Color Throwdown 277 and Freshly Made Sketches 121

I must admit this a re-do of a card that I was going to submit to these challenges.  The first one had embossing paste that I had colored blue and used this same stencil by Studio Calico.  It was a bit messy looking and my in-house critic (my daughter) turned her nose up to it.  I took the hint and refined it.  I must say, this is much cleaner, nicer.  I hope you like it.

I chose these colors from Color Throwdown 277.  Such sweet colors.  I am not usually a pastel person, but I can try.  I am always up for the challenge.

Freshly Made Sketches is a favorite of mine.  I love the clean lines, which is really my style.  Not to say that I don't venture out to collage and on a rare occasion Shabby Chic. 

This being my 4th post today, I am saying it's my last one.  I have had a fantastic day off playing, but must get some stuff done.  (I have Bunco tonight!  How fun is that?)

Thanks for stopping by!    Traci

Falling Heart Tree

I am so lucky to have today off.  Once a month, I get a day off in the middle of the week (because I worked the weekend previously).  I have been making cards using all my new stencils.  I was looking online for inspiration and came across Julie Smith's blog Paper and Such.  I absolutely fell in love with that tree of hers.  I had similar dies and decided to CASE her.  I believe in giving credit where it is due...so thank you so much Julie.

My budding tree die is from Memory Box, the dies are from Lawn Fawn and the sentiment die is from Simon Says Stamps.  I layered the focal point mat on pink cs and then pink vellum.  For the base, I used Tim Holtz Bubble Stencil with HA cup o' Joe ink and large dauber.  I made a top folding card, which I normally don't do, but see so many crafters doing it.  I am loving using Neenah Solar White CS.

I am entering this into three challenges.  Shopping our Stash 136 Theme is Cabin Fever.  It's not what you think.  It's to make a card that represents outside.  It could be sports, birds, trees, etc.  Lovely idea.  And my first time to play in their challenge. The second challenge is Colour Q 226.  I just love these colors.  It could be baby girl, anniversary, spring...  To me you can't go wrong with pink.  Of course, this coming for a mom of three girls and one granddaughter!  And finally Mod Squad Challenge Blog where we are to CASE another designer.

Thanks for stopping by!   Traci

Yellow Hello!

Another fun card from the things I learned in the Stenciled! class.  This time I colored my embossing paste with Wild Honey Distressed Ink pad.  I used Tim Holtz Bubble stencil.  To me, the stencil looked like honeycomb.  I love the contrast of yellow and black.  Very Striking.

And I have a confession, I actually purchased the burlap recently.  I have disgressed!  But that's all the embellishment I've purchased in a year.  I just could not resist.  It came in 5.5in width x 1 yard.  So the damage is minimal.  I just love texture!

I am so very glad I took this Stenciled! class.  I've learned so much not only from the teachers but the other students.  Their creations are just beautiful.  I look forward to taking other online classes.  The next one is one layer cards.  And now it comes full circle in my stamping life.  I started 20 years ago with one layer cards.  It was a big deal to have texture/patterned paper on the card!  Funny how so much as changed.

I am entering this into Card Concept Challenge #2.  I would call this a clean and layered, or is it a clean and simple card? It's a bit confusing even though Lesley did try to explain it.  They are encouraging us to use texture, and that I have done no matter what style it is.

Thanks for stopping by!       Traci

More Stenciling

Here I am trying to deplete my stash but still tend of hoard stuff too.  And the hoarding paid off!  Back in the day with light boxes and dry embossing was the thing, I purchased many stencils.  This 6 square was one of them.  I used the technique that was taught in the Stenciled! class. 

The technique is the scribble with pencil in the stencil.  The example used small starts and small hearts.  I tried my hand at circles of a stencil that I made from cs.  I will save that one for later. 

I do like the black lettering for that pop of uncolor! 

Thanks for stopping by!          Traci

Watercolor on Stencils

On to card #2 for tonight!  This is part of the Stenciled class that I took over the weekend.  If I had to choose my favorite technique (at least for now), it's watercoloring.  I purchased this watercolor paper at Michaels.  It works well.  Trying to get adjusted to the ivory color instead of white.  I believe Tim Holtz's watercolor paper is white, so I need to add it to my wishlist.

Anyway, back to this card and technique.  On Day 2 of this class, we learned how to use a stencil to watercolor.  I used two Distressed Ink pads and the Tim Holtz watercolor brush.  It worked wonderfully!  There are a few places where it got a little too watery and bled under the stencil.  I am okay with the imperfection.  It just authenticates that it was handcrafted.  I cut the watercolor paper a bit smaller so I could mat it on this beautiful dark blush color cs. 

It needed a little something extra, like the flowers.  I dug in my punch drawer and found this punch.  The paper for the flowers is a bit lighter than the mat. I inked the edges and then put it in my cushy mat (like for paper piercing), and used the end of my paintbrush (because I couldn't find my stylus) and pressed in the center of the flower so give the flower some dimension.  I used Glossy Accents to adhere it to the card and in the center of the flower.  The sentiment stamp I've had forever!  I used one of the Distressed Inks so I made sure the colors matched.

Thanks for stopping by!       Traci

Creating in My New Place

I finally got moved and settled into my new place.  It's nice to be unpacked and free to do some creating. 

I was debating on taking this online class Stenciled.  Mainly because I worked the weekend of the class and knew more than likely I wouldn't be able to create until after the class was over.  But I took a chance and felt that I can always use the information later. 

So this is one of the techniques that was taught in the class.  You take a stencil, sponge one color. Shift the stencil a bit and stencil another color.  I chose to use this Heidi Swapp 6x6 stencil.  The first color I used was Hero Arts Soft Pool, and the shifts color is HA Soft Granite.  I wanted to get a shadow effect.  I only sponged up a portion of the stencil. 

Another tip I learned in this class is that you can cut out your die in white cs and ink it the color you want.  You can use markers or stamp pads.  Duh!  Why didn't I think of that.  My old way of thinking would be to search high and low in my stash for this color of blue.  Instead I sponged it with my dauber.  I am using all my new stuff that I got for the class, Neenah c/s (I like!), Simon Says Stamp die-hello (I like), Wink of Stella pen (I really like!).  With that being said, I used the Wink of Stella on the sentiments and the large diamonds in my stencil.  I trimmed it down and used foam dots for dimension onto NSW (Neenah Solar White cs).

Now off for more creating!

Card #257

I started this journey two years ago, using up my stash.  I was pretty good for a while keeping up with how many cards I was able to make with my stash.  And then I quit counting. 

Since I am moving tomorrow (YIKES!!), I thought I would count to see how many of these cards I've made with my stash.  I have given a good many away, so I am not counting those.  Today, in my completed card boxes, I have 257!!  I have gone through a lot of stash with this many cards with still too much to mention.


I tend to be a purger, except when it comes to my stamp supplies.  Why do I hoard this stuff?  I was the same way with fabric when I was sewing.  I think I might take the huge plunge and give it all away.  At least most of it.  I did give away all my alphabet stickers to a co-worker.  She was pleasantly surprised to see how much I had.  And it felt good to let it go.

So back to the card I made today. Earlier I was experimenting with watercolor on embossed images.  My previous post shows an excellent example of colors blending well together.  Well, I had one that didn't look so swell.  That is what I used to cut out these arrows.  I got this lovely sketch from IN{K}Spire Me #130.  I haven't participated in their challenges for quite some time.  My stamp set is from Hero Arts as well as the inks, except for the watercolored arrows, those are Distressed Inks.

Thanks for stopping by!    Traci