Double D - Butterflies

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:

Butterflies

I love butterflies and here's what I have created for you today:

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

 

With purple being my favorite color, the portion of the mood board that caught my eye was the butterfly panel in the left bottom corner .

I used Tim Holtz distress oxide inks to create my background then die cut the corners using one of the Memory Box Distressed Addington Collage dies.  

 My gold peel off butterflies are by Stamp On It ... purchased at April's Adventures in Stamping convention held here in Akron every spring and the beautiful glitter paper is a 6x6 pack by DCWV purchased at Michaels or JoAnn's ... not sure which.

Here's a close up so you can see the sparkle and detail.

 

I simply peeled the butterfly from it's sheet, placed it onto a piece of the glitter paper then fussy cut around it.  White glue was used down the center of the butterfly to adhere it to my card and give the wings movement. 

OH and the sentiment is by Hero Arts!

Challenges to share in:
Always Happy Birthday June Challenge - Birthday Anything Goes (Option: Summer Birthday)
Monochrome Magic Challenge #12 - Monochromatic with a twist of purples
 Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #399 - Monochromatic
Cute N Crafty Challenge #3 - Birthday
Get Creative Challenge #70 - Monochromatic

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 . . .

Here's a TWOFER for ya ...

Happy Monday All!

I'm still trying to get my mojo going after being on vacation for such a long time ... so today I thought I'd join in on the fun challenge blog Darnell started a short while back called the TWOFER CHALLENGE.

 

Here's what you do for this fun challenge ...

and the current challenge theme is:

I chose to use a tree stamp by Stampscapes for my cards.

First I used it to create a border to showcase my Sue Wilson 'You are Special' die

for a special birthday card.  I have used  Dandelion Yellow Nuvo Crystal Drops to fill in the flowers.

And, for my second card, I created a sympathy card by making a lightly colored background using Tim Holtz 'cracked pistachio' and 'broken china' distress oxide inks on a sponge dauber.  Then stamped the entire tree stamp image using Versafine Onyx.  The sentiment is by Impression Obsession, bird is a Martha Stewart punch and I did faux stitching around the edge with a fine tip black marker before popping the panel up using Thermoweb 3D foam squares.

This is such a fun way to create two totally different cards

using the same stamp or die!

Be sure to check it out and then come join in the fun.

Some of these ladies have really thought 'outside the box' with their creations!

WOW ... fabulous inspiration!

Challenges to share in:
International Art & Soul Challenge #35 - Sentiment as Main Focus
 My Time to Craft Challenge #373 - Stamped Background
 Happy Little Stamper June Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

It's very hot again today in NE Ohio and now that I've got my mojo revved up,

I think I'll stay in my air conditioned room and get creative!

Thanks for the visit and have a FABULOUS week!

As always . . .

A walk through the garden ...

Happy Father's Day Weekend Everyone!

I don't have a card to share with you today so I thought I'd take a quick

walk around the house and snap a few photos of

a few of the perennial flowers that are in bloom as well as a 

couple of my favorite container arrangements.

 First I'd like to share these beautiful Sweet Williams.

I planted them in honor & memory of my Dad!

Growing up, my dad had a flower garden planted in the middle of our semi circle driveway.

Across the front were spring flowers like daffodils & tulips that would pop up first thing in the Spring.  He had something blooming all spring/summer long!  But, I always LOVED that the entire semi circle was planted in every color of Sweet Williams.  They were GORGEOUS and attracted so many amazing butterflies!

What wonderful memories I have of my dad's flower garden!!!

And I'm sure that's where I got my love of flowers and green thumb!  

THANKS DAD!!

Next are three of the different Asiatic Lilies I have planted here and there.

 

 

 

A friend of mine gave me a small bunch of these purple Spiderwort a couple years ago and they have doubled in size.  I also have some lilac colored Spiderwort in one of my flower beds up in our picnic area.  They are beautiful in the morning but don't like the sun so close in the heat of the day.

 

 Next are a couple of my favorite containers.

This is a wooden planter that my younger sister made for me many years ago for my birthday!  I plant it with different annuals each year and I always get compliments not only on the flowers but on the planter itself.   Guess I should have taken a photo of the entire planter so you could see the bottom too.  Oops!

 And last but not least, this is a concrete rose urn that we purchase at a greenhouse when we lived in Toledo.  When we moved here to Akron 15 years ago, the moving men were quite surprised when they went to pick it up to move ... they thought it was plastic!  SURPRISE!  (this thing weighs a ton!!  lol)

 I have found that geraniums do very well in this urn so each year, I simply choose a different color but always geraniums.    Gives me the height need for such a large container.

I hope you've enjoy a glimpse of one of the things that makes me happy!  With being on vacation the entire month of May, I'm really late getting everything planted but I'm almost finished and it is looking great!  Once they've had a chance to take hold I'll take photos and share.  I love having flowers on my front porch and back deck!  Heck I like flowers everywhere!!  LOL

Thanks for the visit and have a FABULOUS weekend!

As always . . .

It's Fussy & 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 Jules, and our theme is . . .

Lace, Buttons & Bows

Here's my creation . . .

 Once again I have reached into my stash of old donation cards for my focus flower cluster.  I love being able to repurpose these cards and make the design my own.  Plus I'm using up some OLD designer paper I've had in my stash as well (lol ... making room for NEW paper pads).  The floral button on my card was an order thank-you from Tupelo Designs ... perfect for today's card.  And, my choice of ribbon is Baker's Twine.

My 'lace' is from a Joanna Sheen die called 'Isabel Lace Border'.  

 

It was die cut from the left over strip of designer paper used for my background panel.  After die cutting I simply touched up the lower edge with Momento 'bamboo leaves' ink so it would stand out from the background.  Then tucked it in under the floral panel.

The sentiment panel on my card front was created using a portion of the Sue Wilson 'Australian Background' die set.  

After die cutting it, I used the same Baker's Twine and threaded it through the holes and tying a bow in the corner to match the bow used on the floral button.

Another peek at the finished card . . .

And a peek at the inside which is from the original card and simply die
cut using the Tutti Designs 'Dotted Nesting Rectangles' die set.

INSIDE

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

Challenges to share in:
 Aud Sentiments Challenge #205 - ATG + Sentiment
CCEE Stampers Challenge - Blooming Flowers
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Frame It (sentiment is framed)

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

Sisterhood of Crafters - Animal Crackers

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

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

Animal Crackers

(Any Animal as Focus)

What fun ...

I actually created two other cards for this challenge then spotted this Tim Holtz 'Crazy Dogs' stamp set in my stash that had never been inked up!  WHAT?  WHY?  They are so darn cute!!  So here ya go . . .

INSIDE

After stamping my chosen images on a scrap of white card stock,

I colored them using Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and

fussy cut them so I could position them as I wished.

A scrap of Ella & Viv 'Ethereal Kit' 12x12 paper was used for

the background and a scrap of forrest green card stock

was torn to create the grassy area.

And, I've used the Memory Box 'Classic Upper Alphabet'

to create my sentiment.

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!

Challenges to share in:
 Die Cut Diva's June Challenge - Animals & Pets
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #15 - ATG - must have a critter
Fabrika Fantasy Challenge #21 - Animals
Happy Little Stamper June Challenge - ATG using Dies


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

Dies R Us Inspiration ... Friend

Hello All ...

Today I'm filling in for DT member Felicita over on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog.

As many of you know, I just came back from an amazing vacation that included French Polynesia (Bora Bora & Tahiti to be precise) so the beautiful waters and colorful fish are still very fresh in my mind ... as today's card reflects!  LOL

The dies from the Dies R Us Store that I have used today are:

Tutti Designs - Coral Reef Corner

Frantic Stamper - Sea Creatures Icons

Frantic Stamper - Shoreline Reeds

Cheery Lynn Designs - Friend

Don't forget ... Dies R Us now carries more than just dies!

There are patterned papers, inks, glues and much, much more!!

To create my beautiful water background panel, I used Tim Holtz Oxide Distress Inks ... 

Cracked Pistachio and Peacock Feathers.

For added dimension, I die cut the coral reef die 3 times from white card stock.  For my main focus cut, I did my coloring with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  I have glued the 2nd white panel behind my colored panel, taping in the 'fall out' pieces on the fish and one star.  Then glued my third panel to the back of those two panels.  This is a great and easy way to add dimension to your projects.

I hope you've enjoyed what I've shared today!

Challenges to share in:
Through the Purple Haze Challenge #145 - At the Beach
Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #167 - Summer Colors
Scrapyland Challenge #91 - ATG using product carried in their store
 That's Crafty! Challenge - A Summer's Day
Always Fun Challenge #61 - Summertime Fun
Cute & Crafty Challenge #2 - Summertime

OH!  And, just in case you don't follow me on FB and couldn't follow along with my photo share throughout our trip ... here are a few that will make you want to book that long flight for yourself!

Bora Bora (photos above & below)

(the water colors are TRUE)

Tahiti

(our view from the lobby of our resort) 

The view out the sliding glass door of our bungalow (which was out in the water ... SO COOL!)

Can you say HAPPY!!!!!!

Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

click below for:

STORE 
 CHALLENGE BLOG
  FACEBOOK
  INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

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

Double D - Teal & Red

Hello Friends!

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

Team Diane is hosting today and we have a coloring challenge 

for today's theme.  

TEAL & RED

Check out this awesome mood board Diane created 

for inspiration . . .

  

What fun is that!!

I must admit I struggled a bit with this one but then finally a

thought came to mind and here's what I created.

INSIDE

While looking through my stamp sets I discovered this VERY OLD

Inkadinkado clear stamp set and thought it would work perfectly.

Also found this cherry background paper in my stash so grabbed it too.

Not even sure who makes the background paper ... it's old and probably DCWV.

This is where my Tim Holtz stamping platform comes in handy!

After stamping my cupcake images I colored them with

Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  Then used the Tutti Designs Scalloped Stitched

Nesting Rectangles for my matting panels.

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

Here's what I have up for grabs to one lucky random draw winner.

But, you need to play to win!!  LOL

Challenges to share in:
Moo-Mania Challenge - Die Cuts
Rubbernecker Stamp Challenge - Birthdays
Simon Says Monday Challenge - All things Bright & Beautiful

 Hope to see you there!
As always . . .