MIUCB - Layers

Hi friends! I'm finishing up posting the last of my holiday cards and how fitting, as this month at the Mix It Up Challenge Blog we're focusing on layers (or anything goes)! And if you've been around for any length of time, you KNOW I love me some layers - lots and lots! I'm not so good at Clean and Simple, ya know!! 😉

Along with my love for layers, is my love for Pretty Pink Posh products - always fun, whimsical and oh so cute!!

This Big Christmas Cupcake die set was released last year - just in time for the holidays. I had so much fun cutting all the little pieces, making  packages, a big ole bow, snowflakes and some adorable scallops for my tree - in sparking white cardstock of course! The candy cane comes from the Winter Mug die set. I pulled out the Winter Words stencil for the background and some peppermints from the Peppermints Clay Confetti pack to add some fun dimension to the tree. 

Lots of ink blending, some additional stamping on the tree, splatters and the wonky rectangle dies to wrap up my sweet little cupcake!

Hope you will pop over and join us at the Mix It Up Challenge Blog - we love seeing what you create!

MIUCB - Anything Goes + Optional Stamping (no digis)

Hi friends - how are you? I'm doing good, I have been creating up a storm, but not the best at sharing. But I'm back this month with a card I had so much fun creating!

Hopefully you will join us at Mix It Up this month, stop by and check out the fun creations the design team made.  

I created this card for our son's birthday this year, I love this stencil from Pinkfresh Studios; I need to dig it out and use it again, I think for Christmas will be fun! His favorite color is orange, so I dug out lots of orange inks from Taylored Expressions. For the last swirl, I used deco foil duo gel, allowed it to dry and used a rainbow foil - it looks so cool IRL!

I stamped the ice cream scoops and cone on colored cardstock, die cut, and added some copic shading. The candles come from THIS set. I added some shading to the flames, some clear glitter and glossy accents. Tied a twin bow and tag onto one of the candles. I embossed a sentiment, added a little heart and it was good to go. 

He turned 23, so I created 2 candles and 3 ice cream scoops. 😀

Thanks again for stopping by; hope you can join us this month at Mix It Up!

MIUCB - Make Your Own Background

Hi friends - how are you?

I'm doing great! We're back with another challenge for Mix It Up; this time we're focuing on making your own background Normally, I would do this with stamps, but I'm in love with these stencils from Pink Fresh Studios; so easy to line up and make cakes in ANY and ALL the colors; I have several of these cards to share!

For this card, I made all the cakes teal and also added large polka dots around the base card; tone on tone. I did add a layer of vellum to soften the birthday cakes. The balloons are cut from Pink Fresh Studios Celebrate washi tape - such a quick and simple way to make birthday cards. 

I tied on some twine and added an embossed image from Taylored Expressions to finish it off. All mini slimline dies are also from Taylored Expressions.

Thank you for stopping by; I hope you will join us this month, we would love to see your creations!

MIUCB - Anything Goes + Embossing (Dry or Heat)

Hi friends, how's it going?

Have you seen the create in quad stencils from Taylored Expressions? There are several in the store; I used the Peaceful Pines stencil and made some really fun, colorful panels. Love this color combo; pretty sure I saw it used at a crafty camp I attended. 

Our theme this month at Mix It Up is always Anything Goes, but you can add embossing - dry or heat, this month. I LOVE this embossing powder, it has been my fave for quite some time and is what I used on the vellum for the greeting! It always embosses so beautifully!

I used the final stencil and added Decofoil Duo Gel and then added foil using the mini minc machine (I sadly do not remember which foil I used 🙈).

I sponged the edges with a light pink, mounted on some gold matte cardstock and a bright pink notecard. So cheery, IMHO. 

I hope you join us this month, we would love to see your creations!

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog - March

Hi friends,

How are you? I have done lots of creating, but I'm not doing so well grabbing photos. 😐

I'm glad you are back for another challenge at Love to Scrap! Did you see THIS pine tree Christmas card I made? The trees are from the Quad Stencil from Taylored Expessions, Peaceful Pines. It's so easy to use different colors on the stencil. For this particular stencil, I was trying some new inks; but then decided I wanted to get creative and use some fun, bright inks - hence the other card. 

For the polka dots, I added Deco Foil Duo through the stencil, then used foil and ran it through my mini minc machine. I added glossy accents to the polka dots and star on the tree; a couple snow banksfinish off the main image. Mounted on gold cardstock and a base of Sweet Basil cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you will join us this month at Love to Scrap - it's always anything goes and we enjoy seeing your creations!!

Flowers...or polka dots?

Hey friends - welome to a new fresh and shiny week! How ya doing?

Oh you know, sometimes you color something and like nothing about it...although I did use the colorless blending technique taught by Yana Smakula, which I adore...but that's about it. 😁 I did stamp the image directly on to TE Cupcake card stock, so that added a unique color to the flowers.

Once I colored the images, I covered it with a stencil, blended on lots of polka dots and then I liked it a bit better. 😉 I splattered on some white and black paint, added a strip of pink striped paper and a tiny hint of black glitter paper to finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by today; here's hoping you have a great week ahead!!

Take care, stay safe!

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Mama Elephant Organic Blooms

Inks: Gina K Obsidian, TE Cupcake

Papers: TE Cupcake, MFT striped designer paper (appears no longer in stock), black glitter 

Accessories: polka dots stencil, white gouache, copics, black enamel accents

CHALLENGES

MIUCB #41 - Anything Goes + Foiling

Hi friends!!

Join us this month at Mix It Up for Anything Goes and/or Foiling! I lost my mojo somewhere, but I did have a few foiled backgrounds in my stash...but I just couldn't figure out what to do with them, like seriously, I've had 3 foiled backgrounds hanging around for several months! 😕

I used the Transfer Gel Duo through the Brick by Brick stencil from Taylored Expressions in random spots, let it dry completely, and applied foil using a laminator. For this card, I used the Pine Blossom, Simple Things and Signed and Sealed with a Kiss from The Greetery. Some of the florals were stamped and in my stash, the ones that weren't were quickly stamped, die cut and assembled on the card.

And let me be really honest for a minute...I finished this up and went to bed thinking 'I really do not like that card'; come on peeps - do you have these conversations in your head too? But the next morning, it looked a wee bit better to me; I love the ephemera I found, 'there is sunshine in my soul today'; I know the perfect person to send this to! Not every card turns out to your liking and that's just the way creating goes.

Here's hoping you find some time to create in September and join us at Mix it Up!!

Take care, stay safe!

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  The Greetery Pine Blossom, Simple Things and Signed and Sealed with a Kiss

Inks: All TE inks

Papers: PTI Limeade Ice, TE Lollipop, misc. designer paper from 'da stash

Accessories: TE Brick by Brick stencil, Transfer Gel Duo, Sign and Sealed with a kiss die, Pine Blossom die, Simple Things die, foil, MFT stitched circle dies, fun foam

CHALLENGES

Water coloring through a stencil

Hi friends - how are you doing? I'm doing great - in this odd space of working from home, but also in the office a few days each week. Our office is currently doing a rotational schedule, but my role falls outside of the rotation, so I'm there a bit more random. AND the best part is I am very isoldated where my desk is, so I feel pretty safe being there.

Anywho, a couple of months ago, Amber with Altenew posted a video of water coloring through a stencil; so I gave it a try. I wanted to make a card for a very dear friend going through a dark time. I used Simon's Bouquet of Roses stencil to try the same thing. Once I water colored through the stencil and removed it, I wasn't thrilled. I added some colored pencil which I liked on the flowers, but really disliked on the leaves, LOL - so hard to please! I added some drops of Mermaid Lagoon Distress Spray and set it aside to dry. 

I cut a circle off the edge of Neenah 110 lb card stock and blended through the SSS extra large dot stencil with Broken China distress ink. I stamped the Penny Black Faith sentiment, breaking it up between the cover panel and the inside. Finished it off with several Studio Katia wedding bells sequins.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you are doing great!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Penny Black Faith

Inks: Broken China distress ink, Versafine

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, TE Cookie Monster, water color paper

Accessories: misc. water color kit, Studio Katia sequins, Mermaid Lagoon Distress Spray, SSS extra large dot stencil, MFT blueprints (discontinued), SSS circle die, Bouquet of Roses stencil

CHALLENGES

MIUCB #40 - anything goes + embossing

This month at Mix It Up, we're doing anything goes, or add embossing.

I had a BLAST making these mixed media cards; I used the Big and Bold Sweet Friends Cupcake, cut it in half to make two cards. I colored the cupcake with Copics then added those adorable pink polka dots to the 'wrapper' of the cupcake. For the base card, I embossed in white a sentiment from The Greetery, Pretty Postmarks, then applied texture paste through Simon's large polka dot stencil. Once dry, I blended on Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry and Festive Berries (you will notice one is more pink (picked rasperry), one is more red (festive berries)). I flicked on some Festive Berries or Picked Raspberry, accordingly, and white guache, added the cupcake and finished with some PPP clear droplets. 

Hope you will join us at Mix It Up this month; we love seeing your creations!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Colorado Craft Company Big and Bold Sweet Friends Cupcake

Inks: Gina K Obsidian, Distress Inks (Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries), Versamark

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, water color paper, TE Strawberry Milkshake and Cherry Pop (card bases)

Accessories: Copics, white gel pen, shimmer pen, PPP clear droplets, white embossing powder

CHALLENGES:

Altenew Inspiration - July 2020

Sometimes life feels a bit out of control, #reallifetalk! Our oldest was tested for Covid July 10; the interesting thing was, the day after she wasn't feeling well, I awoke with some of the exact same symptoms. 😲 We finally received the results today, July 16 and they were NEGATIVE. PTL!!

I have been quarantined and working from home since July 9; you think that would give me MORE time to create, but that certainly hasn't been the case. I have had very little time to create or even get in my studio. However, I was super inspired by Altenew's inspiration photo this week and late one evening, I ventured to my craft room for a mental break - those are the best. 😀

I embossed one of the Forever and Always stamps with white on water color paper. Once melted, I added several colors of distress oxide inks with a wide brush and heat set. Once dry, I spritzed with Sheer Shimmer mist and splattered on some white guache. I then created a white frame using MFT Blueprints and a MFT square die. I used one of the sentiments, stamped in oxide ink. I then used the SSS Square Dance stencil with some Tattered Rose oxide ink, mounted the main panel with fun foam and finished it off with Studio Katia sequins.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you are safe and healthy!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Altenew Forever and Always

Inks: Distress Oxide Inks, Versarmark

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, PTI Ocean Tides, Fabriano water color paper

Accessories: MFT blueprints (does not appear to be in stock - sorry), MFT square die, Studio Katio sequins, SSS square dance stencisl, colored pencils

CHALLENGES:

  Altenew Color Challenge - July 2020

Fresh (Virtual) Flowers for You!

Hi friends - I created a virtual bouquet of flowers for YOU! I made several of these cards; once you have your supplies out, it's pretty easy. I also created a purple one and one other with lighter pinks.

I used the Mason Jar stencils from The Greetery, some jars and flowers I already had in my stash; it was fun to add that little touch of flowers. 

I thought the tiny border was a fun touch cut from Fog card stock. 

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great day!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  The Greetery Pine Blossom and Just Mason Around

Inks: TE various inks

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, SSS Fog (sold out ?)

Accessories: The Greetery Just Mason Around die, Pine Blossom die and Mason Jar filler, SSS This is the Life die, MFT stitched die, SSS Moonshine sequins

CHALLENGES:
  Creative Fingers

  Cardz TV

  Polkadoodles Anything Goes

HB2U - For the Boys

Hey friends - how are you? I'm doing good, our company returns to the office June 1; here's hoping we do not have any issues, kinda scary! I would hate for the world to begin opening up and then see a spike in COVID cases.

This month at Love to Scrap, we are showcasing 'for the boys'; I am the first to admit, I am NOT good with masculine cards. Thankfully, Leslie was so sweet to bounce some ideas around with me and this card was born. Believe me, it had its challenges but I found a way to 'make it work' (said in Tim Gunn's voice - HA)!

I cut 4 squares from a piece of cardboard as my 'stencil'; then blended on various oxide distress inks and topped with this circle stencil and blended the same oxide inks in a heavier layer. While the stencil was still in place, I splattered with white ink; once dry, I stamped the images into the windows. This is a REALLY old Cornish Heritage Farm stamp set (sorry, I cannot find the set online anywhere...like I said, it's very old)! I stamped the images with VersaFine and doggoneit, if I didn't smear the one in the lower right hand corner. SO...time to figure out what to do! I die cut the square out and did the same thing on the inside, didn't add any splatters but I thought it turned out well!

The birthday sentiment (Gift Card Sentiments II) is from MFT and is stamped with the same distress oxide inks.

The sentiment on front was also stamped with VersaFine. Thanks for stopping by; hope you will join us this month, we love seeing your creations!

Hugs,

Various Links Provided Throughout Post

CHALLENGES:

Colour Crazy Challenge - Polkadoodles

I am BEYOND thrilled to be joining the Colour Crazy Challenge; this is a gorup of super fun (and talented) individuals with LOTS of inspiration! Hope you will check out our challenges!

Our weekly challenge is always "Anything Goes" as long as you include some coloring on your project; hope you'll play along!

This week we are featuring digital images from Polkadoodles; I used the Winnie Celebrations Big Bunch; isn't this little girl the sweetest? I colored the image with Copics and colored pencils and kept the card very Clean and Simple (CAS). I die cut the image and mounted with fun foam, added some Pretty Pink Posh marshmallow confetti mix sequins and this beautiful sentiment from the Gina K / Hero Arts Friendship Blooms stamp set. If you look closely, you can see a sponged a design around the outer edge using TE Strawberry Milkshake ink and Ripples stencil.

Thanks for popping in; hope you'll check out all the other creations at the Colour Crazy Challenge, then join the fun! See you again soon!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Polkadoodles Winnie Celebrations Big Bunch, Gina K / Hero Arts Friendship Blooms

Inks: Gina K Obsidian, TE Strawberry Milkshake

Papers: Neenah 80 lb. white, MFT Wild Cherry

Accessories: Ripples stencil, PPP Marshmallow Confetti sequins, fun foam, Copics, colored pencils

CHALLENGES: