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Mar 8, 2024

Unity Kraft Challenge

 Welcome. - I'm finally getting around to posting a few cards.

Today's cards are for the Unity Stamp Company Kraft Challenge.
 If you want to view the other cards for this challenge click on the link HERE
 
Here are the cards I made for the challenge:
 
For this card I used this adorable mouse/dandelion image from Unity April 2023 KOM.  The sentiment was a set gifted me for Christmas.  You can purchase it here on Amazon.
 
Card Base: SU Pecan Pie, Kraft base is a retired SU card stock that had little bits of colored speckles in it.  The DP  was purchased at JoAnn's.

I used a border punch (SU - retired) and some lavender cs (SU retired).
Ink Pad: Pecan Pie SU
Colored Pencils.

Card #2:


All details are the same as the card about - Except the stamps and sentiment.  These are from Unity February 2023 KOM

I hope you enjoyed these cards.  It was fun to be able to sit down and craft for a change.

Feb 26, 2024

Challenge #2 - Inspired By

 Welcome!  

Today I'm sharing a card I made for a challenge with my friend, TK (Time 4 Kards).  This is our second challenge.  Last month we did, Card Kits and made cards from each others kits.  

This month we did an "Inspiration" challenge.  - I found a picture:


And the idea was that we each made a card based on inspiration from this photo.  There were so many different ways this could be interpreted.

I admit that I struggled with this card (a lot) even though there were so many possibilities for inspiration.  I'm still in a bit of a stamping "funk" so hopefully you'll see the inspiration in my card.


The things that caught my eye were the colors and the palm fronds.
I also liked the animal print but alas did not have anything that would have worked for that.  Instead I used a tan color for the base of my card. (SU Pecan Pie).  I layered that with an embossed piece of light green card stock.  I used the Palm Leaves embossing folder from Cuttlebug (retired).  My paper was a pattern piece of with tropical leaves and blooms.  I liked that it had hints of pink/red in it as the inspiration photo did as well.
I die cut a tropical leaf in a darker green.  The Aloha sentiment was from the set that TK gave me on our last challenge.

I've long since gotten really mixed up on my old SU colors so I can't exactly say what they are.  I do know I used (Island Indigo - retired SU) ink for the sentiment.  

Dies: SU Stylish Dies, Punch (Optic Dot - Martha Stewart), Small blue gems.

Please stop by Terri's blog (TIME 4 KARDS) and check out how she was inspired by the photo.

Feb 9, 2024

PP675 - To the One I Love and NBUS#59

 Welcome. - I finally got around to working on a card for one of the challenges this week.

Today I'm joining the Paper Players for PP675 theme challenge.
 

Here is the card that I made:

 

 


 For this card I used a new die (Cats) that I received as a gift and I don't know the company name.  I also used a sentiment stamp from Hero Arts (love, stamp & cut - DC175) for the first time.

Details: Card Stock: Basic Black, Basic White, Real Red and Pink

Cat Die, Heart Die Border (SU-Many Hearts Die set). Designer Paper from my stash, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Puffy Heart Stickers, Swiss Dot Embossing Folder & Foam tape.

 

I hope you like this card as much as I do.  Of course being a cat lover this one just made me feel good.

 

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Jan 28, 2024

Fun Challenge with a Friend

 Welcome!
 
Today's post is a super fun one. - I met a fellow stamper, Terri (aka TK from: Time 4 Kards through a blog post about 3-4 years ago.  She lives about an hours drive from where I live.  After exchanging e-mails we eventually decided to meet in person and have been enjoying each others blogs and friendship every since.

This year we decide to start doing card challenges with each other.  For our first challenge we each made a "kit" for each other.  The kits included stamps and paper.  We also made a kit for ourselves of the one we exchanged with each other.  Then we made cards using the kits and today we are posting what we did with each other's kit and our own kit. - Hopefully that makes sense.

This first card is from the Kit that I made up to give to TK.


My kit contained: Images from Unity Stamps, Sending Smiles (Whit Kit/June 2023).  I included 3 stamped sentiments, 2 Hot Air Balloons, 2 pieces of patterned paper, some die cut clouds, Washi Tape and card stock. - I gave her the option of using the card base color or choosing one of her own.  Plus the use of the Washi tape was optional as well.
For my card I used the card base (Real Red - SU).  Then I die cut my patterned paper using a Unity Die (Scallops and Rectangles) I colored the balloon image with Copic markers.  The cloud was also edged with a copic marker.  I used Fishtail dies (MFT Stamps) on the designer paper and sentiment.  Imaged were mounted with foam tape.
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Now on to the cards I made using the Kit that TK made for me:


I was so lucky to receive this kit.  That Stamp set is called:Inner Flamingo - You can still purchase this HERE.  Such a cute set, plus it had matching dies! - She included some great patterned paper:
Hot Tropics - Honey Bee Stamps (which I believe is now retired).

For this first card I used the Pink Card stock she included and stamped 2 flamingos with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and die cut them out.  Then I highlighted portions of the the flamingo with colored pencils.  I added Melone glitter to the crown (Art Institute).
I used 3 of the patterns of paper that TK asked me to use on this card.  For the green side I embossed that with a tropical leaf embossing folder from my own stuff (Momenta). I layered that over the Red tropical leaf patterned and added a strip of another patterned piece of paper.  I also used that paper to stamp the sentiment on. The patterned pieces were mounted to a black card base.  The flamingos were mounted with foam tape along with the sentiment.  I finished off the card with some red enamel dots (Echo Park).

Here is the 2nd card I made from the kit:

For this card I started with a white card base.  Then I cut out a piece of black card stock with a Unity Scalloped rectangle die.  I used the reverse side of the paper from the first card's sentiment & strip piece.  It had stripes on it.  I layered that on top of the black card stock.  - Then I stamped the Mondo Anthurium (a seperate set that I was given) I used the green card stock TK sent and stamped it with Granny Apple (SU) green ink and cut it out with the matching die.
I stamped the flamingo with Memento Tuxedo ink on the pink card stock and again used colored pencils to highlight areas on the flamingo.  I added some Wink of Stella to the party hat.  Images/Sentiment mounted with foam tape.  Enamels dots were added to complete the card.
 
That's it for my cards.  Don't forget to stop by TK's blog to check out the cards she created with the same kits.  TIME 4 KARDS

Jan 24, 2024

Happy Mail

 Hello! - Yes, I'm still here.  With the rush of Christmas over and the start of the New Year I've just not had much time for stamping.

Plus after a fantastic Christmas season without any bad weather we got hit with severe cold, snow & ice.  Now those that know me will understand that winter is NOT my thing. - I tend to get grumpy and depressed and totally unmotivated.  So yes, I've not been in a crafting mood.

However that will soon change as I have been working on some stuff that I will be sharing really soon.

In the meantime I got the "cutest" card from my friend Ann who blogs over at: https://annssnapeditscrap.blogspot.com/

Here is what she sent me:


I loved it.  The sentiment inside just cracked me up because it arrived during some of nasty weather we've been having.  - Now if you want to know what the sentiment was you will have to visit her blog as she made a post about this card.  You can find that post by clicking on the link HERE.  -  How totally fitting that was.

Thank you so much Ann for sending me something fun and cheerful to help brighten up the gloomy winter day.

Dec 30, 2023

Christmas Cards - Day 5

 Today I'm wrapping up the last of the cards I made for Christmas 2023.


This first card featured items that I had in my scrap bin waiting to be used.  Card Base, Very Vanilla.  Then I die cut (Unity die) a piece of pink card stock.  To that I layered the holly embossed piece I found in the scrap box with a piece of mint card stock.  I also had the poinsettia in the scrap box so I added that along with the heart brad, a piece of ribbon in my stash, some pink pearls and the sentiment.


One of the CAS designs I did.  This featured the pretty holly designer paper, a stamped holly & berries, some gems and Washi tape.
Colors, Real Red, Basic Black, Garden Green.


This card was featured earlier on the blog (click to enlarge) - But I used the pieces of it to create another card:


Colors, Garden Green, Real Red, White.  Designer paper, red gems, sentiment (which I can't find now) and black ink.


Stamp set: Peace to You (SU). Embossed pine bow that I brushed over white ink. Shiny dotted paper (SU), Cherry Cobbler, Shaded Spruce Card Stock. - I also embossed the church image with sparkle embossing powder.



These last 2 cards featured an old SU wood block set, Holy Triptych.
 
Gold card used the Brushed Gold card stock (retired SU), Gold embossing powder, gold striped designer paper (SU), Gold pearls, sparkly punched heart.
 
Blue card used, Silver embossing powder, Blueberry Bushel card stock and ink.  Glitter, a piece of the striped designe paper, and a piece of the star designer paper that I still had left over. Also a tiny gem in the star center.
 
That's a wrap for Christmas of 2023.  -  I hope you have enjoyed seeing all my cards.  I had a wonderful time making them and sending them out.  
 
Here's to starting off 2024 by starting way earlier on the Christmas cards!

Dec 29, 2023

Christmas Cards - Day 4

 Just about to finish posting all the cards I made for 2023.

This card features 2 images from the the Unity (November 2023 KOM - Festive Flair).  I embossed the deer with black embossing powder and added a small red dot covered in glitter for the nose.  Colors used: Real Red, Mossy Meadow.  Some DP from Memory Box (Dashing Holiday) Circle Dies, Holly embossing folder, red sequins, Real Red ink, foam tape.


This card features a background stamp from Unity Stamps - (Frosted Fauna) and the deer is from Unity as well (Winter Cheer and Deer).
Colors used: Real Red, Mossy Meadow.  Designer paper was a scrap of plaid I found in my Christmas paper drawer. Added some red sequins and a tiny red gem for the nose.  Sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo ink and fussy cut.


This card features an old SU stand alone stamp (Dasher) that I embossed with Versa Mark ink and Woven Tapestry embossing powder (PSX). Circle Die, Scallop circle die.  Sentiment stamp from an old Studio G stamp set.  The DP is also a piece of scrap paper that was one of my favorites.  It has a nice bit of shimmer to it.  Colors: Chocolate Chip (retired SU which I really miss), Real Red and Very Vanilla.  Small red gems, foam tape.


This one uses the same deer image (Winter Cheer and Deer).  This time stamped on Crumb Cake cs with Early Espresso ink and die cut out with an Oval die.  Card base was Very Vanilla,  Real Red cs embossed with Swiss dot embossing folder, a piece of Plaid DP, Some snowflake dies (Memento), red brad and Gold EP for the embossed Merry Sentiment.

Will wrap up all the cards tomorrow with the last 6 designs that I did this year.

Thanks for stopping by & leaving such nice comments.  Have a great day.

Dec 28, 2023

Christmas Cards - Day 3

 Welcome back. - We are rapidly winding down the year 2023.  I am posting more Christmas cards today as last year I made cards and never posted them.  So I thought I'd best get this years cards posted.

This one features a large white embossed snowflake layered on a dark green circle of cs. - The DP was an old pattern that I still had a few scraps of.  It has glitter sparkles on it.  I also used an old SU punch, a banner punch (SU) and the sentiment was from a little set of stamps from Inkadinkado that I've had forever.  I also added a small brad to the center of the snowflake.
 

 This card was done using bits and pieces of stuff I had in my scrap pile.  I had punch out the flowers (old SU punch) and added glitter to them.  The center is a star brad.  - The embossed piece was also in my scrap pile and the designer paper is another pattern that I still had a few scraps of.  Other dies were used for the circles, berries and the cut out of the patterned paper. Sentiment is from a Tim Holtz set.


Another card made from bits and pieces of stuff. - Old pattern of designer paper, snowflake dies, tree brad, gold pearls, snowflake punch, ribbon, dies from Unity and SU - Sentiment from Tim Holtz.
 
 

Yet again card made from stuff in the scrap pile.  Someone had sent me the die cut trees.  I distressed them with dark green ink and added snow splatter.  The deer was already punched out and the embossed panel was in the pile as well.  I added a strip of designer paper, and the sentiment (from Annabelle Stamps - no longer in business).  Red sequins completed the card.
 
A few more to show in the next few days. - Thanks for stopping by.
 


 

Dec 25, 2023

A Christmas Blessing

 To all my readers and followers:

 
 
 
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

Dec 23, 2023

Christmas Cards - Day 2

 Welcome back. - Today I'm featuring a few more Christmas cards.





This first card features a darling beaver from an older stamp set, (Holiday Treats & Tails - Artful Inkables)  I colored the beaver with Prisma colored pencils.  Added Glitter to the bulbs and some white gel pen to the teeth and white ball on the hat.

Paper is a retired SU pattern. - Enamel Dots (Echo Park), Dies (Nestabilitie).

 

These next 3 cards feature Dimensional stickers on them.


 

Dimensional stickers were purchased years ago so I don't know who made them.  Paper on the first card (Artic Frog - 2006) see how long I've had some of this paper!  Paper on 2nd card - Stampin' Up!

Embossing Folder & Dies also used.

 

This last card I quickly put together when I thought I had forgot to send a friend a card.  It features a felt cardinal sticker, holly embossing folder, gold embossing powder and a pretty piece of foiled designer paper.  -  Funny thing is that later when I checked my card list I discovered that I had sent her another card but hadn't crossed it off my list.  - So she got lucky with 2 cards from me this year.  Hubby said to tell her not to open the 2nd one that way I'd be ahead with her card for next year!

 


 Take card & enjoy the holiday weekend. - More cards to come.

Dec 22, 2023

Christmas Cards

 Welcome! - Well all the cards are done and mailed out!  So today I'm sharing a few of them with you all.  Normally I don't do duplicate cards (I'm not a mass producer) - I like to make each card different.

These 4 cards all feature the same stamp for the focal point.  I did vary the colors, paper patterns and sentiments though so each one is just a tad different.

The focal image is from an old SU set (Heavenly Peace - 2006) - It belonged to my mom who loved to send out a religious card each year.  So in her memory I created these cards.  Again each card has a different paper, color, embossing folder, etc...the very bottom one I used a sparkly embossing powder over the image so it really shimmers.





Hope you have enjoyed seeing these cards. - I'll be back tomorrow with a few more to share with you.

Dec 9, 2023

FMS615 and CTD772

 Hello and Welcome.

Today's card is the card I made for:


 

 

Here is what I created for these challenges:

 


 Details:  Card Base: Blueberry Bushel cs (SU)
Aqua layer from Hobby Lobby - I embossed it with the Swiss Dot embossing folder and cut it out with a Unity nesting die.  I stamped the sentiment (from a mini set of stamps I bought years ago at WalMart) - I stamped it with Memento tuxedo black ink - then embossed the swiss dots.

The designer paper was also purchased at Hobby Lobby and cut with a large Fishtail die.  

I embossed a piece of white card stock with Versamark ink and dumped Cobalt embossing powder (PSE) and heat set it.  Then I cut out the snowflake with a Momenta snowflake Die.  I added Gold Pearl accents (Paper Studio). 

The embossing powder is a cobalt blue with flecks of gold in it.
I mounted the snowflake with a couple of foam dots to raise it up off the card.


Dec 7, 2023

PP669 - Christmas Theme

 Welcome! - It's been a few days since I've posted.  This time of year is always so busy getting ready for the holidays.  I'm back today though with a card (and a bonus card) for the Paper Players #669 Theme challenge.  Jaydee picked the theme:  Christmas.  
 
 

Since I've been frantically working on Christmas cards this one just worked out perfectly.  
 
Here is what I created for this challenge:
 

 For this card I started with a card base of Blueberry Bushel cs. (SU)
Next I embossed a layer of Brushed Silver (retired SU) card stock with the D'Vine Swirl (Cuttlebug) embossing folder and cut it out using Unity Stamps (Scallops & Rectangles - Nesting Dies)

Then I stamped the Nativity (Peace to You stamp set - retired) with Blueberry Bushel ink and cut it out with another of the nesting dies.
I stamped the sentiment on a small fishtail die and added 2 small blue gems and one clear one on the star.  A very CAS card but it really looked so shimmery and pretty.

As promised a "bonus" card:  I made cards last year but never got around to posting them.  So without further ado here is one of those cards done using the same stamp set:


This one was done in traditional Christmas colors.  Card Base:
Shaded Spruce - Embossed with a layer of Swiss Dot on basic white cs.  A piece of striped designer paper (can't tell you where that came from).  Image stamped with Cherry Cobbler ink and mounted on Oval Dies.  Old Olive cs was used for the back oval.  Sentiment stamped with the Shaded spruce ink and mounted with Shaded spruce card stock.  One large white gem for the star and a couple of smaller ones in the sky completed this CAS card.

And before I go...Thank you LeAnne for picking my card last week for one of the Cut Above choices.
 
 
Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by.

Nov 29, 2023

PP668 - and NBUS

 Welcome.  Thanks for joining me today.

First off thank you so much to Amy for the shout out on Freshly Made Sketches and The Color Throwdown for this card posted earlier this week.
I had so much fun with that stamp that I decided to use it again for this weeks Paper Players Sketch challenge:





Here is the card I created for the PP668 challenge.

 


 This will also go in for NBUS#56 - Yes I know the stamp was used yesterday but it's still pretty brand new.  Plus I used the background paper, ribbon, enamel dots and sentiment stamp for the very first time.

Card Base:  Pretty Peacock, Designer Paper: Dashing Holiday (Memory Box).  Tree Stamp - Unity-November 2023 KOM (Festive Flair.  Sentiment stamp - Unity - September 2013 KOM (Happiness has no limit). 

So for this card I embossed a partial image of the trees on a piece of Basic White cs with Verdigris embossing powder (PSX - I don't think they are in business any longer).  Then I edged it with Gold Pigment ink (Encore) I stamped the sentiment with Pretty Peacock ink and punched it out with an old SU circle punch and layered with a larger circle of the Pretty Peacock cs.  I dry embossed the Brushed Gold (retired SU - How I miss that card stock) with the Swiss dot embossing folder.  This was layered over the designer paper.  I had some ribbons in my stash so I added a couple of those and some new enamel dots (Echo Park).  The tag was glued down and I raised the sentiment up with foam dots.

 The hard part of this card for me was trying to figure out how to measure and cut the angled piece in the sketch.

Be sure to stop by and check out the DT cards.  - Have a great day.

 

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Nov 27, 2023

FMS#613 and CTD#770

 Welcome - Well it's been a bit since I've posted. - Trying to keep up with getting Christmas cards made (I'm way behind) and of course with the holiday season starting things have been a bit hectic.  Plus on top of that I've been dealing with a cold and bad cough for a couple of weeks.  Anyway today I'm finally back to share a card.

This card is for FMS#613  and CTD#770
 
Here is the sketch:
and below is the Color combo from the throwdown.

 
                                                                                                                                                                       This is what I created for these 2 challenges.  - I wanted to try and do a Christmas card with this color combo - It seems strange for Christmas but it actually works.
 


 This is a pretty simple CAS card but I like how it turned out.  
 
Details:
Basic Black card base.
Trees from Unity November 2023 KOM (Festive Flair) stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Basic White card Stock.
Colored with Prisma colored pencils and blended with Gamsol.
Strips of Washi Tape, Small Iridescent Sequins were added.
I also used some glue and Iridescent Glitter (Art Institute) to highlight the Joy sentiment.  I was cut out on an SU stylish die.
Focal Image and Banner mounted with foam tape.
 
The hardest part of this card was trying to line up the Washi tape evenly.  I succeeded for the most part.