A Few Challenges

    
     Hi everyone!  Happy Valentine's Day! You can be sure, I am also thinking Spring!  I have a couple of cards I would like to share with you today, that I worked on during the latest blast of snow.

     My first card is for the Friends with Flair linky, which happens every Friday.  It is the perfect way for me to use my latest Kits of the Month.  The flowers and sentiment are from the February kit.  I used a new Spellbinders die to create the cut out background.  It is called Nobel Rectangle.  My papers are scraps from K&Co. I used a Viva Décor pearl pen to give the flower centers some texture. 

     I would also like to enter this card over at the Mod Squad Challenge, as their theme for this week is to use flowers.

     One of my commenters {thank you} reminded me of a new challenge which can be found here.  It is the Butterfly Challenge, and the first one is "Butterflies and Flowers".  Here you go, Mrs. A..

 

     Card two, is also made from the Unity KOM, and features one of my favorite stamps in the kit.  This pretty tree with it's delicate leaves, will be used over and over.  I used up more scraps, created a sky background, and torn grassy knoll.  My sun was made from a 1" circle punch and a sun spiral punch, I forgot I owned.  I used markers to color the tree.  I even used a little wire clip that was a gifty in my KOM package.  This card will also be for Friends with Flair, and I would also like to add it over at Pixie Snippets Playground, since I used up some bits that have been lying around.

     Thanks ever so much for paying me a visit.  See that, I didn't even dwell on all the snow storms!

Been Without Power

 

     This first photo, shows the transformer that blew on Wed. morning at 5 a.m.  That is when all the fun began.  I knew we were in trouble when the sky turned total green!

These next photos are showing some of the ice damage.  The neighbor directly across from us lost 100 x more than we did.   My poor white dogwood.  :(

     This is how we ate our first dinner.....Weenies in the fireplace!  That was a bright spot!  Glad it's over, and the promise of 2 more storms this week, is getting boring.  Hope to post some new cards soon.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use String or Twine

     Happy Saturday, everyone.  Here is a card I created for the Simon Says Stamp, Wednesday Challenge.  This week, we are asked to use string or twine.

 

     My image was found on my desk.  I am not sure of the designer, and it could have been a gift from a friend.  The designer paper is from Pebbles Family Ties Collection.  Coloring is with Copics, and sponging is with SU! Summer Sun.  The punched hearts are embossed with my Dotted Swiss ef.   For the embellishment, I created a bow using paper twist, twine from American Craft, and a Prima flower.

     Check out all of the great cards that have been loaded for your inspiration!  There is still time to play along!

A Friday Duo

     Here it is, Friday again!  I have been working on things, this week, but just have not been adding to the blog.  The week to come, has the promise of 3 more snow storms, so I am sure that I will get lots of playtime.

 

      My first card is for the Friends with Flair post, over on the Unity Blog.  This card uses the September 2013 KOM.  I needed to create a card for a friend's husband who slipped on the ice, and broke both legs in multiple places.  My friend just retired the week before Christmas.  Guess we know what will be keeping her busy, huh?  I feel so bad. :(

     The designer paper is from the Yearbook Collection, from Studio Calico.  My image and sentiment are stamped with Memento inks in Toffee Crunch, and Pistachio.  My die cut clouds and birds are dies from Memory Box.  There are brads, and twine for embellishments.

 

     The second card, is for Timeless Tuesday # 256, over at Flourishes Blog.  We are asked to use the Pantone color of 2014, which is Radiant Orchid!  Now that is what I call a powerful color!  This was created with mostly scraps.  I used punches from EK Success, and SU!  Coloring is done with Copics, I even broke out an embossing border.  There are ribbon ends and the last of some gems, that I got to use up!
     As for my stamps, I used a Flourishes set called Pinwheels and Popsicles, which I recently acquired.

     That's it for right now, folks!  If you are a football fan, I am sure you will have a fun weekend.  Me thinks I will be the lady in charge of snacks.

Another Valentine

     Here is another Valentine that I created  for this years sharing of the love.  This is another one of the un-mounted stamps from that collection I bought.  Give me a clue if you know the maker, okay?  I sure thought this was a cutie.

 

     I used a taupe card base, and designer paper from the Crate Paper, Fourteen Collection.  I was able to use up another of the K& Co. embossed leather look stickers, from my stash, as well as a paper doily that I hit with some Antique Linen Distress Ink, and heart stick pins from Pizzazz APlenty.  I found this little, red, premade bow in the drawer.  It is from a package of M&MBI soft Spoken embellishments. My coloring was done with Copic markers, and I used Aileen's Paper Glaze for the lips and dog tag.  My lace is from our local fabric store, and there was just enough left, to reach across the card.

     I think this little pooch need to go have a play at Pixie Snippets Playground!  This is week # 109.  Please be sure to check out all of the wonderful creations that are loaded each week!

     On a more personal note, it has been quite some time since I shared a picture of my adorable grandson, so here goes!

 

Thanks for visiting!



Friday Fun

 

     I was not sure if I would be able to post today, as Blogger was being a bit spazzy.  I have a card here that I would like to enter at a few places.  Because of all the snow and cold, I have been bouncing around my stamp room, trying to find a bit of unloved goodies, that have been lost in the cave.  That includes dragging out some of my unknown, unmounted stamps. I bought someone's collection, a few years ago, and I don't use them as I would like, because I can not give credit.

      Here is what was used, to the best of my knowledge.

*The giraffe is unknown  (please tell me if you know)
*My background wood grain circle, is from the January KOM at Unity
*The sentiment is from K&Co.  It is a leather look embossed sticker
*Coloring was done with Copic markers and sponging is with SU! inks
*My image was cut out with a labels nine die from SB
*Card stock is from Bazzill
*The accents are white embossing, paper glaze, twine, and a punched wooden heart.  As you can see from my photo, I have a great sheet of wood veneer that punches well.

     I would like to enter this over at the Mod Squad Challenge Blog, where the theme is What "Wood " you Create?  I would also like to enter this on the Unity Blog for Friends with Flair, and over at Pixie Snippets Playground Week 108, since I was raiding my stash for unloved bits.  My friend Carol, also recommended that I enter this for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, which is called "Let's Have a Laugh".  If this funny giraffe does not bring a smile, I am not sure what will.

     Thanks for coming by, and since we are expecting more snow tomorrow, I am sure I will be finding time to play.

A Trio of Flair

     Here are a few creations for this weeks Friends with Flair, over on the Unity Blog.  Please be sure to check out all of the fantastic talent that links up for your inspiration, each week!

 

     I created these cards using the first two cards, using the January KOM, called "be your own kind of beautiful".  I used inks, Copic markers, a water brush, to create this inspirational note cards.  I kept them blank inside, so I can add a personal message at a later date.

 

     This next card is a Valentine I created with the December KOM.  I was trying to find creative ways to use a new corner die that I received as a Christmas gift.  The papers are scraps from my stash, and I used a little heart stamp to create my fluttering butterflies.

     Hope everyone has had a fantastic week, and I appreciate you stopping by!

Working on Valentines FwF

 

     How did it ever get to be Friday, again?  I was one of those crazy winter mornings around here.  We had snow, but just a few miles away, the roads were covered with icy rain.  This girl is staying put today.   I wanted to be sure and post my Friends with Flair card for this week.  I am having such fun using my Unity December KOM to create some Valentines.

     My card base is white, with a scrap layer of a putty colored card.  I used the heart arrow to create a background with black ink.  I took the large sentiment from the KOM, stamped it on a scrap of soft sand, and added touches of color with Copics.  I framed it in black, to make it pop. I pulled out my old, small heart punch from EK Success, punched it out of red, distressed edges with black and popped it up.  As accents I used May Arts mesh ribbon, American Crafts red twine, and a Queen & Co. gem.  I also broke out a great Christmas gift I received from a friend, which is a white Sharpie.  Wow, what was I missing?  This really made things jump off the page!

     Since I used all my little bits, I also want to enter this Valentine over at Pixie Snippets Playground, where I was a very proud winner last week!  Woo Hoo!

Timeless Tuesday #253 Getting in Shape

 

     Over on the Flourishes Blog, the new Timeless Tuesday Challenge, is to create a shape card.  Since they are releasing a new floral set called Flowers for Jan, at the same time, I looked through my floral sets, and came up with this card, using the Sweet Pea stamp set.  This was one of the very first Flourishes sets I purchased!

I used a coral base, with white and designer paper from Wild Asparagus.

My image was stamped with Memento, and colored with Copic markers.  The colors were 0, C1, R00, R22, G82, and YG 63.  There are a couple of strokes of Memento New Sprout.

The dies I used are SB Labels Seventeen, and the Swiss dots Cuttlebug folder, was also used.

For my accents, I created a bow from American Crafts coral twine, The flowers got touches of Diamond Stickles, after they were fussy cut, and I topped things off with an antique button from my mom's collection.

     There is also a new place called the Mod Squad Challenge Blog, and their moderator, Cat is hosting the first challenge.  She is asking us to use  some of her favorite things.  I have used twine, a special button, and lots of Copic coloring.  Go check it out!

     Sounds like we are going to have a heat wave of 26* today.  Guess I can not avoid venturing out for work.  Ugh!  Hope you are all snuggly.  I sure appreciate the visit!

Unity {be inspired} Challenge

 

     Here is my offering for the Unity {be inspired} Challenge, for this month.  I decided to go with the color portion of the challenge. These colors are so amazing!

 



     I used the beautiful bird from the October KOM that I received from Unity.  I did the technique where you ink your embossing folder to create the background.  This is an embossing folder from Darcie's.  The inks are TH Distress inks.  The bird was cut out with a scalloped Marvy punch, and the snowflakes are an MS punch.  I used a basic white card base, with designer paper from K&Co. Pearls are my accents.

 

     As is most of the country, we will be in the grips of  dangerous temps over night.  Please be safe, and remember to keep all of your precious fur babies warm!  Thanks for visiting.

Shake It Up!

 

     While I was cruising around to different blogs, I remembered how much I use to like doing the Flourishes challenges.  Since I recently found some great sets on sale, I decided to check out their latest challenge to see if it would inspire me. 

     I had not made a shaker card in ages!  I found a great chipboard frame in my stash, that I had forgotten about.  I went about covering it with scraps of paper, and sponging the edges.  Next I built it up with foam mounting tape, and added in my acetate window.  Then it was time to put in the snow.  You need to be sure you don't add too much, or you will not see the background image.

     The set I chose my image from, is called  Snowy Days, from Flourishes.  I colored the skates with Copic markers. I used 2 of my MS snowflake punches that I received for Christmas.  The centers are pearls from Basic Grey. 

     If you are looking for some fun, with a classic technique, check out the Timeless Tuesday #252 Shake It Up Challenge.

     I would also like to enter this in the Pixie Snippets Playground Challenge # 105, since I used so many bits and forgotten items on this card.

Friends with Flair

    

 

     Happy Friday morning, Friends!  I haven't been making good use of my blog lately, so I need to change that in the new year.  Here is a card I created, using the December KOM, called Happy Love Day.  Please be sure to visit all of the great designers that have linked up this week, for Friends with Flair, over on the Unity Blog.

     For this card, I used black card stock, and a layer of designer paper from K&Co.  Since it is time for love cards, I brought out my adorable paper doilies.  My image and sentiment were stamped in Memento ink, and the shades of yellow were added with Copic marker.  I found a piece of  yellow crochet trim, to add, as well as Washi tape with measurements.  My gem flourish was a gift from a friend.

     That is it for me, right now.  It is a snow day here in PA, so I may have extra time to create!