Monday, May 29, 2017

Hello There Florals

Hello friends, me again!  I've so loved this beautiful 3-day weekend!  A great time to remember the sacrifice of our soldiers AND their families who enable us to be free.

I was so happy to have extra time for "therapy", aka stamping!  I made this card on Monday, using the current CAS(E) this Sketch #223 for inspiration...


Even though this stamp set from My Favorite Things is called Fall Florals, I LOVE using it for any season... the flowers in this set just have a cool, funky vibe and they're fun to use.  I stamped my flowers in a variety of dye inks from MFT, then arranged them all on the background oval that was made using the Die-Namics Stitched Oval Scallop Edge Frames, and behind the oval matted a piece of paper from the Dots & Stripes Confections 6x6 paper pack.  I added a sentiment from More Essential Sentiments on a piece of Coral Crush card stock that was die-cut using the current Free-with-$60 Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips.  On the white card stock background, I stamped the BG Distressed Stripes background with Versamark ink, and embossed with white embossing powder.

Here's the sketch I used from CAS(E) this Sketch...


Again, I hope you've had a beautiful Memorial Day weekend and I thank you for stopping by!

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Domo Arigato

Hello friends!  I made a fun card today and combined the current Sketch Challenge #334 and Color Challenge #70 from My Favorite Things...


The stamp set Sushi Date was a must-have when it was released a few months ago... we are big sushi lovers at my house!  I used the matching Die-Namics set, and colored the images with Copic markers.  For the square element in the sketch, I pulled out the Stitched Rounded Square Frames Die-Namics, and cut the frame from Orange Zest card stock.  Behind the frame, I added a double-ended fishtail flag that came from the Blueprints 12 cut from Persimmon card stock.  On the white card stock background, I stamped the BG Diagonal Stripes background in Versamark ink, then embossed with white embossing powder.  On the lower half of the card, I added a piece of patterned paper in Berrylicious that came from the Graphic Grid 6x6 paper pack.  The stitched, rounded edge on the white card stock was achieved by using the Die-Namics Stitched Basic Edges.  I matted everything on a piece of Gravel Gray card stock, and embellished with some enamel dots.

I hope you're having a great weekend, thanks for stopping by!








Saturday, May 27, 2017

Daisies

Hello friends!  I got some new stamps recently from Altenew, and promptly started inking up the new Spring Daisy stamp set for this card…

Color Throwdown #444

I masked fhe big daisy in the center front, and added the second one behind it, then masked both daisies to add the leaves.  Everything was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink and embossed with clear embossing powder, then I watercolored using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  I added some ink spatters and sequins for embellishment.  The sentiment was created by using the small You craft die and the You Matter stamp set from Simon Says.

I was inspired by the current colors of Color Throwdown #444, and the inspiration photo at Inspired by All the Little Things #58 to create this card.

swatch444

58

I hope you’re having a fabulous weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Hello Tulip

When I saw the beautiful photo of tulips this week on the Inspired by all the Little Things challenge blog, I knew instantly that I wanted to create a card for the challenge!  Here’s the inspiration photo…

57

My beautiful Multi-Step Tulip Garden stamp set from Kitchen Sink Stamps has been severely neglected, so I got it out and got it inky!  This set has always been one of my favorites, as tulips have always been a favorite for me, too.  Here’s my card…

Hello Tulip

I stamped my tulip using MFT dye inks, in order from darkest to lightest, Brick Red, Persimmon, Coral Crush and Peach Bellini.  And stamped the leaves in Jellybean Green (darkest) Jellybean Green (stamped off once for the medium layer) and Sour Apple (lightest).  I die-cut the piece after stamping using the Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle STAX Die-Namics, then masked off the scallops and sponged some Antique Linen ink around the inside perimeter.  On the background piece, I stamped  a linen background using Whip Cream ink so it’s just very subtle.  Then I added a strip of plaid paper from the Subtle Plaid 6x6 paper pack.  I used the Hand Lettered Hello die from Wplus9 Design for the sentiment, die-cut from Blu Raspberry card stock.  I cut two layers, glued them together, then applied a layer of Glossy Accents for dimenion.  I finished the card with a few sequins (plus a LOT more that I spilled as I was putting them away!)

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THAT was a fun mess to clean up!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hello Blooms

Hello friends!  It was a chilly, damp day in my neck of the woods… a good day to stay inside and stamp, which is exactly what I did!  I pulled out what’s becoming a favorite stamp set, the Bold Blooms from My Favorite Things, and made this card using the colors for the current color challenge on the MFT Challenge & Inspiration blog…

Hello Blooms

I had some initial reservations about these colors… Cotton Candy, Ripe Raspberry, Safety Orange and Steel Grey.  I’m a big fan of orange, but Safety Orange isn’t a very pretty shade.  But I truly ended up liking this combination, and even found that grey for the “greenery” looks kind of cool!  Along with the Bold Blooms stamp set and matching Die-Namics, I used a new die, the Die-Namics Square Peek-a-Boo Window, and also the Label Love stamp set.  I embellished with some dark grey sequins.

I may have gone a little overboard, but my layout was inspired by the current CAS(E) this Sketch #222!

CTS_222

Here’s the color swatch for the current MFT color challenge…

MFT_ColorChallenge_PaintBook_69

Hope your weekend is great… thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Birthday Butterflies

I love watching home improvement shows on TV.  I’m especially loving a recent new show called Home Town.  Have you seen it?  Ben and Erin are just the cutest couple, and I just LOVE what they’re doing to older homes in their town!  On one episode I recently watched, I saw some fabric on a pillow or something and thought “oooh, I love those colors together!”  So I just had to create a card using coral, yellow and bright green…

Birthday Butterflies

These butterflies are from the Butterfly Beauty stamp set from Concord & 9th.  I stamped the butterflies in Versamark ink on watercolor card stock and heat embossed in white.  Then I applied a watercolor wash over the butterflies using Persimmon, Daffodil and Field Day premium dye inks from My Favorite Things.  I also added some spatters of water and Perfect Pearls for some shimmer.  The sentiment is a combination of the large You Wafer die, and the You Matter stamp set from Simon Says Stamp.  I die-cut the “you” from Coral Crush card stock two times, glued them together then applied a layer of Glossy Accents.  Some sequin embellishments completed my design.  The sequins and Perfect Pearls also added some sparkle, making my card perfect for the current Simon Says Wednesday challenge.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Kind People are the Best

Color Throwdown #443

Broni has chosen some gorgeous colors this week for Color Throwdown #443!  I couldn’t resist playing along… there’s just something about the combination of yellow with any shade of blue.  I love it!  If I could afford to, I’d redo my kitchen in shades of yellow and blue!

This Kind Card Frame Add-On Die from Concord & 9th is just genius!  I have the Happy Card Frame Die too, and just love the way it cuts out the frame with the word as part of it.  Too cool, and the font is awesome, too!  I created the background by stamping the LJD Scribble Roses from My Favorite Things on a piece of watercolor card stock using Versamark ink, then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Then I just applied a wash of water colors using Lemon Chiffon, Daffodil, Sour Apple Jellybean Green, Summer Splash and Blu Raspberry die inks.  The rest of the sentiment from Kindhearted stamp set was stamped on a piece of Steel Grey card stock.  Added some splatters of Tropical Teal ink, and some sequins for embellishment.

Be sure to stop by the Color Throwdown blog and check out the challenge, along with some great inspiration from the CTD team!  And thank you for stopping by my blog today!

Monday, May 15, 2017

Birthday Card and Gift

I have a co-worker who had a birthday last week, and I wanted to create a little set of note cards as a gift for her.  I saw this cute, simple card a few days prior by Laurie Willison, and it got my wheels turning.  So here’s what I did to create a set of note cards for Michele…

Michele's note cards

I used the Doodled Blooms stamps and matching Die-Namics from My Favorite Things, coloring the flowers and leaves with Copic markers.  I added a strip of die-cut grass to each card, and simple, everyday sentiments from the Essential Sentiments and More Essential Sentiments stamp sets.

For Michele’s actual birthday card, I pulled out my pretty Beautiful Day stamps from Altenew, and just created a quick watercolored card panel…

Michele's Birthday

I masked the flower and added some splatters plus some sequins for embellishment, then added a sentiment by combining the You craft die from Simon Says with a birthday sentiment.  I die-cut the panel with a die from Blueprints 22 from My Favorite Things, and added a black and white striped strip of paper from the Black & White Basics Paper Pack

Finally (speaking of Laurie Willison!) I used my new Rectangle Card Hanger die to hang the birthday card from the gift bag…

Michele's gift bag

The bag ended up being a little too big, but it was all I could find in the wee hours when I finally finished this a few nights ago!  These Card Hanger dies that Laurie designed are GENIUS!  How many times have you taken a gift to a party with your beautiful card in an envelope inside the bag?  And the recipient opens the card, looks to see who the gift is from and sticks it back into the envelope and back into the bag???  LOL  For me personally, I want the gushing over my creation from the recipient and guests, amiright?!?!  And with these cool dies, you can hang your card proudly on the front of the bag, and the whole room will be heard saying “did you see that gift bag with the gorgeous card?”  :)  Gotta’ love it!

Thank you for stopping by again today!

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Happy Mother’s Day

Mother's Day 2017

I am super lucky and blessed to have a beautiful, outstanding mother… especially because she understands that I just run out of hours in the day most of the time, and her card is going to be late!  I’ll be putting this in the mail tomorrow, and praying that it gets to her on Tuesday, so that she has it before she leaves for a trip on Wednesday.  Of course, I’ll call her today but I know how much she loves my cards, so I hope the post office is super-speedy this week!

The Altenew Painted Flowers stamps were calling my name, so I arranged them in a spray along the upper left side of this scalloped die-cut panel (Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle STAX), then adding some color with Tickled Pink, Razzle Berry, Sour Apple, and Jellybean Green dye inks from My Favorite Things.  In the background I added a striped piece of paper from the 6x6 Dots & Stripes Confection Paper Pack, and a panel die-cut from Steel Grey card stock.  The “happy” was die-cut from silver glitter card stock using the Happy Card Frame die from Concord & 9th.  The “Mother’s day” sentiment is from a very old Impression Obsession stamp set, and I added some sequins and splatters for embellishment.  For my card layout, I took inspiration from the current CAS(E) this Sketch #221.

I hope all of my Mom friends out there had a beautiful Mother’s Day!  Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Color Throwdown #442

swatch442

I am super excited to be sharing this card with you today, created for Color Throwdown #442.  This particular challenge is a special surprise for my BFF, Barbara Anders!  Barbara and I have known each other for many years, and way, way back when the CTD was in it’s infancy, she joined the team.  And when I decided to step down from the team at the end of 2015, I did so with complete confidence that I was leaving the team in her very capable hands.  She does it all… creates those fabulous color swatch graphics every week, maintains the social media accounts for the team, and just keeps things running smoothly.  So, today’s challenge with these beautiful subtle colors that were picked by her is an extra-special “Thank you, Barbara!” challenge in her honor!  I love you, my friend!

For my card, I created a special get well card that I will need later this week…

Color Throwdown #442

I used some Blue Breeze card stock in the background that was die-cut with Blueprints 22, and in front of that I added a sentiment that was die-cut from good ol’ Barely Banana card stock with the Sending Hugs Die-Namics, all from My Favorite Things.  On the left side, I added some leaves that were die-cut with the Leafy Confetti Cuts from Reverse Confetti.  And on the Steel Grey card stock strip I stamped “get well wishes” from a really old Impression Obsession stamp set.  I added a fine Chevron background on the Cement Gray card stock in the background, and embellished with some black enamel dots.

Please be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the details of today’s challenge, and be inspired by the rockin’ design team!  I miss all those gals so much, and am just thrilled to be joining them again today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Grateful

Despite having a little head cold, I got in some stamping time today… it’s such good therapy when you’re not feeling good!  I turned to the Color Throwdown and My Favorite Things for inspiration…

Color Throwdown #441

I used the colors from Color Throwdown #441 this week… pale pink, light purple and aqua blue for my card, and used the current sketch #331 from My Favorite Things for the layout.  The Bold Blooms from MFT is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, and it was perfect to use for this card, along with the Grateful for You stamp set and matching Die-Namics die.  (Hmmm… is that die retired?  I cannot find it on the MFT website.)  The chevron patterned paper I used is from the Fresh Squeezed Chevron 6x6 paper pack.  I embellished with a few sequins to complete my design.

I hope you had a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!