Birds of a Feather…

Linda has a brand-new Catered Crop Recipe Swap up on her blog this week, and I think everyone will have a lot of fun with this one!  Here are the details…

Bring out the chickens, ducks, owls, eagles, just their feathers or eggs, or even NBA star Larry Bird, and show us how everything is magically better with a bird on it.

• Include a link to us at Catered Crop or add our button, which you can grab on our sidebar or at our {button gallery}.
• Link up and link often, but be sure you link up by 8:00 PM EST on Saturday, April 12.
• Keep the party hopping by visiting the other players and leaving comments.
• Check back with us on March 13 to see if you’ve won an opportunity to be a guest designer.

So, for my card I pulled out my new Birdie Brown Sunflower Sweetheart stamp set…

For the “birdie for this week, I added a sweet little robin perched on the fence.  It’s been SO nice to see the robins again here in Northeast Ohio the last few weeks, even though it still hasn’t stopped snowing!  I also used the coordinating Sunflower Sweetheart Die-Namics to cut out the images and the picket fence, and the big flag behind the image comes from the Blueprints 13 Die-Namics.
Be sure to stop over at Linda’s blog for the complete challenge details, and some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing!
Thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #285

Hello friends… it’s Wednesday again, which means we’ve got another Color Throwdown challenge to share with you, and Broni is our hostess!  I hope you like the colors she chose as much as we all do, and will play along!
I decided to get a little over-inked with my card this week…

I created the background of my piece by mixing Shabby Shutters and Spun Sugar distress inks on the paper, and spritzing with some Old Paper mixed with water for a watercolor-y look.  I also sponged some Old Paper ink over a hexagon stencil on the lower right, and added some leaves stenciled on the upper left.  Then over everything I applied a layer of translucent embossing paste with a polka dot stencil.  Then I went to work with my Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose Die-Namics from My Favorite Things, and a Mini Rolled Rose, along with some Royal Leaves and Leaf-Filled Flourish.  The sentiment from Essential Sentiments was stamped on a Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics using some Rich Cocoa ink.  I added a few gold sequins for embellishment, and called it done!  :)  The layout for my card was inspired by the Cardabilities sketch #95.
Please be sure to visit the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Gloria Stengel, March Guest Designer
Judy Van Zandt, Guest Star Stamper
Thanks so much for stopping by!

Snappy Birthday-MFTWSC168

I got some glorious stamping time in this weekend, and just had to make time for the sketch challenge from My Favorite Things this week.  It’s a great sketch, as you can see…

…and while I was at it, I decided to work the Color Palette challenge into my card, as well!

So, here’s what I came up with…

I used my *still new to me* Cute Cameras 2 Die-Namics, and the matching LLD Picture This stamp set to create my card.  The die-cut camera was a lot of fun to play with and paper-piece the different design elements.  On the right border of my card, I added some big polka dots using the DC Large Scale Backgrounds stamp set.  I also added a newsprint background to the Berrylicious cardstock.  Was wishing I had the Typewriter Text Background stamp, but this will have to do for now.  (*mental note* Add that stamp to the wish list!)
On the inside I added another sentiment from the LLD Picture This set…

That’s all for me!  Happy Monday and thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #284

Hello friends!  It’s Color Throwdown day, and today Barbara is our hostess with this cool piece of pottery for our color inspiration…

I initially gave her grief because one of the colors is the shade of blue that I just DREAD, but once I got started my creation came together.  I already had some nautical-themed things out on my desk from this card made earlier, so I just kept working with those elements.

I used my not-yet-inked Pure Innocence Sailor Girl stamp set, along with a sentiment from Go Overboard stamp set, and a border made with the Catch a Wave Die-Namics.  For the layout, I used Karen’s Sweet Sunday Sketch #211 for this week.
On the inside, I just added an anchor from the Let’s Get Nautical Die-Namics…

Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and join us!  And see my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Gloria Stengel, March Guest Designer
Amy White, Guest Star Stamper
Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

My beautiful, wonderful Mom has a birthday tomorrow, and I’m hoping she’s too busy right now to be reading my blog, and won’t see her card until it comes in the mail!  She’s got some friends from Georgia visiting her right now, so hopefully she just doesn’t even have time to be on the computer.  Mom… if you’re reading this STOP!
And since Linda has our new Catered Crop Recipe Swap up for the next round, I thought a card with some beautiful flowers that I know we’re all longing to see would be just perfect for the challenge!  The challenge details are below…

Spring! Oh my. After this freaky cold Winter, Spring could not come any faster or be more welcomed. So, of course, we’re going to celebrate it here at Catered Crop. Just make a project with the colors, holidays (like St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter), or themes (butterflies, flowers, rain, bunnies . . . ) of Spring and come join our party.

• Include a link to us at Catered Crop or add our button, which you can grab on our sidebar or at our {button gallery}.
• Link up and link often, but be sure you link up by 8:00 PM EST on Saturday, March 29.
• Keep the party hopping by visiting the other players and leaving comments.
• Check back with us on March 30 to see if you’ve won an opportunity to be a guest designer.

So, here’s my Spring-themed card for the challenge, and for my Mama’s birthday…

I’ve had this gorgeous card by Iwona on one of my Pinterest boards for forever, and that card is one of the reasons why I finally gave in and bought the Hands of Time stamp set and matching Clock Face die from Papertrey Ink.  So to make my Mom’s birthday card extra special and gorgeous, I just decided to CASE Chupa’s design.  I used my Kitchen Sink Stamps 3-Step Hearts & Roses, added a sentiment from the (retired) All Smiles set from My Favorite Things, spritzed it all with some Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls and finished it off with a seam binding bow and some gold sequins.
I hope you’ll join in with the Catered Crop challenge, and I hope you’ve enjoyed my Mom’s birthday card today!  Thanks for stopping by!

You’re a Life Saver

I had some extra stamping time this weekend, and decided to make some time to use some of my new stamps and dies from My Favorite Things, along with the sketch for this week from MFT.  So here’s my card with a nautical theme…

The Fishnet Cover-Up Die-Namics was just perfect for the background, and I couldn’t resist adding some waves for the life preserver to float on using the Catch a Wave border Die-Namics.  The sentiment comes from the new Go Overboard stamp set, and the life preserver is from the Let’s Get Nautical Die-Namics set.
Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend… thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #283

Hello friends!  I’m running late today with my Color Throwdown post… having camera issues!  But without further delay…

Here are Wanda’s beautiful colors for this week!  Aren’t they awesome?  I just love this color combination! 
For my card, I kept it simple and used my LJD Peaceful Wildflowers stamp set from My Favorite Things.

I stamped my flowers with Tangy Orange and Sour Apple inks from MFT, and added the sentiment from Sending Smiles on a Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics.  My card layout uses the Retro Sketch #105 for this week.
Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Gloria Stengel, March Guest Designer
Thanks for stopping by!

Pulling for You!

Linda has a fun new challenge going on over at the Catered Crop blog, and I hope you'll join in!  Here are the details...

Whether you like to travel on a bicycle, motorcycle, car, plane, train, boat, or camper . . . across the world or in your back yard, this challenge is wide open to anything related to travel. Show us where you’ve been or where you hope to go. However you want to travel, where ever you wander, add us as your escort.

• Include a link to us at Catered Crop or add our button, which you can grab on our sidebar or at our {button gallery}.
• Link up and link often, but be sure you link up by 8:00 PM EST on Saturday, March 15.
• Keep the party hopping by visiting the other players and leaving comments.
• Check back with us on March 16 to see if you’ve won an opportunity to be a guest designer!

So... even though I am trying to get back to stamping on a regular basis, I still ran out of time this week to get a card done for the challenge.  But I did find a card from my Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen days that's never been blogged, and while I know it's a stretch, I think it's travel-related, right?  :)

 

 

In this case, the kitty is the one doing the traveling!  I just adore this cute image from Whipper Snapper, and just love the bright Jillibean Soup papers are so cheerful, don't you think?

 

So, be sure to head on over to Linda's Catered Crop blog and check out the challenge!

 

Have a fantastic weekend!

Color Throwdown #282

It’s Color Throwdown time again, and this week Vickie is our hostess.  She’s pushing the envelope with some Springy colors… I HOPE it helps, ‘cause I am more than ready for Spring to arrive!
I went kinda’ simple with my design… still struggling a little bit with time to stamp and a lack of creativity, but that’s OK… I know it’ll come back eventually.  Here’s my card…

I used this sweet Blooming Lovely stamp from Lili of the Valley along with a sentiment from My Favorite Things to create my card.  The green gingham is from Bo Bunny.
Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Gloria Stengel, March Guest Designer
Jacquie Southas, Guest Star Stamper
Thanks for stopping by!

From All of Us

One of my co-workers recently had a birthday and she’s a big animal lover, so I thought this new-to-me stamp “From All of Us” from Lili of the Valley would be perfect to make a card for her.

Just kept it simple with a sentiment from My Favorite Things, and Jodi loved it!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #281

Hello my friends!  I hope you have stuck by me during my recent hiatus, and will rejoin me today as I rejoin the Color Throwdown challenge!  Monika’s color choices for today, especially with the black, were just perfect for a card I needed to make this week!  And here is is…

I found this little Pure Innocence image from the digistampcharacters shop on Etsy, and she was just perfect for what I needed.  I recently had the pure joy of getting to buy a brand new car, and because my great step-Dad works for GM, I got a nice little discount on my purchase!  So I wanted to make a card to tell him thanks for the fact that I got to use that perk.  My new car is a Chevy Equinox (hence the need for the Chevy bowtie on the front of my little car!) and it’s black so my card had to showcase that.

In fact, the car’s actual color is listed as Graphite Black Metallic, so I had to add a little sparkle to it, too…

(Hard to see, I know… I had to use my iPhone to take my pictures this week!)

Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and play along with us this week!  You’ll find plenty of inspiration by visiting my Throwdown sisters, too…

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Nicole Nastali, February Guest Designer
Christine Dring, Guest Star Stamper

So, if you stuck by me all this time, I thank you very sincerely!  I needed a little break to regroup but now I’m ready to get back to some stamping and time for me! 

Babies Everywhere…

My daughters friend had a baby recently, and some dear friends got two new granddaughters within a month, so I needed some baby cards!  Luckily this new All Our Dreams stamp just arrived at my house from Lili of the Valley!
For the baby boy, I made this one…

And for the girls, I made these cards using the layout from Sweet Sunday sketch #206…

All three are pretty simple, but they serve the purpose.  :)
Thanks for stopping by!

Some stamping…

Hello friends.  I’m kind of taking a little break from stamping.  Things just seem so topsy-turvy lately and I’m spending time going back and forth with my husband, driving three hours one way to my Dad’s home and getting his house packed up, then the weekends we are at home I’m busy getting things done that I’m falling behind on.  And winter is slowly but surely KILLING me, so I’ve got the blahs and am just so tired when I get home.  So I asked my wonderful design teams to give me a little break, and they all graciously agreed.  So, you may see me around here or you may not for awhile.  But I hope to be back again soon!  (OK, reading that it sounds like a TON of whining… sorry, but thanks for indulging me for a moment!)
Last evening though, I had a little down time and decided I needed some stamping therapy.  This first card is really simple, but it was just an idea I had after seeing this darling card last week…

I used my new, not-yet-used Die-Namics Rose with Overlay die from My Favorite Things!  I cut the rose out twice from bright pink cardstock and once from white cardstock, then glued all three layers together.  Added the sentiment, and done.  SUPER simple, but was just something I wanted to try after seeing Cristina’s cute card.
The next card uses another not-yet-used stamp from MFT… I just had to have this cute Pure Innocence set.

I inked up the Close Knit stamp set and colored with Copics, then used the MFTWSC161 sketch for this week as inspiration for the layout.  Didn’t turn out quite like I wanted…I couldn’t make the circle element work on the lower right as the sketch calls for, but regardless it was nice to have some stamping time last night!  :)
Well, if you read this far, thanks a bunch for stopping by today!  I appreciate it!

Kitchen Sink Monday on Thursday

I’m chasing my tail this week, and not making any progress!  I made this card on Saturday, meant to blog it on Monday but now here it is Thursday…  Will I ever catch up?

Here is used the Multi-Step Guitar stamp set from Kitchen Sink Stamps to make a simple, and I guess a little masculine, Valentine!  My guitar was stamped with…
#1 – Memento Peanut Brittle (stamped off once)
#2 – Memento Desert Sand
#3 – Memento Rich Cocoa
#4 – Memento Espresso Truffle (boy I could go for a truffle right now!)
If you hop over to the other Kitchen Sink Crew members blogs, I’m sure they had inspiration for you too, back on Monday!  :)
Lynn McAuley
Connie McCotter
Lisa Somerville
Thanks y’all!

Color Throwdown #275

Wanda is in the drivers seat today for Color Throwdown #275 with these colors inspired by a photo from a Virginia winery!  Why don’t you get inky with us today and give it a try?
I got some new goodies in the mail on Saturday (thanks MFT for the uber-fast shipping!) so I made my card for today with new Die-Namics…

The second I saw the new Die-Namics Centerpieces Framed Lovebirds I knew I’d have to have it!  It was perfect for these colors, I think!
Stop by the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and check out inspiration from the rest of the Throwdown team…
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Linda McClain, January Guest Designer
Julie Smith, Guest Star Stamper

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Remembering 2013 Recipe Swap

Linda has some fun lined up for us for the first Catered Crop Recipe Swap of the year… a chance to review all of our favorites from last year.
Honestly, 2013 wasn’t the greatest year for me.  My stamping suffered greatly from a lot of stress I was dealing with at my former job, and I even took the month of May off from stamping completely.  My Mom was also diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time early in the year (and is thankfully winning the battle!) and then my Dad unexpectedly passed away on December 4th.  Don’t get me wrong…. I have many, many blessings in my life that I’m very grateful for, but all in all I’m glad to see the end of 2013.  It was a difficult one. 
I didn’t really think I’d find a lot of favorites on my blog, but I did end up with a good selection.  Rather than choose one favorite from each month I just decided to pick my faves and leave it at that.  :)  So here ya’ go… my 2013 favorites.
From January, these Valentine tea lights made with stamps and Die-Namics from My Favorite Things…

The newly-learned chalkboard technique was something I loved to do during the past year, and this Sweetness of Friendship card with stamps from Flourishes is also one of my favorites…

In February, I used some newly acquired stamps and dies from My Favorite Things on this card that was for my sweet friend Gretchen.  She was in need of a pick-me-up and this card was just the ticket….

And some more new stamps and dies from MFT were used to create this card…

In April I had the distinction of being the Guest Designer for My Favorite Things’ new release and this Spring-themed banner I made was definitely a favorite…

In June, I was inspired by a card from Lisa Johnson and created my own version here with stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps.  And my BFF Barbara Anders shared a bounty of sequins with me around this time, which turned into another favorite for me in 2013…

In June I rejoined the design team at Kitchen Sink Stamps just in time for a great new release, and this card showing some paradise was a favorite…

The annual Dare to Get Dirty challenges over at Splitcoaststampers are always a bunch of fun, and this card using some new stamps from Wplus9 Designs I created for one of the challenges was pure joy to create…

Any Color Throwdown challenge with shades of blue makes me want to pull my hair out, as I just don’t work well with blue, but I was pleasantly surprised when this card came together using a variety of stamps from MFT, Hero Arts and Impression Obsession.  This card was sent to my Aunt Linda in Ft. Wayne who also unfortunately passed away this past year.  She was my Dad’s youngest sister, and my Dad died four weeks to the day after she did.  :(

Sunflowers have always been a favorite for me, so this card was a shoe-in for a 2013 favorite, using Kitchen Sink Stamps…

This past year was when I discovered A Day for Daisies digital stamps, and got lucky enough to join the design team!  This sweet card for Color Throwdown #264 was definitely a favorite…

In October, there was another great new release from Kitchen Sink Stamps, and this wonderful Multi-Step Bicycle stamp set was an idea that I came up with, so any card made with this fantastic bike image is a favorite of mine…

Every now and then, a card comes together and you just think “oh, YEAH!” because you’re so happy with it, know what I mean?  This card using a digi from A Day for Daisies was one of those happy moments…

And finally, another new company I discovered this past year was Reverse Confetti.  I just fell in love with this coffee stamp set they released, and just loved this card I created with that set…

So, there you have it… my favorites from 2013.  If you’d like to show off your favorites too, stop over at the Catered Crop blog and leave a link so we can see yours, too!
Happy weekend, and thank you for stopping by!

Sweet Fairy of Flowers

The team at A Day for Daisies is sharing the newly release fairies and flowers for January again today, and we have a new challenge for you to participate in, as well!
Here’s my card using the Sweet Fairy of Flowers image…

Our new challenge today is to use yellow, so I was sure to color my fairy in her finest yellow dress.  I added some major glitter to her wings, and paired her up with some of my favorite October Afternoon papers.  I added the computer-generated sentiment using Kimberly Geswein’s Makes You Stronger font. 
Be sure to stop over at the ADFD blog for all the challenge details, and so you can play along!  We’d love to see what you create, and maybe all that yellow will bring some sunshine to our frigid winter!?!
Stop and see what the rest of the team created today, too…
Arielle Gordon
Broni Holcombe
Danielle Kennedy
Juliana Swanson
Mila Popova
Sherry Eckblad
Thank YOU for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #274

Hello stamping friends… time again for another Color Throwdown challenge this week with Vickie as our hostess.  Vickie’s been inspired by the frigid cold weather to stay indoors and dream of redecorating, so this inspiration photo today fits the bill!
And speaking of bills…. here is my card!

This Tiddly Inks image has always been a favorite of mine, and when I noticed that I already had one printed and ready to use, I decided to just run with it for today’s card.  I kept it simple… still struggling a little to get back into stamping, but it’s a start.  The sentiment I used comes from the Multi-Step Rubber Ducky set from Kitchen Sink Stamps.
Be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and play along with us!  And see my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…
Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Lori Tecler
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Linda McClain, January Guest Designer
Thank so much for stopping by today!

Ducky Birthday

Hello friends… it’s me again, with no mojo but I’m trying!  :)
I have a sweet friend with a birthday coming up soon.  She’s not real girlie, so I thought she’d like a bright card with this cute ducky from the Multi-Step Rubber Ducky stamp set from Kitchen Sink…

I picked up some Simple Stories paper on what will probably be my last visit to Archiver’s this weekend… just love the bright colors, and those chevrons!  For the layout, I used the Retro Sketch #96 for this week and placed the sentiment down the left side instead of adding embellishments.
Want some more Kitchen Sink Stamps inspiration today?  Stop and see…
Maria Colosimo, owner
Lynn McAuley
Lisa Somerville
Connie McCotter
Julie Masse
Thanks for stopping by today!

Thank You Fairy Much

Hello friends… I’m back, still trying to gradually get back into the stamping groove, so I have a card to share with you today using a new image from A Day for Daisies!  Please allow me to introduce to you, Fairy Bug Sky…

My sweet fairy was printed on Copic Xpress It blending cardstock and colored with Copics, then I added some shimmer with a glaze pen, some gold sequins and a few spritzes of Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls.  I computer-generated the sentiment using the Makes You Stronger font from Kimberly Geswein.  Because my mojo still feels like it’s missing, I just kept the layout kinda’ simple here, and added a bit of lace to dress up the Authentique papers.
Be sure to stop over at A Day for Daisies Club Kit page today and check out the new club options for 2014!  There are great deals to be had if you’re a big ADFD fan, and can’t get enough of these wonderful images!
And be sure to stop and see the rest of the ADFD team members for more whimsical fairy creations…
Arielle Gordon
Broni Holcomb
Danielle Kennedy
Juliana Swanson
Mila Popova
Sherry Eckblad
Happy Friday, and thanks for stopping by today!