Moxie Fab/Hero Arts Challenge Cards

Hi there!

Just thought I'd show a couple of cards I've entered in the Hero Arts August challenge HERE , and Moxie Fab World Gallon, Quart, Pint challenge HERE .  For the Hero Arts challenge, I chose the sketch challenge for these cards....sketch # 3.  Here's the sketch -I used the bottom one on the right side.  For the first card above, I pretty much kept with the sketch.  I used the Hero Arts/sizzix Stamp & Die Cut Framelits Floral # 657776.  I love this set.  There are six cling stamps and six dies - one to cut each image.  I can see I'm going to be using this one a LOT!!

The Moxie Fab Gallon, Quart, Pint challenge is one of the week's lessons on card design.  The wonderful people over at MFW have so many great ideas, tips, and information.  The idea of the three sizes is to use one color the most (Gallon), the second color a lesser amount (Quart), and the third color just a touch (Pint).  On the card above, yellow is my gallon size, pink is my quart size, and green is my pint size.  On the card below, blue is my gallon size, brown is my quart size, and green is my pint size.

For this next card, I used the same sketch, just rotated it one turn to the left.  I'm loving this stamp, also.  I think I may have left it at my friends' house when I went there to stamp a couple of days ago, so cannot provide the name or number of it right now.  Here's the card:

Admittedly, I'm not much of a 'clean and simple' type stamper, but I have enjoyed this little veering from the path to do these and a few others I have made for my card ministry at my church.  I kind of like the challenge of keeping it simple.  Hmmm, who knew!  Of course, I had to add some rhinestones and a little bow, and some pearls to the one above.  Gotta have some bling!

That's it for now.  Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!  And be sure to hop on over to Hero Arts Blog and Moxie Fab World blog via the links above!

Blessings,

lynda

Card Sketch Challenge

I had a busy day yesterday, but managed to etch out some time to play a little in my craft room.  I bought a new punch, and recently got a new die cut, and couldn't wait to use them.  Of course, after all the anticipation, I didn't use either on the cards I made!  Isn't that the way.  I looked over the challenges, and was really drawn to the sketch challenge at Our Daily Bread blog.  Here is the link to the challenge:  Our Daily Bread Sketch Challenge .    And here is the sketch:

I really liked this sketch.  I kept the main layout basically as it is, just changed up the shapes and replaced the ribbon with a Prima embellishment and added pearls and bling.  The lace along the right side was white, which really threw off the whole effect, so I 'dyed' it with some Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.  I simply rubbed the stamp pad on my craft mat, spritzed with water, and dipped and scrunched the lace in it until it was the shade I wanted it....then let it set over night.  I'm usually way too impatient to wait for it to dry, but it was just after midnight, and I was TIRED, so I actually made myself stop.  My back was aching, and the stress in my shoulders said ENOUGH!  This morning I finished putting the elements together on the card, and Voila!  Who knows, I may even have time to make another.  Maybe this time I will add to the challenge and make a clean and simple card to finish out the week!  We'll see!

Here is my card for the challenge:

Thanks for visiting.  Enjoy this beautiful Sunday - This is the day the Lord has made....let us be glad and rejoice!!!

Blessings,

lynda

Michael's Dollar Bin Find

Before I get onto the card for this post, I just want to mention that the next CARD MAKING CROP is Saturday, September 1st, from 10 AM until 4 PM.  It's at my church, Holy Name of Jesus, on Bonesteel Street.  If you haven't been yet and need directions and details about the group, email me at thestamppad@yahoo.com and I will send them to you.  Hope you'll join us on the 1st.  Please let me know if you are coming.  Now, on to the cards.....

I was poking around in the dollar bin at Michael's a few weeks ago, and the prettiest paper pad caught my eye.  It was one of the 5 x 5 pads with 10-12 sheets in it, two of each.  It was a pretty blue floral, with striped and dotted coordinating sheets.  It just had to come home with me, so I bought two (now I wish I had bought more)!  I thought they would be good for a few cards each.

These are two cards I made with my "find" at our last card making crop:

I immediately though ' sympathy' with this pattern and the soft, comforting colors.  First, I layered a portion of a piece of the floral paper to a blue card.  I borrowed Kathy's Stampin Up punch (which I now HAVE to have) for the saying panel.  I punched white card stock, stamped the sympathy saying on it, attached it to a scrap of blue card stock, then cut around the punched image, leaving a scant 1/8" or so border of blue.  I tucked some white satin ribbon under for extra pizazz, and foam taped it to the card front.  A couple of rhinestones, and I was done!  How's that for CAS!!

On this card, I attached some of the floral paper, and some of the coordinating stripe.  Wrapped with a white ribbon, it just went together so quickly and well.  I hand-fashioned a 'tag' shape, and stamped It's your day on it, added a bow, and some green pearls.  Voila, another easy, yet elegant, card.

I love this paper, and when everyone at the group saw it, they wanted it too.  So we all ended up at Michael's and, of course, it was no longer there.  Lesson here is - If you see it and love it, BUY it right then.....and buy more than one, or two, or even three......

It is amazing how the right papers can really make a card.  There is no fancy work here, just some simple layering on both cards.  Much cleaner than my usual style, but I have to admit, I am really enjoying this little reprieve now and then from my more glam it up approach to card making.

Have you had any great finds lately?

Blessings,

lynda

Cards With Stencil Images

I decided to bring out my stencils for a couple of CAS cards.  Clean and Simple is the name of the game with these two cards.  I decided to go white with the backgrounds and with the images, and add touches of color with some simple embellishments and snippets of colored card stock.

Here they are:

Click to enlarge to see detail in the stencil

Click on image to enlarge to see stenciled detail

 

The detail in the stencils shows up really well on the live cards...just didn't photograph well.  I used stencils I had in my stash from American Traditionals and Dreamweaver.  I chose to keep them white to keep the cards CAS. 

It's easier than ever to use stencils now, with the Cuttlebug, Sizzix, and other machines.  I have the Cuttlebug, and I simply put it through my machine using this sandwich:  B plate, rubber mat, stencil, card stock, B plate, and I used two card stock weight shims.  Comes out perfect every time.  Gone are the days of light boxes and hand cramps from embossing with the stylus!!  It's sooooo easy with the 'bug."  If you wish to color your embossed images, just keep the stencil on, and use inks or chalks to color.  I use an alligator clip with pieces of foam to add ink, or with tiny cotton pom poms to add chalk.  Easy-peasy and super adorable!

The backgrounds are done with Spellbinder's and Provo Craft embossing lates.  Just a punched butterfly (with some embossing plate detail on the wings) and some flowers and pearl accents and the cards are finished.  Elegant, yet easy-peasy.

Hope you enjoyed!

Blessings,

lynda

Birthday Card - Butterflies

Flight of the Butterfly and Butterfly Prints Stampin Up Stamp Sets

I love the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set from Stampin Up, and the butterfly punch that coordinates with it.  I just got the set, and am having fun with it.  Here is the first card I made with it.  Stay tuned for many more....did I say I love this set?!

 

The card is white with a green panel which I embossed with a Provo Craft dotted embossing folder.  I used another Provo Craft embossing folder for the happy birthday, and a Recollections punch for the punched border along the happy birthday panel.

The butterflies were stamped with jungle green Marvy Matchable ink using a stamp from the aforementioned set, then punched out with the coordinating punch.  The butterfly trail verse, 'hope your day is as happy as happy gets!' was stamped as an afterthought right over the embossed card stock panel!  I used white enamel accents for the butterfly body dots.

Here's a close-up of some of the details (click on the pictures to see larger):

I hope you are enjoying your summer, and staying cool.  I've been challenging myself to create CAS cards this summer, mostly for my stamping ministry at church.  CAS is Clean and Simple, which, for me, is not easy.  But I'm getting the hang of it, and actually am enjoying it.  Of course, every now and then I simply MUST create one of my trademark "glitzed-up, layered, glammed" cards, just for artistic release!

Whatever your style, enjoy creating!

Blessings,

lynda

New Challenge Card

I made this card for the scripture challenge over at the Our Daily Bread blog HERE, and used a sketch from the Mojo Monday blog HERE, and also the cool, delicious colors in the minty fresh challenge at Moxie Fab World HERE .

The scripture stamp is from Our Daily Bread from the Easter Blessings set.  The background is embossed with a Spellbinder's die.  Papers are from the Linen Closet collection of DCWV paper pack.  Die cuts are Spellbinder's.  

I have been making a lot of CAS (clean and simple) cards lately for our Card Ministry at church, and just had to take some time to make a card with a little more embellishment and layering.....I can only take so much of the CAS.  I'm all about the layering and embellishing.  

Here's the sketch I used from the Mojo Monday blog challenge for this card:

 Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hope you enjoyed your visit.  See you again soon!

lynda