Simon Says Stamp Oct Card Kit Personal Card Challenge - Day 1

I couldn't resist this October Card Kit by Simon Says Stamp. I mean, it has a coffee cup die and coffee stamps - it was calling my name and there was no way around it! I had to have it but under ONE condition: I had to USE it (don't ask me how many kits I had before that were hoarded and not used) so I challenged myself to use it up in one week and see how many cards I could make using JUST the supplies in the kit. It comes with some pattern paper and card stock then the stamps - even an ink pad this time. So, everything you need to make some cards even if you were a brand new card maker which is pretty awesome. All I needed was a little adhesive and I was on my way…

Wouldn't you know, yesterday was World Coffee Day or something but it was too rainy to get a pic and post even though I had these cards all ready to go - so I will share 2 cards today:

In the order of the cards as I made them, this is the first one. I went through the pattern papers (BasicGrey's "Grand Bazaar" Collection) and picked out a few that caught my eye. I loved this bright pink one right away. I wanted to keep with my clean and simple kick so I thought it might be cute as a giant banner on my card. I centered the sentiment under the banner, stamped it in versa mark and embossed with white embossing powder. (oops, not in the kit, LOL)

This kit also comes with some cute wood cut embellishments in keeping with the coffee theme of course! So, all I did was add that with a little bit of liquid pearls in the heart (oops, this isn't in the kit - already broke my rule but who can resist a little bit here and there from our stash, right?!) I stamped the cute little steam image and added some of the sequins from the kit. They really add the finishing touch, don't you think?! I'm entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Finishing Touch. 

The second card I made I also kept clean and simple, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the coffee cup die in this kit. I think that is what sold it for me honestly. So, I wanted that to be the focal part of my next card. I loved this flowery print with the bright pinks and oranges against the navy background. I also couldn't resist using my new Lawn Fawn Die - how cute is that talk bubble! (I've already broken my rule of only using the kit in my first card so why stop now. LOL)

To add some fun dimension rather than using foam adhesive, I decided to cut a bunch of the coffee die in the pink and orange card stock that came in the kit to layer behind the pattern paper. In hindsight, I would double up 2 pinks, 2 oranges and alternate like that because you really can't see the stripes like I'd pictured when I thought of it. Next time. ;) Oops, used a different ink pad than the one it came with because I wanted that pink to really pop - then I created faux stitching with a Faber Castell Pitt Artist pen in Indanthrene Blue 247 - it matched the pattern paper perfectly.

I love how both these cards turned out and hope you do, too! Be sure to stop back by tomorrow as I share another card I made using the kit completely and shamelessly CASE'ing the fab Kristina Werner! 

SUPPLIES USED:

*Cuttlebug Die-Cut & Emboss Machine Provo Craft 2000293	SSS 2014 Oct Card Kit	*PRE-ORDER Lawn Fawn SPEECH BUBBLE BORDER Lawn Cuts Dies	*3M Scotch PINK ATG ADVANCED TAPE GLIDER 1/4"" Adhesive Glue Gun
Memento Rose Bud Ink	*Faber-Castell BLUE Pitt Artist Pens	*Helmar 450 QUICK DRY ADHESIVE 4.23 OZ. 800782	*Versamark WATERMARK Rubber Stamp Emboss Chalk Resist INK PAD
*American Crafts Zing! OPAQUE White Embossing Powder	liquid pearl rogue

InLinkz.com

Paper Smooches & Sweet Stamp Shop Hello Card

Hello! I tried out a new technique, well 2 or 3 new techniques actually, to create this card! First, I'd been itching to try some ink blending and I really wanted to try it on this woodgrain card stock (Simon Says Stamp used to carry it but I haven't been able to find it anymore.) After I created the blending to my liking - I dropped some water on it from my hands. The distress inks react to water and created the lighter areas on the card stock. LOVED this!

Next, I wanted to keep this card simple because I loved the background ink blending so much. So, after MUCH digging through my crafts, I finally found the perfect die that I wanted to use - the Hello Words by Paper Smooches Stamps. I die cut it in my inked cardstock first, then die cut it again in white cryogen cardstock (for some subtle shimmer). Then I inset the white card stock words into the area I cut out. LOVE this!

Finally, I wanted to play along with this Stamp Etching challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. After I viewed the tutorial, I was fascinated and knew I had to try it. This stamp set by the Sweet Stamp Shop is perfect for this technique. I stamped it a few times and practiced, then because some of the petals are inside and if I were coloring it, I would color those darker, I decided to cross hatch my etching on those parts and once I did that it was perfection! I am SO in love with this technique - it really adds an elegant touch to your card and with my bright background, I think it pops in black and white! Thanks for the new technique idea, Splitcoast Stampers!

An additional part of the challenge was to add sparkle on your card. I had just picked up some Glass Bead Glitter Gel by Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft so I spread some on here and there randomly. It dries completely clear with only the glitter left behind...AND it doesn't rub off which is mighty important to me! I can't stand glitter that rubs off here, there and everywhere. Haha! That was the final touch and if I do say so myself, I'm absolutely in love with this card. I will probably experiment with blending different colors to recreate this card a few times so I have some on hand when I need them. It was a super easy card to put together.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

Paper Smooches SPARKS - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Splitcoast Stampers - Try A New Technique TLC500

Supplies Used:

InLinkz.com

I hope you enjoyed my card today, thanks for stopping by!

Watercolor Wednesday - Unity Stamp Co Card

I am slightly obsessed with this new line called Beauties by Unity Stamp Co. I picked up my 2 favorites and I have another card to share with this stamp called Autumn.

I created a very simple one layer card by stamping the image with Archival Ink in Jet Black. Then using my Koi Watercolors, I painted the image and the background. I just love the softness in this stamp and it was a pure joy to paint.

I'm always nervous after I've finished coloring an image to add a background - I have never been very confident with adding backgrounds even when I used Copics, however, I took a piece of scrap watercolor paper and experimented first with a few different colors, then decided they went well together and started to add the color around my image. I tried to keep the sentiment clear of color as much as possible as I wanted it to still stand out. 

I am in love with the end result and this is going into the mail to a very dear friend.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you liked my card today.

Unity Stamp Co Mixed Media Card

Supplies used:

Unity Stamp Co Autumn Girl Stamp

Background Stamp by Unity Stamp Co but not sure of the name

Ranger Alcohol Inks various colors

Ranger Glossy Card Stock

Rub Ons from stash

Sequins and Bow from stash

I'd also like to enter the following challenges:

Poppy Sketches Challenge #13 colors Butternut Squash, Orchid and Hot Pink

Tim Holtz September Tag

I am so excited to share this card - I was inspired by this months Tim Holtz tag which I saw on this blog post - since I have plenty of alcohol inks, I thought I should give the technique a try! I was also inspired by the sketch and colors from Poppy Sketches - although I used an orange alcohol ink it turned more red. I followed the sketch with the drips and sequins. This technique was so fun - I can't to try it again when I get some alcohol blending solution because I'd love to try the resist with it next time.

He is a close up of the stamp I used. This new Beauties line by Unity Stamp Co is stunning - I love all the sentiments that come with the stamps, too. Very inspiring - I have a card I'll share on Water Color Wednesday with this same stamp. I am in love with them and can see using them over and over.

Here is another close up of the texture and layers. You can see the alcohol inks layer beautifully on each other. They are transparent and I love the effect on the glossy card stock. I added the rub ons because I wanted the resist effect but couldn't achieve without the alcohol blending solution. I like how it turned out though!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you liked my card. Try something new this weekend - you may find that you love it like I did with this card!

Feeling grateful...and exciting Visible Image news!

Supplies Used:

Strathmore Water Color Paper

Simon Says Stamp Life Is A Journey Clear Stamp Set

Simon Says Stamp Faber Castell Gelatos

Archival Ink Jet Black

Distress Inks in Shabby Shutters, Brushed Corduroy, Crushed Olive, Ripe Persimmon & Weathered Wood 

Various Washi Tape

I would also like to enter these challenges:

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Wishing Well

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Rock the Technique (Technique used - watercolor stamping)

I have much to be grateful for so I wanted to create a thank you card with that as my inspiration...plus, you can never have too many thank you cards on file!! Since no longer coloring, I've been looking at more simple stamping card designs. It is way out of my comfort zone as I am so used to coloring an image and creating my card around that with lots of pattern papers and embellishments. I was a bit worried when I first started...but just keep stamping and it will turn out - in the end, I love it! It really fits in with my goal of living a more simple and intentional life as well.

First, I wet my entire water color paper with a damp paint brush. Then, I stamped the flowers using Faber-Castell gelatos in different colors. After I put the color on the stamp, I misted it with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - I love the subtle shimmer this added to the flowers. After that I just spritzed the entire paper with more glimmer mist - can't have too much shimmer! After it was dried, I used two different green colors in Distress Ink to add some leaves and then some orange to the middle of some of the flowers. I love this stamp set because you can really build on it each flower as much or as little as you like. Then it was time to stamp the sentiment and because I can't handle too much white space a little bit of washi tape added the final touch.

I also have some exciting news, I'm still pinching myself…so excited to share that I will be joining the Visible Image Design Team!!!! If you haven't heard of these stamps you must check them out - I just came across them this past weekend thanks to the Kit and Clowder Facebook group and was instantly inspired - perfect for coloring to card making to mixed media - I guarantee you are going to love them on the spot like I did!!! Be sure to check out the Visible Image blog, Visible Image Facebook page and Visible Image Facebook group for even more inspiration. I am so excited to get started - hopefully sometime next month! I am so excited to be designing again...it is something that I have truly missed doing and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity with Visible Image.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you liked my card!