Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #383

Good Morning!  Are you all ready for Christmas?  I'm nearly there.  I just need to get everything wrapped.  But it would help if I would pick up some wrapping paper.

There's no sketch for Tuesday Morning Sketches - it's time for our annual Anything Goes Challenge.  It runs for two weeks so you have lots of time to join us.

Today I'm sharing my Christmas card that I made for extended family members.  I do wish I'd take pictures of the cards I made for my mom and sisters, but the need to get them in the mail on time this year was much more pressing then taking pictures.  I like this one, too.  Very organic and nature.  It sort of reminds me of my dad.


I designed this card using a simple snowflake cut file placed inside a rectangle.  Then backing it with a plaid pattern decorative paper.  Using my MISTI I added the sentiment and then embellished simply with a larger size gold sequin and simple gold cording.  I picked up a package of kraft envelopes from Michaels with a 50% off coupon and then stamped on them and added a little bit of washi.  Simple and cute.

Be sure to stop by the TMS blog for more inspiration from the design team and I'll be adding some other projects as I get them finished.  And I'll reveal what the prize will be!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #382

Hello!  Thank you for coming by.  The very last sketch of 2015 is posted on TMS and it's a super fun one.  Now I will admit when I drew this sketch, I was thinking Christmas candles.  But when I sat down to make my card - I decided I didn't really want candles.  I'm winding down from making cards, I mean I think I did my part.  70 for my mom, 24 for the foster children, some very WOW box cards for my own family (6) and then 6 more cards - yep, I'm done.  But then I got to looking around on the Silhouette online store and saw this very cool cut file of birch trees and a simple word.  I couldn't figure out what it's purpose is - it's not in a layout for a scrapbook page or card but I was instantly struck with what I wanted to do for this card.

You'll have forgive the photo quality - lighting was bad today.  First it was cloudy and then the sun would come out and then in the blink of an eye (or a camera shutter) it was cloudy again.  It is a white card base - I swear....


The latest trend in Christmas colors seems to be white, gray and red.  I love this card - in real life.  The cut file also had these circles and stars - I cut those directly on my base which I thought gave it some added interest.  There were actually like 5 or six trees, but I removed a couple.  The cardinal came from another card cut file.

The card was really easy to put together and I think the results are very cool.  Please head on over to the TMS blog to join in.  We'd love to see you there.  And next week's challenge begins our 2 week Anything Goes challenge so if you want to get a headstart on that, too.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #381

Good Morning!  Thank you so much for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's a fun one!  I love it, I hope you do, too.  Our sponsor this week is Digital Delights by Louby Loo and my card features the adorable image called Christmas Pudding Ginger.


My card has foiled decorative paper and glitter paper - it's just so happy!  It was relatively simple to put together, it didn't take long to make.  These are the kind of cards that are super easy to mass produce.  Which is just the kind of card if you're running behind on those Christmas greetings.

The sentiment is from a stamp set by Pink & Main.  I embossed it with white embossing powder that I am soooo not kidding when I tell you that I've had for about 16-17 years.  I bought this jar and proceeded to make 300 wedding invites with it and still have a lot left over.  Whoever said embossing powder goes bad is mistaken.

Head on over to the TMS blog and join the fun.  My amazing DT will astound you.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #380

Good Morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's by Debbie - she's sponsoring, too.  She has a lovely embossing folder up for grabs!

My card features a stamp from an old set by There She Goes Stamps.  I do miss Jessica and her stamp shop - she had some fabulous artists creating wonderful images for her.  This is one that I cannot part with.


So a little story - in the Spring my company sponsors a week of community service.  We can volunteer to work in soup kitchens, help at local animal shelters - my group played bingo with the vets at our VA facility that's just outside of Orlando.  There is also another opportunity which hit home... making birthday cards for a Foster Home group.  I decided to make some Christmas cards for them, too.  I made 24 cards.  It was super easy with my MISTI.  See - I found a way to use it so that it helps me in my mission to convince myself I didn't spend my money unwisely.

The stamp set that I used came with dies.  These are solid dies, so it's sort of impossible to stamp first and then line up the die.  It's okay to die cut first and then stamp, but the older I get the more blind I get and I often don't get these centered.  Tip of the day - use your MISTI.  Die cut the image out, using the negative space, line up your stamp, close the door to pick up the stamp and then just place the positive die cut into the negative space and then stamp.  Viola!  Perfect every time.

Well, I guess I got carried away and made one too many stockings, so I used it to create today's card.  I'll tell you - this card literally took 10 minutes max to make.  And I love it!

Please head on over to the TMS blog to join us!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #379

Good Morning friends.  Thank you so much for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's a nice and easy one.  Great for this holiday week.  It's inspired by Jessi and I know you're going to love it and use it again and again.

Our sponsor is DRS Designs.  I'm featuring the Large Filigree Snowflake and the Joy of Christmas Greeting.


So before I get to a lot of details about this card, I want to tell you a background story.  I broke down and bought a MISTI.  I'm still trying to convince myself this wasn't a waste of money.  I'm not sold on it completely but I got one - it's the Mini MISTI and at $44 on Amazon - well lets just say I know what the saying "don't spend your money all on one place" really means.  Ouch!  High price point.  But I got it because I was making 70 Christmas cards for my Mom and the homemade stamping tool I created just wasn't cutting it.

So now I'm on a quest to use this tool often to make it worth it to me.  If you're really interested in what I have I have to say about this, please read on.  If not.... feel free to head on over to the TMS blog now to see some beautiful Christmas cards by the team and join in the fun.

Back to my "article."  With my DIY stamping tool, I spent under $10 and that was with shipping.  Not bad.  Pro - it was cheap... Con - there is no way to hold your card stock in the same place.  No magnets.  With my DIY version for measurements I bought a Little B's Perfect Positioner and cut it up to position my stamps so it was straight.

Now, I'm ready to make my DRS Designs card and their stamps are available in 3 versions:  Wood Mounted Stamps, Trimmed on Cling Cushion and Unmounted, Rubber Only.  Just to do a price comparison on that - the snowflake stamp I used is $13.20 which is pretty good but the rubber only version is only $6.60.  That's even better.  So how do you stamp with them?  Well, I've used acrylic blocks and double sided tape before.  But now I have this Mini MISTI.  I guess you could use double sided tape again and that's fine for a few stampings but what if you're mass producing?  I guess you could use Tack and Peel and honestly I tried it and instantly regretted it.  I was so afraid I was going break this $40 tool taking it off.

Solution!  I had a few strips of the Little B's Perfect Positioner left over from the DIY project, I simply put that on the lid of the MISTI and stuck my rubber only stamps to that and stamped.  Down side - do you see the black panel?  I had to move the card stock itself and left the stamp where it was at.  It worked okay but it's not very precise (if that's what you're going for).  But it worked beautifully on the sentiment.  The stamp didn't move and neither did my card stock. So I think an improvement to the MISTI will be to purchase another Little B's Perfect Positioner and cut that one up to fit the entire door the of MISTI so that I can move the stamps around.  It's less than $4.00 and I think would last a long time.  I don't have a lot of unmounted rubber stamps, but I have enough that it would make this totally worth it.

So that's my 2 cents on a how to get the most out of a $44 tool.  Trust me, I'm not trying to be negative Nancy here, but I am still trying to tell myself this was okay to buy.

Now I'd love to see you over at TMS to play along with us.  And Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #378

Hello! Thank you for stopping by.  I always love it when you visit.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I really love this one.  It's so cute!  And it's a great map for some really cute cards.

Our sponsor is All Dressed Up - such cute images.  I just love Wendy's images.  I am featuring A Star is Born.


A lot of my used this image and although we were thinking somewhat the same color scheme, each of our cards is very different and you're just going to love all the ideas.

My card is white - I promise.  It was very gray yesterday and I just couldn't get good lighting.  The frame is a beautiful blue glitter paper.  I embossed the sentiment using white pearl embossing powder.  It looks almost silvery on the black card stock.  In real life, it's really pretty.

Please join us!  Be sure to visit the design team blogs, too.  You are going to love what you see.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #377

Good Morning! Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at TMS and this one is inspired by Jessi.  She's still on hiatus - I do hope her doctor's can get her mended so she can come back soon.  Sending you happy thoughts Jessi.

I really like her sketch, it's such a great one for scraps and to have some fun with layers.  Here's my card featuring a sweet set by CTMH - I'm sure it's probably retired by now, I've it forever.  Our sponsor this week is Jennifer, an independent CTMH demonstrator.


The stamp set has 3 balls for the snowman build but that would be too big for this layout.  The challenge was to get all the masking done correctly.  This little guy was fun to color, too.  I just used a few Copic markers.

Please head on over to TMS and join us!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #376

Hello! Thank you so much for stopping by.  I'm sure all the glitter and shine from my card is what caught your eye and brought you here.  LOL

The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's another great go-to sketch by Debbie.  This one is full of possibilities.

Grab your sunglasses....



This card started with the base being from a pack of thank you notes from Big Lots - 20 of them for $1.  They even came with gold matte foil lined envelopes.  I kept the gold frame from the original card and worked inside it.  That set the gold tone.  Before I started this card I had visions in my head of this being a red ornament white snowflakes and big green ribbon.  But as you know, cards take on lives of their own and they decide how they want to dress up.  First, I couldn't find red foil in my stuff.  Second, I used toner paper, so the white opalescent foil wouldn't be white in the end.  So from there the card took on a different look.  I pulled out gold, silver and mint green foils.  I should have glued the hanger part of the ornament up a little higher or made the ornament a little smaller.  But overall, I love this card.

I made the bow from Heidi Swapp gold glitter paper and my 1-2-3 Punch Board.  Does your hands itch after playing in glitter or glitter paper?  Mine sure do!  Anyway, I embossed the black piece with snowflakes embossing folder which you can barely see in the photo.  But what you can see is that I sprayed that panel with silver shimmer spray.

I am loving this card more and more.  I hope it brings you a small measure of inspiration and that you'll join us at the TMS blog.  Oh and don't forget to visit the DT's blogs, too.  Talk about some gorgeous inspiration!  I don't hold a candle to them!

Have a great day.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #375

Hi! Thank you for stopping by, I'm so glad you're here.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's a really easy one.  Debbie is sponsoring and it's a beautiful stamp set by Graphic 45.

My card features a poinsettia I cut from the Silhouette Online store.  I like this one, it's a little different....


I think my card is a little busy.  I shouldn't have added the patterned paper as the base.  I like it on the flower.  This was an easy card to make and would be an easy one to mass produce.

Please join us at Tuesday Morning Sketches.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #374

Hi!  I hope you're doing well.  Thank you for stopping in - I am so glad you're here because I have such a fun card to share with you today.  I am so excited it turned out really well!  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I got super creative with it.  Our sponsor this week is Jenee and she's offering a great prize so be sure to head on over to TMS to check it out!

My card features embossing, punches, dies and glitter.


Isn't this lovely?!  I hope you like it as much as I do.  I picture this door being at the front of a lovely townhome.  I used for my base a brick embossing folder by Darice.  My door is made from this beautiful red card stock I picked up at JoAnn's when it was on sale a month ago.  The bottom layer measures about 2 1/2 inches wide and I barely touched the edges with a bit of Barn Door Distress Ink.  For the 2nd layer I deepened the red a bit with more Barn Door Distress Ink and then the top layer I, again, barely inked the edges.  This gave it the depth I was looking for.  The wreath I made from circle dies and a holly leaf punch that I have had for forever and a day.  Then I decorated it with Candy Cane red Stickles and a bow by Mama Element (die).

The card measures 5 x 7 so I had to emboss 2 pieces of card stock to make the brick panel.  There was a slight seam but that was easily covered with gold glitter "garland" which is an old die from MFT Stamps.

I created the door frame with strips of white card stock that I embossed lines into using my Scor-Pal.


Finally the inside of the card has my sentiment - a die from Pink & Main using some Heidi Swapp glitter paper.

Please join us at TMS and be sure to visit the team's blogs and leave them some love that they deserve so much!  Have a great day!

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #373

Good Morning! Thank you so much for stopping by.  I am so glad that you're here.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and our sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies.  My card is featuring a very sweet image called Playing in the Pumpkin Patch.

I had a lot of fun creating this card.  I didn't work in foil like I was originally thinking, but I do love how this card turned out.


I colored the image with my PrismaColor colored pencils and gamsol.  I'd forgotten how much I love the look of blended pencils.  I am using some great fall colors, a burnt orange for the base and some pretty colors that I picked up when card stock was on sale at JoAnn's.  The leaves are from a die set by MFT Stamps.

You simply have to go visit the TMS blog and see the design team's creations.  They are Ahhh-maze-ing!  Wow!   I know I have the best team around and they really outdid themselves this week.

Have a fantastic day!

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #372

Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at TMS and it's another great go to sketch by Debbie.  Our sponsor is Bugaboo Digi Stamps.

I decided to keep my card pretty clean and simple.  I also tried to do some embossing using some great dies from MFT Stamps, but for the life of me I couldn't get the sandwich right to emboss correctly. So it's very subtle.  I apologize for the lighting, too.  I couldn't get that right either, it started getting gloomy outside.


I'm using some Kraft cardstock for my base that came in the Fall Hero Arts kit.  I didn't like it, it's more a light layering weight than a base weight.  I also used some beautiful copper card stock that came in the kit as well and I do love this!  The image is Fall Fence by Bugaboo.  I did some simple coloring with Copics.  I think it's a cute, pretty much a single layer card that will be great for a notecard.

Please be sure to visit TMS blog to join us and to look at all the wonderful creations by my amazing team.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #371

Good Morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's a fun one!  Our sponsor this week is our very own Patti and she's offering a fun day for a prize.  Head on over to the blog for details.

My card features the September Fall Kit by Hero Arts.  This was such a good deal I just couldn't pass it up.  Fall is my favorite time of year and I really miss the colors of season - I say that every year.


This kit came with stamps,dies, inks and embellishments.  It also came with a few pieces of card stock, the orange is also featured, and I used the ribbon that bound the whole kit together.

I absolutely love the sentiment stamps - that handwritten brush stroke is beautiful.

Thank you for stopping by and we'll see you at the TMS blog.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #370

Good Morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I really love this one.  I really love our sponsor, too.  Our sponsor this week is Pink and Main and Michelle just released this past week the most adorable Christmas stamps and dies.  I couldn't help myself, I ordered the second she posted them!

My card features hOWLidays stamps and dies and Merry Christmas Script dies.


My card features papers from the Heidi Swapp and I brought in some additional dies by Fun Stampers Journey.

And I even decorated the inside!

I do hope you join us - you'll have a lot of fun and there's a $15 shopping voucher as a prize!

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #369

Good Morning!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this is a really fun one by Debbie.  It's another one of those sketches that will go in your go-to folder.

Our sponsor this week is Crafty Sentiments and my card is featuring an adorable image called Fifi Cupcake.  This was fun for a Fall birthday card.


My card is a Natural White base (Neenah) and the sentiment is from a chocolate brown card stock and a pretty plaid orange card stock.  I used a die and sentiment from Pink & Main.  This is a very clean and simple card and I think is a great card to give to anyone on your list.

Please head on over to the TMS blog and check out the DT designs - they did a phenomenal job like always!  Have a great Monday.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #368

Good morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this week we're sponsored by DRS Designs Stamps.  I'm excited that I got to use some of my favorite stamps by DRS Designs.  My card today features Medium Daisy and Three Butterflies.


I know this isn't really meant to be a Gerbera daisy, but hey, layer two of them together and why not turn one lovely bloom into another lovely bloom.  Gerbera daisies are most favorite in the daisy family.  I love the colors I used - not so hot about the markers themselves though.  I used Spectrum Noir markers and they are messy!  I felt I had no control.  But I made lemonade and the overall result I am pleased with.

I stamped the butterflies twice, colored them with my Copic markers and then fussy cut them out.  My card also features paper by Colorbok.

Please be sure to check out the other team member's designs. They are sure to inspire.  Now head on over to the TMS blog.  I'll see you there!

Monday, August 29, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #367

Good Morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  I love it when you visit, I do hope you're doing well.  The latest sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this is a really fun one from Patti.  We have 2 sponsors this week.  You'll remember Bonnie, a former TMS DT member and joining her is Miss Daisy Stamps.

Hi! Please visit Miss Daisy Stamps for fun and creativity featuring exclusive digital stamp collections, exclusive digital paper collections from We Are 3© and custom watermarks. The papers sponsored in this challenge are from We Are 3©, with the images from Miss Daisy's collection, all available at Miss Daisy Stamps. We welcome the opportunity to create with you. Happy Stamping! Love, Miss Daisy




SHOP Miss Daisy Stamps                                                                                                                            WE ARE 3© SHOP We Are 3 Shop 
LIKE Miss Daisy Stamps Facebook Page for a free Thank You gift  

My first card features the image Autumn Delight by Miss Daisy Stamps and digital papers Just Autumn Collection by We Are 3© Digital Paper.


This card was a challenge to make - but I certainly had a lot of fun!  This digital set is a real value!  The set comes with this cute scarecrow sitting on a fence with pumpkins and greenery.  It's lovely.  It comes in 3 formats (.jpeg, .png and .tiff) and there's a bonus set where most of these images are separated and no fence.  I also imported the scarecrow image into my photo editing software so that I can crop out that tiny bird and use him as another element.  I just printed him separate, drew a line to make his belly and then fussy cut him out.  Then I cut a bale of hay using my Cameo.  I made it a little too small, but no problem, I just cut it in half and then glued to either side of the scarecrow. 

I hope to see you over at TMS - this will be a super fun challenge.  It's a great sketch for all this little punches you may have, too!

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #366

Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this one is by Debbie.  I had a lot of creating my card with this sketch.  I have to say that my card idea started to be one thing but then turned out to be something different.

This week's sponsor is Digital Delights by Looby Lou and I'm featuring Flower Power Sunflower.  I love this particular line of digis that Wendy has created and sunflowers just happen to be one of my favorite flowers in the world.


My background is a piece of burlap paper.  I cut the sunflower border from an svg from Silhouette Online store.  I finally unpacked my Cameo!  I colored the image with Copics.  The "hello" is a die from Hero Arts and rest of sentiment is a stamp from Pink & Main.  I didn't use the hello die that came in that stamp set because it was just a bit too big.

Please be sure to stop by the TMS blog to play along and visit my fellow teammates - they work so hard to create beautiful things to share with you!

Have a great day!

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #365

Good Morning! Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and we have a fabulous sponsor, too.  Lacy Sunshine is joining us!

Unfortunately, there are still some things that haven't found a functional place in my new home yet.  One of those is my printer.  So making lemonade, I decided to pull out a stamp set that I won a couple of years ago that I hadn't even inked it up once and it's absolutely gorgeous.  This a stamp set that is probably not around anymore, but it's by CTMH called Sweet Life.


My background is a stencil I got off of Blitsy awhile back.  I brushed on some coloring using a stencil brush.  I the love softness that brings.  I then continued to brush on some color using Wild Honey, Spiced Marmelade and Mustard Seed Distress Inks.  I stamped the images using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I colored my images by sponging on the colors above, with the addition of Peeled Paint.  I layered my background and focal images on a piece of card stock by Paper Trey Ink (Summer Sunrise).  I also used Whip Cream card stock by MFT.  This is the first time I've ever used their card stock - I like it.  It's heavy but smooth.

It felt really good to make a card, my mojo got packed in the boxes and it's been pretty card to get it unpacked.  I'm glad I finally did!

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #362

Good Morning friends! Thank you so much for stopping by. I do appreciate your visit. The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I do really like this one. Simple elements that is perfect for any style card.

Our sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies and my card features an image called Spring Flower Hair. I hope I have that right. I still don't have my computer at my new house, so I'm sort of posting everything based on memory and hoping I get it right. I had to borrow a friends iPad and then that didn't work so well, so I'm using my son's computer, which thankfully he got set up today.


My card also features this really cool pocket card die that I got from Fun Stampers Journey.  Of course after I got it they announced that it was being retired.  But instead of moping about it, I finally pulled it out and actually used it.  I does have two pockets, one behind the solid middle piece and one in front of it.  It's perfect for a special note and a gift card.

I hope my card inspires you to join us and please be sure to visit the DT as they really deserve your love.  Have a great week!

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #361

Hello!  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's a great one by Debbie.  Our sponsor is Di's Digis so my card features a $1 digi I purchased from her store - Sprinkles.


My card also features Sweet dies/sentiments from Pink & Main!  I'm also using up some old paper, too.

Short and sweet post this time around - I need to keep working on packing.  Be sure to come by and join us at TMS and visit the DT.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #359

Good Morning TMS friends.  I hope you're week is off to a great start.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this one is by Patti.  I love this sketch - this one, if you take it quite literally, gives you so much opportunity to use ribbons and embellishments from your stash.  My card is quite literal, but I am happy with the results.


My card features Spellbinders dies.  The foliage die, I used the fern leaf.  I actually cute them out of my background ivory piece.  Using a stencil brush and 2 shades of distress inks, I colored them softly.  Then adhered the whole piece to a scrap of copy paper.  I am loving the inlaid technique.  I then stamped my greeting with Oatmeal Cookie (FSJ) ink and then embossed it.  I added some beautiful olive green ribbon.  For the focal image, I covered a piece of black card stock with Scor-Tape (sheet) and then die cut the butterfly.  Then I used opal foil (ThermoWeb).  I didn't even think about how sheer this foil was, but foiling black card stock with it just made it so dramatic!


Check out this butterfly!  I finished it off with pewter colored pearls.  I think that is the most stunning butterfly ever.

Please head on over to the TMS blog and join us!  And be sure to leave some love for my amazing design team.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #358

Good Morning!  Thank you for stopping by. The newest sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this one is by Debbie.  It's fantastic. I had so much fun playing with it.  Our sponsor this week is DRS Designs.

My card featuring paper piecing today.  I decided I wanted to just play and piece my whole card, so I am letting my amazing Design Team show off DRS Design stamps while I indulge in other paper crafting mediums.


And is this not stinkin' cute!  Well, it really is.  I am using a piecing pattern Stinkin' Cute Paper Piecings.  I got the design from the Silhouette Online Store, but her store features these adorable patterns that I'm sure will work on other popular electronic cutters.

The balloon and sentiment is also from a card kit that I got on the Silhouette Online store.  I enlarged the balloon so that is covered 2/3 of the base.  I embossed a panel with clouds embossing folder by Darice and then mounted this beyond words adorable birthday turtle over that.  I love this card and will be perfect for my cousin's grandson when his birthday rolls around.  Leo loves turtles!

I hope you enjoy looking at my card as much as I do.  Please join us at the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog, too.  Have a great day!

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #357

Hi friends! Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this one is by Patti.  It's a great sketch with so much design possibility.  Our challenge is sponsored by Oddball Art Co (Etsy).  These are great images for the eclectic and artsy palettes.  My card features Newsprint Flowers.


My card also features the Hero Arts Prayers (stamp and die) set available at Simon Says Stamp.  This is a benefit stamp set where 25% of the profits is donated to Lasting Hearts - a fundraiser to help parents who have lost a child due to miscarriage.

The base is a lovely navy blue.  I punched out my sentiment using the Word Window punch (SU!) and I also die cut the prayers.  I then embossed this panel using the chevron dots embossing folder.  I adhered the cream colored background to the base and then in-laid the sentiment (I didn't want the dots going through the words) and also in-laid the prayers die cut.  It was a little tedious to put the cream inside pieces, but overall, worth the effort.

Please join us over at the TMS blog to play along.  We'd love to see what you create!  Have a great Monday.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #356

Good morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's a really easy one.  Simple elements that can be moved, rotated, flipped - whatever your creative heart desires.

Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo Digital Stamps.  My card features Friendship Roses.  Now this image I sized down pretty small.  It loses a lot of detail.  It's quite lovely and could be a whole card front by itself.


I wanted a victorian feel to this card and I think the colors are perfect for that!  I pulled out some old paper from Basic Grey.  I already had the base made from another card that I didn't like very much.  So I pulled it apart and used it for this card.  I also had some key and lock pieces cut from a die sitting on my table so I decided they'd work nicely, too.  They didn't photograph well because they are cut from glitter cardstock and I didn't think to rotate the card a bit so that the glitter could catch the light.  Overall, I think I got the vintage feel, but next time, I'll keep the image larger.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Please come join us and don't forget to visit the design team.

Hugs!

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #355

Good Morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I think you'll have fun with this.

Our sponsor is this week is All Dressed Up and my card features their freebie butterfly image that can be found here on their blog.


I wasn't able to capture the sparkle on those butterflies - but they sure look pretty in real life.  My card features papers from the Cafe Mediterranean matstack, the circle dies are from Fun Stampers Journey and embellished simply with a stapler.

Please head on over to the TMS blog to join us!  We'd love to see you what you create.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Just playing around....

Hello - thank you for stopping by.  So the AC hasn't been working very well in the house and you all know I live in sunny FL.  So to say the least, we've been doing all we can to keep it cool - closing all the blinds, keeping unnecessary heat sources off (lights, oven, etc.) and so that has meant everyone in the house is rather sleepy.  So it was a perfect time for me to just take it low and slow on crafting anything.  This card literally took a several hours to complete because only a little bit would get done between one nap and the next!  LOL

Yesterday I was out running around getting some errands done and my wuz-band (definition: n. if you liked him, he's your husband, but you don't but you're not divorced yet) text me to ask I'd pick up a book light for him.  Well, I was right by Books A Million, so OK.  I also grabbed an issue of Cards & Papercraft magazine - inside was  mini stamp set by Altenew with matching dies.  This is what I came up with....


The card challenge at CAS-ual Fridays said to use flowers and the color challenge at Color Throwdown said to use kraft, green and cream.

My card features the Vintage Rose (build-a-rose) stamp set by Altenew, stencil I got on Blitsy, Old Paper Distress Stain, Hello die by Pink & Main.  The sentiment I cut out from Ivory Coast card stock and from kraft card stock.  I then layered the two slightly off so that it created a bit of a drop shadow.

This is a really simple card and would be an easy one to mass produce.  I also made my own stamp tool that is reminiscent of the MISTI tool - which I will never own (unless gifted to me).  The mini one alone is $50.  I could do a lot of damage with $50 then to spend it on just one tool.  Watch this video, and you'll see how you can make one yourself for under $8.  You can get the supplies here.

Thank you for your visit - I hope you enjoyed what I had to share today.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #354

Good Morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  I do appreciate your visit.  The sketch is up at TMS and this one is by Debbie.  You're going to be thrilled to learn that Pink and Main is sponsoring us, too!  I know I am.

My card features Need Coffee and Hello Sweet stamp sets.


The card is white - but I couldn't get the picture to show it!  But I'm happy with how it turned out in real life!  I used the Need Coffee stamp set and colored it with various Copics.  My mom was here with me when I made this so she asked if I'd make her have gray hair.  I stamped the "sweet" from the Hello Sweet sentiment set and then embossed the panel with Swiss Dots.  It was a really easy card and as soon as I took a picture my Mom put the card in her suitcase!

We are all settled down now from the graduation.  My Mom left early yesterday morning.  Now it'll be quiet for a little while until I find a new place to move into.  I hate moving - but it must be done!  Send me your happy thoughts, please.

We'll see you over at TMS - Michelle is offering a $15 store credit.  The stamp sets I used were $8 each - so that store credit could get you two set for $1 plus shipping!

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #343

Good Morning friends.  Thank you so much for stopping.  I do appreciate your visit.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this one is inspired by Jessi.  I love this one!  Well, I love all our sketches, but this one was super fun to play with.

I am sponsoring this week and the prize will be reflective of my daughter's personality.  She graduates this week!  I have been up and down the emotional scale over all this.  I'm happy for her and I'm crying at the same time.

Anyway, what here's the card I created featuring tons of butterflies!


My card was created to go with a gift I made for one of my daughter's friends.  She is also graduating with Hollyanne.  As these girls graduate, I am reminded of butterflies.  The caterpillar years are their growing years.  Their senior year they enter their chrysalis and at graduation they emerge and are ready to soar to new heights, tackle new adventures and follow new paths.

My card features many butterflies from the Martha Stewart butterfly trio punch.  A couple of shades of lavender, white mulberry with gold dots and white card stock.  This is the gift I created that inspired the card....


I still have a lot to learn about painting, but I still love how this ombre butterfly wall art turned out.  I'm ready to make more!

I then cut a quote from Silhouette double-sided adhesive and gold foiled it.


I am super happy with this and my daughter was pleased, she said her friend is going to love it!  I hope so.  But if not, I love it and it has a place in my room!  LOL

Thank you so much, again, for your visit.  Please be sure to visit the DT's blogs and leave them their well deserved love.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #352

Good Morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate your visit.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I really love this one.  It's basic, it has tons of potential for simple -- to very decorated.  Our sponsor this week is Crafty Sentiments.

This week my card features a print and image that I picked up on the Silhouette Online store.  I believe it's by Stinkin' Cute.  I didn't use the pnc option, I just printed it off and then cut it out myself.  I then used a C3 Copic to outline the image.


I ran out of graduation announcements and still needed two more, so I made these.  The black base I cut the sentiment and used the negative space.  Before I adhered, I embossed with my new Swirls embossing folder by Darice (on sale at JoAnn's for $2).  I also used some ribbon that I picked up years ago at the Offray Ribbon Outlet (I miss living by that place) that is black with white polka dots.  I colored the white dots with YR09.  Then finished it off with sequins.

Thank you again for stopping by.  Please head on over to the TMS blog and play along.  Be sure to visit my team members blogs and leave them a little love.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #351

Good Morning!  Thank you so much for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it was designed by Patti, who incidentally is sponsoring this week, too.  She's offering a lovely stamp set and embellish pack that you're sure to love!

My card this week is a clean and simple card.  I made these cards to thank Hollyanne's dance coaches for a wonderful 3 years.  I love the technique that I learned from Jennifer McGuire on coloring glitter with Copics.  Check these out!


In real life these pointe shoes are sparkly and bright... I want a pair!  Like I said, clean and simple.  I used an old tool... I'm mean I've had this ruler for 20 years!  It's a Creative Memories cutting ruler and I dusted it off because it was perfect for this.

One card has gold sequins and the other is a line of orange Stickles.  But I cut the pointe shoes from white card stock that I covered with a piece of Scor-Tape.  Then rubbed the glitter in firmly.  Then I colored the image with YR07 Copic marker.

Please join us this week and be sure to visit the DT members.  Have a great day!

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #350

Hi there!  Happy Tuesday.  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I think it's a lot of fun.  Open to lots of embellishing or keeping it clean and simple.

Our sponsor this week is Digital Delights by Louby Loo and I am featuring one of my favorite images, Hanging Birdhouses.


So I am a huge fan of Jennifer McGuire and Julie Ebersole - I mean, who isn't?  They are amazing designers and I learn a lot from them.  I've been watching videos... well, I watch videos every night.  I love them!  They are my night ritual.... jammies, plump my pillows, grab my Kindle and log onto You Tube.  Anyway, Jennifer McGuire has created a few videos for in-laid dies.  I don't have a lot of dies - shapes mostly, to do such a technique, so I played around with my Silhouette in an attempt do do the same.  When I perfect this method, I'll share how I did it.  Or who knows, maybe there's a You Tube video I've not seen yet.  Also, she die cuts sentiments from fun foam, so I got this stamp/die set from Hero Arts and used the die to cut the sentiment.  I love the dimension!

Well, so that's my card... I hope you like it.  Be sure to stop by the TMS blog to play along and please visit my design team.  They really deserve your love.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Just Playin' Around

Hi!  Happy Sunday evening.  I do wish the weekend wasn't nearly over.  But then again, maybe tomorrow will be better day than today ended up being. But this is a drama free zone, only crafty fun stuff here.

So playing around today, I decided to join Just Us Girls with their wild card challenge.  Any shape card, excluding rectangles and squares.  I found this cut file a while back on the Silhouette Online store - gosh, probably back when I got a Silhouette, that I've never made.  So here it is....


I used all American Crafts cardstock - scraps that were left over from other projects.  Inked the edges and then blinged it out!  I love how this turned out.  It's so cheerful.

I did turn this into a Mother's Day card - not the one I'm giving my Mom, but still a Mother's Day card.


Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #349

Good Morning!  Happy Tuesday.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's so much fun.  I love all the circles and dots.  Of course, you don't have to take the sketch literally, it'll fun no matter how you interpret it.

My card, I have to say is really lacking in the creativity area.  It was such a busy weekend there was no time to play and Monday was super exhausting, so when I sat at my craft table and started on the card, I was Midas' evil twin - everything I touched turned to sludge.  So I pulled out some ancient stamps from SU! and played with the emboss resist technique.  It's still not what I had in my head but it's still a bright, cheery, sweet and simple card that will be great as a note card.


So my dreams of grandeur was to replicate a card that Dawn from WPlus9 created - using a simple technique to create the bokeh effect.  Well, let me tell you, you need to have a good white pigment ink pad - one that isn't called soft cloud.  It's too soft.  I had a beautiful-ish watercolor background and then proceeded to ruin it with the white ink that I have.  It just didn't work.  Then I tried to cut the sentiment so that I had the inked background "come through" the lettering of the sentiment and it didn't cut clean through so this is what I came up with.

Again, it's not a bad card, it's just not what I envisioned to try and share.

Please head on over to TMS and join us - I'm sure what you come up with will be fantastic!!

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #348

Good Morning!  Thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this is another great one by Debbie.  I had a lot of fun with it and I'm sure you will, too.

Our sponsor this week is Patti and she's giving away a super cute stamp set called Balloon Animals that would be so much fun to play with!

My card today is my attempt at elegance in a simple way.  Black, white and silver.  My card features Minc designer paper by Heidi Swapp.  I got it on clearance at Michaels for $1.99.  There are some great patterns in this pack.


The background is embossed with Stylized Flowers embossing folder by Cuttlebug.  The strip, which I lost most of detail, is black and white stripe that I made.  I foiled the toner paper with silver and it's really pretty in real life.  Then I cut a tag using my Cameo and heat embossed the sentiment (Raisin Boat) and flowers (Sweet n Sassy) in silver.  I finished it off with a pewter pearl and black satin ribbon.


Here's a close up of the designer paper - it's so pretty! I used ThermoWeb Deco Foil in silver and my Sovereign laminator.  I'm still  talking myself out of getting an actual Minc.  They are on sale (or at least have been) at JoAnn's for $49.99 which is really good.  But I keep reminding myself that I still have to pay for senior photos, banquet, prom beauty day, prom shoes, the last dance team tuition and a graduation party.

Thank you again for your visit.  Please head to TMS blog to play along and be sure to visit the DT, too.  Have a great day!!

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #347

Good Morning!  The TMS sketch is up and it's a fabulous sketch by Debbie.  Our sponsor this week is Lacy Stamps.  What super cute images!  I'm not featuring an image on my card, but my team is and they are wonderful!!

I didn't want to take advantage of the generosity extended by the sponsor, so I decided to go in a whole different direction.  I did some paper piecing, created a scene and even did some sloppy water coloring.  There isn't a single stamp on this card.  There's not even any decorative paper.  And I looked at every element of the sketch and made it a map... which is what a sketch is.  What do you think?


First off, I did a watercolor background using Ranger watercolor paper, Distress Inks in Peeled Paint, Broken China and Peacock Feathers.  While that dried I cut out the pieces.  The shell is the circle piece on the sketch... the underwater plants on the left are the banners and the sand beneath her is the rectangle part.  I love how this turned out!


I added foil to her bra top, waist and fins.  This was so easy to do!  I took a piece of black card stock and covered with with Stick-It.  Then I cut out the pieces.  I then removed the release paper to expose the sticky and laid it on the foil pieces.  Before I foiled the fin, I used the exposed adhesive to put the waistband onto the fin and then foiled the fin.  As I'm writing this and looking at the fin, I think next time, I'm going to try embossing.  I wonder if it'll tear the foil?  Hmmm.... got to try it out.

Thank you for stopping by and we'll see you over at TMS to play along.  Have a great day!!

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #346

Hello - thank you for stopping by.  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's a rather nice one.  I flipped it, but I'm pleased with the results.

Our sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies.  I'm really excited about this sponsor, the images are lovely.  I grabbed one of their freebies but really messed up!  I made a card but for the wrong week - see what I get for trying to work ahead.  You'll see that card later in the month.  So here's the card with this week's sketch using things from my stash.


This card features flowers that I won a very long time ago from Wild Orchid.  I also used a die that I purchased a few months ago from Ellen Hutson on clearance.  I cut it out from Buttercream card stock by Fun Stampers Journey (love this card stock!) and then cut a piece of fun foam with the same die.  I glued the card stock cut to the fun foam cut which created a bit of a shadow box.  I backed it to a piece of blue card stock that I had laying on my table and then placed my little bouquet.  The sentiment is a stamp from MFT Stamps that I embossed with white embossing powder and a piece of Black Licorice card stock.  I think it's pretty and I know my mom is really going to like it.

Please head on over to the TMS blog and join us!  Don't forget to visit the design team, too, they created some lovely cards to share with you and deserve a little love.

Have a great day!

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #345

Good Morning!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches, this one is inspired by Jessi and it's so much fun.  So versatile as you'll see on the blog - the DT line up is FANTASTIC!!  Maybe Jessi will feel well enough to post the card that inspired the sketch.

I'm sponsoring this week, I have a fun embellishment kit from Freckled Fawn to give to one lucky winner!


Purple may be my favorite color but I can't photograph it to save my life. This card looks better on my camera than it does on the computer screen.  It is simple and trust me, in real life, it's adorable!  I am featuring paper from my stash - once again Latte by DCWV (thanks Jenee for reminding me I have this great stack), The tag is a die I purchased on clearance at Ellen Hutson, it's by Paper Smooches.  The stamp is ATC stamp Rose Garden by Fun Stampers Journey.  I colored the image using Fun Stampers Journey True Color Fusion inks (Limeade Splash and Pretty Pansy) with Fusion Blender.  I have a lot to learn about this stuff, but I'm not unhappy with the results.   Then I just finished it off with a double loop bow with purple seam binding that I've had in my stash.

Easy note card that would be quick to mass produce, too.

Head on over to the TMS blog and join us!  See you there!

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #344

Hello!  Thank you for stopping by!  The latest sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches, brought to you by Debbie to inspire you.  It certainly did me.  I kept my card very simple because it's for a friend mine.  He's celebrating his 25th birthday and I find keeping masculine cards simple works the best for me.

Our sponsor this week is Di's Digis and she's offering a $12 voucher for the prize.

My card features a wonderful stamp set from MFT stamps that they retired years ago.  It's called Flower Silhouette and it came with a matching die.  I did extend the stem by cutting the flower out twice, removing the bloom and just using the stem.


Last week, Jenee made a card using paper from the Latte stack by DCWV and it reminded me that I have a lot of the left and I haven't used it in awhile.  The color palette is perfect for a guy card.

The border is also from MFT stamps and I believe retired.  The labels I have no idea who they're by.  They came with the magnetic platform I bought years ago and never used.  I eventually gave that to my sister.

I do hope to see you over at Tuesday Morning Sketches.  Have a great week!  Happy Easter.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #343

Good Morning!  How are you?  I'm glad you stopped by.  My week seemed to be a continuation of last week - no weekend.  It was busy to say the least.  MA dance competition was on Saturday.  We were at that school by 6:30 Saturday morning and didn't leave until 10:00 that night.  Hollyanne performed her solo and did very well.  I couldn't be more proud of my daughter!

The sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's a fun one.  At least I think so!  I'm not sure what I had in mind when I created it - so it was a little challenge for me, but in the end, I'm pretty happy with my card.  This week's sponsor is Craftin' Desert Divas.  I love their images so much, I just had to purchase one to play with.


My card features Loveliest Little Banner Bear.  I should have printed this digi a little bigger, but like I said, overall I'm still happy with it.  I am using papers from the paper stack I'm using for my personal planner.


The sentiment is an svg that I got on the Silhouette online store.  I cut it 5 times and glued them together for dimension.  The white letters sort of got lost so I colored the sentiment with 3 shades of Copics in an ombray effect, then covered the letters with Crystal Effects.  I like how this turned out.  So shiny!

Please head on over to TMS and join us... say hello to our two DT members, too.  See you there!