More Embossing for SSS Wednesday Challenge

I entered a card on the first day of the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (to see it click here) and now I have another one for the challenge before it closes.

This time I used a different kind of embossing - namely embossing paste. To be more precise I used Heavy gloss gel which, according to Loll you can use instead of translucent embossing paste. I had bought the gel before my trip and finally got around to playing with it. And it was fun! I used a NBUS stencil from Memory Box and made a masculine card which to me means no embellishments.

Hope you like it! I think this glossy gel/transparent embossing paste gives a nice effect.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Hugs,
Susanne

Stamps: Lawn Fawn (speech bubbles), Simon Says Stamp (first happy), CAS-ual Friday stamps (second happy), Avery Elle (birthday)
Dies: Lawn Fawn
Stencil: Memory Box

CAS on Sunday "Sympathy"

Today I have a sympathy card to show you. It's always good to have some on hand. I prefer very simple cards for these somber occasions.

Sage card, a precut, slightly textured layer that I recently rediscovered in my stash, Memory Box (or is it Poppyseed) negative die cut, punch from Stampin' Up, sentiment from Morningstar Stamps, little pearls.

I am sending this to CAS on Sunday where the theme is sympathy cards. Click on the link to find out more information and lots of inspiration for CAS sympathy cards. This is my first time playing there.

I would like to welcome a new follower: Margaret Rorie (couldn't find a blog). I am glad you found me and I hope you like what you are seeing here. (ETA: Anita was kind enough to let me know Margaret's blog name so I linked it to her name. Thanks Anita!)

As is my tradition I have a quote for you from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."

I think we stampers all have this happy talent!

So glad you came by for a visit!

Salzburg and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Emboss"

I promised to share more pictures from our vacation but first comes a card for those who are not interested in travel photos.

One of my dear local stamping friends had her birthday soon after I came back from vacation and this is the card I made for her. I probably should have warmed up with a simpler card... When I am gone for such a long time my mojo falls asleep and I have a hard time to wake it up again. Also, before I leave I usually clean my craft area and then I don't want to mess it up again when I come back. I know that some of you can only craft on a clean and organized workspace but it doesn't seem to be the same for me.

Since I embossed I will enter it in this week's Simon Says Wednesday Challenge where the theme is "Emboss". Please take note that for once it's not last minute but the first day! So you have plenty of time to heat emboss, dry emboss or even use embossing paste a card and play along!

And here are some photos from our day in Salzburg, Austria. We took the train there with a friend who told us about the great deal offered by the German Railway System. The weather was glorious, the city is beautiful and I hope to be able to go back!

View of the river Salzach and the castle on the hill.

View from the castle down to the city.

Famous "Getreidegasse" where Mozart was born. For some reason I didn't take a picture of the house he was born in. Check out those elaborate signs for each store!

This was a long post! Thanks for bearing with me! Soon I will show you some impressions of Venice.

Hugs,
Susanne

Stamps: CAS-ual Friday (celebrate), Stampin' Up (distressed background), misc (little words and numbers)
Papers and Embellishments: My Mind's Eye
Various dies (mostly Sizzix) and punches

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

Graduation Card

I know that graduation time is over but when I came back from vacation I needed a graduation card so here it is:

The school's colors are black and gold. Embossing folder is from Sizzix, the star dies are from PTI and my NBUS for today, the small stars are a fiskar punch, and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.
The largest star and the tiny ones are cut from gold mirror paper and the black one is cut from black cardstock with Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Hugs,
Susanne

I'm back!

Just a quick post to let you all know that we are back from Germany. We had a wonderful time visiting family and friends and also went to Venice, Italy and Salzburg, Austria. Time flew by too fast and I can never meet everyone I would like to!

Please know that I have looked at all the beautiful creations you made but was not able to comment. I will resume now that I am over the jetlag and everything. Thank you for your patience!

I don't have a card to share yet but was asked to show some pictures of our adventures:

The first one is of the city hall of my beloved Munich.

One of my nieces now works at a beautiful lake south of Munich, called Tegernsee, and we went to see her there.

With my sister and brother-in-law we hiked near Spitzingssee, another lake in that area. Oh, I miss those rugged Alps!

I hope to be able to post a card soon again and also show you some pictures from Venice and Salzburg.

Hugs,
Susanne

Happy Birthday, Darnell!

Even though I am still in Germany I would like to join the blogworld in wishing our sweet friend Darnell a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY and show you the card I sent her (hope you received it, Darnell). She is the funnest, kindest and most supportive person in blogland and I am sure you all know and follow her already!
Bev from Happy Dance put on an awesome party with everything you can wish for and Ardyth from MASKerade has opened a Linky so you can join in with your creation for Darnell!

I made another watercolor background with the Plaid stencil like I did on this card but used different Distress Inks and glittery embossing powder for the greeting and centers of the flowers. Very sparkly and fun, just like Darnell! Hope you have a wonderful day, my friend!

We are having a great time here visiting family and friends and doing little side trips to Venice, Italy and Salzburg, Austria!
Hope to get back to more frequent posting once I am back in my space with all my stuff!

Hugs,
Susanne