snowflakes and metal

Double snowflakes here - embossed on the white layer, and on the DP.  The stamp is Kolette Hall.  I bought a huge roll of this shiny mesh several years ago and the wire edge ribbon is also from my stash.
Sketch #4:  http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Uplifting:    http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
 Challenge #4:  http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/a-month-of-holiday-cards.html
Metallic (mesh and ribbon):  http://liastampz.blogspot.com/ 
                          http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/
 Any:  http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
              http://wedodoobadoo.blogspot.co.uk/
          http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/
            http://christmasstampin.blogspot.com/
Snow:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ 
Winter:   http://justinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Relaxin' guy

This image (actually, two separate images lus the sentiment) comes from a set I just got - those AI folks are quite a hoot!  We see a lot of guys like this in our RV parks!   The bg is from athe DCWV Heirloom stack, and I used Washi tape for accents.  The tiny sentiment is part of an American Crafts library type stamp.  I used chalk pencils for coloring. 
Sketch & food (there must be a lemon or maybe a cherry in that glass!):  http://digisketchchallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Animal:  http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/
Masculine birthday:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Black cs:  http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/
Seeing Stars:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/  
Two or more images (the fellow and the dog are separate images):  http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com.au/

Thanksgiving Blessings

We are so blessed and need to express this every day!
 This image is from my wish RAK (Splitcoaststampers) echange stash - don't know the origin.  The ribbon is from Pizzazz Aplenty, DP is a gift, the black stripe is a Dazzles sticker.  The Thankful sticker (epoxy?) is also from my stash.  I used two of my go-to dies from Cheery Lynn - leaves from Leafy Border, and Blessings.
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/
          http://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.ca/ 
           http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com
 Circles/dots:  http://doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com/
Uplifting:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Thanksgiving:  http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.ca/
                     http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/
                     http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ 
                     http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/
Fall colors:   http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/
Count your blessings:  http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/ 

Chance is 21

Our friends have a grandson who is turning 21 - I used several images to relate to his interests.  I inked the embossing folder to give that panel a "dirt" look.  The strips at the top and bottom are cut from shape 'n tape sheets.
Sketch:  http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/
Any embossed:   http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/
Boys' card:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Summer:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

Have a Berry Special Day

I have had computer/internet issues but all seems better now!  This image is from my very deep stash of gift items - can you help identify it, please?  The DP is also a gift, and I used my very own "you" embossing folder to complete the look.  The yellow and white strips are actually the reverse of the strawberry DP.  The circles are all Spellbinder dies.

Sketch:  http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/

Fruit:  http://thecraftingcafe.blogspot.co.uk/

Die cuts:  http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/

 colors:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/

Are you having fun?

I used some fairly old DP and an image that has been sitting in my "colored and ready to use" box for a long time!  I added some twine and striped sticker paper for a border.
Sketch:  http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
Joys of summer:   http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/

Another graduation

I still have more graduation cards to make!  This uses some hand made paper (Costco) with gold metallic spots.  I inked the Textile embossing folder; made a hexabon from a piece of metallic gold, and placed the die cut heart over it - not sure why it seems so hard to see on the screen.
Sketch - with a die cut:  http://adieforasketch.blogspot.ca/
 Hexagon/any:   http://www.addalittledazzle.com/dazzling-diva-challenge-24/
Vintage (inked textile), with words, words:  http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/
Love (Sentiment):  http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/
Graduation:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Uplifting:   http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
Any:  http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/
          

Ethan's Graduation

This will be the third graduation among our grandkids.  I used the photo and logo from the college web site - and the colors are blue and gold.  I liked the sketch I selected - to fit in the various elements.  I did the sentiment on the computer - a variation of one I have seen before.  For stripes - the bg is the embossed Distressed Stripes (Cuttleabug) - as well as the stripes in the logo.  I had to alter the placement of the tiny circles - to cover a label that was part of the logo.  A fortuitous find in my stash - ribbon  in the right colors!  The finished card is 4.5x6.25.
Sketch:  http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
Stripes:  http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
Embossing, texture:  http://www.theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/april-challenge-embossing-and-texture.html
Beginnings:  http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
Uplifting:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Masculine:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Ribbon:  http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.com/

Lighthouse for Hal

This is especialy for DH's brother - he and his wife really enjoy the Oregon coast, and he frequently travels to the far east as a volunteer teaching English and otherwise helping in a small orphanage - I picked the part of this abstract map that kind of shows that region.  The image, new to me is SU Coast to Coast.  I used dies for his name.
Sketch:  http://adieforasketch.blogspot.ca/
Birthday:  http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com/
                     http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Masc. birthday:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Spots and stripes (well, my stripes are not quite straight lines LOL!):  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:  http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
Celebrate:  http://hobbycutzchallenges.blogspot.com/

Hotwheels!

This is my card for the TeaPot Tuesday challenge at SplitCoastStampers.  For those who are not familiar with this project - we are a group of SCS members who have fun with nonsensical stories but a worthwhile project each week.  This week our recipient is Lynda, aka Hotwheels.  She is a long time member of SplitCoast - using a wheel chair - hence her screen name Hotwheels!  She enjoys doing what she can with cards, but needs assistance in carrying out her card ministry.  So we are creating cards she can use to send to "her kids".  This pre colored digi by Beccy seemed perfect!
I tried a couple of new techniques.  I do not have stencil paste, but  I read that Spackling paste mixed with chalk would work.  Hubby had a rather dried up jar of paste, but I added a bit of water and powdered chalk - created a piece with a blue design.  It seems to be holding up - looks rather like suede or flocking IRL - .see the corners and hearts.  Oh, yes, the bg is inspired by Jenny at Frilly and Funky - but my attempt is far short of hers.  I cut pieces of a number of scraps, then sprayed with Glimmer Mist.
Sketch:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Young at Heart: http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
Pinspiration (your inner self - photo):  http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca/
Layers:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ 
Any:  http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
Any, with Beccy's image:  http://beccysplace.blogspot.com/
Stencils:  http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-03-07T02:00:00-05:00&max-results=7
Stencil and chalk: http://chalk-ah-lot.blogspot.com/

Asian in the round

I am very late for this week's Tuesday Teapotters challenge at SplitCoastStampers.  I only got a bit of the theme - using Scripture, but I am sure to have dessert - an Asian inspired card.  We are sending encouragement to a woman of South Korean origin who is suffering from a rare terminal brain tumor.  For the following sketch I decided to go with a round card, cut by my Vagabond machine - you can see it is slightly connected to the back of the card.  I have not tried cutting through the double thickness - worked like a charm.  So that is a new technique for me.  I have had this Asian cs (DCWV) for several years - kind of forget to use it.  It is nice to have several coordinating patterns.  The bg circle is a mauve metallic cs.  I had cut the scalloped card base in white, then decided it was too stark, so I chalked the edges with SU Perfect Plum.
Sketch:  http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/
Layers:   http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Pearls:  http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/
Encouragement:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/

Stencil and pen

The challenge at Paper Pretties is to try a new technique.  I have procrastinated, trying to think of something.  I decided to try a stencil - since I keep forgetting to look for embossing paste, I had hoped I could improvise.  My first couple of tries were not a success!  (I tried Versamark and chalk.)  So I resorted to a pen - still not satisfied, but it will have to do for now.  (How is this new?  These stencils  have been sitting in my drawer for years...I used them a couple of times - embossing with a tool.  I also previously tried using them on the Cuttlebug but I need more work on that as well!0
I also tried dry embossing two layers - the pale teal and the DP - a technique I have used a time or two in the past.
Can you tell I am not really pleased with the result - any suggestions would be appreciated!
Sketch from 2-04, with monochromatic tones:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
New technique:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Spooled item:  http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/
Not a square:  http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/
Spring colors:  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
         http://4kraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Embossed sympathy

Stamps by Verve, Cuttlebug embossing and dies, misc cs and ribbon.  The ink is grey and black - I just used a mask to remove most of the ink from the stamp to create a faint bg for the sentiment.  I have recently seen a number of cards with a sentiment stamped over the image, and I want to experiment with this look.
Sketch:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Ribbon:   http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Embossing:  http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
                   http://thecraftingcafe.blogspot.co.uk/
Not square:   http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.com/
Monochrome:  http://open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca/
Bow:  http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-challenge.html

Blues water color

Come back tomorrow for a fun announcement!
Once again, I am trying to get out of my rut! 
From my stash - blue cs; blue DP; watercolors (I have not used them for SO long!); Garden Collage stamp; Swiss Dots (Cuttlebug) folder.
Newer items - Washi tape.
Sketch (#86) http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/
Get well:  http://www.drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/
Blue - stash (see above):  http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
Texture:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Wings:  http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/

Stamping on Kraft

:  

I seldom stamp on Kraft cs, so this was en experiment - I am trying to do some new techniques - even though they are kind of small!  My ink does not normally smear, but it did seem to bleed a bit when I used the baby oil to blend the Prismas - so I skipped the blending on the other flowers.  (The color does not show well at all - the lower large flower is orange,)  The image is High Hopes.  The mat behind the image has embossed stripes.  The cord and die cut hello (Cuttkebug) add more texture.  I really like the striped paper - it came in a kind of grab bag - great colors and variety of stripes.
Sketch, with Kraft cs:  http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com/
Stripes, with High Hopes image:  http://highhopesstamps.blogspot.com/
 Twine or string  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
Texture:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://stampedblessings.com/amusing-challenge/ 
DP:  http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/
EDIT:  This was a winner at High Hopes!

Happy Anniversary, DH

It is a while until our anniversary - maybe I will give it to him for Valentine's Day.  Unfortunately, we are getting pretty close to resembling this image - or maybe we are there LOL!!!  As I am looking at it - it is hard to tell that I used various shades of purple for the coloring.  The side strip is the Cuttlebug embossed hearts, and the heart behind the sentiment is a Spellbinder.  I colored with Prismas and gel pens, and added some shiny gems and cord.
Sketch:  http://digisketchchallenge.blogspot.com/
Monochrome:  http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
Monochrome: http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.com/
Humorous (though that may depend on your viewpoint!!):  http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/
                             http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
Heart:   http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/Any:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/

Sympathy in white with a bit of blue

Contrary to what the photo looks like, this background is all white - embossed with Cuttlebug's Victoria, which I have had for more than a couple of years..  The butterflies are backed with blue, to give a bit of dimension and to set them off.  I am experimenting with this Spellbinder Opulent Oval set - it is lovely but I am not sure how to but the different layers together - it is rather new to me, and every effort seems like a new beginning!  The lace must be vintage - I got it at a yard sale and it looked aged!  This is probably my favorite sympathy sentiment.
Sketch (Week 1):  http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
White with a little color:  http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/
White and Blue:  http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/
Butterflies:  http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/
Any:   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
New beginnings, w/ oldie:  http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Monochromatic:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
                            http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.ca/
   Embossing:   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

Black, white and a touch of gold

I enjoy making many kinds of cards - I do not seem to have found "my" style yet!  However, one style I do especially like is black and white.  I added a bit of gold - ribbon, pearls, and highlights on the image.  The image is a wonderful freebie from Beccy's Place.  The sentiment is Verve.  Ribbon, butterflies and pearls are added.
Sketch:  http://seemsalittlesketchy.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://createdwithlovechallenges.blogspot.com/
Bingo - center down - sentiment, image, pearls:  http://www.creativecreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
Black, white, and one color:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Bow, butterfly and a digi:  http://digidarlas.blogspot.com/
Embossing, with a digital image:  http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.com/

Welcome to college

We just got the address so it is time to send a "Welcome to College" card to our granddaughter.  Since she is very fond of cats, this is perfect - I think she will over look the elementary school look of the yield sign!  This freebie, from Dearie Doll, is precolored - great for a quick card like this.  To complete the theme, the DP is HopScotch, by Basic Grey - with some chipboard stickers also from Basic Grey.
Sketch:  http://www.sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.com/
Back to school, w/ chipboard dots & heart - in my stash for over a year:  http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/08/time-to-get-ready-for-school.html
School:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
              http://www.clearlyistamp.blogspot.com/
              http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
              http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/
               http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

paper Piecing

I think Maude needs more coffee!!  I used the same plaid DP for her robe and the bg piece.
  The embossing folder is You, by Cuttlebug.
Paper piecing:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/