Pawsitively Awesome

Hi everyone!  I have a super quick card to share with you today, using the sketch from the current Share Joy challenge #24...

Here's my quick card...

One of my favorite co-workers had a birthday recently, and she's a dog lover so a card using the Birdie Brown You Make My Tail Wag stamp set was perfect.  Again, just super simple for this card (yes, I was in a hurry!) with an added sentiment from the Birdie Brown You Have My Heart set, both from My Favorite Things.  The papers I used are from an old Simple Stories 6x6 pad.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Flippin' Awesome

Hi friends!  I have a simple card to share with you today using the current Color Throwdown colors, and the current sketch from My Favorite Things...

My youngest daughter's boyfriend is currently in culinary school, and over the Valentine's Day weekend he and Kelsey went to the awesome West Side Market in Cleveland and did some shopping, then came to our house and he cooked us dinner (which was also AWESOME!)  So I had no choice but to order this sweet Birdie Brown Recipe for Happiness stamp set to make a thank you card for Chuck!  Other supplies used include the BG Gingham background, BG Small Brick background, Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics, Pierced Rectangle STAX Die-Namics, and the Recipe for Happiness Die-Namics.  The black and white diagonal stripes at the bottom is just an old piece of patterned paper.  (I even gave the chef a red mustache, since Chuck is a ginger!)

That's all for me today!  Thanks for stopping by!

Ridiculously Amazing

My daughter’s sweet friend (who’s like an extra daughter to me!) has a birthday today.  And nothing other than the Amazing stamp set and matching Die-Namics from My Favorite Things would be good enough for her card!



On a black card stock panel, I stamped the BG Roses All Over background with Versamark, then embossed with detail white embossing powder.  I stamped the sentiment on Smooth White card stock with Versafine ink, then clear embossed.  And with the “amazing” die, I cut two from Razzle Berry card stock, and one from Smooth White, then layered them and applied a layer of Glossy Accents.  I added a few sequins, and mounted to a Smooth White card stock base. 

I used black, white and a single pop of color on my card for the Colour Q challenge #329 for this week.



Happy Friday, and thanks for stopping by today!

Birthday Flower Wrap

Oooh, I got happy mail today in the form of new stamps and dies from Reverse Confetti!  And since I needed a card for a co-workers birthday tomorrow, I got busy using that happy mail!

Here’s my card using the new Flower Wrap Confetti Cuts dies…



I die cut the wrapper with some natural card stock, and die cut another piece from vellum to put some “tissue” inside the wrap… hard to see though with all the posies I added!  I used the colors for the current Colour Q challenge, adding a gold tag on the flower wrap.  For the sentiment, I used the Fancy Words Confetti Cuts, and got the “HAPPY” sentiment from the Fabulous Flamingo stamp set.  This was fun to make… I know you’re going to be seeing more of this Flower Wrap die!

Happy, happy Friday and happy (almost!) Valentines Day!

Valentine Treats

I decided to surprise some of my co-workers today with some Valentine treats!  My oldest daughter graciously helped me make some chocolate, and sprinkle -covered pretzels last night, and then we bagged them up in cello bags, and tied on some tags I've been working on for a few weeks!  Here's a sampling of the tags with product links under each photo!  For all the tags, I used the Pierced Traditional Tags STAX and the Traditional Tags STAX Die-Namics from My Favorite Things.

 

LLD Accent It - Feathers and Arrows Die-Namics, Hearts Stencil

("Love Struck" sentiment from a retired set)

 

LJD Scribble Roses, LJD All My Love

 

Hearts background and "xoxo" are retired from MFT.

 

BB I Knead You and matching Die-Namics, BG Tiny Hearts background

(Thanks for the loan, Kirsty!)

 

 

The "love" and "sweet" dies are Lovey Words Confetti Cuts from Reverse Confetti, with Lovey Words Coordinates stamps, as well as the Double Heart Garland Confetti Cuts, and the Whole Lotta' Hearts stamp set.  Also used here are stitched clouds from the Rainbow & Clouds die from Lil' Inker Designs.

 

I'm feelin' the love!  :)

Birthday Cards

I have two cousins with birthdays this week… one who is very special because she shares a birthday with my daughter Kelsey!  And since these days I’m still feeling a lack of stamping motivation, I chose to CASE a few designs for my cards this past weekend.

This first card was a CASE of this fantastic card by Debby Hughes…

I pretty much copied the flowers just as Debby used them on her card, because why mess with perfection, amiright?  These flowers are from the Wplus9 Design Studio stamp set for Simon Says Stamp called Many Thanks, and the sentiment comes from the Simon Says Sending and Wishing stamp set.  I added a few ink splatters to the card, and embellished with some sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

My second card was inspired by this awesome card made by Laura Bassen…



On this card, I used the Grid Background stamp from Simon Says Stamp embossed with white embossing powder, then used my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers  to watercolor the squares, putting down just a small bit of color on one side of the square, then drawing the color out with an aqua brush.  The sentiment combines the Best Hugs stamp set, and the Scripty Big Hugs die.  I added a bundle of silver thread, and some more sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.  The colors on my card were inspired by the color challenge this week at My Favorite Things.

AND I’m happy to be joining in again this month with Kathy Racoosin and The Daily Marker 30-Day Coloring Challenge!  And since I used my Zig markers for the above card, I’ve got day 1 in the bag!

Have a great week… thanks for stopping by!

Yellow Poppies

I found out a few days ago that the dear, sweet lady who lived across the street from us when I was growing up had passed away.  She was 97 years old, bless her heart!  What a wonderful, giving life she had!  She crocheted slippers every Christmas and my Mom, sister and I always got a new pair, and my Dad always got a tin of her famous Chex mix.  Even at 95 years old, and in a rehab facility because she had taken a fall and broke a bone, she insisted on having her daughter bring her to my Dad's funeral back in December 2013.  My sister and I were so touched to see her there!  I HAD to get a card made to send to her daughter this week.  So here's what I came up with...

These poppies from the Botanical Silhouettes stamp set from Papertrey Ink have always been a favorite, and I often think of using them for sympathy cards.  This was an anniversary set that is no longer available, so I'm sorry there's no link.  I stamped the flowers in Daffodil hybrid ink from My Favorite Things, and the stems were stamped with Olive hybrid ink on a piece of watercolor card stock.  I then added a bit of a gray wash amongst the flowers using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens.  Since I stamped the flowers with hybrid ink, I was able to watercolor around them and the ink doesn't react to the water. 

For the layout, I was inspired by the sketch this week at CAS(E) this Sketch #156, and I used the colors for the Color Throwdown #377.  And I'm also entering this in the current Word Art Wednesday challenge #218 - Anything Goes.  (Can I just say how GLAD I am to have discovered that challenge?  Not only does it inspire me to create, but the ladies on the team are so kind and supportive!  I've received the nicest comments from them, AND won a $25 Simon Says gift certificate for my entry a few weeks ago!)

That's all for me today.... thank you for stopping by my blog!

Two cards…

Hi friends!  I have two more cards to share with you that I made this past weekend.  I think I may have rediscovered some stamping motivation this weekend, so I’m hopeful that this trend will continue!

This first card was made for someone at church, and I used the Colour Q #324 colors for this week…



I used Peerless watercolors for the background, painted over the Large Grid background stamp from Simon Says Stamp.  (I think that background stamp is seriously one of the best stamping purchases I’ve ever made!)  I created the sentiment by using part of a lable stamp from Altenew’s Label Love stamp set, and the You die from Simon Says.  I did two layers of black and one layer of celery card stock for the die cut, and coated it with Glossy Accents, then layered it over a silver thread bundle.  I added a silver metallic card stock band behind the main panel and embellished with some clear sequins.

This second card is for my dear aunt, who had a birthday yesterday (and I hope will be happy with my card even though it’s late!)  Aunt Thead is my oldest aunt and has always been more like a Grandma to me… she is my Dad’s oldest sister, and two years later is still taking his passing pretty hard.  I think this was her 91st birthday (I can never keep it straight!) and I haven’t had the chance to visit with her in months as she lives 3 hours away.  I miss her so much, and pray that her birthday was a happy day.



Several weeks ago I had some stamping friends over to my house, and we played around with ink smooshing.  My friend Sherri created a gorgeous piece using this Roses All Over background stamp from My Favorite Things, and a combination of Abandoned Coral, Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry distress inks.  So for this card, I thought I’d give her beautiful color combo a try!  I added a vellum strip with the “birthday” sentiment stamped from the DC Happy Everything set from MFT, and the happy was die-cut in silver metallic card stock using the Happy Duo Die-Namics.  I embellished simply with a few silver sequins.

If you’re lucky enough to have today off work (as I am!) then please enjoy your Monday!  Or well, regardless of what your Monday brings, I hope you are happy and blessed!

Sending You Prayers

Hello friends!  I’m back today with another card I just made.  I’m still struggling with a lack of motivation for stamping so this time around I CASE’d this card from one of my talented stamping friends… Lisa Henke!

I combined two challenges on my card.  The first one is a challenge I just discovered, the Word Art Wednesday challenge.  Their challenge #217 is Anything Goes, as long as your creation is family-friendly and includes words of encouragement.  And I used the colors for Color Throwdown #375, as well.  Here’s my card…



The gray tag was die-cut with a retired die from My Favorite Things, and I added two flags of patterned paper also from MFT.  The “sending you prayers” sentiment is from the Hero Arts Exclusive Prayers Stamps and Dies set from Simon Says Stamp, and the large Grid Background stamp is also from Simon Says.  On the tag, I added a white Double Garland Confetti Cuts banner from Reverse Confetti.  I embellished with some plaid ribbon (NO idea where I got that ribbon, but it’s perfect for the Throwdown colors!) and some golden yellow sequins.

Sending this card to my aunt in Florida who had a pacemaker placed today!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Seriously...

Hello friends!  Happy New Year!  I just  have a quick card to share with you today, using the colors for the current Color Throwdown #374, and the sketch from The Challenge #55.  You may or may not have noticed that I’m no longer a member of the Color Throwdown team.  After almost 7 years, I decided it was time to step down from the team I helped found.  I’m so grateful to all the girls on that team who have stepped up to take over several of the tasks I kept up with each week, and I hope they keep going for many, many more years!

So here’s my card using the colors that Broni chose for this week…

The last time I used this Seriously Word die from Lil’ Inker Designs I mentioned that it was quickly becoming my go-to for belated birthday cards.  And here I am, using it again!  (Thinking maybe I need to address the fact that I seem to be sending a lot of late birthday cards?)  I added a stamped sentiment from the Seriously Awesome Sentiments stamp set, and die cut some flowers from the Perky Posies.  The Posies and the die-cut circle were watercolored, and I embellished with some enamel dots and clear sequins.

I used the sketch from The Challenge, flipping it like a mirror so my flowers ended up on the left side.  (Realized too late though, that the deadline to enter had passed.)

That’s all for today… it’s the first card I’ve actually made in a long time.  I’m hoping it inspires me to get another one made very soon!  My mojo is still missing… whoever has it, please send it back!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Favorites for 2015

Hello friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday, and are ready to begin a new year!

I don't know if this is the "trendy" thing to do anymore, but I've always loved looking back through the past year and picking out my favorite cards from each month.  I found this year to be a little easier to choose from, probably because I just don't find myself doing much stamping anymore.  Not sure why, but if you see my mojo, please tell it to come back home!

But anyway, here are my favorites from 2015!  I hope you like them, too!

In January, I created this card with the To Thine Own Shelf stamp set from Simon Says Stamp...

 

 

For February, without a doubt my favorite card(s) were these beauties made with the Delightful Dahlias from Papertrey Ink...

 

 

 

In March, I just couldn't resist this cute card using Whale of a Time from The Cat's Pajamas.  (This stamp set may no longer be available, as I can't seem to find it on the TCP website.)

 

 

 

In April, there was no other choice but this card made with my beloved Kitchen Sink Stamps!  There is always going to be a really soft spot in my heart for KSS as it was the very first design team I was ever asked to join, and Maria (the owner) could not be a sweeter person!  Plus, the bicycle I used on this card comes from the Multi-Step Bicycle stamp set that I had a hand in designing!

 

 

 

I CASE'd a card from the fabulous Betsy Veldman back in May, and created this card using the Text Block Birthday die from Papertrey Ink.  The sweet co-worker I gave it to still has it on the bulletin board in her office!

 

 

 

The Birdie Brown You Gnome Me stamp set from My Favorite Things was definitely a good purchase this past year, and helped me make this fun card back in June...

 

 

 

SO much of my stamping budget got spent at Simon Says Stamp this year!  (DON'T tell my husband!)  I couldn't resist the fun leaf-shapes in this new One With Nature stamp set, used on this card I made back in July...

 

 

 

My word, did Tim Holtz ever hit a home run with the release of those Crazy Birds this past year, or what?  I resisted the urge to buy them for a month or two, but I finally gave in.  I paired one of those Crazy Birds with this seriously fabulous Seriously die from Lil' Inker Designs for this card that was sent to my youngest as she began her first days in college back in August!

 

 

 

This little giraffe from Wplus9 Design Party Animal stamp set was also one I couldn't resist this past year!  And since my oldest daughter loves giraffes, this card was perfect for her 23rd birthday back in September!

 

 

 

In October, I tried my hand at some no-line coloring with my Copics.  Have to say, I love how it looks and there are a few people out there who do a spectacular job with it, but I'll just stick to coloring within the lines!  But here's a favorite using another darling Birdie Brown stamp set, the Harvest Mouse...

 



 











In November, I CASE'd this card from Lindsay Amhrein using the Smile Circle die from Simon Says Stamp...

 

 

 

And finally, without a doubt my favorite card from December was this one using the Merry & Bright stamp set and matching Confetti Cuts die from Reverse Confetti.

 

 



 

I hope you've enjoyed this stroll through the past year with me!  Thank you for stopping by, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!





Color Throwdown #373

Hello friends!  The weeks and the year are just flying by, and here we are on another Wednesday and it’s time for another Color Throwdown challenge!  It’s our last challenge for the year, and so we’re taking it easy on everyone this week…

For today’s challenge, all you have to do is create something Christmas-y in any colors!  You can even share something you’ve already made and posted in the past month.  BUT, please be sure to check out all the details for the challenge this week on the CTD blog because there are a few modifications to the guidelines this time around.

So, I’ve been dying to show you my card for today… I actually made it way back on the first weekend in November when I was away on a stamping retreat weekend!  I was so happy with how it turned out!

I found this sketch from September on my Pinterest board as inspiration, and used the fabulous new Merry & Bright stamp set and matching Confetti Cuts die from Reverse Confetti for my card design.  The watercolor wash in the background uses Ranger Distress inks…. I think I used Pine Needles and Iced Spruce, but like I said… I made this about 6 weeks ago!  LOL  I also used the Reverse Confetti Winter Words Coordinates stamps to complete the “Joy to the World” phrase.

Please be sure to visit the CTD blog today for all the details, and please visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration….

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Torico, December Guest Designer
Kandi Phillips, Guest Star Stamper

Have a great day!

Color Throwdown #372

It's Color Throwdown time again, and this week my BFF Barbara is our hostess with these non-traditional, but FABULOUS colors for Christmas!  I hope you'll jump on over to the CTD blog, check out the challenge, and join us!

Here's my card...

I had some fun with this cutie-patootie from the Birdie Brown Merry Christmoose stamp set from My Favorite Things, coloring the image with Copics and die-cutting with the matching Die-Namics.  The background, stamped with Kraft hybrid ink, is the BG Distressed Stripes.  I added the sentiment on a Kraft card stock flag, and added a silver flag underneath.

Please be sure to visit the CTD blog today for more inspiration, and please visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…. 

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Torico, December Guest Designer
Gerrina, Guest Star Stamper

Happy Wednesday, and thank you for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #371

Hello friends!  It’s time for another Color Throwdown challenge, and this week Wanda is our hostess with these elegant colors…

The stripes in these packages spoke to me, as well as the colors so I grabbed my Wide Stripes background stamp from Simon Says Stamp and got busy…

The stripes were stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink, but just weren’t black enough so I used a metal ruler and went over them with my black Copic marker.  Then I used the Hand Lettered Hello die from Wplus9 Design with metallic gold card stock, and stamped the sentiment from the Hand Lettered Hello stamp set.  I embellished with some gold sequins to complete my simple design.

Please be sure to visit the CTD blog today for more inspiration, and greet our December Guest Designer, the fabulous Torico!  And please visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…. 

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Torico, December Guest Designer

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!

Color Throwdown #370

Hi there, and happy day-before-Thanksgiving!  It's time for another Color Throwdown challenge, and today Vickie has some fun colors for you!

Now, you'll see on the Color Throwdown blog that the team members all thought "snowman" but I was more original than that, as you can see here!  (Bahahahahaha!)

 

 

I saw the orange and immediately thought of my Reverse Confetti Fresh 'n Fruity stamp set!  Maybe I'm just wishing to be in the tropics instead of preparing to deal with snow?  I completely forgot to take a picture of the inside of my card, but on the inside I stamped the "it's your birthday" sentiment, and added another orange.  Behind the oranges I added a vellum tag cut with the Tag Me Confetti Cuts die.  And my Grid Background comes from Simon Says Stamp.

 

 

Please be sure to visit the CTD blog today for more inspiration, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration….  Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Karolyn Loncon, November Guest Designer
Mona Pendleton, Guest Star Stamper


Wishing you all a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving holiday!  "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever!"  1 Chronicles 16:34

Oh, Ship!

I realized this weekend that my Aunt Rose has a birthday today.  And since I didn't have a card ready to send her, I knew any card I ended up sending would be late (since she lives three hours away from me!) So I made this quick card on Sunday night to send her, and hope she'll get the joke and love it!

I've had this Naughty Nautical stamp set from Simon Says Stamp for what seems like forever, and finally got around to using it!  I kept it simple and used the sketch from the current Share Joy Challenge #12 for this week.  AND (I'm SO happy!) I finally got my Silhouette working properly again, so I was able to cut out that little set of banner flags across the top! 

AND, I'm so happy that it's a 3-day week, and that Thanksgiving is on the way!  I hope you have a blessed day!

Color Throwdown #369

It’s time for another Color Throwdown challenge, and I’m your hostess this week!  I’ve got a nice warm and cozy Fall color palette for everyone today.  What will you create with this rusty orange, rich burgundy and pear-like green?

For my card, I pulled out my sweet Wreath Confetti Cuts die from Reverse Confetti to make this birthday card for my wonderful friend, Beth…

I started by stamping the background with my Wide Stripes background stamp from Simon Says Stamp, and die cut the wreath from kraft card stock.  (Remember, neutrals are OK!)  Then I added a Fall Florals  bouquet to the side, and stamped a birthday sentiment from the Totally Happy stamp set (both from My Favorite Things.)

Please be sure to visit the CTD blog today for more inspiration, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration….

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Karolyn Loncon, November Guest Designer
Annie Rosenstiel, Guest Star Stamper

Your visits and comments bless my day… thanks for stopping by!

Seriously…

I’ve always had intentions of participating in the Montly Meet-Up challenge from Lil’ Inker Designs...

I’m getting in under the wire for the challenge this month with this card that I made over the weekend…

The challenge this month is to use stars in your design, and unfortunately my Lil’ Inker collection isn’t that big so I don’t have any star dies or stamps.  So I used a star stencil and a watercolor wash of Spun Sugar and PIcked Raspberry distress inks to make my background.  Then used my favorite Seriously Word Die from Lil’ Inker and added a sentiment from the Seriously Awesome companion stamp set.  I added a thin layer of Glossy Accents to the die-cut for a little extra texture…



It’s kind of marginal as far as qualifying for the challenge, but it was fun to make anyway, and will come in handy next time I need a thank you card!  :)

I also utilized CAS(E) This Sketch #149 for my layout on this card, and even though the challenge is over I used the Runway Inspired challenge #95 as inspiration for the starry background and the colors.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #368

Hello friends!  It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for another Color Throwdown challenge.  This week, Lori is our hostess and with this combination of colors she picked, you can go in quite a few directions with your creation…

I chose to create a Christmas card with these colors, utilizing some fun products from Reverse Confetti…

I die-cut the word merry from pink card stock using the Winter Words Confetti Cuts, then applied some Glossy Accents for dimension and shine.  I completed the sentiment by stamping “Christmas” from the Winter Word Coordinates stamps on a strip of dark gray card stock, embossing with detail white embossing powder.  The Christmas tree was die-cut using the Branch Out Confetti Cuts.  My layout was inspired by the Freshly Made Sketches #211 from last week.

Please be sure to visit the CTD blog today for more inspiration, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration….

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Karolyn Loncon, November Guest Designer
Andrea Whisman, Guest Star Stamper

We hope you’ll join us this week for the Color Throwdown!  Thanks for stopping by today!