Happy Cake

Challenge #68 from Pattie's Creations is to use red, white, and blue in your projects.  I created my Happy Cake card from one of the freebies that Pattie gives out on the first Friday of the month, but there are lots of fantastic images to choose from in Pattie's Etsy store!

I designed this card so that it opens on point, giving it a different look than a plain square.  On each side of the square (before turning it on point), I die cut the word "Happy" from one of Die-Versions new Express Edge dies and added glossy accents to each of the letters.  The cupcake itself is covered with Cloud Nine glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle and then colored with Distress Markers.  The backdrop is several pieces of Washi tape.

What are you going to create using red, white, and blue?  You have two weeks to upload your project to Pattie's Creations Design Challenge.

Starting with the next challenge, there will be three new designers to replace some of us old-timers (like me).   Welcome Nancy, Valou, and Kelly!  I look forward to seeing all the great creations of this new team.  I also want to send a quick thank you to Pattie and Sandi to let you know how much I've enjoyed being a part of the PCDC team for the past year and a half.

Racing by

Talk about a CAS card.... here is a very quick and easy one using the new Pedal Power die from Die-Versions.  I also added the following fonts on top of the strips of washi tape:  Missy Micro, Short Stop, and Flashback.  Everything was cut out of silver mirrored cardstock.

Miss You

Miss You was created by incorporating a number of dies from Spellbinders (Timeless Rectangles, Creative Page Tabs, and a JustRite exclusive die) along with three of the rubber stamps from Sparkle N Sprinkle's stamp set Silhouettes.  Although there are flower pot dies available, I didn't have one so I cut out my own and colored it with Copic markers.

In order to create the bouquet of flowers, I colored directly onto the stamp with Distress Markers and then stamped onto white cardstock.  I stamped second and third generations (stamping multiple times without reinking) so that my petals would be in very soft pastels.  Then I fussy cut each stem out and arranged it behind the flower pot.  I also added Cloud Nine glitter to each of the petals for a hint of sparkle.  The sentiment is heat embossed with Tuscan Star embossing powder onto one half of a tab.

To achieve the background, several Distress Inks (Shabby Shutters, Mustard Seed, and Spiced Marmalade) were randomly blended onto kraft paper and then die cut with the Timeless Rectangles die.  The Just Rite die cut is the mat for the flower pot and is distressed with Shabby Shutters Distress Ink.

Sunset Cruise

 Time for more examples of the newest dies from Die-Versions.  One of the new Sweet Petites is a silhouette of a Ship.  I've used a variation of the "painting with embossing powders" technique to create my sunset.

All you need to do to create your own painted sunset is take a piece of cardstock and cover it with VersaMark.  Then begin adding sprinkling stripes of embossing power.  I used Sparkle N Sprinkle's Amethyst Spray, Cerulean, Sangria Star, Tuscan Star, and Tequila Sunrise (in that order from bottom to top).  Once the entire piece is covered, I heat set it.  I love the added glitter that's already in several of the embossing powders, making the sky twinkle and sparkle.  It's much more sparkly in person.  The sentiment is die cut with Die-Versions' Casting Call font out of the Tequila Sunrise embossing powder.

Head on over to the store to see all the other new releases this month.  Be sure to visit the Die-Versions Blog to see more great examples by the DV Dynamos too.

Happy Mother's Day

Please click here for the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop post (or continue scrolling down)

The theme for this week's challenge from Pattie's Creations is Mother's Day, since we celebrate Moms in the US on Sunday.  For my Mother's Day card, I've chosen the Roses in a Milk Bottle from Pattie's Etsy store.  I printed the image three times.  Once for the main image, one to pop dot the roses, and one to make a mask for my (very) subtle background.

Spellbinders Grand Ovals die was used to cut the main image out. Once this was done, I fussy cut out the mask and temporarily adhered it on top of the main image so I could sponge my Mini Chunky Chevron template pattern from Companion's Workshop onto the background with chalk inks.  It's pretty subtle in person (which is what I wanted), but not as subtle as it is in the photo.

Once that was completed, both the entire image, as well as my additional rose blossoms, was colored with Copic markers.  I added Orchid Rose and Frosted Carmine glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle to the outlines of the rose petals for an extra bit of bling.  I also created a glittery border with double sided tape and the Orchid Rose glitter.  Moms deserve all the sparkle they can get!

Now it's your turn to create a Mother's Day card and upload it to the Pattie's Creations Design Challenge.  You have two weeks and you double your chances of winning if you use a Pattie's Creations image.  Full details are listed on the PCDC blog.

At the Beach

It's time for a new blog hop from Sparkle N Sprinkle and this month our theme is At the Beach.  The blog hop goes from May 9 - May 10.  So you have plenty of time to check out all the wonderful creations.
To create my tropical island, I've used a couple stamps from both the Surfin' Woody set (Beach Fence and Palm Hammock) and the Serena Mermaid set.  I started out by stamping the Palm Hammock image and then masking it so I could design the sponged background.  Distress Inks were used for the backdrop.  In addition, I added Mudd Puddles (Tropical Beach) to the island.  If you've not used this product before, it's something you should try because you get lots of texture when the mixture dries.  It really does look and feel like grains of sand.

I colored my image with Distress Markers and paper pieced the hammock.  The sea shells and the sentiment are from the Serena Mermaid set and I heat embossed both of these with Clear Detail embossing powder.  For specific details, you can always visit my SNS Art Gallery.

Hopefully you arrived at Anne-Made from Karalee.  If not, you will want to start at the beginning - SNS Blog and go from there.  Plus all the details are posted on the SNS Blog as well as a complete list of all the designers participating.  Be sure to leave each of us a comment as there will be winners selected from three Mystery Hosts, as well as an overall winner.  Now it's time to head on over to April and see what she's designed just for you.

Happy Camper

 
What's better than one new Die-Versions release on a card?  How about three of the new releases!!  My step card incorporates the Happy Express Edge, the Happy Camper Whispers die, and the Pedal Power Whispers die plus a couple of rubber stamps from Unity.  In addition, all the birds, butterflies, and flowers are part of the "Garden Gazebo" Whispers die from Die-Versions and were colored with Copic markers.  You can't have too many dies on one card!

I used basic guidelines to create my side-step card and tweaked the measurements slightly to accomodate a wide enough left side border to cut out the "Happy" Express Edge.  Once that was completed, out came the Dylusions Ink Sprays (fresh lime and cut grass).  The strips of grass were leftover strips that I just randomly snipped the edge to resemble grass blades.  Since the "Happy Camper" die reminds me of the sleek Airstream campers, it was die cut out of silver mirrored cardstock and checkered curtains were added to all the windows.


"Petal Power" is another fun die from this release.  I colored it with Copic markers and added a touch of Sonic Silver glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle to the chrome pieces.  I colored directly on the rubber stamps (the trees) with Distress Markers and then fussy cut them out.

Be sure to check out our Die-Versions Blog to see what the rest of our very creative team has done with this month's release and also check out our Die-Versions Facebook page foe even more inspiration!

SNS May Color Challenge

It's time for the Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge and this month we have a color challenge for you.

Color swatch courtesy of Design Seeds®

I've used the Surfin' Woody set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I stamped the Woody Convertible first and then masked it so I could stamp the Beach Fence.  The image is colored with Copic markers and I added Sprinkle N Soft Sparkling Sands to the sandy areas.  Sonic Silver velvet glitter was used for the chrome on the car.

The sentiment was embossed with Pineapple embossing powder, heat set and then used as a resist as I covered the Spellbinders tag with Distress Ink (Fired Brick).  Jute and eyelets were used to secure it.  The chevron is from MFT and is spritzed with Dylusions Ink Sprays (postbox red and melted chocolate).

Now it's your turn to use the color scheme and create something.  You don't have to use Sparkle N Sprinkle stamps, but the prize is bigger if you do.  Plus, you have the entire month of May to get your project uploaded.