Monday, November 30, 2015

Splattered Bird


My card is a marriage between last week's Make It Monday and this week's


hosted by Danielle Flanders


I needed a simple backdrop for my completed tag and went the route that Danielle's video instructed.


My glimmer mist is a spray bottle I can't control, but this technique was perfect when I used a tapped brush.



(stamp: Papertrey Ink Songbirds  die: Spellbinders Large Labels  other:American Crafts silver washi,American Crafts ribbon,Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Pink Bubblegum)



 I attached silver washi tape to the edge of the cut tag and reran it through the Big Shot for a dipped look.


I believe it adds just the right amount of shine.


I'm also submitting this to 



http://alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.ca/2015/11/the-challenge-53-make-non-traditional.html



I appreciate your visit!




Funny Plane Ride



I picked up a fun pack of elements and layered 'em up for someone traveling with kids.


Oh I remember those flying days with three littles...


super "fun". 


;)



 (stamp:American Crafts Amy Tangerine Lovestruck  other:American Crafts Amy Tangerine Bits, Bazzill Basics Intense Kiwi)


The "smoke" was added with nail polish.




I have to say, although flying to and fro was difficult, it paid off in time.


My girls are PROS when it comes to travel, waiting, and all that jazz.


So if you're traveling with littles (esp babies)...one tip I have is PACE YOURSELF.


I would carry a little something special for my wee one for every hour or two hours (count 'em...usually 11 hour flights) to distract and keep 'em busy.


I prayed a lot too.


A.  LOT.


;)

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Layered Stamping on Kraft




I need a sympathy card, unfortunately, so I put together a simple one, with inspiration from this challenge.



hosted by Dawn McVey


 

(stamp: Papertrey Ink Meadow Greens sentiment/Songbirds branch  die: Sllbinders Label 7)


I love the hushed tone of the branches with this technique.


I can't wait to try this again on another card.



Thanks for stopping by!










Birthday Confetti Card



This card was inspired by the clusters of sequins scattered about my desk.


There's a plus side to leaving what nots out~



(stamps: Papertrey Ink Winter Woods)


Check out these gorgeous colors~


http://colourmecardchallenge.blogspot.com/2015/11/cmcc99-colour-me-playful.html





I'm afraid to weigh myself guys...I've enjoyed eating leftovers the past few days and I know it shows.


But the good news is everyone else has been too... ;)


I know I'm not the only one.


I have some health nut friends and I might avoid their IG and FB accounts until I feel better about all of it. ;)



Thanks for stopping by~



Blessings~
















Saturday, November 28, 2015

Marvelous You


My first shaker card....

didn't even plan it.


(stamp: Technique Tuesday Incredible, Unity you  other:American Crafts Maggie Holmes Confetti heart,Bazzill Basics Paper The Adventures of...)





I bet some of you are as wiped as I am...and I didn't even go shopping yesterday.


Geez, I'm losing my spunk guys!!!


My cards are flashier than I am at this point. ;)




Hidden Birthday


My nephew has a birthday coming up and I always forget about it...poor guy!


It's squeezed between the exhaustion of Thanksgiving revelry and the beginnings of Christmas bustle.


This year, aunty remembered to make a card...


now if I could only send it in time~


 (Papertrey Ink Superhero stamps and dies  other:Bazzill Basics Paper The Adventures of...)



Once I found this paper..it was just a matter of lining up KAPOW and lil' hero on arranged panels.


I'm glad I purchased some boy stamps and paper along the way...


 






Friday, November 27, 2015

Poppin' Coral & Black




So this card happened...


(stamp: Unity Winter Tortellini   dies: Spellbinders Blossom Tags sentiment, Sizzix Card Scallop with Flowers)



Don't ask me how...it just ...



BECAME


hahahaha



Poppin' colors make me smile~


I'm submitting this to the following wonderful challenges...






http://alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.ca/2015/11/the-challenge-52-create-christmas-card.html



Thursday, November 26, 2015

Traditional Christmas Colors



I've seen red and green Christmas decor all over the place...paired with a chalkboard theme.


LOVE IT!!!


My last order from Unity was blessed with this free paper panel and it practically makes a card DONE!

Thank you Unity!


I added a green snowflake and gold sprinkles at the bottom (shine didn't pick up in the photo).


Then I hand drew a white scribbly frame~


(die: Martha Stewart punch, chunky gold glitter,center panel~free gift from Unity..thank you!)



Here are some challenges...



http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2015/11/just-us-girls-320-color-week.html
(the sprinkles are gold...PROMISE! :) )






Have a blessed Thanksgiving bloggy friends!!!





Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Papertrey November 2015 Blog Hop




I'm glad I invested in stripes...
they make me so happy!


I played until a design surfaced that I don't mind repeating, using this inspiration from Papertrey Ink.


http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2015/11/november-2015-blog-hop.html


 (stamps: Papertrey Ink Super Stripes/In the Meadow  die:Martha Stewart snowflake punch)


Here are two more...


(stamps: Papertrey Ink Super Stripes,Unity Winter Tortellini  die:Martha Stewart snowflake punch)




  (stamps: Papertrey Ink Super Stripes/In the Meadow  die:Martha Stewart snowflake punch)


I don't have paper to match the stripes in the last ...so swooshed inks for the snowflakes works.


(sorry...phone quality photo~Aqua Mist & Autumn Rose)


I have to say, it's a great way to utilize those inks I don't often use.


I can't stop making these cards~


looks like this design may take me to the finish line guys.



Have a blessed day

&

 a wonderful Thanksgiving~



Friday, November 20, 2015

Thinking About You During Christmas




This card came together because a great sketch was still in my head...




(stamp: Verve sentiment  dies: Spellbinders Classic circle,Sizzix tag,Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Papertrey Ink small snowflake, Our Daily Bread Designs Chickadee)



http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/2015/11/viva-la-verve-november-week-2-sketch.html



As for my non-traditional colors...


Someone recently told my daughter that she didn't like Christmas...

 I get it.


It can be painful for those that lost a significant other~

or a family member is deployed...


This is a subtle way to let them know they are thought of during Christmas without being all up in their face about the holiday.


Plus, it can stay displayed throughout the whole season~


Simon Says (Wednesday): Christmas


Thanks for visiting today~


Thursday, November 19, 2015

Island Girl




This image reminds me of a wahine from my Hawaii.



 (stamps:Unity Wondrous,Flourishes Tiny Flowers and Tags  dies: Spellbinders Blossom Tags sentiment)


I stamped on one of those ombre panels I watercolored when I was playing with backdrops for this card.


I partially die-cut the image (fussy cutting the long hair first and sticking it out of the die) because I didn't want to cut off her pretty hair.



I'm entering this at


Hop With Unity

&

http://casology.blogspot.com/2015/11/week-173-pretty.html


Thanks for stopping by!



Warm Bird


Chubby birds that wear scarves and/or hats make me happy.


I love birds and I'm obsessed with warmth,


so it's a win-win combo~



(stamps: Unity Own Wings/Snowglobe Wonderland  die: Sizzix Tag  other: Royal Langnickel Watercolor, My Mind's Eye Picket Fences Cardbase, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pine Needles, We R Memory Keepers Inked Rose Journaling Card, sequins)


A bit of watercoloring on the lil' guy and added water drops to a distressed tag create a snowy effect.



http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2015/11/just-us-girls-319.html




Hope your day is flowing along peacefully~



Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Neon Motif




This week at Make It Monday it's all about the stamping...
it's a fun one guys!



hosted by Betsy Veldman 


How often does it happen you envision a card and it comes out the way you want,


FIRST
 
TRY?!


Um, almost never 
 
 
for me~
 
 
until now.


(stamps: Papertrey Ink Grunge Me/In the Meadow snowflake/Winter Penguin sentiment)



I wanted a rockin' neon motif consisting mostly of the Grunge Me elements.

Although you would think the circles would intimidate me, they didn't.
 
I was expecting them to not center and figured I would overcompensate with the last elements to give an overall feel of focus.

No, the scariest parts to incorporate were the splatters~

mostly because they were the last to add and I didn't want them to overwhelm the design.

After I figured out where the tip of the little splatter was, I centered each between orange sprays.

"Stay Cool" is an apropos sentiment for a rockstar motif~ don't ya think?


Hope you like~













Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Ombre Water Color Panel



I created an ombre watercolored panel~it was easy peasy~


I was testing out the color and kept swooshing up the paper until the color ran out.


Then I thought, "Hey, I like that" and created more for future cards.

I thought this had a sunflower look to it, so I grabbed that Spellbinder blossom die, AGAIN (TOLD you I would try to find other uses for it..I wasn't kidding!)


(stamp: Unity Love Lives Here/Blossom Stackers  die: Spellbinders Blossom Tags and Accents other: Royal Langnickel Watercolor, complimentary wooden heart accent from Unity..THANK YOU!!!)



The main feature of this card is watercolor, so here's another for


http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2015/11/just-us-girls-319.html


I'm resisting a nap because I want to create~perhaps a little shut eye wouldn't hurt though...




Monday, November 16, 2015

Nautical Sketch Card



I love anything nautical~


don't know what my deal is.


I get seasick, for goodness sakes!


But it doesn't deter my gravitation toward stripes, boats, anchors...you name it, as far as images go.


At least I can design a card and not worry about queasiness or falling overboard~


(stamps: Verve Strong Anchor/Learning to Sail   dies: Verve Nautical Die ,MFT Blueprints 11, Spellbinders Blossom Tags)



I'm playing along with this lovely sketch~
 

http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/2015/11/viva-la-verve-november-week-2-sketch.html



So, how's your Monday so far?


I'm hanging in there guys....an uneventful Monday is A-OK with me!


Thanks for visiting~


 

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Texture on a CAS Card




I created a simple card with some textual interest today.



(stamps: Unity Rebuild Herself/Erica Girl  die: Spellbinders Blossom Tags, Martha Stewart flower punch  other: Royal Langnickel Watercolor, Tim Holtz distress tool, We R Memory Keepers Good Day Sunshine Journaling Card, cereal box chipboard)


There's all types of feels here for Virginia's View Challenge.


http://virginiasviewchallenge.blogspot.com/2015/11/virginias-view-challenge-20.html


I edged the journaling card with a distress tool and die cut a cereal box remnant for added levels and interest.

The watercoloring in the center of the blossom with tubed watercolor leaves a sandy finish also.


http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2015/11/just-us-girls-319.html

It's fun to play with a little mixed media on a CAS project~I feel all artsy and such. ;)


Have a blessed day~




Saturday, November 14, 2015

No Small Miracles


This fall sticker inspired me to create something for my friend who LOVES all things autumn.


This superwoman helps run her husband's local business.

She is raising a toddler and still finds time to volunteer at our church NONSTOP.

I can't imagine our church or town without her smiling face and helping hand.

She's amazing and a true miracle from God.


I'm blessed to call her friend. ;)


(stamps: Verve Wonderfully Made, Waltzingmouse Paris Nouveau  die: Spellbinders 25)



~Thanks for stopping by today~


Friday, November 13, 2015

Bit of Shine & a Rustic Deer



This white cutout fell upon the rectangle in my scrap pile and it made me smile~


(I have such pretty scrap piles all over my craft desk) ;) ;)


(stamps: Unity Snowglobe Wonderland  dies: Papertrey Ink In the Meadow, Spellbinders Wonky Rectangles)



I embossed snowflakes with silver for a little touch of glimmer.


http://inkspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca/2015/11/challenge-95-anything-goes-with-silver.html





http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2015/11/cfc145.html


http://vervestamps.blogspot.com/2015/11/rustic-winter-diva-insirations.html
(The white deer look amazing in this inspiration photo)


This is a simple card which I could duplicate if need be~


thanks for stopping by~

Teen Christmas Tags




I'm living an exciting life at the moment, friends.


All my girlies are teenagers.


Yup...three teens under one roof.


I take full responsibility for the sassy they've inherited~


 just enough to set boundaries, but rarely crosses a line of disrespectful.


They've also inherited my love of art~


each of them are creative!


I love that!


 I thought trendy tags for their special gift (whatever that may be)~under the tree would be fun.


When I made this project and researched my supplies...I rediscovered a large blossom die!

I chose three colors I thought were jazzy and cut them into tags (including 6 black extras). I also cut out 6 blossoms from cereal boxes for sturdy centers~2 per tag.

I stacked one of each color (saving the 6 extra) and cut again with the dotted borders "wave" die.

I glued the coral, black and striped "waves" onto black blossom tags for the front and attached the remaining black blossoms to the back (with dual chipboard centers cut from cereal boxes in the center).


These coordinate, but aren't identical...just like my girlies!


(stamp: Avery Elle free digital   dies: Avery Elle Dotted Borders Elle-ments, Spellbinders Blossom Tags/Classic Circles)



The free digital stamp from Avery Elle prints well on vellum~

 I resized them to fit the centers.

Once dry, I die cut and edged them with a silver Sharpie to cover the glue trim beneath.


http://aeiheartuchallenge.blogspot.com/2015/11/challenge-30holiday-tag.html


These are pretty substantial and should last as ornaments in the years to come.


Since this is going on a gift to give, I'm also submitting this to
 
 
http://casology.blogspot.com/2015/11/week-172-give.html


Thanks for stopping by today~





Thursday, November 12, 2015

Weepy On Veterans' Day



I got weepy yesterday,


thinking of heroes.

 

I get like that around Veterans' Day ...


when I see commercials featuring a soldier surprising their kids with a homecoming...


 or deployed wishing their family Merry Christmas on TV...


when they are in uniform at the airport coming or going...


can't.

even.


My guy served 22 years~


he's retired now.


It's such a blessing to have him home.


 I appreciate his sacrifice and the sacrifices of those who served and are still serving.


I appreciate the ones who never made it home.


gulp


THANK YOU


 from the bottom of my heart.


I was grateful for motivation to create something for my person...
 

because words will never be enough for me~




(stamp: Papertrey Ink Superhero  dies: Mighty Oak/Photo Finish Strips  other: Royal Langnickel Watercolor)




He will always be my hero.



Check out the tutorial here, it's awesome~


hosted by Ashley Newell


Have you hugged your hero today?


Blessings~




 

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Trust in the Lord



I had scraps laying just to the side of my workspace.


I felt they made a handsome collaboration~


(stamp: A Jillian Vance Simply Said: Coffee & Jesus  die: Verve Arrow, Simon Says Stamp Greeting Blocks)



If I had tossed them in an "away" pile, this wouldn't have been created.

"Out of sight, out of mind" for me...


hence my workspace is pretty cluttered with everything in sight~yikes ;)


This is my final entry for


http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2015/11/just-us-girls-318-word-week.html

I could have entered at least 5 more! I have been so into stripes lately...



I've also been grabbing for a bit of shine, so my arrow is cut from gold paper for

http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2015/11/cfc145.html


Thanks for stopping by~



Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Chipboard Snowmen Ornaments


 I'm motivated to create ornaments this year to add to gift soaps and teacher cards.


A few years ago I created these dancer ornaments, which were fun to duplicate.


I'm not one for mass production (I'm a one-at-a-time designer).

I really have to like something and it has to be easy to replicate if I do.


Since I haven't adequately used these blossom dies enough~I thought I'd try this technique with them.


I'm so glad I can justify the purchase now!

(stamps: Unity Snow Wonderful/Wishing You Joy/Blossom Stackers  die: Spellbinders Blossom Tags and Accents)


I added some silver sequins and embossing powder for a little more festivity~


http://inkspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca/2015/11/challenge-95-anything-goes-with-silver.html




~navy colored ornaments~


Only thing, these were a little tacky, even after adequate drying time.


No worries...I read somewhere that spreading on a little baby powder does the trick (and it smells good too!).


Here is a card using the ornament as a focal with a different message~



I want to see what else I can fit in this shape.


I've got five more ornaments to assemble first, though.


Thanks for stopping by~





Playful Snowmen




These lil' snowmen make me happy.


Isn't it fun when peeps have friends? ;)



(die: Papertrey Ink In the Meadow Silhouettes  other: We R Memory Keepers Inked Rose Journaling Card, twine)


I saw the Just Us Girls challenge and it made me smile because

I. LOVE. STRIPES.


There's just something about 'em. ;)


http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2015/11/just-us-girls-318-word-week.html


Another Christmas card  DONE ;)



Monday, November 9, 2015

Christmas Texture



I snatched up sequined trim on clearance..right after Halloween.


It gave this nontraditional-colored card the sumpin sumpin it needed to kick it up a notch.



(stamp: Papertrey Ink Holiday Photo Finishers  dies: Papertrey Ink In the Meadow, Photo Finish Strips)


It's not a lot, but it's something you can run your finger over for Virginia's Challenge going on now.

http://virginiasviewchallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/11/virginias-view-challenge-20.html


I haven't counted my Christmas cards...but I'm getting there with each one, not to mention I'm enjoying the process too.


This is a huge difference from last year..I may have stamped ONE, if that.


happy sigh guys, happy sigh