Embossed Trees

The One Layer Christmas Card Challenge is helping me make cards I can afford to mail this year!  When I saw the challenge twist of green, I decided to use the little Tim Holtz Three Trees embossing folder. My first thought was to emboss on off-white & sponge the trees with green ink, but I changed my mind.  I have several 12x12 card packs I got for just a few dollars & one includes this pretty textured green. The card edges are distressed & brushed with Picket Fence Distress Paint.  I also brushed a bit of the paint on the trees before covering them with 2 different Stickles. SSS Falling Snow stencil was used with white pigment ink--love the soft effect. These Heidi Swapp stickers are a great size for cards & I didn't have to worry about getting a good impression stamping on the textured cardstock.  
Pretty simple design, but I like it & could make some more if I need them at the last minute. I'm also entering the SSS Flickr challenge to use embossing. Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog.
Almost forgot--Fritz is 2 yrs old today! He was such a challenging puppy, but has turned into the best dog & we sure do love him.  Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog.

Red, White, Sparkle, Bells

Oh boy did I have fun making this card!  Down to the wire again for Lil' Inker Monthly Meetup & since Anything Goes I combined it with Merry Monday, Red & White. The Lil' Inker Cover Up Die was part of the prize package I won from PaperCrafts late last year.  You can't really tell what it looks like, so decided it was time to find out.  Isn't it great?!  

I again reached for my Glitter Dust & then attached it to my favorite red textured cardstock (which is now almost gone, unfortunately) using Perfect Paper Adhesive.  For embellishment I used ribbon, a snowflake button, 2 red jingle bells & tiny pearls with sequins.  And yes, I am making mostly flat Christmas cards this year.  It's a good thing I allowed myself 10% that aren't--LOL!  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday as Glitter Dust is one of my favorite products (& so are pearls!)  I used big scraps so will add this to The Playground.  Still catching up on my blog reading & have to work the next couple days, but I'll see you soon.

Bold Blossom for a Friend

Just realized today that thanks to my friend, Cat, I can enter the Ellen Hutson Mix-It Up Challenge with Altenew. Cat sent me some Bold Blossom die cuts until I can get my own & the Altenew stamp set Simple Shapes was part of a prize package I won last year & hadn't yet opened.  I used Distress Inks spun sugar & milled lavender with the solid & open circles to make the background panel. Then I sprayed it with Glitter Dust for sparkle. 

The die cuts were embossed 3 times with Zing! Charcoal embossing powder.  The lined strip was made using one of the open 4 sided stamps in the set with Memento Gray Flannel.  I love the little Teresa Collins stickers & finished off with clear PPP sequins from another sweet friend, Rosemary.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.  Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog.

Thank You

Last minute entry for MFT Sketch & SSS Wednesday challenges. Decided to make a little tag card to send a sweet blogging friend thanking her for the goodies she's given me. Pink & gray is one of my favorite color combos & I think she likes it, too.  The tag & all the stamps are MFT. I used Brilliance Pearlescent Coral (why they don't call it pink is beyond me--LOL!) & Memento Gray Flannel.  I popped up the sentiment, added Stickles to the stars & tied on a twine bow.  I did use scraps, so will enter at Pixies Snippets Playground. Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog.
   

Friendship

It's fun to get away, but I'm always happy to be home.  Don't think I could be a full-time RVer. For some reason my laptop won't connect to the Wi-Fi where we camp, even though my phone has no trouble. I'm so glad to be back to a computer--a smart phone is just not the same!  Laundry isn't done & I work tomorrow, but that didn't keep me from taking time to make a card for PTI MIM & SSS Wednesday.  I did manage to watch the MIM video on my phone & planned what I wanted to do as we drove home. One of my favorite things about cardmaking is the wonderful circle of friends it's brought me.  This card is heading to one of them & I don't care that the bow adds a bit of postage--LOL!  I really loved Dawn's use of neutrals & knew immediately I wanted to use my neglected PTI Background Basics: Medallions.  The first image was stamped in Encore Ultimate Metallic Champagne (one of my all time favs) & the second in Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate.  The same inks were used for the leaves from Rosie Posie.  I tried about 6 color combos for the roses & ended up using PTI Scarlet Jewel stamped off once for the first step & the same ink full strength for the second step.  I used the same ink for the sentiment from PTI Lovely Leaves. The background piece is cut with SSS curved edge die. Took forever trying to arrange the flowers, popping up the large one, & still not sure I got it right.  I do really love the colors together--may try something else with them. I'll be catching up with you soon.  Thanks so much for all your support.

Happy Birthday

I'm thrilled to be guest designing this month with the talented DT at The Male Room.  Our first challenge is one I think you'll like:  Add a Tag.  
I took the opportunity to pull out a very old & neglected stamp--no dies when I bought it, but so easy to fussy cut.  The Paula Best sentiment stamp is also a fun oldie. I thought the bright stripes in the printed paper worked for a festive card with my Tim Holtz star dies.  
The paper is also embossed with a Cuttlebug star folder. Fun to also use an eyelet (remember them?!) & these little star embellishments I've had forever.  Hope I've inspired you to put a tag on a masculine card & join the challenge! Thanks so much for taking time to stop by my blog.
Edited to add: Entering Seize the Birthday without the option.
Edited to add: Also entering Retro Rubber to use ribbon or twine.  Time is hard to keep track of, but the tag & the sentiment are older than 5 years--probably 10 or more.  I bought the tag from a gal who worked with me & sold Close to my Heart & the sentiment was at a stamp convention.

Summer Coffee Friendship Card

I don't have any coffee themed stamps, but really wanted to join in the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  Then it dawned on me--use my paper towels! I cut out 3 sections & attached them to a kraft panel with Gel Medium. When it dried I used Tim Holtz splatters stencil with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate & then brushed on Goosebumps.  I thought some summery PTI leaves (Turning A New Leaf) would be a great element to add. The stamps were inked with Aqua Mist & a bit of Hawaiian Shores on the edges, spritzed with water & stamped on the die cuts that had been spritzed. I also wanted to play along in the PTI MIM challenge, so I took out my Crystal Laquer (like Glossy Accents) to give Betsy's technique a try.  I need more practice, but it was fun & does look like dewdrops.  I added a tag & sentiment from PTI Tiny Tags with some cotton floss. My watercolored leaves let me also add this to the PPP Watercolor Blog Hop. Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog. Edited to add: Also entering the June challenge at Verve.