I Freakin' Love Sketches

Over at Hand Stamped Sentiments you can see their newest sketch challenge.  Let me just say that "I freakin' love sketch challenges."  They take you on a creative journey you would not typically take and for me this one was a bit challenging.  Those three elements across the top puzzled me as I was not sure what to do there, but I finally settled for the hearts.

The super cute striped background paper and the black patterned heart come from the Stacked with Love DSP in the Occasions Catalog.  I made my own ric rac using an Envelope Punch Board.  You can see how I do that by checking out this past post.  It's a bit hard to see in the picture but I used the new Rose Coral Chalk Pad on Chalkboard Paper.  Take a close look at the twine.  It's pink and gold and delicious!! I robbed a piece of it from my Paper Pumpkin kit.

Watercolor Embossing

I love Sunday evenings because it's a time to chat with my fellow Monday Montage friends on Facebook and post our Monday Montage Blog Hop.  I totally click through the hop and admire the creative skills of my Stampin' Up! friends.  So, grab your popcorn and enjoy the show!

For this hop I am sharing a card that makes me completely happy; when I see it I smile.  The background paper, for me, is truly the star of the show.  I call the technique Watercolor Embossing and it's quite simple yet offers such a cool look.  A look that can never be duplicated.

Here is how you do it:

1.  Preink an embossing folder with dye based ink.  For this card I used both Crushed Curry and Blushing Bride.  I swiped the ink in opposing corners to keep my pads clean.

2.  Spritz the inked folder with water in a Stampin' Mister.

3.  Insert a piece of cardstock in the folder and run through the Big Shot.  I used Coastal Cabana.

The embellishments on the card are a menagerie of yumminess.  There is nothing better than sequins, washi tape, glimmer paper, chevron ribbon, bakers twine, and a ribbon rosette.  The heart is stamped with my most favorite image from the set Hello Life.  It's just become a "go to" stamp for me in the past few weeks of crafting.

From Dara Gloden

To Julie Warnick

Hello Love Life

Hello and happy Tuesday!  It has come time for a color challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  This is a sassy and spirited combo perfect for Valentines.  So, that is just what I did.  I whipped up a playful card featuring the Hello Life stamp set.  Can I just say "what a super cool stamp set?"  Yes, I can!  The versatility of the images is fabulous and totally workable for tons of occasions.

And here is a look at the fun and simple pop up on the inside.  Just place half of a heart framelit on the fold and position the top cutting plate on ALMOST the entire heart.  Keep a tiny slice of the framelit uncovered so the heart will not fully cutout leaving a the side pieces attached.  To finish the pop up reverse the fold on the non heart portion.

Hello Sunshine

We are back!! Our Monday Montage Blog Hop has returned to you today and we're in full force ready to share what we have been crafting lately.  Today I am showing off a cute CUTE card I made with the new Hello You and Crazy For You products.  They are sold in the Occasions Catalog individually or as a bundle in which you can save 15%.

The base of my card is Ivory Naturals which has been embossed with one of the Delicate Designs TIEF.  The tag is a 2" wide strip of Lost Lagoon card stock detailed with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch.  "Hello" is cut from Daffodil Delight to match that I used seam binding in the same color.  For added dimension and cuteness I stamped the word "sunshine" on one of the Wood Embellishments.  A trio of Strawberry Slush flowers ties in the wood banner embellishment.

I am hoping you enjoy the hop and have a totally awesome upcoming week.  Be sure to spend a moment or two being crafty.

From Dara Gloden

To Julie Warnick

One Design Two Times

I am BIG into double dipping!  If I can reuse something for more than one occasion I get super jazzed, in fact I often don't purchase, or make, or do anything I can't repurpose.  I have been the same with card designs lately.  Design once and make a few simple adjustments to whip up a second card for a different occasion.  Over the next few weeks I will share some of those cards with today being my first installment.

What appeals to me about these two cards is the clean and simple "no fuss" look to the overall design.  Once card is a top fold and the other is a side fold panel of Kraft card stock.  I cut focal greetings from the new Hello You Framelits and then stamped the sub greetings from the Crazy For You new stamp set.  My ink colors are Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, and Crushed Curry.  To add a hint of bling I included a few small Vellum card stock flowers with Rhinestones.