Happy Birthday, Jon

My twin boys just celebrated their 23rd birthday. My goodness, time surely flies. I made this for Jon, and when he opened it, he said "this is so me". I loved that. He is such a wonderful guy trying to make his way in the college lacrosse coaching world. He is very tenacious, passionate, and boy, can he work a room! I am so very proud of this guy, and I like him very much too! 

Jon loves lacrosse and he loves coffee, so I combined them for his card using Bear (Ellen Hutson). I bought a digital image of crossed lacrosse sticks, edited one out of the images, resized it for bear, and colored the head red. Jon is working with the Rutgers University Lacrosse Team at present.  RU colors are red and black. Bear's coffee cup has a red band to match. The background stenciling is inked with Faded Jeans. I love the way this turned out. Love ya, kid.

I'm playing at:

Seize The Birthday #250 - Anything Goes

Krafty Chicks #635 - All Occasions

Allsorts Challenge Week #700 - Any occasion

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Hello Sweetness

Less Is More Challenge #441 begins today. We are challenged to make a Clean and Simple ONE LAYER CARD incorporating diamonds into our design.

I masked and stenciled the left side of my card with Taylored Expressions Double Diamonds Stencil and three Distress Oxide Inks. I love the combination of Chipped Sapphire, Peacock Feathers and Speckled Egg. I added my sentiment from Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Clear Stamps Hello You with VersaFine Onyx Black ink, and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. Voila! My card was done.

 

Please head over to the Less Is More Blog and see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration. I hope you'll play along with us to share your creations. Remember to keep your design Clean And Simple. See challenge guidelines on the Less Is More Blog.

I'm also playing at:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - CAS

Krafty Chicks Challenge #555 - CAS

CASology # 388 - Hello

Earth Day

 

It's time for a new challenge at Festive Friday where every challenge is an inspiration list based on a selected holiday/festivity from the traditional to the unusual. Challenge projects must include at least three items from the festivity inspiration list.

Since the Inspiration List is a mix of elements related to the festivity, the creator has the choice to make something for that festivity, or to ignore the festivity all together and create something using just the three (or more) elements selected.

Today's festivities are in celebration of Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22nd. The challenge runs from April 2 - April 12.

I like to create a card for our challenge that goes with the celebration. For my Earth Day-themed card, I pulled out these stamps and dies from Taylored Expressions: The World Is Waiting stamp set, and Whole Wide World and Little Bits - Bandage dies. I stenciled the lower right corner with Harlequin Background mini stencil from Funky Fossil Designs. I used green, blue and earth/globe from the inspo list. 

For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the  Festive Friday Challenge Design team.

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Melva Peters

Judy Rozema

I'm also playing at:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Our Talks

I love this Our Talks tea cup image and sentiment from Unity Stamp Company. The CASology Cue is TEA, and I am screaming in at the last second with my card. The CASology Cue and the FMS Sketch were the perfect combination. I thought this image called for a vintage feel. I wanted to background to be lacy. I stenciled Picket Fence Studios Fancy Flourishes with  Antique Linen Distress Oxide Ink on a card base of Taylored Expressions Buttercream Choice Cardstock. I stamped the teacup with VersaFine Vintage Sepia ink on SU Confetti Cream cardstock and diecut the circle with an MFT Wonky Stitched Circle die. I heat embossed the sentiment on SU  Early Espresso cardstock and die cut the banner with an MFT Stitched Fishtail Flag die.

CASology Week #364 - Tea

Freshly Made Sketches #428

Let's Have Drinks

Time Out Challenge #141 is up and running. This time, it is a THEME challenge of RELAXATION with the optional twist of ONE LAYER.

This challenge is sponsored by Newton's Nook Designs. The Challenge Winner chosen at random from those who do the twist, will receive $25 in store credit. 

Our wonderful Guest Designer is Maieke. Do treat yourself to a stroll throug her blog. Her designs are awesome, and her coloring is killer fabulous. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired, and please leave her some love.

I dug deep into my stash and pulled out Taylored Expressions Chillax stamp set, and Spellbinders Impressabilities Sea Scape embossing plate. I am very happy with the result. I did not do the twist on my card - mainly because I forgot to do it. What an airhead!!! I loved what I came up with, so I let it be. 

I dry embossed the background. I stamped, colored and cut out the margarita glass and mounted it on a wonky circle die cut from MFT. I added a sentiment from CZ Designs stamped on a banner die from SimonSays Stamps.

Please head over to the Time Out Challenges Blog to see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration. Play with us to share your creation, and for a chance to win a prize from  Newton's Nook Designs.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I am also playing at:

Just Add Ink #468 - Anything that begins with the letter "C" as your main element. Mine is "cocktail"!

With Sympathy

Challenge #95 is now up and running at Time Out Challenges. The theme is Sympathy with an optional twist of a distressing technique which could be using Distress Inks, distressing edges, paper tearing, etc. The challenge runs from October 26, 2017 until November 8, 2017 at noon EST/5:00pm BST.

Happy Little Stampers is the Challenge Sponsor. A $15.00 gift voucher will be awarded to a randomly selected winner chosen from those entrants who twist.

Sue of Sue's Card Craft is our Guest Designer. Her style is wonderful and you are sure to be inspired.

My card was created from a snippet of Distress Oxide Ink blended background sprayed with Shimmer Mist. The silhouette image from Taylored Expressions Discover Your Wings is stamped in VersaFine Onyx Black. The sentiment is from Reverse Confetti's Forever in Our Hearts.

Please head over to the Time Out Challenge Blog and see what Sue and the Design Team have created for your inspiration. Do the Twist for a chance to win a gift voucher to the HLS Store! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I'm also playing at:

STAMPlorations October Anything CAS Goes Challenge

Cas on Friday #119 Flowers -- Make a card with flowers on it

SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

New Beginnings

Time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenges! Challenge #87 is CASE challenge, and our wonderful and talented CASE designer is Cornelia of Stempel Spass. Cornelia's style is fresh, clean and fun. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a stroll through her blog. You can not help but be inspired!!

Here is Cornelia's piece for us to CASE:

I was very literal in my CASE of Cornelia's card. As soon as I saw it, I was reminded of Tim Holtz's Bird Crazy birds and and Dylusions sentiments, so I went that way. I so love the expression on this prticular bird's face. Cornelia's bird looks very confident. Mine looks a bit aprehensive, but he'll be OK.

Our Guest Designer for the challenge and the reminder post is  Pooja of Reusing Cards And Quilling. Pooja's work is awesome, and we are thrilled to have her joining us.

Happy Little Stampers is the challenge sponsor. The winner will receive a $15 gift voucher to the Happy Little Stampers Store.

Please check out the DT inspiration pieces on the Time Out Challenges Blog. I love to see the way CASE challenges awaken creativity. How will Cornelia's design inspire you?

Friends Forever

This week's inspiration for Tag You're It #39 is so adorable.  I love that little camper and many of the DT pieces had vehicles or homes on them, but I chose the sky as the inspiration for my creation.  Here is my take:

I love these Paper Smooches dies and they came to mind when I saw Erin's clouds. I wanted a sentiment that meant something like "no matter what the weather...". After a lot of digging, I found this sentiment from a Tailored Expressions set called "Branching Out" that was deep in my stash. Perfect.

I am also going to link this project to the current Simon Says Monday challenge, which is

BEST FRIENDS.

Thanks so much for stopping in today. As I type, there is a blizzard going on here in the northeastern part of the US. LOTS of snow, and lots of crafting time for me! Woot!  As always, I appreciate your taking the time to comment. Your feedback is wonderful.

CASE A Card Congratulations

This week's challenge at the Mod Squad Challenge Blog is CASE A Card. CASE anyone you'd like. You may use any vendors and products to participate.

I have a friend whose mother-in-law recently became a US Citizen.  I wanted to make her a card in celebration. I got the idea to make a shaker card with red, blue and silver sequins and an all over red, white and blue color scheme.  When I was looking for inspiration, I found THIS card by Betsy Veldman. I CASE'd it and came up with the card below.

I am very happy with the end product. I am very happy for Carmen and honored to have her as a fellow countrywoman.

Big storm headed to the Northeastern part of the US.  Hoping to get more time to create in the next few days.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Supplies

Papers - SU Ridinghood Red, Night of Navy, TE Choice Cardstock-Buttercream, Authentique Glory DP.

Stamps - None.

Ink - None.

Accessories - PTI Shaker Shapes: Square dies, Paper Smooches Word Die, Cuttlebug EF, foam tape. 

Hoppy Easter

I came across a new sketch challenge yesterday by Lisa Arana of Dahlhouse Designs. Lisa posts a new sketch on the third Sunday of every month. You will find a link to the current sketch on the top right of her blog. I used it along with the current Paper Players Color Challenge for inspiration for this punny Easter card.

Thank you so much for coming by today. 

Life Is Good

My creation for PDCC135 sprung from the wonderful blue door in this inspiration photo.  My mind was already in beach mode and as soon as I saw this photo, the little cabana from Wilson Designs' Teeny Bikini popped into my head.  I used PTI's Farm & Barn Background Basics to apply a fine woodgrain to the door and I went from there.  After two more school days I can go to the beach pretty much whenever I want until September. Life is good.  Thanks for stopping by today.

Supplies:

Stamps~Wilson Designs Teeny Bikini, PTI Background Basics: Farm & Barn, Background Basics Medallions, Back Pocket Basics.

Ink~PTI Hawaiian Shores, Canyon Clay, SU Pacific Point, Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine Onyx Black.

Paper~PTI Canyon Clay, Hawaiian Shores, White, Neenah Solar White, SU Pacific Point.

Accessories~Dimensionals, Quartet Cork Crafe Sheet, MFT Die-namics Catch A Wave, PTI Back Pocket Basics Die Collection, Taylored Expressions Clouds Impression Plate.

Cosmo Bella

I love this stamp - Cosmo Bella from Stamping Bella. I have had it for a while and not inked it up yet. When I ran across this sketch on Bloggabella this week, I knew just what to do.

I stamped my Cosmo Bella with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored her with Copics. I used white for my card base and added a layer of Dusty Durango. The background patterned paper is from s.e.i. The striped panel is the back side of the same paper. I took a chance using Rich Razzelberry ribbon and mat for the square piece. It's a little intense, but I like it. The green patterned paper mounted on the Rich Razzleberry square is from SU's Cottage Wall DSP. I used layers of foam flowers and put them together with a Basic Grey brad. The largest flower was white and I colored it with a Copic marker to match the Dusty Durango panels. The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions Chillax set. Cheers to you! Thanks for stopping in.

Butterfly Sympathy

This is what I came up with for this week's OCC Challenge, which is a wonderful sketch. I love BasicGrey's Wisteria DP, and SU's Rich Razzleberry goes so well with it. Kraft is marvelous in this combination of papers. The butterfly is from Taylored Expressions Discover Your Wings set. It is embossed in gold on Wisteria DP, cut out and popped up. I used SU's Bashful Blue 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon behind the top panel. The sentiment is from Verve's Forever in Our Hearts. I really like this way this turned out. Thanks for stopping by today.

Dragonflies for Ben and Grace

Taylor VanBruggen of Taylored Expressions kicked off a Card Drive last Friday for a cause that is very dear to my heart. She is calling on card makers worldwide to create cards for a program at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD that has been developed to help grieving families who are suffering the loss of a newborn(s). This cause is so close to my heart because I have experienced this twice. The devastation of facing life without the baby you loved so dearly before you even met him or her, is indescribable. People, even those very close to you, say all the wrong things, and it is so hard to navigate through life for a very long time. Most people forget your lost ones, but you need to remember. You never forget. To have a picture, a blanket, a cap - anything that touched your precious one(s) becomes the most important thing(s) in your possession. The work that is being done today to help parents and families through this is incredible. I ask you to consider making at least one card for this cause. The dragonfly is the symbol of hope that this particular program uses, so a dragonfly has to be incorporated in your card. it can be from any company. Click HERE for all of the details.

I did not have a dragonfly stamp, so I used BasicGrey's Wisteria DP which has beautiful dragonfly images on it. In the meantime, I ordered a gorgeous stamp set from TE called "Discover Your Wings" that has a beautiful dragonfly image. For a limited time, TE will donate $7.00 to an organization called "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep", which you can read about HERE.

Here are the ingredients for my card:

Paper ~ Sage Shadow, Brushed Gold, Almost Amythist.

Stamps ~ Cute Converse (SU retired hostess), Verve~Forever in Our Hearts.

Ink ~ Elegant Eggplant (front), Sage Shadow and VersaFine Black Onyx (inside).
Accessories~ Mat pack & piercing tool, Score Tape, Bow Easy, Hero Arts 2mm rhinestones, SY scallop punch, Saukra white glaze pen, SU white taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals.

Thank you for stopping in...

Pomegranate Martini Therapy

I CASE'd my CASE (see "For Joanie" below) to make another cocktail themed card for another very special person who has been walking with me on a difficult journey. She loves Pomegranate Martinis, so I bought her a hand painted pomegranate martini glass, and made this card for her. I love the way it turned out. The martini image is from MFT's "Girls Night Out". The pomegranate next to the martini is from the "Chillax" definition from Taylored Expressions Chillax stamp set. It can be used to make a lemon, lime, etc... it worked for a pomegranate if the right colors were used. I colored the images with Copics. The sentiment is a combination of 2 stamps from MFT's Girls Night Out set. I used only the "Here's to" part of one stamp and combined it with the "Group Therapy" stamp to complete the sentiment. It worked so well because the recipient of this card is a social worker/therapist. I used Stardust Stickles on the rim of the glass for some sparkle. Can't you just taste it??

For Joanie

I needed a very special gift for a very special person. She happens to love a good margarita, so I decided to get her a margarita glass from Santa Barbara Design Studios and make her a fabulous card to go along with it. The glass is hand painted and has a recipe on the bottom of the glass. I knew I had to use Taylored Expressions "Chillax" stamp set for the card. In searching for inspiration, I went on Splitcoast and found THIS great card by Denise Marzec. I ended up CASEing her card and came up with this one. I hope Joanie loves it...

Here is the recipe ~
Stamps: Taylored Expressions Chillax
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Sage
Paper: Solar White, Soft Sage, Melon Mambo, Autumn Leaves Chrysanthemum, Taylored Expressions Green Cardstock
Accessories: Copics, Nestabilities, Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Linen Thread, Stardust Stardust Stickles, Sponge Daubers, Pink Button

Thanks for stopping by!

Basketful of Blessings

I did not get to do last week's OCC Challenge which was to to create an Easter theme card/project. So, better late than never, I did it today. I am in love with Taylored Expressions Sweet Spring Collection. Perfect for this challenge. The base of the card is Certainly Celery. The main image is stamped on Solar White with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copics. All of the rest of the papers and embellishments except for the rhinestone "cherry" on Cuppie's head are from Taylored Expressions Easter Key Ingredients. I embossed the brown layer with the Cuttlebug and the Swiss Dots Embossing Folder. I love this time of year - it is full of hope and new life. Happy Easter!