Stamp-a-faire 2017 - Day one

Over at Papertrey Ink, the inspiration is flowing from all the amazing artists!

I started out using the colours and inspiration pictures to create some cards for the Take 10 challenge.

 Here is my first choice:

inspiration source: Sunda Studio via Fivestar Branding Agency

I use a lot of turquoise and teal but rarely the yellowy orange shade so thought I would go out of my comfort zone.  That is why I like these kinds of challenges - they really push me!

 I did not love the layout I created for the butterflies but will still post .. I did some ombre stamping of the middle butterfly for a varied look of inking.

But then, after I finished the images I couldn't figure out where to put the sentiment!! Awkward placement perhaps, but ah well ...

Next I took a Soft Stone card base and used the same ink colours for a different look with Bold Bouquet.

 A bit of foam sheet and sentiment and that's it! :)

inspiration source: Sostrene Grene

For this black and white combo, I immediately thought of my PTI patterned paper. I love the linen texture and all the designs!  I popped a striped piece up on a foam sheet and added a Wink of Stella shimmered hello die cut. Super simple but great for a more masculine feel!

I fell in love with this inspiration pic!! I never love my watercolouring attempts but just went with it and let the ink and water move as it wanted to.

inspiration source: Wildfield Paper Co. & Callie Hobbs Photography via StyleMePretty

I took two Strathmore watercolour pieces of paper and used my Zig brush markers for colours and a paintbrush.I added a sentiment to each with some Fresh ink pigment (Provincial Grey).

It's hard to tell but I used Tsukineko Shimmer spritz and then blotted some off to add some water droplet effects.  Love the shimmer it adds!!

(mounted with foam sheet onto Enchanted Evening card base)

I got a perfect impression with the sentiments because I restamped multiple times with my trusty MISTI tool.  Otherwise it would not have been such a saturated sentiment on textured watercolour paper!

(mounted with foam sheet onto Soft Stone card base)

I'm looking forward to the rest of the challenges and will be adding some more cards to my stash as the weekend continues.  I have a packed weekend as it is so won't be able to participate in real time but I'll catch up!  

Happy stamping and hopping!

Papertrey Make it #284:background stamping with sentiment stamps

This week's Make it Monday over at Papertrey Ink is all about repeated sentiments.  I went to town stamping a background for a sympathy card and prepping a baby card as well.

I used a Botanical Silhouettes sentiment for the background, repeatedly stamping with Fresh Ink blue sage.  I added a stamped image from my beloved Lovely Layers set using Fresh Ink Blush three times MISTI stamped and then the edges with Peach.  I love being able to do this with the MISTI!

I will save the Welcome Baby card for when I find out if it's a boy or a girl and the name as I love to personalize baby cards ...

Papertrey Make it Monday: Window Chipboard Sentiments

I had a great time making a birthday card for a friend using this week's Make it Monday video and inspiration.

I used the Feather Finery with Fresh ink silver lavender and blush inks.  I added the 'wishes' sentiment using Versafine Lagoon Blue.

I decided a little somthing more was needed so added a Studio Calico background grid stamp using Fresh provincial gray ink.  I die cut the birthday window and added a kraft chipboard sentiment, stacking the card stock up with five layers.

Congratulations to Stephanie for joining Papertrey and thank you for a wonderful first video! <3 p="">

Papertrey Ink: Blog Hop March 2017

How gorgeous is this month's inspiration picture over at Papertrey Ink for their blog hop?  Just love it:

  

prints designed by the talented Victoria Johnson

I used the colours and floral pattern as my inspiration to make some simple backgrounds using lots and lots of inks.  Here are all the inks I used:

Avery Elle: Aquamarine, Mint to Be, Sapphire, Fog
Fresh: Sugar, Blush, Peony, Fuchsia, Provincial Gray, Blue Sage, Steel Blue, Mint, Sicilian Blue, Turquoise, Sky Blue

The first card I made into a Mother's Day card.  I die cut the stamped panel of Pretty Peonies with a stitched rectangle die and foam mounted it to an Enchanted Evening card base.  I added a double edged banner stamped with the Fresh Bouquet sentiment I love so dearly.

Simple and colourful!

I took the second background stamped piece and die cut it the same way.  I also foam mounted it to Enchanted Evening and added a scrap bird die cut I had been holding on to.

I really like this colour combination ... would usually not use all these colours but it's always a great chance to try something new.

CASology - TEAM

Love the challenge over on the CASology blog.  I went right to it and created the following card:

I took a piece of Vintage Jadeite card stock for my base and some Recollections 110lb for the front.  I stamped the panel using Papertrey's Gracious Vases and added some Wink of Stella clear on the vase and flowers.  I used a stitched rectangle to cut out the panel and used some foam tape to add dimension.

Inks used: Fresh Mint, Teal and Slate; Versafine Smokey Gray

In case you are looking for some stamps or dies, I have some on sale:

Papertrey Stamps and dies:
Background Basics: Vines – stamp set ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Background Basics: Geometrics ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Embellishments Coordinating dies ($8) --> $4
Stitches and Swirls - stamp set ($48 from the vault) --> $24
Christmas Pointsettia dies ($8) > $5
Damask Designs stamp set ($48 from the vault) > $24
Background Basics: Wrought Iron[/b] ($36 from the valut) > $24
Everyday Button Bits - images only - stamps $10

From other companies:
Hero Arts – Friends $5 SOLD
Tim Holtz - Flights of Fancy $8
Altenew Wild Hibiscus brand new $15 missing top left stamp 

Shipping available to Canada, US and International based on weight:
One sheet (Canada $1, US $2, International $3.50)
Two sheets (Canada $1.50, US $3, International $6)
Payment via Paypal.
All sets have minimal staining, if any, come with labels and are from a smoke free, pet free home. :)

Make it Monday #267 : Assembly line crafting

This week's video from the talented Laurie Willison was all about assembly line crafting.

I cut out a bunch of tags using one of the Tinsel and Tag dies in a few colours and some of the banners as well.

 I used my MISTI to stamp four tags and a bunch of banners all at once.  This makes it go so quickly and you can double or triple stamp and even use different colours for an ombre look.

I used my MISTI to stamp four tags and a bunch of banners all at once.  I used a bunch of sets that I had been itching to use from my last order - Holiday Greens and Holiday Fancy Pants plus Tinsel and Tag sentiments.

And I now understand what all the fuss about Delicata Gold ink is!! It really does look divine on cardstock!  I even stamped 12 kraft envelopes using Holiday Swoosh and Holiday Greens with Fresh Ink Fuschia and Delicata gold.  They are all ready for their labels and stamps!

When I address the tags, I will choose the banner I want to match - I have already put foam adhesive on the back of all of them and am planning to make some chalkboard tags with the black tags I cut.

So how are your holiday creations coming along?  Started yet?  Almost done?
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In case you are looking for some stamps or dies, I have some on sale:

Papertrey Stamps and dies:
Background Basics: Vines – stamp set ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Background Basics: Geometrics ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Embellishments Coordinating dies ($8) --> $4
Stitches and Swirls - stamp set ($48 from the vault) --> $24
Christmas Pointsettia dies ($8) > $5
Damask Designs stamp set ($48 from the vault) > $24
Background Basics: Wrought Iron[/b] ($36 from the valut) > $24
Everyday Button Bits - images only - stamps $10

From other companies:
Hero Arts – Friends $5 SOLD
Tim Holtz - Flights of Fancy $8
Altenew Wild Hibiscus brand new $15 missing top left stamp 

Shipping available to Canada, US and International based on weight:
One sheet (Canada $1, US $2, International $3.50)
Two sheets (Canada $1.50, US $3, International $6)
Payment via Paypal.
All sets have minimal staining, if any, come with labels and are from a smoke free, pet free home. :)

SAF 2016: Pointillism at Play

The fabulous Heather Nichols taught us how to stamp with dots for a play on pointillism.  I tried with some flowers but I think my clear embossing powder was challenged and had a devil of a time having the embossing show up.  I salvaged the flowers and leaves but will only show a peek at that card at the end ... not my best work!!

 I decided to do some pointillism and masking instead and used a Sweet Speech die to create a post-it mask.  I added dots from Harvest Berries and Polka Dot Basics in a variety of Fresh Ink and Avery Elle colours - mint to be, steel blue, sea glass, aquamarine ...

I stamped these all on a piece of soft stone card stock that I then mounted to a white card base (Recollections 110lb white).  I added a Mini Blooms sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black.

Here's my other one .. the first try at this technique!!  Don't look toooo closely! ;)

Check out my sale of stamps and dies here:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

SAF 2016 - Master Colour Recipes: Georgia O'Keefe

For this challenge, I took the above colour combo and made a simple (almost) one layer card.  I grabbed my Ombre Builders stamp set and some Fresh pigment inks in Sicilian Blue, Sky Blue, Blue Sage, Tuscan Olive and Silver Lilac.

I combined them by overstamping and layering the colours with my trusty MISTI stamping tool.

I then added a sentiment from the Don't Forget to Write kit using Versafine Onyx Black.  I added a few white sparkly sequins and that's it!

If you are looking for some crafty items, check out my sale here:

http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

SAF 2016: Starry Night

Stamp-A-Faire is off to a great start with the Starry Night challenge with Amy Sheffer's tutorial.  Wow, what an amazing card she created! I had a lot of issues creating the trees but just went with it ...

I sponged Fresh Ink in the following colours all over a piece of Strathmore 300 series cold press watercolour paper: Tuscan Olive, Sugar Plum, Navy, Turquoise, and Blue Sage.  I spritzed with a mini mister and moved the colours about, adding some more of the deeper hues.

I used some cheap watercolours from Michaels and my trusty aqua brush to paint the horizon .  I had a lot of difficulty with the trees and a sponge so had to make the area bigger to cover my mistakes! I am still not in love with the trees I created but I did my best.

I flicked some Studio Calico opaque white and Distress Ink dauber in pewter.

I added a die cut from Scripted cut in Staples grey and shimmered with my Wink of Stella clear pen.  I tried to make a thread nest but to no avail so I just added some star and silver sequins gifted to me by a kind forum friend.  I added a foam panel behind the watercolour piece and mounted it to a 110lb Recollections card base.

Check out my sale of stamps and dies here:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2016/05/stamp-set-sale.html

April 2016 Papertrey Blog Hop

This month's inspiration picture is very cool  over on the Papertrey Blog hop... I took the concentric overlapping circles and used those as my jumping off point.  I created some stencils with different size circles and used some makeup sponges (!!) and Avery Elle/Fresh ink for overlapping colours.  What fun!  I used shades of blues, teals and greens because they were calling to me from my wide array of inks. :)  Here are the colours I used:

Avery Elle: Aquamarine, Sea Glass
Fresh Ink: Pool, Blue Sage, Sicilian Blue, Turquoise

 A very simple card with an unusual layout in the corner on a piece of Kraft cardstock as my base.  I used lots of foam tape behind to make sure it was tacked down properly and a Hugs die using a perfume packaging that I loved the colour of ... :) It is a divine scent that I love called Sì from Giorgio Armani.   I just love it but only buy it when there is a special as it is not cheap ...  At any rate, the packaging is this pale peachy pink that makes me think of the amazingly talented Debby Hughes ... 

I layered multiple die cuts to make it more substantial and glued it on using my new favourite adhesive - Tombo Mono Aqua.  Clear and fab!

A bit of clear Wink of Stella on the die cut and that's it!  Well, I'm off to hop and take a look at everyone's wonderful creations.  Happy hopping! :)