CCC Reveal and a Floral Friendship Card

One option every month for CCC is to make a friendship card.  The Memory Box Magnolia Leaf Branch diecut had been sitting on my table for weeks.  Decided to use it for the card going to my friend in Greece, Mia.  We've been on-line friends for quite a few years now, so I was very happy to send her this card. 

The cute SSS Layered Bird Branch had also been die cut awhile ago and stored in the envelope with the die.  Thought it'd be fun to use them instead of flowers on the branch.  I used the same inks to get 3 different birds:  Altenew's Pink Sand, Toasted Mauve, Redwood, Caribbean Sky and Persian Blue.  Really love the bit of sparkle from adding green Stickles to the layered leaves and blue Stickles to the bird wings.  The sentiment from Altenew Sweet Bouquet was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn and I ran a marker along the diecut edges to give it the hint of a shadow.  Amazing how much difference that made.  The card front was sprayed with Distress Spritz Weathered Wood which gives a nice shimmer in person.

My second card is made with Memory Box Floral Bud and Stems and Enchanting Poppy Stems.  I mixed Lindy's Magical Prima Donna Purple and Drop Dead Gorgeous Green in a palette with water so I could paint the white diecuts.  So Beautiful in person and you can get an idea from my IG post video. 

The background is made with Poppystamps Double Diamond Lattice Plate.  Memory Box Friend Daily Script is a die I keep reaching for as I really like the font and it's the perfect size for a card.  The little sub-sentiment is from PTI Simple Stems.  I just added a few black enamel dots for embellishment.  I'm entering Memory Box, JUGS and SSS Wednesday challenges.  

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

Time Out Challenge#259

We have a very special challenge for you at Time Out.  It's a collaboration with Just Us Girls and the theme is Birds of a Feather.  When you enter a project in the linky, you will automatically also be joining the challenge at Just Us Girls.  Talk about a great Twofer!  Plus, you'll have double the chances of being chosen as a favorite and of winning the $25 store credit to Waffle Flower.  

I'm still making Easter cards and knew exactly what I wanted to use for my card--Memory Box Serene Bird and Branch. 

I very lightly brushed the edges of the bird and separate wing with Distress Oxide pumice stone.  The beak was colored with DO vintage photo and a tiny black pearl was attached for the eye.  Behind the bird is an Alexandra Renke egg diecut inked with DO bundled sage and the branch from the bird die set inked with DO peeled paint and bundled sage.  

I laid MFT rectangle mask stencil on my panel and blended the edges with DO speckled egg.  This is one of my favorite card designs and it works for almost any style, I think.  The silver embossed sentiment was in my stash from last year, so I just die cut it with a PTI flag die and inked the edges lightly with DO pumice stone.  There's lots of inspiration on both challenge blogs and I hope to see you in the gallery.         

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

Happy 4th of July to my US friends!

Hope everyone is having a safe, fun holiday in the US.  We're watching fireworks on TV & hoping most people take the advice to leave fireworks to the experts.  Everything is so dry & wildfires have already burned a lot of acres.  Plus--big booms make Fritz pretty uncomfortable.

Anyway, wanted to share some cards I've recently made.  

I follow Scrapbook & Cards blog where they recently had challenges celebrating their Summer Magazine release.  The Guest Designer for the sketch challenge is a nurse I "met" on IG.  That motivated me to enter the challenge & I'm honored my card was one they showcased in this blog post!  

I had so much fun using products from many different companies: Pinkfresh Studio, Sizzix, Pretty Pink Posh, Taylored Expressions, My Favorite Things, Poppystamps & AJVD.  

Plus inks, ep & embellishments from Ranger, Lawn Fawn, Pico Embellisher, JudiKins & Eyelet Outlet.  Not sure who made the silver glitter paper that was a scrap.  Ask me if you want info on a specific product.

Next is the card I entered for ITP PTI Challenge to use only dies.  I made my version of a mini slimline using printed paper from the pack I got in the $1 sale years ago.  

The Merry & Bright tree dies were a gift from a friend long ago & I do love the fun look!  I used scraps of New Leaf cardstock & added lines of Lime Stickles.  I've had these wooden stars forever & they were just what I needed here.  The Pure Poppy strips were die cut with AJVD strip die using the partial diecutting technique to make them long enough.  Yes--I did fail to position the plate correctly the first time.  That's what I get for doing it at 11pm--haha!  

The sentiment from Bold Borders: Yuletide was stacked, brushed with shimmer & covered with Nuvo Glaze.  Originally I planned to do a landscape card, but realized in time that I liked this layout a lot better.

My final card is for ITP PTI challenge to make an intricate card.  I had a couple dies that would work, but decided on Shape Shifters: Oval 3.  I've never separated the 3 dies, as I'm afraid it'd take me forever to line them up.  I covered the white die cut with shimmer spray which is so pretty in person.  The sweet little bird is Feathered Friends Mini 8.  

The inks are Lilac Grace, Amethyst Allure, Royal Velvet, Soft Stone, Weathervane, Smokey Shadow & Honey Nut.  I rounded the corners of the Weathervane panel & used the flag die from Tag Sale: Quilted, rather than the branch that comes with the bird.  I've always loved these leaves from Garden Gild, which I die cut from Soft Stone.  The sentiment is from Simple Stems & the black dots are Pico Embellisher.  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.

Mixed Up Bird!

For the first time in 3 years we had a beautiful, male Evening Grosbeak at the feeder this morning.  Hubby joked about it being here in the morning instead of the evening.  

Couldn't get a very good picture through the window & I was afraid it'd be gone if I opened the door.  
I've been trying to come up with something for the Winnie & Walter May Color Combo, but couldn't figure out how to work in the lavender.  Finally decided to follow Heather's example of using designer paper & I found exactly what I needed!  

The gorgeous Graphic 45 Secret Garden was a gift several years ago from a blogging friend & I've barely used it.  Glad I rescued the doily from under a soup bowl!  I applied glue around the center, leaving the edge loose.  The little word from Big, Bold, Seasons was stamped in Adirondack Mushroom.  I happened to have one sheet of textured cardstock that was almost a perfect match, so I used it for 3 layers of the die cut word.  

Stardust Stickles was added to the butterflies & the word was covered with Crystal Lacquer.  After tying on the hemp & adding a pearl, the panel was attached to a Vintage Cream card.  So rewarding to make a card I love!  I'm also entering Allsorts, Butterfly Challenge & Word Art Wednesday.

Thought I'd also show you how I added the gift card holder for the Poppystamps challenge onto a card before sending it off. Really love the WRMK's 3D embossing folder!  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.