Totally Trees Modern Thank You Card ft. Stampin' Up

EDIT: Top 3 at Time Out

 

I've been using a lot of fall/autumn colors lately, so for today's card I decided to bring back the bright, intense colors! The tree stamps are from Stampin' Up's Totally Trees set, and the sentiment is from Flourishing Phrases. 

I could keep this card very simple and stop after stamping and heat embossing the focal images. However I really wanted to try out this frame die from Mama Elephant, so this is what I did instead. I added some interest to the frame by sponging Fossilized Amber, Picked Raspberry, and Stormy Sky distress inks onto the upper half of the die cut. 

I flicked some water droplets onto the inked portions of the frame for the splotchy effect, and mist a layer of Perfect Pearls water for the shimmery look. To finish off the card, I added a few Liquid Pearls drops. 

Challenges Entered:

Verve Inspiration Challenge / Viva La Verve Sketch 2 / Time Out: Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

ATSM: Make Your Mark

Layering Die Cuts CAS Card

I was inspired by a2z Scrapbook's challenge theme this month: Layer it. I decided to use some autumn colors to create a simple thank you card.

If you look straight at it, it looks like the focal point of the card is on the stamped sentiments since the white die cut isn't all that special. I love this sentiment from Stampin' Up's Flourishing Phrases set. :) I took the hassle to stamp the key words in yellow, orange, and red pigment inks, and heat embossing them with clear embossing powder. I think little details like this really make a big impact on simple designs. 

Now if you tilt the card and look at it from the side, you'll notice that I've layered seven thanks die cuts together. (white + (yellow, orange, red) x2) Usually I'll just adhere white fun foam to my die cuts if I want them to have some dimension, but adhering different colored die cuts together is another option. And it sure is a fun way to layer things up!

Challenges Entered:
  
Dies R Us: Fall / Penny Black and More: Autumn / a2z Scrapbook: Layer It

SSS Work it Wednesday: Yellow, Orange, Red / Creative with Stamps: Sentiment

Monogrammed Room Decor

I love to make 3D projects, but unlike flat cards they are hard to mail in envelopes and I often wonder if the recipients have proper places to store them. My solution is to send them along with matching shadow boxes. Some of the shadow boxes are quite expensive, especially if you have a larger project, but I think it's definitely worth the money as you can preserve it for longer. Today I'm sharing a room decor (only the center piece that is. I'll need to get more of those boxes!) I made featuring my initial. I quite like how it turned out, although I still have a lot to learn about the mixed media style. 

As you can see here I added a lot of shimmer to the watercolored background and also used wink of stella on some of the die cuts. You can probably tell that I was going for a girly and magical feel. :)

Another idea would be changing the monogram die cut into sentiments such as "thanks" or "happy day." I think this design would work as a wedding gift as well. 

Challenges Entered: 

Seven Hills Crafts (I've used the thanks die cut from Paper Smooches) / ATSM: ATG

Paper Smooches: Color Challenge / SSD: Watercolor + Dew Drops + Monogrammed / HLS: ATG with Dies

HLS Mixed Media: Nature / SSS Wednesday: Think Pink / STAMPlorations

Modern Floral Die Cut Card

Hi there! Today I'm sharing a card I CASEd from Ardyth over at Time Out Challenges:

Red, black, green and gold, what a bold color combination! I've used these colors to make Christmas cards before, but certainly haven't tried them on a floral card. You can see that my card is indeed very similar to Ardyth's card: I CASEd the layout, black frame, gold splatters and even the thanks sentiment. My only twist is that I've changed all the stamped images into die cuts!

I added a generous amount of wink of stella to the sentiment and some of the flower die cuts. Just love how the gold sparkles match with the gold sequins. I've also coated the sentiment with glossy accent for some extra shine and dimension. I hope you liked today's contemporary card, and thanks so much for stopping by!

Challenges Entered:

 

Time Out #68: CASE / HLS: ATG with Dies

ATSM: ATG

Belly Band Card ft. STAMPlorations

EDIT: Top 3 at Creative with Stamps and Top Pick at STAMPlorations CAS Challenge

I'm guest designing at STAMPlorations, and this month's Theme & Sketch challenge theme is Stamps & Sponging. I decided to make a CAS encouragement card using STAMPloration's Amazing Word Die and some distress inks (Abandoned Coral, Wild Honey, Peacock Feathers). The colors were inspired by the graphic shown below. I also wanted to capture the foggy neon light feel, so instead of sponging and saturating the entire white belly band with colors, I left some of the edges white. 

Now what's different about this encouragement card is that it not only has an upbeat sentiment, it also has a hidden one. Pulling off the belly band will reveal the sentiment. We all know that sometimes other people, maybe a boss or an ex-girlfriend, just don't see and appreciate how amazing a person really is. I hope this card will lighten their heart when they're feeling down, and feel a little more confident about themselves, too!

Challenges Entered:
  
Word Art Wednesday / STAMPlorations: CAS / STAMPlorations: ATG

STAMPlorations: CUTplorations / Creative with Stamps: Sentiment

Spooky Ghost Cat ft. Mama Elephant

When I saw CASology's Spooky theme for this week, I immediately thought about this little cat ghost image from Mama Elephant's Meowlloween Extras set. I decided to keep the sketch and the color scheme very very simple. So it might not seem that interesting at first glance, but wait until the night comes...

Boo! Now tell me that isn't spooky ;) That's right, he glows in the dark! I've always wanted to try out Wow's Glow in the Dark embossing powder, and this is the perfect chance. The effect is pretty good, and it's definitely a lot of fun to play with. 

The sentiments are also from this set. I can't stop laughing at the (be very afraid) sentiment. It's so darn adorable! I've also added his brows so that he looks like he's determined and ready to give you a scare. (haha!) I hope you have enjoyed this cute, spooky card, and thanks for stopping by!

Challenges Entered: 
 
CASology: Spooky / Word Art Wednesday / Dies R Us: Fall (including Halloween)