Thinking of You

I love the Hero Arts Love From the Garden stamp I used here & wanted to try a totally different look with it.  This time I white embossed on kraft cardstock & added some color with a beautiful red glitter gel pen included in the Blog Candy I won from Alexandra.  I matted it with white cardstock & mounted it to the card front with foam tape.  The sentiment is also Hero Arts--a versatile set called Messages with Flourish. I'll probably use this for a Valentine, but it'd also work just to surprise a friend with unexpected happy mail.  If you click on the links you will find the stamps at a2z Scrapbooking where you can use GRETA15 to get 15% off a minimum $25 purchase.

I'm entering the Heartful challenge at Fusion as the red & white hearts in the photo inspired me. The challenge at The Kraft Journal is Made in Minutes so I'm entering there for the first time.  Also another entry for Anything Goes at SSS Wednesday.
Gorgeous sunny day & tomorrow I work so we finally got out for our drive.  
Thought you might enjoy a picture of Fritz scrunched in between a plant & the sliding glass door so he could lay in the sun stripe while we got ready to go. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Elegant Valentine

The current challenge for Impression Obsession is Sparkle & Shine--perfect for a Valentine!  I love this IO fancy heart & decided to use my old JudiKins Egyptian Gold embossing powder.  It gives the most beautiful sparkly results. This IO sentiment works for friends or family--so glad I got it.  I've had the gold Class A'Peel stickers forever, but thought gems & pearls looked better. However, I found these match the gold ep, look beautiful on vellum & are flat for mailing!  Think this will go to a couple in our family--no pink or flowers. Just realized I could change the sentiment & use this for a wedding or anniversary card.  I'm also entering Anything Goes at SSS Wednesday & since several scraps were used it's going to Pixies Snippets Playground.  Thanks so much for taking time to check my blog.
Edited to add: Also entering at Time Out Challenges.

Good Times

Thought I'd take a break from posting Valentines to show you the birthday card I made for the last Hero Arts Flickr Scramble.  I'm a slow cardmaker, but for some reason I usually end up with something I like.  This card uses Hero Arts stamps I hadn't yet inked: little butterflies from Antique Engravings & the frame & sentiment from Lovely. The inks are Hero Arts Neon Red, Wet Cement & Tide Pool.  After adding a bit of the red with an applicator, the butterflies were covered in Wink of Stella.  The Lovely stamp set & Neon Red are both ON SALE at the a2z Scrapbooking Store.  You can also use my discount code, GRETA15, to get 15% off a minimum $25 purchase.  Thanks for stopping by.

Shades of Pink Valentine

Need to get organized with creating cards for challenges I want to enter so I'm not at the last minute.  At least I made the deadline for Freshly Made Sketches which I've been thinking about all week as I love the sketch. Being in Valentine mode I immediately thought of my MB heart die.  I also wanted to join in the SSS Flickr Challenge #11--Love/Valentine theme. I die cut the heart from a gorgeous piece of cardstock I'm trying to make last forever--magenta, I think. The dry embossing is with Cuttlebug Anna Griffin Rosa.  SSS Curved Edge die was used to cut the pink cardstock.  I pulled out an old Hero Arts set, Thinking of You Messages & cut the sentiment so I could stamp just what I wanted across the opening using StazOn Stone Gray.  

Finished off with some twine & pale pink enamel heart stickers. Think I'll be using this layout again. Pretty flat, so keeping postage costs down--yah!  I'm also entering the hearts challenge at SSS Wednesday.  So glad you came by.  I'll be catching up on leaving comments in the next few days.

LOVE

I had an idea of a card for the Muse challenge all week & finally sat down to see what I could do.  I knew I wanted to use my Penny Black Love die, but needed something with it. Since I plan to give this to my hubby I decided to use PTI Lovely Leaves stamped with Distress Paint picket fence & I really like the softness of the images. Marion's card looks great, but I wasn't happy with the look of my plain card front. So I stamped a heart from PTI Quilled Elegance in Versamark. Fun making Valentines today while hubby worked on a project.  Also entering at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday.
Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow & we can take that drive. Thanks so much for visiting my blog.

Floral Heart Valentine

Fog isn't lifting--should have taken our drive yesterday--LOL!  I'm entering STAMPlorations Jan challenge--stamps & inks.  Love that they allow other company's stamps while I'm saving up to get some of theirs.  
I'm on a roll making Valentines right now, but this is the first one using some vellum--one of my favorite products. My Memory Box heart die is getting a workout while I save up for a few more.  I love the floral hearts & pink/red/orange in some of the inspiration pictures for the PTI Blog Hop today.
I used Distress Inks picked raspberry, ripe persimmon & Memento Love Letter with StazOn Stone Gray for the sentiment. The PTI stamp sets are Floral Foliage, Harvest Berries & Tag-It's #3. I love the softness created with the vellum, but needed a bit of sparkle, so added Stickles to the flower centers. I used some scraps so will also enter at Pixies Snippets Playground. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Edited to add: Also entering the Valentine's challenge at Time Out Challenges.

Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge--Rainbow Heart

I do love the PTI Blog Hops & I love making Valentines.  When I saw the inspiration (so nice they give it to us a week ahead!) I was immediately drawn to the heart made of pencils.  Thought I could use Watercolor Wonder with my Memory Box heart die & it worked! I cut the heart out of copy paper & then stamped over the negative with these PTI inks: Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold & Summer Sunrise.  My sweet friend, Martha, sent me the Wonderful Words: Love die cut & I brushed it with Wink of Stella.  Hadn't done any paper piercing in a long time--gives a neat effect, I think.  The sentiment is from Counting My Blessings & is mounted with foam tape.  The panel is also popped up & 3 white sequins provide the embellishment.  
Have to say, I love how this turned out--may have to make a few more! I'm also entering the challenges at SSS Wednesday & Time Out. Enjoy the hop--we're off to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather if the fog lifts, but I'll be back later with another card. 
I so appreciate your visit.

  

Celebrate in Style

Two LONG days at work--don't know how I did full-time all those years--LOL!  I do have a beautiful country drive to get there & along the way is a farm with some peacocks.  A couple different feather stamps are on my wishlist, so no stamps to use for the current City Crafter Challenge Blog theme. 

However, I got these Spellbinders dies on a big clearance a year ago & finally opened the package. I'm a sucker for embossing folders & used a coupon a few months ago to get the Cuttlebug Anna Griffin Feather Illusion folder. Thought it'd be a great one to try out Alexandra's technique with paint you can see HERE.  I used Distress Paints seedless preserves & spun sugar.  I added a bit more paint directly on the cardstock--probably could have used a heavier hand with it on the folder.  Distress Stain brushed pewter was added randomly.  The die cuts were inked with the seedless preserves & then silver "dipped" (Versamark & silver embossing powder).  I also silver embossed the sentiment from PTI SAF 1920s & finished off with white satin ribbon tied in a bow.  
Girly birthday card ready for a friend, so I'm also entering at Seize the Birthday.  A scrap was used for the die cuts, so I'll join in at Pixies Snippets Playground. Thanks so much for taking time to read my blog.
Edited to Add:  Just realized I can enter the Dies R Us Challenge.

You & Me

My day to post on the a2z Scrapbooking Blog.  Valentines are so much fun to make & you'll need to get them in the mail before you know it!  For this card I decided to go with more of a vintage style by inking & distressing edges.  I started by pulling a panel of watercolor paper through Hero Arts Wet Cement ink spritzed with water on an acrylic block.  I dried it with my heat gun & then repeated the process with some Hero Arts Soft Pool ink.

The beautiful Hero Arts Love From The Garden heart was stamped 4 times in Hero Arts Pale Tomato overlapping the points in the middle of the panel.  I sponged more ink around the edges & distressed them with my scissors.  I added a bit of Stickles for some sparkle. The sentiment was stamped in Wet Cement, die cut into a circle, sponged with the inks & again distressed with scissors.  The panel was attached to a card sponged with Wet Cement & Soft Pool. The sentiment was matted with another die cut circle inked in Wet Cement before mounting it to the center with foam tape. Both stamps are new to me. Why not grab some of your new stamps or try a new technique & join our January challenge? You can use my discount code, GRETA15, to get 15% off a minimum $25 purchase in the a2z store.  There's a supply list with links in my a2z Blog Post.
The sentiment is from a great set, Happy Birthday Scroll, on sale in the store for only $8.  "Big Hugs" is another sentiment in the set & would work great to make a card for a friend.  Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog.

Edited to add: Entering the Hearts challenge at SSS Wednesday & Time Out Challenges & Uniko Studio Love & Friendship challenge.

Valentine for a Friend

I love making Valentines & they need to be in the mail before long.  Decided to use the SSS Zig Zag stencil to decorate my Memory Box heart die cut. I used a dauber with Distress Ink festive berries. 

The red glitter paper didn't get used for Christmas cards & thought it'd be beautiful for Valentines. I love the inlaid die technique & used the negative glitter panel for my stenciled heart. The inspiration for the Stampin' Celebration challenge is beautiful with red & white hearts and pink flowers, which helped me finish the card.  I die cut MFT pink felt with MFT rolled roses & the sentiment is from SSS Warm Wishes set.  
The panel is mounted to the card front with foam tape.  This is my entry for SSS Flickr challenge 10. 

Edited to add:  Also entering Shopping Our Stash.

Edited to Add: My first time to enter at Uniko Studio--Love & Friendship.
Hoping this brings a smile to a blogging friend. Thanks so much for stopping at my blog.

One Layer Christmas Card

As many of you know, I love making Christmas cards & do so all year. Recently I discovered the One Layer Christmas Card Challenge as I was reading my friends' blogs.  I seldom make 1 layer cards, but I really have to cut down the amount spent on postage next year & maybe this challenge will help me do that.  The first challenge has an option of using red which I love combined with gold.  The stamps are from Hero Arts Bird & Branch Christmas--currently on sale for $8 in the a2z Scrapbooking store.  I love that the images can be used for more than the holidays & it includes "Happy Autumn" and "Warm Winter Wishes" along with holiday sentiments.  You can get 15% off a minimum $25 order using my discount code, GRETA15.  
I first stamped the branch in Memento Love Letter & then in Delicata Golden Glitz.  The sentiment is stamped in StazOn Jet Black.  I used a water brush to add splotches of the red & gold & finished off with some white sequins.  I am so impressed with how talented designers make you forget their card is 1 layer--I have a lot to learn!  
Great day in the Pacific Northwest as the Seahawks won their conference & are playing in the Super Bowl for the 2nd year in a row!  You may remember, we went to the game with Green Bay for our anniversary in Sept. & they beat them that day, too.  Green Bay actually played better until the end of the game--a heart breaker for them, but I'm sure they'll be back strong again next year.  I do love football--that I got from my dad.  Miss not watching the games with him. So glad you took time to visit my blog.

2 cards, thanks to hubby

You know I love the PTI MIM challenges. Debated using my foam tape for a little leaf, but gave in & bought a piece of Fun Foam.  Not sure I've ever used the Sizzix alpha dies I got years ago on clearance for just a couple bucks.  My brother-in- law has been working 6-7 days/wk for a year & 1/2 & way over 8 hours/day with help being promised but never given.  Now there's cause for celebration as he sent his resume to a couple companies & BOTH offered him jobs! I discovered 4 of my Copics that match PTI inks: New Leaf, YG67; Summer Sunrise, YR04; Blueberry Sky, B23; Hibiscus Burst, RV19.  The PTI set is Framed Out #1.  I was working on the card late, showed hubby the letters y, a, h & he said it's y, e, a, h.  I finished the card & in the morning had enough sense to look up the word. 
Turns out there are 2 different words, so both of us were right.  I made the second card like I originally planned using the PTI Take 3 die. Realized I could send "Yeah" (YES) to my sister--inside says "You got your husband back!" "Yah" (HURRAH) is for my BIL. The "yippee" stamp is an old one from Hero Arts.  
These were really fun to make & I think my family will get a kick out of them. The YAH card is going into the cards for guys gallery at SSS Wednesday.  I used some scraps, so will enter at Pixies Snippets Playground. Thanks so much for visiting.

Christmas Critter

I didn't get a chance to share the card that went with the vet's plate of goodies & since Fritz is my "Christmas Critter" I'm hoping this qualifies for the current challenge at Merry Monday.  Love the SSS Christmas frame die--plan to use it a lot more next year.  This time I left the letters in & taped them on the back so they wouldn't fall out. 
The doggie printed papers were in a random drawing I won years ago & the "bow wow" embellishment I've also had a long time.   Super simple card, but it lets my cutie pie be the star! Probably not what they had in mind, but this did go to our Vet who is a man, so I'm entering the masculine challenge at SSS Wednesday.  Your visits make my day--thank you.

Congrats to the Buckeyes!

Sad times in Oregon as the Ohio State Buckeyes beat the University of Oregon Ducks in the championship game.  I'm still proud of the great year we had.  I don't subscribe to "winning is everything" or I'd have given up stamping long ago--LOL!  Anyway, it means I lost the wager with my friend, Maria, so I owe her a little package & a card.  I found the Stampin' Celebration Blog at the end of last year & wanted to play again. The sketch was just what I needed. 
Pulled out my almost never used old Hero Arts wooden alphabet stamps & white embossed them on crimson cardstock. Hopefully this is close to the right crimson for OSU.  Their other color is gray so I used more of the cardstock left from the card in my previous post & stamped the Studio G sentiment in Memento Gray Flannel.  The MFT Fishtail Flags were splattered with white paint using a water brush--symbolizing confetti.  Printed the picture of a football on photo paper, trimmed it out & mounted it with foam tape.  I used a COPIC marker to color the little wooden embellishment which is attached over some twine.  
Hope Maria enjoys my salute to Ohio State. The governors of the 2 states also had a wager with bigger gifts on the line, but doubt a handmade card is included--LOL! This card is going to Maria (& her hubby) & works for a guy so I'm entering the challenge at SSS Wednesday.Thanks for stopping by.

Winter Chill--Winter White

Down to the wire, but finally came up with a card for the Impression Obsession Winter Chill challenge.  I was also inspired by the Winter White theme at City Crafter Challenge Blog.  Gave me a chance to use some of my newest IO products: snowflake & tree dies & a lovely sentiment stamp which I don't think had ever been inked. I glued the little snowflakes cut from a light blue cardstock scrap onto a piece of light gray cardstock.  The bottom edge was torn & covered with Rock Candy Distress Glitter which also covers the trees.  

 

CCCB Photo Inspiration

I mounted the middle tree with foam tape over the matted sentiment which is stamped in Memento Gray Flannel.  I debated adding twine or ribbon or bling, but decided I like it as is.  I need a thank you card right now, so this one is going in the mail.

Blue & white scraps were used, so I'll enter at Pixies Snippets Playground.  I'm also entering at SSS Wednesday Something New. Thank you so much for taking time to stop at my blog.

Colorful Corner

A plumbing emergency, football & work got in the way of cardmaking the last few days, but I was determined to finish a card for the PTI MIM colorful card corner challenge.  I tried to use the colors from ColourQ with PTI Scarlet Jewel, Melon Berry, Simply Chartreuse & Classic Kraft.  I loved Danielle's unique design & tried to Case it.  Think my medallions from PTI SAF 1920 should have been stamped off, but too late now. The focal point is made with Lovely Layers dies & stamps & the little green leaves are from Turning A New Leaf.  The sentiment from Through the Trees is stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  

I added texture with PTI linen/canvas Impression Plate & a bit of Stickles to finish it off.  I love the colorful corner concept & hope to try again for a better result.  I don't have to work for a few days, so I'll be visiting your blogs soon.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Old & New and Go Ducks!

I started this card for the last SSS Flickr challenge, but wasn't able to finish it in time. I knew it had to be finished today so it would make it across the world. This is going to a friend whose creations are totally the opposite of CAS & I wanted to use some of her inspiration.  I began by stamping Penny Black Music Background in Distress Ink antique linen. Then I used my new SSS stamp set, Warm Wishes, stamping 2 of the floral images with Distress Ink bundled sage--those on the bottom are second generation stamping.  I also over-stamped the tall flowers with Delicata Golden Glitz. The panel was dry embossed & cut with the Spellbinder die. I sponged the edges with Distress Ink antique linen & swiped on some Distress Stain tarnished brass & Distress Paint picket fence.  I sponged the bundled sage on white cardstock & die cut MFT flowers which are also swiped with tarnished brass.  The MFT leaves are sponged with antique linen which is also used to stamp the PB Music Background & I swiped on some tarnished brass. The little tag & sentiment are PTI.  I used PTI canvas/linen Impression Plate on the kraft card, added a strip of burlap & attached the panel.  I used a lot of my old products along with the new SSS stamp set, so I'm entering the SSS Monday challenge.  My burlap strip lets me enter at City Crafter Challenge Blog & some scraps were used so I'm also joining in at Pixies Snippets Playground.  Since it's a birthday card, I'll enter Seize the Birthday.
Edited to add: also entering at SSS Wednesday since I used my new SSS stamp set for the first time.

Monday is the College National Football Championship game & we're so excited our University of Oregon Ducks are playing!  The other team is Ohio State.  My blogging friend, Maria, is an Ohio State fan, so we have a little wager going--just for fun.  The one whose team looses has to send something to the other person, including, of course, a handmade card!  Hopefully the Ducks won't let me down--LOL!  Thanks for your visit & enjoy the weekend.

First Merry Monday card

MM Snowflake Challenge

I love to play in the challenges at Merry Monday. They have a wonderful DT & my favorite reason to make cards is Christmas. This week we're to use a snowflake on our card--something else I love!  My panel was originally discarded due to imperfect embossing. Embossing powder with glitter in it is not the best thing to use for emboss resist--live & learn, as they say. Everything is better with Stickles & sure enough--it rescued my Hero Arts snowflake.  I added some splotches with white paint & mounted it to the card front with foam tape.  

Finished with this gorgeous old PrintWork stamp. First card for 2015 & it won't need extra postage--yah! Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog.
Edited to Add: Entering Anything Goes at Loves Rubberstamps.

Ladybug Birthday Card

Time for me to post on the a2z Scrapbooking Blog with a card to inspire you to join our January challenge--NEW.  Links to my supplies are included in the post. I've used a stamp, stencil & technique for the first time.  I knew stencils could be used to emboss & finally got around to trying it.  My Big Shot sandwich was Tab 1, embossing pad, cutting plate, stencil, cardstock, embossing pad, cutting plate. Worked great my first try! 

Aren't these funky squares fun?! The little ladybug is stamped in Neon Red & Wink Of Stella is brushed on the wings.  I used a craft knife to cut out an area for my sentiment which is heat embossed. The panel is mounted with foam tape & little black enamel dots finish it off.  Pretty flat card for mailing which is always a plus.  This is a good time to use a technique you've been wanting to try & enter our challenge for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate.

The STORE has lots of sale items right now including the Neon Red ink pad & lots of stamp sets. You can use my discount code, GRETA15, to get 15% off your $25 minimum purchase. 

This will be my 3rd entry for Darnell's NBUS challenge.  Be sure to check it out--still lots of time to enter.  I know you'll enjoy her blog if you don't already.
Edited to Add: Also entering SSS Wednesday--Something New.
Edited to Add: Also entering the new challenge at Virginia's View since there's a lot of white space on this card.
Edited to Add: entering Anything Goes at Loves Rubberstamps.

One stamp, multiple layers

I missed some of the 2014 PTI MIM challenges so it's great that this week you can pick any of them. I decided on the second one of the year: Multi-layer images from a single stamp.  Years ago this was very popular, especially with certain company's stamps.  It was fun to use that technique again.  I don't have many PTI stamps that would work, but this one from Lovely Layers was perfect.  My inks are PTI Simply Chartreuse, Canyon Clay, Harvest Gold & Hawaiian Shores. The sentiment from Boutique Borders: Birthday is stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia.  The mat is kraft cardstock die cut with Spellbinders Lacey Square. The dies from Turning a New Leaf are cut from cardstock & vellum & are stamped in Simply Chartreuse.  Partial embossing of a Cuttlebug folder adds a bit of texture to the card front & Stickles gives some sparkle.  I'm also entering Seize the Birthday.
I'm having trouble catching up after working extra days, but I'll get to your blogs soon.  Thanks for taking time to stop by.

Beautiful Friend

Time for our new challenge at Penny Black Saturday challenge.  This month the theme is NEW--new year, job, baby, stash, technique, etc.  I chose to use the Penny Black roman surround background for the first time.  After heat embossing I used a small circle die to cut the edges into scallops. The Penny Black butterfly (symbol of new life) die is cut from a new black glitter cardstock as well as plain cardstock. I attached the bodies & gently lifted up the top wings. StazOn ink makes a great impression with clear stamps so I used it for the PB sentiment which I trimmed into a flag.  Red & Star Dust Stickles were added to the background & it's popped up with foam tape. 
Check out the wonderful work of my teamies & hope to see you in the gallery.  This will be my second entry for Darnell's 3rd NBUS challenge. Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog.