Faux Linen

This week's demonstratable card challenge is faux linen.  I love the soft look of this!  I paired it with a WICKED challenge to make a non-Halloween card using Halloween colors (gray, green, purple, orange).  I added yellow.

I used Flores Suaves as my main set (from Celebrando Creatividad--the Spanish catalog).  I stamped the background in Basic Gray onto glossy cardstock then sanded in both directions.  Next, I sponged on So Saffron and sanded again.  The tulips are stamped in Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz.  I used an aqua painter to blend the colors in the tulips a bit then sanded lightly again once the flowers were dry.

Supplies: Stamps: Flores Suaves, Vintage Vogue, Sanded; Paper: glossy white, Basic Gray, So Saffron; Ink: Basic Gray, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz; Accessories: antique brad, Pear Pizzazz ribbon, sanding block, spongeHappy stamping!

December WICKED challenge card

First of all, I hope you all had a very merry Christmas! I certainly did, and that's why I'm so late posting today. I had planned to go visit family on Christmas eve and then come back on Christmas morning to take care of my dog. At the last minute, Daniel found someone who could take care of the dog for us, so I was able to stay until today.
I made this card using Vera's awesome sketch and color combo for the December WICKED demo challenge on SCS. It's a very unusual color combo: Basic Black, Always Artichoke, Bordering Blue and Tangerine Tango. I would have never thought of it myself, but I like the way it looks. The hardest part was finding some ribbon that I could use!
I used faux linen on the focal image: stamp your image on glossy cardstock, sand in 2 directions then lightly sponge on some color to emphasize the "threads" that you created by sanding. I cut out the image and mat with my Coluzzle. Please notice the dry embossing on the right side of the card! I just love the Floral Frenzy classy brass template, and the edge of it is the exact size of the short side of a standard card. Genius!
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Warm Words; Paper: glossy white, Basic Black, Bordering Blue; Ink: Always Artichoke, Tangerine Tango, Bordering Blue; Accessories: Coluzzle, black narrow grosgrain ribbon, sanding block, empressor, Floral Frenzy classy brass template
Happy stamping!

CASEing the catalog

I love the new catalog! Not only is it full of awesome new stuff, it also has great projects in it. I've already gone through the catalog and made a list of projects that I want to CASE. When I saw the card on page 86 made with Bloomin' Beautiful, I knew right away that it would also look great with Heartfelt Thanks. So I sat down and made it! I used the faux linen technique for the focal image; I haven't done that one in a while and I just love the look of it! Sanded background added to it even more. The other change I made was the ribbon I used on the right side of the card; the original used a strip of DSP. I didn't use any stitching on my card either; I'm not into sewing plus I think the technique added plenty of texture.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Sanded; Paper: glossy white, Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip; Ink: Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel; Accessories: 1/2" circle punch, Pretties kit, Bashful Blue narrow grosgrain ribbon, Kraft taffeta ribbon, sanding block, sponge, Stampamajig
So when you're in need of inspiration, just grab your catalog!
Happy stamping!