Aug 3, 2019 | Freshly Made Sketches |
Over the Moon for Freshly Made Sketches
It seems lately that my cards have been made with angels or cows. After this card, I think I am going to have to put the cows away for a while. I should be getting adorable walrus stamps this week, along with my holiday catalog pre-order.
Here’s the challenge banner:
Here’s my fun and adorable card:
The Process
For this challenge, I stamped each of the cows in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I then colored each of the three cows using the Basic Black, Smoky Slate, and Petal Pink blends combos. I also used the So Saffron blends for the flower, the center of which I colored using the gold Wink of Stella.
Once again, I turned to the Stitched Shapes die set to crop the cows and the mat for the sentiment, which fit perfectly on the smallest square. As I frequently do, I colored in the ditch of the sentiment and cow squares using a Blueberry Bushel marker.
I knew I wanted Blueberry Bushel and Basic Black to be the prominent colors behind these cute cows. I cut my black mat, and started to dry fit the cropped squares on the front of the card, I felt that it needed something else. Since the sketch called for the squares to be higher on the card, I first thought of ribbon to break up some of the white space below. It didn’t work, at least I thought it did not work. I grabbed one of the cows and the Smoky Slate ink pad and started stamping. To accomplish a softer look, I did stamp each cow off before placing it on the white background. Mission accomplished.
When I was ready to pop up the sentiment on dimensionals to adhere it to the black mat, I realized I needed more definition between the two dark colors. I dipped the edge of each side of the square on the StazOn White ink pad. This little bit of extra definition allowed the sentiment to stand out even more.
Finally, I stamped the cow on the front of the envelope, and randomly on the flap to decorate the envelope. With that, the card was done.
As Always, I am Grateful for Your Time and Visit
I know there are many, many blogs written by Stampin’ Up! demos, and I appreciate the time you spend visiting mine.
Thank you very much!
Have a Peachy day!
Sue
If you live in the U.S. and are in need of a demonstrator, please CLICK HERE to be connected to my store. I would be honored to help you create cards using simple to advanced techniques and supplies. Placing an order with me would also entitle you to a free copy of the Holiday Catalog being released the first week of September.
Supply list:
Over the Moon stamp set, item 149331
Smoky Slate blends combo, item 145058
Petal Pink blends combo, item 147272
So Saffron blends combo, item 149557
Basic Black cardstock, item 121045
Whisper White cardstock, item 100730
Blueberry Bushel cardstock, item 146968
Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad, item 132708
Smoky Slate ink pad, item 147113
Jul 24, 2019 | InKing Royalty Blog Hop, The Library Challenge |
Welcome to InKing Royalty’s July Blog Hop!
This year’s Blog Hop themes are inspired by a single word – and this month, our projects are centered around SUNSHINE. The Sun is the single most important source of energy for life on Earth – it guides our clocks, calendars and planting schedules. We may be enduring a heat wave this week, but we still associate the Sun with positivity, joy and renewal. We are excited to share our creations with you today! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list found at the base of this post.
The Library Challenge and Sunshine!
One of the blog challenges in which I have enjoyed participating in the past is The Library Challenge, and I think the theme of challenge #38 fits with the InKing Royalty Blog Hop theme of Sunshine. Challenge #38’s book title is Five Weeks in a Balloon, by Jules Verne, and the project inspiration can come from the title, cover, or story.
Here’s the cover:
How does this book relate to sunshine for the Blog hop? I am so glad you asked. I can’t imagine taking a hot-air balloon ride on a stormy, rainy day. The perfect weather for this kind of adventure is SUNSHINE, so there’s the connection.
Here’s my card:
A Go-To Die Set
I’ve said it before, but the Rectangle Stitched Framelit die set is one of my all-time favorite sets, partly because I love the double stitching on each die. However, my most favorite reason is because of the amount of cardstock I can save by using these framelits on the mats of cards!
For example, in this card, the background Balmy Blue cardstock is the middle of a mat for another card. I chose the appropriate sized die for the frame based on the size of the middle mat, and then used the rectangle dies. I now have the two pieces I needed for the frame card and another center piece for a different card.
Here’s an example cut I cropped from the Granny Apple Green cardstock base:
I found that I absolutely love (!!!) the color combination of Balmy Blue, Blueberry Bushel, and Granny Apple Green when I played along with the Paper Players #450 challenge. I decided to go with Granny Apple Green balloons, the largest of which I stamped off. The smaller balloons also in Granny Apple Green, colored the baskets with Blueberry Bushel, then fussy cut the balloons. I stamped the sentiment in Granny Apple Green as well, and cropped it using the Stitched Shapes dies. I used Blueberry Bushel marker to color in the stitched ditch
The Balmy Blue Background Cardstock
When I was finished with the balloons, I used the cloud stamp (3 clouds, one stamp, wonderfully easy) and StazOn Cotton White ink for the clouds. The resulting light white and lighter white clouds gave the Balmy Blue some much needed texture.
After I got the frame and base put together using dimensionals, and then dry fit the balloons and sentiment piece, I thought I needed something else. The Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle added some interest without bulk, so I threaded it through the frame. I really thought I would wind up with a square knot, again, as always because I am “bow challenged”. But, to my surprise and glee, I created an actual bow! YEAH!
I popped all the pieces up with dimensionals and again realized I needed something else, more specifically something flat and not popped up. Therefore, I grabbed the bird stamp, stamped it a couple of times and it finally felt done.
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, Lynn Holcun at Avery’s Owl. You don’t want to miss all the inspiration found in this group!
- Brian King at Stamp with Brian
- Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping
- Lynn Kolcun at Avery’s Owlery
- Julie DiMatteo at The Paper Pixie
- Shawn de Oliveira at Shawn Stamps
- Jennifer Spiller at Westside Paper Creations
- Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
- Jan Dufour at Stamp Me Silly
- Katie Ferguson at Cottage Paper
- Pam Morris at Tap Tap Stamp
- Sheryl Sharp at Sharp Notes by Sheryl
- Robbye Hamilton at Miss Hammie’s Crafts
- Candy Ford at Stamp Candy
- Linda Krueger at The Stamp Coach
Jun 29, 2019 | Color Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches |
FMS394 and ctd549 for a Colorful Combination
These two challenges are two of my “favorites”, at least this week. The clean, fresh FMS sketch seemed to pair perfectly with ctd this week to create a cute little thank you card.
The challenge banners follow:
I chose to use the newly retired Bella and Friends stamp set, which I just realized was actually retired when the new catalog launched. Sadness.
Here’s my card:
Keeping it Clean and Simple
I needed all the white space on this card, but didn’t want it to just be plain white. Therefore, I used the Subtle TIEF, which quickly becamse my favorite and most used embossing folder. I get the best of both worlds: white space and a little, subtle texture.
My choice for the orange on this card is inspired by the Painted Seasons DSP using Grapefruit Grove. I’ve only recently opened the package of DSP and love the colors and most of the patterns, especially this simple repeating pattern.
Following the FMS layout and the ctd colors, I layered the DSP on a piece of Basic Gray. I also used Basic Gray for all the stamping, and for coloring in the bone, which seemed to fade right into Bella so I outlined it in Basic Black. While I thought this plan would work, I quickly found out the outline jumped off the card, and not in a good way. Therefore, I colored over the black and the gray with Smoky Slate, which really toned the bone down.
Putting the Card Together
The layering circle die set provided the perfect sizes of circle for Bella, and the scalloped mat peeking out from under her. Blueberry Bushel cardstock provided all the mats: card base, Bella’s circle, and the sentiment mat. I cropped both of the sentiment pieces using the Rectangular Stitched layering die set (a must have!). I also colored Bella’s collar using Blueberry Bushel. Originally, the heart from the stamp was colored using Grapefruit Grove, but I later decided to cover the heart with a single piece of bling from the metallic exposy shapes.
That’s it. Finished. A fresh, clean, card using a great color combination. All is well. Life is good.
Thanks for stopping by today! I know your days are busy, and I appreciate your time.
Have a Peachy day!
Sue
Jun 19, 2019 | InKing Royalty Blog Hop |
Welcome to InKing Royalty’s June Blog Hop! Each of this year’s Blog Hop themes is inspired by a single word – and this month our projects are centered around NEW. With the launch of Stampin’ Up!’s 2019 Annual Catalog, NEW gives us the opportunity to showcase new products and play with new colors. You will see a variety of project which celebrate new occasions (babies, weddings, graduations) in this hop. We are excited to share our creations with you today! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list at the base of this post.
Something New, and Something Blue
While I have had the Happy Tails photopolymer stamp set and coordinating dog punch for a few months, I am finally using it for the first time. My card could be used for a new pet, or a tried and true four- legged family member. However, in this case, I created a card for a friend whose much loved dog, Gumbo, recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Here’s the front and inside of my card:
Gumbo was a black lab mutt mix, and his “overcoat” was the Blueberry Bushel color, both of which inspired my color choices. My color palette consists of Blueberry Bushel, Grey Granite, Smokey Slate, Basic Black, and Whisper White.
I didn’t have any coordinating DSP, therefore, I created my own by using 4 of the individual stamps from the Happy Tails set. Since I didn’t want to stamp all four individually, I put all of them on one acrylic block and just stamped away in Basic Black.
I Love Creating Window Cards
Window cards with a middle mat require 3 cuts, so I used the Square Nesting Die set. This set, as in all the nesting sets, makes it so easy to get even layers. I used Blueberry Bushel for the card base, the ink for the sentiments, and the heart. This adorable, perfectly sized heart is punched out of the dog punch, which makes it so easy to get a proportioned heart.
I wanted to have just that much more dimension, so I used dimensionals to pop up the top layer. The dog is dimensional as well, but that’s more of a happy accident. Since I used blends to color the dog, the color bled through the cardstock. I didn’t want the backside to show when the card was opened, so I punched a Whisper White dog for the underlayer. The first dog I colored, and attached to the underlayer, was too dark once I got it on the card. Therefore, I stamped and colored another dog using only the light Smoky Slate blend. The dark Smoky Slate blend was only used as an outline and highlighter. The placement of the dog in the window was intentional so that it would cover “So sorry for your loss”.
After I put the card together, I decided that I didn’t want just a sentiment showing through the window. Therefore, I pulled the paw print stamp out again and used Smokey Slate to stamp the diagonal pawprints.
That’s it. I am ready to mail this card to my friend and her family.
Many Thanks and Have Fun Hopping!
Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, Brian King at Stamp with Brian, our fearless leader. You don’t want to miss all the inspiration found in this group, so please sit back, relax, and enjoy all the creations.
Have a Peachy day!
Sue
Thank you for hopping along with us. The following line-up will help guide you if you get stuck during the hop:
What a fun hop today! I’m always excited to see the beautiful variety of projects y’all make – and these “new”-themed creations were no exception. Such great inspiration! ♥
Please update the links on your blog at some point today to keep the hop evergreen forever and ever and ever. Links are below.
Please let me know when your post has been updated.
♥ ♥ ♥
Thank you for hopping along with us. If you get stuck during the Blog Hop, please use this line-up as a guide:
- Brian King at Stamp with Brian
- Jennifer Spiller at Westside Paper Creations
- Denise Hoepfner at The Mountain Magpie
- Candy Ford at Stamp Candy
- Pam Morris at Tap Tap Stamp
- Robin Myren at Songbird Designs by Robin
- Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
- Lynn Kolcun at Avery’s Owlery
- Robbye Hamilton at Miss Hammie’s Crafts
- Julie DiMatteo at The Paper Pixie
- Linda Krueger at The Stamp Coach
- Shawn de Oliveira at Shawn Stamps
- Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping
Apr 9, 2019 | CAS(E) This Sketch |
My First Time for Best Route Suite
Once I saw my upline’s, Brian King, sketch for Case This Sketch #316, I knew I was playing along. I needed a card to go into a goodie box for my nephew in college. The Best Route Suite is perfect for a masculine card. I the DSP and the Maps Etc. TIEF for the card.
Here’s the challenge sketch:
Here’s my card:
What’s what
In order to be able to cut matching diagonal angles, I first embossed the Whisper White cardstock with the TIEF. I then cut measured and cut my DSP diagonal, which gave me a guide to cut the embossed mat/background.
In order to keep this card clean and simple, I trimmed both the DSP and the embossed cardstock so I could have a small separation between both pieces. I really like the bold Blueberry Bushel peeking through the diagonal cuts.
The Rectangle Stitched framelits, one of my new favorites, provided the perfect sized cuts for the sentiment. Previously, I have had some trouble getting clean cuts with these framelits, but I think I’ve figured out what I need to do. When cropping, I ran the sandwich through the Big Shot going both ways. Then, without removing the framelit from the cardstock, I rotated it 90 degrees and ran it back and forth again. The result: clean cuts and happy me.
Finishing Touches
I did pop the sentiment layers up on dimensionals giving the card some dimension in this clean and simple card.
I also used another DSP pattern to emphasize the envelope flap. I’ve been doing that for the vast majority of cards lately and I often stamp on the front as well.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I’d love to know what you think ,so please feel free to leave a comment.
Have a Peachy day!
Sue
