HAPPY 250th AMERICA!

I made a few 4th of July cards this year.  I don't make them every year but with our country celebrating 250 years I thought it was about time!  I used mostly products from The Greetery. The embossing folder on the bottom card is from Taylored Expressions.  The stitched white stripes are from Mama Elephant.  It's fun to use various companies in my card making!  

SOUTHERN BOUQUET

This is one of my favorite florals by Amuse Studio called Southern Bouquet. 💐

 I stamped the image on 110# Neenah Solar White card stock with Onyx Versafine ink and then embossed with it with clear powder.  I did the coloring with Amuse Studio inks and a water brush.  I dabbed some ink on an acrylic block and then added a drop of water.  When I was coloring the water brush was dry other than the drop of water that I added to the acyrlic block.  I didn't want to over saturate the paper since I wasn't using watercolor paper.  The background is the Taylored Expressions Pierced Circles Cutting Plate.  I was kind of proud of myself for thinking outside the box for the sentiment strip.  This is actually a handle die for a basket, I had to trim it down but I like the look!  I die cut the bouquet out and then also die cut 3 more pieces out of the white card stock.  I glued all the dies together & it gives the bouquet dimension.  Sometimes I think it works better than using foam dimensionals.  

Products Used:  

Stamps:  Amuse Studio Southern Bouquet, Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words

Card stock:  #110 Neenah Solar white, Card base is Essentials by Ellen Linen, Black scrap

Ink:  Onyx Versafine, Amuse Studio Blush, Buttercup, Fern, Grass, Orange, Sky

Other:  Clear Embossing Powder, Amuse Studio Matching Die for Southern Bouquet, Taylored Expressions Pierced Circles Cutting Plate, Mama Elephant Cute Basket (for the sentiment strips), water brush 

QUICK STRIPES

I recently purchased this Quick Stripes die from Mama Elephant.  The die cuts ⅛" ¼" ⅜" ½" strips.  I used card stock from The Stamp Market and few other scraps to get plenty of colors to work with for my cards.  

For this card, I used the ½" strips for a colorful rainbow background.  I used The Stamp Market card stock for the strips.  The Happy Birthday die is from Stampin' Up.  

Another pretty rainbow stripe background.  This time I used the Simon Says Stamp Birthday Word Mix 1 for the sentiment.  I did use a white card base even though the picture doesn't look like it --  bad lighting!

ALL THAT SPARKLE

Might as well get a head start on Christmas cards for December 2020, while we are in a self quarantine situation, am I right?  This cute stamp is from Unity Stamps called All That Sparkle.  I already had these designs colored and ready to finish.  I layered with Christmas patterned papers to add color.  The sentiment is from Mama Elephant Merry Christmas Wishes.   

Cards!

All the cards I made using the new Reverse Confetti Cake & Champagne stamp set and dies.  

Sweet Birthday Wishes

Another cake card...the grey and peach colors are so pretty together don't ya think?  This is the Reverse Confetti Cake & Champagne stamp set and dies.  The stitched scalloped circle window die is from Mama Elephant All Prettied Up.

More Beauties!

Another group of cards using the Altenew Beautiful Day stamp & die set.  I saw online that card designers were adding tabs to their cards.  Cathy Z. made a beautiful floral card & added a tab HERE.  I knew that I had tab dies and small words that would work - I love it when I already have what I need!  

Stamps:  Altenew Beautiful Day, Your Next Stamp Whatnot Sentiments Four, Misc Mama Elephant (sentiments for tabs)

Card stock:  Amuse Studio Sugar, Ellen Hutson Linen, Ellen Hutson Woodgrain, Simon Says Fog, Black

Ink:  Onyx Versafine, Versamark, Oxide Twisted Citron, Catherine Pooler Lime Rickey, Altenew ink cubes for flowers

Other:  Altenew Beautiful Day Dies, White Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Powder, My Favorite Things Planner Pieces Dies

City Lady in the House

Up to now, I hadn't purchased any of the Ellen Hutson Leading Lady stamp sets but City Lady was calling to me!  Maybe it was the lace top or the cute handbags & cone flower accessories - who knows but I had to have her!  I started out by stamping the images using my Misti and then die cutting the pieces so they are ready for coloring.  I love doing this :)  

I colored the die cuts with Copic markers & played with some different hair colors.  I think I found a pretty good mix of brunette, black, blonde and red head.  This set is just so much fun - it's like playing with paper dolls.  I used the Pattern Play set & stamped a pattern on her slacks & the handbags.  

I CASE'd this card from Carissa Wiley at Sprinkled With Glitter.  I love everything about it and I think this design was what put City Lady in my shopping cart!  

Stamps:  Ellen Hutson City Lady, Ellen Hutson Pattern Play, Mama Elephant Hello Friend Wishes (sentiment)

Card stock:  Amuse Studio Sugar, Black scrap, Vellum

Ink:  Onyx Versafine, Versamark

Other:  White Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Powder, City Lady Die set, Amuse Studio Stitched Circle Dies, Amuse Studio Micro Twinkles

Copic Markers:  Skin E00 E21  Top R22  Peach Shopping Bag R20 R21 

Green Handbag G00 G0000  Newspaper C1  Hair/Shoes  E33 E35

Flowers  R20 R21 Y15 Leaves G21 G24  Glasses Gold Uniball  Coffee G00

This was another CASE'd card from A Blog Called Wanda, she had me at the striped top!  It was a simple bit of paper piecing and I just love the look with her denim jeans. I'm still working on a few more cards using this set.  I have a Fall City Lady on my desk now...more of her coming soon!

Cosmo Bella

I colored these Cosmo Bellas a while back & thought I should take the next step and make them into cards!  I had a couple of patterned paper pads that a sweet friend sent me for my birthday and they just seemed to be perfectly matched with my Bellas that I already had colored.  Don't you love it when that happens?  

I used a super simple layout and a fun sentiment!  

Yes, please to that cocktail!  

Birthday Balloons!

I had time over the weekend (since Spring has not yet arrived!) to play with the new Taylored Expressions Cutting Edge Balloons stamp set & dies.  I used a variety of sentiments to complete these fun cards!  

Fun Birthday Card

I saw this idea when I was at Taylored Expressions Studio a while back.  I love the look with the candles in the background.  I have been wanting to try this design and decided that I didn't have to have the candle dies to make it work for me.  I have a Silhouette Cameo and I knew I had candle files that would work.  I sized the candles in the Silhouette so that they the size would fit in the background of the birthday sentiment.  I cut the candles with the Cameo using the removable label tape below.  I start with a piece of White card stock.  I arranged the post it candles on the white paper where I wanted them.  The candles worked as a mask while I inked the background with Oxide Inks. I removed the mask/tape and then stamped the birthday graphic greeting with Onyx Versafine ink.  

Products Used:  

Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Graphic Greetings Birthday

Card stock:  Pretty blue in my stash for the card base, Amuse Studio Sugar, Black scraps

Ink:  Distress Oxide Inks (Broken China, Peeled Paint, Fossilized Amber), Onyx Versafine

Other:  Mama Elephant All Prettied Up Die (cut part of it for a border), Amuse Studio Onyx Twine, Amuse Studio Clear & Mermaid Sequins, Removable Labels or other type of masking paper, Silhouette, Birthday Candles Design #94442

Watercolored Blooms!

Another fun card using the My Favorite Things Sketched Blooms stamp set.  I stamped the images with MFT Black Licorice ink.  I used the Zig markers with a water brush for easy blending on the flowers and leaves.  Inspiration from HERE.  

Products Used:  

Stamps:  My Favorite Things Sketched Blooms, Mama Elephant Labeled Messages, Amuse Studio Thanks So Much

Card stock:  Papertrey Ink True Black Card base, Canson XL Watercolor 140#

Ink:  My Favorite Things Black Licorice, Onyx Versafine (for sentiment)

Other:  Zig Clear Color Real Brush Markers Bright Yellow, Orange, Scarlet Red (flowers) Pale Green & Light Green (leaves), Waterbrush, Mama Elephant All Prettied Up Die Set

Sketched Blooms

A pretty floral set from My Favorite Things called Sketched Blooms.  I stamped with Onyx Versafine ink and let it dry a little bit and then used Amuse Studio pigment inks for the color layer.  I used Nuvo Drops on one card and sequins on the other.  Both are very pretty and add a bit of dimension.

Products Used:  

Stamps:  My Favorite Things Sketched Blooms, Amuse Studio Label Maker, Mama Elephant Labeled Messages

Card stock:  Amuse Studio Sugar & Saffron, Misc Black, Misc Pink 

Ink:  Onyx Versafine, Amuse Studio Inks (Melon, Berry, Margarita, Orange, Violeta)

Other:  Clear Wink of Stella, Nuvo Drops Morning Dew, Mama Elephant All Prettied Up Die Set, Amuse Studio Tag Bundle Die Set, Clear Sequins, Copic Markers for the stems YG01 YG03

Striped Florals

Here are a couple more cards that I made with the Altenew Striped Florals stamp set.  I had the images arranged on my Misti so I stamped up several of them.  I stamped with Versamark ink and used white embossing powder on the dark grey card stock.  I added Simply White Nuvo drops for the fun of it & a simple sentiment.  

This is striking in black and white.  I stamped with Onyx Versafine ink and added clear embossing powder.  

Products Used:  

Stamps:  Altenew Striped Florals, Taylored Expressions Shade Tree Sentiments, Altenew Floral Frame (thanks)

Card stock:  Ellen Hutson Linen A2 Card base, Amuse Studio Sugar, Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow, Black Scrap

Ink:  Onyx Versafine, Versamark

Other:  Clear Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder, Mama Elephant All Prettied Up Die set, Simply White Nuvo Drops 

Oxide Inks

I have been playing with these new Oxide Inks.  I really like how easy they are to blend.  On this project, I started by stamping a grouping of Altenew Striped Floral images on Amuse Studio Sugar card stock using VersaMark ink and white embossing powder.  I placed the Mama Elephant All Prettied Up scallop & stitched rectangle die over top of my stamp images.  Before cutting the die I blended the ink over top of the white embossed images.  After I liked the coverage & color intensity, I flicked a bit of water on the image and then let it dry for a bit.  Then I ran it thru my die cutting machine.  I love the small white border around the panel.

I added Nuvo drops to the first card and noticed after drying the color of the Oxide ink soaked into the color of the drops.  I used Buttermilk Nuvo drops on the card but they turned more orange.  I actually like how it looks so it was a good result in the end.

Products Used:  

Stamps:  Altenew Striped Florals, Power Poppy Party Time, MFT Together Forever

Card stock:  Ellen Hutson Linen Card base A2, Amuse Studio Sugar for layer, Misc Scraps for word banners

Ink:  Versamark, Oxide Inks in Spiced Marmalade, Cracked Pistachio, Fossilized Amber

Other:  White Embossing Powder, Mama Elephant All Prettied Up Die Set, Buttermilk Nuvo Drops, Fun Foam

Flora & Fauna Day 3

One more day of cuteness using the Flora and Fauna Birthday set.  I love these cake domes and the macaroons under glass - SWEET!  

Products Used:  

Stamps:  Flora & Fauna Birthday, Papertrey Ink Ombre Builder

Card stock:  Amuse Studio Cotton Candy, Amuse Studio Sugar

Ink:  Onyx Versafine, Amuse Studio Grass, Amuse Studio Buttercup

Other:  Amuse Studio Tag Bundle (stitched rectangle), Mama Elephant All Prettied Up Creative Cuts, Copic Markers

Flora & Fauna Day 2

More birthday love using the Flora & Fauna Birthday set.  I used the Papertrey Ink Ombre Builder stamp to create a soft pink stripe on the white card stock.  I used the stitched rectangle from the Amuse Studio Tag Bundle to die cut the white layer.  Another NEW favorite is the stitched scalloped rectangle from Mama Elephant.  My friend, Dona is responsible for this purchase since she used this die on my birthday card.  I absolutely love the extra detail on this layer and that it fits perfectly on an A2 card base! 

Products Used:  

Stamps:  Flora & Fauna Birthday, Papertrey Ink Ombre Builder

Card stock:  Amuse Studio Cotton Candy, Amuse Studio Sugar

Ink:  Onyx Versafine, Amuse Studio Shell

Other:  Amuse Studio Tag Bundle (stitched rectangle), Mama Elephant All Prettied Up Creative Cuts (stitched rectangle with scallop), Copic Markers

Hello Friend

A few quick cards using the Concord & 9th Happy Hues notecards and a couple of pretty sentiments from Mama Elephant!  

Sassy Chicks!

These cards are similar to the one I had on the blog yesterday but with a sassy twist!  All my supplies are Amuse Studio except for the word bubbles - I thought it was a cute addition to these little chicks!  That stamp set is called Small Talk by Mama Elephant.  I can see many uses for this set with all the critters I have in my collection!

Products Used:  

Stamps:  Happy Spring (Amuse Studio), Small Talk (Mama Elephant)

Card stock:  Sugar card base, Grass Stripes, Grass, Grass Gingham, Everything's Rosy (all Amuse)

Ink:  Onyx Versafine

Other:  Clear Embossing, Happy Spring Die Set, Tag Bundle Die Set, Grass Die Border, Gift Card Envelope Die Set (scallop rectangle), Easter Basket Die Set (bow), Copic Markers Y02 Y06 Y11 Y13 Y35, Twinkle Sticker, Papaya Organdy Ribbon

Chicks!

Cute chicks all lined up in a row!  

Products Used:  

Stamps:  Tiptoe Through the Tulips (Amuse Studio), Ombre Builders (Papertrey Ink), Hello Friend Wishes (Mama Elephant)

Card stock:  Orange Peel Texture White Card base, Sugar layer

Ink:  Wasabi, Lemon Whip, Papaya, Blush, Grapefruit (Amuse Studio), Onyx Versafine

Other:  Tiptoe Through the Tulips Die Set, Copic Markers for chick in the middle, 3D adhesive

For the background on this card I used all Amuse Studio inks and the Ombre Builders stamp set from Papertrey Ink.