SHADES OF BLUE . . .

Hello Blogging Friends!

Well ... the weather man was correct!

We got a good 5" + of snow that started around 8 pm last evening and

it was snowing and blowing all night long!  

Here's what I woke up to this morning . . .

 It was beautiful but very cold and windy!  Needless to say I have yet to go outside and clear the driveway!  Why should I?  We aren't going anywhere!  LOL!!

Actually, I'm waiting for it to get a little warmer and a little less windy then I'll go out and clear the driveway so hubby & I can go out for breakfast in the morning!  Priorities ya know!  LOL!!

 Anyone for a Bar-B-Q?

How about a picnic?

No takers?  Well okay then ... guess I'll just have to settle for sharing

the card I made this morning for the fun new challenge over at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

Here's the inspiration ...

Now, when I started looking through (only a very small portion) my papers looking for shades of BLUE ... I had NO IDEA I had so many!  I realized I had a lot of 8 1/2" x 11" but then I looked over on the 'other shelf' and spotted these 12x12 sheets ... THEN I looked in my SU drawer ... eeee gads, who needs so much paper??? And this is just a FRACTION of what I actually have!

Can you say PAPER HOARDER!?!

Okay ... so as I kept peeking back at the photo on my computer screen and the mountain of paper I ended up collecting on my work table, here's what I came up with ...

Some of this paper I've had for MORE than 5 years so this was a great opportunity to use some of it (ssshhh and this isn't even the really pretty paper that I won't cut into!)

Another thing I noticed I have a habit of hoarding are the MANY vintage images I have from here there and everywhere.  SO, I decided to 'climb that mountain' and pick out an image that would work well with the blue theme.  What do you think?  I bought this vintage pack at Adventures in Stamping held every April here in Akron probably 5-6 years ago.  

LOVE THEM!!!

I also wanted to use something that would showcase the 'floral' aspect of our inspiration piece so I die cut 2 different Joy Craft floral dies,  Joy Craft grass as well as a Cheery Lynn Designs flourish and olive branches.  I'm very happy with the outcome of this card ... hope you like it too!

A few additional challenges:

Craft-Dee BowZ February Challenge - Anything Goes w/homemade Bow

Lexi's Creations Challenge - Monochromatic

Okay guess I'd better get out there and clear the driveway ... two neighbors have called to check and make sure we are okay since they didn't see me out there snow blowing (usually 1st one out) and there are no tire tracks (heck you can't even SEE the driveway!) LOL ...

I'll leave you with one more snow photo ...

Our 100 year old apple tree in the side yard ... 

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are having a great day!

Time to fire up the snow blower ...

Crafting will have to wait ...

Recipe:
Papers:  Bazzill Wildberry Pie cs,  My Mind's Eye 'Oliver', SU 6x6  'Prints Pack', Navy cs, white cs
Accessories:  TJ Designs vintage image, Michael's royal blue organza ribbon, JAMBO adhesive lace ribbon, Joy Craft #6002/0137 - grass, #6003/0029 floral, #6003/0030 floral dies, Cheery Lynn Designs B117S Fanciful Flourish sm, Cheery Lynn Designs #B147 Olive Branches, Pop Dots

NEW CHALLENGES at Joan's Touch

Hello blogging friends!

Have you heard?  There are new challenges starting up over at "Joan's Touch".

You remember Joan (previous owner of Joan's Gardens) ... well she's now retired  BUT not retired from crafting, creating and sharing!  This is going to be fun!! 

Here are the requirements for the 1st Joan's Touch challenge ...

Use Pink and Black

Use an image of a Lady

Use a Bow 

You must use a product sold at Joan's Gardens. 

You will have a week to create & enter.  Also, you can enter as many cards as you'd like.  

With this color combination, I'm sure I'll be doing more than just one card!

But for today ... I'll show you the first card I came up with!

(Sorry about the 'eye shadow' ... seems she got a little carried away! LOL)

How about that hat ... doesn't she look dapper!

I will list all the products used on this card at the bottom of this post ... after my sign off.

I had a scrap of hot pink card stock laying on my work table so THAT was the start of this creation.  Then of course I had to pick a LADY for my card and while a friend & I were talking she mentioned B-Line stamps.  Well, I remembered I had a few in my 'vintage' stamp drawer so now I have the first two elements needed for this challenge.  The rest just fell into place.

Do you have the new Cheery Lynn Designs 'Pretty Pretty Bows (set of 2)' dies?  OMG, you just have to purchase it ... it's a set of 2 dies, and they make it so easy to create a beautiful paper bow such as the one I have used on this card.  

The number is #B422 and Terri has them available in the store!

Another FABULOUS die you'll want to have in your collection is this Memory Box butterfly die called 'Kensington Border #98743' ... also available at Terri's store.  

From tip to tip this die is about 6" long  ... a little too long for today's card.

So I simply cut what I needed and actually used one of the left over butterflies

to adorn my ribbon knot.  Added a little touch of sparkle to that butterfly also.

A couple additional challenges to enter into:

Fashionable Stamping Challenge #66 - Build it Up

Lacy Sunshine Challenge #27 - Lots of Layers

Quirky Crafts Challenge #4 - Pile it high, layer it up and try 3D
Simon Says Stamps - Cameo Appearance
Craft-Dee Bowz February Challenge -  Anything Goes with homemade bow
Oh La La Creations Challenge - Fashionista

I hope you'll come join in the challenge!

And for those of you in the path of the next storm, please be safe out there!

They're calling for freezing rain, sleet & 1-3" of snow here in Ohio!

You know where I'll be ... YEP ... right here safely crafting away in my cave!

Recipe:

Papers: Black cs, Hot Pink cs, White cs, the Paper Studio 'Harper's Boutique' dp

Stamps: B-Line Designs #BA516D - Kathleen (focus image), #TM113E - Acme (used for background on hot pink cs),

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, Thistle Stickles, SU grosgrain ribbon, Pop Dots, Memory Box #98743 Kensington Border die, Cheery Lynn Designs #B422 Pretty, Pretty Bows die, Craft-Dee Bowz bow maker

Butterflies and Flowers

HAPPY MONDAY!

I hope you had a nice weekend!  

Pretty quiet around here ... still cold, still snowing ...

what better to do than stay in where it's warm and craft!!

A friend told me about a new challenge blog called Butterfly Challenge

 and I was anxious to check it out and play along!

Their debut challenge is BUTTERFLIES and FLOWERS! 

Now THAT is right up my alley!

ALSO, the new challenge this week at Classy Cards 'n Such is to use Twinkling H2Os so that's what I've used for my 'coloring' agent on this card.  Be sure to check out the line of fabulous H2Os that Beverly carries in her store HERE.

Mind you, this is a style far from my regular 'vintage', 'lots of layers' style but I'm trying

to create using different styles and techniques during these cold winter days.

I have used the Memory Box 'Butterfly Vine' designer stencil #88524 for the base of my card.  I simply held it down on white card stock and stippled the entire stencil using Memento 'bamboo leaves' ink.

Then I used my LuminArte' Twinkling H2Os and a small artist brush to paint in the colors of the butterflies... yep, right over top of the stippling.  I have used the following H2O colors:  Sky Blue, Pink Azalea and Bougainvillea.  The camera just doesn't do the beautiful finish justice!  I've shared a couple of closeups (which you can click on to enlarge even more) to give you an idea how gorgeous these paints can be.

Additional Challenges:

One Crazy Stamper - February Anything Goes

Sister Act Challenge - Anything Goes

I hope you've enjoyed my card today!

Using stencils is a RARE thing for me ... especially on a card.

Using Twinkling H2Os ... something I haven't done in a VERY long time.

And a SINGLE LAYER card ... nearly unheard of for me!

Okay I admit it ... 

 I couldn't do the single layer thing so I cut my A6 card panel that I had used to do my stippled stencil on ... matted it with black cs and placed it on an Old Olive Green 5x7 card base.

You got me!!  LOL!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  

Wishing you a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S week ahead!

Recipe:

Papers:  SU Old Olive cs, Black cs, White cs

Accessories:  Memory Box 'Butterfly Vine' designer stencil #88524, LuminArte' Twinkling H2Os, Stampendous Diamond Dots, Darice flowers, Memento Bamboo Leaves ink, Stipple Brush

Ready for BEACH weather?

H-E-L-L-O   B-L-O-G-G-E-R-S!

Are you as ready for some sunshine as much as I am?

Well, that's where my mind is today and when I saw the new challenge

at Sugar Creek Hollow was "Dreaming of the Beach",

I just knew I had to play along!

I have had this Stamps Happen Inc., #50031 Collecting Sea Shells rubber stamp in my collection for YEARS!  And, it seems every time I decide to stamp/color it, I end up putting this adorable little girl in either a PINK dress or a PURPLE dress!  LOL!  What's up with that???

I do so much with digital images these days that it was actually quite nice to stamp

and color an image for a change.  I have ALL these wonderful stamps that

aren't shown much love lately ... really must do something about that!

 I've used my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers for my coloring.  Can you see the little 'sunburn' I've given her on her cheek, back & arms?    Once I got going on my design, I decided to pop up the image ... it just added more character along with the distressing and faux stitching.


My background panel is from the Basic Grey 'Wisteria' paper pad.  Another item I've had in my stash for years!  I only have a couple sheets left so have been rationing it.   I'm amazed I don't have more pattern papers with PURPLE as the theme since it is my favorite color and I find I use it a lot!  Hmmm ... have to make a note of that for my next shopping trip.

Speaking of OLD ... see the 'bling' at the bottom.  Those pink star fish have been in my stash since the beginning of my scrapbooking/card making days (something like 10 years now).  I had forgotten I had them until I started looking for the purple gems (also old) to place in the center of my flowers.  WOW!  Now that I'm really thinking about it ... there's a LOT of OLD stuff used on/for this creation!  That's a good thing!!

A few additional challenges I'd like to share with are:

Shopping Our Stash - Oh Shiny!

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge - Gem, Glitter, Any Bling You Fancy

The Artistic Stamper - Use Distress

ABC Challenge - F is for Flowers

I can't thank you enough for taking the time to stop by my blog and I hope you have found a bit of inspiration along the way!  Now I will leave you with what I see outside my doors today . . .

 

 HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Calling for another 1-3" today/tomorrow.

Guess I'll just have to stay in my crafting cave and be creative!  

And honestly ... I'm quite happy to be able to do that!!

Recipe:

Papers:  SU Lavender Lace cs, SU Old Olive cs, SU Very Vanilla cs, Basic Grey 'Wisteria' dp

Stamp/Ink: Stamps Happen Inc., #50031 Collecting Sea Shells, Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress

Accessories:  Tim Holtz distresser, ZIG fine tip markers, Cheery Lynn Designs Fanciful Flourishes #B117S & B291, Cheery Lynn Designs Tropical Leaves #B119, Cheery Lynn Designs Build a Flower #3 (B265), Spellbinder 'Fleur De Lis Squares (S4-318), Hobby Lobby Lavender organza wedding ribbon and lavender gingham check ribbon, Kaiser purple rhinestones, NO CLUE who made the pink starfish gems

Technique:  Faux Stitching, Distressing

A Get Well Wish . . .

Good Day Friends!

I learned recently that one of my cousins has been diagnosed 

with Leukemia and is in the hospital undergoing chemo. 

So I thought I'd just drop them a card to let them know I'm thinking of them!!

I've been on this cancer journey with my husband and it's 

just nice to know that you have happy thoughts & prayers going on around you!

I wanted my card to have a masculine flair since my cousin who is going through this illness is a guy ... but I also wanted a touch of something light hearted (hence the butterflies) for his wife who is actually my 1st cousin.

My choice of background was based on the current challenge at Bloggers ... to use 2 or more pattern papers.  I went with papers from the 6x6 My Mind's Eye - Lost & Found - Oliver paper pack.  With it being 2 sided, the strip I cut off to fit my card was then flipped over and used for the sentiment panel.  

I originally die cut an ivory panel using the Spellbinders 'Fancy Lattice' die to overlay the background paper ... BUT as luck would have it, I made a boo boo and it didn't cut properly so instead of trashing it, I simply cut it a little narrower and hid it behind the sentiment panel.

It still needed SOMETHING so I then decided to diecut the Memory Box 'Kensington Border' #98743 and add it on top of the lattice panel.  Perfect ... just what I thought it needed.

A few challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge - Die Cuts or Punches

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

If you would, please take a minute and mentally send happy thoughts to my cousin Jim!

And if you are a praying person ... a quick prayer on his behalf would be awesome!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!!!

Recipe:

Papers:  Medium blue cs, Ivory cs, My Minds Eye dp

Stamp/Ink:  Verses Rubber Stamp #GW0630-D, Versafine Onyx

Accessories:  Spellbinder 'Fancy Lattice' die, Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Butterfly punch, Memory Box 'Kensington Border', Dee's Distinctively #IME-099 Deer die,

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yep, it's VALENTINE'S DAY and I have a 'sweetheart' of a card to share with you!

I know, I've been going crazy with Valentine creations this year but I just can't help myself with all the beautiful papers, images, scraps & ephemera available at the Crafty Vintage Girl Store!

Crafty Secrets is my ALL TIME FAVORITE product line 

for the Vintage style that I love so much!
And besides ... with Valentine here that means SPRING is right around the corner!
Let's share those flowery, springtime thoughts to help us get
through the rest of this sooooooo bitterly cold winter!

How do you like my flower?
Again ... by using Crafty Secrets paper designs (Vintage Valentine kit) that I've printed onto plain printer paper, I've created this beautiful flower using the Sizzix Susan's Gardens 'Rose' die set.  A red rose is the symbol for LOVE but I prefer variegated roses so these beautiful papers worked perfectly for today's LOVE creation!

A few additional challenges:

Mod Squad Challenge - Thinking of Spring (flower feature)
The Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes/add a flower
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge - Love/Valentine
Frilly and Funkie - Bloomin' Marvellous

Thanks so much for stopping by!
I hope you have LOVE in your life today!

Pastel Love

Happy Thursday Fellow Bloggers!

It's Thursday ... it's still cold ... it's nearly Valentine's Day

and I'm in the mood for a SKETCH!

When I first started card making, I found starting with a sketch was a very helpful starting point for me. Since that gave me the overall design element, I merely had to come up with the colors, theme and embellishments.  

 

I have found that over time I do MY OWN design and rarely begin with an actual 'sketch' ... so today I'm going back to my 'crafting roots' and found this wonderful sketch challenge to play along with at the Shabby Tea Room.

I took the liberty of turning the sketch on it's side since I wanted to use this beautiful vintage image from the Crafty Secrets 'Love Mail' Creative Scraps sheet.  Then I found these perfect matching papers from the Prima 'Sparkling Spring' 6x6 paper pack for my background.  I matted the image in hot pink cardstock and popped it up with pop dots.

To mimic the gorgeous rose cluster in the upper left corner of the image, I created my flower using the Cheery Lynn Designs 'Build a Flower 2' die set and peachy pink card stock. 

The leaves were cut from SU Old Olive cardstock and the Cottage Cutz 'Ivy' 4x4 die.

A touch of lace down the vertical panel is beige JAMBO lace adhesive cotton tape.

I love to add stitching to a vintage style design but since I haven't yet picked out my sewing machine (Christmas present from hubby) I did a little faux stitching & doodling with a matching pink ZIG fine tip marker.

A few additional challenges:

Crafting for all Seasons Challenge - Show Us Some Romance

 Crafting By Designs - Anything for Love

Divas by Design - With Love

Speaking of my wonderful hubby ... he just asked me out to an early Valentine's lunch so

I'm going to cut this post short and go get ready!

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

Sisterhood - LOVE

It's HUMP DAY everyone!

And, time for a new challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters!

With the big "LOVE" holiday just two days away, 

that is our focus today . . .

L O V E

does not have to be Valentine's Day ... 

can be Wedding, Anniversary ... or just I {heart} You!

 How cute is this picture?  Rustic ... but cute!
(do you see the loving couple kissing through the back window?)

I snagged it over on Pinterest under the category of Old Trucks!

My background was constructed from a variety of Valentine paper scraps in my stash.  The XOXO ribbon is from Michael's ... Mr. & Mrs. stamp by Inkadinkado ... Heart Circle from a Reminisce Sticker sheet probably purchased at Joann's (old).  A little a matting and faux stitching ... Viola! 

A few qualifying challenges:
{PIN}spirational Challenge #94 - photo inspiration

Cardz 4 Guyz -  Truly, Madly Deeply LOVE (what guy wouldn't love this truck!)
City Crafter Challenge - Love Bug
Ladybut Crafts Ink TLT - For the One I Love
Paperminutes - Love is in the Air
Sweet Stamps - Love

Now this second creation is a little more on the Elegant side.

This card could be used as a Wedding card 

but also as a 50th Wedding Anniversary card.

Design elements are:

Paper:  SU Very Vanilla card stock, The Paper Company 'Gold Foil on Ivory' dp from Joann's, Gold Metallic from Hollo's Paper Co.

Accessories:  Cheery Lynn Designs #DL128 "Two of Hearts" die, Michaels gold metallic edged white organza ribbon, pop dots, bow easy

Stamps/Ink:  JustRite, Versafine Onyx

I hope you'll come join our LOVE challenge at the Sisterhood!

AND REMEMBER ...

If you'd like a chance to become our Step Sister 

(1 month-2 challenge opportunity)

play along in our challenges and add "SS" after your name.

That's all there is to it!

Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .

A Gerber Daisy Birthday ...

Good Morning Friends!

Today I have a card to share that was created for the new weekly challenge at the Classy Cards 'n Such Challenge Blog and this time around we have a SKETCH.  

Well that makes the challenge even easier for me because now I have a starting point!

What do you think?

I am SO READY to see spring flowers popping up through the ground and since I have pink Gerber Daisies in my front flower bed, that was my focus today.

Here are the sketch we are working with and the prize we are going for ... 

I've been trying to get back into making more homemade flowers and the various Cheery Lynn Designs floral strip dies make it SO EASY!  The flowers on my card today were created with the CLD # B310 Shasta Daisy die.  To make them curl, I simply used my stylus.  

By dragging your stylus (on the back side of your flower) from the END of each petal in toward the center ... they will curl inward ... after doing each petal, flip it over and press down in the middle.  Doing this on a foam forming mat of course.  

 I also shaped each leaf of the Martha Stewart 'Frone' punch for the leaves.  Another wonderful technique that is so easy ... yet adds so much depth & realism to your flower creations.  

To do this, you simply place your tweezers (flat tweezers work best) in the center of the leaf, then gently squeeze upward around the tweezers with your thumb and index finger.  Doesn't get much easier than that!  LOL!

Other challenges:

Come and Get It Challenges - Make it Girly

Feeling Crafty Challenge - Dies and/or Punches

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you'll come join in this fun challenge!

You will probably see several 'birthday' themed creations from me

in the weeks to come ... seems I just can't keep enough in stock!  LOL!

Have a fabulous week my friends!

Recipe:

Papers:  SU Very Vanilla cs, SU pink pirouette cs, SU old olive cs, Hot pink cs, the Paper Studio 'Kirby Teesdale Studio' #686154 dp

Stamps/Ink:  AMuse, Memento 'Angel Pink' and 'Bamboo Leaves', Tim Holtz 'Tea Dye' distress ink

Accessories:  Cheery Lynn Designs #B401 'Butterflies Among the Vines Mesh Border die, #B310 'Shasta Daisy' strip die, #DL112 'Exotic Butterfly small', Spellbinder Classic Circle dies and Classic Scallop Circle dies, Wilton paper doily, Martha Stewart 'Frond' punch, Spellbinder tag die, PunchBunch Flower Making Kit, McGill Foam Forming mat

Technique:  Paper Piercing, Flower Making