Fleur de Lis

Day 3 of the stencilling course and the technique I tried first was heat embossing over embossing paste.  The first time I tried this, I was too frugal with the paste and it just looked like normal heat embossing, but the second time I applied a thicker layer and wow!  It was even cooler to watch than normal heat embossing because the paste expanded as it heated up.

I'm entering this card into this week's CAS(E) This Sketch challenge as well as the texture challenge at The Card Concept.  This week, I'm categorising my card as Clean & Graphic.

I used an old SU Decor Elements die and applied embossing paste over the top.  I then sprinkled on some silver EP and heat set it.  Wow, it bubbled up like liquid applique!  Here's a close up and side on shot so you can see the texture and dimension.

The sentiment is also silver embossed onto the black card base.

Thanks for looking.  

Products used:

Stamps:  Birthday Bash Sentiments (PTI)
Ink:  Versamark
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Silver
Accessories:  Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste, SU Decor Elements Stencil

Cheers
Karren

Stencilled Circles

This is my second post for today.  If you receive notifications via email, keep scrolling to see my first post :)

My homework for Day 2 of the Online Card Class on stencilling uses Kristina's technique of tracing.  My very open stencil worked quite well for this, although my color choices now look a bit bright to me :)

I used a Simon Says Stamp stencil for this card, called Ring Cluster Stencil and some Prismacolor pencils.  I traced the circles using five different colors.  The lovely big sentiment is from a new-to-me set called Shenanigans by CASual Fridays.  The card base is Raspberry Ripple which was the closest match to the red pencil.  (I was so impatient to start my tracing that I didn't even think about matching cardstock LOL)

The inside was finished very simply.

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Shenanigans (CASual Fridays)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock:  Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White
Accessories:  Prismacolor Pencils, American Crafts Twine, Simon Says Stamp stencil

Cheers
Karren

Rock Star

I'm so glad that the Just Add Ink challenge is back up and running and I hope the DT had a great break.  They came back with a bang - a gorgeous sketch using my favorite element - circles!  I combined that challenge with the stars challenge at Friday Mashup to come up with this card.

I can see looking at the sketch that I didn't get the elements exactly right, but I hope it's close enough to pass muster.  I inked up Extreme Guitar with Versarmark then Island Indigo and clear embossed it onto some DSP from World Spectacular DSP (which has stars on it).  I quite liked the semi-distressed look of the embossing with some of the stars showing through.

The sentiment was also embossed with Island Indigo.  The embossing folder is a Tim Holtz one that I didn't even know I had...  And here's the inside:

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Seeing Stars, Extreme Guitar (SU), Rock On (PTI)
Ink:  Versamark, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Island Indigo, Whisper White, World Spectacular DSP
Accessories:  American Crafts Twine, circle nesties, Tim Holtz Dot Matrix EF, clear EP, large star punch, star brad

Dotty Day

Today's card is my homework for Day 1 of the Online Card Class on Stencils.  But instead of using my newly-bought stencils, I ended up cutting my own with my Silhouette.  Oh, the irony!

I used the colors from Stampin' Royalty's challenge and the sketch from Nacho Average Challenges - both challenges I haven't played along with for a while.

The Silhouette file was one I bought from the online library and I think it is called Random Dots.  I just cut it out of some cardstock, although I do note that Silhouette have just introduced stencil material, which is pretty cool.

I sponged over the stencil in Tangerine Tango, Pool Party and Pear Pizzazz.  I then stamped the sentiment from Avery Elle in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I wasn't going to put any sequins on there, but I sort of splodged the 'y' in 'day' so I had to try and cover it up LOL.

I layered that onto Sahara Sand then onto the card base.  And continuing with my resolution of finishing the insides of my cards when I make them, I did some simple stencilling on the inside as well.

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Oh Happy Day (Avery Elle)
Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Sahara Sand
Accessories:  Kelly Purkey Sequins, Silhouette 

Edited to Add:  This card was a top pick at Stampin' Royalty and at Nacho Average Challenges.

Cheers
Karren

Wisteria Mums

This week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches is by Rita.  You can take this sketch in many directions.  The "Any Shape" layer gives you lots of freedom, so go for it!

I decided to make my "Any Shape" a bunch of flowers - mums to be precise.  

I think this PTI set comes with matching dies but I didn't buy the dies at the time, so today I stamped each image in black onto white cardstock and scanned it into my Silhouette software.  I then traced and offset and printed out some blank templates.  Now I've done the initial work, they're sitting there waiting to be cut anytime I want.  Gotta love the Silhouette!

I stamped my flowers in Raspberry Ripple, Crisp Cantaloupe and, believe it or not, Perfect Plum.  The Perfect Plum flower matched Wisteria Wonder cardstock way better than Perfect Plum, so I'm thinking that maybe I need to re-ink.  I stamped a few leaves in Old Olive and the sentiment in Versafine.

The banners are cut from MFT's Fishtail Flags Stax.

The inside of this card was very simply done this time using a leftover flower in Perfect Plum.

Check out the gorgeous samples from the Design Team before having a go at this sketch.

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Mum's the Word (PTI)
Ink:  Perfect Plum, Raspberry Ripple, Crisp Cantaloupe, Old Olive, Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock:  Wisteria Wonder, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories:  MFT Fishtail Flags Stax, Framed Tulips EF, Basic Pearls, Copic

Distressed Poinsettia

Hi everyone, I hope your week is starting out well.  Over at Merry Monday we have a beautiful inspiration photo for you.

I just love everything about this photo and chose to stick with the text theme on my card.

I stamped the Crumb Cake card base with both Sanded and Woodgrain background stamps before sponging the edges.  The First Edition DSP was given the same treatment without using Woodgrain and this time I distressed the edges before sponging.  I mounted this piece onto an Early Espresso layer which I also distressed.  The poinsettia uses the two smallest dies in the Spellbinder poinsettia set.  I cut three of the larger size and two of the smaller size and then used the smallest of the Basic Pearls for the center.  I randomly placed some Linen Thread behind the poinsettia for added interest.

The ribbon part of the challenge is met using some Cherry Cobbler striped grosgrain which is adhered using Sticky Strip.  I burned the edge to stop it fraying.  The rustic and distressed sentiment is from the Peaceful Pinecones set from PTI.  And continuing my resolution of finishing the insides of my cards when I make them, here's the very simple inside.

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you have a great week and have time to join in the challenge.

Products used:

Stamps:  Peaceful Pinecones (PTI), Sanded, Woodgrain
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Cardstock:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, First Edition DSP, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Spellbinders Poinsettia die, Basic Pearls, Linen Thread, sponge, Cherry Cobbler Striped Grosgrain ribbon

Cheers
Karren

Starfruit Blooms

The colors at Fusion this week really appealed to me and to challenge myself I decided to add in the sketch as well.

I started my card by making the dotty base.  To make this I inked up the Dotted Background from SU in Versarmark then again in Smoky Slate before stamping it onto Whisper White and clear embossing it.  I then sponged Summer Starfruit ink all over the panel creating an emboss resist background.  The oval panel was stamped with images from Embroidered Blooms from PTI in Smoky Slate, Basic Gray and Summer Starfruit.   

The fleur de lis panel started out as a piece of First Edition DSP which I painted with Gesso.  Once it was dry, I sponged over a fleur de lis stencil with Basic Gray.  This was layered onto Basic Gray and some white baker's twine was wrapped around and tied.  The flowers were die cut before being stamped with Summer Starfruit stamped off then full strength.  A Basic Gray Candy Dot was put in the centre of each flower.

Thanks for looking.

Products used:

Stamps:  Embroidered Blooms (PTI), Dotted (SU)

Ink:  Summer Starfruit, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Versamark

Cardstock:  Whisper White; Basic Gray; First Edition DSP

Accessories:  Gesso, Elegant Trio Stencils (SU), White Baker's Twine, oval nesties, Neutrals Candy Dots

Edited to Add:  This card received an Honorable Mention at Fusion.

Cheers

Karren