Color Throwdown #325

Hey friends, happy Wednesday!  It’s time for another Color Throwdown and this week it’s my turn to play hostess!  I found this awesome fabric to inspire you today, with these cool, retro cats…

Ha!  Aren’t they cool!  I just fell in love the second I saw this fabric.  I pulled four colors from the fabric for you to use today, but don’t be afraid to add a little celery green from the photo, too!  Here’s my card…

Can you look at this and tell that I’m longing for Spring already?  After the brutality of last Winter, I’m just fed up with the snow, cold and ice we’ve had so far this year and am ready to move to the Bahamas!  Who’s with me?  So, I tried to brighten my outlook with this card, using the Spring Blooms stamp set from Wplus9 Design Studio.  The gorgeous reddish-orange cardstock and ink you see here is the new Persimmon from My Favorite Things… it’s my new favorite color!  The birthday sentiment, from the Hello You stamp set, and the die-cut “you” are both from Simon Says Stamp.

Be sure to stop by the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Bonnie Sharp, Guest Designer
Cassie Trask, Guest Star Stamper

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #324

Hello friends!  Happy New Year!  The Color Throwdown team had a nice holiday break, but now we’re back with new challenges for the new year.  Today, Monika is our hostess with this great wintery scene to inspire you.  Maybe you’ll create a winter scene for your card?  Maybe a Valentine?  I can’t wait to see!

I pulled out a not-yet-inked stamp set from My Favorite Things for my card, Cool Day.  I die-cut the polar bear as well as the ice berg, then stamped and colored each image.  The layout for my card comes from the Retro Sketch #147 for this week.

On the inside I added another polar bear, and a birthday sentiment…

Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and join us this week!  And be sure to visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration… Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Bonnie Sharp, January Guest Designer
Jenny Engelke, Guest Star Stamper Keep warm, and thanks for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #323

Hello friends!  It’s time for another Color Throwdown, and this week will be our last one for 2014.  Lori is our hostess with these sweet pastels (pale pink, rose, olive green and kraft) this week.  What fun to try to use them for a non-traditional Christmas card, or whatever else you want to create!

I decided to make this birthday card…

I saw this beautiful card on Pinterest one day that really caught my eye, so I decided to CASE it for my design, today.  The background was created with a Heidi Swapp stencil and some embossing paste, and the flowers from LJD Peaceful Wildflowers were stamped with Worn Lipstick distress ink, Pink Lemonade premium dye ink,
and Factory Green premium dye ink.  The sentiment is from the LJD Pretty Poppies, and I added a punched butterfly for embellishment.
Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and join us this week!  And be sure to visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Sue Lelli,
December Guest Designer
Rosemary Dennis, Guest Star Stamper
Thanks for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #322

Hello friends!  We've got another Color Throwdown challenge for you this week, and I'M your hostess!  I hope you'll love these colors as much as I do!  Last year, just about this time, an issue of Family Fun magazine showed up in our office waiting room, and on the cover was a cute little girl wearing an apron made from this fabric.  I just LOVED the retro combination of colors, so I just knew we'd have to have it for a challenge this Christmas!

For my card, I pulled out a stamp set I bought last year from Wplus9 Design Studio, the Strictly Sentiments 3.  I bought it because of this card... just loved how that card looked.  But with my Dad's passing just before Christmas last year I just didn't get time to make many Christmas cards, and this stamp set has gone uninked... until NOW!  I just knew I had to CASE that fabulous card for today.

I stamped the largest circles in red ink, stamping off a few times with each inking.  Then used an aqua blue, pink and dark green ink for the rest of the circles with the sentiment stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  I applied strips of Scor-tape at the top and bottom of the stamped panel and applied some chunky glitter, mounted the panel to a dark teal green card stock and gave the whole thing a spritz of shimmer spray before mounting to a white card stock base.
I hope you'll join us this week!  Stop by the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration...
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Sue Lelli, December Guest Designer
Birgit, Guest Star Stamper
Thank you for stopping by today!

Christmas Canvas

Way back in May (when the temps were a LOT warmer than they are now!) I took a wonderful trip to Florida and visited the My Favorite Things boutique in Eustis.  The MFT girls had a fabulous weekend-long retreat that I got to go to where we made some wonderful cards and other things.  One of the projects we made that weekend was our own version of this beautiful canvas designed by my BFF Barbara Anders.
Well, I’ve wanted to make another canvas similar to that for the longest time, but never seemed to get around to it.  And back in August when I visited my favorite Aunt at the new assisted living she moved to, I noticed that beside the door to her room was a little shelf where she could display pretty things, and I knew I wanted to make her something to put there.  So, I was going to do something for Fall but never got around to it.  Well, NOW my daughter is heading back to my hometown for a quick visit this weekend, so I finally got the canvas done to send with her!
Here we go…

Using the canvas that Bar so beautifully designed as a guide, I created this version using the MFT Poinsettia Die-Namics.  Behind the flowers I used the (now retired) High Tea Doily Die-Namics, along with some jute string.  The canvas was prepped with some kraft paint and gesso, and then on the canvas I randomly stamped the chicken wire from the MPD Distressed Backgrounds stamp set, and the BG Romantic Script background… both were stamped using waterproof ink.  I also applied some embossing paste using the MPD Brick Wall stencil, and stamped some of the script over that, too.  The sentiment is from the Cheerful Christmas Greetings stamp set, stamped in Jellybean Green hybrid ink.  I embellished with some flat-back pearls, and some wood veneer snowflakes that were sprayed with silver shimmer.  The poinsettias, leaves and doily were also stamped with pearl and gold shimmer sprays.

My Aunt Thead has that dreadful macular degeneration, so her eyesight isn’t the greatest, but I told my daughter to encourage her to gently run her fingers around this so she can feel all the texture.  :)
Happy Friday, everyone!  Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Color Throwdown #321

Happy Wednesday, friends!  It's time for another Color Throwdown challenge, and this week Broni is our hostess.  She's got gold, silver, dark brown and white from this beautiful photo to inspire you this week...

Combine these colors with my lack of creativity and motivation right now, and you can imagine that I was a little intimidated by these colors!  But I persevered and came up with this...

I used my new (to me!) Merry & Bright and Woodland Wreaths stamp sets and dies from Wplus9 Design Studio for my card today.  The berries on the wreath were stamped in gold, then heat embossed with gold embossing powder, as was the pinecone.  In the background, I stamped the BG Diagonal Stripes background from My Favorite Things using gold Encore ink, then I added a dark brown strip of card stock to the left side, and mounted the panel over a strip of silver glitter card stock.  A few gold and silver sequins finished off my design.  I was inspired by the current Clean & Simple Stamping sketch #314 for the layout of my card.
Please be sure to stop by the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration...
Barbara Anders 
Broni Holcombe 
Joan Ervin 
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler 
Monika Davis 
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen 
Sue Lelli, December Guest Designer
Joanne James, Guest Star Stamper
Thanksabunch for stopping by today!

Belated Birthday Donut

A few days ago, I realized I completely missed my Aunt Rose’s birthday.  She’s such a sweetie, so I’m hoping this card will allow her to forgive me for forgetting!  The new Donut You Know stamps and Confetti Cuts from Reverse Confetti were just perfect for my card…

For the layout of my card, I used the Sketch for You to Try from Reverse Confetti for November, but I was too lazy over the weekend to get it photographed so I missed the deadline to enter.  In addition to the new Donut You Know stamps and dies, I used the new Triple Chevies Confetti Cuts, too.  On the photo at the very top of my post you can kinda’ see how I added some crystal lacquer to the donut icing for a nice glaze.
On the inside, I added the belated birthday sentiment from the stamp set…

The colors for my card were inspired by the current Colour Q challenge #269, and I’m also entering the current Anything Goes challenge on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog.
I hope my US friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #320

Hello friends, I hope you’re still with me!  I know it’s been pretty durn quiet around here… I’m suffering from a severe lack of mojo and motivation.  You can look at my bank statement and tell that I have plenty of motivation for stamp shopping, but just no motivation for stamping.  If you have a remedy for this affliction, please share it with me!
Our Color Throwdown hostess today is my BFF Barbara Anders, and she’s got this great Christmas-inspired photo for us…

And here is my last minute, thank-God-I-found-some-motivation-and-mojo card…

Some of the shopping I’ve been doing lately paid off since I was inspired to use my new Branch Out Confetti Cuts tree from Reverse Confetti for my card!  And the Retro Sketch #142 for this week gave me plenty of inspiration, too!  And I’m so pleased that I finally remembered to try adding a “thread bundle” to one of my creations, AND pleased that it didn’t turn out half bad, either!  What IS bad though, is that I’m now OUT of silver thread!  Oh dear, MORE SHOPPING TO DO!  :)
Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, so you can join us this week!  And visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Petra Swart, November Guest Designer
I wish you a wonderfully happy Thanksgiving holiday (if you’re in the US!), and thank you so much for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #319

Hey friends, I'm back again today with another Color Throwdown creation!  Wanda is our hostess this week with this darling photo... I'd LOVE to have one of those hats in MY size!  I hope you like these colors as much as I do, and will join us this week!

Here's my card...

I just had to buy the beautiful Pretty Peonies stamp set from Wplus9 Design Studio after seeing the amazing watercolor work that Dawn was doing with these stamps!  Her tutorials are so helpful, and her creations knock my socks off!  I don't think I came even close to her level with my card, but it sure was fun to try.  I used Ranger Distress Markers to color directly onto the stamps, then stamped on Ranger Watercolor paper.  I wanted to add some silver splatters, and wasn't happy with how that worked out but it is what it is.  The BG Romantic Script background is from My Favorite Things, and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Be sure to stop by the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and check out my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration...

Barbara Anders 
Broni Holcombe 
Joan Ervin 
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler 
Monika Davis 
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen 
Petra Swart, November Guest Designer
Chat Wszelaki, Guest Star Stamper

Thanks for stopping by today, and for your comments!  It always makes my day brighter!

Color Throwdown #318

Hello friends!  Hooray for Wednesday, and another Color Throwdown!  Vickie is our hostess-with-the-mostest today with this really fresh color combo…

Me, I love orange and aqua blue together all day, every day!  So this was right up my alley.  I hope you like it too, and will join us this week!  Here’s my card…

I used one of my favorite A Day for Daisies images, the Pumpkins and Butterflies.  I colored with Copics, then masked the image and airbrushed the blue sky in the background.  A few patterned papers and die cuts and my card was done.  Easy peasy, lemon squeezie!

Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and stop by to see my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration today…

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Petra Swart, November Guest Designer
Doni High, Guest Star Stamper

Hope you’re having a great week!  Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!

Color Throwdown #317

Hi friends, happy Wednesday!  It’s time for another Color Throwdown and this week Joan is taking us international with this inspiration photo…

For my card, I decided to CASE this gorgeous card by Jennifer McGuire.  I really loved the layout she used.  So here’s my version…

I used my new Harvest Berries stamp set from Papertrey Ink, stamping the leaves with Simon Says Stamp Sea Glass premium dye ink.  I added some purple berries, and some randomly “splotches” of Blu Raspberry Premium Dye ink from MFT mixed with some Perfect Pearls for shimmer.  The “hello” was die cut twice from black card stock for extra dimension, using the Happy Hellos Die-Namics from MFT.  Over the whole card front I also stamped a script background using Grout Gray hybrid ink that was stamped off once, so it’s just very subtle.  And on the purple card stock base, I stamped the BG Diagonal Stripes background on the left edge using Sweet Tooth pigment ink.  Lastly, the whole card was given a very light spray of a sheer shimmer mist, and I added a few sequins.

Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters (including our new Guest Designer for November) for more inspiration…

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Petra Swart, November Guest Designer
Christy, Guest Star Stamper

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #316

Hello friends!  It's time once again for the Color Throwdown, and Monika is our hostess this week!  You could do a lot with these colors... make a Fall card, Halloween, masculine... anything goes!  Check it out...

Well, I cheated a little.  My image was already colored, AND I had already paired it up with the blue card stock in the background because I thought it matched the blue in the quilt quite well.  And when I sat down to make my card for this week, well... I just wasn't feeling very inspired.  So I just decided to use what was already started.  So here's my card...

I needed a birthday card for a friend this week, and this was just perfect.  I colored this Pumpkins & Patchwork image from Whipper Snapper Designs with my Copic markers, and stamped a Hero Arts sentiment at the bottom.  On the blue card stock background I added a gingham pattern with a background stamp.

Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details.  And be sure to visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration...

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Tara Godfrey, October Guest Designer   
Sue Rose, Guest Star Stamper


Thanks so much for stopping by today!





Some cards to share…

Hello friends!  Since October is about to come to a close, I figured I better hurry up and do something about the fact that it’s Pastor Appreciation Month!  So I spent my Sunday evening making eight loaves of zucchini bread from a giant zucchini my neighbor gave me, and will drop two loaves off at my church today on my way to an eye doctor appointment.  And here are the cards I made to go with the loaves…

I made these in the style of a postcard with the writing on the back, so they’re not too fussy.  I die-cut the Big Thanks from Simon Says Stamp in Tangy Orange card stock, then layered it over Kraft card stock that was stamped with the BG Fine Check background stamp from My Favorite Things.  This navy/kraft/tangerine/yellow color combo was from the Colour Q challenge a few weeks ago.  I loved the combo, but just didn’t get around to trying it until now.  These cards also work for the current “Get Crafty” challenge on the Simon Says Wednesday challenge blog. 
Another loaf of zucchini bread will go to our Sunday School teacher who is also a good family friend.  She recently had a minor procedure done, and is still having to take life a little easier for a few more days, so hopefully a card and bread will cheer her up!

I’ve had a print-out of this fabulous card made by Arielle Gordon.  I’ve been trying my darndest to CASE her fantastic design, but without success.  When I finally gave up trying to CASE completely, and just let my own version come to life, then I was happy!  This card uses the very pretty Painted Flowers set from Altenew, a Hero Arts sentiment, and the BG Sheet Music background stamp from MFT.
I hope your Monday is off to a great start, and you’re looking forward to a great week!  Thank you for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #315

Well, hello there!  If there’s anyone out there still following my blog then I hope you’re happy to know it’s time for another Color Throwdown challenge.  This week Jodi is our hostess with these beautiful Fall colors…

For my card, I decided to use a new (to me!) stamp set that I just recently got…

The Wreath for all Seasons stamp set from Papertrey Ink has long been on my wish list, and two weeks ago I decided to do a search and see if I could find someone selling a used set, and happily I did!  So I decided to use it for my card today, along with the Sweet Sunday Sketch #241 for layout inspiration.  I stamped the wreath in Kraft hybrid ink and then did the berries with Rusty Hinge distress ink.  On the yellow card stock I stamped the BG Linen background with Versamark ink, and on the green card stock I stamped the BG Burlap background with Grout Gray hybrid ink.  The small rectangle of designer paper is from an old Simple Stories 6x6 paper pad.  I added a few copper-colored sequins for embellishment.
Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details.  And be sure to visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration...
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Tara Godfrey, October Guest Designer
Bernadette Bliss, Guest Star Stamper
Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I appreciate it!

Deconstructed Sketch #172

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time for another Deconstructed Sketch challenge!  Sketch #172 is very different, but I hope you’ll give it a try!  For some great inspiration, be sure to visit the team members (linked down below).

I recently got an order from Simon Says Stamp, so I put a few of my new goodies to work for my card…

This card uses the You Are My Sunshine stamps and die set, along with some Simple Stories papers.  I decided at the last second to go with a square card… I was channeling my inner Arielle Gordon with this design, but her stuff is just so dang cute, I’m afraid I fell short of the mark.
Be sure to stop over at Jen’s blog for the challenge details, and visit the rest of the team for plenty of inspiration…

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults (sitting out this week)
• Kim O’Connell
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain
• Tracey Pickersgill

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #313

Happy Wednesday, and happy Color Throwdown day!  I'm your challenge hostess today, and we're going all-out-Fall with these colors!  I hope you'll join us!

For my card, I started with the Sweet Sunday Sketch #239 for my layout and pulled out my (new to me) Giving Thanks stamp set from Simon Says Stamp.

I stamped the leaves on the tree, then stamped them second generation for some dimension, then added a few more leaves randomly in a lighter shade of orange.  Then I used my Shabby Shutters distress marker to add some dots around the leaves, too... just a little added interest.  I also freehanded some grass at the base of the tree.  After my design was complete, I gave the whole card front a few very light spritzes with some Heidi Swapp Gold Lame Color Shine spray.
Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details.  And be sure to visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration...
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Tara Godfrey, October Guest Designer
Angie Anny, Guest Star Stamper
Thanks for stopping by today!

A Day for Daisies-Happy Fall

There’s another new batch of fun images in the shop over at A Day for Daisies, and they’re perfectly sweet to get you in a Halloween mood!  Check out the new October Club Kit “Happy Candy Corn!”

Here’s my somewhat simple card… I’m having a bad week, and had to keep this pretty simple!

There’s a new challenge on the A Day for Daisies blog too, to go along with these fun new images… Get Sugared!  Be sure to check out the challenge (the challenge that I forgot to incorporate into my card…. like I said, I’m having a bad week.)

The rest of the ADFD team will have some fantastic creations to share with you today using these cute candy corn images, so be sure to check them out!

Arielle Gordon
Broni Holcombe
Danielle Kennedy
Juliana Swanson

I hope you’ll play along!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Deconstructed Sketch #171

Happy almost-Friday!  (Geesh, seems like all I do lately is wish for Friday!)  It’s Thursday so that means it’s time for another Deconstructed Sketch.  Jen has a GREAT sketch this week… you can go simple with this, or really dress it up with layers and patterns!

I decided to dress it up a little, and while I love Fall, I guess maybe I was still stuck in a Summer mood as I created…

I chose to make my card A2 size instead of square because I do need to mail this one.  For the flowers, I used my Altenew Painted Flowers stamp set.  I just HAD to have this set after seeing it on everyone’s blogs and I waited awhile for it too, as it was out of stock.  And I received it over a month ago, and have finally  used it!  LOL  Isn’t that how it goes?  For the sentiment, I used the word “thank” from the (retired) Big Greetings stamp set from My Favorite Things, and the die-cut “You” is from Simon Says Stamp.  On the kraft card stock background I stamped the BG Romantic Script background from MFT in Sweet Tooth pigment ink.  A scattering of sequins, and I called this done!
Be sure to stop over at Jen’s blog for all the sketch challenge details, and visit the rest of the team for plenty of inspiration…

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults
• Kim O’Connell (sitting out this week)
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain
• Tracey Pickersgill

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #312

Hello friends!  It's time for another Color Throwdown, and this week Broni is the hostess for challenge #312.  She's bringing us into Fall with these lovely colors...

I pulled out a favorite set, LJD Primitive Pumpkins with the matching dies from My Favorite Things to make my card. 

The tag was cut using the Pierced Traditional Tag STAX, and I added a Die-Namics Woodgrain Fence behind the pumpkins.  On the Black Licorice card stock I used some graphite black Ferro to emboss some stars from the MPD Stargaze stencil, and on the Kraft card stock base I added some stripes on the left side using Steel Grey hybrid ink and Tangy Orange hybrid ink and the DC Plaid Background Builder stamp set.

Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, AND to welcome our new October Guest Designer!  And be sure to visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration...

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Tara Godfrey, October Guest Designer

Thanks so much for visiting me today!