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When I originally made this card I had made 2 versions.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:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

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

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:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I would like to enter my "Meow You Doin'" card in the following challenges:

Happy Little Stampers -M, Anything Goes w/ Die Cuts

Lawn Fawnatics - #8, Summertime Fun

Joy Clair - M, Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #4, Anything Goes w/ a Critter

SUYP Challenge - #20, Furrything Goes

Frilly & Funkie - In the Good 'Ole Summertime

The Paper Shelter - #302, Punches and/or Dies

4 Crafty Chicks - #359, Summer Celebrations

A Gem of a Challenge - #198, Animals

The June Card Chain Challenge Reveal!

Every Card Chain Challenge has several prompts, including colors and sketches you can use, to get that creative spark going.  You can even look up the criteria for the entire year if you are the type that can plan that far ahead.  In addition to those themes and prompts, there is one option that we have every month; friendship.  For me it's been a lifesaver.  Like this month.  When I totally forgot to get it in gear because I was mailing my card to Jo in England! It's been crazy around here with everyone's commitments (I am sure most, if not all, of you can relate), so I fell back onto the friendship theme. Here is my card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Purple and Peach Cardstock
Watercolor Paper
Oxide Distress Inks in Worn Lipstick, Cracked Pistachio, Wilted Violet and Broken China
Wendy Vecchi Stamp Set, Heirloom Art, #LCS103
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Spellbinders Nestabilities Gold Labels, #4-SS-159
Distress Sprayer
Corner Punch
Pop Dots

Before I get into how I made my card, I want to share the card I received from Sabrina - she says she hasn't been active on her blog lately, but do give her some love as this card is SO cute!:

Back to my card. It was SO easy to make - once I found an Oxide ink background I liked.  I make them in bunches and don't always get to write down what colors I've used. However, this time I tried something different.  I had been making them all day and it was beginning to get tedious as even the most joyful activities can, and my color combinations were not as pleasing as they were when I began.  So, this time I laid down Worn Lipstick, Cracked Pistachio and Wilted Violet on my watercolor paper, played with it a bit and left it alone while I went and ate dinner. 

Once that was dry, I smooshed a bit of Broken China on the paper, sort of to fill in the "blanks", or, where I didn't feel the color was quite colorful enough.  

Typically, I'd been just pouncing all the Oxides together, spritzing them and using that.  Since I used three colors and then added the blue, it allowed me to be a bit more thoughtful about my color placement.  I'm pleased with the outcome and while this might not be a new concept to you, it sure is to me! I spritzed the paper, now with the four colors, lightly and dried it with my heat gun.

Another Look

I stamped my sentiment on the Oxide Ink'd paper using Ranger Jet Black, once it was all dry.  I wanted the card to be colorful, and a bit fancy, so I dug through my dies (I am amassing quite the collection!) and chose the Gold Labels #4.  I die cut the sentiment piece, and then an orange piece.  I pop dotted them on a bold purple (I had punched the corners with an old corner punch) and finally layered the purple on the white card.  I love the uplifting saying and have been a HUGE fan of Wendy's for years!  If you are interested, here is another really cool card I made using the same sentiment (and a discovery!)

I hope you are having a fabulous holiday! Thanks! Christi
PS: I made my own watermark! I have a few I made; what do you think?

I would like to enter my Friendship Card in the following challenges:
Creates & Makes - #13, Anything Goes, Create a Sentiment
Lemon Shortbread - #45, Anything Goes
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Fussy & Fancy - #190, Punches and/or Dies
Brown Sugar Challenge - #257, Anything Goes
One Crazy Stamper - M, July Challenge, Anything Goes
HLS, Watercolor Challenge - M, July, Anything Goes, optional Blue Twist
AAA Cards - #93, Words Take the Center Stage  

Stinkin' Inkers Summer Heat

My first thought that came to me when I found out we were using Summer Heat at Stinkin' Inkers was water! Now that I live in Colorado, and I'm older, I don't get to hang out in the water like I used to as a youngster.  I was fortunate to have a pool in my backyard and spent many a days imagining a scene at the bottom of my pool just like this:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base

Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit, May 2017
Oxide Inks
Watercolor Paper
Hero Arts Intense Black Ink
Distress Markers in Tattered Rose and Pumice Stone
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Labels, #660060
Distress Sprayer
Craft Mat
Studio G Self Adhesive Assorted Pearls
Studio Katia Clear Round Drops Mix, #SK2410

I started out making the ocean background using just two of the Oxide inks, Broken China and Faded Jeans.  I applied the colors directly to the watercolor paper, trying (but

While Coloring

not too hard) to keep the lighter blue closer to the top of the paper.  I spritzed the colors with the Distress Sprayer, added some Cracked Pistachio, sprayed, and then let it dry overnight.  I reworked the background until I liked it, which is one of my very favorite things to do with Oxide Inks. 

I then took a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 white card and inked every color I had in about 2 inch increments (sorry, I forgot to take pictures before I cut them all up), basically each color had it's own area.  I inked the solidly, no spots of white let at all.   Then I sprayed them once and dried them with the heat gun.  Once they were fully dry (very important! You will rip your paper if it isn't absolutely dry! Well, at least I have) I proceeded to cut out the various undersea fauna supplied in the kit. The colors were so pretty it was a struggle to decide what to use!  

When I had cut all the fauna, I die cut the sentiment out of the Tim/Holtz Labels set, edged it with Broken China and set it aside.  I used the Hero Arts kit to die

cut the clam and a few fishes.  I colored the clam with Tattered Rose,  Pumice Stone Distress Markers and stuck the pearl onto the center.  I colored the fishes with Spiced Marmalade & Cracked Pistachio Distress Inks by mushing a bit of ink onto my craft mat and using a water brush. 

Once I had the placement down, I attached the watercolor paper to a while card base, fiddled and fooled with the various fauna and finally figured it out, decided where I wanted the sentiment, clam and the fishes to reside.  I left the tops of some of the fauna unglued so I could tuck sea creatures behind if I chose to. The bubbles from the fish are just amazingly cute! I am very proud of this card and I hope you adore it as much as I do!

Another Look - Click to enlarge :)

Please find some time during the festivities (you have ALL month!) to join us at Stinkin' Inkers with your version of Summer Heat! ~ Christi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just a gentle reminder!! Please be safe and keep an eye on your four legged critters - keep them inside during the fireworks; the Fourth of July is when most animals run away from home and go missing due to the noise. Keep your furbabies safe and inside (also, some animals need to be tranquilized due to the noise. If your dog is fearful of thunderstorms, he's going to be scared of the fireworks; be sure to ask your vet for medication early!)  Just a little reminder because I know you love your animals as much as I love mine (and cats can run away just like dogs!) 

I am entering my Summer Heat card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps Challenge - #151, Summer/Beach/Holidays
Do-Al(l) Creatives - M, #7, Cool Water
DL Art - Thankful Thursday, #207, Summer Fun
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
a2z scrapbooking - M, Anything Goes
The Papergirls - M, #131, Seashells, Sea or Beachy
Paperminutes - #494, Sea, Beach, Etc.

Blue Skies are Ahead!

Hi all - I hope you are having a fabulous summer! For my Dies R Us post today I am sharing an encouragement card today.  I hope you like it!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Blue Skies Stamp Set, #LF511
Lawn Fawn Blue Skies Dies Set, #LF519
Watercolor Paper
White Card
Oxide Distress Inks in Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio & Broken China
Distress Ink in Mermaid Lagoon
Pop Dots
Distress Markers in Brushed Corduroy and Pumice Stone 
Detail Water Brush

I first made the background of the card using watercolor paper and Oxide ink in Broken China.  I smooshed some ink on my craft mat, spritzed it with my Distress Sprayer and rubbed the watercolor paper all around the mat until I was pleased with the color.  I set the paper aside to dry.
                                                                                   

I then stamped the balloon and basket onto more watercolor paper and die cut it  I colored the balloon with Oxide Ink using Wilted Violet, Cracked 
Pistachio and Broken China; I patted the ink pad onto my craft sheet and picked up the color using my detail water brush.  I love how the colors just pop! I then used Brushed Corduroy to color in the basket   and Pumice Stone to color in the bottom of the balloon. Then I die cut the clouds using white card and set all the die cuts aside.

Once the background was dry, I stamped the sentiment in Mermaid Lagoon directly onto the card. I attached the balloon to the card and Pop Dotted the clouds. I even used the clouds to hide some of the background that didn't quite come out the way I wanted it! I like the simplicity of the card and how soft and soothing the colors are.  I hope you have a fun-filled Fourth of July! 

Small PSA: Please be safe and keep an eye on your four legged critters - keep them inside during the fireworks; the Fourth of July is when most animals run away from home and go missing due to the noise. Keep your furbabies safe and inside (also, some animals need to be tranquilized due to the noise.  If your dog is fearful of thunderstorms, he's going to be scared of the fireworks; be sure to ask your vet for medication early!)  Just a little reminder because I know you love your animals as much as I love mine (and cats can run away just like dogs!)

 If you have time in between the festivities, be sure to come back to the Inspiration Blog daily, use that Inspiration to put together your own project and enter it on the Challenge Blog for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!  

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:
STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my "Blue Skies Ahead" card in the following Challenges:

Lawn Fawnatics - #8, Summertime Fun

Crafting with Dragonflies - #84, Punches and/or Dies

CardMania - #94, Summer Fun

Art Impressions - #211, Create a Background

Simon Says Stamp, Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes