Cherry Blossoms Cards {05.31.2017}

Today's cards are FULL of cherry blossoms!!! Boom! I LOVE them :) Let's check them out.

I made a few of these cards since I had all the stuff out. It is easier to make two or three at a time of the same design then just one. I started by doing some ink smooshing with water color cardstock. I smooshed some blue distress inks onto my craft mat, then spritzed the ink smooshes with water. Then, I dredged my watercolor cardstock through the inky water. This was for my background. I repeated the same idea with pink inks for the blossoms and brown inks for the branches. Then, I set the watercolor cardstock aside to dry. Once all the paper was dry, I die cut the background using Lawn Fawn's Stitched Journaling Card die, and Spellbinders Cherry Blossoms for the branches and flowers.

I also spritzed the cherry blossoms with a gold shimmer spray. It is hard to see in these photos, but in real life, it adds just a little extra oomph and makes it even prettier :)

I did two different sentiments on the inside. Here is one of them, using Alt E New's Many Thanks stamp set. I used Gina K Designs pink inks, and stamped the sentiment using my MISTI stamping positioner. I inked up the sentiment with my lighter pink ink, then added in some darker pink ink onto the bottom of the sentiment, then I stamped it. I reinked a second time, using the same process, to get a good solid, crisp ink transfer.

I stamped others with this sentiment, from Alt E New's Beautiful Day stamp set, using the same two inks from above, and the same technique.

These were really fun to make ... Cherry blossoms make me so happy, and I love how these turned out.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

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Mother's Day Card {05.29.2017}

A little late to post, but this is the card I made for my mother-in-law, for Mother's Day. She loves flowers, and this card really seemed just right for her. I really like it. Let's check out what I made for her.

I used Lawn Fawn's Happy Happy Happy sentiment and coordinating die cuts. I also die cut part of the sentiment with a Spellbinders die (but can't remember the name. Oops.) I blended some blue ink onto the edge of the sentiment label to give it some depth and match it to the entire card a little bit. To create the sentiment, I stamped the sentiment in black ink, then sprinkled on Sparkle N Sprinkle's Clear Detail embossing powder and heat set it. I did this before I die cut it.

My mother-in-law really likes flowers, so I whipped out some flowers from my stash and layered them around the patterned paper and cardstock layers I die cut (again, with that magical, unknown Spellbinders die!). I adhered the flowers with my hot glue gun, and burnt my fingers only once!

And, to finish off the card, I stamped a sentiment, from Taylored Expressions' My Favorite Mom stamp set, in Versamark Ink, sprinkled on Sparkle N Sprinkle's White Detail embossing powder, and heat set it.

This card packs a punch, is pretty, has lots of layers and dimension, and still came together pretty quickly. I hope my mother-in-law liked it!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

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Be the Change in the World Mom Card (#21/52) {05.26.2017}

Ahhh, today's card for Mom is so pretty ... and I love the sentiment! Let's check out the card :)

I stamped the flower, using Alt E New's layering Peony Bouquet Stamp Set, using several colored inks in yellows and greens. I masked off part of the large peony and added the peony bud and leaves as well. Here is the flower close up.

Here is the sentiment I stamped. I used Taylored Expressions' Wonderful World stamp set. There are some really awesome sentiments with this set! I love them all!!

I trimmed the card panel to a smidge less than the yellow card base. I adhered the card panel onto the base, and the card was ready to go. Layering stamps are so much fun!

I hope Mom likes this card. I like how sweet and simple it is, and could easily be a one layer card if I stamped directly onto the card base.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

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Sparkle N Sprinkle: Kaitlyn Mermaid Sparkle Card {05.24.2017}

Check out this new release from Sparkle N Sprinkle, for May. I love this stamp set! I used the Kaitlyn Mermaid digi stamp set for this card. She is so beautiful, and the digi set includes options of her colored or not colored. I chose the colored version, sized her and printed her out onto white cardstock. Here is the card. 

She was so beautiful ... but I added some extra bling and sparkle to her anyways :) I rolled on some Nuvo Glue Pen Small tip onto her hair and hair shell, and sprinkled on Blue Jewel glitter to her hair, and Tiger Orange and Daisy glitters to her hair shell. Wow! She got even more gorgeous! 

I used the Nuvo Glue Pen Small again for her chair, and sprinkled on some Raspberry Soda to her chair. I also added Tiger Orange and Daisy glitters to her dress too. Sparkles galore! 

I sparkled up the seaweed with Margarita glitter, and adhered it with the Nuvo Glue Pen Small too. You can see this gorgeous sparkle here! 

I layered up the image with die cut frames. I also die cut a patterned paper and covered it with 1-1/2" Double-sided "Tear-ific" Tape, and sprinkled on Princess Elsa Frost glitter. This glitter is translucent, and allowed the patterned paper to still show through, but with lots of depth and sparkle :) Check it out! 

And, to finish off the card, I printed out the sentiment from the digi set, and die cut around it. I added some 1-1/2" Double-sided "Tear-ific" Tape behind the sentiment and sprinkled on Black Ice glitter. Sure made this fun! I layered the sentiment at the bottom of the card. I also used some 2-1/2" Double-sided "Tear-ific" Tape and covered the edges of the background die. I pressed more Black Ice glitter through the frame to the exposed tape, and burnished it in. This made everything sparkle and pop even more! 

What a beautiful and gorgeous card! This mermaid is colored so pretty and she is just beautiful. I hope you enjoy her as much as I do! 

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day! 

-Chris 

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Moonlight Birthday Card {05.22.2017}

I made my brother (my only sibling...) a birthday card. I struggle with masculine cards, but I had to create something, so this is what I came up with...

To make the card, I die cut several cardstock colors using Memory Box's Grassland Collage die. I layered a strip of 2-1/2" "Tear-ific" Tape from Sparkle N Sprinkle onto a cardstock panel and then laid the black "frame" of the image on top of the tape. Then, I inlaid the green and blue cardstock pieces, that I had previously cut, inside the black image. Then, I sprinkled on some of Sparkle N Sprinkle's Nuvo Gilding Flakes into the moon. I did a few small splops of Radiant Gold gilding flakes, and then dumped on a bunch of Silver Bullion gilding flakes. I burnished the flakes in, and brushed them off with a stencil brush to get all the excess flakes removed.

I like the clean lines of this card, and that this card could be universal. It worked out great as a simple masculine, clean-lines, birthday card. I hope my brother likes it!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

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Inky Butterflies and Flowers for Mom (#20/52) {05.19.2017}

Another card for my Mommy! This one was a bit of an experiment and just playing. I used a stamp set that had butterflies and flowers, but I don't know the name of it or the company who made it. I was crafting with a friend and used this from her stash.... I created by card base from yellow cardstock, and layered some patterned paper over it. I stamped the images with colored inks and layered them around the sentiment I stamped. Here is the card!!!

Here is the closeup of the sentiment. I used Taylored Expressions stamp set, called My Favorite Mom. It has the funnest and punniest sentiments :) They crack me up! (Side note: I was at my local Mom & Pop crafting store recently, and saw the same style of stamp set but for FATHERS instead of Moms. Cough, cough, too cute!)

I think my Mommy will get a tickle out of this one cuz it is so funny. Again, a nice easy card and quick to pull together. Sometimes we just want or need a quick card and this one worked out in the time frame I had available :)

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

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Sparkle N Sprinkle Flower Girl Colored Pencil Card {05.17.2017}

Here is another new release from Sparkle N Sprinkle for May. LOVE IT! Okay, this card was FUN to make! I used the new Flower Girl Magic In You stamp set. And boy do I love it! 

I stamped out the image onto colored cardstock with black ink. Then, I colored the image with pencils. And, let me tell ya ... coloring over colored cardstock works REALLY well! I really liked how the coloring turned out, and it was really easy to do. After I colored her, I stamped over the image again, using a stamp positioner, and sprinkled on Clear Detail embossing powder, and heat set it. Here is a close up of the flower girl. She sure is pretty! 

I did the same with the sentiment ... I stamped it with black ink, and then used some colored pencils to add some highlights around some of the words in the sentiment. I restamped the sentiment with the stamp positioner, and sprinkled on Clear Detail embossing powder and heat set it. This made the sentiment raised and sparkly. So fun! 

As I was creating this card, I realized I could go retro, and the way this sweet Flower Girl was poised, that she could almost be a cameo, like my grandma used to wear. So, I die cut the flower girl image into an oval, layered it with some black cardstock die cut into an elegant oval. I layered two strips of 2-1/2" Double-sided "Tear-ific" Tape on white cardstock, then I die cut it with an elegant oval as well. Then, I started decorating up the white cardstock oval as an homage to the old fashioned cameo. I sprinkled on some Cloud Nine glitter, and then I swiped on some Versamark Ink to the edges, and added some Super Thick Clear embossing powder and heat set it. I repeated this a second time. Then, I painted on some Carnation Pink Crystal Drops on top of the thick clear embossing powder, and then added more Versamark Ink and another layer of Super Thick Clear. This made a thick, glossy, slightly pinkish antique edging. After I had this made, I put it into the freezer and froze it for 10 minutes. I took it out and then flexed it right away, which crackled the embossing powder. This also added to the antique finish and look of the cameo. 

Here is the full card again. To tie the antique look all the way through the image, I also squeezed on some Morning Dew Crystal Drops over the flower girl and the flowers. This made everything shine too! 

This was a really fun card and I love how it turned out. 

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day! 

-Chris 

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Floral Happy Birthday {05.15.2017}

Here is a birthday card I made for my buddy. She loves flowers, so I thought I would make a card with flowers. Here it is!

I used pre-made flowers and layered them over some die cut label shapes. I used patterned paper and glitter papers. I also used a sparkly red cardstock as my card base. I stamped out the sentiment from Lawn Fawn's Happy Happy Happy stamp set in black ink, covered the "happy" with Sparkle N Sprinkle's Clear Detail embossing powder, and die cut the "happy" with the coordinating die.

And, I used Lawn Fawn's Big Scripty Words and stamped it inside the card.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:
Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #47: Add Some Texture
Lawn Fawnatics Challenge 5 - Spring Inspiration Board

I think my friend will enjoy her birthday card. It was fun to make and I love all the flowers :)

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

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Happy Mothers Day Dolphin Card {05.14.2017}

My Mom LOVES dolphins ... so I had to incorporate a dolphin (with a baby!) into her Mother's Day card this year. This is what I made:

I wanted to do a lot of texture for this card, and I also wanted a lot of dimension and different textures. I found a really fun dolphin stencil from The Crafters Workshop. The stencil is called Mini Dolphins and has dolphins on it, along with waves, seaweed, and shell shapes. I laid the stencil over watercolor paper, masked off the waves and seaweed, and blended some distress inks through the stencil. I did some shading to have the blues on the dolphin go from light to dark. Then, with the stencil still in place, I used a palette knife to add some Blue Topaz Glimmer Paste from Sparkle N Sprinkle to the dolphins. I wanted a bit of an ombre effect with the glimmer paste, so I didn't apply it solidly through the stencil. I concentrated more glimmer paste in some areas and then faded it out. After the dolphins dried, I cut a paper mask of the dolphin shapes and covered them, and then blended on some orange and yellow distress inks to create a sunset background. Here are the momma and baby dolphins close up.

I used Lawn Fawn's Happy Happy Happy stamp set for the sentiment, and stamped out the sentiment in black ink. I sprinkled on Sparkle N Sprinkle's Clear Detail embossing powder, and heat set it. Then, I die cut the "happy" with its coordinating die. I trimmed the "mother's day" sentiment into a strip. Before I layered all the card parts together, I colored some white embossing paste with blue distress inks and stirred it just a little bit to have varied depths of blue and white in the paste. I applied it to my card background through the waves on the dolphin stencil. I didn't smooth the paste well, so that it had a lot of depth and texture. After I layered everything together, I also glued on some acrylic crystals I had in my stash. I have no idea what they are for, or where I got them, but I thought they looked like big chunks of sea foam and added them to the card :)

Here is another photo of the embossing paste waves. I also sprinkled on Sparkle N Sprinkle's Ocean glitter to some of the waves to add a bit more sparkle and shine to some of the waves. I also applied a couple sequins. For the beach in the foreground, I laid a strip of 2-1/2" "Tear-ific" Tape from Sparkle N Sprinkle onto cardstock, and used Lawn Fawn's Stitched Hillside Borders to cut it into an undulating beach pattern. I peeled off the upper and lower portion of the "Tear-ific" Tape and then sprinkled on Sparkle N Sprinkle's Bronze Glass Glitter. I pressed this in (it is chunky, but isn't sharp so you can touch it and press it). I pulled off the rest of the release paper, and then added a few little bits of the Bronze Glass Glitter, then dumped on Sparkle N Sprinkle's Sparkling Sands. I pressed this in too, and then dusted off the remainder. This gave texture and dimension to the beach area. But, as always, I wanted MORE! I whipped out some more water color paper, and did an ink smooshing technique (I swiped some distress inks onto my craft mat, spritzed the ink with water, then smooshed my water color paper into the puddle of ink). After the paper dried, I die cut them with Memory Box Seaside Treasures (sadly, now retired) dies. I adhered real shells and the water color paper shells onto the beach for even MORE!

Another area of the beach with all the cool things, including shells, die cut shells, glass glitter, and sparkling soft glitter.

And because I can't get enough of how much fun this was to make ... here is another photo of the beach with all the shells and textures. I loved this part of the card! Woot woot! Bring on summer and the beach!

I added a piece of cardstock to the inside of the card. I stamped a sentiment from Taylored Expressions My Favorite Mom stamp set. These sentiments crack me up! This one was so funny, and I thought it was perfect :) Don't tell my brother I said this though ... he thinks he is Mom's favorite!

To tie the card all together, I used a light blue distress ink and blended ink through the dolphin stencil on the side of the inside panel.

And, on the opposite side of the inside panel, I distress inked some seaweed from the stencil too, in two shades of green distress inks.

I hope my Mom likes this card. I had a really good time making it, and I love how it turned out ... I hope it stands up getting mailed 2,500 miles. Happy Mother's Day Mom, I love you!!

And, I am also entering this card into the Cardz 4 Galz #47 Challenge: Add Some Texture.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

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Sending Happy Thoughts Mom Card (#19/52) {05.12.2017}

Here is my latest card for my Momma. This one is just a fun, floral card that sends happy thoughts. Let's check it out.

I wanted to make a card with very little stamping, but a lot of dimension and flowers. I die cut the labels using a Spellbinders die set, and added dimension with foam tape. I also used Lawn Fawn's Happy, Happy, Happy stamp set for the sentiment.

I also tried to show the contrast and height of the flowers with this shot.

I really enjoyed making this card - I don't use pre-made flowers often, and I usually don't quite know what to do with them. But, this card worked out well, and was pretty quick to pull together.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

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Sparkle N Sprinkle: Happy Flowers {05.10.2017}

Check out this new stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle for their May release! I used Happy Flowers stamp set ... I stamped it multiple times to make a row of flowers with some strategic masking. Here is my fun and happy card full of flowers! 

I stamped the flower stamp, masked them, and stamped some more. After I stamped out the flowers, I colored the leaves and flowers, and then sparkled them up with glitters! I used the Nuvo Glue Pen Small tip pen to roll out adhesive onto the flowers and leaves. I used Misty Isles glitter on the leaves, and Ballerina glitter on the flowers. Here is a close up of the row of flowers and all their bling! 

And, a better close up of the flowers. I colored them with two distress ink colors, but the Ballerina glitter really made them pop! I adhered some with foam tape to add more dimension. 

The sentiment was a lot of fun. I treated my cardstock with my Anti Static Bag, and then stamped out the sentiment in Versamark Ink and sprinkled on Concord embossing powder. I heat set it and then die cut into a circle and blended some light purple distress ink while the die was still in place. Then, I cut a strip of 1/2" Double-sided "Tear-ific" Tape, and made a glitter ribbon. I dredged the tape strip through Hanauma Bay glitter. Then, I peeled off the release paper from the other side of the "Tear-ific" Tape and dredged it through the glitter pile again, and burnished in the glitter. This made a cool glitter ribbon! I also applied more "Tear-ific" Tape to the back of the sentiment circle. I adhered the glitter ribbon by pushing it into the tape on the back, and followed around the edge of the circle and made a bit of a rosette by bunching up the glitter ribbon as I went along. This is really easy and fun to do! Check it out! 

I die cut my cardstock panel after I stamped the flowers (and before I added the dimension and glitters). I framed it onto the cardstock base. I covered the edges of the front of the cardstock base with 1-1/2" Double-sided "Tear-ific" Tape and pressed the card panel into the tape. Then, I burnished in Lacy Lilac glitter which really made the white card panel pop! And, oh la la, that Lacy Lilac glitter is so gorgeous! I also added a drop of Carnation Pink Crystal Drops to the corners of the panel, and doodled inside the open loops in the sentiment too. Just for more fun! 

This was a really fun card to make. I love this stamp set and see it getting a lot of use in the future! I hope you enjoyed this card too. 

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day! 

-Chris 

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Hello Friend Tag {05.08.2017}

HI! Here is a sweet little tag I whipped out to give a giftie to a dear friend. Let's check it out:

I stamped out flowers from Alt E New's Peony Bouquet stamp set. This is a layering stamp set ... and boy oh boy do I LOVE a layering stamp :) I used several blue and green inks, in light, medium, and dark colors for each. I also stamped out the sentiment from a Lawn Fawn stamp set (totally going blank and can't remember which one!). I stamped the sentiment in Versamark Ink and sprinkled on Sparkle N Sprinkle's Golden Sparkle embossing powder, and heat set it. I also squeezed on some Honey Gold and Caribbean Ocean Crystal Drops as well. And then, to finish it all off, I swiped on some Clear Wink of Stella over part of the flower to give it a bit of a shine.

I love making tags or dressing up little gifties and this quick tag was something easy to whip out. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

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