Embossing Folder & Animal

Today I am playing along with a new fun challenge called "Let's Squash It"! which is an embossing folder challenge. My card will be submitted to Challenge #4: Use an Embossing Folder and an Animal.

Also submitting to NBUS Challenge #22 since I have never used this embossing folder before:

This is a Tim Holtz Texture Fade Embossing Folder by Sizzix called Crackle which gives the most amazing dimension. Right now Sizzix has a sale going on and it is less than $5.00!

I definitely thought of it when I saw the challenge - isn't that a fun name for a challenge, too?! I started with Neenah Solar White Classic Crest in 80 lb. and spritzed it with my Ranger Distress Sprayer - just enough to dampen the paper. This soften the paper fibers and keeps it from cracking (where you don't want it) when you run it through your die cutting & embossing machine. Just look at that dimension:

I gave it a few drops from my Distress Mustard Spray Stain for a little color. After I did it I thought, umm...does that look like the dog peed? I don't know, but I am going with it anyway. 

I had previously colored this cute dog from Tim Holtz's Crazy Dog and cut it out with the coordinating die. The coloring was with Derwent Inktense Colored Pencils which are watercolor pencils onto Ranger Watercolor Paper. Both are favorites of mine for cardmaking.

He is finished with Nuvo Crystal Glaze on his eyes and a large action wobbler on his back. Lots of movement!

The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions' Noteworthy Stamp set. I stamped it with Altenew's Obsidian Black Ink and quickly sprinkled Nuvo Crystal Clear Embossing Powder over it and heat set. Once cooled, I cut it out with the circle from SugarPea Designs Element Builder II. I've mentioned before this is one of my favorite dies for the tiny dots that go around the borders of both the rectangle and the circle:

I've used the banner die, many, many times, too. If you are not familiar with SugarPea Designs, please take a look. They have the cutest designs and if you want to see some wonderful creativity, sign up for their emails and follow their blog hops. If you are a stamp/die lover like me, you'll really enjoy it!

Here is the Taylored Expression set, Noteworthy. I watched a You-Tube where Taylor created a set of note cards for her sister and I had plans to do the same for Christmas. Haven't done so, but I still have plans - there's always next year!

I used double sided adhesive tape from Scrapbook.com to adhere the embossed panel to the card base of Neenah 110 lb. Classic Crest Solar White cardstock. Since there is so much dimension it really needed a strong adhesive.

The inside sentiment is a simple Happy Birthday stamp from Dare 2B Artzy You've Got Mail. I like the large simple font from this set.

So that's it for today, friends. A Clean and Simple card for a new challenge group and of course, some NBUS!

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Great Sale now Until Jan. 24, 2021!

Hi friends! I just wanted to let you know about a really good deal going on at Spellbinders now until Jan. 24, 2021. You don't often see such great savings!  And remember, Spellbinders sells Fun Stampers Journey products, too. 

Spellbinders has a new tool included with the Glimmer Hot Foil System if you were thinking of purchasing it. With $25 off - this would be a great time!

Here are some cards/projects I've created with both Spellbinders and FSJ:

The fun Say It Embossing Folder came from Spellbinders and right now it is on sale for $1.49! Can't beat that. 

Great time to pick up the popular Sunday Drive Series:

There are cute add-ons for this series, too. Halloween, Easter, Christmas and Love. Who doesn't love a Santa, a skeleton or a bunny driving a car?!

This card is from the Truckin' Through the Season Die set. There are lots of add- ons for this set, too! So fun to create these dimensional cards. No stamping on this one (except for the inside).

More fun creations from this year:

I took first place on a challenge with this card using the Hot Foil Glimmer System:

You can see I love Spellbinders and Fun Stamper Journey products. They stamp and die beautifully! I hope this helps if you are looking for some new craft supplies. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Card Concept Daring To Dream

Welcome to the Card Concept #147 Daring To Dream! I made several cards, 2 of the cards, including the main card, are Clean and Layered and a 3rd card is Shabby Chic & Vintage, using a recycled product.

When I first saw the photo and the suitcases I knew I wanted to use this Fun Stampers Journey set: Classic that I have had in my stash for years. I haven't used it before, so it was really time. This is a red rubber stamp with wonderful detail.

I had in my mind to make the background with Stonehedge Kraft Watercolor Paper from Blick Art Materials. This is a 90 lb. paper - on the lighter side, so it makes a good card front. I bought the 22" X 30" sheet from Blick Art and cut it into workable sized pieces. It came packaged beautifully, no bent corners, etc., and a really good value for the money.

I stamped the suitcase image with Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil using second generation stamping. This means I inked up the stamp, stamped it once on scrap paper and then the second time on the Stonehedge Kraft Watercolor Paper. I knew I was going to use my Derwent Inktense Colored Pencils, so I didn't want dark outlines, but just the hint of the lines.

The sentiment came from Technique Junkies Wisdom of Oz set which I am currently using the first heart stamp for Valentine's cards:

As usual, I made extra cards while I was at it. One card I used some corrugated paper that came in the mail. Recycle my friends!

 And one card is monochromatic - kraft and brown colors:

After I had all 3 card fronts ready I felt they were missing something. Too much empty space.  So, I used the postage stamp from a Stampendous set, Grunge to fill in the negative space.

So how fun is this challenge? Here are all 3 cards:

Come join us for this challenge and maybe break out some of your stash that has been neglected! Thanks for visiting, friends.

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

10 Minute Card Using Scraps

Today I am playing with a crazy creative challenge from As You See It: pull items from your scrap bin (stash on your craft desk) and make a card in under 10 minutes. I've made 2: one took me 9 minutes and one 8 minutes. What a fun challenge!

I will submit to NBUS challenge, too for both stamp sets from Altenew which were used on the covers haven't been used before!

According to the rules, you could pull together your supplies and have a plan in advance. Here is my desk prior to starting the clock. I choose a couple of pieces of previously water colored paper from my stash. I used table salt on the ink/paint while damp and it made the best starburst designs! It's been so long, I don't really know what inks or paints I used.

With the clock ticking, I stamped the Impression Obsession Silhouette Flower called Brush Floral 3 with Altenew's Obsidian Black Ink a few times in my MISTI. This ink stays wet for a bit so you are able to sprinkle clear embossing powder on it and heat set for a nice shine. This is a red rubber stamp - it is necessary to take the foam pad out of the MISTI to stamp.

Next, I put the foam pad back in the MISTI, so that I could stamp Altenew's Miss You sentiment from their Dearest Friend stamp set. Again, I used Altenew's Obsidian Black Ink and heat set with clear embossing powder.

I used double sided adhesive to adhere the panel to a A2 sized card base of Neenah 110 lb. Classic Crest Solar White. The inside was stamped with the Sending Hugs sentiment from Dare 2B Artzy You've Got Mail stamp set. I like the nice large bold font.

Card finished! 9 minutes! This was so fun, I though I'd try a second time with a similar water colored panel, but using Altenew's Garden Silhouette stamp set.

I began with the vase and the sentiment - both stamped at one time with Altenew's Obsidian Black Ink.

I know there are many many black inks out in the market, and believe me I have quite a few, but this one is my favorite for coverage - a really nice dark black.

There was some quick masking of the vase with a small post it note before I stamped the floral image. No heat embossing this time. 

The inside sentiment is from the same Altenew's Garden Silhouette stamp set. The simple cursive word "hugs":

I finished in 8 minutes! These cards are meant to be for my daughter's shop in the Covid related card section, but could be used at any time.

This was a really fun challenge and I encourage you all to find some NBUS and items previously crafted and play along! Let's start the clock!

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.