Dabbling with Watercolor

This week my neighbor and I got together and we did a little watercoloring. She wanted me to show her how to use the Stampin' Up! Aqua Painters. I used a retired stamp for my focal image from the Bordering on Romance stamp set by Stampin' Up!. I stamped the image on watercolor paper with StazOn Jet Black ink and then used the following Stampin' Up! colors: Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Island Indigo and Wild Wasabi to watercolor the image. The thanks sentiment is from the Another Thank You Photopolymer stamp set (136835). I dry embossed the wild wasabi cardstock and added calypso coral twine with a little butterfly charm. The details on this card are minimal but it keeps the focus on the watercoloring. Well, that's about it. If you haven't tried watercoloring yet, you should give it a try. The Aqua Painters make it super easy to do! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

This card is entered into the following challenges:

• Just Add Ink: Just Add Watercolour
• Inkspirational: Bloom
• Addicted to Stamps: Make your Mark!

Thinking of You Card

We are one day closer to the new Stampin' Up! catalog release! Are you excited? I must say I love the new 2014-2016 In Colors! They are deep and beautiful!!! Here is a Thinking of You Card featuring the new Moonlight paper stack and the new colors Blackberry Bliss and Hello Honey. I used the Mixed Bunch stamp set, Blossom punch, Sassy Salutation sentiment stamp set and the Secret Garden stamp set for the leaves. To create the flower I used a clear block that I coated with Blackberry Bliss ink and then I sprayed the block with vanilla shimmer smooch spritz and then used it to ink up the flower stamp. I repeated the process with the leaves using Sahara Sand ink. The center of the flower was made using white cardstock and sponging with Hello Honey ink and then stamped using the same color. I then used a 3/4" circle punch and layered it with a 1" circle of Sahara Sand cardstock. I hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

My Thinking of You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
• Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls: Anything Goes

Patriotic Thank You Card

Today is Memorial Day here in America and the holiday stirs my feelings of thankfulness to all the men and women who have served our country through the years.  The sacrifice the many individuals and families make to ensure we live free continues to impress and amaze me. A heartfelt Patriotic Thank You to those serving in the past and present. This thank you card was made with you in mind.

The layout comes from the sketch challenge at The Paper Players. For the patterned papers I used All American Type and Blue Jean La Fleur by Doodlebug Design Inc. The sentiment is from the Another Thank You stamp set by Stampin' Up! and I used three red glitter and rhinestone stars I found at Hobby Lobby.

My Patriotic Thank You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• The Paper Players: Sketch
• Sister Act: Anything Goes
• Bloggers: Armed Forces

Birthday Photo Inspiration Challenge

Welcome to Savvy Handmade Cards! Our challenge for the next two weeks is a Birthday Photo Inspiration Challenge. The month of May is full of birthdays in my family and I just celebrated my 40th last weekend. Therefore a birthday challenge just seemed appropriate. Plus there is always room for more birthday cards in your stash, so I hope you will play along. The randomly drawn winner will receive a birthday themed goody surprise from me.

Inspirational Designs:

Erin's Card using Simply B Stamps

Andrea's Card using Bugaboo Digi Stamps

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Create a New card using the challenge theme, no linking to old posts. 
2. Only one entry per blog address.
3. This is a card only challenge.
4. You must use a stamp, either rubber or digital.
5. You can combine this challenge with other challenges.
6. Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to this challenge. Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
7. All brands of stamping products are welcome.
8. HAVE FUN!!!

This challenge will run for 12 days from 5/23/2014 - 6/3/2014.

Zoo Animal Winner

Another bi-weekly challenge has come to a close and I want to thank each of you for sharing your Zoo Animal card creations. It's a good thing the winner was randomly selected because picking would have been an absolute challenge! The winner is:

Debra Miller from Cream City Angels

Debra's panda anniversary card is super adorable and the colors really grabbed my attention. Thanks for playing along Debra! In the next few days I'll send you an email requesting your mailing address to send you the challenge prize.

Come back tomorrow for the start of another photo inspiration challenge.

Blackberry Blooms Sympathy Card

This Blackberry Blooms Sympathy Card was made for a distant cousin who recently lost her brother. Although I haven't seen her in years I wanted to send her a card to let her know she is in my thoughts. Sometimes it's the small unexpected things that help during a difficult time.                                    

I kept the card really simple and used the new hostess stamp set called Bloom with Hope that will be coming out in the new Stampin' Up! catalog on June 1st. The flowers were colored using a blender pen and Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Mossy Meadow inks from the 2014-2016 in colors. I dry embossed the mossy meadow cardstock strip and added a stamped bitty butterfly for detail. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Blackberry Blooms Sympathy Card is entered into the following challenges:

• The Paper Players: Clean & Simple Floral
• Suzy Bees's: Clean & Simple
• Hiding in My Craft Room: Embossing

Classic Car Birthday Card

Hello! I hope you're having a super Saturday. My most recent card was made for my brother. His birthday is next week and he likes classic cars. It was perfect timing because I just received this classic car image by Doodle Pantry. It comes pre-colored or you can color it yourself. I used the pre-colored image and digital patterned paper that comes with the set. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from TPC Studios and I used StazOn Jet Black ink. I die cut a couple of stars and used a large circle for the focal backdrop. Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by!



My Classic Car Birthday Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Craftitude: Anything Goes/Die Cuts
• Sister Act: Anything Goes
• Paper Crafting Journey: For that Special Man
• Left of Center: Card for a Male
• A Creative Romance: One for the Boys

It's a Thank You Card

It seems I have used several thank you cards lately and my stash was getting low. I like to keep several thank you cards to choose from because I never know what occasion I will need one for. This Thank You Card was created using the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches. The patterned paper is a sneak peek of the new Moonlight paper stack (133701) that will be coming out in the new Stampin' Up! catalog on June 1st. You are also seeing two new colors: Hello Honey and Lost Lagoon. The stamps used on the flowers are from the Petite Petals stamp set by Stampin' Up! and the sentiment stamp is by Stampabilities. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

My Thank You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: Sketch
• Sweet Stamps: Polka Dots
• My Craft Creations: Anything Goes
• Just Inspirational: Anything Goes

Zoo Animal Challenge

Welcome to another challenge here at Savvy Handmade Cards. Going to the Zoo is one of my favorite things to do! For this challenge we want to see your handmade cards using a Zoo Animal. Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh my! Erin and I can't wait to see what you come up with. Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Inspirational Designs:

Erin's Card using Huggy Koala from Meljen's Designs

Andrea's Card using Zebra and Foal from Delicious Doodles

If you have a favorite Zoo to visit let us know in the comments so we can check it out!

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Create a New card using the challenge theme, no linking to old posts. 
2. Only one entry per blog address.
3. This is a card only challenge.
4. You must use a stamp, either rubber or digital.
5. You can combine this challenge with other challenges.
6. Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to this challenge. Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
7. All brands of stamping products are welcome.
8. HAVE FUN!!!

This challenge will run for 12 days, 5/9/2014 - 5/20/2014.

Butterfly Photo Inspiration Winner

Good morning! The card creations entered into our Butterfly Photo Inspiration Challenge were wonderful! It was a lot of fun to check out all the different butterfly stamps, die cuts, punches, etc. that everyone used on their cards. Thanks for playing along! The random winner of the challenge is:

Lin from the Twisted Witch

Lin's inked background and emboss resist butterfly made a beautiful card! We are so glad you shared your creation with us. In the next few days look for an email from me to request your mailing address for the challenge prize. 

We hope you will come back tomorrow for the start of a new theme challenge. Enjoy the rest of your day!

You're Wonderful Card

This afternoon I was looking around my craft desk trying to find ideas for another "possible" Mother's Day card. When I spied the Vivid Vases stamp by Stampin' Up! (133818) that I buried under some patterned paper. Since I had never used it, I figured now was as good as any. So, I hunted for the right patterned paper to use and picked a floral print and coordinating polka dots by American Crafts. I stamped the image using StazOn Timber Brown ink and colored it with my Copic markers. Then I added lucky limeade twine, a butterfly charm and four candy dots. A simple design but I think it turned out nice. Thanks for stopping by!

My You're Wonderful Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Cards in Envy: May Flowers
• Artistic Inspirations: All for Mom/Anything Goes
• Love to Create: Say it with Flowers
• Little Red Wagon: Seeing Spots

Floral Just for You Card

A versatile sentiment can leave a card open to many occasions. I made this Floral Just for You Card for Mother's Day, but it could be used as birthday, feel better, congratulations, etc. Personalize the inside message for the intended occasion and it's ready to give away. Keep several versatile sentiment cards in your stash and you'll be ready for anything.

To create this Floral Just for You Card I used this weeks sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches. The patterned paper is from American Crafts. The stamps are all by Stampin' Up!.  I used the bird from the Betsy's Blossoms stamp set, little flower from the Petite Petals stamp set and I used the Label Love stamp with an Old Olive marker to only stamp the writing for the sentiment. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

My Floral Just for You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: Sketch
• The Paper Players: "Mother"
• The Pink Elephant: Mother's Day

You're a Classic Card

The month of May is full of birthdays in our family and many of them are for the guys. My dad, brother and father-in-law all have their birthday within seven days of each other. Well, mine falls in that timeline too, but we don't have to talk about that! My dad's birthday is the first one and so I've made this You're a Classic Card for him. I used a pre-colored digital image and sentiment from Doodle Pantry. The layout is from the current sketch at Retro Sketches. To add a little antiqued look I used a charcoal chalk ink around the edges of the image and gumball green dsp. The black banner is dry embossed with the square lattice embossing folder by Stampin' Up! Now that's one card down and two to go. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

My You're a Classic Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Retro Sketches: Sketch
• Doodle Pantry: Any Digi Goes
• Jellypark: One for the Boys
• Suzy Bee's: Anything Goes
• Sister Act: Anything Goes