Sparkly Pines

Hi Everyone!

We are back this week with another fabulous sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I really think you should all head over and play along!  While there, you should also check out all of the fabulous creations of the rest of the Design Team - they are a pretty talented bunch!

Here is this week's sketch:

You know me, I took a few liberties with sketch...I hope Michelle doesn't mind!

I don't know if you all have had a chance to check out the fabulous technique and card that Cynthia Millan shared on her blog a few weeks back.  You can check out her technique video HERE.  I have been dying to try this technique using the Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and to create my own version of Cynthia's card.  So here is my CASE of her card:

If you click on the third image, you can really see how fabulous the Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder is.  I simply took a Versamark ink pad and covered the entire white panel with it, covered it with the Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and then used the heat tool.  And it turned out lovely.  The Early Espresso panel is embossed using the Woodgrain Embossing Folder which goes right along with the theme of this card, don't you think?  This is one of my most favourite cards I've made to date and was super fun to do.  Make sure you check out Cynthia's video above and try out this technique.

I will also be entering this card at the following challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps Challenge Blog

The theme for this week is HOLIDAY.  How fun!

2. Stampin' Celebration

Here is their inspiration photo for this week:

I really love all of the pine in these photos and knew my card would fit right in.  Isn't this a fantastic inspiration photo??

Finally, I'd like to take a moment to say thanks to the ladies over at Colour Me...! - my Subtle Thanks card I posted a couple of days ago was chosen by Julia for an honourable mention.  Yay!

Card Recipe:

Card Stock: Whisper White, Early Espresso

Stamp Sets: Ornamental Pine

Inks: Garden Green, Early Espresso, Versamark

Tools/Techniques: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Sponging (using Early Espresso ink)

Thanks for dropping by, I'm so glad you did!

Steph

A Subtle Thanks

Hi Everyone!

Hope you all have had a lovely weekend.  It is warming up here and I love it!  All of our snow has melted today - yay!  I'll take it back on Christmas Eve.  Lol.

I wanted to share a card with you that was super quick to make and a fun technique that I saw on Diane Dimich's site.  It is called the "Thumping Technique".  Click here for a link to the video.

The colours I used for this card were the gorgeous ones from this week's Colour Me...! challenge.

Card Recipe:

Card Stock: Early Espresso, Whisper White

Stamp Sets: Seasonally Scattered

Inks: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze

Tools/Techniques: "Thumping Technique, Filigree Frame Embossing Folder

Thanks for dropping by!

Steph

Blue Christmas

Hi Everyone,

Well it's officially here - snow!  Ugh, I hate the cold and the snow but it comes every year no matter what I think or say.  Go figure!  But, with snow on the ground, it has gotten me thinking about Christmas more often.  So more Christmas cards it is!

I spent today crafting with a lovely friend of mine and I have a few cards to share with you over the next few days and weeks.  Love days like today - crafting then dinner and a movie with some fabulous girlfriends.  Now if we were just wearing flip flops, it would have been awesome!

This week we have another fabulous sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge:

And, here is my creation for this week:

It's hard to tell but that sentiment is embossed in silver and is stunning.  I coloured within the sentiment with Coastal Cabana Blendabilities and I love the effect.

I will also be entering this card in the challenge over at Inkspirational.  This week they have a Word Prompt challenge and it's "Shine".  With all of the shiny silver on this card, I thought it was perfect!

Card Recipe (all items used are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Pool Party, Whisper White, Silver Foil Sheets

Stamp Sets: Mingle All The Way

Ink: Coastal Cabana Blendabilities, Versamark

Tools/Techniques: Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1/8" Silver Ribbon, Lucky Stars Embossing Folder

Thanks for dropping by - so glad you took the time,

Steph

A Maritime (or Atlantic!) Birthday

Hi Everyone!

Hope you are all having a great week!

Today I am celebrating my grandfather who just turned 81.  He lives back in Newfoundland so I thought a nautical theme would be perfect to celebrate with.  The Maritime DSP from Stampin' Up! fit the bill perfectly.

As always, I decided to play along with a couple of challenges.

1. Freshly Made Sketches

The sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches is a great one this week:

2. CAS-ology

Check out this week's cue card:

How lucky did I get???

And here is my card:

This card ended up being super tough for me to get together - to put all the pieces together in my mind. I had stamped several images, fussy cut some, used different colours but finally it came together.  Sponging was the key to this for me.  I sponged around the oval cut out of the stamped anchor image and also took some of Stampin' Up!'s Whisper White Cotton Ribbon (which I love!) and sponged it with Early Espresso ink in order to "dirty it up" a bit.

I have to thank Hayley over at Hayley's Paper Garden for all of her help today including her photographing skills - she does a much better job of capturing the images than I do!

Card Recipe (all products are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Night of Navy, Real Red, Whisper White, Maritime DSP

Stamp Sets: Dictionary, The Open Sea

Inks: Early Espresso

Tools/Techniques: Sponging, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Extra Large Oval Punch, 1/4" Cotton Ribbon - Whisper White

Thanks for dropping by, so happy you took the time!

Steph