World Card Making Day is Coming!!!

Can you believe I went a week without posting on my blog?!!!  Shocking!  It's for a good reason.  I was in New York with Catherine Pooler, Maureen Merritt & Kristie Goulet from the StampNation Dream Team and CAS*ual Fridays Stamps desgner, Michele Gross to work on some exciting things coming up for the next few months and into 2016. Woot Woot! 

The second reason was that I needed to "unplug" a bit.  Every time I started working on my blog the internet would go out or my iPad would die on me.  I had a few posts set up, but didn't publish them.  Don't worry, as soon as I recover from the jetlag and lack of sleep I will be finishing up those posts and sharing them with you.  I'm even planing on sharing some pictures with you.  In the meantime, the dream team is working on hard on the final details for World Card Making Day.   

You know we like to celebrate big time over at StampNation, so be prepared for some fun if you are a member.  We have an amazing line up of sponsors for the event and enough inspiration to keep you creating for months!

If you aren't yet a member, Catherine has put out a video explaining it better than I ever could.   CLICKY to check it out.   If you are a member be sure to tune in over the weekend for challenges around the clock. Here's a small sneak peek of some of the cards that will be going up over the weekend.  Can you guess what our theme is for this one?

 

Feels Like Fall ~ SC112

The first day of Fall is coming in a couple of days.  I'm celebrating early with my card for the new Stampin' Celebration Sketch challenge.

SC112

I was so inspired by this sketch and stamp set that I made 2 cards!  Come back Wednesday to see my second card and video.  Be sure and click on the picture above to see what the rest of the design team came up with and then link up your own creation.  

Man Card

Masculine stamps and accessories can be difficult to find.  As the mom of two teenage boys I jump at most any product I find that I can use on cards for them and their friends.   When I saw the gears stencil at My Favorite Things I knew I had to have it for my son's upcoming 19th <gasp> birthday card.  It matches perfectly with the mini gears (by Tim Holtz), I have been hoarding.    I don't know why I have been hoarding thess little goodies, because they are still available for purchase, but now that I opened the pack I've already used half of them!  Time to order more.  ;)

To create this card I sponged the background, then used the stencil to apply silver embossing paste.  Did you know embossing paste comes in more than white & clear?  After it was dry I cut it out with my stitched rectangle die and sponged the edges to give the card a more distressed look.

Stamps: Celebrate (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink: Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky, Gathered Twigs, Tea Dye, Tumbled Glass (Distress); Early Espresso (Stampin' UP!)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Copper Foil Paper (???)
Accessories: Gears Stencil (My Favorite Things); Mini Gears (Tim Holtz); Happy Die (SSS); Stitched Rectangle Die (Lil Inker Designs); Metallic Silver Embossing Paste (Dream Weavers)

Stencil MPD Gears

Tim Holtz, Mini Gears, 12 pk

Diecuts With A View 6x6 Cardstock Stack - Foiled 2

Dreamweaver Embossing Paste, Metallic Silver, 4 oz.

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Kit #9

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Kit #12

p.s.  Check out what I found at Ellen Hutson... another set of gears by Tim Holtz called Sprocket Gears!  Oh yes, they have been added to my cart.  ;)  Hubby's birthday is just around the corner.  :)

Sprocket Gears (Tim Holtz)

Monday Hugs

Bringing some happy to your Monday with another card based on the current sketch challenge at My Favorite Things.

Today & tomorrow I will be filming some videos for my blog, World Card Making Day, upcoming classes, and some special events.  Would you like a video on how I made this watercolored look in the background, or is it easy to figure out?

Clicky

There are still a few hours left to participate in this sketch challenge, and there is a $20 PRIZE up for grabs for one lucky stamper.  As you can see I turned this card into a rectangle.  If you would like to see my square card made using this sketch CLICKY.  If you are a member of StampNation you have until September 23rd to post your creation HERE for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to MFT. Woot-Woot!

I've decided to take a deep breath and enter the My Favorite Things Superstar card design challenge.  Wish me luck and enter your cards too!  Clicky for all the deets.


Stamps: Garden Flourish, True Friends (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Black Onyx (Versafine); Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers-
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White Thick (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Black Twine (Doodlebug); Stitched Square Frames Dies( MFT)

My Favorite Things Cling Stamps, Flourish Background

My Favorite Things Clear Stamps, True Friends

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Stitched Square Frames

Doodle Twine Spool, Beetle Black

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 025, Pink

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 082, Purple

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 081, Light Violet

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 080, Violet

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 042, Turquoise Green

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

My Favorite Things ~ Blessings

This week StampNation is playing along with the My Favorite Things sketch challenge.  You know how much I LOVE sketches!  I loved this one so much I made 2!  One for my blog and one exclusively for StampNation.

The background is stamped with white pigment ink onto craft cardstock.  I made a mask using outer frame from the die cut so that only the center of my card would be stamped.

Check out this sketch!  Doesn't it get your creative juices flowing?!!!  The best part is you can participate in this challenge at both the MFT site CLICKY and StampNation CLICKY.  I created a mask with my new Stitched Square Frames die and then inked my Crumb Cake cardstock with white pigment ink.  Next I added my frame using dimensionals so it would pop up from the card a bit.  For the fall berries I first inked it with a Kaleidacolor pad, then added just a touch of Golden Glitz Delicata ink to the edges.  The combination of white, craft and purple colors with a touch of gold reminds me of crisp Fall days filled with sunshine and fresh air.

The second card I made exclusively for StampNation was almost a one layer card, but the sentiment got lost on the background.  To solve this I stamped it again on white cardstock, punched that out and popped it up with dimensionals.  The I added seam binding and sequins.  Below is a sneak peek.  You can see the full card and DT samples in the challenge forum at StampNation.  

Some of my fellow Design Team members are featuring a second card today on their blogs too.  Check them out and give them some love!

Allison Cope: Clicky
Catherine Pooler: Clicky
Isha Gupta: Clicky

I've decided to take a deep breath and enter the My Favorite Things Superstar card design challenge.  Wish me luck and enter your cards too!  Clicky for all the deets.

Supplies:
Stamps: Garden Flourish; LJD Fall Foliage (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Paper White (Fresh Ink); Golden Glitz Delicata, Vineyard Kaleidacolor (Tsukineko)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Stitched Square Frames (MFT); Gold Thread, Oval Punch (Stampin' Up!)

My Favorite Things Cling Stamps, Flourish Background

My Favorite Things Clear Stamps, Fall Foliage by Lisa Johnson Designs

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Stitched Square Frames

Delicata Ink Pad, Golden Glitz

Two Card Tuesday ~ Part 2 NBUS

Did you see part 1?  If you did then you know I am participating in the NBUS Challenge #5 and I finally got my Cheerful Blessings stamp set inky.  If not, you can CLICKY to see my 1st card or click on the graphic below to find out more about the challenge.

Here is card #2.   When I got my Zig Clean Color markers a couple of weeks ago I started playing and experimenting with them to see how the markers worked and reacted with each other & water.  The strips you see at the bottom of my card are a result of that practice.  I took a yellow marker and scribbled on one side of my paper, then took a red marker to the other side. I sprayed the strip with water and moved watched the colors blend and spread.  It was so cool!  I didn't want to throw it out. 

It was sitting on my (very messy) stamp table when the "sunshine" sentiment caught my eye from the NBUS stamp I had just used.  I stamped it, cut off 2 smaller strips then adhered it with glue to my sponged card base.  I love that I saved this piece from the trash and gave some inky love to a poor neglected stamp set at the same time.

Be sure to check out the NBUS challenge and participate.  There are some awesome prizes to be won!  Thanks Darnell and helpers for bringing us this challenge.

I've decided to take a deep breath and enter the My Favorite Things Superstar card design challenge.  Wish me luck and enter your cards too!  Clicky for all the deets.

Stamps: Cheerful Blessings (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Cracked Pistachio, Squeezed Lemonade, Tumbled Glass (Distress); Black Onyx (Versafine); Zig Clean Color Markers 50, 20
Paper: Whisper White (Stampin' UP!); Bristol (Strathmore)
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up!); Ink Blending Tool (Distress)

My Favorite Things Clear Stamps, Cheerful Blessings by Lisa Johnson Designs

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

Essentials by Ellen, Julie's Smooth Bristol, 20pc-5.5" x 5.5"

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 022, Carmine Red

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 050, Yellow

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Squeezed Lemonade

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Tumbled Glass

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Cracked Pistachio

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

Quilled Creations Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle 0.5 oz.

Two Card Tuesday ~ Part 1 NBUS

I'll try to keep this short and sweet because I have 2 cards to share with you and a challenge I hope you will go visit.  My cards today are a part of the NBUS challenge #5.  You can read all about it HERE.  Basically NBUS stands for Never Before Used Schtuff.  If you have been stamping for any amount of time you probably have new schtuff that hasn't seen any love yet.   I know I do.  I made 3 cards today alone!  I'll be sharing the 3rd card with you on Thursday.  You can see the second card  HERE.  

My first card uses the background piece I made in the video I posted last week.  You can CLICKY if you want to see how I made this yummy rainbow.  The sentiment comes from a stamp set I bought a couple of months ago and never got inky.  :(  Poor wonderful stamp set.  It stamped like a dream for me.  :)

Did I mention there are prizes for participating in the challenge?  Oh my goodness, there are a TON of fabulous prizes.  The best prize though just might be playing with your new but unused toys.  ;)

I've decided to take a deep breath and enter the My Favorite Things Superstar card design challenge.  Wish me luck and enter your cards too!  Clicky for all the deets.

Supplies:

Stamps: Cheerful Blessings (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers (003, 22, 25, 26, 80, 82, 30, 32,31, 33, 40, 41, 42, 50, 70)

Paper: Basic Black (Stampin' UP!); Bristol (Strathmore)
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder (Stampin' UP!); Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inker Designs)

My Favorite Things Clear Stamps, Cheerful Blessings by Lisa Johnson Designs

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

Essentials by Ellen, Julie's Smooth Bristol, 20pc-5.5" x 5.5"

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker, Set of 12

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 032, Persian Blue

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 003, Fluorescent Pink

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 081, Light Violet

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 026, Light Pink

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 042, Turquoise Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 082, Purple