Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Well Done, Graduate!

I needed a card for a friend's son who is graduating from High School next week.  I only have a few graduation stamps and was trying to think of a good design when I  remembered a free digital graduation cap pattern I found from The Toymaker and I made this!
You can print it in black like below - or in white and add your own school colors.
I printed the digital cap on white cardstock, cut it out and quickly assembled it. The top measures 3 3/4" x 3 3/4".  The bottom of the box is 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" graduating in a bit to the top.
 The cap opens so you can put a gift inside.  I rolled up some cash and tied it with a piece of wrinkled seam tape.
All the stamps I used are from two retired Waltzingmouse sets, Free Spirit Boy and Free Spirit Sentiments.


I added the tassel using a large brad through the top of the cap.  There is a paper tassel with the digi image pattern.

I'm linking my graduation card to:
Graduation

The Influence of a Good Teacher can never be erased. 
(a student can't graduate without having had good teachers!)


Stamps:  Free Spirit Boy, Free Spirit Sentiments - Waltzingmouse (retired)
Paper:  White, Summer Sunrise - PTI
Ink:  True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Free digital pattern images -  The Toymaker, tassel, large brad, oval punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Word Window Punch - SU, Tombow Glue

Monday, May 20, 2019

Let's Shell-ebrate - Eileen Hulls new Embossing Powders!

Eileen Hull, along with Emerald Creek, has just released some beautiful Molten Dimensions Embossing Powders and her Inspiration Team will be posting projects using them all month.  They will be gathered over at Eileen's Blog so be sure to check it out!
 Today, I'm sharing a project that I used the gorgeous Aqua Splash Molten Dimensions Powder on.  When I tried it out, the look of it immediately made me think of the ocean, and the beach, which then made me think shells!
Kent and I have spent several vacations on Sanibel Island, FL  which is known for the wonderful shells on all it's beaches - and I have several bags of them!  I was happy to get them out and finally use some!
First, I die cut the pieces of  Eileen's Basket die out of Little Sizzles Mat Board.  I stamped the pieces with Versamark and poured the Aqua Splash over them -  the powder is so grainy that not much stuck when I tapped off the excess -  so I sprinkled a little more on each piece.  I started heating the pieces with my heat tool from below, holding the piece in a pair of tweezers.  As the powder started to melt, I held my heat tool above the panel holding it about 5" above so as not to blow off any loose pieces, moving it closer as it really started to melt.
And what a gorgeous result! It really does look like the foaming ocean!  There are white and aqua bits mixed and also spaces that show of the matboard.  I was going to sponge over the edges but decided I like the clean white and aqua colors!
I didn't die cut the handles or the rims from the basket die - but wanted to have something nautical looking on the basket somehow.  So I got out Eileen's Twist and Style tool, cut a piece of twine about 10 feet long, folded it in half and then in half again, looped it onto the Twist and Style tool and made a piece that looks like the thick rope you see on docks and boats!
The twist won't stay tight on twine like it does if you use wire with the tool, so as I adhered it to the rim of the basket with my hot glue gun, I kept re-twisting it as I moved along the edge.  And it gave me just the look I was hoping for!  A nice thick twisted piece of twine!
I used my hot glue gun to adhere some shells on the back of the basket as well.
I die cut one of the circles from Eileen's Book Plate Hinges and Label set for the stamped sentiment and added the flip flop stickers along with the fence, bird and another shell.
So please check out Eileen's Blog all this month to see what projects the Inspiration Team is creating using these lovely new powders from Emerald Creek and Eileen Hull!

Also linking my Shell-ebrate basket to:
Try it on Tuesday: Let's Party 



Stamps:  Fence Line Summer - Papertey Ink.
Paper:  Little Sizzles Matboard - Sizzix, white - Papertrey Ink.
Ink:  ersamark, Limestone, Silver Stone, Industrial Diamond, Rocky Shore - Altenew.
Accessories:  Basket Die, Bookplate Hinges and Label Dies, Twist and Style Tool- Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Fence Line Summer Die Set - Papertrey Ink, Aqua Splash Molten Dimensions - Eileen Hull/Emerald Creek, shells from Sanibel Island, Flip Flop Stickers - Michaels, hot glue gun

Saturday, May 18, 2019

May CAS Stencil Challenge - Mid Month Reminder!

I'm here today to remind you there is still time to participate in the May CAS Stencil Card Challenge!
For my card today - I simply sponged over the stencil using black ink onto a bright piece of patterned paper.
I used a newly purchased stencil by Alexandra Renke called Lotus Ornament.  It's a 6"x6" stencil and I wasn't sure if I'd cut it in half or use the full stenciling so I stenciled it right in the center of the piece of patterned paper (Rainbow Bright 6x6 Double Sided papers/Sunny Studio.)
I die cut the Reverse Stitched Scalloped Circle Window out of a panel of white card and laid it over the stenciling to see how much showed through - and most of it did!  So I trimmed the patterned paper to fit behind the panel.  I adhered the white panel over the stenciling with foam dots and then layered it all to a white card base.  I stamped the sentiment from A-mazing by Neat and Tangled on a die cut sentiment strip from MFT, also using foam dots.  Inside, I stamped a birthday sentiment.

The challenge is open through May 24th so please come and show us how you stencil over a colored background with a CAS design!  You'll find lots of inspiration from the rest of the Design Team over at CAS Stencil Card challenge here.

Also linking my card to:
AAA Birthday 

Just Us Girls

 


Stamps:  A-mazing - Neat and Tangled
Paper:  white - PTI, Rainbowe Bright 6x6 pack - Sunny Sudio
Ink:  Black - Hero Arts
Accessories:  Lotus Ornament Stencil - Alexandra Renke, Reverse Stitched Scalloped Circle Windows dies - Lawn Fawn, Sentiment Strips dies - MFT, foam dots.

Sunday, May 12, 2019

I am Inspired by Your Strength

I have a card to share today that I made for several challenges.
I used a beautiful digi image from A Day for Daisies and a sentiment from Typed Sentiments by Neat and Tangled.
I printed the image on a piece of white card stock and then colored it with Copics.  I die cut it with Pierced Feature Frames: Rectangles from PTI.  I layered a piece of striped patterned paper over the white card base, layered the outside frame with foam dots and adhered the image panel inside the frame.

I'm linking my card to:
Splitcoaststampers 
for a special lady

Flowers all year round in May


Stamps:  Poppies Fairy - digi image from A Day for Daisies, Typed Sentiments - Neat and Tangled.
Paper:  White - PTI, Rainbow Bright 6x6 Paper Pad - Sunny Studio
Ink:  True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Copics RV29, BG11, G20, E00, foam dots, Pierced Feature Frame: rectangles die - PTI.

Friday, May 10, 2019

May Your Coffee be Strong - final card for the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Here's my final (I think!?!) card for the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!  It all ends today!
I just purchased this wonderful stamp set, Coffee with a Splash from Altenew.  It comes with several sentiments that can be used for all kinds of occasions and has several coffee cups as well as coffee circle stains!  
To create the background, I smooshed a watercolor paper panel onto my craft mat where I had rubbed Ranger Distress Tattered Rose ink and spritzed with water,  then I did the same with Ranger Distress Oxide Tattered Rose and finally Ranger Distress Oxide Vintage Photo.  I stamped the coffee cup using Ranger Distress Oxide Walnut Stain.   I die cut the panel with Pierced Feature Frames: Rectangles from PTI and popped the outside frame onto the card base with foam dots.  Then I adhered the inside panel inside the frame.  I stamped the sentiment on a strip of watercolor paper that I had smooshed with the Distress Tattered Rose and popped it up on foam dots. I added a tiny pink enamel heart to the coffee cup.

What a fun week it has been creating coffee/tea cards for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!  I was lucky enough to already have won a flash prize over on the Coffee Lovers FB page on Wednesday!  A huge thank you to Amy and her crew who puts this massive blog hop together twice a year and thanks also to all of the wonderful sponsors who offer prizes for us!

Stamps:  Coffee with a Splash - Altenew
Paper:  Water color paper - Canson,  White - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Tattered Rose, Ranger Distress Oxide Tattered Rose, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo.
Accessories:  Pierced Feature Frames: Rectangles - PTI, foam dots, craft mat, water mister, enamel heart - Altenew

Thursday, May 9, 2019

CELEBRATE - Coffee Lovers Spring Summer Blog Hop

Here's my third card for the Spring Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!  
For today's card, I used this lovely digital image that Shery, owner of STAMPlorations, offered for free for the blog hop.
I printed the image off my computer, sizing it to fit on an A2 card.  I colored it with various Copics, trying to limit the number of colors I used, and using soft spring/summer colors!  
I brushed over the blue flowers as well as the cupcake paper with a Clear Glitter Wink of Stella - so they sparkle in the light!  Hopefully you can see some of the shimmer on the close ups below.
I also added a Tiny Twinkle to the center of each flower.
I used Birthday Top Edges die from Impression Obsession to die cut the sentiment, using the same patterned paper that I used behind my image panel.

Tomorrow's the last day of the hop -  so if you're thinking of creating a summer/spring coffee/tea themed card you better link it up soon!  There are hundreds of prizes to be one for randomly chosen creations! 
Paper:  White - PTI, DP Spring Fling 6x6 Paper Pad - Lawn Fawn.
Accessories:  free digital image - STAMPlorations, Birthday Top Edges die - Impression Obsession, Copics: R00, R20, BG10, BG11, YG03, YG05, E59, E35, R29, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, Tombow Glue, Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions (no longer available).

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Coffee Lovers Spring/Summer Blog Hop - A Cup of Tea

Here's my 2nd card for the Coffee Lovers Spring/Summer Blog Hop.
I sponged Ranger Distress Oxide Inks in Salty Ocean and Antique Linen over this Tea Cup stencil from Stencil Girl.   I stenciled directly on a piece of patterned paper and added Tiny Twinkles over the dots in the steam.  The sentiment is from Tea Time by Penny Black.

You have to check out all of the sponsors and ALL of the prizes available to win randomly by linking up your Spring/Summer themed coffee/tea card over at the Coffee Lovers Blog!

Stamps:  Tea Time - Penny Black
Paper:  White, Honey Nut - PTI, DP Howdy Doody Paper Pad - Miss Caroline
Ink:  True Black - PTI, Ranger Distress Oxide Salty Ocean, Antique Linen
Accessories:  Tea cup stencil - Stencil Girl, Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expression, Tombow Glue.

Saturday, May 4, 2019

May CAS Stencil Card Challenge - Stenciling Over Coloured Background

It's time for the May CAS Stencil Challenge!  Sue is our hostess with the mostest this month an she wants us to stencil over a coloured background. 
I checked out this video posted on the challenge site for inspiration:
  Stenciling over Ink Blended Backgrounds by Kristina Werner (first 3 minutes).
I created my first colored background using the same Ranger Distress Ink colors Kristina did (Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry then Seedless Preserves through the stencil) just to see how the technique all worked!  The idea is (I think!) to use the darkest color over the stencil.  I used white card as my base - Kristina used kraft card.
I used a recently purchased stencil from AALL and Create #31 Bohemian, laying it over the panel and inking it with Seedless Preserves.
I love this stencil - not only the design, but whatever plastic it's made of.  It is very sturdy and cleans up with just a quick rinse! 
(I have found that thinner plastic stencils can lift up and bend on delicate designs when you sponge over them.)
I cut the panel in half to make my card CAS and added die cut HUGS (I layered 3 cuts to make it stand out).  I stamped the sentiment on a white strip and adhered it above the die cut.
Then I thought I'd try some lighter spring colors to see how they worked out.  I used Squeezed Lemonade and Twisted Cintron on a white card panel.
I used the same stencil.
I sponged over the stencil using Ripe Persimmon
Such a different look just changing the colors used!

Here are the two sets of cards side by side.



So please try out this stenciling technique and link up your CAS design over at the CAS Stencil Challenge Blog!  Check out all the lovely inspiration from the Design Team as well as from our wonderful May Guest Designer Michelle!  You have until 5/24 to play along!


Stamps:  Sentiment Set - Hero Arts
Paper:  White, Green Parakeet, Amethyst Allure - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Cintron, Ripe Persimmon, True Black - PTI
Accesories:  Stencil #31 - AALL and Create, Big Hugs Dies - PTI, Tombow Glue.