Friday, April 29, 2016

May CASE The Designer with Happy Little Stampers

It's time for the May CASE the Designer with Happy Little Stampers!  This month is the ever talented Melissa's turn from Honeybee Lane.  Just look at her beautiful card!

Stunning, right?
Here's my take on Melissa's beautiful card:
I used Happy Little Stampers Doodled Flowers to create my card.  I started by heat embossing the flowers in white embossing powder on white card stock.  I colored the flowers in using Zig Clean Color Markers and fussy cut them out.  The black panel is embossed with texture paste using MFT's Scattered Bars stencil.  The sentiment is heat embossed in white using one of the sentiments from Doodled Flowers.  

I added two shimmering yellow strips down each side of my card and applied the black panel using craft foam to pop it up and give it dimension.  Once the flowers were adhered on, I added some butterflies cut using My Creative Time's Mini Butterflies and added some clear Wink of Stella to make them sparkle.  You can't really tell by the photo's but this is a very sparkly card.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Be sure to stop by the Happy Little Stampers Blog to see everyone's take on Melissa's beautiful card and join in on the fun!

Blessings~ Birgit


Die Cut Cards With Marcia

Good morning friends~  It's time for Marcia's and my monthly challenge.  This month we settled on using die's as the focus of our cards.
Here's my cards:
I started with a brick embossing folder and added some light gray ink to the folder before running it through my machine with white card stock.  I used the window from MFT and added a bit of age by rubbing some distress ink over the window.  The lace curtains inside the window are trimmed from a fan doily die from Top Dog Dies, which is now closed.  The kitties are from Impression Obsession and I added some distress ink to them as well.  The tree is from PTI's Topiary Trio.  This die set has stamps that goes with it, but I like that you can also use just the dies.  I didn't add a sentiment because I thought it was cute just as a note card (and I didn't know where I would add one).  ;0)

This next card uses PTI's Hexagon Cover Plate, cut out of white card stock and layered over a Soft Stone card base.  I gave Rosie Posie some love as it's been a while since it's been used.  The Doily is from Cheery Lynn, called French Pastry.  I can't think of a nicer name for a doily!  I inked up a piece of white card stock with a couple different shades of blue ink and cut it using PTI's Butterfly Cover Plate.  I then fussy cut the butterfly out of that.  

I started by building the background scene on this card using MFT's Stitched Cloud Edges Dies, a sun die from Lil' Inkers, and some Stitched Edges dies from My Creative Time on some green polka dotted paper, edged with ink.  Once the background was done, I cut the stitched rectangle panel using MFT's Blueprints #13.  The Adirondack chair is an old one from Sissix and the umbrella is also an "oldie" from MFT.  


Scene building must be what I'm getting in to, because these next couple have scenes as well.  Again, using the same landscape dies as the card above, this one uses Poppy Stamps Stitched Pine Trees and Poppy Stamps Stick Pine Trees.  I added spring colors to the trees using distress inks.  The Foxy Friends die from WPlus9 is so adorable and fun!  It can be either a fox or a raccoon, depending on the pieces you use!!


These next two cards use PTI's Button Boutique and Poppy Stamps Butterfly Buttons.  These little butterfly buttons are so cute cut out of polka dotted paper!  They are stitched on to the stamped button card along with a coordinating button.     
Isn't this owl just the cutest?  He is from Die-Versions "Build An Owl" .  I think I sat one day and made about six of these little cuties in bright, fun colors to use on future projects.  The scalloped rectangle is cut using MFT's Blueprints #27.  I then stamped on the the Typewriter Text Background Stamp from MFT and blended in some colorful distress inks.  The leaves are cut using Poppy Stamps Hampstead Stem.  The sentiment is from PTI's Flower Fusion #8.  A couple of jewels to add twinkle to his eyes and some heart gems finish this card off.   


This last card uses Elizabeth Craft Designs Barn.  This is such a fun die set to use as it makes your card interactive...  See that barn door?
It slides open to reveal your message, or what ever you want to put behind it.  So cool, right??
And, when you open the card, you can make it a pop up using the pop-up die that's included in the set!

Believe it or not, this card came together very quickly and easily using their easy to follow instructions. 
I already sent this card to my little great niece for her third birthday and I forgot to take a picture of the inside of the card with the barn doors open, but there's a pig inside!!  

I'm posting one of these cards to the following challenges:
Thanks so much for stopping by today and leaving some love!  Be sure to visit my dear friend Marcia's blog to see her fabulous creations for our challenge.
Thanks for visiting!  Blessings~ Birgit



Thursday, April 28, 2016

Simple Flowers in a Jar

Good morning friends~  Would you believe we got another 3-4 inches of snow the other day??  Yes, school was closed early and roads were terrible!  I know spring is here, I just know it is!
Anyway, I found time, that snowy day to spend time in my craft room playing with pretty spring flower stamps.  My PTI order just arrived and I was enjoying the new Friendship Jar Flowers Set.
What a lovely set!!  I just love the two step stamping and artsy look of these flowers.  I started by rubbing some Peacock Feathers Distress Ink onto the center of my card panel.  I used the Pint sized mason jar stamp and die and heat embossed it in white onto vellum.  I added the leaves and flowers and a  Boutique Borders Sympathy sentiment (Unfortunately these have been in high demand lately).  The outside lacy frame from Pretty Frame Cover Plate and some sequins finish this card off.

I'll be adding this card to the following challenges:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit


Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Elegant Mother's Day Card

Good morning friends ~  Mother's Day is right around the corner so I thought I'd inspire you with a Mother's Day card, featuring some
 fabulous dies from Dies R Us.  This is a picture heavy post so lets get started.



 

I started by cutting Die-Namites Rose With Leaves three times out of white card stock.  On one layer, I adhered some Scrapbook Adhesive to the back of the card stock before running it through my die cutting machine.  That way the adhesive was already on the back of the die for easy mounting. 


I mounted the die with the adhesive onto my white Spellbinders square panel.  This is one of their first die sets released so I'm not even sure it's available anymore but you can cut the square to the size that meets your needs for your project.  I also mounted in all the negative spaces of the flower from this die, so the whole image was on the card stock.   I then colored each negative space using Copics.  Don't worry if your coloring runs onto the white border, as that's going to be covered by the other layers that were previously cut.
The Copic colors I used were:  R12, R14, R17, G20, G21, G94, Y11 & Y13.

On the second layer of the die, I colored just the leaves using Copics and adhered it to the bottom layer, making sure it all lined up.

 

On the third and top layer of the die I simply fussy cut the leaves off the die cut leaving just the flower, which was then glued on the top, again being careful to line it up correctly.  This completed the flower portion of the card.

 

Next, I die cut a Spellbinders Scalloped Square (again, very old) out of light blue card stock and pierced inside the rim of the die through the card stock to give it some interest and detail.  The white flower panel is adhered to the scalloped panel and layered again with a Cheery Lynn Designs Nautical Wheeler Doily on the back.  Let me just take a moment to say that this die is very intricate and it cut perfectly without shimming in just one turn of my die cutting machine.  Incredible and perfect detail!

Next, I positioned the panel onto the card front, a regular A-2 sized card, and stamped the sentiment from My Creative Time's "Pretty Spring Wreath's" in red ink.
The gold metallic "MOM" die is from Cheery Lynn Designs Mom and this comes in a set of two, so it's a really good deal!  A few white sequins finish this card off!


Supplies Used that you can find at Dies R Us:


QUICK DESIGN TIP:  Before running intricate dies through your die cutting machine, add sheet adhesive to the back so when you cut it, it will be all ready to mount onto your project with adhesive on the back.  


My mom passed away two days after Mother's Day last year, very unexpectedly.  It's been a hard year of loss in our family and I struggled with making this card.  I'm thankful for the healing that comes by creating cards from the heart.  I sell my cards so hopefully this card will be passed on with great love to another beloved mom.
Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit



Thursday, April 21, 2016

Wishing You Sunshine

Good morning friends!  I hope the sun is shining where ever you are today.
I made this card for the Double D Challenge going on right now where the inspiration is "April Showers Bring May Flowers".
I guess my card focuses more on the "showers", than the "flowers" part of the saying but I still hope it will bring some cheer into someone's life.

I started by inking up a stitched rectangle panel using some Stampin' Up inks which I then spritzed with a bit of water to lift some of the color.  The umbrellas were sent to me in a die cut swap that Marcia and I did a while ago.  They are Impression Obsession Umbrella's  and were cut from polka dotted papers.  I inked around the edges to give them more depth. (Thanks, Marcia!)  The larger clouds are from Taylored Expressions while the smaller clouds are from PTI's Stamp A-Fair 1980's set.  The sun is from Lil' Inkers and the sentiment, which is heat embossed in white, is from My Creative Time.

I'll also be adding this card to the following challenges:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit

Faux Lettering With PTI

Amy is up this week at PTI's Make-It Monday challenge and shows us how to do faux lettering.  I love the depth and added detail this technique gives to your sentiments and it looks so great!
I was hesitant to try it because I knew I'd mess one up so I started by picking two script style sentiments.  
I'll start with this first card.  I used the set Still Life Summer and stamped the sentiment in Harvest Gold and then added the water colored detail using Orange Zest.  I sort of messed up on the letter "h" but thought it was still inconspicuous enough to use it.  
My second try, using Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores on one of the Graceful Greetings.  This one doesn't show up as well as the first colors did.  I used Beautiful Butterflies and BB layers.
You can find the video and details HERE.

I'll also be adding one of these cards to the following challenges:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit









Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Rubber Ducky, You're The One!

Do you have that song stuck in your head now? I do!

It's my turn over at the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog and I'm having fun with this sweet Rubber Ducky Die from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

I started by cutting the Rubber Ducky out of card stock in the colors shown. I added Tim Holtz Distress inks to the edges of his body and wing and then assembled the duck using a Zig Two Way Glue Pen.

I then cut some waves using Impression Obsession Ocean Border and again added some distress ink. I adhered the duck between the waves,

added some printed paper behind the entire scene and then cut the panel out using a Memory Box Stitched Rectangle. I stamped the baby sentiment three times along the bottom edge of the panel and then added the adorable little bubbles from the Rubber Ducky set.

I cut another larger Stitched Rectangle out using dark blue card stock and layered them in a wonky style on the front of a Neenah Desert Sand card base. I cut a Taylored Expressions Welcome Spring Banner out of the same Desert Sand card stock and added it to the top left corner.

Quick Design Tip:

The Rubber Ducky die set has little tiny pieces for the eyes so I glued a little scrap of card stock to the back side of the duck and then flipped it over and added the eye. This made assembling the duck super easy and I didn't have to worry about losing his little tiny eye in the process.


Here's a list of the products I used:

They can all be found at Dies R Us


Follow Dies R Us!
click below for:
STORE
CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Thanks So Very Mush

Haha!  That's not a typo!  Check out this cute mushroom card I made for the Simon Says: Let's Do The Polka challenge.

I started by stamping Cornish Heritage Farms "Petite Pattern Backgrounder" stamp onto a stitched rectangle from MFT's Blueprints #13.  The blue card stock banner is also cut using BP #13.  The circle die is cut using MFT's Jumbo Peek-A-Boo Circle.  The mushrooms are stamped and cut using My Creative Time's "Home Sweet Home" and the sentiment is also from that same set.  The little heart was a scrap I found on my desk that I added some Glossy Accents to to make it shine.  To finish this card off, I added some clear stickles to the polka dots on the mushrooms.  

I'm also adding this card to the following challeges:
Thanks so much for stopping by!  Blessings~ Birgit

Friday, April 15, 2016

Happy Birthday City Crafters!

It's City Crafter Challenge Blog 6th birthday! In celebration they have a fun challenge going on that you won't want to miss.
It's a CASE challenge and I'm case-ing card #1


I started by ink blending the chevron stripes onto a white stitched rectangle panel, by cutting my own stencil using PTI's Chevron Cover Plate. I brought the red in my card by stamping Altenew's Vintage Roses. The "MOM" sentiment is die cut using Cheery Lynn Designs - Mom die, which comes in a set of two sizes. AWESOME! The remainder of the sentiments is stamped using PTI's Keep It Simple: Mother.


I'll also be adding this card to the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday
Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge

Be sure to visit City Crafter to wish them a Happy Birthday!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blesssings~ Birgit

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

PTI's Create Along With Us

Hello friends~ I'm getting back into a routine and found myself getting a good dose of paper therapy today in my craft room. I feel like I've missed so much between being gone on vacation and losing my niece. I wanted to thank everyone for their outreach of comments, prayers and even cards I received in the mail! Your thoughtfulness lifted my heart and I don't think I could ever say thank you enough. I count myself blessed to have you all as friends, even though we've never met.
With that being said, I made a card today for PTI"s Create Along With Us challenge using Betsy Veldman's card as my inspiration.

I stamped the sentiment from Graceful Greetings and used lot of different images from Embellished Elegance, Make it Market ~ Garden Gild, Graceful Greetings and WPlus9's Botanical Bunch for the flowers and leaves. Some yellow Gelato's was rubbed over the stamped flowers to soften them.
I strayed a little from Betsy's design to put my own spin on her beautiful card, by adding a strip of Spring Woods Paper Collection and a strip of card stock that I colored black and added some black Wink Of Stella on to make it shimmer. The butterfly from Beautiful Butterflies & Layers is popped up with a little bit of foam tape for dimension.


I'll also be entering this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Monday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Thanks so much for stopping by. Blessings~ Birgit