Holiday Berries . . .

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday Afternoon!

My new local crafting friend Doni (Lime Green Giggles) is a

member of the Addicted to CAS design team and she has

been inspiring me to create more cards in this design. 

CAS (clean and simple) is actually a style that I struggle with

so playing along with this challenge has really been helping me get

more comfortable with this style.  Thanks Doni!

Over on the Addicted to CAS blog today they have a new

challenge and check out this fun theme!

Now I must admit, this put me on a hunt for something

suitable to create with and I ended up with with an OLD Penny

Black stamp and LOVE how it turned out.

I simply stamped and colored using Spectrum Noir Markers!  That's IT!!

I considered a sentiment at the bottom corner but then

thought I'd just leave it alone and let the stamp speak for itself!

What are your thoughts?  Sentiment or No Sentiment?

Challenges to share in:
Colour Crazy Craft Challenge #33 - ATG coloring
 C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Christmas (entry #2)
Southern Girls Challenge - Stamp Your Mark on it  (entry #2)
Through the Purple Haze Challenge #147 - Make it CAS (entry #2)

Thanks so much for stopping by...

As always . . .

More Exciting News!!

Hello Everyone!

Yep, I have exciting news to share with you today!

I am one of the new DT members at the fun Alphabet Challenge Blog.

COME CHECK IT OUT!!!

I am SO excited ... this is going to be fun!

Today's Alphabet Letter we are creating with is

K is for Kraft Card

Now, I must admit, kraft is one color of card stock that I rarely use so this was not only fun but also a true challenge for me today and I LOVE how it turned out!  Here's what I've created for your inspiration . . .

I am in desperate need of a lot of Christmas cards this year so that 

was my theme choice.

Product used:

 Tutti Designs 'Cross Stitched Nesting Squares'

Sue Wilson 'Stitched Flags'

Cheery Lynn Designs 'Merry Christmas Set' (#B186) ... OLD

 

Cottage Cutz 'Deer with Wreath' (#283) ... OLD 

 Carta Bella 'Cabin Fever' 6x6 paper pad

Dimensional Tape

Cuttlebug 'Snowflake' Embossing Folder

I would have to say I've been missing out by not using Kraft paper more often ... I'll have to do something about that!  LOL   

 I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun and I look forward to being inspired by your creation!!  See you there!

Challenges to share in:
Aud Sentiments Challenge #210 - ATG + a Sentiment
Moving Along with the Times Challenge #78 - Texture
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #479 - Christmas
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday Challenge - Feature a Creature
 That's Crafty Challenge - Animal Magic

Thanks so much for stopping by...

As always . . .

Dies R Us Challenge - STARS

Hello All...

Well here we are at the start of another month and of course

that means it's time for a new challenge

at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.

And, the theme is:

STARS

(be sure to make sure the Stars are well represented on your project)

The beautiful background paper is by Reminisce and is called 'Outer Space Kit'.  The particular sheet I used is called 'Out of this World' ... so appropriate!  My focus stars are by Tutti Designs - Nesting Stitched Stars.  I have used the two largest stars in the set.



Other dies used are:

Poppy Stamps Shooting Star

Sue Wilson 'Star Spray'

Lawn Fawn 'Starry Skies'

This was such a fun card to create and would be a great Birthday card
but could also be used for other occasions or just a card of Encouragement!

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun!

Thanks for stopping by ...
As always ...

Double D - The Moon & The Stars . . .

Hello Friends!

It's time for a new challenge over on the Double D Challenge Blog!

Team Darlene is hosting today and the theme is:

The Moon & The Stars

(use either a moon or stars or both on your project)

 Here's the inspiration board I have created to help you get started . . .

 I was inspired by the upper right corner image of our mood board for my creation. 

Amazingly enough, I have NO moon dies in my vast collection of dies (will be doing something about that very soon) lol.  So I got creative and created my own using the Tutti Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circles.

My sentiment is computer generated and was die cut using the Tutti Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangles.

 And my additional embellishment is the Memory Box 'Precious Stars' (#98546).
The beautiful background paper is by Reminisce and is called 'Outer Space Kit'.  The particular sheet I used is called 'Out of this World' ... so appropriate!

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun!
 YOU could be the lucky winner of this fun die set!

 
 So be sure to pop over to the Double D Challenge Blog

to see all the details and amazing samples offered
up by our VERY TALENTED design team ladies!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hope to see you at Double D!

As always . . .

Friendship

Happy Monday Everyone!

I must admit, I take my 'friendships' VERY seriously and treasure each one in it's own right as each friendship has it's own unique side.  From those I've had since childhood to those I've made here online and have had the pleasure of meeting in person which has strengthened our friendship even more!

Today's card was created for The Flower Challenge where the theme is to create a ONE LAYER card which in my mind means CAS (clean and simple).  

This style is one I struggle with so I've been trying to push myself into using this style in hopes of getting better at it.  

I chose an older Penny Black stamp set called "T for Transparent" to use as my main focus flower and to showcase it I've used the largest die in the Tutti Designs 'Nesting Stitched  Ovals' die set and sponged with the TH broken china distress ink that was left on the large sponge dauber in the oxide ink dauber drawer.  Then I stamped the morning glories stamp from the set into the center of the oval using my TH stamping platform.  

Now for the coloring.  I didn't want to use markers because I was afraid they would bleed through my card front so I went with Prisma pencils and Gamsol.  Using purple on the highlight areas and blue for the rest of the petals.  The sentiment is also from Penny Black ... 'special wishes' set.

Challenges to share in:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes (8/31)

Colour Crazy Challenge #32 - Anything Goes Coloring

Southern Girls Challenge - Stamp Your Mark On It

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #147 - Make it CAS

Thanks for taking the time to stop by, I truly appreciate your visit!

As always . . .

Hello ...

LOL ... I never claimed to be a 'patient' person,

and if you saw the card I shared here on my blog yesterday

and read down through my post, you know what I'm talking about!  LOL

For those of you who didn't see yesterday's post (and why not?  lol)

I mentioned the new challenge over at the Altenew Blog   

where they shared a beautiful inspirational sample that used the wet-on-wet 

water coloring technique and I said that I had hoped to give it a try ... AND I DID! 

Here is my card

I used the same stamp/die set as yesterday's card and after

viewing their video I gave the technique a try and LOVE how it came together.

The stamp & die sets I'm referring to are:

 Altenew 'Adore You' Stamp set 

and

Altenew 'Adore You'  Die set

 I wish you could see this card in person ... it is so much prettier than 

the photo and I love this color combo.

 As in her video, I used gold embossing powder but then I decided to do another set of flowers in the yellow color so I used a Detailed Clear embossing powder for that set of flowers.  For the blue flowers I used watercolor paints but for the yellow flowers, I used TH distress ink that I stamped on my craft mat and sprayed with water ... then used my water brush.   I used Nuvo 'Midnight Blue' Crystal drops in the yellow flowers center to help pull it all together.

To add a little texture to the background, I used an older stencil by Memory Box called 'Bubbles'.    

The Hello sentiment is by Tutti Designs 

 and the extra yellow sprigs  were created using a die from Memory Box called 'Climbing Vine'.

 

I really enjoyed getting inky this weekend and learning 

a few new techniques.  I sometimes get so busy with design team

and craft show projects that I forget to just 'play for the fun of it'

as I did yesterday & today!

Hope you are having a fun weekend too!

Challenges to share in:

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #404 - ATG (8/7)

Happy Little Stamper August Watercolor Challenge - ATG (8/31)

Craftaholics R Us Challenge #32 - Use YELLOW (8/15)

Inspire. Create. Challenge #24 - FLORAL (8/21)

Thanks for taking the time to stop by, I truly appreciate your visit!

As always . . .

A little humor . . .

Happy Saturday All!

After seeing THIS beautiful card over on Ros's blog (Mikey's Mom),

she has such a beautiful style in her designing, I knew

I just had to join in this fun challenge.

What challenge am I referring to you ask?  

It's the 'Just Us Girls' Challenge (closes 8/16) and you'll want to be sure to

pop over to their blog and check out the DT samples!  

They are fabulous!

 

It's a fun and simple technique which I urge you to try!  Here is a link to the tutorial by Jennifer McGuire for those of you who like me, maybe hadn't heard of this technique before.  I will admit ... the hardest part I found in doing this technique was having to set it aside to dry properly (I can be an impatient crafter at times!  lol)  But give it the time needed ... you'll be very happy with the results.

Here are the products I used on today's card ...

Altenew 'Adore You' Stamp set

Altenew 'Adore You'  Die sets

Repeat Impressions 'Funny Bone' stamp set

Carta Bella 'Flora' 6x6 paper pad

Tutti Designs 'Dotted Nesting Rectangles'

Tim Holtz Distress Inks:

(Crushed Olive, Cracked Pistachio, Abandoned Coral & Fossilized Amber)

Dimensional Tape

Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Butterfly punch

Versamark & Detail Clear embossing powder

I just noticed the new challenge over at the Altenew Blog is using a wet-on-wet water coloring technique so I hope to give that a try too and see which one I like better.  I plan on using this same stamp/die set but in blue as the inspiration sample requires.  I love trying new techniques as time permits!

Challenges to share in:

QKR Stampede Challenge #308 - Anything Goes

 A Perfect Time to Craft August Challenge - Anything Goes

 Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge - ATG using patterned paper

Happy Little Stamper August Watercolor Challenge - ATG

Hope you've enjoyed today's card.  Have a fabulous weekend and thanks for stopping by!

As always . . .

It's Fussy and Fancy Time ...

Hello Everyone!

It's time once again for a new challenge over at the 

Fussy and Fancy Challenge Blog!

Today's theme was chosen by our very talented Tone, and our theme is . . .

CAS

(clean and simple)

Here's my creation . . .

This is as clean and simple as I get!  LOL

On my card front, I sponged Tim Holtz Distress Oxide 'Cracked Pistachio' ink to create a background.  Then applied the Sue Wilson 'Poppy' die.  Which as you can see is only a small portion of this die set.  I then added Nuvo White Crystal Drops  to finish off the lower corner. 

The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the Penny Black.'Celebrations' die set. 

I inked up a scrap of white card stock using the same oxide ink before cutting my sentiment.

Pretty Easy Peasy ... but so pretty!

Challenges to share in:
Aud Sentiments Challenge #209 - For the Girls + A Sentiment
Through the Purple Haze August Challenge #147 - Make it CAS
Always Happy Birthday August Challenge - Birthday ATG (didn't use the option)
Creative Craft Challenge #110 - No Patterned Paper

 I hope you've enjoy today's share and will come join in our challenge fun!  See you there!

 Thanks so much for stopping by and as always . . .

... the day belongs to You!

Happy Thursday Friends!

I just spotted the new challenge theme 'Use Digis' over on the  Back to Basics and Beyond  blog and just had to play along since I had this sweet Elizabeth Bell image half colored laying on top of my Spectrum Noir markers holder.  Good excuse to finish my coloring and create a card vs having it sit around and possibly forgotten.  

I think it came out pretty cute ... what do you think?

I used a sheet from an old Ken Oliver paper pack which has been sitting around for way too long (I have WAY TOO MUCH paper, lol) and thought would work well as an 'artsy blue sky' .  I love this Endless Creations sentiment!  I think it's advice we all need to take from time to time ... life goes by too fast!

A little prima flower with a pink Nuvo crystal drop center is all that was required as a finishing touch.

Now that I look at my card here on my post, I wish I had lined up the right side of the image with the right side of the card and moved the sentiment panel to the opposite side ... it feels 'cut off' ...  hmmm ... 

WAIT FOR IT . . .

Yep ... I just couldn't leave it alone!

With the background paper having a sheen to it, I could carefully remove the panels and reposition them.  I did have a little 'whoops' so added another coordinating flower!  LOL

We all have digi's in our stash ... why not get busy coloring and sharing what you've created over on this fun (new to me) challenge blog.  See you there!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

As always . . .

Sisterhood of Crafters - Printed Page Background

It's time for a new challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters!

Today's hostess is Vickie and the theme she has chosen is:

Printed Page Background

Now, I must admit I had to think about this one for a minute but then I spotted this image on the internet and new immediately it was what I was looking for.  I was in need of some masculine birthday cards and this is perfect.  What do you think?
 

I've colored the truck using my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers and used a 'leather look' brown card stock for the background panel.  The Tutti Designs 'Happy' and 'Birthday' dies did the trick for my sentiment.  A few little Nuvo black crystal drops as an accent and VIOLA ... ready for the postman!

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun at The Sisterhood of Crafters!
My 'sistahs' have created some fabulous creations to help inspire you ... 

be sure to pop over and check them out!

 See you there!

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Your Special Day

Hello Everyone!

Today I have a SECOND card to share that was created for my friend Anna from Poland.  She has started designing her own line of beautiful patterned papers and they are GORGEOUS!  She was sweet enough to send some to me (can you believe that ... so generous) and ask me to be a guest designer on her blog 'ScrapAndMe'.   You can find her beautiful line of designer papers HERE.

 Today's card is of a simpler design to showcase this beautiful paper!
The paper pack I am designing from today is called 'Romantic Garden'

 

The only die set I have used on today's card was for the sentiment panel and that die set is the Sue Wilson 'Ornate Oval Special Day'.  After die cutting each die from white card stock, I die cut (using the largest oval die) again from a scrap piece of Anna's beautiful paper and used that as a backing panel.

I've die cut the ornate panel twice and glued them together for added dimension.  As you can see, this die can be used either horizontally or vertically.  I also die cut the words from black card stock and glued them together a bit 'offset' to create a shadow effect.  White Nuvo crystal drops were added for extra texture.

My goal was to showcase this beautiful designer paper as best I could so instead of adding handmade or store bought flowers, I decided to fussy cut a flower from a scrap of this gorgeous paper that was laying on the work table and use that as my extra embellishment.

This scrap was a too narrow to use as a background panel for another card but worked perfectly for this technique.

I've also used the reverse side of this same 12x12 designer sheet as the background panel. 

To create a defining difference from one panel to the other, I've used a fat, round tipped Gold Pilot marker and edged each panel.  This gives the illusion of another matting panel without the bulk or weight.   Simply lay your panel on a scrap of printer paper and run it down the edge on all four sides. 

Raspberry Stickles was added to the center of my flowers for a touch of sparkle although it is difficult to see in the photos.

Another panel of the reverse side of this beautiful designer paper sheet was also used to adorn the inside of my card.  All that was required was a stamped sentiment.  I decided to make my card a Birthday card but it could certainly used as a Bridal Shower card ... a Wedding card ... or a card for any special occasion.

I hope you have enjoyed today's share!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you are having a fabulous week!

As always ...