Three Giraffes x 2

I am once again attempting to play along with Darnell's Twofer challenge - which this month is Zoo Animals!  These instructions always throw me for a loop!

I used a really funny giraffe stamp from Technique Tuesday called Attitude Giraffes on both cards.

I dropped Glossy Accents on the sunglasses (which you can't see too well here).  The sentiment is from What's Up by Avery Elle.

For my Twofer - I stamped the Attitude Giraffes on patterned paper and die cut it with a Circle Nestability and framed it in a Pinked Edge Nestability.  I added Eerie Eyes from Doodlebug and brushed over all the giraffes with Clear Glitter Wink of Stella (not showing in photo!). The birthday sentiment is from Party Animal by Avery Elle.

Twofer Card Challenge

To be sure I made each card a different design, I enlisted the help of two sketch challenges!

For my It's Been Too Long card I'm linking to:

Freshly Made Sketches

I tweaked the sketch a tad since my image was a long rectangle

For my You Party Animal card I'm linking to:

Fusion Card Challenge

I used the sketch as well as the colors from the photo

 Seize the Birthday

It's Been Too Long
Stamps:  Attitude Giraffes - Technique Junkies, What's Up - Avery Elle.
Paper:  White, Kraft, Dark Chocolate - PTI, DP Enchanted - Authentique.
Ink:  Wendy Vecchi Archival Orange Blossom, True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Pierced Feature Frames: Rectangles - PTI, Glossy Accents.

You Party Animal
Stamps:  Attitude Giraffes - Technique Tuesday, Party Animal - Avery Elle.
Paper:  White, New Leaf - PTI, DP Rainbow Bright - Sunny Studio.
Ink:  Hero Hues Black, True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Nestability Circles and Pinked Circles, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, Eerie Eyes - Doodlebug Designs.

Hello Circles!

Today I'm playing along with the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge.

I started my card by sponging 3 colors of Distress Ink over a panel of watercolor paper - Salty Ocean, Spiced Marmalade and Candied Apple. Then I laid a handmade circles stencil over the panel and wiped over the circles with a slightly damp baby wipe to remove the ink. Sort of like the look of Bokeh?! 

I white embossed the hello sentiment on a black strip and layered it over the panel with foam dots.. 

While I had out all the supplies for this card, I decided to make another one using the same colors but this time using a Retro Circles Stencil from ARTplorations.  

I sponged over the stencil this time - using Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.  I white embossed the sentiment on a black strip and popped it up on foam dots.

I like how the Spiced Marmalade Distress ink blended with both the blue and red inks to create some green and yellow shades in the middle!  I hope these are considered a clean enough design for the challenge even though they are covered with color.

Stamps:  Ways to Say: Hello Mini Stamp Set, Sentiment Staples: Birthday Mini Stamp Set - PTI
Paper:  White, True Black - PTI, Watercolor paper - Canson.
Ink:  Versamark, Ranger Distress Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade, Salty Ocean, Hickory Smoke.
Accessories:  Wow Bright White Embossing Powder, form dots,  Retro Circles Stencil - ARTplorations, baby wipe, handmade circles stencil (acetate and circle punch).

Too Cool for School

I like to send my young grandnieces and nephews cards during the school year - and so I made these to be ready for when they go back in the fall!

I used this wonderful Swirly Waves Background stamp from Technique Junkies and the fun S'Whale stamps and die set from Ellen Hutson.  I used Ranger Distress Salty Ocean Ink for everything!

I'm linking my card to:

Freshly Made Sketches

My theme was inspired by this card of Featured Stamper Beth over at Splitcoaststampers

Stamps:  Swirly Waves - Technique Junkies, S'whale - Ellen Hutson
Paper:  white - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Salty Ocean
Accessories:  S'whale die set - Ellen Hutson, foam dots

Hip Hip Horray!

I have a fun circus card to share today.

I got out an older Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alterations stamp and die set called Big Top.  I watercolored the image, smooshing Ranger Distress Inks on my craft mat and picking up the color with a brush and water.  The sentiment is from Never Enough Birthday by PTI.

My theme was inspired by the Inspiration Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers today.  We were given the Rosenberry Rooms web site to look for inspiration.   I was inspired by this circus print.

My card design was inspired by:

Freshly Made Sketches

Stamps: Big Top - Sizzix/Tim Holtz/Alterations, Never Enough Birthday - PTI

Paper: Rustic Cream, Cocoa Pean - PTI, Brown Kraft Core Cordinations

Ink: Ranger Distress Scattered Straw, Salty Ocean, Barn Door, Ground Espresso, Fossilized Amber, Cocoa Bean - PTI

Accessories:  Stitched Mat Circles Die - Lil Inker Designs, Big Top Dies - Sizzix/Alterations, foam dots, mini sander.

The Stars are Brightly Shining

Today I have a Christmas Card to share (yes - I work on them year round so I'm done by December!) And I'm so glad there are lots of challenges out there to inspire my designs!

I used Multi Step Ornament and Stars stamps from Kitchen Sink to stamp the star in my sky and the sentiment is from Peace on Earth by Verve.

My card was inspired by:

Merry Monday

I was inspired by the stars and the dark night outside the windows

Freshly Made Sketches

Happy weekend everyone!

Stamps:  Multi Step Ornament and Stars - Kitchen Sink, Peace on Earth - Verve.
Paper:  White, Soft Stone - PTI, Brushed Silver - SU, star patterned paper from stash.
Ink:  Hero Arts Black, Brilliance Starlite Silver, Brilliance Starlite Black.
Accessories:  Star and rectangle dies - Nestabilities, foam dots.

A Basket of Daffs

I have another Easter card to share -  with snow predicted for tonight (3-6"!) I'm going to just stare at my card and pretend it's spring!

I colored my image with Tombow markers and brushed over it with a Clear Glitter Wink of Stalla - so it looks really sparkly in the right light!

My card was inspired by two challenges.

The Inspiration Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers was a web site selling all kinds of gorgeous Iris - but not having any Iris - I used Daffodils!

And I used the Freshly Made Sketch for my design.

Also linking my card to:

Less is More

Stamps:  Spring Baskets - Waltzingmouse (retired)
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Hero Arts Black
Accessories:  Tombow Markers, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, foam dots, enamel dots - Stamplorations, circle Nestability, butterfly embossing strip - Tim Holtz/Alterations Springtime Background, chevron embossing strip - Cuttlebug.

Terrarium Birthday

Today I played along with the Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.  My good friend Anne was the hostess and she had us looking at the World Markets web site.   I was inspired by a photo of several potted cactus and created this card:

I stamped the terrarium image onto white Strathmore Bristol Smooth Paper using Hero Arts Black Ink  Then I colored the image using Tombow Markers that I spread around using a Clear Glitter Wink of Stella Brush - which gives it a wonderful sparkle that hopefully you can see in the photo below. 
(if you can't see the glitter click on the photo to make it bigger!) 
I used a strip of washi tape behind the image that is popped up on foam dots.

The Birthday die is from Impression Obsession

My design was inspired by

Freshly Made Sketches #318

 Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Crafty New Year!

Stamps: Terrarium - Paper Source
Paper: white Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface, white, True Black, Hawaiian Shores - PTI
Ink: Black Hero Hues
Accessories: Tombow Markers, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, Birthday Top Edgers Die - Impression Obsession Stitched Edge Rectangle die - WMS (retired), washi tape, foam dots.

Trust in the Lord

My Godchild Eden is being confirmed this weekend at St. Paul's Cathedral in Boston, and I wanted to make her a special card for this wonderful benchmark event in her life!

The stamps on the front of the card are from Phrases and Praises from PTI.  I stamped the heart in Hibiscus Burst, cut it out and layered it under the sentiment.  I cut the circles with Nestabilities.  I spelled her name using Idea-ology Label Letters.

Inside I die cut God from Hibiscus Burst card and stamped the sentiment from Inspired: God also from PTI.  I added an Idea-ology Mirrored Heart for a little bling!

I also bought her this 4 x5 silver box with a personal engraving that she can keep on her bureau of shelf to put special things in.

 
My card design was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches

And my colors were chosen from The Card Concept 

I feel my design is Clean and Graphic

Stamps:  Phrases and Praises, Inspired God -  Papertrey Ink
Paper:  White, True Black, Hibiscus Burst, Watercolor Wonder Paper Collection Textstyle Distressed Dots - PTI, Modern Metalics - DCWV.
Ink:  True Black, Hibiscus Burst - PTI
Accessories:  Circle dies - Nestabilities, God Die - Inspired God - PTI, foam dots, Idea-ology Label Letters and Mirrored Hearts.

Shades of Pink and Grey for Christmas

Today I finally got a chance to join in with the Merry Monday Challenge

The photo immediately made me pull out the Joyful Christmas stamp and die set from PTI - I just LOVE these bottle trees!  They bring back memories of my childhood Christmases 

(although ours were always green in the olden days!)

I stamped two trees in Hibiscus Burst Ink and one in Sweet Blush.  The tree stands and stars are stamped in Stormy Sea -  all from PTI.

I layered the trees on foam dots over a panel cut with a Wonky Stitches die from Avery Elle.  I layered the stitched panel with foam dots over a white panel and stamped one of the sentiments from Joyful Christmas beneath the stitched panel.

I used the Freshly Made Sketch for my card design

Also linking my card to:

Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More - Holiday

Stamps:  Joyful Christmas - PTI
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Stormy Sea, Hibiscus Burst, Sweet Blush - PTI
Accessories:  Dies - Joyful Christmas Dies - PTi, Wonky Stitches Dies - Avery Elle, foam dots, clear rhinestones - Michaels.

Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Yikes!  where was I??? I almost missed the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog hop! But luckily saw it two days before it ends!

I was excited to use this wonderful sentiment stamp from Stampendous that I purchased after the last Coffee Lovers blog hop. (I'm always looking for coffee/tea stamps now, aren't you??!!)

I added two die cut leaves using dies from PTI - one out of Kraft Core Coredinations paper that I sanded to expose the kraft.

I die cut the other leaf out of patterned paper from PTI.  I colored the mug and FRIEND in fall colors of Zig Brush pens.

I die cut the panel with a Wonky Stitched die from Avery Elle and popped it up over the leaves with foam dots.  I sponged all the edges with Ranger Distress Vintage Photo ink.

I'm off to the Coffee Lovers Blog to see the plethora of coffee/tea/cocoa cards linked up there!  There are tons of prizes to be won - so get yours linked up too!

I'm also linking my card to:

Freshly Made Sketches

The Male Room
Leaves and/or Trees

Stamps:  Shared Coffee - Stampendous
Paper:  Rustic Cream and Text Style Autumn Abundance - PTI, Kraft Core - Coredinations.
Ink:  Cocoa Bean - PTI, Vintage Photo Ranger Distress.
Accessories:  Leaf dies - PTI, Wonky Stitches dies - Avery Elle, foam dots, enamel dots - Michaels, Zig Clean Color Brush Pens.