Spring is a trickster.

So I don't know what's happening in your neck of the woods but spring here is changing her mind like a woman. And I guess since it's "Mother Nature", she is a woman. I thought the cold was over and walked out of my house this morning to freeze my ba-doka-dok off.

Anyhoo, I made this card for some friends of ours in Canada. Don't really know what's happening up there (I barely know what's happening here) but I wanted to send some sun-shiney cardness.

This image is from From the Heart Stamps and mandatory for their current challenge. Isn't just stunning? I used my Copic markers to color my image and wouldn't you know that one of them was completely dried out? So I had my darkest pink and my lightest and tried to get each of the different flowers to look like a different shade but I'm not sure I succeeded. Oh well, I like it anyway. :)

I used Stampin' Up's Gable Green and Pixie Pink card stock and matted my pieces with black. I used a harlequin Cuttlebug embossing folder on my green panel. I added some rhinestones from Terri instead of a bigger shape as the sketch suggested, so I hope that's okay.

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
From the Heart Stamps - Spring Medley
Oldie But a Goodie - April Showers Bring May Flowers (Pink Copics, Cuttlebug Harlequin folder)
One Sweet Challenge - Ringing in Spring
Get Inky - Hop into Spring
Hobby Cutz #42 - Flora and Fauna
Ditzie Digi Designs - Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant #245 - Photo Inspiration
Craftin' Desert Divas - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion #208 - No Designer Papers
The East Wind #4 - Use a Sentiment
Copic Marker Spain: April - Flowers
Use Your Stuff #130 - Spring
Seize the Sketch #17
Crafting by Designs: April - Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack #44 - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar # 88 - CAS
Card Makin' Mamas #84 - Small Embellishments
Creative Fingers #30 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz #225 - Springtime
Friday Mashup #154 - Spring Theme or Colors
Paper Makeup Stamps #135 - Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time #207 - Flowers
613 Avenue Create #66 - Anything Goes w/ Spring
Crafty Bloggers Network: April - Diecuts or Embossing
Just Inspirational - Embossing

Something New?

So, I have a mommy friend who just got her "mommy makeover" (lucky ducky) and so I made her this card...

So, you've probably guessed the 'Something New' that we are celebrating are new boobies!! Hee, hee. That makes me laugh.

I used a set from There She Goes Stamps that is appropriately named, Nice Rack. I stamped the moose in Versamark and embossed him with Stampin' Up black embossing powder. I cut out my image with my Nestabilities circle dies and layered them up with popdots. I added some ribbon from We R Memory Keepers 'Sew Ribbon - Grey'. The cardstock is all from SU as well. Their neutrals are just great.

I kept the inside simple with another image of the moose. I really think she will get a kick out of this. :)

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Sunday Stamps #66 (Missed the challenge but thought you might be interested anyway.)
Crafty Calendar Challenge - Let's Celebrate
Heck of a Challenge - Something New
MilkCoffee Challenges - Celebrations
Gem of a Challenge #110 - Something New
A Creative Romance - Something New
The Paper Girls #47 - "Wishful Thinking" (Haven't we all wished for new boobs at some point?)
Inky Impressions - Something New
Divas By Design - Let's Celebrate
Fab N Funky #198 - Let's Celebrate
One Sweet Challenge: January - Black and White (and Gray)

I had an extra image so I threw this card together with the supplies I was already playing with. I used another of the sentiments..."Moosing you." Man, that's adorable. TSG had the cutest stamps.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Addicted to CAS #29 - Die Cuts
Pile It On #1 - Just Because
Freshly Made Sketches #118


Thank you for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Pink Winter Wonderland

Second post of the day...so much to share. :)

I love using unconventional colors for traditional occasions. Since Christmas has come and gone, yet I'm still in the spirit, I thought I would make "winter" cards. I was inspired by the current challenge happening over at Cupcake Inspirations this week. 

I liked the idea of combining the snowflakes with the trees. And, of course, I LOVE the shades of pink. I came up with this card. 

I found another package-free stamp set that had a great assortment of snowflakes; three different snowflake designs, each with three sizes. I'm pretty sure that the set is Martha Stewart but again, no packaging. Live and learn, I guess. I used Stampin' Up's Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, and Melon Mambo inks for the snowflakes. I used a Sizzix die to cut my tree and cut a shadow out of Pretty in Pink cardstock as well. The white panel is embossed with my favorite snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder. The card base is Melon Mambo, and I added Diamond Stickles for that "something special". The sun is a bit bright in the picture; the Stickles are more subtle in person. Rounded the right-side corner and called it done.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations 241
A Creative Romance: Sparkle at Christmas
Pile It On #48: P is for... - Pink and piles of snow!
Loves Rubberstamps #83: Holiday Blitz
Crafty Creations #253: Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations #245: Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant #231: Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays #152: Anything Goes
Get Inky #20: Winter Snow
Challenges 4 Everybody #36: Anything Goes

"Gift" Card

I love that punny title. ;)

A lot of blogs are asking for "packaging" in their challenges these days. I thought of this card.

I grabbed this red satin ribbon that I have had forever and created my "gift" on a Neenah white card front. I used my Stampin' Up tag punches (again, I haven't used those in a long while) and made my tag, adding a bit of twine to attach it to the "gift". The tag sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Envelope Sentiments set. The ink, used on the front and inside, is Chocolate Chip by Stampin' Up.

On the inside, I used that same set that I used HERE, the one I've had so long that I don't even know where I got it or who it's by. I can't believe I have waited to use this set. It's absolutely perfect for holiday sentiments and it's just my style.

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Oldie But Goodie - Ribbon or Lace
3 Girl Jam #30 - "Tis the Season with Ribbon
CAS-ology #73 - Ribbon
Loves Rubberstamps #81 - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps # - Clean and Simple
Shabby Tearoom #195 - Terrific Tags
Sentimental Sundays #183 - Traditional Christmas Colors

"Charlie Brown" Christmas Card

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!!

Anyone else forced to watch that over and over, year after year?? I have to admit that I think it's an adorable movie, and I love the moral of the story.

Any hoo, I was going through the stamps Terri left my mom and I found this Christmas tree. I immediately knew what I wanted to create first. This card...

The card base is Kraft, the layer is Real Red, and I stamped my image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah white cardstock. For the bow I tied embroidery thread in a bow. This is representing my Lucky Limeade.  I used the Colour Q's color challenge (link below), and added a little sparkle with Real Red, Bermuda Bay, and (Lawn Fawn) Cool Caribbean sequins. I love the touch of fancy on an otherwise very sad tree.

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Colour Q #218 - Real Red, Cool Caribbean, Lucky Limeade, and Bermuda Bay (+white)  
PaperTake Weekly - Anything Goes w/ optional CAS
Created with Love #69 - Christmas
Avenue 613 #48 - Anything Goes w/ optional twist, packaging
Glitter N Sparkle #61 - Add some sparkle
Crafts 4 Eternity #152 - Non-Traditional Christmas

Christmas Martinis

First, I want to apologize for being MIA for a couple weeks. We had a death in the family and needed to take time to be with family. Husband's grandmother, GG, was a wonderful grandmother. I was probably as close to her as you can get to a spouse's grandparent. She will be sorely missed.

I wanted to make some sympathy cards for my family but I kept thinking that GG would want some bright and festive colors. And so my "sympathy" cards turned into holiday cards. I can't complain; I think she would absolutely love these. :)

My first card is becoming one of my favorites. The image is from Tiddly Inks. I LOVE how versatile this cutie pie is. She can be shopping, going to a birthday party, or heading to family Christmas. I colored her with my Copic markers after stamping the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Teeny Tiny Wishes set. The yellow embroidery thread is from Terri's stash (my mom's best friend that passed away...she left ALL of her stamping stuff to my mom) and I looped it over four times to create a thick bow. Green Galore paper shadow and Real Red cardstock base embossed with my Snowflake Cuttlebug folder finished off the card. I added Stickles (Turquoise, Purple, Yellow, Green) to the bows, inside and out. 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Tiddly Inks Challenge #122 - Anything Goes

CAS(E) this Sketch! #55

Divas by Design - Use Some Red

ABC Christmas - X for Out of the Box (no squares allowed)

Crafting by Designs - Christmas/Winter

Creative Inspiration #242 - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps #73 - Holidays
Sweet Stamps 145 - The Holidays

This image is from Whimsie Doodles; isn't it the CUTEST!?!?! I colored my pup up with Prismacolor pencils and die cut him with one of my Nestabilities Circles. I popped up the cone and head with Stampin' Up dimensionals and added the whole thing to a Real Red layer and Whisper White cardstock base. I REALLY wanted to cover the cone in glossy accents but I am afraid it would curl up and ruin my pup. I haven't finished the inside yet because I'm stilling thinking about who this card is going to. :)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Inkspirational - Anything Goes

Seize the Sketch #9

Fab 'N' Funky - Cute Critters

Addicted the CAS #27 - Pet

Party Time Tuesdays #148 - Anything Goes

As You Like It #16 - Favorite Digi (Whimsie Doodles because they are adorable!)

Sister Act #35 - Anything Goes

Paper Playtime #24 - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy. 

Cutesy Christmas

Second post today...on a roll, I guess. :)

My main image is from Tiddly Inks called Happy Day and stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink then colored with Copic Markers. The paper comes from an old K and Company Christmas stack that I only have scraps left. I love these colors together. I followed the C4C212 sketch. Used Diamond Stickles on the bows, ribbons and the "brads" in the top corner. And her shoes are Glossy Accent-ed. The inside sentiment is from a clear set I've had FOREVER and the packaging is long gone. If you recognize it, please let me know.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Tiddly Ink #121 - Anything Goes
Crazy 4 Challenges #212
Stampin' Royalty - No Embellishment Holiday Card

Make-a-Card Monday: Unconventional Thanksgiving Card

I really like the unconventional card I created using a couple different challenges as inspiration. 

I used Paper Smooches stamp sets Many Thanks and Gently Seasoned. I stamped the tree in Chocolate Chip and then added the "leaves" in Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, and Really Rust. The sentiment is stamped in Melon Mambo. The card base in Pool Party, the designer paper is from Crate Paper's Random collection, the shadow circle is Certainly Celery, and the harlequin embossed piece is Really Rust.

On the inside, I used the scraps from the designer paper, Really Rust, and Regal Rose paper to create some interest. I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I entered this card into the following challenges:
Ribbon Carousel #87 - November Holiday
Just Inspirational - Autumn/Fall Colors
Craftin' Desert Divas#19 - Thanksgiving
Sweet Sunday Sketch #197
Color Throwdown #268
Simon Says Stamp - Thanks/Thanksgiving
There She Goes Stamps #233 - Thanks/Thanksgiving
Get Inky #17 - Thanks/Thanksgiving
Sentimental Sundays #181 - Giving Thanks

I'm a Goddess! :)

This card was chosen as a top pick over at the Stampin' Royalty blog. Check out my new badge in the sidebar. :) Thank you for the honor, SR!!

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Many Thanks

This color combo scares the daylights out of me. I'm not a Rich Regal kind of girl. But I really wanted to challenge myself and see what I could come up with. I knew that I needed the right stamp set so first thing I went looking through my stash. When I saw this Clearly Besotted "Honeycomb" set, I knew this was it.

Freshly Made Sketches inspired the layout and Colour Q challenged me with their color choices. I didn't have Crushed Curry ink so I substituted More Mustard but all the other inks and papers are the true colors. I used the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes on the inside. I also heat embossed one of the hexagon patterns in the set and embossed the bigger hexagon with Swiss Dots embossing folder.

I entered this card into the following challenges:
Freshly Made Sketches #112
Colour Q #215
Created with Love #66 - Thank You

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Love you.

I got inspired when I saw the challenge prompts at Addicted to CAS and Inkspirational. Anniversary and White on White. I immediately thought of this card. Don't you love it when you know exactly what you want to do?

I punched the little hearts out with a Stampin' Up punch. I adhered them to the card front when I was happy with the placement. The "red" heart is actually four of the little hearts stacked together, then covered with Christmas Red Stickles. The sentiment is from the SU set Short and Sweet and is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

I entered this card into the following challenges:

Paper Playtime #23 - Sparkle

Addicted to CAS - Anniversary

Inkspirational #43 - White on White

Chocolate, Coffee, Cards #52 - Monochromatic

Wednesday Creative Inspiration Challenge #240 - White on White
The Paper Girls Challenge #43 - Cut it Out

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy. 

Hey, Handsome.

I made this card for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. I used Kelly Purkey letters for the sentiment. I punched the hearts out with a SU punch and then covered them with Christmas Red Stickles. Popped the panel up on foam squares and adhered to a Real Red card base. Rounded the two right corners and called it done. :)

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Make-a-Card Monday: SSS October Kit Club Cards - Take Two

Oops. I guess I didn't meet the card kit's full potential because looking at it this week, all I kept thinking was I can do more with what's left. :) So here is more.

I am loving these sequins. Didn't think I was a sequin-user until I was given the opportunity to use them. I used Versamark ink and Stampin' Up embossing powder for my sentiment. I entered this card into the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketch #110
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards #51 - Bugs and Little Critters
Divas by Design - Use Some Orange

I love using vellum with these papers. It creates a perfect place to add my text without covering up the papers. Again, I used the Versamark and Stampin' Up embossing powder. I entered this card into the following challenges:

Seize the Sketch #7

Stampin' Royalty #200 - Anything Goes

The Paper Players #170 - Wildlife

With the time change, this card missed the good light. I will try and add some better pictures when the light comes in tomorrow. :)

And again, with the sequins! I also used some twill ribbon that wasn't in the kit (I think that's the only item though besides ink...) I stamped this image with Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Night of Navy Stampin' Up inks. I entered this card into the following challenges: 

Papertake Weekly Sketch #84 

Oozak #25 - Anything Goes with Thanks

Five Simple Things - Inspire Me Fridays: Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes 

3 Girl Jam - Anything Goes w/ Ribbon

Avenue 613 #44 - Anything Goes/No Optional Twist

This one isn't much better as we woke to a dark, cloudy, 30% chance of rain day. I hate using the flash but it shows the colors a little better. Sigh.

Here's a look at the contents of the kit if you missed it. :)

Thanks for looking. Hope this finds you happy and healthy.  

How's Everything in Your Bowl?

I created this card using a digital stamp and color inspiration from The Alley Way Stamps and a sketch from Sketch Saturday. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder (I'm sorry that I can't remember the name) to create "bubbles" on my Pixie Pink panel. The sentiment (minus image) is from a Michaels dollar spot stamp and inked up in Versafine. I colored my fish with Copics (YR 04, -07, and -09) and then fussy cut the image out. I used black and white Inkssentials Enamel Accents for the eye. This is the first time I have used those and they're fun! :) I cut my Tempting Turquoise circle with my Nestabilities. I popped up my fish, as well as the entire panel on the card front.

Thanks for looking! Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I entered this card into the following challenges:

The Alley Way Stamps: Be Inspired #39

Saturday Sketch #281

Catered Crop: Orange is the New Black