Sweet Wishes

Hello card making friends!  I'm a bit late for my design team card for CAS Colors & Sketches, but better late than never!  I'm hoping to semi-retire soon and that means there is a lot of work getting ready to turn things over to my replacement. So, I've been busy.  (I know...excuses, excuses.)  The challenge this week is a double - both colors and a sketch!

My card today features some stamps from the new Lil' Bluebird Designs release and some dies from the new Cottage Cutz Words with Shadows release.  Both are available at the Scrapping Cottage.

I had to color match the colors with Tri-Blend and Copic markers.  The Summer Sun was the most difficult to match.  Oh well, I think its close enough.

I stenciled some hearts on the card base to "ground" my images.  When I added the sentiment I opted to not use the shadow in order to keep the card more CAS.

This was a simple card to make and will be perfect for one of friends who loves to bake!

Products used:

• Stamps & dies: Lil' Bluebird Designs In the Kitchen
• Dies: Cottage Cutz Sweet w/Shadow, Wishes w/Shadow
• Markers: Spectrum Noir Tri- Blends - True Blue Blends Brush and Bullet nibs, Dark Red Blends Brush and Bullet nibs; Copic markers - Y32, Y38, E30, N0, N1, C0, C2, C3
• Stencil: MFT Heats
• Ink: SU Summer Sun
  

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Hello Flip-It Card

I made this for the Color Challenge this week at Splitcoaststampers.  Mary chose Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape and Old Olive with designer paper for dessert.  Normally I don't use a whole lot of paper but I must have been hungry this week because I went for dessert in a big way!  (I have to chuckle when I say I don't use patterned paper because if you saw my stash you wouldn't believe me.  I guess I'm a paper collector!)

The Flip-It cards from The Stamps of Life call for panels of the paper on each side so I picked two in the challenge colors that I thought coordinated nicely.  The die for this card actually has the flowers with it so that decision (what flowers to use) was very simple too.  I used a sentiment from the 2 inch sentiment circle set.

No stamping for me tonight. Cut, glue, done! I love these flip cards - you can get very creative with them. 

Products used:

• Dies: The Stamps of Life Large Circle Flip-it Die, 2 Inch Circle Words
• Paper: Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Old Olive, Highland Heather DSP, retired DSP

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Moose Mountain Birthday

I have a very quick post tonight.  It was my brother-in-law's birthday this weekend and he loves the outdoors so I used the stamps and dies from The Stamps of Life Moose Mountain class to create this card.

Stand-up cards are among my favorites because they are so easily displayed and enjoyed.

For this card, I stenciled the sky using DO ink and then cut the appropriate pieces using the card die.  The moose was cut with the die and colored with DO ink. He looked a bit "thin" so I used the shadow die to give him a bit of bulk.  The grass is popped up off the card front  which allows the semi-circle for the easel to fit nicely in between the grass and the card.

Products used:

• Stamps and dies: The Stamps of Life Moose Mountain, A2 Circle Stand-Up
• Dies: The Stamps of Life Stand-Up, Cottage Cutz Grass Slimline
• Ink: Distress Oxide Tumbled Glass, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso
• Stencil: MFT Mini Clouds

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Hello My Little Finned Friend

My card features another one of the new stamps from Lil' Bluebird Designs and one of the new sentiment with shadows dies from Cottage Cutz.  The new stamps are adorable and I love the sentiments with shadows.  I love this type of sentiment because it allows you to put it on patterned paper!

 

I started by coloring the cat and fishbowl from the Kitty Love stamp set and cutting the Hello using the Hello with Shadow die.I used mostly Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend markers with a few Copic markers.  I'll list the markers used at the bottom of this page.

To get my ombre panels I first colored the whole circle using Distress Oxide ink and a blending brush.

I then used the Cottage Cutz Hills Slimline die to cut a curve about 1/3 of the way from the top.  I've seen paneled dies that are similar in concept.  But using a curved die that you probably already own you can make panels with any shape!

Setting the top portion aside, I inked the rest of the circle.  Then I cut another curve, set the upper portion aside and inked the bottom portion. This gave me three gradated panels for my circle.

I turned them over and used double sided tape to hold them together.  This allowed me to flip them over  and glue them as one piece to the scalloped circle.

 

I added my kitty, the sentiment and a few enamel dots to finish it off!  I hope you've enjoyed my card today.

Products used: 

• Stamps and dies: Lil' Bluebird Designs Kitty Love stamps and dies
• Dies: Cottage Cutz Hello w/Shadow, Scallop Circles, Stitched Circles.
• Markers:  Spectrum Noir Tr-Blends - Brown Grey Blends, Brown Grey Shades, Brown Grey Blends with brush tip, Pale Pink Blend, Burnt orange Blend, Dull Green Blend, Gold Brown Shades, Gold Brown Blend  Copic markers - BG0000, BG000

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Two-fer Tuesday

Hi card making friends!  My card today is for two of my design team challenges - CAS Colours & Sketches and the color challenge at Splitcoaststampers.

 

The card did not take long to make but I did have to measure out where to put that sentiment!  Bhavya gave us this sketch and while it's a clean design it isn't entirely simple in its execution.

I simply drew light pencil lines 3/8 inches apart and one down the right side of the card.  I stamped my black sentiment first and then repeated with the gray  sentiments.  I always start in the middle when I need to line things up.  If I'm slightly off I can usually adjust.  If I start at one end and I'm off it usually gets worse by the last item!

The basket is from a stamp set by Lil' Bluebird Designs - Llama Love.  I made a card two weeks ago using this set.  Lil' Bluebird Designs is a new stamp company and they are sold at the Scrapping Cottage.  

For the color challenge I used Stampin' Blends in Soft Succulent, Poppy Parade and Daffodil Delight (substituted for the Bumblebee of the challenge.)  I used a few Copic E30s for the basket.

Both challenges are fun this week.  I hope you'll find time to join us!

Products used:

• Stamps: Lil' Bluebird Designs Llama Love, Lawn Fawn Simply Semtiments
  
• Dies: Lil' Bluebird Designs Llama Love
• Ink: Memento Black, Smoky Skate
• Markers: Stampin' Blends - Soft Succulent, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade; Copic markers - E31, E33, E34

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Wild About You

Happy Friday!  My card uses the Safari Friends stamps and dies from the new Lil’ Bluebird Designs release.  I was inspired to make this card by a challenge at Splitcoaststampers last week to make a jungle card!

I started by coloring the lion, hippo and zebra with Copic markers.  There are so many cute critters in this set that I had a hard time choosing which ones to use.  I cut them out using the coordinating dies.

I glued down the two top circles, sentiment and the leaves in the lower left corner.  I love that the sentiments in these stamp sets have coordinating dies.

I popped up the lower circle and placed some linen thread underneath.

Finally I glued down all the animals and added a few metallic dots.

These new stamps are so adorable and fun to color! There are 16 new designs - be sure to check out the Cottage Cutz blog where I have complete directions for this card.

Products used:

• Stamps and dies: Lil' Bluebird Designs Safari Friends
• Dies: Cottage Cutz Safari Friends, Nested Stitched Scallop Circles
• Markers: Copics - N0, N1, N2, N3, N4, N7, E30, E04, E51, E53, E55, E57, E59

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An Apple a Day

Greetings!  It seems like forever since I have participated in a Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  I skipped last the last Team O event as I was just too busy.  One daughter moved out and the other graduated with her Master's degree - then we hosted a big celebration.  It's been a very hectic few weeks around here.

But I'm back now and I have three cards for you today.  Several weeks ago I was asked to be a Guest Designer for The Stamps of Life.  Talk about feeling honored!  I was given several dies/stamps that I need to keep secret until they are released on their website. This Apple Fold-it was one and it was just released on the 15th. Perfect for this challenge!

I picked the left column down - die cut letters, red, apple.

This makes a  great teacher or back to school card.  I will also be making and posting fall cards with it - think apple pie!

In case Fold-its are new for you, they are shaped cards that fit into a standard envelope for an A2 card.  There are a few that are a bit bigger than that but most fit this size.  They make very cute (and impressive) cards.  The kind where the recipient says "Wow - you made this!?!"

Be sure to check out this Fold-it and others at The Stamps of Life!

Products used:  all The Stamps of Life

• Dies: Apple Fold-it, Newport Alphabet Lowercase, Crayon
• Stamps: crayons2stamp, apple2stamp, patterns4apples
  

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Whole Llama Love

I have another card today from the new Lil' Bluebird Designs.  The Llama Love set has adorable llamas with fun coordinating designs and sentiments.  This new line has sixteen wonderful stamp sets in a wide variety of themes.  And there are coordinating dies available for each set!

I started by coloring my llama and hanging plant with alcohol markers.  The llama comes bare backed but there are two blankets which can be stamped to give her a more festive look.  I used a warm gray for her fur and soft squiggly strokes to make her nice and wooly.

I used both Copic markers and Spectrum Noir Tri-Blends.  I have a lot of Copics and you can't beat them for variety of color.  But the Tri-Blends come with a bullet nib that is great for small spaces.  On an image such as this, I will get detailed but only to a certain point with markers.  Had I more time, I may have added Prismacolor pencils to add a little more definition.

I cut a window on the top panel and popped it up over my base.  This card was very simple to make but the embossed background peeking through the heart gives it that something extra.

I added a few enamel dots to finish it off.  For complete instructions on how to make this card please visit the Scrapping Cottage blog.

Products used:

• Stamps and dies: Lil' Bluebird Designs Llama Love
• Dies: Cottage Cutz Stitched Hearts, Nested Stitched Scalloped Rectangles
• Markers: Copic markers - W00, W0, W1, W2, W7 Spectrum Noir Tri-Blends - Dark Red Blend, Coral Blend, Light Yellow Blend, Yellow Green Blend, Blue Turquoise Blend
• Accessories: Stampin' Up! retired embossing folder and enamel dots

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Take It Easy Tuesday

I did take it easy with this card - I made one card for two design teams!  There is a sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches that I combined with this week's color challenge at Splitcoaststampers.

 

The colors are  Mango melody, Flirty Flamingo and Granny Apple Green with anything goes for dessert.  Since the colors really screamed FLORAL at me I decided t make it a challenge and NOT use flowers.  My anything goes is anything but a flower!

I thought dragonflies could work and I love them for this sketch.  This card took a bit of planning.  I drew a light pencil line down the center, placed my sentiment shadow and drew around that, then centered and stamped the upper dragonflies.  If I had not done that - well what a mess that would have been!

As I said I took it easy this week.  I've had a very busy week and weekend both personally and professionally.  So doing double duty on this card helped.  The coloring was quite simple with the Stampin' Blends.  The biggest decision was the colors for the sentiment and as soon as I tried it in two of the challenge colors I knew it was going to be black and white!  I used about three coats of Wink of Stella on the dragonflies to get them to sparkle. I tried to show that in the last photo.

Products used:

• Stamps and Dies: The Stamps of Life Take It Easy (from the February 2021 Card Kit)
• Ink: Memento Black
• Markers: Stampin' Blends Mango Melody, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green

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New Stamp and Die Company!

Happy Friday!  Today's a card featuring some images from a brand new stamp and die company - Lil' Bluebird Designs!  These designs are available exclusively at the Scrapping Cottage.  And I am lucky enough to be on the design team and among the first to use them!

I was attracted to this set in particular.  I think it is because I have two daughters and although they are grown now, it brings back memories of princess parties when they were little.  It is so perfect for a young girl!

I colored the princess and pony using Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  These markers come with three shades of the same color in one marker and have bullet nibs.  They are perfect for the delicate areas of these images!  Doesn't the pony remind you of My Little Pony?  I had to make him rainbow!

The background was created using Distress Oxide inks, blending brushes, stencils and dies.  Complete instructions on how I created this are on the Cottage Cutz blog.

The princess is popped up using foam dots and I added some sequins for sparkle.  After all, what's a princess card without sparkle?

Products Used:

• Stamps and Dies: Lil' Bluebird Designs Princess Party
• Dies: Cottage Cutz Fairytale Castle, Hills Slimline, Clouds Slimline
• Markers: Spectrum Noir Tri-Blends - Fair Skin Blend, Tan Blend, Pale Pink Blend, Pale Pink Shade, Magenta Blend, Coral Blend, Light Yellow Blend, Green Turquoise Blend, Ice Blue Blend, Lavender Blend, Gold Yellow Blend, Gold Brown Shades
  
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Tumbled Glass, Wilted Violet, Worn Lipstick, Ground Espresso, Pumice Stone, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters  
  

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Live Laugh Love

Happy Monday!  I have a tonal card featuring a wonderful new background slimline die from Cottage Cutz and some older dies.  While creating this card I had to laugh because one of my daughters HATES the expression "Live, Laugh, Love" feeling that it is over used.  Maybe I'll give this to her for her birthday (just kidding!)  In any case, I like it so I used it.

This card was quite easy to make and would look lovely in any color.  All you need are three shades of the same color.  I chose a light, medium and dark green.

I used the lightest of the greens as my base and cut the trellis from the Lattice die in white.  I used self adhesive backing paper on this as I thought it would be easier to adhere than trying to glue it down.

The sentiment used three shades, each word becoming progressively darker.

For my flowers I actually used a Christmas die - Seasons Floral 2!  I love that this die can be used for other occasions by switching out the colors.  You would never guess that these flowers are for Christmas when cut in white and light green!  This card would make a lovely engagement or wedding card.

Products used:

• Dies: all Cottage Cutz - Lattice Slimline, Seasons Floral 2, Live Laugh Love
• Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Soft Sea Foam, Mint Macaron, Just Jade, Basic White
  

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