Ink to Paper's Project: Reach Out

The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly turned the world upside

down! I hope and pray that everyone reading this is staying healthy while we continue on with the social distancing, hand washing and

stay at home mode. One thing I really love about the stamping community is the spirit of love, community and positivity that is forever present! Ink to Paper is a company that chooses to put a positive spin on this crisis and has challenged the design team to come up with projects that "reach out" to others through paper crafting. 

I wanted to "play tag" for my project and chose to do a favorite of mine: make tags to attach to a small gift which supports the "just a little thank you" theme!  I used the same basic supplies and just varied the layout and the colors with each one.

I used Charming Tag Dies, Blossoming Branches and Infinity Frames Sentiments stamps and Bitty Big patterned papers on all three tags. TIP: If you haven't discover these papers yet, you really must check them out! There are two stripes, two polka dots and two plaids in every color package and it makes it so easy to coordinate!

My first gift will go to a local health care worker and it includes a

small paper bag filled with a variety of lifesavers. While I'm a retired nurse and not in the middle of the frenzy of current health care workers, our daughter is a full-time RN working in Greenville, South Carolina and is facing all kinds of upheavals in her job as a critical care and long term acute care nursing RN. Here's hoping this small gift will brighten someone's day!

One of the saddest results of this pandemic is the fact that businesses are fighting huge financial losses and are having to lay off employees.

My second project is a tag attached to a mini kraft bag that is large enough to insert a gift card or some cash. I plan to give cash to a family whose one parent was just laid off from her job. 

TIP: The crimped heart is symbolic of the love that is felt for this family!

Lastly...who doesn't love some home-baked goodies?! My third tag was attached to a mini loaf of banana bread that I gifted as a random act of kindness.  

Many of our local restaurants are getting creative and offering curb service, deliveries, etc. so they can continue to serve the community. I chose to support one of my favorite small burger places the other day and decided to gift this bread to the lady who brought my order to my car! Her smile and repeated thank yous were all I needed to know this small gesture had blessed someone!

I hope I've inspired you to pay it forward and remember someone in your community during these difficult times. My mother always
said "This too shall pass" and we will all be happy when it truly does pass!
                                               Happy stamping!            ~Wanda

Tag, You're It Guest Designer

What a great piece of happy email when you find out one of your cards is a challenge winner! I recently played with the Tag, You're It challenge and won a future guest designer spot! Today, I'm guesting with them and the theme is buttons! How fun to bring out this older Papertrey Ink stamp set  - Baby Button Bits - which was so perfect! I felt a bit guilty for only using one button, but thought this bee would be perfect to add a baby card to my stash!

I used a small blending brush with a TCW Mini

Hexagons stencil and So Saffron ink by SU for the background. I then layered a Hexagon Element die by Simon Says Stamp over it...leaving an occasional solid hexagon intact. A strip of black cardstock and some washi tape were added for a horizontal element. The tag die is the Traditional Tags STAX Die-Namics by My Favorite Things.  I colored the wings with Copics - Y32 and YR21. The white base was die cut with the Crimped Frame die by The Greetery.  

So let me hear some buzz - haha! Hope your day is a great one!           ~Wanda

Tag, You're It Challenge

Check out this adorable inspiration photo for the new Tag, You're It Challenge! It's perfect to highlight the retired but still awesome Reverse Confetti set called Fabulous Flamingo. I paired it with foliage/flower stamps from the Tropical Chic set by Stampin' Up and used a sentiment from RC's The Tweet Life. Patterned papers are from My Favorite Things' Black and White Basics 6x6" pad and that hot pink tag (Rounded Banner STAX by MFT) is Raspberry Fizz cardstock from Papertrey Ink. 

I used the following distress oxide inks: Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron and Mowed Lawn.

DIES: Diagonal Stitches Cover Panel, Fabulous Flamingo - Reverse Confetti; Rounded Banner STAX - MFT; Tropical Chic - Stampin' Up. 
                                                               ~Wanda

Tag, You're It Challenge

Good Monday morning...again! It's a really cold morning in VA and I had to resurrect some warmer clothes to wear today! I was reminded by two elderly gentlemen in church yesterday that they recall our area having frost on May 20th! NOOOO!! I'm going to think warm thoughts in spite of it all. 

The current Tag, You're It Challenge has a fun spring tag with gorgeous colors to inspire us! I zeroed in on the aqua color in the border and went with a duck instead of bird. To clarify, I googled to see if a duck is a bird and yes...it's an aquatic bird - lol! So, I justified using this sweet new stamp set by Reverse Confetti called Rainy Day Fun. Our spring has had a multitude of rainy days, so a rainy day theme was perfect for me.

I used a very simple layout that is one of my favorites! I call it an L-shaped corner collage. The horizontal "waves" were created using RC's Doin' the Wave die. The vertical "rainbow" strip was another die by RC. The Starburst Tag Layer die was perfect for the "sun" element. I stamped the images with Memento Tuxedo Black on X-Press It Blending Card then colored with Copics and highlighted with a white gel pen (Sakura gelly roll). With all the rain we've been getting, it's not difficult to "make a splash"!

Thanks so much for stopping by...   
                                                              ~Wanda

Irish Blessing

 

One of my favorite sentiments to highlight during the St. Patrick's Day season is this Irish blessing from the Blessings stamp set by Verve. I did not realize that the Tag, You're It! challenge that I used to play along with has returned after taking over a year off.  Yay! (Edited to add: I just discovered the Linky has already closed for this challenge!) I tweaked the current Mojo Monday Sketch challenge a bit and changed the circle to a tag element so I could enter this into both challenges.  I played with some alcohol inks and gold mixative to create the background.  The terracotta and turquoise papers were in my massive leftover pile, so I'm not sure of the exact colors or the company they came from.  

The horizontal border is heavy weight vellum that was torn along

the two long edges.  It was adhered using four tiny brads and a bit of adhesive behind the tag. The fibers have been in my stash a VERY long time but worked out perfectly with these colors!

Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

Tag...You're It Challenge

I missed the deadline, but was inspired to create this tag by Jessica Frost-Ballas' gorgeous pink and gold reindeer tag for the Tag...You're It Challenge! I'm also joining in with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge with a 'gift it' theme (gift tag). I first painted the blue gold from Gansai Tambi Starry Colors palette then layered Bright Opera paint from Mijello Mission Gold palette. I adhered Simon Says Stamp's Snowflake Block die than added shiny gold sentiment and reindeer dies to the tag.  The shimmer and shine simply does not show up well in the photo.  Boo.  A very cloudy day just didn't work to get a good photograph.

I can finally say I'm finished with my Christmas shopping.  Most of the things are wrapped but my Christmas cards are not yet addressed.  That's next on my holiday 'to do' list!  Thanks so much for stopping by...

Bear Hugs

**Scroll on down for my Color Throwdown post**

 I created this baby card using the sketch by Sandy for the current Paper Players Challenge and I also am playing along with the Tag, You're It Challenge.

I used products from Reverse Confetti:
STAMPS: Bear Hugs.
PAPER: True Love 6x6 pad; Flamingo (RC); White (PTI); X-Press It Blending Pad.
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark; Silver Lining (WPlus9).
DIES: Tag Me, Bear Hugs, and Edge

Essentials (RC). 
COPICS: RV10, R20 (ears); R85, R43 (flower); C1, C3, C5, C7 (bear). 

The sentiment was white embossed using my favorite Detail White by Stampendous.  Some silver cording and metal dots finished it off.

Thanks so much for stopping by...


 

Color Throwdown #432

There's a new Color Throwdown Challenge up today and our talented hostess - Barbara Anders - has chosen this incredible photo with some sunny, happy colors: bright green, yellow, red and aqua!   Check out those vintage cars (that red and white convertible caught my eye!).  Since I already had this WPlus9 stamp set out from a previous project, I thought it would be a perfect fit. I'm also playing along with the Tag, You're It Challenge!  Here's my card...

This is pretty clean and simple so will get right to my enabler's list:
STAMPS: Fresh Cut Containers, Hand Lettered Hello and Ink Splats by WPlus9.
INK: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green - SU; Lake House by WPlus9; Versafine Onyx Black.
DIES: Timeless Tags 3 die by WPlus9; Small Hello by Simon Says Stamp.
MISCELLANEOUS: Washi tape and twine.

We're so happy to announce that Lisa Lara from Lisa's Life Lines blog is joining us this month as our guest designer!  Though I've never met her IRL, I consider her a dear online friend who is so sweet with her comments through social media and blogland!  Welcome Lisa!  Can't wait to see how you rock the colors!

This card also fits the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is to use a tag on our project.  

For more details on how to play along, head over to the Color Throwdown Blog and you'll find the information on the right sidebar!  You can also visit the rest of the design team's creations for more inspiration by clicking on the links below:

Amy Rohl 
Amy Rysavy
Barbara Anders  
Broni Holcombe   
Jodi Collins 
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Lynn Put  
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)  
Lisa Lara - March Guest Designer

Joyful Tag

It's been a super warm and gorgeous weekend off for me and I'm loving it! After lunch clean up, I ventured into my crafty space and came up with this card for Tag, You're It Challenge and Freshly Made Sketches Challenge!  I started with Bright Opera and Lemon Yellow watercolors from my Mijello Mission Gold watercolor palette (love their vibrant colors!).  I was inspired by Rubeena Naz' lovely tag with the offset image, layering with a glittery tag, and using a pink and green color combination.  I used 3 different wreath stamps with WPlus9 inks: Old Gold, Mojito and Last Leaf.  I heat embossed the tiny

flowers with Melon Mambo embossing powder (SU) after stamping with Versamark ink then added Lemon Twist Enamel Accents to the centers.  The sentiment was die cut with WPlus9's Hand Lettered Holiday die and metallic silver cardstock.  The plaid green CS is a clearance bargain by Recollections.  I used the Charles border embossing folder along the bottom edge of the card.

STAMPS: Woodland Wreaths (WPlus9).

Tonight will be Game 5 in the World Series, so I'll be cheering on the Cleveland Indians once again!  I was born and raised about 60 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio so this is what I consider to be my "home" team!  Go Tribe!!  :-)

Tag, You're It Challenge

I couldn't resist this unique tag by Leigh Penner for the current Tag, You're It Challenge!  I was inspired by the gray base with white silhouettes and just a wee pop of color.  My tag will become the focal point on a card for one of our two pastors for Pastor Appreciation Sunday this week!

STAMPS: Blooms 'n Buds (Reverse Confetti).
DIES: Leafy, Tag Me Too, Thankful Pretty Panels (Reverse Confetti).

Since the flower and leaves were leftovers from a previous project, this was a very quick and easy tag to  create.

Later in the day...editing this post to add my completed card.  I used Reverse Confetti's Leaves Cover Panel die for the white on white background...

It's another gorgeous fall day in VA and the leaves are really making a noticeable change in color here in the Shenandoah Valley!  Have a great day!

Tag, You're It!

***Scroll on down for my Color Throwdown card*** 

A quick post to share a tag inspired by the current Tag, You're It Challenge!  Michelle has a simple design with a watercolored background and block sentiment.  I already had this background in my leftover pile, so I die cut the tag using my favorite Reverse Confetti die.  The florals were stamped with Pumpkin Spice and Beanstalk Pure Color dye inks by WPlus9; flower centers are Daffodil Delight by SU.  Floral stamps and matching dies are from PTI's Bitty Bouquets set.  The sentiment is MFT's Label Maker Sentiments.  I added clear Wink of Stella brush marker to add sparkle to the flower centers and topped off the tag with Caribbean twine from The Twinery.

On an oily side note...
I just came across a genius DIY stain removal tip!
Take a 10ml roller bottle and add 1 capful of Thieves cleaner (product by Young Living) and then fill with distilled water.  You now have a portable, easy to use stain remover solution!

Thanks for stopping in...always enjoy your feedback!

Tag, You're It

A quick post to share the tag I created for the Tag, You're It Challenge! LOVE the inspiration photo - the colors, the embossed background and layering - in this gorgeous sample by Michele Ferguson!  I embossed the background using Cuttlebug's Charles embossing folder (love the dotted swiss in a chevron pattern)!  
WPlus9's Fresh Cut Florals stamps with matching dies are some of my favorites to create tiny floral collages.  I topped off the tag with some crinkly seam binding and some orange rhinestones.

INK: Beanstalk, Last Leaf, Pumpkin Spice, Miami Spice, Ocean Drive, Falling Star - all by WPlus9; Memento Tuxedo Black.
DIES: Fresh Cut Florals (WPlus9), Fancy Words Confetti Cuts (Reverse Confetti).

Hope you're having a great day...it's another rainy day in VA and I'm heading out to work shortly with roller skates on.  A huge admission intake of over 60 new students are due to arrive today!

Bright Hello

Good morning blog friends! I started this card late last night when I saw the Tag, You're It Challenge with the gorgeous inspiration tag by Donna Mikasa!  Jen M. has a great square sketch today for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #245, so I paired the two together for this 4 1/2" square card.  I had this yellow watercolored CS leftover from a previous project and the largest of WPlus9's Timeless Tags 2 dies fit the piece perfectly.  The watercolored flower and leaves were also in my leftover stash, so this came together very quickly.  I wanted to incorporate the black and white stripe element from Donna's tag, so this Scotch

washi tape (a find at Target) was perfect.  While she white embossed her images, I went with gold embossing. Remember when seam binding was all the rage and I couldn't seem to create any cards without using it?  I have tons of ribbon and was happy to use some of it once again!

STAMPS: Peony Scrolls (Altenew), Painted Greetings (Altenew).
WATERCOLOR PAINTS: Gold Mission

I'll close by sharing a photo from a visit to Chick-Fil-A's Cow Appreciation Night last evening!  Who knew Quinn would be so udderly excited at meeting the cow!  (I know...pun is totally lame - lol!)

She could hardly eat for yelling out "Cow, cow!"...trying to get him to come to our table...which he eventually did.  Nana's cow mask and Eat More Chikin' sign met with protest from Miss Q, so daddy ended up wearing it instead! In all the excitement, I realized I never got a picture of daddy.  😞