Coffee Time

 

It's time for another challenge from the Fusion team and I took inspiration from both the sketch and photo this time to create a chalkboard-themed card.

The sentiments and images for the background came from multiple stamp sets and after I laid them out in my Misti, I white-embossed them onto black cardstock.  I rubbed on a bit of white pigment ink to give the impression of a chalkbaord and then went to work on the rest of the card.

The cup was already coloured and tucked into my stamp pocket, so that made the job quicker!  I stamped the sentiment with black ink onto a white strip and tucked a piece of vellum behind in line with the sketch.

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you'll check out the rest of the DT cards and play along with us.

I'm playing along with the coffee/tea theme at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge

Products used:

Stamps:  Espresso Yourself, Caffeine Addict (SugarPea Designs), Oh Frappe (Essentials By Ellen), Perfect Blend (Gina K.) Newton Loves Coffee (Newton's Nook), Coffee, Better With You (Verve) Coffee Hour (SSS), Coffee Break (MFT)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark, Unicorn White (Hero Arts), Brown Sugar (Mama Elephant)

Cardstock:  Black, White, Vellum, X-Press It

Accessories:  White EP, Copics (RV66, R59, R56)

Cheers

Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Cupcake Inspiration

Sakura Frames

Hi!  My card for the latest Fusion challenge is nothing like I imagined when I created the graphic!  But it came about when I got my hands on the Mondo Sakura stamp set and these square frame dies. 

I also decided the flower looked like it needed to be watercolored, so I got out my Zigs and splashed some color on, deliberately trying for a loose look because me and watercolors don't have a close relationship and I find them hard to use 😄

Anyway, once I was finished I went completely wild and flicked white paint over the image and also some Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.  I set it aside to dry and die-cut the black frames and adhered them together in a random fashion.  

Once the panel was dry, I stamped the sentiment and die-cut it with a wonky rectangle die.  I glued it down to a white top-folding card base, added the frames and called it done!  Definitely not my usual style, but I quite like it for a change!

Thanks for visiting!  The DT have some wonderful interpretations of the challenge that are so clever and fun so I hope you'll check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Mondo Sakura (Essentials by Ellen)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Hickory Smoke Distress Ink

Cardstock:  White, Black, Bristol Smooth

Dies:  Wonky Stitched Rectangles, Mini Square Shaker Window & Frame (MFT)

Accessories:  Zig Pens, Unicorn Spray (Hero Arts)

Cheers

Karren

Create

Hi and thanks for visiting!  It's time for another Fusion challenge and here is the latest graphic:

I went with just the photo this time and decided to get inky with a stencil.

I masked off a panel on a white card base and very lightly sponged over my Industrial stencil by Tim Holtz.  I used Hickory Smoke ink although it looks blue in the photo!  Once I was done, I removed the stencil and blended some ink over the whole masked panel to separate it a bit more from the whiteness of the card base.  I then added some striped paper at the bottom and two thin strips of black cardstock above and below the stenciling.

To finish the card I die-cut the word "create" from some wood card and adhered it to the bottom right corner.  And that's it!

Thanks for visiting.  Please check out the rest of the DT's cards and it would be great if you would join us.

Products used:

Ink:  Hickory Smoke Distress Ink

Cardstock:  White Black, B&W Stripes (MFT), Wood card

Dies:  Classic Block Alpha (Essentials by Ellen)

Accessories:  Industrial Stencil (Tim Holtz)

Minty Hello

Hi all and welcome!  I missed the last Fusion challenge because I just couldn't get my mojo together but I'm back and loving this challenge graphic!


For my card, I used a new background stamp from Hero Arts and white embossed it onto a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I then blended Altenew inks over the panel in an ombre fashion before die-cutting it with a stitched rectangle die.

For the sentiment, I die-cut the Hello letters several times from white cardstock, stacking them together.  I topped them with a white glitter cardstock.

Below are a few close-up photos so you can hopefully see the embossing and the glittery word.

Thanks for visiting!  The rest of the Fusion team have some gorgeous cards so I hope you'll head over and check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Deco Flourish (Hero Arts)
Ink:  Versamark, Minty Mint, Sweet Leaf, Just Green, Hunter Green (Altenew)
Cardstock:  White, Bristol Smooth, White Glitter card
Dies:  Stitched Rectangle Stax (MFT), Classic Block Alpha (Essentials by Ellen)

Cheers
Karren

Hydrangea Hello

Welcome to another fabulous Fusion challenge!  Today we've gone with an elegant, soft-shaded inspiration photo and a fun sketch featuring an angled panel.

I created a fusion with my card to come up with this.

I decided it was high-time I got out my Zig markers so chose to do a bit of watercoloring of this gorgeous Mondo Hydrangea flower and leaf, which I white embossed onto Bristol Smooth cardstock.  Once they was colored and die-cut, I set them aside to work on the card base.  I die-cut a curve from a panel of white cardstock and also a strip of gold foil cardstock.  Layering the gold behind the white, I adhered both to a white top-folding card base with foam tape.  I then added the hydrangea, using foam for the top portion and liquid glue for the bottom.  The sentiment was die-cut from toner paper and gold-foiled and I finished the card with a solitary falling petal beside the sentiment.

Thanks so  much for visiting!  I'm linking this up to the current Flower Challenge, where they are asking for heat or dry embossing, and the Anything Goes challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More.

Products used:

Stamps:  Mondo Hydrangea (Essentials by Ellen)
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  White, Gold, Bristol Smooth, Toner Paper, Minc Gold Foil
Dies:  Mondo Hydrangea (EbyE), Stitched Basic Edges (MFT), Hello (Pink & Main)
Accessories:  Zig Markers, Minc Mini, White EP

Cheers
Karren

Coffee and Hexagons

Hi and welcome!  It's Freshly Made Sketch Challenge day and this week our hostess is the lovely Amy O'Neill.  Amy's sketch is fabulous - perfect for creating a focal point in that big centre panel.

I wanted to play along with the Coffee Lovers Bloghop again before it closes so came up with a summery-colored coffee card.  I was inspired by the colors and the hexagon shape at the Pinsights Challenge.

On the centre panel, I blended distress inks onto a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock before die-cutting it with a stitched die.  I did have to do some partial die-cutting to get the panel deep enough but that was easy enough to do.  Once that was done, I took some black embossing paste and a hexagon stencil and stenciled over the panel.  I love the contrast of the bright colors with the black shapes and sentiment.  The cup was colored with Copics and die-cut and the sentiment was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

I used a black stitched frame and then a Limelight strip to add even more bright color!

Thanks for visiting!  The FMS DT have some gorgeous inspiration so head on over and check them out.

Products used:

Stamps:  Oh Frappe (Essentials by Ellen)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid, Versafine Onyx Black, Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral Distress Inks

Cardstock:  White, Black, Limelight (MFT), Bristol Smooth

Dies:  Oh Frappe (Essentials by Ellen), Inside/Out Stitched Rectangles (MFT), Blueprints 2 (MFT)

Accessories:  Copics, Black Embossing Paste, Graphic Pattern Stencil (Hero Arts)

Cheers

Karren

Happy Day

Hi and welcome to the reminder post for The Flower Challenge, where this month you get to CASE one of the DT cards.  So, for the design team's reminder post cards, we had to CASE our first cards.  This time, I used green inks for my stenciling and black die-cuts for my images rather than silhouette stamping.  I kept the same basic layout and bold sentiment, though.

The stencil I used was one I cut myself using my Silhouette (back when I had one that actually worked, that is!)  I just cut the stencil from white card and I've probably used it 4-5 times and it's still going strong.  I sponged ink in an ombre fashion up the left hand side of the panel, after using some torn paper as a mask for the right hand side.

The flowers were die-cut from black cardstock and the sentiment was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink.

I die-cut the panel with a wonky stitched rectangle die and popped it up with craft foam onto a white card base.  To finish the card, I added some Nuvo Jewel Drops in Key Lime.

Thanks for visiting.  This is my last post as a DT member of The Flower Challenge.  Being on 5 DTs, including running one, has proven a bit too much, so I'm stepping down from a couple.  I wish Aileen and the girls at The Flower Challenge the best of luck and I'll be sure to play along as time permits.

I'm linking this card to the challenge at Crazy 4 Challenges - where they're looking for green in our cards this week.

Products used:

Stamps:  Bold Blooms (Essentials by Ellen)
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint
Cardstock: White, Black
Dies;  Bold Blossoms (Essentials by Ellen), Wonky Stitched Rectangles (MFT)
Accessories:  Nuvo Jewel Drops (Key Lime), homemade stencil

Cheers
Karren

Muse Sympathy

Hi!  I've made a few cards over the last week but have been a bit slack at posting them.  Need to get a move on before the various challenges finish.

This card was made for the current Muse challenge as well as the latest Pin Sights Challenge.  From the Pin Sights Challenge, my eye was drawn immediately to the second to bottom row with the soft flowers and white tones.  From Jenni's Muse card, I effectively reversed her card to come up with this one:

I kept the blue tones and the thinking of you elements of Jenni's card, but used a cover plate die over an ink-blended bakcground.  The sentiment is die-cut from black and then painted with clear sparkle pen.  I finished with some jewel drops.

Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Ink:  Broken China, Faded Jeans Distress Oxide Ink

Cardstock:  White, Black, Bristol Smooth

Dies:  Bed of Roses (Essentials by Ellen), With Sympathy (Avery Elle)

Accessories:  Sea Breeze Nuvo Jewel Drops, Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen

Cheers

Karren

Hydrangea Hello

It's time for another fun challenge at Just Add Ink and this week, we have a color challenge for you.

Aren't these fun colors?  I don't have the Stampin' Up colors so went with some Distress Inks in Peacock Feathers and Worn Lipstick and I think they came out pretty close!

I started by doing some ink-blending onto a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock with the two inks.  I went over the line where they joined several times to give a seamless blend.  Once I was happy, I flicked some water onto the panel and set it aside to dry.  I did happen to find some Smoky Slate cardstock, so used that for my card base and also for the die-cut hello, which was painted with clear sparkle pen.

Once the inked panel was dry, I white-embossed the Mondo Hydrangea stamp onto the bottom left corner and heat set it.  Using fun foam, I adhered that panel onto the card base and then used spray adhesive for the sentiment.

I did happen to film a video while I was making this card and you can see it by clicking here or by watching below.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Please check out the fabulous cards made by the rest of the design team and have a go yourself.  Remember, if you don't have the exact colors, a close match will also work.

Cheers

Karren

Basket of Beans

Hi!  I'm finally getting around to posting my card for the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!  I made this card earlier in the week and actually used the sketch from MFT but, of course, that challenge is closed now.  Anyway, here is my card:

I used the adorable Harvest Mouse set and masked off the top of the basket so I could add some coffee beans.  I also used masking for the pumpkins.

The images were colored with Copics and the sentiment is white embossed onto Dark Chocolate cardstock.  The kraft card base was stamped with Burlap Background, using Khaki ink.

Thanks for visiting!

Products used:

Stamps:  Harvest Mouse, Burlap Background (MFT), Oh Frappe (Essentials by Ellen)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid, Versamark, Khaki (SSS)

Cardstock:  Desert Storm (Neenah), Dark Chocolate (SSS), X-Press It

Dies:  Wonky Stitched Circles (MFT), Coffee Words (SugarPea Designs)

Accessories:  Copics, white EP

Cheers

Karren

Congratulations

Hi and welcome!  Today's card was made with the repetition theme at Less is More in mind.  I also went with the "No Patterned Paper" theme at Cardz for Galz (easy for me!) and the gorgeous inspiration pic at Time Out, where I was drawn to the neutral tones with pops of black and color.  I love that inspiration photo so much that I might be back with a second card at some stage :)

I die-cut the Bed of Roses cover plate by Essentials by Ellen from white cardstock and adhered it to a Soft Stone card base.  From there I adhered a white-embossed banner and placed some lilac enamel dots.

Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Stamps:  Oh Happy Day (Avery Elle)

Ink:  Versamark

Cardstock:  White, Black, Soft Stone (PTI)

Dies:  Bed of Roses (Essentials by Ellen)

Accessories:  Enamel Dots

Cheers

Karren

Just Saying Hello

Hi everyone and welcome to another sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches!  This week our hostess is the wonderful Jennifer Timko and in honor of that, I had to make a card with flowers on as Jennifer does floral cards so well :)  Here's her sketch:

Some of you will know about Jen Brum's aversion to circles - well I feel the same way about ovals.  For some reason, I avoid using them.  That might be to do with the fact that most of the time I use them, they end up crooked :)  So anyway, I used an oval and here is my card.

I die-cut an oval from a white card base and layered some Watercolor Wash patterned paper behind it.  The flower was stamped and embossed in white before being colored with a single Zig Marker.  Once it was dry, I splattered some more of the same marker over the flower and then die-cut it.

I tucked the stem behind the oval cut-out and left the rest to hang over the frame to add interest.  The sentiment is white embossed on black and a couple of floating petals finished off the card.

Thanks for visiting!  The rest of the design team have made some fabulous cards using this sketch so be sure to check them out.


Products used:

Stamps:  Mondo Hydrangea (Essentials by Ellen), Painted Butterflies (Altenew)
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  White, black, watercolor, Watercolor Wash Patterned Paper (MFT)
Dies:  Mondo Hydrangea, Pierced Oval Stax (MFT)
Accessories:  White EP, Zig Markers

Cheers
Karren

But First...

Hi!  I'm back for the second time today with my card for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop, which has a summer theme.  My card also meets the themes at Curtain Call and City Crafter, so I'm linking up there too.  Inkspirational has a masking theme and as I did two different types of masking on this card, I'm adding my card.

This is a one layer card and involved masking off a strip on a white card base before sponging Antique Linen ink for the sand and Tumbled Glass ink for both the sea and the horizon, using a much lighter touch for the sky.  I also used a cloud mask for the sky.  Once I was finished sponging, I used a white gel pen for the waves and a Copic marker to add texture to the sand.

Once I was happy with the image, I removed the mask and stamped the sentiment in black ink.

A very simple card but I hope it evokes a feeling of peace while drinking coffee on a warm morning with a view like this :)

Thanks for visiting.

Products Used:

Stamps:  Oh Frappe (Essentials by Ellen), Distressed Patterns (MFT)
Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid (MFT), Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass Distress
Cardstock:  White
Accessories:  White Gel Pen

Cheers
Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at City Crafter