Lots of Layers

LOL on the Internet rarely stands for anything other than Laughing Out Loud.  Today, however, we've got Lots of Layers.  It's the most recent challenge from Paper Smooches.  We were challenged to create layers of anything... paper, ink, colors, embellishments.  This challenge lasts until Tuesday, June 28th, so you've got time to join us!

My card features layers of paper.  Three layers of cardstock to create the base borders, then a layer of dimensionally raised hexagons, and finally a two-layered sentiment on top.

   
This card features the Botanicals 2 set for the flora and the Many Thanks set for the sentiment.  The punches are from EK Success and the inks and cardstock are from Stampin' Up!

Happy Stamping!

HOP with Unity: For the Birds

Happy Friday!  I'm hoping to spend at least some time stamping this weekend.  I've seen so many sneak peeks from companies exhibiting at CHA that have me inspired!  Have you seen anything that you just HAVE to have?
    

   
In August, there was a call for cards with birds from The Stampers' Sampler.  This Unity card of mine was one chosen for publication, and it appears on page 70 of the Jan/Feb/Mar 2016 issue that's on stands now.
    
I was largely inspired by the patterned paper from Memory Box.  It looked like some of the petals of the pink flowers were in flight.  I added the bird stamp and quick double-knotted waxy floss across the front.  It's great when cards are flat enough to mail in a regular envelope!
  
Thanks for joining the HOP with Unity today!  Happy Stamping!

I Scream, You Scream

When I was growing up, we lived not too far from where the New York Yankees held their spring training games in Fort Lauderdale.  There was a snack vendor named Ivan who would come around with "popcorn, peanuts, cold beer here!"  He also had ice cream and would do the "I scream, you scream..." thing.  My sister and I liked the long conical three-flavored Astro Pops.  Sometimes it was just family, and other times we'd load some neighborhood kids into the station wagon and take the whole group.
      
The card I'm sharing today was inspired by the GCD Studios paper that I used.  Notice there's a little ice cream truck on the horizontal strip, parallel to the ribbon?   I couldn't resist.
  

           

I planned on adding some Glossy Accents from Ranger to the ice cream itself to make it shiny and look cold.  Unfortunately, I was in a hurry to get it off to a magazine and the Glossy Accents wouldn't have had time to dry.  The card did make it into the magazine, though.  It will appear in the Feb/Mar 2016 issue of Scrap & Stamp Arts.
    
The cone is paper-pieced, and I added just a touch of a very light blue Copic marker to the outside of the ice cream for dimension.

The stamp set is really cute, and it has faces in the different frozen treats depicted.  However, I liked this particular card without the face, so I omitted it.  Looking at the card now, I see that the ice cream cone would make a great pot for a plant.  I love it when stamp sets are versatile, don't you?
    
Happy Stamping!
  

FWF: You Are So Kind

It's Friday once again, which means the weekend is right around the corner!
  
This particular card that I'm sharing today features my most favorite bird rubber stamp.  I'm enchanted by it. I love it so much, I bought a back-up.  (It's the only stamp I've ever purchased a back-up for on purpose. I do admit to buying other duplicates by mistake!! I hope I'm not the only one who does that.)
    

      
This card was an easy CAS (clean-and-simple) card. The patterned paper is from Memory Box.  The stamp and sentiment are from Unity Stamp Company. The edge of the paper was inked in Chestnut Roan chalk ink from Clearsnap, and the stamps were stamped in Seedless Preserves, a purple dye ink from the Tim Holtz distress collection from Ranger.
  
I thought of adding all sorts of embellishments...  a gem for the eye, a ribbon across the top, etc. In the end, though, I don't think they were really necessary. Do you prefer lots of layers and embellishments?   Or do you tend to keep it simple?
  
Happy Stamping!

FWF: Be Led by Your Dreams

It's Friday again!  Today, I'm sharing a card that is hitting the newsstands as we speak in the October 2015 issue of Scrap & Stamp Arts.
   

 

      

I stamped the butterfly and the sentiment onto patterned papers (from Prima) with Memento dye ink in Rhubarb Stalk.  I then took some water and a brush, and watercolored more of the Rhubarb Stalk color throughout the butterfly's wings.   I added brown to the body of the butterfly with a Copic marker.  Quick embellishments included flowers (from Prima), pearls, and awesome Sea Grass thread in Soft Pink from The Thread Gatherer.

This weekend I've got two fun stamping sessions scheduled with different groups of friends.  Are you going to have a chance to create?

Happy Stamping!