Creating our tomorrows

I'm back with a graduation card that has a different feel to it, a departure from my normal style. I don't usually use arrows very much, but this fun piece of patterned paper was the inspiration behind the card.

I should have had the arrows pointing the other way but once the paper was glued down, there was no turning back! This card could be for a guy or a gal, and the focus is on achieving goals and dreaming big for the future. The sentiment is from DRS Designs, We Create Our Tomorrows. I stamped it on a die cut from a Spellbinders frame, and settled this on a piece of wood-look patterned paper. Cloud die cuts (Papertrey Ink), golden stars, a dash of sequins and a strip of gold glitter paper give this card a dreamy vibe (at least, I hope).

Thank you for coming by today!

Star-Spangled Baby

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm sharing a sweet, patriotic baby card that is for sale at Arts Plus Gallery.

I made this with a baby shower in mind, where you don't yet know if the baby will be a boy or a girl.

The patterned papers (stars, gingham) are from the Lily Bee Picket Fence collection. The sentiment is from Unity Twinkle, Twinkle.  Love it, it's so, so sweet! I added a small kraft cardstock star to the corner of this.

On the Cross Stitch Circle die cut (My Favorite Things) I stamped a DRS Designs Star Wreath in pale blue, then topped it with a sentiment die cut (Wonderful Words: Baby / Papertrey Ink) that was cut from shimmery gold cardstock, and a layer of white craft foam beneath for dimension.

I'm so glad you stopped by today. I hope you have a great weekend ahead of you! Nothing planned on my calendar here, and that's my favorite kind of weekend:  let it unfold naturally. :-)

December 25th

Yes, I've got a Christmas card to share today.  :-)

Forgive me:  most of my blog post drafts are Christmas-related. I need time to photo-edit more of the cards I've made over the last 6 months! Seems I'm only sitting at my home computer on the weekend, and then only for a short bit of time before I'm off and running with other things (yawn....some of them are boring things...laundry, cleaning the house, restocking groceries, etc. - but they are necessary!).  

You get it, right?  The "25" on this card?

It's all about December 25th, Christmas Day! 

This little stamped circle was in one of those ah-mazing $1 or $2 scrap bags I get from my Stampin' Up! demonstrator. That was the nugget that inspired the rest of this card.

I layered a gold-embossed Filigree Star (DRS Designs) behind it, added sequins, a mod looking Christmas tree (Hero Arts), and assorted other little touches.

Last weekend, I planted a blueberry bush in our yard. I'm excited for an eventual harvest of delicious berries! I've got to watch out for birds...I think they like 'em too. Never planted berries before, and am hoping it is well worth it. I've been a flower gardener all my life, but I'm beginning to put food in the yard, too. Natural disasters in parts of the world that supply food to us all have me thinking hard about the matter.

Hey, thanks to EACH and every one of you who visit here, read through my posts, or take time to leave a comment. You warm my heart, and I am grateful!

Stamps: Filigree Star - DRS Designs; Merry Christmas Trees - Hero Arts; O Christmas Tree - JustRite Papercrafts; French Script background, "25" - unknown set - Stampin' Up! Accessories & Tools: gold embossing powder - Stampin' UP!; gold sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; scalloped-top tag - Stampin' Up! 

You Light Up My Life

Hi there!

Okay, so with this sentiment, I am totally hearing Debby Boone's voice in my head, with a song by the same title. She earned a Grammy in 1977 as Best New Artist [Wikipedia} as a result of the success of this song.  Do you remember how HUGE this song was??

But...back to the card. I used a gold-embossed Filigree Star from DRS Designs, trimmed it out, and set it upon a "lasso" of twine. A scattering of golden sequins and a perfect-match-of-a-sentiment go well with that shimmery star (Tradefish Design).

I am so glad you came by today! 

Stamps: sentiment - Outta This World - Tradefish Design; Filigree Star - DRS Designs Paper: Sage Shadow, Crumb Cake, Whisper White - Stampin' Up!; pattern - Lucky Charm / Dear Lizzy - American Crafts Ink: Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: bright gold sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; matte gold sequins - MJ Trimming; gold embossing powder - Stampin' Up!

Play Date Cafe 141 - One in a Million

Hi!  This week's Play Date Cafe palette includes FOUR colors:  Mint, Soft Yellow, Coral and Tulip.  At first, I thought, how am I going to do this?  After pulling out a Girls' Paperie Paper Girl kit, I had my answer!

The button, lacy die cut, and rectangle die cut are all from that kit.  The Sage Shadow base and embossed So Saffron piece I had on hand already.

DRS Designs is our sponsor this week, and they graciously allowed us to choose some stamps to showcase.  I chose the Star Wreath, and the sentiment called "One In A Million".  Thanks, DRS!

I used the wreath in two ways:  first as a border, stamped in Sage Shadow on the base, and second by cutting out individual stars.  I colored them and applied Crystal Effects glossy accents.

 One lucky Cup of the Week winner gets to shop at DRS Designs.  It could be YOU!

Thanks for dropping in today.  :-)



Dimensions: 5.25" x 4"
Stamps: Star Wreath, One In A Million - DRS Designs
Paper: Sage Shadow, So Saffron, Naturals cardstock - SU; white - PTI
Ink: Sage Shadow - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: Hug Snug seam binding - Zipper Stop; twine - Creative Impressions
Other: Crystal Effects, So Saffron marker - SU; pearl; button, die cuts - Girls' Paperie

Play Date Cafe 123 - Happy Anniversary

Okay, are you ready for this bold, bright combo this week at the Play Date Cafe?  It's Teal, Electric Green, Tangerine, and Jeans.  And yes, that is a neon shade in the line up!  So glad I had some DeNami buttons on hand in those neon shades.  Whew!

Our sponsor this week is DRS Designs, and our DT was blessed with two stamps of our choice.  I chose the Polka Dot background and the gorgeous script sentiment.

I had a little trouble matching up colors with what I own, but wound up using these on the polka dots:  Not Quite Navy ink, Ocean Chalk Ink, and Poppy Parade marker.

See the orange button?  It's from DeNami.  I added some glue in the middle, and sprinkled with glitter.  (should have stopped there) When it was dry, I added a topping of Crystal Effects.  Unfortunately, it didn't dry clear, so I didn't take TOO close of a shot, 'cause it wasn't what I was going for.  

We'd love to see what you come up with for the Play Date Cafe this week!  Show us those bright creations.  :-)  

Thanks for coming by today; I love when you visit!




Stamps: Polka Dot background, Medium Script Anniversary - DRS Designs
Paper: white - PTI; Not Quite Navy - SU
Ink: Not Quite Navy - SU; Ocean - ColorBox Chalk Ink; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white polka dot ribbon - Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; green ribbon; Majesty Lace - Offray
Other: buttons - DeNami; Big Shot; Fancy Tags die - Spellbinders; Crystal Effects, Poppy Parade marker - SU;
Dimensions:
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Play Date Cafe 110 - Gift Tag

Welcome to a new week at The Play Date Cafe!  These bright colors just said "Christmas" to me.  With  stamps I received from our sponsor, DRS Designs (thank you!)

I created a gift tag:

I stamped the image of "I Scene A Stocking" and colored it with Copics.  I tried to stick closely to the colors in the challenge, but needed to add some neutrals or my floor and mantel would look weird, not to mention the dog.

The ornaments on the tree were dabbed with Ruby Red Liquid Pearls (thanks, Andrea!), and the candle flames and star on the tree have gold Smooch Ink on them.

The cuff of the stocking has a texture you can feel thanks to DecoArt Snow-Tex.  I applied it with a popsicle stick, and while it was still wet, I sprinkled glitter on top.  Love it!

On the back of the tag, I used a DRS Filigree Star and sentiment.

I know it's a super busy time of year with Christmas approaching, but we hope you will play with us this week.  There's a great prize being offered by DRS Designs; go check it out at The Play Date Cafe.

Thanks so much for your visit!

Colleen

Stamps:  I Scene A Stocking, Merry Christmas, Filigree Star - DRS Designs
Paper:  Real Red - SU; white - PTI
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Tempting Turquoise - SU
Other:  Big Shot; oval dies - Spellbinders; ribbon; Copic markers; Snow-Tex - DecoArt; glitter; Ruby Red Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Play Date Cafe 98 -

Our new color story at The Play Date Cafe is TEAL, MUSTARD & NAVY.  Jax keeps coming up with the neatest color combos!  Although these deep, rich colors would not be my Go-To palette, my card came together really easily.

The Cafe's sponsor this week is

They kindly let us pick out stamps to play with, and I LOVE mine:

The Filigree Star paired so nicely with this sentiment, and I gave both a gleam with gold embossing powder.

We have some sad news to share as a team this week.  :-(  Two of our teammates are leaving the Cafe.  Libby and Tracey each have family matters that need attention, so they made the decision to retire from the PDCC.

I will miss Libby and her spunkiness.  She makes me laugh!  Her creations always have a fun look, echoing the wonderful personality of their maker.  :-)  And Tracey has the most beautiful, unique stamping style that amazes me each week.  She usually makes her own patterned paper and is addicted to embossing powder.  ;-)

I hope you will leave some love at their blogs.  And head over to  The Play Date Cafe to see our tribute to these wonderful ladies.  We will miss them very much!

Colleen

Stamps:  Filigree Star, We Create Our Tomorrows... - DRS Designs
Paper:  Night of Navy, Taken with Teal, So Saffron - Stampin' Up!
Ink:  Versamark - Tsukineko; Night of Navy - SU
Other:  velvet ribbon - SU; floral ribbon - Michael's; pearls - Recollections; gold embossing powder - SU; heat tool; dimensionals