Birdhouse Border

Good Morning to all! Christmas is almost here and I'm hoping you're ready. I have just about everything done. Unfortunately, I've been sick with allergies for about four days. It all started when someone came and got up our leaves. I think the mold just got in the air and left me coughing, sneezing, no sleep, headache,  and just miserable. So, off to the doctor I go this afternoon.

I cased this card from Roberta aka stampin'nana on SCS as she was Featured Stamper this week. It was one she had done using the Sketch Challenge on SC452 so I didn't enter my card into the FS challenge. You aren't supposed to case a card that has been made from a sketch challenge and I forgot that. Ugh! Just the same, this is the card I cased. Isn't it beautiful?

I probably won't be around for a little while after today. I doubt I'll get another card made before Christmas. We'll celebrate with my family (sister, brother, and their families). After that, our boys and families will be here for a few days.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Recipe:
Stamps-Inspired by Stamping/Flowers Bloom-sentiment, bird border is unknown. It was a gift and no name on it.
Paper-PTI white cardstock, Recollections/houndstooth (green and white), Jillibean Soup/Blossom Soup 6 x 6 mini pad, green and red cardstock scraps
Ink-Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories-Martha Stewart ribbon bow punch, Copics, corner rounder

Winter Scene

I've finally found time to make a card after about one and half weeks. That's a long time for me.  I guess the time of making my favorite cards is over, Christmas. I am soon to be in need of a wintry birthday card.

Sis and I were on a shopping spree this past summer and I found some of these stamps in a scrapbook store and have been wanting to use them for a while....sooooo, now is the time.


I used four stamps (listed in my recipe below) and added sparkles to my water which aren't showing. Ugh! I have used several inks to sponge the snow, sky, and to stamp the trees and water/fence image.
Oh, at the last minute, I decided to add the bunny. The sky has water color paint for snow.

Hope you're all ready for Christmas as it is going to be here very soon. I've had my dinner party and can now relax a bit.

My card was made also for the Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. It is featuring the work of Birgit/Biggan. If you haven't seen her blog or gallery, you really need to check it out. What fabulous, creative work!!! This the card I cased. Her card has the trees, night sky, and snow as does mine. I have a rabbit instead of a snowman. What??????? LOL How could I not use a snowman? I know you're wondering.

Recipe:
Stamps-Art Impressions/H-895 (trees) and I-1492/water stream and fence, Inspired by Stamping/Big Wishes II, the bunny was a peg stamp with no name or number
Paper- PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Night of Navy
Ink- Memento/Paris Dusk and  Tim Holtz Distress Ink/Victorian Velvet for sky, Tim Holtz Distress Ink/Stormy Sky for snow, Stampin'Up! Night of Navy for sentiment
Accessories-Copics for rabbit and water stream, dew drops, Winsor & Newton water color paint/Chinese White

CCEE Stampers-Reverse Masking

I thought I would never get a card made for this challenge. I made three and threw away two of them. I just had so many mess ups and  corrected the problems but still didn't like them so the garbage can is full. Ugh!

The theme this week at CCEE Stampers, challenge #28, is to make a card with reverse masking. I did
both masking and reverse masking. It was fun once I wasn't so frustrated with all my goofs on the first two cards. This challenge came from Lois and she has a great tutorial on Home of Speedy TV for reverse masking.

I'm using a Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps, A Heinrich Co. stamp from the set, Silly Shells and the sentiment is from the same company and a set called Fabulous Dogs.

This card will be good for my brother-in-law as he spends a lot of time in the Gulf of Mexico. I think he will like it. I left it very CAS and masculine by using gray and white paper.

Recipe:
Stamps (listed above)
Copics
Tim Holtz Distress Inks-Stormy Sky and Memento Tuxedo Black, Spellbinders deckle nestability

For a Little Guy

I know I've posted a lot lately but I had to make some special cards this week. Earlier in the week, I made a card for my granddaughter turning two and her brother is having a birthday nine days later. So, another card is in order.

 This little guy was so into Thomas the Train until a week or two ago and now that seems to be over. I find that very sad as he enjoyed them so much.  Plus, three is my favorite age. They are so sweet and say the funniest things. He is turning four and taking a new direction. I really don't know what he is into now but I am thinking he likes dragons a bit so I thought I would use a Bugaboo Clyde Happy Birthday digi stamp and sentiment. Hope he likes Sissy's card. Yes, that is what he calls me.

My card is using a layout from the Card Sketches challenge #300 on Splitcoaststampers.

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

Recipe:
Stamps-Bugaboo Clyde Happy Birthday digi
Paper-PTI white cs, Stampin'Up! Night of Navy cs, Daisyd's-Girlfriends Polka Dot-Lime Multi (hope he doesn't realize this is girly paper) :-) Just looks like fun paper to me.
Accessories-Stickles/waterfall, Copics, corner rounder

CCEE Stampers-Happy News

Before I tell you about my card, I want to announce that I've been asked to join a fun and very talented group of ladies at CCEE Stampers ( Cheers & Challenges Eclectic Ensemble). I know I'll enjoy working with this wonderful group and am anxious to get started.

Frances Byrne, our 'downunder' member, let us know today is Australia Day and challenged us to do an Aussie related card. Some of the options she gave us are to use the colors green and gold, create a beach scene as Aussies love their beaches, Australian animals, thongs (the kind you wear on your feet), etc.

As you can see, I went with the colors green and gold and made a CAS card. I am using a Cheery Lynn Designs lace rose and flourish die. I thought at 9 1/2" long, the die would be too much for a card but I've found several ways to use it. On this card, I have cut two ends and wrapped them around the corner and added a Prima. If I had not cut it, there would be a beautiful rose at the end.   The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company and is included in  the set, Happy Pansies.

Hope you'll check out the cards from the rest of the team and join us for our Aussie challenge found here.

FOSTV-Happy Birthday

Another weekend gone and I must say it was no fun. We're having work done in our house and the upstairs is completely destroyed with furniture and all kinds of things piled in all rooms. I can hardly get into my craft room. That is so maddening and to think of all I have to do when it is over....dust must be knee deep already. Ugh!
 
Then, last night the tornado siren sounded, as we expected, and up from the bed we came. That is rather an odd occurence for January...guess it has been too warm this winter and back and forth with cold and warm. We just have a lot of unstable air. Hope that's it until Spring when we know there will be plenty of tornado activity.

On to more pleasant things....my card was made for the FOSTV (Friends of Speedy TV) challenge #4 and the challenge is to make a birthday card. I use more of those than any other kind so I have another one for my stash. Sorry, Marisa...inside joke. :-)  She'll understand. Happy Birthday, Marisa!! I know you'll see this.

My image is from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company and is called Pucker Up. The sentiment is also a MFP mini stamp set called All About Love. I used a Heartfelt Creations layered scallop posy die cut and a Memory Box Amira Flourish die. The button is studiog printed buttons. I colored the image with Copics, cut out, and popped on. The designer paper is from a local scrapbook store and has no name listed.

You can find the challenge at Home of Speedy TV.  Hope to see you there.

Nuthatch in the Pines

Happy Monday Morning! I'm uploading this card on Saturday so it'll be here early Monday. I had a 'not so good' day. I was going to put up my Christmas tree today and it turned into something I didn't plan on. Hubby said we really should just get a new tree. What??? I was all set with the ornaments and wanted to have the tree finished before bedtime. No, we spent the day looking for a tree. I put about 10 ornaments or less on the tree and remembered I had not put on the silver garland that I always wrap around the trunk....a Christopher Radko tip. It really makes everything sparkle when the lights shine on it...so back shopping for that and some hangers. Would you believe Wal-Mart said their hangers aren't in yet? They have had trees and the Christmas dept. filled for ages.
I had no time to go anywhere else. I'll have to start anew tomorrow. Ugh!  Plus, I had to get back
to the football game on tv.

We did a live tree for many years and finally gave up on it, but it really smelled yummy. I know it is a bit early to have the tree up but I always decorate early. It's just too much work to have it up for 2-3 wks. Anyway, I have so much to do between now and Christmas. Plus, we go out of town for Thanksgiving and I won't open the shutters until after that holiday.

Whew! Now to my card. This card is made for the Friends of Speedy TV challenge #7( a birthday card) at MFP Speedy TV. I'm using these beautiful soon-to-be released stamp sets, Peaceful Nuthatch and  What a Fox (sentiment) from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company. I colored and masked so I could sponge some blue around it and pop it out. I cut my Cheery Lynn fanciful flourish from gold mirror paper and framed with a Spellbinders Frameabilities die cut. Hand cut a pennant back for my sentiment. The rest of my recipe is below.

Challenge:
The Hybrid Chick-Card Caravan Challenge #6-Birthday theme

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Peaceful Nuthatch and What a Fox (soon-to-be-released)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, gold mirror paper, dp is unknown, rust colored paper is Recollections Capturing Special Memories
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cheery Lynn Designs fanciful flourish, Spellbinders Frameabilities, Recollection floral embellishment, Copics

Happy Birthday

I posted a card earlier this week for my little granddaughter who just turned one year old. Her brother will be three years old this coming Saturday and they are having a birthday party this weekend. The parents can get away with having their parties together while they are so young, but just wait!! That won't work forever. Ha

My grandson is surely going to be the next Pele in the soccer world. He loves kicking a ball. Of course, it doesn't have to be a soccer ball...any ball will do. Plus, he is really good for a two year old. Occasionally, he kicks hard and misses the ball and down he goes but he doesn't have far to fall so it doesn't usually hurt..unless he is on concrete.

So, with all this ball kicking, I just had to make THIS card. It is so 'him'.

I am using a Mo's Digital Pencil image called Soccer Boy, making an out-of-the-box card. Adding some dsp for the clouds, colored the image with Copics, and stamped a sun. Of course, that is the Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder.

Entering these challenges:
Crafty Creations Challenges-#127 -Boyz to Men
Penny's Paper-Crafty #57-Happy Birthday


Recipe:
Stamps: Digital image from Mo's Digital Pencil-Soccer Boy, Art Impression - Simply Stated Greetings (sun)
Paper: PTI Lemon Tart cardstock, Blue cardstock from Hobby Lobby, Stampin'Up! Welcome Neighbor dsp  pad
Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder, Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle nestabilities

Red, white, and blue birthday

Does it remind you of Old Glory? Flourishes (FLLCJUNE11) is having a June release week challenge and all you have to do is turn to your country's colors....mine being the good ol' USA. I'm using a Flourishes stamp set called Birthday Pennants for my stars , plaid and dotted banners, and sentiment. The sentiment banner is Spellbinders Shapeabilities Ribbon Banners. My base card is made using the Spellbinders Grand Calibur and  Grand Nestabilitie Labels Four. I used the same set for my red and blue designer paper.

I know someone who has a Fourth of July birthday so I think this is perfect or I could leave the sentiment off or change it for a Fourth of July card. OR, it could just be Happy Birthday to our country.

I am entering these Wee Memories challenge #59-Free for All
Paper Crafting Journey has an Anything Goes challenge/Your Favorite-#11

Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes: Birthday Pennants
Paper: PTI white cardstock, red dp-no name, blue is blueberry cobbler by Farmer's Market
Ink: Memento Danube Blue
Accessories: Martha Stewart doily, misc. blue button, Ribbon Trends for checked ribbon, thread for button, Spellbinders Grand Calibur, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Ribbon Tags, Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Labels Four

Buttons and Twine

Cas-ual Fridays wants you to use buttons and twine this week. They're a new, fun  challenge that is for the clean and simple.

It didn't take long to make my card. I stamped some leaves and stems and added buttons for the flowers.
I'm using three strands of twine and added a bit of dp at the bottom. Stamped a birthday sentiment and that's it!

I'm also playing in these challenges:
A Spoonful of Sugar-#152-Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes - #69-Happy Birthday


Recipe:
Stamps: Stampabilities-Berryvine Border, Stampin'Up!-Well Scripted
Paper: PTI white cardstock, unknown dp
Ink: Memento bamboo leaves, Stampin'Up! Night of Navy
Accessories: Big Bag Buttons from Michael's, twine from The Twinery

Trees in Mountain Mist

I'm  hostess this week for the Stampin' B's Design Team. For challenge #105, we are to use navy and green and  must include stripes, dots, or plaids. Would you  believe there are plaids on my card? After I ran it through the herringbone embossing folder, the plaid disappeared. If you look closely, you will see some stripes on top of the navy strips. I did that to try to make up for losing my plaid.  No dots.
I sponged to get a look of mountain mist behind the trees. Cut my strips, sanded and distressed my card a bit. Added some twine and brads and that was it.

Welcome to the Stampin' B's two new Design Team members: Pam Lawver (Pam124) and Anne Harmon (jdmommy)!! Great to be working with these talented ladies. Be watching for some fabulous cards/projects from them.

Challenge entered:
Craft Your Passion #52-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Our Family Tree
Paper-Stampin'Up! Night of Navy, PTI white cardstock, Mirabelle Paper Pack by The Paper Studio
Ink: Stampin'Up! Always Artichoke, Memento Summer Sky
Accessories: Making Memories brads, twine, sanding file

Sweet Treats

I'm just here to do a quick upload. Have a lot on my plate today. I made this card for Irene aka Dandi on Splitcoaststampers. Irene is the Featured Stamper this week. I chose to case this card. When I started to upload, I noticed she had cased another FS, AL_Silver2 so I guess this is a case of both their cards.
I kept the layout and used different paper, images, and changed the pearls to buttons. I love the stripes but when I made my picture, the stripes were 'really out there' so I thought I would add buttons to tone it down.
Now, I think the buttons need a bit of toning down.

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin'Up! The More the Merrier(hostess set), Sincere Salutations
Paper: PTI white card, Stampin'Up! Real Red, K&CO Marcella cardstock mat
Accessories: The Twinery twine, EK Success punch, heart gem, Copics, Assorted buttons

Sail the Seas

Good Morning! We had such gorgeous weather a week or so ago and for several days now it has been DREARY. But, the weekend should be pretty and that means hubby and I can work in the yard.

Just want to mention, very soon I will be posting blog candy. It will be to celebrate Spring..so be watching for that...probably this week.  Stay tuned!

The CAS112 on Splitcoasterstampers is to do 'cut up sentiments'. It took me a while to do something I really liked but finally thought of something I was happy with..by adding the dp behind the sentiment instead of just placing it on the card randomly.

I'm using a $1 stamp from Jo Ann Stores bin...and, I really love it. Makes a wonderful clean and simple card.
Colored just a bit with my Copics, added some twine and my sentiment, and did some scoring...and that's it! I'm entering several Spring challenges and what says Spring better than to go sailing.

I am entering these challenges:
Wee Memories #42-Anything Goes
Stamp Something-Spring
Creative Craft Friends #21-Spring
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #60-Spring has Sprung

Recipe:
Stamps: Studio112 for image, Mark's Finest Papers-Our Family Tree (sentiment)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, blue check from LSS (no name)
Ink: Stampin'Up! Night of Navy
Accessories: red and white twine, Copics, Scor-Pal, Martha Stewart Score Board

My Favorite Flower-Tulips

Today on SCS, the Queen for the Day #50 is Kim aka Luv Flowers. I chose to case this card of hers.
It is a really simple card and I don't think there is much explanation needed. I stamped my tulips three times and cut out the bloom and popped up twice. Of course, there is some paper tearing.

I am entering my card into the challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog  #23-Birthday Wishes
Cute Card Thursday #154-Signs of Spring
Scrapbook Sisters #25-Spring

Recipe: Stamps: Heartfelt Creations-Semper Augustus Tulips, Stampin'Up! Well Scripted
Paper: K&CO Hannah 6 x 6 paper pad PTI white cardstock
Ink: StazOn jet black
Accessories: EK Success rick rack punch

Swirls and Purples

The Play Date Cafe PDCC66 has a  color splash of  Lilac this week for their  challenge.  We are to use black and white a splash of lilac/purple. I love these colors...not something I use much but it is so pretty.

I want to thank the girls at The Play Date Cafe for choosing me as one of their runner up winners last week. I was very excited to get the 'Cream in our Coffee' badge.

I stamped this rather large image and cut around parts of it. It is layered on top of black cardstock and gray designer paper. Colored my flower with Copics of two colors of purple. My ribbon is black and white houndstooth. Glitter glue is added to the center of the flower and then a sentiment and that is all it needed.

My card is also entered into the following challenges:
Cutie Sunday #128-Everything is Permitted
Digi Doodle Shop's Best-Swirls
Sundays with Chrissy  #13-ribbons

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampendous - Floral Brocade, Mark's Finest Papers-Ladybugs and Carnations
Paper: black cardstock from Hobby Lobby, PTI whtie cardstock, Best Occasions Mixed Media Pack (dp)
Accessories: Houndstooth ribbon from Hobby Lobby, Gary M. Burlin & Co. purple glitter glue

StampinB #94 - Banner Challenge

Oh, I had so much fun with this challenge. Emily Keaton is the hostess of the Stampin B's Design Team challenge this week and she wanted us to include a banner of some kind on our card. Emily makes cards with the prettiest pennants and I've been wanting to try it for a while. I noticed on Emily's blog a bit back that she had found an easier way to make a pennant and that was with a diamond punch. Of course, I quickly put in an order for one because I couldn't find one in Hobby Lobby or Michael's. It came in time to make this fun card and I really had a blast with it. I just punched the diamond shape and folded it half. Next time, I think I will use paper that isn't quite so thick and they will make a neater fold.  I trimmed a couple of them down with my scissors just to make them smaller.

I do love the paper I used but have no idea what it is. I think I bought it at a scrapbook store or my sis may have given it to me from a pad.  It is so cheerful and I thought perfect for this card. The complete card..pennants and gifts are all matching papers. I stamped the image on my designer paper  and cut it out. I strung my pennants on twine and added a button with the same twine.

Hope you'll join us this week with your banner. Just post to the SCS gallery or from your blog using the inlinkz tool on the Stampin B's blog.

My card is also entered into this challenge"
Craft Your Passion #41 Button Up-real or faux

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin'Up! Happy Moments
Paper-unknown designer paper, PTI white cardstock
Ink: StazOn jet black
Accessories: Fiskars diamond punch, red and white twine from Mark's Finest Papers, Spellbinders rectangle nestabilitie, button and rhinestone

WT305, Speedy Friends

Today on Splitcoaststampers, the Ways to Use It challenge #305 is all about butterflies. If only they were flitting around in my yard right now. I am truly getting sick of this snow we got. Was so excited to get it but it does get old after a while. It is still beautiful, though. If it would just warm up, I'd be soooooooo happy.

My card is also entered into Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge #37. Their challenge is to use embossing.

I have used two different embossing folders, stamped, colored, cut out, and spritzed my butterfly and placed it among the tulips....just where I think it would love to be.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Hearts, Hearts, Hearts
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers-Corn Husk cardstock, Green is from Grandma's Hope Chest, and white cs
Ink: Stampin'Up! soft suede
Accessories: Cuttlebug Art Deco (pkg of 4) embossing folders, Cuttlebug textile ef, flowers, leaf, ribbon, and brad are from Mark's Finest Papers, gold brad from Mark Richards, Copics