LOVE. . . .

is the theme for the current Simon Says Stamp Flickr challenge:

Here is my card:

I used Simon's large heart doily die, a sentiment from Hero Arts and some patterned papers that were sent to me in a giveaway package.  The sequins added a bit of sparkle. 

Also sending this to Simon's Wednesday anything goes challenge.

Once again, I've been neglecting my cardmaking and blog.  Hope to make a few cards to enter in some more challenges in the next few days.  Looks like snow again tomorrow, so I won't be going anywhere.  :*)

Hope you have a good weekend.

mojo monday. . . .

sketch # 381 challenge:

My card:

This stamp is from There She Goes and was in a prize package I won from Vera Yates in her Seasons Givings giveaway.  I am not one to do "cute" very often, but I really enjoyed coloring these little girls, using my Prismacolor pencils. The green background panel was created with distress inks using a brayer.  It looks cool in real life.  The MFT stitched circle STAX die and the PTI scalloped border die completed the sketch.  (I know, I am VERY literal when it comes to sketches.)  The patterned paper was from another giveaway and the tiny gems are from Recollections.  

Also sending this to Word Art Wednesday for their anything goes challenge, and the Die Cut Divas as their challenge is also anything goes.

Have a great day!

the MFT Wednesday sketch challenge. . . .

is now on their new challenge blog Card Challenges.  Here is the current sketch:

My card:

This is one of two Pure Innocence sets I own.  I am hoping to acquire a few more.  I am also slowly building my stash of MFT dies.  I adore their stitched shapes.  This card uses the stitched rectangle STAX dies and the Blueprints #1 set.  The scalloped oval is from Spellbinders.  I watercolored the image and, let's just say, I am not an expert at using watercolors.  It does look better IRL.  :)  The buttons are from my stash and I added wink of Stella to the heart and her shoes.

The MFT Wednesday sketch challenge does not require you to use MFT products, so send a card over - there is a random  draw for a MFT prize.

Also sending this over to Die Cut Divas for their anything goes challenge.

Hope you have a great weekend.

last minute entry. . . .

for the current sketch challenge at Stamplorations:

Here is my card:

The trendy butterfly set from Stamplorations is so pretty.  I stamped one of the butterflies twice on an old book page (published in 1925) and fussy cut them out.  I masked a strip across the bottom of the panel and colored it with tea dye distress ink.  Then I stamped the sentiment and another of the butterflies from the set.  The splatters were created by removing the wand from a Dylusions black marble spray ink and flicking the ink onto the card.  I layered the panel to a piece of patterned paper that was sent to me in a giveaway (don't know the brand.)

Can't hurt to enter this into the "anything goes" challenge also!

Have a great weekend.

Stamps and Inks. . . .

are the requirements for the January challenge at Stamplorations.

Here is my card:

The stamps are all from Stamplorations.  The background was created with distress inks, some stamping and some doodling.  The card base was also stamped with a Stamplorations stamp.  I added some Wink of Stella to the butterflies, but it does not show in the photo.  :(

Stamplorations also has an ongoing "anything goes" challenge if you use Stamplorations stamps.  So, I am entering this card there, too. 

Hope you are staying warm!

one layer . . . .

Christmas card challenge:

Here is my card:

Love this sweet Penny Black snowman and decided he could be dressed up in red, which is the "twist" to the current challenge.  I added lots of Stickles to give some sparkle.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts. 

Also sending this to:

Christmas Card Challenge All Year 'Round: anything goes

Virginia's View Clean Slate:  clean slate/lots of white

Have a great day!

Christmas cards. . . .

are not what I usually think of making in January.  But, I have seen a couple of challenges this year that inspired me to make this card:

The Bo Bunny papers are from the Simon Says Stamp January kit and the snowflake is from Impression Obsession.  It was cut from some white glitter paper from DCWV.  And, the little sparkling gems are from Teresa Collins. 

Entering this card in the Sketch Saturday challenge #343

and the Merry Monday Christmas challenge #140 which is to use snowflakes.

Thanks for visiting!

a valentine. . . .

my first one for 2015:

I wanted to play in the Less is More color challenge, which is to use black, metallic  + one.  Since my new Big Shot had not arrived as yet, I did have some precut hearts in my little bin of die cuts.  I love the red and silver together!  And, I am crazy about Winnie & Walter's sentiments, aren't you?

Also sending this over to Virginia's View for her "clean slate" challenge.

My new Big Shot did arrive yesterday and I am thrilled to have it!  But, I won't have much time for the next few days, so playing with it will have to wait.

Our weather is very cold and snowy right now - hope you are warm and cozy wherever you may be!

birthday balloons. . . .

for my son's birthday:

It is very overcast here today and this photo is so gray!  I am sorry for the poor quality!  It is really a bright white card.  The SSS stamp set is one of my Christmas presents.  I actually got the entire birthday package - stamp sets and dies to match.  Since my new Big Shot has not arrived as yet, I am forced to (gasp) actually make cards using only stamps! 

I stamped the balloons with Brilliance inks and added the strings/bows with a fine tip pen.  The silver stars are stickers from my stash.  I love the tiny black stars in the stamp set.  Strips of DCWV silver glitter paper give a bit of sparkle to the card.

Entering these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Flickr challenge:  new. (occasions, supplies, techniques)
Simon Say Stamp:  anything goes.
Seize the Birthday:  anything goes - PARTY as topping.
Happy Little Stampers:  sketch challenge.

Darnell's NBUS:  anything goes - use your schtuff!

Thanks for stopping by!

stamps and ink. . . .

 
is the challenge at Stamplorations this month.  Can't get much simpler, can it?

The distressed floral swirls and the thank you word stamp set from Stamplorations are both new to me and were used for this card.  I black heat embossed the sentiment on Neenah desert storm cardstock, and the flourish was stamped with Brilliance rocket red ink.  The black dots are from my stash.

Also sending this to:

Simon Says Stamp:  anything goes.
Darnell's NBUS:  never before used schtuff!

Word Art Wednesday:  anything goes.
Stamplorations:   anything goes.  (ongoing challenge to use their stamps.


Have a good weekend!

this week's sketch. . . .

at MFT was the perfect sketch challenge for me.  Why??  My Big Shot died.  Well, let's just say I killed it.  It is a long story, but somehow I did manage to put it out of commission.  A replacement is on its way, but meanwhile I could not use it to make any cards. 

This sketch was easy enough to manually cut the angled shape of the sketch. The SSS sentiment was heat embossed on a Jillibean Soup doily to create a circle shape.  The papers and stamped snowflakes are from the SSS January card kit.  I stamped a few of the tiny snowflakes on the patterned paper using the white ink pad included in the kit.  And, the purple snowflakes were stamped using Brilliance Victorian Violet ink.  This is my first attempt to use Karen Dunbrook's technique of using a rubber mallet to selectively or randomly dry emboss a design into cardstock.  (upper left corner)  What fun!  And, my rubber mallet only cost $1.49. 

Also sending this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp:  anything goes!

Word Art Wednesday:  anything goes!

Here's to a brand new year - wishing each one of you the best of everything throughout 2015!