Festive Friday #34

Good morning friends.  Another Christmas card today.  I had almost decided to give up on playing the Christmas card challenges because I was getting too caught up in what I thought the design teams were looking for and the comments, but then decided that I was being ridiculous and that my style of card making is MY style!  We all have different styles, and while mine may not be graphic, or CAS (although I really do like the looks of some CAS!), when it comes right down to it, I enjoy making Christmas cards, and these challenges are a perfect way to get ahead and have my cards done BEFORE Christmas!   And this weeks Festive Friday inspiration photo is just too pretty not to play along with!  Here's my take on it:

And a closer up view:

I am still hooked on shaker cards, but have been having problems with the sequins getting stuck to the sides of the foam tape.  I had heard that using talc powder on the edges helped, but after a day or two, the sequins would starting sticking to the sides again.  I tried something different this time, and used 2 strips of foam tape (on top of each other) on each side so that it was higher, and then attached very thin strips of computer paper to the insides.  This made more room for the sequins to move around and also covered up the sticky sides. (hope that makes sense!) 

I used white and Pool Party cardstocks and my Lil Inker Stitched Rectangle dies for the layers, and then used the tree die from PTI's "In the Meadow" to cut out the tree shape in the top white layer.  I cut a 2nd Pool Party layer to match the size of the top white layer, and then embossed it with SU!'s Decorative Dots embossing folder...love how it subtly adds more "ornaments" to the tree! :0)  Finished with a sheer white bow and a star tag from PTI's "Tiny Tags".

And here is the inspiration photo that inspired my card:

 
There's still a couple days to play along yet, and you can find all the details over at the Festive Friday Blog .

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful Monday! :0)

Make it Monday #169 - Take 2

Just a quick post today!  I needed a thank you and thinking of you card(s) for my mom and sister in law, and decided to use Danielle's Make it Monday tips and technique's for using vellum again, but with a brighter color palette than my card I posted yesterday!  My mom has been bringing me a flat of strawberries the past few years to make jam with, so that's what dictated what stamp set I used ("Strawberry Patch" - PTI)  for her thank you card.  I decided to make my sister in laws card from the same set as I knew it would cheer her up!  Take a look:

If you click to enlarge the photo's, you'll be able to see better that underneath the vellum tag is another tag that I embossed with a large dot folder...adds a nice dimension under the vellum layer!  It also mimics the red and white polka dot washi tape that I put at the top of the card. (Would you believe this is the FIRST  time I've ever used washi tape on a card?!!  Bought lots of it but never used it!) 

Most all my products used are PTI, but if you have any questions, just holler! :0)

There's still a little bit of time left to play along with this weeks Make it Monday, and you can find all the information and Danielle's great video and card on Nichole Heady blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend! :0)

Make it Monday #169 - Vellum Overlays

Good morning friends.  Playing along with the challenge at Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday today, where Danielle shows us some tips and tricks for adhering vellum overlays.  I made my card the beginning of the week, and have been debating whether or not to post it.  I think the issue is that most of my cards are bright and colorful, and this one uses just a couple muted colors.  I like the actual elements of my card but just am not too sure about the coloring of the card.  I'll let you all decide! :0)  Take a look:

I used Winter Wisteria and Aqua Mist inks with the Background Basics: Super Chevron (PTI) for my background.  I keep thinking if I had used something like Raspberry Fizz and Aqua Mist inks, my card would have had a totally different feel to it...maybe I'll just have to try it and see!  But anyway, after attaching the vellum overlay by stapling the piece of baker's twine (I love how Danielle did that in her video!!!!), I attached my butterfly from the Life is Beautiful stamp set and die (PTI). 

 

My "hello" sentiment is from the Wet Paint stamp set (PTI), and a few sequins finished it off.  Clicking on the photo's to enlarge them will give you a better view of the colors and the detail on the butterfly.

There's still time to play along with this weeks challenge, and you can find the video, Danielle's beautiful card, and all of the rest of the entries over on Nichole Heady's blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and let me know what you think of my color combination.  Have a great weekend! :0)

Papertrey Ink June 2014 Blog Hop

Hello friends.  Playing along with Papertrey Ink's monthly blog hop today, and the inspiration picture made me think immediately "bright and fun"!  And since it is my oldest daughter and son-in-law's 4th wedding anniversary today, I decided to make a "bright" and "fun" anniversary card for them!  I followed the 2nd color scheme and 2nd layout, and came up with this:

I used PTI's Heart Squared die and Wonderful Words: Love stamp set for my frame, squares, and sentiment, and added a couple flowers using the Rosie Posie stamp set.  And of course the Heart Squared frame seemed too good an opportunity to pass on making it into a shaker card!  (the sequins are all from the Shakers & Sprinkles kit)  My inside sentiment is from Think Big Favorites #24.







Thanks so much for stopping by today!  You can check out all the other entries over on Nichole's blog right here .

Merry Monday #114 - Sparkle, Shimmer, or Shine

Good morning friends.  A few weeks ago when we did the Santa Hat challenge, Linda W. did a card that stuck out to me using a Penny Black bird stamp.  These birds have been around awhile, but I had never noticed them till I saw Linda's card, and I just had to have them!  They came in the mail this weekend, and when this week's challenge came up to use "Sparkle, Shimmer, or Shine", I just knew I had to make the birds fit this challenge! So even though the title "Sparkle, Shimmer, or Shine" makes me think "beautiful" or "glamorous", I went the opposite direction and did "cute"!  Take a look:

Are these not the cutest birds ever?!!!  I am just so head over heels in love with them!  I used my Copics to color them (C1, R29, & E33), and also a little red chalk for their bellies (I love the way chalk spreads around so easily with just a q-tip!).  I added Dazzling Diamonds to their hats for the sparkle. I also added a strip of red glitter paper at the bottom of the inside for a little more sparkle.  My sentiment on the front is from PTI's "Tag-It's #9" stamp set, and the inside sentiment is from PTI's "Think Big Favorite's #20" stamp set.  Super simple card to create, and putting the images and sentiment on an angle keep it interesting! :0)

There's still lots of time to play in this challenge, and if you LOVE glitter (and what stamper doesn't?!!!), then check out all the details right here .

That's all for today friends.  Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful Tuesday! :0)

Oh Baby!

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  We had a great weekend with family and friends celebrating with a baby shower for our oldest daughter who is expecting our first grandchild in September, and then our youngest treated the hubby and I to the new movie Jersey Boys...if you liked Franky Valli and the Four Seasons, you will love this movie!  But anyway, back to baby stuff!  This post will be a little photo intensive, but as most of my crafty projects and cards were very simple, I'm not going to have much writing.  I used Papertrey Ink and SU! products, and since my daughter and son in law are doing their nursery in gray and white, and we don't know the sex of the baby, everything is gray, white, and yellow.  Here we go....

The last photo is a pic of my mom, myself in the back, and my 3 daughters with pregnant Caitlin in the middle.  I wish I would have taken a picture of the baby blanket, hat, and booties I knitted, but just wasn't thinking!  Dang it!!  And I also wish I could show you the baby shower invite I made too, but I don't know how to blur out the personal info (address, etc.), and didn't want to post that on my blog.  You'll just have to trust me that I stuck with the jungle theme and that it was dog-gone cute! :0)  Anyway, a great time was had by all, and Caitlin left with LOTS of wonderful gifts to help her and her hubby start out with their expanding family! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Monday! :0) 

Make it Monday #169 - Take 2

Good morning friends.  Still had my chalks out from the other day, and was wondering after looking at all the different colors in my set, who would ever use black chalk?  After walking away for a bit, I came back and decided the black chalk was a challenge calling out to me.  And it was a challenge for me, because if you know me at all, you know I like "pretty" colors and flowers...black just doesn't seem to fit in there!  Anyway, used an embossing folder this time (versus an impression plate), and this is what I came up with using black chalk:

While this isn't the "prettiest" card I've ever come up with, I have to admit I kinda like it!  My middle daughter likes to use red and black in her decorating and it looks so modern to me, so I'm calling this my "modern" card! :0)  I used the brick embossing folder from The Paper Studio, and PTI's "Daydreamer" stamp set for the poppies.  The "hello" is from PTI's "Wet Paint" set.  I added a button and a few clear sequins to finish off the card.  Definitely a departure from my norm, but it was fun to challenge myself with something different. (and I still got my flowers in!! :0)

There's still time to play along with this challenge and to check out all the amazing entries (and Melissa's beautiful card and how to video) over on Nichole's blog right here .

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful weekend.  We have our big baby shower celebration tomorrow for my oldest daughter and I'm SO excited!  I'll try to remember to take some pictures of some of the goodies I've made for the baby to share with you next week...such an exciting time to be first time grandparents! :0)

Another Grad Card???????

Good morning friends.  Didn't float away after all yesterday, so I'm back! :0)  Made another grad card for a friend where I combined a couple technique's from Make it Monday challenges and my SU! demonstrator (thanks again Stephanie!) and I love how it turned out!  I used the baby wipe stamp pad in shades of green and the debossing technique and came up with this card:

   
Yes, this is the exact same card I made about 3 weeks ago, except for the colors...it was too perfect a layout not to copy!  But what I really like about this card is the different shades of green I achieved from using the baby wipe technique.  I used Garden Green, Certainly Celery, and Old Olive re-inkers to achieve this beautiful tie-dye coloring.  Clicking on either of the photos will give you a better idea of how well these colors look together.  I used the Paper Inspirations stamp (that I borrowed AGAIN from my good friend SUE!!) for the sentiment, and the butterflies are from PTI's Life is Beautiful stamp and die set. I am definitely going to use this color combo and technique again on something...I love it! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today...I love it when you do!  Have a wonderful and JOY filled Thursday! :0) 

 

Merry Monday #113 - Use Pink, Silver, & White

Good morning friends.  Raining (and thundering & lightening!!) here like we need an ark, and one scaredy cat dog, make for a very LOOOONG night!  I'll try to add some brightness to my blog though, by showing you a super simple, but really cute (IMHO!!) pink, silver, & white Christmas card for this weeks challenge over at Merry Monday.  Take a look:

 
Not a traditional colored card at all, but I do really like the softness and simplicity of this card.  This card is a 3 1/2 x 5 1/2...thought it fit the smaller image better than an A2 card.  My background papers are both by The Paper Studio and the paper doily is SU!.  I embossed the tiny tree from SU!'s "Warmth & Wonder" set in silver, and then added the dots with Pretty in Pink ink.  I also embossed my sentiment in silver from PTI's "Winter Hills" stamp set.  I finished by adding a sheer pink ribbon (Michael's) and a few pink sequins (PTI's Shakers & Sprinkles kit).  Again, very simple, but I really like how it turned out. :0)

Make sure you take time to check out all the pretty pink cards (and play along too!!) over at the Merry Monday site.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and if we don't float away, I'll be back later this week with some more inspiration!  Have a wonderful Wednesday! :0)

MIM#169 - Combining Chalk & Stamps w/ Impression Plates

Good morning friends.  Playing along with Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday challenge today.  Melissa Phillips has a great video (and beautiful card!) on combining chalk, stamps, and impression plates that you can find out all about right here .  The only impression plate I have is the Herringbone one (same one Melissa used), so that and some chalks that don't see much light of day in my stamp room, were my starting point for my card.  This is a really fun technique and here's what I came up with:

 
I used the flowers and leaves from "Mum's the Word" stamp set and love how they pop off the background of chalk and the Herringbone IP.  My vellum tag is the smaller die part of PTI's Tag Sale #8.  On top of my flourish, I added a couple of the Button Stacks and a grosgrain bow.  Also had to use the Filigree Border Die, just because it's SO pretty!  My sentiment is from "Beautiful Dahlia Additions" and a couple clear sequins finished it off.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and make sure to check out all the beautiful cards over on Nichole's blog . 

Festive Friday #33 and NBUS #1 Celebration

Hello friends.  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend celebrating the dad's in your lives!  My hubby got stocked up on dark chocolate from the girls and the dogs, so he's a happy guy right now! :0) 

Playing along with a couple challenges - Festive Fridays with a beautiful inspiration picture, and a new challenge from the wonderful and oh so funny Darnell, who coined the acronym NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff - stamps that you HAD to have and then NEVER used!!.)  I'm afraid I have more of these than I'd like to admit!  But hey, I'll be the first to admit that I have an addiction problem, and quite frankly, I don't care if I'm ever cured!  So anyway, Darnell would like us to use a NBUS stamp (or two) and combine it with a "friendship" theme.  My stamp is definitely a NBUS as it's an older SU! stamp that hadn't even been mounted onto the wooden block yet,  ("Basket Full of Fun"), and I'm combining the "friendship" theme with Christmas for Festive Friday as I love sending my hand-made cards to friends at Christmas.  Now without further ado, here is my card:

I chose to work with the basket from the inspiration picture as my starting point, and then added the smaller pine sprig from PTI's "Peaceful Pinecones" stamp set to the basket.  I'm so bummed you can't see it, but I added Wink of Stella to the pine boughs, and IRL they really sparkle!  I have been seeing a huge trend with using stencils for backgrounds lately, but I don't have any, so I added ink sparingly to a retired SU! background stamp ("Canvas") and really like the look I came up with...kind of shabby and vintage. :0)  I finished with a seam binding ribbon and tiny tag (PTI - "Tiny Tags").  Click on the picture to enlarge it to see more of the detail.

You can play along with both challenges by following these links:

Festive Fridays here
NBUS Challenge #1 here

Thanks so much for stopping by today...I love it when you do! :0)

Make it Monday #168 - Take #2 - From the Dogs!

Good morning friends.  So sometimes when I find a technique I really like, I become a bit obsessed and have to make more than one card!  And I really like the baby wipe technique that Ashley showed for this weeks Make it Monday challenge over at Papertrey ink!  And with Father's Day coming and all our girls old enough to buy their own cards for their dad, I decided to help the dogs out by making a card for them to give their daddy! :0)  I used PTI's "Polka Dot Parade #3" stamp set and Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, & Soft Sky re-inkers to come up with this card:

After making my ink pad, I stamped the recliner and the "RELAX" sentiment...love how both of those came out!  They really do look like tie-dye! :0)  The dogs are from an older SU! set called "Loads of Love" and fit perfectly on the recliner...the same way Brinkley and Daisy take over before my hubby can sit down! :0) 

Here's a closer up view:

  
I think my hubby will get a kick out of this card (and of course the dark chocolate that he loves that will accompany the card too!!)! 

Definitely a technique to try out if you haven't already!  Check out the "how to's" and all the great entries over on Nichole's Blog ...well worth your time! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend! 

Make it Monday #168 - Baby Wipe Stamping

Good morning friends.  This week Ashley Cannon-Newell from Papertrey Ink has challenged us to use a baby wipe as a stamp pad, and create some almost like "tie-dye" patterns with our stamps. I was familiar with this technique, and had just posted a card a few weeks back that you can check out here .  It really is fun experimenting with different color re-inkers and seeing what you come up with! :0)  Most of you know I complained ALLLLLLL winter long, and how I longed for warmer weather and brighter colors, and now today I am going to show you a fall card!  Couldn't help it, just LOVED these colors together!  Take a look:

I used PTI's "Simple Sunflower" stamp set, and made my "ink pad" with Soft Suede, Pumpkin Pie, & Daffodil Delight re-inker's (SU!).  I hadn't planned on the pop-dotted flower in the center, but this can be a messy technique and I made a smudge I needed to cover up.  It all worked for the good though, as I really like how it gives a little more visual interest to the otherwise one layer card! :0)  My sentiment is from PTI's "Wet Paint" set.  Didn't have any sun to photograph with yesterday, so you can't see, but I sprayed the whole card with Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist, and in the right light, it really shimmers! :0)  Now all I have to do is put it away until this fall for one of the many birthdays we celebrate in October and November...hey, I'll be one card ahead!! :0)

Make sure you check out Ashley's video on how to do this technique, and all the card entries over on Nichole Heady's Blog .

Thanks so much for stopping by today and enjoy your Wednesday! :0)

Merry Monday #112 - Use a Santa Hat

Good morning friends.  This week Merry Monday's is asking us to use a "Santa Hat" on our Christmas card, and after seeing what a lot of the design team came up with, I knew this Whimsy stamp would be the perfect choice.  Take a look:

Isn't this Polar bear and his little penguin friend adorable?! ("Starry Night" by Crissy Armstrong for Whimsy Stamps)   I colored them up with my Copics, and then mounted on some scraps of whimsical DSP to keep with the character of the card.  After putting the card together, I did an oops...grrrrr!  I stamped the sentiment ("Fillable Frames #9 - PTI) directly onto the upper right hand corner of the card, but because the background DSP is so busy, the sentiment didn't show up very well!  So I made a banner flag in red, and had to angle it weird on the card to cover up my oops...I like the "pop" of red that the sentiment is on, but my sense of everything having to be balanced just so, not too sure I like it.  Oh well, it is what it is! :0)  And those faces are just too cute not to bring a smile to your face, so all's good!! :0)

There's still plenty of time to play along this week, so check out all the cards and details right here .

Edited to add:  Was prompted to add my card to a Christmas card challenge new to me called Jingle Belles, where they are looking for red & green cards.  You can check this blog out and play along right here until the 18th.

Thanks so much for stopping by today...I love it when you do!  Off to finish helping my youngest get packed up for her week long camping trip....they've got enough food and clothes to last for months, but do they have all the other essential stuff???????  Time will tell!  Have a wonderful Tuesday! :0) 

Just Can't Stop Makin' Em!

Good morning friends.  Had a couple more graduation cards to make for last weekend, and I just can't seem to stop making shaker cards, no matter what the occasion!  But I love how these turned out and they're just fun and easy to make.  I coordinated one to the school colors (blue & silver) and the other to two of her favorite colors (orange & green).  Take a look:

The stamp set I used for the star backgrounds is an older one from Verve Visual, and all the die cuts are from PTI.  Cardstock and ink are all SU!.  Graduation cards are not usually my favorite to make, but I really do like making these...must be the kid in me that LOVES shaking them after I put them together! :0)

That's all for today.  Thanks so much for stopping by and hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Make it Monday #167 - DIY Notebooks

Good morning friends.  Playing along with Erin Lincoln's Make it Monday challenge today, and making your own cute little mini notebooks.  Because it's almost strawberry time here in Michigan, I decided to use PTI's "Strawberry Patch" for my little notebook, and absolutely love how it came out!  Here's a "few" pictures for you:

 

Besides the "Strawberry Patch" stamp set, I also used the "Background Basics: Super Chevron" stamp (PTI) for the bottom of each of my pages.  I used Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, and Cherry Cobbler cs and inks for this project, and my DSP is Studio Calico.  I also added a strip of Gumball Green rick-rack using the Jumbo Rick Rack die from PTI.  And of course I had to stamp a few of the strawberries for an insert in my pen to match the notebook...I love how Dawn McVey always has matching pens next to her projects! :0)

This really was a fun and cute project, so if you want to learn how to make these yourself, and see all kinds of cute ideas, head on over to Nichole's blog and check it out! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Thursday!  (I'm waiting for the plumber to come...we haven't had hot water since Monday evening...grrrrrrrrr!!!)