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