The Card Concept #14 - Hello, Black & White!

Hello black and white, with a dash of red and teal, that is!

Hi there!  It's time for a new Card Concept challenge, and we've got a color palette for you to play with this time 'round.  Guess you can already tell what the colors are...

Our inspiration picture --

I made a Classy & Elegant card, taking inspiration from the patterns on the back pillow and the blanket. The pillow is black and white, and totally reminded me of the Punched Tin Background stamp from Market Street Stamps (aaahhh, I do treasure my discontinued MSS stamps).

The blanket in the above photo has a design that made me think of my Herringbone embossing folder. After adding a 'hello' die cut, a couple of flowers, and a ribbon, I was done!

Speaking of embossing folders like this one, does anyone else find that their cardstock buckles a bit after embossing with an intricate design?  It bugs me, but I don't know if there's really anything to fix the problem.

Sure hope you will join us for the Card Concept challenge.  Click HERE for all the details!

Stamps: Punched Tin Background - Market Street Stamps Paper: True Black, white - PTI Ink: black - Hampton Arts Fibers: black ribbon - Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Accessories & Tools: Hello die - Memory Box; blue, red paper flowers - Inspired By Stamping; Herringbone embossing folder - Cuttlebug

Seize The Sketch #24 - Shasta Daisy for You

Hello friends!  Time for a new sketch challenge at Seize The Sketch!  This one is courtesy of our hostess, Vicki Dutcher, and it's nice and easy.  You can dress it up as much as you like, or leave it simple.  

I gussied mine up, as you can see.

The nugget that got me started was this Shasta Daisy seed packet sticker from K & Co.  It has a little tag that pulls out, and I stamped a sentiment from Inspired By Stamping on it, and tied a bit of twine.  It came with a ribbon that was kind of ugly, and didn't match.  I tied a Colleen Bow on the card base, and added some retired Stampin' Up! papers that matched the seed packet quite well.

Most paper edges were distressed with ink for a shabby chic vibe.

If you'd like to play along with us, click HERE for all the details.

I had every intention of sharing photos from our Las Vegas vacation last week (it was awesome!), but one thing after another has happened around here -- biggest thing being that our central A/C unit died (oh joy) and it's REALLY hot here (97 degrees tomorrow!).  Had four different heating/cooling companies here today to give us estimates...ouch.  We were not planning to spend this kind of money at the present time.

Well, soon enough I'll share some pics.  We truly had fun, and what an interesting town Las Vegas is! Oh, yes, it is larger than life.  And David Copperfield touched my hand!  Talk about a brush with a celebrity.  =) We even took a day trip to see the Grand Canyon.  Such a magnificent sight, too glorious for words, or even pictures for that matter.

Thanks for your visit today!

Stamps: sentiment - Small Fancy Labels - Inspired By Stamping Paper: Vintage Cream - PTI; Bashful Blue, patterns - SU Ink: Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Danish Blue seam binding - Hug Snug; twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: blue button - Jolee's; pearls - Queen & Co.; corner rounder punch - Fiskars; Framed Tulips embossing folder - SU; Shasta daisy seed packet sticker/enclosure tag - K & Co. 

A peony bouquet for you

Hey there!  I'm popping in with a dramatic card using new Power Poppy stamps.  I LOVE the new set, Dynamic Duos:  Peonies and Tulips.  I am thankful to Power Poppy owner, Marcella Hawley, for creating the peonies into a photopolymer set.  She initially had released them in digital format only, and digital doesn't work for me.  So thank you, thank you, Marcella!  This card is entered in the PP gallery:  Power Poppy Peep of the Week.

I colored the blooms with Copic markers; matted the piece on some black cardstock, and then onto a piece of silver mirror cardstock.  It was hard to capture the shine, but you get the idea.  I added a silver bow that came on a gift, embossed the base, and it was done!

So, for those of you who are my friends on Facebook, you may have seen my post that my daughter and I were in a multi-car accident yesterday on an expressway in Philly.  Wow.  What a scary thing.  We ALL were blessed to walk away unharmed, just shaken.  Mere minutes before the crash (one guy hit another guy, who then was pushed into my car) I said a prayer to the Lord, asking Him to keep us safe in our travels.  I believe in the power of prayer, and in angels, and I know we were all protected yesterday.  Cars can be fixed or replaced, but our health is different.  Yes, this is an inconvenience (my car is brand-new -- ugh) for us all, but thinking of what could have happened --  the at-fault driver could have been going much faster, I could have hit a car in front of me, cars could have flipped, caught fire, etc. -- makes me SUPREMELY grateful that we're okay!

I'm taking a little blogging break for about a week or so.  Lots going on here at Chez Dietrich, and I need to focus my attention on those things.  I'll be back before you know it!  =)

Stamps: Dynamic Duos:  Peonies and Tulips - Power Poppy Paper: True Black, white - PTI; silver mirror - WorldWin Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: silver metallic ribbon Accessories & Tools: Ornate Flourish embossing folder - The Paper Studio; Copic markers

It's Your Day

Hello there!  Are you enjoying summer, as it's officially here?  My kids are finished with school (whew!) and I know they're sooooo glad.  They are planning many dips in the pool, and sleeping in as late as they can! Ahhh, to be that young again.

Well, after all the masculine cards I've been sharing as of late, I've got something quite feminine to share today.

I started out with the dotted piece of retired Stampin' Up! paper, and built the color scheme from there.  The fancy cake is from Hampton Arts' Wedding set, and I added some 'frosting' (pink liquid pearls).  That was fun.  That's about the closest I'll get to decorating a cake.  =)

I did use lots of scraps on this card - yay! -- even the ribbon was a scrap.

Thanks for coming by today, everyone!

Stamps: cake - Wedding - Hampton Arts; sentiment - Just Because Sentiments - IBS Paper: Regal Rose, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, polka dot - SU; white - PTI Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: yellow satin ribbon Accessories & Tools: doily - Wilton; Petal Pink Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Chevron Stripes die - My Favorite Things/Dienamics; ribbon die - Ribbon Banners - Spellbinders; pearls

Seize The Sketch #23 - He counts the number of the stars...

Hello!  Thanks for giving me some of your time today.  We've got a new sketch up at Seize The Sketch, courtesy of hostess Lee Ann Barrett.  I had fun with it, using some new-to-me goodies and a monochromatic color scheme.

I turned the sketch on its side, so I could accommodate the vertical sentiment from Shining Star / Verve. Love this sentiment...it is comforting to me.

One of the other sentiments in the Verve set has a sweet little star dangling down.  I stamped a bunch of them in black, trimmed 'em out and assembled them along a thin piece of white ribbon.  And how about that glittery paper?  It was a Christmas gift from my little family, and it's called Mint by American Crafts.  Not sure about you, but I thought of a bright yellow when I first laid eyes on it.  Not green.  But whatever, it matches the piece of Colorbok ombre patterned paper really well!

If you'd like to play along with us, just click HERE for all the details.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps: Shining Star - Verve; inside stars - Year Round Sentiments - Hero Arts Paper: white - PTI; ombre pattern - Colorbok; Mint glitter cardstock - American Crafts  Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Kiwi Kiss - SU Fibers: white grosgrain ribbon Accessories & Tools: Romantic Rectangles, oval dies - Spellbinders; Clear Cut Stackers Stars dies - Wplus9

Can you stand a few more Father's Day cards?

Alas, I was unable to get these posted before Father's Day last weekend, so here are my stragglers.

This card base is a weird color to me.  You might think it was Soft Suede by Stampin' Up!, but it's not.  I've had it in my stash since I served on the Mark's Finest Papers team a while back.  No idea what the color is called.  There actually IS some Soft Suede on here; the larger die cut frame.  Quite a difference, huh?

Stamps: Masculine Tags, Background Basics II - Inspired By Stamping Paper: brown pattern, green pattern - Old World stack - DCWV; Soft Suede, Going Gray, kraft - SU; brown base - Mark's Finest Papers Ink: black - Rubber Stampede; Early Espresso - SU; Walnut Stain - Ranger Fibers: cotton twill, jute ribbon, vintage thread Accessories & Tools: corner rounder punch - Fiskars; brown corduroy button - SU; Bronze Distress Glitter glue - Ranger; Fancy Labels 2 die - IBS

The next one is a go-to card for Father's Day for me.  I've had it pinned almost 400 times on Pinterest, from an old post of mine from 2010.   I remade it for the shop, and added a sentiment on the front this time.

I did make several to sell, and so my hand was a-hurtin' after cutting out all those fish!  I used an old, old stamp from Bizarro.

Stamps: sentiment - Cherish - Inspired By Stamping; fish - Bizarro; Print Pattern background - SU Paper: Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Naturals, Ivory - SU Ink: Close to Cocoa - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: cotton twill, twine - SU Accessories & Tools: circle punches; black fine-tipped pen

The next card was inspired by this card.  I did not want to outright CASE every detail, so I changed it up to feel more masculine and earthy.

All of the stamps are from Inspired By Stamping.  On the harlequin border, I used a new-to-me Distress Embossing Powder from Ranger.  Pity you can't really see it in the photos.  It's something with a sandy texture.

Now, I'm notorious for reading directions, er, um, not very thoroughly.  Just ask dear hubby.  So, I went about embossing this image for the first time with the Distress Embossing Powder, and I thought I was doing something wrong.  It kept crumbling off.  I thought I had not heated it enough.  Kept hitting it with the heat gun, burning my fingers and all.  Then, I checked the package, which reads "To distress, emboss image and allow to cool for a few seconds. Lightly rub embossed image with your finger or Cut n’ Dry Foam to remove the special release crystals. Some colors release more than others, so don’t worry if some rub off more or less …it’s part of the “aged” look."  (You can read the rest of the instructions here if you want.)  Ahhh!  So, I was doing it right all along! (shaking head)

I added splashes of Khaki Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels on the card to 'mess it up' a bit, and you can see it best below:

Since my husband turned the card this way (see below) when he opened it on Father's Day, thinking this was the proper orientation, I wanted to show you what it looks like in a horizontal format.

Had I not already filled in the inside of the card, I would have just twisted that fleur-de-lis around and kept the card horizontal.  I like it better!

Stamps: father's day - Happy Occasions, wishes - Chalkboard Birthday, fleur-de-lis & harlequin border - French Country - Inspired By Stamping Paper: River Rock, Soft Suede, Basic Black, ivory - SU Ink: Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Chocolate Chip - SU Fibers: chocolate twine - American Crafts Accessories & Tools: Khaki Glimmer Mist - Tattered Angels; circle punches and dies; chocolate pearl - Recollections; Corduroy Distress Embossing Powder - Ranger

Thanks so much for visiting today!  Have a wonderful weekend!

It's Pretty CAS

Yep, it's a pretty clean and simple card, as you can see.  I almost didn't show it because it is so sparse.

I had received this Verve set, Brighter Days, from winning a contest months ago, and the sweet rose and leaf stamps are a gift from a dear friend.  They are from DeNami's Solid Rose Accents.  I added a gold sequin to the rose, and a little bee sequin near the top of the sentiment.  These I raided from my children's long-neglected crafting stash.  I'm happy to oblige if they don't want their stuff anymore.  =)

Thanks a bunch for coming by today.  May YOUR days be filled with sunshine and laughter!

Stamps: Solid Rose Accents - DeNami Design; Brighter Days - Verve Paper: white - PTI Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Green Galore, Rose Red - SU Accessories & Tools: gold, bee sequins

Patriotic~Miltary Collection

Last week, I shared one of the patriotic / military cards I've been creating for the shop.  I've got several more to show today.  The way these came about:  an employee at Arts Plus Gallery, where I sell my cards, told me there is a need for cards geared toward our military servicemen and women.  The cards can be sent to those who are stationed away from home, or who have recently returned home from their tours.

At first, I had a hard time getting started on designs for this category.  The stamps and papers I have didn't seem well-suited.  Then, I remembered my Hero Arts set, Year Round Sentiments.  On the packaging is Operation Write Home's logo, so it's a good fit!  There's a 'welcome home' sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Boards & Beams, and starry paper from LilyBee Design's Picket Fence collection which helped me out a lot. After a couple of cards, I was in a groove.  =)

I'll let the cards speak for themselves.

Depending on how well these sell, I need to come up with more ideas.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  I'd love to hear 'em!

Thanks for coming by today!

Stamps: stars, 'thank my lucky stars', 'thank you' - Year Round Sentiments - Hero Arts; 'welcome home' - Boards & Beams - Papertrey Ink Paper:  stars - Picket Fence - LilyBee Design Accessories & Tools: Stripes embossing folder, tag die - SU; Clear Stacker Star dies - Wplus9; buttons; Ribbon Banners die - Spellbinders; Glossy Accents (for stars on bottom card) - Ranger

Relax & Unwind, Dad

Okay, one more card this week...and it's a Father's Day card, since this Sunday is the holiday.

I made this for one of my fathers-in-law, who lives near a beach.  When I found this fun palm-tree paper from Webster's Pages I knew it was perfect for him. Not sure which 6 x 6 paper pack it came from; they are kind of mixed up at the moment...but rest assured, it's probably discontinued.  Most of my goodies are.  Ha!

I stamped a 'relax & unwind' sentiment from Inspired By Stamping, and a 'dad' one from Lizzie Anne Designs, added some twine and presto!  It was finished.

I'm painting my front door tomorrow in a color called Universal Black by Benjamin Moore.  Who knew there could be so many shades of black paint?  It's the blackest one I could find in that brand, and can't wait to see how the door looks!

Stamps: relax & unwind - Inspiring Sentiments - Inspired By Stamping; dad - Monthly Mix May 2010 'Dream Big' - Lizzie Anne Designs Paper: Pear Pizzazz - SU; palm tree pattern - Webster's Pages

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; green chalk ink - American Crafts Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: corner rounder punch - Fiskars; circle punch - SU

Hello Handsome! (a military hero's card)

This is my second post today.  Please click HERE for my Card Concept Debut post.

Hello there!  I've been whipping up a batch of patriotic-style cards for Arts Plus Gallery recently.  A shop employee told me there's a demand for cards geared toward the military, i.e., to send to loved ones stationed far away, or who have just returned home to the U.S.A. from their stations.  At first, I had trouble coming up with ideas for this category of cards (red, white and blue is just not my thing), but it's getting easier.  This is my favorite card so far:

The stamp set I used is Year Round Sentiments by Hero Arts.  It includes adorable sentiments and plenty of star/stripe/heart motifs.  I used a large heart with stars on it in red, then flipped the stamp over and used the solid side to stamp the blue heart.

Ahh, the perfect sentiment for this type of card, right?

Just so happens that The Paper Players is doing a red, white and blue challenge this week, so I'll be linking up there.

I am happy you came by today!  I appreciate each and every comment left for me.  They're the little things that make my days happy.  =)

Stamps: Year Round Sentiments - Hero Arts Paper: gingham, stars - Picket Fence - LilyBee Designs; Not Quite Navy - SU Ink: Red Riding Hood, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy - SU; Frayed Burlap - Ranger Fibers: twill; burlap Accessories & Tools: circle die - Spellbinders

Happy News! The Card Concept #12 - Nautical

I've got some wonderful news:  I am a new member on The Card Concept's Design Team!  I am filling the 'Classy & Elegant' seat there.  Huge thanks to my friend, Lesley Croghan, for inviting me aboard.  =)

The new challenge is Nautical-themed.  Isn't the inspiration photo so serene?

Searched my stash for anything with an anchor, and came up empty-handed.  Instead, I grabbed a sand dollar image from Blockheads Paper Arts.  This swirly embossing folder lends an ocean-like feel, too.

I gilded both sand dollars for a touch of fanciness, so that my card would qualify as a Classy & Elegant creation for the challenge.

That beautiful sentiment is from Stampin' Up!'s Occasional Quotes, and it's the first time I've inked it.  I'm doing pretty good in a self-challenge of using up my stuff, without buying anything new.  Of course, I've just gone and bought a new stamp set from Power Poppy...it's so hard to say no when there's so many awesome goodies out there.  Is there a 12-step program for crafters like us??

I'm so glad you came by today, and I hope you get a chance to join us at The Card Concept.  Click HERE for all the info you need.   

Stamps: sand dollar - Seashells with Round Frame - Blockheads Paper Arts; sentiment - Occasional Quotes - Stampin' Up! Paper: white, kraft - PTI; Night of Navy - SU Ink: Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Walnut Stain, white chalk ink - Ranger Fibers: navy satin ribbon - Offray Accessories & Tools: pearls; gold embossing powder - SU; D'vine Swirls embossing folder - Cuttlebug; Fancy Labels Dies 2 die cut - Inspired By Stamping

Seize The Sketch #22 - Strawberries & Chocolate

Hello friends!  Time for a new sketch at Seize The Sketch!  Design team member Lori Tecler came up with a neat design that can be adapted in so many ways.  Here's my take:

So funny:  my first and second cards as a design team member here at STS both include berries!  I must be hungry.  ;-)

See the square that says "any shape"?  I used two strawberries from Papertrey Ink's Fusion Berry for my shape.  Tried to give them a sugared effect with a coating of clear fine glitter, and a few 'water drops' from Glossy Accents.

I bought some pearl-topped pins from Dritz in the sewing notions section of my local craft store, but they seemed a bit sparse here.  Pulled out my old Stampin' Up! Pretties Kit, and added another pearl and faceted bead to one pin.  Much better!

On a personal note, I'd like to enter this in my friend Darnell's first-ever challenge!  It's called NBUS, which stands for "never before used schtuff".  Don't we all have plenty of that.  (wink, wink)

Thanks so much for dropping by today!  I'm glad you're here.  Hope you get a chance to play with us!  Click HERE to link up.

Stamps: Fusion Berry - Papertrey Ink; sentiment - Fancy Sentiments - IBS Paper: Chocolate Chip, polka dot, brown damask - SU; white, kraft - PTI Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green - SU Fibers: burgundy velvet, bronze lace - stash Accessories & Tools: Glossy Accents - Ranger; corner rounder punch - Fiskars; Pointed Flower punch - EK Success; Crystal fine glitter - Martha Stewart; pearl-topped pins - Dritz; pearl, clear faceted beads - Pretties Kit - SU