CAS(E) This Sketch

It's been awhile since I've played along with the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge, but after I watched a die cut mask technique video tutorial by Jennifer McGuire (you can see it HERE), I was inspired to try it out. This happens to be a re-run of a retro sketch from a couple of years ago and it's a classic simple layout that has so many wonderful possibilities!

I started by die-cutting this large Beautiful Bouquet Outline die from masking paper. I adhered it to a smooth white card stock then color blended 3 different distress oxide inks (Candied Apple, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry) over the masking die. When it was dry, I peeled off the masking paper then stenciled with a small dotted stencil and white pigment ink. I liked that the polka dots were very subtle.

I popped up the Skinny Frames: Diagonal Border frame with foam tape. The sentiment die was cut from white and Berry Sorbet card stock and offset with the layering. In hindsight, I wish I had used a darker red to give it better contrast.

PAPER: Neenah Smooth Solar White (110 lb.), Berry Sorbet (Ink to Paper/Papertrey Ink).
INK: Candied Apple, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry distress oxide inks by Ranger.
DIES: Beautiful Bouquet Outline, To Die For Sentiments: Byline For You die, Skinny Frames: Diagonal Border (Ink to Paper/Papertrey Ink).
OTHER: Dot stencil by Ink to Paper/Papertrey Ink.
 
So there you have it! Something a bit different for me. Thanks so much for stopping by. 
                                        Happy stamping!      ~Wanda

Fusion Card Challenge

There's a terrific new photo and sketch to get our mojo going for the new Fusion Card Challenge! I used both on my card and was especially drawn to the pink and aqua colors of the lifeguard chair.

For starters, I stenciled the card base lightly with Aqua Mist ink and a diamond stencil. I thought the look reminded me of rippling water. Several of the images were "kissed" with a second ink color before applying it to paper. It's a subtle look but a technique that I love doing.

STAMPS: Salt Air Flora, Salt Air Fauna, Salt Air Sentiments (Papertrey Ink/Ink to Paper).
INK: Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Soft Stone, Kraft, Bright Buttercup, Summer Sunrise - inks by PTI/Ink to Paper.
PAPER: Bitty Big: Aqua Mist, White (PTI/Ink to Paper).
DIES: Salt Air: Flora and Fauna, To the Point Edgers die (PTI/Ink to Paper). 
OTHER: Diamond stencil (PTI/Ink to Paper).

We'd love to have you play along with the challenge. Remember, you can use just the sketch, just the photo or you can create a fusion and use both!  Happy stamping!   ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #595

Jodi has some fabulous new colors for the Color Throwdown challenge this week! I kept my design very simple with black on white wild flowers accented with a Hawaiian Shores bird and ribbon layered over Hawaiian Shores card stock. I lightly sponged some Aqua Mist ink around the edges.

STAMPS: Wild Fields (Ink to Paper).
PAPER: Hawaiian Shores, White, Bitty Big: Smoky Shadow (Ink to Paper).
INK: True Black, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist (Ink to Paper).
DIES: Beautiful Bouquet Tag, Pierced Feature Frames (Ink to Paper); Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics (MFT).
OTHER: Black cording; Satin ribbon by Papertrey Ink/Ink to Paper. 

We'd love to have you play along with us! Check out the other design team's creations by heading over to the Color Throwdown blog!
                                                  Happy stamping!    ~Wanda

Freshly Made Sketches

This card went together extremely quickly since I had the floral spray and frame already completed in my leftover/extra pile! A quick sentiment and some patterned paper was all I needed to finish this up using the sketch for the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

This image looks like it took a long time to complete when, in fact, it is so easy with Betsy Veldman's genius step stamping in her Sketchbook Roses stamp set. It was that easy that I completed 25 cards for Mother's Day for ladies in our church using this set!

STAMPS: Sketchbook Roses, Sentiment Suite: Thinking of You (The Greetery).

PAPER: Bitty Big: Raspberry Fizz, White (Papertrey Ink/Ink to Paper).

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black

DIES: Stitched Frames (Reverse Confetti), Sketchbook Roses, Sentiment Suite Basics (The Greetery).

It's yet another rainy, sunless day in VA and I'll have to say...I'm really over it and ready for some sunshine! Maybe tomorrow the sun will make an appearance. It's been so chilly that I've resorted to winter sweaters/jackets for the past week! UGGHH! 
                                            Happy stamping!     ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #594

Happy hump day everyone! I loved Amy Rohl's color choices this week for the Color Throwdown Challenge which led me immediately to the 6x6" Breeze pad by My Mind's Eye! I went with a quick and easy design using one of my fave patterned tag dies from Reverse Confetti.

The sentiment/butterfly was stamped 3 times on a MISTI using So Saffron ink by Stampin' Up. It was die cut then popped up with foam tape. I sponged the edges of the tag with Smoky Slate ink (SU).

 

STAMPS: Butterfly Dreams (Reverse Confetti)

PAPER: White (Papertrey Ink), Breeze pad (My Mind's Eye)

INK: So Saffron, Smoky Slate (SU)

DIES: Butterfly Dreams, Grid Stitched Tag, Hang Ups (Reverse Confetti); Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)

We'd love to have you play along with us! Check out the rest of the design team's sample projects HERE.                

                                               Happy stamping!     ~Wanda

Miss Your Face

I had a little fun last evening after a Facebook friend posted a link to a YouTube tutorial on how to create a paper mask card (you can check it out HERE)! I generated the sentiment using Word and the mask itself was easy to put together. I'll send it to my daughter who is an RN working with Covid patients in South Carolina. How ironic that I haven't spoken to her by phone in a week and she called as I was typing this post!

I'm playing along with the Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge and had to tweak it just a bit to have room for the mask.

PAPER: Moonlight paper stack by SU; Lost Lagoon (SU); White (PTI).

DIES: Stitched Square and Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics by My Favorite Things.

                                           Happy stamping!     ~Wanda

Fusion Card Challenge

I apparently had a senior moment and totally missed getting my card posted this morning for the new Fusion Card Challenge. I loved the sketch and the inspiration photo and was inspired to use an alcohol ink panel that I completed weeks ago. I used Cobalt blue alcohol ink with a gold fixative and blending solution on Yupo paper for the background. The dies (Small Marianna Vine Background and Large Marianna Vine Outline) are by Poppystamps. The sentiment is from Simple Strips Background stamp set by Taylored Expressions and was popped up with narrowly cut foam tape.

We'd love to have you play along with us and remember...the challenge is open for two weeks! Happy stamping!
                                                                 ~Wanda

ITP Day #4 May Release

We're almost there! Today is day #4 of introductions to the May release at Ink to Paper and tomorrow is the day you can finally go shopping! Woohoo! We are introducing Nifty Plaid stamp + To Die For Sentiments: Father's Day + Border Bling: Diamonds die + Just Sentiments: Father's Day stamps.

 

I love to be able to create my own custom patterned paper and this plaid stamp is perfect! I wanted to incorporate two colors, so after stamping it in dark blue using my MISTI, I moved it to the right about 1/4" and stamped it in yellow. 

I thought it needed a pop of green so I die cut the previously released Background Bouquet die and trimmed off the leafy elements and tucked them around the large sentiment. Love the bold, happy colors!
 
Here's a look at the inside. That diamond die is probably my favorite item in the whole release! 

STAMPS: Nifty Plaid, Inside Greetings: Father's Day
INK: Bright Buttercup, Enchanted Evening
PAPER: Bright Buttercup; Navy, Lime Green
DIES: Pierced Feature Frames, To Die For Sentiments: Father's Day, Background Bouquet, Border Bling: Diamonds

My next card is a result of inspiration from Pinterest. The sentiment was curved to fit a basic banner die cut and the tie was cut from a leftover piece of plaid stamped paper. 
 
Here is a hand drawn diagram of the dimensions. Make a cut on the solid lines about 1/2" in from each side, then score and fold down the "collar" on the dotted lines. The tie was just cut free hand after drawing the angled lines with a ruler.

Decisions. Decisions. Only one dad and too many Father's Day

cards that I want to send him - haha!


STAMPS: Just Sentiments: Father's Day, Inside Greetings: Father's Day, Nifty Plaid
INK: Enchanted Evening
PAPER: Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening, White
DIES: Skinny Frames: Diagonal Border, Banner Builders: Basics

My last card involves some alcohol ink blending with a gold mixative and simply adding dies. I layered two layers of black sentiment dies over one layer of gold and decided to trim down two corners of the diamond frame die instead of using the entire frame.  

On the inside, I saved the negative space of the diamond frame die

cut in black. I cut out about 1/2" of the middle (two diamond points) then spliced it back together with tape. The white diamond center covers the cut line perfectly and you've got a fun background.



STAMPS: Just Sentiments: Father's Day
INK: Alcohol inks; True Black
PAPER: True Black, White, Luxe Gold, Yupo
DIES: To Die For Sentiments: Father's Day, Border Bling: Diamonds



So, that finishes up all the introductions to the new release. Hope you've been inspired to try out some of the new products! Happy stamping!
                                                                      ~Wanda 

ITP May Release Day #3

Hopefully you have seen and liked the first two days of reveals for the May release at Ink to Paper! Now we're ready for day #3 where we will introduce Owl Always Love You stamps/dies + His stamps + Border Bling: Twigs dies + Inside Greetings: Father's Day stamps. 

Check out this awesome new twig frame die set with both an oval and a rectangle option! I sponged the edges with Prairie Grass ink after cutting it from kraft CS. The diamond die in the center will be revealed with more details tomorrow. The Loosely Woven background stamp - previously released - is a fave of mine because it adds some visual texture! On the left is a photo of the inside.

There are two owl sizes which are so fun to put together! I can't wait to use them for different occasions by adding a hat (thinking maybe the graduation cap and diploma stamps would make a fun grad card)! I often neglect to add anything to my card insides, but these small sentiment sets are just so perfect to get it done.

STAMPS: Owl Always Love You, Loosely Woven Background, Inside Greetings: Father's Day
INK: Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Prairie Grass, Harvest Gold, Orange Zest, Kraft
PAPER: Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Kraft, Vintage Cream, Linen Vintage Cream
DIES: Border Bling: Diamonds, Border Bling: Twigs

My second card again features the Owl Always Love You set and is paired with a sentiment from the His stamp set. I used an older background birch stamp stamped in Aqua Mist and layered it over some patterned paper. To add a bit of whimsy, I gave my owls some aqua ears! :-)  

These new products will be released on Friday the 15th, but first we have another reveal day tomorrow! See you then.    
                                         Happy stamping!     ~Wanda