The Beach Life

Hello on this very hot day in Ohio where the temperatures are in the nineties and it is very humid.  This would be a great day to be at the beach but instead I made card with a beach theme.  I created the card using some old stamps from a Flourishes set called Beach Life. I used 3 stamps with masking to create a scene on white cardstock and colored with Copics.  Added some dry embossing to the sky and some brown brads (Coconuts) to the palm trees for texture. Finished with an appropriate sentiment from my stash of stamps.  Other Supplies: Blue and Kraft Cardstock, Memento Rich Cocoa, Toffee Crunch, Summer Sky Inks, Darice EF Clouds, White Gel Pen for waves. 

Challenges:
Double D Challenges: Beach Time. Took inspiration from the mood board. 

Make the Cards Challenge: #57 Any Shade of Blue

Make My Monday: #177 Coloring -Any Medium. Used Copics

Thought I'd share a similar card that I made several years ago but with watercolors and watercolor paper that inspired my design.

 Thanks for stopping by. Hugs, Theresa

Modified the Final Look

Hello! The current challenge at Modsquad Challenge is Beautiful Butterflies and the Monthly Mix Challenge at Gina K Designs is Here Comes the Sun.  I combined the 2 challenges and came up with this card to enter.  I created a sunrise scene using a circle mask cut with a die and ink blending with Distress Oxide inks on a white cardstock.  After completing the background, I stamped the flowers and butterflies using stamps from Gina K Design Birds & Blossoms set. The images were colored with Copics.  Added a Gina K sentiment stamped with Memento Black ink and die cut. Finished with a white card base. After I took a photograph of the card, I decided the horizon was too straight and drew in a row of trees to break it up.  The revised card is shown below.  I think it improved the card but what do you think? Please vote for which you consider the best. 

Stay Safe and Healthy! Thanks for stopping by. I love reading your comments. Theresa

Using Up Old Stationery

Hello!  I have been trying to use up things we have around the house that I do not want to waste. For example, I came across a box of unused personalized ecru cards and envelopes that my DH ordered from Crane's at a stationery store many years ago. And he never used but just a few.  Remember stationery stores and when we wrote on stationery was a common thing?? 

  The envelopes measure 6.5" x4.5" and are a high quality cotton paper and are engraved with the home address.  So I plan to use this box of supplies for some of my cards.  ( They cost more than I pay for my cardstock?) The flat card is only one panel and engraved with his name but I can  layer it on to a base card to create a folded card and hide his name. 

For this card I stamped one of the panels of ecru with Repeat Impressions Sunflower stamp using Memento inks and Copics for coloring. Masking was used with the stamp to layer the 3 flowers. Stamped the large Hello also from Repeat Impressions with Memento Brown ink. Added a strip of Pattern paper just because I like it and it goes well with the colors of the Sunflowers.  I made this a folded card by trimming one of  the envelopes and attaching to the stamped panel. Also stamped another envelope with the sunflower to coordinate for mailing. 

Challenges:
The House That Stamps Built: Anything Goes A2620

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

Time on the Beach

Hello!  I am sharing a card that I have made with a beach theme.  I used some very old stamps from a Flourishes  set which is now retired.  I stamped the images with  Distress Oxide inks and then water colored with the DOI and a water brush.   Four stamps from this set were used in creating the card. I used a Kraft mat and a blue card base to finish.  Making this short since deadline is near.

Challenges:

Double D Challenges: Let's Go To The Beach
CAS Mix Up Challenge: August -Beach- water coloring must be the main element.
Alphabet Challenge: I is for Island Fun

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

Trying Retiform Technique

Hello! Wednesday I posted a card that was very quick to create and today I have 2 cards that took quite a bit of time to create. Just finding the stamps that I used took a bit of time.  I used the retiform technique that I saw on a Gina K video.  This technique uses sticky notes and sponges to mask off areas of the card and then stamp in each area.  I used mostly Gina K Design stamps from Gifts from the Sea for my first try at the technique.  The sentiment is from another GKD set. The bird head on left is a Repeat Impressions stamp. Other Supplies: White CS, Brown CS, Memento Inks, Distress Oxide Inks.  

Challenges:
Krafty Chicks Challenge: 506 Week Stamp Act-use some form of stamps.

Love To Craft Challenge Blog: LTCCB #46 Anything Goes

Mix It Up Challenge Blog: MIUCB#37 Anything Goes + Masking. Lot of masking on this card.

My second card using the Retiform technique was made for Mother's Day.  I used stamps from several GKD sets including Whimsical Wildflowers, A Year of Flowers 2, Birds & Blossoms, Handmade Botanicals, and Needle Works. Other supplies: White CS, Coral CS, Memento Inks, Distress Oxide Inks, Copics.  

Challenges to Enter: 

Always Fun Challenges: #161 Female or Mom Cards

Artsystamper Digitals Challenge: #15 Mum's the Word

Use Your Stuff: #397 Flowers and/or Butterflies

Shopping Our Stash Challenge: #419 Happy Mother's Day

Modsquad Challenge: Mother's Day- use word Mother.  Hope word Mom counts. 

Stay Safe!
Stay Healthy!

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

All in This Together

Welcome to my studio!  I have 2 cards to share today made with the same digital stamp Tulips In a Hobnail Pitcher from Power Poppy.  I was inspired by the Vase shown in the challenge at The Card Concept which has a patterned design. I did something that I never did before and that was to "paper piece" a digital image since I wanted to have a patterned vase on my card.  Through the magic of Photoshop  Elements, I was able to use digital paper and fill in a section of a digital image before printing the image.  The digital paper was actually a file I made by scanning patterned paper from Shabby Rose Collection by Our Daily Bread and I used a section of that paper to piece in to the vase of the digital image.  I included a close up of the vase below. Now that I figured this out, I can use any digital paper to fill in a portion of a digital image... this is easier than printing an image on patterned paper and then fussy cutting to attach to a printed image to do piecing. 

I printed the paper pieced image twice on heavyweight white card stock to make the 2 cards.

For the top card, I colored the image with Copics and trimmed the edges with a corner punch. With Memento Gray Ink, I stamped an appropriate sentiment  for the time we are living in........ found this in Power Poppy's  Sassy Succulents set.     Completed the card with a Gray Woodgrain card base (also inspired by the challenge photo) that I made with a Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Scor-Pal, Gray CS, and white ink. 

For the second card, I added some blues flowers to the printed image using a Hero Arts stamp, blue ink, and masking.  I used different Copics to color the image but used the same sentiment.  Finished with a Blue card base.  I am not sure which version that I like best but I do like the addition of the blue flowers. 

I really like how well the pattern on the vase turned out. I even surprised myself a bit accomplishing that.  A close up view of the vase:

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge: #43 Spring/Autumn

Simon Wednesday Challenge: Simon says Knock on Wood-used woodgrain embossing folder to create my own wood background.

Creative Confetti Challenge:  Let's Go Digital- Used digital stamp Tulips in a Hobnail Pitcher
The Card Concept: Challenge #133 Hello Spring. Had lots of inspiration from this photo. 

Stay safe! Stay Healthy!

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

Lovely Camellias

Hello!  This card was created with Power Poppy Simply Camellias stamp set.  I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white CS and water colored with Fired Brick and Peeled Paint Distress Oxide inks and a water brush. I usually use watercolor paper but did not plan to water color this image but changed my mind.  Using masking and a Tattered Lace die from Twilight Labels,  I sponged around the image before I framed it with Green card stock cut with the same Tattered Lace die.  Added some dew drops to finish. Will add a sentiment or not when I use the card. 

Challenges:

Creative Confetti: Frame It Up

Simon Wednesday Challenge: Simon says Anything Goes

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

Fun with Poppies

Hello!  I made this card using a die-cut to create a stencil from cardstock.  I used Memory Box die Darling Poppies to create the stencil and also used some masking with the cut out pieces when I sponged DOI Picked Raspberry and Peeled Paint with the made stencil to the panel of white cardstock.  Using a rubber mat, I also dry embossed the image using the same die after applying the ink.  I stamped the GKD sentiment with DOI Peeled Paint and heat embossed with Clear EP.  Added some embossed dots with Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Border for more texture.   I attached the image to a pink card base in an asymmetrical fashion for interest. 

Challenges:

CAS Mix Up Card Challenge: February Stencil from Die-cuts + Stamping + YourChoice. I used sponging, masking, and dry embossing. 

Mix It Up Challenge: MIUCB #34 Anything Goes + Stenciling

Happy Little Stampers: February Anything Goes with Dies.  Used a die to make a stencil and for dry embossing.

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

Nine "Ladies" Dancing

 Today I am sharing a card that I made continuing with  a Twelve Days of Christmas series that I began some time ago but never completed.  I am picking up with Nine Ladies Dancing from the set called "Twelve Days of Christmas" from Creative Stamping magazine that I got last Christmas. Using masking technique,  I stamped the Dancing Pig 5 times on the front and 4 times on the inside (below)with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored the nine ladies with Copics Markers.  That way I covered all Nine Ladies. I decided that the dancing ladies would hold a banner wishing Merry Christmas.  I heat embossed the sentiment from my stash with Gold EP on vellum, fussy cut the words, and strung the banner on  metallic gold thread. I stamped the words beneath the dancers on the front and added a New Year sentiment to the inside.  Finished with a Red card base. 

Challenges:

Double D Challenges: Twelve Days of Christmas Part 2 

Time Out Challenges: #150 Merry and Cheerful

Allsorts Challenge: Week 550 Inspired by a song, Inspired by The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge: #468 Anything Goes for Christmas - Optional theme Use Word Merry. 

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog: MLCCB #17 Anything Christmas Goes

Make My Monday Challenge: #111 Anything Christmas

Here's a link to the other cards in the series: https://theresastudio.blogspot.com/search/label/Twelve%20Days%20of%20Christmas

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

Only Red and White

Hello!  This card was made for the ModSquad Challenge Red and White-that's it!  Use only red and white on your card. I stamped the ornament from GKD Merry and Bright set with Memento Lady Bug ink on White CS using masking technique.  The sentiment is from GKD Holiday Wreath Builder set. I attached the white panel to a mat of GKD Red Velvet CS and then a white card base. 

Had a hard time creating this card because I first tried to emboss the images with Red EP ….threw that away and just used red ink to stamp.

Challenges:
ModSquad Challenge: Red and White--that's it!

Daring Cardmakers: Anything Goes -theme is Baubles and Bows. 

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

Birthday for My Man

Hello!  I was playing with a Gina K Design set called The Northwoods 2 to create a masculine card without any layers.  I began with a GKD heavy weight white card stock because I can use Copics to color on this paper and there will be no bleeding of ink on the back side.  Great for one layer cards!
I stamped a lake scene using Memento Markers to apply colors directly on the stamps.  For fun, I just had to add a bear (for my DH) and did that  by stamping the bear first and then used masking when stamping the trees.  Colored the scene with Copics and sponged the sky with Memento Summer Sky ink.  Stamped the sentiment with Tuxedo Black ink.  Perfect birthday card for the man in my life.
Challenges:
Modsquad Challenge: Layer Me Not! The challenge this week is to use no layers on card front. Sponsor GKD.
Monthly Mix Challenge at GKD: For the boys.
Creative with Stamps: CWS  #41 Dad or Masculine
The Male Room: Challenge #117 Birthday. Happy 6th Birthday to The Male Room.
Simon Monday Challenge: Simon says Happy Birthday

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

The Third Day of Christmas

Hello! I am continuing my  task of making cards with of the stamps from a set called "Twelve Days of Christmas" from Creative Stamping magazine that I got last Christmas.   Today we are stamping Three French Hens and I ended up with 2 cards since I tried doing both vertical and horizontal layouts. 

 On both I used white cardstock using masking to stamp 3 hens.  

On the top card, I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink for the images and colored  just a bit with Copics. Stamped the words with Versamark and heat embossed with Red EP and Gold EP. Used a Patterned Paper  background with White Card Base.

For the bottom card, I used Memento Rich Cocoa ink for the hens and colored with several Copics.  I sponged around the images with DOI Antique Linen to give a vintage feel before trimming and attaching to a Musical Patterned Paper(from stash). Placed this on Red card base.  The words were also heat embossed using Red EP and Black EP.

Challenges:

Crafty Catz: Challenge 471 Anything Goes Optional Christmas in July

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

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Challenge Christmas in July

Shopping Our Stash: Challenge #400 Christmas in July

Mod Squad Challenge: Christmas in July

CRAFT Challenge: #522 Christmas

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

Spooky House

Welcome to the haunted house at my studio!  Playing with a stamp from Just For Fun Stamps to create this spooky card.  I stamped the house with Memento Black Ink  and sponged the background with Distressed Oxide inks Faded Blue Jeans, Black Soot and Peeled Paint using masks. The moon was sponged with Fossilized Amber.  I colored the windows and door with Copic Markers.  Added words cut from Purple Glitter CS  with Cottage Cutz dies and some plastic confetti die cuts of the witch, spooky ghost, and Jack o 'lantern.

Challenges:

Just For Fun Rubber Stamps: October Challenge Halloween.

Cards In Envy: Something Spooky Card Challenge.  Fits in an envelope. 

Cupcake Inspirations: CIC455  Bump in the Night

Addicted to Stamps and More: Challenge #312 Make Your Mark

Creative with Stamps: CWS#31 Halloween or Leaves

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

A Favorite Stamp

Hello!  For this card, I was inspired by the Photo Palette Challenge at The House That Stamps Built shown below.  I created a scene using Repeat Impressions Whitetail Doe and Fawn stamp and the tree from the Covered Bridge stamp.  The colors are represented in my choice of Copics for coloring and I included an animal theme. Finished with Chocolate Brown CS for base and mat and a DCWV Pattern Paper.  Chose not to add a sentiment but will do so when I use the card.  Other supplies used:
Distress Oxide Ink Walnut Stain, Versamark, Clear EP, White Pen, Dies, White CS.
Challenges:
The House That Stamps Built: Inspiration Palette Challenge O1817

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

Santa's Workshop

Hello!  This is a very different style card for me.  I created my vision of Santa's Workshop with stamps from Hero Arts October Kit and doing some fussy cutting.  The elves are working production style making cars of different colors and toys are stored on shelves against the wall awaiting delivery on Christmas Eve.  Used Red card base and a mat of Green CS to complete the card.  Coloring done with Copic markers.

#heroarts

Challenge:
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge: # 356 Anything goes for Christmas-Option Traditional colors.

Crafty Creations Challenges: #352 Anything Goes

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: #438 Christmas 

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra: October Anything Goes for Christmas

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

Haunted Spooky House

Booo!  Today I am sharing a couple of Halloween cards that were made in the same way but with some minor changes.  I used a Just For Fun stamp Haunted House Silhouette that I just received (won in a challenge).  The house was stamped with black ink and embossed with Clear EP and then I sponged the background with Distressed Oxide inks Faded Blue Jeans, Peeled Paint,  and Black Soot using masks. The moon was sponged with Fossilized Amber.  I colored in the windows and door with Copics and added shine with a lacquer pen.  Added words cut with Cottage Cutz dies. The first card that I made, shown below,  was spritzed with Gold Shimmer mist but I used too much.  I added just a bit of the mist to the top card by spritzing on a paper towel and dabbing it on the card so I could control the amount.   Used Black textured card base on the second and Gray textured card base on the first.

First card

Challenges:
Just For Fun Rubber Stamps: October card challenge Halloween. Thanks for the stamp.
Die Cut Diva's: October Challenge be inspired by Mood Board.
The Paper Players Challenge: PP366 Spooky CAS.
Artistic Inspirations: Challenge #188 Make It Creepy
Make It Monday: Challenge #57 I put a spell on you. Halloween

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

Dreaming of You

Hello! This one layer card was made using stamps and dies from Hero Arts August Kit.  I stamped the girl in flight and cloud with Memento Tuxedo Black and heat embossed with Clear EP.  I cut masks for the girl and cloud with dies.  I also cut a mask with an oval die.  Using the masks I sponged Distress Ink Faded Jeans and added "stars" with Pilot Metallic Silver marker. Finished with the Hero Arts sentiment in the same black ink.   The card below was my first attempt at this design but I messed it up when I misted with Metallic Blueberry mist and the mist leaked under the mask and went beyond the oval.  I saved the image by cutting an oval window in a card base of White CS and attached the image under the opening.  

Challenges:
AAA  Cards: CAS Game #97 Masking
Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes with Dies
CAS on Friday: Challenge 115 One Layer Wonder

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