Another Technique from the ESCR Retreat!

My BFF, Linda showed us a fantastic technique with Distress Oxide inks and silhouette type or outline) images to make quick and easy cards.

Her technique is to apply ink to cover a whole card face...that way you get two cards out of it when you cut it in half.

After the distress ink is dried you can go back in and apply the  powder buddy and then stamp with versamark and white emboss your image (or stamp with black ink and then emboss with clear)

I have several examples I will share here with you!

 this is one that when cut in half allows you to get two cards from the sponged area.

And since this was created with bright and cheery colors I thought it would make a great birthday card, I chose to add a die in black...nice and big and bold!  the image reminded me of the dandelion flower that we would pick as kids and blow the seeds all over and make a wish!!...I wouldn't think of doing that today!! LOL

I hope this has inspired you to get inky and blend some different colors to go for different looks and sentiments you plan to use!

Heart Hugs, friends!

Color Throwdown # 504 ~ Black - Copper - White

I am playing with Color Throwdown and was inspired by Marcia's card for this challenge using a beautiful Butterfly that was colored with the Lindy's Magical Powders.  No magical powders here, so I used some perfect "copper" from Perfect Pearls!

  I stamped a PTI Fourish and used the copper pearls, I also stamped a thin stripe on the side with an Impression Obsession rubber stamp and used the same copper perfect pearls.  My butterfly is a Hero Arts Delicate Butterfly Fancy

I added a couple of copper sequins to finish it off.

Heart Hugs, friends!

Filling up my Stash

Today I spent most of the day getting ready for the fall where I sell my cards at bible study.

You can guess that the most purchased cards are 

 sympathy

  praying for you

 thinking of you

then all the others..birthday, get well, anniversary, baby cards etc.

I selected one design and decided to make four or 5 of each kind...I had to mass produce in order to get the numbers I am needing and not spend so much time on each individual card.

Here are the cards I have so far:

I made four of these cards using PTI Forget me Not stamp set

 and a sentiment from Verve: Beautiful Things

I must admit to getting a little bored making the same card, so I changed up the 5th card with some extra stamping behind the die cut flower and turning the card with the fold at the top.

This is one of a kind, inspired by one of the MIM's where you stamp the image in a lighter color for the background.  The flower is from PTI: Stemmed Sentiments

Another  PTI: Stemmed Sentiments flower colored with copics, dry embossed with the Shape Shifter Circle I

Next I pulled out an Altenew stamp called:  Best Mom, I made four of them and had to color each one differently.  I used a technique I learned from the Altenew class by Kelly Lavetola (ONe Layer Wonders) when stamping a sentiment over a colored portion of the image.

I changed up the sentiments to a PTI set called Happy Hydrangea

Same Altenew stamp set, but white embossed on water color paper and colored with Zigs.  The sentiment is an SSS die cut.

Next I used a WPlus 9 stamp called Sympathy Lillies

I stamped it on PTI weathervane paper and white embossed it, then colored it with prismacolor pencils.  I have two cards with this same stamp, but I watercolored them.  I haven't put a sentiment on them yet, so I will post those tomorrow.  I think it is now time to get into comfy clothes and put my feet up for the night!

Thanks for taking the time to look at all these cards I made...I feel good about my progress, but it only takes one person to buy 10 at a time and I can be wiped out pretty quickly!

I still need more praying for you cards too!

Heart Hugs, friends!

Mail it Monday and a Sympathy

These cards are going out in the mail for Mail it Monday in time for the 4th of July!

I have a couple of aunts who are 95 and 93 and I send them cards often, couldn't let the 4th go by without a little card telling them I am thinking of them!

 PTI: Celebrate with a Bang
Li'l Inkers Stitched Stars
MFT Peek a Boo Square window

And about 6 months ago I met a lady in an assisted living facility.  I visited her every Wednesday and brought her communion and the Word...she would have been 95 this August.

She was a sweet and wise woman, she raised 5 children by herself and served in the military too!

You have heard the saying about people coming into your life for a reason, for a season or for a lifetime?  Well, she was in my life for a very short season, but she made an impact on my life.  She was full of wisdom and listened to my story and then provided me with thoughts in dealing with family issues.  She will be missed, but I am better for having known her!

 WPlus9 Sympathy Lillies
PTI Foret Me Not (sentiment)
vellum
copics

Heart Hugs, friends!

CAS Mix Up January Challenge

The January Challenge over at CAS Mix-Up is Cling-Wrap, stamping and your choice!

I had fun with this, but was a bit messy, I forgot to put on gloves!!

I used cling wrap to get the texture on the blue background after spritzing my brushos, I die cut the flower, and the round "Window Works", I then stamped and embossed the sentiment.

You really need to head over to the challenge and see all the awesome projects from the design team!

Heart Hugs, friends!

MIM A La Carte!

For the first MIM of the New Year 2017 A La Carte, Papertrey always gives us a chance to go back and play with a challenge that we were unable to do during the year.

I don't remember doing #276 Kraft & colored pencils with Melissa Phillips!

I pulled out Botanical Blocks III and stamped on kraft then colored with prisma colored pencils.

My card is mounted on a soft stone card that I embossed with the linen impression plate for a subtle background.  The sentiment is from Through the Trees.

Heart Hugs, friends!

Playing for fun

My BFF Linda was here with me in August and she brought a few stamps that she won from Stamplorations.  This set is from Dee's Artsy Impression called Smile.

I love that Lily and think it is a perfect flower for a sympathy card, so I made up three of them.

I colored them all with copics!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Be safe...with fires and hurricanes hitting our country, we need to be smart and be safe!

Praying for all my Floridian friends! 

Heart Hugs, friends!

Colored pencils and flowers

Hello friends!

I have been out of the craft room and have missed you all!

My husband and I were in Arizona for 6 days and from there we went to Coeur d'Alene Idaho, my family's favorite vacation spot for another 10 days!

I brought my prisma colored pencils with me along with a few stamped images thinking I really needed to practice my pencil coloring.  I still need to practice my pencil coloring...LOL!

But I decided to make up a few cards with some of the coloring.  I was kind of itching to get back into my studio!!

 Clearly Besotted:  Friends Forever

MFT: Textile Background (diagonal)

colored with prisma pencils, outlined with Copics C1, C2, C3

 PTI: Beautiful butterflies (sentiment)

 Clearly Besotted:   Friends Forever

Stampendous: Encouraging words

MFT: Zig Zag stitched rectangle

 

Avery Elle:  Floral Bouquet

MFT: Peek a Boo Square window

 Clearly Besotted:  Sunshine Smiles

 Penny Black: All great Things

MFT Single stitched line rectangle frame

Clearly Besotted Sunshine smiles;

MFT: Peek A Boo Square window

PTI botanical silhouettes (sentiment)

I have a few more colored pieces, but that is it for now...getting my stash built up!

Hope you all are having a fabulous day and will have a fabulous weekend!

Heart Hugs, friends!

Beyond Background Basics ~ Altenew Acadamy Class

Don't you LOVE friends who enable you?

MY BFF told me she signed up for this class, and even though I had received a notice about it, I really hadn't done anything about it, maybe because of the foot surgery, either way once I knew she was taking it, well, I simply had to take it also! And I am so glad I did.

Lydia Evans has 6 wonderful videos showing different ways of using yur stamps to get a cool background.

Stamps & Dies: Altenew Peony Bouquet; PTI Graceful Greetings

inks:  Altenew Summer Afternoon  cubes

Viva Pearl Pen, thread, vellum

Heart Hugs, friends!

Just Us Girls ~ BIRD

Just Us Girls # 346 Word Challenge ~ Bird ~

JUGS is ending today, but I managed to get a card made.

I used PTI Spring Woods and did a little masking and then sponging on distress ink.
(as well as a few splatters!)

My sentiment is from SSS Handwritten notes.

Today I am going for a knee procedure!
I am having a PRP procedure in both knees...
don't worry it is NOT invasive, I can go about my normal routine...no more no less, but am looking forward to doing more walking and not having pain in the future!
PRP= Platelet Rich Plasma

Heart Hugs, friends!

CASology # 199 FAST

I have so many of these little "Hummers" buzzing around my backyard and boy are they FAST!   When I saw the cue word for CASology, I knew I needed to use this stamp!

And of course another sympathy card!
stamps & dies:  WPlus9 Flora & Fauna
zip real clear brush pens

 
 

Heart Hugs, friends!

Colour Q # 343

I am looking at challenges for more sympathy inspiration.

I found one at the Colour Q # 343.

I saw this technique HERE and loved it and thought it would be perfect for a sympathy card.

stamps & die: HA Tall wheat, PTI Asian Fusion, PTI Happy Trails (butterfly)
distress inks:  abandoned cora, scattered straw
washi tape, sequins 
I layered the butterfly three times before adhering it into the space
While I was at it, I decided to make three of them, here are the other two:
I changed up the colors, but at least I have three sympathy cards now!

Heart Hugs, friends!