TBT on Wednesday with Wplus9

Today I am playing in a new challenge.  My friend, Maureen Merritt, has a challenge up on the Wplus9 blog and I just had to play along.  Maureen introduced me to Wplus9 and I fell in love with their images and sentiments.  The challenge is to use an older set, but I'm still fairly new to the company.  That made this challenge difficult for me.  I decided to use the first Wplus9 set I had purchased and CASE one of Mo's cards.  Here is her card.

Maureen's TBT Card

This card really caught my eye because the focal image was recessed behind the white border.  I decided to give it a try. Here's what I came up with.

After I sponged the background I stamped in an aqua color (Soft Pool), then inked up my stamps again with black, shifted them slightly and stamped again.  This gives a soft blue shadow for each of the stamped images.

Stamps: Banner Love, Heartfelt Holiday (Wplus9)
Ink: Black Licorice (MFT Hybrid);  Soft Pool (Hero Arts Shadow Ink); Shaded Lilac, Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass (Distress)
Paper: Whisper White (Stampin' UP!)
Accessories: Rounded Stitched Rectangles (Lil' Inker Designs)

Stitched Heart

My favorite shape has to be a heart.  Now that my boys are grown I don't need very many Valentine's projects, but I still love using hearts.  My solution is to add them to a thank you note. :)  (or birthday or get well or any other card I can)

This card was inspired by two challenges.  The current Dazzling Divas challenge is to use stitching on your card.   I did that with "faux" stitching on a stamp from Wplus9.   Isn't it darling?

DD#6

The little heart next to my sentiment is cut from my AALD Metal sheet.   I think the other side is purple or pink, but once again I colored the silver side red with my Copics.  I seriously need to order those metal sheets in more colors, but the Copic markers do work ok in a pinch.

My second inspiration came from Seize the Sketch.   Even though the challenge is closed I wanted to give credit where credit is due.   It's almost like the sketch was made for this stamp.

STS#10

The inside was stamped as well.  I've been asked to show my insides more, so here it is.  :)

I would still like to make a card using my sewing machine for this challenge.   If I get it done before the challenge at Dazzling Divas ends I will share it with you.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  Even though most of these stamp sets aren't new they are all new to me.   

Stamps: Banner Love (Wplus9), Perfect Pennants, Express Yourself (Hostess), Best of Greetings (Inside)

Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Real Red, R59 & R29 (Copic)

Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, DSP(retired), Whisper White

Misc: Add A Little Dazzle Metal Sheets, Burlap Ribbon

Shades of Aqua

Gradient colors are so trendy right now.  You see them everywhere.  They're used in fabric, clothes, ads, paper, cards and scrapbooking.  What is gradient color?  I define it as graduating shades of the same color or color family.  Today the challenge at StampNation is to use gradient color on your project.  Here is the card I made.

As you can tell my aqua obsession continues.  Just wait until you see my newest quilt block.  For my card, I started with Soft Sky, at the top and went down using Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay and Island Indigo.  The banner stamp comes from Wplus9, and it is clear so you can see exactly where you are stamping.  I'm in love with this stamp set. 

The sentiment is a single wood block stamp I got at Cindy's Simple Stuff before she closed her store.  Isn't it perfect?  I was looking for a sentiment I could send to someone battling cancer.  Get Well Soon doesn't always seem appropriate in these cases.  I'm not sure who makes this stamp.  

This card was so quick and easy to make.  I love monochromatic cards, so it's no surprise I like gradient stamping too.  What color should I try next?  I want to play with this stamp some more.  :)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Banner Love (Wplus9)
Ink: Soft Sky, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Misc: Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon (retired), Island Indigo Baker's Twine