Paper craft project no. 302: Thanks

I haven’t played in a while at The Paper Players so I thought I’d play this week! I also thought I’d make something that isn’t fall-ish so I ended up with this card. I stamped a woodgrain background on a panel and then sponged brown ink over it and around the edges. I also cut a small area on the panel where I want my sentiment to show through after stamping it on my card base. On pre-cut diecuts, I stamped two daisies and colored them with Spectrum Noir markers.

Linking up my card to these two other fun challenges: A Little Bit Crafty – Clean and Simple and Sisters of Craft – Anything Goes (entry #2).

Thanks for stopping by! Check back tomorrow at 6 a.m. PST (GMT -800) for a fun blog hop! :o)

~Shery

Supplies: (Stamps) Boxed Blooms, Bloom Sketches – STAMPlorations, Woodgrain Background – Stampabilities; (Ink) Nautical Blue, Rich Cocoa, Espresso Truffle – Memento/Tsukineko; (Markers) Spectrum Noir alcohol markers [CT4, GB5, OR1, EB5, GB10, DG4], white PITT artist pen – Faber-Castell; (Paper) 100-lb classic white premium heavy weight cardstock

 

Paper craft project no. 274: You are special

[Edited to add: Thanks heaps, Shirley, for letting me know of my project numbering error! It’s been corrected and I really am on #274, not #174!]

Apparently, today is National Coffee Day. It has been a stressful Monday so far and the day is far from over. (I’ve been a ball of anxiety all morning.) And I need coffee right now really, really, really badly. My mother would tell me that’s the last thing I should be drinking but during times like right now, coffee is what can help calm me down. I don’t drink coffee often (maybe three or four times a month) because I have caffeine intolerance (even if it’s decaf). (I have Pero and Roma — coffee alternatives — in my cupboard.) But once in a while, I’d give in to the urge — consequences be danged — and splurge on an ultra-customized Starbucks drink: a Venti light decaf mocha frappuccino with soy, no whip cream. Today might just be the day I indulge. [DH walked in the room as I was typing this post, took one look at me, and said, “Come on, dear, I’m taking you to Starbucks just this one time. You look like you need it.” Yep, I married the right guy!]

Anyway, there’s a coffee blog hop hosted by Chaitali at Cuts, Crops & Creativity happening today so I thought I’d join in. I don’t have a coffee stamp, but I do have one that I had drawn a couple of months ago. Yes, this one will be turned into a clear stamp when I finish drawing the other images that’ll go into a coffee-themed set ;o) So I printed out 6 of my coffee cups, fussy cut them, and then colored them with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers. I used foam tape to adhere them to my card base. I stamped my sentiment and added a strip of designer paper along the bottom. And the card is done…and to answer a few questions, as suggested by Virginia:

1. When did you start drinking coffee? I don’t really remember, although I do remember drinking coffee that my grandma brewed when I used to stay with her at their farm. I was ten.

2. What is your favorite brand? (You can name up to three). I don’t have a favorite brand, but when I do drink coffee, it’s either I go to Starbucks or drink whatever DH makes for me — I think it’s Maxwell (not sure) and we keep one in the freezer for emergencies.

3. What is the most amazing coffee that you had? Nothing can beat my grandma’s home-brewed coffee. I can still remember its wonderful aroma as if it were yesterday instead of more than a quarter century ago.

4. If I don’t drink my needed coffee, I will…implode — like right now, when I am so stressed out and my anxiety level is at an all-time high.

I based the layout of my card on the current sketch at The Paper Players, and it just so happens that the talented Carol picked “Beverages/Drinks” as the theme at Inkspirational so I’m entering it there! :o)

         

Thanks for stopping by!

~Shery

 

Paper craft project no. 257: Thank you CAS mixed media card

Happy Monday! Have you checked out The Mixed Media Card Challenge? We’ve got a fun theme for September: Autumn Colors with Metal or Leaves as optional elements. Add A Little Dazzle is sponsoring us this month and they’ve got great craft metal sheets!

I exercised a little restraint this time and went for a CAS mixed media card. (I had to channel my inner Deepti and Loll for this one or else, I would have gone crazy with the modeling paste and inks.) I applied modeling paste through a Hero Arts stencil. Once that was dry, I sponged mustard seed, spiced marmalade, and barn door Distress inks, and partially stamped text in black for added texture (Vignette: Live Love Laugh). I diecut some leaves from Add A Little Dazzle craft metal sheet and I colored them with Adirondack alcohol inks (watermelon, sunshine yellow, and sunset orange) before adhering to my card base. Last, I stamped the sentiment (Sentiment Builders: Thank You) in VersaMagic red brick chalk ink.

Linking up my card to these fun challenges: Just Us Girls #257 – Leaves, The Paper Players #212 – Happy Fall Y’all, and Ooh La La Creations Challenge #164 – Clean and Simple.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 252: Celebrate autumn mixed media card

Hello and happy September! Here’s my first project for September and it comes with some happy news: I’m excited to be part of the Mixed Media Mojo design team :o) I hope you’ll check out the blog — see the projects that my new teammates created and then join us! The challenge this month is to create a fall/autumn-themed project and use/incorporate paste (embossing paste, modeling paste, etc.).

For my project, I went with an autumn-themed card. To create the background panel, I applied gesso on watercolor paper then blended various colors of Gelatos (lemon, mango, tangerine, red cherry, and gold champagne). I stamped sentiments (Subway Art Builders: Dare) and grunge textures (Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds) in VersaMagic chalk inks (red brick and jumbo java) on the panel and trimmed it to size. Next, I applied embossing paste through a stencil (6″ by 6″ Well Rounded from The Crafter’s Workshop) and painted gold champagne Gelatos over the paste. I distressed the edges of the panel then inked with VersaMagic red brick chalk ink before mounting it onto my card base. Next, I cut 4 squares from the leftovers, distressed and inked the edges, and adhered to the panel. I used a white PITT artist pen (Faber-Castell) to doodle some faux stitches on the squares. I adhered burlap scrap ribbon and the sunflower (Bloom Sketches) and leaves. I finished the card by adding the sticker sentiment (Sentiment/Fall from SRM Stickers).

Linking up my card to the following fun challenges: 613 Avenue Create #87 – Anything Goes with optional Sights, Sounds, Tastes of Autumn;  Scribble and Scrap Challenge #26 – Always Anything Goes; and The Paper Players #211 – Tic-Tac-Toe (I went with the items down the middle – green [leaves], embossing [I used embossing paste — I hope that counts!], and ribbon [scrap burlap ribbon]).

Thanks for stopping by! I’ll be back later today with two more autumn-inspired cards :o)

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 229: Missing you monochromatic CAS card

There’s a new sketch at the STAMPlorations blog! We have an awesome guest designer joining us as well — Sue V. from Cards by Q. Plus the fabulous Deepti Malik of Dee’s Art Utopia is now a STAMPlorations girl! We are so excited to have her in the design team! Please check out the blog to see the sketch-inspired projects the girls made and we’d love it if you can join us!

I used 3 different STAMPlorations stamp sets (Eclectic Florals, Grunge Floral Strips, and Boxed Blooms & Bold Sentiments) to create my monochromatic CAS card. I masked off my card to create the background by stamping the grunge floral strips in Memento inks (lulu lavender and sweet plum). I stamped the two daisies in sweet plum ink and used brown paper brads by Candi for the center. I punched a circle from white cardstock, stamped my sentiment on it, and mounted it onto the cardbase with foam tape. I finished the card by rounding one corner.

I’d like to enter my card to the Paper Players Challenge #205 – Monochromatic Clean and Simple Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 192: Enjoy today

 

Something different in today’s post — a card without any stamping! Made this after I got done with a mixed media canvas (posting that later + video). PP is by Authentique and the sentiment is by SRM Stickers. The flower rub-on…don’t know the company — it has been in my stash a long time and it isn’t in any packaging.

I’d like to link up this card to 4 Crafty Chicks #195 – No Stamping Zone and The Paper Players #196 – Clean and Simple “Floral”.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Shery

Paper craft project nos. 190 & 191: Heartfelt thanks and Thinking of you

Hello! I’ve got two cards to share in this post. I finally got done with that big writing project and so I’m hoping to get back to crafting again this week…that, and cleaning my work space since I’ve put it off long enough. (Oh, and folding clothes as well — I’ve procrastinated on that task long enough. I really do hate folding and one of my goals is to someday own a really, really, REALLY huge closet and tons of hangers so that I won’t ever have to fold clothes.)

Anyway, the card above is for the current challenge at TIME OUT Challenges. This fortnight, it’s Home Sweet Home Photo Inspiration. Joining us as guest designer is Christine. I hope you’ll check out our challenge, look at the projects by my teammates, and then join us! I was inspired by the rich colors in the photo, particularly the deep pink and deep green. Taking my cue from the beautiful colors, I created the above CAS card. It’s pretty straightforward really: I alternately stamped the grunge floral strips (STAMPlorations) in Memento Lilac Posies and Olive Grove on my card base. Next, I die-cut a white cardstock panel using a stitched mat die (Lil’ Inker). I stamped a floral stamp (Inkadinkado) in Memento Lulu Lavender on the upper left of the panel and stamped the sentiment (STAMPlorations). I adhered the panel at an angle onto my card base.

I’m linking up my first card to the following fun challenges: The Paper Players #196 – Clean and Simple Floral; Simon Says Monday Challenge – Botanical; and Addicted to Stamps and More #96 – Anything Goes.

 

And now for card #2…

I went with another CAS card. I based the layout of my card on the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch #76. I used one of the stitched mat dies from Lil’ Inker to die-cut the panel. I stamped the flowers and bubbles (Inkadinkado) on the upper left in Archival Jet Black (Ranger) then loosely watercolored the images with Inktense Blocks (Derwent). I stamped the sentiment (STAMPlorations) and then adhered the panel onto the card base. I affixed 3 ivory pearls to finish the card.

My second card fits a couple other challenges: CASology #96 – Flower and Less is More #172 – Flowers.

  

Thanks for stopping by!

~Shery