Monday, August 29, 2016

Special Friend


New sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, new paper, new stamp set, and a new technique! And it's NBUS time at Darnell's!  You know you have some 'never before used stuff', so go here and link up!

 I watched Kristina Werner's latest video, and was inspired to try using my glitter watercolors on black paper.  I must confess my freehand efforts to paint with them have not been as successful....but they aren't awful either and I will keep practicing!  It's a really fun technique.  Check it out.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #175 and NBUS Challenge #7

JOIN US!
First, I clear embossed one of the images from my new CTMH set, A Bunch of Love, and used the coordinating thin cut and my Cuttlebug to cut out the shape. I painted the flowers and leaves with Yasutomo shimmer water colors. Then gold embossed the sentiment (also from that set). 
I cut a piece of the fabulous new Close To My Heart acetate Fundamentals 'All about the Gold' for the front panel of the top fold card base. Cut black and shiny gold (not sure where that came from...Impress as Christmas I think) banners. The adhesive for the acetate is behind the pennant, and that is so sturdy nothing is needed at the corners.  I popped the bunch of flowers with some foam tape.  It sat on my table overnight, and the grandsons came today. I was about to post it. They have been crafting with me since babies, and the older one (10) says, "It needs another flower". He's so smart. So I clear embossed  two from the Springtime Wishes set, cut them with the coordinating die and added them on the left side. He was very excited about the magic of clear embossing. Later, they made a card for their mom with dry embossing and a heat embossed sentiment....wish I took a picture before they whisked it off.

Those gold stripes sparkle, the gold pennant sparkles, the flowers shimmer. It is a fun card, but inside sentiment is best: "The best thing about this card is the person holding it." (Also in the Bunch of Love set.)
I know I have a special, solid gold friend to send this to.



 
Lots of words today!  Sorry for the chatty post. Hope you are enjoying our final days of summer.


 

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Wise Guy Birthday

Birthday card for my friend's brother - 85 years young!

I used the Close To My Heart Wise Guy Birthday set, cut the hat with Cricut using the Artistry cartridge, some  Fundamentals paper, and Whisper, Poppy and Crystal Blue color palette. I highlighted 'awesome' on the sentiment with watercolor. I used the card shown in the catalogue as inspiration, and sketch pattern #22 in Make It From Your Heart, volume 1.  It looked like it needed something, so I added the faux stitching with a fine journaling pen and a little bling on the hat.



 

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Just Because Atlantic Hearts Sketch #173

Wow....it's been a wild, crazy, fantastic summer.  I am back in the USA...and my craft room.  My last post was from Japan - I was there living in Iwaki, Fukishima for over two months.  My son is a teacher there, and I helped full time in the school where he teaches. What a marvelous experience.

Michelle at Atlantic Hearts was very understanding about my absence, and I am thrilled to be back and starting up again as part of the Design Team for this great sketch challenge blog!

So AHSC #173


My card uses quite a few different Close To My Heart papers (La Vie En Rose, Penelope, Enchantment Fundamentals), and the sentiment from the Oodles of Doodles set was heat embossed.  I used the Artiste cartridge to cut the 3.5" circle from White Daisy card stock, backed it with a piece of La Vie En Rose paper, and adhered that panel to a black card base. Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh, Enchanted Garden.
What a great sketch!  Go to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and in the fun creating!