Tropical Holiday!

     Here is a little froggie who is staying warm this Christmas.   I was in need of a card for a family member that won't get north this year.  When I saw this Santa frog image, I just knew it would make a cute card.  I printed him and cut him out with a cross stitch semi-circle die, which I sponged with SU! ink.  My sun die is from Lil' Inker.  The palm trees and frond are unknown.  The designer paper is from Pebbles, Home For Christmas collection.  The sentiment is unknown.  I added a couple gems, and figured I better quit.

     I would like to enter this at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies for their December challenge.

     I have been quite busy around here, and once again I have neglected my blog.  Hope all of your holiday prep is perking along!  Thanks for the visit! 

Wandering in the Woods!

     Sunday, I never made it into my craft room.  However on Saturday, I made a couple of these cuties.  My card base is Midnight Muse card stock from SU.  My metallic and glitter card stock is from Crafter's Companion.  I cut the silver glitter with Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside dies.  My adorable bear and trees are dies I have had for a couple years.  I gave the trees some sparkle with Diamond Stickles (they should sell that stuff by the gallon).  My snow flakes were created with Nuvo Glitter Drops.  My bear was highlighted with Copic markers. The sentiment is mounted on a scrap of blue mirror card, and is from a set called Snow Kissed, from Sunny Studio Stamps.

I would like to take my card to the following challenges:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies:  Use a critter, and that is my polar bear.

Paper Player's #466:  Into the Woods, and That would be the little forest I created.

Pixie's Snippets Playground #364:  Always use snippets.

     It feels like winter is approaching with speed!  Brrr.  Guess we have been spoiled with an extended warm season.  They even said the "S" word for the end of this week!  Are you ready?

Be Brave

   
     I had a great conversation with a dear relative and friend, who is going through some life changing happenings.  It is hard to let go of life as we have know it for so many years.  That is why I sat down and created this card for her.  Hope it let's her know that we are in her corner.

     My stamps used are from a Unity KOM from July of 2015, called Halo Dirty.  I colored my girl with Copic markers.  The sentiment is from the same kit.  I used some SU ink in Highland Heather, to stamp a border on my lavender paper, then used an inside scallop stitched frame die to frame out my image.  My sentiment was stamped and cut with a small stitched rectangle die from Gina Marie.  I added Nuvo Drops and tiny Prima flowers as embellishment.

     Have a great weekend, and thanks for the visit!  Don't ask me how I got this to post!  Blogger is being wonky, and just does not like to let you add pictures!

Boo Y'all

     Just stopping by to wish everyone a safe and Happy Halloween!  It is going to be a wet one, here in Delaware!

     It seems that blogger has decided to not allow photos to post now, and I am not the only person with this problem.  Guess I will see you when this gets fixed!
   

Time To Get Ready To Scare!

    

      I love autumn, and Halloween is part of that time!  I thought I was finished with my cards until I acquired the Big Bold Jack-O-Lantern from Colorado Craft Co.  It stamps beautifully and as with their other new stamps, looks perfect stamped off the edge.  After stamping it, I colored the pumpkin with Copic markers.  Next, I moved to creating my background with Distress Oxide inks.  This was spritzed with water, to make the sky look spooky. My moon was created with a 1 1/4" punch and cut.  The bats are sparkly sequins I picked from a mix.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  I needed a little something for the bottom so I double stamped some corn stalks that are from an older set by Gina K. Designs.  I think this is one of my very favorite cards I created this year!

     I would like to enter this at:

     Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Halloween!

    The Male Room Challenge #122: Halloween

     Use Your Stuff Challenge Blog #378:  Pumpkins

     It has been a wild week here in DE.  My husband retired last Friday, we celebrated our 42nd anniversary, and we both caught a bad cold.  Ugh!  Instead of arising at 4:30 am, everyone sleeps in!  Boy, that can sure mess with a girls routine!  Anyway, it is good to have him home, but very different.

     Thanks for stopping by.  Hope to be around as time permits!

Happy World Card Making Day!

     As I am enjoying all the posts and You Tube videos, I thought I better post something on this special day.  Hope you get creative in some way today.

      Recently a dear friend celebrated her birthday and this was the card I sent to her.  I love roosters and the rustic feel of this card.  I used assorted assorted dies and scraps of designer papers from my huge tub.  I even found a scrap of burlap and pulled threads from the edges to make my tiny bow.  I added some rub on gold to my rooster, and Nuvo drops as my embellishments.

     I would like to share this at the following:

     Pixie's Snippets Playground #362-  Always use snippets!

     2 Crafty Critter Crazies #31-  Used my rooster!

     I think fall has finally made it's way to DE.  The ac is off and yesterday we were able to leave windows open all day.  Today is chilly and the builders are taking advantage of the temps, and since it is now so dry, the air is full of dust.  Maybe they will quit soon!

Out of this World!

     I can tell if I blink too many times that this weekend will be over.  Decided I had better do another post!  Today I am sharing a card that I created for my grandson's birthday.  I do not get many requests for children's cards since I quit working, so I decided this would be one for him.  Now I was not sure which birthday I would use it for, so what I did was create a series of number circles for the center so I could add the appropriate one, with a pop dot, as needed!

     This card uses great designer paper that was all sparkly.  I cut many of the images to use as my characters.  I also used my gear dies, number dies and star dies.  My sentiment was from SU!  I decorated the large gear with different colors of Nuvo Drops.  He just loved it!

     I would like to share this at Seize The Birthday challenge # 174, "It's Just A Number".

     Thanks for the visit!  Have an enjoyable Saturday.

     Woo hoo, this card won "Birthday Honors"!  Thanks so much!

Snailed It!

     Every time I tell myself that I am going to slow down with buying stamps, someone comes out with a set that screams to me.  When I saw a recent release at Unity, that is exactly what happened!  The stamp set I am using for my two fer this month is called is called Snailed it!  There are 2 snail friends in the set, plus some great sentiment and doo dads. 

   
     I used  papers from my hoarded Basic Grey stash and the Olivia paper pad.  I stamped with Memento, Rich Cocoa and coloring was done with Copic markers.  It was cut out with a MFT inside out stitched oval.  My embellishments are some felt grass border, a sparkly heart, some Glossy Accents and some hand doodling.

     My second card uses papers from the same collection, my snail colored and fussy cut, and the negative frame from my oval.  I added some corrugated kraft to the bottom with a brass star brad.   I added teeny tiny beads for the snails eyeballs while the Glossy Accents were still wet.  Thought this would make a great encouragement card.

     These were created for Darnell's Two-fer Challenge, which is #20 and to use Critters.  I would also like to take my first card over to the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #30 for September.

      Now, I find this a wee bit crazy, but The day my stamps arrived, this was in my yard, climbing on some garden blocks!

     I just found this so funny!  I have never seen one in PA with antenna and a shell!  Most we ever had were slugs.  They were creepy.  Anyway, thanks for sticking with my long post.  Have a great weekend!

Using the Mood Board....

     Well this morning we are getting some of the first rain bands from Dorian. It is grey, windy and just plain dreary.  What better time then now to do a blog post, right? 

     Today I am sharing a card that I made ages ago and stashed in my file for the right challenge to come along.  It uses stamps from the Out of this world set by Clearly Besotted.  My sentiment was printed.  The lavender embossed card stock was from Tuesday Mornings and is Bazzill.  I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on my  green background.   My frame die is unknown.  Coloring was done with Copic markers.  For embellishments, I used blue gems, and lots of Glossy Accents.

     I would like to take this over to the Double D Challenge, which is their Featured Challenge, where you use something in their Mood Board on your creation!  I went with the monster quilt!

     The good thing is that it is Friday!  Hubby signed up for a Fisherman's Flea Market for Saturday.  He has some trolling motors and navigation devices to sell.  He will have a fun day near the water with lots of other fishing fanatics.  I am working on some more re-organizing in this craft room.   Since my space is so limited, I have to keep on top of it.  Hope you have fun things planned, also.

Down on the Farm!

     I recently acquired this set from a Goodwill purchase.  I thought it would be great for some
masculine cards.  It is called Times and Seasons from back in 1999, by Stampin Up!  I thought about how to color it and decided to use a water brush and ink washes.   I love the softness.  My sun and cloud dies are from Lil Inkers.  The designer, red check paper is from Little Yellow Bicycle and their Vintage Summer pack.

     This is the correct theme for the current Paper Players challenge #457, which is a theme challenge by LeAnne.  It is called " Down on the Farm".  How fun!

     I have been lost to the blogging universe, again.  So sorry.  It has been a busy few weeks.  Chores are getting caught up and the temps have eased up a bit.  We have been planting some shrubs and a tree, building a ramp to the back yard (since we have a Dachshund), and listing items for sale so we can find our garage.  Next will be decorating for fall!  Thanks for the visit!

Heron

     Today I am sharing one of the many sympathy cards that I create for my DD's health care office.  I send them 3 doz. at a time, and by the time I think to ask how they liked them, they are through half. I understand that these can be so hard for some to create, but I know they are appreciated when the time arises.  

     This was created using scraps of designer paper and card stock from my stash.  The Great Heron die is from Gina Marie Designs. my oval is an inside stitched oval from MFT.   I used my brushes to blend the colors and create a sky and ground for my bird.  Copic's were used to color parts of the bird and Nuvo drops were used as accents.  My sentiment is from a lovely sympathy set called Moments of Grace, by SSS.

I would like to enter this over at Pixie's Snippets Playground for their challenge #359.  All of my papers are scraps.

     The cooler temps here in DE have driven us to the outdoors. Hubby is planting shrubs and trees, and building landings where there are no steps.   I am so looking forward to my first fall in this new area.  Delaware seems to like celebrations, as I could see from the number of peach festivals.  Next I expect apples and pumpkins!  Sorry I have been scarce, but I do appreciate the visit!

Monochromatic Jungle Card

     I saw this challenge over on the Double D challenge blog and just wanted to go play along.  This sweet little zebra is another of the many stamps I own, which came from an unmounted collection bought years ago.  If anyone knows who makes it, please feel free to let me know.  I just hate not showing these stamps love.  I also used lots of dies from my stash too.  I shadowed my Zebra with Copic marker and added black Nuvo drops as accents.  The designer paper is a chevron print that was bought from Tuesday Mornings and has a slight shade of pink distressing.  I also used Crafter's Companion metallic card in matte and shiny silver.

     So as I said I will take this over to the Double D Challenge blog where this week the challenge is "It's a jungle out there".

     I will also enter this as a second entry at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.

   
      How about Paper Players #454 which is Black, White and One Other Color!  My extra color is silver!

   
     This mission that I've been on, to use all my unloved goodies, continues.  You just never know what you will see here if you visit!  LOL.  Oh, and thanks for that, also!

Negative and Positive!

     This was pure playing but I used everything I had to make these cards.  I also drug an old SU! set out of the closet to join in the playing.  That set is called Fishy Friends.  I just love these comical sea creatures!

     I started with plain white card stock panel, and 3 Distress Oxide inks.  They were Old Paper, Tumbled Glass and Peacock Feathers.  Each ink was stamped using a bubble background stamp, which  found in my stash.  I cut the one panel with a inside scallop circle die, and the second panel has the inside of the circle as a background for my fish!  There are scraps of paper from Heidi Swapp, that were used as layers.  My seaweed in metallic silver, and starfish are dies from Gina Marie.  The fish in the circle uses the SU! Happy Birthday Frame to ground him.  For embellishment I used Nuvo Drops in Blizzard and Duck Egg Blue.  Nothing was wasted!

      I would like to share these over at Pixie's Snippets Playground #358, which is use snippets all the time.

     Your visit is greatly appreciated.  Hope you have a terrific Tuesday.

Sweet Doxie

     I was recently able to get my hands on this adorable Dachshund die.  This card kind of evolved on it's own.  It started with a play with some watercolor paper, which was then die cute with a semi circle cross stitch die.  My card base is in rust and the designer paper is from K & Co's Sweet Nectar collection.  Next I die cut the Doxie and used fingertip daubers and ink pads to apply color.  I used some SU ribbon for a cute bow, and Golden Sunset Nuvo Drops as my accents.  I added accents to the dog with a Copic.

     Just a quick post for a Saturday.  Hubby is dog sitting, for our son, and I am manning the resident Doxie at home.  August sounds like it will be a jam packed month and getting us closer to hubby's Halloween retirement... Woo Hoo!  Thanks for stopping by.

Love Me Some Critters!

     Today's card features a stamp that has been in my collection for what seems like a zillion years.  His name is Henry, and he is made by Rubbernecker Stamps.  I thought he deserved to see some daylight!

     My card starts with a white base, and then I added a panel stamped with the Buffalo Check, background stamp from SU!  I added a few strips of  red bandanna paper from my scraps.  Henry is stamped on a Gina Marie Designs, fishtail tag die and coloring is done with Copic markers.  My sentiment and word bubble were grabbed from other random sets.  I tied a twine bow and added some navy Nuvo drops, plus a little sparkle to my heart.

     I am entering this over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies, for their newest Challenge.

     Most of our friends are in the upper years, so I thought this one would make a great birthday card for the stash.  I hope life is good in your part of the world.  Seems we have yet another week almost kicked in the butt!  Thanks for the visit.

Dancing Sheep!

     I just adore this cute stamp set, and for the life of me, I can not figure out who makes it.  I have tried Google and everything.  If you happen to know, please pop it in the comments.  Thanks.

     When I saw the new sketch challenge at Paper Players 452, I knew these little guys would fit in the middle of that sketch!

     My card starts with a base of Sweet Corn card from Gina K. Designs, some scraps of mint and pink and very vanilla,  from my stash, and a piece of DP from K & Co's Wild Raspberry Collection.  I fussy cut my sheep and stamped a sentiment from the same set.  The only embellishments are some Diamond Stickles and pink Nuvo drops.  I was a real rebel and moved my sentiment to the opposite side, for better placement.

     Tuesday, already?  How is this possible?  Sounds like it will be another hot one, too.  Oh well, more time to stay in and craft!  Thanks for stopping by.  Keep cool!

A Background Challenge

     I have a friend who has been doing a beautiful job of using all of her older Stampin Up stamps.  She recently challenged me to create a card using a background stamp that we both own.

     The stamp is the Happy Birthday Greetings background stamp.  I was not quite sure how I was going to use it, but I think my card came out okay.  I started by using Versamark and gold embossing powder on a white panel.  I layered it on matte gold and a black card base.  I found this fun party hat die in my stash, and cut a couple for my side border.  For embellishments, I used gold Nuvo Drops, and some sparkly gold ribbon.

     Please visit Wendy's blog  at WeeBeeStampin4Fun here.  This was such a fun way to play with our stash!

     I would like to enter this card at the Double D Challenge, which is a Birthday Challenge.  I love the lower corner of the inspiration panel which is all black, white and gold.

     Thanks for visiting me today, and I hope you start your week off with a smile!

Visiting Vintage

     This card opens a world of emotions to me.  My mom has been gone since 1997 and at that time, she was an avid collector of antique buttons.  She also bought and sold collections all over the world.  Parts of  her collection were photographed for the Big Book of Buttons, which is like the bible for collectors.  When I saw this stamp for sale on a FB group, I just had to have it!

     This card started with a white base and a layer of vintage floral.  I stamped my image in Memento ink and cut it out with a cross stitch rectangle die. This pretty stamp is from Stampington & Company. I colored sections in with a pale Copic marker and added Glossy Accent to my button holes for texture.  My gold foiled sentiment heart is from Crafter's Companion, as are my corner dies, I do believe.  The card is finished with a satin bow and a few pale pearls.

     I would like to enter this card at the Allsorts Challenge # 530/31 which is Buttons and Bows!

For now I have left it as a blank note until I find the right person.  Thanks for the visit, and I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

Masculine CAS

   
     Last month I made an assortment of birthday cards, for a very nice business man I met.  This was one of those cards.  He had mentioned he gave one to each of his employees.
I gifted him with a few to keep him going.

     Most of what was used for the CAS card were scraps from my desktop.  A pieces of designer paper was added to a white base.  My stamped layer is also done on white, with my image in Memento Rich Cocoa ink.  The stamp was purchased on Ebay and arrived with no name.  All I knew is how I struggle with making cards for the men in my life, and knew it would get lots of use.  I used  shades of green and blue ink with my makeup brushes to add touchs of color to my panel. A simple Happy Birthday die cut was added to the top, using a leftover scrap of gold foil card stock.  My inside reads "Fishing You Many Happy Returns".  That stamp is from Rubbernecker.

     I would like to enter this at:  1)  Paper Players #451  Clean and Simple Masculine.

                                                  2)  Pixie's Snippets Playground #357  Always use snippets.

     Sorry I have not been posting, I just get into a slump.  Perhaps the lifting of the heat will get things perking, again.  Our state fair is 10 minutes down the road and with the heat index being 120*, I just could not bare the thought of going, so I sent hubby by himself.  It is however, a good time to sit and do some stamping.  Thanks for visiting.

Never Too Many Birthday Cards!

     I always like to keep a large assortment of Birthday cards on hand.  I was watching a video about using scrap for backgrounds.  You take pieces that are at least 2 inches wide and cut them diagonally to form long triangles.  I like how this worked out, and i will be making more.

     My Flower Shop stamps and punch, from SU! was also being neglected so I added them to the mix.  The flowers were stamped in Rich Razzleberry and Wisteria Wonder.  My Happy Birthday die was a gift, so I am clueless.The only other thing was adding centers to my flowers with some Nuvo Crystal drops.

     I would like to enter this at Fab & Funky Challenges #448, which is the Colour Purple.

     This would also be great for the challenge at Pixie's Crafty Workshop #356, which is using all of       our Snippets.

     It is so funny to see some of the paper scraps I have hoarded!  It actually ages me!  LOL.....

     Have a wonderful Hump Day, and I hope to see you again soon!

Surf's Up!

 
      Here is a fun card I created last week.  Had the pleasure of family visiting and it has been laying on my desk since.

The items I used are as follows:
Papers:  Designer paper from Heidi Swapp, A printed beach, and assorted white card scraps for die cuts
Stamps:  The Chillin set from Simon Says Stamp
Dies:  Sea Gulls from IO,  stitched clouds from Lil Inker, starfish from Gina Marie
Ink:  Coloring with Copic markers, images stamped with Hero Arts, intense black ink
Embellishments:  Nuvo Glitter drops, Crystal Lacquer for nose and mouth.

     I would like to enter this at Paper Players #449, which is Water Sports (surfing).

     Also, entering at the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge for this month, which is #28.

     Another at Allsorts Challenge which is Summer Fun/ or Sport

     How about Just For Fun July 2019 Challenge which is At the Shore Line.

     This Chillin stamp set has the greatest dog images!  It even has sentiment for retirement!

     I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend.  Around here, it was hard to plan anything with all of the pop up storms, so we did lots of eating out and short trips.  Did some antiquing, mini golf, and a trip to the DuPont Nature Center, which my grandson loved.  He learned all about special turtles and horseshoe crabs, plus got to see how they eat.  Thanks for the visit.

A Sympathy with Butterfly.

     As some of you know, I create sympathy cards for my daughter's office at work.  Unfortunately, they go through quite a few as they are in the health care field.  Sometimes I have to replenish quickly, and this card is one that is easy to duplicate.

     My background paper has succulents mixed into the flowers and I thought it was such a pretty background.  I printed it from an image found on Pinterest.  That was added to a base card in a rose color. My die was a gift, and I am unsure of the maker.  I added Queen and Co pearls and a sympathy sentiment stamp on the edge of the butterfly.

     Have a great weekend, and I will see you again soon!

Starting with a Wreath.......

      Have you ever gotten a plan in your head and it haunts you until it can come true?  That is what happened with me this week.  I was looking around my craft room and seeing all of the stamps set I own that have little stamps includes.  It seems I always use the main images, but never the extras.  I decided to resolve that issue, after watching many videos on the Gina K. Wreath Builder Template.  I purchased a set from a lady who was selling her's on FB... Gee, wonder why she would part with it?  It arrived and I went to try it out.  It was then I realized my Misti was too small!!!!  Since I have a sweet hubby, he did not give me grief about buying a new size.  Well, that too has arrived and I finally got to play.  I used a stamp set from Altenew, called Parrot Paradise.  Oh, that was fun!

     My inks are Nuvo Hybrid inks, and since the rounded leaf was quite solid, it stamped a bit mottled, which I think added to the texture.  The parrot was colored with Copic markers, and popped up with foam.  I used a die cut for my sentiment in matte gold and designer paper from Webster's Pages.  I have hoarded those papers for years! All that was left, was to add gems for a bit of sparkle.

      I would like to enter this at Little Red Wagon #503...Which is Much Ado About Nothing.  Do not make a card for a specific holiday.

     This will also go over to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, which is Anything Goes.

     We are in the grip of a heat wave and stamping has been a big part of the last couple days.  Hope all is well in your little part of the world, and thanks for stopping by.  Sorry if I was windy, but I am hooked on these new tools!

A First For Me.

  

     Today I have 2 cards created for a challenge I have never played in.  Why haven't I played?  I have no clue!  I visit Darnell's Blog, quite frequently, but  not had the pleasure of joining in on her Twofer Challenge, which this month is bees.  

Onefer:

     My first card uses some rather old papers and my stitched mat rectangle dies from Lil Inker.  My stamp set is the Bee Builder stamps from Honey Bee Stamps.  The designer paper is from a Mat Stack by DCWV.  The daisies were cut and topped with tiny Nuvo drop accents. The bee wings were coated with Diamond Stickles. I had a sheet of all Bee sentiments, but no name.  This one is a birthday card.

Twofer:

     Second card has a base of Pear Pizzazz card from SU, and strips of plaid, also found in the DCWV stack.I embossed a white panel and inked the edges with Granny Apple Green.  Again I used the Bee Builder stamps, but this time I made it a card to encourage, and changed up the face on my bee body.  Not quite the sparkle, with Wink of Stella on my bee wings.  My die cuts are done in metallic card.

     I just love the way you can change up the mood with different faces!  Have a happy Monday, and thanks for the visit!

Have You Heard?

     This is a newer set from Unity, which I received in an order, the other day.  I could not resist this sweet face.  It kept calling "buy me".  It stamps beautifully and is such a good size, the a card does not need much else.  I kept thinking of Elsie, the old Borden cow from commercials and had to add a few daisies into the mix.

     I started with a Pear Pizzazz card base and blended in some Balmy Blue ink on the edges of a white 4x5.25 panel.  A strip of the green dsp from the SU! gingham gala assortment, was added.  Next I stamped my cow with Memento, Rich Cocoa ink. Then I blended ink around the cow with the same blue and adding Granny Apple Green for my pasture.  The cow was colored lightly with Copic markers, and Glossy Accents were added to the eyes and nose.  The image was cut out with cross stitched semi-circle dies.  I die cut a couple of daisies and hit the side edge of each petal with green, to make them look dimensional.  Their centers got covered in diamond Stickles, and some sequins and a bow were added.

This card will be entered at Cuttlebug Mania , which is a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge this week.

     I used the top horizontal row:  sentiment, image, die-cut! 

      I think this set is going to get lots of use!  It should do nicely for girly or masculine cards.

     Thanks for stopping by.   Sounds like another day of nasty storms, so might as well stamp!

Go Wild!

     I know, I know.... I have been absent.  It isn't that I have not been creating, as that is all I seem to do.  I apologize one again for letting my blog go stale.  On to my card.

     Today I have a card that I created this morning with some stamps that were gifted to me, before I moved.  They are wonderful red rubber that were never mounted on EZ Mount, so yesterday I got that chore completed.  The are from High Hopes Stamps, and a great bunch of adorable animals. This great background was included  with the group, also.  So much fun!

     My coloring was done with Copic markers, and that led to another chore of re-inking about a dozen pens....I used a piece of designer paper from MFT, and their Wild Prints 6x6 pad, along with 2 sizes of stitched suns from Lil Inker.  The birthday sentiment is one of my zillion unmounted stamps that has no maker attached.  I added an inside sentiment that says "Walk on the wild side".

     I would like to enter this card at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #27.  Such a fun challenge to use all of our critters!

     It is hump day, and most of the country is water logged.  Looking forward to some bright sunshine, this weekend.  How about you?

Hello, Gorgeous!

     Today I would like ot share a card I created with the SSS, Wake Up and Make Up stamp set.  This was really fun to place all the pieces on my Misti and form a pattern.  I was able to do just enough to leave room for the sentiment.  My coloring was done with Copic markers, and touches of Stickles and Glossy Accents were added for texture. There are even some Nuvo Drops added to fill in and add even more texture.   I even pulled out an old Martha Stewart corner punch.  The designer dotted paper is from American Crafts Hip Hip Hooray paper pad.

     For the inside, I added a makeup brush, and more of the corner punches to my panel.  Everything was mounted to a black card base.  I really like how this came out and will be using it again, real soon!

     I would like to take this over to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge which is Anything Goes.

     Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  If the storms hold off, we may do a bit of grilling today.

Playing With Stencils

     I received a set of those new- fangled makeup brushes, in the mail, the other day.  I had to give them a go, and I must say I just love how they blend inks!  I pulled out an old stencil I had in my stash, and went to town layering my images, until I liked what I saw.  I even used a negative from a Lil Inker sun die to stencil in my sun.  My sentiment is another unknown and was stamped in High Dive dye ink from Simon Says Stamp.  I added some Nuvo Drops to my flower centers and butterflies, and mounted my panel onto a piece of Bazzill card.  I used a scrap of gold mirror card to make my sentiment pop. A white gel pen was used to add tiny dots to  my butterfly wings.  It was so pretty that it just had to be for a mom!  This will go into next years stash.

     This card will be entered at Simon Says Stamp and Show- Use Stencils
     Also at Use Your Stuff  #359- for the Moms.

     Another fun play day!  Hope you have a pleasant Hump Day, and life treats you well.

Language of Friendship

     Today, I reached in the closet and shut my eyes, pulling out an SU set and telling myself I was going to use it no matter what.  The set is called Language of Love.  I had never used it and so I had to get out the coordinating SU bird punch.  I created the card base in white with designer paper from Making Memories, Black and White paper pad.

     Next I cut a piece with a cross stitch rectangle die, and went to town stamping and punching out my birds and branch.  I used Hero Arts Intense Black ink.  I mixed up my sentiments.  My images were popped up with Dimensionals.  The dotted background was created with yet another item that I had never used.  Big round pens called Dotteriffic.... OMGosh, they are actually shaded color.... will be using them again!  They dry quickly too!

     I would like to enter this in the challenge at Little Red Wagon #497 called Happy Bird-Day.

     I have always been a fan of Black and White so I just went with it.  This was a fun morning project.  Thanks for looking!

First Holy Communion

     It has been years since I have needed to create First Communion cards.  This year I needed two.  I decided to go with the same design for both.  I struggled but made my way through.  I worked around the cross set from Spellbinders and built them from there.  Luckily I had purchased the chalice and host die set and cut them from gold metallic card from Crafter's Companion, and well as my embossed letters.  I used pink and blue scraps for my crosses.  I had been gifted with a pile of embossed background and decided to add some texture to the backgrounds.    Gabby is the daughter of my hubby's co-worker and Flynn is my great nephew.  Both have had their special day and received their gifts,  so now I can share.  Brings back such wonderful memories of when my children received their sacraments.  Man I feel old!

     It is Monday and still raining.... this has to end soon!  I am suppose to have a shed delivered this week plus fence installed ina week or so.   There is an old superstition that you put the Blessed Mother in the window to ensure a dry wedding day... hummm wonder if it will work for shed delivery?

Happy Mother's Day!

     It is a rainy, miserable day to celebrate all the mom's, but we have to smile and plug along.  I thought I would share a couple of the Mother's Day card designs I did for this year, now that they should have been delivered.  I made 4 of each of these 2 designs.  They were inspired by a riffle through my 12x12 paper stash.  I have so much and slowly, I have been hunting out the smaller patterns and making some multiples.  Heck I never do that.  I am a one of a kind card maker, but with a new craft space comes an open mind.

     This first card uses an assortment of dies and punches, with a grey base and this delicate striped designer paper.  Coloring is done with Copics, and sponging is done with Unicorn White by HA on the flowers, and Primrose Petals by SU on my sentiment oval.  Some large pearls were used for flower centers.

      My second card starts with an Old Olive base by SU, a funky patterned designer paper in shades of green, scraps of white and a gorgeous vintage print which I saved ages ago.  I created a sentiment on a stitched tag, using a stamp for MSE, added pearls and some Tim Holtz twine.

     Had a early visit from my son and then a quick trip to the local casino for a fun atmosphere!  It is always  great when you go and can play for a couple hours and break even.  So muc fun!  Now we are in for the rest of the day and going to enjoy some basketball and the next episode of Game of Thrones.  Does anyone else feel like they are rushing this last season?   Have a great week!