happy birthday

Hey!!  Have a card to share for a few challenges:  Color Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.   Over a month ago I bought the Altenew Bamboo Roses stamp set and it has been sitting out waiting for me to use it.   I finally got the chance to ink it up to create my card.  I stamped the flowers in VersaFine Vintage Sepia on a panel of Ranger watercolor cardstock.  I initially tried to color them with my ZIGs, but that turned into a disaster so I switched over to my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor paints and got a little bit better results.  After the panel was finished I trimmed it down per the sketch.  The panel was backed by some dark brown textured cardstock and a thin strip of green was added.  I stamped the sentiment (from A Jillian Vance Design) on vellum and heat set with white embossing powder.  I stamped one more flower, colored it and then trimmed it out when it was dry.  That was adhered along with the sentiment to the card.

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white, brown textured, green; Stamps:  Altenew and A Jillian Vance Design; Inks:  VersaFine, VersaMark; Watercolor Medium:  Kuretake Gansai Tambi; Embossing powder:  Hero Arts

it's wednesday... it must be ajvd...

Hello!!  Stopping in to let you know that my regular Wednesday post is up on the AJVD blog. Here is a little peek:

Hope you will hop over for a look.

birthday mandala...

Hey... popping in with another birthday card.  This time for the current Where Creativity Meets C9 challenge (layering), as well as the current Color Throwdown (which closes in a few hours!), CAS(E) this Sketch and Time Out challenge (celebrations).  When I saw the CTS layout I thought it would be perfect to use with the Concord & 9th Many Mandalas set that I recently purchased.  Since the Where Creativity Meets C9 challenge was to layer I thought layering my stamps would be perfect. I started by inking up the C9 Barnwood Background stamp with a mint colored ink and stamped the background.  I then stamped one of the mandalas on the panel with teal ink.  The panel was then die cut with a rectangle die.  The second mandala was stamped in purple ink and then die cut with the matching die.  I layered that mandala on top, added the sentiment and the dark pink enamel dots.  To help things pop a bit more I die cut a mat from black cardstock.  Adhered everything to a light gray cardstock base.

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white, SSS fog; Stamps:  Concord & 9th; Dies:  Concord & 9th and A Jillian Vance Design; Inks:  Hero Arts, VersaFine Onyx Black; My Mind's Eye enamel dots

PTI June Blog Hop...

Hello!!  June 25th has rolled around and that means time for the PTI blog hop!!  And we have another beautiful photo to inspire us.   I decided to go with the ombre' look of the jars and also use the colors found in the flowers.  The photo just said "summer" to me and since I have never used my PTI Friendship Jar Summer stamp set (sad... I know!) I got it out to make my card.  I stamped the jar on watercolor paper and then colored the water with a blue ZIG marker.  Once that was done I added the stems using Gathered Twigs and Mowed Lawn distress inks.  The hydrangea was stamped on watercolor paper with watermark ink and embossed with white embossing powder.  I then very carefully watercolored the image with pink and green ZIGs.  Once it was dry I die cut it with the matching die.  The jar was grounded by using a brown ZIG marker and blending out the color.  I then die cut the panel with the large die from the Mix and Mat Herringbone die set.  I decided to add the little photo corners using kraft cardstock.  The hydrangea was adhered, the sentiment (from Cutting Garden) was stamped and then the piece was adhered to a light gray cardstock base.   I will also add this to the current Time Out challenge of celebrations.

Have a wonderful day and happy hopping!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  SSS Fog, SU! Crumb Cake; Stamps and Dies:  PaperTrey Ink; Inks:  VersaFine Onyx Black and Smoky Gray, Gathered Twigs and Mowed Lawn Distress inks, VersaMark watermark ink; Embossing powder:  Hero Arts white; Watercolor medium:  ZIG clean color markers

you float my boat...

Hello!!!  I'm back with another nautical themed card. This one is for the current MFT sketch challenge and the current MFT color challenge.   The super cute stamps and dies are from MFT and called You Float My Boat.   Aren't those little sail boats just the cutest???  I die cut the little boats and then stamped them in the colors from the MFT color challenge.  The white panel was die cut using an MFT mini scallop rectangle die and then stenciled with the waves using a Hero Arts stencil and the two blue inks that I used to stamp the boat and sails.  I also added some clouds using the same light blue ink... hard to see in my photo though!  I adhered the boats and then matted the rectangle with red and gray cardstock.  The sentiment was stamped in gray and then piece was adhered to my card base.  I also stamped the little anchor, die cut it and then adhered it to the boat.

Have a wonderful day!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  white, red, gray; Stamps:  My Favorite Things, Dies:  My Favorite Things and A Jillian Vance Design, Inks:  Hero Arts, Stampin Up!

summer coffee lover's blog hop...

Hey!!  Happy summer!!  Are you hopping along with the Summer Coffee Lover's blog hop???  I am even though I'm not a coffee drinker!!  Lately my drink of choice has been a London Fog tea latte... super yummy!!  Anyway... I do like joining in on the Coffee Lover's blog hop fun as it gives me an opportunity to get out the coffee/tea related stamps and dies that I own!  Today I combined stamps and dies from two of the sponsors for the hop:  Clearly Whimsy Stamps and A Jillian Vance Design.  I used the current Fusion challenge to create my card.  I put together the sketch with the inspiration photo and created a patriotic cup of coffee!!   And since I used patterned paper for my little coffee cup I will also be adding this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.   I stamped the cup with red ink and then die cut it with the matching die.  The top of the cup and the wrap were die cut from this fun patriotic patterned paper that I found in my stash.   Did some second generation stamping using the coffee ring image from the AJVD But First Coffee stamp set and then added the sentiment (from the same set) using red ink.   

Have a wonderful day... and happy hopping!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  white and red; Patterned paper:  Bo Bunny??; Stamps:  Clearly Whimsy, A Jillian Vance Design; Dies:  Clearly Whimsy and A Jillian Vance Design; Inks:  Hero Arts and My Favorite Things

you're swell...

Hey!!  Summer is here, the boys are out of school and that means spending time with them is a priority, but  I did get a bit of crafty time and made a card for a couple of challenges.   Recently got some happy mail from Reverse Confetti and used my new things to create my card for their June Sketch for You to Try.  I'm going to add this to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to use patterned paper, as well.  I cut the Reverse Confetti quick card panel into three pieces and adhered to a white cardstock panel.  The tag (from Reverse Confetti) was die cut from white cardstock and the overlay (another RC die) was cut from another RC quick card then the two where adhered together.  I used another quick card to die cut the circle.  The whale was stamped and die cut with the matching die.  Finished up by stamping the sentiment, die cutting with the matching die and then layering everything up.  A twine bow finished everything off.

Have a wonderful day!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  white and aqua; Stamps:  Reverse Confetti; Dies:  Reverse Confetti and A Jillian Vance Design; Inks:  Hero Arts and VersaFine; Twine:  Stampin Up!

it's wednesday... it must be ajvd!

Hello friends!!  Popping to let you know that I have a post up on the AJVD blog.  Here is a little peek of my card:

Have a wonderful day!

final guest post for precious remembrance shop

Hi friends!!  Stopping in to let you know that my final guest post is up over on the Precious Remembrance Shop blog.  I have had a lot of fun guesting with PRS!  I hope you will take the time to head over to the blog for a look at my card!

more camp create!

Have a couple more card for MFT's camp create.  The first card is for the shaker challenge (day 3).  Shaker cards were always a problem for me, but when Stampin Up! came out with foam adhesive strips that are perfect for making shakers I started to become more comfortable making them.  I combined the day 3 challenge with the current MFT sketch challenge to create my card.  The colors are from the current Color Throw Down.  I created my shaker element by using two of the smaller Jumbo Fishtail Flag Stax dies to cut the frame.  The larger die was then used to cut the acetate window.  After layering all of the elements on the main panel I adhered the acetate window and the foam adhesive strips to the shaker frame, poured some sequins into the center of the circle and then adhered the frame.   I die cut the sweet MFT rose die from green and navy cardstock, adhered it to the shaker element.  The sentiment from Geometric Greenery was embossed on vellum in black, die cut with an MFT Fishtail Flag Stax die and adhered.

The second card is for the bonus challenge of dry embossing.  I love embossing with my dies, but always forget to use the technique.  Then I have remember all over again what my sandwich is for embossing with dies!!  I used an older MFT vine die to emboss the white cardstock and then die cut it with the MFT Inside Outside rectangle die.   The little flowers (from the Mini Modern Blooms set) were stamped in the current colors from the MFT color challenge, die cut and adhered.  The panel was adhered to a light gray cardstock panel and then to a white cardstock base.  The sentiment is from Geometric Greenery and was stamped on a little banner that was die cut with a Fishtail Flag Stax die.  Super simple.  Going to add this to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of embossing.  Hoping to be back with a card for the Camp Create glitter challenge.  

Have a wonderful day.

Supplies:  Cardstock:  white, MFT blue and green; SSS fog, SU! aqua, kraft, vellum; Stamps:  My Favorite Things; Dies:  My Favorite Things and A Jillian Vance Design; Ink:  Hero Arts, My Favorite Things, Stampin Up!, VersaMark; Sequins:  Impress Rubber Stamps

MFT Camp Create

Hello!! Stopping in with a couple of cards for MFT's Camp Create that is going on this week.  First up is a card for the day two challenge to use the resist technique.  I used the MFT Geometric along with my Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Oxide inks.  I arranged the leaves on my MISTI and then stamped then using watermark ink.  I applied clear embossing powder and heat set.  Once that was done I used an ink blending tool to apply the inks making sure to wipe off any ink from the embossed images.  The panel was splattered with water and die cut once it was dry.  I embossed two leaves on white cardstock, did some ink blending with the same colors and then die cut with the matching dies.  The sentiment from Geometric Greenery was heat embossed in black on vellum, trimmed down and then adhered with the two leaves.  Going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of embossing.

The second card is for the day one challenge of  watercoloring.  I decided to create a galaxy watercolor background.  When I finished the card I wasn't super thrilled with the background, but as it dried I liked it more and more.   I stamped the stars from the MFT set Stars Above in VersaFine Onyx Black before applying all of my colors.  I used my Gansai Tambi watercolors for the panel.  Once it was dry I die cut it down and added splatters of white pain for the stars.   As I was deciding how to finish off the card I remembered that MFT design team member Stephanie shared a technique on the Ellen Hutson blog for how to emboss on glitter cardstock so I decided to give it a try.  It is super easy using MFT's glitter cardstock.  I used silver with black embossing powder.  The star was then die cut with the matching die.  The sentiment was embossed on vellum in black, die cut with an MFT Stitched Fishtail Flag Stax die and then adhered along with the star.  

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies:  Cardstock: white; MFT tropical teal and silver glitter, Ranger watercolor, vellum; Stamps:  My Favorite Things; Dies:  My Favorite Things and A Jillian Vance Design; Inks:  Ranger, VersaMark and VersaFine; Embossing powder:  clear and black; Watercolor medium:  Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors

it's wednesday... it must be ajvd...

Happy Wednesday... stopping by to let you know that my Wednesday post is up on the AJVD blog.  Here is a peek:

Today happens to be Jillian's birthday and in honor of that AJVD is having a sale... YAY!!  You can save 18% off of your order of $18.00 or more!!! (Does not apply to items in the 50% off category.)   Happy shopping and have a wonderful day!

super awesome...

Hello!!!  Been awhile since I last posted... been crazy busy with my boy's graduation.   It was awesome, but I'm so happy (and so is he!) that it is over and things can get back to normal!  After my son's graduation party on Sunday I finally got a chance to make a couple of cards.  This one is for the current MFT sketch challenge (which is closing in just a few hours!!) and the current MFT color challenge.  I pulled out the MFT Flashy Florals set to create my flower and leaves.  I was a little worried about using the blue and plum colors for the leaves, but I really like how it turned out.  I think using the neutral gray helps keep things from getting too crazy.  The gray was die cut with the MFT Stitched Mini Scallop rectangle die and the banner with an MFT Stitched Fishtail Flag Stax die.  The sentiment is from the MFT Amazing stamp set.  I used one of my favorite ways to add a sentiment by embossing it on vellum.  I love how the vellum allows the colors to peek through!   I'm also going to add this to the current Flower challenge of anything goes.

Have a wonderful day!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  white - PTI, light gray - Simon Says Stamp; Stamps and Dies:  My Favorite Things; Inks:  My Favorite Things and Stampin Up!

its wednesday... it must be ajvd!

Hello!!  It's Wednesday and that means I have a post up over on the AJVD blog today.  Below is a little peek of my card.

Have a great day!!

guesting at precious remembrance shop...

Hey... stopping in to let you know that I have a post up over on the Precious Remembrance Shop blog today.  I hope you will hop over for a look!!  Here is a little peek of my card.   Have a great day!!

as you graduate...

Hello!!  Quick post of a card that I made for my friend's daughter who graduated this last weekend.   I combined the beautiful floral image from PTI's Garden Grace with a sentiment from a stamp set from Our Daily Bread Designs called appropriately... As You Graduate.  I used my mini MISTI to stamp the floral image.  Because the die that matches the large floral image from Garden Grace is not open in the middle, but solid I had to die cut the piece first.  I then use some repositionable adhesive on the back so that I could have it stay in place as I did the stamping and it worked like a charm!!  I trimmed down a panel of white cardstock and stamped the sentiment off to one side.  A strip of gold glitter cardstock was adhered to my card base and then I attached the panel and the floral piece.   I think I will add this to the current Flower challenge of anything goes.   I'm also going to add this to the current Time Out challenge to be inspired by a quote.

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  white; gold glitter; Stamps:  PaperTrey Ink and Our Daily Bread Design; Dies:  PaperTrey Ink; Inks:  Stampin Up!

grateful for you...

Hello!!   I have another card to share.  This one is for Color Throwdown and CAS(E) this Sketch.  When I saw the color palette at Color Throwdown I had to play along!  Who doesn't love pink, navy and gold???  I pulled out a pretty old Stampin Up! set called Fresh Vintage and did some collage stamping using the pink and navy.  Once that was done I die cut the word grateful (from the PTI set Especially for You) from gold glitter and white cardstock and adhered together.  I placed the die cut approximately where I wanted it so I could stamp the "for you" sentiment (form Especially for You) in navy ink.  I then die cut my stamped panel with the  largest die from PTI Mix and Mat Herringbone die set and adhered that to a light gray cardstock base.   The word was adhered along with some small gold Pretty Pink Posh sequins.   Super simple, but I love how it turned out!  Going to add this to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

Have a wonderful day...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  white, light gray and gold glitter; Stamps:  Stampin Up! and PaperTrey Ink; Dies:  PaperTrey Ink; Inks:  Stampin Up! Pink Pirouette and Midnight Muse; Pretty Pink Posh gold sequins

congrats!

Happy weekend everyone!! Stopping in with a graduation card that I made for one of my dearest friend's son. He graduates this weekend and will soon be enlisting in the United States Air Force so I went with a stars and red, white and blue theme.  The layout is from the current MFT sketch challenge.   I die cut the word congrats from red and blue cardstock and adhered the blue offset behind the red word.  A blue star was die cut using the Stars Above die set from My Favorite Things and then stamped with one of the images from the Stars Above stamp set using blue ink.  I adhered the star and then the sentiment to a panel of white cardstock.  Small stars were die cut from red and blue cardstock and then stamped with the corresponding star using red and blue inks.  To set things off I adhered the panel to a gray cardstock base.  Super simple, but I think the perfect card for a young man graduating and heading off to serve our country!!  I'm also posting this to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white, SSS fog, SU! navy and red; Stamps:  My Favorite Things; Dies:  My Favorite Things and Simon Says Stamp; Inks:  Stampin Up!