Speckled and Snarky

I created this card for two challenges - CAS(E) This Sketch and Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - but totally missed the deadline for CC. Nothing like being a day late - lol! Anyway, their photo led me to splattering black and then gold paints on watercolored flowers. The layout was perfect to once again use this MFT die for the background.  
Here's what I used:
STAMPS: Snarky Sentiments by Lil' Inker Designs.

PAPER: Color Splash by Recollections; Whisper White (SU); Ranger watercolor CS; True Black (PTI).
DIES: Spring Blooms, Perky Posies, and Seriously by Lil' Inker Designs; Striped Sentiment Strip Cover Plate Die-Namics by MFT.

CAS(E) This Sketch

My blog has been rather neglected lately though I've been working on design team work and have 3 posts scheduled for next week!  For two days I've been babysitting our 2 year old grand daughter while her 5 month old brother is fighting RSV in the hospital.  Sad to say, they didn't release him today as hoped.  Once off the IV and oxygen, his fever went up again this afternoon, so no discharge. I cooked up some Untidy Josephs for supper (always a quick and easy thing to fix).  If you're wondering what that might be...it's a goofy name for Sloppy Joes! LOL!  

I'm playing along with the current CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge  but will probably get gonged for my entry.  I just didn't have a good horizontal sentiment that went with the star theme and I liked this sentiment from Verve's "Shining Star" set, so went with the circle instead.  The "Falling Stars" background was stamped with an ancient Blue Breeze Kaleidacolor inkpad - a gradient pad with 5 different blues.  I used Lil' Inker Designs' stitched stars dies to embellish. 

As Bugs Bunny would say..."That's all, folks!".  I've watched more cartoons in the past 2 days than I have in the whole year! :-)

TGIF

Good Friday everyone! It's another really sweltering day here in VA

but it's been a good day off for me!  I set the alarm early (for me anyway) and got my bod out of bed at 7:00 AM (remember, I'm a second shifter) and went to a huge consignment/church sale for children's clothing, toys, etc.  I was glad I went early because the selection is so much better in the early hours!  Soon after I got home, the two grands - Quinn is almost 2 and Cash is 5 weeks old - came over for a swim (check out that huge pool - lol!), some lunch and some stamping!  Yes, Quinn loves to get inky and especially loves any animal stamps.  Guess I'd better bring this chatter to a close and get on with telling you about this card I made for the new CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge!

I struggled with the sketch a bit until it dawned on me to think of the vertical rows as an alternative to the interpretation.  I started by clear embossing the Barnwood Background stamp - new from Concord and 9th - on Ranger watercolor CS.  I then did a watercolor wash over it using Evergreen Bough and Cracked Pistachio distress inks.  I love the way these two colors blend together!  I had trouble capturing the embossed shine in my photo but it's there IRL.  The sentiment (a freebie with an MFT order) was die cut 4 times - 3 with the Cool Caribbean CS and once with metallic copper CS.  I added some fine copper thread (from the new SU catalog) by looping it over a tiny glue dot. I wish this thread were just a wee bit thicker as it's almost too fine to even see well.  The stitched frame is part of Reverse Confetti's new All Framed Up die set in their August release (*Oops...I see it's already OOS!).  I cut three of the Layering Leaves dies by Concord and 9th from copper CS.  I can't wait to play more with this die set...so many possible uses are running through my brain!

Thanks for hanging with me in this lengthier than usual post...

CAS(E) This Sketch

While waiting for washer and dryer loads to finish, I sneaked in a quick card for the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge. I started with a watercolor wash BG using Fossilized Amber distress ink.  I was in the mood for a fall theme, so went to these Stitched Pumpkins and Stitched Maple Trio dies by Simon Says Stamp (oops...I see they're both OOS).  These were leftovers from last year, so added to the quickness of the cardmaking.  I'm really trying to use up some of my leftover stash each time I make a card, so this worked out well for the sketch.  I wanted just a wee bit of color to 'frame' the main panel, so went with a tilted layer of Pumpkin Pie cardstock by SU.  The sentiment is one from the Uplifting Thoughts stamp set by Simon Says Stamp.

Thanks for dropping by...It's another cloudy day here in VA but at least there's no pouring down rain...for now.  

Scent With Love

I am needing to build up my oil-themed card stash again, so when I saw Leigh Penner's great layout for the new CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge, I knew I had a plan!  I already had this watercolor wash background in my leftover pile where I used Cracked Pistachio and Evergreen Bough distress inks then splattered some water droplets over it to "bleach" out some spots.  I colored and fussy cut only two out of the three oil bottles then popped with foam tape over a vellum belly band.  I love using my old clear dew drops as embellishments with this set!  

STAMPS: "Essentially" by Impression Obsession (sentiment is from the clear set and bottles are from the rubber set).
COPICS: G00, G000, C0, C2, C3.

Speaking of oils...my latest favorite products from Young Living are the Cool Azul pain-relieving cream just released in June at convention.  The Genesis hand and body lotion (you'll have feet and elbows smooth as a baby's butt - lol) is another favorite as is the new Live the Passion oil blend.  It diffuses such a great scent!

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Happy 90th!

 My dad has a milestone 90th birthday on the 15th, so as soon as I saw the sketch for the current CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge, I knew I wanted to stagger balloons for his card!
I used distress inks then hand drew the strings.  I stacked two happy die cuts on top of each other to give it more dimension.  Here is the inside of the card with number dies and fun sentiment from SU's Number of Years bundle.

After I photographed the inside, I decided to add a few more stamped balloons to brighten it up a bit.

STAMPS: Whole Lotta Happy (WPlus9), Number of Years (SU).
PAPER: Tropical Teal (PTI), Sour Apple (MFT), White, Black.
INK: Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers (Ranger distress inks).
ACCESSORIES: Stitched rectangle die by Lil' Inker Designs; Clear sequins; Happy Trio die by WPlus9.

Thanks for stopping by...I'll post some birthday photos after we celebrate with dad end of the month in Ohio. 

Let's Get Fruity!

...this is the theme for the CAS Challenge on Splitcoaststampers! I'm combining it with the current CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge for this clean and simple card. 

Using WPlus9's dye inks, I first stamped the berries in Sweet Gelato then rocked and rolled the edges in Cranberry Crush ink.  The leaves were stamped with Beanstalk ink.  The diamond background was stamped twice using SU's Crushed Curry ink.  A quick gold embossed sentiment on vellum was tucked in the corner collage and a trio of gold sequins finished it off.


STAMPS: Fresh Picked (WPlus9); Just Geometrics: Triangles.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Birthday Peonies

I'm on a birthday card roll this month with so many family and friends celebrating their 'born days' in April!  This card was created for the following challenges...

CAS(E) This Sketch

The Paper Players - color challenge (Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Mossy Meadow, Soft Sky)

Seize the Birthday - toppings week: florals

I added a watercolor wash BG to the tilted, stitched rectangle using Tumbled Glass distress ink.  I had this striped paper on my desk from a previous project, so included it in the border.

STAMPS: Pretty Little Peonies and Whole Lotta Happy by WPlus9.

INK: Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Always Artichoke.

DIES: Happy Trio and Pretty Little Peonies by WPlus9.

CAS(E) This Sketch

It's high time I get back into playing with some of my favorite challenges, so this cold morning was perfect to whip out a clean and simple card for the current CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge!  Using Altenew's Painted Poppy stamp set and TH distress inks - Barn Door, Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass - this was a quick and easy one to complete.  

Dies: Stitched Rectangles by Lil' Inker Designs. 

Thanks for stopping by...

CAS(E) This Sketch

A quick and easy card for the current CAS(E) This Sketch

challenge! I smooshed Cracked Pistachio and Tumbled Glass distress inks over Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock - drying with a heat gun between color changes.  Since I couldn't find a shade of CS to match the Cracked Pistachio, I just sponged the one die.

STAMPS: Eye Charts (My Favorite Things)
PAPER: Sno Cone (MFT), TH watercolor CS
ACCESSORIES: Stitched rectangle die by Lil' Inker Designs; Eye Glasses Die-Namics by MFT; Clear sequins.

Now that all of the new distress ink colors have been released for the year, I found the updated color chart on the Ranger website.  I am waiting for Candied Apple Red to arrive in the mail, then this OCD person will have all the colors! :-)  I find it very helpful to refer to a sample color chart when I'm choosing inks.  So much more accurate than going by the color of the lid.  Here is the Ranger LINK if you would like to download either the new color swatch chart and/or label colors with names.

Joy to the World

Another smooshed Christmas card completed...this time using the great layout for the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge #149! I used Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers distress inks smooshed on TH watercolor CS, splattered with Gold color shine by Heidi Swapp, then die cut with Stitched rectangle die by Lil' Inker Designs.  I used 3 Confetti Cuts dies by Reverse Confetti:  Wreaths, Branch Out and Winter Words. The sentiment stamp is from RC's Winter Word Coordinates set.  This is also a CASE for one of Jo Nevill's cards - the Featured Stamper on SCS this week!  I primarily cased the color washed background and large circle element.

On an oily side note...
Here's another DIY recipe that you could put together for a last minute gift!

Sugar scrubs work great to get rid of those rough and dry skin areas (for me it's elbows and heels) that are so prevalent in the winter months! 

CAS(E) This Sketch!

This is my interpretation of the current CAS(E) This Sketch challenge and I'll have to admit...my card went out of control - lol!  I should have stopped at "merry" only, but no...I thought I should add Christmas to the card front.  I had no plans for sequins, but after applying Crystal Effects to the holly berries and smudging one while it was wet and smearing it on the white BG...it was time to move on to Plan B with sequins. :-/  My simple tag ended up quite busy, but it is what it is!

STAMPS: Winter Word Coordinates (Reverse Confetti)
PAPER: Merry and Bright (Carta Bella), Metallic gold
ACCESSORIES: Holly, Winter Words, Tag Me Too, Mini Circle Garland Pretty Panels Confetti Cuts - all by Reverse Confetti; Stitched Rectangle die by Lil' Inker Designs; Stitched Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics by MFT.

  On an oily side note...here's another DIY Christmas gift that you might want to try making!

Plaid Christmas

A quick one layer card that's easy to mail and I've added another Christmas card to my goal of 60! I was inspired by the plush and plaid theme for the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge and also by the sketch for CAS(E) this Sketch challenge! 

I used these great patterned papers from Simple Stories' "Cozy Christmas" 6x6 pad.  Once again, I

headed for Reverse Confetti's new Winter Word Coordinates stamp set that gives you endless possibilities for sentiment combinations when you pair it up with the Winter Words Confetti Cuts dies!  I'm in love with these whimsical Branch Out Confetti Cuts trees and paired them up with a couple of banners (Stitched Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics by MFT).

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Watercolor Peace

This was such a fun one layer card to create! I used the sketch by Chrissy Larson for the current CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge and used an older WPlus9 die set for the WPlus9 Throwback Thursday Challenge #8.  I'm also entering this into Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge where anything goes this week.

I created the background by smooshing 4 different distress inks on acrylic sheets, spritzing with water and applying the ink on Tim Holtz watercolor CS.  I heat dried between each color then splattered some Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine over it.  I added fine glitter to the snowflakes which doesn't show up well in the photo. 

DISTRESS INKS: Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Scattered Straw, Peacock Feathers.
DIES: Snowflake Trio die by WPlus9; Winter Words Confetti Cuts by Reverse Confetti; Stitched Rounded Rectangle Die-Namics by MFT. 

An Oily Side Note...
Anyone in your household suffering with a sore throat?  A soothing remedy is to fix a Thieves "tea" by adding 2 drops Thieves oil and 2-3 drops lemon oil to 8-12 oz. hot water.  Sweeten with 1-2 tbsp. raw honey (local made is best!).  
I'm also a big fan of adding 6 drops Thieves essential oil to my diffuser which acts to enhance the immune systems of everyone in the room!  The diffuser has the added benefit of acting as a humidifier which keeps those mucous membranes from drying out!