CCE This Morning--Oh What Fun

CCE stands for "Create, Challenge, Encourage". This is my goal for each of our stamp club meetings. Some of the gals came Friday afternoon because they couldn't make it this morning. So much fun with each group.

We did three cards. Each one different; each one loved by all. With this first card, we were talking and learning about coloring with colored pencils and gamsol. I have had this rose stamp for many years and it is one that I love to color with my Prisma color pencils. There is so much detail but it is just large enough to be easy.

The second card used the Eclipse Technique. You can see the post I did a few days ago here for this card.

The third card used the stamp set called "High Tide". This was a CASE of another card I had seen on Pinterest. Everyone enjoyed working on the card. I look forward to doing some other cards with this set.

For our challenge we did a sketch challenge. How do card sketches work?  Here is my experience. I had all these pieces laying on my desk for several days. I just couldn't seem to get it together. When I looked at the sketch for our challenge, I saw how this card could be put together. It worked.

Our Sketch Challenge

SC664 An Early Snowy Morning

Wednesday again. I love to do the sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers on Wednesday when I have a chance. So----------

Today's sketch

My card

I stamped the image onto watercolor paper with VersaFine Black Onyx ink and heat embossed it using clear embossing powder. I used my distress ink markers and the aqua brush to add color to the image. For the card base I used a piece of Baja Breeze card stock. I still have a few sheets of this retired color and I still love it. I found the glitter paper at JoAnnn's this past week. It is by core'dinations and so easy to use.

SC662

Today's challenge--

For today's card, I used a stamp from the "Peaceful Petals" set from Stampin' Up. Used Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white card stock, then colored the image with Stampin' Up's watercolor pencils. The Card base is Daffodil Delight. Marina Mist, used to highlight my image, goes well with the Pacific Point polka dots. For layers 4 and 5, I used ribbon and a bow also in the Marina Mist color. As always, I loved working with this sketch.

Weekly Favorite at SCS for week ending September 16, 2017

Christmas Bells

SC661

I printed a copy of this week's Splitcoast Stampers sketch Wednesday morning. I didn't get to work on a card until late this morning. I knew I wanted to make a Christmas card. I pulled out a sheet of designer paper that I thought might work well with my new stamp set "Seasonal Bells". After trying many color combinations, this is what I created.

First -- the sketch

Now for my card. The designer paper is from Graphic 45's St. Nicholas Collection. The card base is real red card stock. The yellow was a scrap piece so I do not know what color it is. It just worked. I used Memento Rick Cocoa ink to do my stamping. The sentiment is from a new Stampin' Up set called "Snowflake Sentiments".  For the bells, I used the stamp set "Seasonal Bells" with the coordinating punch. The red bow was made using a new Memory Box die that I purchased yesterday. When I saw it, I knew that it was one I had to have.

I started to use an embossing folder on the yellow piece, but I ended up adding score lines 1/4-inch along all four sides. A simple process but it does add a little interest.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Weekly  Favorite for week ending Sept. 9, 2017

SC660

My daughter was here for a few days this week. She took her dad to Rock Steady (his exercise class) two afternoons and to his doctor's appointment in Ann Arbor. I got to have some time to myself and have lunch with a friend. I finally got my card made this evening for this week's sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.

The Sketch

For my card I used a Stampin' Up retired set called "Wildflower Meadow" along with the "Touch of Texture" set. Perfect Plum ink and designer series paper was the color of choice. It was a fun sketch to work with once I got started.

SC659 -- A Lilac Birthday Card

Today's sketch was very interesting. Lots of elements arranged in a very unique way. I would love to know what you see in the sketch.

 

Putting together this number of elements can be a challenge for me. I first started thinking about what paper I would use. I had purchased this pad of paper not long ago called "Lilac Love". It contains 36 sheets of double-sided designer paper. 3 sheets of 12 different designs. As I played around with the paper, I found the elements starting to come together.

And -- this is my card. The base is Pale Plum. All the other layers are from the Lilac Love collection, except for the white piece. The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up set called "Simply Sketched" and the flower is from the new set "Daisy Delight". I stamped the flower twice onto one of the lighter colored sheets with Memento Sweet Plum ink, used the daisy punch and created the center using VeraMark ink and gold embossing powder. I want to try  making another card using this same sketch. I love the design -- so unique.

Christmas Card Using SC657

I saw a video on how to glue vellum onto your project. I wanted to give it a try. I was also experimenting with embossing vellum using an embossing folder. This card let me do both.

To emboss the vellum, I first placed my card stock in the folder. I then laid my piece of vellum on top, closed the folder and ran it through my machine. The cracking of the vellum was kept to a minimum.

I then decided to use the layout from a sketch I had done just days before. I chose to use Stampin' Up's Cherry Cobbler card stock as my accent. Such a beautiful color. I trimmed the embossed vellum to the size I wanted, cut the Cherry Cobbler layer to the correct size, added glue to the vellum and laid it onto the card stock. Glue, tape or any kind of adhesive has a tendency to show when used on vellum. I followed the technique I saw on Connie Stewart's blog called "Simply Simple Stamping". Here is the link to her video -- Adhering Vellum Perfectly. It worked "perfectly". Finished up the other layers, assembled all and my card was finished.

Pale Plum Sketch Challenge

Today was another day that I had a chance to do a card for the Splitcoast Stampers sketch challenge. I am always anxious to see the sketch even when I don't have a chance to make a card.

Today's challenge --

I was not sure where I was going when I started out. Layer # 3 was tall and narrow. I thought that it needed a large, tall image. I found this one in the set called "Insightful Meadows" by Unity Stamp Company. I also wanted to do something using the emboss resist technique. I stamped the image with VersaMark ink and used a fine detail clear embossing powder to do a heat emboss. I also used a large background stamp to add some interest to the background. For adding the background I used Memento Gray Flannel ink. I then sponged very lightly over the embossed image using Perfect Plum ink. Then I discovered that the retired card stock color "Pale Plum" was a perfect match. To add some depth to the color I used a paint chip that I had picked up the other night while out shopping at Lowe's. It was just what I needed. The sentiment on the vellum was from a 2004 Stampin' Up retired set called "Sweet of You".

I hope that you have some time to be creative today.



August 20, 2017
My card was mentioned in Favorites for the week ending August 19, 2017 at Splitcoast Stampers.

A Sketch Challenge

I think that this is the first time I have done the sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers in over a year. I printed off a copy of the challenge on Wednesday, SC657, and found that I already had several things that worked perfectly with this challenge.

Here is my card

The little floral piece was an extra one I had done several weeks ago when I was working on another card. The flower was also on my desk; I had made it for a class that I had earlier in the week. All the other elements came together quickly.

The details--
I used SU Blushing Bride card stock for my base and topped it with a piece of designer series paper. The floral strip was a little piece of scrap designer series paper that I layered with Island Indigo card stock, cut a piece of Baja Breeze card stock with a scalloped edged die and added it to the back. The flower is from a retired Stampin' Up set called Stippled Blossoms. The leaves were punched from a piece of Certainly Celery (retired) card stock. They were really plain so I added some veins with a stamp and sponged the edges with Old Olive ink. The verse is from a Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set called "New Creature". When I finally got it all together, I was pleased with what I had done. I would never have come up with this layout by myself.

SC592 / PP294

I made this card for two challenges that inspire me.

I used all four colors from the color challenge and tried to follow the sketch as closely as possible. The Wisteria Wonder color turned out to look more blue in the photo.The flowers were cut using framelits from the Botanical Blooms set and the circle stamp was from a retired Stampin' Up set called "Simple Friendship". I love making flowers and adding them to the cards I make.

SC591 For That Special Guy In My Life

As I started working on today's sketch, I remembered a card I had seen on Pinterest a few days ago using this little fox. It had caught my attention right away. I think that was partly due to the fact that I have the stamp set and have not had any good ideas on how to use the set. This sketch gave me the motivation that I needed.

I turned the sketch into a landscape version. I thought the little fox would look better in an oval than in a circle so I needed the extra space. I think he is a cute little guy. Then I put the sentiment on the narrow layer instead of above it.

List of items used:
Stamps -- Stampin Up sets "The Wilderness Awaits" and "Simply Wonderful"
Ink -- Stampin' Up Cajan Craze and VersaFine Black Onyx
Card Stock -- Cougar Natural, SU Cajan Craze and printed paper from my stash
Spellbinder Classic Oval Dies

It was fun to see the end result.

SC565--First Christmas Card

WOW! It seems like such a long time since I made a card for the Sketch Challenge at SCS. Today I was determined to get a card made. I told myself that the leaves would still be waiting for me in the afternoon.

This was a very simple layout so I decided to let the paper do the talking. The center, dotted piece was from a new 6x6-inch Graphic 45 pad that I got last week. The other piece came from a large pad of Christmas paper that I have had for many, many years. The pad is called "The Christmas ULTIMATE Stack". Not sure if all the paper will ever be used. The "Merry Christmas" greeting is from the "Christmas Mini" set by Our Daily Bread Designs. It was stamped with VersaMark ink and embossed with gold powder, which was the very first embossing powder I ever bought. I used a die for the leaves and the Martha Stewart hydrangea punch for the flowers.

SC559

This afternoon, I was able to get a card made for today's SCS sketch challenge.

The card turned out to be a very simple "clean and simple" card. I masked the circle and sponged the upper part of the card stock with Memento Summer Sky ink. The butterflies were stamped in Memento Paris Dusk ink. The butterflies were from two SU sets -- "Papillon Potpourri" and "Butterfly Basics". The scripture verse is from Our Daily Bread Designs set called "Faith".

SC557

I guess today, I would have to say -- "Third time is the charm." That's how many times I made the focal image/layer for today's sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.

My First Card! 

I stamped the greeting on watercolor paper and embossed it using silver embossing powder. I then tried using a watercolor wash over the sentiment. Not sure why, but I just did not like the way it turned out. The greeting did not show up like I wanted it to.

Second try!

Even worse! I used clear embossing powder on the sentiment. Added the watercolor wash (lighter this time) to the paper, The sentiment did not show up at all. It was all wrong.

The Third Time!

I stamped the image on the same watercolor paper with VersaFine Black Onyx ink and used clear embossing powder to create the image. I used the same colors of watercolors but made the color wash much lighter. This one worked! I framed the panel with black card stock and used SU Costal Cabana card stock for the base.

SC556

Finally found time to make a thank you card using today's sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.

Stamps used -- Leaves from SU's " Crazy About You", flower from SU"s "Secret Garden" and sentiment from Unity Stamp Co.'s set called "Butterflies and Sunbeams".

SC554

I am actually getting my card posted today for this week's sketch challenge at SCS. It was a rather simply sketch but it took me a while to get started.

I used a stamp from the set called "Insightful Meadows" by the Unity Stamp Co. I used VersaMark ink and heat embossed the image with clear embossing powder. I sponged distress ink over the embossed image. Love this technique which is called "Emboss Resist".I then used a stencil to add the texture. I found the deep rose card stock in my scrap box and used an embossing folder to create the design. I did not add a sentiment; that can be added later if I decide I need one. The card base was done with SU's Pretty in Pink.

PP257 and SC553

This has not been a week for "creating". Too many other things have needed attention. I finally got my card finished just before bedtime last night. My card turned out to be for two challenges -- The Paper Players color challenge #257 and the Splitcoast Stampers sketch challenge #553.

 The stamps I used are from a new set that arrived yesterday from the Unity Stamp Co. called "Blossoms & Blessing". When I saw the set I, knew that it was one that needed to go into my collection. I struggled with the sketch for several days. I knew what I wanted to do, but I could never get beyond choosing the papers. Once I thought of using the color challenge, things began to fall into place. These colors are beautiful together -- Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake and Old Olive. I stamped the bird on Crumb Cake card stock, cut it out and turned it over before attaching it to my card. There is no sentiment on the card front so it can be used for most any occasion or I can add one later.

SC552

I am just now getting my card finished for last Wednesday's sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. I had started on Thursday, but could not get it together. It probably took me an hour or more to finish it this afternoon.

Lots of layers! Maybe that was the problem. I started with panel # 4. Not sure why but that is just what happened.

The card base is Stampin' Up's Hello Honey card stock. Each panel was made using white card stock. The image was stamped with VersaMark ink and colored with Pan Pastels (Yellow Ochre and Bright Yellow Green). Card stock in Old Olive and Crushed Curry were used as the accent layers. I used two Unity stamps from the sets "Love {Webster's Itty Bitty" and "Your are Enough Raindrops". Two Impression Obsession large background stamps were used -- Rain and Distressed Corduroy. The greeting came from Stampin' Up's set called "Moon Lake".

SC551 -- Whispy Prairie

For the sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers on Wednesday, July 29, I chose to use a new stamp that was given to me by my daughter-in-law last week. The set is called "Whispy Prairie" from The Unity Stamp Co.

I stamped the image on watercolor paper with VersaFine Onyx Black ink and embossed it with clear powder. Distress markers and an aqua painter were used to color the image. For the card base I used SU Primrose Petals card stock. I added some Wisteria Wonder designer paper with strips and a white piece with Old Olive dots to finish the sketch/card.

SC550/SC537 -- Brush Rose

Today, we were to choose any sketch between 501 and 549. I chose to use sketch # 537. I could find no record of ever having done that challenge. It is one of those that is simply, elegant and has lot of possibilities.

Lately, I have been loving this stamp. Why? I'm not real sure, but I think that part of the reason is that I love the watercolor look. I colored the stamp with SU markers -- Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Old Olive and Always Artichoke, spritzed it with water then stamped it onto a color wash background that I had made. The card base is SU Raspberry Ripple card stock, Old Olive card stock is layered behind the image. Finally I used Raspberry Ripple Designer Series Paper and Raspberry Ripple stitched ribbon.

Thank you for stopping by today.

This card was on the "Favorites for the Week" ending July 26, 2015 at Splitcoast Stampers.