Weekend Sketch Challenge #64

It has been a looong time since I have stamped. I have been busy getting ready for three stack parties that happening in the mid to end of November. I have a busy November so I've had to prepare early. So yesterday I had a bit of time and was not motivated to cut card stock, clean the house for when my mom comes to visit or prepare for Caleb's fourth birthday (the party is tomorrow and there will be ten kids here - crazy), so I decided to stamp. Hurray! I was feeling a bit of withdrawal. I find it so relaxing and therapeutic and miss it when I don't stamp.

I decided to check out Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I wanted to use all Stampin' Up! products so that it could be used for a stamp or stack class. But it just wasn't coming together. I was also thinking that I could make it a Halloween card but by the time I posted Halloween would be over. I guess there is always next year. Anyway.... this is what I came up with.

Supplies:

Stamps: Best Wishes & More (snowflake and sentiment)

Paper: Very Vanilla, Bordering Blue, Chocolate Chip, Designer Paper (?? from scrap pile)

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Blue Satin Ribbon (Michael's), Hemp Twine, Antique Copper Brads, Paper Piercer (to make holes for brads), Scalloped Scissors, Dimensionals, Scalloped Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Glue Pad (Tsukineko), Glitter

4.25 x 5.5 card

Thanks for stopping by.

Weekend Sketch Challenge #47

Aaahh.....I am trying to find the time. Sorry for the infrequent posts. I will try to do better..... I was able to participate in Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge on Friday and I haven't had time to post it until now. Aaahh..... Even so, this will be a short post. I seem to have a long list of things to do and no time to complete them. I have accomplished making one large and two small lasagnes this morning. The large one is going to a friend who just had a baby, one small one is going in the freezer and the other we will eat for dinner.

When I saw this paper, I knew that I wanted to use my Nature Stamps by Rhonda Farrer. The flowers in the oval is "watercoloured" with an aquapainter.

I found this K & Company paper at Michael's this last week for 40% off. I love sales!! This is the Hannah paper pad. I also found some Amy Butler Clear stamps, also by K & Company, on sale. Did I just say that I love sales?!? The background is stamped off with an image from this new set. The tiny butterfly and the "thank you" is from this set as well.

Supplies:

Stamps: Nature Stamps by Rhonda Farrer (Autumn Leaves), Amy Butler Clear Stamps (K & Company)

Paper: Hannah Paper Pad (K & Company), Naturals Ivory, Ruby Red

Ink: Ruby Red, Old Olive, Cameo Coral

Accessories: Olive Satin Ribbon (Gale's), Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Oval Coluzzle, Giga Oval Scalloped Punch (Marvy), Dimensional, Sponge Dauber

4.25 x 5.5 card

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Weekend Sketch Challenge #46

I had this Basic Grey designer paper still sitting on my desk (the Oh Baby line) from a previous card that I have yet to post. So it was convenient to use for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge.

The flower from Ginormous Flowers is stamped in VersaMark and rolled in Not Quite Navy ink and them embossed three times with Clear Embossing Powder. The word "celebrate" is also embossed. When an image is embossed more than once, it gives it a thicker and smoother look. As a result, the flower curls up a bit, which is an added bonus.

I also used Clear Micro Pellets as embellishments. I stuck them on with Mini Glue Dots. By the way, I found them at Dollarama and there are 1,000 in the package. I think they will last my lifetime. LOL

Supplies:

Stamps: Ginormous Flowers, Celebrate Everything

Paper: Oh Baby line (Basic Grey, Bordering Blue, Not Quite Navy, Naturals White,

Ink: Not Quite Navy, VersaMark

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Clear Micro Pellets, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Small Corner Rounder Punch, Sponge Dauber

3 x 6 card

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Weekend Sketch Challenge # 45

This is my creation of of Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I managed to make this card on Friday, but am only able to upload it today. This weekend was quite busy: Friday night we went to a hockey game with some friends. I haven't been to one in years. It was quite fun, I have to admit. Saturday night we had some friends over for dinner and Sunday Byron's mom came for part of the afternoon and supper.

I learned something new that other day: Embossing with VersaMark & Dye Inks. I found a new blog with some great hints and techniques. It is called Kiyomi Krafts. She has a great tip for embossing in a colour if you don't have pigments inks or coloured embossing powders. All you need is your dye ink or Classic ink (SU), VersaMark and Clear Embossing Powder.

1) Ink up your stamp with VersaMark or any other clear embossing ink.
2) Ink your stamp with the dye ink of your choice.
3) Stamp on your card stock and emboss. That's it!

I tried this technique on the Ruby Red strip. It worked!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Nature Stamps (Autumn Leaves)

Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Ruby Red, Watercolour Paper, Scarlet's Letter DP (Basic Grey)

Ink: Black Stazon, Ruby Red, Old Olive, VersaMark

Accessories: White Thread, Sewing Machine, Sponge Dauber, Black Ribbon (unknown), Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder, Aquapainter

4.75 x 5.5 card

Thanks for stopping by.

Weekend Sketch Challenge # 43

What a day..... Today my oldest had his birthday party. He turned six on the 14th. I can't believe where the time has gone..... And it is a beautiful day and it is a good day to clean up my flower beds..... And I am going out for dinner tonight with some girlfriends. I'm not sure if I will have time for any stamping today.


Yes, this is last week's sketch challenge of Beate's. One week late. I guess I'm just a little behind. I have yet to do her challenge for this week. I hope to get around to it this weekend sometime.

By the way, I stamped the bird on Naturals White card stock, stamped another one, cut it out and popped it up with dimentionals on top of the first.




Supplies:

Stamps: Spring Song, Stitched Background
Paper: Infuse (Basic Grey), Old Olive, Ruby Red, Naturals White
Ink: Brown Stazon, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate chip, Ruby Red, Old Olive
Accessories: Sponge Dauber, Aquapainter, Dimensional, Olive Satin Ribbon (Gale's), Small Corner Rounder Punch

4.5 x 4.5 card

Thanks for stopping by.

PS. This picture is a bit washed out. I have an Ott light that I use when taking pictures of a card. I'm not always sure where to place it. If anyone has any hints on how to use the light to its best advantage, PLEASE let me know.

Weekend Sketch Challenge #40

This afternoon I have had a bit of time to play around with my paper and stamps. The "boys" are out watching their babysitter play hockey. (They are in the play-offs so it is supposed to be quite exciting. I'm not sure if my three and five-year-old will appreciate it as much as my husband does.) So... I have the house to myself. Yippee!! What a treat.

I was able to play do Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. This card came together quite quickly today. You might notice that I sewed on the outside layers of the card with white thread. I had my sewing machine out to put patches on the boys' jeans. Before putting it away, I made a few card backings for future use. I'm a little rusty with my sewing skills.

A few other details:

* I distressed the edges of the various paper layers.

* The butterfly is paper pieced (I stamped on the patterned paper, cut it out and glued it to the stamped image.).

* The strip of green in the circled image is cut into little strips to give the effect of grass.

Supplies:

Stamps: Fun and Fast Notes

Paper: Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Designer Paper (Fancy Pants)

Ink: Brown Stazon, Creamy Caramel

Accessories: Distresser (Cutter Kit), Mega Scallop Punch (marvy), Circle Punch (marvy), Olive Satin Ribbon (Gale's), White Thread, Sewing Machine

4.25 x 5.5 card

Thanks for stopping by.

PS We had over forty adults and children at our house yesterday and it went very well. Our house didn't feel crowded, but almost all the rooms were being used. (Our house is only 1350 square feet, not including the basement.) It was lots of fun and food and I'd definitely do it again!

Weekend Sketch Challenge #39

Embrace Life with Copper Stickles

I worked on Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge ALL Friday afternoon, or so it seemed like, and it didn't come together until late Friday night. It actually took two tries before this card to finally make something I liked. I think the challenge card wasn't coming together because I was wanted to use the Brocade Backgrounds Designer Paper (from the Winter Catalogue). I like the paper, but I just can't seem to make it look good on a card. I think I might have to give it away. *wink, wink*

On this card I began with a Chocolate Chip card base and layered on Mellow Moss and the muted Chocolate Chip pattern from the Brocade Backgrounds DP.

I stamped the leafy branch from the Embrace Life set on Vellum Card stock in Brown Stazon. I layered the vellum on Mellow Moss and Chocolate Chip. I adhered the vellum down with adhesive on one corner - the corner I knew would be covered by the scalloped circle - and a photo anchor in the opposite corner. Most adhesives show through vellum so I always try to attach it using some sort of embellishment.

I used my Marvy punches to punch out circles in Vellum and Chocolate Chip DP and a scalloped circle in Mellow Moss. The "thanks" was stamped in Brown Stazon again as well as more leaves. With the leaves I stamped-off on a scrap of paper before stamping on the vellum. I wanted it to look more muted. Then I coloured in the leaves with Mellow Moss in, and attached the vellum with brads. I also popped up the scalloped image with a dimensional.

Once all the layers were attached, I used my new Copper Stickles on the leaves, "thanks" and scallops. I love that stuff! Haven't I said that before in a previous post. I now have black and copper stickles and there are LOTS more colours out there. LOL.

Supplies:

Stamps: Embrace Life, Much Appreciated

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Vellum Card Stock, Brocade Backgrounds Card Stock

Ink: Brown Stazon, Mellow Moss

Accessories: Antique Copper Brads and Photo Anchor, Copper Stickles, Blender Pen, Dimensional, Marvy Mega Scalloped Punch, Marvy Circle Punch

4.25 x 5.5 card

Thanks for stopping by.

Weekend Sketch Challenge #38

Back in the 70's.....

Doesn't this card remind you of the 70's? I thought I had left that era behind. When I was a little girl, I had a room with orange carpet and orange wallpaper with a Holly Hobbyish girl pattern all over. That is what this card reminds me of. I really like this patterned paper... all four of them... but next time I don't think I will put them ALL on one card. LOL.

I used Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge to make this card.

Supplies:

Stamps: Celebrate Everything

Paper: Designer Paper (Fancy Pants), Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Naturals Ivory

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive (sponging)

Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Dimensional, Square Brads (makingmemories), Orange Brad (makingmemories), Flower Fusion

4.25 x 5.5 card

Thanks for stopping by.

Weekend Sketch Challenge #36

Once again I got around to doing Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. This one took me a long time to complete for some reason. It just didn't look right. I tried adding ribbon and that just didn't look good. I finally went with a line of brads down the left side of the card. The main image square also took me a long time to figure out what to do. It took me about three tries of stamping various images. Well, this is the end result. Don't the colours remind you of a creamy cappuccino? Mmmm. I'd rather have a latte, though. :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Stitched Exotics, Stitched Background

Paper: Naturals Ivory, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White

Ink: VersaMark, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Embossing Buddy, White Embossing Powder, Distresser (Cutter Kit), Sponge Dauber, 1/16 Hand Held Punch, Vintage Copper Brads, Dimensionals

4.25 x 5.5 card

Thanks for stopping by.

Weekend Sketch Challenge #33

Today is one of those days that I feel like I've accomplished a lot. I wish I had days like this everyday. I did some cleaning, baked bread and a cake, practiced the piano, got my passport photos taken and bought skates for the boys. Oh yeah, how could I forget!! I even made a card which I will post at another time.

Today I want to show you the card I made for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. This is the first time I've made a card in this shape....so big. It's nice that it will fit in a business size envelope. Now hmmm, who is going to be getting this card for Valentine's Day??

By the way, the stamps I used are acrylics by Close to My Heart. Before I did the large heart image in red, I tried it in black. Black Stazon. Here is a tip: If you don't want your acrylics to be badly stained DO NOT use Stazon ink!!! Now my stamp is permanently black. Oh well. Now I know.

Here is a close up of the tag at the bottom of the card.

Supplies:

Stamps: Love Is (Close to My Heart)Paper: Floral Designer Paper (Michaels), Textured Designer Paper (Michael's), Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Real Red

Ink: Real Red, VersaMark

Accessories: 1/4" Red Ribbon (Gale's Wholesale), Hemp Twine, 1/4" Circle Punch, 3/8" Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Sparkly Red Embossing Powder (Stampendous)

9 x 3 7/8 card

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Weekend Sketch Challenge #31

Lately it seems like I am having a hard time coming up with inspiration for making a card. It has been taking me a looong time to come up with an idea. Take this Weekend Sketch Challenge of Beate's, for example. I looked at the sketch on Friday and finally came up with something yesterday. Maybe my mind has been on other things. It think that is it. On Thursday I am leading a Moms' group in making a "photo memory page" that can be framed. So I have been busy preparing for that in the last week or so.

In this card, I combined two things: the Weekend Sketch Challenge and the Faux Silk Technique, also by Beate. This last week I came across some tissue paper and saved it specificaly to try out this technique. And it was easier than I thought it would be.

I stamped the flower images with Brown Stazon and then used the Aquapainter in Old Olive and Creamy Caramel to colour them in. You might notice that parts of the flower look pink. Well, that is a fluke. I was colouring on top of a hot pink piece of card stock and it picked up that colour as well. I guess that is one reason Michael's card stock is so cheap....not the best quality wouldn't you say?!? But I do like how it turned out. I then followed the rest of the instructions of the tutorial to finish the faux silk look and placed it on top of Creamy Caramel card stock.

I inked up my background Paisley stamp with Chocolate Chip and stamped it on Close to Cocoa card stock. Tied the 15/16" Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon around it, poked three holes in it....very carefully.... and added three brads.

Lastly I stamped "celebrate" in Chocolate Chip on Creamy Caramel cardstock, cut it out, since I don't have an oval punch and placed an Oval Chipboard Label Holder over top and secured it with two brads.

Once I finally "got inspired" it came together fairly quickly.

Supplies:

Stamps: Nature Stamps by Rhonda Farrer (Autumn Leaves), So Many Sayings, Paisley BG
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White, White Tissue Paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Old Olive, Brown Stazon
Accessories: Aquapainter, Glue stick, Antique Copper Brads, 15/16" Chocolate Chip Ribbon (SU Theatre Ribbon Originals), Paper Piercer, Chipboard Label Holder (Dollarama)

4.25 x 5.5 card

Thanks for stopping by.

Weekend Sketch Challenge # 30

On Friday I looked up Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge first thing in the morning. I was stumped! I didn't know how I would make a card out of this sketch. But I tried it anyways and it turned out hideous. I was thinking I would post it just so you could see how awful it looked, but luckily I didn't take a picture of it. Then, thankfully, I came up with an idea late Saturday afternoon. (It was really bugging me that I couldn't come up with "the inspiration".) Because I had such a busy weekend, I was able to finish it on Sunday afternoon, right before we left for Altona for a family get-together.

So here it is.....Taa-Daa. It is a fairly straight forward card; no fancy techniques. One thing to take note of though - I stamped the small leaf from Time Well Spent stamp set on the strip of Certainly Celery card stock. Not sure if you can see that in the picture.

Supplies:

Stamps: Time Well Spent, Warmest Regards (retired)

Paper: Whisper White, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Patterned Paper (from Michael's)

Ink: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber, Photo Corner Punch, Regal Rose 5/8 Grosgrain Ribbon, Blender Pen

4.75 x 4.75 card

Thanks for stopping by.

Belated Weekend Sketch Challenge #27

I finally got around to the Weekend Sketch Challenge this last Tuesday. And I didn't have a chance to up load the card. Better late than never.

Recipe:

Stamps: Happy Harmony, Looks Like Spring, In the Spotlight
Paper: Bohemia Series Designer Paper (My Mind's Eye), Vellum Dots Designer Paper (Paper Pizazz),Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, White Vellum Card Stock
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Accessories: White Ribbon (Michael's), Crystal Brads (makingmemories), Circle Coluzzle, Glue Dots, Cutter Kit (distresser), Ticket Corner Punch

4.75 x 4.75 card

Weekend Sketch Challenge #25

This is the card I made for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. She also has the tutorial on how to make the "Z-Card" on her blog. It turned out to be easier then I expected.

A couple of things about this card:

Because I don't have markers in Old Olive and Chocolate Chip, I "rocked" the stamp in the ink I wanted. It is an acrylic stamp on a clear block so I could see what I was doing. I first did the bird in the Old Olive ink and then the branch in the Chocolate Chip ink. Finally I rocked the edges of the bird in the Chocolate Chip ink as well. By the way, the bird and branch image is one stamp, not two.

I sponged all the edges of the of the card stock and designer paper except for the base of the card. It was all sponged in Chocolate Chip except the Whisper White was sponged in Not Quite Navy.

As you can see in the second picture, I used the Scalloped Circle to close the card.

I really like this card and think I will make another one with all Stampin' Up! products so I can use it at a workshop.

Recipe:

Stamps: Nature Stamps (by Rhonna Farrer - Autumn Leaves), Everyday Flexible Phrases ("hope"), Warmest Regards ("Thinking of You")

Paper: Bohemia Line Designer Paper (My Mind's Eye), Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Brads (makingmemories), Sponge Dauber, Scalloped Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, 1 1/4 Circle Punch

4.25 x 5.5 card

I will have another card to upload soon. So stay posted. :)

Take Two

OK, so I had another look at the Weekend Sketch Challenge and realized that I really deviated from it. So I did another card and followed it more closely. A quick and easy card.

Recipe:

Stamps: Enjoy (heidi swapp)

Paper: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke, K&Company DP, Olive Vellum (Michael's)

Ink: Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Olive Ribbon (Gale's Warehouse), Extra Large Pewter Eyelets, Sponge Dauber

4.24 x 5.5 card

Weekend Sketch Challenge #24

It actually took me two tries to come up with this card. They both look quite similar but there were certain things that I did not like about the first card I made. For example, with the first card the brads showed on the inside of the card. Didn't like that. I just added another layer of Always Artichoke card stock on top of the Always Artichoke card base. Also, the background looked so plain, so I stamped the mistletoe stamp in Bravo Burgundy on the Bravo Burgundy card stock. I like it so much better now. Oh, I als0 distressed the edges and then sponged them. I seem to be doing a lot of that lately.

By the way, I saw a similar card on a display at the Stampin' Up! booth at the Crop for Kids event last weekend. I am not sure who made this card, but I'll give credit to my "up-up-up-line", Joan, for designing this card. :)

Technique: Using a Marker to Colour on the Stamp

Actually the title is self-explanitory. It is quite simple to have your image stamped in a number of colours without using more than one stamp. All you need to do is use a pigment ink or water-based marker (I used Stampin' Up!'s, but you can also use Le Plume. I find them at Michael's in the scrapbooking section) and colour right on the stamp with your markers. Use as many colours as you like. Don't forget to breathe or "huff" on the stamp to re-moisten the ink. Finally, stamp on your card stock.

Recipe:

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes
Paper: Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy Marker, Always Artichoke Marker
Accessories: Silver Brads, White Ribbon (Gayle's Warehouse), Sponge Dauber

4.25 x 5.5 card

I made this card a couple of days ago for an upcoming stamp class. When I saw Beate's weekend sketch challenge I figured that I could use it for her challenge too. The only thing is that the horizontal strip goes all the way across on my card and the sketch doesn't show that. Hope that is OK. :)

Weekend Sketch Challenge #23

This morning I checked out Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge and figured I could do this one while the boys were at school. I had all the supplies from the card I made yesterday on my desk so I decided to use them again using this new layout. I made it pretty much the same way as yesterday's card.

Sage Shadow is not been one of my favourite colours. I've used it only one other time. The only reason I have this colour is because I once received a free package of card stock with my order from Stampin' Up! They must have thrown it in by accident. Since I had the card stock, I ordered the matching ink at another time. So when I found this design paper yesterday I saw that the Sage Shadow worked perfectly with it and was not overwhelming. I might have to go to Michael's and buy some more of this designer paper ;).

Recipe:

Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, It's Your Birthday

Paper: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Sage Shadow, Designer Paper (Sandylion)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow

Accessories: Sponge Dauber, Cutter Kit (distresser), Blender Pen

4.75 x 4.75 card

Weekend Sketch Challenge #23 Once More

As I was adhering all my card stock together, I realized that there was not room for the jumbo eyelets that I wanted to add. So I just had to make another card..... This time the main image is on a 2.5 x 2.5 piece of Very Vanilla card stock.

The "recipe" is the same as the above post except I added Extra Large Pewter Eyelets by We R Memory Keepers.

Weekend Sketch Challenge #22

So here is my version of Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. She has two samples posted and I immediately was inspired by the one that was more monochromatic. Click here to see her card using the Simply Said stamp set. I haven't used that set in a while so I decided to use it too. (Plus I love this set and not tired of it yet by any means.) So if you look closely and compare, there are a few changes. ;) In case it is hard to see on the photo, I sponged the edges of the card stock using Old Olive or Certainly Celery ink.

One thing to note: I have used my Coluzzle Cutting System a lot lately and find that it is so easy to use. I am quite happy with it....and it didn't cost much!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Simple Said, It's Your Birthday

Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Certainly Celery,

Ink: Old Olive, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Corner Rounder, Circle Coluzzle, Sponge Dauber, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Scalloped Circle Punch, White Eyelets (makingmemories)

4 3/4 x 4 3/4 card

Weekend Sketch Challenge #22 in Almost Amethyst

After I completed the first card, I decided to do another one, but in Almost Amethyst and Elegant Eggplant. The other change I made was I used the largest two "circles" of the Circle Coluzzle Cutting Template to make the circle bigger. I also distressed some of the edges using the distresser of the Cutter Kit. Love that thing. Works waaay better than my nails!!