Trying a few new technique ideas . . .

Hello Friends ...

How is everyone holding up?

Even though time seems to be flying in one respect ...

it sure seems to be dragging on in another!!

BUT, we must just muddle through, follow the rules and pray it works out

for the best when all is said and done!  That means I'm still hiding out in my cave

and when I do go out in public, I'm wearing a mask and keeping 6' away from everyone!  LOL

So, yesterday I spotted a technique that I had never tried before even though the product required to do so has been on my shelf (unopened) for a very long time.  I'm referring to the new May challenge over at the CAS Mix Up Challenge Blog. 

Luckily they shared several videos I could watch to get a feel for how this product was to be used.  After reviewing them ALL, I resorted back to the first one and gave it a go.  It turned out rather nice and I was so excited when all was said and done THEN REALIZED I had totally forgotten about projects for this challenge needing to be CAS (clean & simple)... grrrrr!  SO, back to the drawing board and I came up with the following card (I'll share the 1st card at the end of my post).

 I first smeared the Gesso onto a panel of watercolor paper using an older Memory Box stencil and a sponge applicator.  After heat setting, I used yet another Memory Box stencil & Gesso in two of the four corners.  Once dry, I applied four different TH distress inks finishing by lightly sponging the lightest color of ink over the entire panel.  Lastly I carefully 'wiped' across the panel with a baby wipe and spritzed with water.  OH and nearly forgot ... did a little outlining of the flowers with a white gelly roll pen before die cutting and adding to my card front.

I used one of my extra die cut frames for bring added focus of my Gesso panel then once completely dry I stamped the sentiment using an Impression Obsession stamp set.

AS PROMISED ... HERE'S CARD #1

 I was SO EXCITED with how my first Gesso card came out that I just had to share it with you even though it doesn't qualify for the challenge I had in mind for it LOL.  Maybe I can find a few other places to share this card and hopefully inspire someone else to give this technique a try.

Challenges to share in:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Spritz and Splatter

Crafty Card Maker Challenge #256  - Celebrations

A Place To Start MAY Challenge - Create a Custom Background

 Use Your Stuff Challenge #397 - Flowers and/or Butterflies
CAS Stencil MAYChallenge - Layered Stenciling

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you have a safe and wonderful week ahead.  As for me, I'm headed over to PA to mow Mom's lawns.   We are finally back on track with her estate and the online auction ends this coming weekend.  Then once everything is cleared out, we can finally get her house & properties listed with the realtor.  Not sure how things will go with all the craziness we have going on in our country (world) right now but I pray there is someone out there that will fall in love & purchase the home I grew up in. 

Take Care All and stop back tomorrow when I'll have a creation to share for the  new DOUBLE D CHALLENGE ... you won't want to miss it!!

Tutti Designs - YOU DID IT!

Hello Friends!

I'm not sure how things are in your state as far as Graduation is involved with this Corvid19 issue but either way, whether schools are open or closed, our seniors deserve to be honored so here's a card I've created using one of the new GRAD dies offered at the Tutti Designs Store.

You Did It

I just happened to have a graduation cap embossing folder so I used that on my background panel.  I've also die cut twice ... once with black and once with white so I could make the scroll & cap stand out more.

Please be sure to pop over to the Tutti Designs Store and check out all of the fabulous dies available. Need more inspiration?  The team has something new to share on the Tutti Designs Blog  EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY!  

Pop in often and see for yourself ... what a talented group of designers!!

For your convenience, here are all the Tutti Designs quick links you will need:

Tutti Designs Store

Tutti Designs Pinterest

Tutti Designs Facebook

Tutti Designs Blog

OH ... AND JUST A REMINDER

We now have a Tutti Designs UK Store ...


AND

Tutti Deigns Canada


CHECK 'EM OUT!!

Wishing you all an AMAZING day ahead!  

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by! 

Artsystamper Challenge - "Mum's the Word" (Mother)

Hello my friends!

It's time for a new challenge over on the Artsystamper Challenge Blog where the team is showcasing digital images designed by Beverly Cole at Artsystamper Digitals!   The 1st and 3rd Monday of each month brings another Artsystamper Challenge

and today's theme is:

 "MUM'S THE WORD'
(Mother)

 I've used two sets on today's card creation . . .

The beautiful new 'Hello Beautiful' and there's also a matching paper set ...be sure to check out these sets.  Perfect for many ladies occasions!




 To create the background, I've used the 'Sketched Spring Blossoms' set.  Copy/pasted it a few times, turning it this way and that to create the floral cluster background.
 

 And did you notice the flower on the front of her dress? 

 At the last minute I decided to print it again and I've cut out the flower from her hat and popped it up on the center where her lapel meets.   I wish my mom was still alive ... this would be her card this year ... she would LOVE this beautiful lady!!

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun!

You do NOT have to used Beverly's images (of course we would love to see them if you have them) ... but you must follow the theme to qualify for the prize.  PRIZE you say . . .

YEP ... The winner of our challenges will receive the stamp set of their choice from TheArtsystamperShop.  Beverly Cole's selections offer stamps and sentiments in each set as well as pre-colored images for easy, last minute cards.  Why not take a moment and check out what she has in the store!!

 

 
TheArtsystamperShop Etsy

Artsystamper Digitals Blog  
BZCole Mixed Media (YouTube)  
Artsystamper Digitals on Facebook

Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog

Hop on over to the Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog and enter!

You will also see more inspiring designs from the Artsystamper Addicts DT ... so much fun!!

Challenges to share in:
Make My Monday Challenge - Use a Digital Stamp
Always Fun Challenge #161 - Female or Mom

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

One Die - Five Cards

Happy Sunday Dear Friends!

Recently, I've made a few purchases to spark my creativity and one of the dies I purchased was from the Dies R Us Store and it turns out it was a little larger than I anticipated but found a great use for it none the less.  I typically make A6 size cards unless I'm making 'sets' and then they are A2 in size.  I like the little larger sized card as do my family members and older card purchasing customers.

The die I'm referring to is by Sue Wilson and it's from the Paper Cuts Collection

called . . . May Bells Edger

Isn't it beautiful!  It has the size identified right in the photo but since it was in centimeters, I didn't bother to convert it to inches to see exactly what that would be.  Here's what I've come up with using this one die in five different colors.

I have yet to add anything more to the front or inside.

Of course, you could use this for a variety of occasions ... even sympathy I think.

As you can see, it's only a small portion of the bottom that gets cut off by using the size I use for my card front panel.  But, I think it looks just find and no one would even know!  LOL

Now here are a couple that I saved the popped out portions of one color or another and added them back in on a different color base for contrast ... what do you think?

These were actually the first two cards I made and after die cutting the pink one I got the bright idea to save the pieces and glue them back into the purple panel.  I think either way looks great ... with or without the contrasting flowers.

I have purchased a few more fun dies recently and as soon as I get around to using them, I'll be sure to share those creations with you.  AND, I would love to hear your suggestions and thoughts.  I can come up with a few ideas of my own but I certainly love getting inspiration from all of you!

Well I'd better get busy!  After a 'first time' Zoom virtual cousins breakfast get together on Friday, I have card requests that I need to get crackin' on and mailed out.   Of course we hope to be able to get together physically for our monthly cousins breakfast again real soon but in the meantime, my daughter has been trying to get people on board and we are trying to link up virtually.  Better than nothing for sure!!  Maybe in a few weeks we will give it another go and more will be able to link in ...  three states represented today ... Ohio, PA and Virginia!

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

     

Looking forward to . . .

. . . meeting my friends for coffee again!

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Today I'm sharing a couple of cards I've designed using one of the newest digital sets over in Beverly Cole's 'The Artsystamper Shop' Etsy Shop. 

OH!  WOW!
It was just announced . . .
Whole Shop Sale
25% off a purchase of $20 or more until May 15th!
You don't want to miss this sale!!  

 

Now, here are my cards . . .

Card #1

This new set is called Coffee and ...

plus, there's a coordinating paper set called 'Coffee Break'

You can have so much fun designing cards for your coffee loving friends with this set!  

 Card #2

For Card #1 I've designed using only these two newest sets ... but for Card #2, I've also incorporated a few flowers & a different sentiment using the following sets.

Sketched Spring Blossoms

Blossoms Digital Paper Pack

Both card front panels were created using Word10 software and printed onto 4x6 glossy photo paper panels.  My card base size is A6.  On Card #2, I've also die cut a couple of decorative edge panels using one of the dies in this Sue Wilson 'Striped Swirl Edger set.  PERFECT!!

I love being able to combine my dies with my digital creations.  Adds just that little touch of dimension I'm looking for yet keeping my design very 'mailable'.  

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Please be sure to check out Bev's Etsy shop and don't forget she has a challenge blog too!  Here's all the links to make it easier for you to check out!  AND, her prices are VERY reasonable!

 TheArtsystamperShop Etsy

Artsystamper Digitals Blog  
BZCole Mixed Media (YouTube)  
Artsystamper Digitals on Facebook 
Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog

Stay safe and healthy!!!

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Mix It Up Challenge - Masking

Hello my friends!

A new month means a new challenge over on the Mix It Up Challenge Blog.

Remember, this is a monthly Anything Goes challenge but with a fun twist that you can choose to join in on ... or not!  This month's theme is:

Anything Goes + Masking

Today I had a lot of fun crafting with stamps and technique that 

I have used in a very long time!  That's one of the things I truly LOVE about this

challenge blog ... gets me out of my rut and stirs up my creativity!!

What do you think of this?

This is an OLD single wooden stamp by The Rubber Cafe that 

with the help of masking medium, I've created a trio of golden eyed beauties!

My sentiment comes from another old stamp set by Gina K called 'Wild About You'.

As you can see ... I've also used this Gina K set to adorn the inside of my card

along with a Rubber Cottage (circa 2000) sentiment.

I do hope you'll pop over to the Mix It Up Challenge Blog and join in the fun!

You have until 6 PM EST the last day of the month to enter!

I'm so inspired by the rest of our amazing DT 

and I can't wait to be inspired by YOUR project!

 

Challenges to share in:
 Aud Sentiments Challenge #250 - Masculine + Sentiment
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Watercooler Wednesday Challenge - WWC269 - Fifth Week ATG
Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Black/White + one other color

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

      

Dies R Us Challenge - Water themed

Hello Friends

It's time for a new challenge over on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.

Our theme this time around is:

SEAS THE DAY!

(water themed)

I had so much fun going through all my 'water' related dies for this card and couldn't decide if I wanted to go with a 'beach' scene or an 'underwater' scene ... you can see what I decided upon!!  LOL

Dies I have used are:

Sue Wilson - Shadow Box Collection - Celebrations (using just the frame)

 

 Memory Box - Wandering Jellyfish 

EK Success - Cutter Bee Die Set - Nautical 

Frantic Stamper - Angel Fish 

Memory Box - Seaweed Ribbons

 

 Frantic Stamper - Shoreline Reeds

 

 Sue Wilson - Underwater Accessories 

 

 Joy Craft! - Diver 

(special order event - watch your newletter!)

 Don't forget to check out sister store in Canada . . .

Dies R Us now has a sister store with warehouses in USA & Canada called Didi Crafts.  

It will ship to both the US and Canada. Didi Crafts will carry some of the same products as DRU, but most will be different. Now our Canadian friends don't have to worry about huge taxes or shipping fees. How great is that!?!

Scrapbooking & Cardmaking Store

I hope you will come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below. 

STORE 
 CHALLENGE BLOG
  FACEBOOK
  INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

  Hope to see you there!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
  

As always . . .

 

Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Hello Everyone!

It's a new month and that means the start of a new monthly challenge

over on the Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog.

 

 

WOW it's so nice to see Spring again that it kind of freaks me out

to make a Christmas card but it was a lot of fun too!

Here's what I have to share today . . .

 

 

I decided on a very CAS (clean & simple) card for today's share!

 

The used a white gelly roll pen to create my 'starry' or 'snowy' background the added 

the following die cuts:

 

Frantic Stamper 'Merry Christmas' 

and

Cottage Cutz 'Santa & Reindeer Flying'

I hope you've enjoyed today's Christmas card and I can't wait to see what you create and share over at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by and wishing you a fabulous week ahead!

As always ...