Deconstructed Sketch

This card started with a scrap of Midnight Muse cardstock that had some light modeling paste added

via a tweed pattern stencil when I was experimenting several evenings ago. I saw Jen's new Deconstructed Sketch Challenge and bingo...the light bulb moment hit and I knew this textured paper would be perfect in this sketch! I wanted it to be masculine and guess it could even be given as a non-traditional Valentine.  I thought the chevron heart echoed the stencil pattern and layered it over some looped jute twine.  I had to laugh because it really looks like the heart has wings and could take flight any minute! :-)  Also liked that the flower (aka sun) image has heart-shaped petals.  It's the little details that I like to think about when I'm creating!  

STAMPS: Let It Shine (Verve) - sentiment and sun; Chevron Love (Verve) - heart.
PAPER: Beach Boardwalk by Carta Bella, Midnight Muse by SU, Textured yellow and textured white CS - ? source.
INK: Midnight Muse.
ACCESSORIES: Stitched Rectangle die by Lil Inker Designs, Wavy heart die (Verve), Flag It die set (Verve), Brad (Navy Lush by MME), Avery Elle Lemonade Blend sequins, Liquitex light modeling paste, Tweed pattern stencil (Hero Arts).

Cardabilities Sketch

I wanted to play along with the Cardabilities Sketch Challenge...another really great layout by Karan Gerber! This card didn't end up like I envisioned at all.  I partially inked the French Script BG stamp (retired from SU) with white pigment ink and it simply didn't show up well over the rose tone on tone DP (from Martha Stewart's Holidays mat pad).  :-(  I then used a couple of splatter stamps from SU's Gorgeous Grunge set using Coastal Cabana and Smoky Slate ink.  I initiated some new washi tape that I found at Michael's recently and scattered some sequins (Avery Elle Lemonade Blend) as accents.  The border is a new die from ODBD - 1 of 3 in the Ornate Borders set - that will be released on Feb. 1.  I love that you can weave twine or narrow ribbon along the edge.  In this case, I threaded some light gray/white twine in a large eye needle and "sewed" it onto the lace border - adhering with narrow strips of score tape on the back.  I added Glossy Effects to the little heart in the sentiment after coloring it in first with a clear Wink of Stella shimmer brush pen.  The sentiment is also from ODBD new release tomorrow - a stamp set called Love You Bunches.  So, there you have it...a card with a very CAS look, but one that did take some time for all the little steps.

Thanks for stopping by...I always appreciate your comments!

ODBD Sneak Peek

I'm playing along with SCS Sketch Challenge today and giving you a peek at the new paper pack - Heart and Soul Collection - that will be part of ODBD  Feb. 1 release. The tiny sentiment (from the Be Mine set) and the border die (Beautiful Borders) are also new products coming on the 1st.  If you head over to ODBD and pre-order a bundle, you can get the paper pack FREE! 

I added some modeling paste texture using a tweed pattern stencil by Hero Arts.  This was a quick and easy card...letting the paper do the 'talking'. :-)  Heading out to work soon...still really cold and snowy outside here in VA.

Color Throwdown

Check out the new Color Throwdown Challenge! Broni has given us these yummy colors from this dreamy inspiration photo! 

I tweaked the blue a bit and went with Coastal Cabana CS for the Happy sentiment die.  You've been seeing this SU Fresh Prints pack of papers a lot lately in my creations, and I'm not finished with them yet! :-)  I'm also playing along with Chupa's current Sketchbook Saturday challenge and LOVE this layout!

 STAMPS: Mum's the Word (PTI), Rainbow and Cloud Sentiments (Lil Inker Designs).
PAPER: Fresh Prints DP (SU), Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar, White.
INK: Chocolate Chip, Coastal Cabana
ACCESSORIES: Jute twine, Avery Elle Berry Blend sequins, Accent It-Celebrate Die-Namics (MFT).

For more inspiration, you'll want to check out the rest of the design team's creations below, along with our guestie...Linda McClain.

          
Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

                                              Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor 
                                                   Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
                                                          Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Melody Rupple - A Paper Melody

Monika Davis - M.A.D. Stamper

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Vickie Zimmer -  Smitten   
Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations (you are here)
 Linda McClain (January guest designer) - Catered Crop
 I want to say a big THANK YOU to Linda McClain - our January guest designer!  She was a wonderful inspiration to our challenges this month!

Thanks for stopping by...sure hope to see you in our gallery this week! Stay tuned next Wednesday when we'll introduce a new monthly guest designer for February.

Mojo Monday

It's Mojo Monday Challenge time and Julee has a new twist on the last week of the month! We're going TALL AND SKINNY instead of round or square!  In my typical clean and layered style, I went with a 3 1/2" x 6" card and let the circle element (a Martha Stewart doily tag) "hang out" over the edge of the card.  I'm really in love with SU's Fresh Prints 4 1/2 x 6 1/2" paper stack with the color palette of Real Red, Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar! Thought it would work well for a little Valentine collage using my fave chevron heart stamp from the Chevron Love set and paired it with some poppies from the Poppy Birthday set - both by Verve.  I had this ticket and heart paper clip in my stash so opted to add that for a quick sentiment.  I added Glossy Accents to the flower centers; stamped the leaves with Baked Brown Sugar ink on white cardstock, then took an Aquapainter and swiped some Coastal Cabana ink on them and got this nice variegated bluish green look.  I cut off the stitched edge of some burlap ribbon and layered a punched strip of Baked Brown Sugar cardstock to create the border.

You'll want to check out the other talented mojomakers below for more inspiration - or you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and click on the first few thumbnails:
                                                                     Debbie Carriere

 Julee Tilman (Owner)

 Marisa Ritzen 

  Mary Fish

  Sarah Bigelow

  Teresa Kline

Hope to see you in the gallery with your tall and skinny creation! :-)

CASEing Doni

SCS Featured Stamper today is donidoodle! Doni has a fabulous gallery filled with clean, layered creations.  I chose her card HERE to CASE and used two different patterned papers in the background separated with a border as she did.  This is a sneak peek of a new set - Bless Your Heart - that will be released by Our Daily Bread Designs on Feb. 1.  I love this ornate heart which I stamped in Coastal Cabana ink then immediately embossed with clear EP.  The sentiment is a commonly heard expression here in VA, so I couldn't resist using it.  I added some shimmer to the little heart by painting over it with a clear Wink of Stella shimmer brush pen.  The key charm is by 7 Gypsies.  Be sure and visit my blog again on Wednesday for more samples of new ODBD release goodies!

STAMPS: Bless Your Heart (ODBD) - will be available Wednesday!
PAPER: Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar, White, Fresh Prints DP by SU
INK: Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar
ACCESSORIES: Heart die by ODBD (part of a group of nesting heart dies that will be in the new release on Feb. 1), Corner chomper, Avery Elle sequins, Ribbon by SU, Jute twine, Charm by 7 Gypsies.

Retrosketch Birthday

I needed a birthday card for a BIL who recently purchased a 2006 Corvette - red and in mint

condition - never driven in the rain!  It was a no brainer for me in choosing this retired SU image from the Classic Convertibles set.  I stamped on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with Copics, then fussy cut and added Glossy Accents to the windshield, headlights and hubcaps.  I embossed the sentiment with Pearl Snow EP (because my white EP has disappeared into thin air and it's not to be found...Grrr!) and added some sequins for a bit more color splash.
The current Retrosketches Challenge was unique and a perfect layout for a masculine card!

Color Throwdown

Hey, hey, hey...it's hump day and it's time for a new Color Throwdown Challenge! Check out the fun color combo that Barbara Anders has for us! I am SOOO ready to see some REAL forsythia blooming in my yard!  For now, I'll have to be content with this sweet home decor photo.

I started by sponging some Basic Gray ink over a  Dylusions dot stencil.  I then stamped two washi tape images from SU's Tape It set.  The crimped kraft frame is by Jillibean Soup and the sentiment was clear embossed to give it more definition.  I've started doing that almost routinely when I stamp sentiments in black ink.  Because Versafine Onyx Black is a pigment ink, it doesn't dry quite as fast and it's easier for the EP to adhere to it.  The little Paper Smooches chubby chum tabby was stamped on X-Press It Blending Card with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics.  I used the matching die - also by Paper Smooches.  It's hard to see, but I added some shimmer to the eyes with a clear Wink of Stella shimmer brush.  I'm also playing along with the current CAS-ual Fridays Challenge to use color blocking.

Remember...to play along, you don't have to use exact colors - just something that's close.  If you upload to a public gallery, please use the keyword CTD 276 and also link up your card on the Color Throwdown blog using the linky tool.

 For more inspiration, you'll want to check out the rest of the design team's creations below, along with our talented January guest designer - Linda McClain! 

            

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

                                              Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor 
                                                   Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
                                                          Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Melody Rupple - A Paper Melody

Monika Davis - M.A.D. Stamper

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Vickie Zimmer -  Smitten   
Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations (you are here)
 Linda McClain (January guest designer) - Catered Crop

Thanks for stopping by...sure hope to see you in our gallery this week!

Merry Monday & (CAS)E this Sketch

 A quick post for the Merry Monday Christmas challenge - to use red, vanilla, kraft, and chocolate colors plus ribbon - and also for CAS(E) this Sketch! This cool little snow chum is from Paper Smooches' Freezy Fellas set and he was colored with Copics.

PAPER: "Christmas Day" by Carta Bella.
ACCESSORIES: Snowflake punch (small) by Martha Stewart, Snowflake punch (large) by SU, Soft Suede taffeta ribbon by SU, Jute twine.
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black.

Mojo Monday

Hey...it's Mojo Monday time again! Check out this great sketch by Teresa... 

 I love the Soft Sky blue and Cherry Cobbler red colors in the patterned papers from Carta Bella's Devoted pad!  I used those inks to sponge and stamp the focal images - plus some Old Olive with the leaves.  Notice the hint of sparkle on the poppy and leaves?  I used a Wink of Stella clear brush pen to go over some of the stamping outlines.  Again, I clear embossed the sentiment after stamping with Versafine Onyx black ink to give it more shine and definition.

Here's a close up view...

You'll want to check out the other talented mojomakers below for more inspiration - or you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and click on the first few thumbnails:

Debbie Carriere

 Julee Tilman (Owner)

 Marisa Ritzen 

  Mary Fish

  Sarah Bigelow

  Teresa Kline

STAMPS: Poppy Birthday (Verve), Chevron Love (Verve)
ACCESSORIES: Wavy hearts die, Scroll die and Award Banner die - all by Verve; Martha Stewart doily tag, Rhinestones, Wink of Stella clear shimmer brush pen.

Viva la Verve

The new Viva la Verve challenge is posted with both a new sketch and an inspiration photo to get the mojo flowing!  I needed a birthday card and knew the recipient wouldn't be a fan of purple, so only pulled the yellow and gray color tones from the photo.  That fabulous table inspired me to choose this charm and to go with stars for embellishments.  All the reflection from lights in the photo inspired me to add a small border of silver glitter cardstock.  I heat embossed the sentiment with clear EP to give it more definition.

STAMPS: Chevron Love (Verve); Notebook Paper Plain Jane (Verve).
PAPER: Breeze 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye, Going Gray, Basic Gray, So Saffron, Glitter CS (SU), White.
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Paper doily by Wilton, Scallop frame die by Verve, Postage stamp Die-Namics by MFT, Jute twine, Charm, Wood veneer stars by Studio Calico, Stitched square dies by Lil Inker Designs.

ODBD January Release Reminder

Today, the design teams at ODBD are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs January Release.  Here is a card I created using the new "Lavender" set -  paired with an earlier released "Seed Packet" set.

For more inspiration using the January Release, be sure to visit Our Daily Bread Designs HERE.

Crushin'

Don't you just love this hip new sentiment from Reverse Confetti?  I'm sure I'm showing my age by calling it hip - lol.  According to the Urban Dictionary, this is how they describe the word:

To be attracted to someone to the point of some excitement.

Ex> "I'm crushin on him, bad".  Also, "If it's not obvious already, I'm crushin".  :-)

I'm using the colors for the Reverse Confetti January Color Challenge to use orange, yellow and aqua and combined it with Jen's current Deconstructed Sketch Challenge.  What a fabulous layout!  I subbed a heart for the circle and a tag for the one rectangle panel so I could use my fave RC tag die again.  I stamped the aqua panel with Pool Party ink using an arrow image from RC's Crushin' set.  Of course, I had to use their new arrow die as well and angled it to match the sentiment.  A little jute twine, some wood veneer hearts and a little rhinestone finished it up. 


PAPER: Away We Go 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye, Vintage Cream by PTI.

Thanks for stopping by...always love to read your comments!

You're How Old?

Couldn't wait to play with my new SU word bubbles from the Just Sayin' set...so fun! I was inspired by WPlus9's Monday Mood Board Challenge photo and used the layout for the current Retro Sketch Challenge.  Not sure if I like the whimsical sentiment style mixed with the elegant gold flourishes, but hey...I'm living on the edge - lol! 

STAMPS: Just Sayin' (SU), Damask Delight (WPlus9)
PAPER: Breeze 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye, Basic Gray, So Saffron, White
INK: Crushed Curry, Basic Gray, Versamark
ACCESSORIES: Rickrack Die-Namics by MFT, Corner Chomper, Damask Delight dies by WPlus9, Sequins by Avery Elle, Word Bubbles Framelits Dies by SU, Queen's Gold EP by Ranger.

Freestyle Collage

***My second post for today - scroll on down for my Color Throwdown post***

 I had so much fun doing this freestyle collage card for two different challenges: Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge and 
Freshly Made Sketches.  LOVE the fun angled panel that Cindy used on her sketch.  Stacey has chosen such a fabulous inspiration photo with so many great elements to choose from! I used an envelope punch to create a tiny pocket to imitate the mailbox...twine...hearts...flowers...and silver "shine" in the glitter cardstock.

Here's what else I used:
STAMPS: Tiny Tags (SU).
PAPER: Recollections Coordinates (12x12 pad); several elements are from my leftover pile and not sure of the exact color), Silver glitter CS (SU).
INK: Melon Mambo, Versafine Onyx Black.
ACCESSORIES: Hearts Framelits dies (SU), Studio Calico wood veneer arrow, Baker's twine, Rhinestone, Scallop Frame die by Verve, Leafy die by Cheery Lynn Designs, Prima & button embellishments by Recollections, Tiny Tags punch (SU), Fishtail Flags Die-Namics (MFT).