Hello Friend in Plaid

Hi, everyone! Here I am again with a card that I created for this week's challenge at Joan's Touch.  The criteria for this challenge was to use plaid, checks or stripes and to have a border around your image. I chose a gray plaid pattern from GKD Poppy Prints paper pack, which I coordinated with red.

I began with my base card in white card stock and layered it with a medium gray color. I added a layer in red and then my gray plaid layer.

Next, I worked on my focal image, which is a stamp from HFC Sun Kissed Fleur Swirls. I stamped my image in Memento Gray Flannel ink on white card stock. I colored the image with Copic markers and then die cut and embossed it with a die from Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles.

The sentiment is from GKD Stately Flowers 1 and was stamped on white with GKD Cherry Red ink. This was then die cut and embossed with the smallest die from the above mentioned Spellbinders die set.

The last step was to pop the focal image and the sentiment on my card with dimensionals and my project was complete.

Thanks for stopping by to visit! 

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

Joan's Touch  -  Challenge 8

Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #127 - Anything Goes

Sister Act  -  Challenge #51 - Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #13 - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers  -  Challenge #113 - You've Been Framed

Cinderella's Shoes

Hi, my creative friends! I really enjoyed making this card today. I don't know why, but it just put a big smile on my face. It was made for StampTV's MIUM challenge which required participants to use the same image stamped 3 times.

I started with a base card in white card stock sized to 5x7 inches. Using the 2 largest dies from Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics B I embossed a frame on the base card. Next, I adhered a layer of turquoise dotted swiss patterned paper from my stash. I put this aside.

I used the shoes stamp from GKD You've Got Style stamp set and stamped them in Memento Tuxedo Black ink three (3) times on white card stock. Next, I colored each pair of shoes with Copics and then die cut and embossed each with a die from Spellbinder's Captivating Squares. To add a bit of sparkle to the shoes I added a drop of Stickles to the bow.

The sentiment, from the same stamp set, was stamped in black ink and then cut and embossed with Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Ovals Large.

As a final step the shoe images and sentiment were popped onto the base with dimensionals and that completed my card.

I hope that, like me, it put a big smile on your face too. Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back again soon with another project.

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -   Challenge #30 - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #126 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -   Challenge #51 - Anything Goes
Craftitude  -   Challenge #62 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #13 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  - Challenge Apr 8-14 - Anything Goes

Scored Frame Tutorial

Hello! 

I have been asked how I created the scored frame in a recent card that I last posted on my blog (Easter Iris). I'm including a list of supplies needed and instructions with photos.


Supplies:

card stock cut 10" by 7"
Scoring board & tool
Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics B dies


Instructions:

STEP #1

• using your scoring board and tool, score your 10"x7" card at 5 inches but DO NOT FOLD at this point. Folding the card at the score line will be the very last step.

STEP #2

•  turn your card over to the back side 

(Note: Since you want the scored frame to be prominent on the front of your card, you must turn your card over to it's back side to create the scored frame)

STEP #3

•  take the 2 largest dies from Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics B and position them, one die inside the other, cutting side down, on the back side of what will be the front panel of your card; it would be a good idea to use removable tape to make sure the dies don't move from their position.(Remember, you're doing this on the back side of the front panel of your card)

•  make certain your machine is prepared to emboss ONLY and not cut; run your card stock with the dies through your machine, according to your machine's instructions.

  
STEP #4

•  remove the dies from your card and turn your card over to the right side

STEP #5 (final step)

•  using care, fold on the initial score line 

You now have a beautiful frame on your card and are ready to dress it up to your heart's content. With the Spellbinders 4 different sets of Matting Basics dies you can create frames of various sizes.

I sincerely hope these instructions and photos were clear and helped to explain how the scored frame is created. Put your creativity to work and go create some framed beauties!

 

Easter Iris

Hello again! Easter is less than 2 weeks away and I thought I'd create another Easter card. I read Theresa Momber's tutorial on coloring the iris stamp from GKD Stately Flowers 8 and was inspired to create this card.

I began with a 5x7-inch card base in white card stock. I scored the base card but did not fold it at this point. Using the 2 largest dies from Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics B, I embossed the top portion of my base card  and then scored and folded it.

In the next step I die cut 2 frames in white card stock with Spellbinders Gold Labels Four, using the 2 largest dies. While still in the dies, I lightly sponged the edges of both label panels with Memento Cantaloupe ink. I stamped the Easter greeting, a wood mounted stamp from Stampabilities, in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on the smaller panel. At this point I popped on these panels onto my base card with dimensionals.

The iris was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, colored with Copic markers and cut out. The final step was to adhere the iris to my card with dimensionals.

I really love how this card turned out. Thank you, Theresa, for the tutorial and the inspiration! And thank you all for stopping by to visit.


This card was entered into the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #66 - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers  -  Challenge #113 - You've been framed
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #13 - Anything Goes (Easter Theme)
TTCRD  -  Apr 1-8  - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #126 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #15 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #51 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz  -  Challenge #225 - Springtime
Challenges 4 Everybody  -   Challenge #40  - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments  -  Challenge #103 - Easter or Spring Sentiment
Craftitude  -  Challenge #62 - Anything Goes

Whitewash Floral

Hello! I made this card yesterday using the "whitewash technique". This coloring  method gives your image a very soft look. Here is a video by Melanie Muenchinger, illustrator for Gina K Designs,  if you would like to see what it's all about.

I won't go into the details since you can see how the technique is done in the video. I did an additional step of cutting out my flower image after stamping and coloring it and popping it on to my card. Listed below are the products that I used:

Base card:  GKD Pure Luxury white

Layer:  GKD Pure Luxury blue denim

Die cut:  Spellbinders Asian Motifs

Stamps:  GKD Stately Flowers 7, Signs of Spring

Ink:  Versamark, PTI Fresh Snow, Memento Danube Bamboo Leaves and Black

Additional:  white EP, water brush. adhesive, dimensionals, scissors

Hope you decide to check out this great technique and try it. I'm sure you will love the result when done.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be posting again very soon.

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

613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #66 - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers  -  Challenge #113 - You've Been Framed

Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #126 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #15 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -   Challenge #51 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz  -  Challenge #225 - Sprnigtime

Unforgettable Orange Floral

Hello, fellow crafters! I made a couple of cards today and this one was created for the week's challenge at Joan's Touch.

Beginning with a white card base, I layered it with GKD Sweet Mango card stock, followed by another layer in PTI Dark Chocolate and then a layer of patterned paper which I selected from my stash. I rounded the corners of the patterned layer and, using dies from Cheery Lynn Lace Corner Deco B, added intricate corner die cuts in brown to opposite corners.

On white card stock I stamped my floral image, from GKD Unforgettable duo stamp set, in Memento Espresso Truffle ink. To color the flowers, I used the "huffing" technique. I colored the flower petals with Memento Tangelo marker and the stems with Memento Rich Cocoa marker. Before stamping my image onto my card stock, I "huffed" on my stamp in order to remoisten it and then stamped it. I did this three times in order to get the 3 floral images. (Here is a link to a very concise but informational video on huffing).

Next, I die cut my floral image panel with Marianne Creatables Small Ovals by Petra, and while still in the die, sponged around the edges with GKD Sweet Mango ink. For my final step, I popped my focal panel onto my card using dimensionals and this completed my project. 

Hope you enjoyed this post and thanks so much for stopping by!

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

Joan's Touch  -  Challenge #7
613 Avenue Create  - Challenge #66 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #51 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #126 - Anything Goes

TTCRD  - Challenge Apr 4-8 - Anything Goes
StampTV - MIUM - Celebrate Spring - STV14MON13
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #29 - Patterned Paper
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #15 - Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody  -  Challenge #40 - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers  -  Challenge #114 - You've Been Framed
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #12 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz  -  Challenge #225  -  Springtime

Girl in Yellow

Hello, everyone! I made this card just for fun. I had come across some digital stamps by Art by Miran that I liked and so I decided to use this one (called Lillian) to make a card. I thought this would make a really cute card for a young girl. It also gave me an opportunity to do a lot of coloring with my Copics. And there was a lot of coloring here, especially the hair. It took me several tries to get it just right, or what I thought was just right. But I'm sorry to say it was a dreary and rainy day and I didn't have good lighting when I took a photo of my card. So...sadly, the vibrant colors aren't very intense or even very visible.

I made my base using GKD Pure Luxury Christmas Pine card stock. I layered the base card with white and then added another layer of digital dotted swiss patterned paper.

The green panel (same color as base) was die cut with the largest die from Spellbinders A2 Polka Dots die set and adhered to the base. The little girl image was colored with Copics and then adhered to the green panel.

To add a little extra to the focal point, I created a bow from yellow ribbon and adhered it to where there was an actual image of a bow which I had already colored. The sentiment is from GKD Buds and Vases stamp set and was cut and embossed with the smallest die from Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles.

This completed my project. I hope you liked it. Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll stop by again.


This card was entered into the following challenge(s)
TTCRD  -  Challenge Apr 1-8  - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -   Challenge #126 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #65 - Anything Goes
The Outlawz  -  Alcohol Markers Challenge - CPC032814
Sister Act  -  Challenge #50 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #29 - Patterned Paper
Crafty Girls  - Challenge #15 Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #12 - Anything Goes
Craftitude  -  Challenge #61 - Anything Goes

Happy Easter

Hello! Since Easter is just three weeks away this inspired me to create an Easter card for a challenge at Great Impressions, the theme being "Spring Celebrations."

Regal purple is the traditional Easter color in many religious rites. I chose purple for my base card and layered it with white.

On a separate piece of white card stock I stamped a floral swirl from HFC Petite Floral Swirls and colored it with Copics. The sentiment is from GKD Stately Flowers 8 and was stamped in Memento Espresso Truffle ink. This would be my focal panel.

Next, using two (2) separate dies at the same time I cut out my focal panel. For the frame, I used the largest die from Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles. For the cross I used one of the dies from Spellbinders Crosses Two. However, I did not use the die cut cross but left the area of the cut-out open. Instead, I die cut another cross in purple and popped it onto my base card and then popped on my focal panel, the purple cross showing through the open cut out.

That completed my project. Until next time, have a wonderful and creative day!

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

Great Impressions  -  March Challenge - Spring Celebrations

Sister Act  -  Challenge #50 - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #125 - Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody  -  Challenge #39 - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments -  Challenge #103 - Easter or Spring Sentiment

Craftitude  -  Challenge #61 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz  -  Challenge #224 - Anything Goes

Butterfly & Poppies

Hello!  Today I made a card for a challenge at Mod Squad where red and brown were the theme colors.

I usually begin with a base card but this time I will begin with my focal point. When I think of red, I think of beautiful red poppies which I love. So, the first thing I did was to die cut a panel in ivory using Marianne Creatables Small Ovals by Petra die.  While still in the die, I sponged GKD Kraft ink around the oval.

In the next step, I cut out poppy flowers using Memory Box Prim Poppy die. In order to have red flowers and green stems, I cut the poppies twice - once in red and again in green - and then paper pieced them. I also added some shading to the poppy flowers, although you may not be able to see it in the photo. I wanted to add some foliage to the stems so I used another poppy die from Memory Box Perky Poppy and used the foliage from that die. I then popped the poppies on my focal panel with dimensionals. 

So that the poppies wouldn't stand alone, I stamped a butterfly in Memento Espresso Truffle ink from GKD Celebrate the Season stamp set and colored it with Copic markers. I stamped the butterfly a second time on another piece of card stock, colored it, cut it out and then popped it over the stamped butterfly.

I then prepared my base card in kraft card stock. I added a layer of ivory and then another layer of red which I had embossed with a lattice embossing folder. My finished focal panel was then popped on to my card and my project was complete.

Thanks for visiting! See you next time!

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

Mod Squad  -  ColorfuLEE Yours
613 Avenue Create  -   Challenge #64 - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #28 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Chgallenge #125 - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #49 - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - Challenge #103 - Spring or Easter
Crafty Girls  -  Challenge #14 - Anything Goes

Celebrate Your Day

 Here is another card I made for Joan's Touch (pink, white, lattice and flowers) challenge.

I had in mind what I wanted as the end result so I knew that I would need a 5x5" card base which I made in pink card stock.  Next, I cut 2 dies in white card stock from Marianne Creatables Anja's Squares, one of which had heart shaped lattice patterns around all four edges. I adhered these two die cut panels together using dimensionals and then adhered them to my base card.

I cut the flowers using Memory Box Bella Bouquet die. I cut these twice...once in white card stock and a second time in green. While still in the die, I colored the white flowers with Copic markers and then cut them off and discarded the white stems. Next, I paper pieced the white colored flowers onto the green cutout flowers which left me with a pretty bouquet of white and pink flowers on green stems. These were then adhered to the white latticed layer of my card.

I stamped my sentiment, from GKD Signs of Spring, on white card stock, cut it out with Spellbinders Beaded Ovals die and sponged it with Memento Angel Pink ink while still in the die. I added a ribbon to the flower stems and attached my sentiment on top of the ribbon. 

Hope you enjoyed this post. Thanks for stopping by!

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

Joan's Touch  -  Challenge #6
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #64 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Mara 25-31 - Anything Goes
Fantastic Tuesday  -   Challenge #28 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #125 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls -  Challenge #14  - Anything Goes
Sister Act  -  Challenge #49 - Anything Goes

For You My Friend

Hello, fellow crafters!  As in many other states it is snowing here in Ohio. I think this is the longest winter in recent history. The four seasons this year will be: winter, summer, fall and winter. LOL

With wishful thinking, I made a spring-like card today for a challenge at Joan's Touch. The challenge required making a pink and white card, using lattice and adding a flower.

My base card was made in pink card stock. I cut a white piece of card stock for my focal point panel and cut out a rectangle shape in the center using a die from Spellbinders Matting Basic A. Next, I embossed that panel with a die from Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles, positioning it on the cut out rectangle. I used a Cheery Lynn French Lattice die to create the lattice and adhered it to the back of the white panel. This was then matted with white card stock and popped on to the pink base card with dimensionals.

The flower was created with Marianne Creatables Flowers Fantasy in pink dotted Swiss paper, a pearl was added to the center and then the flower was adhered to the focal point panel. I added some greenery using Poppy Stamps Pine Sprigs and Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish dies.

Thank you for visiting! Please stop by again for more creations.

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

Joan's Touch  -  Challenge #6

613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #64 - Anything Goes

The Outlawz  -  GCC0324 - Just Add Texture

TTCRD  -   Mar 25-31  -  Anything Goes

Sister Act  -  Challenge #49 - Anything Goes

Crafty Girls  -   Challenge #14 - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday  -   Challenge #124 - Anything Goes

Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #28 - Anything Goes

Love is Music

Hi, crafting friends! Hope your day has been a warm and sunny one. We are still waiting for Spring to show its true face. It's 39 degrees here even though Spring's first day has been said to arrive.

Today I made a quick and CAS card for a challenge at The Outlawz. The challenge included an optional twist....to add texture.  I used dry embossing and score lines to add texture to my card.

I began with a black card base. Next I scored a white layer on all four edges and adhered it to my base. On a black panel I stamped my sentiment (GKD Love is Friendship) in Versamark and embossed it with gold EP. I then dry embossed this panel in Sizzix Stripes Textured Impressions folder and adhered it to my base card. The music notes score is a Memory Box Party Music die which I cut in gold mirror paper and adhered to the focal point panel. And that was it.

Hope you were inspired to create, not just today but everyday. Leave the housework alone. It won't go anywhere.  Have a great day!


This card was submitted into the following challenge(s):
The Outlawz  -  Twisted Thursday - TT0320
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #124 - Anything Goes
Fantastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #27 - Anything Goes
TTCRD  -  Challenge Mar 18-24  -  Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everbody  -  Challenge #39 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments  -  Challenge #102 - Anything Goes

Unforgettable Violets

Hello, everyone!  Before I go into the details of the above card, I want to announce that I have been invited to join the Design Team at The Outlawz Challenge Blog. Needless to say I am so very flattered to have been considered and excited about this new adventure. I hope to get my feet wet in the next week or so and begin my duties beginning with April.

Now on to the card, which was a very CAS one which I made for a challenge at the Mod Squad where the requirements were to use HAND-CUT embellishments, NO die cuts. If you have seen much of my work, you'll note that I love using dies...but not this time.

I began with making a 5x5 inch card base from violet card stock. I added a layer of white followed by another layer of violet. Next, I cut a panel in white and stamped my violets image (a Hampton Art wood mounted stamp) in black ink and colored only the buds.  I also stamped my sentiment (GKD Unforgettable duo stamp set) in black. This focal panel was then adhered to my prepared base card.

On a separate piece of white card stock I stamped the violets image again and colored the three flowers with Copics. I then cut them out and popped them on to my stamped image on the focal panel to make the violets 3D. To give my card a finished look, I made a template in which I cut out an oval opening and used it to place over my sentiment and then sponged PTI Plum Pudding ink around the edges.

The card turned out to be very soft and delicate looking, suitable for a sympathy, thinking of you or serious illness card. In cases such as these, less is always more.

Hope you visit my blog often. Thanks for stopping by today!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s)

Mod Squad  -  Cut-It-Out Challenge
Word Art Wednesday  -   Challenge #124 - Anything Goes
Love to Create  -  Challenge #107 - CAS or Classy/Elegant
Sister Act  -  Challenge #48 - Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody  -  Challenge #39 - Anything Goes

No One Like You

Hi everyone! We've had 50 degree weather here today. What a wonderful change from the last several weeks. I think spring is really on its way. And that is why I chose lilacs for my card project. 

Lilacs are one of my most favorite flowers. They remind me so much of my mother who had 2 large lilac bushes in her yard. Each spring I would be sure to come by and snip several sprigs to put in a vase on my kitchen table. I could smell them as soon as I walked into the room. So I made this card for the color challenge at The Outlawz, where we were to use the colors of lavender, lime green and cocoa brown.

I used white card stock for my base card and layered it with cocoa brown. I added another layer of creme de menthe (my lime green substitute). I put this aside while I worked on my focal point.

The lilac branch is a digital image that I had and which I printed out on white and colored with Copic markers. The sentiment is from GKD Stately Flowers 7 and was stamped with Memento Espresso Truffle ink and embossed with clear EP.

With the artwork completed I cut and embossed my focal panel with Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles and as a last step, popped it on to my base card with dimensionals.

Thank you for visiting and come back again soon!

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

The Outlawz  -  Color Challenge  - CC031814

TTCRD - Mar 18-24 - Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge #187 - Tic-Tac-Toe (CAS/Digi/Die cut)

Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #27 - Anything Goes

Love to Create - Challenge #107 - CAS or Classy & Elegant

Open Floral Birthday Wishes

Green is the color for today! And Going Green was this week's challenge at StampTV.

This was a very easy card to create. Starting with a creme de menthe card base from GKD pure luxury card stock, I layered it with GKD grass green. I added one more layer of white.

For my focal point, I used a die from Spellbinders Captivating Squares to create my frame in grass green and a Memory Box Wild Blooms die to create the negative flowers. The sentiment is from GKD Framed Greetings stamp set. And that was it.

Hope this project inspired you to create. Thanks for stopping by!

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

The Outlawz  -  GCC0317 - Green
613 Avenue Create  -   Challenge #63 - Anything Goes

Love to Create  - Challenge #107 - CAS