Watercolor Flowers for You

 Happy Monday and new month day! 

I have a summery and feminine card to share today using the Craft Your Life Kit from Altenew called Watercolor Flowers. 

I was inspired to organize all my stamps and dies over the weekend. I'm loving the results, including finding supplies I've not used in a long time. And finding all my supplies much more easily. My single use dies are in alphabetical order. Thank you to my friend Leslie for the inspiration! 

Here's today's card. 

I began with white card stock, die cutting the floral spray and then using the 3D folder to emboss it. Using Altenew inks and the kit stencils I added color to these pretty flowers. I really like the look of the florals using just the stencils. I skipped the outline I could have obtained with the stamp set. 

For the background, I embossed a pale blush card stock using the Altenew Raised Sentiments folder, tapping the raised text lightly with a white ink pad. The bouquet is popped up. I added Rose Gold gems and embossing to the sentiment.

The challenge at The Paper Players caught my eye, with a lovely tic tac toe board. I chose Die Cut, Stenciling and Layers. 

Playing also at: 
NBUS - using the background folder for the first time. 
Just Us Girls - Stencil Week 

I loved having you visit! I appreciate your comments and support so very much. Wishing you a beautiful day. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Butterflies in Blues

 Welcome to my blog today! I'm back with the second sympathy card that I've needed this month. I've used my latest favorite, the Butterfly Escapade Embossing Folder and Cutting Die. 

I've loved using this folder to provide beautiful texture and having the die is a great option for cutting one or two of the largest butterflies to use as a focal point. Using a pale blue card stock, I added the embossing and then used the coordinating stencil to add colors in blues and green. This is so easy!

I die cut the butterfly from this panel and then placed it over a white card base, curling the butterfly wings to let a bit of the white show through. Although there is a die to use for the butterfly's body, I accented it instead with pearls. 

The prayers is made up of three die cut layers, and the sentiment is stamped in blue. It's a rainy day and the photos don't begin to show how pretty the real life details are. I love this card so much and thoroughly enjoyed making it. This will be a go-to next time I need a sympathy card. I'm thinking of how to decorate the envelope and the inside; but wanted to get this posted today.  It's going out in the mail soon! 

Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks so much for your visit, it always brings a smile and brightens my day! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Other supplies:

More with the Butterfly Escapade HERE
Altenew inks - Deep Blue Seas and Green Meadows
SSS and Hero Arts - Prayers Die and Clear Set . This is an oldie but a big favorite of mine.

Challenges:
SSS Wednesday Challenge  Make It Feminine
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Triple B  Birds, Butterflies and Blooms
The Neglected Stuff Challenge 
Can You Handle the Pressure?

It's Time for Tic-Tac-Toe!

It's time for a Tic Tac Toe Challenge, I'm glad to be here to share with you today.

I'm posting a slimline card filled with kites. I love flying kites at the beach!  

Our board offers some fun options for your creativity. I chose the left vertical column: Slimline, Pastel colors and Encouraging Sentiment.

The kites really needed the slimline size to soar! The panel was embossed and color added with stencils. Inking with pastels gives a dreamy look. I left the blue sky and sunshine for you to imagine and added sequins instead to this already busy scene. 

I can't wait to see what ideas our board will prompt for you! Please join our gallery at Tic Tac Toe Challenge as we'd love to see how you are inspired!

Just a personal note - I'm following up some busy days with some recovery time from bronchitis. If I don't even feel like stamping, then I must be pretty sick, lol! This will pass. Soon, I hope! 

 Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!

Supplies: Spellbinders Flying Kites Stencils and embossing folder

Simon Says Stamp - Happy Day stamps and dies

Floral Lace

 We are awaiting ice and snow tonight in the US due to a winter storm. I'm posting a peachy floral card for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge that might put us in a springtime frame of mind. 

I received the 3D embossing Piped Floral Lace folder from Altenew this week and decided to pair it with two flowers from the layering Fresh Flowers Die Set. Using a white ink pad, I brushed lightly over the embossed image to add depth. The sentiment was cut from gold foil card stock and layered over vellum. 

I'm sipping hot tea as the temps drop. Praying for those in the states who may already be without power or heat. We are told to expect almost an inch of ice, that's always the worst. Sending warm hugs. Thanks for stopping by!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Challenges I'm joining are
Beautiful Blossoms 
NBUS 
Freshly Made Sketches: 

Lots of Love

Happy first day of May! I always love the first day of a new month and May is one of the best! If April brings showers, and then May flowers, allergies are sure to follow! On a good note, the vertigo I'd had last week is on the way out. It's been good to be outside again  and feeling better too.

Starting out the post with something new! A pretty circle frame that I wanted was out of stock, so I found this one instead (Pinkfresh Essentials: Ornate Circle) and got to creating. 

 It is an amazing delicate frame that can be used to completely die cut the circle as I did here, or left in the card front with just the points cut to add texture.

Also new to me, I embossed a panel using the Altenew Soft Blossoms EF. I colored with sponged Altenew inks, and the coordinating stencil set. Then if you can believe it, I CUT that panel up by hand for the focal point. Sponging a bit of ink behind them, I popped up the flowers with foam. The sentiment is from the Soft Blossoms stamp set and is the only stamping today. 

Thanks so much for your visit. I hope your day is going well! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

I'm adding to the following challenges:
NBUS: of course, with new EF, stamps and stencils and hugs to dear Darnell whose kindness and craftiness encourages so many!
The Card Concept: I was inspired by the soft pastels for my Clean and Layered Card. 
                                     Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
                                     Inkspirational: Seasonal occasions - Spring                                                   flowers, Mother's  Day

Hello, it's Color Hues #97

 Hello, I'm so glad that you've made a visit to my blog today. It's time for a new duo at Color Hues, and Julie P has chosen mustard and olive for us. 

I was inspired to pull out the Fragrant Florals supplies from Altenew, this time featuring the embossing folder and stencils. I just love these shades, I used mostly distress inks to sponge lightly on the leaves and flowers. I did keep adding layers to try to be more mustard-y. Wish the photo did them justice! 

I love the hello sentiment, it's so easy to continue on the inside with a more specific greeting. 

Hello's and goodbye's are very much on my mind these days. On a personal note, my husband and I are in the process of moving to a small home near our daughter's family. I've had to significantly pare down my overflowing craft collections(s)! You know, it's NOT just stamps paper and ink anymore but includes, dies, foils, stencils and ALL the stuff. So, instead of a craft room, I will have a craft closet.

I  may or may not be posting much after the dust settles - but I will see you again for one more challenge at Color Hues. You know you don't need an invitation to play - just make a card using these colors plus a neutral. 

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing your creations! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft

               Make something beautiful!  

Color Hues #93 Super Bright Birthday!

 Hi friends, and welcome. Here we are again with a new challenge at Color Hues! Tracey gives us Orange and Yellow for our combo, a happy bright and super fun choice! 

I thought these colors were just right for making my own background. First, I 'll show you my card, and then I'll let you know how I did it. See what I mean? So bright, it could be neon! 

The technique is one I stumbled upon as I went. I really like how the colors came out without cancelling each other out. 

I began with Mixed Media paper from Vicky Boutin, and a stencil of the 3-pack of hers called Arts Layered Stencils. Sponging lightly with Altenew Citrus Burst Ink, I got this. 

My next step involved using the 3D EF from Sizzix adding medallions and texture. I added more sponging to the raised area of the large medallions with Distress Ink in Carved Pumpkin. 

Hmmm, how to get a blend of these colors while still retaining some white space? I inked the debossed side of the folder with the yellow ink and ran it through the machine again. 

Once I added the large sentiment, it took on a different look! It's my first time using the sentiment dies from from Heffy Doodle.  

Nuvo Gel (on the heart) and enamel gems added a bit of sparkle. Now it's your turn! What will you make using Orange and Yellow? Please join us for this fun challenge. The team's inspiration is amazing!

Thanks for your visit, it means so much that you come by! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Sending you Warm Hugs

 Hey there! Hope all is going well for you today! It's in the 70's here, with sunshine and breezes, so I thought warm wishes would be in order.  

I choose warm shades of peach for my card, and used an inking technique and the new-to-me 3D embossing folder, Pressed Flowers, from Altenew. 

I love the depth and details of these pretty florals! 

I used sponge daubers and a brayer to ink the debossed side of the folder with Distressed Oxide inks in Spiced Marmalade and Saltwater Taffy. After I ran the card stock through, I added splatters of white acrylic paint. 

The sentiment and tag are from The Greetery. And then there just had to be pearls. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Challenges for today: 

Freshly Made Sketches  

NBUS

and Time Out Challenges,  theme is words, inspired by light and summer: Warm

Sending Love at Christmas

To my American friends, did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving? We had a busy fun-filled feast and family time. Now that the holiday is over,  I'm able to get back into the craft room to have some fun. 

I'm still playing with the Sizzix embossing folder, Winter  Pattern, embossing it on Pear Pizzazz card stock (SU!) this time. 

 I embellished using the Layered Poinsettia die (Waffle Flower) cut in cream and gold mirror card stock. The sentiment is from The Greetery. I embossed the top line of script in gold. 

I call this clean and layered in style, what do you think? 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Luminous Seashells

 Hi there! I really couldn't figure out how to title this post since it technically doesn't use my featured stamp set of the week. It is simply the Seashells 3d Embossing Folder, all dressed up! 

The lovely Distressed Gold Designer Paper was die cut with the Season of Chic die and added for texture and bright interest.

As well, some inks were sponged to accent the shells, and a pale luminous glaze was added on some of the greenery. Small dots of aqua  were dotted across the top of the design. 

The entire panel is Very Vanilla card stock, layered on a Soft Suede base. I sponged  around the perimeter with Distress Oxide ink. Purposefully leaving off the sentiment allows me to choose one or not, when sending it. I think I really like it best this way! 

Have a wonderful day! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!