613 Avenue Create #223 - Anything Goes-Option Use Your Country's Flag Colors

Hello There!  Well, we're officially in the second half of the year - wow, how time flies.  Our new Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create is to use the colors of your country's flag.  Here's my card using red, white and blue:

I used paper from my stash to cover the card base.  Then I used Memento Inks blended over a brick stencil to create a background panel.  I inked the stamp and sentiment and fussy cut them before adhering them to the brick panel.  The stamp set is an old one, which I really love - In the Cards by Casual Fridays Stamps.

This card has a masculine feel so I'll probably end up sending it to a man.  I think it's a fun card, one that can be used for a variety of occasions.

We'd love to see your creations so please join our challenge. Happy crafting!


Thanks for visiting!

A Place to Start - July - Anything Goes

Well, I hope the first half of the year has gone well for you.  As we enter July, we have a new challenge at A Place to Start.  This time our theme is Anything Goes. ( And, by the way, there will be no mid-month post,)

I created a baby card.  I won the adorable Whittle Elephant die from Poppy Stamps a few months ago.  I love the stitched details on the tiny die.  It was easy to color.  I added some DP from my stash, some colored card stock cut with stitched rectangle dies, and a sentiment actually borrowed from a friend. I grounded the elephant with a bit of shading below his feet.  Finally, I added a few sequins.

This CAS card was easy to make.  Die cuts can really make for a cute card.

Thanks for visiting!

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!