Thank you Kindly

I had a productive 3 day weekend, made lots of cards and watched lots of Netflix, how about you? 

One of the cards I created was for this week's MFT Sketch Challenge, such a fun sketch! I stretched it a little bit, but am really pleased with how it came out:)

First the sketch!

And next, my card using the new Delicate Pretty Poppies. I love this set sooo much and don't think it's going to be leaving my desk anytime soon :)

I stamped the poppies on a piece of Ranger watercolor paper and watercolored the flowers with my Tombow markers. I added a little blue shading around the flowers and then flicked some black paint randomly around the card and added the sentiment. The last details were to add the scalloped border (I think from PPP?) and the twine bow. 

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great week!

Happy National Scrapbook Day!

Hey there! Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!!!!! Pretty sure it should be a national holiday, but at least it falls on a Saturday;)

Today over on the Butterfly Reflections Ink Blog, we have a couple challenges for you! The first one is this GORGEOUS mood board, seriously how scrumptious are these colors??? Summer is coming!!

Here's my card based on the watercolor piece on the top left of the mood board

I started with a piece of Tim Holtz watercolor paper that I trimmed down to 4"x5.25" I smooshed some Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, and Abandoned Coral distress inks on my craft sheet and then watercolored the back ground using a mop brush. I let each color dry before I applied the next color, as I didn't want them to blend, and I love those "crispy" edges you get from watercolors. 

Next, I stamped the large floral image from Altenew's Persian Motif's in black Archival ink. Next, I took the Simply Said Hello die by Avery Elle and die cut the watercolor background. I knew I wanted that die cut into the background so you could see the black card base through the negative. I could have just cut out a black Hello and stuck it on top, but it's so much more interesting this way ;)

I stamped the birthday sentiment from MFT's Totally Happy set and outlined the flowers in Stardust Stickles. Lastly, I wrapped some black and white twine around and tied a cute little bow. Super quick card that really packs a punch, that's what I love about watercolors! 

Hope you can play along with us today, there is also a sketch challenge! Check that one out here!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Spring Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!

Hi there! Happy FRIDAY!!! I'm off work today to take my final exam for my FINAL CLASS!! WOOHOO!! Finally going to finish this BS degree and never take another class in my life, I'm too old for this crap, ha!! Before I take my final, I had to get some crafting done and there is no better way than to participate in this week's Spring Coffee Lover's Blog HOp!!! 

I had so so so much fun on this card! It was purely a "for fun" card, and even though ALL my cards are fun, it's fun to create something where you can mix and match goodies from all different manufacturer's and I'm just amazed at how well everything can go together:)

The patterned papers are from Maggie Holmes Confetti Collection, as is the little polka dot and burlap heart! I started by working all my layers around and finding a layout I wanted. I hadn't orginally planned on it be so many layers, but once I started I couldn't stop, ha! I used some of the DELICOUS new Cracked Pistachio Distress ink and watercolored a bit of a background to peek out from behind the layers, I love the softness it created on a pretty layered card. The coral piece is Persimmon from MFT, the mint color is from SSS. The coffee dies are from MFT, the Hello die from Avery Elle, and the "coffee" word stamp from Verve's set, aptly named "Coffee"! I used a PPP border die for the mint cardstock, and the sequins are also from Verve!

Hope you have some time today to hop around to all the lovely blogs today! Thanks so much for stopping by today:)

Inspiration

Good morning and happy Saturday! A couple days ago, after an unusually stressful day at work, I came home and wanted to get messy inky, so I did some faux water coloring with distress inks to create this background!

I've been loving this technique lately, you can create any color backgrounds you want! The white ink splats in the background is from a fun set by Neat and Tangled called Ink Splash. I embossed them in white ink on my watercolored background. After that, I added this fun graph stamp from a set by MFT. I inked up the graph stamp in white ink and then randomly stamped it around the card.

I didn't have a real plan for this card, it was completely free-style and just went where it took me, so I didn't know what kind of sentiment to use. I decided on this one from MFT's sentiment line, but can't find it on the website. I embossed the one sentiment in two different colors by masking off each section and pouring embossing powder on each line separately. I finished it off by tying some twine around the card front and adding some tiny rhinestones. 

Thanks for stopping by today, hope you have fun plans for the weekend!

Just Because...

Over the weekend, I made a BUNCH of cards. Most for assignments, but a couple of them I made just because. These always end up being my favorite! I pulled out "You Make My Day" by MFT and had this after an hour or so:)

I used the big butterfly from Inspired by Butterflies and the flags are from the Jumbo Fishtail Banners.

Have a fabulous week!!

DS112-Lovely Birthday

Hey there! I'm back today with a sample for a new Deconstructed Sketch!

This is a sketch I designed for Jen while she was busy moving in to her new place! I hope you can play along, this is one of my favorite sketches!

I used some stamps and dies from MFT! The sentiment stamp is from a new birthday set, which I can't find the name of right now, and the flower and leaves are from Tropical Sensations!

Visit Jen's Blog and play along with us this week! Thanks for stopping by:)

Aloha, Sweet Friend!

I got some new MFT goodies in the mail yesterday (SUPER FAST too if I might add...release order shipped on Wed and rec'd Friday before lunch!) and couldn't wait to start playing with everything! I even played in this week's Wednesday Stamp Club sketch!

Among my new haul, I got this new set called Tropical Sensations! Isn't it fabulous? I love the big bold flowers and layering pieces. Of course I got the matching dies because I'm a junkie, ha! I already had the instaframe die which I ADORE! The sentiment on the bottom of the card is from Lisa's new birthday set, Birthday Greetings

And I finished off the inside because I plan on mailing this out soon! I had to get these birthday dies,  they're big, bold, and awesome! I love dies/stamps that can really take center stage. They're such a great size for bday cards!

Once I was finished with this card, and couldn't find my desk for the mess I made, I just stamped a couple of the flowers on a pink card base I had just laying around, and the next thing I know, I have another card :-)

This has to be the FLATTEST card I have *ever* made, lol! You know how I like my layers and "stuff"! BUT, this card didn't need anything else after I'd gotten this far! I did add some little rhinestones to the centers of the smaller pink flowers, and had to get at least SOME sewing in on this one;) Some of the ink didn't transfer all the way when I stamped these flowers, but that's because of my desk, not the stamps. And after I noticed this, I kind of like it, ha! They look distressed, nothing wrong with that in my book:) It also kind of adds dimension and depth. See, I did it on purpose *wink*

The stamps I used on this one are from Tropical Sensations again, and the the "miss you like crazy" is from Bold Statements. I am also crazy about this new die I picked up, Speech Bubble Frame. How fun is that??? You can use the cut out, or you can use the negative like I did here. Super fun die:)

And that's it for me! Hope you have a great weekend, I plan on staying in the stamp room:) Thanks for stopping by today!

Love YOU!!

Hey there! Quickie post from me tonight! After completing my stampy requirements for the week, I had a little extra time before getting ready for dinner, so made this card as well!

This card is for my momma, I'm sending it to her tomorrow! My hubby, and my dad are both gonna be gone for Valentine's Day (the same as what happened last year!) so mom is gonna be my valentine:) The sentiment stamp is from Lovey Dovey Sentiments by MFT. I was going to restamp it but then thought, you know what? I kinda like it grungy like that, haha! My stamping table is in pretty bad shape. I have glue, glitter, all kinds of stuff stuck to it so it's hard to find a super flat spot to stamp, haha! It's all good, I like imperfection;)

Thanks for stopping by today, have a lovely week! 

Retro Sketch #47

Hello! I had lots of spare time today, but only managed to create ONE card, pfft! What a wase! Haha! And this was a QUICK one too, because I used the fabulous sketch from Retro Sketches this week!

Here's my card...

I used papers and butterfly stickers from Teresa Collins and the stamp is from the Triple Scoop set from MFT this month! I added some buttons, a banner from Mix and Match banners, and the Medium scalloped edge border, all from MFT!

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great weekend:)

Deconstructed Sketch No. 85

Howdy! I'm here today with a new sketch from Jen! Oh happy day, I love Thursdays:)

Check out this beauty...

So many fun possibilities!

I used a whole bunch of MFT on this card, and kept it extra scrappy:)

Make sure you head on over the Jen's blog to submit YOUR cards using this sketch! Also, check out what my lovely team mates created--

• Amber Hight
• Arielle Gordon
• Donna Wardle (Donna is on vacation for January)
• Jen Shults
• Kadie Ensley
• Lori Boyd
• Sheri Gilson
• Tracey Pickersgill

Supply List

Stamps: 6th Birthday Celebration stamp set (MFT)

Paper: Black, Blue Raspberry (MFT), Glitz

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Dies: Simply Scallops Medium, Fishtail Banner die, Jumbo Fishtail Banner die (MFT), Heart (Spellbinders)

Accessories: pink rhinestones (Recollections), ribbon (Hobby Lobby), button (PTI), sewing

RCC76-Winter Spirit

 

Hello! We have a brand new Ribbon Carousel challenge for you this month and I hope you can play along with us!

This month, we're being inspired by WINTER! I don't know about you, but as soon as Christmas blew by us, I've had Valentine's day on the brain. Well I don't want to wish the cool temps away too fast so I'm glad to get back into the winter stamping:)

If you play along with us this month, you could win a Ribbon Carousel!

Here's my wintery project:)

The stamp is from MFT's 6th Bday Celebration. The snowflake die and Fishtail Banner die are also from MFT. You can't really tell in the picture, but I added some Martha Stewarts tinsel glitter on the snowflake, it's super sparkly! I added some twine to the buttons and wrapped this gorgeous silver cord around the card and tied a bow!

Well that's it from me today, I hope you can play along with us:) I'm sure you've got all your winter stamps/papers still sitting on your desk, don't you?:) Find all the challenge deets HERE! You'll also find a list of all the design team members who have created samples to share with you to get your mojo flowing:)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Cheers to a New Year!

Well 2013 is finally here! I couldn't think of a more fun way to spend my New Years Day than STAMPING! Hubby was at the driving range, so I headed up to the stamp room to have some fun of my own:)

I've been wanting to create something for this month's Guest Designer contest at MFT so that's what I started with. This month, the challenge is a sketch! Hey, you know me, I do love a good sketch;)

Here's my card, made with some pretty fitting stamps for the New Year;)

I inked up my beloved Martini's on Me a la Mode. I just love her and her giant martini glass:) I thought the sentiment, from Clearly Sentimental about New Beginnings, was just PERFECT for this card! That Oprah is a wise lady:)

Close up of the coloring--

You can also see I stamped a flourish along the edges of the image, just to add some fun! I saw Inge do this and thought it was a great idea:) I got this Flourish from the Finishing Flourishes set. I stamped off a couple times for a shadow effect. 

The papers I used are white, black, Paver Red, and the honeycomb pattern from some MME paper. I forget which line.  I also used some Paver Red ribbon and black buttons!

Well that's it from me for the day, I hope you and yours have a wonderful New Year!

Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger

It's been about a million years since I've entered a card in a Moxie Fab challenge, but I just LOVED the trigger that Cath chose for the week's Tuesday Trigger! These colors really sing to me lately, I think I'm over all things Christmas'y and ready for some spring colors;)

Here's my card using some stamps from MFT and PTI!

I was inspired by MANY things in the inspiration picture. The simple white curtain with the green border, the beautiful retro rug, and of course, the colors!

First step was to search through my stamps for that background stamp. I new I had one with that shape somewhere and finally found it in my PTI stash. See, there is a reason we must buy every background set we find, never know when you'll need it;)

Next up I had to find a way to create that green border in the white curtain. Well I don't have any dies this large, so I just cut a piece of cardstock, and then marked off a 1/2 inch on the inside of the cardstock, and cut out the frame with a craft blade. The rest really just fell into place. This is why I love inspiration challenges, you just have to let your hands take over and see what they can create:) The sentiment is from this month's Triple Scoop reward set by MFT! I just love all the sentiments and the fonts combined in this set. I believe it will be available for purchase next month, but for now, you can only get it when you spend over $60 (not a hard task;) I also used MFT's Fishtail Dienamics for the sentiment focal point.

Well that's it from me for now! I'll be back;)

MFTWSC103-Cup of Tea

I have a quick card to share that I created for this week's (last week's actually since today is the deadline!) MFT sketch! I got my new goodies and couldn't wait to play! 

Here's my card, which I totally and unashamedly love:)

I flipped the sketch 90 degrees and went to town! I used some new Pink Paisley papers and just LOOOVE this color combo. Stamp set is You're my cup of tea Ala Mode, the graph stamp from Journal It-Graph Paper Notes, and the button and Instaframe dies! You can find all of these goodies HERE!

Well, thanks for stopping by! Hope you're having a very Merry Christmas!!!

The Deconstructed Sketch Number 82

I have a quick sample to share for this weeks' Deconstructed Sketch #82! Usually, we post new sketches every week, but this time we're keeping this same sketch for the next TWO weeks! Since the holidays are always so busy, we're giving you TWO weeks to get this sketch done:) And I know you'll want to play because this is a super fun sketch!

I flipped the sketch and made it horizontal!

The sentiment stamp is from Seasonal Sentiments and the polka dot background (kraft panel) is from Darling Dots, both by MFT. The ribbon I got from the Hobby Lobby and the brads are from Basic Grey. 

I'm so happy you stopped by today, now please go visit my team mates and see their beautiful cards!

Amy Sheffer

Arielle Gordon

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Sheri Gilson

Tracey Pickersgill

Joni Wilson, Guest Designer

I Hope your Season Sparkles!

Hello! Long time, huh? My mojo took a little vacation and is not playing nice lately! 

I had some time this morning to get into my stamp room and used Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch for my inspiration, as well as my new MFT goodies!!

The sentiment is from the Ala Modes Sparkling Seasons set and then we have the awesome HUGE snowflake die! I added  lots of Crystal Ice Stickles to the snowflake to make it sparkle, because we can't use this sentiment and not have some SPARKLE!;)

The card base is Wild Cherry from MFT and I even used some new pp I got, Sleigh Ride by Crate Paper!

I hope you had a fantastic weekend are looking forward to a short work week and lots of family fun:) 

July SFYTT sponsored by My Favorite Things!

Hi there! It's the first Saturday of the month and that means we have a new Sketch for you to Try (SFYTT)!! 

This month, we're being sponsored by My Favorite Things, isn't that exciting!!??! 

I love MFT and they just had a huge new release, so I'm going to be shopping this weekend;) Here's my card using the Umbrella Die and Stamp set!

I just LOVE the umbrella die in this set and all the matching sentiments. TONS of possibilities! I also used the Oval Stax 1 & 2 die-namics and the Fishtail Flags die-namics!  The papers are from the Be Amazing collection by MME and the kraft and ivory cardstock is from GinaK! 

Are you ready to play along {and have a chance at being the next Designer of the Month}? Here’s what you will need to know…

Now check out what the rest of my sister's have done with this sketch! Make sure to pop over to Holly Flores' (our July Guest Designer!) blog and give her some love!!

Jen Del Muro

Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Carole Burrage **taking a break**
Jen Tapler
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles
Tracy Schultz

Deconstructed Sketch #53 - Grow Love

Hi there! I have neglected my blog this week and hate that! Luckily, I just finished my class up and now have nothing but time to create, hooray! Haha! I'm a bit late with this week's Deconstructed Sketch, but here it is!

Fabulous, right? So many fun possibilities:) Here's my card...

I still had Trendy Tree Tops from PTI on my desk from my last card, so I went with that one again! I love the little trees! The sentiment and fishtail banner dies are from MFT. 

Well, if I haven't lost all my readers, thanks for stopping by today, lol! Now go see what my teammates came up with using this sketch!

Amy Sheffer

Arielle Gordon

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults 

Jessica Diedrich

Judy Rozema, Guest Designer

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell

Sheri Gilson

MFTWSC65-Weather the Storm

Just a quick card I created for last week's MFT sketch challenge!

I'm all over those layers! This was a fun sketch:)

I used the new "The Rainbow Will Come" a'la mode. The papers are from MME's Honey Pie collection. I also used MFT's Oval Stax 1 and 2 , Open Scallop Oval, and Photo Corner dies. Honestly, this card took FOREVER!! Only because of that umbrella, haha! I had to cut each little pice to make it look right, but I like how it turned out!

Thanks for coming by today:)