Tropical Blooms with Bubbles

     A friend of mine celebrated her birthday yesterday. I made this card for her. She and her husband were here last evening. We had dinner on the patio and surprised her with a fun little strawberry short cake with a candle on top.

Card and Envelope

Sketch #177 by Heather Hall

     When this card is opened, the insides twist and open showing 4 panels. This is a newish die from Karen Burniston. I watched a video in order to figure out how to make it. I was SHOCKED at how easy this was to construct.

     The flowers are from Gina K's January release called "Tropical Blooms. They are made with a three-stamp process. The MISTI came in especially handy. The stamp on the card front was a two-stamp. The bubbles in the background are sponged with Gina K's Fresh Asparagus and a Dutch Doobadoo stencil. I may have gotten a little carried away with the bubbles. They were so much fun. I'm thinking that a few less and a little lighter might have been better.

     The sentiment is separated between one of the twisted panels and a tag collage. The tags have white rick rack in the eyelets.

     The peach was added with Gina K's Peach Bellini ink. There is NO patterned paper on this card. The color was added to the sentiments and hearts using ink and dauber. I used an ek bubble edge punch to make more bubbles -- because there weren't enough. TeeHee!

Just the envelope

Materials List:

     Stamps: Gina K - Tropical Blooms

     Dies: Gina K - Tropical Blooms

             Burniston - Twist Panel Pop-Up

                              Katherine Label Pop-Up

                              Word Set I - Greetings

                              Word Set II - Birthday

             Elizabeth Craft Designs - Fitted Frames I - Lace

                                                 Lace Squares

                                                 Tags Pivot Card

     Ink: Gina K - Fresh Asparagus

                        Peach Bellini

                        Honey Mustard

                        Warm Cocoa

                        Jellybean

     Stencil: Dutch Doobadoo - Bubbles

     Edge Punch: ek - Bubbles

     Embellishments: Rick Rack - White

                             Elizabeth Craft Designs - Starfoam stickers - Gold/Silver

Dueling Lovebirds

     I see Darnell has a new challenge site called Twofer Card Challenge. The task is to make two different cards using the same stamp. I seem to remember doing a very similar challenge a couple of years ago. You can see those cards here. 
     The theme is feathers and I wanted to get in on the maiden challenge. I have chosen this cute lovebird stamp from Gina K's "Better With You" stamp set. I am entering a Valentine and a Birthday card.

     For the first card, I started with a Sketch N Scrap sketch from this month's Facebook New Beginnings Crop.

Sketch #41

     I initially planned to make the card completely black and white. I was intrigued at the possibility of coloring the entire image with Copics C markers. Something came over me when I got to the hearts. For some reason I reached for R24. I then made a dash for a scrap of Gina K's Red Hot card stock and just like that; it became a black, white and one more color card. 

     I joined the RRR (Really Reasonable Ribbon) club in October - as well as purchasing a Bow-It-All. I am in the process of perfecting my double looped bow. If you check my previous posting you will see an EXTREMELY similar pink one. 

     As you can see in the sketch, there are a flurry of embellishments required. I had my heels dug in on this one. I thought the card looked done and didn't want it to get too busy. I tried scribbles (too big). I tried gems (too small). I tried Stamps of Life diecut hearts (just right). Oh, and don't you love it when something falls on just the right spot on the page and well, it turns into a happy surprise. That would be the moment the heart fell on the word "you".

Inside of Card

     Moving on to card #2. For this card I color matched my paper with Copics for the image. I wanted a short rectangle across the top and that pesky birdhouse was getting in the way. I decided to cut it off and dangle it from the branch. Upon centering the rest of the stamp on the card there appeared to be too much card for too little stamp. I decided to cut the top portion of the stamp into inchies. I then matted the inchies, then matted that, then matted that, then matted that, then placed it on the card base. There are a couple of tricks in there, but you can see those.

Card and Envelope

     The stamp on the inside of the card is the result of a scouring of my stamp drawer. This one is from Penny Black. As usual the inside of both of these cards is based on elements from the front and whatever scraps are left on the craft table.

Inside of Card

Materials List: Black White Lovebirds

     Patterned Paper: Gina K - Petite Papers

     Card Stock: Gina K - Red Hot

                                    Black and White

     Stamps: Gina K - Better With You

                  Beth Salaika - Lovely Ladybug

     Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black

     Die: Stamps of Life - Hearts 2 Die For

     Copics: R24.   C1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

     Embellies: Really Reasonable Ribbon - Delicate Stitched Satin (Black)

                    Brad - Sparkly Heart - (Black)

Materials List: Dangling Birdhouse

     Patterned Paper: Gina K - Made With Love

     Card Stock: Gina K - Peach Bellini

                                   White

     Stamps: Gina K - Better With You

                  Penny Black - Nature's Wishes

     Die: Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large

                                Petite Scalloped Circles Large

            Elizabeth Craft Designs - Tags & More 5 (Sunburst)

            Impression Obsession - Circle Baby Cutout Set

     Punch: ek - Dotted Wave Small

     Copics: YG41. RV42. BG45.

     Embellies: Ivory Twine stained with Gina K's Blue Lagoon

    

Challenges

Twofer Card Challenge - Feathers - #101 - *

 Challenges for Black White Lovebirds

C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Love/Valentines - #33 - *

Daring Cardmakers - Black, White, Pop - #6 - ?

Inspire. Create. Challenges - Love - #24 - *
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - #317-318 - Snippets - #13 -*

Challenges for Dangling Birdhouse

Seize the Birthday - Birthday - #28 - *

You Are My Sunshine

     It is my Granddaughter, Brooklyn's, first birthday next week. The theme of her party is "You Are My Sunshine". The party is going to be a brunch next Saturday. I'm going to be pretty busy making a few things for the party. I said that I would make mini muffins and star-shaped Rice Krispie bars. I have a couple of paper craft items to finish this week as well. 

     This sweet birthday girl stamp was a freeby from Elizabeth Bell Designs a few weeks ago - excellent timing. I chose Echo Park's "Birthday Wishes" paper collection because it had the pink and yellow being used as party colors.

The Birthday Girl

     I offset the sun on the inside of the card, so there would be room to sign in the lower right corner.

Inside of Card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Echo Park - Birthday Wishes - Girl Birthday Hats

                                                                          Girl Stripes

                                                                          Girl Birthday Party

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Stormy Medium

                                   White 

     Ink: Gina K - Moonlit Fog

     Stamps: Elizabeth Bell Designs - Party Pose

                  Gina K - All About You

                  Impression Obsession - On Your Birthday

     Silhouette File: Miss Kate's Cuttables - Sunshine

     Embellies: Really Reasonable Ribbon - Delicate Stitched Satin 5/8" (Pearl Pink)

                     Gems - 4mm pink

     Copics: Skin - E000, 04, 11, R20

                 Hair - E31, 33, 35

                 Dress/Hat - RV11, 13, 14, 17

                                   Y11, 13, 15

                 Shoes - C1, 3, 5

                 Ground - W1, 3, 5

                 Shadow - B000

    

Challenges

Brown Sugar Challenge - Birthday - #136 - *
Creative Knockouts - In Stitches - #12 - *
Send a Smile 4 Kids - Anything Goes - #3 - *

Southern Girls Challenge - Stitch Me Up - #34 - *
Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Pink*Ribbon*Square - #11 - Winner!!!

Get Well Roses

     My sister has been suffering with bronchitis. I thought I would make her a card using this sketch from Sketch N Scrap. She loves roses so I started there. You should try out this sketch as well. You have all month to try it out, post it to the Sketch N Scrap blog, and then be entered for a prize.

Sketch #111

     For this card, I used an edge punch to make a double layer of the same border. Under the roses there are two 1/8 inch strips (light blue and silver) to ground them. 

     On the inside of the card, I stamped a cluster of roses and placed a die cut one for the largest on in the corner.

Inside of Card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Authentique - Alpine 6

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Coastal

                                   Mystique

                       Coordinates - Black Iris  

     Stamps: Gina K - Rose Bouquet

     Ink: Gina K - In the Navy

     Die: Elizabeth Craft Designs - Rose

            Burniston & Riley - Katherine Label Pop-Up

     Punch: Martha Stewart

     

   

Pumpkin Shape Card

     I decided to try something a little different with this sketch. How would it look if all of the sketch elements were placed on a shape card? Here is the sketch from Sketch N Scrap for the World Card Making event. 

WCMD 2017 Sketch #3

      As you can see, I did twist the rectangle a bit and added some bling. I used one sheet of Moxie: Autumn Glory paper. It had a distress look with a collage of flower and swirls in the corner. I don't think this is the sheet of paper a card maker usually grabs. Not only did I use this paper for the pumpkin, but I also stamped the sunflower and "Happy Fall" onto it as well. The mat behind the sentiment is a quasi-solid that was the reverse side of the paper. The strip of leaves - well that was the border at the bottom of the sheet. (BTW: I haven't used the prefix quasi- for quite some time. I double checked the meaning and spelling to make sure I was using it correctly. It means almost.)

     For the inside of the card, I used the corner of the patterned paper. I feel like I used this sheet of paper to the max. There was barely any left.

 

Inside of Card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Moxie - Autumn Glory

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Malt Ball

                       WeR - Bewitched Goblin  

     Stamps: Gina K - Give Thanks

                               Pressed Flowers 2 (coordinating dies)

                               Year of Flowers 2

     Dies: Stamps of Life - Pumpkin Fold It

             Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large

     Ink: Momento - Rich Cocoa

           Gina K - Dark Chocolate

     Embellies - 7 green gems

                     Gold Sakura Gel Pen

    

Challenges

Owl in the Oak

     Here is a fun fall birthday card using a Sketch N Scrap Fall Fun Crop sketch. Make your own card and enter it by downloading a picture of your card under this sketch. Click here to find just the right place to put it.

Sketch #2

     I used my Copics to color this wise owl and then mounted him on a circle mat. I dug out the Die-namics Blueprint #18 again (You'd think I would have had enough of that die when I made 6 cards using it last month.) to make a background with a diagonal cut.

Card and Envelope

     I love coloring these acorns using E27 on the top and W5 on the bottom. I then take the colorless blender (0) to make a plaid-like pattern on the top of the acorn.

Inside of Card

     I colored two owls in case one wasn't good enough to put on the card. The second one turned out OK. I hated to waste him, so I put him on the back of the card.

Back of Card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Gina K - The Simple Things

     Card Stock: Gina K - Ivory

                                    Dark Chocolate  

     Stamps: Gina K - Give Thanks w/ coordinating dies

                               Wise Old Owl w/ coordinating dies

                               Stitched Leaves w/ coordinating dies

                               Genevieve Giraffe

     Ink: Gina K - Grass Green, Fresh Asparagus

                               Honey Mustard, Tomato Soup

                               Dark Chocolate

                  Momento - Rich Cocoa

     Die: Die-namics - Blueprint #18

     Punch: ek - Fall Leaf

     Embellies: Green Twine

                    Gold Sakura Gel Pen

                    Wooden Dot

     Copics: Owl E31, 33, 35, YR27. E47, 49. C0, 1, 3. 

                Acorn E27, Blender Pen. W5

    

Challenges

Crafty Addicts - Autumn Colors - #46 - *

Creative Friday - Dies & Punches - #38 - *
Gem of a Challenge - Birthday Card - #61 - *

Classic Guy's Birthday

     This September sketch from Sketch N Scrap is a fun framework to make a card. You have ALL month to try out this sketch and enter it for a prize. This card is posted on the Sketch N Scrap Facebook page as well.

Card and Envelope

Card Sketch #105

     I just received these Lili of the Valley Trio stamps, which are perfect for this sketch. They are called "Vintage Motor Trio". The rear end of an old jalopy on the envelope is an old die of Tim Holtz. I used the front end on the inside of the card. The little black polka dots on the front of the card, fell out of the large gear and onto the card. Happy accident!!! 

Inside of Card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Carta Bella - Old World Travel

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Blue Lagoon

                                 Sugar Wafer

                                 Honeycomb

                                 Black   

     Stamps: Gina K Designs - Dazzling Dahlia

                 Lili of the Valley - Vintage Motor Trio

     Die: Sizzix (Holtz) - Old Jalopy

           Burniston & Riley - Snowman Twist Circle

           Elizabeth Craft Designs (Burniston) - Circles & Gears

     Punch: Stampin Up - Word Window

     Copics: BG0000, 72, 75, 78.  C00, 0, 1, 3, 5, 6.  W0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7.

    

Challenges

Die Cut Diva's - Die Cuts/Men & Boys - #9 - *

Pixie's Crafty Workshop Challenge  #296-7 - Snippets - #21 - *
StampInkPaper Challenge -  Colors - #3 - Winner!!!

 Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes - #24 - *
Tuesday Throwdown - Punches/Dies - #26 - Winner!!!

 Unicorn Challenge - Birthday - #5 - *

Apples for the Teachers - Apple on Inky Patchwork

     Here is the second card to go in the teacher goodie bag that I wrote about yesterday. This is my first time using the Impression Obsession "Mini Pattern" stamps that I purchased last year - in August - I think. I stamped them on a Palette Mirror (looks a bit like a gelly plate) then stamped this onto white card stock. Essentially I created my own patterned paper. 

Card and Envelope

 I used the same technique to make the apples inside the card - adding a die-cutting step. 

Inside of Card

Materials List:

     Card Stock: Gina K - Red Velvet

                                        Grass Green

                                        Fresh Asparagus

                                        White 

     Ink: Gina K Designs - Red Velvet

                                         Fresh Asparagus

     Stamps: Stamps of Life - Apples 2 Stamp

                   Impression Obsession - Mini Patterns I & II

     Die: Stamps of Life - Apples 2 Stamp Coordinating Dies

             Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large

                                    Petite Scalloped Circles Large

     Punch: Stampin Up: Word Window

     Embellies: 3 Red Gems

                       Green Sewing Thread

Challenges

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Back to School - #12 - *

Die Cuttin Divas - Back to School #6 - *

Hiding in My Craft Room - Back to School - #2 -  *

Apples for the Teachers - Worm Slider

     The grandchildren start back to school on Monday. My daughter-in-law asked me to pick up the construction paper for their school supplies. I will probably take them up to their respective schools later this week. There is no way I am going to brave the first day of school for construction paper. Anyway . . .
     I decided to put together a goodie bag for each of the teachers. The kids are in Pre-K and Kindergarten. I found the cutest stamp; bought two of them. They have a teddy bear with arms fully extended and say "Give Your Child A Hug For This Good Work!" I also picked up a book for each teacher. For the Pre-K teacher Let's Play Peekaboo! It is one of those lift-the-flap books. For the kindergarten teacher I Take Turns. Of course, I have to put a couple of homemade cards in the bag . . .
     I couldn't resist using today's End of Summer Crop sketch:

Card and Envelope

Sketch #81

      If that doesn't look like a slider card, I don't know what does. I saw apples instead of circles and a worm for the owl.

 

Inside of Card

     I also made a teacher card yesterday, click here to see it.

Materials List:

     Card Stock: Gina K: Red Velvet

                                       Grass Green

                                       Fresh Asparagus

                                       Black & White    

     Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black

     Stamps:Stamps of Life - Apples 2 Stamp

     Die: Spellbinders - Nested Apples

             Stamps of Life - Apples 2 Stamp Coordinating Dies

             Elizabeth Craft Designs - Sliders & Spinners

                                                       Props 1 (Burniston)

     Silhouette File: Miss Kates Cuttables - Bookworm

Challenges

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Back to School - #11 - Winner!

 

Die Cuttin Divas - Back to School #5 - *
Hiding in My Craft Room - Back to School - #1 -  Winner!

Pixie's Crafty Workshop - Use Snippets - #9 - *

A Touch of Gold

     I hope you are joining us at Sketch~N~Scrap's End of Summer Crop on the Facebook page. There are 4 different sketches that you may choose to use as the framework for your creations. You do not have to have a blog to enter. 
     This card sketch is the second for this crop and it is a good one. 

Card and Envelope

Card Sketch #58

       My goal for this card was to use a very small amount of gold. I added a 1/4 inch strip with 3 gold gems.

     The most important thing I want to talk about for this card is the new stamp set I am using. Actually it is 2 stamp sets with coordinating dies. Melanie Muenchinger of Stamp TV just released the die set for these stamps: A Year of Flowers 2 and Pressed Flowers 2. The Year of Flowers stamps a whimsical - loosely drawn outline of the flower, while the Pressed Flowers stamps fill it in with a rich layer of ink. When I opened my MISTI to reveal the Turquoise Sea in on this flower, I was thrilled with the results - money well spent. 
     I then heat embossed the center of the flower with gold powder. I also used my Versa Marker to draw a vein down the center of each leaf and embossed them as well. 
     The best part is that I didn't have to fussy cut it when I was through stamping. There are a total of 8 flowers in this set: daisy, tulip, rose, poinsettia, lily, and 3 more I'm not sure about. 

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Gina K Designs: Petite Patterns

     Card Stock: Black & White    

     Ink: Gina K Designs - Turquoise Sea

                           Jelly Bean Green

     Stamps: Gina K Designs - A Year of Flowers 2

                                                Pressed Flowers 2 

                   Stampendous - 15 Candles

     Die: Gina K Designs - Coordinating Dies 

             My Favorite Things - Blueprint #18

             Lawn Fawn - Stitched Hillside Borders

     Embellies: Gold Embossing Powder

                       3 Gold Gems