Just Us Girls Challenge #466 - TREND Week

I can honestly say, that though I have heard and seen the bleach technique, I have never done it before.  I'm thinking because bleach scares me.  But, I persevered and made myself try this.

 I went really basic, but you can sort of see the area that was bleached [in the background].  I used Altenew's Hennah Elements.  I stamped, white embossed, and then using a micro brush, I bleached out the inside of the flowers.  Because I used a dark paper, it bleached it out.

I had the tag hanging out on my desk, and because it matched, I lightly adhered it over the flowers.  This will make a "card gift" for my friend's  birthday.  Dual win there - I used bleach, and have a gift.  Gotta love that~

Your turn - there are many ways to use bleach on your cards [Pinterest, You tube, Jennifer McGuire].  Find one that interests you and play along.  I for one, am looking forward to see what the Team created, as well as the players!  Have fun.

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Thanks for stopping by~

Happy Little Stampers

I'm joining in the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies Challenge, and the Christmas Challenge; Anything Goes with an optional twist of a stencil.  I, once again, needed 1 more Christmas card.  [I really thought I was done!]  Out came the dies, and I opted for no stencil.

For my card, I started with a piece of cardboard, sprayed it with ink spray, and then crimped the die-cut circle.  Keeping with the texture, I also used Happy Little Stampers Christmas Tree die for a tree out of the cardboard.  I inked it with a dauber, drew on "snow" with a white gel pen, and then glued on some glitter.  My embossed sentiment is from the retired Hero Arts Holiday Sayings set.  I rather like this card - I like the way the ink shows on the cardboard -- it's different.

Thanks HLS - I had fun.

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Thanks for stopping by~

Loll's Splash Water Coloring Challenge

Loll Thompson is running a fun little challenge over on her personal blog; Splash Water Coloring.  She made a video for this technique.  It's very easy to do, my only advice, use a box. The splatter  goes everywhere.  [Yeah, ask me how I know that!]  That said, it really does make for a pretty end result, and I will be using this technique again.

The center panel is the Splash Water Coloring portion.  I happened to have an alcohol inked frame laying on my desk, and since it matched my panel, I used it too.  [Don't want to waste, right?] I am loving the bright colors, and this will make for an encouraging card for someone.  I used STAMPlorations Say It Big; Be You.

Thanks Loll - that was fun~

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Thanks for stopping by~

Just Us Girls #377 - Color Week

It's a  lovely color combo for this week's JUGS challenge.  I used the Faux Metal Technique [I love this one] with the colors.

I just love the shimmer that the Perfect Pearls makes.  I also used my new FREE die that I got from my last MFT order.  Free is always fun, right? ;)

Your turn.  Come on over to the Just Us Girls Challenge #377, and play along.  The gallery should be really pretty with these colors~

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A Few Challenges

I am joining in a few challenges today - just for playing :).

Let's start with Mixed Media Challenge #32 - stencil, along with Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge; Anything Goes with a twist of a stencil.

 I found a Tim Holtz tutorial over on Pinterest, and went with that.  I have to be in the mood for media, and fortunately, I was!  I love this fun tag.  I used so many supplies I am not going to list then, but suffice to say I used about 5 different stencils, and spritzed with water to blend the base colors.  Qualifications for both challenges~

I went on to join in CAS Mix Up January Challenge; stamping + liquid colors.

Not sure if this is CAS enough or not, but I am going with it.  I used the Baby Wipe Technique for my background.  It's one I have been meaning to try for awhile --  It's bright I'll say that!  My sentiment is Inspired By Stamping Water Color Sentiments, along with the bird from Winter Friends.

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Thanks for stopping by~

Just Us Girls #236 - Technique & Addicted to CAS #36

This week over at Just Us Girls, Lisa had given us the technique of a water colored background.  Her timing is perfect as Jennifer McGuire just put out a water colored background video that I wanted to try.

 I have to say, I rather like this background. I went for an ombre effect.  One thing about Jennifer, her techniques are never hard to do, you just need patience [for the drying time :)].  I used a sentiment from My Favorite Things, Simply Fabulous Sayings, and my background is a really old SU stamp.  A very simple card that does pack a punch.

You need to play in this week's challenge -- it's really fun.  I like water coloring since you never know what you will end up with...  Hope to see you join in over at Just Us Girls.

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I have a dual day today. It is also Addicted to CAS Challenge. This week is Far Away.

We are being sponsored by StampArt Designs

 

 I wanted to give the effect of a loooooooooong road.  Did I accomplish that?  Well, I hope so since this is the card I am using ;).

Meanwhile, pop on over to Addicted to CAS, check out the other DT cards and then, play along!  We would love to have you join in!

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Thanks for stopping by~

The Male Room

It's time for The Male Room Challenge! The next 2 weeks we want to see your Masculine Retirement cards.

 I used a sentiment from Gina K Designs, Special Occasions Tags.  I used the Cracked Glass technique on my top star.  I am also joining in with The Paper Players Challenge; CAS using a star, and CAS on Sunday; masculine

Now, it's your turn!  Come on over to The Male Room, check out my fellow Teamies, and then play along!  We would love to see what you create~

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Thanks for stopping by~

Less is More & Pals Paper Arts

[Go here for my JUGS sample]

Playing in a couple of challenges.  I sure enjoy having the week end here!  I just get to have so much fun and stamp!  :)  Yep - total fun for me!!

Today I joined in Less is More 41 - one layer leaves.  Yep, gotta love these quick 10 minute cards!  (More time to make more cards~)

I used my Hero Arts, Real leaves "small redbug" - I adore the detail in this stamp. My sentiment is also Hero Arts, Holiday Greetings. Easy peasy and fun to make!

Now, this next challenge I was so inspired with the photo from Pals Paper Arts 119! Check this out:

When I saw this photo, I instantly thought of a technique I had never done, but always wanted to try. Soot Stamping. Oh my gosh, is this the perfect technique when you look at the photo! I'm thinkin!!  DH and DS were both impressed with the depth of this card.  I used the beautiful tree from Flourishes Forest of Trees, and the mc is Hero Arts Holiday Sayings.  What a fun technique this was!  Really easy too.

Okay, off to create some more goodies! Thanks for stopping by~

SCS Color Challenge

This week I am Hostessing the SCS Color Challenge.  My colors are White, Gray & Turquoise, with a dessert of using a die cut.  My favorite color is turquoise.  [The advantage of being a hostess, is you get to pick your favorite colors!] My images are a partial sneek peak of Mark's Finest Papers to be released next Tuesday, August 9th.  My dies are from PTI (scallops) and the focal die is one I bought at CHA from MFTstamps.  I love this new die~ it cuts awesome!
My background is a dual resist emboss - 1) stamp image on shiny paper and emboss. 2) Brayer your lightest color all over paper, 3) add punched out circles (3-4) and brayer 2nd color all over paper, 4) add a few more punched circles and brayer 3rd color all over paper.  Remove the punched out circles, and wala - you have self made background paper!  I loved this look.  I hope you pop on over and play in my color challenge~ let me know you saw it on my blog!
Thanks for stopping by~

Featured Stamper and OWH

This week's Featured Stamper over at SCS is Carole.  She has a very nice gallery, and I always enjoy browsing through galleries.  I have been seeing the polished stone effect, and have been wanting to try it - well, this card of Carol's made it really easy!

I stayed with the black bg to let the effect really stand out.  The sentiment is a little sneak peek of MFP's new set Thankful Mums and Pumpkin.

My next card is a first for me.  Operation Write Home is an organization that I am impressed with!  Anything that supports our troops is terrific in my book.  I played along with their sketch challenge.  A nice and easy one which goes so well with a CAS card.

 The back strip on this is something new  I tried today with a Spellbinders Impressabilites folder.  Heather over at PTI showed us how to do Letterpress.  Basically you brayer up the folder with ink and run in through your embossing machine.  The ink color comes off onto the cardstock and embosses at the same time.  IRL it is much more defined [- not so much in the photo.  I'm just sayin.]  Once again, the sentiment is a sneak peek from the same MFP set as above,  Thankful Mums and Pumpkin.  Thanks for stopping by~~

Stampin B's #54

This is my card for the Stampin B's challenge.  This week Joanne challenged us to make a sun and an encouraging sentiment.  Well after I saw this card by Geri, I simply HAD to follow her tutorial for these FABULOUS sun (rays).  Her tutorial is so easy to follow!  In fact, this card WON her the Guest Designer position over at Stamp TV.  Well deserved don't you think!  Anyway, I used the butterfly  from GKD Take Flight.  [The antennas are black paper very thinly cut and then curled and adhered on the back of the butterfly.]  I colored it with copics (!), and the sentiment is from GKD Inside and Out.  I feel this sentiment is encouraging in a nice trait that a lot of people have ~ kind of left field, but it works for me!  My color choice is for Tina's color challenge over at Stamp TV ~ blue, yellow and red.  These colors worked well together ~ nice and bright.   Be sure to come on over to the Stampin B's and play this week!  We love to see what you create~~ Thanks for stopping by-

A Couple of STV Challenges

This card is for Karen's Anything But a Card challenge.  This week we made a postage stamp holder for your purse.  I don't use stamps - I have a meter, so I made this to go as a gift with a birthday card.  (to someone who uses stamps)  I used GKD Lovely Labels illustrated by Nina Brackett.  I really love the way these work with the nesties labels!  I used flat flowers (this is for a purse remember) that I colored with copics to match my cardstock colors.  Just a fun little project.

This is for Sharri's challenge Blast from the Past - this week is the kissing technique. I used a spotted kissing stamp on the dark leaves, and a kissing flower bouquet on the light.  I just am hoping you can see it.  I really haven't seen this card posted yet - good grief. LOL.  This sketch is from Sketch Girl #15~ a fun little sketch.
Okay, challenges out of the way now to my other stuff for tomorrow~ Stampin B's, STV Sketch AND my new DT stuff for Clear Dollar Stamps.  Again, can I say it is such a good thing I have Wednesdays off!  WOW what a busy day I have~~ good thing I love it!  LOL  See ya later...

STVBPSLS03 & Stamping Vacation

This card is for Denise's challenge over at Stamping Vacation - Build A Sketch.  It's is a fun challenge - Denise has a list of papers to cut and number- then, every month she gives you the numbered pieces that you use to build a sketch.  I had plans on using my sewing machine for Sharri's Blast From the Past challenge over at STV - sewing on your card.  However, I forgot and put the card together - shoot  --so I used faux stitching (you could do that too on the challenge)  I used GKD Pressed Flowers illustrated by Melanie Muenchinger on GKD paper; In The Navy and Ocean Mist, along with white.  [With my white paper, I don't like to waste my GKD Luxury white on background, or card bases - I save it strictly for coloring with copics.  I buy reams of 80# white paper from Kelly Paper company]  I put some glaze on the flowers but the photo doesn't show that very good.  That's it for me today - thanks for stopping by!  

 

Stampin B's #50

This week Ms. Nancy challenged us to make a green monochromatic card.  I do like monochromatic cards so it really wasn't to much of a challenge!  On my card I colored my white ribbon green with copics and also my flowers!  That is a great trick I picked up in blog land somewhere!  As you can see, I am still working on sewing a straight line ~ LOL.  My Happy Birthday is a $1 Mike's stamp and I used my new K&C designer paper.  I had fun with this challenge!  Feel free to come on over to the Stampin B's and play this week!  We would love to see your wonderful cards!  Thanks for stopping by!!

p.s.  I sure hope I didn't miss anyone last week when I commented!   If I missed you I apologize!  A special thanks to my cyber friends from STV who joined in!  That is so cool!!

Color Challenge SCS and There She Goes Sketch

I just loved these colors together~beautiful! Betty has some awesome taste! CC262 ~Old Olive, Opulence and Razzel with a neutral! My sketch is from There She Goes.  I also love the crayon resist effect with the butterfly from GKD Take Flight!  I added in some leaves from GKD Tropical Flowers with some sponging.  Used my friend cuttlebug and this is good to go!  I am so happy I work late today too!  It is so cool getting a card done first thing - AND than going to work!  I need to have  a chat with my boss...  LOL.  Have a great day~~Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Gina K Thank You Past Challenge Hosts Blog Hop

A HUGE thank you goes to the past challenge hosts {Shannon, Carolina, Jennie & Selma} over at STV.  They have spent the last 3 months leading us, challenging us and having fun with us in the daily challenges.  What an awesome job these ladies did!  I have made 2 cards tonight 1 for my favorite challenge the sketch by Jennie!  If you follow my blog, you will see that usually every week I joined in with Jennie's challenge mainly because I like sketches, but mostly because I love Jennie's sketches!  I chose her #4 sketch to re-use.


 

I made this card with GKD White Luxury, Lipstick Red and Passionate Pink cardstock. (Romance Assortment).  The sentiment is from the wonderful GKD Inside and Out stamp set.  I used nesties for my star and a star cuttlebug folder.  It's a basic card, but I love the cleanness and focus on the terrific sentiment.

This second card is from my other favorite challenge-  Blast From The Past.  I created another Crayon Resist card.  I absolutely adore the effect of a white crayon and sponged ink!  I used the fabulous GKD Take Flight stamp set.  Is this butterfly gorgeous or what! The background leaves are from  Theresa Momber's  Hang In There. The sketch is from my sketch challenge [today] over at STV. Card supplies include, GKD Black Onyx, White Luxury, All Spruced Up (and really rust, ribbon and gems).  The nestied oval is sponged with summer sun and really rust - leaves are stamped with versamark.  A couple strips of ribbon and a few gems and this puppy is done!!
Thanks for hopping with us New Hosts in thanks to the previous Hosts!  Like I said they did a terrific job~~ and, they worked out all the kinks for the second wave of hosts!! US!! Thanks Ladies - you all ROCK!!

STV Color Challenge & SCS Sketch Challenge

WOW! I have been so busy getting ready for a few things - all due on Thursday that I had no time left to make a card to post! 3 days with no posting is not a good thing! I think I need to re adjust what I do with my time - like FIGURE IT OUT! LOL. Anyway, I finally got all my stuff done and was able to make this card for a couple of challenges!! Yea! Here it is:

 

This is for the STV Color Challenge by the new Hostess Tina Gilliland. Her colors were pink and white.  I really don't have luck with pastel pink so I used GKD Passionate Pink and Ultra Smooth Luxury White.  My sketch is from SCS sketch challenge.   The stamp sets I used were again GKD Take Flight and the background flowers are from GKD Tropical Flowers.  I used the crayon resist technique with the butterfly.  I love this effect.  I stamped my background and THAN cut out with nesties - this makes for interesting layers I think.  Thanks Tina and Roxie for a couple of great challenges!!

Needless to say, I am out of town for the next 4 days - I am praying that my blog does it's thing and posts all my hard work for tomorrow.  Please come back and check it out!!  Thanks for stopping by~~