The Card Concept

I was intrigued by the retro inspiration photo for the current Card Concept Challenge so I proceeded with a clean and layered birthday card! I used this new die by Reverse Confetti to highlight the circle element and nothing says retro better than pink and aqua colors! So there was my inspiration for coloring up this fun cake image from Reverse Confetti's Cake and Champagne set. Coloring was with Copics on X-Press It Blending Card.

The sentiment is from RC's So Many Sentiments set and was die cut using Taylored Expressions Simple Strips die. A trio of clear dew drops were added along with highlighting the ribbon and flowers with Clear Star Gelly Roll pen by Sakura.

COPICS: BG11, BG13, BG49, RV11, RV32, RV34, YG03, YG93, C1, C3, C5.
                                                            ~Wanda

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge

Yup! The melons are back again and this time they are being featured on the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge! These are the last ones from my recent "smooshing" session where I applied distress oxide inks to my glass mat then spritzed with water and smooshed the ink onto watercolor paper. So fun!

Ink colors: Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral, Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Mowed Lawn.  At the end of smooshing the 3 green colors together, I splattered Mowed Lawn over it all.

This was a fun sketch using 3 different patterns from MFT's Black and White Basics 6x6" pad paired with white cardstock.  

STAMPS: Sweet Summertime (MFT).
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; Distress Inks (see above description).
DIES: Watermelon Slice (MFT); Stitched Rectangle STAX (MFT).

                                                                 ~Wanda

Framed Sentiments

Laurie's Fabulous Favorites challenge on the Ink to Paper website is to create a card with a framed sentiment. The sentiments in PTI's Pen and Ink set are rather large scale, so this was perfect to frame a birthday sentiment. 

I went with Fine Linen CS for the base then layered a Mix and Mat Postal die from Spring Moss - both colors by PTI.  I used the large floral spray and cut it in half. You can see I tucked in an extra flower and a leafy sprig to cover the cut areas.

STAMPS: Pen and Ink, Garden Grace - Papertrey Ink.
PAPER: Fine Linen, Spring Moss, White - PTI.
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; Hibiscus Burst, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss - PTI; Olive - Reverse Confetti.
DIES: Stitched Rounded Rectangle STAX by MFT; Mix and Mat Postal by PTI; Garden Grace by PTI.
                                                                      ~Wanda

Fusion Card Challenge

It's time for another Fusion Card Challenge and I've used both the sketch and the photo for my inspiration. Instead of the birds...I went with the bees! I wanted a rainbow look and went with ink blending of Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade and Seedless Preserves distress oxide inks. I thought the Blueprints 27 die was so close to the layout, so went with it!

I used the following Copics for coloring:

Beehive - E33, E37, Y23, Y28, Y35.

Bees - N0, N1, N3, N5, N7, Y23, Y28, Y32.

STAMPS: The Buzz (Reverse Confetti).

PAPER: X-Press It Blending Card; White by PTI.

We'd love to see how you are inspired by the new Fusion Card Challenge! Hope to see you in the gallery.
                                                                       ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #545

Hey, it's hump day and that means a new Color Throwdown challenge is happening!  Jodi is our hostess and has some really beautiful, vibrant colors for us! I went with a succulent theme since her chosen photo happened to feature them.

I went with water coloring these succulent dies from The Greetery

using Zig clean color brush markers. I struggled with blending the colors to the point of nearly causing the water color paper to disintegrate - lol! I'm still working on mastering these dies, although the assembly is easier if I can look at this reference photo I took when I first got the set. I layered the succulents over Reverse Confetti's Geo Panel die in kraft CS. I thought they looked rather lonesome, so tucked in some leftover berries from PTI's Spring Berries stamp/die set and then I was happy!  And once again...I grabbed a sentiment (one of 18 total) in my favorite Simple Strips Background stamp/die by Taylored Expressions.  I think I need to earn a commission by my constant plugging of this versatile set - haha!

Speaking of succulents, I'm really loving the variety of subtle coloring and textures IRL and thought I'd share a photo of a pot of succulents that sits at my kitchen door entrance. 

So that's all for now. We'd love to have you play along with us this week! For more inspiration from the rest of the talented design team, you can visit their links below.

Amy Rohl 

                                Amy Rysavy

 Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Jodi Collin
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Lynn Put  
Vickie Zimmer
 Wanda Cullen (you are here)

 

 

                        ~Wanda

Paper Players Sketch

It's sketch week at The Paper Players challenge blog! I've got a ton of male birthdays coming up in June, so this was a perfect layout to use a fave masculine set (Geared Up Garage) by Stampin' Up.  The car image is so much fun to add some detailing aka Glossy Accents to the headlights and windows and some Clear Star Gelly Roll (Sakura) pen to the hubcaps. They have a silver glittery sheen that doesn't show up well in the photo.

To get a crisp black sentiment, I used my MISTI and stamped it three times with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The gear dies were cut from a shiny metal cardstock. Patterned paper is Classic Garage 6x6 pack by SU and love that there are patterns on both sides which give you so many more options! I popped the car up on foam tape.

COPICS: R14, R46, R59, C00, C0, C1, C3.

For more inspiration from the rest of the talented design team, please check out their creations HERE.  Hope to see you in the gallery! Have a blessed day!                                   ~Wanda

CAS(E) This Sketch

 The current CAS(E) This Sketch challenge is a retro sketch originally designed by Leigh Penner. I loved the diamond background elements and finally decided on using a Sizzix die to achieve the look (it's one of four dies in a set - all with a grunge style look). The gray (Gray Granite by SU) ended up a bit darker than I wanted, but I just went with it.

I also was inspired by the masculine look of the {Pin}spirational challenge photo. It was perfect to use an older set by Reverse Confetti called Inner Rock Star.  

I used the following distress oxide inks:

Fossilized Amber

Fired Brick

Faded Jeans

Black Soot

It's another really hot Saturday! Hope you are staying cool and enjoying this Memorial Day weekend if you're in the US!
                                                                    ~Wanda

 

Freshly Made Sketches

There's a beautiful new sketch by Narelle over on the Freshly Made Sketches blog! I went to my leftover pile where I had this hibiscus and leaf already watercolored and the sentiment strip was already completed, so this was an amazingly quick card to complete! 

I layered the white stitched circle over a black circle to make the colors pop more against the white card base.

STAMPS: Simple Strips Background (Taylored Expressions).

PAPER: True Black, White by PTI; Water color paper by Ranger.

INK: Versamark.

DIES: Hibiscus Garden 3D by Altenew; Simple Strips Background by Taylored Expressions; Stitched Circle STAX by My Favorite Things.

OTHER: Clear Dew drops.

                                                         ~Wanda

Watermelon is Served

Once again, I'm using the fun new watermelon die by MFT and the layout for the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  I'm also playing along with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where we are challenged to use bright colors based on their mood board. I didn't have this hexagon die so had to improvise a bit and used a Stitched Basic Elements edge die to come close to the layout.

I smooshed distress ink colors (see list below) on water color paper

to create the watermelon. The sentiment is another one of 18 from Taylored Expressions Simple Strip Background stamp/die set that I white embossed on black card stock.

INK: Abandoned Coral, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn - distress inks by Ranger.

PAPER: Sunkissed 6x6 pad by Doodlebug Designs.

That's all for now. It's a busy day with heading out next to the post office, then the fitness center for a half hour workout, then our grand kids' end of school year recital at the preschool at 6:30. Fun!!
                                                                        ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #544

It's Wednesday, so that means a new Color Throwdown Challenge is up! Amy Rohl is hosting this week and has a beautiful color combo with coral, aqua and navy! I thought it would work great with this new stamp set by Reverse Confetti.

I colored the images with Copics and detailed the flowers with

black Enamel Accents, the tiny banner flags with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen, and I added a few highlights to the cake plate using a Sakura white Gelly Roll pen. The photo doesn't show these details like you see them IRL. 

STAMPS: Cake and Champagne (Reverse Confetti).
PAPER: Sweet Stripes 6x6 pad (Reverse Confetti), Groovy Guava (SU), White (PTI), X-Press It Blending Card.
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Navy Blue (RC).
DIES: Cake and Champagne (RC), All Framed Up (RC).


For more inspiration from the rest of the design team, click on their blog links below:

Amy Rohl 

Amy Rysavy
 Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Jodi Collin
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Lynn Put  
Vickie Zimmer
 Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Hope to see you in the gallery!                        ~Wanda

Paper Players

It's CAS week at the Paper Players Challenge and there's a suggested theme of plants. That was a perfect reason for me to dust off some WPlus9 stamp sets and begin to arrange some plants in this fun watering can image.  Lilacs are my favorite spring flower (well...it's a tough one competing for tulips for top spot - lol)! 

I started with 3 different patterns of washi tape for the background. The watering can was stamped with Weathered Wood distress oxide ink then I sponged some Black Soot near the edges. Other distress oxide inks used for the florals included Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron, Crushed Olive, Forest Moss, Milled Lavender, Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord, Shaded Lilac, Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry.  The sentiment die is from the Thanks and Hello Word Duos by Reverse Confetti.  I always layer at least 2 or 3 word dies to give it a chipboard dimension.

STAMPS: Fresh Cut Florals, Fresh Cut Containers - WPlus9.

For more inspiration from the rest of the talented design team, please check out their creations HERE.  Hope to see you in the gallery! Have a blessed day!                                   ~Wanda

CAS(E) This Sketch

My second post today is a card I actually completed yesterday for the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge.  Awhile back, I was intrigued by the ink blending skills of Kristina Werner and have been following her videos on this technique - especially with distress oxide inks. You can see her tutorial HERE. I used Picket Fence Studios Life Changing Blender Brushes (pack of four in my case) and they really do a fabulous job of blending! My only complaint is that the handle is essentially useless and feels like it will break off because I have to push down pretty firmly over the brush area.  Is this just me or is anyone else having this concern?

I CASEd one of Kristina's color combos and used Old Paper, Evergreen Bough and Black Soot distress oxide inks. I would never in a million years have thought of combining these colors, but I really do like it!  I used X-Press It Blending Card for the ink blending since it has a really smooth surface (and I was out of the Neenah cardstock that I believe Kristina uses). I heat dried the background prior to white embossing the image (you will definitely need to use an antistatic tool).

STAMPS: Weekend Doodles (Altenew), Simple Strips Background (Taylored Expressions).
DIES: Simple Strips Background (Taylored Expressions).

That's it for today...now I must get some errands done!   
                                                                                  ~Wanda

Watermelon Slice

There's a fun new sketch up for the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge! I'm so in love with the new MFT watermelon dies and sweet sentiments that go with it! I experimented with smooshing Distress Oxide inks on watercolor paper. I smooshed the inks on my glass craft mat, then lightly sprayed both the mat and the cardstock with water. I splattered Mowed Lawn ink over the dried green panel to add a more textured look.

RIND: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Cracked Pistachio, Lucky Clover.
WATERMELON: Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral.

I sponged the green inks onto the card base using my homemade stencil (different sized circles die cut on a piece of acetate). I initially created this stencil for use with bokeh effects. 

STAMPS: Sweet Sentiments (MFT).
PAPER: Black and White Stripes 6x6 pad (MFT); New Leaf and True Black (PTI).
DIES: Sweet (MFT), Stitched Rectangle STAX (MFT), Watermelon Slice (MFT).

Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!    ~Wanda

Freshly Made Sketches

I had just stated to someone online that I didn't need any graduation cards this year, and then...I suddenly remembered our 4 year old granddaughter will be graduating from preschool! My typical grad card ideas just didn't sound appealing for a girly girl who is all about princesses! So, off to Pinterest for something to spark my interest!  I saw this fun owl idea that uses nothing but punches or dies and wanted to pair it with the great sketch for the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

These patterned papers from Echo Park's "Spring" 6x6 pad were

perfect for the feminine girly look. I initially left the white circles blank but it reminded me of strange wings on the owl, so I remedied that with some celebratory stars - lol!  The "diploma" was a small piece of script paper rolled up over a thin paint brush handle then tied with black thread. The grad cap is a sticker (? company).

STAMPS: Simple Strips Background (Taylored Expressions).
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black.
DIES/PUNCHES: Stitched Circle STAX and Stitched Stars (MFT); Stitched Rectangle (Lil' Inker Designs). See the photo for the punches I used.
OTHER: Square Lattice embossing folder by SU.

Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!  
                                                                        ~Wanda

Fusion Card Challenge

It's time for another Fusion Card Challenge! I've always been fascinated by the adorable hedgehog stamp images in blog land, but believe it or not, I don't own a single one! My two wheeled image options were also very limited so I went digi shopping! I found this really cute digi image on Di's Digi Stamps and had a ball coloring it up with Copics! I'm also trying to add some highlights with a white gel pen (Hobby Lobby has a pack of two pens - Gelly Roll bright white ink by Sakura) when I do Copic coloring. It always adds interest and depth when others do it, so I added some dots to the cheeks and to the geraniums.

I modified the circle element and used a Stitched Rounded Rectangle die by My Favorite Things. The sentiment is from the Sentiment Sampler set by Paper Smooches and the patterned papers are from the "Sunkissed" 6x6 pad by Doodlebug Design. One of my favorite card base dies is from MFT's Blueprints 27 set. It was OOS for a really long time, but I finally snagged it.

As you can see...I used both the sketch and was inspired by the photo as well! We'd love to see how you are inspired by the new Fusion Card Challenge! Hope to see you in the gallery.
                                                                       ~Wanda