Thinking of you

 There's a technique called 'double embossing' - which I have been dying to try out. Basically you heat emboss a piece that's gone through an embossing folder. I was inspired by a sketch and many challenges calling for autumn, so I decided on using a paper block with co-ordinated fall colors (for some reason called 'Day break'), a die set and an embossing folder. I selected an embossing powder in the color of 'dusty grape'.

 

I cut 1 1/4" panels from three colors and partially dry embossed them. Then I gently smeared the embossing ink here and there. I didn't want to cover it all as I wanted a rather organic look. Lastly I heat embossed them and cut down to 1" width.

I arranged them onto a piece of scrap paper and cut this to fit the card. I had a piece of ribbon which I wrapped around on the bottom. I mounted the panel on foam pads and arranged the die-cut and paper backed leaves onto it. The sentiment says: Thinking of you.

 

Entering this in these great challenges:

Try A Sketch on Tuesday: #705 sketch

 

Allsorts: #859 Anything Autumn

Can You Handle the Pressure: AG w/ a twist of Trees. - Paying tribute to trees with those leaves

Crafty Gals Corner: #280 AG / Fall foliage optional - playing along with Fall foliage

Simon Says Wednesday: Anything goes 

 

Balloons for birthday

 Today I wanted to tackle my stash of designer papers. I tend to buy them and then hoard them, just because they seem too pretty to use.

I rounded up a couple of challenges that play together wonderfully. These were my initial supplies. Afterwards I grabbed some markers.

 

I started by piecing the background. I then took it to my sewing machine and stitched two rows of zig-zag stitches. Then I cut the circles, one large and three small ones.

I have been looking for a pretty balloon die for ages, with no luck, so I resorted to cutting the shape with scissors.

 

I then stamped the girl, colored her in and fussy cut her out. Lastly came the assembly. The sentiment says: "Happy birthday".

 

Entering this in these challenges that I was inspired by today:

Paper Players: #PP801 Tic-Tac-Toe - My row is top across: patterned papers- things that fly - layers

 

Try a Sketch on Tuesday: #TSOT 703

 

Double Trouble: #224 

AAA Birthday: #89 Use patterned paper

 

Sweet Stamping: Use a die cut 

Come sail away with me

 Today's card was inspired by several challenges: colors, sketch and two word prompts.

To begin with I pulled out all my seaside / sailing / coastal stamps. They aren't many as I live in the inland and sailing - or seaside - is not what you know. I also pulled out some sheets of my gelli prints. I also thought I could do something with twine.

 

I started by selecting my stamps: three fish from one set, a sailing boat, and the weather rose from another set. One set had a stamp of expertly tied rope and that gave me an idea for the twine. It was too thick and short however, so I changed it to linen (which also goes well with the intended color scheme).

The included sentiment seemed apt. I selected a fitting gelli print for the sea and another, lighter one for the sky.

I am entering this in these lovely challenges:

TSOT: Challenge #701

 

The Paper Players: #PP798 color challenge

 

Dragonfly Dreams: Beach or Seaside

Cardz 4 Galz: #282 Blue skies

Green and yellow friendship

 I had so much fun with paints today. I don't play with them often enough. I made an enjoyable mess which resulted in just one print, though, because of time restraints.

Today I gathered some nice inspiration: a friendship card in a color scheme of green and yellow using a stencil, fitted in a layout prompt. I used greens and lemon yellow for my background paper. 

I then cut the panel according to the sketch. The result looked minimal which was not quite the look I had in mind. I rummaged through my ready stash envelope and found a large lacy circle that I had cut for a project that never happened. It was yellow and it fitted nicely behind the green triangle. The flowers were left white.

 

 

Entering this in these challenges that served me as guidance today:

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Fun with paint

Creative Color Girlz: #25 Geel en/of groen (yellow and/or green) 

Allsorts: #853 Stencils 

Cardz 4 Galz: #280 For a friend / Friendship 

TSOT: #699 Two sketches - I chose to work with sketch #1, but made a teeny tiny addition to it after turning it around... 

 

Three curious hen

 Today I took a sketch, and instead of creating the perfect geometric shapes I wanted to go loose on them, more natural. Browsing a while in my stash and through the challenges I found some great matches.

I picked colors, a stamp set that had farm fencing in it and a wooden stamp of a stylized hen that I love. I also used a small leafy stamp and the stitched edges stamp which are not on the picture - at that time I didn't yet know I would need those.

 

I am entering this in these challenges that inspired me in my creation:

Try a Sketch on Tuesday: TSOT #697 Sketch

 

HSS: #490 Color challenge 

Sparkles Monthly: #200 Trios (Three of anything) 

Little Red Wagon: #862 O is for outdoors 

Critter Crazy: #111 AG critter