Sharing with Friends

     It's mid September already, the weather is starting to change,  kids are back in school, and I am seeing the last of the butterflies in my garden.  I thought it would be a good time to pay them a little tribute.  I have a butterfly bush that is the a major focal point in my garden, and they just swarm to it during the summer months.  We thought it was a goner after last years ice storm, as it was just a mass of dead tubes for branches, all the way to the ground.  I am happy to say that it came back prettier than ever!

      Today's card has a black card base, designer paper from We R Memory Keepers (recess), a shipping tag, plus a scrap of oak tag for my sentiment.  My image stamps are from the August 2014 Unity KOM, with my sentiment being from the July KOM.  Coloring is with Copic markers.  I double cut the butterfly so that I could make it pop up.  The blue parts of the butterfly were coated in Crystal Effects, and I used a product that I won, which was new to me, to create the sparkle.  It is called Cosmic Shimmer glitter jewels.  It looks amazing IRL.  Thank you Di, at Snippets!  My only other embellishment are some teal pearls.

I am sharing this via the linky for  Friends with Flair , over on the Unity blog.  Stop over there and get some wonderful inspiration.  Have a great weekend!

Background and Snippets

 

     I don't normally do a CAS card, but I fell in love with the Amuse stamps that I created my background with.   I also love the pretty floral stamp and sentiment, that are from a recent Unity kit of the month.  It was from April 2014, to be exact.

     All of the papers are from my scrap stash.  I used Versamagic chalk inks to stamp the background, and Copic markers to color my image.  It gave the card a very imperfect look.

I would like to enter this at:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Create a background

Pixie Snippet's Playground- use your snips and bits

     That is it for me today, unless I find a burst of mojo.  It is a solemn day, as we remember 9-11,  pray for those lost, and hope for peace.

Mod Squad Challenge Holiday w/ Vellum or Plastic

 

     Phew, that was a long title.  Happy Saturday, everyone.  I decided to try my hand at this Mod Squad Challenge, and I hope I did not get too carried away.  We were asked to do a holiday card (any holiday), and include plastic/acetate, or vellum. 

     I decided to use my Unity stamps from the August KOM, and I was able to include both the vellum, and the clear plastic in making this card.  There is a black card base and pieces of designer paper from We R Memory Keepers, called Hall Pass.  Coloring is with Copic markers.  I found a scrap of yellow vellum and added a couple of fall flowers to anchor my bat.  The embellishments are a smattering of sparkly stars and accent pearls to the outside of the see through front, for dimension.  Oh, my little batty friend is from a past KOM, from August 2012.

     That is it for me.  Sounds like it may be a stormy Saturday here on the east coast, but we have the promise of cooler weather.  Enjoy, and thanks for visiting.

It's That Time!

 

      Another Friday?  Jeepers, time is zooming!  All of the little kiddies are back in school this week, and getting from point A to point B takes longer with the added traffic.  It is once again time for  Friends with Flair.  This is my favorite day of the week, since I get so excited over all of the inspiration that links up each week.  Thanks Unity, for giving everyone a place to share.  Who knows, you may even win a prize!

      My card starts with a Sweet Corn base, and papers from Crate Paper Fourteen collection.  My scalloped banner is in Blushing Bride from SU!, and I pierced around the edges.  I stamped my Unity image in Color Box chalk in Blush Rose.  Color was added with Copics, and I punched it out with a scallop circle punch.  For embellishments, I added bakers twine, a crochet flower, and an enamel dot center. 

      This beautiful sentiment is from the August 2014 KOM.  Have a great weekend!

Happy Fall!

 

     It was time to break out some fall stamps.  This set from Inky Antics is called Squirrel.  I used scraps and snippets for the whole thing.  The card stocks are cherry red, cocoa brown, soft sand, and white.  The SB leaves that are die cut, are from sweet corn, and left over from my DD's wedding place cards.  Even the stitched ribbon is a snippet.  The cocoa panel is embossed with dotted swiss, and Dewdrops were added to the corners.  My images were stamped in Memento and most are colored with Copic markers.  A couple of the leaves were paper pieced with scraps.  The only extra stamp is the tiny grass, which is from Art Impressions.  I used the Word Bubble Framelets from SU! for my sentiment.

     Because of all the bits used up (YAY!), I would like to enter this over at Pixie's Snippets Playground.  I always feel so good when I use things up!

     I would also like to enter this card over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, which is Stamp-tember Stamp-It, with a blog hop celebration included.

     I am still not back to work , but I am suppose to return Monday.  Healing has not been as quick as I had thought.  I do believe I am allergic to the Vitamin E oil I was told to use, as it did not let my incision heal.  Three weeks in, I am a bit frustrated, but slowly healing.  Ever so happy my fingers bend now, but still need my hand to strengthen.  Fine motor skills are lacking.  I know, insane, right?

It is the Harvest Season

 

     As many of  our gardens are offering up the last of their abundance, the Mod Squad Challenge is called A Fruitful Harvest.  My harvest card is not traditional colors and beets are the focus.

     The card base is an unknown card stock, with a layer of embossed dot card from Michaels.  The designer paper scraps are from DCWV Leafy Violet paper collection.  The beet stamp and sentiment are from Flourishes "Garden Fresh" set.  Coloring was done with Copic markers.  The embellishments are hemp twine and buttons from an assortment at Gina K. Designs.  I also used a Punch a Bunch leaf spray punch to add in more of my pattern paper.  The scallop edge is a punch from SU!

     Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend, and I appreciate the visit.

FwF on a Holiday Weekend.

     Here is to the beginning of a nice holiday weekend.  I would like to share a card I created for this weeks Friends with Flair.  I have really enjoyed the August KOM, and all of it's beautiful images.

 

     Today, my card uses a sweet corn base and layer, and assorted scraps from the Violet Leaf stack from DCWV.  My image, plus sentiment was stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch and colored with Copic markers.  The die cut is called Fanciful Flourish from Cheery Lynn, and I added some tiny Got Flowers? w/ pearls.  There is also a scrap of Rich Razzleberry framing my sentiment.

     I would also like to enter this card at:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Anything Goes
Pixie's Snippets Playground :  Use snippets

     Whatever you ending up doing to celebrate this final swish of the summer season, be safe and enjoy!

Back to School!

 

     Yesterday was the first day of school for many of the kids in my area.  Lots of moms are letting go of their babies for the first time.  Oh, I remember that feeling!  It is filled with very mixed emotions.  This week, at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, the theme is back to school.

Here is what I used.

Card stock:  Gina K. Designs, Lipstick Red base.
Designer Paper:  The green is from American Crafts, The apple is Debbie Mumm, The tags
were cut from a sheet of Crate Paper.
Image: is from Dearie Dolls.
Embellishments:  Epoxy letters and stars, Metal school brads, and natural twine bow.

     I know a little one who will be starting pre-school soon, so I thought I would send a little ice cream money as a treat.

Update: I had my stitches removed from my hand, yesterday.  Dr. said it looks great, but I am out of work for 2 more weeks.  After that, I can not lift extra for 4-6 more weeks.  I have to admit, this is a little more complicated than I thought.  I am however happy I asked questions and found some of things that hurt are all normal.  Although the incision is in your hand, the surgery is actually in your wrist.  Explains a lot!

     Thanks a zillion for stopping by.  Tuesday already, phew!

Coastal Inspiration

 

     Happy Monday Morning!  I decided to enter the Mod Squad Challenge, this week.  The theme is Coastal Inspiration.  I brought out and older Gina K. Designs set, by Tami Mayberry, called Oh Boy!

     To create my card, I started with a Lipstick Red GKD Pure Luxury base.  On my white layer I did direct to paper inking.  I stamped my images on my background for placement, and then paper pieced all of the elements with scraps of dsp.  My little fish punches, were a gift from my friend Carol.  She gifted me with a bag of them in confetti colors, and I just love them!  I added some diamond Stickles to make my ocean & sky shine, and a hemp bow to resemble rope.

     I would also like to enter this card over at Pixie's Snippets Playground, since I used so many little scraps to paper piece.

     I hope you like, and I thank you for stopping around for a visit. 

Friends with Flair

     Happy Friday, friends!  I feel so bad about missing a post last Friday, but as you know from my previous blathering, I had surgery that day.  I am glad it is behind me, and I am praying that things start healing a bit more quickly.  The Dr. found lots of inflammation and also tendonitis.  The stitches come out on Monday, and although they are healing well, and my fingers are bending, I still can not hold a pen steady or apply pressure to stamp.  Okay, enough of this, cause it stinks to be home from work, and unable to be crafty!

     I created this card with my Unity KOM for August 2014, before my hand went down.  I have a few backups to use.  Please be sure to visit the Friends with Flair post over on the Unity Blog

 

     The card is a simple one, with a white base and some great Halloween paper I found at Tuesday Mornings.  I believe it is Bazzill, and that cute hounds tooth is on the reverse side.  I colored the hat image with colored pencils and applied some fun beads as a band.  This new kit has so many fun images, and I can't wait to get into coloring them!

     I want to thank everyone for the cards and well wishes, and I am sure I will be up and at it soon.

It's Friday!

     Here is a card that I created with the July 2014, Unity KOM!  I am sharing this for my Friends with Flair post for this week. 

 

     I started by stamping my main image with Versamark ink, and embossing with white.  I took my VersaMagic chalk ink petals, and did a direct to paper background, and then gently wiping my feather clean with a baby wipe.  I thought it still needed some more detail, so I used the swirl stamp that is also in the kit, stamping it randomly.  Touches of Copic were added to the blank spaces in the feather, to give it a little more dimension.  My purple designer paper is an unknown. The sentiment gave me the most trouble, as I could not find the right color.  Black was too harsh, all purple was too dull.  I settled on the half and half with some antique linen Distress Ink.   For embellishments, I used some American Craft twine, Prima flowers, and Recollection gems.  There is also a bit of glitter added to my sentiment.

     Hope you have a fantastic weekend, and I thank you for stopping by!

This Weeks FwF

     Happy Friday morning. everyone!  I am going to make this post a quick one, as I am struggling with fingers that refuse to bend.  My surgery to clear up this tunnel business will be Aug 15th.  I may be absent for a couple weeks. 

 

     Anyway, on to my card!  This card is pretty much created with scraps.  The base is a half sheet of red that was calling my name from the bin, and I believe it is Gina K. Designs.  Next is a cute chevron scrap from Doodlebug Design.  My words are stamped from one of those magnetic word sets, and they really come in handy sometimes.  The love die cut was a gift from my dear friend Carol, and more snippets of red were used for the insert heart, and the bitty banners.  My main image is from the July 2014, Unity Kit of the Month!  I just love this flower cluster!  Coloring was done with Copics, and I added Stickles, and black sticky dots as accents.

     This card will be for Friends with Flair, at Unity.  I would also like to add this at Pixie's Snippets Playground, since everything was found in bins and desktop.  I believe I will add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge also, because it is Anything Goes, this week.