More Embossing Paste!

I'm really loving the embossing paste I bought!! I was checking out all the challenges that I follow on Thursdays and 2 of them popped out at me!! I knew I had to use the embossing paste and my chevron stencil!! The Seize the Birthday challenge was to use chevrons and  I liked the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge. I used some Post-It paper to mask off a diagonal section of the card base. The embossing paste went on and the mask came off. I'm still getting the hang of the embossing paste, so it didn't turn out as clean as I wanted it to. I guess I need to practice some more!!! :) I then sprayed some Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Tinsel onto the card front. I'm not liking the way it makes the dry paste look dirty instead of gray. I even took the spray nozzle out and applied the spray by hand. I still think it looks dirty, but it will work. I used my "happy" die to add a pop of color and paired it with some gray alphabet stickers. I thought the white stripe was a little stark, so I dripped the Color Shine onto it.
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp-Cupcake Party
Ink: SU-Island Indigo
Paper: misc. blue, white, and orange
Accessories: Wendy Vecchi-white embossing paste, Heidi Swapp chevron stencil, pop dots, SSS-Happy  die, Heidi Swapp Color Shine Tinsel, Basic Grey-stickers

Embossing Paste

I've been seeing quite a few card makers I like using embossing paste. So, I broke down and bought some to see what the fuss is all about. I LOVE IT!!! It is so much fun to use! I get to control the amount of texture that goes on!!  Now I just need to break down and buy some new stencils...3 of them isn't going to cut it!!!
Here's a card I made using the embossing paste and my Heidi Swapp chevron stencil! I just added the paste to a small section of the card. I wanted a distressed look, so I tried not to smooth it out too much. When it dried, I put the stencil back on and sponged 3 different shades of red ink onto the dry paste and even left some areas white. I love the ombre effect it gives!!
Stamps: SSS-Thinking of You and Cupcake Party
Ink: SU-Poppy Parade, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, and  Midnight Muse; VersaMark
Paper: PTI-Kraft; misc.-white
Accessories: Wendy Vecchi-White Embossing Paste, Heidi Swapp chevron stencil, 3D Foam Squares,  SSS-chipboard arrow, Zing! white embossing powder, Ranger Glossy Accents

Golden Thanks

I'm in love with this card!!! This might be one I will have a hard time sending to someone!! I used the sketch from Retro Sketches today. I wanted to do a one layer card today, so I used embossing powder for some texture.I masked off the two side panels and then sponged an white pigment ink around the edges, before I remove the masks, to give the panels a little more definition. I didn't have any gold paper to match the embossing powder, so I took a white Thanks die cut and embossed it with the gold e.p.
Stamps: SU-Best Blossoms, and SSS-Thanks
Paper: PTI-Kraft, and Post-It Craft paper
Ink: VersaMark and Wplus9 White pigment ink
Accessories: Zing!-White Opaque embossing powder, Inkadinkadoo Gold Glam E.P., Stampendous Fine  Detail Black E.P., SU puncch-Trio Flowers, SSS-Thanks die, Recollections Faux Pearls,  3D Foam  Squares, and a Corner Chomper

Flowers for You

I'm loving my cardmaking mojo right now!! I'm loving the inspiration that I get from following challenge blogs!!! This card was inspired by two challenges, Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches.
Stamps: The Stamps of Life-flowers2share
Ink: SU-Wisteria Wonder, Crumb Cake, Garden Green, and Almost Amethyst, Memento-Tuxedo Black,  and  VersaMark
Paper-Bazzill-Blackbird, Misc. brown, amethyst, and white
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Zing! embossing powder, Stampedous embossing powder, 3D  Foam Squares, and ribbon

Another Birthday Card!

This is another card I made for a family member's birthday. Since it is in March, I'm going to share it now!! Especially since I made it with a challenge in mind!! I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches!!
The sketch was so much fun to work with!! I think I will be using it again soon!!
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp-Cupcake Party
Ink: SU-Kiwi Kiss, Blushing Bride, and Basic Gray, VersaMark
Paper: Coredinations-Nostalgia, Bazzill-Berry Blush, misc white, and My Mind's Eye-Life of the Party
Accessories: Nestabilities, ribbon, Stampendous embossing powder, 3D Foam Squares

Christmas Snowman

Okay, this little snowman has been hanging out on my table since early December when I put him together. I thought it would be cute to make a snowman wearing a top hat!!! Well, that is as far as I got. I couldn't figure out how to utilize him on a card. So there he sat, taunting me to use him!! While I was looking at all the challenges for today, inspiration struck with two of them!! The Merry Monday Christmas Challenge and the sketch from Mojo Monday were perfect for this guy!!
Stamps: Hero Arts sentiment, Misc. SU circles, and Recollections hat stamp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU-Poppy Parade
Paper: Misc.-white, orange, and black, Crate Paper-Peppermint Collection
Accessories: misc. crystals, pop dots

Burgundy Birthday

More birthday cards!! This is for a family member's birthday, but I have to share it!! I think it turned out great!!! I took my color inspiration from the Colour Q challenge. I struggled with the colors at first, then once I got all the cardstock out, I was struck with layout inspiration! 

Stamps: PTI-Fillable Frames #8, SU-Small Sayings, KaiserCraft-Distress

Ink: Su-Bravo Burgundy, Basic Gray, Poppy Parade, and Summer Starfruit

Paper: SU-Summer Starfruit, Misc.-gray, red, and burgundy

Accessories: Scrapbook Adhesives-3D Foam Squares, Ranger-Glossy Accents, PTI-Fillable Frames #8 die

Thank you hearts!

It is that time of year when I need some Thank You cards!! The Pink Elephant Challenge was to create a thank you card.  Here is a card that I did with a sketch inspiration by Mojo Monday!! I loved this sketch!! It has so many possibilities!! I happened to have some chipboard hearts, from Simon Says Stamp, sitting on my table so that is the shape I used!! The only color paint I had was altered orange by Studio, so I added a few drops of SU's Real Red reinker to get the color for the hearts.
Stamps: Unknown Thank You set
Ink: SU-Taken With Teal
Paper: PTI-Kraft, misc.-white, American Crafts-Dear Lizzy
Accessories: SSS-chipboard hearts, Scrapbook Adhesives-3D Foam Squares, PTI-Fillable Frames die #4,  Studio-altered orange, Studio G glitter glue

Valentine's Birthday

So a good friend of my mom's loves cards!! I've been sending her cards with my mom when she comes to visit. She asked me to make a card for a lady at church who is turning 100+ on Valentine's Day. She can never find a Valentine's birthday card, so here is what I came up with!!
Stamps: SU-Well Scripted, The Stamps of Life-hearts2diefor, and a Hero Arts stamp
Ink: SU-Pink Pirouette, Purely Pomegranate, and Cherry Cobbler, VersaMark
Paper: Bazzill Berry Blush, Coredinations Merry, and misc. white
Accessories: ribbon, Mini 8 Punch, SSS chipboard heart and A2 Card Curved Edge die, Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares, Zing white embossing powder

Patchwork Reindeer

I decided that I wanted to get started on my Christmas cards WAY early this year. I found a blog that does a Christmas card challenge every Monday, so I decided to play along!! This week the challenge is to make a Christmas card that has ribbon or twine on it. I forgot I had this cute patchwork reindeer, so I got him out to use!!
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps-Patchpal  Reindeer
Ink: Staz-On Jet Black, SU-Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade, Not Quite Navy,      and Garden Green
Paper: PTI-Kraft and Gina K-Pure Ivory, misc. red, Crate Paper-Peppermint Collection
Accessories: PTI-Mat Stack 4, Ek Success punch, American Crafts-Twine, Scrapbook Adhesives-3D  Foam  Squares, Uni-ball Signo pen

Card Making Again!!

I am back to my blog after taking the month of December off. I didn't stop making cards, just posting them here. I was busy with Christmas, sickness, and just life in general!
So, my goal for this year is to start sending out more cards. A couple years ago I started sending birthday cards out to nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, in-laws, mom, aunts, uncles, and grandparents for both mine and  my husband's families. I sent out anniversary cards to all those above that are married, plus I included all my married cousins!! I'm starting that back up this year!! Although I am going to include birthday cards for all those cousins that are unmarried and for friends!! For a family as large as mine, this is going to be a busy card making/sending year!! My other goal is to make these cards one of a kind! I want to expand my creativity, so each card I make will be a new one for me! Wish me luck on that!! I will try to post pictures of these cards after they have been sent, but I have already sealed a couple up without taking a picture. :(
Here are a couple cards I've done: