Color Throwdown #516 - Dude

Hey there!  Welcome to my blog!  Today I have a card for the Color Throwdown #516, which is the colors dark teal, rust, and cream.  I decided to pull out a couple of fun dies from Simon Says Stamp for my card, so I used the Picture Book Donut die along with the Dude die along with the Messages for Everyday stamp.  If you'd like to see the process for how I made the card, check out the video down below:

The process was fun and the card is even more fun :)

SSS Picture Book Donut die

SSS Dude die

SSS Messages for Everyday stamp

MFT Stitched Rec Stax dies

Neenah Desert Storm 100 lb cardstock

Versamark Ink

Sizzix Sidekick

SSS Craft Tacky Glue

Tombow Adhesive

Embossing Bag

SSS Fine Detail Clear Embossing Powder

SSS Fine Detail White Embossing Powder 

Fiskars Wire Paper Trimmer

Signo White Gel Pen (3 pack)

Black Copic Marker - 100

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Auburn Pearl

Thanks for stopping by!

Taylored Expressions 10th Birthday & Mega Party!

Hey there!  What an exciting day for Taylored Expressions!  We are celebrating their 10th birthday today with a Blog Hop that includes 40 designers!  That's incredible!  I'm beyond excited that I am one of those 40 designers.  Some of you may remember that I used to design for Taylored Expressions a couple years back.  

I have been a fan and customer of Taylor's since the beginning.  I've always loved the TE stamps, and now their extensive line of different products ranging from inks and papers to stencils and embossing folders.  The stamp designs are always fresh and fun!  One of the first stamp sets I ever ordered was from the adorable Cuppie line of stamps.  Back in March of 2013 I joined the team as one of the designers for the Card Kits that Taylor once did, and then a little while later joined the Release Team.  

Last night, Taylor released a bunch of new products that you'll need to go check out in the Taylored Expressions Store!  However, today I have a card featuring this fun previously released set called Bold Balloons with the coordinating Bold Balloons Die.

To make the background I used a piece of Neenah 80lb cardstock and sponged on some Potato Chip Ink, some Pink Champagne Ink, and then some Lavender Glaze Ink.  I then used the Bubbly Stencil from TE along with some Nuvo Glimmer Paste in Moonstone.

I stamped each of the balloons using my Mini Misti so that I could shadow the images.  For the purple balloons I used Lavender Glaze Ink and Plum Punch Ink.  For the pink balloons I used Pink Champagne Ink and Guava Ink.  For the yellow balloons I used Potato Chip Ink and Pineapple Ink.  I have the mini ink pads, but these all also come in regular size stamp pads.

If you'd like to see how I did it, I have a video on my channel that you can check out:

The sentiment was stamped using Poppy Seed Ink, and my panel was mounted onto a Poppy Seed cardstock panel.  My card base is Plum Punch cardstock.  

At the heart of Taylored Expressions is a mission to share joy through the gift of handmade cards. As part of their 10th birthday TE is continuing that mission with the launch of a special Share Joy campaign focused on providing birthday cards to those in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities across the U.S. To make as deep an impact as possible TE is inviting card makers everywhere to join the campaign. Will you join us? Find out how to participate by viewing their Share Joy page here: https://tayloredexpressions.com/share-joy   

I encourage you all to get inky and make a card for this campaign!  We all know how wonderful it is to make and share our cards, and I know y'all know how great it is to receive a handmade card!  Be sure to head back to Taylor's Blog to see what the other amazing designers have made to celebrate :)

Color Throwdown #508

Hey there!  I'm super excited to be sharing my card for the Color Throwdown Challenge #508 as their Guest Designer this week!  And the color combo of purple, green, yellow, and red are amazing!

To make my card I pulled out a bunch of scraps in the colors for the challenge, and used a Simon Says Stamp Feathers die for my pieces.  I sponged the outsides of the feathers with coordinating Distress Ink colors, and then adhered those to my card base.  My sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp set called Yes You Can, and I stamped that using Versamark Ink onto some black cardstock, coated it with some fine detail white embossing powder, and then heat set that.

If you'd like to watch the process check out the video below:

This was such a fun color combo. . .they always are!

SSS Yes You Can Stamp Set

SSS Feathers Die

Versamark Ink

Fired Brick Distress Ink

Fossilized Amber Distress Ink

Mowed Lawn Distress Ink

Dusty Concord Distress Ink

Sizzix Sidekick

SSS Ultrafine White embossing powder

Kuretake Finetec Starry Night watercolors

Tombow Mono Multi adhesive

Some links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something through those links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  I always appreciate your support.  

Encouraging Cards Series #12

Hey there!  I'm back with another card for my Encouraging Cards Series!  We are on card #12, and I can hardly believe it!  This has been such a fun and inspiring series for me, and I hope that you have been inspired to encourage others as well. 

Here is the process video on this card if you would like to see how it was made:

Be sure to come back tomorrow for another card I have for a fun color challenge!

MFT Llama Love stamp set

DCWV No Prob Llama paper

SU Rich Razzleberry Ink & Cardstock

Neenah Cream Cardstock

Violet Galaxy Nuvo Crystal Drops

Nuvo Glitter Gloss Pen

Scotch Foam Tape

Fiskars Wire Paper Cutter

Mono Sand Eraser

Mini Misti

Scor-buddy

Tombow Permanent Adhesive

Some of the links are affiliate links, and are at no additional cost to you.  I appreciate your support so much!  All opinions are my own :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #506 . . . I'm a Hugger (sort of)

Hey there!  Today I have a card for the Color Throwdown Challenge #506.  The colors for this challenge are aqua, peach, light gray, and white.  I decided to use this adorable Lookin' Sharp stamp set from Taylored Expressions for my images.  The background was done on Taylor's Heavyweight Vellum using alcohol inks in the colors Pool, Peach Bellini, and Silver.  My images were colored with Copic markers.  If you'd like to see a process video on how I made this card, check out my video:

The card was so fun to make, and I'm still learning so much when it comes to using the alcohol inks.  I learned that a little goes a looooong way when using the Silver mixative, but I also learned that the alcohol inks look absolutely lovely on the vellum paper.  I'll definitely be doing that again.

Taylored Expressions Lookin' Sharp & die

SSS Fog Cardstock

Taylored Expressions Heavyweight Vellum

X-press It Cardstock

Peach Bellini Alcohol Ink

Pool Alcohol Ink

Silver Alcohol Ink

Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink

Wire snips

Sizzix Sidekick

Micropore Tape

Scor-Buddy

Scotch Foam Tape

Mini Misti

Nuvo Glitter Gloss

Desktop Air Compressor (similar to the one I have)

Copic Air Adaptor

SSS Craft Tacky Glue

Copics -- BG23, BG57, E93, YR02, C1, C3

Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you.  Thank you for your support and thanks for stopping by!

Encouraging Cards Series #9

Hey there!  I'm back with another card for my Encouraging Cards Series.  If you've followed along, you know that my goal is to try and make at least one encouraging card a week and then send that off to someone who I think might need that.  

This week, I'm using an Art Impressions stamp called Garden Window.  I love these interactive Art Impressions sets.  I have a video I did on the process if you'd like to see that:

I used my Mijello Mission Gold Watercolors along with some Canson XL 140lb watercolor paper to make this one.  The other one was my sampling done with Copics.  Here are the items I used to make the watercolored card:

Art Impressions Garden Window Tryfold Stamp

Versamark Onyx Black Ink

Canson Watercolor 140lb

Mijello Mission Gold Watercolors

Black Velvet Silver #4 watercolor brush

Scor-buddy

Tonic Stamp Platform

Micropore Tape

Some links may be affiliate links at no additional charge to you.  I always appreciate your support. All opinions are my own :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Avery Elle Birthday Bus for an Anything Goes Challenge

Hi there!  I have a card to share for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, which is an Anything Goes Challenge.  I decided to make a birthday card, because my stash is getting pretty low. The stamp is from Avery Elle and is called Birthday Bus.  

I had so much fun coloring these images with Copics and stenciling the background with my Distress Inks.  I have a video of the process if you're interested:

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:

Birthday Bus & dies by Avery Elle 

Ink:

Lawn Fawn Jet Black 

Hickory Smoke Distress Ink 

Mowed Lawn Distress Ink 

Tumbled Glass Distress Ink 

Paper:

Bristol Smooth 96 lb 

Xpress It 

Accessories:

Mini Ink Blending tool 

Mini Misti stamping tool 

Post-it- Tape roll 

Scotch Foam tape 

white thread 

Scor-tape 1/4" tape 

SSS Clouds for Days Stencil 

SSS Grassy Edges Stencil 

SSS Craft Tacky Glue

Copics

Some links may be affiliate links that give me a small commission at no extra cost to you.  I appreciate your support always!  All opinions are my own :)

Hello Bluebird & Card #7 in the Encouraging Cards Series

Hey there!  I'm back this week with a couple of encouraging cards for my Encouraging Cards Series. I thought these would be fun cards to add an encouraging message to.  Besides, these Hello Bluebird Silly Birds images are way too cute!  

I did some ink smooshing on the background using Tumbled Glass & Chipped Saphire Distress Inks. I colored the images with my Copic markers, and used the Silly Birds matching dies to cut them out.  The sentiments were heat embossed with Simon Says Stamps Ultra Fine Detail White embossing powder, and the bird and sentiments were popped up with some foam tape.  

I have a process video for those interested in how exactly these came together.

These little birds will be used quite a lot, because I just love the playful look they have.  Plus they are just fun to color and coordinate into scenes :)

Stamps:  Hello Bluebird Silly Birds

Ink:  Versamark, Distress inks in Tumbled Glass & Chipped Saphire, Lawn Fawn Jet Black

Paper:  Strathmore 140lb watercolor, black cs, Neenah 80lb

Accessories:  wire snips, SSS Ultra Fine Detail White embossing powder, powder bag, foam tape, Copics

Thanks for stopping by!

Encouraging Cards #5 & The Color Throwdown #500

Hey there!  Today I have a card for the 500th challenge over at the Color Throwdown!  I've loved that challenge since it's inception and have played along whenever it was possible for me.  It's always a great challenge to get my crafty mojo going :)  The colors for this week's challenge were navy, light pink, a gold color, and white.  I used the Hero Arts Goldfish set for my card, and also made it for my Encouraging Cards Series that I have going on over at my YouTube channel.  Here's the video if you're interested in checking it out:

And here's another close up picture of the card.

Stamps:  Hero Arts Goldfish

Paper:  navy from my stash, Neenah white 

Ink:  SU Crushed Curry, SU Regal Rose, Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories:  Sizzix dots embossing folder, foam tape, Wow Coral Reef embossing powder, SSS Ultra Fine Gold embossing powder

Thanks for stopping by!

Encouraging Cards Series -- Card #4

Hey there!  Welcome back for another card for my Encouraging Cards Series!  Today I made a card that is quite winter themed, lol.  I know that seems crazy considering we are in the midst of summer, but I couldn't resist this super cute image from Mama Elephant called Me & My Yeti.  Besides, I'm sending this to someone who could use a cool down due to the extreme heat they are in :)

If you want to see how I made this card I do have a process video you can check out:

Stamps:  Mama Elephant Me & My Yeti, SSS You Got This

Dies:  SSS Painted Hugs die, Taylored Expressions Build a Scene Mountain Tops

Inks:  Lawn Fawn Jet Black, Distress Oxides in Blueprint Sketch, Shaded Lilac, & Tattered Rose, Versamark ink

Paper:  Canson XL Watercolor paper, Neenah Solar White, Neenah Desert Storm, black cs

Accessories:  SSS White Detail embossing powder, Xyron Sticker Maker, foam tape, Enchanted Stickles

Copics:  BV20, BV02, BV04, colorless blender

Thanks for stopping by!

Altenew Build-a-Flower Gardenia -- lots of glitter or a little glitter

Hey there!  Today I have a couple of cards to show you.  One uses a lot of glitter and the other uses just a little.  They are obviously both a similar layout, but both look fairly different.  The flower used is from the Altenew set called Build-a-Flower Gardenia.  The background stamp is called Good Reading from Simon Says Stamp, and the sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp set called Floral Bliss.  I love how both of these turned out, and if you'd like to watch the process video, here it is:

and here are a couple of close ups of the cards themselves.

Stamps:  Altenew Build-a-Flower Gardenia, SSS Good Reading Background, SSS Floral Bliss

Ink:  Altenew Green Fields set, Altenew Warm Gray set

Paper:  SSS Fog cs, Neenah Solar White

Accessories:  Altenew Build-a-Flower Gardenia die, Labels 11 Nestabilities, fine purple glitter, Scar-Tape, foam tape, Enchanted Stickles, SSS Moonshine Confetti

Thanks for stopping by!

Encouraging Cards #3 & a Coupon Code

Hey there!  I have another card for the Encouraging Card Series that I started doing.  I started this because I know so many people that could use encouragement.  Whether it be in their day to day activities, they are dealing with something difficult, or just because, I thought it would be good to start making and sending encouraging cards.  After all isn't that so much of the fun of making cards?  Who doesn't love a little encouragement from time to time and especially in the form of handmade kindness :)

I made this card using the Altenew stamp called Hug Me.  It's not new, but it was new to me, and I love the little images in the set.  If you'd like to receive a 10% off coupon code from Altenew, just click on this link:  ALTENEW.  

I also have a process video of this card if you're interested in checking it out.

Stamps:  Altenew Hug Me

Ink:  Lawn Fawn Jet Black

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Neenah Desert Storm, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Rainbow, yellow cs

Accessories:  Altenew Hug Me die, Simon Says Stamp Wonky Heart die, foam tape, Copics

Thanks for stopping by!

CTD #498 Ocean Pals

Hey there!  I've made a card for the Color Throwdown Challenge this week, and the colors were peach, pale pink, hot pink, and green.  I needed a birthday card for this weekend, so I pulled out my MFT Ocean Pals set, and inked her up to watercolor.  Now that I'm looking at it, wouldn't it be cute with some google eyes?!  I did make a process video for those that are interested.

Stamps:  MFT Ocean Pals

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Distress Inks in Spun Sugar, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, and Forest Moss, Versamark

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, black

Accessories:  MFT Ocean Pals die, Tim Holtz Bubble Stencil, foam tape, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins in 4mm & 6mm

Thanks for stopping by!

Encouraging Cards Series: Card #1 Be Brave

Hey there!  I've started a new series on my YouTube channel called the Encouraging Card Series.  I have a process video and I talk more about the series here in this video.

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Yes You Can

Ink:  Versamark, Distress inks in Worn Lipstick, Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Sunflower Archival Ink

Paper:  Bristol Smooth watercolor paper, black & orange from my stash

dies:  SSS Picture Book Lion

Accessories:  Stamp Platform, white embossing powder, Faber Castell Big Brush Pen in Black, Black Marble Dylusions Ink Spray

Thanks for stopping by!

Simon Says Stamp Picture Book Chihuahua

Hey there!  Today I'm back with a card for the Just Add Ink color challenge, which is the colors Powder Pink, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, and Wild Wasabi.  The only one of those colors I actually used was the Wild Wasabi.  I don't have the others in cardstock, so I just had to grab from my stash of stuff.  I made a process video of for this card for those of you that are interested.

There was a lot of die cutting involved in the making of this card, so I used my Xyron sticker maker quite a bit in order to assemble this card easily.

Stamps:  SSS You Got This, SSS Gingham Background

Ink:  Versamark, SU Pink Pirouette

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Neenah Desert Storm, ivory, light green, dark Pink, SU Wild Wasabi

Accessories:  foam tape, white embossing powder, PPP Whimsical Forest sequins in 4mm & 6mm, Xyron sticker maker

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below.  Thanks for stopping by!

Simon Says Stamp Haul

Hey there!  I just wanted to share with you all for those that are interested in a haul video, that I just put one up.  I LOVE to watch peoples haul videos. . .I don't know why, but I love hearing the excitement in their voices and hearing the ideas.  Anyway, here it is:

A list of the items in the video:

Lawn Fawn inks in Cilantro & Forget-Me-Not

Hero Arts Foliage Bold Prints

Mama Elephant Me and My Yeti stamp

Mama Elephant Sentiments from a Yeti stamp

Mam Elephant Puffy Holiday Greetings stamp

Altenew Crafty Lines stamp

DCWV No Prob Llama 6x6 patterned paper

Simon Says Stamp:

Taco Party stamp

Picture Book Monkey die

Picture Book Fox die

Moonshine Confetti

Painted Hugs die

Yes You Can stamp

You Got This stamp

Gingham Background

Reverse Polka Dot Background

Moroccan Background

120 lb white cardstock

Fog cardstock

Neenah Desert Storm cardstock

Thanks for stopping by!

SSS May 2018 Card Kit | 10 Cards 1 Kit | Part 2

Hey there!  I'm back with Part 2 of my series where I feature the Simon Says Stamp May 2018 Card Kit.  These are the last 5 cards, and I still have lots of goodies left over from the kit.  

The kit is no longer available, but Simon Says Stamp stocks the goodies individually.  So be sure to head there if you're interested in any of the supplies you see here.

Check out the process video if you'd like to see how any of these cards were made.

Thanks for stopping by!

SSS May 2018 Card Kit | 10 Cards 1 Kit | Part 1

Hey there!  I have the first 5 cards to share with you from my 2 part series using the Simon Says Stamp May 2018 Card Kit.  As always, I had so much fun making these cards.  I'm late posting them, only because we were out of town this last weekend.  

This kit is jammed with lots of great products, and even though it's not available anymore, the products are available individually over at Simon Says Stamp.  It has 2 stamp sets:  Everything Together & Take Heart.  It also features some great products from Pinkfresh Studios: Let Your Heart Decide puffy stickers, patterned papers, & epoxy heart stickers.  It also came with the SSS Heart wafer die, and lots of papers to make your cards.

I used a couple of different techniques while making these cards.  I watercolored and also did some ombre stamping.  After watching the video it seems that most people like the ombre stamping.

If you're interested in the process video, I will link that down below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Let's Make 8 -- Part 2 of 2 -- SSS Mother's Day Card Kit

Hey there!  I'm back with the second part to my Let's Make 8 Card series, where I show 8 cards using the Simon Says Stamp Limited Edition Mother's Day 2018 Card Kit.  Today's cards are the last 4 from this series.

The kit is no longer available, but all of the supplies most likely are over at Simon Says Stamp.  I have a process video for you if you're interested in how these 4 came together:

Now I'm pretty well set on Mom cards. . .if you can ever have enough.  I know my mom could get a card every day, and it still wouldn't show my appreciation for all that she's done for me.

I hope these gave you some ideas on how to use this kit if you got it, and if you didn't then I hope you were inspired anyway.

Thanks for stopping by!

Let's Make 8 -- Part 1 of 2 -- Simon Says Stamp Mother's Day 2018 Kit

Hey there!  I feel like it's been a hot minute since I've posted, but it has definitely been a hectic week. I did, however, manage to make 8 cards with the Simon Says Stamp Limited Edition Mother's Day 2018 Kit.  It's no longer available, but the kits contents are still available at Simon Says Stamp.   

I have a process video for these 4 cards.  I'm calling it Part 1 of 2.  I'll have Part 2 for you shortly. Check out the process video if you're interested:

Each of these cards using the contents of the kit, with the exception of grabbing some cardstock for bases and using a few tools.

Be sure to check back to see Part 2.  There will be 4 more cards using this Limited Edition kit.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Altenew: Build-a-Flower Gardenia

Hey there!  I'm finally getting my card up for the Color Throwdown challenge #488, which is the colors yellow, green, aqua, and white, and this card is also for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to add some texture.

I used a new to me set from Altenew called Build-a-Flower Gardenia.  I have to say, I may be getting hooked on these flowers!  They are fairly effortless and look so beautiful when all stamped out.  I have a process video if you'd like to check it out:

I really am happy with how this card turned out, and I loved the color challenge.  The added texture just adds to the design, so I will be putting this design in my memory banks.

 Stamps:  Altenew Build-a-Flower Gardenia

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, blue patterned paper from my stash

Ink:  Altenew Green Fields pack: Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Evergreen, & Jet Black, SU Barely Banana, SU So Saffron, SU Crushed Curry

Accessories:  Altenew Gardenia die, Taylored Expressions Dotted Lattice embossing folder, Nuvo Neptune Crystal Drops, foam tape

Thanks for stopping by!