Choose Joy

As soon as I saw this stamp by Tammy Tutterow and Spellbinders, I knew it had to come home with me.  I saw it first when we were getting sneak peeks from January CHA, and it is just now beginning to show up in stores, so it was a long wait, but well worth it!  This first stamping will stay in my craft room, up on a shelf, so I see it every day - just love the sentiment!

supplies: purple card base, watercolor paper, Spellbinder's Choose Joy cling stamp, Ranger Archival Jet Black ink, Spectrum Aqua markers and water to color, Winnie & Walter Audrey Cutaways scalloped die, sequins from Pretty Pink Posh Sweet Pea and Enchanted Garden mixes, mini Misti 

For its first stamping I used my Mini Misti to get a good dark impression on watercolor paper, which can be a problem without it.  I must admit that I didn't think I needed this amazing tool, but I was wrong!  I'm thrilled now to have it, and use it every time I stamp!  Then I just chose some Aqua Markers in pinks, purples, green, and yellow and colored in the image, adding water to spread the colors as I went.  When everything had dried, I die-cut a scalloped pinpoint panel, and then embellished with sequins for a bit of sparkle.  A very simple design, and lots of fun to color!

This particular stamp is sold out right now at Simon, but Tammy has several others that are just as pretty, if you're interested.

Thanks for stopping by!  My blog will get quiet here now for a few days, as my Mom and sister come for a visit over the 3-day weekend.  I'll see you next week - enjoy the holiday!

Simon Says........Anything Goes!

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday blog!

It's your favorite Anything Goes this week!  The design team are all playing with Technique Tuesday products and if you have any we'd love to see what you make with them, too!

I chose one of Technique Tuesday's Greenhouse Society stamp sets.  This series features lovely botanicals, and I ran with that idea, making a botanical notecard.

supplies: white and periwinkle cardstock, Technique Tuesday Columbine stamp set, VersaFine Onyx Black ink to stamp and mowed lawn and shaded lilac distress markers to color, Winnie & Walter Audrey Cutaways die

Now it's your turn - I can't wait to see what you create!  Heidi has provided another $50.00 gift voucher

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!

MFT Sketch Challenge

Sneaking in at the last hour with an entry for the current My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge:

supplies: white and black cardstock, MFT Flashy Florals stamps and dies, MFT fabulous die, Simon's Stitched Rectangles die, Hero Arts Wallpaper Background woodblock from 1999, various sequins, adhesive foam squares

I was so enthralled with Karolyn's velveteen stamping here, that I went the same route, using a very old Hero Arts ditzy floral stamp for my pattern.  This is a technique invented by Shari Carroll when she was a Hero Arts artist; basically you stamp a pattern in white pigment ink on white cardstock, and when it's dry, overstamp your designs.....the white pattern will float upwards and be subtly visible through the overstamped colors. 

Here's the sketch:

Forget Me Not

Still playing with some new toys, I made a nostalgic lavender and lace card for today.

supplies: purple and white cardstock, Tim Holtz Doily embossing folder and Wildflowers dies, wilted violet, dusty concord, seedless preserves, and peeled paint distress inks, finger daubers, violet silk ribbon, Paper Inspirations woodblock sentiment

I've always been a sucker for doilies, and so when I saw this embossing folder, it jumped into my cart!  This wildflower die is just 1 of 7 different designs in this set - I know I'll get lots of use from it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Put on your Sunglasses!

I just received the new My Favorite Things Flashy Florals stamps and dies, and I decided to give them a spin and also enter the MFT Color Challenge

.

supplies: white, orange, and black cardstock, MFT Flashy Flowers stamps and dies, MFT Hello die, several inks from the Flashy Florals card kit, Mini Misti, a Hero Arts striped stamp, sequins to match.  

Here are the colors - I chose to accent the orange!

I really love the large size of these stamps and dies!  Paired with my new Mini Misti, this card was a joy to make!   Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks

I got some new goodies to play with and I'm combining a couple of them to enter the current Share Joy challenge.

supplies: white cardstock, Taylored Expressions Rosy Posey embossing folder, My Favorite Things Flashy Florals stamps and dies, MFT thanks die, MFT Dots & Stripes Sorbet striped dp, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins

I think Taylored Expressions makes some of the nicest embossing folders, and this Rosy Posey one has been on my list for awhile, but always sold out.  So last week when I saw it was back in stock, I scooped it up!

Here's our sketch for this week:

After a dreary day yesterday of showers, it's a beautiful spring Sunday here!  I hope you're getting some of the same!

Look for the Miracles

I have 2 cards made from Simon's June Card Kit.

supplies: white cardstock, a panel of Bo Bunny's Believe dp, in kit, vellum, Simon's Look for the Miracles sentiment and hearts, in kit, white embossing powder and VersaMark ink, white seam binding

This is a simple design, highlighting this lovely sentiment.  There are several dps I could have used behind this, but I loved this bright, happy heart one!

For the 2nd card, I stamped many of the designs from the Look for the Miracles stamp set on a panel of white cardstock, using my new mini Misti!  (I have been having such trouble getting clean crisp impressions lately that I finally caved and got one - WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!).  Then I cut the stamped panel in half, and then each half into 2 pieces, and remounted everything onto a Sunshine card base, adding some of the enamel dots in the kit in the flower centers.  I used Orange Peel and Island Blue strips to highlight the dream diecut in black.

Here's the sunny kit:

So much to love - don't wait too long!

Hydrangea Dream

I have been very lax in my card making the last month or so.  We have been doing over our kitchen, replacing the original cabinets and everything else there.  We love the results, but it took us a good 2 months, and then another 2 weeks to spring clean the rest of the house when it was finally finished!  So now I'm all ready to get back into making cards.  I chose my favorite Hero Arts flower stamp and watercolored a panel after heat embossing it in white:

supplies: ivory, black, and periwinkle cardstock, watercolor paper, Hero Arts Hydrangea, blueprint sketch, mowed lawn, and tumbled glass distress inks, water, die-cut sentiment from Simon's June Card Kit, May Arts periwinkle seam binding ribbon, Winnie & Walter Audrey Cutaways scalloped die

As always after a break, I find it tough to get started again, so I chose this wonderful stamp and my favorite colors to ease back in.  After embossing the image, I couldn't stamp a sentiment over it, but timing is everything - my mailman delivered the new Simon June Card Kit today, and I thought the sentiment die inside was the perfect solution!  I think that ribbon is dreamy, so it works for me!

Thanks, as always, for stopping by for a visit today!

Spring Wishes

Here's a card for another of this month's sketches at Sugar Pea Designs.

supplies: white, bright yellow, and Audrey Blue cardstock, Sugar Pea Designs, Funky Wreath - Spring, various inks to match Lawn Fawn's Perfectly Plaid paper, Lawn Fawn Stitched Scallop die, Simon Stitched Circle die, Spellbinder's Circle die, Die-Namics banner die from Blueprints 20, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins, Scrapbook Adhesives foam squares

I love all the little stitched details here and there on my card!  My flower colors were pulled from the plaid panel.

Here's the sketch:

Be sure to visit Sugar Pea Designs to see all the creative takes on this sketch!

Simon Says........Fun with Felt!

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday blog!

This week we have a really fun challenge!  We're calling it Fun with Felt, and the Design Team are showcasing Simon's exclusive Spring Plush dies!  I had the best time playing with my Plush Charmed Heart die set, and made 2 stuffed hearts, one in pastels, one in brights, and a gift card holder!

Here they are a little closer if you want to see the details.  All of the elements are sewn down, I didn't see a need for any glue.  The hearts measure about 4" at the most, and a bit less when stuffed lightly like they are here, so they can be attached to a card if you wish.  Or you could add a pin to the back and wear them on a coat ........ they are the perfect size!  They'd also make an adorable pin cushion or a gift embellishment, or a Christmas tree ornament - just add a ribbon or floss or twine at the top while you're stitching the front and back together.....

supplies: Simon Plush Charmed Heart die, Taylored Expressions Black Licorice, Split Pea, Flamingo, Carrot, and Butter felt, and a turquoise from my own collection, DMC embroidery floss to match, some tiny buttons, a tiny amount of polyester stuffing

supplies: Simon Plush Charmed Heart die, Taylored Expressions Marshmallow, Avocado, and Cherry Blossom felts and a pale gold from my own collection, DMC embroidery floss to match, pink and gold adhesive pearls (which may or may not stay there - so far, so good!), polyester stuffing

There are lots of other elements in this die set, too, a scalloped edge, a heart, a star, and a ruffled flower, plus a smaller heart flourish that you can use to add more stitching.  I just couldn't stop playing with these dies, so here is one more that I left flat and adhered to a simple card front. This makes a fun gift card holder, and shows a way to use that scalloped edge die in this set!

supplies: white cardstock, dp from Teresa Collins Carolina Breeze paper pad, Simon's Plush Charmed Heart dies, Taylored Expressions Butter, Heather Grey, and Avocado felt, matching embroidery flosses, Simon Painted Hugs die

This one used the scalloped die included in the set to make my pocket.  I used some glossy accents to secure my sentiment to the pocket, and double-sided tape to secure the heart to the card.

For 2 more examples of this set, please click HERE and HERE.  And if you'd like to see some other ideas for using felt, I've started a Felt Pinterest Board.

Now it's your turn - I can't wait to see what you create!  We have another $50.00 gift voucher

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!

Sugar Sketch challenge #53

I recently won an adorable set of stamps from Sugar Pea Designs, and now I can play in their sketch challenges!  Here's my card for sketch #53:

supplies: white and Green Apple cardstock, design papers from My Favorite Things Farm Fresh Gingham and Tranquil Textures pads, flowers, leaves, and sentiment from Sugar Pea Designs Funky Wreaths - Spring, various pastel inks, Die-Namics Spring Wreath die, Doodlebug white glitter sprinkles in centers of flowers

Here's the sketch:

Hope you're having a great Sunday - it snowed here for a second this morning!!

Simon Says........Flowers!

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday blog!

This week our theme is Flowers and the Design Team are working with Prima Products!  I chose a Watercolor paper pad and a pack of their flowers.  Here's my card for this week:

supplies: Simon Green Apple card base, Prima Vintage Emporium Paintable Watercolor paper pad, Prima Spring Mix paper flowers (evidently discontinued, as it's disappeared from the store), Spectrum Aqua markers, water, wood veneer branches, twisted citron distress ink

There are several selections of these Paintables watercolor paper pads; I chose this one because of this gorgeous basket of flowers.  I trimmed it to fit an A2 card base, then watercolored it, and when dry, I attached my flowers and wood veneer leaves that had been sponged with twisted citron distress ink.  I decided not to add any sentiment at this time - I couldn't bear to cover up anything!  But wouldn't this make a lovely card for Mother's Day?  

I used more of the Prima flowers from the same pack for my 2nd card.  I evidently bought the last package of these particular flowers, but really, any of their flower assortments would work - just find some design paper in the same colors to match your flowers.  That's what I did here:

supplies: kraft and Audrey Blue cardstock, MME design paper, Prima Spring Mix flowers, wood veneer leaves sponged in navy, Simon's Stitched Circles and Painted Hugs dies

Now it's your turn - I can't wait to see what you create!  Heidi has provided another $50.00 gift voucher

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!

Simon Says........Stencil It!

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday blog!

Our theme this week is Stencil It! and my teamies and I are playing with Stencil Girl Products!  I chose this gorgeous big fern stencil and had a ball playing with it!

supplies: white and black cardstock and Hero Arts Grass layering paper, Stencil Girl Pressed Leaves stencil, mowed lawn distress ink, micron fine-tip black pen, Simon's Sending & Wishing sentiment and Wishing die, Tim Holtz Detailed Butterflies die, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins

I got the idea to outline the first and darkest stencilling from the sample for this stencil.  It's something I'd never done before, but I liked the results so much that I brought in more black accents in my sentiment and the butterfly, and also did a tiny black frame around the whole panel.

Here's another version:

supplies: white and green cardstock, cork, Stencil Girl Pressed Leaves stencil, twisted citron and mowed lawn distress ink, brown, and black ink, Hero Arts Old Letter Writing and Envelope Pattern, unknown sentiment

I started by sponging a white panel in twisted citron distress ink.  Then I overlayed the stencil and applied mowed lawn through it.  While the stencil was still in place I stamped the script.  After removing the stencil I splattered green and white and overstamped the whole panel in the envelope pattern with more mowed lawn distress ink.  I thought the cork sentiment was a nice earthy touch to all the green. 

Now it's your turn - I can't wait to see what you create!  Heidi has provided another $50.00 gift voucher

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!

Share Joy

I have a fun card today, made for the Share Joy Challenge for this week!  They always give us a choice of 2 challenges - I chose the colors.

supplies: white, black, yellow, Doll Pink and Green Apple cardstock, dp from MFT Dots & Stripes Sorbet paper pack, Die-Namics Scribble Roses dies, Simon's Single Rose leaves, woodgrain paper and joy die from Taylored Expressions, Scrapbook Adhesives foam squares to raise center panel

I doubled up the flowers, using both colors on each flower, gluing down only the centers of the 2nd layers, and raising the rest of the flower to give it a little more dimension.  I used the heart from the joy sentiment as flower centers - a good way to bring more of the black into the design!

Here's our inspiration:

Sending Hugs

Just sharing a card I recently made.  It's a bit dreary here today - I hope this brightens your day a bit.

supplies: Simon's woodgrain cardstock, medium shade of Hero Arts Pool layering paper, Simon Artful Flowers, various aqua inks from Simon and Hero Arts, Signo white gel pen for flower centers, Simon Painted Hugs die, sentiment from Hero Arts XO (retired), DieNamics Blueprints 20 scalloped die, Pretty Pink Posh Share Handmade Kindness sequins

Thanks for coming by - I wish you a great week! (and some sunshine!)