Mix It Up Challenge Blog + Optional: Diecuts

Boy, do I love die cuts — they’ve basically become my creative language! 😄

And the holidays are the perfect excuse to pull out all the goodies and make fun tags. At Mix It Up, it’s always Anything Goes, or you can add a twist and focus on Die Cuts. You know me… I went with the twist 😉

I made this tag for my boss — total chaos on the loose 😂 — using Spellbinders’ Yuletide Ride and Christmas Cocktails Etched Dies. He loves white cars, so that’s what he got… loaded up with all the things! There’s a peppermint in the backseat (ha!), plus a tree, stocking, gingerbread, Santa hat, lights, candy cane, and greenery. So fun. So crazy.

I added foil using the Sprinkled Glitter hot foil plate with white foil — I love using it as falling snow! ❄️

To finish it off, I smudged white ink under the tires and along the base of the tag, then embossed the sentiment from Waffle Flower’s Family Christmas Sentiments in white.

I hope you join us at MIX IT UP, we'd love to see your creations!

LTSCB - Anything but a Card

Hi - thanks for coming by today!

This month at Love to Scrap, we are focusing on Anything but a Card; I went to my favorite go-to project - TAGS, all the tags! I created 2 'jingle balls' (HA, so makes me laugh) tags and 3 of the adorable Christmas tags from Papertreyink. I also cut a back tag and blended on various Taylored Expression inks, added a 'to' and 'from' greeting from The Greetery Speed Tagging stamp set and pulled them together with some Papertreyink ribbon. I also used a polka dot stencil on the front tag along with some Taylored Expressions glitter. 

Thank you for stopping by; I hope you will join us at Love to Scrap.

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps: Whimsy Stamps Jingle Balls, The Greetery Speed Tagging

Inks: Taylored Expressions

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white

Accessories: glossy accents, copics, polka dot stencil, Christmas tags, Taylored Expressions glitter, Hero Arts Tags

CHALLENGES: 

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Mix It Up Challenge - mixed media

 Hi there - I hope this note finds you doing well and staying safe!

This month for the Mix It Up Challenge, we are focusing on mixed media. There are so many ways to do mixed media - sometimes I take it big with tons of various elements, see HERE or HERE; but this one is a bit more subdued but has some things I really love!

I started with a base of Tim Holtz watercolor paper, using a stencil, I added some dark grey lines; then I took some Mixed Media texture paste and tinted it a super light pink and applied in random places through the Extra Large Dots stencil from SSS. While that was drying, I stamped 3 of the succulent images and since this is a card, I can choose any colors I like. 😄 I was also inspired by one of the sample cards for this image from The Greetery, Simple Things. I stamped the branches in TE Mocha, the main leaves in Cupcake and the final detail layer in both Earl Grey and Sea Salt. I then took the 'Sent with Love' sentiment circle from The Greetery Pretty Postmarks stamped in Sea Salt. I then curled the leaves, arranged on the base layer and adhered just the center of each bouquet so the edges would still curl up.

I then cut the word 'prayers' multiple times from TE Poppy Seed card stock. The top layer is coated with clear Wink of Stella multiple times, then a layer of glossy accents; the supplemental sentiment was stamped on white card stock with Strawberry Milkshake ink. Finished with a few sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

I hope you will join us with your creation; we appreciate you taking time to join our journey!

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps: The Greetery Pretty Postmarks, Simple Things, Hero Arts Prayers

Inks: TE Strawberry Milkshake, Sea Salt, Earl Grey, Cupcake

Papers: TE Cupcake and Poppy Seed, Tim Holtz watercolor paper

Accessories: Mixed Media texture paste, clear Wink of Stella, glossy accents, SSS Extra Large Dots stencil, PPP Starlight sequins

CHALLENGES: 

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MIUCB - Distressing + Anything Goes

Hi friends - welcome back to another challenge with the Mix It Up team! This month we focused on distressing, or as always, anything goes!

I created this panel a month or so ago and have struggled to cut it up - 😆! I used this video by Debby Hughes, it was so very helpful. You will see another water color panel I did where I failed to take time to build up the color...lesson learned.

I kept this card SUPER simple; I used the 'hi' die from The Stamp Market; the 'friend' is from a discontinued Verve Visual stamp set, but I loved the elegance of the font. I distressed the edges of the water color panel as well as the embossed black flag; I thought about sponging the edges but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. 😁

Thanks for stopping by; I hope you will join us at Mix It Up this month, we enjoy seeing your creations!

Take care, stay safe!

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  SSS Spring Flowers Background

Inks: Gina K Barely There, Versamark

Papers: hot press water color paper, PTI True Black

Accessories: The Stamp Market hi die, Karin Markers, Hero Arts white embossing powder, black and white enamel for splatters, misc. gold paint for splatters

CHALLENGES

MIUCB #36 - Fancy Fold

Hi friends - welcome back; so glad you are here!!

This month at Mix It Up, it's Anything Goes as always, BUT if you want to join in with the Fancy Fold challenge, we'd love to see your creations!

Let's be honest; we're friends, right? I am not good at fancy folds when it comes to cards; I'm not an engineer like Jennifer McGuire - LOL; and truth? I suck at math! So, I set about doing something a bit different for my fancy fold!

I colored up this gorgeous image from Gina K and Hero Arts, Friendship Blooms with some watercolors and finished with colored pencils. I fussy cut the image and added lots of splatters in white and black. I then cut the flowers diaganolly, folded over the ends of the image and hid the message below the flowers. I saw someone else do something similar recently and was definitely inspired! BUT...I needed a way for it to stay closed, so I added a heat embossed vellum belly band, sentiment from Altenew Simply the Best.

New manicure needed; dry cuticles from so much washing! ;) 

I sponged on colors to both white pieces (outside / inside) to tie it all together. It's truly not a fancy fold, but I still thought it was unique and fun!

Thanks for stopping by; hope you join us for Mix It Up where it's Anything Goes or Fancy Fold!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Gina K and Hero Arts Friendship Blooms, Altenew Simply the Best

Inks: Gina K Obsidian Amalgam, Distress Ink: Abandon Coral, Wild Honey, and Squeezed Lemonade, Versamark

Papers: Neenah 80 lb. white, Neenah 110 lb. white, PTI True Black, misc. Striped Paper

Accessories: colored pencils, white gouache, watercolors, black Folkart pain from Hobby Lobby, white embossing powder, MFT blueprints

CHALLENGES:

Colour Crazy Challenge - Polkadoodles

I am BEYOND thrilled to be joining the Colour Crazy Challenge; this is a gorup of super fun (and talented) individuals with LOTS of inspiration! Hope you will check out our challenges!

Our weekly challenge is always "Anything Goes" as long as you include some coloring on your project; hope you'll play along!

This week we are featuring digital images from Polkadoodles; I used the Winnie Celebrations Big Bunch; isn't this little girl the sweetest? I colored the image with Copics and colored pencils and kept the card very Clean and Simple (CAS). I die cut the image and mounted with fun foam, added some Pretty Pink Posh marshmallow confetti mix sequins and this beautiful sentiment from the Gina K / Hero Arts Friendship Blooms stamp set. If you look closely, you can see a sponged a design around the outer edge using TE Strawberry Milkshake ink and Ripples stencil.

Thanks for popping in; hope you'll check out all the other creations at the Colour Crazy Challenge, then join the fun! See you again soon!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Polkadoodles Winnie Celebrations Big Bunch, Gina K / Hero Arts Friendship Blooms

Inks: Gina K Obsidian, TE Strawberry Milkshake

Papers: Neenah 80 lb. white, MFT Wild Cherry

Accessories: Ripples stencil, PPP Marshmallow Confetti sequins, fun foam, Copics, colored pencils

CHALLENGES:

MIUCB #35 - Anything Goes + Smooshing

Hi friends - welcome back for the monthly Mix It Up Challenge where this month focuses on Anything Goes + Smooshing. Hands down, smooshing is my favorite technique - is it really a technique? Doesn't matter, I love, love, love it!

I actually have two cards to share with you; both very similar, ink smooshing, embossing and these gorgeous Sketchbook Roses from The Greetery.

I used Worn Lipstick and Barn Door for my smooshed colors; the focal sentiments are all from Taylored Expressions, cut with their Mini Strips Die. On the top card, I added Taylored Expressions Bits and Pieces Full of Heart sequins, the bottom card as Pretty Pink Posh Marshmallow Confetti Mix.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great day!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  The Greetery Sketchbook Roses, Pretty Postmarks

Inks: Versamark, Wide Variety of TE inks, Barn Door and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink

Papers: Ranger Water Color paper, PTI True Black and Pure Poppy

Accessories: The Greetery Sketchbook Roses die, clear embossing powder, Gina K white embossing powder, PPP Marshmallow Confetti sequins, TE Bits and Pieces Full of Heart sequins, fun foam, washi tape

CHALLENGES:

Prayers

Hi friends - I truly have a ton of cards to share; finding the time to write a blog post is HARD!!

This is a card I actually made months ago - before my shoulder surgery...which was August! A pretty straight-forward card with lots of layering.

The leaves are a die cut from The Stamp Market, the 'prayers' and sentiment are from an older Hero Arts set. I cut the leaves from vellum, left some whole, added half of the leaf back on others; the word 'prayers' was die cut from white card stock and embossed 3 times using Ranger Liquid Platinum powder. I stenciled some flowers in the background, they peek out just a bit.

Thanks for stopping by; here's wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Hero Arts Prayers

Inks: VersaMark 

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, Misc. deisgner paper, vellum

Accessories: Lawn Fawn glue, Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder, Tim Holtz tiny attacher, MFT Blueprints, Hero Arts Prayers die, The Stamp Market Botanical Beauty

CHALLENGES:

Easiest Water Coloring Possible

Isn't this collaboration image with Gina K Designs and Hero Arts gorgeous? I stamped the image on water color paper and literally splattered on various inks - I kinda, sorta (HA) painted the leaves but let the color run and mix. I sprayed the card stock a bit before splattering ink.

I sprayed the panel with sheer sparkle, added a birthday sentiment, striped paper and sequins to finish it off (forever loving black and white striped paper)!

Thanks for stopping by; have a great week!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Gina K and Hero Arts Friendship Blooms

Inks: VersaMark, Gina K Amalgam Jet Black

Papers: misc. striped designer paper, XL Canson water color paper, PTI True Black

Accessories: MFT blueprints, sheer sparkle, Gina K white embossing powder, PPP Marshmallow Confetti

CHALLENGES:

Happiest of Birthdays to You!

Anyone else playing along with the #dailymarker30day coloring challenge? I always love when Kathy hosts these events and try to play along as much a possible. You can jump in and play at any time; play as much or as little as you want. I always start off strong...but as the 30 days creep along, I tend to slack a bit. lol

I made this card using the WPlus9 Modern Peony set stamped on Neenah 80 lb. white card stock and colored with Copics; I kept everything black/white/gray except for the center flower; I wanted it to pop. I added a large birthday sentiment from SSS Sketched Flowers embossed in white on dark gray card stock; splattered on some ink and before mounting to the pink card stock, I embossed lines on the diagonal every 1/2 inch.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great week ahead!

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: WPlus9 Modern Peony, SSS Sketched Flowers
Ink: VersaMark, Gina K Amalgam Black

Papers: PTI Hibiscus Burst and Smokey Shadow, Neenah 80 lb., Neenah 110 lb., (card base) 

Accessories: MFT blueprints, PTI A2 Vertical Scalloped die, copics, white embossing powder, scor-pal, Copics

Challenges:

With Sympathy

Hi friends!

I saw a video quite some time ago by Therese Calvert which I fell in love with...but then I did the technique incorrectly. LOL But still, her video was direct inspiration for this card.

Super simple, love using two dies to create a frame when you don't have just what you need. The flowers I stamped months ago; I used the majority on a previous project, but had a few left over and they've come in extra handy to finish off cards. These are definitely more masculine colors, but some basic flowers work I believe.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you're having a great week!

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: PTI Floral Sketches, discontinued Verve Visual for sentiment, MFT Pinstripe
Ink: VersaMark, Altenew Silver Lake, Green Valley.ink cubes

Papers: PTI Blueberry Sky, Neenah 80 lb., Neenah 110 lb., 

Accessories: MFT square dies, white embossing powder, clear transparent paste, square dance stencil, tiny bubbles stencil

Challenges:

Big, HUGE Thanks

Hi there - sometimes you need a random card and you also just want to play with some products; hence this creation!

I started off using some Nuvo Mousse (platinum and pink) and a stencil on SSS fog card stock - I have no idea how to capture the shimmer in a still photo, but if you caught my IG story, then you could see all the shimmer; it's so gorgeous IRL! I used a blending brush (this link is to 5 brushes for $5.99; I don't think you can find a better price!!) to apply the mousse. I stamped the balloons and hippo (from My Favorite Things, Happy Hippos) with SSS fog ink onto Neenah 110 lb. card stock (it was what I had handy); then die cut and colored with Copics. I traced the strings with a silver gel pen and added some shimmer using clear wink of stella with a thin coating of glossy accents. I accented the hippo's eyes with black enamel accents.

Trying to capture the shimmer - it's so pretty IRL!

I stamped the sentiment on black card stock and accidentally used Hero Arts sparkle embossing powder (which doesn't show up too well); I then restamped it and sprinkled on Ranger white embossing powder. I ended up with a bit of a shadow effect, but that's okay! I used the Tim Holtz tiny attacher for a fun little accent.

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

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: MFT Happy Hippos
Ink: SSS Fog, Versamark

Papers: SSS Fog, Neenah 110 lb. white, Echo Park dp, PTI True Black

Accessories: MFT Blueprints, Nuvo Mousse (platinum and pink), Hero Arts sparkling embossing powder, Ranger white embossing powder, Tim Holt Tiny Attacher

Challenges:

So. Many. Splatters.

Hi friends - how are you?

Sometimes you just handle things wrong; thankfully, I have the BEST co-workers that overlook my failings (and there are many).

I wanted to make an 'I'm Sorry' card but allow them to reuse the card - you know I love doing that! I included a Starbucks gift card inside with a sentiment that says 'you make me smile' and kept my apology note to a sticky note I placed inside the card.

I have always envied those that watercolor flowers with no harsh lines and I'm determined to get better at water coloring! I colored these flowers and REALLY, really loved them...then I cut them up into a smaller piece - LOL - added some water color lines and then got a bit too carried away with splattering! :(

Actually, what made the difference was the water color paper was wet when I was splattering, therefore, the splatters really spread - but alas, it was fun and I made it work! I'm working really hard to use scrap papers when I can - behind the focal images is some valentine paper, vellum and another random piece that I thought looked nice with the focal image.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a GREAT rest of the week; we have sunshine so that brightens everyone's spirits!

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: SSS Sketched Flowers
Ink: Gina K Amalgam Ink (inside card), VersaMark

Papers: PTI Smokey Shadow, Water Color paper, misc. DP

Accessories: MFT Blueprints, Water color paints, Hero Arts white embossing powder, water coloring brush

Challenges: