Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 57

I'm so glad I got a little time to play along with the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge group this week!  They're just the nicest people there and of course WM stamps are beyond fantastic.  Here's this week's sketch from Julia Aston.

I flipped the sketch so that I could use my new paper lantern stamps.  The colors were chosen to match the patterned paper (love the scalloped pattern).  Each lantern was stamped and fussy cut.  

I added the lantern tassels in matching colors.  The tassels were super easy to make with embroidery floss and small glass beads.  If you look really closely, I've hung the lanterns with eye pins that are actually used for jewelry making.   

I had no intention of using the eye pins, but I lost the small stamp for the lantern hanger!  I tore up my craft table, but no luck finding it:(  

Even though I lost a stamp, I still enjoyed making this one!  Thanks for stopping by!

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Asian Additions (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Deep Lagoon (Blue, Colorbox liquid chalk), Mustard (Yellow, American Crafts pigment), Cranberry (Red, Colorbox), Peeled Paint (Distress)
Paper: Patterned paper (Pebbles - Lil' Miss Collection), Cream cardstock
Embellishments: Jute twine, glass beads

PTI Marathon

Papertrey Ink had their Stamp-A-Faire today and for those of us (like me) who could not attend, they are hosting a marathon day of challenges!  I have relatives staying over and my time was limited, but I got in 2 cards (barely!).  

This first card is for Challenge #2 which is a color challenge - hot pink and charcoal gray.  I love this color combo (almost anything with hot pink is good for me).  The star of this card is the handmade rosette I made.  This rosette is made with cardstock that I stamped with Mendhi Medallions.  The frilly edge was made with a punch edger.    

I stamped one of the smaller MM images and cut it with a Nestabilities die (the small die of Big Scalloped Circles Lg fits perfectly by the way!) for the center of the rosette.  The rosette sits atop a leafy stem embossed in white.  I added a bit of interest at the bottom with rounding.  All done! 

Up next was a card that combined Challenges #6 and #8.  Challenge #6 is to use little notches to hold twine or ribbon in place.  Challenge #8 is to design a card where the front of the card is shorter than the back of the card allowing a bit of pattern or sentiment along the exposed edge.  I started off by heat embossing the largest Mendhi Medallion image onto kraft cardstock.  The stamp is so detailed and the embossing turned out awesome!

I also heat embossed the "Wish Big" sentiment across the bottom.  The stamped panel is stacked onto a chartreuse panel (popped up with foam dots) and then placed on the avocado card base.  On the inside, I heat embossed the small sentiment across the bottom.  

I wish I could have made more cards, but I'm happy that I was able to participate in all the fun.  Hopefully next year, I'll be doing it in person in Cincy!  Thanks for looking!  

{aloha, jj} 

Challenge #2

Stamps: Communique Curves, Mendhi Medallion, Turning a New Leaf (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Versamark, White embossing powder (Martha Stewart), Razzberry (Colorbox)
Paper: Raspberry Fizz, Smokey Shadow, White cardstock (Papertrey Ink)
Embellishments: Rhinestone

Tools: Corner Chomper, Scalloped Circle Die (Spellbinders), Edger (Fiskars)

Challenge #6 & 8

Stamps: Mendhi Medallion, Big Bold Wishes (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Versamark, White embossing powder (Martha Stewart)
Paper: Kraft, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss cardstock (Papertrey Ink)
Embellishments: Baker's twine (The Twinery)

Tools: Circle hand punch (Fiskars)

Clean and Simple Circles

Today I'm playing with 2 CAS Challenges, Less is More - Circles and Wee Memories Challenge #62 - CAS!

As you can see, this is a pretty straightforward design.  I started by punching various circles from one of my favorite patterned paper pads.  The yellow in these papers is so yummy!

To add a little interest and texture, I hand stitched around 2 of the punched circles with embroidery thread.  To make the stitching stand out, I cut out a small bit of each circle.  

And the final touch is the sweet and simple sentiment.  I stamped the sentiment with my new favorite ink Colorbox liquid chalk.  I picked up a few ink pads down at the local Papersource and I can't get enough of it.   Get the kind with the white base, not the black base which are pigment.

Sometimes I forget how much I love hand stitching!   I love the texture and the imperfections of it.   I'm so happy that I got out my needle and thread tonight!  Thanks so much for looking!

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Sentiment - Teeny Trees (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Deep Lagoon (Colorbox Chalk)
Paper: White cardstock (Papertrey Ink), Patterned Paper (Melody Ross - Ava Collection Pad)
Embellishments: Yellow embroidery thread

Tools: Various circle punches (Fiskars)

Treat Triple Threat

Who can resist an ice cream cone, a chocolate chip cookie, and a cupcake?  Pick your poison:)  This treat triple threat was made just for this week's CAS-ual Friday Challenge: Sweets & Treats!    

This card started off with one my favorite phrases.  I'm a big fan of the nom-nom-nom (as you can see from a previous CAS-ual Friday card) and it fits this card to a t!

Each treat is stamped, cheerfully colored with copics, and fussy cut.  I printed out the n's and m's on my computer (Black Jack font) and cut it with a Nestie label die.  The background has been lightly inked with a soft blue inside of the Nestie die.  

I adhered each treat with a foam dot.  The entire inner frame is also popped up over the patterned paper.  Inside is a short (and sweet) sentiment that says "Thanks!  You're so sweet!".  Hope everyone has a treat-filled week!  Thanks for looking! 

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: The Sweet Life (Fiskars Cling)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Broken China (Distress), Copics
Paper: White cardstock (Papertrey Ink), Celebrations (The Paper Studio paper pad)
Tools: Labels One (Grand Nestabilities), foam dots

Beyond the Sea

The motivation behind this card is the Embellish Nautical Color Trends Challenge.  I'm originally from Hawaii and my grandfather was a fisherman, so I have a strong affinity to the ocean.  The images and colors of the Embellish inspiration board are more New England than Honolulu, but they're wonderful all the same! 

I started the card by embossing the background with my Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder.  I cut windows into both the background and base card with 2 sizes of my round Nestie dies.   The light blue backing (under the bow) is a piece of cardstock painted with acrylic paint and then sponged a bit with brown ink.

For the boat stripes, I masked off lines and rubbed over deep blue and red ink.  I love how they really mimic the lines on a real wooden boat.   To get that weathered look and bring up the woodgrain, I sponged the entire card with a rich brown.  

I experimented with a bunch of real nautical knots and they all seemed so clunky.  So I went with a rustic bow instead.  At first glance, this card doesn't hit you over the head with wow factor, but I'm very pleased with how the soft colors and textures turned out:)  

Thanks for looking! 

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Teeny Trees (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Red, Blue (Colorbox), Brown (Memento)
Paper: Rustic Cream and Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)
Embellishments: Hemp twine

Tools: Round dies (Spellbinders)

Mojo Monday Week 198

I don't often post cards that I've created based on Mojo Monday sketches.  Not that the site isn't great or the sketches aren't inspiring.  In fact, it's quite the opposite.  Have you seen the cards there?  Wow, wow, wow, is all I can say.   There are a ton of super talented folks that make the most beautiful cards.  I'm just hoping some of the mojo will rub off on me:)   So today I'm playing along with Mojo Monday Challenge Week 198!

With this card, it all started with the paper.   From the looks at my stash, I really love orange and blue.  I have to admit it makes me really happy!   

I'm still learning how to put together layers  and the MM sketches are so helpful with this.  The first version of this card had one more banner, a framed square in the middle, and a piece of trim.  But it felt forced for me, so here's the pared down version that just felt good.

And I had so much fun making the little accordion fold star!  I'm a little too into making them and accordion flowers lately.  

So from a newbie to all the MM folks, thank you so much for all the inspiration!  Thanks for looking! 

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: White cardstock (Papertrey Ink), Orange polka (paper pad stash), Clouds - Heat Wave (American Crafts), Chevron Stripes - Fine and Dandy (My Minds Eye)
Embellishments: Glitter dot (Queen & Co.)

Tools: Scalloped circle die (Spellbinders)

Manly Krafts

Whew!  We're only a few weeks into summer and I'm pooped!  I finally got a little bit of free time this week to work on my cards.  Today I'm playing with the CAS-ual Fridays Krafts-men challenge CFC#9.  The challenge is to make a masculine card that incorporates kraft paper.   

I started off with a kraft base that I stamped with this great grungy-tire track kind of pattern from WPlus9 stamps.  Versamark on kraft is one of my favorites.  The sentiment is also from the same stamp set (great set especially when you have twin 12 year old boys).  

The main image is a stamp that I got from a seller on etsy (sugarskull7).  I stamped 2 sneakers and fussy cut them both.   I inked them a bit with Antique Linen distress and added some embroidery thread "laces" to hang them from. 

Underneath are two notebook pages cut with a PTI die.  The top page is a deep red that is Versamark stamped with a star background (also from the same WPlus9 set, goes great with the star on the sneaker).  The back page is a great Basic Grey pp.  This card was so much fun to make because the imperfect stamping only adds to the fun.  Thanks for looking! 

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Sneaker (Sugarskull7 on etsy), So 80's (WPlus9 Stamps)
Ink: Versamark, Tuxedo Black (Memento), Antique Linen (Distress Ink)
Paper: Kraft cardstock, circle paper (Basic Grey)
Embellishments: Hinge clip (Tim Holtz), embroidery thread

Tools: Corner Chomper, Spiral Notebook Die (Papertrey Ink)