grateful to call you friend...

 Well, hello!  It has been a while since I last posted.  Ten days in fact.  I don't think I have ever gone ten days without posting something.   I had thought I would post the card I'm posting today last week, but I didn't get around to making it until earlier this week.  I will be posting this to Just Us Girls (anything does with dies), Color Hues and Pinkfresh Studio August challenge.  So, here we go, lol!

A few months ago I purchased the Pinkfresh Studio Art Deco Floral Arch stamp, die and stencil set.  It was one of those buy the stamp set and get the stencils and dies free.  Couldn't pass that deal up now could I?  I used the Color Hues combo of navy and teal for arches, stems and flowers.   The challenge for the PFS August challenge is beautiful backgrounds.   The PFS background die I used is no longer available (I think it is called Sparkle Diamond), but I absolutely love it and think it makes a beautiful background for the floral arch.  I used some of the navy blue ink that was left on my blending brush on the top of the panel before adding the die cut arch.  I die cut a second blank arch and adhered to the top one to provide a little more stability.  I stamped and die cut the sentiment (cutting a second blank for the sentiment, as well) and adhered it to the card front.  I finished with some tiny dark blue gems that I had in my stash.  The inks used are from Altenew.  I used navy (appropriately), Galactic Stream (dark teal) and Teal Cave (medium teal).

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day.

Guest Designing for Not 2 Shabby!

Hello!  Popping in to share my first of four cards I will be sharing this month as a guest designer for Not 2 Shabby Shop.  They have lots of fun and playful branded products in their shop, as well as products from other companies.   You can check them out here.  I was contacted by them a few months ago about guesting for them and said yes!   This month I will be creating with products from their monthly paper pad club, as well as using some of their preprinted sentiment strips.  Let's look at the first card I created.

 Aren't those little turtles just the cutest things?  This card will be going to one of my great nieces for sure!  I did make a bit of a mistake in that I should have put the smallest turtle (the one with the ice cream cone) in the center, but sometimes you can still make a rookie mistake, lol.   The turtles are from the Sweet & Playful Turtles ephemera pack and the papers are from the Cute Sea Critters and Playful Prints 6x6 paper pads.  I used the layout from Freshly Made Sketches (did flip it upside down, tho) for the card.  Finished with the sentiment (from Simon Says Stamp) that I stamped on the same paper I used for the main background.  I will also be posting this over at Seize the Birthday as it does have the topping of sweet treats!  This card just makes me smile.  How about you?

Well, that is it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

best day ever...

 Hello!  Popping in with a quick share of a card that I made for a couple of challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches and Card Concept.  I haven't participated in either of these challenges in a while.  Just haven't had the motivation to make cards (except for obligations) lately.   Trying to change that state of mind, lol!  Let's look at what I made. 

The FMS sketch is a simple one so that made things a bit easier for me.  Using chipboard and patterned paper helped speed things along, as well.  The theme at Card Concept is seaside/nautical and since I had recently made a couple of nautical theme cards, the 49 and Market Summer Porch products were still fresh in my mind.  Card is pretty straight forward:  Clean and simple with a few layers.  Die cut patterned paper to feature the sailboats, added the chipboard lighthouse and sentiment, a couple of pieces of cello tape and the butterfly.  Added that piece to more patterned paper, a cardstock base and boom... I was done!

Well, that is it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Cherry Blossoms

 Hello!   Can't believe it is already the end of February and spring will soon be here.  To be honest we haven't had much of a winter here in the Pacific Northwest.   I have a begonia on my front porch that is still green and blooming!   And because we have had a mild winter the cherry blossoms are already blooming on the Japanese cherry trees!    But enough talk about our non-existent winter I'm here to talk about a card that I made for the following challenges:  Just Us Girls (mood board), the Paper Players (sketch) and one more entry for the Pinkfresh Studio February challenge (I went with the anything goes option).   Let's look at what I made.

My sweet bloggy friend, Lisa, picked the mood board this month as a member of the JUGs team and she picked a photo of a yummy pink mug of hot cocoa.  I don't have any mug stamps, but I did zero in on the branch of what looked to me like cherry blossoms in the background as my inspiration along with the color pink.  I used the appropriately named Pinkfresh Studio Cherry Blossom die and stencil set.  I wanted soft colors so I used the residual ink left on the blending brushes I use with pink, green, brown and yellow distress oxide inks.  Love the soft look that provides.  I then die cut everything and assembled my little branch of cherry blossoms.  I used the Pinkfresh Studio postage stamp dies to create the elements of the sketch using white, pink and pink glitter cardstock.  I adhered everything to my card base and then finished with a gold foil Memory Box sentiment tab.   

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

grateful for all you do...

 Hello!  Popping in on this cold, but sunny day to share a card that I made for the current JUGs challenge, as well as the Pinkfresh Studio monthly challenge.  I haven't participated in a PFS challenge in a very long time.  The challenge is year in review and so I went with April:  Flower Frenzy and May: Frame it Up.  The JUGs challenge is stenciling.  The SSS Wednesday challenge is also stenciling so I will add it to that gallery, too.  Let's have a look at what I created.

Back at the beginning of January, PFS had a weekly special of buy the die set For Never Give Up and get the stamp or press plate and stencil set free.  I couldn't resist especially since the image is so pretty and who wouldn't like buying one product and getting two more in the process!  I used PFS inks in Coral Reef, Passionfruit, Berrylious and Grassy Knoll to stencil the image.    After diecutting the image and the sentiment I pulled out the PFS Dotted Fancy Frames and Folk Edge Rectangles to create my backgound.  I used some light coral cardstock to die cut the thin frame using two of the Dotted Fancy Frames together and then glued it to the white base layer.  Since I'm in my "no dimension era" I glued everything flat to my card base.

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Friend... thankful for you

 Hello!  Popping in to share a card for a few challenges:  Just Us Girls (die week - leaves), Sunday Stamps (sketch), Color Throwdown (colors) and Die Cut Divas (anything goes).  Let's have a look at what I made.

So happy when I saw the challenge at JUGs was to use leaf dies.  I love leaf dies as they are so versatile.  You can use them any time of the year, but especially during the fall!   Because I wanted to make a card using the Sunday Stamp sketch I knew I needed a smaller scale leaf die and pulled out a favorite from Simon Says Stamp.  I have had them for along time and don't remember the name.  Not sure if they even carry them anymore, either.  I die cut them from white cardstock and then inked them up with the colors from CTD (orange, red and green).  I used some small postage stamp dies from Waffle Flower and die cut kraft cardstock to use to layer on my leaves.   The main panel was die cut with a Pinkfresh Studio postage stamp die.  I almost added little postmark images to the smaller stamps, but got sidetracked at one point and didn't go back to that idea.  Layered the postage die cuts on to the main panel and then added the leaves.  Finished with a sentiment from a Simon Says Stamp set called Cozy Autumn.  

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

fall themed thinking of you card...

 Hello!  I'm popping in with a card for the August Pinkfresh Studio challenge.  The theme is pattern play and I thought that meant patterned paper.  Oops, I was wrong, lol!  Good thing the challenge is anything goes.  Have a look at what I made.

Because I thought the theme was playing with patterned paper I immediately thought of my nice stash of 49 and Market papers.  Fall is coming (even though it is kind of warm here in the PNW!) and that is where my mind went.  So, I got out my 49 and Market Vintage Orchard patterned paper as it has a fall feel to it.  The next product I pulled was my PFS Berry Branch stamp, die and stencil suite of products.  The stamp set is actually a Christmas themed one, but I think I have used the stamp for more fall themed card than Christmas ones, lol!  I love that the stamp is versatile like that.  I stamped the image using PFS Doe ink and then used distress inks in Bundled Sage, Forest Moss, Scattered Straw and Aged Mahagony for the stenciling.   Once the stenciling was done I die cut the image with the matching die.  The patterned paper was die cut using a PFS Folk Art Rectangle die and then layered on a card base.  The sentiment is from the PFS Amazing Things stamp set and was stamped in the Doe ink.  I die cut the sentiment and additional layers to give the sentiment a bit more stability.  Simply layered on the elements and I was done!

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Patterned Paper Play...

 Hello!  Popping in to share a card for the Pinkfresh Studio monthly challenge that closes in just a few hours!  Here is what I made.

Used lots of papers from the 49 and Market Kaleidoscope collection for the card.  I stamped the entire image on one piece of patterned paper and then the flowers on another.  Die cut them out and then layered them.  Used the PFS elegant circles and rectangles dies to layer behind the flowers and then die cut white cardstock with the largest PFS postage edge rectangle.  Stamped the sentiment, die cut it and then layered all the elements on a light green cardstock base.  

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Birthday cards...

 Hello!  Stopping in to share a couple of birthday cards that I made using products from the 49 and Market Summer Porch collection.  It is one of my favorites.   Let's have a look at what I created.

I will be sending this one off to Freshly Made Sketches.  It is a very simple take on the sketch facilitated by the fact that I could use patterned paper to create the corner elements on the sketch.  The center portion was easy as I just added a frame, the flower pot and butterfly laser cuts.  The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp set that I stamped on a scrap of Summer Porch patterned paper and die cut with the matching die.  

The second card is for the JUGs challenge.  This week is word week and the word is water.  Let's have a look.

This card is on it's way to Scottsdale, Arizona.  My niece recently graduated from the University of Washington - Tacoma with a finance degree and got her first job at an organization located in Scottsdale.  She starts her job on July 14th and her birthday is July 15th!  I'm hoping this card reminds her a little bit of the Pacific Northwest.   For this one I used the largest postage edge die from Pinkfresh Studio to die cut the patterned paper from the Summer Porch collection.  I added the postage stamp in the one corner and the leafy stem, berries and butterfly in the other.  The sentiment is from the same Simon Says Stamp set I used for the first card.  I finished off the inside with another sentiment.  Another super simple card.  

Well, that is it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

wishing you...

 Hello!  Popping in with a quick post to share a card for a few challenges.   Those challenges are Color Throwdown, Sunday Stamps and Pinkfresh Studio.  Let's have a look at what I made.

The sketch at Sunday Stamps is a fun one so I couldn't miss playing along. Even though there is a theme for the Pinkfresh Studio June challenge the challenges are actually now anything goes so I went with that and used PFS products.   For the three elements in the sketch, I used the Pinkfresh Studio Beautiful group of products.   The stamp set has two large stamps that contain three floral stems each.  I only wanted to use the floral stem you see on my card, so I cut three strips of white cardstock and then stamped each image that way.  It was simple and very quick.  Then I used the stencils to color my flowers orange and the leaves green.   Once that was done, I die cut each image.  To bring in the turquoise I first die cut a PFS postage edge die and then ink blended the edges with Peacock Feather distress oxide ink.  The flowers were arranged so I could determine placement of my sentiment.   That is from a different PFS stamp set.  Once the sentiment was stamped, I glued on my stems and then added Nuvo drops in Morning Dew to some of the little flowers.   

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

last minute cards...

 Hello!  Popping in with a couple of cards that I made at the last minute for two challenges:  Pinkfresh Studio May challenge and Altenew monthly challenge.  Let's have look at what I made.

My first card is for the Altenew challenge.  Back at the end of April I received a surprise in the mail.  A personalized stamp set from Altenew!  That is the stamp I used for my card.  Sadly as I was stamping the image I realized that there is a flaw in the image.  I was able to fix it so I will still be able to use the stamp in the future.  I stamped the image on watercolor cardstock using VersaFine CLAIR Nocturne ink, applied clear embossing powder and heat set.  I colored the image with Tonic Studio Aqua Flow pens.   Once the image was dry I die cut it with a Memory Box arched die.  Two more of the arched dies were cut and adhered behind the main one.  I adhered the panel to the kraft cardstock base and then added my sentiment.  I used the Altenew Fancy Thanks die and cut it from glossy black cardstock from Memory Box.   Two additional layers were cut and adhered for a bit more dimension.  Will add this one to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge. 

My next card is for the Pinkfresh Studio monthly challenge that is closing tonight!  Yikes... talk about last minute, lol!  Let's have a look.

The challenge at PFS is frame it up so I pulled out a couple of my favorite PFS stand alone dies and the pretty Amazing Things suite of products.  I used the Fancy Rectangle Frames and Nested Rectangles:  Postage Edge dies to frame up my floral image.  I stamped the image using Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copic markers.  I layered up the frames and then added the die cut image and the sentiment.  The Fance Rectangle was die cut from pretty white glitter cardstock from Simon Says Stamp.

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

today calls...

 Hello!  Can't believe that March is almost over!  Time sure is whipping by, isn't it?  Got some new products from Pinkfresh Studio and I just had to make a card with them.  This one will be going to Just Us Girls (stenciling), Color Throwdown, Pinkfresh Studio April challenge (flowers) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.   Let's have a look.

I started with a background created with the Interlaced Diamonds die.  I die cut it three times and layered them together.  This was added to a light gray cardstock base.  Another new purchase was the Playful Petals suite of products.  I stamped the flower in black and then stenciled the flowers using several shades of blue PFS inks.   One of the things I liked about this set of products is that there is a separate die that die cuts the three main flowers.  I stamped only the two largest, stenciled them and then die cut to pop up on the main image.  Two shades of PFS green inks were used for the leaves and the little stems.  Die cut the piece and layered it on the card front.  The two large flowers were popped up with thin foam squares.  A little green twine bow was added and then the sentiment was layered on top.  Thought about adding some gems but decided against it.  

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

grateful in green...

 Hello friends!  Popping in to share a card that I made for the current Just Us Girls challenge and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to be inspired by green, as well as the Pinkfresh Studio March challenge.  PFS has gone to an anything goes challenge, but they do have additional inspiration.  I didn't use the inspiration.   Let's have a look at what I made.

I recently purchased the PFS Grateful Greenery stamp and die set and I was determined to use it as soon as I could.  When I saw that the challenge at JUGs was the word green, I immediately grabbed them and got to work.   I stamped the graceful branch with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and did some simple Copic coloring using two shades of light green.  I then pulled out my pack of 49 and Market Kaleidoscope papers and found one that toned well with the Copic colors.  I die cut that with a PFS Nested Rectangles:  Postage Edge die.  I found some light green cardstock that also toned well with the patterned paper and die cut that with the largest Postage Edge die.   I then pulled out another PFS die set called Curvy Leaves and die cut more of the patterned paper and vellum.  Then I got to layering all the elements as you see.  I finished off the card with the green bow, sentiment and tiny drops of Morning Dew Nuvo drops.    I love the bright and fresh greens that I used.

That's it for me!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

birthday flowers

 Hello!  I'm back with a card that I made for Color Throwdown and the Paper Players.  Let's have a look at what I created. 

I'm still in birthday card mode so I made another one, lol!  For this one I used the Pinkfresh Studio Beautiful Blooms stamps and dies.  I stamped the images on watercolor cardstock with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink and then applied clear embossing powder.  The images were heat set and then I did very simple watercoloring using a Tonic Studio Aqua Flow pen in Aqua Splash (teal) and then Jane Davenport watercolors in pink and green.  I die cut the images with the matching dies and arranged them on white cardstock that I die cut with the Pinkfresh Studio Dotted Fancy Frames die.   I went with a patterned paper background that had all the colors from the ColorThrowdown palette in it.  I really like how it looks.  I finished with a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp EZ Strips Birthday stamp set.  Will be adding this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

happiest birthday...

 Hello from snowy Western Washington!  Thankfully in the lower Puget Sound area where I live there isn't a lot of it.  Rain is set to return soon.  That is the PNW!  I have a card today for a few challenges:  Color Hues/Inkspirational collaboration challenge and Pinkfresh Studio February challenge.  Let's have a look at what I made.

My sweet friend, Greta, was the lucky winner of the Pinkfresh Studio essentials dies release and she was so kind and offered the Blanket Stitched Bracket dies set to me.  I was intrigued by these dies and the possibilities they presented so I said "yes"!    After a rather long trip from her home in Oregon to my home in Washington (a trip that should take about 2 days but took 7 days this time!) they landed in my mailbox on Friday, January 31st.  I immediately put them to work making my card using the colors from Color Hues/Inkspirational.  I pulled out my favorite pink cardstock (Hero Hues Peony) and a dark red Memory Box cardstock and die cut my layers using the small Blanket Stitched Bracket die.  To provide a finished look I die cut some of the dark red using a label die to create the stop strip.  Everything was layered together and then adhered with glue and thin foam squares to a white cardstock base. 

Then I got started on the second part of my card and this is where the Pinkfresh Studio challenge comes in.  They recently changed their monthly challenge to anything goes, but they will still have colors and a theme that you can use on your project.  The theme this month is Transparent Treasures so I decided to use some thick vellum combined with touches of the pink and red cardstock for my cherry blossom branch from Pinkfresh Studio.  As I was working on the cherry blossom branch, I wasn't sure if it would work, but once I had it completed, I was really pleased with the look.  That branch was adhered using glue and then I finished with the sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp EZ Strips Birthday stamp and die set.

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!