillon Potpourri; Delightful Dozen
Cardstock:  Whisper White
Ink:  Calypso Coral; Basic Black
Accessories:  Butterfly Punch; Basic Pearls

Edited to Add:  This card was a Top 3 pick at SUO Challenges.

Cheers
Karren

Starry Card

I must be in the mood for stars lately, because this card, like my last one, also uses stars.  This time I'm using the colors from Dynamic Duos and the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  This also meets the criteria for this week's CAS Masculine challenge at The Paper Players.

I'd forgotten what a lovely color Pacific Point is - especially when paired with black.  And this sketch is a keeper!

This was one of those rare instances where I knew who I was making this card for and I knew I would be mailing it, so I tried to keep it flattish.  

I used the retired Seeing Stars set again and I also dug out some old rub-ons called Anchored.  Anybody remember rub-ons LOL?  I stamped the two large stars using a large and smaller outline stamp.  The small star is a rub-on which I then punched out with the retired small star punch.  The black panel has been embossed with a circle EF (hard to see in the photo).  Before I put the card together, I thought it would be fun to punch out part-star shapes from the black panel, so that the stamped and cut stars would be nicely framed.  I like the effect.

The sentiment is also a rub-on from Anchored.

Thanks for looking.

Products used (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated):

Stamps:  Seeing Stars
Cardstock:  Whisper White; Pacific Point; Basic Black
Ink:  Basic Black
Accessories:  Anchored Rub-Ons; small and large star punches; circle EF (Craft Creations)

Edited to Add:  This card was chosen at Dynamic Duos for a Dynamic Darling award and also at Freshly Made Sketches as a Perfect Princess card.

Cheers
Karren

Monochromatic and Masculine

This is my second post today.  Scroll down for my Apothecary Art card.

The color challenge at Dynamic Duos this week is Basic Black and Basic Gray, with a dessert option of a masculine card.  I thought these colors would work nicely with the sketch challenge at Sketch Frenzy Friday, which was a color-blocking card.

I dug out some old retired Halloween paper, called Ghostly Greetings and an old retired set called Celebrate Everything.  Some not-so-old but still retired ribbon rounded out the card.

LOL it looks like this card has been photographed in B&W, but I can assure you it's color!

I white-embossed the word "celebrate" onto one of the pieces of DSP.  The dots on the bottom right are part of the pattern.  The scalloped border was paper-pierced and the soda pop top is a white-embossed bee on Basic Black cardstock.

Thanks for looking.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamps:  Celebrate Everything; Collage Curios
Cardstock:  Basic Black; Whisper White; Ghostly Greetings DSP
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  White EP; Stiped Satin Ribbon; Large Scallops Edgelit; Soda Pop Tops; 1/2" circle punch

Cheers
Karren

Cherry Pool Birthday

I have an unexpected day off work today due to my youngest having an Open Day at what will be his new school next year.  That only lasted half a day so I had the afternoon to stamp in peace!

I decided to make a card for this week's color challenge at Dynamic Duos and the sketch challenge at Seize the Birthday

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My idea when I started this card was to have a white base with Pool Party as the main color and just a hint of Cherry Cobbler, but when I laid down the DSP on top of the base, it just seemed to work, so Cherry Cobbler is the star of this show!

Both Pool Party pieces are textured - the banner using the Cloudy Day EF and the horizontal strip using Fancy Fan EF.

Thanks for looking.

Products used (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Stamps:  Petite Pairs
Cardstock:  Whisper White; Pool Party; Cherry Cobbler; Regals DSP
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler
Accessories:  1 1/4" circle punch; 1 3/8" circle punch; McGill pine branch punch; oval nesties; Designer Frames EF; Fancy Fan EF; Cloudy Day EF; Large Scallop Framelits; Paper Doilies; White Organza Ribbon

Edited to Add:  This card was picked as a Dynamic Darling at Dynamic Duos this week.

Cheers
Karren

Primrose Garden

Today is the last day of my 4-day Easter Weekend and it's back to work tomorrow!  I'm trying to get in a few more cards before real life intervenes so here is a card which covers several challenges.  The sketch comes from Fab Friday, the colors from Dynamic Duos and the tic-tac-toe challenge at Paper Players.

I chose the pink/green, pearls and birthday squares in the tic-tac-toe grid.  The green I used with Primrose Petals is Old Olive.  The leaves, flowers and banner are all raised up on dimensionals and it's all offset against a Very Vanilla background.

Thanks for looking.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamps:  Secret Garden; Memorable Moments
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla; Primrose Petals
Ink:  Primrose Petals; Old Olive
Accessories:  Secret Garden framelits; Finishing Touches edgelits; Basic Pearls

Edited to Add:  This card was chosen for an Honorable Mention at Dynamic Duos this week.

Cheers
Karren

Chalkboard Banners

Hi, this is my second post today. This card covers three challenges:  the Friday Mashup which is to use the chalkboard technique or two or more stamp sets; Dynamic Duos which is So Saffron and Basic Black and the Still AddINKtive Spot that Set Challenge, which is either Hearts A Flutter or Secret Garden.  So after that introduction, here's my card:

I white-embossed two banners from Hearts A Flutter and the banner from Affection Collection as well as the Love and always words from Affection Collection.  I drew a border using a white pencil then sponged Whisper White ink onto the black cardstock.  I layered this using dimensionals onto a plain So Saffron card base.  Two white bakers twine bows topped with rhinestones finished off the card.

Thanks for looking.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamps:  Hearts A Flutter; Affection Collection
Cardstock:  So Saffron; Basic Black
Ink:  Whisper White
Accessories:  white pencil; white bakers twine; basic rhinestones; white EP

Cheers
Karren

Edited to Add:  This card was a Glamette card at Friday Mashup this week.  Thanks guys!

Red 'n' Pink Love

The colors at Dynamic Duos this week are perfectly geared towards Valentines Cards and that's the route I took.  The challenge at SUO Challenges is CAS Valentines, so I kept my card CAS to meet that challenge as well.

For my card, I cut out the word 'love' using the Typeset Alpha die.  I then cut out multiple hearts from the Fashionable Hearts Embosslit, one heart from the Scalloped Heart of Hearts and one stamped heart from Hearts a Flutter.

I stamped the 'you' from Fabulous Phrases in Basic Gray ink, then embellished with rhinestones and a button.

Thanks for looking.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamps:  Hearts a Flutter; Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock:  Whisper White; Real Read; Pretty in Pink
Ink:  Basic Gray; Real Red
Accessories:  Fashionable Hearts Embosslit; Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit; Hearts a Flutter Framelits; Typeset Alpha Bigz Die; Basic Rhinestones; Button Bouquet button

Cheers
Karren

Dynamic Foliage

The colors at Dynamic Duos this week are great.  I love neutrals and Soft Suede and Crumb Cake are fantastic together!  With these colors, it's easy to go with a masculine card and that's what I did:

I went with a collage look for this card using multiple images in varying ink generations.  I first inked up the Netting background then placed my cardstock on top and "walked" my fingers across the card so that not all the card was inked.  Then I stamped various images from Nature Walk and French Foliage in Crumb Cake and Soft Suede ink.  For all but the postmark images, I stamped off the Soft Suede ink to give a lighter impression.

The banners were made using First Edition DSP and sponging the edges with Crumb Cake.  I then curled the edges slightly.  The die-cut foliage is from a PTI set called Larger Than Life with matching die.  I would have liked to use the Secret Garden foliage from the upcoming mini, but I don't have that set so had to make do.

All in all, I'm quite happy with this card.  I didn't put a sentiment on it which makes it suitable for many different occasions.

Thanks for looking.  I'm glad I had time to play along with this challenge.  Most challenges posted on Sunday or Monday (NZ time) I can't join in on because of work and other commitments, but having this week off work means lots of card-making, hopefully!

Products used (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Stamps:  Nature Walk; French Foliage; Netting; Larger Than Life (PTI)
Cardstock:  Crumb Cake; Soft Suede; Very Vanilla; First Edition DSP
Ink:  Crumb Cake; Soft Suede
Accessories:  Naturals Designer Buttons; Linen Thread; sponges; Larger Than Life die (PTI)

Edited to Add:  This card was chosen for an Honorable Mention at Dynamic Duos.  Thanks, guys!

Cheers
Karren

Snowmen in Summer?

Living in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas is in the middle of summer.  For all that, I love using winter/snow themes for my Christmas cards.  Summer-themed Christmas cards are just not right LOL.

Anyway, the sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches and the color challenge at Dynamic Duos came together in my card this week.

This card is definitely not one of my best, but for some reason I really struggled to either find time to stamp or create something decent this past weekend.  I stamped the Frosty Friends stamp onto Whisper White and then using a marker and blender pen, I highlighted the snowmen and snow with Marina Mist.  The Marina Mist strip was dry embossed before being die cut with the Finishing Touches edgelit.  The greeting is white-embossed.  Marina Mist satin ribbon finishes off the card.

Thanks for looking.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamps:  Frosty Friends; More Merry Messages

Cardstock:  Basic Black; Whisper White; Marina Mist

Ink:  Basic Black; Versamark

Accessories:  White EP; Marina Mist marker; blender pen; Finishing Touches Edgelit; Marina Mist satin ribbon.

Cheers

Karren

Sahara Doily

The color challenge this week at Dynamic Duos is Sahara Sand and Cherry Cobbler.  Now, I think Sahara Sand is one of the most under-rated colors in the SU family, so I was quite happy to pair it up with one of my fave Regals colors - Cherry Cobbler.

Here's my card:

I sort of feel like I've cheated a bit here, because I cased this card I made months ago, but that's where my mind went when I saw the challenge and nothing was gonna budge it LOL.

I used a brayer to ink up the Hello, Doily stamp to give even coverage.  The sentiment is stamped with Cherry Cobbler ink and the card was finished off with a Cherry Cobbler button and white Baker's Twine.

Thanks for looking.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamps:  Hello, Doily; Petite Pairs

Cardstock:  Whisper White

Ink:  Sahara Sand; Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Regals button; white Baker's Twine; brayer

Cheers

Karren