Sketched Flowers in Autumn Colors

The cards I am sharing today are a few of ones I made using the Simon Says Stamp October Card Kit of the Month.  This kit has been sold out but most of the products in the kit may still be purchased separately.

My first card evolved as I went along.  The background uses two of the alcohol inks from the kit, Sunshine Yellow and Sunset Orange, which I applied using a felt applicator method.
I tried to add the Gina K Foiling to the background by pressing it into the semi dry inked surface.  It did not work as I expected.  I think the sponged background was too dry.  However, I did  discover that I could get the foil to stick very nicely to surface by applying marking pressure.  I used a wooden cuticle stick to add random scribbles to the background.  Hard to see in a photo but very pretty in real life.  
After I was happy with my background.  I used my Misti to stamp the flowers with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  You may notice that the Yupo background moved slightly before my second stamping.  It created a very slight offset of the design which I decided looked fine.  After stamping I used clear embossing powder to heat emboss, being careful not to add too much heat to the Yupo paper.  To finish the image I used Alcohol Inks on small disposable brushes to apply color to the image.  
The thin frame die is a Simon Says Stamp called This is the Life.

The flower image for this card was done in the same way on the Yupo as the first card.  I didn't think my background offered enough contrast so I fussy cut it out.  It is different but I really liked it in the end.  I will be entering this one in the current challenge with the SSS Flickr group, Challenge 107 with guest designer Sally Sherfield.  To embellish and add dimension I added stitched panels for a background with a few scattered gold sequins.

My third card uses an alcohol ink on Yupo background created using the same technique.  For this one I used the foil and cuticle stick to draw in leafy images.   For this card I used the Tim Holtz Ranger Alcohol Lift-Ink Pad from the kit.  The background panel was the second stamping from the lift ink.  I added a strip of 1/8 inch scor tape and applied foil over the tape.
 Thank you for stopping by my blog.  I am always happy see your comments and invite to ask any questions you may have.

Hero Arts Coffee Lovers Tunnel Card

The Hero Arts My Monthly Kit for August arrived and I was anxious to have some fun with it.   The fancy frame die included this month kit was an immediate favorite.   This die alone makes the price a bargain in my mind.  When I saw this Youtube video from Jennifer McGuire, I was inspired and ready to challenge myself to make an inside tunnel card. 

From the outside the card is sorta fun.  I used a border die from Simon Says Stamp, the DOT SCALLOP BORDER Wafer Die, to make my scalloped background layer.   All of the stamps I used here are included in this month's kit.  I colored the cups with my copic markers and die cut them using the coordinating dies in the kit.  Then, I  coated them with VersaMark embossing ink and used a clear embossing powder to give them a glossy finish.

The MAGIC happens when you open the card to the inside tunnel.   I followed the tutorial from Jennifer but made my card but made a few modifications to create this version.    I typically make my cards A6 size.  This size uses a base of 6"X 9" as opposed to your the commonly used A2 size base of 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".   You will still cut two base cards and cut off  1/2" from the edge of one of  the 6"X 9" base cards and the score line will be at 4 1/2".  The second base card will be scored at 1/2", 4 1/2",and 5".  The inside tunnel panel is cut to 4 1/2" by 6",  you will need to cut a sliver off the 4 1/2" edge. then score it at 1/4" on both sides.   I used the fancy frame die to cut the first layer of my tunnel.  I cut the frame die a second time from a piece to scrap so that I could use just the table and chairs parts for my cafe scene.   To make an opening for the inside tunnel layer, I used a Die-namics Inside & Out Stitched Rounded Rectangle  an lined it up like a window to my cafe.
I added just a touch of coloring to the inside of the tunnel using Distress Oxide Inks, TUMBLED GLASS and ICED SPRUCE.   I added the extra tables to the back side of my inner layer and stamped the sentiment from the kit using the Iced Spruce Distress Oxide ink.
Sounds complicated but it was such fun and worth the effort.  I know this because I am ready to do it again soon.

Thank you for dropping by my blog.   Your comments, questions and suggestions are always very welcome.

Summer Memories

The the latest My Monthly Hero Kit brings me back to my childhood.  I grew up in a very rural area in central Missouri, over a 100 miles from either Kansas City or St. Louis.  The traveling fairs that would set up in our small town for a few days were a huge event that we looked forward to each summer.  They meant carnival rides, cotton candy, games and usually fireworks for the 4th of July.  

This one uses the stamps from the kit and a red, white and blue theme.   I put the image on a tag die from Tim Holtz Framelits Tag Collection 658784 that I shorten by about an inch.  I used the inks from the kit and added only a few touches of red and yellow coloring with ZIG Markers.  

 My second card is shaker card that I made using an add on set from the Hero Arts July release, "Ornate Carousel"  Cm296.    The frame is from a die that I purchased a while back from Amazon and it looks like it is no longer available.  Any square die set could work.   The coloring of the carousel horses was done with the Zig Markers, but I used some Copic markers in the greys and blue to add the floor and sky.


For the third card I used inside cut from the frame die to make my border piece.  The die that I used to cut my image panel from Bristol Paper is from Gina K Designs, Rectangle SM Set Double Stitch .  The coloring for this one done using watercolors.

I added embellishments to the first card with Tonic SILVER MOONDUST Nuvo Glitter Drops and to the third care with Studio Katia CUPID'S KISS Crystals.  
I will be entering my cards in the current challenge with A Blog Named Hero.  The challenge this month is Birthday Cards.

Thank you for dropping into my blog.  Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

Beach Time!

The card I am sharing today was made using the June My Monthly Hero Kit and an add on set to create a fun beach scene.  I think this is a perfect card to celebrate the first day of summer and to enter in the current challenge titled "Summertime Fun" over at A Blog Named Hero.  I am also adding this one the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The theme is "Bright and Cheerful" and the highlighted product line this week happens to be Hero Arts.

Sadly, the June My Monthly Hero Kit is sold out but the add-on set "Beach Please Stamp and Cut DC238 that I used for this card is still available.  As you might see I had a lot of fun creating this summer fun card.  The beach embossing powder that was part of the monthly kit was perfect for creating the sandy beach scene.   Everything here was from Hero Arts with the exception of the "Stitched Banner" die from SSS and my copic markers used for coloring the image.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Our dog Rory's favorite thing in the world is a trip to "the sandy place".  That for us is a beach on the shore of Lake Michigan.  We don't dare say the word "beach" in his hearing because he knows what the word means and just get super excited.

Here is a picture taken with him wearing his "Doggles" making the trip down to the Dog Beach in Chicago where he will swim and fetch until he has exhausted himself.


Hope you all enjoy your summer as much as Rory.  
Thank you for visiting my blog.  Your comments are always very welcome.

Frame It

The card I am sharing today is a clean and simple one that I made to add to this weeks Simon Say Stamp blog Wednesday Challenge.  This weeks challenge is "Frame It"  and the feature product suggestion is Memory Box.

The butterfly focal point of my card is "Vivienne Butterfly" by Memory Box.   I cut the die twice from Therm O Web PEELNSTICK TONER SHEETS  and foiled the butterfly die using Gina K Designs SPARKLING SILVER Fancy Deco Foil with my MINC  Machine.  This die is a mirror image so that I could peel off the backing and stick the two dies back to back giving silver foil color to both sides.  In keeping with the "Frame It" theme,  I used Gina K Designs DOUBLE STITCH RECTANGLE die to frame my butterfly and a sheet of  repeat rectangle patterned paper from a previous SSS Monthly Card Kit.  I used a stencil brush and Hero Arts Dandelion ink  to apply a light touch of color behind the butterfly. The sentiment is from SSS "Messages for Everyday" and the die I used is SSS "Stitched Banners".  The embellishments are Little Things From Lucy's Cards RAINBOW SPARKLE Jewels.

Thank you for dropping in to check out the details of my card.  Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

June Wedding Bells

The theme for the current SSS Wednesday Challenge is Weddings and Anniversary Cards.  We attended a wedding last weekend and realized that I have used all the wedding cards that were in my card stash.  Great timing for me to create two new cards using the "Beautiful Flowers" stamp set that came in the June Monthly card kit.  As usual the kit is sold out by now but many of the products from the kit are still available. 

For this card I used just one of the corners of the larger floral spray and stamped the smaller matching flower to pop up.  The coloring is done using my ZIG Markers and the die I used here is from Avery Elle WONKY STITCHES Set.  The sentiment from SSS CONGRATULATIONS is stamped using Tsukineko VersaFine ONYX BLACK Ink   on vellum and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The background embossed panel is done using the one of the new Tim Holtz Sizzix 3D Texture Fades Embossing Folders.  This is the one that was included in the June kit called "BOTANICAL".   The gem ewmbellishmenets  are Studio Katia CUPID'S KISS Crystals.  

My second card has probably my favorite of the pair.  The silver embossing is very pretty in person.  For this card I stamped the larger image for the "Beautiful Flowers" set with VersaMark directly onto one of the patterned papers from ModaScrap FLY AND SCRAP 6x6 Paper that was in the June Kit and heat embossed using Ranger Embossing Powder SUPER FINE SILVER Detail.   I again used my Zig Markerand a waterbrush to add the coloring.  The sentiment is from SSS CONGRATULATIONS and embossed in the SUPER FINE SILVER Detail embossing powder.  The sequins are from my stash.

Thank you for dropping by to check out my blog.  Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

Feel Like I Can Fly

The card I am sharing today is for the Simon Says Stamp Flickr group Challenge 98.  Guest designer Isha has challenged us to use embossing on our card.  She has  created several beautiful samples in the discussion thread for the challenge.
For my embossing I used the "Butterflies" stencil from the April Card Kit of the Month and modeling paste.  The kit is sold out but, this stencil is still available for purchase. 

I began this card with the stamping and coloring of the flowers from the Simon Says Stamp background cling stamp called  CENTER CUT FLOWERS .  I used just the outer border and inked up only one side of the stamp.   The coloring was done with Zig Markers.  

For my stenciled butterflies, I used Crafter's Workshop LIGHT AND FLUFFY MODELING PASTE.   Before applying it to the stencil, I added color to the modeling paste by placing it on my craft sheet and using a palette knife to mix in coordinating inks .  By adding a little ink you can get almost any color from the single paste.  The sentiment comes from the stamp set from Simon Says Stamp called "BEAUTIFUL DAY".

I wish you all a beautiful day and thank you for stopping by.   Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

More Coffee PLEASE!

I decided to get out one of my favorite stamp sets to make this fun card for this weeks Wednesday Challenge with Simon Says Stamp.    This weeks challenge was to use more than one stamp and the suggested product was Honey Bee Stamps.

The stamp sets I used were "BLAH BUNNY" and "BLAH BLAH BLAH" both by the Honey Bee stamps company.  I stamped the image using masks that I had already created for this set and saved from a previous card.  I colored the image using Zig Clean Color Markers and die cut it using a stitched rectangle die.  The enamel dots and patterned paper are from my stash.

Thank you for dropping in to check out my card.  Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

For The Boys

This is the card I am adding to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  The stamp set I used for the boy themed birthday card is one that I received as a birthday gift from Simon with my March order called "FAVORITE PUPERONI".  It is available and such fun for a masculine themed birthday card.   The product line recommendation for this week's theme is Lawn Fawn which gave the inspiration for this fun slider card.  There is a very good youtube video on the use of this die set HERE.

For the front image on my card  I masked off the pizza in the puppy's mouth using  piece of masking paper.  I used the same mask on the inside image for placing the hat and pizza.
The Lawn Fawn MAGIC COLOR SLIDER DIES makes the slider part easy to do.   I also used the coordinating set from Lawn Fawn  PUSH HERE Clear Stamps and Dies .   The patterned paper was in my stash from a previous SSS monthly kit collection.  

This is the opened view of the card.  I love the surprise reveals that make these cards such fun.  I used my colored pencils to do the coloring.  


I have two addition cards to show you that could be used for the boys.  Both of these cards use the Simon Says Stamp Suzy's PUNDER THE SEA Watercolor Prints  and Zig CLEAN COLOR Real Brush markers.  I find these preprinted images a quick and easy way to just get to fun part for me... the coloring.   I used a waterbrush with the Zigs to do a lot of color blending here.

Thank you for dropping by to check out my cards.  Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

Blossoms & Butterflies

This is the card I made to enter is this weeks Wednesday Challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp blog.  The theme for the challenge is "Animal Magic" and they are showcasing Gina K designs.   The stamps that I used on my card are from a clear set by Gina K Designs called "Birds & Blossoms".   I think that maybe butterflies can count as animals in an insect sense of the word? 

My background uses a stencil from The Crafters Workshop Rebekah Meier "Journal Musings" and the Distress Oxide Inks,  "Mermaid Lagoon" & "Squeezed Lemonade".   

I used VersaFine Onyx Black ink to stamp the butterfly image and the sentiment.   The leaves were stamped using Hero Arts Hybrid Ink Pad MOSS .    For coloring my image I used Zig Clean Color Brush Markers to add the color right over the background coloring.   To finish I used Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium MATTE  to add a few sequins from my stash.

I usually like to create a second card while I have out all the materials.  This is the second card that I made this session.

This one is square and uses the same stamp set.  To get the butterfly without the flower I just inked the butterfly and wiped any unwanted ink off before stamping.  No masking involved in the this card at all.   The embellishment is Pretty Pink Posh 6MM & 3MM CLEAR DROPLETS .

Thank you for dropping in to check out my blog.  Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

Put A Flower On It

 This is a card that I created for the new challenge over at A Blog Named Hero.  The challenge is to "Put A Flower On It" so I went through my Hero Arts floral stamps and pulled out this pretty rose stamp and the coordinating dies from an older Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit.  This one is from April of 2016 and I still love it.

First I used my stitched rectangle die and a Tim Holtz Sizzix MIXED MEDIA Thinlits Die 660220  to make a panel from Canson Bristol XL paper.  I stamped the flower image in the lower left hand side of the panel using Hero Arts "Soft Granite" Ink.   I also stamped the flower and the bud two more times on a another piece of the paper so that it could used to make the 3D layers.   For the coloring I used  Zig CLEAN COLOR Markers and a waterbrush .   Most of the coloring  was done by  putting the color on my craft sheet and picking it up with the waterbrush to get more of a wash effect.   I used the dies to layer the flower pieces and popped them up with foam squares for extra dimension.    I added a sentiment from SSS MESSAGES FOR EVERYDAY sss101831 .  The banner die I used is from Simon Says Stamp, STITCHED BANNERS Wafer Dies SSSD111584.  To embellish  I used my collage medium to adhere a few of the Lucy's Cards CLEAR IRIDESCENT Jewels LBJ02 .

I decided to submit this card to the challenge but it was the second card of two cards that I created for the challenge. The first one I did is this one. It is very similar but uses a different floral, coloring and no 3D treatment. This stamp is Hero Arts K6136 Antique Rose Stem.

Thank you for stopping by to check out my work. Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

 

SSS May Card Kit of Month Ideas

The cards I am sharing today were all made using the Simon Says Stamp Card Kit of Month, May 2018 . I just checked and it looks like this one already sold out but many of the items from the kit are still available.   

Card #1

All four of these cards were super easy when you use the stamps and the stickers that are in the kit.   

For card #1 I simply used one the sentiments and stamped it in the lower right hand corner of my panel.  Then I used masking paper to make a rough mask for the sentiment and the line stamp from the set was used to create the vertical dash lines..  To finish this card I scattered a few of the pretty heart stickers.

Card #2

 

Card #2 is really the same basic idea but I used my masking to orient the lines in a horizonal double dash pattern.  The flower puffy stickers are from the second sticker sheet in the kit.  I don't usually use stickers but I did love the look and so darn easy.  Both sets of stickers are still available for now.

Card #3

For Card #3 I stamped a border using the SSS Hybrid Inks that were in the kit and an additional color called Hollyhock.  After I created the flower border I used my stencil brush and the Hollyhock ink to add pink to the background.   The sentiment was stamped on a MFT stitched square die panel using the Spring Rain hybrid ink and then embossed with a clear embossing powder.  I added a few more of the sticker hearts from the kit. 

Card #4

For my fourth card I decided to use on of my favorite patterned papers in the the kit.  Nothing complicated about this card either.  I just created a layout to showcase the pretty patterned paper and added a bow sticker from the kit.

Thank you for dropping by my blog.  Your comments, questions and suggestions are always very welcome.

Supplies:

Stamps:  "EVERYTHING TOGETHER" sss101825

Stickers: Pinkfresh Studio LET YOUR HEART DECIDE Epoxy Heart Stickers pfrc101018,  Puffy Stickers pfrc100318

Inks:   Simon Says Stamp Hybrid Ink Pad Cube Set SPRING FLOWERS SF07, VersaFine Onyx black
Dies:   Lil inker  "Stitched Mat : Rectangles" , MFT 552 Stitched Square Stax  Die-namics,
 SSS BUNDLE OF STITCHED SHAPES Wafer Dies sssd111412
Cardstock:  SSS #100 Orange Peel, SSS #100 Audrey Blue , Neenah #110 Solar White
Patterned Paper: Pinkfresh Studio Let Your Heart Decide 6x6 paper pack

Masking Paper: Simon Says Stamp MASKING PAPER Sheets 20 Count SMSK20

Kind Heart

Today my Simon Says Stamp May Monthly Card Kit was in my mailbox.  I couldn't wait to make a card with the kit.  I am in love the color palette of the papers, stickers and inks in this kit.   The hummingbird image is so beautiful and  of course, teacup planters  will always appeal to my feminine side. 

I often use patterned paper as an inspiration for my color palette and the patterned paper from Pinkfresh Studio "Let Your Heart Decide" in this kit is so beautiful.  The one that I used for this card is just the kind that totally gets my creative juices flowing.  I will most likely be using it as inspiration for another card soon.

The stamping was done with VersaFine Onyx Black ink onto Canson Bristol XL paper.  For coloring I used watercolor markers from Tombow and a watercolor brush to closely match the colors present in the paper.   

Almost everything that I used to create this card can be found in the May Monthly  kit which is at this moment still available.  They do sell out quickly.   I did use the Die-namics MFT651 "Cross Stitch Oval" die (may no longer be available) for my focal panel and the "Stitched Banners" SSSD111584 from Simon for the sentiment.   The sequins are from my stash and I am not sure that they were need. 

Thank You for stopping by my blog.  Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

Challenges:  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Fiesta Time !

I finally am getting some time to post my latest card creations using the My Monthly Hero April kit.  This kit is still available the last time I checked.  As you can see I am have fun playing with it.  These are five of the cards I have done with it so far.

Card # 1

The background on this 1st card was created by masking off a circle then using the inks in the kit to sponge in and blend the colors. The die also included in this kit was cut from black cardstock.  I also cut a small rectangle from the black cardstock to make a little stage for the trumpeter.  All the images for the five cards were stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers. 

Card #2

For this second card put my little bird birthday scene on a tag cut from Kraft cardstock using a die from Lil Inker "Anytime Tags".    The ribbon was included in the kit. I stamped both of the sentiments onto white cardstock and highlighted both with some of the same colors of Copic markers that were used in the coloring. The sentiment strips were using a very inexpensive set of dies that I order on the Amazon site.   They don't appear to be available any longer.

Card #3

Cards #3 and #4 both use the same Lil Inker tag die.  The backgrounds were created using a Stencil Brush  and the ink from the kit to apply very light coloring.
For both of these cards I used the Unryu Paper in this month's kit.  

Card #4

       
For card #3, I put the Unryu paper in my paper trimmer but instead cutting it I ran a bead of water on the cutting line and gently tore the paper along the water lines.  I love the natural looking edge you get with this method.  I also used an edge die from Die-Namics "Homespun Stitch Lines" for a finishing touch to the edge.   For Card #4, I used the Unryu paper to create a fringe embellishment for the bottom edge of the tag. I have also known this type of paper to be called "Mulberry" paper.

The fifth card is probably my favorite because it is a shaker card.  I used a die from Poppy Stamps " Madison Window " to create a shaker window for the musical mouse to perform from.  The "Wonky Stitches" die from Avery Elle was used for the panel.

Thank You, for dropping by to check out my blog.   Your comments, questions and suggestions are always very welcome. 

Sparkle & Shine Birthday

The background for this card is something I created a bit ago but wasn't quite sure how to finish it.  The Wednesday Challenge with Simon Says Stamp this week is to add Sparkle and Shine.  I was inspired by that idea to add the finishing touches to make this card. 

The background stamp I used is Simon Says Stamp "Emma Background" SSS101692 .  It was stamped using VersaMark Ink and heat embossed with super fine white embossing powder.  Then I sponged with Distress Oxide Ink in "Worn Lipstick" and "Picked Raspberry".  The splatter is watered down Distress Oxides and a little white gouache'.

The sparkle comes from the Nuvo Glitter  Drops "Silver Moondust" and a dies from Memory Box "Elegant Scrollwork" cut from silver glitter cardstock .  

The sentiment is an older Hero Arts set Called "Birthday Sayings" which may no longer be available.  It is stamped on a "Stitched Banner" die from Simon Says Stamp. 

Thanks for stopping in to take a look at my card creations.  Your comments, questions or suggestions are always welcome. 

Birthday Fishes

I am always in need of more birthday cards for the fellows in my life.  So with that in mind, I created this one using stamps and dies from Tim Holtz.

This card is also going to be an entry in the Simon Says Stamp blog Wednesday Challenge . the challenge theme is "Add Texture" and the suggested product is Tim Holtz.   For the texture I did an embossed and inlay technique.  The die I used is actually on from Tim Holtz "Holiday Greens"  658759 thinlits .  
My background is Distress Oxides "Salty Ocean" and "Faded Jeans" applied with a water brush.  I also added a touch of texture by sponging thru a stencil. 
I used Archival Inks to stamp the images from Tim Holtz "Sea Life" CmS304 .  I inked the die cuts with the Colbalt Archival and heat embossed using Hero Arts "White Satin Pearl" powder.
As a final touch of texture I applied some drizzles of Collage Medium Matte and sprinkled on some vintage gold glitter from my stash.
Thanks for stopping by to check out my latest card.  Your comments, questions and suggestions are always most welcome.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Tim Holtz "Sea Life" CmS304,  CRAZY-TALK-CMS236, SIMPLE-SAYINGS-cms155

Dies:         Holiday Greens"  6587 
Stencil:    Tim Holtz Layering Stencil DOT FADE THS006