Fusion is BACK! Special Guest Kevin Bray

People! This was supposed to publish yesterday, but in true Becca fashion I bumbled my scheduling. Woops! Oh well, it's always better to start the new year with a mistake right away, and then it's out of the way. 

So you get two cards today - make sure to check out my STAMPlorations post below. 

Over at Fusion, we are celebrating a 4th Anniversary! That's four whole years of creative challenges to inspire you. I hope you'll come party down with us! 

Here's the inspiration image and sketch! Over at Fusion, we don't like to limit your creativity so you can choose to use either the sketch OR the inspiration image, or do what I did and mash 'em together to create a true fusion!

When I first looked at this image, I immediately thought of a Winnie & Walter set that I purchased a year ago and haven't even used yet :o. It's a set for new homes and moving called This Awesome House and I LOVE it so it's such a shame that I've let it languish alone in a closet for so long. 

I incorporated the rustic colors and then also the keys, along with the calligraphy in the big ol' words. I also used the sketch (creatively). :) 

You definitely want to pop over to Fusion to see the cards everyone created. We all got to invite one special guestie to join us (which was ridiculously hard!) I thought long and hard about who to invite, and landed on a fella who lives about an hour-and-a-half south of me. Given the fact that there are practically zero cardmakers in this area, that in and of itself is a novelty. 

But the real reason I chose Kevin Bray to guest is because his cardmaking style is amazeballs. I found him first on his Instagram account and I've been so inspired about what that guy can do with clean and simple cards. We all know I'm TERRIBLE at CAS, but I'm always amazed by the design lines within his cards. Complete stunners. 

Pretty please give him a warm welcome and go comment on the incredible design he put together for this challenge. 

Elegant Autumn Leaves Thank You Card

Happy Thursday! 
This weekend, I'm off to a concert series down in the Twin Cities area and I can't wait! 

But before I go, I get to show off the design I made for the latest Fusion challenge. I loved the warmth of the inspiration image and I took a stab at the sketch, too. 

I've had these gold leaf stickers from Martha Stewart for so long. They're just so lovely and I haven't been able to bring myself to use them. I finally found the perfect design that would let me part with them. 

My little design is also going to go play along over at
Die Cut Divas - Autumn 
Little Red Wagon - Harvest Time

I hope you'll come play along at Fusion this fortnight! 

Cheers!

Distress Oxides + InkaGold + Autumn Leaves - Oh My!

Inky goodness happened in my studio earlier this week thanks to a super fantastic inspiration image from the Fusion Card Challenge. I almost couldn't wait to share it with you all because I squealed all over the place when I finished it.

The gorgeous inspiration image I referenced is this one from Fusion:

 

I just loved that blue bokeh background. If you have never played along at Fusion, you can choose either the inspiration image OR the sketch OR mash 'em together and create "Fusion" in your design.

For my card I chose to use both the sketch and inspiration image, because I'm an overachiever like that. 

I made my leaves by using the STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves stamp set. I love these artsy leaves, and I double stamped them, once with the solid base and then again in a different color with the text overlays. 

 I used a variety of red, yellow, and orange Distress Ink and Distress Oxides. 

 

 Then I splattered them with a coppery InkaGold and water slush.

I used a combo of blue Distress Inks and Distress Oxides along with the Distress Ink Double Dipping Technique to create a background filled with depth and vibrant color. 

As you can see, I also sprinkled the background with InkaGold. Oooo

I put it all together, along with some gemstone embellishments and funky bits and bobs. Charming, nontraditional Fall! All in one little card. 

I'm also going to join the fun of playing along in some bloggy challenges. 

Shopping Our Stash has a theme called "That's Sketchy" this week and wants you to choose a sketch challenge to play along with (I'm obviously using Fusion). 

Country View Crafts has a challenge all about Mixed Media with Autumnal Hues. 

I hope you all consider joining us for Fusion this fortnight!

Splatters & Distress Ink Watercolor

I don't know if you know this, but I love sparkles. And glitter. And anything shiny. So the card I made for today made my shimmer-loving heart oh-so-happy. 

Just look at that shimmer! 

I designed this card inspired by the latest Fusion Challenge. 

If you haven't played along at Fusion before, you can use either the sketch or the inspiration image, ooooooor you can mash 'em up and create a Fusion. 

 

I used an embossing folder on some shimmer pearl cardstock. Then I pressed some Cracked Pistachio and Abandoned Coral Distress Inks onto my craft mat and picked it up with a wet paint brush. 

I also wanted to play along in Seize the Birthday's latest Splatter challenge. 

I rubbed some InkaGold onto a craft mat and then added some water. I used it to create a shimmery splatter all over the card.

I used the CUTplorations Celebrate Word Die to cut a sentiment out of some gold foiled paper to complete my look. 

Taaaadaaaa! Can I just say that it was a BEAR to photograph this? Shiny things are nice in real life, but the camera hates them!

Sailing Away - Stamped Beach Card

Are you looking for a challenge to float your boat? Well Fusion can do the trick for you! Today, I'm showing off a little number I made inspired by the new inspiration image and sketch from Fusion. 

If you haven't played along at Fusion, it's super easy! Just choose either the sketch or the inspiration image to inspire your card, OR you can mash 'em together and use both! 

In this case, I chose to play the mash 'em up game and combine both this inspiration image and sketch. I don't really have many beachy themed stamps, so I pulled out this sketchy ship from the STAMPlorations True North stamp set.

I made some cute little waves by using the Stitched Snow Hills CUTplorations dies. and then I stamped my ship. I paper pieced the boat's wood, and then added some vellum over the sails, which helped to delineate the sails from the white background.

I finished the look by adding a swath of cute patterned paper and stamping a sentiment from the Verve Rise Above stamp set.

I'm going to also play along in the following challenges:
Paperminutes - In the/By the Sea
2 Sisters on the Blog - Beach Theme

Red White and Blue! Fusion Challenge

I cannot believe we are almost into the dregs of July. Over at Fusion Challenge, we're thinking about the impending Red White and Blue festivities with our latest inspiration image: 

If you haven't played along at Fusion - it's super easy! You can choose to make a card based on the sketch, the inspiration image - or fuse the two of them together and use both! 
 

I was looking balefully at my heaping pile of paper scraps and decided to cull through the goods to find all of my red, white, and blue objects. Hence why there are no process photos along the way... I just started piecing and gluing. I thought the design was the perfect foundation for this lovely sentiment from Unity's Dog Tags & Thanks stamp set. We have a large military community in Grand Forks, and I plan on sending this to one of my friends who's currently deployed.

I hope you'll stop by Fusion and play along! Have a fantastic Thursday!

Day 4 - International Mixed Media Week + FUSION!

I am continuing the International Mixed Media Week festivities (you can read more about this farce in my blog post from Monday)!!

It's also another day of celebration because the latest FUSION challenge has arrived!

 

If you haven't played at FUSION before, you can choose either the sketch OR the image, or you can mash them both together and create a fusion! I hope you'll come play along with me! 

Just look at that dreamy inspiration image!! I was totally and completely inspired to create a watercolor piece using the bright colors. 

If you were here earlier in the week, you would have seen the two Ken Oliver Color Burst backgrounds I created, along with my promise to tell you what I did with the second one later. Welp, it's later.

For this card, I wanted to let the Color Burst crystals do the shining. So I decided to add some mixed media bits and bobs, but made sure to keep a lot of color as the focal point. 

Like my first card, I used some glossy black embossing paste, but this time I used it through a delicate Winnie & Walter stencil and only in selected areas. 

I grabbed a bunch of different buttons and metal gears and started painting them black. 

If you want to paint metal successfully, add a layer of gesso to it first. Then let it dry and paint over it with black. My buttons all started out with these pastelly colors that wouldn't have matched my design at all! 

I adhered my bits and bobs to my background, and then selectively highlighted some pieces with InkaGold to give it a little more visual appeal. 

I added Distress Crayon around the edges and smudged, along with a white gel pen border. I finished off the look with some sentiment stickers by Tim Holtz. 

Taaaaadaaaaaa!

I should also mention that part of the reason I chose to use the bits and bobs was because I also wanted to play along in the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge: Buttons. 

I'm also going to link my card up to Crafty Gals Corner - Buttons, and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Bit o Green.

Thank you all for popping by! I hope you'll go see what the rest of my teamies have made because you DON'T want to miss out on this inspiration!

Fusion Challenge - Pink, Pretty, Coffee!

I'm popping in for a quick card I designed for the new Fusion Challenge. 

The minute I saw this adorable inspiration image, I knew exactly what I wanted to create. This card took me all of 20 minutes and that NEVER happens! 

Usually I'm putzing around with this embellishment, trying that paper - no that one!, all the while attempting to keep myself from getting glue on my boobs (I said it) because I've left the cap off *again* and am constantly reaching for things. I can't tell you just how many shirts I've ruined with that ol' fiasco. 

But anyhow, here's my card:

I used STAMPlorations A Cuppa Love stamp set (which my bloggy readers can get in the STAMPlorations store for 20% off by using code STAMPGIRLBECCA) along with the XOXO word die.

I added some teeny heart stickers, along with a less-than-teeny heart rosette and put it all together! 

I hope you'll go check out what the other Fusion girlies have made for your eye-ticement. 

Little Red Wagon - Company or Companies you Love
Oh La La Creations - Die Cuts

Fusion Card Challenge - Interlocking Hearts

Chugga chugga chugga chugga CHOOO CHOOO - I'm still riding the Valentine's Day card train and I've got two more adooooorable cards to share with you today. 

Today I'm taking my inspiration courtesy of Fusion Card Challenge. I loooove Fusion because it gives me options. You can choose to work with either the sketch or the inspiration image or BOTH. 

For me, I chose to work with the sketch, and used the inspiration image loosely by interpreting it by making it a lovey dovey card. 

I used a couple of adorable animal sets from Unity to make some squeal-worthy designs. The inside of this one says "I wuff you". haha - you know me, I can't resist a good pun. 

Can you even stand that adorable cat's glasses?!?! I named him Spencer and he is definitely one of my new faves. I stamped the used a sentiment from the stamp set and repeatedly stamped it in the background to create a pattern. The inside of this one reads "You are purrrrr-fect for me". 

I'm sending these over to play along in:
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Pets Corner
Cards und More - Pets and Other Furry Friends
Tuesday Throwdown - Love Notes

I hope you'll head on over to Fusion and play along! Can't wait to see what you create! 

And Though She be But Little, She Is Fierce.

Hullo Ladies and Gents! 

Today, I'm sharing a design that I am pretty dang proud of. And it was all inspired by the latest inspiration up at the old Fusion Card Challenge.

 

Originally, I was a little bit stumped by this one. As you may have noticed, I'm a big fan of layers on my card so the sketch wasn't doing it for me, and I wasn't really sure how to interpret the inspiration image...

And then I got some new Dina Wakely Scribbly Girlies stamps in the mail and couldn't get this card idea out of my head: 

Isn't it very Banksy? I stamped my image and then created a grayish haze of a background using watercolor. I added a splash of yellow to her dress, and layered up the background using some DCWV papers, gemstones, and vellum. The butterfly is a leftover Post-It note mask from yesterday's card. Recycling at its finest!! 

I hope you'll come play along at Fusion! Can't wait to see what you create! 

I'm going to enter this at:
Take it Make It Craft Stamper Magazine Challenge - ATG
Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media Challenge - Layers

Fusion - Hot Stuff in the Winter

It's a PARTYYYYYYYY! One of my favorite challenges on the web, Fusion, is turning the big 3! 

When I first started blogging a little over 2 years ago, Fusion was one of the first challenges I found. Since I'm a girl who likes options, I love the fact that there is both an inspiration image AND a sketch to choose from. Or you can get all funky with their challenges and use both! 


That's why I was so excited when I was asked to join the other super-amazing-awesome-incredible-talented designers this year. I'm still feeling the pinch-me moment! 

 
It is -17 degrees here. Air temp. With the windchill it is in the -30s. 
So when I saw the current inspiration image, I decided to take a chilly card and turn it into something oh-so-warm.

I used the Stunning Snowflakes set by Uniko, along with some blue & purple colorburst powders to create my background, then used my new STAMPlorations A Cuppa Love stamp set to add in my warmth. :) 

But I'm not gonna hog the spotlight here. Let me introduce you to a woman who needs no introduction, especially when it comes to hot beverages - Ms. Amy Tsurata. 

In honor of our pahr-tay for Fusion's 3rd birthday, we all got to invite one guest. Now the prospect of choosing just one of my hundreds of bloggy friends left my nails in a permanently bitten state. However - as soon as I saw that inspiration image... there's no way I could have invited anyone BUT the coffee queen herself, Amy T. 

And check out her glorious cards! 

Amy used the sketch & inspiration image, because she's genius like that. And she even used my Literary Caffeinations set and the STAMPlorations After Coffee set. 

Would all of my bloggy friends go give Amy a little love today on her blog post? 

Now go make sure you check out the Fusion Pahr-tay and especially make sure you play along!

Fusion Challenge - Buttons Galore Card!

Well peeps - it's time for another challenge on the ol' Fusion block. Today, I'm going to showcase my love of buttons, display some pretty little cards, AND tell an embarrassing story. So sit back, buckle up, and prepare for some awesomeness.

Before we get started, let's talk about the brand new, uber funky and cool inspiration image from Fusion -

Check out that explosion of ephemera. I will also state right now, for the record, that that insipration image is EXACTLY why I love visual challenges. I never would have put black stripes with pastel polka dots and kraft elements. But guess what - I will now! 

See?

 

I took one look at that image and started gathering supplies that would match and then I just started layering and gluing and layering and gluing. 

This card is a mix of funky buttons, chipboard, and old earrings (that's what those leaf bead droplets are). 

And I couldn't just stop at one card - I made 2! 

 

I feel very Lauren Bergold-esque with my mix of elements and lack of stamping.

  

I hope that you'll go see what the rest of my Fusion sistahs made and play along in the new challenge, which will run for 2 weeks! 

I also wanted to play along in some other sweet challenges out there on the interwebs, so here they are: 

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Unicorn Challenge - Happy Birthday

 

--------------------------

Now, I did promise you all an embarrassing story - so here goes. 
When I was a youngster, I had a button collection. I kept them in a little container in my room and would go through and admire my buttons from time-to-time. Sometimes, I even carried them with me in my pocket. 

One day, I went over to my cousins' house and I popped a button into my mouth (as kids do with practically anything) and was chewing on it. We were all roughhousing and playing together and my cousin threw a brick in my general direction that I think I was supposed to catch. Being the nonathletic person that I am, the brick instead hit my stomach, causing me to swallow the button. 

Panicking, I ran into the house where all the adults were playing a non-brick-throwing game and asked if I was going to choke or die because I had swallowed the button. 

My cousins, of course, were dying with laughter and they made a little rhyme that they still - to this day - will chant in the most public of places. 

"Becca, Becca button eater,

Had a button couldn't keep it.
Put it in her mouth, 

Thought it was yummy,

Swallowed it straight,

down to her tummy."

So now you know my deep, dark, button eating secret. ;) 

I hope you enjoyed the cards! Thanks for popping by!