Pink and Polka Dotted

I have shopped at 7 Kids College Fund on several occasions and was excited to see that they now have a challenge blog.  It's brand new and the first challenge is to use pink and polka dots.  I first stamped the C.C. Designs Sweet November stamp with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Bazzill Simply Smooth cardstock. I cut her out with one of the Labels 8 Nestabilities and inked the edges while it was in the die.  I then colored her with Copic markers. The Stampendous ladybug image was also colored with Copic markers. I paired the stamped images with some older Heidi Grace Reagan's Closet patterned paper.  I twisted together two different colors of crinkly seam binding ribbon and then tied them together with a simple knot rather than a bow.  A couple of Prima Flower and American Crafts brads and it was done! Clean, simple and very girly girl.

Products: Sweet November stamp, Stampendous (ladybug) stamp, Heidi Grace pp, American Crafts brads, MemrieMare crinkled seam binding, Prima flower, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: Skin-E0000, E00, E02; Hair-B0000, B000, B01; Eyes-B41, B32, B34; Wings-YG01, YG13, YG25; Dress and Ladybug-RV00, RV32, RV34, RV23; Shadows-C00

Is it just me or is August just flying by?

Cat Girl

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays so I'm getting an early start on my cards.  I have quite the nice stash of Halloween products as I just can't seem to resist the fun patterns and colors.  This card features a digital image by Tiddly Inks. I printed the image onto Papertrey Ink cardstock with my Epson printer and then colored it with Copic Markers. The Ki Memories paper is an oldie but a goodie and is one of my all time favorite Halloween lines. I followed this week's Mojo Monday sketch for the basic design.

Products: Tiddly Inks digital stamp, Ki Memories pp, PTI and Bazzill Basics cs, Making Memories epoxy star, buttons, ribbon and chipboard greeting, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: Hair/Apron-YG01, YG13, YG25; Skirt/Boots-BV00,V12, V15; Catgirl Body-Y21, Y23, Y26; Cats-C1, C3, C5, YR12, YR16, YR14; Background shadow-C00  

And on a personal note, I just want to say Happy Birthday to my sweet granddaughter Clara who turned 2 years old yesterday.  She is the joy of my life!  As you can see, I'm pretty sure I can turn her into a crafter too!

We'll be going to her birthday party at the park this afternoon. I can't wait to see her!

Creature Comforts

When I am not feeling well I like curling up on the sofa with an old quilt with a hot cup of soup or tea. I wanted to add all kinds of comfort items on today's get well card so I selected the "Ice Cream" sheet from the October Afternoon Fly a Kite collection to represent a quilt. To add to the warmth and comfort theme I placed a paper doily underneath the cup and spoon charm.  Rather than my normal ribbon, I chose to tie a torn strip of fabric instead.  I have no idea where I got the charms.  Actually, I remembered that I had the spoons but when I went in search of them I also found the cup and saucer charms. Yes, both of those are plural! I have more so I will definitely be pairing them up with this cute The Cat's Pajamas's A Cuppa image again. 

(click for larger images)

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp and linen thread, October Afternoon Fly a Kite and Ducks in a Row pp, PTI cs, Martha Stewart paper doily, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: Bear-R81, R83, R85, Y21, Y23, Y26, W00, 0; Cup-B0000, B000, B01

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of You

Good morning!  This will have to be quick as I have tons to do today. I created this card for this week's Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge. I did some very simple stamping on this using an older Autumn Leaves set as I really wanted the butterfly theme to be the focus.

Products: Autumn Leaves stamp, Taylored Expressions sentiment stamp, GCD pattern paper, PTI felt and cs, Bazzill cs, Basic Grey pearls, The Cat's Pajama's button flower dies, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities

I hope you are having a great week!

Two for Tuesday

I am still working on Christmas cards and hope to do a weekly post featuring them from now until December. With the realization that my cards tend to the more on the feminine side, I decided I needed some that were a bit more masculine for my husband's bachelor friends.  I really reached back for some older product for these, which I have to say, feels great to do so.  I've had the Hero Arts Large Reindeer stamp for a while.  I remember looking for this stamp everywhere several years ago but couldn't find it.  An internet friend found it at one of her local stamp stores and sent it to me.  Oh those were the days! 

I followed this week's Sketch for You to Try for this card.  I decided to make it into a square so more of the reindeer pattern in the Basic Grey background paper would show.  I stamped the image onto PTI cardstock with Versamark ink and then heat embossed it with a bronze gold embossing powder.  After cutting out the image with a Spellbinders Nestabilities (not cutting the back legs so they would kick out beyond the circle background) I inked the edges while it was still in the die.  I added a white pom-pom for the tail and a red one for the nose since I am sure he is Rudolph.  Although knowing Don's friends, I suppose he could be Blitzen! 

While I had Rudy out, I made a second card using the same Versamark/embossing powder combination.

Products: Hero Arts stamp, Basic Grey and Carolee's Adornit pp, PTI cs, button and scallop die, Heather Bailey felt, Creative Imaginations epoxy tree, May Arts ribbon, Martha Stewart punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities


Have a great day.  As always, thanks for stopping by!

A Favorite Color Combo

Oops! I didn't mean for it to be so long in between posting. I have been scrapbooking some 8x8 pages for a mini album so that has taken my main creative focus. I'll share it when I get it completed.

Today's card is for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Challenge. I stamped the MFT Pure Innocence Blooming Good Day stamp onto Bazzill Simply Smooth cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and then colored with Copic markers. I used one of my very favorite color combos of aqua and green by combining papers from two different Making Memories lines, Noteworthy and Just Chillin' Girl plus a small strip of paper from Pink Paislee's 365 Degrees collection.  I turned the sketch 90 degrees to better fit my concept and image. 

Products: My Favorite Things stamp, Making Memories and Pink Paislee pp, May Arts ribbon, PTI felt, The Cat's Pajamas Button Flower Die, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic markers

Copics: Skin-E0000, E00, E02; Hair-E55, E57, W2; Dress-BG0000, BG10, BG11; Watering can/shoes/foliage-YG91, YG93, YG95



That's it for today.  I plan on being a better blogger this week! I hope you are having a great Sunday. 

You've Got Mail

In the age of electronic mail, Blackberries and Iphones, it is rare to receive something in your "physical" mailbox that is personal and just makes you happy. But that rare event happened to me just yesterday.  I walked out to the mailbox expecting nothing but bills and junk mail only to find a totally unexpected and sweet package from a friend.  I've never met Wendy in real life but from the time we spent together on a design team I know she is an exceptional person.  She is also the friend who got me interested in stamping once again (after a long hiatus) and of course, Copic Markers.  Not sure if my wallet thanks her for that! Which is a roundabout way to get us to the topic of why I make cards.  I don't just make them.  I like to send them too.  Once upon a time I thought handmade cards were a waste of time.  But after talking to some recipients at a family event, there were several people who let me know just how much they appreciated them.  In light of that, how could I resist My Favorite Things (Pure Innocence) Happy Mail stamp? It personifies the happiness in both giving and receiving. 

Enough chitchat. Now on to today's card. I needed more separation between the little girl and mailbox because I wanted flowers to cascade out of the mailbox without crowding the two images. I'll let you in on a secret. I hate masking. But there was just enough space between the two images not to have to do masking. It was easy to ink the girl, stamp, then ink the mailbox and stamp. Thank you MFT! I paper pieced the dress using an old Daisy D's gingham check (I'm hoarding this pp since DDs no longer exists; yet another one of my favorite companies no longer in business). It's hard to see in the photo but she also has tiny black pearls for the buckles of her shoes. This card is for My Favorite Things Guest Designer challenge which was to include flowers.

(click to enlarge)

Products: My Favorite Things stamp and Die-namics, Jillibean Soup pp and journaling spot, Doodlebug pp and flowers, Scenic Route and DaisdyD's pp, 7 Gypsies sticker, Making Memories fabric brads, PTI ribbon twill, Kaisercraft pearls, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: Skin-E0000, E00, E02, R20; Hair-E55, E57; Shoes/Mailbox-R22,R27, R29; Mailbox-C1, C3, C5; Grass-G40,G24; Shadows-C1, B0000

As always, thank you for stopping by. Last month was a record month for "hits" on my blog and I appreciate each and every one of you who take the time to visit.