The Twofer Challenge is Here!

Is your Mojo still snoring in a corner from all the feasting during the holidays? Do not fear, help is near! The brilliant and funny Darnell has come up with a new challenge that is just the thing you need to get out of your post holiday slump! It's called the Twofer Card Challenge and it starts today! For more information and the rules please click on the link and be sure to also read the FAQ section which is extremely helpful with this new kind of challenge that Darnell dreamed up!

Basically you will get a prompt each month and need to use the same stamps or dies to make two cards for two different occasions that should show the stamps or dies used in a very different way. (Darnell explains it so much better than me...)

This month the prompt is "FEATHERS" and as soon as I learned that I thought of breaking out a stamp and die set that a dear friend gave me a while ago. Here are the two cards I made (another important thing to keep in mind is to take a picture of both cards together and only post this one picture):

Stamps: My ArtC (feathers), Winnie & Walter (love)

Dies: SSS (stitched rectangle, you, tiny hearts), Avery Elle (scalloped border), WPlus9 (heart for mask)

This first card I made for Valentine's Day (which is right around the corner, ... just sayin'). I cut out a heart shaped mask, stamped and clear embossed one kind of feather, sponged, and stamped the other feathers. Then I added the you and tiny hearts cut from gold foil paper, stamped the love, cut the white panel with a stitched rectangle die, then with a scalloped border die, mounted it on a piece of patterned paper, and that on a white card. 

Stamps: We ArtC (feathers), PSX (feather background), Stampabilities (background)
Dies: We ArtC (feathers), Gina Marie (oval)

This is actually the second version of this card. A die on the background panel with the white feather background ended up being crooked so I started over and made the card I had in mind. A few days later the crooked panel was still sitting on my desk (I don't like making even "pretty" trash and love recycling). So I had the idea to cut out an oval, mount it on a dry embossed white panel (first stamped with the sentiment), add thin green strips on both sides, some baker's twine and the same feathers I used on the first card (stamped and white embossed on vellum, and cut out with the matching dies) and mount everything on a kraft card base. It makes me happy that I combined the new feather set with a very old PSX feather background on this card. Let me know if you ever had or still have that stamp!

I hope I have inspired you to join us! Can't wait to see what you come up with! Please also check out what the rest of the talented Design Team has created!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Be well and keep in touch!

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Spots and Dots"

As usual I am squeezing in at the last minute with not one but two cards for this weeks Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Spots and Dots":

Last weekend I finally tried the technique that I first saw over at Karen's blog "Snippets" (click here and here for great samples) where you ink your embossing folder with Distress inks, spritz it with water and STAMP it on cardstock. It is so much fun - just think of all the possibilities! As you can see (better on the first card) I stamped with both sides of the embossing folder because I was playing and was curious and then I thought it would be cool to use both on the same card. Not sure if I explained it so well. If you have any questions let me know...
I kept the rest of the card simple without any embellishments because I wanted the technique to shine.
I used another embossing folder in different colors but haven't had time to make a card yet.

Thank you so much for stopping by and your kind comments!

Hugs,
Susanne

First card:
Stamp: Casual Friday
Embossing folder: Quickutz 

Second card:
Stamp: Stampabilities
Embossing folder: Cuttlebug

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - die cuts

On day 4 of the Watercolor Class Shari Carroll showed us how to use Gelatos and Markers directly on bold stamps. I dug out some old Hero Arts Real Flowers stamps (anybody remember those?) that I think are perfect for the watercolor technique. I started with Gelatos and then got on a roll and tried the few Distress Markers that I own and then I even used my half dried up Marvy Markers. Each time I spritzed it 2 to 3 times without reinking. So far I only have on finished card to show you. It's the one with the Distress Markers. First the result of my "scientific" project. On the right you see the image after the first spritz, on the left after I spritzed it again.

I was looking to add some interest to the mustard layer but all my border punches were too overpowering. I think the Simon Says curved edge is just perfect. I received it yesterday and used it on the same day!!! That has never happened before, I think!

As the theme at their Wednesday Challenge is die cuts I am sending it over there. 

I hope to show you my experiments with Gelatos and dried Markers next time. Stay tuned...

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,

Susanne

Stamps: Hero Arts (flowers), Stampabilities (sentiment)

Die: Simon Says Stamp (curved edge)

Watercolor Class Homework - Day 3

I know, I know, I am way behind not only in my homework but now also with watching the videos. It's a VERY good thing that participants in this class have lifetime access to all the videos! And by the way, it's not too late to sign up for it.

Last weekend we visited my MIL so I didn't have time to play or watch all the videos. Yesterday I made some backgrounds like Jennifer McGuire showed us on day 3 with an acrylic block, versamark and watercolor paints. When they were dry today I made some sympathy cards out of them because a friend needs some.

Unfortunately the flowers and the fern stamps are unmounted rubber and I don't know the company. If one of you knows, please let me know. The sentiment is from a set by Stampabilities that I bought on Saturday during my first visit to a Hobby Lobby. 

ETA: My friend Dora let me know that the flower stamp on the top card is from Endless Creations.

I am having so much fun making all these background! You will certainly see more... 

Since the first card has flowers on it I am sending it over to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Flowers".

Be well,

Susanne