Striped Celebration

Hi and welcome to my Sunday!  I made another card today just for fun, using the sketch at MFT and the Muse card as my inspiration.

I was inspired by the row of gifts and pondered on Jenni's Muse card for the last few days.  I have the die she used, but I didn't want to copy her card.  Then I found these little gift stamps when I was looking for images for the MFT sketch and an idea was born :)

I stamped, cut and colored the gifts with Copics and popped them up on foam tape.  I colored the bows black to match the Muse card. I wanted to have the sentiment bold and black and under the gifts like the Muse card, but I also wanted to use the black and white striped paper because, well, it's black and white striped paper!  In the end, I used the negative die cut cut from black cardstock and adhered that to the pattered paper for a different look.

Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Stamps:  Sweet Birthday Wishes (MFT)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid

Cardstock:  White, Black, Dots & Stripes Neutrals

Dies:  Sweet Birthday Wishes (MFT), Celebratory Greetings (MFT)

Accessories:  Copics

Cheers

Karren

Tons of Fun

Hi!  After spending all my crafting time for the last two weeks on DT commitments, I finally had some time today to sit down and make something for a few challenges.  I decided to make a card using the sketch at Retro Sketches and I'm also linking this up to Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes and Seize the Birthday.

I had a few false starts with this card and it's not my best card by a long shot, but it'll do :)  I colored the little elephant, flowers and kite with Copics and die-cut them.  The hill and cloud were die-cut and sponged with Twisted Citron and Tumbled Glass ink respectively.  I smile when I look at the blank space in the centre because it reminds me of kids' drawings where there is sky at the top, grass at the bottom and a big nothing in the middle!  But I wanted a light look to this card, so left the centre blank.

Thanks for visiting!

Products used:

Stamps:  Adorable Elephants (MFT)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid, Tumbled Glass, Twisted Citron

Cardstock:  White, X-Press It

Dies:  Adorable Elephants (MFT), Stitched Hills & Slopes (SSS), Stitched Cloud Edges (MFT)

Accessories:  Copics

Cheers

Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Retro Sketches.

Celebrate Stars

Hi!  Today I'm thrilled to be a Guest Designer over at Tag You're It - the challenge that celebrates tags!

And here is the new challenge inspiration from Bobby:

Now, I have to admit when I first saw this, I saw the patriotic theme only.  Being from New Zealand, we don't tend to be patriotic enough to be creating cards and tags in that theme :)  But I looked closer and saw the stripes and stars and decided to incorporate those two features, along with the colors to come up with this tag.

I die-cut a tag from white cardstock and then stamped the stripe stamp from SugarPea Designs down the left hand side in red ink.  I then die-cut the stars from the tag.  Originally I was going to use inlaid die-cutting and put some some stars in the negative space, but I decided to go for a softer look and cut another tag out of vellum for the backing.  The sentiment comes from PTI and is colored in Wink of Stella.  I finished with a few enamel dots which are actually more of a coral color than red, but I didn't have any red enamel dots - I know, right!

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check out the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the design team and join me again next week when I'll debut my second tag using this inspiration.

Products used:

Stamps:  Build a Background Basics (SugarPea Designs)
Ink:  Crimson (Altenew)
Cardstock:  White, Vellum, Soft Navy (SSS)
Dies:  Tags a Lot (Mama Elephant), Stitched Stars (MFT), Wet Paint Cuts II (PTI)
Accessories:  Blue Jay Twine (Lawn Fawn), Enamel Dots (PaperVine), Wink of Stella

Cheers
Karren

Sweet Birthday

It's Fusion Challenge Time and this week we have an elegant photo inspiration and a very versatile sketch.

I sort of fused both challenges to come up with a card that uses the colors and cake theme from the photo as well as the sketch:

This is a NBUS set for me and I had fun coloring up this cutie.  I also have some new Watercolor Wash patterned paper from MFT and it provides a beautiful subtle watercolored look that doesn't detract from the main image.  I used that for the horizontal panel, which I cut into two to mimic the sketch.

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check out the inspiration from the rest of the design team.  They have some wonderful cards to show you.

Products used:

Stamps:  Sweet Birthday Wishes (MFT)
Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid
Cardstock:  White, Black, X-Press It, Watercolor Wash (MFT)
Dies:  Sweet Birthday Wishes (MFT)
Accessories:  Copics, Sequins

Cheers
Karren

Birthday Frame

Welcome to another fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, where this week our hostess is the amazingly talented Kim Singdahlsen.  And she has a wonderfully versatile sketch for us that allows us to use lots of elements.

For my card, I went with an arrangement involving frames and foliage.  And, if you follow my blog, you may remember that my FMS card from a couple weeks ago caused me grief because I planned on using these frame dies and realised I didn't actually own them.  Well, I rectified that quick smart and this is their first outing.

There's not much to explain about this card - lots of die-cutting and arranging with the help of Press N Seal.  Once everything was stuck down, I positioned a few sequins and called it done.

Thanks for visiting!  The rest of the design team have some wonderful inspiration for you, so head on over and check them out.

I'm adding this to the current Seize the Birthday challenge, who are looking for dimension this time.

Products used:  

Stamps:  Precious Mom (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Versamark

Cardstock:  White, Black, Smoke (SSS), Simply Chartreuse, Autumn Rose (PTI)

Dies:  Pierced Square Frames (MFT), Wonky Stitched Rectangles (MFT), Stitched Fishtail Flag Stax (MFT), Chloe Stem (Memory Box), Lorelei Leaf Outline (Memory Box)

Accessories:  White EP, Sequins

Cheers

Karren

Brighten Your Day

Hi and welcome to another wonderful sketch from SugarPea Designs.

This week I took the sketch and flipped it 90 degrees and used the newly released Whatever the Weather stamp set.

I stamped and very quickly colored the rainbow image then fussy cut it out.  I then used the inserts from a window die cut from Sea Glass cardstock and adhered that to a white card base.  The rainbow was popped up on foam tape and then I stamped the gorgeous sentiment underneath.

To finish off the card, I die cut the Heart Border die from white cardstock and adhered that near the bottom of the card for a subtle texture.

Thanks for visiting!

Here are the guidelines to join in our challenge:

• Create a new card or project using the sketch provided.

• SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated 

• You may rotate/flip the sketch & replace shapes – so long as the original sketch layout is recognizable.

• Upload to your blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: SPDSS55 so that we may check out your beautiful work.

• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz on the SugarPea Designs blog.

• One randomly selected winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs store. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $75!

• We will announce our Main Winner at the end of each month.

• The more times you play along during the month, the better chance you have of winning!

Be sure to visit the rest of the design team - they have some wonderful inspiration for you:

Claire Broadwater

Deanne Kay
Jeanne Jachna
Karren Johnson

Kerin Sylvester
Laura Jane

Lee Ann Barrett

Lesley Croghan

Mackie Robertson

And our special guest Michele Ferguson

Products Used:

Stamps:  Whatever the Weather (SPD)
Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid
Cardstock:  White, X-Press It, Sea Glass (SSS)
Dies:  Heart Border (SPD), Peek a Frame (Mama Elephant)
Accessories:  Copics, Wink of Stella

Cheers
Karren

Fabulous Coral

Hi and welcome to another fabulous Freshly Made Sketch!  This week our hostess is Linda Callahan - amazing card artist and oh so funny!

I love this sketch and had fun making my card.

My background was inspired by this tag by Tammy Tutterow.  I stamped the speckles stamp from Cracks & Specks onto watercolor paper using Picket Fence Distress Paint, which created a resist.  Once that was dry, I rubbed on some Abandoned Coral Distress Stain and then sponged Abandoned Coral Distress Ink around the edges to darken them.  A tiny strip of gold foil cardstock was adhered down the right hand side.  

The stamped part of the sentiment was white embossed onto black and cut at an angle and the die-cut word was painted with clear Wink of Stella then clear embossed several times to give it a raised, shiny look.

Thanks for visiting.  The rest of the design team have some fabulous inspiration for you as always.

Products used:

Stamps:  Cracks & Specks (Tim Holtz), Amazing (MFT)

Ink:  Versamark, Abandoned Coral Distress Ink, Abandoned Coral Distress Stain, Picket Fence Distress Paint

Cardstock:  White, Black, Watercolor, Gold Foil

Dies:  Absolutely Fabulous (MFT)

Cheers

Karren

More Than Coffee

Welcome to another fabulous sketch from SugarPea Designs.  And here's our sketch:

I pulled out Caffeine Addict and the associated Coffee Words to make my card.

Again I went with the CAS version of the sketch :)  I stamped the beans onto a white card base using Dark Chocolate ink and the sentiment using Versafine Onyx Black.  The patterned papers comes from a couple of MFT paper packs and I quite like the look of the mint with the chocolate color.

The coffee word and beans were die-cut from Dark Chocolate cardstock and adhered to the patterned paper.

Thanks for visiting!

Here are the guidelines to join in our challenge:

• Create a new card or project using the sketch provided.

• SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated 

• You may rotate/flip the sketch & replace shapes – so long as the original sketch layout is recognizable.

• Upload to your blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: SPDSS54 so that we may check out your beautiful work.

• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz on the SugarPea Designs blog.

• One randomly selected winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs store. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $75!

• We will announce our Main Winner at the end of each month.

• The more times you play along during the month, the better chance you have of winning!

Be sure to visit the rest of the design team - they have some wonderful inspiration for you:

Claire Broadwater

Deanne Kay
Jeanne Jachna
Karren Johnson

Kerin Sylvester
Laura Jane

Lee Ann Barrett

Lesley Croghan

Mackie Robertson

And our special guest Michele Ferguson

Products used:

Stamps:  Caffeine Addict
Ink:  Dark Chocolate (SSS), Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock:  White, Dark Chocolate, Thick & Thin Paper Pack, Homespun Gingham (MFT)
Dies:  Coffee Words

Cheers
Karren

Triangle Thanks

It's Sunday evening here and I finally had a chance to do some stamping just for fun.  And I just had to make a card using the photo at Inspired by All The Little Things. I combined that with the Thanks theme at both Simply Create Too and Sweet Stampin' Challenge to come up with this card:

My original intention with this card was to use Mama Elephant's Trifecta set and stamp the outline triangles then stamp the insides with colors to match the photo.  Unfortunately, though, my solid triangle stamp wouldn't stamp properly, even using Jennifer McGuire's tip of inking with Versamark first.  I tried several brands of ink and in the end had to come up with an alternative.  That alternative involved cutting heaps of little triangles using the photo colors and arranging them on a white panel.  They're not perfect, but they'll do, because man, was this fiddly :)

Once I was finished, I cut the panel with a pierced rectangle die and mounted it onto a Fog card base.  The sentiment was stacked three deep and lightly covered with Wink of Stella.

Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Stamps:  Trifecta (Mama Elephant)

Cardstock:  White, Fog, Smoke, Slate, Sunshine, Orange Peel (SSS)

Dies:  Hand Lettered Thanks (WPlus9), Blueprints 21 (MFT)

Accessories:  Wink of Stella

Cheers

Karren

Awesome Day

Hi and welcome to another fabulous challenge at Fusion!  Check out the new challenge:

I thought about going with a nautical theme, but decided instead to focus on the colors and the circle shapes.

I've had this Mod Circle Frame die since it was released and this is the first time I've used it!  I used teal, navy and red cardstock and a white base.  The sentiment is from Rad by CASual Fridays.  To add a fun touch, I added a couple of staples onto the embossed sentiment panels.  I think this would be a fun card for a teenage boy.

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check out the fabulous cards made by the rest of the design team.

Products used:

Stamps:  Rad (CASual Fridays)
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  White, Hawaiian Shores, Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening (PTI)
Dies:  Mod Circle Frame (SSS)
Accessories:  White EP, Primary Blue Topaz EP (Wow), Staples

Mother's Day

It's time for another fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and this week our hostess is the wonderful Rita Wright.  And here is Rita's amazing sketch:

I love this sketch, but apparently I can't follow it because I've just realised I forgot the extra panel under the bird.  Doh!

If you follow my blog, you may remember a card I posted on the weekend that was inspired by both the Muse challenge and Time Out Challenge.  This is the second card I made inspired by both cards.  Of course, the Muse challenge has closed, but I'm going to enter this as my second entry to Time Out.

I started my card by stamping a striped background stamp down the left side of the card base with Fog ink.  I went over it about 6 times to get good coverage (thank you Misti!).  I then went looking for my pierced square frame dies, only to realise that I don't own them.  So I made do with my pierced square stax dies and cut a frame.  The flower bunch was stamped using Altenew inks - my favorite inks for multi-step stamping.  I then used Press n Seal to hold the bouquet together before adhering to the card.

For the panel across the bottom, I white embossed the sentiment on some vellum and adhered it by putting dots of glue behind the embossing.
                                   

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check out the design team's amazing cards!


Products used:

Stamps:  Fresh Cut Florals (WPlus9), Precious Mom (Paper Smooches), Bold Diagonal Striped Background (MFT)
Ink:  Versamark, Dark Chocolate, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Jet Black, Soft Lilac, Lavender Fields, Deep Iris, Midnight Violet (Altenew), Fog (SSS)
Cardstock:  White, Fog
Dies:  Fresh Cut Florals (WP9), Pierced Square Stax (MFT)
Accessories:  White EP, sequins

Cheers
Karren

Special Delivery

It's time for another sketch from SugarPea Designs!  Check out this week's fabulous inspiration:

I flipped the sketch on its side to fit all my elements in and CAS-ified the sketch to come up with this card:

I stamped and colored a heap of envelopes from the Special Delivery set and then fussy cut them out.  After I stamped the fun sentiment onto a white card base, I dry-embossed one of the Zig Zag Stitched Circle dies onto the card base to keep the card as CAS as I could.  Here's a close up.

I then arranged the envelopes in a rainbow fashion and used Glossy Accents on the little hearts.  I finished the cards with some rainstones.


Thanks for visiting!

Here are the guidelines to join in our challenge:

• Create a new card or project using the sketch provided.

• SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated 

• You may rotate/flip the sketch & replace shapes – so long as the original sketch layout is recognizable.

• Upload to your blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: SPDSS53 so that we may check out your beautiful work.

• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz on the SugarPea Designs blog.

• One randomly selected winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs store. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $75!

• We will announce our Main Winner at the end of each month.

• The more times you play along during the month, the better chance you have of winning!

Be sure to visit the rest of the design team - they have some wonderful inspiration for you:

Claire Broadwater

Deanne Kay
Jeanne Jachna
Karren Johnson

Kerin Sylvester
Laura Jane

Lee Ann Barrett

Lesley Croghan

Mackie Robertson

And our special guest Michele Ferguson

Products used:

Stamps:  Special Delivery
Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid
Cardstock:  White, X-Press It
Dies:  Zig Zag Stitched Circles
Accessories:  Copics, Glossy Accents, Rainstones

Cheers
Karren

Leaving

Hi and welcome!  I haven't had a chance to do much Copic coloring lately and I'm feeling a bit rusty.  But I decided to pull out the old Copics today and color up this cute image from MFT.  I used the current sketch from MFT as well as the inspiration from Tag You're It, the Move cue word from CASology, the Stencil It theme from Simon Says Stamp and the colors from Color Throwdown.

I cut, stamped and colored the girl and bunny using the Color Throwdown colors.  For the card base and the tag, I stenciled over the English Brick Wall stencil with Cobblestone, Burnt Orange and Sparrow inks.  At the bottom, I sponged some Antique Linen and Pumice Stone inks to depict the ground.  The sentiment was white embossed and die-cut with a pierced flag die.

The tag, girl and bunny are all popped up on foam tape.

Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Stamps:  Adventure is Calling (MFT), From All of Us (CB)
Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid (MFT), Sparrow, Cobblestone, Burnt Orange (SSS), Versamark, Antique Linen, Pumice Stone (Distress)
Cardstock:  White, Black, X-Press It
Dies:  Pierced Tag Stax (MFT), Adventure is Calling (MFT), Pierced Fishtail Flag Stax (MFT)
Accessories:  Copics, English Brick Wall Stencil (MFT), White EP

Cheers
Karren

Edited to add:  This card got a shout out at Tag You're It.