Joining "Happy Little Stampers January 2016 Challenge" and "Share the Joy Challenge #16"

Happy New Year everyone!! I hope that 2016 brings you all happiness and joy!

I have been creating on and off all week. I am officially on a spending freeze for craft items. I need nothing. It is already killing me because My Favorite Things has been showing peeks of their new release and I WANT so many things. However, I don't use half of what I own and I really need to concentrate on using it up.

In that spirit, I have two cards for you today. Both are sympathy cards. People are always asking if I have any on hand so I decided to make some for my stash.

The first one I created for "Share the Joy Challenge #16. " The challenge was to use the sketch they posted and make a clean and simple card. Here is the card I made:

Here is the sketch:

I chose purples and grays for the color scheme. To emboss the background, I used Taylored Expressions "Snowfall" embossing folder. I used it upside down so that it just looks like random polka dots.

The triangle is a corner of a piece of watercolor paper that I "smooshed" inks on. The flowers are from the "Fall Florals" set from My Favorite Things. It was kind of fun to do stems and leaves in gray rather then green. I love how easy this card came together.

My second card is for "Happy Little Stampers January 2016" challenge.

This was perfect timing for me because I was having fun making backgrounds with this technique last night. If you don't know what "smooshing" is, click on their link above. They have posted some links to tutorials. It is a fabulous way to stretch your supplies.

Again, I created a sympathy card and chose to use purples like I did for the first card.

After "smooshing" my background, I stamped the sentiment and two stems from My Favorite Things "Fall Florals" set. I then placed a stamped die cut over them with foam adhesive. It is hard to see from the photo but the purple stem on the die cut is over a light gray base. My last step was to glue some iridescent sequins on. They really pick up the purple from the background.

I have a few more cards to post this week. I am hoping to start "scheduling" my card making and my blogging in during my week. I think this will help me get more done if I treat it like I do my work out.

I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a great night!!

Supplies:
"Share the Joy Challenge #16"

InLinkz.com

"Happy Little Stampers January 2016 Challenge"

InLinkz.com

Playing with Muse Card Challenge #139

Just a quick post today. I have not made a ton of cards this week but have been coloring and die cutting images to create some Christmas cards and tags. I will be revealing these in the next couple weeks.

Today I am posting a card that I created for the Muse Card Challenge #139. The talented Tracey McNeely created a card as inspiration. Here is my take on her card:

I could have copied Tracey's card exactly as I have the beautiful stamp set she used but instead I chose to use Altenew's "Vintage Roses" stamp set to create my card. I always have such a difficult time with multiple step stamping. It is not only stamping on top of each image precisely (though I have a MISTI now, which makes it easier) but choosing what colors to use. 

I was inspired by Tracey's use of gold on her card. I copied her use of gold on the sentiment but chose to make mine into a strip and not stamp it directly onto the background. I also added some gold mist onto the card base, as well as three gold sequins. I thought it went well with the yellow that I used.

Here is the inspiration piece:

I thank you for taking the time to stop by today. Have a wonderful evening!!

Supplies:
Stamps-Altenew "Vintage Roses," Paper Trey Ink "Words of Comfort"
Inks-Versamark, Paper Trey Ink "Harvest Gold," My Favorite Things "Lemon Chiffon" and "Daffodil,"Altenew-"Frayed Leaf,""Forest Glades," and "Evergreen."
Paper-Paper Trey Ink
Other-Heat Gun, Prima "Gold Leaf" spray, Ranger "Liquid Platinum" embossing powder, gold sequins and foam adhesive