What I Love - Challenges

Hi there! 
It's Wednesday and I remember awhile back setting this as a day to post what I love. Today I'm focusing on my love of card challenges.

I especially like sketch challenges. They help me think outside of the box in choosing stamps and themes, and sometimes I'm surprised!

Sketches limit your supplies automatically. I looked through my stash for small images that would work with the sketch and buttons. 

The sketch is very straight-forward but my approach took some liberties. 

CAS(E) This Sketch   These images are great for creating scenes, but I went with a collage-y row of little things. 

I had in mind a few specific things for the Retro Rubber Challenge - buttons and bows! Working them in with the layout was easy with the set called Beautiful Ride from SSS. I think it's over 2 years old?  Glad to pull it off my shelf and use it again.

This card makes me smile. I hope you're glad you came by to visit. Make it a great day!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

A Sketchy Birthday

Hello! It's a long weekend here in the states. And we're having HOT temperatures over the next week. That means chances to stay cool in the craft room in the afternoon.

 Just so I'm not always playing with the new stuff, I am working through some older stamps and using them to make one or two new cards. First up, the Sketch Ranunculus set from SSS. I forgot how fun these flowers are to color! 

I embossed them in white onto Ranger watercolor paper and colored them using Zigs. 
I loosely modeled this after the sketch below and blended Distress Oxide inks on the the main panel. 

CAS(E) This Sketch 

 I may want to try this sketch again with a more graphic design.
Hope you're having a beautiful day! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 
         Make something beautiful!

More with Happy Wishes

Hello, it's been a beautiful Saturday! I was out enjoying the sunny weather and breeze on our boat this afternoon, but earlier today I had some time to stamp. 

Remember when I shared on my last post how I hated cutting up the pattern I'd stamped using the Happy Wishes stamps and dies from W Plus 9?  Coming to the rescue is the CAS(E) This Sketch for this week that gave me the perfect chance to use it on another card.

The stamped strip and hexagon frame that I had left over fit right in to make today's sketch. I added a couple of die cut and stamped flowers to a white hexagon, attaching the patterned frame on top. Behind that I mounted the polka dot paper, and foam mounted it all as my focal point. 

It may be a bit busier than I would have liked for a clean and simple card. After several attempts to rearrange things, I ended up adding a yellow enamel dot to draw your eye to that center flower.

All inks were from W Plus 9 also - Bloomsberry, Cockle Shell, Last Leaf, Wild Mango, Ocean Drive, and Coconut Husk. Also used were the Clear Cut Stacker Dies - hexagon, and the sentient from Papertrey's Mixed Bouquet Stamp set. 

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today. It always means so much! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Celebrate In Style

Hello everyone! 
I've been so caught up in Christmas preparations and events. Have really missed my crafting and regular posts. It's a busy time of year but I'm delighted to be able to stamp today as the featured guest stamper at CAS(E) this Sketch! I'm so honored to stamp again with this talented team of designers. 

I need a card to be on hand for a January guy birthday and I wanted to create a classy style. Choosing bold neutrals with gold gave me a great head start on a card that could also double as a New Year's greeting.

I'm way out of my comfort zone with two grays and black but they do look really good with lots of white and gold accents. 

Here's the sketch. 

You can find the challenge HERE and it will be in play for two weeks. Hope you will check out the wonderful projects and make your own to join in the fun! 

Thanks for your visit. Hope you have many good things to celebrate today.   

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: none

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Basic Gray and Basic Black, WPlus9 - Fog, Gold Foil paper

Accessories: Sissix - Celebrate die, SU - Starblast Edgelit Die (retired) 

Merry and Bright

YAAY! Happy Friday! 

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm back again today with Take 2 of the sketch from CAS(E) this sketch. I took a more literal approach using bold stripes and a hexagon window. 

 The reindeer from the Merry and Bright stamp set (SSS) was colored with Copics. He is surrounded by two trees die cut of white card stock and also colored with Copics.  I arranged the scene on an inked background and topped it with the stamped sentiment banner. 

In case you need a refresher of the sketch, here you go! 

I'm pleased to be on a roll with stamping this week and happy to have quite a few Christmas cards finished. I hope you feel glad to have stopped by today. Enjoy your weekend!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: SSS - Merry and Bright

Paper: Neenah Solar White, red foil card stock

INK: Simon Says Stamp - Intense Black, WPlus9 - Gala Red

Accessories:  Hexagon dies - Plus 9, Copic markers, Glossy accents

Cas(E) This Sketch

Welcome stamping friends, hope you're having a great Thursday. 
It's a very special day for me, I've been invited to be Guest Designer this week at CAS(E) this sketch!  It's my very favorite challenge and I'm thrilled to be part of the team today. 

We were given this fabulous sketch created by Donna.  
I interpreted it somewhat loosely, using  a white embossed sentiment and a few die cuts to define the shapes. 

This kind of elegant simplicity is one of my favorite types of cards for Christmas. Be sure to check out the amazing inspiration from the design team. And feel free to play along! 
Thanks so much for visiting my blog today. I'll be back tomorrow with my 2nd take on this sketch

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: WPlus9 - Hellebore Builder and dies; SSS - Stained Glass Greetings

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Real Red

INK: Versamark - WPlus9 - Gala Red, Fairy Dust, Last Leaf, Appletini, Old Gold, Hayride

Accessories: White embossing powder, Gold sequins

A Simple Sketch - Times 2

Hello there! 
My stamping has been a bit hit or miss this fall, but somehow I got on a roll. Here's the first post to share with you! 

I used to have a category on my blog called Twice is Nice. If I found a sketch I really like it was fun to make two completely different cards with it. That's what happened with me while crafting. I couldn't stop after one card and had to make a second. 

Let me show you the sketch first, from the great designers at CAS(E) This Sketch. 

I began with wanting to place the sentiment in the sketch and then added the leaves around that to form rows. Although it is a bit busy, I like how this card turned out. 

For the second card, I went looking for a smaller image and pulled out the Whole Lotta Happy set from W Plus 9. This card is still also a bit busy, but the uniformity of the images gives it a more cohesive look. I like it so much better than the first card.

These images are so cute and I thought they'd be perfect for a rainbow themed card. You know they've been the rage for so long but until now I hadn't made one! What fun! 

Here's where the rainbow comes in, on the inside - 

This will be a congrats card for someone we love so much! The photo makes it look wonky but I promise that the image and sentiment dies are straight. Both cards give me a sense of delight in using stamps and dies that have been long lost in my stash. It is invigorating to re-discover them. The sketch inspired me to seek them out. Another reason I love sketches. 

Thanks for visiting today! It has been raining here, but I keep looking for the rainbow from my warm cozy spot. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: SSS -  Apple of my Eye;   WPlus9 - Whole Lotta Happy

Beautiful Butterflies

How are things going for you on this last Saturday in September? Officially it is fall, but the weather is still quite warm today! I have hated seeing summer end, but in my craft room with new stamps I can still make Beautiful Butterflies and think of summer. 

I'm popping in with a quick post using new sets from the WPlus9 release which I just love! 

Today's card uses a simple color scheme, of one color plus pops of white and black. I stamped the butterflies in Peacock Feathers and then sponged over it with Cracked Pistachio, adding details to the body with a black gel pen.

I'm sure I'll long enjoy using these hexagon dies because they  are classic, make a bold statement and I love being able to add dimension by placing the center pieces with foam tape. 

Here's the sketch that inspired my card, you can the check out the challenge HERE and see many more wonderful designs. 
That's it for me today. Enjoy your weekend! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Beautiful Butterflies stamps and dies, Butterfly Mandala and Hello and Thanks stamps and dies for the sentiment

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Bermuda Bay

INK:Simon Says Stamp - Intense Black, Distress Oxide Inks - Peacock Feathers and Cracked Pistachio

Accessories: Clear Cut Stackers Hexagons, White embossing powder

Showers and Flowers, hop stuff!

Hey there! 

Remember our puppy Josie? see her HERE. She debuted on my blog when she was only a few weeks old. Soon she will turn 8! She sleeps lots more than she used to, but the other night we had a bunny in the backyard when I let her out. The bunny froze and when Josie spotted her a frenzied chase ensued around our fenced lot. They circled it four times before said rabbit ducked under the fence somewhere. What a race! I like the happy ending.

The bunnies in my stamp stash have been multiplying. I love this one from the Simon Says Stamp Showers and Flowers set!

I added shading and layered it with vellum, DSP, and die cuts according to the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch. It makes me smile! Hope your day is hoppy too. (Like the bunny I also could not resist the pun.)

Thanks so much for your visit to my blog. See you Monday!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Showers and Flowers 

Paper: Neenah Solar White, DSP from PTI, vellum

INK: WPlus9 - Silver Lining, COPIC markers, Versamark

Accessories: White embossing powder, sequins, Poppy Stamps - Flower Dies

Tile Letters Valentine

Hello, welcome back!
Every once in awhile it's time for a card that is just plain fun. We have friends that are so special! They invite us over often, love to get together at the spur of the moment, and enjoy playing games like we do. We get crazy laughing over games together and we always leave their home feeling cheered. 
This card is for them! 
I pondered the sketch at CAS(E) THIS for the week and thought I might skip it. But remembering this never-been-used Letter Tiles set (from Simon Says Stamp) got the wheels turning and this card is the result. 

I was so happy to dig out the chunky wooden heart from my stash to embellish. 

Hope you enjoy your day! Thanks so much for visiting my blog. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Blooming Birthday Wishes

Hello!
I'm surrounded by a winter wonderland today and it's so so pretty. We don't usually get this much snow, but having several inches suits me just fine today. Nowhere to go but upstairs to do a little stamping in the craft room. 
It's always a good week when I get to create with the 
CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge and the sketch is such a fun one today!

I had stamped and die cut the floral spray when I was having play-time with the Fill In Blooms stamps. If you missed it, those posts are HERE and I give a brief tutorial HERE. If you don't have this set yet, I hope to give you good reasons to get it! If you have it, I want to inspire you to use it! I guess you can tell it's at the top of my list right now.

For today's card, the background was stamped with Dapper Denim from Stampin' Up! For the flower details and small die cut branches I used Flirty Flamingo. I love navy and pink together! 

I'm glad to be getting this post going in the last hours of the challenge, so I'll list the other supplies used below.
Thanks for visiting! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used ~

Stamps: Banner and sentiment are from WPlus9 

Paper: DSP from MFT

Accessories: Dies used for circle frame is from PTI - Don't Forget to Write Kit

Fa La La La La

Good morning! It's a delightfully chilly day here so I feel like  jumping in with another fun card for Christmas. I'm using the very new set from Papertrey Ink called Sing A Song of Christmas. The images contain the words to several carols. I love Christmas music so much! In fact I keep the snowman clock on the wall all year long in my craft room, and it plays a carol every hour on the hour. 

Fa La La La La. 

I'm playing along with CAS(E) This Sketch today. I love the way their sketches kick off my mojo, so I've made up my mind to participate every week. 

I was so happy to be chosen as a CTS Favorite with this card. 

Hope your day is wonderful and that you have a song in your heart. I am so glad to have you stop by! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies 

Stamps: PTI- Songs of Christmas

Accessories: SU - holly leaves and berries, SSS - snowflakes