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!

Just a Little HELLO

Hello friends, I am glad to be back in crafting mode after a little break! I jumped in with a CAS card made for a challenge last week, but I missed getting to post it for that. 

I've been on the go with some travels and other activities. I've been wanting to enjoy these last two weeks of summer, how about you? I looked for patterned papers to use for this card and you know what? In almost every one of my stacks I've used all the yellows. Guess that's because it's my favorite color! 

I colored this cutie with Copics. I've been getting faster as I practice my skills and learn which of those marker colors are my favorite blends. I added a simple ribbon embellishment and a few sparkly Nuvo drops in aqua. 

Stamps used are from Neat & Tangled, Better Together. Hope you're enjoying your summer day, thanks for coming by to visit. I love hearing from you!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful

Glad We're Friends for MFT

It was so nice to see the sunshine today!  Blue skies in North Carolina are extra special.

I'm popping in with one last post for the week. I loved the sketch this week at the Wednesday Sketch Challenge at My Favorite Things, and was happy to pull out some of my MFT stamps and dies for today's card.

I began with ink blending using Distress Inks in Antique Linen, Worn Lipstick and Tattered Rose. The images and dies are from the Blissful Blooms stamp set, colored with Copic markers. For the sentiment, I stamped and embossed using the Furever Friends set. 

Here's the sketch. 

I also had a fabulous surprise today. My card was chosen as the WINNER at CAS(E) This Sketch. I am proud to display my badge. 

Thank you for your kind comments, they are always such an encouragement. 

What I love: Butterflies and Something NEW!

Good morning, hope you are doing very well this Wednesday morning. Today is the day I share something I created just because I love it! Today's card features butterflies, a new technique and a new stamp set, all things that make me smile. Here we go! 

I knew that the butterflies in the Beautiful Day set were needed in my stamp stash as soon as I saw them. Also love the sentiments in this set as they have large and small fonts and expressions that work well together in many different combinations.  I colored them in with Copics, added a bit of shimmer and paired them with pretty patterned paper for my card front. 

Now for the fun! The new technique is a window pop-up card, as shared HERE by creative artist Jennifer McGuire. Her cards are gorgeous and her videos are amazing. I will want to try this technique again and again, as Jennifer shared several designs. 

Here's the pop up when you open the card.  I sponged ink to create the clouds and added another die cut butterfly. There is a space to the right to add your signature horizontally. 

And here is the whole card opened. I couldn't resist decorating ALL the parts, ha! 

Hope you've enjoyed my post. I've loved reading your sweet comments. Know what else I love?  The wonderful stamping community where we share, learn and encourage one another. Keep smiling, you are simply the BEST! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp - Beautiful Day

Paper: Neenah Solar White, Penny Black - Painted Blooms

INK:Simon Says Stamp - Intense Black, Hero Arts - Soft Pool

Accessories: Wink of Stella, dies, Copic markers

I'm playing with the Wednesday Challenge Simon Says: Make your own background