Marimekko Napkin

Just a quick post of a quick card! Today's Technique Challenge was Paper Napkin Transfer. Check it out here...

I had to play, even though I was short on time. I LOVE decorative paper napkins, and I especially LOVE MARIMEKKO! If you are not familiar with Marimekko design, it is of Finnish origin. Material, purses, sheets...all sorts of textiles in all sorts of patterns! In any case, I quickly attempted to perform the technique...unfortunately I did not have the freezer wrap, and my plastic wrap didn't work all too well. I ended up folding the edges to the back and taping. I will try this technique again with the correct materials...because I LOVE NAPKINS!!! LOL!!!

Stamps: PaperTrey Ink sentiment from Spiral Bouquet

Paper: Marimekko napkin, PTI Pure Poppy, SU Night of Navy and Summer Sun

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Triple Challenge

This card meets a triple challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers...Sunday's Featured Stamper, Kay Kelthoff (Speedystamper), Saturday's Inspiration Challenge, and the Fan Club Interactive to use music or a song in your design.

Fun card to make-- I chose Kay's sketch for this...I changed up colors, sentiment, and image yet kept a garden feel.

Saturday's Inspiration Challenge featured three different bedrooms: I chose this one for it's beautiful colors!

The Fan Club Interactive challenge runs from month to month, changing on the 15th following the Dirty Dozen Gallery. It's open to Fan Club members, giving them the opportunity to follow the same challenges that month's Dirty Girls followed. You are also entered in a random drawing for a monthly prize-- I WON last month's prize and am awaiting it's arrival in the mail...Luxe items sent to me by Jenn Balcer!

I would highly encourage anyone to join the Splitcoast Stamper's Fan Club... it features wonderful designs for a very small price!

Well, enough for today! Have a great remainder to your weekend!

Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms image; Stampin' Up Define Your Life sentiment, Linen bg and Itty Bitty bg
Paper: Basic Grey Two Scoops, SU Pink Pirouettte
Ink: Versafine Sepia, Adirondack Espresso, Copic markers
Accessories: ribbon, SU button, twine, corner punch

I've been waiting to ink up these stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms "Primitive Beginnings."
I needed a baby card for a shower at our church on Saturday, and I thought that these little sheep would be just perfect. The baby will be a boy, thus the primary colors.

I used a retired background stamp from Stampin' Up called "Fontastic" on PaperTrey Ink's Pure Poppy cardstock. I traced, glued, and cut black cardstock onto a piece of chipboard to create the large B. I sanded the edges a bit, then attached it to my alphabet letter panel. I then created a computer sentiment which I die cut out (Nestabilities) with my Cuttle Bug. A ribbon bow completed the tag.

Layers, a bit of sponging and the sheep popped up on dimensional tape finished the project.
Pretty simple overall.

Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms Primitive Beginnings
Paper: Paper Trey Ink Pure Poppy and Kraft, Stampin' Up Basic Black
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Stampin' Up Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Cuttle Bug, Nestabilities, SU gingham ribbon, unknown chipboard B, dimensional tape

Thanks for stopping by!

Pink Chocolate Chip Kisses!

Today's Color Challenge at Splitcoast was to use Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, and Chocolate Chip...makes for a yummy sounding card! I had a bit of difficulty getting into this combo. As you can see, my butterfly's body is the only thing wearing Chocolate Chip!

I used Stampin' Up's gorgeous textured designer paper in Pink Pirouette and Kiwi Kiss. I also used one of their new In-Color buttons to match.

The image is retired Stampin" Up--Stipple Butterfly. I colored it with Copic Markers, glittered it up with Dazzling Diamonds, cut it out, and popped it up on dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have You Ever?....

Have you ever made a card and were unhappy with how it looked? Then you proceed to upload it to your gallery, even though you're having second thoughts?...It bugs you until you decide you MUST tear it apart to make improvements? This happens to me more that I would like to admit!!! LOL!!! I usually have a certain look that I'm aiming for when I begin. It's so frustrating when you are trying but not achieving "that" look.

For example: I began with the card right above the text. It was okay IRL-- but my photo just wasn't cutting it. I had sewn around the perimeter of the decorator paper-- didn't show in the photo-- the ribbon that I used looks a different color pink in the photo...argh!!!!

In my second attempt I chose to add more of the photo-discolored pink ribbon and added a sentiment. My sewing still does not show, but I feel happier with the end result!

This card was for today's Technique Challenge over at Splitcoast. We were to use Twinkling H2O's along with watercoloring pencils or crayons and the color pink to focus on Breast Cancer Awareness month. See the challenge here.

Stamps: Stampin' Up Bloomin; Beautiful, PaperTrey Ink Birthday Basics sentiment

Paper: Basic Grey Sugared, SU Pretty in Pink, Confetti Cream, watercolor paper

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Lyra Aquacolors, Twinkling H2O's.

Accessories: Vintage buttons, Nestabilities, Dashes Dots and Checks Ribbon.

Have a wonderful day-- and remember-- tearing apart a card and making it right is worth it! :)

Tagged!

I've been tagged by Liz Williams (lazylizard at SCS). Thought I would try this, as my blog is so new. The rules are as follows:

1. Link your tagger and list the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog-- some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I work as a parapro in a small country school, grades K-8. My husband is the superintendent in the same district, so he IS my boss! hehe!!! All kidding aside, we have a great working relationship, at work and at home!!!

2. We're working on an addition to our home. My husband, sons and father are doing all of the work. We live in the home that my husband's grandparents built when they immigrated to the United States from Finland. It is so very nice to live in a home with "roots..."

3. I have purchased a used harp and have begun taking lessons. It is soooo soothing!

4. I have become involved with our community theatre. I've been a nun in the Sound of Music, and Mrs. Adams, a Native American and Buffalo Bill troupe member in Annie Get Your Gun! I have also sung with our local Copper Country Chorale.

5. I was born and live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. U.P people are called "YOOPERS" and are considered a back woods type. Flannel shirts, wool socks, saying "hey" a lot...example: "Let's go downtown, hey?" A bit like Canadians, I guess. My cousins in California claim that I have an accent, but I just don't think I do...

6. We get a TON of snow where we live. Our peninsula juts out into Lake Superior, so we get lake effect snow...plus the regular type as well!!! So, snow can possibly be on the ground anytime now until possibly into the beginning of May. Makes a lot of cozy stamping time, let me tell you!
Speaking of stamping...I belong to a group of stampers called the "Biddies..." JoAnn Mleko (sarahzoe) is our leader and we meet once a month.

7. I love the Lord Jesus and follow Him. We attend a Bible believing church just up the street from us and feel so blessed to be under His Word.

Well, that wasn't so difficult! Thanks, Liz!

I'm tagging:

Cheryl Hirzel

Debbie Corbari

Lynn McAuley

Joanne (stamps4sanity)

Jessica Rone

Amy Johnson

Chris99

Trick-or-Treat

Here's a quick upload of a Halloween card that I made following today's Splitcoast Stampers Featured Stamper: Emily (ink-e). Congratulations, Emily!

I don't make many Halloween cards, but I could not resist this sweet little Trick-or-Treater. I used a Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamp set that I had purchased from Joan Fricker over at her blog: Joan's Gardens. Joan has a marvelous Monday sale-- you never know what you may find! Please check it out!

I used my Copics to color the image, Oval Nestabilites to punch it out. The decorator paper is Stampin' Up retired, along with Basic Black. The gorgeous wide ribbon is from May Arts. The black brads are American Crafts Elements, and the rhinestone is by Kaiser.

Thanks for stopping by!

Featured Stamper

The Featured Stamper Challenge over at Splitcoast is marvelous fun! Last Sunday's Featured Stamper was Anne Ryan! Anne is a definite sweetie... her kindness and genuine charm are evidenced by the uplifting comments she leaves in galleries. She has put a smile on my face more than once! Thanks, and congratulations Anne!

The Featured Stamper Challenge works like this: you visit the featured stamper's gallery and choose a design that you would like to case (copy). You may case the card however you wish, although you must change something in your design. In this case, I followed Anne's sketch closely, but changed colors and image. Anne's design that I chose to case is here.

The papers that I used in my design are from PaperTrey Ink. They are absolutely delicious-- as is the name of the colorway-- Plum Pudding. The designer background paper, solid paper, satin ribbon, Linen Vellum, ink and sentiment are all PTI. I used the Linen Vellum in the layering-- adds a bit of texture-- though very hard to see in the photo. The main image is by Stampin' Up-- aptly named "Upsy Daisy." I finished off my case with a self adhesive rhinestone from Kaiser Scrapbook.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Glow of Autumn

Had to post this beautiful red leaf. Leaves are falling here quickly-- it is beginning to look bare...next color-- WHITE!!!

Challenges!

I created this card for a couple of challenges: Sharon's (notimetostamp) Friday challenge, and Splitcoast Stamper's Saturday Inspiration challenge.

Sharon had a guest challenge host this week, Heather Telford, who deemed that we use only background stamps or designer papers and make the SENTIMENT the feature. I often omit a sentiment, so using one today was a fun challenge!

The SCS Inspiration challenge was from a gorgeous site called JOOM, featuring beautiful artwork pillows with beautiful colors and silhouettes. Thus, silhouette decorator paper! I love this new paper pack from Stampin' Up-- Urban Garden. I love the use of the gray tones in it-- the subtle blue really POPS! I also used SU textured paper for the blue background layer...kind of hard to see in this picture.

I used my B00 Copic marker to color SU cream ribbon to match my design.

Stamps: SU All Year Cheer I

Papers: SU Urban Garden, Going Gray, Basic Gray, Textured dp

Accessories: Retired HodgePodge Pewter Hardware, SU ribbon, Copic marker

Thanks for stopping by!

Beautiful Color

I couldn't resist stopping on my way home from work to take a picture of this glorious tree-- I admire it every year. It is absolutely vibrant and seems to hold it's color longer than any other tree around it! Hope you enjoy it!

Sharon Made Me Do It!!!

Yes, Sharon did make me do it!!! I had been salivating over PaperTrey Ink's beautiful new First Fruits set, but decided I should attempt to ink up some of the sets waiting in line.

Well, after seeing Sharon's (notimetostamp) gorgeous creations, I finally broke down. As many of you know, she is the ultimate enabler. Not that she is by any means pushy--she just creates...and designs...and pretty much makes you want to use whatever she uses to attempt to do the same!!! So, thanks, Sharon!!!

I also made this card for Thursday's Way to Use It challenge over at Splitcoast. Today's challenge was "Mad for Plaid!" Very fun challenge...if you have never tried the challenges at SCS, you should head over and take the plunge...WARNING-- it may become addictive!!!

Stamps: PaperTrey Ink First Fruits
Paper: SU Basic Black, More Mustard, Basic Grey's Vagabond
Ink: Paintbox pigment inks, Versafine Black Onyx
Foofala button, SU Black grosgrain, Nestabilities Rectangles and tags

Thanks for stopping by!

Autumn Sympathy

I needed to make a sympathy card today for a friend who just lost her husband in a car accident. Please keep Joann and her family in prayer.

I wanted the Fabriano's beautiful texture to stand out, with just a shot of a colorful leaf. I rock and roll stamped a leaf onto the Fabriano, then stamped it once again on another sheet and cut it out. I used dimensional tape to adhere it creating a tole effect. I finished it off with a sympathy sentiment and a bit of paper piercing. It's extremely simple, allowing the paper and beautiful single leaf to stand out.

Stamps: Stampin Up' Lovely Leaves, PaperTrey Ink Anniversary set sentiment

Paper: Fabriano note cards

Ink: SU Really Rust, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red

Paper piercing tools, dimensional tape

Thanks for stopping by!

John's Birthday Catch

I've created this card for my brother John's birthday. John is an avid hunter and fisherman, plus so much more...he's a really great guy, and I'm truly honored to have him as my brother! :)

I've always loved this image from Stampin' Up. It is retired, as is the pewter HodgePodge Hardware that I've chosen. I colored the image with Copics and added a bit of sparkle with a clear Copic Spica Glitter pen. Unfortunately, it doesn't show at this angle in the photo, but it has a slight gleam IRL.

My paper color choices are a bit unconventional, but I wanted to let the image take center stage. I colored my twill with my Copic marker to match the papers. I choose this Cuttle Bug folder as it reminded me of weeds growing underwater-- a perfect place for fish to hide!

It's a beautiful Autumn Day here-- I've been busy cooking as my husband, father, brother and Pastor are working on the addition that we're adding to our home. We're hoping to enclose it before the snow hits-- and today is a perfect working day!

Gotta get back to feeding the men! Have a wonderful Saturday!

Stamps: Stampin' Up Angler (retired) PaperTreyInk's Birthday Basics sentiment

Paper: Stampin' Up Old Olive, Basic Gray, Going Gray, PaperTreyInk white

Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Versafine Black Onyx, Copic Markers

Accessories: CuttleBug folder, Nestabilities petite ovals and tags, SU Pewter HodgePodge hardware, SU Twill

Enter His Gates...

This is a card that I created for Splitcoast's monthly Bible Verse Challenge. You can read about it here... the gallery for the Bible Verse Challenge 08 is located here. What a blessing it is to scroll through this gallery-- it features Bible verses special to the designers, or verses that are being memorized. A BIG thanks to the authors of this thread, and to the special people participating in it throughout the year!

This card also fits Splitcoast's Friday Limited Supply Challenge: Rock, Paper, Scissors. The challenge was to design with any paper; straight cuts or decorative scizzors; and metal or gemstones to represent rock.

I realized that some people viewing this may not know of, or have visited the Splitcoast Stampers site... (really-- there may be a few people that haven't! hehe...) I cannot emphasize how wonderful this site is for stampers! My stamping has definitely grown through the inspiration received from this amazing site-- if you have never visited, please do so...Splitcoast Stampers...

This is one of my favorite sets from Our Daily Bread Designs. The beautiful harvest image is so fun to color, and the Bible verses so special! I used my Copics to shade the image, inspired by Stampin' Up's Haiku decorator paper.

Have a wonderful weekend-- thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Our Daily Bread
Paper: Stampin' Up Haiku decorator papers, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, PaperTreyInk's Vintage Cream
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Versafine Sepia, Copic markers
Accessories: unknown brads

Birthday Botanical Dreams

This is a belated birthday card for my good friend Kathie. She's a precious friend who always thinks of others. She's more like a sister than a friend...Happy Birthday Kathie!

I used Gina K.'s "Botanical Dreams,"designed by Asela Hopkins. It was great fun coloring this image with my Copics...there are other beautiful images included in Asela's set as well.

I love this new designer paper from Stampin' Up as well. The colors and prints are just beautiful!

I almost always exclusively Copic color my images stamped on PaperTrey Ink papers. They're a perfect weight and allow the Copics to shine! Colors are vibrant and true. I use Adirondack inks for Copic coloring and do not take the time to heat set the image before beginning--I have not experienced any problems with smearing. Nestabilites and a corner rounder punch helped me finish off this very simple card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing a Warm Birthday

My post today is a birthday card for a male friend who likes his coffee with a lot of cream! His wife will know who he is...hehe... Most of my cards are pretty simple to begin with, but I choose to be especially so in this case. Just a bit of ribbon with a brad to highlight the sentiment tag. I dyed the ribbon with my Copic marker to match.

Papers: Basic Grey Sugared, SU Basic Black, PTI White

Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Copic markers

Nestabilities tag die

Add-ons: satin ribbon from Walmart, American Crafts Elements brad

HAPPY WORLD CARD MAKING DAY!!! What a perfect day to attempt my first post!

It has been a bit daunting starting this blog...all of the usual questions and notions have entered in...will anyone actually be interested in reading "into" my designs? How much work IS a blog? Can I do it? The answers that I've come up with are: maybe, more than likely A LOT, and YES I CAN!

I designed this card for a couple at our church who were celebrating their anniversary. As I was filing through my metallic papers, I was keeping the Splitcoaststamper's Saturday Inspiration Challenge in mind. I made my choices, and the card went together quite easily (hehe...doesn't always happen that way...) I proceeded to upload it to SCS and then prepare it for giving. To my dismay, I had forgotten that it was their 50th anniversary, thus a golden one! It could easily have come together in gold as well!

The little wedding bands are made by Wilton and found at Walmart in the cake decorating aisle. They also come in gold...