22 Cards...22 Hints of Spring

Springtime just doesn't seem to want to find it's way to Long Island this year
so...

I thought that I'd create a little bit of my very own Springtime right here...in my studio!

I pulled out a few PENNY BLACK floral stamp sets

(BOTANICAL GARDEN & SUNSHINE FLOWERS)

I also chose an assortment of sentiment s from a variety of stamp sets

Stampendous: SPANISH GREETINGS & BIRTHDAY WISH 

Penny Black: HEARTFELT THANKS

Reverse Confetti: IN A BIG WAY

First...I stamped the images....
22 of them!
(Enough to create a few cards with each image that I chose)

I colored them with Copic markers

Then die cut each one with a die from 

MFTs SCALLOPED RECTANGLE STAX DIE SET.

Next, I added background color with CLARITY STENCIL BRUSHES 

and an assortment of INK PADS.

I chose print paper that went well with each colored floral image

and then chose metallic card stock colors for the largest mat layers.

I added clear NUVO DROPS to finish each card.

and...

this is what I wound up with...

22 hints of Spring!

It's been a while since I've made Spanish language cards...
So...I made sure to create a few cards with Spanish sentiments

If you follow my blog..

you already know that I almost always create my mat layers with metallic card stock.

Here's a close-up that will show you WHY I love metallics so much

(Look at that shimmer!)

Above: A champagne colored metallic

Below: an antique gold colored metallic

I had THE BEST time creating this stack of 22 "similar but different" CAS cards.

These last few months I haven't spent much time in my studio.

It felt GREAT to get into the studio...

and to create some Spring-y cards!

Thanks for visiting today, my crafty and creative friends!

Wishing you a marvelous Monday!

Michelle.

Back in the Studio

I finally got back into my studio for some card making time!

Somehow...

My plan of taking one month off from card making

to purge and do some studio reorganization

turned into a few months of no card making.

So, getting back to doing what I love really felt great!

I wanted to do some ink blending with Ken Oliver's Color Burst inks..

(Particularly the Turquoise, Chartreuse and Lime Green)

I never seem to have enough birthday cards on had ...

So, I chose to use Hampton Art/Mama Elephant UP WE GO stamp and die set

for today's cards.
I colored the images with Copic Markers...hand cut a sentiment banner

added some Nuvo Drops

and...

This is what I came up with! 

(I almost always create in multiples)

I love how the Turquoise, Lime Green and Chartreuse blend together

I stamped the string portion of the balloon image onto the inked card stock

and positioned the die cut balloon piece over the stamped strings for added dimension.

 also used foam dimensionals for the little cutie holding the balloons.

 I matted the image layer and the hand cut sentiment banner 

and used fun foam to position both pieces.

I chose clear Nuvo Drops to finish the card

It felt great to spend some time in the studio creating both of these cards.

I'm a fan of Ken Oliver's (new) Color Burst inks

and am glad that I chose them for today's cards.

(I left them out on the studio work table because I want to do some more inking with them)

Thanks for visiting today, my crafty and creative friends!

Wishing you a marvelous Monday

Michelle