Sparkly Candles

Hello!

Today's card was made for this week's challenge over at Color Throwdown.  I love those colors all mixed up and just had to play along!

Aren't they fun, tropical colors?

This was a fun, fairly simple card to make but I still managed to find a way to add some glitter to it.  The stamps are all from Inspired By Stamping - Washi Tape and Creative Tags.

The candles are the washi tape stamps, and the "flames" are the wing from the Stampin' Up Bird Builder punch.  It's the perfect shape for a candle flame, don't you think?  I colored them using Neocolors and water in orange and yellow then added some clear glitter to the orange parts so the color wouldn't be hidden.  They are popped up on dimensionals for a bit of dimension.

Look close and you can see that I embossed the edges of the orange and white layers with glittery embossing powder.  I didn't want a hard glitter effect, just a subtle hint of sparkle.  All that plain paper bothered me.

I also gave the little tag the same sparkly edge treatment.  It just looked a little bare.  Popped it up too.  I was in a popped up, sparkly mood today.

And that is today's card.  No ribbon, big floral arrangements, etc.  Today I wanted something a little simpler that was gender and age neutral yet still had a bit of sparkle.  (I happen to know guys appreciate a bit of sparkle on occasion too.  Just ask my husband - he finds glitter in his hair and on his clothes on a regular basis.)

Thanks so much for joining me and have a sparkly day!

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Color Throwdown #255
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Make the Cut
Oldie But a Goodie - For boys/males (SU bird punch was bought last summer)

IBS New Release - Basic Backgrounds IV and Guy Sentiments

Hello!

Today we are showcasing the first of our new line of Inspired By Stamping stamps which will be available for purchase August 10!

For today I made two cards to show how versatile these stamps are.

The sentiment is from "Guy Sentiments" and has been shadow stamped with a tan ink slightly darker than the cardstock.  I sanded the embossed section of the base layer and ran a pair of scissors around the inked edges to give a slightly distressed appearance.  For the sentiment panel I first cut the shape using a Spellbinders Label 18 die and then stamped it with Inspired By Stamping's "Fancy Label 18" stamp.  This set has stamps that coordinate with every size of the die set, plus some decorative flourishes as well!

The little bits of faux washi tape were made using the IBS "Washi Tape." stamp set.  It's such a versatile set!  They are held together with a teensy little paper clip.

A couple of grommets and some twine complete this masculine card.

Well almost.

I finished the inside using one of the new sets (more on that one tomorrow!) and the recently released "Happy Occasions Sentiments."

My second card uses another of the "Guy Sentiments" stamps and also one from the "Basic Backgrounds IV" collection, both available on the 10th.

I embossed the base layer with stripes, stitched around the edge of the banner with real stitching and used a navy marker to apply faux stitches around the base layer.  Tip: I discovered recently that real stitching on a dry embossed piece will distort it.  For those who sew, think "lettuce edge."  Not attractive on a guy card.

The sentiment panel was made with three layers of cardstock put through the IBS Fancy Labels 2 Die, and I sponged the white piece while it was still in the die; I then cut on my Silhouette Cameo one of the arrows from last month's new release "Arrows" and glittered it using black glitter before adhering it to the sentiment.  Joanna is kind enough to include FREE cut files with many of her stamp sets!

Thank you so much for joining me today, and I urge you to go visit the rest of the Design Team to see what they have prepared for you using these wonderful stamp sets!

Joanna

Tina

Calypso

Pam

Shani

Deb

Colleen

Kendra

Irit

Leah

A few useful bits of information...

• All sets will be available for purchase on August 10th, 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) in the IBS store.
• Free shipping on all orders over $25 for 48 hours only -- August 10th, 7 p.m. Brisbane time to August 12th, 7 pm Brisbane time (5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) -- coupon code is AUGFREE
• All stamp sets will be offered at a 10% discount
• Chance to win that day's featured stamp set(s) EVERY DAY during the release party, from July 6th - July 10th!  Just leave a comment at owner Joanna Munster's blog each day for your chance to win. Each winner will be randomly selected and announced on the Winner's Page on August 12.  (Only one comment per person, please)

Happy crafting!

Shabby Cherries

Hello!

Today's card is for the challenge going on at The Shabby Tea Room, and I knew I had to play because of the inspiration photo and the fact that I LOVE cherries.

 

Cherry pie was one of my favorite summertime treats as a child and just writing about them makes me want a piece.  A big FAT piece.  With vanilla ice cream, no less.

After dry embossing the base layer, I decided to use some of my favorite Inspired By Stamping stamps for this card beginning with the recently released French Country Backgrounds for the red checked strip.

The washi tape strips are from the set appropriately named Washi Tape ...

...while the center panel was stamped with one of the sentiments from the All Year Wishes I set.  It was also cut using one of the Fancy Labels 2 dies.

See those cute little cherries?

They were stamped from the Mason Jar Summer Add On set, and what's really fun is that I cut them out on my Silhouette Cameo because Joanna is kind enough to include FREE cut files with many of her stamps!  Pretty cool, huh?  I gave them some shine with Glossy Accents and adhered them to my seam binding/baker's twine bow arrangement.

Oh, and the washi tape strips were also cut using the cut files designed for this set.  No need to fussy cut!

Some stitching and pearls finished this little gem.

Thank you for taking time to stop by and visit, and I wish you a lovely day full of crafting goodness if at all possible.  Even a little bit done at night after the kids are in bed is better than none.  That's what 8:00 bedtimes are for.  :)

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

The Shabby Tea Room #174 - Cherry Pie
Frosted Designs - Ribbon, Twine, Washi (how about all three?)
Pile It On #27 - Food
613 Ave. Create #27 - Anything Goes + Create Your Own (I used patterned paper, solid paper, sentiment, sketch, die cut, Glossy Accents, pearls, washi tape, twine and ribbon.)

Mojo Monday #301 - Sketch

 

Birthday Banner

1) This is my second post of the day.  For my tutorial for Creative Inspirations Paints, please go here.  (Or scroll down.)

2)  For the Inspired By Stamping Color Challenge, please go here.

Hello!

I made today's card for the current Simon Says challenge, "The Button Challenge."  And I needed a birthday card for my former employer (I'm retired), so 2+2 equals...well, you get it.

I also decided to enter the Divas By Design color challenge, with "challenge" being the operative word.

 

I LOVE these colors, so don't ask me why I had such a problem with them, but I fussed and fussed and threw this away and that until finally I came up with what you see here.  Less fussy after all and very colorful.  My work table is another story. 

The base layer was embossed with a stripe embossing folder, but that was a lot of aqua staring me in the face, so I swiped a deep teal ink pad across it this way and that until I was happy with the effect.  I've been in an ink-swipey mood lately.  Call it instant gratification.

The edges of the two purple die cuts were embossed with silver embossing powder.  I used a lot of stamp sets here, which is part of the reason why my table was a disaster after finishing.  They're all by Inspired By Stamping because they all mix and match and coordinate with each other so easily.  I used Whimsical Banners, Washi Tape (aren't they fun?), Fancy Labels 2 and All Year Wishes II, and I also used the Fancy Labels 2 Dies. 

Some rhinestones and a button complete this card.  Funny story about that button, which was the whole purpose of this card, right?  I made the card, took the photos and was just starting to post when I went to the Simon Says blog for the link, and lo, I had COMPLETELY forgotten to add a button!  ACK!!!  So after much panicked digging through my button tin, I found a lone pewter-look vintage button that was just perfect.  A dab of ribbon behind it and voila, some textile on my card to make me happy.

Thank you so much for joining me today, and I hope you find time to fit in some crafting today!

I still think it's a lot of aqua staring me in the face...

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp and Show - The Button Challenge
Really Reasonable Ribbon #73 - Masculine w/Ribbon or Trim
Divas By Design - Color Inspiration
Crafts and Me #136 - Something Old (vintage button, ribbon bought in Jan. 2012)
3 Girl JAM #19 - Anything Goes w/Ribbon
Fussy and Fancy #90 - Bling It On
Eclectic Ellapu - "B" is for... (blue, black, birthday, banner, button, bling)
613 Ave. Create - Anything Goes w/Optional Twist: "Celebrations"

Friday Sketch Challenge #45