Pattern clash

 Pattern clash

This week for Jen Rzasa Tuesday #altenewchallengelive with the theme pattern clash.  Create a project using two or more patterns that would not normally go together, and make them work beautifully. Play with color, scale, and placement to bring harmony to the mix. 

For my card I used cardstock, fabric tape, pattern paper, stamping, and pitcher cut out with metallic cardstock. The kraft carstock was embossed with an embossing folder. 

I also had to make a tag, because that's me.  I do like my tags.  I punched out different size circles with several pattern papers, and glued them to the top of this oversized tag.  I added a scallop black circle.  The bottom of the tag was embossed with an embossing folder.  I also glued on a strip of washi tape, and ribbon below all the paper circles.  I made what I call a funky house.  That just means it is created with different papers, and cardstocks.

Grid cards

 Grid cards

This week Jen Rzasa #altenewchallengelive with the theme divide and design. 

stamps used all by Altenew stamp co.

I did a technique that was popular years ago called grid technique. It's a fun and easy way to divide, or create sections on your cards, and tags.  You can look back  in this post to see grid technique, but if you type grid in search box a lot of posts will come up.  Here's a post showing the grid technique that I did way back in 2009!  

Thanks for stopping by.  Come back soon.

Lots of texture

 Lots of texture

It's time for Jen Rzasa Tuesday Texture take over #altenewchallengelive .  For my card I used Altenew Woodland path bundle which is an embossing folder and stencil set.  Embossing folders add texture all on their own, but with set it has a stencil set to add color.  Besides color there is stickles glitter glue, and ribbon for more texture...along with foam tape on the back of the panel for more added texture.  Also on this card there is a strip of cardstock with enamel dots, and a saying that is also popped up with foam tape.

My tag uses Altenew Painted jellyfish stamp/die set.  First the tag has blended ink on it, next pattern papers that I cut waves, and glued onto the tag.  Mounted jellyfish with foam mounting tape.  Stamped sayings with black ink, next added enamel dots, and stickles glitter glue for more texture, and of course, sparkle.

Thank you for stopping by.  Come back soon.

Hello 2026!

 Hello 2026!

Happy New Year everyone!

I took a break from doing my blog, but I'm back!

supplies used:  Altenew Camellia Build a flower, Color pop Hello die

Today I'm getting back in the swing of doing my blog posts, by doing Altenew Tuesday  #Altenewchallengelive with Jen Rzasa.  This week the challenge is Hello 2026, which just means you need to use Hello somewhere on your project.  My first project is a tag ... and if you follow me here on my blog you know I do like to make tags.

I am also an avid cardmaker!  Most of my cards are A2 size, which is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (folded).  The background on both my tag, and card are done with Altenew Camellia build a flower.  It's actually a stamp layering flower set, but I just used one of the images, and repeated it on the cream cardstock panel.  Next I die cut the color pop Hello die, which doesn't cut out the word completely.  I put black cardstock behind the cut out Hello to make it stand out more.  Added leaves I already had die cut (I keep a bunch of die cuts in a container for when I need something extra on my project) out with foam mounting tape.  I have used lots of mounting tapes over the years but for the past few years my favorite one is by Altenew.  For the sparkle on the leaves I used stickles glitter glue.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Come back soon.

Pastel perfection

 Pastel perfection

This week for #Altenewchallengelive with Jen Rzasa the theme is Pastel perfection.

The pastel perfection on all these cards/tag are Pebbles pearlescent chalks in the background. Basically what I did was burnish the chalks with cotton balls on white cardstock.

The two cards below are what I call the Faux grid technique.  You can see more on this technique here, and here with a video.

supplies:   Altenew and Pebbles pearlescent chalks

These chalks can possibly rub off a bit, so I took them outside and sprayed them with a Fixative spray.

Thanks for stopping by.  Come back soon. 

Coastal faux postage

 Coastal faux postage

I'm back to making faux postage style cards using, Waffle Flower company Postage Collage Coastal stencil set.  There is also a Coastal greetings set that has lots of fun sayings to go along with the faux postage stencil set.  

I first did it in multiple ink colors which is the way it is created to do.  BUT, of course, knowing me I had to do it in a monochromatic style 

using green inks!  Also had to create a tag/bookmark style one, too.  The lighthouse image was perfect for a tag/bookmark.  Hope you are not tired of seeing faux postage projects from me, because I'm sure there will be more.

Thanks for stopping by.  Come back soon.

Circle paper birds

 Circle paper birds

I went a little crazy making these circle paper bird cards.

Above card I'm going to enter into a Tic Tac Toe challenge with friends. 

I did the third line - Pink, stencil, birds.  Pink is easy, the color.  Stencil is the clouds.  Birds is a given ... circle paper birds.

Below are more of these easy to create circle paper birds.

Do you want to know how I made them?

All you have to do is get out your pattern papers, circle punches, or circle dies.

Punch or die cut circles ... of any size ... then fold the circle almost in half.

Look at the pictures, and you can see how they are folded to show both sides of the pattern papers.

For the tails, and beaks I just cut out shapes.  The legs are hand drawn with a black pen.  Easy at that!

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Abstract pictures

 Abstract pictures

Here are samples from Dina Wakley class I took at Papercraft Clubhouse in Old Saybrook last month.

The class was called Layered Abstract Flowers ... but mine didn't always turn into flowers.  

This is how they started out ... but I decided after I got home to doodle on them.

Couldn't leave them as flowers.

In the cards I saw birds.  What do you see?

For my bookmarks and tag I saw more birds ... and even a turtle coming out of his shell.  Oh well, that's me for you.  I plan on trying this technique again to see what I come up with.

Thanks for stopping by.  Come back again soon.

Inspiration tag

Inspiration tag

This month for my creative card crew the theme was Tags with inspirational quotations.

stamps used:  Altenew dove butterfly stamp/set, the saying is an old one on wood.

You need to click on the photo, because it is what they call landscape style.  At least I think so.  Any way I like the way it came out with the butterfly hanging or flying off the top of the tag.

Thanks for stopping by and come back again soon.

Moon swap - May: flowers and June: strawberry

MOON SWAP

May is Flower Moon

June is Strawberry Moon

Some friends and I decided in order to keep up with each other and to be able to create together that ..... we would do a Moon swap to send to each other.  Normally we get together for lunch or just to chat but with our times right now that isn't possible, so we are staying together with our art.

Above are my interpretations of the moon themes for the months of May and June.  

May is the flower moon. 

I stamped a bunch of flowers but first I made a reverse circle mask to blend some color.  Next I stamped the flower image, then punched out the circle.  Actually I punched out a smaller circle and layered it onto a light blue note card. 

June is the Strawberry moon.

I hadn't made any faux postage in years so why not make some faux strawberry postage!  I cut out the faux postages with decorative scissors ..... another tool in my stash I haven't used in years!  fun to bring back old techniques and old tools!!!  Anyway, I adhered the faux postage to a tag that I did a little stamping on and blending color along the edges.

Check out more of my faux postage here, here, and in this post. 

Come back later in the month to see another Moon creation.

Thanks for stopping by.  come back again soon.

Oranges

stamps used:  Unity stamp co.

Took one stamp set and did three completely different tag/cards.

What I did first was color a piece of white cardstock with a few colors of distress inks.  Only reason I used my distress inks is because they were handy and most of the time that is the reason for all I do.  I stamped the orange image onto the colored cardstock the got out my circle dies to find one about the same size .... next cut out the oranges.  So each orange is a little different in color depending on where it was stamped on the colored cardstock also all the oranges (no matter what size) have Wink of Stella shine on them.  Oh yes, in this stamp set there are full slices and half slices of oranges so you will see each on these cards and tag.

Tag:

1.  adhere a doily on the edge of the tag and cut off any excess.

2.  adhere one of the half oranges onto the doily.

3.  stamp the saying onto a strip of white cardstock with one of the orange distress inks and adhere to tag.

4.  stamp small saying (think positive) around the edge of the tag with same orange ink.  

*wasn't happy with the way that looked so I got out a stencil and add some fun to the tag.*

5.  distressed around the tag with the same ink then tied on ribbon to finish the tag.

Bubble card:

1.  stenciled the bubble on a white card with three distress inks.  Moving the stencil just a little with each color.

2.  layer two of the oranges together onto a black circle then adhered to bubble background.

3.  stamp saying with black ink onto bubbled background under the orange slices.

4.  adhere completely stenciled bubble card to white note card.

5.  add a self sticking gem to the center of the orange slice.

Pendulum card:

*saw this on Dawn's stamping thoughts *

1.  on an orange note card layer a piece of black card then a slightly smaller mustard gold card that was stamped with the half orange with orange ink.

2.  on 3" x 3 1/4" black card punch out window punch (SU paper punch).  The punched out piece is going to be the pendulum for the card.

3.  take the punched out window punch piece and hold it behind the center of the black card with about an inch showing out the top of the card.  punch a small hole then add a small brad through the hole.  now test it to make sure it slides back and forth easily.  you have now created the pendulum.

4.  mount smaller white card that is randomly stamped with half orange image with same orange ink onto the black card with pendulum using pop dots in the four corners.

5.  mount pendulum piece onto layered note card.

6.  adhere full orange slice to pendulum piece.  add self sticking gem to center of orange slice.

7.  on the pendulum sticking out of the pendulum piece on the note card add two small pot dots or a small piece of foam mounting tape to the top of the pendulum.  add the small saying that has been die cut with circles.  The circle saying should now swing back and forth like a pendulum.

Is it too early for bats?

stamps used:  Unity stamp co.

Couldn't resist putting ink to this adorable Cuddlebug Bat in three different ways for Unity monthly challenge.

Card #1

Stamped bat with copper ink onto bubble wrap background.  you can see details here on this post.  Wink of Stella was added to this card.  I will admit that I did a little rubber surgery to cut off the stars and moon off the bat because I wanted them separate.  

Tag

Stamped the bat with SU Fig ink pad then did a little watercoloring with the same ink.  White embossed the hello with white embossing powder onto a piece of SU Fig cardstock.  Adhered the embossed saying strip across the tag.

Card #2

This is a shaker card with Tulle for the window instead of clear plastic.  Stamped, colored the bat with blue ink then fussy cut him out and glued him to the card.  Stamped the saying onto scrap of white cardstock then punched it out.  Punched out scrap of black and same light blue cardstock as the note card then adhered to the card.  The black bats are a SU paper punch.  Added Wink of Stella to the bat wings.

Is it too early for bats???

Hope you like what you see and come back again soon.

Just because

stamps used:  Unity stamps

I cut out a brown kraft tag, stamped cuddlebug winter bunny then added pattern paper, washi tape and twine to this tag.  I colored in the bunny with my Prisma color pencils ... my coloring medium of choice.  Wanted to stamp a saying on the tag but ran out of room so I stamped it on a scrap piece of the same color of the tag ... punched a small hole and add it to the top of the tag with more of the same twine.  Oh yes, I added some "snowballs" with Nuvo drops.

what do you think?

hope you like it and come back again soon.

Happy New Years to you and your family!

cattepiller

stamps used:  Unity stamp set Cuddlebug caterpillar

Used scraps on my table to make this tag ... including scrap of cardstock to make tag.  got out my distress pumice stone ink with a TH stencil, added some pattern paper scraps like washi tape.  I also have a little container filled with extra die cuts and stamped images I haven't use sooooooooo took out the caterpillar .... blended on some of the same pumice stone ink.  mounted her on tag and stamped saying from same stamp set to finish the tag.

Seas the Day

stamps used:  Stampin' Up

Made a bookmark/tag and a couple of shell cards just for the fun of it.  I have sent out the colorful shell card to my niece just because.  I have found with this stamp set I like the two step stamping with the shells but having a bit of issues with the sand dollar.  guess I just have to keep practicing to get better.  was just having fun with the colors ... did use the new greens, of course!  

To all our southern friends ... be safe.

Hip or not Hip

stamps used:  Stampers Anonymous TH Hipster

For this card and tag I used the chicken from the Hipster stamp set ... they are just so cool or should I say hip!  If you check out my blog you know I played with my alcohol inks a little while back and, of course that means a lot of backgrounds.  I took one of the backgrounds and made this simple but hip card using the chicken hipster.  the alcohol background for the card has a vintage feel to it with all the browns and gold.  Now the tag more vibrant with the blues and reds.  As you can see these images can stand alone and look great.  you can see me playing with the alcohol inks here in this post or Sue Wisniewski - YouTube for a video I did ... while you are there please feel free to check out other videos by me.  leave a comment and thumbs up/down (hopefully not down) so I know you stopped by.

Fun with alcohol inks

 stamps used:  Unity stamps

alcohol inks by Pantone Tria and Ranger

I found some old Pantone Tria alcohol inks in my stash so I decided to have a play with them and Ranger ones, too.  Just showing the basics in this video but did have fun with them.  Instead of using today's fancy tools I used my old handmade blending tool which you can see in the video.

 you can see video at the bottom of this post or here on Sue Wisniewski - YouTube  hope you like it and if you do ... please give the thumbs up.  

drip it and distress it

girl stamp:  Stampotique Gooseneck

rose:  Rubber Stamp Tapestry

daisy:  Stampourri!

saying: Rubber Poet

This tag started out just spraying dylusions and letting it drip down the tag but couldn't stop there...so...after it dried I stamped gooseneck but she didn't stamp well because I cut the tag out of canvas paper which has a texture surface.  what to do so I stamped her again on a separate piece of cardstock, colored here with zig clean markers then fussy cut her and adhered her to the tag.  tag was still too plain so I stamped a few flowers for fun with distress oxide ink...still didn't look finished so when all else fails blend more ink...oxide ink that is!  drop on some water to create water spots then stamp saying on separate piece of cardstock...draw lines around saying then fussy cut it and adhere to tag.....viola!  done!  what do you think?

entering in following challenge:

1.  Stampotique Designers Challenge - SDC269

Paper piecing fun

for the owl tag I paper pieced the cute owl for halloween.  glued him to a cut down tag I did some distress oxide coloring.

I decided to join in a challenge where the theme is paper piecing...mainly because I haven't done that technique in ages.  Paper piecing is a fun technique where you do just like the name of the technique...paper piece.  stamp an image onto pattern paper then cut out specific pieces of the image and glue them onto the stamp image.

I paper pieced this sweet girl's snowsuit, scarf and hat.  next I did some select color with my Prisma color pencils.  the background is some playing around with distress oxide ink pads. layered the paper pieced piece onto a white note card with the same pattern paper used for paper piecing. 

this last card uses the same sweet girl but I used up the left over pieces from the other card.  the only paper piecing on this one is the coat, scarf and hat.  again did a little select prisma color pencil coloring.  check out her face...tried to make it a little blue with pink cheeks....she's been out in the snow a long time.  teeheeehee

Art Journal Adventure - time

Prompt for this layout is time related.  did a little collage and lots of stamping for this layout.  got out old stamps and even included a tag I created a while ago that fits right into the time theme.  I am enjoying this art journaling with the prompts...you see when I'm left on my own I seem to leave the journals and stick to my comfort zone ... which is cards, postcards and tags.  I'm not one for writing down my feelings and such but doing these art pages is fun.  besides the fact I'm getting out paints supplies that I haven't touched in years so this is a good thing!