Basket of Daisies

Hello Stampin' Friends. I hope you are enjoying a long weekend and have celebrated Memorial Day in style.

This card was created for the Ways to Us It Challenge to use paint and the Free For All Challenge Inspired by a Collection. It has red, white & blue flowers in honor of our heroes who have given their time and sometimes their lives so we can enjoy freedom.

I collect baskets. My collection has been cut in half since the move. My silk flower collection was cut by three quarters. I vowed not to buy any more baskets or silk flowers, but making them doesn't count does it? tee hee. I can always give this to someone but it will have to be a hand out. I'm not mailing this baby!

I have to tell you a cute story about this basket. While I was folding clothes yesterday, Luke raided my stamp room. He came out with this card in one hand and a blue daisy in the other. I got the card from him but he declared that the 'bue flowder' was his. I figured the basket was over full anyway so I let him have his 'bue flowder'. He had trouble gettin it off his finger because the glue dot was still in tact on the back. When he finally dislodged it, he placed it on my arm for my 'boo boo'. I guess he thought it was a new kind of bandage! The petals were a little crimped but Luke is a very careful fellow and I was able to put it back in the basket.

Now about the card...After I punched and assembled the flowers, I brushed them with Frost White Shimmer Paint. It tones down the blue a bit and makes the white shimmer nicely, kind of like a real daisy. The basket is made with the Top Note die but cutting it once, turning it and cutting it again to make a square. The handle is a left over piece.

Card Recipe
Paper: Barely Banana, Kraft, So Saffron DSP, Brocade Blue, Whisper White, Real Red, Yo Yo Yellow, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi
Acc.: Big Shot, Flowers Daisies #2 & SU Top Note Bigz Dies, SU Little Leaves Sizzlit Die, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Scallop Trim Border, Boho Blossoms & 1/2" Circle Punches, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Ribbon Originals Elementary Ribbon.

I really rambled tonight. Hope you don't mind. I'm glad you came to visit and I hope you enjoyed yourself and will come again real soon. Happy stampin'.
Bonnie

My First Black Magic Card

Hello Stampin' Friends. I told you yesterday that I had been working on a new (to me) technique that I would share with you today.

Ta da da daa! Here it is and it's called 'Black Magic'.

I first saw this technique done on a card by Karen Barber on Splitcoaststampers. You can go to her gallery here and her blog here. (I hope this is actually the tutorial link, but I'm never quite sure.)

This week the Technique Lover's Challenge is to do a card with that Old Black Magic.

So I gave it a try.

I need to work on this technique some more. Actually that sounds like fun to me!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Always, Together Forever

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Whisper White

Acc.: Watercolor Pencils, Prismacolor Pencils, White Gel Pen, Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Ticket Corner, Large Oval & Designer Label Punches

I experimented on this next one and used SU Markers. It has a similar look but I like the colored & watercolor pencils on the first one better. They have a smoother look. (I see another reason to invest in the SU Watercolor Pencils.)

Card Recipe

Stamps: Always

Paper: Basic Black, Blush Blossom

Ink: Whisper White

Acc.: SU Markers, White Gel Pen, Big Shot, Whacked Finial Press Embossing Folder, Tiny Pearls

It's fun to try new things and if they don't come out just right the first time, I can look forward to trying again. I hope this will inspire you to try something new.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Mr. Hummingbird

Hello Stampin' Friends. It's late but I wanted to share a card with you.

This card was for the Color Challenge today to use Real Red, Bermuda Blue and Kraft.



I knew right away that I wanted to do this hummingbird from the Elements of Style set in Bermuda Bay. Hummingbirds love red flowers so all I had to do was decide on a flower for him. I love this Watercolor Trio stamp. So... I inked the one I had always done as leaves with the Chocolate Chip & Real Red Markers. Mr. Hummingbird looks like he likes what he sees! He is popped up on 2 dimensionals.


The bow was the hardest part of the whole card! Some days the ribbon cooperates and some days it doesn't! Perseverance won out before the ribbon wore out and the card is finished.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Watercolor Trio, Elements of Style

Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Real Red

Ink: Bermuda Bay

Acc.: Real Red & Chocolate Chip SU Markers, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Real Red Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, Tiny pearl

I also worked on a new technique today. I'm real excited about how it turned out. I'll share that with you next time. Until then, happy stampin'.

Bonnie

Pocket Butterfly Garden

Hello Stampin' Friends. I'm on a roll this week. I really need to be cutting out elements for my Stamp A Stack this weekend, but these challenges are just beckoning to me. Besides, the deadline for signing up is tomorrow and there's no need to start cutting before that is there?

Today's color challenge is to use Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry and So Saffron. Dessert is to use stencilling.

While looking through the gallery, I loved the Saffron embossed with the new Square Lattice Embossing Folder. (You will find it in the new Summer Mini Catalog.) So I had to CASE that and used it for the base of my card. I hadn't used the Pocket Silhouettes for quite a while and when I opened the stamp drawer, this set caught my eye.

The butterflies were stenciled with the leftovers from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit. I pulled out some old stencil brushes and dabbed them in the ink pad. Some I did with the Dusty Durango then added Rich Razzleberry on top of that and then I reversed the process on others. The 2 colors together look real pretty. Who but Betty would have ever guessed that? It took longer to tie the thread around them than it did to stamp the whole project! A thin black wire would work better, but since I didn't have any, I used quilting thread instead.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes

Paper: So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa

Acc.: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Word Window Punch, Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon, Quilting Thread, Stencilling Brush

Hope you enjoyed my little garden today. Come again soon.

Bonnie

Happy Monday

Wow! I actually got the CAS challenge done on Monday! Seems like it has been crazy around here lately. Today was a good day and I actually got a chance to think and stamp!


The CAS challenge this week is to do a "Shabby Chic" card. There is a Techniques Lover's Challenge on Monday too and it is to make a card with a shadowbox style frame.

This is what I came up with. I love the soft pinks of some of the "Shabby Chic" stuff so I chose Blush Blossom for the card base. This is one of the colors that we will have to say good-by to very soon. It's been one of my favorites. Maybe there will be an In Color that will be close? Hope so!


For my shadow box frame, I cut 2 pieces of naturals white 3" x 3 1/2". On one piece I used my cutting board to cut a 2" x 2 1/2" hole in the center. (Boy did that make me nervous! I'm relieved to say that I did it on the first try!) Then to add a little more pressure, I scored it, also using my cutting board and a stylus. I made a boo boo so I have 2 scores on each side. I actually would not have tried for 2 under any other circumstance. To give the frame a shabby look, I sponged a little Going Gray ink along the score lines. Dimensionals make the frame stand out from the picture.

The rosebud is from a retired set called Wild Rose. I pulled it out my Someday Box of stamped pieces that are waiting to find a home. I honestly don't remember what ink I used. The leaves and stem look like Certainly Celery and the rose is maybe Regal Rose?

I used the Eyelet Border Punch on the edge and punched a strip on Naturals White to add another row of eyelets. The Dotted Swiss ribbon was in my ribbon drawer. Again, I have no idea where it came from.

Not only did I get 2 challenges in one, but I found a home for a Someday stamped piece! Now I need to find homes for the yellow ones!

Hope you enjoyed your Monday and that you get to stamp a little bit.

Bonnie

Shimmering Lily

This is the card I did for the CAS challenge this week on Splitcoast Stampers. We were to do a card inspired by this card.

Since I'm running way behind this week, I combined it with the Color Challenge to use Soft Suede and Melon Mambo.

I used my new SU Square Lattice Embossing Folder and the BIG GUY on the front of the card and again on the Soft Suede piece. I used the Scallop Trim Border Punch that I earned during Sale A Bration to trim the edge. The sentiment is stamped on a plain strip of card stock and tucked underneath.

The flower was Stamped in Melon Mambo on Shimmery White card stock and painted with Frost White Shimmer Paint with a drop of Melon Mambo re-inker mixed in. I had actually painted the lily a while back and it was a perfect opportunity to use it!

Thanks to using a left over piece on my table, this was a really quick card. Just what I needed this week.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Kind & Caring Thoughts
Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Shimmery White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Soft Suede
Acc.: Frost White Shimmer Paint, Re-Inker, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Dreams du Jour Color Challenge

This week's Color Challenge was to use Lovely Lilac, Gable Green & Cameo Coral. I thought "Gable Green, ugh"! Evidently I have used it before because there was only a little piece left in my Bold Brights package. All of these colors will be making their fond farewell on July 1st. If you are a fan of Gable Green, my apologies and you may want to stock up while you can.

With these colors, I thought butterflies. I love this little butterfly from the Dreams du Jour set. The other stamps are sweet but the butterfly gets the most use. The little guys are stamped with Black Stazon ink and painted with a blender pen dipped in the corner of the ink pad. When doing this technique, be careful not to rub too hard since it will pull the cardstock.

I stamped and colored 2 of each color and cut one of each out. These were mounted on top of the stamped squares ( 1 5/8" x 1 1/2"). The color squares are 2" x 1 5/8". Did you notice that I added a little bling? Just a little.

The background was done with my new toy! It's the new SU Square Lattice Embossing Folder. It's on p. 24 of the Summer Mini Catalog. I ran it through the BIG GUY and WOW!, what a nice background. It looks as good on the back as on the front too! I love new stuff!

The Black Gingham ribbon finishes it off. I'd tell you how far apart the knots are, but I just tied them randomly and tried to match them with the butterfly squares. I call it the By Guess and By Gosh technique, LOL!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Dreams du Jour
Paper: Whisper White, Lovely Lilac, Gable Green, Cameo Coral
Ink: Black Stazon, Lovely Lilac, Gable Green, Cameo Coral
Acc.: Ticket Corner Punch, Big Shot, SU Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Black Gingham Ribbon, Rhinestones

I hope you enjoyed seeing this card as much as I enjoyed making it. Let me know what you think. I love the comments.
Bonnie

Double Daisy Challenge

Hello Stampin' Friends. Today's card is for the Color Challenge which has been combined with Mother Marks Teapot Tuesday Challenge. The colors this week are Old Olive, Barely Banana & Ballet Blue with Red embellishment for dessert. The Teapot Challenge is to put daisies on the card.

I thought about the wildflowers near my Dad's house that look like blue daisies and thought I would try to make one. Needless to say, only God can make a flower. This pales in comparison to the real thing.

I used the Flower Daisies #2 Bigz Die and the BIG GUY to punch 2 of the small flowers from the Ballet Blue card stock. The leaves are cut with the SU Little Leaves Sizzlit. I stamped the sentiment crooked as usual... so I stamped it again and punched it with the word window punch and covered up my boo boo.

The white piece is cut from the SU Top Note Bigz Die and I used the color spritzer with a Rose Red marker to speckle the background a bit.

The ladybug (my dessert), was punched with a regular paper punch. You know the kind you pick up anywhere. I punched one circle in red & one in black. I put the dots on the red with my Basic Black marker and used a glue dot to stick the two together. You can see it better on the close up below.

I used the Frost White Shimmer paint that is still available as a catalog write in to add a little shimmer to the daisy.

This will go out to a fellow stamper that has to have surgery that will keep her from stamping for a bit. Can you imagine how hard that will be? I hope she will have a speedy recovery.

Hope everything comes up daisies for you today, tomorrow too.

Bonnie

Triple Challenges

Hello fellow stampers. I have been busy as can be as you can see. I have not one but three cards for this weeks challenges.

This first one is for the Technique Lovers Challenge and uses the Natures Nest stamp set. (I used the shell stamp from it on Tuesday's post for the CAS challenge.) This challenge is to use paper piercing.

I recently bought some Prismacolor pencils to use in a Creative Arts class and decided to give them a try. I used them like watercolor pencils with the Blender Pen. I think it worked out pretty good. DH even said it looked like a turtle. He's probably studied them closer than I have.

I stamped the image with Stazon on Shimmery White cardstock. The base card is Kraft, soon to be called Crumb Cake. I used Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow behind the image. The sentiment is from the Sincere Salutations set and stamped in Chocolate Chip. I used the Mat Pack and Paper Piercer between the image and sentiment to add some pizzaz. (And so I could post it in the TLC Challenge.)

This card is for the Color Challenge to use Apricot Appeal, Sage Shadow & Going Gray with a neutral of choice. I used Whisper White. The dessert this week is the addition of lace.

I really struggled with this one. The Going Gray is always a challenge for me.

The stamp set is a preview of a set in the new Summer Mini Catalog that you should be receiving any day now. You can't order it until May 1. It is called Watercolor Trio and it has three beautiful little flower stems (actually one is leaves) and 3 beautifully scripted sentiments. I am so glad that I preordered this set. I can see that it will get a lot of use!

I used my Apricot Appeal & Sage Shadow markers to ink the stamps then stamped and stamped off a couple of times on Whisper White. The butterfly is embossed and cut using the BIG GUY and the Beautiful Wings embosslit that is only available until April 30th.

The sentiment is stamped in Going Gray and punched with the Scallop Oval Punch. The Sage Shadow piece behind was punched with the Wide Oval Punch and one corner of each piece was punched with the Corner Rounder Punch.

The lace was in my stash and I wove Sage Shadow narrow grosgrain ribbon through it.

Last but not least.........

Another card using the Nature's Nest stamp set. This was the layout for the Sketch Challenge.

I stamped the Dragonfly/Darning Needle with Basic Black on Whisper White. Then I put a little glue along the body and sprinkled some of the Aqua glitter from the Fine Supernova set (p. 180). I also used the Olive glitter for the eyes. The brad sparkles. I used a glue dot on a silver brad, then dipped it in the Olive glitter. (The brad was necessary to cover a smudge. Make sure your ink is dry before you start handling the piece!)

I used the Mat Pack and Paper Piercer to punch some holes in the top to balance out the brad. Oh my, what creativity one boo boo can cause!

I used Bermuda Bay & Whisper White that had been embossed with the BIG GUY and the SU Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate. All the pieces are matted with Basic Black.

Didn't I have fun? Now I need to do some housework and probably ought to cook something for supper. I hope all my creativity isn't used up! But first I need to cuddle with that adorable little grandson who just got up from his nap.

Enjoy your evening.

Bonnie

Nature's Sea Shells

I have a new stamp set! Imagine that! I finally got it mounted and decided it was perfect for the CAS challenge this week to make a card inspired by this card by Alanna.

I'm trying to use the card stock that we will be saying good-bye to in June and the Cameo Coral and sea shells just seemed to be a perfect match.


I embossed the shells on Blush Blossom first. They were beautiful but didn't show up very well and I was in the mood to POP! You will probably see them in the future. They were too pretty to throw away.

The sentiment is from Watercolor Trio, a set in the Summer Mini Catalog. Have you received your catalog yet? It should be in the mail. If you are not on my mailing list and would like one, email me and I will put one in the mail. Anyway, the new mini catalog has some awesome stamps and accessories. I can't wait for you to see it.

I know the sentiment is crooked. It was a clear mount and there is no excuse for it. I was hurrying and didn't realize how crooked it was until I just saw this photo. I think I will have to do some a poppin' sentiment on the card before I send it!

Card Recipe
Card is 4 1/" Square
Stamps: Nature's Nest, Watercolor Trio
Paper: Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla
Ink: Whisper White, Basic Black
Acc.: White embossing powder, heat tool, Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Dimensionals

Hope you enjoy this card and take a peek at Alanna's gallery for some awesome ideas.
Bonnie

Fifth Avenue in Bermuda

I know I promised you Easter cards, but I finished the Clean And Simple challenge which I combined with the Color Challenge and want to share that with you tonight as well as post it on splitcoaststampers.

As you can tell, I am not an expert in watercoloring. That middle flower just had to show off I guess. The CAS challenge was to use this sketch by Carly. The color challenge this week is to use Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray (Oh no! Not Again!), and So Saffron. As you can see, this time I went light on the gray and the saffron. I really like the brighter Crushed Curry better with Bermuda Bay.

The flowers were painted with the Aqua Painters and re-inker. After they were dry and mounted, I used glue in the centers of the flowers. Luke woke up and needed attention and I found that letting the glue set about 15 minutes works really well. Then I pressed microbeads into the tacky glue. These beads are not SU but some that I found in my embellishment box. I used that Scallop Trim Border Punch that will only be available one more day. (I hope you were able to get one and love it as much as I love mine! ) The butterfly was cut and embossed with an embosslit and the BIG GUY.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, For All You Do

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray, So Saffron DSP, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay

Acc.: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Oval & Large Oval Punches, Aqua Painters, Microbeads (non SU), Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Ribbon

Hope you had time to have a little fun today.

Bonnie

Caramel Birthday Cake

This is another card for last week's color challenge to use Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink and Dusty Durango. Last week was a little crazy and I have been slow to take photos and share. I keep hoping life will slow down a bit so I can get back to stamping with my friends. Hopefully in a few more weeks the house will be on the market and I will have more time for fun.

There are only 2 more days of Sale-A-Bration ladies. As usual I have had so much fun with these sets, that I will be sad to see it end.

For this card, I used the Happy Moments stamp set. I stamped the happy birthday sentiment in Dusty Durango on the Dusty Durango piece. Then I used Black Staz-On to stamp the Birthday cake and colored it with markers. (The flowers are P in Pink with Durango centers and the candles are Durango.) Lastly, I stamped the sentiment from Whimsical Words with Dusty Durango. The matting is Pretty in Pink and the card base is Creamy Caramel. Then I tied it all up with a piece of Pretty In Pink Taffeta Ribbon. It really went together fast and I love the color combination. I saw an ad in the newspaper yesterday for an outfit in these colors. It was beautiful! I think I will use these colors again...and again.

I'm off to take some more photos so I can share more Easter cards and to work on the CAS challenge for this week if I have time.

Happy stampin',

Bonnie

Dusty Wings

Hello Friends,

Today's Color Challenge is.....Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink & Dusty Durango. I have to admit I initially questioned the wisdom of this combination, but Betty does have a great sense of color. The stamp set on my table was Greenhouse Garden and I started out with that but realized quickly that it wasn't what I wanted. When I opened my stamp drawer, Wings of Friendship was sitting on top pretty as you please. Soooooo.....

What do you think? I knew it would be tricky to ink even with the spots, so I got out the markers. When the image wasn't as sharp as I wanted, I used the markers and a blender pen to fill it in. The picture doesn't show the Sanded stamped background. It is very subtle, but makes the card look textured. I popped the sentiment up to balance the ribbon. By the way, you can earn this stamp set by holding a $300 workshop. Let me know when you want to book one.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Wings of Friendship (Level 2 Hostess gift), Sanded

Paper: Creamy Caramel, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink & Dusty Durango SU Markers, Creamy Caramel ink pad

Acc.: Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Large Oval & Scallop Oval Punches

Hope you enjoy this card my friends,

Bonnie

Lindsay's Card

I made this card for several challenges. I love it when I can combine challenges for a card! Sometimes I get way too confused but this one went together well. It wasn't at all like I planned when I went in my stamp room. Sometimes it goes like that!

The Color Challenge this week was Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery & Melon Mambo with neutrals of choice. Bashful & Celery I could see. They are both Soft Subtles. But Melon Mambo??? It's one of my favorite colors but I never ever thought of using it with the Subtles! When I inked the branch with the Celery & Melon, it didn't look bad. So then I went all out and decided to use Melon for the card base too! What do you think?

The Color Challenge was combine with the Tea Pot Challenge to do a card based on quilting. So I ran the pieces through the Big Guy to make it look more like a quilt. I also drew little stitches to try to make it look like an applique piece. (I'm not sure if I succeeded with that or not but there was no going back!)

Then I used the Sketch Challenge this week for the layout.

This card will go to a young woman, Lindsay, who found out she had cancer right after she found out she was pregnant. She is fighting a big battle and my heart goes out to her and her mother. Say a prayer for them, ok?

Card Recipe
Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers
Paper: Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue & Melon Mambo Markers, Night of Navy
Acc.: Big Shot, SU Perfect Details Texturz Plate


Wishing you good health and a joyful day.
Bonnie

Easter Lily

Still keeping to an Easter theme with the CAS challenge this week which is to layer 2 different shapes. I hope this qualifies even if I shaped one layer myself. The lily was stamped on Shimmery White in Going Gray then I painted the petals with Frost White Shimmer Paint. It's the first time I have used this paint and it definitely has a shimmer but not too much. The oval was first dry embossed with a Texturz Plate and then cut with the Ovals die. I've been using pastel shades for my Spring cards but like the brightness of the Crushed Curry for this one. It looks like a sunny day, which we had today. Spring is going to come after all!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Well Scripted

Paper: Crushed Curry Textured, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Shimmery White

Ink: Going Gray, Crushed Curry

Acc.: Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Big Shot, SU Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, Ovals Die, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Crushed Curry Marker, Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon

Hope you saw the sunshine today and maybe got to stamp too.

Bonnie

Yellow Rose on Gray

This week's Color Challenge was to make a card using Basic Gray (ugh!), Crushed Curry, Always Artichoke and Neutrals of choice. Dessert was using a border with Nesties. Usually when there is a color I really don't like (Basic Gray) I use it very sparingly. This time I got brave and just put it out there! Thankfully the Crushed Curry and Whisper White do perk it up.

I found a Tutorial for the flower on this awesome blog. Instead of the punch, I used the Stampin' Up Birds & Blooms Sizzlit with my Big Shot Machine. I used 2 large, 1 medium and 1 small flower. This is one time that nothing but the bone folder would do.

The little butterflies were done with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die in the Occasions Mini Catty (p. 24). It punches 5 butterflies at one time. These are the smallest. I also used the Big Shot to emboss the Basic Gray piece with a Texturz Plate. (Trying to pretty it up!) I really gave the Big Guy a workout on this card!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Short & Sweet

Ink: Always Artichoke

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Crushed Curry, Always Artichoke

Acc.: Big Shot, SU Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, SU Birds & Blooms Sizzlit, Ovals Originals Die, SU Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Extra Large 2 Step Bird Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Large Oval Punch, Artichoke Brad

I love the card I did for the CAS challenge but unfortunately the photograph didn't come out well. I'm off to work on that now. Hope to show it off tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy!

Bonnie

Bird in a Plum Tree

Hello everyone and happy Friday. Today I'm sharing a card I made for this week's color challenge. The colors are Pale Plum, Perfect Plum & Soft Suede with any neutral. Dessert is to add a critter. This wasn't what I had in mind when I went to my craft room but my hand just pulled out this stamp set. I CASEd myself with the layout. Since Soft Suede isn't my favorite color, I used it sparingly. I actually like it in this case (pun hee! hee!) and I'm glad I was challenged to use it.

The branch is stamped in the Soft Suede and I inked the flowers with markers in both Plum shades. Then I stamped flowers in both shades on scrap paper and cut some of the large ones out to add with dimensionals. The bird is stamped on the branch, then on scrap paper, cut out and also added with dimensionals. The picture doesn't show the 3 dimensional look of the card very well. Sorry. I'm not the greatest photographer. I keep trying new things and eventually I will get the right combination. I hope!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Bird on a Branch

Paper: Pale Plum, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Ink: Soft Suede, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum (both Stampin' Spots & Markers)

Acc.: Ticket Corner Punch, Dimensionals

I will be stamping with my Roanoke Rapids friends tomorrow. I can't wait to see them. I'm sure I will come back with new and fresh ideas.

Have a good weekend. I hope you get to do something you love to do.

Bonnie

Pretty Mambo Blossoms

This weeks color challenge is to use Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, and Blush Blossom. Dessert was a red heart but I'm on a diet this week. No dessert today! Hope this helps me lose the pounds I gained during the holidays. (LOL) I love these colors together. I love pinks anyway and these are happy colors.

I got a new toy yesterday and I love it! It's the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder. (Try to say that 3 times fast!) I used it with my Big Shot Machine and I love the texture it added to the card. The ornament punch is no longer available for sale. If you didn't get it, you can make a vase with the Wide Oval Punch by flattening both ends. It will be tall and skinny but you can use 1 flower and it will be fine.


Card Recipe

Stamps: Bella's Bloom

Paper: Melon Mambo, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Melon Mambo

Acc.: Big Shot Machine, Flower Daisies #2 Bigz die, Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder, Ornament Punch, Flat Back Pearls from the Pretties Kit, Linen Thread (for stems)

Happy Day,

Bonnie

Another Challenge

This weeks CAS challenge is to use DSP (Designer Series Paper). I'll confess that I did this card a few weeks back. Some of you have actually seen it but only for a moment. This is the sweetest little stamp set. It has four Thank You stamps and each time this stamp set is sold, Ronald McDonald House gets $2.00. I love the Peacock (posted earlier) and I used the Turtle for a Valentine. A truly versatile set. I used markers to ink this stamp since I wanted more than one color. I love the control I get with the markers. Does that make me a control freak? Hope not! I think this would work well for a manly card. Don't you?

CARD RECIPE

Stamps: Very Thankful

Paper: Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Brocade DSP

Ink: Bordering Blue, Night of Navy, Regal Rose & So Saffron Markers

The Night of Navy under the DSP is cut 4 1/4" x 2 1/4" and 2 1/4" x 1 1/4", under the Thank You is 1 3/8" x 2 5/8"

The DSP is cut 4 1/4" x 2" and 2" x 1 3/8"

The Whisper White is cut 1 1/8" x 2 1/2"

Don't forget to "huff" on your stamp after you finish inking.

Enjoy,

Bonnie

Bashful, Suede Rubies

This weeks colors are Bashful Blue, Soft Suede and Ruby Red with stripes for dessert. Again this is a color combo I would have never thought of. It amazes me how the ladies at Splitcoast Stampers can come up with these ideas every week. I am thankful that they share their ideas, because they are a never ending source of inspiration to me.

I used the Movers and Shapers again to punch a heart out of the Very Vanilla and the Bashful Blue Decorative Paper. (The stripes don't show up on the heart, but believe me they are there.) I used punches for the other hearts. The stamping is done with the floral vine from the Vintage Vogue stamp set in the Occasions Mini catalog. I stamped it randomly to make my decorative background. The hearts are all popped up on dimensionals.

I had some trouble getting the stamps to cling to my blocks last Saturday. I have since cleaned the blocks and the stamps cling much better now. Lesson learned....clean works better! Sorry ladies that I didn't think of that before I tried to show you how wonderful they are.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Paper: Bashful Blue, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red Textured, Bashful Blue DSP

Ink: Soft Suede

Acc.: Big Shot, Movers & Shapers, Full Heart & Small Heart punches, Pearl from the Pretties Kit, Dimensionals.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Bonnie