Fun with stencils . . .

 

 

Good Afternoon my friends!

I've been wanting to play along in the Simon Says Stencil It Challenge and FINALLY found the time this morning to create a card and play along.  This is a new stencil I just purchased last week.  It's by Brutus Monroe, called 'Flowering Vine' and I purchased it through Scrapbook.com.

 

 I've used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks and small finger sponge daubers for coloring the stencil.  And, pink Nuvo drops for an added dimensional element.  The sentiment panel is from PinkFresh.

 Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you liked my design.
Have a wonderful remainder of your day & week!
As always . . ..

NEW (to me) Technique

 

 

Happy Hump Day All!

While visiting crafting friends blog yesterday, I spotted this awesome technique over on Donna Phelan's blog (Crafting by the Seashore).  She was kind enough to share the VIDEO where she learned the technique and she also shared her own personal HACK at the end of her post (such a clever crafter!).  Be sure to check it out ... I haven't tried the hack yet (ran out of time), but will be playing with this technique more over the next few days so 'beware' lol.  

I used a Hero Arts stamp that I purchased a few years back and as stated above, I went with the 'Stamp it Twice' technique as shown in the video.  I used a Sue Wilson Lattice die set a PinkFresh sentiment panel.  Faux stitching was done around the outer edge to tie in with the stitching on the lattice die.

 I will add a birthday sentiment on the inside of my card but thought it would be nice to finish off the inside with a couple single flowers from the same set.  I added stems and a touch of color.

Earlier in the week I played along with a black & white themed challenge over on the Cupcake Inspiration blog and think I'll share today's card also. 

 

 

Thanks again to Donna for sharing this fun technique!  I can't wait to create a few more ... maybe in technicolor next time!  LOL   Go ahead, watch the video and give it a whirl ... you'll be hooked too!  

Other challenges:
Retro Rubber Challenge #203 - Happy Birthday (sorry ... stamp is at least 3 years old)
A Place to Start March Challenge - ATG
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - ATG

 Thanks for taking the time to stop by today ... I appreciate you!

 As always . . .

CAS with Mother Nature

 Hello Friends ... Happy Monday!

I spotted a couple challenges over on Paper Playful that I thought I'd like to create and share in so that is what I have to share with you today.  The challenges are 'Just Us Girls' where the theme is CAS (clean and simple) and 'Less is More' where the theme is ONE Layer.

I started out with a simple A6 white card base.  Stamped the Stampscapes 'Spruce Trees', added the Stampscapes 'Old Fence' ... sponged a little green around the base of the fence/under the trees, then added the Stampscapes 'Duck Trio in Flight'.  My birthday sentiment stamp is by Endless Creations.

I think this card will make a great masculine birthday card. 
Certainly nothing girlie-girlie about this card lol. 

Here are a couple other challenges I spotted that I think my card fits into:

613 Avenue Create March Challenge - ATG w/twist - CAS
Dragonfly Dreams March Challenge - Outdoors
Stamping Sensations March Challenge - Anything STAMPED w/Option of wings and tails
We Love Stamping March Challenge - Anything STAMPED w/Option of Spring is in the Air
Polkadoodles - Wk. 12 theme: Boys/men

I hope you enjoy what I've created to inspire you today.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and say Hello! 
Wishing you an amazing week ahead!

It's simply Black & White . . .

Hello Friends and Happy Sunday!

WOW!  Did you have those crazy winds yesterday?  It was frightening from time to time here in NE Ohio ... sometimes sounded like a freight train in the back yard.  Thankfully we didn't have any damage other than a few branches down and our power stayed on.  Others like my daughter & granddaughter had some wind damage and a lengthy power outage at their homes ... granddaughters power is still out last I heard!

 

Anyways ... I spotted a Black & White challenge over on Cupcake Inspiration (#565) and thought I'd share a couple wedding cards I created a few days ago which were requested by a friend.  For both cards, I've used a Sue Wilson die for the sentiment and Lisa Horton 3D embossing folders. 

A few tiny diamond gems were added here & there on each card. 
A wedding card should ALWAYS have a touch of sparkle somewhere!  lol

I think simply black & white is perfect for any wedding card ... there something elegant in it's simplicity!

Other challenges to share in:
613 Avenue Create March Challenge - ATG + CAS
Cut It Up Challenge #274 - Add Embellishments (gems + die cut sentiment)
Just Add Ink Challenge #645 - NO Stamping

Here's wishing you a FABULOUS week ahead!
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by ... I truly appreciate it!

Can You Handle the Pressure - Twist - Easter

 Hello Friends, thanks for stopping by today!

We have a new challenge starting today over on our new Can You Handle The Pressure Challenge Blog and the TWIST theme is 'EASTER'.  

Remember, the twist is optional but you MUST use an embossing folder on our projects to qualify for the prize.  Heat embossing is also permitted but only in conjunction with an embossing folder.

 Here's what I've created to inspire you today.  

 

 I thought this beautiful Lisa Horton 'Alstroemeria' 3D 6x6 embossing folder would make the perfect background for today's Easter card.  After embossing my white panel, I colored my flowers using an artist brush, Tombow markers and water.  Then I created a double matting to showcase it.

I've used an OLD Stampabilities sentiment stamp and it was also double matted using the scraps cut from the main background panels.  The ovals used are a Tutti Designs Oval die set.

 

 White Nuvo drops adorn the side panel.

I do hope you'll come check out our new blog and play along.
AND yep ... we will be offering prizes at our challenges ... that's always a fun surprise!

Here's today's prize offering . . .

 

 Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,
I appreciate it more than you'll ever know!!

Challenges to share in:
Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #195 - Spring Flowers
Creative Knockouts #490 - Add a Sentiment
Krafty Chicks Challenge #656 - All Occasions
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Spring or Easter
The Card Concept Challenge #191 - Signs of Spring

As always . . .

 

Celebrating 93 ... WOW!

 Hello my friends!

I have a special card today that was created for a very special lady ... my Aunt Jenny!  She is actually one of only two aunts I have left from either side of my family.  She will be celebrating a very special birthday today so I wanted to make her a very special card for the occasion!

This is my sweet Aunt Jenny ...

 

I pray I can live to be in my 90s let alone look this good!
She's a blessing!!

 Here is the card I came up with . . .

This card is 5x7 in size and I've used the Lisa Horton 3D Shower of Roses 6x6 embossing folder to adorn the front.  After embossing from white card stock, I got busy water coloring using my Tombow markers, an artist brush and water.  Once dry, I popped it up using dimensional tape.  

The dies used for my sentiment are Tutti Designs 'Happy' & 'Birthday' as well as Joy! Craft 'Dotted Numbers'.  The lady bugs were created using Viva Pearl Pens.

Happy Birthday Aunt Jenny!!

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope the remainder of your week is fabulous!
As always . . .

ALL ABOUT RAINBOWS at the Sisterhood of Crafters . . .

 Hello my friends!

Today I have a card for the new challenge over on The Sisterhood of Crafters!

Our theme today is:

 

 RAINBOWS or use RAINBOW COLORS

 

 

The rainbow colored panels I used today were made & given to me by my BFF Diane.  She used a wide roll of washi tape to create the panels.  I'm so glad she was kind enough to share a couple of these with me as I really don't have much in my stock of the rainbow theme.  Whew ... she saved my hide on this one!  LOL

I simply cut down the panel to the length I needed for my A6 card.  Then from another panel I die cut the rainbow from the Sue Wilson Creative Expressions 'Necessities - You Are My Sunshine' (CED23018).  

 

 

I used a scrap to die cut one of the sentiments from this set then adhered it to a Tutti Designs Dotted Layered Circle die cut.  It still needed a little more 'something' so I grabbed my old Martha Stewart butterfly punch and punched out a trio of butterflies from the remaining scraps of rainbow paper.  I must admit, I'm very happy with the outcome!

  I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun at The Sisterhood of Crafters!

My 'sistahs' have created some amazing designs to help inspire you ... 

be sure to pop over and check them out!

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