Check this out -- The Next Level

I have found a new site and am excited to see how it progresses. Take a look and register as a follower and you might win this great looking -- err tasting Blog Candy.



From their site:

"So what about the fantastic Blog Candy that is offfer. Below are the photos of the two stunning prize packs that will be awarded on Launch day, Monday 1st June. Anyone who has registered as a Follower of The Next Level and who also supported us with the promotion of the new blog and prize candy on their own blogs will go into the prize draw. The two winners will be announced as the new Challenge goes live bright and early on the Monday morning."

Kwerner Color Inspiration Challenge 52

Challenge No. 52

Wow, these colors were not jelling easily for me. So I took a step back and thought well, paper isn't the only medium to play with, so I focused on ink.

I used my lavendar plant's leaves as the "background stamp".

Thrifty Tip
How I did it:

I dabbed ink onto the lavendar leaves and rolled the brayer over the leaves to pick up the ink. Then transferred the inked brayer onto the white paper. I combined the images and overlapped and moved the leaves to create other "designs". I stamped them using aqua, saffron, and sand inks.

I edged another white card with more aqua ink. I mounted everything on mustard cardstock. I embellished with a custom made (by me) sand diecut flower made from scraps of fleece from our petbedding line. The aqua flower from Prima was inked to coordinate. The white button is "paper threaded" with saffron yellow (marigold) cardstock by American Crafts. The I Love You stamp is from Stampin Up and stamped in aqua pigment ink from studio g.

Top 10! Kwerner Color Inspiration No. 51

I am so excited that my card creation was selected
in the top 10 round up
for Color Inspiration No. 51 at Kwernerdesign.com!

Here is the link to the top 10 group.
I have to say there were so many fab cards that were terrific
I don't know how she selects them...

This is Roger, you can see how excited he is that mom's card was picked. :)

Just a note to all of you who think "Oh, I shouldn't submit my work..." Well just do it anyway. It is really fun to share your work with others that enjoy similar interests. And just because you don't have the same supplies as the other girls and boys doesn't mean you can't play. Besides, maybe you too might get picked at least once. It is really fun and keeps the creative juices flowing.

PS: Thanks winter for your comments... I really appreciate you checking in!

PSS:Thanks Kristina for hosting the color challenge,

I am certain it takes a lot of work and you're videos are fab too!

Here is the stamp set --

try and find it at your local retailer,
or you can likely find it on line.

Kwerner Challenge 51 version two

I tend to take a design theme and embellish in a different way. This gives me a chance to practice techniques. This is the first card I made. Notice the red daisy... but I liked it anyway. The fun part of this for me is the "ribbon". It is actually cotton hem facing. I got it at a local thrift store! I first stamped on the cotton with Brown Stazon ink. Then after a blog comment, I tried it with Versamark and Tim Holtz Vintage Photo embossing powder. I pressed the ribbon, stamped and embossed on top of a piece of foil to try to melt the powder a bit better.

So -- white cotton "ribbon", brown ink, dark brown background with 3 rounded corners, mustard cardstock layer, and red ink flower detail! Sentiment stamp from Stampendous Clear Stamp Set no. SSC134 - Encouraging Words. Daisy Stamp - dollar bin at Michaels.

I hope you like the card. I feel really good about it and wanted to share it too.
Click on the image below to enlarge the detail and read the text.

Just a note to share: I think I will be sending the card to a special girl who lost her Dad a year ago on May 15th and it has been a difficult year. She's going to turn 16 on June 2nd and I want her to know we love and care. Please keep her in your prayers too.

Here is a photo of the first version, but I really wanted to make the brown pop. I trimmed the final cotton ribbon to make a longer tail. I also added some more mustard cardstock inside to allow for an easier way to add a personal message.

Kwerner Challenge 51 version one

Well this weeks challenge colors were chocolate, rose, mustard and white.

I used Versamark ink for the watermark effect and embossed it with clear matte embossing powder. More Versamark for the stamped sentiment and white detail embossing powder. Uniball white ink pen for the butterfly trail. Chocolate brown cardstock for the butterfly and red-rose satin ribbon. The one daisy is also stamped with red ink and embossed with the same matte clear powder.

Thank you in advance for your comments and suggestions. I really appreciate all of you.

Thrifty Crafter Note:

The actual product list will come on Friday or Saturday-- lets just say the Daisy stamp is by Kolette Hall for studio g. (The $1 bin at your local big box craft store!) I really like the line and simplicity of the image. The sentiment is from PSX and a Big Lots find. It is nice and crisp that embosses well with the fine detail powder.

Amuse Fortune Cookie

Ok, so this one isn't quite so simple. But I was really inspired by the stamp and had to go for it. White base card, red and green stock that I embossed with the cuttlebug machine and the fiskars embossing plates. I really wanted the texture to contrast with the fortune cookie. I stamped the fortune cookie and the fortune in brown and embossed it and trimmed it out. The fortune was cut freehand, it is removable and I edged the fortune in red to coordinate with the red layer. The brown thanks is also a cuttlebug diecut -- it is part of the Olivia font set that was on clearance at Michaels -- I didn't realize the alphabet had the welded die cuts until I opened the package.

Be sure and click the image to enlarge
and see the embossed detail.

Amuse Fortune Cookie Stamp

Mini Clear Set of Fortunes

kwernerdesign Color Inspiration #50 final

It is challenge 50...



and, well, I got a bit obsessed.

I tend to lean toward simplicity when creating. So, this one is the one I am linking for the challenge. This is a wedding card for a very special couple
who are in their late 20's.
I was going for fresh and fun like the colors in the challenge.
I appreciate all comments and suggestions.




A note to Kristina -- you really are amazing and finding your videos has spurred my creative side that I don't exercise very much at my "normal job". So simply, thanks and congrats on such a successful blog.


All over background stamp in turquoise pigment ink. Red layer flat on card. Blue layer raised with pop dots. Brown layer edged with Fiskars scallop blade and raised with more pop dots. love & cherish is a white rub-on mini mark by American Crafts. Favorite yellow ribbon knot. Stamp - Hero Arts. Papers from my scrap collection. Corner Rounder.

How much?

• White card base was ready made from Target clearance shelf --
  68 cents for 8 thank you notes with matching craft envelopes.
• Turquoise Ink - 99 cents - JoAnn's
  
• Yellow ribbon - 99 cents - Michaels
• $12.50 Hero Arts DesignBlocks Stamp
  

I like the other one too, it will be nice to mail for mom.