Better at the Beach

 Waving hello friends! I wish I was packing my bag for a day at the beach, don't you? 

Here's my card to help us dream a little of the beach life. 

I created my beach tote using cut strips of card stock to make stripes, then added the sentiment, sunglasses, a shell and a towel to complete the focal point. Using Crystal effects makes the glass frames shiny IRL and there's a shimmer on the pink hearts. 

It's a center fold pop up card. For the pale blue base, I used an EF for a texture resembling water drops, smooshing a light layer of white ink over it. The scene is complete with patterned paper curving along the bottom, and a few clear gems. 

It's a new challenge for Team X at Tic Tac Toe. Here's our board of options for these next two weeks. 

I used the middle row across - Beach, Free and Fun Fold. My last name is Beach, of course I couldn't resist! 
We hope you will join us!

 Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: 

Stamps: Waffle Flower Beach Tote Stamps and Dies
Spellbinders Splatter EF 

For my Dear Friend

 Hi there, hope you are doing well! Are you enjoying happy summer days, even with the heat dome? 

We are having the kind of sunny day that makes you wish you were at the beach. A perfect afternoon to make a  beach-y kind of card.  

I love collecting shells at the beach. Almost as much as I love collecting new stamps! When I saw that the Anchor of Hope stamps from Honeybee were retiring, I placed an order. It's a set filled with beautiful images and sentiments that are different from what I already have in my nautical stash. 

I began with a pale blush card stock for the card front. I swiped a squiggly line of blue Lunar Paste (Clear Skies) and next to it I added Stickles, suggesting a wave on a shore. 

The image was stamped on watercolor card stock, and colored with Distress Ink re-inkers, and metallic watercolors. Sorry, the photo just does not captures the shimmer and shine!  I fussy cut the image, and kept it simple with a sentiment. 

I was truly inspired to make this a clean and simple card for the Paper Players. Other challenges include Just Us Girls, and NBUS because the stamp is brand new to me. SSS Wednesday Challenge calls for Fabulous Florals. 

I appreciate you spending time with me today! Hope it's been an encouragement to you. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Enjoy SUMMER

Are you having warm summer days this July? I hope you're enjoying them! Do you have a favorite summer fruit? I love a really good, locally grown peach. We have the best peach orchards nearby! 

This card is all about delicious fruits. Have a look! 

Our new challenge at Tic Tac Toe goes live today, and I couldn't wait to go with the Fruit option. I had in mind the Fruit and Summer Colors from top row across, but as I got caught up in making the card, I lost forgot about the patterned paper! Glad there are 9 options per board, as I then went with the diagonal: Layers, Die Cut, and Summer Colors.  

I used a medium green card front, with a diagonally striped embossed white panel layered on top. The fruit stamps are from Pinkfresh Studio Fruitalicious. I wanted bright shades so used my Zig markers to color them, and then fussy cut them. 

The sentiment is stamped and die cut from Simon Says Stamp Happy Days set. Keeping embellishments simple, I chose a few clear sequins, and used a coat of Glossy Accents on the cherries. Cherries are another of my fruity favorites!

Please enjoy pleasant days, wherever you are, and be sure to play along with the challenge! We love seeing your creations. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Adding this to the challenge:

Double D Potpourri

NBUS - I'm using this Fruitalicious stamp for the first time. Be sure to check out this month's special challenge with prizes!

Best Birthday Wishes

 Another rainy day has come and is almost gone. Looking at the weather app, we are expected to have rain all next week, except maybe Tuesday. Thank goodness I have a stamp corner and lots of creative supplies to explore and play with! 

Today's card is for another dear granddaughter. Four of our grands have spring birthdays! Our only grandson has a winter birthday. And happy news! A new baby will arrive towards the end of October. Pause here for a BIG smile. 

Well, about the card.

You know I love a sketch, so here I am playing with another inspiring layout from The Paper Players. This sketch really called for patterned papers, and the Simple Stories Fun Times Paper Pad was just what I wanted.  

The ribbon image, "The Best" was cut from the DSP and placed on a die cut circle (PTI). Embossing the white panel with Birthday Sentiments EF (SSS) continues the theme. The sentiment is also from SSS, the Birthday Blitz stamps and dies. 

Happily, I had some tiny gold stars to add for a bit of bling. 

I'm adding this to the challenges at Just Us Girls (mood Board - inspired by the colors and geometric shapes)
and Love Those Pretty Papers.  

Wishing you a great night! I can't tell you how much it means that you stop by to say hello. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

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

Best Birthday with Bold Summer Blooms

 Hello, glad to have this time with you! Simon Says Stamp teamed with Gina K in offering a set of stamps, dies, and stencils called Bold Summer Blooms that are new to me. Last weekend I created a bunch of modern floral stamped die cuts and today I'm featuring my own design using them. Super Fun! 

The card front was trimmed to reveal the blue DSP on the inside. The Bold Summer Blooms Plate was used in part - the row of white flowers were an easy embellishment! I added metallic pearls to all the flower centers. I didn't plan it this way. It seems I cut the card front too high up. Attempting to better the proportions I added the strip of DSP with the text. Then came the flowers. All in all, it was a delightful crafting adventure. 
I'm so glad you've come by today. I will be back soon although I've not any idea what stamping fancy will hit me next.  There's always something!

Challenges entered are NBUS, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, JUGS - Flower dies, and The Flower Challenge - add embellishments. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: 
Bold Summer Blooms Plate, stamps, dies, and stencils
Inks: Distress Inks, Gina K Cadet Blue
Paper: Honey Bee Stamps - Funfetti Birthday

Coastal Escape

 Hey there! I realized that a week had gone by without a post so I'm here to rectify that! I had a bit of time to pull out another not used yet set to make this card before summer is over. Here's the beach scene!

I've been doing some watercolor landscapes, and this scene began with a scrap I'd painted practicing clouds. . 

Blended inks were used to color the pretty cuts from Spellbinders Coastal Escape View Etched dies, providing the palm trees, waves and shells. For embellishments, I added pearls, a twine bow, and white Nuvo drops to accent the portholes. I cut those with gold card stock here's a closer look. 

I am so glad you made time to visit today. Wishing you sunshine and smiles!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

For challenges, I'm joining Tic Tac Toe  where I chose: Beach, Blue and Ink Blending

and the challenge at NBUS where I'm using Spellbinders dies and Sending Sunshine Sentiments stamps. 

For the Color Throwdown - it's Fuchsia!

 Hi friends! Here I am posting on a hot Sunday afternoon so this card makes it to the Color Throwdown Challenge that inspired me today. I thought Kraft, Fuchsia and Orange were perfect colors for a happy card and I pulled out lots of new to me supplies and got busy! 

I began with a white panel which I embossed and sponged with Tea Dye Distress Oxide ink. The Happy Day stamps and dies (from SSS) have great sentiments. I also like that there is a large solid flower to stamp and two lined flowers to color. I used a combination of distress inks and brush markers to color them. 

More details can be found in the supply list below. I will be entering the Color Throwdown Challenge and 

 because this card was almost entirely made with new supplies, the never-before-used-schtuff challenge called NBUS hosted by Darnell. I was one lucky winner of her gift card and these new supplies are here thanks to her generosity! 

Of course, I did get a bit carried away while ordering. See that bow on my card? I saw someone use that Iridescent White Cord (SSS) and just had to have it!

Also linking to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge, Emboss it 

Thanks for your visit today, I hope your day is fabulous! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: 
SSS - **Happy Day stamps and dies
Inks - Worn Lipstick, Carved Pumpkin, Tea Dye
Sissix - **3D Texture Fades Quilted

** new

Happy Summer to you

 Hello crafty friends! I'm stopping in to post a quick share on this hot summer day. It's good to be back after a busy holiday week. I have another week busy with family visiting and there's nothing I'd rather do than spend time with loved ones. 

The first card I posted (HERE) using the Eclectic Garden dies (Concord & 9th) was a CASE. Today's card is my original design.

Instead of die cutting the florals from colored card stock, I used white and sponged on color using Distress Inks to create a softer look. I will really enjoy using these florals.

An embossed layer was also inked lightly for the background. The sentiment is formed by the Happy Edger Die and the text from Penny Black. It makes a bold statement. Finishing the card off only needed a few pearls for embellishment. 

 I'm playing in the Tic Tac Toe challenge using the left vertical row: Foliage, Layers, Flowers, or the middle horizontal row: Layers, Free, Summer Colors. I really love the options in the grid challenges!

Also adding to SSS Weekly challenge: Sending Flowers

That's all for today! I'll keep staying cool. Take care. See you soon. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Grateful for you always

Happy Monday friends,  I hope things are going well for you. I've continued to have some creative time daily and a few cards are ready in the line up. Here I'm using the Flowers for the Soul stamps, stencils and dies designed for Pinkfresh Studio by Dawn, previous owner of W+9.  Her stamps are what I bought in my very first excursion from being a Stampin' Up! only stamper. Her work is beautiful, and these images are based on her hand painted flowers. She is so special.

I kept the card simple so that the florals and sentiment can shine. I'm entering these challenges: 

The Paper Players - I used the middle row across 

Addicted to stamps & more  - use die cuts or stencils
Just Us Girls - stencil week 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Starfish Wishes for Color Hues #69

Hi there! I know that it seems as if summer is over. That may be true in the stores who have back-to-school and fall things on display. In my book, on August 1, we still have a good month of summer left and I'm going to enjoy every minute. 

At Color Hues, we are starting the month with colors of Teal and Orange, chosen by Sheri! I know you will have many options for these delicious shades.

I decided to go with Sea Shells and a punny sentiment.  I used Distress inks to do some no-line watercolor, beginning with stamping the images onto watercolor card stock with pale tan ink. Next I added some spattered the panel and sponged the edges with teal. I heat embossed the sentiment on a tag wrapped with twine, and adhered a few clear bubbles completed the theme.  

 Next I added some spattered the panel and sponged the edges with teal. I heat embossed the sentiment on a tag wrapped with twine, and adhered a few clear bubbles completed the theme.   

Stamps used were Seashell, and Starfish Wishes, transparent sets from Penny Black. Distress Inks in Evergreen Bough, Peacock Feathers, Orange Marmalade, and Espresso. 

We are so grateful for those of you who fill our gallery with your amazing creations week after week. I can't wait to see what you will make! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

My Favorite Flavor

Popsicles, anyone?  I'm pulling out my Chill Summer stamps and dies from Spellbinders for the first time, and they are providing me with many fun options and COOL sentiments too!  YOU'RE MY FAVORITE FLAVOR makes me smile!

I began with  adding beautiful patterns by embossing white card stock with the Geometric Stripes folder, also from Spellbinders.

I decided to create a chocolate bar with speckled ice cream dripping out. I used random dies from my stash to cut the drip and confetti, and brushed Crystal Effects on for shine. Can you tell how much fun I was having? First time using my new card stock from Concord & 9th's new color collection.  Love. 

LeAnne's lovely sketch at The Paper Players inspired my layout. Hope you have a yummy day. One of the other sentiments in this set is "It's a good day to be happy!" Hope this is true for you, my friends. Thanks for visiting! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Songbirds Make my Heart Sing

 Hey there, friends! It's nearly the end of the week, and soon will be the end of the month, and I've been mostly MIA. I'm here today to fix that! 
I've pulled out a new-to-me stamp set, and was inspired to join a card challenge I've just discovered called Triple B: Birds, Blooms, and Butterflies! Use one or all three in your cards.
I spent a few tries with mediums to color the bird, but liked this one best using Copic markers and made it into a card. 

What I love about this Songbird stamp set (Concord & 9th) is that the bird on the tree branch is a separate stamp, and there are images to add to the branches for each season of the year. I used the flowers and buds for a spring scene. Deciding it needed some texture, I added the border of stitching, and a bit of color randomly dotted with a stencil. A few flat sequins and two butterfly die cuts complete the card. 
Thanks so much for joining me today and taking a peek at this creation! It's been nice sharing a bit of time together, let's do it again soon!  

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Card Supplies: Concord & 9th - Songbird Stamp Set. Lawnfawn - Just Stitching Double Rectangles. Tim Holtz - stencil. Sequins are from The Cat's Pajamas. Stampin' Up! - butterfly dies. 

NBUS Challenge #50 using a new stamp set

and Triple B Birds, Blooms & Butterflies has a lovely mood board. I used all three B's on my card. 

Feeling Tropical

 Well, hello again, I am thankful that you're hanging with me on my blog today. The weather has turned gorgeous! I've added some wonderful and welcome activities to my week, thanks to a burst of very good health!**  But I did manage to pull a card together, here it is! 

I loved seeing the wonderful colors in my new card stock from Concord and 9th and the bright greens and blue inspired stamps and die cuts with a tropical theme. 

Stamping the florals and leaves from WPlus9, I used the Tropic Fever dies to cut them out. Other leaves were cut from card stocks using dies from MFT (Greenery - retired.) 

Amy's lovely sketch at Freshly Made inspired my card layout. I am glad you've come by to visit today. I'm enjoying your comments and visits so much!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

** My page on Sarcoidosis awareness describes my struggles with this rare disease and chronic symptoms.  I also have fibromyalgia. My energy and abilities fluctuate daily, weekly, monthly but I'm in a great place right now! Thankful to God who is my everything.

Ahoy! Nautical Theme for The Paper Players

 Hi friends! When we had children at home, and I was their teacher, I loved back-to-school days. As a retiree now, I want to hang on to summer for as long as I can! We still have another month of actual summer, so I'm sticking with it and the Nautical Theme at The Paper Players #605 is helping. 

Our wonderful hostess Laurie is asking for CAS cards as well. 

I have so many nautical stamps it was hard to narrow down which ones to use, but the You Anchor Me stamps from Memory Box won out as I love the sentiments. 

To make the anchor stand out as an interesting focal point, I embossed it in WOW! Perissa embossing powder. The mix of metallics and chunkiness of the powder really add texture to the image. 

I sure hope you will find time to play along with us in this challenge! We love seeing your creations in the gallery! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful!