Courage

Good Friday again...this is my third card for the day...I'm on a roll - lol! Actually, they were made on 3 different days, but I'm just now getting to post them.  I haven't been able to play with the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge for awhile...thanks to busy times in my life.  This was a great layout and perfect to use a sentiment from MFT's Vertical Greetings set.  I used their matching die and layered it on black CS to make it "pop" more against the DP.  The prima is a sale bargain I found at Michael's.  After I finished the card, I realized it fits for the monochromatic theme for yesterday's Ways to Use It challenge on SCS.  DP is from the Antique Cream pad by Creative Imaginations.

Consider the Lilies

...lily of the valley, that is! I'm using Korin's sketch for SCS Sketch Challenge and made this for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge: Let's Play Bingo!  I played the game in two different directions - lace, ribbon, flowers & pink, ribbon, die cut.  This is a sweet new image from the Botanical Bookplates Vol. 2 set by Flourishes.  I colored with the following Copics: RV0000, RV00, YG0000, YG00, YG03, YG06.

I recently read this African saying and it brought a smile...

"In the beginning God made a man and a woman, and He set them on Earth.  Then the man and the woman looked at each other and burst out laughing."

Make the decision to smile today!  It will be a contagious expression!

Color Throwdown 189

It's time again for the new Color Throwdown Challenge! This week, Kristin has a combo with FIVE great colors!

I found this DP in MME's Stella & Rose "Hattie" papers and added some felt rick rack borders (also by MME).  I used the herringbone EF to echo the DP.  LOVE the new tag die and coordinating stamps recently release by Verve.  Flowers are MFT's fringed perennial Die-Namic; leafy die is by Sizzix.  I used Chupa's sketch for her Saturday Sketch Challenge #55. 

We'd love to have you join us! No worries if you don't have the exact colors... feel free to substitute colors that are close! Make a card or paper crafted project and post it to your blog or online gallery. Then use the direct link and link it to the Color Throwdown blog using the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of the CTD post. If you post to an online gallery, please use CTD189 as your keyword.

So...are you ready to be inspired?? Check out what the other CTD designers, along with our talented April guestie, Julia Aston, have created! Check it out HERE.

Butterfly Tattoo

It's time for another teapotters' party and this week we are going to a high tea with a twist...there are tattoos for sale in the back of Cindy Lou's parlor! You don't want to miss the story, so click HERE for all the details!  I found this great tattoo on Google images and printed it from the computer.  I used Jen's great April Sketch for You to Try...always love her layouts!  I tweaked it by adding the ribbon.  Papers are from BasicGrey's Kioshi paper pad except for the Plum Pudding (PTI) panel.  Thanks for stopping by...it's good to see the sun out again even if it's only in the 50's outside!

Love Roo

This card is a quick and easy one for the following challenges:
SCS CAS Challenge - at the zoo theme
Card Patterns Sketch #162
Paper Sundaes - let's get cute!

STAMPS: A Little Lovin' by Paper Smooches
PAPER: Safari Chic by DCWV, Kraft, Vintage Cream, X-Press It Blending Card
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Jute twine, Circle Nestie, Copics.

CAS Birthday

It's a rainy and bone-chilling cold day today! They say we need the rain...just wish it wasn't on my w/e off! Good afternoon for a nap though - lol! Last evening I made a CAS birthday card for our middle son who turned 26 on Saturday.  We met him for lunch after church for a delicious meal at Olive Garden.  The card is also a CASE of today's featured stamper on SCS: Karen Haman aka kthaman.  She has a gallery filled with great CAS inspiration!  I'm really loving this new chevron die by MFT (more of my "happy birthday to me" order).  I paper pieced the cupcake and added yellow and diamond Stickles to the icing and flame.  Thanks for stopping by!

STAMPS: Say It Loud by Waltzingmouse Stamps (sentiment), Crazy for Cupcakes by SU.
PAPER: Retired DP by SU (? name), White.

Partridge in a Bird Cage

It's been a wonderful Saturday being off work and feeling free of all those work-related stressors! Yup...it's been a trying week...very short-staffed and more emergencies and stress than normal in the clinic!  So, today I'm working on laundry...grocery shopping...and now some stamping! You might think I've lost my marbles by posting a Christmas card, but this is for Stacy Morgan's DD (both current and alumni) Christmas Challenge for April where she's chosen the theme: A Partridge in a Pear Tree. We are to use a bird on our card, so I placed this one in a cage rather than a pear tree - lol!  The cage is die cut from kraft CS and sponged with tea dye distress ink.  I dug into my archives for some Mellow Moss CS for the leaves.  I just thought that shade of green blended in better with the DP.  Thanks for stopping by and hope you're having a great w/e!

STAMPS: Holly Jolly Sentiments by Lil Inker Designs
PAPER: Mistletoe (Memory Box Co.), Kraft, White, Mellow Moss
INK: Tea dye distress ink by Tim Holtz, Versafine Onyx Black, Always Artichoke
ACCESSORIES: Mini jingle bells by SU, Jute twine, Caged bird die by Tim Holtz, Flag die by Lil Inker Designs, Gold adhesive dots, Star charm, Distressing tool.

Under the Weather?

This is my second post for today...if you're looking for my Raise the Bar card, scroll down to the next post. This card uses the sketch for My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge this week and it's for Wendy's Free 4 All Challenge on SCS to use 2 or more designer papers on a card.  I got some happy mail yesterday (happy birthday to me!) and this umbrella die with stamp set was one of my MFT goodies.  So much fun to paper piece this umbrella!  The border is the Dainty Lace Die-Namic...also by MFT.  Papers are from the Buttercup pad by Lilybeedesign.

I'm sharing one of my favorite fables with you...THE WIND AND THE SUN.

"One day the north wind and the sun argued over who was the stronger.  On seeing a man walk by, they decided to settle the matter by betting who could strip him of his coat.  The wind went first, blowing and howling around the man.  The man responded by wrapping his coat tightly around himself.  Then it was the sun's turn.  The sun beamed down gently, embracing the man in comfort and warmth  In a few minutes, the man took off his coat and basked in her golden rays."

Isn't that a great reminder that gentle persuasion works better than brute force?  Have a wonderful day!

Raise the Bar 101

Hi everyone! Can you believe it's Friday already?  April is slipping by entirely too quickly! It's time for another Raise the Bar Challenge and Joni has us in the clouds today - lol! Our mission: create a card using clouds on it somewhere. CAS is not something that comes easy for me, but I decided to go that route and went with 'Lil Inker Designs' rainbow and clouds dies.  The sentiment is also from that company...love the great font!  So, what are you waiting for?  Come on and join us in this fun challenge!  See what the other bartenders have created by checking them out HERE!

Color Throwdown 188

Check out these fabulous colors that Kerri has brought to the Color Throwdown Challenge this week!  Pure gorgeousness and perfect for me to play with my favorite subject in stamping: FLOWERS!

I knew I wanted to use this gingham ribbon that had the 2 shades of pink...then I went with the sketch for SCS' CAS challenge this week and this card fell together quickly!  I used the kissing technique with the flowers by stamping first with Pretty in Pink ink, then rolling the edges around on the Melon Mambo ink pad. 

We'd love to have you join us! No worries if you don't have the exact colors... feel free to substitute colors that are close! Make a card or paper crafted project and post it to your blog or online gallery. Then use the direct link and link it to the Color Throwdown blog using the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of the CTD post. If you post to an online gallery, please use CTD188 as your keyword.

So...are you ready to be inspired?? Check out what the other CTD designers, along with our talented April guestie, Julia Aston, have created!  Check it out HERE.

STAMPS: Rosy Posy by PTI; Flags & Tags Stamps by 'Lil Inker Designs
PAPER: White, Black, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke
INK: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Rosy Posy dies by PTI, Foliage dies by SB, Gingham ribbon (Michael's), Circle & Circle Scallop Nesties.

Birthday Roses

Good Tuesday afternoon! I didn't think I'd get inky this morning, but when I saw the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge was asking us to use our fave image...I couldn't resist!  Though I love many of their floral images, this lenten rose is my favorite!  I got to break in a new Nestabilities set (for me) and I sponged some Pool Party ink on the CS while it was still in the Nestie.  Coloring was done with Copics and some Diamond Stickles were added to the centers.  This card is also for The Shabby Tea Room challenge to use aqua, pink, neutrals & flowers.  Totally love this inspiration picture using these soft, feminine colors!

STAMPS: Lenten Rose (Flourishes), Kid's Play (Flourishes) - sentiment
PAPER: X-Press It Blending Card, White (PTI)
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Labels Twenty-Three Nesties, Simplicity lace (Walmart), Aqua Mist satin ribbon (PTI), Oval Nestie, Sizzix EF, Diamond Stickles, Copics (RV10, RV11, RV32, YG11, YG13, YG17, Y04, Y08, BG0000, BG000, C00, C1)

Hey There!

 I toadally loved the CAS Challenge on SCS today with the sketch from Mary Brown's card (photo on the right)! This gave me a chance to practice a new coloring technique using Copics and that's to add spots by holding a colorless blender briefly on the colored image.  I cut out the frog and popped it with foam dots for dimension.

STAMPS: A Little Lovin' by Paper Smooches (frog), Sentiment Sampler by Paper Smooches.

Hope the weather has been as glorious in your part of the world as it's been here in VA today!  Too bad the middle of the day was "wasted" on a doctor's appointment - lol!  Just a yearly checkup and all was well, so I'm thankful for that! 

Celebrating 100 Challenges at RTB!

Welcome and happy Friday to all! Joni Wilson, the head bartender on the Raise the Bar challenge blog, is marking her 100th challenge today!  Woohoo!  We are celebrating with a sketch by yours truly (the layout is supposed to look like the number 100) and there are prizes with this challenge as well!  We are being sponsored by The Greeting Farm and they have some really fabulous images - both digital and rubber - waiting for you to get those inky fingers in gear!

I just love this little bride and groom image...printed with a Canon inkjet printer on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with Copics.  The finished card is 5 1/4" x 5 1/4".  DP is from the "Be Happy" pad by MME's Follow Your Heart collection.  Pink clay seam binding is by Martha Stewart.  Love sentiment is from Verve's Bright Spirits set.

I'm also entering this card into the CCEE challenge to use 3 embellishments (lace, ribbon, pearl brad).

Thanks for stopping by...we look forward to seeing what you create using this celebration sketch!

COPICS USED:
Groom's hair - Y21, E47, E97, E99
Bride's hair - E47, E49, E97, E99
Skin - E21, E00, E000
Her dress - C00, BG000, BG0000
His suit - C2, C5, C7

Lovely in Lace

Yesterday's Noon Time Challenge on the Flourishes blog is to create something using lace.  I haven't made a step card in a long time, so decided to try one again.  After two botched attempts,  I finally got the cuts and scoring right on the third try! :-(  This is also for the Ways to Use It Challenge on SCS to use ruffles.

STAMPS: Magnolias (Flourishes)
PAPER: Spice Cake DP by SU, Vintage Cream (PTI), Soft Suede, Pool Party
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Lace (Flourishes), Fleur de Lis die by SB, Ruffled lace, Gold cording, Copics (G40, G43, G46, BG0000BG10, BG11, E43, E44).

Book Worm Challenge

Flourishes Noon Time Challenge today is to create something for a book lover in your life. I have quite a few co-workers with birthdays in April, so this bookmark will be a nice addition to a gift!  This was quick and easy because I started with a ready made tag by K&Co, added some lace and bling and stamped the floral image from Flourishes' Botanical Bookplates set.  I used Copics to color - G43, G46E01, E93, E95, E07.


Some food for thought...
"A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world."  -Joseph Addison

Color Throwdown 187

It's time for another Color Throwdown Challenge! Check out these great colors and inspiration picture chosen by the fabulously talented Joan!

My card uses Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch for the layout which just happens to be designed by Lynn Put - another Color Throwdown designer.  I discovered I have very little DP with purple shades, but did find this pattern in BasicGrey's Kioshi pad.

We'd love to have you join us! No worries if you don't have the exact colors... feel free to substitute colors that are close! Make a card or paper crafted project and post it to your blog or online gallery. Then use the direct link and link it to the Color Throwdown blog using the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of the CTD post. If you post to an online gallery, please use CTD187 as your keyword.

So...are you ready to be inspired?? Check out what the other CTD designers, along with our talented April guestie, Julia Aston, have created!  Check it out HERE.

STAMPS: All Booked Up (PTI), Mat Stack 3 Collection (PTI)
PAPER: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, White, Kioshi DP by BasicGrey
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Mat stack die by PTI, Circle Nestie, Ribbon, Large leafy flourish Die-Namic by MFT, Chocolate brown lace by Flourishes.

Motherly Love

After 3 days of not getting inky, it was high time to squeeze in a card before heading out to work!  I created this for the CAS challenge on SCS to use scallops and also for Flourishes' Motherly Love Challenge.  This lenten rose image is probably my fave floral image...fun to color, fussy cut and pop on a long oval!  Edges were punched using Martha Stewart's Doily Lace punch.  Though I no longer have my mother or MIL, I still enjoy making Mother's Day cards for co-workers and others.

STAMPS: Lenten Rose, Love Sweet Love (sentiment) - both by Flourishes
PAPER: Raspberry Fizz (PTI), X-Press It Blending Card, White
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
COPICS: R81, R83, R85, Y13, Y35, YG00, YG03, YG06, BG0000, BG000, C0, C1.