It's a HEAT wave

We are definitely in the throes of very hot days here, but I still am loving summer. Being out in the sun makes me want to celebrate! What better place to do that than the beach, right! 

I'm still on the beach theme and using fun brand-new-to-me stamps that illustrate summer fun. As soon as I saw the cute images of kids at the beach I loved the happy feeling and sense of movement in the Sandy Toes set (Waffleflower.) 

I stamped and Copic colored the images, then fussy cut them, enabling me to choose the ones I wanted to use and play with arranging them. The runner is popped up in order to stand out.

For the background I began with a page from the Modern Neutral paper pack (also from Waffleflower) that has patterns of suns rays subtly in gray. I gently ink blended with blues and yellow to create the scene, adding a few dotted images for sand. 

I love this paper pack and super cute kids. I was so tickled with how this card turned out that I just kept looking at it!

I will also share it at the challenges listed below. I hope you can find a way to put a little celebration of summer into your day! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

NBUS

The Paper Players 

Time Out Challenges  Walking on the beach is one of my favorite peaceful pastimes. 

What I love: Techniques!

Welcome to my blog and a new week. We are in the midst of a heat spell, with a real feel temp today of 108. We got out very early on the lake this morning. It was beautiful and restorative to be on the water. 

Now I'm happy to stay inside and be COOL this afternoon!

I love a COOL technique and this one shared by Jennifer McGuire I just had to try! I made stripes using strips of colored card stock. By placing the stencil each new stripe is inked in a matching color until the stencil design is carried over the whole panel. 

It took some time to do this but I think the result is worth it! I didn't want to cover the stenciled background so I kept the images simple, using the SSS Beautiful Days stamp set. 

The papers and inks are from PTI. I punched some flowers and added Gloss Nuvo Drops in Apple Green.

The stencil is from MFT called "Funky Florals." 

Today is a new day, and I hope yours will be delightful! Thanks so much for your visit. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Pretending to be Normal

Do you ever buy a stamp set just for one sentiment? Well, I hadn't until now. But this cute floppy-eared bunny pushed me over the edge. Of course, "Life's a Beach" is a fun thought especially if that is your last name, lol. Or even if it's not! It is the name of the stamp set from The Cat's Pajamas that found it's way to my home recently.

I assembled this card rather quickly after spending way too much time puttering around with a complicated but more "normal" design. I don't like that one well enough to share it, you know? 

But I love the way this cute and quirky card turned out. Hope you do too! I did a bit of paper piecing, a little loose Copic coloring and ink blended lightly with Distress Oxide ink in Speckled Egg, a new color for me. 

Shimmer pen helps the sand to sparkle and I added glossy accents to the bunny's nose.

I am playing along with three challenges!

NBUS (the stamp sets, Life's a Beach and Get Grounded (Ink Blot Shop.)

The Paper Players and Freshly Made Sketches. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me today. I really have appreciated your kind comments! Hope you have a great day. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Skies are Blue

I just came down from the craft room to find Dr B coming in from the front yard - where it was raining, and proclaiming that in the back yard, it was sunny and dry! Now the skies are blue again. Just in time for my card! 

I am returning to my love of florals and the fun of the slim line shape for this card. Are you wondering what prompted me to pull this Look for the Rainbows (SSS) set from my stash? 

It was the theme at Time Out Challenges: Days Gone By. I wanted to use this quote that has been around a long time and I got to use the stamps that have been in my stash quite awhile too. It always feels good to find a reason to use what I have that's been neglected.

Coloring was done with Copics. I had the awful discovery that a couple of my Copic oranges were DRY. Just when I had decided to put myself on a spending freeze. Now the big decision, do I invest in a few reinkers or just buy a new marker? 

I am also playing at Just Us Girls who asked for a long and skinny card. To make mine, I used the Slim Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Dies from Pinkfresh Studio. They have a great lineup over on the JUGS challenge.

I added sparkle with a shimmer pen, a few gold sequins and a bit of clear nuvo drops on the flower centers. 

Thanks for hanging out with me today!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Butterflies for a Wonderful Friend

Hello, how are you on this Monday? 

I am glad that it's a new week. A very big event took place this morning. We went to get peaches! I live 20 minutes from the orchards and these peaches are the best I've ever eaten! I don't buy more than a few at a time, since we eat very little sugar we like them best just off the tree! 

On the way we dropped off this thank you card to our friend and neighbor.  Could there be anything cheerier than butterflies in striped rainbow colors? 

I used DSP from Waffle Flower Crafts, and  layered the white die cut panel on top. (Bitty Butterflies Cover Plate from PTI.)

The sweet Fusion Card Challenge inspired me to pull out the die as it fits perfectly with the sketch. I loved the soft sweet pastel cupcakes and used the butterfly elements on my card. Pearls instead of icing swirls? 

The sentiment and die are thanks to Simon Says Stamp "You" stamp set and die. These sentiments are so unique and fill in the gaps left by occasions greetings. This card was easy and quick to make but I think it's special. 

Hope you stay well today and find some brightness or sweet spots in your day. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Polka Dots and Birthday Buds

Hello dear friends, welcome to a new weekend!

I put a few more images I had stamped and fussy cut the other day to good use on a card made for Freshly Made Sketches.

I just love these critters from BB Birthday Buds (MFT stamps). I colored them with Copics, pairing them with Polka dotted paper (from PTI) and scattering a few sequins into the mix. Clear Nuvo drops over the balloons and a scalloped border die add texture.

Isn't this a unique sketch? 

Hope this brightens your day. With all of your staying in, have you found a way to make Friday special? I'm still thinking about it. 

Wishing you well, stay well! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Summer Time!

It's summer and that brings to mind lazy long weekends. Watching fireworks, cooking out. How was your holiday?

Mine was very laid back. 

But not quite the way that I had pictured. 

Saw some fireworks. The next day a trip to the ER led to spending 4 days in the hospital. 

Putting my feet up, as they say. Lots of tests, and oh, the fireworks! They were flaring off in my digestive system. I am on the mend now and feeling way way better! 

Sorry for that diversion into the realities of life. I never know how much to tell on my blog, you know? Do you just want cards or should we talk about something else every now and then?

Good news! A card photo too! 

I spent some time stamping images and fussy cutting them last night. This prairie dog was just itching to go on a card. I am so into cute and kinda quirky right now. Waffle Flower alert! This trend may stick with me for awhile.

I used my brushes to ink a background on Bristol Smooth card stock in desert colors. I colored the images and arranged them to make a scene. 

This is a flap fold card shared recently by Jennifer McGuire HERE on her blog. I decided to give it a try. There is a bottom panel that doesn't open. The inked panel opens and you can write your note inside. The Waffle Flower Summer Time set is NBUS so I will share at that challenge, and play along at The Paper Players too. 

In all honesty, in reflecting, I must emphasize my gratefulness for the entire medical community! And above all, thanks to my Rescuer. His name is Jesus. 

Thank you so much for your visit! Have a day filled with wonder.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Waffle Flower - Summer Time, Sweet Sentiments *ETA - it's not a prairie dog, its a CUPABERA

Paper: DSP is from Honeybee Stamps

INK: DOX inks in - Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Worn Lipstick, Seedless Preserves