Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Little Things



I don't do "cutie pie" very often, but I have proper stamps if I do~



like these Hedgies.


 I don't use them as often as I'd like, but when I see them, I smile.



(stamps:Penny Black Hedgie Friends,Papertrey Ink Super Stripes  dies:My Favorite Things Horizontal Stitched Strips)


If you're like me, and don't color much...

you can outline with a shadow Copic and add some dots for a bit of something.


http://casology.blogspot.com/2016/05/week-200-cas-blog-candy.html





Thanks for stopping by to say hello~




Watercolor Sled






I did a little watercoloring and die-cutting today.


I picked three "ombre worthy" colors and painted them onto a small piece of watercolor paper with a waterbrush.

In the Meadow is my go to Christmas stamp & die set, which I paired with the snowflakes from Winter Penguin.



(stamps:Papertrey Ink In the Meadow  dies:Papertrey Ink In the Meadow Silhouettes/Winter Penguin snowflakes/Movers & Shakers Spinners (for tracing the hills)  other:Royal & Langnickel Watercolor paints,Ranger waterbrush)


This is for my nephew~he has a birthday in December, and I am always scrambling to make him a card at the last minute!


He lives in Hawaii, but got to visit one snowy winter and had a blast.


The snow drifts were traced with a white pen along the squiggly Movers & Shakers die.

 
I know I've made his cards in the past with this sled boy~so I'm glad I could make it a little different using this fun technique from



hosted by Dawn.


 Now to find a place to keep this card, so I remember I made it!


Thanks for stopping by friends~






 

Black & Pink Sketch




This card was done up, and I realized I didn't photograph or post it~

There it was, sitting on my desk this morning, like "Hey, there".
 


(stamps:My Favorite Things Flowers Set 4 sentiment,Newton's Nook Fanciful Florals flowers  die:My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips)


I masked off part of this long sentiment to fit in the sentiment strip~
then inked up the second half to finish the horizontal line going on~


Here is the sketch I aimed for ~

http://www.cardchallenges.com/2016/05/wednesday-sketch-challenge-sketch-282.html




Happy Tuesday which feels like a Monday!


Thanks for stopping by~


 

Monday, May 30, 2016

Pink & Purple Florals



Today I did lots of experimental stamping...


and I think this one was the best from my samples.



(stamps:Newton's Nook Fanciful Florals)

I used the purples and pinks from this inspirational photo~


http://inkspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca/2016/05/challenge-109-photo-inkspiration.html

and I used the sketch here~replacing the clouds with flowers and the airplane with the sentiment.

http://retrosketches.blogspot.com/2016/05/retrosketches-216.html


That's it for me~I don't have much to say this Memorial Day~
 
It's one of those days, you know?

Sunday, May 29, 2016

It All Begins With Start




As happy as I am for high school graduates, I am also sympathetic to the pressures that await them.


Up until now, they were probably following a strict path.

However, from now on, their decisions are THEIR decisions, and their lives are in their hands.

It's a bit much to take in.


They will probably be inundated with questions like, "So...what are ya gonna be?".


When I was that age...

 I HAD NO IDEA.


(stamp:Verve Words of Wisdom  dies:My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows/Lucky Stars/Inside & Out Stitched Stars,Papertrey Ink Herringbone Impression Plate )




I've told my girlies (when they are overwhelmed by adulthood)...one foot in front of the other...pray about what God wants you to do next.


"Just start," is what I'd say to anyone...at any age. 


My English degree was earned one class at a time...

 My marriage is a result of a relationship that started with a blind date...

We thought about having a baby and now we have three...

 
I've home-schooled for over 14 years because I thought I'd "try it out" for one year...




I'm here because I hit "Create a Blog" and loaded a project up...


These all began with an initial "start",

I didn't have it figured out all at once.

 Life happened one day at a time, one step at a time~as I'm sure it did for you too!



Speaking of start...I put together this card from bits and pieces of other cards started~based on this sketch (flipped vertical).
 

 I wanted to give it another go!


http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2016/05/mojo-monday-449.html



I slid the "circle" element of stars to the side so I could fit in the sentiment.

I'm also submitting this to

Simon Says (Wednesday):Anything Goes
 



Thanks for stopping in!


Saturday, May 28, 2016

Twofer




One grad party~two graduates...


I need a twofer~



(stamps: Avery Elle Brushed  die:My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows  other:Walmart stickers) 



I snagged those puffy owls at Wal-mart~aren't they cute?!









Flip this sketch vertical!
http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2016/05/mojo-monday-449.html





Thanks for stopping in~


The Untried



Hey friends, are you in the midst of end-of-the-school year festivities and revelry?


I'm just getting started...so graduation cards are my "thing" now.


For my nephew's card, I wanted to match this bold sentiment with an equally bold & unique shape.





 I cut willy-nilly guys...

haphazardly and with sweet abandon. :)
 



(stamps:Verve Better Together,Tim Holtz Phrases 2  die:My Favorite Things Lucky Star Die-namics)


How better to display that anything is possible, right?


I stamped some red in there and kept it simple & masculine, just like this inspiration photo.


http://alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.ca/2016/05/the-challenge-74-masculine-inspiration.html


I used Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Fired Brick, but stamped it off first to mute the color.



Here's to hoping your weekend is sweet!

Thanks for stopping in~






Thursday, May 26, 2016

Masking With Ripped Washi





Ooooh, I am enjoying masking so much more now, thanks to

Laurie who hosted



I ripped some washi in half and put it back to back and masked off "deckled" stripes on a card base.



I then masked along the edges with unripped washi (to achieve a crisp,white frame), before sponging Enchanted Evening and Melon Berry.


(stamps:Papertrey Ink You're a Gem sentiment/SAF 2014-1980's Kit heart border)




Another handy tip, was one that Lizzie gave for a previous Make It Monday, where she suggests pouncing tape on your pants several times so they aren't too sticky (when using as a mask).


This prevents tearing your cardbase when removing.




Here is a second card made with a panel I had to trim, because I didn't "destick" the tape enough, and it ripped my paper when I removed it.



 (stamp:Papertrey Ink Bitty Baby Blessings)




 I am submitting this to 


http://casology.blogspot.com/2016/05/week-199-fast.html



 because babies grow up


TOO FAST.


I'm also submitting this baby card to


"baby" 



 For my last card, I didn't rip the washi, but branched it out from off center~
so it looks like sun rays are emitting from the book.



 
(stamps:Papertrey Ink All Booked Up image/The Sweet Life sentiment)



I am submitting this last card to 




WHEW! If you're still with me...thanks for stopping by to say hi~

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Color Pops





Soooo, ready your eyeballs for pops of color, guys :).







My first card is a result of scraps.
 


 (stamp:Winnie & Walter My Precious  die:My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows)








My second card came about from what was left from the first...this is almost like a "Which came first-chicken or egg" scenario, now that I think of it. :)


Hey, if you've got the colors handy and they work, why not make a second, right?





(stamps:Verve Words of Wisdom/Learning to Sail/Beautiful You/Borderline,Hero Arts CL52C "Enjoy",Fresh Squeezed Stamps *no longer in business* Tickly My Fancy "Congratulations"  die:My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows)



I was aiming for a graduation card~so I PILED ON the wishes here...


Simon Says (Monday)Challenge: Make a Wish
(LOTS of sentiment wishes going on)





Ok, you can readjust your eyes now~hee!


Thanks for stopping by~




Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge





Yay for Wednesday and halfway through the week!


Yay for Papertrey's May Blog Hop!


I'm glad I didn't miss it this month, I am so disappointed when I do!



I created a wedding card today~



(stamps:Movers & Shakers sentiment set  dies:Papertrey Ink Songbirds/Movers & Shakers:Spinners die for stenciling,My Favorite Things Horizontal Stitched Strips)





These birds were cut from a rainbow I previously stenciled, based on Lizzie's tutorial for Make It Monday #248.

 I didn't throw it away, but kept it for a rainy day.

I'm so glad I did, because when I saw Nichole's  inspiration, the rainbow of colors drew my eye to that scrap rainbow panel sitting on my desk.

The fact that my rainbow looked like popsicle sticks, didn't escape me either. :)

To add the greeting,
I masked "rainbows" off of a larger sentiment in Movers & Shakers, and paired it with a grey cursive font which is in the same set.

This mimicks the font of the inspiration photo. 





http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2016/05/may-2016-blog-hop.html





Here's a card I finished from that rainbow panel of "popsicle sticks"

 (nothing goes to waste here guys)~





(stamp:Papertrey Ink Bitty Baby Blessings  dies:Papertrey Ink Songbirds/Movers & Shakers:Spinners die for stenciling/Herringbone Impression Plate   paper:Papertrey Ink Simply Chartreuse Cardstock)




I textured a white panel behind the open birds with the Herringbone Impression Plate.

As for the "wedding" sentiment, it's from Bitty Baby Blessings.
 

Thanks for hopping by to say hi~


Monday, May 23, 2016

Wishing You All the Best





I want to wish someone, somewhere, a wish for the best~
*whenever that celebration occurs*
*man,woman,adult or child*



(dies:My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows,Spellbinders Scalloped Circles  stamp:Papertrey Ink On the Links sentiment)


I don't use my classic dies as much as I'd like~but I don't regret the basics.


I updated the look with a wonky window in the middle~






 Here are the sisters~



 (dies: My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows,Spellbinders Scalloped Circles  stamp:Verve Poppy Birthday sentiment)




 (dies:My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows,Spellbinders Scalloped Circles  stamp:Papertrey Ink You're a Gem sentiment)


I'm wishing you a smile today~a good belly laugh would be even better!



Thanks for stopping in~

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Abstract Vertical/Horizontal




I'm heading into abstract today, guys...

in more ways than one.



I stamped this sentiment vertically~because sometimes it's difficult to envision the good, from what the Lord is allowing in our circumstances.



(stamp: A Jillian Vance Design Simply Said Coffee & Jesus  dies:Simon Says Scribble Flowers,My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows)





Wanna hear something cool?


When I photographed this card horizontally to show you the verse~
it worked in that direction too!



 





Hmmmm, there's a lesson in that, 

me thinks....


(orange felt circle)


Hope you are enjoying your Saturday~



 



Thursday, May 19, 2016

Sentiment Strip Colorful Wheel





I wanted to use my sentiment strips in a colorful wheel...I LOVE those guys!


The hard part was deciding which strip design (I have both sets).




(stamps:My Favorite Things LJD Pretty Poppies sentiment,Winnie & Walter True,Hero Arts Operation Write Home heart  dies:My Favorite Things Horizontal Stitched Strips/Sentiment Strips 2,Spellbinders Scalloped Circles,Lil' Inker Designs Quilted Stitched Pattern Die)



These colors inspired me~


http://www.cardchallenges.com/2016/05/mft-color-challenge-45.html


This sketch was perfect for my experiment~
 

http://www.cardchallenges.com/2016/05/wednesday-sketch-challenge-sketch-281.html



Thanks for stopping in~




Happy Day Stars





I mentioned stars...then I got sidetracked...


story of my life guys. :)



(stamp:Verve Words of Wisdom    dies:My Favorite Things Die-namics LLD Lucky Stars/ Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows)



I went with patriotic colors, because I have a dear friend who has her birthday on July 4th.


She has the fun personality to pull it off too, let me tell you!


 I'm super proud of her...she's a mom, like me, in her forties.


Recently she's attended acting classes with fun experiences in that regard.


 I'm super proud of her for chasing her dreams~who knows...she may become a huge star!


She already is, in my humble opinion.


:)



This inspiration photo had me thinking 4th of July way before the big date~


http://fusioncardchallenge.blogspot.com/2016/05/fusion-port-o-call-polaroid.html



Thanks for stopping in guys~





Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Thinking of You Scribbles





I challenged myself to use the busiest paper in my paper pack~

I did so by inlaying scribble dies in solid, then fussy cutting around each scribble with the patterned paper.






(stamp:Hero Arts Operation Write Home  dies:Papertrey Ink Circle Scribbles,My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips 2  other:Basic Grey Grand Bazaar pp)




I intentionally centered a focal design, so they look like flowers.


Here are the gorgeous colors you'll find in this card~



https://colourq.blogspot.com/2016/05/colourq-challenge-342.html




How's your day looking so far?


I pray it gets better~hang in there friend!





 

Another Banner Card




Once I bring out a banner die, I build from there~


(stamp:Verve Wonderfully Made  dies:Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Banner Duo,My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows,Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Elle-Ments  other:Vellum,Copics for coloring flower,sequin)




I used these beautiful colors inspired by Verve~


http://vervestamps.blogspot.com/2016/05/may-diva-inspirations-challenge-and.html


The flower was stamped and fussy cut on vellum~filled in with Copics on the flip side~




http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2016/05/just-us-girls-343-trend-week.html



Check out this fantastic sketch~


http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/2016/05/case-this-sketch-172.html



Well, you made it this far into the week guys...keep on keeping on!!! :)






Monday, May 16, 2016

Masking Flowers



I played around with masking various layers of flowers~


(stamps:Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie/Rosie Posie Step 2/The Sweet Life/Happy Trails sentiment  dies:Papertrey Ink Edgers #1/The Sweet Life for masking/Rosie Posie for masking)



as you can see, it's either the first, second or third layer I stamped.


I purposely let the black "innards" overlap ~I think it's trendy to get overlappy with certain details.






(masking with the colorful layers)



Thanks for stopping in~


Sunday, May 15, 2016

Stars & Colors~



I was blessed to win a prize drawing from My Favorite Things, so I spent it on stars.


~happy sigh~


Be prepared to see them a lot in the next few posts. :)



(stamp:Newton's Nook Fanciful Florals  dies:My Favorite Things Die-namics Inside & Out Stitched Stars,Pretty Pink Posh Stiched Banner Duo, Avery Elle Dotted Borders)


Also, hubby looked the other way while I ordered paper for Mother's Day...hee!


I got a multi pack from Papertrey
 and pulled the closest colors I could find for this color challenge~



http://colourq.blogspot.com/2016/05/colourq-challenge-341.html



I used this clean sketch from My Favorite Things~


http://www.cardchallenges.com/2016/05/wednesday-sketch-challenge-sketch-280.html




How has your day been so far?


It's been WEIRD here, guys...SNOW...


in MAY...


even the critters are confused.


Hubby saw a frozen toad in the morning when he stepped out...but in the afternoon that guy was hopping around!!!


hahahaha!!!


It's crazytown~geesh~


It's always a blessing to have you stop by~thanks for visiting!





Friday, May 13, 2016

Stenciling Through Masks



I learned a little more about stenciling through 


hosted by Lizzie.


For one, vellum is a great stencil material to work with!
 


(stamp:Papertrey Ink Movers & Shakers Sentiments  dies:Papertrey Ink Movers & Shakers/Hello Sunshine)



I busted out my circle dies from Hello Sunshine and Movers & Shakers and had fun with them~


Now it may look like a split panel~but it's not.


I took the tiny strip trimmed off the framing and lined it up with the sentiment.


I needed a masculine card for my nephew and think this will do~esp since he likes purple.

 Yay for aunty, getting a card done in advance!


 Feelin' like a rock star today~

 
Thanks for stopping by~

 




 

Thursday, May 12, 2016

More TIME OUT Cards




I created two more cards based on 


Time Out Challenge #56:CASE Kay Miller~



(stamps:Papertrey Ink Happy Trails  dies:Papertrey Ink Happy Trails/Songbirds flowers,My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows)








 (stamps:Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie flowers,Verve sentiment  dies:Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie/Songbirds,My Favorite Things Peek-a-Boo Wonky Windows)




My wonky windows are getting some love because of this challenge. ;)


Not only that, these patterns (which I've seen everywhere lately)
are less overwhelming in snack bites.


Can't wait to see what you come up with!


Thanks for stopping in~





Monday, May 9, 2016

Work It Wednesday Flowers



To say I adore stripes would be an understatement.





(stamps:Papertrey Ink Super Stripes,Altenew Mini Blossoms,Hero Arts Color Laying Butterflies)




I went with a classy pair of colors~


http://inkspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca/2016/05/challenge-108-colour-mint-and-navy.html



& I included one layer from a layered butterfly set.
 

http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2016/05/just-us-girls-342-word-week.html







I loved the colors and stripes so much I made a similar second~






(stamps:Papertrey Ink Super Stripes,Altenew Mini Blossoms,My Favorite Things Flowers sentiment)





Monday is killers~don't you think?


Yikes.


But crafty time makes it better. :)

Thanks for the visit~