At Christmas Time - Soft Pastels

Hey, it's Friday! How are things going? 
It's the end of the week and I don't usually post, but I just had to jump in for the Create Along With Us September 2018 challenge at PTI. If you haven't been inspired to begin on Christmas projects yet, check out the gorgeous variety of samples from the talented DT this week and it will get you going for sure! 

I was inspired by so many of the projects but was totally WOW'ed by Laurie's card from day 1 using soft pastels and subtle layers. 

I began by inking white Bristol Smooth card stock with Distress Inks in Broken China, Peacock Feathers and Mermaid Lagoon. I went for a darker ombre look on the rectangular panel, and a softer inking on the die cut panel (Mix & Mats: Pretty Brackets).

I looked for an image that would lend itself to soft coloring and that had lots of white and decided on the poinsettia image from Botanical Blocks IV.  I stamped the image in black and embossed it, then watercolored with these PTI inks: Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, and Pure Poppy. After outllining with Copics, I added the final embellishment of Nuvo drops in Red Berry.

Here's Laurie's card, see why I love it? The colors and design are just gorgeous!

Here is the LINK.

Thanks so much for visiting today. My prayers go out to all those on the coast who are getting the full brunt of the storm. Thankful to God for it's smaller effect, I am praying for protection for those of you in its throes. 

From my safe and warm kitchen, where my dog lies snoring and my cup of tea is in hand - hugs!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Saying HELLO - Just A Note

Hello! 
I'm saying hello today and popping in with a quick post. I live in North Carolina and we are in the midst of preparing for Hurricane Florence.

But there's still time to stamp, right! Actually I have been doing a bit of coloring and die cutting off and on during the weekend and then it's easy when I get to creating the card. 

I'm still playing with new images, this time the Hello & Thanks stamps and dies from WPlus9.

Simple coloring with Copic markers are all that's needed for these flowers and teacup to shine. I love my tea! Add flowers and a cute bird, and it really makes me smile. 

I'm joining the challenge at CAS(E) this week, here's the fun sketch! 

Thanks so much for coming by today. My prayers are for all of us here in the Carolinas in the days to come. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Sunflowers for Friendship

Hello, how are you enjoying this new day? I am feeling very content this morning and just a wee bit thoughtful. Every once in awhile that happens, lol! 

It. started. with. sunflowers. 

I was prompted to choose a theme or photo to convey what I hoped to achieve with my blog when I designed the header. I chose this photo of a girl filled with wonder while sniffing a sunflower. I love the way she is reaching up and grasping for it, becoming lost in it and totally absorbed with the joy of the moment. 

Imagine how excited I was to find this Harvest Blessings stamp and die set in the new release from Wplus9! You can find all the new stamps HERE. Before you look be forewarned, you will want it all! Ask me how I know, HA! 

There are so many options for using these gorgeous sunflowers. I will certainly be choosing the beautiful wreath option but for today's card I chose to arrange my blooms and sentiment on a hexagon panel of white card stock, backed with a brown mat. 

I selected papers from my stash to give a warm country feel to my card. The flowers are colored with Tombo markers. I die cut a banner of white card stock then sponged it with Distress Oxide ink in Wild Honey. This card needed little more embellishment than the twine bow at the top. 

And you know what? It makes me happy. I love that for the inside there are companion sentiments in a smaller font like, "You're the best!" and "Friends like you are a real blessing." True words.

Thanks for coming by today! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Amazing Birthday

Hi there!

We had a special birthday celebration yesterday and I had fun making this card for our daughter. I also made  a Brownie Ganache cake but I have to tell you - it's gone! The pretty bouquet on this card will last longer, that's for sure! 

The set, from SSS is called Mandy's flowers. I just love the images! I did some loose coloring with Peerless watercolors, fussy cutting the blooms. 

The sentiment on the front is PTI's Penned Elegance set. 

Here's a peek at the inside of the card.  I am still loving my sunny yellow! 

I am keeping this short so that I can get on with my day. Because of the holiday yesterday, today feels like a Monday, but it's not! So I am already a day behind. 

Hope you are having a great day!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Bling for a Birthday!

Hello, everyone! 
I'm joining the fun at Make It Monday with a sparkly bling-y birthday card. Lexi shared the glitter inlay technique and I gave it a try! 

My card uses the Fiesta Birthday and Seasonal Borders: Spring stamps. The Mix & Mat: Pretty Brackets Die cut is filled with turquoise glitter. Tempting Turquoise Ink from SU made the best match with the glitter. The great thing about this technique is that using adhesive paper and burnishing the glitter to make it stick, also keeps it from going anywhere, something very nice for the recipient. 

This is my last hurrah to spring and summer, wish they could last a bit longer, don't you? 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

First Card for Christmas 2018

Hello, how is your week going so far? 

I've been holding on to these last days of summer for as long as I can before I start on fall and holiday cards. I broke in with a Christmas card for today. It does feel good to have one created and ready! 

Sometimes I hold out on purchasing something for a long time. I know.... I know, it's rare. But sometimes I DO!  It seems I just remembered that this gorgeous stamp set from Papertrey Ink called Botanical Blocks IV, had not seen ink yet. It's been around awhile but it is definitely new to me!

I inked it with my Versafine Onyx Black pad and stamped on Bristol smooth paper, heat embossing with clear powder. I colored it in with Zig markers. Can you tell I've been in the mood for coloring this week? I added gold details, using a gold gel pen to fill in the frame, a gold embossed sentiment and gold mirror card stock behind the panel. 

Of course it needed a sequin or two and some clear Nuvo drops to highlight the berries. 

I've stamped out a few of these panels so that I can do some coloring on the go. It makes me smile that you took time to come by my blog today. Thanks! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

You can never have too many... Beautiful Flowers

The Beautiful Flowers set from Simon says Stamp is the newest addition to my stamping stash. I tell myself I really don't NEED new flower stamps, but oh how I love this set! Flowers? You can never have too many! 

I made a stamping schedule of sorts for my blog posts, but I have had trouble keeping up with it this summer, so I hope you will bear with me. Today's post definitely fits the "What I Love" theme but I can't wait until tomorrow to share! 

Things I love: flowers, large bouquets, and coloring. This time with Zig markers. Have a look! 

I made this card first, using markers in pink and purple and then blending with a water brush on Strathmore Watercolor paper. I will be hand delivering this card to a very special someone soon! 

For the next card, I used less of the bouquet and colored with Light Carmine and Carmine markers, keeping the blending a bit more simple. 

The Happy was stamped and embossed with gold. I filled in the inside with a black gel pen.On both cards, I went over the flowers with a shimmer pen. I made both of these cards in the same sitting. It seems I like the coloring best on the first card, and the layout/design details better on the second card. 

What do you think? 

I hope you've enjoyed my floral display. I know I am glad that you've come by. Have a great day! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!