Easter Eggs

 I went really CAS with my Easter Cards this year, using a 2" x 3" egg die from Nestability, rub-ons from Taperlogy and sentiments from Waltzingmouse. 

I'm sending my Chick card to:

Double D Challenges

Easter ends 4/13

Stamps: Spring Baskets - Waltzingmouse (retired).

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Paper:  White - PTI

Other Supplies:  Easter Rub-ons - Taperlogy, score tape.

Inkspirational Challenge - #289 - Mini

 The first May challenge is up over at Inkspirational today.  

It's a word prompt challenge and the word is Mini!

I interpreted "Mini" as both a small image (it's stamped on a 2" x 2" square) 

and a small card - my card base is 3 3/4" x 3 3/4"

I stamped the Make a Wish Mini image from Colorado Craft onto a die cut square of water color paper using Nocturne Versafine Clair ink.  I made sure the ink was dry, and then water colored the image also creating a ground and sky around it.

I die cut two size squares using Cross Stitch Nesting Squares from Tutti Design.  I used a Nestability Square die to cut out the middle of the smaller square and used that for my image.

The square around the image is up on foam strips.

I die cut the card base using Noted: Scalloped Square die from Papertrey Ink.

So what does 'Mini' make you think of for a card?  Please join us over at Inkspirational - where you will find more inspiration from the Team as well as Mr. Linky to link up your creation! Can't wait to see what you create!

You have until May 19th to link up your card!

I'm linking my card to:

NBUS

First time using the Make a Wish Mini Image

Stamps: Make a Wish Mini - Colorado Craft
Ink: Nocturne Versafine Clair
Paper: Water color - Canson Cold Press
Accessories: Square Nestability Die, Cross Stitch Nesting Square Dies - Tutti Design, Noted: Scalloped Square Die - Papertrey Ink (retired), foam dots, Winsor and Newton Watercolor paints, brush, water.

Sending Lots of Love

Today I'm playing along with the Just Us Girls challenge.   

A friend asked me to make her 5 Valentines to send to her 5 sons and their wives so I was inspired by the colors in the photo, the white hearts and instead of a stacked snowman I made stacked hearts!?

I die cut the hearts out of a panel of water color paper and then embossed the panel with the Heart Blocks embossing folder from Provo Craft.  I layered the slightly smaller panel over an A2 white card base on foam dots.  

I die cut hearts out of aqua and red, scored one aqua and one red heart down the center and glued it on the fold over the opposite color.  

I adhered the hearts inside the larger die cut hearts using foam dots.  

I white embossed the sentiment on a black strip and adhered it between the hearts on foam dots.  

To finish my card, I adhered 3 little black clay hearts on the embossed panel and brushed over the top of the colored hearts with a Clear Glitter Wink of Stella for a little shimmer.

  

Just Us Girls

Stamps: Sentiment Suite: Love - The Greetery
Ink: Versamark
Paper: White, True Black, Pure Poppy - PapertreyInk, Water color paper - Canson Cold Press.
Accessories: Heart Dies - Nestabilits, Tuxedo Clay Hearts - Honey Bee Stamps, foam dots, Heart Blocks Embossing Folder - Provo Craft, white embossing powder, heat tool, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella.

July Mid-Month Reminder - CAS Christmas Card Challenge - Poinsettias

 Just a reminder you still have time to link up your CAS Christmas Card Challenge poinsettia card!  Mr. Linky is open through 7/24!

Here's my reminder card.  It's 4 1/4" square.

I pulled out an old Nestabilities/Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia die set, die cut the pieces and then embossed them using an Impression Pad and Silicon Rubber pad with my Big Shot (the dies have the design on them but don't show up unless you run them through again with the two pads).  I die cut the background frame using Cross Stich Nesting Squares from Tutti Designs and layered it over a slightly larger square of Brushed Gold paper

I put a foam dot in the center of each of the poinsettia layers so it is really dimensional.  I added a red rhinestone to the center of the bloom for a touch of color.

I made a second card very similar to the first but used shiny metallic gold paper, less layers of the poinsettia and framed it with pieces cut using Nordic Circle Dies from The Greetery. 

This is also 4 1/4" square.

You get quite a different look using brushed gold paper and metallic gold paper - both are pretty I think!

So please join us at CAS Christmas and use a poinsettia on your CAS Christmas design!  

You have until 7/24!

1st Card

Paper:  Brushed Gold - SU, white - PTI

Accessories:  Layered Poinsettia - Spellbinders, Cross Stitch Nesting Squares - Tutti Designs, foam dots, red rhinestone, Impression Pad, Silicon Rubber Pad - Sizzix

2nd Card

Paper:  White - PTI, metallic gold paper pad - Joann.

Accessories:  Layered Poinsettia - Spellbinders, Nordic Circle Dies - The Greetery, foam dots, red rhinestone, Impression Pad, Silicon Rubber Pad - Sizzix

Sharing some Christmas!

Today I'm sharing some Christmas cards that I made this year for various challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.  Supplies are listed beneath each card.

I used an older Nestability Layered poinsettia die for this first card.  I colored the pieces by smooshing them onto my craft mat where I had rubbed Salty Ocean Distress Ink spritzed with water. I layered the pieces with a single foam dot in the center of each layer.  The lovely circle die is from Penny Black.

Paper: white - PTI, watercolor paper - Canson, DP North Wind - Craft and You
Ink: Ranger Distress Salty Ocean 
Accessories:   craft mat, water mister, Layered Poinsettia Nestabilities, Circle Nestability, Stitched Square and Circle dies - Penny Black, foam dots, enamel dot - Altenew, Metallic Stickers/Holiday Talk - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology 

This fun T-Rex die is from  Cheery Lynne Designs and the beautiful  tree stamps are from Rubbernecker.  I colored them with Distress Markers, spritzed with water and stamped onto watercolor paper.

Stamps:  Three Trees - Rubbernecker
Ink:  Ranger Distress Forest Moss 
Paper:  Water color paper - Canson, White, Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, Bright Buttercup, Enchanted Evening - PTI, Kraft Core Cor-dinations 
Accessories: Tree Rex Die - Cheery Lynne Designs, mini sander, foam dots, Ranger Distress Markers - Forest Moss, Mowed Lawn, Misti   

The framing on this card is made by using two different dies from The Greetery -  Halfsies Diamond and Halfsies Oval.  The pretty little wren is also from The Greetery.  The wreath is PTI

Stamps: Wreaths for all Seasons - PTI, Robin and Wren - The Greetery 
Ink: Classic Kraft, Saffron Spice, Cocoa Bean, Blueberry Sky, True Black - PTI
Paper: 
white - PTI
Accessories:  Halfsies Dies, Robin and Wren Dies - The Greetery, Vanilla Flower Sequins - Simon Says Stamp, foam dots, Tombow Glue   

This lovely tree is Christmas Foliage from Penny Black.  I colored it with Distress Markers, spritzed wither water and stamped it onto a panel of water color paper.  I added splatter using watery acrylic paint.

Stamps:  Christmas Foliage - Penny Black 
Paper: Water color - Canson, Vintage Cream - PTI
Ink:   Ranger Distress Iced Spruce
Accessories:  Ranger Distress Markers Iced Spruce, Forest Moss, Gathered Twigs, heating tool, water mister - Ranger, stamp platform - Tonic, Nougat Chalk Acrylic paint - Paper Artsy, brush, Metalic stickers/Holiday Talk - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, Acrylic Dots - Altenew   

The fun design on this card was inspired by this mantel decoration from LTD Commodities.

The background is from  the beautiful  North Wind Paper Pad, the letters are dies from PTI and the fun snowman is from Sizzix.

Paper:  white, True Black, Orange Zest - PTI, DP North Wind Paper Pad - Craft and You 
Accessories: Block Alphabet Dies - PTI, Cool Yule Dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Metallic Stickers/Holiday Talk - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology  

I'll be back tomorrow with a few more of the Christmas cards I've made this year!  I hope you are all finding time to enjoy the season as we hustle and bustle to prepare for it!

Three for Luck!

So I need to make some St. Patrick's Day cards for a sale at my church next month -  people mostly buy the chocolate shamrock pops my friend Jeannine makes but some also want to buy cards.

I looked to the challenges out in blog land for inspiration for my designs and, of course I found some!

My first card design was inspired by the February CAS Mix Up Card Challenge.

 The Love Notes die from Reverse Confetti has score lines on it so the edges can be folded up to make the die dimensional - sort of little tray!  I die cut it out of Translucent Alcohol Ink Yupo.  I colored it by pouncing one the new Alcohol Pearl Inks called Sublime onto it.  I stamped the sentiment from Irish Blessings (retired from Waltzingmouse) on a white strip and added a die cut Memory Box clover - both up on foam dots.

My second card was inspired by the Sunday Stamp Challenge.

 I die cut a scallop heart Nestability and layered a die cut clover over it.  I put a strip of washi tape behind it.  I used the Pierced Feature Frame Rectangle die from PTI for the background and framing. The sentiment is another one from Irish Blessings. 

My third card was inspired by the Country View Challenges: Black and White Plus One color.

So this is very similar to my first card above but I stamped the circles on the white card die cut and added a piece of washi tape behind it.   The sentiment is from Irish Blessings and the dots are from Off Beat Backgrounds - both retired from Waltzingmouse.

So now I have 3 St. Patrick's Day cards for my church sale! 

Hinges of Friendship
Stamps:  Irish Blessings - Waltzingmouse (no longer in business)
Paper: White, Pine Feather - PTI, Translucent Yupo - Ranger
Ink:  True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Ranger Alcohol Pearl Ink Sublime, Lucky Leaves Die - Memory Box, Love Notes Die - Reverse Confetti, foam dots.

Slainte
Stamps:  Irish Blessings - Waltzingmouse (no longer in business)
Paper:  White, Simply Chartreuse, Pine Feather - PTI
Ink: True Black - PTI
Accessories: Scalloped Heart Nestability, Lucky Leaves Die - Memory Box, Pierced Feature Frames: Rectangles - PTI, washi tape, foam dots.

May the Road Rise
Stamps:  Irish Blessings - Waltzingmouse (no longer in business)
Paper:  White, New Leaf, True Black- PTI
Ink: True Black - PTI, Ranger Distress Mowed Lawn.
Accessories: Lucky Leaves Die - Memory Box, Love Notes Die - Reverse Confetti, washi tape, foam dots.

Mid Month Reminder - Feb CAS Mix Up Challenge

Just a mid-month reminder from me today that there's still time to join in on the February CAS Mix Up Challenge!

For my reminder card I used both felt and cork, stamping and die cuts.  A day late for Valentine's day - but I made this ahead of time and it's already been mailed and received!

I die cut the thin cork and red felt using heart Nestabilities.  The background die cut is Mix and Mat Plaid Die set from PTI.  I stamped a sentiment from Distressed Hearts from MFT on a Sentiment Strip die cut from MFT.

I used ScorTape to adhere the cork heart to the background and I used Tombow Glue on the felt heart and sentiment strip.

We have until February 24th to link up our cards using felt, cork or canvas - there are several links to techniques in using all three over at the CAS Mix Up Blog.  Please join us!

***********
STOP THE PRESSES!!!   Loll and Bonnie are launching a new CAS Challenge on March 3rd!

You'll find it here
 Check out the new design team and all the details of the challenge.
We hope you'll play along and get all of your Christmas cards done early!!  I know I'll be joining in!!

I'm linking my card to:
Happy Little Stampers

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge
I used paper, die cuts, felt and cork

Stamps:  Distressed Hearts - MFT (retired)
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Hero Arts Black
Accessories:  thin cork sheet - Staples, red felt, Sentiment Strip dies - MFT, heart dies - Nestabilities, Mix and Mat Plaid Die - PTI, ScorTape, Tombow Glue.

Waltzingmouse - August Sneak Peek - Day 1

I'm excited to welcome you to the first day of the Waltzingmouse August Release Sneak Peeks!  Claire is releasing 8 exciting new sets this Wednesday Aug 27th! Today the Design Team is creating with stamps from two of the sets Vintage Baby Shower and Hello Happy Thanks.  All the sets will also have coordinating dies available for purchase.

The Vintage Baby Shower set is just that - a set of 4 wonderful vintage baby images with two beautifully fonted sentiments!  I colored the bonneted baby image with Copics layering it over some pretty patterned paper and die cuts with sponged edges.  I added 3 sparkly sequins for a little shine.

On this 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" card I used two sentiments from the new set Hello Happy Thanks - this versatile set has 3 large sentiments and 14 small sentiments - useful for so many occasions!  I also used the sweet little vintage baby shoe from the Vintage Baby Shower set on my card - a mix of modern and vintage!

You'll find links to all of the Design Team members highlighting these sets today over at the WMS blog as well as below:

Anya Schrier

Jeanne Jachna
Jen Cuthbertson 
Julia Aston - Me!
Karin Åkesdotter
Kelly Schirmer
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Renee Lynch
Sandie Dunne
Teresa Kline
Tosha Leyendekker
Claire Brennan  - Owner Designer

I'll be back tomorrow for Sneak Peak Day 2 -  hope you can drop by again!

Vintage Baby Shower card
Stamps:  Vintage Baby Shower - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Vintage Cream - PTI, DP Cappella Paper Pad - Basic Grey
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Antique Linen
Accessories:  Dies - Floral Doily Motifs, Circles, Mega Rectangles - Nestabilities, foam dots, Glue N Seal - Ranger, Copics: R20, E00, B00, Sequins -Neat N Tangled.

Baby Thanks
Stamps:  Hello Happy Thanks, Vintage Baby Shower - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White, Enchanted Evening - PTI
Ink:  Memento Nautical Blue and Teal Zeal
Accessories:  Stitched Mat Rectangle die - Lil' Inker Designs, Small oval punch - SU, home made enamel dots made from Perler Beads, foam dots.

So Glad You Asked for My Number!

Today is Kent and my 17th wedding anniversary -  so when I woke up this morning and Kent was still sleeping, I made this card for him - somehow family cards are the last to be made!  Do you find that to be true??!!  I'll give it to him as we eat supper out on our deck tonight.  We're a little low key on our celebration of events lately -  we'll be going out to dinner tomorrow afternoon to celebrate, since I attended a work dinner last night and am still stuffed from it!!

I used a really fun stamp set called 'It's Today, Right?!  from Lil' Inkers Design - that I purchased quite some time ago after seeing some really cute cards using the stamps out in blogland.  So today - I cracked the set open and got it inky!

I tried to keep it masculine - using white, kraft and black - with just a touch of bling and color with the Lemonade Blend sequins from Avery Elle - and the coloring on the flower and dress hem on the image with a Wild Honey Ranger Distress Marker.  I used a stitched mat Circle and Square dies from Lil' Inker Designs and a Pinking Circle Nestability die.  The image is popped up on foam tape.

and here are 3 more sentiments from the set that I used on the inside - SO FUN!

This is a second marriage for both Kent and myself -  he was widowed 2 years before I met him - and I was divorced - a single parent- for 13 years when we met.   We met through mutual friends - and hit it off right away - started dating a week or two after we met and got married 2 years later.  He has been and continues to be - a blessing in my life - Love You Kent!

I'm linking my anniversary card to the following challenges:

Cas-ology - celebrate (they are celebrating their 100th week!)

Cas(e) this Sketch - combined with Fusion this week - I just used the sketch here.
NBUS Challenge - Celebrations  (my 2nd entry) 1st time I've used this stamp set.

Stamps:  It's Today, Right? -  Lil' Inker Designs

Paper:  White, True Black, Kraft - PTI

Ink:  Archival Jet Black

Accessories:  Square and Circle Stitched Mat dies - Lil Inker Designs, pinked circle die - Spellbinders Nestabilities, foam tape, Wild Honey Ranger Distress Marker, Lemonade Blend Sequins - Avery Elle.

Easter Eggs x Two

Well -  we are back to Monday again (where do the weekends go?!) and I'm back with two cards to share -  I needed a few more Easter cards - having sold most of mine at our church sale yesterday (!)  so here are two that I made.

This first card is clean and light - I used some eggs I had already die cut with my Nested Egg Nestabilities but then didn't use.  The paper is from the Sweet Sorbet pack by Stampin' Up with a piece of torn Washi tape behind them.  The two smaller eggs are popped up on foam dots.  I used my ever present Stitched Mat Rectangle die for the panel, layering it over a white card base.

For my second card I went colorful and bright using primary colors for my Nestie eggs, decorating them with a chevron die cut, Washi Tape and Liquid Pearls.  I made my flower with Buttons Stack die set from PTI, and the grass is a die from MFT - all popped up on foam dots.  I layered everything over a Stitched mat rectangle die cut of patterned paper from DCWV.

My inspiration for the design of both cards was the photo for this week's Addicted to Stamps Challenge

I'm also linking to the Cut It Up Challenge -  Easter and use a die cut 
and Cas-ual Fridays -  Good Egg - Use Ovals 

I'll be back tomorrow with more Easter inspiration for my monthly post for the Waltzingmouse - Team Talk Blog - I hope you can stop by!

Clean Eggs
Stamps: Happy Easter To You - Savvy wood mounted stamp
Paper:  White - PTI, DP Sweet Sorbet set - Stampin Up
Ink:  Archival Watering Can
Accessories:  Stitched Mat Rectangle Die - Lil' Inker Designs, Washi Tape - Michaels, foam dots.

Primary Color Eggs
Stamps:  Happy Easter to You - Savvy wood mounted stamp
Paper:  White, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, New Leaf - PTI, green Bazzill basics
Ink:  Archival Watering Can
Accessories:  Nested Egg Nestabilities, Buttons Stack Set - PTI, Fresh Cut Grass die and Chevron Stripes die - My Favorite Things, Washi Tape - Michaels, Liquid Pearls, enamel Dots - My Minds Eye.