Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #10

Good afternoon, blogger friends.  Today's card is for the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #10.  For today's challenge, I used some My Mind's Eye Lost and Found, Market Street DSP.  I used some Pool Party Card stock for my matting and added a sentiment from IBS stamp set All Year Wishes 1.  I added some of Joanna's lovely flowers, a few pearls for bling, and a little bit of ribbon.  I had the most trouble with that bow, but I think all the trouble was worth it because it looks pretty on the card.  This card is being sent to my friend's mom, Betty, who is in the hospital with a broken hip and needs some cheering up.  I hope this makes her day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Taylor Expressions Farewell Sketch Challenge #161

Hello again!  Here is my fourth and final card for the Taylor Expressions Farewell Sketch Challenge.  For this card, I again used SU Bright Blossoms and Summer Smooches paper.  The sentiment is from SU Short and Sweet.  For colors, I used tangerine tango and island indigo.  I punched out some small circles of the DSP for the middle flower and added a little bling to the first and last flowers.  Cute!

I had fun doing this challenge and do wish I hadn't waited until the last one to finally join in.  I keep looking at  everything in the Taylored Expressions store, and I do plan on placing an order one of these days, hopefully in the near future.

Thanks for stopping by!

TEFC #160

Here is sketch 160 for Taylor Expressions: Farewell to the TE Sketch Challenge.  This is card number 3.  I actually did this one last because it took me out of my comfort zone.  I usually don't do square cards because I like cards to be easy to mail, and I don't have any square envelopes.  But, once I started working, it was fun!  I used SU Concord Crush, both card stock and DSP.  The image came from SU Thanks for Caring and the SU set Petite Pairs.  Now I just need to get some square envelopes!

Thanks for stopping by.  Number four is next and last for today!

TEFC #159

  

Hi again!  This is my the second sketch I finished for Taylored Expressions: Farewell to the TE Sketch Challenge.

This card is sketch 159, and I used a rich razzleberry base with whisper white on top.  I added Summer Smooches DSP with matching matting.  My little flowers came from SU Bright Blossom set.  I stamped the flower twice and fussy cut one and popped them up with some dimensionals.    Fun!

Thanks for stopping by!  Now on to card number 3.

TEFC #158

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  I finished four cards, two last night and two this morning, all for the Taylored Expressions: Farewell Challenge.  Taylor is ending her challenge blog this week, and she has four sketch designs.  All cards entered have a chance to win one of 5 prizes.  So, since I've been thinking about submitting a card and now this is my last chance, I'm doing all four.  Wow!

For the first sketch, I used baja breeze card stock and some retired SU DSP.  My stamp set is Little Flowers from Inspired by Stamping.  The sentiment is from Short and Sweet.  

And number one is finished, on to number two.  Thanks for stopping by!

The Friday Mashup: Challenge #60

Hi again, blogger friends!  Just finished and posted one card, and I decided to use the same paper and stamp on The Friday Mashup: Challenge #60.  Their  challenge had 3 parts:

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project for " That special Man in your life ".
2. Or Make a project with the " Sketch ".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Masculine card using the above Sketch ".

I made a project with the sketch, and I made it for my husband, so I'd say I mashed it up today.  We don't have any children together, but he is an awesome father to his children from his first marriage so I think wishing him a happy father's day is a good thing.

I used always artichoke for the base and the matting.  The DSP is retired SU which I had been saving for a long time.  The sentiment comes from SU Something to Celebrate and the forest stamp is from Inkadinkadoo, which my husband picked up for me at a craft store.  I think I like this one just as much as the previous card I posted.  

I am ready for father's day!  Thanks for stopping by.

Freshly Made Sketches #36

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  Here I am again, rushing to get a challenge in under the deadline, but I think I'll make it! Today's challenge comes from Freshly Made Sketches.  I always seem to have an idea in mind, and then somehow time goes by too quickly.  Oh well. . .

I started with some always artichoke card stock and some matching retired SU  DSP.  I stamped Dad with some letter sets.  The forest image came from an Inkadinkadoo stamp my dear husband brought home for me one afternoon.  The sentiment comes from the SU Something to Celebrate set.  And, there you have it, with 25 minutes to spare.

Have a blessed Memorial Day.  My husband is retired from the Army National Guard, and before retirement, spent almost 5 years combined in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Thanks to Jim, and all vets, for your service.  Thanks for stopping by.

Merry Monday #29

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  I love the sketch this week on Merry Monday.  I think it lends itself to mass production, if that is something a person needs to do as Christmas gets closer.  (And I am not going to need to mass produce this year.  Yes!!!)

First of all, I flipped the sketch.  I decided to use a piece of My Mind's Eye, 12 Days of Christmas "Deck the Halls" paper.  The trees are on one side and the blue paper with green dots are on the other.  I added a scalloped border on both edges of the DSP, and I adhered this to an always artichoke base.  For my sentiment, I used the Little Flowers set from Inspired by Stamping.  I was going to add another tree to the side of the sentiment, but I decided the DSP trees were enough.  I usually make 4 cards instead of just one, and one piece of 12 by 12 paper was the perfect amount for 4 cards.

Seven more months until Christmas eve. . .I'm going to be ready this year.  Thanks for stopping by!

Friday Mashup 59 and Card Pattern 166

Hi again!  Two posts in one day:  woo hoo!  For this card, I combined the Friday Mashup 59 and Card Patterns Sketch 166.  The Friday Mashup was to use ribbons and bows and a decorative edge, and I think this card mashed it up for sure.  I used island indigo and tangerine tango card with Summer Smooches DSP. I used Bright Blossoms for the little flowers and Bring on the Cake for the greeting.  Everything I used for this card was Stampin Up today.

Thanks for stopping by!

IBSIC #9 and Mojo Monday 242

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  Today I combined the Mojo Monday 242 with the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #9.    I love Joanna's inspiration photo, and I actually had a different idea in mind until I received the stamps I ordered from her on Monday.  The stamp set is Little Flowers, and I think they work perfectly with the photo and the Mojo Monday sketch.  I found the DSP at Archiver's, Pebbles New Addition, Darling.  I matted it with tempting turquoise on a whisper white card base.  I stamped the flowers in turquoise, melon mambo, and blushing bride with some pear pizzazz for the leaves and stems.  I added some pearls to the middle of the flowers.  Lovely!

By the way, Inspired by Stamping stamps work perfectly with Stampin Up ink and markers.  I'm looking forward to using them on more cards in the future.

Thanks for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches #35 and The Paper Players 96

Good afternoon/evening, blogger friends!  My husband had to work this Sunday afternoon so I've spent a wonderful afternoon card making.  My daughter decided on the birth announcement I'm making for her new baby so I cut paper, stamped, and punched this afternoon.  We are doing 100 announcements!  No, I didn't actually put one together, but I almost have all the paper cut and I'm at the half way mark with the stamping. Punches save a lot of time!

Anyway, I needed a break from the mass producing and decided to do a blog challenge. I went back to my Summer Smooches paper for the Freshly Made Sketch #35 this week.  I loved the sketch by Jennifer Timko and can see myself going back to this sketch for more cards.  I added some rich razzleberry ribbon when I remembered it had some dots that would go with the paper.  Sweet!  I also dug out my Build a Blossom set and punch to make the flower.  

I just realized this would probably qualify for The Paper Players challenge #96 because there are definitely polka dots going on plus I think this card is clean and simple.  One card, two challenges:  love it!

One more picture:  my oldest son graduated from the University of New Hampshire on Saturday with his doctorate in history.  His smile says it all!  (Wish I could have been there!)  The picture was taken by one of his friends near the stage. 

One Layer Wednesday #88

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  Once again, I'm time challenged today, but I wanted to make a card so I went to the One Layer Wednesday #88 challenge which is to make a one layer mini masterpiece card.  The mini masterpiece is to fit in a 2 by 2 inch area.   I've had the SU set Dreams du Jour for a long time, and I've never inked up the Love you stamp.  I thought this stamp would work perfectly for this challenge, and I think it does.  For my card, I used whisper white.  I stamped the image and then made a 2 by 2 inch mask with a post it note.  I used a sponge and sponged some crumb cake ink all over the white. I then stamped my image and colored it in with pear pizzazz, concord crush, and peach parfait. The card gives the illusion of layers, so hope that is okay.

I actually love to make layers, so this is another card that is outside my comfort zone, but it was fun to make.  I think I need to do this more often.

My husband and I are off to work at the fish fry at church in a little while.  More volunteer work for me!  The book sale yesterday was fun: worked 7 hours for $70 in book vouchers.  I don't have a classroom anymore, but I do have grandchildren!

Thanks for stopping by!

Dynamic Duos #2

Hello, blogger friends!  I'm ready to go to work at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale here in Fort Wayne so this will be short.  I was eating something and noticed that the deadline for the Dynamic Duo #2 sketch was Thursday at noon.  Yipes!  So here is my card.  I'll come back and link it to the Mojo Monday 241 sketch I also used.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment.  I'll come back later and add the details.  Thanks for stopping by!

IBSIC #8

Good evening, blogger friends!  I finally finished my card today for the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge # 8 with only a few hours to spare.  I started it last night and wasn't happy with it, so I decided I just wouldn't submit anything.  The unfinished card sat on my desk all day.  When I went back about an hour ago, I thought maybe it was worth saving.  I retied the bow, made the little flowers, added a few pearls, and it now looks a lot better.  I used My Mind's Eye paper throughout the whole card, except for the Pool Party card stock base.  The bird and flowers were already on the DSP.  I thought this could be a graduation card for a girl or maybe even a wedding or engagement card.  

Thanks for stopping by.  It's good to step out of my comfort zone once in awhile.  (Only once in a while!)

Oh: stamping garage sale update:  I made $82 dollars, so that is $82 store credit.  I got some new stamp sets today:  yes!

Merry Monday #20

Hello, blogger friends!  It's Monday again so that means making some more Christmas cards for the Merry Monday #20 blog challenge.  I saw the sketch on LeAnne's blog and immediately thought of this stamp, the only long Christmas stamp I own.  When I went to the Merry Monday blog, I saw that one of the members of the design team, Wendy, used the same stamp.  I hope I am still okay to use this stamp. I went for a totally different look, something else I had in mind before I looked at the samples.  

I decided to go for a black and white card this week.  I used the snow man from Let it Snow, and I embossed him in white on some black card stock.  I then layered whisper white and basic black and embossed a layer of white.  My sentiment came from Petite Pairs.  It was an easy card to make, and I do think it would be easy to mass produce.  Sometimes it's nice to do an easy card. . .and I really like when I look at a sketch and immediately know what I want to do.  Yes!

I'm ending today with a picture of me with my two granddaughters.  Their family is headed to New Hampshire for their dad's graduation from the University of New Hampshire where he will receive his doctorate in history.  Way to go, Ian!  Even better news:  he has been offered a job, a tenured track position at Virginia State University.  Woo-hoo!  Ian and family stopped in Fort Wayne for a couple hours, and we all had lunch together.  Fun times!

Thanks for stopping by!  (I get to see my grandson and soon to be born grandson number 2 next month!)

Freshly Made Sketches #34

Hi, blogger friends!  Happy day before Mother's Day!

I had some time this afternoon and needed to make a birthday card for my sister in Colorado, so I decided to try using the Freshly Made Sketch #34 today.  I received my Bright Blossoms stamp set and paper a couple weeks ago, but I hadn't used it yet, so this sketch seemed like a good place to try it.  I used Whisper White for my card base and added island indigo and real red for my matting colors.  I stamped the vase and flowers and cut out an extra tulip to pop up.  I think the sentiment is from Pocket Silhouettes. I also did a little embossing with my Simply Scored tool, which I always forget to use.

Hope Janet likes the card!  Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Monday Challenge #19

Hello, blogger friends!  I finished my cards for the Merry Monday Challenge #19 this afternoon.  I think my card this week is a little different from my usual style, but different can be good, too.  I started with a base of textured basic gray card stock.  My layers were from some DSP I picked up called Winter Blues Snowstorm made by TPC Studio.  I layered the vertical piece on some silver cardstock.  The sentiment came from an old SU set called Let it Snow which I found at the garage sale which is going on at Stamping Day and Night here in Fort Wayne.  I embossed the sentiment in silver to add a little more sparkle to the card.  It's fun making Christmas cards with the sun shining and green leaves outside my window.  It's also great knowing my cards will be ready when it is time to send them!

Thanks for stopping by!

FM 57 and PLG 30

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project for "Mom, Grandmother, Aunt etc...".
2. Or Make a project with a " Pop-Up Element ".*
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Pop-Up Project for Mom".
4.  Or join in Both challenges and create a "Pop-Up Project for Mom using the inspiration photo above."

*There are many different variations of Pop-Ups... Make sure something pops up when you open your project.

Hi, blogger friends!  I've been working all afternoon on this card, and I'm finally done!  I think I actually have all the elements for the Friday Mashup 57.  I made a tri fold shutter card.  I think the whole card is pretty much a pop up card, but I did pop a butterfly up over the sentiment.  I hope that counts!  I used lots of pinks to go with the lovely inspiration photo, basically pirouette pink and melon mambo.  My flower came from Because I Care.  I stamped it twice, fussy cut one of the flowers, and popped it up with dimensionals.  The sentiments come from Petite Pairs and Something to Celebrate.  My DSP is from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found collection, Madison Avenue "Sisters" Lace Paper.  I love all the sparkle in the DSP.  

I think that's it!  I had fun making it, and it's not even the last minute.  Woo hoo! 

 Now, who to send it to?  My mom passed away years ago, and my hubby mailed one of the other ones I made to his mom.  Any ideas?  Thanks for stopping by!

IBSIC #7 and Card Patterns Sketch 164

Hello again on this quiet Saturday night.  This is the second card I made this evening.  This one is for the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #7 and Card Patterns Sketch 164.  I used the Card Pattern Sketch with inspiration from the beautiful IBSIC picture.  With the IBSIC challenge, we were also to use pink, kraft, and lilac.  I used a Northwood's stamp for my image which I colored in with ink pads and a blender pen.  The DSP is another gorgeous paper from My Mind's Eye.  I love the pink and purple together, and the sketch was easy to work with.  Fun!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Dynamic Duos #1 and A La Card Monkey 107: Anything Goes + Sketch

Hello, blogger friends!  This evening I decided to combine two challenges into one card, and both challenges were ones I've never done before.  The Dynamic Duos is a new challenge to be done with two colors:  pool party and lucky limeade.  The other challenge is from A La Card Monkey: It's Anything Goes + Sketch, Monkey 107.  I'm still working on sample birth announcements and now thank you cards for my newest grandchild who will be born next month.  The theme is whales, and we want something that will be easy to mass produce.  I added ribbon, but left out the bow so it wouldn't be too girly, since the baby is a boy.  I used the little whale image in Fox and Friends.  I did some embossing with a cuttlebug folder and used my punches.  I think it turned out pretty cute!  

Thanks for stopping by!