Happy Halloween

I'm not really looking forward to Halloween.  I just don't get into it that much anymore.  I guess you can say that I've become an old grumpy lady.  LOL...

Anyway, I decided to play with some stamps that are "Halloween-ie" because I thought they were cute- and because I liked the crow (or is it a raven?).  When I discovered I could combine a halloween making card with a collage challenge, I got a teeny bit excited.  I'm not lying.

I really love how this card turned out.  I loved the concept so much that I decided to make TWO...Yep, TWO...and I mailed them both out on Thursday.  Yeah, I'm sure they'll arrive AFTER Halloween is over but oh well, I guess that's a little TRICK and a TREAT.  :)

 So there...Some yummy blue splatters from my watercolor inks, some spattering of golden embossing powder for texture and shine, some golden liquid pearls, a little bit of machine stitching, some glossy beady eyes on that bird and a cute little bow with a button because a "Kerry card" is not complete without ribbon!  :)

 Oh so delish...

Zigs and zags complete the collage look!  LP

Have a spooky Halloween.  I'll be hiding somewhere trying to evade the treaters.

Missing You...

I'm feeling a bit lonesome nowadays...My parents moved away and I find myself wanting to head over to their house just for a visit...That doesn't work so well because there is nobody there anymore...I'm looking forward to the holidays when I can take a trip to visit with and SEE them... Until then, I have to rely on visiting on the phone, sending snail mail and just keeping myself busy during no-work days.  

I created this card on Sunday...my Scraps Day.  On Sundays, I spend time up in my craft room listening to a local Praise music radio station and using up the scraps on my crafting table.  

For this card, I wanted to create a water colored background.  I pulled my cheap-o palette of inks and went to town with the blues and the greens.  I decided to overstamp some Elegant Borders background stamps on the edge and use the Postage Stamp ATS too.  Using Huckleberry Fusion ink was the perfect match.  I also grabbed a scrap of patterned cardstock (the back is an orange color) and crinkled it up before applying it to the card.  Since some orange was peeking through, I thought I'd give some added orange to the matting so that the patterned paper would coordinate more completely with the whole design.  

Diecutting, shaping and heat embossing the flower (Spring Filled Bundle) was the next step.  I first adhered some tissue paper to the green cardstock before diecutting so that the green coloring would be more muted.  After diecutting, I applied a splattering of gold and white embossing powder to the petals (and the standard brass brad (from Staples).

I had a few scraps of graph paper and some golden ribbon so I used that too.  Gold goes sooo well with this rich green and blue, don't you think?!  I finished the card off with some splattering of gold silk and that was it!  

beBrave...Some more!

Yummy collage!  I love making beautiful messes!  Here are two cards I created for the Be Brave card drive with FSJ.  I pulled out my retired Bootprint ATS stamp and sentiment, The Hope ATS, The Honeycomb ATS (look closely) some freebie wooden stars, The Tag die, some scraps from silver stripe vellum, some scraps from the Journey Girl wrapping paper, some twine, some pearls, some splashes, silks, pearls and the whole ball of wax!  WOO!  

 Here's the second  (well actually the first) verson...I think it's my favorite...I used all of the same materials except added some taupe seam binding (ruffle taped to the back) and did a little handstitching.

Take a peek at the heart...It's dipped in layers and layers of clear embossing powder.  YUM, texture, fun!

beBrave

This month I've been contributing cards to several different card drives for Cancer Awareness Month.  I created the following cards for the beBrave drive at Fun Stampers Journey:

I played around with my new favorite stencil Bloom Wall ($6.95) and some cheap white Apple Barrel acrylic paint and added some reinkers Sweet Berry ($5.95) and Beach Breeze ($5.95) and to change the color.  I wanted the ink underneath to be really messy so I just applied some paint to the stencil and slapped it on the Sweet Berry paper over and over...After applying the messy stenciling, I overlayed the "neat" stenciling on top with a heavy application of white paint and one of the plastic panels from the HOPE ATS stamp ($7.95) I used acted as the "spatula".  

I'm one for layers upon layers of cardstock as I create my cards, so it was fun to keep assembling the layers here. I also offset the ribbon using the pierced oval diecut.  

Adding a little charm tied to the satin ribbon bow just finished it off.  If you look close enough, you can see that the pink ribbon was heat embossed with over three layers of clear embossing powder. YUM!

The second card was created with the leftovers from the card above.  I didn't want to toss the extra strip of stenciled pink paper so I decided to create a "strippy card" with other scraps on my workdesk. 

 As you can see, I splattered, spritzed, tore, and stamped.  SOOO FUN!  PS...I had to use a Mat knife to cut the inside of the ribbon...I think FSJ needs to come out with a coordinating die for this stamp (PLEASE!).

Stop back again for a few more cards I created for this special card drive.

Going Places #FSJSC9

Hey Journey Friends!

Today I'm sharing a little card I made on Sunday for my Scraps Sunday challenge.  Yes, I use scraps exclusively on Sundays and I was able to incorporate this month's Creative Blooms Sketch Challenge too!  WOO WOO!

This month's sketch challenge is a pretty simple layout (Don't you think?) and it's so versatile.  I'll be using this sketch a lot this month.  Watch for a fun Christmas card and a few little spooky cards too.

All products can be purchased in my shop!

Hope You Can Cling To Challenge: Mosaics

Hey stamping friends!

Today's my day to host a challenge in the Hope You Can Cling To month-long challenge at Splitcoaststampers.com.  I'm so excited to be able to host a challenge there, and it's my first time doing so!  I've had so much fun playing in the challenges thus far and have been inspired by all the beautiful creations stampers from around the world have contributed to this event!

So here's my challenge:

Mosaics...I love them!  Whether they're the traditional repeated squares or the more elaborate artistic representations of scenes and portraits, I love mosaics!

The challenge:  Do a Google Image Search of MOSAIC TILES.   Look through the images and select one (or more) that inspires you.  Create a card incorporating a mosaic element using your search image as inspiration. Upload your card to the HOPE YOU CAN CLING TO CHALLENGE and include a link/your inspiration image.  Use the hashtag #HYCCT15 on all social media platforms.

SO HERE ARE MINE!

Inspiration Image 1:  Repeated Circles!

Inspiration Image 2:  Flower Formation!

 

Inspiration Image 3:  Ombre Wash!

So...I picked the first mosaic to inspire my creation and here's how it turned out:  

Take a closer look at those circles.  I swiped several FSJ colors over a white cardstock then used a paper punch to punch out a bazillion circles.  LOL.  Then I painstakingly adhered each and every circle to the card base using a large needle.  After about a million hours, I trimmed the edges straight and used some buttercream ink to mute the color a bit.

 After that, I added some sparkle (Stickles) to some random circles.   The negative die-cut was from a previous project so it came in handy.

Notice the heart?  That's from the freebie set I got at the Scrapbook Expo. It was so very happy to be used again.  And...Yay...I finally used one of those wooden sentiments!  Shhhh...don't tell I was hoarding them.  

Hope you join me in making some cards for a great cause!  Remember, whatever you create, create with your heart!  

Sweet Journey...HYCCT1506

Hey there stamping friends,

I'm back with another fun card created for the Splitcoaststampers Hope You Can Cling To 2015 card drive.  This card was created for Stacy's Hearts for Hope challenge #6.  In this challenge she requested that we incorporate the use of three hearts and a tad bit of red.  SOOO...Here you go...Enjoy!  

I was able to use my Gelli plate on the blue-ish panel.  I also did some experimenting to see if my re-inkers would mix well with the white acrylic paint and lay well on my Gelli Plate.  It DID!  You can't quite see it on the Cranberry Fusion red circle punch, but I stamped the honeycomb ATS image on the circle with Pomegranate ink.  

The background was stamped with Clear embossing ink and I use clear embossing powder over that.  It gave a nice shiny image and added a lot of texture.  :)  The sentiment tag was stamped using the Bezel Blocks ATS and Versafine Onyx ink with clear embossing powder over that.  I also swiped some Buttercream ink over the card base then rubbed off of the embossed parts to heighten the contrast.  

I hope you enjoy this card.  I know it will find a home somewhere and will bring a smile to someone who needs it.  :)

PREPARE FOR BATTLE! #HYCCT1503

Hello there stamping friends!

Today I'm joining fellow stampers from Splitcoast in creating another card especially for the Hope You Can Cling To card drive that supports those facing a cancer diagnosis, treatment plan, recovery. Today's challenge comes from Kathy aka CAKath.  

Her challenge (and the challenge thread):  I'm a Warrior!  For those fighting and those supporting them.  Design a CAMO or Native American themed card that is inspirational.  

It was a toss up between a few stamp sets for me... Was I going to use the parachute guy in the set called Soldier Boy (stamp and die set bundle HERE) or the tank in the ATS stamp called Tank You? Tough decision but I decided to bring in the BIG GUNS for this card...The troops are ready!  

 In creating this card, I stamped the tank onto white cardstock then colored (painted) the image with re-inkers and a fine tipped brush.  I used Green Olive, Banana Cream and Bubble Gum.

I also printed a sentiment on the inside and stamped some "fightin' boots" (retired ATS stamp) front and center...Yes, You've got this!  

I hope this card inspires you to create something inspirational for those who are fighting so hard and for those who are right beside them.  Use one of your "colorable" images in a "camo" theme and join the fight!

Gettin' Inky Fingers...Hope You Can Cling To!

Hello stamping friends,

I'm back with another fun card contribution to the Hope You Can Cling To card drive for Splitcoaststampers.  This time, I took a "smiley" approach...Looking forward to the last day of chemo, the beginning of the next phase in life...Smiles, Sunshine, HAPPINESS!

Dina challenged everyone to incorporate some fingerprints...Well, I decided to add some of my fingerprints AND some images I drew with my wacom tablet then printed at home.  I wanted to create a little happy scene and I think it turned out well.

I used FSJ inks to color the sun, the grass and the fingerprints.  The "shack" and the sentiment bubble were colored with Copic markers. 

 Isn't it fun???  The little blue dude is cheering for the pink print!  So fun and inspirational.

 Notice the banner on the shack?  :)  Perfectly placed, I think.  ;)

And who doesn't love a smiley sunshine?!  :)  Foam squares galore and lots of fun fussy cutting.

Hope you enjoy this little card.  I hope it brings lots of smiles and HOPE to the person who receives it!  :)