Thursday, April 25, 2024

Into The Woods With A Frog Prince

 
Hello and welcome.   Today I have another ATC (artist trading card) to share.  I'm still dealing with this migraine and I just couldn't physically, or mentally for that matter, concentrate enough to make a card.  My ATC is using Gecko Galz Gnomes At Home (retired) ATC set and the April 2024 newsletter freebie.

After printing both collage sheets on Neenah white card stock, I trimmed the background sheet before running a forest foliage marker along the edge to cover up the white before fussy cutting the frog prince.  Once I had glued him to the background, I added another layer for the bottom.  The only embellishments used was color spritzing some of the forest foliage marker and a few tiny jewel bling on the crown and in the trees.  I'm happy with how it turned out.

Challenges entered:
 
 
Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Gecko Galz April Digital Collage
Card Stock: Neenah White; Scraps
Accessories: Computer, Printer, Bling, Color Spritzer, SU Forest Foliage

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Woodblock Wednesday April 2024 Edition

 

 
Hello and welcome.  Today I'm taking part in the Woodblock Wednesday challenge on Instagram where we're challenged to dig out, and dust off, our woodblock stamps and show them some love again.  My card this month is using a long retired set of Hero Arts Poetic Prints Collection called Patterns and Petals that I haven't even used yet.  It was still in it's original packaging.  I'm not even sure how long I've had this stamp set, but I do know it's been over a year.

I grabbed a scrap piece of Neenah white card stock and folded it to make a clean and simple slimline card.  Taking three of the stamps out, I stamped them using various Versamark inks (key lime, aquatic splach, mango madness) before stamping my anniversary saying using memento tuxedo black ink.  The only embellishments I added were a few Gin and Tonic sequins from Picket Fence Studios.  

Challenges entered:
 
 
Hero Arts
 
Colorful Options
 
Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Hero Arts; Rubber Stampede (saying)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark Key Lime, Aquatic Splash, Mango Madness
Card Stock: Neenah White Scrap
Accessories: Sequins, Glue

Monday, April 22, 2024

PIP Challenge 2416

  Sponsored by 


 
 
Hello and welcome.  Today begins a new challenge over at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and this week we're being sponsored by The Cutting Cafe.  I would like to thank them for their sponsorship.  The last couple of weeks, I've had a very nasty migraine that just wasn't letting up or going away, so I used a template I already had from The Cutting Cafe called Polo Shirt Shaped card which is retired now.

I started out by printing the template onto Neenah white card stock then fussy cut the template out.  Once that was done, I printed a long retired GinaK digital paper set called The Great Outdoors, adhered it over the white shirt layer, also fussy cut around it, before adhering it to the card using Scor-Tape.  After adding the rest of the shirt "elements" using Bearly Arts © glue, I added some tiny pearls from My Favorite Things as "buttons" I've had in my stash for years. 

Challenges entered:


Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day and don't forget to join us at Pammie's Inky Pinkies.  

Stamps: None
Card Stock: Neenah White; GinaK Digital Paper
Accessories: Computer, Printer, Glue, Pearls

Sunday, April 21, 2024

Some Migraine Inspired ATC's

 
Hello and welcome.  Today I'd like to share a few ATC's (artist trading cards) I made this last week while dealing with this migraine that won't go away using products from Gecko Galz.  Thank goodness for Gecko Galz's pre-colored images, otherwise I couldn't have pushed through with these.  I'm happy with how they all turned out but took me way too long to make.

First up is the one I made using the provided image for Gecko Galz Gothic challenge.  After printing the image onto Neenah white card stock, I cut it down to size before layering the image onto one of the backgrounds of the Creatures Of The Night (retired) ATC collection then inking the edges of the layer using a Stampin Up basic grey marker.  I then went and ran a Tim Holtz paper distresser along the edges to "age" it a bit before re-inking the edges using the marker again.  I then added some black brads before layering (again) the image panel onto another background sheet of the Creatures Of The Night ATC collection using glue dots.  Once again, I ran the basic grey marker along the edge then distressed the edges again.  After digging through my stash and adding a black cat sticker I've had for years, I found a small resin black rose and added that using glue dots.  The final touch was color spritzing the basic grey marker over the image.  

Challenges entered:
 
Never Before Used Schtuff (NBUS) #61 - Use Your NBUS (image, background paper, rose, cat)
 
Two Old Bats
 


The next ATC was inspired/made for the Gecko Galz monthly steampunk challenge again using the provided pre-colored image.  It's also printed on Neenah white card stock with the edges of the image colored using a CTMH autumn terracotta marker before layering it onto a scrap of espresso card stock.  I then added that to one of the backgrounds from the Time Flies ATC Collection, inked the edges using the marker before distressing that layer as well.  After adding some brushed metal mini brads, I then adhered the image panel to another one of the Time Flies backgrounds making sure to run the marker along the edge as well.  I then dug through my stash and found a package of Tim  Holtz sprocket gears I've had for years and hadn't finished using.  I then added a Dollar Tree© fancy clock I bought a few months back and added that using a pop up glue dot.  After adding some clear mini sequins around the butterfly, I then color spritzed the CTMH marker over the whole card. 
 
Challenges entered:
 
 
 
 
Next up is a sweet spring ATC made using the Gecko Galz My Little Chick-a-dee collage sheet.  After selecting an image and cutting it down to size, I then layered it onto a scrap of eggplant envy card stock before running a magenta marker along the edge before layering again onto a scrap of Music Man digital paper pack before adding brads.  Again I ran the marker along the edge of the layer before using my distressing tool on it and then layered twice more onto scraps of magenta and eggplant card stock.  I then made my own floral spray using both of my Martha Stewart fern/butterfly trio punches, paper crimper, and bottle of tiny magenta Prima flowers.  The final touches were some magenta bling in the butterfly and flower centers and diamond ice stickles highlighting the centers of the image flowers.

Challenges entered:
 
Snippets Playground #478 - Use Those Snippets (butterflies, fern, layers) 
 
Gecko Galz Monthly Customer Challenge
 
Gecko Galz Facebook Group
 
Triple B Challenge
 
The Four Seasons
 
Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Gecko Galz
Card Stock: Neenah; Stampin Up; Scraps; Gecko Galz Digital Paper
Ink: none
Accessories: Computer, Printer, Brads, Primas, MS Punches, Glue Dots, Pop Up Glue Dots, Ice Stickles. Bling, Cat Sticker, Black Rose, TH Sprocket, Chipboard Clock

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Another Top 5

 
 
 

Hello and welcome.  I discovered today that my here made Top 5 for the  The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #160.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

A Joyful Old Fashioned Santa

Hello and welcome.  I have another card I made while trying to focus on something else and not the migraine.  I've had to do something because nothing was touching it, or even taking the edge off plus I know crying will just hurt more.  I've had this pre-colored Santa image printed for a couple of weeks for the Gecko Galz© monthly Christmas challenge and I'm finally assembling it.

I started out by digging through my stash of designer paper and discovered this Recollections© Christmas paper I've had for years and haven't finished using it yet.  Once I had it adhered to my card base, I layered the Santa image and added brads before adhering it to my card using pop up glue dots.  I then dug through my embellishment stash and discovered this wooden JOY.  So I pulled that out, then pressed it into a Tim Holtz© picket fence distress ink pad to "paint" it.  Once I had the coverage I wanted, I then glued it to my card right under the Santa.  The final touches were some red/gold/navy fibers I've had for years and some Crafty Meraki midnight shimmer illusion bling around Santa's head and also the "dot" for JOY.

Challenges entered:
 
Peace On Earth #61 - See Mood Board (inspired by snow, pine branches, color red)
 
 
Peace On Earth
 
Christmas Craft Creations
 
 
Christmas Crafts All Year Round
 
Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Gecko Galz
Ink: None
Card Stock: Neenah; Stampin Up; Recollections
Accessories: Computer, Printer, JOY, Bling, Brads, Pop Up Glue Dots, Meraki Bling

 
 

His Eye Is On The Sparrow .......

 
...or in this case a Finch. :)   

Hello and welcome.  Today I'd like to share a card I made using a digital image from Sweet N Sassy Stamps entitled Gold Finch.  Now I've had this image printed for some time and just haven't used it until now thanks to health, migraine and life in general.

After printing my finch on Neenah white card stock, I colored it using both prismacolor and copic markers before layering and adding some tiny black brads.  Once that was done, I pulled out my Timeless Hymns set and stamped the song words using my MISTI before layering and adding brads as well.  I then pulled out my paper pouncers and stippled Tim Holtz wild honey, scattered straw, frayed burlap and tea dye distress inks until I was satisfied with the coverage.  Taking both layered panels, I added them to a black card base using glue dots then added a small yellow bow from my stash.  As an afterthought, I then decided to distress the layered edges so I ran a fingernail along the edges until I was satisfied.  The final embellishments are a black 3D glaze pen highlighting parts of the finch, and frame, and a couple of yellow/gold sequins to finish it off.  I'm fairly happy with how this turned out considering I made it while dealing with this migraine that will not go away.  :(  

Challenges entered:
 
 
Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Sweet N Sassy Stamps
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, Frayed Burlap, Tea Dye Distress Inks
Card Stock: Neenah; Stampin Up
Accessories: Computer, Printer, Fingernail, Prismacolor and Copic Markers, Brads, Glue Dots, 3D Glaze Pen, Bow, Sequins, Glue, Paper Pouncers

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Black Cat ATC's

 

Hello and welcome.  Today I'd like to share some ATC's (artist trading cards) I made using the free collage sheet provided called Black Cat Moon for the monthly ATC challenge over at  Gecko Galz.  I decided to make three of them from the collage and try stretching my creativity a bit.  Now, let me divert momentarily to say I LOVE black cats.  Lost both of mine during the pandemic to old age (one at 17, the other at 19), and they were sisters/litter mates until the end. 


I started out by printing the collage sheet on Neenah white card stock before cutting out all of the elements.  Taking the blue moon cat first, I layered it using a black scrap before layering more using the blue/gold background from the collage before one more layering on to a navy card stock scrap.  As an after thought, I went and distressed the edges of my layering before taking a navy marker to run along the sides of the ATC layers.  I embellished my ATC using a small bow sticker, brads, some Crafty Meraki Midnight Shimmer Illusion, color spritzed the navy marker over everything and diamond ice stickles to highlight the moon and white flowers. 

Next I took the black cat with the floral crescent moon.  Pulling out my Castle Arts watercolor pencils, I colored the flowers/leaves with them before stippling memento tuxedo black ink around the image using a paper pouncer then layered it using scraps before adding some tiny black brads.  I then layered that panel on to the blush/navy/black background from the collage before layering again on scrap black card stock.  I then dug through my sentiments stash and pulled out a small "Hello" clear stamp and added that to the bottom right corner before color spritzing the navy marker over everything.  For the remaining embellishments, I added diamond ice stickles, Crafty Meraki bling and a small piece of black fibers to the bottom left corner.  


For the last one, I took the grey/gold background, layered that and added some tiny white brads.  I then fussy cut the black cat and moon out before gluing them to the ATC.  I then dug out a long retired Small Script wooden set from Stampin Up, and stamped the "wish" between my cat and moon.  Once that was finished, I dug out of my stash some silver Stampendous class-a-peel star stickers, added those to the ATC before adding the diamond ice stickles to highlight the light parts of the moon.  The final embellishments were two googlie eyes on the peeking cat for an added touch of whimsy and silver star stickers I've had for years.  I am extremely happy with how these all turned out.  Fortunately, the migraine meds were taking the edge off enough to assemble/create everything.  

Challenges entered:
 
Park Hopping My Happy Place May 2024 - Anything Goes Theme Park Optional Hello Kitty (inspired by the Haunted Mansion Disneyland and Disneyland's feral cat colony)
Creatalicious #276 - Something New (digital black cat collage)

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Gecko Galz Black Cat Collage
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Picket Fence Distress Ink (back of ATC)
Card Stock: Neenah White; Scraps
Accessories: Computer, Printer, Googlie Eyes, Color Spritzer, SU Night of Navy Marker, Brads, Glue Dots, Diamond Ice Stickles, Castle Arts Watercolor Pencils, Distressing Tool, Glue, Bling, Bow, Fiber, Star Sticker
 

Monday, April 15, 2024

Gnome Winter Wishes With Cocoa

 
Hello and welcome.  I finally got this card finished using a set from Sweet N Sassy Stamps called Winter Gnomes. It's currently on sale as it's being retired to their vault.  I love gnomes and I just had to have this set before it retired.

I started out by stamping the main image, sayings using my MISTI before stamping the snowflakes using a small acrylic block.  Once all of the stamping was completed, I colored it using prismacolor and copic markers before stippling some Tim Holtz stormy sky distress ink around my colored image to soften the white spots.  I then edged the sides of the main image panel using a red copic marker before layering and adding brads. Dusting off a pad of Debbie Mum Harvest & Holiday designer paper, I selected a couple to use as the background then adhered them to my card base before adhering the layered image panel to the card.  The final touches were some sequin snowflakes and ice stickles to highlight the mug of cocoa and snow on the ground.  I'm very happy with how this card turned out since it's another one of my migraine makes.  It was color or cry and crying just wasn't an option.

Challenges entered:
 
Peace On Earth #61 - See Inspiration Board (inspired by the snow, color red)

Peace On Earth

Caffeinated Christmas Challenge

Sweet N Sassy Stamps Facebook VIP


Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Sweet N Sassy Stamps
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Stormy Sky Distress
Card Stock: Neenah White; Stampin Up; Debbie Mum Designer Paper
Accessories: MSITI, Prismacolor and Copic Markers, Brads, Sequins, Glue Dots, Glue, Stipple Brush, Ice Stickles
 

This Little Light Of Mine

 

Hello and welcome.  Today I'd like to share with you a project made using the Lighthouse digital stamp from Sweet N Sassy Stamps.   

I started out by importing the image into a watermark program, then added the saying before printing the image onto Neenah white card stock.  Once all of that was done, I pulled out my Castle Arts watercolor pencils and got to coloring before layering and adding brads.  I then lightly stippled Tim Holtz tumbled glass distress ink around it before setting aside.  Taking a Cuttlebug© Bubbles embossing folder and my big shot©, then dry embossed the top of the card before lightly stippling Tim Holtz stormy sky distress ink over the embossed images.  I then added my layered image panel and adhered it using glue dots before adding four grey Dew Drops© to finish it off.

I'm really happy with how this turned out especially since I made it while dealing with yet another migraine.  It's gotten to the point of color/create or cry and crying hurts more than coloring.  I do know part of the migraine trigger has been the crazy weather we've had the last few weeks (BTW Mother Nature, you're drunk), another fall I had this last weekend  and the other part was stress related from my son going into severe diabetic shock and ending up in the ICU for 1 1/2 days.  Not fun.  He's home now so hopefully I can go back to just dealing with the weather.

Challenges entered:
 
 
Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Sweet N Sassy
Ink: Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky
Card Stock: Neenah; Stampin Up
Accessories: Computer, Printer, Castle Arts Watercolor Pencils, Brads, Big Shot, Embossing Folder, Dew Drops, Glue Dots,, Paper Pouncer

Monday, April 8, 2024

Revelation 3:10 -11

Hello and welcome.  Today I'd like to share with you a little bible journaling.  The focus for this week is Rev 3:10-11 "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.  I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."  When reading this passage, I think of cactus plants who patiently wait for the rains to come to refresh, and renew, their thirst for life giving water.

So I pulled out my Thirsty Soul (now retired) set from Sweet N Sassy stamps, that I hadn't used yet, and stamped the images and sayings in my Bible before coloring using Castle Arts watercolor pencils.  Once I was finished coloring, I lightly stippled Tim Holtz tumbled glass distress ink around my images using a paper pouncer.

Challenges entered:
 
 
Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Stamps: Sweet N Sassy
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass Distress
Card Stock: None
Accessories: Castle Arts Watercolor Pencils, Paper Pouncer

PIP Challenge 2414

  Sponsored by Lawn Fawn

 
Hello and welcome.  Today begins a new challenge over at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and this week we're being sponsored by Lawn Fawn.  I would like to thank them for sponsoring our challenge this week.  My card this week uses a few of Lawn Fawn's smaller sets to create my scene. 
 
I started out by stamping images from the Winter AlpacaWinter Bunny and Oh What Fun sets on Hammermill White scraps before coloring using Copic markers.  I then die cut the trees from spruce colored scraps using a retired Sizzix pine tree die and my Big Shot.  Taking a white Hammermill card base, I blended Tim Holtz tumbled glass, chipped sapphire and picket fence distress inks using my blending brushes.  I then free hand cut a couple of "snow mounds" from a scrap strip of Neenah white card stock before pouncing picket fence distress ink to add some "texture".  I assembled the card by using Bearly Art glue and some glue dots.  As an afterthought, I pulled out my jar of Snow-Tex paint, and added the "snow" to my trees and the ground.  I then pulled out a white gel pen to make stars or falling snow in the night sky before adding stardust and diamond ice stickles over the white dots as well as my "snow".  Finally, I stamped the saying from the Oh What Fun on more white scrap card stock, layered it and added using glue dots.  

Here's a close-up showing all of the dimension:

Challenges entered:
 
Splitcoaststampers USEIT2024 - Use Your Unloved Stash (tree die, snow tex, star dust ice stickles)
Peace On Earth #61 - See Inspiration Pic (inspired by snow, trees, animals) 
Double D Challenges Apr 3 - Cute Animals (my cute animals are enjoying winter)
 
Peace On Earth
 
Double D Challenges
 
 
 
 
Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day and don't forget to join in the challenge over at Pammie's Inky Pinkies.
Stamps: Lawn Fawn
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Chipped Sapphire, Tumbled Glass, Picket Fence
Card Stock: Hammermill White; Scraps
Accessories: Copic Markers, Snow Tex, Blending Brushes, Pouncer, Ice Stickles, Glue Dots, Tree Die, Big Shot

Monday, April 1, 2024

Winner Winner

 Hello and welcome.  I've found out that the following cards/ATC's were either winner or Top 3.

Winner - Gecko Galz ATC Monthly Challenge - March


 Top 3 - Dream Valley #312