Time Out Challenge #263

We have a fun theme for Time Out Challenge #263:  Alphabet Magnet Day.  To be honest, I had no idea what that was until I googled it.  Here's what I found:  "National Alphabet Magnet Day recognizes the ingenuity and creativity of making words from magnetic letters."

I love using stencils, so pulled out an old favorite: Altenew's Wonderful Wreath.   I inked through the stencil, moved it and inked again using CN9 Sea Glass, Tidepool and Clover.  I like the fresh, springy look of those colors. 

For the berries I used CN9 Blueberry.  Gina K Friend Caps die has a font similar to most magnetic letters, so I die cut it twice for thicker letters and inked with the 3 greens.  Not sure you can buy ombre magnetic letters, but wouldn't that be a good idea?!  I used Nuvo Crystal Glaze on the berries and diecut letters.  

The little word from Altenew's Floral Frame was stamped in Blueberry.  The look was just too plain for me with so much white, but tiny splatters of green and blue took care of that!  Our sponsor is Altenew and the winner also gets a chance to guest design with us for a future challenge.  Check out the great inspiration from my teammates and our guest designer.  Hope to see you in the gallery.

I'm entering SSS Monday and WAW.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Turnabout Card

Surprise!  Yep--back in a day because Just Us Girls Color Week gallery is about to close.  I've been wanting to use one of my CN9 Turnabout stamps and decided Lovely Blossoms would work well using the challenge colors of Peach, Lavender, Gray.  

Pretty sure I've never used that combo before, but I do love pastels.  Decided silver would look good with it, so pulled out CN9 Nectar and Lilac along with Lawn Fawn Manatee.  I silver embossed the 4th turn.  Also hadn't used my Frantic Stamper arch dies in awhile, so used the largest one to die cut the panel.  An old Spellbinders die kit included the sweet flowers & stems that I thought went well with the background.  I used the same inks to color them and arranged them along the side.  The Pinkfresh Perfect Sentiments are such a great font and now that I've cut apart the stamps, I can actually use them!  Hello was stamped in Manatee and covered with Shimmer Pico Embellisher.  

I don't have all that many silver embellishments, but I did find very old Stampendous Diamond Dots in my stash.  The tiny ones fit perfectly in the flower centers and the big ones added a little sparkle to the card.  They're flat, so also mail friendly.  I wanted a bit more silver, but didn't have a larger arch die.  Luckily, I thought of just adding a strip of silver metallic cardstock and that was just what it needed.  Not a typical card for me, but it's fun to do something a little different.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday. 

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Couple Cards

I've participated in the monthly CCC for many years, sending and receiving cards from all over the world.  For April my card stayed in the US, which was good, since being sick delayed my getting it in the mail.  I loved the color combo of silver, evergreen, lilac.  You don't have to use the exact colors.  

The bouquet from Alex Syberia Spring Garden was silver embossed and I used the stencils to add the color.  My inks were CN9 Grape Soda & Lilac, Altenew Forest Glades & Frayed Leaf and a light and dark gray.  I added silver splatters and Taylored Expressions glitter dots.  

Someone gave me the diecut sentiment which I brushed lightly with gray.  There's a short video in my IG post.  Nancy suggested I add this card to Color Hues Lilac and Lime challenge.

Ever since I saw the blackout techique with embossing folders, I wanted to try it with blue ink.  A reel on IG inspired me to do it now.  

I colored some of the images on the debossed side of a panel using SSS Vine Canopy folder.  This time I used alcohol markers.  Then I rubbed over the entire panel with Versafine Clair Blue Belle and splattered with white gauche.  Really love how PTI Skinny Diagonals Frame made the perfect border without covering up too much of the design.  I used PTI Dark Indigo for the mat.  SSS Stitching Butterflies were die cut from vellum twice to make 2 layered butterflies.  I attached the pieces only in the center and then added the bodies colored with the same marker as the berries. 

SSS Painted Hugs diecuts were stacked and covered with glaze.  Hard to tell, but there's just a bit of sparkle from the Stickles on the bodies.  Not everyone's cup of tea, but I really like the look.  I'm entering SSS Monday, SSS Wednesday and Word Art Wednesday. 

I'm happy to say I'm doing much better.  I'd feel 100% if only my ears weren't still plugged!  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Friendship and Sympathy

The Altenew April Inspiration Challenge is about to close.  I've seen a lot of embossed black out cards lately.  Two of the designers are Barbara Tarayao and Karen Dunbrook.  Decided to give the technique a try using Altenew's Floral Acanthus embossing folder. 

I colored the images on the debossed side using a small blending brush and Distress Inks fired brick, dried marigold and weathered wood.  Have to say, I love those colors together!  Then I used my Versafine Clair Nocturne ink pad to cover the panel.  I love how there's a bit of the black on the images that gives them more definition.  Almost forgot the white splatters and they really do step it up. I used black glossy cardstock for the mat and Altenew's Fancy Hello.  Finished with black enamel dots.  Now I'm anxious to try more folders and different color combos.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

I needed 2 sympathy cards for sisters who lost their nephew to colon cancer.  I prefer simple cards to send condolences and usually use nature images.  

My stencils from The Greetery have been waiting to be used and made the perfect background for the silhouette image from The Cat's Pajamas.  The stenciling was done with Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue and the silhouette was stamped in PTI Weathervane.  I used Versafine Morning Mist for the sentiment from PTI Wildflower Garden.  I used MFT rectangle dies to cut the Weathervane and white panels.  

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Friendship and Birthday

Still not back to myself, but most days I have a few hours where I feel good enough to work on cards.  For the first one, I gold embossed SSS Poinsettia background on black watercolor paper.

I love the geometric pattern that can be used all year.   I spritzed the panel and randomly added blue and green Altenew Metallic watercolors.  So beautiful in person and visible in my short IG video.  SSS Rustic Sprig was die cut twice from MFT Champagne Glitter cardstock.  SSS Painted Hugs was die cut from black glossy cardstock that I also used for the mat.  Finished off with black enamel dots.  I'm entering Tic Tac Toe #246 using Embossing, Free, Gold.

I recently discovered the beautiful Memory Box Viola paper pack in my stash.  One of the sheets is a lovely subtle background and I thought it'd be perfect to emboss with my favorite MB Blooming embossing folder.  

I lightly rubbed Memento Grape Jelly over the raised edges.  Poppystamps Happy Birthday Poe Script was stacked and covered with Nuvo Crystal Glaze.  Finished off with white embroidery thread and a tiny white heart in the center of the bow.  I'm entering Memory Box April Challenge, SSS Wednesday, Snippets Playground (teal cardstock was a scrap) and Word Art Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Time Out Challenge #262

Well, thought I'd be back before now.  However, after having a wonderful family time for my nephew's wedding, I came down with Covid.  It's definitely taken a tole, but I'm recovering.  

We have a wonderful Photo Inspiration for Time Out Challenge #262.  My friend, Kim Heggins of Running Stitch Design, is a talented seamstress, as well as cardmaker.  We actually met in person some years ago.  Kim made a darling bag to inspire us and it's the prize!  

I knew I had some doggy printed paper in my stash, but I didn't know I had this wonderful sheet by BasicGrey!  A friend of mine recently adopted a 9 month old puppy, so I made her this card.

I found the right shade of red and brown cardstock in another box of solid colored cardstock I'd forgotten about.  I am drowning in paper--haha!  Really didn't want to cover up the darling paper.  I simply added the 1994 woodblock sentiment, some twine and a little wooden heart colored with a Copic and covered with glaze.

The lady I sent this to is one of my non-cardmaking friends who actually loves to get my cards.  I always enjoy making cards, but it's even more fun when you know they'll be appreciated.  All the challenge details and inspiration from my teammates and our Guest Designer can be found on the blog.

I'm entering SSS Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Time Out Challenge #261

I'm back with my card for Time Out Challenges #261, Inspired By Words.  We have a fun quote by Scrapbook.com:  

"I'm a romantic!  I live for long, dreamy walks down the craft aisle."  

Remember, you can be inspired by the entire quote or by any of the words.  We're sponsored by Doodlebugs.  They're giving the winner a $25 gift certificate to their great on-line crafting store.  The winner also gets the opportunity to be a guest designer for a future challenge.

This was an easy challenge for me, as I was about to head to my nephew's wedding!  It's fun to use graduation or wedding invitations as inspiration for the card.  As soon as I received the invitation, I knew Taylored Expressions Modern Eucalyptus would be perfect.

I had already used the Foil It cards that nearly match the double frame.  Luckily, I have Paper Smooches Geo Frame die which I've never used.

I began by using the layering stencils with these inks:  Altenew Rocky Shore and Forest Glades and PTI Ripe Avocado and Ocean Tides.  Then I used the matching dies to cut out the 2 branches.  I inked the frame with the beautiful, shimmery Delicata Rose Gold, since I knew soft pink was one of the bride's colors.  The sentiment from TE Scripted Sentiments was stamped 3 times with Rocky Shore and then with Versamark, so I could add clear embossing powder.  I splattered lightly with Rocky Shore.  It's hard to see in the pictures, but makes a huge difference in person.  

I decided it needed a little something more, so vellum leaves to the rescue!  These are from PFS Dainty Blossoms.  All the challenge details and wonderful inspiration from my teammates and our guest designer can be found at Time Out Challenges. 

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.