Masculine Wetlands - Ocean OR Lake Scene??

This sponged beach scene is not my original idea, but I've seen so many of these type of cards using the Wetlands stamp set, that I don't know who to give credit to! :)

(click on photos to view larger images)

I started by masking off the top and bottom of front panel with hand-torn scrap papers. I started sponging the inks from each torn edge toward the center, where they blended together just a little. Then I masked off a straight edge just above all the 'sand' color to make a water horizon line, using the same lighter blue in several layers. I then sponged in the darker blue at the top. With the bottom mask in place, I stamped the tall grasses, before removing the mask to stamp the sentiment. Last of all. I stamped the birds stomping around in the shallows! Then I attached the card front to a green pearlescent card base.

I was going for an ocean meets sky horizon, but with the much darker blue and the way I tore my top mask, it looks more like a misty lake with mountains off in the distance! I like how it turned out.  

On the inside, I stamped-off twice (3rd generation) for the lighter image, inked around the edges and left the rest blank for a personal note.


Supplies:
Stamp set - Stampin' Up! Wetlands
Ink - CTMH Crystal Blue, Desert Sand, Olive, Outdoor Denim, Black
CTMH card stock - White Daisy
ScorTape
sponges


What do you think? Ocean with sky or lake with mountains?

What I Love 3-Step Floral Thank You

I just love this "What I Love" stamp set from Stampin' Up! I made a set of thank you notes out of some old card bases that were slick and a bright pearlescent red!

(click on photos to view larger images)

The 3-step stamping was fun to do, and it gives the look that the flowers were hand-colored and shaded.... but so much easier! I inked around the edges of both the front and inside panels in desert sand before attaching them to the card base.

I stamped-off (2nd generation stamping) before stamping the image inside... but I should have done it one more time to get the image even lighter. The rest is just left blank to write a personal note.

Such a super easy card to make. I think this stamp will be a fave for a long time!

Supplies:

Stamp Set - Stampin' Up! What I Love

Ink - CTMH Cranberry, Olive, Desert Sand

Cardstock - CTMH White Daisy

Scor-Tape

Thanks for looking. Stop by again :)

Random-Stamped Card with Burlap!

I was going to sit down to make my hubby an anniversary card, when I got side-tracked by a pile of papers on my desk! I ran across 4 sheets of text weight paper with matching envelopes, in varying colors of Kraft, which I had gotten from Kraft Outlet. 

I had no intention of ever using them as stationery, since all but one was too dark, in my opinion, for writing anything! So I decided to use the paper on cards instead. I've only completed 2 of the 4 cards, but I'm only going to share one of them here..... the first one turned out horrible less than I expected, LOL! Card finished size is 4" x 8.5":

click on photo to see it larger

I used the lightest paper here, called Buff Ivory. I random-stamped the front using the first and second generation stamping technique. I just used first generation on the corner of the envelope and at the bottom of the inside panel of the card. 

Below, you can see the inside of card.... (I don't know why the buff ivory paper looks so white in this photo. I took it right after the photo above... just moved the envelope and opened the card. Everything else was the same!)

I mounted the stamped papers on a brown cardstock base. Then I added the burlap and other embellishments to decorate, but left it blank... without sentiment. I can use this card for a number of different occasions, so I'll add the sentiment when I'm ready to use it :)

ITEMS USED:

Buff ivory paper and envelope; brown Baker's twine - KraftOutlet.com

Crocheted ribbon; Burlap ribbon; Sunset ink pad - CTMH

Stamp Set - Baroque Motifs - Stampin' Up!

Card base - Brown cardstock "Country Colors" - Fiskars

Scor-Tape

flower and button from my stash

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Paula