Background

Monday, July 31, 2017

PIP Challenge #1731

It's time again for another challenge over at Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges.  This week's challenge has a little twist to it.  The theme is Circles and is sponsored by Di's Digi Stamps.  She has the most adorable digital stamps.  You must go to her store and check it out. 
I chose to use one of Di's Digi Stamps called "Little Mouse". 

I decided to make a circle card since this was the theme this week.  I colored this adorable mouse and flowers with my copic markers and just started adding circle.  So fun.  Let's see your circles for this round.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Freshly Made Sketches #298

I have another Christmas card to view today.  I found an adorable sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  
I always like to find unique ways to try on my cards.  I found this sketch alot of fun.
I started with a white 3.75 x 5" piece of cardstock. I then stamped the yellow background on the lower right hand corner using the Stampin Up "You've Got This" stamp.  I then put the green strip diagonally on the paper.  The santa was colored with my copic markers and I added a few Crystal Stickles to the fur on his coat and hat.  This stamp was from Recollections Christmas series.  The sentiment is from Jillian Vance Big Christmas Greeting.

Friday, July 28, 2017

MFT Challenge Sketch

I decided to do 2 posts in one day because I am on a roll with my Christmas cards.  I went to MFT Card Challenges to find this adorable sketch to work with.
Sketch Challenge 343 #mftstamps
For my card I used 2 images from the Recollections Christmas stamp set.  
This was such a fun card to make.  I colored the images with copic markers and added Crystal stickles to the areas where the snow was.  I fussy cut the penguin out and pop dotted him on to the card.  I used 2 oval dies to make the ring around the image.  The designer paper is from Stampin Up.  

Christmas Cards

If you can believe it, I have actually started working on Christmas cards.  I love to color these adorable images with my copic markers and it sits on my table waiting for inspiration.  Today  I went to the Cheerful Sketches Challenge blog for some inspiration.  I found this adorable sketch to use as a template.  


The stamp set I am using for my card is from Recollections Christmas line.  
The paper is from Stampin Up.  The Merry Christmas Die is from Lawn Fawn.  I hope you enjoy my card.  

Challenge Your Stash

Today is the 28th and that means it is time for Challenge Your Stash.  Carol was up this month and her challenge was  to make a Christmas card or item--think decoration.  I am a huge fan of making Christmas cards so this was fun for me. 
I started by cutting out using an ornament die.  I then used the opening for a stencil.  The tree branch is from a die I had from Memory Box.  I then stamped the image called Joyful Nativity by Stampin Up using Archivers black ink to get a good impression.  I then stamped the sentiment at the bottom which is from Jillian Vance.

Thanks Carol for a great challenge.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Balloon card



Today I made a card using several dies that I haven't used in a long time.
I started with the Taylored Expressions Build A Scene - Rolling Clouds Die for the top of my card.  At the bottom of my card I used the Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Border Die.  I then had the Hot Air Ballon Die from Paper Trey Ink and cut 3 sizes out.  I then used the matching stamp set to stamp on the die cuts using a rainbow of colors.  The sentiment is from Papertrey ink called Up, Up and Away sentiments.  This was a fairly simple card to make and I drew inspiration from the following challenges.  

        

I am entering this card in:

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Tuesday Morning Sketches #413

I have been busy making lots of cards.  My goal for August is to have a post on my blog every day for inspiration.  So I am looking for challenges to inspired me to help with this ambitious endeavor.  I found inspiration over at Tuesday Morning Sketches.

This was the sketch I started with to make my card.  I stamped the Iris Stamp from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps on watercolor paper and colored it with my zig markers.  Funny story on this card.  I accidentally dropped the blue green marker on the image after I had it colored and cut out.  So then I just added more ink as a background and I really liked the look.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink and the butterfly is from Stampin Up.  A nice combination of all my favorite companies.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my card.  

Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps

Are you enjoying your summer?  Well the theme this week over on the Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps Blog is all about summer.  When I think of summer (besides the hot sun) I think of the flowers still looking beautiful. 
So for my card today I decided to do a very simple design with two stamps from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps store.  I started with the Small Flower cluster stamp and used yellow ink and stamped it all over the base of the card.  I then used the delphinium stamp.  I colored the flower part with a purple marker and used a green marker for the stem and stamped it over the clusters.

So this is my simple card for the day but remember that sometimes the simplest card makes the most beautiful card.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

MFT Sketch Challenge 342

One thing I am finding with retirement is that I have more time to play and actually challenge myself to try new techniques.  I found this wonderful sketch challenge on My Favorite Things card Challenge.

Sketch Challenge 342 #mftstamps
I was recently challenged by my SCS friend Kelly with this image and thought it would be perfect for this challenge.  The image is from Our Daily Bread called "You Bless Me".  I am a real fan of MFT Dies and I love my recent favorite is the Cross-Stitch Rectangle Stak.  I cut out the yellow and green and put it diagonally for the top and also cut my framed picture out with it.  For the sentiment I used the Fishtail Flag Layer Stax Die.  
I hope you enjoyed my card and thanks again to Kelly for the wonderful inspiration she gives.


Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Mystery Image Challenge Round #41

These are not officially due until July 18th but I thought I would go ahead a post a picture of my card because I have another post scheduled for tomorrow.  I am finding that with retirement I am having alot more time to post on my blog.  For my card today I have used My Favorite Things "Here's The Story" stamp selected by Terry Ladwig. 
I colored the image using my copic marker.  I used a pennant die and my new favorite die from My Favorite Things called the Cross Stitch Rectangle.  By adding a few colorful buttons, it made a nice card.  Thanks Terry for a great challenge.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Christmas in July at Prickley Pear

I know it is only July but it is never too soon to get started on your Christmas cards.  I loved the Christmas theme today over at Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps Blog.
For my card today I selected the Bundled for winter Rubber Stamp from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps.  I used my zig watercolor markers for this adorable image.

Be sure and check out the blog to see what the other design team members came up with on this challenge.  It is never too early to start on your Christmas cards.

I have decided to enter my card in the following challenges.
Cardz TV:  Christmas in July
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

Monday, July 17, 2017

PIP Challenge #1729

 I am so excited with this week's challenge for Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges because it is sponsored by Newton's Nook Designs.  Because I am an animal lover I love their stamps.  So cute. 
I made this card today for my sister Jennifer in honor of her chocolate lab.  I used the stamp called "Fetching Friendship".  I colored the image with my copic markers and paper pieced the scarf.  This is an adorable set.  I'm sure I will use it often. 

Be sure and join us at PIP Challenges because as always "Anything Goes".

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Dueling Darlings

Here it is the 15th of the month which means it is time again for another Dueling Darlings Challenge.  This month Paola and Heather came up with the theme.  The theme this month is "Midsummer Night's Dream".  Which is you are not familiar with the play, it follows the adventures of four young lovers who are manipulated and controlled by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which the play is set. 


The stamp is from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps called Lillian the fairy which was stamped on Neenah Classic Crest 80 lb paper using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  The background paper is from Graphic 45.  After I colored the image with my copic markers, I then went over her wings with Crystal Stickles.


Be sure and check out what some of my team mates came up with.

Darlene ** The World According to Bijou
Debbie ** The Ink Igloo
Jeanette ** Cre8tive Play: It's Cheaper than Therapy
Paola ** blog That's Amore! (SAMA - Homemade Cards, Rubber Stamp Art, & Paper Crafts - Splitcoaststampers.com Please check her gallery!
Shelly ** My creative rumblings
Terry A ** For now, here's her gallery: Splitcoaststampers Member Galleries - PurplePansy26 - Handmade Cards & Crafts
Terry L ** It's Totally Terry

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Prickley Pear Designs

I have been having lots of fun with my Prickley Pear stamps this month.  Do you follow the Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps blog?  If not, you should because there is great inspiration there.  The theme today on the blog is vintage so I picked out Lola the fairy stamp to make this card.
I decided to use my zig watercolor markers on this card.  I also used my Wink of Stella glitter pen on the wings of this adorable fairy.

Thanks for stopping by and check back because who know what you will find on my blog this week.

Friday, July 7, 2017

Crafters of Faith

Time again for another challenge from my Splitcoast Stampers Crafters of Faith Group.  The challenge this month was selected by Kelly's son.  He chose Matthew 5:16: "Let your light shine before others". 
I thought this would be the perfect image for the scripture chosen.  Lighthouses to me always have that beacon of light that just draws you to them.  The images are all from the Stampin Up set called High Tide.  First time I had used it and it was so much fun to do all the layers.

 

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Christmas Mouse Card

I guess the heat of the summer brings me in to color with my copic markers.  I was looking through my Christmas Stamps and found one that just called to me to color.  It is Your Next Stamp called Sending Joy.  Isn't this just the cutest?
I also added some stickles to the card for the center of the poinsetta and the berries.

I decided to try a few challenges.
ABC Christmas Challenge - New Stamp - Old Paper
Christmas at Sweet Stampin - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by and remember that it is only 172 days until Christmas.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

PIP Challenge #1727

It sure has been a busy time around my house.  I totally forgot to post a card for PIP Challenge #1727.  The sponsor this week is Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I decided to use this adorable card that I had made previously to show you how versatile the digital stamp can be. 
This stamp was from the Sparkle N Sprinkle set called Jefferson Digital Set.
I watercolored the background of the scalloped circle using my Distress Oxide Inks and use my zig watercolor markers to color in the bird.

Join us at PIP Challenges and let's see what you can come up with because as always Anything Goes.

PIP Challenge #2409

 I am a little late in posting my card for Pammies Inky Pinkies Challenge #2409 .  Our internet was down all day yesterday.  Oh the joys of...