Guest Designer - Make the Cards Challenge #44

Good morning, friends!  There is a new challenge up over at Make the Cards Challenge and this week is all about WINTER! 

I was so excited for this challenge week, as I knew I wanted to create a blustery shaker card... Where I live, I saw my first few snowflakes this week.  Of course, nothing stuck around, as it is still slightly too warm, but soon! 

For my card, I used the Lawn Fawn Peppermint Stripes Backdrop Die and backed it with a sheet of acetate.  I also adhered a panel of Stampin' Up Feels Like Frost DSP (possibly retired) to the front of my card base.  I used foam adhesive strips to build up the back of my shaker window.  I used the strips, rather than my roll of foam tape because it is much thinner and didn't result in ragged ends from cutting the tape. 

I created my own shaker mix using an assortment of chunky glitter and slices that I purchased from my local Michael's and adhered my shaker window to my card base. 

I die-cut the fabulous Giant Let It Snow Die from Lawn Fawn twice and glued the pieces together.  I also die-cut an assortment of snowflakes using two sets of retired snowflake dies from Stampin' Up.  I painted some shimmer on all of my die-cut elements using my Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen and then adhered them to my card front. 

For a really quick and easy card to put together, it is absolutely stunning and represents all of the things I love about winter!  

Please make sure to join us over at Make the Cards Challenge and tag us in all of your social media posts using #mtcc, #mtcc44, and #makethecardschallenge!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I can't wait to see what you create! 

Guest Designer - Make the Cards Challenge # 36

 Hi crafty friends!  Today, I am happy to share with you a card that I made as Guest Designer for Make the Cards Challenge # 36! 

 This week is a fun slinline sketch challenge.  I decided to go rogue and make a standard A2 card, rather than a slimline.  

I wanted to transition into fall colors, so I used blues and golds as the primary colors.  I stenciled the base of my card and added a layer of navy card stock.  I trimmed the two panels with navy grosgrain ribbon.  This made me think of a wall with wainscoting and a chair rail, and I am pleased with the effect.  

For my focal images, I stamped the images from The Greetery's Floral Delicacy stamp set repeatedly and then die-cut them using the coordinating dies.  I set about arranging them and when I was pleased with the layout, I adhered them to my card panel.

I heat embossed my sentiment on a navy banner and after adding a bit of metallic thread, I popped it up with some foam tape. 

All in all, I really enjoyed making this card and I am so happy with the results!  

Please make sure to pop on over to Make the Cards Challenge and play along with us!  

Xoxo, Kim

Guest Designer - Make the Cards Challenge #35

 Hi crafty friends!  I am so excited to share my second card as a Guest Designer with Make the Cards Challenge.  

The theme for this challenge is Country Life + Buffalo Plaid.  When I saw the theme, I knew exactly what I wanted to create.  

I pulled out my trusty Buffalo Plaid Background Stamp and inked it up with Black ink to make my own background.  

I then inked up the milk jug and floral arrangement from Honey Bee Stamps Farm Fresh Stamp Set and colored it with my Copics.  I love that this set was designed by the amazing Emily Midgett.  If you are not familiar with her work, check her out! 

I die-cut my images, and also die-cut the Blessed sentiment, also from Honey Bee Stamps. 

I truly love everything about this card!    I think it represents who I am and what I love!  

I hope you will join us over at Make the Cards Challenge!  

Thanks for stopping by!  Xo, Kim

Guest Designer - Make the Cards Challenge #26 - Slimlime Sketch Challenge

Good morning, friends!  Today, I am so excited to be a Guest Designer for the Make the Cards Challenge #26! 

 This week's challenge is a Slimline Sketch and it was so much fun to work with!  

When I saw the sketch, a ton of ideas started popping into my brain.  I just had to use the Forever Fern Bundle from Stampin' Up to make a mini slimline card.  It is one of my absolute favorites, and probably one of my most under-utilized.  How sad is that?!  I really love mini slimline, as they are small but mighty! 

To start, I cut my card base to 6 1/2" x 6 1/4".  I scored the card base (on the 6 1/2" side) at 3 1/2".  I trimmed a second panel to 3" x 6 1/4".  I dry embossed the panel and set it aside.  

I cut three strips of alcohol marker friendly card stock to 1/4" x 4" and colored them using my alcohol markers, again, setting them aside.  I then stamped two circle images from the retired Circle Celebration stamp set and punched them out.  

I stamped several of the foliage images and die-cut them with the coordinating dies.  I then die-cut the strip for my sentiment from black card stock and heat embossed my sentiment in white. 

With all of my card elements ready to go, I began assembling it.  I adhered by embossed panel to the card base, and then I attached my colored strips, leaving some overhang on each side of the card.  I did this so that I could trim both sides.  Sometime when coloring strips, there is a bit of uneven coverage at the ends of the strips, so this allows me to trim that off.  

I decided where I wanted to place my circles and then arranged my foliage until I was pleased.  I adhered all of those elements in place and I still wasn't quite happy with the card.  I tested out a loopy bow made from metallic thread under the sentiment, and realized that it was exactly what the card needed. I added a mini glue dot under the knot and then popped my sentiment strip up using a double layer of mini dimensionals (foam squares) to allow space for the knot and let the strip lay flat.  

I had so much fun creating this card!  I hope that you will join us and create something to play along this week!  Be sure to use #mttc26 and #makethecardschallenge when posting to your social media so that we can see your creations! 

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  Black, White
• Spectrum Noir Premium Ultrasmooth Card Stock:  White
• Stampin' Up Forever Fern Stamps and Dies
• Stampin' Up Circle Celebration Stamp Set (Retired)
• Altenew Sentiment Strips Stamp Set
• Stampin' Up Dainty Diamonds Embossing Folder (Retired)
• Kindred Stamps  Sentiment Strips Dies
• Stampin' Up Circle Punches:  2", 1 1/2" (Retired)
• Altenew Crisp Dye Ink:  Dew Drops, Teal Caves, Pinkalicious
• Altenew Artist Markers:  B536, C005, C007
• Memento Ink:  Tuxedo Black
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Wow! Embossing Powder:  Opaque Bright White
• Metallic Black Thread
• Stampin' Up Mini Dimensionals 
• Mini Glue Dots

As always, thank you so much for taking time to stop by!  Please be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think!  Also, let me know if you decide to play along so that I can come and visit your post! 

Have a great day and happy stamping!  ❤

Featured Creator - Make the Cards Challenge - Tropical Color Challenge

 Good afternoon, crafty friends!  I am so excited to share my card as the Featured Creator for the Make the Cards Challenge.  

This week, we have a Tropical Color Challenge, which seems especially appropriate for me, as we are under an extreme heat advisory here in the Pacific Northwest.  It feels like a steamy jungle at the moment. 

For my card, I chose to work with the colors Moss, Lagoon, and Autumn Blaze from Altenew, and of course, white. 

I began by embossing my images from the Altenew Sweet Ginko Stamp Set on a sheet of watercolor paper using white embossing powder.  I then VERY loosely watercolored them using the Altenew Watercolor Brush Markers in the colors mentioned above.  When I say that I loosely watercolored them, I mean I was not careful, and I watercolored outside the edges of the image intentionally.  I wanted the color to show when I die-cut them, especially as the embossing really fills in most of the image.   Once they were dry, I die-cut them using the coordinating dies and set them aside. 

I die-cut the Altenew Circled Greetings Hello three times, trimmed the sentiment from the circle and glued all three together.  I also die-cut a square frame using the Stampin' Up Layering Squares Dies. 

Once I had all of my card elements ready, I began arranging them.  This part took me the longest, as I always seem to struggle with the placement.  Once I was happy with how they were arranged, I picked them up in place using a piece of Press 'n Seal and started gluing the loose bits in place.  Then, I added glue to the back of the entire arrangement and adhered it to my card base.  I glued my sentiment in place, and finished up with some clear sequins.  

I really enjoyed being the Featured Creator for this challenge!  It was tough to limit myself to just three colors; however, I loved watching it come together!  Thanks so much for the opportunity! 

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  White
• Oat Art Studio Hot Press Watercolor Paper - 300gsm/140#
• Altenew Sweet Ginko Stamps and Dies
• Altenew Circled Greetings Hello Die
• Wow!  Embossing Powder:  Opaque Bright White
• Altenew Watercolor Brush Markers:  Moss, Lagoon, Autumn Blaze
• Altenew Watercolor Brush: Size 4
• Simon Says Stamp Clear Sequins 

Thanks so much for visiting!  Please be sure to leave a comment letting me know what you think, and please make sure to hop over to Make the Cards Challenge and play along with us!  

 Happy Stamping, friends!  ❤

We can all use a little encouragement these days!

 Good morning, crafty friends!  Happy Saturday!  Today, I am sharing a card that I created for several purposes.  I am trying to find more challenges to participate in that will help me step out of my comfort zone, and this week, I found two that were perfect.  

My dear friend Kim (@canterburycarddesigns) inspired me with her color selections for her latest AECP project.   I am so blessed to be on this journey with her!  One of my favorite things that has come of this path I am on is the opportunity to meet someone that I instantly bonded with, that I probably never would have met, otherwise.  I mean, she lives about as far away from me as possible, while still being in the same country!  😊 Anyhow, I digress!  Check out Kim's fabulous project here! 

Orange is a color that I rarely use, but I don't know why!  I think it is just beautiful.  I had been looking for an opportunity to use my Hill Blossom Stencils and Dies from Altenew, and I thought this would be the perfect project for them.  

For my card, I used the beautiful layering stencils on a scrap of Neenah Solat White and added each layer of color using the Altenew Detail Blending Brushes.  These are glorious for small areas.  This was really a quick and easy process.  

Tip:  If you plan on using the coordinating dies to die-cut your image, I have found it extremely helpful to lay my die down on the card stock and match the stencil to the direction of the die before beginning the ink- blending.  I learned the hard way by using the back side of the stencil and then the die won't work with the stenciled image. 🤣

I die-cut my image and set it aside.  I blended a panel using Distress Ink in Salvaged Patina and added some splatters of Metallic Spray.  (I pulled the sprayer out of the bottle and tapped it over my panel so that I could control the amount of splatters.  I die-cut the hugs sentiment three times from black card stock and glued them together.  I heat embossed the sentiment on black with gold embossing powder and cut the end of the strip at an angle.  

I adhered my ink-blended panel to my card base and arranged my elements until I was happy.  Before adhering my sentiments, I tied a loopy bow from metallic gold thread and popped it on to the card front using half of a mini glue dot.  Lastly, I adhered my sentiments and VOILA!  This beautiful card is ready for its recipient. 

Products Used:

• Recollections 110# Card Stock:  White, Black
• Neenah Crest 80# Card Stock:  Solar White
• Altenew Hil Blossom Stencils and Dies
• Altenew Script Words Dies
• Altenew BAF: Poppy ("I'm Here For You" Sentiment)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Salvaged Patina
• Altenew Crisp Dye Ink: Permanent Black, Sunkist, Orange Cream, Autumn Blaze, Forest Glade, Evergreen 
• Altenew Metallic Spray:  Antique Gold
• Altenew Metallic Thread:  Antique Gold
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Stampin' Up Embossing Powder:  Gold
• Altenew Detail Blending Brushes

Entering In:

Make the Cards Challenge # 20

Altenew Fan Group - Floral Frenzy

As always, thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you have been inspired to dig out your crafty supplies and make something beautiful!  Happy stamping!