Hey There .... rosigrl!

ODBD For the Love of Hop

2012-03-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there!!! Welcome to Our Daily Bread Design's Alumni Team's bi-monthly For the Love Blog Hop. This week the Alumni team along with some of the ODBD designers are featuring a hop for the For the Love of ODBD Backgrounds! Check out each link and leave a comment. If you get lost along the way, go to ODBD Blog(give link) for the full link list. One of the post is a hot spot and a name will be drawn from that list of comments to win a $15 ODBD store gift certificate. So, all you have to do is hop along and see all the creations and leave a little love! You have until March 28th at 6 pm. The winner will be announced March 29th! So, get hopping and enjoy all the inspiration using For the Love of ODBD Backgrounds!

If you got here from the blog of the amazingly talented Lori, then you are on the right track. If not, please start back at the beginning at the ODBD blog. For my card I used the ODBD Butterfly Corner stamp and the coordinated Single Butterfly and die. Since this month is ODBD's 4th anniversary and stone for that anniversary/birthday is topaz I'm using different shades of blue for my card. I stamped the corner image using SU!'s Marina Mist and the sentiment using SU!'s Night of Navy. The sentiment is from the Mother Theresa set. The butterfly was stamped using Tuxedo Black and then colored with two blue Copics. I covered the butterfly lightly with some Diamond Stickles. The card base is SU!'s Night of Navy. I kept things very simple to let the Butterfly Corner stamp shine. Now off you go to the blog of the incredibly talented Julie!!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Night of Navy; Stamps: ODBD; Inks: SU! & Memento; Dies: ODBD; Rhinestones: Hero Arts; Diamond Stickles

thinking of you....

2012-03-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! A quick post with a card for several challenges. I recently found a new sketch challenge "retrosketches" and decided to give it a try. The challenge was started by Arielle of ColourQ fame and so I knew right away that it would be a fun one. This is their second challenge. I missed the first one cuz I just couldn't find something else to combine it with before the challenge closed. I'm also putting this into the current CASE Study challenge. I really liked the inspiration card and thought I would play along. I used the Hero Arts/Sizzix set Chandeliers & Chairs as it was perfect for the challenge. I have also popped this into the CAS challenge over at Splitcoaststampers. The challenge this week is to use white and shades of blue. The inks are from Stampin Up! (Night of Navy & Marina Mist), as is the dark blue cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Night of Navy; Inks: SU!; Stamps: Hero Arts; Dies: Sizzix

Two Cards.. Two Challenges

2012-03-11T19:12:00.002-07:00

Hey there!! Wow.. the weekend is over! Where does the time go?? Have a couple of cards to share. One card is for the current Timeless Tuesday challenge (that closes really soon!!) and the current Craft's Meow sketch challenge. The second card is for the Flourishes release week challenge. I'm working this week and so this will be the only Flourishes release week challenge I will be able to do {insert sad face}.

The Timeless Tuesday challenge host this time is Heather and she provide a beautiful inspiration photo and asked us to make a card using at least three of the colors from the photo. I think I some how managed to use almost all the colors to be found in the inspiration photo!! The stamps I used are from the Craft's Meow set Butterfly Kisses. I stamped the little fairy girl twice using So Saffron ink. One was trimmed out completely and the second only her wings. I then applied a thin layer of Diamond Stickles to the second wing. After it was dry I attached it to the main image and added the rhinestones. Because I wanted the piece with the sentiment stamped on it to extend beyond the edge like it does in the sketch I trimmed 1/2 inch off one side of the card base, making it 4.25 x 5. The sentiment strip is 5.5 inch, thus making the entire card 4.25 x 5.5. All the papers are from Stampin Up!, including the little oval that the fairy girl is layered on.

The second card uses the Flourishes set A Year of Flowers 1. Since this is a color challenge I tried to adhere as closely to the colors as I could. I was pretty happy to find a piece of SU! Sage Shadow cardstock because it is so similar to one of the greens used in the color swatch. I colored the pansies with Copic markers. Center pansy was stamped a second time, colored with Copics, trimmed out and then popped on the image. The layout for the card is from this week's Sketchbook Saturday sketch.

Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft and white; PP: Stampin Up! & PTI; Stamps: The Craft's Meow & Flourishes; Embossing Folder: Sizzix; Copic Markers; Memento and Stampin Up! inks; Want2Scrap bling; PTI ribbon; lace ribbon: unknown

A Three-fer....

2012-03-10T18:44:00.000-08:00

{For my Shining the Light post click HERE)

Hey there... back with a card for three challenges: Less is More (one layer + use script); ColourQ & One Layer Wednesday (use a swirl on your card). I love it when I can make a simple card and have it work for three different challenges!

My layout is pretty simple and a slight variation on one that I use a lot (maybe a little too much, but hey... if it ain't broke... don't fit it!!). The ColourQ colors this week are Certain Celery, Chocolate Chip, Calypso Coral , Blushing Bride (yes... Stampin Up! pays someone to come up with these names!!) and white. So I stamped the script border from the PTI set Background Basics Text Style using Certain Celery. The swirl (okay.. it does look more like a flourish!) from the Hero Arts set Thank You Flourishes was stamped using Calypso Coral and the "Hello" (from another Hero Arts set) was stamped using Chocolate Chip. Some light pink rhinestones were added to the swirl to bring in the Blushing Bride color (you do have to look rather closely at the card to see that the rhinestones are light pink... sorry about that!). Like I said... super simple.

Now... I must say a thank you to all the new followers I have acquired over the last few days. I'm tickled that you decided to follow my humble little blog!

Finally... a few weeks ago a wonderful papercrafter and fellow LIMette, Sylvie (Gibmiss) gave me an award: The Liebster Blog Award. "Liebster" is German for 'dearest.' The award is a 'share-the-love' arrangement, given to inspirational bloggers with fewer than 200 followers (based on Google followers). There is a to do list that must be accomplished in order to post the badge on your blog. Alas, I have not done that yet because several of the bloggers I had in mind to send the award to have recently received it. So, I need to revise my list. But I wanted to do the first thing on the list and thank Sylvie for giving me the award! So, thank you very much Sylvie!! I truly appreciate the award and you!!

Thanks for stopping by.....

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; Inks: Stampin Up!; Stamps: Hero Arts & PTI; Rhinestones: KaiserCraft

ODBDSLC100...

2012-03-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Happy Saturday! Time for another ODBD Shining the Light challenge and since this is ODBD's birthday month we are continuing to celebrate. This time the challenge team is asking you to use aqua or topaz and your favorite scripture or quote on your card.

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on most of our challenges, this month it is an Our Daily Bread Designs only challenge month in honor of the ODBD 4th Anniversary. Three or more of our participants will be chosen for the Shining the Light Award . In order to qualify for this award or join the challenge, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, March 16th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any otheronline gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC100. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

For my card I decided to use the color aqua and paired it with white. The scripture that I used on my card is one of my favorites and comes from the Scripture Col. 7. The tag was created using the Daffodil Tag set. The layout for the card is from this week's Mojo Monday sketch challenge. I used a new Sizzix/Stampin Up! die that I recently purchased. I have to admit that when I first used the die things weren't working quite right with the die and I was ready to return it to my SU! demo. Once I used the cutting platform that came with my Big Shot the die worked perfectly!

Thanks for stopping by... please take some time to check out the beautiful projects created by my fellow "sticks" Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Chris, Kathy, and Sabrina! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & aqua mist; Stamps: ODBD Scripture Col. 7 & Daffodil Tags; Dies: Sizzix; Embossing Folder: ProvoCraft; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & SU! Pool Party; Buttons: PTI Aqua Mist; PP: The Scrap Cake; Trim: Unknown; Flower: Irene's Garden

Penny Black Guest Designer Feature

2012-03-09T07:40:00.002-08:00

Hey there!!! Happy Friday!! Here with a quick post to show a few of my cards that are being featured over at the Penny Black blog today!! I was so excited when I learned that I had been picked for a guest designer spot on the PB blog and finally today is the day!!

The first card is my most favorite of the group. I used the gorgeous Penny Black stamp Butterfly Suite and the "happiness" sentiment stamp. The image was stamped twice, one colored with Copics and trimmed out. The second image was inked and then the colored image popped up on top.

The next card uses the super cute set "Raindrops & Kisses". Just love that little umbrella. I did a bit of paper piecing on this one using some cute gingham paper.

The last card uses another collage stamp from Penny Black "Poppy Poem". I just love the Penny Black collage images. Again, I stamped the image twice, colored both with Copics and then trimmed out the main flower image from one and popped it up over the first one. Love the sweet little sentiment I used.

Thanks for stopping by....

Wonderful Birthday....

2012-03-08T18:03:00.002-08:00

Hey there!! Gotta card today that I made using some new yummy designer paper from Stampin Up! and one of my most favorite dies from My Favorite Things: the Perfect Pinwheel die! When MFT came out with this die I about fell over in amazement. I had seen another die that made this type of pinwheel, but that die was a single "wing" of the pinwheel which meant that you had to die cut multiples of the wing in order to make your pinwheel. Because the MFT die has three "wings" on the die you only have to cut twice in order to make your pinwheel. Yipeee!!! To be honest MFT has some of the best and most innovative dies around. If you haven't check them out, you really should!

My card was made using the current MFT Wednesday Sketch challenge sketch and I made it specifically for my niece who will be turning 14 on Sunday. I really hope that she likes (and to be honest... I pretty sure she will!). I'm going to put this into the current Simon Says Stamp challenge that is Mother's Day/Special Girl because well... my niece is definitely a special girl! The sentiment is also from My Favorite Things, the Polka Dot Greetings set. Usually when I make a pinwheel I put it on a little stick so that it looks like a real working pinwheel, but this time I decided to leave off the stick and added the rhinestone flourishes to impart the idea of the pinwheel turning in the wind.

Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies: Card stock: PTI cream; SU! coral and soft brown; DP: Stampin Up!; Ink: Hero Arts Latte Chalk ink; Die: My Favorite Things; Stamps: My Favorite Things; Rhinestone Flourishes: Recollections

You're My Type...

2012-03-06T18:35:00.001-08:00

Hello, again!! Well.. our grey, rainy weather was replaced with snow!! Yep... woke up this morning to a nice little dusting of snow on the ground! Thank goodness it didn't stick on the roads and it was mostly gone by mid-afternoon! Another good day to stay inside and make a card... so I did!!

I made this card for several challenges... one of which is the current Catered Crop challenge to use ribbon. Last week I popped a card into the Catered Crop "Seeing Red" challenge and on Monday morning I found a lovely email from Linda (the owner of Catered Crop) telling me I had been chosen as a one of two winners and that I could have my card featured in their "Quickfire" round as a guest designer! How fun is that?? Of course I said "yes"! Coincidentally, the card that won me the "Quickfire" spot was also made for I Spy Sketch challenge #4. And what do you know... the card was chosen as one of their top 2!! Yay me!!! So, I only thought it fitting that I use I Spy Sketch #5 for my Catered Crop card! Finally... I'm popping this card into the Taylored Expressions February Key Ingredients Challenge. I recently started getting the TE KI kits and I have to say I'm really happy I did. One of the perks that came with getting a KI subscription was the ability to buy a special TE stamp set that was designed to coordinate with the February kit. I used that stamp set for my card. The papers are from the My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 Rosy collection. The card stock, ribbon and roses are also from the kit.

Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies: Card stock: Bazzill; PP: My Mind's Eye; Stamps: TE Vintage Dreamer; Inks: SU! More Mustard & Riding Hood Red; Memento Tuxedo Black; Prima flowers; Ribbon; Spellbinders dies

Own Your Story...

2012-03-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

Uck!!! It is a rainy Monday here in Western Washington! So... I'm hoping to chase the grey away with a bright and cheery card I made using some wonderful My Favorite Things stamps and dies.

It is currently teaser-time over at the My Favorite Things blog and that means that new MFT stamps and dies are being featured!! (Hop on over there to check out all the fun!) It also means that it is time for another MFT guest designer contest. The winner of this month's contest will get over $200.00 of MFT stamps and dies and get to participate in the MFT teaser-time releases and challenges for the following month! Who wouldn't want an opportunity like that?? I certainly would!! Did I mention that I love MFT stamps and dies??? No... well... I DO!!! So... I put together my little card with this month's guest dt challenge in mind: Hit the Books. The challenge is open to interpretation... so my card is a pretty loose interpretation!

For my card I used the MFT set Own Your Story along with the coordinating die. The patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Howdy Doody 6x6 pad. I stamped a notebook paper image from the set on patterned paper and trimmed it out. I die cut additional paper using the coordinating die and stamped the sentiment at one end. Three roses were created using the brand spankin' new MFT Royal Rose Die-namics die. Now this die isn't available just yet... unless like me you got your hands on the February MFT VIP collection!!! MFT has the BEST dies for making rolled flowers and this new one is no exception. The flowers were made using various papers from the Howdy Doody pad. I finished off the card with several leafy branches made using a Sizzix die and some pearls to the center of each flower. The layout for the card is based on the current MFT Wednesday Sketch challenge sketch.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies: Card stock: SU! yellow & pink; PP: My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline; Stamps: My Favorite Things Own Your Story; Dies: MFT Royal Rose Die-namics & Own Your Story Die-namics die; Sizzix leaf die; K&Co pearls; May Arts lace ribbon; Ink: SU! Close to Cocoa

Poppy Dreams....

2012-03-04T06:30:00.001-08:00

{For my ODBD Shining the Light post, please click here}
Hello!! It Sunday and I'm here with a card for two CAS challenges: Less is More (use neutrals) and One Layer Wednesday (black, cream & a bit of bling). I hadn't done a OLW challenge in about a month. Not entirely sure why other than maybe I was too busy or I was just lazy. I love one layer challenges, but if I have to think about what I have to do too much then forget it! Anyway.. when I saw Jennifer's challenge this week I had to play along this week. I was so happy to see that this week's LIM fit perfectly with OLW because well... black and cream are definitely neutral!

I haven't used any of my Penny Black stamps in ages and decided to get a couple out to use for my card. I used a PB woodblock stamp called Poppy Poem and a sentiment stamp called Dreams Come True. The poppy image stamped using a somewhat dried out black ink pad. The image is black, but not a strong black. I did this so that the sentiment (stamped using a juicier black ink pad) would stand out more. Some clear rhinestones from Want2Scrap were added to the center of the flower, as well as under the word "true" to finish the card.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI cream; Stamps: Penny Black; Inks: Close to My Heart black & Memento Tuxedo Black; Rhinestones: Want2Scrap

I Have Something For You To Try!!!

2012-03-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

{For my ODBD Shining the Light post click here}

Hey everyone!! I'm back and this time... EEEPPP!!!... I have something exciting to share!! See that banner???? I'm guest designing for the fabulously talented Jen Del Muro's Sketch for You to Try sketch challenge!!! When I got the email asking me if I wanted to be the guest designer for March I didn't hesitate one minute to say YES!!! I really feel very honored that I was asked because I have only been participating in Jen's sketch challenge for the last four months or so! It was only a little bit later that I thought to myself... did they ask the right person??? Anywhoo... on to this month's sketch and my card.

This month Something for You to Try is being sponsored by The Craft's Meow. If you have not taken a look at the Craft's Meow's stamp line up, you really should! For my card I used the super cute Craft's Meow set: Owl Be Thinking of You. Isn't the sketch absolutely fabby?? I stamped the tree image on white card stock and then colored it with some Copic markers. The grass was created using Copics, as well. The papers are from My Mind's Eye Dwell 6x6 paper pad. I did some paper piecing of the little birdhouse, as well as with the clouds. The cute little owls were colored with Copics and then trimmed out. I thought it would be fun to use some ribbon and a button to create the long side piece on the sketch. I just love how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by.... now get over to Jen's blog and check out her fabulous card, as well as all the fabulous cards from the design team!!

Supplies: Card stock: PTI white; PP: My Mind's Eye; Stamps: The Craft's Meow; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Up! Marina Mist; Copic Markers; Ribbon: PTI Lemon Tart; Button: PTI; Twine: The Twinery

ODBDSLC99... Flowers

2012-03-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!! Happy Saturday! Time for another ODBD Shining the Light challenge! This month is a special month for Our Daily Bread Designs because this month we are celebrating ODBD's fourth anniversary!! YAY!! There are going to be fun things going on all month so you are going to want to make sure you check the ODBD blog often. One of the traditional gifts for a fourth anniversary is flowers and so this week we are challenging you to use flowers on your project and not just flower embellishment, but we want you to use your ODBD flower stamps!!!

For my card I used one of my very favorite floral images from ODBD... the dogwood image from Grow in Grace. Not only does this set have that beautiful dogwood image it also beautiful sentiments and verses. God's grace definitely is sufficient!! I went with a very soft and neutral palette for my card. The patterned papers are from a Stampin Up! designer paper line called Beau Chateau. The dogwood image was stamped using Memento's Rich Cocoa ink and then only the flowers were colored using very soft pinks and yellows. I also used one of the images from the ODBD set Vine Borders. The image was stamped on some designer paper using pink ink and then trimmed out. Some crochetted lace and pearl flourishes finished everything off. The layout for the card comes from this week's Mojo Monday sketch.

As always, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, March 9th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. Because this month is ODBD's anniversary month we are asking that all cards linked use only ODBD stamps. We will be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, March 9th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC99. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by... please take some time to check out the beautiful projects created by my fellow "sticks" Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Chris, Kathy, and Sabrina! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Card stock: PTI cream; PP: Stampin Up!; Stamps: ODBD; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Stampin Up! Pretty in Pink; Pearl Flourish: Recollections; Crochetted Lace: May Arts; Punch: EK Success; Copic Markers

Pursue Happiness....

2012-03-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Happy Friday!! Gotta card for a couple of challenges: ColourQ and Taylored Expressions (TESC153). When I saw the new sketch for TESC my heart sank a little bit! I mean... just look at that sketch! How do you figure out how to fit 8 little squares, circles, whatever on a A2 sized card and make it look good?? But after a bit of think and looking at what the TESC design team (and if you want to see some fantastic cards, please take a look at the design teams' cards) came up with I had my fairly simple idea.

One of my favorite TE sets is Discover Your Wings. One of the butterflies in the set is the perfect size for trimming out and popping up on a card in the numbers I needed. So.. I stamped eight butterflies using Pumpkin Pie and So Saffron inks (the ColourQ colors are: Pumpkin Pie, Delightful Daffodil, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso & white). I don't have Delightful Daffodil or Lucky Limeade inks, so I subbed in So Saffron & Pear Pizzazz. The large floral image was stamped using Pear Pizzazz. I trimmed out all the butterflies, added the gems to their bodies and then popped them up on the card. The main floral image was matted using both Pumpkin Pie & So Saffron card stocks. Now where is the Early Espresso on the card you might ask. Well I used it for the sentiment. I thought about trying to color some gems with a Copic marker, but decided against it because I didn't think it would look that good.

Anywhoo... thanks for stopping by...

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Pumpkin Pie & So Saffron; Inks: Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz & Early Espresso; Stamps: TE Discover Your Wings; Gems: Hero Arts & Want2Scrap

3 Sunflowers....

2012-03-01T13:53:00.001-08:00

Hey there!! Wow... March is here already!! Time sure is flying by! Got a chance to make my card for this week's Timeless Tuesday challenge (yay!!!). I used the current Sketchbook Saturday sketch for the layout.

This week the uber talented Tammy is hosting the Timeless Tuesday challenge and she has asked us to create something that has a country comfort feel to it. For me nothing says "country" more than some beautiful sunflowers and soft weathered wood! So, I pulled out my Flourishes Sunflower set and did a little bit of coloring with my Copics. The set contains a large sunflower image and then a smaller version of the large image. I stamped the large image once using Rich Cocoa ink and the smaller image twice using Rich Cocoa. All three were colored with the following markers: Y21, Y23, Y35, Y38, E11, E13 & E15. I then trimmed all three out and inked up the edges a bit with some Old Paper Distress ink. The label was die cut using a Spellbinders Label 11 and the edges inked with Old Paper. I wanted to use a rather large sentiment for the card so I got out my Hero Arts Friends are Treasure cling set and used a sentiment from that. The sentiment was stamped using Stampin Up!'s Close to Cocoa ink. The background was created by embossing some kraft card stock (to bring in the soft weathered wood feel) using a Sizzix embossing folder... the name of which I do not know... but it creates this beautiful lattice background and I love it! A row of gems finished things off.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & kraft; PP: My Mind's Eye Sunshine; Ink: Memento, Stampin Up! & Ranger; Stamps: Flourishes & Hero Arts; Gems: Hero Arts; Dies: Spellbinders; Copic Markers; Embossing Folder: Sizzix

Follow Your Dreams....

2012-02-29T15:35:00.001-08:00

Hey there! In my quest to use my PTI stamps more frequently I watched this week's Make It Monday video and tried my hand at making a frame larger using a smaller frame from one of PTI's Fillable Frames set. For my card I used Fillable Frames #3. The color combo is from the current CR84FN challenge to use yellow, kraft & grey. You don't have to ask me twice to make something using kraft!!

Anyway... after watching Dawn's video I decided to try making my frame a little bit differently from the way Dawn made her frame. I inked up the stamp and then carefully wiped the ink off one long side of the stamp. I then stamped the partial frame on my cardstock. I repeated the process taking care to make sure that I lined the stamp up fairly closely. I was thrilled to see that the first time I tried the frame it worked perfectly! I then die cut the flowers using the In Bloom dies, stamped the flowers using London Fog ink and colored the flowers using Copic markers (Y11, Y13 & Y15). The leaves were stamped using London Fog and colored using Tonal Grey 1 & Tonal Grey 2 Copic markers. The background piece was created using the Quatrefoil die. A 5.5" x 4.25" piece of Lemon Tart cardstock was placed in the die, an embossing mat placed on top and then I ran it through my Big Shot. After embossing I trimmed the piece down to fit the card base. After I got done placing the flowers I realized that I did cover up alot of the frame I created, but I think there is enough showing to give you the idea of what I did.

Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI; Stamps: PTI, Ink: Memento London Fog & Stampin Up! Crumb Cake; Copic Markers; PTI Quatrefoil die & In Bloom dies

Seeing Red...

2012-02-26T20:43:00.002-08:00

Hey there!! No... I'm not mad... just the card I have to share was made for the current Catered Crop challenge: Seeing Red! When I saw the challenge I just had to give it a try... especially since the other day I got my new SU! Rose Red ink pad. I had used it on another card and so it was still sitting out. I grabbed my favorite SU! red, Cherry Cobbler, and the SU! hostess set "Simply Soft" and got to work.

Initially I had planned to use some Cherry Cobbler cardstock that I had run through the Big Shot in an embossing folder, but I fiddled around with it too much and kinda ruined it. So... I went to a back up... some lovely patterned paper from the Scrap Cake 6x6 Cozy Xmas pad. I love the Scrap Cake papers and CAN.NOT.WAIT. to get the two brand new 6x6 pads from the Scrap Cake. I just ordered them from the Flying Unicorn and so should have them in my hot little hands really soon! Anyway... back to my card! I stamped the outline image in Cherry Cobbler and then the solid image using Rose Red. The piece was inked with Old Paper Distress ink and then some Cherry Cobbler seam binding was tied around it. The piece was matted with Rose Red cardstock that had been inked, as well. I distressed the background paper with my distressing tool. The layout for the card is from a fairly new sketch challenge blog, I Spy Sketches. My card is a very straightforward interpretation of the sketch... nothing fancy, but I really like it.

Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI cream; SU! Rose Red; PP: Scrap Cake Cozy Xmax; Ink; SU! Cherry Cobbler & Rose Red; Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding; SU! Scallop Border punch; Ranger Distress Ink

Oh Scrap!!

2012-02-25T18:54:00.003-08:00

For my ODBD Shining the Light card click here.

Hey There!! Here with a card for this week's Less is More challenge. This week Chrissie and Mandi are challenging us to make a card that uses up some of those scraps of cardstock and patterned paper that all crafters seem to accumulate. Lucky for me, right now I happen to have a small pile of scraps sitting on my kitchen counter. In a few days they may all be gone... thrown into the recycling bin. I don't tend to keep scraps around for long because I just don't have the storage space for them.

Anywhoo... for my card I used some scraps of paper from the My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 Blush collection. I have fallen absolutely in love with all the new My Mind's Eye patterned paper... every single collection just gets more and more beautiful. One of the scraps of paper had that little label like piece as part of the design, so I trimmed it out. I had some other scraps that I was able to cut into strips to use in the design, as well. My Mind'e Eye has also come out with stamp sets that coordinate with the paper lines and I happen to have the set that coordinates with the Blush collection. So I used the butterfly image and another image that sort of looks like damask. I inked up the damask image using SU!'s Regal Rose, stamped it off on some scrap paper and then stamped the design on my card base. Then I did that a second time. The butterfly was stamped on some patterned paper using Regal Rose and then trimmed out. After I layered everything up as you see it, I stamped the sentiment (from Hero Arts) using Regal Rose.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; PP: My Mind's Eye; Stamps: Hero Arts & My Mind's Eye; Ink: SU!

ODBDSLC98 - Out of the Box..

2012-02-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Happy Saturday... time for another ODBD Shining the Light challenge! This week the team is challenging you to get out of the box! This means we want you to make a card or project that is not an A2, A6 or A7 rectangular or square card. You can make a shaped card or a different fold (diamond, joy, easel, accordion, step, sidestep, etc.). For my card today I made shaped card using some Spellbinders dies.

I had previously posted on here on the ol' bloggo a card I made using the Spellbinders Labels 21 dies. That particular card is a CardMaker online bonus project. I love the way that card turned out so I decided to use those dies to make this week's card. The ODBD stamp set I used is The Mighty Sea. The card based was made using the largest Label 21 die. I used the same die to make the mat from patterned paper (My Mind's Eye Breeze). I simply laid the die cutting side up on the paper and traced around the interior and then trimmed it out. I stamped the image from The Mighty Sea on cream cardstock, die cut it using the 2nd largest dies, colored it with Copic makers and then added some distress ink (Old Paper on the lower half and Broken China and Stormy Sky on the upper half). The sentiment was stamped on some patterned paper and then die cut using 2nd smallest die. Then everything was layered as you see and a few gems added.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, March 2nd at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries that are made without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on nor will they qualify for prizes. While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, March 2nd at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC98. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by... please take some time to check out the beautiful projects created by my fellow "sticks" Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Kathy, and Sabrina! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Aqua Mist & Cream; PP: My Mind's Eye Breeze; Spellbinders Labels 21 dies; Stamps: ODBD; Ink: Memento & Ranger; Copic Markers; Gems;

A Masculine Card....

2012-02-23T11:19:00.001-08:00

Hey there!! Another week is drawing to a close... time sure does fly!! I have a card I made using the current Mojo Monday sketch. Mojo Monday is one of those challenges that I have often wanted to participate in, but never seemed to find the time. I'm hoping to change that and play along more frequently. I'm also going to be putting this card into the current Paper Players challenge to make a masculine card with clean and simple lines. I think my card fits the guidelines...

Anywhoo... I don't have a ton of masculine stamps, but I do have a really cool set from Flourishes called "What a Catch". I used the image of a fish from the set for my card. I colored him with Copic markers using some tonal greys, a yellow/green (YG91) and a dark teal blue (BG09). The piece was then lightly inked with Broken China and Old Paper Distress inks. I was a little scared to use the fish image, but in the end I really happy with how it turned out! I used some My Mind's Eye Breeze patterned papers, as well. I think I will be sending this to my brother when father's day rolls around. Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Fine Linen & white; SU! Pacific Point & Old Olive; PP: My Mind's Eye; Stamps: Flourishes; Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Ranger Distress Ink; Twine: May Arts; Copic Markers

you're the best...

2012-02-21T16:39:00.001-08:00

Hey there!!! For I guess about a year now PTI has been posting a different techinque/idea video on Mondays for their Make It Monday series. I have never actually watched a Make it Monday video, but decided to watch Ashley Cannon Newell's video tutorial on how to glitter up buttons. The first way she showed involved using spray adhesive and since I do all my crafting at my kitchen counter I didn't think spray adhesive was a good idea. The she glittered up some buttons using Stickles and I was like "duh... I can do that one!" So, I did. And it took FOREVER for the Stickles to dry!

Anyway, I used the PTI set Blooming Button Bits, along with some of my remaining sheets of Bitty Dot Basics in Aqua Mist & Sweet Blush. I'm also putting this card into this week's Shabby Tea Room challenge since my super talented in real life friend, Cindy, is the challenge hostess this week. Cindy is asking us to use colors from the beautiful inspiration photo as well as a doily on our project. I enjoyed playing along with this week's Make It Monday and so I think I will have to participate in more of them in the future.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies: All supplies are PTI except the Diamond Stickes, Doily Die, ink & border punch. Die is from Cheery Lynn & the in and punch from Stampin Up!

Cherries....

2012-02-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Sunday is here and it seems our cold, windy and rainy weather has abated some!! I have a card today for the current Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge to use red on your card. The layout comes from the current Cardabilities sketch, which I chose to make vertical instead of using it horizontally as it is shown. I really like the Cardabilites sketches, but unfortunately have not been able to play along with them as much as I would like.

For my card I used the Flourishes set Peaches & Cherries. It was the first set that came to mind when I saw the challenge and it also fits in with the current Shabby Tea Room challenge to use cherries on your project. I stamped the cherries in Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock and colored them with my Copic markers. The image was then trimmed out. The patterned papers used are from the My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 Rosy collection. Everything was layered and adhered to a light green card base. It took me forever to figure out what I would make the little bow out of before settling on some May Arts twine. The sentiment from the Flourishes set Gerbera Daisies was stamped on a tag that was die cut using the PTI Tiny Tags die.

Thanks for stopping by... hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

Supplies: Cardstock: SU! & PTI; Stamps: Flourishes; Copic Markers; May Arts Twine; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Papers: My Mind's Eye; Wilton paper doily

Friend....

2012-02-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

For my ODBD Shining the Light card please click here.

Hey there!!! Back with my card for this week's Less is More. The challenge this week is to use die cuts and/or punches. The card I'm posting I actually made last night not knowing what the LIM challenge would be and that my card would be a perfect fit for the challenge!! Who knows... maybe I'm just a little bit psychic, ha ha!!

Anyway, the colors I used for the card are from this week's ColourQ challenge to use red, turquoise (or the SU! color cool caribbean), pink, cream and white... which should explain why the card base is cream and the main panel is white. Anyway... I punched out the partial circles on the white panel and then positioned it on the card base where I needed it to be so I could stamp the sentiment. The butterflies are from the Hero Arts/Sizzix stamp and die set Antique Flowers and Butterflies. They were stamped using Pretty in Pink and Tempting Turquoise, die cut and then adhered as shown. Some gems were added to the butterflies and beneath the sentiment to add a bit more interest.

Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & cream; Stamps: Hero Arts; Ink: SU! Real Red, Tempting Turquoise & Pretty in Pink; Dies: Sizzix; Punches: SU!; Bling: Hero Arts & KaiserCraft

ODBDSLC97 - Make A Scene...

2012-02-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Happy Saturday... time for a new Shining the Light challenge and the challenge this week? To create a project with a scene on it. Now your scene can be created by using a stamp and/or stamps or by using some designer paper that has a scene on it.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, February 24th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries that are made without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on nor will they qualify for prizes. While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, February 24th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC97. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

For my card today I went pretty clean and simple (or as my bloggy friend, Sue, would say "clean and stunning"). I used the ODBD set Porch for my card. The card base is kraft, as well as the mat because I love that whole kraft on kraft, white on white, etc. look. The layout is an older sketch from the sketch challenge over at Splitcoaststampers. The strips of paper are from the My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 Breeze collection. I stamped the image from the Porch set using kraft ink. The sentiment was stamped in brown ink.

Thanks for stopping by... please take some time to check out the beautiful projects created by my fellow "sticks" Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Chris, Kathy, and Sabrina! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft & cream; PP: My Mind's Eye; Stamps: ODBD; Ink: SU! Crumb Cake & Memento Rich Cocoa

thanks a bunch!

2012-02-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Its Friday and that means the weekend!! I have a card today for the current Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge and the current CR84FN color challenge. The CR84FN color combo of grey, lavender & chartreuse (I just love that word and color!!!), which made me think of this 6x6 pad of SEI papers I have. The colors in that pad are chartreuse, grey & lavender...perfect!!

For the card I used two TE set: Garden Party Blooms & Friendship Blooms. I stamped the leafy branch from Friendship Blooms on white cardstock using Kiwi Kiss ink (pretty close to chartreuse) and then die cut the branch using the matching TE die. One of the flowers from the same set was stamped on white cardstock using VersaMagic Spring Pansy and then I trimmed it out. I stamped a small flower from Garden Party Blooms in the same ink and trimmed them out. A tiny bit of Diamond Stickles was added to the center of each flower. Papers were picked, trimmed, some matted and layered. Then the branch and the flowers were mounted on the die cut oval and adhered to the card. The sentiment from Garden Party Blooms was stamped using grey ink, punched out and adhered. With all that chartreuse... this card just makes me think of spring!!! Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies: Cardstock: Stampin Up! and PTI; PP: SEI Couture; Stamps: Taylored Expressions; Ink: SU! & Tsukeniko; Diamond Stickles; PTI Lavender Moon ribbon

ODBD - For the Love of Blog Hop

2012-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Welcome to Our Daily Bread Design's Alumni Team's bi-monthly For the Love Blog Hop. This week the Alumni team along with some of the ODBD designers are featuring a hop for the Love of ODBD Borders and Frames! Check out each link and leave a comment. If you get lost along the way, go to ODBD Blog(give link) for the full link list. One of the post is a hot spot and a name will be drawn from that list of comments to win a $15 ODBD store gift certificate. So, all you have to do is hop along and see all the creations and leave a little love! You have until March 14th at 6 pm. We are skipping Thursday, March 1st for a NEW RELEASE Hop! The winner will be announced March 16th! So, get hopping and enjoy all the inspiration using for the Love of ODBD Borders and Frames!

If you got here from the amazingly talented Angie's blog you are on the right track. For my card today I used the ODBD Scrolly Borders set, along with a sentiment from the ODBD set Simple Things and the flower from the ODBD set Don't Worry. The papers I used are from my favorite My Mind's Eye collection: Lost & Found 2 Sunshine. I colored the flower with some Copic markers, trimmed it out and applied some Old Paper distress ink. The rectangular scrolly frame image was stamped on white cardstock using Summer Sky ink, distressed with some Old Paper distress ink and then matted with Spring Rain cardstock. Your next stop on the hop is the incredibly talented Julie! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the hop!!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Spring Rain; PP: My Mind's Eye; Stamps: ODBD; Ink: Memento Summer Sky & Tuxedo Black; SU! More Mustard; Copic Markers; May Arts lace; Brad: My Mind's Eye Sunshine Col.

Sharing Some Publication Work...

2012-02-13T18:36:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! After I saw the current JUGs challenge to use buttons on your project my thoughts turned to three sweet little cards that are currently to be found in the March/April issue of CardMaker and I decided to share them with here on the ole' bloggo.

The cards were made using the following sets: Waltzingmouse Frame It and the PaperTrey Ink mini set Whale Wishes. Each little card required me to glue 16 buttons inside the frame and then adhere the little whales on top. When I initially decided to make this particular card to submit I was only going to do it in one color, but then I thought why not make a boy version, girl version and gender neutral version. I submitted all three never thinking that they would accept all of them. I honestly thought they would only take one!! So I was extremely surprised, but pleased when all three were accepted for publication.

This Easter card was also accepted for publication in the March/April issue, but ended up as an online bonus project. The stamps are from Stampin Up! and the entire card is made using the Spellbinders Lablels 21 dies. I really love how it turned out. I must admit, though, that I was a little bit sad that it didn't make it into the actual magazine.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white, spring rain, lemon tart & sweet blush; Stamps: SU!, Waltzingmouse & PTI; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Summer Sky & Angel Pink; SU! So Saffron; Spellbinders: Labels 21 dies; PTI whale die; PTI Buttons; Rhinestones: Hero Arts; Copic Markers

I Cherish....

2012-02-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Here with a card for the current Flourishes challenge. I haven't done a Flourishes challenge is ages, but that is all going to change! I'm determined to participate in the weekly Timeless Tuesday challenge on a more regular basis! This week the challenge hostess is the super talented Maki Jones and she has challenged us to have a bird somewhere on your project. The only Flourishes set I have that contains a bird image is "Humming Along" so I pulled it out and got to work.

The layout for the card is from this week's Sketchbook Saturday sketch. I did have to tweak it a bit... moving the image from one side of the card to the other to accommodate the little hummingbird. I wasn't too sure if the card was going to turn out the way I hoped it would and so I was pleasantly surprised that when I got it done that it did!! Yay!!! The woodgrain image is from WPlus9Designs Woodgrain Silhouettes set. I stamped it using Memento Angel Pink and then stamped the floral image on top using Tuxedo Black. The image was colored with Copic markers (YG03, YG06, R81 & R83). The bird was colored with W1, W3 & B00. He was then trimmed out and some Old Paper Distress ink was applied. I inked the edges of the main panel as well and then I adhered the little bird with pop dots. The sentiment is from the Flourishes Gerbera Daisies set. Because I used a friendship sentiment and flowers on the card I will also be popping this into this week's Our Creative Corner challenge to make a card for a friend.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Gable Green; Stamps: Flourishes & WPlus9Designs; Ink: Memento Angel Pink & Tuxedo Black; Copic markers

Less is More - Stripes

2012-02-11T18:06:00.000-08:00

For my ODBD Shining the Light post, please click here.

Hey there!!! Back with my card for the brand new Less is More challenge. This week it is a one layer card challenge and we are to use stripes on our card. Now... when I started out thinking about what I was going to do I had originally planned to use my PTI Distressed Stripes set. But after doing a test run I didn't like how things were looking using the various stripes in the set. I had planned to pair it with an image from the WPlus9Design set Woodgrain Silhouettes set. As I was looking at the Woodgrain Silhouettes set I realized the perfect image for the challenge was right there! However... I will admit that I'm stretching the idea of stripes a bit!

So I inked up the long woodgrain image from the set using SU!'s Certain Celery and stamped it across the card as you see. I then stamped the floral image over that using SU!'s Pear Pizzaz. The sentiment was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black. After I finished the card I went to take my photos of it and as I was choosing which one to use I realized that something was definitely missing on the card. I needed some rhinestones in the upper corner to complete the eye-pleasing design triangle! Once I did that things looked much better. My card layout is based on the current Sketchbook Saturday sketch.

Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; Stamps: WPlus9Design; Inks: Stampin Up! and Memento; Rhinestones: Hero Arts

ODBDSLC96 - Heart Challenge

2012-02-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Happy Saturday... time for another Shining the Light challenge. This week the challenge is to create a project using at least three items, materials or techniques that begin with letters from the word HEART.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, January 13th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries that are made without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on nor will they qualify for prizes. While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, February 17th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC96. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

For my card I used the following letters of E (embossing), R (ribbon) and T (twine & tag) from the word HEART. The stamps used are from the ODBD set Faith. The butterfly branch image was colored with Copic markers and then die cut using the matching ODBD butterfly branch die. The papers are from the My Mind's Eye Paris & Co 6x6 pad. The circle die cut was made using the ODBD Crocheted Circle die. The layout for my card is from this month's Something for You to Try sketch, so I will be popping the card into that challenge.

Thanks for stopping by... now please take some time to check out the beautiful projects created by my fellow "sticks" Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Chris, Kathy, and Sabrina! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Fine Linen; PP: My Mind's Eye Paris & Co 6x6 pad; Stamps: ODBD Faith; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; Ribbon: PTI Fine Linen; Buttons: Stampin Up!; Twine: May Arts; Dies: ODBD Butterfly Branch & Crocheted Circle; Provo Craft embossing folder

Good Luck....

2012-02-10T08:33:00.001-08:00

Hey there!! Happy Friday!! Have a quick post with a card for one of the Flourishes release week noontime challenges. I didn't get a chance to make anything for the first challenge, but did get a card done for the "Framed" challenge.

At the end of last year I finally got the Flourishes Irish Blessings set. I inked it up for the challenge. The frame was created using Spellbinders Labels 10 dies. I colored the image with the Flourishes Spring Green Copic collection of YG00, YG03 & YG06 and E50 & E53. The little tag is from the PTI Tiny Tags die set. The embossed frame was created using the Stampin Up! Framed Tulips embossing folder. A bow tied with some green baker's twine finished things off.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; Stampin Up! gable green; Penny Black green; Stamps: Flourishes; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers; Spellbinders dies; Bakers Twine: Impress Rubber Stamps

It Is a Sweet Thing...

2012-02-07T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hey there... here with a quick post. I made this card for the Flourishes release week challenge to use black and white and as pop of one color. The layout is from this week's Sketchbook Saturday sketch. Love this super versatile sketch that Chupa came up with!

Because the challenge is to make a card that is black and white with a pop of color I thought I would use the Gerbera Daisy set from Flourishes because that image seemed to lend itself to this challenge. I stamped the image using Memento's Tuxedo Black ink and then die cut the squares with a Spellbinders square die. I made sure that one of the squares contained a full flower for me to color which I colored with the following Copic markers: R24, R27, R29 & R49. Then all the squares were placed on the white cardstock that was embossed with the Quatrefoil die. The sentiment was stamped using Stampin Up! Cherry Cobbler ink. The card base is black and the mat is Cherry Cobbler.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & black; SU! cherry cobbler; Ink: memento tuxedo black & SU! cherry cobbler; dies: Spellbinders & PTI; Copic Markers

Hello, Valentine...

2012-02-06T18:39:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! I have a little card for some challenges. PaperTrey Ink is turning five this month and having a big celebration with all kinds of fun contests. I must admit that I didn't think I would be able to participate in any of them, either. But today Nichole offered up some freebies created by all the talented PTI stamp designers and with that kind of deal I just couldn't resist having a go. So, I downloaded the images and printed them out on some PTI Stamper's Select cardstock, of course! I decided to go with the sweet image that Maile Belles designed.

Now I as indicated this card is for more than just the PTI challenge. It is also for this week's Our Creative Corner challenge to use the colors of kraft, grey & pink, as well as hearts. My super sweet blogging friend, Sue, is now a design team member for OCC and so I just had to give their challenges a try. I am stretching the challenge requirements a little bit as the hearts on my card are two little heart shaped rhinestones and the stylized hearts in Maile's design. Anywhoo... I hope this is okay. I used my Quatrafoil die (love that die!!!) to emboss the grey cardstock and then added a strip of scalloped pink cardstock. The card base is 4 x 5.5 and so the pink/grey cardstock piece hangs off the edge by a quarter of an inch to bring the overall card side to 4.25 x 5.5. The little image was colored with Copic markers.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft & white; SU! pink & grey; Stamps: PTI Tiny Treats: Valentine; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Image: PTI

Some of My Favorite Stamps...

2012-02-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

Hey there... the weekend is over and so is the Super Bowl. And the winning team??? The New York Giants! Hubby was very happy about that because he participated in a football pool at work and picked the Giants to win... not sure if he won anything, though. But I digress...I should be talking about some of my favorite stamps which happen to be from My Favorite Things!! I have talked in weeks past about how much I love the Pure Innocence line from MFT, but there is another line of MFT stamps that I love just as much. The super cute a la Modes!! So... I a card using the sweet PI set Blowing Bubbles and another using the cute ALM set Birthday Girl to share with you. First up: Birthday Girl:

I made this card for the weekly sketch challenge that MFT hosts over at Splitcoaststampers. Every Wednesday a new sketch is revealed. So far this year I have been able to participate in every sketch challenge. For this card I used some 6x6 Teresa Collins papers "Carolina Breeze". I just love the color combo of yellow, white, grey and black and so when I saw these papers I had to get them. I did a bit of paper piecing, as well as some coloring with Copics. The sketch was a bit tricky for me, but in the end I got it figured out to my satisfaction. The sentiment was stamped on a little banner die from MFT. A second banner was die cut from yellow cardstock and used to mat the white one as you see.

Every month MFT announces a guest designer contest and the winner of that contest get $200.00 worth of MFT stamps and dies, as well as the opportunity to showcase the brand new MFT stamps and dies during the following month's release festivities! Now who among us wouldn't want to have a chance to win that fabby prize??? I certainly would!!! This month the challenge is to use hearts on your project. The papers for this card are from the Authentique Uncommon 6x6 pad. I stamped the sweet little PI from Blowing Bubbles on cream cardstock, colored portions of her with Copic markers and then paper pieced her little outfit. I die cut a heart from cream cardstock and stamped it with the little bubbles image and then sponged on some Old Paper distress ink. The heart was then matted with a scalloped heart cut from patterned paper. I trimmed out the PI and adhered her to the heart. Some Diamond Stickles were applied to the bubbles.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white, cream and yellow; PP: Authentique & Teresa Collins; Stamps: MFT; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Dies: MFT, Spellbinders & Memory Box; Copic Markers; Rhinestones; Stickles

You Must Allow Me....

2012-02-04T17:01:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! I'm back with my card for this week's Less is More challenge, as well as this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge. This week Less is More is officially one year old!!! Congrats Chrissie and Mandi for bring us amazing challenges week after week, as well as providing us with fabulous inspiration!! Ladies you ROCK!! The Less is More challenge take us back to where it all started, a color challenge, and the color this time is aqua. Now, the challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays is to make a card inspired by your favorite movie. Well... my all time favorite movie is the A&E version of Pride & Prejudice. Absolutely love, love, love that movie!! And thanks to PaperTrey Ink I now have the perfect stamp set to make my Pride & Prejudice inspired card.

In January, PTI release a set called Simply Jane, as well as matching dies. This set was inspired by Jane Austen. For my card I used the Quatrefoil die (as it was intended to be used) and die cut a piece of Aqua Mist cardstock. This was adhered to the front of a white cardstock base. I then die cut the oval using the Simply Jane oval die and stamped the beautiful filigree-like frame on it using SU!'s Pool Party (an almost dead ringer for Aqua Mist). I then stamped the sentiment on a piece of white cardstock using black ink, trimmed the ends as you see and then folded it. The little bouquet image was die cut and then stamped with the corresponding stamps. I love how ease it is to stamp the PTI images on the die cut piece. Every thing was layered up as you see it. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure I like the little bouquet where I placed it, but that's okay. Once, again, I have created a card that doesn't have a lot of white space, but hopefully Chrissie and Mandi will give me a pass!!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & aqua mist; Stamps: PTI Simply Jane; Ink: SU! Pool Party, Memento Tuxedo Black; PTI Simply Jane dies & Quatrefoil die; Diamond Stickles

ODBDSLC95 - I Thank

2012-02-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Its Saturday and time for another Shining the Light challenge over at the ODBD blog!! February is here and this month we here in the US take time to acknowledge national heroes (Presidents Day) or people who are special to us (Valentine's Day). So... the team is challenging you to acknowledge and CASE a crafter that you admire or a creation you admire changing just two elements to make it your own.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, January 13th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries that are made without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on nor will they qualify for prizes. While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, February 10th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC95. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

For my card I chose to CASE a super sweet fellow crafter and "friend I haven't met, yet" named Brenda Urbanik. I "met" Brenda through the Hero Arts Flickr group and over the last year or so we have exchanged many cards and emails. I can always count on Brenda to leave me a lovely comment on whatever I post on my blog. As I was cruising through Brenda's blog one day a few weeks ago I came across a beautiful Valentine's card that Brenda had created for a challenge. The card is a perfect example of CAS (clean & simple) one of my favorite ways to make a card. I immediately knew that was the card I wanted to CASE. Brenda's card uses a simple frame, a heart die cut and a sentiment. I changed the heart to a butterfly and added a couple of layers to my card, but still kept things pretty simple. I used the ODBD sets God's Love, Flourished Christian Symbols and Grunge Butterfly. The frame was created using Spellbinders Square Plain & Scalloped dies. The color combo comes from CR84FN and so I will be popping my card into that challenge. I hope you will take the time to click over to Brenda's blog and leave her some love!

Please make sure you check out all the beautiful projects my fellow "sticks" Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Chris, and Kathy, To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & spring rain; SU! Riding Hood Red; Ink: SU! Pink Pirouette & Real Red; Memento Summer Sky; Spellbinders dies; Stickles Diamond Glitter Glue; ODBD stamps; ODBD Grunge Butterfly die

I Love You....

2012-02-02T20:03:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Gotta card today for a couple of challenges: CASE Study and the Shabby Tea Room. The Shabby Tea Room challenge this week is to make a card based off of another beautiful inspiration photo and to incorporate mail or postage elements. I think I got that aspect of the challenge covered, hee hee!! With the beginning of a new month, there is a new muse over at CASE Study and this month the muse is an amazingly talented crafter named Karola Witczack. I stumbled across Karola when I saw on a blog somewhere the most beautiful papers from a company called The Scrap Cake. Karola was the designer of these gorgeous papers and once I saw them I had to have them! Thank goodness I found a US based website called the Flying Unicorn that carries them. I used some of those papers on my card. Karola's inspiration card is absolutely GORGEOUS!!

For my card I used a Hero Arts/BasicGrey set called Carte Postal and a sentiment from the Year Round Sentiments set. I stamped the stamp images on a piece of paper from The Scrap Cake 6x6 Cozy Xmas pad and then trimmed them out. They were then distressed a bit. Some additional paper from the Cozy Xmas pad was used as a mat for the cream cardstock piece that was stamped with additional postage elements in kraft and red inks. The edges of this piece were light inked with Old Paper distress ink. I finished the card off with some crocheted lace, red ribbon and three small pink roses.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft & cream; PP: The Scrap Cake Cozy Xmas; Ink: Stampin Up! Crumb Cake & Riding Hood Red; Stamps: Hero Arts; Lace Ribbon: May Arts; Grosgrain Ribbon: Stampin Up!; Roses: Flying Unicorn

The Mighty Sea

2012-02-01T18:52:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Hope your week is going well... so far so good for me. Really looking forward to Friday when I take a short road trip with my friend, Cindy, to the first Hobby Lobby to open up here in Western Washington! Today I have a card for the current Paper Players challenge... the challenge this week is a really neat sketch. I haven't done a Paper Players challenge in ages and thought it was about time I dive back into their fabby challenges!

For my card I used the brand spankin' new Our Daily Bread Designs set "The Mighty Sea". The artwork is absolutely gorgeous... unfortunately, you can't see alot of it because I covered it up with the sentiment. But, not to fear I will be making other things with this wonderful set in the future. If you want to see some truly amazing works of art using this new set and the other new releases from ODBD check out the design team blog hop... if you leave some love there are prizes to be won!! But you must hurry... the hop ends on 2/2/12! The papers I used are from the My Mind's Eye Breezy collection. I roughed it up a bit to give it a more masculine feel. I flipped the sketch on its side because that orientation suited the main image better.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft & Fine Linen; Stamps: ODBD; Ink: Stampin Up! Early Espresso; Punch: Stampin Up!; Twine: May Arts; Robin's Nest Dew Drops; PP: My Mind's Eye

Love You Always....

2012-01-31T19:38:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Wow... January is over!! Can't believe how time goes by so quickly... especially the older I get!!! Anywhoo... have a card to share that I made for two challenges: ColourQ and Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge, the first one of the new year... YAY!!

For my card I used the cute little TE a la carte' stamp: Animals in Love - Whales. The sentiment is from the TE set Birds of a Feather. When I started out making the card I was going to use some Stampin Up! designer paper in real red, but when I pulled out the piece I was going to use I just wasn't that thrilled with it. So I hunted around through my rather large collection of 6x6 pads and found the perfect piece in the My Mind's Eye Rosy 6x6 pad. I just love all the My Mind's Eye collections! I die cut the circle using a Spellbinders plain circle die and then stamped the whales on it using Tuxedo Black ink. The little hearts were colored with Copic markers. I stamped the whales a second time, colored them with Copic markers, trimmed them out and popped them up on the first image. Some black/white bakers twine was tied around the circle and then the sentiment stamped using Real Red ink. A scalloped circle was die cut from Rose Red cardstock and then everything was layered up. As I was checking the TE store to make sure I had the name correct for the whale stamp I saw a super cute stamp with two Flamingos. I love flamingos and so I think I'm going to need to get that stamp!!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft, black & white; SU! rose red; PP: My Mind's Eye Rosy; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic markers; Bakers Twine: The Twintery; Spellbinders dies

its the little things....

2012-01-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Finally getting a chance to post my card for this week's Less is More challenge. I made it earlier in the day, but had to leave before I could get it posted on the old bloggo!! This week Chrissie & Mandi have given us a sketch to use with some very specific parameters. We are to use a rectangular card, the orientation must be landscape and the band must remain in a vertical position. Very simple rules and not hard for me to follow at all. I had been waiting to see what this week's LIM challenge was to see if it would work with the current One Layer Wednesday challenge and YAY, it does!!!! The OLW challenge is to use grey and a pop of color.

Because I was going to keep the card a one layer card I pretty much knew I had only one set of stamps I could use to achieve the desired look and that was my Hero Arts cling set Two Vine Scrolls. I stamped one of the images on the white cardstock using Ancient Page Stone Grey ink and then added just a few tiny gems in a pretty turquoise blue color. The sentiment from the Hero Arts set Find Joy was also stamped in Stone Grey. I think I should have used black ink instead of the grey, but overall I''m very pleased with the card. Lots of lovely white space.... it makes me {grin}!

A big THANK YOU is due to all the wonderful LIMettes who left me so many wonderful comments on last week's LIM card. I so appreciate each and everyone of you!!!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; Stamps: Hero Arts; Ink: Ancient Page; Rhinestones: Kaiser Craft

ODBDSLC94 - Love Each Other

2012-01-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Its Saturday, again, and time for a new ODBD Shining the Light Challenge! This week the challenge is Love Recipe- Use items that remind you of Valentine’s including the word Love or Loves, hearts, lace and the colors red, white, pink and white, or both (must be more than minimal..make these colors the main colors) For my card this week I used the ODBD Set Scripture Collection 6. I definitely used a lot of red, pink and white on my card, lol!! I also managed to work a little heart in along with some bling and a rose. The layout for my card is courtesy of the current Craft's Meow Sketch challenge and so I will be popping this card into that challenge. The patterned papers are from PTI's Simple Valentine pack. The cardstock and ribbon are also from PTI.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, January 13th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries that are made without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on nor will they qualify for prizes. While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, February 3rd at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC94. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

Please make sure you check out all the beautiful projects my fellow "sticks" Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Chris, Kathy, Sabrina and Wanda (Guest Designer)! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white, sweet blush & pure poppy; PP: PTI Simple Valentine; Stamps: ODBD; Ink: SU! Real Red; Ribbon: PTI Pure Poppy; Spellbinders plain & scalloped circle dies; scalloped heart dies; Want2Scrap Scalloped Heart Nestabling; Paper Rose: Flying Unicorn

A Little Note Because You're So Tweet!

2012-01-26T20:02:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Here with a couple of cards I made using the super adorable My Favorite Things Pure Innocence stamps. I first saw a PI stamp a year or so ago when my friend, Cindy, made a card using the PI set "Start The Day With Whee". At that time I thought the stamp was cute, but I wasn't really taken by the stamps. However, all that changed about 6 months ago and now I cannot get enough of these cute little girls (and occasionally boys)! The first card used the PI set "Violin Girl". The layout is from this week's Mojo Monday sketch and the color combo courtesy of this week's ColourQ. To be honest when I finished the card on Wednesday night I wasn't really crazy about it mainly because the look I was going for just really didn't pan out the way I had wanted, but I'm starting to like it more and more. I think it is just because that little girl playing her violin is just sooo darn cute!!!

Anyway, I colored her with Copic markers and then did a bit of paper piecing, as well. All the patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye (Sunshine & Breeze collections), as well as the little flower/brad embellishment.

The second card is for the My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch challenge that happens over at the My Favorite Things Splitcoaststampers forum. For this card I used a PI set called "You're So Tweet". Now you know where my blog post time came from! Anyway, she was colored with Copics and her dress paper-pieced, too. The papers used on this card are also from My Mind's Eye, the Paris & Co. collection.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI; Stampin Up!; PP: My Mind's Eye; Copic Markers; Dies: Spellbinders, Taylored Expressions & Memory Box; Stampin Up! punch; Stampin Up! Seam Binding Ribbon; MME embellishments

Thanks for Everything...

2012-01-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Got a chance to make a card for the current Shabby Tea Room. I used some bits and pieces from Stampin Up! for the card and a sentiment stamp from the Hero Arts cling set "Very Special". The layout for the card is based on this week's Sketchbook Saturday sketch. I think I'm becoming a bit addicted to Chupa's sketches! Each Saturday I find myself checking her blog to see what the new sketch is and then spending the next few days finding another challenge to combine it with. So... this week it is the Shabby Tea Room challenge to make your project "Sparkly & Bright". Just look at that beautiful inspiration photo!

As I indicated above all the paper bits and pieces used on the card are from the Stampin Up! Beau Chateau line. Some of the pieces were inked with my VersaMagic watermark ink pen, silver embossing powder applied and then heat set. All the pieces were distressed with a distressing tool and then layered up as you see. Initially I didn't have the added bling, just the pink pearls and the rose, but then decided to give the card a bit more sparkle. As a rule, I don't see myself as very good at the "shabby chic" style (and I think my friend, Sue, will disagree with me on that), but I'm really starting to have more confidence with this style of crafting.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Vintage Cream; Paper Embellishments & PP: Stampin Up: Ink: VersaMagic Watermark ink; Embossing Powder: Ranger UltraFine Silver; Stamps: Hero Arts: Flower: Flying Unicorn; Flourish: Recollections; Pearls: Zva Creative; Ribbon & Button: PTI

Oh... Cut It Out!!!

2012-01-21T18:33:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Back with my card for this week's Less is More challenge, as well as CAS-ual Fridays. The challenge this week at LIM is to incorporate an opening or aperture as the British LIMettes would say in our clean and simple design. Thus the reason for my post title. The challenge at CAS-ual Friday is to make a black & white card in honor of penguin awareness day. Who knew there was a penguin awareness day? Both ideas seem pretty simple, but boy oh boy did the LIM challenge give me problems!! I had several fantastic ideas... unfortunately I could not make any of them work. I even went to the craft store in hopes of finding the tool I needed to make my dream a reality, but alas... it was not to be. So, I settled on a much simpler and more do-able idea.

I had a piece of black cardstock and a white cardbase ready to go, so I cut the black cardstock down a bit and trimmed a 1/4" off the card base on the long side. The 2nd smallest Spellbindes plain heart die was placed on the cardstock and then run through my Big Shot. After that I placed the diecut piece in my PTI quatrefoil die, placed a tan embossing mat on top and ran it through the Big Shot again to emboss the quatrefoil image onto the cardstock. Some thin white ribbon was tied around the piece and then I added the button and bakers twine. I adhered the piece to the card base and then stamped the sentiment from the Hero Arts set Year Round Sentiment inside the heart.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & true black; Stamps: Hero Arts; Ink: VersaFine Black Onyx; Dies: Spellbinders & PTI; Ribbon: Stampin Up!; Twine: The Twinery

Your Treasure.... ODBDSLC93

2012-01-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Happy Saturday! Time for another ODBD Shining the Light challenge. This time we have a fantastic sketch for you used. For my card I used the following ODBD stamps: Scrolly Frames & Scripture Collection 7. The doily was diecut using a Cheery Lyn doily die from My Mind's Eye Blush papers. All the papers used on the card are from the Blush collection. The scrolly frame and the sentiment were die cut using Spellbinders square dies. I finished the card off with a Prima flower, some lace and a pearl flourish from the Blush collection.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, January 13th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries that are made without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on nor will they qualify for prizes. While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, January 20th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC93. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

Please make sure you check out the projects from my fellow sticks: Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Kathy, Sabrina, Angie and Wanda (Guest Designer)! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Vintage Cream; PP: My Mind's Eye Blush; Dies: Cheery Lynn & Spellbinders; Ink: SU! Melon Mambo; Ranger Old Paper DI; My Mind's Eye pearl flourish; Prima Flower; Crocheted lace

For the Love of ODBD Custom Dies!!

2012-01-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Our Daily Bread Design's first Alumni Team bi-monthly For the Love of Blog Hop. This week the Alumni team along with some of the ODBD designer's are featuring for the Love of ODBD Custom Dies! Check out each link and leave a comment. If you get lost along the way, head to the ODBD blog for a full link list. One of the post is a hot spot and a name will be drawn from that list of comments to win a $15 ODBD store gift certificate. So, all you have to do is hop along and see all the creations and leave a little love! You have until February 1st at 6 pm. Winner will be announced February 2nd! So, get hopping and enjoy all the inspiration using for the Love of ODBD Custom Dies! You should have come here from the fabulously talented Connie's blog.

So for my card today I used the following ODBD sets and custom dies: Faith, Single Butterfly and Serve the Lord stamps and coordinating Single Butterfly die and Crocheted Circle die. I took my color scheme from the BasicGrey 6x6 Little Black Dress pad. I stamped the circle image from Serve the Lord using kraft colored ink and then die cut it using the Crocheted Circle die. The image was then overstamped with the verse using Tuxedo Black ink. The circle image was backed with a scalloped circle circle cut from Little Black Dress paper. The butterfly was stamped using London Fog ink, colored with Copic markers and then die cut using the coordinating die. The card was finished off with some rhinestone flourishes and light grey ribbon. The layout comes from this week's Sketchbook Saturday sketch.

Thanks for stopping by... your next stop on the hop is the amazingly talented Lori! She is going to knock your socks off with her gorgeous project!!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Vintage Cream & True Black; PP: BasicGrey Little Black Dress; Stamps & Dies: Our Daily Bread Designs; Ribbon: PaperTrey Ink; Copic Markers; EK Success Scalloped Edge Punch; Rhinestone Flourishe: Recollections

i miss you...

2012-01-18T15:57:00.000-08:00

Hey there.... Happy Wednesday! Boy oh boy did we get a lot of snow here in the Pacific Northwest! That doesn't happen very often thank goodness. My car doesn't go in the snow so I have been staying inside and trying to do some crafting. But it has been a bit hard with my two boys and hubby underfoot! Anywhoo... I did manage to make a card for the current CR84FN color challenge, as well as the current Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge. I missed out on the first CR84FN challenge of the year and I haven't done a SSIC challenge in ages!!! This week the challenge at SSIC is to use something new on your card. Make sure that you read Traci's devotional... it is fantastic! For my something new I used a brand new Hero Arts/Sizzix stamp & die set called Chairs & Chandeliers. I'm lovin' this new collaboration between Hero Arts & Sizzix. The dies are so easy to use and provide absolutely fantastic results.

I stamped the background using the Hero Arts background cling "Classic Fabric Design" and Stampin' Up's Pink Pirouette ink. The piece was then inked using Ranger's Old Paper Distress ink. The chair was stamped on some yellow cardstock using SU!'s So Saffron ink and then diecut using the corresponding die. The chandelier was stamped using Rich Cocoa ink. I diecut the banner using a Taylored Expressions die, trimmed off one end, stamped the sentiment and then inked it with Old Paper ink. Another nice and simple card.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; yellow; Ink: SU! Pink Pirouette, So Saffron; Memento Rich Cocoa; Stamps: Hero Arts Chairs & Chandeliers, Year Round Sentiments; Dies: Sizzix & Taylored Expressions; Old Paper Distress Ink

Thank you...

2012-01-15T08:40:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Have a card today for a couple of challenges... JUGs and ColourQ. I really squeaked this one in with ColourQ. I had it done the night before, but wasn't happy with the photos I took (I really need to get one of those photo tent thingies). I took a few more this morning, but wasn't happy with those either. So I decided to use one I took last night. Anywhoo.... I combined the card with the current JUGs challenge to create a collage look on your card. I haven't done a JUGs challenge in a loooong time and I'm not entirely sure why other than I just don't have the time to play in all the challenges that I would like to play in. But when I saw my bloggy friend, Elise's card (she is on the fabby JUGs design team!!) I just had to play along this week!

So... for my card I went super simple. I used three different stamp sets: Stampin Up!'s Artistic Engravings and PTI's Background Basics: Text Styles & Iconic Images. The color combo from ColourQ included Pumpkin Pie & Melon Mambo... both dark colors so when I stamped the images using those two colors I stamped them first on scrap paper and then on the cardstock to tone down the color. For such a simple card it took me quite a few test runs on scrap paper to get just the right look I was going for. In the end I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. CAS, but collage. (Its probably going to send my bloggy friend Sue into fits! Because collage should not be CAS!)

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; Stamps: SU! & PTI; Ink: SU! Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo & Pumpkin Pie; Memento London Fog

For the Birds....

2012-01-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Here with my second post for the day and this time I have two cards! The challenge this week at Less is More is one layer and we are to use a bird image on our card. I was so hoping that this week was a one layer LIM challenge as I hoping to combine the LIM challenge with this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge to use pink and red. I don't have a ton of stamp sets with birds in them, but a couple did come to mind when I saw the LIM challenge.

For the first card I got out my PTI Iconic Images and stamped the bird in Stampin Up! Cherry Cobbler and the sentiment in Stampin Up! Melon Mambo (a really nice dark pink). I added a few rhinestones and I was done... love all that white space!!

For the second card I used a really fun Stampin Up! set I got last year called Valentine Defined. When I saw the set I had to get it because one of the images is a cute pair of flamingos and I like flamingos. Anywhoo... this card is a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 square card. I stamped the image and sentiment in Melon Mambo and then added the little red rhinestone heart.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & rustic cream; Stamps: PTI & Stampin Up! Ink: Stampin Up!; rhinestones: Hero Arts

WINTER.... ODBDSLC92

2012-01-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there! Happy Saturday!! Time for another ODBD Shining the Light challenge and this time we are challenging you to create a card using the word "WINTER". The idea is to take at least three of the letters and use tools and/or embellishments starting with those letters to create your project. For my card I managed to use all the letters in the word WINTER to create my card.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, January 13th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries that are made without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on nor will they qualify for prizes. While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, January 20th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC92. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge. Now... on to my card:

As I indicated I used tools and/or embellishments representing all the letters in the word WINTER to create my card. Here is the list: W- white cardstock; I - ink; N - Nesties; T - three designer papers; E - embossing & R - rhinestones and lace ribbon. The stamps I used are from the ODBD set Simple Things. I embossed the red patterned paper, but unfortunately it is hard to see. The layout for my card comes from this month's Something For You to Try sketch. Please make sure you check out the projects from my fellow sticks: Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Chris, Kathy, Sabrina and Wanda (Guest Designer)! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white, Stampin Up! Baja Breeze; Memory Box Brioche DP; Stamps: ODBD Simple Things; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & SU! Baja Breeze; Copic Markers; Spellbinders dies; Recollections Rhinestone Flourish; SU! Modern Label Punch; White lace ribbon; Swiss Dot embossing folder

A Cheery Birthday Card...

2012-01-13T11:07:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Here with a card for another Flourishes challenge. This time it is Timeless Tuesday. The super talented Tammy is hosting this week and she provided us with a beautiful photo to inspire our creativity.

Yesterday was my mother-in-law's birthday (Jan. 12th) and today (the 13th) we are going to her house to celebrate, so I decided to use the inspiration photo to create a birthday card for her. I used three different Flourishes sets for the card: Zinnias, Country Charm Labels & Sweet Violets. I stamped the zinnia image using Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored it with Copic makers (and oops! I forgot to write down which colors.) I then die cut the image using the new Flourishes Classic Keyhole die. A piece of yellow cardstock was run through my Big Shot in an embossing folder and the die cut image adhered to it. I stamped one of the labels from the Country Charm set in orange ink, the sentiment in dark pink ink and die cut with the corresponding Spellbinders Grommet Tag die. Some Raspberry Fizz grosgrain ribbon was attached using orange bakers twine and then some little buttons were also added. The entire piece was then adhered to the card as you see. I recently found a new to me challenge site called "Catered Crop" and their current challenge is to use buttons on your project so I will be putting this into that challenge, as well.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & lemon tart; Stamps: Flourishes; Ink: Memento & Stampin Up!; Copic Markers; Ribbon: PTI; Buttons: DeNami Design; Twine: Divine Twine; Dies: Flourishes & Spellbinders

Welcome Little One...

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there... think I'm finally getting back in the swing of blogging. Here it is Wednesday and I have a card to post!! This one is for the current Flourishes release week challenge of New Year, New Challenge.. to make a card using either something to do with time (like father time) or a baby. I went with the baby theme because I really don't have anything time related in my stamp collection. For my card I used some Layers of Colors stamps because I don't have any Flourishes stamps that would have fit the bill (insert sad face). The layout of the card is courtesy of Sketchbook Saturday and the super talented Chupa.

For my card I used some of the final remaining sheets of paper from my My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 Sunshine 6x6 pad. I love the papers in that pad so I'm going to have to make sure I pick up another one here soon. I chose to use a light aqua striped paper, as well as a black damask paper. The ink is SU!'s new Pool Party (which is a pretty darn good match to PTI's Aqua Mist!). Lots of diecutting one this one, too. I used Spellbinders Labels 16 dies, plain and scalloped circle dies and a fancy tag die. The ribbon is some yummy May Arts black crinkle ribbon. The Layers of Colour stamps I used are "Flower Child" and "Starflower Frame".

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & SU! Pool Party; PP: My Mind's Eye Sunshine; Stamps: Layers of Colour; Spellbinders dies; May Arts black crinkle ribbon; white crochet ribbon; EK Success punch; Ink: SU! Pool Party; Ranger Old Paper DI

Purple-Palooza!!

2012-01-07T16:18:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Back with another post for today... this time for the first Less is More challenge of the new year and as my title would suggest we are to use purple on our project. Ahh...the color purple. While I'm not a huge fan of purple in general... I do like to use it from time to time when I'm making cards. I especially like deep rich purples for cardmaking. Today I used two purple inks, PTI's Plum Pudding and Close to My Heart's Pansy Purple, and a purple cardstock, PTI's Royal Velvet for my card. The stamps are all from Hero Arts (Carte Postal, Antique Flowers & Butterflies & Luscious Frames).

There isn't a ton of white (or in the case of this card... cream) space, but hopefully there is enough to satisfy Chrissie and Mandi. I stamped the main image several times on the cream cardstock piece using Plum Pudding ink and then one time on scrap cream cardstock using Pansy Purple. The Pansy Purple image was trimmed out and adhered as you see. The "hello" was stamped in black ink to make it stand out more and then a little butterfly was stamped in Plum Pudding, trimmed out and adhered to the card. A few purple rhinestones finished off the card.

In With the New.. Out With the Old...

2012-01-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

Today's the day... the sun is shining, the tank is clean! (oh wait.. that is a line from Finding Nemo!) But today is the day that I share my other good news... I'm now a design team member for Our Daily Bread Designs!!! The Shining the Light challenge team to be exact and I can't tell you how excited I am to be a part of this amazing company!! So now... on to this week's challenge: "In with the new....out with the Old". The team challenges you to create a card using something new and something old on your card.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, January 13th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries that are made without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on nor will they qualify for prizes. While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, January 13th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC91. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge

For my card I my something new on my card are the following brand new ODBD stamps: Never Give Up and Grunge Cross, as well as the accompanying new Grunge Cross die. My something old is a glitter brad and a corner punch that I used to make the photo corner pieces. I love, love, love these new Grunge sets from ODBD!

Now off you go to check out the projects from my fellow "breadsticks": Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Chris, Kathy, Sabrina and Wanda (Guest Designer)! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & black; Stamps: ODBD; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Brad: SU! Glitter Brad; Punch: SU! Photo corner punch; Diamond Stickles Glitter Glue.

You're So Special...

2012-01-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

Hey there!!! Happy New Year!! Been awhile, again, since I last posted. Still trying to get into the swing of things and get some mojo back. Got some super exciting news this morning.... I'm going to be guest designing for Penny Black Stamps!!! I could not believe it when I got the congratulatory emails from a couple of bloggy friends (they saw the news before I did!!). Penny Black stamps are some of my favorites and guest designing for them is a dream come true!! And my good news doesn't end... on Saturday I will have some more exciting to share. Now... on to my card. It is for this week's Shabby Tea Room challenge and I used another one of Chupa's fabulous Sketchbook Saturday sketches for the layout.

The requirements this week at the Tea Room are to take our inpsiration from the photo provided and to make sure our project has something with wings on it. For my card used a softer version of some of the colors from the photo and added a butterfly from the Hero Arts/Sizzix die set Antique Flowers and Butterflies. I have to tell you that if you have not tried out these sets from Hero Arts & Sizzix you really should. The dies are absolutely fantastic to use. The papers I used are from the My Minds Eye Lost & Found 2 Blush 6x6 pad. I did a bit of distressing on the edges to give a little more shabby look. The butterfly was stamped in Tuxedo Black ink, colored with Copics (BG000, BG01 & BG11) and then diecut. The sentiment is from a new stamp set from Hero Arts called Year Round Sentiments and was designed specifically for Operation Write Home.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Vintage Cream; PP: My Minds Eye Lost & Found 2 Blush; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & PTI Sweet Blush; Dies: Spellbinders & Sizzix; Stamps: Hero Arts; Copic Markers; Lace: Unknown

A Fashionable {?} Post...

2011-12-28T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hey there... trying to get back in to the swing of things and get some cards made. Today I have two cards for two different, but very fashionable challenges: Runway Inspired Challenge #2 and Moxie Fab World - Stripe-tastic. With both of these challenges I was immediately struck by certain aspects of each photo.

First up is my card for RIC #2. When I first saw the inspiration photo my eyes were immediately drawn to that gorgeous green purse the model is carrying and I wanted to make that color stand out on my card. Then I was struck by the pattern on her dress and lastly the odd purple eye make-up. Even though I'm not a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination I can appreciate a perfectly designed outfit. However, I do not understand why some of these designers have to do things like crazy eye makeup!! Anywhoo... I had an idea, but sadly I have been experiencing alot of bad headaches lately which generally leave me feeling completely untalented and so I struggled to get my card actually made. Today I was feeling normal enough to get it finished. I cut a piece of pale yellow cardstock and stamped it with an image from the WPlus9 Design set Background Basics 1 that reminded me of the pattern on the dress using grey ink. The sentiment is from PTI's Gracious Vase and was stamped using purple ink. I brought in the bright green by tying some grosgrain ribbon around the piece before applying purple and green rhinestones.

I haven't done a Tuesday Trigger challenge in ages, but when I saw the current inspiration photo I just had to play along. I took my inspiration from obviously the stripes and from the cute little Peter Pan collar on the dress. I found cardstock that matched the colors in the dress fairly closely and cut thin stripes of each. The bottom of the card was punched with a medium sized scalloped punch and then the stripes adhered in the same layout as the dress. The sentiment on this card is also from Gracious Vases.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white, SU! Vintage Violet & Sage Shadow; CTMH yellow & pink; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stamps: PTI Gracious Vases & WPlus9Design Background Basics; Punch: EKSuccess; Ribbon: PTI; Rhinestones: KaiserCraft & Hero Arts

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Wow... can't believe I haven't blogged all week! I did make a few things, but there were just way too many things going on that were far more important than blogging! But another week has passed and it is time for another Less is More challenge. This week Chrissie and Mandi are challenging us to use just one word on our cards. I wasn't going to make any more Christmas cards, but decided that I wanted to use my new T!m Holtz Vintage Noel die one more time before putting it away. I also combined the LIM challenge with the current Paper Players challenge to use red, cream and gold.

The card base is my favorite red of all time Stampin Up!'s Cherry Cobbler. Love, love, love the deep, rich color of this red. I diecut the "noel" from Cherry Cobbler, as well and then stamped it with Hero Arts Magical Background using Delicata Golden Glitz ink. Unfortunately, the patterned doesn't show up too well. I edged the cream mat with the Golden Glitz ink and after adhereing the diecut I added three gold glitter brads. Super simple.

So... I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope you all have the most wonderful time with your family and friends and remember what the true meaning of Christmas is... a baby born in a manger!!

Just a Note....

2011-12-17T18:03:00.000-08:00

Hey there... quick post with my card for Less is More. This week Chrissie and Mandi have asked us to make a card that uses music in some way on it. I have been battling a really bad headache all day and finally this evening feel okay enough to try to make something. So... this isn't my best effort, but well... it could have been alot worse!!!

I used a couple of different Hero Arts stamps and a sentiment stamp from Savvy Stamps. The clef image is from the Hero Arts cling set "Musical Clef". I stamped it in Cherry Cobbler ink and then trimmed it out. The doily type image is the Hero Arts stamp "Sunburst Lace". That was stamped in Memento London Fog. The sentiment was stamped using Tuxedo Black ink. The layout is from Clean & Simple.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI cream & Gina K. dark grey; Stamps: Hero Arts & Savvy Stamps; Ink: Memento London Fog & Tuxedo Black; SU! Cherry Cobbler

Sharing Some Peace & Grace...

2011-12-15T13:13:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Today I have two cards. One card is for the current ODBD Shining the Light challenge (a sketch) and the other is for One Layer Wednesday (to make a card that says "peace" to me). Both cards use ODBD stamps.

First up is my card for Shining the Light. When I went to work on this card I had very different plans for it, but try as I might nothing was coming together. It was just one of those days. So when I decided to give up on the first idea the ODBD sketch was waiting there to save the day! The background was created using the new PTI Quatrafoil die (what a coool die!!) and PTI's Rustic Cream cardstock. After I adhered it to the front of the card I stamped the main focal image from "Serve the Lord" on Rustic Cream cardstock using kraft colored ink and then die cut the image using the coordinating die. The verse (also from Serve the Lord) was stamped over the focal image using Rich Cocoa ink. A piece of kraft cardstock was cut, the ribbon (from SU!) was adhered and then the piece matted with dark brown cardstock. The focal image was then adhered and everything attached to the card base. After looking at the card for awhile I decided that it needed a little bit extra and so I added the brown rhinestones. I love the clean look of the card.

For the second card I had to use green and my favorite stamping layout because when I look at both I'm totally at peace! The layout I used is one that I have used over and over again. Stamping an image on the lefthand side of the card, overstamping a sentiment and then adding a few pearls or gems... sigh.... to me so very peaceful! Add the color green and well... double sigh!! I just wish I could have gotten a better photograph.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI; Stamps: ODBD; Ink: SU! and Memento; Dies: PTI, ODBD; Gems: Hero Arts; Ribbon: SU!

Mellow Yellow....

2011-12-12T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hey there.... here with a card for two challenges: CASE Study and a brand spankin' new challenge called Runway Inspired.

The inspiration photo from RIC features a dress from the Versace Spring 2012 line. I used the PTI set Stitches and Swirls because the images reminded me of the pattern on the dress. The inspiration card from the December CASE study muse, Amy, featured many, many layers. I removed quite of few of the layers but kept the elements of the embossing and diecutting. The image was stamped using Memento's Dandelion ink and the sentiment stamped using London Fog. The image was diecut using a Spellbinders Small Label die and then matted with Soft Stone cardstock diecut using a Large Label die. A few rhinestones were added, but in retrospect I think I would have left them off.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white, lemon tart & soft stone; Stamps: PTI Stitches & Swirls, Signature Series Dress Form; Inks: Memento; Rhinestones: SU!; Swiss Dot embossing folder; Spellbinders dies

Some Flourishes Christmas....

2011-12-11T16:18:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Here with two cards for two Flourishes challenges. Timeless Tuesday.... a fun sketch provided by the super talented Silke!! And the Flourishes Christmas Spirit challenge. Both cards are a bit on the "plainy janey" side. The Christmas Spirit challenge this month is to use Santa in some form on your project. For my super simple card I used the santa ornament from the Holiday Sparkle set. I stamped the image on some Eclipse tape and then trimmed him out to create a mask. I cut a piece of Rustic Cream cardstock to the size I wanted and stamped the image in Cherry Cobbler ink on it and then covered it with the mask. I then stamped the pine bough over the mask using Old Olive ink. I distressed the edges of the stamped piece and matted it with Old Olive cardstock that had the edges distressed as well. Some Diamond Stickles were added along with a bow tied from twine.

The second card is for the Timeless Tuesday challenge. I stamped the rose image from the set Petals and Peace on white cardstock with Tuxedo Black ink and then colored it with Copics (sorry... forgot to write down what colors I used). I then diecut the image using the matching Flourishes/Spellbinder die Classic Keyhole. The patterned paper is from the BasicGrey Jovial 6x6 pad. I combined it with some red burlap ribbon for a... well... interesting look! I think I will add a sentiment before sending it out as the card looks a bit plain without one.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white, Rustic Cream; SU! Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive; Stamps: Flourishes; Ink: Memento & Stampin Up!; Red Burlap Ribbon; Twine; Flourishes Classic Keyhole die; Diamond Stickles

Peace....

2011-12-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Another Saturday has arrived and with it a new challenge over at Less is More. This week the challenge is to create a one layer card using snowflakes. At first I thought I would use my neglected SU! set Serene Snowflakes, but then thought I should really dust off my very, very neglected PTI set Snowflake Serenade and use that instead.

I had intended to use white cardstock, but then saw a piece of Rustic Cream cardstock that had already been cut and decided to go with that. I used SU!'s Night of Navy and Marina Mist to stamp the sentiment and snowflakes. Snowflake Serenada doesn't have a small snowflake so I used one from the Hero Arts set Decorate Your Holiday. I got out my trusty Quickie Glue pen to apply the right of amount of glue to the sentiment and snowflakes and then applied the glitter. Some score lines at the bottom finished off the card.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream; Stamps: PTI & Hero Arts; Ink: Stampin Up!; Glitter: Art Glitter - Ultra Fine Blue Rain

Noel...

2011-12-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! I'm back with another Christmas card using the somewhat non-traditional Christmas colors of pink and gold. This time my card is for the Shabby Tea Room and the layout comes from the current Cardabilities sketch. The Shabby Tea Room challenge is to base our project off another gorgeous inspiration photo and use pink, gold, neutrals, flowers and snowflakes. Combining all those things together really takes me outside my comfort zone!! But the fabby sketch from Cardabilities gave me the confidence to give it a go!

I had recently purchased a T!m Holtz Alterations die called Vintage Noel and had been wanting to use it on a card. So, I got it out and went to work. I die cut the "Noel" image from white cardstock and then applied some Old Paper Distress ink to tone it down a bit. With my Quickie Glue Pen I outlined a portion of the image and poured on the gold glitter. I then added a bit of glitter to some tiny pink roses. The snowflake (Anna Snowflake from Poppy Stamps) was stamped on the pink cardstock using Delicate Golden Glitz ink. A single snowflake was diecut using the matching Anna Snowflake die, stamped with the Golden Glitz ink and then some additional glitter added to the center. The I die cut the Top Note from some Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden paper and distressed the edges just a bit. Then I layered everything up, adding the punched border and some pink grosgrain ribbon. I thought about adding some pearl flourishes but decided against it as I do love the card the way it is.... a bit shabby and a bit CAS.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Pink Pirouette; PP: Pink Paislee; Ink: Ranger & Tsukeniko; Dies: T!m Holtz Vintage Noel & SU! Top Note; Flowers: Flying Unicorn; Glitter: Melissa Frances; Ribbon: PTI; Stamps: Poppy Stamps

Joy to All....

2011-12-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Hope your week is going well. It is cold, cold, cold here in the Pacific Northwest, but thankfully there is no rain (or snow for that matter)! Have a card today for two challenges, CR84FN and the Paper Players that uses the current Sketchbook Saturday sketch. I am really lovin' Chupa's sketches! Not only is she a fantastic cardmaker... she is a mighty talented sketch designer, too! But boo hoo! This is the last CR84FN challenge for the year! CR84FN is one of my favorite challenges because Mona always picks the most beautiful color trios. So... I shall be waiting impatiently for the challenge to start again in the new year!

Anywhoo... the CR84FN colors this week are aqua, pink and coral, not traditional Christmas colors and so I thought I would combine that challenge with the Paper Players since their challenge is to create a card that either uses non-traditional colors for a Christmas/holiday card or one that uses non-traditional stamps for a Christmas/holiday card. I think pink, aqua and coral are pretty non-traditional colors. The patterned paper is from the lovely Cozy Xmas collection by The Scrap Cake. The ornaments are from the SU! set Tree Trimmings and the sentiment is from Hero Arts. The inks are all from SU! (Cameo Coral, Pool Party & Pretty in Pink). I toned things down a bit with my favorite distress ink, Old Paper. Another pretty simple card, but I really like it.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! pretty in pink & pool party; Stamps: hero arts & stampin up!; Ink: Stampin Up!; Twine: May Arts; Punch Fiskars Upper Crust; PP: The Scrap Cake Cozy Xmas

Blessed...

2011-12-04T16:23:00.000-08:00

Hey there... Getting back in the swing of things with my cardmaking. Have a card for the current Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge to use ribbon, a flower and a tag and for the current CASE Study challenge to CASE a card by December's muse, Amy Sheffer. My card is a super simple version of her gorgeous card.

I used the Flourishes set Paper Whites for my card, as well as some gorgeous Christmas papers from a company called Scrap Cake. The company is based in Poland, but I was able to find them here in the US through a webstore called The Flying Unicorn. Man... are these papers gorgeous! I can't wait to make another card using them!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & kraft; Stamps: Flourishes; Ink: SU! Riding Hood Red & Pool Party; Ribbon: PTI Pure Poppy; Rose: Prima; Dies: Spellbinders plain circle dies; Sizzix tag die

Its a Green Thing...

2011-12-03T12:25:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Happy Saturday... got several cards today and all of them feature the color green.... which happens to be my favorite color!! Since it's Saturday that means there is a new challenge over at Less is More and the challenge this week is to use the color green. After checking out the LIM challenge I decided to see if Susan (LateBlossom) had posted a new One Layer Wednesday challenge and she had!! Her challenge this week is to use one sentiment stamp on a non-traditional sized card and to make more than one card using that stamp with a different ink. So... I thought I would combine the two challenges and came up with these two cards:

They both use the SU! color Wild Wasabi, but in different forms. Obviously on the white one I used the Wild Wasabi ink and the second one uses Wild Wasabi cardstock and Delicate Golden Glitz ink. The sentiment is from a Hero Arts Christmas set, Joy to All. To give them a bit of interest I added some score lines. But once I finished making them I decided that I wanted to make a different card for Less is More and came up with this one:

Still used green, but this time I added in Memento's New Sprout. The stamps are from PTI (Harvest Berries and Hero Arts). And since today is my birthday I decided to make this card a birthday card.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Wild Wasabi; Ink: Wild Wasabi; Delicate Golden Glitz & New Sprout; Stamps: PTI, Hero Arts; Gems: Hero Arts

Take a Moment...

2011-12-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

Hey there! Boy it seems like ages since I last posted... just had a few things going on that were far more important than making and posting cards. But now things have calmed down a bit (although I still have to decorate our tree and do a few other things) and so I found the time to make a card using this week's colors from ColourQ: night of navy, marina mist, bashful blue, sahara sand and white.

When I started thinking about what I wanted to do I knew for sure that I just wanted to do some simple stamping. So I gathered up my inks and the stamp set I wanted to use (PTI's Harvest Berries) and did a couple of trial runs of my card to make sure that I got the right combination of colors. I don't have sahara sand so I subbed in crumb cake. The layout is one I probably use more often than most... image on one side in a light colour with the sentiment overstamped in a darker color. Then the finishing touch of a bit of bling.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & SU! Night of Navy; Ink: SU! Crumb Cake & Marina Mist; Memento Summer Sky; Bling: Hero Arts; Stamps: PTI Harvest Berries

Christmas Blessings....

2011-11-29T20:50:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Here with a card for this week's Shabby Tea Room challenge. My IRL friend, Cindy, is the hostess with the mostess over at the Tea Room and she has provided us with a gorgeous inspiration photo and the challenge to use white or cream, silver and glitter. So for me that means doing two things I don't do a lot of: making something covered in glitter and heat embossing. I don't do either with any frequency because of my limited work space and the fact that it also happens to be my kitchen counter!

Anywhoo... for my card I created a double snowflake with some snowflake chipboard pieces I had kicking around. I covered the snowflake with some Diamond Glaze and then poured on the glitter (Art Glitter Wisteria for one (a light, light blue) and Art Glitter Ultra Fine Blue Rain). A blinged up button from BasicGrey (say that 3x fast!) was adhered to the center of one snowflake using more Diamond Glaze and then the two snowflakes were adhered together using foam dimensionals. The border from the WMS set Victorian Frippery was embossed in silver on the bottom of these neat postcard type piece from Stampin Up! and then I trimmed around to create the scalloped edge. I inked the edges of another cardstock piece with a VersaMark pen, applied silver embossing powder and heat set. The sentiment from Hero Arts was embossed in silver on the bottom of the card base. Everything was layered up as you see it, some cream seam binding added and then the whole thing adhered to the card base. The layout for the card once, again, is courtesy of another fabulous sketch from Sketchbook Saturday.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream; Cardstock embellishments: Stampin Up!; Stamps: WMS & Hero Arts; Ink: VersaMark; Embossing Powder: Ranger Ultra Fine Silver; Glitter: Art Glitter; Button: BasicGrey; Chipboard snowflakes

So Thoughtful...

2011-11-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

Hey there... back with another card for the current CASE Study challenge and ColourQ.

I just love this week's ColourQ combo of Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Delightful Daffodil, Early Espresso and white. Cherry Cobbler is my absolute favorite red. I love how deep and rich it is, especially against white. When I saw November CASE Study muse, Kryssi's card I just had to play along. I love the super clean and stunning, as my friend Sue would say, design of the card. I thought I had a large solid flower stamp that I could use, but unfortunately, I didn't. So instead I got a little dotty with my card, combining PTI's Dot Spot with Polka Dot Basics II. I stamped the largest circle from Dot Spot in Pumpkin Pie and then used So Saffron to stamp the border using the smallest polka dot border in the set. The sentiment from Signature Greetins was stamped using Early Espresso. I decided to add the yellow button to the center for just a bit more interest.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Cherry Cobbler; Ink: SU! Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron & Early Espresso; Stamps: PTI; Button: My Mind's Eye

twinkle....

2011-11-26T13:45:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Another Saturday is here and a new Less is More challenge. This week Chrissie and Mandi are challenging us to use bling on our projects. And when I saw the challenge I had the perfect stamp in mind, too! I'm also putting this card in to the current CR84FN challenge to use green, tan and brown. The layout comes from a Clean & Simple sketch from several weeks ago. I had been struggling to find an idea for the CR84FN challenge, but this week's LIM challenge turned out to be the perfect match for me!!

The stamps I used for my card are from Penny Black. A wood-mounted stamp called Reverie and the clear set, Let It Snow. I stamped the image using Memento Rich Cocoa on Rustic Cream cardstock and then diecut it using a Spellbinders small circle die. The patterned paper is from Stampin Up! (the Frostwood Lodge pack) and was also diecuting using a Spellbinders circle die. Some additional Rustic Cream was diecut using a Spellbinders Grommet Tag die and then I stamped the sentiment "twinkle" on it using Nick Bantock's Sapmoss Green ink and then I spiffed up the tag with the ribbon, twine and buttons. The bling (green, brown and clear) was applied to the tree randomly. I absolutely love how the card turned out!! I will also be linking this up with the Buttons Galore & More linky party. I realize it is a bit non-traditional for a Christmas card, but I will, in fact, be using it as such.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft & rustic cream; Stampin Up! Garden Green; DP: Stampin Up!; Stamps: Penny Black; Ribbon: PTI dark choc.; Buttons: DeNami Design; Twine; Rhinestones: KaiserCraft & Hero Arts; Spellbinders Dies; Inks: Memento Rich Cocoa & Nick Bantock Sapmoss Green

Thank You...

2011-11-25T14:41:00.000-08:00

Hey there... happy Friday! Hope everyone in the US had a great Thanksgiving day! I know my family did!! Now its time to start getting ready for Christmas...YAY!! I love Christmas! But today I have probably one final fall-type card. This one is for the current Shabby Tea Room challenge to use the colors provided in a gorgeous inspiration photo. The layout for the card comes from Sketchbook Saturday. If you haven't checked out Chupa's sketches... you really should! She always has super fun sketches!

The only stamping on the card is the sentiment which is from a Hero Arts/Basic Grey set (Luscious Frame). Lots of diecutting and punching, though. I tried to pull alot of colors from the inspiration photo and combine them in a pleasing manner. (And hopefully I succeeded!) The patterned papers are from PTI (Autumn Abundance) and DCWV (Christmas stack). The flower was made using the Spellbinders Carnation Creations dies and I'm going to be honest... I don't like this set of dies as well as I like the Spellbinders Rose Creations dies. But I think the flower turned out okay. I used the red burlap strip to help break things up a bit.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft; PP: PTI & DCWV; Ink: Memento Tangelo; Dies: Spellbinders circle die, Carnation Creations dies; Sizzix Leaf die; Red Burlap; EK Success punch; Stamps: Hero Arts

Silent Night....

2011-11-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Happy Wednesday! Have another Christmas card using non-traditional colors. This card is for this week's ODBD Shining the Light challenge to have bells or baubles hanging from your card and the City Crafter's challenge to make pink the focus of a Christmas card.

For my card I used the ODBD Poinsettia background stamp and a sentiment from the ODBD Holly Tag set. The papers are from the SU! paper pack called Beau Chateau. The ink is SU! Pink Pirouette and Marina Mist. I used some of that absolutely yummy May Arts crinkle ribbon for the bow. It took me a while to figure out how I was going to attach the bells, but finally got it right this morning. As I was finishing up the card it struck me as funny that I was putting bells on a card with a sentiment saying "Silent Night, Holy Night"! I did some distressing (with ink and a distressing tool) to soften things up a bit. The layout is from Deconstructed Sketch (DS28).

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! DP - Beau Chateau; Ink: SU! Pink Pirouette & Marina Mist; Ranger Old Paper Distress Ink; Bells: Joann's; Ribbon: May Arts Pink crinkle ribbon; Twine: The Twinery; Button: PTI; Punch: EKSuccess

You're So Sweet....

2011-11-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Another week has rolled around and this week it is Thanksgiving here in the US. And this week also brings my oldest child's birthday. He is going to be 13 on Wednesday the 23rd!! It just blows my mind that I have a teenager! It just seems like yesterday he was starting kindergarten...

Anywhoo... my card is for a couple of challenges: Paper Players to make a CAS card using white, dark blue and silver and Waltzingmouse (a sketch). I must admit that when I saw the Paper Players challenge to use silver I was on the fence a bit as to whether I would play along or not. I don't generally use metallics in my paper crafting because I just don't like how my projects turn out when I have used them. But because I like to participate in the Paper Players challenges as often as I can I decided to give it a go. I used the WMS set Dainty Doilies (large), stamping the largest doily using Night of Navy ink and then diecutting it with the largest die in the Spellbinders Large Scallope Circle dies set. One of the small doilies was stamped in the center using VersaMark ink, silver embossing powder applied and heat set. The sentiment from Dainty Doilies was also embossed using silver embossing powder. It was then die cut using a Spellbinders Grommet Tag die. Some Night of Navy grograin ribbon, white & blue bakers twine and silver glitter brads were used to create my favorite little ribbon treatment.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Night of Navy; Ink: SU! Night of Navy & VersaMark; Stamps: Waltzingmouse; Ribbon: SU! Night of Navy grosgrain; Bakers Twine - The Twinery; Glitter Brads: SU!; Embossing Powder - Ranger Ultra Fine Silver

Time for Tea...

2011-11-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

Hey there.... its Saturday and time for a new challenge over at Less is More! This week the challenge is to use a silhouette image on our clean and simple project. I'm not big on silhouettes, but I do own a few from Hero Arts and used one called Teatime Silhouette for today's card. Because the stamp has a frame around the image and I wanted to die cut it with a Spellbinders plain circle die I was careful to ink only the interior image and then wipe off any ink that might have gotten onto the frame portion. Lucky me, it only took one try to get the image stamped!! I used Tuxedo Black ink and where the image was kinda splodgy I filled it in with Tuxedo Black marker.

I die cut some purple cardstock using a Spellbinders scalloped circle time and some black cardstock using a Spellbinders Fancy Tags 3 die. Everything was layered up using foam dimensionals. The sentiment is from the Taylored Expressions set Creativi-Tea and was stamped using Memento Grape Jelly ink.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; Gina K. black, SU! Purple; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Grape Jelly; Stamps: Hero Arts & Taylored Expressions; Dies: Spellbinders

Best Wishes....

2011-11-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Happy Friday to everyone. Got a card for a couple of challenges: Cardabilities and Flutterby Wednesday. I have heard about Flutterby Wednesday challenges before, but had never checked out their challenge until just the other day and since this week is "anything goes" I decided to give them a try. The layout of the card is courtesy of Cardabilities.... another fantastic sketch!!! A shout out to Cardabilities is in order... they picked the card I entered in the last sketch challenge as one of their top 5!!! Thanks so much ladies!!!

I did make one small change to the sketch... I only used three butterflies instead of four. This mainly came about because the middle butterfly is quite large. The papers and the butterflies are from the Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden collection. I stamped a large flourish image from Hero Arts in Spun Suger distress ink on the patterned paper and then the sentiment (also Hero Arts) in VersaFine Vintage Sepia. The crocheted lace is from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft; PP: Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden; Embellishments: Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden Clear Pops; Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia & Ranger Spun Sugar distress ink; Lace: My Mind's Eye; Punch: SU! Scallope Punch; Stamps: Hero Arts

Merry Everything!

2011-11-17T12:52:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Winter weather has arrived here in the Pacific Northwest.... cold, cold rain (and maybe even snow... yikes!) plus high winds. Definitely a good reason to stay inside and make cards!! (Not that I need a good reason to make a card, hee hee!)

Anywhoo... have a card today for the current CR84FN color challenge to use pink, black and a neutral. The layout is courtesy of Mojo Monday. It took me awhile last night to hit on the right combo of cardstock and papers. I started out with some patterned paper from Pink Paislee, but it didn't have enough pink and looked completely wrong with everything else. So I got out my trusty 6x6 pad of Blush papers from My Mind's Eye and found just the right pink gingham paper. The next problem was trying to work the black into my card. At first I tried to use a solid piece of black cardstock in the sketch, but it looked way too harsh and out of place. After trying a few other ideas I decided to stamp some cream cardstock with the Penny Black Delicate Pattern background stamp, add some Old Paper Distress Ink and finally acheived the right look. The poinsettia image is the Penny Black stamp Christmas Star... my absolute favorite Penny Black stamp. The image was stamped using Victorian Velvet distress ink and then colored with Spun Sugar distress ink. The sentiment (also from Penny Black) was stamped on cream cardstock, die cut using a Spellbinders grommet tag die and then Old Paper distress ink applied.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI cream; PP: My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 Blush; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stamps: Penny Black: Christmas Star, Let It Snow & Delicate Pattern background stamp; Spellbinders Grommet Tag die; My Mind's Eye - Blush brads; Ribbon: May Arts pink pleated ribbon; Pearls: Zva Creative

Thank you...

2011-11-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Hope your week is going well... can't believe the week is already half over! Yikes... time sure flies!! Have a card for a couple of challenges. One is a "new to me" sketch challenge called Tuesday Morning Sketches. The other challenge is one of my favorites: Flourishes Timeless Tuesday. Sadly I haven't done a Timeless Tuesday challenge in a few weeks. I tried to make a card for last week's challenge to use the "double embossing" technique, but things didn't turn out so well for me and I gave up. So, I was determined to make something for this week's challenge.

The time is from the Flourishes set Sweet Violets and the sentiment from the Hero Arts set Find Joy. I had to tweek the sketch just a bit to make it work, but the basic layout is still there. The Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge comes with a "twist" this week in that they want you to make a card that "gives thanks". With Thanksgiving just around the corner I could pulled out another fall/thanksgiving type image, but I wanted to take a break from that and for that reason I chose to use the Sweet Violets set. I colored the image with the following Copic markers: V000, V04, V06, V09, Y21, YG93, YG95 & YG97. All papers and cardstock are PTI. The image was diecut with a Spellbinders large plain rectangle die. The challenge at Timeless Tuesday is to add a flag and so I created the little pennant type flag for the sentiment.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & plum pudding; PP: PTI Bitty Star Basics Plum Pudding & Ripe Avocado; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stamps: Flourishes Sweet Violets & Hero Arts Find Joy; Copic Markers; EK Success punch; PTI buttons

Many Thanks...

2011-11-12T07:51:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! It's Saturday and time for another Less is More challenge. This week our LIM enteries need to be one layer and have leaves on them. Here in the US Thanksgiving Day is right around the corner and so I made a "thank you" card which fits right in there with the current Lawnscaping challenge. Sadly, I don't have any Lawn Fawn stamps, but in order to play along with the Lawnscaping challenge you don't necessarily need to have Lawn Fawn stamps.

For my card I used the Waltzingmouse Frame It set. I stamped the square frame in brown ink on kraft cardstock (and got it right in the center of the card on the first try.... I LOVE IT when that happens!!). There is a leaf image in the set and I stamped that three times on kraft cardstock using orange and dark red inks (I used the rock n roll method). The leaves were trimmed out, two adhered using glue dots and the middle one using a foam dimensional. A bit of twine was tied in a bow and adhered. Simple, simple, simple....

Oh and thanks to Chrissie and Mandi for picking my Wishing You card to be "ShowCASed"!!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft; Stamps: WMS Frame It; Inks: SU! Close to Cocoa, Cherry Cobbler & Pumpkin Pie

Sharing Some Christmas Cheer....

2011-11-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! Have a couple of projects to share and both are for Flourishes release week challenges. Up first is a tag I made for their "Tag Your It" challenge. To be honest, I cannot remember the last time I made a tag. Now, my sweet friend, Sue, she is the Queen of Tags. She has been taking part in this tag challenge over at the Funkie Junkie and let me tell you she has been making some absolutely amazing tags! My tag is quite modest in comparison to her masterpieces, but I'm very happy with it all the same. To make my tag I fired up my very neglected Cricut and cut two sizes of tags from the Tags, Bags, Boxes & More cartridge. One tag was cut from SU! Cherry Cobbler cardstock and the other from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas. A bit of the bottom was trimmed off the Cherry Cobbler and the two were layered together. Using my Spellbinders Layered Poinsetta dies I created a small poinsettia. The pieces were adhered using foam dimensionals to give the flower more dimension. I stamped one of the wreath images from the Flourishes set Wreaths of All Seasons on the tag and then layered some lace ribbon, a pearl flourish and the flower on top. A small tag was die cut, stamped with the sentiment "For You", some twine was added and the piece adhered to the tag.

My card is for the second Flourishes release week challenge "Christmas Sweets", to use red, white and light green. Back at the end of September there was a big contest on the SRM Stickers blog. The grand prize was $400.00 of merchandise from Marvy/Uchida. Well... I was the winner of that grand prize!! And what did I pick?? Why the entire line of Marvy's new permament markers (Marvy's version of the Copic marker). Yesterday my prize arrived on my doorstep! A box full of 144 markers!! So... I used a few to color up another one of the wreaths from "Wreaths of All Seasons". (I can tell you from my limited use of the markers they work in much the same way as Copics. I'm excited to do more coloring with them.) The layout for the card comes from this week's sketch over at Splitcoaststampers. I kept everything very clean and simple.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Cherry Cobbler & Garden Green; PP: My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas & Stampin Up! Frostwood Lodge; Spellbinders dies, Cricut; May Arts Lace Ribbon; Pearl Flourish; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Marvy Le Plume Permanent Markers

Give Thanks....

2011-11-09T08:36:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! It is that time of year... Thanksgiving time. The time we give thanks (hopefully) for all the things we have been blessed with. And that is the theme for this week's Shabby Tea Room challenge to use the colors of yellow, blue, brown and neutrals with a theme of "thank you" or "giving thanks". So... last night I made this little number. A very non-traditional "thanksgiving" card, for sure, but I really love it! I took a few pictures of it last night, but since it was dark by the time I got done, the pictures didn't turn out so great. Took a few more this morning that came out better. I'm also putting this into this week's ODBD Shining the Light challenge which is a sketch challenge.

For my card I used the super yummy My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 Sunshine collection (papers, brads & pearl flourish). The floral image is from the ODBD set "Don't Worry". I stamped the image on white cardstock using Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with the following Copics: BG000, BG01, YG93 & Y11. The image was then trimmed out. The papers and cardstock were diecuting using my Spellbinders plain and scalloped square and rectangle dies. I leaned heavier on the yellow and blue for my card, but did bring in a bit of light brown with the addition of the rose from Prima. The sentiment is from the Taylored Expressions set "Celebrate Life"

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white & Spring Rain; PP: Lost & Found 2 Sunshine; Ink: Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers; Stamps: ODBD & Taylored Expressions; Brads & Pearl Flourish: Lost & Found 2 Sunshine; Ribbon: PTI Spring Rain

Holiday Sparkle....

2011-11-07T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hey there! Wow... its Monday, again! Spent the entire afternoon on Sunday (yep... the entire afternoon) making a card for several challenges. I didn't think it would take me all afternoon as I was working with a sketch (which generally speeds things up for me) and a "card recipe", but when you mix in the fact that I was also fixing dinner at the same time a 30 minute project can turn into a 3+ hours project.

Anywhoo... the card is for the current Paper Players challenge (a recipe: 3 patterned papers, 2 ribbons, one punch & some glitter). I also made this for the Flourishes "Snowy Delight" challenge. The layout is courtesy of this month's Something For You to Try sketch. The patterned papers are Frostwood Lodge from Stampin Up! The stamps are from the Flourishes sets Holiday Sparkle and Country Charm Labels. To be honest I know that one of the things that slowed me down in the completion of the card was the label I created using some ribbon, buttons and twine. From start to finish it probably took me a good half hour just to make the label as you see it on the card. You might be wondering where the punched item is on the card and that would be the little flower in the center of the snowflake ornament. I stamped the flower image from the SU! set Punch Potpourrie and then punched out the flower using my Boho Blossoms punch. Glitter was added to the trimmed out pine bough and ornament. Despite the amount of time it took to make the card I am totally and completely pleased with the outcome!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Cherry Cobbler & Garden Green; SU! Frostwood Lodge dp; Stamps: Flourishes & Stampin Up!; Ribbon: Stampin Up! Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding & white lace ribbon; Green Bakers Twine: The Twinery; Buttons: PTI; Glitter: Barbara Trombley's Art Glitter; Spellbinder Grommet Tag die

An Orange Flower....

2011-11-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! Here with a card for this week's Less is More challenge, as well as this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge. This week at LIM the challenge is a color one and in honor of Guy Fawkes Day Chrissie (who is holding down the LIM fort by herself this as Mandi is away) has asked us to use the colors of red and orange on our cards (two of the colors in fireworks). The challenge at CAS-ual Fridays is to go "Over the Edge".

My card base is 5.5" by 4" and the stamped piece is 2" x 4.25". By trimming that quarter inch off the width of the card base, but leaving the stamped piece 4.25" you still end up with a card that will still fit inside a standard A2 envelope even though part of the piece is "over the edge". The stamps are from Penny Black. I did have to use one other color since my flower has a stem, but hopefully that is okay with Chrissie! The image was colored with Copic markers, trimmed out and adhered using foam dimensionals. A few orange pearls were added to bring in more orange.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; SU! Cherry Cobbler; Stamps: Penny Black; Ink: SU! Cherry Cobbler; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers (YR02, YR04, YR07 & YG21); Hero Arts orange pearls

a sweet thing....

2011-11-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! Here with a card for the Shabby Tea Room. I used the current Mojo Monday sketch so I will be linking the card up with that, as well. Once, again, we were provided with a beautiful inspirational photo at the Tea Room and I chose to go with the fall colors to be found in that photo.

The Mojo sketch was the perfect opportunity to use my Cheery Lynn Designs French Pastry Doily die (say that three times fast!). The great thing about making your own doily is that you can use whatever type of paper/cardstock you want. Today I decided to use some plaid paper from PaperTrey Ink to make my doily and I love how it turned out! The little flower was created by stamping a small Heartfelt Creations Aztec Gold Sunflower image twice on Rustic Cream cardstock using Gathered Twigs distress ink and then applying Scattered Straw and Wild Honey distress inks. The little flowers were then trimmed out, cuts made between each petal, the petals shaped and then the flowers layered together. Diamond Glaze was applied to the center of the flower and then I applied this neat product called Elements to the center. Elements is kinda like glitter, but bit more chunky. The red leaves were die cut using a Sizzix die. The sentiment is from the Flourishes Gerbera Daisies set and was stamped Rustic Cream cardstock and then diecut using a Spellbinders Label 10 die.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream; SU! Pumpkin Pie & More Mustard; PTI PP; Dies: Spellbinders, Sizzix & Cheery Lynn; Inks: Gathered Twigs, Scattered Straw & Wild Honey DI; Stamps: Heartfelt Creations & Flourishes; Embellishments: Elements

Christmas Confection...

2011-11-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! Another card I'm getting done at the last minute... that seems to be my MO these days!! This card is for the current Waltzingmouse sketch challenge (which closes like really soon!!) and the current Just Add Ink challenge to add a tag or bookmark. My tag is tiny, but it's still a tag!

Anywhoo... the reason for my title is that when I finished the card I thought "wow... this looks like a sparkly yummy Christmas cookie! I guess that has to do with the fact that I went with a very pastel color combo: pink, light green, light blue and cream. For this card I used my recently re-discovered Cheerly Lynn Designs French Pastry Doily die. (You do ever do this: buy something put it away and then forget you have it until you are rooting through your stash and find it?? That happens to me way too much!!) The trees were stamped using SU!'s Pear Pizzazz (probably my favorite light green ink) and then trimmed out. I used my Quickie Glue pen to add glue to the trees and then applied pale, pale blue glitter to the trees. Each was then topped with a light blue gem. All three were adhered to the doily that was diecut from pale pink cardstock at various heights. The whole piece was then finished off with some absolutely yummy May Arts crinkle ribbon in pale blue (I LOVE that ribbon!!!) and a tiny tag pinned to the bow using a tiny pink pin.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Vintage Cream; SU! Pear Pizzazz & Pink Pirouette; Ink: Pear Pizzazz; Glitter: Art Glitter in Forget Me Not; Sizzix tag die; Blue Gems; May Arts Blue Crinkle Ribbon; Cheery Lynn Designs Doily die

Best Friends Forever...

2011-11-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! Here with a card for two challenges: JustRite Friday Challenge (use your scraps) and a new to me sketch challenge called Cardabilities. When I saw the sketch for Cardabilities I wasn't sure I would give it a try. But then I remembered the JustRite challenge, that ends in a few short hours (yikes) and thought I would give it a try.

I kept everything really clean and simple for this card. I used up scraps from two different My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 paper lines: Sunshine & Rosy. Boy... I sure do love the Lost & Found 2 collections. I have used up alot of the pads that I have so I'm going to need to get more! The JustRite stamps used are from the My Garden and Vintage Oval Labels sets. I stamped the image in Tuxedo Black and then colored it with Copic markers. The image was then die cut with a Spellbinder small plain die and the paper with a scalloped circle die. The little flower was made using more scraps and the Spellbinders Rose Creations dies. The sentiment was stamped in yellow ink and punched out using a Stampin Up! punch.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; Papers My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2; Ink: Memento & Stampin Up!; Dies: Spellbinders; Copic markers

Gettin' Thankful....

2011-11-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

Hey there!!! Wow... October is gone and November is here!! Time is flying by... in just over a month I'm going to be one year older, too!!! (Yikes... not tellin' how many years it is, though. teee heee!)

Anyway... I have two cards that I'm sharing today. Both cards use the same layout from CAS-ual Fridays, but each uses a slightly different color combo. The first card will also be entered into the following challenges: The Paper Players - Anything Goes Fall and Stampin Sisters in Christ - use fall colors (crimson, orange & gold). The stamps are from Heartfelt Creations (Open Falling Leaves) and PTI (Autumn Elegance). I stamped the leaf using the new Distress Ink Bundled Twigs and then applied Wild Honey and Fired Brick distress inks. The leaf was trimmed out and some Art Glitter in Inca Gold was added. The ribbon is Stampin Up! Cherry Cobbler seam binding. The sentiment was stamped using Golden Gitz and Cherry Cobbler inks. Some small brads from BasicGrey were added at the bottom.

The second card is for this week's color challenge at Splitcoaststampers (Alway Artichoke, More Mustard & Bravo Burgundy) was made in the same matter I just used Scattered Straw and Aged Mahogany distress inks on the leaf. The sentiment was stamped in a different spot using Stampin Up! Bravo Burgundy and then a row of gems that I colored using a Copic marker (Y17) was added. The ribbon is Stampin Up! Always Artichoke seam binding.

Supplies: Cardstock: Stampin Up! Cherry Cobbler; PTI: Kraft; Vintage Cream & White; Stamps: Heartfelt Creations & PaperTrey Ink; Inks: Distress Inks; SU! Bravo Burgundy & Cherry Cobbler; Ribbon: SU! Seam Binding; Gems; Brads

Just a Couple of Cards....

2011-10-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! A couple of cards today for several challenges. It's a dreary Washington afternoon (ie it is drizzling!!), but I'm thankful that we aren't having early snow like they are in the eastern part of the US!

My first card is for two challenges: CR84FN color challenge (yellow, grey & steel blue) and the Crafts Meow sketch challenge. I recently acquired a few Crafts Meow sets so this is my first time participating in their sketch challenge. For my card I used the CM set called Butterfly Kisses. I'm not, as a rule, a fan of silhouette images, but every time I saw someone make a card using the sweet little fairy girl from the set my desire to get the set grew. Finally a week or so a go I took the plunge and bought it. I stamped the fairy in grey ink on some My Mind's Eye Sunshine paper and then added the pearl to the center of the flower and some Diamond Stickles to her wing. I added the scalloped edges, the ribbon and flower and I was done.

The second card is for the current Moxie Fab challenge: Textured to Perfection. I recently was introduced to Linda, the Funkie Junkie, through my sweet friend, Sue's blog. I checked out Linda's blog and saw that she had an Etsy store and that she carried burlap and in several colors, too! I have wanted to get some burlap for the longest time, so I bought some from her recently. I used a piece on my card. The butterfly is from a Pink Paislee ephemera pack and the sentiment is from My Favorite Things. Not a ton of texture, but you know... less is more!

Wishing You....

2011-10-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hey There!! Happy Saturday everyone! Time for another Less is More post. This time I'm combining this week's Less is More challenge (to use stars) with the current One Layer Wednesday challenge (to use just red and white). My card today makes me happy, happy, happy! I just love the simplicity of using this gorgeous Penny Black sentiment stamp along with a single little star from the PTI set "Merry Little Christmas". I did add a bit of bling to the center of the star, too. And all that white space???? Sigh...... happy!!

Well... that's about it! Hope everyone has a fabby weekend!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; Stamps: Penny Black & PTI; Ink: SU! Riding Hood Red; Gem: KaiserCraft.

Lil' Pumpkin....

2011-10-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! Wow... it's Friday evening! Can't believe I haven't posted anything all week but my Timeless Tuesday card! I have actually made somethings this week, but they have all been for challenges at Splitcoaststampers and so I haven't posted them on my blog.

My card today is for the current Shabby Tea Room challenge. The challenge this week was to make a card using the beautiful inspiration photo that incorporates the colors of black, purple and orange and twine or raffia. For my card I used a My Favorite Things Pure Innocence set called "Lil' Pumpkin. I'm just in love with the Pure Innocence line of stamps. They are just soo stinkin' cute. The layout for my card comes from this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch challenge. I did a bit a paper piecing, as well as coloring the image with Copic markers and then trimmed it out. The pumpkin portion of the image was stamped a second time, colored and then a portion trimmed out. This piece was adhered to the image using a pop dot for a bit of dimension. I added a bit of bling as well to give it some of the sparkle that you see in the inspiration photo. The sentiment is a SRM sticker. I managed to get the required twine in by adding some pieces of knotted twine to the top of the pumpkin.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Royal Velvet, Plum Pudding & Vintage Cream; Gina K. Black; PP: BasicGrey Eerie; Gems: KaiserCraft; Stamps: My Favorite Things; Ink: Tuxedo Black; Sticker: SRM

Happy Thanksgiving....

2011-10-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! Wow... October sure has flown by!! Here today with my last post as the October guest designer for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday. I had so much fun being a guest designer for Flourishes and want to say a big thank you to Flourishes for asking me to be part of the Timeless Tuesday team for the month! And I also want to say thank you to everyone who left me such sweet comments on my Flourishes cards... you really helped to make this month special!!

The challenge this week is being hosted by the super, super talented Maki Jones and she has challenged us to used leaves or a tree (no FLOWERS) on our project. For my card I went with one of the very first Flourishes set I ever bought... Autumn Flourish. I stamped the solid leaf from the set on Rustic Cream cardstock using several different inks and the rock & roll method of inking. The leaves were trimmed out and spritzed with some Smooch (Log Cabin). The card base was stamped with one of the scrolled leaf images using VersaMark Dazzle in Champagne. The layout for the card comes from this month's Something for You to Try sketch. This is my first time using a sketch from SFYTT, but hopefully it won't be my last!

You can find all the details on this weeks challenge by clicking here. Now... go check out the fantastic creations from the design team: Maki, Tammy, Silke, Beate, Mona, Heather & Cindy

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft & Rustic Cream; SU! designer paper; ribbon & twine: May Arts; Ink: Stampin Up! & VersaMark Dazzle; Stamps: Flourishes Autumn Flourish

A Simple Flower....

2011-10-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

Hey There! Here with a quick post for a card I made for two challenges: ColourQ and CAS-ual Fridays. I'm really squeakin' this one in for ColourQ as their collection link closes in mere hours!!

Yesterday I got a new stamp set from Stampin Up! called "Every Moment". When I saw the set I fell in love with the simple, but elegant line drawn images. For my card I used the single flower, butterfly and sentiment from the set. The challenge this week at CAS-ual Fridays is to color your project so I got out my Copics and figured out marker equivalents for the ColourQ colors of lime green, pumpkin orange and raspberry. The other two colors are dark, dark brown and white. I love the complete simplicity of the card and all that yummy white space!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI white; Stamps: Stampin Up!; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Early Espresso; Copic markers

it's Christmas....

2011-10-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday everyone!! Time for my regularly scheduled Less is More post and this week I am way ahead of the game! I usually don't have my card done until noon my time, but today I had it done by 8:30 AM!! And to top it all off... I got another card done, as well. That leaves me a TON of time this afternoon to work on some other papercrafting things I need to get done... YAY!!

Okay... on to my LIM card. This week Chrissis and Mandi have given us LIMettes something easy to work with polka dots!! Not hard for me to find something polka-dotty and I almost went with my PTI Polka Dot Basics II set until I spied my Penny Black "Starlit" stamp sitting out on the counter. I had gotten it out a few days ago with the idea I would use it to make a tag for the current Penny Black challenge, but that never happened (although it may still get made into a tag.). The "Starlit" stamp is perfect for the challenge since the tree is made up entirely of little polka dots. I stamped it in PTI Pure Poppy on Rustic Cream, matted it with Pure Poppy cardstock and then added some clear rhinestones (SU!). The ribbon is also PTI's Pure Poppy. The sentiment is from the WMS set Frame It. Super clean and super simple.

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream & Pure Poppy; Stamps: PB Starlit & WMS Frame It; Ribbon; PTI; Ink: PTI; Gems: SU!

Heartfelt Wishes...

2011-10-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

(For my Flourishes Timeless Tuesday post click here.)

Hey there.... Happy Friday! Here with a card for this week's Shabby Tea Room challenge. The challenge this week is being hosted by my uber talented in real life friend, Cindy and she provided us with a beautiful inspiration photo. Her other requirement for our card was to use dry embossing somewhere on your project. The layout for my card comes from this week's Sketchbook Saturday sketch courtesy of Chupa. If you haven't checked out her sketches, you really should because they are fabby!

For my card I used the Hero Arts background stamp Fabulous Flourishes and inked it up with the following SU! inks: Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron & More Mustard. After stamping the cardstock and ink distressing the piece with Rangers Old Paper & Tea Dye inks, I ran it through my Big Shot in the SU! embossing folder Framed Tulips. The edges were distressed a bit further with a distressing tool. The sentiment, also from Hero Arts, was stamped using VersaFine Vintage Sepia inks. I applied some Old Paper DI to the Prima roses to tone down the colors. The leaves were die cut using a Sizzix die. I finished off the card with some ivory seam binding that I colored by applying Tea Dye DI with my foam application tool.

Thank you to everyone who left me such sweet comments on my last post! Thankfully I'm over my migraine and getting back to normal (whatever that is!!!)!

Supplies: Cardstock: PTI kraft & rustic cream; Stamps: Hero Arts; Ink: Stampin Up! & Ranger; EF: Stampin Up!; Seam Binding: Stampin Up!; Flowers: Prima

Bringin' Out the Red and Green...

2011-10-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

(For my Flourishes Timeless Tuesday post click here.)

Hey there! Have a couple of Christmas cards today. One card is for two challenges and the other is for a third challenge. Normally I would do separate posts for these cards, but I have a migraine today and I just don't feel like doing two posts.

The first card is for the current One Layer Wednesday challenge to use stripes on your card and for the Paper Players to make a CAS Christmas card using red and green. Lately I have been seeing cards made using strips of double-sided tape and glitter. I had never given it a try and thought I would use the technique for my OLW/Paper Players card. My stripes aren't exactly straight, but pretty darn close for just eye-balling it! The holly leaves and sentiment are from the PTI set Holiday Button Bits.

My second card is for the current Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light challenge to make a holiday card (Christmas or Thanksgiving) and use only ODBD stamps. This card is also red and green so it would work for the Paper Players challenge, too, but I'm only entering it in the ODBD challenge. Since I'm still not firing on all cylindars, creatively, this card is pretty darn simple. I used the ODBD Poinsettia Background stamp and a sentiment from the ODBD set Blessed Christmas.

Supplies: Stamps: PTI Holiday Button Bits & ODBD Poinsettia Background & Blessed Christmas; Cardstock: PTI Vintage Cream, SU! Handsome Hunter; Ink: SU! Handsome Hunter Craft, Cherry Cobbler; Ribbon: SU! Cherry Cobbler seam binding; Scor-Tape; Dark Green Art Glitter; PTI dark red buttons