Blackout Technique

 Hello friends.  I have a birthday card to share today.  I used the blackout technique (also called reverse embossing) that I have seen in several places lately.  I watched this video on the technique and wanted to try it so this is what I ended up with.

ETA:  Yea, my card was the top winner at April Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge. 

I used Simon Says Stamp Peony Bundle embossing folder and embossed my white cardstock.  Using the de-bossed side and blending brushes, I blended SU Pretty In Pink on the flower sections, with a little Flirty Flamingo in the centers, and SU Soft Succulent on the leaves.   After the ink-blending, I took Simon Says Stamp Intense Black ink pad and swiped it over the panel several times to cover all the white area.  Of course, some of the black ink got on portions of the flowers too, but I still like the final result.  I matted this panel with a Pretty In Pink panel and then to the card base.  The sentiment from SU Go To Greetings was mounted with foam tape to the center of the image.

I will add this to Can You Handle The Pressure Challenge with a feminine twist

 

 

and to Darnell's NBUS as this is my first time using this embossing folder (and also using this technique)

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

 

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Color Hues - Pink & Yellow

 Hello Friends,  I have a birthday card made for the Color Hues Challenge - Yellow & Pink.

 

I have been thinking of how I wanted to use these colors on a card and after reading Hannelie's Altenew post on Adding Color to Stamped Images, I thought this idea was perfect so this is the card I made.

 

I made a mask with an large oval die and also with Altenew Watercolor Stripes Cover Die for the stripes.  I adhered them both together and then over the white panel.  I used blending brushes and SU Pretty in Pink & Daffodil Delight ink for the stripes.  I then used Spellbinders BetterPress Plate and a flower from the Flower Stems BetterPress stamp & die set to stamp the large flower image over the striped section.  I die cut the image, mounted the panel on the card base and then mounted the stamped image with foam tape back in the cut out.  I also used SU Daffodil Delight Blend to color in the flower center.  The sentiment is from Spellbinders Fancy Sentiments Strips BetterPress Plate & Dies.  I did use a different die to die cut it and mounted it with foam tape over the flower stem.

 You can see the dimension better in this photo.

 

I really like the finished card and enjoyed trying this technique.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

 

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Seize the Birthday - Off the Edge

 Hello friends.  It is time for our  new challenge at Seize the Birthday and Shirley would like to see Off the Edge designs.  Of course as along as it is for a birthday, it is o.k.

 

I used Altenew Best Mom Stamp set and stamped the images off the top and bottom edges of a white panel.  I colored them with SU Azure Afternoon and Granny Apple Green Blends.  I matted the panel with a black mat and Azure Afternoon CS, and then to the white card base.  I stamped the sentiment from SU Go To Greetings in black - got it a little crooked but had already colored the images, so said that was it.  I still like the finished card.

 Be sure to check out all the inspiration by the team and our Party Guests over at Seize the Birthday.  I hope you will join in this fun challenge.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Happy Birthday

 Hello friends.  I have birthday card to share today, made with more new Pinkfresh Studios stamp & die sets.  This one is Berries & Blossoms, It is one big stamp and the one die cuts all the pieces at once.  You can arrange them any way you like. I have the stencils also, but did not use them this time.  I was inspired by this card on Pinterest (thanks Bette).  I changed the colors, embossed panel, sentiment, and a little of the layout.

 

 

I stamped the images in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them with Copics (flowers) and SU Soft Succulent Blends (leaves).  I also stamped the sentiment from The Greetery in Soft Succulent ink and die cut with the matching die. I glued the flowers and sentiment to the embossed panel and did not raise them.   The background panel is embossed with Taylored Expressions Weathered EF (love the texture from this EF). 

I will also add this one to The Flower Challenge - Add Layers. (lots of layers in the flowers).

and Darnell's NBUS as this is my first time using my new set.

 

and to The Card Concept - April Flowers (clean & layered style).

 Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a great day.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Anniversary Card for Friends

 Hello friends.  I have an anniversary card to share today.  I have 4 to make for May and this one is going to a sweet young couple.

I received some new goodies from Pinkfresh Studio and this is one of the sets - Blooming Branch.  I ordered the stamps, dies, and stencils and they are so fun to play with.  I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and used the stencils to blend the inks over the image: Blushing Bride and Flirty Flamingo for the blooms and Wild Wasabi for the leaves.  Going over the leaves with the same ink makes it darker using the 2nd leaf stencil.  I used a marker to color the flower centers, even though there is a stencil for them.  I also did not use the 3rd flower layer stencil as I like them the way they were.  I die cut the image and mounted it with foam tape to a panel embossed with an older Tim Holtz Alterations EF, and then  mounted the panel to my white card base.  I really like the finished card and enjoyed using the stencils, which I don't do often.

I will enter this in a few challenges:

Stencil Fun

 

 

and The Flower Challenge - Add Layers 

 

and also Darnell's NBUS as this is the first time using this new set. 

 

 

and to The Card Concept's April flowers inspiration. Inspired by the pretty pink blooms.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

 

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Baby Album for a friend

 Hello friends.  A friend requested I make her a baby album for her niece and they are not finding out the sex before it is born so I had to use neutral colors, mostly green and yellow.  I thought I would share the photos of it here so there quite a few photos.  Hope you enjoy looking at it.

This is the cover.  The letters are cut with my Cricut.  I had the image already printed so I colored it with Copics and die cut in a circle with a green circle mat.

 

This is the inside cover and page 1 which has a flap that opens.

 

This is page 1 with the flap opened.

 

This is pages 2 & 3 with side pockets and photo mats in them.

 

This is  pages 4 & 5 with bottom pockets and photo mats.

 

This is pages 6 & 7 with center bands and photo mats under them.

 

This is pages 8 & 9. Page 8 has 2 flaps that open.

 

This is page 8 with the flaps open.

 

 

This is page 10 and the inside back cover with a "waterfall" photo holder.

 

 This is the back cover. 

My friend loves the album and she said she knows her niece will love it also.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

Happy Stamping and crafting,

JoAnn

STB - Any Color & Green

 Hello friends.  It is time for a new challenge at Seize the Birthday and Nancy has chosen the "Topping" option of "Any Color & Green".  Of course, it can be anything goes, as long as it is for a birthday.

 

 For my card I chose yellow as my other color.  I used an older yellow pattern paper from my stash and these beautiful stamped Tulips by Waffle Flower.  I colored the tulips with SU Daffodil Delight and Old Olive (green) Blends.  I fussy cut the tulips as I don't have the matching die.  The white panel is cut with a die from a friend and mounted with foam tape.  The sentiment is from an older (and favorite) SU set.  I mounted the tulips with foam tape and added 3 yellow clear gems.

I will add this to Darnell's NBUS as this is the first time I have used the Tulips stamp set and also the lacy frame die.

 

 

and also at Triple B Challenge - Birds, Blooms & Butterflies 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

 

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Happy Birthday

 Hello friends.  I have a new birthday card to share today.

 

I used Spellbinders Happy Hello Floral stamp and die set.  I stamped the flowers in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them with SU Flirty Flamingo & Daffodil Delight Blends for the flowers; and Granny Apply Green & Mossy Meadow for the leaves.  The die set has a left side and right side die to use together or separate. I only used the right side die and mounted the flowers with foam tape to a panel embossed with Spellbinders Arches & Loops EF.  I added this panel to the white card base.  The sentiment is stamped and die cut with Waffle Flower Essential Sentiments.  I mounted the sentiment with foam tape also

This photo shows the layers and dimension better.

I will link to The Flower Challenge - Add Layers

and to Darnell's NBUS Challenge - this is my first time using the stamp & die set and the embossing folder.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Happy Anniversary

 Hello friends.  I have an anniversary card to share today.  I made this one for some good friends who are celebrating their 50th Anniversary next week so I used cream and gold foil.

ETA:  Yea! My card was one of the top 3 at April Triple B Challenge. 

I used Spellbinders Diamond Plaid EF to emboss the background panel and used the debossed side. The flowers are all from Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms die set, cut in cream and gold foil.  I die cut a cream circle for the gold embossed sentiment (Verve) and matted it with a gold circle.  I mounted the 3 large flowers with foam tape around the circle and added all the other pieces with glue. I really like the card and hope they do also.

I am linking to The Flower Challenge - add layers, I have several layers on my card.

 

and to the April Triple B Challenge

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

 

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Happy Birthday for Color Hues

 Hello friends.  I made a birthday card for the Color Hues Challenge - Peach & Green.

 

I used Clearly Besotted Perfect Peonies stamp & die set.  I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with SU Pale Papaya and Granny Apple Green Blends.  After die cutting, I mounted it with foam tape on a white panel cut with Spellbinders A2 Valiant Honor dies.  I have had these dies for a number of years but forget to use them.  I mounted the white panel over a panel of Granny Apple Green and then onto the peach card base.  The sentiment is from The Greetery Arched Sentiments.

I am also linking to the April Triple B Challenge as I love making cards with flowers.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn