Saturday, April 29, 2017

Color Burst Background

The last card I posted used this Color Burst background and someone requested that I post a photo of the background before it was used on the card so here it is. I used blue and purple colors on Tim Holtz water color paper.


And since the tulips were in full bloom and looking beautiful this year as the nasty wind did not destroy them, I thought I would share a photo of those as well. And, it looks like a weed is growing in the area as well. Oh, dear!


Well, happy Saturday to all. Thanks for visiting.

God bless,
Verna

Friday, April 28, 2017

Lovely Hello

I worked up a quick card using some Hero Arts inks and stamps and will be entering this at the last minute for the A Blog Named Hero April Challenge -Anything Goes. I had my background layer already done with some purple and blue Color Bursts so it was just a matter of stamping the focal panel.


The Hero Arts Stamp set I used is called You're So Lovely. I used my Misti to stamp most of it and then in the center I added a fussy cut flower and some leaves. This panel was die cut with a Cottage Cut Double Stitched rectangle die  and then placed on a panel of the Color Bursts card stock using a Die-Namics stitched rectangle die from the Blueprints 29 set from My Favorite Things.

The inks used were Hero Arts Ombre Meadow ink pad and a Versafine Black ink pad. The layers were then mounted on the white card base and finished by adding some turquoise blue rhinestones.

Well, I will be taking a bit of a break over the weekend from posting as I will be working on some winter and Christmas card designs. At least that is the plan so far. LOL I hope you have a great weekend and thanks again for stopping in and for the lovely comments.

God bless,
Verna

Thursday, April 27, 2017

A Moment in Time and Card Drive Information

Yesterday I got to work with some free stamps I won from Penny Black. One of the sets I chose is an image called A Moment In Time. I used it on this card along with a sentiment from A Jillian Vance Design called Simply Said: Sympathy.


Now this is a large stamp so I had to make a bigger card then an A2 size to get all of the image on the front panel. I used my Misti and then colored in each part of the image using Tombow markers with the direct to stamp method. Once I thought I had enough color on it I then took a bit of water and a fine brush and blended some of the ink out. When the image was dry I then reapplied ink to the images with the markers and stamped it again to get more details which had washed away with the water.

I also took some green ink from an ink pad and rubbed a bit of that on some acetate and then added some water to it. With the brush I then flicked on some splashes of green color. Next I added  the sentiment and placed this panel onto a green card stock layer. The card was finished  by adding it to a base card of ivory card stock.

I might be taking a break now and then to work on some cards for a great cause with a drive that will be held in July called Cards for Little Hearts. There is a side logo with the site along the right side of my blog if you want to check into it. Also you can go to this website to get all the details for it too.
I feel that I have been so blessed these past years and that this might be a way of giving back for all I have received. So I hope to devote as much time as I can to make a few. And I hope some of you will join in as well.

I spent a good deal of time this afternoon looking for free digis online for this card drive that would be appropriate for youngsters and also looking at some stamp sets that I thought might be great too. So I was shopping but only bought two small sets. I think along with some of my supplies already on hand I can come up with a few great designs for the card drive by July. Once the garden starts to produce I will find less time for my hobby so I better try to get in some work for the card drive in the meantime.

Well, it is time to concentrate on the evening meal. I thank all of you for visiting and for all the wonderful comments you always leave me. Each of them are so uplifting to me. Have a great rest of the week.

God bless,
Verna

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

40th Birthday Card

Today I am sharing with you a card I made for my son-in-law for his 40th birthday. I used a stamp set from Gina K. Designs called Simple Numbers which was illustrated by Tami Mayberry. Unfortunately, I do not see this set in the store so either it has been discontinued or it will be remade into a clear one. I like it for using on milestone birthdays.


I also used some NBUS items at the time which were a Gina K. Designs Swirls & Flourishes Foil Mates set and also the Gina K. Design Rectangle Small double stitched die set of which both are from her new Therm o Web line.

I took the swirled Foil Mate design and first added some Gina K. Designs Tomato Soup and Peach inks to it and then put it through the laminator using Deco Black Foil. I maybe could have skipped using the black foil on it as the image is already black and white but I was anxious to see if it made a lot of difference. It did add a bit more shimmer but the black is not as shimmery as the metallic foils are. Either way it would have looked great.

That was put onto the base card of light orange card stock. I also took a die cut panel of that same light orange card stock and stamped The Big and the circle frame with the number 40 in it with Versafine black ink. The candles were die cut from the rectangle set of Gina's as they came with the set.  I offset this panel onto another black layer cut with the die set.  I  added some Wink of Stella to the flames and added a different shade of orange inside the card where I placed my message.


I really love how this card turned out and I hope my son-in-law liked it as well. He had a really nice party to celebrate the occasion too.


Well thanks for stopping in and for all your sweet comments. I look forward to reading them every time.

God bless,
Verna


Monday, April 24, 2017

Anchors Away

I had so much fun making a scene with the silhouette stamps that I decided to do one more before the day was through. This one is a sea scene and this time I did sponging for my inked backgrounds. This design will fit in with this week's Stamp TV Mix It Up Monday challenge.


Besides sponging the background for the scene I also sponged a stencil design of anchors which I thought would work well with it. As for the waves I fussy cut a wavy pattern from a Post-It note and used that for my mask. I also added some white to the waves to make it look like they had white caps as we call them around here. Once I had my designs done I layered them on black card stock and then to the base card of white card stock.

Supplies used:
Gina K. Designs Inks: Powder Blue, Blue Lagoon, Blue Denim and Peach Bellini
Versafine Black Ink
Gina K. Designs Stamp set: Ship to Shore
Scor Pal
Artplorations Stencil: Anchors Away
Cottage Cutz Double Stitched Rectangle Dies
Crafters Companion Glue Pen
Gina K. Designs Black and White Card Stock

I am also entering this in the following challenges:
Double D's Challenge-Silhouettes
Crop Stop Linky Party #27
Stamplorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge
Stamplorations Things With Wings Theme Challenge

This is the second post of the day. I really had fun working with the little simple scenes. I hope you enjoyed viewing them as well. Have a great evening and I love the visits and comments.

God bless,
Verna

Smackin' Acetate Background

I made a a background using a technique called Smackin' Acetate Background. It is very simple to do as all you do is take a piece of acetate, add color either with stamp pads, markers or water colors of some sort, spritz with water and then place a piece of card stock into the mix. One can move it a round a bit to pick up a mix of the colors too. I have done a similar technique with a big acrylic block when I did not have the acetate to work with. It gets the same results. This was originally made to enter into the Stamp TV Mix It Up Monday challenge.


I used a Hero Arts ink pad called Ombre Meadow to get the colors for my background which are such pretty spring colors. I simply stamped the pad twice to create a longer line of color and then added my spritz of water and it was ready to place the paper down on it.

Once my background was dry I then took silhouette stamps from the Gina K. Designs Country Roads 2 set which is illustrated by Theresa Momber and created a scene using Versafine black ink. I used my MISTI to make sure I got good impressions.  I wanted my fence a bit longer then the actual stamp was so I turned my fence image upside down and extended it on both ends. On the one end I made the post more solid colored and on the other end I also colored it solid but then took a Tombow eraser and removed some of the black ink to get it to match the other posts in the fence.


The scene was die cut with a Memory Box cross stitched border die as was the outer layer of black card stock. These in turn were placed onto a base card of Jelly Bean Green. I think that is one of my favorite light green colors and it seemed to match the green ink in the stamp pad I used perfectly.

Supplies used:
Scor Pal
Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Border dies
Hero Arts Ombre Meadow ink pad
Gina K. Designs Country Roads 2 stamp set
Crafters Companion Glue Pen
Versafine Black Ink Pad
MISTI tool

This will also be entered into the following challenges:
Double D Challenge-Silhouettes
Crop Stop Linky Party #27

A new week has begun and I hope all of you will have a great one. I look forward to your visits and comments too.

God bless,
Verna

Friday, April 21, 2017

Fake It Birthday

I just saw where a gal on Stamp TV did the tutorial on making fake layers on a card. Thanks to Cat Tidwell for that inspiration. However, I was not as successful at doing it as she was and was about to trash my basic fake layered creation but then decided to try and save it somehow. I did keep the center layer which is fake. And, if you look close you can see the faint outline of the other layers to which I sponged on more colors to make it brighter looking.


Like I said earlier I sponged on more Blue Lagoon and Grass Green inks from Gina K. Designs and then over the top of my fake layers I stamped the leafy branch in black ink. All stamps are from the Birthday Essentials set by Gina K. Designs. The last step was to stamp the butterfly in black ink onto Lipstick Pink card stock and then die cut them. They were then placed on each corner. So except for the addition of the butterflies which I glued on it is just a one layer card. I used blue card stock for the card base.

This was "just a for fun" design and I don't intend to enter it into any competition. And, this will do it for me this week. I won't be available tomorrow as I will have other plans to keep me busy. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and thanks so much for the comments and visits.

God bless,
Verna

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Poppy Thinking of You

I recently won a gift certificate to a2zScrapbooking and with it I got a few Hero Arts stamp sets. One I really like was a color layering poppy one and I do love to work with color layering images. So today I made a card with that set.


I found it so easy to work with this stamp set as they give directions on the back showing which layers go first, second, third and fourth. And, I also bought the Hero Arts ink cubes which were picked for use with this set so that really helped a lot. I took a sentiment from another Hero Arts set and added it to a fussy cut tag. My main panel was die cut with a Memory Box die and also the black layer underneath it. Once all was assembled onto my white card base I then added some red rhinestones and a metal spiral clip embellishment.

Supplies used:
Hero Arts Poppy Layering Inks; Color Layering Poppy and Prayers stamp sets
Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Borders
Creative Impressions spiral clip
Scor-Pal
Crafters Companion Glue Pen
Ribbon Unknown

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Dies R Us Challenge #71-Tags
Crop Stop Linky Party # 27
a2zScrapbooking Monthly Challenge-"Getting to Know You". I love color layering stamps.

Well, the week is sure speeding by fast. But I am glad I got to do a few card designs this week. And, I so appreciate your visits and comments. They mean so much to me.

God bless,
Verna

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Silhouette Mother's Day

I decided I would make another card for Mother's Day late this afternoon and evening. It went together quite fast when using a Misti and silhouette stamps.



I happened to have the ink colors of Peach Bellini and Tomato Soup by Gina K. Designs laying out so I added ink to some white card stock and then stamped some silhouette images which are from the Gina K. Designs Botanical Blocks set. I used Versafine black ink. Then I cut this design out with Gina K. Designs new dies line using the Rectangle Small set which is double stitched and then a die from the Rectangle Large set which is single stitched. It The single stitch was the perfect size to add just a hint of a layer of black card stock to my design.

For the base card I used Gina K. Designs Peach Bellini card stock and along the bottom I stamped some of the silhouette daisies from Gina K. Designs Daisy Delight set which is illustrated by Theresa Momber. I only stamped the top portion of those daisies with the Versafine black ink along the bottom. Then I took some dotted black Washi tape and added three strips across the top. Over those strips of tape I then placed the layered Botanical Block design.

The card was finished by adding my sentiment. This card will be entered into the Double D's Challenge. They asked that silhouette images be used. And, isn't that a pretty mood board. I love it.


Well, I thank you for your visits and kind comments. I hope your evening is a wonderful one.

God bless,
Verna

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Altenew Inspiration Challenge

I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter! I had company over the weekend and then I had some other things to work on Monday but today I finally got a card for the Altenew April Inspiration Challenge made. I had been admiring those colors in the photo so today's card takes inspiration from not only the colors but also the flowers in it.



I used blue and green Color Bursts to make a background using some Tim Holtz water color card stock. First I wet the card stock with water using a foam brush and then sprayed on the Color Bursts. Then to move the colors around a bit more I took the brush and swiped over the background. Next I die cut that background out with a die from the Die-Namics MFT-914 Blueprints 29 set and also used one of the dies in that set for the sentiment which resembled a tag. My flowers were from the Altenew Magnolias For Her stamp set. I made it into a Mother's Day card which will be given to one of the three young moms in our family.

The magnolias were stamped in yellow ink onto ivory card stock and I fussy cut them as well as the leaves which I had colored with a Zig green water color pen. And apparently the water color crystals from the Color Bursts were on the flowers and sentiment just ever so slightly so now and then you will see a little blue as I brushed all of the elements with my Wink of Stella to give a glittery look. I just decided that a whisp of blue would work anyway so I just left them that way. 

Supplies used:
Altenew Magnolias for Her stamp set
My Favorite Things Die-Namic Blueprints 29
Ken Oliver Color Bursts
Scor Pal
Crafter's Companion Glue Pen
Zig Watercolor Pens
Wink of Stella

I am entering this also in the following challenges:
Dies R Us Challenge #71-Tags (sentiment was on a tag from the die set)

Well, another week has already started to speed by for me. So I may not get in too many blog posts this week. But I am so happy you stopped by to visit and leave some lovely comments. Take care and may the Lord bless you.

Hugs, 
Verna

Monday, April 10, 2017

More Emboss Resist

I received new stamps sets in the mail today and had to do another card using the emboss resist technique. The stamp I used is from the Gina K. Designs Daisy Delight set which is illustrated by Theresa Momber. I know this set will be used a lot by me as I love daisies.


I took white card stock and used my anti static bag on it and then stamped the daisy silhouette stamp image with Versamark and embossed it with Gina K. Designs fine detailed white powder and the heat set it.

Then I simply added some sponged inks to it, backed it onto some black card stock and then again onto the base card of white card stock. In the upper right corner I stamped the sentiment. I just love how this came out and it will be a design I will be using often.

Thanks for looking and  blessings to all of you this Holy Week.

Hugs,
Verna

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Emboss Resist Sympathy

I used to love doing the emboss resist technique on cards and I had not done it in a long, long time so when Gina K. Designs release challenge was to use a card with that technique on it I decided I just had to make a very simple design to join in. And, it seems I am always needing sympathy cards more and more often these days so having one made up ahead is always a good thing. This one I think would be wonderful for a masculine type.


I dusted my white panel with my static bag and then stamped the leaves with Versamark ink. Then I added Gina K. Designs white fine detail embossing powder and heat set it. Once the embossing was cooled I then sponged on shades of green over the leafy portions and then blended in a little light blue below to have it look like the sky. My card was finished by stamping the sentiment. All the images are from the Peace, Courage & Memories set which is designed by Gina K. Designs and Unity Stamp Company.

Happy Palm Sunday to everyone and I thank you for your lovely comments and visits.

God bless,
Verna



Thursday, April 6, 2017

Tie Dye Birthday

Using some as close as I could neon colors I decided to make  background with a stencil from Sheena Douglas called Tie Dye. And over the top of this design I stamped in black ink an image of some of those groovin' 60's characters from a set called Just Truckin'. I did the background and the silhouette image all on a white card base. It was finished by adding a Happy Birthday sentiment from the Altenew Painted Greetings set.


I am entering this in the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Happy Birthday
Double D's Challenge-Neons/Brights Challenge
Simon Says Monday Challenge-Make a Rainbow

Just a quickie for this week. Too busy trying to clean and bake in between other things going on. I hope your week is been great and thanks for visiting and commenting.

God bless,
Verna


Sunday, April 2, 2017

Special Day Card

Sometimes you need a card that will work for many special occasions such as a wedding, anniversary, confirmation, first communion or even a birthday. This card I made using a NBUS stamp set from Gina K. Designs called Sending Love fit right into that category. I am entering this into Darnell's NBUS challenge #11 since this is a first outing for me using this set.


I stamped the images and sentiment onto white card stock with a black Versafine ink pad and then colored them in with Prismacolor Pencils which were blended with Gamsol.  I die cut the design out with a Cottage Cutz Double Stitched Rectangle set. And this was added to a white card base to which I added the purple design cut with a Top Dog Modern Mosaic A2 Mat Die. I believe that company is no longer in business but I am sure there are other dies that would work just as well.

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Simon Say Monday-Things With Wings
Word Art Wednesday-Challenge 276-277 Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday-Anything Goes
Dare 2B Artzy Challenge-Anything Goes
Penny Black and More Challenge April-All Things Spring

Thanks always for your visits and wonderful comments. I hope you are having a great Sunday afternoon too.

God bless,
Verna

Saturday, April 1, 2017

April Fool's Day Boo Boo

If you have been following along on my blog many of you know that I am considered a novice at making cards with digital images. So since I was participating in the past spring coffee hop where there were a lot of free digis being offered I decided to take advantage and try my hand at using them.
Well, I did print off a nice image and colored it in but decided that I needed to get a larger version then originally planned. So I set the colored one aside so I could use it another time.

Well, somehow I grabbed the wrong sheet of card stock and put it into my printer and proceeded to print out a larger version. What a surprise I got when out came this big "boo boo". Oh, well, guess that is part of the learning process.


So since this is it's first and most likely only publication of this cute digi from Limited Runs in this particular condition I thought I would share it with the 2nd Annual April Fool's Boo Boo Blog Hop and NBUS Challenge #11. 

I hope you are not having too many tricks pulled on you and if you are I hope they are just some good fun ones. Nothing bad.

Thanks for stopping in.

God bless,
Verna

Fluttering By

 First of all I want to wish all my Canadian friends a Happy Canada Day! I hope your day is extra special. This card I am showing uses an Al...