For Queen Liz

It's almost time for Queen Liz to give up her crown.  Somehow I'm always at the end of the reign getting these cards posted.  Liz has been on my mind all week though.

Anyway, Liz, aka lazylizard, was named Queen for the Day last Friday.  I enjoyed looking through her lovely gallery and had trouble deciding just which project to CASE.  I finally decided on this one.  I love these necklaces made out of repurposed game pieces.  I have one made with a Scrabble square and really enjoy it.  I didn't make a necklace, but Liz's necklace was an inspiration for this card.

I don't have a lily of the valley stamp.  But this reminded me of the colors Liz used.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Herb Expressions, Thoughts and Prayers

Ink:  Old Olive, SU Markers (Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, More Mustard)

Paper:  Naturals White

As always, thanks for stopping by.  I really appreciate all your lovely comments.

Enjoy!

Cherry Espresso Party

The color challenge at SCS this week is called Cherry Espresso Party.  Sounds delectable doesn't it?

The card I imagined when I first saw the challenge was quite different.  But sometimes these cards just go their own direction.  It's so much fun go with it.  Especially when I like the finished product!

I used a little glue and Dazzling Diamonds on the snowflakes and the tree.  I don't think the sparkle shows up very well in the pictures.

The little bird was stamped and cut out.  I used the leaf stamp with this set for the wing.

When I was editing the picture, I realized that I used this same set for the color challenge last week.  It's such a versatile set.  It can be used for any season.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Season of Friendship

Ink:  Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party

Paper:  Whisper White, Pool Party, Early Espresso

Other:  Big Shot, Snow Burst EF, Modern Label Punch, Dazzling Diamonds

I'm so glad you stopped by again.  I hope you enjoy!

Awash with Paper Piecing

Yesteday's Clean and Simple challenge at SCS was to do paper piecing.  This technique is wonderful for using some of those little pieces of DSP that have been left over.  I have a box full of these pieces.

Just a simple layout, but one of my favorites.

  

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Awash with Flowers, Watercolor Minis?, Short and Sweet

Ink:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

Paper:  Whisper White, Scraps of DSP, Melon Mambo

Other:  Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Scallop Trim Border Punch

Thanks for stopping by today and for all the lovely comments you have been leaving.

Enjoy!

Sketchy Halloween

This week's challenge at Less is More is a SKETCH

I flipped the sketch for this one.

I used the new Hand Penned Holidays set from the Holiday Mini.  It has 4 fantastic stamps in the set. 

The pumpkin is 3 punched wide ovals.  I shaded a bit with a sponge dauber and ink and used the marker to draw some more lines.  The stem is an embosslit.

And still in the Halloween theme.....

I hope this is CAS enough.  I had this little piece of background paper that had been done in the Faux Polished Stone technique.  I stamped the cat and tree in black and colored them in with the marker to get them really dark.  The grass is just sketched.  Then I punched it with the 2 1/2" circle punch. The sentiment is an from an old hostess set.

I embossed about 3/4 of a piece of pumpkin pie cardstock, leaving about 1 1/2" unembossed for the sentiment.  The black ribbon is some twill tape from my sewing box.  I distressed the bottom a bit too.  I'm not sure if that really shows in the picture.

For someone who doesn't do Halloween cards, I've outdone myself with them this year.  I have one more class with Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving cards coming up too.  I guess the grandchildren will wonder what got into their ole Nana!  Maybe they'll share their candy with me.

By the way, congratulations to Chrissie and Mandi on over 700 submissions last week.  That's amazing!  And the submissions are just as amazing. And they commented on almost all of them. Go on over and take a peek if you want some inspiration.  Even better, make a card for this week's challenge and share it.

Thanks so much for stopping in.  I appreciate all the wonderful comments you have been leaving and have enjoyed visiting with you.

Enjoy,

Boo One and Boo Two

Remember the song from Cinderella, Bibbidy, Bobbidy, Boo?  That song is running through my head now!

Here's another Halloween card for the Less is More Challenge.  They were wondering if Blogger would self destruct if they got 1000 submissions.  As slow as it's running, it may be headed in that direction!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Scaredy Cat, French Foliage

Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

Paper:  Basic Black, Tangering Tango, Whisper White

Other:  Spider Web EF, Big Shot

And while I was at it, I did this one using the sketch from this week's Sketch Challenge at SCS.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Scaredy Cat, Woodgrain

Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Basic Black

Paper:  Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Whisper White

Other:  Corner Rounder Punch

That's it for tonight.  Thanks for the visit.  I've enjoyed it.  I hope you have too.

Enjoy!

Ghostly Halloween

As I've said before, I've never done much for Halloween cards.  But I have some stamping friends that have asked for some ideas and since some of them are coming to stamp this weekend, I thought I'd try to have something on hand.

Then,  I saw the One Layer Wednesday challenge Sentiment-a-mania

1. A one-layer card is defined as a single piece of cardstock folded in half.

2. Make a one-layer card using the sentiment as the main focus (or that shares the focus with image).

This image from my one and only Halloween set was perfect!

Can you tell that I colored the white on the edges of the ribbon with my markers?  The white edges were just too fancy for this card.

This is also another entry for the Less is More anything CAS challenge this week.  They have over 600 entries now toward their 1000 goal.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Scaredy Cat

Ink:  Tangerine Tango, SU Markers (Basic Black, Tangerine Tango

Paper:  Whisper White

Other:  Basic Black Narrow Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls

I have another quick post coming up.  I hope you'll check back.  Thanks so much for spending time with me and sharing your ideas on your own blogs.

Enjoy!

Fall Colors

Just a quick post tonight so I can clean up my table and finish up a couple of Halloween cards I was working on this afternoon.  I've had stampin' therapy two days in a row now and I'm feeling good!

This little card is going to several challenges.

The Paper Players #64 Challenge is to make a CAS card using animals or plants.  Thanks Ann, for the CAS challenge.  They're my favorites.

Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS.  You can see Linda's (aka Morningsun47) inspiration card here.  I used a different stamp and colors and left off the buttons.

The SUO (Stampin' Up! Only) challenge#28 is to use Fall Colors.

The Less is More #33 challenge, anything CAS goes.  This is my third card for this challenge.  They are almost half way to their 1000 submissions goal.

I inked the silhouette stamp in the My Friend set with markers, spritzed with water and stamped on Naturals White.  Unfortunately, it didn't stamp well.  So I colored the flowers and leaves with the markers.  I was really disappointed with the way it turned out, but cut it down and made a card from it anyway.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  My Friend, Short and Sweet
Ink:  SU Markers (Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso)
Paper:  Naturals White, Cajun Craze, So Saffron

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I've enjoyed reading your comments today and visiting your blogs.

Enjoy,

Oh Happy Day

Today was a good day.  I had time to stamp!  I even completed a card!  It is a happy day!

Last Friday's Queen for the Day at SCS was Dianne (eured99).  You can see her wonderful gallery here.  I chose this card as my inspiration.  Actually, now I notice that she didn't do my inspiration card until Saturday.  Lol, I guess sometimes there can be a benefit to being behind.

I added a layer, and used a different embossing folder, center shape, and colors.  The colors are from the Color Challenge, also at SCS, to use Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive.  Dessert is leaves.  I used the thumping technique to ink the leaves.  First I inked with Pumpkin Pie, then thumped the edges with an Old Olive marker.  The little bird is stamped in Turquoise and cut out to add a bit of dimension.  Masking and a bit of sponging with pastels behind the image and it was done.

I'm also sending this to the Less is More Challenge.  You may remember from yesterday's post that they are hoping for 1000 submissions this week.  I see that they have had over 100 submissions since last evening!  Will they make it?  I hope so.  It's a wonderful challenge with so much inspiration!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Season of Friendship

Ink:  Soft Suede, SU Markers (Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise)

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

Other:  Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Basa Wood Frame for embossing, Stampin' Pastels (Tempting Turquoise)

Hopefully the boys will give me time to play tomorrow.  If not, I'm thankful that I had time today.

I'm so glad you stopped by.  Thank you so much for your encouraging comments.

Enjoy,

Batting 1000

The Less is More challenge this week is

Anything CAS Goes

The Divas are trying for 1000 submissions this week.  So far it looks like they're over a quarter of the way there.  I'll be adding more cards for this challenge this week.  If you want to find lots of CAS inspiration, Less is More is the way to go.

And at SCS this week, the Clean and Simple challenge is leaves.  How 'bout that!  A two for one.

But wait, The Friday Mashup challenge this week is

1. Create a project with an "Autumn" theme.
2. Or Create a project using shades of "Yellow & Orange".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Autumn project using shades of Yellow & Orange".

In these busy times, being able to submit one card for three challenges is really nice! And I might add, it only took a few minutes to stamp this card.  I didn't time it, but I think 5 minutes tops.  Love this set!

Also, a few weeks ago, Mary gave us a wonderful Fall Color Challenge at SCS. The colors were Always Artichoke, So Saffron and Cajun Craze. Dessert was to make it a Fall or Thanksgiving card. I won't submit to this challenge because it's so far after the fact but I wanted you to know how much I liked this challenge Mary.

And it's beginning to feel like Fall here in NC.  I love Fall with it's beautiful colors and cooler temperatures.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  French Foliage

Ink:  Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze

Paper:  Very Vanilla

I haven't decided what to use as a sentiment yet.  I'll add that when the need arises.  I'm thinking Merci would be good.  What do you think?

Thanks for visiting today and I do love your comments.

Enjoy!

Stamp and Color

Whoo, what a week.  I tried 3 times yesterday to do my blog and this is the second time today, so far.  Sick children don't allow for much card making or blogging!

Did I mention how glad I am that the One Layer Wednesday challenge is back?  Although I usually like to have a little layering, I love the challenge of making a one layer card.  This week Susan challenged to COLOR IT.

Stamp an outline image and color it using any coloring medium

you want: colored pencils, watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons,

paint,Copics, Bics, Sharpies, markers of any kind,

or your kid's box of Crayola crayons.

Rules for OLW641. A one-layer card is defined as a single piece of card stock folded in half.

2. Use an image that must be colored in (an outline image), and color with the medium of your choice.

3. Remember to keep embellishments to a minimum.

4. Upload your masterpiece somewhere on the interwebs and link back to it using the InLinkz button on the sidebar of Simplicity.

5. The most important rule of all: HAVE FUN!!!!!!

I actually made these cards a while back and never posted them.  I pulled them out as a guide for the Papercrafting group that met here on Wednesday.  When I saw the challenge, I was so happy.  I can use all the help I can get this week.

Susan, this one is especially for you.  I know how much you like pears!

All the cards are 3" x 3" and have little envelopes.  We did 8 cards and envelopes.

(You can get 8 cards out of a 12" x 12" sheet of cardstock.)

And here is a little tote to hold them.

My new Simply Scored was a big help in folding the cards and scoring the folds for the tote.

All were stamped with Early Espresso ink and colored with my Stampin' Pastels and sponge daubers.

The ladies made such cute sets.  One made a Christmas set.  That gave me a great idea for teacher gifts at Christmas.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Faith in Nature, Clearly for You

Ink:  Early Espresso

Paper: Whisper White, Apricot Appeal, Chocolate Chip

Other:  Stampin' Pastels, Sponge Dauber, Eyelet Border Punch, Simply Scored, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Brads

I only had one two interuptions in this sitting.  Maybe, just maybe this will finally get posted.

Thanks for stopping by.  I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Enjoy!

Simply Soft in Razzleberry

Sorry I didn't get a post in last night.  By the time I had the card made and photographed, it was time to stop.  But here it is...

I can't say that I'm real excited about it.  I'm not sure why.

The colors are from The Paper Players challenge this week to use Rich Razzleberry, Basic Gray, Old Olive and white.  I love these colors!  Well, not Basic Gray, but a little for the stems is ok.

The CAS challenge at SCS is a sketch challenge.  I followed the sketch almost exactly but it isn't too pleasing to my eyes.  I'm going to post it anyway.  Often what I like is different than what someone else likes.

I inked the flowers with SU markers and stamped on a scrap piece of Whisper White.  Then I used the marker to outline a bit darker on the flowers and pulled the color to the inside with a Blender Pen.

I used my new Simply Scored to add some lines for interest.  I'm really enjoying that tool!  Yeah, I know that I should have one more line on the design piece.  By the time I realized it, I had adhered the piece to the mat and couldn't get to it.

Then I punched some edges and added some tiny pearls and ribbon.  I rounded one corner to tie that edge in with the scallops opposite.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Simply Soft, Sincere Salutations
Ink:  SU Markers (Rich Razzleberry, Basic Gray, Old Olive)
Paper:  Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry
Other:  Scallop Trim Border and Corner Rounder Punches, Rich Razzleberry Narrow Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls

I hope you enjoyed your visit as much as I've enjoyed reading your comments and visiting your blogs.  So much creativity out there!

Enjoy!

Lovely Peace

The Less is More challenge this week is

ONE LAYER CARD

entitled

SEEING DOUBLE

So on your entry this week, we'd like to see TWO of something.

I got to play with my friends in Roanoke Rapids yesterday and practiced using the new Designer Frames Embossing Folders.  I thought the one layer with the embossed oval would be perfect for this challenge.  What do you think?

Here's a wonderful tutorial on how to use these embossing folders without having the extra lines.  Thank  you Sharon for sharing this with us.

After I did the embossing on the card, I punched an oval from a sticky note with the wide oval punch.  Then I laid the note over the embossing leaving the oval open.  I inked the top of the fir tree from the Lovely as a Tree set with Old Olive and thumped the ends of the branches with my Always Artichoke marker and huffed before stamping. Then I repeated the process and stamped again a bit lower.  I sponged the sky with Stampin' Pastels and used my uni-ball® white Signo Gel Pen to make snowflakes.  I lightly sponged the dots around the oval too.

The sentiment is from the retired All Holidays set.  I used a Not Quite Navy marker to ink the Peace of the Peace, Love, Joy stamp.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, All Holidays
Ink:  Old Olive, SU Markers (Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy
Paper:  Whisper White
Other:  Big Shot, Designer Label EF, Wide Oval Punch, Stampin Pastels, Sponge Dauber, uni-ball® white Signo Gel Pen

Thanks for coming by today.  I hope you have enjoyed your visit and will come back soon.

Arachnophobia

I don't usually do much for Halloween cards, but I remembered getting caught last year and needing something for Luke's teachers.  So this year, I thought I'd be prepared.  Well I have a start on being prepared anyway.

These spiders look so real that the cat is even scared!  I've got to admit that this was fun.

The spider web embossing folder is a perfect complement to this card.  I did take a nick out of the bottom though.  You know those spider webs are so delicate!  Maybe you can get a better look at the web here.

I used the sketch from the Sketch Challenge on SCS this week. 

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Scaredy Cat
Ink:  Basic Black
Paper:  Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Other:  Big Shot, Spider Web EF, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Stampin' Pastels, Sponge Dauber

Here's a hint when stamping in black with silhouette stamps.  If it hasn't stamped dark enough, I color in with the small tip of a black Stamp n Write marker.

And for those of you who read my post yesterday and saw the Onesie card.  Guess who came with his monkey suit this morning.

Thanks so much for the visit.  I hope you'll see a few more Halloween cards here in the future.

Enjoy!

Going Bananas

ONE LAYER WEDNESDAY IS BACK!!!!

That makes me so happy!  I have missed this challenge!

This week, Jennifer hosted the challenge and wants a Baby Themed One Layer card.

I thought and I thought and finally found a few minutes to make this.....

We're seeing lots of these onesies around our house these days and Jack just happened to have one with monkeys on it.  His has lots of monkeys and since this is supposed to be CAS, I settled for just 3.

The card began as a tent fold cut at 4 1/4" and folded in half.  I used the 1 3/4" Circle punch to scoop out the leg and neck holes.

Since I just got the new SIMPLY SCORED from Stampin' Up!, I decided to go with a smocked look on the yoke.  I used to do English Smocking for my girls.  I put some ribbing on the sleeves too.

Well, I see I cropped the sleeves off.  They do have scored ribbing.

Looks like one of these monkeys has been in the bananas and needs his face washed.  It's funny how the pictures will show up what I don't see.  He looks like he's having fun anyway.

I stamped the little monkeys in Crumb Cake and colored the white area with a So Saffron marker first then did the scoring.

Did I tell you that I love this Simply Scored!  It has grooves every 1/8".    It even has place markers so you can keep you place.  I think I will be using this a lot!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Fox and Friends
Ink:  Crumb Cake, SU Markers (So Saffron, Wild Wasabi)
Paper:  Whisper White
Other:  1 3/4" Circle Punch, Simply Scored, mini buttons

Thanks so much for the visit.  I really enjoy your comments and love to visit your blogs too.

Enjoy!

Heavy Metallic

The Less is More challenge this week is a color challenge...

METALLIC

We'd like to see CLEAN & SIMPLE cards with something that has a METALLIC finish to it... ink, embossing, card, charms, actual metal... come on people let's get creative!

I've got to admit, I was stumped.  Finally an idea came to mind.

I used the vines from the Creative Elements set, stamped with Encore silver ink and heat embossed it with silver embossing powder.

The butterfly and silver mat are from some beautiful Japanese papers that a friend gave me a few months ago.  She moved to the US from Japan about a year ago.  I met her at the Newcomers club and she came to our papercrafting classes a couple of times.  She is so delightful!  Generous too!  These papers are so awesome that I almost hate to use them!

Can you see the shine?

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Creative Elements
Ink:  Encore Silver
Paper:  Night of navy, Foil Origami papers
Other:  Silver EP, Silver beads

Do go to the Less is More site and see all the inspiration there.

Glad you could stop and visit.  Do come again soon.

Enjoy!

Crazy Birthday Balloon

I spent far too long on this card! And it's nothing extra.  But I'm going to share it with you anyway since I haven't had time to make another.

The Paper Players challenge this week is Birthdays.  If you have time, do go over there and look.  Their design team has left some awesome cards there as well as other participants in the challenge.

This layout is from the Sketch Challenge last Wednesday at SCS.  And the Technique Challenge today, also on SCS, was to use altered designer paper.  I ran this piece of DP through the Big Shot.  Hopefully that will count.

After painting the balloon with my Tangerine Tango SU Marker, I went over it with the VersaMarker and clear embossed it.  It gave it a little shine that made me happy.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Crazy for Cupcakes, Wow Flowers (Retired)
Ink:  SU Markers, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise
Paper:  Peach Parfait, Whisper White, Unknown DSP from my stash
Other: VersaMarker, Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon, Scallop Border & 1" Circle Punch, Flower Brad, Big Shot, Square Lattice & Perfect Polka Dots EF

I'm so glad you stopped by.  Do leave a comment if you have time, so I can visit you.

Enjoy!

Elements in Calypso

Here's the second try on the disappointing card that I made yesterday.  I'm still not thrilled with it, but I like it better than the first one.

It's for the Paper Players challenge this week.  I hope I can get it over there before the link closes!

Here's the sketch....

I had this piece of Elements of Style in my UFO (UnFinished Objects) box and punched it with the Extra Large Scallop Circle punch.  Since it was painted in pastel pinks, I used my Calypso Coral marker and blender pen and added some darker shading to the flowers.  I also used the marker to dye a piece of Whisper White taffeta ribbon.  Actually I had dyed the ribbon first and needed to make the flowers match.

The circle in the square was difficult for me for some reason.  I liked the square better after I punched the corners.

Do go over to Paper Players and check out all the wonderful entries.  They are amazing!

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Elements of Style
Ink:  SU Markers (Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight)
Paper:  Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Calpso Coral
Other:  Extra Large Scallop Circle, Scallop Trim Corner and Itty Bitty Bits Punches, Basic Pearls, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF

Thanks so much for joining me today. I've been enjoying your comments.

Enjoy!

No Time to Stamp

Well, I survived the first full day with both Luke and Jack.  Jack had his 2 month immunizations yesterday and wasn't a happy partier last night.  But he rallied and was his usual darling self today.  Both boys took a nap at the same time so I could catch up on your blogs and do some commenting.  I didn't go to my studio since it's upstairs and I don't have a monitor yet.  I'm afraid I won't hear the boys when they wake up.

So, I didn't get to my studio until just a little while ago and the first card I did was AWFUL!  So I took it apart and tried something else.  It's not worth the editing and watermarking!

Here's pictures of the studio that I didn't get to use much today.



As you enter

Storage

 

Side view





Big Shot and Ink Storage



I'm glad you could visit tonight.  I hope to have a card for you tomorrow.

Enjoy!