For Queen Sharon

I am so far behind in honoring the Queens and Featured Stamper at SCS.  This is for last week's Queen Sharon (aka shendrian).  I chose this card as my inspiration.

I've used the smoosh technique rather than the tissue technique and added a butterfly and embossed panel.

 I'm off to Pixies Snippets Playground since the heart was cut from some smooshed paper scraps left over from class and the butterfly was diecut from a snippet of black. I hope it's warmer there cuz it's a bit chilly here for playing outside!  Hopefully there's some hot chocolate to warm us up.

Thanks so much for the visit and your kind comments.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Clearly for You (retired)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Paper:  Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Basic Black

Other: Re-inkers (Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry), Frost White Shimmer Paint, Ornate Frames EF (Sizzix), Hearts Collection Framelits, Pippi Butterfly Die (Memory Box)

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Dynamic Duos Stenciled Valentine

I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but I recently took my first online card class titled Stenciled.  It was such a busy weekend that I didn't get to watch all the videos much less do my homework.  LOL, I'm sure glad it wasn't required to get the homework done every day. I'd have been in big trouble!

The boys spent the day with their dad today so I had some unexpected play time.

I made my own stencil for this card by die cutting the heart from cardstock weight vellum and sponging the ink over the stencil.  I fussy cut the heart out and die cut the solid heart to put behind it.

I used the colors from Dynamic Duos.  

We got about 3" of snow here last night.  I was hoping it would snow during the daylight so I could get the full impact, but it was pretty seeing it fall with the spotlight on.  Everything was so hushed, clean and white this morning.

I hope you are safe and warm and had some crafty time today.

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Heart-y Sayings (Amy R.)

Ink:  Basic Black, Melon Mambo

Paper:  Melon Mambo, Whisper White

Other:  Heart Scroll Die and Solid Heart Die (Serendipity Stamps), Modern Mosaic EF, Mosaic Punch, Melon Mambo Ribbon (Clearance Rack), Basic Pearls (colored with Sharpie)

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Merry Monday Ornaments

It's a Merry Monday day and this week it was my turn to choose the challenge.

I chose..... 

I had this ornament stamp in my NBUS stash and welcomed the opportunity to use it.

The ornaments were simply stamped in Encore Gold and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  All that remained was matting it with some of that gorgeous metallic paper (still available), a little dry embossing and some colored rhinestones.

I wish the photo showed the bright colors of the rhinestones, but I couldn't seem to capture them correctly.  The big one is bright red, not orange. LOL, don't you hate it when red turns orange?

I did it again on watercolor paper and decorated with gold beads and organdy ribbon.

Rudolph Days is on the 25th of each month.  This year, Sarn has challenged us to make 2 Christmas cards for each challenge.  Both need to be on the same post.

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is asking for DOUBLE EMBOSSING.  I have both heat and dry embossing on the first card although not on the same image.  I'm not sure if this is correct, but I'm going to enter there and see.

Christmas Card Challenge #9 is ANYTHING GOES.  So I'll hop over there.

We had so many beautiful cards entered in the gallery at Merry Monday last week.  Lots of people are getting started on that Christmas card stash.  It's never too early to start!

I hope you'll put an ornament or ornaments on a Christmas card and come join us.  You may end up being our next Guest Designer!

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Hanging Christmas Ornaments (Hero Arts), Many Merry Messages 

Ink:  Encore Gold

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Gold Foil, Watercolor (?)

Other:  Gold Embossing Powder, Square Lattice EF, Colored Rhinestones, Gold Beads, Organdy Ribbon (JoAnn)

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Spreading the Love

I hope all of you are keeping warm.  I think we broke another low record here today.  It sure is cold! Brrrr!

This is a card we did at our Papercrafting group a couple of weeks ago.  It was quick and simple and a favorite with all the ladies.

There are so many Valentine themed challenges that this fits.

The Card Concept is Lesley's (Always Playing with Paper) latest challenge.  The idea is to define what kind of cards we like to create.  You can check at the challenge site for the definition of the different styles.  I think I'm between CAS and Clean and Layered.  It depends on my mood and how the elements come together.  I don't really think about what I'm doing. LOL, that's too much trouble!  I would say that this card is CAS even though it has one layer. 

I've added texture with an embossing folder.

CAS on Sunday is going LOVELY DOVEY.  Make a card for love/Valentine's Day.

Curtain Call's challenge this time is

I have the heart and the letters love!

Cuttlebug Mania says ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Pixie's Snippet Playground is the place to take our snippets.  The hearts were cut from snippets.

That's what I call spreading the love around.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps: I [Love] Love (whacked wheel)

Ink:  Real Red

Paper:  Real Red, Whisper White

Other: Ornate Frames EF (Sizzix), Precious Hearts Die (Memory Box), Basic Pearls

I love all your comments and encouragement.  I also love sharing with you.

So glad you stopped by.

Enjoy!

For Baby

I needed some baby cards for my stash.  I love this little baby duck and even though he's retired, I inked him up.

Less is More is asking for NEW BABY cards this week.

CASology's cue word is

 

The small white panel is a stark contrast against the darker background.

Addicted to CAS  has a code word

This will go for a new baby.

Addicted to Stamps is having a CAS week and this is definitely CAS.

That's quite a few challenges for this one itty, bitty card!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Easy Events
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), SU Markers (Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Tangerine Tango)
Paper:  Gumball Green, Snippet of Watercolor Paper (?), Whisper White (inside)
Other: Candy Dots

The snow is nearly gone but it was nice while it lasted.  If you had to get out and shovel, my condolences.  It's so much easier to enjoy when you're sitting inside and just looking out!

Thanks so much for the visit.

Enjoy!

Let it Snow

It's snowing here in North Carolina tonight.  

Big, beautiful flakes. 

The children next door were on their deck catching snowflakes on their tongues and Maddie, their dog was trying to catch some too.  What a lovely sight!  

It made me think of this card I sent off a while ago.

The snowflake is the outcut of a snowflake used long ago. 

The tag was punched with SU's new Scalloped Tag Topper Punch. I LOVE it! To do the backing piece for the tag, I cut a scrap of gray 1/8" wider than the punch and slipped into the top of the 2 1/2" circle punch to get the curved top.  There's a matching ribbon hole die in the Chalk Talk Framelits set. Or you can use the retired slot punch.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps: Short and Sweet

Ink: Smokey Slate

Paper:  Smokey Slate, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer

Other: Silver 1/8" Silver Ribbon, Basic Rhinestone, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Powdered Sugar EF (Sizzix), Organdy Ribbon (JoAnn), Snowflake die (Impression Obsession) 

I hope if you're getting snow, you can enjoy it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Merry Monday Berry Wreath

Happy Merry Monday, friends.  Here's another fantastic challenge for this week.

And here's my card.

I had been wanting this wreath set (A Wreath for All Seasons) by Papertrey Ink for ages and finally gave in and bought it.  And it was so perfect for this challenge!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe
Stamps:  A Wreath for All Seasons (PTI)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red
Paper: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Other:  Circle Collection Framelits, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Snowburst EF, Real Red Taffeta Ribbon (retired), Corner Punch (EK Success)

Addicted to Stamps and More is having a HOLIDAY theme this week.  It can be any holiday.

Pixies Snippet Playground has all kinds of fun going on and since I have snippets, I'm headed over there.

Festive Friday is back with a brand new challenge for 2014 to use this photo as inspiration.

I have a snowy background, red berries and a touch of brown.  What a beautiful photo!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge says EMBOSS IT.  They didn't have to tell me twice.  Love those embossing folders!

Now check out the wonderful inspiration cards that the Design Team has come up with and join us at Merry Monday.  It's so much more fun to do those Christmas cards all year through and not wait until the last minute!

Thanks for the visit.

Enjoy!

For Queen Carol

I'm pretty far behind on the Queen for the Day challenges and on challenges in general.  But I'm trying to catch up.  So for the Queen 2 weeks ago, we were to chose a stamper with a name close to ours.  I chose Carol (aka BobbiesGirl).  I've been seeing BobbiesGirl around the galleries and in my comments for quite some time and was delighted to be able to honor her.

Carol has honored so many Queens that it was hard to find a card that she did just because. I found this one and loved the layout.  Mr. Brown had just brought this new stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog and I thought it was a good setting for this flower.  It looks like a pansy to me and I remember seeing some gorgeous orange pansies in the garden center last winter.

So thank you, Carol, for inspiring with your talent and your comments.

And thank you, my blog readers, for your support and encouragement.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Happy Watercolor

Ink:  SU Markers (Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Early Espresso)

Paper:  Watercolor (non SU), Very Vanilla, Early Espresso

Other:  Ovals Collection Framelits, Square Lattice EF, Blender Pen

I'm so glad you stopped by.

Enjoy!

Merry Monday Snow Day

Some of my favorite images for Christmas cards are snowmen.  I wasn't going to get this guy, but I broke down at the last minute and ordered him.  When I saw the Merry Monday challenge for today, I knew this was the image I wanted to use.

And this week's Merry Monday challenge is....

I want to work on some techniques this year.  One of them is sponging.  Another is sponging and masking. I can do it, but I don't feel like I have the control I'd like to have.  Hopefully practice will make perfect.  Or at least better.

This is the first time I "splattered" water on the sponging and I love the effect!

First step was to stamp the snowman in VersaMark and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.  After masking an area with sticky notes, I sponged around the snowman with Soft Sky, Marina Mist and Not Quite Navy.  I splattered the sponged area with water and blotted dry with a paper towel.  

I had to stamp the arms, buttons and face with StazOn ink since it was so shiny.  The nose, hat and scarf were paper pieced. (I added a brim to the hat by cutting a strip from the DSP and drawing lines with my marker.

A little bit of Dazzling Details added some "iciness" to the scene.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Snow Day, Handy Christmas Greetings (Amy R)

Ink:  VersaMark, Jet Black StazOn, Marina Mist, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy

Paper:  Heavy White (Pip)

Other:  Dazzling Details

Edited to Add:  I don't know how I could have forgotten.....

Pixie's Snippet Playground since I used some snippets for his hat, nose, scarf and snowbank. Sorry I missed the Monday morning fun!

Just us Girls is asking for Paperpiecing and I think this snowman's hat and scarf qualify.

Cute Card Thursday, a new to me challenge is asking for "Cold and Frosty"

Shopping Our Stash is asking us to use Something New. This stamp is new.  From my old stash are inks, Dazzling Details and cardstock.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is "Ice Inspiration".  I have icy edges on the snowman and snowbanks.

Now it's your turn. Check out the fantastic designs that the team has come up with and share a snowman with us at Merry Monday.  The winner will be our next Guest Designer.

Thanks for the visit.

Enjoy!

Merry Monday Open Poinsettia

Merry Monday has moved and now has it's own blog.  Big thanks to Lesley, of Always Playing with Paper, for sharing her space for so long.

Lesley's done a fabulous job of designing this new blog.  I'm so excited!!!!

Here's this week's challenge....

Pixie's Snippets Playground definitely gets a visit since Mr. Random Generator chose my number a few weeks ago.  Thanks so much Di.   You can see that I am enjoying the booty! That die was perfect for using some snippets!

Addicted to CAS first challenge of 2014 is hosted by my friend Loll.  And how fun to have new dies to play with!

Christmas Cards All Year Round is doing says ANYTHING GOES SO LONG AS IT'S CHRISTMAS.

Jingle Belles is asking for SOMETHING OLD...SOMETHING NEW. The ribbon and sentiment stamp are old. The embossing folder and dies are new. 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is also looking for SOMETHING NEW.  I'm using some new stash.

Now it's your turn.  Make a Christmas card with ribbon or twine on it and join the fun at Merry Monday.  You'll be glad to have all your Christmas cards done when it's time to send them out!  The Design team has lots of wonderful inspiration for you, so pop on over and check out the fun.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Small Script (retired)

Ink:  Handsome Hunter (retired)

Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Handsome Hunter

Other:  Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Poinsettia Dies, Marianne Design, Real Red Satin Ribbon

I'm so glad you stopped by.

Enjoy!

Winter Bird Notecards

Last week I shared a calendar that I made for DD's birthday.  I used the Calendar Birds from Nicecrane Designs.  I also got a sheet of Christmas Birds.  I made them into some note cards that are perfect for thank you notes or for any Winter occasion.

The images are already colored so it's really quick and easy to put together a set of cards.

I used snippets for matting and embossed a couple of different backgrounds. So I'm off to Pixie's Snippets Playground

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps: None

Ink: None

Paper:  Whisper White, Snippets of Basic Black and Dark Green

Other:  Square Lattice EF, Kars Snowflake EF (retired Cuttlebug)

I hope you aren't buried under all the snow that's been falling in some parts of the country and are able to stay warm.  These cold days, I'm so thankful for a warm house and hot food! 

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Featuring Cary with Tissue

The Featured Stamper at SCS this week is Cary (Miss Minx).  I really enjoyed browsing her gallery and chose this card to CASE.  This is what I came up with.

The Ways to Use It challenge, also at SCS, was to use left over gift wrap on a project.  Our trash had gone out so it was slim pickins around here for leftover paper.  Then I had lunch with a friend and she brought a lovely Christmas gift wrapped in this green and white striped tissue.  And I got a Playground prize from Di that was wrapped in this gorgeous pink tissue. That got the wheels rolling in my brain.  When I saw Cary's layout, I had an Eureka moment! 

The hardest part was to get the partial embossing on the card front.  For the partial embossing,  I was using some plastic templates (no name left on the package) that I had bought at Michaels a while back.  I think it took 4 tries and then I messed the only good one up by stamping the sentiment crooked. When I adhered a punched sentiment over that, it was crooked too!  #*#%@*

After 3 more tries, I got the embossing right and used a Sizzlit to cut out the flowers (the set has 3 graduated sizes of flowers and leaves).

This time I got the sentiment right.

Phew!

Pixie's Snippet Playground (that started this journey with the pretty pink tissue) will hopefully let me in with the snippets of tissue paper.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Gifts of Kindness

Paper: Whisper White, snippets of tissue paper

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Other:  Perfect Polka  Dots EF, Plastic Embossing template (??), Birds and Blooms Sizzlit (retired), Basic Pearl

I hope the New Year is off to a good start for you.  The boys are back in school and I was able to get all my errands done.  Now to find some mojo in the craft room!

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

This is the calendar I made for DD's birthday.  The images are from Nicecrane Designs.

Each month has a different bird print. It made a super quick and easy calendar.

Ignacio was so kind and gifted me with 2 selections from her designs.  I used the Winter Birds for some note cards.  I'll share some of those with you when I get the photos edited.
It's so hard to believe that we're starting another year already. The time goes by so fast! Thanks for sharing some of your time with me in visits and sharing your own inspiration. I look forward to your creative company in 2014.

Enjoy!