Card Number 3000!

No--not my 3000th card, I don't think!  But The Card Chain Challenge has now exchanged 3000 cards--amazing & wonderful!  I don't know when I first started participating, but it's been quite a few years.  I had pen pals as a kid & I was the letter writer in the family, even as an adult.  So I jumped at the chance to send & receive a card each month.  Our fearless leaders, Gail & Jo, have organized a blog hop to celebrate this momentous occasion.

The details, including info about prizes & how to be a part of our chain, can be found on The CCC Blog.  Here's the card I sent to Lucille in Colorado.

You might think it looks familiar.  That's because I took apart the Mother's Day card I posted to turn my stamped panel into a friendship card.  I also added some Pico Embellisher shimmer dots.  Hop along & see all the cards sent around the world in May.  Maybe you'll want to join us!
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Papertrey Ink January Blog Hop

It's time for the monthly PTI Blog Hop.  The inspiration photo is a cake for a baby shower--not like any I've ever seen.  Cakes mean birthdays in my world, so I used the colors for a birthday card.

My recent PTI order included Balloons & Banners and Tag Sale: Quilted Die--both of which I used.  Decided it was time to pull out some of my felt & luckily I have light blue & light pink.  I actually drew the balloon strings--a first for me!  The sentiment from Don't Forget to Write was white embossed on the black die cut banner included with the tag die & I mounted it with foam tape.  I added the black & white striped paper to the top & bottom and attached tiny gems to the banner.  Very simple, but a festive card, I think.  I'm also entering Time Out Challenges.
Edited to add: Also entering SSS Work it Wednesday.



Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Papertrey Ink December Blog Hop

Such a beautiful inspiration photo for the PTI Blog Hop this month.  I used Rosie Posie, Friendship Jar Flowers, Turning a New Leaf & Lovely Leaves to make my heart. 

The inks are Lovely Lady, Autumn Rose, Green Parakeet, New Leaf & Smokey Shadow.  I layered the heart to panels of vellum & Smokey Shadow.  Hard to see, but there are a few drops of Pico Embellisher Shimmer for embellishment.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Papertrey Ink November Blog Hop Challenge

November 25--just one month until Christmas.  The PTI Blog Hop gives me one more day of fun before I go into total panic mode--haha!  I love Christmas & began stamping 20 plus years ago so I could make my Christmas cards.  I may have to use the inspiration for several more, but today's card is inspired by the red & white color scheme along with the clean, fresh look of the packages.  The bit of blue is pretty, but left it off for this one. 

The snowflake from What the Doodle: Snowflake is stacked 3 high, covered with shimmer & attached to the panel with 2 foiled strips.  I dry embossed the card front before mounting the focal point with foam tape.  I'm also entering AAA Cards, Fusion (just the photo), Rudolph Days, SSS Monday & SSS Wednesday.

While I had What the Doodle: Snowflake out, I made my card for PTI MIM. 

The inks are Sweet Blush, Lovely Lady & Autumn Rose.  The sentiment from Splits: 'Tis the Season is stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne.  I'm also entering SSS Monday & SSS Wednesday.

Last is another tag for Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags.  I love Kim's watercolor trees on Day 14.  I used a very, very old wood mounted stamp inked with DI peeled paint & spritzed before stamping. 

You can see I also did some second generation stamping.  The Savvy Stamps sentiment (also very old) stamped in Versafine Pinecone is mounted with foam tape.


Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

PRS New Stamp Set Release and Giveaway!

Welcome to the Precious Remembrance Shop New Stamp Release Blog Hop!  The Everyday Stamp Set has wonderful background images and a great variety of sentiments. 

Be sure to hop along with us for a chance to win one for yourself!  I couldn't resist using the sweet little hearts along with a couple sentiments to make an anniversary card. 

To begin, I gold embossed the little hearts on a large die cut heart.  Then I used the ink from Zigs Turquoise Green & Emerald Green to do a watercolor wash with a wet brush.  After it dried, I spritzed with gold shimmer spray. 

The background was made with an Intertwined Hearts embossing folder on white linen cardstock & the raised areas were lightly sponged with Delicata Golden Glitz.  The gold ink was also sponged on white cardstock & cut into mats for the sentiment strips.  I tied sheer gold ribbon in a bow & added the heart backed with fun foam.  A few gold sequins provide embellishment.  
If you're going in order, you should have arrived here from Rosemary's Blog & next up is Lisa.  You can find the entire hop list and giveaway details at The Precious Remembrance Shop Blog.  The giveaway is open until October 30, 2018--good luck!  We'd love for you to like & follow PRS on Facebook & Instagram.  Enjoy the hop!

Papertrey Ink October Blog Hop Challenge

The leaves are really starting to fall, so yesterday hubby raked & I picked up the piles.  Not my favorite chore, to put it mildly, but it is nice to see the place looking all neat & tidy.  My reward was to make a card last night for the PTI Blog Hop--surprise, surprise!  It's interesting what a different look you get with the same colors depending on whether you use inks or colored cardstock.  I decided to use cardstock this time for a Fall friendship card.  The inspiration photo has somewhat muted colors, but I used brighter versions along with pumpkin images. 

I love my old pumpkin embossing folder used with Orange Zest cardstock.  I sponged with Canyon clay ink for shading--hard to see in the photo.  The mat was made from Dark Chocolate cardstock, but before I attached it I cut out the word (Counting My Blessings) from the center of the panel twice.  Usually I don't think to do that, but I try to make my PTI cardstock stretch as far as possible.  As you can see, the brown word die cut was used for a shadow.  The top layer was die cut from Summer Sunrise (a nod to the gourds in the wagon), brushed with WOS & covered in Nuvo Glaze. 

I had scraps of Olive Twist & Spring Moss that were big enough for the leaf from Meadow Greens & a sentiment strip from Counting My Blessings.  Both were stamped in Olive Twist & I used a gold gel pen for the leaf vein dots.  Finished off with a few gold sequins.  I have plenty of new products waiting to be used, but this card is made from well-loved old favorites.  See why I have so much trouble purging?  I love it all--haha!  I'm also entering Crafter's Castle, Fusion (just the photo), Retro Rubber (leaf & sentiment over 3 yrs old) & Time Out.


Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop Challenge...Plus

It's PTI Blog Hop day--yah!  The inspiration is bright, fun & summery.  I was immediately drawn to the rainbow popsicles--especially the ones with a dark purple section. 

They made me think of a background panel, so I pulled out PTI inks Plum Pudding, Royal Velvet, Blueberry Sky, New Leaf, Bright Buttercup & Orange Zest along with Memento Love Letter.  Since popsicles are icy, I splattered the blended panel with drops of Perfect Pearls.  Wonderful Words: Hello was die cut 3 times & the top layer was heavily brushed with WOS & covered with Nuvo Glaze. 

All the shimmer & shine is so pretty in real life.  I'm also entering CAS-ual Fridays & SSS Wednesday.

The Plus in my post title is because I'm also sharing my entry for the WCMC9 Sparkle & Shine challenge. 

I saw the square die cut on my table, so started with that.  My friends are so sweet to send me lots of die cuts, including C&9 Floral & Flutter.  I attached 2 together & then covered a 3rd one with gold WOS.  That didn't provide enough sparkle since it's a delicate image.  I pressed on VersaMark & used a gold glitter embossing powder which gave plenty of beautiful sparkle. 

The top butterfly is attached to the white ones only in the center & the wings are gently lifted up.  I kept it simple with stickers for a sentiment, a black mat & a single gold sequin.  I'm also entering AAA Cards, Mrs A's Butterfly Challenge & HLS AGWD.  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.