CAS(E) This Sketch

TGIF and I'm off this weekend!  It's another rainy day, but we are really needing the rain, so I won't complain.  After I got home from work last night around 11 PM, I made this quick CAS card using the new CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge layout.  I die cut the leaves from scraps of watercolored leftovers.  

DIES: Grateful Leaf Dies (sentiment) and Layering Leaves Dies - both by Concord and 9th.

The sentiment die has a story.  I used it for the first time about 2 weeks ago and just loved the delicate font and knew I'd use it for many more fall cards.  It disappeared!  Into thin air!  I retraced my steps and searched through my desk...searched through my trash can - not once but THREE times!  I finally gave up and ordered another die set!  Well, you can probably guess the ending.  As I was making this card, the lost die was found stuck to the bottom of my metal shim plate that I use when cutting intricate dies!  Grrrr...I could have saved that $19!  Oh, well...I've got a backup if it ever disappears again. Happy day everyone!

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge

It's been awhile since I've played along with MFT's Wednesday Sketch Challenge and couldn't resist this milestone of 300 challenges!  The sketch is a classic one and one of my faves!  I wanted to use the lightest blue cardstock that I owned and Soft Sky - a retired color from SU - was my pick.  I used Liquitex light modeling paste with MFT's Wonky Chevron stencil.  Florals are from their fun Flashy Florals set and the sentiment from their Label Maker Sentiments set.  I added clear Wink of Stella shimmer marker to the flower centers.

I'm also entering this into Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge where anything goes this week!

INK: Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky, Pool Party by SU; Versafine Onyx Black.

Color Throwdown #412

It's Wednesday yet again and it's time for another Color Throwdown Challenge. We're nearing the end of the month, so have to say goodbye to our September guest designer  - Karren Johnson!  Thanks for joining us...it's been great!  Bar is our hostess with the mostest this week and has chosen a great inspiration photo with the following colors: Medium blue, Grassy green, Bright pink and Coral.  Here is my take on it...

I added in a neutral light gray (Smoky Slate paper and ink to sponge over the woodgrain BG).  This was my first time inking up these florals recently released by Reverse Confetti...such a fun and funky floral set!  The matching dies make it so easy to assemble them (as does Glad's Press 'n Seal)!

STAMPS: Blooms 'n Buds (Reverse Confetti), Bitty Banners (Reverse Confetti), Wood Pallet Background (Altenew).
PAPER: Smoky Slate, White.
INK: Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Crisp Canteloupe, Garden Green, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Versafine Onyx Black.
ACCESSORIES: Stamped Note Confetti Cuts die; Bitty Banners Confetti Cuts die; Blooms 'n Buds Confetti Cuts; Enamel dots.

For more details on how to play along, head on over to the Color Throwdown Blog and you'll find the information on the right sidebar!  You can also visit the rest of the design team's creations for more inspiration...see links below:

Amy Rohl 
Amy Rysavy
Barbara Anders  
Broni Holcombe   
Jodi Collins 
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Lynn Put  
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)   
Karren Johnson - September Guest Designer   

Mojo Monday #467

After using so many fall colors and fall designer papers lately, I was in the mood to switch things up and go a bit girly with my colors! Since it's the last Monday in September, that means the Mojo Monday Challenge is a sketch with a different size - square in this case.  I kept it clean and simple...no coloring...only a bit of sponging with Pretty in Pink and Coastal Cabana ink on the flower and leaf edges.  Papers are from Recollections' "Blush and Mint" 6x6 pad.  Stamps are from Verve's Surely Goodness set and I used their coordinating Goodness Flowers Die set.

If you'd like more inspiration for this sketch, click on the mojomakers' blog links below...or...you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and click on the first seven thumbnails.
Julee Tilman (Owner)
Justin Krieger
Lori Tecler
Marisa Ritzen 
Sarah Bigelow
Teresa Kline
Wanda Cullen (you are here)

PTI September Blog Hop

It's time for Papertrey Ink's September Blog Hop and I knew I didn't want to pass up this awesome inspiration photo!  

It was perfect to use their Peaceful Pinecones stamp set which I paired with kraft (PTI), forest foliage (SU) and white cardstock. 

 A little jute twine and a couple of rusty jingle bells topped it off.  The sentiment die was cut twice with white CS and once with the dark green to give a shadow appearance.  The background is a watercolor wash using a mix of Cracked Pistachio and Evergreen Bough distress inks. The pine bough was stamped with - what else? - Pine Needles ink!  To give it a snowy look, I dabbed on some Copic Opaque White then added clear Wink of Stella brush marker for a subtle touch of shimmer.  The wonky stitched rectangle die is by Lil' Inker Designs.

Thanks so much for stopping by and happy hopping!

Inspired By...All The Little Things

Hello blog friends and welcome to another Inspired By...All The Little Things Challenge! Check out this gorgeous inspiration photo with the variegated shades in the bloom...then join us and show us how you are inspired!  Here's my take on it...

I love this Delightful Dahlia Additions set by PTI with the triple stamping of the flower and double stamping on the leaves.  One of the biggest inventions for stampers ever is the MISTI (Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented)!  You can get perfect placement of stamping when you need to overlap images or when you want a bolder look to your sentiment (which I stamped twice using Early Espresso ink by SU).  I used Liquitex light modeling paste with Tim Holtz' Bubble stencil on Orange Zest (PTI) cardstock after die cutting with MFT's Stitched Rounded Rectangle Die-Namics.  

Our challenge runs until Thursday, Sept. 29th at midnight - be sure to check out all the inspiration over on the Inspired By blog, and link up your creation!

 

Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

It's been a long while since I've played along with the Viva la Verve Challenge, so I used the second September sketch for my Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop entry.  Wow, there are more than 60 sponsors in this hop, so let's all get inky and try to break the previous record of entries!  A big thank you to each and every sponsor!  You are the best!

I had some digis printed out from last fall - freebies that Julee so generously donated!  I colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped with foam tape.  The base was stenciled using one of Tim Holtz' mini layering stencils and Baked Brown Sugar ink (SU).  I embossed it with a larger 5x7" Cuttlebug EF.  Patterned papers are from Lawn Fawn's Perfectly Plaid Fall 6x6" paper pack...LOVE the colors!  

Thanks for hopping by...now I'm off to check out some other blogs!

Look Who's Two!

 Our sweet grand-daughter, Quinn, is celebrating her 2nd birthday today and I can't wait to give her a birthday hug! Her family is vacationing with her other set of grandparents in Ontario, so hopefully they'll be heading home today! I suddenly realized last evening that I hadn't made her a birthday card yet (what??), so that meant an immediate plan of action.  This is what I created...

I knew I wanted a shaker card, so I started with these pink frames - All Framed Up Confetti Cuts - that I already had cut in my leftover pile.  Papers are from the Sugar Shoppe pad by Doodlebug Design.  The sentiment and number are from SU's Number of Years stamp set and matching Large Numbers Framelits Dies. I paper pieced and colored with Copics - fun images from Reverse Confetti's Lift Me Up stamp set.

Card is done...now we need to assemble her play kitchen gift! 
 

Freshly Made Sketches

A quick card and post before heading out to a dentist appointment for routine cleaning and checkup.  I really love this new layout for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge...it was perfect for this leftover leaf I had watercolored while experimenting with the Color Throwdown Challenge colors for this week.  I used 4 distress color markers (Wilted Violet, Festive Berries, Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade) and spritzed lightly with water and blended slightly with a brush.  I also splattered some Wilted Violet ink diluted with water.  Reverse Confetti's new Grape Soda CS was a perfect match!  The sentiment was die cut 3 times and adhered together for a chipboard-like feel.  The Lace Leaf stamp and matching dies that include the grateful sentiment (from Concord and 9th) are my fall favorite go-to items right now!  

Thanks for stopping by and happy fall y'all!

Color Throwdown #411

It's Wednesday and since we're embracing the first day of fall tomorrow, I had to go with a fall leaf as my focal point for the new Color Throwdown Challenge.  Amy has a really fabulous color combo for us and I was pleasantly surprised at the beauty of adding a touch of purple to the other "typical" fall colors!  Today is also World Gratitude Day, so I knew I wanted to use a thanks theme.

I have to give credit to Concord and 9th's web page where they have a sample card that I CASEd (I was unable to find a direct link to the creator of that card).  I'm loving this new C9 Lace Leaf stamp set (I was a C9 birthday blog hop winner of a $20 GC - yay!) where I white embossed the image then scribbled in 4 distress color markers (Wilted Violet, Festive Berries, Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade) and spritzed lightly with water and blended gently with a brush.  I gold embossed the sentiment on cardstock weight vellum (SU).  Jute twine and dark purple enamel dots finished it off!  Patterned paper is from Lawn Fawn's Perfectly Plaid Fall 6x6 pad.

Welcome to Tina Magnusson - our guest star stamper this week!

For more details on how to play along, head on over to the Color Throwdown Blog and you'll find the information on the right sidebar!  You can also visit the rest of the design team's creations for more inspiration...see links below:

Amy Rohl 
Amy Rysavy
Barbara Anders  
Broni Holcombe   
Jodi Collins 
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Lynn Put  
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)   
Karren Johnson - September Guest Designer    

Hope to see you in the gallery! 

Mojo Monday #466

Good Monday everyone! I went "earthy" with my card for the new Mojo Monday Challenge!  I stamped the clay pots in Dusty Durango, More Mustard and Crushed Curry then die cut them with Verve's coordinating dies to the Potter's Clay stamp set.  I used an exacto knife to cut slits in the jar tops then inserted the greenery stamped in Garden Green, Old Olive and Always Artichoke. 

If you'd like more inspiration for this sketch, click on the mojomakers' blog links below...or...you can go to the Mojo Monday blog and click on the first seven thumbnails.
Julee Tilman (Owner)
Justin Krieger
Lori Tecler
Marisa Ritzen 
Sarah Bigelow
Teresa Kline
Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Another SFYTT Card

I couldn't resist another card using stamps from Reverse Confetti's Best Witches set. I'm using the September Sketch For You To Try layout again...pairing it with new papers from RC's Fright Night 6x6 pad.  I struggled with placing the sentiment and finally went with this option.  The subtle background stenciling was done with Tim Holtz' Dot Fade stencil and Grape Soda ink - one of four new ink colors released by RC.  Clear Wink of Stella marker was added to the witch's brew and to her hat band for some added sparkle.  

It's been a fabulous weather day...perfect for a family reunion at Glen Maury Park in Buena Vista...a small quaint town nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Maury River.  This was our view from the pavilion...

  On the way home, we drove through their small town and spotted this fun sign on the side of one of the buildings...

Came home to some great football games!  VT had a win...Cornhuskers had an exciting nailbiter to the last minute game against Oregon and our daughter's flights connected so she could be at the game with friends...and now I'm rooting for Ohio State to win over Oklahoma!  Go Buckeyes!  Yes, I love football. :-)

Inspired By...

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm now part of the design team for the Inspired By...All the Little Things challenge!  Look for a new challenge every Saturday...we'd love to see you play along with us!  I love taking a photo and seeing how it inspires me in cardmaking and this one had so many of my favorite things.  I used a script stamp as a take off of the newsprint, the color palette (aqua/kraft/white) and the woodgrain elements for this coffee-themed card.  

I white embossed the French Script BG, paper pieced the one cup, sponged the sentiment with Crumb Cake ink and tore the "woodgrain" panel to give it a more rustic feel.  This could be used with a housewarming gift basket filled with treats or a coffee shop gift card could be tucked inside...so many possibilities!  

STAMPS: Delightful and Delicious (Verve), Holiday Treats (Verve), French Script Background (SU - retired).
PAPER:  ColorWays by Paper House, White, Kraft.
INK: Versamark, Early Espresso, Cool Caribbean, Crumb Cake.
ACCESSORIES: Rounded Scallop Frame die by Verve, Jute twine. 

Allison Kustiuk is the guest designer today, so be sure and stop by her blog and check out her fabulous card!

For more inspiration from the other designers and for details on how to play along, be sure to visit the challenge blog HERE.    Hope to see you in the gallery!

Vintage Flowers

Good Friday everyone! After tackling an upstairs guest room closet that was packed with OLD things from forever years ago, I decided to cool down in my stamp room! Having my daughter visiting was an even greater bonus because she emptied out a lot from her old room and we made a major haul to a local Goodwill store.  It feels so good to purge clutter and free up more storage space!

I created this card for Altenew's September Inspiration Challenge and also used the new CAS(E)

This Sketch Challenge layout. May has this fabulous photo from some of her craft room supplies to inspire us, so I went with the colors and the stripes for my biggest inspiration.  I triple stamped the florals from Altenew's Vintage Flowers set.  I used two sentiment stamps - one from Label Love and the other from Super Script - both by Altenew.  I used the Tim Holtz' Dot Fade stencil with Tumbled Glass distress ink. The stripe is a background stamp by MFT using SU's retired Cool Caribbean ink and matching cardstock border.  I like using this sentiment to keep on hand as it works for both birthdays and/or anniversaries. 

That's all for today...Time to hit the shower and think about where we'll eat out for supper.  This chick is too tired to cook a meal!

My Mummy

Yesterday was a day with happy mail! I got my new goodies from Reverse Confetti's September release and couldn't wait to get inky! 
The Best Witches stamp set with coordinating dies has so many adorable Halloween images and punny sentiments (and you know I'm a pun lover!).  Now that I have 3 grandchildren, you'll be seeing more child friendly cards.  

I'm playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and loved this layout!  I wanted some texture in the background and went with this Bricked embossing folder by Sizzix.  The patterned papers are from Reverse Confetti's new Fright Night 6x6 pad and the purple is one of their new ink/paper colors called Grape Soda. The brushed silver web is from RC's Web Tag Layer...so fun!  I colored with Copics after stamping on X-Press It Blending Card with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

I'm also entering this into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Clean and Simple.

That's all for now...thanks for stopping by!