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  I originally made something similar to this with a different die (there's a link to that card earlier in this post).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:

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Picture Perfect Roses

Today's card is for Try Stampin' or Not on Tuesday's sketch challenge #258.  Usually when I have a sketch like this where I have enough room to create a scene I do, but this time I wanted to put flowers on my card.  Why?  Because the theme is Love is in the Air and I wanted to use my new set Picture Perfect! :)  The set has two and three step stamping to give your images more color and dimension. :)


Here is the sketch for this time around.  Make sure you visit the Try Stampin' blog HERE to see all the other great cards created using this sketch.  We'd love to have you play along too!





I didn't do banners on the bottom because they didn't seem right with the flowers.  Instead I used a scallop edge border punch and put pearls on each scallop.  You can't tell it in the picture, but the bottom flower and three of the leaves are cut out and popped up.  Basically that's because I stamped the wrong flower first!  I started with the top flower, then stamped the two on each side of it after I cut out the flower so I could cover it up and make it look like the side flowers were under the top flower.  Just save your cutout of the flower and you have it every time you need to use it instead needing to stamp and cut one out each time.  Does that even make sense? I hope so! lol


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:

Retired Supplies:  3/8" Taffeta Ribbon Whisper White,
Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad & Scallop Edge Border Punch


Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog




Monday, February 15, 2016

Joyful Christmas

Today I have a couple of Christmas cards to show you that were inspired by the colors over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown challenge...blue, cream and gold.  I didn't use the bright blue because I don't have a color quite like that so I pulled out my Island Indigo since I haven't used it in a while.  I also looked through all of my Christmas stamps and decided to use the retired set Joyful Christmas.  I haven't used it in a while either and thought the colors and set would make a couple of nice Christmas cards.



I was going to make two of the same cards, but after making the first one I had another idea pop into my head so it's two different cards using the same colors.  They were pretty simple to make other than the fussy cutting and even that didn't take too long.  I stamped 3 leaves on Island Indigo with VersaMark, covered them in gold embossing powder, used my heat gun and cut them out.  I did the same with the "flower" petals on Very Vanilla.  I colored my pearls with a Blendabilities marker that happened to be just the color I needed (not sure what color it actually was though!).  I attached the flower with dimensionals and the leaves with glue dots. 

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:

Retired set:  Joyful Tidings
Retired Blendibilities Marker

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Serene Silhouettes in the Night Sky

I made today's card just because.  That's right!  Just because I saw a picture that inspired me.  I loved the stars in the sky and the colors blended together in the picture along with the silhouette of one main tree and some bushes so that's what I tried to recreate with this card.  I have no idea what I'll use it for yet.  Guess I'll just have to wait for the right occasion to come along.

  

I started by flicking liquid frisket on a piece of white card stock and waited for it to dry.  Ha ha...I definitely did NOT wait...I used the low setting on my heat gun and dried it very fast!  Then I used my brayer to add the colors of the sky.  I started with Crushed Curry on the bottom and brought it about half way up.  Then from the top I brayered Watermelon Wonder, Real Red, Blackberry Bliss and finally Elegant Eggplant making sure to not go down as far as the last color so none of the colors were covered up.  Then I stamped the tree and "bushes" (really the top of the tree) using the Basic Black Archival Stampin' Pad.  This is the first time I used this ink pad other than at convention in July and I have to say I was impressed!!  It went on dark and evenly and that's exactly what I was looking for. The last bit of color was at the bottom that needed to be filled in nice and dark.  I used a sponge and started to rub it back and forth (same ink as the tree and bushes).  I found that it went on better when I just dabbed it with the sponge repeatedly.  


The very last thing I did before layering it and putting it on the card base was to rub off all of the frisket.  I had to make sure my ink was dry.  If it's not it will smear into all the nice white stars. :(  I usually use the edge of my sleeve since my fingers are oily and that smears it too (granted I usually have an old sweatshirt on when I'm doing this!).  I just carefully rub it off, then lightly run my fingers over it to see if I missed any spots. 


Thanks for looking and have a great day!

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:

Liquid Frisket

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Beautiful Botanicals

I have some cute cards to show you today.  I made them for a swap with a few fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators. :)  I was trying to make something that was quick and simple.  I don't think it was too hard to make.  It did take a bit of time to cut all the pieces out, but not as bad as I thought it would be.  I liked them so much that I also made them for my February stamp a stacks.  


After cutting all the pieces out I sponged around all the edges.  I used Rose Red on all the flowers and banner, and used Garden Green on the leaves.  You don't have to do it on the leaves, but it just gives it a little more detail than if you don't sponge them.  Since I didn't use the stamp set that went with the framelits I sponged instead.


I also  used my bone folder on everything except the banner.  I didn't want all of my flowers flat so I curved them slightly.  They can still be mailed and should pop back up after taking them out of the envelope...I hope! lol



I used glue dots to attach everything and then I was done.  Pretty simple. :)


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:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Monday, February 8, 2016

The Wilderness Awaits in Silhouette

Today I'm going to say it's time for a masculine Monday card.  Only because it's Monday and I happen to have a masculine card to share with you. lol  I made this card for my brother's birthday last week and thought I'd share it since I do love making masculine cards. :)


I have to say I like the angle of this next pic because it makes the clouds across the moon stand out a  little bit more than the pic above. Now why did I put clouds across the moon?  I could say because I really like the look and it just adds to the card, but it's actually because I got a black streak across the top of the bright white moon!  Arrgg! lol  I wasn't happy about it at first after I did all my brayering, stamping, coloring in, shading and anything else I did!  However I think it did add to the card so I can't complain!


I like how this picture shows the light of the moon hitting the elk just right.  I used a white gel pen this get this effect.  I drew the lines on then used one finger to pull the still wet ink into the black to blend it in a little bit.   


What do you do when you make a long card?  Put a big stamp on the bottom of it!  I am just not a writer at all so I never know what to say in a card.  I'm not the sappy type and I don't want to use the same sentiment stamp over and over so just stamp something big on the inside, put a few birthday wishes in, sign it and it's good to go! :)


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:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Friday, February 5, 2016

Helping Me Grow in Watermelon Wonder

While trying to figure out a card for a card swap that I was in I "watercolored" this card and decided I was going to send it to my aunt for her birthday.  I love the bright color of the flowers and the pale blue in the background.


Definitely an easy card to make!  I stamped the images with VersaMark on watercolor paper and embossed them with white embossing powder.  To get the different shades of color I did one petal at a time.  I'd get the whole petal wet using an aqua painter (or paintbrush if you prefer), then I'd add the color on the bottom of the petal and let it bleed upward.  


I did the same with the "Happy Birthday".  I stamped everything with VersaMark and embossed it in white, then cut it out with the Rose Garden Thinlits.  Then I wet the whole inside and put my color in with an aqua painter using Soft Sky.


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:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog