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.

CAS338

Want to post my card for Monday's CAS challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. The theme was "Cute Critters". I used stamps from the Unity Stamp Co. and added a little watercoloring to accent the main image.

I will also post this card to "Friends with Flair" Friday on the Unity Stamp Co. blog.

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".

Whispy Prairie # 2

It seems that it has been almost impossible to find time to create this week. Don and I have been trying to clean out closets and get rid of unused "things". This is a task I have been putting off for a long time. As his Parkinson's continues to progress, there are more and more things that he cannot do thus I have to step in and try to do "that" also.

I needed a thank you card, and since I had so much fun with "Whispy Prairie" last week, I decided that I wanted to try using it again. I stamped the image on watercolor paper with VersaFine Black Onyx ink, used clear embossing powder and my trusty heat gun to finish the process. I used distress markers and an aqua brush to do the coloring. I wanted to follow through with the square background from the stamped image. I do not have a background stamp with that design but I pulled out a piece of plastic canvas, applied some ink, laid my paper over the canvas, gently rubbed the card stock and you can see the result. Perfect (in my opinion). The card base was SU Pool Party card stock stamped with SU Pool Party ink. Loved the result.

This card has been posted to "Friends With Flair" Friday on the Unity Stamp Co. Blog.

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.

Feel Better Soon

I needed a get well card earlier in the week. I decided to make a card that I could use as a post to Unity's "Friends with Flair" Friday. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone has been working on. This is a stamp that I got a few weeks ago. I love a stamp like this on a monochromatic colored card. The card base is SU Crumb Cake. I used Memento Rich Cocoa ink and stamped on Couger natural colored card stock. I found the dark brown card stock in the scrap box; it matches the ink very nicely.