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!

Color Throwdown #299

Hey friends, Happy (almost) Independence Day!  I’m hosting the Color Throwdown challenge this week, and I thought this somewhat Patriotic color-combo would be fun to try this week…

Whadya’ say… wanna’ give it a try?  Stop over at the Color Throwdown blog for all the challenge details and join us!
Here’s my card…

I started out by using some translucent embossing paste on the Strawberry Slush card stock with the MPD Stargaze stencil.  After my stars dried I cut the card stock using the Blueprints 15 Die-Namics,
which gave it that nice angled look.  I stamped the sentiment from the LLD Document It-Right on Target stamp set in Tumbled Glass distress ink.  After I tied some silver cord around the red cardstock, I used my Die-Namics Stacking Stars to cut out a few stars with Tempting Turquoise and Whip Cream card stock.  I finished this clean and simple design by spritzing the starry panel with some MIX-ables Sheer Shimmer Mist and adhering it to the Whip Cream card stock base.
So, be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details!  And for more inspiration, visit my Throwdown sisters…
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Cindy Lawrence
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Diane Jaquay, July Guest Designer
Vicki Dutcher, Guest Star Stamper

LLD Document It - Right on Target

Die-namics Stacking Stars

Stencil MPD Stargaze

Die-namics Blueprints 15

Whip Cream Card Stock

MIX-ables Sheer Shimmer Mist

InLinkz.com

All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted…
Stamps:  LLD Document It-Right on Target
Card Stock:  Whip Cream card stock; Tempting Turquoise, Strawberry Slush card stock (Stampin’ Up!)
Ink:  MIX-ables Sheer Shimmer Mist; Tumbled Glass distress ink (Ranger)
Accessories:  MPD Stargaze stencil, Stacking Stars Die-Namics; translucent embossing paste (Ranger); silver cord (unknown)
Many thanks for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #249

It’s time for another Color Throwdown, and this week Joan is our hostess with this great Patriotic color combo!  I think you’ll love working with these colors!
For my card, I decided to challenge myself to make something that wasn’t necessarily Patriotic, but still using these colors, of course.  So here’s my card…

I used the new Multi-Step Sailboats stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps for my card, giving it a nautical-theme using the CTD colors.  My boats were stamped with Memento Espresso Truffle, Teal Zeal and Summer Sky inks, and I added the water with some Copic markers.
Be sure to stop at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, AND to welcome our new Guest Designer for July!
Stacey Schafer, July Guestie
Wanda Cullen
Lynn Put
Lori Tecler
Joan Ervin
Broni Holcombe
Barbara Anders
AND be sure to check in with the Color Throwdown next week as we prepare to celebrate our FIFTH ANNIVERSARY!  There are over $400 worth of prizes being offered to random participants, and a GREAT color combo from Lori that I know you’re going to love!  Mark your calendar!
Happy stamping!

Color Throwdown #247

Hey all, it’s Color Throwdown time again this week and Barbara is our hostess!  She’s going to help you get ready should you need to get any cards made to celebrate the 4th of July with this patriotic color combo!
With these colors, I almost always just reach for one of my favorite Verses stamps…

This Will Rogers quote is so wonderful, and I love having it on a stamp!  My colors are a little off from the actual challenge colors but it’s because I just HAD to use this new Bo Bunny “Anthem” paper I just picked up!
Be sure to visit the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…
Wanda Cullen
Lynn Put
Lori Tecler
Joan Ervin
Denise Marzec
Broni Holcombe
Barbara Anders
Wanda Guess, June Guest Designer
Happy stamping, and thanks for stopping by!

Focus on Patriotism on Parade

Hi everyone, and happy Friday! In just a matter of days, sparks will fly as fireworks hit the skies over the United States to celebrate our independence! To get ready for the fanfare, the Flourishes Design Team is getting ready to share a little of the red, white and blue by using Flourishes’ set Patriotism on Parade!  This set has always been one of my favorites, so I am super excited to share with you today.

My card uses the classic image of these kids on parade, stamped in Versafine Majestic Blue ink.  I used patriotic papers from We R Memory Keepers "Red, White & Blue" collection and embellished with a metal star stick pin from the same collection.  Some die-cut stars and white twill ribbon finish off my design.

Stop and see what the other Flourishes Design Team members have done today with this set...

Barbara Anders	Christine Okken	Cindy Lawrence	Danielle Kennedy
Julie Koerber	Sharon Doolittle	Stacy Morgan

InLinkz.com

God bless America!  Thanksabunch for stopping by today!

Thanking Those Who Serve

I had a recent request to make some Welcome Home Soldier cards and so these are the two designs I came up with... meant to have these posted earlier today, but since it's still Memorial Day in my neck of the woods, I hope you'll still enjoy them!

This first one uses a new 6x6 paper pad I recently picked up from We R Memory Keepers and the stick pin star is also part of the line.  The sentiment on the tag here is "My Hero Honors" #MC0344-F from Verses Rubber Stamps.  The layout for this card comes from Retro Sketches #13 this week (I turned the sketch on the side.)

This second card uses one of my most favorite Flourishes stamp set, Patriotism on Parade.  The papers used here are from Authentique, and I used my Cricut to cut out the largest star in the background, and a Die-Namics die for the smaller stars.  The "Welcome Home" on the tag is from the brand-new Front Porch stamp set, also from Flourishes.

My most humble thanks today to all who have served and are currently serving to preserve our freedom!  May God be with you all!

Thanksabunch!

Flourishes Pre-Release Challenge-Home Sweet Home

It's almost time for another new release at Flourishes, so you know what that means.... today brings a new Pre-Release Challenge!  Today's challenge is Home Sweet Home... let your creativity shine by being inspired by something in your home - it could be the color scheme of a room, a painting, vase or floral arrangement - the sky is the limit on this Home Sweet Home Challenge! Please take a picture and show the inspiration piece in your post. Entries must be in by May 11th at 5:00 p.m. EST in order to be in the running for the entire May Release!

For my card today, I was inspired by my Patriotic-themed kitchen, shown below!  This is one corner of my kitchen where I keep some of my antique treasures, and a bunch of Patriotic accessories.  Here you can also see my deep red walls, with the wallpaper and border at the top.  (Just don't look too closely or you'll see the dust, too!)

And here is my card using Flourishes "Patriotism on Parade" stamp set.  This silhouette image of children marching in parade is one of my most favorite stamps.  I paired the image with some old Webster's Pages papers, added a sentiment tag using the Tailor-Made Classic Tags die, some May Arts twill ribbon, a star stick pin and some die-cut stars.  Nestabilities used here include the Standard Circle, Pinking Circle, and Deckled Rectangle.

Stop over at the Flourishes blog for all of the challenge details, and the Inlinkz widget to enter your own creation!  And for more inspiration, visit the rest of the Sr. Design Team members linked below...

Barbara Anders	Christine Okken	Cindy Lawrence	Danielle Kennedy	Dawn Burnworth
Jan Marie Caruso	Julie Koerber	Sharon Doolittle	Stacy Morgan

InLinkz.com

Thanksabunch for visiting me today!

Mark Your Calendar

It goes without saying that 2012 will be here before we know it and what better way to keep track of your days than to custom create a beautiful hand stamped calendar? With all of the beautiful botanicals and the A Year in Flowers series from Flourishes, there are so many ways to beautify your own calendar and truly make it your own! Just like in years past, Flourishes is offering a calendar created by Marcella Hawley designed for just that reason! It’s available to download right from our site and is a bargain at just $2! Once you purchase the file, it is yours to print as many times as you like! The .pdf download is sized to print at 4″ by 6″ – perfect to fit inside a little frame! What a wonderful and personalized Christmas gift! Visit the Flourishes blog for information on how to purchase and download.

For my calendar page, I decided to use July and one of my favorite Flourishes sets, Patriotism on Parade. I'm planning to get all the months done though over the coming weeks and use a Zutter Display-it-All stand I bought a few years ago to make a desk calendar for my Mom.

Today all of our fabulously talented designers used this fun calendar blank to fashion some pretty inspiring creations! You’ll have to hop around to check them out!

• Barbara Anders
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Danielle Kennedy
• Dawn Burnworth
• Julie Koerber
• Sharon Doolittle
• Stacy Morgan

Happy stamping, and thanks for stopping by!