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:

Cupcake Inspirations Diva

Hello!  It's been a few days since I've had the chance to create.  I've been busy with my kids and re-organizing my stamps into stamp pockets.  I've got all of my stamps into labeled pockets now, the next project is my dies and embossing folders.  However, I decided to take a break to use some of the stamps.  I've been working on this card for a few days now.  As soon as I saw the inspiration picture from Cupcake Inspirations, I knew which stamp I was pulling out.  This little girl has so much spunk, she reminds me of my own girls.  My girls love to play dress up and wear my shoes and accessories.  Here is the inspiration picture and also my card:

I stamped the Hello Day from The Angel Company in Versamark ink and embossed it with black embossing powder from Close to My Heart.  I colored the image with both Copic and Bic markers, I used a gold Gelly Roll pen for the keys and necklaces.  I added a touch of glaze pen to the sunglasses lenses.  For the paper, I pulled out the Enchanted Collection from BoBunny and matted the image and   main panel with Pure Poppy cardstock from Papertrey Ink.  

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

Celebrate Mojo Monday 491

Hello!  I finally found some time to sit down late this afternoon and work on this weeks Mojo Monday.  Here is the sketch:

Yesterday, I stopped at The Pine City Scrapbooking Company, while I was there, I picked up a cute little die set from Taylored Expressions.  I had to use it on today's card.

After I finished the card, I decided that before I put away my new die set, I needed to do something so I don't loose the tiny pieces.  So, I cut some heavy cardstock to the same size as the insert in the packaging from Taylored Expressions and glued them together.  I glued on a piece of magnet that I cut from some magnetic vent covers that I bought at Menards.  Now they stick, and I don't have to worry about loosing one of the dies when I open the package.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Happy Birthday - Close to My Heart
Paper: Madison Avenue - My Mind's Eye
Ink: Cocoa - Close to My Heart
Ribbon: Blushing Bride - Stampin' Up!
Dies: Cake & Stand - Taylored Expressions

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

Paper Players Graduation Card

Hello!  I combined two challenges for the inspiration for today's card.  I like this sketch from The Paper Players.  This week at Just Us Girls it was a photo challenge.  I also used Sparkly Dreams again (can you tell I'm loving this stamp set?).  Here are the challenges:

I opted to use two sentiments from the stamp set and the butterfly to create a graduation card.  

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Sparkly Dreams - Verve Stamps
Ink:  Archival Black - Close to My Heart
Sweet Sorbet DSP - Stampin' Up!
Cardstock:  Sorbet - Close to My Heart, Limeade Ice - Papertrey Ink
Ribbon - Maya Road

Be A Good One MOJO490

Hello!  I was super excited to open my mail yesterday, my new stamp set from Verve Stamps was in.  It's called Sparkly Dreams and I know I'm going to use it a lot.  I love the quotes and other sentiments that it has.  Verve packages their stamps so beautifully, it makes me so happy to open the shipping envelope to see the pretty blue tissue paper wrapped around my new stamps.  This time there was a little extra surprise tucked in with the stamp set - this great patterned paper, a card base, and a generous length of black seam binding.  The colors were perfect for using with my new stamps.  What more could I do then to combine them with this weeks Mojo Monday?

Here is the card that I made with my new stamp set and the extra surprise paper and ribbon:

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Sparkly Dreams - Verve

Ink:  Tuxedo Black - Memento

Simple Christmas Wishes

Hi there.  I was so excited to combine 2 challenges for today's card.  I'll start with the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch!, it was perfect for showcasing a textured paper as the base.  I chose to use a new embossing folder that I hadn't even taken out of the package called Cable Knit.  I lightly misted the cardstock with water before I ran it through my Big Shot, the paper is deeply embossed with a sweater pattern with no cracking of the cardstock.  

Since I used the Cable Knit dynamic folder, I decided to combine the sketch with this weeks Merry Monday Christmas Challenge to use red, green, and white.  I cut the New England Ivy with my new die set from Papertrey Ink, I love the stitched border it adds.  I stamped the sentiment with Versamark and heat embossed it with Real Red Glitter Embossing Powder for some color and sparkle.  

I had a hard time capturing the sentiment, so here is a close up:

On a different note, I'm surprised how much of a difference cameras made in these photos.  I have an older point and shoot Canon that I keep in my craft desk for taking pictures for my blog.  I was having a hard time with it focusing on the sentiment, so I switched the memory card to my new camera that my husband got me for Christmas.  What a huge difference in photo quality.  I'm going to retire the Canon and let the girls use it when they go to church camp this summer.  

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Cozy Christmas - Stampin' Up!

Ink:  Versamark

Real Red Glitter Embossing Powder, Real Red Cardstock, Cable Knit Dynamic - Stampin' Up!

New England Ivy Cardstock - Close to My Heart

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Double Ups: Rectangle Die Collection - Papertrey Ink

Strong Coffee

Hello!  I so badly wanted to create a card using this weeks sketch challenge at Split Coast Stampers, it took me a few days of pondering to figure out all of the layers in the sketch.  I'm so happy with how this card turned out.

I used this cute, free digital set from Verve Stamps called Rise and Shine.  I touched the open loops on the sentiment with some color, and colored the mug with Copic markers.  After they were colored, I brushed the sun on the mug and the lines on the sentiment with Wink of Stella for some shimmer.

Supplies Used:
Rise and Shine - Verve Stamps
Cardstock - Aqua Mist - Papertrey Ink, Sorbet - Close to My Heart, Solar White - Neenah, Kraft - Stampin' Up!
Sweet Sorbet DSP - Stampin' Up!
Copic Markers
Ribbon - Close to My Heart and Maya Road
Wink of Stella