Friday, March 4, 2016

Sponged Scenery

How about some sponging today?  Today's cards are all about that.  I demo'd this card at our Red Hot Stampers meeting last night.  I actually had the ladies sponge right along with me and then we each made up our own card. These are what each of us created.  They did a great job didn't they! :)

If you'd like to give it a try I've added a picture tutorial at the end of this post. :)




Those of you who have followed my blog for awhile might think I've already made this card....you'd be kinda right! ;)  Click HERE to find out what card I'm talking about.  I was going to make this one again and demo it, but thought instead that I'd use the same colors and idea, but change it up a little.  Plus I broke my woodgrain embossing folder in half from using it so much and for some crazy reason I thought the framelits I used were retired. :(  Guess I need to keep up on that!  Either way I'm glad I tried something a little different and that I got to do a little sponging again...ok, a LOT of sponging again.  Since I had a sample card, two sponged sample pieces and I sponged one there with everyone else I ended up with four cards myself.



Here's the color combo I used on my card.  How fun is this!  My Stampin' Blog added the ability to show color combos.  I'll have to check it out a little more, but I quickly added this into my blog in no time! :)



Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:



Step by Step Picture Tutorial

I started by cutting a piece of  Whisper White card stock using the second largest die from Lots of Labels.  You can use any shape you want really.  I originally made something similar to this with a different die (there's a link to that card earlier in this post).  I added a sticky note to cover about the bottom third of the shape.  Make sure it's straight when you put it on or your horizon won't look quite right!


Starting with a sponge (I use sponges like the one shown) and Lost Lagoon ink, dab ink onto the top of your piece of card stock to create the sky.  Make sure you dab off your card stock first just in case the ink on your sponge is pretty dark.  Also make sure you do not jab your nails into the sponge when you're doing this.  It will make blobs in your sponging and you don't want that!  I dabbed straight up and down onto the card stock to get this look, starting at the top and moving my way down.  I repeat it always starting at the top and moving downward until I'm happy with how dark it is.   


In this picture I've added more Lost Lagoon.  I pulled it down farther by sponging lower each time I add more ink.


Next start sponging with Hello Honey.  I worked my way up with this color, meaning I started sponging by the sticky note and moved up as I sponged.  


Using a piece of thin scrap paper punch a 3/4" circle and place it where you would like the sun to be.  If you look closely you can see that I have a little area at the bottom that is over the sticky note.  I want it to look like the sun is partially below the horizon.


Using Hello Honey again dab a bunch of ink into the circle.


Yes, it will look really dark against the yellow you sponged.


To blend the sun in just repeat what you did when you first sponged on the Hello Honey.  It makes it a little darker and blends it together well. 


If you want (and I did), add a little more Lost Lagoon to "blend" the colors in a little better.  I say "blend" because you don't really want to mix these two colors or you'll end up with a green sky! lol  I did it to pull the colors a little closer together.  Pull off the sticky note and this is what you'll see...


Time to put the sticky note back on.  You want to cover up what you just sponged.  I placed it over the yellow with just a smidgen of the yellow showing.  You don't want a gap between the water and they sky.  Not sure if you can see it or not, but there's a very small darker strip of yellow.  Now you need to sponge Lost Lagoon again for the water.  I rubbed it back and forth this time instead of dabbing it.


Keep adding more ink and rubbing it back and forth until it's as dark as you want it.


Pull off your sticky strip and see what you've done so far! :)


Now it's time to use Mossy Meadow to finish off your scene.  Ink up your sponge and once again dabbing the color onto your scene.  I didn't put it on super dark, just dark enough so I can see where I want to stamp my grassy area.  


I stamped the wheat from the set Wetlands a few times.  To add the grass you can use any grass stamp that you have, but I just turned the wheat stamp around and used the bottom of the stamp to add in my grass everywhere.  That way I only have one stamp to clean. :)


The last thing I do is add in more green with my sponge.  This time I rubbed the sponge in small circles.  I did it a few times to cover up each of the individual pieces of grass that can be seen in the picture above.  This just softens the look of it...and then you're done! :)  I hope  you enjoyed doing some sponging.  It will definitely get your fingers dirty, but it's worth it in the end.


Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Picture Perfect Birthday

Today I have a pretty card for you using a fun sketch from Try Stampin' or Not on Tuesday.  I took a little bit of liberty on it and didn't put the horizontal strip.  Instead I used the bird's beak/bill and wings as the strip and his tail feathers as the banner.


Here is the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday.  Make sure you check out all the other great cards made using this sketch HERE.  We'd love to have you play along if you get a chance!




I thought the background looked a little plain with the two colors and nothing else so I used a retired embossing folder that I thought would add too it.  I'm happy with it how it turned out and hope you enjoy it too.


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!


Sunday, February 28, 2016

Botanical Builder Birthday in Black

The card I posted yesterday used colors from the colorQ challenge, which I love! In yesterday's post I told you I made the card for my daughter only to remember when it was done that she's not a big fan of white cards.  I said I was going to create another one similar to that with a black card base and that's exactly what I did today. 


 I used the sketch from Stampin' Celebration challenge #123 since it was similar to what I made yesterday and I wanted to play with another challenge. :)  


I can't say if I like the black or white card better, but I sure do love the other four colors I used. :)  Ok, I think I like the black just a little better, but don't tell my daughter that or she'll say she was right about those dark colors! ;) 


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:




Botanical Builder Birthday

Today's card is a bright and cheerful card...at least I think it is. :)  I made it for my daughter since she isn't going to be around when it's her birthday and I want to send it with her.  I decided to look through some blog challenges that I follow to help me out since I haven't played with many lately.  The bright colors from the challenge colorQ caught my eye and the sketch challenge at Create With Connie and Mary was just the type of layout I was looking for.


I used colors as close to the ones listed as I could.  I never had Poppy Parade because I was just getting into Stampin' Up! when they had that color.  I used Watermelon Wonder instead since it seems to be pretty close.  I did have Lucky Limeade once upon a time, but I don't have anymore of the card stock left so I used Pear Pizzazz.  I sure wouldn't mind if Stampin' Up! brought these two colors back if they revamp their colors again.


This is the fun sketch that I used from Create with Connie and Mary.  I have to admit I like a sketch that has a little something to it, but not too much to it and this one is just right!



After I finished the card I realized I can't give it to my daughter!  Why?  Because she doesn't care for white cards! lol  She likes cards nice and dark.  I think I'm going to use all of the same colors except the white and create something similar with a black background instead.  


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!


Thursday, February 25, 2016

Awesomely Artistic Birthday


This morning I've been staying toasty warm in my basement by the wood stove after the snow storm that decided to hit Michigan.  I thought I'd wake up to it still snowing like crazy, but so far just dark and gloomy clouds off to the south.  We'll see if we get more or not.  Since it's just above freezing and is only supposed to warm up it won't last for long, but it's sure going to leave a mess behind!  That mess always makes way to spring...eventually!  And that's what this card reminds me of.  Not of the mess, but spring! Not sure why I chose just blue and green for this card, but that's what popped into my mind while I was creating it.  I hope my friend didn't mind the colors. :)  


I started by embossing the bundle of flowers in white, then filling them in with color.  I stamped the green fern piece in three spots, then stamped over them with VersaMark and embossed them in white.  I stamped the sentiment, then did a watercolor wash over the card, most of it in blue.  Wherever you see the green I managed to pull it out of the leaves a little since I needed to put some color in between the flowers and leaves too.


Oh, I forgot to add that I used liquid frisket on the top of my card before I did the watercolor wash.  When I rubbed it all off, it left a few splotches of white here and there.  I thought I had put more on than that, but I think it turned out fine.


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:



Monday, February 22, 2016

Remarkable You!

Happy Monday, Everyone!  Today I have a short post of a very simple 3x3 card you can make using the stamp set Remarkable You.  I needed a quick thank you for my upline since she was generous enough to let me borrow her thinlits and framelits for my February stamp a stacks.


I stamped the flower using Archival Basic Black ink, cut it out and sponged the whole flower with Crushed Curry, then sponged the tips with Watermelon Wonder.  One last bit of sponging on the stem using Garden Green.


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:




Thursday, February 18, 2016

Lovely as a Tree in Watercolor

Today's post is just about me playing around with a bit of water coloring.  I haven't used the set Lovely as a Tree much lately and thought I would try a scene with it.  It's not very colorful, but it's pretty clean and simple.  


I was really trying to work on my trees' shadows and the sun and sky.  The sun is not bright at all and that's what I was going for.  The shadows also aren't very dark, but I kind of like the look of that.  The middle tree's shadow didn't turn out at all so that's where I stuck my sentiment. :)  


Since I thought it was a little boring and too light when I made it I added the candy dots for just a little extra something.  At first I was just going to dump it, but thought I'd sleep on it first and try to  make something out of the next day.  I'm glad I did because it's really growing on me. :)


Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card: