Embossed Roses for Three Occasions

 Today I was inspired to join in with the Color Hues Challenge.  I had this Rose Bouquet Embossing folder from Altenew out on my craft table as I used it a few days ago to make a card for a friend.  I thought it would work perfectly with the Coral/Green colors.

I embossed the white card panel and then used blender brushes to add the colors.  The sentiment is a Better Press Plate and Die set from Spellbinders.

I ended up making three cards for three different occasions.  The sponging of ink comes out differently on each card.  I start in the center where the ink will be the darkest and then brush out to the edges.  

I think the Sympathy card came out with the smoothest blending of color but I like them all.

I'm sending my Birthday card to:

Color Hues

ends 6/14

Tic Tac Toe

Layers, Free, Floral

ends 1/19

Seize the Birthday

ends 6/27

Try it on Tuesday

In The Garden  ends 6/23

Paper:  White - PTI

Ink: Black Better Press - Spellbinders, Abandoned Coral, Mowed Lawn - Ranger Distress.

Other Supplies:  Rose Bouquet Embossing Folder - Altenew, You are Everything Sentiments - Better Press Plate and Die Set - Spellbinders, foam dots.

Frosty the Snowman Bunny

 It's definitely time for me to be focusing on getting more Christmas cards done!  I was out of stamping commission for 3 months after having surgery for a torn rotator cuff on my right shoulder - but thanks  to physical therapy, I'm regaining movement and strength and can once again enjoy stamping sessions in the craft room!

The lovely framing was made using Punch & Pierce Plate from Spellbinders.  The stamps are all Colorado Craft.  I lightly colored with Copics.  I sponged the sky around the images. I added 3 confetti snowflakes. The frame is up on foam dots.

I'm joining in with the following Christmas challenges:

Christmas Kick Start

ends 6/30

Peace on Earth Christmas

Ends 6/12

Christmas Crafts All Year Round

Frosty the Snowman Song  ends 6/30

NBUS

First time using this bunny snowman Colorado Craft stamp set

Sparkles Christmas Challenge

Include the word Merry  ends 6/29

 (thank you Kate for recommending I link to this challenge!)

Stamps: Flurries of Fun, Sentiment from Christmas Hats - Colorado Crafts
Ink: Ranger Distress Speckled Egg, Nocturne - Versafine Clair
Paper: White - Papertrey Ink
Other Supplies: Infinity Punch and Pierce Plate Die - Spellbinders, Snow Flakes - This Calls for Confetti, COPICS - C1, E51, N10, YR09, R27, black gems - Papertrey Ink, foam dots.

Inkspirational #343 - June Mood Board

 There's a new challenge up at Inkspirational today!  

It's Challenge #343 and it's a colorful, summery Moodboard!

I was inspired by the colors and the flowers and the mix of patterns!

How will you be inspired by this Moodboard!  Please show us by linking your card over at the Inkspirational Blog!

Challenge ends on June 20th!

Also sending my card to:

Just Us Girls

ends 6/12

Time Out Challenges

Pick two -  repeat - 3 flowers, bold - colors, place - garden, weather - spring  ends 6/18

I.D.E.A.S

Week one - Ink or color mediums

I used Copics to color by daisies

Paper:  White - PTI, Hammered White (on flowers) - Amazon, DP - Hello Sunshine - Taylored Expressions.

Ink:  Better Press Black - Spellbinders, Ranger Distress Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade and Mowed Lawn.

Other Supplies:  Thinlits Wild Flower Stems #1 dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Love to Layer Scalloped Ovals - Papertrey Ink,  Press Plate and Die Set - You Are Everything (sentiment) -  Better Press: Spellbinders, Copics - YR09, N10, YG03, foam dots, Enamel Dots - Altenew

May Group of Seven Cardmakers - Batik

 This month, the Group of Seven Cardmakers are playing with the technique of Faux Batik.  

There are lots of YouTube videos on the technique all using slightly different methods! Several are linked over at the Group of Seven blog.

Here are some photos of the steps.

                       

 

                              

                                                   

I have to say, I found it difficult to choose colors and stamps that ended up with something I liked - it all ends up a bit dark for me.  

The rest of the Group of 7 Cardmakers had greater success than me with this technique!

Please give Faux Batik a try and link up your creations over at The Group of Seven Cardmakers blog.  I'd love to see what colors and stamps you used!  

Also sending my card to:

Shopping our Stash

By the Numbers - use at least one number ends 6/2

I.D.E.A.S

Week 4  Anything Goes

clear embossing

Stamps:  Sparkler Background Stamp - The Greetery, 4th of July stamp/Let Freedom Ring - PTI (retired),  Freedom and Liberty stamp/Army - The Greeting Farm (retired)

Ink:  Warm Breeze, Strawberry, Verdant, Portobello, Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Versamark.

Paper:  White - PTI

Other Supplies: Heat Tool, blender brushes, clear embossing powder, embossing pillow, 1 38" circle punch - SU.

Inkspirational Challenge#342 - Word Prompt

 Inkspirational Challenge #342 is just up over at the blog!  It's a Word Prompt.

My celebration is a Wedding Anniversary!

I took a Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Paper Doll, which is black and white, and colored the bouquet, the hands and faces and the mans' lapel corsage using Distress Water Color Pencils and a Water Brush Pen.  The designer papers are from Worn Wallpaper Scraps also from Tim/Idea-ology.  The couple are popped up on foam dots.  I stamped the Happy Anniversary from Sentiment Suite:Love from The Greetery and added a green enamel heart from Altenew.

How does Celebrate speak to you??  Please join us and link up your celebratory card over at Inkspirational where you'll also find some wonderful inspiration from the rest of the team!  

This challenge ends on 6/6!

Also sending my card to:

Double D Challenge

ends 6/1

Inspired by the green heart and florals

Love Those Pretty Papers - Optional - Florals

ends 5/31

Creative Artiste -  Mixed Media

ends 6/1

Stamps:  Sentiment Suite: Love - The Greetery

Paper:  White card base - PTI, DP Worn Wall Paper Scraps - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

Ink:  Nocturne Versafine Clair

Other Supplies:  Distress Watercolor Pencils - Tumbled Glass, Crushed Olive, Tattered Rose - Tim Holtz/Ranger, water brush pen, Paperdolls - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, enamel heart - Altenew.

Inkspirational #341 - Hot Day at the Beach

 It's time for Inkspirational Challenge #341 - Designers Choice!  

Marlena is the designer to choose the challenge - and here it is!

I created a scene of a hot summers night at the beach as the sun is finally setting, with a hot fire crackling in the fire pit.

I made the background by first stamping the half sun, then masking it and simply rubbing the ink pads over the panel - Mustard Seed for the yellow sky, Arctic for the ocean and Sand Dune for the beach. I stamped and off-stamped the beach grass in Portabello.

The stamps and dies are all from Better at the Beach from Papertrey Ink. (they have the stamps but not the dies right now)

I added Clear Glitter Wink of Stella along the sky line and on the flames of the fire for a little sparkle - hopefully you can see it on the close up below.

So what does HOT make you think of?  food?  Summer? fire?  We hope you'll join us at Inkspirational and link up your cards!   You'll find lovely inspiration from the rest of the DT over at Inkspirational!

This challenge ends on May 23rd.

Also sending my card to:

Cardz 4 Guyz

Body of Water  ends 5/13

Creative Inspirations

The Great Outdoors - ends May 31

Die Cut Divas

Make it look like water coloring 

(my rubbed inkpad background)

ends 5/31

Stamps:  Better at the Beach - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Mustard Seed Ranger Distress, Russet Orange - Elements, Arctic, Portabello, Sand Dune, Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Cocoa Bean - Papertrey Ink.

Paper:  white, Fine Linen, Soft Stone - Papertrey Ink.

Other Supplies:  Better at the Beach Dies - Papertrey Ink, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, mask tape, foam dots.

Better Press Poppies

 So, I had right shoulder torn rotator cuff surgery at the end of March, and I have been in a bulky sling 24/7 so unable to stamp (or do much of anything!)  My sling comes off next Wednesday. I've already been going to PT and that will continue 8 more weeks.    

But none of the above stopped me from purchasing new stamping supplies!  

So one of my new purchases (after seeing so many of you creating with them and denying that I needed it for a year) was the Spellbinders Better Press.   

After looking at it in the box for two weeks - today I got it out to see if I could play with it with my limited arm use!

I used the Poppy Background Press Plate and Stencil set and the You Are Everything Sentiments Press Plate and Die set - all from BetterPress/Spellbinders.

I found inspiration from the following challenges:

Color Hues

Blue and Yellow  ends 5/14

  

Double D Challenge

Spring Flowers  ends 5/4

The Card Concept

colors blue and yellow and spring

Clean and Layered  ends 5/12

NBUS

First time using the

Better press Poppy Background and stencils
 

Paper:  Better Press Cotton Panel, watercolor paper - Canson Cold Press

Ink:  BetterPress Black - Spellbinders, Ranger Distress Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Broken China.

Other supplies:  Better Press - Spellbinders, Poppy Background and Stencils set - Better Press/Spellbindes, You Are Everything Sentiments Press Plate and Die Set - Spellbinders, blender brushes, foam dots, Enamel Dots - Altenew.