OLC QACAS Cards

Hi! How's it going?

Some of you have asked, so I wanted to let you know that we are not in any danger from all the fires burning in California. I appreciate the concern. Our hearts go out to those who have been impacted and, of course, we keep praying for rain here and in so many other western states and Canada as we struggle with the ongoing drought.

Because of water restrictions, I haven't been able to have as many wonderful flowering plants in the garden and around the Playhouse, but I did want to share with you this photo of how big our purple statice has grown this year, in spite of the heat and limited water. (Or rather because of?)

This picture was taken from inside the Playhouse looking west. I am fortunate to have a similar large purple statice in view from the north side of the Playhouse, but I forgot to take a picture of it. Here you can see some of the drought-tolerant grasses that now reside in pots and beyond is the purple statice where I often taken photos of my cards. (The pink is a flowering crepe myrtle tree just finishing its bloom.)

The temperatures came down from 105 and I have a hamster back home and eager to work, so we whipped up a couple of one-layer cards (OLC) which are QACAS (quick and clean and simple). First:

This card was made for the current PTI Make It Monday challenge of "Masking Sentiments." The card base is PTI's "Fine Linen." I die-cut an oval as my mask and stamped the NBUS ferns from PTI's "Meadow Greens" in pinefeather ink. I removed the mask and stamped the sediment from PTI's "Signature Greetings." In her excellent video, Ashley outlined all around her frame, but I decided to outline only the part of my frame encased by ferns. A few score lines and enamel dots and shazambam the card was done!

Other Challenges

• AAA Cards: Maskerade.
• City Crafter Challenge: Around the Corner.
• Less Is More: Theme: Congratulations.

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Today's Twofer

My twofer is another simple one-layer QACAS "number," haha. (BTW, I heard the other day that "LOL" [laugh out loud] is no longer being used. Instead everyone is going back to using what I never stopped using: "haha." My son would hate it when I put haha after something I said in an email to him. Now, look, son, everyone is doing it, haha.)

But, I digest.

I ran across a piece of this patterned paper in my stash about a month ago and Hammy has been saving it in the staging area behind his cage. Sure enough, here came a slew of back-to-school challenges and we jumped on it.

Above the pp, I placed a single layer of numbered Washi tape from a Cavallini & Co. Washi tape set called "Numbers." Above that I embossed the sediment from SU in SU gumball green. Shazambam!

Challenges

• Addicted to CAS: Code Word: School.
• CASology: Cue Card: Number. 
• Freshly Made Sketches: They are celebrating their 200th sketch challenge! Congratulations! I love their sketch challenges. Here's to the next 200!
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Back to School.

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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

*Life is too short!

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Bobbing Along and TYI Reminder

Happy Whoosh Day Friday!

When I was growing up in the quaint middle of the last century, we had Wash Day Monday. I think Tuesday was ironing, but I've forgotten what all the other days were for and all that was chucked out the window by the time I got married and worked inside and outside the home, doing wash whenever I could squeeze it in.

Now I sit here and make up silly days for whooshing. That's the fun part of paying your dues and getting to live long enough to become a Bona Fide Geezer! (It's like a BFF only more "experienced" and with less filters!) I don't like how fast this year is flying by, but I have to say whooshing is way more fun than washing!

But funnest of all is putting time and chores off to the side and getting jiggy with water and color! For your glistening pleasure today, I have prepared a card ala Make it Monday's challenge to use watercolors with die-cut stencils. You can find an excellent video by Lexi via the link. Here is my make:

I have to tell you, this sweet card makes me smile. I love that little boat bobbing along on his little bit of wave. I'm also smiling because Hammy quickly came 'round and was a big help picking out the loopy sediment that nestled so perfectly in the sand hill. I'm happy that we're good pals again already, phew!

To make my card, I sued Papertrey Ink ~ no, that wouldn't be nice ~ that is to say, I used Papertrey Ink's "Sentiment Splits Curve Horizontal Die" which is a NBUS die that only arrived last week while we were away. It looks like this:

I cut the die from a sticker adhesive sheet and applied it to my watercolor paper. I made sure it was well stuck so my watercolor wash wouldn't seep through (I hoped). I knew I wanted to do a simple wash for the sand and a sunset/sunrise wash for the sky. Good, okay. But while sky and sand are nice, a bit of ocean makes the beach scene more beachykeen, so I die-cut another piece and snipped a portion of the curve to apply as a wave separator. I think you can see what I mean, yes?

Then I scribbled my SAI paint markers onto my acrylic block and using my water brush, I simply did the color washes. I was trying to emu late the sunrise colors from one of our vacation photos only I made my colors softer than the real thing.

After I was finished painting, I removed the adhesive die cut, but I have to tell you, I had a devil of a time getting it off. I guess all that water made the paper separate. The top layer peeled off, but the bottom layer had to be rubbed off in tiny pieces to keep the card itself from wrinkling. I'm not sure if it is the brand I used, so I'll try a different one next time. The little boat is from The Alley Way Stamps set "Kid 'n Caboodle" and the sediment is from the  PTI "Make a Wish" set.

Challenges

• CASology: Line.
• Less Is More: Life's a Beach.
• Make it Monday: See above.
• The Damsel of Distressed Cards: Birthday Party Linkup. I used the "Happy Birthday to One Cool Chick" to inspire me because you are one cool chick, Becca, and I used "watercolor washes" which are one of your favorite things. Happy Birthday, my friend!

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Today's Twofer ~ Tag You're It Reminder

Apparently when I told you on Tuesday that my twofers would be Christmassy from now, I was telling you a big fat lie because here's my twofer which is definitely NOT a Chrissie card! 

In fact, it's a tag using the same watercolor technique and wee boat. The bottom layer is a seashore pp from my stash. Both tags were cut using the Die-Namics "Stitched Tags" from MFT. The NBUS sediment is from Technique Tuesday "R&R." The beautiful twill ribbon is from SU in blushing bride, which is pink IRL.

My tag is a reminder to you that today starts the second week of the current Tag You're It Challenge where I have the pleasure of guest designing. Here is another look at the delightful tag that designer Marybeth Lopez of Marybeth's Time for Paper created for your inspiration:

I do hope you can play along!!

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Challenges

• AAA Cards: Waterworld and Dies.
• Addicted to Stamps and More: CAS

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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for your visit to the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

*Life is too short!

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Watercovering Plates

Hello! Happy Sunday Funday! I hope my American friends all had a safe and sane 4th of July celebration!

Today is July 5th, which is the day in 1937 when SPAM was first introduced to the world by the Hormel Foods Corporation. They had no idea that now, 78 years later, it would have a whole different meaning! [#Trivia Nugget.]

When I saw Nichole's Make It Monday video challenge was about adding color to cover plates, I was immediately intrigued, especially since one of my favoritiest card artists in the world made the video. That would be Laura Bassen of Doublestick Heaven, of course! (I like to pretend I'm one of her moms. As a result, she has a restraining order out on me, but it doesn't make me love her any less.)

The challenge is almost over, but if you have any cover plates or full-size dies such as I used in my twofer, you should click on either of the above links and watch the amazing video. Conversely, if you have any colors that need cover plates, you're on your own.

Here is my rendition:

I used PTI's Quartre Foil cover plate and the heat-embossed sediment is from PTI's "Signature Greetings" set.

I'm also entering the Curtain Call challenge of "Celebrate," which is running for the whole month of July in celebration of their 3rd anniversary and the birthday celebrations going on over at STAMPlorations in honor of their 2nd birthday! Congratulations to both awesome challenge blogs!

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My twofer:

This one was made using my NBUS MFT Die-namics CU die "Floral Fusion." Because I used gold ink for some of the flowers (yes, that's gold, not pooey brown), I backed the plate with a metallic gold paper. The NBUS ribbon is SU lost lagoon. The sediment is an ancient unmarked wooden stamp.

I'm sad that the photo doesn't show how pretty the flowers and gold are IRL, but this might help:

Is it just me, or are "twofers" now becoming all the rage in Blogland?!

Challenges

• Addicted to Stamps and More: Anything Goes.
• Just Us Girls is celebrating their 300th challenge with a Word challenge and the word is "Congratulations." Congratulations to them for such a successful challenge!

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All the best to the US Women's Soccer team in today's championship game against Japan! Congratulations to all the teams from all over the world who made it into the competition and played their hearts out!

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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

*Life is too short!

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Voluptuous Vellum

A happy hump day hello!

If there is one thing I've enjoyed fondling since my love affair with paper began back in ought-2, it's vellum. I made so many cards using painted vellum, it's not funny and I spent hours on the console being consoled when they stopped making that stuff. Sniff. Oh, stop, I still have some in my stash, so you'll be seeing it again.

Needless to say, I am delighted to see vellum being "discovered" all over Bloggerville right now. One wonderful blog talking about it this week is the Papertrey Ink Make It Monday challenge, where Lizzie shows us how to soften patterns with vellum layovers.

Here is my card Numeruno:

I pretty much CASEd Lizzie's card using one of the PTI word text dies. Lizzie used "Mom" and I used "Birthday."

I love this sweet NBUS balloon paper from SU that I used for my patterned background. I popped my vellum focus pocus up on foam stilts like Lizzie did and I even tossed in some matching sequints to make mine a shaker card. Well, it turns out some vellum not only softens patterns, they make sequins invisible. So, not wanting to waste them, I sprung them to use another day when I'll use one of my lighter weight vellum sheets that are easier to see through.

Aside note: I used a transfer sheet (basically a large Xyron sheet) on the back of the text block die cut which applies adhesive. That's all fine and good, but even after lots of burnishing with a sheet of nonstick paper and my pants (and a lot of picknitting), there are still little boogers of adhesive stuck to the letters. I don't like that and I wonder if you have any secret remedy for it?

I mean beside wodka which does make them less noticeable.

My card numerdos:

 

Okay, then. Now we're talkin'. If that were a party invite, would you be rearranging your calendar to attend? Me, too.

I sponged distress inks using my NBUS Winnie & Walter "Flash" stencil in spun sugar, spiced marmalade, shabby shutters, mustard seed, and broken china. Served with a Sizzer Salad and crusty bread. The small star is from GKW, stamped in SU almost amethyst. The sediment is a NBUS die, also from W&W, called "The Big, the Bold, the Party," which I inlaid into my vellum banner. The banner is cut using an MFT die.

Wait. What? You inlaid in vellum? Thin, flimsy, pesky vellum? How you did that?

Well, to be fair, it was Hammy's idea. He really loves vellum, too, and we hadn't tried inlaying with it before. It works like normal diecut inlays. I first ran the die and clear vellum through the BS and carefully removed the diecut. I next ran the die and pink vellum through and removed the diecut.

Then I laid a piece of clear packing tape behind the negative space on the clear vellum. It's a nice width so it's great for making a banner and it gave my diecute some adhesive to stick to as it nestled back into the negative space. Plus, it's a great way to add a little stiffness to the banner without obscuring the view underneath.

You can see the shine of the tape on the underside.

 Here's a view of what it looks like on the underside.
(I will make another card with this pink diecut.)

It did work very well, so high tens to the hamster. Gotta love that guy.

Challenges

Besides the MIM challenge, I'm entering:

• Addicted to Stamps and More: Use Your Mark (sponges).
• Inkspirational: Space (white space and stars in space).
• Just Us Girls: Photo inspiration.
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes.

Click on the links for details on rules, sponsors, prizes, and loads of inspiration!

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New Friends Corner

I'm thrilled to introduce five more new friends for you to visit and acquaint!

Sucheta ("Suchi") of Suchi's Cardstock. Suchi has been painting and crafting since childhood and she started blogging in 2014. She is an IT Professional, but Art and crafting are her passions. She loves trying new techniques and she is adapt at all card styles from CAS to mixed media and interactive 3D cards. That alone is a lot of inspiration, but Suchi also provides you with tips, tricks, and tutorials!

Susan Flynn of Craftin' Suzie. Suzie is from the UK and she has been blogging since 2011. In addition to card art, Suzie loves scrapbooking, cooking, reading, and her very handsome grandsons. Suzie is on design teams and she is a multi-award winner in challenges with her use of bright and festive digi images, so expertly showcased!

Lagene of Inky Lageney. Lagene started blogging in September 2012. Lagene isn't kidding with her blog name ~ she loves to get inky and you will find tons of mixed media inspiration on her blog! Her wonderful talent is most evident in her fabulous Tim Tags!

ÅsaJ of Scrap Simply. Åsa is from Sweden and she has been blogging since 2012. She is a teacher when she isn't partaking in her addiction of scrapbooking and making cards. Åsa is on design teams and loves playing in challenges, where I'm sure you have seen her play and win. She makes such lovely layouts and wonderfully CAS cards!

April Cheetham of Paper Lily Leaf. April is an Independent Stampin Up Demonstrator and she has been blogging since 2013. April is passionate about her products and her love of crafting and it is evident throughout her blog. You will find loads inspiration for tremendous card art and other 3D projects!

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Backyard Busyness

I'll leave you with the latest news from the wild kingdom that is the Playhouse backyard. Just as Rufous took off (yes, he's gone for sure), this little guy appeared. He's just one of dozens of house finches that we see every day, but the Mister had me come running (okay, waddling) with the camera when he saw this one yesterday:

Can you see what's missing?

Much to our surprise he took off with no apparent problems! Go him! Flying without a tail makes steering difficult, but thankfully tail feathers do grow back fairly quickly.

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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can return the flavor! 

  

 

*Life Is Too Short!

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