Scrapping for Less ~ Tumbleblossom Cluster ~ Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello there crafty friends!

Today, I'm here with another look at the fabulous Tumbleblossom Cluster stamp set by Stamping Bella... this stamp is absolutely stunning and such a dream to color! I had so much fun watercoloring it last week that I just had to color it up with my copic markers.

It's been a very long time since I've attempted an Eclipse card and I thought it would be so fun to use the florals in this stamp as my eclipse background. Can you see the "Thanks" in the midst of the florals? It's not super easy to see in this first picture but the closeup pictures that follow you can see it more and more.

I used the following Copic markers to color these beautiful flowers in Autumn hues ~ Y000, Y06, Y17, YR000, YR15, YR27, YR68, BG70, BG72, BG75, YG11, YG95, YG97, R000, R00, R11, R14, R20, R56, R89. I added touches of white in the centers of some of the flowers with a white gel pen.

I die cut the thanks from the center of the flowers and then again three more times from scraps of kraft card stock. I then stamped the "+ giving" from the Fall Breeze stamp set by Photo Play, masking the "thanks" portion of the sentiment, onto a scrap piece of black card stock with VersaMark watermark ink and heat embossed a fine white embossing powder. I trimmed it down and set it aside.

 I die cut the flowers with the scallop peekaboo rectangle and then die cut a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece of black card stock. I adhered the two pieces onto a thin piece of white card stock and adhered the "thanks" die cut pieces. I then popped up the "+ giving" sentiment with foam squares. To finish off the card, I added several Chalk White Nuvo Stone Drops.

Here's one more look at the card. I sure hope that you like my second Autumn take on this lovely cluster stamp. I truly enjoyed making it and I hope I've inspired you to give the Eclipse technique a try. Such a fun technique!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Scrapping for Less ~ Stamping Bella ~ Tumbleblossom Cluster

Hello there crafty friends! 

Today, I'm sharing a wonderful watercolor card using a medium that I don't use often enough and that is Distress Crayons! It has been a long time since I've used my distress crayons and actually, it's been a good long while since I've watercolored so I thought why not do it now! 

So to start, I stamped the gorgeous Tumbleblossoms Cluster stamp by Stamping Bella four times over a 4-1/2 x 5-1/2" piece of Canson XL watercolor paper with VersaMark watermark ink and then heat embossed a fine white embossing powder. I then scribbled Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, and Walnut Stain Distress Crayons on my Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat. I was then able to use my watercolor pen and grab the pigment with my pen and watercolor the panel. I had so much fun!

 I started with the lightest color (Mustard Seed) and actually colored a bunch of the flowers with just that color and then I went back in with the Spiced Marmalade and the Festive Berries to add some rich, darker tones that felt more Fall-ish to me. I used the Walnut Stain to color in the open spaces and I just love the way it makes the flowers pop on the panel. To finish off the panel I added some white gel pen to the tiny little flowers and berries. Once I was done watercoloring, I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die and then mat it with a gorgeous reddish orange card stock that I found in my stash. Now the Tumbleblossoms Cluster stamp set doesn't have a sentiment so I dug through some of my Fall stamps and found a gem... the Teresa Talks Fall stamp set!! I love this set and the "fall greetings" sentiment was absolutely perfect for this card! I stamped the sentiment on that same card stock with VersaMark watermark ink and I embossed it with a fine white embossing powder. I trimmed it down and then popped up the sentiment. My first thought when finishing up this card was to find a neutral card base... maybe white or kraft (my go to's!!) but then I got to thinking... I really want that Mustard Seed yellow to pop on this card so I dug through my stash of card stock and found this perfect yellow card stock. Bam! It was perfect! I trimmed it down to a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece and then adhered that to a white card base.

Surprise! I was able to make another simple card using the leftover panel. I used the same yellow and reddish orange card stocks from my stash (both are from past card kits... I'm honestly not sure which colors though) and then I added a strip of some kraft card stock that was also in my stash and had just enough left over for a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece for my card front. I then adhered it to a white card base. To finish this one off, I just stamped and heat embossed the same sentiment. Done!

Here's a picture of both cards using the one watercolored panel. I have another small piece left over from the panel that I'll set aside and I hope to use it on another project. I had so much fun making these cards to share with you today! I hope you're inspired to pull out those neglected mediums in your crafty stash and get some fun crafty time!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity September Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friends!!

I adore all things Autumn!! This month's cue of Autumn Colors just makes my heart deliriously happy!! I love the rich colors of Autumn! 

But before we get to the cards and all that, I'm super excited to share some news... we have two new friends joining us this month for our hop!! 

Please give a big welcome to Alaine Tanner and Dawn Bryson!! 

I've admired the wonderful creations by both of these talented ladies and was so happy when they accepted our invitation to join our little hop! 

Now, onto the cards... I'm going to be brutally honest with you all. I'm not totally loving my first card. I like it... it's ok. But I'm not loving it. I think it's missing something. I don't know. In any case, here it is...

I used the new fabulous September 2019 Sentiment kit called Change Can Be Beautiful for this card. Have you seen this set? It's absolutely beautiful... filled with all kinds of Fall/Autumn goodies! I adore the leaves and pumpkins and that adorable acorn... don't get me started on that mushroom!! Who knew a mushroom could be so darn cute!? I also love the coffee elements in this kit... so I tried to go for a CAS fall card. I did some simple splatters of gold and espresso silks on the Kraft card stock. I wrapped it with some jute twine... it kind of peeks out from the sides. I just adhered the pieces directly to the sentiment that I trimmed and mat on Dark Chocolate card stock. And then I popped it up with foam tape. To finish it off I adhered it to a white card base and added a few gold sequins. I think I should have trimmed the kraft card stock background and then mat it on Dark Chocolate... and then adhere it to the white card base. I might try that... in any case, it's done for now.

I used the following Copic markers to color this card:

Leaves ~ Y000, Y06, Y15, Y17, YR01, YR15, YR21, YR68, E23, E27

Acorn ~ E21, E23, E25, E27

Pumpkin ~ BG93, BG96, E23, E27, G43, G94, YR15

Mushroom ~ R000, R11, R14, R27, E40, E41, E42, white gel pen

Coffee cup ~ R14, R27, YR15, YR68, G43, G99, Y06, Y17, E23, E27, E41

My second card gives me the warm fuzzies... lol. I'm all about a warm, fuzzy cowl during a cool Autumn night. I adore this gorgeous stamp from the new September 2019 Kit of the Month called All Kinds of Holiday Love... such a perfect name for this kit!! When I started coloring the cowl it was looking a little too rainbowy (is that a word? Spell check says no... but we're going to go with it) so I had to darken the colors and man, I want this cowl!! It looks so cozy and warm! 

I used the following Copic markers for this card:

Skin ~ E000, E0, E21, R00, R20, BV20, N0

Hair ~ E47, E57, E79

Cowl ~ Y06, Y35, YR15, YR21, YR68, R000, R14, R17, R89, YG93, YG95, YG97

Once I had the image colored just so, I die cut it with the Eyelet Elegance Rectangle die from Gina Marie Designs. I trimmed down the sentiment and mat it on Dark Chocolate card stock. I adhered it just under the image. I set that aside and started searching for just the right paper... well, that didn't take long! As soon as I saw the stitching in the Lawn Fawn Fall Knit Picky papers, I knew it was going to be perfect! I die cut it with a stitched rectangle die and then mat it on ... you guessed it, Dark Chocolate card stock. I can't help it, I love this color of card stock. I then adhered the panel to a Kraft card base. I popped up the focal image with foam tape and then added a few fun Echo Park's Celebrate Autumn enamel dots. Voila! 

That's it for my cards this month! I do have a couple of winners to announce...

... congratulations to AndreaH and pug1971!! Woohoo!!

Please email me at crystalominkler@gmail.com to claim your prize. 

Prize must be claimed within two weeks.

Thank you all so much for your continued support of our little hop... and for all of your lovely comments! I really, truly do appreciate each and every one of your sweet comments. A few of my friends are having giveaways on their blog so be sure to hop and comment on each of our blogs!!

Let's get to hopping... 

Crystal <--- you're here

Eileen

Robyn

Dawn B.

Alaine

Kim

Dawn F.

Joyce

Jeanie

Bobbie Sue

Thanks so much for checking out my blog post!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Scrapping for Less ~ Photo Play ~ Fall Breeze

Hello there crafty friends!! 

Today, I'm sharing a Fall themed card!! I am so excited for Fall... I love all things Fall!! Particularly, the cooler weather... I'm way over the hot days of Summer!! I'd much rather have a warm cup of coffee while cozying up with a blanket while reading, so it almost felt cooler just making this card while dreaming of those days ahead.

How sweet is that little fox?! He looks so snug all nestled up with those pumpkins amidst the wreath of leaves. I love making wreaths and I just love how this one came 

together with the fox included. 

I stamped all of the leaves, pumpkins and the fox from the Fall Breeze stamp set by Photo Play on white card stock and then colored them all in with the following Copic markers:

Leaves ~ Y000, Y06, Y17, Y35, E23, E25, E27, R000, R11, R14, R27, YR15, YR21, YR68

Pumpkins ~ YR15, YR21, YR27, YR68, E23, E27

Fox ~ E000, E37, E95, E97, E99

I fussy cut each of those leaves... oy was that something! But definitely worth the effort! I also fussy cut the pumpkins and the fox. I went over the edges of the colored images with my Memento tuxedo black marker and then started laying out my wreath. It wasn't working quite right so I decided to die cut a wreath base using a Wreath die by Gina Marie Designs. Once I had that as my base I was able to lay out the leaves just right.

I adhered all of the pieces to the wreath and set it aside to dry. I then pulled out a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece of black card stock from my stash and blended some Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink in the upper center portion of the card stock for a night sky. I then die cut a circle in a post it note for a mask and masked the black portion of my card stock. I splattered some watered down white acrylic paint for my stars in my night sky. I set that aside to dry and added foam squares to the wreath.

I got excited and popped up that wreath on the card before stamping my sentiment but it worked out since I used my stamp platform to stamp the sentiment with VersaMark watermark ink (which I did twice to ensure it was stamped well) and then heat embossed a fine white embossing powder. To finish off the card, I tied a double bow of jute twine and then adhered it with some Multi Medium Matte.

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Scrapping for Less ~ Sketch Challenge #1 ~ Fall Breeze

Hello there crafty friends!

Today, I'm so excited to share the September challenge over at Scrapping for Less: Show & Share!! In order to play along there are a few rules...

Pretty easy, right?!?! Now, the key to playing along is being a member of the Scrapping for Less: Show & Share Facebook group so if you aren't already a member ---> join here!! Also, please note that you don't need a blog to enter the challenge as you're adding a photo of your creation directly in the Challenge album in the group. You are welcome to include a link to your blog in the description of your creation.

And then check out our Sketch Challenge #1...

A fun little sketch to get you inspired! Now, let's check out the card I created using the sketch...

Pretty cute and the only thing I stamped was the sentiment from the adorable Fall Breeze stamp set by Photo Play. I stamped it with VersaMark watermark ink and heat embossed a fine white embossing powder. I also used the gorgeous Fall Breeze papers by Photo Play and fun Autumn Pumpkins stickers by Sticko. 

I love challenges and truly love sketch challenges... they are so fun and take the hard work of designing a card and make it so much easier. But I always say that challenges should inspire not require so this sketch is open to interpretation! Even I moved the sentiment to the other side of the card... it just got lost in that other corner. As long as your card has the main elements and they're in the approximate position... you're good to go!! 

This challenge will run from today, September 2nd and will end September 30th at 11:59pm EST.  The winner will be announced on Friday, October 4th. Please use #sflsketchchallenge1 in any social media posts when playing along with the challenge.

Lots of time to play along!! I can't wait to see what you create!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Scrapping for Less ~ August 2019 Flavor of the Month Card Kit ~ Exotic Animals

Who doesn’t like critters? 

One of my most favorite type of cards to make are cute little critter cards. Well, this month we have some fantastic cute critters as exotic animals! Join in the hop and see what wonderful inspiration our design team and guest designers have brought to you today. You will find this month’s selections on the Subscription page. Lots of extra goodies, as well, on the A La Carte page. After hopping, head on back to the Scrapping for Less blog to enter the Rafflecopter. ~ Teresa, SFL Co-Owner

If you are just starting hopping, we're so glad to have you join us! 

The hop starts on the Scrapping for Less blog or you can start hopping right here.

Here's a quick look at the August 2019 Exotic Animals card kit...

Double Dip Subscription...

Banana Split Subscription...

Isn't that card kit just the cutest?!!?! 

I love the cute stamps this month and the papers are absolutely amazing!! 

Let's get to the cards I created, shall we?!

Collection One: Always Changing

The first collection has a wonderful color scheme in the papers... almost an Autumn feel to them... and I absolutely love them!! I especially love the argyle papers and so they were my first choice for this card. I trimmed and layered my patterned papers onto Blu Raspberry card stock. I cut the brown cord into 6 pieces and adhered it to the center of the panel and the back of the panel using tape. I then adhered it to the card using liquid glue. I set that aside and stamped the chameleon and branch on a piece of white card stock. I wanted to make my branch into a tree so I stamped it upright and stamped a bunch of leaves around the top. I colored the images and added some grass. The Banana Split subscription has a random color of mini distress ink cube included in the kit... and I received the Broken China distress ink cube and used that to blend my sky. I then die cut my little scene with an oval stitched die and popped it up on the card. I stamped the sentiment with the Broken China distress ink and then die cut with a banner die and also popped it up on the card. To finish off the card, I added a few sequins. I think this turned out pretty cute and how fun is that branch as a small tree?!

Supplies used (not found in the kit):

Copics ~ BG0000, BG11, BG23, YG0000, YG11, YG23, E55, E57, E59

Distress Inks ~ Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters

Taylored Expressions Oval Stacklets die

Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners die

Gina K. Designs Connect Glue

Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares

Collection Two: Slowly and Slothly

Oh my goodness... these sloths are so adorable I just couldn't help but make two cards with them!!

I kept the designs very similar just changing up the papers and the stamped images. So cute! I stamped the sloths on small square pieces of white card stock and then colored them in using copic markers. I then stamped the sloths again on post it notes and fussy cut them to use as masks. I then blended some Broken China distress ink for my sky background. I mat the main images on another square piece of white card stock and then popped them up on the cards. I stamped the sentiments, trimmed them down, and adhered them to the card. Included in this collection is a leaf die so my finishing touches for these are those cute leaves... I die cut them from the Limeade card stock and added some veins to the leaves with a couple of copic markers. I gave the leaves a little bit of dimension by folding them in the middle and then I adhered the leaves to the tops of the branches and then added a green rhinestone from the collection.

Supplies used (not found in the kit):

Copics ~ Sloth in Thanks card ~ E000, E21, E23, E25, E55, E59, R20; Sloth in Hugs card ~ W00, W1, W3, W4, R20; Tree Branch/Leaf Veins ~ E55, E57, E59, YG11, YG23

Taylored Expressions Rectangle Stacklets die

My Favorite Things Stitched Fishtail Flag STAX

Ranger Multi Medium Matte

Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares

Collection Three: In the Desert

For me, the third collection in the kit has more of a masculine feel to it with the neutral shades and geometric designs in the papers so I decided to make a couple birthday cards using this collection. I just happened to need one for my nephew and my son's birthdays, so the timing was perfect! I cut my patterned papers and mat them on the Chocolate card stock. I adhered all of my layers to a Chocolate card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and then adhered those to a white card base using white card stock from my supplies. I then stamped the meerkat and sentiments using my Stamp Platform. I die cut them out and got to coloring. I kept the colors simple, and just grounded the meerkats with some green grass. I used the gold brads in the collection to finish off my first card. And for my second card, I used a little bit of the Mustard colored doily with a few sequins. By keeping the embellishments simple, I kept the cards masculine... even with a tiny bit of doily!

Supplies used (not found in the kit):

Copics ~ Meerkat card #1 ~ E00, E34, E37, E95, E99; Meerkat card #2 ~ W00, W1, W3, E34, E37 ; Ground ~ YG11, YG23

My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle STAX

Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares

Collection Four: Bird Talk

Now this last collection is my absolute favorite of them all... the papers in the collection are so gorgeous!!! The colors are so vibrant and then there's these gorgeous splatters of gold!! Love it!! If you saw my Sneak Peek post of the card kit, then you've already read about my obsession with these papers!! In fact, I didn't want to cut into them... lol... but alas, I did!! You can be sure that I'll be ordering some more though from the A La Carte tab on the Scrapping for Less website!! Enough with my gushing... back to my pretty card!! Another fun thing in this month's kit is the glitter papers that are included... I couldn't help but use the gold glittered paper for this card! I layered it on a Limeade card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and then layered that on a white card base. I cut two strips of the pretty patterned paper and then die cut a stitched oval from white card stock.

 I stamped the branch directly on the die cut oval and colored it. I then stamped the parrot on a scrap of white card stock, colored it in, and then fussy cut it out. I popped it up on the oval piece and then popped up the oval piece on the card. I stamped the sentiment and die cut it with a banner die. I then die cut a slightly larger banner from the gold glitter paper. I adhered the layers and then popped them up on the card. To finish this one off, I added a few pretty sequins. 

I just love how this card turned out!!

Supplies used (not found in the kit):

Copics ~ Parrot ~ B00, B24, B28, R000, R11, R14, R27, Y000, Y06, Y11, Y15, YG11E000, E53, NB1, N3, N5, N7; Branch/Leaves ~ E55, E57, E59, YG03, YG13, G07

Taylored Expressions Stitched Oval Stacklets

Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banner dies

Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares

I sure hope you've enjoyed my cards today!

Your next stop on the hop is... Lynnea

Be sure to head back over to the Scrapping for Less blog to enter the Rafflecopter once you've finished hopping!

Thank you friends for checking out my blog post!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Scrapping for Less ~ August 2019 Flavor of the Month Card Kit ~ Sneak Peek

Hello there crafty friends!

Today, I'm sharing a sneak peek of the new August 2019 Flavor of the Month card kit... and I hope that you are prepared for another amazing card kit!! I am always in awe of the fabulous kits that Kim and Teresa put together for us to create with... so awesome!

One of my favorite collections in this month's card kit includes this fabulous bird stamp and let me tell you... the papers in this gorgeous kit are Drop. Dead. Gorgeous!! I literally didn't want to cut into them... lol... so I opted to use these beautiful foiled tags and a few other embellishments from the kit!! I did, however, cut into the papers and you'll see what I created on Saturday when the kit is revealed and our hop is live!!!! Eeeep!! You're going to love it!!

Back to these beautiful tags though... I had so much fun coloring this bird!! I stamped the bird twice on each tag and then again on scrap pieces of white card stock. I used the following copics for this tag ~ B0000, B00, B14, B24, YR0000, YR21, YR24, E0000, E00, E41, E43. 

I also added some white gel pen to the eyes. I fussy cut the birds out and colored the edges of the fussy cut birds black with my Memento tuxedo black marker and then I adhered them to the tags. For the pink bird I used the following copic markers ~ RV0000, RV10, RV63, YR0000, YR21, YR24, E0000, E000, E41, E43.

 I stamped the sentiment from the same collection omitting a portion of the sentiment (you can see a tiny bit of the omitted sentiment on the pink tag, but I'll clean that up later with a sand eraser). I then added a strip of pretty gold glitter paper and then adhered the paper flowers. My final touch is some gold organza ribbon and twine jute... both from my stash (not included in the kit). Love how these turned out and I sure hope you've liked them too!

Be sure to use the hashtag #SFLFOTMexoticanimals when posting your creations using the new August 2019 Flavor of the Month card kit!! I can't wait to see your creations using this month's kit!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal