Wednesday, April 29, 2015

More Cards and a Blog Hop Winner Announcement

And the winner from Saturday's C.A.S.E. a Card Blog Hop is....drum roll please...


Love the colours and I think I have that stamp! Great inspiration to CASE, thanks Theresa!
SN - Megan
Megan you have 7 days to email at scrapsbygracie@gmail.com with your name and mailing address. Please use CASE A CARD WINNER as your subject line.
THANKS FOR HOPPING WITH US!!

Now on with today's post, I'm continuing on with the StampNation Virtual Retreat Challenges today.

The cards today all were made for the Technique Try It Challenge.

One of the design team members, Heather North from Heather's Creative Blessings  created a card using the wax paper resist technique.

Here's a video from YouTube showing the technique. I did not use glossy cardstock in mine nor did Heather so it is not necessary, any smooth cardstock will work.



Well I got a bit carried away playing with this technique and created a whole bunch of cards.



After I played with the top above, I thought what would happen if I combined stencils with the wax resist? Well the results are awesome! 

I grabbed my brick stencil and some grays and browns from my Ranger Distress Inks and started creating this cool stone wall. 


 Then I pulled out a more decorative stencils and played with colors.



Then it was the honeycomb stencil's turn. 


I still wasn't finished, so I made one more.


Then Catherine Pooler, founder of StampNation posted her card and other techniques to try.  I was intrigued by the Joseph's Coat technique.  

Here is a video that Catherine did explaining Joseph's Coat. 



I couldn't help but give it a try.

Yes, the card is sideways but I wanted you to be able to read the sentiment.
I just love how it turned out!  I used the direct to paper technique to get the two strips
down the side of the card.   


So go on now, I know you are wondering when this post will end so you can go play in your craft room and give these techniques a try.

Happy Crafting 
Theresa

Monday, April 27, 2015

More cards inspired by StampNation Virtual Retreat

Hop you enjoyed the C.A.S.E. A Card Blog Hop on Saturday.  You still have until 11:59 p.m. EST to hop and comment on the posts to be entered into the prize drawing.  You can find the hop by clicking HERE.


As you may have read last week StampNation (see right side bar for link with more details on this great site) hosted a virtual retreat.  It was great fun and there was lots of great challenges.

The next set of cards were for the Techniques Try It Challenge.

I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I used Ranger Distress inks and copics
(on the flower petals because I couldn't get distress inks dark enough to show up over the bricks).
It is supposed to resemble graffiti. 



Then I moved on to trying out the ghosting technique.




So the point was to try techniques you've never tried before.  I started with stencil over stencil and creating faux brick look.

Tried the ghosting technique using VersaMark and Distress inks.
The pattern is very subtle in the pics but you can see it in real life.
 


Second pic is a close up of the background ghosting.
Then I played with ghosting in a different way.  This one uses stamp cleaner as a bleaching agent.
You create the background using water based inks. I used Ranger Distress Inks and then you spritz
your stamp with stamp cleaner (I used Stampin' Mist by Stampin' Up) and stamp the images. It
then "bleaches" the image into the background.  You can substitute plain water for the stamp cleaner
but you get a much more subtle effect than this. 

Stop in on Wednesday for more of my challenge cards.

Happy Crafting
Theresa

Friday, April 24, 2015

C.A.S.E. A Card Blog Hop

Welcome to the 



Remember the old kids game, Telephone? You know the one where a secret is told to the first person in line and then they tell what they think they heard to the next person and they tell the next person and so on and so on.  At the end of the line, the person says what they heard and the first person tells what they originally said and laughter erupts because the two things are nothing alike. 

Well today's hop plays that game, but with card making instead of secrets.

This hop is un-like any you've probably ever been too. 

We took one card created by Theresa from ScrapsByGracie and sent it to the next blogger who then C.A.S.E.d the card (copy and steal everything) and sent her card on to the next blogger who C.A.S.E.d it and sent her card to the next blogger.  You get the idea. 

When you are done hopping you'll see how different or maybe how similar the last card is to the first.

So let's get hopping.

I created the first card in the hop while playing around with this sketch.


I moved and removed elements until I got the look I was happy with.  Don't be afraid to play with card or scrapbook layout sketches.  They are meant to be a guide and to jump start your creativity.  You don't have to create them just like you see them.

So here is the card that I created.


I used Ranger Distress Inks over a stencil to create the background. 
Then stamped over that with Memento Dewdrop Inks using the rock and roll
technique to achieve the multiple colors on each stamped image.

I really like how it turned out.

Now hop off and see how Sandy C.A.S.E.d this card to create her own unique and wonderful design.

Here is the full line-up in case (hahahaha, ok I can't help it I crack myself up) 
you get lost along the way.

Theresa Knopf http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com (YOU ARE HERE)
Sandy Bell Hentzel www.scrapbookblessingsclub.com
Jessica Douglas Wilson www.stampinandcraftin.blogspot.com

You'll be amazed at how this simple card based on this simple sketch gets changed up along the way.
Don't forget to comment and follow all the blogs to be entered into the drawing. Winner will be posted on here on Wednesday and the winner will have 7 days to claim their prize.



Happy Hopping
Theresa




A few more cards...

So I told you earlier in the week that StampNation is having a virtual retreat this week.

I made a few more cards for the challenges going on over there.

Challenge 1 for today: Celebrate the food of a retreat.


This one was really hard for me.  I only own one stamp that is food related and that's a wedding cake stamp.  So I had to dig deep to find this cupcake diecut in my stash.  I'm sure that in my hundreds of Cricut cartridges I could have found something but I was being lazy.  So I embossed the red layer with a numbers embossing folder and added Wink of Stella Clear to the frosting and popped the cupcake up on some foam tape, added the sentiment and ta-da the card is done.

Challenge 2 for today: Make and Takes  

Create a card using at least 4 of the following:
Tags
Sequins
Stencils
Background Stamps
Embossing
Something New

So I got created two cards

I used stencil/background stamp/sequins/tag/embossing/something new(stamp set)
I stamped the background stamp in VersaMark ink on vellum and used Stampendous Pearl Embossing Powder. I then flipped the vellum over and stenciled with Picked Raspberry Ranger Distress Ink on the back of the vellum.
I used the same stencil, VM and pearl e.p. on the side of the card.
The tag is colored with the Picked Raspberry and the bird is stamped with VersaDazzle Ink and then rubbed with Pearlized Pearl Ex powder and set. I stamped the sentiment in VersaFine Black Onyx Ink and used clear embossing powder over it.


 I had the idea of the card above swirling around in my head for several hours, but Since it didn't turn out how I envisioned it. I started playing again with another card.  And man do I love how it turned out. 

I used stencil/background stamp/tag/embossing/something new(stamp set)
I used the same background stamp and pearl e.p. on gray cardstock instead of the vellum and I used the same stencil on the side of the card, but used my Pearl Ex powder this time. I used silver Pearl Ex powder on the bird. The quote is embossed with SU white e.p. Since I didn't have anymore sequins, I used pieces from a pearl embellishment sticker that someone sent me. 
I'm going to add the initials of my cousin and his fiancee to the tag and use it as their wedding card.

That's it for today.  I'll have a few more for you Monday and Wednesday next week.

Stop in tomorrow and hop along with us on the C.A.S.E. A Card Blog Hop.

Happy Crafting
Theresa




Tuesday, April 21, 2015

I'm back...and I have got a few cards for you.

Well I took a week off of blogging but not creating. So I've got a few cards for you.

First is a color challenge that was posted in one of my favorite Facebook groups.


Here is my card.  


The softer grays don't show up really well in the picture but are there.

I used Ranger Distress Inks and watercolor paper.

It is also the StampNation Virtual Retreat this week, so I've created a few cards for the challenges posted there. 

For more info on StampNation click the link on the right side bar.

So this card was for a limited supplies challenge.
You could only use one stamp set and 3 ink pads and one other embellishment.
I used Ranger Distress Inks Peacock Feathers and Dusty Concord and VersaFine Black Onyx Inks and A Little Bit Scenic Silhouette stamp set by Sheena.

I used the Peacock Feathers direct to paper to make the second layer and used the ink left on the craft mat to create the watercolor piece then added a little dusty concord. I used second generation stamping for the different tones of black and used clear glossy embossing powder over the black ink

The next two cards are for the Getting There Challenge.  Only requirements were that you had to
use some sort of transportation or something to do with transportation on the card.

My card is pretty simple, but since that is my favorite style, it works for me.
I used a sheet of map paper from a 6x6 paper pad and stamps from a Tim Holtz set on the outside and a sentiment from an unknown set on the inside.
Here is the inside of the card.

This is the second card I made for the Getting There Challenge. Same stamp sets + the one I used
on the first SN challenge and more Ranger Distress Inks, a few Memento Inks and VersaFine Black Onyx Ink.


Hope these cards inspire you.

Happy Crafting
Theresa


Monday, April 13, 2015

Taking the week off...

I'm taking the week off, but you still have time to hop through Saturday's blog hop and comment to be entered into the prize drawing.


 If you need some crafty inspiration, I would love if you stopped by my other blog: Create A Card Challenge.

It has new and exciting things coming and on Wednesday there will be a big announcement over there.  So stop in and check it out.  Leave a comment or two so I know you stopped in and like what you see.

Have a great week and I'll be back here next week.

Happy Crafting
Theresa

Friday, April 10, 2015

Over the Rainbow Blog Hop

Welcome to the 

Click on the image above if you'd like to start at the beginning of the hop.

You should have arrived here from Pam's blog.

Don't forget to follow and comment on all the blogs in today's hop to be entered 
into the prize drawing.  Melissa from http://papercraftingworld.com/ has
generously donated a $20 download gift certificate for digital stamps, printables or SVG Cut Files.




You will have until 12:00 am Monday to finish this hop and leave your comments.


Winners will be announced on Wednesday at Connie Can Crop.


Be sure to follow everyone and leave your blog love along the way!

Now on with the projects...


Supplies: Ranger Distress Inks, Versa Mark Black Onyx Ink,
Clear Embossing Powder on Ranger Watercolor Paper.

Supplies: Ranger Distress Inks, Versa Mark Black Onyx Ink, Clear Embossing Powder
This inside sentiment is the last half of the sentiment that I stamped on the outside of the card.
This stamp is from a stamp set by Inkadinkadoo.



Thanks for hopping with us today.  Your next stop is Miranda - www.nanasscrapspot.com.

Here's the lineup in case you missed anyone:


Monday, April 6, 2015

Tic Tac Toe and Card Making?

So today I thought I'd share the cards that I created for the virtual crop that I held on Friday night.

The challenge was to use this TicTacToe board to create cards or scrapbook pages.




This first card is the Birthday/Yellow/Embossing line.


The sentiment is stamped in Versa Fine Black Onyx Ink and heat embossed with glossy clear embossing powder.  I used a stencil and Ranger Distress Inks to create the background and cut the flowers out using cardstock and fun foam. Yes, you read that correctly, I used yellow fun foam for the flowers. Add in a couple of gems for the flower centers and call it done.

The second card uses the Ribbon/ThankYou/Embossing line.


When I was creating the card (live on video) I forgot to using embossing. So afterwards I added the Iridescent Ice embossed butterfly.  It is very subtle but it is there. 

The third card is the Flowers/Starts with B/Thank you line.


I used another stencil and distress inks to create the background.  Used butterflies for the Starts with B and used a new stamp set for the flowers and thanks sentiment. I got a little carried away with the gems but I really like how this one turned out.


This next card is the White/Starts with B/Embossing line.


I used an embossing folder directly on the front of my card base. I created the tag using a stencil with the same pattern and stamped and fussy cut the butterflies.  It is a pretty simple card, but I think it might brighten someones day when they get it.

The last card is made with the line, White/Flowers/Birthday.


I stamped the background using Memento Inks and flowers from a Stampin' Up set. I used Heidi Swapp mistable flowers on top. 

That's it for today.  Check out my YouTube channel for videos on some of these cards. 

Happy Crafting
Theresa

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

The Winners Are....




The winners of the Create a Card Blog Hop are:


Trial Membership to StampNation


I've redrawn since the original winner did not claim their prize within the 5 days, so the next person in line is 

Very cute cards! What a fun giveaway! :)
Please claim your prize by April 12th. 


Class of your choice from Creativity Grows Here

True Random Number Generator  36Powered by RANDOM.ORG
These are beautiful - all very different and yet using similar technique and elements.

Ladies, please email me at scrapsbygracie@gmail.com by Monday so that I can get your prizes to you. Please list WINNER in the subject line.