My Late Rose's Challenge

I promise I am not going to whine about my sore wrist.  That was only part of what kept me from posting Kym's challenge for the Rose's yesterday.  I also had all of the kids and their partners home for the weekend.  Goodness, time sure does go fast when they are here!

Today I took my time and tried to do something outside of my comfort zone.  It is sort of a Double Dutch fold card, but I did it a a wee bit different.  We were asked to do a winter creation in blue.  I worked in more of a blue green color.

Card stock:  12x12 textured, 81/2x11 regular
Designer papers:  My Minds Eye
Stamps:  Art Impressions Mill, Whimsy Stamps Valerie's Gift, Gina K by Theresa Momber, The Giving  Tree
Punches:  Martha Stewart, and SU!
Inks:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Evergreen Bough, and Iced Spruce
Coloring:  Copic Markers
Embellishments: mirrored snowflakes, fun foam glitter snowflakes, button, and bakers twine from my stash

I created the snowdrifts and hazy moon with torn paper and the negative from a circle punch.

Thanks for taking a peek at my project, and if you would like to see more creations by the lovely ladies of the Paper Roses, please use the links on my sidebar!  Have a wonderful week.

It's Friday, So It Is Unity Time!

Here is a quick post for the Unity, Friends with Flair hop.  I am still having a blast with my January KOM, Heart and Soul.  Love it!

It is a light weight card with not a lot of layers.  I white embossed the butterfly from the kit on white card and used VersaMagic ink  on a sponge to make my lacy background.  The designer paper strip is from K&Co.  I stamped the butterfly 2x in the VersaMagic, and fussy cut and popped them.  My sentiment is one of my unknown, unmounted stamps.  A few pink gems finish off the card.

Our temp is suppose to go up in the 60's today, and that will be heavenly.  Any time the heater is not sucking the oil tank dry is a blessing.  Thanks for the well wishes on my wrist.  I do have a brace to use, it just does not help at work.  Enjoy your Friday!

Last Minute Valentines

Morning, friends!  I have not posted since last week, because I have been trying to rest my wrist.  Seems I have a bit of the Carpal Tunnel business going on.  When I go to work, it aggravates it since I do the repetitive motion thing with hanging clothing.  Anyhow, here are a couple of Valentines that I did last week and never got posted.  They don't have challenges attached right now but I may peek around afternoon to see what I can find.

My first card uses stamps from a few sources.  The flowers are from Stampendous and are called Dandie Trio.  The flourishes are from Stampabilities, and called Vintage Flourish03.  Sorry to say that the sentiment is from my unmounted stash and I haven't a clue. My papers are white and black onyx Pure Luxury with a layer of Smitten from K&Co.  I die cut my image with a Spellbinders Postage die and inked my edges with Festive Berries Distress Ink by Ranger.  My bottom strip is formed with a Fiskars border punch.  For embellishments, I added a die cut tied with loop edge ribbon, some puffy silver hearts, (both from K&Co), and a tad of sparkle from a Stardust pen.

For my second card, I was inspired by the negative black card stock laying on my desk.  I had cut out my Fanciful Flourish die for a previous card.  The more I stared at this scrap piece, I just knew I had to back it with patterned paper and create with it.  I added a Peony Nestabilities piece, which I stamped with stamps from Flourishes.  The sets I used are called Clouds, and Angelic Love.  I added Prima flowers, with a MM center.  Sparkle was added to the angels wings with Stickles.  Coloring was done with pencils and OMS.

Sometimes it is hard to have constant faith in humanity.  I would just like to thumb my nose at the person who left one of my loved ones laying on the sidewalk yesterday after they had fallen.  I hope you made it to where ever you were going on time, after you stepped over them.  Grrrrrrrr!  Okay, thanks for letting me get that out!

Duo of Challenges

Today I would like to share cards I made for two separate challenges.  My first card is for the Unity Friends with Flair hop that posts each Friday!  I recently received my January KOM which is called Heart and Soul, and had to play with some of the new stamps!  Just simple, but I love how all the colors blended.
I also just realized that it matches the Unity Kit of the Month Sketch Challenge, so here goes!

card stock: Pure Luxury White and Moonlit Fog
embossing powder: white detail
designer paper: Vintage Shabby by TH Idea-ology
ink:  TH Distress in iced spruce, gathered twigs, and evergreen bough
punch: SU!

My next card is for the House Mouse Monday Challenge #111, and we are asked to create in black and white.

card stock:  Pure Luxury Onyx Black
designer paper:  Making Memories Black Tie
dies:  Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three, Nestabilities Scalloped Heart, Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Versafine Onyx Black
embossing powder: Detail Clear
embellishments: gems and crochet flowers
stamps: Two part Harmony  HMG1006,  Music In My Heart CR1058

Sorry for the quick post today, friends.  We are expecting snow tonight and I have a million errands to do today.  Be safe, be warm, and enjoy your weekend!

Pink, Pink, and More Pink!

     As my title reads, pink is the Challenge #47 over at Art Impressions this week.  I am going to do a quick post, in case all of the websites decide to shut down suddenly, as the news is reporting.  Ugh, that will make for a not so fun day.  Protest or no protest, I need to load my card!

      I started with a white card base, and added a layer of Basic Grey, Lemonade designer paper.  Next, I stamped my image in VersaFine Black Onyx and heated on clear detail embossing powder. The stamp I used is from Art Impressions and is  L-1350.  The coloring was done with Copic Markers, and the sponging with SU! , Positively Pink.  My image was cut out with a Nestabilities Label Twenty-Two.  The little flower cluster in the corner, is a Prima, with A few punches of leaves, including the MS Branch Punch.  My sentiment is an unknown and is on an SU! punch that I borrowed from my DD.  Two dew drops and some outlining with a Stardust pen for sparkle, and it is a done deal.

I would also like to enter this card  at  Do You Stack Up # 54 Pink

     It is Hump Day, and I hope the beginning of the week was pleasant, but that the end of the week is a sheer delight!  Thanks for stopping by.

Love Is In The Air-----A Muse Studio

I found this new challenge that just posted over at A Muse Studio and thought about my stamp sets from them that needed some love.  The theme is Love Is In The Air/ Valentines.

I own both Trees 1 and Trees 2, and found the sweet sentiment about keeping a green tree in your heart.  That is all I needed, and I ran with it. I did not have a bird by A Muse Studio, so I had to improvise with one from Darcies.

I started with a white base, added designer paper from Basic Grey's Lime Ricky 6x6 pad, topping it with an embossed solid blue piece that was rubbed down with Color Box, Frost White ink.  I edged it with an EK Success border punch called English Ivy.  I stamped my images on white using Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics.  Each piece was cut with a scalloped heart die from Spellbinders and sponged with Memento inks.  A couple of the negative pieces from the border punching were placed as accents, as were blue gems.

This card is perhaps for someone who is still looking for the special love.  Maybe they need encouragement on Valentine's Day.

Have a great MLK day, today.  Hope to see you again today.

Sweet Stop Sketch 141

Happy Saturday!  This morning my DD and I both woke and decided to find a challenge to do together on speaker phone!  It was so fun!  We both realized  that we talk to ourselves when we are stamping.  We decided on the new sketch at The Sweet Stop.  Here is what it looks like.

Since I had recently obtained a couple of brand new Sweet 'n Sassy, monthly flowers, I was excited to make the February one, #1099,  work in the sketch.  I normally work in an A2 size but due to the size of the Iris, I had to create a 5x7 card.  My papers are an assortment of older scraps that will remain nameless. I stamped with Versafine Ink and embossed with clear detail powder. Coloring was done with Copics and sponging is with Memento Summer Sky, with the background words done in London Fog.  I used an MS border punch for my bottom stripe.  I just had to add the little pearls to make the card look finished.

If you are looking for a fun sketch, run on over to The Sweet Stop and check out the details!  I'm not going to say that is it for today, since we may look for another challenge to do.  Stay warm, and have a fun Saturday!

Love Potion #9

I broke out an older Unity Store kit to create this Valentine with non traditional colors.  I will be entering this over at the Unity Blog for the Friday, Friends with Flair entry.  I am also going to enter this at Joan's Gardens, and if you would like to join in that fun challenge, please go here to check out all of the details.

The Unity Store Kit that I used was from October 2009.  I just love the little test tubes and the saying, and the flourish I used on the frame was also in this kit.  I figured that shades of teal were non traditional colors.  I used a new Sizzix embossing folder called Diamond, on my frame.  My designer paper is super old 8 1/2 x 11 paper by Current, of all places!  I sponged the edges with one of the Winter Limited Edition Distress Inks called Evergreen Bough.  The images were highlighted with a Sakura Stardust pen.  For my embellishments I used a lace bow, teal pearls, Prima flowers, and some pretty pearl and gem centers.

That's it for me this morning.  Waiting to see what this crazy weather is going to do, and then think about heading out to work.  TGIF!  Hope you have a fun weekend planned.

Timeless Tuesday #151

     Good Morning!  It seems that Blogging is behaving now, so I thought I would try doing my post.  It has been pouring here since dinner time last night, and I am not sure if that is what prompted this card or not.  For Christmas, Santa brought me some new Flourishes sets and I have just had time to start playing with them.  This week the Timeless Tuesday Challenge is being hosted by Tammy Hershberger, and is an inspiration photo challenge.

     I started with a base of Pumpkin Spice, Pure Luxury card stock, added a layer of Pure White, and for the third layer I used Basic Grey, Green at Heart dp. I cut and embossed a Labels Ten, Nestabilities die.  Starting with a Classic Oval Nestie, I stamped raindrops from the April Showers stamp set, using London Fog Memento ink and sponged on Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink.  I topped it with my sentiment stamped in Versafine Onyx black.

     Now, let me tell you that I finally broke down and bought the Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish die that I have admired time and time again, on my friend Olga's blog.  Now I see what she means.  First off it cuts like butter. I also want say that I do not remember ever having a die that you can move around, cut apart, and embellish in so many ways!  Thanks for enabling me, Olga!

     Okay, back to my card....  I next stamped the muck boots from the set and colored them with Copics.  They were then fussy cut and coated in Crystal Lacquer, and popped over my flourish.  I finished off the card with Prima flowers and gems.

     That was such fun!  Love this set!  Especially adore the sentiments.  Thanks for stopping by!

Jack-in-the-Box Valentine

     Well here I am again with a shaped Valentine I created over the weekend.  I was kind of just having fun, but since I does fit into the Joan's Gardens challenge #1 for this week, I will use it for a second entry there.

   
     I used my Classic Scalloped Heart Nestabilities die (the largest one), cut and embossed the edge.  Around the scalloped edge, I used my Picket Fence, Distress Ink dauber.  It turned a shade of pink on my red card stock, and I was okay with that.  Next I did my focal image with an SU! stamp set called out of the box.  It gives you different options as to what you want jumping out at you.  Luckily there was a cute heart! As usual, all of the sparkle I added with my stardust pen is not showing up.  I did add touches of color with Copics, and then cut out the image with my new Spellbinders, Labels Twenty-Three die and sponged on a bit of London Fog Memento ink.  My twine and crochet flower are from Pizzazz Aplenty, and the little open heart charm , plus gunmetal flower center are unknown.  My front sentiment is from Studio G, and the inside sentiment is an unmounted from my stash which I can't identify.

     Thanks so much for taking a look.  If you need to see all of the rules for the Challenge at Joan's Gardens, please see my previous post, or visit Joan and play along.  Have a great Monday!

Never Far Apart.....

This week, for my Unity, Friends with Flair contribution, I used the town scene from the December KOM.
It is so cute!  There is also a coordinating sentiment for the inside of the card.  Can't make it any easier.

I started with a base of Lipstick red Pure Luxury card stock, added scraps of an argyle pink designer paper, and started building from there.  First, I used Spellbinders Piercerabilities Ric Rac die to create my bottom edge.  I then pierced in the pattern.  A heart was punched and coated with Crystal Lacquer.  When it dried, I distressed the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. I received the Labels Twenty Three as a Christmas Gift, and I was dying to try it out.  I cut one from white, embossed it with a Cuttlebug Paisley folder,  and used a combo of Brushed Corduroy and Festive Berries Distress ink to highlight it.  There is a layer of paper ribbon, and DewDrops in the corner.  I freehand cut the main stamp image, Colored it with Copics, sponged the edges, Stickled the clouds and hearts, and Crystal lacquered the windows.   The image was then Pop Dotted.

I would also like to enter this card over at Joan's Gardens, this week.
 Here is what you need to do for Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #1:

• Make a card and/or tag using some kind of hearts
• Use any kind of embellishments 
• Use, pink or red with white
• Do some kind of embossing
  
  
  Okay, that is it for me today.  Time to get ready for work!  Oh what fun!  
  
  

Fantastic Blog Candy!

I was recently visited by a very talented lady named Caroline.  Her blog is called Stampings and Inklings.  I traced her back through my friend Olga, and saw that she has some amazing blog candy up for grabs.  Caroline has been one lucky lady as of late, and she has decided to pay it forward to one of her followers.

When Caroline hits 75 followers, she will choose from among her comments, and a winner will receive some fantastic booty!  Please go and pay our fellow stamper a visit, and while you are there, check out her creations and become a follower!

Wowzer!  The contest is closed and I actually won this mother load of stamping goodness!  Thank you, thank you, Caroline!

House Mouse Monday Challenge #110 "New"

Here is to a 2012 full of new ideas, new friends, and new dreams!  After a little break, the team over at the House Mouse Monday site is back with a new challenge, literally.   The theme is "New", and since it sounds like there will be many new babies coming into the world this year, I took this time to start on my stash.

My base is a creamy oak tag layered with sheets of embossed designer papers.  The one is a metallic which I have hoarded for years.  If I am not mistaken, they are from K&Co, as are the diecut flowers running down the side.  I embellished them with pearls.  My House Mouse stamp is one that I won with one of the hops.  It is called "A Birdie Told Me".  So glad I got to use this cutie.  I colored with Copics, and added a sentiment to an SU! punch.  The sky was created with a scallop cut out and sponging some VersaMagic ink.

That's it for me today.  I think I will be going into work!  It is suppose to be bitter cold, so I best hit the shower and dry out before I leave.  Have a great day!

A New Challenge Site!

     My dear friend, Olga, turned me on to a new blog that is hosting challenges for  making scenes.  It is called Craft A Scene.  Their first challenge is up and it is an anything goes challenge.

     Well, I dug out my Stampscape Stamps, which just don't get enough use, and started playing.  I used 4:  Pines and Rocks -195G, Rocks and Reeds -071E, Ducks in Water Large -026B, and a group of Cattails that have no name.  My sentiment is from Clear Dollar Stamps and is from a set called Trendy Tags.

     I cut out my scene with a Spellbinder die that was a Christmas gift.  It is from Labels Twenty Two.  I colored with Copics and did sponging with SU! ink colors So Saffron and Baja Breeze.  The card base is Pure White and is layered with Memory Box dp from their Sweetbay collection.  My accents are a brown cording and a vintage button that I removed the shank from.

     Scenes are always fun to make, in my book, so please go check out this fantastic new challenge and create something!

It's Time for the Rose's!

     Well here we are with 2012 just hours old, and it's time for our very special monthly challenge with the Rose's. Let me first wish you a very Happy New Year.  Here is to lots of inspiration, health, and friendship in the coming year!

     Our hostess this month is Sue Walsh, and she has come up with a great challenge for us.  We were to include: ribbon, lace, glitter, something vintage, and something recycled.  Phew!  I think I went off the deep end with this one.  As far as I know, I have included all of the elements.

     I started with a base of Ivory Pure Luxury card stock.  Did I happen to mention that my new favorite tool is a Corner Chomper?  How did I survive without this thing?  Thanks to my DD, I won't have to do that anymore.  On top of a layer of Soft Sand PL, I added a piece of vintage collage paper from Paperbilities, and just started building.There is ivory cotton lace, a black loopy edge bow, 2 stick pins with heart heads, and an assortment of colored roses.  My vintage item is a stamp that represents an old love letter  with the sentiment done with stamps by Flourishes.  Coloring was done with Copics and the edges were blended with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink.  Glitter was added to the playing card on the collage paper, as well as some shiny puffed hearts from K&Co.  There is a brad added to the center of the dart board, and and MS butterfly for dimension.  Can you spot my recycled item?

     If you guessed the old US Air Mail stamp, you are correct.  We found a book of them while cleaning out my FIL's estate, and I snagged them.  They have brittle vellum between them in and old booklet.  I thought it made a cute addition to my crazy collage.  I will probably use this card as a Valentine, but as of yet, there is no inside sentiment.

     Please take a few minutes to stop by and visit the other Roses to see what they have designed for you.  You can find the list of their bogs on my sidebar.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>