Poinsettia Christmas Cards

Hello! When it comes to Christmas stamp sets I truly love the Poinsettia Petals by Stampin' Up!. I've really enjoyed coloring with this set. Here are two Poinsettia Christmas Cards I made coloring the Poinsettias differently inspired by photos of Ice Punch Poinsettias. I don't usually make many duplicate cards, but I'm making an exception for this set. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• ModSquad: Pretty Poinsettias
• Watercooler Wednesday: All About Occasions
• Word Art Wednesday: Anything Goes

Deer To Me Card - TMS #614

Well, it's Tuesday again and that means we are sharing a different sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches. This weeks sketch is designed by Melissa Craig and it's just waiting for you to give it a try. I created a scene for this Deer To Me Card using cute critters from several Hello Bluebird stamp sets. The images were colored with Copic markers and then die cut with their coordinating dies. We would love for you to join us this week! For all the challenge details and design team inspiration click HERE. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day.

Challenges entered: 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (Anyting with Critters), Crafting Happiness (Anything Goes) and Creative Knockouts (Something to Say). 

Sending Happy Card

Good day! If you're a fan of Stampin' Up! then you probably know right now is the annual SALE-a-bration promotion. There is always wonderful free products with each $50 purchase. The paper on this Sending Happy Card is from one of the free dsp selections called Paper Blooms. It is designed to coordinate with the Pretty Perennials stamp set which I've used for the flower and sentiment. The yellow flower is certainly happy and it was adhered flat for easy shipping. That's it! A simple card that's easy to make. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.  

Beautiful Day Card

Hope you're having a Beautiful Day! Since Mother's Day will be here in a few weeks, I decided to start making a few card options. I recently purchased the new Cheerful Daisies stamp set by Sunny Studio Stamps and decided to use it to create this Beautiful Day Card. It was a lot of fun stamping all the images once I found the ink colors I wanted to use. The flower colors were inspired by a Gerber Daisy plant I rescued last year. Ink colors include: Guava by Lawn Fawn, Flirty Flamingo by Stampin' Up!, Sunflower by Lawn Fawn, Crushed Curry by Stampin' Up!, Jalapeno by Lawn Fawn and Call Me Clover by Stampin' Up!. The sentiment stamp is from the WPlus 9 Doodle Buds stamp set and the lattice background is from a Sunny Studio die called Frilly Frames Lattice. A little butterfly was added for extra detail and everything was adhered flat for easy shipping.

So glad you stopped by!

Challenges entered:

• Addicted to Stamps: Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks: All Occasions
• Simon Says: Flower Power
• Southern Girls: Anything Goes
• Watercooler Wednesday: All About Occasions

Slow and Steady Card

When I look through my stamp stash it's obvious I'm a sucker for cute critters, butterflies and floral stamp sets. The first time I saw a card made with this Slow and Steady image by Neat and Tangled I immediately went to their website and made my purchase. I definitely need to work on my self control! But... it's cute, right?

This Slow and Steady Card was made with my youngest niece in mind. She is in high school and I'm sure I'll have plenty opportunities where this card would be perfect for her. The image was colored with Copic markers and then die cut with the coordinating die. The small butterfly and flowers are from two different stamp sets by Newton's Nook. They were already colored and in my stash of extras. The background paper is from the Hello Sunshine paper pad by Doodlebug Design (2014) and it was die cut with the Frames and Flags die set by Newton's Nook. So glad you stopped by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Creative Knockouts: Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday: Wings, Tails or Spring Blossoms
• Simon Says Wednesday: Animal Antics
• Watercooler Wednesday: Feminine Anything Goes

Sweet Spring Hello Card

Hello! Later today is the "official" start to Spring and our backyard cottontails have been pretty active. The other morning we saw five cottontail rabbits chasing each other in the backyard. Don't be fooled by these cute critters, they have a violent tendency to protect their territory. We caught two fighting on our back porch a couple of nights ago and when the sun came up I noticed bloody paw prints on the porch. I'm hoping the bunny wasn't too injured. 😢 They are cute but they are feisty!

This Sweet Spring Hello Card was made using two different Newton's Nook stamp sets. The rabbit with flowers is from the Woodland Spring stamp set and the other rabbit is from the Bitty Bunnies stamp set. Copic markers were used to color the images and the coordinating dies were used. To create the layers I used the Frames & Flags die set by Newton's Nook. A fancy piece of purple gingham adds some pattern to the card and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the first day of Spring.

Challenges entered:

• Cardz 4 Galz: March Hares (Rabbits)
• Double D: Gingham
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday: Think Spring or add Green
• Inky Paws: Think Spring
• Simon Says Wednesday: Cute
• Unicorn: Spring

Purple Lasting Lily Card

Well it's time to say goodbye to the month of February but not before I share this Purple Lasting Lily Card. Purple is my favorite color and the color of amethyst the birthstone for February. This week I received my latest Stampin' Up! order and had to play with the Lasting Lily stamp set which is a freebie for Sale-A-Bration. After stamping the lilies in Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather and Wild Wasabi for the stems they were die cut with the coordinating Lily dies. The background paper is Highland Heather gingham from the Gingham Gala dsp and it was matted to a piece of Gorgeous Grape cardstock. The cardstock was also used to anchor the bottom of the focal oval. After arranging the group of lilies a strip of Highland Heather cardstock was placed over the stems to add the perfect spot for the sentiment label. The label shape is from the coordinating Lily Framelits Dies. That's it and thanks for stopping by!

Challenges entered:

• Aud Sentiments: Bingo + Sentiment (Patterned Paper/Stamp/Favorite Color)
• Creative Knockouts: Lots of Layers
• Little Red Wagon: LOVE it! (Color Purple)
• Watercooler Wednesday: All About Occasions
• Word Art Wednesday: Anything Goes

Sloth Hang in There Card

This time of years isn't always cheerful. I know a lot of people who struggle with the holidays, myself included. Right now my brother is going through a difficult time and I didn't get to see him over Christmas. In efforts to lift his spirits I made this Sloth Hang in There Card for him.

The sloth image is by Lawn Fawn from the Hang In There stamp set and it was die cut with the coordinating dies. Copic markers were used to color the image and distress inks in Tumbled Glass and Chipped Sapphire for the oval area. The patterned paper is from the Land of the Sahara paper pad by The Paper Studio. An oval frame accents the focal area and that's it, simple and easy to ship. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Creative Knockouts: Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes
• Simon Says: Wednesday Anything Goes
• The Creative Crafters: Anything Goes

Snowflake Winter Birds Card

Oh my! I stayed up way too late last night trying to get some things accomplished. One item finished was making a card for the current Inky Paws challenge to use Silver and/or Gold. This Snowflake Winter Birds Card features the Winter Birds stamp set by Newton's Nook and the coordinating dies were used along with a Big Shot. Copic markers were used to color the little Chickadee and Red-Breasted Nuthatch. The gold foil patterned paper is from American Crafts (2016) and was matted to a piece of Basic Gray cardstock. The focal oval was created using distress inks and splattered with watered down acrylic paint, once dry it was die cut with a pierced oval by Avery Elle and the sentiment was heat embossed. That's it! So glad you stopped by!

Challenges entered:

• Crafty Gals: Anything Goes
• Double D: Let it Snow
• Inky Paws: Use Silver and/or Gold
• The Cutie Pie: Add a Little Sparkle
• Watercooler Wednesday: Anything Goes

Such a Deer Card

Good day crafty friends! Today I'm sharing this Such a Deer Card that I made using the Deer Friend stamp set by Newton's Nook. The colors used come from the Inky Paws challenge to use magenta, yellow, tangerine and teal. It took me awhile to figure out how I wanted to use the colors. I played around with several other ideas and finally this design evolved. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The little deer are so sweet! 

My edge punches don't get used that much anymore, so I decided to punch some yellow cardstock to mat the focal area to. All images are by Newton's Nook and the background patterned paper is from the Happy Campers paper pad by We R Memory Keepers. That's it! 

Challenges entered:

• Cardz 4 Galz: Dies and/or Punches
• Crafty Friends: Animals/Birds
• Inky Paws: Colors
• QKR Stampeded: Anything Goes

Stay Cool Card

Hello and happy Friday! Last week we had a brief cool down with some rain and now the heat is back. So, if you're like me and counting the days until Fall arrives, there is 29 days until the first day of Fall. Until then... Stay Cool!

Several years back I won a challenge at Pattie's Creations and selected this Dog Days of Summer image for my prize. Isn't she cute? The image was colored with Copic markers and die cut with a square Tim Holtz Alterations framelit. All patterned paper is from the Sweet Summertime paper pad by Echo Park (2014). Some twine was added for detail and the sentiment was created on the computer, printed, punched, matted and added to the card. That's it! Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Challenges entered:

• Creative Knockouts: Twine
• Dragonfly Journeys: Dog Days of Summer
• Pattie's Creations: Anything Goes
• Stinkin' Inkers: Steamed Heat

Heart Spots Card

Hello and happy August 1st! August is definitely not my favorite month, but we are one month closer to Fall and that makes me happy. This past weekend we went to the Tulsa Zoo and currently they have four snow leopards. The mother had three babies last year, two boys and a girl. My hubby and I love watching them. The boys are being kept apart from their mother and sister. Eventually they will go to another zoo as part of the species survival program. It makes me so sad to think about this species vanishing from our Earth. They are so beautiful!

Supplies for this Heart Spots Card include:

• Stamps: Heart Spots by Reverse Confetti and retired Thoughtful Branches by Stampin' Up! (grass).
• Inks & Coloring: Memento black ink and Copic markers, Warm Gray for the Leopards and Neutral Gray for the stone, YG17, YG25, V15, V17, Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends marker. Tumbled Glass distress ink and Wild Wasabi ink pad by Stampin' Up!.
• Other Stuff: Heart Spots Confetti Cuts by Reverse Confetti and Frames & Flags die set by Newton's Nook.

Challenges entered:

• Crafting By Designs: Anything Goes
• Pause Dream Enjoy: Stitched Dies
• Simon Says Stamp: Wild Things
• That's Crafty!: Animal Magic
• Word Art Wednesday: Anything Goes

Snow Leopard from Tulsa Zoo

You're So Tweet Card

Good day crafty friends! There are only a couple of days left to play along with the current Inky Paws color challenge. So, today I made this You're So Tweet Card using the Newton's Nook Toucan Party stamp set and coordinating dies for my entry. It's always challenging for me to use black Copic markers, but I did it.  Neutral grays were used for blending and I tried a white gel pen for highlighting, but the pen was a little dry. Other than that I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The papers are from the Summer Fun paper pad by Echo Park and the large pierced oval is by Avery Elle. That's it!

Challenges entered: Addicted to Stamps (Anything Goes), Craftaholics R Us (Anything Goes), Inky Paws (Color #76) and Simon Says Stamp (Use a Die and/or Punches).

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Three Cups Coffee Card

Hello and happy Thursday! When it comes to coffee... one cup is not enough! I must admit without my morning caffeine fix I'm not much of a conversationalist. My coffee drink of choice is cold brewed coffee but if it's freezing cold outside I'll drink the warm stuff too. This Three Cups Coffee Card features many of my favorite things: a cat, coffee, butterfly, flowers, gingham along with purple and green colors. All stamps on this card are by Newton's Nook. The cat and coffee cups are from the Sending Hugs stamp set, the flowers and leaves are from the Deer Friend stamp set and the little butterfly is from Newton's Birdbath stamp set. Copic markers were used to color the images and the coordinating framelit dies were used along with a Big Shot. The sentiment was created in a Word document and printed. Using a scalloped frame die by Taylored Expressions with black cardstock finishes the card and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Three Cups Coffee Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Coffee Loving Cardmakers: Spring/Summer Blog Hop
• Craftaholics R Us: Gingham
• Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
• Watercooler Wednesday: Anything Goes

Welcome Card

Hello! I have a quick post to share this Welcome Card I made for new neighbors who recently moved into our neighborhood. I'm part of the welcome committee and it's a great way to share my handmade cards. This card features a retiring stamp set by Stampin' Up! called Home Life with the coordinating Welcome Home framelit dies. This was the first time I've used this stamp set and it's a layered stamping set, I definitely need some practice. The images didn't get lined up correctly but it still looks okay. Next time I'll use my Misti. All the ink colors are from the upcoming new In-Colors for 2018-2020 and they are Call Me Clover, Grapefruit Grove and Lovely Lipstick. Peeking out from behind the white panel is some new 2018-2020 In Color Designer Series Paper. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Welcome Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Always Fun: Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations: Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals Corner: Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash: April Showers bring May Flowers

Floral Frame Mom Card

This weekend is Mother's Day and this is the card I made my mom. The Floral Frame stamp and die set is by Taylored Expressions and the flowers were colored with Copic markers. The letters for MOM were cut with my Cricut machine. Picking the colors for this card was the hardest part but I think it turned out pretty. Thanks for stopping by and if you're a mother of a human or a fur baby... I wish you a happy Mother's Day this Sunday.

This Floral Frame Mom Card is entered into the following challenges: Crafting By Designs - Mother's Day, Crafty Creations - Anything Goes, Crafty Gals Corner - Add a Flower, Cute Card Thursday - Flowers and Pause Dream Enjoy - Anything Goes.

Happy 70th Birthday Card

Happy Friday! Today is the start of a new challenge at Simply Create Too and we would love to see Die Cuts on your creations. The design team created a wonderful variety of inspiration and you can see them HERE. We would love for you to play along! You have until April 27, 2018 to link your creation.

This Happy 70th Birthday Card was made for a family friend who is turning 70 this month. The Number of Years stamp set and Large Number Framelits by Stampin' Up! were used to create this card. Colors include: Perfect Plum, Mint Macaroon, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo and Soft Sky. A die cut stitched circle by My Favorite Things was used behind the 70 numbers. To finish it off a little blue butterfly was added with rhinestones for detail. That's it!

Challenges entered:

• 4 Crafty Chicks: Flowers
• Creative Knockouts: Anything Goes
• Craftaholics R Us: Birthday Cards
• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes/Birds
• Simon Says Stamp: Happy Birthday!
• Watercooler Wednesday: Feminine Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Fawned of You Card

Hello crafty friends! This is the first card I've made since I got my glasses with progressive lenses. I was very hesitant about getting them, in fact I waited three years longer than my eye doctor recommended. I have to say the adjustment was much easier than I expected. At least now I can stop manipulating my glasses to see better while I'm crafting.

This Fawned of You Card was made using the colors from the current Inky Paws Challenge to use: Pink, Green, Brown and White. The new Deer Friend stamp set by Newton's Nook was an easy choice for the challenge colors. The deer and floral images were colored with Copic markers and then die cut with the coordinating dies. The pink and green patterned papers are from an older paper pad by American Crafts (Spring 2013) and the woodgrain is an older scrap piece from Stampin' Up!. A stitched oval die with scalloped frame by Avery Elle was used for the focal area. A small butterfly from the Newton's Day Dream was stamped and then Star Dust stickles added for sparkle and that's it.

Challenges entered:

• Inky Paws: Colors
• Dragonfly Dreams: Flowers
• Dream Valley: Use 3 Patterned Papers
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: Add Flowers
• 2 Crafty Critters: Anything Goes w/ Critter 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Autumn Fun Card

Happy Saturday! Hopefully you are having a great day! It's been pretty calm around my house, so I made this Autumn Fun Card using the new Autumn Newton stamp set. This stamp set will see a lot of action for my Fall card creations. I really love the Newton's Nook line of stamps!

To make this Autumn Fun Card I started with the inky panel. A piece of mixed media paper was cut to the desired size and inked with Distress Oxide Inks in: Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick. Then it was spritzed with water using a distress sprayer. A heat gun was used to help speed the drying process along. Next the Autumn Newton images were stamped with Memento black ink and colored with Copic markers. The coordinating dies were used to cut out the images. A brown frame was die cut and adhered to the inky panel. Then to cover some liquid glue issues I added some brown metallic paint to the frame. Both patterned papers are from the Pumpkin Spice paper pad by Simple Stories (2015) and were matted to a piece of Early Espresso cardstock by Stampin' Up!. Everything was adhered flat for easy shipping and that's it!

Challenges entered:

• Cute Card Thursday: Autumn
• Allsorts: Use at least 2 Designer Papers
• Pause Dream Enjoy: Autumn
• Craft for the Craic: Autumnal Colours

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

What's Up? Cat Chat Card

Hello! When the Tim Holtz Cat Chat stamp set came out I wasn't sure how I felt about the "funky" cats, but they finally won me over. I bought the Sizzix set from Michaels and this card is a slightly modified recreation of the example on the back of the package. The reason I decided to "case" the example was the inked embossed background. I wanted to try my hand at recreating it. I used distress inks in the following colors: Scattered Straw, Cracked Pistachio, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean with a little Peeled Paint which I quickly decided was a bad idea. The cats were colored with Copic markers and then die cut with the coordinating framelits. The background cardstock is Pear Pizzazz by Stampin' Up! and I used the stamp off method with Pear Pizzazz ink for the small stamped images. Black cardstock was used to frame the entire embossed panel and some black twine for detail, since the cats are playing with yarn it seemed like the perfect addition. Finally the What's Up? sentiment was stamped and I used scissors to cut the banner ends. That's it for this handmade card! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This What's Up? Cat Chat Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Sunny Day Crafting: A is for Animals
• The Crazy Challenge: Animals
• Craft Rocket: Anything Goes
• Show Us Your Pussies: Furrything Goes