Sunflower Garden

For this card I had a chance to pull out some stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps. I love how the image is colored by the stamped ink and has so much detail. The background behind the sunflower was done using a stencil and distress inks. The Cheery Lynn frame die adds a festive look to the card especially with the pearls added to the two corners. The sentiment is a stamp from Club Scrap.
My card is being entered into these challenges:  Cheery Lynn Designs -- frame it; Classy Cards 'n Such -- sunflower inspired (available at CCnS are Cheery Lynn frame, distress inks, pearl bling); Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Sweet and Sassy -- border stamps or die; MFP Colors -- orange, yellow, and pink; Art With Heart -- anything goes.

Birthday Rose

One always has need of birthday cards. This particular card was made with someone special in mind. Hopefully, she won't see it before I give it to her, but it's prettier in real life, so it will be ok. This week the challenge at Bloggers Challenge is birthday cards.
My background is an example of Tim Holtz's Faded Layers technique. I can't describe the process, but you can find Tim's directions in his Compendium of Curiosities book on page 58. This is the current challenge at Compendium of Curiosities 3 which, by the way is being sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.
The birthday banner is a Cheery Lynn die cut as is the border band. The rose is a Sizzix die. The bee and the letters are Sizzix/Tim Holtz dies. The stencils used are from Ranger (Dina Wakley and Tim Holtz).  The stamped rosebuds are from SweetStamps.
I am also entering my card into these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- fun with letters; City Crafter -- roses; SweetStamps -- in the garden; Sweet n Sassy -- summery with die cut; Marks Finest Papers Colors challenge -- yellow, green, blue.

Holiday Blessings

It's a gorgeous summer day in Chicago, and here I am with another Christmas card for you. Hmmm!

I started my making a Christmas tag. I cut the tag from Core'dinations cardstock using my Tim Holtz tag die. Then I dry embossed the tag with the holly leaves and sanded the leaves. I used a Thomas Kinkade stamp for the winter scene and highlighted it with distress markers. I used Spellbinders ornament dies to cut out the two ornaments. The second ornament is stamped with a sentiment from SweetStamps. I outlined both ornaments with a gold metallic pen and cut a top for them from gold metallic paper. I added a bow to the top of the tag. I then decided to adhere my tag to a card base to make another Christmas card.

I am entering my tag/card into these challenges: SweetStamps -- Christmas tags; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge -- emboss it; Sweet 'n Sassy --  winter scene; Cornish Heritage Farms -- Christmas in July with Thomas Kinkade.

More Christmas in July

This week the challenge at Marks Finest Papers Sketch with a Twist is this sketch with the twist being to create a Christmas card.  City Crafter has the challenge to use chipboard. Sweet and Sassy's theme is Christmas in July.
To make my card I started with a white base card. The layering panel is red cardstock. I stamped the Silent Night music (MFP stamps) on sage green cardstock and cut it in three panels. The deer (Sweet and Sassy stamps) were stamped on white cardstock which was cut into squares with rounded corners. The sentiment was die cut (TH Sizzix) from chipboard. The letters were highlighted with gold Stickles.

Hope

My card layout today is based on the Mojo Monday challenge layout. I created the background using the distressed letterpress technique. Putting distress ink over one side of an embossing folder and then embossing the cardstock results in a cool background. I cut a piece of burlap paper for the back layering panel. The next panel was stamped in white ink using the Sweet 'n Sassy birch trees stamp and the tops of some trees from Mark's Finest Papers. The bird and sentiment are also MFP stamps and the little squirrels are from SnS. Except for the squirrels, I only used parts of all the stamps to get the look I wanted. I used the sentiment "Hope" because I'm tired of this winter weather and hope that Spring will be here soon! Please!!!
I am entering my card into these challenges: Mojo Monday Card Sketch challenge -- sketch; Mark's Finest Papers Tutorial Time on Speedy TV challenge -- distressed letterpress; and the Sweet 'n Sassy Friday Feature challenge --delightful backgrounds.