Birthday Leaves--#tgifc436

My inspiration for my entry in this week's TGIF Challenges color challenge was, believe it or not, a message I got this weekend from a complete stranger.  She asked, "Are you the Sara Nell who made the winning card for TGIF Challenge #132?".  I said to myself "well, maybe".  Then she went on to describe the card and asked if I was the right Sara Nell, how did I do the background?  Then I knew immediately which card she was talking about because I have gotten this same question several times in the past.  I am sure the people who ask are amazed at what a simple technique it is.  Anyway, that got me thinking that it has been a long time since I have done a leaf card.  I pulled out my Season of Chic stamp set (#158810) and the coordinating Chic Dies (#158815), and created this card with this week's color challenge of Crumb Cake, Blackberry Bliss and Pool Party:

The background was created with the Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder (#161600).  Crumb Cake ink was sponged on the inside top (the side with the logo) of the embossing folder before I put the Pool Party card stock in and ran it through the Cut & Emboss Machine. This is the technique I was asked about--so easy but it gives the background a bit more depth.

On my original card I used the baby wipe technique to give my leaves a mottled look.  The background leaf image in the Season of Chic stamp set already has the mottled look, so I stamped it in first and second generation Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake card stock.  The second step leaf image was stamped in first and second generation Blackberry Bliss ink. the open work leaf was die cut in Pool Party.  The birthday greeting was stamped in Blackberry Bliss ink on Crumb Cake card stock and die cut using a Stylish Shapes die (#159183). 

A double bow of Linen Thread (#104199) and a smattering of Rustic Metallic Adhesive-Backed Dots (#159082) complete the card front.  The front is layered over Blackberry Bliss card stock and a Crumb Cake card base.

Have a great week!

--Sara Nell

 

Teacher's Treats--#tgifc379

The TGIF Challenges team has challenged us to focus on Back to School.  My first step for this challenge was to check with my daughter.  My 3-year-old grandson is returning to his day care/school in a couple of weeks after spending his summer home with his dad, who is set to return to his teaching job.  Katharine and I decided that it would be nice to give Easton's two teachers a little chocolate treat as they welcome Easton back to his classroom and help him get used to the school routine again.  If it was up to Easton, these treat bags would be all about dinosaurs.  However, I thought the teachers would rather have something pretty:

I pulled out two retired Ombre Gift Bags--one in Fresh Freesia and one in Polished Pink for the treat bags.  I decorated them using my new favorite and already well-used Season of Chic Bundle (#158816), which includes the Season of Chic stamp set (#158810) and the Chic Dies (#158815).  The netting die was used to create the background for the flowers out of Brushed Metallic card stock (#153524).  This card stock is now a FREE Sale-a-Bration product choice with a minimum $50 purchase using the SAB Item #163103. 

 

I used the two-step stampin' flower images to create the flowers on each card.  The flower base image was stamped in the color of the bag (Fresh Freesia or Polished Pink). The flower outline image was stamped in VersaMark ink (#102283) and then heat embossed with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder (Metallics Collection, #155555).  The leaves were die cut out of Soft Sea Foam card stock.  The greeting was also stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with gold.  It was die cut using the Stitched Rectangles dies (#151820). 

 

The bags were finished with Brushed Metallic adhesive backed dots (#156506) and tied closed with Open Weave ribbon:  Fresh Freesia (#155615) and Polished Pink (#155714).  Inside each bag is a 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" Basic White card stamped with a two-step flower.  This card is for Easton to "sign".  And, just because something couldn't be from Easton without a dinosaur, it will also be stamped with a coordinating dinosaur image from the retired Dino Days stamp set.  

I misplaced the Dino Days stamp set after making a 4th of July card for Easton,  so I couldn't stamp the dinosaur image for this challenge.   I'll have to find it hidden among the chaos that is my stamping room while I am decluttering and reorganizing.   This process is taking me a very long time!  But that stamp set is around here somewhere.  I'll find it again before I have to mail the treat bags for Katharine to fill with chocolate.

Find more Back to School Ideas over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here. 

Have a great day!

--Sara Nell

  

Snowflakes for Christmas in July--#tgifc377

It's Christmas in July over at TGIF Challenges this week, so I created a snowflake blizzard of joy for the Christmas season.  I imagine most of us need a reminder of cooler days to come right now--it is been HOT!

For my card, I used the Texture Chic bundle of products as well as a retired stamp set, Wrapped In Christmas (#153481), for my holiday greeting.  The background is a piece of the beautiful Texture Chic specialty designer series paper (#158808).  I took my color cues from the paper:  Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen, Basic White and gold.  The Soft Succulent snowflakes and the greeting were stamped in VersaMark ink (#102283) and heat embossed with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder (Metallics Collection, #155555).  The stamping and die cutting (except the greeting piece) were done with the Season of Chic Bundle (#158816; includes at 10% off the Season of Chic stamp set, #158810, and the Chic dies, #158816).  The greeting piece was die cut using a Stitched Rectangles die (#151820).

A soft succulent card base, Evening Evergreen layer and a splattering of Pearl Basic Jewels (#144219) complete the card.

Get inspired for holiday stamping over at the TGIF Challenges blog here.

Have a merry week!

--Sara Nell 

 

Sending Hugs--#tgifc375

This week's color challenge at TGIF Challenges is Flirty Flamingo, Blushing Bride and Soft Sea Foam.  It's a soft, pretty color scheme that I decided to play up by just adding white.   I started by using a printed Soft Sea Foam card base from the FREE (with qualifying purchase) Sale-a-Bration product choice, Pool Party & Soft Sea Foam cards & envelopes (#159940).  The printed design on the card base coordinates with the Splendid Day Suite in the July-December 2022 Mini Catalog, so I used the Splendid Thoughts stamp set (#159668) and Splendid Stems dies (#159676, bundled at 10% off with the stamp set, #159677) to create my card:

I stamped with VersaMark (#102283) and heat embossed the two leaf images from the stamp set with White Stampin' Emboss Powder (Basics collection, #155554), one on Flirty Flamingo card stock and the other on Blushing Bride card stock.  These were die cut using the coordinating dies. The small open leaf images were die cut out of Soft Sea Foam card stock.  These die cuts were arranged on a Basic White circle die cut with the Stylish Shapes dies (#159183), then this circle was layered over a Flirty Flamingo scalloped circle die cut using the Layering Circles dies (#151770).  The greeting was stamped in Flirty Flamingo and die cut using a banner die from the Stylish Shapes dies. 

A bow of Soft Sea Foam Seam Binding ribbon (#159680) and three white Classic Matte Dots (#158146) complete the card.

I love color challenges because you see so many different ways people use the colors to create great cards.  See all of the designs over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.  

Have a great day!

--Sara Nell

Simple Note Card Gift Set--#tgifc160

Our challenge this week from the TGIF Challenges team is Simply Stamping.  That means just stamps, ink, paper and one embellishment.  I love to make simple note cards using one image and a greeting.  So I looked through my stamp sets to find the perfect little image (that I haven't used before!) to create a boxed set of cards for a gift.  I pulled out the little wildflower image from the Wildlife Wonder stamp set (#157923); three colors of ink and card stock:  Pale Papaya, Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen; Basic White note cards and envelopes (#159232); Linen Thread (#104199); Pale Papaya & White 1/2" ribbon (#155816); a Pale Papaya patterned piece of Expressions in Ink designer series paper (#1555464) and a Mini Paper Pumpkin Box (#153069) to create my set:

There are two different note card designs, 2 of each design, in the set.  The wildflower was stamped in Soft Succulent and colored with the Pale Papaya Dark Stampin' Blends marker.  The greetings were stamped in Evening Evergreen.  The stamped pieces were layered on either Soft Succulent or Pale Papaya card stock, wrapped in a bow of Linen Thread and then adhered to the note card base with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The envelopes were stamped with the Wildflower image.

The Mini Paper Pumpkin Box was covered with the designer series paper, a 5-1/2" X 3-3/4"piece for the top and two 5-1/2" X 3/4" pieces and two 3-1/2" x 3/4"  pieces for the sides.  It was closed with a belly band of Evening Evergreen card stock, decorated with a coordinating stamped piece and Soft Succulent Stitched Rectangles (#151820) layers, one Pale Papaya layer and the Pale Papaya & White ribbon tied in a bow. 

Don't be afraid to stamp simply!  You can still create impactful and elegant cards!  Be inspired by the Simply Stamped cards over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Have a great weekend!

--Sara Nell

  

 

Daffodil Easter Blessings--#tgifc359

It's TGIF Challenges sketch challenge week.  I basically used the sketch but tweaked it a bit as my card for the challenge took shape.  I still love the the Daffodil Afternoon designer series paper from the January to February Sale-a-Bration Brochure, which no longer available for purchase.   But, since it was designed to coordinate with the Daffodil Daydream stamp set (#157786), I continue to use it. Here is my card:

The daffodil was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink onto Very Vanilla card stock.  It was colored with So Saffron, Mango Melody and Old Olive combo Stampin' Blends then die cut using a Stitched Rectangles die (#151820).  The greeting is from the same stamp set and was stamped with the same Memento Ink on a piece of Pale Papaya card stock.  This piece was die cut using a Tailor Made Tags die (#155563).

A doubled piece of gold Simply Elegant Trim (#155766) tied onto the tag and 3 Pale Papaya 2021-2023 In Color Jewels (#155571) complete the card.

Find more beautiful projects using this sketch over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Hope you enjoy corned beef and cabbage tomorrow!

--Sara Nell 

You're the Nicest--#tgifc354

It's TGIF Challenges color challenge week!  The colors for this challenge are Soft Sea Foam, Calypso Coral and Smoky Slate.  Soft colors make a pretty card:

The focal bouquet of wildflowers was created with the Honeybee Home Bundle (#157952, includes Honeybee Home stamp set, #157943, and Honeybee Blooms dies, #157951, at 10% off). The stamped images were stamped in Smoky Slate and colored with Calypso Coral and Soft Sea Foam Stampin' Blends markers.  One die cut was die cut in Basic White and colored with the same blends. Three other leaf dies were die cut out of Pear Pizzazz to serve as a contrast to the soft colors and the light background paper from the Heart & Home designer series paper pack (#157928).  The paper was die cut with the largest circle die from the Layering Circles dies (#151770) and the Calypso Coral scalloped circle die cut from the same die set.

The greeting is from the Honeybee Home stamp set.it was stamped in Smoky Slate on Basic White and fussy cut using Paper Snips (#103579).  The circle was layered over Soft Sea Foam card stock die cut with the Stitched Greenery Die (#155451).  A bow in White 1/4" Crinkled Seam Binding (#151326) and three Brushed Brass Butterflies (#158136) complete the card.

See more projects using this color combination over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here. 

Have a great day!

--Sara Nell 

Simply Said--#tgifc352

Sometimes, a very simple card can make a big impact on its recipient.  My inspiration for this card is my husband Herb, who will be its recipient on our 47th wedding anniversary February 1.  When he looks at my cards, he says, "and there are those little 'dot thingies' you have to put on your cards."  So for him, I made a simple card that says all that needs to be said: 

Products Used:

Basic White note card

Soft Succulent ink

Poppy Parade card stock

Forever Blossoms stamp set (#151457

Floral Heart dies (#154306)

This card will be submitted for this week's TGIF Challenges inspiration challenge.  See more love cards over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Have a great week!

--Sara Nell

Love Note--#tgifc350

Welcome to my blog today!  I wasn't sure I was going to get this post up for the TGIF Challenges color challenge and I hope I can just get it posted in time!  The colors today are so pretty together, I decided to make a little love note for a wedding or shower gift card.  The colors:  Night of Navy, Blushing Bride and Gold.

My idea was to take a Blushing Bride wildflower die cut stem (from Meadows dies #155852) and kind of "shabby chic" cover it with a bit of Gilded Leafing (#154560).  I was afraid to put too much of the leafing on because it can be overpowering to me. I like how this one turned out, although the leafing didn't stick as well to the center of the stem--but less is more, right!

I used the Quiet Meadow stamp set (#155082, bundled with the Meadows dies, #155847) for my stamped images.  This is where it got hard.  I originally wanted just a dotted background in Night of Navy and a few little Blushing Bride flowers--but that was too busy for the one flower stem to stand out.  So I pivoted to a Tasteful Labels die (#152886), embossed with the Ornate Floral 3D embossing folder (#152725).  I stamped some Blushing Bride dots behind the label and a added a "Love" tag stamped in Night of Navy and die cut with the small tag in the Meadows die.  Instead of tying on a bow, I used a Brushed Brass Butterfly (#158136) to cover the tag hole and added a couple more around the stem (they look golden to me!!!).  

Finally, I tied on a bow of Gold Simply Elegant Trim (#155766).  TIP:  Knots and bows tied in this trim can loosen easily.  I just slip a glue dot under the bow knot to hold the bow together and to keep it in place on the card.

The card base is a Basic White note card (#159232).

All of the entries in this week's challenge are absolutely beautiful!  Go check them out at the TGIF Challenges blog here:

DID YOU LOVE MY CARD TODAY?  If so, I would love it if you would head over to the TGIF challenges blog using the link above and "Like" my card, #23--my name is under the photo.  Whoever gets the most likes, will be a Guest Designer for an upcoming TGIF challenge.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

--Sara Nell

       

Double Fold Card with Ribbon Closure--#tgifc349

Our weekly challenge from TGIF Challenges is to create a project with a closure feature--buttons, flaps, belly bands or ribbon.  I created a double fold card with a ribbon closure. It is kind of a card on top of another card, held together with a small flap on the right hand side folded over from the back of the larger card base:

The smaller top card is attached to the flap with Tear & Tape so the card is opened from its left-hand side.  The ribbon is attached to the top of the smaller card with Tear & Tape adhesive and then covered with a piece of designer series paper.  The ribbon is wrapped around the card and tied in a bow on the left-hand side of the top card to keep the smaller card closed.  

The above photo shows the smaller top card open.

This photo shows the small flap in the right-hand side open revealing the top of the larger card and showing where the top card is attached to the flap.

This final card shows the bottom card fully open.  The bottom card base is 4-1/4" x 12", scored at 5-1/2" and 11".  The top card base is 2-1/2" x 8", scored at 4".

The stamp set is Free As A Bird, with all images stamped in Basic Gray.  Some were stamped directly on the card some were stamped and fussy cut.  The images were colored with the following Stampin' Blends combos: Smokey Slate, Pale Papaya, Mint Macaron, and Misty Moonlight.  These colors were picked from the Hand-Penned designer series paper (#155499) used on the project.  The ribbon is Pale Papaya & White 1/2" woven ribbon (#155816).  Pale Papaya Genial Gems (#155500) were also used to decorate the card.

For more fun closure ideas head over to the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Have a great week!

--Sara Nell

A Tropical Thank You--#tgifc348

The TGIF Challenges team gave us a technique challenge this week:  Masking.  I haven't used masking in a while, so it was fun to get back to this simple but fun technique.  I am using a lot of thank you notes lately, so that is what I made using the Timeless Tropical stamp set (#151497).  Haven't used this stamp set in a while, either.

The large blossom was stamped in Saddle Brown StazOn ink onto a piece of Shimmery White card stock and again on a post-it note to create the mask.  The mask was fussy cut close to the edge of the image and laid over the big blossom.  Then the two smaller blossoms were stamped in Saddle Brown over a small portion of the mask.  The images were watercolored with Poppy Parade, Flirty Flamingo and Daffodil Delight inks.  After those images were dry, the background was watercolored with Pool Party ink.  The greeting was also stamped in Saddle Brown on a scrap of shimmery White card stock and die cut using the small label die from the Harvest Dies set (#156504).  

The watercolor piece was layered over a Basic White Thick card stock base which was covered with a piece of Cork specialty paper (#156393).   Pool Party sheer ribbon (#152462) and Coastal Cabana rhinestones from the Holiday Rhinestone Basic Jewels pack (#150457) complete the card.

Find some variations on this simple masking technique over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Wishing you joy in the New Year!

--Sara Nell

 

 

Gift Card Envelope--#tgifc347

This Christmas week TGIF Challenge is for all of us last minute shoppers:  Gift Card Holders.  My last minute shopping includes some printable gift cards--the kind you have to fold up and put in an envelope.  So, my Gift Card holder is actually a Gift Certificate envelope:

I looked at my stash and discovered these cute Gold Holly Leaves (#156311) that I'd totally forgotten about.  So decided to incorporate them in my last holiday project of this season.  I made them into a holly swag on a "decorative wooden plaque" which was die cut using a Tasteful Labels die (#152886) and a wood patterned paper from the In Good Taste designer series paper (#152494) that I rubbed with a bit of white craft ink (#147277) to make the gold leaves pop a bit. The holly berries are Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#146924) that I colored with my Cherry Cobbler Dark Stampin' Blends to darken.  The swag is topped with a bow of Cherry Cobbler & Gold 1/2" ribbon (#156312).

The "plaque" is layered over a piece of  Tidings of Christmas  designer series paper (#155718), die cut using a Stitched Rectangles Die #151820).  Three Wonderful Snowflakes (#156340) were attached to the left-hand side of the rectangle.  

The decorated piece was adhered to an Evening Evergreen Ombre Gift Bag (#155479).  The bag was scored 1" from the top  and folded to the back.  A retired gold clip was used to hold a bow of Gold Simply Elegant Trim (#155766) at the top of the bag and as a closure for the bag.

Inside the bag is a card for writing a note to the recipient.  A piece of the same designer series paper pattern as on the front of the bag was adhered to the bottom of a piece of Basic White card stock and then it was die cut with the largest rectangle in the die set. The "for you" is from the Peaceful Cabin stamp set (#156395).  It was stamped in Cherry Cobbler and die cut using a Tailor Made Tag die (#155563). A piece of the ribbon was pulled through to the front of the tag before it was adhered to the card.

Now all I have to do is write my note, print and fold my gift card and slip it and the note in the the gift bag.  There is space on the folded edge on the back to write "to and from" names if you are not handing or mailing this directly to the recipient.

More ideas for last minute gift card holders are over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Happy Christmas!  My grandson is arriving any minute now--so my holiday will be busy with painting, making cookies for Santa, reading stories and reassuring Roxie that she is still #1 (well, she is when Easton goes back home).

--Sara Nell

 

   

Holiday Place Cards--#tgifc343

This week the TGIF Challenges inspiration challenge is to create Place Cards and Table Settings. My holiday tradition is always to have a little bit of candy at each place setting at Thanksgiving and a small gift at each place setting at Christmas.  This year I created a place card and gift in one with the Pretty Pillow Box Dies (#156321):  One design for the Christmas table and one for the Thanksgiving table. 

I'm going to have to do a bit of creative shopping to find gifts to fit these little Christmas boxes, one each for a 2-year old, a ten year old, two dads and two moms.  Any ideas out there for me?  Cash is an obvious and easy choice, but . . .

For these I used the Tidings of Christmas designer series paper (#155718) for the boxes. Be careful as you are creasing the score marks on the ends of the box--do it slowly to make sure you are folding on the actual scoreline and folding up the box.  It is easier for and looks better to me to use designer series paper rather than card stock for the actual box.  To use as a place card, I like to seal down the flaps on the top and one one end of the box, then tie a ribbon around it and tie the ribbon in a bow on the side that is just folded down for accessing the surprise inside.  On this one I used Gray Granite 1/4" shimmer ribbon (#152463).  The  name plate is die cut out of Gray Granite card stock and stamped with an image  from the Peaceful Cabin stamp set (#156395) using Evening Evergreen ink.  The Real Red berries were die cut using a Poinsettia die (#153522) and the Soft Succulent leaves from the Forever Flourishing dies (#152714).  You could also use some kind of embellishment to fancy these up--but I'll have a 2 year old at the table!

The Thanksgiving place cards will be easy to fill with either chocolate or mini candies.  They were created with the Beauty of the Earth designer series paper (#155841).  The ribbon is the retired Mossy Meadow braided linen trim.  The place card labels were die cut out of the Pretty Pillow Box dies--the large one in Old Olive and the small one for the name out of Basic White.  The leaves were die cut using the Intricate Leaves dies (#153566) out of Cajun Craze and Bumblebee.

For more holiday table ideas head over to the TGIF Challenges blog here:

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends--and may your favorite football team win!!!

--Sara Nell

   

   

Peaceful Cabin--#tgifc342

It is the week for a sketch challenge over at TGIF Challenges. My sketch challenge card turned out a bit different than the plan in my head, but in a good way.  My cabin and trees substitute for the circle in the sketch:

I used the Peaceful Cabin Bundle (#156816, which includes the Peaceful Cabin stamp set,#156395 and the Cabin Dies, #156404, at 10% off) and the Tailor Made Tags dies (#155563).  The background paper is from the Beauty of the Earth designer series paper pack (#155841).

The cabin was stamped in Soft Suede, the trees in Mossy Meadow and the fox in Soft Suede, then colored with the Pumpkin Pie Combo Stampin' Blends (#154897).  The Peace was masked off from a greeting in the stamp set, stamped in VersaMark ink (#102283), heat embossed with White Stampin' Emboss Powder (#155554, Basics Pack), then die cut with a Tailor Made Tags die. The tag was  bowed with a piece of Linen Thread (#104199). 

Check out other projects made with this sketch over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Have a great day!

--Sara Nell

 

Butterfly Thank You--#tgifc341

The TGIF Challenges this week is a color challenge of Very Vanilla, Pale Papaya, and Pool Party.  I added Soft Suede for my butterfly outline and greeting and created a soft and pretty card for you today: 

The card base is Very Vanilla, layered with Pool Party card stock.  The top layer is Very Vanilla splattered with Pale Papaya and Pool Party Stampin' Write Markers and embossed using the Parisian Flourish 3D embossing folder (#151474).   The Butterfly from Butterfly Brilliance stamp set was colored with Pale Papaya and Pool Party Stampin' Blends and die cute using the coordinating Brilliant Wings dies (#155523).  

The greeting is from the Peaceful Moments stamp set (#151595).  It was stamped on Very Vanilla card stock then fussy cut.  A piece of Pale Papaya & White 1/2" ribbon  completes the card.

Head over to TGIF Challenges Blog here to see more projects using this color combination:

Have a great day!

--Sara Nell 

  

TGIF Challenges Mash-Up--#tgifc340

It's challenge time again over at TGIF Challenges and we are doing a Mash-up of at least 2 of the challenges we had in October.  I picked the sketch challenge and the technique challenge for my mash-up project:

The strips in the sketch challenge were created with strips of vellum card stock on which I used the alcohol blending technique.  These strips of vellum were adhered to Basic White card stock so the colors would pop on the background.  The colors used in the technique were Misty Mountain, Soft Succulent and a bit of Calypso Coral.

The stamped images and dies cuts are from the Nature's Harvest stamp set (#156495) and coordinating Harvest dies (#156504).  These may be purchased separately or bundled at 10% off (#156813).  Card stock and and inks used are Calypso Coral, Early Espresso and Basic White.  Early Espresso faux suede trim (#152472) was placed under the greeting piece.  There is a layer piece Crumb Cake and a card base of Calypso Coral.

For more fun challenge mash-ups, go to the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Have a great weekend!

--Sara Nell

 

 

Alcohol Blending Technique==#tgifc339

The TGIF Challenges challenge this week is  a technique called Alcohol Blending.  I haven't tried this popular technique yet--so dove right in.  To create with this technique you need Vellum card stock (#101856) Stampin' Blends, which are alcohol based markers; and 90%+ rubbing alcohol (don't ask me what the percentage means--but it is higher than the normal 78% you usually buy off the shelf--but if you look at the labels, it is easy to find at the big box stores).  

As is so often the case for me this time of year, the inspiration for my card today were the trees and leaves in my yard.  Specifically, it was our beautiful Red Maple that is, sadly, dying.  The leaves are turning brown and not the lovely Fall red before dropping off.  I got closer to inspect a few and they were still green, one had a bit of red and a little ladybug crawling across it.   With that leaf as inspiration, I pulled out my dark Shaded Spruce, dark Just Jade and dark Poppy Parade Stampin' Blends to use with the Alcohol Blending Technique:

  

The alcohol blended piece forms the background on the card.  I scribbled Shaded Spruce and Just Jade Stampin' Blends on the Vellum card stock piece, then dropped the alcohol on the scribbles until they started to expand on the vellum.  I  blew the alcohol around using my Heat Tool set on low as it dried the piece.  Then I scribbled over the dried piece with the Poppy Parade Stampin' Blends in just a few places and again added the alcohol and blew and dried it with my Heat Tool (#129053).  I cut the Vellum down to 4" x 5-1/4" and layered on the same sized piece of  Basic White card stock (#159276).  It looked like Christmas paper when I was finished, but I still went with leaves!

The maple leaf image from Gorgeous Leaves stamp set (#153365, also bundled with the Intricate Leaves dies at 10% off, #158609) was stamped in Just Jade on Basic White five times, then the leaves were die cut using the coordinating die from the Intricate Leaves dies (#153566).  Two branches were die cut using the same die set out of Soft Suede card stock.  The greeting is from the Pretty Pumpkins stamp set (#1564712).  It was stamped in Soft Suede and die cut using a die from the Tasteful Labels die set (#152886).  A doubled length of Linen Thread (#104199) tied in a bow completes the card.

This alcohol blending technique makes some stunning cards.  See them over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here:

Have a great week!

--Sara Nell 

  

Spooky, Scary Halloween--#tgifc338

The inspiration challenge at TGIF Challenges this week is Halloween.  I know I've told you this before, but my two-year-old grandson Easton is all into Halloween this year.  He says "Spooky, scary Halloween".  We have gotten lots Facetime calls because Easton wants to show his new ghost or new pumpkin or spider decorations to Grandma and Grandpa.  The last call was all about his Mickey Mouse Halloween pajamas.   So my projects today are all for Easton.  I thought I'd have a little fun creating a trio of note cards (Basic White note cards & envelopes, #159232) to mail at intervals to Easton leading up to Trick or Treat day:

These are all just quick, simple cards using the Cute Halloween Suite (#156279).  The suite includes the Cutest Halloween stamp set (#156480), the Halloween Punch (#156482), Tombstone Treat Boxes (#156486, not used today), Cute Stars Adhesive-Backed Sequins (#156484), Black & White 1/4" gingham ribbon (#156485) and Cute Halloween designer series paper (#156479). 

Here are close-ups, shown from easiest to easy!

This one is just a line of skeleton heads with two different faces and a greeting all stamped on the note card front in Blackberry Bliss.  There is a swipe of the Blackberry Bliss ink pad across the top fold of the card (to cover up some random Blackberry Bliss ink caused when I tied on a piece of Blackberry Bliss inked up baker's twine before it dried--but don't tell anyone).  I tied a piece of uncolored white baker's twine over the ink swipe.  Easton and I played hide and seek with "Skeleton Man" when I visited in September.

The ghost was punched out of and the cute little bat was fussy cut from the designer series paper then mounted right on the note card with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The greeting was stamped in Highland Heather.

The pumpkin and spiders were stamped in a grouping onto Basic White card stock, fussy cut and adhered to the layered Pumpkin Pie card stock and dotted pattern designer series paper.  The greeting was stamped in Jet Black StazOn ink onto another pattern of paper then die cut using a Tasteful Labels die (#152886).  Easton's favorite decorations are the pumpkins and giant spiders on the front porch.

Head over to the TGIF Challenges Blog here to see more Halloween inspired projects:

Are you planning your own Spooky, Scary Halloween?

--Sara Nell