Sunday, August 31, 2014

Fall Birthday

Bobby's Inspiration Card 
It's been awhile since I played along at Muse.  I love Bobby's inspiration card which immediately made me think of Hero Arts Magical Background stamp. My first idea didn't work at all, so then I inked cardstock with Distress Inks scattered straw, dried marigold & spiced marmalade.  The stamp was clear embossed--way too subtle.  Over-stamping with Memento Rich Cocoa worked, but the panel wasn't what I had envisioned. Fortunately I remembered reading somewhere that panels you don't like can be good for die cutting, so that's what I did using MFT leaves.  I distressed & inked the edges & added a wooden button & twine bow.  I twisted some twine & attached it to the bottom of a distressed kraft panel with the Penny Black sentiment stamped in Rich Cocoa. The leaves were mounted & the panel was attached with foam tape. 
I originally had a male card in mind, but since I used a bow it will probably go to a girl friend.  The kraft panel was in the scrap bin, so I'll take this over to The Playground & SSS Wed Anything Goes. Thanks for taking time to see my card.


Saturday, August 30, 2014

Christmas Wreath

I've always loved wreaths, so have quite a few in my stamp collection. All week I've been trying to decide which one to use for the Merry Monday challenge, so here it is down to the wire, again! Finally decided to go with this berry wreath by Penny Black. It was one of the last stamps I bought before my LSS closed a couple years ago. I stamped it in the beautiful Delicata Golden Glitz which really does look like gold leaf in person. The card is cut from Spellbinders Reverse Wonky Rectangles & is stamped with PB Music Background in antique linen Distress Ink. The word die is also PB die cut in gold & cream.  I expected to use the gold one on top, but actually liked it better this way.  
I won a roll of May Arts ribbon when PB did a collaboration with them & this gorgeous iridescent gold is what I picked. I'll add this to the Anything Goes challenge at SSS Wed & the stamps & dies challenge at STAMPlorations.   
I was honored to be asked by 3 people to participate in the Creative Blog Hop, but decided to opt out.  Instead I'm going to show you cards that grabbed my attention but don't have a lot of comments & maybe you'll want to take a minute to check them out & leave some love. Today I've chosen Cat of Cat Luvs Paper.  It's interesting how we connect with various people we've never met.  Cat is a special friend who leaves me sweet comments, sends me happy mail & gave me a WOS pen--probably got tired of me saying I wanted one in every comment I left--LOL!  Here are a couple of my favorites:
http://catluvspaper.blogspot.com/2014/08/another-layered-flower.html
http://catluvspaper.blogspot.com/2014/08/thanks.html
Thanks for taking time to visit my blog.  Enjoy the holiday weekend if you're in the US.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Anniversary Card

MFTWSC191
We're about to celebrate our 35th anniversary, so decided I better get a card made for hubby.  He's a car nut & loves the classic European green with tan interior, so I came as close to that as I could. The current MFT sketch inspired me--so versatile it made a good masculine card. I die cut & heat embossed with Zing green powder the MFT Open Zig Zag 3 times & then kind of wove them together.  The Love U stamp is from Lovey-Dovey Sentiments.  I used Zing Chocolate embossing powder on a white textured button & tied it with twine.  
Very simple card, but I think he'll like it.  I'm also entering SSS Monday Witch Kraft since it sounds like using kraft cardstock qualifies & Anything Goes at SSS Wednesday. Edited to add: my love card fits the Time Out Challenge where my friend, Rosemary, is the wonderful GD. 
Before I go, thought you might enjoy a picture of puppy Fritz.  We finally quit putting off giving him another bath. This time hubby gave him bites of boiled chicken breast while I did the scrubbing & he actually was very good. When we finished I took him outside for a walk & to dry off which I figured would take about 2 minutes with the heat we're having!  
Couldn't resist taking a picture of my fluffy guy after he shook off the water.  He's over-due for a haircut, but I think he's cute this way.  Thanks so much for stopping by--I love hearing from you.

Monday, August 25, 2014

PTI Blog Hop

August blog hop inspiration
Inspiration Photo
Love the inspiration for today's PTI Blog Hop. I used to spend hours in stationary stores admiring the beautiful designs. Pink & gold is one of my favorite color combos, but I decided to make 4 note cards for my sister using the basic layout in the inspiration picture & using her favorite combo of blue & silver. She always intends to make Christmas cards, but it usually doesn't happen.  She does give super yummy homemade goodies as gifts so she can use these note cards with them.  She doesn't like to write much, so I think the size will be perfect for her.
I used PTI Snowflake Flurries & Peaceful Poinsettia with silver StazOn & Adirondack Denim inks. Now I want to make some for me!  Thank you for leaving a comment--always appreciated.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

One more card for PTI SAF

Challenge-2
Only time for one more PTI card & thought I'd try a mock mosaic technique shown by Lizzie Jones.  I had a PTI Hexagon die cut on my table ready to use as a mask for inking with Versamark over my stamped Vintage Cream panel.  The flowers from The Sweet Life were stamped in a light pink, Hibiscus Burst & Berry Sorbet with the leaves done in Limeade Ice & Ripe Avocado.  After clear embossing I sponged on Summer Sunrise.  Fun technique I plan to use again.  Love the sentiment, also from The Sweet Life.  
Since I used scraps, except for the card itself, I'm entering at Pixies Snippets Playground. I'll be catching up with all your blogs very soon. Thanks so much for stopping by.


Golden Wedding Anniversary

I haven't been able to play all the PTI SAF videos yet, but I did scroll through the posts yesterday. Immediately I fell in love with Heather's cards for the 1920s. We also found out our neighbors are celebrating their 50th anniversary this weekend, so I set out to make a card for the Sparkle & Shine challenge.  
Challenge-8I would love to have the die Heather designed, but fortunately Amira Flourish by Memory Box worked as a substitute. The Xyron didn't give me complete coverage, but I just covered it with spray adhesive & added more Art Institute Pot O' Gold glitter. I used 3 sizes of gems & mounted it to a panel of PTI Vintage Cream cardstock debossed with Anna Griffin Rosa folder.  The sentiment is from PTI Lovely Leaves & is stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa. I looked through all my PTI sets & this little flourish from Sweet Life was the only thing that fit next to my sentiment except for dots.  I used the same ink stamped off once & added the tiny gems like Heather did.  
I have to say, this is one of my favorite cards.  I have a million bottles of glitter & I'd love to make this using all of them--LOL!  Still hoping to get more cards made for SAF before the deadline--chores can wait! I'm entering at Pixies Snippets Playground, SSS Monday Anything Goes & The Cutting Edge Blog Hop
cuttingedge
Thanks so much for visiting my blog.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Die Cuts & Stickers


cuttingedge

I usually have stamping on my cards, but this one is just die cuts (Penny Black deer from my Stamp Squad teamie, Judy)  &   
Spellbinders scallops. I double embossed the deer with gold & silver embossing powder.  I used Encore Metallic gold & silver inks to color the scallops.  The sentiment is done with DCWV letter stickers I've had for ages. They were a white sparkle & I added black Stickles.  Tiny black gems were added for the eyes & gold & silver pearls embellish the deer.  Don't think I've ever made a Christmas card with these colors, but the Merry Monday challenge provided great inspiration.  I'm also entering the Cutting Edge Blog Hop & Pixies Snippets Playground. Thanks so much for stopping by.

PTI Stamp-A-Faire

Morning-timer-challengeNot sure how much I'll get to participate in SAF--glad you don't have to get done today!  Puppy was napping this morning, so I made a card for the Morning Timer Challenge.  I've been wanting to use Watercolor Wonder, a set I "had" to have when it was introduced--LOL!  Found just the colors & sketch to make a quick thank you card.  The sentiment is from Through The Trees.
SAF-Color-Inspiration-5SAF-Sketch-Inspiration-1
I bought these jeweled Petaloo flowers long ago & they were just what I needed to embellish my simple card which took me 15.01 minutes.  
Hope you're having a great weekend.  I know the galleries are going to be full of inspiration & I truly thank you for taking some of your time to see what I made.

Friday, August 22, 2014

For a Friend

It really is a good idea to come back the next day before you decide to trash what you've made.  Last night this almost went in the round file, but this morning I actually liked it & finished putting it together. I used the negatives of the PTI Hexagon cover plate to make my flowers after watching the PTI MIM video for this week.  The sweet aqua dotted paper is part of the blog candy I won on Maria's blog.  
I used another PTI tiny tag & stamped the sentiment from the set in Aqua Mist. The gray panel is matted with a purple panel & is mounted with foam tape.
Edited to add: Entering The Cutting Edge Blog Hop.
cuttingedge 
We had a lovely 3 nights at Winchester Bay. Wearing shorts at the Oregon coast is pretty rare! Our site was right on the bay--hated to leave!






Sunday, August 17, 2014

Thinking of Fall--kraft, gold & blue


MFTWSC189

We had a brief reprieve from the heat & now it's back to the 90s.  I know Fall will be here before we know it, though, & decided to use a fall theme & colors for my entry in the MFT sketch challenge.  I wanted to make some more Nightshift Blue felt rolled roses & thought they'd be pretty with kraft & gold.  I used the MFT Peek-a-Boo Chevrons die to make a stencil.  I added gold embossing powder to the paste & heat embossed. To make a sort of faux embossed panel, the kraft die cut leaves from MFT Thankful Leaves were stamped with Versamark, glued to a kraft panel & trimmed even with the panel edges.  I used my waterbrush with Distress Stain Tarnished Brass to do the splotches.  Finally tried the "messy thread" look with some gold floss--not sure about it.  Both the chevron & leaf panels are mounted with foam tape.  
Gold pearls embellish the roses & now I have a Thanksgiving card done!  I'm adding this to the City Crafter Challenge Blog where the theme is roses. Hope you've enjoyed the weekend. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Merry Monday



When I saw the Merry Monday challenge included using plaid ribbon, I knew I had to get a card made.  I have trouble using ribbons that aren't totally plain & wanted to finally use some of this piece I bought who knows when. It does help to pull out the ribbon first & match the inks & papers to it.  I ended up using products from 3 of the companies I was first introduced to when I began stamping & still love today: Hero Arts--branch, DeNami--pine cone, Penny Black--word die.  
My inks are Memento Olive Grove & Espresso Truffle. I used my Gelly Roll Clear Star pen on the needles & Frosted Lace Stickles on the pine cones. Due to the difference in time zones, think I get to add this at Pixies Snippets Playground since all the cardstock came from my scrap boxes.  A simple traditional card, but it's a look I like. Thanks for your visit--I always appreciate it.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Colored Embossing Paste



I still need to finish the on-line stencil class, but in the meantime I watched Laura's great video for this week's PTI MIM challenge.  There's something magical when you lift up a stencil & see the design.  I only have white paste & now I may decide no need to buy colors. I have very few dye reinkers, but pressing a Distress Ink pad onto an acrylic block worked great!  I used Peacock Feathers & Dried Marigold to get as close as I could to the challenge at Colour Me.  I used my only PTI cover plate, Hexagon, with the sentiment & tags from Tiny Tags.  I added Rock Candy glitter while the paste was wet & to the tags.  The little flower was sponged with Dried Marigold & a bit of Stickles was added.  The little heart is covered with the dried colored embossing paste & Crystal Lacquer. I could spend all day making cards with this technique--really fun, if you haven't tried it. My colors are summery, I think, & I do have a flower on my card, so will enter at The Mixed Media Card Challenge.
Hurrah for Friday--enjoy your weekend & thanks so much for using some of your precious time to visit my blog.
Edited to add: Also entering The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Make a Wish


MFTWSC188Finally made a card with this darling MFT PI girl. I used last week's sketch, but didn't get done in time for the challenge.  Since I used the current MFT Color Palette, I'll enter that challenge.Print I had fun paper piecing the girl & then used the same cardstock to make my striped background.  Both pieces are die cut with Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles. Doesn't the Nightshift Blue felt make a beautiful rolled rose? I used a blue marker for the bands in her hair, the heart (added Crystal Lacquer) & the dandelion.  I lightly sponged kraft ink in her hair & the panel is popped up after tying on some dark blue hemp.  The sentiment from the same set is stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia. The orange & cream cardstock were scraps so I'll enter at Pixies Snippets Playground. Roses & dandelions are part of summer, so I'm also entering at SSS Wed.  STAMPlorations challenge is to use stamps & dies & A Blog Named Hero also wants dies so I'll enter my card in both challenges. My rolled rose lets me enter at City Crafter Challenge.  In case you're wondering, I got the apple zucchini bread made & it's yummy.  The bad thing is it only took 1 cup of shredded apples, so my fridge is still full of them! Hoping to get applesauce made on my days off. Thanks so much for visiting my blog.


Saturday, August 9, 2014

Thoughts of You

Most of the cards I send are not for a special occasion, but just to say you're on my mind. Finally found a PTI die I could use for this week's PTI MIM challenge.  My first attempt didn't work at all, but then I pulled out one of my favorite sets--Turning a New Leaf.  The large die was easy to use for a border.  I stamped with Limeade Ice & attached the top small die cut with foam tape.  The sentiment is from Tag-Its #3 & is stamped in Kraft ink.  I used my waterbrush to add splotches of Tarnished Brass Distress Stain before attaching the leaf panel to my kraft card with foam tape. Finished off with a Vintage Cream twill bow.  
Hope you're enjoying the weekend.  Another part-time nurse volunteered to take my shift today, so I'm only working tomorrow.  Hopefully I can get zucchini apple bread made & put in the freezer. Thanks so much for choosing to spend some time visiting my blog.
Edited to add: Also entering the challenge to use stamps & die cuts at STAMPlorations.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Love the Here & Now



MFTWSC187I was so inspired by Mona's gorgeous tag & tutorial at SSS, that I finally played a bit with doing some mixed media for my MFT sketch card. I have limited colors in the Distress Stains & Paints, so I also used some Distress Ink. My colors are bundled sage, tumbled glass & antiqued bronze.  
I followed Mona's instructions & started with the stains & then gesso before adding paint & ink. I partially embossed on the right side & made a stencil from the MFT chevron die & used my paste.  The sentiment is MFT as are the flowers (Prima Donna Petals) & the border (Open Zig Zag).  I added 3 little rain dots to my flower center. The sentiment is stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia. 
I enjoyed stretching myself & want to try again, as I know practice is the only way to improve. I'll add this to SSS Wed. Thanks so much for your comments--always brighten my day.
Edited to add: Thanks to Deepti for letting me know about the Mixed Media Card Challenge where I'll enter my card.  
The theme is summer which is "now" & I love all the flowers of summer--not that I've seen any that look like this--LOL!

 

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Wallpaper

When I hear "wallpaper" I can't help but think of the tiny bathroom in our first house which had truly horrible wallpaper. Neither of us had ever wallpapered, but how hard could it be to do a room the size of a closet?!  Soon I discovered why such a project is blamed for so many divorces--LOL! Fortunately, good friends of my parents were experts, came to the rescue & we'll celebrate 35 years of marriage next month!  
Anyway, had to try my hand at the diamond wallpaper stamping technique for this week's PTI MIM challenge. I don't have any stamps like the ones used in the video. The thin line from Watercolor Wonder would work, but I wanted something different. Ended up using the small "branch" from Lovely Layers along with the bird in Trendy Tree Tops & flower in Tag-It's #3. The tags & sentiment are from Tiny Tags & my inks are Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise & Aqua Mist. You know how wallpaper patterns often have coordinating patterns? That's what I was trying to do for the bottom piece. I'm always impressed with the change when Nicole adds dots to images & fortunately I thought of that since the card needed something.  Still a bit plain, but I will send it to a friend.  Also entering SSS Wed & Pixies Snippets Playground.  Thanks so much for all the support about my GD card yesterday.  I truly appreciate your kindness.


Saturday, August 2, 2014

Guest Designing

I have the great honor to be guest designing today at Inkspirational Challenges. The theme is to use pencils or markers & being pretty much a "non-colorer" I used one of my favorite techniques with markers. All stamps are by Penny Black.  I began by inking the music background with a Vintage Photo Distress Marker & stamped it on watercolor paper.  Then I inked the daffodil with Memento Markers Dandelion & Cantaloupe & Distress Markers Peeled Paint & Bundled Sage. Before stamping over the music, I spritzed the stamp to give a slight watercolor effect & stamped again, slightly to the right without re-inking.  Then I used the Vintage Photo marker to color around the outside edges of the image & stamped over the main image for a bit of definition. Sparkle was added with a Wink of Stella pen.  
The sentiment is also inked with the Vintage Photo marker before stamping on a scrap of vellum. Spellbinders Reverse Wonky Rectangles were used to die cut my stamped panel & to make a frame from a brown textured cardstock scrap.  3 tiny yellow pearls complete my card.  Hope you've found some inspiration from my card.  Be sure to check out the gorgeous work of the DT & enter the challenge. 
Thanks so much to Inkspirational for inviting me to guest design with them today.  I'll enter my card at SSS Wed where it's Anything Goes. Hope you have a great weekend.
Edited to Add: Also entering Virginia's View as I'm thinking this wonky rectangle isn't a traditional rectangle--up to Virginia.  
Edited again to Add: Entering PB Saturday Challenge where the theme is floral & there's a DT call as well as Anything Goes at Penny Black & More.