Hello Sunshine!

Wishing for the days of more sunshine here in the Midwest! This card uses sunny colors along with the glasses and sunny sentiment. Created in an arch shape for the A Place to Start "No Squares" challenge this month. Can't wait to brighten someone's day with this card. Check out the challenge and other design team inspiration here

Stenciled Background

              

The Altenew Stencil Art Bi-monthly subscription for March, Styled Backgrounds, includes stencils to make three backgrounds. One is a pretty floral and the other two are geometric. I'm sure I'll be making good use of these. 

 

To create this geometric background, just ink the first color, then rotate the stencil 90 degrees and match the etched lines to your first image and ink the next image. After rotating the image 4 times, you get this pattern. 

Assembling the Diecut

Assembling the die cut pair of glasses was easy by following the pictures on the packaging. The hardest part was deciding on the color to use for the frame. I did use a silver pen to add the little screw pieces on the corners. Honestly, I cut the tiny little pieces and lost one, twice!! These cute glasses are the Mini-Delight subscription for March. They come with a floral stamp set and two sentiment stamps. They will be available on the website without a subscription for a little higher price. 

The flowers are cut from the Pond Flowers dies. This is an older set and still so handy. The striped strip uses the Pinstripe background stamp. 

Arch Shaped Card

After cutting the geometric panel with an arch die, I chose a slightly larger arch die to cut the card. Just align the die so it is slightly to the left of the fold of your card. The die won't cut the folded edge as long as it's not touching the cardstock. Adhere elements in place and you have a card full of sunshine! 

Since I will be mailing this card, I outlined the geometric arch panel in gold pen instead of adding another layer. I did pop the glasses up with a lower loft foam tape. 

Supplies:

Altenew Stencil Art: Styled Backgrounds, Mini Delight: Stylish Shades, Pinstripe background stamp, Enamel Dots: Tea Party,  Fresh Dye inks: buttercream, warm sunshine, terracotta, blush rose.

Cardstocks unknown, metallic silver paper, gold gel pen

Challenges I'm entering:

A Place to Start- Anything Goes with a Twist of no squares (link above)

Little Red Wagon  L is for Leftovers (leftover yellow striped piece from my scrap box)

 

Postage Love!

Love is in the air and the mail! I have loved these postage cards since I saw my first one. Here's a postage layout with the Waffle Flower postage grid & postage stamps, with some mini stamps and a long script from two other companies. These grids are so handy for little stamps and take less thought in composing the layout. They also work well with lots of smaller stamps you probably have on hand. 

 

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge this month is a love themed card in honor of Valentine's Day. These Valentine Icons stamps from Pretty Pink Posh worked perfectly. Check out the other designer's cards and play along with us at Cupcake Inspirations Feb 16-Mar 15. 

I had made this postage background previously and inked it with a neutral gray ink. I'm so glad I made an extra to have on hand! The centers of each box was left lighter so the stamps could be colored with the background color showing through. After stamping the icons, I colored them with alcohol markers. 

I die cut the letters for LOVE out of card stock and planned where they would go. Stamping the postage prices and other items was next, which is my favorite part! 

Next, I adhered the letters and added some sparkle to them. Valentine cards need sparkle! A couple of enamel dots, including some hearts in the center of the cancellation circle, added more whimsy.  

Finally, it's time to add a sentiment. I tried out some sentiment strips in the center as I have often used, but finally settled on this wide script stamped right across the card. Perfect!

If you have a postage collage die, don't forget about it. There are so many stamps you can use with these along with the stencils and stamps Waffle Flower continues to release. 

Products:

Waffle Flower postage collage grid die, postage collage blocks stencil, postage collage stamp set

Pretty Pink Posh Valentine Icons stamp set

Lawn Fawn Celebration Scripty Sayings stamp set

Altenew Fine Alphabet dies, Evening Gray Crisp Dye Ink, alcohol markers, enamel dots

Scrapbook.com clear shimmer glitter pen

 

A Valentine Bookmark

 

A Valentine Bookmark

I love to read and collect bookmarks, so this project was special to me. The Valentine Bookmark comes together easily and is fun to color with alcohol markers! I used the mama & baby bunny for the Place to Call Home Challenge this month: Anything Goes with optional small critters. 

Join in the challenge here

 A Place to Start

1. Cut the bookmark card stock pieces, red & white, with the Bookmark Builder die set by Taylored Expressions. 

2. Stamp the library, bunnies and books with black ink before coloring with alcohol markers. Use a light cool gray for shadows. I added the red glasses on Mama Bunny! So cute! 

3. Add some highlights with a white gel pen. 

4. Stencil some hearts with pink and red ink. Add some glitter pen on the hearts for some extra shine. 

5. Stamp the Happy Valentine's Day sentiment in red in. 

6. Adhere the white piece to the red and thread a soft white piece of yarn through the top to match the bunnies. 

This makes a useful Valentine for a friend or teacher. Happy Reading! 

Supplies:

Taylored Expressions Bookmark Builder die set

Lawn Fawn Little Woodland Library stamp set, Celebration Scripty Sayings stamp

Scrapbook.com Scattered Hearts stencil, Clear Shimmer glitter pen

Altenew alcohol markers

Gina K inks in Red Velvet, Red brick, Dusty Rose

Challenges:

A Place to Start Challenge - Anything Goes with optional small critters (link above) Feb 2-27

The Paper Players                                            We Love Stamping- Feb challenge -use hearts 

.   

                                           Simon Says Stamp Wed Challenge Anything Goes 

                                                                 Tag Along and ATC 

It's in the Details

 

It's in the Details

This card turned out well with a lot of attention to the alcohol marker shading, but when I applied a few final details, it really made a stand out! 

Details: 

1. Adding some flicks of the dark color after blending with alcohol markers. I like this look. 

2. Adding the tiny sequins to the tips of the flower center (is that the pistol or stamen?). These catch the light and the clusters really draw the eye. 

3. Adding some shine to the vase with silver gel pen. 

4. Using a silver gel pen to draw a line frame around the dark card stock.  This line brightens up the background and really polishes it off. It doesn't need to be complicated! 

Just noticed I left off a sentiment! I might send it as is, with the artistic flower taking center stage. I write cards to the elderly, so a sentiment isn't necessary unless it is their birthday or something. I'll use it more like a note card. 

Thanks to Pam Boedeker for the alcohol marker instruction to color this flower. 

Supplies: 

Altenew Pristine Peonies stamp, alcohol markers

Gina K sequins 

Silver gel pen (unknown)

Challenges Entered: 

Ellibelle's Corner Garden Party #11 Something from a garden

Embossing Folder Textures

Embossing Folder Textures

Backgrounds and Die Cuts

Embossing folders make a great textured background, but can also be used to add texture to die cuts. 

This card was made with a set that included the embossing folder and matching diecut florals. To make this card:

1. Emboss the turquoise card stock background with embossing folder. 

2. Cut floral pieces using die cuts. I cut some from white and some from gold card stock. 

3. Place floral pieces in matching spot in embossing folder and run through machine. Doing just a few a time is easier, or they may shift. Leave some pieces flat to add interest. 

4. Add ink blending and color to flower centers with inks and alcohol markers. 

5. Arrange on embossed background. You can match the pieces to the raised image, or scatter them like I did. 

6. Mix and match gold centers with inked floral pieces. 

7. Stamp sentiment with an ombre effect. 

 Supplies: 

Altenew Embroidered Florals set, Bold Bouquet sentiment,  Fresh Dye inks, alcohol markers

Metallic gold card stock

Challenges Entering: 

Time Out Challenges All That Glitters #304

A Cut Above using die cuts

Ombre Ink Blending

 

Ombre or Gradient Ink Blending

This Warm Wishes card was inked with one set of blue inks. The blue really stands out on the shimmery white background. Here's how to create this: 

1. Apply pearl shimmer relief paste to a white card stock panel. Let dry completely. 

2. Run shimmery panel through a snowflake embossing folder.

3. Die cut various sizes of snowflakes and ink blend with darker at center. Use darker and ligher inks on various snowflakes for contrast. 

4. Die cut mug and ink blend the top layer dark to light. The handle is a bottom layer in blue cardstock. 

5. Cut the sentiment and ink blend dark to light. 

6. Apply sequins in center of stacked snowflakes to add more shine. 

Supplies:

Altenew Layered Snowflakes 2 dies, Northen Shore Dye ink set, Shimmer Relief Paste in Pearl, Layered Snowflakes 3D embossing folder, Warm & Cozy sentiments die, My Favorite Mugs die. 

Gina K Designs Iridescent sequins

Challenges Entered: 

 Timeout Challenges Timeout Challenges "All that Glitters" #304

Aletnew Challenge Live Altenew Challenge Live -Gradient color challenge Jan 13-19

Avenue613 Anything Goes with a twist- cheers to the New Year 

A Cut Above Anything Goes with diecuts

AUDSentiments Anything Goes with a sentiment

Bring on the Shine

Bring on the Shine with Shimmer Relief Paste 

When you want a shiny background with more texture, reach for your shimmer relief paste. 

1. Just apply the paste with a pallet knife and let it dry. Letting it dry well is the key. I learned the hard way but was able to cover my flaws. 

2. Run the shimmered card stock through an embossing folder and you have a great card panel already. For a wedding card, a simple white embossed card with shimmer and a sentiment would be enough. 

3. To add color, use alcohol markers. 

4. For more shine, add some sequins. These sequins with flower shapes worked perfectly. They also covered a few places where my still damp paste stuck to the embossing folder! 

 Supplies:

Altenew Shimmer Relief Paste in pearl, fancy hello die, Cherry Plum Blossom 3D embossing folder, alcohol markers 

Gina K sequins from Advent Box 

Challenges:

Time Out Challenge #304 All That Glitters Time Out Challenges

The Neglected Stuff Challenge with my old cherry blossom embossing folder Neglected Stuff

Altenew Crafting Bingo in Facebook Fan Group page