Let's Get Toasty!!

A quick card I made for the CASology challenge... actually this one wasn't as quick as I had thought. I had the idea in my head but it just wasn't working the first couple of tries. I do like the end result. I hope you do, too!

When it comes down to it, it's pretty simple. I used the sentiment from My Favorite Thing's Get Toasty set. I stamped it in versamark and in Early Espresso ink and then heat embossed using clear powder. The rest was just die cutting from the coordinating Toasted Marshmallows dies and a bunch of sponging. I stamped the Hardwood background stamp from Stampin' Up! on white card stock using Chocolate Chip ink and then I sponged some more ink on it. I sponged the edges of the marshmallows using Crumb Cake and Early Espresso... I don't know about you, but I like my marshmallows well done, so Early Espresso was a dark enough ink to get it just right! The flames were pretty easy... I just sponged some Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and to brighten it I added some Summer Sun.

Here are the products I used for this card:

Stamps: Get Toasty (MFT), Hardwood (SU!)

Card Stock: Whisper White (SU!)

Inks: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Versamark (SU!); Summer Sun (retired SU!)

Adhesives: Tombow Mono Multi (SU!)

Tools: heat tool, Toasted Marshmallows dies (MFT)

Miscellaneous: Hero Arts Ultra Fine Clear EP (SSS)

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

CYCI143 - A Sketch Challenge... Full of Merry!

I couldn't resist making this sketch challenge into a Christmas card. Why? Because I'm still needing a few Christmas cards! And because I was inspired with this sentiment from Unity!

I started off by stamping the sentiment on white card stock and I cut it out using the Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Envelope dies. I've used this set of dies a lot the last few days! Love it! I also cut out a piece in Kraft card stock and then cut it in half and adhered it to either end of the sentiment. The flower accent is from the Unity November 2016 Kit of the Month called Midnight Kisses. I stamped the little flower twice. I fussy cut the whole flower and then fussy cut the center of the flower. I then popped up the center of the flower using a stampin' dimensional. 

Love the dimension it gives to the flower! Here's a close-up look! I did add some glittery goodness here and there on the card but it's really not showing up in the pictures.

Here is the sketch! Isn't it fun?! The best part is that you have 3 weeks to give this challenge a try! So go check out the Can You Case It? website to see all the beautiful creations from the Design Team and then get busy creating!!

Here are the products I used for this card:

Stamps: Full of Merry , November 2016 KOM (Unity) 

Card Stock: Kraft, White (PTI), Warmth & Cheer DSP (SU!)

Inks: Cherry Cobbler (SU!)

Adhesives: Stampin Dimensionals, Fast Fuse, Tombow Mono Multi (SU!)

Miscellaneous: Sakura Gelly Roll pen, Cherry Cobbler Sheer Linen ribbon (retired SU!)

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

CYCI142 Color Challenge - Missing You Always

It's time for another CYCI challenge and this one screamed Christmas at me... it really did!!

Just look at these colors - Eggplant, Silver & Neutrals... CHRISTMAS!!

But I said no and decided I would make a card for my Mom who has been in the hospital for awhile. I've been making and sending her a card a week. It just so happened that her favorite color is purple so this was definitely a color combo I could use.

I was brainstorming on what stamp to use and BAM! - this beautiful flower from Unity's Keep it Simple kit was staring right at me! I stamped it in versamark ink and heat embossed some fine silver embossing powder on kraft card stock. I still had Simon Says Stamp's Big Scripty Greetings on my desk and thought the 'missing you always' sentiment would be perfect so I also heat embossed it in silver. I used a few Copics to color in the flower and also added some clear Wink of Stella to the center.

I had to have some splatter fun... first I did some flicking with the Elegant Eggplant marker to get a fine splatter. Then I wanted a bit more so I pulled out the Orchid Color Burst and put a bit in my water cup (the one I use for cleaning my watercolor brush, not my drinking cup! ;) ) and sprayed a bit of water until I got the consistency and color I was looking for. I protected the flower and sentiment with some torn post its and splattered away. I ended up adding some more water to the color burst and added some lighter splatter. But of course, I wasn't done. I grabbed the Silver silks and added just a touch more splatter. I didn't want to over do it so I stopped there. To finish up the card I added a few silver dew drops and layered the whole piece on a Scalloped Stitched Rectangle of Elegant Eggplant card stock. I attached the final piece to a Kraft card base.

Here's a close-up of the shimmery goodness!! Isn't it pretty?!

Here are the products I used for this card:

Stamps: Keep it Simple (Unity), Big Scripty Greetings (SSS)

Card Stock: Kraft (PTI), Elegant Eggplant (SU!)

Inks: Versamark, Elegant Eggplant marker (SU!)

Copics: V22, V25, V28

Adhesives: Stampin Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Fast Fuse (SU!)

Tools: heat gun (SU!), Scalloped Stitched Rectangle die (GMD)

Miscellaneous: Robin's Nest Silver Dew Drops, Orchid Color Burst, Silver Silks (FSJ), Clear Wink of Stella (SSS)

Now, head on over to Can You Case It? and check out all the beautiful creations from the other design team members and then join in on the fun!!

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

Happy Thanksgiving... a couple days late!

I've been playing 'catch up' the last week so unfortunately this post didn't happen as planned.

But I'm thankful that I can share anytime!

These are a few of the Thanksgiving cards that I sent out this year. I had a great time coloring these. The little owl was colored using copics and I layered him with some Fun Stampers Journey Thanksgiving Prints patterned paper. The truck and girl card were colored using distress inks and my aqua painter brush. My inspiration for the truck card was found at our local grocery store. 

I just loved this display for the pumpkins!! 

I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

I can't remember all the colors that I used to color these cards so I can't list them for you, but I did use Unity stamps for these cards. I used Great Blessings, Bountiful Owl, and November Girl. The card stock used is: Kraft, White (Papertrey Ink); Coastal Cabana, Pumpkin Pie, Watercolor paper (SU!).

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

CYCI#141 Sketch Challenge Happy Birthday

As soon as I saw this sketch I knew I was going to flip it on the side! This was a fun sketch to play along with. There are so many different ways to play with it.

I originally planned to mask my card base and just do a super simple and clean card. Masking it didn't work the way I wanted it to so I decided to make the panel and then layer it on the card base. I stamped the image from a recent Stamp of the Week from Unity Stamp Company a few times in Versamark ink and then added black embossing powder and heat set it. Now for the fun part, I colored the flowers directly with the mini Distress Ink pads. Using the corner of the ink pad I did brush strokes painting the flowers. This was a scary way to color but once I got the hang of it, it was so much fun!! I blended a couple of other distress inks over the whole panel and then layered it on my card base. I was in need of a couple birthday cards so I decided to heat emboss the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Big Scripty Greetings set from Simon Says Stamp. To finish this card off I used some Robin's Nest dew drops that I've had in my stash forever!

Isn't this sketch just the best... so many possibilities!! Stop by the Can You Case It website and check out all the wonderful creations from the Design Team. I hope that you will play along and don't forget our challenges run for two weeks now, so you have plenty of time to play along!!!

Here are the products I used for this card:

Stamps: Life Touches (Unity), Big Scripty Greetings (SSS)

Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze (SU!)

Inks: Versamark (SU!), Wild Honey, Worn Lipstick, Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain Distress Inks (SSS)

Adhesives: Fast Fuse (SU!)

Tools: heat gun

Miscellaneous: black embossing powder, Robin's Nest Cowboy Dew Drops

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

Unity Black & White Christmas challenge

I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to post to the blog so I thought I'd take a minute (or two days!!) and share my entries for the Black & White Christmas challenge over at the 

Unity {Show & Tell} FB group. 

This is my first entry. I stamped & heat embossed the background using different snowflakes from the Snowflake Kisses set on True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink. I stamped & heat embossed the sentiment from the Joy Girl kit on vellum card stock. I tore the vellum and attached it to the card using adhesive behind the black snowflake panel. I wrapped some black twine around the panel a few times and made a bow and then popped up the whole thing with stampin' dimensionals and adhered it to a white card base.

My second entry was a bit more work... I started with the ornament stamp from the October Kit of the Month from Unity. I stamped it twice on white card stock using Memento tuxedo black ink. I colored in the ornament using a black Wink of Stella pen. Then I colored in the dots using Nuvo Crystal Drops in Gloss White to give it some dimension and shine. But then the rest of the ornament wasn't shiny so I added some Journey glaze to the lines and the hanger. It was just the right touch. I fussy cut out the ornaments and got ready to adhere the black thread when I realized the ornaments aren't symmetrical when back to back... hmmm. I decided to still go with the plan and just trimmed the second ornament so it didn't stick out. Worked for me! 

After all that, I had to cut out the circle in the card base and the layer of vellum. Then I decided it needed something around the circle so I cut out some true black card stock using two dies to cut out the 'frame'. The front still seemed plain so I cut out the scalloped frame for the outer edge. The shine on the ornament naturally led me to add more shine to the whole card so I pulled out my clear Wink of Stella and colored the circle frame and the scalloped rectangle frame and gave them some glittery goodness! I attached the circle frame just using some liquid glue but the rectangle frame I popped up on the card using stampin' dimensionals. Now the sentiment was easy... I stamped it in Memento tuxedo black ink and added a little glitter to the heart with the clear Wink of Stella and then cut it all out using Everyday Sentiment Banners die from Lawn Fawn. I also cut out a strip of black card stock using the same die. I layered those pieces and popped them up using the stampin' dimensionals tucking the end under the rectangle frame. I had originally decided at this point that I was done, but when I took a picture of the card like this it was just too white behind the ornament. I went back to my stash of Wonderland Vellum and pulled out the piece with the trees... thought it worked with the branches on the top layer. I cut out that piece with a scalloped circle die and ran it through my Xyron sticker maker and adhered it to the inside of the card.

Here's another look at the card.

This was definitely a challenge not adding any color to these black and white Christmas cards, but I think they turned out pretty nice!

Here are the products I used for the snowflake card:

Stamps: Snowflake Kisses, Joy Girl (Unity)

Card Stock: White, True Black (PTI), Vellum (SU!)

Inks: Versamark (SU!)

Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals, Fast Fuse (SU!)

Tools: Heat tool

Miscellaneous: Basic Black Baker's Twine, White embossing powder (SU!), Black ep (SSS)

Here are the products I used for the ornament card:

Stamps: Holiday Hugs Oct.KOM, Owl Warmhearted (Unity)

Card Stock: White, True Black (PTI), Winter Wonderland Vellum (retired SU!)

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (SU!)

Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals, Fast Fuse, Tombow Mono Multi (SU!)

Tools: Everyday Sentiment Banners (LF), Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Frame (GMD), Spellbinders Standard Circles Large, Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Circles Large

Miscellaneous: Xyron sticker maker, white organdy ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

PCC217 Owl Thanksgiving

A quick card to enter into the PCC217 Sketch Challenge.

I colored this cutie with copics. Used the square wonky die to cut him out and then I layered it on a square of Pumpkin Pie card stock. Added a few dots and some twine! Voila!

Here's a close-up of the coloring. I really like how the owl turned out. I need a bit more practice with the pumpkins though.

Here are the products I used for this card:

Stamps: Bountiful Owl (Unity)

Card Stock: White, Kraft (PTI), Pumpkin Pie (SU!)

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (SU!)

Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals, Fast Fuse (SU!)

Tools: Wonky Stitched die (MFT), Everyday Sentiment Banners (LF)

Miscellaneous: natural twine (FSJ), Halloween Night Enamel Dots (SU!), washi (retired SU!)

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

CYCI140 We're Back with a Color Challenge...

We're Back! I am ecstatic!! The Can You Case It Design Team has a fun color challenge this week.

This started out as a watercolor panel but I decided to stamp the leaves with Kraft ink and die cut them out of the watercolor panel I created. Then I had to make a whole new background and decided to stamp and heat emboss the leaves in the background and I used distress inks to color it with vibrant orange and yellow. I love when a project goes a completely different path from your original plan!! That's not always the case, but this time I love it!

I hope that you will join us for this color challenge. Go check out the other amazing projects from the CYCI Design Team at canyoucaseit.com!!

Here are the products I used for this card:

Stamps: Vintage Leaves (SU!), KOM Moments between Moments (Unity)

Card Stock: White, Kraft (PTI), watercolor paper (SU!)

Inks: Kraft (PTI), Versamark (SU!)

Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals, Fast Fuse, Tombow Mono Multi (SU!)

Tools: Leaflets Framelits Dies (SU!), Scalloped Stitched Frame set (GMD)

Miscellaneous: natural twine (FSJ), white embossing powder, embossing buddy (SU!)

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

Happy Owl'oween!!

Happy Owl'oween!! I have a quick card for you this morning.

Isn't this owl just adorable! He was a must have for me... I just love owls! I stamped him and the sentiment in Memento black ink and colored the owl with a few copics. I stamped him again on a post it note and fussy cut it out to make a mask. Then I covered him up and added some distress ink along the edges and splattered away with some silks. I layered the Elegant Eggplant card stock directly on the card base and then off set the owl panel and popped it up using stampin' dimensionals. I added a few Halloween Night enamel dots from Stampin' Up!

Here are the products I used for this card:

Stamps: Happy Owl'oween (Unity)

Card Stock: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant (SU!), Only Orange (retired SU!), White (PTI)

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (SU!); Shaded Lilac mini distress ink (SSS) 

Copics: C00, C1, C3, BV02, V15, V17, YR04, YR68, E17

Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals, Fast Fuse (SU!)

Miscellaneous: Halloween Night enamel dots (SU!), Citrus Cooler silk (FSJ)

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

Time for Coffee!

I saw that the CASology challenge is COFFEE!!! I absolutely could not turn down this challenge!

I did a wash with my distress inks... I only have four distress inks right now, so my colors were limited. Once I got the wash done, I decided it needed some coffee rings but I didn't have a coffee ring stamp the size I wanted, so naturally I went into the kitchen and grabbed my favorite Starbucks coffee mug! I dabbed my distress ink on my acrylic block, sprayed a bit of water and rubbed my coffee mug around in the ink to get it saturated. Plopped it down on my panel and let it set for just a bit to make sure I got a good color. Then I did it again. Absolutely love the way it turned out!!

I added my sentiment also using the distress ink but I heat embossed it with clear ep. Bring on the splatter... I grabbed the dark roast silk and splattered away. Unfortunately, in my excitement I didn't protect my sentiment so there it is... but I still love it!

I watercolored the coffee cup using the same three distress inks plus Stampin' Up!'s Mossy Meadow ink. I fussy cut it out and popped it up using stampin' dimensionals.

Here are the products I used for this card:

Stamps: Pumpkin Spice (Unity)

Card Stock: Strathmore watercolor paper

Inks: Basic Black craft (retired SU!); Broken China, Rusty Hinge & Gathered Twigs distress inks (SSS) 

Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals(SU!)

Tools: heat tool

Miscellaneous: Dark Roast silks, Clear and Black embossing powder (retired SU!)

Go check out the challenge over at CASology and play along... there's still time!

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

PCC215 Fall into Fall...

I love fall!! The changing of the leaves and the cooler weather... I just adore it! I knew when I saw the latest challenge at Paper Craft Crew that I just HAD to play along!

I stamped and heat embossed the leaves on watercolor paper. Then I decided I wanted a brown watercolored background. I wanted the leaves to pop a bit so I used Daffodil Delight and Really Rust to watercolor them. Then I decided I wanted to do something a little different...

I decided to Reverse Mask the leaves... not sure if that's a technique, but that's what I called it! I stamped all the leaves a couple of times on post it notes and then fussy cut them out. Then I had to make all the pieces fit without overlapping on the leaves so I had more cutting to do. It was a bit of work!

Once I had my background protected, I splattered away!! This part was fun and definitely made up for all the fussy cutting!! I splattered using Fun Stampers Journey silks in Cranberry Bliss, Gold, and Dark Roast. 

As you can see in this close-up, the splatter leaked a bit under the masks. I still love the way it turned out! I added some glossy dots that I had also colored with silks. A neat trick I learned from a crafty friend! I watercolor washed a scrap of watercolor paper using the Really Rust and Daffodil Delight inks again. Stamped and embossed the sentiment from Paisleys & Posies. Cut it out with a die and then cut out a larger piece in Early Espresso card stock. I had to trim the Early Espresso die cut to fit. I just needed to assemble the pieces. I adhered the watercolor panel to a piece of Really Rust card stock and adhered those to a card base of Early Espresso card stock. I added a bit of gold thread behind the sentiment using fast fuse and popped up the sentiment using stampin' dimensionals.

I had a blast with this challenge!! I hope you will play along too!

Here are the products I used for this card:

Stamps: Artsy Leaves (FSJ), Paisleys & Posies (SU!)

Card Stock: Watercolor paper, Early Espresso (SU!), Really Rust (retired SU!)

Inks: Black craft (retired SU!), Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight (SU!), Really Rust (retired SU!)

Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals, Fast Fuse (SU!)

Tools: Lots of Labels Framelits dies (SU!)

Miscellaneous: Cranberry Bliss, Gold, Dark Roast silks, Journey Glaze (FSJ), Gold thread (SU!), 

Black embossing powder (retired SU!)

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~Crystal