Hey Everybody,

I completed two challenges today from Splitcoaststampers.  The first one is the Technique Challenge. Today was the 1100th challenge so we could choose from any of the challenges ending in 00.  I chose 200 which was Faux Linen With a Pop.  The challenge can be found here.

The challenge I chose can be found here.

Here are the directions.

Here is what you will need for today's technique:

• Cardstock
• Ink
• Stamps
• Gift bag tissue paper
• Two Way Glue Stick or your favorite type of glue stick

Step One. Cut your tissue a little bigger than the piece of cardstock that you will use to adhere it onto.

Step Two: Stamp your image onto the tissue paper and let the ink dry before moving onto step three.

Step Three: Wad up the tissue into a ball getting lots of crinkles. Then gentle unroll the wadded ball of tissue. CAREFUL - don't tear it.  Next - spread out the tissue, leaving some of the wrinkles visible. This will help achieve the faux silk effect.

Step Four: Stamp the same image onto a piece of white or very light colored cardstock.

Step Five: Using paper snips (sharp, small blade scissors) cut out the portion of your image that you want to POP.

Step Six: Take your colored cardstock and apply your glue stick to the entire surface. Now lay your white cut-out onto the cardstock and place the tissue on top - aligning the images. Press your tissue paper onto the glue covered cardstock, and be sure to leave in the little wrinkles. You can either trim off the excess tissue from the sides, but it's just as easy, and gives the piece a more finished look, if you just fold the extra tissue around the cardstock and stick the edges down on the backside of the cardstock.

Now you can finish your card as desired.

The stamp set I used is called, Notes of Spring which is a Product of the Month for April. It is a two-step stamping set.

Keywords: TLC1100 TLC200

Stamps: SU-Notes of Spring-Product of the Month

Paper: white, old olive, lemon lolly

Ink: memento tuxedo black, old olive, lemon-lime twist

Accessories: Copic Markers, Tissue Paper

Techniques: Faux Silk With a Pop

Our 2nd challenge is for the Clean and Simple Challenge which was to use a rarely used or new stamp. You can find that challenge here. 
The stamp I used is one of my favorite old, wood mount PSX stamps. I don't use it often, but I love it so much I can't get rid of it.
I stamped in Memento tuxedo black ink. The image was colored with Derwent watercolor pencils. Then I used a blender pen to blend the light and dark colors of the flowers and leaves. I used a fancy, old-fashioned looking die to cut out the image. I added small hearts from an embossing folder to complete the card.

I purposely used an oval die for this card to get used to different shapes besides squares and rectangles.

Keywords: CAS891

Stamps: PSX-Bleeding Heart stamp

Paper: white, bubble bath

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Derwent Watercolor Pencils, Blender pen, Cuttlebug-Love Language embossing folder, decorative oval die

Techniques: dry embossing, watercoloring

This next card is not a challenge card, it is a card for a local hospital near me. It will go on a dinner tray. I had a partial piece of dry embossed cardstock, so I made it into a card. 

I used  Azure Afternoon, Polished Pink and Gorgeous Grape with blending brushes and colored the debossed side of the embossed panel.  Then I used direct to paper technique with my Night of Navy ink pad.

I stamped this little guy and coloring him with Copic Markers. I cut him out with the Deckled Circles dies. Again, I wanted to use a shape other than a square or rectangle.

I stamped the sentiment and fussy cut it because it was already an unusual arrangement for a sentiment. Cutting it out made it stand out more. The image panel was added to a night of navy card base.  This card is more vibrant than the picture shows.

This card was made during a FaceTime session with a friend today.  Every now and then we'll FaceTime and stamp. The weather was crummy here and this is a great work around to be able to stamp with someone but not have to drive across town in crummy weather.

What's fun is we talk and stamp and help each other with what we're working on with suggestions or ideas of how to finish a card or what to add to it to make it 'just right.'

Do you FaceTime with anyone? How about to stamp?

Well, it's time to finalize my pre-order for our new catalog. I can order at 2 a.m. our time.

Thanks for stopping by again.

Blessings,

Sue