Hello Sunshine Card

Good morning, Stampin' Friends! I got a little busy this week and was worried that I hadn't chosen a winner for last week's drawing yet...and then I realized that I set the Rafflecopter incorrectly, so the drawing doesn't end until the 19th. so if you haven't entered yet, check out the drawing entry form HERE. 

Today I'm sharing a new February Stamp of the Month card. I took a card front of Glacier Cardstock and die cut an outline heart thin cuts die. I cut the same heart twice more in Canary Cardstock, once on each side of the double sided cardstock so I could flip the inside and have the outline be more present when I filled in the card front die cut space. I filled the Glacier CS base with a heart outline and the inner heart, then trimmed off the excess heart diecut from the left side of the card. Then I flipped over a small floral cluster stamp to use the BACK side as a cloud shape, stamping that all over the Glacier Cardstock in White Daisy ink. 

I stamped the HELLO sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink across the die cut hearts before adding a banner made with my surgically altered circle sentiment image. The banner is popped up with thin foam tape and knotted twice with thick Gray Twine that I frayed after trimming.  I cut a 1/8" strip of Canary Cardstock and snipped off bits to make the sunshine rays surrounding my die cut heart.

I'm linking this card up to the CAS on Friday Dies Challenge, the Paper Issues Love is in the Air Challenge, and the Heart 2 Heart Love is in the Air Challenge. Don't forget, you still have a couple of days to enter my Atlantic Hearts 250th Sketch Celebration giveaway, too. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Wishes Live Beautifully Card

Many of you know that this month is National Scrapbooking month. CTMH always offers an amazing special kit just for NSM, and this year it is the lovely and elegant Live Beautifully collection. The papers are gorgeous, with gold foil accents, but the stamp set might just be my favorite part.

Here I've layered two stamped roses from that set over a couple of the papers in the collection. That tiny polka dot in the background is foiled, as is the striped piece running behind the roses. I added some hand stitching detail around the center block, and I'm linking up to the Just Add Ink Stitching Challenge.

I stamped the Roses in a light colored ink (Sea Glass) and went over them with watercolor pencils for depth. I did blend the colors a bit using my smallest waterbrush. I used the same watercolor pencil technique on the leaves. After I fussy cut the images I popped one of the roses up on thin foam tape. I'm also linking up to the Heart 2 Heart Everything's Coming Up Roses Challenge. 

Don't forget to pop over and check out the National Scrapbooking Month Live Beautifully collection - it's only available while supplies last!

Day 334: Congrats Always Card

Here's my last (for now) Springtime Wishes card. I wanted to do at least one card where I did not use the coordinating Thin Cuts dies with the stamp set.

So I popped over to Freshly Made Sketches to grab a sweet and simple sketch inspiration. Then I literally used just a Colonial White card base, some black ink, and a couple post-its to create this card. I stamped the flowers and masked each image with post-its to create the layered look without having to cut out each flower image. Then I drew in the border with a super skinny  .02 journaling pen.

I did stamp the main sentiment onto a Charlotte zip strips for a hint of pale peach color in my otherwise one color card. Then I adhered a few gold puffy stickers and bitty sparkles for some extra sparkle on these good wishes. I'm linking this card up to the Heart 2 Heart One Challenge for one stamp set and one color of ink. Thanks for stopping by, Stampin' Friends!

Day 295: What Fun Holiday Gift Card Holder

Today I spent most of the day with Gabe at his first ever First Lego League Lego Robotic competition. It was a ton of fun to see him being such a grown up and responsible team member, but driving across town twice, hanging out for hours to watch the robots compete, and a celebratory pizza dinner did not leave a lot of crafting time...

I did, however need a gift card holder for Gabe's team coach since their last practice of the year is tomorrow. When I saw the new Retro Sketches challenge, I thought for sure I could turn that into a simple gift card holder! I started with a piece of Ruby cardstock cut to 4 1/4" x 12 inches. I scored it at 3" and again at 8 1/2". After folding it on the score lines I adhered the sides of the 3 1/5" flap to make my gift card holder.  

I covered the flaps with White Pines paper. Then I added a 1 1/2" belly band to the card, which I made 1/8" larger than the card so it would easily slip over those sparkly sequins. I embellished the band with lots of White Pines snowflake stickers and an American Crafts wood veneer snowflake. The sentiment came from Reindeer Bells, and it was perfect for what I needed...

since I used Jennifer's Hand to stamp the custom ending inside the card. I wanted it to reflect how much fun Gabe's been having in First Lego League (FLL) with his coach. I left a little space there for him to fill in his own note tomorrow before I seal it up with the gift card we got her and he takes it to school. I'm linking this card up to the Just Us Girls sequin challenge and the Paper Issues Owl I Want For Christmas holiday projects challenge.

Day 294: Be Merry Snowman Card

So after I finished last night's card I thought it would be fun to make another of these non stamping cards using my Simple Stories 6x6 pad... 

So I grabbed a few scraps and some of the small square/rectangular "cards" plus a bunch of washi tape and in a few minutes I had this guy. I trimmed the sentiment out of an ornament card and added him to a Fundamental Basics word bubble sticker.  

After I layered on the washi "stripes" I popped on a few sequins, then filled them with glitter gel. I squished the gel with my fingertip to scatter the glitter. I added a few last dots of shimmer gel pen around my sequins, and to highlight details on the snowman and ornaments. I'm linking this card up to the Just Us Girls sequins trend week challenge.

Day 217: Thanks a Bunch Card

I have a few pretty La Vie En Rose Projects to share with you this month, too. I made these for a board swap hosted by Karen Morris. 

For this first card I chose to do a watercolor technique. I stamped the flowers from Floral Banners in Whisper Ink. Then I colored over the inked images with the new watercolor paints.

I added a stamped panel with the sentiment framed in the zip strips from the La Vie En Rose papers. I added a banner sticker from the La Vie en Rose complements. Then I cut and shaped a couple of watercolored flower images before attaching them onto the sentiment panel. I added a few glitter hearts from the Fundamentals Assortment Black. I dotted all the flower centers with a gold metallic marker. I'm linking this up to the Heart 2 Heart Coloring Challenge.

Day 172: For You Card

Today I'm sharing another card from my SOTM Zoe kit. I am really loving this stamp set and the new Zoe papers this month.

 I stamped the For You sentiment over the bottom strip of Sorbet cardstock. I love the little swirls around the words! I scallop punched the top of the cardstock, then ran a strip of Coral Shimmer trim across the top.

I stamped the frame image onto white cardstock in Memento Tuxedo black, then added the same FOR YOU sentiment in Sorbet ink. A few white epoxy stars finished off this simple but sweet design. I'm linking this card up to the CAS-ual Fridays Pretty Patterns challenge.

Day 163: Zoe Thanks Card

One thing I love about the Zoe paper packet is how pretty but versatile all the coordinating patterns can be.

When I made this card, I used the tiny green dot as a background. I stitched all around the edges by hand with the stitching ruler. I added a bunch of banners using the different B&T patterns, which were all adorable and not scaled so large that small pieces wouldn't work. Then I hand-stitched across the top of the banners too. 

I added a couple of the new butterfly shapes from the newly released Artistry cartridge, and stitched over the bodies. I inked the sentiment banner on the edges with black before stamping my sentiment from the August SOTM in Glacier and filling the sentiment with glitter gel pen. 

I'm linking this card up to the Addicted to CAS Banners challenge. There's still ten days to play along - you can never have too many banners!

Day 151: Let It Snow card

I had stamped a circle with this sentiment a few days ago...but it didn't fit my card, so into the scrap bin it went. The sentiment is from the Be Jolly set, part of the $5 Hostess Reward stamp set special going on for just a few more days this month. 

I saw the new "Off the Edge" challenge over at ABC Christmas Challenges, and I thought of that sentiment. Luckily I had a doily just the right size for my sentiment. I added a little Doodled Designs circle in second generation Thistle ink around the sentiment. I literally have had this stamp set sitting on my desk for months now. Why bother putting it away when I'm just gonna need it tomorrow? The blue dot paper is from Wanderful.

I colored in the hearts with a Peony Purple Shin Han marker and added touches of glitter gel pen to the leaves of the wreath. Then I stamped the tiny simple snowflake from Best Christmas around the card in blue ink overlaid with more glitter gel pen and topped with medium sparkles.

Come back tomorrow for the Scrapping Our Stash Hop and lots of scrapbooking eye candy!

Day 108: You're Cool Card

I have a quick Just SOTM card to share today. I wanted to make something summery for this week's Just Us Girls Challenge.

I colored these sweet Popsicles at my mommy playdate yesterday. I used the colors from this week's Color Dare. Each Popsicle was colored with one color of Shin Han Marker plus the colorless blender. I added shimmery details with a stardust gelly roll pen.

I stamped the sentiment with the Hopscotch Alphabet. I filled in each letter with more shimmer pen. Simple and sweet!

Day 95: Happy Everything Card

I love the new Freshly Made Sketches Challenge - there's just so many possiblities! I was having a little trouble deciding what direction to go...

so I hopped over to CAS on Sunday where they are having a Tic Tac Toe challenge. I chose the center row: Butterfly, Male/Female, and Stitching. I stamped the sentiment from Happy Everything in black ink. Then I stitched around the sentiment twice using two strands of white thread. 

I added a strip of black chevron washi tape and mounted three butterflies onto the tape base. I chose Red and blue, because Paper Issues is doing a Red, White, and Blue party right now, and I thought it was good for the male/female part of the tic tac toe challenge. I added just a hint of Wink of Stella on the edges of the butterflies and a few blue epoxy bubbles to the bodies.  

Happy Everything, Stampin' Friends!

Day 89: Thinking of You Smile Card

I've been percolating an idea for the Mojo Monday sketch for a few days now, but I didn't have time to make it until tonight. It came out just like I pictured it in my mind!

I used the Blossom papers and the Have a Happy Day stamps, still a favorite after stamping with them almost a year now. I sanded the edges of all the patterned papers, and used post-its to mask off that little white edge when I was stamping the SMILE sentiment across the top repeatedly. I'm linking this up to the Heart 2 Hearts Extra! Extra! Challenge. 

 For my solid circle image I inked it in Sunset ink, then stamped it off and rolled the edges back into the ink for a textured look. I added a little banner with my sentiment and some skinny yellow washi topped with Bitty Sparkles. I'm going to link this to the Paper Issues Let's Get This Party Started Linky for my mad stampin' skills.  'Cause that 1/16" post-it masking was crazy fun! 

Day 88: Oh Snap Graduation Card

I'm getting ready to ship off a graduation gift for my niece. The fact that I'm doing this before her graduation alone is a small miracle. I'm notoriously bad at going to the Post Office for anything. Tonight I whipped up a quick but snappy graduation card to include in the package. (I love puns. I'm sorry...but not. Mostly I'm chortling all by myself in the basement stamp room. Ahem.)

I didn't have a lot of stamping time today, so I used the new Freshly Made Sketches #187 as a shortcut to a cute card fast. This week's Friday Mashup Challenge was to make a card for a celebration using orange, navy, and teal. Check and check!

I thought that this Artbooking Cricut cut was perfect for my niece, since she's a bit sassy herself. I colored each piece with Shin Han markers for an ombre fade. I painted the back with some Clear Wink of Stella, then I mounted the top layer with foam tape. I used this tutorial and a fork to create the mini tassel for the "hat". I added the metallic stripes in the background using nail striping tape, which is fast becoming one of my favorite things! I'm linking this grad card up to the Paper Issues Let's Get This Party Started linky.

Now the package is ready to hit the Post Office... 

tomorrow...right...tomorrow. Or soon anyways, I'm sure, right, sis? 

Day 78: Happy Birthday Balloon Card

Happy Mother's Day, Stampin' Friends! Today I'm sharing a quick and simple birthday card I made for the #jrlcreativechallenge using one of my favorite stamp sets, which benefits Operation Smile.

I stamped three balloons on the White Daisy panel, using a post-it to mask and layer one. I added the sentiment in black in the lower right corner. Then I stamped it again in Sunset ink on scrap cs and trimmed out the Happy letters.

 I colored the balloons with alcohol markers. I added a strip of Breeze cardstock and a self adhesive cardboard border sticker. Then I gave the balloons and HAPPY letters a layer of clear glitter gel. Sweet, simple, and festive! I'm linking this card to the CAS-ual Friday color challenge and the  Seize the Birthday card challenge.

Day 71: Hello Blossom Card

Wow! Time got away from me today. After being away from home for most of two days my littles were craving some mom time. We went to the park and to grab a (gluten free) cone at a fabulous local shop called the Scoop, so I didn't get to my stamp room until later tonight. It was fun, though, and I'll take all the extra hugs I can get!

When I did get to my table, I knew what I wanted to do. I used the new sketch from Retro Sketches to whip up this cute card. I love this sketch for B&T papers with big pretty patterns that you don't want to cover up, like this print from the Blossom paper pack.

I especially love the diagonal rainbow stripe on the zip strip! I attached this with a white concho. Remember those? Then I tied on some baker's twine in a bow, and topped it off with some epoxy bubbles.  I'm linking this up to the Just Us Girls Twine Challenge too. 

I got excited and made another card using this paper that I'll share tomorrow. Good night!

 

Day 63: You Gotta Have Friends Layout

Last night I attended the Paper Issues Scrap and Chat online FB party and it was SO. MUCH. FUN!! We chatted on facebook, played some fun games, and there was an awesome scrapbooking challenge that I couldn't resist, even though lately I'm up to my ears in Heirloom Pro show prep!

I made this layout, using a fabulous sketch provided by  Orange Gearle. I applied texture paste using a Cricut honeycomb diecut as a template. I sprayed the texture paste with glitter and then I attempted to use my space heater to dry it faster....and it curled up like nobody's business. So then I stitched it to some Orange cardstock again and again and again. Lots of trimming and taping later, it was flat and ready to scrap!

I used up some of my new Amy Tangerine goodies that I won from the fabulous Melissa Elsner, who you should totally follow because she's keen! As a matter of fact, I'm planning to share the bounty - I used up some of the Amy Tangerine goodies, and I'm going to add a little something something and mail the rest (plus my goodness) to one of you! Follow me on instagram if you want to play along - I'll post that as soon as I get done with yet another birthday celebration today!

I wanted to grab a close up of this adorable piece of flair. You know who I'm talkin' 'bout, right Stamping Friends? 

Enter to get the first #CraftandShare box here!