Ho Ho Ho - Pink Santa

 I know my card is made using unexpected colors for Christmas (?!)  -  but I made it for the Splitcoaststampers Tuesday Color Challenge that included the option of making it Christmas in July.

I used a recently purchased Make a Wish Arch Labels die set from Spellbinders for all the framing.  The Santa is a  vellum die cut from Taperlogy, attached to the white panel with glue dots.  The sentiment is a printed and die cut  Subsentiments Christmas set by Waffle Flower and the snowflakes are from Simon Says Stamp.

To make the panel into a folded card -  I die cut the largest frame again, out of white card stock, scored a horizontal line about 2" down from the top and adhered it to the top of the front panel so the card stands up.

I'm linking my card to:

NBUS

first time using the arch dies.

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge

Anything Goes Christmas - ends 8/11

Rudolph Days Challenge

Anything Goes Christmas  ends 7/31

Paper: Hibiscus Burst, Tropical Teal, Enchanted Evening - PTI, Hammered White - Amazon

Accessories: Make a Wish Arch Labels Dies - Spellbinders, Vellum Santa/Christmas Set- Taperlogy, glue dots, foam dots, Subsentiments Christmas Tree die cuts - Waffle Flower, snowflakes - Simon Says Stamp.

Always be a Mermaid

Today I'm playing along with the Color Challenge over on the Ellen Hutson, LLC Blog - I'm sneaking it in just a day before the deadline as I just found out about it!

I used a newly released Essentials by Ellen set by Julie Ebersole called Inner Mermaid as well as the coordinating die set. 

 I colored the background by smooshing Distress Inks in Dried Marigold, Scattered Straw, Shabby Shutters and Twisted Cintron onto my craft mat, spritzing with water and then pouncing my watercolor paper panel onto the mat -  one color at a time - drying in between pounces - until I got the look I wanted!

I colored the mermaid tail, star fish and shell with Tombow Markers - spreading the color out with a Clear Glitter Wink of Stella so I could get 'dark to light' coloring.

I hope you can see the lovely glittery look in the close up below. (maybe click on it to enlarge?)

Ellen Hutson LLC has a new Facebook where members can post their creations using product from her shop and if you request to be a member now - she is offering a 15% discount in her shop!  Check it out here.

And here is the link to the color challenge on the Ellen Hutson blog.  

A random entry will win a $50 gift certificate to Ellen Hutson LLC!

Stamps:  Inner Mermaid - Essential by Ellen
Paper:  watercolor paper - Canson, Tropical Teal, White - PTI, Bristol Smooth Surface.
Ink:  Hero Hues Black, Ranger Distress Dried Marigold, Scattered Straw, Shabby Shutters, Twisted Cintron.
Accessories:  Inner Mermaid Dies - Essentials by Ellen, purple dew drops, Tombo Glue, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, foam dots, Tombow Markers.

God Writes the Gospel

Today I'm playing along with two challenges over at Splitcoaststampers -  Monday's Technique Lovers Challenge and Tuesdays Color Challenge.

Karen Dunbrook hosted the Technique challenge and she gave us instructions for swiping ink over a cardstock panel with an old credit/gift card.   And the colors for the Color Challenge are sugarplum, wasabi, daffodil (or something similar!)

I had enough ink spread on my craft mat to make two cards (always a plus!)

They are basically the same - with different designs on the backgrounds as you can never make the same swipe twice (!) and different die cuts.

For the backgrounds, I rubbed 3 Ranger Distress Oxide Inks onto my craft mat - Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick and Fossilized Amber.  I spritzed them with a little water.   Then I dipped just the edge of the used gift card into one of the inks - then dragged it across the panel of white card.  I continued this process with each color, changing the direction of the swipe now and then (you can make a great plaid with this technique!) until I liked the look.  

The die cuts on this card are Leafy Branch 2 and Leafy Branch 5 from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

Here's the 2nd card with a slightly different background design and the die cuts are Dandelion Fluff also from Elizabeth Craft Designs.  The sentiment is from an older Papertrey Ink set - Out on a Limb sentiments.

I'm making cards for a group at my church that sends 'thinking of you' cards to elderly members who cannot get out to church - so I think these will be very nice for that purpose!

I'm also linking my cards to:

The Heart Desires

Stamps: Out on a Limb Sentiments - Papertrey Ink  
Paper: white, Simply Chartreuse - PTI  
Ink: True Black- PTI, Ranger Distress Oxides Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Fossilized Amber
Accessories: expired gift card, Dies - Dandelion Fluff, Leafy Branch 2, Leafy Branch 5 - Elizabeth Craft Designs, foam tape, rhinestones - Kaiser Craft

The stockings were hung.....

Yes, more Christmas cards from me!  I made 3 of the same design using different colors.

I made my first card in non-traditional Christmas colors for this week's Color Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers - to use plum and two shades of blue.   I stenciled the brick in plum and used two shades of blue on the stocking.

I made the 'mantel' by cutting a piece of woodgrain DP, adhering it to a same-size cut piece of white cardstock to give it weight and popped it up on foam dots.   The holly is cut off of a larger ornament decoration from K and Co.  I inked around the stocking with Ranger Distress Ground Espresso Ink.

My next two card colors were chosen based on the Merry Monday Challenge

I used more traditional colors on these two cards

The only difference between these two is the color I used on the brick stenciling.

Stamps: Rustic Christmas set by Claire Brennan/Waltzingmouse - Retired
Paper:  White, Rustic Cream, Plum Pudding, Americana - PTI, DP Dream St. Papers.
Inks:  Perfect Plum - SU, Hawaiian Shore, Blueberry Sky, Americana - PTI, Ranger Distress Ground Espresso Ink Wendy Vecchi Archival Tree Branch.
Accessories:  foam dots, Holly from Layered Accents Visions of Christmas - K and Co, brick stencil - Wendy Vecchi.

Time to Kick Your Heels Off!

A friend at work asked me to make a birthday card for her sister who is a fashion DIVA!  I knew I had the perfect stamp from Dina Wakley's Silhouette Women set.  The papers are from Kioshi Paper Pad/Basic Grey.

I wanted to give the image a little 'wow' factor - so decided to stamp the image again, cut out the skirt piece and add layers of ribbon and lace to it, tying some wrinkled seam tape around the waste.

I layered it over the original stamping with foam dots.

I printed the sentiment from my computer and die cut it with Stitched Speech Bubble from Pretty Pink Posh.  I added these sweet Wood Veneer Stars from Studio Calico and popped the sentiment up on foam dots.

Here you can see all the dimensional layering.  I added another little star on the inside above the sentiment, a little unexpected surprise for the receiver!.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

Splitcoast Stampers Color Challenge - Soft Sky, Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake 

(I used all the colors on the skirt!)
Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge - Celebrating 600 Sketches

Mixed Media Card Challenge

Stamps:  Silhouette Women - Dina Wakley

Paper:  White, True Black - PTI, DP Kioshi Paper Pad - Basic Grey

Ink:  Archival Jet Black

Accessories:  computer generated sentiment, Wood Venneer Stars - Studio Calico/American Crafts, foam dots, mini attacher - Ranger,  tan wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf and Spring Rain ribbons - PaperTrey Ink, trimmings Lace - Idea-ology/Ranger.

You're the Best

I'm home on vacation this week - but it's a stay-cation since Kent is still recovering from his hip replacement.  He's improving every day - we've been able to take some great 50 minute walks down our local bike path.

So I've been using the time to get ahead on several of my DT obligations - but today I wanted to play along in the Color Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.

These are the colors Karen asked us to use today with the option of also doing some embossing on your card:

And here is my card.

The trophy and ribbon are Alterations Die set from Alterations/Sizzix. All the pieces are popped up on foam dots.

I added two strips of Washi tape to ground the trophy over dotted DP. I stamped the sentiment from Lawn Fawn (free with an order!) right onto the DP.

We had snow today for the first time this winter!  We got about 2" but then it turned to rain - so now it is freezing slush as the sun goes down!

I'll be back at 7 pm Thursday night (Eastern time) with my January A Vintage Journey project - and on New Year's Day with my Mixed Media Card project -  Hope you can stop by!

Stamps:  Sentiment - Lawn Fawn, stars - Scene It/Celebration - PTI
Paper: Indigo Island, Pear Pizzaz - SU, Blueberry Sky - PTI, DP BoBunny Almond Dot
Ink: True Black - PTI, Versamark
Accessories: Die - Mini Trophy Prize Ribbon/Sizzix Alterations, silver embossing powder, washi tape, foam dots

A Horribly Happy Halloween

I made this Halloween card for two challenges today -  I used the colors from the Split Coast Color Challenge - gumball green, smokey slate and white.   And I used the Seize the Sketch challenge for the design.

 And here is the card I created.  Who knew these colors would make a spooky Halloween card??!

I used a Nested Tombstone die from Spellbinders and the Chevron Stripes die from MFT.  I white embossed the sentiment from Midnight Feast on the tombstone and stamped the bats from Halloween Party on the white panel.  All the stamps are from Waltzingmouse.

Stamps:  Midnight Feast, Halloween Party - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Smokey Shadow, white - PTI, Gumball Green - SU
Ink:  Smokey Shadow - PTI, Versamark
Accessories:  white embossing powder, heat gun, chevron stripes die - MFT, Nested Tombstone die - Spellbinders, foam tape.

A Frosty Flower for My Friend

I was the hostess for the Color Challenge over on Split Coast yesterday  - and I chose cream, raspberry and brown for the challenge with the optional 'dessert'  to make it floral or frosty.

I did both - my flower is all frosty with coarse glitter and a little bit of Buttermilk Acrylic paint on the petals.
I embossed an oval in the center of my card then cut an oval in brown Bazzill to layer inside the frame. My flowers were made with the Sizzix Flower 3D die. My sentiment is from the Vintage Garden Seed Packet set from Waltzingmouse.  I love the font on this don't you??

It would be a little tough to squeeze this into an envelope and mail it - but it would be a lovely card to 'hand deliver' to a friend!

Stamps: sentiment from Vintage Garden Seed Packet - Waltzingmouse
Paper: vintage cream - PTI, Raspberry Ripple - SU, brown - Bazzill
Ink: Archival Ink Coffee
Accessories: large oval punch - SU, buttermilk acrylic paint - Americana, oval Nestability, Flowers 3D die - Sizzix, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive, coarse glitter - Martha Stewart, foam tape.
 

A 10 Minute Anniversary

I made this clean and simple anniversary card for the Color Challenge over at Split Coast this week - Hostess Vicki asked us to use silver, gold and white.

Once I decided on the design - it was a snap to create -  I used a Fleur de Lis square Nestability for the silver piece, a stem from the Foliage set by Spellbinders and I cut the sentiment with a Labels 14 Nestability.  Then I just layered them all to the card base with foam tape for dimension and popped three clear heart gems onto the sentiment from the Cameo to Go set by Waltzingmouse..  VERY quick - VERY easy!

It was SO quick and easy that I decided to make another one since I had all the dies out on my worktable.  This time I used patterned papers instead of gold and silver and added just 1 red heart gem to the sentiment.

I sent this to my stamping buddy - Anne Harada - as she and hubby celebrated their 24th anniversary yesterday -  yes - they were married on New Year's Eve!. Using patterned paper instead of gold and silver makes this Anniversary card a little more casual.

I'm entering my gold/silver card in this weeks CASology challenge Week #25

I just purchased my brushed silver and brushed gold papers  - so they are new!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Cameo to Go

Paper: white - PTI, brushed silver and brushed gold - SU, 2nd card - vintage cream - PTI, Simply Chartreuse Pattern Pack - PTI

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories: foam tape, foliage - Spellbinder, Fleur de Lis Squares and Labels 14 - Nestabilities, heart gems - Michaels.

In Shape for Halloween!

I have two shaped cards for Halloween to share today.

For my first card, I used several different dies -  Tomb Stone Spellbinders Dies, the dangling spider by Memory Box and the fence by Tim Holtz Alterations.  I used colors for this week's Color Challenge over on Split Coast.  My circle BOO stamp is from the Midnight Feast set by Waltzingmouse.  The biggest tombstone is about 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" at it's largest points.

I made my BAT Card for one of the Hope You Can Cling to Challenges on SCS - Ship Shape - to make a shaped card.  I used Spellbinders Nested bats for the card, cucumber Glitter Thicker Letters for the boo! and rhinestones for the bat's eyes.  I placed the die with one corner slightly over the fold in the card stock so there would be a 'hinge' for the card.  You can see the spot at the top left on the bat below.

For the inside -  I die cut a smaller bat in white and stamped Happy Halloween from the Midnight Feast set by Waltzingmouse.  This card is 4 3/4" x 3" at its largest points.

Wouldn't these be fun cards to receive in the mail or with a Halloween treat??!!

Tombstone BOO!
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Midnight Feast
Paper: Coredinations Distress Faded Jeans, More Mustard - SU, True Black - PTI
Ink: Memento Lilac Roses, Ranger Distress Faded Jeans
Accessories: Foam tape, rhinestone - Kaiser Craft, Fence Die - Tim Holtz Alterations, tombstone dies - Spellbinders, spider die - Memory Box 

 Bat Card
Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Midnight Feast
Paper: Smokey Shadow - P TI
Ink:Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: rhinestones - Kaiser, Glitter Thicker Letters - American Crafts, nested bats - Spellbinders

Boo!

So here we are in October - Let the Halloween cards begin!!

Even though Betty had a beautiful branch of spring bloom as our color inspiration photo over on Split Coast - I immediately thought Halloween when I laid the colors out on my work bench!!??!! - Perfect Plum, Summer Starfruit and Tangerine Tango.

I only had the SU color of Tangerine Tango so I used that for my card base. I embossed the bottom edge with a new Tim Holtz Halloween Texture Fade. I used Memento inks for the other colors - Tangelo for the pumpkins, Dandelion for the bubbling brew (with some added bling!) and Sweet Plum for the cauldron and spider!

The fun Halloween stamps are from the Halloween Party set by Waltzingmouse.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Halloween Party
Paper: White, Plum Pudding - PTI, Tangerine Tango - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, tangelo, Dandelion, Sweet Plum, Ranger Distress Scattered Straw
Accessories: Foam tape, Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions, Texture Fades - Halloween Background & Borders set - Tim Holtz

Fall IS coming - right??!

So here it is -  a fall card!   Telling me - YES!  this long - hot - humid- summer is finally coming to a close!

I used the colors from today's color challenge over on Split Coast -  2 shades of orange and dark blue!  I did a lot of dry embossing on this -  the back panel and the image panel after stamping - love this look!  When I was done -  it seemed like too much white (even for 'clean and simple' me!).  I found these Jolee leaf stickers in my old scrap booking stuff and they were just the ticket to fill the space and add a little dimension!  Plus - they were in the right colors!

My stamps are from the wonderful fall set by Waltzingmouse appropriately called Peace and Plenty!

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:

 Raise the Bar Challenge -   Celebrate Fall
Cas-ual Fridays -  embossing

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Peace and Plenty
Paper: white, enchanted evening, canyon clay - PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Scattered Straw - Ranger Distress,
Accessories: Copics: YR04, YR07, YR24, Square Lattice Embossing folder - SU, rhinestones - Kaiser Craft, ribbon - Orange Zest polka dot satin - PTI, Jolee's Stickers.

The Challenge of Three Colors and a New Pink Baby!

I'm this week's hostess for the color challenge over on Split Coast - and my color choices are Basic Grey, Chocolate Chip and Gumball Green - an odd mix right?! Well - I was inspired by some sheets I saw on the cover of The Company Store Catalogue!  Not sure you can see it in this pic - but the flowers are actually outlined in brown and the leaves are a soft green.

And here is the card I was inspired to create.

My dessert option was to make your own patterned paper - which I did by stamping these flowers with brown ink - masking each flower and sponging the open areas with Ranger Distress Iced Spruce (not having Basic Grey Ink!) Then I colored the leaves with a green Copic. I layered the image panel to Basic Grey and then Chocolate Chip, tied grey wrinkled seam tape around the panel and through the Spellbinders Ribbon Tag stamped sentiment and tied a triple bow!

I'm on vacation this week but Kent is not  - so I'm looking forward to getting in some fun stamping time!

And I just have to introduce you to my brandy new Grand Niece - Mila (pronounced Mee-la) - Isn't she just the sweetest little bean??!!!

 These puffy white shorts have 2 rows of ruffles on the bum! - And yes, they do make her tiny little butt look big!

I saw her on Sunday and I'll be seeing her again on Thursday -  can't get enough of this cute little munchkin!  Her big brother, 2 year old Landon, has been more than happy with his new little sister!

Of course - he's older and into more grown up things now!! Now tell me - is love of cars in the male genetic makeup??!!  Landon hopped into Kent's car (I was right with him of course!) - started steering - pointed to where the key should go - and put his hand on the stick shift!!??!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Vintage Garden Flowers, Fancy Phrases
Paper: White - PTI, Basic Grey, Chocolate Chip- SU
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, New Sprout, Ranger Distress - Iced Spruce
Accessories: Copic - G82, foam tape, Eclipse Tape, Blending tool - Ranger, wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, Ribbon Tag Trio 2 - Spellbinders

Friend of Mine!

Just a quick post from me today -  I made this card for the August Craft's Meow Sketch Challenge -  using the colors from this week's Split Coast Color Challenge.

I just love this Craft's Meow  sentiment stamp with the vines twined around it.  I added some Tiny Twinkles to the buds on the vines so there is a little shimmer on the card.

I can't believe we're in the last week of summer already -  where did the summer go??!!

Stamps: The Craft's Meow - Friend of Mine

Paper: Lucky Limeade - SU, Rustic Cream, Scarlet Jewel, Harvest Gold - PTI, DP Christy Tomlinsons She Art Paper Pack

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Mustard Seed

Accessories: foam tape, glue pen, wrinkled seam tape, Vintage Button - PTI, rectangle Nestabilities, rhinestone - Kaiser, Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions

Joyeux Noel

I made this card for last week's Split Coast color challenge - to use Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla.  I didn't have the SU colors so I substituted New Leaf, Fired Brick and Vintage Cream.

I finally got to use my Layered Poinsettia dies from Spellbinders that I bought at the end of last season after seeing so many beautiful creations made with them on many blogs and galleries!  First I die cut a circle out of the front of my card

Then I traced the circle opening on the inside to show me where to stamp the doily and layer the poinsettia.  I put foam dots between the bottom two layers of the flower so it was popped up a bit.  I used my glue pen on the tips of the flower and leaves and dipped them in Dazzling Diamonds.

 I die cut a larger Eyelet circle, cut out the center and adhered it over the opening on the front of my card.  I stamped the sentiment on a die cut banner and layered it over the base of the opening with thick foam dots so when the card is closed the banner is still higher than the flower.

I hope you'll stop by on Friday -  I'm going to be participating in a Blog Waltz with some of my fellow Waltzingmouse Design Team members - we'll all be using WMS stamps on Pouch Mart bags!  There's sure to be lots of inspiring projects!

and on Thursday I have an exciting announcement to share along with another blog hop! (you might see a little clue on my side bar!?!)  Lots of fun things happening this week!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Dainty Doilies Large, Sentiment from Very Vintage Christmas  

Paper: Vintage Cream, New Leaf - PTI, Ranger Distress Coredinations - Fired Brick  

Ink: Memento Desert Sand  

Accessories: Layered Poinsettia Spellbinders, Circle and Eyelet Circle Nestabilities, Ribbon Banners - Spellbinders, Glue Pen, Glue Dots, foam dots, thick foam dots, Dazzling Diamonds - SU, rhinestones - Kaiser