Monday FUNday

Hello friends.  Today is a Monday FUNday, and I have a very picture heavy post for you today as a result of watching a Jennifer McGuire video, and like Jennifer, I couldn't seem to stop at just one or two cards!  She calls this a Faux Metal Technique and you can watch her video on how to achieve this look right HERE.

You can get two cards from one quarter sheet of metallic or mirror cardstock and an embossing folder, and my first two cards start out with a piece of rose gold cardstock from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby).

 These were done with two different embossing folders, and here's a close up...

And here's the two cards using the other halves of the quarter sheet of rose gold cardstock...

And now let's change up the color a bit...

Isn't that blue so pretty?!!  I've used SSS's Vine Canopy 3D Embossing Folder for a lot of my cards on both the metallic cardstock and my card bases.

The other half of the quarter sheets of cardstock, and here's another close up...

These next two cards were done with a quarter sheet of Curious Metallic cardstock (thanks Birgit!!!) from CutCardStock, and it has more of a shimmer than metallic look to me, and very hard to photograph, but trust me, these two cards really do shimmer in real life!!

I used Tim Holtz's  3D Poinsettia embossing folder to create these two.

These two were embossed using a sheet of Mylar Shimmer Sheetz from Elizabeth Craft Designs.  I had bought a package of this stuff years ago to die cut with, and could not get it to cut worth beans!!  So I put it away and forgot about it!  But let me tell you, it embosses beautifully, and I wish I could have done justice to the shimmer and sheen you get with this...it's almost holographic!!  

And I finally found a partial sheet of red metallic mirror cardstock to create these two.  And here's a close up...

Are you still with me??!!  These cards were SO easy to make, and just plain fun!  I had to keep going so I could try the different types of metallic cardstocks I had on hand, and with each quarter sheet making two cards, well you can see why I ended up with so many cards and photos now!  Any favorites??  Personally I like them all!  If you have any questions about the dies or folders I used, just message me, and thanks for hanging out with me this morning on this looooooong post!  Happy Monday everyone!!  

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Color Hues #20 - AQUA & BLACK

Hello friends.  Today I'm playing along with the Color Hues Challenge where they are looking for cards with the colors AQUA and BLACK.

Such a pretty color combination!!  I love AQUA, and BLACK just totally pops off of it!  I could have made a 100 cards with this color combination, but unfortunately I only had time for one!!  Take a look:

I used The Greetery's Tartan Builder Diagonal stencils to make my plaid background with Gina K's Sea Glass and Ocean Mist inks.  I only used 3 of the 5 stencils that come with the set, but it really didn't need anything else as I wanted the background to stay soft looking.  I cut the panel down a little and matted it with a black mat before adhering both to a top folding white card base.

I used a couple Memory Box dies for my sentiment (Just a Note Posh Script) and the butterfly (Vivienne Butterfly) with black cardstock, and then finished simply with some glitter on the butterfly wings, a few clear gems, and a piece of black & white baker's twine.  Easy and simple but I love the way it turned out!

Make sure you check out all the beautiful inspiration from the DT right HERE and then play along with this lovely color combination!!  :0)

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #57 - CAS

Hello friends.  I'm playing along at The Flower Challenge today where they are looking for CAS flower cards!

CAS is one of my FAVORITE styles!!  So much so that I have 2 cards for you today!  Actually I really like how my 1st card came out, but then I got a couple new ink pads from The Stamp Market that I wanted to try out, and my card ended up being CAS so I'm just going to show you both!!

This is actually my 2nd card using my 2 new ink pads (Wisteria & Lilac) and The Greetery's Sketchbook Roses stamp set.  I only inked up part of the image and stamped it in the top left hand corner of my cardstock to keep my card CAS.  I cut off a 1/2 inch of the right hand side of my panel and then attached to a top folding card base, along with a 1/2 inch strip of black cardstock to the left hand side.  I finished it simply with a sentiment from the stamp set, and then added a piece of bakers twine.  Easy peasy and CAS!

And here is my 1st card using Altenew's Paint-A-Flower: Carnations which is a similar layout to my other card, but this one I water colored using some Distress Inks (Spun Sugar & Peeled Paint) and my Aqua Painter.  I added a strip of PTI's True Black Pattern Pack dsp to the left hand side, and then finished with a sentiment from Altenew's Essential Sentiment Strips Die Set that I die cut using a scrap piece of black cardstock.  I also added a few clear gems for just a tiny bit of bling.

I'll be adding this carnation card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge because both the stamp set and the die set have been sitting unused for quite some time!  And of course now that I've used them both I'm wondering why I took so long??!!

You still have a few days left to play along at The Flower Challenge (till Friday the 25th), and there's lots of beautiful inspiration from the DT to guide you along if you need help with CAS...just remember to use LOTS of WHITE space!!  :0)

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Twofer Challenge #39 Reminder

Hello friends.  Marcia here with a friendly reminder that there's still time to play along with us at The Twofer Challenge this month until the 24th.  The theme this month is SUNSHINE!!

Remember that to play along with this challenge you need to create 2 cards using the same stamp, die, or stencil on both cards, and the design and occasion for each card must be different.  

I used an older MFT SUNSHINE die on my encouragement and thank you cards.  Take a look...

I'm on a bit of a MFT kick this month, and used 2 different Pure Innocence images, as they both reflected SUNSHINE so perfectly to me!  Let's take a look at my encouragement card first...

 For this card I started with my background first, and used the SUNSHINE die to make a stencil and then stenciled just a portion of the SUN in the upper right hand corner with Wild Dandelion ink (Gina K).  Next I stamped the image of the little girl and her unicorn floaty (MFT's Sunny Days Ahead) on my panel and then stamped her again on a piece of copy paper to make a mask.  After adding a bit of two way glue to the back of my mask, I covered the stamped panel with the mask and finished my background.  I started blending from the bottom up and added sand, water, and just a few clouds using a cloud stencil (A Colorful Life Designs). 

 At this point I removed my mask and then used my Copics to color the little girl...all except for her swimsuit which I paper pieced using some of PTI's Bitty Big DSP in Raspberry Fizz.  The sentiment is one that is included in the Sunny Days Ahead set.  I attached the panel to a crimped panel (The Greetery's Crimped Frame Dies) and attached both to my card base on an angle.

For my Thank You card I used the same MFT SUNSHINE die and die cut it directly from my top panel, removed it and ink blended it up with Wild Dandelion ink (Gina K), and then inlaid it back into my panel.  For this card I colored up and die cut one of the MFT Pure Innocence girls from the Sweet Summertime set, and then added some pop dots behind her for a little dimension.  The sentiment is also from the same stamp set.

And here's the inside where I partially stamped the little girl and the thank you sentiment that also comes with the set.  Edited to add:  The Inspired By Challenge is looking for watermelon cards, so my 2nd card fits perfectly with this challenge and I'm linking it up!

 

So there you have another two examples of using SUNSHINE on two different cards for two different occasions.  We can't wait to see YOU in the gallery, so come play along with us right HERE.  Remember that this challenge is open till the 24th. 

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

CAS Christmas June 2021 Reminder - SNOWMAN

Hello friends.  Just a quick reminder that there's still time to play along with us at the CAS Christmas Challenge, where our hostess Hideko is looking for a SNOWMAN on your CAS Christmas card.

I used an oldie but a goody stamp from Impression Obsession (E8311) to come up with this cute little 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 square card...

I colored my image of the mama snowman and her baby with my Copics, and then framed them with a PB Snowflake Stitch Frame.  I added a little bit of Distress Glitter (TH) to the snow and snowmen, and added my sentiment from PTI's Stylish Sentiments: Holiday.

Lots of really ADORABLE snowmen from our DT and Special GD Steph to give you inspiration, so check it all out right HERE and play along to get a head start on those Christmas cards!  This challenge is open till the 24th.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

CAS Mix Up June Watercolour Challenge - FLIGHT

Hello friends.  Playing along with the CAS Mix Up Challenge today, and this month technique is WATER COLOR and the theme of FLIGHT.

 

Here is what I came up with:

I used a smooshing on acetate technique to water color my butterfly...this technique makes me feel like I have a little more control over where my color ends up!  I started first by embossing my butterfly image in gold (PFS - Butterflies) and then die cut with the coordinating dies, and then started the smooshing process.  I started with the pink color (Spun Sugar Distress Ink), and then when dry added the Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink color.  

 Here's a close up so you can see my smooshing a bit better.  Before adding my butterfly to my card base, I added a Lace Border Die cut (Concord & 9th) to the left hand side of my card base to add a bit of definition to it, and then finished off with the sentiment which also comes from the PFS Butterflies set, and a few clear gems.  Pretty simple card but I love how it turned out!!

There are some STUNNING cards from the CAS DT to give you more inspiration and you can check it all out right HERE.  This challenge is open till the 24th.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Twofer Challenge #39 - SUNSHINE

Hello friends.  It's time for another challenge here at The Twofer Challenge, and this month we're looking for SUNSHINE on both of your cards.

 

Remember to use the same stamp, stencil, or die using the keyword SUNSHINE and to create two distinctly different layouts for two different occasions, and have FUN playing along with us this month!

Most of you that follow me know that I've been pretty hooked on a company called Pinkfresh Studio lately, and am head over heels in love with their 2, 3, 4, & 5 layer stencils!  And they just so happen to have a 3 layered stencil set called Layered Sunbursts that worked beautifully for this challenge!  Take a look:

Since it is almost technically Summer, I thought a Summer birthday card and a Summer note card would fit the bill nicely using this sunburst stencil.  Let's start with the notecard...

I started by blending VERY lightly Gina K's Wild Dandelion ink for the 1st layer, proceeded to the 2nd stencil layer and using the same ink, but with a bit heavier hand, and then finished with the 3rd stencil layer and again the same ink but with a very heavy hand, and ended up with this bold and bright sunshiny background.

    I die cut my stenciled layer with The Greetery's Crimped Frame Dies and attached to a white card base, before adding my sentiment and adorable little girl from MFT's Drink Up The Sunshine set.  I also added a wobbler to the back of the little girl for some fun action, and I think my oldest granddaughter Addy will get a kick out of this card sometime this Summer (maybe with a little gift card inside to use for an ice cream treat!).  

For my birthday card, I used the same stencils for the background, but changed up the color for the 3rd layer and used PTI's Summer Sunrise ink which has a hint of orange in it.  Next I added a layer of waves that I stenciled using PTI's Sun & Surf Stencil Collection and Salty Ocean Distress Ink, and added to the bottom of the card.  I also added some WOS to the waves but of course I couldn't capture the shimmer on camera...grrrrr!  

 My cute little shark is from MFT's Baby Shark dies, and I pop dotted him to the side of the card and then added a sentiment strip from the Drink Up The Sunshine set (MFT).  Really love how this one turned out and already have a recipient in mind to send it to this Summer!

The DT and our special GD's Veana and Daphne all have FABULOUS cards to share with you for inspiration, and you can check it all out right HERE to play along with us.  We can't wait to see YOU in the gallery with your two DIFFERENT occasion cards using the same stamp, stencil, or die with the prompt SUNSHINE!!  This challenge is open till the 24th.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Christmas Kickstart #51 - The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care

Hello friends.  Today I'm playing along with the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where they are looking for STOCKINGS on our Christmas cards!

I used an older Avery Elle stamp set called Stockings and came up with this CAS cutie...

I started by using the Brick Wall Die (The Greetery) on the top half of my panel to mimic a fireplace since I don't own a fireplace stamp, and then stamped the stocking image below.  I used PTI's Bitty Big DSP in Pure Poppy and Simply Chartreuse to paper piece the stockings rather than color them.

I did color in the pompoms with a Copic and then added Glossy Accents to add a little shine to the card.  My sentiment also comes from the Stockings stamp set and worked out perfectly for this challenge!  

Check out what Jo and her Special GD elf Cindy C came up with to inspire you HERE and then play along to get a head start on those Christmas cards...it really will be here before you know it!

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Color Hues #19 - BLUE & BROWN

Hello friends.  Playing along with the current Color Hues Challenge today, where they are looking for BLUE & BROWN.

My sweet friend Michele and I had a play date last week and used the Blue & Brown color theme to make a background using the new Tartan Builder Stencils from The Greetery, and then did our own thing with our backgrounds.  I actually have 2 cards to share as I wasn't too sure I liked my plaid card at first, but it's grown on me!  I'm not much of a masculine card maker, but these will do!!

I used Gina K and Pinkfresh Studio inks to stencil my plaid background, and then framed it using kraft cardstock and a die cut frame from PTI's Pierced Feature Frame Dies.  My little birdie was die cut using Ink To Paper's Feathered Friends 2 Dies with kraft and Early Espresso (SU!) cardstocks and a snippet of kraft polka dotted dsp (PTI).  The little twig wreath was a sweet gift from my friend Birgit and is from Creative Expressions dies.  I added some bakers twine and a tiny tag (PTI for the tag die and The Greetery for the sentiment) at the top to balance the card out a bit.  

 My 2nd card started with a bit of ink blending and masking off the left hand side and bottom with some washi tape.  The brown ink is Gina K's Warm Cocoa and the blue is Pinkfresh Studios Blue Jay ink.  I inked up the lighthouse and birds from Gina K's By The Sea 1 stamp set using Early Espresso ink (SU!), and then matted with a piece of Soft Suede cardstock (SU!) before attaching to a white card base.

I just love ink blending, and think these 2 colors work perfectly together for the background of my nautical card!  I'm thinking it will make a great Father's Day card for one of my girls to give their dad in a couple weeks!

So there you have my take on the BLUE & BROWN challenge, and I can't wait to see what my sweet friend Michele came up with using the Tartan Plaid Builder stencils too!  There is also LOTS of BEAUTIFUL inspiration from the Color Hues DT, and you can check it all out right HERE to play along.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!