Summer Barefootin'

Happy Summer everyone! Take off those flip-flops and enjoy some fun in the sun and make your feet happy! The "Optional Twist" for this week's Twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz was "feet" and I went with 3 pairs of them.

The first thing I did was cut out 3 pairs of feet in different colored card stock using dies from Marianne Creatables (LR0305). Next, I composed my sentiment on my computer and printed it out on ivory card stock. Under the sentiment I stamped a flock of flying birds in black ink with a Stampscapes stamp. This was then cut and embossed with Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles and sponged around the edges with Memento Cantaloupe ink. At this point I positioned the die cut feet on this panel and popped them on with dimensionals.

As a final step, I prepared my base card and then popped on my focal layer and my project was done, a very clean and simple summery card.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out this post. I hope you liked it and will come back again. And don't forget to join in the fun at The Outlawz challenge this week.

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Joan's Touch  -  Vacation Challenge - Anything Goes

Sister Act  -  Challenge #67 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday -  Challenge #143 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  - Challenge #82  - Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs -  August Anything Goes
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #48 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #46 - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters  -   July 23 Challenge - Die Cuts or Punches
TTCRD  -  Challenge Jul 29 - Aug 4  -  Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #29 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #23 - Anything Goes

Life of Leisure

Hello, crafting friends! Time for another fun Twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz where the theme is always "Anything Goes" with an optional twist. Except for this week's challenge, there is NO optional twist. 

With the Belmont Stakes behind us but still in many of our memory banks, did you ever wonder what happens to race horses after their running days are over? Although many come to a sad end, many others find happy homes and enjoy the rest of their lives on farms where they can interact with people and other retired race horses.

With the above in mind, I chose to use a quarter horse digital image by Anne Fenton for my main focal point and decided .....what a perfect image for a retirement theme! And so I ran with that.

I started out with coloring the quarter horse image with Copic markers and cut it out. Then I needed a background scene to place my image in. I chose a stamp from GKD Farm Life and stamped it in black ink on ivory card stock. Next, I colored the entire scene with Copics and added color all around the image by sponging with different inks. My background scene was then cut and embossed into a circle with a die from Spellbinders Standard Circles Small. I matted it with an intricate circle in ivory, cut and embossed with a Spellbinders Stately Circles die. The quarter horse image was adhered to my background scene with dimensionals.

I composed my own sentiment and cut it with Spellbinders Beaded Ovals die. Before removing it from the die, I used Memento Cantaloupe ink to sponges around the circle edges. I put this aside while I worked on my base card.

I prepared a 5x5 inch base card in ivory card stock and added a layer of brown. Cutting another layer in sweet corn card stock, I scored it on all four edges and then made 2 diagonal score lines in opposing corners. This layer was then adhered to my base. The base card being completed, my final step was to pop on my focal image and sentiment with dimensionals.

(By the way, besides being a great retirement card, this could double as a masculine card for any occasion.)

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please stop by this week's The Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge and check out the other creations made by our Design Team. They will surely inspire you to create. Hope you will join us and play along.

Make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Crafting from the Heart  - Challenge #28 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create   -  Challenge #81 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Challenge Jul 22-29  -  Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating  -  July Challenge - Anything Goes

Fan-Tastic Tuesday   -  Challenge #45 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  - Challenge #142 - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters  -  Challenge Jul 23 - Die Cuts or Punches
Sister Act  -  Challenge #66 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #23 - Anything  Goes

"Berry" Nice of You

Hello! It's summer and fruits are abundant now in my area. My favorites are strawberries and that's the fruit I chose to use in this week's Mod Squad challenge themed "A Fruitful Summer". The criteria was to use the colors of black, white and kraft (paper or ink) and to use a fruit image in our project. 

My basket of strawberries image is a digital stamp (don't know the artist) which I printed out on white card stock and colored with Copic markers. Next, I cut and embossed my focal image using Spellbinders Decorative Labels Thirty Four. The "Thanks" sentiment is a stamp from GKD Signs of Spring stamp set and was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then cut and embossed with Spellbinders Labels Seventeen. The other sentiment was composed on my computer and then cut and embossed with the same die. Before removing any of the die cuts from their dies, I sponged with Memento Desert Sand ink.

I prepared my base card in GKD Kraft card stock and layered it with GKD Cherry Red. For my final step, I popped my focal panel onto my base with dimensionals and my card was complete.

Thanks for stopping by and please visit often. There's always 

something new to see.

In the meantime, make it a great day with lots of crafting!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Mod Squad  -  Challenge July 16 - A Fruitful Summer
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #80 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #65 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #141 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #27 - Anything Goes

Summer Birdhouse

Hello, paper crafters and welcome! The "optional twist" for this week's Twisted Thursday challenge at  The Outlawz was to create something with the theme "in the good OLD summer time". Our sponsor for this month's challenge is Anne Fenton's Digital Stamps. I chose Anne's Birdhouse with Wild Roses stamp. Since the word "OLD" was stressed in the optional twist, I thought I'd make the birdhouse look somewhat aged.

After printing out my image I colored it using both Spectrum Noir and Copic markers.  I added some butterflies from GKD Sending Sunshine stamp set and colored them as well. 

In my next step, I cut and embossed a frame in brown card stock using Sue Wilson's Spanish Collection Seville die. To fit my image in the center of this frame, I cut it with a die from Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics B and before removing it from the die, I sponged around the edges with Memento Angel Pink ink. This was then adhered to the center of my frame.

For my final step, I prepared my base card in white and added a layer of pink card stock. To this I adhered my framed focal image with dimensionals and my project was complete.

Thanks so much for visiting and come join us in this week's challenge at The Outlawz and show us your awesome creations!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s): 

Joan's Touch  -  Vacation Challenge - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #141 - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create  - Challenge #80 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #44 - Anything Goes

Emboss Resist Birthday

Hello everyone! Today I'm sharing a card I made for my sister-in-law, whose birthday is today. She's a crafter and the person who introduced me to card making several years ago.

I began by creating my focal panel. I stamped my image (HFC Sun Kissed Fleur Swirls) on white card stock with Versamark ink and embossed it with white EP. Next, I sponged Memento Sweet Plum ink over the image. Using a paper towel, I rubbed over the image to bring out the white embossing (this technique is referred to as "Emboss Resist"). I added my sentiment (from GKD Stately Flowers 8) in Memento Espresso Truffle ink and then cut and embossed my panel with a die from Sue Wilson's California Basic Frames A set. I put this aside to work on my base card.

I used white card stock to create the base card and layered it with GKD Edible Eggplant card stock. I added another layer in white which was embossed with Sue Wilson's California Decor Frames B. In my final step I adhered my focal panel to the prepared base card with dimensionals.

The technique I used in creating this card always gives such beautiful results. If you haven't yet, give it a try. You'll be glad you did.

Thanks for stopping by and....make it a great day!  

This card was entered into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #80 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #65 - Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #26 - Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs   -  July Challenge - Anything Goes
Joan's Touch  - Vacation Challenge - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #43 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #140 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #46 - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters -  Birthday Challenge
The Paper Shelter  -  Challenge #166 - Birthday
Sunshine Mail  -  Challenge July 1 - Anything Goes 

Butterfly Sparkle

Hello, fellow crafters! Here's a CAS card I made just for the fun of it. It has only one stamped image and the rest are die cuts.

I began with a base in pink card stock. I cut a layer slightly smaller than my base in white card stock and stamped my image (HFC Petite Floral Swirls) in black ink and then colored it with Copics.

In my next step, I used a Memory Box Floral Delights die to cut tiny flowers in pink card stock. I adhered these flowers, several different shapes,  randomly over my image. I added a touch of adhesive to each flower and sprinkled it with glitter.

The butterfly is a die cut from Spellbinders Les Papillion Two. It was cut in white card stock which was matted with double sided adhesive. After removing it from the die and removing the protective layer of the adhesive it was sprinkled with various colors of glitter and adhered to my card with dimensionals.

For the sentiment, I composed it on my computer and printed it out on white card stock. It was then cut with a die from Sue Wilson's Spanish Collection Cordoba. Using the same die, I cut the same oval shape in pink card stock and adhered it behind my sentiment panel, offsetting it to the left. This was then popped onto my card with dimensionals.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful weekend with crafting on your mind.

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Joan's Touch   -  Vacation Challenge - Anything Goes
Sister Act  - Challenge #65 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #43 - Anything Goes
Love to Create  -  Challenge #123 - Clean and Layered
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #140 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #79 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #26 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  - Challenge #22 - Anything Goes
Crafting with Dragonflies  -  Challenge #30 - CAS

Summer Fun

Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer, hot and humid as it may be, and stocking up on ice cream for a summer treat. My favorite right now is Haagen Dazs Black Cherry Amaretto Gelato. I could eat an entire container at one sitting if I allowed myself to do that, it is THAT good! 

Speaking of summer and ice cream, here is the card I made for our new Twisted Thursday challenge this week at The Outlawz, with an optional twist of "fun in the sun". Our sponsors this month are Anne Fenton Digital Stamps and Paper Temptress.

For my project I chose Anne Fenton's Hugzz...Ice Cream digital image. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir and Copic Markers. To add more color and scenery I drew grass and little flowers on the ground with my markers. Next, I cut and embossed this focal panel using a die from Spellbinders Wonky Squares and sponged around the image before removing the die. This panel was then matted with GKD Sweet Corn card stock which was cut with a larger die from the same set.

Having completed the focal panel, I prepared my base card in green. I added a layer of patterned paper from my stash. I added another layer in green, which was die cut with Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, and then embossed with Sizzix Square Lattice embossing folder. (For a video tutorial on how to emboss only the center of a panel which has been die cut, leaving the edges clean and crisp, visit this link).

My sentiment is from GKD Beach Bum stamp set and was stamped in Versamark, embossed with green EP and then cut with the smallest die from the Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges set. My final step was to pop my focal panel onto my base card and add the sentiment. 

Thanks for visiting!  And make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

TTCRD  -  July 8-14 Challenge - Anything Goes

Joan's Touch - Vacation Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #26 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge 46 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #140 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #46 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #22  - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #65 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments  -  Challenge #110 - Anything Goes
Mod Squad  -  Jul 9 Challenge - Love that Texture

Christmas Bow Tree

Merry July everyone! Have you ever tried to get into the Christmas mode in the month of July and make a Christmas card? It's 86 degrees out there, hot and muggy, and I'm trying to think snow and cold.  LOL! Well,  the optional twist for our Twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz this week was "Christmas in July". This is what I decided to create for my DT card.

I began with creating my focal panel in white card stock by die cutting and embossing it using Spellbinders 5X7 Detailed Scallops. Next, I matted this in red card  stock and then layered it onto a white base card. This was put aside while I worked on creating the bows.

Using Christmas themed patterned paper, I created 2 bows of the same size with Sue Wilson's Classic 3D Bows die. I cut the tails of one of the bows to make it slightly smaller. The 2 smaller bows were made using a template and the tail of one was cut to make it a tad smaller. For the basket stand, it was hand drawn on card stock and then embossed with a Darice Basket Weave embossing folder and cut out. 

OK...time to position the bows on my focal panel to make the image look like a tree. I started with the basket stand, centered it and adhered it to the bottom of my focal panel. Next, I centered and positioned a red button on the top of my focal panel. This allowed me to evenly space my bows down the center. I added a button to two of the bows to add a little extra interest. 

The sentiment was computer generated and then cut with a die from Spellbinders A2 Valiant Honor. This was adhered at both ends over the basket stand and my project was done.

Thanks for stopping by to see my "Christmas in July" project! Hope you will join us at The Outlawz and show us your creations.  Remember, the weekly Twisted Thursday challenge is  always "Anything Goes"....... the twist is optional.

Make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Dies R Us  -  Challenge #5 - Christmas in July
Just Keep on Creating  - July 2014 Anything Goes Challenge
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #42 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge #202 - Anything Goes'
Love to Create  -   Challenge #122 - 3 or More Designer Paper
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #139 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  - Challenge #78 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Challenge July 1-7  - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #25 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls   -  Challenge  #21 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments  -  Challenge #110 - Anything Goes