Rose Challenge for January

     Good morning, fellow bloggers!  After a short break, the Roses are back to share a monthly challenge.  This month, Betty Rose, has asked us to do a fancy fold card, to ease us back on schedule!

     I saw this image tucked deep in my computer stash, and just had to color him up.  He has no name or designer attached to the image. Next I went searching for tutorials on different folds, and came up with this center stair step card.  I have never made on before. Here are the supplies I used.

Card and designer paper:  from my scraps
Dies:  Spellbinders Labels Fourteen, Memory Box Puffy Clouds
Punches:  a teeny tiny fish punch that I had borrowed from my friend Carol
Stamps:  cattails, geese, and bird by Stampscapes, Sentiment by Rubbernecker Stamps
Ink:  is Copic markers, Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic chalk ink for sponging
Embellishments are Diamond Stickles, and a snail brad

     Please be sure to visit the other Roses that have linked up for today's challenge!  A list with links can be found on my sidebar.~~~~~~~~~~~>

      Have a glorious Sunday, and I will see you soon.

Happy it's Friday! Bring on the FwF!

     So happy it is time for the weekend, and our pending snow storm is going to be short lived.  It is also time for Friends with Flair, and all the wonderful designers that link up their Unity goodies each Friday.  There is such talent shared, and the chance to win a prize is a real bonus.  Please visit the designers, and leave some love.  If you have a Unity creation to share, link it on up!

     My card today is a 5.5 square card.  I had oodles of fun playing with all of the layers and ribbons.  My stamps are from this months Kit of the Month, called All Hearts and Love.  My designer paper is from Basic Grey's Indie Bloom.  Coloring is with Copic markers and sponging was done with VersaMagic.  Prima Flowers, felt leaves, ribbon and brads are the embellishments.

     Only one card this week. :(  Oh well, that is what happens when you have to work.  Our temp is in the 20's today, and it feels like a heat wave.  I can hear the dollars flying out of the chimney, as the heater has not stopped running in days.  Hope it is warm in your little part of the world!

House Mouse and Joan's Gardens Challenges

     This morning I have had lots of time to stamp and play.  The Inauguration is on the TV, and I am proud to live in the land of the free.

     My first card is for the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge #136.  I have not gotten to play lately, and I sure missed my mousies!  This time, the challenge is to create with "New Beginnings" in mind.  I used the HM stamp called Amanda Writes.  Since I will slip this card into my OWH box, I thought about a soldier writing home with something exciting, like being discharged, a promotion, or transfer.

Here is what was used:
Beige card stock, Latte designer paper from DCWV, Bazzill embossed dots in purple
Inks are Copic Markers, and Memento Rich Cocoa
My script stamp is from Stamp Camp
The embellishments are stitched ribbon from Gina K., a Fanciful Flourish from Cheery Lynn
SU! punches were used for my sentiment, as were purple gems to balance out the piece.

     Card #2 is for this weeks challenge at Joan's Gardens.

We are asked to use a tent fold
Use the colors aqua, purple, and light green
Use something from nature

      Well, flowers were my inspiration, and I wanted to use a new Blossom punch I received from Santa.  I punched it from Bo Bunny Double Dot Designs, and lined it with Basic Grey Plumeria. The center is an MS and SU! punch layered and secured with an eyelet.  I used scraps from my first card to add my purple.  My sentiment is from Clear Dollar Stamps, and my small flowers were with an A Muse stamp.  My embellishments are green eyelets, aqua twine, and green pearls.

     Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hope your Monday is going well!

A Quiet Sunday

     Hope everyone is enjoying their day.  We are on the verge of a wicked cold snap here, and a couple of chances of snow this week.  I have been up since 3:30 a.m., as my DH had to work this morning.  Not lots of energy here, but some good hockey, and football to watch, along with stamps that I borrowed from my DD.  I made this card with no challenge in mind.

     My card stock is just plain white, with flowers and leaves from A Muse Artstamps.  My sentiment is an unknown. Images are stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black.  Coloring is done with Copic Markers, and VersaMagic inks.  I added Inkssentials, white enamel to the center of my flowers.

     That's it for now.  I will see if I can stay awake for another!  I can add this to my OWH box... woo hoo!

FwF is All Hearts & Love

    I just got in from dinner, and realized the linky was up for this weeks Friends with Flair.  So glad we are getting to play!  I can tell everyone else was waiting patiently, also.  Wow, there are almost as many linked, as there is on a full day!  Great job!  See Unity, you can't keep us away!  All three of my cards are from the new KOM called All Hearts & Love.  What a great assortment of stamps!

     My first card is using designer paper from 7 Gypsies, flowers from recollections, and twine from American Craft.

     Card two has designer paper from Memory Box, a tag from K&Co., chipboard, felt leaves, ribbon, and vellum.  So happy to be using up odds and ends from my desk.

     Card three is also using Memory Box paper, Glossy Accents, pearls, and Copic markers for coloring.  I added a couple stitched flowers from K&Co, to support my image.  My card is in mostly greens, and that happens to be the Mid Week Throwdown Challenge at Operation Write Home.

     There is also a link for my previous post which uses stamps from the KOM.  Check it out if you have a minute.  That was sure fun!  Thanks for stopping around!



   

SSS Challenge and OWH Sketch 155

     I had some time to play today, and decided to combine a couple of my favorite challenges.  At Simon Says Stamps, there is a challenge to use Black and White, with a pop of Color.  For the Operation Write Home sketch, it is as follows.

     My first card uses the new January KOM from Unity, called All Hearts and Love.  It has some of the best stamps!  I can see me going to this all year long to create love cards for our troops.  I used some Diamond Stickles on the heart, and then added an extra layer of Glossy Accents, to be sure things were sealed.  My designer paper is from Gina K. Designs.

     Card two can also be for the same SSS Challenge, except my pop of color is Ocean Mist.  The designer paper is again from Gina K. Designs.  The tree stamp is one I have on loan from my DD, and is from Memory Box.  The sentiment is a Clear Dollar Stamp, mounted on 2 SU! punches.

     That's it for me this morning.  Hope all is well in your little neck of the woods.  I always enjoy your visits.

FwF, with and OWH Mid-Week Throwdown Combo

     Happy Friday morning, friends!  I am ever so glad to see this week end.  Friday is Friends with Flair day at Unity, and this week I have 3 cards that accumulated on my desk, that I would like to share.  My first is also for the OWH Mid-Week Throwdown.  The challenge is to create a card which is sentiment free.

     It uses a gorgeous stamp from the June 2012 KOM, which I stamped in Versafine, and clear embossed.  I was colored with Copic Markers, and cut out with a new Spellbinders Die called Decorative Labels Eight.  Santa brought those new dies, and I just love them!  My layers include grey card stock, white embossed with an SU! folder, Memory Box dp, and my image.  Everything is sponged with Spun Sugar Distress Ink, and grey pearls were added.

     My second card was made for a girlfriend who loves bling.  The stamps are from the December 2011 KOM. I used In The Navy card stock, and stamped my images with Faded Jeans Distress Ink.  The photo does not show it, but the tiny hearts are all colored with a Sakura Clear Stardust pen, and the tiny flowers are glazed with Glossy Accents.

     Card three is just playing with some of the girlie stamps from the December KOM 2012.  This has lots of glittery sparkle, which I don't get to use now that most of my cards go to Operation Write Home. Only the top card will go in my OWH box, this time. Amazing what you can do with a black ink pad and a couple scraps of paper!

     Have a wonderful weekend, and I will be sure to check out the other entries by Sunday!  Thanks for visiting!

Craft A Scene January 2013

     Hi, it's me again!  I just love creating scenes, and I finally found some time this morning to play.  I played so long, that I didn't go to work until noon.  Oops!  I am very lucky to pick my own hours, so no worries.  This month the challenge over at the Craft A Scene blog, is called Snowy Cottage.  I pulled out a few Stampscapes stamps, and got busy.

Here is what I used:

Stamps:  Stampscapes- Lakeside Cabin, Rocks 6 small, buck.  My sentiment is Clear Dollar Stamps.  The
snow is made with a Stamps by Judith Stubby.
Inks:  Ranger Distress Inks in assorted colors, Memento Tuxedo Black, Opaque white gel pen, Copic Markers.
Embossing:  Stampendous White Detil
Punches:  Martha Stewart, Stampin Up!
Card stock:  Gina K. Pure Luxury, Bazzill, and Neena

I would also like to include this in the challenge over at The House That Stamps Built, which is to include snow.

     I am pleased, and I hope you enjoy!  Hard to believe we are expecting temperatures near or above 60, later this week.  I don't think that will help people with this nasty flu bug that is gripping the country.  I am praying for all my friends to feel better.

OWH Sketch 154

     I am trying to stay caught up with all of the Operation Write Home Challenges, over on the Stars and Stamps Blog.  Here is this weeks sketch.

     My card was created using assorted card stock, Memento Inks, The Pocket Silhouettes stamp set from SU!, and an MS butterfly punch.  I added touches of Copic marker, and some golden pearls as accents.

     I love when you stop by!  Thanks!

ODBD January Challenge- Dry Embossing

     Hope you are having a fantastic Sunday!  I wanted to get an entry in over at the Stars and Stamps Blog for OWH.  Each month Our Daily Bread Designs, sponsors a challenge and they will pay the shipping on two boxes of cards being sent to our Heroes.

     This month we are asked to include dry embossing on our creations.  I have been seeing more and more of this technique, and have been dying to use it!  I cut a sheet of white and glued on bright circles in assorted colors and sizes.  Then it was sent through my Big Shot using the Square Lattice EF from Stampin Up!.  It is so cool how it just melds everything together.  I punched out some assorted leaves and sprigs, and popped up a flower stamped in Melon Mambo.  The sentiment is Close to my Heart.

     I am off to start dinner and then get busy on my sketch challenge!  Have a great day!

New Year, New FwF!

     It's 2013 and time for another year of fun Fridays with Friends with Flair!  If you have created using Unity Stamps this week, be sure to link up your work, over on the Unity Blog.  There are chances at prizes, even if you just comment.  Here is a card I came up with, using my December KOM, called Everyday Fairytale.

What I used:
Card stock- white, baby blue
Designer Paper- Calais by 7 Gypsies
Ink- Distress Ink in Faded Jeans, and Weathered Wood, also Copic Markers
Embossing- Stampendous Detail White
Accents- ribbon from my stash

     TGIF!  I have not known what day of the week it is for the last 14 days!  Hope you have a fun weekend planned.  Thanks so much for stopping around.  Your comments are what keep me going.

OWH Mid Week Throwdown = Spring Flowers

     Happy Thursday, blogging friends!  I wanted to share a card that was made for the Mid Week Throwdown, over at the OWH Stars and Stamps Blog.  The theme is "Spring Flowers".  I had these embossed die cuts of yellow daisies, that I had been pushing around my desk forever.  They were yelling, "Use me"!  All that yellow gave me a warm glow, and since it 18 degrees, I needed that!

     I started with a base of yellow card, layered with a scrap of DP.  My inside is an embossed negative from a Spellbinders die.  I used the Moroccan EF, and TH Distress Ink in Mustard Seed.  There was also a scrap of stitched green ribbon that I tied in a bow, and adhered with mini Glue Dots.  My belated BD sentiment is one of my unmounted stamps, with no maker.It was stamped in Rich Cocoa ink, on an SU! Curly Label punch out.  That was also distressed in Mustard Seed, and amber pearls were added.

     Work has been a hoot this week.  New Years Eve always brings out the folks who just could not donate the other 364 days of the year.  What they won't do for a tax receipt.  In my 16 years, I have never seen the amount of donors like this year.  Tuesday brought out 334, Wednesday 100 +, and we had thought people started early this year, because last week we had 100+ days!  Today should be a treat, with nowhere to even stand.  Wish me luck!

Happy New Year!

     Here is wishing you a happy, healthy New Year!  We were puppy sitting for our DS and DIL, so that they could spend some time with friends.  They will be back by noon, and I will start making my traditional sauerkraut and pork dinner.  It is suppose to bring good luck for the coming year.  We also get to enjoy a day of Mummer's Parade, from Philly!  

     As I waited for the ball to drop, last evening, I decided to play a bit in the stamp room.  I created this card to fit the current sketch, # 153, over on the OWH, Stars and Stamps Blog.

     I used a digital image that I collected ages ago from Glitterbabe.  The card stocks are Pure Luxury, from Gina K. Designs.  The designer paper is a 1/4 sheet that I had chopped while clearing out some 12x12 papers.  The ribbon was from my snippets box, and the hearts are from K&Co's Smitten collection from years ago.  Hence, I would also like to enter this over at a new challenge site I found called Clear It Out Challenge.  The new theme is "Warm and Fuzzy" I think I will enjoy these challenges, for sure!

     Over the years, I have been collection so many cute digis.  I have decided to start printing them out, getting them colored, and using them, instead of just letting them clog up the computer.  Have a wonderful start to your 2013, and thanks for visiting my blog!