A Subtle Hello

I have made another card using inspiration from the Online Card Class Summer Card Camp 2 class that I am taking. I used the color combo from week 3. I have been wanting to try this technique (I don't really know what it is called!) where your sentiment is die cut from your background and raised to subtly show. I also sort of used the second sketch from this week.

Details:
Stamps: None
Paper: SU Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Creamy Caramel, Lavender Lace, PTI Plum Pudding
Ink: None
Misc: PTI Wonderful Words Hello Die, PTI Rainbow Stripes Die

Thanks for stopping by!

Card Class Week 3 Color Combo

Hello! This weeks color challenge at Online Card Classes Summer Card Camp 2 was a doozy. It was SO not in my comfort zone! I almost decided to skip it, but went ahead and gave it a shot. I have surprised myself by actually liking it! Who'd a thought!? I also used the 1st sketch for the week. I usually post a picture of the sketch or colors but I am not sure what the rules are about that since it is a class instead of a challenge....

I tried the flowers using only the purples and then using blue, light purple and darker pinkish purple and I couldn't decide which I liked better so I just made basically the same card with each of them!

The Details:

Stamps: PTI The Sweet Life and Think Big Favorites #4

Paper: PTI White, Dark Chocolate, SU Kraft

Ink: PTI Classic Kraft, SU Baja Breeze, Lavender Lace, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Suede, Versamark

Misc: SU Linen Thread, PTI The Sweet Life Dies, SU White Embossing Powder

The Details:

Stamps: PTI The Sweet Life, SSS Banner Sayings

Paper: PTI White, Dark Chocolate, SU Kraft

Ink: PTI Classic Kraft, SU Baja Breeze, Lavender Lace, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Suede, Versamark

Misc: SU Linen Thread, PTI The Sweet Life Dies, SU White Embossing Powder

Thanks for vising today!

A (Almost) Catch Up On My Homework

Hiya!! I got to play a little bit this weekend and I made some cards using the Online Summer Card Class that I am taking as inspiration. I have four cards to share, each using either a sketch or color combo (or sometimes both) from the card class.

The first card I made uses the 2nd sketch from week one. I did not use any of the color challenges from the class on this one because I had some paper I bought a while back that I really wanted to use to make some slightly fall themed cards for Operation Write Home. The leaves on the embellishment are cut from the DP and covered with Glossy Accents.

Details:
Stamp: PTI On the Farm
Paper: PTI Vintage Cream, DP purchased a while back from Micheals (possibly Recollections brand?)
Ink: SU Early Espresso, Distress Ink Walnut Stain
Misc: Various SU Circle Punches, SU linen thread

For my second card I used the week 2 color combo and the week 2 sketch 2 (very liberally, and turned on it's side). I left the front blank because this one is also for Operation Write Home and I thought if it was blank it could be used to say "hello" to a child or maybe be a birthday card....

Details:
Stamp: Lawn Fawn Critters in the Burbs, Hero Arts Square Pattern Background
Paper: SU Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze
Ink: SU Lucky Limeade, Memento Tuxedo Black, colored with Copics
Misc: PTI die Cloud 1 & 2


I think my 3rd card is my favorite, and it only uses the 3rd sketch from week 2. I really intended to do more with the color challenges, but I desperately wanted to use this paper (I have had it for over 6 months and for some reason I HAD to use it now!!) It is from the same paper pad as the first card.

Details:
Stamp: None
Paper: PTI White, SU Basic Black, DP from Micheal's (possibly Recollections)
Ink: Distress Ink Walnut Stain
Misc: SU Circle Punches, Lil Inker Die - Circle and Diamond Stitched Pattern, PTI die - Counting My Blessings

My final card uses the color combo from week 2 again, but no sketch.

Details:
Stamp: Lil Inker Darling Diamonds
Paper: SU Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla
Ink: SU Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Lucky Limeade, Chocolate Chip
Misc: Lil Inker Die - Circle and Diamond Stitched Pattern

Thanks for stopping by!

Summer Card Camp Day1 (For the New Neighbors)

Even though I have had little to no time to stamp lately, I signed up for Online Card Classes Summer Card Camp 2. I knew there was a chance I wouldn't get any of the assignments done until well after class had ended, but I still couldn't resist. I have really enjoyed each of the classes I have taken there! And, hey, I am only 3 days behind on doing the 1st day's assignment! Good job, me!!

This card was made using one of the Day 1 sketches and the 1st color challenge. I just got new neighbors and I am determined to at least know their names, so I have made a card and made a little trip to a local farmer's stand. I think fresh corn is a good "Welcome to Nebraska" gift (and I got them a watermelon, too! The samples were too tasty!)

For my card I used:

Stamps: Blanket Stitched Blooms (WPlus9), Sentiment from Winter Hills (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight (all Stampin Up), and Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Sweet Girl (Echo Park), PTI White Cardstock
Misc: Inkssentials Enamel Accents, Copic Multiliner

OWH Midweek Throwdown For the Kids and Some Organization

Hi! I have not been able to make any cards for the last couple of weeks because I have been organizing my stamps! I keep most of mys stamps in CD cases, and the rest in DVD cases (SU and large stamps) and binder boxes with laminated inserts (Taylored Expressions and all of the Unity Kits of the Month that I used to get) . The cases are all numbered and the sets are stamped on computer paper and in 3 ring binders with the corresponding number on each page so I can flip through, decide what set I want to use and then go to the case. (I hope that makes sense.) In the 3 ring binders I used to have them organized by stamp company, but after a while it became too hard to keep track of what kinds of stamps I had. So I reorganized them by type - "Christmas", "Nature", etc. That was better, but still not perfect because some sets have many different types of stamps in them....So I have spent the past 2 weeks stamping every. single. stamp. I have into categories - "Thank You Sentiments", "Flower Images", "Birthday Sentiments", etc. - and then labeling each image with the case number that it lives in. I am still not totally done, but I am SO close!! I decided it was time to take a break and make a card! Operation Write Home's Midweek Showdown this week is to make cards for kids! So fun!

I used the stamp set Critters in the Forest from Lawn Fawn, paper from Echo Park and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Thanks for stopping by!

OWH Midweek Throwdown - Water World

Today I have made a card for Operation Write Home's Midweek Throwdown Challenge. This week it is to use water on your card. About a month ago I went a little crazy playing with Distress Stains and since then I have a had a stack of papers on my desk that I created that day. It feels so good to finally do something with one of them!! This one reminded me of water so I stamped the world stamp on it (from a OWH set by Hero Arts called You're My World ) and used some of it for the background.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Operation Write Home Sketch 175

I know I have mentioned several times lately that most of the cards I am making now are for Operation Write Home....so this week I thought I would try the Operation Write Home sketch challenge. Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

I also used a previous color challenge (#179) from ColourQ (Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Kraft and White). I totally love the little wood veneer potty people from Studio Calico. I really need to think of some other uses for them!! The stamps are two sets from Simon Says Stamp - Lots of Hearts and Tilted Banner Sayings.

Thanks for visiting me today!

ColourQ 189

Hello! I made a card this weekend for the ColourQ challenge. This is the color challenge for this week:

 

And this is the card I ended up with. I say it that way because I intended something different (I have a photo of the intended design at the end because I made 2 of them) but I messed up at the end and got a fingerprint of green ink at the top of the one that had stamped better. I cut it down and ended up liking it better this way! (Also, please forgive the splotchy Coral flowers - I don't have the ink pad yet, just the marker.)

 

I used Impression Obsession's Herringbone background stamped in white pigment ink for the background and then stamped Avery Elle's Petal's and Stems using dye ink over the top.

 

This was what I had originally intended the card to look like.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Fusion #6

Hello! I am trying my hand at the Fusion Hypothesis Challenge again! Here is the inspiration photo and sketch for this week:

And here is my card:

This time I tried combining the sketch and the inspiration photo. I used Avery Elle's Knotty set and various SU inks and papers to approximate the colors I was seeing in the photo (Melon Mambo, So Saffron, Calypso Coral and Basic Gray).

This card had nothing to do with the challenge, but I also made it the same day so I thought I would share it too!

 

The stamps are from Lawn Fawn's Sunny Skies and the DP is from Echo Parks Sweet Girl 6x6 pad. I created the sky with Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! I thought I would share a few Mother's Day cards I made today. Some are the one's I made for my mother, grandmother, mother-in-law and step-mom, and some are ones that I sent to Operation Write Home.  Several of them used past sketches from CAS(E) this Sketch as a starting point.

Have a wonderful day!

CAS(E) this Sketch #27

I am just loving playing in challenges lately!! Today I have made a card for the CAS(E) this Sketch #27 challenge.

 

I hope it is OK, but I turned the elements of the sketch on their side without turning the orientation of the card.

I used the Avery Elle stamp set Lots of Love for the big sentiment. The small "missing you" is from an old Stampin Up set called So Many Sayings, that I cut apart. The DP is My Minds Eye Collectible Unforgettable and the wood typewriter is from Studio Calico. This, like most of the cards I have made lately, is going to Operation Write Home.

Thanks for visiting me today!

ColourQ 188

Hello! I have a card to share today that I made for this week's ColourQ Challenge.

 

I used PTI's Rosie Posie and Rosie Posie Additions and the sentiment is from PTI's Mini Blooms. I also used the Rosie Posie dies. On my first attempt I tried using Calypso Coral for the shading on the Blush flowersbut it was just way too dark, even with some off stamping. For my final version I stamped the shadows using the same color as I used on the flowers and leaves.

Thanks for stopping by today.

 

Surfin' Fusion 5

Hi! I had time to try another challenge this week - the Fusion (Hypothesis 5) Challenge!  You can choose to try the sketch, be inspired by the photo, or combine them both. I have not managed to combine them both yet - my first two tries were inspired by the photo and this time the sketch called to me!

 

And here is my card:

 

 

I used The Greeting Farm's Surfer Ian, AmyR Beach Sentiments and paper from Bo Bunny's Barefoot and Bliss pad.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

CAS(E) this Sketch #26

Hiya! Here I am with another sketch attempt. I love this little hippo, and am pretty happy with how he and his little friend turned out, but I think my attempt at the sketch may be too basic. I wish my brain had come up with a more creative take on it. Here is the sketch (from CAS(E) this Sketch):

 

And here is my card:

 

I used the Avery Elle stamp set HipsterPotamus, a strip of paper from Basic Grey and some Ranger black enamel.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

ColourQ 187 Challenge

Hello! I have made a card today for the ColourQ challenge. These colors were HARD for me! I am pretty sure it is the light purple and pink together! What colors do you have a hard time putting on the same card?

This is the inspiration photo:

 

And here is my card:

 

I used PTI's Happiness in Bloom (sprayed liberally with water before stamping) and A Hero Arts sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by!



Mermaids

I have been doing less coloring lately - mostly because it takes more time and I have had a goal to send a box of cards a month to Operation Write Home. But I did take some time to color earlier this week and I was smiling the whole time. I LOVE Sweet Novembers Mermaids so much, so it was a lot of fun to pull some of them out and play.

 

I used Dylusions Spray inks and a starburst pattern mask to create the background of this first one. The mermaid stamp is Coral Reefweaver and Moki from Sweet November Stamps (sold at All That Scraps) and the sentiment is from Hero Arts Heydey Thoughts. (I just looked at ATS and could only find SN Mermaids as digi images now. I hope it was user error and they are there somewhere. If not, at least they are still available as digi......)

 

 

I used the spray inks again on this background and combined them with a Spellbinders mask/embossing sheet that I have had for a while. Once the ink was dry I lay the mask on and sprayed with water. The stamp for this one is Sweet November's Pearl Tidepool and Seamoor. The sentiment is Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler.

 

Thanks for stopping by!



Fusion Challenge #4

Hiya! I have managed to do another challenge! This time I am playing along with the Fusion Hypothesis #4 challenge. The premise is that you can either use the sketch, the inspiration photo or combine them. You can then vote on the cards entered and they are keeping track of whether the winning cards use the sketch, inspiration photo or combine the two. This is my second time participating and both times I was drawn to the inspiration photo. I think all of the winning cards have combined both.

 

And here is my card:

 

I used Papertrey Ink's Mini Blooms and Wonderful Words Additions plus the "you" die from the Wonderful Words Additions set. I embossed the blooms in clear and then used Distress Stains for the color.

For anyone who visits here because you liked the colored images I did, I have some coming up. I still love to color and definitely feel more comfortable with that kind of stamping but I am trying to push myself out of my comfort zone.

Thanks for visiting today!


A Color Challenge

Hello! I am really on a roll here! I have managed to do another challenge this week - this time it is a color challenge. I am playing along with the ColorQ challenge, which is Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie and Kraft this week.

 
I LOVE these colors!! And here is my take on it:

I used Paper Smooches Reflections stamp set and Papertrey Ink alphabet dies.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

CAS(E) 25

I am really trying to stretch and grow in my card making abilities. One of the ways I am doing that is trying to participate in more challenges. Challenges, whether they be sketch, color, or inspiration are really hard for me because I tend to be too literal. You can't get better without trying things that are hard for you, right? So today I am trying my hand at the CAS(e) this Sketch challenge. This is the sketch:

And here is my card:

I turned the sketch on it's side and used Lawn Fawn's Critters in the Sea.

Thanks so much for looking!

Playing Catch Up

Hello! I have been taking pictures of the cards I have been making for the past couple of months but not posting them, so I think I will play catch up and post some of them in groups. I'll try not to do too many at once. Just to make it simple I am not going to post the info that I  usually do, but if you are curious about something please ask. I will do my best to answer any questions.

Thanks for stopping by!