A Pop of Real Red

I was challenged to make a mono-color card for a weekly challenge group I joined. The mono-card was all in Basic Gray and had a star instead of a heart and I added rhinestones instead of the red candy dots. I liked it but decided it would be fun to make the same card and add a pop of Real Red to it. So, switched the star to a heart and added red candy dots instead of the rhinestones.
I saw the design in the book Card Sketches for Papercrafters. It's a great way to use some zig-zag paper.

Botanicals for You meets Gorgeous Grunge

You have to look closely but I started this card by stamping a background of the Gorgeous Grunge striped stamp with So Saffron ink in the background. I stamped it just where I thought the stamped flowers and expression would be. Next I stamped the expression using Midnight Muse ink. Then it was just a matter of stamping the flowers and leaves. I used Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Pool Party for the flowers and Wild Wasabi for the leaves. I also stamped a few flowers on some white cs scrap and then fussy cut to add to the left of the expression. Those three flowers were topped off with tiny rhinestones. Another Pinterest CASE.

Gorgeous Grunge

I saw this card on Pinterest and had to CASE. It's a lot of cleaning stamps as you make it but such a splash of color that it was fun. To make the background streaks you just carefully ink each end of the stamp with a differnt color. There can be a gap between your colors because the Happy Birthday layer will cover that gap. It's really a very easy card to make.

Glittery Background

 It's not real easy to see in this photo but the purchased card had glittery swirls for the background. Again I thought the easiest way to duplicate the cross overlay would be to use some vellum. Since confirmation is coming up in May I decided to stay with the cross as a focal point but the expression I wanted to use made me change the orientation.

 This card is for the girls being confirmed. I used the swirl from Everything Eleanor. I stamped the sentiment with Soft Suede ink and then let it dry. Then I stamped just two times with Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake cardstock and immediately sprinkled with Iridescent Ice and then heat embossed. Then I filled in the background using VersaMark ink and again embossing with Iridescent Ice.

The card for boys was made in the same way but I used two stamps from Gorgeous Grunge stamp set to make the card.
Both crosses come from the Blessed by God stamp set and were stamped with White Staz On on vellum. A little fussy coating and a couple of glue dots to adhere them and the card front was finished.

More Inspiration from Card Sketches for Paper Crafters

This card used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set with the retired Best of Love stamp set and a heart punch. Any expression could be used; Thank You, Happy Birthday, Get Well. It's such an easy card but so pleasing to the eye. I used Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Whisper White and Real Red for my colors.

CASE - ing the New Annual Catalog

Here's another card I CASEd from the new annual catalog. This one looks more complicated than it is. It just requires some punching with the Hexagon punch. The trick is to place the three stamped hexagons in the middle on the card first. I used dimensionals to adhere them to give the card some depth. Then it's a snap to add the two hexagons that I punched from Designer Series Paper. I always have lots of the little thin scraps of card stock (Raspberry Ripple here) and to be honest I don't usually even save ones this small. But I just looked to see what scrap was laying by my paper cutter and then chose the colors based on that scrap.

Seeing Stars

Grab your star punches and/or framelits because this week we're seeing stars! I'll show you some fun cards all with stars on them. These make great birthday, congratulations, celebration, and what I needed - masculine cards!

Today's card features the Gorgeous Grunge and Big Day stamp sets. I stamped the Whisper White background and circle using the Grunge stamps using Tangelo Twist ink. I stamped the sentiment from Big Day using Night of Navy ink. Then I used my Stars framelits to cut stars out of Crushed Curry, Night of Navy card stock and the Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper. Layer on these pieces and add a little twine or ribbon and your card is done.  I had some fuzzy yarn left over from a knitting project and used it. You might have some fun "left over" at your home to use on cards, too.

CASE:  Just Sponge It

Christmas Designs

These are the remaining cards from the shoebox party; all with a Christmas theme. The top three were designed by nieces, three sisters. One niece designed the two middle cards so the youngest sister could come and create with us. I love the hexagon punch tree on top and the Gorgeous Grunge tree below. Creative ways to use non-holiday supplies.
The third card had a similar layout to mine. Sometimes it is eerie how alike we can all be!
The bottom card was made at our hostess' station. She's not even related to us but we have come to just treat her like one of the family. She had lots of paper and shapes and stamped images and stamp sets out for us to make a card. She was a great hostess, inviting us to come early for soup and sandwiches. She had lots of liquid refreshments, too and pumpkin gooey butter cake. A new twist on a St. Louis favorite! I hope we keep planning these parties. We always come up with some memorable expressions and plot ways to drive each other crazy!