~Did You CUT APART YOUR STAMP???!!!~

Did you cut apart your stamp?

On purpose?!!

I did.

I really did.

I have to admit, the idea made me queasy.

Erin Lincoln, hostess on Make It Monday #82 made me do it!!! ;) LOL

Well, she didn't MAKE ME DO it, but she encouraged me to do it.

It's crazy...but believe me, you'll survive!

Watch the video to know what to cut and what NOT to cut.

I have the set Count My Blessings that fit the category of "OKAY to cut apart".

The phrase was originally "today because".

I wanted to use "today", so I cut that perfect stamp APART.

gasp, shock, awe.

I know.

I paired it with Teach & Inspire's sentiment.

While today is still today...let us inspire and encourage~

AMEN???!!!

Thanks for stopping by~

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Teach & Inspire,Counting My Blessings

Ink:Papertrey Ink New Leaf,Tsukineko Memento Inks (Elderberry,Tangelo,Sweet Plum),Ranger Tim Holtz Peeled Paint and Spiced Marmalade to edge

Dies:Spellbinders Large Labels and Scalloped Circles

Other:Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper

Paper:Georgia Pacific White and Making Memories Just Chillin' Girl Pack

~Tongue In Cheek Anniversary Card~

I don't have an anniversary sentiment for Verve's Anniversary Card Challenge,

but I felt this would do.

Plus, it's the truth. ;)

Right?

My husband and I have been married 20 years.

It's not perfect.

But it sure is wonderful!!! ;)

I used silver embossing powder and a "wood grain" dp to fit the challenge.

There is still lots of time left to participate~

Have a great day~

Supplies:

Stamp: Verve Words of Wisdom

Ink:Versamark,Ranger Tim Holtz walnut stain

Paper: DCWV Naturals Stack,Making Memories Just Chillin' DP

Other: Spellbinders classic circles,Tim Holtz distress tool,Zig pen,stapler,Whispers Embossing powder (silver)

~My Big Bicycle Seat~

Last week I rode my bike!

It's been 5 years since I've done that.

I guess I held off for many reasons...but now that I'm a seasoned "bear spotter" LOL, I might ride my bike more!

It was exhilarating! ;)

I'll be honest, I'm just glad I made it home without falling.

 

 

 

I'm also grateful I didn't hurt the next day.

 

 

I'm sure I owe it to this humongous seat

 

 

  

which makes the ride, ummm... less tortuous!

 

 

I was blessed to hear that they had such a thing, so I want to tell the world about it! ;)

My family teases this "extra luxury" (it looks a little silly from the back)

 

 

 

 but I DON'T CARE....I've had three children!

LOL.

Did you see they sell gel ones now too???

 

I might upgrade someday! hee hee hee

Here's my card I created.

 

The brad allows the sentiments to swing....my gadget girl coming out!!!

I know the seat isn't "an exact replication" of the one I ride on...

but it IS more attractive! LOL

Embellish Bicycle Trends Challenge

Doesn't that make you want to pull out your bike and explore? ;)

Have a blessed weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day tomorrow!

Stamps:Unity You+Me=Bliss,Pink Paislee Prairie Hill

Ink:Memento ink bahama blue,Papertrey Ink true black

Paper:Making Memories Just Chillin' Boy and Girl paper pad,Georgia Pacific white

Other:Want2Scrap bling

~TEE-rific!~

I made a card for my husband's aunt who is in her eighties and an avid golfer.

She's in better shape than me, I tell ya!

*Papertrey Ink On the Links~I Heart Papers Mint Motif Beyond Borders~Making Memories Just Chillin' Girl Paper Pad~Versamark ink~Papertrey Ink Hawaiian shores ink~Jenni Bowlin Ranger Weather Vane ink~Memento Ink Sweet Plum~Sakura Souffle pen~Stampendous Blushing Pink Rose Petal embossing powder~American Crafts ribbon~Scor-Tape 1/8"~Creative Memories oval cutter~American Crafts cardstock~Crop-A-Dile corner chomper*

Embellish Chevron Color Trends Challenge

Gorgeous color combo! 

My fun sketch is from CardPatterns Sketch 161

I may not be able to golf, but I can make a card for someone who does.

I find that satisfying. ;)

~Home Sweet Hello~

Homespun.

Sweet, comfy goodness.

I admire the style.

I'm a graphics girl at heart~so here's my version of homespun.

(Flourishes Tiny Flowers and Tags,Memento tuxedo black and paris dusk,Quickutz square die,Fiskars border punch,Sizzix sizzlet card Rectangle,Making Memories Just Chillin' boy DP,October Afternoon Sidewalks DP,Copics (red,orange,green),Creative Memories corner rounder,PeelnStick Removable Ruler Tape-secured with Scor-Tape)

I know just the recipient for this-a friend of mine who is an amazing quilter.

I owe her a "Hello/hugs/from the heart" card. ;)

I designed this for the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger:Home Sweet Home.

I was inspired by the beautiful Card Patterns Sketch 153

Hope you have a blessed week with happy surprises and comfy goodness.

~CAS PTI 5th Anniversary Day 7~

The party is still rockin' at Papertrey Ink's 5th Anniversary.

This is the 7th Day, and the challenge is to incorporate hearts.

(Papertrey Ink In the Meadow dies (partial tree die for grass),Papertrey Ink Game On,Ellison Tipsy Heart for the template,Ranger Tim Holtz marmalade ink,Making Memories Just Chillin' DP,American Crafts AC cardstock,Georgia Pacific white)

I just love the deer dies from PTI's In the Meadow. 

I stumbled upon the first partial DP deer when I was cutting out snowmen and thought, "That looks cool!"

The curvy cuts look so much better than just slicing it in bits, so I had to work to replicate the "mistake" with a partial circle punch in the second deer.

I sponged distress ink for the heart frame.

I am also entering this in CAS-ual Fridays CFC39.

Since I playing with die cuts, I am also submitting this to

Moxie Fab's Cool Tools Week:DIE CUTTING CHALLENGE.


Thanks for stopping in. Hope you're having a fun weekend. ;)

~Impressionable Q~

Beautiful colors and an embossing challenge.

(Supplies: Papertrey Ink Communique Curves Sentiments,Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Pendant,Making Memories Just Chillin' Girl pack DP,Staz On pumpkin,Bazzil pink,American Crafts AC cardstock neutral pack,Sizzix ballet slippers and bows die)

The colors:

Colour Q 119

Embossing and Debossing Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

encouraged me to use the embossed image as THE focal point.

Thank you for peeking in today. ;)

~Embellish Mixed Patterns and Mount Everest~

Here's the stamp Ren-Yi sent me.

 I am pleased with myself for using it so quickly. ;)

I have to admit, I was a bit intimidated by the idea of coloring the details in this scene, but I found a way around it.

I DELEGATED COLOR OUTSIDE OF THE IMAGE.

One hurdle down and another to go...

my fear of mixing patterned paper.

Mixed Patterns for Embellish Magazine

challenged me to do it anyway!

I'm not real comfortable with patterned paper...but I didn't want that to stop me from participating.

It's my own version of climbing Mount Everest!!!

I feel like a million bucks. ;)

What mountain have you climbed today???

Supplies:

The Craft's Meow-Little Frieda and Lulu-Mischief,Papertrey Ink Grunge Me,Unity Happiness Is sentiment,Papertrey Ink's Shape-Up Series Snowman Die, Staz On ink,Ranger Tim Holtz distress ink mustard,Memento Ink,MS border punch,Making Memories Just Chillin' Boy Paper Pad,Authentique Blissful 6X6 bundle,Basic Grey DP

~Hope is a Gift~

Hope is a gift.

Receive it, hang on to it, and thank God for it.

CAS-ual Fridays #31

I lay a snowflake die on the die cut cardboard snowlady and misted with Glimmer Mist Pink Bubblegum to create her design.

Her earmuffs are twine wrapped on two pop dots-easier than I expected!

Don't lose your hope today, ok? ;)

Supplies:

Papertrey Ink Shape Up Snowman Accessories stamp set,Papertrey Ink's Shape-Up Series Snowman Die,Sizzix flower and snowflake die,All-Occasion Vellum sentiment,Making Memories Just Chillin' Girl pack DP,My Mind's Eye twine,Glimmer Mist Pink Bubblegum

~A Sunset Photo~

Gorgeous photos are what you'll find at FYI.

I used a beautiful sunset photo to make my card...

The beautiful oranges and blue struck me...

FYI #18

For Your Inspiration

You've got one more day to create something beautiful! ;)

Thank you for stopping in. ;)

Supplies:

My Mind's Eye Stella Rose Hazel Memories stamp,Papertrey Ink Communique Curves Sentiments,Making Memories Just Chillin' Girl pack DP,Tim Holtz Distress Inks broken china and spiced marmalade,Scor-Pal,MS border punch

Three's a Charm and a Dress

Flourishes' Three's a Charm Challenge

calls for three layers.

I used the card base,the DP and the dress/sentiment as 3 layers.

I am minutes away from the deadline and panting, people, panting...as I type.

The deadline snuck up on me!

Eeek!...here is the info:

MFT Icing on the  Cake,Making Memories Just Chillin' DP boy,Basic Grey Lauderdale DP,Sizzix Originals Dress Ups Dresses die,Color Box frost white,Staz On fuschia pink,Memento ink brown for edges of dress,Want2scrap rhinestones,MS border punch

Girlfriend Rocks!

Remember Mulan?

Mulan ROCKS as far as I am concerned.

I love when a character has CHARACTER, ya know?

It was the first theater movie I took my oldest to.

I wanted her to see a strong princess.

HOW CUTE IS GIRLFRIEND???

My sister bought her for me and sent it ASAP.

SISTER ROCKS TOO. ;)

Miyono (girlfriend) is stamped in Memento ink and colored with Copics.

I fussy cut the paper lanterns from the DP and stamped background elements with PAINT..yes, paint!

There are two peeled back strips that were cut with fringe scissors and knotted up to mimic the sketch.

I had to color the back of those strips with aqua mint to stick with the color scheme.

The card base is scored to mimic the lanterns.

Challenges that inspired this creation:

Papertrey's Make It Monday #32

Stamping with Acrylic Paint

~I stamped Grunge Me with Anita's Dusty Green Acrylic Paint and even swiped some "extra" on the edges.  Originally the sentiment was stamped in paint (but it wasn't legible)...so I swiped paint over it and stamped with ink instead.

ColourQ Challenge #102

Card Patterns Sketch 132

Thank you for perusing by! ;)

Info:

Sister Stamps Miyono,Papertrey Grunge Me,Creative Imaginations Samantha Walker DP,Anita's All Purpose Acrylic Paint,Scor-Pal,MS Fringe scissors,Making Memories Just Chillin' Girl,Copics

Criss Cross Distressing and a Tag

I was motivated to make a few cards...simply because I couldn't pick among the wonderful verses.

These are simple cards with removable, laminated tags.

The cards don't have to be kept...but I sure hope the tags will be.

I came across a cool background technique.

I'm sure that it's been around...but it's new to me!

I tried using my Marvy Corrugator in both directions, criss crossing the lines.

I love the checkered texture it gives.

Here is a blank slate that I distressed with Tim Holtz ink so you can see the lines.

So easy.

It really softens the paper up for distressing, also.  It makes paper feel like fabric!

I did it on the card base and the triangle pocket.

I also distressed the triangle for a rough look.

This is entered in ODBD 72 Add a Tag and Mark's Finest Speedy the Cats Friends Challenge 68-Distressing.

Thank you for peeking in. ;)

INFO:

ODBD Not Forgotten, Sizzix Dog Tags, Making Memories Just Chillin' DP, Versamark ink, black embossing powder, Memento ink tuxedo black for the edges, Corrugator, Tim Holtz Distress inks

Be Unique!

~ Use 1 piece of designer series paper, 1 punch and 1 sentiment~

That's the recipe for Pals Paper Arts 106 Dress for Success.

I partially used a Marvy circle punch for the borders down the center and

the window for the sentiment.

 I thought about my girls when making this card. 

Lately, creating cards has been such a wonderful outlet for me.  

It's also been a way to LIVE OUT a message.....

God made you unique.  

Embrace that!!!

That's so much easier said than done, isn't it? 

We want to STAND OUT....but at the same time....

  FIT IN. 

It's not as easy for kids.

They don't always fit in.

 Most of the time their social environment is dictated to them...

not like we grownups who can go and come as we please.

Every time I make a UNIQUE card...and take risks....

I show them that I truly believe that being unique is a GOOD THING.

I pray they hear that, anyway. ;)

Thanks for looking, and listening. ;)

Info:

Lawn Fawn Clear to See, Making Memories Just Chillin' DP, Memento Ink, Marvy 2 inch circle punch, Friendship thread, Munchkin mini by Scunci (the cute little bug)

Make It Monday Glitter Die Notebook

It's getting to be that time!

Carefree summer is coming to a close.

I need to get serious with lists and calendars and the like.

Here's a notebook to begin my list of..school supplies, TO DO, groceries...

ANY PLAN OF ATTACK. ;)

 Check out the glitter border around my felt apple.

I followed Erin's video tutorial on Papertrey's Make It Monday #28.

How fun is that?

I used Papertrey's apple die to create a "button" out of felt.

I'm the teacher for my girls...hence the apple.

I'm feeling Fall-ish, so I went with warm colors that were still bright.

I love that candy corn yellow, white, orange so there's a touch of it in the Friendship Thread (I found it in the kid's crafts section...kids get the coolest colors, don't you think?).

Thanks for peeking in. ;)

Notebook info:

Papertrey Ink All Booked Up sentiment, PTI apple die, PTI  orange zest felt, Basic Grey Lauderdale DP, Making Memories Just Chillin' DP, Memento ink

Under His Wings

I combined a few challenges to make this card.

 Probably the hardest part was measuring the length of cord to wrap neatly on the brads. 

I flipped Just Add Ink:JAI80 Sketch

on its side.

I used PlayDate Cafe's PDCC94 colors.

ODBD Stamping In Time Challenge 41 is to use embossing.  I heat embossed the Chickadee and dry embossed the background with an embossing folder.

Thank you for peeking in! ;)

Info:

ODBD You Will Find Refuge stamp set and Chickadee Die, Ellison Tim Holtz Rays embossing folder, Sizzix/Stampin' Up Bigz Lattice die, Versamark ink, copper embossing powder, clear embossing powder, braiding cord, Making Memories Just Chillin' DP, MS ink

Scavenger Hunt Fun

I'm like a little kid...seriously, when it comes to scavenger hunts. ;)

Flourish's Scavenger Hunt Challenge was fun.

I picked up the clues and made my card.

I used Memento ink sweet plum for the flower tops and used a Memento marker for the stems (I learned that at Gina K's Stamp TV).

This pattern of paper was intimidating to me, but I started with it FIRST and worked from there, making sure I had all the 8 elements required. 

I would list them, but then you'd miss out on the hunt. ;)

Thanks for peeking in. ;)

Info:

Basic Grey Tranquil stamp, Memento Ink, Memento marker, Want2Scrap bling, Making Memories Just Chillin' DP

MIM #26 Decreasing Apertures

A new Make it Monday is up!

Watch the video to understand the challenge.

"Your project must use at least one Papertrey product and features the decreasing apertures technique." 

What's an aperture?

Watch the video.

Plus, you'll feel so good about learning a new vocab word...

AND you'll impress those around you. ;)

They'll definitely grasp the significance of this hobby of yours...and the intelligence needed to create a card.

We're not just talking coloring, babe...we're talking APERTURES.  

That's right,

APERTURES.

I was delighted when his eyebrows raised and eyes revealed that "I'm impressed" glint. 

Marlena was using big words today.

Not Momma words...

BIG words.

Ok, here is my....ahem, APERTURE card. ;)

Day of healing, my friends, day of healing.  

My SECOND card in a row for my friend to send her deployed husband.

Like I said,  I couldn't participate in anything to do with deployed soldiers without crying my eyes out.  

Sometimes things are so deep

they take some time to heal.

Here and Here are where I cut out a bit of my heart for y'all, because the Lord laid on my heart that you needed to hear it. 

I'm not saying it again.

Thanks for peeking in and enabling me in this great bloggy world. ;)

Info:

Papertrey Ink Fruit Fusion Apple Stamps and die, Papertrey's Communique Sentiments, Papertrey's Mat Stack 3 die, Making Memories Just Chillin' DP,Memento ink, Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Pendant Die,Versamark Ink, white embossing powder, Spellbinders Labels Four

A Sketch, Silver String, and Trigger Colors

I really like the colors in Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger Squares to Cherish.

I simultaneously made this second Moxie card with my previous post's card.

I've had a sketch in the back of my mind for three days now.

The strip of paper has TONS OF SQUARES ON IT and

 already had a butterfly cut out.  I simply put glue in the void and added chunky glitter.

I had to spray some fixative...because that glitter started to fall off.

Take my advice....

DON'T spray fixative IN YOUR HOUSE. 

Take it outside.

cough, cough, sputter, sputter....

This smell will probably last for a few days...what was I thinking???

sigh.

Live and learn, right?

Here's the sketch from Simply Scrappin Crafts July Card Challenge Sketch.

Here's the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger photo again.

 Mark's Finest Papers: Speedy Cat's Friends Challenge #66 is calling for anything but ribbon.  

I used this silver string that I know nothing about...except that it's in my stash, and it came in handy! ;)

Thanks for peeking in, especially if it's your second visit from Moxie Fab. ;)

Info:

Papertrey Ink Game On sentiment, Sizzix Butterfly die,Memento ink, chunky glitter,silver string, tag,Making Memories Just Chillin' DP

Daisy Keepsake for Me

I hit a few challenges today that motivated me to make something for...

well... me. ;)

No one else would appreciate it as much.

See the Gerbera Daisy header on my blog? 

That's a picture of the flowers my husband gave me one year. ;)

Here's what's left of that gorgeous orange-faded to coral...

all dolled up.

I pressed that flower in a phone book lined with paper towels and laminated it after it was dry.

It's been sitting amongst my crafties for almost 2 years!

Now it's been paired with piercing, a combo of colors, and embossing.

The challenges that motivated me to DO SOMETHING with this daisy:

~ ColourQ Challenge #95

~Our Daily Bread Designs   ODBDSLC69 Piercing

 

~Simply Scrapping Crafts  July Card Challenge - Embossing 

~Moxie World's Fanatical About Botanical

Card Info:

ODBD Scripture Collection 6, Spellbinders Label Eleven, CB embossing folder, Versamark ink, copper embossing powder, MS border punch,S.E.I. Dill Blossom DP,Making Memories Just Chillin' DP,copic marker to line the edges