Fusion Card Challenge: Joy

The Fusion card challenge spurred me to create some more holiday cards.  Here's my CAS card using the sentiment and the sketch:

I stamped the Lovely Laurels from Papertrey Ink with Fresh Ink pigment Pear and Tuscan Olive.  I added MFT's Handwritten Sentiment in Merlot and then clear embossed it.

I took WPlus9's Stag die and cut it using copper foil cardstock and mounted it with lots of foam adhesive.  The foil is so shiny and gorgeous in person; trust me!
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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:
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. :)

Cure for the Monday Blues #34

Just squeaking in under the deadline for this fun pastel colour combo!  Taheerah's gorgeous inspiration picture made me want to create a shaker card.  My first attempt didn't go too well and the static adhered to the glitter so I tried again with some sequins.

I took a Recollections 110lb card base and made a 4.25" square card.  I cut a Lil Inkers square sticked frame using two dies and stamped the center with a Wplus9 feather set - love these little feathers!  I used Fresh ink peach, sicilian blue and sugar.

I masked off the center and stamped PTI's chevrons using Fresh ink in turquoise all over the background.

I used some foam tape for the back and a piece of acetate glued down with Tombo Mono Aqua (works great and dries clear).  I added some clear, turquoise and purply gray sequins and that's it!

WPlus9 Trend Watch: Hello there

WPlus9 is having a Trend Watch Challenge and I decided to join in.  Here's some of the inspiration:

I kept my card simple and stamped some feathers that I painted with watercolours to stamp with and then layered over some outlines.  I misted the whole card front with  Studio Calico shine for a little extra sparkle - hard to capture on camera, but it's there ... promise! :)

Here's a shadowy shot:

And a closeup trying to show the shimmer:

So what trends have you tried out?

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Oh, and here's a look at all the Jenni Bowlin colours in their glory:

Supplies:
Paper: Recollections 110lb white
Stamps: WPlus9 Fanciful Feathers
Ink: Jenni Bowlin Spiced Tin, Lavender Sachet, Speckled Egg
Misc: Mister Huey's  Studio Calico shine mist

An engagement card plus some thank you ones ...

A colleague of mine just got engaged so I made a simple card for her:

I used Wplus9's feather set with Versafine Smokey Gray ink and added the Mat Stack 4 Collection sentiment in Onyx Black.

I decided the panel needed a little more texture so I used the Canvas impression plate for some interest.  I love how it makes it almost look like fabric.

Here's the inside:

I have some thank you cards for students all ready to be written in - I used some patterned paper that I got for Christmas and added an MFT Eiffel tower die cut in black and City Scene sentiments in Versafine Onyx Black.

 Super simple but oh so useful for me! :-)

Check out my sale of some craft supplies (stamps, impression plates etc) here:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies:
Wishing you happiness
Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Aqua Mist
Stamps: WPlus9 Feathers, Mat Stack 2 Collection, City Scene sentiments (heart)
Ink: Versafine  Onyx Black, Smokey Gray; Jenni Bowlin chilli powder
Misc: foam dots, PTI Canvas impression plate

Merci beaucoup cards
Paper: Staples 110lb white, various patterned papers
Stamps: PTI City Scene sentiments
Ink: Versafine  Onyx Black
Misc: MFT Eiffel Tower die

Experimenting with embossing paste

For the longest time I didn't have any embossing paste and was just using gesso which gave a bit of a different finish.  With some help from a crafty friend, I managed to hunt some down in the city and did some experimenting.  I made my own stencil using one of the feather dies from Wplus9.  Here's what I came up with:

My first one was a little too thick but I still added some Stickles Rock Candy glitter anyhow.  I used one of the Irrestible Ikat (PTI) sentiments with Smokey Gray Versafine.

 You can see the sparkly glitter a bit better here in the photo above.

Here are some others I made with a thinner layer of embossing paste:

 And all the cards together as a little set:

What have you done lately with embossing paste?  Have you given it a try?
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Check out my sale of some craft supplies (stamps, impression plates etc) here:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html
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Supplies:
Paper: Staples 110lb white
Stamps: PTI Irresistible Ikat
Ink: Versafine Smokey Gray
Misc: embossing paste from art store, WPlus9 feather die, Ranger Rock Candy Stickles dry glitter

Clean and Simple II - embrace the negative space yet again

 I continued to embrace the negative space with this super simple card.  I love gray cardstock and found a medium gray (or is it grey?!) from SU that I bought last year.  If PTI ever comes out with a medium gray (or even a light gray!) I would be very happy.  For now I have a Staples light gray (even though the weight is not quite heavy enough for my liking) and SU's Basic Gray for a mid tone

I used WPlus9's Heartfelt Mix again using Versamark and lots of embossing powder (Zing gold and blush).  The little clothes pin is Versafine Black Onyx with some clear Zing embossing powder.

I just love that blush embossed chevron heart - such texture!

Supplies:
Paper: SU Basic Gray
Stamps: WPlus9 Heartfelt Mix
Ink:   Versamark, Versafine Black Onyx
Misc:  Zing embossing powder (blush, clear, gold)

Embrace the negative space - Clean and simple II

So I am new to the whole misting and splattering ... I bought a few bottles but haven't used them too often.  I had an idea for a sentiment that would work perfectly for a splattered card.  I grabbed my Studio Calico Mister Huey's mists in shine and opaque white.  I used my box that I mist and do any other messy techniques in - it works well and keeps the work area clean.  I flicked a bunch of the ink onto the kraft card stock and then took it out and let it dry a bit before stamping.

I made the sentiment using Kelly Purkey's Plain Jane stamp set - I love the modern graphic look of this font.  I stamped it with Versafine Black Onyx and added three dots from PTI's Polka Dot Basics.

Hard to see the shine, but it's there - promise! :)

I added the sentiment from WPlus9's Heartfelt Mix - just perfect.  A Versamarked heart from the same stamp set and the card is all done.

So I think I embraced the white space ... even though it wasn't white after all.  And I finally did some ink splattering ... :)  This is the perfect card for a friend of mine who is going through a tough time - I think this will work well ...

Supplies:
Paper: PTI Kraft
Stamps: Kelly Purkey Plain Jane alpha, WPlus9 Heartfelt Mix
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Versamark, Studio Calico Mister Huey's (opaque white, shine)

Clean and Simple: Day 3 - Stamping Techniques (Gradient Stamping)

I was inspired by Jennifer's information on gradient stamping - what a fun idea!  I have seen the ombre effect around the blogs but hadn't really tried it myself.  I took out some sets to make some cards and had fun getting inky.

For my first card, I used WPlus9 Defining Words in a variety of  Jenni Bowlin inks (spiced tin, soap powder, speckled egg) and  Distress Ink in weathered wood.  I die cut a heart from WPlus9's Heartfelt Mix in PTI's Enchanted Evening and adhered it with foam dots and added some Rock Candy stickles.

 Here's a look at the Rock Candy Stickles - it looks like sugar almost - in person it is a pretty fun effect!

I made a simliar card with a Mat Stack 4 die cut and some sentiments from the ever so cute Studio Calico Snap On stamp set using Versafine Black Onyx for a bold message.  I added a pink heart from WPlus9's Heartfelt Mix stamped in Fresh ink (sugar) on the mat stack.

I used my Papertrey Vintage Tea dye duo to ink up the edges - adds a little more definition between the background and the die cut.

For my next gradient card, I grabbed the gorgeous Lovely Layers stamp set from Papertrey.  I stamped a row of the blossoms (or medallions?) in Fresh ink - sugar, fuschia, red currant and merlot.  I added a sentiment from Fabulous Frames using Fresh ink in chocolate.

 I like the look of the kraft cardstock with the gradient inks ... so simple but really effective.

I continued on my roll of gradient stamping and grabbed a graphic set, also from Papertrey.  Background Basics was designed by one of my favourite modern and clean designers - Maile Belles.  I stamped the circles in sugar at the top but they weren't very visible so changed my idea and stamped the rows in red currant, fuschia, merlot, and chocolate plus the solid ones in fuschia.  I mounted it to a white card base and added the sentiment from Signature Greetings in red currant.

 I kept it flat for easy mailing .... I usually use foam dots but resisted the urge this time! :)

Supplies:

Blue Gradient Heart Card

Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Enchanted Evening

Stamps: WPlus9 Defining Words, Heartfelt Mix
Ink: Jenni Bowlin inks (spiced tin, soap powder, speckled egg); Distress Ink (weathered wood).
Misc: foam dots, WPlus9 Heartfelt Mix die, Rock Candy stickles

Love you ... you rock

Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Enchanted Evening

Stamps: WPlus9 Defining Words, Heartfelt Mix; Studio Calico Snap On
Ink: Jenni Bowlin inks (spiced tin, soap powder, speckled egg); Distress Ink (weathered wood), Fresh ink (sugar), Versafine Black Onyx; PTI Vintage Tea Dye duo
Misc: foam dots, PTI Mat Stack 4

This is the life
Paper: PTI Kraft
Ink: Fresh ink (sugar, fuschia, red currant, merlot, chocolate)
Stamps: PTI Lovely Layers, Fabulous Frames

Love you so much
Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI kraft
Ink: Fresh ink (sugar, fuschia, red currant, merlot, chocolate)
Stamps: BB Circles, Signature Greetings