Charlie the Chameleon says #STAYWEIRD

Hello Reptile Friends! Did you know that it was National Reptile Awareness Day last week? I have a red-eared slider water turtle that has lived with us for over 25 years, and we love our reptile. He is not as quite as colorful as Charlie The Chameleon, though! Charlie is one of the new October releases from Picket Fence Studios, and comes with a coordinating die! 

I happen to love orange and pink, and end up using it a lot on my monoprints. I stamped Charlie and the "color" sentiment in VersaFine Clair Nocturne right on my monoprint. This ink doesn't dry well on paint surfaces, so I embossed with clear embossing powder to set the ink and add some shine. 

The background was taken from my brayer "cleaning sheet," which is one of my favorite ways to use those. They make for interesting, textured backgrounds that are totally unplanned! I stamped #STAYWEIRD and two cute crickets (the ONLY time crickets are cute) on the background and used a little bit of a heat gun to dry the ink. The "cleaning sheets" aren't as loaded with thick paint, so the ink dries fine on those. 

I used a contrasting chameleon color for my card base and enamel dots. I think he is super cute, don't you? 

 

Create Your Own Calm

Isn't that a beautiful seahorse? I just adore this Create Your Own Calm stamp set from Visible Image. 

To make this card, I created a monoprint background using acrylic paints and my Gel Press. I then stamped the images using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. Because of the paint's surface, this ink will not dry on a monoprint unless embossed. I heat embossed both the sentiment and the seahorse with Clear Embossing Powder, and they just shine!

I added some of my favorite Krenik metallic thread, and a few Doodlebug sequins for embellishments. My sister had given me some handmade metallic paper, so I backed the main panel with that, along with black mats for each layer.

I love how it turned out. What do you think?

Freshly Made Sketches #408

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Jen T. is our hostess this week and it's such a fun sketch. I love what my teammates have made.

Today's card features a sentiment from Picket Fence Studios' A Little Nuts. The background is a new October background stamp called Brew A Cup.

I stamped Brew A Cup with Mermaid ink, and the sentiment with Cinnamon ink. The teal back panel is metallic and adds a really nice sheen against the muted Kraft cardstock. A few matching enamel dots, and it's good to mail!

 

I hope you will join us with your take on the sketch this week! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday. Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

Freshly Made Sketches #407

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Lee Ann is our hostess this week. I love the CAS classic look.

Today's card features a sentiment and die cut (Simple Strips) by Taylored Expressions and a sweet bouquet from My Mind's Eye (Splendor).

My favorite embellishments are pearls, metallic thread and sequins, and I chose sequins for this card to balance out my bouquet, while not overwhelming the design.

 

I hope you will join us with your take on the sketch this week! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday. Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

October Release Day at Picket Fence Studios!

It's an exciting day for Picket Fence Studios - the October Release! There are so MANY amazing products in this release - new stencils, stamps, and coordinating dies - plus foiling plates!

I love the large word dies that Picket Fence has - and this new Always is no exception! There are so many occasions that it fits! Today I am making a friendship card with a monochrome theme.

I chose the beautiful new die, Negative Petals, for my background. I used a watercolor base, and let those colors shine through the die cut areas. The word die was cut from glitter cardstock and popped up with foam tape.

I chose some pretty metallic rose thread to match, and added sequins for extra bling.

It's a fabulous release, so head over to Picket Fence Studios to see it all! There is so MUCH MORE to check out! And I will see you back tomorrow for more stamping fun!

More Cheesy Fun wth Whimsy Stamps' Paper Door Kit!

Goodness, this is a FUN kit from Whimsy Stamps! And I don't think it will last through tomorrow, so grab yours soon! It's selling out fast.

Here are a couple of other cards I have made with the Say Cheese Kit and two totally different looks. The first uses the awesome Swiss Dots cover plate that fits perfectly on an A2 sized card. I left some of the areas closed, as I like that look. The little mousies are celebrating a birthday by having the biggest cheese they could find! I added some clear sequins for sparkle.

Next up is a different look using some of the fun papers that come with the kit, and three of the little sentiments. (The little strips were scraps I had laying on my desk.) It makes a perfect "Thinking of You" card, don't you think?

This one is entered into the Fusion Card Challenge. No dragonfly for me, just circles (flipped) and my mousie!

Check out all of the details of the October Paper Door kit HERE. Thanks for stopping by!

Say Cheese With the October Paper Door Kit!

The October Paper Door Kit from Whimsy Stamps is here! Say Cheese!

Such cute little mousies with fun sentiments for all occasions PLUS some other really cool stuff that I am showing off later this week! I stamped my images using VersaFine Clair Morning Mist, and colored with Copic markers.  
Here are the kit details:

• BRAND NEW kit debuting on the 10^th of each month
• Each kit is a $50+ retail value for only $29.95 plus shipping
• EXCLUSIVE 6x6 Whimsy Stamps designer paper pack collections, fun and creative designs on heavy weight paper with a beautiful sheen - 24 double sided sheets
• TEN sheets of 8.5x5.5 heavy weight neutral card stock - in black and white
• SPECIAL EDITION 4x6 clear stamp set "Say Cheese" created exclusively for PAPER DOOR
• COMPLEMENTING "Say Cheese" outline die set to easily cut out the images from the 4 x 6 stamp set, designed exclusively for PAPER DOOR
• SPECIAL EDITION "Swiss Dots" A2 sized die introduced especially for PAPER DOOR
• PRIVATE access to PDF files with step-by-step instructions for at least 4 different projects

Each kit is a LIMITED EDITION and individual items may or may not be released at a later date. Supplies are limited so order yours today, and unlock your creativity with Whimsy Stamps PAPER DOOR kits!

Be sure to check out the Whimsy Stamps and Inspiration Facebook page for so many beautiful samples using the Paper Door Kit! Thanks for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches #406

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Jacquie is our hostess this week, and her sketch has so many possibilities!

Last week I had a very heavy work load, so I missed making something for my own sketch! (Insert sad face here!) But it's a new week, and I loved all the ideas I had for Jacquie's sketch, which I will file away in my head for later designs!

Today I am sharing a CAS card using a Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember set I picked up - Hero Arts' Real Vintage Flowers.

I used three colors of Distress Oxide inks for the florals (Peeled Paint, Crushed Olive, Worn Paper), and VersaFine Clair Moonlight for the sentiment. I backed my main panel with some metallic cardstock and added a trio of Split Pea rhinestones for bling.

 

I hope you will join us with your take on the sketch this week! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday. Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

Hey You!

Hey You! Happy First Monday of October! I am sharing the awesome Cobblestone Path background that was released in September from Picket Fence Studios. I love the rough edges of the cobblestones - and it looks great in so many different colors.

I chose a couple of different Distress Oxides in brown tones, and then spritzed a little after stamping. For my sentiment I used the word die, Hey You, with two different metallic cardstocks, Copper and Peacock.

For a little extra bling, I added some sequins, and a very light blue metallic thread.

I love this color combination. And this makes for a great mailable card! Thanks for stopping by today!

Challenges:

• Always Fun Challenges - #131 DIES OR PUNCHES

It's Brazenly Black Month at the Rainbow Card Challenge!

Every first of the month, The Rainbow Card Challenge posts a new graphic for inspiration to create. It's always fun to see others' ideas, and to share your art! Take a look at this month's challenge, and then come join us! You have almost a month to create!

Today I am sharing a fun card I made with scraps on my desk:

Images are by Stampin' Up! And I used decorative scissors! Are yours collecting dust, too? Come check out the challenge details and see more "Brazenly Black" inspiration at The Rainbow Challenge blog!