Tuesday Morning Sketches #700

 Hello friends.  Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate your visit.  The latest sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this one is by Debbie.  It's a great sketch - good for scraps, washi tape, ribbon.  Whatever is in need of use in your stash box.

My card features a few things from the Creative Kit by Tonic Studios.  I have a bit of a confession to make, I subscribe to to this kit mainly for the stuff - not the dies.  I find that Tonic Studios dies are just not me.  They are very frilly and ornate and tedious.  But I subscribed to this kit because I feel it'll push into the more artsy side of paper crafting for me.  And since I have it, I need to use it.  So here's a card featuring only a small bit of the die set (dolphin, seagulls and sentiment).

Oh the card stock (blue) and a couple of the strips of washi tape came in the kit.  But I've had a bit of play with my inks this past weekend.  Although, probably not the best ink blending job to create an ocean sunset view, I think this turned out beautiful!  It's simple but I think striking.  The inks are all Distress Oxide inks.

I hope it inspires you to have a play with your supplies.  Be sure to visit the TMS blog and leave the team some love!

Color My Heart Color Dare #540

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  I always appreciate the visits.

The Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #540 is up and ready for you to play along with us.  Out of the 5 colors below, you need to use at least 3.

For my card I chose Sapphire, Ballerina and Pine.  My card features a stamp set from Pink & Main.  This is an older one, I don't even know if it's available anymore.  I couldn't find it in the shop.  I also used an embossing folder from Spellbinders.

I stamped the image on some watercolor card stock using the MISTI and some Simon Says Intense Black ink.  I colored the image using some Zig Real Brush markers and a water brush.  I'm glad that I left the stamp in the MISTI because when I was done coloring this image, some of the black bled just a little which didn't hurt the image at all, but I still wanted crisp black lines.  So I put it back in, applied some anti-static powder (powder tool from Pink & Main is awesome!) and stamped the image again using VersaFine Black Onyx ink and then heat set with clear embossing powder.  I then fussy cut the image out and matted the sentiment portion over a strip of the base card color cardstock and then adhered to a pink embossed panel.

I hope you like my card and that it inspires you to join this color challenge.  Which 3 colors will you use?  Or will you really challenge yourself to use all 5?  Have fun!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #699

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  The latest sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's a super easy, super basic sketch.  I think those are the best liked sketches.

My card features a little Pinterest inspiration.  I needed to make St. Patrick's Day cards for the ladies I send cards to every week.  It's only appropriate for this time of year, right?  I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do so with a cup of coffee in one hand and my phone in the other I took to Pinterest for a little help.  I came across a couple of cards that I really liked and took those to make my own.

The first thing I did was printed the argyle paper.  While I was on my computer I also made the sentiment.  The card base I made from Tonic Studio Craft Perfect card stock.  It's this lovely, vibrant green.  Then I pulled out my washi tape jar and found the green striped washi and the gold washi.  I had this scrap of black glittery ribbon so I grabbed it, too and decorated the base of the card.  Then I pulled out some Celery card stock by Concord & 9th (you'd never know it was that color after I got done with it!) and die cut hearts using the smallest die from they layering set by Spellbinders.  I glued them to make shamrocks and then inked them up using Celery ink and Asparagus (I think that's what it's called) by MFT.  Then I pulled out the Picket Fence Distress ink reinker and made splatters and then finally finished them with a spritz or two of Nuvo Sparkle Spray in Cream Gold.  You can't really see that shine in the photo, but in real life, OH MY!  So pretty!  I cut a circle from from gold mirror card stock using stitched circle dies from Pink & Main.

What fun I had!  I hope you enjoy this card, that it inspires you to create a card and join our challenge.  Thank you for stopping by and be sure to visit us at the TMS blog and leave some love!!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #698

 Hello!  Thank you so much for your visit.  The first sketch of 2023 is posted on Tuesday Morning Sketches and it's so much fun!

My card didn't quite come out how I envisioned.  I'll explain in a minute.

My card features an old card kit from Simon Says Stamp and paper from Honey Bee Stamps.  

I did want my card to be exactly like the sketch.  I've been cleaning out my craft room and found these hexagon dies that came with Gemini.  I guess I stuck them into some box and found them recently.  These things are horrible.  The sizes weren't right and these dies DUG into my cutting plates.  So the size of the hexies are too big but the size down was too small.  No just right in this set.  So with this size, every element basically took more of the card than I wanted.  It's cute and it did make an easy notecard.

I do hope you join us at the TMS blog and in this fun challenge.

Color My Heart Color Dare #538

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  Color My Heart Color Dare #538 is posted!

The colors this week: Glacier, Periwinkle, Sage and Melon (use 3).  My card features periwinkle, sage and melon.  I have to say I really struggled with these colors because I don't have these colors in my stash of card stock.  But this is a challenge right?  So I have to make this work and I'm actually quite happy with what I came up with.

My card features the Simon Says Stamp Embossing Folder and Dies Floral Harmony.  This is impressive!  I embossed a piece of Bristol Smooth card stock and die cut the blooms from the a separate piece of Bristol Smooth card stock.  I pulled out my Zig Real Brush markers and colored the blooms with the markers and a water brush.  And did the same with the panel.  The card base is Almost Amethyst which is the closest I could get to periwinkle.  I layered the embossed panel on black card stock which really makes this pop.  I also hot foiled a sentiment onto black card stock using matte gold foil.

Please join us for the challenge!

Birthstone Challenge March to April

 Hello!  I appreciate that you're here.  The next challenge is up for Birthstone Challenges.  March and April birthstones are Aquamarine and Diamond.  This one is near and dear to me since both my boys were born in March and my daughter was born in April.  But my project isn't about them but I do love these colors!

As I shared with the last challenge, I am embarking on the art journal journey.  And I love this page!  I had so much fun making this page.  Let me show it to you and then I'll tell how I put it together.

I used the same dies from Tonic Studios as last challenge.  I'm going get some use from this kit!  I am determined.  I cut the base page from watercolor card stock.  I sprayed it with Tumbled Glass Distress Spray.  I then stamped the flowers in the background.  I then thought, hmmm, I wonder... Can I foil on watercolor card stock.  So I pulled out a Glimmer plate from Spellbinders and some Silver Holographic foil.  I smeared some Crackle embossing paste and silver glitter paste on the side.  That's me being artistic!  LOL

This picture shows the foiling - look at that shine!  It also shows the flower I made using one of the leaf dies from the foliage dies set.  I used Tonic Studios Ice Rink card that I inked with Tumbled Glass and Salty Ocean Oxide inks.  The center is a big glob of Nuvo Drops.  I also die cut the geometric frame from holographic paper and the leaves are from the same set.  The little flowers are from Spellbinders die cut from Tonic Studios card called Luna.

I finished this off with a Tim Holtz "small talk" sticker.

I am so pleased with my project.  I hope that it inspires you somehow and that you'll join us for the challenge.  It runs until April 15th.  You have lots of time to get those creative juices flowing!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #697

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  I am so glad you're here and I'd love to hear from you.  Please leave a comment so I know that you visited.  The latest sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches, this is the last revisited sketch - this was Tangii's pick.  She chose another sketch by former member Andrea.  This is such an easy going sketch and is easy to dress up or dress down.

My card features items from the Aug'22 Card Kit from Spellbinders.  I still have so much paper and ephemera from that kit.  The kits were designed to create 10 cards, but honestly you can make SO MUCH more.

I broke down to use the butterfly stickers that were sent.  I honestly was hoarding them.  These are the coolest! They will fold down for easy mailing but will pop up for awesome dimension.  I also inverted the rectangle element by putting it behind the strip element.  I love this how this card turned out.

I do hope to see you over at the TMS blog to join us in this challenge.

Tuesday Morning Sketches #696

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate your visit and would love it if you left me a few kind words so I know you were here.

The latest revisited sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches.  This week's sketch is Tammy's pick and she chose an easy going sketch, too.  I love this sketch because it's a great jumping off point.  Dress it up or key it simple. 

My card features an svg cut file I got from the Silhouette Design Store.  We're up to letter L in the alphabet challenge with my card traders group and I could only think of lemons.  I was stuck on them so I just had to do it!  I cut the leaves from light green card stock and then used Altenew inks to darken them up and add shading.  I used a Copic marker for the center line on the leaves.  Same with the lemons, these I cut from light yellow card stock and then used Nuvo inks for shading.  I designed the sentiment using Cilantro Leaf font, welded it together to make it cut as one piece.  I cut it 3 times and layered together to create a dimensional and sturdy sentiment.  I finished the sentiment by stamping "you're so" in green ink - this came from the Smile stamp/die set from Pink & Main.

The patterned paper is from DCWV.  It worked out well because the leafy green pattern was one side of the paper and the yellow and white pattern was on the other side.  So I cut the paper to 4 x 5 1/4, cut 2 inches off the end and flipped it over to use the yellow side.  On the green side I trimmed about 1/8" off so that I could color block.  I embellished a little using enamel dots from Altenew.

I love how this card turned out.  Fresh and vibrant!  Just how lemons should be.

Please join us at TMS.  We'd love to see what you make from this sketch.

Color My Heart Color Dare #536

 Hello! Thank you for stopping by!  I appreciate your visit.  #536 at Color My Heart Color Dare is posted and this one is so much fun.

My card features the Country Jug Die set from Tonic Studios.  The colors I used are Honey Butter, Sage and Pewter.

I did actually reduce the size of the jug by die cutting it and then using the outline die to trim the bottom down.  I also cut off the handle so that it can glued behind the jug to make it smaller, too.  The greenery is from the die set as well, but the flowers are from an old set from Spellbinders.  I couldn't even tell you if it was a small die of the month set, but it could be.

I think I need a lesson in flower arranging, but I love the card anyway.  I think it's antique looking.

Please join us for the challenge!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #695

 Hello!  Thank you for visiting.  The latest revisited sketch is up, this week's pick is former DT member, Raechelle's pick.  She's missed but she picked such a great sketch, we thought it'd still be fun to revisit even though she's not on the team anymore.

This sketch is a great one by Debbie.  My card actually went through a couple of different versions before I finally decided on what I wanted to do.  It's actually inspired by a card that Carissa Wiley "taught" in one of the Spellbinders x Altenew collab.

I love this die set from Spellbinders.  I also love the monochromatic look that was in Yana's class.  I absolutely love how this card turned out.  I kept it pretty simple and finished it off with some Vintage Drops by Nuvo. 

Please join us at Tuesday Morning Sketches for this fun sketch challenge.  Leave the team some love!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #694

 Hello! Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate your visit.  The latest re-visited sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches, this week is Patti's favorite sketch.  I have to say that it's one of my favorite sketches by Debbie.

My card features some old and some new.  Let me show it to you and then I'll tell you what I used.

The card base is just a plain white base.  The next layer I cut Phone Booth card stock (Spellbinders) using my set of Wonky Stitches rectangle dies from Kat Scrapiness.  I purchased 4 sets of the new Poly-Glaze foil sheets from GinaK.  Let me tell you, these are super cool.  I used Sparkling Silver Deco Foil to foil the Poly Glaze sheet - design Diamonds.  I then used the size down of the Wonky Stitches die to cut out the design, inked the bottom half with Candied Apple Oxide ink.

I then used these dies from Spellbinders that I can't find on their site anymore to create a kaleidoscope flower that I cut from Phone Booth, Holographic Silver cardstock and black card stock.  I used another die from another die set that I think is Moroccan something. I've had it forever.  Anyway, I used to make the center of the flower.  And then finally used a sentiment from the Stamp/Die of the Month Nov'22. 

Check out this sparkle!...

I really love how this card turned out.  It was fun to make.  I have to say I enjoyed every step of this process.

I hope it inspires you to try something fun and crazy and while you're doing that, then come join us at Tuesday Morning Sketches.  And while you're there, please leave some love for the team.

Color My Heart Color Dare #534

 Hey there!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'm really glad you're here!  Color My Heart Color Dare #534 is a fun one, I mean who doesn't love conversation hearts!  Pastel colors.  

If you know me, you know how I struggle with Valentine's Day - I personally don't like the holiday, never did, so I struggle with making cards.  But I knew I wanted to play with Holly Jolly Gnome die set that I played with at Christmas time. 

My main colors are light blue, light pink, light purple and yellow.  Just a few hints of bold color like the printing on conversation hearts and to help give this card a little dimension.  This gnome does swing on his heart ornament.  I did use the circle die in the set and a heart die from i-Crafter.  The hearts on the main background panel are from another set from i-Crafter.  You can't see it in this photo, but I did use my Nuvo Shimmer pen on the letters, so in real life it's sparkly!

Now we'll see you over at challenge blog.  Please join us!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #693

 Hello!  The latest revisited sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this week was my pick.  I absolutely loved this sketch by Patti.  As you might recall, I used it for one of my Christmas cards. 

This card is a birthday card for one of my card traders group ladies.  I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I think is nice, but I do wish my birds were a little bigger.  I am happy with the photo of it!  LOL

My card features scraps from the paper pad I've been using lately.  The pink panel is embossed with a classic Cuttlebug embossing folder (birds & vines).  The sentiment, I stamped before embossing, is from Spellbinders as well as the birds which were designed by Vicky P.  I do feel like it's a fun and cheerful birthday card!

I hope to see you over at the TMS blog to join us!

Just Playin' Around

 Hey there.  So I've been adjusting to being an empty nester.  I think it's helped that I've been super busy at work, but I've hit a few moments here and there where I've really missed my daughter being here.  So I've been filling my time with what I can.  I am working really hard on finishing a blanket for my guest room.  I am on the last round so it should be on the bed soon!

I mentioned recently that I want to start playing with more challenges.  I haven't fit it into my evenings yet because I'm working so late - but I'm getting there!  This card is following the sketch from Just Add Ink.  This was a good sketch for a couple of easy notecards.

This card was easy.  I took a piece of paper from the Garden something matstack and cut it down to 4x5 1/4 and then cut diagonally corner to corner.  I then took a panel of white 4x5 1/4 cardstock, embossed it with an embossing folder from Spellbinders and then adhered the triangle pieces.  I did make 2 cards from this.  I colored another piece of white cardstock with Seafoam ink from Simon Says Stamp and then die cut the flower and leaves.  I did color the flower center and leaves with a darker seafoam color, can't remember the actual name of the color at the moment.

As I said, this is an easy notecard.  I got 2 done in less than hour and that includes photographing and writing notes inside and getting them in the mail.

Tuesday Morning Sketches #692

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  I do appreciate your visit.  The latest re-visited sketch is up and this week is Donna's pick. 

I have to admit I was really lacking mojo this past weekend.  My head really wanted to craft but I just couldn't get my heart into it.  My card features paper from Tonic Studio and a stamp from CTMH.

I also used a wonky stitch rectangle die from Kat Scrappiness.

This was a pretty quick notecard to put together after hours of trying to figure out what I really wanted to do.  

I hope you join us this week. Please head on over to the TMS blog and remember to leave some love for the team.

Color My Heart Color Dare #532

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by!  I am so excited about today, I have joined the amazing Color My Heart Color Dare challenge blog design team.  I feel very honored to been selected for their team and I hope I do them very proud.

My first challenge was supposed to be a couple of weeks ago but with holidays and kids and cold, I just couldn't get into my craft room.  This week's challenge is shades of Blues, Purples and 1 other color.

My card features light blue, dark blue, a light purple and a mid-purple and then my 1 other color is actually 2 shades of green.

The base is heavy weight card stock from Tonic Studios that I embossed using the fans embossing folder from Spellbinders.  I used the Essential Arches dies to cut a window in the card and then using the Nov22 Small Die of the Month I cut out the base twice to give it some stability because not only is this my focal point but "closes" up that window.  Then I embellished with the detail dies in the set.  I finished this off with Nuvo Drops.  This was a super easy card to make and I absolutely love the results.

Please join us at Color My Heart Color Dare.  We'd love to see what you make with these colors.

Tuesday Morning Sketches #691

 Hello!  The latest revisited sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and Debi picked one of my sketches.  This one is one of the more challenging ones, but not hard to do.

I made 2 quick notecards featuring some really pretty from Echo Park called New Day.  More on the paper in a minute.

This first card is in shades of green matted on black.  It's nothing but paper from this paper stack.

This card is one piece of the paper and I brought in some pink card stock that I embossed using an embossing folder from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is also from the paper pack.

Okay - so the paper pad.  I bought it from Simon Says Stamp and believe me, I didn't need it.  I have plenty of paper.  But most are 4x6 paper stacks and the ones that are actually 6x6 I've dug into.  A YouTube video came up in my feed recently for Kendra's Sketch Challenge.  This is a huge challenge with huge prizes!  The idea is to use 6 sheets of 6x6 paper and make 15 cards with no scraps.  I decided to take this on.  You need to use 6 sheets of coordinating paper and that's why I bought the paper, none of mine would match.  Although I may challenge myself further and try to use up some more by mixing them up.  But anyway, I got the paper cut according to Kendra's instructions and I'll actually be making 2 of each so I end up with 30 cards.  It's going to be a process for me because I want to make up kits. So far I have 15 plastic envelopes with the cut pieces of the paper, I printed the sketches and cut those up and put them into the envelopes.  Next I want to work on the mats and other elements and then get card bases into the envelopes.  Then I'll make the cards.  The challenge closes at the end of March.  I think I'll be done by then!

Anyway, this is about Tuesday Morning Sketches and I'd really love to see you over there to join us!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #690

 Hello!  Thank your for stopping by.  If you've been a follower of Tuesday Morning Sketches for awhile then you know it is our tradition to revisit our favorite sketches of 2022.  The first revisited sketch is up on the TMS blog.  This week is Debbie's pick and she picked a wonderful sketch from former DT member Andrea.

My card features the Clocks and Cogs die set from Tonic Studios.  It was perfect for the New Year's card I wanted to send to the ladies I send weekly cards to.

My card also features papers and ephemera from the Spellbinders Aug'22 card kit.  I still have so much of this left.  These kits are really a good value.  The sentiment is from Nov'22 Stamp/Die of the Month, it actually says "hello friend" but I only wanted the hello part.  This was a really easy to put together.

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

Just playin' around

 It has been a long time since I've posted a "just playin' around" post.  I have decided that I want to participate more in challenges.   I've let that part of my crafting life go and how can I expect those to participate in my challenge if I don't participate in others.  Maybe that's a silly thought, but that's me!

I made this card for my the two ladies I write to weekly.  The colors are from this week's Just Us Girls challenge.  My card features Nov 22 Stamp/Die of the Month from Spellbinders as well as the Essential Arches dies.  I am obsessed with these dies!

This was such a quick and easy notecard.  I used Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide ink which is why the saturation isn't as strong on the floral image.  I used a blender to dab on the two colors, the other being Broken China.  I did ink and stamp it about 3 times, I just couldn't get bolder color.  It worked well on the background stamp. 

I challenged myself to use an old stamp (background) and a new stamp.  I had yet to use the Nov stamp/die of month, so it was a perfect opportunity for me.

I think this turned out well for it essentially being a single layer card.  There are no bells and whistles which makes this a single postage stamp card.  If you have read my blog before, you know how much of a fan I am of those!

Well, thanks for the visit and I hope your New Year is off to a great start.

Birthstone Challenge

Hello!  Thank you for your visit and Happy New Year!  My great-grandmother in all her wisdom said that how you spend the first day of the new year is how the rest of the year will go.  So I always choose to spend this day doing what I love.  Crafting!

I am really excited to share that I am part of the design team for a new challenge blog - Birthstone Challenges.  This is a really cool idea! The challenges will run for 6 weeks, this one starts today and ends February 15th at 4pm MT.  The colors - January is Garnet is my Grandma's birthstone and February is Amethyst.  Challenges are always Anything Goes but you need to feature one or both of these colors.

I have always wanted to art journaling.  I've been watching Vicky Papaioannou's videos for years now.  This challenge made me finally take that plunge.

As I said, my Grandma's birthstone is Garnet and our heritage is Spanish so this page was so fitting!  I started with die cutting a tag using the Crafty Kit from Tonic Studios.  These dies are big.  The base is about 7 inches long.  The layering piece is from multi-media paper I got from Michaels.  I first used crackling mousse in black with a stencil I got from Simon Says Stamp.  I applied only a thin layer because I didn't want a lot of crackling.  Once that dried I added some ink.  I even inked a couple of edges with purple to pull in a little of the Amethyst color.  Then I decorated the page using Desire emphemera from Stamperia. 

I hope my page inspires you to try something different and that you'll join us in the challenge!