Fleur de Lis

I made this card for the color challenge on Splitcoast, however...

I was in such a hurry to get the card put together using the rose that I had previously watercolored (and hadn't done anything with it - except pick out the colors I knew I wanted to use). I was excited because the color challenge today was the exact colors (I thought) that I had set aside for the image.

NOT!!!

The challenge specified Celery, Apricot and Pixie Pink, not Pretty in Pink that I used! Ugh. Posted it anyway since I had begun by stamping the rose on watercolor paper in Pixie Pink (so by a slim margin I think it still qualified for the color challenge!) At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Besides, it gives me an excuse to do another card for the challenge using more of the Pixie Pink!!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Recipe:

Stamps - SU Fifth Avenue Floral, Swiss Dot Background, Baroque Motifs

Paper - Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Pretty in Pink, Watercolor paper, Whisper White

Ink - PIXIE PINK, Pretty in Pink, Celery, White Craft, Summer Sun

Accessories - Spellbinders Fleur de Lis and Scallop Square dies, Fiskers Heritage corner punch, EK Success Fleur de Lis edge punch, SU white grosgrain ribbon, Half pearls

Salad Dressing

I love these stamps from Lockhart Stamps Co.! Dresses fashioned out of vegetables - imagine that!

When I saw the sketch challenge at Splitcoast, I knew these stamps would be perfect for the card design.

I colored the veggie dresses with my Copic markers which are perfect to get the shadowing and color variation on the veggies. I embellished with buttons - perfect fit with the apparel theme!!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Recipe:
Stamps - Lockhart Stamp Co (Veggie Dresses), Papertrey Ink Polka Dot Basics
Paper - Papertrey Ink Spring Moss and Hybiscus Burst; SU Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic markers for images

Accessories - Papertrey Ink buttons, twine

Chocolate Mousse Butterflies

This card was inspired by the designer papers - so pretty I had to have it and make a card but without detracting from the design. Truly the camera does no justice to this paper which is shimmery and glittery all over.

I cut out a section of the butterfly and flower DP from SEI called Chocolat Cherie. The left border I kept straight and right side I cut along the edge of the printed images. I mounted this on Pink Pirouette paper using dimensionals.

The image panel was then mounted on the striped DP from SEI called Chocolat Mousse that I oriented horizontally to contrast with the vertical image panel.

Really the only stamping on this card is the fabulous friend from the SU "Oval All" set!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Recipe:

Stamps - SU Oval All

Paper - SEI Chocolat Cherie and Mousse, SU Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Ink - Close to Cocoa

Accessories - Adhesive pearls, SU scallop oval and corner rounder punch and ribbon

Hey There Chickadee

The new Papertrey stamps are here - hooray!

Just got my order for this month's Papertrey Ink new release and just couldn't contain myself. Had to get ink on the set used here "Everyday Button Bits". The images are the cutest ever and so easy peasy to whip up a quick card.

I decided to go with the Splitcoast Clean and Simple color challenge using Turquoise, Yellow and Orange. Because it wasn't more specific on what ink to use, I decided on Tangerine, Summer Sun and Papertrey Ink's Aqua Mist.

This stamp set has several images designed to use with buttons of all shapes, plus many coordinating messages. I stamped the chickadee images in tangerine and with my marker and Dove Blender pen embellished the tail feathers of these little chicks a bit more.

For the bird's eyes, I simply used a black brad. The polka dots were stamped using PTI's Polka Dot Basics II - another new set from this month's release. I love polka dots and they're perfect with these little chicks! I did a bit of paper piercing and dots with my white gel pen to finish it off.

Thanks for visiting my blog today! Won't you consider following me by clicking the link to the right? Have a great day.

Recipe:

Stamps - Papertrey Ink Everyday Button Bits, Polka Dot Basics II

Cardstock - Papertrey Ink White and Aqua Mist, SU Tangerine

Ink - SU Tangerine, Summer Sun; Papertrey Aqua Mist, Palette Noir Black

Accessories - Papertrey Aqua Mist vintage buttons, black brads, scallop edge punch, paper piercer

MOJO95 Sketch Challenge

I did this card for the Mojo Monday blog sketch challenge. This is a fabulous blog focused on the most beautiful card sketches I've seen. And the entries week to week will humble you - absolutely fantastic cards, just gorgeous. There's a lot of talent out there and they do these challenges every week!
This is my first time participating in the Mojo Monday challenge.

For this card I used Papertrey Ink's Bird Watching stamp set. I do love this set - have used it many times.

Thanks for looking!

Recipe:

Stamps - Papertrey Ink Bird Watching

Paper - My Mind's Eye (Mama's Curtain, Fresh Linens, Playground Stripes)

Ink - Vintage Cream, Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip

Accessories - Nesties Deckled Edge Rectangles dies

Butterflies & Branches

Made this card for the Featured Stamper challenge on Splitcoast today. The featured stamper this week is Minnidr. I chose this card in her gallery to CASE.

I was so taken with her card! For the challenge I changed the birds to butterflies, the colors used and some other slight modifications.

To get the cloud effect on the background, I punched out a SU scallop circle and sponged around it with Brocade Blue ink, moving it around the card to get the right effect. I had a perfect stamp for the branches - Hero Arts "Long Branch" - just stamped it on Chocolate Chip cardstock twice and cut them out. I used my Martha Stewart punch for the leaves.

The butterflies were stamped in Tangerine and Durango for a little variation and interest. I used glue to adhere the butterflies - only the centers so the wings can be folded upward. Topped them off with rhinestones 'cause you just got to have glitter somewhere!

Easy peasy card from a great inspiration piece! Thanks for visiting my blog!

Recipe:

Stamps: SU Great Friend, Hero Arts Long Branch

Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Durango, Mellow Moss, Artichoke, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Durango, Tangerine, Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue

Accessories: SU Scallop Oval punch, rhinestones

Clean and Simple

Last night was our monthly stamp camp at Emma's (Lady & The Stamp) and I am always inspired by Emma's display of cards and how clean and simple and oh so beautiful they are. I usually pledge to myself to emulate her cards with a more simplistic style in my own.

So since I was still hyped up after camp, I went to my "happy place" (craft room!) to create some quick and simple cards, ala Emma style.

I started with the templates by "Just For Fun" stamps - these are the greatest stamps and precut masks ever! I stamped the two different styles (4-panel and 3-panel dotted outlines) in Bayou Blue and then brushed on color using my stipple brushes. I used Saffron and Pumpkin Pie for the 3-panel and Soft Sky and Breeze for the 4-panel (with just a hint of mustard that I added later to warm up the images)

To add some additional interest, I lightly stamped (by first stamping off) a small script stamp from Just For Fun in each panel. These steps take about 5 minutes in total time and lay a beautiful and interesting foundation for the focal images.

From here, I just quickly stamped the four images from Stampin Up Pocket Silhouettes (which I got just for this technique) in each of the panels. These images are simple and clean also which is perfect for what I was trying to achieve.

And to add that little something, I stamped itty bitty images from Papertrey's Bird Watching and Honey Bees in one of the panels using a complimentary/contrasting color.

It was just that simple and fast. Composing the images onto the final cards is quick using the Fiskars "Stamp" decorative scissors to cut the edges and just simply mounted onto card stock from there. Three cards in about 45 minutes total time! Thanks for visiting my blog today!










Recipes:
Stamps: SU Pocket Silhouettes, Just For Fun - Postage Stamp outline and Script, Papertrey Ink - Honey Bees, Bird Watching
Cardstock: SU Blue Bayou, Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Mustard, Whisper White; Papertrey Ink White
Ink: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Mustard, Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Artichoke; Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream
Accessories: Fiskars "Stamp" decorative scissors, SU scallop oval punch, EK Success scallop edge punch, SU Mustard ribbon, half-pearl embellishments

SCS Color Challenge

Here's my card for the SCS color challenge - use Barely Banana, Lavender Lace, Going Gray or black, and white. I chose to go with the Gray as it's a softer color that I thought worked better for this image and the layout I created.

I started with Banana for the base card and layered an embossed piece of banana cardstock mounted on the gray. The bottom layer was embossed with the Cuttlebug script folder. On top of that and vertically oriented, I stamped Papertrey's Polka Dot Basics on banana with gray ink and also mounted that on the gray cardstock.

The main image is one of the great stamps from Stacy Stamps. I stamped the image on to watercolor paper with black Stazon ink and watercolored the image with Lavender Lace ink using my aqua painter. For some of the darker shadowy areas of the image, I used my Lavender Lace marker for deeper color. The flower center is watercolored in banana and I added some banana glitter from Stamp LaJolla. I sponged banana ink all around the image for greater depth.

This is such a great stamp for watercoloring. And, the image always looks nearly 3D or multi-layered when you watercolor it.

For a more distressed look and to break up all the straight lines of the card, I tore the edge of the watercolor paper and the gray cardstock it is mounted to. I also sponged the edges with gray ink to slightly distress and soften the look. The Lavender cardstock the image is adhered to was embossed with the rugged lines embossing folder by Cuttlebug. The main image was popped up using foam tape.

At first I wasn't sure about the color combination but I really like it with this card and image. I would definitely choose this combo again. What do you think?

As always, thanks for visiting my blog!

Recipe:
Stamps - Stacy Stamps 1071C Zinnia, Papertrey Ink Polka Dot Basics
Cardstock - SU Barely Banana, Lavender Lace, Going Gray, Watercolor paper
Ink - Barely Banana, Lavender Lace, Going Gray
Accessories - Ribbon (unknown), Cuttlebug embossing folders (script & ragged lines)

Another Poolside Inspiration

This card was inspired by yet another swim suit fabric that I saw while catching some rays at the pool last week. The swim suit had these colors in a similar grid-type pattern.

I stamped out my images from Papertrey Ink's Friends til the End stamp set (love this set - could use it everyday!) and colored it with my Copics.

Before cutting it up, I stamped polka dots all over using Papertrey's Polka Dot Basics set (another fav of mine).

I cut the 4"x5" image into 1 inch squares and then mounted them on black cardstock. Since my inchies got all mixed together in the process, it was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle! Think I got a couple of them turned cockeyed in the mess but you can't really tell.

The overall card is 6x6" and was scored at the 5" mark to leave the front flap just short of the back so the inside card polka dots could show at the bottom. This technique was really easy to do and I just love the color combination. Let me know your thoughts!

Thanks for visiting my site today!


Recipe:
Stamps - Papertrey Ink Friends Til The End, Polka Dot Basics, SU Oval All
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers for the images
Cardstock - Papertrey Ink Spring Moss, SU Black and Whisper White
Accessories - SU Scallop Oval punch

Vacation Is Over!

Today I go back to work after being on vacation for two solid weeks.

This card says it all.

Recipe:

Stamps - Whipper Snapper (Caught a Bug), Papertrey Ink Alphabet, SU Harlequin background

Paper - Papertrey Spring Moss & Hibiscus Burst

Ink - Palette Noir, PTI Hibiscus Burst, Copics for image

Accessories - Paper piercing tool

Posies for Ewe - High Hopes Challenge #39

Here's my card for the High Hopes blog Challenge #39. You have to incorporate daisies as part of the card in your choice of various ways. Here I have daisies in the DP and on the image itself.


This is my first time playing the High Hopes challenge so I'm excited that I already had this card made today, ready for posting here that seems to fit the challenge just fine! Who could resist this darling lamb?


The image is High Hopes "Posies for Ewe" (which I love) and has been colored using a variety of Copic markers.

This little lady was cut out using Nesties oval and scallop oval dies.


This won't be my last High Hopes challenge - I love their stamps!


Thanks for looking!





Recipe:
Stamps - High Hopes "Posies for Ewe" and "Ewe's So Sweet"
Paper - Paper Studio "Small Multi Flowers" and "Purple Gingham; SU Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion cardstock
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Lovely Lilac, Copic markers for the image
Accessories - Rhinestones, SU scalloped edge punch, scallop circle punch, corner punch, Nesties oval and scallop oval dies

Featured Stamper Challenge

This is my first time participating in the featured stamper challenge on Splitcoast. Today's challenge featured stamper is Kelly at Schirmcat on SCS. I was inspired by her card here.

In the challenge you're supposed to change at least two things from one of her cards in doing your own. I changed the butterflies to birds and changed the colors. I also used drywall tape as the "fence" the birds are perched on.

It's hard to see here but the entire background has been stamped with Papertrey Ink's Text Style background stamps and the card was slightly distressed using SU Sage Shadow ink.

The birds were stamped with another Papertrey Ink stamp set Bird Watching and Bird Watching Additions on vanilla cardstock and cut out.

Thanks for visiting my blog!



Recipe:
Stamps - Papertrey Ink "Bird Watching", "Bird Watching Additions" and "Text Style"
Paper - SU Blue Bayou, Sage Shadow, Vanilla
Ink - SU Blue Bayou, Sage Shadow, Soft Suede
Accessories - Brads, Drywall tape

Win $1,000 at TheCuttlebugSpot.com!

I have just discovered that The Cuttlebug Spot is having a contest trying to reach 1,000 followers by the end of July and need your help. To enter all you have to do is go to their site, sign up as a follower and complete a few easy steps and you could win a $1,000 gift certificate to Custom Crops (www.CustomCrops.com)! Go now and check it out at www.TheCuttlebugSpot.com

While you're there take a look at the new Cuttlebug embossing folders - they're great!

Perfect Picnic!

Today is a beautiful, sunny day in SE Michigan. A perfect day for a picnic and that thought brought me to this card!

I found this DP at Hobby Lobby a couple months ago and knew it would be perfect with this image from High Hopes.

The card measures 6x6" when closed. For the short front flap I scored the cardstock at 5".

This stamp just cracks me up!

I stamped it using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored it using a variety of Copic markers. The image was cut out using Nesties Deckled Edge rectangle dies.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Recipe:

Stamps - High Hopes (main image), Inkadinkado 95540 (ants on yellow gingham paper)

Paper - Papertrey Ink New Leaf and Hibiscus Burst; Stampin Up Gable Green; The Paper Studio Fruits & Flowers, Yellow Gingham

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics(Y11, Y15, Y17, YG00, YG41, YG11, YG63, YG67, E21, E31, E33, E37, E53, E08, R22, R32, R35, C3, C7)

Accessories - Nesties Deckle Edge Rectangle dies, Papertrey Hibiscus Burst grosgrain ribbon

Inspired Poolside

When you look at someone's creation, have you ever wondered "how did they ever think of that" or ponder what inspired them to use a particular color combination or how they dreamed up a card design or layout that seemed to fit the image to a tee?

Sometimes I find myself looking at magazines, pictures, fabrics and thinking of how certain colors might look if used in a card. Weird, but I see the colors as Stampin Up colors....celery, banana, or regal rose instead of light green, pale yellow or pink!

The fact is inspiration comes from everywhere and sometimes from the oddest places.

Take today's card. The colors and images used were inspired by my daughter's swimsuit that was purchased at Old Navy early in the season. I instantly loved the suit because I'm a fan of bright colors anyway. But the warm brown background with the bright coral straps just speaks to me. Then take the other bright colors that just seem to pop off the brown and I'm in visual heaven.

So it's probably not surprising that I've made this card using all the colors of the swimsuit fabric!

I started with a Cameo Coral base to mimic the swimsuit straps and edging. The background is Chocolate Chip but to get the look of the caramel background design on the dark cardstock I improvised and embossed the background with detail gold embossing powder using several images from three different stamp sets. In similar fashion, I heat embossed the gold on the several different colors of cardstock, then cut them out and simulated the variety of color combos my eye saw in the swimsuit to layout the card.

This wasn't a difficult card - just time consuming with all the embossing and hand cutting of the flowers. I do love these colors together on the card as much as I do in the fabric of the swimsuit.

Saw another swimsuit today at the club pool that inspired another card design that I'll be posting in the next day or two.

As always, thanking for visiting my blog! I hope I've inspired you today.

Recipe:

Stamps - SU One of a Kind, True Friend, Priceless

Cardstock - SU Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, YoYo Yellow, Gable Green, Orchid Opulence, Tempting Turquoise

Ink - Versamark

Accessories - Detail Gold Embossing Powder

Madame Butterfly

Today's post is a thank you card for Emma at Lady & the Stamp for the help she gave me in creating my blog. She is so fun to be with and so encouraging. It's that encouragement that prompted this blog. I happen to think Emma is so very talented and creative. Her creations inspire me.

So last night Emma and my dear friend Heide (see her incredible SCS gallery here) came over and we had a literal blogfest! Emma introduced Heide and I to the Michigan Mingle gals on their Splitcoast Stampers thread. You can tell they're a lively group of ladies that I can't wait to know better!

So over Sanders Bumpy Cake (to die for!) and with two netbooks we created this blog and met the minglers at the same time. Was a fun evening even though we didn't stamp! Thanks ladies for the giggles and so many thanks Emma for your help, encouragement and friendship. I'm truly blessed with two great stamping friends.

The papers I used for this thank you card are so elegant and very fitting for Emma. I've used Pattern Paper's Ambrosia line - "Winsome" and "Chutney" on the outside of the card and "Fresh-Squeezed" on the inside. The card is 5 1/2 x 11" and scored at 3 3/4 and 1 3/4". I think they call this a gate fold card. More details in the recipe below.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Recipe:

Stamps - SU Great Friend, Elegant Thank You

Paper - SU Basic Gray, White Naturals, Dusty Durango and Bazzill Basics Mango cardstock

Ink - SU Basic Gray, Dusty Durango

Accessories - Rhinestones, Nesties Label 4 dies

My First Blog Posting

Well, I'm on vacation (first vacation of the year) and have been stamping up a storm. I've started posting my card creations regularly on Splitcoast and have just created this blog to share my crafts.

For my first blog post, I'm highlighting the birthday card I've made for my dear niece, Olivia. At age 5 she is already a stamper following in my footsteps. She will love this card, and I know she'll look at it, analyze it and then try to make one like it herself. For part of her gift, I'm planning to give her the cardstock and designer paper that I've used so she can play too!

The card design was from a technique challenge on Splitcoast called a Tri-Shutter Card. Easy peasy and a fun technique to dress up or to leave rather simple highlighting the paper itself. A tutorial for the card is on The Craftiblog by clicking here. Credit to Bonnie Szwalkiewicz for the tutorial and the various adaptations of this technique. I've used the full card front version.

Cardstock: Stampin Up Cameo Coral, Cool Caribbean; Designer Paper: Imaginisce "Hey Foxy" and "Mushroom Fancy" papers; Stamps: Stampin Up "On Your Birthday"; Accessories: Rhinestones, Stampin Up punches - corner, circles, ovals, scallop circle and scallop oval.