SOS #271 - Apple for Teacher

I was lucky to be able to make a couple of cards today.  The second one is for the latest challenge from Shopping Our Stash featuring fruits or vegetables.  In my stash, I have zero veggies (and I know they're good for you).  I did have a cute Stamps of Life set called "apple2stamp" and the coordinating die.  It also has punny apple sentiments that are so cute!

I layered all scrap DSP from my scrap basket on a kraft card base.  I then added a burlap doily and popped up the apple die cut after heat embossing the sentiment and inking the edges with Distress.  Pretty simple card!

Thanks for visiting today!

Thanks a Melon!

It's definitely a summer day here!  I put together this card this morning when it was much cooler in my craft room for a few challenges:

Live Love Cards:  Masking Challenge
July ODBD Challenge for OWH:  Thank You
The Stamps of Life:  July Gallery Entry

I used the July stamp of the month set from The Stamps of Life, masking the center watermelon slice to add a juicy slice on each side.  The slices are colored with Copics and the seeds are very shiny covered with Glossy Accents.  Very simple CAS card today before it heats up!

The stamp set came with this cute border stamp which I added to the inside of the card, also colored with Copics:

Can you tell I finally got a MISTI??  I think I'm in love!  Thanks for stopping by!

OWH Sketch #245: Key to My Heart

A quick post today for Sketch Challenge 245 at Operation Write Home:

I flipped a portion of the sketch today and dry embossed the card base with hearts (Cuttlebug "Cross My Heart") rather than add another layer.  The sentiment, heart & key stamps and dies plus the DP are from The Stamps of Life.  The sentiment is heat embossed with white detail embossing powder.  The key is tied on with a little snippet of twine from The Twinery.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope your holidays were happy! 

Big Candles

I've been a fan of The Stamps of Life for over 2-1/2 years and I think this new set for August (candles4birthday) has moved quickly into my top 5 faves!  These bigger candles are fantastic and there is so much you can do with them.  Not to mention the matching dies that give you endless possibilities. 

Here's my card for the August gallery.  I stamped two of the candles with VersaMark Watermark ink and embossed the third.  I die cut the candles and mounted them on the shadow diecuts.  The sentiment (also from the set) was stamped with Stephanie's ColorBox Licorice Ink.  The embossed chevron at the top is from Cuttlebug.  The DP and ribbon are from my stash.  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great weekend!

So Berry Sweet

Tuesday Morning Sketches #261

Yippee...banners!  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're having a good week!

Supplies
Cardstock:  Pop Tones' Gumdrop Green
DP:  Bo Bunny "Elf Magic" 6x6 Paper Pad
Dies:  Stamps of Life (strawberries), My Favorite Things (banner), and Memory Box (flourish)
Ink:  VersaFine Onyx Black
Other:  Wilton Doilies, Recollections mini black brads, My Favorite Things MIX-ables Mist in Sheer Shimmer (sprayed all over card front for a very cool shimmer - love this stuff!)

Udderly Moovelous!

The new Cards in Envy challenge is to create birthday cards.  I love their challenges because the point is to create A2 cards that fit in envelopes without extra bulk...so no extra postage!  I just picked up this cute cow stamp at my LSS and couldn't wait to ink it up :-)  Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies
Cardstock:  The Paper Studio
Stamp(s):  Great Impressions
Ink:  VersaFine Onyx Black and Ranger Spun Sugar Distress Ink (to make pink paper)
Dies:  Sizzix (labels) & Stamps of Life (border & balloon)
Other:  Copics, Black Twine, MME White Enamel Dots, and Glossy Accents (on balloon)

OWH Sketch Challenge #225

I was so happy Marie's beautiful card was used as the inspiration for the latest sketch over at
Operation Write Home.   Thanks for stopping by and hope your week is going well!

Sketch #225:

My Card:

Supplies:  Neenah Solar White Cardstock, Doodle Pantry DP from "Classic Tools," Stamps of Life "bee4me" and "hive4bees" Stamp Set & Dies, Copic Markers, My Favorite Things' Fishtail Flag Die, and Cuttlebug "Honeycomb" Embossing Folder



OWH Sketch #217

It's time for another OWH Sketch Challenge.  I like Sketch #217 - easy but carries a lot of punch!  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a sunny week!

The Sketch:

My Card:

Supplies:  Neenah Solar White Cardstock, Pop Tones' Licorice Cardstock, Pop Tones' Cherry Cardstock, Recollections Lady Bugs DSP, Stamps of Life "ladybugs2love" Stamps & Dies, Sizzix Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, My Favorite Things' Fishtail Banner Dies, VersaFine Onyx Black Ink, and Recollections Wiggly Eyes.

 

  *Sorry for double post...my PC locked up during the link up :-(

OWH Midweek Throwdown: Punny Cards

Thank you, Allison, for selecting my card as the sample for this Throwdown!  I'm very flattered :-)   

Card #1:  I wanted to play in this challenge because of a funny "punny" stamp set I received last month from the Stamps of Life that I hadn't a chance to ink up yet!  The stamp set also comes with dies if you're a Die Hard Club Member.  So much fun!

  

Supplies:  Pop Tones' Black Licorice Cardstock, DCWV Creamy Cardstock (red and yellow), Stamps of Life "popcorn2stamp" and "words4popcorn" Stamp Sets and Dies, ColorBox Licorice and Strawberry Ink, Ranger Mustard Seed Distress Ink, Red/White Ribbon Scrap.

 

 

Card #2:  Just scraps of paper on my table and a cute fish stamp from the $1 bin inspired this card.  I didn't have a sentiment stamp that I thought would go with the card, so I created one on the computer. 

 

 

Supplies:  Bazzill Neptune Swiss Dots Cardstock, Neenah Solar White Cardstock, Stampabilities "Felipe Fish" Stamp, Copics, Spellbinders Scalloped Circle Dies, My Favorite Things Fishtail Banner Dies, and Cloud 9 Blue Rain Dots.

 

 

Thanks for visiting today.  Happy Hump Day!



OWH Sketch Challenge #211

The Operation Write Home Sketch for this week is a simple layout with many possibilities.  Four inches of snow means quiet crafting time for me, so three cards for this challenge!  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fantastic week!

To view the sketch, click here!

Card #1

 

Supplies:  DCWV Creamy Cardstock Stack, Rosie Roadshow Stamps, VersaFine Onyx Black Ink, Copics, and Craftworkcards Candi Minis. 

 

 

Card #2

 

 

Supplies:  Graphic45 "Mother Goose" 6x6 Paper Pad, EK Success Disney Die Cut, The Stamps of Life "brackets2cut" Stamp Set, VersaFine Onyx Black and ColorBox Strawberry Ink, and Glossy Accents.

 

 

Card #3

 

 

Supplies:  Graphic45 "Mother Goose" 6x6 Paper Pad, The Stamps of Life "spinner2stamp" and standup4sentiments" Stamp Sets and Dies, VersaFine Onyx Black Ink, Gold Paint Pen, and Gold Mini Brad.





OWH Midweek Throwdown - Easter



This week's Throwdown for OWH was to create Easter cards.  The first card was created by stamping the bunny image from a super cute stamp set from The Stamps of Life, coloring with Copics, fussy cutting, adding glossy accents, and a little Petal Soft for the bunny tail.



 

Supplies: Bazzill Basics Cardstock, DSP from scraps, Spellbinders' Label Dies, The Stamps of Life "bunny4Easter" Stamp Set, Stephanie Barnard ColorBox Licorice Ink,  Copic Markers, Prima Flower, Recollections Mini Black Brad, and Celebrate It Black/White Plaid Ribbon. 

 

The second card is one layer, all stamping and coloring, with the exception of the cracked egg.  I die cut the egg and cut it in half with pinking shears so the chickadee could be popping out to wish someone a Happy Easter!  I scanned this card rather than photograph it, hoping that the white would look whiter.  I think it does but it loses some dimension.  The top half of the egg is actually popped up.  Anyway, thanks for stopping by, have a great rest of the week, and can't wait for the big football games this weekend :-) 

Supplies:  Neenah Solar White Cardstock, The Stamps of Life "eggs4Easter" Stamp Set, Stephanie

Barnard Colorbox Inks (Licorice, Guava, Banana, Tangerine, Blueberry & Artichoke), Copic Markers, Memory Box Easter Egg Die, and Pinking Shears.

 

OWH Midweek Throwdown - Love Cards for Kids

I used the OWH Missing You set from Hero Arts again for this Midweek Throwdown.  I love their eyes!  Just cut a branch, added some leaves and clouds, colored, fussy cut, and popped up the little guy.   Also added some Glossy Accents to the eyes and the little nut. This little guy looks just like the squirrel that taunts my puppies from the backyard :-).  That's it for today - thanks for stopping by - off to bake cookies!



 

Supplies:

• Memory Box Green Cardstock
• Recollections Textured Brown Cardstock
• The Paper Studio "Petit Bebe" Paper Pack
• Stamps of Life "Birds and Tree" die set
• Hero Arts OWH Missing You Stamp Set
• VersaFine Vintage Sepia Ink
• Copics C-3, C-5, C-7, and E31
• Fiskars Small Cloud Punch
• Glossy Accents

OWH Sketch Challenge #202

I made a couple of cards for Sketch Challenge 202.  It was a nice break from my Christmas card mess which I must finish up this week!  Here's the sketch:

 

The first card was love-themed.  The DP is actually a Christmas paper but I thought it worked well with my little birdie die, so shhhh...don't tell anyone!

 

 

Supplies:  Neenah Solar White Cardstock, Pop Tone's Wild Cherry, Coredinations/Tim Holtz' Weathered Wood Cardstock, Lawn Fawn "Peace Joy Love" DSP, Cuttlebug "Cross My Heart" Embossing Folder, Sizzix/Stephanie Barnard's "Birds & Tree" dies and stamps, My Favorite Things' "Lovey Dovey" Sentiment Stamp, Stephanie Barnard/ColorBox Strawberry Ink, Clear Embossing Powder.

 

The second card was for the Stamps of Life Gallery contest using the November stamp club set and dies.  I love the retro TV in this set...looks just like the one I grew up with!  I had a stamping boo-boo with the antenna so added a couple of black rhinestones to the tips :-).  Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!  I'm hoping for snow!!

 

 

 

  Supplies:  Neenah Solar White Card Stock, DCWV Mod-Retro Paper Stack, Stamps of Life "tv2stamp" stamp set and dies, Stephanie Barnard/ColorBox Licorice Ink, Recollections Black Matte Rhinestones, The Twinery Black/White twine.  

Bokeh Backgrounds

Bokeh (pronounced BOH-kay) is a photography term which describes the appearance, or "feel," of out-of-focus areas.  A lot of my attempts at serious photography come out this way but it is not intentional!  I discovered this great tutorial at splitcoaststampers.com about Bokeh backgrounds and creating card backgrounds that are inspired by this technique.  I couldn't wait to give it a try!  The instructor, Lydia Fielder, describes this technique as "simple" and "dreamy."  I agree! 

Supplies:

• Neenah Solar White Cardstock
• Pop Tone Licorice Cardstock
• DCWV Glitter Cardstock
• VersaFine Onyx Black Ink
• ColorBox Silver and Cranberry Pigment Ink
• Stamps of Life "lights4Christmas" stamps and dies
• Green ribbon from stash

   

SOL September Gallery Entry

I posted this entry into the Stamps of Life Gallery for the month of September.  The club set for September was Christmas lights and, as a member of the Die Hard Club, it arrived with matching dies.  Sweet!   I kept this card CAS, die cutting the lights on glitter cardstock, adding some jewelry cord, and stamping the sentiment...easy peasy!

Supplies:

• Neenah Solar White Cardstock
• DCWV Glitter Cardstock
• The Stamps of Life "lights4Christmas" stamp set and dies
• Versafine Onyx Black Ink

OWH Midweek Throwdown - Friendship Cards

My first "Throwdown!"  I hope I get this right!  I'm new to Operation Write Home AND new to blogging...so much to learn, so little time!  When OWH posted this Throwdown for friendship cards, I immediately thought of this sentiment from Stamps of Life.  I have not used it in quite a while and thought this would be perfect for an OWH card.  Thanks for looking! 

• Neenah Solar White Cardstock
• Pop Tone Black Licorice Cardstock
• Ranger Distress Ink - Lemonade - Heat Embossed
• Heidi Swapp Stencil
• Stephanie Barnard (Sizzix) Labels, Ornate #3
• Stamps of Life "messages4friends"
• Twine from The Twinery

Time for Fall Cards?

Nooooo!  I can't believe that it's time to create Fall-themed cards.  Especially when it's 80+ degrees outside but here we go.  I usually start my Halloween cards in September but August??  Operation Write Home has put the word out to send in Fall-themed cards now for our heroes so I will rise to the occasion.  It was actually a nice change to pull out the Fall colored cardstock and the warm ink colors.  And I even found some gorgeous fall patterned paper that I had bought last year!  Bring on the rake...I just noticed that the maple tree in the backyard has dropped a few leaves already!

 

• Stamps of Life Cardstock in Pumpkin and Tangerine
• Stamps of Life "mums2stamp" flowers and sentiment
• Stephanie Barnard's ColorBox ink in Pumpkin and Tangerine
• Twine from The Twinery

Sweet & Sour Lemonade

Grab a cold glass of lemonade and thanks for stopping by!

As a member of The Stamps of Life Club, I really get excited the first week of every month.  I know that a new, fun stamp set will be waiting for me in my mailbox.  The June 2013 stamps from Stamps of Life called "lemonade2drink" and "morelemonade2stamp" made me thirsty!  Here are two cards I designed while sipping lemonade in the 80 degree heat last night.  Fortunately, I didn't knock my glass over like I usually do when I'm reaching for my acrylic blocks.  Hmmmm...I should probably move them... 

 

After stamping and cutting out my lemon slices, I decided they would make great flowers.  I added a little bling and ta da!  For the subtle background, I stamped the half lemon slices with VersaMark watermark ink and heat embossed with JudiKins clear detail embossing powder.  "Sour" you today?

 

I love the chunky ice cubes in this stamp set.  They give you chills when you use them!  The glass and lemon slices were stamped on watercolor paper and colored with Inktense pencils (my latest favorite product of the week).  The inside of this card reads, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."   I really hope it perks up a good friend of mine that's struggling with a few lemons right now.

Cheers!

Pawsitive Note:  Family - Sometimes, you do get to choose them - Check out your local dog rescue!