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
Jul 7, 2019 | Just Add Ink |
Something New, Times Two
At one point or another, I am fairly certain that everyone buys a stamp set with all intentions of using it. However, new sets come along and the “WOW I MUST use this set” feeling starts anew. That’s exactly what happened with Wishing You Well. So, the stamp set is new, and I am fairly certain I haven’t participated in the Just Add Ink challenge before. So, two new things for this card.
Here’s the challenge banner:
The card I created is a window card and these type of cards are not necessarily difficult to create.
Here’s my card:
I used Granny Apple Green dark and light blends to color the foliage and Soft Sea Foam marker for the recessed, for the lack of a better word, stems and leaves. The Flirty Flamingo marker created a beautiful bow and buds on this card.
I can hear you asking yourself where in the SU catalog can you find Granny Apple Green pearls. It’s simple and you can do it as well! The Stamping Blends will transform the standard pearls to any color you want. Just color, let dry thoroughly, then add to your project. Ta-Da!
Creating the Window
The Rectangle Stitched Dies have become my go-to dies. I’ve always, as much as possible punched out shapes from my mats. These dies allow me to do that on a larger scale. Rarely, if ever, will I create a card with a full base.
This fabulous die set always makes creating a window card easier. First, I needed to decide where to place the focal stamp, and then I placed the larger die. The only tricky part was the inside Granny Apple Green layer. I used my Sea Foam Green layer to center the next smaller die and then cropped that as well.
I did make a mistake on one of the corners of the top layer, so I used a corner rounder on each corner.
After I was finished with everything, I realized I didn’t have room for a sentiment. Miscalculation – check. Once again used the Rectangle Stitched dies and figured out what size I would need for the sentiment. It was also important that the cropped rectangle would be centered and rest on the Granny Apple Green layer. Problem solved.
Card is Done
Now that I have used this (retired) stamp set, I can see myself using it again and again. Isn’t that bow simple beautiful?
Thank you very much for stopping by my blog today. I greatly appreciate your time.
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Have a Peachy Day!
Sue
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
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
Mar 24, 2019 | Color Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches, What Will You Stamp? |
This Should Have Been a Three-fer.
When I created this card, it was for the What Will You Stamp Challenge, WWYS#211 for the Vibrant Vases, and Freshly Made Sketches FMS380 provided the layout. I missed the deadline for WWYS#211, but I am going to make the FMS380 deadline. The color pallette was provided by Color Throwdown, ctd535.
Here are all the challenge banners:
Here’s my Vibrant Vases, Freshly Made Sketches, and What Will You Stamp card:
Flower Fun
I first stamped all the flowers in Basic Black, and then used the two-step stamps for the roses and the daisies in Daffodil Delight. Coloring over the stamped Daffodil Delight ink with my Stamping Up Stamp Write markers allowed me to lightly shade the flowers.
I thoroughly enjoyed coloring these flowers with the Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, and Real Red Stamping Write Markers. I didn’t dare try to use the Stamping Blends because the flowers were small and I didn’t want it to run. Coloring relaxes me, and when the SU stamps provide beautiful images, how could I not love the coloring.
The sentiment is also from Vibrant Vases. I used the Stitched Shapes small rectangle to crop the flowers, and the Rectangle Stitched dies for the sentiment. All the squares and the sentiment got the popped-up treatment from some dimensionals. Finally, I placed some of my current fave ribbon, the tulle polka dots, under my greeting and I was done.