Strawberry fields

 For today's card I pulled inspiration from several challenges. It all started with an inspiration photo. I have been eyeing it since the challenge started, but only now that the time is running out did I finally come up with an idea. I also wanted to use die-cutting, stenciling, stamping and coloring - oh my oh  my!

Out came the supplies. There is a piece of acetate in there too, as I wanted to make it a flat shaker. The gelli printed tissue using a grid stencil did not make it to this photo, nor did the sequins.

 

I started by die-cutting two circles from the green glitter card stock: the ornamental one and a plain one for underneath to secure the acetate. The ornamental wreath builder is a favorite of mine, I got it several years ago to make holiday cards. I have never before used it for other purposes.

 Then I stamped and heat embossed the strawberries and their leafs and colored them in with my Gansai Tambi watercolors (they have excellent coverage!), glued the stencil print on the card and assembled it all layer by layer.

 

I am entering this card in the challenges that inspired me:

Inspiration Station: #86 Photo

 

Shopping Our Stash: #SOS577 You're so sweet

Tic-Tac-Toe: #tttc296 - I used the diagonal Fruit/vegetable - die cut - stencil

 

Just Us Girls: #830 Die week

 

Little Red Wagon: #865 I see

 

 

 

 

When a lot is simply too much

I tried to be clever and strategical with my combination of challenges today. I wanted to combine 'use stencil' with a sketch with die cuts with a theme ('tropical'). 

It all started with an array of supplies: two sets of die cuts, a stamp set and a stencil. I really like these irregular rectangles. I have no recollection where I bought this, but looking at the back side I saw it was made in India. 

 

I cut rectangles, colored them in with Oxides and arranged them according to the sketch. I cut 'tropical leaves' (name of the set)  from my gelli printed papers and I stamped a flower and colored it in with Ecoline watercolor markers. I stenciled the background with the stencil and Oxides. 

The trouble arose when I had to find a suitable sentiment. My choice fell on a small square 'Make a wish' which I embossed with neon orange embossing powder. I must say - that was too much. Perhaps it could be salvaged with another sentiment (or flower?) which would cover it. 

 

Before I attempt a remedy I will show this in the following challenges. The sketch challenge has closed, but the following are still active:

Tic-Tac-Toe: #tttc295 - I followed the diagonal row 'floral - square card - stencil'

Double D: Tropical - I was inspired by the lower right quadrant, it's colors and flowers 

 

A Cut Above: June AG - 2nd entry 

Creative Color Girlz: #5 Bloemen - Flowers 

Life's good

My favorite beverage is a frothy topped latte - something I don't get to enjoy every day, not even every week, it's a special treat when I go to a coffee house.

Inspired by a challenge that asks this question, followed by others that gave me the colorway and details I pulled out a few supplies: papers, twine and an embossing folder. I was debating between hessian and origami triangles (by Nellie Snellen). I decided to go with the origami triangles, given that the base was kraft - I felt that hessian would have brought this into a more rustic territory.

I tore the coffee cup shape out of patterned paper, then added a more colorful twine than I had originally pulled out. The milk froth was fashioned from cake paper (slightly dyed) and the steam was made with rub-ons.

 

Entering this in these serendipitous challenges:

Tic-Tac-Toe: TTTC#294 Bingo - I chose the middle horizontal: patterned paper - free - twine 

Cardz 4 Galz: #277 Browns and green with twine or ribbon

Time Out: #314 A favorite beverage

Shopping Our Stash: #575 Craft-astic 

Double D: Bows 

Wish for peace

 I was happy to find a putto (sometimes called cherub or amorino) stamp (by Couture Creations), as it will have many uses (I am thinking ahead to Valentines already). 

This first time it fits in with the more traditional, religious element of Christmas, but it is bearing a modern message: make a wish. Wish for Peace, for example - sorely lacking in our times.

 

The background was made with a gelliplate and a snowflake stencil in two layers with several different paint colors. The rather Christmassy die-cut serves as a kind of finial to the scene and was hand colored. As was the putto. The putto is raised and the stamped sentiment slipped under his hand.

Entering it in these lovely challenges that inspired me today:

Daring Cardmakers: One-word prompt: Wish

My Time to Craft Christmas: #74 Theme of snowflakes/ Christmas

We love Stamping: Christmas characters 

Paper Dragonfly: #23 Anything goes/ flies

Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge: #tttc 236 I selected the row Stamping - free - layers 

A green and blue B'day card

A tic-tac-toe was the starting point for this challenge. As I am always looking to double challenge myself, I chose to make a birthday card with my chosen row, which is blue and green - layers - die cut. 

I haven't had my leaf dies out for a while and I recently made a batch of gelli papers in several colors, so I was itching to do some creative die cutting.

 

I wanted to make a veritable greenery with some exotic - blue - flowers. Several layers of leaves are placed over one other, in the final layer I raised some of the leaves and all the flowers. 

The sky was made with finger daubers over a torn edge of printer paper.

The birthday wishes kind of disappear in the jungle. In order to draw more attention to the sentiment I chose to make it in glitter paper.

Entering this in:

TTTC Challenge: #tttc216 

 

Die Cut Divas: A birthday-themed month

HLS Die Challenge: July AG with dies

Bastel-Traum: #btchallenge124 Pflanzen / Blumen -- diesmal Planzen zum Geburtstag!