Come Let Us Adore Him

This week's Merry Monday challenge is Christmas carols. My gran's favourite carol was O Come All Ye Faithful and I knew right away that I wanted to do something with that. I purchased a nativity digi stamp set from My Printable Miracles. I used my Silhouette software to size, position, overlap and rotate images in order to get the little scene I wanted. I also added a sentiment that I created with Silhouette too. Once I printed things off, I decided that I needed a little something more at the base of my palm tree so hand stamped some grass using Mama Elephant's Sunday Stroll stamps. I'm so glad I purchased that set. It's been coming in quite handy for little extras lately! Before colouring with my Spectrum Noir markers, I cut the mat with a stitched rectangle die from Simon Says Stamp.

This card took AGES to colour, but I am so happy with the result. I think it's that sweet little donkey that does it for me!

I'll be linking this card up in Merry Monday's "Christmas Carol" challenge and Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday "Anything Goes" challenge.

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Little Red Wagon Challenge #335 | For the Love of Water

Have you seen my sidebar? I'm so excited to announce that I'm the newest Girlfriend on the block over at Little Red Wagon! Mandy, my sweet and incredibly talented friend - in blogland and in life - recommended me and I was asked to join the team. I'm so delighted to be part of a team again and look forward to creating and sharing with a new group of friends.

This week at Little Red Wagon, Mandy is the Girlfriend in charge and she's challenged us with watercolouring: "For the love of water"! It's Mandy that took time to sit with me and give me a personal lesson in watercolour techniques (and got me hooked on distress inks and Zig markers!) so it seems most fitting that this should be my first challenge with her.

For my card, I did the "smoosh" technique for my background, using a few different distress colours before letting my card dry and cutting it with a My Favorite Things stitched scallop die. I then added a little guy from Mama Elephant's Sunday Stroll set, which I cut and coloured, and finished things off with a retired sentiment from My Craft Spot.

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see Mandy's projects and look through the link list for inspiration from the rest of the Girlfriends and other participants.

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Raining Cats and Dogs

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. I ate far, far too much - but all of it very good food! We've got lots of leftovers too, so I'm looking forward to another delicious supper this evening.

Both CAS-ology and Simon Says Stamp (Wednesday Challenge) have weather-themed challenges this week and I created this card to play along. I used my Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle and stitched circle dies to create the window mat with my computer-generated sentiment. Underneath, I used an umbrella from Craftin Desert Divas' The Sky is the Limit set with some little dogs and a cat from Mama Elephant's Sunday Stroll stamp set. I coloured everything in and then attached things to a black card base. I finished everything off with an enamel dot for the top of my umbrella.

Inside, I stamped a retired sentiment from My Craft Spot.

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Missing You

I had so much fun inking up Your Next Stamp's Vacation Phoebe stamps yesterday that I made another card last night. This time, I used the image of Phoebe herself to create my card for Your Next Stamp's Colour Challenge #35.

I created my mat with a Stampin' Up Decorate Dots embossing folder. Instead of embossing, I added orange and pink ink and then placed my paper inside. I then sponged the rest with the pink and then cut it out with a Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle die.

I cut the banner/circle using Your Next Stamp's Cool Tag One die. I hope the "One" means that there will be more of these dies!! I then added a sentiment from a retired My Craft Spot set. It looks like little Phoebe is holding out her arms ready for a welcome back embrace!

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Keep on Cruisin'

I've been itching to use my Your Next Stamp Vacation Phoebe set and was able to do so this afternoon. I created this card for Your Next Stamp's Sketch Challenge #35.

I inked up a square piece of watercolour paper with distress inks and then used a stitch border die (retired from My Craft Spot) on all four sides. The sun and ship are images from the Vacation Phoebe set, as is the sentiment.

I had lots of fun putting this card together!

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Congratulations - Twins!

My nephew and his wife recently gave birth to twins and I thought that Reverse Confetti's Hippity Hoppity bunnies would be perfect for a congratulatory card to welcome the new little ones. I also designed my card around Reverse Confetti's March sketch, which did prove a bit challenging! This card is actually my third attempt as I just wasn't happy with the first two.

I rotated the sketch and used inking and a sentiment banner (using a retired stamp and die from My Craft Spot) for the panels behind my main mat. I inked the mat in pink and blue and then die cut hearts from the bottom and using smaller cut hearts to fill the spaces. I then coloured and popped the girl and boy bunnies from Hippity Hoppity. I adhered everything to a white card base and added a few tiny buttons to finish things off.

It will be a busy weekend for us as we're heading out of town for my youngest son's last game of the season tomorrow and then have lots in store on Sunday. I'm pretty much ready for Easter, with the exception of food preparations so I hope to find some time to play in my craft room as well!

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Thanks Teacher

As soon as I saw My Favorite Things' "Harvest Mouse" set, I fell in love! Even though we're heading into spring, I added the set to my cart as I could see how the little mouse holding an apple would be perfect for thank you cards for my son's teachers. My youngest is in Grade 8 this year and has a team of six who work with him so I'm happy to get started on thank you cards and gifts! He also LOVES apples and eats a few each day so I'm always delighted to find stamps and images with apples.

As noted above, the sweet mouse is from My Favorite Things' Harvest Mouse set. I also used a stencil from My Favorite Things to create the grid background which was then cut with a Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle die. The "thanks" is a Simon Says Stamp die and the teacher sentiment is from My Creative Time. Everything is adhered flat, except for the sweet little mouse which was mounted with foam. The colours meet the requirements for this week's MFT Card Challenges - Colour Challenge so I'm entering there. My apple is two shades of green, although it's hard to tell in the photo.

I'm also going to enter this card in Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge - Food and Drink and Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge - Cute and Cuddly.

I liked my card so much that I created a second one in red! Now I've got two cards down and four to go. That should be no problem to finish before the end of June!!

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Paws and Take a Moment

Happy Monday! I had another chance to play with my new My Favorite Things goodies and decided to take part in their latest sketch challenge.

I started by using a Geometric Grid stencil for my background, inking it with Peacock Feathers distress ink. I then used some stamps from the Cat-itude (love the name!) stamp set to stamp some fish on a strip of cardstock which was first inked with Peacock Feathers. The fish are stamped with Peacock Feathers and Mowed Lawn inks. I cut and coloured my cat, also from Cat-itude, using Zig markers and a paintbrush to dilute the colours: yellow, orange and pink. The pink was then used to colour the circle mat which was cut using a Simon Says Stamp stitched circle die, with a bit of orange thrown in for good measure. I then splattered the pink ink on the geometric background and fish border. Finally, I added the fun Cat-itude sentiment and a few clear sequins to finish things off.

I had lots of fun putting this card together and trying some new techniques!

I'm also going to link up this card in Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge: Cute and Cuddly.

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Merry Monday

I am delighted to be guest designing for Merry Monday this week! I received this honour following the win for my reindeer card.

This week's theme is church - create a Christmas card with a church on it. For my card, I created a little scene. The two sweet girls and the tress are from Mama Elephant's Sunday Stroll stamps and dies. The church itself is a free printable from Nanonano. I cut the snow using a retired die from My Craft Spot and the frame was cut using stitched scallop rectangle dies from My Favorite Things.

I used several colours of distressed ink for my background: Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass and Shaded Lilac. After blending the inks, I spritzed a bit of water on the mat and then patted it dry. I then added some tiny snowflakes using a retired My Craft Spot stamp. Finally, I added a sentiment using a retired stamp from My Craft Spot.

Please head over to Merry Monday to see the rest of the design team projects - and to link up your own Christmas card with a church. You've got a week for this challenge - plus, you'll have a great head start on your Christmas cards!

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Hello Friend

This week's CAS-ology challenge is "Doodle". For my card, I pulled out my Stampendous Flutterfly Friends stamp set. It's one of the very first (if not the first) stamp sets I ever owned! The images on this set have a fun doodle look to them so I figured they would meet the challenge theme.

I cut a mat slightly more narrow than my notelet-sized card base (3.5 x 5 inches). I then stamped a bee, its path and the sentiment. I coloured the bee by diluting some blue for the wings and painting them with a brush. For the black and yellow, I used my Zig markers to scribble.

I liked the first card so much (and also liked how fast it was to create) that I decided to make another to have on hand in my card stash. For my second card, I stamped the butterfly and sentiment, coloured the butterfly and then added the frame created using Simon Says Stamp's stitched circle dies. Done!

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Sending Happy Thoughts Your Way

This week's MUSE challenge is a photo of a card created by the talented Anita Bowden. Anita used blended inking to create her card, but otherwise, I more or less copied her creation using a "smooshing" technique instead. This is the first time I have tried "smooshing" and I like the look! It was easy to do as well.

I masked a horizontal line on my card and then smooshed my card into a mixture of pink and orange ink which I had diluted on my craft mat. I then stamped my images (using retired stamps from My Craft Spot) before diluting some blue ink and adding a few splatters. After removing the mask, I stamped my sentiment (retired from My Craft Spot) and then cut the mat using Simon Says Stamp's stitched rectangle dies. I then mounted the mat on my card base using 3D foam.

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Season's Tweetings

We've had an incredibly busy week with some lovely family time. It's sad that today is the last day of our March Break as it seems that July is a long way off before summer holidays start. However, it's a short week coming up with a four-day weekend, so I won't complain too much!

I've finally had a bit of time to play in my craft room again. This week's Merry Monday challenge is black, white and grey/silver. I just ordered (and received) the Winter Sparrows set from Lawn Fawn and figured the sweet images were perfect for this challenge. The card was quick and easy to put together and I've got another card for my Christmas card collection. Yay!

I stamped the images on a piece I'd cut using Simon Says Stamp's stitched rectangle dies and coloured them with grey markers. I also added a few pops of red. I then mounted the mat on a grey cardstock base.

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More Easter Cards

I've got a couple more Easter cards to post before I head off to bed. For each of them, I used Reverse Confetti's Hippity Hoppity stamps and dies and Simon Says Stamp's stitched rectangle dies for the mats.

I masked each layer of my background inking on the first card. I then used my dies to cut carrots and simply stamped the middle of the die cuts before popping them back on the mat.

The bunny was coloured, cut and adhered flat to the card base.

For the second card, I blended my three inks for the background. I then stamped the sentiment and carrots and used the same inks as the card base to watercolour the carrots.

I stamped and die cut the rabbit and watercoloured him. I also added a bit of watercolour to the white space around him, in order to blend in with the background.

I also made these cards for Can You Case It, Challenge #111. Each card used turquoise, green and cantaloupe.

I will also add these cards to Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: Create your own background.

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Happy Easter Card (x5!)

I've been working on creating Easter cards and have a few different ones that I'll be posting. This one is my favourite. In fact, I liked it so much that I made four more - so now I have five! They'll be heading out in tomorrow's post though, so I won't have them for long.

I began by masking off my watercolour paper and then using Shaded Lilac, Squeezed Lemonade and Worn Lipstick to ink the bottom portion. Next, I used a retired "Happy" die from My Craft Spot. Initially, I used the original cut with watercolouring but then held up a plain white "Happy" and preferred the look so went with that. I added a few layers of "Happy" for some dimension. I then stamped "Easter" using a portion of a retired My Craft Spot stamp. Finally, I added a sweet bunny from Reverse Confetti's Hippity Hoppity set and used the same distress inks that I'd used for my card base to colour her in. I double-cut the frame using Simon Say's Stamp's stitched rectangle dies. When I assembled my card, I popped the inner mat.

After I made the first card, I created an assembly line of sorts to create all the others. It went quite quickly!

I'm going to enter this card in Muse's current challenge (#156). I based my idea on that of Michele Ferguson's card - masking the card and inking just the bottom with a word popped out.

I'm also going to enter this at Can You Case It for Challenge #111. This week, we're challenged to use just three colours (plus neutrals) on our creations.

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Need a Tissue?

I can't seem to get enough of my new Your Next Stamp Call the Doctor set and used it to make another card today.

I coloured and cut the little tissue box and then used Your Next Stamp's Cool Tag One die for the fun frame and coordinating banner. The little "brads" on either side of the sentiment (from Call the Doctor) are from the same die set. I love that I can cut such small circles in order to match my paper! And those splatters? Yes, they're meant to be as they seem. Rather disgusting, I know - and I'll blame it on being a mum to teenage boys!! The mat and frame were cut using Simon Says Stamp's stitched rectangle dies, with the white inlaid with the green.

I stamped more mucous splatter inside with a retired Achoo! sentiment from My Craft Spot and a Get Well Soon sentiment that is included with the Call the Doctor set.

I'm going to enter this card in Your Next Stamp's Sketch Challenge 34 and into Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday "A Bit O' Green" challenge.

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Sorry You Caught a Bug!

I'm still having fun with my new Your Next Stamp Call the Doctor set and created another get well card.

I designed this card with the Your Next Stamp sketch challenge (Challenge 34) that's currently running. For the top panel, I stamped and coloured a number of germs/bugs and also used the smaller "icky" face to fill in some of the white spots. I cut the mat with a stitched rectangle die and then stamped another of the germs in the centre of my card, stamping a sentiment. The germs, faces and sentiment are all from the Call the Doctor set.

To complete the card, I used my Your Next Stamp Cool Tag One die set to create a little "jail" for the germ/bug and popped it on the front panel after cutting off the excess banner pieces by hand.

I've got another card planned using the Call the Doctor set and then I'll be playing with my Vacation Phoebe stamps. I've got a plan in mind and am hoping it works for me!

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Ouch!

I had more time to play with my new Your Next Stamp Call the Doctor set. A friend went in for a root canal today so I made this card for her and dropped it off before supper.

The little tooth is from Jaded Blossom but the pill bottle, faces (the happy ones on the pill bottles and the icky one on the tooth) and Ouch! sentiment are all from Your Next Stamp's Call the Doctor.

I cut the frame and mat using Simon Says Stamp's stitched rectangle dies. I was thinking that the wonky stitching would be great on this card, but I don't have those dies so I offset the black frame when I cut it for a bit of added interest.

I'm still playing with my new Your Next Stamp goodies and finishing up with Easter cards so you'll be seeing me again soon!

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Laughter is the Best Medicine

This week's theme at CAS-ology is laugh. I knew exactly what I wanted to do but didn't have the stamps to do it! I ordered from Your Next Stamp's new release on Sunday and didn't know when I would receive my order. I was beyond delighted when my new goodies arrived yesterday already so I had lots of time to meet the challenge deadline. I've never received anything that quickly before (unless I've paid an arm and a leg for priority shipping)!

When I saw YNS's Call the Doctor set, it was a must for me the moment I saw it. I LOVE this set! The doctor and sentiment are just perfect for the CAS-ology challenge and all I had to do was colour the image, draw a line and cut out the mat using a Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle die. It's super simple and I am so happy with the fun look!

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Reindeer Crossing

Two Christmas cards down! I'm so happy I found Merry Monday as it's really motivating me to get a head start on my Christmas cards. I've now got two finished.

This week, we have been challenged to use buttons on our cards. Initially, I was stumped (again!) but looked through my buttons and found a red oval one and then knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I found the fun reindeer image on VectorStock and created a whole herd! I used my button to turn one into Rudolph and the lot are on a mat cut using Simon Says Stamp's stitched rectangle dies. The banner and sentiment are retired from My Craft Spot.

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Easter Treat Bags

I recently found some little treat bags on clearance at Michaels and thought they'd be perfect for some Easter goodies. This week's Can You Case It sketch (CYCI #110) gave me an idea so I decided to play along.

I used my Silhouette to cut the scallop and stitched circles. The tags were cut using retired dies from My Craft Spot. The sweet little bunnies are from Reverse Confetti's Hippity Hoppity stamps and matching die cuts set and the sentiments are from the same stamp set. (I am so in love with these little bunnies!)

These were such fun to put together - and it will be even more fun to give them out filled with Easter treats!

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Lucky in Love

Happy Monday! The boys start their March Break on Friday and I'm looking forward to a wonderful family week in the near future.

Yesterday, I watched a stamp layering video by Kelly Latevola. Her card is beautiful - and I was equally impressed with the background as I was the layered flowers. When I learned that this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge is "Make your own background", it was a sign to give it a go!
In 1989, my husband and I met for the first time on March 15. I always give him a St. Patty's Day themed card to celebrate the day and made this card for him. I really am lucky in love!! He's an amazing man.

For my card, I used a colouring image from St. Patrick's Day - 2016 and coloured it with Spectrum Noir markers. It's almost impossible to tell, but Wink of Stella was added to the hat buckle for a bit of golden glitter. The background was created by creating a partial mask and then stamping "Lucky in Love" from My Creative Time's I Believe in Leprechauns stamp set. I stamped the sentiment using Mowed Lawn distress ink, each time first stamping once or twice on another paper before stamping my card mat. I stamped one time in black. I then used an ink applicator to add the green background. Once ready, I popped the mat on the card and then popped the image on top.

In addition to the Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp, I'm also going to enter this card in DoubleClick's "Use lots of green" challenge. Check out Carri's DoubleClick skittles! She makes them all herself!

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Let's Weather It Together

I love the look of all the felt that seems to be the newest rage in the card making community so I went and got some for myself to try. It's amazing how wonderfully felt cuts with metal dies! This week's Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp is Touchy Feely so I used my felt to put this card together.

I started with some watercolour and then cut the mat/frame combo using Stitched Rectangle metal dies. The umbrella and sentiment are from Craftin Desert Divas The Sky is the Limit set and I used Reverse Confetti's Sun 'n Clouds dies to cut my grey felt clouds. I finished things off with a few sequins.

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Warmest Christmas Wishes

Hello for the second time today! I've seen a few blogs where people make Christmas cards through the year and have always thought that was a great idea. I came across Merry Monday earlier this week and decided to add it to my favourites in order to motivate me to get going on my Christmas cards!

This week's challenge is "tropical". At first, I drew a complete blank but then came up with an idea. My sister's name is Joanna, but I call her Kami - a nickname derived from camel. I always give her camel-themed or related gifts and cards. I found the fun camel image at bulkcolor.com and added a Santa hat from Miss Kate Cuttables. The palm tree is one I found online on Pinterest (the link to the original image is no longer valid).

The frame was cut using Stitched Rectangle dies from Simon Says Stamp and the sentiment is computer generated. I used distress inks to create the sand and sky background. The frame, camel and palm tree are all popped for a bit of dimension.

I'm so happy with how this card turned out - and am delighted that it's only March and I already have my sister's card ready for Christmas!

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