CTD #411 -- Celebrate

Hey all!  I'm back today with a card for the Color Throwdown Challenge.  The colors are purple, magenta, poppy red, and yellow.  I've been watching a lot of Amy Rysavy's videos on YouTube lately, and recently I watched one that involved dye ink stamping and misting with water.  I thought I would try my hand at it, and boy was it fun!  These colors worked perfectly for the technique, so I paired it with Reflections and Pretty Phrases by Paper Smooches.  

I had so much fun with this technique, I can definitely see using it again.

Stamps:  PS Reflections, PS Pretty Phrases

Ink:  Seedless Preserves, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Versafine Onyx Black

Paper:  Canson 140lb watercolor paper, black from my stash, vellum

Accessories:  clear embossing powder, spray bottle, black twine

Thanks for stopping in!  If you have any questions, please leave them below in the comments!

Celebrating Dad

Hey crafty friends!  We have had a wonderful few weeks off with my husband around, but he headed back to work this morning, so I suppose I should get back at it too :)  I wanted to show you the card I made him for Father's Day.  Taylored Expressions released some great stuff for dads back in May, so I paired up some 'new to me' goodies from TE with an older Paper Smooches Set called Word Up.  I used an embossing folder called Brick and two Little Bits dies:  Grill and Sun & Clouds.  I used Distress Inks rubbed along the images to add the dimension.

I was pretty pleased with how easy this card was using a basic sketch, and using the dies made it come together quite quickly.  Thanks for stopping in today.  We have a busy week of baseball, but I'm going to make the effort to get creative.  I can feel my need for it, so I better get my fix :)

Have a great week!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Monday, friends!  Today is actually my birthday, but my card is for my sweet nephew.  He's an April baby and a middle child like me ;)  I didn't make this card for any particular challenge, I was just inspired by this card by Laura Bassen, and wanted to make one like it.  My card uses a couple of Paper Smooches sets; Zoo Crew & Sentiment Sampler.  I haven't bought a new PS stamp in quite some time. . .I should really remedy that!

A little disclosure. . . the sentiment was an accident, and I don't think it was a happy one.  I originally stamped it in black and put what I thought was clear embossing powder on it.  In my haste, it turned out to be WHITE embossing powder, lol.  I tried to fix it and make it look 3D, but I'm not sure it worked.  Thankfully my nephew is young, so he won't mind.

I'm trying something a little different with my pictures.  Every time we move, I have the hardest time trying to find the best spot to take pictures.  As much as I enjoy new scenery, I do envy those that have a designated picture spot that NEVER changes.  Mine seems to change frequently as I try to figure out the best spot in each house.

All right, I need to run.  The kids have a dentist appointment and it's a bit rainy (happy birthday to me!)  Thanks for stopping in!

Feel Better

Hey there!  Did you get a chance to hop with CardMaker and Taylored Expressions yet?  If not, you really need to scroll down, because there is a prize to be won ;)

We've been super busy in our house.  The kids are still working on school, but my husband took the week off.  That actually took some convincing on my part.  He hates to leave others to do his work, so getting him to take vacation when no one else is, is near impossible.  I think he became convinced when he saw how completely stressed out I have been about having to get our house ready to sell.  One of the things we've gotten done, has been transitioning our closet back into a closet from my 'craft cave'.  I'll show pics later this week :)

Onto my card. . .I made this because one of my uncles back home is very sick.  I haven't been able to get back to Nebraska in several years.  I love them dearly, and it's killing me not to be there.  I used the Paper Smooches stamp set called Healthy Vibes.  I really do love their whimsical stamps.  Who wouldn't feel better after seeing that darling bandaid?!  I also used one of the new dies from Taylored Expressions called Label Stacklets 7.

My card was also made using the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge, which was a color challenge.  I went a bit darker with my blue, but stayed pretty true to the rest of the colors.  If you look closely, there are some light blue hearts on one of my papers, which was the first dp I picked out.  I just couldn't resist added the darker blue after I got started.  Sometimes you just move where the card spirits take ya ;)

Stamps:  Healthy Vibes

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  Echo Park dp, Neenah Solar White

Accessories:  orange twill ribbon, TE Label Stacklets 7 die, Copic multiliner, foam tape

Thanks for stopping in.  I'll get some before and after pics taken of the closet and have more stampy goodness to show you later as well :)

Another HYCCT Card

This is as caught up as I am for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers.  I was hoping to have a few more, but yesterday was filled with tennis and friends.  Today will be quite the same :)

Today's card was for Sabrina's 'Cover-Up' challenge, which was to create a card with a hidden message on the front.  What a fun challenge!  My card has an opening flap and uses a couple of Paper Smooches stamps; Chubby Chums & Word Salad.

Don't look too closely at the sentiment, because it's just a tad messed up :/  I did, however, think that the sentiments I chose go perfectly with the images.  Who wouldn't love a duck with red glasses?!

Stamps:  Chubby Chums, Word Salad

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Rocket Red Brilliance, SU Baja Breeze

Paper:  Choice White, random dp, SU pink note card

Accessories:  Copics, TE Quatrefoil Cutting Plate, foam tape, blue half pearls

Thanks for stopping in, and have a very blessed Sunday!

4 New Cards for Hope You Can Cling To

I'm almost entirely caught up with the Hope You Can Cling To challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers.  If you're new to HYCCT, you really need to check it out.  It's an amazing opportunity to use the talents that God has given you to benefit others!

The first card I'm showing you is for Lydia's first challenge to us, which was to create an card with a dimensional image on the inside that can be seen from the outside.  I used the new October Stamp of the Month from Taylored Expressions along with the Key Ingredients Kit, to make a retro card.  I loved mixed tapes as a kid, and creating them was so super fun.

 Stamps:  Instant Love

Ink:  SU Cameo Coral, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  October 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, cream twine, TE Remember When die, TE Ric Rac Border die, TE Label Stacklets 3 die, Tape Deck Charms, Copics, Tags Nestabilities, foam tape

My second card is for Jeanne's challenge to make a card to put a smile on someone's face.  That chicken from the Paper Smooches set called Green Acres puts a smile on my face, hehe.  The background paper was made with some Distress Tumbled Glass ink and some water misters.  I finished that off with some gold powders in a water mister too.

 Stamps:  Green Acres

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Tumbled Glass

Paper:  kraft, Choice White, watercolor

Accessories:  copics, water misters, foam tape, orange ribbon

My third card was made for Bridget's PINKterest challenge, to create a card from one of the Pinterest pictures she posted as inspiration.  I chose one that had beautiful oil paints in these colors painted in blocks of color.  I used a couple of Papertrey Ink sets called Signature Greetings II and Happy Harlequin.

 Stamps:  Signature Greetings II, Happy Harlequin

Ink:  SU Rich Razzleberry, SU Pale Plum, SU Pink Pirouette, SU Melon Mambo, SU Pretty ink Pink, SU Crushed Curry, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  PTI Rustic White

My final card for the day is for Lee's Pink Camo challenge.  I used 2 Paper Smooches stamp sets called Circle of Honor and Good Gab.  I went pretty simple on it, although I wanted to be more creative.

Stamps:  Circle of Honor, Good Gab

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  SU Kaliedoscope dp, Choice White

Accessories:  Copics, foam tape

I have more, but I'm going to pace myself on posting them.  I really do hope that you'll join me and many others in the challenges over at Splitcoaststampers!

Hope You Can Cling To

It's that time of year again, and my company has left so I am making time to get cards made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers!  You can read all about what a wonderful campaign it is HERE.  

I'm behind by two already, but I may remedy that later on.  To start I used Lori's challenge of Courage and Strength.  Red and Orange are the colors of courage and strength, so I inked up my background with both colors, and topped it off with a sentiment from a Taylored Expressions set called Happy Heart.

Stamps:  Happy Heart

Ink:  Craft White, Distress Barn Red, SU Pumpkin Pie

Paper:  watercolor, black

Accessories:  water mister, white embossing powder, white twill ribbon, TE Banner Stacklets 2 die

My second card was made for Beate's Flat and Fabulous challenge.  I used one layer of kraft cardstock and stamped those flowers from the Reflections set by Paper Smooches.  The sentiment is from Good Gab.

Stamps:  Reflections & Good Gab

Ink:  Craft White, SU Always Artichoke, SU Cameo Coral, SU Apricot Appeal, SU Pumpkin Pie, Distress Black Soot

Paper:  kraft

Accessories:  corner chomper

Get over to Splitcoaststampers and check out the challenges!  There will be new ones everyday and an opportunity for you to make a difference with the gifts that God has given you :D

You Make Life Sweet

Hey everyone!  I don't have anything super special to show you, so I'll show you something I made for Splitcoaststampers when I was on the Dirty Dozen.  This was made for January's challenges, and I thought of my husband while making it.  I watercolored the little doughnuts that come from the Sugar Rush stamp set by Paper Smooches, and used some glossy glaze to adhere the beads for sprinkles.

This last weekend was my daughter's 12th birthday. . .where has the time gone?  I can't show you the card I made her for her birthday, but I will.  I made it back in April for the Dirty Dozen, so it can't see the light of day until October :)

Thanks for stopping by!

The Mother of Teenager

I am officially the mother of a teenager now.  It's hard to believe, and when I think back to when he was born, I've overwhelmed that God entrusted him to me 13 years ago when I was only 22.  I'm so thankful, because he made me grow up, and he and his sister have made me better.  

We just got back from Panama City Beach, FL, where we seem to spend his birthday every year now.  He certainly doesn't seem to mind, and neither does the rest of the family.  We spent a lot of time at Shell Island, we played family games, and ate some wonderful sea food.  Next year we will be moving to the Midwest, so we are soaking in as much beach time as we possibly can.

The new teen had only one request for his card (yes, they put in requests for special cards to be made).  He wanted a minotaur card.  I don't know about you, but I don't have any minotaur stamps, so I had to improvise.  I used several sets on this special card.  The background was made with You're my Hero by Taylored Expressions.  My minotaur was made using the moose from Chubby Chum Pals by Paper Smooches.  The rest was done with a hodgepodge of stamps from Paper Smooches:  Birthday Buddies, Hang Ups, Word Salad, & Squeaky Clean.  I drew the little shield.

The shield and axe have special meaning, because my son simply wanted a bunch of supplies to make his own duct tape weapons.  He's such a creative kid.  He was pretty thrilled with both his card, and his loot of pvc piping, pvc insulation, and lots of duct tape!

Here he is after one of his creations last night. . .happy kid.  He's planning to have a few friends over so they can make some too, and then they can battle.  That's my boy!

Goat-tee

I played along with the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge this morning, and came up with a birthday card for my son's friend at the same time.  

He has grown accustomed to making special requests for birthday cards, which is something I love.  They can't imagine buying a card from a store when Mom is right here to make a special one!  What he really wanted was for me to make a card with a minotaur on it.  Honestly, I was stumped so he had to come up with a different idea. . .a goat with facial hair, hehe.  I managed to do it, but now I know a way to make the minotaur.  I'll be saving that for his birthday ;)

Stamps:  Green Acres, Sentiment Sampler, Chubby Chums (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks: Peeled Paint, Black Soot, Faded Jeans, Tumbled Glass

Paper:  watercolor, Neenah Solar White, SU Yoyo Yellow

Accessories:  washi tape, black embossing powder, foam tape

Copics:  T1, T3, T5, T7, Y13, Y17, 100

Joann's was having a super sale on their papercrafting section, and I happened to have a coupon for an extra 25% off my purchase for my birthday month.  I ended up getting a bunch of goodies for 75% off! I have a few new Distress Inks along with the Craft Mat (so stoked about that), so I made my background.  It is such a fun way to make a background, and I am sort of addicted so this won't be the last time you see that watercolored background :D

I better get the kids up and start school.  Thanks for stopping in this morning!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, my friends!

We are celebrating the birth of Jesus with our family, as I'm sure that most of you are.  I just wanted to drop in and say how much I appreciate you all.  It is a blessing to me to share my cards and for me to be inspired by all of you.  I pray you all have a blessed Christmas and the most prosperous New Year!

Paper Smooches stamps:  Swanky Snowdudes & Sentiment Sampler

More Hope You Can Cling To

I'm back today with a few more Hope You Can Cling To challenge cards for the HYCCT challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers.  I'm starting to get all caught up, and it feels good!  If you have some spare crafting time, you should really check them out and get involved :)

My first card for the day was made for Kathy's challenge of making something to inspire courage.  I used the Paper Smooches Stamps set called Hope.  It seemed extremely fitting.

My next card was made for Dina's show tunes challenge.  I was listening to 'You've Got a Friend in Me' from Disney's Toy Story on Pandora, and I couldn't help but be inspired by the theme of friendship.  I used my Friendship Blooms set from Taylored Expressions. . .one of my faves :)

This next one was made for Bev's 'Shine it Out' challenge to use a lot of sparkle.  I made my own glitter embossing powder by mixing some pink glitter with some clear embossing powder with a ratio of roughly one to one.  That way I'm not getting as much glitter all over the place ;)  I used a couple of dies and a set from Taylored Expressions:  Royal Digs, Majestic Border Die, & Royal Treatment Die.  Taking a picture of something with glitter on it is so difficult. . .ya feel me?!

This next one was made for Lynn's 'Pinking Shears' challenge to make a card with a decorative edge.  I pulled out a new Lawn Fawn set called So Thankful.

My final card of the day was made for Ardyth's 'Vital Signs' challenge to make something inspired by your vital signs.  I used a set from Our Craft Lounge called Every Heartbeat.

Whew!  That's a lot of cards that I hope will brighten someone's day!  I'm hoping to have a bit more time today to make a few more.  Thanks for stopping in. . .I'll be back tomorrow for the CDS Sunday Blog Hop :D

More HYCCT Challenge cards

Having had company all this week, I fell a bit behind on my Hope You Can Cling To cards for the HYCCT challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.  I wouldn't be so ridiculous about it if I didn't think that it was worth my time, but it so is.  Last year it was so rewarding to send my cards off for a good cause.  I love using my gifts that God has given me for His glory :)  That being said, I sat down yesterday and made 4 cards to try and get caught up.

For Bridget's 'Hope is the Thing!' challenge, I was inspired by 'the thing with wings', so I made this little card featuring the Paper Smooches set called Green Acres.

The second card I have uses my October Simon Says Card Kit for Theresa's 'Read All About it' challenge.

I'm excited about this card, because I made it using a new Flourishes set, and it is my very first!  It's called Garden Picks, and it was made for Jennifer's 'Peaceful Pink' challenge.

This one was super fun to make for Taylor's 'Two Times the Fun' challenge.  It uses a Whimsie Doodles Digital image called Mailed My Heart.

I'm hoping to have even more time to get crafting on the HYCCT challenges later on today.  Thanks for stopping in to see my progress, and I hope you're getting a chance to play along as well.

HYCCT -- The latest cards. . .

My in-laws are in town, so I don't anticipate a bunch of crafty time on my hands.  However, I do have a few cards to show you today for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers.  All of the cards made are being shipped to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

My first card is for Lori's challenge.  It was an acronym challenge, and it was fun to have to put on my thinking cap a bit.  We had to use HYCCT (H-hippo, Y-yellow background, C-circles, C-crimp, T-twine).  I used a couple of Paper Smooches sets: Potpourri & Zoo Crew.

This second card was made for Patricia's challenge of 'You had me in Stitches'.  We had to make a humorous card with stitching on it.  I used my Granny's Truffles from Our Craft Lounge.

My final card of the day was for Jeanne's challenge called 'Ship Shape'.  We had to make a shaped card.  I happened to have these adorable cupcakes on hand, so I added a sentiment from a set called Build a Treat from Taylored Expressions.

Thanks for stopping in, and I hope you consider playing along in the HYCCT challenges. . .it's such a good cause.  I better go make some breakfast for the weary travelers ;)

More Hope You Can Cling To

Happy Thursday everyone!  Thanks to all of those that took the time to vote for me for the TE Last Card Standing.  I've been so behind on posting my Hope You Can Cling To cards for the HYCCT Splitcoaststampers challenges, but I have been busy creating them.  My in-laws get into town today, so the house actually had to get cleaned, haha.

Here are a few that I made.  First one uses Washi Tape and a Paper Smooches stamp called Chubby Chum Pals for the 'Strip Please' challenge.

My second card was punch and sentiment challenge that uses my October Simon Says Card Kit and a touch of pink paper.

This final card is for the 'Music Soothes the Soul' challenge.  I used some sets from Papertrey Ink.

I do have more to show, but I need to vacuum ;)

I wasn't able to link the products I used, because it seems to be acting finicky :P

HYCCT -- 2 cards for today

Here are a couple more Hope You Can Cling To cards for the HYCCT challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers.  As I said the other day, I love participating in these challenges.  I shouldn't have had the time yesterday to make anything, but my printer was down so I couldn't work on upcoming releases, so I figured I'd put my time to good use anyway.

The printer is working today, so I'll get on those along with some orders to fill (I have just been so behind since all of that kidney stuff started).

My first card was for Lori's challenge to make a card 'For the Kids'.  My daughter loved this, so I knew I was on the right track.  I used a Paper Smooches Stamp called Party Posse.

My next card was for Beate's challenge to use primarily gray with a splash of color.  I used some newer sets from Papertrey Ink that I had received when all the kidney stuff started, but didn't get to play with until yesterday.  I really like the way it turned out :)  It uses Autumn Blessings, Autumn Blessings Die, Counting my Blessings, and Counting my Blessings Die.

Unfortunately one of the sites I need for linking is down, so I don't have that info for you.

TLC389 -- Blissful Background

The weekend has come and gone (sniff), and we actually started school here our household.  It has been a wonderful, busy, and productive day.  The day has been great, because here it is just after noon and I was able to make a card :D

I took a peek at the Technique Lover's Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers, and was really excited about giving it a try.  We were challenged to make a card using a 'background' tutorial from the resources forum.  I decided to give the Water Stamping background a try.  My background stamp didn't show up as vibrantly as I would have liked, but I still really like this technique. . .quite fun.

Thanks for stopping in!  Here are the links to the products I used:

InLinkz.com