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