Birthday Cards

I haven't routinely played at Mojo Monday, but I really like the current sketch.  This is the last challenge, as Julee needs more time with her kids.  I was determined to make a card using my neglected Verve goodies & some printed paper.  

Simple card that took me hours, but I'm so happy with the end result. The papers are MME Flair collection, the flowers are Verve New Beginnings & the sentiment is Verve Simply Amazing.  

I added silver foil to the top layer of the die cut word & red Stickles to the Aqua Mist & Pale Peony flower centers.  I cut 2 strips of gray textured cardstock to tie in with the Brilliance Starlite Black I used to stamp the sentiment.  The center panel is stacked with a couple layers of cardstock--not quite as high as adding foam.  I'm also entering SSS Monday & Word Art Wednesday. 

There are always so many options for the PTI CAWU challenges during release week, but it was an easy decision to case Nichole's Day 2 card with the blended background behind the die cut panel.  I love this release, but have got to use what I bought in my last order & that includes the wonderful striped die in Mix & Mat Flourishes.  

Don't laugh too hard--gotta tell you what I did.  Last night I carefully masked the front of a white card so my blending wouldn't go clear to the edge.  This morning when I sat down to put the die cut panel on top, I realized the order of the inks (Hibiscus Burst, Terracotta Tile, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise) was upside down from what I had wanted.  I could have just cut off the front of the card & attached it the right way to another card, but oh no--then I started thinking & debating about other changes!  Finally, I did get the card put together & actually I like my final version better with adding the Summer Sunrise mat & Glitter Dust for a beautiful, soft sparkle.

The wooden embellishments are Studio Calico--fun for a change instead of sequins or gems.  I'm also entering Seize the Birthday, SSS Monday & Word Art Wednesday.  Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog.
 

A Rainbow of Blooms

We had an unwelcome visitor in the back yard last evening--a skunk! Luckily nothing disturbed it & I'm hoping it's moved on!  We've known they come through the neighborhood, but have never actually seen one in our yard before.  Now I'm thinking the increased number of squirrels driving Fritz crazy aren't so bad--haha!
Think my brain is full of too much inspiration--been playing with goodies, but nothing made into a card until today.  I loved Tracy's ink swiping post, so used that to get started.  

I used these 6 mini DI pads: candied apple, carved pumpkin, fossilized amber, lucky clover, mermaid lagoon & wilted violet. I cut off a strip & attached it to the card front. Poppystamps Stitched Bloom Trio dies were part of a gift from a blogging friend--just love them!  I cut the smallest bloom from white cardstock scraps which are taking over my craft space--haha! The same inks were applied with a blending tool & PPP clear confetti mix decorates the centers.  The fun sentiment from Poppystamps Grateful Heart is stamped in Brilliance Graphite Black.  Think this could be used for any happy occasion--maybe a birthday or retirement.  I'm entering ATC, HLS Anything Goes with Dies, Poppystamps & Word Art Wednesday.  
One more rose picture--Chicago Peace.  

It's not very fragrant, but it's on my favorites list due to the gorgeous blooms. Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.

Foil, Foil, Foil

I do love creating with foil & finally looked into getting a laminating machine after watching some videos.  Fortunately, a friend told me to check Target.  At under $20 with free pick-up I couldn't resist!  I don't have toner sheets or transfer gel yet, but a Heidi Swapp video showed that you can use embossing paste & that I have!  Here's my first attempt using HS Zigzag stencil & Deco Art Rainbow foil.

I got kind of a distressed look & I like it, but will try again for full coverage.  Recently I received a gift of Poppystamps Tunnel Tags & Shasta Twigs dies and the Grateful Heart stamp set.

Can't really see it, but both the card front & the twigs are covered in Wink of Stella.  I'm entering CropStop, Poppystamps & Word Art Wednesday--thanks so much for the Top 3 last challenge!

I really wanted to use colored cardstock for a background after seeing Stephanie's example for last week's PTI MIM.  Again I used PTI Snowflake Flurries stamps & dies.  

This time I used silver foil with double sided adhesive on cardstock--no heat required.  The ink is Enchanted Evening, but the sentiment is actually heat embossed.  I just used my Mini MISTI & stamped with Versamark over the dye ink. Nuvo glitter drops add some sparkle.  I'm entering Christmas Card Challenges & HLS Christmas Challenge & Merry Monday.

June already & that means 4th of July is just around the corner!  The current PTI MIM challenge is baby wipe inking & one of Ashley's examples was to make stripes.  

I have very few reinkers, so it wasn't hard to pick colors: Brilliance Rocket Red & Mediterranean Blue.  Love the die from Mix & Mat Flourishes that leaves dots.  The small Sketched Stars are foiled using the double sided adhesive technique.  Always fun to use products from an Oregon company & this Peddler's Pack sentiment from 1999 is still one of my favorites.  Once again, Nuvo glitter drops provide a little sparkle.  I'm also entering Retro Rubber & Word Art Wednesday.  I've gotten behind in blog reading, but will catch up with you soon.  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.

Coordinating Card Pair

I've been slowly working on my card pair for PTI MIM the last few days. We've enjoyed watching the U of O Women's Softball team as they made it to the World Series.  Unfortunately, they lost today & are now out, but we're proud of the year they had. Brought back memories of watching my niece who got a college scholarship for softball.  Anyway, did finally finish & photograph my 2 cards using the same products for different looks.  I chose Snowflake Flurries stamps & dies, Enchanted Evening ink & cardstock, Delicata Silvery Shimmer, silver embossing powder & white cardstock.  

The first card is all stamping with a heat embossed sentiment.  I inked the edges of the card front with the Enchanted Evening for a perfect match.  I'm also entering CAS on Sunday, HLS Christmas Challenge, Penny Black & More, SSS Monday & SSS Wednesday.  

The second card is very CAS.  One of the matching dies was cut from Enchanted Evening cardstock, stamped & heat embossed in silver & mounted to the larger silver embossed die cut.  A thin strip of Enchanted Evening cardstock is attached to the left side.  Really fun to see how the same products can be used for very different looks.  May end up adding some sort of bling or splatters before they get mailed--still debating, although I do like them as is.  I haven't put my supplies away yet, as I have another idea to try.  Maybe it'll be my Rudolph Days entry this month.  I'm also entering ATSM, Christmas Card Challenges & SSS Wednesday.  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.

Birthday Cattails

The theme for June at Penny Black Saturday Challenge is Masculine Cards.  A couple male family members have summer birthdays.  Decided to make one card by die cutting the PB Cattail Clique from self-adhesive fun foam.

Then I applied pewter foil--such a simple technique with a beautiful result.  The background was made by blending Distress Inks mowed lawn & salty ocean on watercolor paper.  I added water drops & blotted with a paper towel before splattering with picket fence Distress Paint.  The 2004 PB sentiment is still one of my favorites & I stamped it in Brilliance Graphite Black.  I'm entering Dies R Us, The Playground & SSS Wednesday.

I have a couple more rose bouquets you might enjoy seeing. Decided to bring more in the house this year, so we can enjoy them as much as the neighbors--haha.

Thanks for taking time to stop by--enjoy your weekend!

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.