CAS Sympathy

Unfortunately I'm in need of a sympathy card for a male co-worker who lost his mother this past week. The CAS-ual Fridays Challenge is to create a guy card without any kraft and it's to include ribbon.  I just picked up a new Teresa Collins paper pad at Michael's today, so went with this gray pattern.  I used stamps and dies from Reverse Confetti (with the exception of the vellum leaves which are a Verve die).  I thought one single flower would not make this too girly and would still be OK for a guy card.  I'm using the current layout for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.

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

STAMPS: Lots to Say, Arrows and Elements, Petals 'n Posies - all by Reverse Confetti.
PAPER: Memorabilia pad by Teresa Collins, Black, White, Vellum.
INK: Black Licorice - hybrid ink by My Favorite Things.
ACCESSORIES: Button, Black adhesive pearl, Ribbon by PTI, Sentiment panel die and black element die by Reverse Confetti, Corner chomper.

Hope and Feathers

It's so great to finally be able to have a bit of time to create just for fun and not for a specific design team commitment! This card is for 3 different challenges: Ways to Use It (feathers), Deconstructed Sketch and Colour Q.  Isn't this shower curtain in the inspiration photo so gorgeous?!  I also couldn't resist Jen's awesome layout this week! 

I created the background using Bermuda Bay, Orchid Opulence, Certainly Celery and Tangerine Tango inks and stamps from WPlus9's Spring Blooms set.  This set gives you a gazillion options with all the floral designs! The sentiment and feathers are from Waltzingmouse Stamps from a set called Fine Feathers.  I love embossing them using Stampendous detail white embossing powder.  

Thanks so much for stopping by...always love to hear from you!

Color Throwdown

Check out these yummy colors for this week's Color Throwdown Challenge!  Broni has this fabulous beach scene to inspire us, however, I decided to go with a feather theme (from seagulls, of course)!

I'm also playing along with Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge which is a real classic and simple layout.  I die cut then stamped and white embossed the feathers.  To color them, I squished the ink pads (Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush and Sahara Sand) and picked up the colors in the lids with an Aquapainter brush and painted on the back side of each feather. I discovered that adhering vellum to a card is easy and doesn't show through when I use clear Kool Tak foam pads (found mine at Simon Says Stamp).  I die cut two sentiments - one in black and the second in Sahara Sand then off set them slightly for a shadow effect. 

Our guest star stamper this week is Christy Stanford of Snapdragon Stamps, so be sure and check out her gallery HERE!  Play along with us this week and you just might be in the spotlight next week!  You don't have to have exact colors to play along, but you do need to have a close resemblance.  Be sure and link your creation to the linky tool at the bottom of the current challenge post on the Color Throwdown blog.

Want some more inspiration from the rest of the design team?  Check them out below...

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe 
Cindy Lawrence  

Joan Ervin  
Lori Tecler 
   Monika Davis  
Tammy Hershberger  
Vickie Zimmer  
Wanda Cullen (you are here)
Annette Allen - May Guest Designer

STAMPS: Fine Feathers (Waltzingmouse Stamps).
PAPER: Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush, Sahara Sand, White, Vellum, Retrofresh DP by SU.
INK: Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, Sahara Sand.
ACCESSORIES: Stitched quilted BG die by Lil Inker Designs, Fine Feathers die set by Waltzingmouse Stamps, Baker's twine, Embellishment by SU, Hello die by Simon Says Stamp.

Mojo Monday

Hi everyone! It's already the last Monday of the month, so that means it's tall and skinny card week for the Mojo Monday Challenge!  I went with a 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" card size for this grad card.  I knew I wanted to use a star theme, so chose papers from MME's Lime Twist pad called "Fly A Kite" - fun, happy colors for a fun, happy occasion!   The sentiment is from Verve's Treasured Words stamp set and the border die is Verve's Flourished Trim die.  The stitched circle and stars are dies by Lil Inker Designs and the grad cap stamp is from PTI's For the Graduate set.

So, there you have it...a pretty quick and easy card to assemble!
For more inspiration, you'll want to visit the other mojomakers' blogs below...OR...you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and check out the first 7 thumbnails.

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen 

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Color Throwdown

 

Check out these gorgeous new colors for the Color Throwdown Challenge - hosted by the talented Barbara!

The orange and green colors led me immediately to these fun 3-step stamping sets by PTI.  Then I had to figure out how to incorporate the soft blue and decided to go with SU's French Script BG.  I looped some jute twine behind the floral spray that I fussy cut and popped on foam dots.  Yellow Stickles were added to the centers.  Ever get a tiny over stamped edge when you've rocked a sentiment more than you should?  No problem...bring out the sequins - lol!  They cover a multitude of sins!  

Want some more inspiration from the rest of the design team?  Check them out below...or you can go to the Color Throwdown blog:

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Tammy Hershberger
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen

STAMPS: Delightful Dahlia, Delightful Dahlia Additions - by Papertrey Ink
PAPER: White textured base is a ready made card from Michael's, Soft Sky, Orange Zest
INK: Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Soft Sky
ACCESSORIES: Ribbon banners die by Spellbinders, Jute twine, Yellow Stickles, Avery Elle Citrus Blend sequins, Stitched square die by Lil Inker Designs.

Mojo Monday

Good Mojo Monday to all! Are you ready for a another fun sketch by Julee? I loved the wide open space in this layout which was perfect for using this gelli print that I had in my stash.  I used aqua and metallic gold acrylic paints brayered over the gelli plate then added a fern stencil. I picked up on the gold theme by adding gold glitter tape as a layer for the arrows, gold brads and a gold glitter circle sticker to the flower center.  I couldn't resist using some Caribbean shades of blue due to some vacation plans for this month (hint, hint)!  More details to follow on another day!  :-)
 
You'll want to check out the other mojomakers' blogs below OR you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and check out the first 7 thumbnails.  Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you in the gallery!

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen 

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen (you are here)

STAMPS: Bloom and Grow (Verve) - flowers/leaves; Brighter Days (Verve) - arrows.
PAPER: Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, White.
INK: Bermuda Bay.
ACCESSORIES: Glitter tape by Recollections, Elegant Leaves die by Verve, Floral Circles dies by Verve, Gold brads, Foam tape, Gelli plate, Acrylic paints, Brayer, Fern stencil.

ODBD May Release Reminder

Today we are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs May release. Here is my project using the Glory stamp set and the new Vintage Labels die.   I covered a chipboard cross with patterned paper, added some flag banners die cut from Brilliant Blue cardstock, then layered with the sentiment

and fussy cut stamped image that was colored with Copics and highlighted with a touch of yellow Stickles.  I have this sitting on my desk and it's such a reassuring scripture verse!

For more inspiration using the May release, you'll want to be sure to visit the ODBD blog and see what the other talented designers have made to WOW you!

Thanks for stopping by...

Color Throwdown

It's time for another Color Throwdown Challenge and you're going to love Vickie's fab colors inspired by this lovely photo!  With the sprig of mint on those glasses, I'm thinking there must be some fresh iced tea being served.  Here in the south, that seems to be the drink of choice!

I was doing the happy dance when I saw metallic silver as one of the colors, because that meant it was time to play with some new Wendy Vecchi embossing paste and a TCW Mini Texturized stencil.  I'm loving this WPlus9 Spring Blooms set of flowers with endless combination possibilities!  A tiny tag sentiment was tucked in after the layout was completed.

STAMPS: Spring Blooms (WPlus), Tiny Tags (PTI)
PAPER: Melon Mambo, White
INK: Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Smoky Slate
ACCESSORIES: Embossing folder by Lifestyle Crafts, Metallic Silver embossing paste by Wendy Vecchi, Spring Blooms coordinating dies by WPlus9, Wink of Stella clear shimmer brush pen.

Nursing Scrub Card

 *5/14/14: Edited to add...I found the photo of the card I CASED by Betsy Veldman from Paper Crafts magazine-->

Our daughter graduated this past Saturday from a local community college - majoring in nursing (summa cum laude) - and I'm a proud mom to say the least!  Ever since I saw Betsy Veldman's card in Paper Crafts magazine (sorry...time isn't there for me to look back to see which issue) where she created a scrub top card, I knew I wanted to CASE it for my daughter.  I used blue instead of green since those were the school's colors.  Betsy used a cut file for her stethoscope, but I opted for a sticker and simply cut it in half.  I knew there was a reason I was still hoarding some retired Blush Blossom CS as this was perfect for the "flesh" part of the card!  I also changed up the little RN badge and added a tiny library clip.  I'm almost out of these (previously sold by SU) and can't find another source of this tiny size.  If anyone knows where I could get more of these tiny clips, please let me know!

I'll share a few photos of her in our back yard before she left for the ceremony.  I haven't received the pics from the actual ceremony yet!

 

As you can see below, my stamping supplies came in handy for her to decorate her cap! The heart was made with 2 dies from SU. The monogram letters were cut with my Silhouette Cameo.  Bling was arranged in a normal sinus rhythm - included since she works on a progressive care unit with lots of cardiac patients and has also completed telemetry training and works sometimes as a "tely tech".

Mojo Monday

I'm going around in circles with the newest Mojo Monday Challenge! :-) I had initially planned to change the shapes to stars and went for these papers in MME's Now and Then "Milo" pad.  There was one pattern that had multiple kaleidoscope circles, so my plan took a turn and I changed to getting out my circle Nestabilities.  I used light modeling paste with some circular patterned stencils in the background and popped the die cut circles with foam tape.  I also added a hint of shimmer to each circle center with a clear Wink of Stella shimmer brush pen. 

You'll want to check out the other mojomakers' blogs below OR you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and check out the first 7 thumbnails.  Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you in the gallery!

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen 

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen (you are here)

What else did I use?
STAMPS: Making a Statement (Verve)
PAPER: Midnight Muse, MME Milo 6x6 pad, White
INK: Midnight Muse
ACCESSORIES: TCW Mini Well Rounded Stencil; TCW Rebekah Meier Designs Mini Coffee Splotch stencil, Rick Rack Die-Namics by MFT, Flag It die set by Verve, Button by SU.

Watercolor Card - Day 1

My third card of the day uses the emboss resist technique demonstrated by Kristina Werner in the Day 1 online watercolor class. I clear embossed SU's Antique Background stamp, then applied a wash of water over the entire panel. I added paint colors in yellow, red, purple and blue using Pelikan paints made in Germany. 

STAMPS: Loving Thoughts (SU), Antique Background (SU)
PAPER: White, TH watercolor paper, Calypso Coral
ACCESSORIES: Celebrate Die-Namics by MFT, Stitched rectangle die by Lil Inker Designs, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics by MFT, Avery Elle sequins.

Watercolor Class Day 1

My second card for the day is a re-do attempt at the lesson taught by Laura Bassen on Day 1 in the online watercolor class. My mistake on my card the other day was not to dry each color before adding the next. Once all colors are dry (speeded up by my heat gun), I took the handle of my brush and dipped it into some water and splattered it over the inked BG. I started with just a white die sentiment and it just wasn't showing up well, so went with layering a black sentiment...offsetting it a bit for a shadow effect. Much better! 

INK: Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers ACCESSORIES: Word die by PTI.

Watercolor Card Day 1 Sample

My card is a another try using Jennifer Rzasa's technique to lay a stencil over top a wet panel to create a subtle pattern and it just isn't working for me. :-(  Rather than waste the watercolor sheet, I let it dry then stamped SU's Off the Grid stamp with Seedless Preserves distress ink after spritzing the stamp prior to stamping.  I divided the sentiment by taping off a portion of it so it would better fit this Reverse Confetti tag.  The little Pepita Border is a die cut by Memory Box. 

Color Throwdown

It's yours truly hosting this week's Color Throwdown Challenge! I was intrigued by these faceted gems and the colors that were used by the artist.  For me, it triggered the use of some geometric shapes in my card creation - thanks to WPlus9's new Ink Splats set which I paired with the Triangles set.

I then ran the stamped panel through the Big Shot using Cuttlebug's Diamond embossing folder.  I scored two lines 1/4" apart at each end of the sentiment banner, then folded it so it would "pop up" to add some dimension.  I just had to add some silver sequins since they have faceted edges to them.  

We have some exciting news to announce!  We have a new design team member - the ultra-talented CINDY LAWRENCE from  The Creative Closet!  So happy to have Cindy joining us!

We have a new talented stamper guesting at CTD for the month of May - Annette Allen from My Clever Creations!  Welcome, Annette!

Our guest star stamper this week is Roberta Morin, so be sure and check out her gallery HERE !  Play along with us this week and you just might be in the spotlight next week!  You don't have to have exact colors to play along, but you do need to have a close resemblance.  Be sure and link your creation to the linky tool at the bottom of the current challenge post on the Color Throwdown blog.

For more inspiration, check out the other throwdown designers' blogs below...
 
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Tammy Hershberger
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Annette Allen – May Guest Designer


STAMPS: Just Geometrics: Triangles (WPlus9), Ink Splats (WPlus9), Stripe Greetings (Simon Says Stamp).
PAPER: Bermuda Bay, Sour Apple, White.
INK: Night of Navy, Lucky Limeade, Bermuda Bay.
ACCESSORIES: Diamond EF by CB, Avery Elle Midnight Blend sequins.

Watercolor BG - Day 2

I learned from Day 1 that it's better to create immediately after watching each watercolor video than to watch all of them first!  So, I only had time to practice what Agnieszka Malyszek demonstrated today and that's to create a soft watercolor wash background using watercolor pencils (mine are SU) - and she showed us a fun way to add some splatter!  I flicked my aquapainter brush over the end of a black WC pencil to create the really fine splatters you see in the BG.  I then wet the tip of the pencil and scribbled on my palette; dipped a fine tip brush in water and picked up the color and dotted it on the card for the larger splatters. 

I'm keeping my finished cards for this online class pretty simple - due to time constraints, and also because I want to focus on the WC technique.  This is a new ODBD sentiment called Sheltering Angel that was just released on May 1 and I love the words in this Irish blessing!

PAPER: Hawaiian Shores by PTI, Black Licorice by MFT, TH Watercolor paper by Ranger.
STAMPS: Sheltering Angel by ODBD.
ACCESSORIES: Corner chomper, Flag It die set by Verve.

Watercolor Class Day 1

I'm so excited to be taking the online watercolor class taught by a number of ultra talented stampers!  Day 1 was all about backgrounds and this card features the use of distress inks based on the technique taught by Laura Bassen.   I used 3 Tim Holtz distress ink pads: Spiced Marmalade, Peacock Feathers and Picked Raspberry to created the color wash.  I can see where watercoloring is going to take LOTS of practice for me!  There were several "epic fails" before this one was considered eligible for posting - lol!  I didn't want to cover up much of the background, so used a single feather that was white embossed on vellum and adhered to the card using clear Kool Tak Foam which doesn't show through the vellum.  A "hello" die cut sentiment by Memory Box and a trio of Lemonade Blend sequins by Avery Elle finished it off. 

STAMPS: Fine Feathers by Waltzingmouse Stamps.
PAPER: Melon Mambo, Black, Tim Holtz watercolor CS by Ranger.

This class is coming at an unusally busy time of the year, so not sure how much "homework" time I'll have.  But...I'm going to try to incorporate the techniques in upcoming cards, so brace yourself for lots of watercolor techniques!

Mojo Monday

Yikes...whatever happened to April?!  It's a new month already and the first challenge is always a chance for you to win some new Verve if you play along with us!  Julee has another fun layout to get your mojo moving!

I thought this sketch would be perfect to color up several of the critters in Verve's To the Moon set.  It's one of my "go to" sets when I need a baby card! I colored the images with Copics then fussy cut them and adhered them to this tag from Verve's Holiday Treats set.  I used the matching Tagged Rectangle Die and topped it off with satin Early Espresso ribbon (SU) and jute twine.  The sentiment was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink on one of the tags in Verve's Flag It Die Set.

You'll want to check out the other mojomakers' blogs below OR you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and check out the first 7 thumbnails.  Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you in the gallery!

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen 

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen (you are here)