I recently won this adorable girl-gnome die by Simon Says Stamp and had to cut her out right away. I used paper by SugarPea Designs, with that cute little row of houses and trees on it..and a stamped holiday banner as my sentiment. Some glitter GumDrops by Your Next Stamp are the finishing touches on this whimsical design.
As I went through some old boxes in my garage a few weeks ago, I came across a wooden artist supply case that I have had since high school. I put it aside, and finally looked inside to see what I had kept over the years. To my delight, I found an assortment of paintbrushes, some pastels, and a small box of tiny watercolor paint tubes that had never been opened. Thinking that they were probably dried out, I opened them up the other night and found they are all in perfect condition! The best part though, is that the price tag was still on the box...$1.98. That made it even better!
So, of course, I had to pull out some rough textured watercolor paper and make a nice, crafty mess. I swept paint across and then splattered, with no real plan. I ended up with five different bases, in different sizes and colors. This morning, as I looked at this one, a slimline card was the obvious choice.
My floral image is by Gina K. Designs, from the I Admire You set, and the die cut sentiment is by Impression Obsession. I added a strip of inked, patterned paper along the bottom and then tied some jute and twine. The card base is inked with two different shades of color to coordinate with the florals. This will make a great spring time birthday card for family or friends.
SSS Monday challenge, bright cheerful colors
We Love Chocolate Baroque April challenge, stamped springtime
Double Trouble challenge 82, flowers. I did Thing 1
MFT April slimline challenge, spring
Stay Crafty with Hero Arts #22, birthday cards
This owl die by Ultimate Crafts, is a very detailed one, but I wanted an image that was more solid. So instead of popping all the cuts out of the owl, I used tape on the back to hold them in place before I removed it from the actual die. That way I have all the cut marks, but as a solid shape. The next time, I think I'll use an embossing mat and just cut around the outside lines, which should be easier.
The NOEL sentiment was made with letters from a Spellbinders set by Becca Feeken, and the fancy oval frame is also from the Ultimate Crafts framed owl die. I added die cut holly by Spellbinders, with holly berries by Lil' Inkers. I also inked the center of the oval, while it was still in the die. This is something I need to remember to do more often because it's an easy way to add color without bulk.
Unstampabelles April challenge #110, no stamping, layered with an animal
Stamplorations Things with Wings challenge
I combined several different stamp sets to make this card, including one that is years old. The icicles are from a set by Mark's Finest Papers (no longer in business), and the sleigh, gifts, and list are by Ellen Hutson. The sleigh was stamped and heat embossed in white on red card stock, which saved my having to color it. I used a stitched hills die by MFT, and the sentiment ans snowflakes are by Clearly Besotted. Handcutting those icicles mean this will not be a mass-produced card this Christmas!
Christmas Kickstart Challenge 49, You Sleigh Me
This birthday cake die by Pretty Pink Posh is great for making an all-in-one card, but I didn't anticipate how many tiny pieces there were to glue down. I've been trying different glue pens, and finally ended up just using my bottle of Aleene's gel glue, and doing the best I could. Not sure if there's a better way to glue it down but I may just go ahead and use sticky backed adhesive the next time. Since I only filled in parts of the image with a contrasting paper, I'll waste quite a bit, but all that gluing was not my favorite way to spend the afternoon. I heat embossed the sentiment, by MFT, and then edged the sentiment strip with gold paint pen.
Once I started making butterfly cards to celebrate spring, I couldn't stop! Here is another card, using my favorite combo of purple and green. The butterfly die is by BoBunny, and the sentiment is by Mark's Finest Papers. I used seam binding ribbon and a few rhinestones as well. The butterfly is a filigree design, so I traced around it and handcut a backing shape to make it sturdier.
Butterfly Challenge 155. I used the color Lilac, along with a lace/filigree butterfly
Stay Crafty with Hero Arts challenge 22, birthday
Stamplorations Things with Wings challenge
I recently got this die set by Spellbinders, called Zen Garden, and had to pull it out to make a card for my sister's birthday. It also fit the Butterfly Spot challenge 155, which calls for a lattice and lilac, plus a butterfly. The butterfly is by Firefly Designs, and the stamped bamboo is from my stash. I used a sentiment by Simon Says Stamp.
Butterfly challenge 155. I used a lattice and the color lilac, along with my butterfly
Die Cut Divas April challenge, use a die and window or aperture
Stay Crafty with Hero Arts challenge 22, birthday cards
Thank goodness the Butterfly Spot challenge was extended by a week because I hadn't gotten a chance to sneak into my craft room to make my card yet. I was eager to use a Spellbinders die that I have for the lattice element, and to work with one of my favorite color combos of lilac and green. I cut the lattice design directly into the card, without the outside frame die, for a peek-a-boo effect. The plant fronds are also by Spellbinders, and the sentiment is by Simon Says Stamp. I added a butterfly die by Firefly, and some rhinestones and bakers twine.
Butterfly challenge 155. I used the color lilac, and the lattice theme
Stamplorations Things with Wings challenge
Die Cut Divas April challenge, window or aperture. I used a lattice aperture
Stay Crafty with Hero Arts challenge 22, birthday cards
My sister and I were both married in April, in the same year. So I never forget her anniversary! I made this card with the Brocade background by Hero Arts, as well as a word die cut and sentiment from the Happy Stamp and Cut set (also by Hero Arts). I heat embossed the sentiment in gold, and edged the brocade panel with gold embossing as well.
A Blog Named Hero April challenge, anniversary
My son's birthday is this month and I have been stuck for card ideas. He likes funny or quirky cards from me, and I just couldn't come up with a design that I liked. Then I saw this stamp set by Fun Stampers Journey (Sophisticated Animals) and I knew it was perfect! The set comes with four different animal heads that can be mixed and matched with three different masculine bodies. I went with a CAS look, and used a sentiment from another FSJ set, which I stamped and then cut with stitched banner flags by LDRS. A few enamel dots by Your Next Stamp, and a masked, ink blending border along the bottom, completes it. My husband thinks it's a little too weird, but I know my son will get a kick out of it.
Hero Arts Stay Crafty challenge 22, birthday
This is a great way to use up bits of scrap paper from your stash. I cut a half circle from the patterned purple card stock (with foiled detail), and adhered it in a fan shape. Then I die cut a circular piece from gold patterned card stock, and punched a hole through the center. Stamped chinese coins also have punched centers, which allowed me to thread some black textured yarn through it all. I added a vellum quote to finish it off, and stamped additional coins and a faint dragon pattern on the background.
SSS Monday challenge, layers
DL.Art's April linky
MFT Sketch challenge 536. I played around with the sketch and turned it horizontally.
I have quite a few outdoor themed stamps but don't use them as often as I should. My brother in law loves to fish, so I made this for him. I also made several others to have on hand, and to donate. The image is an old wood mounted stamp by Inkadinkado that must be over 15 years old. I looked up the proper coloration of the bass online, and approximated it with alcohol markers. My first attempt was a throw away, as I tried to water color the background and made a mess of it. The circle dies are by Nellie's Choice and the banner flag dies are LDRS. This card was a great way to use up all those little bits and scraps of kraft card stock that I had piling up on my desk.
MFT Sketch challenge 536. I flipped the sketch on its side for a different look.
I don't know where Lake Jansen is, but I wouldn't mind spending some time there! This is a stamp by Sum More Stamps, and the little fawn die is by Impression Obsession. I tried blending brushes for the first time, for the sky and still not sure what I think about them. I added subtle colors to the trees and greenery with markers, and stamped the sentiment on kraft. I made a batch of these and donated them to a church member to give for masculine birthdays.
SSS Wednesday challenge, birthday
