Neutrals...

I am not happy with this - I always thought I leaned heavily toward a clean and simple style.  Guess I haven't... I am struggling to meet the challenge of the paper artists in this style of stamping.  So with this entry in the Less is More Challenge, I am cutting back even more.  I am uncomfortable still...

I want so badly to add some ribbon or brads in the lower right or upper left corner!
With this card I used two stamps, and only one ink - Walnut Stain from Distress Inks.  "Cathedral" by Stampington and Company includes the text to the right in the image.  This was stamped once on the base CS and then on scrap paper.  I then took a brush damp with water and pulled the ink into the image to give it a watercolor look. The image is then cut out and attached with foam tape.

Sooooooooo... could not stand it!  I went back and re-created this card with the elements that are more comfortable for me.  So although I will enter the card above in the challenge for Less is More -

 the following is the one I like:

I am going to keep trying the Less is More Challenges... 

I am determined to find a comfort zone with a clean and simple style too.

CHALLENGES:

Less Is More Challenge Week 57: "Neutrals"

IMAGES:  The focal images are "Cathedral" by Stampington and Company and  "Telephone Lines" from Impression Obsession.

PAPER:  base CS is from my endless stash & the Cathedral CS from scraps.

INKS: The image is stamped with Ranger's Distress Ink: "Walnut Stain"

Spring has Sprung...

This is a great image to color and made a good one for a "Double Z-card / First Signs of Spring" challenge for Quirky Crafts.  I chose my colors from the Designer Papers from K & Company.
The Z-card is amazingly simple to make after following the tutorial Kevin wrote on his site - Free Printables.  The idea is to use two A2 cards and attach the right side to the left side of the two open cards - making a double layered back of a single card.  Then with the new right and left sides - fold back to the crease on each side and make the Zs.  (See the photo below).  I used light wt. CS to decrease the bulk of the card.

The bunny was colored with Copics and I made this close-up so you can find the little mouse!

The several layers and the colors of spring make this card eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

Quirky Crafts Challenge 5: "The First Signs of Spring - Double Z Card
Cute Card Thursday Challenge 206: "Signs of Spring"
The Pink Elephant: TPE 138 - "Let's See Those Layers"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from a collection purchased years ago... unfortunately I have no record of the company.

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is from K & Company: "Citronella" collection, base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics:  

Tired already...

Here's my Easter Bunny after laying all those eggs!  At least a promise of  Spring with the colors and flowers.

The image is actually from an Alice in Wonderland collection by Mo Manning.  You know how I feel about her images!!  I used Copics and textured the fur to make him "fuzzy-wuzzy". 

The watch and chain are metallic foil and the flowers are the only embellishments.


CHALLENGES: 
Digital Tuesday Challenge #149: "Leap Year, Things that Leap"
Stamp Man Challenge: "Colors of Spring / Easter"
CMC Challenge #38: "Fuzzy-Wuzzy, Furry Animal Antics"
IMAGES:  The focal image is from Mo Manning at Digital Pencil Too
PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is from collection, base CS is from my endless stash.
EMBELLISHMENTS: Duo Glue & foil for the watch and chain; flowers made with Martha Stewart Punches
INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics:

Happy Day...

 I make soooo many birthday cards - and this Sassy Cheryl digi is a great image for me.  Fun to color and obviously delivers the message.

I grabbed scraps from my endless stash for the background.  This designer paper looked like exploding fireworks celebrating the occasion to me.  There was just enough of the blue DP for the sentiment punched layer and the five punched "dots" on the upper left corner.

 This close up shows the dots I have added to the headband and dress.  This was done with Duo Glue applied with a "Fine Liner Calligraphy Pen" from ArtQuest.  Once dry and still tacky, I applied the foil so the dots are extremely shiny and multicolored.

CHALLENGES:

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #104: "Are you Seeing Spots?"

Simon Says: Anything Goes

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Sassy Cheryl; the sentiment is by Hero Arts

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP and the base CS is from my endless stash of scraps.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Hey Friend...

"Hey You..."  I love how this Mo Manning image can be shouting so many things - You're a star - Congratulations - Happy Birthday - Long distance Hello, etc. And it can be my answer for hard to fill male card needs.

I colored the image with Copics, distressed the edge of the panel and layered it on the DP.

A tag was added and brads and twine were used for simple embellishments.  These Mo images really stand on their own and don't need  much else going on.

CHALLENGES:

DP2 Challenge #124: "Anything Goes with a Mo Image"
Simon Says: "Anything Goes"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Mo Manning at Digital Pencil Too

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP and the base CS are from my endless stash.

INKS: Ranger Distress Ink used for the edging and the image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Precious to me...

 This Penny Black image, "Cheesecake Message" was colored with Copics and then cut out.  The layout is from the sketch by Nat on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  I punched a scalloped circle from the peach CS, stamped the "Starburst" on the punched piece and then punched that image out with a smaller scalloped circle - giving the appearance of a frame around the image once re-assembled on the white base CS.
I felt the DP strip at the bottom, (although it gives the impression of a wooden table), needed something - so I slit two places on either side of the typewriter and inserted the ribbon.
Lesson learned: always make sure the panel fits your base card before attaching (glued down!) the ribbon... I had to cut down one edge and thus slit the ribbon and had to repair it.  Heavy sigh.

CHALLENGES:

PennyBlack Challenge #190: “Sketch by Nat”

IMAGES:  The focal image is the "Cheesecake Message" by Penny Black; the sentiment and "Single Starburst" are both from Hero Arts

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; all other CS and DP are scraps from my endless stash.

INKS: The sentiment is stamped with Versamark black; the Starburst is stamped with a Distress Ink and heat embossed with clear EP.  The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Leprechaun...

This is a digi by Elizabeth O. Dulemba - a different Leprechaun from most!  I colored him with Copics, cut him out, sculpted it from the back and mounted with foam tape.  The polka-dot background paper I believe is Basic Grey and I punched a hole in it to reveal "white space" of the base CS.  The rainbow paper is a freebie digi paper and the green strip and punched shamrocks are cut from K & Company's "Citronella" collection.  The layout is CASED from a sketch by Nat from the Penny Black Sat. Challenge, but I forgot to use a Penny Black image  to qualify for the challenge.  Dang!  Still want to give her credit though!  Fun sketch that I will use again.

The close-up shows just a small embellishment of the shamrock on his hat and on his shoes.  I used Duo glue and a Fine Liner Calligraphy pen and then gold foil to give just a touch of gold.

CHALLENGES:

Less is More #56:"Don't Scrap It"

Simon Says: "Use Three Different Papers"

IMAGES:  The focal image is digi by Elizabeth O. Dulemba
PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is  K & Company's "Citronella" collection , Basic Grey and a digi from Free Printables.  The  base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics:

Wishing...

"Make a Wish" is a Mo Manning Digi that I stamped twice and colored with Copics.  The torso, skirt and head of one of the images were sculpted and mounted with foam tape over the other for dimension.  A Hero Arts' swirl was stamped on the corners with Distress Inks and the same color was used for the background.  The swirl was again stamped on the darker blue panel with clear ink to carry over the design.  Glitter glue was used on the dandelion, a jewel to the sentiment and a lace strip was created by punching both sides of a narrow strip of CS.

CHALLENGES:

DP2 Challenge: "Lace"

Digital Tuesday Challenge #148: Make It Sparkle"

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #103: "No Embossing"
Simon Says: "Use Three Different Papers"

IMAGES:  The focal image is "Make a Wish" by Mo Manning at her Digital Pencil Too site.  The swirl is "Flourish Wave" from Hero Arts.
EMBELLISHMENTS: Glitter is created with Stickles - "Icicle", the jewel from my stash and the lace with a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment tag is from a Tim Holtz Alterations die cut by Sizzix called "Tiny Tabs and Tags".  The word "Wish" is from a self inking set called Mini Words.
.PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel;  base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: Distress Ink from Ranger: Faded Jeans, Broken China and Embossing Ink (no EP used - just heat set) used for the swirls and the background color.  The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Pearls and Lace...

This Penny Black image was colored with Copics and then mounted on coordinating CS.  The Lace is punched with a Martha Stewart punch on both sides of a strip of white paper.  Pearls were added to the lace, the cake and the sentiment which is floated on foam tape.

The pearls on the cake are more visible in this close up and were made with drops from liquid pearls.

CHALLENGES:

PennyBlack Challenge #189: “Pearls and Lace”

IMAGES:  The focal image is "...your birthday" from Penny Black

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; base CS is from my endless stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Martha Stewart lace punch and Ivory Pearl Stickers

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Good laughs - good friends...

Lots of laughs and bright fun colors!  Two good friends who live and love and laugh - the perfect image for this friend"s birthday.  Colored with Copics, mounted on fab paper with bright pinks, yellows and golds and mounted on a gold base card with a matching ribbon threaded thru two punched slots on the side.  Glitz was added with Duo glue and  shiny foil on the glasses, pearls and bracelet.

CHALLENGES:

CMC Copic Challenge #37: "Lots of Laughs and Bright, Fun Colors"

IMAGES:  The focal image is designed by Leere Aldrich; sentiment is from Hero Arts.

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP and base CS is from my endless stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS: Shiny foil applied with Duo Glue and ribbon from my stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: R81, 83, 85;  YG21, 23, 25; E0000, 01, 02; C00; YR18, 21, 31, 61

Wishing on a Star...

I like owls... this new one from Hero Arts is easy to use with a variety of techniques from bleach to paper piecing to coloring or painting,, etc.  Nicely versatile!  I used Copics for the coloring of the images, cut out the owl and floated it on foam tape.  Basic Grey paper was layered behind it and then embellished with gold stars and a brad and a twine bow.

CHALLENGES:

iCopicWeekly #70: “Animals”

Basic Grey Challenge #63: "Wish on a Star"

Hero Arts Challenge: "Friendship and Hello Cards"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Hero Arts: "Big Eyes"; the sentiment is from G-Rated Rubberstamps

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is from Basic Grey’s “Oliver” collection, base CS is from my endless stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Star brads and twine from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics:

My Sentiments Exactly...

Being an RN, I gravitate to images of nurses - and this one from Mo Manning is a favorite.  The focal image is colored with Copics, edges of the panel distressed with Distress Inks, corners punched with a "Ticket Stub" punch and floated with foam tape on two different Basic Grey papers.  Buttons were added in the corners and the sentiment was slid between the layers.

CHALLENGES:

DP2 Challenge #122: "My Sentiments Exactly"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Mo Manning at Digital Pencil Too

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is from Basic Grey's collection, base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: Distress Inks are used for edging and the focal image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Wear it on your sleeve...

This is a Penny Black image that is fun to color with Copics.  I matched the Blue-Green colors to the  Basic Grey paper for the background, added a ribbon, sculpted the image (2 layers) and floated the head on foam tape.  The little heart is punched from red scraps and xxx was added with a white pen.

CHALLENGES:

PennyBlack Challenge #188: “Love and Kisses”

iCopicWeekly #69: “BG Family”

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Penny Black

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is from Basic Grey's "Lauderdale" collection, base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Tag It...

I love to find a stamp (Tag is by Art Impressions) that has sufficient white space for a Zentangle.  I used a background of Basic Grey's "Little Black Dress" paper and two black & white ribbons for embellishment.  I drew the Zentangles inside the tag and added the red to the "Poke-Root" and the shadowing with Copics.  The tag was cut out and floated with foam tape.  

The inside of the card states simply: "Just dropping you a line...".

CHALLENGES:  

Simon Says: "Tag It..."

Simon Says Stamp and Show: "Anything Goes"

HUGS...

Sassy Cheryl's digi-image called "Love's healing hands"represents a delightfully reminiscent feeling from my childhood.  There were some well loved items - a doll, a nightgown and a special little fork come to mind... (how odd, one's memories!)
To comply with the Digital Tuesday Challenge I pulled everything from my stash of completed backgrounds and previously colored images - and I was able to pull out this combination that coordinated sufficiently.  The background grid was stamped and embossed with clear EP and thus no designer paper was needed making it eligible for the Sassy Cheryl Challenge.  The focal image, colored with Copics, was double layered with gold and brown paper found in my scraps drawer. Twine wrapped around the bottom of the panel, a left over vinyl word sticker and three buttons were added for embellishments.   I made little tiny button eyes by punching out a circle with a 1/16th inch punch from brown paper and adding the "thread" with a white pen

CHALLENGES:

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #102: "No Designer Paper"

Digital Tuesday Challenge #147: "Use your stash"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Sassy Cheryl: "Love's healing hands" and the background is made with the "Outlines" stamp by the Rubber Stamp Co.

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is colored with Copics: 

Love and Kisses...

Heavy sigh.  This last Valentine before THE day is for a GINGERWOOD challenge in which we were sent 3 ingredients that must be included on the card.  The basic tree image, the ribbon and the sticker that reads "Love" were in my envelope.  I added hearts instead of leaves, an owl, a feather and a fence.  (STOP Ginny, stop!) There is Basic Grey DP as the first layer on the base white card and Distress Ink edging the focal panel to repeat the blue in the owl and the ribbon.  Finally the fence, ribbon and vinyl word sticker were added. (OMGosh, over the top.)

The owl and feather were colored with Copics and have been fancy cut, sculpted and mounted with foam tape to provide dimension.  Believe it or not, in the real world the owl colors of the pinks, blue and orange in his beak and feet match up pretty closely to the ribbon.  I don't understand how that happens???  All in all, I put WAY too much stuff in this... wish I could do it all over again... but my ingredients are gone now!  Throw it to the winds and let the votes fall where they may.

CHALLENGES:

Gingerwood: February Card Contest - "Ingredients"

IMAGES:  The owl and feather images are from Impression Obsession: "What a Hoot" Zenspirations

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is from Basic Grey: Hello Luscious" collection, base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: 

Gussy girl...

Not my usual style - pink and lace and pearls and glitter - LOL!  I think I tend toward a minimalist compared to a lot of styles in our world right now.  In addition to all the above, the background is stamped and dry embossed!  Sheesh!

So let me run down the process: the front of the card was stamped with three different shades of Distress Inks using Hero Arts "Single Starburst"; the front was then run thru a Cuttlebug  with a swirl pattern folder; next a ribbon of lace was layered over a strip of pink cardstock and taped to the front left of the card; finally the Mo Manning image of the Irish lass was stamped, colored with Copics, cut out, sculpted from the back and applied with foam tape for the dimension.  The final embellishments were the single pearl to her costume and glitter to her headband.  (See below)

CHALLENGES:

DP2 Challenge #121: BINGO - (Lace, Glitter & Pearls)

Digital Tuesday Challenge #146: "Pink or Red"
The Stamp Man Fortnightly Challenge: "Texture"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Mo Manning at Mo's Digital Pencil too

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; base CS is from my endless stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS: Lace ribbon, pearl and glitter glue from my personal stash of long ago lost sources!

INKS: Tim Holtz Distress Inks: "Tattered Rose", "Spun Sugar" and "Victorian Velvet"

The focal image is colored with Copics:

Little Bro'...

Little boys (Mo Manning image) sure don't like Hearts & flowers... let alone pink or cutsy!  I even minimized the red in this one!  Does have a Basic Grey strip of color (not pink!). That's it - plain and simple! 

I couldn't stand it... I took the card and HAD to gussy it up!  I have added silver studs, a different sentiment (not quite so mushy) and even a butterfly.  I think it is better now - whatcha think?!! 

Still Ok for my grand-boys!

CHALLENGES:

Basic Grey Challenge #62: "Love/Valentine
DP@ #120: Anything Goes - with a Mo image"

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Mo Manning & the sentiment from Stamp in the Hand

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the image panel; DP is from Basic Grey's  collection: "Lauderdale", base CS is from my endless stash.

INKS: The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black & colored with Copics: