Portrait Pals Pin Up

 Good evening friends! It is rare to find me back at the screen with my second post of the day. Turns out I had to get this card in before the deadline as I'm playing along with the MFT Sketch Challenge.  I had a false start with an idea that just didn't work, but when I pulled out the Portrait Pals stamps from Hello Bluebird things just came together. 

I love the result of these wild things posing in the jungle! I had them all colored and trimmed out so it just became a matter of fitting them in the sketch. I used Copics to color and added white gel pen accents. All are raised with foam behind them for dimension.

The sentiment and DSP are both from MFT (retired.) This greeting will work well whichever way I decide to go when mailing this. Either happy hugs for your special day or happy hugs from all of us or even with a just because theme. 

Since these stamps are brand spankin' new I am also entering at NBUS. You wouldn't believe all the amazing cards over there!

Thanks so much for your visit today. Makes this critter-happy-crafter smile to have you here! Hugs to you!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Thinking of You

 Hello everyone! 

I needed a few more cards to add to my stash and enjoyed featuring sets from The Greetery to create a trio of cards. Using the MISTI made it easy to explore different color combos with the lily images from Signed & Sealed. Now I have several of these die cut and ready to go for next time!

I randomly stamped a background onto Fog card stock.This very pale gray from WPlus9 is my favorite to use for a neutral design. Stamping the small images from Pretty Postmarks  created a vintage style backdrop for the cluster of leaves and flowers. They were stamped and die cut, then I added them to a white card base. 

These are clean and simple but they also have a collage style which I think goes well with any kind of sentiment inside. One thing that contributes a bit of texture and detail was using the Just Stitching Double Rectangles. I love using them but too often I forget! 

I'm sending warm hugs your way today. Thanks so much for coming by to visit! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Fancy Phrases

 I am glad that you've come back to visit! For today's card I'm returning to my roots. First crafty loves: Stampin' Up!, flowers, coloring and classic design. 

The Fancy Phrases set caught my eye in the catalog and I loved the sentiments included. The greeting I used continues inside with "I count you twice!"  

This card is the first I've made using it, opting to color the pretty florals with Copics. I fussy cut some parts of the image to hang outside of the rectangle. The designer paper (from Doodlebug) has a touch of texture that complements the image well. 

I'm playing along with the challenges at Freshly Made Sketches 

 

SSS Weekly Challenge Make It Sparkle and NBUS this week! I added  a few gems and shimmer pen for sparkle. 

I am definitely counting my blessings today, and you are one of them!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

You're so Kind!

 Hello on this pretty October day! 
I appreciate you coming to visit my blog and echo the "You're So Kind!" sentiment from the stamp set I am featuring today. It's my second card using the Hey Fall stamps (SuparPea Designs) and I'm thinking it's kind of you to bear with me (pun intended.)

Slim cards and critters are definitely finding their way into the-what-I-love-most-for-my-blog posting lately and I have to confess that there are NEW critters waiting to join the line-up. I've mentioned wanting to create cards with a lighthearted theme and critters seem to fill that need well. The cuter and more cartoon-like, the better!

I carted my Copic markers to the kitchen table so I can color up a bunch of images for future use in spare moments.  Because there were so many to fit on the card, I used a card stock panel (Pool Party - SU!) instead of inking up a scene so they would stand out.

I'll be sending this to the grands so I glued everything down tight. I'm so used to adding foam behind the images and panel that this looks pretty simple without the dimension. 

Critter themes abound this week in challenges! I am joining The Paper Players Theme Week (Fall Critters)

SugarPea Meant to be Sent (Fall Holiday) and the current Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp.  Also joining the Tic Tac Toe Challenge  where I chose the diagonal row: thankful, leaf, acorn.

As I finish this up it's a lovely sunny day on my screened porch and I feel grateful to be well and sitting outside. Stay well, friends! See you soon. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: SugarPea Designs Hey Fall stamps and dies

Accessories: Copic markers, white gel pen, Slim Film City Dies - Mama Elephant

Joyful Christmas

 

Hello friends! 
I'm just wanting to share a post inspired by another great sketch by Jen at Freshly Made Sketches. I thought this sketch would be perfect for highlighting the gorgeous paper roses in the Cosy Rosy Christmas pack. 
The papers are so gorgeous I had a hard time picking the one to use for this design. 

When all was said and done, I might have used a different one for a cleaner look. Nice thing is, it's just paper so I can try another one any time!  

 I added a satin bow and red and silver foil die cuts with foam behind them for the sentiment.

My card is a  4-1/2" square. I hope that as you begin another week you will feel ready and steady as you go. Let's keep on keeping on with crafting to help us stay in touch. Thank you for spending some of your time here with me. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Cute Critters Continued

 Hey there! 

I have quite a few card ideas for critters coming up in future posts but today's card features the cuties from the Birthday Buds stamp set (MFT).

Creating an inked background was a perfect fit with the sketch offered this week at MFT so I was encouraged to play along. I loved coloring this pig and his buds with Copics. Oxide inks in Tumbled Glass and Cracked Pistachio were used and spatters added of water and white ink.

Don't know what I think of the glittered star in the sky since it's not a night scene. Blame it on the sketch as I needed a third circle, lol. A little fun and artistic freedom.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead. Stay well, enjoy the things you can, and find ways to be creatively social Thanks so much for your kind visits and comments. You make my day!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

The Color Hues #3

 Welcome to the Color Hues Challenge #3! I've been loving the Color Hues Color Challenge and especially the inspiration I get from all of you! We are so grateful for the fabulous entries since we've begun, and your enthusiasm in playing along! For our third challenge, we'd like you to use Gold and Cream. You will be aware comparing my photos that this color combo is hard to photograph well. 

This photo shows the details best and the second one portrays the colors better. 

I had the Floral Fantasy set by Papertrey Ink in my mind as soon as I saw these colors. They speak elegant holiday to me, and I added the texture behind the buck using the Evergreen Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up! 

Gold embossing, gold mirror card stock and gold flat sequins dress it up. Remember taffeta ribbon? Thankfully I still have a bit. This did just call for a sweet bow. 

Can't wait to see what you make for this challenge! Check out the blog and be inspired by the team's sample too! I am so thankful for your visit to my blog today.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

          Make something beautiful!