Snowy Friday!

TGIF and I have a long 3 day w/e off work! How pathetic that I only worked 3 days this week and am already happy to be off again?!  The fact that it's snowing outside now and I'm fighting what seems to be the beginning of a cold might have something to do with enjoying being hunkered down for the w/e!  I got happy mail 2 days ago with the arrival of Concord and 9th's Heartstrings die set and just had to play with it.  I'm using the layout for the new Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and am also playing along with Wendy's "I'm Dye-ing" Free 4 All Challenge on SCS.  I omitted a sentiment on the card front due to the love script in the background paper.  I'll add a sentiment to the inside later on.  Patterned papers are all from Bo Bunny's Crush 6x6 pad.  

Stay warm in your neck of the woods!  I thought I'd share this happy face to brighten up your day (at least it brightened up this nana's day)!

 Cash - 5 months old

Sneak Peek June Release

The June release at ODBD is just around the corner and today I'm giving you a sneak peek at some new stamps, dies and papers that are perfect for the handyman in your life!  The Free 4 All Challenge on SCS is to "Honor Thy Father" where our card is to show something our dad likes or something about his personality.  My dad was a super handyman!  He could fix nearly anything and he had a workbench area with many tools.  Aside from repairing things, he also created wood items - frames, small tables, benches, sleds, pens, etc.  You can see why I love this release because it fits my dad so perfectly!  He is in remarkable good health and is still very active and will turn 89 years young on June 15!  We are blessed!

A bit more about my card...The 2 patterned papers are from the new Vintage Ephemera Collection.  New dies include Pegboard and Hooks and Tool Time dies and the sentiment is from a new stamp set called Father's Day Tools.  The tiny nuts - from World's Greatest stamp set - were silver embossed and fussy cut and punched to add as embellishments.

Krafty Basket

My day off is whizzing by too quickly, but I started it off by creating this card for the Free 4 All Challenge on SCS to "get krafty" and stamp on kraft! This is a sneak peek of a new stamp set (basket and sentiment) and dies (eggs) that will be part of the new release this Sunday at Our Daily Bread Designs.  After stamping with Coconut Husk ink (WPlus9) on kraft, I sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink.  The basket was fussy cut and popped with foam tape, then filled with die cut eggs using papers from Sunshine in My Soul 6x6 pack by Glitz.  The background has a subtle embossed impression using ODBD Faithful Fish Pattern die and debosser plate.  The daffodils were colored with Copics and a portion of the corner image was cut apart and added for a pop of color.  

STAMPS: Basket of Blessings (ODBD), Daffodil Corner (ODBD).
ACCESSORIES: Mini Tag Dies (ODBD), Eggs Dies (ODBD), Sheer ribbon (SU - retired), Jute twine.

Have to share with you the cutest Olaf ever!

 It was "Frozen Day" at Quinn's day care center, so if you're familiar with this popular movie, you'll know she's the snowman character - Olaf. :-)

Joy to the World

A quick and easy card using the new layout for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and for  SCS Free For All challenge to use the most recent stamping product that you've purchased and never used before.  Sadly, I had not opened this packet of "Under the Tree" designer paper by SU - bought at my last stamp club meeting 2 months ago.  This is extra heavy weight CS and would be perfect for gift boxes (my brain is already planning some sweet little treat packaging!). All of the dies and the sentiment stamp are by WPlus9 - a fairly new stamp company that has rapidly become one of my favorite shopping sources!  I added some coarse Martha Stewart glitter to the snowflakes.  This will fit the bill for several masculine names on my Christmas list.

STAMPS: Hand Lettered Holiday (WPlus9).
PAPER: Under the Tree specialty paper by SU, White, Garden Green, Metallic Gold.
INK: Garden Green.
ACCESSORIES: Hand Lettered Holiday, Snowflake Trio and Stag Trio dies - all by WPlus9; Sequins by Avery Elle, Corner chomper.

Bright and Beautiful

...that's Wendy's theme for the Free 4 All Challenge over on SCS! I was also inspired by the photo for the current Fusion Card Challenge. I hope to create another card using the great sketch. 

I did a wee bit of watercoloring by spritzing the background leaves and vase before stamping. I freehand washed some light blue to "ground "the vase. I then popped some flower and leaf dies to add dimension.  I love this hello die  and decided to add sweet friend to the sentiment and send this to a friend who is recovering from surgery.  Confession: I stamped it first on the card and it wasn't perfectly straight, so I moved to plan B and used a word window punch to cover up the goof. :-) I'll bet that hasn't happened to any of you - LOL!  I just love it when I complete a card and the very last stamping move results in a goof...NOT!

Here's what I used...
STAMPS: Spring Blooms, Coming Up Roses, Hand Lettered Hello - all by WPlus9.
PAPER: Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock, White by PTI.
INK: TH distress inks - Ripe Persimmon, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass.

Summer Lovin'

Wendy has a fun Free 4 All challenge on SCS today - a theme to use something you love about summer! There's nothing more refreshing than a really cold, sweet watermelon on a hot day!  I saw some watermelon shaped cards on Pinterest and decided to try my hand at one.  I used the 3 largest circles in Lil Inker Designs' stitched circle dies.  I folded each one in half then punched the "bite" in the polka dotted circle.  The heavier cardstock layers were too thick to punch, so I outlined the "bite" with a pencil then cut out the area with a scissors.  The seeds are halves of the smallest heart punch...cutting them in half and rounding the edges a bit.  A quick itty bitty banner sentiment and this fun card was completed!

STAMPS: Itty Bitty Banners (SU)
PAPER: Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Snap! Color Vibe 6x6 pad by Simple Stories
INK: Black Licorice by MFT
ACCESSORIES: 1 3/4" scallop circle punch and heart trio punch - both by SU. Stitched circle dies by Lil Inker Designs, Itty Bitty Banner Framelits by SU.

CAS(E) This Sketch

Getting ready to head out to get a flat of strawberries, but first I had to play along with a couple of challenges. My layout is for the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge and it also has a touch of vellum on the butterfly to qualify for Wendy's Free For All Challenge on SCS.  Quick and easy graduation card needed for this weekend!

STAMPS: Tape It (SU), Gorgeous Grunge (SU), Itty Bitty Banners (SU).
INK: Spiced Marmalade, Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint - all distress inks by Tim Holtz.
ACCESSORIES: Orange Lush rhinestones by MME, Itty Banners Framelits (SU), Butterfly punch by Martha Stewart.

Bunnies and Blooms

This card is a "threefer"...i.e., made for three different challenges:
SCS Free 4 All Challenge - Use circles in the background.
Colour Q Challenge 
Sketchbook Saturday Challenge - sketch by Chupa.

I had happy mail earlier today - several stencils from Simon Says Stamp and
some new stitched dies by Lil Inker Designs!  I picked Tim Holtz distress inks that were close to the Colour Q colors and stenciled the background using TCW's Mini Well Rounded stencil.

Here's my enabler's list:
STAMPS: Rainbow and Clouds Sentiments (Lil Inker Designs)
PAPER: Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate, White, Calypso Coral, Groovy Guava
INK: Peacock Feathers, Spiced Marmalade, Weathered Wood, Dried Marigold - all distress inks by TH
ACCESSORIES: Stitched bunny and floral dies by Lil Inker Designs; Buttons by SU, A2 Curved Borders One by Spellbinders; TCW Mini Well Rounded stencil.

Freshly Made Sketches

Angled panels are so trendy right now and I totally love the interest they add to a card! So...I couldn't

pass up the current layout for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  I'm also playing along with the Free 4 All challenge on SCS to use blue and yellow and one other color of our choice - black in my case. 

The flowers are die cut and layered with large foam dots.  The sentiment was clear embossed.  This was a quick and easy card to assemble!

STAMPS: Rainbow and Cloud Sentiments (Lil Inker Designs)
PAPER: Authentique "Renew" Collection, True Black (PTI), White (PTI)
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Black satin ribbon by SU, Flower dies by PTI, Bling by Recollections, Leafy flourish Die-Namics by MFT, Clear EP.

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.

CAS Gelli Print

Good Friday everyone! I have a quick and simple card today...using a scrap from my gelli print pile that I created months ago. This large fern image was "stamped" by brayering acrylic paint on a gelli plate, then placing a 6x6 Mini Ferns stencil by TCW over the gelli plate and pressing paint to the stencil using the brayer again.  I then picked up the stencil and "stamped" it onto white CS - resulting in the above background.

The layout is for the current (CAS)E This Sketch Challenge.  I'm also playing along with the Free 4 All challenge on SCS today that has us reviewing all of the 2013 challenges and picking one.  I chose the 6/28/13 challenge to "Think BIG" (use a big embellishment or stamp).

STAMPS: Blooming Button Bits (PTI).
ACCESSORIES: Jute twine, Wood veneer leaf, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics (MFT). 

Deconstructed Sketch

A late night (or guess I should say early morning) creation after getting off work. This is for the Free 4 All Challenge on SCS to use polka dots and it's also for Jen's Deconstructed Sketch Challenge. I paper pieced the elephant using lighter DP for his ears and popped his polka dotted head.  The giraffe was stamped twice then I fussy cut the mouth and popped it with a tiny piece of foam tape.  Love these fun papers from Echo Park's "Bundle of Joy" 6x6 pad!  Stamps are from Verve's "To the Moon" set - one of my fave "go to" sets for baby cards!  Thanks for stopping by...it's off to bed for me!

ACCESSORIES: Ribbon by SU, Jute twine, Button by SU, Piercing tool, Embossed large scallop punch by EKSuccess.

Viva la Verve

I'm on a nautical roll and am playing along with the week 5 sketch for the Viva la Verve Challenge in the Verve forum on SCS! Bold, sunny colors on board, so get your shades on! Today's Free 4 All Challenge on SCS has to do with a girl's best friend - DIAMONDS!  So...I dusted off my neglected diamond EF for the BG and added some sparkly bling accents!   Thanks for stopping by...I always enjoy your comments!

STAMPS: Strong Anchor (Verve), Blue Skies (Verve)
PAPER: Key Lime 6x6 pad by Bo Bunny, Real Red, White
INK: Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Blue Bayou
ACCESSORIES: Rick Rack Die-Namics by MFT, Nautical dies by Verve, Brad by Recollections, Rhinestones by Recollections.

Think Big

Splitcoaststampers' Free 4 All Challenge is to "think big" and use a big embellishment or stamp. I

went with this big prima as a focal point and also paired up two new SU colors: Bermuda Bay and Smoky Slate!  LOVE this new light gray shade and am so glad they brought back Bermuda Bay!  Amber Hight's Deconstructed Sketch for this week was just perfect to highlight this flower. The BG is embossed using Cuttlebug's Bit of Paisley embossing folder and matching embossing border.

STAMPS: Flags and Tags Stamps by Lil Inker Designs
PAPER: Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate, White
INK: Basic Gray
ACCESSORIES: Bermuda Bay grosgrain ribbon (SU), Prima by Prima Marketing, Foliage die by Spellbinders, Rhinestones by Kaiser, MFT Fishtail Flags Die-Namics, Bit of Paisley EF by CB, Foam mounting tape.

Mix-Ability Challenge

My fingers are testament to my first attempt with Splitcoaststampers' Mix-Ability Challenge! I love the mixed media look but have shied away from it...until now.  Ky's video tutorial was really helpful and even though I didn't have any gesso, I did layer up the colors.  I first dabbed 3 "puddles" of distress paint on a paper plate: Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed and Peeled Paint.  I then sprayed what I thought was water in a spray bottle.  I must have added some shimmer to it with a previous project and when I dried the CS after "pulling" it through the paints, it had a real glittery look when I angled it to the light!  At that point, I decided to pull out my TCW "Starry Starry Night" 5x8 stencil.  I put some Picket Fence distress paint on a plate, spritzed it with water, then stippled it over the CS using the stencil.  After drying the BG, I added a pennant die cut banner and sequins.  I'm also playing along with the Free 4 All Challenge to create a CAS card with a summer image/theme.   Blue skies, yellow sunshine and green grass were the color inspirations.  Ahhh...there's nothing like sitting out on a clear, summer night watching the stars! 

STAMPS: Shining Star (Verve)
PAPER: Pacific Point, White.
INK: Versamark Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Pennant Trim die by Verve, Sequins, Distress paints by Tim Holtz.

CAS Sympathy

Fortunately I'm not needing a sympathy card, but I like to keep them on hand for that last minute need. I created this card with four different challenges in mind:

Free for All - field of flowers theme (use at least 4 flowers)

CAS(E) this Sketch 

Colour Q - Soft Sky, Island Indigo, Going Gray, Certainly Celery

CAS-ual Fridays - banners and flags

I've had this PTI Larger than Life stamp set with coordinating dies for a couple of months and never got it inky until now!  About time I remedy that problem - lol!  Totally LOVE these colors and also loved this layout!

The upper portion of the background was dry embossed using the herringbone folder by Cuttlebug.  I kept wanting to add random pearls or a bow and decided that less was more for a sympathy card.  

STAMPS: Larger than Life (PTI), Borderline (Verve) - sentiment.

PAPER: Island Indigo (SU), Neenah Solar White, White (PTI).

INK: Basic Gray, Going Gray, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky, Island Indigo.

ACCESSORIES: Herringbone EF, Framed Tags One by Spellbinders, Pennant trim die by Verve, Soft Sky ribbon by SU, Larger than Life dies by PTI.

Some people are lamenting the fact that it's been raining all day.  Me?  It gives me an excuse for more time in my stamp room! :-)  Thanks for stopping by...I always appreciate reading your comments!

Pinning It

There's a fun Free 4 All challenge over on SCS called Pinning It. We can use a pin on our card or we can be inspired by a card on Pinterest. I chose to CASE Anni from Berlin, Germany who created this beauty HERE.  I loved the way she only partially sponged the embossed BG!  I already had some leftover Rosie Posie die cut flowers and leaves, so I did some two step stamping and popped them on foam dots and added a tiny sentiment tag...quick and easy!

Here's what else I used:
STAMPS: Rosie Posie, Rosie Posie Step 2 and Tiny Tags - all by PTI.
INK: Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz.
ACCESSORIES: Kassie's Brocade EF, Corner chomper, Tiny tags die and Rosie Posie dies by PTI, Satin ribbon, Brad.

I wanted to put a plug in for the new May issue of Paper Crafts magazine.  Just picked it up today and there were numerous cards that were unique and caught my eye...especially some different graduation cards.  Loved the one that looks like a scrub top with a stethoscope around the neck.  Just trying to enable everyone - lol!  It's late, late, late so off to bed I go.  I'm really enjoying this 4 day break from work which allows me to play in more challenges!