Runway Inspired Challenge #59

Hey there peeps! Just getting a jump on my weekend by doing some challenges! Check out this weeks Runway Inspired Challenge photo:

Here's my take on the photo: 

Now in all actuality, this card is a moss green, but for some reason when I lightened it it took on a yellowy kind of colour. But have no fear! It is genuinely green, in every way, just like this dress!

I used an "oldie but a goodie" set from Papertrey Ink called Guidelines. I use this set a lot. It's really so versatile and lovely!

I was inspired by the black lace on the dress as well as the black strips of fabric that separate the green flouncy fabric.

A big bold black strip with some embossing in silver separates my two panels. I stamped the medallions with Hero Arts black and Papertrey Ink Spring Moss.


I think that's all! I have boys breaking down my door to go swimming so I really must run. I have a few more cards to share, and hope to get back this weekend to actually share them.
Thanks for stopping by. I love hearing from you, so say hello if you have a moment!

hope you have a smashing weekend!!
k

Make It Monday #164 Cluster Stamping

Hey there all! I tried my hand at some cluster stamping today for PTI's Make It Monday!

This week is all about cluster stamping! I decided to cluster my stamping but in an organised sort of way which makes me wonder, is it actually cluster stamping? Well, that's a question for the professionals I guess.

Here is my card: 

I masked off my lines to stamp within a masked area. I then die cut the sentiment out of the stamping and replaced it with a solid coloured die cut instead. I was hoping that it would help it pop a bit. I didn't want the birthday to blend in too much so I didn't replace the negative space. I tried it and it didn't look that good, so I left them out.

 I stamped with all PTI colours in the ranges of purples, blues and greens and added a black Happy from Birthday Basics stamp set. The circles used for the cluster stamping was from Rosie Posie II. Mostly because I was looking for some circles and that what has been on my desk for days, so it was picked up. I was trying to craft in a hurry! Which is why my sentiment is crooked : /

But I finally got in a challenge for this week! Yay me!

I love days like today.... I was all booked up for a few things and people cancelled left and right which left me with time to craft! LOVE that!

Hope you have a great day. Thanks for stopping in.

loves to you
k

Sketchbook Saturday #121

Hey all! Just stopping in to share a quick card for the challenge over at Iwona's blog.  It's Sketchbook Saturday people! Just one day short of Saturday! I think I missed a few here and there, you know how it goes, but I'm here now!

Here is the sketch:

What. What. What!? More embossing, you say!? Yes, I do say... Here is my card:

And yup, its a double whammy... embossing AND masking! GASP! 

Here is a close up:

I double embossed my card front and then made masks to stamp my flowers. I chose the Rosie Posie (I and II) sets from Papertrey Ink with some Hero Arts and CSS inks. I just got a slew of them and its so fun having new colours to try!

 This card was made for a neighbour who needs to send it to her son. Hope they like it. That always worries me. You want people to like it, right!? Here's hoping!

Thanks for stopping in today.
Love to you and yours
k

Lovely Friend

 Hey There! Stopping in to share a lovely hello for a lovely friend! As I said before, I have been double embossing EVERYTHING lately! Here's just another little thing I couldn't help but run through my Cuttlebug. If you haven't had a chance to try it, head over to Online Card Classes and sign up for Clean and Simple 3. It will change your life. I Promise...

This card was made with two challenges in mind.
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and the current Curtain Call Pretty & Pink.

Here is my card:

And a little close up. You might not be able to tell but there are embossed diagonal lines on that card base too. The texture is so wonderful. And how much do you love this pink!? I used a blend of Memento Luxe Inks and Clear and Simple Stamps ink. Stamps and paper are from Papertrey Ink. (And anyone else have a doozie of a time getting these roses to line up? I always have to do it multiple times and still.... so crooked!)

I have quite a few friends moving this summer. That's the life of an expat, unfortunately. It's always sad but I am glad I have some cards I can send to say a final goodbye. Just incase I can't really express myself in person (which is usually the case). Cards are good like that. Nice and permanent.

Anyway. Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you are all well.

have a lovely weekend.

k

PTI Make It Monday 163: Envelope Wraps

Hey all! It's been awhile since I have participated in a Papertrey Ink challenge. It's fun to be here! I joined in with the envelope wraps that Danielle Flanders showcased.  I have a few cards to send and thought it would be a great way to doll them up right!

Here is my envelope:

I used the double embossing technique that Julie Ebersol taught in the last Online Card Classes series: Clean and Simple 3. 

I LOVE This technique. In fact, I love it so much I practically double embossed my entire craft room! 

And wouldn't you know it, all the Papertrey Ink die cuts and embossing plates work perfectly for this. The idea actually started with the card I made first and then when I saw the Make It Monday challenge I knew it would be perfect to add an envelope wrap to it:

I used a Mat Stack 3 die cut with an embossing folder and then did a masking technique (also taught in Clean and Simple 3) with Botanical Silhouettes (anniversary set) to make my poppies frame and added a sentiment from Friends 'til the End. I repeated that for the envelope wrap choosing to wrap it around the right side and add a "Happy Mail" sentiment (from Happy Hexagons) along the top. I used a line stamp to create a place to write the address. Maybe a bit too many lines, in hind sight. Who has a 9 line address!??

Here's a close up of a card that's going into the mail for a sweet friend who will be moving soon. Oh how I will miss her...

That's all for today. thanks for stopping by!

k

Feeling Tickled

Hey There. Just making some pop up die cut cards this week! I love Mama Elephant. I finally got my order since it had to go to my mom in the states and then my sister in law and then on to me. I'm so grateful they sent it! It's been fun ever since. Thank you!

Here's my card...

I used the Memento Luxe inks again. I really can't get enough of them. I highly highly recommend them. I started by placing my sentiment on the card base first so I knew where I wanted my feathers to fall. I knew I wanted them to fall diagonally across the card so I placed the first one around the corner of the sentiment and then worked my way up with each colour filling in the "feather rain" as I changed colours. I die cut 4 of the feathers and popped them up after stamping.

I am feeling very tickled about how it turned out! I am trying hard at being more precise in my stamping and my colour choices. It definitely takes longer to make a card, but the results are worth it! In fact, its going to help me in all aspects of my life. After almost 10 years of what I like to call "baby brain" I am re-learning to take my time and really concentrate. It's a stretch after having my attention span deteriorate through the years. I'm really hoping it comes back in full force. Although its still crazy to create through lego wars, homework, train building and iPad fights. Sheesh... no wonder it takes me so long to do a card ; )

thanks for stopping by today!

love to you and yours,

k

FAIR FEATHERS	Fair Feathers - Creative Cuts	*Memento Luxe Ink Pad BAHAMA BLUE Tsukineko	*Memento Luxe Ink Pad LILAC POSIES Tsukineko	*Memento Luxe Ink Pad ANGEL PINK Tsukineko	*Memento Luxe Ink Pad GRAY FLANNEL Tsukineko
*Hero Arts Dye Ink Pad INDIA INK Black af248 2013

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Mama Elephant Photo Inspiration Challenge

Hey there! I'm stopping in to share my submission for the Mama Elephant Photo Inspiration Challenge! If you have a bit of time, some Mama Elephant stamps and a hankerin' for some crafting', you should check it out HERE. Come join the fun!

Here is the challenge photo:

So nice and serene, right?  I have been pondering what to do for this card for awhile. I mean, I am just getting it finished a day before its due, I realise, but that's only because I wanted to really be inspired and try something a bit different. As I was going to sleep last night, it hit me.... SALT!

I love the photo above (mostly because I wan't a day at the spa!) and when I saw the big jar of salt rubs I thought I would try the water-colour salt technique for my card.

So, here it is:

I think the reason I thought of the salt is because of how I store my own salt: Yes! In a big jar! 

I gathered all my supplies. However, I ended up using some watercolor pencils instead because I couldn't find the right colour or coverage with the inks and paints I had on hand. (See the links below) But you can use any of the above. All you need is water-colour and some salt for this technique.

I decided to white emboss the sun rays from the Sunny Skies set so I had some water-colour resist going on with it as well.

Once you finish embossing, you want to cover your water-colour paper with paint and then sprinkle it liberally with salt. That's really all there is to it. Just one last step....Wait for it to dry (or use a heat gun, oh impatient one!) and then you rub off the salt to reveal its true beauty! What I love about this technique is it can turn out differently every time. Depending on the amount of colour and/or salt that you use.
The salt does a resist of its own and pushes the colour around which gives it a lovely pattern and texture. Here is my paper while it was drying:

And here's a bit of a close up of the card. You can really see where the salt resists the colour. I cut the full panel apart and added a mat of Lemon Tart card stock but only on the inside edges that face each other. I chose to pop up just the upper panel with dimensionals but leave the bottom panel flat. I stamped my panda bear from Pandamonium and the umbrella from Up and Away. I also added some colour to the umbrella with some Copics.
Honestly, I just die over these stamps every time I use them. Aren't they just perfectly designed? They just make me smile every time!

Now tell me, do you notice anything about the sentiment? Did you notice right away or after I asked? It's not stamped the way it was designed. If you look closely you can see the words are a bit mixed up. It's just a play of the brain that moves things around to make it make sense to you (and the way you know it should be read) and you don't even notice at first! Anyway, I liked how this order looked better as it makes the eye travel from left to right. I also opted to stamp my bear in black (it was grey the first go-round) and then I stamped the umbrella in grey to make it a bit lighter and not as catching to the eye. It kind of makes your eye track where I wanted it to: the sentiment, the bear and then the umbrella. Does it do that for you or am I crazy? The latter being a very very good possibility ;)

Ok. That's all for me today. I hope to jump in here later to show you the other card that I made that just didn't make the cut. I've been crafting like a crazy banshee and loving every minute of it!

Thanks for stopping in today. Hope you have a smashing day.
loves,
k

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