A Graduation Card for Bev

My dear friend Beverly finished her associate's degree and graduated yesterday.  I'm so proud of her as it's not easy to be a full time student and a full time mom.  Even though I'm no fan of graduations (honestly, is there anything more soul-draining and hiney numbing?), I was determined to go to hers because I adore her. 

I wanted to create an elegant card for her and thought the color challenge over at The Paper Players would fit the bill. 

I've been playing around with my "Mosaic Madness" stamp set and thought it too would be perfect. And, I'm a sucker for any stamp that works with a punch. ;o)  I popped them up on dimensionals, with the Gumball Green one mounted taller than the other two. 

I wanted something clean and simple because Bev's a CAS kinda gal. But, just because it's a CAS card doesn't mean I couldn't bling it up a bit.  I used pearls in the center of the mosaics, and to dot the "i" in "congratulations".

And, because I wanted that "congratulations" to POP (as if the punches didn't already draw the eye), I scored two lines to set it off. 

And, of course, I had to doll up the inside a bit.  I have to say, I do love using markers to make two-tone (or more!) images.  I just wish I had been able to order the new 2013-2015 In Colors markers early as well as the stamp pads and paper (I'm SO in love with the new colors!!)...

This is such a fun and versatile stamp set I have yet to run out of ideas with it! 

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Mosaic Madness", "Curly Cute"
*Inks: Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse
*Paper: Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse
*Accessories: pearls, dimensionals

--Rach

Gingham Garden for Ella

First off, an apology for the quality of the photos.  While the golden light of dawn makes for beautiful landscape photography, it causes some problems when trying to snap photos of cards.  However, we're off to visit Jess and crew in a few minutes, and I wanted to get this loaded before we were.

Why are we off to visit?  Well, for Ella's First Communion, of course!  And, I needed a card for our sweet girl.  I'm so happy for her and can't wait until tomorrow to see her make that sacrament for the first time. :o)

I found a fun sketch over at Paper Players and thought it would work well for Miss Ella Bella's card.

Since my new goodies arrived yesterday, I couldn't wait to play with them (may I just say how in love I am with the new In Colors?  They're so fresh and crisp and clean and just wonderful!).  I picked up the Gingham Garden DSP and washi tape (I'm a bit of a washi hound so getting that was a no brainer ;oP) and knew they were it.  Ella's favorite color is pink, and in fact, has a wall that is either Melon Mambo or Strawberry Slush in her room.  Yes, it's very intense. ;o)

However, what is intense for a wall in a little girl's bedroom makes for a lovely card base.  :o)

I inked up "Summer Silhouettes" with Pear Pizzazz and Melon Mambo, used my "Beautiful Wings" embosslit, and some pearls as a finishing touch.  Since washi tape is rather transparent, I didn't want to lie it down directly on that gorgeous Melon Mambo gingham so I put it down on Whisper White first and then cut it out.  I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.  Oh how I adore washi tape...but, that's a post for another time...;o)

I'm not one to let an inside go unfinished if I have the time, and well, I had the time. ;o)  The sentiment comes from the new SU! hostess set, "Express Yourself".  I'm a sucker for sentiments in a lovely font, so these were right up my alley.

I added another pearl to dot the "I".

And, here's a close up of the focal images.  I popped the stamped image up on dimensionals, and only adhered one side of the butterfly's wing to give her some movement and depth as well. :o) 

All in all, a happy (if terribly photographed--ugh!) card for a beautiful girl. :o)

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: Summer Silhouettes, Express Yourself
*Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo
*Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Gingham Garden DSP
*Accessories: Beautiful Wings embosslit, pearls, Gingham Garden washi tape, dimensionals, scallop border punch

--Rach

Desperately Seeking Spring!

Since Lil is on spring break, the girls and I decided to drive to Blacksburg to visit with Lissie.  We enjoyed a wonderful--if rather frigid--morning out, with the predicted high around 55. 

So, yeah, that didn't happen.  SURPRISE!!! :oS

Poor daffodils.

I'm sorry the image looks so washed out.  I'm not at home, in a basement trying to get a decent shot with my little camera.

Desperate for a bright spot of spring and color, I decided Jaydee's challenge at The Paper Players was just what I needed.  It's a Tic Tac Toe challenge and I chose along the top row--Spring, Yellow & Green, and Pearls. 

I looked at those sad little daffodils and knew that was the way to go.  I sorted through many (many!) different flower sets and then stumbled upon these sweet girls and their adorable bunny and they fairly screamed "Spring!" to me--but in a very dignified way, of course, these girls being so sweet and all. ;o)

I first stamped them in black Staz-On on watercolor paper and then colored them.  To finish them, I added small pearls to the flower centers (which I would have done regardless of the challenge, as the flowers were crying out for them).

And, lest I forget, there's this cutie pie.  I stamped him, colored him, and then fussy cut him and mounted him using dimensionals.  I'm not sure where I learned this trick, but after I fussy cut him, I went around the edge with a black marker, meaning I didn't have to worry about being quite so perfect with the cutting.  I wish I had a little carrot to give him. ;o)

I mounted everything on Daffodil Delight (I desperately needed that pop of sunshine on such a bleak day--did I mention it's APRIL and this is VIRGINIA?!?) and stamped the sentiment on the inside. 

I've a girlfriend who could use a spot of sunshine in her life so I'll be sending it on to Germany without delay. :o)

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Set: "The Nicest Things"
*Inks: Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
*Paper: Watercolor, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
*Accessories: Dimensionals, pearls

Secret Garden DSP for Paper Players

This week's challenge over at The Paper Players was so wonderful I simply had to join the fun.  I typically find sketch challenges to be particularly well, challenging, and this was no exception--especially when I looked at the gorgeous DT cards!

I've been playing with this faux DSP I created using the "Secret Garden" stamp set and some lovely warm colors, slicing and punching and adhering and making some truly wonderful CAS cards.

I knew the paper would be perfect for this challenge and went right to work. I punched various flower centers from the paper trying to locate the centers in corners instead of the center of the square (and boy howdy that's a lot of "centers" in that sentence! ;oP) and adhered them using Stampin' Dimensionals.  I wanted them to "pop", but not too high and those were perfect.

I stamped the sentiment from "Sweet Essentials" in Poppy Parade (I still adore the color and desperately wish I had thought to purchase the stamp pad...foolish foolish Rachael...) and wanted to draw the eye to it so added some bling I colored using a couple Copics.  I finished it off with a piece of white baker's twine and mounted it on some taller dimensionals and adhered that to a white base.  I scored three lines across the bottom of the base but they didn't photograph well at all.  Oh well. 

It's been so drab and dreary for it to be spring I know Grandfather will be delighted to receive something so bright and cheery in the mail. :o)

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Secret Garden", "Sweet Essentials"
*Paper: White card stock from PTI for the base, Whisper White for the "DSP"
*Inks: Real Red, Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, red Copics (Prawn and Lipstick--I have no idea of the numbers and I'm too lazy to go check into it)
*Accessories: dimensionals, rhinestones, baker's twine

Secret Garden DSP

As I may have mentioned, it was cold, grey and dreary and I was craving bright and sunny.  I picked up one of my new stamp sets and set to work creating my own DSP.  I used bright, bold colors and selected a set with both solid and line stamps. 

Then, I cut it apart and used it to make cards. :o)

In this card, I used a Copic marker to color the bling so it would match the stamped images.

And, this card uses a variation on the stamped paper I used for the rest of the cards since I used Pumpkin Pie for the orange flower instead of Calypso Coral.

This card was made when I saw all the scraps lying on the desktop.  I fiddled with them a bit and this was the result.  :o)

This was truly a fun bunch of cards to make and I'm already thinking of how I could use that same stamp set with a different color scheme.  :o)

These cards us:

*Stamp Sets: "Secret Garden", "Friendly Phrases", "Sweet Essentials", "Bloomin' Marvelous"

*Inks: Calypso Coral, Real Red, Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Kiwi Kiss

*Paper: Whisper White

When Life Gives You Lemons...

So, if you're a regular reader of my other blog, you know I've been down and out a bit due to forces beyond my control.  When stressed, I like to hunker down and be creative. 

I was closing in on midnight but still had just one more idea bumping around in my head and I knew I needed to get it out so I could sleep. Anyone else have that problem?  The one where your creative ideas just keep thumbing and bumping around and won't let you rest?  No? It's just me?  Ah...well...hm.

I have long adored SU!'s "Tart and Tangy" stamp set (it's still one of my all time faves--and I'm not sure if it's because of the the citrus or the cherries...) and knew I could pull together a fairly quick card.

I pulled out my Daffodil Delight and Kiwi Kiss stamp pads and went right to work.  I know, the lighting and color is all off in those photos up there.  I'm sorry. 

I stamped a bunch of slices on a scrap sheet of white card stock and punched them out and then cut them in half and adhered them to the base using dimensionals.  I hit the second card with some vanilla Smooch Spritz before stamping because, hey, who doesn't like a little sparkle and sheen on their summery cards? :o)

I stamped the sentiment on the lower right and they were finished.  Easy peasy lemon squeezey.  (No pun intended, although, it really does work there, doesn't it? ;oP)

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Tart and Tangy", "Friendly Phrases"
*Inks: Kiwi Kiss, Daffodil Delight (although, since I'm going to make this card again, I may go with the retired Summer Sun as it is a brighter, more summer-y color)
*Paper: Whisper White
*Accessories: Vanilla Smooch Spritz, dimensionals

--Rach

Poppies for Catherine

 As I've been working towards getting back in the stamping groove (and sticking to that New Year's goal!), I've been searching out challenge blogs to help me stretch my creative wings. 

I found Freshly Made Sketches (okay, so I've been lurking there for a while now) and decided to play along this week. 

 And, here's what I came up with. 

This beautiful stamp set arrived last week and I couldn't wait to play with it.  Of course, to me, the poppies were crying out for Poppy Parade.  I know it's an intense color, but I do so love it, and it does indeed work beautifully with the poppies. :o)

I stamped the image on a piece of watercolor paper using Staz-On.  I then used markers and water pens to color the image.  I added a lacy boarder to one edge, popped the image up on dimensionals and finished it off by adding the sentiment stamped on vellum. 

I've a friend who's been going through a difficult time and this will be perfect for her and her family to let them know we're here. 

--Rach

This card uses:
*Stamp Sets: Pleasant Poppies, Sweet Essentials
*Inks: Poppy Parade, Old Olive, black Staz-On
*Papers: Watercolor, Poppy Parade, Old Olive, vellum, Very Vanilla (inside)
*Accessories: pearls, dimensionals