SSS Wednesday Challenge

I thought I'd try out the Wednesday Challenge from Simon Says Stamp! This week's challenge is "No Stamps Allowed." Given how my coloring adventures earlier today went for me (you'll notice there are no pictures posted--it was a learning experience but not necessarily a pretty one), the thought of no stamping was actually rather appealing!

Here's my finished project! (I apologize that my photos aren't all that wonderful--I need to find a place to set up a light box so I can get better lighting for the details.)

I used the stencil from the My Monthly Hero February kit. Using Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, and Fired Brick colors of Distress Oxide inks, I blended with the lightest color at the center, darkening to the outside edges.

I trimmed the sides of the panel so it would show about a quarter of an inch on either side of my A2 notecard and mounted it onto a piece of craft foam to add some dimension.

I used the Hero Arts "Smile Stamp and Cut" die to cut the word "smile" from plain card stock two times. I then cut it once from a sheet of glitter card stock from Die Cuts with a View metallics card stock stack, using a lovely coppery color. I stacked the dies together for some extra dimension over the blended background.

I trimmed more of the copper glitter card stock and edged my notecard with it, so it would show around the edges of my card once I added my panel. I glued my card panel in place, glued the "Smile" die cut in place and voila!

By the way, if you have a great method for stacking the dots on top of the letter "i", please do share! Those little things are a challenge to get glued together.

This idea popped into my head and I had the card complete in about 45 minutes. I suspect it will take me almost as long to write about it here! I was especially pleased with how the word die cut from the glitter card stock--seeing it really made me smile!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Materials list:
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White #110 card stock
Die Cuts with a View Glitter Metallic card stock stack, 6x6
Craft foam
Distress Oxide inks: Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick
Hero Arts My Monthly Hero February 2019 kit stencil
Hero Arts Smile Stamp and Cut
Sizzix Big Shot
Gina K Designs Connect Glue

Concord and 9th Thanks Card

In a previous version of my life, I was a scrapbooker. I was never methodical, organized, or even intentional about memory keeping; it was simply a fun way to spend time with a good friend while the kids were busy in elementary school and preschool. (They're both in college now, with the oldest about to graduate, to give some time perspective.)

I discovered the magazine Simple Scrapbooks and through those pages discovered my first crafting crush, Cathy Zielske. I've read her blog for the last several years and have also taken a couple of her classes (which I recommend). She started cardmaking almost two years ago and I watched, fascinated, as she showed her beautiful style in this new paper crafting area. Cathy also led me to discover Jennifer McGuire (my next crafty crush) and I began dabbling in my supplies again, just to start playing around.

I finally "Marie Kondo'd" the heck out of my leftover scrapbooking supplies, invested in some new stamps, dies, and inks, and I'm putting this new project out here. I'm kinda proud of it, especially considering that I can count the number of cards I've actually made on one hand. Plus, it was a fun afternoon! So here we go.

I've been practicing with the Concord and 9th "Everyday Bouquet" turnabout stamp set for a number of days, trying to figure out my problems with stamping. I'm still struggling to get nice clear, crisp images without missing blotches, but this time turned out much better so it became a card.

I stamped the images on Neenah White Solar card stock, #110, using Lawn Fawn inks in Peachy Keen, Butter, Deep Sea, and Minty Fresh. I then trimmed the panel to 4x5.25" and adhered it to a 4.25x5.5 piece of Gina K Designs "Coral Reef" card stock. I added some light touches of glitter to the Peachy Keen stamped images with a Gelly Roll Stardust glitter pen in copper.

I then die cut several of the small dies from the "Everyday Bouquet" coordinating die set in Gina K Designs "Tranquil Teal" and "Coral Reef" and covered them with Ranger Glossy Accents. I cut out the banner die from the same die set, and mounted it on craft foam. I used the "Thanks" die from the same set and cut that out three times, then glued the letters together for some added dimension, then glued the letters to the banner.

Once the Glossy Accents dried, I grouped them in bunches and adhered them to the card so the bottoms would be hidden by the Thanks banner. This did have the unforeseen consequence of lifting up the ends of the banner, so I added foam tape to the center of the banner and adhered it to the card. I finished with a light coat of Wink of Stella in clear on the letters to give them a bit of shine.

I'm very pleased with how this turned out! Pleased enough to decide to make a new blog and start writing about what I'm doing. I hope you enjoyed it and find fun ways to add creativity to your life.

Ahem. Because I needed something else to do (not).

It's been many years since I've written anything more than a Facebook post or an Instagram caption. But I'm getting back into my "crafting" mode, and thought I might try sharing what I make, in case others find my projects interesting.
I'm in the middle of a project right now, so nothing much to say or show at this moment. I wanted to get the blog set up and start with a post so I can see what's up and what it looks like.