Enjoy Life

So many things around us inspire what we create.  I recently spotted an embossing folder that also cut out a hot air balloon window and bought it immediately.  I knew just what I wanted to do with it and this is the card I am sharing today.

Even with a plan, this card did take a while to make as I did little parts at a time.  With my recent knee surgery, I could only sit with my leg down for a limited time so lots of interruptions.  I had made some backgrounds with alcohol inks and chose one that looked like sky and clouds and ran it through the folder.  I stamped the two Just For Fun balloons on the front and the heat embossed their Enjoy Life sentiment in white on the background layer, through the cut out window.  Acetate was placed behind the window and the embossed front was popped up to create a shaker window filled with sequins.

The JFF Flower Balloon and the Steam Punk Balloon were stamped and colored with Tombow Markers.  The circular balloon and the basket from each were cut out and layered on the front stamped images.  A few more sequins were added.

These stamptangle designs are a lot of fun to color and worked great with this folder.

What inspires your cards?

Just For Fun December Challenge

I know we just celebrated Thanksgiving, but December has snuck up on us and it is time for a new challenge at the Just For Fun Blog.  It will be so easy to enter this challenge with the theme of “Happy Everything - Holiday of your Choice”

I am in the Christmas spirit, so I am sharing a Christmas card.  Just for Fun Rubber Stamps has this new image, Silhouette Pines, and I had two Snowflake Ring Memory Box dies I couldn’t wait to use.  Both size ring dies were cut from white cardstock.  The pines image was stamped and heat embossed with detail white embossing powder on blue cardstock.  This was cut out with a Spellbinders’ Classic Circle die and the large Snowflake Ring was layered on top.  The sentiment, from the JFF Sentiments1 Unmounted Sheet, was stamped with Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink onto the white center of the smaller Snowflake Ring.  This was inserted back into the die cut.  Additional ink was lightly sponged on both die cuts.

The blue cardstock for the background was run through a Sizzix Holiday Knitembossing folder.  The edges were sponged with white ink.  Both Snowflake Rings were added to the front and this was added to a dark blue layer and the white card base.

Head on over to the Just For Fun Blog to be inspired by more holiday cards and find all the details for the challenge.  I will be looking for your creations.

E. Marie

A Grillin' Good Time

What are you doing for the 4^th of July?  This is such a fun time for family and, of course, grilling out.  Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Summer Grilling Set #1 and Summer Grilling Set #2 are all about this.  I used the digital versions to create this card.

Both sides of a piece of white cardstock were punched with a Martha Stewart star border punch and adhered to a slightly larger piece of sticker paper.  Gypsy Red Velvet Glitter was added to the exposed adhesive on one side and Cobalt Glaze Velvet on the other side.  This was layered onto the card front.

Another piece of white cs was cut to fit just inside punched borders.  A circle shaped window was cut out using a Spellbinders die and a star shaped window was cut out using a Sizzix star die. 

 x

x

Strips of 1/8” "Tear-ific" Tape were run across a piece of Embossable Clear Acetate, the protective layer removed, and Black Suede Velvet Glitter was added.  This was adhered behind the circle window to look like a grill.  The little BBQ bottle from the Summer Grilling #1 digital set and the Oven Mitt from the Summer Gilling #2 digital set were printed, colored, and fussy cut.  These were added to the side of the grill.

More acetate was added behind the star window and a small shaker was created behind it with the printed sentiment from the Summer Grilling #2 digital set and blue and red sequins.  Additional sequins were glued to the card front.

Have a safe 4th!!

E. Marie

Scrapy Land Blog Challenge #22 - Vintage/Steampunk

It is time for a new challenge at the Scrapy Land Blog.  The new theme for Challenge #22 is Vintage/Steampunk PLUS use any brand of die Scrapy Land sells.  This is super easy since Scrapy Land carries so many different dies.

I have to admit that this theme really challenged me – totally out of my comfort zone.  But sometimes we need this to expand our creativity.  I really enjoyed making this card.

My inspiration came from the Authentic Durable cardstocks I selected.  I used Spellbinders’ Labels Twenty Eight to create a tag, ran it through an embossing folder.  After inking the raised design and edges, fiber was added to a punched hole at the top and it was adhered to the designer cs and layers of red, blue, and the kraft card base.

I die cut three gears from chipboard and three Chandra Stems from kraft cs.  They were covered with Versamark ink and embossing powder, heat set, and arranged on the card front.  The sentiment was stamped and die cut, sponged with ink while still in the die, and then tucked under the gears.

The car circle came from one side of the designer cs.  I cut it out and layered it over one of the gears and added a stamped pocket watch.

My husband loves antique cars and when he saw this card he actually ask if he could keep it to use as a birthday card for someone in the car club.

Head on over to the Scrapy Land Blog to get more inspiration from the rest of the designers.  We would love to have you join the challenge by creating and linking your own card.  Go ahead.  Stretch your creativity.  You can do it!

E. Marie

Supllies Used:

Cardstock:  Authentic Durable

Stamps:  Sparkle N Sprinkle Classic Car, Stampin UP Pocket Watch

Dies:  Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Eight and Ribbon Tag Trio, Memory Box Chandra Stem, Sizzix Gadget Gears

Inks:  Versamark; Distress Antique Linen, Tea Dye, and Vintage Photo; Memento Rhubarb and Paris Dusk

Cardstock:  Authentic Durable

Embossing Powders:  Sparkle N Sprinkle Cerulean, Dark Night, Coffee, Teddy Brown, Blackened Bronze, Patriotic Sparkle, Winter Berry

Other:  Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folders - Pocket Watches

I entered this card in the following challenge:

Memory Box Challenge #2- Red, White, and Blue (used Chandra Stem)

Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge: Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew Challenge 91 - Die Cut

Love To Scrap Challenge LTSCB #57 - It's A Triple Play! (3 Gears)

Craft Your Passion Challenge #270 – Always Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge #114 - Anything Goes

Paper Sweeties Inspiration #33 – ‘Red, White & Blue’

Stamp and Create July Challenge:  Patterns

You Are Not Forgotten

I had planned to post this yesterday for the 4^th of July, but it just didn’t work out.  Not really a big deal since this was actually made for my dad.  I had the opportunity to visit with him recently and I know he is having a real hard time adjusting to being in a care facility instead of home with mom.  He has always had a very strong faith but, with all the changes, his dementia has caused him to have more fear of death (more about leaving my mom) and being forgotten.  I thought I would have my sister put this on an easel next to his bed to remind him that the Lord is with him and he will not be forgotten.

The background behind the sentiment is created with Color Bursts.  I had created a different background and when I moved it over to let dry, there was all this nice color on my mat.  I grabbed another piece of white cardstock and picked up the color.  I added just a little more and it came out like this.  Then I stamped Our Daily Bread Designs’ Old Flag Background top of it.  Then I distressed the edges and added it to the different layers.  The blue layer with stars was created by inking my embossing folder and running white cardstock through.  Both sentiments are from ODBD’s Not Forgotten stamp set.

I added a few stitch marks with a white pen and added a few jewel swirls that reminded me of fireworks.

Have a great week!

E. Marie

I entered this card in the following challenge:

OurDaily Bread Designs Shining the Light ODBDSLC244 - Anything Goes with ODBD!

Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge – We’re Going Dotty

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge – Name That Tune (Star Spangled Banner)

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #141 - Sentiment

Repeat Impressions WIW Color Challenge ~ Red, White & Blue

Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge R#233 – Red, White, and Blue

Going Grey With Scrap-Creations Challenge:  4th of July project or Red, White and Blue

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #187 - Anythying Goes/Family Friendly

Crafty Catz Challenge #286 - Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown #251 - It's In The Stars

Crafty Creations Challenge #292 - Red, White, and Blue

Paper Sweeties Inspiration #33 – Red, White & Blue

Sister Act Card Challenge #113 - Anything Goes

Jo’s Scrap Shack Challenge FFC #95 "Anything Goes"

Winter Stream Resist

For those of you already experiencing those summer temps, today’s card should be refreshing.  I chose to use the Winter Stream stamp set because it was so perfect for the older technique I wanted to share with you.  Do you remember Crayon Resist?

There are many resist techniques but this is a very simple way to keep your inks from an area.  I stamped the image with Versamark Ink on white glossy cardstock and heat embossed with Cerulean Embossing Powder.  You want to use glossy cardstock so you can remove the crayon later, if desired, and it also really makes the ink colors pop.  If you plan to remove the crayon, you may prefer to stamp your image with a permanent ink, rather than heat embossing.  However, if you choose to emboss your image, do not forget to use your Static Free anti-static pouch to keep the powder from adhering where you do not want it.

Now you can use a simple white crayon to color those areas you want to remain white.  The wax in the crayon will resist your ink.  I have to admit that I searched my whole craft room for a crayon and did not have one - hard to admit when you work with kindergartners.  However, I did have some wonderful oil pencils and this worked the same way.  I colored the areas that were snow or ice, and added a little to areas in the stream.  I purposely did not color the areas solid so a little ink could settle in to give some shadow/dimension.  After coloring, you can start adding your ink.  I used sponge daubers to add various shades of blue, starting with the lightest and working more on the edges with the darker colors.  When you are finished, lightly wipe over the image with a paper towel to pick up excess ink and then you can rub to remove the crayon, if desired.  If you use the oil pencil, you cannot remove it.

I heat embossed the sentiment, once again using the Cerulean EP on glossy cardstock, and die cut with Sizzix Ornate Labels.  I inked the center and edges.

To complete the card I layered my image on white cardstock and added Dimensional Glue and Diamond Dust Glitter around the edges of the image panel.  I did the same on some of the snow and ice.  When this was dry it was layered on dark blue cardstock that was embossed in two corners with a Die’sire Regal Corner Embossalicious Embossing Folder and layered on the white card base.  The sentiment was popped up in the top corner.

Have some fun with this technique!

E. Marie

I entered this card in the following challenge:

Crafty Creations Challenge #291 – Embossing

Craft Your Passion Challenge 266 – Always Anything Goes

Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog LTSCB #56 - Anything Goes!

Sister Act Card Challenge #110 - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiment Designs Challenge – "Anything Goes"

TTCRD Challenge – Anything Goes