We Create Blog Hop: Technique Toss-up

Hello and happy Saturday! Can you believe it is already May?? Because I cannot! Summer is on it's way!

Today we've got a really fun blog hop for you- we're featuring a variety of techniques and we have a new hopper joining us! 

For my card today, I wanted to try the "faux patina" technique. I saw a gorgeous card in recent weeks and have wanted to try it out, but I can't find the card that sparked the inspiration! If it was you, thank you, because this was fun!! You can find a great tutorial for it HERE. I also used the latest Freshly Made Sketch, and my card works for the latest SUO Challenge too! 

As a reminder, the current catalog ends May 3rd, and the new one begins May 4! That's Tuesday! All of these products are still available EXCEPT the embossing folder...but I don't own any yet that are sticking around, so this is what I used! It was still available on the retiring list when I made the card Wednesday, so hurry and snag it for your own collection! 

To make this very cool background, I inked my embossing folder with Smoky Slate, then ran it thru. (I actually did it too snugly, which is why you see gray in between the trees, and that's why you want the new Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine... but I decided it was okay.) Then I sponged on Pear Pizazz and Gray Granite. Finally I randomly dabbed Versamark on it, and covered the whole thing with Silver Embossing powder. Heat set that and here we go! Shiny trees!

And here's how I used it on a card! I mounted it on a brand new In Color- Soft Succulent, for the card base. The white circle is sponged very lightly with Pear Pizazz to make it less sharp against the background. Linen Thread and Metallic Pearls might seem to be opposites but I thought they were great accessories for the deer in the forest.  

Supplies:

Stamps: Nature's Beauty

Ink: Gray Granite, Pear Pizazz, Smoky Slate

Paper: Soft Succulent, Basic White card stocks

Accessories: Linen Thread, Metallic Pearls, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals, Circles dies, *Woodland Embossing Folder, *Stamping Sponges, Big Shot (retired)

*Retiring! Get them fast!

And then, a bonus! The sample I saw used my very favorite embossing folder ever, which has already sold off the retiring list. So sad...! I didn't want to feature it since you can't get it, but if you have it already, you can try this one too!

Supplies:

Stamps: Very Versailles

Ink: Mint Macaron, Cinnamon Cider, Soft Suede

Paper: Mint Macaron, Basic White

Accessories: Flowers for Every Season ribbon, Copper Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals, Circles dies, *Tin Tile Embossing Folder, *Stamping Sponges, Big Shot (retired)
*sold out....

And another angle to show off the shine a bit! 

Now click the button below to hop on over to see what Libby has made for you today!
And then leave us your thoughts- we all love comments! 

Kimberley Morris 
Tanya Harvey <-- ME!
Libby Fens
Cheryl Curtis
Tricia Butts
Linda A. Moore
Jeanna Kay

Masculine Birthday

It's been forever since I got some actual card making done, so yep, I'm sharing on a Saturday! We have a bunch of birthdays right now, and I didn't have enough made by a long shot. I used the sketch challenge from SUO Challenges and made the card their design team did not make, haha...! And this card worked out quickly too.

Supplies:

Stamps: Nature's Beauty, Friend Like You

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Bumblebee, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Linen Thread, Woodland Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals

Father's Day Bunny

Happy Friday!
Today's card uses the colors from the Paper Players blog, along with the Freshly Made Sketch that ended earlier this week.
When I first saw the colors I thought "Christmas" but I needed Father's Day.... and I think it worked out just fine.

Supplies:
Stamps: Nature's Beauty, Well Said, Buffalo Check
Ink: Real Red, Basic Gray
Paper: Real Red, Tranquil Tide & Whisper White card stock
Accessories Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Traditional Christmas

Card week continues!
Today I have a simple card with traditional colors and images. It could be simple stamping but it requires four different stamp sets soooo... haha! And the wreath is a bit fussy to make. Anyway, it also meets two challenges- the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and the SUO Challenge. I used the colors and the Buffalo Check, a wreath and a cardinal. And I'm really happy with how it turned out!

Supplies:

Stamps: Buffalo Check, Nature's Beauty (leaf for the wreath), Itty Bitty Christmas, October 2019 Paper Pumpkin kit (cardinal)

Ink: Real Red, Garden Green

Paper: Very Vanilla & Garden Green card stocks

Accessories: Metallic Pearls

The pearls are a little bit lost, but maybe you can see them better here?

I am still not even close to ready for Christmas, how about you? Off to get more done, haha!

Winter & Autumn

Today's post may look just a bit familiar...!
The first one was intentional. I wanted to redesign THIS rabbit card to fit my Christmas Card class. I wanted some blue, so I went with the Buffalo Check background in Navy. Love it! Here's how it turned out:

Supplies:
Stamps: Nature's Beauty, Buffalo Check
Ink: Night of Navy, Memento Black, Smoky Slate
Paper: Smoky Slate & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: White Bakers Twine, Metallic Pearls, Wink of Stella, Dimensionals

Of course, then I also realized I've already used this set, with Buffalo Check, in blue at the last card class... awesome. At least I know what I like! haha!!

And then I've been wanting to do the Buffalo Check with an orangey color, for fall. So I put this together and then realized that both cards were practically the same as the first time around! Nice... ha!

Supplies:
Stamps: Nature's Beauty, Buffalo Check
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Cajun Craze, Basic Black & Very Vanilla card stocks

I'm gonna keep telling you- this animal stamp set is a great one. For every set sold, $3 goes to mental health organizations and that is a VERY good thing.

Mental Health Day

Apparently today is National Mental Health Day. In the Holiday Mini, Stampin' Up! has a new fundraiser set, and for every set sold, $3 will go to mental health organizations! I know of several family members and friends who have turned to mental health organizations, so that is important to me.

This time I used this sweet deer, and some soft autumnal colors for a calm card. This is the final card for my October class, and I kept it "simple" with just stamps, ink and paper so it can easily go for a guy or a girl. It's not technically simple because it uses three stamp sets, but I needed a word, haha.

Supplies:
Stamps: Nature's Beauty, Buffalo Check, Very Versailles
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Seaside Spray, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla card stocks

Anyway, I recommend you get this set because it's quick and cute, versatile, AND goes towards a worthy cause. Also, if you or someone close to you needs help, there is help available. Speak up. Support each other. (((HUGS))) to you, whatever is going on in your world today!

We Create Metallics Blog Hop

September is here! YES the year is flying by, but September is my favorite- autumn is coming (we even had a very cool morning last week!) and it's my wedding anniversary! And since it's the 1st, we have a fun blog hop to get you going! This time we're playing with metallic supplies!

For my projects, I wanted to play with a new stamp set. This is from the new Holiday Mini catalog, which will be available on Wednesday! This particular set is a fundraiser set! $3 of every sale will go to local mental health organizations! I gotta say, I absolutely love that! Also, I used the latest sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for both cards.

The first metallic I picked was copper. This fox just had to go with some copper! In this case, that meant Copper Foil Paper and Copper Trim.

And here's a picture that captures the shiny metallic a little better.

Supplies:

Stamps: Nature's Beauty, Well Said

Ink: Stazon Black, Cajun Craze

Paper: Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla card stocks, Copper Foil paper

Accessories: Copper Trim, Blender Pen, Glue Dots

Next I played with some silver tones.

And again, this time it shows up better...

Supplies:
Stamps: Nature's Beauty, Well Said
Ink: Stazon Black, Smoky Slate
Paper: Whisper White & Smoky Slate card stocks
Accessories: Metallic Pearls, Wink of Stella, Blender Pens, Dimensionals

I colored both animals with ink pads and a Blender Pen. But the Watercolor Pencils and the Stampin' Blends will also be great! I also liked that I could easily show two distinct seasons with one stamp set! I think I'm going to love using this sweet nature set!

Anyway, hop on over to Cheryl's blog to see what she made. Then hop on through to everyone else and let us know what you think! Everyone loves feedback!