Fab Friday Color Challenge: 2018-2020 In Color Birthday Watercolor Wash

Happy 4th of July!  This is a wonderful day to spend with friends and family (and maybe get a little extra sleep, hey being honest).  Before we get into all the festivities I decided to play along with this weeks Fab Friday color challenge, which features the 2018-2020 In Colors.  I have to admit, I was a little stumped when I first saw this since I did a post a few weeks ago showing off the In Colors and I didn't know how I was going to show off all 5 In Colors and be different from my previous card.  Then last week I watched a video Sara Douglass shared using water colors and simple birthday cards, see her video HERE and used it as inspiration to create this cheery birthday card.

I started making the main element and took a piece of Shimmery Whisper White cardstock and did a watercolor wash using an Aqua Painter and the new In Colors (Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch, Call Me Clover, and Blueberry Bushel) and colored all over the cardstock to create a rainbow effect and then let it dry.  Once it was dry I used the Big Shot and Happy Birthday Thinlits Die to cut out the greeting.  I also used the Big Shot and layering Circles Framelits to cut out a scalloped circle mat in Basic Black cardstock.

Once these elements were complete I was ready to finish my card.  I used Thick Whisper White cardstock for the base and then added a layer of Basic Black behind the cardfront.  The cardfront is Whisper White and was embossed with the Big Shot and Oh My Stars Embossing Folder.  Before attaching the circle and greeting to the cardfront I added a piece of Silver Mini Sequin Trim looped behind the circle for a little sparkle.

The background of this card is nice and simple so it really lets the watercolored piece pop, and I always love the rainbow effect.  In Sara's video she said she usually made multiples of birthday cards when she makes them so she has plenty ready to go, this is definitely a card I could quickly make a lot of and is sure to impress.

Below are easy ordering links for the products used on today's card:

Product List

Happy Birthday Thinlits Die [143700]	Big Shot [143263]	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]
Silver Mini Sequin Trim [144230]	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272]	Aqua Painters [103954]
Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101910]	Oh My Stars Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143710]

Enjoy!

Diana

SSINKspiration Favorite Sale-a-bration Item: Epic Celebrations

Good morning!  The start of the new year can sometimes be a little sad because we've just ended the holidays, it's cold and sometimes snowy so I love that Sale-a-bration always is this time of year because nothing is better than FREE, exclusive products.  Today the SSINKspiration designers are sharing their favorite products from Sale-a-bration.  I've saved a few of the wonderful products but given that I have a tween in the house when I first saw the Epic Celebrations stamp set I knew it would be a great card for kids.  This card is one I made for a swap I was in earlier and I'm just now sharing it.

I started with Sahara Sand cardstock for the cardbase and then added Whisper White cardstock for the cardfront.  On the cardfront I used the Watercolor Wash background stamp and Calypso Coral ink to make the background.  Then I used Basic Black to stamp the greeting directly on the cardfront and the spot stamp is also from the Epic Celebrations stamp set and was stamped in Tranquil Tide ink.

Next I used the Big Shot and the Stitched Shapes Framelits to make a frame outline using Basic Black cardstock.  Next I used the 1 1/4" Circle Punch to cut a piece of Sahara Sand cardstock and then added a Rhinestone accent.

For the main element I stamped the tennis shoe image using Versamark ink on Tranquil Tide and then used White Emboss Powder and the Heat Tool to emboss the image before cutting it out with Paper Snips and finally attached the piece to the cardfront with dimensionals.

This card has a fun and modern feel that I know any teen, or tween will enjoy to help celebrate their "epic" event.  I've seen so many great ideas using this stamp set I will definitely be playing with it more!

Below are easy ordering links for the products used on today's card:

Product List

Watercolor Wash Clear-Mount Background Stamp [139538]	Epic Celebrations Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147236]	Big Shot [143263]	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372]	1-1/4" Circle Punch [119861]
Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220]	Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121043]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045]	Tranquil Tide 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144246]
Versamark Pad [102283]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Heat Tool [129053]

Enjoy!

Diana

SSINKspiration Case A Designer: Cheryl Hamilton

Good evening!  I had some unexpected travel this week that threw my schedule off so I'm a little late posting  my card for the SSINKspiration blog CASE a designer post.  This month we are casing the super creative Cheryl Hamilton and I decided to  CASE this great masculine card but changed everything up with the colors and stamp sets.

I started with Soft Suede cardstock for the cardbase and then added a layering of Island Indigo cardstock as a mat for the Whisper White cardfront.  I used the Watercolor Wash background stamp and Cajun Craze ink for the background (I stamped off first on the background to make it a little lighter).  The greeting is from the Guy Greetings stamp set and was stamped in Island Indigo ink.

For the main stamped image I used the Vintage Leaves stamp set and after stamping the leaf in Island Indigo ink on Whisper White cardstock I cut it out using the Big Shot and the Lots of Labels Framelits (I ran the piece through twice to cut it down and make it shorter) and then sponged around the edge with Soft Suede ink.  A piece of 5/8" Burlap Ribbon was attached behind the leave piece before being attached to the cardfront with dimensionals.

This is Cheryl's original creation!

I really liked the clean lines of the original card and it makes a great masculine card which I was able to recreate with my version.  The other design team members make some great cards using Cheryl's inspiration so make sure to check them out, as well as the originals.

Below are easy ordering links for the product's used on today's card:

Product List

Vintage Leaves [138802]	Guy Greetings Clear Stamp Set [138828]	Watercolor Wash Clear-Mount Background Stamp [139538]	5/8" (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon [141487]	Big Shot [143263]
Lots Of Labels Framelits Dies [138281]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115318]	Dapper Denim 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [141414]

Have a wonderful weekend!

Diana

Watercolor Fun with Crafting Forever

Good morning!  We all know the new 2017-2018 Annual catalog will be released today (whoo hoo!)  so I wanted to share a card with you using one of the great new stamp sets, Crafting Forever.  This set has some great creative greeting but also the images are perfect, not just for crafters, but for students, teachers, just about anyone.  This set is also great since it's line art which means you get to have a little fun coloring.

I started with Crumb cake cardstock for the cardbase and then added a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock as a mat for my cardfront which is White Shimmer cardstock (great for watercoloring).  To create the watercolor wash I used my Aqua Painter and reinkers to add some color.  I actually did several layers, letting it try in between, so I could add different layers of colors.  Once the cardfront was fully dry I stamped the greeting using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink (I find this ink works great for watercoloring so it doesn't bleed).

For the stamped image after stamping I cut it out using the Big Shot and Stitched Shapes Framelits and then started coloring.  For these I used my Watercolor Pencils and Blender Pens to get just the right color.  The one thing I want to point out is the pot.  To give it a more terra cotta look I first colored using the Chocolate Chip Pencil and blended it and then colored over it with the Calypso Coral Pencil and blended it again and it gives it some great texture and more realistic coloring.

Once the coloring was finished I just added a piece of 5/8" Burlap Ribbon to peek out from behind the oval and used dimensionals to attach to the cardfront.

This card took a little more time because of the coloring but I really had fun and just relaxed and I definitely have some special friends who will really appreciate this card and what's the point of making cards to just hold onto them, make a card send a card, right?  Let's spread a little love and sunshine.

Crafting Forever is one of the top items on my favorites list  in the new catalog so make sure to add it to your first order!

Below are easy ordering links for the products used on today's card:

Product List

Crafting Forever Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143958]	Watercolor Pencils [141709]	Blender Pens [102845]	Aqua Painters [103954]	Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101910]
5/8" (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon [141487]	Big Shot [143263]	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]
Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131197]	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953]

Enjoy!

Diana