Using a Die in a Different Way

 Hey Everybody,

Misti's challenge for today is to make a masculine card. You can find her challenge here.  

I blended crushed curry, pumpkin pie and old olive inks on white cardstock. I dry embossed the white cardstock with the Stampin' Up-Paradise Garden embossing folder. I place the inked up side on the debossed side of the embossing folder. (I put it in with Stampin' Up logo on the back not the front.)

 I pulled pecan pie ink over the cardstock then used the die to cut out the pieces with the Stampin' Up-Paradise Garden die and a piece of pumpkin pie cardstock. 

  I ran the crushed curry card base through the embossing machine in the same embossing folder with the right side up for texture behind my image panels. I stamped my sentiment in pecan pie on pumpkin pie cardstock and added it all to the card base. This will go to a nursing home for the use of the residents.

Keywords: CAS901

Stamps: Stampin' Up!-Paradise Garden

Paper: white, pumpkin pie, crushed curry

Paper Size: A2

Ink: old olive, pumpkin pie, crushed curry, pecan pie

Accessories: Stampin' Up!-Paradise Garden Hybrid Embossing Folder, blending brushes, Paradise Garden die

Techniques: black-out technique, dry embossing

This was a different way to use a die for me. I usually cut out images with dies to give them a shape and a background. I saw how someone did this with a die and wondered how it would look with this die. I like how it turned out.

I also liked the idea that I wasn't having to color the leaves from the embossing folder in with brushes, or markers. I just blended the inks on white cardstock any way I wanted then embossed the cardstock. It was easy!

The Paradise Garden die set also has a hexagon that I want to try to use for something also.

Now it's your turn. Take a look at your dies and see if you can use them to shape your card like I did. Or find another creative way to use your dies. Or, maybe just get some dies out and use them.  Sometimes they sit in a drawer or cabinet and are forgotten.  Dust them off and create something with them.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Sue

Featured Stamper Challenge

 Hey Everybody,

Ardyth's challenge can be found here. It is a few previous featured stamper's galleries. You choose a gallery and look through it for something you can create and make your own. 

Here is the inspiration for my card. CT0614 Tool Birthday by lisaadd at Splitcoaststampers.

Lisa uses a lot of rainbow colors in her designs. I liked the colorful hammers in a row so I did something similar with Band-Aids.

The band-aid dies are from Impression Obsession. I placed them horizontally in different colors. The sentiment is from Unity Stamps and a stamp set called, Danglin'. I cut out the sentiment strip in white so it would blend in with the background. I wanted to mimic the dots on the bandages, so I added texture to the background. This was then added to a real red card base. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Here is what the die set looks like. 

Keywords: FS1008

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Danglin'

Paper: white, real red, pumpkin pie, daffodil delight, garden green, blueberry bushel, white

Paper Size: A2

Ink: real red

Accessories: Impression Obsession-Bandage Die. Stampin' Up!-Beautiful Pattern 3D embossing folder

Techniques: dry embossing, die cutting

Now that I'm looking at this die set, I'm trying to think of other things I could do with it. Maybe I could add it to another element or image for a Get Well card. I'll have to go through my stamps and dies to see what else I could add this to.

What do you have in your stash that you could make into a rainbow card?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

The Challenge is Food

 Hey Everybody,

Stacy's challenge website is Food Network. You can find her challenge here.

Here is my inspiration for my card.  

Watermelon Lemonade Slushie

I stamped the glasses from Stampin' Up set Cheers & Sips and covered them with a mask so I could stamp the watermelon and the vines which are from Stampin' Up called Watercolor Melon. I cut out the top of the objects so I could put the red and white paper behind them like a picnic spread. I added all of that to a green striped paper that reminded me of watermelons. I stamped, colored and fussy cut the hamster which is a Gerda Steiner stamp called, Melon Muncher and added him with dimensionals. The lemon and strawberry were stamped, colored and cut to go on the drinks. The tall glass was colored with sweet sorbet and pineapple punch markers to make it look like watermelon and lemonade were mixed.

This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: IC1069

Stamps: Stampin' Up!- Cheers & Sips, Watercolor Melon, Gerda Steiner-Melon Muncher

Paper: white, assorted designer paper from friends

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, garden green, sweet sorbet, pineapple punch

Accessories: clear wink of stella, dimensionals, Copic Markers, scissors

Techniques: masking, fussy cutting, two-step stamping

I know there is a lot on this page, but it was one of those cards where I thought of one thing then another and another. I had a lot of fun making this card. Most times when making a card, I have an idea of the stamp set I want to use but the card evolves and isn't something I have in my head to begin with.

When you make a card, do you have a finished image of the card in your mind before you begin? Or, does your card evolve like a process like mine do?  Either way, we make cards and give them away. That's the beauty of card making. I love to encourage people with cards for no occasion at all.

I need to do more of that. Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Do You Use Mixed Media on Your Cards?

 Hey Everybody,

Sweet Miss Daisy has given us the challenge of using mixed media to make a card with pets. You can find her challenge here.

 

I used a dog and a bird. I wanted to use old stamps and paper for this card. Bella & Friends was one of my favorites. I wanted bright colors around the image so I chose this retired paper called, Ice Cream Parlor.

I stamped then die cut the image panel with an oval die. I used a blending brush with balmy blue to make clouds. The balloon and cupcake were paper pieced with a fun, tiny pattern from the same paper pack. I added the balloon and cupcake with dimensionals. The bird was colored with Karin Markers, the dog was colored with a Copic Marker. The details were colored with glitter pens.

Keywords: MIX696

Stamps: Stampin' Up!-Bella & Friends

Paper: white, Pacific Point, Stampin' Up!-Ice Cream Parlor designer series paper(retired)

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, azure afternoon, balmy blue

Accessories: scissors, dimensionals, blending brush, Karin brushmarker pro markers, pink and purple glitter gel pens, Copic Marker

Techniques: ink blending, coloring, die cutting, paper piecing

I think after flowers, animal stamps are what I have the most of. So it wasn't difficult to find an animal to use.  

I found a quick video from Lisa Curcio which demonstrates how to paper piece with designer paper.

Paper piecing is a fun way to use scrap designer series paper and add a WOW factor to your cards. Take a look at your stamps. You can paper piece just about anything.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Packing Tape and Dies

 Hey Everybody,

Our challenge today was to use packing tape and dies. Have you ever done this before? Here is a link to the challenge.

I knew what I wanted to make when I read this challenge. My 4 year old grandblessing was having a preschool ceremony. I wanted to make her a card.

 I stamped the crayons which are called Crayon Creations by Spellbinders and added Wink of Stella to them before I added the packing tape. The crayons were stamped first, then the hands, feet and face. It was a cute set to use especially with the cute poses that you could do with the crayons.  I wish I knew what the embossing folder was that my friend gave me. I think it's pretty cool.

Then I die cut the crayons. I also added packing tape to the embossed panel so it too would be bright.  I added the image panel to a Bermuda Bay card base.  The inside has another crayon and says, Sending Love & Hugs

 She really liked this card.  We decided instead of a present that we'd start a tradition and go out to eat together on her last day of school. I love ideas like this where you spend time instead of just spend money on a gift that will be forgotten. Hopefully she will have sweet memories from these times spent together.

Keywords: F4A849

Stamps: Spellbinders-Crayon Creations

Paper: white, bermuda bay

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Gina K ink cubes, Memento tuxedo black

Accessories: embossed panel from a friend, Crayon Creations dies, dimensionals, wink of stella

Techniques: two-step stamping, die cutting, dry embossing

I found a video by Gina K that shows how to do this technique.

This doesn't have to be used just for kids. This technique can be used to make all types of cards.

I hope you give this technique a try.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Eclipse Card

 Hey Everybody,

Sorry I missed posting yesterday. It was a busy Father's Day. Our grandson was being dedicated at church today. Lunch followed that which took a couple of hours, then a nap and back out to my son's house to watch the grand blessings so he and his wife could go lead Youth Group. Whew, I guess everyone was tired. My son said, they came back after lunch and all took naps too. 

Sabrina's challenge to us today was to make an eclipse card or a card with a sun and moon on it. You can find her challenge here. 

I immediately knew I wanted to do something with tea. I sorted through my tea stamps and dies as well as my alphabet dies. I only have one large alphabet die set. I couldn't put dimensionals behind the narrow letters so I cut 5-6 layers of cardstock instead. I didn't use as many layers for the little triangle in the A. Once I had the letters done I wanted to add the word, Time. It is part of the stamp set from Daily Bread. I added that with dimensionals then cut out the teacup and tea bag. I added the tea bag with linen thread. I stamped the sentiment on designer paper and used the Key Tag punch. I added the tea cup and sentiment with dimensionals. This will go to a dear friend who loves tea.

Keywords: WT1107 BVC26

Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs-Tea Time

Paper: old olive, fresh freesia, Stampin' Up!-Lovely & Beautiful designer series paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: old olive

Accessories: Stampin' Up!-Tea Cup Dies, Stampin' Up!-Alphabet A La Mode-Dies, Stampin' Up!-Key Tag punch, dimensionals

Techniques: Eclipse Card

Here is a video you can use to make your own eclipse card. It is by a Stampin' Up! demonstrator named Susan Campfield. She did this tutorial for Splitcoaststampers.

Well, there you have it. A fun way to make a card. If you're like me you will take some time to see what other three or four letter words you can make with the large letter dies you have. LOL

I actually wrote a bunch of them on a note card and put them in the alphabet dies. That way when I do this again, I'll have many word choices to choose from.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Quinacridone Magenta

Hey Everybody,

Our letter this week is Q and our color was Quinacridone Magenta. I dry embossed my white paper with the Stampin' Up!-Floral Spray 3D embossing folder then colored the debossed side with Copic Markers. I pulled Memento tuxedo black ink over the image. I layered the image on granny apple green cardstock then on black glimmer paper. I dry embossed the berry burst card base with the same embossing folder, then added the layered panel.

Keywords: ABC24Q17 Quinacridone Magenta

Stamps: n/a

Paper: white, granny apple green, black glimmer, berry burst

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Copic Markers, Stampin' Up!-Floral Spray 3D embossing folder

Techniques: blackout technique, dry embossing, coloring

Here are some samples from the gallery for this challenge. It's so interesting to me to see the different ways people interpret a challenge and what they use to make their card.  Sometimes looking at cards in the gallery allows me to see different styles and layouts. It gives me ideas to try on my cards and possibly new techniques to try. I love to learn new things. Each month after a week of card classes, I've learned so much from the ladies that attend. The Friday class benefits the most since they get to hear all of the suggestions from the other classes all week long.

Maybe one of these cards is your style. Maybe not, but you can benefit by seeing a new layout that you'd like to try or a new way to add sentiments or even stamping on an angle to match your card. Whatever it is, I hope you try something new. It doesn't matter if it doesn't look great. It matters that you tried something new. Anything new will take practice to learn to do well.  We didn't learn how to stamp overnight. It took repetition, patience, instructions, videos, and someone who took a chance doing something new.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

How Would You Use Real Red, Azure Afternoon, Night of Navy and a Fourth Color?

 Hey Everybody,

Mary's challenge is to use azure afternoon, night of navy and real red for the color challenge. Dessert is Your choice to add a fourth color or a masculine card. You can find her challenge here. 

                            

I dry embossed white cardstock with the Spellbinders Cast Away embossing folder then pulled night of navy ink across the debossed side to show the white rope. I loved this embossing folder the first time I saw it. I didn't purchase it for a few years though. 

I stamped images from Whimsy Stamps-Ahoy Matey then colored the images with Copic Markers and fussy cut them. I added flirty flamingo as a fourth color. I suppose this could be a masculine card as there are no flowers! LOL 

 I added the images with dimensionals. Then I added paper glaze to the cat's goggles. I spritzed the whole card with metallic mist. I wanted to get a sparkle like light bouncing off the water. I stamped the sentiment and added it with dimensionals. Inside it reads, Happy Birthday.

Keywords: CC1106

Stamps: Whimsy Stamps-Ahoy Matey

Paper: white, real red

Ink: night of navy, memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Copic Markers, Spellbinders Cast Away embossing folder, Taylored Expressions-Metallic Mist Unicorn sparkle, Aleene's paper glaze, dimensionals

Techniques: dry embossing, blackout technique

Here is what the paper glaze product looks like. It is a thick, clear liquid that adds a bit of dimension and shine to whatever you put it on. It's fun to use on glass objects like jars, eye glasses, drinking glasses, wine glasses or anything you want to look like glass. 

So what stamps would you use with these colors of real red, azure afternoon, and night of navy? What 4th color would you add?  With July 4th and our 250th coming up, you could easily do a fireworks or patriotic card. You could do flowers or candy or anything that has lots of colors.

Sometimes, I have to look through my stamp sets with the colors in mind to figure out what I want to try.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Blackout Technique With Light-Colored Inks

Hey Everybody,

Our challenge was to use a small strip of paper on our sentiment. You can find the challenge here.  

I dry embossed my paper with the Stampin' Up-Sunflower 3D embossing folder, then colored it with Copic Markers on the debossed side. I pulled fresh freesia then petunia pop inks over the flowers.

 I stamped the sentiment and punched it out. Then I cut a narrow strip of cardstock to add to the sentiment strip. The sentiment was added with dimensionals.

This embossing folder is so detailed that I had to keep checking to see what was flower petal and what was leaves. 

I found that I can pull water based ink over my debossed side first, then color the image with brushes or markers.  When you pull the ink over the debossed side, it highlights everything so it is quick and easy to color the image.

Today I showed you that when doing the blackout technique, you don't have to use a dark color. I used fresh freesia and petunia pop which are similar colors. 

Don't be afraid to use two light colors on your debossed image like I did. I wasn't sure what my image would look like, but I really liked how it turned out.

Keywords: TLC1109

Stamps: happy birthday

Paper: white, fresh freesia, early espresso, petunia pop

Ink: fresh freesia, petunia pop, memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Stampin' Up!-Sunflower 3D embossing folder, word window punch, Copic Markers

Techniques: blackout technique

Do you have an embossing folder you could color then use two light ink colors over the top of the image?  Or, try pulling your colors over the debossed side first, then color your image.

See if you like the results. 

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue