Fab Friday Color Sketch: All Things Thanks

Good morning!  This really is a crazy fall, or should a say a fall that will never arrive.  It's this crazy summer extension that was the inspiration for today's card using the Fab Friday color challenge.   Since fall won't come I decided to bring fall to us with my card and what better way than with using some colors and textures that help bring a rustic feeling.

I started with Crumb Cake cardstock for the cardbase and then used a piece of Tranquil Tide cardstock for the mat to my Wood Grain Textures Designer Series Paper (this is probably one of my favorite DSP packs of all time and it's on sale this month!!).  Next I took the Big Shot and Stitched Shapes Framelits and cut a circle out of Very Vanilla cardstock for a backdrop for my leaves.

Next I used the Vintage Leaves stamp set and stamped the leaves using Tranquil Tide, Cajun Craze, and Rich Razzleberry cardstock and ink and then cut them out with the coordinating Leaflets Framelits.  Then I scrunched the leaves up and sponged them with Soft Suede ink.  The nice thing about scrunching the leaves up is that then when you adhere them to the cardfront you can be a little rough with them to get them exactly how you want and I just added a little adhesive in different places to keep the dimension of the wrinkles.

To finish off the leaves I took a piece of Gold 3/8" Metallic Edge Ribbon and made a loop and then tied a double bow around it with some Linen Thread.  I was looking for a different ribbon effect and really like how this turned out.  The final touch was the greeting which is from the All Things Thanks stamp set and after stamping in Soft Suede ink on Cajun Craze cardstock I cut it out with the Classic Label Punch and then attached it with dimensionals.

This card has a masculine vibe with a softness because of the ribbon that really work well together (I think!) and all the textures really make you want to touch and feel the card which is fun!

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

Product List

All Things Thanks Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143097]	Vintage Leaves [138802]	Big Shot [143263]	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372]	Leaflets Framelits Dies [138283]
Linen Thread [104199]	Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack [144177]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650]	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953]	Tranquil Tide 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144246]
Rich Razzleberry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115316]	Cajun Craze 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119684]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Classic Label Punch [141491]	Gold 3/8" (1 Cm) Metallic-Edge Ribbon [144146]

Enjoy!

Diana

SSINKspiration Fall Frenzy: Eclipse Technique

Good morning!  Today we get to officially ring in the arrival of fall, and even though the temperature isn't going to reflect the change in seasons today the SSINKspiration blog designers are feeling a little fall frenzy and sharing projects to greet the arrival of the new season.  If you've been online lately you've noticed that a new technique is floating around and getting lots of action, the eclipse technique in honor of last months solar eclipse, so I decided to use this technique on today's card.

I started with Very Vanilla Thick cardstock for the cardbase and then added a layer of Fresh Fig cardstock behind the Very Vanilla cardfront.  To create this technique I started by stamping all over the cardstock using the Vintage Leaves stamp set and Fresh Fig, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, and Always Artichoke ink.  Next I used the Big Shot and Large Letters Framelits Dies to cut out the letters for "fall".  (Tip:  you can use washi tape to hold down your letter dies if they're trying to move a little on you).  Next I used Mini Dimensionals to attach the letters over the cut out holes so there is just a slight halo effect. 

The final touch was to add the rest of the greeting.  I knew I wanted to use the word "greetings" and searched all my stamp sets since I knew I had one that would work, the new Snowflake Sentiments stamp set from the Holiday catalog was perfect.  I used my Fresh Fig Stampin' Write Marker to color just the one word in on the stamp and then stamped on Cajun Crazy cardstock.  I didn't want the piece to be too big and overpower the card so I just used my Paper Snips and cut around the edges of the greeting and then attached it with dimensionals to the cardfront.

This is a fun technique, easy, and so versatile (you can adjust the size of the cardstock for the number of letters your using, think name signs, etc.).  Make sure to check out the other cards the design team is sharing for fall inspiration.

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

Product List

Vintage Leaves [138802]	Snowflake Sentiments Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144820]	Big Shot [143263]	Large Letters Framelits Dies [141712]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [144237]	Cajun Craze 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119684]
Fresh Fig 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144242]

Have a great weekend!

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

30 Day Gratitude Challenge: Day 28 (SSINKspiration Technique Challenge #SSINKTC39)

Good morning and Happy Monday!  Hopefully you had a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  I always love this weekend but it also officially kicks off all of the Christmas bustling that can sometimes get overwhelming so it's good to just relax and enjoy while we can.  Today it's time for another technique challenge over on the SSINKspiration blog and this month we're showcasing the Baby Wipe Technique.  I'll admit I've heard of this technique but I've never used it before so this was fun to try out and I decided to do one more fall themed card to close out the season.

I started with Cajun Craze cardstock for the cardbase and then added a piece of Soft Suede cardstock as a mat for the Delightful Dijon cardfront.  On this layer I started by stamping the grain image from the Wetlands stamp set using Delightful Dijon ink and some were stamped off one so there was different levels of shading.  The greeting is from the same stamp set and was stamped in Soft Suede ink.

To make the leaf I took a baby wipe and added several dots of reinker using Cajun Craze, Delightful Dijon, Rich Razzleberry, and Soft Suede ink and then took the large leaf from the Vintage Leaves stamp set and used the inked baby wipe to ink the stamp and then stamped onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. I'll admit I took several tries stamping the leaf to get the one that I liked so this does take some practice but it's fun and you get a different look each time.  Then I took the Big Shot and cut out the leaf using the Leaflits Framelits.  I used the same framelit to cut out another leaf using Soft Suede cardstock and then then embossed it with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.  Layering both leaves helps elevate it and then I added a knot I tied using Rich Razzleberry Ribbon from the 3/8" Trio Ribbon Package.

This card is so pretty and I love how all the colors blend and complement each other.  This was also the first time using this stamp set and the greeting is lovely!  Make sure to check out the other cards the design team is sharing using this technique and then we would love for you to join us and play along and share what you create using this technique.

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

Enjoy!

Diana

30 Day Gratitude Challenge: Day 5

Good morning!  Sometimes when we have an awesome seasonal catalog it is easy to forget about the great products in the Annual Catalog and they can get a little lonely.  During last month’s card class we made this beautiful card using a mix of annual and holiday catalog products and some fun colors for a fall themed card that doesn’t have a lot of layers but still has great texture.

I started with Thick Whisper White cardstock for the cardbase (this new cardstock if fabulous and perfect for cardbases where our traditional whisper white cardstock is a little thin) and stamped the greeting from the Suite Seasons stamp set in Early Espresso ink and then I took a sponge dauber and Rich Razzleberry ink and sponged over the greeting in circular patterns to provide a background for the greeting.  Next we took the Gold Wink of Stella Pen and tapped it over the cardstock for a little gold splatter that is beautiful in real life.  Along the right side we added strips of paper (Early Espresso (from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack), Rich Razzle Berry (from the Petals and Paisleys Speciality Designer Series Paper), and Gold Glimmer Paper.

One of my favorite stamps from the annual catalog is the Vintage Leaves set and I stamped the leaf in Early Espresso ink on Old Olive cardstock, cut it out with the Leaflets Framelits and the Big Shot.  Next I crumpled the cardstock to add texture and flattened it out and then sponged it with Rich Razzleberry ink so the leaf has lots of dimension.  To attach the leaf I added some Mono Liquid Glue along the center of the leaf and attached it so the edges of the leaf could stand up off the cardstock for dimension.  The final touch was to tie a bow using some Linen Thread and attached it to the base of the leaf.

This card is doesn’t use a lot of supplies so you could make a lot of them and not spend a lot and lets the embellishments really shine (it’s also nice and mailable which is perfect for the post office!)

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

                                                             
Enjoy your Saturday!

Diana

SSINKspiration Technique Challenge #SSINKTC37: Tile Effect Vintage Leaves

Good morning and Happy Monday!  After a crazy busy week (they seem to all be like that lately) it's time for another challenge SSINKspiration blog to start the week and this time it's a technique challenge. These challenges are always fun to get us trying new ideas and techniques and see how we can use them on projects.  This month's technique is the tile effect and it's so easy and pretty cool.

I started with Crumb Cake cardstock for the cardbase and then added a layer of Soft Suede cardstock behind the Night of Navy cardstock that was embossed with the Big Shot and Cable Knit Dynamic Embossing Folder.  Next I added a piece of Petals & Paisleys Speciality Designer Series Paper and cut it out with the Big Shot and Lots of Labels Framelits.

For the stamped image I started by taking a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and scored it every 1/2" on both sides using the Stampin' Trimmer to create my tiles and then stamped it with the Vintage Leaves stamp set and inks to coordinate with the DSP and then matted it with Cajun Craze cardstock.  The greeting is from the Basket of Wishes stamp set and was stamped in Night of Navy ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and then cut it out with the Big Shot and Layering Ovals Framelits before attaching it to the cardfront with dimensionals.

For the final touches I added a little piece of the 5/8" Burlap Trim and then a knot tied with the 3/8" Mint Macaron Sheer Linen Ribbon.

The tile look is great for this fall themed card and I love all the great colors in this designer series paper that really makes it versatile.  The other design team members are sharing some fun cards using this technique so go check them out and then we would love for you to play along with us and share what you create.

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

Enjoy!

Diana

SSINKspiration Technique Challenge #SSINKTC36: Spotlighting Vintage Leaves

Good morning! What a wonderful weekend, lots of traveling, sightseeing, and we safe and sound “at home” at Disneyland and ready for a week full of new experiences.  It’s also so great to have the family all together again, traveling separately from different cities was interesting but thankfully all worked out.  Of course while I’m away I know you may still be looking for some inspiration so I have projects scheduled all week so you won’t miss out.  Today it’s time for this month’s technique challenge over on the SSINKspiration blog and we’re focusing on spotlighting which is fun but I don’t use very often.   This is a great technique to highlight just a portion of an image, or if you have a large image to color in but don’t want to take the time to color it all in, you can just do a portion and let it be the focus.  Even though it’s summer and still crazy hot I know fall will be hear soon so I decided to head in that direction for this card with a fall flair.

I started with Cajun Craze cardstock for the cardbase and then added a layer of Island Indigo cardstock as a mat for the Very Vanilla Cardstock.  On the cardfront I stamped leaves from the Vintage Leaves stamp set in Soft Suede ink.  I wrapped a piece of Delightful Dijon 5/8” Mini Striped Ribbon around the cardfront and then tied a knot.

I stamped one of the leaves as well on a scrap of Very Vanilla cardstock and colored it in with sponge daubers before cutting it out with the Big Shot and Layering Circles Framelits.  To help add more texture to the circle I scrunched it up and then flattened it and sponged lightly with Crumb Cake ink so it was aged and then matted it with a scalloped circle using Cajun Craze cardstock and the same framelit set and attached it to the cardfront with dimensionals.

The greeting is the Guys Greetings stamp set and was stamped on Crumb Cake ink with Cajun Craze ink before being cut out with the Big Shot and Layering Ovals Framelits and matted with Island Indigo cardstock (the greeting was attached to the cardfront with dimensionals). 

I forgot how fun and easy this technique is, will have to use it again, maybe in an upcoming class and the fall leaves and colors are a perfect reminder that summer is ending and we will eventually get a break from all the heat and humidity so we should enjoy these last days of summer to the fullest.  Make sure to check out the other design team members creations using this technique and then we would love for you to play along and share what you create using spotlighting.

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

Happy Stamping!

Diana

30 Day Gratitude Challenge: Day 21

Good morning!  I’m really excited about today, got up early to get my run in and then it’s “Super Saturday” in the studio and I have two different Holiday themed classes so there’s going to be lots of crafting, laughter, and fun, I can’t wait!  Before all that get’s started I wanted to share today’s gratitude card with you.  I will fully admit I was running a little low on time last night and needed to whip up something fast and thankfully I was able to go to my “extra pieces stash” and gather several items for this card to make it come together in no time.

I started with Crumb Cake cardstock for the cardbase and then added a piece of Cajun Craze and then Very Vanilla cardstock for the cardfront.  The greeting is from the Merry Everything stamp set and I used my Stampin’ Write Markers to ink the stamp.  For the flag piece, it’s Soft Suede DSP from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack and I had previously cut it out but didn’t use it so all I had to do was sponge all over it to age the stripes and make them blend more with the Very Vanilla.

Remember the awesome Witches’ Hat Décor kit?  There were tons of extra leaves in the kit so I had already stamped (with the Vintage Leaves stamp set), crumbled, and sponged them to use for Thanksgiving cards so I just grabbed a few and added them to the card (instant texture!).  The final touch was to take a piece of Hello Honey 5/8” Striped Cotton Ribbon and tied a knot and attached it at the top of the leaves with a glue dot.

This card is nice and simple but looks like it’s a lot more involved than it was and matches the view from my window!  

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

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

 

Enjoy your Saturday and hope you can get some crafting in!

Diana

30 Day Gratitude Challenge: Day 3

Good morning!  It’s only fitting that with the arrival of fall and the leaves changing that we use the beauty in nature as inspiration for crafting so I decided to use it for today’s 30-Day Gratitude card challenge.

I started with Early Espresso cardstock for the cardbase and then used Very Vanilla cardstock for the main background piece.  To create this I started by stamping the leaves using the Vintage Leaves stamp set using Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow, Cajun Craze, and Hello Honey ink.  After stamping I ran it through the Big Shot and embossed it with the Brickwall Embossing folder.  After embossing to really help the embossing pop I sponged all over the cardstock using Soft Suede ink.

The greeting is from the Six Sayings Hostess stamp set and was stamped with Cajun Craze ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and then matted with Early Espresso cardstock.  For a fun embellishment I stamped two more leaves on a scrap of Very Vanilla cardstock, cut them out with the Big Shot and coordinating Leaves Framelits and then sponged them after crumbling them up.  I attached the leaves with dimensionals to the cardfront and then tied a knot using the Mossy Meadow 5/8” Stitched Cotton Ribbon and attached it with a glue dot.

We actually made this during Just Cards class last month and it was a lot of fun to create this fun background effect with some stamps, embossing, and sponging.  This card is so pretty and has lots of texture that really makes you want to reach out and touch it.

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

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

                                                      

Enjoy!

Diana