Friday, June 30, 2017

You Are My Sunshine -- for Great Impressions Stamps

Hello, and happy Friday!  I love big, bold sentiment stamps that can be the focal point of a card.  I found this great one in the Great Impressions Stamps store, and fell in love with it. 



This is E876 My Sunshine.  All I did was ink it up, cut it out with a square die cut, back it with another die cut (both by Spellbinders) and centered it on the card.

The bright, summery designer paper is from Echo Park.  I cut the sun die cut out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store. 

It was a fun, easy card.

This is my last post for Great Impressions Stamps, and I want to thank Deone and Ruza for the wonderful experience!  I have loved every minute and will treasure each of my Great Impressions Stamps

Merry Christmas! for QKR Stampede

Happy Friday!  It's time for a new challenge at QKR Stampede Challenge blog.  Since it's almost July, this week's theme is "Christmas in July".  Here's your chance to get a Christmas card made!

I love many of the animal stamps found in the QKR Stampede Store, and today's Christmas Mouse is no exception!


I used Q-digi13714 Christmas Mouse & Q-digi13806 Merry Christmas on this card.  I printed them both on cranberry red card stock from Close to My Heart, then made a shaker card with dies from Lawn Fawn.

The dots papers are Echo Park Dots & Stripes Christmas papers.  The sequins are from Craftin' Desert Divas.  The ribbon is from my stash. 

I hope you can join us at QKR Stampede for our Christmas In July challenge.  I'd love to see what you make!

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Thinking of You -- & Great Impressions Stamps

Greetings, fellow stampers.  I hope your June is going well.  I have a simple, yet pretty card to share with you today using a Great Impressions Stamp.



This round card uses F326 Daisy Thinking of You, colored with Copic markers.  I used round dies from Craftin' Desert Divas, Lifestyle Crafts, and Tattered Lace to create this shaped card.  Papers are from Graphic 45. 

Have you entered the Great Impressions Stamps Challenge yet?  You still have a few days.  The theme this month is Masculine. This is the final challenge, so I hope you can enter it!

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Sit a Bit -- an MHKDesigns New Release

I'm here today to show you the last New Release of June for MHKDesigns.  It's been a great month!  Today's New Release is called, 'Sit a Bit'.  


I printed one of the fab chairs from Sit a Bit onto Kraft paper, and printed one of the sentiments onto an MHKDesigns digital paper. All the designer papers are from the MHKDesigns Country Farm Digital Paper Pack

I used a Spellbinders Die set to create this card, including the shaped base, and some crinkle ribbon from 3 Girl JAM.

MHKDesigns sets used on this card:



There's only a few days to enter this month's MHKDesigns 'Anything Goes' challenge, but a new challenge will be starting very soon!  I hope you've been able to join in the fun!  Make sure to visit the MHKDesigns blog for more inspiration on today's new release and your chance to win it!

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Watercolor Botanicals -- for Pickled Potpourri

I seem to be reaching for different watercolor mediums these days. I have a short tutorial to share, using Spectrum Noir watercolor pencils and a fairly dry paintbrush. 

I have two cards, both featuring Pickled Potpourri Grand Botanicals digi stamp

Here's the first one, using the Grand Botanical digi stampRose Sentiments and free Robyn digital papers, all from Pickled Potpourri.

Here's how a did this:

Step one.  I started with the lightest color, 
then, I added a second, similar shade
last, the third color, which I blended slightly with a damp paintbrush
I made the leaves with 3 shades of green and some purple for contrast.

Then, I did the same thing again, using shades of violet on the flower.  I fussy cut both flowers and all the leaves.  Then, I started creating cards.

Another card, using the same Grand Botanical digital stampRose Sentiments, and free Robyn digital papers





Two cards, same products, but the look very different.  I love how that happens!  I hope you enjoyed your visit to the blog today and will come back often!

Friday, June 23, 2017

Paper Piecing Thanks -- for QKR Stampede

It's Friday!  That means it's time for a new challenge at the QKR Stampede Challenge Blog.  This week, our optional theme is 'Paper Piecing'.  

Do you ever have an idea that turns out totally different in real life than it did in your head?  Such is the case with this paper pieced card.  I had it planned as a summertime-looking green leaf, but just couldn't find the paper to make it look right with the accompanying acorn:


This paper pieced leaf is a digi stamp from Eureka Stamps, the sister company to QKR Stampede. It's ES-digi10402 Open Oak Leaf.  The 'thanks!' sentiment is also from Eureka Stamps.  It is ES-digi4402 lg thanks.

I printed the Open Oak Leaf stamp twice -- once onto yellow card stock, once onto the red old wallpaper digital paper.  The second one I fussy cut, then pieced onto the yellow card stock. 

I used Spellbinders dies on this card, digital papers by MHKDesigns, and a bit of ribbon from 3 Girl JAM.

I hope you can join our Paper Pieced challenge this week at QKR Stampede Challenge Blog.  We've got great prizes, it's anything goes with an optional twist, and I'd love to see what you make!

Thursday, June 22, 2017

I Prayed for This Child -- for Imagine That! Digistamp

It's Thursday, and time for some Thursday inspiration on the Imagine That! Digistamp blog.

I'm invited to a baby shower on Saturday for a very good friend.  She just had her first baby.  This is the card I'm taking with me to the shower.  It's uses Imagine That! Digistamp's Sweet Sleep Boy digi stamp set.


I colored the Sweet Sleep Boy with Copic markers, matching the colors to the background paper (it also came with the set.)  What drew me to this set in the first place is the awesome sentiment.  I LOVE that verse from 1Samuel1:27!  It is absolutely perfect for this card and for the occasion.  I have been praying for baby, mom and dad for months now and I want them to know that. 

Imagine That! Digistamp products used:


Stop by the Imagine That! Digistamp blog to see the other creations from the talented DT!

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Enjoy Life! for The Cutting Cafe

Summer!  It starts today, although we've already had a few hot, humid days here in Wisconsin, and a few storms to go with that hot, humid weather.  Summer -- lazy days, flip flops, ice cream, popsicles.  You gotta love summer!

We're featuring bingo cards this week at The Cutting Cafe.  You will find many different bingo card sets at The Cutting Cafe, and many different ideas of what can be done with them today on The Cutting Cafe blog.  I have one simple idea to share with you featuring the summer bingo cards:


The bingo cards in the Summer Bingo Cards Set come in various sizes.  These are the small ones.  I used 3 of them and some papers and embellishments from Echo Park.

Take time to check out all the bingo card set at The Cutting Cafe, and make sure to see all the wonderful inspiration on The Cutting Cafe Blog.  Leave a comment for a chance to win 3 sets of your choice!

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Season's Greetings -- an MHKDesigns New Release

June 20, and the MHKDesigners are showcasing another of this month's New Releases.  Today, you'll see Season's Greetings

I used the Santa image from the Season's Greeting digital set, printed it on Kraft paper, and colored it with Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils. I used a die from Craftin' Desert Divas to cut out the Season's Greetings image.  Papers on this card are also from MHKDesigns.  They're Simply Seasonal Digital Papers.  More dies from Crafting Desert Divas were used to construct the card. 

MHKDesigns products used on this card:



Have you joined in on the MHKDesigns monthly challenge yet?  It's ATG if you use an MHKDesigns image.  It goes until June 30, so there's still time!
Start at the MHKDesigns blog to see what the rest of the designers have made with today's new release. Leave a comment on each designer's blog for a chance to win this set!

Hello -- for Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog

It's Tuesday, and it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog. The theme this week is an easy one, 'Add a Sentiment'.  

I used the Crafty Sentiments Designs rubber stamp, A Phone Call to create this for the challenge: 

I colored A Phone Call with Copic markers, then used a Spellbinders die to cut it out.  The 'Hello' sentiment is a die from Desert Craftin Divas. 

I hope you can join us this week for the 'Sentiment' challenge at Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog.  We have a month-long challenge in our Facebook group, too.  Join us there also. 

Grand Botanicals Sneak Peek -- for Pickled Potpourri

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  I'm on the Pickled Potpourri blog with two cards, a watercolor tutorial and some gorgeous products to showcase!

Hop on over to the Pickled Potpourri blog to see the whole card and the tutorial.  I'd love a comment to know you've been there!

Monday, June 19, 2017

With Love -- for Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

It's time for some mid-month inspiration over on the Path of Positivity Challenge blog, where the optional theme this month is, "Faith, Hope, and Love." You can also enter any positive themed entry you would like.

Pattie's Creations is a guest sponsor for us this month.  Using her Two Hearts and Rose digital stamp, I created this:

I colored the Two Hearts & Rose digi stamp with Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils, then fussy cut it.

I made the card using dies from Top Dog dies.  The papers are Romantic Set 2 from Imagine That! Digistamp.  The sentiment is a sticker from Paper Wishes. 

The 'Faith, Hope, Love' challenge at Path of Positivity goes until July 2.  Please join us! 

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Be Like a Giraffe -- for Imagine That! Digistamp

Ha! Giraffe cards 2 days in a row on my blog.  I have a theme going here!  Giraffe patterned paper 2 days in a row, too.  What are the chances?

Today, I'm featuring a coffee-drinking giraffe who is very wise, and he's from Imagine That! Digistamp.  This Giraffe With Coffee set can be your free if you enter this month's challenge at the Imagine That! Creative Playground.  All you ned to do is use an Imagine That! Digistamp image and the set is yours.  He's too cute!  Go for it!


I used the pre-colored image of the Giraffe with Coffee set, and one of the fun sentiments that came with the set.  The giraffe patterned papers are also from Imagine That! Digistamp.

I cut the card base out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The sun is from a file found there, too.  The bronze shimmer trim is from Close To My Heart. 

Imagine That! Digistamp products used: 




I hope you can join in on the challenge this month in the Creative Playground!  You have until June 30 to try and win this set. 

Friday, June 16, 2017

Congrats Giraffe -- for QKR Stampede

Friday, Yes!  That means it's time for a new challenge on the QKR Stampede blog.  This week's optional theme is Quilting or Stitching (faux or real).

A friend of mine recently had a baby, and I'm invited to her baby shower next week.  I needed a baby card to take with me, so I created this.  I think it will work for both the shower, and the stitching challenge at QKR Stampede:



I got out my colored pencils to see what I could do with that giraffe.  I'm not overly thrilled.  He's not quite as bright as I would like, but it'll do.  The adorable giraffe stamped image is a digi stamp from Eureka Stamps, the sister company of QKR Stampede. It's ES-digi40002 Giraffe and Baby.  The Congratulations stamp, also from Eureka stamps, is ES-digi25404.  I created the 'stitching' around both the giraffe and sentiment using a black marker.

The giraffe print designer papers on this card are digital papers from Imagine That! Digistamp. Aren't they fun?!?  I cut the sun out on my Silhouette Cameo from a pattern I found in the Silhouette Design Store. 

Stop by the QKR Stampede blog to see the other quilting and stitching projects from the team and to enter this week's Quilting or Stitching Challenge (real or faux). The theme is optional.  You can enter anything you'd like.  You have all week!

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Wishing you Happiness -- an MHKDesigns New Release

Butterflies, birds, flowers -- it's been a great month of new releases so far at MHKDesigns.   I love to color flowers, and I colored up a New Release, Hollyhock of Happiness on this card.  There's always a great sentiment to go with it!


Those hollyhocks were so fun to color!  This time, I used color pencils on them, and had them take up the whole left-hand side of the card.  I added a die-cut butterfly to the white space above the sentiment (found in the Hollyhock of Happiness digital stamp set), mounted the card front on a piece of MHKDesigns Rosy Posy digital paper, and the card was complete. 

MHKDesigns products used:



Have you joined the MHKDesigns June challenge yet?  You have the rest of the month.  It seems to be going fast, but there's still plenty of time.  Join us!

Saturday, June 10, 2017

You Got This! an MHKDesigns New Release

It's our second day of featuring one of this month's new releases at MHKDesigns.  Today, you'll find inspiration for Flutter & Fly, starting on the MHKDesigns blog.  You'll find it, all the new releases, and much more, in the MHKDesigns Etsy Shop

I used 2 of the butterflies in the Flutter & Fly digital stamp set to create this: 



I printed the butterflies on watercolor paper, then used Caran D'ache watercolor crayons and a water brush to color them, then fussy cut them out.  The sentiment is also from the Flutter & Fly set.  Papers on this card, also from MHKDesigns are the Flower Power Brights Digital Paper Pack

MHKDesigns sets used on this card:





Have you joined the challenge yet at MHKDesigns?  It's anything goes if you use an MHKDesigns image, and there's so many great ones to choose from in the MHKDesigns Store.  It's a month-long challenge, so you have plenty of time.  Check out the awesome Facebook group, too!  You'll find us at MHKDesigners & Friends


Friday, June 9, 2017

Masculine Thank You -- for QKR Stampede

Woohoo! It's Friday!  and Woohoo!  I'm back on the QKR Stampede team for the summer!  I've missed working with the fun, quirky, images of QKR Stampede and Eureka Stamps, so I'm glad to be back!  

QKR Stampede has a new challenge every Friday.  Challenges are now everything goes with a twist.  This week's twist is -- For the Guys.  Here's what I made for the challenge:


I used 2 QKR Stampede digital stamps on this card.  They are Q-digi22103 trees and Q-digi20002 thank you.  I used them together, lining them up so they'd fit on the oval paper I wanted to use, sizing them according.  That's the beauty of digis!  

The oval shaped card base is from the Silhouette Design Store and cut out on my Silhouette Cameo.  Papers for this card are from Close To My Heart.  The deer die cut is also from CTMH.

With Father's Day just around the corner, many of you are making Father's Day cards, so I hope you link them up at QKR Stampede's Anything Goes with a 'For the Guys' twist this week.  I'd love to see what you make! 

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Vacation! for Crafty Sentiments Designs

It's Tuesday, and time for a new challenge at Crafty Sentiments challenge blog.  It's also New Release week at Crafty Sentiments Designs and this card is created with one of this month's rubber stamps New Releases.  The challenge this week is Anything Goes!

For the Anything Goes challenge, I created this, using the rubber stamp Hotel Resort:


I colored the Crafty Sentiments Designs Hotel Resort image with Copic markers, then fussy cut it.  The tropical card was created on my Silhouette Cameo with a design I found at the Silhouette Design Store. 

I hope you can join us this week at Crafty Sentiments Challenges for our Anything Goes challenge.  There's also a Facebook challenge that goes all month.  Check out the other new releases this week, too, on the Crafty Sentiments Inspirations blog

Monday, June 5, 2017

Love You to Pieces -- for the Path of Positivity

It's time for a new challenge at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. The alternate theme this month is "Faith, Hope, Love".  It runs from today until July 2.  Or, enter any uplifting project. 

One of our sponsors is Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.  I used 3 of her awesome papers and a sentiment she created just for this card to make this:



The Decosses' Dynamite Doodles papers used on this card are from the Simple Beauty collection.  As stated above, I used 3 of them -- one for the puzzle pieces, and 2 for the card layering. 

The puzzle piece die is from Tattered Lace.  I got the card idea, along with the free die, from their most recent magazine.

I hope you can join us this month at Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.  You have until July 2!

Dare to be Fabulous -- an MHKDesigns New Release

Woohoo!  It's New Release time at MHKDesigns!  I just love it when the 5 new releases hit the MHKDesigns Etsy Shop!  You'll see what the designers have done throughout the month, every 5 days, starting today.  The fun starts on the MHKDesigns blog

Today's showcase is MHKDesigns' Fabulous Flowers.  It lives up to it's name!



I colored the Fabulous Flowers image with Lyra Rembrandt watercolor pencils.  Designer papers for this card, also from MHKDesigns, are the Rosy Posy digital papers

 MHKDesigns products used on this card:





We have a great challenge going on all month at MHKDesigns.  It's Anything Goes if you use an MHKDesigns image.  Please join us!


Sunday, June 4, 2017

Happy Summer Days -- for Great Impressions Stamps

Greetings, fellow stamp lovers!  It's June, and we have finally hit 80 degrees here where I live.  We hit 70 one day and 80 the next, then crashed back into the 60's.  I hope that wasn't summer, LOL!  

There's a new challenge starting today over on the Great Impressions Stamps blog.  With Father's Day this month, the theme is 'masculine'.  I made this card with my dog-loving husband in mind:



This card uses two rubber stamps from Great Impressions Stamps.  They are: E896 Dog Wearing Sunglasses and B213 Happy Summer Days.

I colored E896 Dog Wearing Sunglasses with Copic markers, then fussy cut it out. 

The paw border card was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I altered, found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The plaid designer paper is from Lawn Fawn. Dies are from Spellbinders. 

The masculine challenge at Great Impressions Stamps blog runs all month.  We've got great prizes, so I sure hope you join us!  I'd love to see what you make, and I sure hope you use a Great Impressions Stamps image. 

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Born to Ride -- for The Cutting Cafe

Hello, crafty friends!  It's riding season!  We're celebrating road trip time at The Cutting Cafe.   You'll see all sorts of creations celebrating summertime and road trips this week!

Since my husband and I like to spend as much time on the Harley as possible, that's the theme I decided to go with:



I used the Cutting Cafe file "It's Road Trip Time" printable stamp set.  It also comes with a couple of sag files for the sign shaped cards, one of which I used here. 

The motorcycle and sentiment are from Raisin Boat. They're going out of business and all the sets remaining are 60% off, so if you like this, shop quick!  

The orange paper -- as close to Harley orange as I could find -- is some old My Mind's Eye paper I've had in my stash forever.  The ribbon is from my stash. 

Check out all the great Road trip inspiration from other team members this week at our Cutting Cafe Be Inspired Facebook Group. Read The Cutting Cafe blog post to see the whole group.  Leave a comment for your chance to win 3 sets of your choice!


Friday, June 2, 2017

Botanical Thank You -- for Pickled Potpourri

Hello, and happy Friday!  June already.  Wow! 

I've been working on thank you cards and using watercolor mediums.  I have a card to share with you today using the fabulous Pickled Potpourri Botanical Minis and artist crayons.  I also used some digital papers from the Pickled Potpourri shop for the designer papers in the background.
  


Here's a close up of the image.  This is one of 4 that comes in the Botanical Minis digital set. The sentiment is one of many beautiful ones in the Rose Sentiment Digital Set


The papers I used were Pickled Potpourri Distressed Black & White.



I hope this card inspires you to try the fantastic digis  and papers at Pickled Potpourris Designs.  There is truly something for everyone in the store.