Love Always

Sometimes writing slumps need a jumpstart with a creative endeavor that doesn't require crafting sentences or keeping character motivations consistent.  At least that's what I'm telling myself. It's also a great way to get an anniversary card made for my sister and brother-in-law.

I used Altenew's "Beautiful Day" and "Peony Bouquet" for the flowers and CTMH's "Mr. & Mrs." for the sentiment. To create the gold frame, I used MFT's Inside & Out Rectangle Stitched Frames STAX on some extra shiny gold paper I've had for so many years, I'm not sure where I got it.  The stick pins are retired from CTMH, and the sequins were ordered through MFT but I believe are "Pretty Pink Posh."  I used Copic markers to add shading to the poppy images, the yellow berries, and to color leaves.

I'm entering this in Altenew's July "Wedding" challenge, although I added a few touches of blue to the color scheme. I'm enjoying this monthly challenge now that I have some of these gorgeous stamp sets in my crafty stash.  Sure wish I could play with them a little more these days, but...

I really do need to barricade myself in my office and get some editing done.

Until next time,
Becca

Alaska Wild

Heart 2 Heart has a fun challenge this week: Throwback. Since we are welcoming a new commander to Alaska this month, I thought I'd pull out "Unis the Moose" from way back.

I started by stamping another oldie-but-goodie "Pine Trees" in Topiary, Flaxen, and Ponderosa Pine. Then I sponged the same colors on the ground and stamped "Grass Cluster" (another old stamp image) in Flaxen and second generation Topiary. The sky was sponged with Glacier ink.  Appropriate for Alaska, don't you think? 

When the scenic background was done, I used MFT Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX to die cut it down to a 3.25x4.5" panel.

The sentiment comes from "Wild Wonders," a baby-themed set that retired about a year ago. I stamped it in Momento Rich Cocoa using my MISTI so I could re-ink and stamp again several times to get a nice, crisp image.  I stamped it four times, but the difference between three and four wasn't really worth it.

I tied some twine around the bottom third of my die cut scene and foam mounted it to a 4x5.25 panel of white cardstock that was glued to a dark brown card base. I actually think the brown cardstock is old DOTS paper, but it's been so long now I forget exactly where it came from.

Unis was stamped in Momento Rich Cocoa ink and colored with Copic markers. I fussy cut her out and added lots of foam tape to the back being careful to leave empty patches for the twine to fit underneath Unis' legs. After she was mounted, I slipped an extra couple small bits of foam tape under her nose and antler where it extends past the scenic panel.

I'll be giving this to the new commander's wife along with a copy of my novella "Letters from Santa" that is set in nearby North Pole to welcome them to Fort Wainwright. With any luck, the moose that wanders through post every once in a while will make an appearance to offer her welcome, too.

Until next time,
Becca

Love & Marriage

My brother and sister-in-law are celebrating their 25th Anniversary soon.  Their friends are throwing them a big party and sent out invitations using a wedding photo.  I decided to make it the focal point of my card.  Coincidentally, the colors of their wedding match this week's Color Throwdown.

To begin, I colored the flowers and leaves of the bouquet with Copic markers. Next, I die cut the photo using an MFT stitched frame. Using my MISTI, I stamped the ampersand with CTMH Tulip ink (retired) then stamped again with Versamark ink so I could emboss with Pearl powder.  I used an X-acto knife and scissors to cut the ampersand and then ran a red Copic marker around the edge.

After mounting both the photo and ampersand with foam tape, I once again used my MISTI to stamp the words in Momento Tuxedo Black.  The bow is CTMH Fern Thick Twine adhered with Liquid Glass...including how I shaped the tails so they stay artfully curved.

The card began as 5"x 7", but I cut it down until it's closer to 5"x 6".

I've been unusually busy with writing lately. One deadline met, three more to go before October. If you don't see me for long stretches of time, don't panic. (I'll be doing plenty of that all by myself!)

Until next time,
Becca

Blog Hop Like a 'Boss

Welcome to this month's Blog Hops with Heart..."Like a 'Boss."  I completely CASE'd this card.

This is the card I cased.  I used all CTMH stamps and supplies:

• Stamps: Shower Flowers, Big Hug
• Ink: Lagoon, Hollyhock, Flaxen, Eggplant (pigment): Thistle and Black (dye ink)
• Paper: Nevermore (retired)
• Cricut: Artistry
• Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Red Wire, foam tape

Here's another option:

I started by cutting the butterfly and background panel.  I welded a square and banner shape together to create the background panel. (Here's the cutting file for Design Space.) After I stamped various flowers from "Shower Flowers" in colored pigment inks, I poured clear embossing powder over top and heated. Then I sponged Thistle dye ink over top.

One of the great parts about pigment ink is that it stays wet long enough to add embossing powder over the top. Basically, you can create any color of embossing you want.

Now you're off to Shelly's blog.  You should have come from Kelly's blog.  Blog Hops with Heart is a circle, so keep going until you get back to where you started. If you get lost, go back to Amie's blog for a full list of this month's participants.

Until next time,
Becca

Happy Calypso-style Birthday

This week, the challenge over at Color My Heart uses colors from the new CTMH Calypso paper pack.  I used an older stamp and the challenge colors for this card:

I squeezed ink color into the lids of my stamp pads and painted color into the image with a watercolor brush.  After trimming out the image, I mounted it with foam tape on a 4.25x4.25 card base with the front panel cut back and bordered with Cotton Candy paper cut with pinking shears.  The black paper on the inside panel of the card has been retired for a long time.

Love the fun color combo that shouts, "SUMMER!"

Until next time,
Becca

Always & Forever

I'm getting this card in under the wire for the Simon Says Stamp "Mask" challenge featuring Altenew products.  I combined "Painted Flowers" with CTMH "Mr. & Mrs." plus a mask ampersand created from the CTMH Artistry Cricut cartridge.

I stamped "Painted Flowers" over the ampersand mask. To add color, I sponged CTMH Pixie, Poppy, Flaxen, Pear, and Glacier inks. After stamping the sentiment, I traced it with a silver gel pen.  The black and white checkered pattern is two rows of Washi tape.  Some black sequins finishes it off.

I have lots of anniversaries coming up this summer.  It's good to get a jump on them before I go deep in the "don't bother me, I'm under deadline" cave.

Until next time,
Becca

Inspired by...

There's a new challenge blog in town called Inspired by All the Little Things.  I've been enjoying their creative inspiration without participating until today.

This card uses the following supplies

• Stamps: CTMH Wavy Blooms
• Ink: Versamark
• Paper: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock, CTMH Moonstruck Cardstock (retired)
• Supplies: Holbien Artist's Water Colors, White Detail Embossing Powder, Embossing Heat Gun, foam tape

The leaves on the two yellow flowers aren't actually part of those images.  I used the leaves from the red flower.  I inked only the leaves, stamped them next to the flowers that had already been heat embossed, and brushed off any powder overlapping too far before heat setting.

No idea who will be getting this card, but I think the sentiment works for engagement, anniversary, and even birthday.

Until next time,
Becca