#TGIF227 Embossing Powders

Do you remember the very first time you used embossing powder and a heat tool?  I remember it was magic and it blew my mind how simple it was to get such an impressive look.  Our challenge this week at #TGIF227 is one that all you have to do is use embossing powder.

For this card I busted out the Shimmer Black Embossing Powder for the magnolia flowers and the classic Whisper White Embossing Powder for the greeting.  The new shimmer powder is so much fun and creates a textural gorgeous look.

To allow the embossing powder to star in this show I kept the color palette to a washed out minimal look of black, white, grey, and mint.  I stamped on Gray Granite and Basic Black with Versamark Ink.  Once I embossed and die cut the flowers I painted them with an Aquapainter using Whisper White and Mint Macaron Inks.

Take a close look at the image below and you will see the flecks of iridescent glitter in the black embossed images.  The shoestring bow tied around the card and through the tag is a thinned out piece of mint Natures Poem Twine.

Fancy Friday is For the Men

Today marks the day for another Fancy Friday Blog Hop.  This Team of "fancy friends" is a gathering of past and current Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team Members who have created great friendships all while stampin'.  For this hop there are 11 stops which you are going to love as we focus on men of all ages and stamp up all things masculine.

To start, I grabbed some manly colors so I could paint a cool watercolor background.  I used Pretty Peacock and Shaded Spruce with an Aquapainter to swoosh (my fast way of watercoloring) a blend of color on a panel of Shimmer White Cardstock.  When the paint was completely dry I stamped the multiple tree image from the Winter Woods Stamp Set using Early Espresso Ink.

My painted and stamped scene was exactly what I was envisioning for my brown bear, cut from the Snow Globe Dies found in the Holiday Catalog.  For this fuzzy bear I broke down the fibers of a small piece of Early Espresso Cardstock with a bone folder so I could separate paper into two layers.  Once separated I cut one fuzzy bear and then layered it on two more die cut bears for a bit more visual weight.

For the greeting I used a Stamparatus to get the exact placement I wanted and to add layers of ink for a deeper intensity of color.  If you look close the colors are subtle blend of Pretty Peacock and Early Espresso.  I simple knot tie of Linen Thread is the only embellishment I chose to include unless you want to count the ink splatters which I got by flicking a Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Marker.

I sure have enjoyed sharing my spin on a more masculine styled card for you.  Your next stop along this month's Fancy Friday Blog Hop is with the adorable and WAY amazing stamper, Paula Dobson.

HSS Inspo Board

Heat embossing, watercoloring, and layering--what could be more classic for a hand stamped card?  My color palette, pulled right from Hand Stamped Sentiments inspiration board, is Rococo Rose, Merry Merlot, Grey Granite, and Garden Green with a watercolor wash of Blushing Bride.

I started with a piece of Shimmer White Cardstock and stamped it with the large floral image from the Good Morning Magnolia Stamp Set.  I heat embossed the image with Platinum Embossing Powder and then spent some time watercoloring the entire piece of cardstock.  I mentioned I did a watercolor wash of Blushing Bride, but only to the floral image.  To do a wash you simply paint with water and a hint of color.  This lends to easier and more natural blending.

For the background I lightly watercolored several layers of Grey Granite Ink.  I think it's interesting that the color looks more brown than grey.  I even added a light touch of watercolor to the greeting label.  By the way the label was cut using a die from the Lakeside Set.

#TGIF225 All on Black

Our latest challenge at TGIF offers an opportunity to explore using black as your background color. How fabulously fun and fulfilling to have a dark backdrop to allow your focal elements to pop right off the page.  Why don't you check out our All On Black Challenge at #TGIF225.

How about selecting all neutrals to be showcased on black?  I collected my pieces and loosely laid them out on a black card and loved it.  So, I continued in making a dimensional floral using the Balloon Punch and Cardstock Vellum which I embellished with Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Champagne Foil foliages. 

Here is how I made my vellum flower:

• Punch (5) large and (4) small balloons from Vellum Cardstock.
• Pinch each balloon to create a flower petal with dimension.
• Squirt a blob of hot glue on a Silcon Craft Sheet.
• Add the (5) larger petals to the hot glue with all the tips in the center.
• Squirt a blob of hot glue on the center of the (5) larger balloons.
• Add the (4) smaller petals to the hot glue.
• Use Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends to color a Perennial Essence Floral Center.
• Adhere the center to the flower.
• Use a bit of Fine Tip Glue to add Iced Stampin' Glitter around the floral center.

Perfect Colors for a Season's Greeting

Are these colors, Pretty Peacock, Cherry Cobbler, and Soft Suede, absolutely perfect for a Season's Greeting card?  I think so!  This color combo is the latest challenge that is being hosted by Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Check us all out and then grab your supplies and join in the challenge fun.

This Christmas card is reminiscent of years gone by with the church nestled in a scene of trees.  The pieces for the scene were cut with the Snow Globe Dies from cardstocks in the challenge colors and a scrap of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.  The background was pumped up with the Script 3D Embossing Folder and the glimmer frame cut with the Rectangle Stitched Dies.

For the greeting I used the Still Scenes Stamp Set which is bundled with the Snow Globe Dies.  I tucked a few swirls of Silver Metallic Thread behind the trees and Wink of Stella on the trees and church.

Wildly Happy for Monday Montage

Hello Monday Montage Blog Hop Followers.  It's is good to have you back and if this is your first time hopping with us let me say "welcome and enjoy your visit."

I made this card a few days ago and had some fun creating a Pigment Sprinkle background to set the stage for this fabulous panda image.  

On a piece of Watercolor Paper I lightly, I mean super lightly, sprinkled the Melon Mambo, Gorgeous Grape, and Coastal Cabana pigments and spritzed them with water.  I tipped the paper back and forth to get the colors to blend into each other for a smooth look.  Once it was dry I cut the leaves with the Tropical Dies square piece.  Before adhering it to the card I spread some of the Shimmering Embossing Paste.

Next up along our hop is the beautiful Julie Warnick.  Thanks for stopping by.

to Julie

to Cheryl

 Monday Montage Hoppers

Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs

Charlet Mallett - Painted Orange

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations

Stampers Gone Wild at Creation Station

It is a pleasure to welcome you to August's Creation Station Design Team Blog Hop.  This month's theme is totally epic, "Stampers Gone Wild" is what it's all about.  We have to chance to put together anything so long as the focus is animals.  Too cool don't you think?

At Onstage in April some attendees received the Wildly Happy Stamp Set.  At first glance of the set I wanted it for myself.  I love the hand sketched artwork of all the images and the greetings are equally as awesome.  

Tips for making this card:

• Cut (1) Whisper White layer of cardstock using the largest die from the Stitched Rectangles Set.
• Using a Sponge Brayer roll Balmy Blue on half of the cut rectangle and Pear Pizzazz on the other half being sure to softly blend where to two colors come together.
• Adhere sponged panel to a Thick Whisper White card base.
• Cut (3) Friendly Silhouettes one each from Old Olive, Garden Green, and Mossy Meadow.
• Layer the silhouettes on the card.
• Stamp the panda image on Whisper White with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.
• Color panda with Smokey Slate Stampin' Blends then detail cut the image with Paper Snips.
• Tuck panda in the greenery and attach with Stampin' Dimensionals.
• Stamp greeting with Memento Ink.
• Tie a shoesting bow with the olive twine from the Magnolia Lane Ribbon Combo Pack.

Thank you for stopping by today and I wish you lots of happy stampin'.  Next up along today's hop is the fun and fabulous Kathy Kartak so let's pop over to see what "wild" stampin' she has been up to.

#TGIF223

Thank goodness it's Friday and stamp challenge time.  Our trio of challenge colors this week is like a gleeful sugar rush of intensity.  My set of This Little Piggy stamps made it's way back to my desk to make this spunky "she did it" kind of card for #TGIF223.

You can see I made a tone on tone Buffalo Check print background on Melon Mambo cardstock and then cut it out with the largest of the Rectangle Stitched Dies for my bottom layer.  I also cut a Stitched Nesting shape which I added Shimmery White Paste clouds.  Aren't they an adorable setting for my flying pig?

I have just a bit of Gorgeous Grape peeking out from behind the little piggy and I think it helps to pick up the soft purple wings and twine.  About the twine.  It's purple and yes I made it with a Dark Purple Posy Stampin' Blend and the Whisper White Baker's Twine.