Joy to You Teepee Card

The August technique challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown is to create a teepee card. (Because there were 5 Saturdays in August, this challenge ran through today.) To my knowledge, I have never so much as heard of a teepee card, so went looking for a tutorial. (The challenge hostess did provide a link to a video tutorial, but I found another one by Sam Calcott at Mixed Up Craft that was easier for me to follow.) I discovered a benefit with a card like this is the base can be made from a lighter weight cardstock, as long as you add the mats & layers with a good, strong glue. So I used Beacon 3-in-1 glue for the main construction on my card layers.

I began by creating the panels for my card base. Initially, I was going to have it be from sprayed/ink-smooshed panels. So I cut three 5x5" squares from Strathmore Mixed Media paper - a heavyweight paper that can take a lot of water well. I pulled out my never-before-used Distress Oxide sprays in Milled Lavender, Seedless Preserves, & Blueprint Sketch to color my panels. I quickly gave up on the Milled Lavender, as it was just too pale to compete with the other two colors. After I finished spraying, I dried the panels with my heat gun & did a bit of ink smooshing with Villainous Potion Distress Oxide ink to add a bit more contrast. I also added water droplets with my Distress Sprayer. I didn't pick up the water with a cloth, but rather just dried the panels with the water on them for a less-bleached look. Finally, I used Frozen Fog Distress Mica Stain to add a shimmery spritzing to my panels.

I glued the panels together, positioned as per the tutorial, & quickly ran into my first problem. Apparently, if you use one-sided cardstock like I basically did, it does matter which way the cardstock layers face. I managed to glue one panel facing the wrong way (so the back showed when the card was popped up, rather than the front). 😝 Because I used a strong glue to adhere my panels together, I had no way to undo my mistake. Rather than start over though, I just shifted course. I was able to cut the triangular layers that would go on top from my "ruined" card base, & cut new card base pieces from solid cardstock. Problem solved! So I went ahead & cut my triangular mats to size from Recollections Silver Foil cardstock & glued those mats & layers to the card base. I also added 2 small bits of Velcro where the one side overlapped the other to keep the card closed when it's upright.

Angled view of card

My original idea for decorating was to use ornaments & make it a "Christmas tree." So I stamped & die cut several ornaments using the "Holiday Style" stamps & dies from Sunny Studio Stamps. When I looked at them on my card, though, I just wasn't feeling it. So I shifted course again & decided to die cut snowflakes from white glitter cardstock. Fortunately, I had a large enough scrap of glitter cardstock in my stash to accommodate several snowflakes. I die cut the snowflakes with the "Paper Snowflakes Mini" set by Tim Holtz (discontinued). I used matte Perfect Paper Adhesive glue to adhere them all in place. I did keep Sam Calcott's tip in mind to have overhanging bits on a particular side, so they don't overhang the card edges when it's folded flat. (That would necessitate using an even larger envelope.) In the end, I only had the one large snowflake overhanging an edge, but it's still a good point to keep in mind.

For the greeting on the front, I used the "Season's greetings" from Honey Bee Stamps' "Pretty Poinsettias" stamp set (discontinued). But wait - the greeting says "Joy to you." Yep - another course shift. I stamped the Season's greetings in Villainous Potion Distress Oxide ink, die cut it with the coordinating die, & adhered it to my card with liquid glue, with the card laying flat. I put an acrylic block on top to keep the greeting from popping up, & left it for a couple of days. When I removed the block, I noticed 2 problems: a bit of the ink had bled (presumably "encouraged" by moisture coming through the cardstock from the glue) & when I propped the card in its display position, the greeting slanted. I had aligned it parallel to the bottom of the triangle, not even thinking that that side would slant when the card was popped up. Again - liquid glue = no clean removal. I was in no way about to start over, though, so I found the Joy to you greeting in Simon Says Stamp's "Holiday Greetings" set (discontinued). I stamped it - again with Villainous Potion - & die cut it with a Hero Arts "Nesting Oval Infinity" die. I die cut 2 more ovals & layered them behind the greeting oval for more stability. I made sure this time to add liquid glue only around the edge of the oval, where it shouldn't affect the ink. Finally, I used a combination of double-sided tape & liquid glue to adhere it to the card front, covering my messed-up greeting. This time, I made sure to have the card propped up so I could level the greeting correctly. And that FINALLY finished this card! It was quite a journey with a few twists & turns, but I wouldn't hesitate to make another, especially now that I know the pitfalls to avoid!

I am also entering this in the following challenges:

Little Red Wagon Challenge #823: "Fancy Fold"

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday September challenge: "Anything Goes"

613 Avenue Create Challenge: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)

1 Sketch - 2 Cards

Christmas Card Throwdown has a Sketch Challenge this week. For both my cards, I was able to make use of scraps & frames from my stash, which always makes me happy!

I used images from the Essentials by Ellen "Santa's List" stamp set (discontinued) for both of my cards. I found a couple of chipboard frames in a desk drawer that I have had for years. I picked out one for each card to use for the smaller element in the sketch. 

For my first card, I stamped the reindeer onto a panel of Strathmore vellum bristol paper that I'd cut to fit behind the frame. I masked off the deer, and then stamped the tree from the set "behind" the deer & another on the right side of the panel. I masked the first tree I stamped & stamped a third tree next to it. I was very careful to make sure the baseline of each image that was behind another was higher in the scene than what was in front, to make sure they truly looked like they were in the background. I colored the images with my Prismacolor pencils, & then used white acrylic craft paint to splatter snow over the scene.

I covered the frame with a scrap of patterned paper that was larger than the frame. When the glue had dried, I used my craft knife to cut around the outside of the frame & cut out the center opening. After I used a nail buffer to smooth the edges, I inked around the inside & outside with Barn Door Distress Oxide ink to finish everything off. The frame already had holes punched in the bottom section, so punched through those in the patterned paper. I threaded some red ribbon through them & tied a bow in the middle. Finally, I glued my scene panel behind the frame.

I got my greeting from Simon Says Stamp's "Merry & Bright" stamp set (discontinued). I die cut 2 tabs from white cardstock with one of the "Tab" dies from Creek Bank Creations (one for each card), & stamped my greeting onto those. I glued one to to back of my reindeer frame so it peeked out from the top.

I adhered my patterned paper (again from my scrap stash) to the left of my card front, & then glued the frame on top. As a finishing touch, I added a drop of Christmas Red Stickles to the reindeer's nose. (I just had to make him Rudolph!)

I kept my design for my second card even closer to the sketch. I used most of the same processes & products to create this one. I stamped the sleigh onto a panel of vellum bristol. I also stamped Santa onto vellum bristol, and cut him out with the coordinating die. I stamped the list image onto a scrap of heavyweight white cardstock, & die cut that as well. I used my Prismacolor pencils to color Santa & the sleigh & sky on the image panel. I also added some shine to Santa's eyes & buttons with a black glaze pen. Then I glued the list to his hand & a bit behind the bottom corner of his coat.

To ink the edges of the frame, I used Shabby Shutters Distress Oxide ink. I glued the image panel behind my frame, and glued Santa on top. Because he overlapped the inner edge of my frame, I added foam tape under him in that part to give more support. I also used foam tape under the edge of the list that overhung the outer edge of the frame. I adhered my patterned paper panel to the card front, & then glued my frame element to the card. As a finishing touch, I squeezed a dollop of Tulip Puffy fabric paint to the pompom on top of Santa's hat. I let that dry (as per the instructions), and then steamed it with an iron to puff it up. I will send both cards to Send a Smile 4 Kids, hopefully to bring some holiday joy to a couple of hospitalized kiddos!

I'm also entering these cards in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: "Use Patterned Paper"

Send a Smile 4 Kids October Challenge: "Holiday/Celebration Cards 4 Kids"

Ellibelle's Corner October Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"

613 Avenue Create October Challenge: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)

Die Cut Divas October Challenge: "Anything Goes on a Card for World Card Making Day"

Happy Bird-day

This is my second card for Lawn Fawnatics' current color challenge. I was able to use leftover leaf die cuts from my first card I made for this challenge, which were actually the inspiration for the design of this card.

I used the center panel from my die cut frame for my first card for the background on this one. I ink blended a sky with Salvaged Patina Distress ink. I also die cut a scrap of yellow cardstock with the same "Small Stitched Rectangle" die that I'd used for the background, so it would be the same width & carry the stitching detail on down. I cut the top edge of that piece with one of the "Stitched Hillside Borders" dies.

I stamped the images, from Lawn Fawn's "Special Delivery" & "Special Delivery Box Add-on," onto Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper. I used my Prismacolor pencils to color them, then cut them with the coordinating dies. I ink blended over the top of the strings die cut with Salvaged Patina, so it would blend into the sky. After I glued the strings to the box, I used a black marker to draw the ribbon & box lines across the strings die cut, then colored over the white edges with the same pencils as I'd used on the box.

I wanted to put the greeting in a speech bubble, but didn't have one that was the right size. I stamped the greeting on white cardstock, & then die cut it with one of the coordinating dies for "A Birdie Told Me." I made sure to place the die so the right side was close to that side of the greeting. Then I shifted the die cut in the die, & ran it through my machine again to make the speech bubble shorter. I misjudged the die placement the second time, so the greeting was off-center. But I just stamped the little heart from "Special Delivery" to fill in the space.

I glued my leaves along the bottom of the panel, & then glued my images in place. After I trimmed off the overhanging bits of the leaves, I adhered my panel to a cream mat that I'd mounted to a white card base. I will send this card to Send a Smile 4 Kids, to help a hospitalized child celebrate their birthday.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge: "Take Flight"

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge: "Make It Cute"

Creative Knockouts Challenge #502: "Anything Goes"

The Paper Funday Challenge #57: "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

613 Avenue Create: "Anything Goes"

Die Cut Divas: "Anything Goes"

I Be-leaf in You

Lawn Fawnatics is having a color challenge at their blog. I don't have most of the ink colors they suggested as matches, but chose some Distress inks that looked pretty close. I got the inspiration for my design from this card I found on the Lawn Fawn website. I created this card to send to Send a Smile 4 Kids, hopefully to cheer up a hospitalized child.

For the background, I cut a panel of 140 lb. watercolor paper. I used Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, & Evergreen Bough Distress inks to ink smoosh on my panel. Once I had covered the background with color, I felt it was a little too bold for what I wanted. So I squeezed a little white acrylic craft paint on my non-stick mat, thinned it with a bit of water, & smeared it onto my paper with my finger. I wanted just a little more color, though, so when the paint layer dried, I ink smooshed a bit more Evergreen Bough onto the panel. I dried it with my heat tool, then set it aside while I worked on the other elements for my card.

I die cut several leaves from watercolor paper, using the "Stitched Leaves" & "Small Stitched Leaves" sets from Lawn Fawn. I ink smooshed them with the same colors as the background, adding in Fossilized Amber & Shabby Shutters Distress inks. The Shabby Shutters came out a bit too pale, so I smooshed those a second time with Mowed Lawn ink. I did 2-3 colors on each leaf, just for interest.

I stamped my images, from Lawn Fawn's "You Autumn Know" stamp set, onto Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper. I used my Prismacolor pencils to color them, then die cut them with the coordinating dies. I also cut a few more plain die cuts for each image, then stacked them behind my images. This gives them some dimension so they stand out a bit from the background.

I glued my leaves around my background, as in the inspiration card, & cut off the bits that overhung the edges. For the frame, I used the largest of Lawn Fawn's "Large Stitched Rectangle" & "Small Stitched Rectangle" die sets. I nested the smaller inside the larger, and ran them through my die cutting machine with white cardstock. I added a few cardstock strips behind the sides of my frame to beef it up a bit, then adhered it to my card. I glued my images in place, overlapping the frame slightly. I stamped the greetings onto white cardstock. I don't have any banner dies to cut on that particular curve, so I penciled an outline around each & cut them out with scissors. I went over the eyes of the mouse on the leaf with a black glaze pen to help them pop, glued my banners in place, & that finished this card.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts Challenge #502: "Anything Goes"

The Paper Funday Challenges #57: "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

Die Cut Divas September challenge: "Anything Goes"

Send a Smile 4 Kids September challenge: "Cute Fall/Halloween Cards 4 Kids"

A Better Dad

I am excited to be the Guest Designer for this month's challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids! Their theme this month is "Cards 4 Dads/Special Guys." I created this Father's Day card to go along with that theme. My design is based on Sketch #SC783 at Splitcoaststampers.com.

I stamped the mice & dandelion (from Lawn Fawn's "Dandy Day" set) onto a scrap of Strathmore vellum bristol paper. I colored them with my Prismacolor colored pencils. It doesn't show up much in the photo, but I added a little light grey to the fluff on the dandelion. Then I die cut them with the coordinating dies. I actually had to redo the dandelion, since I apparently really messed up aligning the die with the stamped & colored image! So I tried die cutting first, taping the die cut from the back into the negative space, lining up the stamp with the die cut, & stamping. It's still not absolutely 100% perfect, but like Jennifer McGuire says, it's handmade, not Hallmark!

For the background scene, I used one of the "Grassy Hillsides Borders" dies from Lawn Fawn to cut the grass from green cardstock. I added a bit of shading with Mowed Lawn Distress ink. I wanted the father & baby mouse to be looking up at the other mouse, hence my decision to have them on a hill. I found a blue patterned paper with a bokeh look that I'd gotten as a gift with purchase from Lawn Fawn. I thought the bokeh supported the magical idea of blowing dandelions, so I used it for the sky. I adhered my sky & grass pieces to a backing of white cardstock, just so I didn't have to fiddle with them as smaller individual elements. After gluing down my mice & dandelion to the background, I also stamped the flying seeds on the sky paper.

I stamped my greeting, also from "Dandy Day," in black on a scrap of grey cardstock. I cut that into a strip, as per the sketch. I adhered my strip & scene panel to a piece of patterned paper from Crate Paper's "Botanical Gardens" 6x6" pad. Finally, I mounted my card front to a white A2-size card base. 

Ho Ho Ho!

This week's theme challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown is "Christmas Critters." I have had the "Candy Claus" stamp from Stampendous (discontinued) for at least a couple of years, and have never inked it up! I finally decided to pull it out for this challenge.

I cut a panel of Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper to 5-1/2x4-1/4". This image is rather large (about 5x3-1/4"), so I knew I would need the maximum amount of real estate for an A2 card. I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I was glad I used my MISTI stamp positioning tool, since I had to stamp it a few times to get a good impression. I then colored it with my Prismacolor colored pencils. After I finished coloring, I used a black fine-tip pen to add a few more dots to the snow area, as the dots in the stamp kind of stopped short at either end. By extending the area of dots, I just feel it gives a smoother look.

The greeting turned out to be the trickiest part of the whole card. I planned to use a die from the "Delightful Day Conversation Bubbles" set by Taylored Expressions (discontinued), with the "Ho Ho Ho!" greeting from the October 2020 My Monthly Hero kit (discontinued). Unfortunately, the only speech bubble die that came close to being the right size was both a bit too long & in the wrong orientation for my design. I had to think about it for a few minutes, but finally tested to see if I could do partial die cutting to shorten the speech bubble. I just cut a scrap of cardstock, & ran it through my die cutting machine, making sure the die hung out of the plates where I didn't want to cut it. Then I slid the die over, and finished the cut. And it worked like a charm! Plus, I could flip the die cut over to get the bubble in the right direction. When I die cut for real (using Simon Says Stamp's Fog cardstock), I placed another scrap of cardstock between the Fog piece & my cutting plate, so the impressions in the plate wouldn't mar the Fog cardstock. After I die cut the final piece, I stamped my greeting with Versafine Onyx Black ink onto the back of the speech bubble. Finally, I adhered my card panel to a white A2 card base, & glued down my greeting bubble. I really love how this card came out! I will send it to Send a Smile 4 Kids, hopefully to bring a smile to a hospitalized child's face.

I'm also entering this card in Send a Smile 4 Kids' "Holiday/Celebration Cards 4 Kids" challenge.

Squirrelly Happy Halloween

Challenge #200 at Dies R Us challenge blog is "Anything Goes with any brand of die DRU sells." I have been in full-on Halloween card creating mode, to send several to Send a Smile 4 Kids. I came across Sketch #SC866 at Splitcoaststampers.com, & thought, if you turn it sideways, it looks like a stepped wall. What else to do but put a bunch of Jack-o'-Lanterns - that 2 squirrels have dutifully carved - on the "steps"? I used stamps & dies from Lawn Fawn's "Pick of the Patch" set for this card.

I stamped the pumpkins, squirrels, knife, & scoop onto Strathmore Smooth bristol paper with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I used my Tombow markers to color everything, & add a bit of detail to the pumpkins. Then I stamped the faces on the Jack-o'-Lanterns. Finally I die cut everything with the coordinating dies.

For the wall, I cut the stepped levels into a piece of grey cardstock. I used the "Small Brick Wall" stencil from My Favorite Things to stencil the bricks. I used 2 colors of Distress ink - Rusty Hinge & Fired Brick - to add a bit of "life" to the bricks. I used the other half of the grey cardstock to create the ledges at the tops of the steps. I adhered it to the back of the wall panel so it stuck about 1/8" above the bricks, & then trimmed off the vertical bits so it was just a ledge on each step.

I used My Favorite Things' "Mini Cloud Edges" stencil & Salvaged Patina Distress ink to do the sky on a panel of white cardstock. I stamped the greeting onto a scrap of green cardstock with Lawn Fawn's Jalapeno ink. Then I die cut the top of the grass with a "Grassy Fields" die (discontinued), also from My Favorite Things.

I adhered the wall to my stenciled background, & added the grass, applying ATG adhesive only to the bottom part of the strip. That way I could tuck my pumpkin & one of the squirrels behind the grass. I glued all the images onto my card. I added some shine to the squirrels' noses with a black glaze pen, & that finished this card.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Send a Smile 4 Kids: "Cute Fall/Halloween Cards 4 Kids"

Through the Craft Room Door: "Anything Goes"

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Stamp It"

Happy Father's Day

If you think it may seem a tad early for Father's Day, you might be right. But, such cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids need to be in to their volunteers by May 15, so they can sort & ship them to children's hospitals in time for the children to give or send them to their fathers. I created this one to donate to them, using Sketch #SC867 at Splitcoaststampers.com as my design inspiration.

I stamped the image, from Hero Arts' "Li'l Hoot" set (discontinued), onto 140 lb. watercolor paper & painted it with my watercolors. I was undecided if I wanted to leave the background the plain white of the watercolor paper, paint it like a night sky (going around the image), or fussy cut the image and glue it to another paper. I finally opted to fussy cut & glue, but then had to decide if I wanted a solid or patterned paper. Choices! I ended up die cutting a circle from navy cardstock & splattered it with white paint for the look of stars - and got some streaks that I thought could be comets or shooting stars.

I have had the banner for some months now. I even forget what I created it for, that it apparently turned out not to work on. But I recently found it in my leftovers box, so decided to pull it out and finally try to find something to use it on. At any rate, I tested the greeting, from the Essentials by Ellen "12 Days Companion Greetings" set (discontinued), against it, & it fit like a glove! So I stamped that in Versafine Onyx Black ink, using my MISTI stamp positioning tool to help me get the greeting curved - and stamped - accurately.

I adhered a cream cardstock panel to my white A2 card base, & added a strip of patterned paper that I had found in my scrap stash. I cut the excess off the strip at the top & bottom. I lightly taped my focal circle to my grid mat, to help me center the greeting banner at the bottom. I used liquid glue to tack the banner to the bottom center of the circle. When the glue had dried enough that the banner wouldn't fall off, I picked up the circle & now-attached banner & glued them to my card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts #449: "Winged Things or Furry Friends"

Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: "Wild and Wonderful" (owls are wild birds, right?)

The Paper Funday Challenges April Challenge #40: "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

Happy Halloween

 

I created this card for Creative Knockouts' Challenge #417: "For the Kids." I will send it to Send a Smile 4 Kids, to brighten a hospitalized child's day a bit.

My design is based on Sketch #SC590 at Splitcoaststampers.com. I first die cut a 3-3/4" diameter circle, & stamped my image, from Penny Black's "Bewitched" set, on that. I masked off the mice, broomstick, & top of the broom, and inked the circle with Scattered Straw Distress ink, to make it look like a glowing moon. I removed the mask, & colored the images with my Prismacolor colored pencils. Since they are flying in front of the moon, I tried to color the mice & their accoutrements lighter around the edges, as if they are backlit.

I adhered a panel of patterned paper, from The Paper Studio's "Trick or Treat" letter-size pad, to a white A2-size card base. After I determined how low the moon would go, I adhered my purple greeting strip. I adhered the moon; then stamped the greeting, from My Favorite Things' "Batty for You" set (discontinued). And that finished this simple card!

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge: "Cute Fall/Halloween 4 Kids"

Die Cut Divas September Challenge: "Anything Goes"

Happy Mother's Day

 

Double Trouble's Challenge #80 theme is "Something, Anything, Everything," with an optional challenge twist of coloring. I made this Mother's Day card to send to Send a Smile 4 Kids, inspired by that challenge. The design for my card is based on Sketch #SC843 from Splitcoaststampers.com.

I got the "Flower Boy" digital image from Just ME Digital Stamps. (Sadly, they are no longer in business.) I thought it would be perfect for a Mother's Day card from a little boy.

I did the image/greeting panel in Photoshop. I created a blank "canvas" to the size I needed, & copied the image onto that. Then I resized the image to fit. For the greeting, I used a font on my computer. I typed each word on a separate layer, and moved them into place, so they snugged together in the space under the flower. Finally, I printed the image/greeting onto a piece of Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper that I'd cut to size.

I used my Prismacolor colored pencils to color the boy & flower. I went for a complementary color scheme with his orange shirt & blue jeans. I have been into purple & green for a few years now, and so I colored the flower in those colors. I made the flower center yellow, which is the complement of purple, to keep with a complementary color scheme idea.

I matted a piece of patterned paper from Echo Park's "Fine and Dandy" 6x6" paper pad with dark blue cardstock, playing off the boy's jeans color. I matted 3 sides of the image/greeting panel with grey cardstock, added a green cardstock strip to my background, & adhered the main panel in place. Finally, I mounted my card front on a white A2-sized card base.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: "Easter/Spring"

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"

Repeat Impression's Challenge: "Anything Goes" ~ M2421

One-of-a-Kind Mom

 

Send a Smile 4 Kids needs Mother's Day cards, so I created this one for them. The theme of Double Trouble's current challenge, "A Magical Day," inspired the imagery & the font for the greeting. I also did the Double Dare for this challenge, by using a "Checkered Frames" die from Impression Obsession. The inspiration for this card came from one I saw on Pinterest.

I downloaded the unicorn image from Pixabay.com. I opened it in Photoshop, and sized it to fit my panel inside the frame. I used the Springtime Flourish font on my computer for the greeting. I typed each line on a separate layer, and then used the Move tool to position them. After I merged just the greeting layers into one layer, I added a purple-to-pink gradient layer for the unicorn. I created a clipping mask so it would affect just the image. I did the same gradient--reversed--on another layer, for the greeting, & did a clipping mask for that as well. Finally, I printed it onto a piece of white cardstock.

I die cut my frame from a piece of purple "Watercolor" patterned paper from Recollections. I also cut a panel of white cardstock with the same frame die. I adhered the outer white cardstock frame to an A2 size card base, and inlaid the purple frame inside. I saved the squares from the white cardstock I'd die cut, & inlaid each into its place in the purple frame.

I matted my focal panel with some more of the purple "Watercolor" paper, and adhered it to my card base. Finally, I used Ranger Multi Medium Matte to glue on sequins around the unicorn's neck, & added Star Dust Stickles to the horn.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create March Challenge: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)

Repeat Impressions "Anything Goes" Challenge ~ M2421

Ink Smooshed Season's Greetings

  

I recently made several cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids. One type they are always looking for is teen cards. I thought the rough-and-tumble look of this would make a good one for a teenager. I got my inspiration for this card from this one I saw on Pinterest.

I began with the ink smooshing on the background, using Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, & Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide inks. I pressed the ink pads--one color at a time--onto my non-stick craft mat, and spritzed lightly with water. I picked up the ink with a piece of clear plastic sheet protector, and pounced it onto a panel of 140 lb. watercolor paper. I focused the inks mostly around the edges, leaving the center more white with just a few splotches. After I finished with each color, I dried the panel, so the colors wouldn't get muddy.

Once I had finished the ink smooshing, I used a few stamps from My Favorite Things' "Sophisticated Snowflake" set (discontinued) to stamp with the same colors of Oxide inks. Some of the snowflakes I spritzed with a bit of water after stamping, and a few I stamped on the paper after I dampened it a bit, so they would melt into the background somewhat. Others, I stamped on dry paper & left them alone for a crisper feel.

I use Simon Says Stamp's "Season's Greetings" die--and oldie but a goodie--for the greeting. I die cut it from green shimmer cardstock, and a few times from white cardstock. To help me get the words positioned correctly, I also used the die to make an impression in my background panel. For that, I just positioned the die on my panel, & ran it through my die cutting machine with a light pressure setting, so it didn't cut through. I glued the first white die cut onto that impression, and glued the rest to that, stacking each one to make a thicker greeting. Finally, I glued on the green die cut. I even layered the apostrophe & tittle! Finally, I matted the panel with dark green cardstock, and added it to a white A2-size card base.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts #378: "Christmas Delight"

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge: "Happy Holidays 4 Kids or Anything Goes 4 Kids"

613 Avenue Create's November Challenge: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)

Sending Pumpkin Hugs

 

 

The woman I send cards to for Send a Smile 4 Kids currently needs Fall cards. I made this one, inspired by the "Awesome Autumn" challenge at Lawn Fawnatics, using Sketch #SC745 from Splitcoaststampers.com as the basis for my design.

 

I thought it would be fun to have the 2 squirrels from Lawn Fawn's "Pick of the Patch" stamp set in each of the smaller circles, "looking" at the group of pumpkins in the middle. After I die cut the circles in a piece of Lawn Fawn "Knit Picky Fall" 6x6" patterned paper that I'd cut to 4x5-1/4", I lined it up over a piece of Strathmore Smooth Bristol paper cut to the same size. I traced the circle openings onto the bristol, so I would know where to stamp my images.

 

I stamped the squirrels first, & then stamped the pumpkins, masking the middle one when I stamped the right & left ones. Finally, I masked all the images, as well as the ground area in the middle circle, & inked the sky with Speckled Egg Distress ink. I placed a mask for the sky, and inked the grass with Shabby Shutters Distress ink. I removed all the masks, & colored my images with Tombow markers.

 

I used a "Sending Hugs" greeting stamp that I'd gotten as a freebie with an order from Lawn Fawn. The stamp is straight, but I was able to curve it on my MISTI tool to match the curve of the larger circle window. I used Versafine Onyx Black ink to stamp it.

I chose a tan cardstock for the mat on my card, & adhered that to a white A2-sized card base. I cut down the bristol panel slightly, just so the edges wouldn't peek out from behind the patterned paper. I added double-sided tape to the back of the bristol panel, and removed the liner paper only part of the way.

 

To position my bristol & patterned paper layers correctly, I taped the bristol to the back of my patterned paper with 2 pieces of painter's tape. I made sure the tape didn't attach to the double-sided adhesive I'd put on the bristol. I positioned the panels on my card, & when they were placed correctly, I pressed down where the double-sided tape adhesive was exposed. I carefully removed the painter's tape, removed the rest of the liner paper, & adhered the bristol panel completely. I added LOTS of foam tape to the back of my patterned paper, & adhered that in place over the bristol layer.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"

Creative Knockouts Challenge #370: "Fall"

You're Awesome!

 

I am in the midst of creating more cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids. I decided to make a little scene card, using the fox from Lawn Fawn's "Really High Five" as my central character, hanging from the balloons from Mama Elephant's "Up and Away."

I began by creating masks for the fox, balloons, & speech bubble (from Lawn Fawn's "A Birdie Told Me" stamp set). I stamped the images & the greeting onto a panel of Strathmore Smooth Bristol paper with Versafine Onyx Black ink, and then covered them with my masks. I inked the clouds in rainbow colors, using My Favorite Things' "Cloud" stencil. I made sure to choose soft colors of ink, since I wanted the sky to be clearly in the background, and not compete with my images.

I removed the masks, & used my Tombow markers to color the fox & balloons. I chose colors for the balloons that went with the cloud colors, but more intense. I added a black strip to each side of a white A2-size card base, and adhered my image panel on top.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts #368: "Anything Goes"

Hero Arts Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge #14: "Critters"

Hey! - You've Got This

I just finished making my latest batch of cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids. One of the needs was cards for teens & older patients. I found this older card by Nichol Spohr, and thought it would be perfect for this.

I cut a piece of 140 lb. watercolor paper to 4-1/8x5-3/8". I used Distress inks in a rainbow of colors to do my stamping. I inked up the "HEY!" stamp from Simon Says Stamp's "All Boy" set (discontinued), spritzed the stamp 1 or 2 times with water, then stamped on my watercolor panel. I let the stamp sit for a few seconds, just to let the ink soak in before lifting the stamp from the paper. I repeated this with the different colors until I had covered the panel. Then I set that aside.

I stamped the greeting, from Avery Elle's "Brushed" (discontinued), on a scrap of Essentials by Ellen 40 lb. vellum with Ranger Jet Black Archival ink. I heat set it with my heat gun so the ink wouldn't smear. I die cut the vellum with one of the tag dies from Mama Elephant's "Tags a Lot" set. That particular die was way too long for my greeting. So after I ran it through once, I scooted the die up, lined up the faux stitching lines, and ran it through my die cutting machine again, basically creating a shorter tag. I die cut the tag reinforcer (from the same set) from black cardstock, glued it in place, then punched through the hole with my 1/8" hole punch.

I decided to attach the tag to my background with an eyelet. I first taped the tag to my background panel with low-tack painters tape, just to hold it in place. I punched a hole through the background to line up with the hole in the tag. I then used my Crop-a-Dile II to set a pewter eyelet. Finally, I matted the panel with navy cardstock, & adhered it to a white card base.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Dies R Us Challenge #140: "Tag, You're It"
Die Cut Divas: "Anything Goes"
613 Avenue Create: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)
Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: "A Bit o' Green" (used Lucky Clover Distress ink in my background stamping)

One Stamp, Two Cards

Send a Smile 4 Kids' current needs includes Spring & Easter cards. I used one stamp--Northwoods Rubber Stamps' "Small Wagon with Bunnies and Chicks"--on both a general Spring card and an Easter card.

For my Spring card, I used Sketch #SC617 at Splitcoaststampers.com for my design. I stamped the image onto a scrap of Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper with Lawn Fawn's Doe ink. I used my Prismacolor colored pencils to color the scene. Even though I used a semi-dark ink, it still has the basic effect of no-line coloring because of the generally darker colors I used. After I finished coloring, I die cut it with a circle die.

I used patterned papers from the "Hello Sunshine" 6x6" pad from Doodlebug Designs. I added in yellow & teal cardstocks for the background strip & blue banner, respectively. I die cut a larger circle from a solid green paper in the pad. I adhered the yellow strip to the background patterned paper, added the green circle & banners, and finally adhered the focal circle. I wrapped green baker's twine around the top of the panel, adhering the ends to the back with a little double-sided tape. I tied a bow from the same twine, and glued it in place with a bit of liquid glue. After matting the panel with an A2-size piece of darker yellow cardstock, I adhered it to a white card base.

Using the same image, I added an Easter greeting ("Happy Easter 02" from Stampabilities) to my second card. For my design, I turned to Sketch #SC568, also at Splitcoaststampers. I stamped the image this time with Ink on 3's Fade Out ink, so I could do some true no-line coloring. I again used my Prismacolor pencils, and die cut it with the same circle die as in my first card.

I cut a piece of teal patterned paper from Simple Stories' "Vintage Bliss" 6x6" pad to 5.25x4". I added a butterfly paper from the same pad, matting that with a light grey cardstock. The butterfly paper kind of visually "melted" into the mat, so before I adhered it, I inked around the edges with Pumice Stone Distress ink to add definition.

I stamped my greeting with Evergreen Bough Distress Oxide ink onto a strip of tan cardstock that I had also inked with Pumice Stone. The green ink actually matches the chevron patterned paper I used perfectly! I adhered that strip in place, & added my image circle, the perimeter of which I had inked with Pumice Stone. I matted the whole piece with yellow cardstock, & adhered that to a white A2 card base.

I'm entering my cards in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Two or More Patterned Papers"
613 Avenue Create: "Anything Goes" (playing the "banners & bows" twist with my first card)
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge: "Easter or Spring Cards 4 Kids OR Anything Goes 4 Kids"
Dies R Us Challenge #139: "Wild Things (Animals)"

Merry Christmas Stocking

Send a Smile 4 Kids is currently collecting holiday & winter themed cards for the hospitalized children they serve. I created this one for that purpose.

I began by sizing the "Candy Cane Stocking" digital image (discontinued) from Bugaboo in Photoshop. I then printed it onto a piece of Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper, & colored it with my Prismacolor colored pencils.

I used a greeting from an old Doodle Pantry set, "Holiday Greetings" (discontinued). I printed it onto a piece of red patterned paper from my scrap stash. I cut 3 banners from different patterned papers, also from my scrap stash. I adhered the greeting panel to the bottom of my A2-size card front, and the banners in the upper left corner. The banners, image panel, & greeting create a diagonal line from top left to bottom right. I matted my image panel with a narrow green mat, to help it stand out more, and adhered it to my card front. Finally, I mounted the card front to a white card base.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Through the Craft Room Door: "Anything Goes"
Send a Smile 4 Kids: "Happy Holidays 4 Kids OR Anything Goes 4 Kids"

Coolest Dad Ever!

The Sketch Challenge at Lawn Fawnatics inspired me to make this card. I am currently focusing on Father's Day cards to send to Send a Smile 4 Kids, so the kids who are inpatient at hospitals can give/send them to their dads.

I used a leftover circle of Strathmore Smooth Bristol paper to stamp my popsicles, from Lawn Fawn's "Best Pun Ever" stamp set (retired). I stamped the smaller popsicle with Versafine Clair Morning Mist ink, then heat embossed with clear powder. I masked that, stamped the larger popsicle with the same ink, and heat embossed it as well. Finally, I stamped & heat embossed the faces. The images ended up being a bit off-center, and I decided I wanted a smaller circle anyway. So I die cut it with a smaller die, centering the popsicles. I also used a scallop circle die to cut a mat from the middle of the panel I used for my background. After I colored my popsicles with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers & a damp paintbrush, I glued the bristol circle to my scalloped mat.

I cut a panel of plaid paper from Lawn Fawn's "Perfectly Plaid Chill" 12x12" pack. I used the orthogonal side of the "Vacay" pattern, since I knew I would be putting diagonal strips on, and didn't want those to compete with a diagonal plaid.

I cut 2 blue & 1 yellow 1/2"-wide strips of cardstock from scraps, pretty much matching the colors to the plaid paper. I made sure to cut them longer than I thought I'd need, since they were going on a diagonal & I didn't want to get caught with them being too short. I then adhered them to the plaid panel. I kind of wish I'd made them a bit narrower, since they took up a lot of real estate in the end, but I left it. I glued the focal circle on, stamped & die cut 3 stars from the blue cardstock & glued them in place.

I stamped the greeting, from "Best Pun Ever," onto a strip of yellow cardstock. Because it ended up touching the yellow diagonal strip and it blended in, I cut a narrow mat from blue and adhered the greeting strip to that. Finally, I popped that onto the card. I adhered my mint colored mat panel to a white A2 card base, then mounted my card front to that.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"
613 Avenue Create: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)
Pile It On #153: "Lots of Layers and/or Use Scraps" (used scraps for circle & strips)

Peeking Santa

I am very happy to be the Guest Designer at Send a Smile 4 Kids challenge blog today! The theme for their challenge is "Fall or Holiday Wishes 4 Kids OR Anything Goes 4 Kids." I encourage you to check out their challenge, and enter a card made for a child. I created this card using Bugaboo Stamp's "Santa Clause Peeker." I also used Sketch #SC585 from Splitcoaststampers.com for my design.

I began by opening Santa in Photoshop. I created a blank canvas, and moved him to that. I sized him to fit, flipped him horizontally, and printed the image onto a panel of 140 lb. watercolor paper. I actually made my paper a bit wider than in the sketch, since I knew I wanted to fussy cut him along the right edge.

I colored the image with my Inktense pencils, using a damp paintbrush to pick up the color from the pencils and apply it to the paper. I find this method gives me maximum control, and keeps me from having pencil lines that won't dissolve when I brush water over them. I did add a bit to the bottom of Santa, just to make him look a little more like he had legs. I also colored his belt buckle & the frames of his glasses with a gold gel pen. After he had dried, I fussy cut along the right edge of the image.

The other side of the sketch reminded me of a present. I cut 2 panels from The Paper Studio's "Christmas Basics" 6x6" patterned paper pad. I adhered them to a scrap of white cardstock, leaving about a 1/4" gap in between. In hindsight, I probably could have just cut one larger panel, & saved myself a bit of work. I wrapped a piece of white satin ribbon around the seam where I'd adhered them to the white cardstock. I wrapped another piece of ribbon around the center going vertically. Finally, I tied a bow from the leftover ribbon, and adhered it to the panel with a glue dot. I squirted a little liquid glue under the knot in the bow, just to keep it from coming untied.

I adhered my Santa panel to a red A2 size piece of cardstock, leaving a 1/8" mat on the top, bottom, & left sides. I made sure not to glue down the parts that were sticking out on the right yet, though. Then I adhered my "gift box," tucking the left edge under Santa's hand & beard. Finally, I glued the rest of Santa to the card, and adhered the card front to a white card base.

Happy Halloween Hedgehog

Send a Smile 4 Kids is collecting fall & Halloween cards through the end of this month. I created this card for that organization, with the hope that it will bring a smile to the face of a hospitalized child this Halloween!

I used Sketch #SC706 from Splitcoaststampers.com as the basis for my design. I first cut a piece of Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper to size, and stamped my hedgehog, from Penny Black's "Bewitched" set (discontinued). I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink for that. I colored the image with my Prismacolor colored pencils, using Gamsol on paper blending stumps to blend the colors & add shading. After I'd finished coloring, I went over a couple of lines with my black colored pencil to reestablish them, since the colored pencils had faded those lines out too much. I also went over the eye & nose with a black glaze pen to make them pop.

I cut a piece of purple patterned paper from The Paper Studio's "Trick or Treat" letter-size pad to A2 size, and adhered it to my white card base. I also cut a piece of orange polka-dotted paper to size. After I adhered my image panel to that, I used glue dots to attach 3 buttons next to it. I pierced holes in the paper through the buttonholes, and stitched them with orange embroidery floss. Then I adhered that panel to my card.

For the greeting, I used one from My Favorite Things' "Batty About You" stamp set (discontinued) I cut a narrow strip of light purple cardstock, and stamped the greeting in Versafine Onyx Black ink. I cut the right end into a V-shape, and adhered it to my card. The longest part of this process was coloring the hedgehog & picking out the buttons. The rest of the card was pretty easy to pull together.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: "Stamp It On"
Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Stamp It for STAMPtember"
613 Avenue Create's Challenge #213: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge: "Cute Fall or Halloween Cards 4 Kids"