A Place To Start - Stencil Me In - Mid-month

I'm back with a little more inspiration to entice you to join us in our challenge to use stencils at A Place to Start.  This time, the entire background of my card was stenciled in on a pink card panel. After using hot pink ink, I offset the stencil slightly and stenciled with white ink.  I stamped my hummingbird using the rock and roll technique to add depth to the bird and fussy cut it out.  I adhered the bird to a die cut vellum oval and then attached it to the panel.  I trimmed a bit off the sides of the panel, adhered it to a white card base.  Finally I added a sentiment.

So if you haven't already entered our challenge, be sure to do so before the month is out.  The DT has more inspiration for you.  You'll enjoy the challenge, I'm sure.



Thanks for visiting!

A Place to Start - June: Stencil Me In

Hello!  There's a new challenge at A Place to Start.  This time we're using stencils.  For my card, I used a stencil that was a gift from a friend.  It's large with several different designs on it.  I stenciled all the butterflies. The flower is a Altenew stamp.  I don't know who made the stencil, but I like the butterflies in flight:

I used my favorite new tool - makeup brushes - to ink up the stencil design with Distress Oxide Inks onto a white card panel.  I then stamped the flowers, leaves and sentiment.  I cut the sentiment on a strip and glued it down. I cut the panel down slightly and glued it to a white card base. Finally, I added some sequins from my stash.  Clean and Simple - and done!

We would love to see your creations at A Place to Start.  Grab those stencils and get to creating!

Thanks for visiting!

613 Avenue Create #222 - Anything Goes - Option More Than One Fold

Hi, there!  This month's challenge at 613 Avenue Create was a hard one for me - using more than one fold.  I seldom make multi-fold cards.  I'm pretty much a clean and simple card maker, so I just fold a card base in half and make my card.  I did some research for this project and decided to make a Double Z fold card.  I really do like how this turned out and will probably make more in the future.

Here is my card folded flat:

Here is the open card:

And here is the side view:

I created a pattern on the card base by using a background stamp inked up with Versamark.  That created a subtle watermark pattern.

I used makeup brushes to lay down Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick all over the larger fold on the top panel, going from dark to light.  Then I spritzed the top panel with water. I lightly distressed the edges of the middle and lower panels.  I cut a frame from some DP for the stamped image and glued down the image after coloring it with my Spectrum Noir markers.

I then inked the edges of the lower two  folds of the card.

I used the same DP for the middle panel, stamping and cutting my sentiment on a strip.  This is a sentiment of encouragement. Then I added some flowers which I colored with my markers and added a small sequin to the center of each.

The bottom space is reserved for a handwritten note.

I followed instructions as detailed by the wonderfully creative Jennifer McGuire on her post here. Don't you just love Jennifer's creations?  She is super talented and so kind.

I really enjoyed the challenge of making this card.  We hope you step out of your comfort zone if multi-fold cards are not what you usually make.  And if you do make them already, please show off your projects.  Thanks for visiting!

A Place To Start May 2019 - Tempting Techniques: Showcase Your Favorite Technique

Hello there!  This month at A Place To Start we want to see you Showcase Your Favorite Technique.  Right now, I'm loving Distress Ink blending - particularly Distress Oxide Ink.  I created a birthday card for my husband using this technique:

I blended a trio of Distress Oxide Inks for the sky:  Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet.  I blended them using make up brushes that I bought from Amazon.  The ocean is blended with Faded Jeans and a bit of Cracked Pistachio.  The waves and sailboats are from a Stampin' Up set,Lilypad Lake, while the sentiment is a gift from my friend Darnell, but I misplaced the label for it. I colored the sail boats with Spectrum Noir markers.

I must admit that I have much better luck ink blending with the make up brushes than I have had with the little round blending tool.  If you have trouble ink blending, I recommend giving the make up brushes a try.

I love how this card turned out.  I find it soothing just to look at.

Thanks for visiting!

613 Avenue Create #221-Anything Goes-Option Shaker Card

Hello, Friends!  We have a delightful challenge this month at 613 Avenue Create.  Our Anything Goes option is to create a shaker card.  Shakers are always fun, and I really should create them more often.  The recipient always seemed to be surprised by the shaker elements.  Here's mine:

Can you see the shaker elements spread across the front of the card as it is placed flat on a table?  I used seed beads and some other little sparkly bits.  This one was really easy to create as I cut down a pre-printed card, stamped a sentiment on it, encased it in a small clear envelope, added the shaker elements, and finally sealed the envelope.  I cut a frame using dies, and glued the frame down to a card base.  I then glued the shaker envelope into the frame opening, adding the flowers as design elements and done!

I hope you like it.  It was super quick and easy.

Thanks for visiting!

613 Avenue Create #220-Anything Goes-Option Wedding/Anniversary

Good day, Crafty Friends!  This month at 613 Avenue Create our Anything Goes Challenge has the fun option of a wedding or anniversary card/project.  I made a card for our friends who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  It was a lot of fun to make.

This is the front view of my card.  I had a difficult time with shadows while taking photos of the gold birds, leaves and hearts.  They are punched out of gold mirror card stock which I could just not get to photograph well.  Please excuse my lack of skill in this regard.

The roses and flowers are a die cut which I glued to the front after using a die to cut out a heart on the card front.

Here you see the birds on branches.  I die cut the sentiment using number and alpha dies, adhering them to a scalloped punch, edged with gold ink.

Below you can see that this is a tri-fold card.  There's a stamped sentiment and die cut which you can't see.  But we signed the card and included a personal message before I photographed it - my mistake.  I didn't want to show our message so I chose to show this view of the tri-fold.  Oh, well. 

I really like how the card turned out. I may make another tri-fold card in the future. It's nice to be able to include more dies and sentiments.

Thanks for visiting!

Card Stock:  Recollections 110 lb
Gold Mirror Paper:  My stash
Flower, Letter & Number Dies:  Tattered Lace
Bird Punch:  Stampin' Up
Heart Punch:  Martha Stewart

A Place to Start - Official Launch

Hi, there!  I'm proud to tell you that I am now part of A Place to Start, a blog where new crafters can find helpful information and where all crafters can display their creativity.

Welcome to the official launch  of A Place to Start.  We thank you for the support you have already shown us in our previous challenges.

It is our goal to make our Place more than just a challenge blog.  Over the coming months, we will have tutorials, product comparisons, and a Q&A section.  We will also revive our ATG Neverending Challenge.

~~~~~~~~~
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR THE DESIGN TEAM

We are a Just For Fun Blog but for our launch this month,our good friend, artist Rick St. Dennis, has graciously offered to sponsor the challenge.  The Top Sprout Honoree will receive Rick' March 2019 - Easter/Spring Packet.

Marketplace Zibbet Rick1949

APTS Launch Challenge: Create A Single Layer Card w/Matching Envelope - or Anything Goes

I taped off the edges of my card and sponged Distress Oxide Ink on the space between the tape.  Then I stamped the flower image with black pigment ink, coated it with clear embossing powder, and heat embossed it.  Finally, I spritzed wanted onto the inked panel before stamping the sentiment.  

For the envelope, I taped off a small border and sponged on Distress Oxide Ink.  I used second generation stamping for the image, party on and partly off the inked strip. Done!

Please do visit the blog, enter the challenge, and apply for a DT position.  We'd love to have you join us.  Good things are coming!

Thanks for visiting!