We are on the brink of the holidays! Yay! I thought it would be fun to have a Halloween challenge this year! I don’t make a lot of Halloween cards, but when I do, it’s always so fun because there are so many different characters and objects you can use… witches, bats, candy corn, pumpkins, etc.
As soon as I saw this set by Avery Elle, I immediately put it into my cart. I love the kind of stamps that allow you to put critters behind something.
Do you remember this card by Anita that I highlighted in the challenge last month? I was so inspired by her use of the patterned paper that I simulated the same look myself. I thought it was the perfect layout for these critters. Here is a close-up:
I also tried the same card in pink:
I think the pink looks a little more festive and the blue is a little more casual.
I love this Berry Bliss set by Sunny Studio. They have such great multi-step stamps! Maybe you remember the Holiday Style set that I used for this card and this card. I really want to make another card with just the strawberries. Can you believe I only used 2 stamps for this image?! Here is a close-up:
I decided that I didn’t have enough butterfly stamps. So, in my last crafty order, I purchased 2 new butterfly sets – Gerry’s butterflies is one of them (the other is Butterfly Kisses). I really like the frame in this set, and I also like how some of the butterflies are from the side view. I seriously researched every butterfly set to find the perfect ones. 🙂
This card is pretty simple – I used Copic markers to color the butterfly and was able to use a really light color to blend yellow and blue without creating too much (if any!) green. Here is a close-up:
I used an acrylic block to create a watercolor background with oxide ink, and then I tried to focus all my card elements on this block. Here is a close-up:
Today I’m using the new Simon Says Stamp Big Picture Book Fox. They have a lot of these little critter dies, but this one is much larger than what they typically sell. I decided to also create a body so that the fox would form the front part of my card base. Here is a look from the side:
I used Stampin’ Up! Wild Wasabi cardstock for the base. I keep forgetting that this color has been retired. Seems like a bad decision.
Welcome to the September Challenge! This month is kind of easy… thinking of you cards. However, think about how you can make it special so that it really conveys you are thinking of someone.
The last day to submit your entry is Sunday, September 30th, 11:59pm CT. One random winner will be selected from all entries and announced on Monday , October 1st.
The giveaway will be a $25 gift voucher to Simon Says Stamp, one of my favorite stores!
Okay, just to recap the main rules:
Your card should be a “thinking of you”-type of message.
You can submit as many entries as you like! However, please submit only one entry per card.
After submitting your entry, leave a comment on the entry just before yours.
Leave more comments on entries, if you’re so inclined. 🙂
To be eligible for a prize, you must be an active member of LiveLoveCards at the time the winner is announced and your card must have been made in the current month.
I tried to convey a little more of an intimate “thinking of you” message by adding the heart. I balanced the heart with my sentiment (left-top/right-bottom)
Enjoy making your cards this month… I’m looking forward to seeing your creativity!
I learned how to tie a sailor's knot and just had to make a card showing it off. It is difficult to see in the photo but there is a double line of the same cord "holding" the words Thinking of You across the bottom, Wood grain paper if from DCWV. I downloaded the picture from the internet.
Thinking of you
Thinking of you II
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My thinking of you is just for you. I thought the sentimate fit the space perfectly.
Lucky stars.
thinking of you "type" sentiment.
Coffee & friends 1
thinking of you "type" sentiment.
Coffee & friends 2
thinking of you "type" sentiment.
Coffee & friends 3
thinking of you "type" sentiment.
Thinking of you
Water colored background with gold spatter. Main design cut with electronic cutting machine. I used Ultra Thick embossing powder over the whole image and colored on the back of some of the elements with alcohol markers. White heat embossed the sentiment (Simon Says Stamp Handwritten Borders).
Thinking of you
Background is colored paper. I cut the design with my electronic cutting machine. After gluing down the image I outlined the design with a very light gray alcohol marker to help the design stand out. Added shine to the image with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen and bling using Studio Katia iridescent flat back jewels. Sentiment is from Hero Arts Prayers Stamp & cut.
Background on colored card stock with Dream Weaver Pearlescent Embossing paste. I cut all of the elements on my electronic cutting machine and used the Prayers stamp set for the 'thinking of' part. There is Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle pen on the butterfly and black thread for the antenna. I had forgotten how much shine the embossing paste would provide.
Maria Rodriguez
Maria Rodriguez
This card was created using a digital image from my amazing granddaughter's Etsy shop. It's printed on drawing paper and colored with Prismacolor pencils.
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Thinking of you...MFT stamp and distress ink background.
Thinking of you
Dry embossed background using Crafter's Companion 3D folder Regency Swirls. Edge with Abandon Coral & heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Used Stampin' Up Fifth Avenue Floral flowers and heat embossed with clear. I used Oxide ink to color the flowers. Centers have very sparkly nail glitter in the centers.
Double Delight Roses
Still obsessed with this SSS stamp. Tried to watercolor the flowers as Double Delight roses. Hopefully the card will last longer than my rose bush did.
Stampin Up You’ve Got This
This is a simple card but one that has become one of my favourites for sympathy and thinking of you friendship cards. I coloured the flower with Copics and then used a glitter pen on the petals, stem and leaves. In person it really glitters. The background was stamped with a light gray ink. Clear drop embellishments give the impression of rain.
Pink thinking of you
Used the SU Eastern Beauty bundle to make this card. Sentiment from an unnamed stamp in my stash.
SU DSP
SU paper and sentiment from Verve Stamps Kind Words
Lilacs
Flip top card
Birds & butterfly
SU stamps
Flowers
SU stamps
Thinking of You Koala
This card uses Stampin Up Kind Koala stamp and some old SU dsp in my stash. I used the butterfly punch and some SU pearls, as well as the Daffodil Delight bakers twine. My sister lives in Australia so I thought this card would be perfect for her!
Blue Thinking of You Card
This card uses all Stampin Up products. The card stock is Marina Mist and Night of Navy and I sponged the background with some Marina Mist ink and stamped the Inspired By Nature stamp in Night of Navy. The flowers are from Fabulous Florets and I embossed them on vellum, fussy cut them out and put them on with dimentionals. The sentiment is from Warmest Regards and ribbon is Night of Navy 1/4 inch.
Picket Fence Card
This card is made with all SU products. The fence is stamped with Hardwood background stamp and the butterflies are from Papillion Potpourri and punched out with the small butterfly punch. I used the Petite Petals punch to make the flowers out of the dsp.
Black Cat Card
This card uses a die from Poppy Stamps called Grand Madison Window, along with SU dsp from Adventure Bound. The cat is from SU called Cool Cat stamp set and I have 2 black cats so this is my favorite stamp! The trees are from SU Lovely As A Tree stamp set.
Masculine Thinking of You
I made this card for my Dad and he loved it. It uses a Stampin Up stamp set called Wetlands and I lightly sponged a piece of water color paper with Crumb Cake, Smokey Slate (card stock too) and Bashful Blue ink to get the texture. I pretended that the smudge on the left side is a bird flying! 🙂
Elk card
Stampin Up Wilderness Awaits stamp set.
Floral Thinking of You.JPG
I used a set called Count My Blessings by SU. I popped the flower up and added a bit of dimension.
Kraft Thinking of You.JPG
I wanted to use Kraft paper today, with a Split Coast Stampers challenge, and needed a card to send to a friend. I chose to use the set A Beautiful Life by Gina K Designs for the frame with tulips. The sentiment from Count my Blessings from SU fit perfectly in the oval. I love when I can combine different sets and manufacturers. I used Tombow Markers to color the tulips and frame.
Animal Outing with created COPIC background
I love watching Sandy Allnock create her awesome backgrounds, and that inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and give it a go. I stamped the branch, the rhino, and the giraffe from the Stampin’ Up! set and then created the trees, ground, water, and sky with my Copics.
Postcard Pals
Again, I used the Postcard Pals set and stamped it inside the circle from the Swirly Frames and then die cut it using the layering circle scalloped die. I embossed Granny Apple Green CS with the Subtles folder and added some burlap ribbon and sequins to dress it up. I also stamped the background of the sentiment using Touches of Texture, because I felt there was too much white space.
Gina K wreath template
I made the template and thought it would be good to use it for this month's challenge. I like how symmetrical the images are on the square. I used copics for the bigger flowers and applied wink of Stella on all but the yellow flowers. TFL!
Thinking of You
I like to use this sentiment when someone I know is having a rough time and I want them to know I’m thinking of them.
Thinking of You
I recently bought this stamp set from Stamping Up! I thought it would be good for thinking of you type cards.
Thinking of You
Debbie B
Had a old card kit that included the paper and stamps, but the instructions were long, long gone. I kept putting it aside, and decided it was time to use up some products and go out on my own. This is one of several cards that I made.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a card to the August Monochromatic Challenge! You would think that these cards wouldn’t be as exciting, but there were more awesome cards in this bunch than usual! I encourage you to check out the entries when you have some time.
There is so much I love about this card that I don’t know where to start. First, her stencil design extends perfectly across three die cut areas. Each area has a circle, and the circles are placed perfectly to seem random (if that makes any sense!). Notice the color of the middle circle matches the bottom die cut area and uses a smaller version of the pattern. And, of course, the bright bee pops on the circle of white. Great job!!
I love clean and simple cards. This one by Hannah is fabulous:
For some reason, I always seem to remember a wedding card at the last minute. Maybe because I haven’t been to many weddings recently. This card is beautiful and easy to put together. I absolutely love the details of the pearls – so clever!
This next card by Sarah is monochromatic, yet it seems much more colorful to the eye:
What struck me most about this card (not to mention how cute those green poison gems are!) was the use of patterned paper. I’ve never used 2 different patterns together, but this looks great with the same color. Most paper packs like this come with multiple patterns for each color. This card is a great example of how to use it!
Next I want to highlight this bunny card by Anita:
I like the layout of this card. I usually put my focal point objects (animals, flowers, etc) on the white part and accent with patterns somewhere else. Anita put them under the bunnies and used white elsewhere. She tied the pattern back in on the sides of the card. Really well done!
Finally, these flower cards by Carol:
Notice that Carol cut out several of the little flowers and popped them up with a pearl. I always forget this technique for jazzing up a flower. A great reminder on how to add beauty to a larger stamp.
Thanks again to everyone who participated. I really enjoy going through all the entries and focusing on why I love them. I’ll be back on Tuesday with the launch of the September Thinking of You Challenge. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!
I was going through my stamps and came across this one: Fractile Leaves. I haven’t used it in awhile so I thought I would break it out. I’ve used it in the past on this card and this card.
For today’s card, I decided to make it into a flower. I have a little trick for making sure the leaves line up correctly (shown in the video). Here is a close-up of my coloring:
I have yet another card for the August Monochromatic Challenge. This challenge is actually not that hard – please enter if you haven’t already! I layered the new Leafy Frame die and shaded it with some Copic markers.
Here is a close-up of the coloring. As you can see, it’s very imprecise:
Sizzix Mylar Shims
