True Love

This is my last card as guest designer for the Stamp Simply Team! Thanks so much for the opportunity, Sharon! Thanks so much, Stamp Simply ladies! I had a great time!

This week's challenge, ssnotime72, is to create a design featuring "Love." I've have had this adorable Lockhart Stamp Co. couple just waiting for ink!

This happily wedded couple is stamped onto PaperTrey Ink white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I used some gray tone Copics, as well as a pink for the bouquet to color the images. I also used some Spica glitter pens in silver and clear on the bride's gown. Unfortunately, when I tried to take a picture to show the gleam, the metallic paper picked up too much light. There is also a sweet little diamond that the groom is offering his beloved. It does glimmer quite prettily IRL.

I ran the image through my Cuttlebug with a square Nestabilities die, then mounted it onto a Swiss Dot embossed panel. I used a scalloped square Nestabilities diecut to create the final layer before mounting the whole works over a sheer ribbon and metallic card base.

My future daughter-in-law invited me to the local bridal show last weekend-- great fun! Wedding plans are humming along!

If you would like to see more cards with a LOVEly theme, check out the Stamp Simply Team:
Sharon, Julie, Jennifer, Janine, Tammy, AJ, Becky and Dee

Have a wonderful weekend!

Give Unto Them...

"Give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."Isaiah 61:3.

I've needed four sympathy cards in the past couple of weeks--all for friends who have lost loved ones. I received some beautiful Verve stamps for my birthday, and thought this verse would be just perfect for one.

I wanted to participate in Splitcoaststampers Sketch challenge today since I was home from work for a teacher's inservice day which I was not required to attend. Yay!

I began by using K and Company Classic K Margo prints, along with Bazzill's Walnut textured cardstock. I wanted to try something a bit different with the sketch, so I framed out the corners with the walnut cardstock. I'm not sure whether I like the corners this way, but they stay for now...

I stamped the verse with Versafine Vintage Sepia, and finished the sketch off with a copper brad from Michaels.

Hope you have a wonderful remainder to your week!

Taking the "Mod" from "Modern"

Today's Stamp Simply Challenge is called, "Modern Edge." Sharon (notimetostamp) issued a challenge that we create what we feel constitutes "modern." Well, I'm hardly a "modern kind of gal," so this was a true challenge for me! When I think of modern designs, I picture clean lines and funky prints--almost retro in feel...hmmm...MOD!

As I was pondering what my design would entail, I remembered the Luxe Design paper kit that I had won over at Splitcoast Stampers Interactive Fan Club a couple of months ago. Yes! A solution was at hand, or in hand...

No stamping on this design (gasp!). I used Luxe Designs Stiletto Disco Ball designer paper along with Stamping Up's gold metallic paper. The Luxe paper's print is in gold metallic, although it doesn't show up well in the photo. It looks to be a better match IRL. I used an alphabet letter that came with the kit, mounting it upon a Nestabilities die cut rectangle.

Clean lines, funky print, and simple font make for my "MOD" design!
Check out the Stamp Simply Design Team's answer to modern:

Sharon, Julie, Janine, Jennifer, AJ, Tammy, Dee and Becky

Remember if you would like to participate and chose to upload at Splitcoaststampers, please use the keywords: ssnotime71. Then, please link back to Sharon's blog so we can all enjoy your design! I cannot wait to see everyone's rendition of "Modern"! Have a great weekend!

SUPER Simple Thank You

Just enough time for a super simple thank you! My husband asked me for some thank you cards and here they are!

I used Stampin' Up's Haiku Decorator papers, Tangerine Tango cardstock and ink, and sentiment set, "Wonderful Words." A couple of Dew Drops finished off the design.

A bit of decorator paper, sentiment, and simple layering can make life easy! LOL!!!

Have a great week!

Senior Citizens Rule!!!

Happy Birthday Sharon!!! Since Sharon (notimetostamp) is turning one year older, she has decided to celebrate all things Senior Citizen (Senior Citizens Rule!) with her weekly Friday challenge--ssnotime70.

This is not a birthday card, but a get well card for an elderly friend. I thought that a bird image would be a suitable as my husband always jokes around that he doesn't feed the birds--he's not a senior citizen quite yet! So I guess that means that senior citizens like birds! Or feeding them in any case...hehe--actually, I'm quite a bird person myself, and not even 50 years old!

I used this lovely bird from Our Daily Bread Designs Sing to the Lord set. I stamped it onto Neenah Classic Cream with Memento Tuxedo Ink and Copic colored it. Nestabilities die cuts frame the image panel out, with K and Company Classic K Margo pad providing the decorator paper touch.

I finished the card off with a PaperTrey Ink sentiment diecut with Cuttlebug dies stamped with Versafine Black Onyx--my "go-to sentiment ink"--and Sheer Creations ribbon.

To see more fabulous Senior designs, check out the Stamp Simply Design Team:

Sharon, Janine, Jennifer, AJ, Julie, Tammy, and Dee

If you chose to play, make sure you link back to Sharon's blog so we can what you've created!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!

Will You Be Mine???

This is for today's Way to Use It Challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers. What a great challenge! Julia provided a link to Kuler, a site that mixes color palettes, and we were to choose one. I will definitely use this site again for inspiration and ideas! My chosen color mix is called Tropical Milkshake.

I just received this cute Valentine set from Taylored Expressions yesterday. It's called "Love is Sweet." Taylor's store has a wealth of treats! Check it out here!

I began by stamping this little cupcake onto PaperTrey Ink's Basic white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Once I already had my Tropical Milkshake color choices (Creamy Caramel, Blush Blossom and Cameo Coral) I was ready to begin coloring with my Copics.

I also included yesterday's Sketch Challenge in my design. I followed the sketch, except making a square card rather than rectangular. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the Blush panel; used my square Nestabilities to die cut the image; mount the image with dimensional tape; and then finished off the design with hearts and sentiment.

Hope your day goes well-- we're very cold here-- just below 0 degrees for our high temp today!
Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Boots!

This is a birthday card for my MIL using Splitcoast's Color Challenge colors for today: Not Quite Navy, Bahama Breeze, and Kraft. I also used Neenah Classic Cream for the image panel.

I started by stamping my Impression Obsession Charming Gardners boot image with Memento Tuxedo Black. I colored the image with quite a few markers-- B00, B95, B97, B41, BG45, YG63, YG03, E31, E55, T1, Y15, Y38, YR16, YR18, and 0.

I used PaperTrey Ink's Birthday Basics for the sentiment, adding a Robin's Nest Dew Drop.
I really like to used textured papers when not stamping or using decorator paper as a backdrop.

Hope you're having a great week! Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. Did you know that if you click on the picture, you can view a larger photo? It took me awhile to figure that one out! :)

Winter Angel

This is for Sharon Johnson's (notimetostamp) weekly Friday challenge: ssnotime69. Our quest this week was to design any winter card--and, for the couragious, to make a winter card with no snowflakes or snowmen!

I decided to go for the extra challenge to make winter, minus the normal subjects. This project was very easy--no stamping!

My husband brought these diecuts home for me from a trip he made to Estonia/Finland. I have been hoarding them for some time!

I made the base of the "card" by using Spellbinders Mega Nestabilities, then added a Nestabilities-cut stand to the back. I mounted another SU Copper cardstock panel that had been embossed with a Cuttlebug folder to the base with dimensional tape. I used glue dots to adhere the diecut angel to the embossed panel and added a copper brad. May Art ribbon accents and Stampin' Up HodgePodge Hardware (retired) finish off the design.

Check out more winter designs at the Stamp Simply design team:
Sharon, Jennifer, Janine, Julie, Tammy, AJ, Dee, and Becky

This was a fun one! Hope you have time to play!

Time for Tea

This is for today's Technique Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. We were challenged to design with red sticky tape and glitter! I chose to make glittery butterflies rather than a background.

I began with a new image from Impression Obsession-- Simple Pleasures. The teacup image comes with a beautiful verse, which I stamped inside the card reading, "May you enjoy the Simple Pleasures of life." I stamped the verse and image with Memento Tuxedo Black. I then colored the teacup with Copic markers Y21, Y000, B00, BG45, and YG11. I cut out the cup, then mounted it with dimensional tape onto a panel that I had stamped with retired SU's Victorian Lace. That panel was then adhered to SU's Cool Caribbean cardstock, and then dimensionally taped to a SU Certainly Celery cardbase.

My butterflies were made by adhering wide red sticky tape (double sided stick) to paper, then glittering the tape. I then punched out the butterflies with a Martha Stewart punch. I used glue dots to adhere them to the image panel.

I finished off this teacup with a Prima flower with brad (with glue dot) dipped in the glitter.

I really debated as to adding the word tea in the upper right hand corner, but settled without it. I often make cards with no sentiment or words on the front--I have gone to add a sentiment or word to finalize the design, and have goofed up! Even with clear, see through stamps! I should stamp the word at the begin, I know, I know... oh well!

Oh, I'm home stamping today because of a snow day! I'm certainly getting spoiled! It will be difficult to go back to school tomorrow...hehe!!!

When it Rains...

When It Rains...well, it certainly isn't raining here now! We've been having a day of lake effect snows and winds. A perfect day for stamping! I should be making thank you's, but wanted to ink up this little cutie from Whiff of Joy.

This sketch is for December's Obsure Holiday Fan Club Interactive Site over at Splitcoast. This one happens to be provided by Jessie Rone, one of the Dirty Dozen designers at Splitcoast. It was a fun sketch, and quick to put together.

I began with a base of Bazzill Basic textured paper, and added decorator paper from Cosmo Cricket's Mr. Campy collection. I added a funky flower with twine that I had diecut with my Cuttlebug. This image reminds me of when I was a teenager-- bell bottoms and top as shown. Thus, a flower with the same shape popular in "that" decade...hehe...

I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Ink and colored it in with my Copic markers.

Well, back to my thank you's...have a wonderful week!

Guest Designer for January!

I am so pleased and honored to announce that I will be January's Guest Designer at Sharon Johnson's No Time to Stamp? blog. Thanks so much Sharon! If you have not visited Sharon's blog, you must do so! Her designs are "simply" elegant!

This Friday's challenge (ssnotime68) is to create a thank you card--no other rules! We all have thank you's to extend this time of year--now is a great time to get started!

Sharon typically designs cards that are quick, yet pretty. People usually think that colored designs do not equate to "quick" cards, but I believe that it can be achieved by coloring images in advance. As I have shared before, I often sit with my family in the evenings, coloring as they watch television. I then have multiple images to choose from when I'm ready to design.

Today's image is by Sarah Kay. I love her sweet little ladies, they are just adorable! I stamped this little gal with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then colored her with Copic markers. I created a base for her with Stampin' Up Ruby Red cardstock, layered with decorator paper from K and Company. The ribbon is May Arts, with a Nestabilitie's tag diecut and sentiment from PaperTrey Ink (Mixed Messages).

This card should be quite easy to mail--the ribbon is soft and will lay flat, with no other embellishments to contend with.

Check out these designs by the Stamp Simply Design Team:

Sharon, Janine, Julie, Jennifer, Tammy, Dee, Becky and A.J.

If you choose to play along, please know that you may upload to Splitcoast Stampers using the key word, ssnotime68. If you do upload either to Splitcoast or your blog, please link back here so I am able to see your design! Thanks so much for playing!

Have a wonderful Friday! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sail Into the New Year!

Happy New Year! A fresh and new start to our calendar and lives! I would like to sail into the New Year with a couple of designs from my gallery...


I have used the same image (Stampin Up's Ships Ahoy) for both of these cards. The top card uses Basic Black and More Mustard cardstocks, along with an unknown decorator paper. I used Prismacolor pencils to shade the image lightly, along with sponging and distressing the edges. The ribbon was a piece from a package that I had ordered from William Sonoma's Home catalog.

On this card, I used Not Quite Navy, Tempting Turquoise, and Confetti Cream cardstocks. I used a page from an old Atlas that was heading for the trash at school for the map background. I used chalks to lightly shade the SU Ship's Ahoy image, and twine wrapped around the layers using the Southwest corner punch on the main image panel.

Thanks for visiting! I look forward to a new year of inspiration and paper crafting enjoyment!