Faux Mother of Pearl

I really wanted to play along with the CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers this month.  It took me a while to get there but I finally made not one, but two cards.  The challenge this month is to create a project with the Faux Mother of Pearl technique.  The technique involves using bunched up plastic wrap to apply Liquid Pearls to your paper and then sponge color over the top.  I didn't have Liquid Pearls but I thought I would try some Radiant Pearls.  As you can see below my first attempt was a complete failure.  The purple and green were muddy and completely eradicated the Radiant Pearls.  I tried again with a heavier application of the Radiant Pearls and 2 shades of pink.  The result was pretty but not the desired outcome.  I caved, I went and bought some Liquid Pearls.  I held my breath as I started sponging and like magic a beautiful result.  See, we really DO need all of those supplies we have (grin).

The first card is for my Niece who is participating in her first Communion.  I die cut the filigree portion of the cross from a portion of the Faux Mother of Pearl Panel.  I die cut the full cross cut-out from 3 sheets of heavy cardstock and dry embossed the top layer.  They were glued up to add a little depth.  A computer generated sentiment inside and out completes the card.

Since the supplies were still out on my table, I decided to make an Easter card as well.  I went very CAS with this one too.  The Easter sentiment was heat embossed on the Faux Mother of Pearl panel.  I die cut the cross cut-out from another panel of white and then dry embossed the border along the bottom.  Layered it all up and the card was complete.  I hope you enjoy a lovely Easter!

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Just For You

Hi all, today I'm playing along with a new challenge - CAS Mix Up Card Challenge.  What a fun concept to combine a Clean and Simple card with Mixed Media!  This month the challenge is to include watercoloring, stamping and your choice of another mixed media selection.  I chose to use heat embossing.

I started by wetting a panel of watercolor paper and added ink from the lid of my stamp pads and let it pool and move on the paper.  I loved the bold result of the watercoloring but knew I would need a bold element to stand up to the strong color and pattern.  I selected a bold sentiment and heat embossed it in black.  I added a few turns of black twine as a simple embellishment, to add interest but not be too fussy.  A couple of borders in black and teal finish up the card.

Happy Stamping,

Dana

Feels Like Spring

Today I'm sharing 2 cards.  The first is based on a sketch at Retro Rubber Challenge.  I pulled out a sweet little flower image that I picked up some time back and is dated 2001.  I stamped it 3 times, colored and cut in ovals and added a few brushes of Wink of Stella.  They were layered over a diamond die cut as a nod to the sketch.  The Happy Easter sentiment is an old unmarked wood mount stamp and has been in my stash for more than ten years.  It was heat embossed in white on the main green panel.  A couple of borders and the card is complete.

The second card I'm sharing is based on the sketch at Retro Sketches, the colors from Color Throwdown and the theme at Less is More.  I stamped the sentiment in orange on a white card base.  a few panels of cardstock were added in orange, green and yellow.  I heat embossed the floral image in black and colored the image with markers adding a rhinestone to the butterfly.  It was added to the card with dimensions.

CITRUS

Happy Stamping,
Dana

2 More for NBUS

Today I have a couple more cards to share at Darnell Knauss' NBUS challenge on her blog at djkardkreations.  How fun is it to get those products in use and not collecting dust.  There is so much wonderful inspiration both by Darnell and all of the fabulous submissions.  Of course, Darnell brings her fabulous sense of humor to the mix as well.  Swing by and take a peek.

This card uses a printed vellum and coordinating stamp set that I got about a year ago from Stampin' Up.  They have been on my desk many times but not actually transformed into a card.  I also used a new sentiment set by Hero Arts.  I sponged some blue on the back of the vellum and watercolored a few random flower heads on the front.  I layered it on a white panel before attaching to a Blackberry Bliss card base.  I stamped, water colored and fussy cut the flower and mounted it to a strip of white card stock with the sentiment and finally mounted it to the card with dimensionals.

I know what you are thinking "how could this be the first time I am using Stampin' Up's Lovely as a Tree"?  It is a classic, but I was a little late in the game as I just purchased it about 6 months ago.  I kept telling myself that I had other tree images, but these images are scaled just right for card making and needed to be part of my collection. I sponged the sky and grassy hill added a new sentiment from Spellbinder.  A quick trim and mounted it on a white card base.  I like the contrast of the sponging against the white and that it is simply layered and not fussy.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Finally, a Lizard!

I'm playing a bit of catch-up as we enjoyed a lovely long 5 day weekend out of town.  I'm so excited to share this card today as I have been inspired to use a number of supplies that have gone without any love.  Darnell Knauss is hosting another NBUS challenge on her blog at djkardkreations. What a great motivator to use rather than collect those must have craft supplies.

1. Stamp Set: The images come from a stamp set that was given to me more than 10 years ago by a co-worker who purchased the set but never used it.  I never found the right opportunity to use it, it's just not my style.
2. Distress Inks: I've been playing around a bit with different inks and coloring mediums lately.  I had a couple of brown distress pads but didn't do much with them.  Last week I picked up a few packages of distress cubes and put them to work here.  I sponged some yellow, green, red and orange distress inks on a white panel then stamped and embossed the lizard in clear.  I then sponged black distress ink over the entire panel.  I did get a bit of "overspray" of embossing powder around the image which I thought added a nice touch here.
3. Embossing Folder: I bought this folder a couple of months ago and thought it was about time it took a trip through the Big Shot.
4. Green Card Stock: This card stock was also purchased a couple of months ago and I just now put it to use.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Floral Easter Card

I stumbled on a challenge with an inspiration photo and I fell in love with the colors and knew I wanted to play along.  Unfortunately, time has not been my friend so I will be submitting this card with very little time to spare.  The challenge is on Jessica Frost-Ballas' website, All the Sparkle.  She is celebrating 2K Instagram followers - WOW!

I used a brayer to layer on a couple of shades of pink on the main card panel.  I splattered with a bit of water.  I wanted a random splatter, I'm not so good at random as I tend to like order and straight lines.  So I guess I wanted orderly random splatters (HA!)  I ended up with a big splotchy mess at the top of the panel.  Sooo, I trimmed it down and added a couple of borders.  A bit of glimmer mist was added.  The flower and leaves in the floral spray were stamped in the dark blue and embossed.  I then used markers to color the image in light blue and green.  The fern-like leaf was also clear embossed for a little interest and shine.  A sentiment and the layers were added.  Done deal :)

A close up so you can see the glimmer

All the Sparkle

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Pink Poppies

Today I'm joining in on the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  This week they are featuring Memory Box Products in an anything goes challenge.  I have a couple of Memory Box items that I've used on today's card.  I first sponged a light green grid pattern on the main panel with a Memory Box stencil.  The poppies are a Memory box die which I cut in green and pink.  I used water color pencils and a white pen for highlights then layered the pink flower heads on the green stems.  Pretty short and sweet today.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes
Memory Box Products

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Caring for the Cox Family

The card I am sharing today is to show support for the Cox family.  They are experiencing a rough time and their story touched me and I am compelled to participate in the card gallery at CAS-ual Fridays.  I am squeaking this card in under the wire.  I have been formulating this card in my head for some time.  My inspiration came from a card on co-worker's desk.  This is my second attempt at the card as things don't always work out on paper as they do in your head.  I may even make another attempt to capture my vision.  

I don't generally share religious messages, but I thought this verse was particularly beautiful and appropriate for the Cox's.  I hope they find comfort and strength in the words, even if their spiritual beliefs are different.  My very best wishes to the Cox family for brighter days ahead.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Floral Birthday

Coloring has been all the rage.  In particular, coloring with Copic markers.  I've not yet made the plunge into Copics, though temptation has certainly come and gone and come again.  I've satisfied myself with using ink pads and water color brush but you just don't get the vibrancy.  Copics are definitely an investment.  I'm not good with one or two of anything, I need all the options (or at least a goodly amount) to best be creative.  About 30 years ago (ahem, I was 5 at the time - grin) I did buy a 120 piece Berol Prismacolor marker set.  While there have been a few casualties over the years, most of the set is still in good working order.  I am definitely out of practice but wanted to play with them today as I was working on a card for the challenge at ColourQ.

My goal was to play with the markers so I stamped the floral image on a scrap of card stock and colored away.  Since it was a scrap I had to fussy cut the flowers out.  Holy cats, a little tricky around the fine stems of the blue flowers.  I fussed with layout and sentiment.  I added some very pale blue splatter behind the flower image but resisted the temptation to add additional elements.  I'm very happy with this vibrant and CAS card.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Thanks for Everything

Hero Arts is hosting a challenge this month called Fabulous Flowers Challenge.  I started today's card with a floral stencil sponged in blue and green.  That has been one of my favorite color combinations of late.  I trimmed the sponged panel and layered it on some green cardstock and adhered to the left side of the card.  I used Hero Art's Thanks Stamp and Cut, a great little Thanks die with coordinating sentiments.  The "for everything" was stamped on the main panel in blue with a splatter stamped in light green around it.  The "Thanks" was die cut in black and attached to the card.  A couple of wraps of baker's twin with a bow round out the card.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

2 for ColourQ

Hi All, today my cards are based on the colors and inspiration photo at ColourQ.  I had a ton of ideas swimming around with this but landed on just two cards.  Isn't this a great challenge?

This card started with this fabulous new Stampin' Up die.  The flower is in Watermelon Wonder and the leaves in a black textured paper.  The openwork of the leaves reminded me of the pattern in the inspiration photo.  I selected the embossing folder used on the main panel as a take on the pattern in the inspiration folder as well.  I chose to leave a larger margin on the right side of the card to accommodate a sentiment and a bit of bling.  I mounted the embossed panel on two pieces of heavy card stock as I wanted a little depth for the card design but didn't want it as thick as fun foam or dimensionals.  I love that the leave extends beyond the embossed panel on the lower right.

The next card started with a panel of black card stock in which I applied white modeling paste using a stencil which gives a nod to the inspiration photo.  A strip of white card stock with a stamped sentiment ground the card.  A heat embossed flower with a few pearls in the center complete the card.

When creating this cards I got a bit distracted but was able to get a bit more organized in the process.  Last year I made some wedding decorations and needed peach embossing powder and ended up with a number of bottles in an attempt to find the right match.  I remembered that they were all quite different so I stamped a few samples to see what I liked with this card challenge as my spot of color.  My embossing powders are stored in a shallow drawer and I labeled the tops with the color name.  I thought an actual sample would help me more immediately and accurately identify the color.  So, I embossed away and created samples for all but my clear embossing powders.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Simply Paris

City Crafter Challenge has a fabulous inspiration photo this week.  I have a few Paris related stamps and decided to play along.  I considered sponging a night sky or going shabby chic.  In the end I went pretty simple.  Here is my card:

Week 298 ~ Photo Inspiration Challenge by Kirsty

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Thank You in Taupe

I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Valentine's Day.  We had a nice quiet celebration.  Today's card is a submission for the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge.  I chose the bottom row of Stitching, Flowers and Sketch.  I love the combination of taupe and black, toss in a little white and I'm in heaven.  I tried to use a little restraint and not add too many elements but I couldn't help but add some marker "stitches" to edge the diagonal band of flowers in the background.  I liked the extra touch of stitches beyond the die cut stitched rectangles of the taupe and white panels.  I also added a light stamping of floral images behind the sentiments.  I did forgo the sequins I was tempted to add :)

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Thankful Medallion

Today I'm playing along at Freshly Made Sketches.  As I pondered the sketch, it occurred to me that it reminded me a bit of a 3D embossing folder I have.  It has a center medallion with the leaves extending out to the edge, which I am using to represent the circle over the flagging strips in the sketch.  I die cut the sentiment in Watermelon Wonder and black and layered them to create a bit of depth.  A thin border of black on a Watermelon Wonder card base round out my very understated rendition of the sketch.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

CAS Motorcycle

I'm just popping in to share a card using the sketch for CAS Colours & Sketches.  I'm travelling for work and have limited access so I'm a bit behind in my usual comments, my appologies.  I made this card prior to leaving but didn't have time to post it.

I wanted to keep the card very simple - image and sentiment.  I did want to spice it up a bit so I dry embossed a base of silver foil with a rivetted panel design which I thought was in keeping with the motorcylce.

 

 

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Woodgrain Birthday

Hi All!  Today I'm playing along with Freshly Made Sketches.  We have a birthday for a very special carpenter and I wanted to do something in wood.  I stamped a woodgrain background and did a little sponging and scored at the board lines.  I stamped the sentiment on the panel in black and added a silver embossed nail through the "i".  The hammer was stamped in brown for the handle and the head of the hammer silver embossed.  It was added to the panel with dimensionals and the panel added to a wide dark brown border.

This photo is a little washed out, but you can see the scoring I did on the wood to 

create boards and the nail the hammer is pounding in to keep the dot on the "i".

Happy Stamping,

Dana

Snowy Trees

I really need to come up with a catchy phrase to welcome you and start out my blog posts.  I'm not a wordsmith and that type of thing doesn't come easily to me.  I'll need to work on it in my spare time (cough).  

I'm playing along with the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge again.  Honestly, I've always shied away from tic-tac-toe challenges in the past - I think I was intimidated.  But, I have had so much fun with these.  I chose the top row of Snow, Glitter and Trees. It's a pretty straight forward card.  The trees were stamped, the sky and snow sponged and Wink of Stella added to the tree tips.  I wanted to play up the sparkle a bit more so I added prisma glitter to the snow.  I went with a larger border on this card as I thought it really complimented the main image.

A close up of the Wink of Stella in the trees and the prisma glitter on the snow 

banks (and an abundance of stray glitter, ugh).  The Wink of Stella is amazing IRL, 

but a stinker to capture in a photograph.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

For the Love of Pets

I am so excited to be the Guest Designer this week at City Crafter Challenge Blog, how awesome to play along with the talented design team!  This week the challenge is the theme "For the Love of Pets".  I love having a pet, to me they are a member of the family.  I tend to lean to cats and dogs. Pigs, fish, reptiles and gerbils, though perfectly lovely I'm sure, just don't do it for me.

I fell in love with this fabulous retro background stamp and thought it paired perfectly with the stylized cat image.  This was one of those cards that you map out in your head before paper and ink and even pulled out.  Sometimes the card in your vision doesn't materialize, but it did for me in this case and I love how it turned out.  It was pretty straight forward, some stamping and layering.  The sentiment and hearts were die cut and punched from glimmer paper.  It need another little element and I dug out some copperish/rose gold seed beads and scattered them about.

City Crafter Challenge Week 296: For the Love of Pets

Is that not the sweetest puppy ever!  I always find inspiration from the City Crafter design team and challenge submissions, swing by and take a look!

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Fooore!

Glen's Uncle has a birthday next week and is an avid golfer.  I recently acquired this stamp set and thought this would make a perfect clean and simple card, which happens to be the toppings this week at Seize the Birthday.  I stamped the golf bag on the main panel, a scrap of patterned paper, a scrap of green and a scrap of kraft.  A little fussy cutting and the golf bag has a cute little pocket with a "leather" accent.  Another scrap of the same patterned paper was edged with a bit of green and added to the left edge of the card.  I masked 2 stamps from a set to get the Happy Birthday sentiment.  Finally, Fooore was stamped in green. I sure used scrap a lot in my description above, I think I need to also play along at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.  It's been much too long since I've spent time on the playground.

Clean and Simple

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 213

Happy Stamping,
Dana