Monday, December 31, 2018

January Calendar page

Hello and Happy New Year's Eve! It's hard to believe that 2018 is coming to an end! It has been an eventful year and I am looking forward to what 2019 will bring! I have my January calendar page ready, using photos from January 2018. I started with this sketch from Stick It Down:


I added some extra photos to the layout, but kept the large "T" element. I kept the embellishments pretty simple since there are so many photos; a few stickers and rub ons are all I added. I did attach some of the stickers with foam tape for some dimension.


I am also entering this in the Lasting Memories patterned paper challenge: use at least 3 patterned papers. I used exactly 3, the mittens snowflakes and the red that I die cut the title from.




Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Fall Alcohol Ink Lift Off Cards

Hello again! I have another couple of cards to share. I played with the alcohol lift ink again. I started by inking up some glossy cardstock with fall colors of alcohol ink. Once that was dry, I used the Lift Off ink and some leaf stamps and transferred the ink to some kraft cardstock. I stacked the two pieces, stacked them and cut them at an angle in my trimmer. The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed on a strip of patterned paper and mounted on the card with foam tape. I finished off the cards with glitter cardstock and gold spray ink splatters. 


Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Watercolor Background Cards

Hello! I have another couple of cards I made last couple months to share! I was inspired by this image from The Card Concept:
I loved the color scheme and wanted to try this watercolor background technique again. I didn't have ink to match, but I had gelatos, so I tried those. I scribbled the colors into my acrylic block, sprayed them with water, and used my finger to work the pigments loose and into the water. I then pressed the block into my watercolor paper. This first card was for my daughter's 10th birthday, so I stamped and heat embossed the numbers onto vellum and fussy cut them out.
I did the same for the background if this card as I did above. I added gold tape to frame it. The sentiment and flowers were stamped and heat embossed. I first cut the flowers and leaves and added them with foam tape.

Monday, December 10, 2018

November and December Calendar Pages

Hello! I'm still alive! I had a crazy busy fall with photos. I got a few cards and layouts done, but never had a chance to post them. I will be working on that in the next week or so! Today I am sharing my calendar layouts for November and December.

My November page is based on the double sketch from October at Stick It Down.


I stuck pretty close to this sketch as it worked well to get lots of photos on my page. I stuck my patterned paper down and then used the smooshing technique to add the ink in the corners. I then splattered some gold ink for some added interest. I embellished with some stickers from the collection kit.


Next is my December page using the November double sketch at Stick It Down.

I started by spraying my cardstock with green ink. I then took a evergreen branch stamp and added tat in the corners of where my photos would be. I layered on the photos. I cut the ornambents using the Holiday Cakes Cricut Cartridge. I cut them in a couple of sizes and from a couple of different papers and then put them together. I popped a couple up on foam adhesive for some dimension. I made bows from thin ribbon and floss. 






Tuesday, October 23, 2018

October Calendar Page

Now that the month is almost over, I thought I better share my October calendar page. I was inspired by last month's sketch at Stick It Down:


Since I was making a page about October, I decided to make a "mosiac" of leaves. I grabbed a bunch of patterned paper scraps and set my Cricut to work, cutting different leaf shapes in several different sizes. Then I laid them all out over my two pages before sticking them down. I added a few stickers and enamel dots for embellishment. I also cut my title with my Cricut.


Thanks for stopping by to check out my layout!

Monday, October 22, 2018

Birthday Cards- Stick it Down

 Hello! I have a couple of cards to share today! I played some more with the alcohol ink lift off technique for these cards. I was inspired by the current card sketch at Stick It Down:
I started by making my background using alcohol inks on yupo paper. I just dropped the inks on and tried to create the diagonal with the colors. Once the ink was dry, I used a Simon Says Stamp background stamp to lift off the ink. I stamped it onto light purple cardstock (which I used for the second card in this post). I used a scalloped circle punch for the center piece. For the sentiment, I lifted off color from the center of this panel and stamped it onto my punched piece. I then attached the circle with foam tape over where I lifted the ink. To finish off the card, I glued on some coordinating sequins.

For my second card, I used the panel that I had stamped with the ink from the card above. I cut it downn to size. I then took the center section of the background stamp (which pops out) and stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed it with glitter embossing powder. I took one off the scraps that were trimmed of the above panel and picked up the ink for the cupcake. I finished it if with some glitter glue.
I am really loving using the lift off ink and the beautiful results it provides!

Saturday, September 29, 2018

CAS(E) this Sketch- Birthday Card

Hello again, I have another card to share today! This time I was ispired by the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch:


I've had these splatter stamps for a while and I thought this was a great way to use them. I wasn't able to stick with just three splotches though. After I did the stamping, I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment, inked the edges and added some coordinating sequins.


Friday, September 28, 2018

Sketch Saturday- Brithday Card

Hello! I have a new card to share today! I was inspired by this week's sketch at Sketch Saturday:

I decided to use some scraps on this card, so I dug through my scrap folder. I started with the "Happy Birthday" paper and found other papers that coordinated. I stamped and heat embossed the bear before using watercolor pencils and a water brush to color it. I used foam tape to attach it to my card front and finished it off with some buttons.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

School Girl

Hi all! I have a new layout to share today! I made this one quick last night between editing photo sessions. I felt the need to play with paper and photos and this was the result! I started with these photos of my oldest from her first and last day of kindergarten (she's now in 6th grade- yikes!). I pulled out the sticker sheet and some scraps of patterned paper from an old Bo Bunny line. I just started sticking everything down. 


When I went to embellish my layout, I was inspired by the either/or challenge at Lasting Memories:
stripes or polka dots
circles or squares
wood veneer or washi tape
enamel dots or sequins
hearts or stars

The challenge was to use one item from each pair. I used stripes, circles, washi tape, enamel dots and stars.

Thanks for stopping by to check out my layout!

Monday, September 17, 2018

Happy Birthday with More Alcohol Inks

Hello again! I have another card using alcohol inks to share today. I started with this sketch from Sketch Saturday:


For this card, I dropped alcohol inks on a sheet of shiny cardstock and let them run down. I used blending solution too to make them move and gives some shade variation. Once I was satisfied with the colors, I attached a piece of white cardstock to the top and stamped and heat embossed my sentiment on it. I finished off the card with some twine and sequins. 

I was inspired by the stripes of rainbow colors in the inspiration photo for The Card Concept:

Finally, I was inspired by the current CAS-ual Fridays challenge which it to use sequins.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my card!

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Playing with Alcohol Lift Off

Hello! I have a new card to share and I used a new product on it! I started with this sketch from Stick It Down:


I just got my hands on some Alcohol Lift Off ink, so I needed to try it on this card. I started by inking up  a sheet of Yupo paper with blue and turquoise alcohol inks. I then inked up my bible stamp with Alcohol Lift Off ink and stamped it onto the Yupo. I then stamped it onto the teal cardstock, transferring the alcohol ink. I used a paper towel to reveal the image on the Yupo paper. I don't have a stamp positioner, but I have a stamp press with a grid on it that I used to make sure that both images were in the exact same position on both panels. Then I cut them in half and matched them up for my card fronts. I finished them off with stamped and heat embossed sentiments.



Saturday, September 8, 2018

September Calendar Page

Hello! It's been a while! I wish I could say that it will get better, but we are entering busy photography season, so I don't think it will! I have my calendar page to share today! As usual, I starrted with the double page sketch from Stick It Down:


Since I wanted to get lots of photos on my layout, I split the photo spots, making collages for the right hand page. Otherwise, I stuck pretty close to the sketch. I pulled some random pieces of October Afternoon patterned paper that worked together and got cutting. The plastic owls and wings are several years old and from a Scrapfest class I took. For my title, I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts a Lot to cut some fonts from my computer. I finished off my page with some flowers and gems.


Saturday, August 18, 2018

Birth Announcement

Hello all! I teased all of you for long enough, here is the newest addition to our family! He is an absolute joy and his siblings adore him!

I was inspired by a couple of things for this layout. First is the sketch at The Studio:


I swapped the location of the embellishments and used two vertical "images" but otherwise stuck pretty close to the sketch. I was also inspired by the scraplift challenge at Paper Issues. This layout came together pretty quickly. I had recently picked up the papers and die cuts from my local scrapbook store and was excited to use them on a layout.


Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, August 5, 2018

August Calendar Page

Hello all! I finally have my August calendar page ready to share! I started with last month's double sketch from Stick It Down:


I was also inspired by the Get Messy challenge at Paper Issues.  For my background, I spread gesso over the white cardstock. I sprayed some Distress Resist Spray on the background to add some texture. Then I smooshed yellow and pink spray inks onto the background. I finished it off with some splatters of navy spray ink. The papers and many of the embellishments were from a Scrap Room kit. I popped up various die cuts to add dimension as well as adding a badge, brad, flowers and pearls.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my page!

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Hope Your Birthday is a Splash- Sketch Saturday

Hello! I have a new card to share today! I started with this week's sketch from Sketch Saturday:

I was also inspired by the technique and cards in this post by Jennifer McGuire. While I didn't use any Distress Oxide inks, I did use Distress Inks and Stains to create my pool on glossy cardstock. I stamped and heat embossed the girl and then colored her in with watercolor pencils. For the background, I used versamark and a plaid background stamp on purple cardstock. I handwrote my sentiment with gel pen. To finish off the card, I outlined the pool with dark blue Stickles and added some sequins..

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Happy Birthday Will!

Hello! It's been a while but I have a new layout to share! I was inspired by the Blend a Sketch challenge at Scrap Our Stash:


I decided to create a two page layout for this challenge. I pulled the color blocking on the background and the photo arrangement from the first sketch and the banner with the repeated shapes from the second. 

I love how the large pieces of patterned paper give such a playful feel to this layout. I put my Cricut to work, cutting out the presents, party hats and the word "Will" for my title. I embellished with several stickers from the same collection and various sized sequins. I also used a roller stamp to add the date and some phrases around the page.


Thanks for stopping by to check out my layout!

Sunday, July 15, 2018

More Cards with Clematis Stamps!

Hello again! I played a bit more with the Clematis stamp set I recently bought and made a couple of birthday cards.


I spent the bulk of my time stamping the flowers. I stamped the sentiment and finished them off with a splatter of pink ink and some Liquid Pearl drops. Thanks for stopping by to check out my cards!

Happy Birthday card- Stick it Down

Hi all! I'm back with some more cards to share. This time I used the card sketch from Stick It Down:

I started by stamping the plaid background with Versamark on watercolor paper and heat embossing it. I then misted it with water and added Distress Stains. I let those soak in and dry a bit before wiping off the excess. I then found some coordinating cardstock and cut the sentiment with my Cricut. Once the backgrounds were dry, I glued the sentiment down. I then measured and cut the "v" out of both and then swapped them and attached them to the card fronts. I added some enamel dots in coordinating colors to finish it off.



Have a Whale of a Day- CAS(E) This Sketch

Hello! I have some cards to share over the next few days. First up, a birthday card for my animal-loving son based on this sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch:


I started by making the panel for my whale. I used alcohol inks and tried some techniques suggested in this post.  I started with blue and turqoise alcohol inks and spread them over glossy cardstock. I then took a paintbrush and rubbing alcohol and made some waves and drops on the background. I finished it off with tiny drops of pearl mixative applied with a toothpick. My 8-year-old son wanted to know how I made the background, so I think he was impressed! I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment. For the whale, I stamped him and then colored him in with watercolor pencils that I then blended with a water pen. I attached the whale with foam adhesive and covered him with Glossy Accents. For the card base, I used an ombre ink pad and inked up an embossing folder ber for running it through my embossing machine.

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Anniversary Card with NEW Stamps

Hello again! I have a new card to share using some new products. In one of Altenew's latest releases there was a beautiful clematis layered stamp set.  As soon as I saw it, I really wanted to have it! I finally got it this past week and had to play with it immediately. For this card, I decided to make blue flowers. I found some coordinating inks and started stamping the flowers into a wreath. The layers of this set a pretty easy to line up, which is great! After I had completed the wreath, I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment. To finish off the card, I scattered some sequins around the card front. The sequins were also from the order I recieved. They are from a 28 Lilac Lane set.


Thanks for stopping by and checking out my card!

Saturday, July 7, 2018

July Calendar Page

Hello! I finally have my calendar layout for the month ready to share. I started with the June sketch from Stick It Down:


I moved things around a little bit, but stuck pretty close to the sketch. I started with the striped paper across the top and added my photos. Then I cut the stars from glitter cardstock and made the clusters. I then decided to use a combination of stamped and punched banners to run across the middle of the page. To add to the embellishment clusters, I splattered some blue and red spray inks. For the title, I used a compination of die cut letters and rub ons. I finished the page off with silver glitter enamel dots and dots of platinum Stickles. 




Friday, July 6, 2018

Friendship card


Hello! I have a new card to share that was inspired by a new stamp. I am also entering it in the current challenge at Cas-ual Fridays:

A friend of mine gave me the striped background stamp I used for this card. That same friend is moving away, so I needed to make a card for her. I used an ombre ink pad to ink up the stamp. Then I stamped the silhouette of the little girls on vellum using black ink. I sprinkled that with glitter embossing powder and heated it. I love the irridescent shine that gave to simple black stamping. I finished off this card with some white and blue liquid pearls. 

Monday, July 2, 2018

Thinking of You- The Card Concept

Happy Monday to you! I have a new card to share today! This one is based on the inspiration at The Card Concept:


Isn't it beautiful?! I was looking through some cards I made last year and came across the second card in this post and decided I wanted to use the same technique again. For this mixed media elegant card design, I used different shades of pink and red inks and smooshed them on my stamping block. I sprayed it with water and pressed it onto my water color paper. Once it was dry, I stamped and heat embossed my sentiment. I layered that over a piece of gold foiled patterned paper. Then I stamped and heat embossed my rose and attached that with foam tape. I am loving how this one turned out and I love how simple it is to get a beautiful background with this technique.


Sunday, July 1, 2018

Enjoy Your Day

Hello! I have a new card to share today! It is a masculine birthday card based off of this sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch:


I stamped and heat embossed all three of the circles and attached them with foam adhesive. Since my sentiment was on the circles, I just added some washi tape where the sketch suggests a sentiment.

I was also inspired by this fireworks picture from CAS-UAL Fridays. I don't have any specific firework stamps, but I have a tie-dye mask that looks kind of like fireworks that I used for the background. I used a blending tool and Distress Inks to make the "fireworks" on my background.