Let's Celebrate Birthdays

 Well it's been awhile since I've posted...life has been busy.

Today I'm sharing a couple of birthday cards that I have made.

First card I made way back in February for a dear friend and then forgot to post the card.  At least I'd didn't forget to send it to her!

 For this card I used the adorable mouse stamp from Unity Stamps, (Tiny Tutu Soiree) Card Stock used, Gorgeous Grape and Basic White (SU). Inks used: Gorgeous Grape, Bermuda Bay*retired ) and Pretty in Pink (SU).  The mouse was stamped with Memento Tuxedo ink and colored with colored pencils and cut out with a Unity circle die. I also edged it with some Pretty in Pink ink.  For the background on the mouse and the portion with the cupcakes I used inks dipped on a piece of acetate and spritzed with water giving it a water color feel.  After it dried I stamped the little cupcake image in the various colors.  I added some glitter to the tutu and some tiny pink/blue pearls.

Next up is the card that I made for my hubby's birthday (which is today).

For this card I started with a piece of Night of Navy card stock (SU)

A piece of old designer paper (BoBunny).  I stamped the image (One of the Good Ones - Unity) with Memento Tuxedo ink and colored it with Pencils.  Then I stamped the background with Memento London Fog ink.  That image is from Stampers Anonymous  (Slight Alterations CMS 060)  I stamped the sentiment with Memento Tuxedo and mounted it with Foam Tape.  I used a piece of the designer paper to punch a heart and some Night of Navy for the smaller hearts.  Then I stapled them together.  The larger one was mounted with foam tape.  

I hope you've enjoyed seeing these cards.  Have a great day.

Art Nudge#525A and Freshly Made Sketches #686

Welcome  and Thanks for stopping by.

Today's card is being entered for Art Nudge #525A  and Freshly Made Sketches #686

Here is my card for these two challenges:  Click to enlarge

Details:  Image and Sentiment - Sweet Miss Daisy - Unfrogettable

Designer Paper - Sweet Miss Daisy - Ribbit

Card stock: Distress Watercolor Card Stock - Ranger,

SU retired Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa - Also Old Olive which is not a retired color.

Inks: Distress Ink from Ranger: Mustard Seed, Crushed Olive,  also used Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Early Espresso

Distress Mica Spray - Antique Bronze

Punch - Birthday Candles EK Success

Circle Die

Water Brush SU

I'm trying my hand at "water coloring" and still have a ways to go but think this turned out okay.

Foam Mounting Tape 

I stamped the image with the Memento ink and water colored it then fussy cut it out. The Close to Cocoa panel was stamped with the bugs using the Early Espresso ink.  Then the frog image and panel were spritz with the Mica Spray. 

Lots of shimmer on this card.

This is going to be hubby's birthday card this year. - I'm happy with how this one turned out.

Growing in Unity - Day 5

 Welcome!  This week has went by quickly. - We are on my final day as a GIU (Growing in Unity) featured stamper.

So let's get started on today's card.

This card features the Unity stamp set,  Funny Farm.  This set is fun and great for those cards when you really don't feel the need or desire to do a lot of coloring.

The card base is, Real Red cs (SU) which I layered a panel of Daffodil Delight cs (SU) that had been embossed with a Chicken Wire embossing folder, (Cuttlebug). This particular one is retired but there are other chicken wire embossing folders out there. Plus if you'd rather use a stamp Unity has a couple of chicken wire background stamps. - I layered a piece of designer paper from Unity (Country Lovin') over the chicken wire card stock.  Next up I stamped the animal image on Crumb Cake cs with Real Red ink and used a blender brush and Crumb cake ink to distress the edges.  I cut the image out with Unity's (Scallops and Rectangles) dies. I glued the panel down and added enamel dots (Paper Studio).  The sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo black in on Basic White cs and cut with an SU Stylish Die then mounted with foam tape to complete the card.

Since it's my final day and I already had the stamps and papers out I decided to create a second card with the same stamp set.

For this card I went with Crumb Cake as the card base.  Then I embossed a panel of Real Red cs with the chicken wire embossing folder and glued it over the top of the patterned paper and glued that panel down.  Next I stamped the animal image in Memento Tuxedo black ink on Daffodil delight cs and smudged on some Daffodil Delight ink.  I added just red enamel dots this time.  The sentiment was stamped with the Memento ink and distressed with a distressing tool and the ink pad.  Both the sentiment and the image panel were popped up with foam tape.

So that's the end of my time as the featured GIU stamper.  I've really enjoyed your visits and comments and had a blast creating my cards.

Don't forget to leave a comment for you chance at a $20 Unity store credit.  Winners will be drawn on Monday and posted to my blog and also on the Unity Facebook Page.

Paper Players #688 and Freshly Made Sketches#635

 Welcome! - I've been busy stamping lately but can't show you just yet what I've been working on.  However I can show you this card that I made yesterday for a couple of the challenges this week.

PP688  Theme challenge: Animal Antics and the FMS#635

Below is the card that I made for these challenges.

I had a lot of fun with this card.  Stamps used: (Unity - Tiny Buckaroo).  Isn't that mouse so adorable.

Card Stock: Night of Navy, Real Red, Basic White (SU)

Patterned Paper (Unity - Barn Yard Blowout)

Colored Pencils (Prisma) and blended with Gamsol.

Other: Large Star Punch - retired SU

Small Star Punch - source unknown

Banner Die (SU stylish Dies)

Enamel Dot (Paper Studio)

Foam Tape.

Entered for Unity Birthday challenge. and NBUS#62

This is going to be hubby's birthday card this year.

Color Throwdown #743 and NBUS#50

 

Welcome! - Today I am sharing a card that I created for the current Color Throwdown #743 and for NBUS#50

 

The new or never used items for this card are new card stock (SU) and Sentiment Stamp (Unity) and Cupcake Stamp (source unknown)

 

Here is the card that I created for these challenges:

 

 

 

Base of card is a retired SU Pink card stock.  Next layer is Basic White cs that I embossed with large dot embossing folder from Paper Studio.

The cupcake image (which I received years ago in an image swap) was colored with Permanent markers from Shuttleart that I received as a Christmas gift.  This was also my first time using them.  I added some Wink of Stella and a touch of glitter to the cherries.  Both were mounted on rectangle dies.  The sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo black ink.

Here's a little of how the cupcake shimmers:

I hope you enjoyed your visit and the card.  I had fun creating it.

Freshly Made Sketches #571

 

Hello. - Joining in on FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES #571

 

Here is my card:

 

 

 

 

 

 I received some Stamp Kits from a friend and decided to use one of them for this card. - The stamps are from,  Stamps of Life and this was the August 2022 Kit - Sew Happy.

The sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and the Stitched heart was stamped with SU Baja Blue (retired).

I also used some light blue pearls for embellishment.

Thanks for stopping by.

Freshly Made Sketches#549 & Color Throwdown #706

 

 

Hello and Happy Friday!

 

Today I'm sharing a card I created for, Freshly Made Sketches#549

and Color Throwdown#706 

 

Here is the sketch:

 

 Next is the Inspiration Photo for the Color Throwdown:

 

 

Finally here is my card:

 

  So for this card there was very little stamping involved.  Instead I used a lot of Dies to come up with my design.

 

I started with a card base of what I think is an old SU color, Tempting Turquoise - I really should have kept track of the retired colors better.  Anyway...I then took a piece of white cs and used a die from a set Tim Holtz Mixed Media#1 to cut out the pattern on the bottom portion of the card.  Next I used an old SU Kaleidacolor ink pad, Caribbean Sea and the Itty Bitty Background stamp to create the little colored speckles.

 

Then I cut circles of Bermuda Bay and Pool Party with my new Stylish Shape Dies. - I stamped the sentiment from an old retired SU set - It's Your Birthday with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.

 

I die cut two leaves from Granny Apple Green cs with dies from two different sets (Momenta) that I purchased at Hobby Lobby.

 

I added some Wink of Stella to them for added sparkle and then included some lime green sprinkles from a company called, AnnaBelle stamps that is no longer in business.

 

Here is a picture of the sparkle:

 For a change I went pretty CAS on this card but I really like how it turned out.  I hope you do as well.

 

Be sure to click on the links and see what the DT came up with and also the other participants.  

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Cupcake Card

Hi,  Remember Me?  - I know it's been awhile.  I'm still around but have just not been inspired lately to stamp much.  Anyway I do have a card to share today.

 

I made this for a friends birthday recently and planned to use it for one of the challenges but missed the deadline.

Anyway here are the details:

 

Card Base: Early Espresso (looks black in the photo but it's a dark brown)

Next layer is Basic white.  I added a strip of colored designer paper (source unknown) and a punched border of the espresso card stock.

 

The cupcake was stamped on white card stock and colored with watercolor pencils.  I added a red button for the cherry.  I fussy cut the cupcake and mounted it on a circle of white cs layered on top of a circle of Real Red cs. and mounted with foam tape.

 

The cupcake stamp is from: Hero Arts and the sentiment stamp (stamped in Real Red ink) is from, Annette Allen Watkins (it's a very old stamp I've had forever).

 

That's pretty much it for this card.  I hope to get back into stamping again soon.  I've got a bunch of new stuff I need to start using!

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Strawberry Birthday

 

Hello & Welcome.

 

Today I'm sharing a card that was based of Freshly Made Sketches#495. - Sadly I wasn't able to complete the card in time to post it for the challenge.  

 

That's okay though because I really liked the sketch and how my card turned out so you get to see it anyway! 

 

Here is the sketch:

 

Below is the card that I created using it as my inspiration.  This card is going to my Mother-in-law who just turned 95 yesterday.  Yes it's going to be late but she will still be thrilled to get it and it's the thought that counts anyway.

 

I had started working on a card with that awesome Strawberry patterned paper ages ago but when I went to stamp the strawberries my ink pad had dried up so bad that I ended up having to get a new one so the project got put in the container where I keep things that I have started or cut out and just haven't found a use for them yet.

 

I got it out this morning and decided to try this sketch even though it was past the date to post it for the challenge.

 

Card Details:

Card Stock:  Shaded Spruce, Pretty in Pink*-retired color, Blushing Bride and Whisper White*-retired.

Ink: Real Red, Granny Apple Green, Shaded Spruce and Blushing Bride-SU and Memento Tuxedo Black.

Designer Paper-Berry Delightful*-retired.

 

Other: Strawberry Builder Punch,

Crystal Glitter - Which I used on the strawberries and the flowers, it's hard to see in the photo but it's sparkly and pretty in real life.

Foam Mounting Tape.

 

On a personal note:

I love Strawberries and picked them for 8 summers as a kid.  We had a bad year here for the berry season due to hail storms & then excessive heat but we did manage to enjoy a few half-flats of berries and boy were they good.

This was the first dessert I made with them this summer:

Strawberry/Rhubarb Cheesecake bars.  They were so yummy.  Yesterday I made a no-bake pie with some and later this week I'm going to make a Strawberry/Rhubarb Crumble. 

 

Tropical Birthday wishes

 Popping in today with a card that I made yesterday to send to a friend for their upcoming birthday. - No special challenge for this one, just a spontaneous creation.

I had bought this super cool piece of paper at JoAnn's (Damask Love - Sunshine Blvd) and want to use it for a card.  

I have a friend that loves going to Hawaii and thought she would enjoy a tropical themed birthday card.  I put this together super quick yesterday since I wanted to get it off in the mail and had to have it to ready to mail by 2:00 to go out in the mail on time.

I spent about 1/2 hour looking for that Happy Birthday stamp, it's one of my old favorites and apparently one of my mom's as well since after moving a bunch of boxes to look in her stamping stuff I found it.

The card went together quickly after that.  I used my Momenta Die set that was used on (this card)

 

So here are the colors and details:

Card Stock: Pacific Point, Poppy Parade, Granny Apple Green, Pool Party and Whisper White (*retired) 

The sentiment was stamped with Pacific Point ink.  - I added some green bakers twine that I purchased at the dollar store and a tiny white pearl to complete the card.  Also circle dies and foam mounting tape.  

That's it for today...now off to stamp for one of the current challenges.

I finally stamped! - First card of 2017

Does anyone still remember me as a "stamper"? - I know it's been ages since I've posted a card here.  -  I didn't post the 2 Christmas cards I designed for 2016 so they'll probably be posted sometime this year.

However I made a birthday card for my mom's 88th birthday which was Wednesday. 

Here it is:

Stamps:  Miracle of Christmas - Close to My Heart
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Stamp Pads used to color image:  Blushing Bride, Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Sage Shadow - I used a blender pen to pick color up off the pad and colored the image in with it.
Designer Paper:  Wintergreen (retired)
Card Stock: Whisper White base, Textured Always Artichoke
Gems
Foam Mounting Tape.
My Favorite Things Banner Die

The sentiment was computer generated.

Hope you enjoyed this card.  My mom loved it.  She loves "cutesy" stuff like that little bear.

Birthday Baseball Card

My wonderful friend, Elena (The Red Haired Girl) has a wonderful son, Sergei who just celebrated his 13th birthday.  I know he enjoys sports and playing baseball/softball so I sent off this baseball themed card to celebrate his special day.



 

For this card I used SU Brilliant Blue (retired) and Whisper White Card Stock.

 Pattern Paper is from My Mind's Eye (Parade Stripes)

Sentiment was computer Generated.

Stickers: K & Company - Softball Medley.

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug-Provo Craft

Oval Nestabilitie Dies

Paper Piercing Tool.



Birthday Hoot

A good friend of mine celebrated a birthday this week.  Here is the card that I sent to her.

Stamps from Unity, Ink SU and Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Die Cuts with A View and SU
Punch - EK Success, Nestabilitie Dies
Gems

Gallery Idol Try

Welcome and Happy Friday.  I decided to submit a card again this year for the Paper Crafts Gallery Idol contest.  The open audition round theme was Kid or Teen Birthday's.  Today they announced the Top 20 and sadly I was once again not chosen.
Okay I must admit to feeling a bit disappointed but at least I gave it a shot.  Do check out the cards made by the TOP 20 though and cheer them on.

Here is the card that I submitted.  I think it's pretty cute and hope you like it too.

 



 



Stamps from Unity-April Kit of the Month.
Card Stock:  SU and Die Cuts With a View.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Markers
Other: Bakers Twine, Punch (Martha Stewart)
Nestabilitie Dies, Gems, Glitter, Foam Mounting Tape.

Have a great weekend. 

BC256 - Birthday Bash

Hi! - Yes, I am still alive.  It's been a few weeks since I've posted anything here so I hope you all haven't given up on me.  Life has just been "busy" and again I am just taking my time about stamping these days so as not to overwhelm myself and hopefully my creativity will be rejuvenated from the break.

So it's Friday and time for the Bloggers Challenge over on Lisa's blog (Slendiforous Creations) - This week the theme is,  Birthdays.  - Which I missed wishing Lisa a Happy Birthday yesterday, so Lisa when you read this HAPPY "Belated" BIRTHDAY!  I hope your day was very special.

I created my card using the sketch for March which was BC254 and also added a 3-D element BC255 from last week so now I'm caught up with all the challenges!

Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive  and Whisper White (SU)
Designer Paper: My Minds Eye-Bloom and Grow Collection
Stamp: It's Your Birthday-Retired SU
Ink: Soft Suede-SU
Ribbon - Chocolate Chip5/8" - SU
Zigzag Punch - EK Success
Cupcake Embellishment - Jolee's Boutique-EK Success

So now it's your turn to join in on the fun and play along.  Link your card so we can see what you've created.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. 

Birthday Wishes for my Friend

Hello everyone! - I'm back today to share a card that I made for my good friend, Teresa for her birthday.  I haven't stamped in almost 2 weeks and it was fun to work on this card.  I picked this sketch:
from the Tuesday Morning Sketches (my first time participating) and below is what I came up with.

Supplies:  Stamp, Pure Innocence Digi, Sentiment from Amuse Studio
Card Stock: Pear Pizzaz and Cool Caribbean (SU) Flourishes White cs.
Designer Paper, Paper Pizzazz.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers
Punch: MS Loopy, Nestabilitie Dies. Brads and Prima Flowers.

BC246 - Back In The Saddle (I think)

Happy New Year! - Wow we've almost completed the first week of 2012.  So far it's been a pretty good start to the New Year.  Weather has been great (odd) but great.  I say "odd" because we hit a record high on January 4 with a high of 69 degrees here.  Love it but alas it didn't last and we are in for chillier weather this week.

I've been absent a lot since the start of the holiday season and have also taken a bit of a break from stamping.  I just couldn't seem to find my "Mojo" and didn't have the desire to do much stamping.  I'm hoping that will change with the start of another year.

So I jumped back into the saddle today with a card for the current, Blogger Challenge,

Lisa gave us a Color Inspiration (sent to her by Kim Howard).  I was a bit confused by what colors to use so I emailed Lisa and was told the colors were: Black/White, Green, Purple and Blue.

So here is what I came up with:

I'm not entirely sure my "Mojo" has returned in full force but I think the card looks nice.                          My mom's birthday is coming up on January 18 (she'll be 83) so this may be what I give her for her birthday card unless I change my mind between now and then.                      Supplies Used:  Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White and Lavender Lace-retired from SU. Green textured (which I used the wrong side) is from Bazzil. Patterned Paper, Paper Pizazz.  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black. Stamps: Sentiment is Stampendous, Row of flowers from Fiskars-Border-A-Plenty.  Nestability Dies, Circle and Lacey Circles. Pearls, Zva - Punch, Daisy Scallop from EK Sucess and the brad is from Doodlebug Design.

Now if you'd like to join in on the challenge just create a card using any shades of the colors listed, link back to Lisa's blog using the Mr. Linky feature and that's it.  Don't forget to pop in an leave some comment love on the other people's enteries.  Have a great week.

Say it with...Polka Dots

Hello and welcome to the AnnaBelle Weekly Challenge.
This week our theme is: Say it with...Polka Dots! - Who doesn't love Polka Dots. They are just so much fun.

Want to see how I used Polka Dots for the theme...(Yep your just biting your nails in anticipation of something good)

Okay here it is:

For this card I started with the adorable "Lil Monster" stamp set. I just think he's so cute and so much fun to use.
I colored him with Copic Markers

and cut him out. I'm actually pleased with the Copic coloring on this card. Next I stamped the Polka Dot background (Backgrounds By Design 1)with a Versa Mark ink pad on Green textured cardstock. Then I added the Polka Dot DP (DCWV) and a punched border, (Optic Dot-Marthat Stewart) I mounted this on Whisper White Card Stock and then again on Bashful Blue cs. Next I stamped the sentiment with Brilliant Blue ink and tied on some Polka Dot ribbon (American Crafts). To finish off the dotted theme I added 3 Olive Sprinkles. The Card base is Not Quite Navy-SU
Oh I almost forgot that I paper pieced the shirt with a bright orange polka dot pattern to add some contrast. Source Unknown as the card stock was a gift.

Now please check out what the other DT members have created using this theme and then give it a try yourself.

Belles
Andrea
Sue W
Kylie
Chupa
Ida
Jerusha
Rene'
Lisa
Sue K


Bellas
Liz
Kerry




Be sure to link back for your chance to win a $20 Gift Voucher at the end of the month.

Say it with...Hold A Candle

Hi!  Welcome to Annabelle's Say It With....Challenge.  This week we are showcasing the stamp set: (Hold A Candle).  I have 2 cards to share today so let's get started.

For my first card I chose the current MojoMonday sketch:
As you can see I rotated the sketch to fit my images.  Isn't it wonderful you can interpret the sketch in different ways.

My card base is: Chocolate Chip layered with Cherry Cobbler and some Plaid Designer Paper (Cosmo Cricket-Mr. Campy line).  I stamped the Balloons on Very Vanilla Card Stock and colored them with Prisma Color Pencils.  The balloons and the strings were highlighted with a Clear Spica Glitter pen (doesn't show in the photo :o( though.)  I added a Loopy Border at the bottom and double tied some Soft Green Satin Ribbon.  The sentiment was stamped with Chocolate Chip ink and I added 3 Chili Sprinkles underneath it.

My second card was actually the first card I made for this challenge but I wasn't sure it showed off the stamps from the set all that well so I made the other one as well using different stamps from the set.

For this card all the card stock & dp is exactly the same except I used Close to Cocoa for the card base.  It's hard to tell in the scan but the cobbler layered were embossed with the Swiss Dot embossing folder and I added a strip done using a Chain Punch across the layer.   

You can see how using the same papers but different stamps and layouts can really change up your cards.

Now remember you can participate in this challenge.  We'd love for you to use the set, (Hold a Candle) but if you don't own it "yet" then feel free to use another set as long as it uses a Candle somewhere on the card.  All challenge cards are eligible for the $20 voucher given away at the end of the month.

Be sure to check out the DT cards.  I've seen them and they are fabulous!

A Color Challenge mixed with a Sketch Challenge

Hello and Happy Friday!
First off for those who are interested here is a link to view pics of Coleen on her first day of Kindergarten!  Our little girl is growing up.

Now on to today's challenges.  I sort of combined a couple of challenges again.
The (Annabelle Sketch Challenge and the Blogger Challenge).  For the Blogger Challenge this week it was a COLOR combo (Red, Green and Yellow) so I made 2 different cards using the same colors/papers but different stamps.

First up is the Annabelle Sketch Challenge Card:

Isn't this just so bright and cheery!  Makes you want to put on sunglasses doesn't it?  I started out both cards by picking out my patterned paper.  I've had this piece of plaid designer paper in a folder for at least 10 years waiting for a chance to use it.  I just love the colors and the plaid pattern.

For this card I used Real Red for the Card Base layered with the new Daffodil Delight from SU and my DP (Source unknown). The cake was colored with Prisma Colored Pencils and I added Lemonade' Glitter (Art Institute) to the candles and the dots on the cake.  This was mounted to a piece of the Real Red cs and a punched border (MS) of Garden Green.  I also added a circle of the GG with my sentiment.  The stamps I used are from the recently released Annabelle Stamp set:  Take the Cake.  For my "bling" element I used Chili Sprinkles from AB

Please stop by the DT members blogs to check out their take on this great sketch.  You have a chance to win a FREE stamp set (Diva) by entering the sketch challenge on the Annabelle Blog and leaving a link there using the little Frog on the sidebar.  All sketch challenges will now last for the entire month.

Are you ready for something different yet the same?  For my BC challenge card I used the same papers but chose to do a Christmas Card using them!  The white dots in the DP reminded me of snowflakes so I decided to do a holiday card with these colors.  My stamps are from: Artful Inkables (Holiday Treats & Tails).  I just love these adorable little beavers.  The colors of cs remain the same as the card above.  For this one I just added a punched snowflake sprinkled with clear glitter from the Art Institute. I also added Crystal Effects to the tree lights and an embossed snowflake panel of the Daffodil Delight.

Isn't it fun how you can use the same colors for two very different themes.  Be sure to stop by the BC members blogs as I'm sure they've used these colors in very different ways and shades then the ones I've used.  Have a wonderful day.