Flower Card with the MISTI

Today I'm back with a flower card I made it for a friend using Altenew's Painted Flowers and my MISTI.  This was my first effort using the MISTI.  I have to say I was reluctant to spend money on it, despite having seen many videos of bloggers using the MISTI.  But then I went to a make and take at a local scrapbook store, used it, and was immediately hooked.  I love how easy it makes stamping, although for me it's not as easy as it appears.  For one thing, the doggone magnets don't always hold my paper down.  I ended up getting 2 additional smaller magnets, so now I use 4.  But they have to be in just the right position to keep the paper down.  I see some folks not even use magnets and still get great stamping, but I haven't managed to do that even on scrap paper.

The layering can be quite a challenge, but practice does help. I find that my "senior" eyes need a lot of daylight, not just artificial light from a lamp. And it took me a while to figure out colors that worked well together. But all in all, I think the card was worth my efforts.

I stamped the flowers with Versamark Black ink, scribbled Distress markers on the flowers and leaves, sprayed the card with water, and let the colors do their thing.  I am really happy with the result. I trimmed the panel and double matted it. The sentiment is CTMH and I heat embossed it. Finally, I added some sequins.

I'm entering these challenges:  Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge - Summer Garden; Addicted to Stamps - Flowers; Crazy for Challenges - C4C338 - Make it Floral; and Addicted to CAS #89 - Code Petals.

Do you have a MISTI?  If you don't, have you had a chance to try it out?  I'm interested to hear what you think about it.  Have a great day, my friends!

Lighthouse Birthday Card

Wow for me - two posts in two days!  Today I'm displaying a card for our neighbor, my husband's golf buddy.

The image is from Our Daily Bread - I've used it before. I colored the image with Distress Markers. Actually, this is the first time I've successfully colored with them. I've tried and tried before, but was never happy with the result. But this time, something clicked. I cut the image with an oval Nestie and added some Washi on the side. The sentiment is CTMH.

I'm entering the following challenges:  Addicted to CAS #58 - Code Distress; Seize the Birthday  - Masculine; and A Gem of A Challenge #139 - Clean and Simple.

I'm happy to be posting again :)

613 Avenue Create #89 - Anything Goes

Hi, Crafty Friends!  The new challenge at 613 Avenue Create is Anything Goes.  Our sponsor is Rick St. Dennis. So get crafting and show us what you come up with!  Here's my project - a tag. If you look closely, you can see the ribbon at the top. I should have had the ribbon show up better in the picture...

The image is Rick's Single Daffodil.  I colored it with Distress Markers.  You can't really see in the picture, but I lightly chalked the card stock so it is a very light pink, not white.  I added Wink of Stella to the daffodil. There's a band of sparkly ribbon at the bottom, and I placed some rhinestones here and there. Everything except the image is from my stash.

I'm entering these challenges:  Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge #46 - Anything Goes; Crafty Catz Challenge #246 - Clean & Simple; Polkadoodles Challenge Week 36 - Tag, You're It.

Before I go, I want to tell you about a surprise for you at 613 Avenue Create:

613 Avenue Create Facebook Contest Alert!!!! 
Today we reveal our official Facebook Feature Badge.  In celebration, we will award one lucky Commenter the chance to work with Graphic / Digital Designer Kathyrne Elizabeth and develop their personal watermark. Best of all...We are footing the bill.
  Visit our Facebook Page and leave a comment.
Here is our new FB Feature Badge.  It will be awarded only on our FB page.

Have a great day!

Using My Schtuff

Darnell of djkardkreations has another NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) challenge on her blog. Since I have tons of NBUS, I am compelled to enter. I used some blog candy that I won from the talented and generous Mary of Carolina Cards by Mary H - thanks again, Mary!

The card is for a line dancing friend who is not feeling well. Our group will send it to her. I used the sketch #19 from Stamplorations so I'm entering that challenge also.

Here's my card using this NBUS:  Memory Box Border Trellis die and the carnation stamp from Hero Arts Blossom Etchings stamp set. The background paper is from CTMH and I've had it for probably a couple of years.

Non NBUS items:  I inked the blossom with Hero Arts Orange Soda Shadow Ink; I used my Peeled Paint Distress Marker for the stem. The bow is a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is inked with CTMH Chocolate. All cardstock is from my stash.

I'm also entering the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Rubber or Clear Stamps - No Digis. I hope you have a happy day crafting!

613 Avenue Create #75-Anything Goes/Best Friends' Day

Good morning! This week's challenge at 613 Avenue Create has the option of creating something for your best friend because today is Best Friend's Day!! Our sponsors are A Random Fan, Eureka and Vectoria Designs.

My best friend lives in California, and I have known her since I was in the 4th grade. Yes, we go WAY, WAY back - LOL!!  She's married to a great guy - he and my husband are good friends. Our children are cousins. We are auntie and uncle to each other's children and grandchildren. One of her sons and two of her granddaughters live not far from us here in Georgia, so we see them throughout the year. My best friend and I talk all the time, preferring talk to texts and e-mails (we're old school - LOL!) But we do text and e-mail pictures back and forth of the grand kids as any self-respecting grandparent would :)  Anyhoo, here's the card I made for her using Eureka's Sun Flower:

I colored two sun flowers with Distress Markers and Distress Ink. I stacked one on top of the other for depth and then used pop dots to attach the flower to the card base. It's hard to see in the picture, but the flower has a coating of clear Wink of Stella. The side border is a Martha Stewart sticker I got ages ago from Marshall's. The sentiment is a rub on from Close to My Heart that I've had for probably 6 or more years. The card stock is from my stash.

I'm entering these challenges:  Craftitude #66 - Pop it Up; Sister Act #60 - Anything Goes; Darnell's NBUS #1 - Anything Goes/Friendship Theme;  Inkspirational Challenges #58 - Clean and Simple; and Time Out Challenges #7 - Summer/Flowers.

I hope you have a great week!

Encouragement

Hello, Friends! Today I have a card that I made for my sister-in-law to encourage her as she deals with health issues.  I found this Stampabilities sentiment at Hobby Lobby and knew I had to buy it. I can see myself using it a lot.

I used Distress Markers (Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint and Mustard Seed) for the background, spraying them with water after "scribbling" across the watercolor paper. I heat dried the paper and then embossed the sentiment in white. The DPs are from Close to My Heart. (I don't know the names, but I do know they are old and retired - LOL!) The cardstock base is from my stash as are the flowers. A simple card, easy to create, and my sister-in-law liked it.

I'm entering these challenges:  Word Art Wednesday #134 - Anything Goes; Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes; Inky Impressions #161 - Anything Goes; and 4 Crafty Chicks #196 - Anything Goes.

I hope you get in some crafty time today!

Trying A Water Color Technique

Today I tried something entirely new for me - a water color technique using Distress Inks and Distress Markers. My friend Virginia Lu has a new challenge blog - Virginia's View Challenge. The first challenge is Water Coloring. A few days before I saw Virginia's new blog, I had actually tried a water color technique which was a total failure. I decided to try again so I could enter Virginia's challenge. I'm actually a bit pleased by this result - at least I didn't want to throw it away - LOL! I do hope to improve on my technique by making more water color cards.

For the flower, I used 3 Distress Markers, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Barn Door.  I stamped the CTMH image in Black Versafine ink.  I used the lightest marker in the middle of the flower, then the two darker colors going outward.  (I just scribbled since I was going to fussy cut the image.) I sprayed the flower with water and moved the paper around so the ink flowed. I dried the image with my heat gun and then fussy cut it. Later I added yellow to the inside with a Sharpie.  For the background I squished Peeled Paint and Mustard Seed Distress Inks on my craft sheet.  I sprayed the areas with water and dipped my paper into in, moving the ink around.  After heat drying it, I scribbled Faded Jeans in the center, sprayed it and heat dried it.  (I felt that the area behind the flower needed to be a bit darker for contrast.)  I used several colors on the leaves and fussy cut them also.  I popped up the flower and added sequins and a sentiment.  I distressed the edges of the panel with scissors and CTMH Dutch Blue ink. I sponged blue ink on the white card base. After gluing down the water color panel, I added clear Wink of Stella to the flower and was done.

I'm entering these challenges:  Virginia's View Challenge #1 - Water Color; Make It Monday #181 - Anything Goes; Through the Craft Room Door March 4 Challenge - Anything Goes.

613 Avenue Create Challenge #31-Anything Goes: Use a Sentiment Twist

Hi, Everyone,

I have taken a bit of a blog break due to a visit from my grandson.  But I'm back now. This week's challenge at 613 Avenue Create is Anything Goes with a Sentiment Twist.  Here's my inspiration for you, using Rick St. Dennis' Snowman with a Squirrel image:

I need Christmas cards so I was pleased to use this cute image.  Card Stock & DP:  Recollections; Baker's Twine: Martha Stewart; sentiment: CTMH Say It in Style; ink:  CTMH Desert Sand, Black; Distress Markers and Sharpies; Sequins - WalMart.  It's hard to tell from the picture, but the snowman and decorations have a bit of sparkle from CTMH Stardust Glitter Glue and a Jelly Roll glitter pen.

I'm entering a few challenges:  Mema's Crafts - Anything Goes; Make It Monday - Anything Goes; and Sparkle Creations Weekly Christmas Card Challenges - Optional Sketch.

Stop by 613 Avenue Create to enjoy all the creativity on the blog!

613 Avenue Create Challenge 23-Anything Goes-Celebrations Option

Happy Day to you!  Our current challenge at 613 Avenue Create has the option of Celebrations. Just post your project honoring a celebratory time - should be great fun!  Our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps.  My friend and neighbor is retiring shortly - I used the Flower Jar image in making this card is for her:

I'm entering these challenges:  Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes; Crafting When We Can - Mad About Markers; and Mema's Crafts - Anything Goes.

The card stock is from my stash.  The DP from CTMH as is the Blush ink, DP and bling flowers.  I used Nestabilities Labels 18, and colored the image with Distress Markers and Sharpies.  Stop by 613 Avenue Create, check our last week's winners and post your project.  The DT has done a great job in providing inspiration.  Have a great week!

613 Avenue Create Challenge #5 Anything Goes

We've got another Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  The optional theme is Love. Our wonderful sponsors are Sweet N Sassy and My Heart Pieces.  The DT has worked hard to create some great inspiration.  Here's my card using the Baby Sleeping image from Sweet N Sassy.  I made this card for my sister to give to brand new grandson - he's her very first.  I sent her a picture of the card, and I'm happy to say that she loved it, and told me she would love to give it to her grandson, my grandnephew.  When he gets it, he'll feel the double love - from his Grandmommy and his Auntie La :)

I used stash items for everything.  I colored the sweet image with a combination of Copics, Sharpies, Distress Markers and chalk.  The ink is Memento Bahama Blue and the sentiment is CTMH (A Tulip). 

You'll want to see our winners from Challenge #4 - you just might be one!