Back in the Saddle

Hi friends!  I’m squeaking in under the wire to enter my card for the sketch challenge #353 with My Favorite Things this week.  I made this card on Saturday while I was at Crafty Day with my friends, and realized I needed to get it photographed and uploaded!  I have a co-worker who’s having surgery in a few weeks, and I agreed to make a card for everyone to sign.  She’s an animal lover, and a motorcyclist so I thought this card with a horse AND the saddle reference (thinking of the motorcycle seat!) would give her a chuckle!

Here’s the sketch, and as you can probably tell, I flipped it upside down.

I also got some inspiration for my design from this card by Kay Miller, also using the (retired) Farm-tastic stamp set and Die-namics from MFT.

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

Color Throwdown #461

Ohhh, I’m running late this week with my post for the Color Throwdown!  It’s been a hectic week because I’ve had to work at a different office than my own all week, and just breaking my usual routine throws me into a tizzy.  It took until this evening for me to even realize I hadn’t done my post.  My apologies to the CTD ladies for forgetting my obligations!

Here are the colors for this week…

And here’s my card…

These colors just screamed Halloween to me, but I don’t have many Halloween-ish images.  However, this cute image from Whipper Snapper Designs is one I have always kept as I love the whimsy of it so much!  I colored that lil’ pumpkin, ghost and scaredy cat witch Copic markers, framed them up with a purple gingham frame, and added some bright yellow sequins for embellishment.  A green sentiment flag completed the design.

Please be sure to stop by the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit the CTD team members for more inspiration…

Amy Rohl
Amy Rysavy
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Jodi Collins
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Lynn Put
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen

Thanks for stopping by today!

Biggest Hugs

I got home from work today, and just couldn’t wait to spend some time de-stressing!  Luckily the current sketch and color challenges from My Favorite Things sparked my creativity, and here’s what I came up with…

I finally inked up the Cuddly Koalas and made this card to send to one of my aunts who’s currently staying in a nursing home.  Hopefully it’ll bring her some cheer!  I used Steel Grey hybrid ink to stamp the images, then colored with Copics.  Coral Crush, Tropical Teal, Gravel Gray, and Black Licorice card stocks along with the Subtle Plaid 6x6 paper pack and some enamel dots completed my design.

Enjoy the rest of your day, and thanks for stopping by!

Cow’s It Going?

Hi friends!  I’m checking in today with a card I finished for the current sketch #338, and the current color challenge #72 from My Favorite Things…

And here’s what I came up with…

Even though it’s a retired stamp set, this Birdie Brown Green Pastures stamp has always been a favorite for me.  I added the sweet little cow from The Whole Herd to go with the sweet sentiment.  Other products used include the BG Diagonal Stripes background, Stitched Rounded Square Frames Die-Namics, the Essential Sentiment Fishtail Strips (I think that’s what they’re called… I can’t find them right now on the MFT site), and the County Fair Plaid Paper Pack.  I also used Cherry Crisp, Blueberry and Cement Gray card stocks.

Day one of my stay-cation is in the books… I had a really rough day!  LOL  (Bazinga!)

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Hodge Podge

Hi friends!  I’ve had some busy days lately, that haven’t allowed much time for stamping, but my time has been filled with other great pursuits, so it’s all good!  But I didn’t find a little time recently for some special projects, and wanted to quickly share them with you today!

My daughter and her boyfriend recently bought a house together (no, they’re not married… don’t get me started!) and I wanted to make my daughter a little something to have in her home from Mom.  Plus it made for a great excuse to do a little shopping at My Favorite Things, and I picked up the sweet Home Sweet Home Die-Namics, and the matching No Place Like Home stamps.  And this is what I created…

I bought this panoramic 10”x4” picture frame on Amazon to frame up these sweet little houses!  My daughter loves it, and has it proudly displayed in her living room.  All of the die-cuts you see come from the Home Sweet Home Die-Namics, except for the Stitched Square Layers in the background which are from Memory Box.  Additionally, I used the BG Bold Diagonal Stripes background on the Lemon Chiffon card stock in the background.

I also have a co-worker with a birthday coming up, and she’s a bird lover so the Bird Crazy stamps from Tim Holtz were a no-brainer to make her card.  This will be for everyone in the office to sign…

Because I’m short on time this weekend, I just made this card very similar to another one I made several months ago, but incorporated the current Color Throwdown #447 colors into my design.  The sentiment comes from another Tim Holtz stamp set, Crazy Talk.  On the inside, I stamped “It’s your birthday… CELEBRATE!”

Hope you’re having a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

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!

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…

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…

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…

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!

Praying for You

Hi friends!  I had THE BEST WEEKEND, how about you?  I spent almost all day Friday, all day Saturday and almost all day Sunday with a bunch of the greatest girls, and we stamped and talked and ate and laughed all weekend long!  I got a lot of cards made, and just wanted to share two of them with you now.

This first one, I made a total of eight of these using the colors from the current Color Throwdown #440…

For this card I used Pure Plum, Sour Apple and Daffodil card stocks, the Peaceful Greetings Die-Namics, Stitched Flowers Die-Namics, the Essential Sentiments stamps, and the Distressed Patterns stamps (stamped in Grout Gray hybrid ink), all from My Favorite Things.

This second card I made for my Uncle Gene, who fell the other day getting off his riding mower and had to have surgery on Thursday to repair two broken vertebrae… definitely an OUCH!

For this card, I used the current sketch #330 from My Favorite Things, and used the Sweet Succulents stamps and matching Die-Namics.  I colored with Copics, then added a watercolor wash background.  Behind the cacti I added a brand new Stitched Dome Frames Die-Namics, and a strip of vellum, along with the sentiment stamped on a flag die-cut from Blueprints 13.

I’ll have a few more of the cards I made this weekend to share with you in the next few days!  Thanks for stopping by!

Hello…

Hello, friends!  Even though Spring has sprung here in Northeast Ohio, it was chilly today… too chilly for me, so I stayed indoors and had some fun with stamps, ink and Copic markers!  I was totally inspired by my former Color Throwdown teammate Monika Davis to create this card, based on her GORGEOUS card here…

Now, anyone who knows me well knows that I DON’T do purple!  But I decided to tackle the current challenge at the Color Throwdown, so purple it is!  The stamps I used here are from Altenew… the flowers and matching dies are Beautiful Day, and the sentiment is from Label Love.  I colored all the flowers with Copic markers.  The BG Small Brick background from My Favorite Things was stamped in the background on watercolor cardstock, then I applied a wash of watercolor using Dusty Concord distress ink.  I embellished with some purple sequins.

Here’s the swatch from the CTD blog…

I’ll be gone all next weekend with a bunch of my very best stampy friends at a retreat, so I think that’s what has sparked my recent spurt of creativity!  I. CAN’T. WAIT! until next weekend!!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #438

Hello friends!  Has anyone missed me?  I don’t find much time for stamping and blogging lately, but this Easter Sunday has been blessedly quiet.  After church and a nice family dinner (oh, and a nap!) I’ve had some great time for stamping.  So here’s a card I made, using the current Color Throwdown  #438.  Sadly, I need a sympathy card this week…

For this card, I used the prety Bold Blooms stamp set and matching Die-Namics from My Favorite Things, stamping in Coral Crush, Peach Bellini, Lemon Chiffon, Limelight and Sour Apple hybrid inks.  The sentiment, from the Deepest Sympathy stamp set, was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink on a new Die-Namics Sentiment Label Strip.  Behind the flowers and strip, I stamped the BG Diagonal Stripes background in Versamark ink and embossed with white embossing powder, then die cut it with the Pierced Rectangle STAX Die-Namics.  I mounted this to a panel of Grout Gray card stock, then mounted to a white card base.  I could add some sequins or enamel dots for further embellishment, but think it just needs to stay simple.

Below I’m including photos of some more cards I have made recently, but haven’t had time to blog.  If you would like information about any of these cards… stamps used, colors, etc. just shoot me an email!

Thanks for stopping by today!

The birthday card I made for my Mom last month.

For my daughters graduation from Vet Tech school in March.

For my daughter’s boyfriend, who graduated on the same day from Culinary School.

For my hubby, for our 27th anniversary last week.

Actually made this one back in November when I was a retreat and realized I had never blogged it!

Beyond Grateful Blooms

I needed a special thank you card for someone this week, and the new Sketched Blooms 2 stamp set from My Favorite Things was begging me to use it.  I saw this beautiful creation from Debbie Olsen, and was so inspired… that wispy branch with matching dot-style flowers was the biggest reason why I liked this stamp set from the get-go.  So I got to work on this card over the weekend…

Using my Copics to airbrush a colored background like this is going to officially be my new favorite thing to do!  It was so quick and easy to lay down these beautiful shades of blue and green… my little air compressor is so glad to be getting used again!  Many thanks to Debbie for the beautiful inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by today!

CrAzY about Animals - C4C371

Hello friends!  It’s time for a new challenge with the Crazy 4 Challenges team, and also a new month.  And I am the challenge hostess for February, so I want to see you all joining in, because I have some fun challenges lined up!

AND I’ve got a FABULOUS Guest Designer joining us this month, too!  None other than the highly talented and super-sweet, Lisa Henke!  I know you’re going to love her darling creations all month long!

The challenge for this week is centered around my daughter, Kelsey.  Today is Kelsey’s 20th birthday!  How did my BABY get to be 20 already???  None only is it her birthday, but she’s 19 days away from graduating from Bradford Vet Tech in Columbus, Ohio… she loves her animals!  In fact, I often joke (but am honestly quite serious!) that the only grandchildren I will get from her someday will be the four-legged kind!  So, to honor Kelsey’s birthday today I’m challenging everyone to make a card with animals on it!

So, here’s Kelsey’s birthday card for today…

Kelsey is also a purple-fanatic so this background paper from My Favorite Things was perfect for her card, along with this sweet Lili of the Valley dog/cat/bunny image. (I think it’s retired… can’t find it on their site.)  I colored with Copics, then put these cuties in a die-cut Polaroid frame, and added the birthday sentiment.  I’m hoping Kelsey will love it!

Be sure to stop by the C4C blog for all the challenge details today, and be inspired by the rest of the CrAzY girls…

Lisa Henke, February Guest Designer
Anja de Regt
Barbara Anders
Caz Counsell
Frances Byrne
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Maryann Einem
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Thanks for stopping by today!

CrAzY for Home - C4C368

Hello friends!  Wow, I haven’t stamped since way before Christmas… almost thought I might have forgotten how!  But I didn’t, and I have a card to share with you today for the Crazy 4 Challenges team.  Today, January 14, 2017 is Organize Your Home Day, so in recognition we’re creating cards with a homey theme.  And here is mine…

I wanted to send a Christmas card to my Aunt, and never got around to it so I think this will be a good card to send to her!  In addition to the C4C challenge today, I also created my card using the current Sketch #315 at My Favorite Things, and the current Color Challenge #61. 

I used the darling LJD Make Yourself at Home stamp set and matching Die-Namics, and colored each image with Copic markers.  Using Coral Crush card stock, I die-cut the banner behind the images with the Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics.  Using Versamark ink, I stamped the white background card stock with the Modern Mosaic background stamp and embossed with white embossing powder.  And finally, I added a Berrylicious striped strip of paper on the left side from the Fun & Frolic Paper Pack.

Be sure to stop by the C4C blog for all the challenge details today, and be inspired by the rest of the CrAzY girls…

Anja de Regt
Barbara Anders
Caz Counsell
Frances Byrne
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Maryann Einem
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Thanks for stopping by!

Polar Birthday

It’s a new month, and that means we have a new hostess for the Crazy 4 Challenges team, and that’s our fearless leader, Frances Byrne!  And today Frances wants us to be inspired by the STAR… we put a star on our Christmas trees, and a star led the wiseman to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem… everywhere you look at Christmastime, you see stars.  So, using the letters S-T-A-R, incorporate them into your design! 

Now… you’ll have to forgive me but my brain is on overload this week with a lot going on at work.  So I took it pretty easy on myself and used…

S – silver
T – teal
A – apple green
R – red

And here’s my card…

 

On a piece of watercolor card stock, I used my Peerless watercolors to create a light teal wash.  After the ink dried, I spattered with more teal ink, and some Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Tinsel.  I added a Sweet Tooth card stock frame over my background that was die-cut with the Pierced Rectangle STAX Die-Namics from My Favorite Things.  Then I pulled out my Birdie Brown Cool Day stamp set from MFT, and die-cut and stamped the polar bear, sign and iceberg, then colored with Copics.  I embellished with some Sparkling Clear Mix sequins, added my sentiments, and Silver Sparkle card stock strip, and called this card finished.

Be sure to stop by the C4C blog for all the challenge details today, and be inspired by the rest of the CrAzY girls…

Anja de Regt
Barbara Anders
Caz Counsell
Frances Byrne
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Maryann Einem
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Thanks for stopping by!

Season’s Tweetings–MarkerPOP Challenge

Hello friends!  I am happy to share with you today that I am joining the MarkerPOP team today as a Guest Designer for their newest challenge!  Challenge #109 is a color challenge, which I always love…

You can use all or just some of the colors shown to create your card for this challenge which will run until Friday, December 9th.  Be sure to stop by the MarkerPOP blog for all the details!

For my card, I used the adorable Pure Innocence Season’s Tweetings stamp set from My Favorite Things, coloring the image with Copic markers.  In the background, I added the really-fun-to-use new Birch Trees and Solid Birch Trees Die-Namics, setting the trees inside a Stitched Oval Scallop Edge Frame.  The frame and top layer of birch trees were cut from Sweet Tooth card stock, and the underlayer on the trees was cut from Gravel Gray card stock.  With a nod to the gold jingle bells and ornaments in the photo, I decided to add a little bit of shimmer to my card, as well…

Behind the trees, I sprayed a mix of Heirloom Gold and Perfect Pearls mist to make a snowy effect, and also added a strip of gold glitter card stock under my sentiment strip.

Many, many thanks to Holly and the MarkerPOP team for asking me to join them today for the challenge!  It’s an honor!  Please be sure to stop by the MarkerPOP blog for all the challenge details, and play along!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Ham it Up!

It’s time for a new challenge from the Crazy 4 Challenges girls, and today is all about adding some CAKE to your card!  Mmmmmm…. cake!  You just can’t go wrong, amiright?  Even as I type this, I have a pumpkin cheesecake in my fridge, waiting to go to my sister-in-law’s today for our Thanksgiving dinner!  But I am avoiding cake these days… not part of my healty eating and exercise routine, unfortunately!  But I digress…. here’s my “cake” card for today!

I decided to go with a cupcake for my card, using this adorable piggie from the Birdie Brown Hog Heaven stamp set from My Favorite Things.  He’s so oinking cute, don’t you think?  I die-cut the piggie with the matching Die-Namics, then colored with Copics.  The sentiment was stamped on Sweet Tooth card stock and die-cut with the Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics, and layered over a Zig Zag Stitched Circle STAX cut from Field Day card stock.  I added a little flag under the sentiment flag cut from red paper from the Fresh Squeezed Chevon Paper Pack, using a die from Blueprints 14.  The background panel, cut using Blueprints 24 is from the Sweet Celebration Paper Pack.

My card layout was inspired by the current Sketch #308, and the current Color Challenge #58, both from My Favorite Things.

 

Be sure to stop by the C4C blog for all the challenge details today, and be inspired by the rest of the CrAzY girls…

Anja de Regt
Barbara Anders
Caz Counsell
Frances Byrne
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Maryann Einem
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Thanks for stopping by!

Ouch!

There’s a very “cool” color combo this week for Color Throwdown #420 that I couldn’t resist, so I had to play along!  Here’s my card…

I kept my design fairly simple, using the fun LLD Sweet Succulents stamp set from My Favorite Things for my design.  I added a blue watercolor wash to the background using Distress Inks, then die-cut the panel with the Pierced Rectangle STAX Die-Namics.  I added a few splatters of ink, and mounted the panel to a piece of Black Licorice card stock.  I added the sentiment, added a few black enamel dots for embellishment, and mounted to a Sweet Tooth card stock base.  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Here the CTD graphic…

Thanks for stopping by!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Sending Wags

Hello friends!  If it’s Saturday, it must mean that there’s a new challenge with the Crazy 4 Challenges team!  And it’s the third Saturday, so that means it’s time for a sketch challenge.

I really find that I don’t like a whole lot of layers on my cards these days, so I improvised a good bit on the sketch but I think you can still see it.  Here’s my card…

And like I said, it’s pretty loosely based on the sketch…

I couldn’t resist using the new Playful Pups stamp set and matching Die-Namics from My Favorite Things.  With a daughter in vet tech school, a stamp set full of puppies was something I HAD to buy!  I colored with Copics, and added some backgrounds from the Birthday Blowout Paper Pack.  Then I die-cut a frame from red card stock using the Essential Cover-Up Vertical Die-Namics.  The oval was die-cut using the Stitched Oval STAX Die-Namics, and I embellished around the sentiment with some enamel dots.

Be sure to stop by the C4C blog for all the challenge details today, and be inspired by the rest of the CrAzY girls…

Anja de Regt
Barbara Anders
Caz Counsell
Frances Byrne
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Maryann Einem
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #419

Ooooh, did you see the new Color Throwdown challenge posted on Facebook last night?  LOVE me those colors!  I just had to make a card last night, and here it is…

I’ve got a thing for this Birdie Brown Harvest Mouse stamp set, I think!  I just couldn’t resist using it again, and coloring with Copics.  I layered the mousie on a Gumdrop Green card stock circle that was die-cut with the Wonky Stitched Circle STAX Die-Namics, and stamped with the BG Burlap background stamp.  On the kraft card stock background panel, I stamped the BG Wood Plank background, and over that layered a piece of red polka dot paper, and an Orange Zest card stock strip that was cut with a die from Blueprints 2 Die-Namics. 

Here’s the CTD color swatch…

And my card layout was based on the new Retro Sketch #240 for this week…

Thanks a whole bunch for stopping by today!  I appreciate it!

Apple Harvest

Hello friends!  It’s time for a new challenge with the Crazy 4 Challenges team, and this week our aim is to include fruit in our designs!  And what’s one of the greatest fruits to have at this time of year?  Oh yeah, give me a good juicy, crisp APPLE anytime!  What’s your favorite?  I LOVE Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady and Golden Delicious the most! 

Well, here’s my fruity card…

I pulled out my sweet Birdie Brown Harvest Mouse stamp set, and colored him up with Copic markers using the current Color Throwdown colors for this week. 

And my card layout was inspired by the current MarkerPOP Blog sketch challenge. 

On my card background, I stamped the BG Small Brick background stamp with Versarmark, embossed with white embossing powder, then added a watercolor wash using Peerless watercolors.  I made the green frame with the Pierced Rectangle STAX Die-Namics, and used Blueprints 24 to cut out the background piece.

I added the second half of the sentiment to the inside…

Be sure to stop by the C4C blog for all the challenge details today, and be inspired by the rest of the CrAzY girls…

Anja de Regt
Barbara Anders
Caz Counsell
Frances Byrne
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Maryann Einem
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Thanks for stopping by!