Mother's Day Card With Selective Masking!

Hello! I wanted to share a special card I made a few weeks ago while experimenting with my stamps. I love to try and find ways to stretch my stamps and this is one of my new favorites, so let's get right to it!
I brought out my super cute, Eggstra Special Easter stamps set from Lawn Fawn I stamped the basket with the eggs inside on some scrap paper, and then cut around the image leaving the eggs attached to create a mask. As you can see in the image below.

 I then cleaned my stamp, placed my card stock under the mask, and lined up my stamp with the mask. I did use my MISTI to get correct placement, but I'm sure you could easily do this using regular acrylic blocks.

 Using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink I stamped my image .

I removed my mask to reveal a cute, but very empty basket.

 I then created a mask just to cover the bottom of the basket, so I could begin stamping the flowers. Using the tulip from the same stamp set I added one at a time using masks to layer them.

 Yup, looks like a hot mess...as you can tell by my well loved basket mask, I made a few of these cards

 Then using my Spectrum Noir markers I colored the image.

 Using Tim Holtz Distess Ink in Mustard Seed and a circle cut from scrap paper I created the card base. I finished it up by using foam adhesive to attach the basket to the card, adding a bit of Wink of Stella clear to the bow, and stamping the sentiment using an old stamp I had in my stash.

 I really think this "new image" is very versatile and could be used for many occasions, such as birthdays, Get Well, Congrats, Happy Spring, You could even replace the flowers with other images like hearts, animals, tools, school supplies, baby items...you get the idea!

Don't be afraid to look at your stamps differently! The possibilities are endless! Thanks for joining me!

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp: Monday Challenge

Lawnscaping Challenge

Lawnscaping Design Team Call Entries

Hello, All! I am doing something a little different for this post. The Lawnscaping Challenge blog I follow is hosting an open Design Team Call! Now, I've been using Lawn Fawn stamps for a while now and absolutely love the products! They always have amazingly adorable designed stamps and dies, and the quality is absolutely perfect! So, I was very excited to jump at the chance of joining a blog that encourages the use of such fantastic products, so, here goes... The first project I'd like to enter is one that I created for their pattern paper challenge earlier this month...I'm so proud of this card it just makes me grin!

The second card is a card that the idea came to me while reading the sentiments in the Let's Roll stamp set, and the idea made me chuckle... What would make a sushi lover happier than dancing sushi and soy sauce...and check out that chop stick as a cane. The card came together exactly as I had it pictured.

The last project is of my very first card in a box attempt. I love the result, but need to practice a bit taking photos of them. These photos don't quite do it justice, but they are what I could get at that moment...The first is more true to the colors, but the others I wanted to show off the Wink of Stella Glitter that adds such a fun element to the card.

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Neon Hedgehugs!

Hello everyone! I wanted to share a fun little card that I created to play along with the Lawnscaping Challenge number 89!

I'm so glad I've decided to start playing along! These challenges force me to look at my crafting supplies in different ways. I created a few other cards using other stamps that are single layer as well. (maybe you'll see some of them here soon) Anyway, here's the super simple, super fun, single layer card:

I first stamped the hedgehogs, from the Lawn Fawn HedgeHugs stamp set, touching noses in StazOn black ink. I also used the Beep Boop Birthday stamp set for the little bow on the hedgehog. I then stamped them again on some Post-It note cards (so the sticky area is on the back) and fussy cut them so use as a mask. (the extra black ink is from another single layer card I made.)

 I then got out my Americana Neon Acrylic paints...and...painted!

I wish the photos did true justice to these fantastic colors!

 I then used my water color pencils to color in the hedgehogs.

 

I added the tiny heart stamp above them, along with the cute sentiment that comes with the set.I finished off the card by adding some Glossy Accents to the noses, eye, and heart.

The perfect 'pick-me-up' card that is easy to send through the mail!

Shaker Card- Anywhere with you!

Last night I wanted to try something a little different for me...so I created a shaker card with a scene! I love the end result and intend on doing another one very soon! I got so involved in the process that I forgot to take pictures as I went along...but here is what I have...

I first drew my scene by hand. I knew I wanted a mountain scene, as that is where hubby and I went for our honeymoon, and we now have a funny little story to tell about driving up the mountains!
I also got out my Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Circle Dies to find which circle would fit my need the best. I traced the inside of the circle so I could place my card and trailer stamps in it to make sure they fit properly.
Next, I created a mask for the mountains and sky and with a mini sponge dauber added Tumbled Glass to the sky and Pumice Stone to the mountains.

 Here is the scene starting to come together. This is where I started getting really caught up in the process and forgot to take pictures. :( After I was satisfied with the sky and mountains I used the EK Success Writer Metallic Silver to create a guard rail, then colored my road black and added some dash lines. I finished the scene by adding more Pumice Stone Distress Ink to the bottom part of the card.

 I then ran the card through my Sizzix Big Kick with the Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Circle Die. Using Tombow Mono tape runner I adhered the circle to the base of the card. I added some clear plastic (I cut from a package)behind the front layer, and put some Duck Brand Mounting Foam on the rectangle part of the card.  I stamped, colored, and fussy cut the little car and trailer from Lawn Fawn's Happy Trails, which I glued to the front part of the plastic packaging. I added my punched out hearts and silver sequins to the card and layered the outside part of the scene back onto the card base. Here is my finished happy little card. On the inside I have written, "I'd go anywhere with you."

I'm entering this shaker card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. It's Anything Goes!

A Little Play Goes A Long Way

Hello everyone, I wanted to share a card that was inspired by the 88th Lawnscaping Challenge! 

The theme is TEXTURE! Now, I've always been a little wary of using textures because I find that it can sometimes overtake the rest of what is happening on your project. So, I really wanted to try my hand at it and see what would happen...I started rummaging through my craft stash and came across jar of Deco Art Snow-Tex. I knew I had found my texture, but then I needed to decide...did I want to create a desert scene and use it as sand? Or design a house and use it as brick? That's when I saw my Love You S'more stamp set from Lawn Fawn and I knew I wanted textured bears! And yes, I wanted plural...so, I stamped Mr. Bear on white card stock in Black Soot distress ink, placed a clear stamping block behind it, held it to the light and traced the image so I could have the bears facing each other! (genius I know.)

 After I had multiple bears to play with I scooped a small amount of the Snow-Tex into my paint tray along with a few drops of tan acrylic paint and mixed them together. I used the tip of my finger to spread the mixture onto the stamped image. This did obscure the lines so after I dried it with my heat gun I drew over the image with a ball point pen. The dark brown bear (because he is facing the right direction) I simply restamped the him with the stamp again.

 To create my scene I used two old 'masks' I created from simple white card stock and washi tape. I used Mowed Lawn and Peeled Paint for the grass area.

 Then Tumbled Glass for the sky.

 Here is a photo of the card. I handwrote "Love bears all things" along the top of the grassy area. Added a little heart punch with some Glossy Accents on it.

 Here is a close up of my 'fuzzy' bears! I love them! So, in the end I'm very glad I played along and took a chance with texture!

Send 'Em On! Send 'Em Out!

Have you ever created something that just makes you downright happy?!? Something that you have a difficult time handing over to the person you intended it for? I have. This is one of my favorite (and least favorite) parts of having a creative side. I love knowing that something that came from my desk could make someone else smile, uplift spirits, encourage someone to keep going on their journey, to let a friend know that you're thinking of them, or just to say 'hello'. How exciting is it to get something in the mail that...well, isn't a bill or junk mail?
So, here is a little bit of encouragement to create, play, enjoy and send. Make yourself an address book, keep it with you along with stamps. Address and stamp those envelopes as soon as you finish the card. Get those works of art in the mail...make someone's day!
 Here are a few cards that I was excited to send out. The pictures aren't the greatest, but seeing them still makes me smile!

A birthday card I made for my Aunt Bev.

A funny little card for my nephew!

A thank you card for a wedding gift Sam and I received.