Happy Leap Day

Greetings!

While I was browsing around blog land, I saw a card that I thought was so brilliant for a leap day card, that I cased the idea if not the actual card.  The card that inspired me is linked  here. Thanks for the inspiration!

I had purchased the Gerda Steiner Frogs a while ago because they are so cute.  One image in particular was perfect for leap day.

The image was colored with copics onto the card base. The base was prepared with a computed printed sentiment (yay my printer actually printed on 110lb cardstock) and some inking to provide some grounding.  After coloring the frog, I added some tall marsh grasses from a Stampin p set called Wetlands.

  

I'll be entering this card at Watercooler Wednesday - Occaisions, and Addicted to Stamps and More - Holiday.



Thanks for visiting!

CAS Colours and Sketches GD Week 4

Hey there -

I can't believe February is almost over and so is my time as Guest designer at CAS Colours and Sketches.  I've had a wonderful time and I hope you all have enjoyed it too.  This week is a sketch challenge.

I did a bit of ink blending using antique linen. Then I grabbed some cute lil birthday chickies from MFT and made a birthday card. The images were colored with copics, and the balloon got some Nuvo crystal glaze to make it shine. I mounted the panel on a coordinating colored card base. Colored card bases are festive!

Can you make out the sketch in my card?  I hope to see yours in the Gallery at CAS Colours and Sketches soon.

Thanks for visiting.

Peace Joy Love

Hello -

It is warming up today, might hit high 50's.  After a bit of a lazy morning snuggling under the blankets to soak up any warmth. I headed to my crafty space.

I am woefully behind on my Christmas Cards. I had hoped to have 5 made each month.  I have 3 including this one.

This cute trio is heading to the following challenges: CAS Christmas - Joy, Kickstart Christmas Challenge - Red, ABC Christmas Challenge - Cats/Dogs (I went with both).

I kept my critters in various earthtones so that the RED would stand out. This Simon Says Stamp stamp is a longtime favorite that got little love the last two years.

Thanks so much for visiting.  Have you started your Christmas stash?

Sending Love and Hugs

Hello -

It was nice out yesterday, on the edge of spring and today its very cold out again. There is snow to the south of us, but just cold air here.

Along with laundry (towels I have been ignoring), I took a bit of time to make a card and play in three challenges. My card will be visiting: Addicted to Stamps and More - Make your Mark; Freshly Made Sketches; and Altenew's February Inspiration -Colors below.

I used two sets from Altenew Perfectly Perfect and Adore You for the sentiment.  Coloring was done with Copic markers and stamping was done with Memento Tuxedo Black  with over stamping done with Versafine Black Onyx. I love how that crisps up the lines after coloring.

 

Thanks for visiting.

CAS Colours and Sketches Week 3

Greetings -

I am back with my third card guest designing for CAS Colours and Sketches.  This week it is another color challenge.

Remember, only the challenge colors plus neutrals (white, ivory, black, grey, brown, metallic [gold, silver or copper] or kraft for card bases/layers image outlines and sentiments) should be used in your cards.

While I have the above colors in stampin up blends, I don't have the ink pads. I used Hero Arts Fresh Peach, Field Greens, and SSS Sunshine.  The stamp set is from SU and is called Wishing you Well.  I bought it for that organza bow...but I have come to love this spray as well. Its a nice rubber stamp and stamps perfectly on just an acrylic block.

Thanks so much for visiting, and I'd really love to see your card in the gallery!

Twofer Card Challenge Reminder

Greetings -

Today I have another Twofer for our mid month reminder post that the challenge is open until the 24th.  If you haven't played along already, I hope this post gives you some inspiration to sit down and make a couple of cards.

As always for this challenge...sketching the cards is a must do for me. Otherwise I might make two cards that are too similar.  I have done that in the past. 

You have until the 24th to make your twofers if you haven't already!

Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery!

Happy Birthday

Greetings -

I kinda love the drama of a black card base. So when I saw the colors at Just Us Girls this week it seemed a perfect jumping off spot for this card.

But it was not without trials.  I don't like to give up on a card.  I started with the gold embossed image on a black card base.  I added white and cream colored pencil to the flowers.  It was just meh...I went on to  moving things into order in my crafty space. (Even in my work life when I had a lot to do or a particularly difficult task...I would clean and organize my desk before starting, and then the task was far less difficult.)  Once that was done, it came to me, to emboss the flowers and the ribbon wrap on cream card stock. I added a touch of darker cream for some depth and fussy cut them out and paper piece them on top of the black card.  WOW, I think I got the drama I was looking for.

This card is visiting Just Us Girls (Black Gold Cream), Addicted to Stamps and More (Anything Goes), Watercooler Wednesday (all about the occasions), and Seize the Birthday (Show me your White Space).

   

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So what do you think? Drama or Depressing? Let me know.  And thanks for stopping by.

Pink and Girly

Hello -

Every now and again, I make a very girly card. Its usually pink and has some sort of embellishment to it. Definitely some layers.

This card is visiting the galleries of The Flower Challenge, Just Us Girls, Stamping Sensations(Feminine)  Day of the Month Club ( send a card to a friend; the card has been mailed!)

The gradient strips die is from Altenew, the flowers cut from some patterned paper, the leaves die is from Simon Says stamp and the jewels are from Studio Katia. I thought I had ordered clear, but it was a mix of white and clear.  Happy accident, I love the white gems on this card.

    

Thanks so much for visiting.

CAS Colours and Sketches Week 2

Hello -

Are you ready for my second card Guest Designing over at CAS Colours and Sketches?  This week we have a sketch to play with.

I went with a very literal interpretation and used up some goodies I had in my left overs bin. They don't look like left overs now!  It was so quick and easy to put together -- a sure sign its a fabulous sketch!

Thanks so much for visiting and I hope to see you in the Cas Colours and Sketches Gallery!

Twofer Card Challenge 24

Hello -

I have to say that this month's prompt had me scrambling.

I couldn't think of a single fruit stamp in my inventory.  So used I the excuse to go shopping and picked up Sunny Studio's Fruit Cocktail. Its got plenty of words to make up fun punny sentiments and an apple, a pear, and a peach all layered for super realistic looks.  I later found I had a watermelon stamp and a bunch of bananas...who knew...not me at least not in the moment.

I really like to start with a sketch for this particular challenge, because it is so easy to unintentionally make very similar cards with two different sentiment when working on this challenge - neglecting the two different design aspect.

My sketches are a jumping off point, as you can see below again I went off script once it came down to putting the cards together. But that is OKAY...they are still very different designs for two occasions.

On to the individual images:

For my encouragement / love card I used a Darice basket weave embossing folder on the card base, the fishtail dies are from MFT, I used the tea party and green valley inks from Altenew.  I have them swatched out and it makes that layering stamping so much easier. The sentiment words are part of the fruit coctail stamp set.

Lots of reds playin on this card.  The sentiments contained a single y, and I turned it upside down to make it an H for my punny birthday greeting.

So what fruit/s are you going to play with this month? I hope to see you in the Twofer gallery.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you

Hello -

I got a very late start on my Valentine cards, and as a result only made 20. More thank half were the same card, quick and simple.  This card is for Hubs.  The main image was white embossed on the card base, then the love birds were white embossed on vellum.  I fussy cut the love birds and mounted them with foam dots onto the embossed sentiment heart. Both stamps are from Penny Black.

It will visit the galleries at Penny Black Saturday Challenge,  Allsorts Challenge andTime Out Challenge Shopping our stash, Casology, and Double D Challenge.

                 



Thanks for visiting.

Pink Blue Navy and White

Greetings!

I managed to make another card...not a Valentine.  When I saw the colors at Color Throwdown I had to play along.  The flowers, leaves and die cut vase were from Altenew. The vase is cut from navy cardstock.

    

My card will be visiting the following galleries:

The Flower Challenge - Add Leaves
Addicted to Stamps - Photo Inspiration (below)
Color Throwdown - Pink, Blue, Navy and White


Thanks so much for visiting.

Inspired Sketch

Hello-

Its rainy outside but not too cold. Its a day for soup, napping and of course card making.  Today I am sliding in at the last moments (sorry to the DT's) to two challenges -

Inspired By Challenges (Image below) and Case this Sketch (Sketch Below).  The  two came together for me once I found some xoxo patterned paper. It was a bit bold so I over-layed it with a piece of vellum and then piled my mum's on top. I think flowers are great for a Valentine, it doesn't always have to be hearts.

                

How are your Valentine's coming?  I've limited myself to 20 this year and I am getting close.

Thanks for visiting.

Cas Coulours and Sketches Guest Designing

Hello-

I was surprised and delighted to receive Patricia's email asking if I wanted to Guest Design for CAS Colours and Sketches. My name had been selected from previous months weekly winners.  Of course I was thrilled to participate.  I'll be bringing you 4 cards during February as Guest Designer for CAS Colours and Sketches. (Thanks so much for the invitation Patricia!)

The challenge this week is a color challenge:

Remember, only the challenge colors plus neutrals (white, ivory, black, grey, brown, metallic [gold, silver or copper] or kraft for card bases/layers image outlines and sentiments) should be used in your cards.

Here is my card:

I've used Altenew's vase die in silver glitter paper. The Japanese Mums were stamped using a pink shade for the base layer and 1 red shade of ink for the two detail layers. The outline layer was stamped and embossed in silver.

I hope to see you in the gallery!  Thanks so much for visiting.