Fusion Card Challenge

We have a thank you theme happening at the new Fusion Card Challenge along with a photo of apple and notebook paper background cookies that inspired me to direct my card to a teacher! 

I opted to not use the sketch this time and went straight to this old paper pack from Recollections that has great school-themed patterns. There is a sweet tiny stamp set from Ink to Paper called Beautiful Bouquet: Teacher. I used one of those sentiment and white embossed it on the smallest of the Charming Tag dies - also from Ink to Paper. I fussy cut the tiny apple after coloring with Tombow markers and adhered it with a tiny library clip. The thank you sentiment (Handwritten Thank You) is a favorite die of mine and is from The Stamp Market.

STAMPS: Beautiful Bouquet: Teacher (Ink to Paper).
PAPER: Recollections patterned paper (? name); True Black, Pure Poppy, White (Papertrey Ink/Ink to Paper). 
DIES: Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics (My Favorite Things); Pierced Feature Frames (Papertrey Ink); Charming Tags (Ink to Paper); Handwritten Thank You (The Stamp Market). 

If you want some more inspiration, please stop by the Fusion Card Challenge blog to see what the rest of the talented design team created!
                                                                ~Wanda 

Paper Players Sketch Challenge

It's been way too long since I played along with The Paper Players challenge! Laurie has a great sketch for us and it was perfect to create a simple sympathy card that I needed for a former nursing supervisor who lost her mother several days ago. 

I played around with some alcohol inks this afternoon and loved the combination of Pool and Sublime inks by Ranger. I added the gold Alloy mixative and blending solution to work it around on Yupo paper.

I really LOVE

this new blending tool and highly recommend it. My preference of paper is by far to use Yupo when I want to blend alcohol inks. I pick some up whenever Mike's has a coupon opportunity - lol!

The sentiment die is by Lil' Inker Designs and has three layers to make it a thicker consistency. The stitched rectangle dies are by My Favorite Things. I used a foam mat with adhesive on one side to "pop" up the alcohol ink panel. I find this is more cost effective than foam tape when I have larger panels to pop up. I get it at Michael's in the poster board and paint section of the store rather than the card making supplies area.

Well...it's raining again here in VA again. Seems like a day rarely passes when it doesn't rain. Hopefully April showers will bring May flowers!                                                ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #591

Hi everyone! Amy Rysavy is hosting this week's Color Throwdown challenge and has a unique group of colors that I decided would work well with the Botanicuts: Rose die set from The Greetery. I had to have leaves and wanted them to be a muted "neutral" green - haha!  I cut out all the dies first from white card stock and lined them up in the order of assembly. Then I color blended with Taylored Expressions brushes and distress inks.

STAMPS: Fresh Air (The Greetery).
PAPER: White (Papertrey Ink).
INK: Tattered Rose, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Iced Spruce, Bundled Sage distress inks by Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black.
DIES: Botanicuts: Rose and Nordic Frames (The Greetery). 

The shimmer doesn't show up in the photograph - thanks to the rainy, cloudy weather in VA - but I added Clear Wink of Stella brush marker over the two roses. They look so much prettier in bright sunlight! 

For more inspiration, be sure to check out the rest of the design team's creations on the Color Throwdown blog!
                                                                 ~Wanda

Sending Sunshine

It may be cloudy outdoors with a forecast of rain, but I'm bringing on the sunshine in my craft room! I was excited to have happy mail from The Greetery yesterday and had to get right on the new dies that were delayed with all the corona virus delays.

I initially thought I was going to go with a blue plaid background but it just didn't quite do it, so I opted for the new Fresh Floral Background stamp instead. It echoed the sunny look of the curtain and went better with the sentiment.

STAMPS: Fresh Floral Background, Fresh Air (The Greetery).
PAPER: White (Papertrey Ink).
INK: Squeezed Lemonade, Fired Brick, Vintage Photo, Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Pumice Stone, Black Soot distress inks by Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black.
DIES: Fresh Air, Crimped Frames (The Greetery).

Off to finish up laundry and head to town for groceries!
                                                        ~Wanda

Freshly Made Sketches

I'm playing along with the new Freshly Made Sketches challenge. CAS designs are not my forte so I'm happy to push myself to do clean and simple on occasion and their sketches are perfect to get the job done. 

I went to my leftover pile and found some water color paper where I had smooshed Peacock Feathers and Wilted Violet distress inks. It was then sprayed with Smooch Spritz which gives it a glistening finish when you hold it in the light. I layered that strip over a striped piece of patterned paper.

STAMPS: Butterfly Blossoms (Reverse Confetti).
PAPER: Amethyst Allure, Tropical Teal, White (Papertrey Ink); Patterned striped paper - ? source.
INK:  Bermuda Bay (SU) used to sponge edges of wreath; Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet distress inks by Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black.
DIES: Leafy Wreath (Reverse Confetti). 

It's going to be a cloudy and rainy day here in Virginia, so I'm thinking that excuses me to spend more time in my stamp room! :-)
                                                                               ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #590

April is trucking right along and it's time for another Color Throwdown challenge! Yours truly is hosting this week and I hope you love these colors as much as I do: navy, yellow, kraft and green.

I pulled out these fun daisies from Ink to Paper's "It's A Sign: Birthday Sentiments" stamp set. It has lots of unique birthday sentiments but also comes with flowers in 5 different sizes and leaves in 3 different sizes.

The brick image is a fun two-step stamp from The Greetery's Fresh Air set. The dies are on backorder thanks to COVID-19 slowing down the die company's production. I white embossed a bunch of flowers using Bright Buttercup and Enchanted Evening card stock and the leaves were stamped with New Leaf ink on white cardstock (inks and paper from Papertrey Ink).

The flowers were all popped up with foam tape and enamel dots were added to the centers.

STAMPS: It's A Sign: Birthday Sentiments (Ink to Paper); Fresh Air (The Greetery).
PAPER: Enchanted Evening, Bright Buttercup, White (Papertrey Ink).
INK: Enchanted Evening, Bright Buttercup (PTI), Crumb Cake (SU).
DIES: It's A Sign: Birthday Sentiments (Ink to Paper); Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics (My Favorite Things).

For more inspiration from the rest of the design team, please check out their cards on the Color Throwdown blog.
                                      Happy stamping!     ~Wanda 

The Card Concept

I spotted the floral bouquet and hello spring theme for The Card Concept challenge and knew I wanted to play along.  Nothing says spring like tulips, so I used these stamps - A Mother's Love - by Ink to Paper and created this wreath ensemble. I made my own patterned paper by color blending a darker green ink over a lighter green card stock with two different stencils.

STAMPS: A Mother's Love (Ink to Paper).
INK: Simply Chartreuse (Papertrey Ink); Crumb Cake (SU); Memento Tuxedo Black.
PAPER: Limeade Ice, White (Papertrey Ink).
DIES: A Mother's Love, Builder Banners, Border Bling: Chain (Ink to Paper). 
OTHER: Dots and Stripes stencils by Papertrey Ink/Ink to Paper.

That's it for now...thank for stopping by and commenting!
                                                                       ~Wanda

Freshly Made Sketches

It's been a couple of weeks since I played along with the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge. This week, Lee Ann has a fave layout of mine so I couldn't resist playing along.

About a month ago, I got some new alcohol inks and had fun playing around with different mixatives on Yupo paper. This panel only needed to be die cut (after I decided to stop hoarding the panels - lol), then it was ready for the sentiment. So easy to throw together!

I couldn't decide if I wanted the "You" in white or gold and ended up offsetting them and used both colors! The gold is a matte metallic gold which doesn't show up well in the photo. 

STAMPS: You (Stamp Market).

I ventured to the grocery store and the gas station this afternoon and it totally wiped me out! Nice to get 60 cents off per gallon with points built up and now that my tank is full, I probably won't fill it up for another month! :-) The positive side of staying home most of the time! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!   ~Wanda

Fusion Card Challenge

I'm running late with my card for the new Fusion Card Challenge today! This staying at home all the time causes all the days to run together and I obviously lost total track of time! This challenge is pretty special for New Zealanders and Australians as it is ANZAC Day on April 25th.  Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". Wikipedia. 

I didn't go with a remembrance theme though I thought a sentiment of thanks for someone who might be currently serving their country would work nicely. I also used the sketch which is a timeless one! After color blending Smoky Slate ink (SU) over a English Brick Wall stencil (My Favorite Things), I layered up a collage of florals from Fleur Impressions and added a sentiment from Sentiment Suite: Thank You - both sets by The Greetery.

One sweet distraction today was our youngest grand-daughter who turned one! Sadly, we couldn't celebrate in person due to the social distancing mandate in VA so we settled for a Zoom birthday party and got to see her sweet face (along with her lively sister and other friends and family)!  They live about 2 1/2 hours away, so we don't get to see her as often as we'd like in person! So thankful for Facetime so we can interact with her!

Thanks so much for stopping by!       ~Wanda

Have A Beautiful Day

I needed to add to my birthday card stash (April is a huge month for birthdays in my life), so I pulled out this beautiful set from The Greetery. I love the way the multiple step stamping gives it a loose watercolor look.

I didn't want a full coverage look of the Windowpane Plaid background stamp, so I tapped two distress ink colors (Shaded Lilac and Wilted Lilac) lightly and randomly. I then splattered some black paint over it.

STAMPS: Sketchbook Roses, Windowpane Plaid (The Greetery).
PAPER: Amethyst Allure, White (Papertrey Ink).
INK: Wilted Violet, Shaded Lilac, Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber, Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Crushed Olive, Evergreen Bough distress inks by Ranger.
DIES: Sketchbook Roses, Postage Frames (The Greetery).

Project: Reach Out

Hi everybody! Ink to Paper is continuing on with this month's Project: Reach Out challenges and I've got a card on their blog today with a catchy sentiment - Keep Swimming! That's what I feel like I'm doing when I'm drowning in this social distancing and isolating at home routine. It will go out to a handicapped friend to encourage him to take it one stroke at a time and keep swimming!

I love using stencils to color blend with brushes and inks! It's an easy and fun way for me to make my own patterned paper and you'll be glad to know that Papertrey Ink/Ink to Paper has lots of stencils in their store! I used Hexagon and Modern Background and paired the stencils up with Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers distress inks. The colors felt kinda "beachy" to me, so I pulled out PTI's Salt Air Flora and Fauna stamps and dies.

I used double strands of white cording (about 24 inches long) to tie my Sailor's Knot. I found a tutorial on YouTube since I can't seem to remember the steps without refreshing my memory. You can reference it HERE.

STAMPS: Salt Air Flora and Fauna, Salt Air Sentiments.
INK: Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron distress inks by Ranger; Sweet Blush, Harvest Gold, Bright Buttercup, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet, New Leaf by Papertrey Ink.
PAPER: Hawaiian Shores, White.
DIES: Love to Layer: Notched dies, Salt Air Flora and Fauna.
OTHER: stencils Modern Background, Hexagon

Your challenge is to reach out to someone by sending them a card that you've created that will lift their spirits in some way! Be sure to link it up on the Ink to Paper blog for a chance to win a gift card!

                                        Happy stamping!    ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #589

It's hump day and that means a new Color Throwdown challenge is happening. Vicki has a great color palette - red, black, gray, white - for us and we'd love to see how you highlight these colors! Here's my take on it with a clean and simple card. I let the patterned paper do most of the talking and then added three diecuts to finish it up. Easy peasy!

PAPER: Licorice by Bazzill Basic Paper True Black, Red Poppy, White by Papertrey Ink.
DIES: Stitched Rectangle and Circle STAX Die-Namics by My Favorite Things; Miss You by Altenew; Prim Poppy by Memory Box, Inc.

For more inspiration, check out the rest of the design team's samples HERE. Hope to see you in the gallery!      ~Wanda

Spring Birthday

Our youngest grand will turn one on the 16th and lives about 2 1/2 hours away. With all the COVID-19 quarantine, we will miss seeing her in person and will need to settle for Facetime! I can hardly stand not being there in person, but I know it's for the best.

I started with these beautiful patterned papers from Gina K Designs Sending Love 6x6 pack. Not birthday papers per se, but loved the springy colors and thought it would work for the "spring fling" theme that's happening for the Seize the Birthday challenge. I combined stamps from SU (Number of Years) and Reverse Confetti (Lift Me Up). Images were colored with Copics.
I added Clear Star glitter pen highlights on the cupcake icing (not gray in real life). 

I just made a dozen deviled eggs since it's not Easter without them - lol! BBQ chicken on the grill will also be on the menu along with some cheesy potatoes and a veggie. Oh...and you can't forget the chocolate cake! My birthday falls on Easter this year and the weather isn't sounding too great. May have to move up the meal to this evening. Have a blessed Easter everyone!     ~Wanda

It's Friday...But Sunday's Coming!

 
Good Friday everyone! It's good for what it means in this holy week and it's good to have another week of quarantine pass by which will bring us closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. April is a huge birthday month with many friends and family on the list! I had loads of fun creating this card using The Greetery's new Top Down Day stamps and dies.

The sky was stenciled using My Favorite Things' cloud stencil and Aqua Mist ink. The patterned papers are from the Bitty Big: Aqua Mist pack by Papertrey Ink. All of the stamped images were popped up with foam tape. To soften up the look, I used a corner chomper on the lower corners.

I never get tired of listening to this Easter meditation by S.M. Lockridge (1913-2000), pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego from 1953 to 1993.

It’s Friday
Jesus is praying
Peter’s a sleeping
Judas is betraying
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
Pilate’s struggling
The council is conspiring
The crowd is vilifying
They don’t even know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are running
Like sheep without a shepherd
Mary’s crying
Peter is denying
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s a comin’
It’s Friday
The Romans beat my Jesus
They robe him in scarlet
They crown him with thorns
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
See Jesus walking to Calvary
His blood dripping
His body stumbling
And his spirit’s burdened
But you see, it’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The world’s winning
People are sinning
And evil’s grinning
It’s Friday
The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands
To the cross
They nail my Savior’s feet
To the cross
And then they raise him up
Next to criminals
It’s Friday
But let me tell you something
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are questioning
What has happened to their King
And the Pharisees are celebrating
That their scheming
Has been achieved
But they don’t know
It’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
He’s hanging on the cross
Feeling forsaken by his Father
Left alone and dying
Can nobody save him?
Ooooh
It’s Friday
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The earth trembles
The sky grows dark
My King yields his spirit
It’s Friday
Hope is lost
Death has won
Sin has conquered
and Satan’s just a laughin’
It’s Friday
Jesus is buried
A soldier stands guard
And a rock is rolled into place
But it’s Friday
It is only Friday
Sunday is a comin’!

Be safe and have a blessed Easter!            ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #588

Another week of pandemic precautions is behind us and it's time again for another Color Throwdown Challenge! Lynn is hosting this week and has some super cheerful colors for us! I knew right away I wanted to create a card using the Fresh Floral Stamp + Stencil Guide that was released in The Greetery's March release. Wow! This is such a fun and amazing and easy way to  make a patterned background!

Betsy has included a very helpful guide with the stamp/stencil set. I didn't want to cover up much of the design so only added one of the very timely sentiments from the Comforting Commands set (also by The Greetery) and embellished with twine. The base die is The Greetery's Postage Frames. 

INK: Miss Piggy, VI Pink, Sweet Gelato, Queen Bee, Pumpkin Spice, Lime Light - dye inks by WPlus9; Memento Tuxedo Black.

I hope you are staying well in your corner of the world! It's such a special season and it's so hard to think the churches are closed for Easter Sunday...BUT...we serve a risen Saviour and we can celebrate at home just as well! Happy Easter everyone! 
                                                      ~Wanda