For a Special Friend!

This card is for today's SCS Inspiration Challenge(IC203)! Here is my inspiration picture. This card is also for Mercy's sketch challenge(MTSC44)! I turned the sketch.

Today I am showcasing for you a stamp set from the Sweet 'n Sassy store called Special Women. I love this set. The flower is fantastic and the sentiments are wonderful.

I have a new background technique I would like to tell you about. I am using it for the background panel in this card. More later!!!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!!! Your comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Stamps
Sweet 'n Sassy Special Women
Paper
chocolate chip, ivory, real red, true black
Ink
momento tuxedo black, ranger antique linen, pure poppy
Accessories
chocolate polka dotted satin ribbon, bow easy, sponges, foam squares, copics, gold pearls, sizzix embossing templates, SU embossing plates

Showers of Blessings!

This card is for today's SCS Inspiration Challenge(IC201)! Thanks, Stef!!!
Here is the picture I chose as my inspiration.

I cannot believe that I did not sponge anything. I decided to keep this card clean and fresh so to speak. I always love the air after a wonderful shower. It is like it renews the air of harmful stuff. This card is also for this week's SCS Sketch Challenge(SC249). I love this sketch and finally had a chance to use it. Thanks, Roxie!

I am using Sweet 'n Sassy digital stamp set called Showers of Blessings. You can see my card and commentary at the SNSS blog, too. I am using some K & Co. life's journey dp to mimic the background or wall behind the wall pendant. I copied the little girl, enlarged her, pasted the sentiment beside her, printed, and colored with copics. I added some sakura gel pen to the rain drops and lines.

I kept this card pretty simple and I think somewhat elegant even with a whimsical image. The wide bordeaux ribbon is wide enough to act as the horizontal element in the sketch and an embellishment. I added a few clear gems to mimic some of the sparkle and shine in the inspiration piece.

Stamps
Sweet 'n Sassy Showers of Blessings
Paper
Scarlet Jewel, ivory, K & Co Life's Journey dp, Prism iced teal
Accessories
Printer, copics, foam circles, wide satin ribbon, clear gems, sakura gel pen

Harvest Blessings!

This card is for today's Limited Supplies Challenge(LSC241)! Today’s challenge is to do a FALL-themed card with stamps, paper, and ink . . . and NO embellishments! What....no buttons, no ribbon, no brads, no eyelets, no stickers, no rub-ons, no chipboard, no primas?

We can use diecuts (which include punches) and/or embossing folders. The focal point should be something STAMPED and not something diecut (you CAN use a Nestabilities die, for example, but there must be something stamped in center of it!). Thanks a bunch, Wendy!!!

I am using the sketch for this week's The Sweet Shop sketch challenge(SSS24).

My Harvest Blessing card uses faux brads and a faux ribbon tab. I think it is a cornucopia of faux fabulousness. I am using Sweet 'n Sassy digital stamp set called Harvest Fruits. Please check out the Sweet 'n Sassy blog for some more commentary.

I made the background scripture paper. I copied and pasted one of the scriptures in this set several times. When I had it looking like I wanted, I printed on ivory cardstock. I then started sponging the edges with Ranger antique linen ink, then some vintage photo, and a touch of some walnut stain. I always start sponging with light colors first.

For the horizontal panel, I used a piece of Recollections Autumnal dp. I sponged the edges and stamped on it the sanded bg to create a distress feeling to the muted gingham print.

I colored my image using copics. I would like to add that I checked out Sharon Harnist's blog yesterday. She has a link to a copic tutorial she has done coloring a cornucopia. I found this very informative and helpful. I also realized I need more copics. I softly sponge with nestie stencil around my cornucopia.

For the panel behind the focal image, I wanted to continue with muted tonal patterns so to keep this from getting too busy, I just opted for a panel of cuttlebug texture. I did softly sponge over this the ranger vintage photo.

For the sentiment, we were allowed to use a nestabilities as long as something was stamped inside. I printed the harvest blessings sentiment and softly sponged stencil with the nesties some pumpkin pie and antique linen. I may have used a touch of some vintage photo.

Since no embellishments were allowed...NO gold pearls or ribbon??? What is a girl to do? I decided to make some faux brads using a 1/4" circle punch which is allowed. I added some glossy accents to the top to make them look more dimensional. I learned this trick from Cindy Lawrence. To this I want to add my "duh" moment. I generally punch the circles, adhere to the glue dots, add the glossy enamel, and let dry. I was in a hurry today and did not have time for the glossy enamel to dry, I tried doing it with the same process using tweezers. Long story short, add the circles to the card first..duh, then add the glossy enamel. No more than is used without dripping, it should be fine to take a picture. It can dry later. It really is cumbersome to try to add them to the card with sticky glossy enamel...lol!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!! Your comments are greatly appreciated!!! Have a great weekend!!!

Stamps
SNSS Harvest Blessing, SU sanded bg
Paper
dark chocolate, ivory, pumpkin pie, recollections autumn dp
Ink
Printer ink, ranger antique linen, vintage photo, walnut stain, pumpkin pie
Accessories
Nestabilites, sponges, ranger glossy accents, glue dots, foam circles, MS border punch, cb ef, SU texturz plate, white gel marker, copics, 1/4" circle punch

My More is MORE Moment and Thank You!

Edited...I posted this card before I went to bed and knew I was going to need to take a better picture in the morning. While I was making the card, I kept debating whether or not to add ribbon. This morning, in the light of day, I kept looking at my card and I just knew I needed to add ribbon and do a few more things to it. So, here goes...my more is more moment. I added the ribbon, four more silver pearls to the corners, and I colored the flower image and cut it out and popped it up on dimensionals. So, what do you think? More is MORE or do you like the LESS is more version?

This card is for today's SCS Inspiration Challenge(IC200)!!! Thanks so much, Stef!!! The Kir De Vries store is amazing. I chose the image on the right hand side as my inspiration picture and colors.

I have been asked by Korin of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps to be their Guest Designer for the month of October. I am so thrilled because the images are wonderful and I am having fun creating with them.

Today, I am sharing with you today one of Sweet 'n Sassy's acrylic sets called Bee Happy! I love this wonderful flower and the many other images and sentiments that come in this set.

For this card, I tried to stay clean and simple to convey the look of my inspiration choice. I actually colored with ink and let dry a metal frame that I have had for awhile.
I ran the background red cardstock through a texturz plate. Then, I sponged using Ranger fired brick on this piece and the background poppy cardstock. I colored the main image with copics and sponged Ranger Antique Linen ink on top of the whole surface. The edges are alittle more darker. I sponged the background ivory panel with the same ink. I added simple oval sentiment. The inspiraton piece has lots of words on its label, but I thought since my frame label has embossed circles that the one simple sentiment looked best.

I finished with silver pearl accents in the corners to highlight the silver canister tops.

I love the CAS design of this card. As always, thanks so much for stopping by and your comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Please check out the Sweet 'n Sassy blog for more

Stamps
SNSS Bee Happy
Paper
Pure Poppy, Ivory
Ink
Ranger Fired brick and antique linen, Momento tuxedo black
Accessories
MM metal frame, foam circles, oval punch, SU texturz plates, silver pearls, copics, sponges

FS136 Blessings....

This card is for today's feature stamper challenge(FS136)! Congratulations, Shannan!!! A wonderful gallery to choose from. I chose this card to case.

I changed the colors a little bit, kept the basic layout. I added a few more cream colored layers. I chose a different ribbon. I used flowers and a sentiment.

I am using two sets from Sweet'n Sassy Stamps. The flower is from a set called Special Women and the other is a digital set called Showers of Blessings.

MY DIGITAL TIP: I must confess that I am a newbie to digital images. I wanted a sentiment that worked with a quote type sentiment like Shannan used. I opted for one that was in the digital set called Showers of Blessings. I copied and pasted just the sentiment in my software window. I played around with sizing a bit. I printed just the sentiment off onto regular printer paper. Once I had the size that I wanted. I took my already cut and colored focal image...I know...newbie here..remember...lol. I put mono adhesive on the back and adhered it by eyeballing over the same printed sentiment. I removed all of the printer paper and added this full sheet again with my image adhered on top. I hoped for the best and it worked the first time!!! I was thrilled!!! Thought I would share this moment with you. Doing this allowed me to position the sentiment exactly where I wanted it. Now, I am not sure if I was supposed to print first, then do my stamping and coloring or not. I am learning as I go.

What do you think of my stamped and digital card?


Stamps
Sweet 'n Sassy Special Women and Showers of Blessings
Paper
ivory, soft suede, ripe avocado, pure poppy
Ink
soft suede, ripe avocado, pure poppy, ranger antique linen, momento black
Accessories
Fiskars border punch, SU texturz plate, 1 inch cream grosgrain ribbon, gold pearls, copics, printer, foam circles, sponges, piercing template and tool