Sunshiny Days

 
      I use to think I was addicted to paper, but now I do believe a die addiction has taken over.  You can not only use the die cut, but also the negative to stencil backgrounds and such.  Okay, maybe it is both!

     The challenge over at Little Red Wagon is #339, Sunshiny Days.  Here is how I created this:

Papers:  Bazzill and Gina K. Designs
Stamps:  SU! Stem Silhouettes 2007 which I used for the background and sentiment
Dies:  Gina Marie Dragonfly and Stitched Fishtail dies.  (Yes, they are new)
Punch:  1" circle stenciled with a negative die cut sun
Inks:  Distress Inks in Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo
Embellishments:  gem eyes for my dragonfly and enamel dots from SU!

     So happy you dropped by.  Hope to do lots of creating this weekend since most of it will be a wash out.

A 2 Fer Today!

      My folder for cards to post is getting out of hand, so I thought maybe today I would double up on my post.  My first card is one that I designed and created for my DS's 32nd Birthday.  I found this really cool scrap of outdoor paper and I just ran with it.  We both love nature, and I was pleased with the masculine feel that it had when completed.

Papers:  Bazzill Basics Aspin cardstock, Designer paper unknown,
Dies:  Memory Box deer family, Lawn Fawn stitched leaves
Stamps:  Sentiment from Unity,
Inks:  Distress Ink old paper, SU ink wild wasabi
I used the SU piercing mat and added a scrap of green woven ribbon.

    This card will also be taken over to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

     My second card is an Easter creation that just did not get posted.  This weather has been so crazy, that the lilacs are just now popping open here.  Add that to the fact that Easter was so dang early this year, and we have my slowness to post.  Just saying......

     I found a fantastic post with this inspiration photo that drew me in.  So happy that I saved it now!

     For this one, I rounded the corners of my base card, added a layer of shimmering lavender card, and then my stamped top panel.

     I used the two step Lilac stamps from SU!, an unknown sentiment, added a square doily and a gemstone butterfly by Recollections.

     I will be entering this at the Card Concept 54 which is spring flowers, and this inspiration photo!

Thanks for visiting and making your way through this long post.

Anything Goes!

     I made this card for a doggie-lover friend at work.  The poor thing came down with shingles.  They are so painful.  Anyhow.......

     My card starts with a white base and a layer of designer paper from Basic Grey called Aurora.  My sentiment and pooch stamps are from Inky Antics.  The dies used are a stitched oval from MFT, and a word die from Sizzix/Tim Holtz. Punched stars are from SU with Diamond Stickles added.  A few turquoise sequins are added for a special pop.

     I would like to enter this at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where it is Anything Goes.
There is also an Anything Goes at Tuesday Throwdown #291, so I will be taking this over there.

     Hope your week is perking along.  Around here, there have been a few ups and downs, but we are hanging in there.  Just keep smiling!  Thanks so much for the visit.

A Little Tag.

     This sweet girl is buried in her books!  Nothing wrong with that, right?  I created this tag for the Unity Show and Tell challenge over on FB.  Every few weeks they ask us to use one of the Unity Girls on a project.  The stamps are from the monthly kit from May 2015, called Spread your Wings.  I used Distress Inks and touches of Copic marker.  There are scraps of designer paper and some embellishments.  For the extras, I used wrinkle ribbon which I made, enamel dots from SU!, and some felt embellishments from Jolee's Boutique.

     Since I used lots of bits, I decided to load this over at Pixie's Snippets Playground challenge # 226.

     It is such a gorgeous day, with bright sun and cool temps, that I did a few pictures outside.  Enjoy what is left of your weekend!

Text Me!

   
      Today I have a card that just sort of happened when I was playing at my desk.  I am quite thrilled with the result!  I am a paper hoarder... there I said it.  I started cutting some of my ancient 12x12 papers into quads so that I use them up.  I reached in the little basket I have on my desk and pulled out this yummy paper.  It is oodles old, but the texture and colors are wonderful.  I cut an A2 background, and Lawn Fawn stitched leaves with the extra paper.  I also cut a Lil Inkers stitched rectangle from watercolor paper.  First, I stamped the panel with a text background from Stamp Camp.  Next I cut the word hello with a die from Crafter's Companion.  I used the negative from that word to create a shadow and then place the word on top slightly nudged.  My only embellishments are three candy dots from SU!

     I would like to enter this over at Little Red Wagon #338  Text Me!  Also at Tuesday Throwdown TT290, where it is Monochromatic.  A new challenge to me is Virginia's View Challenge, which is friendship.

     Happy Friday and have a fantastic weekend!

Making it Girlie!

   

     Here is a card I made using a new die from MFT called Scribble Flower, a leaf stamp from Penny Black, and a Spellbinders die sporting a sentiment that is from Inkadinkado. (thanks, Di!)  I had fun with lots of inks and sponging.  My designer paper is from Crate Paper and is called Kiss Kiss.  A couple candy dots were used for embellishments.

     I will be sharing this for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, which is Make it Girlie.
This will also be heading to Pixie's Snippets Playground #225, where it is always time to play and use snippets!

   It has been a gorgeous week, so far.  Lots of sunny days and warm afternoons.  The evenings get cool but they are really enjoyable for sitting out.  Have a fantastic second half to your week.  Thanks for the visit.

I.C.U.

     This past weekend, I went in search of the new Art Impression sets that are exclusive to Michael's Stores.  It took a couple of stores to find this funny ICU/ Get Well set.  They must be selling like hotcakes.

     My card is very simple and uses images stamped in Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. The designer paper scraps are from my bin, and I added a few sequins for a bit of sparkle.  This will be great for the stash, as the men's cards are so hard.

     There is a current challenge over on the Art Impressions blog.  It is Challenge #182, called Show Off Your Stamp.  He is definitely "Showing" off!

     So glad you could stop around.  Enjoy this awesome spring day!

A Second Entry

     I had so much fun making the teal and grey card below, that I had to give a second card a go.  That and the fact that everything was still on my desk....LOL!

     I used some Bazzill embossed dot card stock for my base and watercolor paper for the rest.  The Unity stamp I used is one of their Itty Bitty sets called Relax, Renew, Restore.  The inks are SU and the colors are Lost Lagoon, and Smoky Slate.  I cut the oval after stamping the lilacs 3x and sponged the edges.  A water brush was used to pull some color into the blossoms.  I did not want to throw the negative so I created a patterned frame with the gray ink.  I popped the oval with foam tape to give dimension.  For embellishment, there are SU candy dots.  MS butterfly punches and a piece of homemade wrinkle ribbon.

     Today is yard work day.  It is suppose to be beautiful.  I mostly supervise the boss so he does not pull out my good plants.  Being deathly allergic to bees, this is my very favorite time of year since they are not real active yet.  Hope you are having a real pretty day also.

A New Color Challenge for Show and Tell

     This week I dug way back in the archives to find this Unity Store Kit, which is a split kit.  One half is called All About the Journey, and the the other is called Bold Insight.  I used stamps from both halves.  I do believe I will leave this card without an inside sentiment for now.  This would be great as a graduation card or also to send someone on their way to a new job.

     The colors for this challenge are grey and teal.  I just love both. so here is how it came together.

     My card base is a silver grey metallic, followed by a layer of white and then black.  I cut a stitched panel with Lil Inkers dies and did the smoosh technique with SU inks.  The colors are Smokey Slate and Lost Lagoon.  Next came my stamps and I highlighted the compass rose with a teal Copic.  My embellishments are waxed black twine and a silver star charm.

Have a fantastic day, and I sure do hope this nice weather continues!  The visit is so appreciated.

Photo Inspiration

   

     This week at Unity Show and tell, we were giving a Photo Inspiration Challenge.  I debated my approach for a few days, and then just jumped in.  Here is the photo.

   
     My designer papers are from Basic Grey's Hopscotch collection.  I created my drops by stamping on the reverse side of my paper and cutting out.  My sentiment  and butterfly are both Unity.  The sentiment is from a grab bag and the butterfly is from the December 2012 KOM.  I created a top border using an MS punch and added some enamel dots.

     Thanks for the visit.  I am waiting for the snow to begin here.  Is it really April?

I Love Yellow!

   
     I saw this exciting inspiration challenge over at Vicki Dutcher's Blog, and I had to give it a go.  It is at Double D Challenges, and is called Yellow... A Happy Place to Be.  Here is the photo that they used for inspiration.

   
     My card is a basic white base.  The designer polka dot paper is from Heidi Grace's Sunshowers Collection.  Eek.... I love polkadots.  My friend Colleen sent me some surprise diecuts.  This bird one from TH is water colored.  I added an eye by inking my piercing tool end.  The sentiment is a Unity stamp.  I added some tiny Prima flowers around his neck and topped each with a clear gem.  Washi tape was used for his perch.

     I hope you like, and have a wonderful Wednesday!

Sketch Challenge

   
   
     This week, for the Unity Show and Tell Challenge, on FB, there is a Sketch to follow.  I always have to push it a little.  There was a stamp in the April 2014 KOM that I wanted to use, so my panel may be a bit wide.  I do, however, like the results.

   
     I stamped the image from Botanical bliss on white with Versafine Onyx Black ink and coated it with clear embossing powder while it was still wet.  After heating, I framed my image with Micropore tape to form a border.  Out came the Distress Inks in Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, and Peacock Feathers.  My designer papers are from Pink Paislee's Hey Kid collection.  I stamped my sentiment from the same kit and mounted my panel with foam tape, for dimension.  My row of 3 embellishment are tiny butterfly punches from MS with added K&Co gem stones.

     Enjoyed the Final Four game, last evening!  Sorry, all of you Oklahoma fans, but Villanova handed you your hats and sent you packing!  Go Wildcats!  We are also dealing with weather extremes today.  Praying the power stays on!