Have a Happy Day

Wow! It has been forever since I have been able to play with my pretty papers, stamps, and bling. I've had a lot going on in my personal life with personal illness and family illness. Things are finally starting to settle down again. Praise the Lord!

I'm here today with a card I created inspired by Viva la Verve May 2015 Week 4 Sketch.

using Be Blessed and Flag It die set from Verve Stamps

I was super excited when I saw this Viva la Verve Sketch! I just love me some tilted panels! I know it freaks some people out when they see a tilt but, I embrace it. LOL. However, I cannot tell a lie, it took me forever to put together this clean and simple card. It's hard to resist the urge to keep adding to the design. My little banner flags were die cut with some burlap which is new to me and I think I'm gonna love trying that in some other ways.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you and your loved ones have a very blessed Memorial Day!

Chevron Birthday

Hello everyone! It's a dreary, rainy day in my neck of the woods today so, I have spent the better part of the day in my craft room. I created another birthday card inspired by several challenges.

I used the March Week 1 Viva la Verve sketch as an outline for the overall design of my card.

Since I created a birthday card it also fits in with the March Verve Diva Inspirations Challenge...

I used Chevron Love, All Aflutter Die, Flag It Die, and Birthday Phrases from Verve Stamps.

I made this card with a special person in mind. A young lady who loves polka dots, chevrons, and pearls. I think I got her covered!

Here are some other challenges I am playing along with:

Sister Act- Anything Goes

Polkadoodles- Birthdays

Blogger's Challenge- Birthdays

Crazy 4 Challenges- Bring on the Bling

Thanks for stopping by...

Birthday Dots

Hello blogging friends! It's been a few weeks since I've been able to create anything. February was a tough month for me. As many of you know, I've been having some health issues and I've been trying to focus on improving my health but, I ended up back in the hospital again. So, if you would say a prayer for me, I would appreciate it.

I have the next few days off from work and I decided to play along in a few challenges with a card that is fairly clean and simple for me.

First challenge is the B is for Birthday Verve Diva Inspirations Challenge

I was inspired by the polka dots in the background, the shades of pink, coral, and green and the black stripes.

From Verve Stamps I used On Occasion and Occasion Frame Die.

To create my background, I used the Texture Mini Dots stencil from Memory Box with Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Spun Sugar, Bundled Sage, and Spiced Marmalade.

Other challenges that inspired my card:

 

 Aud Sentiments Challenge : use a 'two-word' sentiment: Birthday Blessings

FHL Throw-Back Thursday: use a retired stamp or one that is a least a year old: On Occasion is from 2013

Moving Along with the Times: three in a row bingo: die, image, gems

Seize the Birthday: focus on the sentiment

It feels so good to be getting back on track with my crafting. Thanks for stopping by. God Bless...

ODBDSLC164: Stamped Fluttering or Flying

Hello Everyone! It's time for a new Shining Light Challenge over at Our Daily Bread Designs.

This week we are challenging you to use some form of stamped fluttering or flying on your card designs. For example: birds, butterflies, etc. 

I had these two ODBD stamp sets that I have never used yet so I thought this was the perfect challenge to show them off:

Butterfly Corner

Bird and Butterfly Labels

Birthday Blessings (sentiment only)

 

I started my card with 5.25 base of Wisteria Wonder CS from SU. To that I added a layer of the coordinating DSP in the polka dot pattern. Next I stamped the Butterfly Corner in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and then colored in with copics using clear rhinestones for the flower centers. Then, using the fussy-cutting technique I cut out the corner and adhered it to the bottom right corner of my card base. 

Next using the largest Birds and Butterflies Label and Memento Ink I stamped the label onto Wisteria Wonder CS. Using the matching Spellbinders Label Eighteen I die cut the label and adhered it to my card slightly behind the butterfly corner. Using the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from Birthday Blessings, I stamped my greeting in the small oval in the label. Then I went in with the Liquid Pearls and created a lilac pearl border around the label. At this point, I felt if I did anything else I would be over-doing it. So, I had to force myself to stop there. I will be honest and say that this card is not what I would call my best work. I'd love to know what you would do to make it look better. 

I hope that you will join us in our challenge this week. To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Sunday, August 4, at 8 p.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next challenge. In order to win this prize, you do not need to use ODBD stamps, but if you have them, we would love to see them!! As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs Stamps, we will be choosing three or more participants for the Shining The Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Sunday, August 4, at 8 p.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBSLC164. When creating posts on your blogs, please include a link to the challenge.


I hope that you'll stop by my fellow designer's blogs/galleries and see their lovely creations for this challenge:

Cheryl Scrivens

Jan Marie Ennenga

Diana Nguyen

Chris Olsen

Thanks for dropping by today. God Bless You!

ODBDSLC163: Inspired by Cake

Hello Everyone! It's time for a new Shining Light Challenge over at Our Daily Bread Designs.

This week our challenge is Inspired by Cake. Create your design using inspiration from either one of these beautiful wedding cakes...

I drew inspiration from the blue cake. I loved the swirls of branches and blooms and the icing pearls outlining each layer.  I also am very low on my stash of birthday cards so, I decided to turn all this into a birthday card.

I started my card with a vertical base of Retired Bordering Blue CS from SU. I think this was my last sheet and luckily I had enough to make the card base and other layers out of this one sheet. Next, using my Birds & Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder I embossed a smaller layer of bordering blue and then sponged on Ivory White Folk Art Acrylic Paint to make the embossing stand out more.

Since I knew I wanted to make a birthday card, I pulled out Our Daily Bread Designs Birthday Blessings Stamps Set.

Using my Cricut and Elegant Edges cartridge I cut out a 3 1/2 inch label to stamp the pitcher and bowl on and then a 3 3/4 inch label to mat it on. The cut that I used is called "Leaves".

I stamped the image on the white label and colored it with Copics. Coloring is not my specialty so, there is just basic coloring done here with a little bit of the blender pen.

I needed something to place my sentiment on so I cut out a Spellbinders Grommet Tag.

Once everything was adhered to the card the way I wanted it, I began to add the liquid pearls in Opal White and Baby Blue. For finishing touches I added a pre-made butterfly embellishment from K & Co.

I hope that you will join us in our challenge this week. To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Sunday, July 28 at 8 p.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next challenge. In order to win this prize, you do not need to use ODBD stamps, but if you have them, we would love to see them!! As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs Stamps, we will be choosing three or more participants for the Shining The Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Sunday, July 28, at 8 p.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBSLC163. When creating posts on your blogs, please include a link to the challenge.


I hope that you'll stop by my fellow designer's blogs and see their lovely creations for this challenge:

Cheryl Scrivens

Jan Marie Ennenga

Diana Nguyen

Chris Olsen

Thanks for dropping by today. God Bless You!

ODBDSLC162: White or Ivory and Your Choice of One Other Color

Hello Everyone! It's time for a new Shining Light Challenge over at Our Daily Bread Designs.

This week we are challenging you to use white or ivory and your choice of one other color in your card design.

ODBD Stamps Used: Daffodil Corner, Birthday Blessings

 

I had such a blast creating my card this week. I was able to incorporate lots of things I love like, bling, glitter, and beads! 

I started with a 5.5 x 5.5 card base made from Calypso Coral. To that I added a smaller square panel of Whisper White.  On the left side I added a strip of double sided Tacky Tape and then sprinkled on some Stampin' Up! ® Stampin Glitter. I stamped my Daffodil Corner and then colored it up with Copic Markers. Then I fussy-cut it out and adhered it to a lacy circle of Calypso Coral. Using an EK Success border punch I created a diamond border to which I added another strip of Tacky Tape and then covered it with seed beads. After I had my sentiment adhered to the card and the coral bling in the upper right hand corner, I went back in with my Viva Decor Pearl Pen and added some white pearl drops to the lacy circle. 

I hope that you will join us in our challenge this week. To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Sunday, July 21 at 8 p.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next challenge. In order to win this prize, you do not need to use ODBD stamps, but if you have them, we would love to see them!!

As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing three or more of our participants for the Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Sunday,  July 21, at 8 p.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword  ODBDSLC162.  When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

I hope that you'll stop by my fellow designer's blogs and see their lovely creations for this challenge:

Cheryl Scrivens

Jan Marie Ennenga

Diana Nguyen

Chris Olsen

 

Thanks for dropping by today. God Bless You!

 

CDS February Blog Hop: Happy Birthday

Hi ya'll! It's time for the...

Our theme this month is Happy Birthday. If you arrived here from Cassie's Blog then you are in the right place. If not, you may want to go back to the Clearly iStamp Blog so that you don't miss any stops on the hop. Why is that so important, you might ask? Well, each of us participating in the hop gets to pick one lucky random commenter to win the digital stamp set that we used today. So you have a chance to win at every blog instead of just one winner. But you only have a chance if you leave a comment. So, don't forget to comment!

Today I am using the Ice Cream Social digital stamp set...

Looks yummy doesn't it?

Supplies: DCWV mustard color cardstock; Spellbinders Lacey Ovals, Spellbinders Labels Eighteen, Spellbinders Fancy Tags; Viva Decor Pearl Pen; Distress Stickles; Martha Stewart Crafts corner punch; PSE; digital papers, images, and sentiments from Ice Cream Social digital stamp set.

Your next stop on the hop is Vickie's Blog.

Thanks for hopping by. Enjoy the hop and Good Luck!

Deadline to comment if you are interested in the digital prize is Wednesday, February 20th at 3pm EST. 

CDS: January New Release

Hello everyone. Today I have some exciting news to share. I have been invited to be a part of the Design Team for Clearly Digi Stamps by Clear Dollar Stamps!

I'm beginning my term with them today as they launch their new digis for January 2013!

First up is a new set called Charlie Horse.

Next is the new Cake and Cookie set.

This is just two of the fabulous sets that are being released today. To see all of them with tons of inspiration from the CDS Design Team be sure to stop by the Clearly i Stamp blog.

Anything Goes @ The Perfect Sentiment

This week our challenge at The Perfect Sentiment is "Anything Goes with a Sentiment on the Front".

We are being sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps.

Because I have a tendency to focus on other occasions in my card-making I never have enough birthday cards. So for this challenge I chose to make a birthday card.

Supplies: Bold Celebrations stamp set from Avocado Arts; Retired DSP from SU; Always Artichoke CS from SU. 

Be sure to stop by The Perfect Sentiment to see what my fellow designers created for this challenge.

Whimsical @ Sentimental Sundays

Hello blogging friends! It's time for a new challenge at Sentimental Sundays!

This week we want you to get "Whimsical". Our sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies and they have generously provided the team with images to use. I chose to work with "Daisy Bird Bath".

I have very limited skills when it comes to working with line art drawings. I find it difficult to color the image and then incorporate it into my style of cards. Some people are so talented at this coloring thing but, not me! But, every now and then, I fool myself into thinking I might be able to get it right this time so, I give it another try.

I added butterflies to my card as I see them as being "whimsical".

Head on over to Sentimental Sundays to see what my fellow designers created for this Whimsical Challenge. Get inspired and join the fun!

Here are some other fun challenges I would like to submit my project to:

Craft Your Days Away: All Creatures Great and Small
Crafty Calendar Challenge: Things with Wings
Crazy 4 Challenges: Birthday Card
Secret Crafter: In the Garden
Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle: Flowers


Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. May God Bless You!

Shaped Cards at Sentimental Sundays

Hi Everyone. I hope that you all are having a blessed Sunday. Things are not so great for me as my Mom is back in the hospital. I really would appreciate your prayers and I know that she would.

It's time for a new challenge at Sentimental Sundays. This week we are challenging you to make a shaped card (no rectangles or squares) with a sentiment.

I knew that this challenge called for my Cricut and the Wild Card cartridge.

My color choices were inspired by the palette from the Play Date Cafe. 

I used Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou, and Daffodil Delight from Stampin' Up!®

The challenge at Drunken Stampers is to add texture to your card. I used my Sizzix Diamond embossing folder to add texture to my card.

The challenge at Sweet Stampin' is to create a clean and simple card and this card is definitely clean and simple for me.

My sentiment and stamped frame is from Ippity Stamps.

Be sure to stop by Sentimental Sundays to see what my fellow DT members created for this fun challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today. God Bless You.

The Perfect Sentiment Challenge 15: Birthday Embossing Resist

Hello Everyone! It's Wednesday at that means it's time for another challenge at The Perfect Sentiment.

Our challenge this week is to create a birthday card (with sentiment on the front) using the embossing resist technique.

When Sami first suggested this technique for our challenge I have to admit I cringed. I haven't done embossing resist in years and if I could recall correctly I wasn't that great at it. But, that's why it's called a challenge, right? So, in the spirit of having fun I agreed and you're about to see my final results.

I created a card base using Wisteria Wonder CS. Then I cut out a layer of Very Vanilla CS and using the Bliss stamp set I stamped various images using the VersaMark watermark ink. I covered the stamped images in clear embossing powder and then embossed with my heat gun. Using Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade inks I sponged over the clear embossed images to make them pop. I was actually very pleased with this "homemade" patterned paper I had created and in the process of trying out an old technique I found a color combination that I really like. I added two strips of ribbon and for finishing touches I cut out a Spellbinders Grommet Tag and inked the edges of it after I stamped "birthday wishes" on it. So, all that cringing was for nothing!

Now, I can't wait for you to see what the team did with this technique:

Sarah 

Jan

Sassy

Abby

Jessica

Maggie

 Theresa

Ashley

Karen

Tabitha

Once you're inspired come play along at the Perfect Sentiment!

I would like to enter this card into the challenge at Flutter By Wednesdays: Challenge this week is OPEN just remember your butterfly, fairy or angel