Coffee Card Challenge

I created this card to join the challenge at the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

I started with a graphic of a coffee cup which I downloaded from the internet.  I used pencil crayons to color the cup.  I filled a circle from the stencil onto the front of the cup. I added the Coffee Co. words free hand with the dark brown Staedtler Karat watercolor pencil.  I sponged on some Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Antique Linen to warm it up as it appeared too white against the background.  I kept adding shading until I was happy with it.

I started the background on a piece of taupe skytone card stock cut to 4.0 x 5.25 inches.  I used the The Crafter's Workshop - Mini Coffee Splotch stencil to create the coffee rings.  I dabbed some Tim Holtz Distress Stains in Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Gathered Twigs, and Walnut Stain from lightest to darkest onto a palette.  I applied the 2 medium stains with a sponge through the stencil making marks on the card stock.  I sponged a bit between the rings. I rubbed the edges with the Walnut Stain.  I wrapped a piece of ivory seam binding around the background and tied it on the front to the left leaving room for my cup.

I glued the back ground to a deep brown almost Espresso card.  Adhered the coffee cup focal element to the card front with 3D foam tape. I trimmed the ends of my seam binding.   I then spattered the card front with a wet toothbrush dipped into the 2 medium colors which unified the elements.   I'm super happy with the results.

Share Your Cup - This Week

I made a proposal early in January in hopes of getting an order for my photo calendars.  I had been thinking about changing the first sheet and I took the opportunity to try it out.  I replaced the front photo with a small sheet of vellum with the pertinent details.  It goes over the dates of the calendar till it's time to start using the calendar.  This will help for customers to immediately recognize it as a calendar.


The photo on the right is the first sheet for the 2106 Garden calendar.  I know it says photo calendar but I think it's better to actually let me see the calendar part.  We'll see if it helps for the sale of the 2017 ones when they come out later this year.

Check out my feature post and you could win a 2016 Up Close calendar in my blog giveaway. 

This week, I was working on preparation for Card Club which I will teach on Monday.  I wanted to create a card which would work of Valentines, Wedding or Anniversary.  I decided to use paper heart doilies.  The designer papers I had selected were all in the warm tones so I wanted to warm up the white doilies. I pulled out my trusty Tim Holtz Distress Stain Antique Linen to just change the color a bit.  This is what I got! Green!!  Needless to say I had to change my strategy to one that would work with white hearts. 
After a search on line I found this post which identifies the same problem. The Tattered Rose has turned green as well.  Once I check all my bottles I guess a call to Ranger will be in my future.
UPDATE:  My replacement bottles of Tim Holtz Distress Stain arrived today, March 3, 2016.  Ranger provides great customer service and stands by their products.

I store my 12x12 designer paper in plastic drawer organizers.  One drawer holds my DSP scraps, in hopes that they will be used in another project.  This week I just had to clear out the paper scraps I was never going to use.  Some of these I have been looking at for at least 5 years and every time I would come and look for a scrap I would see them.  I was able to let go of them this week and put them in a bag headed to the ReUse Centre.  I'm sure some teacher looking for scraps for her grade 1 class will appreciate a nice collection of small pieces which can be cut up into a mosaic, a paper strip project or something else which I can't even conceive.  I can close the drawer with out doing the shuffle.  I can easily see what I have because this is much less of it, and I'm feeling lighter.
The next task in the de-stashing is gift wrap rolls.  More about that later.

Submitting to Share Your Cup hosted by Carol at Art and Sand.

Joy to the World Challenge

I started with the Tim Holtz JOY Mover & Shaper cut from green card stock.  I then cut the word out of the piece of card stock with one of the Spellbinder Smooth Oval Nestabilities.  I cut a scalloped oval with the corresponding SB Nestabilities from gold card stock.  These were adhered together.  I cut the TH Ornamenal die from ivory music decorative paper.  I chose a deep red card onto which I stamped some washi tape from the Stampin Up Tape It stamp set in black ink.  I colored printed the "to the World" greeting in black and I applied a bit of TH Antique Linen Distress Stain to just remove the whiteness of the card stock. I flagged the end of the banner with the SU Chevron punch.   I then layered it onto the same green card stock as the Joy die cut leaving a tiny border. I adhered the Ornamental die cut to the card front then adhered the banner in the bottom third of the card.  I then adhered the Joy scalloped oval with 3D foam tape.

Submitting this card to the following challenges:
Sparkles Christmas Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Holly Jolly Christmas Card Challenge - Inspired by a Christmas Carol

Cards - Tab Closures

I made a couple of cards for my exchange group.  A Stampin Up Card Base Pop 'n Cuts XL die has come my way and I didn't know it created a card which closes with slits and tabs.  That was a super surprise. I've done some research and there are interesting projects to come.
For these cards I cut the double sided card stock with the card base then folded it in half.  For the blue one I used Make a Wish Dandelion paper from Pebblesinc.  I cut a SU Lattice Die in white and adhered it to the card front in the tall orientation.  I punched a couple of SU Five Petal Punchies in deep brown then 2 small white Five Petal punchies and adhered them onto the brown ones.  I added a bit of a centre with a marker.  These were mounted with 3D foam tape. I added a greeting in the bottom right hand corner with a SU Modern Label punchie in white stamped with a stamp from the Small Script Stamp Set. I punched a brown punchie same card stock as the flowers, cut it in two crosswise and offset them to the back of the greeting layer.  This layer was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

 This second card was cut with the same card base die.  I used this map card stock with a deep red on the back side.  I cut the Tim Holtz Camera Mover & Shaper from the same card stock but with the red in front.  I cut it twice and then layered some pieces from the second onto the first so I would have map accents on it.  I used a strip of white card stock which I put Distress Stain in Antique Linen and Gathered Twigs to help it coordinate with the card stock.  I then cut the sentiment with the Stampin Up Little Letters dies and adhered them onto the colored strip.  I ran the edges of the strip into the dauber of Gathered Twigs stain.  I adhered the strip to the card front. I wrapped the card front with several layers of kraft twine and knotted it on the front. I then adhered the camera to the left of the sentiment with 3D foam tape.  Note the card is being used in the reverse manner from the first one hence you only see the red tabs showing through the slits.  Very versatile die.

Card - Deer in Neutrals

I took a sheet from a Spanish dictionary and applied Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Antique Linen and Gathered Twigs.  I dried it with the heat tool and then used TH Distress Stain in Walnut Stain with a brush to paint the landscape and the trees.  I ripped all the edges.  I stamped the greeting in the top right hand corner with Versafine Vintage Sepia with a clear stamp. I chose a Bazzill Pinecone card stock for the card. This layer was adhered to the card front with glue stick which helped to smooth out the wrinkled paper. I punched a 1" circle from Champagne pearl card stock for the moon and adhered it with 3D foam tape.  The chipboard deer is left over from this card project. I applied a bit of bronze shimmer on them with a dry brush but it does not show up in the photo.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges.
52 Christmas Card Throw Down - Coffee and Cream
Hazels Christmas Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Card - Challenge - HB Envelope

I made this card to meet a few challenges.
Designer Paper - I started with the patterned paper by Webster Pages - Kickball.
Envelope - I made the envelope with the Sizzix Scallop Envelope Bigz die by Stampin Up.  I used a watercolored turquoise paper which I warmed up with Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Stain because it was too white for the DSP.  I stamped the greeting in warm green with a small SU stamp.
Masculine HB - The colors were quite masculine, so to add to that feeling, I hid the scallop edge of the envelope with a small card which was the same color as the card and just fit inside.   I cut the letters HB with the Sizzix Shadow Box dies in complementary colors of light and dark blue green.
Ribbon - I added a length of caramel seam binding across the DSP which I knotted before I adhered the envelope to the front.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:
1. Daring Card Makers - Envelope
2, Hazel's Patterned Paper - February
3. Crazy For Cards - C4C271 - Masculine HB

Cards - Shrink Plastic Flowers

Here are the cards I made with my shrink plastic flowers. Check this post for details on how to make the flowers.

I found yellow buttons to put in the centre of the flowers which I will string into the holes I made in the shrink plastic flowers.  I made a background starting with a white quarter sheet which I sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Tattered Rose (light) and Victorian Velvet (darker). I stamped the SU Background Builder (script) stamp with Paprika ink in several directions. I glued this layer to a warm rosy ginger card leaving a small border. I cut the stem and leaves by hand and glued them to the card front.  I tacked the flower in place, used a push pin to make the holes through the card front using the holes in the flower.  I strung yellow thread through the button, the flower and the card front and tied in a knot on the front.



For the card on the right I used  Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Antique Linen (light) and Crushed Olive (darker). I stamped the SU Background Builder (script) stamp with Paprika ink in several directions.

These cards likely will not go through the mail without extra postage.

Card - Sympathy

I made a few cards for family who are attending my Uncle Joe's funeral today.
I started with a grey card and added a designer paper in grey and ivory florals.  I added a length of ivory twill tape about 1" below the top and tape the ends to the back.  I stamped the sentiment with a Stampendous stamp in Sahara Sand on ivory.  I used a corner punch then rubbed the edges with the same ink pad. Sentiment mounted with 3D foam tape.

 These cards start with a
deep muted grape color card stock.  I added a vellum layer cut to leave a small border.  I added a square of designer paper which I warmed up with a bit of Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Stain to go with the ivory greeting I had in my stash.  I added a SU Five Petal Punch in ivory rubbed with a purple ink pad.  I added silk flower flower with a deep purple brad holding all pieces in place.  I added the sentiment with 3D foam tape.  It was color printed and punched with the SU Decorative Label punch.

Cards - Autumn Thanks

I started with the autumn pumpkin digital file from Graphics Fairy.  I color printed it then aged it with a bit of Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Stain.  This card has a different layout because I forgot to use my Magnetic Platform and the die moved on me so it cut crooked, so I had to use the die cut instead of the hole. I layered the pumpkins onto dark green card stock and adhered it to the bottom of the card. I cut the greeting with Memory Box die.  I applied tape runner adhesive to the Thanks die cut and placed it above.  I managed to find a piece of deep yellow fiber in my stash and wrapped it around the card several times and knotted it. Trimmed the ends.

I made these cards for my on-line card exchange. I'm also submitting to Come and Get It Card Challenges which is to use an autumn digi.

Home Page Challenge - Doodles

I made this card for a challenge on one of my on-line groups.  The challenge was doodles.  I would not say one of my strong points but I wanted to participate so I went for it.
I found a pumpkin digital image at Graphics Fairy.  I printed it, trimmed it and then added some Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Stain to tone down the white in the back ground.  I rubbed the edges of the image with orange dye ink pad.  I used the same ink to do my hand lettering and doodling at the top of the card.  I used a water brush and picked up some dye ink from the pad and added Fall in hand lettering.  I added the doodles to the right.  I stamped the hello within the doodles with a green ink pad  and a small clear stamp.  I then added a shadow to the hand lettering with a green marker.

Card - Stencil Background

I made this card for a challenge to use a stencil.  I've not bought any stencils recently and I have a pile of ones I bought years ago but none were suitable for a background.  So I decided to make my own.  I cut some clear plastic with the Stampin Up Lattice Die.  I laid the stencil down on a piece of card stock and applied Tim Holtz Distress stains in the following colors: Antique Linen, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Aged Mahogany.  I made it larger than a quarter sheet because I knew I would cut it down. I cut it down with one of the SU Window Frames Collection Framelits. I rubbed the edges with the Aged Mahogany ink. I chose an orange card and applied a layer of yellow on top of it before I added my background die cut.  I cut a Lattice Die from a piece of mahogany card stock.  I played around with it until I ended up with just a flower looking piece.  I added an orange silk flower to the center and held it all in place with a golden yellow mini brad. I added some of the off cuts from the die to each of the four corners.  I then sprayed the whole card with some copper mist spray.

Card - Earth Day - Chipboard Eiffel Tower

Next card in my Earth Day collection.

I cut the Eiffel Tower from cereal box cardboard with the Tim Holtz Eiffel Tower die. I applied TH Distress Stain in Antique Linen but it does not show much.  I rubbed the edges with a black ink pad.  I embossed the ivory linen card stock layer with the TH Postale embossing folder. I wrapped the layer with caramel seam binding and tied it to the left card front.  This was glued to the card front. The Eiffel tower is adhered to the card front with 3D Foam tape.

Challenge - Food Tag

I made this tag for the Home Card Challenge on CST which was Food Tag.  I cut to tags with the Sizzix Scallop Tag die.  One black and the other a warm grey.  I cut the word Tea out of the black one with the Sizzix Lollipop Lower Case dies.  I then glued them together to have the letters grey.  I added a bit of a border with a white gel marker but it was too white to I applied some Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Stain to bring it down a bit.  Worked great. I added a organza ribbon in the same warm grey color.  This would be great added to a box of tea for a friend in a basket of assorted beverages. 

Challenge - White on White

I made this card for the Weekly Christmas Card Challenge where it is White on White.  I started with a white card.  I embossed a quarter sheet of white with the Stampin Up! Northern Flurry folder. I chose three vintage pearlized buttons which convinced me to add a tiny bit of Tim Holtz Antique Linen on the snowflakes and around the word window punchie. I added a greeting with a color printed greeting punched with the SU Word Window the layered onto the Modern Label.  

Challenge Card - Holly Jolly - Add 3 Embellishments

I created this card for the challenge this week at Holly Jolly which is Add 3 Embellishments.   I started with a Real Red card.  I created the background with the Stampin Up! Print Pattern Background Stamp with real red on a piece of white card stock to which I had added Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress stain.  I added a Sizzix Bigz Frame Back Ornate #8 cut from green designer paper. I color printed my greeting with Real Red onto the same Antique Linen card stock I made earlier. I cut the greeting with one of the SU! Apothecary Framelits and brushed it's edges with the ink pad.  I added a silver ornament cut with the Spellbinder 2011 Heirloom Ornament thin dies.  I added a Martha Stewart red glitter snowflake in the centre held with a silver brad. I drew a string for my ornament with a marker. My three embellishments - diecut, greeting and ornament.

Christmas Card Challenge - April - Coloring

The challenge for April was coloring.  This could be watercolor, pencil crayon, markers, copics, acrylic, wax crayons and I've likely missed a few.  Choose your favorite or challenge yourself with one you've had a hard time using and go for it!  If you make a card let me a comment with a link to your card.  I would love to see what you have made.

Here's my card for April.  I started with coloring some chip board coasters with Tim Holtz Distress Stain.  See my previous posts for a sample.  I chose the vintage colors for this card.  I cut the letters from the Aged Mahogany chip board with my Sizzix Shadow Box Alphabet. I cut the SU! Apothecary die cut from Echo Park Paper - Tree Skirt from the Season's Greetings Collection by Lori Whitlock.  I rubbed the edges of the diecut with the distress stain dauber.  I glued the JOY letters to the Apothecary die cut with quick drying adhesive.  I created my background layer with a piece of white card stock aged with the TH Antique Linen distress stain.  I cut it down to leave a border. I found a piece of gross grain ribbon to match the letters and mounted it onto the back ground and taped the ends to the back.  The background is adhered to a piece of coordinating green card stock. I glued the JOY letters to the Apothecary diecut with quick drying adhesive.  The label diecut is adhered over the ribbon to the background with 3D foam tape.