Concord and 9th Butterfly and Flower

When I saw these wonderful cards by Barb G., I commented that I hadn't seen 

this beautiful butterfly die or even heard of Concord & 9th.

Barb quickly emailed me and asked if I would like her to send me a few die cuts.

Of course I said yes!

Thanks so much, Barb!

Since I was doing some backgrounds with Inka Gold,

I smooshed some of the die cuts too.

Isn't this pretty?

Love this die!

And the embossing folder is a sneak peek from the new Stampin' Up! catalog.

Here is another of the dies from this set.

Both cards are CAS Mixed Media using Stamping, Die Cuts, Dry Embossing, Heat Embossing on card 1, and Inka Gold Smoosh.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for our new challenge at 
CAS Mix Up.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

MONOCHROME

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe (card 1)

Stamps: Picture Perfect (SU)

Ink:  Encore Silver

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Pool Party

Other:  Floral and Flutter Dies (Concord and 9th), Floral Affection EF (SU), Inka Gold (Platinum, Steel Blue, Jade)

Card Recipe (card 2)

Stamps:  Friendship Messages (SSS)

Ink:  Marina Mist

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Marina Mist (SU)

Other:  Floral and Flutter Dies (Concord and 9th), Inka Gold Platinum, Steel Blue), EF (Darice)

Santa's Sack for Merry Monday

It's Merry Monday time!

Nina's choice this week is

Now this left me scratching my head.

Then I thought about Santa's sack and I remembered
a card in an old computer card program that I have.

Before I really got into making cards, I learned to use the computer
by making cards on it.
This one comes from a Hallmark program.

I printed it off several times and  used the extras to cut pieces to
"decoupage" on top of one of the print outs.

This Santa's sack doesn't contain toys.  Looks like he's
delivering to the wildlife.

I like that idea.

And see how he's having a nice visit with that cardinal?

Bet he's asking him what he wants for Christmas.

Rudolph Days May Challenge
is going strong until the last day of the month.
I'm going to take my Santa over to join all the other lovely cards there.

Hope you can find a sack in your stash (or get some clip art off the Internet)
and join us at Merry Monday. 

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Paper Mellow Moss (retired SU), Whisper White

Other: Sierra for Hallmark program, Stitched Border Dies (Lawn Fawn)

Thank You Memorial

This is a card we did in one of my classes recently.

Sadly, this set will be retiring at the end of the month.

I thought it would be appropriate to say a big THANK YOU

to our Veteran's and the families of our Armed Forces.

And especially those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Summer Silhouettes, Endless Thanks (both SU), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired SU)

Ink:  Rose Red, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz (SU)

Paper:  Rose Red, Whisper White (SU)

Other:  LJD Rectangle Peek-a-boo Window die (MFT), Corner Rounder, Linen Thread (both SU)

Outline die with Spray

This was made with some bits and pieces that have been hanging around.

The watercolor piece was from a play with some Color Wash Sprays
that a friend gave me.

The die cut was from a playtime with a friends dies.

Guess you could call this a Friendly Hello.


Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
ANYTHING GOES



Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Elementary Elegance (retired SU)

Ink:  Stream Color Wash (Adirondack), Island Indigo

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press), Whisper White (SU)

Other: Darling Poppies Die (MB) , EF (Cuttlebug), Circle Punches

Shaker Hello

Recently I was the demo for my ATC Craft Group.

I demonstrated the Fuse Tool by We R Memory Keepers.

They could make either white or black.

They were about 50 -50.

Which do you like best?

The butterflies and hello were die cut from some Inka Gold smooshed pieces.

Time to smoosh some more!

Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge #55
A is for Aperture and/or Apricot
I have an aperture.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Basic Black (SU), Inka Gold Smooshed on Mixed Media (Strathmore)

Other:  LJD Rectangle Peek-a-boo Window die (MFT), Hello Die (SSS), Pippi and Isabella Butterflies (MB), Assorted sequins and micro beads

Nativity Ornament for Merry Monday

Good Merry Monday morning.

Our lovely Lori chose the challenge this week.

I chose to use this lovely Nativity ornament from Hero Arts and 

heat embossed it in gold.

I had this background in my UFO box.

It was done with a stencil and embossing paste.

While it was still wet, I doused it with Dazzling Diamonds.

The die cut sentiment was cut 3 times and stacked.

Then I smacked it with VersaMark and

embossed that in gold too.

I apologize for the photo.  It's really hard to get all that sparkle in focus.

Just a reminder that our CAS Mix Up challenge

is open until the 24th.

I'll add this to the gallery since I have

Stamping, Heat Embossing, Stencil, Embossing Paste, Die Cut

I hope you'll check out the inspiration pieces from the Design Tem 

and increase (or start) your stash of Christmas cards 

by joining us at Merry Monday.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Nativity Ornament (HA FS764)

Ink:  Encore Gold

Paper:  Solar White (110 lb. Neena), Gold Foil (SU)

Other:  Gold EP (SU), Chevron Pattern Stencil (SSS), Holiday Word Die (TH), Holiday Ornaments Die (SU), Dazzling Diamonds, Gold Twine, Rhinestone (all SU)

Weeds or Wildflowers

Hello.

Just a quick share today.

This is a card I sent to my dear niece who is fighting cancer.

This is a CASE (Copy And Share Everything) of this card by Becky Jensen.

Mine is a bit simpler.

The sentiment inside speaks of wishing we could throw her troubles to the wind.

Very appropriate I think.

I hope she likes it and it brings her some comfort.

I see that the Time Out Challenges theme this week is
MAY ALL YOUR WEEDS BE WILDFLOWERS
I think this fits.


We consider dandelions weeds, but the children believe that they are flowers.

What do you think?

and

Cuttlebug Mania

in case you consider dandelions flowers.
(I use a hand crank Big Shot to die cut and emboss.)

and

Addicted to Stamps and More



and

Pixie's Snippet Playground


since I've used snippets for my dandelion.

and

That heat embossed sentiment is a good reminder that there's still a few days left at
CAS Mix Up

You have until the 24th.




Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Snippets (PB)

Ink:  Whisper White

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Pool Party (SU)

Other:  Botanical Builders Framelits (SU), White EP (SU), Stitched Mats Rectangles (Lil' Inkers)

Single Iris

It's a special challenge at 
TIME OUT Challenges

It's a birthday celebration for a very sweet lady.
The challenge is for 
CAS with the optional twist of purple.
Sandie is such a sweetheart and I had to join in.
Happy Birthday, Sandie!

This was done with Penny Black's Single Iris stamp that was inked with markers.

This is one of my favorite stamps as it's easy and offers a big impact.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Single Iris (Penny Black), Dress Form Mini Stamp Set (PTI)

Ink:  Elegant Eggplant, Markers (Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight) (SU)

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant (SU)

Other:  Stitched Mats Rectangles (Lil' Inkers), Sequins (SSS & PPP)

Heat Embossing with Gelatos

A little while back few years ago, I saw this video by Darlene DeVries.

Of course I had to get the stamp and the gelatos!

It took a while to get around to using them.

I'm so glad I dug them out and gave it a try.

Now, I'll confess that I did a sorry job of heat embossing this background stamp.

I ended up with quite a bit some of the powder not embossed.

Hate when that happens!

So I salvaged what I could and colored the flowers using gelatos and my fingers.

I love how the colors look with the black embossing!

And finger painting was fun too!

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
SIMON SAYS: FLOWERS

Lots of flowers here.


The CAS Mix Up Challenge
is open until the 24th

Come join us and do check out that fantastic gallery!

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Everything Flowers (HA), Thinking of You (Happy Little Stampers)

Ink:  VersaMark, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.), Basic Black, Whisper White

Other:  Black EP (SU), Gelatos (Faber Castell)

Snow Globe Shaker for Merry Monday

Hello and Merry Monday to you!

Lovely Linda chose our challenge this week.

I saw a really good opportunity to use my Fuse Tool and make a shaker card!

I had a lot of fun making this one!

I cut a circle from a piece of 5 1/2" x 4" cardstock then used the die
as a guide for my fuse tool and filled the bag with micro beads and sealed it.

After stamping and dry embossing the negative die cut, I adhered the 
shaker bag on the back.

I lightly penciled the circle on the card base so I'd see where to stamp
and stamped the trees several times. Then adhered the 
die cut, embossed and shakered piece over top.

The base was stamped with markers mixing 
Chocolate Chip and Cherry Cobbler ink.
After it was dry, I smacked it with VersaMark, 
clear embossed and fussy cut.

Since I've heat embossed, dry embossed, die cut and shakered,
I'm going to add this to the gallery at CAS Mix Up.

Since I've always loved snow globes, I can't wait to see what you bring to 
Merry Monday.


Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Snow Globe (Raindrops on Roses), Wonderland (SU)

Ink:  Mossy Meadow, Markers (Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip) (SU), VersaMark

Paper:  Solar White (Neena 110 lb.)

Other:  Fuse Tool and Bags (We R Memory Keepers), Micro Beads (stash), Clear EP (SU) 

Emboss, Emboss Reminder for CAS Mix Up

This stamp has been in my NBUS box for years.

That's right, years!

Our  challenge at CAS Mix Up,
to use heat embossing,
was just the excuse I needed to ink it up.

There's a lot of heat embossing on this card.

The whole background is embossed.

Here's a close up.

First I stamped the script stamp from the retired French Foliage set
on a piece of Whisper White card stock.

Then  I heavily inked the Large Blossom stamp with VersaMark
and stamped over the script, heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder
and was ready to color.

I used my Zigs to color the flowers, leaves and stems.

I used the last bits of Orchid Opulence cardstock.
(Stampin' Up retired it a long time ago.
I wish I'd stocked up. Love this color!)

When I stamped the sentiment, I misjudged and it looked too high.

It was a great excuse to dry emboss a little border across the bottom.
I had to emboss the card closed so it has that pretty embossing on the inside too.


All this embossing will let me join in at
Simon Says Monday Challenge
EMBOSS IT



There's still time to join us at CAS Mix Up
The challenge is open until the 24th.

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Large Blossom (Hero Arts), Sprinkles and Smiles (Penny Black)

Ink:  Sahara Sand (SU), VersaMark

Paper:  Solar White (110 lb. Neena), Orchid Opulence, Whisper White (both SU)

Other:  Zig Clean Color Brush Markers (081 Light  Violet, 082, Purple, 080 Violet, 050 Yellow, 060 Brown), Clear EP (SU), Needlepoint Border EF (retired SU)

Sweetest Sound Bluebirds

This is my favorite stamp for anniversaries this year.

I've inked up the Sweetest Sound stamp with Distress Markers,

spritzed and stamped on Mixed Media Paper.

I used an Aqua Painter to move the colors around a bit

and to add more color where needed.

(I smooshed ink onto a craft sheet to pick up.)

When it was good and dry, I wet the background in sections

and added a bit of color for a light wash.

It needed something in the top left corner so

I inked the smaller branch, spritzed and stamped.

The Love was inked with a Distress Marker.

(I only used part of a sentiment.)

I had it on the MISTI so I could stamp a second time

but decided I liked the watercolor look of the fainter sentiment.

The design is mounted on a piece of Chocolate Chip 

and that is mounted on a piece of fun foam.

I'll enter this at Penny Black and More

ANYTHING GOES

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Sweetest Sound, Eloquence (both PB)

Ink:  Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters, Scattered Straw, Spun Sugar), Distress Markers (Faded Jeans, Spiced Marmalade,, Gathered Twigs, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Pumice Stone, Black Soot)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore), Chocolate Chip (SU), Watercolor (for card base - Strathmore 140 lb. cold press) 

Dreamy Embossing

This card used a combination of 2 heat embossing videos.

I had watched this video from Stamp TV, tried it. 
Didn't work well for me.
I'll share the blooper later.

I thought maybe doing this technique over colored stamping would work better for me.

So I put this Dreamy stamp on MISTI, inked with markers,
cleaned the stamp, and inked with VersaMark.
Ran over to the embossing table and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

I loved the Layered Emboss Resist technique from Altenew.
You may remember that I used this technique on these cards.
So I sponged over the whole piece with some Vintage Photo Distress ink.

Then I stamped the flourish a few times on the card using the VersaMark ink
and clear embossed that.

I sponged over it all with Brushed Corduroy.

After wiping the excess ink off the embossed pieces, I stamped some more
flourishes and this time embossed with white.

The sentiment was heat embossed with white on a piece that was cut off the final piece.

I put a narrow mat of gold foil behind the design to give it some elegance.

I love the shine the embossing adds.


CAS Mix Up May Challenge

I used Inking with Markers, Stamping, Heat Embossing, and Emboss Resist

and

Penny Black and More

ANYTHING GOES

Now....

Want to see the bloopers and blunders?

Maybe some more black ink sponged on?  Or lighter on the watercolor.

Definitely need to wait awhile between sponging and embossing!

Thanks for the visit and special thanks for your comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Dreamy (PB), Too Kind (retired SU), Everything Eleanor (soon to be retired SU)

Ink:  Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy (Distress Ink), VersaMark

Paper:  Solar White (Neena), Gold Foil (SU), Mixed Media (Strathmore)

Other:  Clear EP, White EP (both SU)