Filigree Wedding

First, I have to say I was disappointed with this photo. It looked better on Splitcoaststampers when I uploaded it this morning. I went back and tweaked it some in Picasa but still don't like it so much. The lighting is off and the size, also. This is as large as it would get on Blogger.

I worked so hard on this card. I found this tutorial at Flowers, Ribbons, and Pearls. I love everything she does and she has wonderful tutorials. Instead of explaining how I did this card, I will let you look at her tutorial. I did have to order this corner die to make it. You need a die that doesn't cut out all the way around. I had a corner die but it didn't want to work.  This is Heartfelt Creations Decorative Blossom Corner die set. I finished the back as she did but I didn't use the curved dies on mine.

This card fits two challenges on Splitcoaststampers: Free 4 All-Flower Power and the Fan Club central theme: The Keys to Happiness-Things that make you happy. Weddings and love make me happy.

I did have a bit of a hard time making it and took a while. But, I'm hoping if I do it again it will be easier. I think it makes a beautiful wedding card.

I want to wish all my fellow bloggers a very Happy Easter.

I'll be around to your blogs as soon as possible. Hubby is off work today and tomorrow we are visiting our grandchildren. Then, off again on another trip Sunday. 

Recipe:
Stamps-Inspired by Stamping/Arrows set (sentiment), Stamps by Judith/Dot (for leaves)
Paper-PTI white cardstock
Ink-Memento Tuxedo Black and Bamboo Leaves
Accessories-Heartfelt Creations/Decorative Blossom Corner die set, Spellbinders Nestabilities/Stately Circles die set, Anna Griffin embossing folder/Poppy, Recollections/flowers, Bridal embellishments from Hobby Lobby, Susan's Garden/leaves from lily flower, white and blue pearls

Joy and Happiness

 I'm not keeping up very well with visits these days. Are you as stressed and blah as I am? I certainly hope not. I need a lot of pep and cheer as Christmas is my favorite time. Where is my Christmas spirit???? I'm looking for it and maybe it will arrive soon. Goodness, I haven't even made one snowman card this season and they are my favorite.

My card was made for two challenges: The monthly Fan Club Christmas Spirit challenge on Splitcoaststampers and the Sketch Challenge/SC518. The Christmas Spirit challenge is an inspiration picture of a pine cone wreath. You were to be inspired by the pine cones, brown and white, or the wreath.

I stamped the pinecones on Kraft paper using a stamp from Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps/New Pines. The sentiment is from the same company/Greetings of the Season (retired, I believe). My image on the small top panel is from Prickley Pear/Pinecone. A couple of the pinecones were popped up. I added dots for interest from Stamps by Judith. The panel was sponged with Tim Holtz Stormy Sky Distress Ink and Stampin'Up! Apricot Appeal.

I added a red grosgrain ribbon from Offray and that finished it.

Fall Scene

Good Morning! The weekend was so beautiful here...plenty of sunshine and high 80's. It really put me in a Fall mood. Unfortunately, I have a very scratchy throat and am sneezing a lot. I'm afraid I know what that means.....my usual allergy problems starting. Ugh!

I've been wanting to try the Layered Autumn Trees tutorial on Splitcoaststampers all week. It can be found under Tutorials. I finally got to it yesterday afternoon and also entered it into the Featured Stamper challenge, FS403. The featured stamper was Annette Allen aka Clever Creations. This is the card I cased just for the layout which was a base and two layers.

I loved making the tree. After stamping the tree, I sponged with Memento Dandelion and Tangelo. I used my Stamps by Judith dot peg stamp to make the red dots with Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler.  I really wish I had made more dots and will next time. As you can see, I made a pile of leaves on the ground and have some falling and some blowing in the breeze. 

The grass was sponged with Memento Bamboo leaves and I stamped a shadow of the branches. The sky was sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink/Stormy Sky. I stamped a flock of birds and colored, cut out, and popped up a few pumpkins.

Stamps- All Night Media/Old Tree, Stamps by Judith/dots, Art Impressions/Flying Ducks, Rubber Stampede/Prairie Grass, Stampabilities/Whimsical Pumpkin Border (cut apart)

Copics-YR02, YR14, YR18, YG03, E71

I'm entering the challenge at Stampin' Royalty-#251-Anything Goes
 


O.K., on to other important business. The winner of my Spellbinders Die D-Lites/Garden Gate giveaway, posted 10/22  is............Maria at Maria's Merry Makings.
Maria, please use my email address under my profile to send me your address and I'll get the die in the mail.

Vegetable Garden

I've been invited to be Guest Designer for April with the girls at Crazy4Challenges. Thanks for the invite.  I'm sure I'll enjoy playing along and seeing all the creations from the talented team.

This week, Joanne Grzelak gave the challenge, C4C230. She wants us to start thinking about vegetable gardening. This could include vegetables, gardening tools, seed packets, as well as vegetable plants or gardens.

I used Flourishes Garden Fresh set for my vegetable plants. It is colored with Copics.  I've added a handmade strip under my sentiment and a few dots just for some interest at the top corner. A button finished it off.

Recipe:
Stamps-Flourishes Garden Fresh set, Stamps by Judith/dots
Paper-PTI white and kraft cardstock, The Paper Studio/lime green gingham
Ink-Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories- Button from Sew-ology, silver brad, hemp, Copics

About Birds

Today was my turn to choose the CAS266 challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The color palette is Still Life Blues from design-seeds.com I love blues and browns together. You were to use at least three of the colors.

I decided not to do my CAS card with white today because I found this Bazzill Icy Mint cardstock at Jo-Ann Stores and fell in love with it. I'm using it for my card base. I did a one layer and added something I love...birds and anything to do with them. That was the dessert option this week. You could do bird, birdhouses, bird nest, eggs.....You get the idea.

Recipe:
Stamps-Our Daily Bread Designs/Nest set, Stamps by Judith/dots (added for interest)
Paper-Bazzill Icy Mint and Gumball, bird is unknown blue, brown scraps
Ink-Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories-Taylored Expressions/Bless your Nest die, Scor-Pal

Splat, Splat

I made this card for the  2014 CAS Design Team Search-week #2-on Splitcoaststampers. This time it was a color challenge. My card was easy and fun using a Tim Holtz splattered layering stencil. I sponged it with VersaMagic chalk ink in Sage.

My star was cut with a Momenta Cut & Emboss star die . I'm using a scrap cardstock in lavender.
The cardstock for the base is Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip and I'm using PTI white cardstock for stamping and sponging my image.

I stamped some dots with a Stamps by Judith peg. The sentiment is Big Wishes II from Inspired by Stamping.

We had a pretty snow yesterday. It wasn't much but covered everything. It melted during the day as the temps rose. More snow is predicted for today, one to three inches. I'm excited because we'll get to see it come down. It seems it usually snows more in the night here in my part of the southern U.S. Unfortunately, I think we'll have ice, also.

Flower Power

I'm doing the CAS259 challenge on Splitcoaststampers today. The challenge is stair step.

 

After stamping the flower, I  hand cut a stem from cardstock and stamped dots for leaves. My colors for the card are black, PTI white,  and Stampin'Up! Bermuda Bay. I added an enamel dot from My Mind's Eye.

The stamps are Art Warehouse/Phresh & Sassy, JustRite/Just the Right Words, and Stamps by Judith/dots. My sentiments are from a sweet friend, a large sheet of them. Thanks, EL.