Mojo 390: Merry Christmas

I'm back with one more post for this Sunday! I wanted to play along with this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.

I took a few creative liberties with my sketch and made it into a square.

using Verve's Pinecone Christmas stamp set

I sponged a little ink around the edges of my die cut label instead of mounting it on a larger label. It adds just the right amount of dimension and keeps the card on the semi-clean and simple side. I couldn't resist the urge to use my liquid pearls to create holly berries and for adding decoration to the edge of the label and the banner trim die.

That's gonna be all from me for this weekend. I hope you all have a very blessed Monday and a great week!

Mojo Monday 388

I'm finally getting back to playing along with Mojo Monday Sketches! I did really well with keeping up the month of January and then got behind in February. Since my goal is to complete them all, I have printed out the ones I missed and have set them aside to use in future card designs. This is the current week's Mojo Monday Sketch and my somewhat 'loose' interpretation of it.

I used Verve's Believe stamp set, Sprightly Sprigs die, and Award Banner Trim die.

I created this card for a friend of mine who is battling cancer. I created the card in this blue shade as that is the color of the awareness ribbon for the type of cancer she has.

I'd also like to share it at the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have had a blessed weekend. 

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...

Mojo 379: Comfort & Joy

Hi all! I'm so excited to be here today with my first card for 2015. I'm even more excited that it's a Christmas card! You see, I gave myself a challenge to create 2 Christmas cards a month this year so that when the holidays roll around, I'm not scrambling to get them done.

My card is inspired by three different challenges. The first one is this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.

The second challenge that inspired my card is from Winter Wonderland to use your favorite colour combo. I tend to gravitate towards pink and green or pink and teal color combos. For this card I used Pretty in Pink and Bermuda Bay.

Last but not least the challenge at Classy Cards N Such this week is Teal Snowflakes.

I started my card with a card base made from Bermuda Bay cardstock. I used patterned papers from the Frosted Lace collection by Wild Rose Studio. I stamped the classic oval frame in Bermuda Bay ink and cut it out with the Classy Label Die. My sentiment is stamped using Black Soot Distress ink. Using Bermuda Bay again, I stamped the snowflake and cut it out with the snowflake die from the Reindeer Fun Die Set. The classy label, sentiment and snowflake all come from a Verve stamp set called Unto Us. For finishing touches I added some white organza that I died to match with Bermuda Bay ink as well as liquid pearls in Peacock and some sequins.

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas with ODBD Stamps & The Deconstructed Sketch

Hi Everyone! I'm here today with a card that was inspired by the Shining Light Challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs to create a Christmas card using their stamps.

I also was inspired by The Deconstructed Sketch No. 179. This was my first time playing along with The Deconstructed Sketch but, I don't think it will be my last. Here is the sketch...

Now for my card...

For my card I chose to work with the Poinsettia Wreath stamp set from Our Daily Bread Designs. My patterned paper is from Graphic 45: The Twelve Days of Christmas. I used some pre-made borders from K&Co. that I had in my stash from a couple of years ago for the paper strips. I cut out my square using Lacy Squares from Spellbinders and added some Liquid Pearls as well as Cherry Cobbler ink around the border. I colored the image with Copics, which I am still desperately trying to get the hang of for several years now. LOL The truth is I just don't use line art images that often so, I don't get enough practice. To be honest, line art images intimidate me.

Well, I hope you like my card and if you haven't tried either one of these challenges you should!

Be Blessed,

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!

Sunshine & Butterflies

Happy Monday! Hope your week is off to a great start.

I've been wanting to design something with this beautiful sunflower designer paper from the Graphic45 French Country Collection for some time now. It's so vivid and timeless I just had to showcase it.

I started with a Cherry Cobbler card base that measures 4.25 x 5.5. I cut the length and width of the sunflower patterned paper a quarter inch smaller and adhered it to the base.

Next using the Cheery Lynn Designs Lace Deco Corners A and Summer Sun cardstock I cut out two corners for the top left and bottom right of the card. Still working with Summer Sun cardstock I used Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight to die cut a label for my sentiment.

For embellishment and finishing touches, I used the opposite side of the sunflower patterned paper and die-cut two butterflies facing them in opposite directions on the card. I added some Brown Baby Rhinestones to the centers of the butterflies to create the bodies.

Thanks for stopping by today...

The Perfect Sentiment: Anything Goes

Hi Everyone! Hope you are having a great week. It's Wednesday and time for a new challenge at The Perfect Sentiment. This week is everyone's favorite challenge: Anything Goes!

Since anything goes and I needed to get a start on Christmas cards and I've always wanted to try pink and green for Christmas...this is what I ended up with...

I used one of my favorite Webster's Pages Collections, "Waiting for Santa/Sweet Season". This collection is probably now retired but, I have a nice stash of it left.

This card also gave me a reason to try out my Frosty Border die by Memory Box. It's hard to tell here but it's actually very elegant.

And of course I used one of my favorite sentiments from Verve's Bright Spirits stamp set.

Challenges I would like to enter:

• LEJ Designs: Die cuts or punches
• Vickie's Anything Goes
• Get Inky: Die Cuts 
• Lawnscaping: Clean & Simple 
• Make It Monday: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are blessed.

CCNS & The Perfect Sentiment: Feminine Grace

Hello Everyone! It's been a long while since I've posted anything on my blog. I was on a creative roll and getting quite a few cards made but then my 78 year old Mom fell and broke her leg which required surgery and a week's stay in the hospital. I do have her back home with me now and she is slowly recovering with the aid of in-home physical therapists and lots of rest. She can't put any pressure on that leg for two months so, bare with me as I care for my Mom and try to create when time allows.

It's Wednesday and time for a new challenge at The Perfect Sentiment. This week our theme is "Make it Feminine".

I created my card using several products from the Classy Cards N Such Online Store.

I really love the different patterns and color combinations in the Laced with Grace Designer Paper Collection by Glitz Designs. Each pattern already has a pre-distressed look to it and since I love distressing anyway, that just makes me love the collection even more. Today I decided to work with the pale teals in the collection. One pattern in particular was jumping out at me (the zebra stripes) and that's how I came up with my teal and black color combination for the basis of this card.

My card base measures 5.5 square. For my first layer I distressed the edges of the solid teal pattern with the sheet music on it and then inked the distressed edges with Black Soot Distress Ink. Using the largest circle from Spellbinders Lacey Circles I cut out a lacey circle from the teal zebra print pattern and adhered that in the center. Next, I cut out a 2.5 x 4.5 rectangle from the teal ledger pattern and matted it on black cardstock; placing it on top of the circle.


With the basics of my card done, it's time to get fancy! Using the Spellbinders Fantastic Flourish One and black cardstock I cut out a flourish and placed it off-center to the left. I added a couple drops of Mint Green Liquid Pearls to the flower centers to make them stand out. Using Very Vanilla cardstock and Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight, I cut out a label and stamped my sentiment. To finish things off, I added one Prima Calcutta Mini in Willow. 

My card design was inspired by the April Week 1 Viva la Verve Sketch...

Thanks for stopping by!

The Perfect Sentiment: Going Green with a Touch of Gray

Hi Everyone! It's Wednesday and time for a new challenge at The Perfect Sentiment! This week we have a color story for you to try.

This was a very hard color combo to work with but The Perfect Sentiment Team did a fabulous job with it. Be sure to stop by the challenge blog and see their samples. You can play along for your chance to win some free digis from this week's sponsor.

Here is my take on the challenge:

I decided to stay as close to CAS as I could for my style of card-making. The Scripture I used is from a fabulous set from Clearly Digi Stamps called Scriptures of Peace.

Supplies: Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Basic Gray, CS from SU; Martha Stewart Crafts border and corner punches; Spellbinders Labels Eighteen; Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls Embossing folder; Liquid Pearls; Scriptures of Peace Digital Stamp Set from Clearly Digi Stamps. 

Thanks for stopping by today. 

CDS: February New Release

Hi Everyone! It's the 15th of the month and that means it's time to see the newly released digital images from Clearly Digi Stamps by Clear Dollar Stamps!

There are some really darling sets being released this month so be sure to stop by the Clearly iStamp Blog to see all the new releases.

Today, I get to preview two of the new sets right here on my blog!

First up is Eat More Cake...

From this set I used the blue sprinkled paper, the cake image which I layered with the sprinkles image in PSE, and the fun sentiment.  I used a cupcake embossing folder to keep inline with my cake theme. To pull it all together I cut out two brown corner accents using my Cricut and Storybook cartridge and added blue rhinestones to the center. My cake image is also layered on some Cricut cuts from Elegant Edges cartridge. 

I'd like to enter this card into the Birthday Challenge at Card Makin' Mamas and the Birthday Challenge at Broken Box Stock.

Next up is Seasonal Crosses...

Using a rose-bud embossing folder I embossed the front of a plain white pre-made card base. Then I went over the raised areas with one of my Versa Magic chalk inks. I staggered some pink liquid pearls in the centers of the embossed roses and around some of the leaves. Using my Cricut and Elegant Edges cartridge I cut out a white label to print the spring cross image on. Before printing the spring cross image I layered the Hope sentiment onto the cross using PSE. I colored the spring cross with my Copics. I wanted this layer to really pop against the green so, I cut out another label in pink and mounted the spring cross image onto it. Again using my liquid pearls I went all the way around the label making tiny pearls to add elegance and pop to this otherwise clean and simple card.

If you already love Clearly Digi Stamps or would love the opportunity to try them for free please stop back by my blog on Sunday 2.17.13

We will be having our monthly blog hop and the best part is that every Designer on the hop will be allowed to give away the set that she used on her design to one lucky random winner who leaves a comment. Isn't that super cool? The winner will receive a full free set including colored and non-colored images, matching sentiments and digital papers where applicable. So don't miss out. See you on Sunday!

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.