Back in the Saddle

Hi friends!  I’m squeaking in under the wire to enter my card for the sketch challenge #353 with My Favorite Things this week.  I made this card on Saturday while I was at Crafty Day with my friends, and realized I needed to get it photographed and uploaded!  I have a co-worker who’s having surgery in a few weeks, and I agreed to make a card for everyone to sign.  She’s an animal lover, and a motorcyclist so I thought this card with a horse AND the saddle reference (thinking of the motorcycle seat!) would give her a chuckle!

Here’s the sketch, and as you can probably tell, I flipped it upside down.

I also got some inspiration for my design from this card by Kay Miller, also using the (retired) Farm-tastic stamp set and Die-namics from MFT.

I hope you had a nice weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

You Are So Kind

Hi friends!  I finished a card today that I started working on earlier in the week.  Made this for a friend who gave me a whole bunch of zucchini from her garden recently!

While I was already stamping the flowers for this card (the Fall Florals stamps and matching Die-Namics from My Favorite Things), I just stamped a bunch more of the flowers to create some extra of my ABS Cards…

There are a lot of products, so below is a list of everything I used, and you can click on them to be taken directly to the products at MFT!

You Are So Kind card
Fall Florals stamps and Fall Florals Die-Namics
Kind Words stamps and Kind & Kindness Die-Namics
BG Whimsical Woodgrain background stamp
Card stock:  Blueberry, Cotton Candy, Neenah Solar White Classic Crest 110 lb.
Premium Dye inks:  Blueberry, Cotton Candy, Razzle Berry, Sour Apple, Jellybean Green, Blu Raspberry, Tropical Teal, Poppy, Daffodil, Kraft, Wild Wisteria, and Chocolate Brown
Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Mix sequins

ABS Cards include…
Background stamps:  BG Wood Plank, BG Chevron Grid, BG Distressed Stripes, and BG Small Brick 
Stamps:  Essential Sentiments, More Essential Sentiments
Die-Namics:  Peaceful Greetings, Thanks, Sending Hugs, Pierced Rectangle STAX 
Card stock:  Wild Wisteria, Sno Cone, Berrylicious, Daffodil, Blueberry, Orange Zest, Lavender Fields, Neenah Solar White Classic Crest 110 lb.
Premium Dye inks:  as listed above in addition to Orange Zest and Persimmon

I think (hope!) that’s everything, but if there’s something I missed just shoot me an email!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #442

I am super excited to be sharing this card with you today, created for Color Throwdown #442.  This particular challenge is a special surprise for my BFF, Barbara Anders!  Barbara and I have known each other for many years, and way, way back when the CTD was in it’s infancy, she joined the team.  And when I decided to step down from the team at the end of 2015, I did so with complete confidence that I was leaving the team in her very capable hands.  She does it all… creates those fabulous color swatch graphics every week, maintains the social media accounts for the team, and just keeps things running smoothly.  So, today’s challenge with these beautiful subtle colors that were picked by her is an extra-special “Thank you, Barbara!” challenge in her honor!  I love you, my friend!

For my card, I created a special get well card that I will need later this week…

I used some Blue Breeze card stock in the background that was die-cut with Blueprints 22, and in front of that I added a sentiment that was die-cut from good ol’ Barely Banana card stock with the Sending Hugs Die-Namics, all from My Favorite Things.  On the left side, I added some leaves that were die-cut with the Leafy Confetti Cuts from Reverse Confetti.  And on the Steel Grey card stock strip I stamped “get well wishes” from a really old Impression Obsession stamp set.  I added a fine Chevron background on the Cement Gray card stock in the background, and embellished with some black enamel dots.

Please be sure to stop over at the CTD blog for all the details of today’s challenge, and be inspired by the rockin’ design team!  I miss all those gals so much, and am just thrilled to be joining them again today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Praying for You

Hi friends!  I had THE BEST WEEKEND, how about you?  I spent almost all day Friday, all day Saturday and almost all day Sunday with a bunch of the greatest girls, and we stamped and talked and ate and laughed all weekend long!  I got a lot of cards made, and just wanted to share two of them with you now.

This first one, I made a total of eight of these using the colors from the current Color Throwdown #440…

For this card I used Pure Plum, Sour Apple and Daffodil card stocks, the Peaceful Greetings Die-Namics, Stitched Flowers Die-Namics, the Essential Sentiments stamps, and the Distressed Patterns stamps (stamped in Grout Gray hybrid ink), all from My Favorite Things.

This second card I made for my Uncle Gene, who fell the other day getting off his riding mower and had to have surgery on Thursday to repair two broken vertebrae… definitely an OUCH!

For this card, I used the current sketch #330 from My Favorite Things, and used the Sweet Succulents stamps and matching Die-Namics.  I colored with Copics, then added a watercolor wash background.  Behind the cacti I added a brand new Stitched Dome Frames Die-Namics, and a strip of vellum, along with the sentiment stamped on a flag die-cut from Blueprints 13.

I’ll have a few more of the cards I made this weekend to share with you in the next few days!  Thanks for stopping by!

Ouch!

There’s a very “cool” color combo this week for Color Throwdown #420 that I couldn’t resist, so I had to play along!  Here’s my card…

I kept my design fairly simple, using the fun LLD Sweet Succulents stamp set from My Favorite Things for my design.  I added a blue watercolor wash to the background using Distress Inks, then die-cut the panel with the Pierced Rectangle STAX Die-Namics.  I added a few splatters of ink, and mounted the panel to a piece of Black Licorice card stock.  I added the sentiment, added a few black enamel dots for embellishment, and mounted to a Sweet Tooth card stock base.  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Here the CTD graphic…

Thanks for stopping by!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge–At Home

Hi friends!  If it’s the 15th, that must mean it’s time for a new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!  This week we have this fabulous rustic piece of home decor to inspire you…

I chose to keep my design a little clean and simple this week, based on our inspiration piece…

I used a piece of woodgrain designer paper for my background, die-cutting it with a Blueprints 24 die and mounting it to a piece of Whip Cream card stock.  I die-cut some Blu Raspberry card stock using the Prayers die from Simon Says Stamp, and added a sentiment from the matching stamp set on a yellow Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX flag.  Using the Leafy Confetti Cuts from Reverse Confetti, I die-cut some green card stock to add some foliage to the left side of my card, and finished with some enamel dots.

Please be sure to stop over at the Curtain Call blog for all the challenge details, and join us!  You could be in the running to be chosen as the “Lead” and be our guest designer for the next challenge!  And be sure to visit the Crew for plenty of inspiration…

Betty Wright
Kim Singdahlsen
Leigh Penner
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Lynn Mangan
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Sheri Gilson
Silke Ledlow
Stacey Schafer
Tara Godfrey

Thanks for stopping by!

I Said a Prayer…

I made this card this weekend… while it looks like it was probably pretty quick to make, it actually took a whole afternoon because it didn’t turn out quite how I envisioned.  I actually was going to add the Pumpkin Patch Confetti Cuts to it in addition to the Wheat Confetti Cuts, but the pumpkin was just too much, and I decided simpler was better.  This is a card for my husband’s former boss, who is battling cancer and unfortunately not doing well.

In also used the Leafy Confetti Cuts to add a pop of another color, and the sentiment is from the My Heart Trusts stamp set.  Stamps and dies are all from Reverse Confetti.

I had a productive weekend when it comes to being outside, getting some exercise, and spending time with my hubby… but not so productive with stamping.  But that’s OK… was still a great weekend!  And I hope yours was, as well!  Thank you for stopping by today!

Big Hugs Bear

Way back in January, I saw this DARLING card created by Amy Rysavy and I just knew I HAD to have that little bear stamp set and die!  So I headed over to Simon Says Stamp and quickly purchased the Bear Necessities stamps and matching dies!  I know, right?  TOO stinkin’ cute!  And then, as usual, I never got around to using them… until a few weeks ago, when I was at a retreat!  And for inspiration, I just decided to CASE Amy’s card.  Why mess with perfection?

There’s a little girl at our church who is very, very sick and so this was made to send to her.  The background is watercolored, and I added my own splatters in addition to borrowing Distressed Patterns from My Favorite Things from a friend (thanks Kirsty!)  For the sentiments, I used the Best Hugs stamp set, and Scripty Big Hugs dies from Simon Says.

Now that I’ve used this sweet bear, I must not neglect him/her!  It’s just too cute!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Feel Better Flowers

So, I took a few days off work to get ready for my daughters graduation party, but gosh it’s just hard to stay out of my stamp room with all the time at home!  I know I’ll probably regret it later today when I refer to my list of things to do once again, but stamping time last evening was pretty nice! 
The latest sketch from My Favorite Things really spoke to me this week, so I decided to make a card from the sketch and also incorporated the current color challenge into my card, as well!

I used the pretty Modern Blooms stamp set on my card, stamping the large flowers in Peach Bellini hybrid ink with Persimmon hybrid ink centers.  The smaller flowers were stamped with Wild Wisteria hybrid ink, and have Lavender Fields hybrid ink centers.  I masked the flowers, then stamped the leaves with Sour Apple and Jellybean Green hybrid inks.  I die-cut the center floral panel with the Blueprints 24 Die-Namics.  On the Wild Wisteria card stock panel, I used the BG Cheesecloth background stamp in Wild Wisteria hybrid ink.  I stamped the sentiment from Get Well Wishes on a piece of Sour Apple card stock that was die-cut with the Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX.
And there you go!  :)  Thanks for stopping by today!

TCPTuesday288 – Take Two

There’s still time to join us for the TCPTuesday #288 color challenge!  Just create a card, preferably using stamps from The Cat’s Pajamas (but they’re not required) using the colors below…

You could be entered to win some Cat Cash, and with an upcoming new release that would be a GOOD thing!  Here’s another card I made using these colors…

It’s always a good idea to have get well cards on hand, so I took the opportunity to use the A Cuppa stamp set from TCP to make my card.  This sweet bear is always fun to color!  I got some inspiration for my layout from CAS(E) this Sketch #119 for this week.
So, I really hope you’ll head over to the TCP blog and join us this week!  There aren’t that many entries, so get your hat thrown into the ring and play along!
Thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #336

Hello friends!  It’s time for another Color Throwdown challenge, and this week Wanda is our hostess.  Here is her color combo…

Now, I have to admit I reeeeeally struggled with these colors because I thought they just screamed FALL, and a Fall-themed card is not what I want to make when Spring is on the verge of bursting forth.  So in addition to the colors, I just used the photo in general as inspiration and created this card…

I used the Small Brick Wall stencil from My Favorite Things, and some white embossing paste on the background panel then sponged the bricks with Brick Red Hybrid ink after the paste was dry.  I also sponged the outer edges of the background panel with some Antique Linen distress ink.  The bicycle was first cut out with my Silhouette using the Digital Cut File from Kitchen Sink Stamps, and then I stamped the bike using my MISTI and the Multi-Step Bicycle stamp set from KSS.  (Did you know that I had a hand in designing this KSS stamp set?  My green card stock here is the old River Rock from Stampin’ Up! which I’ve always thought was such a pretty, subtle, soft shade of green.  But no matter what I did here, it looks like kraft in my photo, don’t you think?  Trust me, it’s more green than it appears!  :)  All in all, even thought it took awhile to get my mojo started for this card, I’m happy with how it turned out!

Remember, we’ve got something new on the CTD blog… we’re now on Instagram!  Be sure to follow us by searching for colorthrowdown.  You’ll be able to get sneak peeks of the upcoming challenges, and you also might find your card featured there one day!  (And I’m on Instagram, too!  If you want to follow me, just click on the little Instagram camera button way up at the top of my left sidebar!)

Be sure to stop by the CTD blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration.

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin (sitting out this week)
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Karen Giron, April Guest Designer
Tobi Crawford, Guest Star Stamper

That’s all for today… thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Gift Card Sets

I have been busybusybusy this past week!  My wonderful Mom turned 49 for the 21st time on March 18th, and today we’re having a big birthday party for her.  She’s always asking me for cards to send, so there couldn’t be a more perfect gift to give her than some sets.  I’ll keep the chatter to a minimum, and just list basic supplies under each photo.  Questions… just comment and ask.  I’ll ask put credit under photo for my inspiration, as I ended up CASE’ing designs from several fabulous stampers to get these card sets done.
Set #1

I was at a crop a few weeks ago with some local friends, and the fabulous Lindsay Amrhein made this beautiful card while we were there, and I knew I had to CASE it.  I don’t think my version is anywhere close to the beauty of her card, but I tried!  Stamps:  Wplus9 Design Studio Pretty Peonies, My Favorite Things LJD Spring Tulips (sentiment)

I knew Mom would want some “manly” birthday cards too, so I went and CASE’d my own design from a few years ago for these cards.  The strips on the white card stock ore washi tape.  Supplies:  The Mustache stamp set and Mustache Cutups die from The Cat’s Pajamas.

Here’s another set… I feel I failed miserably in attempting to CASE Dawn McVey’s pretty card, but I sure had fun trying!  Stamps:  Wplus9 Design Studio Fresh Cut Florals, Papertrey Ink Mini Blooms

I spotted this pretty card by Debby Hughes on Pinterest a few days ago, and knew it’d be a good one to CASE.  Here’s my version (but I still like hers better!)  Stamps:  LJD Blissful Butterflies, Get Well Wishes, BG Romantic Script background, BG Notebook Paper background, LJD Blissful Butterflies Die-Namics, LJD Scribbles Die-Namics, Notebook Edge Die-Namics (all supplies from My Favorite Things)
 
And finally, my CASE of this pretty card I also found on Pinterest recently.  Just love the pink on the tree for Spring.  The tree stamp set here is Giving Thanks from Simon Says Stamp, and the sentiment is from Impression Obsession.
That’s all…. thanks for stopping by!

TCPTuesday286 – Take Two

Have you made some time yet to join us for the Spring Blog Hop at The Cat’s Pajamas?  All you need to do is create something using TCP stamps and enter your creation using the Inlinkz on the right side of the TCP blog.  Then you’re entered for a chance to win $50 in Cat Cash to spend!  WHAT could be better?
If you need a little help getting started, why not use the current TCPTuesday challenge which is this great sketch by Lisa Henke…

I made a new card this week using the sketch and the new Lacey Petal Posies, 5 Petal Posies, and Leaf Scroll Cutups.  On the Leaf Scroll, I added the matching stamp from the Patterned Petals stamp set, and added a sentiment from Simply Said.  The square panel behind the flower was dry embossed with the Dots Cutups plate.

So why don’t you join us this week?  Hop on over to the TCP blog for all the details!
Thanks for stopping by today!

The Cat’s Pajamas Sneaky Peek #6

I’m so excited to share today’s Sneaky Peek with you… Alma has designed a fun new Keep Calm set that I think everyone is going to LOVE!  It’s such a popular theme everywhere you look these days!  I had a little brainstorm and paired my card with the Survivor stamp set from The Cat’s Pajamas…

Thankfully, I don’t have a need for this card right now, but I just couldn’t resist making this with a breast cancer survivor theme.  I stamped the ribbon in pink behind the Keep Calm sentiment, and added the black strip of card stock that was cut with the new Wavy Stitched Border die.  The layout for my card was inspired by the Sweet Sunday Sketch #251.
On the inside I added…

Be sure to head over to the TCP blog for all the Sneaky Peek details!  And here’s a few more things to remember… 1. All the new stamps and dies will be released on Tuesday,  March 17.
2. If you're IN IT TO WIN IT, visit the TCP Forum at Splitcoaststampers to comment and chat on the IN IT TO WIN IT thread every day for an opportunity to score some new TCP goodies.

3. Save the date for the Pajama Party on Monday, March 16 from 8-10pm EDT. Here are the other Cat Pack participants: Lisa Henke
Wendy McGaffey
Nancy Thomas
Jessie Rone
Here’s the view of the stamp set, and the new Wavy Stitched Border die…

Thanks for sticking with me all week here on the blog!

Delightful Dahlias

 

I had some wonderful time for stamping this weekend, and finally took some time to ink up the Delightful Dahlia Additions stamp set from Papertrey Ink.  I’ve had this set for quite awhile, having always admired how beautiful these flower look when they’re stamped, so I finally made time to play this weekend.

The first card is for my beautiful Aunt Arlene, who is also my Godmother.  She took a bad fall a week ago while at the grocery store, and has had a painful week.  She thankfully had some surgery to repair a fracture in her vertebrae and is doing much better, and is now in a rehab facility to gain back some strength.  I hope this card will brighten her day…

I stamped my dahlias on Smooth White card stock from My Favorite Things, and used Wild Wisteria hybrid ink, Grape Jelly hybrid ink, and Lavender Fields hybrid ink, along with Jellybean Green hybrid ink for the leaves.  I then masked the flowers and leaves and used my Copic airbrush to do the background with BG000 and BG10 Copic markers.  The sentiment is from LJD Grand Greetings from My Favorite Things and was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I sponged the edges with some Antique Linen distress ink, and applied some clear dewdrops.

This second card is for a lady from my church, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.  She’s a stamper too, so I know she’s going to love these dahlias…

For this card, I again stamped on Smooth White card stock from MFT, and used Cotton Candy hybrid ink, Ripe Raspberry hybrid ink, and Pure Plum hybrid ink, along with Jellybean Green hybrid ink for the leaves.  I airbrushed again, and stamped this sentiment from Verses Rubber Stamps with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  On this one I embellished with some sequins.

I hope you’ve had as nice a weekend as I’ve had!  Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Deconstructed Sketch #169

Hey kids, what time is it?  No, NOT Howdy Doody time!  It’s Deconstructed Sketch time!  LOL  (I may be just a little over-tired as a type this!)  Jen’s got a great sketch for us this week.  Check it out!

Different, don’t you think?  But give it a try… I think you’ll find some fun possibilities with this!  I’ll admit I was scratching my head at first, trying to come up with an idea but once I got started everything came right together.

I went with a get well theme for my card because our Catered Crop challenge this week is all about making cards that are “good medicine.”  So I used Get Well Wishes from My Favorite Things, repeatedly stamping the big block letter sentiments for my background in Natural Premium dye ink on kraft card stock.  Then I used the pinked circle from Blueprints 13 on the top left corner, cut from Factory Green card stock, and added some flowers cut from Tangy Orange card stock using Blueprints 12.  The “feel better soon” sentiment is stamping in Olive Hybrid ink on a Whip Cream card stock Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX die cut.  On the lower right side, I added a punched photo corner.
Be sure to stop over at Jen’s blog for all the challenge details, and visit the rest of the team for more inspiration…

• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Jen Shults
• Kim O’Connell
• Sheri Gilson
• Tangii Crain
• Tracey Pickersgill

Also, be sure to visit Linda’s blog over at the Catered Crop blog for details on the Good Medicine Recipe Swap.
Here are my supplies...

Get Well Wishes	Die-namics Blueprints 12	Die-namics Blueprints 13	Die-namics Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX	Premium Dye Ink Pad Natural	Hybrid Ink Pad Olive
Heavyweight Card Stock Kraft	Heavyweight Card Stock Tangy Orange	Heavyweight Card Stock Factory Green	Heavyweight Card Stock Olive	Heavyweight Card Stock Hot Fudge	Heavyweight Card Stock Whip Cream

InLinkz.com

Corner punch is from Stampin’ Up.
Thanks for stopping by!