AUTUMN WREATH

At first, I didn't know whether I could do a card in the colors for Altenew's September Inspiration Challenge as I probably would never have thought of using them together - but that's what it's all about!

I used a method Jennifer McGuire did recently of smudging distress inks on a piece of watercolor paper and generously spritzing with water.  I used some seedless preserves, barn door, forest moss, carved pumpkin and rusty hinge.  I did two pieces with the same colors so I would have a large variety of leaves from which to choose after die cutting with Altenew's zero-waste die.  The card base is kraft cardstock and the brick wall is some purple cs.  I blended mocha ink onto the bricks for a little added interest.  Some enamel dots and a twine bow were the finishing touches.  This may be a fall birthday card or maybe for Thanksgiving - for now it will remain without a sentiment.

 All for now...

 

PLAID HALLOWEEN

 A late entry for Die Cut Divas where the challenge is a Z fold card "anything goes" at the Creative Creases Challenge.  

I made a few cards last Halloween similar to this one from an idea from Katharina Tarta on IG.  Fortunately I had one I saved so I didn't have to hunt around for measurements.  The paper is quite old - I think I was saving it for something special and I guess this is it!  There's another black and white small pumpkin under the fold on the right.  The plaids match when the card is folded up.

Thanks for stopping by...

 

BLUE FLOWERS

Time for another TicTacToe Challenge with a nautical theme - but still managed to do my usual floral card!!  I went down the left side with stencil, blue and stripes.  My design could also go across the top with stencil, birthday and die cut.

I inked the stripes with a very old stripe stencil and Altenew "nimbus" ink. Used nimbus ink to shade the die cut flowers and  also for the added enamel dots.  The flowers were cut from cloudy sky cardstock and the leaves were from my scraps.

Hope you'll join our challenge - it runs until 11 September!  Crafty hugs,

 

AUTUMN LEAVES

I felt like doing a little watercoloring the other day.  Used a piece of bubble wrap to smoosh some yellow, orange and pink  watercolors.  After I finished playing around, I die cut the piece with a Altenew zero waste die.

Then it was a work in progress for several days as I had no set idea where this card was going.  So tried lots of ideas until I settled on this green and gold with the wc piece.  The little dot cut outs were filled in with a gold metallic pen.  I used a "hugs" sentiment to finish my card.

I am entering this at the Altenew Inspiration Challenge as their August colors are pink, green and cream. 

Crafty hugs,

 

EASEL CARD

I recently joined in one of the card classes on the Cardmakers Summit for holiday cards.  Nicki Baxley demoed an easel card and don't think I've ever made one - so had a go this weekend.

Both the wreath and the bird are very old dies.  I die cut the wreath from three shades of green and layered them together.  Added both enamel dots and little die cut dots for the berries and added a little gold bow.  The embossed background is from Spellbinders.  How to make an easel card is all over YouTube so won't go into that here.  Just be sure your sentiment has a straight top so the card will stand up properly. Instead of layering up die cuts for the sentiment, I cut it out of fun foam - so much easier!!  I used dark green cardstock for my base.  I think I will make more of this style - maybe a poinsettia or an ornament instead of a wreath.

I am entering this at Christmas Kickstart Challenge where they want a wreath on the card.

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Z FOLD CARD

Two current challenges have a fun fold card as the focus - Die Cut Divas and Creative Creases.  Can't remember if I ever have made one so had to do a little research for the exact scorings.

Since I wanted my flower to be the focus, I used a smaller square die for it's base.  The flower is a discontinued one called Fantasy Floral from Altenew, the enamel dots are called Martian Terrain, the leaves are my favorite green, Reindeer Moss, also from Altenew and the embossed panels are Curving Leaves.  My card is rather a simple fun fold compared to all the designs on Creative Creases but I had fun making it.

 Thanks for stopping by.

 

 
 

HUGS

I am in love with the small flowers and leaves in Altenew's Houseplants dies and so used them again for my current TicTacToe Challenge #276 post.  I went down the left side with any shape die, any color and friendship.

 

Besides the Houseplants sides, I used Spellbinders Arches dies and their Cross My Heart embossing folder.  I blended a little fossilized amber in the centers of the flowers and added a few enamel dots from Hero Arts.  I layered up the "hugs" four times for nice dimension!

I hope you'll join in our #276 challenge - it runs from 31 July to 14 August.

Crafty Hugs,

 

BLUE FLOWERS

I was playing around with some blue flowers today and decided to use the same design for the basic background as I did for my previous card - makes life easy not thinking up new stuff all the time!

The flowers are from The Greetery - Sunflower Botanicuts and I used leaves from Spellbinders Blooms.  The background is from SSS - Vine Canopy; frame MFT Stitched Frame; and enamel dots Hero Arts.  Will add a sentiment when the time comes to send to someone special.

 

YELLOW FLOWERS

For some reason, I don't enter many of the challenges that I always joined for so many years.  But today I came across Color Hues Challenge and Bonnie had suggested yellow and green.  Yellow is not one one of my "go to" colors (I very rarely wear yellow either).  So I created a card this afternoon in yellow and green!!

I began with SSS Vine Canopy embossing folder.  Then used an old stitched rectangle die with foam tape to lift it up at bit.  The flowers and leaves are from Altenew's Houseplants set and the sentiment is no longer available.  I used fossilized amber distress oxide to give the flowers a little depth and added yellow enamel dots from Hero Arts.  I used Altenew's Reindeer Moss cardstock for the leaves - it's my favorite "go to" green!

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

PRETTY PINK PLANT

Wouldn't it be lovely to have this pretty plant sitting on your patio?   Fortunately tho, it can sit on your mantle or a table.  I created my card today for the current TicTacToe Challenge with the prompts flowers, layers and foliage.

Altenew's houseplants dies and their brick wall embossing folder were used on my card.  Shading was done with distress oxides for some depth.  As you can see it's a gate fold card.

Our challenge ends on 17 July so hope to see your card(s) there in the next few weeks.

Crafty Hugs, 

 

HOUSEPLANTS

I am the designer of the board for this go around of TicTacToe Challenge #272.  I went down the middle with layers, free and floral/foliage.  I think everything except bee/butterfly is in my card also!

I used my new (to me) Houseplants dies from Altenew and also their blue cardstock for the flowers.  The background is some patterned paper I've had for ages.

Hope to see a card from you in our challenge!

Crafty Hugs,

BASKET OF FLOWERS

I created this card for my card class to make this week but it was inspired by the "inspired By..." challenge.  The challenge photo is a basket of flowers.

The little flowers and the embossed background are from Spellbinders.  When I create a card for the class, I have everything pretty much prepped for them ahead of time.  For this class, I had several die sets that all had little flowers and also had some dies that would cut the little yellow centers.  So all the die cutting didn't take that long.  I cut out extra flowers so they could add as many to their bouquet as they wish - or put them anywhere on the card.  Also have many different sentiments from which they may choose.  Used up a lot of my scrap colors for the flowers which is a good thing!!

Thanks for stopping by.

 

 

 

RUSTLING LEAVES

Our board for TicTacToe #270 has many masculine elements - and I certainly don't mix well with guy cards!  But I managed to create this card with some new (to me) product from Altenew and using the bottom row of die cuts, metallic and stenciling.

I used the embossing folder from the Rustling Leaves Bundle for my background and die cut a circle from the center.  Trimmed the piece down to 5.25"x4" and then proceeded to make the shaker part of the card.  Used the press plate, stencil and die to make the leaves.  The leaves were made from Altenew's "reindeer moss" card stock (my new fave green!!).  Adhered the leaves and the little sentiment and done!!

Our challenge runs until 22 May so hope to see you in our gallery!

Crafty hugs,

 

 

 

PERUVIAN LILY #3

Bought this die set by mistake, but decided it was a good  mistake as it makes such a pretty bold card.  I used the colors from the current Altenew Inspiration Challenge.

All the products in my card are from Altenew - cardstock, dies and embossing folder.  I love the curvy leaves ef as it makes such a wonderful subtle background for any florals.  To me this is sort of a backwards bridge card.  Will put a sentiment on when needed.
 

Am also entering my card at Die Cut Divas challenge where the theme for April is flowers.  Altenew is their sponsor this month so my card is right in tune with them.  Also is an entry for SSS Monday Challenge - blooming blooms.

Thanks for stopping by...

 

 

Peruvian Lily #2

It's time for another TicTacToe Challenge - #268! My card is totally a CASE of a Jennifer McGuire card but I hope that you'll like it and it will inspire you in some way.  Peruvian lilies alstroemeria) have always been my favorite flower - I used to buy two bunches at a time at Trader Joe's and they'd last for several weeks!

I stamped the Altenew lilies with black ink and heat embossed.  Then used the stencils to shade in all the flowers and leaves.  Added some translucent dots to the center bloom and added the little "hello". 

I went down the left side with stencil, any color and flower or it could be almost any which way if you stretch the Mom sentiment to simply saying hello to your Mom!!

Hope you'll join us for this current challenge - it's an easy one - guaranteed!

Crafty hugs,

PERUVIAN LILIES

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to enter a challenge!!  Just finally was able to buy the "Peruvian Lily" from Altenew and then my friend, LaVon, inspired me to dust off the Karin Markers today.  So my entry for Altenew's Inspiration Challenge for March came together this afternoon!

Used burgundy, canary, curry and lime green and water on Bristol paper.  The embossed background is curving leaves - also from Altenew.

 Thanks for stopping by.

 

BUTTERFLIES GALORE!

I can't tell you how long ago I stamped and colored these Pinkfreshbutterflies!  Since then they've been in the envelope with the stamps and stencils. Since it's an "anything goes" challenge, I used some older butterflies. So the other day I challenged myself to see how many DIFFERENT cards I could design.

Went through my embossing folders for some textured backgrounds (SSS leaf canopy and Altenew brick wall). Went through my cache of die cut leaves and then began creating.  After I had them all designed I added a small black enamel dot for the head of the butterfly and spattered all of them with gold.  For two of them I added a sentiment and two will be for future occasions.

I am entering the first and the last ones in Pinkfresh Studio's March Challenge - anything goes.

Thanks for stopping by.