Two Cards, Same Stamp

Today I made another card with the FSJ bird stamp...the same stamp I used on my last card. One of the challenge blogs I follow asks for 2 different type of cards using the same stamp, so I made a sympathy card and a congratulations card. The theme this time was "Pets". Since we are "bird-sitting" our daughter's bird while she is off on vacation I decided that he would be my inspiration! His name is Pops and he is very vocal!

The sympathy card I have already described and explained in my previous post; the Congrats card is for a friend from my church who just sold her house (in just 24 hours!) so she can move to a "leisure village" where many older folks enjoy an easier, safer, more convenient home ownership experience.

To make the Congrats card I used the Memory Box "Catalina Wreath" die, Pearlescent Watercolor paints, FSJ stamp "Psalm 91:1", JustRite "Grand Handwritten Sentiments", gold glass beads, and raffia for the bow. The background DP is from a 12x12 pad called "Recollections".

The bird was stamped using the metallic watercolors, as well as the top wreath with the peachy-red flowers. (The bottom layered wreath was just a green DP)

Challenges:

http://twofercardchallenge.blogspot.com - #4 Pets

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #330-331

http://www.scrapyland-blog.com - #88 AG

http://mmmchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk - #69 In the Garden

http://cropstop.blogspot.com - #38 AG

https://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com - April Challenge

http://caswatercolour.blogspot.com.au - April/Bird

Well, thanks, as always, for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

CAS Watercolor Card

Finally! A beautiful sunny day! Only a bit of snow left hiding in the shadows. My tulips are up 3-6 inches so far and my hosta plants are finally showing their little nubs above the ground. 

I'm doing just a quick post here before I go out to wash my muddy car!

Today I decided on trying a CAS card again...and wonder of wonders...I think I actually did it!

The background I created using the "Rubber Band Technique" as suggested on the CAS Mix Up blog. I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Antique Linen" on the rubber bands then did a metallic Pearlescent Watercolor wash over that. In the light it creates a nice shimmer. 

I even used the metallic watercolor paint to stamp the bird, then fussy-cut it, raised it with foam mini squares and adhered it to the background.

So now that I've posted this I'm thinking I may add 3 small metal studs or brown pearls in the bottom left of the background piece...what do you think? Do I need to?

Besides the TH ink and the paint I also used the FSJ  "Coffee Bean" ink, FSJ stamp "Psalm 91:1" (bird), sentiment stamps from StampingScrapping "Say it Your Way" set, and Paper Studio heavy weight white cardstock.

Challenges I'd like to join:

http://casmixup.blogspot.ca - Rubber band Tech+stamping+watercolor

http://caswatercolour.blogspot.com.au - April: Bird

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge - Sparkle & Shine

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #330-331

A Wish for Happiness

This week I need birthday cards...last week I needed more sympathy cards...when will I learn to make extra cards ahead of time?! Well, I actually do have a box full...but not the kind I need!

So today I looked up a few challenges and decided to use the Cas(e) this Sketch sketch to get me started.

I hadn't used vellum or heat embossing for quite a while so this was fun to work on!

I used the dies 'Catalina Wreath' by Memory Box, and 'Vintage Flourishes' by Joy Crafts.

The gold embossing powder is PSE, the stamp is Hero Arts, the pearls are Kaisercraft, and the bow was made using my Craft-DeeBowz bow maker. The vellum was recycled from being part of the packaging in a gift.

Challenges

http://casethissketch.blogspot.com - #189 Sketch

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com - #329 Anything Goes

http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/2016/09/september-challenge.html - AG

http://www.scrapyland-blog.com - #49 Anything Goes

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com - #116 Recycle

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #246-247 AG

Happy Birthday, Biff!

Good morning! What a lovely, rainy Saturday! I am forced to stay indoors and actually get some household chores done...and a little blogging! Today I have a few cards I want to post and enter into some challenges. First up, a birthday card for my son. A masculine card...sorta.

This card is appropriate for him because I know I likes wood. He heats with wood and has also tackled many a carpentry project. And "clean and simple" is always good for a guy's card!

Challenges: 

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com - #326 Anything Goes

http://www.cropstop.com/blog - Linky Party #19 (I used Cuttlebug embossing folder)

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #244-245 Anything Goes

Spring Green

Good evening, Blog Friends!

Just did a quick CAS card tonight while enjoying a thunder storm! A lovely Spring rain, but the weatherman did say tonight that we are supposed to have SNOW again soon!

Oh well, its just the adventure of living in Michigan!

The ribbon is a 1/8" black satin, the ink is Memento black and the cardstock is BoBunny.

Challenges:

http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com - #137 Welcome Spring

http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com - March Anything Goes w/handmade bow

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #224-5 Anything Goes

CAS Notecard...Enjoy!

Quick post this afternoon. Here's a very "clean & simple" card I made for a challenge that allows only certain colors + black and white (not neutrals!), which is a bit more of a challenge. I like that!

The challenge is at 'CAS Colours and Sketches'. It is #109, The Double, meaning you must use both the colours and the sketch. Here are the requirements:

        

The colors I used matched a bit better in 'real life' but not so happy with the result of the photo above. The inks I used were SU "Close to Cocoa", Memento "Bamboo Leaves", StazOn "Oliver Green" (which is the dark one that looks more like forest green to me!) Oh well. I tried.

The stamps used: all Fun Stampers Journey,

"Banner Party" & "Greet & Shout"

The little clear dots I colored with the same inks. They are called "Twinkle Jewels" and are from StampingScrapping.com

Thanks for stopping by today! If you are interested in learning more about the Fun Stampers Journey company, please go to FunStampersJourney.com/335

and check out all the amazing things they have to offer, as well as the great opportunities available to anyone wanting to join the company. "Make money doing what you love!"

Fluttering By with Thanks

I just had a card-making workshop a couple nights ago and gave out some door prizes, two of which were sets of 3 handmade note cards. So I'm starting to replenish my supply for the next workshop! 

This little CAS card went together very quickly, but the next 3 will be even faster! The green "grass" is cut from a 4"x 8" piece of print cs. On the back I drew a line at 2" across the 8" length. I randomly cut grass blades up and down keeping the center line in the middle so half of the blade was above and half below (or close). That way the part on top that is cut away can be turned upside down and used as another "grass" piece. The 8" pieces were cut in half, giving me 4 of them...so 4 cards have a quick start! The butterfly is printed and die cut 4 times so I can color all 4 at the same time. I used the Fun Stampers Journey matching sets, "Enjoy the Journey" stamps and "Butterflies" dies. The butterfly is colored with alcohol markers and adhered with a couple foam squares. The 'Thank You' sentiment, and the butterfly are stamped with dark brown FSJ ink, and the twine is colored with that ink to match.
Other ingredients: 'Thank You' from stamp set called "Greet & Shout" -FSJ
The kraft card stock, white and print are Fun Stampers Journey as well as the twine ('natural')
Challenges:
http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com - #208 CAS Made in a Minute
http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #168 Anything Goes
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com - #243 Anything Goes
As always, thanks so much for stopping by today! And I really do appreciate your comments! If you have any questions about the new company of crafters I joined, Fun Stampers Journey, (see sidebar) please leave a comment and I'll get back with you!

Painters' Tape Technique

I tried a new technique this evening...using painters' tape to make a textured background in wide undefined bands. I also wanted to try some clear embossing as part of the background, but I used the wrong kind of embossing powder...I grabbed the one for bonding materials not just the plain clear. So I added some very fine glitter to take care of the stickiness. Now I'm glad it worked out that way!

The sparkle and the tape texture show up a bit better in the photo below.

The butterflies are colored with a variety of alcohol markers and have a bit of glitter glue along the wing edges.

Ingredients:

Stamps - Stampabilities "All things are possible", Sky Kids "Butterfly"

Inks - TH Distress Inks, Memento "Tuxedo Black", Top Boss "Embossing"

Embossing Powder - Stampendous "Stamp N' Bond"

Challenges:

http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com - #42 "Sky"

http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - July "Painters' Tape Technique"

http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca - #115 "Photo Inspiration"

http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #139 "Anything Goes"

http://www.ipalamountain.com/2014/06/sketchbook-saturday-challenge-125 - #125 Sketch

A Bright, Simple Thank You

Today I got to use a NEW little stencil that my friend Sherry just gave me as part of a gift! I taped it down and used small sponge daubers and about 5 or 6 colors (and brands!) of ink. When I took all the tape off and removed the stencil I was pleasantly surprised how clean and crisp the design was. Definitely something I will use again soon! Maybe I should send this card to Sherry!

No sentiment on the inside but I just had to repeat at least part of the design! That left plenty of room to add a personal "Thank you" note.

Ingredients:

 cardstock: print is TPC Studios, solid is Paper Studio

stamp: "Thank You" is Stampabilities

stencil: Peel & Stick "Posey" by Delta

inks: Memento, Stampabilities, Studio G

daubers: Tsukineko

Challenges:

http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com/ - #30 "New"

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #116 "Anything Goes"

http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/ - #60 Sketch

A Birthday Card for My Hubby

Today is my husband's birthday...62 years old today! We've been married almost 37 years...where did the years go so fast!? "Time flies when you're having fun"...and when you are busy with a big family! We sorta thought it would slow down when we got older but that sure hasn't happened. And the family keeps growing!

And yes, it IS fun. God is good...all the time.

The stamp I used on this card is a PSX which I stamped once, then turned around, masked out the bird and stamped it again to make the evergreen branch longer. Then I colored it with colored pencils.

The sentiment is an Inkadinkadoo, the embossing folder used is a Sizzix called "Evergreen". It is hard to see in the photo but I also added Stickles "Star Dust" to the branch and the bird for a wintry, sparkly look. The brown and white baker's twine I got from Pizzazz Aplenty. The kraft card stock base is Paper Studio and has a matching envelope (my "new" item!).

The challenges I'm entering this in are:

http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - #151 Kraft Paper Challenge

http://Wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #114 Anything Goes

http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/ - #68 All things bright and beautiful

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/ - Ice Inspiration

http://emeraldfaeries.blogspot.co.uk/ - #51 Things with Wings

http://stempelgartenchallenge.blogspot.com/ - #21 Winter Wonderland

http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/ - #193 Snowbirds

http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com - #133 Use Something New

A Birthday Gent

Another Birthday card...this one for son-in-law, Brian. I told him the guy on the card looked quite dapper and made me think of him as an "advancing executive"...which made him laugh. 

Guys' cards are much easier for me to keep CAS...clean and simple!

The guy stamp is from SweetStamps, called "Gentleman Joe" and he is backed with a scrap of kraft cs. The patterend cs is from TSP. The image is colored with Memento markers.

Challenges:

Sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - #132 "Birthday"

Thekraftjournal.blogspot.com - #136 "Clean and Simple"

Funny B-day Card for a Guy

Quick post this evening...just a card I made quickly yesterday for a birthday I forgot last week. But I knew I'd see the "birthday boy" at church last night so I came up with an easy idea...and just did it!

In case you can't quite see it, this is a service bell...the kind that you hit the top to make it "ding" when you want service at a counter (at a business).

The sentiment I printed on my computer using a free font I had downloaded recently called "Bibliotheque".

And, yes, I came up with this one all by myself. The guy the card is for is a year older than most of us in our group of friends so we like to rub it in a bit that he is SO old!

But I did include a Bible verse to keep it all in perspective. Growing older is really not so bad when we know we are not alone on this journey called LIFE....God is with us each step of the way.

His plan is perfect...even when we don't understand it at times.

I am entering this card in a few challenges:

http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com - CCH # 136 - Without Design Paper

http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com - Black and Bright

www.abcchallenges.blogspot.com - ABC11 - Clean and Simple Cards

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com - PIO#1 Black & White + Another Color

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #162

Well, after taking a week off, I'm back! Refreshed...peaceful and calm! Fall camping...wonderful! We (DH and I) went to Pokagon State Park in Indiana for just 3 days. The first day, when we got there, was cold and wet and we stayed inside our little trailer reading (hubby) and crafting (me!). But Tuesday and Wednesday were absolutely beautiful! The sky was that deep blue you get only on really clear days and the leaves were just glowing in the sunshine. We biked and hiked until our legs felt like rubber! LOL

But now we are back home, refreshed and already immersed in reality!

 God is good... all the time!

So here is this week's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ!

Hostess:

The precious Peggysue!

Challenge:

Make a card that to you represents peace or calm; with an image, color scheme, CAS layout or verse, something that speaks peace to you, but peace symbols themselves are excluded. The card has to speak peace through your own style.

Scripture:

 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)

Sponsor:

Daydream Designs (by our very own DT sweetie Diane Noble!)

She is generously offering a $20.00 gift voucher for store product to the one randomly chosen winner!

And here is the CAS card I came up with, using one of the pre-colored digital images from Daydream Designs (the "Sunflowers and Pumpkins Colorized" set):

(So sorry for the poor picture quality...I took this photo with my phone because

I loaned my camera to my daughter!)

Autumn is my favorite time of year! It does make me feel "Ahhhhhhh!" Yes, there is a bit of sadness about seeing plants die and the trees become bare but there is always the promise of spring and the wonderful reminder that God IS in control. And, yes! He has already won the victory! He has overcome the world... and sin, and death, and sadness! Because of that great truth I can experience peace and calm, and so can anyone who believes that Jesus Christ died to pay for our sins, then rose again victorious and has secured a place in heaven for us.

Please join in our challenge this week! For more inspiration you can visit the main blog at SSiC and also check out my fellow DT members' blogs which are all listed in my sidebar!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a blessed week, my Friends!