Friendship and Sympathy

The Altenew April Inspiration Challenge is about to close.  I've seen a lot of embossed black out cards lately.  Two of the designers are Barbara Tarayao and Karen Dunbrook.  Decided to give the technique a try using Altenew's Floral Acanthus embossing folder. 

I colored the images on the debossed side using a small blending brush and Distress Inks fired brick, dried marigold and weathered wood.  Have to say, I love those colors together!  Then I used my Versafine Clair Nocturne ink pad to cover the panel.  I love how there's a bit of the black on the images that gives them more definition.  Almost forgot the white splatters and they really do step it up. I used black glossy cardstock for the mat and Altenew's Fancy Hello.  Finished with black enamel dots.  Now I'm anxious to try more folders and different color combos.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

I needed 2 sympathy cards for sisters who lost their nephew to colon cancer.  I prefer simple cards to send condolences and usually use nature images.  

My stencils from The Greetery have been waiting to be used and made the perfect background for the silhouette image from The Cat's Pajamas.  The stenciling was done with Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue and the silhouette was stamped in PTI Weathervane.  I used Versafine Morning Mist for the sentiment from PTI Wildflower Garden.  I used MFT rectangle dies to cut the Weathervane and white panels.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Friendship and Birthday

Still not back to myself, but most days I have a few hours where I feel good enough to work on cards.  For the first one, I gold embossed SSS Poinsettia background on black watercolor paper.

I love the geometric pattern that can be used all year.   I spritzed the panel and randomly added blue and green Altenew Metallic watercolors.  So beautiful in person and visible in my short IG video.  SSS Rustic Sprig was die cut twice from MFT Champagne Glitter cardstock.  SSS Painted Hugs was die cut from black glossy cardstock that I also used for the mat.  Finished off with black enamel dots.  I'm entering Tic Tac Toe #246 using Embossing, Free, Gold.

I recently discovered the beautiful Memory Box Viola paper pack in my stash.  One of the sheets is a lovely subtle background and I thought it'd be perfect to emboss with my favorite MB Blooming embossing folder.  

I lightly rubbed Memento Grape Jelly over the raised edges.  Poppystamps Happy Birthday Poe Script was stacked and covered with Nuvo Crystal Glaze.  Finished off with white embroidery thread and a tiny white heart in the center of the bow.  I'm entering Memory Box April Challenge, SSS Wednesday, Snippets Playground (teal cardstock was a scrap) and Word Art Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Time Out Challenge #262

Well, thought I'd be back before now.  However, after having a wonderful family time for my nephew's wedding, I came down with Covid.  It's definitely taken a tole, but I'm recovering.  

We have a wonderful Photo Inspiration for Time Out Challenge #262.  My friend, Kim Heggins of Running Stitch Design, is a talented seamstress, as well as cardmaker.  We actually met in person some years ago.  Kim made a darling bag to inspire us and it's the prize!  

I knew I had some doggy printed paper in my stash, but I didn't know I had this wonderful sheet by BasicGrey!  A friend of mine recently adopted a 9 month old puppy, so I made her this card.

I found the right shade of red and brown cardstock in another box of solid colored cardstock I'd forgotten about.  I am drowning in paper--haha!  Really didn't want to cover up the darling paper.  I simply added the 1994 woodblock sentiment, some twine and a little wooden heart colored with a Copic and covered with glaze.

The lady I sent this to is one of my non-cardmaking friends who actually loves to get my cards.  I always enjoy making cards, but it's even more fun when you know they'll be appreciated.  All the challenge details and inspiration from my teammates and our Guest Designer can be found on the blog.

I'm entering SSS Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Time Out Challenge #261

I'm back with my card for Time Out Challenges #261, Inspired By Words.  We have a fun quote by Scrapbook.com:  

"I'm a romantic!  I live for long, dreamy walks down the craft aisle."  

Remember, you can be inspired by the entire quote or by any of the words.  We're sponsored by Doodlebugs.  They're giving the winner a $25 gift certificate to their great on-line crafting store.  The winner also gets the opportunity to be a guest designer for a future challenge.

This was an easy challenge for me, as I was about to head to my nephew's wedding!  It's fun to use graduation or wedding invitations as inspiration for the card.  As soon as I received the invitation, I knew Taylored Expressions Modern Eucalyptus would be perfect.

I had already used the Foil It cards that nearly match the double frame.  Luckily, I have Paper Smooches Geo Frame die which I've never used.

I began by using the layering stencils with these inks:  Altenew Rocky Shore and Forest Glades and PTI Ripe Avocado and Ocean Tides.  Then I used the matching dies to cut out the 2 branches.  I inked the frame with the beautiful, shimmery Delicata Rose Gold, since I knew soft pink was one of the bride's colors.  The sentiment from TE Scripted Sentiments was stamped 3 times with Rocky Shore and then with Versamark, so I could add clear embossing powder.  I splattered lightly with Rocky Shore.  It's hard to see in the pictures, but makes a huge difference in person.  

I decided it needed a little something more, so vellum leaves to the rescue!  These are from PFS Dainty Blossoms.  All the challenge details and wonderful inspiration from my teammates and our guest designer can be found at Time Out Challenges. 

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Friendship and Thank You

I goofed and sent my first CCC card to the wrong person!  I've done the exchange for many years and this is a first!  Hopefully, also a last--haha!  Luckily, I was able to get a card made and sent to the right person before the end of March.  Always love using black and white plus another color, so I was happy to make two.

Here are my cards, both using Altenew's Flower Bed 3D embossing folder.

I'm entering the first card in the SSS Wednesday gallery.

The JUGS Stencil challenge is about to close, so will keep this short.  I love Taylored Expressions Create in Quads Ever Bloom layering stencils.  It's great that you can just make one of the designs, if you don't want all four.  Couldn't wait to try out my new Altenew blue inks to make a special thank you for someone who loves blue. 

I previously gold foiled the panel that replaces the 4th stencil and used a Waffle Flower Shader 1+ brush with the 3 lighter inks for the other 3 stencils.  Boy do you get incredible ink coverage with that brush!  I added a mat and Poppystamps scalloped frame inked with the darkest blue.  

SSS Painted Thanks was stacked 3 high with the bottom layer used for a white shadow and the top inked with the dark blue.  Finished off with gold sequins.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday via IG.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Altenew

My win for the Altenew November 2023 Monthly Challenge gave me the opportunity to participate in their Cards for Parents IG Hop.  Here's my card using Altenew's Rose Bouquet 3D embossing folder and a sentiment from Floral Frames.  There's a close up in my IG post and info on the hop including prizes.  

I love the Altenew March Inspiration Challenge.  My first entry used a stencil and I really wanted to make another card using a layering die set.  Last night I got all the pieces from Altenew Fantasy Floral die set inked and today I put the card together.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute!  

The inks for the flowers are Altenew Pink Wine, Rose Quarts and PTI Lemon Tart.  The leaves are Altenew Forest Glades and Limeade.  Hard to tell, but I did add tiny splatters of pink on the blooms and green on the leaves.  

Altenew Deck Planks 3D embossing folder makes such a great background.  This time I used a kraft panel and rubbed over the edges with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate.  The sentiment from Floral Acanthus was die cut from a scrap of the kraft cardstock and the stacked words were covered with Shimmer Pico Embellisher.  I wanted a soft look for the embellishments and thought Altenew Satin Gold sequins were a beautiful option.  I'm also entering SSS Monday and SSS Wednesday.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Time Out Challenge #260

I learned a lesson--don't try to use your phone with blogger when you're tired!  I accidentally deleted my post before I went to bed, thinking I had changed the publish time!  So, I'm late to tell you that for Time Out Challenges #260 we challenge you to be: Striped.  Once again our generous sponsor is Lawn Fawn.

My card was inspired by ones Carissa Wiley made recently for the Cardmakers Success Summit.  I don't make shakers very often, but wanted to use her idea before I forgot.

I pulled out 5 colored cardstock scraps I liked together and die cut them with PFS Color Block Stripes die.  After glueing the strips in place, I splattered with gold watercolor.  Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Circle Stackables worked great for my shaker window which I filled with sequins and glitter.  

I wasn't happy with the plain white, so colored the stitches with a gold gel pen.  It was so easy to do and made a huge difference.  The old Impression Obsession sentiment was die cut from gold metallic cardstock.  Check out the inspiration from my teammates and our Guest Designer.  Hope you'll join us.

I'm entering Die Cut Divas and SSS Wednesday. 

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.