sending holiday cheer...

Hello!!  Hope all is well in your part of the world.  Yesterday we got snow (thankfully it stopped by about 9:00 am), but now we have sunshine, but freezing temperatures.  Hubby works nights and told me this morning that he had to pry the car door open when he got off work at midnight!  Crazy, right??  Anywhoo... we should be back to our normal northwest weather of rain in a few days.  Being that it is so cold this is the perfect time to stay inside and do some crafting.  I made this card for several challenges, Color Throwdown, Addicted to CAS (Dots) and Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday (holiday).

I got this fun Hero Arts stamp, Shari's Tree No. 2, last year and had never inked it up.  Thought it perfect for the current Addicted to CAS challenge.  I inked in a neutral kraft colored ink and then filled in all the circles with buttons and sequins in blue, red, kraft and silver.  The star was covered with glue and then blue glitter glass added.  I die cut the hill using an MFT die, applied glue to the cut edge and then added white glitter glass.  The sentiment is from the HA set "Sending Holiday Cheer".  Finished things off with a few bits of washi tape.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white, kraft; Stamps:  Hero Arts, Ink:  Stampin Up!; Buttons:  PTI; Sequins: Lawn Fawn and Verve; Washi Tape:  My Mind's Eye

thanks a bunch...

Hey friends!  Been making a lot of Christmas cards lately so thought I would switch gears and make something else... a thank you card.  Will be posting this one to AAA Cards (Thankgiving/thankful), ColourQ and Freshly Made Sketches.



I haven't played along with ColourQ in ages and when I saw the colors in the current ColourQ combo the first stamp set that came to mind to use was my SU! Kinda Eclectic.  Love me some collage stamping, lol!  I combined that set with an image from the SU! set French Foliage and a sentiment from the Altenew set Label Love.  Clean and simple... just how I like it!

Wanted to remind you that Top Dog Dies is having a Black Friday sale going on.  Click here for all the details and a link to the Top Dog Dies website.

Thanks for stopping by...

Season's Greetings...

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US celebrating today!  Popping in with a card for the current Merry Monday challenge (green, red and white).  Also popping it into the current Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday (holiday) and Wednesday Challenge (anything goes).

I recently purchased this gorgeous Penny Black cling stamp called Red Star and finally found the time to ink it up.  I colored it with some Ranger Distress ink markers (Barn Red, Fired Brick, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint & Wild Honey), spritzed it with water and then stamped it off.  I spritzed the stamp a second time and then stamped it on some Ranger water color paper (on the smooth side) and this is the result.  Love how it looks.  Added some yellow Stickles to the center of the flower and then edge the piece with Delicata Golden Glitz ink.  The sentiment (comes with the stamp) was stamped using Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black.  Mounted the piece on olive card stock.   Kept it simple to let the image shine.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Old Olive, Ranger water color paper; Stamps:  Penny Black; Inks:  Ranger Distress Markers, Memento Luxe, Delicata Golden Glitz; Yellow Stickles

{create it wednesday}...

Hello friends!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up over on the Precious Remembrance Shop blog.  Hope you will stop by and check it out.  Here is a little peek:

Thanks for stopping by...

Top Dog Dies... black friday sale

Hey there... popping in to let you know that Top Dog dies is having a Black Friday sale going on right now!  Black Friday Sale #1:  15% off orders over $100;  Use coupon code BLACK15.  Black Friday Sale #2:    10% off orders over $40;  Use coupon code BLACK10.    The sale ends Sunday, November 30th. 

Top Dog has lots of fabulous dies so I hope that you will check out this fantastic sale!   Thanks for stopping by...

PTI November Blog Hop... let it snow!

Hello!  The 25th of the month has rolled around again and that means time for a new PTI blog hop.  This one is all about snow!  Here in Western Washington we don't get a lot of snow, except up in the mountains and that is where I prefer it to stay, lol.  Love looking at Mt. Rainier covered in snow on a bright winter day.  But driving in it??  Not so much!  Anyway... on to my card.

I bought the PTI Wonderful Words: Snow set last year and this is the first time I have actually used it.  I stamped the word "snow" and the phrase "let it" from the set in watermark ink, applied white embossing powder and then heat set it.  Once that was done I stamped the snowflakes (from the PTI set Winter Swirls) in three different Distress inks (Chipped Sapphire, Faded Jeans and Salty Ocean) randomly around and over the embossed area.  Stormy Skies was then sponged on over the sentiment and snowflakes.  I finished off the card by adhering some snowflake, light blue and clear sequins.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white & spring rain; Stamps:  PTI; Ink:  VersaMark and Ranger Distress inks;  Sequins:  Lawn Fawn and Pretty Pink Posh

EEKKKK!! I'm a Cover Girl, Again!!

Hello friends!!  Popping in with some exciting news.  My card is on the cover of the Winter 2015 issue of Stampers Sampler Take Ten!!!   I'm doubly excited because I had absolutely no idea that my card would be on the cover.   Here is a photo of the cover:

The stamps are from the Homespun Hearts set from My Favorite Things.  The felt heart was die cut using one of the companion dies.

Thanks for stopping by!!

the magic of Christmas...

Hello friends!!  Back with another Christmas card for my stash.  I have been having a most excellent day and thought I would make a card! (So very happy to be having a most excellent day... over the last two months they have been few and far between!) Will be posting this one to Viva La Verve (week #3) and Time Out (embossing with a twist of sparkle).

Yesterday I made a trip to Joann's to buy a new wreath for my front door (got it for less than 1/2 prices... score!!) and while I was there I picked up this pad of glitter paper from Die Cuts with a View.  Boy is that some sparkly paper!  I die cut the MFT snowflake doily using a piece of champagne colored glitter paper.  Then to tone down all that sparkle I used a more muted color palette for the rest of the card.  The sentiment is from the Verve set Peace on Earth and the little star (or flower) is from the Verve set Holiday Treats.  For the embossing component of the card I ran one of the die cut circles through my Big Shot in my swiss dot embossing folder.  Patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI kraft and Vintage Cream; PP:  My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas; Stamps:  Verve; Ink:  SU! Cherry Cobble;  Swiss Dot embossing folder; Dies:  Spellbinders & My Favorite Things

jingle all the way...

Hello!!  Getting back in the swing of things and got another Christmas card made.  This one I will be posting to Freshly Made Sketches and Merry Monday - Christmas Bells.

Yesterday I got my most recent order from Ellen Hutson and one of the things I received was this cute little Memory Box bells border die... perfect for the Merry Monday challenge!  When I ordered the die I was a bit worried that it might be a little too small so I was glad to see that it was actually pretty substantial.   I hunted around through all my stamps to see if I had a sentiment that had something bell related in it and found this little sentiment from the Reverse Confetti set Tinsel 'n Trim.  The dec. 25th sentiment is from the same set.  The papers are from the My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad Winter Wonderland.  The large tag was die cut using the RC Tag Me Confetti Cut and the banner die is from Verve. 

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white, SU! Baja Breeze, silver mirror cardstock; Stamps:  Reverse Confetti; Dies:  Reverse Confetti, Verve, Memory Box; Ink:  SU! Baja Breeze; PP:  My Mind's Eye

merry & bright...

Hello!!  Wow... long time no post, lol!!  Had another one of those weeks.  The spirit was willing, but my ability to get anything done was seriously lacking!  But today was a better day and I actually got the time to make something.  Posting this one to the current Fusion challenge (love the inspiration photo and went with that), CAS(E) this Sketch, Time Out (embossing with a twist of sparkle) and a2z Scrapbooking (anything goes).

I bought this Hero Arts stamp, Color a Wreath, last year and I just love it because there are so many ways you can use this stamp.   Buttons, sequins, coloring... the options are endless.  I decided to emboss the wreath and then fill in all the little circles and bow with Stickles.  I embossed the bow a second time so that I could trim out and pop that one on the wreath.  The sentiment (also embossed) is from the Hero Arts set Joy to All.   There is a whole lot of sparkle going on, don't you think?  For more shine I mounted the finished piece on silver mirror cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; silver mirror; Stamps:  Hero Arts; Ink:  VersaMark watermark ink; Embossing Powder:  Stampin Up! pewter; Glitter glue:  Stickles Silver and Platinum, Stampin Up! Red

oh holy night...

Hello friends!!  Trying to get back into card making mode.  It has been a little hard lately, but today I really felt like making something... so I did!  I used the Viva La Verve week 2 sketch for my layout.  I will also be posting this to the current Verve Diva Dare to use vellum and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge:  seeing stars.  Posting this to The Card Concept (thanks for letting me know it would be a good fit Kristie!) in the clean and layered category.

I used the beautiful Verve set Peace on Earth, as well as the Verve Starry die.  The patterned papers are from the Teresa Collins 6x6 pad "Hello My Name Is".  I love red, white and kraft for a Christmas card.   The circles were die cut using Spellbinders plain circle dies and the banner with a MFT fishtail flag stax die.  The ink is SU!'s Cherry Cobbler.  I added a bit of Crystal Stickles to the centers of the stars for some added sparkle. 

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white and kraft; PP:  Teresa Collins; Stamps:  Verve; Dies:  Verve, MFT and Spellbinders; Vellum:  Close to my Heart; Ink:  Stampin Up!; Crystal Stickles

thankful for you...

Hello friends!!  Wanted to say thank you to everyone who left me such sweet comments on my last post.  They have really helped me get through this hard time.   I made this card earlier in the week for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge and after everything that happened since then I thought it was the perfect card to post as a thank you.

The stamps are from the Precious Remembrance Shop set Fall Colors.  I used the emboss/resist technique.  The leaves were stamped with watermark ink, clear embossing powder applied and then heat set.  After that was done I sponged on Stampin Up!'s Calypso Coral and Cameo Coral inks.  The sentiment was stamped using SU!'s Crumb Cake and the edges inked with some Calypso Coral.  Before adhering the sentiment strip I added some burlap twine.  Finished things off with a few clear sequins.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; SU! Crumb Cake; Stamps:  Precious Remembrance Shop; Inks:  VersaMagic watermark ink, SU! inks; burlap twine; Pretty Pink Posh clear sequins (small, medium & large)

my heart is very sad...

Today I had to say goodbye to my sweet kitty, Cleo.  I shall miss her terribly, but she will always be in my heart.

 

{create it wednesday}...

Hello friends!!  Dropping in to let you know that I have a post up at the PRS blog.  I hope you will take the time to check it out.  Here is a little sneak peek:

Thanks for stopping by...

snowflakes... in paris

Hello friends!!   Popping in with a card that I made last night for two challenges, but unfortunately I couldn't get a decent photo of it so I will only be able to post it to one as the other challenge closed this morning.   The color combo is from the soon to close Color Throwdown #317 and the layout is from the now closed Freshly Made Sketches. 

After seeing the fabulous card that November Color Throwdown guest designer Petra created that incorporated the Eiffel Tower I knew I wanted to do something similar.  If you haven't checked out Petra's blog you really should as she is a fabulous card designer!  I used several different stamp sets (three in fact) to make this card.  The Eiffel Tower image is from the SU! set Artistic Etchings, the Penny Black set, a wish for peace, and the Verve set Holiday Treats.  The light blue I used is a little too light I think. 

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white & black; SU! Wisteria Wonder; Inks:  SU! Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky & Memento Tuxedo Black; Stamps:  Penny Black, Verve & Stampin Up!; Baker's Twine:  Stampin Up!; Crystal Stickles

merry christmas...

Hello friends!!  Popping in with another Christmas card!  Trying to get my stash built up before December arrives!  This card is for the current Viva la Verve sketch (and color) challenge, as well as the current Festive Friday.

 

I think this is the first time I have ever used one of the VLV color combos.  Julee always picks beautiful combos, but this one (kraft, red and green) really grabbed me.  With this card I combined elements from the beautiful sample cards provided by Julee and Maureen.  I loved how Julee used Peaceful Medallions to create a Christmas card and I loved Maureen's idea to use snowflakes for the round element in the sketch... so I used both ideas!  The sentiment is from the Verve set Holiday Treats and the snowflake from the Verve set Unto Us.  I made this last night and hadn't checked the Festive Friday blog.  When I did this morning I felt my card worked well for that challenge to as the inspiration photos has elements of kraft, red and green.  The patterned paper is from last year's Stampin Up! Occasions catalog.   I ink distressed all the paper and cardstock pieces using Close to My Heart Bamboo ink.  It has a slight green tint to it that I thought worked well with the colors.   I'm not sure why when I ink distress anything that has been stamped with Cherry Cobbler that color gets picked up, but it does.  I have even tried letting things dry overnight and it still happens, but the good thing is I do like the look, lol!

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; SU! Cherry Cobbler; PP:  SU! Season of Style; Stamps:  Verve Peaceful Medallions, Holiday Treats & Unto Us; Inks:  SU! Cherry Cobbler; Memento Bamboo Leaves; CTMH Bamboo; Dies:  Spellbinders plain circles

Precious Remembrance Shop Blog Hop!

Hello PRS fans!!!  Today the PRS design team is showcasing a brand new PRS stamp set called "Joy"!! YAY!!  Love it when we get to showcase a new PRS set!  If you got here from the blog of the super talented Geri, then you are on the right track.  If not, head over to the PRS blog and start the hop from the beginning.  At the end of this post I will have all the details about how you can win this fabulous new set. 

I went for a clean and simple look for my card.  I used some non-traditional colors for my card and so I will be posting this to the current Less is More challenge.  I started by stamping the sentiment strip that says "Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year" multiple times (8 to be exact!) using aqua ink.  I then stamped the wreath in pink and then over stamped it using watermark ink.  Iridescent embossing powder was applied and then heat set.  I die cut the wreath using some Spellbinders plain circle dies.  The wreath was attached and the sentiment stamped underneath with black ink.  To finish things off I added some tiny pink sequins (from Verve) and an aqua baker's twine bow.

Now for the details on how to win this set! 

Subscribe to the PRS blog (if you haven't yet);
Follow/like PRS on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram; and
Leave a little comment love on all the design team posts and the PRS blog.  Commenting closes on Saturday, November 8th.   A winner will be randomly chosen from all the comments.

Now... off you go to the next stop the blog of my teamie, Andrea.  I know she will have something absolutely fabulous to share with you!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; SU! Smoky Slate; Stamps:  Precious Remembrance Shop Joy; Inks:  SU! Pretty in Pink & Pool Party, Memento Tuxedo Black; VersaMark watermark ink; Embossing Powder:  Judikins Iridescent; Sequins:  Verve; Baker's Twine:  My Mind's Eye

warm wishes...

Hello friends!  A quick post today... wasn't actually planning on posting, but this card that I made for the current CAS challenge at Splitcoaststampers works for the current Merry Monday challenge (use browns, tans, creams), as well as the current AEI{heart}U challenge (holiday).

I started by die cutting the AE winter wreath from some My Mind's Eye woodgrain patterned paper and then stamping it with the corresponding wreath image using Hero Art's Latte ink.  All the little bits were die cut, stamped and added to the wreath.  I watermark ink and gold embossing powder for the bow.  When I die cut the wreath from the patterned paper I wasn't sure how it would look, but I really like the finished product.  It gives it a bit more of a rustic look I think. 
I die cut the panel using my AE dotted die, added the wreath and the sentiment.  Mounted everything on a dark chocolate card base.   I know the Merry Monday challenge was to use cream, brown and tan so I hope it is okay that I have the little bits of red and green.

Thanks for stopping by...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI; Stamps and dies:  Avery Elle; Inks:  Hero Arts and Memento