Watercolor Etc

This card was inspired by the Watercolor Etc. #4 technique #204 available to members at StampingandBlogging.  The technique is demonstrated by Sandi MacIver,   I used Pearl fine detail embossing powder and several colors of ink or watercolor paint to create this card. I particularly like the background watercolor wash on this card, it has just enough "detail" to add interesting texture to the card. The Celebrate Today tag is from the SU stampset "Perfectly Penned."  And the flower stamps are Hero Arts (#LL975) Fashion Flowers (a stampset I have had since 2007.)  Going gray ink, and basic gray and slate gray papers by  SU form the card.  The white and gold border stripes are stickers (Starform  white/gold #841) that I get at pop-ups etc.   The silver 5mm "nailheads" are  Metal Stickers by Mark Richards Style #3859

Valentine--Romance

This card was created with the elegant Die Sire "Romance" 6x6" die that I got at Crafters Companion. The cardface is cut from Pearl White Shimmering Cardstock (CC-SC66 Perl)  and again from red cardstock to layer up the center heart on this card. This is a two part die, with cutting, embossing and stenciling encouraged for each of the  Die Sire dies.  The center heart and all of the flourishes  are finished with GellyRoll "Clear Star" inking and 3D Galaxy gloss edging.  I went over the galaxy gloss with a white glaze pen (Sakura).  I may add flowers and a ribbon before this is given. Possibilities are numerous. I'm seeing this in "Delft" blue!  Gorgeous die!

Reindeer Flight

This is the first of several cards I want to make with Tim Holtz Collection  "Reindeer Flight" stampset (CMS 052). The card is spritzed with Sheer Shimmer Sparkle by Imagine Crafts with holographic snowflakes.  The black and gray stamped card is detailed with a Gelly Roll Clear Star gel pen and mounted on Basic Gray cardstock.  The shimmer shows very poorly on this photograph, but is quite dramatic on the finished card.  Many of the products and stamps are available at Joan's Gardens, just ask Terri if she can get them for you. 

Colored Dry Embossing--Holly Branch

This beautiful card follows the tutorial by Jeanne Jachna at Splitcoast Stampers, for coloring embossed designs.  I used Tim Holtz Sizzix Holly Branch and Pine Branch set (658272) embossing folder and SU shimmer white cardstock.   I used Distressed inks applied with paper nibs to color the embossed areas as well as Distress Markers.  The holly berries were touched with Ranger's Liquid Pearls. These can be purchased at Joan's Gardens.  The Sentiment is  by SU Christmas Joy (132202) stamped in SU Old Olive with Stickles on the ornament. 

L to R.  

This embossing folder is lightly colored with watercolor crayons and highlighted with red and green stickles.  I will not be using this card because after I was finished with it, I realized that this is all holly, and not holly and a poinsettia, and using various shades of green and making it holly and berries as intended---will make for a usable and pretty card.  The EF is by Hobby Solutions and is their product #HSFC004 available at Joan's gardens (where I bought it) 

 The center card is from crafts-too.com and is Swirl Christmas Tree CTFD4014.  This is a tall EF and wll work well also on a 5x7 card.  It is lightly rubbed with Gold and Silver Inka Gold Metallic Rub by Viva.  I am finding that this color is drying out badly and wonder if any viewer has any tips on reconstituting or working with this product.  The result is gorgeous, but the product does not stay workable very long at all. 

 The card to the right is the card shown above with details there.  These cards are all variations and various media for Colored Dry Embossing.

AnjaOval TY

This pretty card is created with Marianne Creatables LR0236 Large Ovals (available at Joan's Gardens). Don't try to work this intricate die without Spellbinders "tool in one" also available at Joans Gardens. I used  Stampin up Petite Petals, and a Martha Stewart Leaf Bunch.  The stamped and glittered sentiment is from the SU "Lots of Thanks" stampset.  The papers are SU and Core-di-nations from the Graphic 45 "Lights" sandables paper pack.

Thinking of you

This "W" fold card is cut at 11 x 4 1/4" and scored at 2 3/4 and 5 1/2 to form the "W"  The mats are 4 3/4  x  3 1/2; 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 and the art piece is 4 1/4 x 3 which is cut with Spellbinders Labels 17 (S5025) die.  Edges of Core-d-nations sandable paper have been torn against the Stampin Up torn edge ruler.  Inking is with Tim Holtz distress inks, and the heat embossed (Wow EP-Primary Bark) "Thinking of You" sentiment comes from the Graphic 45 Botanical Tea--Stampset 2 collection.  The flower is created with torn and punched and inked mulberry paper petals centered over Spellbinders S5-065 Moroccan Motifs.  Flourishes are from two dies 1 is Fontleroy crest (brown) and the other (beige) is my favorite go-to flourish, Memory Box Madera Corner (98237).  I did two inside sentiments for this card both from the Thoughts and Prayers SU stampset (127805).    The dies and core-d nations papers, inks, adhesives and basic materials are all available at Joan's Gardens.  Just tell Terri what you are looking for!  My SU demonstrator is Kathy Legan and SU products are available from her store too.

Pictogram--Get Well

This card was inspired by Pictogram--Punches Gone Wild, a tutorial written by Sandi MacIver and found in the members-only section of Stamping and Blogging.  I used a stamp from SU Work of Art, (134114) and get well soon sentiment stamp from SU's Delightful Dozen (122652).  The owl is heat embossed and it--and the flourish is from a clearstamp set from Michaels. (Not sure of the manufacturer).  The flourish is stamped in black Memento ink, but over drawn with a black glaze pen(Sakura of America--Amazon).  I spritzed the graduated colors with SU's champagne glimmer mist, and punched flowers from the matching stamped colors using little punches from the dollar bin at Walmart centered with black rhinestones.   The card finishes 5" x 5".  Sandi shared various inking techniques in the Sketch Challenge #63 at S&B.

Faux Watercolor

This card was inspired by a tutorial written for members at Stamping and Blogging by  Sandi MacIver called Faux Watercolor--Swallowtail.  For this card I used Stamping up products available from Sandi's store.   The chrysanthemum and thank you sentiment are from the stampset Blooming with Kindness (126422).  The watercolor behind the heat embossed flower is stamped with various stamps from Work of Art (134114).  The Bermuda Bay blue paper is embossed with SU's Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions (120175). The card is finished with black and white baker's twine and line-edging (white and gold) from Pop-ups-Etc  

Holiday Grunge Fun

For this holiday card I used SU new Gorgeous Grunge stampset,(130517) inspired by ideas presented in a recent SU workshop shared by demonstrator Kathy Legan.  The graphic is one of theTildas by Magnolia Stamps.  I used SU papers Cherry Cobbler and Crumb cake for the color theme for this card.  The stickers are from pop-ups-etc 

Tilda Anja---Ovals

This card was created using Marianne Designs Creatables Anja Large Ovals LR0236.  This intricate die is best worked with the Spellbinder's Tool 'n One because of all the tiny pieces it cuts.  I love the delicate effect of the lattice in the Anja designed dies.  These dies and the Tool 'n One can be purchased  at Joan's Gardens.   The little lass is one of the Tildas created by Magnolia stamps.  The sentiment stamp is from SU's Christmas Messages stampset, and the teeny stars are cut from holographic paper (and are the centers of the Martha Stewart snowflake edge punch.  I've touched the edges of this with a gellyroll "clear star" gel pen.

Box Fold Card

This quarter fold card was inspired by Jan O'Brien's tutorial at Split Coast Stampers.  I used Stampin Up designer paper, a SU petite Petals flower punch and a die from the Marianne Creatables Large Ovals (LR0236) die set available at Joan's Gardens. The card is A2 size with a vertical orientation.

Marianne Creatables--Anja Squares

This beautiful die was developed in 2012, and is hard to find now,  BUT TERRI at Joan's Gardens has it.  The possibilities are endless with Marianne Creatables Anja Squares LRO242.  The detail in this die is amazing.  It is most easily worked with Spellbinders Tool 'n One that removes the teeny cutouts in the lattice and the scalloped edges of this die, also available at Joan's Gardens.  Right now this easel card is a K is for kindness and Thank You, card, but those sentiments are not adhered yet.  The beautiful roses were created in 2012 by Moonbeam1212-Renderocity, and were fussy cut from photo paper after I printed them.  I probably will add a tuft of pink tulle in the middle of the flowers before this card is sent.  It finishes about 5x5inches.

Celebrate

This card uses a technique for curving and stamping poly stamps, inspired by a tutorial written by Sandi McIver found in the member's section of Stamping and Blogging.  I used the pretty Just Rite Edges One stampset, colored with Tim Holtz distress markers.  These can be purchased at Joan's Gardens  I used holographic line trim available at pop-ups etc  The little flowers have 3D gloss crystal glazed edges, and  are punched from a couple of Recollections flower punches. The Celebrate Today sentiment is from the SU stampset Perfectly Penned. The cardfront is embossed with SU's chevron embossing folder.   Next time I will heat emboss the Edges stamp.

Woodgrain Birthday

This card was created with SU's Woodgrain stamp. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the SU's Itty Bitty Banners stamp and die set.  The ribbon is SU's Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim. My SU demonstrator is Kathy Legan.   
I created the inlaid wood look by cutting "across" the stamped grain.  I created the pattern on the back, cut out the pieces, inked the edge of each piece and adhered them with just a little space between the planks.  The flower was created with Punch Bunch blossom punch (and flower making toolset) and with the Martha Stewart little leaves punch, inked with Tim Holtz distressed inks.  Those products are available at Joan's Gardens.  Brads and gold rhinestones complete this card.

SU Demonstrators teach us how to play

Stampin Up demonstrators Kathy Legan and Debbie Russo, conducted two workshops today introducing the new SU colors, stamps, and sneek peeking the Christmas and Holiday goodies for us that we can order on August 28th. Below are photos of the three cards we made today, some of the ladies who came to the morning workshop, and some cards inspired by SU convention that Kathy and Debbie attended in July in Salt Lake City.  Ideas galore as we were inspired by the demonstrators talent and fun projects they planned for us.

Happy New School Year--Rattlers

We have a have a DGD at Rancho Mirage High School this year. The new High School's mascot is the "Rattlers"  and this is a card wishing her well as she starts her new school year.  The little rattle snakes were designed by Kim Hecker of Oak Pond Creations.  I used a Good Luck sticker, holographic border and four leaf clover stickers. They are from Pop-Ups Etc.   Other materials are all from Stampin Up.

The inside sentiment reads:

Wishing you a fantastic and very happy Sophomore year at Rancho Mirage High Schoo. Don't forget that the quality of your life is in direct proportion to your own commitment to excellence.  Do your very best each day and you will Excel.  Happy New School Year!

Butterfly Chevrons Hello

This quick and easy and elegantly simple card was inspired by Sandi MacIver from her Stampingandblogging.com tutorial for members posted today.  For this card I used the chevron EF by SU, a butterfly from the Spellbinders S4395 Les Papillions 2 die set, stamped butterflies from the Botanical Tea cling stamps, set #1.  I used SU Basic Gray and Smoky Slate inks and paper.   The "Hello Friend" sentiment is from Graphic 45 Botanical Tea cling stampset #3.  That gorgeous butterfly die set can is available at Joan's Gardens.