Beautiful Butterfly Escapades

Hello there! I hope you're having a great day!

I have a card to share today using the brand new to me Butterfly Escapades Embossing Folder and Dies from Simon Says Stamp. Deciding to order this came as a bit of delayed reaction. Apparently I'm not the only one as it is now sold out. In the order with it came many goodies from the Artsy Butterflies card kit that Simon Says Stamp offered last month. I didn't think I needed it but changed my mind after seeing so many beautiful butterfly creations! 

Delicate pastel card stock with rich embossing, a bit of inking and layered butterflies came together so nicely! Using an arched die cut, I used the Spotlight technique adding a white panel for the focal point. The sentiment is from Honeybee stamps, cut in gold mirror card stock to match the butterfly body.

 I'd like to try this card again, and I will hope the photos better show how really soft the colors are. I absolutely love the new card stock colors of the In My Heart I Want It All collection. I'm not known to use purple hues often, but I am a fan of this soft shade used in the card front. 

Be forewarned, there will be an abundance of butterfly creations coming. 

I will add this to the challenges listed:

NBUS Challenge #85
Just Us Girls - Die Cutting, the Spotlight Technique
Triple B - Birds, Butterflies, or Blossoms

A Cut Above ATG
Let's Craft and Create Challenge: Beautiful Butterflies

Thanks so much for your kind visit. Take care!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

 

Color Me Happy

 Hello friends and welcome to my blog. Do you have trouble coming up with names for your posts? 

For this post I began with "Carried Away by Color" and that wasn't quite right. I thought this card was a "happy accident " but chose Color Me Happy instead. All three are true. This happy accident began with an inked background and a background stamp combined.

In the mood to do some blending I combined Oxide inks in Worn Lipstick, Carved Pumpkin and Scattered Straw. Gina K has come out with a grip mat and on the other side are two background stamps, you can see it HERE. It's new to me and I love that it has multiple uses. I stamped with purple ink over top of the blended ink panel to add geometric images.

I looked at that panel for days! Not wanting to cover it up. Finally I decided the leaf images and HELLO sentiment seemed a good mix including gold sequins to dress it up. A bit quirky maybe, but I like it, even the purple!

I can't remember when I've had so much fun playing. Hope you have a great day and enjoy wherever this crafting journey takes you!

Adding this to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Penny Black Saturday Challenge, NBUS and again to The Four Seasons Challenge. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies:
Penny Black dies - Dignified, Fall Foliage
Hello from Honeybee Stamps

A Taste of Fall

 I'm breathing some happy sighs this morning as it has been a while since I've been here on my blog and I'm pleased to have something to share! I did some coloring just for fun on these pretty sunflowers! 

Using my Copics this time, I kept it simple and light for an airy feel. I stamped the florals on the lower edge of the white card stock using Archival ink in Watering Can. 

After coloring the flowers I did some masking and ink blending for the background followed by adding a bit of white spatters. Tiny gems from Gina K (Micro Disco Ball Sequins) are very small but add just the sparkly look I love!

The Flower Challenge Sketch gave the creative kick I needed. Thank you so much for being here to visit with me today. Hope it's a good one!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Penny Black supplies: 
Pure Sunshine Cling Stamp, Enchantingly Clear Stamps (sentiment) ; Background Basics Stencils

Inks: Tumbled Glass, Peacock Geathers

Adding to: Penny Black Saturday Challenge, The Flower Challenge, Stencil Fun Challenge , FourSeasons

Flowers for the Soul

 Hi there, friends! You can never have too many flower stamps, right? I'm back with another recent purchase from Pinkfresh made into a sweet birthday card. Truly dainty and feminine, the Flowers for the Soul set is beautifully designed by Dawn Woleslagle. 

What I love about PF dies is that they cut several groups of images with one run through the machine.  Once I die cut there were many images in various sizes to play with. I used just a few for today's card. 

I stamped the flowers and heat embossed them with gold powder. Using a rainbow of DOX ink colors and the stencils, I added color. 

For my background panel, I sponged using the same colors lightly. Then embossed with a folder for added texture. Using gold designer paper and gems for the accents ties the focal point together. I used a narrow panel of white card stock. Having the sentiment hanging over the edge doesn't bother me! I wanted more of that background to show. I can't wait to make another one!

Thanks so much for your visit today! Hope this summery card brings a smile to your face. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies used:
Dies - Crimped Frame (The Greetery); Leaves - Altenew; Birthday - Buzzwords (Honeybee)
The EF is from Spellbinders
Inks: Rnager Distress Oxide - Salvaged Patina, Worn Lipstick, Cracked Pistachio, Carved Pumpkin, Fossilized Amber

I'm adding this to the Monthly Challenge at Pinkfresh 

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

Love Flurries

Hello , I have a wintry scene for you today using old and new items, just for fun! I enjoy pulling out this PI girl in winter as I love her sweet expressions and the sentiments. I used a new-to-me stencil and sponged DOX inks to make the background. 

Two of the stencils are for small and larger snowflakes. I filled them with white paste for added interest and texture. 

My friend Leslie at Running with Scissors always colors images with mastery (if you visit her blog you'll realize words are inadequate to describe her talent!) and she's been using Tombow markers, so I got mine out to give them a try on the girl.  It's been a while but I liked the ease of using them. Then I fussy cut her out, adding the die cut trees and purple hearts. 

That's all from me today, I hope it's going well for you! We have had beautiful sunshine and warm-ish temps so the snow is only in my imagination, lol! 

I will be posting this at NBUS and Time Out Challenges. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supply List:

Stamps - mftstamps (retired) 
Ink
Other - Honey Bee stamps - Winter Wonder Scene Builder is a set of 6 stencils. 

Trees dies - Elizabeth Craft Dies

The Paper Players: Theme Challenge

 Hello! Hope you are doing well on this Sunday! 

Time for our new challenge at The Paper Players #611 where Joanne has chosen a changing seasons theme, particularly Autumn.

It seems the leaves in our yard have begun to change early this year! My card is created using a randomly stamped background of leaves in Distress Oxide inks: Charted Mariner, Carved Pumpkin,  Wild Honey and Fired Brick. 

Using the Fall Foliage stamps (The Greetery) for the images I stamped the word Autumn in Versamark ink and embossed it with Distress Oxide Embossing Glaze. It's unique in that it's translucent so colors and images underneath are visible.

When stamping images for a background, it's good to have a smaller image or two for fillers. The smaller leaves are from another set. I like to use dots  as fillers too, and these are from the Floral Frames set (Altenew). I am noting it here for myself to remember so next time I don't have to go combing through supplies to find them!

If you love fall as much as I do, then I know the change of seasons is a happy one for you! Thanks so much for spending time here today! Hope you have a great week. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Clean and Simple for Fall

 Hello, it's Sunday! Time for a new challenge at The Paper Players #609! Claire's Clean-and-Simple Challenge asks us to use Scarecrows or Leaves on our projects. I went with leaves, here's my take!

I stamped leaves using Distress Oxide Inks in Uncharted Mariner, Peacock Feathers, and Wild Honey. The leaves are a new set from WPlus9 Design called Wild Flowers, and the sentiment is from Hello & Thanks.  The very simplest embellishment is a wooden leaf tied with twine. 

I can't wait to see what you will create. Have a wonderful day!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

True Colors

 Hello! It's cooling off for us and the weather has been gorgeous and so lovely! We were able to boat yesterday, and aim to do that more often now that it's not so very hot! There's nothing better than relaxing in the sunshine on the water. 

Still there's this stamping hobby. Thank goodness I'm enjoying some extra mojo as I play with new stuff. Here's a second take on the new set, Just Breathe, from WPlus9. I wanted to do a bit more traditional style and achieve a cleaner look to the coloring. 

I used sponge daubers to ink the stamp in Distress Oxide inks - Saltwater Taffy, Wild Honey, and Peeled Paint. Spritzing very lightly with water gave more definition as I stamped the images. I scribbled a damp brush in spots, then fussy cut them.

Layering with The Postal Frames dies and some patterned paper gave a more simple vibe to this card. I didn't start out trying to use the papers, but this sheet from Honey Bee's pack Summer Stems seemed to set the images off nicely. 

I don't like this card as well as the ones I CASEd for my post HERE, but it's a beginning. I think I'll often enjoy using these stamps! I LOVE the sentiments.

Thanks so much for your visit today. I am wishing you lots of good things and happy moments. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful! 

 

More Spring Flowers for Color Hues #39

 Good morning, I'm hoping your day has started off well. I'm sharing a card today for our new challenge at Color Hues to use purple and green. That screams spring to me and you know what else - florals. 

 My images (Spring Florals stamps/dies from SSS) were embossed in white onto Bristol Smooth card stock that had been inked and blended with Distress Oxides and sponge daubers. My gingham panel and dies from Penny Black (Soaring) finished off this bright card. I love the 'brighten your day' sentiment as it could be just thinking of you or for a get well card. 

The design team has a gallery of amazing inspiration for you! We hope you will join us with your crafty goodness. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Clean and Simple Blooms for Paper Players #583

 How can it be that challenge #583 for The Paper Players is here? This wonderful group has been inspiring us week after week for a very long time! I am having so much fun as one of their Guest Designers this year. 

Our challenge comes from Laurie this week, to make a Clean and Simple design with the theme of Blooms. Now you know, I have TONS of floral images, right?

I chose Spring Flowers and More Spring Flowers (SSS) from my stash. So enjoying playing with this older set again, I actually made up three cards and you will surely see them in future posts . I just love the stitching on these images. 

I embossed them in white ink onto white card stock. After blending Distress inks to supply color in layers I snipped and die cut the images. Keeping the card simple I used inlaid stitching rectangle dies for the background (Lawnfawn). I think pearls make the perfect simple embellishments. 

Can't wait to see the team's inspiration and your wonderful projects in our gallery. Have a fabulous day, friends. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Additional supplies  from Penny Black : Butterfly - Soaring dies, sentiment - 

Flora and Fauna 3 for Color Hues

 Hello and I am sure glad to be back from my short break. Glad you are back too! I hope things are going well for you. 

It was my turn to pick our combo for Color Hues, and I invite you to check them out on the blog and play along! 

Lime Green and Aqua can be bold and vibrant or pastel-y and summery. Which do you prefer? When I picked these shades I had bold in mind, but the pretty butterflies in the Flora and Fauna 3 stamps (new from WPlus9) were really fun to do using light sponging. 

My slimline card measures 3-1/4 by 8-1/4". Images were stamped in light gray ink, and the sentiment was embossed in white on Basic Gray card stock. I added a few gems for sparkle. 

I can't wait to see your projects in the gallery. Thanks so very much, I appreciate you stopping by. Hope you're having a great summer!

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful! 

Vintage Birthday

 Hello, welcome back! Here is the second card made with the new release at WPLus9 that I posted in detail about yesterday. 

For this card, I featured the Vintage Ephemera Bundle and a smooshed background using Salvaged Patina and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide Inks. 

Adding a new to me product, Tim Holtz transparent embossing powder, gave the butterflies a bit of special pizazz! I die cut extra flower layers to pop up and add dimension, plus some silver thread and sequins. This is a slimline card measuring 3.5 x 6.5" 

Layering, smooshing, spattering and stamping. I loved every part of this process! 

Adding this to NBUS! 

Hope you have a great day!

     Be yourself
          Have delight in your craft 
               Make something beautiful!  

Color Hues #8

 Hello stamping friends, it's that time again!  Yes, mid-December. We are almost there to Christmas but my post today is all about our new challenge at Color Hues. After all the Christmas cards we've been making, how does Green and Blue sound? 

I'm enthused about these colors but making my card at the last minute brought on some pressure! Oh my goodness, as often as I kept telling myself to keep it simple, instead I fumbled and bumbled my way through the creative process.  For way too long.

I began with the English Rose Bouquet Die (Memory Box) which is gorgeous all by itself. But could I stop there? NO! I wanted to come up with something different. And I did. I wish you could see the pretty blue gems in the flower centers IRL. 

I made a background using Distress Oxide inks, metallic inks and gesso on white card stock. Lost of playing, lots of splatters, and it was fun. 

You can only imagine how things went from there! You don't need any more details. I urge you to go have some fun with these great colors. 

Simple or complicated, it's all up to you! Hope to see you soon! Thanks so much for your kind visit.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Fall Birthday with The Greetery

 Hello, welcome back! 

I have finally given in and made a fall card. Well, actually, I made an inked panel or two a week ago and made it into a card today. I've wanted summer to last forever but it's been cooler and rainy so I might just have to admit that fall is on the way!

I used Distress Oxide Inks directly onto Neenah white card stock, changing colors and directions and then adding ink and water splatters. I love how they turned out but decided that a little orange on a card front makes more of an impact, so I used just a strip.

I inked and stamped a tree and a sentiment from The Greetery. Adding a few smaller leaves (from WPlus9) completed the design. 

I need some new birthday cards so I was happy to play with Jaydee's Theme challenge. 

Now that' I've cleaned up my craft space I'm headed back there to create again. I find nothing helps me get in the mood to find my mojo more than totally cleaning up the space! Using the bits of card parts helped too. 

Thanks so much, I appreciate your visit. Make it a great day!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

A New Technique - Monoprint

 Hello, crafty friends, I hope you are doing well. I had a chance to stamp today and picked up the pieces in my completed pile to finish up into a card. Thought maybe I should make a note card set with some of the other prints I've made, but that will be another day's project. 

The technique uses layers of ink and creates a monoprint. I used that as the main panel on the card, with a foam base to add dimension. After you create one of these you just don't want to cover it up! 

I used Oxide inks in soft yellows and pinks for this card, since it was made in spring. 

Yep, it's been sitting here ever since the Online Card Class Spring Card Camp 2! I loved learning this technique. It is also sometimes made using a Gelli Plate. See that panel underneath? That faux watercolor look is also part of the technique. A two-fer, if you will! The close up helps you see the softness of the print, created with ink and a brayer.

I hope you've enjoyed my post and been inspired today! Thanks so much for taking time to visit and leave a comment. See you soon!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Uh-oh. I don't remember!

Paper: Neenah Solar White

INK: Distress Oxides

Accessories: Hello Die from WPlus9 and friend sentiment; leaf die is from The Greetery

Celebrating You today!

Hello fellow crafters, here I am and it's the middle of the week already, don't know how that happens!

I do know there's a card to share, coming right up! 

I saw these colors offered at the challenge at The Paper Players and had some time to think about what I would use. 

At first I thought of Christmas, but ruled that out for now. Opting for my favorites - flowers, I pulled out these pretty tulips from the Greetery set called Budding Beauties Spring. 

 I colored them with several layers of inking to get the shaded effect. The detail is built right into the stamps! I used sponge daubers to apply the layers using Distress Oxide inks in reds and greens. 

I played along with the challenge at The Paper Players.

Supplies from The Greetery will be listed below and if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer in the comments. Thanks so much for your visit today!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

 

Supplies used:

Stamps: Budding Beauties Spring, Sentiment Suite Birthday and matching dies, Fit to be Tied die