CASEsplorations with Stamplorations

My second post today, this one with a card for the May Stamplorations CASEsploration challenge (just in the nick of time!)

We're casing guest Kim Markortoff this month, here is her fabulous card:

And here is my card entry:

I embossed Stamplorations Trendy Feathers in white, and then did some ink blending with DI Gathered Twig, Tea Dye, and Brushed Corduroy.  I added some water droplets to my card (the white splotches you see, the water activates with the DI to create this look).  The sentiment, also from Trendy Feathers, is stamped with Gathered Twig DI. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Elle's Studio Sketch Thursday Challenge

Happy Sunday!  I have a card today that I'm entering in Elle's Studio Thursday Sketch Challenge.  The sketch is for a scrapbook layout, but since I don't currently scrapbook I decided to use it to make a card.

And now for my card, using the Cienna line and Elle's April stamps.

Hope it inspires, thanks for stopping by!

Just a Note

Today I have a card that I made after being supremely INSPIRED by the Stamplorations ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop!  I was blown away by all the gorgeous cards the designers made using humble stencils.  Now I've collected quite a few stencils over my crafting years, but to be honest I've not used them very much at all.  Seeing all the wonderful things you can do with a stencil over at Stamplorations inspired me to pull mine out and come up with a card.

I used 3 different stencils for my card, the large dot (used Tumbled Glass DI), the chevron (used Cracked Pistachio DI), and the tiny dots (used Wplus9 Cockleshell ink).  I blended the inks more heavily at the bottom and then lighter at the top to create a sort of Bokeh affect.  The stamped images are from Stamplorations.  The main panel is cut with a die from Winnie & Walter.

This was a very simple card to create, now I need to get brave and try some of the more challenging stencil techniques the DT shared.  I created a Pinterest board with lots of the stencil ideas shared by the DT, if you'd like you can check it out HERE.

Thanks for stopping by and have a terrific weekend!

In Focus with Gayatri Murali

Hello!  I have a card to share today that I made for the In Focus with Gayatri Murali challenge over at Winnie & Walter.  This challenge is all about the inlaid die technique.  It was fun to stretch myself for this, I've never done anything quite like it.

I used Gayatri's instructions to make this card.  I first stamped the long, solid triangle from Winnie & Walters Scenery: Rectangled & Triangled using Wplus9's Storybook collection of inks onto white card stock.  Then I cut the big word "hi" (In a Word: Hi Cutaway).  Next I cut the word "hi" from black card stock 8 times and glued them together, finally gluing the stamped "hi" on top.  The word "friend" (In a Word: Friend Cutaway), was cut from black card stock, and is covered with glossy accents which you can't quite tell in my photo but it looks great in person!  Mounted everything on a black card stock base, and added some black sequins.

Hop on over to the Winnie & Walter blog if you'd like to have a go at this technique, it's FUN!

Have a Beautiful Day

I made a card several days ago using the Essentials by Ellen Mondo Magnolia stamp set and I posted it on Instagram but forgot to put it here on my blog.  I've just recently started using Instagram and I'm really enjoying it.  The first picture I tried posting on it was very blurry, I discovered that the secret for me to get a decent picture with my shaky hands was to sit my phone on something to completely steady it before I snap the picture.  It's so easy to edit the pictures in Instagram too, which I like very much!  Anyway, here is the card I made.

I stamped the flower on vellum and embossed in gold, then colored on the backside of the vellum with Copics.  The watercolor underneath the sentiment was done with Picked Raspberry distress ink.  I just LOVE this Mondo Magnolia stamp set and dies, so many creative possibilities with them!

Esssentials by Ellen May Pin-Sight Challenge

Hello everyone!  As I was looking at my email this morning I saw this inspiring photo for the Essentials by Ellen May Pin-Sight Challenge and immediately knew the card I wanted to make!

The first 2 things that caught my attention were the sweet little heart and the gorgeous, soft colored flowers!

The Essentials by Ellen Wild Garden flower dies were just perfect for this project!  I cut a variety of the flowers in soft colors and placed them in my heart.  The heart (cut with a MFT die), was popped up on 2 layers of foam tape to give it a shadow box affect.  I placed a layer of PTI tiny dot vellum over top.  The sentiment is from the Essentials by Ellen Mondo Magnolia stamp set.  I love how this turned out :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today, have a good one!

Essentials by Ellen May Mix It Up Challenge

Hello!  I have a card to share today that I made for the current Essentials by Ellen Mix It Up challenge.

I placed my first order with Ellen Hudson recently, and I cannot tell you how impressed I am with their service (FAST shipping), and the quality of the products I ordered (and their packaging is fabulous too!)  I used the Mondo Magnolia stamp set and die to make my flower; the paper is from the Heidi Swapp 6X6 Favorite Things paper pad.  The little cluster of buds next to the word "hello" were cut with the Essentials by Ellen Wild Garden die set.  The pink scalloped frame is from PTI.  I added some glossy accents to the word "hello" (which I fussy cut), and some Wink of Stella to the center of the flower and the buds.  The Avery Elle products I used on my card are from their Custom Panels Die set (the curved edge die underneath the sentiment, and the full card die to cut the black and white striped paper).  I'm looking forward to seeing what new products Essentials by Ellen has coming, love their style!

Thanks for stopping by today, have a fabulous weekend!