A Place To Start - Challenge# 2-2019 - Inspiration Please! -Use an Inspirational Die or Stamp

Hello, Crafty Makers!

Today's Card was my second make for the "Inspiration Please" challenge at my new challenge blog A Place To Start.

MICRO CHALLENGE TO SELF

In February, I have challenged myself to do two things:  

1) Close my eyes, stick my hand into one of the bins that store stamps that have not been used in 15 years or more and to use whatever stamp I pull out to create a card or tag or paperclip. 

2) To create CAS and or Single layer cards for the entire month.

I probably will not be very successful with #2 because while I love and admire CAS creations when I try it, my cards just look empty.

May You Be Comforted

Sympathy cards are always challenging for me.  Since I am taking the time to create a handmade card, I do not want it to come off looking like a Hallmark® design.  As this design came together, first in my mind, and then on my board, I felt that with it I had succeeded in accomplishing my wish for understated elegance.  The stamp set that I used included a detached leaf stamp that was intended to be placed a short distance away to depict a leaf that had fallen from the stem but I elected not to use it.

I added a simple verse inside.  The stamp I used for the sentiment is from an old set by "My Sentiments Exactly" a company that is no longer in business.

Materials used:
Top Flight White CS (82lb) Smooth Finish
(75sheets, $3.93 @Big Lots.)

Thanks for stopping by!  

I hope to see your Inspirational entry over at 

A Place To Start

Hugz,

Sisterhood of The Snarky Stampers - Weekly Challenge - "L" is for Leaves

Hello, Crafty Makers!

My goal this year is to learn a lot of new techniques and to use old supplies, tools, and materials I have been hoarding since the 1980's that I've never used.

This is the first of two cards I created for the "Leaf" challenge over at the Sisterhood of The Snarky Stampers.  I was looking for inspiration to use my Perfect Pearl mica powders that I haven't touched for years and surprise, surprise, Jennifer McGuire posted a new video this week on that very subject.

This card was actually created using the residual VersaMark ink on the image after the main stamping has been done.  My VersaMark pad needs replacing and I think a fresh pad would have left behind more ink and given a better image.   I also used textured paper and that may have had an impact.  All in all, I am pleased with the results.

Here is a better shot of the gold mica stamping as well as the background stamp.  I colored some elements of the background stamp using my Arteza Brush Markers.  I am not an artist so I don't try to do fancy shading, etc.  I just add little bits of color and keep it moving.  

HUGZ!

CHANA MALKAH

Visit SOSS and play along with them!

What a wonderful stash clearing exercise using the following stuff:

Materials:

Cardstock:  Neenah "Solar White", Bazzill Basics Lavender, Gold CS

Perfect Pearls: Sunshine Sparkle

Arteza Brush Markers

Heartfelt Creations: Bella Rose Vintage Background Stamp

Gold Ribbon (stash, have no idea but I think it was in Michael's sale bin)

Want 2 Scrap Baby Bling Rhinestones

Finish Spray (I used Aleene's Matte Finish) this is optional, you could use water.

White Craft Foam or Foam Tape.  I used Craft Foam.

Tools:

Soft makeup brush (works just as well as the Tim Holtz brush)

Trimmer

Strong Adhesive

Project Sizes:

Base: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2", Gold Panel: 4.0" x 5-1/4", Stamped Panel: 3-3/4" x 5.0"

Challenges Entered:

Sisterhood of The Snarky Stampers - L  is for Leaves

Shopping Our Stash Weekly Challenge - Crazy For Coloring - Use Markers, Pencils, Gelatos, etc.

Hi, there, Crafty Makers!

We have another fun challenge for you this week at Shopping Our Stash.  This is the week to explore your stash and make use of all the coloring tools you have not used in a while or ever!  For me, that meant: Use Those Gelatos!!

This project is really a fusion of Gelatos and Arteza Brush Markers.

I own only four Gelatos which rather limited my color choices.  The background and border were painted using Gelatos.  The flowers were painted using both gelatos and Brush Markers.

I wanted to create an abstract feel for this design so I stamped my image with black ink and then moved my card panel just a smidgen (I used my Tim Holtz Stamping Tool) and stamped a second time with VersaMark. The image was heat embossed with white embossing powder.  The painted  border serves as a "faux" layer.

It is difficult to see here but in real life, this card has a wonderful shimmer.  When all the painting was complete, I spritzed the panel with a sparkle shimmer mist then used my heating tool to speed up the drying process.  I used Distress Ink to stamp the butterflies. 

Stash Items:

Everything used for this project has been in my stash for over four years.

Materials Used:

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White, Papertrey Vellum

Faber Castell Gelatos: Blood Orange, Banana, Aqua (I think!!) Here is the Amazon Link 

Arteza Brush Markers

Distress Inks: Peacock Feathers, Candied Apple, Wilted Violet

Inks: VersaMark and Momento Tuxedo Black

Embossing Powder

Scor-Tape and Art Glitter Glue.

Tsukineko Sheer Shimmer Spritz: Sparkle

Crafting Tools Used:

Tim Holtz Stamping Tool

Heat Tool

Rotary Cutter