Happy Birthday Card - Feminine

It has been forever since I have posted a card.  I have been busy, just running around like crazy.  I have started lots of things, but haven't finished many of what I have started.  It is time to get back on track, and finish something.

I designed this card around a Inkadinkado, Inc. stamp by Nancy Cole.  I just love the sisters sitting on the dock together.  I colored it in using water color pencils.

The designer paper is by K&Company: SW Botanical and I found it at my local Michaels store.  I mounted it on coordinating color of card stock to make it pop, and added ink to the edges for dimension. 

The sun flower dimensional stickers are by Jolee's botique.  While I like the way they look, I don't think I would use them again on a card.  There is adhesive on the sticker along with the pop dot, and it doesn't stick down very well.  This allows for the sticker to attach to other parts of the card or items included with the card.  

The sentiment was created in Microsoft Word and printed on vellum.  I used the stickers to hide the adhesive.

This card is being presented for the following challenge:

Celebrate the Occasion:  Challenge #70-Happy Birthday

I hope you have enjoyed my card.  As always, I look forward to your visit and comments. 

Thank you for stopping by and have a Wonderful day!

Lighthouse in Water Color - Masculine Card Idea

I have used this light house stamp before.  It is one of my favorites to use.  I suppose that is because it is one of my mom's stamps from when she was making and selling them, and my guy loves anything nautical.  He and I have climbed and photographed a number of lighthouses here on the east coast.

I chose blue card stock and incorporated the oranges from my sun rise as accent papers.  I feel the kraft card stock was a nice neutral color and tied the blue and oranges together nicely.

I decided not to use a sentiment so the card would be more versatile.  I love the 3 brads on the front of the card, but did not like them on the inside of the card.  So I followed up with a stripe on the inside of the card to help hide this.  Since the card stock is dark, I added the ledger paper on the inside for handwriting your favorite sentiments and/or memories.  

What do we do at the sea shore?  Collect sea shells!  So I thought it would be cute to add a sea shell to the inside as hidden surprise.

This card will be presented for:

Frosted Designs  Fabulous Friday Challenge - Kraft Paper

Polka Doodles    Week 10 - Giveaway...lets hear it for the Boys!

Totally Paper Craft  Challenge 107 - My Favorite Things

Wags 'n Whiskers  Challenge 74: Spring Break

Thank you for stoping by to visit.  I hope you enjoyed my card and were able to draw some inspiration from it.

Have a wonderful day!

Today is for Animals...

Good Day.  I hope that today finds you safe and comfortable.  While it is a grey dreary day here, I am blessed to be safe and warm here at home.

Following are two completely adorable cards using digi stamps of animals.  I love the bright warm yellows used with the bird, and the cool comfortable blues used with the donkey.

This first card uses an image from Doodle Pantry.  He is called Happy Bird, and it definitely shows.  He just happens to be one of their free digis.  Go ahead and give him a try.  But be forewarned,  their images are so cute and easy to use, you will be perusing their line  and filling your cart up in no time flat.

I colored this little guy using water color pencils (no water used), and then outlined him with a black marker.  I use an assortment of chalk colors to fill in the back ground and create a nice summer sky effect.  The paper and embellishments are scraps from my stash.  The inside of the card is finished off bright and cheery too.  Definitely makes me want to have a Tweet Day!

Tweet Day - Front-

This little guy is being presented for the following challenges:

Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge - Use a Doodle Pantry Image
Alphabet Challenge Blog Y for You can Choose
Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog Challenge #56 Let's Think Hot
Simply Create Too Challenge #4 Layers Layers and More Layers
Ginger Snap Creations GC132: Color Challenge - Soft Yellows and White
Ginger Snap Creations GC134: Spicy Supply Challenge - Ribbon
Party Time Tuesdays Challenge Blog  Challenge #50-  Feathered friends

Tweet Day - Inside - 

Tweet - Ribbon

Tweet - Flower

Next up is this adorable little donkey.  He is a digi by Meljen's Designs called Sweet Little Donkey.  He reminds me of a stuffed animal for a baby.  So soft, warm and adorable.  Be sure to check out her site and designs also.   You will not be disappointed as there are so many cute designs to be had.

This little guy is printed on Kraft card stock and then colored with watercolors.  They didn't take too long to dry, and I really like the deep rich feel of chalks it gives.  I outlined him with a black marker so he would stand out against the brown paper.  He looks a little cross-eyed...but not as bad as it could be.  Eyes are not my forte.   The paper edges are inked with Studio g Chalks Ink (a dollar at my local  Michaels store) and the papers are from my scrap stash.  The inside is finished off with the same papers.  The recipient will definitely know that they are cherished, loved and being thought of fondly.

Donkey - Front - Water Colored

I would like to present him for he following challenges:

Meljen's Designs Challenge #92 Anything Goes

The Pink Elephant  Challenge TPE131 Favorite Colors (Blues)

Stampin for the Weekend Challenge 24 Out with the old

Donkey - Inside

Donkey - Inside

Donkey - Water Colored

Thank you for stoping by to visit.  I hope you enjoyed my cards.  Thanks for the lovely comments, I enjoy reading them and visiting your sites too.

  

Have a wonderful day!

Stamped Christmas Cards in Reds and Greens...

Good Day,  It has been a while since my last post and I have a lot to share.  It has been so busy here, I feel like I don't know if I am coming or going.  

These are the first Christmas cards I have made for Christmas 2012.  I received a large box of rubber stamps from my mother just before Christmas.  Before she became ill, she had quite a collection of stamps.  She ran a home business making and selling stamps.  So not only were there mounted stamps in the box, she sent a ton of unmounted stamps from all occasions.  I am planning on sorting through them, making sets, and selling them.

I am really happy with the way these cards came out.  They are some of my favorite Christmas cards I have made.  I just love the deep greens and reds in the papers.

These three cards will be presented for the ABC Christmas Challenge - "A" Anything for Christmas.  Be sure to check out their blog if you like challenges.  The best part, by the time Christmas rolls around, you should be more than ready to send your Christmas cards to family and friends.  

Let it Snow Card - Front

Let it Snow Card - Inside

Merry Christmas - Front

Merry Christmas - Inside

Joyous Christmas - Front

Joyous Christmas - Inside

Paper: Recollections All Season Paper Pad
           Red & White Card stock
           Fiskars & Cloud 9 Designs Christmas Kit
           Scraps from my stash

Ink:     Versa Mark Watermark Stamp Pad
            Impress Black

Ribbons are from my stash no manufacturer listed

Embellishments: Fiskars & Cloud 9 Designs Christmas Kit (stickers)
                           Making Memories (eyelets)

Stamps:   Recollections
                and from my mothers inventory

Thanks again for stoping by to visit. I hope you have enjoyed my cards.  Hope to see you again soon.

Have a wonderful day!

Christmas Card Challenges Using Birdhouse Digi

Front of Card

This cute bird house digi is from Doodle Pantry.  Their theme for digital challenge #17 is to use a Doodle Pantry Image.  This card is also being used for the weekly challenge, a Christmas theme, at  OWH Stars & Stamps blog.  And for Challenge #17 - Too early for Christmas? over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge blog.  There are some really cute images and some great ideas at these sites.  So be sure to stop on by and check them out.  They also have lots of fun challenges. When I find that ever elusive job, these are definitely some of the first places I plan to go shopping at.

The image is printed on water color paper.  Cardinals remind me of Christmas, so I colored the birds red using my Pebbles chalks.  Then finished the Christmas/Winter theme with red and green chalks for the bird houses. 

I used Microsoft PowerPoint to print the sentiment onto white card stock.  Sometimes I can have a hard time coming up with sentiments.  I find most of my quotes in my Webster's New Explorer Dictionary of Quotations.  However I found this list of quotes for Christmas on the Begin Crafting blog.  She has a lot of cute ideas, so you ought to drop on by.  

Inside of Card

The red card stock and the holly print papers are from a kit by Fiskars & Cloud9 Designs.  The 5" x 6.5" card base is by the Paper Studio.  I found them and the ribbon at Hobby Lobby.  It is hard to tell from the photo, but the bird house and sentiment are mounted on the same pearly paper as the ribbon.  The paper is from my stash so I do not know who made it.  I really like the shinny red ribbon against the color and texture of this paper. 

I used the same papers on the inside of the card, just to "dress" it up a bit.  The circular stickers are from the same Fiskars kit.  It is hard to see, but they are plastic with clear color and add some dimension to the page.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look.  

I hope you have enjoyed my designs.  

Have a wonderful day!

More OWH Card Challenges

 I am still working on getting a box of cards ready to send out the first of next week to Operation Write Home.  As usual the Stars and Stamps blog is keeping us busy with lots of challenges and ideas.

The following cards use paper and sentiments form an all-in-one Paper-craft Kit from Cloud9 Design along with paper from the Recollections All Seasons Paper Pad.  The red ribbon is also from the Paper-craft Kit.  I wish there was more of it because the bow worked out so well with it.  The white ribbon is Sheerly Yours by Offray and has been my go to ribbon lately.  I will definitely need to stock up on this as it seems to go with most anything.  I also like that it is light weight and not bulky.

This one is for the try something round on your card challenge.  It is being sponsored by Robin's Fetish Digital Stamps and More.  Head on over there and take a look.  There are a lot of great items and ideas.  Currently they have a Fall Sale going on with 35% off until September 30th.  So hurry on over there and don't miss a chance at a  great bargain. 

Since I am trying to add some Christmas Cards to the box going out next week, I chose to do another Christmas card.  This one is for the challenge hosted by Michelle's Scrapbooking and more in honor of OWH.  The theme is anything you like and ends Sept 27th.  This is a great site with a lot of amazing items, ideas and challenges. 

This next card is for the Birthday Bash - Case Charlsie S., Napa CA.  Make sure to stop by and see all the wonderful cards she has shared.  My favorite part of this card is the ribbon.  For being so small it looks so luxurious.  The fork method was used.  You can find many tutorials on line.  Here is one on the OWH website.  It is super easy once you get the hang of it.   

This last card is for the  “Sweet Treats” theme challenge at the Stars & Stamps blog.  The digital image is from Sliekje's Digi Stamps.  She has so many cute images and is a wonderful artist.  Go ahead and take a look.  Please make sure to leave a comment, if you download a stamp, and to follow her terms of use.  I printed the image on water color paper and then used colored pencils.  I was able to get 6 images on the page.  Cut to size they are easily stored in a index card file for later use.  The die cut is by My Minds Eye.  I am not sure about the flowered paper and card stock as I pulled it out of my scrap pile.

Thank you for stopping by to take a look.  Have a wonderful day!

Pinks & Greens....Lovely!

I am still having fun with cards for OWH and the challenges found on their Stars & Stamps Blog.  I am working hard to get a bunch of cards together to go out the first of next week.  Yea, this will be my first and definitely not my last.  What a great group to support.  

This first card is not anything like I had imagined.  However, I must admit that this is probably one of my favorites.  It could be used as a non-traditional Christmas card or a love themed card.  It fits well with the "Tie Christmas up in a bow" challenge sponsored by May Arts.  They are a ribbon wholesaler.  If you like ribbon, and who doesn't, make sure to check their website out.  There is a ton of gorgeous ribbon to be had.

I couldn't find anything that I liked to go with the background. Then I found the sweet hearts stickers from Frances Meyer, Inc. and they were perfect.  Next, how to mount them.  Directly on the flower printed vellum didn't work as the stickers were clear and the print overpowered them.  The sentiment is one I created on a clear/white paper and have been using on Christmas cards.  It went well with the hearts and mounted on a piece of silver card stock they really seemed to work well together.  The background paper is by Making memories - Pink Small Dots.  The vellum is from Daisy D's -  Sweet Dreams Tulips.  Then it is all tied up with a white ribbon. 

These next two cards are based on the OWH sketch challenge #87.  Be sure to hop on over there and check it out too.  There are a lot of great ideas posted.  

I used the silver card stock again to mount the patterned paper.  The patterned paper is from Recollections and is in their All Seasons Paper Pad. I like to use these because it is so much easier to color coordinate as it is already done for you.  Then I used a turquoise ink from Page Craft with the sentiment stamp by Katie & Co. designed for g.  This was found in the dollar bin at my local Michaels store.  These too were tied up with a white ribbon.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and take a look.  

Have a wonderful and peaceful evening!

My Submission for OWH - Birthday Bash 2011: Sketch #85

The Birthday celebrations continue on over at the  OWH Stars & Stamps blog.  This challenge was to create a card using Sketch #85.   

I am enjoying all of the challenges.  Better yet, I am getting lots of ideas and my pile of cards is growing.  I will be able to send off a shipment before long.  Be sure to check out the web site - Operation Write Home - if you are interested in finding out more on what you can do to support them.

My card base is kraft cardstock from the Paper Studio.  I was able to use a 40% off coupon at my local Hobby Lobby.  You can't get any better than that.  I really like the look of the kraft paper, however I am not thrilled with how my other papers are  adhering to it.  I will keep looking for an adhesive that works better than the ones I have tried.  

The patterned paper is by K&Company - Brenda Walton's Around the World specialty paper pack. I really like the colors and how the papers go together so well.

The sentiment stamp I found at my local Michaels and is by g studio.  The light house is one of my mother's from when she was making stamps...Hopefully when I go to visit next month I can raid some more.  Since I colored the stamp with water color pencils and a Marvy Blender pen I chose to use water color paper.  The paper doesn't peel up as much as regular cardstock does.  

Thanks for stopping by and looking.  Have a wonderful day and an amazing weekend!

Stars & Stamps VCMP Weekend

What a fun weekend for Operation Write Home.  To celebrate their birthday, on the Stars & Stamps Blog they held a virtual card making party that lasted all weekend long.  A total of 16 challenges presented, with a new one being hosted every 2 hours on a different blog.  Go check it out.  There are a ton of great ideas!  Click here to go to their post with all of the great challenges going on this month to celebrate their Birthday---

Happy Birthday Operation Write Home!!

This party was fantastic and generated a lot of ideas.  I am sure that there well be a ton of great cards pouring in shortly for the soldiers to send home to their families. 

I haven't been able to get through all of the challenges, but here are a few that I have been able to complete so far.  

Most of the patterned paper is from the Recollections All Seasons paper pad which I picked up, using a 40% off coupon, at my local Michaels store.  The ribbons and card stock were in my stash at home.  Water color pencils and paper were used with the stamps.  The vellum sentiment was printed on my Hp photo printer and created using Microsoft PowerPoint.

I apologize for using my scanner rather than a camera.  It tends to leave the cards and embellishments so flat. 

VCMP #1: Garanimals

Hosted by: Linda @ It was here a minute ago
Create a card for a child with an animal on it.

VCMP #2: Celebrating Nature
Hosted by: Lisa @ Stamping with a Mission
Create a card using some element of nature as the focal point.

VCMP #3: Unique Christmas

Hosted by: Paper Therapy Ponderings
Create a unique Christmas card..using non-traditional colors.

VCMP #5: Falling for You

Hosted by: Sybrina @ Scrapping with a Purpose
Create a card using the phrase "Falling for You"

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a WONDERFUL day!