With Sympathy - Color Hues Challenge

 I'm playing along in the current challenge at Color Hues #83 Cream and Blue challenge.  The inspiration provided by the design team were so pretty and gave me a lot of inspiration! The link is above, if you want to take a look.

It seems that I always need a few more sympathy cards in my stash and these two soft colors were perfect for the card I had in mind.  

I embossed the stamped image with cream EP, then die cut the image and added to more underneath, to add dimension.  Then I stenciled only the hummingbird, with two shades of blue ink.  I added some white metallic ink splatters with a fan brush.  All of this was placed on a cream color die cut panel, then onto the blue card base.

Here is what I created.

 

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I used dies and stamps from Pinkfresh, ink from Condcord & 9th, cream embossing powder from SSS and cardstock from SU!  Let me know if you need any details.  You can comment below or look for the "contact me" option along the right side of this blog page.

Thanks for stopping by!

Heartfelt Sympathy - CAS(E) this Sketch

Hey, it's been a while since my previous blog post.  Well, what can I say?  Life is BUSY!

Anyway, on to the business at hand.  :)

I'm sharing a card that I made for CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge #110.

I played with a new Stampin' Up! stamp set from the Sale-a-bration catalog.  Isn't it fun playing with new "toys"?

This set is called Lotus Blossom and it's 3-step stamping (I used blushing bride, pretty in pink and blush blossom inks for the blooms).  I had to practice and experiment with this set several times to get the alignment and colors the way I wanted them.  But, I'm glad that I kept going because I'm pleased with the results.  And...these flowers make me think of spring.  Oh, I'm so ready for spring!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Watercolor Trees

Hi there!  Well, I created just one card this weekend.  Which seems to be my norm this summer.  This summer seems to be particularly busy for us.  And, since I made changes to my lifestyle...eating healthy and lots of physical activity...I don't have as much time for crafting.  I'm loving it all though!

I spent some time this afternoon walking/hiking the trails at a local park.  The weather was beautiful and the company was great.  Thanks Trudy!

If you're interested, take a look at the end of this post for a few photos from my hike this afternoon.

Anyway, I created this card yesterday.  Just because.  No challenges involved. I just felt like using some watercolors.  So I did!

I painted the sky and ground first.  After those had dried I stamped the trees.  Before stamping the images onto the watercolor panel, I misted the stamp with water then stamped onto scrap paper first.  I love the soft look it gave me.  I'm loving using my watercolor set (just a cheap one from Michael's).   It's just plain FUN!
Thanks for stopping by!
Susie

Here are my photos from our afternoon hike.

These appear to be mini pincones, but they actually came from the tree pictured just below and in the very last photo.

Feathers.  I think this was a lunch spot for some kind of animal!

The source of the mini "pine cones".

Dynamic Duos #70 - Wishing You Peace

We've got a very soft and subtle color combo for you this week.  Take a look at Dynamic Duos #70 and I think you'll agree!

I decided to add a couple of neutrals to my card this week.  So here's what I created.

I used another of my new Memory Box dies today.  I love the detail in their dies!  As you can see, I used 2 layers of the peony backgound, then adhered the outline die to the top.  The leaves are stamped, as is the background.
I hope you'll play along with me and my awesomely talented team mates at Dynamic Duos this week.  I can't wait to see what all of you create!

Supply list ~
card stock: so saffron, whisper white, basic black, pistachio pudding (SU)
ink: pistachio pudding (SU), onyx black versafine
stamps: bb:wrought iron (PTI), words of comfort (CTMH), turning a new leaf (PTI)
dies: lovely peony, lovely peony outline (Memory Box)

Dynamic Duos #66 - Pool Party and Basic Black

Oh, such elegant colors.  We're playing with Pool Party and Basic Black for Dynamic Duos #66 and there's a Dessert option of embossing!

I chose to use heat embossing for this sympathy card.  I pulled out a background stamp called French Script from Stampin' Up!  This stamp hasn't seen ink in a long time.  When I reorganized my stamps a while back, I "found" this stamp and remembered how much I love it.  You can bet I'll be using it again, soon!

I embossed the script background, as well as the sentiment and flower.  The flower was stamped and embossed twice so that I could fussy cut a couple of petals to layer over the top.  The stamens of the bloom are covered in black enamel accents.  This color duo is so elegant that I decided to not add a neutral to the mix.  Yes.  Love this color duo a lot!
I hope you'll play along with us at Dynamic Duos this week.  We love to see what you do with our colors!
Click the link above to see what my super talented team mates have created.  Go now!

Supply list:
Card stock: pool party, basic black (SU)
Stamps: french script, fifth avenue floral (SU), communique curves (PTI)
Ink: versamark
Other: black embossing powder, pool party embossing powder (SU), black enamel accents (Ranger)

Dynamic Duos #65 - Watercolor Sympathy Card

This week's colors at Dynamic Duos #65 are very soft and pretty.  I knew they would be perfect for a watercolor technique that I used a few weeks ago.  This technique is so easy and fun, that I wanted to use it again.

First things first, though.  Take a look at our challenge colors.

I had never thought to put these colors together.  But aren't they perfect?

I chose to make a sympathy card.  I thought the softness of the colors and the watercolor technique were a soothing combination for this type of card.

To create this card I used white watercolor paper.  It will absorb and disperse the water and ink  That will result in the blurred and uneven images you see on my card.  I sprayed the water color paper first, then sprayed the stamp after inking it.  After all the leaves and flowers were stamped, I gave the panel a spritz of pearl glimmer mist.
The sentiment was stamped after the panel had dried completely.



Ok.  Now it's time to click over to Dynamic Duos blog and see what the my team mates have created for your inspiration!
Thanks for stopping by!

Supply list ~
Card stock: pistachio pudding, blushing bride (SU), white water color paper (Canson)
Ink: pistachio pudding, blushing bride (SU), onyx black versafine (Tsukineko)
Stamps: rosie posie, turning a new leaf (PTI), words of comfort (CTMH)
Other: pearl tattered angels glimmer mist

Dynamic Duos #62

Well, we've got a warm color in this weeks' challenge...to go along with this warm weather in northern Illinois.  This color combo for Dynamic Duos #62 can be used so many ways.  And we've got a dessert option for you. A butterfly theme!

I went through my recently reorganized stamp binder and found a set that hasn't touched ink in a long time.  I labeled and reorganized ALL of my rubber stamps.  Now it's so much easier to find what I need.  I don't know why I waited so long to buy a Dymo label maker.  Maybe I'll include a pic of my stamp shelves at the bottom of this post.

Well, I digress.
Using the challenge colors and the dessert option, this is the card I created.

The butterfly image is heat embossed with black EP, then watercolored with Calypso Coral ink.  This is the process I used:
I squeezed the closed ink pad case, to get a bit of ink on the inside of the lid.
Using an Aqua Painter, with no water in it, I dipped the brush in a smidge of water.  Then swirled it in the     ink.  I find that I have more control over the amount of water on my brush, when I use this technique.
Now you're ready to paint.

I tried to go lighter with the ink toward the center of the butterfly and darker toward the outside edges.
I waited until the ink dried completely before adding Glossy Accents to the watercolored areas.

You'll be playing along with me and my Dynamic Duos team mates this week, won't you?  I hope so, because we love seeing what you create!

If you're interested, here is a photo of part of my "newly reorganized" stamp shelves.

I know...not too exciting.  But, what a difference it's made when I'm looking for a stamp set.  I also created a new stamp index binder.  I stamped each set onto a sheet (usually several sets on 1 sheet) of printer paper.  Noted the name of the set and where it's located.  For example: shelf 1, stack 2.
The stamping for the index and the labeling took me most of a day.  Not so much fun, but I'm so very glad I did it.
My clear photopolymer stamps sets are in bins, since they're less bulky. I'm in the process of indexing those too.
Well, if you've read all the way to through this post...you're a loyal follower.  And I THANK YOU!  :)

Supply list:
Cardstock: calypso coral, basic black (SU), white (PTI)
Ink: calypso coral (SU), versamark and onyx black versafne (Tseukineko)
Stamps: take flight (GinaK Designs), beautiful butterflies (PTI)
Other: glossy accents (Ranger)

Dynamic Duos #60 - A Sympathy Card

Hi!  It's time for a new color challenge at Dynamic Duos.  Wait until you see the very summery colors for Dynamic Duos #60.  Here you go!

I have to admit, I've not used much of my summer starfruit cardstock.  I tend to use softer yellows.  But once I started playing and experimenting with this color...I really like the results.  :)
I'm so glad that Lesley chose this color combo, because it pushed me a bit out of my comfort zone.  That's one of the things I love about challenges!

I used Sahara Sand card stock for one of my neutrals; as the card base.  I've matted with the 2 challenge colors, then used linen textured card stock for the other 3 layers.  The sentiment panel is popped up with dimensional tape.  I love the look of the sentiment stamped in Gumball Green.  It adds to the soft feeling I was going for.
Thanks for spending a little time here.  Now, go take a look at what my super talented Dynamic Duos team mates have designed for your inspiration.  We hope you'll play along!

Anne Marie Hile

Alison Barclay

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Michelle Folland

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Supply list ~
Card stock: sahara sand, gumball green, summer starfruit (SU), white linen (Ellen Hutson)
Stamps: words of comfort (CTMH)
Ink: gumball green
Other: lattice bigz die (SU/Sizzix)

A Sympathy Card - Dynamic Duos #59

Hello!  I'm here with my card for Dynamic Duos #59 challenge.  This week is just a bit different.  Take a look at our graphic and you'll see what I mean ;)

Use Basic Gray & the color of your choice.  The possibilities are endless, right?
Well, I couldn't wait to use one of my new In Colors from Stampin' Up!, Crisp Cantaloupe. I thought it would be just the right color for the scene I wanted to create.

It's been a while since I've done some sponging to create a scene.  It's a technique that I love!
I cut a mask from printer paper, using a Spellbinders die, then sponged on Crisp Cantalope and Basic Gray to create the sky.  After that I tore a mask from cardstock, then sponged on Basic Black to create mountains.  I drew in a few birds, stamped a sentiment and added 3 gray gems to finish my card.  Oh, and added the Gray card base.
I hope you'll join me and my awesomely talented team mates this week at Dynamic Duos.  Links to their blogs are listed in my blog's side bar.  What color will you combine with Basic Gray?

Supplies list ~
Cardstock: basic gray (SU), white linen (Ellen Hutson)
Ink: basic gray, crisp cantaloupe, basic black (SU), onyx black (Versafine)
Stamps: flowers (Clean & Simple Stamps)
Other: gray gems (Recollections), die - for masking (Spellbinders)

Dynamic Duos Challenge #51 - And a 1st for me!

My first challenge as a member of the Design Team at Dynamic Duos is today's  DD Challenge #51.  I'm so thrilled to be a part of this super talented DT, and this is my first experience on a Design Team!  I hope that I can provide you with a little inspiration and encourage you to play along with us every week!

Well, let's get to this week's challenge, shall we???

I love these summery colors!  And, believe me, here in northern Illinois we need some summer...or at least spring.  It's been a long winter.  Take a look at these sweet colors.

I need to restock my stash of sympathy cards and I think these colors are perfect for the occasion.

I just bought this very intricate die by Memory Box.  I knew exactly how I wanted to use it.  I die cut the Serefiina heart from Baja Blue, then also cut it from my white panel.  I inlaid the the blue into the negative space in the white panel.  Sounds easy, huh?  It took a little longer than I thought, because the die cut is so delicate.  But, I'm really pleased with the results.
Thanks so much for visiting!   Now...go check out the inspiration from my fellow teamies at Dynamic Duos!

Supplies:
Cardstock: whisper white, daffodil delight, baja breeze (Stampin' Up!), white (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: onyx black (Versafine)
Stamps: words of comfort (Close To My Heart)
Die: serefina heart (Memory Box)
Other: yellow gems (Recollections)