End of Summer Birthday

My oldest daughter has a birthday around the Labor Day holiday. I have been playing with alcohol inks lately and wanted to use some in her card. I found that by smearing a clean piece of Yupo paper over the piece that has the alcohol inks & alcohol pearls on it that you can come up with an almost marbeled effect. I also sprayed the clean panel with some rubbing alcohol to wet it down before smearing. I cut a strip to go under my flower.  I like the subtle marble look and how it breaks up the busy background so the flower doesn’t get lost. The background die panel is Kat Scrappiness Star Fusion Coverplate ( on sale now, plus a sitewide Labor Day coupon code). The flower stamp is Hero Arts Magnolia.  I colored it with Zig markers & then toned down the color with a White Wink of Stella marker. The sentiment is from an Altenew sentiment set. I used a die from Kat Scrappiness Stitched Sentiment Strip Dies to cut the sentiment strip.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:
STAMPlorations Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge
Dies R Us #128-Nature
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday
Freshly Made Sketches #400
and
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-‘S’ is For end of Summer

CAS Coffee

It’s time for a quick CAS card. The stamps are from Cas-ual Fridays Cup of Coffee Stamp set. I colored the mug/coffee with Copic markers and put Ranger Glossy Accents over it.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Cupcake inspiration Challenge 477-Food and Drink

TCP Tuesday #360-Clean and Simple
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Anything Goes
STAMPlorations Summer CAS Card Challenge

Circles

Here’s a quick card I made for Just Is Girls Challenge #500-Trend Week. I used STAMPlorations Retro Circles Stencil, some embossing ink and some Clear embossing powder to heat emboss the background. Then I used various Distress Oxide inks in blue tones to ink blend the background. The sentiment is actually a clear sticker from STAMPlorations. I stuck it to a vellum banner cut with a My Creative Time die.

Edit to add: Linking to these challenges-

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Midsummer Blues

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Midsummer Blues

STAMPlorations Summer Mixed Media Challenge

STAMPlorations Summer CUTplorations Challenge

Grace

I needed a masculine card for a cousin who needs some encouragement. I had heat embossed the sentiment and butterfly in gold on a black one layer card. I thought that it needed something else, so I decided to cut it apart and layer the pieces on some printed paper from MFT Stamps. The sentiment was die cut using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle dies. The stamps are from Verve Stamps (closed now). I like it much better now. This is one of my favorite Bible verses.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Cut It Up #180-Focus on Sentiments

Dare2BArtzy August Anything Goes Challenge

TCP Tuesday #360-Clean & Simple

STAMPlorations Summer CAS Challenge

Word Art Wednesday #400-401 Anything Goes

and

Virginia’s August Show and Share

Bloomdala

This is a free digital stamp by Sheri Russ at STAMPlorations in celebration of National Coloring Book Day. There is a Linky Party/giveaway and link for downloading the image  Here.
I printed it on Bristol 100 lb. paper and colored it with Copics. I cut out the panel, put it on a green card stock panel (Recollections) and adhered it to a card base. The sentiment is from STAMPlorations Party Time. I stamped it with Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide ink on a vellum banner that was die cut with My Creative Time Ribbon End dies. I added some green and clear gems to the center parts of the bloom.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

STAMPlorations National Coloring Book Day Linky Party

STAMPlorations Summer CUTplorations Challenge

STAMPlorations Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge

MFT Birthday Project Challenge-Birthday Bouquet

Polka Dot Orchard Petals for the Pittmans Fundraiser and Linky

Dare2BArtzy August Anything Goes Challenge

Edit to Add: Virginia’s August Show and Share

More Flowers

I love coloring floral images! This stamp is STAMPlorations Blossom Spray #2.  I colored it with Zig markers, adding a gray color wash outline, a few tiny gems for some dimension and that’s it. I die cut the colored panel with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Inside and Out Rectangle dies and adhered it to a gray card base.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

STAMPlorations Summer CUTplorations Challenge

STAMPlorations Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge

STAMPlorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Add a Die Cut

Dare2BArtzy August Anything Goes Challenge

Polka Dot Orchard Petals for the Pittmans Fundraiser Linky Party

Uniko Challenge #54-Flowers + Optional Twist Die Cuts

and

Virginia’s View August Show and Share

Bright Bouquet

I used another stamp from Polka Dot Orchard’s Petals for the Pittmans Set 2 to make this card. The image was designed by Angie Blom. The sentiment is from Polka Dot Orchard. The digital stamps can be purchased as a fundraiser. They are a collaboration between multiple stamp companies and designers. Read all about it on the Polka Dot Orchard Blog. I used Zig Water Color markers and some water to soften the colors. I was fairly happy with the yellow flowers, but I couldn’t get the purple flowers blended the way I wanted. I decided to try a White Wink of Stella marker to blend the purples together. It looked worse! I went over that with the 2 purple markers that I have. It still didn’t look very nice. I added a bit of orange to the yellow flowers, as well as the purple flowers. Meh! I then decided that the image needed some black outline, so I used a fine tipped Sharpie marker to go over some of the image. I liked how it looked and figured I’d better stop before I messed it up again. I did add a bit of Clear Wink of Stella to the centers of the flowers. I also added a few black rhinestones.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:
Petals for The Pittmans
STAMPlorations World Watercolor Month Linky Party
STAMPlorations Summer CAS Card Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #396-397 Anything Goes
Uniko Challenge #54-Flowers + Optional twist Die Cuts
Three Amigos Blog Hop Challenge #28-Inspiration Photo

Pretty Petals

I came across a Linky party and fundraiser for a fellow crafter and her husband, who have encountered major medical bills due to both of their health issues. You can find out more about it on the Polka Dot Orchard Blog. Polka Dot Orchard has put together 2 sets of digital Stamps that were a collaboration of different designers and stamp companies who contributed images and sentiments to create the sets. The proceeds go to helping the Pittman family. You can also make a donation. I bought Petals for Pittmans Set Two. The image that I used is from Bugaboo Stamps, colored with Copics. I added Clear Wink of Stella to parts of the flowers, leaves and butterflies and then added some black rhinestones. The sentiment is from My Creative Time.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Petals for the Pittmans-Polka Dot Orchard Blog

MFT-The Birthday Project Challenge-Florals

STAMPlorations Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge

Three Amigos Blog Hop Challenge #28-Inspiration Photo-Below-inspired by colors

and

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes #396-397

Seeing Stars

I was in the mood for some ink blending and this Upon a Star Stamp set by Lawn Fawn was calling out for a dusk sky. After blending the colors how I liked, I die cut the background using the largest Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle dies. I stamped the large fox and then stamped a mirror image of the large fox. I also stamped the small fox and colored all of the images with Copics. I traced the outline of the images with a fine point Black Sharpie pen so they would stand out a little more. I stamped the constellations and shooting star with Distress Embossing Ink, added Inkadinkadoo Brilliant Gold Embossing powder and heat embossed. I did the same for the word “wish.” I stamped the other part of the sentiment with Versafine Onyx Black Ink, added Wow Clear embossing powder and heat embossed. I adhered the small fox directly on the panel in the middle of the hilltop. I used foam squares to pop the two larger foxes up so that they appear to be a bit behind the small fox. I mounted the panel onto a piece of darker blue card stock and then to a white card base.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:
Repeat Impressions-J1919 Inspiration Palette Challenge
AAA Birthday Card Challenge #3- For the Girls
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Make Your Own Background
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday-Weeks #392-393
Inkspirational Challenge #190 Designers Choice-Three or Five (3 foxes)

Repeat Impressions Palette Challenge 

CAS/One Layer

I wanted to enter Less is More Challenge #397-Duck Egg Blue, Plum and White because I love these colors together! I used Uniko You Are, Yes You Stamp set, stamping with Versafine Onyx Black Ink. I added some Wow Clear embossing powder to the sentiment and heat embossed it.  The flowers were colored with Copics.

I’m also linking this to the following challenges:

TIME OUT Challenge #137-Nature with the Optional Twist of One Layer

Uniko Challenge #53-Anything Goes

STAMPlorations June CAS Challenge-Anything Goes

June TCP Tuesday Challenge #358-Summer

Edit to add: Virginia’s View Show and Share

Black and White Floral

I’m playing in the AAA Cards #142-One Layer + Optional Twist: Only Black and White, which is very hard for me because I really want to color these amazing Charmed Cherry Blossoms that Shery Russ designed over at STAMPlorations (this month’s challenge sponsor). After looking at it for a bit, I find that the image looks amazing as black and white. I guess I need to try this more! The sentiment is from STAMPlorations Party Time.

Im also linking this to the following challenges:

STAMPlorations June CAS Card Challenge-Anything CAS Goes

STAMPlorations Theme and Sketch Challenge-Birthdays

STAMPlorations Never-ending Anything Goes Challenge

TIME OUT Challenge #137-Nature, Optional Twist: One Layer

Marvel’s Deadpool

I needed a quick card for my grandson’s birthday. I actually threw it together in just an hour or so. My grandson loves all of the Marvel movies and characters and he’s really into Deadpool at the moment. Deadpool is a revenge filled character, rolled into a wanna-be good guy and isn’t exactly the best character in my opinion, but grandmas don’t get a lot of say in the matter.
I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circle dies to cut a full black circle and a red outline. I then just fussy cut a red strip to go in the middle. I decided to put some Glossy Accents over all, spreading with my finger. I die cut 2 of the smallest teardrops in white card stock, using MFT Color Drops Stax dies. I had to trim down the teardrops to make the eyes. The sentiment is from CAS-ual Fridays Shenanigans set. I stamped with Versafine Onyx Black Ink, added Wow Clear embossing powder and heat embossed.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:

Dies R Us Challenge #122-Kids

Cut It Up Challenge 17

AAA Cards Game 141-5th Birthday Bash

Uniko Challenge #53-Anything Goes-OptionalTwist Masculine 

Allsorts Challenge 522-Black and White plus One

Through the Craftroom Door-Anything Goes Challenge

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #14

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Masculine

One Layer Floral

I tend to forget about how much simpler it is to make one layer cards. I used a freebie digital stamp from Uniko Stamps and positioned it so that it would be in the center of my card front. I used a store bought birthday card that I had received to die cut the dragonfly base from. I die cut the dragonfly outline/body from some gold foil card stock. The dragonfly dies are from STAMPlorations. I liked the colors of the dragonfly, so I decided to use them for the color scheme for the entire card. The image was colored with Copics. The sentiment stamps are from Uniko Big & Bold Happy Stamp set, stamped with Hero Arts Ink. I added a few gems for interest.

I’m linking this to the following challenges:
Uniko Challenge #53-Anything Goes
Repeat Impressions DCCM119-One Layer Card
STAMPlorations Things With Wings Blog Hop and Linky Party
STAMPlorations May CAS Card Challenge
STAMPlorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge
AAA Birthday Game #1-Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Week 520-Happy 10th Birthday
Dare2BArtzy May Challenge-Flowers