Message in a Bottle

 Hello Everyone!

I have a very special post today because I am the guest designer for Color Hues! I just adore color challenges and this blog is absolutely no exception. I am so happy to be their guest designer! Here is my card for today, enjoy!

For me, the challenge from Color Hues screamed Ocean and Beach. So, I pulled out my Stamp Peddler (formally Peddler's Pack) stamp collection and came right to this image.
Stamp Peddler's images are so realistic and the stipple on the image makes shading a breeze. 

Guest Designing at Color Hues!

So happy to be here again.

I colored the image using bristol paper and alcohol markers. Wow! The bristol really made a difference when mixing media. I used alcohol markers over the entire image but then used multiple wax-based colored pencils in tan. It gave the aged quality I wanted and remained within the confines of the color challenge. After learning more about Brisol I learned I used the perfect paper! Lucky me and lesson learned.

I love the idea of a message in a bottle. The message in a bottle concept is so romantic, so random, but fated to find the right person. That is why I picked this sentiment. I foiled it using dark copper.

Thank you to Color Hues for having me this fortnight. I adore color challenges and was so happy when they asked me to be their guest.

And thank you, my reader, for stopping by my little byte of the internet. If you aren't already a follower I invite you to consider it. I share designs, techniques, and thoughts about well.... whatever is on my mind.  

So, join me as we all embark on our crafting journey together at TheGrandStampede. I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. Stay safe and healthy!!

All the best,

Moments

 Hello All,

I hope this message finds everyone well and happy. I have been asked once again, to be the guest designer for The Male Room! I jumped at the chance because I do enjoy creating male-themed cards. This time they have a word theme inspiration, Natures Bounty. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

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The Male Room

Challenge #153

Nature's Bounty

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Well, that is all for me!! I want to thank The Male Room again for this amazing opportunity to be their guest designer this fortnight. I also want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to join me at TheGrandStampede. If you are new to my blog, please consider following me to get all my postings. If you are so inclined to leave a comment and let me know how I am doing, that would be great too.

I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. Stay safe and healthy!!

All the best,

Springtime

Hello All!

My time as the guest designer at Just Us Girls has come to an end. I had so much fun with these gals. I felt so welcome and grateful to be a part of such a creative team. So without further ado here is my card for today, enjoy! 

Tulip Time is a festival here in West Michigan. It celebrates Springtime with tulips throughout the town. It offers an entire spectrum of color that overloads the senses- that is only when they are in bloom. The locals often call Tulip Time, affectionately, Stem Time because there have been years where the tulips have already bloomed before the festival began. Such a bummer because it really is beautiful.

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Just Us Girls

Challenge #577- Photo Week

My inspiration was the tulips and the coloring of the background.

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This layering set of tulips is from PTI. I think it is retired but not too sure. The edges of the card are distressed by brushing Twisted Citron, Stormy Sky, and Chipped Sapphire on the edges of the card.  

I may have gotten a bit pearl crazy here, but I thought they would act as spring rain. Also, the leaves and stems are multicolored. That was done by inking the entire stamp with a light green ink then wisping flecks of dark ink on top. I like the texture it provides along with the flower.

Well, that should do it for me!! I want to thank Just Us Girls once again for being such fantastic hosts. I was humbled by their invitation and their challenges were a joy to create. So, take part in their Springtime challenge, surely it will not disappoint. Take care and until next time, take care and happy stamping, and stay safe!! 

All the best,

It's All Black & White

Hello Everyone,

Today I am happy to announce to be the guest designer at Color Hues. This challenge is about the absence and entirety of color or black and white. So, without further ado here is my card today, enjoy!

This card looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. You know what, that is why I love it. It is cosmic and strange. It looks like an amazing view in zero gravity.  It will be perfect for someone someday.

 

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Color Hues

Color Hues:#TCH#14

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The geometric background was done by dry embossing a die-cut that was inked with white pigment ink. I added white sripple inside the shapes to look like stars.

I thought I would use this sentiment that came with the set (very unusual for me) but with St. Patrick's day around the corner I thought it was appropriate.You also get a close look at the dry inked embossing that done using a die-cut.

Thank you to Color Hues for having me this fortnight. I adore color challenges and was so happy when they asked me to be their guest.

And thank you, my reader, for stopping by my little byte of the internet. If you aren't already a follower I invite you to consider it. I share designs, techniques, and thoughts about well.... whatever is on my mind.  

So, join me as we all embark on our crafting journey together at TheGrandStampede. I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. Stay safe and healthy!!

All the best,

Birds of a Feather

Update: Due to the comments I added captions that tell in detail how this card was created. I don't know if this happened to anyone else but when I first created this post every time I would put in a caption it would freeze and bomb out. That is why I didn't use captions for this post. Sorry. I decided to try again and now it worked. 

Hello All,

Welcome to my second guest appearance at Just Us Girls. Their challenge this week is to use embossing folders. They are coming back in style I think it's because of the 3d folders. For this card, I was no exception. I purchased this beautiful feather background 3d embossing folder and what an amazing effect. So without further ado here is my card for today, enjoy!

I started with black cardstock and dry embossed the feather background. I added color using Distress Oxide Inks (Peacock feathers, speckled egg, aged mahogany, and vintage photo). I used a sponge to add the color approx where the feathers were.

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Just Us Girls

Challenge #575

Trend Week - use an embossing folder

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After the panel dried I lightly scraped the surface with Versafine Ink and, using my fingers, sprinkled gold embossing powder and heat set. This allowed the gold embossing to be more sporadic vs dumping the powder. I also added gold embellishments to compliment the gold embossing.

Above Left: This is a good example of the patina effect. By adding the appropriate color and minimal embossing powder it created the aged look I was after. Above Right: The sentiment also has some shine as does the banner. The banner was simply gold designer paper from a Hero Arts Monthly set. The sentiment was done by stamping it in dark blue and again with Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue ink. That is what gives out the shine. The darker ink is for when it is not in light. It shows better I promise. Below: I think the black cardstock base set the tone for the panel. Some of the black cardstock did show through that only added to the design.

Well, that should do it for me. If you are visiting from Just Us Girls thank you for popping in and seeing some of my work. If you are new to my blog, please consider following me to get all my postings. All the other followers and visitors thank you too I do appreciate every visit. We will see you next week with another challenge from Just Us Girls. Until then, take care and happy crafting.

All the best,

Buffalo

Hello Friends,

Well, more awesome news at TheGrandStampede. I have been asked by the talented gals at Just Us Girls to be their guest designer for the month of March!! What fun and am so excited to work with this seriously talented group of cardmakers. So without further ado, here is my card for today, enjoy...

Simple kraft card stock and a stamp
The outside is a buffalo, but deeper inside, other animals and designs are shown. This really ties into the " strong inside and out" sentiment I selected for this card. I especially love the buffalo itself (as if my logo doesn't give that away). Buffalos survived a near extinction, but like the sentiment suggests, they remained strong.

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Just Us Girls

Challenge #574: Animals

 

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This is a simple, single-layer card, with only the word "strong" popping out, making it appear powerful. I like the emphasis on strength and the way it adds depth to the card.

 The edges are distressed to create a more textured and earthy feel, reminiscent of the buffalo's natural habitat. The shadowy look also contributes to the dimensions of the card.

Well, that should do it for me. If you are visiting from Just Us Girls thank you for popping in and seeing some of my work. If you are new to my blog, please consider following me to get all my postings. All the other followers and visitors thank you too I do appreciate every visit. We will see you next week with another challenge from Just Us Girls. Until then, take care and happy crafting.

All the best,

Just Because

 Hello Everyone,

Today I am thrilled to be the Guest Star Stamper for this week's Color Throwdown! Their color combo is Pale Pink, Blue, and Gray. This card was so much fun to create! So, without further ado, here is my card for today, enjoy!

I have to honest, this was one tough challenge. Why? Well I rarely, if ever, have used these colors together. I guess I never realized it till I had to work with pale pink, blue, and gray together. I started with the Art Deco die-cut which was very intricate so I thought lots of white space around the sentiment would be beneficial. 

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Color Throwdown
Challenge #627

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I did however stamp an intricate flower to match the pale pink die. Against the busy background is a white border and dimensional tape around the flower. This highlights the flower and its sentiment.

Partial die-cutting was done to create the circle. I completed the white area by fussy cutting around the flower. I like the clean look partial die-cutting provides.

Challenges Entered:

Well, that is all for me!! I want to thank The Color Throwdown Challenge again for this amazing opportunity to be their guest designer for this challenge. I also want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to join me at TheGrandStampede. If you are new to my blog, please consider following me to get all my postings. 

I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. More importantly, please stay safe and healthy!!

All the best,

Remembered and Forgot...

UPDATE: I found the video regarding lining up layered stamp set! I have been looking for this video for weeks. Anyway here you go; click here for her video....

 Hello Everyone,

I wanted to start by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hopefully, you are all starting the year in good spirits and good health. We are doing well here in our little pod.

I am also so excited to be the guest designer for CASology this next fortnight. Memories could mean Happy Birthday, Sympathy, New Year, or memories of 2020. Considering the last year I wanted it to be lighthearted and fun. So here is my card for today, enjoy!

I think I heard somewhere that fish have a memory of eight seconds. You know, like Dory from Finding Nemo. Forgetting someone's birthday is a common occurrence for me. When I remember it goes in my memory bank where it quickly fades into mist or what I fondly call 'The Land of Good Intentions'.

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Week 381- Cue: Memories

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My host, Melissa asked me to create a 'design defined' statement for my card. I had to really think of why my design worked as a CAS card. Together we came up with this: Overlap a sentiment with other elements to create a focal point & preserve white space. I thought it would be an easy exercise but it was not easy at all. Then I realized by creating a minimalist scene of a fish environment it created a frame for the sentiment to live. I think it worked very effectively.

This betta fish is a layering stamp set from Hero Arts. At first for me, layered stamp sets were a disaster! They would ultimately work but not without a lot of trial and error. Then I saw a YouTube video from Jennifer McGuire on how to layer stamps using the original image from the packaging! Use the preprinted image on the packaging to line up the image then place the corresponding stamp on top of that image until it visually 'clicks' into place. Close the door on your stamp positioner and stamp. This technique was a game-changer for me!!! I am now digging up all my layered stamps with new vigor. 

Well, that is all for me!! I want to thank CASology again for this amazing opportunity to be their guest designer for this challenge. I also want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to join me at TheGrandStampede. If you are new to my blog, please consider following me to get all my postings. 

I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. More importantly, please stay safe and healthy!!

All the best,

Sepia Neighborhood

  Hello Everyone,

Today I am proud and thrilled to be one of the guest designers at The Color Throwdown! Their color challenge is all about neutrals. This week's color combo is Kraft, Cream, and Cranberry.  This card was so much fun to create! So, without further ado, here is my card for today, enjoy!

I wanted the suggestion of coziness and the warmth of home. Home to me is a place where I don't have to ask to see what is in the frig. It is a place where I take off my shoes to expose the holes in my socks. Most importantly, it is a place where love lives and for that, I am so grateful. 

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Color Throwdown

Challenge #616

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The neighborhood was stamped in sepia and colored using polychromo pencils in colors cranberry, cream, and kraft. This wasn't intentional but the colors set the scene for nostalgia- like an old photograph you would find at grandma's house. The trees above the homes and the doghouse stamped using the masking technique.

The sentiment is what sparked the neighborhood scene. I chose houses that were a bit 'gingerbread-y' to stay with the Christmas vibe of the card. Also, I gently distressed the edges of the wood and neighborhood panel for some color and definition.

Well, that is all for me!! I want to thank The Color Throwdown Challenge again for this amazing opportunity to be their guest designer for this challenge. I also want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to join me at TheGrandStampede. If you are new to my blog, please consider following me to get all my postings. If you are so inclined to leave a comment and let me know how I am doing, that would be great too.

I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. More importantly, please stay safe and healthy!!

All the best,