Nature

I've never entered 2 cards for the Impression Obsession challenge, but really wanted to ink up my newest stamps. I knew I'd love the Spatter Cover A Card, CC059, & boy do I! The Berry Sprig, D8766, was stamped several times in the corners & the panel edges were distressed to create my simple background. The wonderful quote, Infinite Beauty, C5159, is stamped, sponged, distressed, matted & mounted with foam tape.  Gives me a card to use for my goal of sending "just because" cards in 2014.  Glad you took time to stop by.

Hello

I made a fun little mini card for the PTI MIM challenge. I wasn't able to participate in Heather's Layered Embossing challenge, so gave it a try using PTI Watercolor Wonder & Trendy Tree Tops. I love how it turned out using Zing! Leaf Green, Grapefruit & Aqua.  The sentiment is embossed with Zing! Charcoal. Embossing is something I do quite a bit & I have a huge assortment of powders.  Nice to learn a new way to use them. Thanks for your visit--I so appreciate your comments.

Time to Celebrate

Took some doing, but finally got inspired to make a "party" card for the CASology challenge. My card is a case of one made by Rosemary that I had marked as a favorite in Flickr. I so admire her ability to make CAS cards full of interest & beauty with elements perfectly placed. All stamps by Hero Arts: Circle Design, Find Joy & Dots. The inks are Distress festive berries & VersaMagic Turqoise Gem. I got the Tim Holtz star die for 70% off, so had to use it & the aqua button was part of the prize I won on Lisa's blog. Can't tell, but the circle design is sprayed with Glimmer Mist giving a lovely sparkle in real life.  

This could be for New Year's or a birthday. I'm also playing in Pixies Snippets Playground. Thanks for stopping by.

Simple Valentine

Time to start on Valentine's Day cards!  I love the Impression Obsession Filigree Heart (C2024) & decided it'd make a beautiful background.  I stamped it 4 times in Brilliance Starlite Silver & die cut it with a Spellbinder's Lacey Circle. Valentine Wishes (D5541) was stamped over the hearts using Memento Grape Jelly.  Embellishments are purple dots around the edge & a tiny flower with a heart in the center.  Remember circle cards will stand if you cut a small section off the back circle to give it a straight edge.  This is my entry for the current challenge at Impression Obsession.  Glad you stopped by.  We've been fortunate to miss most of the bad weather.  Hope you're staying safe & warm.

I'd love to leave you a comment if you leave me a link or your site is in your blogger profile.

Get Well Card

Made a get well card for a relative who had her second surgery in 2 months.  Both were planned, but that doesn't make the recovery any easier. I used PTI Mat Stack & Mega Mat Stack 3.  This sweet wreath image from PTI Tag-Its #3 is stamped in Memento Pistachio.  The tiny flower from the same set is stamped in Memento Sweet Plum & yellow Stickles is added to the center.  The sentiment is from PTI Tiny Tags.  I love this ivory hemp (string) which is wrapped across the bottom & tied in a bow with a tiny button added for embellishment. 

Very CAS, but I think she'll like it as she's not one for frills.  I'll add this to the PTI Blog Hop--just in the nick of time! Thanks for your visit.

Celebrate!

Got a couple Christmas cards from people I didn't expect to hear from, so decided to send them New Year's cards.  I decided to play along in the final challenge for The 10 Minute Craft Dash.  I also wanted to enter the challenge at CAS-ual Fridays who happens to be the sponsor for the Craft Dash! My first card took 10 minutes & 45 seconds, so I went simpler for version 2 which only took 6 minutes & 40 seconds.  I can enter the first one in Pixies Snippets Playground since scraps were used for the sentiment & black mat. The bling qualifies for SSS Wednesday so I'll also enter that challenge.

Version 1--10 min 45 sec

The burst image is an old DeNami stamp I love & the sentiment is by SU--it was on consignment at my LSS before it closed.  The sentiment is black embossed & Brilliance Gold (& Silver on the long version) is used for the bursts.  The panels are sprayed with Therm-O-Web Glimmer Mist--love that stuff!  The 1 layer card needed something, so I added the black faux stitching.  The close-up gives you an idea of the sparkle.

Hard to believe--it's almost 2014!  Wishing all of you a wonderful year with lots of fun crafting! Thanks so much for stopping by--always makes my day to read your comments.

Merry Christmas

For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord. Luke 2:11

I've had most of my Magenta stamps for many years.  Couldn't resist this beautiful cling stamp that I found just before my LSS closed last year. I gold embossed it on ivory cardstock & colored with markers.  I'd planned to add some glitter, but decided just to use a few pearls & little gold & pink dots.  The dark red mat is dry embossed for additional texture. I couldn't find a gold frame so just took the picture out of this old one. Fun to have one handmade decoration this year & I'm entering the Magenta challenge.

Wishing you & yours a very Merry Christmas!

JOY

I used Dynamic Duos colors & the Curtain Call snowflake theme to make this card I'm giving in person to a good friend.  There's plenty of bling with the glitter paper die cut mat & clear gems, so I'm also entering SSS Wednesday & Paper Crafts December Gallery Challenge. The snowflakes are die cut using MFT felt & Let It Snowflake dies.  I found a very old piece of black glitter paper which is die cut using Spellbinders Lacey Circles. The Joy die cut is from Penny Black.

Getting down to the wire--hope you're all ready for Christmas.  I truly appreciate your sweet comments--thank you.

Sister

  

Here's my card for the CASology knit challenge. Don't see how I used the cue word?  Let me explain.  The first thing that came to my mind was "close knit" as in close knit family. My sister & I are only 19 months apart & we weren't close at all in high school. However, now that we're both adults (& don't have to share a room--LOL!) we truly love & value each other. I bought this stamp years ago (from a company no longer in business) as it was perfect for my sister who loves butterflies.  The Penny Black butterfly die is used to emboss the piece & then I stamped with Versafine Majestic Blue--my sister's favorite color. This is actually take 4 because I had a terrible time getting my splotches of Tattered Angels Graphite Glimmer Mist not too big & not on top of a word. Finally I figured out to cover the stamping with scratch paper--whew! This beautiful white specialty yarn, gives me another connection to knit, right?! Stickles & tiny black pearls embellish the little butterfly. 

I appreciate you taking time to stop by during this busy holiday season.

Oops--forgot someone!

Hubby just remembered yesterday that he wanted to send a card to a lady in Iowa who was a huge help to him researching his family there. We decided it could just be for the holiday season since it won't make it before Christmas.  I wanted to enter the Freshly Made Sketches challenge, so at least I didn't have to quickly think of a design.  My MME paper pad was still out (actually everything is still out!) & with the snowflake choices I thought it'd work well. 

I hand cut the flags & used MFT Notched Border for the top piece. Love this old Stampendous! sentiment which is stamped in Versafine Smokey Gray. Wanted it pretty flat for mailing & I have to say, sequins have grown on me! Hopefully this will be a nice surprise for that sweet lady. I'm also entering the December CAS challenge at Stampendous! Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.
Edited to Add: We can enter up to 6 cards this time, so I'm adding this to Pixies Snippets Playground.
  

Card for a Guy

Needed one more card for a co-worker.  He was recently hired so I don't know him very well. I also wanted to make a card for Merry Monday & decided a deer would be great for a masculine card.  However... almost gave up as nothing I did looked good.  I like the Tim Holtz embossed trees so just kept trying to make it work.  A gold embossed deer (Penny Black) next to the trees looked terrible, so I took a scrap of cream paper, red embossed it & used the MFT Fishtail Flags die.  Better, but too stark with the kraft, so started sponging.  Ended up being able to attach the flag over the gold deer & by the time I finished with the DeNami sentiment on the green strip, I actually liked the card!  

Sometimes a save isn't possible, but reminded me not to give up too quickly. Wishing all of you a great weekend as you finish preparations for Christmas.  I have some baking to do so I can take a loaf of pumpkin bread to a friend I'm meeting for coffee. Thanks for stopping by.
Edited to Add: Also entering Paper Crafts December Gallery Challenge.

Silver Embossed Nativity

Marion's Inspiring Card

Such a pretty card by Marion for the Muse challenge this week. I was inspired to make a window card, although mine does not go through to the inside. My window frames the PTI nativity image from Star of Wonder-- silver embossed. I used VersaMagic Night Sky to ink the sentiment from the same set. The card front is covered with random stamping of an old star image done with a soft Brilliance silver ink. This card is for my co-worker who just participated in a Christmas play that ran 3 nights at her church. She said she's going to hire me to make her Christmas cards next year. I can tell you I won't be volunteering to do window cards as it takes me forever to line things up--LOL! Thanks for stopping by during this busy holiday season.

Trip to the Beach & Hubby's Card

My friend, Stacy, could work for the Chamber of Commerce! She takes wonderful pictures, often of places in our state I've never seen. When I saw THIS POST of the holiday lights at Shore Acres Botanical Garden, I determined to go see the display & hubby agreed.  Turned out my day off yesterday was "perfect" Oregon beach weather.  For those of you who don't live here, that means no rain or heavy fog & we actually had sunshine much of the day!  I love Christmas lights (my dad always drove the family around town to see them) so it was really special for me. 

Today I got hubby's Christmas card done using Penny Black's holly berries die, 51-019 & stamps flourish holly, 4339K & the wonder, 30-040. The holly is stamped in the upper corner using Distress Ink antique linen & the edges are sponged with the same ink & a bit of vintage photo.  The sentiment is stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia & the embossing folder is Tim Holtz.  I used watercolor paper for the die cut & then colored it with Gelatos blended with a damp finger. Stickles are added to the berries.  
I'm entering the challenge at Through The Purple Haze where the prize is 3 new Penny Black stamp sets! Since I used a scrap of wc paper, I'm also entering at Pixies Snippets Playground & the stamping qualifies for SSS Monday & the Stickles qualifies for SSS Wednesday.
I know you're busy--thank you so much for visiting my blog.
Edited to Add: Entering Paper Crafts December Gallery Challenge.

Flourishes Guest Designer

Back in October I received a totally unexpected e-mail telling me that I was one of the winners of the Flourishes Guest Designer contest.  I can't tell you how surprised & excited I was!  This is my week to pick the Timeless Tuesday challenge. 

I've always loved the look of vellum & how it can be used in many ways, so that's my challenge theme. I took a break from holiday cards to create a Valentine or Wedding card using Flourishes wonderful Letters in Bloom set. After arranging the letters on my acrylic block I stamped & embossed them in white on vellum that had been die cut with Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles.  The larger die from that set was used for the light pink card base.  The flowers & leaves are colored with markers & Stickles is added to the letters.  I attached a sheer pink bow & pink Rain Dots for embellishments. 

There's a paragraph about me & all the challenge details on the Flourishes Blog.  I hope you'll check it out & then grab your vellum and join this week’s challenge.  Be sure to check out all the inspiration to be found on the DT Blogs.

Allison Cope
Cheryl Lea
Deborah Anton
Jenny Gropp
Katie Sims
   

Happy Birthday Carol

Today several of us are saying Happy Birthday to our friend, Carol. The complete list can be found HERE (thanks to Bev for organizing this!) 

I don't know how Carol found my blog, but some time ago I started getting her exuberant comments always lifting my spirits. We became friends & hope to meet in person when she's back in my neck of the woods.  She's not a fan of the cold, snowy winters where she lives, so decided to make her a card looking toward Spring. I die cut the Penny Black iris, 51-005, from old purple glitter paper I've had for years.  The negative was cut with Spellbinders Labels 10. Then I die cut the iris again from white cardstock & stamped it lightly in aqua with Penny Black's music background, 2025M, before putting it in the negative cut. The card front was dry embossed & the edges were sponged with the same ink. The sentiment from Penny Black's friendship, 30-160, was stamped on vellum, cut into a tag, matted with vellum & attached with a bow. 
Happy, Happy Birthday, dear Carol!  Hugs, Greta
Edited to Add: Playing along with SSS Monday--use a stamp.

A Valentine

Another deadline is upon me, so I'm adding a 3rd post today.  I need my inspiration to come a bit earlier so this doesn't happen--LOL! Didn't really think I was going to get a card made for ODBDSLC--has to be 3D or not a usual fold--outside the box for me.  I do love these ODBD hearts, so stamped them last night & today I made it into a card. I used the beautiful colors of the Dynamic Duos challenge. Hopefully my medium blue is acceptable. 

The felt flowers are by MFT, the sentiment is from ODBD Sweet William, Small & the die cut heart borders are Memory Box.

I promise--no more posts from me today! Thank you for stopping by.

Felt Snowflakes

 

Excuse the 2 posts today, but time is almost up for the CASology snowflake challenge. My design is from Freshly Made Sketches. I restrained myself when it came to Black Friday sales, but couldn't resist adding these MFT snowflake dies along with the Nightshift Blue felt. I've seen lots of cards with layered snowflakes this year & here's my version using all MFT felt. Can't have snowflakes without sparkle, so I added a gem to the center & sprayed my MFT Fishtail Flags (cut at both ends) with the wonderful Therm-O-Web Glimmer Mist. I love using 2 layers of vellum (Spellbinders Labels 4) for a mat & this font on the PTI Snowflake Flurries sentiment. My card will go to a local friend, so I don't have to worry about the thickness. I'm also entering Pixies Snippets Playground & SSS Wednesday.

Hope you're enjoying a great weekend. Your visit is so appreciated.

Enjoy the Magic

I do love the Christmas season including making & sending cards. I know you're all busy, so I'll keep this short. I recently received the wonderful leaves dies from my win at 4EnScrap. I thought it'd be fun to use them for the next Invitation to Create: use 5 colors other than black & white. Here are my inks: Distress frayed burlap & bundled sage (outline of leaves), Delicata Golden Glitz (leaves), Distress spun sugar & fired brick (die cut snowflakes), Versafine Vintage Sepia (sentiment), Distress antique linen (music background).  

The edges are sponged with some of these as well. I used Penny Black stamps music background, 2025M & yuletide greetings, 30-192. I'm also entering Pixies Snippets Playground. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Edited to Add: Entering Paper Crafts December Gallery Challenge.

Poinsettia in Rouge

I always try to play along with the PTI MIM challenges. The current one is to heat emboss on vellum--something I already like to do.  However, I don't remember ever using anything but white & gold, so wanted to try another color. I've also never matted my embossed vellum over printed paper like Melissa did in the video. One of the larger images from PTI Peaceful Poinsettia was embossed with Zing! Rouge powder & the tiny dots in the center (lost the stamp--it went flying as I cleaned it--this morning I found it on the edge of my table!) are gold embossed.  I made my own printed paper with the rows of little poinsettias from the same set.  They were stamped in Vintage Cream & clear embossed on a scrap of Vintage Cream cardstock.  I love the subtle effect.  The sentiment from the same set is gold embossed.  I made the card last night & wasn't very happy with how it turned out. 

This morning it looks OK (my friend Carol won't have to change her "Greta Top 5" list--LOL) but it will go in the mail.
Thought I'd also share how I turned my PTI Blog Hop tags into cards.  Enjoy your weekend--I know you're busy.
Edited to Add: I'm also playing along at CAS on Sunday.

Merry Christmas

It's time for the Flourishes December release & that means a challenge with the prize of winning the entire release! The sketches didn't look complicated, but still took me awhile to come up with something. I started by sponging cardstock I cut at angles using Distress Ink festive berries & evergreen bough. Then I randomly stamped the holly from Flourishes Peace & Joy using silver Brilliance, dry embossed it with dots & sprayed it with Glimmer Mist. 
The ornament from the same set was black embossed on vellum & colored on the back using an applicator & the same inks. The sentiment is from another of their sets called A Gift for You. The close up
gives you an idea of the pretty shimmer. This is pretty flat, so will be good to mail. So glad you took time to come by. 

Season's Greetings

Not sure my shades of pink & green are close enough to count, but I'm entering the challenge at Dynamic Duos. I love this color combo, but not sure I've ever used it on a Christmas card.  I made the background panel by covering watercolor paper with Gesso before blending 2 green & 2 pink Gelatos. The Penny Black holly from christmas wishes, 30-196, is black embossed & I added Stickles & some pink dot stickers. The sentiment (isn't that font gorgeous?!) is from Penny Black's yuletide greetings, 30-192. 

I'm so glad I finally realized you can dry emboss over a sentiment without hurting it.  
Although this is a very non-traditional look, I actually like it for a change. What do you think? Since I made the background using a scrap of watercolor paper, I'm also entering the challenges at Pixies Snippets Playground & SSS Wednesday. Edited to add: Also entering Penny Black Saturday Challenge.
Edited to Add: Also entering Paper Crafts December Gallery Challenge.

  

Think Snow!

Timely challenge at Impression Obsession as we have a Winter Wonderland at the moment. We
only got about 3 inches of snow but the temps have been in the single digits and teens so nothing has melted.  It's beautiful, especially at night with Christmas lights on the houses in our neighborhood. Put me in the mood for my challenge card which is made with Impression Obsession stamps Crochet Snowflake 2, E13064 and Merry, Bright & Cozy, D8307. Can't tell from the picture, but the snowflakes are embossed with a sparkly powder.  Nice & flat, so perfect for mailing. Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  

Modern Whimsy

Click here for my DeNami Blog Hop Post.

Fun to try something new, so decided to make a card inspired by Danielle's video for PTI MIM. I followed her format & used papers from MME which worked for a whimsical design.  I embossed an image from PTI Peaceful Poinsettia in white on my MFT vellum tag.  PTI Snowflake Flurries dies & stamps were used for the circles & sentiment. My element peaking out from behind the tag was made with berries from Peaceful Poinsettia.  I added a double twine bow to the side & a red Rain Dot.  Cheerful & fairly flat, so this one is going in the mail.  
Since I used scraps except for the card itself, I'm also entering Pixies Snippets Playground. Glad you took time to come by.  I'd love to hear your comments.