Unity Stamps and I Am Sew Happy

A card I am going to send to my Mom - she is going through a little rough stretch right now but I guess when you are 94 that can happen.

For the card I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch.  She has a new sketch challenge each week.  I was pretty much true to the sketch this time.

Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge is to use numbers.  What better to use on a sewing card than twill tape that looks like a tape measure.

The weekly challenge on Paper Players is "in stitches" - the card can be sewing themed, have stitches, etc.

The cute stamp and sentiment are from Unity Stamps.  The paper is from Basic Grey - the Lucille collection - love the sewing motifs.  The little flower is made from pattern pieces.  I have enough pattern tissue to make at least a gagillion flowers.

Now it is time to get ready to go and have my taxes done - hope for a big refund so I can go to Alaska to visit my daughter.  Enjoy your evening.

Simon Says Thank You

The weekly challenge on Simon Says Stamp and Show is to make a Thank You card.  Well how about two cards.  I actually did stamp on the second card.  I had this paper from Pink Paislee with the great floral images.  I thought I would make some thank you cards for my next Operation Write Home Box - it will be a small box of cards but they all make some hero smile when he sends it off to family or friends.

The paper is by Pink Paislee.  The sticker is from SRM Stickers.  The stamped sentiment is from Hero Arts. I am not sure where I got the pearls.  My friend Ivanka may have sent them to me but then maybe not.

Well I have made three cards this morning - I am having fun - now where is that Authentique Christmas pad - I have a card to make out of that paper collection.

Sparkle With Joy - Or Something Like That

Simon Says "I Love Sparkle" - I do not use too much sparkle or glitter because the majority of my cards are for Operation Write Home and glitter is a big no no - if you want to know why - stop by the Operation Write Home blog to find out.

The challenge for the month at Oozak is also sparkle.

This is a card for my own holiday collection.  I used the sketch from Merry Merry - I somewhat stretched the image from the sketch.  My card is 5 x 3.25.

The image is a Penny Black Sticker - unfortunately with my lousy photo skills - I was unable to pick up the sparkle on the card.  I added Stickles to many dots on the tree.  The Joy was outline with my stardust pen.  The background is embossed with a snowflake embossing folder.  I did use some Bazzill Bling to add color to the card.  A May Arts bow completes the card.

Have a lovely evening and week end.

Authentique Color Challenge and Simon Says - Tape It Up

Today's card is a 5 x 7 card.  The base is watercolor paper with a matching envelope sent to me by my wonderful card making friend from Canada Ivanka.  Thank you Ivanka.

I combined two challenges for this card -

Authentique September Color Challenge

Luckily I had bought a couple sheets of the Enchanted line but I did not have any of the cream or black so I went through all my 6 x 6 pads from Authentique and found a cream and black that worked.  They came from the Celebrate and Carefree pads.  Even though Enchanted is a Halloween line - some of the designs are very versatile and can be used for things other than Halloween.  Although I am going to make a Halloween card with it also.  

The other challenge is from Simon Says Stamp and Show to Tape It Up.  The black dots at the top of the card is tape and adds just the finishing touch to the card.  The dots were white - but I rubbed the orange ink pad across it to make them a creamier color.  

The edges of all the paper is distressed (I felt so much better after making this card).  The flower is made from old pattern tissue - I have just a little of that from my sewing days - I colored the dresses with ink from the Tim Holtz orange distress ink pad.  I just rubbed a brush across it and applied to the dresses - just adds a pop of color to the stamped image.  The sentiment is from SRM Stickers.  I rubbed a piece of watercolor paper across the ink pad for some color and added the sentiment.  The bow is black twill tape.

I really enjoyed making this card.

Have a wonderful day.  

Simon Says Read All About It

Last week end I happened upon the blog hop at Simon Says Stamp and Show - the challenge is "Read All About It" - the hop was very inspiring to me - so many had got out their paints, their books, and assorted fun stuff and created.  It made me want to revisit that part of my creativity - I don't do this too often - but I do enjoy it - maybe I need to do more - I would layer paints on the watercolor paper before I went to work in the morning and inevitably - I had paint somewhere on my body or even my clothes.

I cut a couple pieces of watercolor paper for card fronts.  I found my dictionary that I use for card making (my part of read all about it) - adhered a layer of that to my watercolor paper, gessoed it, and then started dry brushing on layers of acrylic paint - orange, pink, green, yellow - I don't know what else.  After this was all dry - I then got out some background type stamps and first stamped with white and then added some other colors on top.  Here it is in a little more detail.  (the sun is very subtle in the corner on both cards)

Card one uses a Hero Arts Stamp and a SRM Sticker for the sentiment.  The border is 3/4 inch strips of the dictionary page adhered together and then just folded and added to the front of the card - I then smeared green paint over the top with my finger tip.  I used some black twine to finish off the card.

The second card uses a Hampton Art stamp.  I got a little hasty so the ink smeared - so to save the background - I stamped the flower three times on a dictionary page and fussy cut each part of the flower.  I actually used Stickles on the 2nd layer of the card.  The center of the flower has Glossy Accents on top.  This sentiment sticker is from Doodle Bug Designs.  Once again I added the strip of painted folded dictionary paper.

I am torn (excuse the pun) (in case you did not understand the pun - I tore the paper) - do you think I should add bows to the twine or ribbon.  I don't want the bow to distract from the artsy fartsy part of the card.  What do you think?

Stampendous and Christmas

Today I am sharing a card I made for Christmas - last week Simon Says Stamp had a challenge to use paint - well I had so much fun - I had to try something else with paint - it is kinda a new remembered technique to use.  I am entering it in their challenge - to use a favorite technique.

I made the background for the Believe with two shades of acrylic paint and white acrylic paint.  The believe was stamped with Versa Mark and heat embossed with the Hero Arts white embossing powder - I really liked that powder.  The card was suppose to be horizontal card but I did not like it.  It was also suppose to have silver cord wound around it and a big bow.  Those ideas did not fly.  And then would you believe I had no big white ribbon.  The navy matches the painted watercolor paper - it was dry embossed with a Sizzix folder.  The Believe panel is pop dotted on the front of the card.

I am also entering this card in the Stampendous monthly challenge for making the sentiment the focus of your card.  I believe I did that.

Have a wonderful evening.

Penny Black and SRM Stickers and Paint

Got my fingers all painty for this card.  I do love to play with paint and stuff - but usually do not take the time to do it.  The background paper is watercolor paper which is colored with acrylic paint.  I swiped a taupe color paint over the paper and then I dabbed on orange and a lightish tealish green.  I really like the color - it is so warm.  I then stamped the Penny Black tree in dark brown Colorbox Chalk Ink.  I used a SRM Sticker to add a sentiment to the card.  I was lucky I had to trim off a little strip so my sentiment strip matched the card background.

I am entering this card in three challenges.
Paint - Simon Says Stamp and Show
Fall Card - Oozak
Square Card - Cas-ual Friday

Yeah the week end is here - it is cool here in Wisconsin - so I plan on opening up the house and getting fresh air in and doing lots of clearing/cleaning and hopefully some creating.