Less is More with Fur

Over the weekend I stamped with my friends in Roanoke Rapids.  Our group has been stamping together for almost five years now and I always look forward to going even though it's a 2 hour drive.  I have to admit that I enjoy the time to listen to a book and be by myself for a while.  

Nell brought two new House Mouse stamps with her.  She has a whole box of these delightful stamps and we've had House Mouse Saturdays more than once.

When I saw the Less is More challenge that morning was

ONE LAYER CARD

and this time the subject of your creations should feature

FUR or FEATHERS

I wasn't sure what I was going to do.  I had some bird stamps but nothing that I thought I'd want to do on a one layer card.

Well, Nell took care of that in good form.

Here's another.

I hadn't done Halloween cards before last year, but with a Preschooler around, Halloween cards are great for the teachers.  

And for Mom to put on the shelf to remind him of Trick or Treat time.

I may just have to put one of these on my shelf!  These little guys always make me smile. And smiles are good.

I'm also entering the House-Mouse and Friends challenge which this week is Double Trouble. Thanks Kate for leading me to that challenge.

And the Lawnscaping Challenge this week is to do a One Layer Card.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps: Wacky Wishes (c.2), Holiday Best (c.1, retired), Lil' Punkin (c.2), Sweet Find (c.1) (House Mouse Designs)

Ink:  Jet Black StazOn, SU Markers (Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant)

Paper:  Whisper White

And the mistake on yesterday's card...If  you look closely at the ornaments, the green one doesn't have any white space around it.  It's a little narrower than it should be.

Thanks for the comments and the visits. Ya'll come back soon.

Enjoy!

Always Creative Wishes

The One Layer Wednesday challenge this week really made me think.  Susan said to use two colors, two images, and masking.  Sentiments are optional but must be in one of the two colors.  After scratching my head a bit, this is what I came up with.

It took a lot longer to decide which stamp and sentiment to use than it did to actually make the card.

First I stamped the butterfly from the Creative Elements set trying to hit slightly above the middle of the card.  I stamped again on a scrap of thin vellum and cut out the butterfly.  After applying a little removable adhesive to the top of the wings, I masked the butterfly and stamped over with the flourshy stamp from the Always Elegant set.  It wasn't a perfect line up, but these days I'm letting go of some of the perfection needs.  Babies will do that to you.

I used my Simply Scored to score 3 lines 1/4" apart and rounded the bottom corners.

Stampin' Up! is going to be selling a diagonal board for the Simply Scored.  I think it goes on sale in March.  I can't wait!  I love to score the diagonal lines, but I find that I don't always get them where I want them.  It will also come with instructions for making envelopes.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Always Elegant, Creative Elements, Teeny, Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise

Paper:  Whisper White

Other:  Simply Scored, Basic Pearls, Corner Rounder Punch

I'm looking for a new printer.  I need to be able to print on card stock and I want a printer that prints great colors.  I'd also like to be able to print good quality photos. What kind of printers do you like?

It makes me happy that you stop by especially when you leave me a message. 

Enjoy!

Shimmery Blossoms

The One Layer Wednesday challenge over at Simplicity this week is to use shimmer, but not glitter or bling.

A one layer is defined as a single piece of cardstock folded in half.   No other layers of cardstock are permitted.

I colored the flowers with my Signo white gel pen first to get a nice white flower.  Then I dry brushed a bit of shimmer paint over that.

Maybe you can see the shimmer better in the close up.

The sentiment is heat embossed.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Easter Blossoms, Thoughts and Prayers
Ink:  Black StazOn, Whisper White
Paper:   Crumb Cake
Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, White Signo gel pen, gold glitter pen, Frost White Shimmer Paint

Thanks for the visit.  Enjoy!
Bonnie

Pink Wedding Cake

Today's card is for the One Layer Wednesday challenge that's over at the Simplicity blog this week.  Susan challenged us to be inspired by some beautiful wedding cakes.  You can see the choices at the Cake Wrecks site.  I was going to put a picture of the inspiration cake here, but either my server or theirs wouldn't let me.  It's the pink one, the 8th picture down.

I used Blushing Bride and the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, leaving a strip at the bottom without the embossing.

The sentiment is stamped with Whisper White and embossed with White.  It doesn't show up very well.  I think it needed some more smooth space!

I used the White Satin Ribbon and gave it a bit of a twist.  I gathered another piece of the ribbon to make a flower and topped it off with a pearl from the Pretties Kit.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Kind & Caring Thoughts
Ink:  Whisper White
Paper:  Blushing Bride
Accessories:  White Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Elegant Lines EF, White EP, Pearl

I'm not totally satisfied with this card.  I'm going to try another one if I can find the time.

Thanks for the visit.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Golden Peace

I seem to be on a gold kick today!  Actually, I made this card last month, or the month before, for a One Layer Wednesday challenge, and I don't think I ever posted it.  I really made a mess of it and didn't think it was worth posting.

My daughter thought otherwise so let's see what you think!

I believe the challenge was to use something metallic on the card.  I stamped everything in Encore Gold and embossed  with gold.

I thought it needed something around the edge, so I edged it with the gold and embossed that.  Got a smudge in the top left corner!  Aaargh!  I hate it when I do that!

Looking for something to camouflage the smudge, I found the little dot stamp from the retired Bird on a Branch set, inked it in gold and stamped in the corners.  I didn't really like it any better than the smudge!

Today's Free for All Challenge on SCS was to use a silhouette stamp.  Everything is packed up for tomorrow's Stamp Stack, so I'm going to put this in, since the bird is in silhouette.

If nothing else, it's a lesson in camouflaging your mistakes!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Peaceful Season, Bird on a Branch

Ink:  Encore Gold

Paper:  Shimmery White

Accessories:  Gold Embossing Powder

As Luke would say, it's time to get out of the computer Nana!

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Pocket full of Colors

When I saw the Colors for the ColorQ challenge this week, Espresso, Cajun, Saffron, Artichoke, Kraft & White, I immediately thought of Pocket Silhouettes.  This wonderful set of little foliage stamps works so well with multiple colors.

Then when Jennifer posted the One Layer Wednesday challenge and said to use at least 5 different colors of ink, I had the colors all lined up!

Now the challenge was to get them all on a one layer card.

I made a mask and sponged an area on the front of the card with So Saffron.  Then I stamped the different flowers & foliage in Crumb Cake (formerly Kraft), Always Artichoke & Cajun Craze. 

The Early Espresso went toward the sentiment.  I must confess, it took three tries to get it somewhat straight.  I can stamp it straight on the scratch paper, but not on the card.  Go figure! 

Then I used an acrylic block to guide my Espresso Marker around the design, leaving the design area kind of hanging free.  It's still not perfectly straight but it is handmade after all!

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes, Three Little Words
Ink:  Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Early Espresso SU Marker

Now to go leave it off at ColorQ & Styles Ink.
Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you come back soon.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Jolly Little Christmas

 The One Layer Wednesday challenge on Simplicity this week is extra special.  It seems that Susan & Jennifer got a letter from a lady who makes Christmas cards for the prisoners in the ND Penitentiary.  Seems the Warden decided that the prisoners can only have one layer cards without any metal, gemstones or pearls, and only minimal glitter.  This lady wrote that the One Layer Wednesday cards have been a real inspiration to her group of stampers.

Isn't it nice to be appreciated?

So Susan challenged us to make Christmas cards that follow the rules for the ND State Penitentiary.  We can send them to this group and have our names entered into a drawing for some free stamp stuff.

Oh,  they will allow flock, embossing, ribbons & punched shapes.

I stuck to the one layer without any embellishments.

I love these clear mount stamps.  You can just line them up on your block and stamp all three at once.

Well this one had to be done in two steps.  Three if you count the sentiment.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Jolly Bingo Bits, Bright Christmas

Ink:  SU Markers

Paper:  Whisper White

Oh, and the SCS Ways to Use It challenge today is to use green.  I think I'll share one with them too.

How are you coming on your Christmas cards?

I've got another class coming up.  Stamp 5 Christmas cards for $15.00.  (Click on the link to see the cards.)  Everything is included.  Classes are November 13, in Roanoke Rapids, and November 21 & 23 here in Cary.  Would love to have you join in.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you didn't mind the long post too much.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Another Thoughts and Prayers

Yesterday I shared a Sympathy Card using the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set.  When I did that card, I was making it for the FTL114 challenge on the Clean & Simple Stamping blog as well as the CAS91 challenge on SCS.

The layout was for a curvy design like on last night's card.  However, I realized, after I had finished it, that it was supposed to be a ONE LAYER card!  Oops!  Back to the drawing board.

This time, to be different, I flipped the design and ran it vertically instead of horizontally.

 I didn't get a clear stamp!  But since I was using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, I restamped.  Guess what?  Either the card or the SAMJ moved!  But, I kind of liked the ghosting.  So I did it 3 times.  Do you know that SAMJ moved every time!  Unfortunately every time it moved it left some ink where I didn't want it!

So, I got out the color spritzer tool and spritzed a little of both colors of ink.  It did a good job of covering up the smudges.  You can't even see them unless you look really, really close.  Then because everything is slightly blurred anyway, it looks like it was done on purpose.  I doubt I could do this again if I wanted to try!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Thoughts & Prayers
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry & Old Olive SU Markers
Paper:  Whisper White
Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Color Spritzer Tool

Follow the link above to the Clean & Simple Stamping blog and check out all the submissions.  There is lots of inspiration there!

Enjoy your blessings,
Bonnie

Black and White and Red all Over

Jennifer Styles, who is hosting the One Layer Wednesday Challenge this week, came up with a doosy!  She says, What's  black & white & red all over!  Answer: A one layer card!

Actually it's my foot from tripping over the table on the way to the trash can with the many trials that were errors!



This is what I finally came up with.  It's not my favorite card by any means, but at least it survived the trash can!

This was definitely a challenge!  Thanks Jennifer!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Northern Hearts, Bright Christmas

Ink:  Basic Black

Paper:  Whisper White

Accessories:   Real Red SU Marker, Basic Rhinestones

Thanks for stopping by and do come again soon.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Peaceful Noel

I am really enjoying this Peaceful Season stamp set!  It's a Level 2 Hostess Gift and it has so many possiblilities!

I used the holly today to do a card for the CAS challenge over on SCS.  It was a sketch challenge of this card .

I know it's early for Christmas cards and I hope you won't tire of seeing Christmas too soon.  With so many cards to make, I feel like I need to get an early start. Even then, I'll probably not be ready on time.  I'll try to fit in something else once in awhile.

This card was pretty quick and easy.  I inked the stamp with markers and stamped it on a Natural White card base then used the markers to add some veins in the leaves and darken the berries a bit.  I masked the holly and stamped a few more leaves to fill it out.  I love the way this stamps because it makes it look frosty without adding any glitter.

By the way, thanks for all the positive comments about my very glittery card.  I'm glad I posted it and didn't trash it because it seems that many of you enjoyed it!

A clear block works well as a guide for the lines.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a block the right size, so I had to carefully slide it over as I drew.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Peaceful Season, Many Merry Messages
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler
Paper:  Naturals White
Accessories:  Soft Suede, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler SU Markers

I hope you found some inspiration here tonight.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Black with a Touch of Color

Today's One Layer Wednesday Challenge over at Simplicity is to use black with a spot of color.

This is my set to go to for black & white. I love this feather and the dragonfly in this set.

I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the placement of the feather. Sometimes that little gadget is really handy!

I let the ink dry and put a drop of glue in the center and sprinkled a tiny bit of Olive Fine Supernova glitter. After that dried, I put a little bead of glue around the glitter and sprinkled the Aqua Fine Supernova glitter.

I drew some lines around the design and I was finished! Quick and easy if you don't count the stamping I did first and discarded!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Nature's Nest, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White
Acc.: Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Fine Supernova Glitter, Black SU Marker

Now I need to go and clean up my mess! And judging by the time, I need to start some supper.

I had fun today. Hope you did too. Thanks for stopping by. I love hearing what you think.
Bonnie

Mmmm, Apples

I've been so busy getting samples ready for a class (see yesterday's post), bookmarks for the Newcomer's Club and a workshop, that I haven't had much time to just play. Well, I guess it's really playing to do all that, but I have had to ignore the challenges or at least put them on the back burner.

Today, I did a card for Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday challenge to do trees. The Ways to Use It challenge on SCS was to use one piece of cardstock. The challenge police might come after me because I used a little scrap of Real Red cardstock for the apples. Whoops!


Card Recipe:
Stamps: Season of Friendship, Bird on a Branch (sentiment)
Ink: Soft Suede, Old Olive
Paper: Naturals White, Real Red
Acc.: Whacked Finial Press Embossing Folder, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch

Note: I cut the embossing folder into strips with my rubber cutting scissors.

Let me see if I dare post this to the Ways to Use It challenge and take my chances with the Challenge Police.

I did another one that is honestly only one piece of cardstock, but it hasn't dried yet. Once it's dry, I think it's going to need to be flattened. Oh my, what a mess!

See you tomorrow.
Bonnie

Vintage Season's Greetings

I know it's Thursday, but this is for Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday Challenge. I did one like this yesterday and learned a lesson. You can't paint the rhinestones with markers. Well, you can, but the color rubs off on the card! I wish Stampin' Up! had Cherry Cobbler rhinestones or pearls.

One layer cards are a challenge because they can look so flat and plain. It's amazing though, what some lines or scoring can do to finish off the cards. Susan, aka lateblossom of Simplicity fame, often adds good advice to help with making a one layer card look as elegant and finished as a layered card. She has really inspired me and I have learned a lot from her through her blog.

This week's challenge was to use a border stamp. I used the border stamp from the Vintage Vogue set. It wasn't hard to get it straight since I have the clear mount set. I don't know about you, but I love being able to see where I'm stamping! Of course you do have to position the label straight. There's the challenge there! Anyway, I inked the stamp with markers and stamped it along the side.

After stamping the sentiment, I used a ruler and, holding my breath, drew lines around the sentiment to give it some dimension so it wouldn't look like it was just plopped down.

Instead of the colored rhinestones, I used some gold gems to dress up a couple of corners.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Many Merry Messages
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Naturals White
Acc.: Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive SU Markers, Ruler, Gold Gems

It was quick and easy. It's a good thing since I had to make two. Remember the first one smeared.

Now go on over to Simplicity to see lots of other One Layer cards. There's lots of inspiration there.

Hope you found some inspiration here too.
Bonnie

Pocket One Layer

I was suffering so much from stamping withdrawal last night that I pulled out some stamps & ink and sneaked a stamping. What can I say. Besides being addicted to stamping, it relieves stress and I had a tension headache!

This card is for Susan's (Simplicity) One Layer Wednesday challenge, to create a scene, and the SCS Color Challenge. I love one layer cards because you can mail them without worrying about the Post Office tearing them up or charging for extra postage.

I used the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set for the flowers. I used Pretty in Pink, Always Artichoke, & Cherry Cobbler SU Markers to ink the stamps. The sentiment is from Herb Expressions and is stamped in Always Artichoke.

I scored around the elements with the scoring blade on my paper cutter. The butterflies are punched from the Itty Bitty Shapes punch from Pretty in Pink DSP. I used the Basic Black SU Marker to draw the body and antennae. I would have used the Beautiful Wings Embosslit, but it was packed up tight. You know little boys (or big boys) and anything that moves or has a button is fair game for breakage. I really hid the BIG GUY from the boys and in the process put it where I couldn't get it out easily!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Herb Expressions
Ink: Always Artichoke, Pretty in Pink, Always Artichoke & Cherry Cobbler SU Markers
Paper: Naturals White, Pretty in Pink DSP
Acc.: Scoring blade, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack

I probably should check in the butterfly book to see if there are really pink butterflies. Maybe they are moths. Maybe they are mutant butterflies or moths! Anyway, I made a card & got rid of my headache. I'm happy.

Hope you are happy too.
Bonnie

Unexpected Tree Trimming

This weeks One Layer Wednesday challenge at Simplicity is to use Unexpected Colors and of course only one layer. Wow, what a challenge.

I"m not going to tell you how many times I tried this. Am I the only one that struggles with the Stamp-a-ma-jig? Ugggh!

I've been thinking about cards to do for the Christmas Card Class, so I had Christmas on my mind. I stamped the ornament first, then laid down a large oval cut with the BIG GUY and sponged all around. Then I spritzed all around with Melon Mambo to give a little bit more color.

I don't know that I would do more Christmas cards in pastel colors, but this was an interesting challenge.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Many Merry Messages
Ink: Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz
Paper: Whisper White
Acc.: Big Shot, Original Ovals die, Stamping Sponges, Color Spritzer Tool, Melon Mambo SU Marker, Rhinestone

I really like the sponged look, especially with the color spritzing. It adds dimension without the layers.

Hope you've had a wonderful day.
Bonnie

Lavender in Grape

Here's a card for Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday Challenge. This week's challenge is to make a square card and use an outline stamp.

I got this set a while back. It has such nice sentiments and I love the simple herb blossoms. I really haven't done much with it. This was a good opportunity to use my favorite stamp of the set. I love lavender, the sent and the flower.

I inked the flower portion with a Concord Crush SU Marker. I keep wanting to call it Grape because it is such a beautiful grapey purple color. The leaves were inked in Always Artichoke. I huffed and stamped it on a piece of Confetti White folded into a 4 1/2" square card. Then I used the Concord Crush marker to draw some lines around the edge to ground the design.

It's a very simple card. I'm thinking I should use the other stamps in this set and make some note cards.

If you want to go to Simplicity and check out all the one layer cards this week, click here.

That's my One Layer Wednesday on Thursday. Hope you enjoy.
Bonnie

Inspired Expressions

I've had a hard time getting back in the swing of things since vacation. I guess my brain (and body) liked the vacation mode. My mojo seemed to have taken a vacation too! I have stamped and discarded, stamped and just plain trashed and finally got things working again.

This is a card for Susan's One Layer Wednesday Challenge . This week the challenge is to watercolor the image. I inked the small flower from the Inspired by Nature stamp with Cherry Cobbler, Early Expresso & Wild Wasabi SU Markers. Then I held it out and misted it just a bit, let it sit for about 30 seconds and stamped on watercolor paper.

I like watercolor paper for the card because it's heavy and has a little bit of texture. I think one layer cards need to be on a heavier than usual card.

I inked the saying with Early Expresso, one of the new colors. The saying is from the Herb Expressions set that I received as a Demonstrator Bonus during Sale A Bration. That's just one of the benefits that I love about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

I really enjoy doing the one layer cards. I think they are the most challenging. How 'bout giving it a try?

Happy Stampin',

Bonnie

One Layer Swirl

Hello Stampin' Friends. Here is another One Layer Card. See this beautiful pink card stock? It's a Sneak Peek of on of the In Colors. It's called Blushing Bride and it's a beautiful shell pink.


Susan's One Layer Wednesday challenge this week was to do a card with flourishes. I'm so glad Baroque Motifs is not going to say goodbye. It's kind of a basic in my stamp collection. It works for any occasion.

I stamped the swirl in VersaMark and embossed it with White Embossing Powder. Added the pearls & ribbon, stamped the sentiment and voila! it was done. I used the upcoming Cherry Cobler to stamp the sentiment. Isn't it pretty with the pink?

Card Recipe
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Warm Words (will be retiring June 30)
Paper: Blushing Bride
Ink: VersaMark
Acc.: White Taffeta Ribbon, Pearls from the Pretties Kit

Now wasn't that easy?

I'll be back with another post, if I get the time. If not, have a great weekend.

Bonnie

Only One Layer

Hello Stampin' Friends. The author of one of the blogs I have been following, Simplicity, offers a One Layer Wednesday Challenge. If you are interested in checking it out, you can go here.

I thought, since I liked simple cards, it would be a snap. IT"S NOT! It is really hard not to mat anything. She does allow embellishments although I didn't use any.



The challenge this week, besides making a One Layer Card, was to create a mask with a label or die and use it to make a background for your card.

This is what I ended up with. I used the Oval Originals Die with the BIG GUY and used the piece the large oval was cut from. I taped the mask on the card with repositional tape and sponged inside the oval. I used Crushed Curry then went over it with a little Dusty Durango. Then I stamped the All a Flutter (a single stamp on p. 31 of the Summer Mini Catalog) and the sentiment from Warm Words (on the retirement list) in Basic Black. The card is Naturals White. It has a little more body than the Whisper White.

This is one of those cards, as my friend Ruthann says, takes 2 hrs to figure out and 5 minutes to put together!

Now that I have done these one layer cards, I really like them. (I have another to show you later.) They will be so easy to mail too. No worries about extra postage or brads popping through the envelopes.

A big thank you to Susan for the challenge. Why don't you try it now. If you don't have the BIG GUY, you can use a decorative punch instead. Check out all the great inspiration on Susan's blog.

I'm taking some stamps on the road tomorrow and meeting some Roanoke Rapids stampers for playtime. I'm so excited! Hope you have a great weekend. See you next week.
Bonnie