It's Cold Outside!

Baby it's cold outside!  It looks almost like my card and the inspiration graphic from Retro Rubber shown below when I look out the window.. When I saw this challenge, I immediately thought of an old stamp in my stash from Mark's Finest Papers(no longer in business).  The stamp set was called Ice and Snow and dated 2011. I inked the stamp with DOI Walnut Stain and stamped it on White CS.  I cleaned the stamp and inked the top portion of the stamp with Versamark ink and heat embossed with White EP to get the effect of snow on the limbs of the trees.  I then taped off the scene and sponged the sky with Memento Summer Sky ink...loved the wintery sky that resulted.  I liked the way that I let one of the upper branches extend above the scene. (hard to see) I then added some snow on the ground, on and around the trees with a Snow Marker.  Love the effect of heating this element up and getting texture in the scene.  Stamped an appropriate sentiment with the same Walnut Stain ink.  Trimmed the panel and attached to a Gray Blue CS that matches the color of the sky.  I was not aiming to copy the scene below but it came very close. 

Challenges: 

Addicted to Stamps and More: #372 Make Your Mark-used stamping, sponging with masking, Snow Marker

CAS on Friday: Challenge #171 Winter. I used only one main image.  Hope I have enough empty space to qualify as CAS. 

Retro Rubber Challenge: #RRCB126  Winter is here. Make a winter themed card. Used stamps from 2011.  I just had to look outside at the snow to get inspired for this challenge. 

 Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Sewing Up a Card

Hello!  It's been a while since I played with The Library Challenge.  But when I saw the most recent challenge, I knew I must take the time to make a card since I have the perfect stamp to create a card for this book The Sewing Machine.  I dug out a old stamp set from a company no longer in business but I love the set.  I stamped the Sewing Machine with black ink on White CS (wish I had used ivory). I highlighted parts with Silver Metallic pen.  I trimmed the image with a rectangle die and distressed the edges with Distress Oxide inks. Placed the image on a Brown Mat also cut with a rectangle die.  For the background I found an old Patterned Paper from Graphic 45 that related to the story of the book which includes old notebooks and handwritten note that tell the tale of a family history, one stitch at a time from 1911 through 2016…The pattern paper shows scripted notes from the 1910's.  The sentiment from the same set was stamped with DOI.  Kind of ties in with the story line of the history that goes on and on through the years. 

I have not read this book but have checked out the Kindle book and plan to read soon. 

Challenges:

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge: Always about using Patterned Paper

The Library Challenge: Challenge #46-The Sewing Machine

I'd like to share a picture of an old Sewing Machine that I have. Very similar to the one on the cover but not a Singer.  Also showing another card below made with this stamp.

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Life's an Adventure

Welcome to my studio!  Today my card was inspired by The Library Challenge and the book The Tiger who came to tea.  I was not familiar with this book, but... would not having tea with a tiger be a life adventure?  So I used the sentiment Life's an Adventure with the image of the Tiger.  I stamped the sentiment stamp and the Tiger stamp with Memento Black Tuxedo ink and colored the image with Copics and a white gel pen.  Added some highlights to his whiskers with Stardust pen and to his eyes with Glossy Accents. I was very pleased with my coloring of the image.  I was also inspired by the bright colors of the cover to find a colorful Pattern Paper for my background and a Yellow (color of the table) card stock for my base.  The striped paper was from the Kaiser Craft paper pad called Jungle Bug Collection.  How appropriate? I completed the card with a brown mat underneath the image and added some Orange Dewdrops.  I attached the image at a angle.....such seemed like the thing to do for an adventurous design.  All supplies were from my stash. 

Challenges:
The Library Challenge: #39 The Tiger Who Came To Tea

Double D Challenges: It's a Jungle Out There 

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge: August Challenge All about using Patterned Paper

Shopping Our Stash Weekly: Challenge #401 Base It On a Book. 

Crazy 4 Challenges: C4C497 Take Your inspiration from a Book

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

A Birthday Not Forgotten

Hello! Another card to share this first day of August.....what happened to July?  When I saw the challenge at Just Us Girls, I knew I had to pull out old Elephant and Sentiment stamps from Mark's Finest Papers (no longer around) dated 2011.  I stamped the image with Memento Gray Flannel ink on white CS and colored with Pencils and OMS.  Stamped the sentiments with DOI Walnut Stain.  Framed the image with GKD Dark Chocolate CS die cut with Spellbinders Frame die and attached to Textured Pattern Paper from DCWV Safari Chic paper pad ( from old stash).  The Pattern Paper picks up colors in the inspiration photo.  Added some Glossy Accents to give texture to the tusks. This is a great card to add to my Masculine Birthday stash.

Challenges:
Just Us Girls Challenge: Photo Week #498 Photo Inspiration below

Retro Rubber Challenge: #116 Tic Tac Toe.  This card fits into the diagonal row- Pattern Paper, Texture, Pencils.  Stamps are 8 years old.

Crazy 4 Challenges: C4C494 Create a Masculine Birthday

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

An Old Sewing Machine

Welcome!  The challenge at Double D Looking Back in Time inspired this card using an old sewing machine stamp.  I used an old stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers called "I'm In Stitches".  I printed a digital paper "Old Paper" with dress forms from Graphics Fairy as my background.  I trimmed the paper and attached it to a mat of  Camel CS with Brown CS as the card base. Before placing the background,  I distressed the edges with a distressing tool and sponged with Distress ink, stamped the sentiment on the top  and the  tape measure across the bottom with Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy. Now for the sewing machine.  I stamped it on White CS with Versamark and embossed with Ranger EP. I colored the metal parts with Silver and Gold Jelli-ink pens and  then fancy cut the image...that was the hard part! Glad I have good scissors.  I attached the machine with foam dots to finish the card. 

Challenges:

Double D Challenges: Looking Back in Time

Personal note- I love this stamp set because it reminds me of a sewing machine  my Aunt Julia gave me several years ago.  I decided to pull it out of  its case and share a picture below. 

The warranty is dated August 1949.

 Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Winter Wonderland

Hello!  I have had an idea  for the challenge at The Library for awhile since the photo was posted on October 28 but never executed until this morning.  I had immediately thought of an old stamp of a winter scene  that would tie in with the book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  My card depicts the entrance into the snowy winter forest of Narnia with a lamppost. This is where the 4 children find the lion, the rightful ruler and king of Narnia, who I included in my card. 

I stamped the Winter Scene stamp (Mark's Finest Papers Ice & Snow) on white card stock with DOI Frayed Burlap and added snow and glitter with a couple different Stickles, Liquid Pearls. and a Snow Marker.  The crystal stickles gave a golden glow to the trees and snow.  I wanted to have a feel of fantasy to the scene.  The lamppost was stamped with a Hero Arts stamp and the sentiment was from MFP set Ice and Snow. Added the fussy cut lion that I printed from Silhouette with My Cameo.  Other supplies: Versamark Ink, Gold EP, Metallic Gold CS(base), Memento Black Ink, Yellow Copic. 

Challenges:

613 Avenue Create: Challenge #215 Anything Goes with Optional Twist Christmas/Winter.

Simon Wednesday Challenge: Simon Says All That Glitters is Gold. Gold Sparkle added with Crystal Stickles, Gold EP, Gold Pen, Gold Metallic Card Stock.

Make My Monday Challenge: #84 Winter Foliage. Used winter trees. 

Fab n Funky Challenge: #416 With an Animal
The Library Challenge: #19 The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Graphic below. Inspired by the snowy scene on the cover and the story.

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Dracula Appears Again

Hello!  Dracula is still hanging around my studio....he shown up on another card requesting blood donors.  The background of the card is a patterned paper from Echo Park pad The Apothecary Emporium which I have been hoarding.  Stamped Dracula (Mark Finest Papers stamp) on white cardstock, colored with Copics and fussy cut. Added a strip of dripping "blood" punched with a Martha Stewart punch. Sentiment stamps from Mark Finest Papers added with Memento black ink. The theme of this was inspired by The Library Challenge. 

Challenges:
The Library Challenge: #18 Dracula

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge: October always about using Patterned Paper.

Sweet Stampin' Challenge: Theme is Halloween. 

City Crafter Challenge Blog: Week 434 Halloween

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Red Shoe with Silver

Hello!  Playing with some old stamps that I pulled out for the challenge at Double D Challenges-If the Shoe Fits.  I made a CAS card stamping the shoe and sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers with Black ink.  Colored the shoe with Red Copics and heat embossed the heel and sole with Silver EP.  Looks much better in real life than in the photo. Used a Red Glitter CS for Mat and White card base.

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

An Apple a Day....

Hello!  Playing with a bushel of apples.....a Gina K stamp that is.  Stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics.  Added a strip of  Green CS to a White card base, stamped the sentiments from Mark's Finest Papers with Red inks, and attached the fussy cut Basket of apples.  

Challenges:
CAS(E) this Sketch: #287 shown below

Addicted to CAS: Challenge #144 Apples

Cards In Envy: The fruits of your labor card challenge.  Fits into a envelope. 

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Have a Wild Birthday

Hello!  Another card today was inspired by the challenge at The Male Room-Wild and Free.  Actually I started with a discarded back ground from making another card.  I did not like the layout of the trees that I stamped but it works for this card.  I had sponged the background with Distress Oxide inks using  masking for the sun (setting or rising?) before stamping the trees with Black ink.  To finish for this card,  I stamped the running Giraffes and embossed with Gold EP and did the Elephant with Silver EP.   Embossed the Wild sentiment with Clear EP after stamping with black ink.  The Birthday sentiment was done with Gold EP.  Outlined the panel with the scene with a Black Copic and attached to Yellow Card Base.  All stamps from old Mark's Finest Papers stamp sets.  Papers from stash. 
Challenges:
Crazy 4 Challenges: C4C 449 Make a masculine card.
Sweet Stamping: Birthdays or Make it a Remake. My card is a birthday and is sort of a remake since I had done a similar card shown below but with different animals.
Cards in Envy:  Yellow & Black card challenge. 

The Male Room: Challenge #92 Wild and Free

On the left is the card from which I had the leftover background.

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

More Sunflowers

Hello! I am back with more sunflower cards.  I used Distress Oxide inks to color the sunflower on both of these cards.  The top card is a digital image by Priscilla Styles from my digi file. I printed the image on watercolor paper and colored with a water brush. Added some texture to the center with Zing! Chestnut EP.  Die cut with a square die and placed on a Brown mat and Ivory card base.  The stamped sentiment is from an old MFP set. Stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Zing!Chestnut EP.

For the bottom card, I stamped a MFP Sunflower on watercolor paper and also colored with water brush and Distress Oxide inks. I splattered some ink around the image. (Tip I learned from Lisa Tilson:  lay the clear stamp back over the image before splashing.)  Added some more color beneath the leaves for a more artistic look?  Trimmed the image with a die and added a Rust mat and placed on Ivory card base with sentiment by Power Poppy.
Distress Oxide Inks used: Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint, Lucky Clover.

Challenges:
 CAS Watercolor Card Challenge: August Sunflower
Happy Little Stampers: August Watercolor Challenge-Optional Twist Flowers
Addicted to Stamps and More: Challenge 304 CAS
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge: Challenge 218 Clean and Simple

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

In The Wild

Hello!  My card today is a bit more "artsy" than my usual cards.  I was inspired by Simon Monday Challenge to walk on the wild side.  I decided to combine Wild Animals with what I'd call wild and bright colors for a safari scene.   I pulled out a panel from my "save box" that was the result of playing with making watercolor backgrounds with Distress Inks.  I am not sure of the exact colors that I used.  I had smeared inks on an acrylic block, sprayed with water and then laid watercolor paper on the block.  You never know what the results might be.  I then used some old stamps from 3 different Mark's Finest Paper sets and stamped the images and sentiment with black ink on  the panel.  Finished with a gold card base.

Challenges:
Simon Monday Challenge: Simon Says Wild Things.
Tuesday Throwdown: #402 Heatwave -Use Hot Colors
Crafty Catz: #427 Anything Goes with Optional Twist Use something Yellow

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Summer Scene at the Beach

Hello!  My birthday card today has Watercoloring with Distress Oxide Inks, a Button,  Embossing, and a nautical theme with a sailboat.  I pulled out an old stamp from my files and stamped with Versamark ink on watercolor paper, heat embossed with black EP, and colored the scene with a water brush. I trimmed the beach-side scene and placed on a mat of Blue CS and a card base of  GKD Tan Leather CS.  Finished with a Seagull Button that was part of a collection of ocean theme buttons that I bought several years ago on Sanibel Island.  Cut off the shank before attaching to the finished card. Distress Oxide inks used were Salty Ocean, Broken China, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen. Walnut Stain, Abandoned Coral, and Peeled Paint.
Challenges:
Double D Challenges: Nautical Challenge-used sailboat from Mood Board.
The House That Stamps Built: Challenge DCC74 The Great Outdoors
CRAFT Challenge: Inspiration Picture Challenge #475 Inspired by sailboat
Alphabet Challenge: H is for Happy Birthday
The Paper Girls Challenge:  Challenge 155 Buttons. The seagull on my card is a Button.
Happy Little Stampers: July Watercolor Challenge Anything goes with Optional Twist Birthday.
Simon Monday Challenge: Simon Says Summer Fun

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Fish a Jumpin'

Hello!  I am not a fisherman and neither is my DH but I do have some fish stamps and decided to enter Challenge #89 for Fish/Fishing at The Male Room.  Used some old stamps in my stash with Memento inks for stamping and colored with Copics.   Used die cuts for the layout. Fish was fussy cut and added with foam tape so he's jumping from the water (printed with a digital stamp). Kraft CS used as a base. 

Also did another look by adding a fish button from my stash.

Have a great day! I love reading your comments.

Birthday Wishes from the Kitchen

Hello!  This card was inspired by the challenge at Double D Challenges- Kitchen is the Heart of the Home.  I pulled ideas from the collage shown below using vintage feel, colors, and utensils from the photos.  I used a birthday theme since Double D is celebrating their second birthday/anniversary.  I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches for my design.

Supplies used: Stamps from old Mark's Finest Papers set, Red and White CS, pattern papers from MME and stash, Memento Gray and Black inks, Clear EP, Copics, Silver Pen, Circle Dies.

Challenges: 

Tuesday Morning Sketches: Sketch #437 shown below right

Shopping Our Stash: #338 Birthday Theme

Craftyhazelnut's  Patterned Papers Challenge: January Anything Using Patterned Papers

Simon Wednesday Challenge: Simon Says Layer It Up.

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Sundown on the Safari

Hello!  Taking time out from holiday cards to play with Distress Oxide inks to create a scene with Elephants.  I stamped Trees and Elephants from old Mark's Finest Papers sets with black ink and heat embossed with Clear EP.  I then sponged the background with Distress Oxide inks using  masking for the setting sun, etc.  and added shadows and highlights with Pencils. Sentiments from the same stamp set.  Used a Yellow Card Base with ink distressing on the edge. 

Challenges:

City Crafter Challenge Blog: Week 385 Jungle Animals

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Anything Goes Challenge

Crafty Creations Challenges: 353 Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday: Anything goes for Birthday

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa

Halloween with Count Dracula

Hello! As I said in yesterday's post, I love playing with some of my old stamps and could not resist making more Halloween themed cards.  I made another one with Mark's Finest Paper stamps from Boo to You set from 2011. This time Dracula appears on my card stamped in black ink and colored with Copics and Stardust pen. Used black card base and a mat of Purple Glitter paper with Spooky die cut and Plastic spider confetti.
Challenges:
Color Throwdown: #465 Purple , Black and White
Retro Rubber Challenge: #73 Boo! My stamps are from 2011.

Cards in Envy: Let's Play Dress Up!  Dracula is a great Halloween Costume.

Cupcake Inspirations: CIC427 Monsters

AAA Cards: CAS Game #101 Inspired by a 1931 Movie Dracula.

 

Have a great day! I love reading your comments. Theresa