Splashing into Spring

A few weeks ago one of my cards was selected as the Favorite at Outlawz Sunday Challenge and I was invited to be a Guest DT. Of course, I said "Yes." And today is my GDT date… with a wonderful theme of "April Showers." My first thoughts when I heard this theme was that I could use one of the wonderful digi sets from Beccy's Place named "Splish Splash." I printed one of the umbrella digis onto a sheet of rainbow stationary paper [I picked up a packet of this wonderful paper at a Goodwill store many years ago, and the 50 sheets are almost gone. Will need to start watching for more as I love its pretty pastels.] The sentiment on the front of the card is computer generated, and the one on the inside is a freebie from Desert Divia. You can find it HERE. 

 

 

 

Entered into: 

Beccy’s Place Challenge- April                                                            (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

Outlawz Challenges-Tues Color Challenge-Photo Inspiration     (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- April                     (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

I love all the Easter challenges that are starting to show up. Decided to create a CAS card that focuses on the simple promise that Easter holds… that of new life. Used a few vintage wood mount stamps, Posh Impressions' "Tulip" and Denami's  "Hallelujah." Used a few thick Marvy Watercolor Markers to ink the tulip. Each time I inked it up, I stamped it a second, and even a third, time to get the muted image. [No masking needed!] Used a decorative scissor to trim the corners of the card. Simple yet elegant. I will enter this into the Outlaws Sunday Challenge that features my Spring Rain card [above].

 Entered into: 

Outlawz Challenges- Song/Rhyme: April Showers           (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Double D’s Challenge- Watercolor                                       (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #380-#381 Anything Goes    (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

The Paper Shelter- #377  Easter Time                                 (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

I wanted to make another card to enter into the Monday Simon Says Challenge that focuses on foil… but don't have any of the tools to do foiling. I DO have lots of foil papers, so am hoping that will meet the requirement of the challenge. For this card, I cut strips of copper foil paper and used them in a collage of other paper scraps. The marble-y looking scraps are my attempt at doing something that is out of my norm… getting messy when creating. I often create clutter when I stamp… but not usually messy clutter. To me, there is a big difference. Clutter involves lots of bits and pieces laying around and needing to be put away. Messy involves using goop or drippy liquids that need to be wiped up or washed off. Am not sure why… but I don't much care for the second. [In truth… I don't like using goopy hair care products or even creams or lotions. So… perhaps that is why I don't like messy craft techniques?] Anyhoooo, I created the marble-y background, by squiggling silver, gold and bronze pigment pads onto a postcard sized piece of black cardstock. Let it sit for a while to allow the ink to be absorbed into the paper, and then gave it a quick once-over with my heat gun to "set" the ink into place. Trimmed different sized strips with my trusty Fiskars paper trimmer, and then arranged them into the collage pattern using instructions found HERE. 

I embossed the sentiment, a retired wood mount stamp from Embossing Arts, with copper pigment ink and EP. After heating it I noticed a few specks of EP marred the image. Was going to toss it and try again… then decided that I'd see how it looked if I made it messier. [Ya, go figure!] Instead of tossing it, I added a few more… actually a LOT more… specks of EP and kinda liked the result.  So, please allow me to present my messy metallic/foil Grandpa card! If he was still alive, I think that my Grandpa would have liked it, because I do remember that he seemed to enjoy being spattered with mud [after playing with the grandkids] or getting messy with fish goo [when helping his grandkids put worms on the hooks when fishing.]

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Don't Be Fooled, Be Foiled    (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)
Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes                                                    (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)