Thinking of You

I finally got this cute little snorkeling flamingo and he just cracks me up! The flippers and mask are so cute! Our Just Us Girls CAS Challenge #685 is Thinking of You, so I decided that this little guy is missing its friend. Won't you join us this week with this theme that could go with just about any design?

Products I used:

Avery Elle: Flamazing stamp set

My Favorite Things: Inside and Out Stitched Circle Dies

Altenew: Artist Markers 

Simon Says Stamp: Custom Copic Friendly White Cardstock

Stampin' Up!: Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (sentiment), Sea Street stamp set (school of fish)

Prismacolor pencils

Concord and 9th: Mini ink cubes

Versafine: Onyx Black ink pad

First I die cut a circle out of my A2 card front.  Then I stamped the flamingo on the circle. I stamped it again on a Post-it note and fussy cut it to be a mask. Then I masked off the sky, the water, then the sand to ink blend the background. I removed the flamingo's mask and colored it. I stamped the school of fish on each side and added the sentiment. I adhered the circle to the inside of the card and that finished it!!

Check out the team and guest's cards for inspiration and join us in the gallery! We love seeing your projects!

-Carol

Let's Vacay

For our Just Us Girls Photo/Moodboard #684 I CASEd a card I just loved from the My Favorite Things blog, but I don't own their sandcastle dies, so I had to make my own. From our challenge photo of the beach huts I got the idea of a sandcastle made on that same beach while staying in one of the huts for the day/week. I am also entering it at AAA Cards Challenge: Everything Beach.

Products I used:

My Favorite Things: Sand and Surf (wave dies), Beach Bungalow dies set (flag)

Simon Says Stamp CZ Design: Sentiment Strips Chill Summer

Concord and 9th: Mini ink cubes

Watercolor paper

Postal edge scissors

Buttons Galore: Seaside Holiday sequins mix

Stampin' Up!: Brown marker, Classic ink pad in Bermuda Bay

Gelly Roll: White gel pen

This mini slimline card base is a size I like to make...more than the large slimlines because there is less space to fill. First, I die cut and ink blended a scrap of white cardstock for the water, then used my white pen to add sea foam on one edge. I then die cut and ink blended a beige-y piece of cardstock to look like the sand. I also ink blended on watercolor paper to get the shades of the sandcastle that I wanted, then hand cut the pieces and built it. I added a little spatter then some sand details with a white pen and brown marker. All that was left was to pick a sentiment and add the beachy sequins. I love the little shell sequin best! I also like how the sentiment makes a verb out of the word vacation: Let's vacay!

Please join us this week for this summery, seashore card inspiration! Or, if you wish, just use the colors!

-Carol

Merry Christmas Tag Book

I'm back today with a new project for the Christmas Craft Creations June Challenge which is Heat Embossing! We hope you will join us this month using this longtime technique. I just figured out how I want to finish this project that I started many months ago and it fits our theme perfectly! Be sure to check out the cards from the whole team for ideas!

Front

Front

Inside

Back

With activities

Extra Activity tags

Products I used:

Pinkfresh Studio: Built on Dreams stamp and die sets

Honey Bee Stamps: Country Christmas Wreath stamp and die sets

Stampin' Up!: Oval and scalloped oval punches

Hero Arts: Tag Infinity dies

Pink and Main: Large Sentiment Strip dies

Patterned papers

Heavy cardstock

White embossing powder

Versamark ink pad

Crop-o-dile

Ribbon

I love handmade mini albums, cookbooks, photo books etc. I decided to make a little book/mini album with heat embossing on the front. I could have made pages for the information inside the covers, but I also love tags and these fit well without showing outside of the houses.

I die cut a house out of brown cardstock, then drew around the die and hand cut two more slightly bigger houses out of pink plaid heavy cardstock. On the brown house, I stamped/heat embossed the house outline, sentiment, heart and gingerbread people for the front of my album. I added die cut patterned papers to all the other sides of the houses, then die cut little tags. I added a little strip of patterned paper on the bottom edge of each tag to keep with the theme. I made a mistake and added a pocket on the outside back of the album, but it isn't hurting anything being there. It stores extra tags. I used my Crop-o-dile to make a hole for the ring to go through the front, tags and back houses. Then I tied a pink and brown bow on the ring and my little book was complete!

Then I decided to print some activities that my family could do during the holidays. I made a document and printed out the activities in brown on white cardstock. I die cut them with my banner dies and adhered them to the tags. I also want to make a holiday cards address book like this with each address on a tag of its own (probably hand written). If any of my friends move, I will remove the tag and write their new address on a new tag. I can add tags to the ring easily if I want to send a card to someone I have not sent one to before. 

Also, on each tag you could instead put a thought for the day, or funny quotes, etc....mix them up or change them out each year...all sorts of other uses for these tags...it's got me thinking.

We look forward to your cards in our gallery this month!! Remember that our theme should always be the center of attention on your card and obvious in your photo. See you there soon!

-Carol

Don't Drink and Dive

Continuing with my beachy cardmaking, I saw that AAA Cards Challenge #242 is Everything Beach. And well, a new stamp set came in the mail today so I just had to ink it up! (Thank you again AALL & Create for my gift!) I liked how a few of the DT members made one layer/corner stamped cards. I am also sharing it at the As You See It Challenge #300: Adventure for their 300th challenge!

Products I used:

AALL & Create: Scuba Dee

Hero Arts: CM276 stamp set (shell)

Prismacolor colored pencils

Versafine: Onyx Black ink pad

Stampin' Up!: Coastal Cabana Classic Ink Pad

Ink Blending brush

This one layer card was so easy. Just stamp the images and color! I used to have a wetsuit in these colors, so I colored it like mine. I masked her flippers to be able to ink blend some water beneath her feet. Don't you just love this scuba lady with her full makeup and earrings? LOL! 

Back to creating more summery projects while they are in season!

-Carol

Hello Sunshine

Do you ever have a card in mind that you want to make, but just don't ever seem to get around to it? This card has been on my mind for at least a year, if not longer, since seeing them here and there and then receiving one in a swap last summer. So, here is my card for this week's Just Us Girls Word Challenge #683: Hello.

Products I used:

Avery Elle: Splash Stamp set and dies

My Favorite Things: Sand and Surf dies, Wild Greenery dies, Beach Cutie stamp set

Sugar Pea Designs: Wave stencil

Versafine Onyx black ink stamp pad

Prismacolor pencils

Distress inks

I knew I wanted a bird's eye view card for my lazy river. The first thing I did was stencil the waves (the current) in the middle of an A2 panel of white cardstock. Then I ink blended the top and bottom green for a grassy effect. On scraps of white cardstock, I ink blended different greens for my leaves, then die cut them. I wanted a variety of colors and tropical leaf styles. Next I cut the edges of the lazy river with a wavy surf die, cutting three times in a row about 3/8" apart to get the two strips. I cut two long narrow strips of foam tape to pop up the edge strips on both sides of my lazy river. Then I attached the leaves in different directions, some flush with the card and some on foam tape. I die cut, stamped and colored my floating ladies and their tubes next. I stamped the sentiment, holding my breath that I didn't ruin the card at this point in the process...and lucked out. Then I placed the "floating ladies" and the card was done! 

An ad popped up on my computer while making this card that claimed that pool companies are putting lazy rivers in back yards instead of pools. I would go for that. There are classes at gyms where you walk against the current of a lazy river...so not a bad idea!!

Please join our Hello challenge this week...couldn't be easier!!! Can't wait to see your ideas in our gallery!

-Carol

 

Life is Better at the Beach

I am back with some news today! It is my great pleasure to be a Guest Designer for Time Out Challenges #240 where we are asked to be Sportive. What does that mean?

When I saw the definition I immediately thought of these images of children who are so excited about a day of playing at the beach. Summer break is just beginning and the carefree days and fun times are in full swing! I thought I would make a card along these lines. I have seen some cute cards on Pinterest using this set. 

This challenge is sponsored by Newton's Nook Designs! The Challenge Winner will receive a $25.00 store credit to spend at Newton's Nook and an offer to Guest Design with Time Out for a future challenge! 

Products I used:

Waffle Flower: Sandy Toes stamp and die set

Simon Says Stamp: Wonky stitched rectangle dies

Versafine: Onyx black ink pad

Copic markers

Altenew: Watercolor pens

Aqua pen

Distress Inks

I die cut an A2 panel first with my wonky (wavy) stitched die. After watching this Channin Peletier video I tried my hand at watercoloring the background for my card. Next, I stamped and colored the children with Copics and Altenew Watercolor pens. I fussy cut them because I was not having luck lining up my die cuts and the stamps in my Misti...user error, not a product issue. I adhered the three children to my watercolored panel and added some sand (with a fine point Sharpie) that was being kicked up with their enthusiasm. Then I stamped my favorite sentiment from the set. I made a side-folding, aqua, A2 card base and adhered the completed panel to it. Inside, I added another white wonky stitched panel with another playful beach child and sentiment. CASEing an idea from other stampers, I also like the surprise of more of the same theme inside the card.

Please check out the challenge, linked above, to see all the ideas the team had to inspire you. Join in the fun!

-Carol

Swimming By to Say Hi

Here is another card I have wanted to make for a long while...I have seen a couple of them out there and thought it was too cute not to try to make my own version. I am linking up with the Inkspirational Challenge #291 Seasonal. Of course my card is Summer...I remember my mother taking me as a young girl to see water ballet, and I thought it was SO COOL! She took me to a lot of things she thought I would enjoy. Here is my card!

Products I used:

Avery Elle: Splash stamp and die sets

Honey Bee Stamps: Swimming By stamp set

Concord and 9th: Dew Drops

My Favorite Things: Perfect Pool Water stencil

Stampin' Up!: Bermuda Bay Classic ink pad

Versafine: Onyx Black ink pad

Prismacolor pencils

Scoreboard

I cut a heavy piece of 5" x 5" white cardstock and stenciled the pool water. Next, I die cut, then stamped the water ballerinas and colored them with my pencils. I arranged them on the pool and adhered them. Next I searched my stash for a sentiment, and found this one that I thought fit the scene well. After I stamped it, I cut two sets of border strips for height. I could have gone a couple more high, but maybe next time. I scored each strip every 1/2" to look like tiles on the edge of the pool. Then I adhered the four strips, mitering the corners. I am going to leave it like this and write a message on the back (gently, so the writing doesn't make an impression to the front side of the pool). I could make an easel or a card base to attach it to also. This was really fun to create. I'll be making another soon.

See you back here soon,

-Carol

Happy Birthday America!

I love red, white and blue used together and this is the time of the year to make things in these colors. The Card Concept #196 {Patriotic Picnic} Challenge gave me the inspiration to do so. The stars and stripes and the little bit of kraft in the colors at the bottom of their very festive photo not only influenced me to make my clean and layered card, but now I want to have another picnic (at home) like we did last Monday on Memorial Day, including cherry turnovers. Yum! Here is the result of the photo inspiration. I also entered my card into the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge (Wednesday Challenge) this week having used their Dimensional Rectangles stencils for this card!

Products I used:

Simon Says Stamp: Dimensional Rectangles stencil

Reverse Confetti: Star dies

Pink and Main: Banner die

Distress Inks

Rhinestones

Computer generated sentiment

I started by stenciling my (stripe-y) rectangles for a flag shape. They also remind me of nautical flags on boats with their geometric designs. I probably should have turned them horizontally like our flag, but the card is vertical so I matched it in orientation. Next I created an A2 card base and a panel just a bit smaller. I die cut the star off of the right edge of the panel so that my stenciling would show. I adhered the stenciled panel to the card front, then popped up the star die cut panel with foam tape on top. I cut some star dies and adhered them to the card with some rhinestones. I made the sentiment, then cut it out with a banner die.

Hope your summer holidays are fun this year, wherever you are and whatever you choose to do!

-Carol

Peace

I didn't intend for one of my June projects to be a winter/holiday card, but the hues for our Just Us Girls Color Challenge #682: Blue, Purple and Light Grey seemed like a December/January palette given this store-bought alcohol ink patterned paper that I ran across in my stash. (So, the paper drove the design of the whole card.) I guess it never hurts to get a head start on holiday cards!

Products I used:

Pink and Main: Inked Oasis paper pack

Sizzix for Stampin' Up!: Decorative Strip Northern Frost die

Simon Says Stamp: Holographic Rainbows sequins

Dotted vellum

Glue dots

Easy card to make and I have discovered that I love this variety pack of Pink and Main alcohol inked-look colors!!! Glad I broke them out! I used glue dots behind my word to adhere the vellum to the card base. That's it for my card!

You don't have to make a holiday card, but we sure hope you will join us with these pretty colors! Maybe some hydrangeas or other pretty summer flowers?

-Carol

Happy Birthday America

I have been wanting to make 4th of July cards because I love the bright colors that can be used for the look of fireworks that pop in the sky on certain holidays like the one coming in just a month. Here is the first card I came up with...and I realized that it is a birthday theme and can be part of the Seize the Birthday #262 Make it Pop! 

Products I used:

The Greetery: Pinwheel Party Stencils

Lawn Fawn: Henry's ABCs die set

Stampin' Up!: Independence Day stamp set (on wood..older set)

Concord and 9th: Mini ink cubes

Rhinestones

This stencil set is really fun and easy to use. I cut out all of the pinwheels that I stencilled and popped some up on the card base with foam tape. I stenciled more pinwheels to be able to cut out my fireworks-inspired "America" letters like I saw Kelly Lunceford do here. She is soooooo creative and talented! 

I love all kinds of fireworks shows...as long as they are not too loud/close to me. Do you? I hope to make more cards for the 4th soon. See you right back here.

-Carol