Card Concept Challenge #52

It's The Card Concept's 2nd Anniversary and look at this beautiful inspiration photo! 

I used Embroidered Blooms on another card recently and really wanted to use it again. I thought it would be very elegant in the black/gray/vanilla color scheme.  My style is Clean & Simple so I tried to keep doo dads to a minimum :-)

The leaves are slightly popped up on clear, foam dimensionals. The sequins give it some extra pizzaz. 

Check out the rest of the design team and join in the 2nd anniversary fun!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Embroidered Blooms (PTI), Off the Grid (SU)

Paper: Very Vanilla (SU)

Ink: Soft Granite (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), Onyx Black (Versafine)

Other: Turning a New Leaf die (PTI), Kool Tak clear foam, sequins (Avery Elle)

Card Concept Challenge #51

Hi everyone! Our new challenge at The Card Concept is an inspiration photo for spring.

I don't usually have time to do challenges but I do enjoy them and this week's CAS on Sunday sketch was perfect.  I watercolored some pink onto watercolor paper. Then I stamped the nest over this and die cut the circle.  I found some old Pretty in Pink DSP to layer underneath and then stamped the sentiment above. Pretty CAS!

I hope that you will check out the rest of the Design Team and then get busy on the challenge. I'm looking forward to all your pretty cards!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Birds & Nests (Cavallini), Delightful Dozen (SU)

Paper: Naturals White, Pretty in Pink DSP (SU), watercolor paper (Canson)

Ink: Dark Chocolate, Lovely Lady (PTI)

Other: Aquapainter, Circle die (Nestabilites), dimensionals (SU)

Card Concept Challenge #50

It's March and time for a new Card Concept Challenge.  This one is fun!  St. Patrick's Day, green, plaid, dots and shamrocks.  Let your creativity go wild!

I happen to love plaid and I have green eyes so guess what my favorite color is :-)  Also March is my birthday month so I love March!!  For my card I grabbed an old SU set called Got Treats? I really need to use those old sets and this one seemed perfect for the challenge. This card is really simple to make and that's my style - Clean & Simple.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team and join in the challenge!!  Don't forget your green on March 17th!!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Got Treats (SU)

Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Garden Green DSP (SU)

Ink: Garden Green (SU)

Card Concept Challenge #49

Time has sped by and it's time for another Card Concept Challenge. We have some beautiful colors for you this time.

 I'm traveling to visit my grandson for his 3rd birthday (Happy Birthday Titus!) and I brought along very minimal supplies with me but that's ok for my Clean & Simple style card. I thought some birthday streamers would be appropriate.  I don't have exact matches on the colors but tried to get close.

I received some Perfect Pearls for Christmas and wanted to try them out. They do add pretty shine but I think a solid image would have worked better.  I stamped the streamer in color, overstepped with Versamark and then added the Perfect Pearls. Because the Versamark did not stamp exactly on top of the image and because the streamer is not a solid image, it muddied the image.  The color is not as bright as I would like but the shine is pretty. It will take me some time to figure out the best way to use the pearls.

I hope that you will check out the rest of the Design Team's cards and make a beautiful creation for this challenge.

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Hooray (PTI); Handwritten Notes (Avery Elle)

Paper: White (PTI), Basic Black (SU)

Ink: Berry Sorbet, Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise (PTI), Versafine Onyx Black

Other: Perfect Pearls, Versamark, dimensionals

Tools: Paintbrush

Card Concept Challenge #48

Once again it's time for a new Card Concept Challenge.  It's amazing how quickly time flies by.  Valentine's Day is almost here.

I knew that I wanted hearts on my card and when I looked at my pink paper I found a piece that I had previously embossed and not used so I cut my heart from that.  Then I cut another heart from white using one of the shaker die from Papertrey's Shakers and Sprinkles set. 

 I used PTI's Brushed Off in several different pinks as the background. Then I embossed the sentiment in white and popped it up on dimensionals. I left the hearts flat on the paper to try to keep my card in the Clean and Simple category.

Check out the rest of the Design Team's cards and be inspired to make your own card!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Brushed Off, Keep It Simple: Valentine (PTI)
Paper: White (PTI), Melon Mambo, Black (SU)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink (SU)
Other: Versamark, White embossing powder (Hero Arts), Heart die from Make It Market: Shakers & Sprinkles (PTI), Kool Tak Clear Foam Tape, Multi Medium Matte glue, unknown embossing folder

Card Concept Challenge #47

Hi everyone! How are you doing?  We had so many wonderful cards entered in the last challenge and today we have another fantastic challenge for you at The Card Concept.  The inspiration photo has some lovely neutral colors and a lovely cake to inspire you. So let's get to my card which is in the Clean & Simple style.

I pulled out a really old SU set called Event Full because I thought this stamp was kinda fun. I've been playing with foil lately and wanted to try adding some to this card. I thought the bronze and silver foil would work well for the colors in the challenge. I used Score Tape to apply the foil. The bronze worked well but the silver just did not want to come off. I rubbed and rubbed and pretty much had to pull the stuff off with my fingers. Anyway, that's why the silver may look at bit roughed up.






Finally I spritzed on some bronze with a metallic Sharpie, added a few sequins and popped the top layer up on dimensionals. I also used the bronze Sharpie to fill in the wheels.





I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with. Have fun and check out the rest of the Design Team!!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Event Full (SU)

Paper: Very Vanilla (SU)

Ink: Close to Cocoa (SU)

Other: Spritzer (SU), Bronze Sharpie, Transfer foil by Ranger (Basics & Vintage), sequins (Avery Elle), dimensionals, Score Tape 1/8"

Welcome Back to The Card Concept Challenge for 2016

Hi everyone!  It's time to start up the Card Concept Challenge once again. Here in the Pacific NW it's been real cold and day before yesterday we got snow! So our first challenge of 2016 is perfect!

My style of cards is Clean & Simple -   one layer background with a single image popped up.

I added some shine to the little hearts to focus attention.

Check out the rest of the Design Team's inspiration cards and join in the challenge. I look forward to seeing your creations!!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Heart-2-Heart #1 (PTI)

Paper: White linen (PTI)

Ink: Pure Poppy, Lovely Lady (PTI), Chocolate Chip (SU)

Other: Heart-2-Heart #1 die (PTI), Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll pen, dimensionals

Final Card Concept Challenge of 2015

Wow! Christmas will soon be here.  Today we have the last Card Concept Challenge of 2015. The inspiration photo is a color combo but you can also be inspired by the snowflakes if you like.

I chose to go with both the colors and the snowflakes for my Clean & Simple card.  I die cut 2 snowflakes and layered them then added a piece of twine. Next I cut a a piece of vanilla using a Fishtail Flag die then ran it through my Big Shot again and cut the opposite end to get a double ended tag for my sentiment.

The base cardstock of Night of Navy looked a bit spare so I spritzed Glimmer Mist on to give it some sparkle. This looks cool (though hard to photograph) but it also warped my cardstock. I guess I'll be pressing the card under a book :-)  Another thing which you can't really see in the photo is that I added Wink of Stella to the snowflakes so they also shimmer. Very pretty IRL!

I hope that you will visit the rest of the design team to see what they came up with. I'm looking forward to seeing all your creations!

Merry Christmas! See you in January!


SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Keep It Simple: Christmas (PTI)
Paper: Night of Navy, Very Vanilla (SU)
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI)
Other: Eliza and Kate snowflake dies (SSS), Fishtail Flag Stax die (MFT), Wink of Stella Glitter pen clear, Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), twine

Card Concept Challenge #44

Hi everyone! We are moving into the holiday season with our inspiration photo for this challenge. Can't you just smell the cinnamon sticks and hot apple cider on the stove.

For my card I wanted to try a new (to me) technique using foil on the card.  I got some Sticky Embossing Powder, Versamark & foil and tried several times to get this technique to work and failed each time. Finally I resorted to using good ole gold embossing powder on the star. I think that since I was trying to emboss on white card stock I must have heat it too long. Have any of you had luck using Sticky Embossing Powder with your stamps? I'd love to hear about it.

My card is Clean & Simple. You can read about the styles here. The tree is stamped on a white tag.  I really liked the plaid chair in the photo and so I cut a second tag from a piece of plaid paper and placed it behind the tree. This is popped up on dimensionals. Finally the sentiment was added and that is that.

I hope you will join us for this challenge. I look forward to seeing what you all come up with! And don't forget to check out the rest of the design team!!


SUPPLIES:
Stamps: O' Tannenbaum, Keep It Simple: Christmas (Papertrey)
Paper: White, Holiday Plaid pattern paper (Papertey)
Ink: Smokey Shadow, Classic Kraft, Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy (Papertrey), Versamark
Other: Tag Sale #5 die (Papertrey), Gold embossing powder, May Arts twine, foam dimensionals

Color Challenge 43

Wow! Time just flies by this time of year.  We have another Card Concept Challenge for your today. The inspiration photo has some soft colors of beige, yellows, golds and if you look closely even blue.

My card is in the Clean & Simple style which is defined here. I wanted to get an apple into my card but that just didn't work out for me so I stuck with the colors. I started with More Mustard Along the bottom and then some Crushed Curry above that. They are a bit close in color so hard to distinguish a change. The next color up is Bordering Blue.

 I die cut the thanks in both More Mustard and Chocolate Chip and layered them slightly offset.  I placed this right along the intersection of the blue and yellow inks.

Lastly I stamped a few twinkles going up the card in the 3 colors and added some shine with my Stardust Gelly Roll pen and popped the panel up on foam tape.

I hope that you will check out the cards of the rest of the Design Team and then join in with our challenge!!  Have a great day!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Good Times (PTI)
Paper: White (PTI); More Mustard, Chocolate Chip (SU)
Ink: More Mustard, Crushed Curry, Bordering Blue (SU)
Other: Thanks On a Line die (SSS); Stardust Gelly Roll pen; foam tape; glue pen

Card Concept Challenge #42

Hi Everyone!  Time has flown by and we have another Card Concept Challenge for you.  This time we have a color challenge. Of course you can use the beautiful photo as inspiration too.

I used the colors to create my Clean & Simple holiday card.

I die cut the Pine Border Outline die from Scarlet Jewel Bitty Dots paper and also Early Espresso paper. I also cut it out of the vanilla paper so that the trees would be inset.  To keep the tree pieces in place I glued a scrap piece of paper on the backside of the panel. It was a bit tricky getting all the little pieces put back in but I really like the final result and I think by insetting the trees I keep that CAS look. 

Lastly I layered a thin strip of Baroque Burgundy along the bottom, added the sentiment and wrapped the pink twine around. This whole panel is popped up on dimensionals on the base card. 

Check out the rest of the Design Team's cards and get to work on the challenge. We love to see all your work!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Think Big Favorites #8 (PTI)

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso (SU); Scarlet Jewell Bitty Dots Basics (PTI)

Ink: Early Espresso (SU)

Other: Pine Border Outline Die (Memory Box); pink twine (American Crafts); dimensionals (Recollections); Embellie Gellie Pick Up Tool (Scraperfect)

Card Concept Challenge #41

Hi! I'm back today with a new Card Concept Challenge. We're getting into fall themes as you can see in the inspiration photo down below. Here's my card for the Clean and Simple category.

The image and the sentiment were stamped in black. Some pattern paper was added along the bottom and then finished off with some twine. Quick and easy!

Be sure to check out the styles here and all the inspiration from the rest of the design team and then get to making a card for the challenge. Happy stamping!!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Primitive Pumpkins (MFT)
Paper: Kraft (SU), Bitty Box Basics pattern paper (PTI)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Other: Black hemp twine (SU)

Card Concept Challenge #40

Hi! I hope that you enjoyed the last challenge and are getting back into the swing of things. We have a new Card Concept Challenge for you this week which involves "Forest Friends".

This photo immediately brought to mind an old SU set called Under the Stars. Do you remember it?  Here's my card. I have to tell you that I had a bad experience with a raccoon and camping at the ocean but this little guy is pretty cute.

I punched out the tag and stamped the critters. Then I ran the tag through my Big Shot with the Linen Impression plate to give it a tad bit of texture. Next I inked around the edge with the stamp pad and added the twine. A piece of Autumn Chicken Scratch DSP and a sentiment finishes it off.  The tag is popped up on dimensionals.  A Clean & Simple design.


Supplies:
Stamps: Under the Stars (SU), sentiment is from Peaceful Wildflowers (MFT)
Paper: Kraft (SU), Neena Solar White, Autumn Chicken Scratch Pattern Pack (PTI)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Classic Kraft (PTI)
Other: Monthly Moments Journal Card 6 die, Linen & Canvas Impression Plate (PTI), dimensionals (Recollections)


Well I couldn't help myself. I had to stamp another card.

I really liked the design of this card but ran into a few troubles. I stamped the sentiment on the vellum with Versafine Onyx black and it started to bleed. I also knew that it would be wet so I hit with my heat gun. And hit again. And hit it again. Wow. It just wouldn't dry.  So it's smudgy. Is that a word? Next time I will emboss it. Then I stamped the raccoon and got out my stamp-a-majig to line up the can of beans. After stamping I checked it out. Really? I can't even line it up with a stamp-a-majig.  Finally I stamped the bear, ran it through my wood impression plate and popped it up on dimensionals.  I still like the card, even with it's imperfections.

Hope you all will join us and make a Forest Friend card for the challenge.

Have a great day!

Supplies:
Stamps: Under the Stars (SU), Wet Paint III (PTI)
Paper: Kraft (SU), White (PTI), vellum
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Other: Wood Impression Plate (PTI), Fishtail Flag Stax (MFT), Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, dimensionals (Recollections)

The Card Concept Challenge Has Returned

Hi All!  This is so exciting for me. My first Card Concept challenge as a member of the Design Team!  For our first challenge back from summer break we have this inspiration photo.

I love that yellow and aqua color combo. I also love the daisies but I have a new butterfly die and I wanted to try it out so I went that direction instead of flowers. So here is my Clean and Simple card.

 I sponged Aqua Mist ink over the mesh stencil and then used my aquapainter to flick on some Hawaiian Shores ink.  Next I stamped the sentiment.

I die cut the butterfly from some dotted vellum and then used my aquapainter to add Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold & Summer Sunrise to the back of the piece. It really curled and I was a bit worried until I used my hair dryer on a low setting to dry it from the back and it flattened out to a nice looking gentle curl. I added the black rhinestones then adhered the butterfly with glue dots.

A few enamel dots finished it off.


Now that you've seen this card, which I am really happy with,  I will show you the first card that I made. I really like this one too but it seemed just a touch fussy for a Clean & Simple card.

I cut a piece of cardstock to 4 x 5-1/4" then I used an aquapainter to loosely paint the background in Aqua Mist and let it dry.

Next I the spackled over a portion of the stencil and let it dry. While it was drying I stamped Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold & Summer Sunrise onto an acrylic block then swished a bit of water onto the block with an aquapainter. On a separate piece of white cardstock I smooshed the ink from the acrylic block. I did this a couple times, let it dry and then flicked some Tropical Teal onto it. I die cut the butterfly from this piece.

Next I Stamped the sentiment.  I got the spackling paste a bit far down and so I stamped over it but it's still ok.  I adhered the butterfly with glue dots only in the center so that the wings can float off the paper a bit.  Lastly I added the enamel dots and taped this layer down to the card. You could also add dimensionals to this layer but I'm at my daughter's right now and we haven't unearthed her dimensionals  from boxes yet.  It may all sound complicated but it went pretty quickly.


I hope that you liked my card(s) and will participate in this challenge. Also check out the inspiration from all the other Design Team members.

Thanks for stopping by today!


SUPPLIES: (all supplies are from PTI unless noted)

Card 1:
Stamps: Graceful Greetings 
Paper: White , Dotted Vellum
Ink: Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise; Versafine Onyx Black
Other: Life is Beautiful Die Collection (pti); Texture Mesh stencil (Memory Box); sponge; Aquapainter, Acrylic block, Glue Dots (SU); Enamel dots (Doodlebug & Teresa Collins); Dimensionals (Recollections); Rhinestones (Recollections)

Card 2:
Stamps: Graceful Greetings 
Paper: White 
Ink: Aqua Mist, Tropical Teal, Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise; Versafine Onyx Black
Other: Life is Beautiful Die Collection (pti); Lightweight spackling paste (hardware store); Texture Mesh stencil (Memory Box); Aquapainter, Acrylic block, Glue Dots (SU); Enamel dots (Doodlebug & Teresa Collins); Dimensionals (Recollections)

The Card Concept Challenge #38

The current challenge at The Card Concept is a color challenge. Yellow and gray is such a pretty combo!

I love daisies so the inspiration photo really spoke to me. I was going to use my new PTI set Bloomers as a background for the sentiment but I really liked the delicate little flowers that came with the Graceful Greetings set so I went with this instead. I got the pattern paper at Michaels yesterday.  6 sheets for a $1. Such a deal!!  The tag is popped up on dimensionals.  A very CAS design with lots of white space.

Have a great 4th of July tomorrow!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Graceful Greetings (PTI)
Paper: White (PTI), Honeycomb pattern paper (Recollections)
Ink: Harvest Gold, Smokey Shadow (PTI), Soft Granite (Hero Arts)
Other: Tag Sale #5 die (PTI), twine (American Crafts), dimensionals (SU)

The Card Concept #37 - The Butterfly Effect

Hi Everyone! The challenge at The Card Concept is to use this beautiful photo of butterflies as your inspiration.

I started looking through some of my older stamp sets and realized that I have a lot of wonderful sets that weren't getting any love.  So I went with this retired SU set called Shapes & Shadows. Do you remember it?  I've always thought those little butterflies were so cute!

I stamped up the right side of the card in a rainbow of colors and added the sentiment. That's what makes a Clean & Simple card. Right?

I've loved seeing everyone's creations so far and can't wait to see more in the coming week.  Thanks for stopping by!!


SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Shapes & Shadows (SU retired), Think Big Favorites #22 (PTI)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Hawaiian Shores (PTI)
Ink: (Starting from the top) Winter Wisteria, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise, Sweet Blush, Pure Poppy, Tropical Teal (PTI); Versafine Onyx Black
Other: dimensionals


Edited 6/24:   Yippee!!! My card was chosen as one of the winners for this challenge!