Seize the Birthday Love

How to make a birthday card with a heart that doesn't look like a Valentine's card?  That was my question this morning.  I was up for the challenge.

Since I don't color with markers, I didn't think I would ever use this set (raccoons2love by The Stamps of Life).  As in the words of Darnell Knauss (djkardkreations), this is a NBUS card.  (Never Been Used Schtuff).  I have been experimenting with watercoloring and decided to try it with Ricky Raccoon.  I have found my new favorite black ink for watercolor, okay for everything.  It's Hero Arts Black.  Look how crisp it is!  I did use distressed markers for watercoloring (I only own white, black and pumice stone), which worked out perfectly.  I had the birthday sentiment for ages (I am sure Darnell has a acronym for that too!).

With all this being said, I am entering it into Seize the Birthday: Time for a Little Love.

Retro Sketch and Dynamic Duo #91

I am in love with this stamp set by Lawn Fawn.  I watercolored it earlier this week and today I paper pieced it.  The color choices are from The Triple Threat Week at Dynamic Duo.  I would have loved to have added some blue for the sky, but I wanted to go by the rules.  It's hard to see the soft orange clouds and the Wink of Stella clear glitter.  As for the baker's twine, there's a story.  You know how I am trying to get rid of my stash, I just want to say that I did not buy the baker's twine.  I won some supplies about two years ago (I know, right!) that included white baker's twine.  I colored three strands in the three color inkpads. 

The sketch is from Retro Sketch #103.  It's a tag challenge (obviously!).  I don't make many tags, so it was a nice challenge for me.

Out of this World

I am always amazed when a card takes a life of it's own.  It's been happening at my Craft Corner quite a bit lately.  I knew that I wanted to do the sketch from Unscripted Sketches #245. I knew I wanted to do a watercolor effect on the larger circle.  I picked my favorites of Distressed Inks.  I also wanted the stars (getting bored with flowers and hearts today).  I put all that on the card and it still needed something.  So, I pulled out this new stencil I recently purchased but haven't used yet.  These elements on their own are great.  When I pulled it altogether, it look like a planetary scene.  It was certainly not my intent! 
I am trying a new technique that Jennifer McGuire shared recently: inlay die cut.  I really like the look of the duo colored die cut that is flat.

Thanks for stopping by!  

Traci

Butterfly Challenge (again)

Yesterday, I created a butterfly card for a challenge.  You know how it is, you have any idea and then the card takes a life of it's own.  So my card didn't qualify for the challenge.  So sad! I had the butterflies, just no flowers.

Good news is I still get to participate and had time tonight to watercolor this card.  I used watercolor paper and a new stamp to me by Hero Arts.  I chose to use distress ink pads to watercolor.  Plenty of flowers this time!

Thanks for letting me try again!

Mod Squad, Butterfly Challenge, Card Fusion

This may be my last card posted tonight.  It's for three challenges:  Mod Squad: Go for the Gold, Butterfly Challenge, and Fusion Card #4.

I used my gold Encore pigment ink with clear embossing powder.  The other colors are gelatos. These are still fairly new to me.  I find it best to color them onto the cs, spritz with water and rub with my finger to spread the color.  Easy to manage the colors that way.  I like it vibrant, so I didn't pat off any moisture, just used my heat tool to dry it.  The butterfly was stamped with a juicy black inkpad as well as the sentiment.  The sentiment is actually from a Christmas set from The Stamps of Life by Stephanie Bernard.  I used the clear wink of Stella on the sentiment and the black strip in the center.    This was placed on a lavender cs with a top fold. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Traci

Card Concept #4 & Simply Create Too #55

I know many of those on the stamping blogs I follow have been having one heck of winter.  So much snow!  I've seen the pics!  Around here (Southern CA), we wonder which day was winter.  I think it hit in the 30's one night since Thanksgiving.  I think.  The trees are budding, allergies are starting.  It's Spring around here.  And this card definitely says SPRING.

I am entering this in two challenges.  Card Concept #4 is looking for floral cards.  This is barely floral, but I did add three little spring blooms.  Simply Create Too #55 has a really fun challenge.  They are looking for St. Patty cards (darn, no stamps!) or something with green.  I can use most of my cards, since that's the color I used on 95% of my cards. 

I stenciled the leaves with Distressed Ink Peeled Paint.  The flowers are from Stephanie Bernard Sizzix combo (stamps and dies)  that I bought at Hobby Lobby last weekend.  Hobby Lobby is opening a store near me on Friday.  I was out of town this past weekend and saw one that was calling my name to go visit.  I used the Momemento Dew Drops Dandelion ink. 

Colour Me...!, Seize the Sketch and Lawn Fawn

This week, I received my first Lawn Fawn set and dies.  I really like their font.  I am looking forward to tomorrow when we can purchase their new stamps.  I have my eyes on a few. 

I chose this set to practice my watercoloring.  I am still a novice, so go easy on me.  And I must admit, these are my first experience of using a die that is designed for the stamp set.  I know I feel so behind the times.  When I took a break from stamping/scrapping, that's when everything in this industry seemed to explode.  There is so much out there.  I am so looking forward to what else lies before us stampers.

I am using Seize the Sketch #14 and the colors from Colour Me..(subtle)!  Subtle colors of Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Sky, Pistachio Pudding and a neutral.  Such beautful colors and eye catching sketch.  I used HA cubes and Distressed inks.  IMO, yes, the hero arts can be used to watercolor, but they are not as easy to use as the distressed ink.  The green HA ink (Green Hills) broke down into yellow with specks of blue on my watercolor pen, which I found very strange.  The HA blue (soft pool) was fine.  Because the green turned into yellow, I used Peeled Paint.  The brown is HA Cup O Joe.

A Splash of Color

This is very different for me.  I am spreading my wings in my new adventure of stamping.  It is a single layer card, I promise! And I treated myself to some sequins as a reward for depleting so much of my stash.  Go me!

I am playing along with several challenges for this card.  There are a few single layer card challenges like Less is More Week 158 Anything Goes, One Layer Simplicity Challenge #2, and then there is Simon Says Monday Challenge: We Love Stamps! and last but not least is the color challenge of City Crafter Challenge Color Splash Week 197.

How is that for color inspiration?

Pink Ombre

Through the years, I have bought and sold on eBay some of my stamping supplies.  That includes ink.  Recently I started replenishing the ink.  I am so glad there are HA cubes and Momento Dew pads.  I am able to get a large variety of inks at a reasonable price.  And as those ink are used up/dry up, I can get the bigger pads with the reinkers. 

I have seen many videos on how to do an ombre. This is my first attempt.  I chose to do pinks because I wanted to play in The Card Concept Challenge #3.  The challenge is to use monochromatic pinks.  I am a clean and simple stamper.  The sketch is from CAS(E) this Sketch! #63.



Thanks for stopping by!     Traci

FMS 122, SS Have a Heart and SSC 69

I am all over this!  Another card that includes green.  Hold me back, I'm in heaven.  I know, I'm weird.  But that's me.

I sponged HA ink on Tim Holtz Burlap Stencil on the base.  The focal stamp I heat embossed using HA Fine Black embossing powder.  I really like it.  It gives a much finer line, nice and crisp. I embossed it on white Neenah and a yellow scrap cs that I had and cut out the letters and the word Thoughts of the yellow.  I used  pop dots under "Thoughts".  I used the few pearls I have left.  I felt it needed something else, so I searched my stash and found this precious cream heart.  I just love it.

I entered this in three challenges.  Freshly Made Sketches 122 , Simon Says Have a Heart and Sunday Stamps Color Challenge 69. 


 Thanks for stopping by!  Traci

Retro sketches 101 and Dynamic Duos 89

I love pink and green together.  Ok, I like any color and green together!  Dynamic Duo 89 challenge colors are Blushing Bride and Pistachio Pudding.  Sounds tasty!


I love the line of this new sketch my Retro sketches 101.  I used the SU! Apple Blossoms set, the triple lines is from SSS Retro Borders.  The bottom is a Heidi Swapp stencil that I sponged. 

Thanks for stopping by!    Traci

Making Valentines

I haven't made valentines in many years.  I wanted to make some to give to my patients and their families this year.  I wanted to include some chocolate, so I perused YouTube and found Pootles Papercrafts. She makes all sorts of packages, all different shapes and sizes.  She's a genius at it!  She uses the envelope punch board and the score buddy frequently.  She is from the UK, just love listen to her talk.  Anyways, this is just a small sampling of the boxes that I made.  I used 6 different boxes, just because I got bored making the same thing over and over.

I bought a valentine paper pack from Michaels with 25 sheets and from that I made 60 Valentines!!  I have enough for my patients, my co-workers and party favors for the little Singles Valentine Party I'm having on Friday!  And there is no stamping, only dies, which made the assembly that much faster.

Retro sketches 100 and Dynamic Duos 88

Woo Hoo!  Retro Sketches is celebrating their 100th sketch.  I remember when they first started.  Still as wonderful today as they were 100 sketches ago.  I wanted to help celebrate with them by using their sketch.

I am also using the colors from Dynamic Duos #88, Red and Teal.  I just got this Distress Ink Peacock Feathers just a couple of days ago.  The red is Simon Says Stamp Lipstick Red.  They look so good together.  To be honest, I'm not sure if I would have put them together.  I'm broadening my horizons!

The banners are stamped with little pearls on the end.  The sentiment I die cut out of white cs and inked it so it would match perfectly.  Got that great idea from Jennifer McGuire!  Since I don't have any twine (remember-depleting my stash includes not purchasing any new embellishments like twine and washi tape), I did happen to have some floss from my cross-stitch stash.  So glad it matched perfectly.

Thanks for stopping by!  Traci

Card Bowl 2014 Day 2

On to Day 2 of the Card Bowl 2014 by Operation Write Home.  Today's challenge is connected with ODBD February Challenge, which is to use BROWN as the main color of the card.  Love the monochromatic of this baby card.  It is to be a masculine card, so I think it fits for a baby boy card.

The elephant is a chipboard piece that I believe from BasicGrey.  Trying to use the burlap that I recently purchased as much as possible.  "I don't want to be a hoarder, I don't want to be a hoarder".  At least that's what I'm telling myself.  I added some texture to the card base by sponging on  SU! Chocolate Chip ink and my Tim Holtz Bubbles stencil. 

Thanks for stopping by!   Traci

CAS(E) this Sketch 62

What a lovely sketch, allowing one to keep those clean lines.  CAS(E) this Sketch 62 rocks!  I wanted to keep this super clean and simple.  I used a Studio Calico stencil that I masked a bit. I used HA Green Hills and a sponge dauber.  I know you can't tell, but I added Wink of Stella clear glitter on just the green.  I absolutely love that sentiment die.
Thanks for stopping by!

Card Bowl 2014

Operation Write Home is having a Super Bowl themed challenge.  We must make a masculine card and it needs to reflect one of the teams that is playing on Sunday.  I have friends that are fans of each team.  I haven't watched a game all season, so who should I pick?  Of course, Seattle Seahawks!  My girls were born in Olympia, WA, so I do have some connection with Seattle.  I have another reason why I chose them.  If you know me at all, you know I love GREEN!  So the Broncos didn't have a chance.

As for my card, I have a few confessions to make.  I have tried and tried and tried (get the hint?) to get the ink to cover this stamp.  It's a recent purchase from Simon Says Stamps.  I have tried different inks, different papers, embossing.  It doesn't matter.  I have to say it's getting better the more I use it.  In the meantime, I'm liking the weathered look of it.  My in-house critic (my daughter) said that what she liked the most about it.  So go figure!

Hope you will be surrounding by football fans on Sunday.  I know I will. 

Thanks for stopping by!    Traci