In Gratitude for Mothers

Susan's One Layer Wednesday Challenge over at Simplicity ties in with her Week of Gratitude.  Wednesday was in gratitude for mothers.  If our own mothers aren't living,  we could make a card for someone who is like a mother to us.

My mother died in 1979 and I still miss her.  Fortunately I had a very special aunt who was like a second mother to me.  Aunt Peg loved to do crafts and loved sharing that with me.  I couldn't wait to go spend the week with her in the summer and I especially loved spending the Thanksgiving weekend with her.  We would always create all kinds of wonderful things.

She is in her 90s now and not able to keep up with her letter writing like she used to.  She can't hear so the telephone isn't a good option either.  So I can send her a card once in a while to let her know how much I love her and miss her.  Susan's reminder was well timed.

So this is for you Aunt Peg.  I sure do love you and I am so thankful that you were in my life.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Because I Care, Three Little Words

Ink:  Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz

Paper:  Whisper White

Accessories:  Concord Crush SU Marker, Scallop Trim Border Punch

 

Enjoy your blessings.

Bonnie

Inspired on Tissue

The Technique Lover's Challenge on SCS this week is to stamp on tissue paper.  First you have to spritz the tissue with water, and dry it with the heat tool.  Then it's ready to stamp on.

I used the colors from the Color Challenge this week, Basic Gray, Rose Red, Daffodil Delight, a neutral of choice and any other color you want.  I chose Old Olive.

I like the texture of the tissue paper, it reminds me of silk.  I think it would be prettier with lighter colors.  But that's just my opinion.

If I get time, I may try to use these colors again.  That basic gray is a real challenge for me.  It's probably about my least favorite color!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Inspired by Nature

Ink:  Old Olive, Rose Red, Daffodil Delight

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Tissue Paper

Accessories:  Rose Red & Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

We finally have rain, and lots of it!  The trees & plants look so refreshed!  We're supposed to have some fall like temperatures now too.  I am so thankful!

Enjoy your blessings.

Bonnie

Christmas Stamp Stack No. 1

Hot off the stampin' table.  Here are the cards we will be doing in the October Stamp Stack. 

Come join the fun at

the Roanoke Rapids Public Library on

Saturday, October 9 from 10:00 - 1:00

                                       

 my house in Cary on

Saturday, October 16 from 2:00 - 4:00

                                       

my house in Cary on

Tuesday, October 19 from 10:00 - 12:00

Cost is $15.00 and includes all materials except envelopes. 

Envelopes for envelope art are $1.00 extra.

Reservations must be made by

5:00 pm, Wednesday, October 6 for the Roanoke Rapids class

and by

5:00 pm, Wednesday,  October 12, for the Cary classes

Hope to see you there.

Bonnie

Concord Thoughts

Hello creative friends.  It has been a wonderful rainy day.  It's been so hot and dry lately that the rain is a welcome sight!

I did this card for the CAS86 challenge on SCS to do a card inspired by this card done by cookiebaker.  What a great layout!

I inked up the stamp with SU Markers and then did a little thumping.   First I inked the flowers with Concord Crush and stamped on my scrap mat. Then I thumped with the Concord marker on some of the flowers.  I used Pear Pizzazz thumped with Old Olive on the leaves.  I huffed and puffed and stamped on a 2 3/4" x 3 1/2" piece of Whisper White. The sentiment is stamped in Concord Crush.

I rounded alternate corners and matted with a piece of Concord Crush cut 1/8" larger, cut a 1 1/2" strip of white and matted that with a piece of Concord Crush also cut 1/8" larger.  I wrapped a piece of ribbon around the strip and adhered both pieces to a card that had been embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.

It was quick and easy and I won't tell you how many things I tried to get to this point.  LOL, my trash can is full!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Thoughts & Prayers

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, & Concord Crush SU Markers

Paper:  Whisper White, Concord Crush

Accessories:  Corner Rounder Punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Concord Crush Stitched Ribbon

Hope you got to stamp today and didn't have to trash anything!

Enjoy your blessings.

Bonnie

And the Beautiful Blogger Award Goes To...

My blogger friend Emily of mylittlesliceofbliss, bestowed this Beautiful Blogger award on me last week.  Thank you Emily, I am honored!

Now I need to tell 7 things about myself.  I guess I can't say "I love to make cards" seven times so here goes....

1. I grew up in New England.
2. I have been a Carolina girl for over 40 years.
3. I have a wonderful husband who encourages my creativity.
4. I have 3 beautiful grown daughters that I am ever so proud of.
5. I have 4 precious grandchildren.
6. I am a retired librarian.
7. I am a stampaholic!

OK, now I get to pass this award along to 7 of my favorite bloggers.  Emily already gave the award to some of my favorites so here are some more worthy bloggers.  Do check out their blogs for some wonderful inspiration.

• Susie of Sharing What I Love has shared life lessons as well as card inspiration.
• Hannah of Sherbetblossom gave me the Blogspotter button last spring and I have enjoyed her cards and interesting tibits since then.  She has become a favorite of one of my daughters too.
• Catherine of Catherine Pooler Stamps who shares lots of tips and techniques on her blog.
• Karin of Inspired to Stamp keeps me inspired.
• Judi of paper-rose-petals who does the most incredible watercoloring.
• Debbie at Unfrogettable Stamping gives me Stampin' Up! inspiration.
• Cindy at Stamps, Paper & Ink is last but not least on my list.

Thanks again Emily and all those creative bloggers who share their creativity and talent.
Bonnie

One Layer Remake

Remember the One Layer Wednesday cards this week?  I really didn't like them and said that I would probably layer them up.  Well that's exactly what I did!

The leaf card went from this........

To this.....

I cut off the card front, cut it down, matted it with Dusty Durango & Chocolate Chip and put it on a Naturals White card base.

I was liking it better but it seemed like it needed more on the top.  So I masked it again and stamped the leaves a couple more times.  Oops, the mask moved a bit.  Not too bad though.  It's still going to work.

I wondered about putting a little bit more dimension with a cut out leaf.  So I stamped the leaf on a piece of scrap, sponged on some color, smacked it with the VersaMark pad and clear embossed it.  I cut it out, rolled it a bit with my bone folder and adhered it over the original leaf.

OK, I like this a lot better!

Now to get it in the mail for my DB's birthday.  Did I tell you he was going to be 60?  Wow, I remember when we thought that 60 was really, really old!

Have a great weekend and I hope you get some ink on your fingers.

Bonnie

Scallops and Scallops

Do you remember that last week my Creative Arts Group was trying to help use up some Designer Series Paper?  After they left, I was all inspired and made this card.

Today's Free 4 All Challenge on SCS is to use scallops.  This was a perfect fit so I just had to share it with you.  All the paper has  been retired but Stampin' Up! has lots of new, beautiful papers available.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Thoughts & Prayers

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Paper:  Very Vanilla & Chocolate Chip Textured, DSP

Accessories:  Extra Large Bird, Scallop Border, Scallop Oval & Large Oval Punches, Pearl

That's it for today.  I hope to post something for you again tomorrow.

Enjoy your blessings.

Bonnie

Double Challenge

I think I did pretty good getting 2 challenges in one card.  I am totally amazed at the number of challenges some of my blogging friends can get with one card!  I'm not even sure how to find all those challenges!

I pretty much stay with the SCS challenges and that's where these came from.  The layout is from the Sketch Challenge this week.  Today's Ways to Use It Challenge is to get a Holiday Headstart.  Julia says it can be any upcoming Holiday.

I had been neglecting my UFO (UnFinished Objects) box except to add to it!  Sketches are often a good way to use some of those stamped images.  I found this Mum that I had painted long ago.  Since it was a little bit too wide for the long narrow piece, I cut around it cutting out some of the design on one edge instead of squaring it off.  I've seen some beautiful pieces done with the technique.  I'm not sure I did it right, but it seems to work.

Of course all these sets of stamps are old and retired.

I like the Clean & Simple style of cards and in order to do that with these sketches, I use texture instead of color.  I love my Big Shot!

I did do some sponging since the Watercolor paper & the card stock were different shades.  That seems to be a good way to make things blend together.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Still Life Stems, Holidays & Wishes, Bird on a Branch (dots)

Ink:  Black StazOn, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Pumpking Pie, Cajun Craze

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Watercolor, Cajun Craze

Accessories:  Blender Pen, Corner Rounder, Pumpkin Pie brad, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Stampin' Sponges

What's in your UFO box?

Enjoy your blessings.

Bonnie

Inspired

I am struggling with these challenges this week.  I guess we all have to go through some days when inspiration seems to be hiding.

The first one is for the One Layer Wednesday challenge on Simplicity.  Her challenge this week is to make a one layer card inspired by NATURE.  Nature is always so inspiring.  In fact 99% of my stamps are nature related.

Last fall DH talked me into taking a nature hike with him.  It was BEAUTIFUL!  There were some leaves still on the trees and the ground was covered.  It was like walking through a golden tunnel!  I wanted to try to capture some of that feeling with this card.  It falls far short! 

Don't tell Susan, but I will probably cut this and make it a 2 or 3 layer card.  Still simple, but I think it needs something else.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Sincere Salutations

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede

Paper:  Whisper White

Acc.:  Mask, Sponge Daubers, Soft Suede SU Marker

I did this card first but I wasn't crazy about it.  I love seeing the butterflies.  I always feel like I've received a gift when I see one flitting past!

The layout of this card was inspired by a card by ravengirl on SCS.  Her card is much prettier (and so is the one I did just like it).  This however doesn't give me that yeah! feeling at all.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Dreams du Jour, Because I Care
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede
Paper:  Whisper White
Acc.:  Mask, Stampin' Sponge, Soft Suede SU Marker

I hope tomorrow my mojo comes back!

Thanks for the visit.
Bonnie

Vintage Vogue Color Challenge

I did a quick card for today's Color Challenge on SCS to use Baja Breeze, Cajun Craze & Wild Wasabi.  Dessert was to say it in squares.  As you can see, I didn't say anything in squares or not.  I think that is a neat idea and I loved what I saw in the gallery, but I just didn't get to that.  Think I can lose weight by skipping dessert?  I wish!

I really didn't have any idea what I was going to do when I sat down at my work table.  Do you ever do that?

Vintage Vogue was sitting there so I inked it with the Wild Wasabi & Baja Breeze SU Markers and stamped it twice on a scrap of Whisper White.  I liked that so now what?

I embossed the edge with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  I've got to tell you that these embossing folders were a real hit in my classes this month.  They add so much with just a little bit of work!

I matted it with Wild Wasabi.  Still looking ok.

Now for the Cajun Craze!  I love this color but I wasn't too sure of it with the subtle colors!  Well, more looked better to me.  I was amazed at how these colors looked together!  Betty has repeatedly surprised and delighted me with her color combinations!

A bit of Wild Wasabi ribbon from a couple of years ago and a few of the SU pearls that I LOVE, and the card was done.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Vintage Vogue

Ink:  Wild Wasabi & Baja Breeze SU Markers

Paper:  Cajun Craze, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Acc.:  Wild Wasabi Ribbon (retired), Pearls, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF

What do you think?  Want to try this color combination?

Enjoy!

Bonnie

Autumn Wreath

I was so busy last week that I didn't get to play with all the challenges.  This is another busy week, but I played anyway.

I had to stamp on a board on the guest bed because my stamping table is set up for another class.  Kneeling at my age is a bit hard but mostly in the gettin' up!

This is for the CAS (Clean & Simple), Fall color challenge and the TLC, Tag Your It challenge on SCS

I am not really satisfied with this card.  I kept adding to it but it wasn't getting any better so I decided to stop and let it be what it's gonna be.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Season of Friendship, Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Tangerine Tango

Acc.:  2 3/8" Scallop Circle, 2 1/2" Extra Large Circle & Scallop Trim Corner & 1/16" Circle Punches, Chocolate Chip &, Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Gold beads, Chocolate Chip SU Marker

I've got another class in the morning.  I love it!  We had so much fun  yesterday!

Happy Stampin',

Bonnie

Playing with Decorative Paper

Here are some of the cards we did while trying to use up some decorative paper earlier in the week.

We hardly made a dent in all that paper!

They are going to have to come back and work on it some more!

Now I am inspired to make some cards with some of the paper and I have classes this weekend and next week.  I'll be too busy to play.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and get to play some.
Bonnie

One Layer Wednesday on Thursday

For the record, yes, I was confused about the name of this stamp set.  It is Northern Hearts not Northern Lights.  I think I need to get my eyes checked!  I keep hoping my vision, or lack of it, is due to sinus and hate to get my eyes checked when it will straighten out anyway.  Enough about my eyesight!

I used the snowflakes from the Northern Hearts set for the One Layer Wednesday challenge on Simplicity.  This week's challenge is Three plus One.  Do three images plus one sentiment.

Since I just got this set, and there were three snowflakes, I just had to try a card using them.

I stamped the snowflakes with Whisper White Craft ink and heat embossed with White Embossing Powder.

To add a bit of color, I chose to stamp the sentiment in Real Red.

The card needed a bit more.  Everything was just sort of hanging there.  So I used a stylus and my cutting board and scored a couple of lines on two sides.  I scored at 1/2" & 3/4".  To make the lines show up better, I sponged them with Whisper White ink using an eyeshadow applicator.  I didn't do a very good job of staying on the lines but I thought it gave the impression of blowing snow.  Tee hee, my imagination is good, huh?

Three different sizes of pearls adorn the snowflakes.  I love all the sizes in the pearl & rhinestone assortments that Stampin' Up! offers now.  It's always a tough decision whether to use pearls or rhinestones!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Northern Hearts, Warm Words

Ink:  Whisper White Craft, Real Red

Paper:  Crumb Cake

Acc.:  White Embossing Powder, Pearls, Stylus

After looking briefly at Susan's blog and seeing the cards that are already in the gallery, I am in awe!  There are some beautiful cards there.  Do take a look and don't be afraid to comment.  We all love our comments.  I know from experience that the comments are treasured.

Thanks for the visit.  I hope you enjoyed yourself and found a bit of inspiration here.

Bonnie

Northern Hearts Color Challenge

Mr. Brown or as Luke calls him "the new PBS man" came yesterday.  You know what that means.  Yeah, NEW TOYS!

This came just in time for the SCS Color Challenge to use Blushing Bride, Always Artichoke and Marina Mist. 

I inked the birds from the Northern Hearts set with SU Markers.  It is the Level 1 hostess set in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  We are going to have some fun playing with this!

Did you notice the background.  I used the Teahouse background stamp.  The Blushing Bride doesn't show up a lot but it gave the subtle look I was wanting.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Northern Hearts, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Blushing Bride, SU Markers (Marina Mist, Blushing Bride, Always Artichoke, Daffodil Delight)

Paper:  Whisper White, Marina Mist

Acc.:  Big Shot, Ovals Bigz die, Marina Mist Taffeta Ribbon, Pearl

It was a quick and easy card.  I think it will be pretty in Christmas colors too.

Wait til you see what else I did with this set!  I had a fun afternoon!

Got to run.  We need to find a new printer.  There doesn't seem to be a fix to the old one and quite honestly, I have used up a month's worth of patience trying to fix it!

Hope you haven't had an impatient kind of day.

Bonnie

Balloon Inspired

This week's CAS challenge is to do a card inspired by this Birthday Wreath.

Of course I chose to use flowers!

I tried to use all the colors and stay with items that are current Stampin' Up!  For the first time in my stampin' life, I wanted to use Green Galore, but I used Wild Wasabi instead.

The vase is made from the Designer Label Punch.  I held the paper so it didn't quite cut the whole thing.

The flowers are made with the Boho Blossom Punch.  The center of the flower is my small scallop punch that I've had for years and don't even remember where I got it!

I used the big Polka Dots from the Apple Blossoms Level 2 Hostess Gift for some interest on the vase.  The photo doesn't show it at all.  It is very subtle because I stamped it with the Tempting Turquoise on the Turquoise vase.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Apple Blossoms
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise
Paper:  Whisper White, Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi
Acc.:  Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Little Leaves Sizzlit, Designer Label & Boho Blossom Punches, Daffodil Delight narrow ribbon, Dimensionals

Oh, and we had a good time making cards with Designer Paper this morning.  As usual, I got so wrapped up having fun that I didn't get my camera out.  There were some really awesome cards too!  I did get a couple shots of what I made.  I'll share them later.

Hope you had a wonderful day!
Bonnie 

Autumn Leaves

What a day this has been!  I put a new ink cartridge in my printer yesterday and now it won't work.  I've spent hours cleaning the carriage, (and getting ink all over everything).  The printer still doesn't work and my fingers are black!  I much prefer to get inky fingers from stamping!

I thought I would share a card from stamping with the Scrap & Share group in Roanoke Rapids on Saturday.  We used the leaves and stamped a half sheet of Very Vanilla.  Then we tore it up and made cards.  I wish I had taken my camera so I could show you what the other ladies made.

We had one young gent come in to see what was going on and he wanted to make a card for his Grandma's birthday.  We had so much fun helping him make a card and he really impressed himself!  Maybe he will come back next month.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Autumn Leaf Prints, Holiday Best (Sorry, both are retired sets and one odd non SU leaf stamp)
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Dusty Durango
Acc.:  Hemp twine, SU Markers (Always Artichoke & Cajun Craze)

The hanging leaves were stamped and cut from a piece of sponged paper using the faux polished stone technique.  We did this project a couple of years ago and I still have some of the paper left.

Wish I had time to stay longer.  I have the Creative Arts group coming in tomorrow and I need to finish getting ready for that.  They're going to help me get rid of some decorative paper.  I'll try to remember to take some pictures so you can see what we come up with.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

What an Honor!

I had a wonderful surprise today!  My dear blogging friend Sally honored my with One Lovely Blog Award.

Now to I get to name seven of my favorite bloggers.  That's going to be hard but here goes!

Sandi

Colleen D.

Susan

Lee

Heidi

Colleen

Sarah

Wow, it was really hard to narrow it down.  There are so many talented card makers with wonderful blogs.  Every week I find another one and always find so my inspiration from those blogs. 

Another of my favorites is my daughter Jenny.  She doesn't blog about cards but she often blogs about my grandchildren.  And I love that.  She also give good fashion advice.  Not that I ever take it.  After all I'm a generation removed.

Ok, now that I'm really full of myself, I probably won't stamp any more today.  But I will tomorrow!  You can bet on that.

Have a wonderful weekend and I hope you get to stamp some.

Bonnie

Poinsettia in the Round

Hello Stampin' Friends.  Wow, has this week gone fast! 

Here's a card for the Free for All Challenge on SCS, Rectangles & Circles.  It's not like Wendy's card but it has both. And I only used one stamp set.

I used the Bells & Boughs set from the Holiday Mini for this card.  I love all the images and they aren't too hard to paint.

I stamped the main imageon Whisper White with Black StazOn.  Then I re-inked the center of the image and stamped on a piece of Whisper White scrap paper.  Using inkpads & a blender pen, I painted the evergreen & poinsettia.  On the second image I just painted the big flower.

The layout is from SC295.  I really love this sketch and didn't get to it that week.

The sponging is due to the fact that I got a smudge on the side of the design panel.  My Garden Green spot leaked and I forget to check for inky fingers after I use it!  I like the sponging though, so it was a good thing.

I still have a few of those little gold seed beads and I used them in the center of the flowers.  The beads are really the flower.  The red bracts are leaves.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Bells & Boughs
Ink:  Black StazOn, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Old Olive, Going Gray
Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive
Acc.:  Blender Pen, Stampin' Sponges, Seed beads, 1 3/8" &  1 1/2" Circle Punches

I like the rectangles & circles together!

Want to try your hand at these challenges?  Just click on the links above and follow the directions.  I'd love to see what you come up with.

Happy stampin',
Bonnie

Using Twine

Hi Stampin' Friends. Today I needed to do a card using twine for the Ways to Use It Challenge on SCS. We are doing fall cards at Scrap & Share at the Roanoke Rapids Library on Saturday so I went with the fall colors.

Lovely as a Tree is one of my favorite stamp sets in all seasons but especially in Autumn.

I used the Rock & Roll technique to ink the stamp. I used Close to Cocoa on the trunk then inked the leaves with More Mustard. Using my Stampin' Spots I rocked the pads on the tree working from light to dark. There is a great tutorial on SCS here.

Once I had inked up the stamp, I held it out and spritzed some water over it. (Don't spritz directly on the stamp because it makes it too wet.) Then I stamped it on some watercolor paper. I used a blender pen to fill in the tree trunk and blend the leaves a bit. I also used a blender pen dipped in the corner of the ink spots to make "leaves" on the ground.

My twine is a bit of raffia that was hiding in my ribbon drawer and a piece of hemp twine. I wrapped and tied them together.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Three Little Words
Ink: Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Early Expresso
Paper: Watercolor, Early Expresso
Acc.: Raffia, Hemp Twine

I know that Fall is around the corner because the days are getting shorter and I can see some changes in the trees. I am really looking forward to some cooler weather to go along with it!

That's all for today. Hope you had a fine day and got to make something pretty!

With inky fingers,
Bonnie

Black with a Touch of Color

Today's One Layer Wednesday Challenge over at Simplicity is to use black with a spot of color.

This is my set to go to for black & white. I love this feather and the dragonfly in this set.

I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the placement of the feather. Sometimes that little gadget is really handy!

I let the ink dry and put a drop of glue in the center and sprinkled a tiny bit of Olive Fine Supernova glitter. After that dried, I put a little bead of glue around the glitter and sprinkled the Aqua Fine Supernova glitter.

I drew some lines around the design and I was finished! Quick and easy if you don't count the stamping I did first and discarded!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Nature's Nest, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White
Acc.: Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Fine Supernova Glitter, Black SU Marker

Now I need to go and clean up my mess! And judging by the time, I need to start some supper.

I had fun today. Hope you did too. Thanks for stopping by. I love hearing what you think.
Bonnie

Friends Sketch

Now that I have my days straight, I got the sketch challenge done on the day! I haven't done that in a long time. You can see the sketch here. C'mon and play along!

I inked this little flower from the Friends Never Fade set with SU Markers and stamped then punched the corners. It was looking a little bare, (I think it was a bit small for the size of the square) so I used a clear mount block to guide in drawing a line all around. This always makes me nervous. You can probably see where I got the wobblies!

I used lots of Real Red here. I have some fall birthday girls who like red. I'll save this for one of them.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Short & Sweet
Ink: SU Markers, Real Red, More Mustard, Always Artichoke
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red
Acc.: Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Narrow Daffodil Delight ribbon

I'll be back with a card for the One Layer Wednesday challenge. I'm on a roll.

Later,
Bonnie

Window Garden

I did this card today for yesterday's CAS challenge to use a layout by resqbarbie and for today's Color Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.
Betty chose all In Colors this week, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, & Pear Pizzazz. Have I said before that I love these colors? Dessert is to use string.

The Pocket Silhouette stamp set seemed perfect for these Fall colors. I stamped the flowers on a 3 1/8" square of Very Vanilla using all the colors. I tried to visualize it as a garden scene through a window. Judging from the angle it must be a basement window! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a view like this?

After stamping, I cut the piece into 1 1/2" squares and adhered them to a 3 1/4" piece of Concord Crush.

The butterfly somehow got in the house and is trying to find his way out to the flowers! Did you notice the string body and antennae? It doesn't show up very well in this picture.

My first attempt at these squares are going to make a set of notecards. I need to go put them together.

Card Recipe (All Stampin' Up!)
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Short & Sweet
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Concord Crush
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Concord Crush
Acc.: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Word Window Punch, Linen Thread

Now over to SCS to post and look at all the wonderful inspiration in the galleries.

Hope this inspires you a bit.
Bonnie

What Day is it Anyway?

Yesterday, all day, I thought it was Sunday! I would have given you a post yesterday if I had realized what day it was! LOL and today it seems like Monday! I'll give you two cards today to make up for my bungle.

I CASEd this card from a card by k dunbrook on SCS. The Creative Arts group is getting together next week to help me use up some decorative paper and I thought this would be fun to do.

I cut 1" squares, cut them in half diagonally, rounded the corners and placed them in a circle. Getting those little pieces cut diagonally and in the punch was a challenge!

You could call this a retirement card. The paper is from Sale-a-bration, the corduroy brads have been discontinued, The card stock & sentiment stamp have gone away. I'm so happy I used up some of this retired stuff! Hope the ladies will help me get rid of some more!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Warm Words
Ink: Dusty Durango
Paper: Dusty Durango, White Textured, Welcome Neighbor DSP
Acc.: Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Piercer, Corduroy Brad, SU Markers (Dusty Durango, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay)

If you have some scraps of Decorative Paper hanging around, this is a fun way to use them up!

I'll be back with a challenge card in a bit.
Bonnie

Birds of a Feather

I really intended to get to this earlier in the day. The days just speed by! And I had an invitation to lunch and shopping from my youngest daughter. It was fun and relaxing. We see each other several times a week, but rarely get a chance to really talk. Today was a special time with her.

I had this weeks Sketch Challenge from SCS on my work table and when I saw the Free for All Challenge yesterday, I thought I would try to combine them. The Free for All is to do anything to do with birds and as an added challenge to use a color we don't use.

I love the pheasant from Autumn Days so I decided to use him. He looked kind of lonely so I masked him and stamped another without re-inking. I think I should have stamped her a bit higher, but she'll do. Then I masked both birds and stamped the wheat (So Saffron) and berries (Crumb Cake). I used an eyeshadow sponge with Bashful Blue & So Saffron ink to sponge in the background. The birds are colored with a blender pen and ink.

I stamped the birds in Soft Suede. It's the color I don't use. I never liked it because it reminds me of what we find in Luke's diaper. Ugh! However, now that we don't have Close to Cocoa, I think I am going to have to use this ink more. I also used this unattractive color to do a narrow mat around all the elements.

The leaves are stamped in Cajun Craze on Cajun Craze & I stamped the Sanded background stamp on Bashful Blue with Sahara Sand ink.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Autumn Days, Sanded
Ink: Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Garden Green, So Saffron, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Cajun Craze, Watercolor
Acc.: Gold Brads, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer

Hope you get a chance to stamp this weekend. Inky fingers are the best!
Bonnie