Snow Much Fun

Snow Much Fun is one of those stamp sets that I debated on getting for the longest time and even though it is now retired, I still use it quite a bit.  I just love those snowmen!

I love the layout for this card.  It comes from the newest challenge from Create with Connie and Mary.  The colors are from the Color Throwdown Challenge.  Its due today so I'm squeaking in at the last minute!
Stamps: Snow Much Fun, Endless Wishes
Ink: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Old Olive
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Big Shot, Circle Framelits, Perfect Polka Dots EF

Challenge Links:
http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/


http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com/create-with-connie-and-mary/
Pin It Now!

One Good Thing...

I've had sick kids for the last 5 days. Stomach flu, fevers, ear infections, etc, etc, etc. Can you say stir crazy??? You just start functioning on autopilot after awhile and wondering if it will ever end.  I always try to find just one good thing when my day is yuck. This afternoon everyone is starting to feel a little bit better so I had a few hours to craft.  YAY!!!

Can you tell I was in a winter/snowflake mood?

I just got the new Endless Wishes Photopolymer stamp set and was anxious to use it.  I've seen several cards that were a similar style to this one and wanted to put my own spin on it.

Stamps: Endless Wishes
Ink: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Crumb Cake, Polka Dot Parade DSP, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon, Hexagon Punch, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Linen Thread

Challenge Links:
http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/


http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com/create-with-connie-and-mary/

This was a technique I saw a few weeks back and wanted to try called Bokah (I think).  Its where you have an image that gets lighter in color as it goes towards the top.

Stamps: Endless Wishes, Warmth & Wonder
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Real Red
Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Red Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Simply Scored, Big Shot, Fancy Fan EF

Challenge Links:
http://seizethesketch.blogspot.ca/


http://thedynamicduoschallenge.blogspot.com/

I love how this card turned out!  I stamped my Polar Bear with versamark, heat embossed with black embossing powder, and then used bleach to color him in!

Stamps: Zoo Review, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Versamark, Smoky Slate
Paper: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Brushed Silver
Accessories: Word Window Punch, Neutrals Candy Dots, Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Ovals Framelits, Northern Frost Decorative Strip (retired), Stylish Stripes EF, Bleach

Challenge Links:
http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/


http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/


I hope you've enjoyed my winter cards on this crisp fall day.  I wish you health and happiness and stamping! Pin It Now!

Happy Big Day

Tonight I have a card for you that I had a lot of fun making.  Anytime I get to use my Big Shot is fun for me and this has several Big Shot elements.  I used a sketch from MoJo Monday and the colors from Color Throwdown.

Stamps: Chalk Talk, Everything Eleanor
Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar
Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding, Island Indigo, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Beautifully Baroque EF, Circles Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits, Pistachio Pudding Stretch Ruffle Ribbon, Flower Trim, Hexagon Punch

I was extremely happy to have the energy to make this card.  I had to switch out the closets of all 4 kids - Whew!  That is an all day job but they definitely needed their long sleeve shirts and pants to be available!

Challenge Links:
http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/


http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/



Pin It Now!

Gearing Up for Christmas Stamp Camp

Hello!  Today I'm showing you the fabulous and fun cards we did at the Gearing Up for Christmas Stamp Camp this past Saturday.  (If you missed out, don't worry, there is another one next month with a brand new set of cards!)

First is a total view of the collection.  Lots of fun!

I think you've seen this one before!  I posted it not too long ago for a blog challenge and loved it so much that I had to share it with my campers!

This is a new one.  I've seen the idea for a wreath out of the Daydream Medallions on several other cards and decided to try it out.  Love the results!

This is another one that the technique has caught my eye on Pinterest.  This uses the Pennant Builder punch to make the layers of the tree.  Add some pearls and a bit of ruffle ribbon and you have elegance in a card!

Next, Super easy using some paper from the Winter Frost DSP stack.  I love how the embossed frame frames the sentiment!

This one you may have seen before as well.  I started early with designs for Christmas cards this year so I could share some of my favorites at camps.  I just changed up the greens and blues for some slightly darker tones.

And, finally, I say this card at a fellow demo's house and asked if I could C.A.S.E. it and she said YES!  I moved the placement of the DSP a little to make it my own  but loved the original so I kept it mostly the same. Thanks Amy Kunkle!

Hope you've enjoyed today's selections! Pin It Now!

Crafty Afternoon

I had a little time this afternoon with no commitments so I decided to blow off doing the laundry and indulge myself in a little creative therapy.  I'm not sure where my days go.  I thought I would have so much more time since all of my kids are in school this year but I think the hours speed up while they are away!  Anyway, back to doing challenges!

I'm really quite proud of this card.  I combined three challenges into one and I really like the outcome.
Stamps: Morning Meadow
Paper: Smokey Slate, Riding Hood Red, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Sweater Weather DSP, Eastern Elegance DSP, and another SU DSP from Valentines a few years ago
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, More Mustard, Garden Green
Accessories: Big Shot, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Pansy Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack

 Challenge Links:
http://abcchallenges.blogspot.com/
ABC47 '3 or more Pattern Papers'
You can create any card using at least 3 (or more) pattern papers/ designer series paper.

http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/


http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/

 Next, I moved on to some Christmas cards.  Gathering ideas for some upcoming Stamp Camps!  Sometimes simple is beautiful and that's what I think of this card.
Stamps: More Merry Messages
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Soft Sky, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray, Silver Glimmer
Accessories: Big Shot, Snow Flurry Die (I was so sad this retired!), Elegant Lines EF

 Challenge Links:
http://cascoloursandsketches.blogspot.com/


http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/

 And last but not least, this cute little square card!  I just got the Merry Little Christmas set two days ago so this seemed like the perfect card to use it on.
Stamps: Merry Little Christmas, Warmth and Wonder
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Versamark, Silver Encore
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo, Whisper White
Accessories: Pool Party EP, Clear EP, 1 1/4" Scalloped Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Circle Framelits, Silver 1/8" Ribbon, Basic Jewel Rhinestones

Challenge Links:
http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/


Thanks for looking! Pin It Now!

Special Nieces

Good Morning!  I have a few cards to share today that I made for some of my nieces.

This one was for my niece Lora.  I had made cards for all her sisters on accomplishing a goal but hers was just because she brightens my day.  Seize the Sketch had the perfect layout for this card.
Stamps: Tag It
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Smoky Slate, Melon Mambo
Paper:  Pistachio Pudding, Smoky Slate, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Adorning Accents EF, Bitty Banners Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits, Crystal Effects

Challenge Link:
http://seizethesketch.blogspot.ca/

 This one was for Lora's sister Alisha who worked very hard and won first place in a race.  (I ran a race with her this summer and this girl can RUN!!! She beat me by about 10 minutes!)  I wanted bright colors for her and these from Colour Q combined with a sketch from Hand Stamped Sentiments worked perfectly.
Stamps: Tag It
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Brights DSP stack (retired)
Accessories: Big Shot, Delicate Doilies Sizzlet L, Circles #2 Die, Chalk Talk Framelits, Chevron EF, Scalloped Trim Border Punch, Dazzling Details

I had to add a tiny bit of sparkle to the star on the trophy!

Challenge Links:

http://www.handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com/

http://colourq.blogspot.com/

Have a great day!

Pin It Now!

Hello again!

Please forgive my absence!  Life just got in the way :)  Here's some new stuff to look at:

The secretary at my kids' school was in tears this morning.  Her son's dog had passed away and she was attached to him like a child.  So I made this card for her to send to him with a note for my condolences for her too.  I love to give the gift that keeps on giving!

Stamps: D is for Dog
Paper: Soft Sky, Real Red, Garden Green
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Circle Framelits, Hexagon Punch, (also a punch and embossing folder that I dug out of my kids' supplies - non-SU)

Challenge Link:
http://seizethesketch.blogspot.ca/

 My niece just completed her first year of 4-H and took chickens to the Fair.  This is my card of congratulations for a job well done!

Stamps: none
Paper: Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Circle Framelits, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Scalloped Oval Punch, Petite Pennant Builder Punch, Organza Ribbon

Challenge Link:
http://sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/

 I'm gearing up for Christmas and playing around with some ideas for upcoming classes.
Stamps: Warmth and Wonder
Paper: Crumb Cake, Seasons of Style DSP stack, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
Accessories: Extra Large Oval Punch

Challenge Link:
http://retrosketches.blogspot.com/


Here's one last goodie that my friend Susie designed - I love fall colors and the Sweater Weather DSP!

Hope you've enjoyed and that I can be back soon to share some more creations with you! Pin It Now!

Thursday Morning

Ever have one of those days - right from the get go where its supposed to be sunny and the rain is drizzling, the kids are crabby and not ready to go to school, the housework is piled up and you've misplaced your to do list?!  Yep - that was my morning so I decided to unwind by getting some cards made - therapy with a good end result :)

 I have a ton of scraps of the Polka Dot Parade DSP left over from another project and was trying to think of a way to use all those little odd shaped pieces and then I came up with this.  I punched the triangles out with the Petite Pennants Builder punch and put them together in an alternating pattern.  I then added a little strip of Silver Glimmer paper.  The cute little santa is from the stamp set Tag It.  I used my Real Red and Old Olive markers to color it.  I then cut it out with the Chalk Talk Framelits.  I used a Rhinestone Basic Jewel so it would compliment the glimmer paper (see below).  The base is Baked Brown Sugar.

Challenge Link:
http://seizethesketch.blogspot.ca/

 I just love these colors together - don't you?  The base is Perfect Plum.  The flags are Strawberry Slush and Old Olive.  I stamped the images with Daydream Medallions and cut them out with the Floral Frames framelits.  I added a solid color medallion behind each stamped one for more depth (see below).  In the center of the Medallion trio is a Large Basic Pearl and over to the side is one of each size of the Pearl Basic Jewels.  The sentiment comes from the hostess set Simply Sketched.

Challenge Link:
http://kgiron.blogspot.com/2013/08/sweet-sunday-sketch-challenge-191.html

 I don't know why I make all these Halloween cards.  I think it is simple because I just love all the images in the Best of Halloween stamp set (August).  The colors for this card are Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Rich Razzleberry.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wished and then cut out with Bitty Banner framelit.  A smaller one is layered behind the larger one.  I don't have the Chevron punch so I made do with the retired Photo Corners punch.

Challenge Links:
http://abcchallenges.blogspot.com/

ABC42 'No Flowers'

Create any card you'd like without using any flowers.

http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/

 My final card for the morning is one for a baby.  My baby is almost 7!!!  I just thought it fit so well with the sketch.  Baby Prints and Itty Bitty Banners are the stamp sets for this card.  The soft colors I used are Soft Sky, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, and Pink Pirouette.  I was in the mood to do some paper piercing so I gave a small touch to each scallop of the circle and used the Occassions Paper Piercing Pack to help pierce around the banner (see below).  Now, to find someone to share this card with!

Challenge Link:
http://retrosketches.blogspot.com/


Now, I should probably go find that to do list and check off a few things before the kids are back! Pin It Now!