wednesday with ajvd...

Hey there!!  Wow... it is the last day of January!!  Where did the time go??? Valentines Day is right around the corner so I have a valentine card that I'm sharing over on the AJVD blog today.  Here is a little peek:

I hope you will hop over to the blog for a look and to let me know what you think! 

Christmas Greetings...

Hello!!  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!  This morning I put together this card for the current Merry Monday Christmas challenge that is closing is just a few hours!  I'm also adding this to the current MFT sketch challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of layering.  When I saw the MFT sketch this idea started rolling around to create a snowflake wreath.  So when I got up early I decided to give it a try.  After die cutting all the snowflakes using the MFT Snowflake Splendor stand alone dies I spent sometime determining which ones would work for the wreath and then how to lay them out.  I decided that layering the die cuts was the best way to go.  The base of the wreath was die cut from MFT silver glitter cardstock using to AJVD Polka Dot circle dies and then adhered to light gray cardstock die cut with an AJVD Stitched Dot rectangle die.  Then I got to work adding all the snowflakes using Multi Medium Matte.   The sentiment from the MFT Snow Globe Sentiments was stamped in gray and then die cut with an MFT Slanted Sentiment Label die.   I adhered the sentiment and then finished with Pretty Pink Posh sparkling clear sequins.    I hope my "snow" works for the gals at MM!

Thanks for stopping by today... have a good one!!

Supplies:  Cardstock: MFT white, silver glitter, SSS fog, SU! Pool Party; Stamps:  MFT; Dies:  MFT and AJVD; Ink:  VersaFine Smoky Gray; Sequins:  Pretty Pink Posh

birthday tweetings...

Hello!!!  I have one more card for the current Reverse Confetti Sketch for You to Try, as well as another entry for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of layering.   I don't have a lot of critter stamp sets, but when I saw the RC Toucan of Friendship set I just had to have it.  Love those fun little toucans.  I looked up images of toucans online and colored mine in a way similar to one of those images using Derwent watercolor pencils on Canson watercolor paper.  I still have a way to go with my coloring, but I think I'm making small improvements as I go along.  After coloring up the birds and foliage and letting them dry I die cut everything with their matching dies.  A piece of Canson watercolor paper was scribbled with a light blue ZIG marker and then blended out with water.  Once that was dry I die cut it with an AJVD circle die.  Black cardstock was die cut with the RC Tall Stripe Panel die and adhered to a white cardstock base.  Then I layered on the die cut circle, the birds and the foliage.  Finished up by embossing the sentiment in black on a piece of vellum that I trimmed down and adhered with glue dots.

Have a wonderful day!! 

Supplies:  Cardstock:  MFT white, PTI black; Stamps and dies:  Reverse Confetti; Inks:  VersaFine Onyx Black; Watercolor Medium:  Derwent watercolor pencils

January PTI Blog Hop...

Hey there!!!  Stopping in with a card for this month's PTI blog hop.  I have one really old birthday related stamp set from PTI and nothing with balloons or cakes so I decided to just focus on some of the colors and the flowers in the inspiration photo for my card.  The layout is from Freshly Made Sketches so I will be posting it there, as well as the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of layering.  I wasn't even sure that I would get something done for the hop as I forgot about it until yesterday afternoon.  So, this morning I quickly (as you can see from my less than perfect stamping, lol) put something together.  I used PTI's Bigger Blooms stamps and dies along with an embossing folder that I have not used in ages.   Die cut all the flowers and leaves and then stamped them using two shades of pink ink (dark and light) and a light green for the leaves.  Stamped the sentiment and die cut it with a MFT banner die and then matted it with a second banner die cut from pink cardstock.  Layered everything up on my card base and I was done!  YAY!! Another birthday card for my stash!!

Have a wonderful day and happy hopping!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI rustic white, SSS fog, SU! pink; Stamps:   PTI, Dies:  PTI and MFT; Inks:  Stampin Up!; Embossing folder:  Sizzix

wednesday with ajvd...

Hey there... happy Wednesday!!  Popping in to let you know that my regular post is up on the AJVD blog.  Here is a little peek of my post:

Thanks for stopping by today I hope you will head over to the AJVD blog for a look and to tell me what you think.

thanks a bunch...

Hey there!!  Popping in on this super wet and rainy afternoon with a card for the January Altenew inspiration challenge.  I got some yummy new Altenew the other day (the With Gratitude stamp and die set and the Watercolor Stripes cover die) and just had to make a card with it.  I don't know about you, but when I look at the colors in the Altenew inspiration photo the top one looks more purple to me so that is what I went with for this card and came up with this is sort of a cross between a spring and fall look I guess, lol!  I started by inking up some cardstock with Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide ink making it darker at the top and fading out at the bottom for an ombre look.  I then die cut the piece with the Watercolor Stripes cover die.  The two leaves from the With Gratitude set were stamped on watercolor paper with VersaFine Vintage Sepia and Smoky Gray inks and then loosely watercolored with Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxides.  I let them dry a little bit and then added in a little Seedless Preserves.  Once they were completely dry I die cut them.   Then came the fun part... arranging them on the front of the card!  I finished off the card with a sentiment from the oldie, but goodie Altenew Label Love stamp set.  Placing the sentiment was the hardest part of making this card, but I finally settled on the bottom of the card.   Going to add this to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge as well.

Hope you have a wonderful day and if you live in the Pacific Northwest... stay dry!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI rustic white, Canson watercolor paper; Stamps and dies:  Altenew; Inks:  VersaFine Onyx Black, Vintage Sepia, Smoky Gray; Distress Oxide inks

Precious Remembrance Shop New Product Reveal

Hey there!!  I just stopping in today to remind you about the Precious Remembrance Shop two day blog hop that is going on, as well as to let you know that there is one more new product that is in the PRS shop.  That new product are fun planner stickers.  The stickers come in classic black and white or color.  You can see both products below.    If you want to win these fun new stickers please head over to the PRS blog and leave a comment on the blog.  Two winners will be picked and each winner will receive a set of the black stickers and a set of the color stickers.   Just like with the blog hops you have until January 24th to leave a comment.  Click here to comment on my day 1 post.  Click here for my day 2 post.

Thanks for stopping by today... make sure you head over to the PRS blog for your chance to win these stickers!  The winners will be announced on the blog and on PRS' social media sites.

if flowers could hug...

Hey there!!  Hope you have been having a good weekend.  Our crazy January weather has returned.... rain and wind!  And with weather like that staying inside makes lots of sense, lol!!!  I have a card for the current Essentials by Ellen Pin-Sights challenge, as well as the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge.   I pulled a few of the colors from the inspiration photo to make my card. I used the EE Mondo Peony stamp set and colored two of the images using Faber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle pencils in two shades of purple.  The leaves were colored with Derwent watercolor pencils in two shades of green.   I cut down some purple cardstock to 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches and then adhered a layer of vellum that was cut slightly smaller.  The leaves and the flowers were layered on top.  One of the colors in the palette looks like gold to me so I heat embossed the sentiment from the EE set Lovely in gold on black cardstock, trimmed it down and layered it on top of the flowers.  Going to add this to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, as well.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Royal Velvet, black, vellum; Canson cold pressed watercolor; Stamps:  Essentials by Ellen; Ink:  VersaFine Smoky Gray, VersaMark watermark; Watercolor Medium:  Faber-Castell and Derwent watercolor pencils; Embossing powder:  Tsukineko gold

Precious Remembrance Shop New Release Blog Hop - Day 2

Hey!!  The PRS design team is back today to share another new product that is available in the PRS store:  Daily Thoughts Bits & Pieces!  Again, these are perfect for planner girls, but you can also use them to create fun cards.  You should have arrived from Helen's blog, but if you didn't you can head over to the PRS blog for the complete list.  Kelly will be your next stop once you check out my project. Today you have the opportunity to win a package of Bits & Pieces!  So, I'm not a planner girl, but back at the end of December of 2014 I started a journal where I write down what I am thankful for on that day.  I'm now on my third journal and decided that I would use some of the new Bits & Pieces, along with the Daily Thoughts stamp set, to decorate the front of my journal.   The Daily Thoughts stamp set has several sentiments that worked perfectly for my journal.  I started by choosing one of the cassette tape images that would work the best for the front of the journal and then hand wrote the word thankful with a Sharpie.  I adhered that to the front with foam dimensionals.  I then picked out the sentiments I wanted to use, stamped then in black and die cut them with some banner dies.  The banners were trimmed down to fit and then adhered as you see.  I finished things off by adding the small stars that comes in the Bits & Pieces packet.  I love how it turned out!  I have included a close up so you can see the sentiments I used.

Here is a look at all the pieces you will get and all the details regarding how to win today's giveaway:

Giveaway Details:

Simply leave a comment to the shop’s blog post and each designer’s blog and show us some love! 

One lucky winner will be chosen randomly.

To keep updated with our projects, join us on Facebook , Pinterest , Instagram , & YouTube

Giveaway is open until January 24, 2018 Midnight EST.

Winner will be announce on the shop's blog & social media links (Facebook & Instagram) - follow us to get updated.

Your next stop on the hop is Kelly and I know she will have a fabulous project for you!!

Supplies:  Journal; Stamps:  Precious Remembrance Shop; Ink:  black; Embellishments:  Precious Remembrance Shop Bits & Pieces

Precious Remembrance Shop New Release Blog Hop - Day 1

Hello everyone!!!  Today is an exciting day as the Precious Remembrance Shop design team is having a hop to share a new stamp set available in the PRS store and there is a prize up for grabs.   This new set is called Daily Thoughts and if you are a planner girl then this is definitely the set for you!  However, as you can see from my card you can also make really fun cards with it, as well! You should have arrived here via Helen's blog, but if not you can head to the PRS blog for the complete hop list. Kelly will be your next stop.  When I saw the fun old school cassette tape image in the set I thought about how fun it would be to do some watercoloring with it or even paper piecing.  For my card I just kept it simple and stamped the image in kraft colored ink and then trimmed it out.  The word thinking was stamped in light blue ink in the area where you would write the title.  I stamped the remainder of the sentiment in watermark ink on vellum, heat embossed it in white, trimmed it out and then adhered it to the cassette tape.  I finished off my card with a little light blue doily (from the PRS shop), some kraft ribbon wrapped around the cardstock panel and tied with some white baker's twine and the kraft buttons.  Now that I have shared the details of my card here are the details for the giveaway:

Simply leave a comment to the shop’s blog post and each designer’s blog and show us some love!:)

One lucky winner will be chosen randomly.

To keep updated with our projects, join us on our Facebook , Pinterest , Instagram , & YouTube

Giveaway is open until January 24, 2018 Midnight EST.

Winner will be announce on the shop's blog & social media links (Facebook & Instagram) - follow us to get updated

Your next stop on the hop is Kelly and I know that she will have something fabulous to share.  Here is a look at the full stamp set:

Almost done, lol!!  I'm going to be adding this to the Color Throwdown and Stamp Ink Paper galleries since I used the CTD colors and the SIP layout for my card.  Also adding this to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to add a sentiment.

Have a wonderful day and happy hopping!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  kraft, white; Stamps:  Precious Remembrance Shop; Inks:  kraft, light blue, watermark ink; paper doily:  Precious Remembrance Shop; buttons:  kraft; white baker's twine; kraft ribbon; white embossing powder

celebrate balloons...

Hey there!!  The weekend is here!  I have a card to share for a few challenges.  MFT has a new challenge that revolves around birthdays and this month's challenge is called celebrate good times.  Since I have the fun MFT celebrate word die I just had to play along.  I will also be posting this card to the MFT color challenge, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge of add a sentiment, the current CAS(E) this Sketch challenge and the new Time Out challenge of inspired by words.  I was inspired by the word celebrate. One of the last times I was able to make a purchase from MFT I received as a free gift the little Heart Shaped Balloon die.  I pulled it out to make a little set of balloons floating before the word celebrate and the sentiment strip.  Some white cardstock was inked up with distress oxide inks in Fired Brick, Broken China and Spiced Marmalade and then die cut with the little balloon.  I also die cut the strings at the same time in the open white spaces between each spot of color.  Celebrate was die cut three times and adhered together without removing the little pieces in each letter.  I changed up the sketch just a little bit by adhering the balloons and strings first and then attached the word using foam dimensionals.  The rest of the sentiment (from the MFT All Smiles stamp set) was embossed in white on yellow cardstock and die cut with an MFT Slanted Sentiment Strip die and adhered with foam dimensionals, as well.  Finished things off with some sequins in colors to match the balloons and the sentiment strip.

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  MFT white, PTI yellow; Stamps:  MFT; Dies:  MFT and AJVD; Inks:  Ranger Distress Oxide inks and VersaMark watermark ink; Sequins:  Pretty Pink Posh; Embossing powder:  Hero Arts white

wednesday with ajvd...

Hey friends... popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the AJVD blog.  I'm sharing a fabulous new product that AJVD just added to the store.  Here is a little peek:

Hope you will head over to the AJVD blog for a peek and to let me know what you think!  

time to bloom...

Hey there!!  Popping in with a card for two challenges:  Essentials by Ellen Mix it Up and Color Throwdown.  I had hoped to get this card done and posted on Sunday (yesterday), but my antique toy loving 11 year old wanted to make a trip to his favorite antique store in the beautiful little town of Snohomish, Washington.  So being a good mom we made the trip.  It was totally worth it because we got to see the beautiful North Cascade mountains in all their glory!  Mt Baker (the furthest north of the mountains in the Washington portion of the Cascades) was absolutely covered in snow!! Unfortunately by the time we got home light was fading fast and while I did get the card done I wasn't able to get a good photo of it.  Color Throwdown closes in mere hours so I'm cutting things a bit close, but oh well... that is the way it goes.  The EE Mix it Up challenge this month wants us to combine our EE products with Concord & 9th... sign me up!!  I used the C9 Beautiful Branches stamps and dies along with the EE Lovely stamp set.  I know you can't set any stamping except for the sentiment, but I did stamp on the little blooms... it is very subtle and looks really pretty in person.  The label is from the C9 Fill In Blooms stamp and die set.  I die cut it from white, aqua and navy cardstocks, the aqua and navy were cut in two and then one of each adhered as you see.  I then adhered the branches, leaves and flowers.  The sentiment was stamped in navy ink and then the label adhered.  Finished off with some little Pretty Pink Posh marshmallow sequins in the centers of the flowers and some white twine.

Have a wonderful day!  Would love to hear your thoughts on my card!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI rustic white; SU! Powder Pink, Coastal Cabana, MFT navy; Stamps:  Concord & 9th, Essentials by Ellen; Dies:  Concord & 9th; Inks:  SU! Pretty in Pink, Night of Navy; Twine:  SU! white baker's twine; Sequins:  Pretty Pink Posh

cards for sketches...

Hey there!!  I have a couple of cards to share with you today.  First up is a card for the current Verve Viva la Verve sketch challenge, as well as the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to use patterned paper.   Over Christmas I was finally able to pick up some new Verve to add to my collection.  The stamp and die set I purchased is one I have wanted for a long time... Potter's Clay.  There are so many beautiful sentiments and verses in this set it was hard to chose which one to use, but in the end it was determined by how it would fit into the sketch.   The papers I used are from the gorgeous Zella Teal line by Prima.  There is a pattern in the pad that was perfect for die cutting the jars from.  I layered the jars on a circle die cut from another paper from the pad.  After layering the pieces as you see I wrapped the panel with jute twine and tied it in a bow.  The panel was adhered and then I added the circle with the jars on it.

The second card is for the current Reverse Confetti Sketch for You to Try.  This stamp and die set was also purchased over the Christmas holidays.  This isn't a set I would normally buy, but I need to step outside my comfort zone every once in a while and the set is pretty darn cute, too!  I stamped all the images on Canson watercolor paper and then colored them with Derwent and Faber-Castell watercolor pencils and clean water.   One of my goals this year is to get better at coloring with a few different coloring mediums.  I was pretty darn pleased with how my coloring turned out and I'm looking forward to coloring more images with my pencils!!  After all the coloring was done and the pieces die cut I had to find some colors that would work well with the colors in my snow cones.  I used some patterned paper from the Reverse Confetti Very Merry paper pad (which I guess they don't have any more) along with some Reverse Confetti Mist cardstock.  After adhering the patterned paper strip I positioned the sentiment using my mini MISTI and stamped it in black ink.   The banner was die cut with the banner from the Tag Me die set then cut into two pieces so it would work with the sketch and adhered to the panel.  I put my sno cones together and then adhered them to the circle that was die cut from the Mist cardstock.   The circle was adhered and then I added some white enamel dots to finish things off.

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies:  Card #1:  Cardstock:  PTI Rustic White; Patterned paper:  Prima Zella Teal; Stamps:  Verve; Dies:  Verve and AJVD; Inks:  VerseFine Smoky Gray, VersaMagic Oasis Green; Recollections Jute twine

Card #2:  Cardstock:  PTI white, RC Mist; Patterned paper:  Reverse Confetti; Stamps:  Reverse Confetti; Dies:  Reverse Confetti and AJVD; Ink:  VersaFine Smoky Gray, Vintage Sepia, Onyx Black; enamel dots; Watercolor medium:  Derwent watercolor pencils, Faber-Castell watercolor pencils 

Design It Friday with PRS

Hey friends!!  Popping in to let you know that I have a project up on the PRS blog today!!  Here is a little peek:

I hope you will head over to the PRS blog for a look and to let me know what you think!

celebrate!

Hey there!!  Have a card to share for a few challenges:  WCMC9 - use the first set you bought, Stamp Ink Paper - Cake Walk, Less is More - use purples.  Less is More changed their challenge to a twice monthly challenge so I'm hoping that I will get a chance to play along more.  The WCMC9 challenge this month wants us to use the first C9 stamp set we purchased.  The first set I purchased is one that C9 no longer carries... Eat Cake & Celebrate.  I didn't realize that until I had pretty much finished my card, but just because they don't carry it any more doesn't mean I can't use it!!  I stamped the cake in VersaFine Smoky Gray on Bristol cardstock and then colored it with Farber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle pencils in three shades of purple.  The color on the cake is rather light, but it is definitely purple in real life!  A Derwent gray was used to color the plate.  I used a barely wet paint brush to blend out the color on the cake and the plate.  I did add a touch of yellow for the candles.  The cake was then cut with the matching die.  I stamped the little star cluster and single star on white cardstock, die cut it and matted it with purple cardstock.  Stamped the sentiment in VersaFine Onyx Black and then adhered the card and added it to card base.   Super simple and a little bit retro.

Hope you have a wonderful day!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  MFT white and purple; Stamps:  Concord & 9th; Dies:  Concord & 9th, AJVD; Inks:  VersaFine Onyx Black, Smoky Gray, SU! Wisteria Wonder, CTMH Purple Pansy; Coloring medium:  Faber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle color pencils

wednesday with ajvd...

Hey there friends!!  Hope your new year is going great!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the AJVD blog.  Here is a little peek of my card:

Hope you will head over to the blog for a look and to let me know what you think.  

floral thank you...

Hey there!!  Hope your week is off to a good start!  I got some crafting in this past weekend and have a card to share that I made during that crafty session.  This one is for the Altenew January inspiration challenge as well as the current Time Out challenge.  The inspiration card is supplied by the super talented Erum.  Her watercoloring is always so gorgeous!!  I recently purchased the Altenew Flower Arrangement stamp and die bundle so I used that for my card.   I stamped the largest flower in the set using two orange inks (SU! Pumpkin Pie and Memento Tangelo) and the medium sized flower using to yellow inks (Memento Dandelion and MFT Daffodil).  Because green isn't one of the main colors in the inspiration challenge I stamped the leaves using just one green ink, Memento New Sprout.  Because the leaves were multi-layered I was able to use only one ink, but get the variation in color that I wanted.  I did the same thing with the two smallest flowers.  Once I had everything stamped I splattered a piece of white cardstock with Picked Raspberry distress ink mixed with water.   Once that was dry I die cut it and then arranged my flowers and leaves.   I love that the die set includes this thank you sentiment as well as the word hello.  I adhered the sentiment, added some dark pink enamel dots and adhered my panel to the card base.  I will also add this to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of something new since my stamps and dies are new.

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white and black; Stamps:  Altenew; Dies:  Altenew and AJVD; Inks:  Memento, Stampin Up!, Ranger, My Favorite Things; My Mind's Eye Enamel Dots

butterfly shaker card...

Hello!!  Stopping in with a card for several challenges:  MFT sketch challenge and  Color Throwdown.    The color combo at Color Throwdown is black, gray and ivory and so I wasn't sure I was even going to play along.  Then my son told me that his teacher's father died over Christmas break and I thought those colors would be perfect for a sympathy card for her.  I decided to pair it up with the MFT sketch using the MFT Beautiful Butterflies stamps and dies.  It took a bit of planning to get everything to come together, but I think the time and effort were worth it.  Once I had finished the die cutting and stamping I had to take a little break and get a few things done around the house.  As I thought about the card I decided to turn it into a shaker with each butterfly being its own shaker element.   The shaker mix I used is one that has clear, white and silver seed beads, along with iridescent sequins.  I added in a few 4 mm black sequins from Pretty Pink Posh in keeping with the color theme.  The sentiment is from a Hero Arts/Simon Says Stamp collaborative stamp set and was embossed in black on vellum, die cut with a MFT Slanted Sentiment Strip and adhered to the card.

Hope you have a wonderful day!!

Supplies: Cardstock:  PTI Rustic white; Stamps:  MFT; Dies:  MFT and AJVD; Inks:  SU! Smoky Slate, VersaFine Onyx Black, VersaMark watermark; Embossing powder:  Filigree black; Sequins:  Pretty Pink Posh; Sequin Mix:  Lucy's Cards

a galaxy card...

Hey there!!  Hope your new year is going well and you are finding time to craft!  I got sometime the other day and created a card I have been wanting to make for over a month!   The idea was all built around a die I purchased from Simon Says Stamp called Tickle Breeze.  How fun is that name??? Anyway my idea was to create a galaxy background, but not in the way that most galaxy backgrounds are created (or at least not in a way that I have seen!).   All the inks used for the background are distress oxide inks.  I just love their blending ability!  I was trying to create the look of the Milky Way and so wanted my colors to be concentrated in the center of my card.  To get that look I used Q-tips to add the color to the center in a narrow band.   Some of the colors used include Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Wilted Violet and Peacock Feathers.  Once I had the colors laid down I used my foam blending tool and added Broken China and Salty Ocean to the panel making sure to not completely cover up the narrow band of color.  I then finished up with Black Soot.  As I was doing the blending with the blue and black inks I was sure that I had created a disaster, but I love how the finished product turned out.  Once all the blending was done I die cut the Tickle Breeze die twice into the panel and then backed the piece with silver cardstock.  I then splattered on white acrylic paint mixed with water.  The stars and the word you are from the SSS Seeing Stars stamp set and were embossed in silver on vellum and then the rest of the sentiment in silver on black.  I adhered everything and then mounted the panel on a black cardstock base.  I made this for the last Simon Says Stamp Flickr challenge and wasn't going to post it on my blog, but when I saw that the new SIP challenge is to use embossing I decided to post it here.

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies: Cardstock:  PTI white, black and vellum, MFT brushed silver; Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp; Dies:  Simon Says Stamp and AJVD; Inks:  Ranger Distress Oxide inks, VersaMark watermark ink; Embossing powder:  Ranger Silver