MIUCB #40 - anything goes + embossing

This month at Mix It Up, we're doing anything goes, or add embossing.

I had a BLAST making these mixed media cards; I used the Big and Bold Sweet Friends Cupcake, cut it in half to make two cards. I colored the cupcake with Copics then added those adorable pink polka dots to the 'wrapper' of the cupcake. For the base card, I embossed in white a sentiment from The Greetery, Pretty Postmarks, then applied texture paste through Simon's large polka dot stencil. Once dry, I blended on Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry and Festive Berries (you will notice one is more pink (picked rasperry), one is more red (festive berries)). I flicked on some Festive Berries or Picked Raspberry, accordingly, and white guache, added the cupcake and finished with some PPP clear droplets. 

Hope you will join us at Mix It Up this month; we love seeing your creations!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Colorado Craft Company Big and Bold Sweet Friends Cupcake

Inks: Gina K Obsidian, Distress Inks (Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries), Versamark

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, water color paper, TE Strawberry Milkshake and Cherry Pop (card bases)

Accessories: Copics, white gel pen, shimmer pen, PPP clear droplets, white embossing powder

CHALLENGES:

Altenew Inspiration - July 2020

Sometimes life feels a bit out of control, #reallifetalk! Our oldest was tested for Covid July 10; the interesting thing was, the day after she wasn't feeling well, I awoke with some of the exact same symptoms. 😲 We finally received the results today, July 16 and they were NEGATIVE. PTL!!

I have been quarantined and working from home since July 9; you think that would give me MORE time to create, but that certainly hasn't been the case. I have had very little time to create or even get in my studio. However, I was super inspired by Altenew's inspiration photo this week and late one evening, I ventured to my craft room for a mental break - those are the best. 😀

I embossed one of the Forever and Always stamps with white on water color paper. Once melted, I added several colors of distress oxide inks with a wide brush and heat set. Once dry, I spritzed with Sheer Shimmer mist and splattered on some white guache. I then created a white frame using MFT Blueprints and a MFT square die. I used one of the sentiments, stamped in oxide ink. I then used the SSS Square Dance stencil with some Tattered Rose oxide ink, mounted the main panel with fun foam and finished it off with Studio Katia sequins.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you are safe and healthy!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Altenew Forever and Always

Inks: Distress Oxide Inks, Versarmark

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, PTI Ocean Tides, Fabriano water color paper

Accessories: MFT blueprints (does not appear to be in stock - sorry), MFT square die, Studio Katio sequins, SSS square dance stencisl, colored pencils

CHALLENGES:

  Altenew Color Challenge - July 2020

DRS Flowers - Love to Scrap

It's a GREAT month to join us at Love to Scrap as our theme is ANYTHING GOES; always a favorite! But the design team is using images from DRS Designs; so be sure to pop over to each member's blog to see what fun images we are using!

I am using the Spring Crocus image; I saw some incredible rainbow flowers so I thought I would try two things: rainbow flowers and colored pencils. I shall not admit HOW LONG it took me to color these; I had vibrant colors but didn't like the 'details' I added, so I blended them out with OMS and they weren't colorful enough. Sigh...so more colored pencils - and I think I'm happy, I just have a lot of work to do. LOL, practice, practice, practice - #amiright? If you follow me on Instagram, you can see my dilemma- LOL!

It's still such a gorgeous image and I layered it up with all sorts of things! The white border was literally just on my desk and fit perfectly; I created the chocolate frame, added a doily and embossed the fabulous sentiment from PTI Floral Sketches.

Hope you will join us this month at Love to Scrap; we love seeing your creations. Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: DRS Spring Crocus, PTI Floral Sketches
Ink: VersaMark, Gina K Amalgam Black

Papers: PTI Dark Chocolate, Neenah 110 lb., (card base), water color paper (frame), LF Kraft, DP by MFT (maybe discontinued??)

Accessories: MFT blueprints, PTI A2 Vertical Scalloped die, white embossing powder, scor-pal, Prismacolor pencils, doily, Nuvo drops, SSS Girl's Best Friend sequin mix, OMS

Challenges:

A Little Note for You

I stamped the beautiful Kind Soul stamp set from WPlus9 on this large Lawn Fawn tag and embossed with white embossing powder. I added a base coat of watercolor, then used Copics, then a pencil for the nooks and crannies as Kathy teaches - not sure what I think about it. LOL

Once the image was finished, I added a wash of light blue, then layered with a stencil and used Unicorn ink to add the stripes. Some Nuvo drops, a sweet sentiment and some misc. designer paper finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by; have a great week!

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: WPlus9 Kind Soul, not sure where the sentiment is from - sorry!
Ink: VersaMark, Gina K Amalgam Black 

Papers: PTI Hibiscus Burst, Neenah 110 lb. (party banner), misc. designer paper

Accessories: MFT blueprints, Lawn Fawn Stitched Party Banners, copics, white embossing powder, Copics, Altenew Classy Striped Stencil, Nuvo drops, Zig Clean Color Brushes, colored pencils

Challenges:

Umbrella Girl

I colored this image in one of the previous Kathy Racoosin 30-day coloring challenges, but I had never found the perfect time to use it on a card...till now. Our youngest daughter, who is in college, had asked for a card quite some time ago (*gasp*) and I FINALLY found a unique opportunity to surprise her with a special card.

Since the image was already colored (love this set from Colorado Craft Company, and even though it's labeled as a 'sympathy' set; the image works great), I just needed to pull the card together; which happened pretty quickly. I love the added sentiments stickers, I keep these in my stash and typically use when doing a mixed media card. I added a super cute umbrella from PTI and sponged the edges with white - although nearly impossible to see in the photo - LOL!

The bottom third of the card is actually diagonal striped vellum although you can't see the stripes; I tied on some gray seam binding, added the stickers and then finished it off with glossy accents for the rain. Such a fun image!

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a GREAT week ahead.

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Colorado Craft Company Sympathy, Cover Up: Grid Stamp

Inks: Old Paper Distress Ink, Hero Hues Unicorn
Papers: PTI Sweet Blush, misc. DP, vellum from PTI (no longer available - sorry), SSS Fog

Accessories: Corner Chomper, Mix and Mat Heart Die, MFT Blueprints, PTI Scattered Showers die, seam binding, sentiment stickers, glossy accents, prismacolor pencils

Challenges:

HI...I'm functioning!

Hi friends - I really have missed blogging and sharing cards; I've mainly been sharing anything I have created on Instagram; definitely my favorite way to share...but sometimes details are important to some.

But first, let's go backwards in time! I had some dental work done in August and have NEVER experienced pain as bad as that (and I've had 7 bodily surgeries, so I have some room for comparison)...and it never ever stopped. Nothing over the counter worked; switched to opioids, developed a reaction to those which actually intensified the pain - TRUTH! After 5 weeks, I reached out to the #1 pain specialist where we live and they were able to provide some immediate medication for relief. For the next several weeks, we continued to tweak medication to try to bring me additional relief; I would go to my son's football games and not remember ANYTHING. He's a senior, NOT how I wanted to live this season of my life. I would go to work with zero makeup on, didn't care; just tried to survive, couldn't do anything at home, felt like a nightmare! Oh...I failed to mention, I had a total of 3 oral surgeries in about a month timeframe - yep, tis true.

Anyway, I won't take you through the entire nightmare but at the 11 or 13 week mark (I can't remember and don't want to scroll through all the notes in my phone about this situation...), I was granted an appointment with an orofacial pain dentist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I was ultimately diagnosed with Central Mediate Pain...basically mixed wiring of my central nervous system; sending pain messages that are inaccurate. The doctor was pleased with the medication being used to treat this and recommended we find a dosage that allowed me to live my life at the same level I was before this occurred; which to me meant attending my kid's activities and remembering them (duh, slight detail), functioning at home, exercising, crafting, etc. After 6 months and thousands of doctor's bills (oh, I forgot to mention I saw 7 different specialists where we live before going to Mayo - none had a clue), we have finally found a level of pain medication that allows me to pretty much enjoy life. Lack of sleep and increased stress exacerbates the pain, but I'm doing all I can to manage those two items.

We are wrapping up 2018 with a 6-day hospital stay for our youngest daughter which began Thanksgiving Day; then last week my hubby and our son both had surgery. WHEE; I don't mean to wish away time, but I'm ready to say 'see ya later 2018, don't let the door hit you in the you know what' and here's hoping 2019 is a GREAT year!!

So let's move on to why you actually stopped by!! I created an entire card - HA! I have lots of semi-finished projects going but was delighted to have a real reason to finish a card. This is one of Suzy's Snowmen Prints colored with Copics and colored pencils. I cut the panel with this SSS die; layered the focal point on fun foam, used a piece of Reverse Confetti designer paper (Winter Solstice) - which was the inspiration for the colors - and then I added these insanely adorable bulbs from Honey Bee FA LA LA die set. I cut the bulb from vellum so it wouldn't hide any of the image or words and the base from MFT silver shine card stock. The base card is Aqua Mist from PTI.

And sorry; but for now I'm not able to take pictures where I normally do, so the quality isn't quite as good!!

Thanks for stopping by; here's hoping I can get back to some regular creating and posting! Have a great day!

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: None

Inks: None

Papers: PTI Aqua Mist, Reverse Confetti Winter Solstice, MFT Silver Shine, vellum

Accessories: Honey Bee FA LA LA die, Copics, Colored Pencils, SSS This is the Life die, fun foam, white gel pen, washi tape, twine

Challenges:

Pockets full of sunshine!

Anyone else joining in Kathy's 30 day coloring challenge, you can see all the deets HERE. I love playing along when I can and oftentimes end up with lots of things colored that I later use on a card or tag or something. :D

I had this card kit from Gina K; there are several images I just LOVE in this kit; but when I saw the colors at Cupcake Inspirations - I LOVE FOOTBALL - I had to play along. Yes, I realize I don't have a football in here, but I have the beige/brown color going on and that counts in place of a football - HA! I just love the orange and teal combo and orange is a color I rarely use!

I stamped the outline images on some watercolor paper - no clue what brand, received in a Hero Arts monthly kit several months ago, sorry - and then used the rock and roll technique to stamp the matching images in various oxide inks. Once dry, I added more depth and dimension with Tombow Markers and Prismacolor Pencils (coloring those nooks and crannies as Kathy teaches). I die cut the images and then had these pocket cards - I've had them F O R E V E R!! I sponged the edges of the pocket and used a MFT tag die to cut the piece to slip inside. My thought was you could write a message on the back of the tag and on the back of the pocket if more room is needed. I used a couple different stencils for the tags; one I kept the fall colors - Antique Linen and Old Paper; the other I switched over and focused on the blue using Broken China. The sentiments were stamped in MFT's Dark Chocolate.

I adhered the images to the outside of the pocket; I can either add some hemp and tie these on to a fall colored gift bag in kraft, or rust, or orange; or just slip them inside a gift as is!

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a GREAT week!

Hugs!


WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Gina K Sentimenal Summer

Papers: ?? water color

Ink: Distress Inks - Regular and Oxide, Hero Arts Intense Black, 

Accessories: pockets, Tombow Markers, Prismacolor Pencils, lace stencil, 

Challenges:
  CIC421

Modern Peony in Pink

Hi friends! I'm up over at Butterfly Reflections Ink with a watercolor sympathy card - sympathy cards are ALWAYS hard to create. :(

Hope you'll hop over and check it out! See you soon!

Hugs!


WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: WPlus9 Modern Peonies

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white (base), misc. designer paper, Tim Holtz watercolor paper

Ink: Versamark, Versafine

Accessories: white embossing powder, clear embossing powder, enamel dots, prismacolor pencils, stitched dies, PPP sequins, Tombow markers (base color)

Challenges:

Monochromatic

Hi friends - I'm up over at Butterfly Reflections Ink with this fun Zig Clean Color Brush and Prismacolor Pencil flowers from WPlus9; hope you'll stop by to see the full card!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: WPlus9 Modern Peonies

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white card base, PTI True Black, Ranger Water Color, PTI polka dot vellum, MFT Black and White DP

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Hero Arts white embossing powder, Zig Clean Color Brushes, Primsacolor Pencils, washi tape, Hero Arts Crossing Waves stencil, translucent embossing paste, PPP sequins

Nuvo Mousse Frame & Altenew Peony

Hi friends!

Hope you are having a GREAT week; I'm up over at Butterfly Reflections, Inc. with a fun CAS card; hope you'll check it out!

Hugs!


WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Altenew Peony Bouquet.
Papers: Misc. Black/Whtie striped paper, American Crafts glitter paper, Ranger watercolor paper, 
Ink: VersaMark, Lawn Fawn Sugarplum

Accessories: Hero Arts embossing powder, Prismacolor pencils, Nuvo Pure Platinum Mousse, PPP sequins, MFT dies

Hero Arts Color Layering Poppy

Hi friends!

I have two posts going live today; this one you can find over at a2z Scrapbooking Blog - it's very CAS and didn't take much time at all. Aren't those the best kind! :D The flowers are absolutely gorgeous but I love the beautiful sentiment - I think it really stands out too!

And don't forget, you can shop the a2z Etsy store and save 15% by using code: MicheleG15!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Hero Arts Color Layering Poppy and  You're So Lovely (save 15% on your order by using code: MicheleG15)
Papers: Hero Arts Snow, Red
Ink: Distress Inks: Fired Brick, Festive Berries, Barn Door, Peeled Paint, Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories: Primsacolor Pencils, clear Wink of Stella, MFT Blueprints, gold and black paint (watered down), washi tape

Hero Arts Artistic Dahlia in purple

Hi friends - I 'think' I might be back on schedule; I'm sure trying although we are still fighting through the battle (see below)...

I'm up over at a2z Scrapbooking blog where this month we are focusing on 'getting to know you'...well, me that is, so today I have a card with a gorgeous Hero Arts flower - I LOVE FLOWERS...and STENCILS!!  :D

Hope on over and check it out!

Our catastrophic loss.

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Hero Arts Artistic Dahlia (save 15% by using code: MicheleG15)
Papers: Ranger Water Color, Reverse Confetti True Love, misc. green, purple scraps
Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black, Moss (save 15% by using code: MicheleG15), Wilted Violet Oxide Ink 

Accessories: white gel pen, sharpie, Hero Arts Unicorn Mist, MFT Blueprints, Copics, Hero Arts Crossing Waves stencil, Glimmer Mist, Black Enamel Accents (watered down), Prismacolor Pencils, Hero Arts Artistic Dahlia die (you can custom request this through a2z Etsy store and save 15% using code: MicheleG15)

Challenges:
  A Blog Named Hero - Anything Goes

HOPE - that's all we have...

I am completely off social media, this is a rare exception. This link will explain why - I am not seeking your financial donation, just giving you a glimpse into our living nightmare.

https://www.youcaring.com/jimgreenwoodsfamily-771178 (you may need to copy and paste)

Replacing our son's social security card

I'm confident the world stopped - even just briefly - when this occurred. There are no words to explain what we are going through, our children, Jim and I are just trying to cope day-by-day, literally putting one foot in front of the other even when we cannot see the path ahead.

We received a couple gifts in which I needed 'special' thank you cards to send. When I saw the colors at Color Throwdown #433, I knew I wanted to use the new Tim Holtz Oxide distress inks - just two colors for the background (Peeled Paint and Faded Jeans) after embossing the flowers in Hero Arts white embossing powder. Once both backgrounds were done, I used Tombow Markers and Prismacolor Pencils to add shading.

I also knew this sentiment was PERFECT for our walk right now. After the cards were finished, I added the sentiment from Stampabilities using my Misti and more Hero Arts white embossing powder.

Up first are the images using Tombow Markers for accents.

Below are the cards accented with Prismacolor pencils. 

Thanks for stopping by; hope to see you again...maybe in April? We'll just have to see where in life we are because existing is all we can claim at this point. Thank you for sending special thoughts our way (prayers if you are a praying person), we can use them...ALL. Take care.

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Impression Obessions 3 Roses
Papers: SSS prefolded 4-bar note cards, Canson water color
Ink: Versamark, Oxide Inks: Peeled Paint and Faded Jeans

Accessories: Hero Arts white embossing powder, Prismacolor Pencils, Tombow Markers, SSS sequins

Challenges:
  CTD433

  Flower Challenge #6 - Anything Goes