April Showers at The Paper Funday Challenge

 I am really pressed for time right now and I just squeaked this card under the due date for my design team position at Paper Funday - that's right, it's another challenge at Paper Funday!! For the month of April our theme is "April Showers" and I was SO happy I had gotten a bunch of new goodies from Lawn Fawn's latest release as they fit perfectly for this theme, I used the Beary Rainy day stamp and die set - perfect for an April Showers card! Here's my card:

 

I started with a white slimline base but when I tried to stencil in the raindrops I messed it all up; so I got another slimline base card and set it aside.  I used another piece of paper and stenciled in the raindrops, using Distress Oxide Hickory Smoke, added some Distress Tumbled Glass to give a blue tint to the sky and a bit of Distress Tea Dye at the bottom.  I discovered that when you need to use a stencil more than once to cover a large scene, don't go all the way to the edge; if you do, you will end up with a line, which is what I got the first time I tried to make the card.  I then used a stitched slimline die to cut out the portion of the card I liked best.  I set the card side while I glued that portion to the top of the actual card.  While that was drying, I pulled out the Lawn Fawn stamp and die set {brand new - called Beary Rainy Day}, stamped using my favorite black ink, colored the stamps in with my Zig markers {Oh and I am SO excited - I finally got my hands on the 30 new colors; and I am finally going to do swatches of all 120 markers that I have!} and cut them out.  It took me a bit to figure out the puddles as I really wanted to use holographic paper but you can't stamp on it {well, you can, but then you have to use embossing powder since it is coated and the ink will not dry on it's own} but I figured if I cut the puddles out with a little rain drop it would look as if the puddles were real.  I'm still not sure, what do you think? I cut the clouds out of vanilla paper and then cut a few more clouds using the Butterfly Kisses dies.  I added the clouds to the scene, stamped the sentiment {the first part of the sentiment comes from a set that I think was a freebie called "Here for you Bear" - it isn't available from Lawn Fawn yet, but I am sure it will be soon} and cut it using this banner set and then I was done. 

I hope you like the card as much as I do - we need rain in Colorado badly, so maybe the card will work as a rain dance? We'll see.  I hope to see your "April Showers" creations at Paper Funday - thanks so much for stopping by! Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Shopping our Stash, #467 - Under the Weather
NBUS, #37 - Never Before Used Stuff
Unicorn Challenge, #75 - Include an Animal
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Easter/Spring
Make my Monday, #171 - Use a Stencil (Lawn Fawn Rainy Sky Stencil, #LF2816)
Allsorts, #670 - Any "real" Animals
Dies R Us, #190 - Flowers/Spring
The Funkie Junkie Challenge - April Showers Bring May Flowers

The Robin's Nest Creatives and Hope All is Well Card

Before I get to my post let me say I am delighted to announce I am now a part of The Robin's Nest Creative team and will be posting the 1rst & 3rd Fridays here as well as on the blog.

 So many people in my life lately seem to be going through some tough times.  All sorts of issues that are throwing a wrench in their daily lives.  I made this card to send to a friend who just had brain surgery; luckily he is doing fine, but a card never hurts to perk someone up!

I started this card by stamping the flowers, from Pinkfresh Just a Hello Floral stamps and matching dies set, with my favorite black ink on some water color paper.  I colored the flowers with my Zig markers, then adhered them to a white card.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink, cut it out and placed it in the center of the two floral pieces - it's a brilliant set because you can use the separate pieces so many ways and the flowers aren't too complicated, at least not for me.  Plus it comes with a fantastic range of sentiments.  I finished the card off with some Mini Dew Drops in light blue and medium blue {these blue mini dew drops can be bought in many of the mini dew drops collections such as Belgian Chocolate, Hillside, Rubber Ducky, Skies and Riverside}

Thank you for stopping by to see my card & I am looking forward to many fantastic creations using The Robin's Nest Creatives products ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Craft Rocket Challenges, #89 (M) - Sparkle & Bling
Tic Tac Toe Challenge, #149 - I used the middle horizontal row (white, Friendship Sentiment, 2 of the Same Thing)
The Paper Shelter, #499 - Shades of Blue
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge, #515 (M) - Anything Goes
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge, #02 (M) - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge (M) - Anything Goes w/ Watercolor

Peace & Happiness

I found this card among my blog drafts - I made it long ago, but never published it.  Well, I think this is a good time to publish this card with all the recent events as I wish all my fellow humans & furbabies health, peace & happiness now & forever. 

When I first began card making, Asian design was all the rage.  We used anything Asian {often mixing countries and regions} on our cards; joss papers, hell money, pieces from advertisements, newspapers, book text, and anything even remotely Asian looking.  I've used more than one take out menu on my cards!  Even replicated coins found their way onto our cards.  I still have a fabulous supply of Asian papers, rubber stamps, trinkets, tassels, papers, coins and charms, and most of the items can be found on eBay, Etsy, or in small craft stores.  There are even a few stamp companies who still make beautiful Asian stamps, Hero Arts being one of them, and I'm lucky to still have many of my wood mounted, red rubber, Asian stamps.  When I received this stamp and die set, it brought back so many memories of the gorgeous creations my fellow crafters would make that I just had to play with it.  I hope you like what I've designed!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Blue and Silver Asian Background Paper {stash}
Hero Arts Japanese Wishing Garden Stamp & Die Combo, #SB148 {retired but available}

Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Distress Ink in Blue Jean
Alchemy Petal Point Inks from Colorbox {I used the silver ink petal}

Once I had stamped four buildings on watercolor paper and colored them with my Zig markers, I set them aside to dry so I could cut them.  While waiting, I stamped the cloud element and the butterfly a few times on scrap white card

See the sparkle!

using silver ink.  I attached a strip of the decorative paper to the white card base and cut out all my items.  I stamped the sentiment and arranged all the pieces to the card and the card was finished.  I wish you could see the sparkle of the paper; it's raised a bit as if it is embossed {and it may be} and the shine is beautiful!  I have a major collection of this type of decorative papers gathered when I was certain I'd be hand binding books and I'd need them for the covers.  I still do hope to learn to do a hardcover binding but the papers are just waiting to be used, so I snipped a bit for this card.  

This card brings me feelings of peace; it's part of my promise to make more "any occasion" cards that I can just mail out - no birthday or holiday needed.  I

Another Look

am my own worst enemy and will find things wrong with a special occasion card so I tend to let slide on a "just thinking of you" card. I'm getting back to the roots of card making.  I want to have fun with my creations and not worry so much about them being perfect.  As I often say, if it was perfect it would be 'store bought'!  I hope my story has prompted you to drag out some of that old paper, especially that paper you are saving {for what!?!} and some of the stamps you haven't used in a while.  Or maybe purchase a new set in your "old" style; whatever works for you! Just create and have some fun!  Fondly, Christi


I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Classic Design Challenge, #12 - Anything Goes
Cute as a Button,  #75 - Anything Goes option: Vintage Feel
Krafty Chicks, #588 - Stamp Act
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas/Holidays
Addicted to Stamps and More, #419 - Any Occasion
Everybody Art Challenge, #503 - Blue & White
Inspired By Challenge, #198 - Inspired by the Graphic {Blue & White are my FAV colors!}

Sending Wishes. . . with Dies R Us

Happy Wednesday! I am thrilled to be back on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog Design Team; Dies R Us is a fabulous store that has so many other things besides dies, I do hope you will go have a look and don't forget to enter the fortnightly anything goes giveaway!  Spring is FINALLY here in Colorado, sort of.  We have been having 80 degree days, and then 60 degree days - still, it isn't rain or snow, so I'm a happy girl :) If you are a regular reader you know I am in love with Lawn Fawn and I pretty much buy every new thing they come out with {I'm happy, wallet is NOT happy!} because I just have to have it! Here is a new spring card I made with some of their products :) 

What I Used to Make my Card
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Dandy Day stamps, #LF2217
Lawn Fawn Dandy Day dies, #LF2218
Lawn Fawn Spiffy Speckles Petite Paper Pad, #LF1868
Lawn Fawn Stitched Windy Backdrop, #LF1425
Lawn Fawn Grassy Border die, #LF613
Lawn Fawn Fancy Wavy Banners, #LF1923
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 17, #S5-025
White Card {for frame}
Clear Wink of Stella 
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers 
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink
Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Glue

You can see the sparkle a bit in this photo

I stamped, colored and cut all of the components, ran a pretty piece of Spiffy Speckles through the die machine using the windy backdrop {if you look close, the mice seem to be speckled too; before I cut them out I had used a bleach clean up product on my desk and got the speckled mice, not on purpose, but a fun accident. Kind of different!} I framed the background with white card cut out using Labels 17 and before I glued it down, I pieced the scene together.  I went over all the dandelions with clear sparkles to give the card a bit of pizazz, you can't really see it in the pictures but it's there.  I glued all the pieces onto the background, added the banner with the sentiment and I was done.  This was such fun card to make and I love that the flowers are included with the set as coloring grey {hmmmm, rainbow mice? Sounds like a plan to me! Oh! How about some pastel mice to help usher in spring!?!} mice all day can get really boring!

I hope you enjoyed my mini tutorial {truthfully, I run out of ways to word them and honestly, who is going to read this that needs a how to? But it is my way of blogging, so you are stuck with it! I like to blog like you & I are having a conversation so that's what I do!} and you are getting some signs of spring in your neck of the woods.  I appreciate you guys so much and your comments give me the push I sometimes need to continue with my hobby.  Please continue to be careful as the world slowly begins to open back up! Fondly, Christi

  

Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog. There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  

   For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

 click below for:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG

FACEBOOK

INSPIRATION BLOG 

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Moving Along with the Times, #129 - Animals/Birds
Crafty Animals, #49 - Anything Goes w/ an Animal
Crafty Calendar Challenge - Spring and/or Easter
Make my Monday, #145 - Spring and/or Easter
Try it on Tuesday - Hello Spring
Lawn Fawnatics, #98 - Happy Spring

 

 

Happy Fall

 I have been struggling to get motivated to write some blog posts; I just cannot get in the mood to write them!  I have been having some physical issues and I think that has something to do with not being able to get in the mood to write.  I have been creating a bunch; if you have known me for a while now you know Halloween is my favorite holiday and I have a bunch of cards and other goodies to show you.  I think what I am going to do to give myself a break on the writing process is write up just a small paragraph about the creation I am posting and if you want information on something I didn't touch on just contact me.  I will include as many links as I can in the post I just won't be making a separate list of items I used.  Again, I may not stick to this format either; it really depends on how I feel :)

Now that I have gotten that of of the way here is my first card of the Fall season - just a clean and simple little Lawn Fawn card using the Tree Before 'n After stamps and dies. Everything was stamped with the Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink on watercolor paper and then colored in with my Zig Clean Color Brush Markers and a water brush.  

I hope this finds you happy & healthy! Until next time, Christi {stay tuned, I have so many more Halloween cards & goodies to share!!}

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Lawn Fawnatics, #86 - Halloween or Fall 

Fab 'n Funky, #498 - Keep it Simple

NBUS, #19 - First time using the Stamps & Dies :)

Krafty Chicks, #529 - CAS

Stinkin' Inkers - Shades of Fall

Sweet Stampers - Fall or Halloween

Critters Happy Spring

I used a bunch of Lawn Fawn products that are new to me and made this cute card {I think it is cute anyway!} I giggle every time I look at the card and see that frog and his saying.  I hope you get a giggle, or at least a smile, when you look at it :) 

What I Used to Make my Card
White Card Base
White Card
Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Spring, #LF1896
Lawn Fawn Spring Fling 6" x 6" petite paper pack, #LF1876
Lawn Fawn Say What Spring Critters stamps, #LF2228
Lawn Fawn Say What Spring Critters dies, #LF2229
Lawn Fawn Foursquare Backdrop, Portrait, #LF2065

Lawn Fawn Stitched Cloud Backdrop, Portrait, #LF1424

Watercolor Paper {I use this} 

Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

Light Blue Card

The first step to making this card was I colored and cut all the animals.  Then I placed the sentiments into the word balloons and cut them out.  Ran some light blue card through my die cut machine, made the cloudy sky, as well as using white card made the foursquare frame.  I attached the clouds to the back of the

Another Peek

frame and then placed the animals with their sayings in the squares.  I finished the card off with a piece of Spring Fling paper and layered my sentiment on it.    And after an overnight under my flattening tile I was done.  I think the sentiments that go with each animal are just so cute and the set has more sayings, including more animal specific ones as well as generic holiday sayings. 

I love making funny cards almost as much as snarky cards and I think the world today needs some laughter - I know I do!  I have a post that features some snarky birds and cats, please follow me so you don't miss it, especially if you are a fan of snark!  Thank you SO much for stopping by and I hope you & yours are all healthy and doing well ~ Fondly, Christi 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies 
Sweet Stampers, #44 - Animals/Birds 
Papercraft Challenges, #58 - Spring
Fab 'n Funky, #481 - Hand Colored Images
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Animal Fun

Thank You Gatefold Card with Hero Arts

Hi everyone! The challenge at a2z Scrapbooking this month is Fun Folds so I decided to make a gatefold card.  I've never made one before and I am seeing so many beautiful new dies that are coming out that can be used as the flaps for gatefold cards I thought that perhaps I should try my hand at one!  I hope you enjoy my creation!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Water Color Paper {8 1/2 x 11"}
White Card {4 1/4 x 5 1/2"}
Scrap Light Blue, Dark Blue, & White Card
Oxide Inks in Shades of Blue & Purple
Hero Arts White Detail Embossing Powder, #PW122 
Versamark Watermark Ink Pad, #VC250
Hero Arts Lucky Star stamp set, #CM315
Hero Arts Lucky Star die set, #DI586
Hero Arts Ink in Intense Black, #AF345 
Hero Arts Thanks Stamp & Cut, #DC152
Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips Dies

Watercolor Paper {I use this} for stamped images

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

Adhesive & Watercolor Brush of Your Choice

The first step I took when making this card was making the gate-fold out of watercolor paper.  I cut the card to fit on an A2 base, which was cut out of white card.  I left the folds long, so the dimensions of the gatefold are 4 1/4" high by 11" long.  I just folded the panels around the piece of white card I used for the base {where I eventually attached the watercolor gatefold.}  I used Oxide Inks in shades of blue and purple to make both sides of the watercolor paper look like a night sky.  This took me the longest as I would add the ink to the paper, spritz with the Distress Sprayer and then either use my heat gun to dry, or leave the paper to dry on its own.  Since I hadn't used this watercolor paper before {in fact, I'm not even sure of the brand; it was just mixed in with my loose card stock}, I didn't want to take the chance of the paper pilling or ripping from too much work, so I took about three days to build up the color to match a summer night sky.  The paper also cracked some when I folded it so I filled in the white with a few of the same inks to have it blend in as much as possible.  Like I said, I did both sides of this paper so I think it was important to take my time to get the colors just right.

Inside the Card

While my gatefold paper was drying in between building the colors, I stamped the people and the cat onto watercolor paper and colored them with my markers.  Once they were dry, I figured out where I wanted to place them and stamped the stars and the saying with Versamark Ink, embossed them with white detail embossing powder, then attached the figures so they would appear to be looking up at the sky.  The set comes with an adorable dog as well as the cat but I wasn't happy with how it came out when I colored it.  Next I attached the watercolor panel with all of the people and embossing inside to the single piece of white card.  I really wanted this card to fit in an A2 envelope so I could mail it without it costing too much.  While all the card construction was done and sitting under the tile to dry, I made the band that holds the gatefolds closed.  This band is called a belly band {I have absolutely NO idea why} and I made mine out of a strip of white card that I had lying around.  There are no absolutes for the band and, while a lot of folks use ribbon, I wanted to add a word die as sort of the reason I was sending the card.  I cut the word thanks out of dark blue card, made a fishtail banner out of white card and used a bit of light blue scrap to add some interest {and to separate the white banner from the white of the band}, then attached all of that to my band.  I like that I can always make another band for this card if I decide to send it for another reason and that was the main reason I used the sentiment inside the card that can be used for any reason.  

That's how I made my first gatefold card.  I'm excited to try and make one with the fancy gatefolds now that I've gotten over my fear {I fear every new technique I try; I find if I just don't think about it and dive right in, my fear goes away regardless of how the project comes out.}  I hope you will join us at a2z Scrapbooking this month and show off your favorite Fun Fold card!  Thanks so much for reading all of my ramblings.  

Don't forget to use my discount code CHRISTI15 to get 15% off your purchases of $25 or more before shipping cost.  Also we are the exclusive retailer of Hero Arts digital stamps {and we also carry Sugar Tree Digital Stamps}, so if that is your preferred method of stamping, please go take a look.  Thank you so much and see you soon!  Fondly, Christi

 
I am entering my Thanks Gatefold Card in the following challenges:
Creative Fingers Challenge - #162, Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - #426, Anything Goes
Happy Crafter - M, Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - #493, Look Up, Way Up
Ike's World - #119, Die Cuts
Classic Design Team Challenge - #4, Anything Goes