fresh & fun

Helen Orr posted a cute Watering can a while back. I asked her if she could write a tutorial for SCS and she did! For the video, I created this sample.

I printed the template on Kiwi Kiss cardstock, cut it out and scored all the score lines. Next I stamped the bottom of each watering can side with a stamp from Unity’s “Growing In Unity” stamp set. I added some highlights with a white gel pen and taped the sides together with Scor-Tape, forming the watering can. The edges were sponged. Handle and spout were added.

I added 1″ white May Arts Satin Ribbon to the top of one of  the sides. A sentiment from SU’s Teeny Tiny Wishes was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, punched out with the small oval punch and sponged with Pumpkin Pie. Butterflies were punched out of Summer Sun cardstock, sponged with Pumpkin Pie and adhered to the watering can. A few tiny Twinkles were added.

Here is a video for the visual learner:

Harmonious Sprig is another gorgeous new background from Unity.  I used it to create a card for one of the Splitcoast Sketch challenges.

The image was stamped on Natural White Cardstock in Tuxedo Black ink and watercolored with Ranger Distress inks (Vintage Photo, Old Paper, Shabby Shutters). White Liquid Pearls were added over the pines and branch. White Organdy Ribbon from May Arts was tied around the lower half. One of my Mom’s old buttons was tied with Linen Thread around the ribbon.

The card base is a 4 1/4″ x 12″ piece of Textured Chocolate Chip cardstock folded in half. A 4″ x 5 3/4″ piece of Natural White was layered with 1/4″ narrower pieces of Basic Grey Fruitcake and Wassail Paper. The layers were stitched together. A 2″ x 4″ piece of Textured Chocolate Chip Cardstock was punched with the Eyelet border punch and adhered slightly above the center of the card. Three white brads were added to the left of the image.

This weekend was bad. Lucas, Rebecca, Rick and I all had the flu. Austin already had it last weekend. Fever, achiness and nasty dry cough is not good. The kids are better, but Rick and I are still trying to recover. I couldn’t help myself though….I needed to make a sample for my challenge.

My image is from JustRite’s Autumn Blessings. It was stamped in Tuxedo Black on Gina K.’ Pure Luxury White cardstock and colored with Copic Markers (leaves: YG23, YG25, G94, Pumpkin: YR02, YR04, YR14, E15, Sky: YR31, bottom: E31). It was cut with Circle Nestabilities and ground and sky were airbrushed.

The Chocolate Chip card base measures 6 1/2″ x 8″ and was folded in half. A 3 1/2″ x 5 7/8″ piece of Basic Grey paper was stitched to a slightly bigger piece of Whisper White cardstock. A 5 7/8″ wide Chocolate Chip cardstock strip was cut, embossed and stenciled with Spellbinders Harvest Border and stitched to the middle of my Basic Grey paper. Champaigne Satin Ribbon was tied over the layers.

The smaller patterned paper rectangle measures 2″ x 4 3/8″ and is from the Basic Grey Pad Offbeat. It was stitched to a  1/4″ bigger piece of Whisper White. The focal point was first layered on a slightly smaller Creamy Caramel, then on a Chocolate Chip Scallop circle before adhered with dimensionals to the smaller rectangle. The sentiment is also from JustRite’s Autumn Blessings. It was stamped in Tuxedo Black on Whisper White cardstock punched out with the large oval punch and then layered on a sponged Chocolate Chip Scallop oval. The edges were paper pierced and the entire layer was airbrushed with YR31. The little pumpkin was cut with the Harvest Border out of a scrap of Basic Grey Offbeat paper.

To finish it off I added clear Dew drops with Crystal Effect to the top left and bottom right of the card. Since I already had the Crystal Effect out, I added some over my colored and cut out pumpkins.

Have a wonderful day! Hugs and smiles

Bella’s WCMD Challenge was to create a  card that shows what your girlfriends like to do in 80s colors. I don’t own any Bella stamps yet (they are ordered, though…can’t wait for them to get here). I figured eating baked goodies is always something I enjoy doing with friends.

The stamp is from Unity’s August 09 KOM stamp set. It was stamped in Tuxedo Black ink on Gina K.’s Pure Luxury White Cardstock. It was cut out with Label 3 Nestabilities, airbrushed  and colored with Copic Markers (YG06, G07, BG000, BG00, BG02, RV10, RV14, E53, E55) and Spica glitter pens Melon and Pink.

Chunky Crystal sparkles were added to the cupcake frosting before the entire glass bowl was covered with Crystal Effects. The image was layered on a bigger black Label 3 die cut. a White Gel Pen dotted border was added.

The card base is a 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of Basic Black cardstock folded in half. It was layered by a 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Whisper White folled by a 1/4″ smaller piece of Gyspy Basic Grey patterned paper. The horizontal strip measures 1 7/8″ x 5″ and is from the same paper pack. A thin strip of Basic Black cardstock was taped underneath. It had been punched with the scallop Edge Punch. 1″ wide White Organdy Ribbon from May Arts was tied around the strip.

The sentiment is from the same Unity Kit. It was stamped in Tuxedo Black ink on Gina K.’s white cardstock. It was cut out with the large oval punch, airbrushed and taped to the left of the image. A Prima Flower was attached with a Rhinestone brad and small Rhinestones taped under the sentiment to finish off the card.

I love the new backgrounds from Unity! They are so pretty. I used the Lovely Lilac one for a color challenge a while back. I thought the soft colors would go lovely with this stamp.

The image was stamped in Soft Suede ink on Kraft Cardstock and colored with Copic Markers (R02, R22, G82, G85). White Liquid Pearls were added over the Lilacs, Crystal Effect over the leaves and Butterfly. Dazzling Diamond glitter was sprinkled over the butterfly. Every butterfly deserves a little sparkle.

The image was cut out with Curved Rectangle Nestabilities, sponged with White Craft ink . 1″ wide White Organdy Ribbon from May Arts was tied around it and it was layered on a bigger white Curved Rectangle. The card base is a 4 1/4″ x 12″ piece of sponged Textured Soft Suede cardstock folded in half. A 3 7/8″ x 5 5/8″ piece of Mellow Moss was stamped with the gorgeous Everlasting Romance stamp in White Craft ink, distressed and paper pierced.

The sentiment is from the stamp set Bevy of Butterflies. A piece of Mellow Moss was cut out with the large oval punch (SU), stamped with Everlasting Romance in Whisper White and once it was dry, stamped in Soft Suede with the sentiment. It was layered on a Scallop Oval that had been punched out of Textured Soft Suede Cardstock.

Here is the sketch for this weekend:

To participate in the challenge, make a card with this layout and upload it either to your blog, or to an online gallery.
If you upload your card on SCS, put WSC102 (NO SPACE INBETWEEN WSC AND 102) in the keyword section. That way we can look at all of them at once! Add a link to your card to either Mr. Linky, or as a comment to this thread so I can go and check it out.

I am sorry I don’t have a sample yet. I meant to stamp this morning but woke up with slight fever, nasty headache, cough and body aches. I guess I have the flu. Austin and Lucas had it earlier this week. To see samples made with this sketch now, check out the blogs of

Cambria Turnbow

Charmaine Ikach

Jenn Balcer

Lori Craig

Sharon Harnist

Have fun creating! I can’t wait to see what you come up with. SCS submissions

The WCMD challenge for MFT was to create a card with Pink, White, Black and Bling. I bought Grow Love Plant A Tree and hadn’t used it yet. This was the perfect occasion. Okay…maybe not perfect, but trees could be pink, right? LOL

I stamped the tree threee times in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. Once on Gina K.’s Pure Luxury White cardstock, twice on Basic Grey Blush patterned paper. I cut out the top of the patterned paper tree, sponged and stamped them and taped them on top of my white layer. Then I colored in the trunk with Copic Markers (W1, W2). The image was cut out with Spellbinders Small Label Nestabilities , air brushed with Copic R00 and layered on a black scallop layer cut out with Rectangle Nestabilities. The edges of the white layer were paper pierced.

The card base is a 3 1/2″ x 10″ piece of Regal Rose cardstock folded in half. The front was partially embossed with the Paisley I added White Craft ink directly on the Paisley Cuttlebug Folder before embossing the card front partially with it. White Organza Ribbon was tied around the card, right where the dry embossing ends. The lower edge of the card was punched with the scallop edge punch. A slightly smaller then 3 1/2″ x 5″ piece of Whisper White cardstock was taped behind the card front.

The sentiment is from the same set. It was stamped on the same paper as the trees, cut out with Circle Nestabilities, sponged and stamped just like the biggest tree top layer. Then it was layered first on a White, then a black dircle. Kaiser Rhinestones finish off the card.

Gina’s latest released stamps are amazing. They came to my house the same day I tried to come up with a nice sample for the Acetate and Tissue tutorial. That was the very first tutorial I ever wrote and it needed overhauling BAD! I knew right away that I wanted to use the gorgeous Reindeer from Gina’s Holiday Cheer TV kit.

The card base was cut with the Clear Scallop Square Die from Stampin’ Up! out of Gina K’s Pure Luxury Black cardstock. Now that is thick cardstock for a base! The Very Vanilla square measures 3 7/8″. The 7Gypsies and My Mind’s Eye papers are 3 5/8″ wide. They were stitched to the Vanilla layer. White May Arts Silk Ribbon was tied around the middle where the two papers meet.

For the main panel I stamped the Reindeer in Stazon on Acetate, added Crystal Effect to the backside and used Bashful Blue reinker to add color. Dazzling Diamond Glitter was sprinkled over it before adding the tissue. I stamped the tree line from the same set in Old Olive on Very Vanilla and placed my Acetate/Tissue layer over it. Once it was dried, I cut the layers with Label Three Nestabilities. It was layered on the next size label cut out of black cardstock.

The sentiment is from the second set of Gina K’s Holiday Cheer TV kit. It was stamped in Vintage Photo Distress Ink, cut out with the large oval punch, sponged around the edges and layered on a scallop oval black punch-out. I finished the card up with some blue Kaiser Rhinestones.

Video for visual learner:

Make sure to check out today’s tutorial. Anna-Marie Still is sharing a cute peeps holder.

For WCMD Verve challenged us to pick colors from a flag and create a card with that. Of course I had to pick Germany (Black, Red and Gold/Yellow). I knew I had a video for the Watercolor Wash Tutorial coming up, so I thought I try using it for my sample.

I cut out Watercolor paper with Spellbinder Label Four Nestabilities and stamped the flower silhouette from Verve’s Because of you in Black Craft ink. I embossed it twice with Clear Embossing powder. I guess I should have used the Embossing buddy, because you can see the stray powder. Although I think it gives it a nice look. I went over the image with  7Gypsies ColorWash Scarlet and Ochre to create the background. The watercolor paper was layered on a bigger black label.

The card base is a 5″ x 10″ piece of Scarlet Core’dination cardstock folded in half. The Whisper White cardstock layer was cut with Stampin’ Up!’s Clear Scallop Square Die.  The 3 5/8″ Fancy Pants All Fall Patterned Paper was stitched to a 1/4″ bigger piece of Basic Black cardstock. Gorgeous Burgundy Silk May Arts Ribbon was died around the lower part of those layers before the main image was adhered.

The sentiment is also from Because of you. It was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and cut out with Spellbinder Tag Nestabilities. I left the tag on and airbrushed the center with Copic Markers. A Prima Flower with a 5/16″ black brad in it’s center finishes off the card front.

Here is a video for the visual learner:

I loved WCMD this year. It reminded me of some of the older stamp sets I had neglected.  One of them it Crafty Secret’s gorgeous French Mail set. I wanted to create another sample for my Colorwash tutorial. For this card, I stamped the Eiffeltower in Black Craft ink on Watercolor paper, embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder and used the Ochre and Midnight Walnut Colorwash from 7Gypsies. Next I stamped En Francais Background over it with Vintage Photo Distress ink. Before spreading Crackle Effect all over the image, I sanded the paper to make the white core show through again.  

The card base is a 4 1/8″ x 8 1/4″ piece of Creamy Caramel cardstock folded in half. It was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder (I wish those would have names written on them) and sponged with Vintage Photo Distress ink. The natural white cardstock square measures 3 5/8″ and was distressed and lightly sponged. The My Mind’s Eye Street Market patterned paper measures 3 3/8″, was sanded and sponged. Both layers were stitched together.

The Cream Satin Ribbon from May Arts was folded and tied together with an Artichoke Button and some crochet floss. The photo corner was also Creamy Caramel cardstock, embossed with the embossing folder, sponged with Vintage Photo ink and toppped with three Artichoke brads.

The sentiment is also from French Mail. It was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Natural White cardstock, punched out with the small oval punch, sponged and stamped with two smaller stamps from the same set. It was layered in a black scrap piece and cut out again. The Prima flower was sponged and a Recollections brad was added in it’s center.

I sponged the inside of the card and added stamped images around the edges. The 3 3/8″ Natural White cardstock was distressed, and sponged. I added some Ochre Colorwash into a Mini Mister and sprayed it on to the cardstock. A 1 1/8″ x 3 3/8″ strip from the Street Market paper was distressed and sponged. The strip was stitched to the cardstock and stamped a few more images to the layer. To finish it off I added another Prima flower with Recollection Brad.