RIP ... Charlene Merrick

It was brought to my attention this morning of a tribute going on over at the CCEE Stampers Blog for Charlene Merrick and I knew immediately I wanted to be a part of this tribute to a wonderful lady & fabulous crafter!

Charlene was one of the ladies (and several others from this group) who welcomed me to the Splitcoast Stampers site in my early card making days!  She posted several encouraging comments on my creations and kept me excited about this paper crafting adventure I had just entered into.

My card today is a 'case' of one of Charlene's later cards (Oct. 2013) posted on her SCS gallery.  For those of you who are not members of SCS, 

THIS IS CHARLENE'S CREATION

and here is mine . . .

Charlene (like myself), loved the color purple!

She also loved penguins and M&Ms!  

So, the theme of everyone's cards for her tribute are those three items ... 

Charlene's Favorites!

It was an honor to be inspired by this lovely lady and may she rest in peace!

Thanks to the ladies at CCEE Stampers Challenge for sharing their friendship and talents!

God Bless You!

As always . . .

Recipe:

Papers:  SU Elegant Eggplant cs, SU Lovely Lilac cs,  Graphic45 'Sweet Sentiments' dp, White cs, So Sil Fabulous Purple metallic paper from Classy Cards n Such

Stamp/Ink:  Hero Arts, Versafine Onyx

Accessories:  Spellbinder classic hearts die, Cheery Lynn Designs B368 'Lattice Heart & Vines', RAK handmade crochet flower from another SCS friend ... Kay Squires, Kaiser Craft 'Sparklet' (flower center), Paper Piercer, White Gelly Roll Pen (faux stitching), pop dots, Martha Stewart Trellis Punch

Winter Snowflakes . . .

Happy 'Hump Day' Blogging Friends!

Yep here we are mid week once again and it's time for another fun challenge at 

The Sisterhood of Crafters!  

Today it's all about WINTER SNOWFLAKES.

We've certainly had our fair share of snowflakes here in Ohio this winter.

Luckily, being retired, I can stay in my warm house and just look out at how pretty it is!  But I do remember a few years back in my youth ... the fun my sister's & I would have in the winter months sledding and skating.  I never was very good on my ice skates ... that's why I now use them as a decoration hanging over the front of my sled on the front porch during the holidays!  LOL!

For today's card, I created the background by stamping a couple different snowflake stamps with craft white ink & Brillance ice blue ink onto my navy blue card stock base.  For my focus image, I used the Thomas Kinkade 'skater's pond' stamp.

My NEW ice skates die is from Marianne (LR0247).

Here are a few additional challenges I'd like to enter into:

Craft a Scene - Make Your Own Scene  
(It's Still WINTER in Ohio & snowy scenes are all around)
Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes
Card Mania #38 - Anything Goes
Melonheadz Friends - Winter Fun

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun and if you need inspiration, be sure to check out what my Sistahs & Step Sistah have created for you today!!

Thanks for stopping by and if you live where it is WINTER ... bundle up and stay warm!

As always . . .

Waiting for Springtime . . .

Hello once again my friends!

I have one more card to share with you today then I really MUST get busy cleaning this house and staying out of my cave!  Time goes by so fast in my cave!  LOL! (It's no wonder nothing else gets done around here! LOL)

Today I'm playing with a cute Sheri Baldy 'My Besties' image called MILLIE MAE.

And, the challenges I've created for today are the Besties Challenge (More than Two Folds) and the My Besties Aussie Challenge (Anything Goes with Butterflies).

A few weeks ago I was playing with 'fancy folds' for my cards and remembered using the Double Fold Pocket card instructions by friend Judy Rozema (Joy in a Jar).  So I thought this would be PERFECT for today's creation.  If you click on Judy's blog name above, she has a fabulous step by step tutorial for you.

I'm still practicing coloring with my alcohol markers.  Sometime I do good ... sometimes, not so much!  But hey, practice makes perfect ... right!

All products used on this card will be listed below my name at the end of this post.

A few additional challenges:

Artistic Inspiration #75 - Anything Goes using Ribbon

Card Mania #38 - Anything Goes

Lexi's Creations #108 - Fancy Folds

Through the Purple Haze #25 - Your favorite color (purple & especially paired with peach)
My Besties Norge #10 - Anything Goes

TIME TO GET CLEANING!!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you're having a fabulous day!

For those of you in the crummy, snowy, bitter cold weather areas ... stay safe & warm!

As always . . .

Recipe:
Papers:  Purple cs (base card), Graphic45 'Secret Garden', SU Groovy Guava cs, White cs
Accessories:  7Gypsies tag, white tag, Michaels purple organza ribbon, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Cheery Lynn Designs 'Italian Flourish' doily die DL233, Spellbinder classic oval die, White Gelly Roll pen (faux stitching), Darice flower, Stampendous diamond dots, Tickets from stash, Impression Obsession DIE-058N (bird on branch) die, pop dots

Fun with Stencils . . .

Good Morning All!

Today I'm playing in the new challenge at Classy Cards n Such 

and the theme is to use a STENCIL on your creation. 

Believe it or not, I had been wanting to give stencils a try and had just purchased a couple of them at the Classy Cards n Such Store and received a 10% discount by using friend and DT member at CCNS Diane's (Nellie's Nest) discount code 

(you can use it too ... DIANE-10). 

My next purchase will be that paste stuff you can use with stencils ... but for today I've simply used INK and a SPONGE and LOVE the outcome!

This technique was so easy and you can be sure you'll be seeing more creations using this stencil and the other stencils I've purchased being used for backgrounds!

All products used will be listed below my name at the end of this post.

Other challenges:

Bunny Zoe's January challenge - Stitching (I did Faux Doodle Stitching)

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Do you own a stencil?

Plastic or metal ... it qualifies!

Why not come join in this challenge fun!

I need to get some birthday cards ready to mail ... I'd better get busy!

Thank so much for stopping by and I hope you 

have found inspiration in my creation!

Till next time and as always . . .

Recipe:

Paper:  SU Pink Pirouette, white, black cardstock, black glossy cardstock

Ink:  Memento 'Angel Pink' dye ink, Color Box 'Berrylicious' chalk ink

Accessories:  Spellbinder Rectangle Die, Cottage Cutz 'Fancy Cattails & Butterflies' CCE-030 die, Memory Box 'Garden Vines' #88523 Stencil, White Gelly Roll Pen for faux doodle stitching, Cornish Heritage Farms sentiment stamp

SWEETHEART Time of Year . . .

Good Monday Afternoon Everyone!

Yep ... it's my 2nd post of the day but I just couldn't help myself!

There are a couple of challenges that really caught my eye and I just HAD to play along.  

The challenge at Cheery Lynn Designs is SWEETHEARTS ... and the challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow is FIBRES & TEXTURES.

If you know me at all, you know I LOVE anything Vintage!  

So, these 2 challenges really called out to me!

Just today I purchased a paper pack by The Paper Studio called Harper's Boutique (50% off at Hobby Lobby).  The papers are all black & white with a vintage flair!  Perfect! So,THAT was my starting point!  

I knew I had some old vintage photos and was lucky enough to have this lovely couple riding an old vintage bicycle that fit my creation idea perfectly.  Now mind you ... I'm not sure if they were actually sweethearts ... if you look closely, she has a very grumpy look on her face  ... but there again, I don't think the ladies smiled much 'back in the day!'

What fun I had adding a fiber bow and feathers to my card.  

Something I never think to do but LOVE the outcome ... 

and it was so fitting for that time period! 

A touch of faux doodle stitching helped to bring attention as well!

Here are a few additional challenges:

My Time to Craft - All About Love

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Simply Create Too - Valentine's Day or Use Hearts

It's nearly dinner time ... guess I should start thinking what to prepare!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you've had a good start to your week!

As always . . .

Recipe:

Papers:  Red, White, Black cardstock, The Paper Studio 'Harper's Boutique' dp, Paper Pizazz dp

Image:  TJ Designs 'Vintage Photos'

Dies:  Cheery Lynn Designs 'Celtic Heart' B144, 'French Pastry Tiny Doily' DL234,

Accessories:  Sweetheart sentiment - Crafty Secrets 'Vintage Valentine Kit', White Gelly Roll Pen for faux doodle stitching, Stampin' Up Fibres, JoAnn Fabrics white feathers

Making Flowers with Crafty Secrets

Good Monday Morning Bloggers!

While working on DT creations for Crafty Secrets, 

I decided to play around with flower making.

And came up with this card creation.

Yep ... this card is the same basic layout as the card I shared with you in THIS POST ... showcasing the FREE calendar files available at the Crafty Secrets/Heartwarming Vintage Blog.  

Here's a short tutorial on how I made the flower ... really EASY!!

Products used:

Printed design paper from Crafty Secrets

Cheery Lynn Designs 'Shasta Daisy-B310' die

Foam Pad

Stylus

Glue

First, I printed out a sheet of designer paper from those available in the Digital Vintage Valentine Kit D-117 which you can find at the Crafty Secrets - Crafty Vintage Girl Store.

 I have used a floral die strip to cut my flowers, but you can use any dies/punches you have available and enjoy using.

Step 1:

 From the back side of your flowers, drag your stylus from the end of each petal towards the center of your flower to make them 'cup' inward.

This is what your flower will look like after curling each petal with your stylus.

Step 2:

Next you will want to flip your flower over so the print side is facing you

 and with your stylus on a soft foam pad, push down in the center.

Repeat Steps 1 & 2 on all flower layers.

Step 3:

With a little dab of clear drying glue, 

stack/glue your flower layers starting with the largest on the bottom

and alternating petal positions one layer to the next.

THIS is what your final flower will look like.

Add your favorite center ... gem, pearl, stickles ...

Now it's ready to add to your card creation with another little dab of glue. 

I hope you've enjoyed this easy little tutorial and will give it a try.

A few additional challenges:
Glitter n Sparkle - Stitching (faux or real)
Scribble and Scrap - Anything Goes
Get Inky Challenge - Homemade Flowers

Have a fabulous week and thanks so much for stopping by!

As always ...

Inspiration around every corner . . .

Good Sunday Afternoon Friends!

As crafters, do you find you look at things with 'different eyes'?

Everywhere I look I find myself envisioning a card creation ... 

call me obsessed if you must!  LOL!

We send $$$ to various charities throughout the year and unfortunately, they feel the need to send us STUFF in return ... most of the time in the form of preprinted cards, notepads, and calendars.  Nice as this is, I of course have no need for cards since I make a zillion of them myself.  BUT ... I must admit I do find inspiration in some of the design layouts and put them to use for my own card creations ... as I have done here!

A simple design but I think appropriate for a sympathy card!

The images I have used are from Pinterest.  They were NOT watermarked so I thought was okay to use (at least I sure hope so ...).

Here's what I came up with ... what do you think?

 

For this first set, I used papers from the American Crafts Classic Calico Collection.
On all the cards, I have used various sentiment stamp from My Sentiments Exactly, PSX, Verses Rubber Stamps, Great Impressions, Verve and SU Close As A Memory.

This second set uses papers from Basic Grey 'Origins' paper pad and the American Crafts Classic Calico Collection.  Brown and Old Olive cardstock were used for matting and a white Gelly Roll pen was used for all faux stitching/doodling.

For this last set, I used various papers for the background ... Around the Block 'Ash Filigree', Creative Imaginations ' Fleur De Lis' and 'Secret Garden Solid'. 

Well that's pretty much it for me today!  

Hubby & I have been doing a little 'food preparation' to enjoy during today's NFL playoff game.  Today we're having Buffalo Chicken Dip w/tortilla chips during half time.  But I must tell you about the pizza he made for dinner last night!  YUMMO!!

We had some left over veggies in the fridge so he made his own tapenade to use in place of a sauce on top of his homemade wheat pizza crust.  I can't give you the exact measurements (???) but I can tell you what it consisted of:

Cherry Tomatoes
mini multi colored Red Peppers

Red Onion

Black Olives

couple cloves of Garlic

roasted Pine Nuts

freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

OMG this was SO GOOD ...

OH!  And a few pieces of pepperoni and fresh Mozzarella on top!

Now I know why I gained 50 lbs. after 'linking up' with this guy!  

God Love Him ... he should have been a chef!  LOL!

Happy Day my friends and as always ...

Brrrr it's cold out there!

REALLY!  It's Saturday already!?!

Hello my friends ... where is the time going?  And to think I'm not even headed out doors most days ... with being retired and the temps only in the single digits or teens ... I'm staying indoors where it's warm and playing in my cave!!!

Today I'm working on DT creations but decided to take a break and create something for the Twisted Thursday Challenge over at The Outlawz challenge site.

Theme:  Anything Goes - Twist is PAPER PIECING

Gosh I haven't done a paper pieced creation is a long time so this was a lot of fun!

I've actually created with some very OLD, OLD product and some NEW products!

Here's a few additional challenge to join in on:

Digi Haven - Baby It's Cold Outside

Digitally 'Sweet' Challenge #71 - Anything Goes (must use digi)

QKR Stampede - Blue & White

Sister Act Challenge #40 - Anything Goes

The Outlawz Alcohol Marker Challenge - Color Inspiration

Totally Paper Crafts #202 - Paper Piecing

Delightful Challenges - Brrrrr

DL.ART January Linky Party - Anything Goes

Heck of a Challenge - NEW

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

I guess I'd better quite playing around and get busy!

Enjoy your weekend!

As Always . . .

Recipe:

Image:  Fitztown 'Winter 10'

Papers:  White cs, DCWV the Winter matstack, 

Accessories:  Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, White Liquid Applique, Memory Box 'Frosty Border' #98171 die, Marianne #LR0247 'Ice Skates', Hemptique Baker's Twine, Fiskars swivel craft knife, Memento 'angel pink' ink, sponge dauber

One of my favorite . . .

color combinations . . .

PEACH & PURPLE

Good Evening my friends!  I'm back from the dentist ... NO CAVITIES!   YEAH!!

When I was doing floral design, I always loved combining purple iris with peach roses ... made for such a beautiful arrangement ... and now I've carried this color combination over into my card making!

Anxious to play with my new Cheery Lynn Designs Heart & Vines die  & metallic papers again that I recently purchased from Classy Cards n Such, I decided to make another card for their current challenge which is Hearts & Doilies.

This time, the metallic paper color I used is called "So ... Silk Fabulous Purple" (TPC-740).  I wish you could see this IRL ... it's BEAUTIFUL!!  Here's a closeup that might give you a better view of it.

The weight of this paper is perfect to showcase the detail in the die and the sheen it has is SO PRETTY!  LOVE this stuff (good thing, LOL, I bought it in 5 different colors!)

Here's what was used on this creation:

Papers:  CCNS metallic paper, white cs, Graphic45 'secret garden' dp, 

Dies/Punches:  Cheery Lynn Designs #DL103 Italian Flourish Doily Die, #B368 Lattice Heart & Vines Die, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

Accessories:  Purple, Orange Peel & Copper Stickles, White Satin Ribbon, Paper Studio flowers, Spellbinder classic circle die, JustRite Large Fancy Sentiment stamp CR-03815

A couple additional challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #98 - Any Sentiment

DL.ART - Hearts

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you're having a crafty week!

I'll be back in my cave tomorrow hopefully creating something that will inspire you!

Till then ... and as always . . .

Snowflakes . . .

Good Day my friends!

It looks like I'll be away from home most of the day, so I thought I'd quickly share a card I made last evening for this week's Cheery Lynn Designs challenge which is

SNOWFLAKES

After much thought, I decided to keep this card pretty simple and ALL ABOUT snowflakes!  I've used the CLD #DL175 Laced Pine Snowflake for the focus image(s) on this card.  After die cutting this image three times on white paper, I sponged various Tim Holtz distress inks on two of them for the coloring.  

The background paper is from a holiday DCWV 12x12 pack and I've had this Sarasota Stamps snowflake sentiment for years and had never used it!  My hugs and smiles sentiment is from Verve Stamps (#vsb-10-023 Kind Words).

A few challenges I'd like to enter into:

Mod Squad Challenge - Snow

Paper Pretties #293 - Monochromatic

Paper Shelter #141 - Winter Blues

Everybody Art Challenge - Snow

Well I'd better get moving!  

I'm headed to the dentist ... no problems ... routine cleaning!  Then I'm stopping by my Mom's to see how she's doing.  She took a nasty fall on the ice on Sunday (required a trip to the E.R. for a CT Scan and to see if the cut on the back of her head required stitches).  THANK GOD the scans came back clear of concussion and no stitches were required.  Now if I could just get her to sit down and put her feet up for awhile!

She'll be 84 on Jan. 27th and I can't keep up with her!!  

She's a busy lady!!

Thanks for stopping by ... have a fabulous day!

As always . . .

LOVE . . .

Hello my friends!

Wow!  Life sure has been keeping me busy this week but I finally got around to creating a card for the current challenge over at the Classy Cards 'n Such blog which is 

HEARTS & DOILIES

My friend (and current enabler!) created this card recently and after seeing it, I JUST HAD TO go over to the Classy Cards 'n Such store and make a purchase.  Okay ... so it wasn't just the beautiful Cheery Lynn Designs die that I purchased ... she also told me about talked me into the gorgeous metallic paper (Stardream Fuse Azalea) I used to cut this beautiful heart from.

This die has such beautiful detail and the metallic paper adds even more beauty to this die cut image!  My little bird is a scrap piece (cut from Impression Obsession DIE-058N die)  I had laying on my table from a recent card creation.  I thought he looked cute singing his praises of Love Is In The Air!

My flower was created by using 3 of the 6 flowers you can die cut at one time when using the Cheery Lynn Designs #B310 - Shasta Daisy strip die.  (They too were already laying on my table from a past creation! ... using up scraps ... yeah!).  I simply conditioned each petal from the back side with my stylus then turned it over and pushed down in the middle to create the shape.  A Kaiser pearl was perfect for the center.

A few additional challenges:

Die Cuttin Divas - Out with the Old (ribbon), In with the New (heart die)

Papertake Weekly Challenge - New Year Stash (heart die)

Try it on Tuesday - In with the New (heart die)

Bearly-Mine Challenge - Color Inspiration

Make My Monday Challenge - Birds

The Paper Nest Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

I hope your week is going well!

See you soon ... until then and as always ...

Recipe:
Papers:  White cs, FabScraps 'High Tea' dp, Hot Pink cs, Garden Green cs, Stardream Fuse Azalea metallic paper (XP-730177976)
Accessories:  (CLD) Cheery Lynn Designs B368 Lattice Heart & Vines die, CLD B310 Shasta Daisy die, CLD B147 Olive Branches die, Wilton paper doily, pop dots, Kaiser pearl, PunchBunch Flower making kit, Creative Memories sticker letters, Michaels satin ribbon