Mono C. Birthday Card

No, not mononucleosis! Monochromatic! Love me some turquoise butterflies!

This started life as a 'Thinking of you' card, which would have gone in my OWH box.  But I messed that up when I used the Gel pen to outline the sentiment, and some on the butterflies. Wouldn't you know it, the ink had glitter! And it rubbed off!  So I did triage and changed it to a birthday card which I will send out to our niece next week. I know she will love it.
Well, I started with  this sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches, but of course I missed the deadline for that.  But this does work for The Tuesday Throwdown #165 "Things with Wings."; the Flutter by Wednesday #253, Open--Anything Goes as long as you have a butterfly or fairy; and Seize the Birthday Anything Goes-"Toppings" option is " Monochromatic."

Supplies:
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs 'Birds and Butterflies Labels'; Sweet and Sassy 'Happy Birthday'; Hero Arts/Sizzix Dogwood and Butterflies stamps/dies
Ink: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay (sponged over background embossing to make it pop), Island Indigo
Paper Basic Grey 'Lucille' DP, Stampin' up cardstock
Accessories: Sizzix butterfly dies, Spellbinders Labels 18; Copic Markers (on butterflies), white Offray ribbon colored with Copic Marker; Sizzix embossing folder, Recollections rhinestones, Sakura Gel pen

Retro Birthday

Woo Hoo! Post #2 for today. The challenge over at 'Cards in Envy' this go round was to have a Retro vibes. This card was a challenge for me. Retro scares me! Not sure why, but I usually avoid it.

 So thought I'd give it a try, since these Basic Grey 'Lucille' papers seem to have that retro vibe to them, especially the piece with the old-fashion sewing pattern envelopes on it. And when I thought about it, the background piece of DP that I used looks somewhat like the wallpaper that was on the walls in my bedroom when I was growing up (many, many years ago 8-). I didn't follow any sketch for this, just kind of let it happen. Looking at it now on the computer I probably should have added  a bit of distressing around the 2 pink strips, but  too late now!
I cut the roses out of one of the sheets of paper-I really didn't like the actual piece of paper, but the roses on it were okay-so I cut them out, gave them a little dimension with a stylus and mat pad, and clustered them together. I really, really. really wanted to add some glitter to the roses! But as it is for my next box of OWH cards, I CAN"T! Oh, woe is me! I have to get over this glitter addiction. I added a couple gold corner stickers and a simple vine sticker to give it a little bit of shine-gotta shine!
Do you think it works? Hope you like. Leave a comment, please.

Supplies:
Basic Grey "Lucille" design paper, Close to My Heart "Dotty for You" DP
Jen Ellory, Ltd Chip board Happy Birthday
Peel-off stickers, gold
Scraps of DCWV, SU and Bazzil Cardstock
Recollections fall brad

A simple Autumn card

Quick, simple card using stickers.

I used this sketch from the Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #80 over on the Techno Stamper Blog as the layout for this card.

 I was working on some other cards and this scrap of DCWV Autumn Medley DP was among the 'scraps' that were in my fall papers. The K&Co. leaf stickers were also in with my fall papers. They were sort of laying there on top of each other. "Hmmm,  I thought to myself  "these do seem to go together" So found this layout, and it worked! Originally I had a K&Co glitter leaf border on the card, but realized I couldn't use that for Operation Write HOme, so went hunting in my border stickers and found this K&Co. border, which actually looked even better. I tried several different ways to add a sentiment, but none of them looked right, so it became an 'all occasion' card. It's simple, but it really works for me.

OLW Sympathy

I have wanted to give the One Layer Wednesday Challenge a try for awhile now. I don't do good with Clean and Simple, but that is what OLW is all about. So this is my try today, for OLW #157. Sadly, I find myself in need of a sympathy card today.

This week the challenge is to make the sentiment the focal point of your card. Not sure if this fits that or not! I used the image from The Crafts Meow Wildflower set inked in Memento New Sprout. I stamped the verse from Verve's Forever in Our Hearts, inked with Momento Tuxedo Black. I thought the image looked like it was floating out there in space, so grounded it with a line of Silver Starlightz Glitter pen. I added some tiny Recollections crystals to the flowers. Adds a bit of elegance, don't you think? It is what it is!:)

Emmett and Schmoo Schmoo :)

I found this cute little boy with a stuffed bunny digi-image on Squigglefly way back in March and it was perfect for my grandson Emmett's 8th birthday (9/6)-It's called Noah and Bandit, but I think it looks just like Emmett (right down to the big smile that makes his eyes disappear) and his best friend- Schmoo Schmoo, who keeps him company in bed at night (Thanks Holly, for all the help getting this image to work for me!)!

I printed the image on ultra smooth white card stock and colored it with Copic markers. Since Emmett played his first year in Little League (Minors), and his team did an awesome job (They won their play-offs) I colored his hat in the team colors, and the rabbit is colored like Schmooey. I cut the image and a green background mat out with Spellbinders Labels 4.  I lightly sponged some TH Vintage Photo distress ink around the image while it was still in the die.  I added some scraps of fall colored papers (from my scrap box). For the sentiment I stamped letters on scraps of bright cardstock and punched with EK 1/2" punch. 

He liked the card, but he liked the gift more. Sad thing is the super cool remote control car that he so loved DID NOT WORK! And I am so bummed, because I had bought the same one for his brother, who's BD is in November, and it didn't work either. So now I have to take them back and find them both something different. NO wonder they were on clearance. I'm sure others have been brought back, too.

Challenges:
Coffee Chocolate and Cards #47: sketch 

Papertake Weekly: Child's Play - make a card for a child
Squigglefly #46: include a sentiment on your card
613 Avenue Create #36: Anything Goes Challenge! optional Twist this week is to create a card, gift, etc. for a grandparent or a grandchild
Addicted to Stamps and More: MAKE YOUR MARK Use markers, pencils, anything that colors

Stamps used: Squigglefly digi Noah and Bandit; Hero Arts Alphabet

Inks: Momento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Photo

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 4, EK Success 1/2" circle punch, Copic Markers, Foam dimensional stickers

More Lilies

Today I have another card using a Lily image. As this is my card for my sister, I think I better get it in the mail, as her B-day is Friday!
This is for the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Anything Goes
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - “Make a Good Impression” - Incorporate dry embossing

The House That Stamps Built -  Designers Choice Challenge - No Squares Allowed

I used the SU Very Vintage Wheel with SU Rich Razzleberry ink on Rich Razzleberry card for my card base. I added a strip of scrap of cardstock embossed with a Cuttlebug triangles embossing folder. I 'distressed the embossed piece by lightly sponging some rich razzleberry ink over the raised design. I stamped the Stampendous Star Lilies with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers. I used a Prisma Color White pencil on the lilies to make them stand out. 

Stamp: Stampendous Lilies, SU Papillion Potpourri, SU Very Vintage Wheel

Ink: SU Rich Razzleberry, Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: SU Rich Razzleberry, pink; Bazzil Simply Smooth White, scrap of green

Accessories: Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangles, EK Success corner rounder, SU Bitty Butterfly punch, Copic Markers, gold Peel-off stickers, SU Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain ribbon, gold Sakura
Gel Pen.

Stargazer Lilies

Seems we are getting into the fall weather pattern with cooler nights, and not quite so hot days. Leaves are turning, and it's getting time to empty the flower pots and pick up the garden art.  I can handle that.

I've had this little scrap of  DP floating around my table for awhile now, just begging me to use it.  I was looking at this package of 'canvas' ready to color stickers, and it popped into my head to use the lilies with this lily sticker, colored like stargazer lilies. So......

I will enter this into the challenge over at Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes.

I will also enter it in the following challenges:

Fab-n-Funky #183, Opposites Attract -Use 2 colors from the opposite sides of the color wheel (pink & green).

Dutch Dare - Birthday Wishes
Flutterby Wednesday- Anything goes-with butterfly or fairy.

              

I know this looks more peachy in this photo, but it is more in the pink range. I water colored the sticker with Momento markers, Rich Cocoa (frame), Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo leaves & New Sprout. I mounted the sticker on a green die-cut (SB Timeless Rectangles, Bazzil CS). I added a small green butterfly (SU Papillion Potpourri) Stamped with Memento Bamboo Shoots, colored with Copics and punched with SU Bitty Butterfly punch. Added a  piece of Offray ribbon, and 3 green rhinestones. Stamped greeting with Versa Mark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder (S.U.). Quick and simple! (And I finally used that piece of DP!)

Your comments are always welcome. 

Birthday Bouquet

Ahhhhhhhhhh, after 90 degree yesterday and a really, really nice rain (2") it is very pleasant today. Temp mid 70s and low humidity. I. Can. Take. This.!!!! I turned off the AC and fans, and opened all the windows-nice fresh air blowing through-oh joy!
My card today is for two challenges: Paper Take Weekly (Flower Power-to add flowers to your card); and Color Creative Classroom CMC Copic Challenge #75 (Anything goes-color any image anyway you like-using any medium); and the Tuesday Throwdown #161 (use Your Scraps)

I made this mostly with scraps that were on my work table. The white back die-cut (Spellbinders Decorative Labels One) was a discard from another project, and I cut & embossed a scrap of green with Spellbinders Fair Isle Pendant. I simply layered them together. 

The 2 background pieces (mat and DP) were pieces from my scrap bin, and I'm not sure what brand they are. I inked the six petal flower and a leaf from Close to My Heart's 'A Flowering Bunch' with Momento Tuxedo Black and Bamboo Leaves, and stamped the leaf 5 times and the flower 3 times on scraps of white. I colored them with Copics: flowers-G40, G43, G82, BG57, BG78, and YG21; leaves-G40, G43 & G82. I hand cut them all out. I attached one flower directly to the card, and the popped the other 2 up with different thicknesses of foam dimensionals, then tucked the leaves in around them. I added some Recollections glitter domes to the centers of the flowers, and some Basic Grey rhinestones to the die-cuts. Oh, and I stamped the sentiment (Whipper Snapper Designs 'Birthday Wishes') with Memento Bamboo Leaves. 

Comments always appreciated. 

Celebrating Summer

Wow, can't believe it is the middle of August already. Although the calendar says summer, our weather the last couple weeks has said 'FALL'! Cool nights, and cool days, too! Have turned the
AC off, and even had to run the furnace one morning. I'm really lovin' it. I am not fond of heat and humidity. It is affecting the garden, though. No cukes yet (there are some there, but they are only about an inch long), no ripe tomatoes yet, and no beans yet. I'm sure they will all come at once. We have had beets and new potatoes, though.
We have been picking wild blueberries. That is an all day job, between going and picking them, then cleaning and preparing for the freezer. My b-i-l's sour cherry tree was loaded this year, so have also put lots of them in freezer-another all day job, pitting one at a time (with a pitter, but it still takes time). I have put 35 cups of cherries in the freezer! And the apples look like they night be quite decent this year. Will start on them soon! Yummy pies this winter!!!!!!!

Been a busy summer in other ways, too. What with grandson's little league games, company, and lots of day trips I have not had a great deal of time to craft. Seems by the time I would decide which challenge to use, and what I would make, I have missed the deadlines for all the challenges. Am determined to get this one in (right under the wire).

This is for the Celebrating Summer challenge over at "The Crafts Meow". They don't usually have a challenge you can enter, but in celebration of summer, they are inviting crafters to participate. I absolutely love my Craft's Meow stamp sets.

  

For this card I have used the "One Scoop or Two" set and the "Timeless Tags" stamp sets; and the Delicious Doodles Sketch #45 over at the "Seems A Little Sketchy" challenge blog.

I stamped the ice cream cone parts on some patterned paper using SU Rose Red and Pool Party ink, and a scrap of kraft cs with Momento Rich Cocoa and cut them out by hand. (I don't know what the paper is-it was not packaged. I got it as a thank you gift. There were just four 6x6 sheets. I wish I did know what it was-I really like the paper!) I dry embossed the yellow cs (Bazzil) with the Crafts Too Stars embossing folder. I cut a scrap of SU old olive green cardstock with Spellbinders scalloped circles. I then stamped the sentiment (from TCM 'Timeless Tags' set) with SU Night of Navy ink, using the stamp-a-ma-jig to position the words. I then embossed the circle with the triple dot folder. I punched a border from a scrap of hot pink CS with the Martha Stewart Ribbon Loops punch. I added a little banner with a scrap of turquoise cs, and added Kaiser Hot Pink rhinestones for a little bling! It's all mounted on a cardbase of SU Night of Navy cardstock.

Enjoy the rest of summer, winter will be here before we know it!

Flower shop Love U

My posts have been few and far between lately. Lots of company over the last couple weeks, running all over the U.P. sight seeing, lots of family get togethers, and HEAT, HEAT, HEAT!  This last week we have had four days in a row of over 90-95 degrees. And humidity almost as high. Just going outside to water my flowers was not fun! And we have gotten about 3" of rain in last 3 days. Much needed rain, I might add. This afternoon it cooled down a bit and I was able to do some dead-heading in my flowers, and got my tomato plants tied up and pruned a bit. But the water was still pouring off me, so I finally gave up and came inside. AHHHHHHH, blissfully cool and dry. TG4AC.
Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler, maybe even cold!!!! Can use a bit of that right now.

I am still working my way through some scraps and odds and ends that are cluttering up my work space. I just got this SU 'Flower Shop' set, and was playing around making some flowers, and wouldn't you know it, these bits of paper were laying there, one strip of border cut, and this sheet of rub ons, and they all went together! Love when that happens. So......

I used the sketch from Iwona's Sketch Book Saturday Challenge #100 for my layout. This also fits the challenge over at the Cards-in-Envy Challenge:  Layers -card creations that have paper LAYERS! I will also enter in the Tuesday Throwdown #156-Anything Goes.

   

 The deep coral  border  is DCWV cardstock,  cut with an EK Success border punch. The flowers are from the SU Flower Shop stamp set, cut with SU Pansy Punch (although I don't know why it is called a 'pansy'-pansies don't look anything like this.) I colored them with Copics, and highlighted the center with a Sakura Gold Gel Pen. , and I cut the leaves from scraps of Old Olive with a Quick Kuts leaf die. I used Imaginessence hot-fix crystals as accents on the borders. The design paper is scraps off my work table. the sentiment is a K&Co. 'Lucy's Linens' rub-on. 

Very cheerful. 

I love to have you leave a comment! 

Mice Happy!

Or, maybe it's Happy Mice! Anyway, I love all the cute Penny Black critter stamps, so decided this would be a cute child's birthday card. I used the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch #  33 for this card. This also fits the bill for the "Less is More" challenge #125, clean and simple 'Happy Birthday'.


















Even tho this is a simple card, it seems as though it took me forever. To begin with, it took me several tries to get the mice spaced just right. (It really does help to use a 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' ;) ;). The mice are from Penny Black 'Make a Wish' clear stamp set, stamped with SU Basic Black and colored (but not blended) with Prisma Colored pencils. I added a bit of Sakura Jelly roll to the daisy and the stems and lines on the dandelions, but it really doesn't show up well here.
The sentiment is from Sweet N Sassy stamps Happy B-day set, stamped with Versa Magic Ocean Depths. The DP is from DCWV Nana's Kitchen mat stack.Solid cardstock is SU and from my scrap basket. Gotta use up those scraps! Cute and simple, or simply cute?

Just a Note........

Happy Summer everyone! We have gone from freezin' cold at last week's Little League game to die-ing of heat and especially humidity this week. Such is life in Upper Michigan. Ya never know, we may need those winter coats again tomorrow.

 

   

This card I made for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge#161. I know the sketch is square, however I have made my card an A2 size as it will go in the box for Operation Write Home, and that is the size they prefer.
 I have challenged myself to use up as many of those items I had stamped, colored, embossed, etc., as I can. I had stamped and embossed this collage image from Stampin' Up Garden Collage a looooong time ago, and it kept poppin' up, saying "use me, use me". So I finally listened to it and this is the results. I colored the image in a bit with Prisma colored pencils and a gold Sakura Gelly Roll pen. The sentiment is from Flourishes Mix n' Mugs set, and border is from SU Six Sided Sampler, stamped with Versa Magic Ocean Depth ink and clear embossing powder and heat embossed.
DP's Poppy cardstock are from DCWV Citrus Matstack and  the Turqoise was from my scrap basket, but I think it is Stampin' up paper.
I'll be back later today with another post. I just have to find a challenge that it fits!

CAS poppies

Today I have a CAS card for the Clean and Simple Challenge #244, a sketch challenge. I originally intended it for a couple of other challenges, too. But I missed those deadlines-of course.

 Simple, right? Piece of cake, right? Oh, no, not for me. It took me 4 tries to get this right! Yes, FOUR!  And they all went well until I stamped the sentiment. Even using the Stamp-a-ma-jig I couldn't seem to get it straight. So, finally, FINALLY, break out the ruler & I drew a line with a pencil, and I was able to get it straight.

I stamped the flower image from SU "Simply Sketched' four times on white cardstock with SU Pool Party ink and colored with Copic markers (BG10, BG11, BG13, and W0). I stamped the sentiment with Momento Tuxedo Black. I sponged around the edges with Pool Party and mounted it on a mat of SU cardstock (Bermuda Bay I think). Added a bit of Star Dust Stickles for a bit of shine. And it only took me 3 nights to get this done!:b But I like how it turned out.

Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge

Wow! May was quite the month! All the nasty weather down south really made me appreciate even more the area of the country I live in. While we get wild snow storms, and really weird 'spring' weather (like snowflakes in the air on May 23-actually over the past couple days it has been cold enough to snow). The apple trees and wild blueberries are all in bloom, and wouldn't you know it, we had frost 2 nights in a row. Won't really know for awhile if it affected the fruit. I sure hope not, especially the blueberries. Didn't get any last year, and very few the year before.
And not only the strange weather-'Old Bessie' (my van) croaked a little over a week ago, so had to run around to find a new vehicle. Forty miles in one direction Friday, 50 miles in the other direction Saturday, then back in the other direction on Tuesday after Memorial day. Finally settled on leasing a new Grand Caravan. Here's what I ended up with-love the color, rides nice, lots of nice features like the stow-n-go seats and windows in sliding doors that open, and lots of room for hauling grandkids and craft supplies :)

I made this card for the Flutterby Wednesday #243 and The Sweet Sunday Sketch #185 Challenge.  In the process of straightening up my craft area I came across some more K&Co. stuff, so now I am trying to use up the "Poppy Seed" papers and stickers. I really love these colors-So bright and cheery. This card will go into my box for OWH. Getting close to having one filled to send off. 

Supplies Used:

Stamp set: SU Ciao, Baby

Papers: DP-K&Co. Poppy Seed, CS Bazzill-purple, SU Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Versa Magic Pretty Petunia (around edges of purple DP and for sentiment), Memento Bamboo Shoots (around mat)

Accessories: K&Co. Poppy Seed Sticker, Spellbinders Classic Scalloped edges and insert, Wonky Rectangles, Sakura Jelly Roll pen-purple, SU Petite Curly Label punch, scrap ribbon.

 

Favorite embellishments-gold and silver stickers

The challenge over at Fab 'n'Funky #171 this week is to use your favorite embellishment. STickers, especially the gold and silver lines and corners, are at the top of my favorites list.Going way back to when our craft group started this crazy obsession, um, addiction, oh, no, I mean craft, one of the first embellishments we started working with were these border & corner stickers we were ordering from a site in New Zealand. (Have since been able to find some closer, but still not the huge variety Australian Crafts Supplies carries) They just add such a touch of elegance to the finished product.

I've used Bazzill deep purple and lavender cardstock. The purple background is a piece from my scrap box. The green check is from K&Co. Poppyseed mat stack. The Ovals are cut using SB Scalloped Ovals. The flower sticker is also K&Co. The silver borders just finish this off so nicely. I added a tiny silver butterfly sticker, including the 'innies', which I colored with a Copics. The HB is also one of the silver stickers I colored with a Copic. The little bow started off white, but I colored it with the same Copic as the sentiment and butterfly.
Please leave a comment and let me know what's your favorite embellishment.

True Love Story

Hope all are having a great weekend. It is finally a warm Sunday here. Cloudy and humid, tho. Have to go to my grandaughters' dance recital this afternoon, so this will be a short post.

I have used the sketch from Monday Lunchtime sketch # 263, and over at Operation Write Home Mid Week Throwdown So Sentimental, the challenge is to use a sentiment as your focal point. So here's my take-

The Design papers are from K& Co. Poppy Seed collection. The verse is from Verve's "Love Story" Stamp set, stamped in Memento BAmboo Leaves. The frame image is from Our Daily Bread "Ironworks Borders" stamped in SU Wisteria Wonder on SU Shimmer White cardstock. I added some Basic Grey square bling to the corners. The button and floss are from my old (really old) stash. I made this for my dear friends Kathy and Donny's 40th wedding anniversary, a real milestone in this age.
Leave a comment if you will. Have a beautiful weekend.

Exotic Butterfly

Hello peeps! Life has been crazy again. Maple syrup making is over, had a really good run this year. Then we were away from home for a week to visit my sister and family. Was soooo beautiful in 'The Shores', sunny and warm, everything in bloom, windows open all day long with a nice breeze blowing through. Then we came back to Upper Michigan-and snow again! It was mostly gone, just a few patches here and there, then we got 2 inches one day-gone by the end of the day....Another 3 inches a couple days later, Then a really cold blast this weekend and more snow, including Mother's Day-which took 2 days to all disappear.. Warming up today, though. Hopefully will stay warmer now.

This card is for the "Sweet Sunday Sketch' challenge #184.

I love gingham! Designer Papers & light green are from K&Co., Poppy Seed and Amy Butler Sola. Dark Green cardstock and White Shimmery  is Stampin' Up. Butterfly sticker is also K&Co. White CS is cut out with Spellbinders Labels 22, mounted on green cut with SB Decorative Labels 22. Gold bling is from Basic Grey.

A Bit of Creative

At last, a beautiful, sunshiny day. Snow is melting like crazy, temp might even get up into those warm temps. And while it still looks like winter outside, with many huge piles around the yard, my African Violets know it is spring. Just look at their happy faces!

 I really need to start that spring house cleaning-like washing walls, windows, rugs, etc. But we are still needing fires in the wood stove, and I really like to wait until we are through with that. Hmmm, maybe tomorrow I will make a start. We'll see............

Today I have a card using the Sweet Sunday Sketch #182, and mostly Stampin' Up products. The only items not SU are the marker I used to color the butterfly's body, the white cardstock the flower is stamped on and the Classic Circle Spellbinder used to cut out the flower, oh, and the image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.... because my SU black pad is lost in that black hole in my craft room (I really need to clean THERE!!!)

I colored the flower (from SU Creative Elements) using Rich Razzleberry ink and a blender pen. This is my first attempt at this technique, and I think I need a bit more practice ^.^  I inked the 'Just Thinking' image with Rich Razzleberry ink and cut it out with the 'Window Frames' die. Papers used are SU Polka Dot Parade, and Cottage Wall DP, and Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White and Old Olive Cardstock. I sponged Rich Razzleberry ink around the flower circle with a sponge. The sentiment (SU Fabulous Phrases) is stamped with Old Olive. I had to add the butterfly because I messed up the first stamping of the sentiment. The butterfly (SU Creative Elements) is stamped on a scrap of white shimmer CS with Summer Starfruit ink., and I colored the body with a brown marker. Finished with 2 SU white pearls.

Hydrangea B-Day

Happy Gloomy Spring Day, Um, I mean Happy Earth Day! If we could see the earth-dirt that is. A few bare spots, but still lots of snow. At least I can see over my snowbanks to pull out of my driveway again! And there is snow in the forecast again.


Today's card is for the Sweet Stop Sketch challenge #207.    
 

 I am again working with the K&Co. Hydrangea stickers. They are so pretty-and I have had them forever. Have to get them used up:) The patterned papers are from a retired Stampin' Up pack, but I don't know the name of the pack. The card base is SU, I think it is Bashfull Blue. The green cardstock for the focal point is from DCWV, cut  with Spellbinders Curved Rectangles. The sentiment is from Sweet N Sassy Stamps 'Happy Birthday' set, stamped with SU Old Olive, sprinkled with Clear Embossing powder and heat set. Added 3 Basic Grey green rhinestones for balance.

FTL Clean & Simple

First of all, my prayers go out to all those affected by the tragic bombing in Boston yesterday.  Such senseless acts are just mind boggling. I pray that whoever is responsible for this cowardly act is located and dealt with. May you find God's peace through all of this.
My card today is for the Clean & Simple Sketch Challenge #235

 

.
 For my background I used  the dragon fly  design papers from the K&Co. Botanical pad, mounted on a piece of SU Marina Mist. For the focal image I finally inked up one of the double flower stamps from Verve's 'Budding Blossoms' stamp set. I've had this set forever and had only used one of the flowers from it. I think I need to use it more. Love this little flower. I inked it up with Versa Color Lapis Lazuli ink and stamped on a scrap of SU Whisper White. I filled in the flower with Copics B000 &  B00. I stamped the leaves and stems with Versa Magic Tea Leaves. I added lines to the leaves with Copic G99, and a slight shadow areound the flower image with Copic C0. I cut the sides of the image and mat (SU Always Artichoke) with Spellbinders long deck
led rectangles. I used a scrap of SU old olive card for the sentiment, stamped in Versa Magic Hint of Pesto. Added the little dragonfly sticker to finish it off.

Birthday Mash-Up

Hi all, Sorry for not posting again for awhile. Was busy with 'life', then hubby went in hospital for 'out patient' surgery and was there 5 days (He apparently can't handle the anesthesia either). So on the road back and forth to town and the hospital all last week. He is home now and all is pretty much back to normal. He is out at the 'sugar bush' today helping our daughter & her husband make  Maple syrup, collecting the sap and feeding the fire!

This card is made using the challenge over at the 'Friday Mash Up' Challenge #105. This week's challenge is:

1. Create a project using the "Sketch".
2. Create a "Birthday" project.
3. Or Mash it Up and create a "Birthday project using the Sketch".

 

I have been working on a batch of cards for Operation Write Home using K&Co. Susan Winget Botanicals 12 x 12 papers and a bunch of stickers that match. In sorting through all the stuff in my project basket I came across this flower image I had colored some time ago, but never used. It just went soooo well with this scrap of the K&Co paper, I had to sneak it into a card (so the stickers wouldn't be jealous, ya know?). The daisy image is from 'Enjoy every Moment' by Close to My Heart. I stamped it in Black Staz-on on white smoothy cardstock and colored it with Prisma Colored pencils and mineral spirits.
I cut out the flower image with Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles #3 (from smallest), and sponged Memento Pistachio Ink while it was still in the die. I used the Resplendent Rectangles #4 to cut the mat from Bazzil Purple cardstock. I mounted it to the card with foam dimensionals. The sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy's Happy Birthdays set. I stamped it on a scrap of white with the Memento Pistachio ink and fish-tailed the ends with my 1" square punch. I tied a double length of SU Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine around the die cut, slipping it through the slots in the mat. I love the soft colors of the K&C design papers. This card will go into my own stash as in order to make the sketch work for me I had to make a bigger card, and not an A2 that OWH requests. Enjoy, and please leave a comment. Feed back is always appreciated!



Here are some pics of some of the cards I will be sending off to OWH in the near future.

        

    

More Botanicals

Quick post this morning-have to run off to Prayer Shawl Circle meeting.

Made this card with sketch #111 from Try Stampin' on Tuesday. Just some DP from K&Co. Botanicals pad, some Stampin' Up Always Artichoke cardstock, and Co-ordinations Color core purple cardstock and a scrap of white. Used a K&Co. sticker as the focal and mounted it on a piece of Always Artichoke cut with Spellbinders Labels one, and then mounted that on white cut with SB Decorative Labels One. Cut a strip of the purple with Martha Stewart Cherish border punch. I distressed the edges of the Design paper. This will go in my box for OWH, so no sentiment. Then it can be used however the soldiers would like.
Happy Day!

Pretty flutterby

Quick post today. This card is for the Flutterby Wednesday Challenge #233, to use Blue, Green and Yellow, and of course have  a butterfly or fairy!

Still lovin' the Graphic 45 Secret Garden. Such wonderful designs and colors.
Stamped Our Daily Bread Ironwords borders in Momento Bamboo Leaves on ivory cardstock, then cut it out with Spellbinders Deckled rectangles. I cut a scrap of navy cardstock with Spellbinders Scalloped rectangles for the mat. Used 2 of the Secret Garden green prints for the background. Cut the scalloped border from a piece of the yellow DP with Martha Stewart Deco Shells border punch. Butterfly is  from the same yellow DP with SU Bitty Butterfly and Elegant butterfly punches, shaped around a pencil and layered, then yellow rhinestones for the body. Added the K&Co. Hydrangea sticker, and some square Basic Grey green rhinestones to finish it off.  Enjoy!