Art-Without-Anxiety

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Stinkin' Inkers September Challenge ~ Fav Color Combo!

Hey everyone! I thought I was late with this post, only to realize I was early! Gosh, time can really be confusing sometimes <grin>. I hope this post finds you happy and healthy, especially those down in Texas. My thoughts are with ALL of you! I decided to beat the heat here in Colorado (it's supposed to be 95 tomorrow!) and start making some holiday cards. When I saw this month's challenge at Stinkin' Inkers, I immediately knew I'd be using blue and white as my favorite color combination and what better way to showcase those colors than a holiday card?

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Square Card, 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"
White Shimmer Cardstock
Blue Shimmer Cardstock
Elizabeth Craft Dies, Brrrrr, #1228
Tutti Designs, Fir Tree Arch Scene, #TUTTI-130
Navy Blue Card

I made the square card and covered the whole thing with the blue shimmer paper. I think it's from Bravissimo. which hasn't been around for about 11 years now (I have a TON of this type of paper. Points to me for using some stash!) It's a thinner paper so it didn't add any bulk to the card.

I then cut the Fir Tree Arch out of this other shimmer paper I found. I can't describe it, so I took a picture. I've had this paper for longer than I care to admit, too. It's so pretty! I also used this paper on the bottom of the card to showcase the blue Brrrrr I cut out of the same paper that I used to cover the card. I cut out a portion of the white paper, covered the bottom and adhered the sentiment.

I die cut the sentiment out of the shimmery blue paper and then added some dimension using navy blue card, also die cut, and glued together. I didn't want to waste the shimmer paper, plus, it's so thin I would of never been able to die cut enough.

This was a really quick and easy card, perfect if you are going to be making a bunch of the same holiday card to send out. I saved all the little snowflakes from the Fir Tree Arch die cuts so I will be using them on some other wintry cards. It was a pleasure to use my favorite color combination and I think the two dies compliment each other wonderfully! I would LOVE to see some of your favorite color combo's in the Stinkin' Inker Challenge; you have a whole month to play, so why not join in? Thanks SO much for stopping by ~ Christi

I would like to enter my Brrrrrrr Card in the following challenges:
CraftyHazelnuts Christmas Challenge - #349, Anything Christmas Goes, Add Sparkle
The Merry Christmas Challenge - #39, Anything Goes & Christmas
CropStop - #31, August Challenge
The Holly & Ivy Challenge - #14, Anything Goes Christmas

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Elegant Love

Hey all, it's Christi here today with a romantic, any occasion card. Honestly, at my age most of my friends and family are already married, but I still get the desire to make some sweet romantic type cards. I've been obsessed with doilies and all things lacy lately and this is certainly reflected in my card.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base, 5 1/2" X 5 1/2", Handmade Gate Fold Style
Vanilla Card
Shimmery Textured Off White Card (this is SO old - I've had it for years!)
Gold Card, Heavy
Cheery Lynn Designs, Border Dies, Heart Chain Border, #B115
Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson, Jewelled Heart, #CED21005
White Pearls, 5 cm, by The Paper Studio, #549543

As I said, I have had this card idea rolling around in my head for a while now. I splurged on a bunch of goodies from the Dies R Us store and the dies used here are part of that haul. I made my own gate fold card (for the very first time!) out of sturdy white card and then cut the main heart die out of vanilla card.

There are 7 dies in the Jewelled Heart set, so I used another of the dies to cut out a textured, shimmery, off white heart and placed that in the center heart of the main die cut. I then cut the love die out of subtle gold. I glued the sentiment onto the textured heart and set the main die cut aside.

I cut two of the heart chain border out of the same gold card and attached them to the sides of the card. Since the card was already folded, I came up with an idea on how to keep the "doors" closed and stable while I attached the chains. Using 2 small bulldog clips (with waxed paper between the clip and the card - I've ruined SO many cards by not taking that type of precaution!) I clipped the doors closed. That trick helped make attaching the heart chain super easy!

One of the things that drew me to this die was all the detail and little extras; I added some of my own little extras by attaching some white pearls strategically around the design (the little stitches just make this design look that much more special)!

Finally I attached the main heart die cut to just one side of the card; so the card opens up with a gate fold.

Another Look

Thank you for taking the time to join me on this little journey! I hope that those who are in the hurricane zone are all safe & sound and that YOU have a great week! Christi

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store. A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too.

click below for:

I am entering my Elegant Love card in the following challenges:

Southern Girls Challenges - #164, Retro Challenge

That's Crafty! - Cards Only

Scrappy Land - #72, Anything Goes

Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes, M

Happy Little Stampers Dies Challenge - Anything Goes, M

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Saturday, August 19, 2017

I Love You to The Moon and Back

I've been missing from social media lately - it's just been too nice out to stay cooped up inside! But, I had a blast making this card and trying something new!

I've seen so many "galaxy" cards on Pinterest lately, I thought that this would be a perfect time to try one.

What I Used to Make my Card:
Black Square Card Base, 5" x 5"
Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet, Black Soot and Blueprint Sketch
Die-Versions Whispers Stitched Nesting Squares, DV-573 (similar squares here)
Die-Versions Whispers Mrs. Moon, DV-627
Tim Holtz Mini Blend Tool
ColorArte, Twinkling H20's in Metallic Mica Pewter, Heavenly White and Icicles
My Sentiments Exactly Quick Coloring Frame, Y602
Piccolo Silver Siam Embossing Powder
Embossing Ink
Watercolor Paper
Silver Mirror Card
Navy Blue Card

The first thing I did was make the background. In order to make the inks look "galaxy" like you start off with the lightest ink, pounce it a few times around your paper and follow with your next darkest ink and so on. There are many, many videos out there to help you - I actually used 3 different videos, and used what I had on hand. I didn't take pictures of the very beginning of the galaxy (sorry!), I was so preoccupied I completely forgot. But, here is where my watercolor paper was looking at about step 3.

And here is the galaxy at step 4. You can see some of the inks are pounced to

make them darker. The more variation of color the better your galaxy is going to look. As I said, I used the ink colors I had on hand (I still don't have every single Distress Ink) and improvised.

Instead of watered down white acrylic paint, I decided to use my Twinkling H2O's. These paints are amazing watercolor paints; they shimmer so much! I used a toothbrush dipped in the H2O paint, and splattered the galaxy with a few different colors.

And here is my galaxy. I also threw some water on it at random times. I love how it came out, except (isn't there always an exception?) on the right hand side, but, that's no big deal because my die cut will cover that up.

Setting aside the galaxy to dry, I grabbed some navy blue card and embossed my sentiment on it. I then used my stitched square dies to cut the sentiment out. Then it came time to cut out my moon die. The moon die was the whole inspiration behind this card and I wanted to make sure it wasn't lost in the galaxy. I debated a bit, cutting the moon out of silver card as well as the mirror card, but ultimately decided the mirror card looked the best. I trimmed the galaxy down a bit, adhered it to the black square card base, glued the embossed sentiment up in the left hand corner and lastly glued on my beautiful mirror card moon. Here is the final product. What do you think? Here's another look:

Thanks so much for reading my post and I hope I've inspired you to try something new! Hugs, Christi

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store. A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too.

click below for:

I am pleased to enter my Love You to the Moon and Back card in the following challenges. Looking for challenges? Check out Challenges for Days!
Creative Fingers Challenges - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment
Paperminutes - 500 Jubilee Challenge, Anything Goes
Die Cut Diva's - M, Anything Goes, August
Tuesday Throwdown - #356, Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society - #123, Anything Goes, Option of punches and/or dies
Crafting with Dragonflies - #87, M, Embossing Wet and/or Dry

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Hi Dies R Us friends, it's Christi here today to show you a lovely card. I think you should shower your friends and loved ones with gifts, cards and fun all year round and while this card is perfect for Valentine's, it's also perfect to give as a little reminder about how much you care.

What I Used to Make my Card:
Pearlized Blue Cardstock
White Card Base
Distress Oxide Ink background (pre-made on watercolor paper)
Distress Oxide Ink in Faded Jeans
Ken Oliver Liquid Metals in Pewter
Memory Box Small Fairytale Oval #99172
Hero Arts, You Are My Happy, # CL923 (available everywhere)
Sizzix/Tim Holtz Labels, #660060
Corner Punch
Clear Embossing Powder
Pop Dots
Metal Adapter Plate (I use this with every die cut I make)

When I originally made this card I had made 2 versions. I had made 2 Oxide Ink backgrounds and wasn't thrilled with either of them. I had attempted to scratch on this background using a toothpick and Ken Oliver Liquid Metals, but it came out horrid. Unfortunately, the other card didn't make it to the finals, but I'm really happy with the one that did make it.

So I have this background that I strongly dislike. But, is it sparkly due to using the Liquid Metals. I had just gotten the Fairytale Oval and I thought that the delicate shape of that die would, perhaps, bring out the beauty of the background paper.

I cut the Small Fairytale Oval out of the background paper, and I really did like the way the sweet flowers and leaves softened the harshness of the paper. So I built the rest of the card around that. I chose a pearlized blue paper I have had in my stash forever, and stamped my sentiment on a piece using Oxide

ink in Faded Jeans, embossing it with clear embossing powder. Now, it took me a while to find a sentiment that fit inside the oval. I knew the look I wanted, I could see it in my mind, and all I had to do was make it a reality. I found the perfect fitting sentiment from Hero Arts. I cut out the sentiment using the Labels set, layered the Fairytale Oval over the die cut sentiment and then I pop dotted that onto my panel of the same pearlized blue card. I punched the corners of the panel and set it aside. I took my white card base and lightly ran the Oxide Ink Faded Jeans ink pad around the outside of the white card, coloring it blue. I attached the panel onto the card base and I was done! I adore this card, blue

being one of my very favorite colors, the font that was used in the sentiment, the way the oval compliments the card; just adore the entire card! I hope you like it as much as I do! Now, it's your turn to break out your dies, create something you love and enter it in the fortnightly challenge! You can get all the info about Dies R Us from the easy links below. Thanks!! Christi

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store. A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too.

click below for:

I am entering my Truly, Madly, Deeply card in the following challenges:

Daisy Chain Challenge - M, #10, Floral

Happy Little Stampers Dies Challenge - M, Anything Goes

kreativeinkauf Challenge - M, Use Dies or Punches

heARTFUL Stamping Challenge - M, Anything Goes w/ a Stamp

Stamping Sensations - M, Anything Goes w/ Flowers

A Blog Named Hero - M, Florals

a2Z Scrapbooking - M, Anything Goes

The Floral Challenge - #10, Embossing Heat/Dry

DL Art - M, July Linky Challenge

Scrapy Land - M, Anything Goes

Stamp, Ink, Paper - #108, Fabulous Flowers

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Meow You Doin'?

Hi all! Today I am showing you a card that I made using left over die cuts and some adorable kitties! I'm happily owned by Four Fabulous Felines (if you'd like to meet them, click here) and I love cat stamps and dies. I was thrilled to see that Dies R Us carries Lawn Fawn products and I scooped up this set as fast as I could.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Watercolor Paper
Frantic Stamper Floral Confetti, FRA-DIE-10119 (left over from this project)
Fence Die, Hero Arts MMHK, March 2017 (didn't get the kit? Go here)
Lawn Fawn Meow You Doin' Stamps Set, LF1315
Lawn Fawn Meow You Doin' Dies Set, LF1316
Lawn Fawn Blue Skies Dies Set, LF519
Distress Oxide Ink in Broken China
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Small Leaf Punch
Handmade Stems
Grass (made with Silhouette Cameo, but a good choice is here)
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Sun Punch
MISTI

While there are a lot of ingredients in this card, it was really easy to put

together! I knew I wanted to use the leftover cuts from the Floral Confetti die

and I knew I wanted the tulips to be in front of the fence, but other than that this card came together on its own!

I had colored the cats prior; after stamping them on watercolor paper and using my Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencils to color them. I then die cut them out and set them aside. The first step in making this card was making the blue sky background which I did by using Broken China Distress Oxide Ink on watercolor paper. I let that dry overnight.

Meanwhile, I began putting the tulips together. I hand cut my own stems and

cut apart punches I made using a small 3 leaf punch. I die cut out the fence, and carefully attached the flowers, stems and leaves to the fence. The little peek of grass you see was made with my CAMEO. Once the sky was dry, I attached the grass to the edge of the card and then the fence. It was pure luck that those kitties fit into the scene so well!

Using my MISTI, I stamped my sentiment directly onto the sky and then used the clouds I had die cut, and the sun I punched out, to sort of frame the sentiment. Lastly, I attached the card panel to a standard white card blank. Now, it's YOUR turn to make a project using the die cuts that Dies R Us carries! Don't forget to come back to the Inspiration Blog every day to see a new creation made by my wonderful teamies! Thanks! Christi

Another Look

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store. A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too.

click below for: