Category: Challenges

Many Messages Makes Many Cards!

Posted on by dayinker

The Many Message bundle in the current Mini catalog is versatile and inspirational. It’s one big stamp so that it can be used as a background stamp. But the bundle also comes with a die to cut those messages into eighteen sentiments. Eighteen! You could make separate cards, one for each message. Or you could layer them together like the example in the catalog.

My Strategy

I went for the challenge of creating a unique card for each one. To further add to the challenge, I attempted to do this with just two sheets of double-sided DSP, matching card stock, and anything I could lay my hands on in my craft stash. I started by cutting the DSP using two different one-sheet-wonder layouts. These are patterns to cut a 12×12″ sheet with minimal waste.

It took me a few days to work my way through them. I did cards of all sizes, from 3×3″ to full size. I only have seventeen to share because, in the creative process, I managed to misplace one of the sentiments. When I use this stamp again to create individual sentiments, I will definitely use an envelope or other containment device. I’m also planning to experiment with using the stamp as a background image.

My Carousel of Cards

I hope you found some inspiration in my Many Messages card creation challenge. For more ideas you can find me on Instagram and Pinterest. Happy crafting!

CASE-ing Christmas Cards

Posted on by dayinker

For the past couple of years, I’ve participated in a Christmas Stampathon group on Facebook. Last year I got sidetracked and didn’t complete all the challenges. Big mistake. Huge. I didn’t have all my holiday tags and cards ready to go. So, I recommitted this year and I’ll share the cards with you. For the most part, I use my scraps and retired products for these challenges which also helps clear the craft room. Never a bad thing. You can join the group online, it’s run by a wonderful demo who is super supportive and friendly, or you can take your inspiration here and play along behind the scenes.

The CASE Image and My Cards

To CASE a card, I like to look at the elements. This card has a color base, a bit of texture on the white background, five strips of color, a central die-cut image, a sentiment, and some gems. I stayed pretty literal to this equation and played more with style.

Rustic Moose

In the first one, I went rustic. I used the Birch background with Cinnamon Cider ink on the Very Vanilla base to create the texture. And I gave our Merry Moose a bright red scarf to bring out some of the color in the DSP strips. The copper medallion, heat embossed sentiment, and mirror embellishments added a bit of holiday sparkle.

Monochromatic Sleigh

The Cherry Cobbler sleigh card is nearly monochromatic. I used an embossing folder on the Very Vanilla card stock to add the texture. The sleigh and the sentiment are heat embossed in gold and I used a few Gold Glitter enamel dots for the sparkle. One thing I wish I had done differently was to use the opposite side of the embossed snowflake. It would have made the card assembly easier.

Sparkly Tree

The third card uses a background from a summer Paper Pumpkin kit. I added a mix of silver foil DSP and matte grays. The Shaded Spruce tree is from the In the Woods dies. I added a bit of white/glitter heat embossing to the edges of the branches. I did a combination on the sentiment of silver heat embossing and die-cutting. The “Holidays” is actually two die cuts—Silver foil and Shaded Spruce—layered on top of each other. I went all out with gems, a star and silver pearls on the tree, snowflakes on the background. I call this my More is More card.

Clean and Simple

Which meant my last card had to be a less is more. I got out some very retired Washi tape. Added a stamped ornament from the recent Christmas Gleaming set, and some gold braid and glitter enamel dots. The sentiment is stamped right on the card base in Cherry Cobbler.

This is a great layout no matter what the occasion. I could see creating a super fun birthday card for example.

Hope you are inspired to create something today. Happy crafting.

A Botanical Medley

Posted on by dayinker

Two of my favorite things happened in the last week. First, my order from Stampin’ Up arrived with the Botanical Prints product medley and my free Golden Honey Specialty DSP. Second, there was a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge! I’ll tell you about these wonderful things in order.

If you haven’t purchased a product medley before, this is one to try. It’s perfect for people who want to put together a quick coordinated card or for those who like to spend a little more time on their crafting. The stamp set has three images and three sentiments and there are matching and supporting dies. The stamps are perfect coloring in with watercolor pencils, markers, or Stampin’ Blends. The set also comes with 6×6 papers, all of them can be used as-is, but again, some are perfect for adding your own touch.

They also included pre-punched pieces with lemons and cherries and oranges and such, Old Olive twill ribbon, laser-cut overlays, banners, and the most adorable little copper bees. Add a bit of creativity, ink, and adhesive and you could craft for days! Oh, and the order qualifies for a Sale-a-bration item, so I picked up the back of Golden Honey DSP. Now let me show you what I made.

The Tic Tac Toe Challenge

This week’s challenge has an obvious tilt toward Valentine’s Day designs with hearts, pink, red, and flowers. I decided to go in a different direction as I had already created and sent my holiday cards. I used the middle row: Polka Dots, Die Cuts, and Flowers.

I started by selecting a piece of the 6×6 paper that was printed with leaves, flowers, and fruit and then got busy coloring. I used Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, and Daffodil Delight watercolor pencils to add color to the black and white image. I paired with a piece of the Golden Honey paper that I thought had a polka dot vibe. They’re actually little hexagons, but I think it works. I used the Old Olive twill ribbon to conceal my seam

Next, I stamped one of the images from the Botanical Prints set in Staz-On Jet Black. I used this because I planned to use the same pencils, but also use my aqua-pen to turn the pencil color into actual watercolor. Once I was done with my flower, I used the matching die to cut it out along with some leaves in Old Olive.

Lastly, I stamped the sentiment from the same set in Old Olive ink on one of the banners from the medley. I popped that up on Dimensionals. For a final touch, I added a copper bee to my Rich Razzleberry flower and mounted the entire thing on a Rich Razzleberry card base.

I enjoyed playing with my new products and taking some “me-time” to color. I always find that so relaxing. I hope you are enjoying your creativity this week. Thanks to the Tic Tac Toe Challenge designers for another inspirational board.