Be Yourself on the 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends!  Where I live we'll be celebrating the 5th of July because Hurricane Arthur is going to dump lots of rain on the area so all the parades and fireworks have been pushed off a day.  No worries here, though because I'm going to take the opportunity to do some housework, sell some stuff on eBay then get down and dirty in my stamp room.

Today I've got a tag to show you that I made for the new Mixed Media Card Challenge using the colors from Colour Me.  This is my first foray into the world of mixed media other than adding the occasional scrap of ribbon or embossing paste on a card.  I thought long and hard about this challenge before I decided to jump in with both feet and I even searched mixed media on Pinterest to get a feel for what it's all about.

The theme for the first challenge was nature with the option of making a tag, so that's exactly what I did.  I stamped a scripted background on to the kraft card stock then after a bit I smeared on some embossing paste (that I dyed with a re-inker).  Unfortunately the ink bled through the paste and I'm not sure if I should have waited overnight to do that to give the ink a longer drying time of if that would have even made a difference.  I considered re-doing it but decided to proceed.  I cut a floral shape from some burlap then layered some inked leaves and a little butterfly on it.

So that's it then.  I will say that some of the mixed media tags I saw on Pinterest were absolutely gorgeous.  People obviously have an eye for layering and color and adding just the right amount of texture.  I don't see myself turning into a Tim Holtz-style stamper anytime soon (although I do love that style), but it was fun to see if I could incorporate some of those elements into the stamping style I've already got.  After all, I do love a bit of texture on my cards.

Well that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Kinda Eclectic (SU); Be (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Blackberry Bliss (SU); Kraft (Avery Elle)

Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Crumb Cake (SU)

Accessories:  Traditional Tag STAX, Pierced Traditional Tag STAX (My Favorite Things); Beautiful Blooms #1 die (Papertrey Ink); Burlap stencil, Splatters stencil (Tim Holtz); embossing paste (Dreamweaver); Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon, linen thread, pewter jumbo grommet (SU); burlap

Freshly Made Sketches 143

Happy Wednesday everyone!  There's a new sketch reveal over at Freshly Made Sketches today.  This week our hostess is the supremely talented Cindy Lovell.  Every time I visit Cindy's blog I add a little something to my stamping supplies wish list!  She's got this wonderful clean stamping style and she's always using something on her cards that once I've seen it I've got to own it!

I fret for two days over the colors to use on my card before deciding on the colors of the inspiration card at Muse.  I used a new floral stamp set that I got because I decided I didn't have enough floral  images in my stash.  I think I put the leaves down when I had my eyes closed because they look a whole lot off kilter and unbalanced to me but they're stuck down with glue dots and there not going anywhere now!

Be sure to pop on over to Freshly Made Sketches and see the amazing cards from the design team.  They will surely knock your socks off!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Summer Garden (Simon Says Stamp); Distressed Background Blocks (My Favorite Things); New Day (Precious Rembrance)

Paper:  Classic White (Flourishes); Solar White (Neenah); Chocolate Chip (SU); Vellum (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi (SU); Black Licorice, Hot Fudge (My Favorite Things); Copics

Accessories:  Pierced Circle STAX (My Favorite Things); washi tape, clear embossing powder, sequins

colourQ 248

We've got some wonderful patriotic colors this week at colourQ just in time to celebrate Independence Day in the US.  The inspiration comes from this subway art style frame.

This is the only stamp set I have that has fireworks and July 4th sentiments which pretty much guarantees that I'll never get rid of it.  I stamped the images in a random pattern and added the sentiment on a little vellum tag.  It's hard to see in the photo, but it's there!  I recently came across a new-to-me challenge called Match the Sketch so I played along with #26.

We'd love to have you play along with us at colourQ this week.  The design team has got some great cards to inspire you so be sure to check them out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  July Fourth (SU)

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Vellum (SU)

Ink:  Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Ruby Red (SU)

Accessories:  Banner Bundle die (Verve); Woodland Park button (October Afternoon); Rustic Twine (Papertrey Ink)

You Made Me Smile

Last night I got into my stamp room pretty late and somehow scrounged up enough energy to make a card inspired by the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch and the colors of the inspiration photo at Just Us Girls.  I was watching television while I made this (sometimes not a good idea) and since it was late by the time I finished I waited until this morning to photograph and post it.  Well I must have been dreaming of this card because in the light of the morning I was prying things apart so that I could re-do parts of it!

It's a glorious day today with the sun shining so I'm headed outside to putter around the garden and then do a little relaxing with a book on the patio.  One thing I discovered since being on vacation this past week is that I can't wait until I retire and I can putter around to my heart's content!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Textures 2 (Florileges Design); Sketchy Chevron Border (Impression Obsession); DIY (Precious Remembrance); Petite Posies (Technique Tuesday); Take Note (Verve)

Paper:  White Cardstock (Papertrey Ink); X-Press It Blending Card

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid (My Favorite Things); Going Gray, Basic Gray (SU); Copics

Accessories:  Enamel Dew Drops (Freckled Fawn)

Hello Tag

I love to make tags.  I love them by themselves and I love to stick them on cards too.  Once upon a time I mused that it was too bad that there wasn't a challenge out there in this crafty blogland that was all about tags.  Well the stamping godmother has waived her magic fairy dust because there's a brand new challenge on the block called Tag You're It and, you guessed it, it's all about tags!  They're having a bit of a mini challenge to start things off so I thought I'd play along.

The colors on my tag come from the pretty challenge at Color Throwdown.  I did some sponging after I embossed the leafy image with clear embossing powder.  I stamped a few other images to create some texture then added the sentiment, which fits the Hello challenge at Friday Mashup.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Beautiful Botanicals (a.muse studio); Hand Lettered Hello (WPlus9); Feather Finery (Papetrey Ink)

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whispher White (SU)

Ink:  Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette (SU)

Accessories:  Traditional Tags STAX, Pierced Traditional Tags STAX (My Favorite Things); Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon, linen thread (SU)

Sweet Baby

A while back a co-worker asked me to make some baby themed cards for her.  She wanted about six of them to send to a friend who was expecting a baby.  I told her that I'd be happy to make some for her but I was secretly scared.  If you've been here before then you know that baby cards are not really my thing and I was a little afraid that anything I made would be kinda lousy.  But I'm nothing if not adventurous in my craft cave so for the last few weeks I've been busy doing baby card searches and pinning a few that caught my eye.

We don't know whether the baby is a boy or a girl so I've been trying to stick to neutral colors.  The card I've got here was inspired by THIS adorable card and features the colors from Colour Me (kind of unconventional for a baby card), the sketch from Pals Paper Arts, and conveniently, the baby theme at The Card Concept.  And I got to use a brand new stamp set so I'm linking up to Darnelle's NBUS challenge too (just under the wire)!

I'm not sure mine looks as quite like a bib as my inspiration card (I think it might those in-your-face colors), but it does look better in real life.  It's a cute concept and I'm pretty sure the recipient will like it!

My vacation is winding down (insert heavy sigh here) and it's back to work on Monday for me.  I've had some fantastic weather this week and got a lot accomplished outside in the garden digging up weeds and flowers that had gone rogue.  I love that feeling of a job well done!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Onesie Two-sie (WPlus9)

Paper:  Classic Ivory (Flourishes); Natural White (Neenah); Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive (SU)

Ink:  Early Espresso (SU)

Accessories:  Houndstooth embossing folder, Daffodil Delight seam binding ribbon (SU) 

Freshly Made Sketches 142

Wednesday's in my house mean a new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!  This week, the supremely talented Jen Brum is our hostess and she has created a sketch that I fell in love with as soon as I saw it!

This is actually the second card that I made for this sketch this week.  The first had a misguided attempt at using an artsy paint splash stamp along with some washi tape and I just couldn't wrap my head around it. So I set about creating this card with it's stripey embossing paste which looks better with the floating dots.  Much better, I say to myself.

The bright colors come from the latest challenge at Just Us Girls.  When I first saw it my thought was to run in the opposite direction, but then I realized that a challenge is called a challenge for a reason and I figured I ought to at least try to play along.  In the end I'm glad I did because these bright colors are quite eye catching.

We'd love to see you in the gallery this week so why don't you check out the inspiration from the Freshly Made Sketches design team then join us!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU); Dot Spot (Papertrey Ink); Big Words (Mama Elephant)

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Diagonal Stripe stencil (Simon Says Stamp); embossing paste (Dreamweaver) 

colourQ 247 and Seize the Sketch 23

I got some fun new stuff in the mail the other day and finally had a chance to try some of it out - just in time for the reveal of the new color palette at colourQ, (which was inspired by this adorable toddler's dress) and the latest sketch at Seize the Sketch, designed by our very own Lee Ann Barrett!

I actually started out with a different idea for this card and as I sat pondering what I was going to do with the oval on the sketch I looked down and saw this brand spankin' new die from Paper Smooches and it was like a light bulb went off in my head!  A few passes through my big shot and my idea was complete!  I inlaid the "hello" sentiment right into the pink cardstock and threw on some red sequins to take up some of that blank space (although they look anything but red in the picture).

I've had a look at the design team cards for colourQ and Seize the Sketch and they are pretty terrific so be sure to check them out.  I hope you can join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Paper:  Classic White (Flourishes); Solar White (Neenah); Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink); Bashful Blue, Island Indigo, Real Red, Island Indigo DSP (SU)

Accessories:  Quote Tag die (Paper Smooches); seam binding ribbon; baker's twine; crochet thread; sequins