MOJO Monday 302

          This is the first project I’ve designed since my trip to the hospital last week.  I’m back and feeling better and my heart rate is back to normal!  Thank you, Lord.  This is for this week’s Mojo Monday sketch challenge.  I’ve done two-step stamping using SU’s new Crisp Cantaloupe Ink and Calypso Coral using the Stippled Blossom SS also from SU.  I’ve wanted to do that for a while and this is my chance to design a girlie Birthday Card.  I like how it turned out and hope that you do, too!

·       Stamp set(s):  SU – Stippled Blossoms & Simply Sketched 

·       Ink(s):  SU – Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Calypso Coral

·        Paper:  Graphic 45 – Baby 2 Bride Collection, Baby Button Bingo; SU – Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Calypso Coral, & Very Vanilla CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  SU – Framelits Ovals Collection and Secret Garden Dies; EF – Elegant Lines(retired) & Fancy Fan; Spellbinders – Classic Scalloped Squares Large

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stamp-a-ma-Jig; McGill Paper Blossoms Craft Molding Mat & Tools; SU – Stretch Ruffled Trim Ribbon in Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Pearls Large, Stampin’ Dimensionals

          The card is 4.25” by 5.5” with a left side fold.  The two-step stamping technique is so easy with the Stamp-a-ma-jig and it really turns out a beautiful flower with this stamp set that is fast becoming one of my favorites.  I’d use it more if Stampin’ Up! had a die to cut it out with since I’m not a fan of fussy cutting.  I’ll do it when I have to like it this case.  But, HINT, HINT Stampin’ Up!, you really need to get with the industry!  Enough of my preaching!!  The only thing I really did a little different to add depth to the leaves I cut out was stenciling the leaves with color on color Pistachio Pudding while the die was still in place.  I shortened the leaf stem a bit to make it work with the size of my corner embellishment.  I really liked the Graphic 45 paper I used from my stash here.  Crisp Cantaloupe and Pistachio Pudding Papers and Inks were perfect matches. 

          Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.  I hope you are also enjoying the new look of my blog.  I updated yesterday and like the new look!

Many Blessings,

Donna

Sharing Sorrow

          The MOJO Monday 300 celebration is over, but they just came up with another beautiful sketch for #301.  I really loved this sketch and made one of my best offerings I think that I’ve done for one of their sketches.  I hope that you’ll agree! 

         All of the products used for the card are from Stampin’ Up!  I needed another sympathy card for a dear friend from church whose mother recently lost her battle with cancer.  I chose to use SU’s new collection, Modern Medley DSP.  I just love this collection and hadn’t used it yet either.  I didn’t deliberately choose black paper for a sympathy card, but I really wanted to use this new collection.  I added a pop of yellow to represent in my thoughts, the hope we have in Jesus when we lose a loved one knowing that we will see them again on the other side of the veil!  I hope that you like what you see here!

·       Stamp set(s):  Thoughts & Prayers

·       Ink(s):  Basic Black & Daffodil Delight

·       Paper:  Modern Medley DSP, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Very Vanilla CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Framelits Ovals Collection, Sizzix Clearlits Scallop Rectangle. Fancy Fan EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  White Simply Pressed Clay, Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Molds, Craft Knife, Silicon Craft Sheet, Basic Jewels Pearls

The card is 5.5” x 4.25” with a top fold.  I flipped the layout a bit to make if flow a little better for my purposes and to give me more room on the right side of the card for the sentiment.  I used the Simply Pressed Clay and molds for the first time with this.  My tip for their use is this:  put the filled molds in the freezer for about 10 minutes for both the flower and the buttons before turning them out on the craft sheet; trim off the excess clay AFTER they have dried so that you don’t deform the molded clay while trying to remove the excess clay.  I tried it both ways.  I used the Fancy Fan EF because I like its elegance and the way it mimics to some degree the design of the larger piece of patterned paper.  I played with the size of the yellow paper and the music paper to get them to balance the lower part of the card.  I matted the sentiment on the paper I cut out with the Clearlits and embossed which I cut into halves horizontally.

Thank you for stopping by to take a look and read my “inklings” about my project.  I appreciate you so very much!

Many Blessings,

Donna
PS:  This is the original sketch!

 

Red, White & Blue For You

 

Hi, I’m back with a post for 2 challenges for this week – one ends today and one tomorrow.  MOJO Monday is celebrating its 300^th weekly challenge with prizes from several sponsors.  I’m also entering this in SCS Color Challenge 433 – RED, WHITE & BLUE (7/2/13); this is a first time submission for me to this challenge.  I’m trying to do more challenges to stretch my creativity and grow my design sense!  This card is 4.25” by 5.5”.

·       Stamp set(s):  All Stampin’ Up!:  Elements of Style, Everything Eleanor & Itty Bitty Banners

·       Ink(s):  SU:  Cherry Cobbler;  Tim Holtz Distress Inks Vintage Photo

·       Paper:  SU:  Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy (ret.); Bazzill:  Navy textured cs; Rusty Pickle:  Rockin’ America Independence Day – how appropriate and also from my stash!

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Cuttlebug – Swiss Dots EF; SU:  Cloudy Day EF (ret.) and Framelits – Bitty Banners; Spellbinders – Classic Scalloped Squares Large & Beaded Circles

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Archiver’s – Shabby White Embossing Powder; Zing – Clear Embossing Powder; Recollections – Rhinestones; American Crafts – Ribbon

I had some difficulty matching cardstock to my chosen All American Paper that I chose for my theme for both challenges.  I added the embossed flourish on the Bravo Burgundy CS to give my project a little something beyond just a “red” color.  I like that it adds some interest and depth to the project.  I embossed the navy cs with the Cloudy Day EF to go with a bird in flight stamped image.  I stamped the bird with Cherry Cobbler ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder – same for the sentiment!  The circle is the other side of the paper that I used as the first layer on my card.  I brought the circle forward one layer from the sketch to use it to mat the sentiment.  The stars on the circle are rhinestone shaped stars that cover up the white stars on the paper – gotta have some bling going on somewhere.  I edged the square stamped image in Cherry Cobbler.  I decided to distress the image and the card base with Vintage Photo because the white was too stark against the darker colors.  The first layer of the paper also was more of a distressed look to it, too.  I am overall pleased with the outcome and have another card to put back for the special men in my life since I think that this card has a masculine vibe to it!

Thank you for stopping by my corner of the world.  I hope you enjoyed what you see and will come back to check on my work from time to time!

Many Blessings,

Donna





Happy Anniversary & MFTWSC130 Revisited

         

           If you saw my previous post and read all about my card for the Wednesday Stamp Club, I forgot to emboss the yellow CS beneath my focal stamped image and rushed through the selection of my patterned paper, so I redid the card and here is my redo!

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Memorable Moments & Apothecary Art

·       Ink(s):  Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin’ Up! – Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizazz

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizazz;  Karen Foster Designs Yellow Garden (2003) a golden oldie in my stash probably bought on sale at a store I used to work for where it was hard for the owner to let go of old stuff!  LOL  She’s a real paper hoarder!

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Framelits Labels Collection & Lacy Brocade EF  

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Sandy Lion Cream & Sugar Stickers, Big Shot, SU Blender Pens, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Thanks for taking a look!  Leave a comment please now that I’ve turned off the crazy word verification feature!

         Many Blessings and Happy 4^th of July!  Celebrate Our Independence Day!

Donna

Happy Anniversary from Apothecary Arts

         

           I am in need of anniversary card for my brother and his wife who will be celebrating their 47^th wedding anniversary next week.  My brother has had some recent health issues that gave us all a scare so I wanted to really recognize their accomplishment and show my gratitude to the Lord for His Mercy towards my brother!  God is soooo GOOD!!!!!  This is also my first entry into the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club.  I love their stamps and dies; I have a few but would love to get some more with their gift certificates that they award to one lucky stamper each week.  What a blessing!  Here’s my list of what I used to make my card.  Once again, I got in a rush and forgot to emboss the yellow piece of CS before I put it all together.  I was trying to get this done before my husband got home from work.  Help me to remember!!!!  My card is 5.5’ by 4.25’.

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Memorable Moments & Apothecary Art

·       Ink(s):  Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin’ Up! – Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizazz

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizazz;  Karen Foster Designs Yellow Garden (2003) a golden oldie in my stash probably bought on sale at a store I used to work for where it was hard for the owner to let go of old stuff!  LOL  She’s a real paper hoarder!

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Framelits Labels Collection   

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Sandy Lion Cream & Sugar Stickers, Big Shot, SU Blender Pens, Stamp-a-ma-jig

When I saw the sketch, I immediately thought about the Apothecary Art SS.  The shape of the stamp and coordinating die is very similar.  I made a few changes to the layout by making it horizontal and enlarging the shape to accommodate the stamp.  I stamped the design in Memento Tuxedo Black and used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the placement right for the sentient in the middle.  Someone deserves an award for thinking up this handy little tool!  I colored the flowers and leaves with Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizazz respectfully using my SU Blender Pens.  It’s so easy to do and you get great results.  Love this!  I popped the sentiment up with Stampin’ Dimensionals and added the flower to the lower right corner of the card.  I also rounded the corners of the card base and yellow mat to mimic the curves of the stamped image.

It really was a simple card to pull together – just wished I’d remember to emboss the yellow mat!  Oh, well next time.  I’ll start my card for this Wednesday’s Stamp Club earlier.  But I did get my card ready in plenty of time to get it to the happy couple in Georgia early next week!

Thanks for stopping by.  I’d love to have you leave a comment.  I was told about the crazy letter stuff that was on my blog if you leave a comment and took it off so that you can leave comments easier!  Please do and let me know what you think!

Many Blessings and Happy 4^th of July!  Celebrate Our Independence Day!

Donna