Sisterhood of Crafters - Birds, Bees, Butterflies

Hello my friends!

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

Our theme this time around is 

Birds, Bees, Butterflies

(create with ONE or ALL)

I chose Bees for today's card!  What do you think??

 I actually went with a CAS (clean & simple) design for today's card ... not my usual style but a lot of fun and I'm happy with the outcome.  I've used a Memory Box 'Honeycomb' stencil and the stamp set used is by Inky Antics called 'Swirly Bees'.

Pretty easy peasy and the sentiment says it all!

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!

To Brighten Your Day

Happy Day All!

I needed to make a quick card to send to a friend

so I figured why not check out some of the online challenge blogs

and let them do the heavy lifting as far as ideas!  So in my quest, I spotted

the new challenge over on AAA Cards.  Here's their theme which

worked perfectly for my needs.

I've used 'Sunny Sunflower' images from The Artsystamper Shop for my creation.

I'm sure you have noticed that being in 'lock down' affects

people differently and I know someone that is really struggling with

not being able to get out like she usually can so I thought

a little surprise package in the mail might help make her day just

a little easier to get through.

I hope you & yours are getting along okay through this pandemic!

I fear we're not out of the woods yet and I just pray

people doing go back to old habits too quickly and have it flair up again.

Have a wonderful day!

I'm headed outdoors to hopefully get the rest of my mulching done.

Tomorrow will be a busy day over at Mom's in PA ... tending to her yard work

so I'd better get moving!  LOL

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

Tutti Designs - By the Sea

Hello Dear Friends

Well here we are in the fifth month of the year already!

I hope you are all doing well ... sure is a crazy time we are living in!!

Today's card is using some of the newer dies available at the Tutti Designs Store as well an an oldie but goodie. 

I began by taking my white card base and spritzing it with Tim Holtz Broken China Spray Stain.  The dies I have used are:

Twisted Rope Background

Sea Friends

Seashell Lighthouse 

(I have cut off the seashell part of the die)

 

Since my fish & turtle has the little piece come out of their die design, I glued them down to a lighter shade of the same color card stock then fussy cut around the outline to give them a more solid look. I popped up the lighthouse and only glued down portions of the fish & turtle giving them more movement.

Please be sure to pop over to the Tutti Designs Store and check out all of the fabulous dies available. Need more inspiration?  The team has something new to share on the Tutti Designs Blog  EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY!  

Pop in often and see for yourself ... what a talented group of designers!!

For your convenience, here are all the Tutti Designs quick links you will need:

Tutti Designs Store

Tutti Designs Pinterest

Tutti Designs Facebook

Tutti Designs Blog

OH ... AND JUST A REMINDER

We now have a Tutti Designs UK Store ...


AND

Tutti Deigns Canada


CHECK 'EM OUT!!

Challenges to share in:
A Place To Start MAY Challenge - Create a Custom Background 
Crafting Happiness Challenge #48 - AG (optional Nature)
Unicorn MAY Challenge - Use Dies

Wishing you all an AMAZING day ahead!  

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

Playing with a new die set . . .

Hello Friends and Happy Friday!

I recently purchased a few new dies so I could create cards that are a little different from my normal rectangular cards.   My thought was that maybe some of the folks who come by my table at the local Fall Craft Shows might enjoy something 'a little different' to send to their friends & family.

And, I wanted to join in a few fun challenges that inspired my first creation ...

SO ... today I've created a couple of cards using the Sizzix Framelits Stand-Ups

by Stephanie Barnard ... this one is #659645

And the challenges I'm joining in are:

Seize the Birthday Challenge #190 - Monochromatic

Moving Along with the Times MAY Challenge - Flowers

Cards for Galz Challenge #121 - Birthday

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #555 - Birthday

For this card I've also used the Sue Wilson 'Passion Flower' die set

and Frantic Stamper 'Spring Ivy'

Little dots of Nuvo Crystal Drops were also added for dimension.

Here's another card using this same die set.

I've created a very basic but cute 'Hello' card.

The inside in left blank so my own personal note can be added

OR

I can always switch it up and change it into an occasion card!

 I need to take an entire day and make nothing but cards using THIS die set ... then take another day to create cards using a different (but unique) fold die set.  That way I will have a variety of styles to show and in different colors & themes.

But for now, I must go!  Our truckload of mulch has been delivered

and even though it's really cold outside (doesn't Mother Nature know it's MAY?)

I'd like to at least get some spread around the front flower beds.  

Have a great day and weekend ahead!

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

 

Make a Wish!

Happy Thursday All!

Today I have a card to share that was created to satisfy two challenges I spotted over on Paper Playful.  Sometimes I just like to grab a sketch & a theme and see what I can come up with.  That's exactly what I've done today!

Inside Sentiment

 First, the sketch I used for my design is for the SundaySketch Challenge Blog.

And, the theme is for the {PIN}spirational Challenge #262.

My background mimics that in the 'I choose to be a Unicorn' image above

and is a double sided 6x6 panel from the Doodlebug Designs 'fairy tales' paper pad.

My 'unicorn' is an American Crafts (www.eksuccess.com) Confetti Sticker.

There were 2 stickers on a pack and they are so cute!  But, I was a little 

disappointed that the 'sticky' part did not come off the packaging

and I actually had to glue them onto my project.  However ... I'm looking at it

and THINK I can color that part that remained on the packaging and carefully 

peel it off to use on another card ... will let you know how that goes!  LOL

Challenges to share in:
Paper Shelter Challenge #426 - Happy Birthday
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Use Dies and/or Punches
Unicorn Challenge #54 - Use Dies

Well we are having mulch delivered tomorrow and I still 

have a bit of cleanout to finish up in the flower beds so I'd better get to it!

Have a fabulous day and PLEASE, stay safe & healthy!!

As always . . .

 

Double D Challenge - Lavenders, Lilacs & Purples

Hello dear friends!!

We have a new challenge to share with you over on Double D today

and the awesome Diane is our hostess!  The theme she has chosen is . . .

Lavenders, Lilacs & Purples

What fun!  Check out this amazing mood board she has created for your inspiration:

 

Anyone who knows me, knows that my favorite color is PURPLE!!
Here's today's card . . .

 Inspired by all the purple & white, I decided to do a little 'marker stamping'
using an old Paper Inspiration floral stamp and some old SU markers
to create my focus image.

Though difficult to see in the photo, my focus flowers are matted in green,
then deep purple, then white.  Using Cottage Cutz Double Stitched Rectangle dies
to create my frame work.

My Impression Obsession sentiment was stamped onto a panel die cut from
Memory Box Stitched Scallop Circle die set using the smallest die in the set.  A touch
of TH distress ink was sponged around the edge to make it stand out.

I've added a touch of scroll work tothe top of my card by die cutting a older
Spellbinder die from a scrap of white card stock.

Purple Polka Dots & Purple Gingham creates the base for my flowers and
a few little Martha Stewart butterflies (3-in-1 butterfly punch)
finish the flower garden feel to my card.

Diane has this fabulous Memory Box Small Lavender Butterfly Right Corner die as the prize offered to one lucky random winner.   WOW!  How cool is that!!   Remember ... you gotta play to win!

Be sure to pop over to our Double D Challenge Blog and check out what the design team ladies have created ... they are amazingly talented and I'm sure you'll find more wonderful inspiration!

Challenges to share in:
Always Fun Challenge #161 - Female or Mom
Let's Craft & Create Challenge #159 - AG - (Option) Ribbon, Lace or Twine
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Dies and/or Punches
Watercooler Wednesday Challenge - AG with a Feminine Twist
Little Red Wagon Challenge #548 - Flowers
The Rainbow Card MAY Challenge #17 - Vivaciously Violet

Hope to see you there!

As always . . .

Trying a few new technique ideas . . .

Hello Friends ...

How is everyone holding up?

Even though time seems to be flying in one respect ...

it sure seems to be dragging on in another!!

BUT, we must just muddle through, follow the rules and pray it works out

for the best when all is said and done!  That means I'm still hiding out in my cave

and when I do go out in public, I'm wearing a mask and keeping 6' away from everyone!  LOL

So, yesterday I spotted a technique that I had never tried before even though the product required to do so has been on my shelf (unopened) for a very long time.  I'm referring to the new May challenge over at the CAS Mix Up Challenge Blog. 

Luckily they shared several videos I could watch to get a feel for how this product was to be used.  After reviewing them ALL, I resorted back to the first one and gave it a go.  It turned out rather nice and I was so excited when all was said and done THEN REALIZED I had totally forgotten about projects for this challenge needing to be CAS (clean & simple)... grrrrr!  SO, back to the drawing board and I came up with the following card (I'll share the 1st card at the end of my post).

 I first smeared the Gesso onto a panel of watercolor paper using an older Memory Box stencil and a sponge applicator.  After heat setting, I used yet another Memory Box stencil & Gesso in two of the four corners.  Once dry, I applied four different TH distress inks finishing by lightly sponging the lightest color of ink over the entire panel.  Lastly I carefully 'wiped' across the panel with a baby wipe and spritzed with water.  OH and nearly forgot ... did a little outlining of the flowers with a white gelly roll pen before die cutting and adding to my card front.

I used one of my extra die cut frames for bring added focus of my Gesso panel then once completely dry I stamped the sentiment using an Impression Obsession stamp set.

AS PROMISED ... HERE'S CARD #1

 I was SO EXCITED with how my first Gesso card came out that I just had to share it with you even though it doesn't qualify for the challenge I had in mind for it LOL.  Maybe I can find a few other places to share this card and hopefully inspire someone else to give this technique a try.

Challenges to share in:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Spritz and Splatter

Crafty Card Maker Challenge #256  - Celebrations

A Place To Start MAY Challenge - Create a Custom Background

 Use Your Stuff Challenge #397 - Flowers and/or Butterflies
CAS Stencil MAYChallenge - Layered Stenciling

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you have a safe and wonderful week ahead.  As for me, I'm headed over to PA to mow Mom's lawns.   We are finally back on track with her estate and the online auction ends this coming weekend.  Then once everything is cleared out, we can finally get her house & properties listed with the realtor.  Not sure how things will go with all the craziness we have going on in our country (world) right now but I pray there is someone out there that will fall in love & purchase the home I grew up in. 

Take Care All and stop back tomorrow when I'll have a creation to share for the  new DOUBLE D CHALLENGE ... you won't want to miss it!!

Tutti Designs - YOU DID IT!

Hello Friends!

I'm not sure how things are in your state as far as Graduation is involved with this Corvid19 issue but either way, whether schools are open or closed, our seniors deserve to be honored so here's a card I've created using one of the new GRAD dies offered at the Tutti Designs Store.

You Did It

I just happened to have a graduation cap embossing folder so I used that on my background panel.  I've also die cut twice ... once with black and once with white so I could make the scroll & cap stand out more.

Please be sure to pop over to the Tutti Designs Store and check out all of the fabulous dies available. Need more inspiration?  The team has something new to share on the Tutti Designs Blog  EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY!  

Pop in often and see for yourself ... what a talented group of designers!!

For your convenience, here are all the Tutti Designs quick links you will need:

Tutti Designs Store

Tutti Designs Pinterest

Tutti Designs Facebook

Tutti Designs Blog

OH ... AND JUST A REMINDER

We now have a Tutti Designs UK Store ...


AND

Tutti Deigns Canada


CHECK 'EM OUT!!

Wishing you all an AMAZING day ahead!  

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

Artsystamper Challenge - "Mum's the Word" (Mother)

Hello my friends!

It's time for a new challenge over on the Artsystamper Challenge Blog where the team is showcasing digital images designed by Beverly Cole at Artsystamper Digitals!   The 1st and 3rd Monday of each month brings another Artsystamper Challenge

and today's theme is:

 "MUM'S THE WORD'
(Mother)

 I've used two sets on today's card creation . . .

The beautiful new 'Hello Beautiful' and there's also a matching paper set ...be sure to check out these sets.  Perfect for many ladies occasions!




 To create the background, I've used the 'Sketched Spring Blossoms' set.  Copy/pasted it a few times, turning it this way and that to create the floral cluster background.
 

 And did you notice the flower on the front of her dress? 

 At the last minute I decided to print it again and I've cut out the flower from her hat and popped it up on the center where her lapel meets.   I wish my mom was still alive ... this would be her card this year ... she would LOVE this beautiful lady!!

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

You do NOT have to used Beverly's images (of course we would love to see them if you have them) ... but you must follow the theme to qualify for the prize.  PRIZE you say . . .

YEP ... The winner of our challenges will receive the stamp set of their choice from TheArtsystamperShop.  Beverly Cole's selections offer stamps and sentiments in each set as well as pre-colored images for easy, last minute cards.  Why not take a moment and check out what she has in the store!!

 

 
TheArtsystamperShop Etsy

Artsystamper Digitals Blog  
BZCole Mixed Media (YouTube)  
Artsystamper Digitals on Facebook

Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog

Hop on over to the Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog and enter!

You will also see more inspiring designs from the Artsystamper Addicts DT ... so much fun!!

Challenges to share in:
Make My Monday Challenge - Use a Digital Stamp
Always Fun Challenge #161 - Female or Mom

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