Extremely Hot Birthday! Apron Strings & Dare to Get Dirty Challenge Card #2

Extremely Hot Birthday!

I snuck another card in today between laundry and watching the Olympics.  This was a fun one to make, but a bear to photograph! Sorry for the glare, but I used Glossy cardstock and it was too dark to photograph without the flash.  This one was for the Dare to Get Dirty Challenge #2 and Apron Strings Pinterest Challenge #19.  Here is the Apron Strings Inspiration Photo:

Pinterest Challenge #19

 

Materials List

Stampin’ Up! Glossy Cardstock

Stampin’ Up! Peach Parfait Cardstock

Stampin’ Up! Only Orange Textured Cardstock

Stampin’ Up! Real Red Cardstock

Stampin’ Up! Whisper White

Stampin’ Up! Peach Parfait Ink

Stampin’ Up! Only Orange Ink

Stampin’ Up! Tangerine Tango Ink

Stampin’ Up! Real Red Ink

Stampin’ Up! Lucky Limeade Ink

Stampin’ Up! Basic Gray Ink

Stampin’ Up! Extreme Surf

Stampin’ Up! Itty Bitty Banners

Stampin’ Up! Framelits Bitty Banners

Stampin’ Up! Sponges

Sizzix Texture fades Rays Embossing Folder

Nestabilities Circle Die for Masking

Painters Tape for Masking

 

 

 

Orchid Elegance

I love Orchids, they have an elegance that is all their own.  Although This stamp is from the Stampin’ Up! set Calming Garden and although it is more of a brushstroke variety, the Orchid is still lovely.  I chose Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive for my color combo for this card.  I stamped the image in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White cardstock.  I colored the image with Stampin’ Up markers and a water brush.  I die cut it with Nestabilities Labels Four, sponged around the image while it was still in the die to create the masked white frame and matted it in Elegant Eggplant.  I used a Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper for the background, matted it in Elegant Eggplant and mounted on an Old Olive card base.  I stamped the sentiment from Stampin’ Up Teeny Tiny Wishes in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper white and punched it out with the Stampin’ Up Word Window punch.  I used the Stampin’ Up Modern Label Punch and matching die for the mats.  I added a small bit of 1/2 inch Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon bridging the image and the sentiment.

Grassy Turtle, Another Personal Favorite

Here is another one of my personal favorite cards that I made last summer for a masculine card challenge, using the sketch from Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge SC344.  I used  one of my favorite Stampin’ Up! sets, Inspired by Nature, as well as the turtle from Nature’s Walk and sentiment from Great Friend.  I stamped the turtle on Stampin’ Up! Naturals Ivory in Close to Cocoa and colored with Stampin’ Up! markers and a water brush.  When it was completely dry, I used Crystal Effects on the shell.  I masked the turtle, stamped the Grass in Old Olive and mounted the image panel on Wild Wasabi.  I added the horizontal panel and wrapped the twine around the panel.  I tied the knot with a separate piece of twine, ends trimmed short, with a dot of Crystal Effects on the ends.  I stamped the sentiment on Naturals Ivory and cut the layers with Stampin’ Up! punches.  I sponged around the edges before matting.  I used a border punch on the Close to Cocoa Panel and mounted on a Kraft card base.  This is a versatile design, suitable for any occasion.

Our Hearts Speak, Inspirational Quote # 3, 26/100

 

Here is my card for Inspirational Quote #3, and boy is it different from what I usually do!  Here is the quote I chose for my inspiration:

“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.”

~ Indian Proverb

I have had this bare rubber Dancing Lady stamp for several years and have never used it and knew I wanted to use it for this challenge.  The color palette came from a Mola I have hanging in my studio.  I bought it when I was in Panama in 1978 and I still love the vibrant colors.  I also made this card for today’s Technique Lovers Challenge on Splitcoaststampers, TLC380 ~ Either/Or, but Both is More ~.  I chose to do the See Through Image technique for this card.

The brayered background was a leftover from a card I made in Sept. 2009 using Dusty Durango, Summer Sun and Old Olive, guess it was about time to put it to good use!  I stamped and embossed my image in black and colored it with Yo Yo Yellow, Tangerine Tango, Green Galore and Tempting Turquoise markers.  I centered my image on a Nestabilities die that was a bit smaller and traced around it.  Using a combination of craft knife and scissors, I cut out all but the stamped image.  I cut an oval mat in Real Red and layered it over the brayered background.  I cut a black mat and mounted it on a black card base.  I used a leftover piece of the brayered background, stamped the sentiment and cut with a Stampin’ Up! Sm Oval punch and layered over a Real Red mat cut with a Stampin’ Up! Lg Oval punch.  Even though this card is a huge departure from my usual style, something about it speaks to me.

Peace Within, Inspirational Quote #2, 25/100

Here is the card I made for Inspirational Quote Challenge #2:

“Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without.”

~Buddha

I made it to honor this week’s Featured Stamper FS278 On Splitcoaststampers, RITA WRIGHT aka kyann22.  I chose this beautiful card to CASE,  Gentle Leaf.  I was also inspired by the print  Paying Attention from this week’s Inspiration Challenge, IC339 ~ bibelot.

I used a fun technique for my masked squared, Magical Masking.  First, I die cut a mask and adhered it to the panel with painters tape.  A quick tip, when I use a new piece of painters tape on paper, I stick it to my t-shirt a couple of times to cut some of the tackiness.  It will still hold, but won’t tear the paper.  I took a piece of painters tape a little longer than my square, layed it down on the Crumb Cake ink pad and pressed into the ink.  Then I layed it over the masked area, pressed down onto the cardstock and pulled the tape up quickly.  Depending on how much coverage you want, you can add more ink.  For my background, I wanted it pretty solid, so I made sure to ink the tape up well and pressed it on the cardstock, rubbing firmly.  I also added another layer of ink going the opposite direction.

For the shell, I stamped it in Really Rust, then covered the image with VersaMark.  I embossed the image with Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel, cut it out and then mounted it on Stampin’ Up! Dimensionals.  I positioned the sentiment with my Stamp-a-ma-jig and stamped it in Real Rust.  I matted the panel with Real Rust and mounted it on a Naturals Ivory card base.

CAS Summer 2012 DT Search Challenge #1, Take Two!

So, I ran some errands yesterday morning and when I got home I checked my email to find a comment that my submission for the CAS Summer 2012 DT Search Challenge #1 was  an “on the border” card when it comes to the conservative criteria for the contest because it takes up most of the white open space.  I looked at the clock, 11:40 am.  The deadline was 12:00 pm, so I grabbed whatever was on my desk and went to work!  I just got this Wildflower stamp by Endless Creations and I had never stamped it, was sitting there waiting for me to give it a test run. The blue inks and sponges were out from last night when I did the image panel for my sketch challenge card. I had the mask from a Nesties Label that I decided against using the other day, so I pulled out my greens and off I went!  This was a one and done card, no time to fool around.  I  finished a card, photographed it and uploaded, all by the noon deadline!

Dolphin Sunset Silhouette

This is the card I made for Wednesday’s Sketch Challenge SC386 on Splitcoaststampers. This is a cool sketch, I will definitely be giving it another go!  For my image panel, I sponged the top half with Barely Banana, then masked the sun and sponged the with Apricot Appeal, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze and Basic Gray. For the bottom half, I stamped the Coronado Island Water stamp and then sponged the sun’s reflection in Barely Banana.  I continued sponging with  Apricot Appeal, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze and Basic Gray until I achieved the look I was going for.  Then I stamped the PSX Dolphin Family in black and colored them in with a black Sharpie to create the silhouette. The sentiment is from Stampendous, cut with Stampin’ Up punches.