It's All Darnell's Fault!!

Hello friends.  So a few weeks back I was making my rounds through the blogs I like to visit, and came upon THIS POST from Darnell, and dang it Darnell, I HAD to have the Concord and 9th You Are Enough stamp set you used!  I don't think even 5 minutes had passed since I viewed Darnell's beautiful cards before the stamp set was in my cart and paid for!  Talk about enabling...good job Darnell!  But just so you know Darnell...I'm not mad because I absolutely LOVE this stamp set and had a blast playing with it over the weekend!  Here's what I came up with:

I had so much fun I couldn't stop at just one!  And I needed to replenish my birthday and sympathy stash, so it all worked out great!  The red card on the left (2nd photo) I actually used some Crimson Brusho's directly on the stamp, misted with water, and then stamped onto my cardstock.  I love the bits of intense color and the watercolored look to this one!  On all of them I embossed the outline image AFTER I stamped the background part of the flower.  I also used my MISTI on all my images to get the depth of color I wanted by multiple stampings.  The red card on the right is such a deep red, and I had to stamp it 3 times to get that depth of color.  The peachy pink and peachy yellow cards used a blending tool to get that seamless look of blended color.  I didn't use any of the sentiments that came with this set, but I will later...they're very bold and contemporary and will definitely look fabulous with this beautiful flower image! 

So thank you Darnell for showing me what I NEEDED and helping me spend my money...I've loved every minute of it!!  Aren't stamping friends just the best?!!  :0)

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

  

Merry Monday #237 - Shimmer or Sparkle

Hello friends.  This week at Merry Monday it's all about SHIMMER and SPARKLE!!

I LOVE all things shimmery and sparkly, so this challenge was a lot of FUN for me!  I used an ombre technique that Jennifer McGuire showed HERE with a SSS Snowflake background stamp and came up with this:

I embossed with white embossing powder and then began blending my colors from the bottom up with Stormy Sky, Salty Ocean, & Peacock Feathers Distress Inks.  At this point I sprayed many, many layers of Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritz, and let me tell you, IRL this background really sparkles!!

My "sparkle" die cut comes from PTI's Sparkle & Shine Word Dies, and after blending the Peacock Feathers ink over it, I embossed it with Sparkle Embossing powder.  I also die cut the "sparkle" out of foam to give some more dimension without having to die cut it 4 or 5 times!  I adhered this layer to a silver mirror cardstock layer and then white card base.  There's so much sparkle on this card that I think you could probably see it from a mile away!  :0)

Can't wait to see what you all come up with this week, so get out everything you own that shimmers or sparkles and come play along with us!  For more "sparkly" inspiration, check out all the lovely cards from my teammates right HERE and then play along!

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

  

Papertrey Ink February 2017 Blog Hop

Hello friends.  It's the 25th and that means it's time for Papertrey Ink's monthly blog hop challenge, and Nichole gave us this photo for inspiration:

Nichole challenged us to think outside the box for this challenge, but I'm afraid I don't do that very well most of the time, and to be honest, after a loooong Winter already, I am ready for flowers and bright colors!  So I did use the colors in this inspiration photo, and then kind of went in my own direction and came up with this:

I used a light gray cardstock that I stamped a script background on, and then covered that with the Cover Plate: Quatrefoil die that I had lightly embossed with some gold.  Next I added flowers and leaves from the Vintage Linens set, stamping them in Winter Wisteria, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Saffron Spice, & Honey Nut inks, then added the outlines with black embossing.  The little tag with the sentiment is from the Make It Market: Garden Gate kit, and I also embossed the filigree lines in gold.  A few Rainstones finished off my card.  Here's a closer up view:

I can't wait to see how every one else interpreted  the inspiration photo...that's the really fun part to me!!  Every one comes up with something different from the same starting point!  Check it out and play along for a chance at a $25 gift certificate right HERE.

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

Birthday Thank You's

Hello friends.  I celebrated a milestone birthday last week and received some wonderful stamping gifts from 2 of my dear friends...and finally got a chance to make a couple thank you cards using my new "toys"! 

This was a take off from a card that Melissa Phillips did HERE, but I added quite a bit more to mine!  I used MFT's Sketched Blooms 2 for the flowers inside the heart (PTI's Limitless Layers Heart Dies) and 2 new dies from my dear friend Birgit from Elizabeth Craft Designs.  (Dandelion Fluff and Leafy Branch 5)  The "thank you" is from PTI's Keep It Simple: Thank You, the "friend" die cut is from SOA/Casual Fridays Girlfriend set, and the embossing folder on my white background is from SU! (retired).  Quite busy, but I really like it! 

A much simpler card this time, but I love the way this one came out too!  In fact, I can't imagine any card not coming out cute when using this darling image from MFT's Pure Innocence Warmest Wishes.  This stamp was part of a package FULL of new stamp sets from my wonderful friend Sue, who spoiled me rotten on my birthday too!  (Aren't stamping friends just the best?!!)  My DSP is from a 6 x 6 pad called Altitude Collection by BoBunny.  The little wooden snowflake is from SU! and the bakers twine is from The Twinery. 

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

CAS Mix Up - February 2017

Hello friends.  Playing along with this months challenge over at CAS Mix Up, where using corrugated cardboard on your card is the theme.

And here's what I came up with:

I started with a Tim Holtz tree die and cut out with the corrugated cardboard...who knew cardboard could look so cool when die cut?!!  I did a little bit of copper embossing on the trees (click to enlarge photo to see better) and really like the look of the copper against the cardboard color!  I blended some Distress Inks (Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky & Salty Ocean) and die cut an oval (Gina Marie Designs) for my background and then added my sentiment from PTI's Winter Hills.  At this point I kept thinking it needed something...that it was too plain.  It's more of a masculine card, so sequins were out...what to do, what to do?!!  Yes, I agonized over this for days friends!  Seriously!  Should I just leave it or add something?!!  I finally decided to add some rainstones (PTI), and I'm still not sure that's what it needed, but I got tired of thinking about it, so it is what it is!  Anyone else out there agonize over something so small????  But anyway, it is CAS and it uses corrugated cardboard (and stamping, embossing, and die cutting), so I'm happy!

There's only a couple more days to play (24th), so grab some cardboard and play along!  LOTS of fun and really cool cards from the DT and in the gallery, so check them out right HERE and then play along!

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

 

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink - 2016

Hello friends.  The 10th Anniversary Celebration at Papertrey Ink is now up to the year 2016, and what a GREAT year for stamps and dies it was!  It was hard to choose again, but the tulips from Betsy Veldman's Tulip Time won me over and I created a very CAS card with it.

I used Pure Poppy and Scarlet Jewel along with my MISTI to get really solid multiple impressions that make these deep red tulips just pop!  I used Simply Chartreuse and Olive Twist (a fabulous new color for 2016!!) for the leaves and the sentiment from the same stamp set.  I also cut out one of the inner frames from the Cover Plate: Pretty Frame Die and added it over the top of the tulips.  At first I was bummed because the frame was too small, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it!  I was going to call it good, but best laid plans and all that...yep, got a smudge from somewhere, so out came the sequins!  Don't you hate it when that happens?!!  But anyway, I'm really happy with the way this CAS card turned out!

Check out all the rest of the beauties for 2016 from the DT and the gallery right HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by...I love it when you do!

   

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink - 2015

Hello friends.  Papertrey Ink is still celebrating their 10th anniversary and we're up to year 2015 now.  What a fabulous year for releases, and once again, I had a hard time choosing what set to go with, but Heather Nichols Twig Wreath has really had my heart from the get go!  I was inspired by Amy Sheffer's and Silke Ledlow's use of a doily behind the wreath, so that was my starting point for this card:

I had also always thought of this stamp set as a "Fall" set, but really liked how some were using it with more Spring and Summer colors, so out came the Amethyst Allure, Royal Velvet, Hawaiian Shores, and New Leaf inks!  A lot of fussy cutting for me on this card as I don't own the dies, but I'm one of those who loves fussy cutting, so it's all good!  A little bit of striped DSP from the Hawaiian Shores Pattern Paper Pack, some bling, and a seam binding ribbon finished up this colorful and Spring like card.

Still a few more days to celebrate with Papertrey Ink, so check it all out right HERE.

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

  

Merry Monday #236 - Stockings

Hello friends.  The challenge this week at Merry Monday is to use a stocking on your Christmas card. 

I had been going through my stockpile of NBUS (Never Before Used Stuff) and came across a Memory Box stocking die that I've had for ages and never used, so this weeks challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity to show it some love!!

Isn't it pretty?!!  It's called Leafy Stocking and I die cut it 4 times before mounting it to my card.  The plaid background paper is SU! Trim The Tree DSP, and I also used Cherry Cobbler cs and gold mirror cs.  The gold holly die cut uses PTI's Holly Jolly die, and the tag is from MFT's Tiny Tags and stamped with PTI's Fillable Frames #9.  A little bit of Cherry Cobbler bakers twine and gold thread finished off this card. 

Here's a closer up so you can see the dimension of the stocking better.  I also sprayed the stocking with Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritz, so IRL it really sparkles!

So dig out those stocking stamps and dies friends and let us see what you come up with!  You can check out more inspiration from my lovely teammates and then play along right HERE.

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

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink - 2014

Hello friends.  The 10th Anniversary Celebration continues over at Papertrey Ink and the year 2014 brought LOTS of wonderful stamp sets!  I had a hard time choosing between Leave It Be (loved Michelle Leone's card!!) and Life Is Beautiful, but in the end the butterflies got to me!!

This is one of those cards I wish you could see in person as the photo just doesn't do it justice!  I used a Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen on a lot of this card and it just doesn't show up...trust me when I say that IRL this cards really shimmers and sparkles!! 

I also used a few stamps from the Make It Market: Garden Gate set and some Hibiscus Burst DSP from the Pattern Pack.  Also had to add a doily that was embossed with a little bit of silver because I love how Melissa Phillips always dresses up the backgrounds of her cards like that!  And of course I had to finish up with a little bit of bling because, well...I like it!!  :0)

Lots of GORGEOUS cards from the DT and in the gallery for 2014, so check it out play along right HERE.

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

 

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink - 2013

Hello friends.  Still playing catch up with the BIG 10th anniversary celebrations at Papertrey Ink and having a blast revisiting some old "friends"!  One of the sets from 2013 that has been on my "wish list" for forever is Pedal Pusher, and my girlfriend came over yesterday to "play" and brought this stamp set with her...it definitely needs to move to the top of my wish list!! 

Just a quick and simple card, but I love how it turned out!  I started with some Aqua Mist ink and one of the stencils from the Modern Background Stencil Collection to create a soft and simple background, and then simply stamped the bike, basket, flowers and sentiment.  I love all the sentiments in this set too and it was hard to pick just one!  A couple sequins because I ALWAYS have to add something and this card was finished!! 

Are you keeping up and playing along with all the challenges?  This has been such a fun week to see what Nichole and the DT are showcasing from the past 10 years, and then bringing out old and beloved stamp sets again and creating "new" cards with them!  You can find it ALL right HERE and play along too!  :0)

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

  

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink - 2012

Hello friends.  Trying to stay caught up with all the challenges that Papertrey Ink is having for their BIG 10th Anniversary Celebration!  I bought a LOT of stamp sets from PTI in 2012 as it was fast becoming one of my FAVORITE stamp companies!  PTI is showcasing Embroidered Blooms for this challenge and I was so glad as this is another one that I really LOVE!! 

I apologize that my colors didn't come out better in this photo, but the Amethyst Allure and Lilac Grace really do look nice together IRL!  I cut a Stitched Primitive Heart die from Lilac Grace cs and then laid it down on my Noted: Scalloped A2 card base before I started stamping.  Once I finished with all the stamping I adhered dimensionals to the back of the heart die cut before putting it back in place.  I used one of the hugs dies (Big Hugs) and cut one from white and one from Amethyst Allure and then offset them a bit before attaching them to the heart.  I used some glossy accents to the centers of the smaller flowers and also added a few sequins to finish off my card.

Amazing cards from 2012, so check it all out HERE.

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

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink - 2011

Hello friends.  Papertrey Ink is celebrating their 10th Anniversary, and todays focus is on the stamp sets that came out in 2011.  Garden Variety has fast become one of my favorite sets, even though I didn't purchase it till just last year...I know, what was I thinking?!!  I love using this stamp set on kraft cs, and this is what I came up with:

I think I used most of the stamps from this set on my card (more inside the card which I forgot to take a picture of...grrr!) along with some of the kraft and Ripe Avocado Pattern Pack papers.  I also sponged a lot of the edges of this card which I haven't done in a loooong time...is that technique out of style now?  I still really like the way it makes a card more vintage looking though!  A little bit of fussy cutting and some Pure Poppy for accents finished off my card.

Lots and lots of BEAUTIFUL cards from 2011 and in the gallery, so check them all out and then play along...there's a $25 gift certificate up for grabs if you play!  You can find all the info you need right HERE.

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

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink - 2010

Hello friends.  Trying to play catch up with Papertrey Inks 10 year anniversary celebrations, and Wreath For All Seasons was a big hit for me (and many others!) in 2010!  I should have taken a picture of my stamp set so you could see how stained it is...it has been well loved!!  For all the love I've given it, I never even realized there was a tiny flower stamp in the set until I saw one of Betsy's cards and was inspired to use it with the wreath!

I mean how cute are those tiny flowers on the wreath?!  Still can't believe I missed those all these years, but I will definitely be using them now!  I used a few other sets to complete this card:  Polka Dot Basics, Autumn Adornments, Quilted: Winter, Keep It Simple: Birthday, and the Quilted Tag die. 

I've been having a great time getting out some of my older stamp sets and playing along with these challenges at PTI...love getting new stamps, but then I tend to forget all the great ones I already have, and this has been a great way to start using them again!  You can play along too...check it all out right HERE.

Thanks again for stopping by...I love it when you do!

 

Celebrating The Past, Present, & Future With Papertrey Ink - 2009

Hello friends.  I did not have any of the stamp sets showcased for 2009, but really fell in love with all the cards shown using Damask Designs.  I turned to one of the stencils in the Woodblock Prints Stencil Collection to make a similar card and used the blending ink technique to achieve the look and colors that Dawn McVey uses a lot.

I apologize that the lighting wasn't better...IRL the colors are much more vibrant!  I started in the center with Blueberry Sky and then worked outwards with Tropical Teal and finally Green Leaf.  I trimmed off a bit to make a split and then added my sentiment from Keep It Simple: Birthday.  A few sequins and some bakers twine finished off my card.

LOTS of beautiful cards to be inspired by from 2009, so check them out and play along HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by...I love it when you do!

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink - 2008

Hello friends.  Papertrey Ink is celebrating their 10th Anniversary by looking back at a lot of the stamp sets they released each year they've been in business.  The year 2008 brought the wonderful Bitty Baby Blessings stamp set, but for some reason I never picked up on that one!  I did get Sweet Baby and the Welcome To The World die to add to my collection and was inspired by Lizzie Jones card to come up with this card:

Always good to have a baby card on hand, and this one came together quickly using the Harvest Gold Patterned Paper Pack and dies.  Some little accents and I was good to go!!

See lots more inspiration from 2008 and play along...PTI is offering lots of $25 gift certificates to those who play along.  You can find all the details right HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by (again!)...I love it when you do!

 

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink - 2007

Hello friends.  Playing a little catch up with Papertrey Ink's 10th anniversary celebrations, and the year 2007 brought an old friend Beautiful Blooms to their lineup.  Hadn't played with this set in a loooong time, but Heather's beautiful watercolored card inspired me to get my set out.

I went with purples (Amethyst Allure) instead of Heather's pinks, and also added my sentiment and die cut from the Make It Market: Garden Gate kit.  My card base and top layer use the Noted: Scalloped Vertical Die.

Lots of great stamp sets were released in 2007, and Nichole's site has lots of FABULOUS cards to inspire you, so dig through those oldies and play along right HERE.

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

Celebrating the Past, Present, & Future with Papertrey Ink

Hello friends.  Papertrey Ink is celebrating it's 10th anniversary this month!!  I made my first purchase with PTI back in December of 2010 and ordered Blooming Button Bits, and I've been hooked ever since!!  To start out the festivities this month, PTI is asking us to post our favorite project we've ever done, and one of mine (I really do have too many to pick out just one!) is a fairly recent one.  One of my favorite DT members is Melissa Phillips, and she had made a FABULOUS card I just had to CASE (HERE).  Here is the set of cards I made inspired by Melissa's:

  
You can read my original post on this set of cards using Fresh Bouquet HERE.  You can see lots and lots of beautiful cards posted in the gallery using PTI products and even play along for a chance at a $25 gift certificate right HERE.

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