Merci Poppy Poem Card

Hi Everyone! I have a simple card to show you today that features one of my favorite Penny Black stamps.

I decided to go with a traditional poppy color but this image could really go in any direction (maybe I'll show ya later). First I stamped the entire image on white cardstock. Then I stamped the flowers on orange cardstock 3 times. The first layer was cut out and taped to the white image. For the second layer I cut between the petals and added Glossy Accents. When the Glossy Accents was almost dry I bent the petals. For the final layer I just cut out the center petals and added Glossy Accents. I put all the layers together before they dried (including the button) so no extra tape was required. I finished the card by stamping the flower image with VersaMark on the blue mat and adding some string and the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Materials:
Stamps: Penny Black Poppy Poem, Salutations

Ink: Memories Black Dye Ink
Paper: Papertrey Ink Summer Sunrise, Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse, Kraft; Neenah White

Other: Button, String, Copics, Glossy Accents

Happy Birthday Balloon Bunny

Hi Everyone! We are still enjoying the sun here. We went to a party in the park this morning that included performing pigs, equestrian vaulting, dog agility, pony rides and a pancake breakfast. The events were all coordinated as a fundraiser to keep the park open. Fun times, good cause.

Next up for today is a 2 year old girly birthday party! My son was chasing bunnies in the park with her last week so I immediately thought of this fun Penny Black bunny stamp when I was planning her card. I altered the image to include two balloons. You could easily customize this card with several more balloons or different colors to fit a young boy or girl of any age!

The balloons and bunny were stamped on colored cardstock and shaded with colored pencils (one of my favorite tricks). I added Glossy Accents to the balloons to make them shine!

Thanks for stopping by today!

I'll add the supply list later....when I get back from the party. ;)

No Cards, Just Sunshine

Hi Everyone! We had a pretty rainy spring here, however the last couple of days have been gorgeous!!!

We spent nearly the whole day outside today enjoying the sun in the mid-70s! Love it! So I thought I'd share some of the joy from my day!

Love these kiddos! Hope you had a great day! I'll be back to share more crafty goodness soon.

Fireworks Thank You Card

Hi Everyone! Thank you so much to all of you that took the time to congratulate me on my new Penny Black Design Team position. Your emails, facebook comments and blog comments had me smiling all day!

Today I have a quick 4th of July Thank You card.

Wouldn't this be a fun card to thank the host of your 4th of July party? I thought so! The sun is out today so I've gotta run and enjoy it! Have a great day!

Materials:
Stamps: Hero Arts Celebrate All Day, Galaxy of Stars
Paper: Papertrey Ink, BoBunny
Ink: Papertrey Ink, Ranger Distress Ink

Big BIG News!

Hi Everyone! I have some pretty exciting news to share with you tonight! I received a phone call this afternoon and was invited to be a part of the Penny Black design team! There stamps are SO cute and fun to play with. I can't tell you how excited I am about this opportunity!!!

Here is my first card design for them. I also created a scrapbook page (can you believe it) that I will share in the next couple of days.

When I saw THIS owl he had to be mine! I love him! It felt natural to me to make him hold something so I found this little cupcake to put in his hand. I also have to point out THIS stamp set. It is so versatile! I used it to create the background grid design, the diamonds on the green paper AND for the sentiment. The final detail was adding the recipient's name (my brother Adam) with white ink on the blue paper. I did this using the Robust Upper Case alphabet set.

Have a great night!

Materials:

Stamps: Penny Black Robust Upper Case, Salutations, Nocturne, Cup-Cake
Paper: Papertrey Ink Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Simply Chartreuse, Aqua Mist, Stampers Select White
Ink: VersaMark, PTI Fresh Snow, Memories Black Dye Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: PTI Buttons, Ribbon; Pinking Shears, Glossy Accents, PTI Eyelet Lace Die Cut

Happy Dad's Day!

Hi Everyone! I'm back to show you the card I made for my Dad for Father's Day. I was inspired by Lucy's challenge, Betsy's challenge and my Dad's new bird watching hobby. I love when so many bits of inspiration come together! :)

Lucy's challenge was to use light blue, kraft and white. I opted for a little darker blue so I hope that is okay. ;)

Betsy's challenge was to create a masculine card inspired by men's clothing. The first idea that popped in my head was the fun, funky and oh so traditional argyle socks for Dad!

Have a great day!

Materials:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Bird Watching Addtions, A Little Argyle; Hero Arts Happy Dad's Day
Ink: ColorBox Chalk Ink, Ranger Distress Ink, PTI White Ink, VersaMark
Paper: Papertrey Ink Kraft, Ocean Tides; Neenah White
Other: PTI Twine, Jane's Buttons

I'm Here

Hi Everyone! I'm taking a short little blogging break to work on a few crafty things. I wish I could do it all but I just can't. I made a commitment to myself to submit a some cards for publishing AND I've been working on a VERY exciting top secret project. ;) More from me soon....I promise! :)

Embellish Color Challenge with Labels

Hi Everyone! Today I have a card to share for the latest Embellish Magazine challenge. I have to admit that the colors were a HUGE challenge for me. No green? No blue? What am I to do!

But with a little inspiration I did it! I am so lucky to live in an area where we see lots of hot air balloons. I love love love seeing them at sunset. Something about the silhouette against the colored sky is so magical. So with that memory combined with the challenge and my Up Up and Away set I created this...

There is A LOT of Nichole Heady influence here. :) I couldn't help but try a few of her tricks. The sunset and the stripe on the silk ribbon were created with my Copics. The hot air balloons were kept simple with some brown ink. I finished the card off with a few gems and the sentiment on the banner.

Thanks for stopping by!

Materials:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Up Up and Away
Ink: Colorbox, Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMark
Paper: Papertrey Ink Melon Berry, Lemon Tart, Dark Chocolate
Other: Silk Ribbon, Copics, Gems

A Simple Thank You

Hi Everyone! Today I have a card to share where I've tried to embrace a little more white space and a little more ink. :)

This was made using pretty basic stamping techniques and is easy enough to make a set for personal use or gift giving. I mounted the three different leaf sizes from Beautiful Blooms II on an acrylic block and then stamped them randomly from corner to corner. The flowers were also stamped in three different sizes and cut out (PTI has die cuts by have been opting to still cut by hand). The card was finished with a row of polka dots and a simple sentiment.

Have a great day! I will be out enjoying the sunshine. Hope you will be too!

Materials:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Beautiful Blooms II, Polka Dot Basics II, Up Up and Away
Paper: Papertrey Ink Simply Chartreuse
Ink: Papertrey Ink Rasberry Fizz, Spring Moss; ColorBox Chalk Ink; Memento Tuxedo Black

So Sew Special

Hi Everyone! I have another card to share using the Hero Arts Sew Crafty digi kit. This time I used spools of thread from the kit plus a sketch that Shari has up on the Hero Arts blog this week.

I wrapped each of the spools with a bright color of embroidery floss then stitched coordinated Xs along the inner border. The white center piece was cut out of some extra fabric I had laying around. I taped it on card stock before cutting it out so that it cut nice and straight.

This card is off in the mail to my Grandma who loves sewing and is SO special. :) Hope you are having a great day!

Materials:

Stamps: Hero Arts Sew Crafty Digi Kit, All Occasion Messages
Paper: Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, Kraft, Spring Moss
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Tea Dye Duo
Other: Embroidery Floss, Pinking Shears, Rectangle Scallop Nestabilities

Be Happy!

UPDATE: Free shipping (in the US) on all cards in my Etsy shop. :) Just click on my shop on the left sidebar to get started!

I totally adore the Papertrey Ink Enjoy the Ride stamp set so I decided to ink it up again!

This time I thought it would be fun to have the car driving through a tunnel. My oval Nestabilities made the tunnel super easy! I used a combination of die cuts for my grass (PTI Small Scallop) and dirt (PTI Ric Rac). The car was stamped on Lemon Tart Bitty Box paper and shaded with colored pencils and Copics (I do this A LOT to save time coloring). I finished it off with a few buttons, gems for the head lights and some polka dots.

Hope you have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Materials:
Stamps: PTI Enjoy the Ride, Polka Dot Basics II
Paper: PTI Smokey Shadow, Dark Chocolate, New Leaf, Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart Bitty Box Basics, Stampers Select White
Ink: VersaMark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Gems, Hero Arts Buttons, Oval Nestabilites