Happy Birthday Celebration

Hello, today I'm playing along with this weeks CAS(E) This Sketch #304.

 I opted to make a boys birthday card, as I usually am out of those in my stash of cards.  I stamped everything on white cardstock, and colored the present with markers.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Cupcake Sprinkles, Happy Birthday, Make a Wish - Close to My Heart
Ink: Pacifica - Close to My Heart, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, White - Papertrey Ink

Farewell Mojo Monday

Hello!  I needed to create Father's Day cards this week, so I eagerly went to the Mojo Monday site to print off the new sketch.  When I read the post, my heart sank.  This is their final sketch, they won't be continuing.  As a mom of young children, I understand why Julee is simplifying and ending Mojo Monday.  However, as a paper crafter, I am sad.  Mojo Monday has been my favorite challenge,  I've been playing along since I started my blog.  I could always count on a sketch to get the creative juices flowing, and when I needed a place to start, Mojo Monday was my go to.  Here is the final sketch:

I used Stampin' Up's Crumb Cake to make a card base, and cardstock and some old patterned paper from Close to My Heart on the card.  I thought I had a fun Father's Day stamp set, but I must not have purchased it and only thought about it (a great excuse to go shopping!).  So I ended up combining two stamp sets for the sentiment, which I stamped in Close to My Hearts Chocolate ink.  I stamped "Happy" from Concord & 9th's Happy Words set, and "Father's Day" from Close to My Hearts June Word Puzzle.  

Thank you Julee for all of your hard work and wonderful sketches!  You have made me stretch and grow as a paper crafter.  Best of luck!

Magic Color Peony

Hello!  For today's creation, I couldn't wait to create something using Lawn Fawn's new die set Magic Color Slider.  I was intrigued by the tutorial they posted on Youtube, I just had to give it a try.  I chose the Peony Bouquet set from Altenew, I just love that the peony flower has 4 levels of stamping, it gives the image so much depth and detail.  Also, on the Altenew blog, their June Inspiration Challenge is White on White Focal Point.  I thought it would be fun to make the magic color slider using this challenge.

I played along with this weeks Color Throwdown, we were to use navy, pink, gold, and white.

I made the slider pocket using Papertrey Ink's Enchanted Evening cardstock.  I stamped the outline of the peony with Versamark ink onto a clear sheet, and embossed it with white embossing powder.  Then I stamped the next three layers of the peony stamp on white cardstock using Close to My Hearts Blush, Hollyhock, and Tulip inks.  I stamped the Pull Here tab using Lawn Fawn's new Push Here stamp and Tuxedo Black ink from Memento.  I wanted to create a card that I could sent to someone in our church family, so I used the Inspired: God stamp and die from Papertrey Ink to create the sentiment.  I found a piece of gold metallic paper to die cut the name God from.  I assembled it on a simple card base with a subtle pink pattern from the Madison Avenue paper pad from My Mind's Eye. 

Mojo Peony

Hi!  As you probably know, I love playing along with Mojo Monday.  I pondered the sketch this week for a few days, imagining and reimagining it with a different theme and color palate.  I finally decided on this color scheme, why?  Because of the amazing peony from Altenew's Peony Bouquet set.  I just love the detail.  I stamped the flower with Blush, Hollyhock, Tulip, and Vineyard Berry inks from Close to My Heart.  The leaves were stamped with Sweet Leaf, Pear, and Topiary inks also from Close to My Heart.  I used the Madison Avenue paper pack from My Mind's Eye and Dark Chocolate cardstock from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped the sentiment with Versamark, it was a free surprise stamp included in an order from Verve Stamps.  I embossed it with Cocoa embossing powder from Close to My Heart.  Here is the sketch from Mojo Monday and my creation:

Peony Thank You

Hello!  When I saw this weeks sketch for Freshly Made Sketches, I just had to use another peony flower.  They were also the perfect color for this weeks Color Throwdown, using purple, aqua, light pink, and white.  Here are the inspiration pictures:

I ordered the Peony Bouquet stamp and die bundle from Altenew a few weeks ago.  I was so excited to try it out that I made a bunch of flowers all at once.  So these flowers are from that crafting spree.  I stamped the peonies with Blush, Hollyhock, Tulip, and Vineyard Berry inks from Close to My Heart. The sentiment stamp and die are the Itty Bitty Banners set from Stampin' Up, I stamped it with Petal ink from Close to My Heart.  I used  a pretty aqua glitter and aqua, pink, and gold stripe washi tape from Recollections under the sentiment and flower.  The cardstock base is Winter Wisteria from Papertrey Ink.  

Many Thanks

Hello.  I took a break from crafting last week, it wasn't a restful break, it was more of a keep my sanity break.  We had a large auction last Thursday and Friday here at the farm.  We are no longer dairy farmers, we are now crop farmers.  It was a super hard decision, I still walk around our empty farm crying.  I wanted to get back to creating, so today I decided to participate in this weeks CAS(E) this Sketch and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, which was anything goes.  We had so many of our friends to help us through last weeks emotional rollercoaster that I need to start making thank you cards to send to them.  Here is this weeks sketch:

I was excited to use some new stamps for my card.  I love the Altenew Peony Bouquet stamps and dies, especially since some of my fondest memories of my grandmother growing up include her and the peony bushes at her house.  

 I layered four different Close to My Heart inks using the four different layer stamps for the flowers, they were Blush, Hollyhock, Tulip, and Vineyard Berry.  For the leaves, I layered 3 Close to My Heart inks, Sweet Leaf, Topiary, and New England Ivy.  I made a card base using Papertrey Inks Pale Peony cardstock. I matted it with a white cardstock that I embossed using the Honeycomb embossing folder from Stampin' Up!  The sentiment from Lawn Fawn I stamped with Close to My Hearts Archival Black ink and cut it out using a scissors.  I hope this card conveys to my dear friend who came and made sure we had food to eat during our action and days following how much we appreciated everything she did for us.

Simple Birthday

Hello!  Today I'm posting the card I made using this weeks CAS(E) this Sketch card sketch.

I ended up playing around with some of my new stamps and dies from Concord and 9th.  

This is the first card that I can remember using washi tape on.  I bought a pretty pack of coordinating Recollections washi tape at Michael's a few months ago.  When I was trying to come up with an idea, I remembered that I had this tape and decided to try it for a quick and easy background.  I die cut happy with a scrap of metallic gold paper that I had laying next to my Big Shot.  I cut the banner from the Happy Card Frames Dies and stamped birthday using Close to My Hearts Hollyhock ink and the stamp from the Happy Words bundle (linked above) set from Concord and 9th.

Lovely

Hi!  I'm so excited for today's card.  I was able to use so many of my newer crafty supplies.  I received my first order from Concord & 9th, and just had to try them out.  I had been thinking about getting a banner die set for a while now because every time I go to add a banner to anything, I end up cutting the bottom lopsided (please tell me I'm not alone).  I was cruising around the crafty blogs and found Concord & 9th.  While I was checking out their latest release, I found their Select-A-Size Edge Dies set that cut not one, but 7 different bottom edges for banners - and because of the tabs on the bottom each die can be used for multiple sizes.  Yes PLEASE!!!  So I ordered myself a set, and a few other goodies, and qualified for their customer appreciation promotion, the Lovely stamp set.

To make this card, I cut a banner that would fit my new stamp with one of the Select-A-Size Edge Dies from watercolor paper.  I decided to do an emboss resist technique, so I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and heat embossed with black embossing powder from Close to My Heart.  Then I used my Tim Holtz Distress Inks (which to me are new, I'm a late bloomer) and smeared them on a silicone mat and spritzed with water.  I swooshed my watercolor paper banner over the ink.  Once it was dry, I colored the flowers and leaves with my new gel pens (from Walmart, I went economical).  The green pen I used for the leaves was a glitter pen, so they have a shine to them.  I layered Vintage Cream and Plum Pudding cardstock from Papertrey Ink to create some depth.  I embossed the top layer of Vintage Cream with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder from Stampin' Up for some interest and texture.

I'm entering this in the weekly Simon Say Stamp Monday challenge, this week the theme is Splash It On.  I used the watercolor paper, distress inks, and water to create the background of the banner.

Magical Day

Hello.  Today, I wanted to use this weeks sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch.  I just couldn't decide on a theme for it.  However, when I saw the cupcakes for this weeks Cupcake Inspirations, I knew exactly which stamp set I was reaching for.  Here are the pictures for the inspiration:

I just loved the unicorn cupcakes, they are so fun!  I used my stamps and die combo called Dreamer from Taylored Expressions to stamp and cut out my unicorn. I colored using Copic markers, then I brushed her with Wink of Stella for some extra shimmer.  I decided to put her on a hill that I cut out using the Sleigh Ride Edgelits from Stampin' Up and Sweet Leaf cardstock from Close to My Heart.  I embossed the cloud background using the Cloudy Day embossing folder from Stampin' Up.  

Birthday Color Sketch Challenge

Hello.  I combined two challenges for todays card.  The sketch was from Freshly Made Sketches.

The color challenge from the Color Throwdown was to use coral, leaf green, yellow, and white.

Here is the card I created using both challenges:

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Happy Birthday, Aspiration - Close to My Heart, Petunia Builder - WPlus9

Inks:  Tuxedo Black - Memento, Sorbet, Smoothie, Pear, Topiary - Close to My Heart

Paper: Sun Kiss Collection - Prima

Brad - Close to My Heart
Petunia Builder Dies - WPlus9

Apple of My Eye

Hello!  I went to a local scrapbooking stores used garage sale.  While I was there, I found this cute stamp set from Close to My Heart.  I really wanted to use it, especially this stamp with water color paper.  I heat embossed the image with black embossing powder before I painted it using my water brush and ink pads.  I used this weeks Mojo Monday sketch for the blueprint for my card.  Here's the sketch:

Here is my card:

I matted it with black card stock that I sponged the edges very lightly with white pigment ink to look like a chalkboard.  After painting the apple, I opted to fussy cut it out and put it on with foam tape for some dimension.  

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  You've Got a Friend - Close to My Heart

Inks:  White Daisy - Close to My Heart, Versamark

Black Embossing Powder - Close to My Heart

Paper - Cherry-O paper pack - Close to My Heart, Crumb Cake - Stampin' Up!

Embossing Folder - Stampin' Up!

Cherry Cobbler ribbon - Stampin' Up!

CAS(E) Birthday Card

Hi, I'm glad you stopped by.  I made a few different versions of this weeks sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch.

I combined it with this weeks Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - Happy Birthday.  My color inspiration was from a picture a friend posted on Facebook of a parakeet.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Happy Birthday, Just Because - Close to My Heart

Inks:  Black - Close to My Heart, Lavender Glaze - Taylored Expressions

Cardstock - Papertrey Ink

Dies - Skinny Mini Party Borders - Taylored Expressions

Dream

Hi.  For my card today, I combined 2 challenges.  I started with the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches:

Then I combined it with the color challenge at Color Throwdown:

I decided that instead of the squares on the sketch, I was going to stamp flowers and fussy cut them out.  Here is my card:

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Aspiration - Close to My Heart

Inks:  Buttercup, Honey, Holiday Red, Cranberry, Black - Close to My Heart

Cardstock:  Aqua Mist - Papertrey Ink, White - Stampin' Up!

Brads - Close to My Heart

For You CAS(E)

Hello!  I sat down this afternoon after church to create this card from this weeks CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.

Sometimes when I look at a sketch, it makes me think of a stamp that I need to use for creating the card.  This sketch made me think of a set (Field Flowers) that I was given as a surprise hostess gift by my Stampin' Up! consultant.  She knew that I loved this set, and ordered it for me as an extra surprise.  She is so good to me.  Here is the card I created:

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Bitty Banners, Field Flowers - Stampin' Up!

Inks:  Blush, Hollyhock, Tulip, Black - Close to My Heart

Paper:  Hollyhock - Close to My Heart, First Edition DSP - Stampin' Up!

Be Still

Hello!  For today's creation, I combined this weeks sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and the color challenge at the Color Throwdown.  Here's a look at the sketch and the colors:

I used my new stamp and die from Papertrey Ink on the sentiment.  I wanted to stamp the stripes in the background.  After some looking, I finally found this stamp in a Christmas set from Close to My Heart.  I cut the "God" part of the verse out with the matching die.  I cut it with both black and gold paper.  I layered the black beneath the gold to give it a shadow.  It made the gold stand out better.  For the rest of the sentiment, I opted to stamp it with Versamark and heat emboss it with black embossing powder.  

I'm also going to link this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog.  This week, it's anything goes.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Jingle Borders - Close to My Heart, Inspired: God - Papertrey Ink

Inks:  Buttercup, Pear - Close to My Heart, Aqua Mist - Papertrey Ink, Versamark

Die - Papertrey Ink

Gold Metallic Paper - Creative Memories

Pink, Grey, and Purple Mojo Birthday

I loved the idea of the color challenge at "Just Us Girls" this week, it's pink, grey, and purple.

I combined it with this week's Mojo Monday 489 sketch.

I wanted to dress up the Pansy Purple medallion I cut out, so I decided to use my brand new Distress Oxide ink to stamp a background.  After stamping, I spritzed it so it would oxidize, and quickly dried it with my heat gun.  After that, I stamped the butterfly over it with platinum pigment ink.  

The Wednesday challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog is to use more than one die or punch.  I opted to make a pink ombre panel using a loop punch that I layered.  I stamped the sentiment and used the corresponding die to cut the banners, and I cut the purple medallion out with a Spellbinders die.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Itty Bitty Banners, Bliss - Stampin' Up!

Inks:  Smokey Plum - Close to My Heart, Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide - Ranger, Platinum Planet - Brilliance

Cardstock - Soft Stone, Smokey Shadow, Sweet Blush - Paper Trey Ink, Pansy Purple, Blush, Hollyhock. Petal - Close to My Heart

Embossing Folder and Banner Die:  Honeycomb and Bitty Banners - Stampin' Up!

Ironworks Motifs - Spellbinders

Language of Friendship CASE

The newest challenge from Time Out Challenges #79 is a CASE challenge.  I thought the birdhouses hanging from the tree with the sentiment that said "Happy New Home" was adorable.  It reminded me that I had the Language of Friendship stamp set and the corresponding punch.  I stamped the branch on Kraft and Sweet Leaf cardstock, punched them out, cut off the leaves and glued them on the Kraft branch.  I used my Cloudy Day embossing folder on the background card stock and decided to break out my new distressing ink to give the clouds a blue tinge.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Language of Friendship - Stampin' Up!
Ink:  Rich Cocoa - Memento, Desert Sand and Garden Green - Close to My Heart, Tumbled Glass Distress Ink - Ranger
Cardstock:  Kraft - Stampin Up!, Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue- Close to My Heart
Cloudy Day embossing folder and bird punch - Stampin' Up!

Peace on Earth

I joined two challenges for today's creation.  At Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #239, it was a color challenge.  We were to use gold, copper, and turquoise.  I have to admit, I had to dig deep to find something copper in my craft room.  Gold, no problem.  Copper, ummm let me check.  I did end up buying some copper stickles today at a craft store (which I ended up not using).  I decided that I wanted to emboss the image of the Holy Family with gold embossing powder.  While I was trying to pull this card together, I really wanted to use the star stamp that was in the stamp set.  I remembered that I had a whole collection of Martha Stewart glitter in the bottom of a drawer.  So I pulled that out, and there it was, copper colored glitter.  I stamped the stars with Versamark, added a little heat and stick power, heat it, poured the glitter over, and heat set it.  Viola, copper colored glittery stars.

The second challenge I took was the "Just Us Girls" Challenge # 384.  This week was to use a stencil.  I had one from the glimmer mist that I haven't used in years, so I was excited to pull that out and use it.  I used it with some Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist.  It created a very soft, shimmery background.  I had a hard time photographing it, but in real life it's very pretty.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Glory to God - Close to My Heart
Inks:  Versamark, Tuxedo Black - Memento
Cardstock - Lagoon - Close to My Heart
Glitter - Martha Stewart
Glimmer mist and Stencil - Tattered Angels
Gold Cording and Heat and Stick Powder - Stampin' Up!

Dino-rrific Mojo Monday 488

I really liked this weeks Mojo Monday sketch.  I had envisioned something soft and feminine with washi tape for the long thin panel.  However, that's not how it turned out.  When I went to select a stamp, the No Bones About It from Stampin' Up! jumped out at me.  So I ended up making a kids birthday card instead.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  No Bones About It - Stampin' Up!
Inks: Grey Wool, Lagoon, Pear, and Sunset - Close to My Heart
Paper:  Hooligans - Close to My Heart