Just Chicken Up On You

This card is for Day 3 of Paper Craft Planet's Twelve Days Of Christmas contest, which requires one to use a hen, or a rooster, or an owl. Well, since I used an owl *last* night, I had to use the only chicken stamp I have. MFT Punny Farm to the rescue! This baby is BRIGHT!

My base card is Yoyo Yellow with a layer of Basic Black then Whisper White. Then I added a layer of DP from Basic Grey's Offbeat collection. My focal image is stamped with StazOn Jet Black on Whisper White and colored with my Stampin' markers in Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, and Ruby Red, with a little shadow of Baja Breeze. It's layered on Baja Breeze and then Basic Black. I sewed two yellow buttons on the black and white checked ribbon with DMC embroidery floss (Black #310) and tied it around the card. For the Sentiment, I used only half at a time and curved it to fit the oval. I like how it turned out! Thanks for stopping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Punny Farm (MFT)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Yoyo Yellow, Offbeat DP (Basic Grey)
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, Ruby Red, and Baja Breeze
Accessories: black and white ribbon, buttons (craft store), Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, DMC floss #310

Winter Owl

This card is for Paper Craft Planet's second day of their 12 Days of Christmas contest and the third sketch challenge. Hey! You can't blame a girl for trying to win more stamps, can you, LOL??? I'm still excited about winning those Kitchen Sink stamps for day one!

Anyway, my base card is Whisper White, then a layer of Almost Artichoke, then a layer of Baja Breeze. I sponged the two top layers with Almost Artichoke before adhering to the card base. The focal image is stamped on Whisper White with Baja Breeze and a stamp from Inkadinkado's Winter Birds set. I highlighted the snowflakes and swirls with my gold Sakura glitter pen and cut/embossed it with a small oval nestabilities die. Then it was layered on Baja Breeze cut/embossed with a small scalloped oval die. The DP layer under the focal image is Basic Grey's Dasher collection and is called Snowbank and is sponged with Almost Artichoke, too. Snowflake brads are from K & Company. The sentiment is stamped on Whisper White with Baja Breeze with a sentiment from Verve's Ornamental Christmas set. It was then cut/embossed with a Nestabilities ribbon slider die and attached with a gold ribbon. Thanks for stopping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Winter Birds (Inkadinkado), Ornamental Christmas (Verve)
Paper: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze (SU!), Dasher (Basic Grey)
Ink: Baja Breeze (SU!)
Accessories: snowflake brads (K & Company), ribbon (Michaels), Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Sakura glitter pen, sponge

Well, ain't this somethin'!!

The card I posted last night to Paper Craft Planet's Twelve Days of Christmas Contest won for day number one!!!! I win two sets of Kitchen Sink stamps. I hit the jackpot!!! I can't wait to get them and stamp something! Must make time to make a card for day two, LOL.

Warmest Thanks

This card is for several challenges. First, the first day of Paper Craft Planet's Twelve Days Of Christmas contest in which one has to use a tree or bird on their card, then Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge where one has to give thanks, and last but not least, Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday sketch.

My base card is Whisper White. Then I added a layer of Basic Black and then a layer of Basic Grey's Scarlett's Letter DP. Following Julee's sketch, I added a border to the top and the bottom, using a Martha Stewart border punch. The focal image is an Inkadinkado stamp that I inked up with Stampin' markers in Basic Black and Ruby Red. I added some shimmer to the red birds with a Sakura red glitter pen. I matted this image on two DP from the Scarlett's Letter collection and mounted this element on dimensionals. The sentiment was stamped with the frame stamp and a sentiment stamp from Verve's Artful Elegance set in Basic Black and Ruby red. I cut it out and added some small faceted red gems to the borders and the sentiment element, which is also up on dimensionals. I think I covered all of the requirements and I kinda like it. Thanks for dropping in!

~Recipe~
Stamps: tree with birds (Inkadinkado), Artful Elegance (Verve)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (SU!), Scarlett's Letter (Basic Grey)
Ink: Basic Black, Ruby Red (SU!)
Accessories: dimensionals, red faceted jewels, Martha Stewart border punch, Sakura red glitter pen

Blessings on Thanksgiving

First, I'm wishing everyone in the US a Happy Thanksgiving with family and/or friends and lots of good food.

OK, I said I was done with fall and Thanksgiving cards but here's another one. It's for the Color Throwdown challenge #21: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, and Sage Shadow. These colors said "fall" to me, although I've seen them used very effectively in a Christmas card. But my mojo couldn't wrap itself around that concept so Thanksgiving is what it is. BUT, I just realized I used Mellow Moss. Ack! And here I was so proud that I was so stinkin' organized with my Thanksgiving dinner prep that I had time to make a card! Oh, well, I guess that means I'm ahead on next year's Thanksgiving cards and I suppose that means I have to do another card with the *right* colors, huh? OK, I can do that ;-)

Anyway, my base card is Very Vanilla. The next layer is DP from Debbie Mumm's Harvest and Holiday mat pack. This little pack is crammed with great Halloween, fall, and Christmas DP. I got it at JoAnn Fabrics early in the fall. The next element is Chocolate Chip with a layer of Really Rust, and the next one is Chocolate Chip with Mellow Moss with the sentiment stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia ink. The focal image is from Verve's Hello Pumpkin set, as is the sentiment, and is also stamped with Vintage Sepia ink. It's colored with Stampin' Markers and my trusty blender pen on water color paper, and layered on Really Rust, Mellow Moss, and Chocolate Chip. Some paper piercing and some copper brads finish it off. Well, I think my little pumpkin turned out kinda cute, so that's that! Thanks for stopping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Hello Pumpkin (Verve)
Paper: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, and Sage Shadow, water color paper (SU!), Debbie Mumm's Harvest and Holiday mat pack (JoAnn Fabrics)
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, Close To Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand (SU!)
Accessories: Brads (craft store), paper piercer/mat/template

The Holly and the Ivy

Well, the holly anyway. This card is for SCS sketch challenge 204. Great sketch, really great. I flipped it because the image I wanted to use fit better that way, but I'm sure I'll be using this sketch again.

My base card is Very Vanilla with a layer of DP from Cosmo Cricket's Oh Joy collection. Actually, all the DP is from that collection. The second element is first Riding Hood Red then DP, and the same for the next element, just different DP. I tied a red ribbon bow around it. The focal image is stamped with StazOn Jet Black ink on water color paper with a Karen Lockhart stamp called Holly Berry Tree. I got it from Ellen Hutson's store and I just love it! I colored it with SU! markers in Rose Red, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, and More Mustard, and shadowing with Sahara Sand. Some paper piercing and red Dew Drops from the Poinsettia collection add a little interest in two of the corners. I'm really loving this card. I think it will be hard to part with it. Thanks for dropping by to see what's new!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Holly Berry Tree (Lockhart Stamp Co.)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Rose Red (SU!), Oh Joy DP (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, and Sahara Sand (SU!)
Accessories: blender pen, Dew Drops, Mat Pack (SU!), ribbon (craft store)

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

I love Christmas (surprised?)! And I love making Christmas cards, so here's another one. I thought this simple tree stamp went well with Basic's Grey's Figgy paper collection. This card is for Our Creative Corner's challenge this week, which is a sketch challenge. I love sketch challenges because I'm sketch challenged, LOL! And this is a great sketch!! Check out what the DT did with this sketch--awesome samples!

My base card is Whisper White, with a layer of Always Artichoke and then a layer of DP. The two corner elements are another pattern from the collection on Bravo Burgundy card stock. The focal image and the sentiment from Verve's Ornamental Christmas set were stamped on Whisper White with Always Artichoke and Bravo Burgundy craft ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I used my ticket corner punch and sponged the edges with Always Artichoke. It's layered on Bravo Burgundy and then Always Artichoke and I added burgundy brads to the corners. A burgundy ribbon was tied around this and then it was attached with dimensionals. It got rave reviews at the office this morning and I hope you like it. Thanks for taking a look!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Simple Christmas Tree (seriously, that's it's name!--Stampabilities), Cupcake Affair (Verve)
Paper: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy (SU!), Figgy DP (Basic Grey)
Ink: Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke craft ink (SU!)
Accessories: ribbon and brads (craft store), heat gun, clear embossing powder, sponge, dimensionals

Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby

This card is for the i{heart}2stamp Sketch For You To Try challenge this week. I really like this layout--it's another one I'll use again, I think. It's also for the SCS color challenge 194: Really Rust, Going Gray, and Very Vanilla. I think it's going to be for my DH's birthday, which is just before Christmas.

I started with a Very Vanilla card base, added a layer of Going Gray, and then a layer from Basic Grey's Ambrosia 6 x 6 pad. Perfect for this color combination! The next element is Really Rust with another pattern from that DP collection and then I tied a gray satin bow around the whole thing. The focal image was stamped twice--once on Very Vanilla, then the bottom part was stamped on more of the striped DP and cut out and paper pieced. The top was stamped on water color paper and colored with my Really Rust sU! marker. I replaced the flowers on the stamped image with Primas and brads and attached it with dimensionals. Thanks for taking a look!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Cupcake Affair (Verve)
Paper: Really Rust, Going Gray, and Very Vanilla (SU!), Ambrosia 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Really Rust, Going Gray (SU!)
Accessories: Prima flowers, brads and ribbon (craft store), dimensionals

I got an award!!!!

My friend LeAnne, of Wee Inklings, just gave me the Kreativ Blogger award!!!! Yeehaw!!! I'm so totally excited about this!!! Here's how it works: 1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the Award.
3. Nominate five blogs for the Award. I'll get my list of nominations together later, but for now, here's my award!

Thank you, LeAnne! You just made my day!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

This card is for Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge 43. This is the first time I've done this challenge and I love this sketch. I'll be using it more, I'm sure.

You know, when you have a great layout and you have great paper, you can't mess up. Well, your chances are lessened, anyway, LOL. I really love this card. I think it's the vintage feel and I love the colors.

My base card is Bravo Burgundy with a layer of DP from Cosmo Cricket's Oh Joy collection called Frosty. I love this collection! I got it from Jacksonbelle Embellishments and every design in the collection is gorgeous! The focal element is first Bravo Burgundy, then Mellow Moss, then the focal image is stamped on Very Vanilla with Mellow Moss and this layer is sponged with Creamy Caramel (naturally). The snowflake stamp is from The Paper Studio's set called Snowflakes (as is the small snowflake, as well). Three burgundy brads accent this element. The next element is first Bravo Burgundy, then more DP, then Very Vanilla with the sentiment from Verve's Ornamental Christmas set in Bravo Burgundy. This is also sponged. The accent element is stamped on Very Vanilla, sponged, and layered on Mellow Moss. Each of the elements are up on dimensionals. I really love this card--it may be a keeper. Thanks for taking a look today!

~Recipe!
Stamps: Snowflakes (The Paper Studio), Ornamental Christmas (Verve)
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla (SU!), Oh Joy: Frosty (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy, Creamy Caramel (SU!)
Accessories: brads (craft store), Cuttlebug, small and large circle Nestabilities, sponge, dimensionals

Happy Holidays To You--Bling-style

I got this funky (good funky) paper recently. I think it calls for bling, so here goes. It "sorta" follows Beate's weekend sketch challenge.

My base card is shimmery white card stock I got from Office Max. I'm using it because the DP shimmers. Then there's a layer of Kiwi Kiss and then a layer of DP from KI Memories called Secret Santa. The next element is Pixie Pink with faux stitching done with my Sakura glitter pen. The focal image is from the SU! set Big On Christmas stamped on Whisper White with StazOn Onyx black ink. I colored it with Stampin' Markers, colored Sakura glitter pens, and the tree is done with my blender pen and Kiwi Kiss ink pad. A few pink faceted rhinestones decorate the tree. I punched out a Kiwi Kiss tree with a Martha Stewart punch and added it to the focal image. It's a girlie card, for sure! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Big On Christmas (SU!)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Pixie Pink, Whisper White (SU!), Secret Santa DP (KI Memories)
Ink: StazOn Onyx, Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Pixie Pink (SU!)
Accessories: Martha Stewart tree punch, pink rhinestones (craft store), Sakura glitter pens, Cuttlebug, long rectangles Nestabilities

Run, run reindeer!

This card is for Paper Craft Planet's third sketch challenge. I love this paper and the stamp and I've been wanting to use them for a while. I think it also qualifies for Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge for this week. I'm going to give it a try, anyway :)

My base card is Chocolate Chip. This sketch called for a square card which is not my favorite, but that's why it's a challenge, right? It also called for an oval focal image but the stamp I wanted to use worked with a circle better. The top element is Soft Sky with a layer of DP from My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas collection called Flying Friends and is attached with Soft Sky look-alike brads. The focal image is a Basic Grey stamp set called Winterland. It's stamped on Whisper White with Chocolate Chip, then cut out with a Nestabilities circle die. The edges are sponged with Soft Sky. It's layered on Soft Sky that was cut with a Petite Circle die--each scallop was accented with a Chocolate Chip SU! marker. The sentiment was stamped on Soft Sky with Chocolate chip using a Martha Stewart stamp from a clear stamp set called Christmas Phrases. The focal image and the sentiment are up on dimensionals. I really like the look of this card and it's going into my sloooooowly growing Christmas card stash. Thanks for taking a look!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Winterland (Basic Grey), Christmas Phrases (Martha Stewart)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky (SU!), Flying Friends (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilites, brads (craft store)

Anniversary Birds

This card is for, obviously, an anniversary. The first card I made with this set was not blog-worthy, LOL, but I'm liking this one much better.

My base card is Whisper White, with a layer of Basic Black, then a layer of DP from Papertrey Ink's Father Knows Best collection called Retro Zig Zag Blocks. The focal image is stamped Verve's Anniversary Birds with Basic Black and the edges sponged (of course!!) with Creamy Caramel. It was layered on another pattern from the same collection called Summer Sunrise Retro Circles. I think it adds just the right amount of contrast. The bottom layer is Basic Black and the whole thing is up on dimensionals. Some black brads and black and white grosgrain ribbon add accents. The sentiment is stamped on Whisper White with Basic Black ink, cut with a Petite Oval Nestibilities die, sponged, and layered on Basic Black cut with a Petite Oval Scalloped die. It, too, is up on dimensionals. I think it works. Thanks for stopping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Anniversary Birds (Verve)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (SU!), Father Knows Best Collection (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Basic Black, Creamy Caramel (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Petite Oval and Petite Oval Scalloped Nestibilities, brads and ribbon (craft store), sponge, dimensionals

Glitter Bird

This card is for the Splitcoast sketch challenge this week. It's a great sketch and I went with Christmas!

My base card is Very Vanilla, then a layer of Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink, and Tempting Turquoise. I tied a ribbon around this and added a bow. The four corner elements are layers of Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink, Tempting Turquoise and a pattern from Basic Grey's Dasher collection. The focal image is from Flourishes All That Glitters set. I received this image in a swap. I'd requested it on water color paper so at first I was going to water color it. Then, as I was deciding on colors, I remembered that these ornaments were covered in glitter so I decided to go with that. I got out my Martha Stewart glitter in Peridot, Yellow Gold, Turquoise, and Rose Quartz. Using the glue that came with the glitter. I covered each area one at a time with glue and sprinkled the glitter on. I then matted this image with Tempting Turquoise, Pretty In Pink, and Certainly Celery. I stamped the little sentiment from Verve's Wonderful Wishes in Tempting Turquoise in the corner and it was finished. It's a little bit different but I'm liking it. Thanks for dropping in!

~Recipe~
Stamps: All That Glitters (Flourishes), Wonderful Wishes (Verve)
Paper: water color paper, Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink, Tempting Turquoise (SU!), Dasher DP (Basic Grey)
Ink: unknown black, Tempting Turquoise (SU!)
Accessories: Ribbon (craft store), glitter (Martha Stewart)

Inspired By Nature

This card is for the Paper Craft Planet color challenge #2: Elegant Eggplant, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, and Very Vanilla. C'mon people, lets have some Christmas colors here, LOL!!! I guess I'll just have to get to the sketch challenges for Christmas cards.

Despite not being Christmas colors, I really like how this card turned out. This was my first try with Inspired By Nature and I can see it done in lots of colors in the future. My base card is Chocolate Chip with a layer of Kiwi Kiss, then Elegant Eggplant. On Very Vanilla, I first stamped the grass image with Kiwi Kiss. Then I inked up the echinecea image using my SU! markers in Elegant Eggplant, Chocolate Chip, and Creamy Caramel and stamped it on top. The sentiment was stamped with Chocolate Chip using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to get it right. And I then sponged around the edges with Creamy Caramel--I can't stop sponging, LOL!!! Some Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla satin ribbon across one corner and three Fresh Mowed Grass Dew Drops finish it off. Thanks a bunch for stopping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Inspired By Nature (SU!)
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, and Very Vanilla (SU!)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, and Creamy Caramel (SU!)
Accessories: Dew Drops, ribbon (SU!), Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge

Colorful Thank You

This card is for the Color Throwdown challenge #20. Wow! I can't believe it's been twenty weeks since this challenge started. It's been lots of fun! This week's colors are: Sage Shadow, Ruby Red, More Mustard, and Elegant Eggplant. Quite a line-up!

My card base is Very Vanilla with a layer of More Mustard, the bottom edge of which I scalloped with a Martha Stewart border punch. I also added a few piercings above the points that are hard to see in the picture. I tied a dark purple ribbon (a dead-ringer for Elegant Eggplant) around that and added three gold-colored brads. The focal image is a stamp from A Little Bit Of Happiness (retired hostess set) that I stamped on water color paper and colored with my SU! markers and a blender pen, using all the colors of the challenge. It was matted with first Elegant Eggplant, then Ruby Red, then Sage Shadow and attached with dimensionals. I think this card will go into the stack I'm saving for a set for a Christmas gift. Think that's a good idea? Thanks for stopping by--and feel free to leave a comment if you're so inclined.

~Recipe~
Stamps: A Little Bit Of Happiness (retired SU! hostess set)
Paper: Water color paper, Sage Shadow, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Elegant Eggplant, and Very Vanilla (SU!)
Ink: Basic Black, Sage Shadow, Ruby Red, More Mustard, and Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: brads and ribbon (craft store), paper piercer/mat, Martha Stewart border punch

Beautiful You

OK, I'm on a Verve kick, LOL!! I'm going to use this card for a birthday card for a beautiful friend, so I thought it was an appropriate sentiment. It's also for Paper Craft Planet's sketch challenge for this week.

My card base is Whisper White with a layer of Sage Shadow then a layer of DP from SU!'s Autumn Vine collection. The first element is also Sage Shadow with another pattern from that collection. I paper pierced around it, corner punched the DP, and added flat back pearls to the corners. The sentiment, from Verve's Beautiful You set, is stamped on Whisper White with Chocolate Chip ink. I also paper pierced around it, punched the corners, and added flat back pearls. I couldn't resist--I *had* to add a little Creamy Caramel sponging to it's edges (I have a problem with stark white, apparently, LOL!). That element is attached with dimensionals and then I added Prima flowers down the side in matching colors, centered with flat back pearls and accented with matching "foliage" from Martha Stewart's leafy branch punch. That's it and I love it! It was easy to do and came together just the way I wanted it to. That's always "a good thing". Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Wonderful You (Verve)
Paper: Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Autumn Vine DP (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel (SU!)
Accessories: Prima flowers, flat back pearls (Hobby Lobby), Martha Stewart leafy branch punch. paper piercer/mat/template, sponge

Krafty Snowman

It feels like FOREVER since I was able to stamp and it's just been four days! That's forever, right?

Anyway, this card is for the SCS color challenge #193--Real Red, Basic Black, and Kraft. I love Kraft--it's such a great neutral it goes with anything! I was determined to make a Christmas card with this challenge so here it is.

It first looked through all my Christmas DP and found this one. It's from daisyd's 6 x 6 Paisley Sugarplum pad that I got at my LSS (well, if you call local a 1 1/2 hour drive, LOL!). I just LOVE these little retro snowmen (the second picture shows them a little closer--aren't they the cutest little things?!) and I knew just the stamp I wanted to use as soon as I spied the paper. I just got Verve's new Snow Wonderful set and I thought this little snowman was perfect for this DP. So, I started with a Kraft card base and stamped the snowflake background all over the front. The next layer is Basic Black with the edge scalloped with SU!'s scalloped border punch. The next layer is Real Red, to which I added two strips of narrow black satin ribbon, three black brads, and the section of DP. My focal image is stamped in Basic Black on watercolor paper and colored with SU! markers and my blender pen. The hat band and scarf are Real Red and the carrot nose is Only Orange. I used Sahara Sand for shadows. The snowman's little buttons are Class A'Peel Stickers from Stampendous. I don't know if it shows, but they are red with tiny gold borders around them. So CUTE! My friend Betty got them for me and I love them!! The focal image is up on dimensionals. I punched three snowflakes with my handy dandy Martha Stewart snowflake punch, adhered them with brads, and added the sentiment. It's from Verve's Ornamental Christmas set and was stamped on a strip of Kraft paper in Basic Black, punched out with SU!'s Word Window punch, and tied on with some red hemp. I love how it turned out--maybe because I wanted to stamp so badly, LOL, but I really do like it. Thanks for stopping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Snow Wonderful and Ornamental Christmas (Verve Visual)
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Kraft (SU!), Paisley Sugarplum DP (daisyd's)
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Only Orange, Sahara Sand (SU!)
Accessories: Ribbon and brads (craft store), scalloped border and word window punches (SU!), snowflake punch (Martha Stewart), red hemp (SU!), Class A'Peel Stickers (Stampendous), dimensionals, blender pen (SU!)

Floral Flourishes

This card is for Paper Craft Planet's very first color challenge! I couldn't miss that, now, could I? Definitely an "interesting" color combination: Really Rust, Real Red, Basic Gray (or Going Gray), and Whisper White. It took some thinking, but I persevered and I'm liking it pretty well.

I started looking through my DP and a light bulb came on: I have lots of Basic Gray 6 x 6 pads and I thought there was BOUND to be something I could use for this card among all that paper. And there was!

My base card is Basic Gray card stock with a layer of Real Red, then Really Rust, and then a layer of DP from Basic Grey's Ambrosia collection. Perfect. All of the colors are in this DP, although you can't see them since I covered most of it up! But they're there, trust me :)

My focal image is an Inkadinkado stamp from the Floral Flourishes set. I inked up the stamp with Stampin' Markers in Basic Gray, Really Rust, and Real Red and stamped it on Whisper White card stock. I sponged the edges with a Going Gray ink pad and a sponge. Some Bird of Paradise Dew Drops add some balance to this element. It was then matted with Really Rust, Real Red, and Basic Gray card stock. Some satin ribbon with a flat bow runs across the bottom of the card. The sentiment is stamped with a stamp from MFT's Essential Sentiments set in Basic Gray on Whisper White, sponged with Going Gray ink, and matted with Ambrosia DP and Basic Gray card stock. Each layer was cut/embossed with a round Nestabilities die. This one took some thought but I'm liking it. Thanks for checking it out!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Floral Flourishes (Inkadinkado), Essential Sentiments (MFT)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Really Rust, Real Red (SU!), Ambrosia DP (Basic Grey)
Ink: Going Gray, Basic Gray, Real Red, Really Rust (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, large and small round Nestabilities dies, Dew Drops, ribbon (craft store)

Winter's Butterflies

This card is for the SCS Sketch Challenge 202. I got this Hero Arts stamp set recently and decided to use it for this challenge.

My base card is Very Vanilla that was distressed with my Creamy Caramel (I love distressing with this color!!! even though I have several Ranger Distress Ink pads) ink pad and a sponge. The next layer is Chocolate Chip and the next is Baja Breeze. Then there's a layer of DP from My Mind's Eye called Falling Frost. I love this paper and must get more! For my three small elements, I first "inked" up the snowflake stamp with Versamark and then my Baja Breeze ink pad, stamped it on Very Vanilla, covered with clear embossing powder and heat set it. I distressed them in the same manner as the card base. They were then layered with Baja Breeze card stock and attached with dimensionals. The focal image snowflake scroll was done the same way, the sentiment was stamped with Chocolate Chip, and the whole thing was distressed, as well. I punched the snowflake accents and secured with brown brads and attached this element with dimensionals, too. I'm REALLY loving this card--I think it's going to be a keeper. Thanks for droppin in!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Winter's Butterflies (Hero Arts)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze (SU!), Falling Frost DP (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Versamark, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Snowflake punches (Marvy, Martha Stewart), brads (craft store), clear embossing powder, heat gun, sponge

Prim Americana

This card is for the Color Throwdown challenge #19: Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy, and Bordering Blue. Well, as soon as I saw these colors I thought Primative Americana!!!! It just shouts it out to me, LOL!!!

So, I chose to do a patriotic theme with it and pulled out my retired God Bless America stamp. My base card is Very Vanilla the edges of which I "distressed" a bit with a sponge and my Creamy Caramel stamp pad. I then added a layer of Not Quite Navy and one of Bravo Burgundy. The focal image is layered on Not Quite Navy, Bordering Blue, and Bravo Burgundy and is stamped with Not Quite Navy and Bravo Burgundy. The sentiment is from the same set and is stamped on a distressed Very Vanilla ribbon slider that was cut/embossed with a Nestabilities die. The burgundy ribbon and three brads finish it off. I really like these colors with this stamp set and I see more cards like this in my future. Thanks for visiting today!

~Recipe~
Stamps: God Bless America (SU!)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy, and Bordering Blue (SU!)
Ink: Bravo Burgundy. Not Quite Navy (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities die, ribbon and brads (craft store)

Certainly Pacific Gray

This card is for the SCS color challenge this week: Certainly Celery, Pacific Point, and Basic Gray and also for Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try. I chose this Santa stamp 'cause I'm really itchin' to make some Christmas cards!!

My base card is Very Vanilla with a layer of Basic Gray that I ran through my Cuttlebug with the snowflake folder. The focal image is stamped on Very Vanilla with Basic Gray ink and cut/embossed with a small rectangle Nestabilities die. It's matted with Certainly Celery and then Pacific Point that was cut/embossed with a small scalloped rectangle die. The top band is Certainly Celery and punched on both sides with a Martha Stewart snowflake border punch.

The bottom band is blue ribbon holding on a ribbon slider that was cut/embossed with a Nestabilities die as well. The accent element is made up of three sizes of snowflakes and attached with a blue glitter brad. The sentiment is stamped in Pacific Point

I used a lot of bling with a Sakura glitter pen on Santa's beard, the snowflakes, the sentiment, and the top band. The blue on the snowflakes and Santa's eyes was done with a Copic marker. The second picture shows a little of the glitter accent. This was a fun card to do--next time I want to do it with RED, though, LOL!! Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Sassy Sayings (MFT), Santa
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray, Certainly Celery, and Pacific Point (SU!)
Ink: Basic Gray, Pacific Point (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Sakura glitter pen, Marvy snowflake punch, Martha Stewart snowflake punch and snowflake border punch, Cuttlebug snowflake die, ribbon and brad (craft store), Copic marker

Crazy For Cupcakes

This card is for the Paper Craft Planet sketch this week. I've been wanting to ink up this stamp ever since I got it, but I've been so into Thanksgiving cards it had to take the back burner. I love these soft colors and I'm really loving how this card turned out.

My base card is Whisper White. All other paper (five designs) is from Basic Grey's Two Scoops 6 x 6 pad. I love these pads and I especially love this collection! I stamped the images from Crazy For Cupcakes in Versafine Smokey Gray ink, colored the cupcakes with Sage Shadow and Cameo Coral, and the stand with Sahara Sand. I added some glitter to the stand and the cherries with a Sakura pen. The icing on the cupcakes is done with Liquid Applique which was heat set to puff it up. This is the first time for me using this stuff and I like it! Some flat back pearls and ribbon complete the soft girlie look. Thanks for stopping by--hope you enjoyed your visit!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Crazy For Cupcakes
Paper: Whisper White (SU!), Two Scoops (Basic Grey)
Ink: Versifine Smoky Gray
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Sakura glitter pen, Liquid Applique, ribbon (Michaels), flat back pearls (Hobby Lobby)

Veterans Day Salute

This week's Featured Stamper on SCS is Wendy Bell. Her gallery is awesome--it was really hard to choose one to CASE and I *know* I'll be going back for inspiration 'cause there's so much there. I ended up choosing this card to CASE for my Veteran's Day card. I used her layout and changed the colors and images.

My base card is Real Red that I cut/embossed with a long rectangle Nestabilities die. I then added a layer of Night Of Navy that I ran through my Cuttlebug with the Script Texture folder. I thought it suggested the U. S. Constitution.

The band across the card was cut from Whisper White and the focal image background square was cut/embossed with a square scalloped Nestabilities die. The stars were punched with three sizes of Marvy punches. This is my salute to U.S. veterans on their day. Thanks for taking a look!

~Recipe~
Paper: Night Of Navy, Real Red, Whisper White (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilites, Marvy punches

Birthday Haiku

NOT a Thanksgiving card, LOL!!! This card is for the last of the Verve holiday release challenges, #5.

I used Very Vanilla for the base card, with a layer of Tangerine Tango on that. The next layer is nade up of two designs from the Haiku DSP. The focal images are from the Verve set Artful Elegance and is stamped on Very Vanilla with Tangerine Tango. Then they're layered on Tangerine Tango and Old Olive--all three layers cut/embossed with Nestabilities dies--and are up on dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped on Very Vanilla with Old Olive with a stamp from another Verve set, Wonderful Wishes. It was then cut/embossed with a ribbon slider Nestabilities die and tied on with green ribbon with gold threads running close to the edges. I added a green faceted jewel to each main element and the sentiment tag to bling it up a bit. Thanks for stopping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Artful Elegance, Wonderful Wishes (Verve)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Haiku DSP (SU!)
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, faceted jewels and ribbon (craft store)