Blended Hummingbird

We have another Team O challenge up at Tic Tac Toe Challenge. Jeanie gave us a fun board that is perfect for summer.

I chose the middle row across - ribbon or twin, die cuts, embossing. This was a hard board for me in some respects; I had so many ideas I couldn't decide what to do. On the other hand I knew that whatever I did it would work!

The Hummingbird is a fairly new die (for me) and part of a larger Spellbinders collection of which I have a few pieces. I had so much fun with this card I went and purchased the two missing sets (one stamp and one die) to complete it. I love hummers and this makes some gorgeous cards.

 

For the bird I decided to color him with inks using blending brushes. Normally I like Distress Oxide inks because they blend so easily. But they tend to be a bit dull which would not do here. So I used Altenew inks. I love how they blend and they come in "families" - variation of a color that seamlessly go from one to the other. Not all inks physically blend well - some get blotchy  - but these are very smooth.

I also laid out the embossing folder a bit differently. This is a 6 x 9 inch folder with a floral frame. Since it is so large I offset the flat part to not be directly in the center. This allowed me to position the bird better and the sentiment is not smack-dab in the center as the focal point. I cut a bird in white and used that for positioning everything. I've saved that bird with the dies for future use. Having a "positioner die cut" is really helpful, especially with a shape like this bird that curves around.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

Can You Handle the Pressure

Triple B Challenge

Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies

Products used: All Spellbinders, except ink - Altenew

• Dies: Bibi Cameron Hummingbird & Lily
  
• Stamps: Hummingbird Sentiments
• Embossing Folder: Four Petal Floral 3D EF
• Inks: Teal Cave, Aqualicious,Dew Drops, Shaded Creek, Grass Fields, Rubelite
  

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Gingerbread Joy

It's the final color challenge for July at Splitcoaststampers. The dessert option this month is Christmas in July. We've had some traditional colors and some not-so-traditional colors this month. This week's colors fall into the "maybe yes, maybe no" for a traditional Christmas.

They are Polished Pink, Mossy Meadow and Gold. The pink threw me off just a bit and I started thinking about poinsettias because I love them and they come in pink. I shifted to making a stocking shaped card since I have a fold-it in that shape and it would go very quickly. But then my Spellbinders order came in.....

I collect anything gingerbread themed for Christmas. I have cookie jars, ornaments, candles, etc. and of course tons of stamps and dies! This die is the club die this month at Spellbinders. I joined the club just to get it. (It also comes with a gnome if you are into those.)

I used an embossing folder in the background that reminds me of a Christmas tree to add some texture without color. The pink plaid makes the stocking a little more interesting and for my twinkle (and gold) I added gold glitter dots as the berries.

In keeping with the color challenge I could add neutrals (the brown of the gingerbread) but not another green. To achieve some contrast in the leaves I inked up Mossy Meadow cardstock with Mossy Meadow ink and got a darker shade. I will make more of these for a few friends but will use two different colors of green.

I've also entered this in the following challenges:

Can You Handle the Pressure

Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge (+ optional Twinkle)

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #76 - Gingerbread Treats

 

Products Used:

• Dies: Spellbinders Stocking Full of Joy (Large Die of the Month July 2023)
• Embossing Folder: Spellbinders Scattered Christmas (Embossing Folder of the Month Oct 2022) 
• Paper/Cardstock: Mossy Meadow, Polished Pink, Basic White, Polished Pink DSP, Gold foil
  
• Accessories: Gold Glitter Dots
  

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CAS Sketch Challenge

This week we have the sketch challenge for July at CAS Colours & Sketches. I'm the hostess and I tried to make a sketch with some versatility.

The shape in this can be any you would like. I went with a floral cluster. I intended for my stenciled background to be a bit lighter but I still think it looks fine the way it is.

That's one thing I've learned in cardmaking - go with the flow. It's only paper and I'm not creating the next Mona Lisa!

I hope you've enjoyed my card today and will join us in the challenge this week.

I have also entered this card in the following challenges:

Just Us Girls 

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Addicted to Stamps and More

Products used: all Spellbinders

• Dies: Club Blooms
• Stamps: Hummingbird Sentiments
• Stencil: Hummingbird Textures

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Flower Shaped Shaker Card

We have a fun board this week from Team O at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.

 

I played the bottom row across - Gingham, Floral, Insect

This shaker uses the Newport Flower Fold-It die from The Stamps of Life. Making the shaker for this card isn't exactly tricky but it's not something you want to mess up. Trust me.

The top outline (and the foam stacked underneath) are cut with two dies - an inner and out one that you align as opposed to one outline die. I taped my two dies together, cut the pink outline and the foam then untaped my dies and used the larger one to cut my acetate. I assembled the pieces while talking to my daughter on the phone. However I was distracted and forgot to put the acetate between the foam and the top piece! I knew I'd never get the exact same distance again for the outline so I couldn't just cut another pink outline.

Fortunately glue takes awhile to dry on the foam and I was able to carefully peel the top off. I guess I need to either make more shaker cards so I don't NEED to think about it or not talk on the phone while assembling.

I'm also entering this in the Triple B, Birds, Butterflies & Blooms: July Challenge.

Products used:

• Dies: The Stamps of Life Newport Flower Fold-It and Newport Flowers dies
• Stamps/dies: TSOL moredragonflies2stamp
• Accessories: Pearls, Wink of Stella, various sequins and shaker bits

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Color Challenge Tuesday

I've been out of town (and commission - sick) for a while but I'm back now and hosting the challenges at CAS Colours & Sketches this month.  Our first challenge is the color challenge.

I wanted some summery colors so I chose Soft Sea Foam, Calypso Coral and Midnight Muse. I love this greyed dark blue!  It was an In-Color a bit back but Stampin' Up! decided to add it to their regular line-up this year.

I just received these stamps, dies and stencil from My Favorite Things.  It was part of their kit last month and while I ended up ordering everything in the kit I did not order the kit itself.  I think it was about the same price but the kit had cardstock in it.  That is how much cardstock I own.  I'd rather not get a special price that includes it for free! Anyway, this is a fun suite of products and while the blooms are similar to others out there (that I also own) I really love the script font and the large "happy" die (not used on this card.) I also think the stencil makes a lovely backdrop.

Products used: My Favorite Things

• Dies: Bold Blooms, Bold Greenery
• Stamps: Happy Occasions
• Stencil: Geometric Mosaic

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