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!

Color on a Cover Plate

I now have 2 PTI Cover Plates & the new MIM challenge is to add color to one.  That gave me a good reason to open the Garden Gild Cover Plate & give it a try. Decided to go with the simple technique of watercoloring with Distress Inks.  I used my black Distress Marker to color the border.  Some of the inks were blended on the card front which does really change the look, as Laura showed in the video.  Once dry, I covered it all with Wink of Stella & used my favorite Perfect Paper Adhesive to attach it to the card.

The "Hello" Noted PTI die cut was sent to me by Martha, so I can see if I want to buy the die. I black embossed it & the sentiment from Wonderful Words: Hello. Finished off with clear sequins & tiny pearls. I'm also entering Anything Goes at Addicted to Stamps & SSS Monday, Summer.
Distress Inks: barn door, victorian velvet, spun sugar, dusty concord, weathered wood, pine needles, bundled sage, squeezed lemonade
Thanks so much for stopping by.

Art Impressions for 4th of July

Quite a few years ago, AI had a retail store not that far from me. I loved shopping there & even taught a few classes.  Many of my purchases were AI unmounted stamps & I pulled out 3 of them for this simple card to send to my brother.  Turns out Art Impressions has a challenge & it's Red, White & Blue, so I'm joining in.  I'll also enter over at Retro Rubber Challenge.

Still very hot here, so we're hoping the air conditioning doesn't give out--sure zaps our energy! Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  
Edited to add: Also entering at Paper Sweeties where my friend, Maria, is on the DT.  Also entering at SSS Monday.