Slimline Fever

Today I am joining in the fever and excitement of slimline cards.  I have resisted for a few months, but I have seen so many awesome cards online.  And, so many companies are coming out with dies for the layers for these cards--and you all know that I love layers!  I placed an order recently with Creek Bank Creations after seeing a virtual presentation a few weeks ago.  

I first die-cut my layers with a set of slim stitched rectangle dies from Creek Bank.  I then picked the Sprinkles Flow 6x6 stencil from A Colorful Life and it did fit pretty well on the entire layer.  I used 4 colors of Tim Holtz Distress Oxides and did move the stencil to the edges after doing the main part of the layer.  I then picked a sweet Stampin' Up stamp set called Flower Patch and the coordinating die set Flower Flair for the images.  I inked up the stamps with some fun Stampin' Up inks and die cut the flowers and leaves.  The sentiment is from the same set.  

Here is the inside of my card with a strip of washi tape:

I hope you enjoyed my card and I know I am going to be making more slim-line cards in the future. I have some dies coming soon from another company, so stay tuned!

Image/Sentiment:  Stampin' Up Flower Patch and coordinating Flower Flair Dies

Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Gorgeous Grape

Ink: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Gorgeous Grape, Pear Pizazz, Early Espresso; Tim Holtz Oxide Inks Spun Sugar, Seedless Preserves, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet

Accessories:  Creek Bank Creations Slim Stitched Rectangles; A Colorful Life Sprinkles Fun Stencil

Delicate Rose Stems

This is a card I made using my new Karin Brushmarker Pro Watercolor Markers.  I am getting more used to them and I love the vivid colors.  I picked an older Hero Arts wood mounted stamps called Delicate Rose Stems. I stamped the image on Strathmore Watercolor Paper and then used my Aqua-painter to pick up color from my markers that I put in a palette.  Tomorrow I am posting another card where I used the same stamp and a different technique and it does look a bit different.  For the background, I sponged Tim Holtz Spun Sugar Distress Oxide Ink over the Diamond Ladders stencil from A Colorful Life Designs.  A few green sequins add an additional pop of color.  I really like the look of this card!  

Here is the inside of my card:

Image/Sentiment:  Hero Arts Delicate Rose Stems/Inky Antics Sentiment

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Strathmore Watercolor White; Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green

Ink:  Versafine Black Onyx; Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Spun Sugar Ink

Accessories:  A Colorful Life Designs Diamond Ladders Stencil; Karin Brushmarker Pro Watercolor Markers; Green Sequins

Mini Summer Camp Wrap-Up

Today is the final day of our Stamping Sisters Mini Summer Camp.  I am wrapping up the 4 day camp and I sure hope you have enjoyed our classes.  If you have missed any of the days, please go back and check out the three previous tuorials by our awesome camp counselors.

Here are our blogs and the days of being a camp counselor:

Monday/June 22 ~ Kelly @ Sandcastlestamper

Tuesday/June 23 ~ Darlene @ Accordingtobijou

Wednesday/June 24 ~ Jeanette @ Creativeplay

Thursday/June 25 ~ Barb (me!)  @ inkingintoretirement

I am here for our final class and you will need the following items:

• A stencil-any design works.  
• Pixie Spray and/or tape is recommended to hold your stencil in place.
• Watercolor Markers--all four of us recently purchased a set of Karin Brushmarker Pro watercolor markers and I hope they use them today!  I would like you to pick some bright rainbow colors for your card.
• An Aqua-painter or water-brush
• A word or image die
• Watercolor Paper 
• Cardstock to complete your card
• Any embellishments you might want to add

First--I sprayed Pixie Spray on the back of my stencil and laid it over my piece of watercolor paper.  Be sure to push down the middle of your stencil so it has good contact with your paper on all parts.

I picked two stencils from A Colorful Life Designs--Bare Rainbow and Heart Fade.  I like the results of the rainbow die better as it has larger open spaces than the smaller hearts. The watercolor will seep under the stencil, so it is a bit less obvious in larger areas. 

Now, pick out any number of watercolor markers.  I went with bold colors for both cards and used the ROYGBIV order.  There are 8 colors in my rainbow card as that is the number of rows.  

I started in one corner of the stencil by adding color with my markers direct to the paper.  I outlined the arches of the rainbow and then scribbled in between the outlines.  Then, I used my Aqua-painter to move the color in the open area of the stencil.  You can add more ink from your marker if you want a darker color.

I then trimmed the panels and layered with bold colors of cardstock.  I then die cut words for each card.  For the rainbow, I used Taylored Expressions Celebrate Script and Backer.  On the hearts, I went with a new die I just received from Simon Says Stamp called Scripty Happy Birthday.  I then added a few white glitter enamel dots to the rainbow.

I really like these two cards and I hope you do too!

I hope you will join me in making a card with some watercolor markers, a stencil and a sweet die.  Since today is the final day of camp, we will say our goodbyes and see you soon.  Who knows--maybe we will do this again in the fall and hope you will join us again!

It has been a great time--I so enjoyed making the other cards that my sweet counselors taught.  I love the new techniques and the great cards as a result!

Image/Sentiment:  Taylored Expressions Celebrate Script & Backer and Simon Says Stamp Scripty Happy Birthday Dies

Cardstock/Patterned Paper:  Strathmore Watercolor Paper White; Stampin' Up Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Mango Melody

Ink:  Karin Brushmarker Pro Watercolor Markers

Accessories:  White Glittery Enamel Dots; A Colorful Life Designs Stencils--Bare Rainbow and Heart Fade

Water Stamping With Stencils

It is a Tuesday in June and time for my A Card A Week Challenge!  This is my third card for the month, with the theme of using a new technique.  This card was inspired by a card my friend Jeanette posted last week from a technique found in a video she watched (and I did too) from Mindy Eggen.  It is called Water Stamping with Stencils.  I love the way this card looks!

I picked three Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks--Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean and Seedless Preserves.  I used some blender brushes and laid down the three colors on my white cardstock. I then spritzed water on the back of my stencil-Sprinkles Flair from a Colorful Life Designs.  I laid the wet stencil on the piece of inked cardstock and added some paper towel on the top.  I then put my Misti and Stamparatus on the top for a few minutes for weight.

I then cut the Thank You from my Sizzix Stampin' Up die and added a few White Enamel Dots as the embellishment.  

Here is the inside of my card with a strip of washi tape:

I really, really, like the look of these card and hope you do too.  I hope you will stop back next week to see what the next new technique for June!

Image/Sentiment:  Sizzix Stampin' Up Thank You Die

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: Neenah Classic Crest 110# White; Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Pacific Point

Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Oxides Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves

Accessories:  Enamel Dots; A Colorful Life Sprinkles Flair

Hot Mess ~ Success

It is time for another Hot Mess card and this is card number 4.   The idea of Hot Mess ~ Success started with Kelly making a card and using the #hotmess on her Instagram post.  The general theme is to Get Messy and you will have Success!  Messiness can be almost anything that we come up with--glitter, alcohol inks, glimmer glitz, sponged backgrounds, etc., anything that is a bit messy.  We are a group of 4--Terry, Jeanette, Kelly and me. We will post a card each month on the 12th. Some times there is a theme-like this month.  And, other times we just get creative and messy! 

For this month's messiness, Terry issued a challenge.  Make a thank you card or a Thankful card.  I used Gina K Designs Sweet Mango Glitz Glitter Gel and a great stencil from A  Colorful Life Designs called Rippling Squares for the background. I love the texture of the Glitz and the pattern the stencil makes is so fun.  I then inked up a newer Stampin' Up set called Falling for Leaves with Autumn Kaleidacolor ink and cut it out with the coordinating die.  I added a sentiment from Stampabilities called We Give Thanks!

Here is the inside of my card, with another image from the same set along with  sentiment:

Here are the links to the other members of Hot Mess ~ Success.  Please be sure to check out Jeanette's, Terry's and Kelly's blogs. I am sure you will enjoy seeing how everyone got messy and was successful in making some great cards!   We will all be back each month, so be sure to check back to see what we are up to on December 12th! 

Image/Sentiment:  Stampin' Up Falling Leaves/Stampabilities We Give Thanks

Cardstock/Patterned Paper: Recollections 110# Ivory; Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze

Ink:  Stampin' Up Early Espresso; Kaleidacolor Autumn Leaves

Accessories:  A Colorful Life Rippling Squares Stencil; Gina K Sweet Mango Glitz Glitter Gel; Stampin' Up Falling for Leaves Die

Colorful Rainbow

It is time for another Hot Mess card. This is card number 2, so I think I will highlight the theme again.   The idea of Hot Mess ~ Success started with Kelly recently making a card and using the #hotmess on her Instagram post.  As we were texting back and forth, she said we should come up with a new group and she volunteered me to set it up! I then asked Jeanette, part of our other three groups to join us in this challenge and I also asked Terry if she wanted to be a part of the messiness!  So--we are a group of 4 and we will post a card each month on the 12th.  The general theme is to Get Messy and you will have Success!  Messiness can be almost anything that we come up with--glitter, alcohol inks, glimmer glitz, sponged backgrounds, etc., anything that is a bit messy.  Most months there will not be a theme--like our inaugural month of August!   But, some times one of us might toss out a challenge for the group--so stay tuned!

Side Note--you are sure to realize that today is not the 12th and above I state we will post every month on the 12th.  Well--I messed up in the Hot Mess Group.  We posted on the 12th last month, our first month, and it was also the 2nd Monday of the month.  For September, I was thinking we post on the 2nd Monday, which was the 9th.  Jeanette, Kelly and I post our 3 Musketeers on the 9th, so I asked to move it back a week.  I did not realize until I copied the details from last month for this post, that it was to stay on the 12th every month.  Yes, Hot Mess for Me!

For this month's messiness, I used some colors of the Nuvo Embellishment Mousse that I recently bought.  I also used a great stencil from A Colorful Life called Bare Rainbow.  They have some wonderful stencils, so please check them out!  I used blender brush to lay down the color on the stencil.  That was my second try.  The first time I used a spatula and with the lines of the rainbow, it was hard to control.  I like the smooth look from the brushes too.  I then just added a die cut from MFT from silver metallic along with a few silver sequins.

Here is the inside of my card:

Here are the links to the other members of Hot Mess ~ Success.  Please be sure to check out Jeanette's, Terry's and Kelly's blogs. I am sure you will enjoy seeing how everyone got messy and was successful in making some great cards! We will all be back each month, so be sure to check back to see what we are up to on October 12th!  And, yes, it will be on the 12th!

Die Cut: MFT-My Favorite Things Cheers

Cardstock: Recollections 110# White; Stampin' Up Garden Green, Calypso Coral, So Saffron; The Paper Cut Silver Mirri Cardstock 

Ink:  Nuvo Embellishment Mousse-Custard Cream, Coral Calypso, Aloe Vera

Accessories:  A Colorful Life Bare Rainbow Stencil; Silver Sequins