Celebrate Easter with Whimsy Stamps

Welcome to the Card Concept Challenge #152: Celebrate Easter!  I was inspired by the rabbits and carrots to create This Clean and Graphic card.

I am a fan of digital stamps for their flexibility in printing different sizes and locations. My card is made with the Bunny's Assistant Digital Stamp from Whimsy Stamps. This is from Sassy Cheryl's Illustration who I've followed when she had her own shop and now she is selling on Whimsy Stamps!

I wanted the rabbits to be on the left and with a digital stamp it is easy to make that happen. Once I downloaded the files, I resized the image and flipped it using Word. I printed the design on my Brother Laser Printer using Ranger's Watercolor Paper on the smooth side. I made 2 - 5" X 7" cards.

Here is the 2nd card:

To color I used a new set of pan watercolors from The Stamp Market:

Just look at these colors! Aren't they amazing and vibrant! I have been using them as my go to set lately and really enjoying them. Just take a pipette and drop 1 or 2 drops of water into the pan to loosen up the paint and you are ready to go! I always use my Silver Black Velvet brushes which have such a nice point it is easy to paint into tiny corners.

The sentiments are from the Better Together Stamp Set by the Colorado Craft Company stamped with Altenew's Obsidian Black Ink:

Used this set on the inside, too:

I used my Memory MISTI (the 12" X 12" version) to stamp these sentiments. I know this is a large item for your craft desk, but I have found that the weight of the cover is such, that for the most part I get perfect stamping first time through. Also, since the cards were on the larger side there is plenty of room to work.

To make the card base I used Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 100 lbs. Cut 2 pieces at 5" X 7" and 2 pieces 5" X 7 1/2". I scored at the 1/2" line on the 7 1/2" length pieces and glued them to the 2 - 5" X 7" pieces. You can see the extra 1/2" at the top of the inside picture above.    

Cutie Patoodies!

Lastly, I'll just mention that I often run my watercolored panels (once totally dry) through my Heidi Swapp MINC Laminator using a folded piece of clean copy paper. It is like ironing the paper and straightens out any warping.

Here's a close up:

Thanks so much for stopping by. We'd love to see what you create and tell us what inspired you for our Celebrate Easter challenge!

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Easy Beginner Cards

Hello friends and welcome to my blog post for Happy Little Stamper Stencil Challenge:

I wanted to create a few cards for a beginner, someone new to stamping. In my previous life, I was a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and I do miss the teaching and sharing of my love for paper crafting. I was thinking of teaching classes again and thought Wendy Vecchi's Make Art Stamp Set Country Flowers set would be perfect for a beginner. For the price point of about $14.99 you get an amazing value and great versatility:

The set includes clear stamps, the dies to cut out the leaves, flower and butterfly and a stencil with 4 different sections:

So, if you are a beginner stamper and have limited supplies one set of ink I would recommend is Archival Inks Minis. I used Set #1 for these cards:

The colors are Carnation Red,  Sunflower, Garden Patina and Potting Soil. I am drawn to these bright colors. I also used Ranger's Archival Ink in Jet Black:

Why did I pick these particular inks when there are so many on the market? Quality, ability to purchase re-inkers, value for my money, and size.  The minis are the perfect size. Not too small, so that they would be hard to handle and small enough to be able to afford multiple colors. Also, coordinating products are available such as embossing powders, enamel accents, Blendable Dye Inks and re-inkers.

I made 3 cards - 2 with the stencils so I'll focus on them for this challenge. This happy hello used the large scallop stencil and I ink blended Sunflower Archival Ink onto a panel of white card stock.

The butterfly and flower are a 2 step stamping: I usually stamp the solid image first and then the detailed image over it. For the butterfly, I used Garden Patina Archival Ink and the flower was Carnation Red Archival Ink. Ranger's Black Archival Ink was used for the 2nd part of the stamping:

Country Flowers set also comes with a floral filler stamp as you can see above. Adds just the right background touch and is easy for a beginner. The flower and butterfly were die cut with my Big Shot Machine and popped up with Foam Squares.

This card came together so easily! The stencil in the set was ink blended with Archival Black Ink one way and turned and ink blended the other way. Gives a perfect landing base for the butterflies. The center butterfly was stamped twice and die cut. I fussy cut the white border off and glued the 2 together. This way I could fluff up the wings. A little Wink of Stella was added for shine.

The Just Because Builder Set from Altenew was used on this card. It is a large 6' X 8" set which has over 300 combinations of the words. At the time of this post it is marked down over $10.00 to $14.39. A really good value for a very versatile set.

Ok - 3 cards, 2 with stencils that I believe with a few basic supplies, any beginner could create (with a little direction). I try to buy versatile stamps that have multiple uses and if you check out Wendy Vecchi's Mark Art Stamps, these are a great value. If you don't have a die cutting machine, just fussy cut with a good pair of sharp scissors like Tim Holtz's 7" with non-stick blades - perfect for cutting sticky adhesive:

The card on the left has no die cutting or stenciling, only stamping:

Thank you for joining me today while I ramble about stamping and creating and to Happy Little Stampers for hosting such great challenges!

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

The World Needs More

3 challenges today! My NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) is my Sizzix Die:

My second challenge is for Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies:

And one more challenge for Happy Little Stampers:

I had picked up this Sizzix Thinlit recently during a sale and as of this posting it is still on sale! It is called Mushroom Wreath by Designer Jessica Scott. My daughter's shop is called The Toadstool Shoppe, so I am drawn to mushroom stamps/dies.

I cut the die out of Ranger Watercolor Paper with My Sizzix Big Shot and water colored it with The Stamp Market Color Crush Watercolor Palette - 24 beautiful half pan watercolors that coordinate with The Stamp Market's colors. That is just why I like it so much - the colors are amazing! Just drop a bit of water (I use a pipette) onto the pan colors you want to use and let the watercolor soften just a bit. To paint I used my trusty Silver Black Velvet Brushes. Love them.

The rest of the card was pretty easy. I stamped the background with a retired MFT stamp called Moroccan Lattice Background with Altenew's Rocky Shore Crisp Ink on a grey paper. I just mounted it on a dark brown backer and mounted that onto a white card base.

The sentiment is from Altenew's Halftone Happy set. The sentiment was stamped with Ranger's Archival Ink called Potting Soil. I wanted a darker brown to stand up against the background. 

Another Friendship Day card ready for The Toadstool Shoppe!

Thanks for stopping by today and visiting! If you have a chance check out the challenges from NBUS and Happy Little Stamper. Always fun to stretch your creative muscles!

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Butterfly Brilliance with TE

Happy St. Patrick's Day and a new challenge from the Card Concept #151: Butterfly Brilliance!

This is such a wonderfully inspiring photo! Colors are brilliant and who doesn't love a butterfly? I feel my style for this card is Classy & Elegant with its rich color scheme and drama. I was most inspired by the butterfly image and the green background.

To create the background, I started with a sheet of Legion 140 lb. Stonehedge Aqua Watercolor Paper.  I like to buy it in sheets and cut to size as I need it. This is a very soft cottony paper that absorbs quickly. I played around one afternoon and sprayed various sheets in my Splat Box using Distress Spray Stains. As best as I can tell, I used Peacock Feathers and Mustard Seed. Combined, it makes a really pretty green. Gave a final spray of my Heidi Swapp Color Shine Gold.

Once totally dry, I cut the panel to size leaving the raw distressed edge. I like that look. Using my MISTI Stamping Tool, I first removed the foam pad, since I am using a nice thick red rubber stamp and therefore it is not needed. I placed my watercolored panel into the corner of the MISTI and carefully determined my position for the Big Butterfly stamp from Taylored Expressions:

One or two inkings with Altenew's Obisidian Black Ink was all that was needed. This is such a rich, dark ink it just works beautifully over a colored background.

The die cut "Smile" comes from Sugarpea Designs Floral Envie Sugarcut. It's always nice when you get extra dies in your package that can be used with any card.

I placed some Altenew's Gold Washi Tape along the rights edge and on the inside of the card. This is such a pretty gold and adheres to the card without a problem. Comes in various widths, too!

I had cut off a tiny strip of the watercolor paper and decided to use it on the bottom of the inside of the card. Hate to throw it out! The inside sentiment is from Altenew's Dearest Friend Stamp set. I am making a number of Friendship Day cards for my daughter's shop in Wake Forest, NC for friendship day on July 30th. 

I love the little colored strip along the bottom edge:

I made a second card with even fewer details. No sentiment. I think I'll wait until I need it and then add the sentiment.

So when you don't feel like coloring a detailed image, get out your Splat Box and have fun with Spray Stains. My goal is always to leave plenty of white - I feel that it makes everything pop and sparkle!

I hope you can join us for this challenge! Let's see your creativity at work!

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Destination with Sizzix

Today I have a bright and colorful card I am submitting to Happy Little Stampers and NBUS:

I've never used this Sizzix Thinlit called Destination before and it is on sale now for $6.00!

The background was made one day when I was playing with sprays, so I am not exactly sure of all the colors that went into it. I loved the results with teals and browns and choose this background for the "earth". I have a limited number of Distress Spray Stains and yet something new always come from different combinations. I always try and leave white and usually have a bit of gold or silver in the mix.

The Destination Thinlit was cut 3 times from white card stock and stacked together with Wendy Vecchi's Perfect Card Adhesive from Ranger. It has a fine tip applicator which worked perfectly in this case.

All was adhered to a good heavy white card stock base (Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb.) and I also glued a bit of the background panel on the inside.

The sentiment is from Studio Light Art by Marlene Black & White Sticky Quotes  (StickerBM03). Tons of fun quotes and sentiments in both black & white. I did adhere this sentiment to several layers of white card stock and popped it up with foam tape. I am thinking of this as either a wedding card or a graduation card so I've left the inside blank until the need arises.

That's it for today my friends! And so the adventure begins....

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.