Gaga Over Sequins

...and that's the theme for the Free 4 All Challenge on SCS today.  I'm a big fan of sequins and here lately, you'll generally always see a few sprinkled on my creations.  

My favorites are from Avery Elle where the color families have varying sizes and shades of color in each package.  I'm also playing along with Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge - isn't that a fabulous layout?!  I thought it would be perfect to sneak peek some new ODBD goodies that will be released tomorrow!  The bumblebee and zinnias are from the Zinnia stamp set which has matching dies available as well.  The largest zinnia on this card is actually the smallest of two zinnia images.  I wanted varying sizes for this sketch, so stamped the flower 3 times and fussy cut two smaller sizes.  I used Stampendous Detail White EP on Real Red cardstock.  The sentiment was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black on vellum and clear embossed.  Notice the border?  I took one of ODBD Beautiful Border dies from their February release and trimmed off the narrow scalloped portion.  It's a way to get more bang for your buck - lol!  I love trying to think outside of the box with my supplies! 

Thanks so much for stopping by...TGIF and I have the day off!  I'm working on LOTS of laundry today then need to run some errands.

Color Throwdown

 Happy hump day everyone! Monika has a really yummy combo for the Color Throwdown Challenge this week! Don't you just love that sunset photo? I thought I'd pull out my Delightful Dahlia set and create some 3 step stamped flowers.

I started with adding some texture to the card base using Liquitex modeling paste and MFT's fishnet stencil.  Then the boo boos began!  It was originally an A2 card until I smeared some orange Stickles on the lower left corner.  It then morphed into a tall and skinny card - 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". :-)  I then went to stamp the sentiment and...yep...you guessed it!  I didn't have it perfectly straight, so had to go to plan B and add the sentiment flag!  Moral of the story...be patient - lol!  I was still happy with the outcome since it's going to the mother of a coworker who is celebrating a 94th birthday this week.  

For more inspiration, you'll want to check out the rest of the design team's creations below:            

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

                                              Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor 
                                                   Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
                                                          Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Melody Rupple - A Paper Melody

Monika Davis - M.A.D. Stamper

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Vickie Zimmer -  Smitten   
Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations (you are here)
Nicole Nastali (February Guest Designer) - Nicole's Craft Nook

Can't wait to see you in the gallery!  Remember, you could be our next guest star stamper for the following week's challenge if you play along! 

1. STAMPS: Delightful Dahlia (PTI), Delightful Dahlia Additions (PTI)
2. PAPER: Lemon Tart (PTI), True Black (PTI), White (PTI)
3. INK: Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Versafine Onyx Black
4. ACCESSORIES: Leafy flourish Die-Namics by MFT, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics by MFT, Liquitex light modeling paste, Avery Elle Citrus Blend sequins, MFT Fishnet stencil.  

Solitary Rose

I'm posting my CAS card that I created yesterday for SCS CAS challenge to use a colored background rather than a neutral card base. I went really bold with this retired Pink Passion CS from SU.  I had some gelli plate printing fun on Sunday afternoon, so the strips you see are one of the sheets created by mixing pink and gold acrylic paints with Hero Arts tweed pattern stencil and TCW Mini Basketweave stencil.  I die cut the rose and leaves using MFT's Rose with Overlay and Layered Leaves Die-Namics.  This was a very quick and easy card to throw together!  I'll add a sentiment later to fit the occasion.  Thanks for stopping by...

Mojo Monday

Hello everyone! Can you believe it's Mojo Monday Challenge time already?  Have to say I'm always glad to see February end as it's my least fave month of the year!  Since it's the last Monday of the month - a tall and skinny card is on the menu.  My finished card is 3 1/2" x 5 1/2".  Just love this size because I have the option of letting some elements "hang" over the edge of the card and it will still fit in an A2 envelope.  

For more inspiration, check out the first 7 thumbnails on the Mojo Monday blog, OR...you can visit each mojomaker's blog listed below:

Debbie Carriere

 Julee Tilman (Owner)

 Marisa Ritzen 

  Mary Fish

  Sarah Bigelow

  Teresa Kline

STAMPS: Rain or Shine (Verve)

PAPER: The Sweetest Thing "Tangerine" pad by MME, White (PTI)

INK: Versamark Onyx Black

ACCESSORIES: Clear embossing powder, Stitched cloud, sun, circle dies by Lil Inker Designs, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics by MFT, Pastel sequins by Verve.

Retrosketches Tag

This month has totally flown by so quickly and I can't believe I'm on my last post as a guest designer for the Retrosketches Challenge blog! Today, I'm bringing you a remake of one of my former projects - a tag.  I have a wee hint of grunge in my remake with the grungy Honeycomb Mini background stamp - a sneak peek of a new, fun stamp that will be released in ODBD March release coming out on the 1st!  The bees are another peek from the new release - from the Zinnia set. I mixed the new with some older images - all from ODBD: Stitch Background and Simple Things (clover and sentiment).  The stitching pattern always reminds me of a bee's path, so thought it would be perfect to pair with this tag theme.  I added Wink of Stella clear shimmer brush marker to the bees' wings and to the larger, lighter green leaves.  I had trouble capturing the subtle shimmer in my photograph. :-( 

Thanks to Arielle and her team for having me as a guest!  Have no fear...I'll be a frequent flyer in the Retrosketches gallery as long as my fingers are able to get inky - lol! 

ODBD February Release Reminder

 

Hopefully, you've already been to the ODBD store and ordered some new stamps and dies from their February release. I've had a great time playing with their new February release goodies and have another sample to enable you! :-)  I went with some subway art to show all the sweet little sentiments in the Be Mine set.  I first stamped the filigree heart image from the Bless Your Heart set using Unicorn white pigment ink on a die cut kraft heart (ODBD Custom Ornate Hearts die) then added the tiny sentiments.

For more inspiration using the February release, be sure to visit the ODBD blog where you'll find the designers' blogs on this page.
You can also click on the names below...

Stacy * Sandee * Julie * Grace * Chris * Cathy * Lori * Dawn * Sabrina * Wanda

Color Throwdown

It's Color Throwdown Challenge time again and this week Melody is our hostess! I loved working with these colors and thought I was going to go with a masculine theme, but somehow, my brain took a turn toward some rolled roses instead! :-)

I started by using a hexagon stencil and sponged with Soft Sky then stippled Night of Navy ink using a stipple tool.  I removed the stencil then stamped French Script in Old Olive.  I was all over the place with products from a variety of companies... 

STAMPS: Tag Its #12 (PTI), French Script (SU)
PAPER: Night of Navy, Vintage Cream
INK: Night of Navy, Old Olive, Soft Sky
ACCESSORIES:  Hexagon die by SB, TCW Mini Hexagons stencil, Rolled Roses Die-Namics by MFT, Medium Leafy Flourish Die-Namics by MFT, Tiny Tags die by PTI, Avery Elle Lucky Blend sequins, Pearls (colored with Copic marker B37).

For more inspiration, you'll want to check out the rest of the design team's creations below:            

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

                                              Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor 
                                                   Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
                                                          Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Melody Rupple - A Paper Melody

Monika Davis - M.A.D. Stamper

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Vickie Zimmer -  Smitten   
Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations (you are here)
Nicole Nastali (February Guest Designer) - Nicole's Craft Nook

Can't wait to see you in the gallery!  Remember, you could be our guest star stamper for the following week's challenge if you play along!

Birthday Star

Didn't have much time for creating this morning, so this is a really quick and simple card for Reverse Confetti's February Color Challenge and it uses Jen's sketch for the Deconstructed Sketch Challenge #138.  Obviously I flipped the orientation of the layout to a horizontal version so I could use this birthday sentiment.

Pretty straight forward...I used Lil Inker Designs' stitched stars and rectangle dies.  The sentiment is from Reverse Confetti's "Lots to Say" set - stamped in Basic Gray and clear embossed.  Designer paper is from We R Memory Keeper's Yankee Doodles 6x6 pad.  Thanks for stopping by...off to the shower then heading to work.

Mojo Monday

 

Good Monday to all! I'm looking forward to a sunny week after the huge snowfall we got here in VA last week! Julee has a fun sketch for the Mojo Monday Challenge and I just had to cheer on the sunshine by using a "Sunny Days" sentiment! I incorporated some sunny gold elements in the leaves, gold cording and gold sequins.  Love the rich teal seam binding by Verve!  

Here's what else I used...
STAMPS: Sunny Days by Verve
PAPER: Stella and Rose "Hattie" pad by MME, Vintage Cream
INK: Crushed Curry
ACCESSORIES: Floral Circles die by Verve, Seam binding by Verve, Brad, Gold sticker leaves by MS, Sequins by Avery Elle, Stitched circle dies by Lil Inker Designs, Crimped rectangle frame, Square lattice EF by SU, Gold cording (SU), Corner chomper.

For more inspiration, check out the first 7 thumbnails on the Mojo Monday blog, OR...you can visit each mojomaker's blog listed below:

Debbie Carriere

 Julee Tilman (Owner)

 Marisa Ritzen 

  Mary Fish

  Sarah Bigelow

  Teresa Kline

Retrosketches Challenge

I know Valentine's Day is over and done, but I'm still in love with hearts on cards, so had to go with at least one more this month! I tweaked the latest Retrosketches Challenge layout by tilting the square panel a wee bit.  I also let the patterned paper do the work and simply added a clear embossed sentiment - stamped with Versafine Onyx Black pigment ink - on the postcard design.  I thought this Verve flower imitated the doily design and layered it over the heart and leafy flourish.  

STAMPS: Bloom and Grow (flower), Love Notes (sentiment), Wings of Love (heart) - all by Verve.
PAPER: Lost and Found 3 "Ruby" pad by MME, Vintage Cream, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive.
INK: Blushing Bride, Going Gray, Versafine Onyx Black.
ACCESSORIES: Leafy Flourish Die-Namics by MFT, Wavy Hearts and Floral Circles dies by Verve, Rhinestones by SU, Brad.

Have a great weekend!  Looks like the 20" snow we got Wednesday and Thursday wasn't enough!  Another front is to bring 1-2" more today! :-(  Trying to be patient for the arrival of next week where temperatures will rise and be near 60 by the end of the week!  Now, that's more like it!

Color Throwdown

Are you ready for another Color Throwdown Challenge with more Valentine colors for that last minute card you might need?  Check out hostess Lori's great color combo...

 Here's my Valentine collage creation...

For more inspiration, you'll want to check out the rest of the design team's creations below:            

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

                                              Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor 
                                                   Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
                                                          Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Melody Rupple - A Paper Melody

Monika Davis - M.A.D. Stamper

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Vickie Zimmer -  Smitten   
Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations (you are here)
Nicole Nastali (February Guest Designer) - Nicole's Craft Nook

Can't wait to see you in the gallery!  Remember, you could be our guest star stamper for the following week's challenge if you play along! 

STAMPS: Love Notes (Verve).

PAPER: Love Me 6x6 pad by MME, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Real Red, Silver glitter CS by SU. 

ACCESSORIES: Jotted Heart die (Verve), From the Heart dies (Verve), Stitched Hearts dies & Diagonal Stitched die (Lil Inker Designs), Fishtail Flags Die-Namics (MFT), Button by Recollections, Mini library clip (SU), Paper doily, Ticket embellishment by Recollections, Martha Stewart heart border punch, Wink of Stella clear shimmer brush pen, White Opaque EP. 

 

Mojo Monday

 

Happy Monday everyone! Here's hoping you had a great weekend (I did because I was off work!) and now there's a brand new week and a brand new Mojo Monday Challenge! Tags and hearts....love, love, love Julee's sketch!  While rearranging my paper stash recently, I came across this K and Co paper by Kelly Panacci that I totally forgot I owned.  I used a tag die by Reverse Confetti and then it was layering time!  A crimped jotted heart, some elegant leaves, a ready made felt flower, a sentiment banner and a sprinkling of Verve's pastel sequins...and there you have it.  Another Valentine card completed!  I've been selling them at work in case anyone wonders why on earth I need this many Valentines - lol! 

 

The border stamp of tiny green hearts is from Verve's Thankful Hearts set; the leaves are from their Bloom and Grow set and the sentiment from Small Phrases.  

For more inspiration, check out the first 7 thumbnails on the Mojo Monday blog, OR...you can visit each mojomaker's blog listed below:

Debbie Carriere

 Julee Tilman (Owner)

 Marisa Ritzen 

  Mary Fish

  Sarah Bigelow

  Teresa Kline

Dies used: Jotted Heart (Verve), Elegant Leaves (Verve), Tag Me (Reverse Confetti), Staggered Heart Border Die-Namics by MFT.

Ribbons: Certainly Celery and Rose Red by SU. Jute twine by American Crafts.

CAS(E) this Sketch!

I'm playing along with the current CAS(E) this Sketch challenge by using ODBD new Ornate Hearts dies layered up as the focal point. My background is a square piece of cardstock covered with washi tape. The sentiments on the banner are from ODBD Be Mine stamp set - also from their February release.

PAPER: Real Red, True Black, White.
ACCESSORIES: Washi tape by Recollections. Banner die by Spellbinders.

Retrosketches Challenge 101

Woohoo! It's Saturday and it's my weekend off! I've got some housework to catch up on, but first I have to show you my card I created for Arielle's new Retrosketches Challenge.  Love that fun diagonal - so many possibilities for interpretation!  I knew I wanted to play with this new MFT heart border die, so I paired it up with some Reverse Confetti stamps and dies for this simple, non-gushy Valentine!  :-)

STAMPS: Crushin' (Reverse Confetti)
PAPER: Head Over Heels (Echo Park), Basic Gray, White
INK: Soft Sky, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Arrow and sentiment banner dies by Reverse Confetti, Heart border Die-Namics by MFT.

Hope you're staying warm in your neck of the woods!  Looks like more snow in our forecast!

Hot Cocoa Treat Box

I wanted to create a hot chocolate packet holder and found this box tutorial HERE (thanks to Pinterest!) using SU's envelope punch board that worked!  This project was inspired by the photo for the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge.  I'm showing you the open version of the box, however, the flap can be tucked under the belly band to close it up.  BTW, this salted caramel hot chocolate by Starbucks is like drinking a liquid candy bar - lol! Not sure why my Bermuda Bay circle looks turquoise here.  I'm thinking I should have used Baja Breeze instead. :-(  
Cheers!

STAMPS: Holiday Treats (mug & sentiment); Sunny Days (leafy sprigs) - both sets by Verve.
PAPER: School Days Alphabet Jungle DP by TPC Studio, Bermuda Bay, Vintage Cream, Kraft.
INK: Bermuda Bay, Baked Brown Sugar, Lucky Limeade.
ACCESSORIES: Envelope punch board, Burlap ribbon by SU, Leafy Sprigs dies by Verve, Flag It Die set by Verve, Stitched Circle die by Lil Inker Designs.

Sketch For You To Try

 

Woke up to another day with no sun in sight. :-( I guess that's why I gravitated toward some warm sunny color choices for my card! Jen has another great Sketch For You To Try challenge this month and I went with the Go Together stamp set by Reverse Confetti for a fun sentiment combo!  I thought it would be perfect with this older DP from Cosmo Cricket's "Garden Variety" 6x6 pack.  Since I wanted more of the veggies to show, I fattened up the horizontal border a bit.  I colored the letters with Copic color YR09 and added some staples, wood veneer hearts/arrow, and Avery Elle sequins as embellishments. 

The tag is a die by Reverse Confetti and the borders are a Martha Stewart punch.  Thanks for stopping by...

Color Throwdown

It's Wednesday and time for a new Color Throwdown Challenge...AND...we have a talented new guest designer for the month - welcome Nicole Nastali! Joan is our hostess and she has some really scrumptious colors for us based on these yummy cupcakes! They were perfect to break in some new MFT dies that arrived in happy mail the other day!

I sponged Pistachio Pudding ink on the leaf base which makes it appear a shade darker.  The rose has Pink Pirouette CAS layered over a Real Red base.  The rest is pretty simple and self explanatory.  My enabler's list is at the bottom of the post.

For more inspiration, you'll want to check out the rest of the design team's creations below: 

          

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

                                              Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor 
                                                   Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
                                                          Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Melody Rupple - A Paper Melody

Monika Davis - M.A.D. Stamper

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Vickie Zimmer -  Smitten   
Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations (you are here)
Nicole Nastali (February Guest Designer) - Nicole's Craft Nook

Can't wait to see you in the gallery!  Remember, you could be our guest star stamper for the following week's challenge if you play along! 

STAMPS: Tag-Its #12 by PTI

PAPER: Crumb Cake, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Pistachio Pudding, White

INK: Pistachio Pudding, Real Red

ACCESSORIES: Basket weave EF by Lifestyle Crafts, Rose with Overlay Die-Namics by MFT, Layered Leaves Die-Namics by MFT, Open Scallop border Die-Namics by MFT, Tiny Tags die by PTI, Gold cording, Corduroy button by SU.