New Goodies = New Creations!!!

   I've  had a great time the past two days working on new cards, trying out new techniques and playing with some of my newest craft goodies.   Today, I here to share my latest cards and to also enter them into some of my favorite challenges.

   First, I'll start with some card that were created for fun and these were made yesterday in my Card Club, which I go to once a month at my LSS.  It's like a combination of a class, learning about new techniques and also trying out some of the new products and trends on the market.

   I'm starting with this card, which was created with using a two layer stamping technique.  We first stamped out large floral image onto a piece of Pattern Paper (our background) and then carefully layered on, a wonderful Chevron Die from MFT, which was carefully lined up with the background image and themn stamped again in the same Memento Danube Blue Ink.   Once I came home, I finished off my card by adding to a pretty "Shallow" colored card base (Hero Arts) and created a different Sentiment in Pink "Rose Bud"  Luxe ink, with one of my new Hero Clear Sets (CL738 - Message with Flourish).   Our focus on Card club was to make a nice set of Get Well and Sympathy cards, as I call the hard cards, because there is so much additional meaning to them.

      Next, is this very pretty bird card, that would actually be used on almost any occasion.   I am sorry to stay that I don't know who created the stamp or the sentiment, but will be happy to update this post, if you happen to know,  please share!!    We started by stamping  the Bird image with a Gray Memento Ink (London Fog), we then used a combination of Copic 0000 colors, (known as the Quads) and lightly added a hint of color to his belly, beak and wings.  In person, it almost has an iridescent look, which I also added more to, by coating the image with a Clear Wink of Stella Marker.  

  And next is another card club inspired card that I changed around a bit, after messing up my "water-color" look background.  I had misted mine too heavily and didn't like how the end result looked, and because I did not have the stencil we used at home, I instead die cuts form leaves, with this wonderful  "Clustered Leaves" die from SSS.

 And next I have another card that I created today, also somewhat inspired by the cards in card class, but also changed again to work out perfect for the rand new "Anything goes with Pearls" themed challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog.   This card also features some smaller die cut leaves and I used the Negative piece, (thanks to Ellen's great idea) as a stencil and first added some leaved using Distress Ink to the card base.   The window piece was created with a cut on Yellow cardstock and then layered over the stenciled leaves and I then stuck in the die cut leaves and covered the with two shades of green pearls.   I stamped my Get Well, from a Paper Smooches " Healthy Vibes" Set and cut it out with small circle punch and then used a larger scalloped circle punch to add a frame for the sentiments. I finished off this card by tied on a matched green and white bow

   My next card was another technique based card and this one was inspired in class as well as the fun techniques class I had taken over the weekend.   This again started by using a Stencil along with some Liquitex Gel, which I scraped over the stencil onto a piece of water color paper.  I left that to dry, but it can be heat set and moved on to my next project, the "With Sympathy" card in yellow and green, that also had another strip of watercolor paper that was stenciled and painted in the same way, only cut down to be add onto some matching patterned paper and finished off with a "With Sympathy" die cut.

    This background also has some white layers that were embossed on after the painting and stenciling was done.  The colors I used to paint were red and orange and once they dried, I randomly used some Versamark on the piece and coated it with white embossing powder, which was then heat set.   I cut these pretty daisy flowers with one of my SSS Dies and the colors them with Wink of Stella Markers.  I used the same "Healing" Message, which I stamped on white in Versafine Black Onyx and cut to fit the front on my card.  I loved how you can use these same techniques to make cards and/or more dimensional canvases.

   I am submitting this card to the latest challenge over at The Card Concept and this one is what I consider to be a  "Freestyle Collage", which you can read about at the link that also shares all the card types!!  . Our theme for this challenge is "Floral Themes" and he is a photo the the inspiration image, which inspired me to pick these colors and to color my die cut to match.   

 And this is the second card where I again used the same technique, (Stenciling and Silk Paints), only time time I chose to use Green and Gold and created the smaller element that is used as a strip on top of  some matching patterned paper.   

   

  Next is a new card I created today to get done in time for the current challenge over a Addicted to CAS, where our theme is, Coffee!

  After all the Get Well and Sympathy cards, I really wanted to do something comical and funny and that led me directly to this cute little digital image, which I had in my files for a long time.  I have to admit that I don't remember exactly where I found or bought this one, but I think the little dog with his Morning Cup of Joe, is simply adorable and looks and acts much like me when I first wake up, kind of a bit confused and I definitely NEED some time with my coffee, before you ask too much form me.   I don't' have any cute little "Bunny Slippers" like this guy, but I think they are part of what I love about the image!!    He's been colored with m Copics and then layered onto to Blue/White checked paper and then onto another layer or turquoise, where I added my "Seriously" enlistment, another favorite from Paper Smooches!!    I LOVE so many of their humorous sentiments and also love the fun fonts --- they are happy letters!!  

  And my last card today is another favorite and I found a totally in LOVE with pretty much everything in the new 2014 Spring line" Happy Everything" Penny Black.   You can download the new catalog "Happy Everything" at this link, so you can start saving!!    Luckily, the owner of my LSS, also felts the same and she bought everything into the store, needless to say, I added quite a few new things to my stash and you'll be seeing them over the next few weeks.  I'm also taking an ALL day Penny Black, cardmaking class later in March and can't wait to make the cards I saw on their inspiration boards!   -- Gorgeous!!

  This is the first of more to come and this was a super easy card, as I created it with one of the brand new sets of Stickeroos, which I have always loves.  They make beautiful cards and they make it so easy, because all the coloring is done.  You simply pick a sticker or day and decide how you want to use it on your card!!  This is mine for today and I'm IN love with the set "Promise of Spring"  --- I actually have already bought two because you just don't want to run out!  

   For my card, pulled out some matching "Olive Green" cardstock to create my card base and then simply place my sticker onto some black cardstock and cut it down to frame the image.  After that I was so happy with the look, that I simply tied on a pretty matching now and my card was done!   Love Love Love this set and there is a second set - "Timeless" that is equally as pretty!  And Yes, if you want to know, I did but that too, along with 3 new wooden stamps, 2 gorgeous clings stamps, this adorable Clear Set, a and a lovely Poppy Stencil.    Every flower is gorgeous and with this awful winter, I think seeing these stunning flowers is going to make a lot of people smile!   I am saving for a few new dies now too....and hope to buy them the next time I hit my LSS!!

  This card is also being submitted to the current "Clean and Simple" Challenge being hosted this week over at Addicted to Stamps!!   Come on over and play along!!

    Have a wonderful evening and hope to be back tomorrow with more new cards!!   In the meantime, if any of YOU are huge fans of the Online Card Classes, then you'll want to be sure to head on over to the classroom now and sign up for the next class "Clean and Simple 3" which starts on March 10th!   I signed up the very first day and can hardly wait!!   See you all in class and in the meantime -- Happy 

Creating!!