Simply Ampersand

I had so much fun with my stencil card that I tried the technique again, this time using a cut file from Bird's Cards. I cut the stencil from white window-cling material, which worked pretty well. Plus, the plastic washes right off and I can stick it on my window for safe-keeping!

I inked the stencil with watermark ink, removed the stencil, sprinkled it with silver powder & heat-embossed it. Then I inked it with an orange ink.I'm happy with how it came out, as I took some risks with the faded look. I'll definitely be making more of my own paper!

click images to enlarge

The banners were cut/embossed with a die from a mirror-like silver paper. I edged the banners with a black marker, and carefully hand-stamped the sentiments in watermark ink using rubber stamps. The letters are heat-embossed in orange; I used a brush to clean up the extra powder to get a clean surface.

I cut the ampersands from black paper on my Silhouette. I covered one of the ampersand with orange embossing powder and, while the powder was still hot & melty, stamped it with a decorative rubber stamp inked with silver.

Stampin' Royalty #267

Inspiration/Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps #98: Embossing + Stamping
Stampin' Royalty #267: Photo Inspiration
The Male Room #4: Create Your Own Background Paper

Thank you for visiting,

Simply Fan-tastic

I had lots of fun with the color combo at CAS for my stencil card yesterday, so I used the same inks & embossing powders to make another card, with more stenciling and inking. My fingers are blue, and not from the cold!

Everything is stamped/inked directly onto a shiny white cardstock, which is mounted on a white card base. I inked the Retro clear stamp by Kaisercraft with Versamark watermark ink and heat-embossed it with orange & yellow powders. The fan & sentiment are a rubber cling stamp from the Retro Technology set by TPC Studio, stamped with blue & orange inks. I added details with a yellow marker & an orange gel pen. I used simple masking to ink the blue stripes. The splashes are made with a Tim Holtz stencil.

Inspiration/Challenges:
CAS: Colours and Sketches #112: Blue, Orange, Yellow + CAS (2nd entry)
Freshly Made Sketches: Sketch #174

Thank you for visiting,

Pilin' on the Puppies - Sketch Challenge at Pile It On

Pile It On #57

This week at the Pile It On Challenge we have a Sketch created by our own Katie. We're sponsored by All Dressed Up Stamps and I used their Cute Just Got Cuter digi stamp.

I printed the adorable puppy on three patterned papers & paper pieced it. I added a bit of pink to its ears with a marker. I cut the yellow piece with a Spellbinders die, and used the same die as a stencil for the white piece. Both are textured papers to look like fabric, and I added faux stitching with a Pitt artist pen.

I've had the background patterned paper for a long time. I made the sentiment using the Ahoy in Stitches font, printed it on a textured paper, and cut/embossed it with a PageMakers die. It's attached to the card with two small button-shaped brads.

Challenges/Inspiration:
All Dressed Up Challenges: Anything Goes + All Dressed Up stamp
Crafts Galore Encore: Use a Stamp or Digi (+ DT call)
Crafty Gals Corner #7: Bingo (Bottom row: Buttons, Brads, Ribbon)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge: Patterned Paper (2nd entry)
Creative Moments #62: Anything Goes/Paper Piecing
DoubleClick Skittles #16: Use Any Animal
Fresh Brewed Designs: Animals
Natalie and Amy's Challenge #29: All About the Love

Thank you for visiting & inspiring my crafting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Simply Stenciled

On my long list of "techniques I want to practice" is stenciling. This week's freebie at the Silhouette online store was this diamond-patterned stencil cut file, so I cut it from thin cardstock and used it to heat-emboss the pattern in yellow and orange. I used masking to ink the stripe with China Blue distress ink. The circles were also a Silhouette freebie. The sentiment is a stamp from my stash that I heat-embossed in white & then inked with more blue. I was going for an artsy feel, and I'm pleased with the result.

Inspiration/Challenges:
CAS Colours and Sketches #112: Blue, Orange, Yellow + CAS
Pals Paper Arts #240: Sketch
Sparkle N Sprinkle: Anything Goes with Embossing Powder

Thank you for visiting,

Baltimore Love

When in doubt, I often make a shaker card. It adds just the right touch of interactivity and is an easy technique. I use plastic packaging for the clear cover and two layers of foam tape to pop it up. I know folks who use chipboard or foam sheets instead, but I like the precision that foam tape gives me.

This card was partly inspired by the current UnstampaBelles challenge: National Symbols with option of your flag colors. Although I think this woven adhesive sticker came from Florida originally, the pink flamingo is a favorite cultural icon in parts of Baltimore City (you may be familiar with Pink Flamingos by John Waters), so I incorporated a rowhouse design to make this B-more Valentine:

Sorry about the photo...it was the best I could get on a cold gray Baltimore day! I used an MFT stencil & red brick distress ink to create the brick pattern on the red paper. The window is cut with a Memory Box die. The fence is an IO die cut from a scrap of woodgrain-patterned paper. The grass is that plastic grass you get with sushi!

This card would also be appropriate for the "Love" Challenge at One Stitch at a Time (OSAAT). Check out my challenge list below, and join the fun!

Shaker Card Tip: I found that included some micro beads along with paper die-cuts helps to make the pieces move inside the shaker.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Inky Chicks #46: from (your country) with love
One Stitch at a Time: Love
Mojo Monday #383: Sketch (past sketch; not entered in the challenge)
Top Tip Tuesday: Favorite Color Combo or Tip
UnstampaBelles February Challenge: National Symbols with option of Your Flag Colors

Thank you for visiting,