Shaving Cream on Cards

 Hey Everybody,

Julie's challenge is West Elm. It can be found here.  Here is my inspiration for my card.

When I saw the inspiration, I immediately thought of the shaving cream technique and how we swirl the colors through the shaving cream.

I put shaving cream onto a paper plate and added drops of real red and pineapple punch inks. I swirled the colors through the shaving cream then placed the paper on top of the shaving cream. I liked that some of it turned a pink color to soften the colors.

I stamped the mugs and masked them as I went up from the bottom. I stamped and cut out the elephants and added them with dimensionals. The mugs were colored with Copic Markers. I layered the image and painted panels with gray card stock then added it to a white card base. This will go on a patient dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: IC1031

Stamps: Craft Emotions-Baby Animals 3, Waffle Flower-Inside Sentiments-Hugs

Paper: white. smoky slate

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, real red, pineapple punch

Accessories: scissors, A Colorful Life Designs-Pink Card Bling, paint brush, knife, shaving cream, plate, dimensionals, Copic Markers

Techniques: shaving cream technique, fussy cutting, masking

The way I described the shaving cream technique is the first way I learned years ago. Here is a video I made of a newer, more controlled way of doing the shaving cream technique so the shaving cream doesn't get muddied as quickly.  Take a look.

If you haven't given this technique a try, do yourself a favor and try it. It's fun, and leaves your room smelling so nice!

Did you know that if you put some shaving cream on your table or desk that you or your little one can move it around with fingers and hands and is fun to play in. It will clean your table or desktop and it will disappear so there's no clean up!

I used to use this all the time at school.  You are welcome! LOL

Thanks for stopping by today. See you soon.

Blessings,

Sue

Fun Foam on a Card

 Hey Everybody,

Nancy's challenge was to use brown. Here is her challenge if you'd like to check it out. 
I heated the white fun foam with my heat tool, then stamped on the fun foam with Memento Rich Cocoa and pressed firmly on the fun foam with each stamp. I colored the images with Copic Markers then cut out the fun foam with scissors.

 I cut the burlap piece and added it to my card base of pecan pie. I added the plaid designer series paper and made a rope from linen thread and attached it with a glue dot. I added the boots and guitar with dimensionals. I stamped my sentiment with early espresso ink. I love the texture this fun foam gives a card.

Keywords: F4A811 brown

Stamps: Stampin' Up-Country Livin', Stampin' Up-Wildflower Designs

Paper: DCWV-Burlap Paper Stack, SU-Timeless Plaid designer series paper, Pecan pie

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Early Espresso, Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories: white fun foam, heat tool, SU linen thread, Copic Markers E23 and E25, dimensionals

Techniques: Stamping on fun foam

These foam sheets come in lots of different colors. I like to use white so I can color it any color I want depending on what I'm making.  These sheets can be found at most craft stores and Big Box stores like Walmart as well.

Darice Foamies are the perfect place to start for any number of craft project. Not only are they fun basic embellishments, kids love them. 6 mm. thick. 9 x 12 inch. White. 1 pc.

Have you ever worked with Fun Foam for stamping? If not, you should try it. It brings another element and texture to your cards.

Thanks again for checking in.  I'll see you again soon.

Blessings,

Sue

Watercolor Cards

 Hey Everybody,

Lisa's challenge was to use a boat. Check out her challenge here. 

Keywords: WT1069

Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs-Fishing Boat, Unity Stamps-Windowsill Woodlands

Paper: watercolor paper, basic black

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Stazon black

Accessories: Peerless Water Colors, paint brushes, stamping platform

Techniques: watercolor background

I stamped the image several times on watercolor paper with stazon black ink using a stamp positioner. I added water to my background then added the different colors of watercolor. I wanted it to look like sunset with the darker water behind the boat and a yellow, orange at the horizon. I stamped the sentiment in black ink. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Janelle's challenge was to make a sunset for Marilynn. Here is the challenge.  I used my Peerless water colors to make my sunset using yellows, oranges, reds and purples. When it was dry I stamped the tree with the island. Next I used my blending brushes to color the sand at the bottom using so saffron and sahara sand. I added small dots with my Judith stamp. I die cut HELLO out of Burlap on Paper and added it to my card. The image panel was added to a basic black card base.

Keywords: MIX658 sunset

Stamps: Sweet-N-Sassy-Landscape Silhouettes, Judith-spots stamp

Paper: watercolor paper, basic black, DCWV-Burlap Paper Stack

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Versafine-black, so saffron, sahara sand

Accessories: Peerless Water Colors, paint brushes, SU thin alphabet dies, blending brushes

Techniques: watercoloring, die cutting, color blending

In case you've never done watercoloring I found a video with several different ways to paint sunsets.

This is one thing I'd like to continue to practice doing for card making. I'd like to be able to paint a background that I could add stamping to. 

It's probably good to start out with inexpensive paints so if you find it's not for you, then you haven't invested a lot of money that will now sit in a drawer or have to be sold.

If you find you like it and would like to get better, check out people and places you find online and see what people us and why they use a certain type of paper or paints.  

It's like anything, you have to do your research for a quality product if you are going to be using it on a regular basis. Think about some of your other supplies. What inks do you use? Why do you use them?  What paper do you use for card bases?  Why do you use that paper and not something else?  You've already used these skills for purchasing supplies for stamping.

Well, take out a paint brush and that inexpensive set of watercolors from the drawer and try your hand at water coloring a sky.  See what you can come up with.  Keep in mind that your attempts are not going to look like the video at first. It takes practice and someone who doesn't mind practicing over and over again. Even if I make mistakes with my water coloring, I still try to stamp on it and make a card.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope to see you again soon.

Blessings,

Sue

A Purpose and A Sketch

 Hey Everybody,

This challenge from Splitcoaststampers is one of my favorites. It is one where people ask for cards to be sent to people who can use  some encouragement. Our challenge is to make a beach card for Donna. You can find that challenge here.

Donna has been courageously undergoing chemo treatments for over 12 years and has endured seven surgeries during that time. Most recently, she received a feeding tube to help her stay nourished. Through it all, Donna remains hopeful and determined—her greatest wish is to attend her youngest son’s wedding next April.

I stamped the woman onto a post-it note and cut her out. I stamped the woman on the cardstock and covered her with the mask I had made. I placed a circle in the sky for the sun. I used blending brushes and balmy blue ink to make the clouds. I used torn paper, balmy blue and lost lagoon with my blending brushes to make the water. So saffron was used for the sand on the beach and added dots with my Judith stamp. I added a few plants with my Verve stamp and pear pizzazz ink.
I colored the woman with Copic markers. I added some low profile dots as sparkly things on the beach and added a few butterflies. The sun was colored using a dauber and so saffron ink.

Keywords: MMTPT893 beach seaside

Stamps: Seaside Sketches, SU-Trust God, Verve Stamps-Potter's Clay, Stamps by Judith-Dots

Paper: white, basic black

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, balmy blue, lost lagoon, so saffron, pear pizzazz

Accessories: torn cardstock, mask for sun and woman, blending brushes, Copic Markers, Brushed Brass Butterflies, Low Profile Dots, sponge dauber

Techniques: ink blending, coloring, masking

This next card is for a sketch challenge.  Here is the sketch.

I turned the sketch and flipped the rounded panels.
I stamped and colored my image with Copic Markers. I fussy cut it and added it to my designer series paper with dimensionals. I cut my smaller panel and stamped my greeting and added it to the designer paper with dimensionals. I added purple gems to the sentiment panel. The large designer series paper panel was added to a crushed curry card base. This will go on a patient dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: SC1078

Stamps: SU-Long Time No See, Unity-Windowsill Woodlands

Paper: white, crushed curry, SU Thoughtful Journey Designer paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, highland heather

Accessories: SU-Purple Fine Shimmer Gems, Jillian Vance Design-Stitch Dot Arched Backdrop dies, dimensionals, Copic Markers

Techniques: coloring, fussy cutting

Take a look at the sketch challenge. What could you do with it? I like sketch challenges because it gets me out of my comfort zone and out of the rut of making similar layouts all of the time.  What stamps do you have that might fill the image area? 

Would you use the sketch the way it was given or turn it somehow?

This type of metal imagery is great for your brain.  It keeps it problem solving and thinking.

One thing I like about card making is that it enriches all the lives it touches from the person who made it to the person who received it and anyone else who sees it after it has been received. These handmade cards tend to be displayed. Think of how many people might see the card you've made for someone else. 

Cards can have a ripple effect. You make a card and send it to someone. Their day is better because they know someone loved them enough to make a handmade card and send it to them. They may treat those around them better because they are happier and more encouraged from the card they received.

Anyway...to me it doesn't matter whether I know the person or not. I've never met a person who doesn't enjoy receiving a card in the mail. It's unusual perhaps to send cards to those you don't know. However, when you have the 'gift' of encouragement and you have the 'gift' of card making, you send cards to anyone!  It's a ministry. It's creativity and great for us to do.

I used to tell my husband card making was cheaper than therapy! LOL  I stopped telling him that now that I've been stamping for 25 years! It has made me a happier person for sure though. Happy wife, happy life!

Thank you for stopping by today. I'll see you again soon.

Blessings,

Sue

Color Challenge Crew

 Hey Everybody,

I was invited to join the Color Challenge Crew for the month of September.  What a fun thing to participate in.

Our color challenge was to use pool party, early espresso and crumb cake with any color for a 4th color. I chose crushed curry.

I stamped in memento tuxedo black ink then colored with Copic Markers. I added early espresso behind the image panel then added that to a pool party layer. The pool party layer was added to an early espresso card base. I stamped the sentiment in early espresso and added low profile dots. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: CC1068 SCSCCDT

Stamps: Rustic Centerpiece, Unbounded Love

Paper: white, pool party, early espresso

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, pool party, early espresso, crumb cake, crushed curry

Accessories: Copic Markers, SU low profile dots, dimensionals

Techniques: coloring

Our 2nd color challenge is from Karen and the colors are lost lagoon, wild wheat, and pretty peacock with dessert being anything goes. My dessert was adding gold.
I stamped in memento tuxedo black ink then colored with Copic Markers. I added gold ornaments with a gold metallic pen. The tree then had clear wink of stella added to it.
I stamped the sentiment and used my double oval punch to punch it out. I added dimensionals behind it and added these fun foam peppermints. Below the sentiment, I added some gold rub-ons. The image was popped up on dimensionals and added to my card base on top of my designer paper of Thoughtful Journey and Timeless Plaid.

Keywords: CC1069 SCSCCDT

Stamps: Rustic Centerpiece, Christmas Blessings

Paper: white, Timeless Plaid, Thoughtful Journey

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, pretty peacock

Accessories: Gold metallic pen, clear wink of stella, foam peppermints, metallic textures rub-ons

Techniques: Coloring

Check out both of these color challenges. What stamps or paper do you have that you could use for one of these?  What colors are easier for you to use?

pool party, early espresso and crumb cake with any color for a 4th color.

OR

 lost lagoon, wild wheat, and pretty peacock with dessert being anything goes. 

Sometimes I know exactly what I want to use for a stamp or paper and sometimes I just have to start looking through my stash to see what I can use.

That's the great part about making cards each day. I look through my stamps and paper often and actually use them!

Well, it's time for sleep. Thank you so much for stopping by today.

I'll see you again soon.

Blessings,

Sue

A Window and Embossing a Background

 Hey Everybody,

Linda's having us walk back through the galleries today to choose our featured stamper. We were to choose between number 48-70. I chose Michelle Woerner whose splitcoast name is sf9erfan. Here is the inspiration for my card.

I was drawn by the square which I immediately saw as a window for something. I used different stamps and instead of stenciling and adding paste for texture, I used a brick embossing folder. Instead of circles behind my critter, I added flowered curtains that he's peeking out of. I added a simple sentiment on designer paper instead of stamping on the cardstock. Then I added a few butterflies similar to the sequins that Michelle added. This will go on a patient dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: FS969

Stamps: Unity-Windowsill Woodlands

Paper: white, black, merry merlot, SU designer series paper-Floral Charm

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Small Madison Window-Poppy Stamps, SU-Brushed Brass Butterflies, SU retired Brick and Mortar 3D embossing folder, Copic Markers

Techniques: coloring, die cutting, dry embossing

Pam's challenge has to do with letter writing. You can find it here. 

I dry embossed my white cardstock then pulled pecan pie ink pad over the embossed paper to highlight the embossing. I stamped, colored and cut out the owl. I stamped and cut out the miss you image. The images were added to the embossed piece with dimensionals. The white piece was added to a pecan pie card base.

Keywords: CAS862

Stamps: Unity-Windowsill Woodlands, Miss You stamp

Paper: white, pecan pie

Ink: Tahitian Tide, Pecan Pie, memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Provo Craft-Script Texture embossing folder, Copic Markers

Techniques: dry embossing, direct to paper inking, coloring

Two very different cards but both with dry embossing for backgrounds. One is inked and one is not.

Take a look at what you have in your stash. What would you use for the first card with the square?  Would you use an embossing folder or designer series paper?

How about the second card? What do you have for letter writing? What types of embossing folders do you have?  Will you ink up the embossed paper or not?

Take a look at the cards you have in your stash. Will you use them? Do you send cards out to others? If now and you are collecting cards, start sending them out or giving them to facilities that can use them.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue