Red, White and Blue

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking forward to celebrating July 4th here in America this weekend, I'm just not sure if the weather will be in compliance.  Unfortunately where I live, we've been doused with rain in biblical proportions!  So far, this has been the 3rd wettest June in history, and that's not counting what we still have to add in from today.  After living through the coldest February in history, this is not the kind of record breaking I've been looking forward to. 

Anyway, I've had all things patriotic on my mind lately, so I thought I would think outside of the box with this Fleu de Lis stamp and make a card to celebrate my country.  I looked up the meaning of this decorative design and one source said, "it has been used to symbolize perfection, light and life."  So that to me seemed reason enough to use to adorn my card for this celebratory occasion. 

 

I made a panel by stamping the ornament three times, and layered it with a red border, and a matching punched border.  I adhered it to a navy card base that was stamped using the Interlocking Star Background stamp.

 

I finalised the card using the Let Freedom Ring greeting and a few star shaped gems.

So with that, I will let this card serve as a reminder to join in our "Oh My Stars!" challenge here on our blog!

Sending you sunny smiles from under my umbrella!

Beach Birthday

Hi Everyone,

 

I could hardly wait to show off my beach themed birthday card on the blog today! I've had so much fun using these newly released stamps, that stamping has felt like a vacation!  I swear I could hear the roar of the ocean waves when I was making this card :)

 

I used the 4 in 1 Seashells to make my background.  I stamped them in Versamark and then embossed  them using clear embossing powder and my heat gun. Next,  I used a scallop punch and various shades of blue card stock to give the effect of waves, and finally adding a strip of double sided tape that was coated in sandy colored glittery flock.

 

 

I stamped the Beach Birthday Greeting in Navy ink and die cut it using a rectangle die, and I then layered it onto a glittery blue mat.

 

Finally I stamped, colored and fussy cut four of the shells for embellishment, adding them with some dimensional foam tape.

 

Don't forget to join our weekly challenge here at the DRS Designs blog! 

Sitting here....

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm absolutely obsessed with this sweet new Adirondack Chair (450c) stamp that is soon to be released at DRS Designs! I love that you can add it to a scene on a card or simply use it alone with a matching sentiment.  So perfect in size and design :)  

I began by masking off my background with a left over circle die cut and sponged on a grass and sky setting.  I removed the masked and then stamped the chair, (which I colored with my Copic markers), Sitting Thinking Greeting and my bush. (Four Flower Background)

 

 

 I was imaging that it was early evening after a rain, so I added some glitter glue to the shrub to mimic glistening dew drops :)

While I tried to make this a simple one layer card, I couldn't leave it be.  I love seeing them done by others, but on my desk, they seem so unfinished.  So, I cut it apart and I went ahead and did my standard three layers, added some scalloped edges and twine.  Ahhh....All better ;)

Thank you for the visit today!
Karin

 

You've been on my mind...

 Hi Everyone,

 

I know it's not officially on the calender yet, but the kids are out of school, my flowers are planted (partially eaten by, deer, bunnies and gold finches already!) and the temperature is in the 80 degree range, so for me it's summertime!  Nothing says summer more, than time spent at the water, so I'm celebrating that idea with my card share today.

I stamped the Seaside Dock image from DRS Designs in navy pigment ink and embossed it using a clear powder with small sparkly flecks.  I die cut it and layered it on a scalloped mat, and set it aside to create my background.  I've done both watercolor and sponged backgrounds, but I thought I would try something different, and create a gradient blue background to resemble water.  I pulled out all of my blue Copic markers and began by coloring sections of the paper, working up from darkest to lightest, using the colorless blender to soften the ink in between the color changes.   

 

 

I added a bit of matching sponging around the image, just to make it blend with the background better, and added after a bit of nautical twine and button embellishment. 

 

I chose to match the sentiment shape to the main image, so I stamped the first half of the On My Mind Greeting, and then the second half below it, using a punch to cut it out.  I then did the same type of coloring on it, that I did on the background panel.  

Thanks for visiting us today and don't forget about our weekly challange!  The theme is "Over the Top"! ...

Hope your week is going great!

Karin

 

Friendship

Hi Everyone,

Last week I mentioned that I had some new neighbors move in, and these folks are super nice.  They stopped by and brought me a bouquet of peonies from their yard!  A gesture like that definitely requires a thank you card, so I managed to pull together this quickie for them.  

I began with choosing a light green card base and used the Silhouette Background Trees stamp on my panel.  I added a strip of light green card stock that I stamped with the Polka Dot Background stamp in the same ink.  I stamped the Life is Friendship Greeting in black and added a punched border and piece of black cotton lace.

It needed a bit of pizazz, which in my head always means glitter, so I dabbed that on the greenery :)  Lastly, I used the butterfly from the Three Flowers with Butterfly for an embellishment and added it with some dimensional tape. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Karin