WWC255 - Marsha's Challenge: Anything Goes With a Masculine Twis

Hello and welcome!  This week, at The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, we are creating cards  for the men in our lives.  Marsha is our talented hostess.  I made this card for a male friend that turns the BIG 60.

This card is all about the background and sentiment.  I used Hero Arts Bold Tribal Print background stamp and Catherine Pooler's Blue Suede shoes to stamp the background.  After cleaning off the stamp, I restamped with the background stamp using clear embossing powder and then heat set.  This created a lovely shiny blue pattern.  After the background cooled, I ink blended Twisted Citron onto the card base using blending brushes.  This filled in all the white areas.

On Fog grey cardstock, I stamped the sentiments (SSS Big Birthday Wishes) and then die cut.  I adhered the sentiments with craft foam for some nice dimension.

I think the end result is a bold masculine card with nice shine and texture.

I am entering this card in:  
Allsorts Challenge #555

Always Fun Challenges The challenge this week is use your favorite stamp so I used my favorite background stamp.  Masculine cards are always a bit harder for me and I find this bold background stamp works well for a lot of cards for the men in my life.  

I am so pleased that you stopped by!

Karen

WWC254 - Tristan's Challenge: All About Occasions

Hello and welcome!  This week it is all about occasion cards at The Watercooler Wednesday challenge website and Tristan is our talented hostess.  

I had some lovely left over alcohol ink scraps that I wanted to use on a background.  I trimmed the pieces to a variety of widths and then pieced them together to make a solid background.  Blue, aqua and lime is a favorite color combination of mine.  My original intent was to cover the background with a circle die cut panel and sentiment, but I thought that looked a little plain so I added some interest with Simon Says Stamp's wonderful Outline Clustered Leaves die.  I cut the leaves from some Recollections embossed paper.  I like the end result and gave this card to one of my girlfriends.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Addicted To Stamps - Make Your Mark

Just Us Girls - Dimension.   

Southern Girls "Anything Goes"

Happy Little Stampers "Die"

I am so pleased that you stopped by!

Karen

WWC253 - Karen's Challenge: Anything Goes With A Feminine Twist

Hello and welcome!  I can't believe it is a new year...and a new decade.  This week we are making "feminine" cards at The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Website and I am the hostess.

I ordered some Altenew Mega Alphabet dies and the Altenew Large Thanks sentiment so I could make some thank you cards.  I wanted a bright happy card so I decided to do some "ink smooshing". 

 I started by making two inked panels.  Here was my technique:

1. I liberally inked an 6x6" acrylic block with Distress Inks.  I wanted an ombre gradient look so went in rows across the page.
2.  I sprayed the inked block with water 
3. "Smooshed" the block onto a piece of watercolor paper
4. Weighted the ink/block with a book for 5 minutes
5. Uncovered.  If the ink pooled, I dabbed with a paper towel.
6. I made a "second generation" panel for the background by taking a piece of Bristol Cardstock and soaking up the excess ink on my work space.    I had never done this before but I like having a softer but coordinated background for my card.  

Panel one was made with Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron and Mustard Seed.  

Panel two (thanks) was Abandoned Coral, Carved Pumpkin and Mustard Seed.

After the panels were dry, I die cut the "T", thanks and floral images (Spellbinder's Month 7 Die of the Month and Newton's Nook Flower Trio die). I also die cut Sunny Studio's Frilly Frame to go over my second generation background.  I used Gina K Connect glue to adhere everything to the A2 card.    

I am pleased with this bright vibrant card.  

I am entering this card in:
As You Like It Thanks Challenge

Dies R Us Challenge I used Spellbinders floral dies.

Always Fun Something New Challenge  I made a second generation ink smooshing panel to coordinate with my die cuts.  I had never thought to coordinate like this in the past.  

Alphabet Challenge Try Something New I made a second generation ink smooshing panel to coordinate with my die cuts. I had never thought to coordinate like this in the past. 

UPDATE:  I was very pleased to be chosen "Top 3" at As You Like It!

I would love to see YOUR creation in our challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

WWC252 - Marsha's Special 3- Week "Anything Goes" Challenge

Hello and welcome!  The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge is changing things up during the holidays and we have a three week "Anything Goes" challenge.  Marsha is our special hostess.

I ordered this adorable Simon Says Stamp  Li'l Gnome die this year and went a little crazy.  I made 18 gnomes to put on tags and Christmas cards.  I really like this "glitter" gnome. 

I took a sheet of Ranger Ink Silver Sparkle Cardstock and added alcohol ink.  The panel was very pretty.  I then die cut the gnome.  The beard and nose are cut from leftover scraps from previous ink smooshing projects.  I love how the blond beard has orange streaks.

For the background I used a scrap of Lawn Fawn's Perfectly Plaid paper.  I also die cut a rectangle to act as a backdrop for the gnome. I felt like it looked like a plaid belt with a big white buckle.  

I heat embossed the sentiment (Stamps of Life Elves2Stamp) and attached all the elements to a kraft notecard.  

Little Red Wagon #528

Allsorts "Inspired by a Song" Challenge
My Inspiration was The Gnome Song The Gnome Song

I am so pleased that you stopped by!

Karen

WWC251 - Dawn's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Hello and welcome. This week we are making "Occasion" cards at The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge which means holiday cards to birthday cards to sympathy cards...the list is vast.  Dawn is our talented hostess.

I chose to make some thank you cards to use during the holiday season.  I wanted bright, festive and fun so I opted to go with my Zig markers.  

I stamped, colored and die-cut my wreath.  My wreath has five Christmas colors. I wanted a clean and simple look but with a bit of interest on the background so I dry embossed an A2 panel.  I liked that the planks look snow covered when embossed on white paper. I also wanted a small sentiment that would fit inside the wreath and within the boundaries of the plank so I looked through my sentiments and found this cute little one.

I like the top folding cards I see online but I had never made one until this card. I do think it adds a fun little twist to cards.  While I was at it, I made a batch of top folding cards so I will be making more in the future.

Supplies:

Altenew Weekend Doodles Stamp and Die

Tim Holtz Alterations Wood Planks Embossing Folder

Bristol Cardstock

Zig Markers:  036, 031, 033, 053, 041, 200, 202, 029 + blender

Versafine Black Ink for wreath

Gerda Steiner Hedge Hog Sentiment (with Archival Jet Black ink)

I am submitting my card to:

As You See It "Holiday Joy"

Bright happy colors raise my spirits and bring me joy.  

Make My Monday "Anything Christmas" Challenge

Time Out Merry and Cheerful Challenge

Happy Little Stampers December Die Challenge

UPDATE:  My card was selected as a Top Pick at The As You See It Challenge:

Thank you for stopping by!

Karen

WWC250 - Helen's Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Hello and welcome. This week we are making "feminine" cards at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. Talented Helen is our hostess. 

I wanted to do a pretty thank you card so I started by stamping,  coloring and die cutting this favorite wreath.  I wanted a subtle white on white backdrop so I die cut a basket weave panel and affixed to an A2 card base. I love the pretty little sentiment which I heat embossed. 

Supplies:

Avery Elle - Festive Wreath stamps and dies

Frantic Stamper Basket Weave die.

Bristol Cardstock

Zig Clean Clear Markers (May Green 47, Pale Green 45, Lt. Carmine Red 21, Red 20, Light Blue 36, Cobalt Blue 31). 

Sentiment:  Photoplay Paprika

I am pleased to be entering my card in:

 Sunday Stamps "Feeling Festive" Challenge

Just Us Girls "Anything Goes" Challenge

A Place to Start December Challenge

Shopping Our Stash - Happy Holidays Challenge

UPDATE:  My card was selected as a "Top Cup" at The Sunday Stamps Challenge:

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

WWC249 - Karen's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Hello and Welcome!  This week is "All About Occasions" at the Watercooler Wednesday Website and I am the hostess.  Today, I am sharing a card I made in Laura Griffin's DFW Copic Class.

We used LOTS of die cuts on this card. For the door, we free hand drew the wood grain and stained glass inserts.  I personalized my Christmas door and added my mini-Aussie "Scout" to the front porch.  I think she looks adorable in her little Christmas cape and hood.

Supplies used:

• Impression Obsession Front Door
• Impression Obsession Wreath Builder
• Penny Black "Brick Wall" background Stamp (Memento Rhubarb)
• Hero Arts Fun in the Rain (dog)
• Copic Markers
• Brad for door handle
• Vellum for stained glass windows
• Ribbon bow
• Gina K Connect glue

I've submitted my card to the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge

I would love to see the occasion card you created in our Watercooler Wednesday challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

WWC248 - Kath's Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Hello and welcome!  This week at The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge we are designing projects for the men in our lives.  Kath is our hostess.  I created a card for my brother who drives a pickup and is an avid surfer.  I love how this die set has beach accessories to fill the truck bed.

I used Spellbinder's Truckin' Through the Seasons die and Nuvo Tonic Hot Chocolate Embossing powder for the sentiment (Ranger Letter It). The card stock is Bohemia Blue Bird and Barefoot Beautiful "All Boy".  

Can't wait to pop this card in the mail to sunny California.

I am entering this card in: 

The Male Room "Hobbies" Challenge I made this card for my brother who is an avid surfer.  

Lil Red Wagon Birthday Challenge

Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies Challenge


Thank you for stopping by!
Karen

WWC247 - Marsha's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Hello and welcome! It is all about Occasions at The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Website and Marsha is our hostess.

Several friends have been sick or have had surgery, so I was in need of some Get Well cards.  I thought this one turned out bright and cheery.

I put a light glaze of blue distress ink on watercolor paper for the background.  I then die cut the flowers and leaves from scraps of alcohol ink/Yupo panels. Since it is fall, I went with yellow-orange leaves.

Supplies:

• Newton's Nook Flower Trio
• Lawn Fawn Sentiment
• Tumbled Glass Distress Ink
• Assorted Alcohol Inks
• Yupo paper
• Watercolor Paper
• Connect Glue
• Foam Adhesive

I am entering this card in:

Lil Red Wagon's "Don't Be Shy" Challenge

Addicted to Stamps "Make Your Mark" Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Ink Smooshing with Altenew Mega Alphabet Die

I felt inspired by Altenew's November Inspiration Challenge and those lovely pink flowers.  I just received several Altenew Mega Alphabet dies plus Altenew's large thanks die and wanted to play with them.  I was thinking thank you notes and personalized stationary.

I decided ink smooshing on the Mega "T" die would be interesting.  I applied two shades of distress ink: Spun Sugar and Pickled Raspberry to a 6x6" acrylic block and then sprayed with water.  I put the spun sugar at the bottom and the pickled raspberry at the top because I wanted gradient color.  I put the ink/water side onto watercolor paper, weighted it down with a book and let it sit for 5 minutes.  When that was done, I took a piece of cardstock and sopped up the remaining color for my background panel. I wanted the same colors but in a more muted watercolor look.  There is a bit of pinkish linen in the color swatch so I did the same smooshing technique with Antique Linen.  After the watercolor paper was dry, I die cut the "T".  I also die cut the "Thanks" die cut from Elm Green textured paper that matched the color in the inspiration color swatch.  I then die cut small flowers from the antique linen, and pink watercolor panels.  The leaves were left over from a previous project and I thought they added to the layout. 

I assembled the card by putting the second generation sopped up ink smooshed panel behind a die cut cover and then arranged the die-cut elements.  

I always give my mom a packet of cards for Christmas and I think I am going to include this one.  

I am pleased to be entering this card in Altenew's November Challenge.


I am so pleased that you stopped by!
Karen

Using Scraps for a Rainbow Inlay

I had a collection of colorful alcohol ink scraps on Yupo paper left over from a batch of cards I made this summer.   I thought the scraps would be fun to inlay into Sunny Studio's Frilly Frame cover die.

I first die cut my white panel and then cut the rainbow alcohol ink inlay pieces.  After everything was die cut, I glued the cover panel to an A2 card.  I put a line of Gina K Connect glue in each open space and then placed my alcohol ink scraps into each slat.  I love how bright and glossy the strips are.

I black heat embossed the sentiment (Hello Bluebird Rainbow Script) on a die cut sentiment strip.  Since my card used rainbow colored scraps, I thought the sentiment was very appropriate.

Easy, bright and eye-catching.

I am entering this card in:
Use Your Stuff's "Use Your Scraps" Challenge

I am so pleased that you stopped by!
Karen