Plaid with Flowers

This week's CAS challenge at Splitcoast asked us to use plaid in our creations. I actually had a piece of plaid out on my table with this teal textured cardstock that I thought could work together, and when I found this scalloped circle in a baggie of leftover elements, the card came together.

The flowers are from the "Enamor" clear set by Penny Black, and the sentiment is from "Kind Words" by Verve. I used copic markers to color the flowers. The plaid paper is from and American Crafts 6x6 pad called "#summer" -- which is filled with some of the brightest colors and designs I've ever seen in papers! Just using a small strip like this helps to tone it down a bit.

I have a special coupon code for Hambo Stamps that is good thru the rest of this month. Mention "CAS35" when you order to save 35% on all Hambo stamps thru next Tuesday (31st). This code is not referenced on the Hambo website anywhere, and is a special code just for my blog readers.

Have a great day!

Stenciled Leaf

REMINDER: Now thru July 8, enjoy 40% off ALL Hambo stamps! See our SALE page for details. 

Now on to today's card:

I'm very happy with how this stencil (Carabelle Studio) worked! I didn't have to adhere it in any way; I just held it down with the tip of one finger, and sponged the Tim Holtz distress oxide inks around it. It stayed in place without slipping, and I got this really crisp image.

I layered this on a print from Love Nicole's "Aquarelle" pad for a cool monochrome look. The finishing touch was the Hero Arts sentiment, which was embossed in white.

Happy 4th of July!

Pretty Poppies

It's been forever since I played along with a Splitcoast sketch challenge, so I'm patting myself on the back a little, because I found this one to be kind of tough. I had several images that could take up the longish space on the left, but what would coordinate for the smaller boxes on the right?

I really wanted to use my Stampendous "Poppy Scene" stamp on the left, but adding further to my problem was that the frame around the image was irregular. My solution? Doodling!

That's right - those boxes on the right were doodled with a Micron pen. I stamped poppies from a Technique Tuesday clear set, but they didn't look right. I settled on keeping the stems from that stamp, but then re-stamping the Stampendous one, and cutting out some of the poppies to glue on top of the Techique Tuesday stems. Then I used a sentiment from Hero Arts to complete the layout.

I always like a red/white/black combination (maybe because of my love for the Detroit Red Wings?), and I think this pops. Hah! Appropriate for "Pop"pies! LOL (I crack myself up.)

Enjoy the last few days of June. See you in July! OH - And look for a big Hambo Stamps sale coming up next week! 40% discounts on everything - spread the word!

Have a great weekend!

Supplies:

Stamps - Stampendous "Poppy Scene"; Technique Tuesday "Growing Wild" set (stems); Hero Arts "Everyday Sayings"
Paper - "Garden Party" by Pebbles (DP); Stampin' Up real red cardstock
Ink - colored with Copic markers; sentiment embossed with white powder
Dies - banner from Becky Higgins set

Sunflowers

I mentioned last week that I found some great deals at Tuesday Morning; this Stampendous "Sunflower & Ladybug" stamp was one of them. The large cling stamp was $2.99, I believe. I love deals like that!
The image was water-colored with distress oxide inks, and then cropped with a Spellbinders oval die. The Hero Arts sentiment finishes it off.

Have a great week!

Shine on!

Here are a couple of CAS cards that feature metallics. They look great when the light catches them and are simple to make. The lack of frills helps make these cards a nice choice for a man, as he can look at them without the fear of getting glitter or floral cooties on himself.

For both of these I used a die cut, with the metallic paper showing through from the back, then mounted on a white card base.

I tend to use white card bases the most for my card ministry cards. I either use the plain white card as I did here, or I adhere a designer paper to the front. For the times when I use colored card stock for my base, I add a white paper liner inside. Since many of these card recipients will be elderly church members, I want to make these cards as easy as possible to read.

I also use "thinking of you" quite a bit as a sentiment, because it covers most reasons why you'd send a card. Whether the recipient has been shut-in and unable to attend church, or has been sick, or has had a death in the family, or has had a birthday -- in any of these events recipients can appreciate that someone has them in mind. I pair this simple sentiment with bible verses, so when this is on the outside of the card, a bible verse is inside, or vice versa - no pun intended!