Puppy Celebrating new Inspiration Station Challenge!

 Hi! Did you know there is a brand new challenge on the block? 

It's called Inspiration Station. Although there is an inspiration board, the interpretation is quite broad, so I invite you to take a look and see what you think!

DESIGN TEAM CALL, TOO!

The inspiration board:

(I am inspired by the colors, cuteness factor, and the celebration of life!)

Using elements from Nitwit Digital Paper Collection "Enchanting" and Turquoise and White Cardstock, Bugaboo Birthday Puppy is celebrating in style. The edges are distressed with loose copper glitter, and loose clear glitter. Such cuteness!

Please check out the new challenge, and see what motivates you in your creation. Is it the colors? The shapes? The textures? The subject matter? Or something else entirely. 

Products: Bugaboo Birthday Puppy Set, glitters, inks, Nitwit Digital Paper Collection "Enchanting", Turquoise and White Cardstock.

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Two Crafty Critter Crazies #48 AG critters! 4/1
2. World Wide Open DT Challenge #3 AG DT 4/15
3. Always Fun Challenges #205 Spring 3/22
4. Inkspirational Challenges #234 Photo Inkspiration 3/20 sep post

Stamping Hugs,

3-D Embossing Folder and Freebies

 Hello, dear Blogging Friends!

These cards are dedicated to my cherished friend CLARA, who passed away unexpectedly last month. 

I was recently inspired by a brand new blogger Shandy at MERMAIDS AND PAPER HEARTS, and blogging friends Leslie Miller and Connie Griffin, in making the following cards. Shandy inspired me via our conversation about colors and flowers, Leslie via Stencil Embossing (even though mine is with embossing folders instead), and Connie because she is always sharing techniques with us. So I've used VIRGINAL PRODUCTS from my stash! 

Having been hidden away in my stash for years, my Crafters Companion Ornate Lace 3D embossing folder finally felt paper!

After dry embossing, VIRGINAL Encore pigment ink was applied. Each card involves different Encore ink colors:

first, dry emboss:

Then smoosh with pad and/or fingers:

In this case, Encore Ultimate Metallic Teal was rubbed on the raised areas, and then coated with a clear detail embossing powder that contained microfine glitter. The Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms were rolled in the same cardstock as the 3D folder, however, distress ink and platinum pearlescent paints were applied for visual interest. The Silver leaves are from upcycled can lid of Whey Protein Powder LOL. If you're on my blog, click on the photo to enlarge to better see the details:

Whole card:

Black cardstock, VIRGINAL Encore Ultimate Metallic Gold was rubbed on the most raised areas. In the lesser raised areas, I finger rubbed Encore Ultimate Metallic Pink in order to provide a tiny bit of visual dimension. The roses were colored in the same fashion:

 

This bold blue background was fun and messy! On cardstock made for acrylics, I smooshed various acrylic paints up and down. With a very light brushing of wet glue, I then added tiny bits of blue and silver glitters into some areas. When the finished background was dry embossed, it looked pretty just as it was, but after adding VIRGINAL Encore Ultimate Metallic Silver to the top of the raised areas, it really brought out the glitz! 

TIP:

There are two coats of clear detail embossing powder on top of the silver ink. Her Virginal Inkiness was so wet, that it took two coats. I learned that highly metallic pigment inks retain their metallic qualities when used with CLEAR embossing powder, because the metallic components IN the ink rise to the surface of the clear embossing powder.

The next card uses the same aqua paper, but with VIRGINAL Encore Ultimate Metallic Silver applied to the top of the raised areas. This card was also "distressed" with the silver ink. How different it looks in comparison to the card using the Teal ink!

This card front was dredged with clear embossing powder, heat set, and then dredged again with clear detail EP mixed with microfine glitter. It's my favorite! Which is your favorite?

Lastly, is the card inspired by and made for Shandy. She likes the color turquoise (reminds her of mermaids) and she likes layered flowers. It was distressed and embossed with clear detail EP:

Thanks for stopping by! It was fun playing with goodies from my stash!

Products: Dies: Cottage Cutz Greenery 4x4, SU Modern Label Punch, TH Garden Greens, SB Carnations, SB Bitty Blossoms, Stamps: Hero Arts CL342 sentiment Inks: INKS & Mediums: assorted pearlescent acrylic paints, assorted pearlescent watercolors, assorted Encore Metallic inks, assorted distress and VFC inks, assorted embossing powders, Cardstock: acrylic paint paper, lavender, deep blue, pale blue, aqua, black, EMBOSSING FOLDER: Crafters Companion Ornate Lace 3D

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Just Us Girls Challenge #575 Trend Week Use An Embossing Folder 5/19 sep post
2. Simply Create Too Challenge #168 Wet or Dry Embossing (I dry embossed the background, applied ink to the the dry embossed areas, then embossing powder and heat set. The sentiments are also heat embossed. 4/2
3. Frilly and Funky (March 6) Something Vintage 3/17 sep post
4. The Corrosive Challenge #3 Anything Goes 4/2
5. A Bit More Time to Craft #135 AG 4/1
6. A Perfect Time to Craft #3 AG 4/1
7. Stamping Sensations Challenge (March) Monochromatic 4/5 (each card is monochromatic)

FREEBIE SENTIMENTS - my gift to you

My gift to you - Arrangements of the same sentiment for use on the inside or outside of your projects. Please do not sell the Sentiments. Use on any of your projects, including projects involving any design teams you might be on. Different shapes of sentiments work well for landscape or portrait shape cards.

Click on the image to bring it to full size. Because of the changes Google Made with Blogger in June 2020, your image will appear to be solid black. Don’t panic. Right click and do a SAVE. Once it is saved on your hard drive, you can open it and it will have a transparent background. I create PNGs instead of JPGs so they can be placed anywhere on a scene or project, and so backgrounds can be made using them. Please let me know if you have any problems. I hope they serve you well!

Enjoy!

Sympathy Verse:

Stamping hugs,

Turner Syndrome Awareness - my blog hop winners

  Hello, my friends!

The Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop and Challenge is now closed, and winners have been announced on Lori's TSA blog on March 13.

I am offering two prizes - each valued at $22.00 from Beccy Muir's Store.

The pretty Fantail Goldfish clear stamp set

and

her lovely Cherry Blossom clear stamp set

and my winners are...

Christine of "With A Grateful Heart"

Lori M of "Little m's Crafted Mind"

If you will please email me (just click on my profile in the sidebar - the new window will have email options on the side) and I will mail your stamp set!

Thank you to everyone who participated, and to my faithful followers.

stamping hugs,

Navy, Denim, and Pink - What's Old is New - Mistake-Proof Techniques

Greetings! My wish is that you enjoy many small surprises to brighten your day!

Today, I'd like to share some easy-peasy cards. I love this technique because it is MISTAKE PROOF.

First, I perused the craft room and brought out THREE, (count 'em) THREE, virginal stamps, all three purchased sometime between 2000 and 2005. Some of the inks were unused as well. These are 5x7 cards.

TIP:

ink colors can set the mood:

First came the background, where Hero Arts 113317 Large Delicate Woven Fabrics image was randomly stamped with 2 blue DIs. Next I smooshed and/or distressed in pink inks - some with a pale pink distress, and others with brilliant VFC Charming ink. 

They both give a different look: one more vibrant, the other more vintage.

Finally, foliage image by Stampa Rosa J67-139 Alesa Baker Designs was stamped in VFC Medieval Blue. With a Quickie Glue Pen, areas in the background were "painted" so pale pink glitter could be added for extra dazzle and sparkle.

Stamp, die cut, distress the focal image (sorry for the poor photo):

The vibrant inks make a more contemporary feel. The flowers have also been glittered, and so has the background of each card:

I LOVE GLITTER:

The Spun Sugar pale ink made a more vintage appearance:

This technique enlivens cards that focus on a sentiment:

and it's fun to use on the coordinating envelopes as well:

Thanks for popping by!

Products Used:

• Stamps: Stampa Rosa J67-139 Alesa Baker Designs, Hero Arts 113317 Large Delicate Woven Fabrics, Stampin' Up! Early Spring, 
• Dies: Spellbinders 5x7 Modern Stationary, MS Doily Lace Trim punch
• Inks: VersaFine Clair Charming, Versafine Clair Medieval Blue, Distress Spun Sugar, Distress Chipped Sapphire, Distress Faded Jeans
• Other: White Detail embossing powder, Navy and White cardstock, pale pink glitter, clear glitter, navy blue glitter, Sakura Glue Pen

Challenges I would like to play in please:

1. Retro Rubber Challenge #153 Tic Tac Toe (bottom row of challenge board). 3/12 (3 virginal stamps 15-20 years old)
2. Try it On Tuesday (Mar 2) Say It With Flowers  (Classic and timeless joy and love) 3/16
3. Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #491 Anything Goes 3/15
4. Double D Challenges (Mar 3) Book Covers inspired by the top right cover with Navy and Pink. 3/15
5. A Bit More Time to Craft #135 AG 3/15
6. NEW NEW NEW Inspiration Station #1 Inspiration Board (Blue & White) 3/15

Stamping Hugs,