...the poetry of earth

Time for another challenge at Words 2 Scrap By & I hope my card inspires you to join us.  This month our theme is in celebration of Book Lovers Day & we have a list of titles to inspire you on our blog.  I chose "The Good Earth" & surprisingly the only stamping is the old Hero Arts sentiment.  I failed to make a note of who gave me the MME Bluebell printed paper pad, but I know it was a sweet blogging friend. One of my favorite ways to start the day is with a cup of coffee & a stamping magazine. It doesn't have to be new & in fact, this card was inspired by a Lindsay Amrhein creation in a 2012 issue.  I fell in love with the blossoms she made out of circles & just had to give it a try.  

Turned out to be easy & fun so I just might use printed paper again--LOL!  The flower center is clear embossed & a few pearls are the only embellishment.  I love sending cards when someone isn't expecting it & now I have another one ready to go.  So glad you took time to come by & I hope to see you in the gallery--you have until August 28th. I'm entering Anything Goes at SSS Wednesday.

Thanks

Back from an exciting & tiring trip--more on that later.  We're glad to be out of the humidity, but had hoped the high temps would be gone. Hit 99 yesterday, so we didn't do much but relax & I made a card. Needed inspiration after not creating for so long & I got it from the PTI MIM video (texture kissing) & Becca's Birthday Mood Board.  I used the purple & teal color combo that Becca loves with PTI Lovely Layers & Ombre Builders. The inks are PTI Winter Wisteria & Tropical Teal. This is a mini card using PTI Mat Stack 3 for the card base which is splattered & dry embossed.  MFT Glitter Glaze provides the sparkle & shine.

Hard to tell, but the petals of the top layer of each blossom are slightly bent up.  I'll also enter Anything Goes at SSS Wednesday & die cutting at SSS Work It Wednesday.  

Thanks to everyone who kept visiting my blog & I'm catching up with yours as fast as I can. Gotta prune roses before it's too hot!

Traditional Christmas Card

I posted this card in my Flickr photostream to enter these challenges: MFT Summer School, Lesson #7, Complimentary Colors & CAS-ual Chic, Embossing. I used the MFT poinsettia die (one of my all-time favorites!) & MFT vertical greetings die.  A scoring board was used for the red panel.  I added MFT Glitter Glaze to the flower center & finished off with a few white sequins. Very traditional look, but I like it! Thanks so much for stopping by.
Edited to add: Entering die cutting challenge at SSS Work It Wednesday. 

Red, White & Blue Hello

I posted this card in my Flickr photostream & Mr. Random MFT actually found it--LOL! This is the card I made for MFT Summer School lesson on Balance: Line.  Fun card using MFT chevrons, Dizzy Doily, On the Line, Tag You're It & Complimentary Greetings.  The ink is PTI Blueberry Sky & the big star is covered in MFT Glitter Glaze.  Added a few clear sequins & had a pretty flat card that went to a blogging friend.  Thanks so much for stopping by.
Edited to add: Entering die cutting challenge at SSS Work It Wednesday.  

Hello

Just saw the new Pinspired Challenge at Ellen Hutson & got a card made before my busy days begin. Time crafting & commenting will be severely limited for the next couple weeks. I used the red, white & blue colors along with stripes for my "just because" card that will go to a blogging friend.  My one Ellen Hutson product is the gorgeous set of dies called Bold Blossom.  I used the smooshing technique with Distress Inks barn door, fired brick, faded jeans & weathered wood.  

I wish I'd done a second layer of color on the blooms so they were a bit more red instead of looking pink.  The 2 darker colors were used for the splatters--just love that look, so it's hard for me to leave backgrounds white now--LOL! I masked the edge of the card front using Washi tape to create the clear embossed stripes.  Luckily it dawned on me to add the thin, black strip--what a difference!

I'm not sure if other company's stamps are allowed for the challenge, so again I pulled out my favorite Heidi Swapp alphabet stickers & finished off with 3 white sequins.  I did use some scraps, so I'll take this to The Playground. 
We had a few days of cooler temperatures, but still no rain. Hope things are going well for you & I'll catch up with you as soon as I can.

JOY

When I saw Marybeth's darling foiled fun foam fish, I couldn't wait to try it.  I bought a piece of adhesive-backed fun foam & used a coupon for gold Deco Foil--very small investment.  The Impression Obsession challenge is Holiday Cards--perfect chance to try out the technique since I have IO tree dies (DIE084-V).  Oh my goodness--magical when you peel back the foil!  

Gold, green & ivory is one of my favorite color combos, but not sure I've ever used a light green like Distress Ink bundled sage.  The background panel is made by inking the embossing folder lightly with the ink pad to get a faux letterpress effect.  I wrapped the panel with beautiful Michael's ribbon--luckily a perfect match.  I used the same ink to stamp the IO sentiment, C8790. Simple elegance has always been my favorite style, so I really enjoyed making this card.  Hope you like it!  I'm also entering Anything Goes at SSS Monday.

BD Wishes in Shades of Purple

Had to make a card for MFT Summer School Lesson #10: Monochromatic & used MFT Sketch #237.  I was having "felt flower withdrawls"--LOL, so looked through my felt colors & decided on Grape Jelly.  The MFT Rolled Gardenia is one of my favorites, but practically needs a box to mail a card with it. Since a local friend is about to have a birthday--perfect chance to use it! The leaves are one of my latest purchases--MFT Layered Leaves.  I drooled every time I saw them used by Kirsty or Mona, so finally gave in & got them--even though I have quite a few leaf dies. Have to say--they're worth it!  I cut them from a lighter shade of purple cardstock & covered them in Wink of Stella.  The beautiful MFT Fishnet stencil (from a sweet blogging friend) was spritzed with Tattered Angels Rum Raisin.  I used a doily from another sweet friend, Alexandra, & love how the stenciled image shows through a bit.

The sentiment from MFT Peaceful Wildflowers was stamped in Brilliance Graphite Black & I finished off with a black enamel dot & 3 lavender gems. I'm also entering Anything Goes at SSS Monday & Pixies Snippets Playground. Thanks so much for taking time to stop by. 
 

Just Because

Maile Belles Card

I know a lot of us were happy to see a new PTI Challenge during release weeks when MIM is on hold--Create Along With Us. The idea is to create something inspired by one of the DT projects.  Only hard part is narrowing the options down to one--LOL! I finally decided to go with this one layer beauty by Maile Belles that I pinned the day it was shown.  I got a very different look since I used images from PTI Friendly Flowers, but goes to show what a versatile design it is! My inks are PTI Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz, Limeade Ice & Ripe Avocado with Brilliance Graphite Black for the sentiment.

I added splatters of Harvest Gold & Limeade Ice & finished off with Black enamel dots.  I'm also entering Anything Goes at SSS Monday & 100% Stamped at Virginia's View. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Thinking of You

I really wanted to make some cards even though it's a busy few weeks for me.  It's amazing how productive you can be when you're motivated--LOL!  I combined MFT Summer School Lesson #6 (Gallon, Quart, Pint) & Memory Box Challenge #2 (Red, White & Blue) using the MB Pristine Border die.  After inlaying the diecut into the red cardstock, I added Stickles Frosted Lace to the dots. 

Below the panel I added 2 rows of blue gems from a sheet I got for just $1. The sentiment from MFT Peaceful Wildflowers is stamped in VersaMagic Red Magic.  My gallon is red, quart is white & pint is blue. I'm also entering Anything Goes at SSS Monday. 

Here's a picture of the marina where our boat should be, but this year it's staying in the garage. There is a low water ramp & temporary docks in one arm of the lake with a bit more water--not enough for us to want to be there.  This is what it usually looks like in winter (waiting for snow melt) & should be almost full right now.

Hopefully we'll have snow in the mountains this winter to help end the drought.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Sending Sunshine

I really love the SSS A2 Card Curved Edge die & wanted to try an idea I've had to make a card for SSS Flickr Challenge #23. Decided to make a summer card using 3 shades of yellow (PTI lemon tart, harvest gold & summer sunrise) to convey the idea of sunshine. The sentiment from SSS Warm Wishes is black embossed & I tied on Doodlebug twine.  

Clear sequins & a little wooden shape finish off my simple card. I'm also entering the summer challenge at Die Cut Divas. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.
Just realized I still have time to enter at City Crafter Challenge Blog.

Christmas in July

We had a slight change in our schedule, so had time to make a card today.  I do love making Christmas cards so was happy to see the Impression Obsession challenge is Christmas in July.  
When I saw the Mojo Monday sketch, the diagonal strip made me think of a wide ribbon.  I've had this beautiful red & white plaid a long time & loved being able to use some of it.  The card front is stamped with IO C-A-C Spatter using Distress Ink festive berries.  The IO Crochet Snowflake 2 is randomly stamped & white embossed on a panel. I also white embossed it on a scrap, trimmed it out & sponged on festive berries. I covered all the snowflakes with Wink of Stella.

The IO sentiment (B5518) is black embossed & trimmed out.  Finished off with red Rain Dots & it's still pretty flat for mailing. I'm also entering the first challenge at CAS-ual Chic.  
We're sure enjoying our cooler temperatures--even had a few raindrops today. Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog.
Edited to add: Also entering the stamping challenge at Virginia's View. 

Border without a Border Die

The next few weeks are going to be very busy & I won't have much crafting or computer time.  Did get my PTI MIM card done--really fun!  I knew about this technique, but don't think I'd ever gotten around to doing it.  As soon as I saw Laurie's video, I had in mind using Snowflake Flurries. Played around with various colors & decided on red, aqua & silver--one of my newer favorites for Christmas.  My inks are Memento Love Letter & PTI Aqua Mist.  I used a strip of DCWV silver glitter paper & added dots of silver Stickles.  The tiny trio of dots is from PTI Harvest Berries & the sentiment from snowflake Flurries is black embossed.  

Luckily I found matching twine in the bottom of my storage bin.  May have to make more of these with different colors & maybe try flowers.  I did use some scraps so will enter at The Playground. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'll catch up with you when I can--don't think you're forgotten. 

A Rainbow of Flowers

The current SSS Flickr challenge is Rainbow.  I had an idea of what I wanted to do days ago & finally got it translated into a card.  I die cut the 2 different flower centers from SSS Bella Bloom & colored one of each with these 5 VersaMagic inks: Red magic, Persimmon, Sage, Ocean Depth, Purple Hydrangea.  I attached them along the edge cut with SSS A2 Card Curved Edge.  Every other flower has a bit of yellow Stickles in the center.

The Doodlebug yellow dotted paper was attached to the inside of the card.  I stamped the sentiment from SSS Warm Wishes on the solid side of the dotted paper using Versafine Onyx Black & for something different, I cut it apart, a la Maile Belles.  I'm also entering SSS Monday & SSS Wednesday. 

Hope you're enjoying the weekend.  We had a quiet 4th at home & am so grateful the fireworks don't upset Fritz.  Our treat was the first apple crisp of the season! Not fun standing for so long cutting up the apples (which kills my arthritic thumb), but it's always worth it!  So glad you stopped by.

Gelatos on a Background Stamp

Happy 4th of July to all my US friends! Wishing you a fun & safe celebration.  Being the first Saturday of the month means we have a new challenge at Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  I love sending cards just because--do you?  Why not grab your Penny Black stamps & join in our Friendship challenge? There's nothing like receiving a handmade card to lift someone's spirits.  
I began by coloring Penny Black's glory of modesty stamp with metallic Gelatos: mint & blueberry.  I spritzed liberally with water & pressed it onto watercolor paper. Then I added splatters of the same colors.  The shimmer is beautiful in person.  The panel was die cut with SSS A2 Curved Edge twice & the pieces were attached to a gray textured card.  The sentiment from Penny Black friendship set was black embossed on the card front & 3 MS butterflies punched from vellum & embellished with black enamel dots finish off my card.  Hope you'll check out the great work of my teammates & join the challenge.  You could even make it a twofer by also entering the new challenge starting July 10 at CAS-ual Chic!  
Taking this card over to Anything Goes at Addicted to Stamps. Thank you so much for taking time to visit my blog.

Another card for July 4th

My folks were married 72 years ago today on the circle in Indianapolis.  I know I was blessed to have wonderful parents & I miss them a lot. Think they would have liked the 4th of July card I made for the challenge at The Kraft Journal.

The flourish stamp is Hero Arts & the sentiment is DeNami.  I added sparkle to the raised squares & little stars.  I'm also entering Anything Goes at Addicted to Stamps & Summer at SSS Monday. Wishing everyone a great weekend & if you're in the states enjoy the holiday!