Hippo Birthday

I made this card for a granddaughter’s birthday. The image and sentiment stamps are from MFT. I colored the image with Copic markers. The image was die cut using MFT Stitched Square dies. The patterned card stock was die cut with a Kat Scrappiness Zig-Zag Rectangle die.

The sentiment was stamped with Picked Raspberry Distress ink and heat embossed with WowClear Embossing powder. Gems are from my stash.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Party Time

Word Art Wednesday Weeks #575-576 & Blog Hop

AAA Birthday #44-Embossing

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Party

Edit to add:

Through the Craftroom Door December 6-ATG

Boo to You

Here’s one more Halloween card for the oldest grandson. I used one of my watercolor backgrounds made with Ken Oliver Color Burst powders. I cut the background down using SSS Stitched Rectangle Dies. I used an NBUS border background stamp from Unity called Entanglement and heat embossed it. The spider and ghost embellishments were from my stash. The sentiment was die cut in white orange and black and glued together with the edges of the layer underneath showing just a bit for the shadow effect. The NBUS sentiment die is from Tall Mouse Cre8tiveartz. The Jack O lantern die is from Creative Time for Me.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes

NBUS #43

Die Cut Divas October Challenge-Watercoloring

Sheepski Challenge #67-Autumn Challenge incl. Halloween

Sweet Treat

I love making cards for my grandkids. A couple of them are toddlers so I don’t want to put any scary images on their cards. I found a stamp/die set from My Creative Time called Sweet Halloween that I wanted to use for them. I stamped the image, colored it with Copics and cut it with it’s coordinating die. The sentiment is from the same set. The sentiment banners are from another die set from MCT. The pattern paper is DCWV and the ribbon is from JoAnns.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #227

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes

Color Crazy Challenge Week #42

Cardz 4 Galz #184-Anything Halloween or Halloween Colors

A bunch of Gnomes

I couldn’t resist this fun digital slimline image from Alex Siberia Designs. I printed it on 110lb cardstock and colored it with Copics. I cut the cardstock down to 7 x 9 inches. It’s a one layer card, so I just just folded it over. My biggest concern was whether or not to color in the sentiment, since the font is hollow(?). I decided that I didn’t want to take any attention away from this festive group of gnomes, so I left the sentiment as is.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Caffeinated Christmas Challenge #10-Gnomes (the female gnome with the deer on her hat is holding a mug of coffee or hot chocolate)

MFT Color Challenge #198

MFT October Slimline Challenge-Christmas

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays Linky

The Holly and the Ivy Challenge #126-ATG

Simple Thanks

I received this digital image on the back of a thank you post card from Honey Bee Stamps. I colored it with Copic markers. I mounted the panel on a piece of black embossed card stock that I embossed with a mini Buffalo check embossing folder. I cut the embossed panel down to the size of a mini slimline card (3 1/2” x 6”) and mounted the floral panel onto the black panel.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

TIME OUT Challenge #225-Thankful

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes #565-566

The Flower Challenge #73-Use a Sentiment and 6th Birthday

Honey Bee Stamps Buzzworthy Facebook Challenge-CAS

Gnome More Coffee

Gnomes and Coffee? Why not! The image is a digital image from Alex Siberia Designs. I printed it on white cardstock and then die cut it using Pickett Fence Studios Coffee Mug die. I colored the image with Copic markers. The star on the hat was colored with an American Crafts Metallic brush pen. The printed paper is from Basic Grey Nordic collection. I added the stitching using a white Faber Castell Pitt pen. The button and rickrack were from my stash.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Caffeinated Christmas Challenge #10-Coffee and Gnomes

BYSHC-Falling for the Holidays Linky

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes-#565-566

52 Christmas Card Throwdown-October Stash-Tic-tak-toe diagonal-Die-cut/Pattern paper/Favorite color (red)

PIP Challenge #2242

Halloween Birthday

What happens when a person is born a week before Halloween? They get a Halloween themed birthday card!

The stamped image and sentiment are from My Creative Time Sweet Halloween (NBUS). I colored the image with Copic markers. I had to alter the sentiment a bit to make it a birthday sentiment. I taped off part of the words and inked up the words “Flying by with”. I added the Happy Birthday from a different MCT stamp set & just added 1st and wishes with a marker, as I was in a hurry to finish the card. The Chunky tag dies were also from MCT (discontinued). The moon die is from Lawn Fawn. The patterned papers are from DCWV Eek-a-Boo 6 x 6 Stack. The candy corn ribbon is from Joann’s. 

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Sketch N Scrap-World Card Making Day Sketch #3

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Halloween/Spooky

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Spooky

PIP #2242-ATG

Through the Craftroom Door-ATG October 11

and

NBUS #43

Going Batty

It’s time to make Halloween cards for the grandkids. I had previously made the watercolor background in a crafty session using Ken Oliver Color Burst powders. I cut the background down using SSS Stitched Rectangle Dies. I used Lawn Fawn’s  Full Moon dies to cut the moon, the bats and the little stars. I used Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide ink to give a smokey look to the moon. I used a white gel pen to add the bats eyes and fangs. The sentiment panels were die cut using  Kat Scrappiness Stitched Mini Slimline Rectangle dies. The sentiment (from Hero Arts-Ghostly Greetings) was stamped in Black Versafine Clair ink and heat embossed with WOW Clear embossing powder. The spiders are from a sequin mix that I have in my stash.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Halloween/Spooky

Die Cut Divas October Challenge-Watercolor

Cut it Up Challenge #263-Halloween

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday-Spooky

Taylormade Cards4UOctober Challenge-ATG

PIP Challenge #2242

 

Falling Leaves

We are having some beautiful fall days here in the Midwest. I have seen some gorgeous red, orange and coral maple leaves all around. I pulled out one of my favorite leaf stamps from an old Hero Arts wood block set that my mom had bought years ago. I decided to use regular Distress Inks (versus the Distress Oxides) to get more leaf-like colors. I usually don’t make stamped backgrounds, but I had so much fun inking this stamp up, I made several backgrounds. Unfortunately, my daughter needed a sympathy card for a friend who died suddenly, so I found this sentiment from Divinity Designs and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday-Fabulous Fall Moodboard

YNS #189-Fall-the Fun Continues

Jan’s Digi Stamps October Challenge

Double Trouble #122-Fall Colors-“Leafin it Up to You”(Thing 1 and Thing 2)

Double “D” Challenge-Octoberfest Challenge

Through the Craftroom Door-ATG October 11

Quick Stamping

I reorganized my washi tape collection and ran across the lavender floral tape that someone made (I can’t remember who-I participated in a washi tape swap years ago). I think they made it from some origami paper. I wanted to make a quick card, so I took some mini Distress Ink pads that matched and swooped them directly on the card stock. I then used an NBUS stamp from Hero Arts Floral series Nasturtium to stamp in black ink over the D.I. I added some gold Wink of Stella to the centers of the flowers to add some sparkle. The sentiment is from another Hero Arts set. I added some narrow gold glitter washi tape along the edges of the floral washi. I was done in about 15 minutes.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday: Sparkle and Shine

{PIN}spirational Challenge #293-September

PIP Challenge 2238

Make the Cards Challenge #64-WashiTape

NBUS Challenge #42

Through the Craftroom Door-ATG September 13

More Gesso and Stencils

During a past crafty session, I used 3 different stencils to add Gesso on some panels. My previous post shows the first panel. The video that I watched to learn about it is Here. For this one, the NBUS stencil/mask I used is from STAMPLorations. The store is only selling limited bundles and some pretty digital stamps, due to the owner’s illness  I used Distress Oxides to ink blend over the gesso. Once I wiped off the ink from the gesso’d image, I then added some white ink spatters and a sentiment that I heat embossed with WOW Ultra fine White embossing powder. 

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up September Challenge-Gesso and Stencils

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes #561-562

Through The Craftroom Door-September 13

PIP Challenge 2238

NBUS Challenge #42

CAS Ombré

I saw the challenge at CAS Mix Up this month, which is to use Gesso with a stencil. I watched a couple of the videos and decided I needed to try it. I pulled out an NBUS stencil from CAS-ual Fridays (going out of business as this was written) and lightly sponged the gesso through the stencil on some water color paper. Once it was dry, I ink blended some Distress Oxide inks in pink shades and heat fixed. I used a baby wipe to wipe the ink from the stenciled gesso. I added some clear drops from Pretty Pink Posh.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up September Challenge -Gesso and Stencils

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes-#561-562

PIP Challenge 2237

Jan’s Digi Stamp Challenge Anything Goes September

NBUS Challenge #42

Through the Craftroom Door-Anything Goes

Season of the Sunflower

I’ve really enjoyed using this cheerful layering Sunflower die set from Honeybee Stamps. I added some shading on colored cardstock with Copics and some Clear Wink of Stella to the center.

I made the faux batik background by rubbing a white crayon over an NBUS stencil ( Starlequin stencil is no longer available from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. As of today, she is closing the store and has a 40% off site wide sale.) and then ink blending some Distress Oxide inks over the top. I learned this technique from watching THIS Video. Here is link to Understand Blue blogpost about it. I love the look.

The foiled sentiment was made by using one of these Deco Foil Adhesive Transfers by Unity (also NBUS). They are adhesive transfers that you can use to add foil without a laminator. I transferred the sentiment to a piece of vellum (so I didn’t cover up the background), placed the foil over it and ran it through my Gemini Jr. Foil really helps dress up a card. The burlap ribbon is from my stash.

Up close for the Wink of Stella and Foil

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Make your own background

Time Out Challenge#221- Festive

NBUS #22

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday #559-560 Anything Goes

Dry Embossed Vellum

What is it about vellum that adds elegance to a card or project? I decided to try dry embossing vellum to see how I liked it. I used a Crafters Companion embossing folder & love how it turned out.

The dies, bee image (colored with Copics) and sentiment are from Honey Bee Stamps.

I added a strip of gold washi tape on one edge and some Clear Wink of Stella to the flower center and the bee wings to add some shine and festivity. Hopefully, you can see it in the second photo.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Shimmer and Shine

Through the Craftroom Door-ATG

Dies R Us Challenge #199-Summer

Time Out Challenge 221-Festive

Edit to add: I forgot to link this to:

Sketch-N-Scrap-Card Sketch #224-turned the sketch a bit

Blog Hop for Honeybee Awareness

🐝 World Bee day is May 20. In the United States, National Bee Day is on the 3rd Saturday of August.🐝

I’m linking this to a Bloghop for World Honeybee Awareness. It starts Here on my friend Milka’s blog.

We all depend on the survival of bees. Here are some facts from United Nations

Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.

Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.

The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.

We all depend on pollinators and it is, therefore, crucial to monitor their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity.

How can we do more?

Individually by: 

• planting a diverse set of native plants, which flower at different times of the year;
• buying raw honey from local farmers;
• buying products from sustainable agricultural practices;
• avoiding pesticides, fungicides or herbicides in our gardens;
• protecting wild bee colonies when possible;
• sponsoring a hive;
• making a bee water fountain by leaving a water bowl outside;
• helping sustaining forest ecosystems;
• raising awareness around us by sharing this information within our communities and networks; The decline of bees affects us all!

                         

Here’s the card that I made for the bloghop

The Coneflower dies & word dies (NBUS), bee snd sentiment stamp are from HoneyBee Stamps. I used an embossing folder from JoAnns to dry emboss the background. I then inked it up with Distress Oxide inks.

I heat embossed the sentiment using black ink and Wow Clear embossing powder.

I’m also linking this to the following challenges:

Time Out Challenge #220-Make Your Own Background

Dies R Us #199-Summer

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes#557-558

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Mixed Media

 

Summer Birthday

I got this cute (NBUS) purse die from My Creative Time. I used a water colored panel for the body of the purse. The Sunflower was die cut using Honey Bee Stamps Lovely Layers Sunflower. I used Copics to shade the colored card stock and added some Wink of Stella to the petals and center. The Happy Birthday charm was in my stash. It’s hard to see that the white panel was dry embossed with an embossing folder.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Honey Bee Buzzworthy Challenge #92 (Facebook)

Die Cut Divas June-Summer Days

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes

AAA Birthday Game #38-Flowers

Through the Craftroom Door

NBUS-#39

Retirement-you did it!

My brother-in-law is retiring soon. Masculine cards are hard for me to make, but I love using this Fishing Boat stamp from Divinity Designs for masculine cards. I used Polychromos pencils to color it. The chipboard anchor is from Um Wow Studio. I inked it up with some distress inks and added a bit of Glossy Accents. The circles were die cut with MFT Pierced Circles. The smaller blue band was die cut with Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders. The sentiment tag was die cut with a My Creative Time die. The sentiment is also from My Creative Time. The brown panel was dry embossed using a small Buffalo Check embossing folder from Park Lane (JoAnns store brand).

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Let’s Squash It Challenge #21-Make it Manly

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday-Anything Goes

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #220

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes-#549-550

Dare2BArtzy June Challenge-Masculine

Rock Out

Here’s the card I made for my grandson’s birthday. The alcohol ink background is from my stash of backgrounds that I made previously. I thought it went well with the Rock Out stamps from Visible Image. I stamped over the background with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink. The die cut is from MFT Stamps. 

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Dare2BArtzy June Challenge-Masculine

Through the Craftroom Door-Anything Goes

Sketch and Scrap-Card Sketch #219, by Lisa (I flipped the sketch)

PIP Challenge 2223-Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Bright and Beautiful

Simon Says Stamp-Monday Challenge-Bright and Cheerful

Heroes

Here’s another card for the card drive Here

The Quilt Square Cover-up die is from MFT Stamps.

The globe is a digital file from Etsy shop Whatley’s Wonders SVGs. I printed it, cut it out and colored it with Copic markers.

The sentiment translates to You are a hero to Ukraine and the world. 

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Dare2BArtzy June Challenge-Masculine

Jan’s Digi Stamps June Challenge-Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge-#545-546

Through the Craftroom Door-Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Sending Sunshine

I LOVE this Sunflower die cut set from Honey Bee Here. It’s a nice size, so that it can be the focus of the card, but there’s also room enough for other elements. The printed paper is also from Honey Bee Here. 

The Tin Roof background die, cut from Silver foil cardstock, is from CAS-ual Fridays (discontinued).

I made this to donate to the Cards for Soldiers campaign, in association with Yana Smakula and her husband. The details are Here

The sentiment means : Ukraine is the capital of brave people.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Cut it Up Challenge 252-Out in the Country

Time Out Challenge 214-Word Prompt

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Add Texture

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Layer it Up

Die Cut Divas May-Anything Goes

Honey Bee Stamps Buzzworthy Challenge (Facebook)

Flag and flowers

I used an alcohol ink background (blue) and some yellow cardstock to make a Ukrainian flag. I then used my Misti to stamp the MFT floral silhouette flowers with Ranger Archival ink. The sentiment means God bless you.

I’m participating in a card drive for frontline workers and soldiers in Ukraine. You can read about it on Yana Smakula’s blog. 

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Wild and Wonderful

Time Out Challenge 212-Spring

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes-#541-542

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday-Anything Goes

PIP Challenge 2217