Father's Day Leaves

Hello!  I needed one more Father's Day card, from the kids to their dad, and I whipped this up this morning. I used PLENTY of cheats:  I just dig into my $1.00 Scrap Bags from my Stampin' Up! demo, and the card just about makes itself!

I do not know the name of the (retired) patterned papers, but they are from SU.  The leaves, from Gently Falling, were already stamped; I just trimmed each one.

The button is from a pair of pants that no longer fit me - hooray!  (it was a spare button, tacked to the inside of the waistband)  The raffia is from my stash.

Challenges I'm entering:

• Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Father's Day
• PaperPlay - For a Man with Twine (does raffia count??)
• Cards for Men - Father's Day

Enjoy your day....I hope it's a beautiful one!



Dimensions: 4" x 5.25"
Stamps: Purely Sentimental - Verve; Gently Falling leaves - SU
Paper: Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, ass't patterned papers - SU
Ink: Chocolate Chip - SU
Fibers: raffia ribbon
Other: button; Key Tag punch - SU

Butterfly Wreath

Summer can officially begin for me:  the kids are finished with school today!  Yay!  What a complete relief.  I celebrated by taking a mini-nap ;) and then eventually got some stamping time goin'.  Life is GOOD!

(I spy a Cristabel hair!  Do you see it?  I didn't notice 'til just now.)

Oh, where to begin??  Let's start with that gorgeous sentiment.  It's by 'Inspired by Stamping', and I just love it.  It is nice and big, and stands on its own beautifully.

There are three challenges I've combined:

• ColourQ #141 - I used paints as three of those colors (the Limeade, Brocade & Navy)
• Creative Inspirations Paints - Inspired by butterflies
• CASE Study challenge - this week's muse inspiration is Joy Taylor and here is her card --

I liked the shape of that flower, and substituted a wreath.  I see pearls on Joy's card, and I've got those.  The intricate cutwork on Joy's card is echoed in the soft polka dot pattern on my card.

See the shimmer on those butterflies?  I punched out a bunch of them, and painted them with these colors.

An interesting thing about these awesome paints is that they are very sheer, so you can build the color if you wish.  I put two coats on each butterfly.  And it dries in a wink, too.

Yesterday was my 14 YO's graduation from 8th grade.  I'm so proud of her!  After dealing with her personal struggle last year, she had a really good school year and I thank God for her health.  Here she is right after yesterday's celebration:

Love my girl!!  So proud of you!

Oh!  Don't forget about my giveaway!  There's still time to enter for a chance to win a copy of Paper Crafts Magazine July/August issue. (I have a card published in this issue!) Be sure to leave a comment on THIS post to be entered.

Thanks for dropping by!



Dimensions:
Stamps: Big Notes II - Inspired by Stamping
Paper: white - PTI; polka dot - retired SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white seam binding - Zipper Stop
Other: Tanzanite, Denium, Green Olive shimmer paints - Creative Inspirations Paints; Royal Butterfly punch - Martha Stewart; pearls - Recollections and Queen & Co.; corner rounder punch - SU

Featured Artist at Kraft Journal

Hello!  I just wanted to say 'thank you' to the good folks at The Kraft Journal for featuring my balloon graduation card today, in their Feature Me Friday segment!

And if you haven't already seen my giveaway, please check HERE to be entered in the drawing.  :D

Today is the last day of school....hooray!  Just a little more busy-ness to go, and then -- whoo hoo -- easier crafting time!


 

Play Date Cafe 136 - Just Saying Hello, a giveaway and a DT call!

This is my second post for today.  You don't want to miss the Inspired By Stamping challenge card one post down!  Please scroll down one post to see the shabby chic card.

Azure, Raspberry and Blackberry are the yummy colors for this week's Play Date Cafe challenge.  Aren't they pretty?  That deep color reminded me that I have some older Vintage Violet cardstock from Stampin' Up!, which I've been hoarding.  It was the perfect time to bring it out to play!

(I realize I just posted sparkly stars on my Creative Inspirations creation yesterday.  I make many of my design team projects well in advance, and didn't plan for things to be so repetitious two days in a row!)

Also coming out to play:  a sentiment from Hero Arts' Truly Appreciated set.  I just received it in the mail...a freebie, for using Hero Arts on a card that was published.  Yay!

I just loooove to put sparkle on stars!

I took inspiration for this design from a card in Paper Crafts' Holiday Cards & More Vol. 6  issue, by Windy Robinson on page 156.

We'd love to have you link up your creation in the gallery at The Play Date Cafe.  Click on the link for all the details.  Our sponsor this week is the awesome Simon Says Stamp!

More news from The Play Date Cafe:  they are hosting an Open Design Team Call, the first in over a year!  I love being a part of the PDCC team.  It's a group of wonderfully talented women, who are kind and supportive.  The challenge is highly-recognized, successful and lots of fun!  If you would like to apply, head over to see the details.

Now, for my giveaway:

My card is on page 23 of the brand new July/August issue of Paper Crafts Magazine,  featuring artichokes from Stampin' Up!'s Homegrown set (love that set!).  I have an extra copy of this magazine, so I'd love to give it to a random winner.  All you need to do is leave a comment on THIS post before 11:59 AM EST, June 21, 2012.  I will draw a winner on Friday, June 22nd and post the winner's name that day.


Thanks for coming by today!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Truly Appreciated - Hero Arts
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Vintage Violet - SU; white - PTI
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other: 1 3/8" square punch - SU; iridescent glitter; star punch - Fiskars

Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #13 -

Hello!  This is my very first time playing in an 'Inspired by Stamping' challenge as a design team member, and I'm so thrilled!

Here is the inspiration photo for this week's challenge:

How serene that photo is!  For my card, I used lots of blue, representing the sky and the sea.  I also added a sandy color, and a hint of green because I see a couple of plants in this photo.

As you can see in the background, I've decorated a corner of my envelope, too.  ;)

On the card, I created my own background using the tree image from Cherish.  To me, it kind of looks like coral, or seaweed.

The frame and sentiment are from Small Fancy Label 4, and the flowers and leaves are from Little Flowers.

This is for my aunt, who recently moved.  I can't wait to go see her new home, and will be taking this card with me.

So...are you inspired by that lovely beach photo?  Come join us!  There's a new challenge every Thursday.  Visit HERE for all the details.  :-)  Hope to see you there!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Cherish, Small Fancy Label 4, Little Flowers -Inspired by Stamping
Paper: white - PTI; Baja Breeze - SU
Ink: Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz - SU
Fibers: white seam binding - Zipper Stop; twine - Creative Impressions
Other: pearls - Queen & Co.; doily - Wilton; Big Shot; Labels Four die - Spellbinders

10 Minute 'Hello'

This is my second post for today.  Please scroll down one post or click 

HERE for my Creative Inspirations card.

Okay, please bear with me as I make - and upload - one more 10 Minute creation for the Flourishes 'Gimme Ten' challenge!  I've CRAVED card-making lately, because my free time has been so limited.  Seems in this busy rush toward the end of school, I can only get snippets of time to craft:  perfect, then, for this 10 Minute challenge.

I'm desperately trying to use up some patterned paper scraps that I've had for too long.

The trio of cards looked a little plain with just paper strips and a sentiment, so I added a pre-punched flower to each, plus a pearl.  Pearls seem to dress up most anything!

One more challenge entered:  Pixie's Crafty Snippets Challenge.  My friend Tammy plays there often, and thought I'd give it a try!

I'll be back tomorrow with two cards -- a Play Date Cafe creation, and an 'Inspired by Stamping' creation.  See you then!

Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Essential Messages - Hero Arts
Paper: Barely Banana, Taken with Teal cardstock, patterned paper strips - SU
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other: pearls - Queen & Co.; Flower Trio punch - SU 

Sparkly Hello

Hello!  I've got a clean-and-simple card to show you today, using shimmer paints and glitter from Creative Inspirations Paints.

It all began with my star punch and a box of cereal.  One day in May, I just sat and punched out as many stars as I could from the box's chipboard.  I got quite a few!

In order for the Creative Inspirations paints to show up best, I wiped each star first with a white craft ink pad.

Next, I used Turquoise and Evergreen paints on the stars.  The paint dries so quickly, which I love (keeps my crafting train going full steam ahead!).

I painted on Aleene's Tacky Craft Glue, then sprinkled Resplendence Angel Dust glitter, also available from Creative Inspirations.  This glitter is super fine, and SUPER iridescent and sparkly.  Bee-autiful.

A sentiment from Hero Arts and a scattering of rhinestones fit just perfectly among the sparkly stars.

As for the card bottom, I used Tumbled Glass ink and the Houndstooth background stamp from Market Street Stamps along the bottom of the card base.  A bit of lace and Wild Wasabi ribbon from my scraps add interest.

On another note, I'm proud to say that my 'Prayed for You' card won a Froggin' Fantastic Four award over at Lily Pad, for the Vera's View challenge.  Yay!


And  I earned a Heroine award at A Blog Named Hero for my 
'Double the Damask' card.  :-)  (the one with the single tulip)

Thanks for letting me share these things with you!  No one else quite understands what it means to win an award for a card, unless it's another card-maker.  ;-)  The family just doesn't get it, most of the time.  

Thank you SO much for joining me!  Enjoy your day!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Essential Messages - Hero Arts; Houndstooth - Market Street Stamps
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Tumbled Glass - Ranger; Whisper White craft ink - SU
Fibers: Wild Wasabi ribbon - SU; lace trim
Other: cereal box chipboard; star punch - Fiskars; Resplendence Angel Dust glitter, Turquoise & Evergreen Shimmer Paints - Creative Inspirations Paints

10 Minute Father's Day

Thank you so much for the nice comments on yesterday's card, Le Jardin 10 Minute Card.  I think some of you don't believe it actually took me 10 minutes to create...but I swear, that's it!!  Now, the concept of it...that took longer than 10.  The actual work was quick:  stamp a frame, stamp a tree, stamp a label and a leaf cluster.  Punch one thing, tie a bow, and fussy cut one thing.  Honest!  LOL

Today's Father's Day card duo (destined for dad-in-laws) was probably less than 10 minutes per card to create.  I used skinny strips of patterned paper from those awesome $1.00 Scrap Bags from my Stampin' Up! demo (thanks, Gail!), a Verve sentiment, and a bit of twine.

Challenges entered:

• Fab 'n Funky - 'Go Green' (either use green, or BE green:  I used paper scraps and honest-to-goodness bakery twine)
• Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Father's Day
• Flourishes Gimme Ten - 10 minute card

School is finished on Friday of this week, and my 8th grader will graduate on Thursday.  (sniff - pass the hankies!)  There are half days from here on out.  Tomorrow is my 10 YO's class party, and I'll be there for a bit of that as well.  Friday is the 5th grade graduation at our elementary school, and parents of 4th graders (that's me) hold a little reception for it.

Holy cow, I cannot WAIT for school to be done!  I know the kids feel the same.  Saturday morning, I'm sleepin' in!!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Purely Sentimental - Verve
Paper: scraps of patterned paper - SU; cream, white - PTI
Ink: Chocolate Chip - SU
Fibers: bakery twine (from a real bakery!); natural twine - Creative Impressions
Other:  corner rounder punch - SU

Le Jardin 10 Minute Card

Hi!  Thought I'd play in a Flourishes Gimme Ten 10-Minute challenge today.  Seems that's about all the time I truly had to actually make a card today....busy, busy day.

Love that Swirly Parchment Frame by Sweet Stamps.  It dresses up a card in no time.  The tree, sign and leaves are all from Stampin' Up!'s Le Jardin Botanique, a set I adore but don't get much inky time with.

An oval punch helped make this a quick card.

Also entering this at:

• Really Reasonable Ribbon - 'flowers and ribbon' (do a tree and leaves count??)
• For Your Inspiration - be inspired using this photo:

The arches on the Coliseum inspired me to pull out the swirly frame stamp; lots of arches on there.

Okay, that's it for me!  This post took way longer than the actual card!  ;)

Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Le Jardin Botanique - SU; Swirly Parchment Frame - Sweet Stamps
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Soft Suede - SU
Fibers: sheer brown ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Other: pearl - Queen & Co.; large oval punch - SU

Mr. and Mrs. Toast

I managed to get some much-needed "me" time this morning/afternoon, and what came to life at my work space winds up to be a Father's Day card.

I started with a few sketches that are new to me:

• Lawnscaping - Use patterned paper
• PaperPlay - Back to Kraft basics 
• Retro Sketches #15 - use this sketch:

The Lawn Fawn set "Love n' Breakfast" has been crying for some ink, ever since I bought it months ago.  It is too, TOO cute!!  

After doing so many shabby-chic kind of cards in a row, it felt refreshing to try on some cuteness.  : D

Mr. and Mrs. Toast and the toaster were stamped on patterned paper, trimmed, and some coloring was added (Copic markers). 

I know this will make my husband smile.  :-)  Now, to make a card for him "From The Kids"!  

Thanks for coming by today!

Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Love n' Breakfast, My Silly Valentine - Lawn Fawn
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Basic Black, patterns - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Fibers: natural twine - Creative Impressions; white twine - bakery
Other: Copic markers; scalloped punch - SU; corner rounder punch - EK Success; Big Shot; Labels Eight die - Spellbinders

'Inspired by Stamping' June Release - Elegant Flowers

Hello!  Did you all see the amazing newly-released stamps for June at 'Inspired by Stamping'?  No?  Check them out HERE at the store -- you'll LOVE them!

I've got a creation to show you using one of those new sets, called Elegant Flowers:

It gave me a chance to try out some new papers from Michael's that I've been hoarding.  :-)

A blue rose?  Yes, why not!  I took my cue from the patterned paper.  The light green paper is Prima.  It's so subtle you can barely see the design.

I paired two different rose stamps here:  one with a stem, and a full-blown rose with no stem.  I love how I can combine these to make what I want!  Behind the 3D rose, I've made a 'toile' of sorts, using Mellow Moss ink and another flower from the set.

The inside features a flower and a sentiment from Birthday Greetings, another June release.

See this sweet little stamp?  It's free with orders over $75.  Free is always good!

The design team has so much crafty goodness to share with you.  Please go visit them, too --

Deb Hickman

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Irit Shalom

Joanna Munster

Kendra Sand

Kim Score

Tammy Hobbs

Don't forget that this is the last day you can get free shipping on any purchase in the store, too.  The code is freeshipping.  It's also the last day to put your name in for BLOG CANDY - head over to Joanna's blog for the details.

Thanks so much for coming by....I love when you visit!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Elegant Flowers, Birthday Greetings - Inspired by Stamping
Paper: Sparkling Spring - Prima; Treasures by Shabby Chic - Michael's; white - PTI; Mellow Moss - SU
Ink: Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: lace trim - Simplicity; twine - Creative Impressions
Other: pearls - Recollections, Queen & Co.

Play Date Cafe 135 - Happy Summer!

This is my second post for today.  Please scroll down one post 

for the 'Inspired by Stamping' June Sneak Peeks!

Here we go with a new set of colors from The Play Date Cafe!  This time 'round, it's Aquamarine, Poolside and Clay.  And we have The Craft's Meow as our sponsor this week -- love their stamps!

Since I have some adorable TCM stamps, I used those for my project.  I just have to say, my card took waaaaay too many hours to conjure up.  Once I got the idea in my head, somehow the translation to paper just didn't quite make it the way it looked in my mind.  Ever have those times?

I added a face to the sun.  :o)

The beach ball looks so summery, sitting among those sandy mounds.

One lucky player this week will receive a special prize from The Craft's Meow.  For all the details, head over to The Play Date Cafe.

Hope to see you there!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Sending You Sunshine, It's A Shore Thing - The Craft's Meow
Paper: white - PTI; Creamy Caramel - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Ballet Blue, Baja Breeze - SU
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions