Bite Me

"One is a lonely number" over at Shopping Our Stash this week.  Challenge #240 is to create a one layer card.

I'm linking up this Easter card:

The chocolate bunny was stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and heat embossed.  The weave stencil (MFT) was pounced with Antique Linen Distress Ink using a dauber that had gold ink on it.  Oops :-)  I kind of liked how it gave a little sparkle to the weave though.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set as the bunny by The Stamps of Life called "chocolatebunny2stamp".  The card base is Neenah Solar White 110#.

And, yes, the inside sentiment is "Bite Me" - also from the same stamp set...LOL! 

Thanks for visiting!

CASology - DISTRESS

Hello friends!  I am SUPER EXCITED today to be a Guest Designer on the CASology blog for their latest challenge!  Thank you for having me!  It's an honor to be a guest on this uber-talented team.

For my card, I took the cue "distress" and put together a project for a friend that is having a bit of trouble lately.  I hope it cheers her up! 

I started with Sketch #214 from Freshly Made Sketches for inspiration:

 

Making the sentiment the focal point, I replaced the banner element with a bright pink embossed bandaid and added die cut hearts smothered with Glossy Accents.  I was pretty proud of myself because I actually waited patiently for those shiny little hearts to dry!  Yep, no fingerprints this time :-)  The sentiment, bandaid, and hearts are from The Stamps of Life "bandage2stamp" set.  The cardbase is Neenah Solar White cardstock. 

Thanks for stopping by!  We hope you'll play along this week and share your interpretations of DISTRESS.  Take care!

Just Ducky

Hi friends!  Look at me...it's not the 11th hour to enter my card in the latest challenge over at The Paper Players:

Who doesn't love balloons!  I think they make for a pretty happy card!

 

 

The little ducky is a newer stamp from Great Impressions (love their stamps) that I colored with Copics.  I did mask off the 'Hello' at the end of the sentiment (also from Great Impressions) so I could use this card for any occasion.  The balloons are die cuts (Sugar Pea Designs) that I coated with Wink of Stella.  I drew in the strings and bow with a black Multiliner.  I used the large dot embossing folder from We R Memory Keepers to emboss the bottom 2/3 of the Memory Box cardstock.  The stitched oval die cut is from My Favorite Things.  I finished it off by rounding the bottom corners.

 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you're having a "ducky" week!  I know we are with all the rain lately :)

CASology - Egg

Hello again!  My last post for today is for the latest challenge over at CASology.  The cue word for week 185 is "Egg."

This is only the second time I've played but I know it's going to become a habit.  CAS cards scare me - I keep stumbling over the "simple" part :-)  If you haven't checked out the DT creations on this blog, you are missing out on some amazing and inspiring talent!  I feel like I learn something every time I visit!

On to my card for this week (and it's even ONE layer - woohoo):

Egg Flowers.  Is that where the soup comes from?  Not sure, but I do know that a garden full of egg flowers in the spring would make me smile :-)

Here's the stuff I used:

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White
Stamps:  The Stamps of Life (sentiment), Great Impressions (eggs)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Other:  Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Dust Pens

Thanks so much for stopping by! It was nice to make a card this week that brought Spring just a little bit closer!

SOS #239 - Fantastic Plastic

In the midst of record-breaking rainfall out here, I was able to make a few cards this week.  My first card was for another fun challenge over at Shopping Our Stash - Fantastic Plastic.  And, boy, did I have to "shop my stash" for this!

I found this piece of Vertigo by Imagine Crafts.  It's weird stuff, plastic, 6x6 pieces that have an optical dimension to them.  If you stare at it too long, you might get seasick!  The piece I had is called Breeze but I thought it looked like water.  I made a fish bowl card out of it last year and this is the "scrap."

The plastic is pretty translucent.  I sponged StazOn Blue Hawaii ink on the backside of the plastic piece, then die cut waves on the top and carefully attached to my card base.  I say carefully because, like vellum, you can see every dot of adhesive.   If you look real close, you'll see what I mean! The whale image and sentiment are from The Stamps of Life.  I added Shimmer Mist to the whale so he looked a little wet.  He looks more glittery than wet, but I like him :-)

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ I hope you're having a good week!

The Paper Players - Color Challenge

Hi friends!  My next card for today was to play along with The Paper Players #282 - Color Challenge.

I love this color combo!  As with any color challenge, though, I'm always going, "ok, but what to do?"  I spied a piece of 12x12 DSP on a shelf.  I rarely buy 12x12 papers anymore.  I'm crazy about 6x6 pads and tend to hoard them.  So this was a ah-ha moment for me :-)  I thought the colors were all there so I was on my way.  Since I had all the real estate, I thought I would make a gatefold card...it had been a long time!   

I added some inked up balloon die cuts and a belly band with a paper button out of the scrap so it would close up nice and neat.

Here's the stuff I used:

DSP:  Craft Smith
Ink:  Lawn Fawn (Mermaid, Wild Rose), Memento Dandelion, VersaFine Onyx Black
Stamp(s):  Sugar Pea Designs (confetti, sentiment)
Dies:  Sugar Pea Designs (balloons & strings, stitched square), Spellbinders (scalloped square), My Favorite Things (vintage button)
Other:  Yellow embroidery floss

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ I appreciate you taking the time to visit!

Cards in Envy is Tickled Pink!

Hi CIE fans!  Time for Cards in Envy's latest Challenge and this one is Tickled Pink!  Create an A2 any size (this is a change) card that will fit in an envy for mailing using mostly PINK. 

I started with a little wedding stamp as inspiration.  I don't know why I even bought it other than I thought it was adorable and I had a coupon!  I haven't needed a wedding card for a very long time!  The black embossed card topper (Hot Off the Press) background was originally white so I used Spun Sugar Distress Ink to blend it to pink.  The MFT sentiment was stamped in VersaFine Onyx Black and heat embossed.  I used a pink Copic to color the bride's bouquet and layered the image on Sizzix scalloped circle dies.  The silver metallic flourishes (MFT) were tucked behind and clear rhinestones colored with the same pink Copic were added for a little wedding bling.  Now, I just need someone to get married!

We hope you'll play along with our latest challenge...we'll be "Tickled Pink" to see your cards :)

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Annie

The Last Valentine

Whew!  I'm done with my Valentines and still have time to make the mail.  Happy Dance!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Card Concept #48 (Sweet Hearts) (second entry - Clean & Layered inspired by the flowers on the hearts)

CASology #184:  Valentine (I'm a newbie here but have heard great things :)

And, here's my final Valentine:

The white layer was stamped with Memento inks in the shape of a wreath using Rubber Stamp Tapestry's Cherry Blossom peg stamp set.  I traced a heart die to get the shape on my second attempt.  The first try to do this freehand was a disaster...it looked like a flat tire :)  The peg stamps are a lot of fun because they are soooo tiny and you "build" your own image.  It was relaxing...the second time around - Ha!  The little scripted sentiment is from Savvy.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Happy Valentines Day!

Party On!

Hi friends!  My card today is for Shopping Our Stash #238:  Bent Out of Shape.  This week the challenge is looking for shaped cards.  Since I have a neighbor girl that has a birthday coming up, I went with a girly party hat.  Such a simple shape and fun to make!

Here's the stuff I used from my stash:

DSP:  Stamps of Life, Recollections
Stamps:  Stamps of Life
Dies:  Stamps of Life (tickets)
Other:  The Paper Studio (flower for hat topper), Recollections (lace tape and ribbon)

I hope she likes it!  Thanks so much for stopping by...Happy Valentines Day!

Lovesick Cody

My Yellow Lab, Cody, is in love with Mandy.  She's a beautiful Rottweiler mix that lives around the corner and frequently escapes to rendezvous with him.  Other dog owners will probably understand that my puppies send Valentines cards to their buddies (they do get a little help from their Mom :)

The Paper Players Challenge this week is all about dogs and cats:

Cody begged me to link up his Valentines card to Mandy before it went in the mail, so here it is!

It's a self-portrait of sorts, but I'm not sure why he crossed his eyes?  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Here's a list of the stuff Cody used on this card:

Cardstock:  MFT Kraft, Pop Tones Blue Raspberry
DSP:  DCWV
Stamps:  Lawn Fawn
Ink:  VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black
Dies:  Sizzix (Puppy), Stamps of Life (Word Bubble), Lawn Fawn (Dog Dish), Memory Box (Heart Tag)
Other:  White gel pen, Copics, Glossy Accents

Happy Valentines' Day!

Other: 

Words 2 Craft By: Love & Friendship

Hello, W2CB friends, and welcome to February's Challenge with, of course, a love theme!  You can never have too many love cards for friends and family - any day can be Valentine's Day!

 
I mixed up the medium for this card, using texture paste and a stencil for the wonky tiles and layering felt hearts on top.  Before placing this layer on the DSP, I decided to brush on some gesso for a little different layering effect.  The sentiment was traced with India Ink so it would pop a bit more.

We hope you'll share your works of "heart" with us this month and have a sweet Valentine's Day!  Thanks so much for stopping by :)

Here's the stuff I used:
Cardstock - MFT Kraft
DSP:  Recollections
Stamp(s):  Avery Elle "Thanks a Bunch"
Other:  Hero Arts "Irregular Checkerboard" Stencil, Ranger Texture Paste, Felt Heart Stickers by Recollections, Pitt Black India Ink Pen, and LiquiTex Gesso.

Shopping Our Stash #237: Dreaming of Something Warm

Last day to enter but I made it!  The latest SOS Challenge was to dream of something warm to help us forget the cold weather.  We haven't had much snow at all but yes, it's been very cold and wet.  I welcomed the chance to warm up a bit!

I went with an island theme with a happy sentiment and tropical flowers.  I'm hoping that an island vacay is sometime in my future :)

For now, I'm going to stand by the fireplace...thanks so much for stopping by!

Here's the stuff I used:

Cardstock:  Memory Box
Stamp(s):  Rubber Stamp Tapestry "Island Beauty", My Favorite Things "Encouraging Words"
Inks:  Memento Bahama Blue, Tangelo, Cantalope, Dandelion, Pear Tart and VersaFine Onyx Black
Other:  White Pearl Pen for small flower centers

Pizza My Heart

My favorite Valentine is my super cute and amazing 6-year-old Grandson.  I think he would eat pizza for every meal, so it made sense to go with that theme for his Valentine's card!  Ninja Turtles come and go but PIZZA is forever :)

I'm playing along over at Doodle Pantry's AIMPDC #14, using Doodle Pantry's Pizza Slice image and digital paper to put this card together.  The sentiment is computer-generated.  I printed the pizza slice twice so I could fussy cut and pop up the second one.  I added Glossy Accents to the teeny die cut hearts and the pizza toppings.  It definitely looks good enough to eat in person :-)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a delicious Valentine's Day!

Live Love Cards February Challenge: Masculine

Like so many other folks, masculine cards are always a bit of a challenge for me.  I'm thinking you can't go wrong with a little bit of wood and paint splatters...at least in my family! 

I began by stamping the heart (Impress) and sentiment (MFT) in VersaMark and heat embossed with Judikins white detail embossing powder.  I distressed the red woodplank background (MFT) uing Ground Espresso Distress Ink DTP, let it dry, then rubbed it with a lightly damp tissue.  Next I added LiquiTex Gesso with a foam brush and rubbed it out with a dry tissue.  I added some acrylic white paint splatters and silver metallic dots (Hero Arts) to resemble nails.  The silver dots looked too new so I "aged" them with a bronze Sharpie.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a very sweet Valentine's Day!

The Paper Players Challenge #280: Tic-Tac-Toe

Happy February!  I still don't know what happened to January but I'm lovin' making Valentines cards for my family and friends.  This card was put together for The Paper Players Challenge #280:

I went with the middle row across - die cuts, pink, and girly.

And...The Card Concept Challenge #48 {Sweet Hearts}:  An elegant layout inspired by those yummy hearts.

The pink background is a Distress ink watercolor wash with Festive Berries.  I die cut the heart out of the middle and used it as an embellishment with a gold foiled die cut heart.  The negative was layered over a piece of cardstock that was stamped with text and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  The edges of the panel were swiped with VersaMark and also heat embossed with the same Ranger gold embossing powder.  A few sequins were sprinkled on and the entire panel was layered on to Bazzill ivory cardstock.  I want to give credit to this gorgeous card by Amy Kolling over at My Favorite Things for inspiration.  I thought it was amazing!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you're having a great week :-)

Cards in Envy: From the Heart

Love is in the air, especially at Cards in Envy!  Our theme for this challenge is From the Heart, featuring love cards or Valentines.  Next to Christmas and Halloween, my absolute fave time of year for cardmaking is Valentines Day!

This card was fun to make.  I inked up the background with Distress Inks, then used a baby wipe on a Memory Box stencil to pull the color off for the hearts.  The MFT sentiment was colored with Zig Clean Color Real Brushes to match up with the background colors.  I die cut teeny hearts and squigglies, added a black felt doily and a ticket for a Happy Valentine's Day (Stamps of Life) layered over black/white polka dot ribbon.  All of the hearts were finished off with Wink of Stella topped with Glossy Accents. 

I also couldn't resist making another simpler card with the emphasis on the red heart of this darling MFT image.  I made four of these which is reeaaallly out of the box for me.  I'm usually a one card gal!  I also found a use for some of the washi tape I've been hoarding...I thought these arrows were perfect :-)

I hope these have inspired you to come play with us over at CIE.  Remember, it's an A2 card challenge and they should be flat enough to fit in  an envy!  Thanks for stopping by and Happy Heart Day!!