Sponged Serene Silhouettes

Today I'm sharing a very simple card using masking and sponging. It features the stamp sets Serene Silhouettes and the sentiment is from Sweet Essentials. This was one of the cards we made at our stamp club class in June.  I've posted the free PDF Class Tutorial HERE, if you'd like the supply list and instructions. The tutorial also includes two other cards.

I made several versions of the card using different color combinations. My favorite was the Pistachio Pudding/Marina Mist/Wisteria Wonder combination. The other two color combinations are Pink Pirouette/Strawberry Slush and Hello Honey/Cajun Craze/Baked Brown Sugar. All were stamped in Early Espresso. I also added some scoring above and below the sponged area to add some texture.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Little Leaves Sponged Card

From Adriel:

I had some flowers leftover from the watercolor spread technique I talked about in this post. I couldn't let them go to waste! =)

I used the reverse masking technique from the Little Leaves sizzlet die and sponging to create the background for my card. I love how the sponged leaves create such a lovely background on this simple card. Sometimes less is more.

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tutorial for Making Your Own Patterned Paper

From Adriel:

Today I wanted to share a quick and easy tutorial with you on how to make your own patterned paper using rubber stamps, ink, sponging and color spritzing! Next time your needing some background paper or printed paper of some sort, use the supplies you have and put them to good use!

You will need the following supplies to make the paper I will be showing you today, but you can use different stamps and ink to achieve different results:

Whisper White CS
Razzle Dazzle set
More Mustard ink pad and marker
Summer Sun ink pad
Color Spritzer Tool
Sponge

1. Stamp the large floral image in a pattern on the Whisper White CS using Summer Sun ink.

2. Use the color spritzer tool with the More Mustard marker on the stamped surface. Add as much speckling as desired.
3. Sponge More Mustard ink on stamped surface all over. Apply lightly and go back over areas to darken if desired.
4. Ta-da!! Your patterned paper is now ready for you to create with!

5. I took it a step further and crumpled up the paper and used it on this card.
Isn't that fun?! Okay, now you try it out and show us what you create using this technique!

BTW, I will be putting the card I made up for sale in our Etsy shop within the next day or so!

Photo - Memory Card

From Heidi...

We've been having a lot of fun creating over here. I have too many ideas in my mind to get to...but that's a good problem. Much better than being creatively blank...that's frustrating! I visited Hero Art last night and was inspired by this cute photo book/card. Book cards must be my weakness...like the tea book cards :-) Anyway, I made this little card last night and had so much fun with it. I can't wait to make another one! I also was able to use one of our new crocheted flowers on the front from Flowery Bliss.

Instructions:

1. I clear embossed the corners with the flourish from Priceless and then sponged Dusty Durango to the corners and edges of the card.
2. I went back and sponged So Saffron in the center, sponging into the Dusty Durango. I snailed the Soft Suede square to the center of the card, snailed the ribbon horizontally to the center of the Soft Suede square.
3. I stamped the inside and outside of my Whisper White accordion and snailed it to the center of the Soft Suede square, leaving the ribbon ends extending out.
4. I tied the accordion to closed with the ribbon and glue dotted the crocheted flower embellishment to the center of the ribbon (not the CS) and glue dotted the bottom in lower right corner of the card.

5. Now it's ready for photos or anything else that I'd like to add to the 2"-square accordion panels.

Paper:

Whisper White CS (4-1/4x8-1/2, fold in half)

Whisper White CS (2x8, scored every 2" and folded in accordion style

Soft Suede CS (2-1/4x2-1/4, for base of photo accordion)

Ink:

Dusty Durango

So Saffron

Rich Razzleberry

Soft Suede

Stamp Set:

Priceless

Fundamental Phrases

One of a Kind

Accessories:

14" Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon

2 brown buttons

Clear EB powder

Crocheted flower (flowerybliss)

Glue dots

Sponge

Happy Mother's Day

From Heidi...

Adriel and I worked on some Mother's Day cards last week. I love the 3-D flower effect, so I made 4 cards using it. The pink and brown card with a touch of blue had a Victorian and vintage look to it, so I sponged the blue with Creamy Caramel to make it look more vintage.

We lived in No. CA for almost 15 years among all the beautiful Victorian Homes. These cards reminded me of those homes...and since the flowers are 3-D, I told Adriel they reminded me of the 3-story Victorians. It's kind of a joke...because she was the one who posted my other dimensionalled flower on Etsy. One of the tags she gave it was triple decker, or 3-decker...something like that, so it had struck me kind of funny. So these cards are known as the 3-D, 3-Story, Triple Decker Victorian cards. Thanks again for looking!

Spring 3x3 Cards

From Adriel:

Another day... wait a minute! It's Wednesday and that means it's the middle of the week! (I'm just being random and weird, so just act like this is normal!) LOL! =D

I'm making yummy French Dip Sandwiches for dinner tonight using my mom's famous recipe (at least it is in our family). "Why do I want to know this?" you ask... well, you probably don't care, but I'm looking forward to it and wanted to share! Hey, that rhymed!! Did you notice that?

Okay, okay, I'll stop! I really should stop. Let's get back to what we usually do here...

I used the retired set "Drawing on Nature" for these cute 3x3 note cards. I stamped them in chocolate chip ink and then used pastels to color in some of the image. The pastels really worked well on these cards, as they added a very soft touch of color that went well with the style of the cards.

I also distressed all the edges by using the sponging technique along with Sahara Sand ink... it's a great color for distressing. I think I mentioned that previously!! LOL! =) Well, it is... so that's why I'm saying it again!
The bunny cards are sold out in our Etsy shop, but the butterfly cards are still available. Do you like how I bolded and enlarged the key words there? I thought I would make it easy for you to find out the status of these cards!! =) heehee You can find the butterfly note cards HERE.


Well, I suppose it's time to end this rather unusual post. If I continue, it may result in more random weirdness... so, I will end by saying...

Thank you so much for coming by and checking out what we're up to. Also, thanks for your comments! It makes blogging so rewarding! Have a great day, everyone! =)

March Stamp-A-Stack Cards

From Heidi...

As you can tell by this month's cards, Adriel and I really love the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. We're looking forward to using it in this month's SAS cards along with sponging. Sponging can be used to make paper edges look distressed, or can be used to create a soft look on a floral design, or you can create a desired shape by masking off an area and sponging. We'll be using sponging to create all three of these effects in our cards this month on Tuesday, March 24, 7-8:30 PM. If you'd like to join us, we have 3-4 spots still open. Email us or give us a call to reserve your spot. 5 cards/$10 class fee.

Stitching and Bleaching

From Heidi...

I started this card several weeks ago, but got interrupted with life and other projects, so I thought that today I'd better finish the card before I lost the pieces to it. I used the bleaching technique with the new Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. I used tearing, sponging and stitching to get a vintage effect.

I agree with Adriel, I love this set. I made another cool card with it using paper piecing, so I'll have to share that one with you on another day. Thanks for looking!

Another Love You Much creation

From Heidi...

Here's another Valentine creation I made using the Love You Much bundle. I used two types of the DS paper (stripe and tiny polka dot), watercoloring (one of my favorite techniques!), sponging, and paper piercing. Other supplies used: Scallop edge punch, circle coluzzle, ribbon, brad, and dimensionals.

Thanks for letting me share this with you!

Paper Piecing Part 2

From Adriel:

A couple of weeks ago, I showed you all a card I made using the paper piecing technique. Here's another one for you...

I wasn't crazy about how this one turned out, so I made another one...

I'm drawing a blank on the name of this set... errrr. It's retired, but still, I should remember things like this better! Okay, I looked on SCS and found the name... Sparkling Summer. Cute set! I stamped the images first on the white CS and colored them in. I stamped the images again on white CS and used sponging to color in some of the images and then followed with Stampin' Write markers. I cut out the images and used dimensionals to attach over the existing image. It's a fun technique! I had a lot of fun with this card. This is in preparation for our technique classes at Tumbleweek Rec. Center this coming winter.

We are getting ready for a lot of different things right now! Next month, we will be hosting our Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stacks... we've got several of you coming to those and we are looking forward to that! Hamilton Library also asked us to do an accordion album with the teens next month. We also will be doing two craft shows in November. We'll let you know about the dates and times of those shows later. Anyway, we are two busy bees! Our stash of crafted items is growing by the day (almost) and we are working hard! I hope we will see some of your familiar faces at these events coming up! Stamping and papercrafting are great ways to make friends! Thanks for looking and have a wonderful weekend!

From Heidi:

I love this new hostess set "Serene Spring". I've been waiting to have some time to play with this set, which I was able to do Saturday. I used two different color palettes with these cards I also used water coloring on both of them. My dad was a watercolorist and I have several of his paintings hanging in my house. He tutored me for a short time, but I haven't done much with what he taught me until this weekend. I'm looking forward to using this technique on my cards. It's such a fun medium to use to bring color to cards. I enjoyed getting back into it on these two cards.I embossed the blue card, which I wish I hadn't done, it seemed to drown out the watercoloring. Oh well... it was still fun to make.

Ingredients: Card 1 -Serene Spring SS; So Saffron, Barely Blush, Whisper White CS; Staz=On black, So Saffron, Barely Blush, Bashful blue, Certainly Celery Ink; Scallop edge punch, Fabric flower, punched Barely blush flower, So saffron brad, Barely Blush inked ribbon, sponges, blender pens; Card 2 - Serene Spring, Wonderful Words SS; Bashful blue, Almost Artichoke, Mostly Moss, Sahara Sand, Whisper White CS; Really Rust, Bashful blue, mostly moss, Sahara Sand, Staz-On black ink; Embossing powder, heat gun, Scallop edge punch, grosgrain ribbon, sponges, blender pens.

Today Adriel and I worked on some new cards and projects for our upcoming classes at Tumbleweed Park and Recreation Center this December through February. We're trying out our new project ideas. Adriel stamped and decorated a great looking candle, and I worked on a Gate Fold card using sponging, while trying out some new colors together.

I made a fun card a few weeks ago for my grandson's birthday (Adriel's son) using an idea I saw on SCS where someone had used punches to make some Sesame Street characters. I love how it turned out and I had such a great time gluing all the little pieces together to create the fun characters. I must have been successful because the kids both knew who the characters were...so that's a good thing!