Card 15 - Congrats!

I just received my new goodies from PTI and I was really excited to try them out. It's just 3 sets from their July release for now as I will be buying again in a couple of days' time in conjunction with the Stamp-a-faire event on Saturday. I didn't wanna wait till later as this particular stamp set, Hanging Out, which is an absolutely lovely baby stamp set, is what I want to use to make a card for my brother-in-law (hubby's brother) who just had a baby boy about 3 weeks ago. I had bought some baby clothes as gifts for my nephew and it will be more complete with a card. Will be sending the package out tomorrow.

Card Set-up:

1) Prepare square card base using Rustic Cream card stock

2) Die-cut tee-shirt, bib, socks, pocket and overalls using Cuttlebug with the various paper choices

3) Stamp matching overall image onto die-cut using Spiced Tin

4) Stamp grass image in Stick Candy and poles in Brown Sugar onto card front

5) Adhere die-cuts onto card front and stamp in peg image in Brown Sugar

6) Stamp cloud image twice in Soap Powder, color and trim image. Adhere onto card front with different dimensions of pop dots

7) Stamp floral image in Chicken Feed randomly on grass area

8) Round bottom corners with corner chomper

Supplies Used:

Paper - PTI Rustic Cream, Spring Rain

Pattern Paper - Hazel Papers by My Mind's Eye

Inks - JBS Stick Candy, Spiced Tin, Soap Powder, Brown Sugar, Chicken Feed

Stamps - PTI Hanging Out, Lawn Fawn Bon Voyage, Jessie's ABCs (Inside Sentiment), Happily Ever After (Sentiment)

Others - Faber-Castell Aquarelle, Cuttlebug, 1/16" Pop Dots, Pop Dots, WRMK Corner Chomper

Nancy - Guest Blogger at Inspired By...

I've been a follower of Nancy for some time. I got to know about her after seeing some of her card features and I just love her style and takes on her cards.

She is guest blogging on behalf of Jill Foster who is away at CHA and she is giving away some blog candy so check out her blog. You won't be disappointed.

SCC Week 4 Card 2 - Celebrate With Style

This color combi made me think of the sea. The beaches in Australia are really beautiful! They have tones of blue and green and the sand is just so fine and white. I must say I was a little disappointed when I visited the beaches at La Jolla, San Diego and Newport, Portland. The sand is gray and seaweeds were like everywhere in La Jolla. The waters were also grayish. I might not have gone on a good day probably. Will definitely try to check out more beaches during my travels around US.

With the thought of the sea in mind, I decided to use a water with distress inks on this card and I liked how the card turned out.

Card Set-up:

1) Prepare card base using White card stock and mask the bottom of the card (around 1.25")

2) Stamp large medallion image using the rock & roll technique with Tumbled Glass and Shabby Shutters, spritz inked stamp with water and stamp randomly on card front. Repeat steps alternating the sequence of the ink colors

3) Stamp small medallion image using the same technique with Seed Packet and Tumbled Glass, spritz inked stamp with water and stamp randomly on card front to fill up the white spaces

4) Trim pattern paper to 1.25" x 5.5" and adhere to card front.

5) Round right corners with corner chomper and add faux stitches along the borders of the pattern paper

6) Die cut banner strip and score banner at 0.5" and 0.6" on each side to create a fold

7) Stamp sentiment with Spiced Tin, sponged edges with Tumbled Glass and adhere to card front using pop dots and add a twine bow at each side of the banner strip

Supplies Used:

Paper - PTI Stampers' Select White

Pattern Paper - Hazel Papers by My Mind's Eye

Inks - Distress Ink Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters, JBS Seed Packet, Spiced Tin

Stamps - PTI Mendhi Medallion, Big & Bold Wishes (Sentiment)

Others - Carribean Twine by The Twinery, Uni-Ball Signo White Gel Pen, PTI Double-Ended Banner Die, 1/16" Pop Dots, WRMK Corner Chomper

SCC Week 4 Card 1 - Thinking Of You

This is the last week of Summer Card Camp. One thing about this camp besides learning so much and getting so much inspirations from other crafters is that I also ended up making quite a bit of cards. And I'm enjoying every bit of it. I started off with the intention of doing scrapbooking but I started card making first :P I'm not sure how I'll move on after the camp ends. One thing for sure is although it does get you thinking on how you wanna work on the colors but having a color combination did help me to get going on my cards.

Anyway, as I saw the colors of this week's combo, I thought I'll be stumped but as I browsed through my stamp collection, the ideas just flowed from there. Overall I'm quite happy with how my card turned out.

Card Set-up:

1) Stamp flourish background with versamark on a piece of White card stock and white embossed

2) Blend in Tumbled Glass from top card working to the middle of the panel. Blend Shabby Shutters from the bottom up to the middle and overlap a section of Tumbled Glass area. Blend in Broken China just around the top of the panel

3) Using a ruler, pierced a border around the panel and ink the holes with Broken China and Shabby Shutters

4) Prepare card base using Spring Rain card stock and sponged edges with Tumbled Glass

5) Adhered ribbon onto front panel and adhere front panel to card base

6) Die cut label and outline edges with Tumbled Glass.

7) Stamp sentiment using Spiced Tin then stamp floral image with Stick Candy and Seed Packet using rock & roll technique by PTI

8) Adhere label to card front using pop dots

Supplies Used:

Paper - PTI Stampers' Select White, Spring Rain

Inks - Distress Ink Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Shabby Shutters, JBS Stick Candy, Seed Packet, Spiced Tin, Versamark

Stamps - Hero Arts Flourish Background, Thinking Of You

Others - WPlus9 Label Die, White Embossing Powder, AC Premium Ribbon, Craft Pick, Tim Holtz Ruler, Pop Dots, Scor-Tape, Cuttlebug

SCC Week 3 Card 5 - Have A Great Day

I did some research when I decided to buy a Cuttlebug that the packaging comes with the A, B & C plates. However when I bought my Cuttlebug which was some time ago, it was the newer model and it didn't come with the C plate. I thought since it is a newer model, they probably did away with the C plate and I left it at that as I didn't own any dies then.

I started buying some dies as I got more involved with doing cards, etc and I couldn't get it to work. Frustrated, I started checking the PTI website and other websites on using PTI dies with Cuttlebug. All of the websites I went to mentioned the use of C plate but they were also demonstrating on the older version of Cuttlebug. Finally after literally taking some time to check out, I gotta find out that the new packaging does not come with C plate and that you have to get it separately. How STUPID is that! I went hunting for the C plate at the local craft stores I know and none of them were selling the C plate. So the only option for me was to buy it online. Gosh! I can't believe all the trouble I had to go through.

Anyway I finally received it today and definitely wanted to try out all the dies that I've bought. So this card is using mainly dies and impression plates.

Card Set-up:

1) Trim White card stock at 4" x 5.25", emboss with Cane Impression and adhere to card base

2) Die cut 2 medium sized and 2 small sized flowers in Red Poppy, stamped matching stamp set with versamark and clear embossed

3) Die cut label in Crumb Cake, stamped matching border and sentiment in Crumb Cake and adhere to card front

4) Layer 1 medium, 1 small flower and a red button together and thread through with Maraschino twine. Work another set the same way and adhere both flowers to card front

Supplies Used:

Paper - SU Crumb Cake, PTI Stampers' Select White, Dark Chocolate, Red Poppy

Inks - SU Crumb Cake, Versamark

Stamps - Hero Arts Friends, WPlus9 Filigreed Frames, PTI Beautiful Blooms II

Others - PTI Cane Impression Plate, PTI Beautiful Blooms II #1 Die, WPlus9 Label Die, Clear Embossing Powder, SU Buttons, Maraschino Twine by The Twinery, Cuttlebug

SCC Week 3 Card 4 - May You Always Have Love

I received my online purchase today and decided to try using some stamps that I bought. I've been eyeing this Itty Bitty stamp by Unity for ages since I used it on a class I attended at Archivers. The stamp was on sale and I decided to grab it. Although the first impression on this stamp is it's a 'love' stamp, I thought that it could also be used to convey love for friends who are married or in a relationship.

I based my card on one of the sketches provided by Kristina Werner, making some modifications on the layout.

Card Set-up:

1) Trim card base to 4.25" square

2) Stamp umbrella image on Red Poppy card stock with Onyx Black

3) Stamp hearts image with versamark onto umbrella image, clear embossed and trim out

4) Trim 1/8" off of card front

5) Trim a strip of pattern paper, punched with scalloped border punch and adhere to card front

6) Trim a thin strip of Red Poppy card stock and adhere to card front

7) Stamp image on card front with Onyx Black and colored image with color pencils

8) Adhere umbrella image with pop dots

9) Stamp sentiment with Brown Sugar

10) Round top corners with 1/2" corner chomper

Supplies Used:

Paper - SU Crumb Cake, PTI Red Poppy

Pattern Paper - Candy Shoppe Collection by Echo Park

Inks - Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark, JBS Brown Sugar

Stamps - Unity Rain Or Shine, Lawn Fawn Happily Ever After (Hearts), Stampendous Love Health Friends (Sentiment)

Others - Stamp-a-majig, WRMK Corner Chomper, Faber-Castell Aquarelles, Prismacolor Blanc Color Pencil, Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment, Pop Dots, Clear Embossing Powder

SCC Week 3 Card 3 - Sending You Happy Everything

I bought a new stamp at Archivers and thought to try it out. It wasn't a stamp I had originally planned on buying but they didn't have any of those that I wanted. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing that it is only at Archivers that I can find the most variety of stamp sets from Hero Arts, Unity, Stampendous, etc. While it is troublesome that I have to get the stamps I want online, I think the online purchasing is deterring me from spending that much as compared to if I can find them in stores.

Anyway I got home with my new stamp which is from Hero Arts + Basic Grey and as I was looking at it trying to figure out what to do, I was sort of regretting my purchase. I thought to give it a try anyhow and I hope to get more inspirations on how I can use the stamp further.

Card Set-up:

1) Stamp ledger stamp on a piece of Rustic Cream card stock in Riding Hood Red

2) Stamp ledger stamp again on card front in Brown Sugar

3) Fuzzy cut the floral images on the separate piece of card stock and sponged edges with Vintage Photo

4) Blend in Vintage Photo with foam application on the entire card front as I wanted the entire card to be more brown with hints of white/cream

5) Adhered cut floral images on card front

6) Use small floral image and stamp randomly on card in Crumb Cake, Brown Sugar and Chocolate Chip

7) Cut 2 notches at both sides of card front and adhere twine

8) Stamp sentiment in versamark on Dark Chocolate card stock and white embossed

9) Adhere sentiment with pop dots

10) Rounded bottom corners with 1/4" corner chomper

Supplies Used:

Paper - PTI Rustic Cream, Dark Chocolate

Inks - Distress Ink Vintage Photo, JBS Brown Sugar, SU Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red

Stamps - Hero Arts Luscious Ledger, Thinking Of You (Sentiment)

Others - White Embossing Powder, AC White Twine, 1/16" Pop Dots, WRMK Corner Chomper

SCC Week 3 Card 2 - Sending You Birthday Wishes

Today is Technique Day with Jennifer McGuire. I'm always anticipating her videos or tutorials. They are always so interesting. Today's no exception featuring Finger-inky technique and zig-zag styled card.

Needless to say, I just had to try it out. It was a pretty fun process doing the card. However, I didn't have the right browns and the colors turned fall-ish as it dried (I think it's also partly the perfect pearls as I didn't realize it was so pink after mixing them together). I also didn't have the right background stamp, the right sentiment and the right perfect pearls to use but I think the card turned out alright for a first attempt at least.

Card Set-up:

1) Die-cut 2 shaped panels measuring 4 3/8" x 2 1/2" using watercolor paper and White card stock on the Silhouette machine (I don't have a shaped die)

2) Stamp floral stamp with versamark on watercolor panel and white embossed

3) Using my fingers, I inked the watercolor panel with Vintage Photo, Tea Dye, Fired Brick, each ink mixed with water

4) Added Blush perfect pearls around the embossed flower and set it aside to dry

5) Stamped music background stamp onto the insides of card base

6) Score card front at 2 1/8" and fold

7) Take watercolor panel and sponged edges with Chocolate Chip and adhere left side of the panel to card front

8) Line White panel and adhere on the inside of the card. Stamp sentiment

9) Trim a strip (approx 1/2") of White card stock, write in sentiment and adhere to card front

Supplies Used:

Paper - SU Crumb Cake, PTI Stampers' Select White, Strathmore Watercolor Paper

Inks - SU Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Distress Inks Vintage Photo, Tea Dye, Fired Brick, Versamark

Stamps - PTI Wildflower Garden, Lawn Fawn Teeny Tiny Backdrops

Others - Silhouette SD, Zing White Embossing Powder, Ranger Perfect Pearls Blush, Copic Multiliner 0.3

SCC Week 3 Card 1 - Just A Little Something

A new week has begun and it's the 3rd week of Summer Card Camp which also means a new set of color combi to play with.

I decided to case Kristina Werner's MACM card of July 11th as I thought I had the stamps that I could fit into the colors of this week's challenge pretty well.

Card Set-up:

1) Stamp large floral stamp in Crumb Cake over the entire card front

2) Trim a stripe (approx 1/4") of Red Poppy card stock and create a frame on card front. Added faux white stitching on the Red Poppy frame

3) Trim a stripe (approx 1/2") of White card stock and stamp sentiment in Chocolate Chip. Sponged edges with Crumb Cake and adhere to card

4) Stamp medium floral stamp in Chocolate Chip on White card stock and fuzzy cut around the flower. Adhered flower to card using pop dots

Supplies Used:

Paper - SU Crumb Cake, PTI Red Poppy, Stampers' Select White

Inks - SU Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip

Stamps - PTI Beautiful Blooms II, Big & Bold Wishes (Sentiment)

Others - Uni-Ball Signo White Gel Pen, Pop Dots

SCC Week 2 Card 3 - Be Joyful In Hope

Today's lesson on card camp was on pattern papers. When I started reading the course notes, I thought oh my goodness, my prayers are being answered. Not that I literally prayed about it but I've been having so much headache with knowing how to choose pattern papers to use on cards that I just avoid using them as much as possible. And then Bingo! I have more information now.

I put myself out today to use pattern papers after reading the guidelines on selecting them and based my card on a sketch provided by Kristina Werner. I must say I didn't really have that much of a problem choosing pattern papers today as compared to the other days. However, I do hope that my choices turn out alright.

Card Set-up:

1) Stamped butterfly images on white cardstock with black ink and clear embossed. I wanted to have a glossy outline of the butterflies

2) Colored the butterflies with Wild Honey, Lemon Drops, Fired Brick, Stick Candy and Seed Packet and trim them out

3) Trim 3 pattern papers to the size needed

4) Trim a 1" stripe of Orange Zest and border punch it

5) Adhere pattern papers & stripes to card base

6) Stamp sentiment

7) Adhere butterflies

8) Sponged edges with Tea Dye as finishing touch

Supplies Used:

Paper - SU Crumb Cake, PTI Orange Zest, Stampers' Select White

Pattern Papers - Sweet Threads by Basic Grey, Candy Shoppe Collection by Echo Park

Inks - Distress Ink Wild Honey, Fired Brick, Tea Dye, Jenni Bowlin Lemon Drops, Stick Candy, Seed Packet, Versafine Onyx Black

Stamps - Hero Arts Antique Engravings, PTI Beautiful Blessings (Sentiment)

Others - Fiskars  Effervescence  Border Punch, Pop Dots, Clear Embossing Powder, Glue Dots

SCC Week 2 Card 2 - Happy Birthday To You

I definitely had a better time doing my card today. The only headache I had was choosing pattern papers to use. I try as much as possible to avoid using pattern papers as I just can't seem to know how to select them. Well I could have given those pattern papers too much of a thought but well I guess I'm still learning.

I actually broke out of my comfort zone today and used 2 pattern papers. I still don't have any ribbons so had to make do with what I had on hand for embellishments.

Card Set-up:

1) Stamp floral image 3 times and leaf image twice on white card stock. Colored them with aquarelles and cut them out for layering

2) Trim pattern papers, sponged edges with wild honey and adhered to card base

3) Trim a 1/2" strip of Terra-cotta tile card stock and adhere to card front

4) Stamp sentiment

5) Layered flower with pop dots, adhere leaves and flower to card front

6) Round right corners with corner chomper and sponged edges of card with wild honey and added 3 pearls as a finishing touch

Supplies Used:

Paper - PTI Orange Sunrise, Terra-Cotta Tile

Pattern Papers - Jubilee by The Girls' Paperie, Lime Twist by My Mind's Eye

Inks - Distress Ink Wild Honey, Archival Jet Black, Versafine Onyx Black

Stamps - Hero Arts Layered Flowers, Stampendous Birthday Assortment (Sentiment)

Others - Faber-Castell Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils, Pop Dots, WRMK Corner Chomper, Hero Arts Pearls

SCC Week 2 Card 1 - Hi There

Gosh, I'm not sure why but I'm having the most difficult time coming up with a card this week. I had absolutely no inspiration yesterday and I took a long time trying to do a card today.

I hope I can be better tomorrow and come up with a more satisfactory card. It will be inspiration from the guest designers so hopefully I get inspired by a design or two. I'm not sure if it's due to the lack of stamps. I'm still slowly building my stamp collection. I'm not able to use my Cuttlebug to add texture or fun shapes as I'm short of the c plate and have hunted 3 LSS for it but to no avail. I have ordered online so I'm still waiting for the package to arrive. I also couldn't get my Fiskars scallop punch which is brand new to work. Think there's some manufacturing problem with that punch. Things are just not working well.

I wanted to try the new kissing embossing technique shown by Jennifer McGuire. Maybe that was the main reason. I should have stuck to doing cards of other designs probably. Anyway I didn't have any watercolor so I used my Faber-Castell Aqauarelles to do the coloring. I'm still learning how to watercolor with the aquarelle pencils so the flower didn't turn out as nice as I want it to.

Card Set-up:

1) Stamped versamark inkpad on watercolor paper and add white embossing powder to the area

2) Press floral stamp inked with versamark on the white embossing powdered area. I did it twice to have a cleaner floral impression

3) Heat embossed and trim card size down to embossed area.

4) Color image with Aquarelle

5) Trim 2 strips (1inch) of orange zest cardstock and cut 1 side of the strips with pinking shears and adhere to watercolored panel

6) Inked text stamp with Stick Candy and stamp onto a Spring Moss card front for tone-on-tone effect.

7) Wrap watercolored panel with peapod twine and adhere to card base with pop dots

8) Trim Terra-cotta Tile cardstock to 1/2" strip. Stamped sentiment with versamark and white embossed.

9) Trim Summer Sunrise cardstock to 3/4" strip and adhere to sentiment strip

10) Added white dash lines

Supplies Used:

Paper - Strathmore Watercolor Paper, PTI Spring Moss, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Terra-cotta tile

Inks - Jenni Bowlin Stick Candy

Stamps - PTI Wildflower Garden, Hero Arts Thinking Of You (Sentiment)

Others - Faber-Castell Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils, The Twinery Peapod Twine, Uni-Ball Signo White Pen, X-acto Pinking Shears, White Embossing Powder, Pop Dots