Peace, Joy, Love {Merry Monday #170)

Make a card with holly on it.

I am guest designing for the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge blog today. This week's challenge is to use holly on a project which worked out perfectly for me as I had just purchased some new holly leaf dies. 

I used the Papertrey Ink Phrase Play #8 die to cut from red and white cardstock and then layered them onto newsprint patterned paper I attached the frame piece to a patterned paper background from the same pad using craft foam. I cut the holly leaves and berries using the new Memory Box Stitched Holly Leaves dies and then attached them to the frame piece with foam tape, replacing the star on the die cut. The small sentiments from the Papertrey Ink Sparkle and Shine Mini set were stamped with with black ink and I added a few red jewels to highlight them. All the patterned paper came from the Pink Paislee Merry & Bright pad from last year. 

Products: Papertrey Ink stamps, cs and die, Pink Paislee dp, Kaisercraft rhinestones, Memory Box dies, Simon Says ink

Be sure to stop by the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge blog to see all the fabulous Design Team cards as well as information on how to enter the challenge.

Bloom in Faith

I have another yet another faith based card today using stamps from the Illustrated Faith Bloom set.

I cut a rectangle from vellum using a Lil Inker Designs stitched mat and then stamped the flower image and the sentiments using Versamark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder. I layered it onto patterned paper and then matted it with a wonky layer in dark blue to ground it. After adding a sun cut with another Lil Inker Designs die, I anchored the piece with a button and added an enamel dot to the flower center.

Products: Illustrated faith stamps, American Crafts dp, Bazill vellum and cs, PTI cs and button, Doodlebug enamel dot, Lil Inker Designs die, Versamark ink


Have a fabulous weekend.

What's Buzzin? and a sale {Purple Onion Designs}

You have until tomorrow (Friday) to take advantage of the  Purple Onion Designs anniversary sale. The discounted prices will appear as soon as you add the items to your cart.

Today's card features images by Stephanie Ackerman including the Heart Flower, the bee from the Love Bugs set and the sentiment from the new Love Bugs Sentiments set. All were stamped onto Neenah cardstock cut with a Lil Inker Designs Stitched mat. I colored the bee and the flower stalk with Copic Markers and paper pieced the flower, attaching the flower center with foam tape. The completed image panel was attached to a patterned paper background with craft foam. A couple of enamel dots were the only embellishments.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, Simple Stories dp, PTI cs, Lil Inker Designs die, Copic Markers
Copics: Flower-YG61, YG63, YG67; Bee-C3, C5, W00, E81, R22, R24, Y0000, Y11, Y13; Shadows-BG70, BG0000, BG000 

As always, please check out the Purple Onion Designs blog for more inspiration.

Cute as a Bug and a Sale {Purple Onion Designs}

It's the 12th Anniversary of  Purple Onion Designs and you have until Friday, August 23 to take advantage of the celebration sale.

Using the Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Film Strip Die to cut from both white Neenah cardstock and then again from Limeade Ice cardstock. I stamped the various bugs from the Purple Onion Designs Love Bugs set onto the squares, coloring them with Copic markers. I attached the finished piece onto a cardstock mat with craft foam, slipping a patterned paper tag in between. The sentiment from the Love Bug Sentiments set was stamped directly onto the card base. Matching buttons finished it up for a whimsical card for a child.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, My Mind's Eye dp, Neenah, DCWV cs, PTI cs and buttons, Pretty Pink Posh die, Verve die, Copic Markers
Copics: W00, E81, BG0000, BG000, BG01, BG05, YG0000, YG01, YG13

Please check out the Purple Onion Designs blog for more inspiration.

Blessed to Call You a Friend

Happy Friday!

Today's card reflects my interpretation of the Freshly Made Sketch #200. They are celebrating the 200th sketch and have lots of prizes up for grabs so I am tossing my card into the mix.

I actually flipped the sketch so that the smaller panel was at the bottom. I cut the background panel from Strathmore watercolor paper and a strip of patterned paper from an older My Mind's Eye pad using a Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mat die. I really didn't need to use watercolor paper for the background since I wasn't really coloring on it but I liked that the texture would match my image piece. I used a die from the Papertrey Ink Building Blocks die for cutouts and then backed with more paper from the same paper pad. I cut a tag also from the same watercolor paper using the largest die from the WPlus9 Timeless Tags 2 set. I stamped the stem/leaf and sentiment from the WPlus9 Doodle Buds set onto the tag, plus a flower and extra leaf separately using Versafine Onyx Black ink. I heat embossed all images with clear embossing powder and then cut out the leaf and flower bud with the matching Doodle Buds dies. After coloring the images with my new Zig Clean Color Real Brushes - I am still in a major learning curve on these - the flower bud and leaf were attached to the tag with foam tape. I added some baker's twine in the tag hole and then using the tag as a guide, I stamped the rest of the sentiment directly onto the background panel and then added the completed tag with craft foam.

Products: WPlus9 stamps and dies, My Mind's Eye dp, Strathmore watercolor paper, PTI cs and die, Lil Inker Designs die, Versafine ink, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Brushes
Zigs: Flower-Light Carmine, Carmine Red; Stem/Leaves-Yellow, Pale Green, Light Green; Background-Cobalt Blue


That's it for today. Have a fabulous weekend!

Where Flowers Bloom and a Sale {Purple Onion Designs}

It's the 12th Anniversary of  Purple Onion Designs and Michele is celebrating with a sale. The discounted prices will appear as soon as you add the items to your cart.

Using Versafine Onyx Black ink I stamped the flower from the Mixed Middles Flower set onto three pieces of Ranger Watercolor paper and then stamped each with a sentiment from the Flower Quotes set. I stamped the "middle" directly onto the flower center for the center card and then stamped separately for the left and right cards, using a different middle stamp for each. I heat embossed the images as well as the sentiments with clear embossing powder. After coloring the images with Zig Clean Color Real brushes, I fussy cut out the two middles, attaching to the left card with glue and the right one with foam dots. The card fronts were attached with craft foam and then I added a few sequins to each as the only embellishments. This was my first time using the Zig brushes. I like them but I think it's going to take some time to master the technique.

Here are the individual photos:

Products; Purple Onion Designs stamps, Ranger Watercolor paper, PTI cs, Doodlebug sequins, Versafine ink, Zip Clean Color 

Zigs: Yellow, Violet, Mid-Green (top); Carmine Red, Orange, Olive Green (center); Light Pink, Pink, Yellow, Pale Green, Light Green (bottom)

 As always, please check out the Purple Onion Designs blog for more inspiration.

Grow with Prayer

I have another faith based card today using Illustrated Faith stamps.

I cut the tag from Neenah cardstock using a die from the Paper Smooches Gift Tags 2 set and then stamped the flower and sentiment from the Illustrated Faith Bloom set. I colored the image with Copic Markers and then attached the tag to the prepared background using Hemptique cord and craft foam. I kept it simple and organic for a more masculine look.

Products: Illustrated Faith stamps, Doodlebug and WRMK dp, Neenah and PTI cs, Hemptique cord, Paper Smooches die, Copic Markers
Copics: Flower-YR30, YR31, YR20, YR23, YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97; Shadows-W00, E81

As always, thank you for stopping by.

{The Cat's Pajamas} TCPTUES297 Inspiration Challenge

It's time for another TCP Tuesday at The Cat's Pajamas and I am your hostess this week with an inspiration challenge. The challenge runs for two weeks and The Cat’s Pajamas stamps are not required.

I am definitely not ready for summer to be over as you can tell by the photos I chose for this challenge. I decided to go with the surfer theme although I am more of a sit-on-the-beach-with-a-margarita-in-one-hand-and-a-book-in-the-other kind of girl. I started out by messy watercoloring the background onto Ranger Distress watercolor paper using Loew-Cornell watercolors. I then  stamped surfer Poochie from the Fun in the Sun Set onto Copics X-press It cardstock, colored with Copic markers and then fussy cut out. I cut the frame using the new County Fair die, cutting off the lower banner and hiding the grass with a piece cut with the Wave CutUps.  After stamping the sentiment directly onto the background, I attached the frame and placed the image in the waves using foam tape.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, Avery Elle dp, PTI and DCWV cs, Ranger Watercolor cs, Loew-Cornell watercolors, Simon Says ink, Copic markers
Copics: R20, B0000, B00, B01, B04, YG0000, YG01, YG13, YR0000, YR01, YR04


Here are the details:

1. Every other Tuesday a new challenge will be posted on The Cat's Pajamas blog as well as on our Facebook page.
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat's Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button below.
3. You must have your project posted by the Monday, 11:55 EDT before the next challenge to be eligible to win the Cat Cash.
4. Cards and projects are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die but if you do the Cat Cash amount increases.
5. On the following TCP Tuesday, the week's winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $10 or $15 if a TCP product is used.

And, if you use a TCP image, you can also enter your project in the Summer Blog Hop! That's two chances to win a TCP gift voucher.

Seasons and a Sale {Purple Onion Designs}

It's the 12th Anniversary of  Purple Onion Designs and we are celebrating with a sale and lots of fun new projects. The discounted prices will appear in your cart.

I have a set of four tags each featuring an image from the new Stacey Yacula Sweet Occasions collection. Michele showed these on the Purple Onion Designs blog this weekend so I wanted to feature them here as well. I started out by cutting all the image tags from Neenah Brilliant White cardstock using the Papertrey Ink Tag Sale #3 die and then another set from Soft Stone, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse and Orange Zest striped patterned paper. The tag toppers were cut from matching cardstock. The season name from the Seasons sentiment set was stamped onto each tag.

For the Winter tag, I partially stamped Jolly directly onto the tag and colored with Copic markers. I added a snowflake cut from Wild Wisteria cardstock using a die from the Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflakes set. For the Spring tag, I stamped a portion of the Pond image and the Clouds directly onto the tag shape. I then stamped True & Blue onto Copics X-Press It cardstock, colored with Copics and fussy cut out, eliminating the legs. I placed them in the pond, attaching with foam tape.

I stamped Bubbly directly onto the Summer tag wiping away the sparkler part of the image. After coloring the image with Copic Markers, I added a pinwheel cut with The Cat's Pajamas Pinwheels CutUps, replacing the sparkler. For the Fall tag, I stamped a portion of Perch and then colored with Copics. I also stamped Cinnamon onto Copics X-Press It cardstock, colored with Copics and fussy cut out, attaching to the tag with foam tape. I am entering the summer one in the current Tag You're It (#28) challenge as I was inspired by the animal on the tag inspiration piece.

After adding a couple of enamel dots to each tag, I strung the matching tags together with twine. Here are the individual photos.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, Neenah cs, Papertrey Ink cs, dp and die (tag), Doodlebug enamel dots, Divine Twine, Lawn Fawn die (snowflake), The Cat's Pajamas CutUps (pinwheel), Copic Markers

Winter Copics: Snowman-C00, C1, YR0000, YR01, YR12, W00, W1, Clothing-BV000, BV01, BV02; Shadows-BG70, BG0000, BG000
Spring Copics: Ducks-Y0000, YR30, YR31, YR0000, YR01, YR12; Pond-B0000, B000, B01; Sky-BG0000, BG000
Summer Copics: Bear-E40, E41, E42, R11, B000, B01; Grass-G20, G43; Shadows-BG70, BG0000, BG000
Autumn Copics: Squirrel-W00, W1, W2, W5, R11, C00, C1, C3; Acorn-E30, E33; Branch-E70, E71; Leaves-G43, YR30, YR12; Shadows-BG70, BG0000, BG000

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

Believe in His Love

Today's card is  a faith based one, using stamps from the Illustrated Faith Bloom set. I originally bought this set for bible journaling but I am also making cards of encouragement for church members on the prayer list as a small mission and these stamps were perfect for that too. I love the idea of combining my love of crafting with my faith.

I cut the rectangle from Neenah card stock using a Lil Inker Designs stitched mat and then stamped the flower image three times, two of them off the panel for a stair step look. After stamping the sentiments I colored the images with Copic markers. The image panel was attached to the base panel with craft foam. A trio of enamel dots finished it up. I love my white space and even though I filled up the image panel more than I usually do I think I still managed to keep it clean and simple.

Products: Illustrated Faith stamps,Glitz Design dp, Neenah and PTI cs, Doodlebug enamel dots, Lil Inker Designs die, Copic Markers
Copics: Flowers-W00, E81, R22, R24, R27, YG61, YG63, YG67; Shadows-BG0000, BG000, BG70


Have a great Sunday.

Midnight Halloween and a SALE! {Purple Onion Designs}

This summer marks the 12th anniversary of Purple Onion Designs and Michele is celebrating with her customers by extending a 25% off sale on all products. The sale price will be reflected in your cart.

It's hot as heck here but I have a card representing a much cooler time of year. I first stamped the Halloween Noteblock onto plain white cardstock using Hero Arts Ombre ink although I don't think I wound up with much ombre. I think this ink works better for smaller images that you don't have to ink more than once. I matted the noteblock with Smokey Shadow cardstock, adding a small strip toward the bottom. I then stamped Midnight onto Copic X-Press it cardstock, colored with Copic Markers and then fussy cut out. I attached the image to the noteblock with dimensional dots, placing a small spiderweb cut with a Paper Smooches die partially behind it. A few glitter enamel dots finished up this super easy card.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, PTI cs, Doodlebug enamel dots, Paper Smooches die, Hero Arts ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Cat-C00, C1, C3, C5; Hat-V12, V15, V17; Hat band/Pumpkin-YR20, YR23, YR27, Y38

You will see several more POD projects from me throughout the sale period as I have been holding on to them for this occasion. As always, please check out the Purple Onion Designs blog for more inspiration.

{The Cat's Pajamas} Oh Crab!

Today's masculine card is one that I shared at the The Cat's Pajamas Facebook Pajama Party for the July release but not here on my blog.

I cut kraft cardstock with one of the quote dies from the He Said She Said die which is free with a $65 purchase until the next new release. I combined it with patterned paper for the background and then stamped the sentiment from the Seas the Birthday set using Blueberry ink. The double sun was cut with a die from the County Fair die. I stamped the crab onto a piece cut with the matching free Cutables that Alma provides with each release, colored with Copic Markers and attached with foam tape.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and CutUps, Bo Bunny dp, Simon Says and PTI cs, MFT ink, Copic Markers
Copics: YR30, YR31, YG91, YG93, YG95, B91, B93, B95, B97; W00, E81, B0000, B000, B01

Don't forget about the Summer Blog Hop. There is a $50 gift voucher up for grabs!

Hey There Cupcake

I used the sketch from Viva la Verve August Week 1 challenge and it is also for the Celebrate August Diva Inspirations challenge. The celebrate theme is in honor of Verve Stamps 8th anniversary. Of course I wanted to participate in the celebration as Verve is one of my favorite stamp companies.

I stamped two of the flag images and the large cupcake from the Verve Small Packages set and then cut the flags with the matching dies from the Cupcake Frame set. I colored all with Copic markers and the fussy cut out the cupcake. I attached both to a tag using foam tape. After adding a ribbon treatment in the tag hole, I attached to the prepared background and card base using craft foam. The sentiment and the cherry image from the Cupcakes set was stamped onto a white rectangle. I colored the small image with Copics and then slipped the sentiment piece slightly under the tag. A couple of buttons finished it up.

Products: Verve stamps, Fancy Pants dp, PTI cs, MFT buttons, May Arts ribbon, Reverse Confetti and MFT dies, Copic Markers
Copics: Cupcake/Flags-RV11, RV13, RV17, BG70, BG10, BG11; Cherry-R22, R24, R27, YG61, YG63


Congrats to Julee for eight fabulous Anni-Verve-sary years!