Muse Challenge #82 / AAA Cards #18 / SSS Wednesday Challenge

Just a quick post to show you the card I made for the Muse Challenge #82 which closes soon. The dotted swirls and colors on Bobby's gorgeous card really spoke to me. Look at it

Mine didn't quite come out as I envisioned it...

Stamps: Inkadinkado (Swirls), Stampin' Up (flower circle), Lockhart Stamp Co. (dotted dream)


I made a watercolor background with my watercolor pencils (IRL it doesn't look as streaky but more like a watercolor wash - don't know why my camera has changed it like that) and will therefore also send it to AAA Cards, a new challenge for me. I added some splatters and a yellow gem in the flower center.

Also entering the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes".

I am very happy to welcome a new follower. Her name is Maarit and her blog name is "Violets Corner". She has been blogging for a long time so if you need some inspiration hop on over and check out her wonderful creations!
My welcome quote for you is especially fitting for us crafters with so many new products coming out all the time. At least I should repeat it to myself every day because my wish list gets longer and longer...

Never let the things you want
make you forget the things you have!

Hope you all have a good week! Thank you for your visit and if you feel like leaving a comment you would make me very happy!

Hugs,
Susanne

Time Out Challenge #12

Have you noticed that it has been quiet around here? No posts, no commenting on your blogs... Well, we have been on our annual camping trip and it was a lot of fun!

But now we are back and I have managed to make a card for the Time Out Challenge where Anita from mypapercraftworld is the designer we are to CASE. If you don't know her get in a comfortable chair and surround yourself with drinks and snacks while you look around your inspiring blog! Anita is one of the kindest people in blogland and I really wanted to play in this challenge!

First check out Anita's beauty

and my attempt to CASE it

and a close up so you can see the Wink of Stella on the flowers

Stamp: Stampin' Up 

Die: Simon Says Stamp 

Stencil: Memory box

I have to hop over there before Mr. Linky closes. You should check out all those gorgeous cards people already made! (Link is on top of the post)

Thanks for visiting,

Susanne

OCC "Stretch Your Stamps 2" - Thinking of you

Just popping in with what is probably going to be my last homework for the current Online Card Class. This card was inspired by a video by Yana. She stamped a foliage frame with white pigment ink and after it dried she stamped over it with colored ink. I couldn't find any colors that looked good on mine so I left my leaves white. Check out my embossed frame around the sentiment - I really should do that more often...

Stamps: Hero Arts (leaves), sentiment unknown
Punches: Carl CartaCrafts (flowers), McGill (butterfly)

Since foliage, flowers, and butterflies are summery I am entering this to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge where the theme is "Summer" and because the punched shapes are from snippets I am also playing at Pixie's Snippet's Playground.

Hope you are all well and have a great week!
Hugs,
Susanne

OCC "Stretch Your Stamps 2" - Thanks

Taking a break after baking banana bread, cookies, and making granola to show you another card inspired by one of the videos of the Online Card Class "Stretch Your Stamps 2". Actually it was not a video but a step-by-step photo tutorial by Laurie Willison.

Stamps: Hero Arts
Dies: QuicKuts
Paper and Ink: Stampin' Up

If I would do it again I would use I lighter ink for the stamping. I used Stampin' Up's Garden Green paper and ink and didn't expect the ink to be so much darker than the paper. Anyways I really like this and will make more of them.

Hope you have time today to play with your paper, stamps, and ink!
Hugs,
Susanne

OCC "Stretch Your Stamps 2" - Graphic image with watercolor

Today I have another card with the same set by PTI (square prints) but this time combined with loose watercolor. I really like how this came out especially the watercolor combination that I hadn't tried before. Although I find that the computer always changes them a bit. In real life they are a bit warmer.

Stamps: PTI (square prints), Verses (sentiment)

Thank you so much for all your encouraging comments on my last post. I wasn't sure at all about those cards and your sweet words really made my day!

Have a wonderful weekend,
Susanne

OCC "Stretch Your Stamps 2" - Graphic stamps

Here is my homework using graphic stamps. I made some borders. Even though they are acrylic stamps it's not that easy to stamp them precisely. Or I am not patient enough. So don't look too closely, please...

Stamps: PTI (squares), Hero Arts (sentiments)

I had some square gems that fit exactly into the center.

Thanks for stopping by,
Susanne

OCC "Stretch Your Stamps 2" - Baby

Another quick post to show you my version of Donna Mikasa's technique of "painting" with water. Instead of a flower like she did I used stars and made a baby card.

Stamps: All Night Media (little angel), C Dee's (star)

I know, it's the same layout and even colors than homework that I made recently but I had to use blues for the night sky. And I really love that layout and the messy thread thing. Think I mentioned that before...

The piece of shimmery vellum is a scrap, I also "Wink of Stella'd" the stars and white strips on the side.
Then added various embellishments from my stash.

Skipping over to Pixie's Snippets Playground with this. Two in one week - and the week is not over yet! Have to make up for all the time that I didn't play there...

Hope you do at least one thing for fun today,
Susanne

OCC "Stretch Your Stamps 2" / SSS "Sparkle" / ATCAS "Gold"

On day 5 (yes, I know, I am behind again) Jennifer McGuire showed us how to use different colored embossing powder on outline stamps. She used a delicate flower from Clearly Besotted that I don't have - I used a very old Stampin' Up vase! Since I had everything out I embossed it twice and made two different cards out of it.

Stamps: Stampin'Up (vase), Avery Elle (best wishes), Hero Arts (you're the best)

Since the result is very sparkly I am sending this to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Make it Sparkle" and because the layers are snippets my cards can go over to Pixie's Snippets Playground. It's been too long since I played there - hope they will still let me in ;) ! And as there is different golds on those cards I am also entering them to the Addicted to CAS challenge "Gold"!

Hope you have a great week and come visit again soon!

Hugs,
Susanne

OCC "Stretch Your Stamps 2" - Rainbow Birthday

Just a quick post to show you a card I made with the technique that Kristina Werner taught us in the very first video of the Online Card Class "Stretch Your Stamps 2". If this is not your first visit here you probably know that I can't resist rainbow colors. You have no idea how happy it made me to paint this background (have to remember that next time I'm feeling blue...)! My card is very similar to Kristina's. I just used supplies that I already had, which is what this class is all about.

Stamps: Hero Arts (background), PTI (sentiment)
Die: PTI

What you might not see is that I used black sparkly paper for the die. Btw, the colors look much better in real life!

Thanks for visiting!

OCC "Stretch Your Stamps 2" - Sympathy

This morning I made a card inspired by Stephanie Klauck's video on Day 3 of the Online Card Class "Stretch Your Stamps 2". She made a fun little scene stamping through stencils. I don't have a stencil that let's me create a scene like hers so I did this:

Stamps: Stampin' Up (sentiment), Hero Arts (words inside stencil)
Stencil: The Crafter's Workshop
Punch: Martha Stewart

I really like how this came out and definitely want to use this technique again.

We'll see if I manage to make another card today! These classes really get your mojo going! So many ideas swirling in my head (so little time)...

Enjoy your day,
Susanne

Online Card Classes "Stretch Your Stamps 2"

Even though I like to buy new stamps I still love my older stamps and I am always happy to find new ways to use it! That's why I signed up for the current Online Card Class "Stretch Your Stamps 2". Also, because I really enjoyed their Watercolor Class (did you know that you can still sign up for it? There is a life time access to all the videos).

I took time today to make a card after watching Laura Sterckx video in which she created an ombre background. I used her layout (because I just love her style) but used different colors and a very long neglected background stamp from Judikins.

 I like the result and it was pretty easy. I am sure I will use this technique more often!

Hope to see you soon with more "homework".

Hugs,
Susanne

Stamps: Judikins (background), Hero Arts (sentiment)
Ink: Distress Ink (faded Jeans)

The Card Concept # 15 / Our Beautiful World / SSS

When I saw those delicate, lacey candle holders of the inspiration photo of The Card Concept Challenge #15 I immediately thought of the Mehndi Medallion from Papertrey Ink which is one of my NBUS' begging to be used.

Aren't those perfect summer colors? Here is my card:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Mehndi Medallions), Stampin' Up (sentiment)

I am also going to send it over to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes".

The cue word over at Our Beautiful World this week is "Chocolate" and reminded me of a photo I took in Salzburg of the Sachertorte I had there. Head over there to see more mouthwatering pictures and then go and give in to your craving...;)

Aren't you glad, you stopped by? ;)

Hugs,

Susanne

Muse Challenge #78 / SSS Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes"

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend! I have the house to myself and plan to do as much crafting as I can! Last night I made a card for the Muse Challenge #78 where sweet Bev from Happy Dance is this week's Muse. Look at the beautiful card she provided for our inspiration:

I have been wanting to make a card featuring one of those popular polaroid frames for a long time! Thank you, Bev, for providing the motivation! Besides the frame I also used striped DP and the scalloped edge from her card.

Stamp: My Sentiment's Exactly

Paper: S.E.I.

Dies: Nestabilities (Squares), My Favorite Things (scalloped edge)

Embellishments: McGill (butterfly punch), Prima (flower), Making Memories (Brad)

It's so easy to match papers when you use a paper pad because designers did all the work for you! Since I don't have a polaroid frame die I used a square die and then cut around it. The brad was a lucky find from my stash. Had to add the butterfly because I felt that big flower needed some balance...

This one also goes to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes".

And now, as promised, a few impressions of Venice. Despite being overrun by tourists it is breathtakingly beautiful and has an unique charm! We all loved it! The last photo was taken by my niece (hope you don't mind, Ines) and shows my sons and I (or is it my sons and me - I never know!  Help, English majors/teachers!).

And, no, they are not (yet) as tall as I am; we were standing on an arched bridge...

Off to link up and make another card...

So glad you came by,

Susanne