Deck the Halls for Merry Monday

A card with a wreath was the challenge for this week's Merry Monday Challenge.  I had a holiday stamp set from Newton's Nook just waiting to be opened and inked up.  

 For this card I went with three layers of dimension in my image.  I stamped the image three times.  I colored the kitty's lower body on the base image.  I cut out and colored the wreath for my second layer.  The kitty's head and paws were layer number three. 
 

Instead of coloring the bow on the image, I tied a little bow of my own. 

One card closer to the holiday season!  

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Neenah and Xpress

Pattern Paper:  Stampin' Up

Stamps:  Newton's Holiday Mischief from Newton's Nook

Ink:  Memento and Copic Markers

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

Bright Colors = Improved Mood

Today's card combines my new watercolors with distress inks, as I played along with Clean and Simple #303.  My mood improves when I play with bright colors.  Here is my card . . .

Here is the sketch I was working from . . .

My background was created using a stamp that was inked up in Tim Holtz Distress Inks, and then spritzed with a very light coating of water so that where my colors overlapped, I would get some good blending.  The popsicle was stamped using a black pigment ink that was clear embossed, and then I colored with my watercolor paints.  Love those watercolors! 

Pattern paper for my banners . . . sequins from Pretty Pink Post for some added interest, and a card is born.

Create something colorful, and it improves your mood!

Supplies Used - Popsicle

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp* and Close To My Heart

Pattern Paper:  Bo Bunny Lemonade Stand*

Stamps:  Ice Cream Dreams from Simon Says Stamp*

Ink:  Distress Inks, Versafine and Clear Embossing Powder, Gansai Tambi Watercolors

Other:  Pretty Pink Post Sequins

*from August Simon Says Stamp Card Kit

Old Kit/New Kit for Kit Kraft Wednesday

For this week's Kit Kraft Wednesday, I pulled out an old kit and a new kit. 

My newest arrival is Simon Says Stamp's September Card Kit which included lots of book stamps, papers and stickers.  I used a sketch from The Paper Players and here is the end result. 

I stamped my shelf and my books using Close To My Heart inks.  The shelf is slightly popped.  I love the pattern papers in this kit. 

My second creation was for a StampNation challenge.  There was an inspiration photo with colorful umbrellas, so I created a card with colorful umbrellas of my own. 

The pattern papers are from an older Simon Says Stamp card kit (March).  The stamps were from my own stash.  I used sequins to give the illusion of rain.  Inside the card is the honey comb paper to add some pop. 

Hope you find some time to create. 

Supplies Used - Perfect in my Book

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp and Neenah*

Pattern Paper:  October Afternoon

Stamps:  To Thine Own Shelf*

Dies:  Sizzix Circle Dies

Ink:  Close To My Heart and Ranger Distress

Other:  Wood Dots from Teresa Collins

*Simon Says Stamp September Card Kit

Supplies Used - Under the Weather

Cardstock:  Bazzill and Neenah

Pattern Paper:  Lawn Fawn

Stamps:  Inky Antics Umbrella Friends, Many Greetings from My Creative Time

Ink:  Memento, Copic Markers

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Honeycomb Paper Pad, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

Creation Therapy

This last week has not been a very creative one, so I made time today to sit down and create a few cards for some challenges.  And like good therapy, I think I really needed it. 

My strategy for challenges is to look only at the challenge and to surprise myself with the design team samples after my card is made.  I always love to see what mark I've hit; whether I'm totally out of the box, or if my creation was similar to someone else. 

For all of my cards, I dug out a Simon Says Stamp Card Kit that I ordered back in January but is from a year earlier and had not sold out.  I used supplies from that kit for all three of my cards. 

First up is a card for CASology.  The Cue Card was "Java." 

The pattern paper and the ticket came from my Simon Says kit.  I used a stamps set from Reverse Confetti for my cards, and I colored my cup with a few shades of Copic markers. 

One of the CASology design team members used the same stamp set as me, and great minds think alike, as we both colored our stripe on our mug with red.  I was surprised by how many other creations had the cup on the lower right of the card.  Beautiful creations by the group!

For my second card today, I created a little something for Muse.  Here is the Muse challenge photo this week . . .

My card kit paper had chevrons in a few different colors, so I decided to stripe them out.  I stamped my sentiment from the kit onto vellum, and embossed with detail white embossing powder. 

I used a die to create a window and there is an smaller inlaid piece under the vellum to provide some color behind the sentiment.  I matched my sequins to the color. 

After my card was created, I went back and looked at some of the challenge submissions.  Some were challenged by the colors, some by chevrons, some by butterflies.  Beautiful creations!

My final challenge today was Freshly Made Sketches.  I ended up using more layers than I originally intended.  Here is the sketch . . .

Here is my creation.  I used the hexagon paper for that bottom strip, with intentions to have the brown chevron paper above it.  The chevrons and hexagons were not playing well together, so the ribbon had to be brought in to break up the fight.  

 I used another one of those tickets on this card, and my sentiment carries from from the ticket to a hexagon.  The flamingo is a newer stamp/die set from Reverse Confetti.  Loving all that brown! 

 The design team samples from Freshly Made Sketches were so different and so fun.  I can safely say that there wasn't anything remotely close to my creation (no flamingos!), but there were several who layered similar to me. 

Always fun to create first and compare notes after.  And always fun to create!

Supplies Used - Thanks a Latte

Cardstock:  Neenah

Pattern Paper:  Simon Says Stamp Card Kit (Jan. 2013)

Stamps:  Reverse Confetti Be A Barista

Ink:  Versamark, Ranger Black Embossing Powder, Copic Markers, Close To My Heart

Ribbon:  Twine from Pretty Pink Posh

Other:  Ticket from SSS Card Kit (Jan. 2013) and Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh

Supplies Used - Special

Cardstock:  Neenah and Bazzill Vellum

Pattern Paper:  Simon Says Stamp Card Kit (Jan. 2013)

Stamps:  Very Special from Simon Says Stamp

Dies:  Sizzix Fancy Labels

Ink:  Versamark and Ranger Detail White Embossing Powder, Ranger Archival Black

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

Supplies Used - Happy Bird-day

Cardstock:  Neenah

Pattern Paper:  Simon Says Stamp Card Kit (Jan. 2013)

Stamps and Dies: Reverse Confetti Fabulous Flamingo

Ink:  Ranger Archival Black, Close To My Heart

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Bo Bunny Doily, Ticket from SSS Card Kit (Jan. 2013), Stampin' Up Hexagon Punch

A True Kit Kraft Wednesday

This was a true Kit Kraft Wednesday.  I've not posted anything creative in over a week, and I've not done anything crafty, so I said . . . whoa!  Get busy or you have to cancel your kits, and therein, a card is born.

This week it is my Studio Calico kit mixed with CASE this Sketch. 

This card came together nicely once I got rolling.  I started with a full panel of the lined paper, intending to put some circles on the paper, and then decided to cut the circles from the paper and pop it over the black pattern paper.  From there, it all just came together. 

Hopefully I will have more time to create as the weekend nears, as I'm feeling a bit craft-deprived.  I hope you have some time to create.

Supplies Used

Cardstock, Pattern Paper, Stamps, Buttons:  Studio Calico Penny Arcade Card Kit

Dies:  Sizzix Circle Die

Ink:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Fiskars Circle Punch

Popsicles and Ice Cream for Kit Kraft Wednesday

I have two cards for Kit Kraft Wednesday, both using supplies from the Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit (which you can check out here).

My first card is for Clean and Simple Stamping Challenge (see the sketch below).  

The stamp set that came with the kit is so darn adorable.  My popsicles were colored using a new set of watercolors in my stash.  I'm having a blast playing with them.

 

My second card is for Seize the Sketch.  Mmmm . . . mint chocolate chip and a raspberry chocolate chip cone.  It's like his and hers!  

My new watercolors got a workout today.  

 I hope you find some time to create.

Supplies Used - You're So Cool Clean Stamp; Simple

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  Bo Bunny Lemonade Stand*

Stamps:  Ice Cream Dreams*

Ink:  Versafine Black, Clear Embossing Powder, Gansai Tambi Watercolors

Ribbon:  Some Odd Girl Twine

Other:  Chevron Border Punch from Stampin' Up

*from Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit

Supplies Used - Love You More Than Ice Cream

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  Bo Bunny Lemonade Stand*

Stamps:  Ice Cream Dreams*

Ink:  Versamark, Ranger Black Embossing Powder, Gansai Tambi Watercolors

Other:  Stampin' Up Sequins

*from Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit

Tag Your It and CAS(E) this Sketch Combo

I decided to play along with the collaborative challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch and Tag You're It by creating a tag and using it on my card.  I played around with some watercolor using some supplies from my Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit to create my tag.

The kit arrived with two Tim Holtz Distress Markers which I used to ink up a dot border stamp and stamp diagonally on some watercolor paper.  I then sprayed and inked it all up a bit. The yellow dots are hard to see in the photo.  The sentiment strip shows those same marker colors, and I masked off the white space on the right side of the tag, but then removed the mask when spraying it down so it wasn't so stark. 

And then I added my tag to a card using some paper from my kit.

Hope you find some time to create today!

Supplies Used - You're So Cool Tag Card

Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp*

Pattern Paper:  Bo Bunny*

Stamps:  Ice Cream Dreams*

Ink:  Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Markers*, Versafine Black Ink, Clear Embossing Powder

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

*from Simon Says Stamp Card Kit

Two Cards . . . Lots of Yellow

I have two cards for you today, and there is plenty of bright yellow color in these two creations. 

First, a card for Seize the Birthday challenge, a birthday card that exudes yellow.

The supplies for this card came from Studio Calico's Penny Arcade Kit.  Loads of yellow.  I only had to add some ink and ribbon to my supplies. 

 My second card is for the Fusion Card Challenge.  The fusion . . .

And my card . . .

Supplies for this kit were from Studio Calico's Sandlot Card Kit.  The pencils were paper that I trimmed out popped. 

Two fabulous challenges . . . if you're just stopping by to peruse, I hope you decide to play long too. 

Supplies Used - Seize the Birthday "Yellow"

Cardstock, Pattern Paper, Stamps and Button

From Studio Calico Penny Arcade Card Kit

Ink:  Ranger Archival

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Supplies Used

Cardstock, Pattern Paper, Stamps, and Sequins

From Studio Calico Sandlot Card Kit

Ink:  Stampin' Up, Avery Elle Pigment, Memento, Versamark, Stampin' Up Embossing Powder

Other:  The Twinery Twine

Challenges X 4

I decided to get a little creative with some challenges today, and here is the result.

First up is Challenge #138 at my place for inspiration, StampNation.  They provided an inspiration photo, and here was where my brain and my supplies took me . . .

Using watercolor paper, I stamped the stems with a combination of green ink and Versamark and then embossed with clear embossing powder.  The the dandelions were stamped in Versamark and then embossed with white detail embossing powder.  The background was created using a mix of distress inks.

Second up is a card I created for the Freshly Made Sketches and Heart 2 Heart.  The challenge at H2H was to create a card inspired by a movie.  I decided to go with Wizard of Oz . . . Judy Garland . . . specifically the scene where she sings the inspiring song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."  She's a country girl . . . was it before or after she fell into the pig pen that she sang the inspiring song?  Here is the card I created using this week's Freshly Made Sketch . . .

The pattern papers from Jubilee were inked in brown ink.  I then stamped using the Over the Rainbow stamp set to create a scene and stamp my sentiment pieces.  And then I crumpled, crumpled and crumpled.  I flattened it all out and I crumpled some more.  And then more.  And then lots more!  Finally I inked.  It gave it an aged and almost canvas look.  I used a liquid glue to adhere, so I wouldn't lose my wrinkles!  

Third for today is a card created for CASology.  The challenge was "Stripes."  This card was super easy . . . wide striped paper . . . striped ribbon . . . stripes in my "YAY" stamp. 

Those wide stripes, that wide ribbon and the combination of yellow, black and white . . . LOVE! 

Feeling crafty?  Get busy!

Supplies Used - Dare to Dream

Cardstock:  Close To My Heart, Strathmore Watercolor

Stamps:  My Favorite Things Dandelion Wishes and Game Night

Dies:  My Favorite Things Precious Polaroids

Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Close To My Heart, Versamark, Ranger White Detail Embossing Powder, Stampin' Up Embossing Powder

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

Supplies Used - Over the Rainbow

All product is Close To My Heart, including cardstock, Jubilee Paper Pack, Over the Rainbow stamp set and embellishment. 

Supplies Used - Yay!

Cardstock:  Bazzill*

Pattern Paper:  Ashley Goldberg for Studio Calico*

Stamps:  Penny Arcade Stamp Set*

Dies:  Single Banner Craft Die (LifeLovePaper for Studio Calico) *

Ink:  Memento

Ribbon:  Grosgrain Ribbon*, Aqua Yarn*

Other:  Button*

*from Studio Calico Penny Arcade Card Kit

Merry Monday and a Happy Memory

I decided to play around with the Merry Monday Challenge and build a design using some stamps in my collection from Close To My Heart.  The challenge was to create a card using skis, skates or a sled.  Now I know there has to be some sleds or skates somewhere in my collection of stamps and dies, but I was coming up empty.  But I had a sleigh and decided to start there and create some layers of stamping. 

I love the background designs in these stamped images.  The sentiment and rails were silver embossed and the trees were stamped and then cut and adhered to the card to give a little dimension.  I lowered the red carriage a bit, and it reminded me of the red carriage type sled we had for my daughter when she was a toddler.  I can still imagine her bundled in her sea foam green snow suit in that little sleigh as my husband pulled her around the yard.   

Hope you find some time to create today, and maybe even summon up a happy memory of your own. 

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Neenah and Close To My Heart

Pattern Paper:  Close To My Heart

Stamps:  Holiday Magic from Close To My Heart

Ink:  Close To My Heart, Versamark and Stampin' Up Silver Embossing Powder

Other:  Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh

Gettin' Sketchy

I have two creations to share today.  The first is a card I created using Clean and Simple Stamping's sketch (#301) and the color combination at Colour Me Card Challenge which was to use Pistachio Pudding ink with neutrals.  Here is the result . . .

My neutral colors were gold and cork (o.k. - cork is not a color).  I used embossing powder from Stampendous, and some adhesive cork from my Studio Calico kit supplies. 

For my second card, I used the Sketchbook Saturday sketch from Random Acts of Creativity.  I just love this sketch when I saw it because the heart in the sketch made me want to use my heart/paw die from Paper Smooches.

I used some elements in my arsenal . . . flowers from American Crafts, a gold doily from Some Odd Girl and those Blue Frosties from Queen & Company.  They look like lights!  Just love them. 

Hope you find some time to create today.

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Neenah*

Pattern Paper:  Tim & Beck*

Stamps:  JJ Bolton for Studio Calico* and Birthday Bash from Altenew

Dies:  Craft Die Frame*

Ink:  Stampin' Up, Versamark, and Stampendous Gold Detail

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Cork*

*from Studio Calico Hello Hello Card Kit

 

 

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  Bazzill* and Neenah*

Pattern Paper:  American Crafts*, Maggie Holmes*, and Tim & Beck*

Stamps:  Paws for a Cause from Paper Smooches

Dies:  Dog Icons from Paper Smooches

Ink:  Ranger Archival

Other:  Blue Frosties from Queen & Company*, Gold Doily from Some Odd Girl, Flowers from American Crafts

*from Studio Calico Hello Hello Card Kit