Thursday, July 31, 2014

Gray Snowflake Soriee


A very merry Christmas to you...at least that's what my card for today says. :)  We have a sketch challenge for you over at 'Tis the Season for our next challenge and it was a fun one to work with.  I didn't get four cards done this week like I was hoping to because I couldn't decide what colors I wanted to use in the first place.  By the time I had figured out what ones I was going to use there just wasn't any time left.  I was trying to figure out what to do for another challenge that I'm involved with and my daughter (who hates card making!) was even throwing a few ideas my way. :)

I hope you like what I've created this week!

Here's the sketch.  If you get a chance check out all the other cards made by the design team HERE.  As always they have great cards to share with you.  Make sure you play along too so you can get a head start on your Christmas cards.  It will be here before you know it!



Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Set:s:  Snowflake Soiree & More Merry Messages
Card Stock:  Basic Gray, Island Indigo & Whisper White
Ink:  VersaMark
Stampin' Emboss Powder:  White
Embossing Folder:  Pretty Print
Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Masculine Lovely as a Tree

Have I ever said I love making masculine cards?  I'm sure I have, but I'd like to say it again...I love making masculine cards! :)  Maybe because they're a little less detailed than feminine cards, I don't know.  I guess I like they way most of them turn out.  Either that or I'm not as picky. lol  Today's card is for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch challenge 178.  I was trying for a relaxing serene night scene with the moon for this card.



Make sure you head over to Try Stampin' on Tuesday HERE to check out the other fab cards made using this sketch and play along too if you get a chance.


 I've been trying to take a few more pics at different angles and post them.  I know I enjoy seeing more than one pic of a card or project when I'm browsing blogs, so I thought maybe those of you that check out my blog would think the same thing too. :)


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

 Stamp Set:  Lovely as a Tree
Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Soft Suede & Very Vanilla
Classic Stampin' Pads:  Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake & Soft Suede
Embossing Folder:  Woodgrain
Punch:  1 1/4" Circle
Brayer & Sponges

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Brightly Blooming

Is it sunny or is it rainy?  That's what it's like here today in Michigan.  Wonderful sun, then pouring rain, and as I'm typing this warm sunshine again...oh, change that.  Looks like it's about to rain again. lol  Today I have a card for two different challenges and I'm excited that I had some time to do it today!  


My colors come from the Colour Me...playful challenge.  I've been following them for a bit now and was determined to play along.  Love the colors they have for this week, however I couldn't figure out how I was going to add in the color Melon Mambo.  It just didn't look right where the black strips are, and I felt it would have been too bright where the gold embossing is.  That's when I decided to sponge the tips and a bit of the center of the flower that I had colored in with Daffodil Delight Blendabilities.  




I also decided to play along with Freshly Made Sketches.  It's a nice CAS sketch and I was determined to keep my card that way.  For those of you who know me I tend to over-do my cards, so it was a bit of a challenge, but I think I managed it this time. :)


I decided not to put a sentiment on my card yet.  Who knows what I might need it for.  I need a few of those kinds of card around so if something comes up all I have to do is stamp the sentiment on and it's ready to be sent off.



Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Sets:  Flowering Flourishes & Bloom with Hope
Card Stock:  Basic Black & Whisper White
Classic Stampin' Pads:  Melon Mambo
Memento:  Tuxedo Black
Blendabilities:  Daffodil Delight Assortment
VersaMark
Stampin' Emboss Powder:  Gold
Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer
Sponges

Friday, July 25, 2014

Fancy Flowering Flourishes

Today's card has a technique that's new to me, sort of.  I've seen it before, but never actually made a card using it.  I really enjoyed trying it, and it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. :)  So let's see what the challenge is for the next round of the Friday Mashup.  Tara's fun challenge for us is...

Create a project using the "Sketch".
Create a project using the "Delft Tile Technique". Tutorial here
or Mash it Up! and create a project using the "Sketch & Delft Tile Technique".


The first thing I did was pick a stamp set that I thought would work for this technique.  Yup, I pulled out Flowering Flourishes.  I have to say this set was gathering a little dust on it...not literally, but it's been a LONG time since I've used it.  I thought it would look good with browns so I chose crumb cake and baked brown sugar.  


Make sure you visit the Friday Mashup HERE to see the other designers' sketches and delft tile technique that they each did.  What a lot of cool cards!


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Sets:  Flowering Flourishes & Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar & Very Vanilla
Classic Stampin' Pad:  Crumb Cake
Framelit:  Apothecary Accents
Ribbon:  5/8" Seam binding in Crumb Cake
Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer
Simply Scored Scoring Tool
Sponges

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Strawberry Silhouettes

Happy Tuesday, Everyone.  Well it's going to be a hot one here in Michigan today.  I think we finally have some true summer weather.  I could definitely live without the humidity that's coming along with it though!  Well today's card had a lot of white space on it from Try Stampin' on Tuesday, and when I see sketches like this I just want to fill it up with some type of scenery so that's what I did.  


I stamped the flowers from Serene Silhouettes in Strawberry Slush, then stamped them again with VersaMark and embossed them with white embossing powder (I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to help line them up the way I wanted).  After that I brayered with Crisp Cantaloupe on the top and bottom of the card so it was lighter in the center.  Then made a horizon by blocking off the top of the card with piece of scrap paper.  Then I punched out a 1" circle and cut the bottom of it off and put it on my card where I wanted the sun lining the bottom up with the horizon, then brayered with Strawberry Slush.  I know this pic makes it look like everything is pink, but it's really not.  The sun and center of the card actually match the Crisp Cantaloupe card stock, the sun is just a bit darker (I sponged that in to make it darker).  I'm positive my camera just doesn't like me.  Someday I'll get a pic of one of my cards that actually looks like my card. :)

Head on over to Try Stampin' on Tuesday HERE to see all the other cards from the designers.  Lots of great cards and ideas over there.  What will you create using this sketch? :)


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Sets:  Serene Silhouettes & Blooming with Kindness
Card Stock:  Crisp Cantaloupe & Whisper White
Classic Stampin' Pads:  Crisp Cantaloupe & Strawberry Slush
VersaMark
Stampin' Emboss Powder:  White
Embossing Folder:  Stylish Stripes
Punch:  1" Circle
Ribbon:  5/8" Organza in Whisper White
Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer
Brayer, Sponges

Friday, July 18, 2014

Birthday Blooms

It's Friday, so that means another card made using the Friday Mashup challenge.  This week I'm hostessing the challenge and this is what I have for you...


Create a project using a "Background Stamp".
Create a project with "something 3-D on it".
or Mash it Up! and create a "project with a 3-D element and a Background Stamp".

I love using background stamps since they add to any card.  I have to admit I have a hard time leaving white space on my cards!  I did a little on this one just to change things up a bit...plus it wouldn't fit across the whole card. lol



I thought I'd go all out on the 3-D part of this challenge only because it's been quite a while since I've had a chance to make any flowers like this.  It's up to you what you want to do to to make something 3-D.  Check out what all the other designers made HERE.  Lots of  different ideas out there, and that's what makes it so fun. :)




I can't forget to add where I got my colors from.  They are on this week's challenge from the ColorQ Challenge.  As soon as I saw these colors I knew they were what I wanted to use.  


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Sets:  Dictionary & Simply Sketched (retired)
Card Stock:  Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Island Indigo, 
Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry & Whisper White
Classic Stampin' Pads:  Pear Pizzazz
Framelits:  Circles Collections
Punches: 1 3/4" Circle Scallop (used to make flowers) 
Bojo Blossoms & Builder Bird
Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack
Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer



Thursday, July 17, 2014

Pistachio Pudding Christmas

Hi, Everyone!  Today's card is another Christmas card for the next 'Tis the Season challenge.  This time around it's a color challenge.  I have to admit I wasn't too sure about the colors this time around, but I have to admit I love them together!


Make sure you head over to the challenge HERE to check out all the designers cards because they are fabulous!!  



Can you believe the difference in colors between these two pictures.  I think my camera likes to play tricks on me...either that or just annoy me!  Why can't it take pics and have the color turn out exactly like the card looks when I'm looking at it.  Guess that's the way it will be, and I'll have to learn to live with it! lol


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Sets:  Festive Flurry & Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock:  Pistachio Pudding & Very Vanilla
Classic Stampin' Pads:  Pistachio Pudding
VersaMark
Stampin' Emboss Powder:  Gold
Embossing Folder:  Retired
Framelits:  Circles Collection
Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Train Traveler

I needed another masculine card for this month's stamp a stack, so I used this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday's sketch to come up with it. Normally I would have totally made this sketch into a feminine card, but I love making masculine cards too.  For some reason they are a lot easier for me to make.  Anyway, I like the challenge of making something that looks more feminine into something masculine.  I didn't put a sentiment on the outside, but I suppose you could slip a little one in from Teeny Tiny Wishes if you wanted to.


This is the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday.  Make sure you head there to check out the other lovely cards made using it too, and play along if you get the chance. :)


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Set:  Traveler
Card Stock:  Early Espresso, Baked Brown Sugar & Crumb Cake
Classic Stampin' Pad:  Early Espresso
Embossing Folder:  Argyle
Punch:  Chevron Border
Thick Bakers Twine:  Baked Brown Sugar
Framelits:  Ovals Collection
Sponges

Friday, July 11, 2014

World of Dreams

Happy Friday, Everyone!  Today I've created a relaxing scene for you to enjoy.  For those of you that know me a little bit you know I enjoy sponging, and I decided it was time to pull the sponges out again and have a little fun with this week's mashup from Lisa...

Create a project using the colors
"Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon & Mossy Meadow".

Create a project with a "Summer" theme . 

(Beach, Picnic, Swimming, etc.) 

or Mash it Up! and create a "Summer project using the colors above"


I have to admit I wasn't sure what I was going to do with these three colors, but after I decided to sponge a scene they just came together.  I also had to use one stamp from the new set World of Dreams.  I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy using this set!


Make sure you head over to the Friday Mashup HERE to check out all the other great cards for this challenge and play along too.


Since my card is kind of a summer beach I though I'd add this card to the Paper Players challenge too.  If you haven't heard of them make sure you check them out.  Lots of talented designers over there.



Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Set:  World of Dreams
Card Stock:  Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow, 
Hello Honey & Whisper White
Classic Stampin' Pads:  Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow & Hello Honey 
Framelits:  Deco Label Collection
Embossing Folder:  Woodgrain
Punch:  1" Circle
Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer
Sponges


Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Summer Sunflower

Happy Tuesday, Everyone.  I have a card to show you using this weeks' Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch challenge.  I love the new hostess set from Stampin' Up! called Bloom with Hope.  I've used most of the flowers a few times already, but not the sunflower yet.  I didn't want it to feel too neglected so I pulled it out and inked it up.  Then I used the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities to color it in.  Love using them to color things in.  They make it so easy to do!


Here's the sketch for this week.  Make sure you stop by Try Stampin' on Tuesday to see what the other designers have created with this sketch and play along too.  We'd all love to see what you create!


Just a close up to see how I colored it in.  


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Set:  Bloom with Hope
Card Stock:  Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry & Whisper White
Memento Ink:  Tuxedo Black
Blendabilities:  Daffodil Delight, Skin Tone & Old Olive
Framelits:  Deco Labels Collection
Embossing Folder:  Decorative Dots
Ribbon:  3/8" Taffeta in Whsiper White (retired)
Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer


Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy Black Berry Bliss Watercolor

Ahh...it's Friday and a day to celebrate too.  Happy 4th of July!  
Today's card from Heidi over at the Friday Mashup was a fun one!  Here is the challenge that she has for us...

Create a Project with a "Watercolor Wash".
Create a "CAS project or one with Minimal Layers".
or Mash it Up! and create a "CAS project with a Watercolor Wash".

I haven't done watercolor wash before and it's a little hard without a paintbrush so I used one of my aqua painters instead.  I tried a few different "strokes" and decided I liked this one the best.  I also did a wash around the edge of my top piece because I didn't want to add another layer to my card.  I kind of like how it turned out. :)


Head over to the Friday Mashup HERE to see the other great projects using watercolor wash.  Make sure to give it a try yourself and show us what you've created.




Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Sets:  Happy Watercolor, Gorgeous Grunge & Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock:  Naturals White
Classic Stampin' Pads:  Black Berry Bliss & Mossy Meadow
StazOn:  Black
Smooch Spritz:  Vanilla Shimmer

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Evergreen Christmas

I know it's hard to think about Christmas when it's so close to the 4th of July.  Then again with as cold as it was here in Michigan yesterday it felt more like a cool October day instead of the beginning of July!  But nothing is stopping me from creating cards for Christmas and 'Tis the Season Christmas card blog.  I didn't get a chance to make three more cards though because I was helping my daughter move a bunch of her stuff back to our house last night.  Maybe I'll get a chance tonight because I really loved the colors for this week's challenge and like how my card turned out.  


Head on over to 'Tis the Season HERE to be inspired by some more great cards, and take a bit to play along.  You'll be glad you have a card or two when Christmas comes around!


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Sets:  Evergreen, Gorgeous Grunge & Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock:  Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana & Whisper White
VersaMark
Stampin' Emboss Powder:  White
Punch:  Modern Label
Embossing Folder:  retired
Jewels:  Basic Pearls (colored with Blendabilities)

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Birthday Traveler

Today's card is for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch challenge #174.  I made this card for my hubby's birthday using the new Traveler set.  I have to admit I enjoy making masculine cards just as much as I enjoy all the feminine stuff.  Strange I know, but there's just something about them that I love.  I suppose that's a good thing since I need to make plenty of those too.  



Check out what all the other designers made using this sketch HERE, and make sure to play along if you get a chance. :)  



I couldn't resist putting a little something on the inside too.  It just makes it look better, and that means less writing too! ;)  Yup, I like to create the cards, but I just don't have a way with words. :(


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

Stamp Sets:  Traveler, Gorgeous Grunge & Wetlands
Card Stock:  Basic Black, Night of Navy & Naturals White
Classic Stampin' Pad:  Night of Navy
Memento:  Tuxedo Black
Embossing Folder:  Argyle
Candy Dots:  Regals (Black)
Sponges