CrAzY for a Sketch - C4C345

It’s time for another challenge with the Crazy 4 Challenges team, and this week we’ve got this great sketch for you to try…

Now, two things…. first, I stupidly sold all of my oval-shaped dies!  WHAT was I thinking?  So I went with a circle.  And second, the long tall design is so far out of my box and I had trouble making it work without an oval.  So I went with a circle in the center, and a square card.  Here we go…

One of my good friends, who likes her alcohol whether it’s beer or wine, has a birthday this week.  So this card is for her!  I finally got my Uncorked stamp set from Papertry Ink out and used it!  I also used the matching Uncorked dies, and Uncorked Words dies.  And my colors were inspired by the Color Throwdown #401 for this week.  I was really inspired by this Betsy Veldman creation for my design.

On the inside, I added a sentiment from the set and another wine glass, for good measure…

Stop by the C4C blog for all the challenge details, and join us!  And visit the other Crazies for more inspiration…

Anja de Regt
Barbara Anders
Caz Counsell
Frances Byrne
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Maryann Einem
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie
Alexis Crossland-Smith, Guest Designer

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a great weekend!

Guiding Light–Crazy4Challenges #343

Hi friends!  I have a card and some fun news to share with you today… I’m CrAzY!  LOL  Yeah, I know how many people are saying “we knew that already!”  What I mean is that I have rejoined the girls on the Crazy4Challenges team!  I’ve been wanting to get back to a team setting, and I’m so grateful to Frances for inviting me back to the C4C team.  The challenges are always fun to try, so I hope you’ll stop by the C4C blog and check them out!

Today’s challenge is to use a lighthouse in your design.  If you don’t have any lighthouse images, maybe create an ocean or a beach scene, or something nautical?  I loved this idea because I finally got my Guiding Lights stamps from Papertrey Ink inky!  I’ve had these stamps for so long, and it’s good to finally use them!

I took some inspiration for my layout from the Retro Sketch #220 for this past week, and used an old PTI paper pad called Men of Life with my design.

Be sure to stop by the C4C blog for all the challenge details!  And visit the other Crazies for plenty of inspiration…

Anja de Regt
Barbara Anders
Caz Counsell
Frances Byrne
Jessie Rone
Joanne Grzelak
Karen Aicken
Maryann Einem
Raquel Mason
Rebecca Ednie

Well, I’m off today for a date with the Phantom…. the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, that is!  Have a wonderful weekend, and a Happy 4th of July to my American friends and readers!  Thank you for stopping by today!

Yellow Poppies

I found out a few days ago that the dear, sweet lady who lived across the street from us when I was growing up had passed away.  She was 97 years old, bless her heart!  What a wonderful, giving life she had!  She crocheted slippers every Christmas and my Mom, sister and I always got a new pair, and my Dad always got a tin of her famous Chex mix.  Even at 95 years old, and in a rehab facility because she had taken a fall and broke a bone, she insisted on having her daughter bring her to my Dad's funeral back in December 2013.  My sister and I were so touched to see her there!  I HAD to get a card made to send to her daughter this week.  So here's what I came up with...

These poppies from the Botanical Silhouettes stamp set from Papertrey Ink have always been a favorite, and I often think of using them for sympathy cards.  This was an anniversary set that is no longer available, so I'm sorry there's no link.  I stamped the flowers in Daffodil hybrid ink from My Favorite Things, and the stems were stamped with Olive hybrid ink on a piece of watercolor card stock.  I then added a bit of a gray wash amongst the flowers using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens.  Since I stamped the flowers with hybrid ink, I was able to watercolor around them and the ink doesn't react to the water. 

For the layout, I was inspired by the sketch this week at CAS(E) this Sketch #156, and I used the colors for the Color Throwdown #377.  And I'm also entering this in the current Word Art Wednesday challenge #218 - Anything Goes.  (Can I just say how GLAD I am to have discovered that challenge?  Not only does it inspire me to create, but the ladies on the team are so kind and supportive!  I've received the nicest comments from them, AND won a $25 Simon Says gift certificate for my entry a few weeks ago!)

That's all for me today.... thank you for stopping by my blog!

Favorites for 2015

Hello friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday, and are ready to begin a new year!

I don't know if this is the "trendy" thing to do anymore, but I've always loved looking back through the past year and picking out my favorite cards from each month.  I found this year to be a little easier to choose from, probably because I just don't find myself doing much stamping anymore.  Not sure why, but if you see my mojo, please tell it to come back home!

But anyway, here are my favorites from 2015!  I hope you like them, too!

In January, I created this card with the To Thine Own Shelf stamp set from Simon Says Stamp...

 

 

For February, without a doubt my favorite card(s) were these beauties made with the Delightful Dahlias from Papertrey Ink...

 

 

 

In March, I just couldn't resist this cute card using Whale of a Time from The Cat's Pajamas.  (This stamp set may no longer be available, as I can't seem to find it on the TCP website.)

 

 

 

In April, there was no other choice but this card made with my beloved Kitchen Sink Stamps!  There is always going to be a really soft spot in my heart for KSS as it was the very first design team I was ever asked to join, and Maria (the owner) could not be a sweeter person!  Plus, the bicycle I used on this card comes from the Multi-Step Bicycle stamp set that I had a hand in designing!

 

 

 

I CASE'd a card from the fabulous Betsy Veldman back in May, and created this card using the Text Block Birthday die from Papertrey Ink.  The sweet co-worker I gave it to still has it on the bulletin board in her office!

 

 

 

The Birdie Brown You Gnome Me stamp set from My Favorite Things was definitely a good purchase this past year, and helped me make this fun card back in June...

 

 

 

SO much of my stamping budget got spent at Simon Says Stamp this year!  (DON'T tell my husband!)  I couldn't resist the fun leaf-shapes in this new One With Nature stamp set, used on this card I made back in July...

 

 

 

My word, did Tim Holtz ever hit a home run with the release of those Crazy Birds this past year, or what?  I resisted the urge to buy them for a month or two, but I finally gave in.  I paired one of those Crazy Birds with this seriously fabulous Seriously die from Lil' Inker Designs for this card that was sent to my youngest as she began her first days in college back in August!

 

 

 

This little giraffe from Wplus9 Design Party Animal stamp set was also one I couldn't resist this past year!  And since my oldest daughter loves giraffes, this card was perfect for her 23rd birthday back in September!

 

 

 

In October, I tried my hand at some no-line coloring with my Copics.  Have to say, I love how it looks and there are a few people out there who do a spectacular job with it, but I'll just stick to coloring within the lines!  But here's a favorite using another darling Birdie Brown stamp set, the Harvest Mouse...

 



 











In November, I CASE'd this card from Lindsay Amhrein using the Smile Circle die from Simon Says Stamp...

 

 

 

And finally, without a doubt my favorite card from December was this one using the Merry & Bright stamp set and matching Confetti Cuts die from Reverse Confetti.

 

 



 

I hope you've enjoyed this stroll through the past year with me!  Thank you for stopping by, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!





Birthday Cheers!

My sister had a birthday this past week, but I’ve waited until today to post her card so she wouldn’t see it pop up in her Facebook feed.

I mentioned my sister two months ago when I posted this card for her husband.  They have a barn full of horses, and dogs running everywhere, and even an old pot-bellied pig at their farm.  I really struggled with what to do for her birthday card, since I felt like I had already outdone myself with the card for my brother-in-law.  But anyone who knows my sister even just very casually knows that she likes the color purple, and she likes her beer!  :)  So here’s what I came up with…

I used the LLD Soda Pop stamp set and Soda Pop Bottles Die-Namics from My Favorite Things to create this card, only I cut the bottles from a medium-brown card stock, and sponged on a little bit of Aged Mahogany ink to give them a reddish cast, like a beer bottle.  I added the “Cheers” sentiment from the Uncorked Words dies from Papertrey Ink, and sponged the background with the Concentric Circle stencil from MFT.

My sister goes to the mailbox about once a week at her place, so I’m still waiting to hear whether she received and liked the card… crossing my fingers that it’s perfect for her!

Random Cards

Hey friends… I’m kind of slowing down on blogging lately, but having a handful of recently made cards I thought I’d share with you today.  I tend to post a lot more on Instagram… it’s so much easier to like and comment there, especially from my phone.  If you’re not in Instagram, you ought to be!  :)

This first card is actually a revision of this card I posted the other day.  I really loved playing with the Haunted Headstones stamps from Papertrey Ink, but kept looking at my card thinking it needed something, know what I mean?  And I woke up Saturday morning with this idea…

The night before, I had asked my BFF Bar what the original card needed, and she said “do you have any ghosts or skeletons?”  And I said no, I didn’t.  But when I woke up Saturday morning, I remembered these spooky faces from the new Make-It Market Min Kit:  Halloween Pin-Ups.  So I added Frankenstein, and a ghost for a little more added character to my card!  :)

Here’s another card I made a few weeks ago using this sweet Lawn Fawn Into the Woods stamp set that I won from the MarkerPOP challenge.  (I was supposed to win a different set but it was out of stock, so I picked Into the Woods instead!)

I actually made this card intending to enter it in the Share Joy challenge #5 but didn’t get it blogged in time.  I followed the sketch and the colors.  (Many thanks to my friend Katie for letting me borrow her dies for this set!)

I made this card way back in early September for Color Throwdown #358.  But the longer I looked at the card, the more I just thought it was too plain…

So then I made this card instead, but for some reason I ended up making yet another card for that CTD challenge, and never blogged either one of these!

On both of these cards I used the BG Grid background stamp from My Favorite Things, and the center was die-cut with the Luminary Circles die from Simon Says Stamp.  Then I added the Wishing die-cut, and a sentiment from the Sending and Wishing stamp set, also from Simon Says.

Finally, my husband and I have this friend who’s always bugging me about sending him a card. (Last night his dog got skunked, and he actually said I should send a get well card to the dog!)  And back in June, I was just overly busy and didn’t get a birthday card sent to him, and he became relentless in wanting a card!  So I finally sat down and made this…

I used all of the Crazy Birds from the Tim Holtz stamp set, masking them in this arrangement.  I was a little ticked off at myself for making them so off-center, so I tried adding the sentiment at the bottom to off-set.  I don’t think I succeeded, but Rick didn’t care.  He loved the card… even the inside!

LOL  I was afraid he wouldn’t get the sarcasm there, but he did!  :)

I hope you enjoyed this line-up of “catch-up” cards!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Haunted Headstones

Some of the goodies I recently got from Papertrey Ink also included these fun Haunted Headstones stamps and matching dies.  I mostly wanted them because the Haunted Headstones Sentiments mini set is so dang cute!  I just love the over-the-hill themed sentiments in the mini set, but in the meantime I thought I’d make a Halloween card for the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!  The challenge this time is “Going Batty” so I added some bats to the sky above my cemetery…

**I came up with a slightly updated version of this card the day after I posted this! 

 

 

Now, anyone who knows me well knows that I HATE bats with a passion!  I don’t care how many people tell me they won’t hurt me, they’re harmless, they’re more afraid of me…. blah, blah, blah.  I HATE those darn little flying rodents!  LOL  We get them in the house every now and then and I turn into a basket case.  Right now I still haven’t put Fall decorations out around the house because I won’t go into the crawl space to get them!  LOL
But anyway… I made my card with the Haunted Headstones stamps and dies, watercolored the night sky and spritzed it with some silver sprays, and added some bushes around my headstones using the Topiary Trio dies.  (Will link those later when I’m able… it appears the PTI site is down as I’m typing this.)
Happy Saturday, and I hope you have a fantastic weekend!  I have a 3-day weekend, so I KNOW it’s going to be great! 

Color Throwdown #363

Hi friends!  Welcome to another Wednesday and another Color Throwdown challenge!  Wanda is our hostess this week and was inspired to choose this weeks colors by this pretty Fall arrangement…

Have to admit… I struggled terribly with these colors.  I guess there’s just not enough contrast there for me.  So I added some brown (remember, additional neutrals are always OK!) and even threw in a tiny bit of rusty red in some of those little flower buds.  Here’s my card…

I did a little shopping at Papertrey Ink last week, and just couldn’t resist this pretty Twig Wreath stamp set and matching dies.  For my card layout, I was inspired by the current Sweet Sunday Sketch #289.

Please be sure to visit the CTD blog today for more inspiration, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Michelle Boyer, October Guest Designer
Christine Dring, Guest Star Stamper

Thanks for stopping by today!

Make Lemonade

I was on my way home from work last night, thinking about what a crazy, hectic day it had been… phones that never stopped ringing, piles of paperwork that seemed to grow before my eyes, and it was “Energy Conservation Day” which means the central air was shut down at 2:30 in the afternoon, and didn’t get turned back on until 6:30.  It makes people cranky (including me!) and adds burden to an already semi-unbearable day.  So I just knew that what I needed when I got home was some stamping therapy!

I thought all this past weekend about participating in the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge, but was just bummed because the theme is mason jars, and I have NO stamps that fit that theme.  But then I started thinking about stamps I do have that might fit that bill.  A mason jar is basically a vessel for holding foods, right?  (Most of the time anyway, but mine also hold buttons, tools, pencils, etc!)  And then I thought of my Bowl of Sunshine stamps and matching dies from Papertrey Ink, and thought maybe a Pyrex bowl would fit the challenge!  So here’s my card…

I turned the current Sweet Sunday Sketch #282 on it’s side for the layout (wow, it was a trial stamping that sentiment straight on the angled panel!) and am also participating in the Create Along With Us challenge for August at Papertrey Ink.  (Although I didn’t realize until now that I’m too late with my entry!)  I found the colors in Danielle’s “Brushed Off” card here for my inspiration with these colors.

Just what I needed… a little stamping therapy!  And if Tuesday hands me lemons, I’ll make lemonade for everyone!  Thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #350

Hello friends!  It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for another Color Throwdown challenge!  Today, Lori is our hostess with this great color combo of orange, pink, green and black….

I guess my monitor is off a little, because I leaned more toward some peach/coral tones for my card…

I saw this gorrrrrrgeous card on the Altenew blog a few weeks ago, and just had to CASE Marika’s beautiful design.  And it gave me a reason to finally ink of those beautiful Altenew Vintage Flowers stamps.  A card this pretty just had to be sent to my wonderful Mom, to thank her for all the help she gave me in preparing for my daughter’s graduation party back in June!  Love you, Mom!

Be sure to stop over at the Color Throwdown blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration…

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Valentyna Komisarenko, July Guest Designer
Billie Blackwell, Guest Star Stamper

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for your comments!

Color Throwdown #347

Hello friends!  It’s time for another Color Throwdown challenge, and this week Broni is our hostess with these fabulous colors!  Oooh, I just couldn’t wait to create with these colors this week… aren’t the scrumptious together?  Here’s what I made…

I picked up the new Second Helping of Sunshine stamp set from Papertrey Ink a few weeks ago because I just loved the combination of Pyrex-style bowls (LOVE me my vintage Pyrex!) and the scales!  While I was shopping, I also picked up the Bowl of Sunshine stamp set, and the matching dies for both sets, so I foresee lots of fun with these sets!  For my card layout, I used the great Sweet Sunday Sketch #273 again.  My scales were stamped with Steel Grey hybrid ink from My Favorite Things, and on the face of the scales I added some crystal lacquer.  The bowl was stamped in Blu Raspberry hybrid ink, and the cherries in Razzle Berry.  The background was cut from Sweet Tooth card stock using the Modern Morocco Die-Namics cover plate.
Be sure to stop over at the Color Throwdown blog for all the challenge details, and visit my Throwdown sisters for more inspiration… Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Nancy Thomas, June Guest Designer I hope you’ll join us this week for the Throwdown!  Thanks for stopping by!

Color Throwdown #341

 

The weeks are just flying by lately, and here we are at another Wednesday and another Color Throwdown challenge!  Lori is our hostess this week, and being a teacher she found inspiration for our colors this week in these sweet apples…

The photo shows some very muted shades of pink, orange, green and yellow, but I went bold and bright with my take on these colors…

I’ve had this card by Betsy Veldman on one of my Pinterest boards for a few months and decided to CASE her design for my card today, using the Text Block Birthday die from Papertrey Ink.  On the watercolor paper background, I applied a wash using a lot of water and some Razzle Berry and Orange Zest dye inks from My Favorite Things.  Then I used the Fresh Cut Florals stamps and matching dies from Wplus9 Design Studio for the little flower bouquets on the two opposite corners of the panel.

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
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Tenia Nelson, May Guest Designer

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!

Color Throwdown #335

Gotta’ say, I just love Wednesdays because it’s always time for another Color Throwdown challenge!  This week Vickie is our hostess, and you can do a LOT with the colors she has chosen.  Check it out…

I got a new stamp set this week, so I just couldn’t resist using it for my card today.  And I used the current Sweet Sunday Sketch #261 (except that I tilted my background panels a little!)

My stamp set is the new Brushed Blooms from Papertrey Ink, and the matching die.  On the yellow background panel, I added some texture with some translucent embossing paste and the Harlequin stencil from My Favorite Things.
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!
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
Holly Brown, March Guest Designer
Natasha, Guest Star Stamper Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Color Throwdown #333

Monika is our fabulous hostess today for Color Throwdown #333!  I hope you’ll stop over at the CTD blog to check out the challenge details and join us today.  If you’re a purple lover, this challenge is right up your alley…

I received a text message about 10 days ago from the sweet lady who does my nails, asking me if I could make a birthday card for her to give to her granny for her 104th birthday!  How could I refuse?  And since granny’s favorite color is purple, it worked out just perfectly to make her this Center Step card with the Delightful Dahlia Additions from Papertrey Ink.

I die-cut the dahlias, then stamped each one with Wild Wisteria hybrid ink, Grape Jelly hybrid ink, and Lavender Fields hybrid ink from My Favorite Things.  The leaves were done with Jellybean Green hybrid ink (the lighter layer was just stamped off once.)  On the gray card stock panels, I stamped the Greenery background from Impression Obsession.  I thought this style of card would be neat for Deb’s granny so she could set it up beside her and see the pretty flowers (especially since there aren’t any outside our windows around here!)
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
Jodi Collins
Lori Tecler
Monika Davis
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Holly Brown, March Guest Designer
Betty Wright, Guest Star Stamper I hope you’ll join us for the challenge, and thank you for stopping by today!