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!

Toy Chest from Hambo Stamps

Good day!  It has been cooler these last couple of days, with rain showers off and on.  While the rain has helped disperse the pollen blanketing the city, it has done nothing to cheer up my mood.  It is days like this I am even more thankful for my craft room full of sunshine...aka crafty goodness and supplies.

I love this digi stamp Toy Chest from Hambo Stamps.  I colored it with watercolor pencils and used a small amount of water to blend the colors.  I didn't include a sentiment because I feel it could be used for so many different themes.  However, it seems to scream 'Missing You!' to me.

I used kraft card stock to make the A2 size card base.  ( 4 1/4" x 5 1/2")  The paper for the mats are from my scrap pile.  I believe the patterned paper is from a Recollections paper pad, and the lined card stock is from Creative Memories.  I am not sure about the green card stock or the brown print paper.  I added the eyelets to the green plaid, then after mounting to the kraft card stock I didn't like the way the kraft paper showed through.  I added gold glitter glue to the center of the eyelets and am really happy with the way they turned out.  They look like a decorative button with a glass center. I finished the card off with a black ribbon.  

This card will be presented for this weeks Hambo Hoedown 62 "Four of Something"  four mats for the image.

Thank you for stoping by to visit.  I hope you enjoyed my card.

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!

Just you and me babe...

Good day.  I started out with a lot of plans for cards this last week. However, I was only able to accomplish a few of them.  I would like to share the two cards for babies that I completed this week.

Both cards used a digi stamp from Meljen's Designs.  If you are not familiar with her designs, be sure to hop on over and check out her site. She has some really cute stamps, great design ideas and some wonderful challenges too.

Front

This first card will be presented at Meljen's Designs for  challenge #80 -Use a ribbon.  And Tuesday Throwdown's challenge #70 -To "Think Pink" this week.

I used water color pencils for the Mother Cat and kittens.  The sentiment was designed in Microsoft Word. While I am not sure on the makers of the papers or ribbon, the good news is that I used up a bit more of my 'left over' paper stash.

I used the same papers to decorate the inside of the card.  The buttons were found in the $1 bins at my local Target store.  They were all ready to go with thread and adhesive.

Inside

This second image, Giraffe's Necktie, is also colored using water color pencils.  I like the look of the water colors, and I just haven't gotten the hang of markers.  You would think that the markers would be easier to use, but alas, not for me.  

Front

I used Martha Stewart card stock to create a gate fold card.  It ended up an A9 size (8 1/2" x 5 1/2") since I didn't size the giraffe correctly. Luckily I just happened to have an envelope to fit, as I had purchased a box of pastel envelopes awhile back at my local Target store.

Inside

The giraffe was mounted on a smaller piece of card stock, 7 1/2" x 4 1/2" and then adhered to the right side of the gate fold.  When the card is closed, it makes for a nice frame around the giraffe.  The designer baby print paper is GCD Studios, Chic BeBe, foof-a-la.  The white ribbon is from my stash.  The rocking horse ribbon is Decorative Trim from my local Hobby Lobby.  The sentiment was again printed using Microsoft Word.

I hope you were able to find a bit of inspiration today and have enjoyed my cards.  

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit. Your comments are wonderful and I enjoy reading all of them.

Have a wonderful day!

Three's a Charm...

Good afternoon.  I wish I could say that it is a lovely Fall day here today.  Unfortunately it is a dreary Monday filled with rain and cloudy skies.  I haven't seen much of the sun today at all.  On the bright side, our lawn needed it and is looking such a lovely green. Yes, even in October.

It has been a busy weekend and a busy day.  So I am going to share three cards that I have put together over the weekend and the challenges they go with.

Front

The first is a lovely Autumn colored card.  I just love the browns and oranges.  The lovely poem is a digi by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and the sentiment inside was designed and printed using Micro Soft word.  (It looks so much better than my handwriting!)  The sentiments were printed on kraft card stock.  The printed paper is from the Recollections All Seasons Pad, and the brown card stock is from my stash. The brown organza ribbon is by Ribbon Boutique. 

Inside

I am presenting this card for both the Sew Many Cards Challenge # 70 which asks us to use burnt orange, yellow and brown.  It is hard to see with the photograph, but there is some yellow in the print and the vellum is yellow.  Also, Stamping for the Weekend Challenge #18 is asking for the colors of Autumn and a digi or stamp to be used.

******

This cute little guy is for the Hambo Stamps Hoe Down Challenge for week #36 using their Flower Monster digi.  He is printed on water color paper and colored using water color pencils.  I had a hard time figuring out something to use with my first initial, and finally came up with the "TIED" ribbon.  I know it is a stretch...but I just went brain dead.  The papers and ribbon are from my scrap stash, so I am not sure who they are by.  However, I do enjoy it when I can use up those bits of paper I just can't bring myself to throw out.  

******

This last card turned out so cute.  I just love the pinks, purples and blues.  This is being presented for the challenge at Touched by a Butterfly and their Link Up for Pink challenge.  From October 1st to 14th they are helping to step up the reminders about breast cancer and celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This is a cause close to my heart.  Not only did I have a scare which was luckily just a cyst, but I lost my dear friend Pat to her battle with breast cancer.  Make sure to get your yearly check-up and Mammogram.  It is always best to have lumps checked by your doctor rather than to just hope they will go away.

I am also presenting this for  Card Positioning Systems sketch #239.  If you love sketches, and who doesn't, be sure to stop on by and check out their site.  They have wonderful challenges and some wonderful design idea books.  

Thank you again for stopping by and all of your wonderful comments.
Please have a wonderful 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!