A Little More Easter

Hello friends.  I have a little more Easter for you today using the Print Shop: Floral Frame from The Greetery.  This set has only one stencil and the rest is all stamps, and it creates the most beautiful cards.  Let's get started...

I stenciled the flowers in light pink and light orange, and then added the extra stamped details in darker pinks and oranges and obviously greens for the leaves.  I also added the bow from Put A Bow On It (The Greetery) and one of the chubby little birdies from Brushed Birds (PTI).

 I also used the Nordic Frame Die on the top layer, and finished with some white acrylic paint splatters, sequins, and a bit of Tim Holtz Distress Glitter.

Used the same stencil and stamp set for this card (for all of them actually!), but just changed up the colors and gold embossed the sentiment which is from PTI's Phrases & Praises stamp set.  I used the Crimped Frame Die (The Greetery) for the top layer of this card and also added a few gemstones for a little bit of sparkle.

I think this one turned out to be my favorite as I doubled the floral frame up just like Betsy did on one of her cards.  I stamped (and stenciled) everything twice, and then die cut just one of the frames and turned it upside down before adhering it with foam tape over the the top panel frame that I did not die cut.  (Hope that makes sense?!)  I also added LOTS of glitter and stamped the same sentiment from the Phrases & Praises stamp set as the the previous card.

Here you can see some of the dimension and glitter a bit easier...Distress Glitter really SPARKLES in real life!!

My last card using this same stencil and stamp set is a bit more muted and I used mostly DOX inks...they give such a smooth and matte finish...it's almost like looking at velvet!!  The sentiment on this card is from Comforting Commands (also The Greetery).

I've had so much fun making Easter cards this year using stamps, stencils, and dies from The Greetery...that Betsy is one talented lady!!  

I hope each of you are having a wonderful and blessed Holy Week and will join with me in celebrating our risen Savior Jesus Christ this Sunday!!

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

Inspired BY #167 - SPRING INTO COLOR

Hello friends.  Today I'm playing along with the gals over at the Inspired By Challenge where they want us to SPRING INTO COLOR using this photo as inspiration...

That lovely bunch of color really does make me think SPRING, and I do have lots of Tulip stamps (I mean I am from Michigan and Tulips are a BIG deal around here!), but I went in a different direction...kinda!  Still inspired by color (my favorite color!), and still inspired by Spring flowers, just not Tulips...

As much as I love Tulips, I can't grow them at my house because of those cute bunny rabbits!!  Those sweet little things bite the Tulip heads off and then just leave them laying there!  Grrrrrrrrrr!!  However, they do leave the Daffodils alone and I just LOVE their bright sunny color!  They add such a pop of color to an otherwise pretty gray landscape around here, as we don't really green up here in Michigan till May.  And I just LOVE the color YELLOW!  This image is from Gina K and called Easter Blessings.  I stamped the image in black and then clear heat embossed before coloring with my Poly Chromos pencils and then using Gamsol to spread the color around.  I stamped the sentiment below the flowers and then added a couple score lines to highlight the sentiment.  Finished with a black mat and some black & white gingham ribbon before attaching to a Crushed Curry card base, and then added a few Disco Ball sequins (Gina K) to add a touch of bling.

You can check out all the beautiful inspiration from the DT and play along with this colorful challenge right HERE.  This challenge is open till March 31st.

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

Color Hues #14 - Black & White

Hello friends.  Playing with the current Color Hues Challenge today and they are looking for cards that are BLACK & WHITE.

I have a "twofer" for you today using the incentive sets from Gina K's last 2 releases that I hadn't had a chance to ink up yet, and thought they would both look great embossed in white on black cardstock.  Take a look...

These tulips (Spring Tulips - Gina K) were from 2 releases ago, and I simply embossed them in white on a piece of black cardstock, and then framed them with a piece of white cardstock that I ran through with SU!'s Subtle embossing folder.  I matted with a piece of black and attached to a white card base and then decided to leave it alone as it looked so pretty in it's CAS state!

 My 2nd card uses the incentive set from Gina K's last release and is called Watt's Up.  I made it the same as my first card except for using MFT's Peek-A-Boo Rectangle Die to frame around the embossed light bulbs, and because I smudged my sentiment, I embossed it on a black strip and used a strip of foam tape on back to give it some dimension...I sure have become accomplished at fixing up boo-boo's!!  Haha!!

Lot's of fabulous and STUNNING inspiration from the DT using BLACK & WHITE, and in the gallery already too!  You can check it all out and play along right HERE.  This challenge is open till the 29th.

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

A Little Bit of Easter

Hello friends.  Just a fun post today playing with some new goodies and getting ready for Easter.  And Spring!  I've seen my first Robin and we've been having lots of sunshine lately, so it definitely makes me feel like celebrating!!

First up is a card that uses some Pinkfresh Studio products and a sweet bunny die cut from Tim Holtz that my sweet friend Birgit gifted me with last year, and I'm finally getting around to using!!

I started by making my background using the Argyle Stencil from Pinkfresh Studio, and then layered it onto a white Postal Frames Die cut from The Greetery.  The wreath is also from Pinkfresh Studio (Overlapping Leafy Wreath) stencil and a little hard to see but done with 4 different green inks.  I added foam squares behind the wreath for some dimension and then added the bunny die cut (Tim Holtz) that I also sponged some Soft Suede ink around the edges of.  My sentiment (The Greetery) was embossed onto vellum , and I finished the card with a few green gems added to the wreath and some white crochet thread.

This card uses all stamps and dies from The Greetery including the new Bunny Hop stamp & stencil set.  I was so inspired by Kelly Lunceford and Heather Nichol's beautiful cards during this past release...Kelly used the Square Dance Stencil as backgrounds for so many of her Easter cards and of course Heather's use of Kraft and white always inspired me!  I also used the new Crimped Circle Dies and also the BotaniCuts: Carrots (LOVE these carrots!)

 I made like a bajillion carrots, so of course I made a couple tags to attach to our grandbabies Easter baskets.  Used the Window Paine Plaid background stamp for the tag backgrounds, and also added a little bunny to each from the Bunny Hop stamp set.  

I told ya I made like a bajillion carrots, so I used some of them up on a new Easter banner and I just love how this turned out!!  I made each of the pennants from a quarter piece of kraft and dsp and then decorated simply with the Window Paine Plaid background stamp on the 3 kraft pennants, and then simply added the carrots and bunnies to each one.  Here's a closer up view of 3 of the pennants...

This is one of those times when I really, REALLY wish I had a fireplace to hang this sweet banner from, but made do with a large framed mirror we have in our hallway, and it does look pretty good there!  

Edited to add:  Entering my 2nd card into the Inspired By Challenge where I was inspired by the bunnies and Easter theme.

Thanks for sticking with me this long and letting me share some of my latest creations!  Hope this Spring like weather we've been having has inspired you to get creative too!!  :0)

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

Christmas Kickstart #48 - GREEN CHRISTMAS

Hello friends.  Playing along with the gals over at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge and they are looking for a GREEN CHRISTMAS card.

And here's what I came up with...

I started with an older embossing folder (I mean really OLD as there isn't even a name on it!!) and ink blended Lucky Clover Distress Oxide ink over it, and then used a Gina K stitched rectangle die to cut it out and then layered with a piece of C&9 Clover cardstock and attached both to a white card base.

Next I stamped and colored with my Copics one of the elves from MFT's Santa's Elves stamp set and then die cut it with a circle die.  I added another Clover circle behind the white circle and cut off part of the circle and lined it up against the outside edge of the embossed layer for an offset look.  A few green gems (Pinkfresh Studio) and some green & white bakers twine finished off my GREEN CHRISTMAS card.

This challenge is open till the end of the month, and is a great way to get a head start on those Christmas cards!  Check out what Jo and the DT came up with to inspire you and then play along right HERE.

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

CAS Christmas Challenge Reminder - KRAFT, RED & WHITE

Hello friends.  Just a friendly reminder that there's still time to play along with us at the CAS Christmas Challenge and we are looking for Christmas cards using KRAFT, RED & WHITE.

Don't forget that it's our 3RD BIRTHDAY and we're offering prizes this month, so join us in the celebration!!

I went with a very CAS Scandinavian Minimalist look for my card this time, and although VERY simple, I really like the way it turned out!

 I started by die cutting the birch trees using a Gina Marie Designs die and adhering them to the back of a panel that I had die cut an oval out of, trimming off the excess trees.  I adhered this panel to a top folding white card base, and then added my deer and cardinals from PTI's In The Meadow die set.  I did do a bit of ink blending on the edges of the deer with Kraft ink.  I thought about adding a sentiment, but didn't want to take away from the scene, so left the sentiment for the inside.  Like I said earlier, very simple, but I really do like it just the way it is!!

This challenge is open till the 24th, so we hope you'll join along and celebrate with us!  There's lots of beautiful inspiration using the challenge colors of KRAFT, RED & WHITE from our talented DT and our Special GD Gundi, so check it all out right HERE.  

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

CAS Mix Up March 2021 - Watercolor Challenge/Printmaking

Hello friends.  Today I am playing along with Bonnie and the other gals over at the CAS Mix Up team, and they are having a WATERCOLORING and PRINT MAKING challenge this month.

I have not had much success with this technique in the past, but I was determined to give it another go this month!  I think I had some success and I also learned something this time around...do NOT use lightweight cardstock for your die cuts!  In fact, actual water color weight cardstock works SO MUCH BETTER!!!  I used a combination of Tim Holtz Distress White Heavystock (130lb.) and Tim Holtz Watercolor cardstock to come up with this:

I started with the Distress White Heavystock and die cut 2 of Poppystamps Massa Leaf clusters and then water colored them using Peeled Paint Distress ink while they were laying on top of another piece of the Distress White Heavystock.  While the leaf clusters were still really wet, I flipped them over several times and pressed them onto the cardstock to get the print look.  With some of the extra ink I also did some ink splattering onto the panel and also the leaf clusters.  Once everything was dry I glued down the leaf clusters and added my sentiment from The Greetery's Lovely Blossoms stamp set.

My card still needed some color so I die cut some Forget Me Nots from The Greetery's BotaniCuts: Forget-Me-Nots dies with TH Watercolor cardstock and then water colored them using Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo, Mustard Seed, & Peeled Paint Distress Inks.  I did not try the printmaking with the flowers as they are layered and glued together and I didn't think the color would transfer too well with them being layered like they are.  I also think just the small amount of color pops nicely with the green print background.  I may not be on a level with Bonnie and Loll yet, but I'm feeling pretty good about this attempt and will definitely be playing with this technique again!

You can check out all the AMAZING inspiration from the DT and their Special GD Ros right HERE and then play along...this challenge is open till the 24th.  This month is also the CAS Mix Up Challenge 5th Birthday, and there are some really neat prizes to be won, so definitely head over to their site (HERE) and check it out! 

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

Twofer Challenge #36 - YOUR CHOICE

Hello friends.  It's March and time for a new challenge over at The Twofer Challenge, and this month is something new...YOUR CHOICE!

Yep, this month it's YOUR CHOICE!  Now before some of you get too excited, let me explain that the same rules still apply...2 cards for 2 different occasions, using the same stamps, stencil, or dies.  So whatever choice you decide on, just remember that you must use the same stamp, stencil or die.  Since it is March and I have a wee bit o Irish in me, I decided to use a SHAMROCK for my choice, and used a brand new stamp set from Colorado Craft Co. called 4-Leaf Clover and came up with a friendship and birthday card.

I just can't seem to resist these cute little critters designed by Anita Jeram (illustrator of the "Guess How Much I Love You" book), and these little mice in the field of clover and holding up the one lucky clover just melt my heart!!

For my friendship card I stamped and clear embossed the image before coloring with my Copics, and then partially cut around the upper half of the mouse and 4 leaf clover.  I attached a piece of Ocean Tides DSP (PTI) to a top folding white card base, and then adhered the mouse image to the bottom half of the card.  I did put a pop dot behind the 4 leaf clover to make it stand out a bit more and also added some TH Distress Glitter.  The sentiment is also from the 4 - Leaf Clover set, and the inside sentiment says "hard to find and lucky to have".

 My birthday card uses the same image, but instead of coloring all the clover green like in my 1st card, I colored them all different colors so that the one 4 leaf clover that the mouse is holding up would stand out like the rarity it is!  I also used more tan Copics to color the mouse in this card than the warm grays I used on the 1st card.  I die cut the image using a SU! oval die and backed it with a black scalloped oval, before adhering to a white layer that I embossed with a Darice embossing folder.  I wrapped some black & white gingham ribbon (Michael's) around my embossed layer and a black layer before completely adhering my oval to the two layers and then finished by adhering it all to a side folding white card base.  I also added a tiny tag (PTI) that I stamped Happy Birthday (The Greetery) on and then finished with a few Disco Ball sequins from Gina K.  The inside sentiment is from the 4-Leaf Clover set and says "May Your Blessings Outnumber The Shamrocks That Grow" and I thought that was pretty fitting for a birthday card.  Two of our daughters have March birthdays, so this card will be going to one of them.

So there you have it...2 different cards for 2 different occasions using the same stamp!  We can't wait to see what you choose for your choice...it should be quite a colorful gallery this month!  If you need more inspiration and ideas, check out what our DT and Special GD Nancy have come up with right HERE and then play along with us! This challenge is open till the 24th.  :0)

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

The Flower Challenge #54 - SHADES OF PURPLE

Hello friends.  Today I am playing along with The Flower Challenge where they are looking for cards with SHADES OF PURPLE.

I used a new (to me) stamp set from Altenew called Positive Vibes and actually made 2 cards (surprise, surprise, right?!) because my first card came out more of a plum color than purple.  It still turned out really pretty so I'll show it to you after I show my 2nd card first...

I started by stamping the outline image first in CP's Twilight ink (a light gray), and then used Sweet Sixteen and Royal Treatment inks (both CP inks also) to stamp the 2nd and 3rd layers.  The leaves were stamped with Gina K inks.

Here you can see the detail a little better and also that I used SU!'s Subtle embossing folder to give the panel a bit of texture.  I finished with an embossed sentiment from the same Positive Vibes set and also added a few Pinkfresh Studio gems.  

Here's the first card I made but used Sweet Sixteen and Sugared Lavender inks that looked more plum colored to me.  Still just as pretty but just a different shade.

Used a longer sentiment strip for this card with the sentiment from The Greetery's Sentiment Suite: Thinking of You stamp set and finished with a few more gems from Pinkfresh Studio.

Here they are both together so it's easier to see the color differences.  Which one do you like better?  I like both of them but think the card on the left fits the SHADES OF PURPLE requirements a bit better.  

You can check out all the BEAUTIFUL purple cards from the DT right HERE and then play along...all you need is a FLOWER stamp and SHADES OF PURPLE ink.  :0)

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

Color Hues #13 - YELLOW & BLUE

Hello friends.  I'm playing along with the current Color Hues Challenge today and they are looking for cards with YELLOW & BLUE.

And here's what I came up with...

I started with a embossed background I found in my unused box that I had inked up the inside of the embossing folder (Altenew's Beautiful Bergenia) with Salty Ocean DOX ink before running through my Big Shot, and then used a smaller rectangle die to cut out the center of the panel to create a frame.  Next I stamped and die cut a couple of the flowers using my yellow inks (and a tiny bit of green for the leaves...just couldn't do them in blues, so hope that's ok?!) and The Greetery's Lovely Blossoms stamp set, and then inserted them inside the embossed frame.  

My sentiment is a new die from Gina K's newest kit called Forever Flowers, and to finish I added Distress Glitter (gosh I love, LOVE that stuff!!) and a few sequins also from Gina K.  Lots of dimension and sparkle and shine on this birthday card and I'm loving the YELLOW & BLUE color combo!!

Check out all the beautiful cards from the DT and then play along right HERE ... this challenge is open till 9:00AM on the 14th.  

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

CAS Christmas March 2021 - Kraft, Red & White

Hello friends.  It's time for another challenge at CAS Christmas and this month we are having a color challenge hosted by Loll...using KRAFT, RED & WHITE.

It is also CAS Christmas's 3RD BIRTHDAY this month, so come CELEBRATE with us!!  There will even be prizes this month, so use whatever Christmas stamps, dies, or stencils you have along with the colors KRAFT, RED & WHITE and play along with us for a chance to win!

KRAFT, RED & WHITE remind me of Scandinavian colors, so that's the direction I went with my card using a SSS Big Joy die and a new to me stamp from the Colorado Craft Co. called Nordic Ornament...

I stamped the Nordic Ornament with Versamark ink on kraft cs with white embossing powder, and then die cut the "J" and "Y" from it.  For the "O" I used a Altenew die set called Poinsettia 3D Die Set and die cut 3 of the smallest petals from red cs and then center from kraft cs.  I adhered my letters (and Poinsettia) to a white panel that I die cut with The Greetery's Nordic Frame Dies, and then added a red layer behind that and attached it all to a white card base. 

We hope you will join us this month celebrating our 3RD Birthday by playing along with our color challenge...Just remember to use only KRAFT, RED & WHITE (please limit your amount of neutrals and stick mostly with the challenge colors) on your CAS Christmas cards.  The DT and our Special GD Gundi have amazing cards to share with you for inspiration this month, so check it all out right HERE and play along with us!  This challenge is open till the 24th.  

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