Butterfly thank you

This card is for SCS Sketch Challenge #217. Fun sketch! But I say that about all of 'em, don't I, LOL? It will also qualify for Stamp Simply's Challenge #74--signs of Spring.

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pretty In Pink, and the new Tea Party DSP, all SU! The focal element is first more of the same with different DSP and is up on 3M foam squares. Then I added three 1" squares of PTI Solar White card stock that were cut/embossed with square Nestabilities dies and on which I added a punched out butterfly. The sentiment is from SU!'s Flight Of The Butterfly set and was stamped on PTI Solar White card stock with Basic Gray ink and cut/embossed with a Nestabilities ribbon slider die. One inch wide pink satin ribbon ties it on. Tiny flat-backed pearls create the butterflies' bodies and more pearls accent the base card and the sentiment tag.

Thanks for dropping in!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Flight Of The Butterfly (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pretty In Pink, Tea Party DSP (SU!); Solar White (PTI)
Ink: Basic Gray (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Square Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, ribbon, flat-back pearls (craft store); butterfly punch (Martha Stewart)

Inspired Summer Kiwi Pies

This card is for SCS Color Combinations #207: Summer Sky, Kiwi Kiss, and Pumpkin Pie. I like 'em! My first thought was to use Inspired By Nature and it worked out pretty well.

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, and Summer Sun paper from the new Good Morning Sunshine DSP collection. My focal image was stamped on Whisper White with color applied to the Echinecea stamp with SU! markers in Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie and a brush for the Kiwi Kiss directly from a reinker. The grass background was stamped with Kiwi Kiss using an ink pad. It and the Kiwi Kiss mat were cut/embossed with the largest Petite Oval dies and mounted on 3M foam squares. The sentiment was stamped on Whisper White with Pumpkin Pie and punched out with the Large Oval punch, as was the Kiwi Kiss layer, and is also up on foam squares. The butterfly was made using a Martha Stewart Punch and attached with a rolled up glue dot to give it some dimension. Tiny apricot flat-backed pearls embellish his body. A few Dew Drops and it's done!

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Inspired By Nature (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, and Good Morning Sunshine DSP (SU!)
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities; 3M foam squares (craft store); Large Oval Punch (SU!), Dew Drops; flat back pearls (Ellen Hutson); butterfly punch (Martha Stewart)

Make a wish

Isn't this the sweetest little card? I found the directions for it on a blog called My Creations. The link to the template is there and all I did was print it off, cut it out, and dress (pun intended) it up! I'm using Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday challenge--to use vellum--although it's turned into Timeless Thursday, LOL. This is the first time I've ever used vellum on a card so it was a great challenge to me to get it out and play with it,

My base card is SU! retired Afternoon Tea DSP. I just thought it looked like a little girl's dress. I then cut the vellum "apron" and used my Martha Stewart eyelet punch along the bottom. The cummerbund was cut using the reverse side of the dress paper. I used my Martha Stewart ribbon threader punch on it and wove 1/4" white double faced satin ribbon through it and tied it in a bow. The collar was made by using my smallest Petite Circle Nestabilities die on Whisper White card stock, complete with embossing. I cut it in half, and trimmed it to fit the shoulders and neck opening with my craft knife after it was in place. I added small flat-backed pearls to the collar and larger ones to the apron, as well as a shirt button to the bodice. A small tag, cut/embossed with another Nestabilities die was stamped with a tiny sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Mixed Messages set in Chocolate Chip ink and tied on with Merlitt rayon floss--it has a pearly look. On the inside I added a layer of Whisper White and a border of DSP with the bottom punched with the eyelet punch.

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Mixed Messages (PTI)
Paper: Whisper White, Retired Afternoon Tea DSP (SU!); vellum (craft store)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Petite Circle Nestabilities; flat backed pearls, ribbon (craft store); button (personal stash)

Hang in there!

This card is for SCS Inspiration Challenge #168. Inspiration was to come from some item at Flutter. I chose this chandelier. As soon as I saw it I thought of the Crafty Secrets' Chandelier Fun stamp that I got several weeks ago in error. When I emailed Crafty Secrets, I was told to keep it for my trouble and they sent the right stamp set immediately. So, I thought I'd put that stamp to good use for this challenge. It's also for Our Creative Corner Challenge this week--to use a tag on a card. Got it covered!

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Basic Black, Apricot Appeal, and DP from Basic Grey's Scarlett's Letter 6 x 6 pad. This paper has a little bit of apricot, which gave me an opportunity to use Apricot Appeal, which is a color I rarely use.

The focal image was stamped on Whisper White with Versamark and heat embossed with black embossing powder. I colored the "flames" with an Apricot Appeal Stampin' Up! marker, layered it on Apricot Appeal and Basic Black, popped it up on 3M foam squares, and called it done! The sentiment is from the chandelier set and was stamped on a small piece of DP with Basic Black, cut/embossed with a Nestabilities tag die, and matted with a larger tag in Basic Black. A couple of flat-back black shiny "pearls" in the right lower corner finish it off. A sheer black ribbon tied around in a bow under the focal image was the only thing else it needed, I think. Pretty simple but elegant, don't you think?

Thanks for dropping in!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Chandelier Fun (Crafty Secrets)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Apricot Appeal (SU!); Scarlett's Letter 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Basic Black (SU!); Versamark
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities tag dies; 3M foam squares, black hemp, ribbon, flat-back black "pearls" (craft store); black embossing powder; heat gun

Sending you sunshine!

We're having a very sunny day here in Southcentral Virginia so I thought I'd send a little sunshine to all my readers! I like most of my cards a lot--but I gotta tell you, I *really* {heart} this one. A lot. When I started looking for a stamp to use for MFTWTG challenge #23, this was one of the ones I hadn't inked up that was not "holiday" oriented. Guess that means I need to go shopping, right? So, I started off with it and it just "evolved" into a card I LOVE!! Maybe it's just because it's so bright and cheerful and promising that Summer is on the way. OK, I'll stop patting myself on the back now, and get on with the card, LOL! I think this card will qualify for The Pink Elephant's sketch challenge this week, too.

My base card is Whisper White with layers (GHL--gotta have layers, LOL!) of Kiwi Kiss, Summer Sun, Pacific Point, and Good Morning Sunshine DSP.
The focal image was stamped on Gina K.'s Pure Luxury 80 lb. paper (LOVE this paper for Copics!!!) with Memento Rich Cocoa ink using a stamp from MFT's By the Seashore set and colored with Copic markers (see picture below for colors I used). That Girl's hat was paper pieced with more DSP, and was embellished with a little punched out flower. The focal image was then layered on Kiwi Kiss, Summer Sun, and Pacific Point. The next element is Pacific Point that I ran through my Cuttlebug with a scalloped long rectangle Nestabilities die to look like waves. Then I added a layer of Good Morning Sunshine DSP on which I stamped the sentiment, from the same set. Pacific Point striped ribbon was tied around in a knot, with a little starfish charm from K & Co. tied on with some bright yellow hemp. The little seagull on pilings was also colored with Copics, cut out, and attached on 3M foam squares.

Thanks for dropping by! I hope you like this card as much as I do--I'd love to hear from you if you do!

~Recipe~
Stamps: By the Seashore (MFT)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Summer Sun, Pacific Point, and Good Morning Sunshine DSP (SU!)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Cuttlebug/scalloped long rectangle Nestabilities; 3M foam squares (craft store); Sea Glass charm (K & Co.); Copic markers

Hoping you're on the mend...Color Throwdown #31

Time for another C0lor Throwdown! This is week #31 and the colors, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, and Kiwi Kiss (or Old Olive) were chosen by Tammy Hersberger. Love these colors together!!My base card is Whisper White with layers of Night Of Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Bashful Blue, and Bashful Blue DSP from the hostess Prints Pack. I *do* like me some layers, LOL! I'm using Mojo Monday sketch # 75 for my layout.
The next element is Night Of Navy on which I used my SU! scalloped border punch with a layer of Kiwi Kiss, on which the sentiment, from PTI's Quilter's Sampler Additions, was stamped in Basic Black ink. Everybody turns the card on end to read the sentiment so I'm not sure this was a good idea, LOL. But it's done and it's staying done! The next element is Night Of Navy with Whisper White and Kiwi Kiss DSP. The end was left white and buttons from my stash were sewn on with DMC embroidery floss. The focal image was stamped on Gina K Pure Luxury 80 lb. paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink using PTI's Quilter's Sampler set and colored with Copic markers (see next picture for colors used). It was matted with all the challenge colors and is up on 3M foam squares. The spool of thread and the needle from the stamp set were stamped in the same manner, colored with Copics, and cut out. The spool of thread was popped up on foam squares and the thread and needle were adhered with a tiny drop of Crystal Effects. I'm liking how it turned out. This quilt set is so versatile--it can tie any set of colors together well.

C'mon over to the Color Throwdown blog and play along with us this week. If you upload your card to a public forum, please use the keyword CTD31 so we can see your beauty all in one place. And if you play, you *could* be picked as our Featured Stamper and a guest designer! Hope to see you there!

Be sure to check out what the other team members have come up with this week:
Broni Holcombe--Splashes of Watercolor
Cathy Indelicato--Crafty Thoughts
Danielle Kennedy--Wild Dragonfly Designs
LeAnne Pugliese--Wee Inklings
Tammy Hershberger--Stamp Happy

Thanks for dropping in!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Quilter's Sampler, Quilter's Sampler Additions (PTI)
Paper: Whisper White, Night Of Navy, Bashful Blue, Kiwi Kiss, Kiwi Kiss DSP, Bashful Blue DSP Prints Pack (SU!)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Black (SU!)
Accessories: 3M foam squares (craft store); Copic markers; buttons (personal stash); floss-DMC #166, 823, 3755; Crystal Effects (SU!)

Life is good!

This card is for Viva la Verve's last sketch challenge with a twist for February. The twist this time was to use acetate somewhere on the card. Well, I've never used acetate before, so this was a good way to ease myself in.

My base card is Very Vanilla with layers of Pacific Point and DP from Basic Gray's new Marrakech 6 x 6 pad. This paper is gorgeous and goes really well with SU!'s current In Colors Pacific Point and Tangerine Tango. The first element is Pacific Point and more DP. The next element is Pacific Point and Tangerine Tango with a Pacific Point striped ribbon tied around it in a bow. The focal image was stamped on Very Vanilla with a stamp from Verve's Artful Elegance set in Pacific point ink. It was cut out with a circle Nestabilities die and popped up on more Very Vanilla with 3M foam squares. Then it was matted with Tangerine Tango and Pacific Point which was also popped up on foam squares. The sentiment is also from the set and was stamped on acetate with Timber Brown StazOn ink. It was punched out with my small oval punch and layered with Very Vanilla and Pacific Point, also punched with oval punches. The next picture shows the shine of the acetate. A few turquoise Dew Drops add some accents and finish the card off.

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Artful Elegance (Verve)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango (SU!); Marrakech 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Pacific Point (SU!); Timber Brown (StazOn)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/circle Nestabilities die; Dew Drops; 3M foam squares; acetate, ribbon (SU!)

I'm Here For You

This card is for MFT Sketch Challenge #69. Using Yoyo Yellow again, LOL! It's definitely a sunny color. Well, since the centers of chamomile are yellow, I decided to use that to guide my color choices. Then it was just a matter of finding some DP in my stash to carry out the theme.

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Garden Green and Yoyo Yellow, then a layer of DP called Daisy Mini's [sic] from Creative Imaginations. The next element is Garden Green with yellow double threaded ribbon woven through slits punched with my Fiskers Leave It To Weaver punch. That name cracks me up! A Bashful Blue layer that's paper pierced was added and the sentiment, from MFT Essential Sentiments was stamped in Basic Black ink. A cheerful brad from Bo Bunny's Buttercup Bodacious Brads set accents the corner and it's up on 3M foam squares. The focal image was stamped on Gina K's Pure Luxury 80lb. paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers (see below for colors used). It was cut/embossed with my Petite Oval Nestabilities die and I ran my blue marker around the embossed edge. Then I used my Colorless marker and lightly scrubbed the blue so that it ended up looking marbelized. Hard to see here, but IRL it looks pretty good! It was then matted with Garden Green cut/embossed with a Petite Scalloped Oval die and was mounted on more foam squares.

Thanks for dropping in!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Chamomile (Annie LaPointe for MFT), Essential Sentiments (MFT)
Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green, and Yoyo Yellow (SU!); Daisy Mini's (sic) (Creative Imaginations)
Ink: Basic Black (SU!); Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, ribbon (craft store); Copic markers; Leave It To Weaver border punch (Fiskars); Buttercup Bodacious Brad (Bo Bunny)

Awesome news!!

Guess who's In The Limelight over at the Flourishes blog? Yep, it's ME!!! Imagine my shock (that's the only way to describe it!) when I got a SCS PM from Julie asking if she could feature some of my cards on the blog! After I picked myself up off the floor, I fired a huge YES!! back to her, LOL! Take a look at what a great job Julie did in featuring some of my cards--here's the direct link to that post. Thanks again, Julie and Flourishes!!!

Sew Glad We're Friends

This card is for Taylored Expressions' Cupcake Challenge #56. CUTE sketch and fun to play with! I'd been wanting to use one of the Puns From the Past stamps so this was the time.

My base card is Very Vanilla with some "antiquing" done with Basic Gray and Creamy Caramel, then layered with Basic Gray and DP from Crafty Secrets' Earthy paper pad, which follows the sketch. I then stitched around each piece of DP with my sewing machine and antiqued this layer and the stitching as well. The next element is Very Vanilla on Basic Gray and was done in the same manner with the addition of antique pewter brads. The focal image was stamped on Very Vanilla with Basic Gray, cut/embossed with oval Nestabilities dies, antiqued, and mounted on 3M foam squares. Very easy and simple to do but I LOVE IT!!!

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Puns From the Past (SU!)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray (SU!); Earthy pad (Crafty Secrets)
Ink: Basic Gray, Creamy Caramel (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities; 3M foam squares, sponge, brads (craft store); sewing machine

Signs of Spring

My daffodils are coming up and I see buds on my early varieties, but none are in bloom yet. What I *did* see this morning was one little purple crocus. Since that little crocus is a sure sign of Spring, I thought I'd use my new Flourishes set called Signs of Spring for SCS Sketch Challenge #216. There's no crocus in this set, so this little daffodil will have to do.

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Basic Black, Yoyo Yellow, and Whisper White stamped with the Stitched backgrounder in Basic Black. The next element is DP from a new 6 x 6 pad that I got from Gina K. called Ebony & Alabaster by Black Market Paper Society layered on Basic Black. The layers were cut/embossed with circle and scalloped circle Nestabilities. The next element is Yoyo Yellow on Basic Black. The focal image was stamped on Gina K.'s Pure Luxury 80lb. paper with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic markers (see below for colors used). I *really* like this paper!!! It was mounted on Yoyo Yellow and Basic black with 3M foam squares and then the whole thing was popped up on foam squares. A black and white polka dotted bow and some faceted jewels embellish the card. The sentiment is from the same set and was stamped on the same paper with the same ink. It was punched out with my Word Window punch, matted on Yoyo Yellow and Basic Black ovals and is also up on foam squares. A smaller faceted jewel provides an accent.

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Signs of Spring (Flourishes)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Yoyo Yellow (SU!); Ebony & Alabaster (Black Market Paper Society)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities; ribbon, faceted jewels, 3M foam squares (craft store); Copic markers

Congratulations!

Another multiple challenge card! Yippee!! It's for SCS Color Combinations #206 (Rose Red, More Mustard, and Kiwi Kiss), Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #31, and SCS Ways To Use It #206--use stripes.

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Rose Red, More Mustard, and Kiwi Kiss. Following the sketch, I added two patterns from Basic Grey's Mellow 6 x 6 pad and a Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon. The focal image from Playful Petals (new from SU!) was stamped on Solar White card stock from PTI with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers (see below for colors used) and is matted with the challenge colors. Flat-backed gold beads accent the focal image and all four corners of the base card. The sentiment is from MFT Sassy Sayings set and was stamped on More Mustard with Basic Black, matted with Kiwi Kiss and attached to the back of the focal element. The whole thing is up on 3M foam squares.

Thanks for dropping by! Hope to see you back soon!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Playful Petals (SU!); Sassy Sentiments (MFT)
Paper: Whisper White, Rose Red, More Mustard, and Kiwi Kiss (SU!); Mellow 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey); Solar White (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Basic Black (SU!)
Accessories: 3M foam squares, flat-backed gold beads (craft store); ribbon (SU!); Copic markers

Lucky enough

OK, on to today's card! This card is for four challenges! Mojo Monday #74 (sketch), The Pink Elephant (use glitter), No Time to Stamp's Stamp Simply Challenge #75 (use only black ink), and CCEE (Catchy Name Featured Stamper).

My base card is Whisper White with layers of Garden Green, green from a Die Cuts With a View glitter pack, and glittered DP. The next elements are Garden Green and Kiwi Kiss. The focal image/sentiment was stamped on Whisper White with Basic Black ink, cut embossed with a square Nestabilities die and matted with Garden Greem. It's "framed" with a layer of green glitter papered matted with Garden Green. I Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla reversable ribbon knot was tied around the "frame" and two silk shamrocks and a Kiwi Kiss look alike provide an accent. I think I have all the challenge requirements covered on this card.

Thanks for dropping by! Hope to see you back soon!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Studio G
Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green (SU!); Glitter Stack (DCWV); Shamrock Confetti (Reminisce)
Ink: Basic Black (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/square Nestabilities die; 3M foam squares, silk shamrocks, DMC embroidery floss (craft store); button (my stash), ribbon (SU!)

The butterfly

This card is for week 3 of Viva la Verve's February sketch challenges with a twist. The twist this week is to make a monochromatic card. It also qualifies for Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday challenge: to use flowers on a card. NOT a problem for me, LOL!

My base card is Very Vanilla with layers of Close To Cocoa and DP from a My Mind's Eye 12 x 12 pad. The next element is Close To Cocoa with a layer of Very Vanilla with Tres Chic stamped in Close To Cocoa ink. The next layer is more of the same, only the Very Vanilla layer is embossed with my Perfectly Paisley Cuttlebug embossing folder and is up on 3M foam squares. The focal image is a sentiment from Verve's Wonderful You set stamped on Very Vanilla with Close To Cocoa. It's cut/embossed with a rectangle Nestabilities die and is layered on Close To Cocoa cut/embossed with a scalloped rectangle die. It's also up on foam squares and I added a tiny Liquid Pearls "pearl" to the center of the little butterfly. Two Prima flowers and a punched butterfly with pearl accents finish off the sketch. Two larger pearls accent the upper right corner.

Thanks for dropping in!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Wonderful You (Verve); Tres Chic (SU!)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Close To Cocoa (SU!); 12 x 12 pad (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Close To Cocoa (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/embossing folder; 3M foam squares, flat-backed pearls (craft store); Liquid Pearls (Ranger); Prima flowers; butterfly punch (Martha Stewart)

Feel better soon!

This card is for My Favorite Things' Who's That Girl Challenge 22. The challenge was to use the Can You Dig It? set and add some ribbon and three flowers. I don't have that set so I used Bunny Slippers instead. I figured if you're sick you can use some flowers to cheer you up! This card is using Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try for this week, too, although I had to flip it to accommodate this image.

My base card is Whisper White with layers of DP from Basic Grey's Two Scoops 6 x 6 pad with some retired Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon as the first element. The next element is more DP with ribbon tabs that follow the sketch and is popped up on 3M foam squares. The focal image was stamped on Solar White card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and is, for the most part, paper pieced. What wasn't paper pieced was colored with Copic markers (see below for the colors I used) and is up on foam squares. The sentiment was stamped directly on the base card with brad and paper piercing accents. Three Primas were attached with another brad and another foam square.

Thanks for dropping by!

~Recipe~
Stamps: Bunny Slippers (MFT)
Paper: Whisper White (SU!); Solar White (PTI); Two Scoops 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: 3M foam squares, brads (craft store); Prima flowers; Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon (SU!)