He Is Risen

I spent the morning working on an Easter card for our stamp club's March meeting. I wanted a card that tells the true meaning of Easter. It is not about the Easter bunny, candy or eggs. It's about the fact that Jesus died, was buried and raised from the dead in order to provide my Salvation.

I began by cutting this Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps die out of black card stock. I have had the die for a couple of years and have never used it. It is time! To create the background, I began by sponging blue ink onto a piece of white card stock. Stamped the sun (from the SU stamp set "Kinda Eclectic") in SU Crushed Curry ink. Black card stock was used to create the mount. The sentiment was from a very old Cornish Heritage Farms set that I purchased before the company went out of business. I trimmed the focal piece, layered it with a piece of blue card stock and added it to a white card base. Simple. I wanted to add something else but stopped. Not sure what that something else should be.

He is not here; he has risen!

Remember how he told you,

while he was still with you ...

"The Son of Man must be delivered

into the hands of sinful men,

be curcified and on the third day

be raised again."

Luke 24:6-7 NIV

Foggy Morning

The past week, here in Michigan, we have seen several days with really heavy, dense fog. I was inspired to try to create a foggy scene on a birthday card. I spent most of the morning working on the card. I first started out by stamping the image on white card stock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then I tried sponging over the image with Stampin' Up's Whisper White craft ink. It was working but not like I wanted it to. Next I tried stamping the image on light gray card stock using VisaFine Onyx Black ink. Now it looked like I was on the right track. Finally, I began sponging over the stamped image. I tried to add more sponging in the center of the image to create more depth to the scene. I used Memento Gray Flannel ink to stamp the deer and then did more sponging. Finally I was getting the look that I wanted. I love the finished result.

The stamps used were: "Woodland Wonder" from Penny Black, "Forest Silhouettes" from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and the "Happy Birthday" from Stampin' Up's set called "Bloom With Hope". The card base is SU's So Saffron card stock with a small piece of designer paper that I found in the scrap box.

Beautiful Day

Birthday's are special days to remember those who are dear to us. I have some special people in my life who have birthday's during the month of January. I thought about using winter scenes but decided to CASE a card that I saw on Pinterest a few days ago and use my new stamp set from Altenew again. It is called "Beautiful Day".

The layout of this card is pretty much like the one I saw on Pinterest. The flower is different and I used a different butterfly. Here is a link to the original card --Scrappin' and Stampin' in GJ. I didn't realize how many different stamp sets I had used until I was starting to write everything down. Below the pictures, I have listed all the stamp sets used.

Stamp sets used--
Altenew  -- "Beautiful Day"
Stampin' Up -- Simply Sketched, Kinda Eclectic, Papillon Potpourri, Just Believe
Sweet and Sassy Stamps -- "Sunshine and Flowers"

Note on the butterfly --  I stamped the image onto So Saffron card stock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added some additional color using my copic markers to the center of the butterfly.  After punching the butterfly out, I covered the image with a glue pen and dipped the image into my glitter.

SC539 -- Mother's Day

Mother's Day is always a bittersweet time for me. My mother has been gone 15 years and my mother-in-law 14 years. They both were very special ladies and had much influence on my life. I have a daughter and a son. Both are married, have families of their own and live two too three hundred miles away. They both make Mother's Day special for me. I wanted to make a card for my daughter and daughter-in-law so I chose to use this week's sketch challenge as my inspiration.

I had a new stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called "Treasured" that I had not yet used. As I looked at the words, I realized that both Angela and Janet were all of these: Mother, Daughter, Sister Friend and Aunt. There was also a phrase that said "You are treasured". I used all those words to create my background paper and then followed the sketch for all the other layers. SU Primrose Petals was the card stock and ink that I used along with white and green for the leaves. I was very pleased with the result.

 

Wishing each of my friends a "Happy Mother's Day".

 

May 10, 2015 -- This card was a CAS Favorite for the week ending May 10, 2015.

 

 

SC536--New Creature

Today's sketch was super simple and challenging at the same time. There are some beautiful cards that have been posted to the gallery at SCS.

 

The colors that I chose were SU Crushed Curry, So Saffron and Soft Suede. The ink was SU Soft Suede. The images were from a new set I recently got from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called "New Creature".

 

 

CAS320 -- Stencil It

"Stencil It" is the theme for today's CAS challenge at SCS. A couple of weeks ago I prepared a class on "Stencils -- Ways To Use Them". I made several images and cards demonstrating the use of stencils. None of the cards have been posted so I am going to use two of them for this week's challenge.

This sunburst stencil is from Tim Holtz. I have used it several times and love it. For both of my cards, I was trying to create a early morning feel. I used SU so saffron and crushed curry inks on this sunburst but I can't remember to name of the blue I used. The stamp for the sentiment is one from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set "Be Encouraged".

This was an Easter card I was working on. The stamps were from the old Cornish Heritage Farms company which went out of business several years ago. The company re-opened under new owners but I don't think they ever brought back this stamp set. The tomb stamp was a line image. Since I wanted a solid image, I colored the image in with the darkest gray Copic marker I have. You can still see a little of the stamp details but I thought it added interest to the image.

This last card was listed in the "Favorites of the Week" ending April 19 at SCS.

SC533 -- Basket of Flowers

Here is the sketch for today's sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.

 

After a busy morning I finally got to work on my card late this afternoon. I was playing with stencils last night. With a small stencil and SU Soft Sky ink, I ended up with a pretty soft background. I thought that it might work well for layer # 3. Then I began looking for paper that would go with my stenciled piece. I found a really pretty design in a 6 x 6-in pad from My Mind's Eye called ""Cowboy". The edges were slightly distressed so after cutting the piece down to a 5 1/4 inch square, I use antique linen and tea dye distress ink to make all the edges match. I used the same inks on the stenciled piece. For the flower basket I used stamps from Stamps by Judith. The sentiment was from a new set that I just received today called "New Creature" by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

 

 

 

SC526 -- Wishing You

Today's sketch --

My card --

For today's card I used two Stampin' Up sets--Upsy Daisy and Polka Dot Punches. I used a background stamp from Impression Obsession, inked with Primrose Petal ink on Primrose Petal card stock. Because I wanted to be able to use this card in a number of ways, I chose a greeting from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set "Sunshine & Flowers".

More Thank You Cards

Still trying to finish up my thank you cards. I completed one this morning for the Clean and Simple challenge at SCS. The challenge was to use just one color with white -- use a monochromatic color  theme. I used my new Sizzix and Spellbinder dies and a Stampin' Up embossing folder.

We were at the cottage of some of our friends on New Year's Day. There was a spot of water on the lake that was not frozen. The ice around that spot was covered up with geese; right in the middle was a swan. The geese would sit on the ice, go for a swim, then climb back on the ice. That scene was the inspiration for my card. I used stamps from four different sets -- SU Work of Art, Wetlands, Sassy Salutations and the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamp set Peaceful Swans.

This card was a CASE of a card that I had seen on Pinterest and wanted to make. You can see the original card HERE. I used SU Pool Party ink instead of green and mine is a thank you card instead of a birthday card. The tree is from Stampin' Up's set Lovely As A Tree. I also used stamps from the Stampin' Up set A Greeting For All Reasons and Work of Art.

SC518 -- Friends

The sketch for today's challenge at SCS was a simple one but a powerful one.

I needed another birthday card. While working at my computer this morning, I saw this piece of printed paper in a paper file at the back of my desk. As I looked at it, I knew that it was the one to use this morning. So my search for coordinating papers began. Certainly Celery -- perfect. Midnight Muse -- won't work. Blackberry Bliss -- Wrong color family.Wisteria Wonder -- another perfect choice. So the work began--

 

Since I wanted to show as much of the paper as possible, I had to rotate the sketch. I also wanted to use the printed words on the paper to show as part of the sentiment, I had to careful cut the paper. The bottom line says "A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway". (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

The line just above that says " Friendship lightens every burden and makes the sun shine brighter". The greeting, stamped on the white layer is from the Sweet 'n Sassy stamp set called "Sunshine & Flowers".

 

 

SC509 -- My Wish For You

I have today's card completed for the sketch challenge at SCS.

For today's card, I used Stampin' Up's Crisp Cantalope card stock for the base of my card. Then I used SU designer series paper with black and Pool Party card stock for accents. The sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamp set called "Sunshine and Flowers".

CAS290 -- Crumpled Paper

Crumpled Paper! This was something I had never done. I had watched videos (especially ones by Tim Holtz) where the paper had been crumpled and then inked. Well, I decided to give it a try. Before getting started, I downloaded and printed a copy of today's Mojo Monday Sketch. Could I put the two together? I set about the task and this is what I can up with.

I crumpled a piece of light gray card stock and then sponged it with a couple of different shades of gray ink that I have. The first step is done. Now, what will go with it? How can I incorporate this piece into the sketch?

I found a little scrap piece of paper that would work for the tall layer. It was from a 6 x 6-inch paper pad from My Mind's Eye. Finally decided on a second piece of paper from the same collection and I used both sides of that piece. In order to make my sentiment work on the circle, I had to bring it to the front. The flower was punched with the SU Petite Petal punch from the same paper. When I started looking for a card base, SU Not Quite Navy worked perfectly. I love so many of the retired colors, and I have only a few sheets left. The sentiment that I chose was from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set called "Sunshine & Flowers".

Thank you for being a part of my day.

Experimenting with Distress Ink

I have been trying to do a little more with the distress ink pads that I have. Sometimes I have success and then there are other times that -- Well, things don't go so well. For this experiment, I started with a quarter sheet of white card stock and sponged it using antique linen, vintage photo and tea dye distress inks. It looked like a mess, but I continued on. I chose a stamp from SU's Serene Silhouettes and embossed the image with black detail embossing powder. After trying to match the image with different colored card stock, I decided to use the leftover piece of sponged paper to cut the scalloped layer. After putting the stamped image back into the cutting die, I used a black ink pen to create the black line just inside the cut edge.

Here are the two parts cut from the sponged paper ready to be put together.

 This is the finished card. It is amazing to me how pretty the end result can be.

Sketch Challenge and Others

This has been a week of changes. Sometimes I don't handle change very well. I did get my card completed for yesterday's sketch challenge at SCS. It was a simply sketch and really fun to work with.

Here is my completed card. I used four different stamp sets: Stampin' Up's "Flower Shop", "Summer Silhouettes"and "Gorgeous Grunge" and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps "Be Encouraged" set. The color theme used SU Pool Party, Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz and Memento New Sprout.

The next card was a CASE that I found on Pinterest. This is the card. In a couple of weeks I am doing a class on ways to use your punches. I thought this was a really great way to use one of my favorite edge punches. I used five different colors of card stock and a natural card base. I added a brown grosgrain bow and a brown heart with flowers. I love the lacy look this punch creates.

For this card I used some scraps of card stock and a Martha Stewart bird punch, circle and coordinating scallop punches.

SNSS Challenge -- Christmas Ornaments

The Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps challenge was to create a Christmas ornament or include an ornament on your card. I chose to add an ornament to my card.

The Always Artichoke card base is from Stampin' Up. I used a stamp from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps's set called "Season of Love". I stamped and embossed the image with gold embossing powder on Stampin' Up Real Red card stock. It was cut out using a 2012 Spellbinder's die called "Heirloom Ornament Die". The green fir branch is a die from Impression Obsession. The background paper is called "crystal icing" from sei's collection "Holiday Traditions". It is embossed and really sparkles -- I am sorry that it barely shows in the photograph.

SC498 -- Summer Flowers

Another fun sketch for today at Splitcoast Stampers. Here is the sketch --

I did a horizontal flip of the sketch and used the focal stamp from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps's set called "Sunshine & Flowers". It is a new set that I just got a couple of weeks ago and this is my first card with it. I colored the flowers with Primsa colored pencils  and Gamsol. I could not find a background paper to coordinate with the pink and blue. I decided to try making a background using one of my Impression Obsession cover-a-card stamps. I stamped it twice using Memento Summer Sky and SU Pretty in Pink.

SC496 --Grow in Love

Today's sketch challenge--

Here is my card. I used my new stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called "Bloom and Grow". The flower was to wide for the fourth panel so I stamped it onto another piece of paper and cut it out. I didn't want to make the panel wider nor did I want to cut parts of the flower off.

Sweet'n Sassy Stamps Challenge

The challenge from Sweet 'n Sassy stamps on Friday June 20 was -- All About Animals. I don't have many stamp sets from Sweet 'n Sassy stamps, but I love the ones that I have. I chose stamps from their stamp set called "Forest Silhouettes". I used VersaFine Onyx Black ink for stamping and Memento Gray Flannel ink for the sponging. Then I found several black and white prints in my scrap box that were just what I needed to finish my card.

The Sun is Shining

The sun is shining and the temperature is above freezing. It seems that the long, cold winter is loosing its hold and spring will soon be here. I got to my computer this morning, anxious to see what today's CAS challenge was going to be. I looked at the inspirational picture; I was not sure just what it was all about. I read it again and looked at the picture again. What did I see? First, I saw the tiny, little flowers and the pretty pastel colors. Both are things I love to use in making my cards. Then I got the e-mail regarding the weekly Mojo challenge. Ideas began to flow and the idea of making one card fit both challenges began to come to mind. This is my card.

I used the stamp set "Cherry Blossoms" from Rubber Stamp Tapestery. The inks I chose were: Memento Toffee Crunch, SU Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and, finally, Raspberry Ripple. I used a circle mask made with a Spellbinder's die to stamp the focal image. I used that same die and the next larger one to create the frame using Soft Suede card stock. My card base is the Soft Suede cardstock. To create the border for the main image, I used the SU dotted scallop ribbon border punch (a long name for such a small punched border). The sentiment, from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Faith set, was stamped in Soft Suede ink.

I am including a picture of the Mojo Sketch and a link to the inspirational picture.

SC455

Sketch challenge day is here again and I have my card made before I go to bed tonight. It seems that does not happen very often these days.

 

For the card base I used SU Smoky Slate card stock stamped with an Impression Obsession background stamp in Smoky Slate ink.The designer paper  is DCWV's "Linen Closet". The "Faith" stamp is from Sweet 'n Sassy and stamped on watercolor paper that I did a color wash on. It is layered with SU Pool Party card stock. I found the cord at Hobby Lobby. It is a metallic plastic canvas cord by Darice and is aqua and silver in color. It is soft and ties so easily. It was the perfact color to go with these papers.