Season's Greetings with Snowflakes

I still have quite a supply of felt snowflakes in my stash, and I like the way they look with this pretty paper from SU! The sentiment is embossed with silver and matches the silver snowflake brad in the center. This is one of my favorite go-to sketches and it's such a great way to use those little snippets of paper you have. I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Perfect Sentiments PSC93 - snowflakes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - anything goes

Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground #91 - use snippets

September 2013 Rudolph Day - decorative Christmas card

Thanks for stopping by and have a terrific Thursday!

Carol

Fall Thank You

Here's my take on the Perfect Sentiments PSC92 challenge to make a fall card with a sentiment on the front. I haven't made a mosaic design for a long time, so I snipped out random pieces of paper from the Lilybee Autumn Spice paper pad and went to work. To make the mosaic, I ran a strip of card through the Xyron, then randomly adhered the snippets of paper, leaving spaces between them. Afterward, I covered it all with gold embossing powder and heat set it. I embossed another piece of card stock with gold, then die cut the leaf using a SB die, and finished it with a jewel tag sentiment, twine, and some gold brads.

With all the snippets I used, I'll also be entering this into the Snippets Playground 90.

Fall officially arrives this weekend, and although it's my favorite time of the year, it's a little sad to know the warm weather will soon be gone for many weeks to come. I'll miss those evenings spent sitting on the front porch visiting with neighbors and enjoying the longer hours of daylight until nearly 9 PM.

Enjoy your day and have a fantastic weekend! Happy Fall Y'all!

Carol

Razzleberry Thank You Notecard

The Perfect Sentiments Challenge PSC91 this week is to make a Thank-you card with a sentiment on the front. This one is a notecard size, and I used SU! razzleberry cardstock & dsp along with some pale plum accents. The flowers are from Hero Arts, and were clear embossed and fussy cut, and placed on shreds of black card stock for stems. The pale plum flower centers were done with a SU! boho blossoms punch, and they're dotted with bits of razzleberry cardstock that were done with the SU! owl punch. The bottom border was done with a MS doily border punch, and the sentiment was done with a SU! pretty petites stamp and matching punch, along with a SB die cut. I decided to make a matching envelope with that cool envelope punch board :)

Happy Friday everyone - thanks so much for stopping by!

Carol

Winter Wishes

Here's a card for the Perfect Sentiments challenge PSC90, which is to use ribbon, baker's twine, seam binding, or all three. I chose to use this pretty silver ribbon from SU! The papers are SU! smoky slate, pool party, and winter frost dsp. The sentiment was embossed in silver using the SU! Snow Swirled set, while the poinsettia was done with spellbinder's dies. For the final touch I added a silver bead to the center and called this one done!

I hope you're enjoying your Sunday! Thanks for dropping by :)

Carol

Aloha to Summer!

Happy Labor Day to those celebrating in America today. Labor Day is the unofficial last day of summer here and Autumn is just around the corner. The local kids have returned to school already, so I'm posting this card to say good-bye to summer!

The image and sentiment are from Our Craft Lounge while the softly stamped background was done with a Market Street stamps background in pale blue. The tag was found in my stash and I think it was made with my Cricut some time ago. The beach ball was done with a wooden stick stamp, while the circle top on the tag, seashell, & "sun" are old stickers from my stash.
I'm entering this into the Perfect Sentiments PSC89 which is to create a "Hello School or Good-bye Summer card." I'm also entering this into Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground #8.

Have a wonderful Monday and take time to relax and unwind from your labors! It's going to rain here in PA, so that gives me the chance to make some more cards today. The BBQ will be swapped for indoor crockpot cooking today :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Carol

Christmas Without Red or Green

The challenge at Perfect Sentiments PSC88 is to make a card for "Christmas without using Red or Green." Check! That's easy to do with this great Echo Park Winter Wishes paper pad! It's got shades of purple, plum, aqua and blue that I just love! I made a herringbone background using leftover strips of dsp and then cut it with a SU! top note die. After die cutting, I ran the piece through the Big Shot with a Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder. This adorable image is by Lawn Fawn, and the sentiment is from SU! I added a couple felt snowflakes along with a gemstone brad I've had forever. Since the challenge at Shopping our Stash #115 is to use our oldest hardware, I'm entering this card to that challenge as well. The background embossing on the white panel was done with a SU! retired embossing folder, and there's a speck of liquid applique on the bunny's tail just for fun :)

Thanks for checking in today and have yourself a wonderful day!

Carol

Father's Day

Here's a Father's day card I'll enter into the Simon Says Stamp challenge which has a theme this week of "Father's day/Masculine." I bought this stamp set by Inkadinkado for $2 at an expo well over a year ago and I don't think it's seen ink until now! It seemed like the perfect image for a man who either likes dogs, or takes their dogs hunting with them. I put it on a kraft cardstock base, and embossed a panel of vanilla cardstock with a CB ef, (sorry, not sure of the ef name) then tore & sponged it with antique linen ink. I attached the panel with 2 eyelets, and added some brown twine for an earthy look. The sentiment is by MFP, done in early espresso ink.

I'm also entering this into the Perfect Sentiment's PSC82 which is a theme for "Father's Day, or a special man."

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Carol

For Mother

I'm entering this card into the Perfect Sentiments PSC77 challenge to make something feminine. This is a simple Mother's day card that's also flat for mailing. I punched the sentiment panel with a MS border punch, and embossed the background with a Sizzix TH Damask ef, adding an Inkadinkado sentiment and ribbon done with Melon Mambo. Mother's day is rapidly approaching so I'd better finish up those cards soon!

Thanks for stopping by and have yourself a great Friday!

Carol

Sympathy Cards

I made this sympathy card a while ago and never posted it. Then a day ago someone wanted 2 sympathy cards, so I made a couple more following the basic design of this card. I used a SNSS clear stamp image called "the sea", embossing it with clear detail and coloring with a combination of Copics and sponging in the sky with assorted inks. The sentiment is from SU! and the twine is from Lawn Fawn.

This one is similar to the first, but it has an extra mat along with a different colored twine - also from Lawn Fawn.

This one has a story behind it. If you look closely between those two word window punches on the top, you'll see a big smudge of purple ink! AACK!! It pretty much ruined the whole card until I saw the Sweet Stop sketch SSS204, and then I thought I might be able to save it with a few tabs on the sides. I added a tiny piece of cording to one tab, along with 3 black mini brads, and a different SU! sympathy sentiment. Another card disaster saved :)

I'm also entering these into the Perfect Sentiments PSC73 challenge to create a sympathy/thinking of you card with the sentiment on the front.

Thanks for the visit - it's always great to see you here :) Now go have yourself a wonderful day :)

Carol

PSC70 Easter Bling

I made this card for my oldest granddaughter using the Perfect Sentiments challenge PSC70 - which is to make an Easter card with bling and put the sentiment on the front.  I used a SNSS bunny image and colored it with Copics, adding some liquid applique for the tail, and Spica glitter pen accents on the butterfly. I added some glittered dsp made by DCWV that I've had for eons! The bling is in the flowers on the cardstock - you might be able to see that better if you click to enlarge the photo. I cut the image into a tag, and matted with green galore cardstock. The top portion of the card was embossed with a Sizzix damask ef and I made a horizontal border with some bobbin ribbon shaped like little flowers. The green gingham ribbon was from my stash.
I can't believe Easter is just around the corner and I'm only beginning to make my Easter cards! Yikes! What was I waiting for?!

Thanks for stopping by and have yourself a wonderful weekend!

Carol

More Challenge Cards

 This card was made for the Dynamic Duos #41 challenge to use Island Indigo and Pool Party for a monochromatic teal color challenge. It's also for the Perfect Sentiments PFSC68 to make a CAS get well card with the sentiment on the front. I pulled out a long-forgotten Fiskars border punch for this one and it seems to add just enough color to balance everything nicely.

{oops! I missed the deadline to enter this at the DD#41 - again!}

This one is for the Freshly Made Sketch challenge #75 and I used papers from the DCWV Natural stack, adding some kraft for the base. The sentiment really got lost on this pretty dsp, so I added some matching red bling to draw more attention away from the busy pattern. I'm still not sure if it works for me, but it's done now. After checking the photo, I see the red bling on the lower flower isn't centered, and I'll have to fix that! Oops!
I'm also entering this into the Simon Says Stamp challenge for this week because it's "anything goes."

Carol

CARD1

stamps - SU! sincere salutations

papers - Island Indigo, Pool Party, Kraft, white

ink - Island Indigo

accessories - Fiskars border punch, MB woodland branch die, MS hydrandea flowers, SU! owl punch (flower centers), SU! square lattice ef

CARD2

stamps -Stampa-Rosa C11-1756

papers - kraft, DCWV Natural stack, cream

ink - SU! early espresso

accessories - MB woodland branch die, Fiskars small flower punch, Pizzazz Aplenty red gemstones, corner rounder

I love Razzleberry!

My card today is for two challenges - the OWH Stars and Stamps midweek throwdown to make a card with fun folds, as well as the Perfect Sentiments PSC67 to use flowers with a sentiment on the front.
I pulled out some much loved retired SU! cottage wall dsp, along with some old olive, Razzleberry, and vanilla card stocks to make a gate fold card. The Hero Art flowers were stamped on vanilla with Razzleberry, hand cut, and popped up on a Cheery Lynn mini flourish die. The flower centers were made with a SU! owl punch, and shaped with a pencil eraser on a mouse pad. The sentiment is by SNSS and the punched border was done with a SU! fancy scallop punch. The opposite side of the card has matching dsp too, but the glare pretty much cancelled that out.

Thanks for stopping by today, and make it a wonderful Wednesday!

Carol

The Color of Love

The Perfect Sentiments PSC65 challenge this week is "the color of love." The challenge is to create a love-themed card using the predominant colors of red & white. As always, the sentiment must be on the front of the card.
I used a MB Serafina heart die cut and added a SNSS scalloped heart border die. The ribbon is from Pizzazz Aplenty and the sentiment is from MFP.

Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you a wonderful Wednesday!

Carol

With Sympathy

Today's card is for the Perfect Sentiments PSC64 which is anything goes with a die cut and sentiment on front, as well as the Simon Says Stamp challenge which is also anything goes. I used a SSS exclusive Bella Bloom die and cut some dusty rose cardstock, layering the pieces with dimensionals and rose-colored pearls. The stems were done with a Sizzlet and the sentiment was computer generated. Background embossing was done with a CB swiss dots ef.

I hope you're having a great Thursday - thanks for coming by :)

Carol

Warm Wishes

Today I have a card that looks almost like my view out of the window. It snowed here in PA a couple days ago and with the balmy 24 degree temperatures we have today, the snow is still on the ground. Incredibly, they're forecasting temperatures to hit 62 by mid-week!

I based this card on 3 different challenges:

 The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge SSS195

The SNSDC89 to use "all white"

The Perfect Sentiments PSC63 to use silver, white & blue

I began with all white papers, and the little touches of color were done with Copic markers. I embossed the background pieces using SU! fancy fan & CB swiss dots ef's. The embossed panels with divided with ric-rac strips done with an EK punch. The SNSS digital Rhubarb Builds a Snowman image was printed on white, and die cut using SB circles. The sentiment was computer generated, and the final touch was some silver stickles to look like snow on the ground. The silver and white snowflake brads have been in my stash forever!

Wishing you a warm day, and thanks so much for coming by!

Carol

A Trio of Challenges

Here's the CAS(E) this Sketch#11 challenge.....

and here's the masculine thank-you card I made. I used leftover pieces of turquoise, along with white, and a sentiment from SU!. I really like the clean lines of this sketch, and I'll be making more of these cards in different colors.

And this is the sketch for this week's SSS194 challenge with a spin to use a snowman image. 

Have you ever found a paper pad you just love to create with and wish you had a never-ending supply? Well that's how I feel about this Echo Park Winter Wishes paper pad. There isn't a sheet in the entire pad I don't like! I used a SNSS snowman image and sentiment for this, and added some purple cardstock, some Pizzazz Aplenty pearls, and some PTI ribbon. The paper pretty much does all the work on this card. For the most part I just added some Copic coloring to this adorable snowman image.

Last but not least, is the Perfect Sentiments Challenge PSC62, which is to create a card with an encouragement sentiment on the front, and add some ribbon as well.

I stamped the Serene Silhouettes image with Versafine Onyx Black on glossy paper, then embossed it with clear detail ep. After it dried, I sponged on some Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, and Daffodil inks with a sponge. I matted with black, and matching colors of cardstock, embossing the razzleberry panel with a square lattice ef. I don't know the origin of the sentiment - I had it stamped and punched in a pile of half-started projects, so I just layered it on some bashful blue using a SU! fancy label punch. The ribbon is bashful blue.

OK, that's going to do it for me today, but thanks so much for stopping by and make it a great Monday!

Carol

FWF and a Perfect Sentiment

Here's my Friends with Flair card for Unity. I'm also entering this card into the Perfect Sentiments PSC61 which is to create a "winter wonderland" with a winter sentiment on front.

I used the Unity Roly Poly Winter Joy stamp/sentiment and colored it with Copics; cutting it with a beaded ovals die by SB. I dabbed some matching color to the ovals with matching Copic markers, and then wove some very old fiber around the outside that I've had in my stash for eons! The plum scrap was embossed with the CB snowflakes ef, and the dsp is Winter Wishes from Echo Park. I added a couple punched snowflakes done with a MS punch, and added a matching brad I've had for another eon or two. It feels good to finally use some of these supplies I've accumulated through the years!

That's going to do it for me today, so thanks for stopping by, and have a really fabulous Friday!

Carol

Challenge Cards

I made this card to meet several challenges.

Hero Arts January challenge to "try something new."

Perfect Sentiments PSC60 - birthday card with metal embellishment

{Pin}spirational Challenge #39 (photo inspiration)

The "something new" is this Hero Arts stamp called "Winter Trees" that I got just before Christmas and haven't had a chance to play with until now. Also, the Lawn Fawn trimmings are new, and I love the earthy, rustic look of that heavy twine that adds a real masculine look to this card. I used the colors from the {PIN}spirational photo for this card. I embossed the image using Ranger weathered wood distress ep and mounted it on ovals. The gold panel was embossed with a HA chevon ef and hand-cut to create 2 different panels. The gray panel was done with a MS arch lattice punch, and the metal embellishments are the 3 silver beads. The sentiment was computer generated and hand-cut.

And here is my card for the OWH Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge #154.

I used some papers and twill from PTI in Ocean Tides colors - something I've had for ages and never used until now. It's a very pretty greenish-grey color that really had to grow on me, but I'm happy with the results now that it's finished. The sentiment is from MFP, the little white flowers were done with a Fiskars punch, and the white background was from a BG basics white paper pad. I finished with black mini brads and used SU! square and scalloped square punches to create all the squares, along with spellbinders circle dies.

That's it for me today - I wish you all a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by!

Carol

A Traditional Red & Green Christmas Card

Today's card is for the following two challenges:

Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge 137 to make a Christmas card using red & green.

The Perfect Sentiments Challenge PSC59 to create "anything goes" as long as it has a Christmas theme & sentiment on the front.

I pretty much let this pretty dsp from the MME Christmas pad do all the work for me, adding a SB poinsettia die cut with a big white dew drop in the center. I wove some white satin ribbon through the border die, and cut a few pieces for tails. The sentiment was done with an Inkadinkado stamper and I added 2 mini brads on the punched panel.

Did anyone see the 12.12.12. concert last night? What I saw was great, even though I couldn't stay awake to watch it all. I felt like a kid again, seeing some of my favorite rock stars performing! Bon Jovi & the Boss together - what a WOW moment that was! I was mesmerized with Roger Water's performance when he was doing all those old Pink Floyd songs! Great music!! And Mick Jagger - how does he maintain the ability & energy to perform like he's still 20 yrs old? Amazing! Too bad I missed Paul McCartney's performance, but I'm sure it was awesome too! It was all for a good cause, and I hope they raised lots of money for the victims of hurricane Sandy.

Ok, on to get this day started now! Thanks so much for stopping by and make it a great Thursday!

Carol

A Cowboy Birthday & a Dynamic Duo Christmas

The challenge for Dynamic Duos#20 this week is to use the color of Lucky Limeade with Black, and the dessert option is to use a Halloween Theme. I don't make many Halloween cards, so I opted for a Christmas card instead, and used the Merry Monday #33 sketch to create this card. The background was embossed with SU!'s Petals A Plenty folder, and I dotted the centers with a black marker. The rectangle was stamped with a Christmas background stamp and embossed with white, then lightly sponged with matching ink, and pierced around the edges. The white poinsettia was done with a SB die and sponged around the edges, adding a black brad to the center. The sentiment is from a retired SU! set Small Script.

This card is for the Perfect Sentiments#50 challenge to make a masculine birthday card and put the sentiment on the front. It's also for the Shopping our Stash#69 to use emboss it. I dug into my stash and used an older MFP stamp set that I believe is now retired. It's called Southwest Cowboy, and it's one of my favorite stamp sets that I own. I heat embossed the image on white, colored it with Copics, and fussy cut it out. I stamped the silhouette image on blue with Versafine Onyx Black ink, and embossed it with clear detail ep. The dsp is from Echo Park, and the black panel was embossed with a new CB ef from the Decorative Tiles set. The sentiment was computer generated. I jotted this sketch down recently, but didn't name it, and now I can't remember where I found it to link it up :) It's a great sketch and one I'll be using more often.

Thanks for stopping by and I wish you a wonderful Wednesday!

Carol