Simple Style - Card Class Day 1

Hi everyone!  For Christmas my wonderful husband got me a great gift - a class from Online Card Classes called Clean and Simple Card Making 2.

Clean  and simple is a tough style for me, so I took the first class they offered by Online Card Classes last year and found it really helpful.  I've been looking forward to this new class since Christmas, and the first lesson was yesterday.  We were asked to create a card based on one of the ones that they showed in class.  This is the one I made:

 Since I noticed my stash is running low on birthday cards I stamped a simple sentiment in the centre of the card.

Supplies used for this card:

Card Stock:  Neenah Solar White, Stampin' Up!  Perfectly Plum

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers You've Got Style, Recipe Card Starters

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Charcoal, Versamark Watermark Ink.

Mist:  Mister Huey Pinstripe

Embossing Powder:  Martha Stewart Bright White

Adhesive:  Foam Squares

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, heat tool, embossing buddy, Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Nestabilities standard circles.

Craft Your Passion #147 Colour Challenge

Well its Monday, which means its time for another challenge at Craft Your Passion!  Can you believe  that six months has gone by since I started as a design team member?  This is the last challenge for the term, which means its my last challenge as part of the DT at Craft Your Passion Challenges.  I've had a great time, and I wish all of the new DT members well.  They will definitively see me participating from time to time!  In the meantime we have a new challenge this week!

This week we have a colour challenge for you:

Makes you think of spring!  Here is what I came up with:

I started with this cute image from Mayzy Art, colouring her with pencil crayons in green and purple.  I love how the hair turned out!  I trimmed her out and assembled the rest of the card.

I decided on a black card base, then chose a dark pink mat and the lovely aqua pattern. I also trimmed a white mat.  The aqua piece was trimmed longer than I needed, then I used a wavy template to tear the piece into strips.  I layered the pieces as I glued them to the white mat. The extra length allowed me to layer the pieces easily without having any gaps.  Once the glue was dry I used my fingers to curl the edges a bit for more definition.  I added some ribbon and adhered the panel pieces together and added some ribbon.  The panel was then adhered to the card front.

I added a bow, and some stick pins.  Some green rhinestones were the final touch.

As per usual I kept the inside blank until I use it, and matted a white piece of card stock with the same papers I used on the front.

Now its your turn!  Create your project with the above colour scheme and link it to Craft Your Passion Challenges by February 3rd in order to qualify for some prizes.  Don't forget to check at the blog to see what can be won this week!

And don't forget to see what inspirational projects the rest of the DT has come up with this week! Its our last week as a team and as a result everyone came up with some beautiful projects!


Here are the supplies I've used for my card:

Card Stock:  Gina K Designs Onyx Black, Stampin' Up!  Melon Mambo, Neenah Solar White, Fancy Pants Love Story 6x6 pad.

Digital Stamp:  Mayzy Art Freckles Mermaid

Colouring Medium:  Crayola Pencil Crayons.

Embellishments:  Scrappin' Supplies Rhinestones, Little Yellow Bicycle Stick Pins, American Crafts Premium Satin Ribbon

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam squares, Scotch Quick Dry

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, wavy template.

Craft Your Passion #146 Totally Teal

Its another Monday so that means its time for a new challenge at Craft Your Passion.  This time we are going totally teal!  Here is what I came up with:

I started with the digital image from Saturated Canary, isn't she cute?  I coloured her with pencil crayons except for the skin where I used a Copic marker.  I coloured the tapes in the image to match the tapes that I have, then rounded the corners of the panel and inked them with grey.

I covered a panel of white with varying patterns of washi tape, inked the edges, then added some ribbon and attached it to the card front.  The image was foam taped to the card front.

The sentiment printed along with the image, so I trimmed it to size and banner cut the end. The edges were inked and the piece was foam taped in place.  I added some twine as a bow.

The last touch were the rhinestones.  I didn't have any in the shade I wanted so I pulled out my trusty alcohol makers and coloured some clear ones to match.  This is a perfect way to get coordinating embellishments for any project!

As I've usually been doing lately I kept the inside blank and decorated with another panel of washi tape matting an inked piece of white.  A bit more washi tape finished the inside of the card.

Teal is not a colour I usually reach for, so I wasn't sure how this card would turn out.  As it turns out, I had fun with this one so I think I should try colours that I don't usually use more often!  Now its your turn.  Create your teal project and link it up at Craft Your Passion Challenges by Sunday January 27 in order to be eligible for some great prizes.  Check at the blog to see what fun things are being offered this week!

And don't forget to visit the rest of the DT. They have created some lovely projects this week  in order to inspire you!


These are the supplies I've used to create my project:

Card Stock:  Stampin' Up!  Baja Breeze, Neenah Solar White.

Stamps:  Saturated Canary Washi Tape Kinda Girl

Colouring Mediums:  Crayola Pencil Crayons, Copic E21, E00, 0, Bic Mark Its Hot Aqua

Ink:  Stampin' Up!  Going Grey

Embellishments:  Peachy Cheap washi tape, Recollections rhinestones, American Crafts Satin Ribbon, May Arts Jute Twine

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, Glue dots, foam squares

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, sissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, We R Memory Keepers corner chomper, artist sponge.


I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

1. Everybody Art - Girl
2. Simon Says Stamp - Washi Tape
3. Stampin' for the Weekend - Something Girlie
4. Pile it On - Have a Heart

MFP Blog Hop Day #4 Love, Love, Love

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers January Blog Hop!

 This Month’s New Stamp Set Releases Are:

Fantastic Dogs Featured January 15

No Sour Grapes Featured January 16

In My Den Featured January 17

Love, Love, Love Featured January 18

Please hop along with us!  You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets!  Just comment on the following blogs (don’t forget this one), each day for more chances to win!  (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day.  The names are drawn randomly)  All four winners will be announced on January 19, 2013 on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day (HINT:  The more you comment, the more chances you have to win.  Comments on the MFP count twice!)  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST (12AM ATL) on Friday January 18, 2013.

Happy New Year!!!  Welcome to the first blog hop of 2013!  We are so excited to share the great stamp sets we are releasing this month and in the months to come!

The mini stamp set we have for you this month is called “Not so Ugly”.

The special extra stamp set we have for you this month is called “Oh Baby”.

Today's set is so pretty, and with Valentine's day less than a month away its perfect!  Pretty and feminine it is great for Valentine's day and for many other occasions.  It is called "Love, Love, Love".

I love this set so much I came up with three cards today!  Here is my first:

Again I started with image and water coloured it.  I can't stop!  Once dry I trimmed it out and inked it a bit to give the edges a bit more definition.  I then chose papers and coordinating cardstock.

Once I trimmed the papers and adhered the main panel together I added some ribbon and a bow.  That panel was adhered to the card base, then I foam taped the rose and a sentiment stamped on a scrap of white.  Some pink rhinestones finished off the card front.

For the centre I matted a piece of white with pink and added some scraps.  I stamped the sentiment where the two scraps meet.

My second card uses two of my 'go to' techniques:

More water colouring and more cracked glass.  I couldn't help myself, lol.    I love how the image turned out so I decided to with a kraft base.  I drew some stitching lines and heat embossed a sentiment.

I decided to go with a kraft panel so the image would stand out.  I trimmed a panel, dry embossed it with a heart embossing folder and added some ribbon.

I foam taped the panel to the card front, then foam taped the heart to the panel.  Some pink rhinestones finished the card front.

For the centre I added some stitching lines and a heat embossed sentiment.

This last card is my favourite, and it was one of those ones that came to me in a flash and worked out perfectly when I put it together:

I started with a panel of white, and cut out a heart with my Cricut big enough to fit the stamp. I then used my Cuttlebug and a Valentine's Day embossing folder on the panel.

I cut a white card base and then placed the main panel on the card front so that I could lightly mark with a pencil where the heart opening would be.  I then centred and stamped the checked heart in the space and erased the pencil marks.

I added some red and white twine to the panel and foam taped it to the front.

For the centre of the card I simply stamped the sentiment on red.  :)

I really love this set, which is appropriate since Valentine's day is only a few weeks away!  But this isn't the only great set this month, why not check out the Mark's Finest Papers store to see their wide selection of stamps, including the ones from this month.  Before you do that though, don't forget to hop along to the rest of the DT and see what great projects they have to show you:

Here are the supplies I used for today's cards:

Card #1

Card Stock:  Neenah Solar White, Gina K Designs Bubblegum Pink, Echo Park Be Mine 6x6 pad, Stampin' Up! Watercolour paper.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers  Love, Love, Love

Ink:  Staz On Jet Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Verasafine Onyx Black

Markers:  Stampin' Up!  Rose Read, Bravo Burgundy

Embellishments:  Ribbon from stash, rhinestones from stash.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, Water brush, heat tool.

Card #2

Card Stock:  Neenah Desert Storm, Stmapin' Up Water Colour paper

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers  Love, Love, Love

Ink:  Staz On Jet Black, Versamark Watermark Ink,

Embossing Powder:  Recollections fine detail powder Snow, Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel.

Markers:  Stampin' Up!  Real Red, Bravo Burgundy, Rose Red.

Embellishments:  Ribbon from stash, rhinestones from stash, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen.

Embossing Folder:  Lifestyle Crafts Sweethearts.

Adhesive:  Foam tape.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, heat tool, Cuttlebug, Waterbrush.

Card #3

Card Stock:  Neenah Solar White

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers  Love, Love, Love

Ink:  Stampin' Up!  Real Read

Cricut Cartridge:  Basic Shapes

Embossing Folder:  Lifestyle Crafts Sweethearts

Embellishments:  Twinery Baker's Twine

Adhesive:  Foam tape

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, Cuttlebug, Cricut Mini   

MFP Blog Hop Day #3 In My Den

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers January Blog Hop!

 This Month’s New Stamp Set Releases Are:

Fantastic Dogs Featured January 15

No Sour Grapes Featured January 16

In My Den Featured January 17

Love, Love, Love Featured January 18

Please hop along with us!  You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets!  Just comment on the following blogs (don’t forget this one), each day for more chances to win!  (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day.  The names are drawn randomly)  All four winners will be announced on January 19, 2013 on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day (HINT:  The more you comment, the more chances you have to win.  Comments on the MFP count twice!)  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST (12AM ATL) on Friday January 18, 2013.

Happy New Year!!!  Welcome to the first blog hop of 2013!  We are so excited to share the great stamp sets we are releasing this month and in the months to come!

The mini stamp set we have for you this month is called “Not so Ugly”.

The special extra stamp set we have for you this month is called “Oh Baby”.

I absolutely love today's set.  It would be great for masculine cards, retirement cards, birthdays, or that globe would look great on a travel related scrapbook page (even though I don't do any scrapbooking, lol).  The set is called "In My Den".

Again I have two cards to show you and here is my first:

I started with the image by stamping on water colour paper and water colouring using markers.  Seems to be a theme this month!  I also inked the edges after distressing.  

I chose patterns and card stock to match and cut everything down to the size I wanted.  I added ribbon to the smaller pattern and adhered it to the main panel and then the card front. 

I stamped the sentiment on a pattern scrap and foam taped it and the image to the card front.

For the centre of the card I stamped the sentiment on a lined pattern matted with another coordinating pattern. 

Here is my second card:

I also started with the image, water colouring as before.  This time, however, I tore the edges of the image and inked, then treated with the cracked glass technique.  

With my image complete I chose some travel related papers, inked all of the edges and adhered the main panel.  I decided to add both twill ribbon and bakers twine, then adhered the panel to the card front.

I stamped the sentiment on a coordinating scrap, banner cut the ends and inked the edges.  The image and the sentiment were foam taped to the card front.  Foam tape is one of my essential tools these days!

I matted an inked piece of kraft with a pattern from the same set and also a scrap strip.  All done!

What a fun set to play with!  But this isn't the only great set this month, why not check out the Mark's Finest Papers store to see their wide selection of stamps, including the ones from this month.  Before you do that though, don't forget to hop along to the rest of the DT and see what great projects they have to show you:

These are the supplies I used for my cards:

Card#1

Card Stock:  Gina K Designs In the Navy, Stampin'  Up!  Water Colour Paper, Authentique Loyal 6x6 pack.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers In My Den

Ink:  Staz On Jet Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown.

Markers:  Stampin' Up!  Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Always Artichoke.

Embellishments:  May Arts Seam Binding

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam tape.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, Ranger Blending Tool, Tonic Distressing tool, water brush.

Card #2

Card Stock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Stampin' Up! Water Colour, Studio Calico Abroad Collection 6x6 pad.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers In My Den

Ink:  Versamark Watermark Ink, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Stampin' Up!  Going Grey, Versafine Onyx Black, Staz On Jet Black.

Markers:  Stampin' Up!  Not Quite Navy, Bordering Blue, Night of Navy, Garden Green, Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel.

Embossing Powder:  Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel.

Embellishments:  Twinery Baker's Twine, Stampin' Up!  Twill Tape.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam tape, glue dots.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, Ranger Blending Tool, water brush.

MFP Blog Hop Day #2 No Sour Grapes

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers January Blog Hop!

 This Month’s New Stamp Set Releases Are:

Fantastic Dogs Featured January 15

No Sour Grapes Featured January 16

In My Den Featured January 17

Love, Love, Love Featured January 18

Please hop along with us!  You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets!  Just comment on the following blogs (don’t forget this one), each day for more chances to win!  (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day.  The names are drawn randomly)  All four winners will be announced on January 19, 2013 on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day (HINT:  The more you comment, the more chances you have to win.  Comments on the MFP count twice!)  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST (12AM ATL) on Friday January 18, 2013.

Happy New Year!!!  Welcome to the first blog hop of 2013!  We are so excited to share the great stamp sets we are releasing this month and in the months to come!

The mini stamp set we have for you this month is called “Not so Ugly”.

The special extra stamp set we have for you this month is called “Oh Baby”.

This next set is great for any occasion.  It would be great for making cards for those wine lovers in your life, and I think it would be lovely to make a card to go along with a bottle of wine as a gift.  Or, if you make your own wine the set could be used to make some pretty labels. The set is called "No Sour Grapes".

I have two more cards to share with you today.  This is my first one:

This time I started with the patterned paper, I'm not sure who the manufacturer is but I love the huge postmarks.  Once the main panel was trimmed I chose another pattern to mat, and some purple as a card base.

I stamped the image with Versafine on the main panel and heat embossed with clear powder.  I thne highlighted the grapes and leaves with white gel pen.  I find this helps the image to stand out from the background.  

Once the patterned pieces were adhered together I added washi tape, twine, and a banner cut sentiment.  The panel was adhered to the card front.

For the centre of the card I inked a piece of the same pattern used as the mat on the card front, and added some smaller pieces of washi tape.  A sentiment will be added once I decide on a recipient.

Here is my second card:

Again I hauled out my water brush and took to water colouring this image with water based markers.  This image is a lot more detailed than the ones I usually use, so I had fun with this one.  I really like how it turned out.  The image, by the way, is stamped in Staz On on water colour paper.  Once dry I distressed the edges a bit and inked them.

After colouring the image I chose some patterned papers to coordinate and a purple card base.  I adhered the patterns and added twine and ribbon to the panel. 

I stamped the sentiment on a patterned scrap from the same paper pack and adhered it and the image with foam tape.  I added a bow to the ribbon and some rhinestones.

For the centre.  I stamped the sentiment on some inked cream, and adhered it to some coordinating patterned papers from the same paper pack.  This My Mind's Eye paper pack is one of my favourites and I really love how it works with the stamps.

I think that if you are a person who likes to entertain with friends, or have any loved ones who are wine drinkers, this is a great set to have in your stash to make gifts and thank you cards with.  But this isn't the only great set this month, why not check out the Mark's Finest Papers store to see their wide selection of stamps, including the ones from this month.  Before you do that though, don't forget to hop along to the rest of the DT and see what great projects they have to show you:

These are the supplies I've used to create my cards:

Card #1

Card Stock:  Stampin' Up!  Rich Razzleberry, My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Saffron, unknown 12x12 sheet.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers No Sour Grapes.

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Versafine Onyx Black.

Embossing Powder:  Martha Stewart Clear Gloss

Embellishments:  May Arts Jute Twine, My Mind's Eye Indie Chic washi tape,  Recollections rhinestones, Sakura Gelly Roll pen white.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam tape, glue dots

Tools: Bone folder, paper trimmer, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, heat tool.

Card #2

Card Stock:  Stampin' Up!  Rich Razzleberry, Watercolour paper, My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Saffron.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers No Sour Grapes.

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Stampin' Up! Going Grey, Versafine Onyx Black, 

Staz On Jet Black.

Markers:  Stampin' Up! Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Rich Razzleberry, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie.

Embellishments:  Ribbon from Stash, Recollections Rhinestones

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam tape, glue dots

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, water brush, Ranger Blending Tool, Tonic Distressing tool.