Coffee Helps me Maintain ~ 2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop

Another card for the Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop! I went to a local craft store that I've been meaning to visit a few days ago and I was SO happy to find this adorable Spellbinders' die set!  Most of the items in the store are consignments, so I snagged the set at more than half off!  The coffee gods were smiling down at me.

What I Used to Make my Card:
Kraft Card Base
White Card
Spellbinders Die Set, Hipster 1, #S2-212
CAS-ual Fridays Sentiment, Coffee Talk 
CAS-ual Fri Dies,  Coffee Cup
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Oval STAX, #MFT-0521
Scraps of Patterned Paper
Dark Brown Card
VersaFine Ink in Onyx Black

The card was inspired by a card on the Spellbinders' site that illustrates the dies in use.  I loved the three cups, so I decided to make three cups for my card, too.  I started by cutting out the cups from white card, then I cut the cup out of patterned paper {which I dug out of my scraps stash} and the little cup

Another Peek

holder from brown card.  I carefully cut the tops off the patterned paper and glued that onto the white card bodies, followed by the cup holder.

While the cups were drying, I stamped my sentiment onto some white card and cut the word 'coffee' from some dark brown card.  I used a stitched oval die to cut out the sentiment, making sure it was at the bottom of the oval.  I attached the oval to the kraft card base, then glued the word 'coffee' to the top of the oval. 

Once I had the cups positioned, I attached those to the base as well.  Lastly, I used some of my homemade dots to finish off the card.  I love the floral coffee cups; I was getting bored with everything being shades of brown.  Thanks for stopping in and I hope you like this card as much as I do! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Moo-Mania - Die Cuts
Scrapy Land - #90, Anything Goes w/ Dies {entry #3}
Through the Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Use Patterned Paper

Nature's Solution ~ 2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop

Another fabulous coffee card for the 2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop.  I've been wanting to use the Hero Arts Spice Market stamp again and this was the perfect opportunity.


What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Hero Arts, Basic Grey Spice Market, #CG638 {retired but available}
Watercolor Paper
Sue Wilson Toronto die, #CED6204
CAS-ual Fridays Sentiment, Coffee Talk 
CAS-ual Fri Dies,  Coffee Cup
Simon Says Stamp Detail White Embossing Powder
Distress Oxide Inks in Gathered Twigs, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain & Vintage Photo
Distress Sprayer
Distress Ink in Ground Espresso
Versamark Ink
Shades of Brown Cardstock
MISTI

I had an idea in my head about how I wanted this card to look and I can proudly say it looks like it does in my head!  That's an amazing feat!  I began with a piece of watercolor paper, place it in my MISTI, and covered the middle area with a piece of scrap, about 1 3/4" high and long enough to cover the card side to side.  Then I stamped the Spice Market stamp onto the paper, removed the strip of paper, and embossed the image using white embossing powder.  If you click on the picture you can see the background stamp inked with the Versamark ink.   

Once the embossing was finished, I colored the image with the brown shades of

Oxide inks, spraying the inks with the Distress sprayer, re-inking, and generally working the colors until I got a balance of color that pleased me.  My next step was to stamp the sentiment directly on the panel, but my plans were changed because the ink ran a bit.  I guess I didn't wait long enough for the watercolor paper to dry.  No problem!  If there is one

thing I've learned from being a crafter it's how to step back and regroup!  I cut a piece of brown card, edged it with Ground Espresso ink and stamped the sentiment on that.  I attached the die cut to the card and then glued my already cut "coffee."  

I think the card came out wonderfully and I just cannot get enough of the CAS-ual Friday snarky coffee sayings!  I hope you'll join me in the Hop and then pop on over to my giveaway post and enter! I have TONS of great stuff to give away!  Thanks! Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop #3
ScrapyLand - #90, Anything Goes w/ Dies They Sell
The Artistic Stamper - M, Background, {entry #2}
Crop Stop Challenge - May Challenge
A Blog Named Hero - Watercolor {my background is watercolored}
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - I is for Inky {entry 2}
Monochrome Magic - Anything Goes Monochrome, TWIST: No Patterned Papers

Crack is Bad for You ~ 2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop

And here is another snarky coffee card for the blog hop.  

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Square Card Base {5 1/4" x 5 1/4"}
Kraft Paper
DCWV Burlap Paper Card Stack, 6" x 6" {available at numerous stores}
Darice Nesting Circles Dies, #2014-74
CAS-ual Fridays Fri-Dies, Coffee Cup
CAS-ual Fridays Stamps, Coffee Talk
Distress Ink in Ground Espresso
Various Colored Paper {rainbow colors - I used mostly Core'dinations paper in the pastel, brights, and dark pads}

I am obsessed with rainbows lately {so much so I added a Rainbow Cards board to my Pinterest page!}, and what better way to make a rainbow than using different colored cardstock?  I used a bunch of scraps; filled in when I needed using whatever color I found that I thought helped complete the rainbow.  The first step for this card was cutting out the little coffee cups using all the rainbow colors.  I set them aside.

Another Look

Then I stamped the sentiment on kraft paper, cut it out using a circle die, and cut the burlap paper using the circle die that was two dies larger {I hope that makes sense - the long & short is I wanted the burlap to peek out a bit}.  Then I also cut a circle out of scrap white using the largest die that would fit on my card.  Then I used some old washi tape to temporarily arrange the cups around the white circle.  It took a bit of fiddling and moving the cups around, but when I finally got the look I wanted.  After that, I glued the cups onto the white circle, gluing just the bottom of the cup and the bottom half of the handle to the edge of the white circle, so each cup is actually more off the circle than on it.  I debated how I was going to achieve a circular design without using the template, but I decided I needed no more stress in my life and just used the circle.  You can't really even see it unless the light captures it perfectly and it honestly doesn't do anything bad to the design {in my opinion.}

Once I had the circle with the cups on the card base, I glued the sentiment onto the burlap paper and then attached that to the center of the cup circle.  I really like the dichotomy of the pretty, happy, rainbows and the "darkness" of the sentiment; I think it's hysterical.  I hope you are hopping along with me at the Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop.  There are TONS of cool prizes to win, and if you are in the mood to win something, why not check out my own awesome giveaway?   All the details are here.  Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you got a chuckle out of my card! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Card in the following Challenges:
Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop
Bastel-Traum - M, #65, Rainbow Colors/Fantasy
Dragonfly Journeys - #119, Somewhere Over the Rainbow
The Cat's Pajamas - #346, Use Your Dies {entry 2}
Simon Says Stamp - Use More than One Stamp {2 sentiment stamps}
My Time to Craft - #371, Use More than One Circle
Ellen Hutson - May/June, Inspirational Photo/Color Challenge 
Crazy for CAS - M, #6, Turn Around in a Circle
Creative Moments - M, #143, Anything Goes, Option: Make it Humorous {#2}

Pictures and/or Badges {in order of entry}

Prison Orange ~2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop

I am frantically making cards for the 2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop - so far, out of the few I've made, this is one of my favorites.

What I Used to Make my Card
White Card Base
Bird Crazy Stamps & Dies {already colored & cut}
Clean Color Markers
Riley & Co. Coffee. Because Prison. . .#RWD-544
Wendy Vecchi Mini Brick Stencil, #WVSFA053
VersaFine Onyx Black
Googly Eyes
Distress Ink in Hickory Smoke

This was an easy card.  I already had my bird ready to go, complete with her googly eyes.  I colored her with Clean Color Brush Markers.  I ripped a piece of scrap paper {making sure it was big enough for me to add my sentiment} and

stenciled all around it with the Distress Ink using the Bricks stencil.

Another Look

Then I stamped my sentiment and added my bird.  I love that this card was so easy to make and at the same time makes me giggle!  You know how I love my snarky sentiments!

Thanks so much for popping by! While you're here, I'd love for you to join my giveaway, you can get all the details here.  I am finding more and more good stuff to add to my package and I promise you won't be disappointed!  Hugs!  Christi


I am entering my card in the following challenges:
2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop
Crop Stop - M, Anything Goes
CuttleBug Mania - Butterflies and Birds
The Artistic Stamper - M, Backgrounds
Country View Challenges - M, Be Humorous, entry #2
Dies R Us - #97, Birds
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - I is for Inky

Hopping one more time with the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop with my Rough Night Bird ~

This is my final entry for the Coffee Lovers Summer Blog Hop - sadly, due to the blog crashing and preparing for an unexpected trip has basically left me all created out. But, YOU still have time to enter! The deadline is June 13th, so get those cards created and linked up!

What I Used to Make My Card:
White Square Card Base, 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Bird Crazy Set, #CMS212
Distress Markers in Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord, Spun Sugar and Festive Berries
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper, 140 lb, Heat Pressed
SU! Blender Pen
Scrap of Matching Paper
White Card for the Sentiment
Computer Generated Sentiment

I continued my experiment that I talked about in my second entry post. Once again, I stamped the bird (this is my first time using this stamp) using the Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black on the 140 lb. watercolor paper.  I wanted this bird to look a bit more frazzled than the fellow in the previous post, so I chose shades of purple, using just a touch of the Red Berries in his eyes and a few spots on his wings.  I also used an old (I'm talking over ten years old) Stampin' Up! Blender Pen instead of the water brush - those things last forever. I have literally had ONE dry out on me, so now I dip it in water when I need really good control when water coloring. Works like a charm.  So, I have confirmed in my mind that the paper really does make a difference!

So this time after I colored in my bird, I fussy cut him and stamped him again on the square card and layered him.  Truth is, as I was fussy cutting him, I cut his legs off, but don't tell anyone, OK? Anyway, after I layered him I needed something to put the sentiment on, so I found a piece of Core'dinations in my stash and sanded it down a bit (sorry, I have no idea what color it is) and glued on the sentiment.   I think the card came out wonderfully, I wanted the bird to look like he'd had a rough night and he does.  Thank you SO much for stopping by and looking at my card - please consider becoming one of my followers so I can meet my goal of 100 mew subscribers in 2015 ~ blessings, Christi

I would like to enter my Rough Night Bird in the following challenges:
Coffee Lovers Summer Blog Hop
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog - #120, Anything Goes
The ABC Challenge - K is for Kritters
Buckwell's Crafty Challenge - (M) Things with Wings
Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog - Something Old & Something New (stamp set is new, everything else is old)

Crazy Bird Coffee Card Coffee Lovers Blog Hop - Entry #2

Here is my second entry for the Coffee Lovers Summer Blog Hop! 

 

 I want to apologize to all the entrants who came here to my blog, only to find that the blog wasn't here! I'm still not sure what happened, don't really know how it was fixed and honestly, since I am here now, don't want to know. Unfortunately, I won't be able to comment on everyone's entry, I'm so sorry. Anyway, on with the show!

What I Used to Make My Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Bird Crazy Set, #CMS212
Distress Markers in Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar, Spiced Marmalade & Pumice Stone
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper, 140 lb, Heat Pressed
Ranger Water Brush, Fine Tip
Vanilla Card for the Sentiment
Die-Namics (MFT) Stitched Oval Stax, MFT-521
Computer Generated Sentiment
Pop Dots

One of the qualifiers of the blog hop is to make your cards summery - I hope that my bird meets the requirement! I confess, I used the Coffee Lovers Summer Blog Hop as my guinea pig.  I was having huge trouble trying to water color with the Distress Markers, even when I used watercolor paper. Well, after much research, and the help of this blog, I found out that the TYPE of watercolor paper makes all the difference!  I typically used a 90 lb. paper and this time I used a 140 lb. heat pressed paper.  It was so easy to do!! 

So, I stamped my Crazy Bird on the Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper using the Archival Ink in Jet Black then chose the Distress Marker colors to color him in (I don't know, all these birds look male to me).  I chose the three shades of pink for the actual bird, his beak is done in the  Spiced Marmalade, and he is shadowed with the Pumice Stone.  Shadowing is an entirely different animal than coloring, but I am trying to get the hang on if.  

The Inside

I found the quote online, and if you are a regular reader of my blog, you know I rarely put anything on the inside of the cards I make.  However, this sentiment deserved to be on the inside as well as the outside.  I printed the saying on vanilla card and then cut it out with the Stitched Oval Stax. I put the front sentiment on with pop dots and used regular old glue for the inside.

So that's my second card for the Coffee Lovers Summer Blog Hop - I hope you got a giggle at the sentiment and a smile! I'll be posting my last card later tonight or tomorrow - thanks, Christi!!

I would like to enter my Crazy Bird Coffee Card in the following challenges:
Coffee Lovers Summer Blog Hop
Sweet Stamps - #225, Anything Goes!
Use Your Stuff - #187, Sentiment 
Lawnscaping Challenges -Calling all Critters
Addicted to Stamps - #106, Summer Colors

Tim's Tags for June 2015 AND The Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Hi all - this is my monthly take on Tim's Tags of 2015 for June and it's my first entry into the Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop.

 It is one of my favorite tags thus far, I love iced coffee and tea, and I am SO proud of myself that I have been keeping up with this challenge the whole year.  I am actually enjoying this much more than I thought I would, so count on seeing many more of my takes on Tim's Tags.  

 

This month I didn't have some of the major components, but I made do pretty well with my Silhouette Cameo and stuff I had hanging around. As you know, you can go to Tim's Blog and see how he created his tag, so I am continuing to just list the things I did differently:

Things I Did Differently:
I made a wash using the Tea Dye re-inker 
Distressed using Scissors (I have to get that Paper Distresser Tool!)
Made my Own Stripes (see below)
Coffee Cup Cut File
Silhouette Cameo
Homemade Corrugated Cardboard
Little Vellum Envelope
1" & 2 1/4" Circle Punch
Tim Holtz Simple Sayings Stamp Set #CMS155
Round Tag
Gem Star
Scrap Ribbon
DCWV Burlap Paper Stack, 6 x 6 (and glued that on my tag)

The Stripes:
The hardest thing about this tag was trying to figure out how I was going to make the stripes. I had made a wash using the Tea Dye re-inker and  I don't have the stencil he used (I love how he used it!) so I thought maybe I could use the craft sheet and the same color markers he did to make my plaid.  I literally took the markers and hand made lines, going up & down, on the sheet.  I alternated the order of the colors and pressed the tag directly on the lines at first, then I misted them lightly with water and pressed the tag onto the sheet again.  I cleaned the craft sheet in between and repeated the process until I was happy with the tag.  Well, it didn't come out nearly as neat as his did but I'm pleased with the effect.  

The Coffee Cup:
I made the cup using a cut file I had and my Silhouette Cameo. The top is cut from a small vellum bag I had in my stash, I cut the bag, using the flap, with a circle punch that was 2 1/4" and then just folded and glued the layers.  I thought that was what Tim used when I saw his post, so when I found out he actually used plastic, I just went with my first thought.

The Rest:
I just used the items I had already to finish the tag, the green paper was in my stash. I used a piece of handmade corrugated cardboard, the little heart was leftover from a die cut, the straw was just cut from the same green paper the circle was cut from (using a 1" circle punch). I used my ever faithful DCWV Burlap Paper to show off my handmade banner. I printed the word coffee and glued it to the little circle tag and I attached that to the ribbon using a fastener

that I just got off a new pair of pants - it was holding one of the tags. I think that was one of my best finds ever!  

There you have it! My take on Tim's Tag for June 2015. I hope you enjoyed my tag and all my little tweaks to Tim's design - and you have to the end of the month to join in on Tim's Blog. And please, do pop over to the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop - I am furiously creating more cards to enter, and there is more time for you to enter as it doesn't close until June 12, 2015! Please consider following my blog and help me to make my goal of 100 new followers - thanks! Christi

I would like to enter my tag in the following challenges:
Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 June
Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop
Not Just Cards - #21, Anything Goes
Silhouette Challenges - (M) #26, Anything Goes

Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I love a good cup of coffee, Dunkin' Donuts being my favorite.  On the east coast there is a D&D on every corner, here in Colorado, they aren't as plentiful.  The good news is the just opened one fairly close to me. I am just waiting for the hub bud to die down before I make my way over to get a large dark roast!  I was inspired to make this card after learning about the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop (there are TONS of awesome prizes!), funny how just reading about a challenge or blog hop can start those creative wheels turning!

 

What I Used to Make this Card:
Kraft Paper Card Base
Cream Color Cardstock
Light Brown Cardstock
Ranger Ink in Jet Black
Embossing Ink
Coffee Bean Stamp and Sentiment stamp from SU! Set Express Yourself (discontinued)
Coffee Cup Stamp - manufacturer unknown
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Dies in Labels, 66060
Tim Holtz Distress Marker in Festive Berries
Moonglow Embossing Powder Twilight Bronze Slate
Pop Dots

I started with Kraft paper, which I used as the card base.  I took the coffee bean stamp and stamped it all over the cardstock using embossing ink, and then heat embossed with the Twilight Bronze Slate embossing powder (if you have never seen the beautiful two toned embossing powder at Lindy's Stamp Gang, do yourself a favor and check them out).

Then I inked up the image and the sentiment with the Jet Black ink, stamping the coffee cup image (which I have had for years and never used before. For some reason this stamp made it through all the paring down, thinning the stock and cleaning. Now I see why!) on the light brown cardstock and the sentiment on the cream colored cardstock.  I used the Tim Holtz dies and die cut the coffee cup and the sentiment, then pop dotted them onto the card. I didn't want them to pop out too much, so I used low pop dots.  As I was looking at the composition of the card I noticed there was another hidden heart in this stamp! I am finding them all over!  So I outlined the heart with the Festive Berries marker, so if you look close, you can see it.  I get so excited when I find hidden images and other ways to use my stash (now I have another heart stamp!).

Another look - this one shows the embossing better

Thank you so much for stopping by! If you aren't already following me, please consider it.  I am trying to get 100 new subscribers.  Have an artful day! Christi

I would like to enter my Coffee Card in the following challenges:
Creating in Faith, Hope & Love - TTC002 - Use a stamp retired or at least a year old
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Blog - #69, Anything Goes with a Twist of Embossing
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge - #5, Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - #248, Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations Challenge - #303, Something Old
Fairytale Challenge - #12, Kraft Paper