Christmas in July 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party ~ Deck the Owls ~ Not 2 Shabby

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with my fifth card for the Christmas in July 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party! My card today features products from our linky party Sponsor Not 2 Shabby. I used the absolutely lovely Deck the Owls 6x6 Paper Pad and the coordinating Deck the Owls Ephemera Die Cuts.

This fun card was inspired by a few card designs that I've seen entered into the Christmas in July 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party that include diagonal strips of pattern paper. I knew I had some paper strips in the paper pack so I had a go at my own card design.

Which also happens to be the new sketch in my Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook Group... Sketch 14. The measurements are included as a guide rather than a requirement. I also didn't include measurements for the paper strips in the middle or the triangles because the point of the sketch is to use those scraps. One tip I'd like to mention if you do try this sketch out... the 6x6 pattern paper isn't going to fit all the way across the 4 x 5-1/4" panel in the center of the card. What I mean is, those three strips in the middle of the design had to be cut in half to reach end to end on the panel. But it's totally fine because the focal panel covers it up. I do have a prize set aside for this sketch challenge! I hope you'll come join my group and play along.

I adhered all my layers using the iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from our wonderful Sponsor Therm O Web. I also popped up the sweet owl ephemera piece and sentiment using 3D Foam Squares from Sponsor Therm O Web.

 Love the dimension that it gives the card. I finished off the card by adding a couple white glitter enamel dots from the Winter Sparkle Glitter Style Enamel Dots from our Sponsor Gina Marie Designs.

Be sure to stop by Not 2 Shabby and use code - XMASJULY - for 10% OFF your order. You could even snag the sweet owl papers and ephemera I used today... they are in stock! And if you haven't already, stop by the Christmas in July 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared!! Who knows... you may also get inspired to make a holiday card and join in the fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 21 ~ Owl-ways Merry ~ Penny Black

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing my weekly Christmas card using Sketch 21 from the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers! I made a sweet owl mini slimline card using the Owl-ways Merry stamp set from Penny Black.

I've had this cutie sitting on the side of my desk just waiting for it's turn to get inked up. Isn't it just the cutest?! I paired up the sweet owls with the A Perfect Winter paper pad from Echo Park Paper Co.

I altered the sketch a bit to fit a mini slimline card. My card base measures 6-1/2 x 7"; scored at 3-1/2". My bottom layer with the dark blue paper measures 6 x 3". The flower paper measures 5-7/8 x 2-7/8". Now for the plaid paper, I didn't want to waste any of it... Love It!!... so I cut to small pieces that tuck just under the focal piece. They measure approximately 3/4 x 2".

I stamped the sweet owls with Gina K. Black Amalgam ink and colored them up with the following Copic Markers:

Owls ~ W00, W1, W3, W5, C00, C2, Y06, YR15, YR27

Hats / Scarves ~ C00, C2, R20, R14, R37

Branch ~ BG01, T0, T4, T6

Leaves ~ BG0000, BG000, BG10, BG01

Berries ~ R20, R14, R37

Outline ~ C00, C1

The focal piece measures 3-3/4 x 2-1/2". To cut around the leaves I used my guillotine cutter but only cut close to the leaf and then I fussy cut the rest of the way around the two leaves. I adhered the plaid papers just under the focal piece and then adhered the whole thing to the card.

Here's a look at the fun {BYSHC} Sketch 21 for the month of April!

I hope you'll join us and play along with the sketch! If you're interested in seeing a bit more inspiration for this sketch, check out the gorgeous inspiration from the design team over on the  {BYSH} Cardmakers blog! I'll be back next Friday with my regular weekly Christmas card using this fun sketch!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Scrapping for Less ~ Heffy Doodle ~ Hootiful

Hey there crafty friends!

I'm here with a super cute card using the most adorable owl stamp set I think I've seen in a long time!! This adorable set is from Heffy Doodle and it's called Hootiful... so cute! I love these cute owls and there are a bunch of wonderful sentiments in the stamp set too!!

So, normally I would have created my very own galaxy background but for this card I didn't have to! I used the fabulous Galaxy Foil papers from Pink & Main!! These papers are so beautiful and the colors are absolutely dreamy!! And it made for another quick card design which I am always looking for!! I knew I wanted to create a scene using the papers for my background so I die cut the papers with a large stitched oval die and set it aside.

I stamped a bunch of these adorable owls with Memento Tuxedo black ink and then colored them with the following Copic markers:

Owls ~ W00, W0, W1, W3, W6, W7, Y06, YR15, YR21

Branch/Leaves ~YG11, YG23, YG25, E34, E53, E57, E59

Moon ~ Y000, Y02, Y06

I colored around the edges of each of the fussy cut images with a Memento Tuxedo black marker. I set them all aside and then started building my card base. I die cut a piece of black card stock with a large stitched rectangle die and adhered it to a kraft card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I then adhered the entire card front to a white card base.

I just needed to build my scene... I adhered the oval die cut Galaxy Foil paper directly to the black card stock layer. I adhered the owl landing on the branch and then adhered the branch over top. I also adhered the moon... all of these were adhered with Multi Medium Matte directly to the galaxy background. I then popped up the flying owl and the owl near the bottom right side using foam squares. I then stamped the sentiment with VersaMark watermark ink and heat embossed a fine white embossing powder. I die cut the sentiment with a banner die, trimmed it down, and popped it up on the card. I really love how this turned out! I hope you do too!

Thanks for checking out my blog post!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Coffee Loving Cardmakers ~ I Just Need Coffee!

Hello! Today, I'm sharing some truth... I just need coffee!! Haha... but really, I'm sharing a fun card for another fabulous guest spot at Coffee Loving Cardmakers. 

I created an alcohol ink background and also used Alcohol Lift Ink and of course, one of my favorite owl stamps from Rubbernecker Stamps.

Trying to get a photo of this card was a challenge because of the shine on the Yupo cardstock. With that being said, that white behind the owl (to the right) is glare. 

I was having fun the other day creating a bunch of backgrounds using alcohol inks and I thought it would be fun to use some coffee colors. I don't have a lot of alcohol inks so I ended up using Butterscotch, Espresso, and Turquoise (of course!) with a bit of Gold Mixative. Once my background was how I liked, I blended Alcohol Lift Ink over the Tim Holtz Mini Stencil Set 3 - the one with the coffee ring and splatter. I dabbed the background with a paper towel until it wasn't as saturated and then I rubbed the background to remove the rest of the Alcohol Lift Ink. Doing that basically lifts away the alcohol ink that was on the background. Such a fun technique!

I set aside the background piece and stamped Preston ~ isn't he the cutest! ~ onto Canson XL watercolor paper using VersaMark watermark ink and heat embossed a fine black embossing powder. I watercolored Preston with my ZIG Clean Color Real Brush pens and then die cut him out with the coordinating Preston Die Cut.

I set Preston aside and went back to work with the background... I needed a sentiment, but Preston doesn't come with one so I searched through my Rubbernecker Stamps and found the perfect sentiment, ironically, in the Coffee Set. Preston looks like he NEEDS coffee! Don't we all?!

I stamped the sentiment using Versamark watermark ink and heat embossed a fine black embossing powder. Since I was heat embossing on Yupo card stock which is a plastic card stock, I was careful to not heat it too long... just enough to melt the powder. 

I then mat the background piece with Taken with Teal card stock from my stash. I popped the background up on a Vintage Cream card base and then adhered Preston with Multi Medium Matte. I just adore this card! I sure hope you like it too!

Thank you friends for checking out my blog post! 

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs!

~ Crystal

Scrapping for Less ~ My Favorite Things ~ Tweet Wishes

Hey there!Today I'm sharing a couple of tweet cards *wink*wink* using a simply adorable set from My Favorite Things called Tweet Wishes. I just got back from a wonderful family vacation and I have to tell you... I was itching to get inky! I was even more excited when I saw this adorable set in my design team package for this month.

My first card I put together kind of quickly using a pack of 6 x 6 papers. Now this particular pack isn't available in the Scrapping for Less shop, but there are a lot of fun packs available and you can check them out ---> here. Along with the Tweet Wishes stamp set and dies, I used the 'hello' stamp from the Spring Bloom set by Scrapping for Less and Brutus Monroe that was included in the April 2018 Flavor of the Month card kit that is still available ---> here.

I had so much fun making the first card with the Tweet Wishes set that I couldn't help but make another card... I mean, come on. These owls are so cute! I stamped the owls on a piece of white card stock and colored them in with copics {N0, N1, N2, N3, N4, V17, V20, RV11, Y06, BG01, BG11, BG15}. I used the coordinating die set also named Tweet Wishes to die cut the images and then set them aside. I trimmed a piece of white card stock down to 5-3/8 x 4-1/8 inches and die cut the stitched interactive window die to get the 'windows' for these little guys. I stamped the little flower all over using Wilted Violet, Worn Lipstick, Squeezed Lemonade, and Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide inks. And then I used the 'windows' as a guide to figure out what parts of the white card base I would need to color blue for a little background color.

I adhered the owls to each blue background using just a bit of Tombow Mono Permanent Adhesive. I was careful not to press the owl down until I had it in just the right place. I popped up the whole front panel using foam tape and then I set the card aside to get the sentiment ready. I pulled out a scrap of grey card stock. I stamped the sentiment using VersaMark watermark ink  and then I heat embossed some fine white embossing powder. I cut the sentiment into a banner and then popped it up using some more foam tape and there you have it! I sure hope you liked the cards I shared today. If you're interested in purchasing this sweet set I've included links below.

You can purchase these stamps here ---> Tweet Wishes.

And the coordinating dies are here ---> Tweet Wishes.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

Spring Tag ~ Unity Challenge ~ Beautiful Soul

Hello! I wanted to share this beautiful tag that I made for the Unity Spring Tag challenge over in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group.

I started off by stamping the owl from Unity's Layers of Life kit called What You Really Love with Versamark ink and heat embossing an ultra fine white embossing powder. And then I got inky! I blended some Tattered Rose and Shaded Lilac distress oxide inks on a manila tag that I received with my Kit of the Month order from Unity. Once I was done blending those colors I stamped an image from another Layers of Life kit... this one is called Within Each of Us. I stamped the image a few times in Antique Linen distress oxide ink. It's hard to see in the picture but it gives a bit of dimension to the background.

Then I decided to add some texture, so I grabbed one of my Tim Holtz mini stencils (set 5) and Mother of Pearl Nuvo mousse. The mousse gives the piece texture and a beautiful shine. I stamped the owl image again on white card stock and blended some Worn Lipstick distress oxide ink over the flower. I fussy cut it out and set it aside. I added some gold thread to the tag adhering it to the back of the tag. I then applied some Multi Medium Matte to the back of the manila tag and adhered it to a Tim Holtz Etcetera Thickboard tag. I decided I wanted to lighten up the thickboard tag to keep it with the Spring theme and the light colors. I painted the edges of the tag with white acrylic paint and then I smooshed the paint brush around the edges to give it a bit of distressed look. Since I had the white acrylic paint out, I decided to also paint the reinforcer white.

I stamped the sentiment from the What You Really Love kit using Shaded Lilac distress oxide ink directly on the tag. I added some dew drops... I even added a couple to the owls eyes. I adhered the reinforcer to the top of the tag and added some ribbons. I also adhered the fussy cut flower. 

My final touch was a sentiment. This part took me the longest because this tag that started out as a piece to enter into a challenge turned into a gift for a friend that is facing some important medical tests this week. I wanted the sentiment to fit her and I knew when I saw the Floral Soul {textured feelings} kit that "beautiful SOUL" was THE sentiment. I stamped it on vellum card stock using Shaded Lilac distress oxide ink and heat embossed some clear embossing powder to make it shine. I trimmed around the sentiment and added adhesive behind the letters so it didn't show through the vellum card stock.

 I just love how this turned out! I hope that it brings joy and love to my friend. 

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

CYCI164 - Another Year Wiser!

Hello! I have a cute birthday card to share with you this week. I used some of Stampin' Up!'s retired Tasty Treats Specialty DSP from my stash for this one. I thought it would be perfect for a birthday card and I think it pairs up well with these adorable owls from Unity's Hoot Hoot Hooray kit. What do you think?

I've had this layout in mind since I saw the sketch for this week. I just love this new set of dies I got from Lil' Inker Designs called Anytime Tags. It's so versatile and worked perfectly for this week's sketch. I die cut the stitched rectangle and adhered it to a white card base. I die cut the tags in the DSP and then a plain piece of white card stock. I stamped the little owls onto the white piece of card stock using my mini Misti. I then colored the little owls using Copics. I adhered the little owl piece onto the DSP tag. I then popped up that entire piece using stampin dimensionals and adhered it to the card base. I stamped the sentiment using Memento tuxedo black ink. I die cut the sentiment and the little banner end piece using My Favorite Things Blueprints #31. I adhered the banner/sentiment piece and then added a few tiny sequins from Stampin' Up!'s retired Sprinkles Embellishments at the end of the sentiment and around the DSP. I think it turned out cute.

 I've linked most of the products I used above. Here are the rest of the products I used for this card:

Adhesives: Tombow Mono Multipurpose liquid glue (SSS)

Copics: R14, R24, R27, BG11, G21, E95

 Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear what you thought of my creation.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal