Stippled Blossoms - Birthday

Hello, all my stamping friends!  Despite the crummy weather here, I'm in a very cheerful mood.  In the past couple of weeks I was chosen as a card challenge winner a couple times!  Last week the anniversary card I made for my brother and sister in-law was chosen by the ladies at Just Add Ink as their inspiration challenge winner!  So, I will be adding their badge here shortly!

I little further back, I made Headlines with my one layer card over at the Paper Players!

I haven't been making a lot of cards...but I have been enjoying the ones I do choose to make, and the challenges I have chose to participate in.  Today is another example of that.  I chose the color challenge over at Just Add Ink.  

Along with the sketch challenge at Techno Stamper!  It's Mary Jo's 300th sketch!  Can you believe it?  I think that's amazing she's kept it up so long!

 

So, here's the card .....

This is for my other sister in-law, who's birthday is coming up in about 10 days.  Some of my favorite things about this card?  The double stamping of the sentiment...it kinda gives it a 3D effect.  The embossing on the rose that gives it more dimension and depth.  Then, the combination of the wood stamp background (on an unusual color, no less) with the softness of the flower.  I hope she likes it!


As I said, the weather here has been cold and snowy and I'm about done with it!  Hubby was gone last week and yours truly had to shovel and snowblow!  I'm still a little sore...although not as bad I was expecting!  We got another 3 inches of the white stuff today.  I think we are right at our annual average and we still have plenty of opportunity to go above that!  The weatherman says we usually get another 12"-17" in February, March and April....oh, boy!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Watercolor Wonder Cards - Round 2

I finished another "set" of Watercolor Wonder cards. 

My favorite is this "Love" card.  This idea started over at Rita Wright's blog.  She made a couple really clever cards using this stamp from Countless Sayings I.

 I still love this Hello, Doily stamp.  I must ink it up more often.  I used the sentiment from Regarding Dahlias, the leaves from the Bird Punch and a retired brad with a tissue paper flower.

A simple get well card using Thoughts and Prayers.  I purposely tried to keep these cards very simple, so they would be easy to replicate.  I used markers and the "thumping" technique to color the leaves.

This is Kenna's favorite.  She loves alligators.  Truth be told.  I had to cover a boo-boo, so I went with the alligator from Wild About You.  The speech bubble is from Valentine Defined, both retired, but I was making lemonade out of lemons KWIM?  Anyway, the sentiment is from the coming Sale-A-Bration set, See Ya Later.

Finally, my least favorite.  I struggled with this patterned card both times I used it.  It's very pretty...it doesn't need much help.  Maybe that's my problem, I tried to do too much with it....it's OK.  The sentiment is from Sassy Salutations.  I love this sentiment set!  I had a friend order it during a sale and I thought to myself, "That's kinda neat, maybe I'll get it, too."  I'm sure glad I did...thanks Crys!

So, I may try one more round of these cards.  Maybe inspiration will strike.

BTW - Kenna got her car!  The one we were negotiating the other day.  It's been to the shop, to get a few things tweaked and it's ready to drive next week!  Oh boy!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Stay warm as we prepare for Polar Vortex...round two!

Watercolor Wonder Cards...Round 1

When I saw the Watercolor Wonder Designer Note Cards in the new Stampin' Up! Occasions catalog, I instantly fell in love.  That usually doesn't happen for me.  I'm just not drawn to kits or pre-made items.  It's just me.  I like all the creativity involved in card making, from start to finish.

Still, I bought them.  They are nice.  Twenty cards, five designs, so four of each design.  I hope to bring you more of these, but here are the first five I've made.

This one features the new set So Very Grateful.  I used this in my previous post, using the chalkboard technique.

I think this one is my favorite, using Delicate Doilies.  Imagine all the color combinations possible!

The sentiment here is from Regarding Dahlias.

No Stamping here!  Just punches, sewing and the "love" from the Expressions thinlets.

I added the background stamp Hardwood as a subtle background.  Then, topped it with the pine from Lovely As A Tree and the sentiment from Truly Grateful.  The stitching is a triple zig-zag stitch...very prominent!

I purposely kept these CAS and easy to mail.

So, which one is your favorite?

Circle Thinlet - Punch Art Tree

So, as promised.  Here is the second card I made with the new Thinlet Circle Die.  This one is growing on me.  Once I made a second one and added the ribbon of sequins and my opinion began to change.  The one thing I can appreciate about this one?  The punch art tree which is made from the scalloped circle included with the die set.

Here's a close-up of how I cut the scallop:

 

See all the yummy sequins?  These came from a HUGE score I made a little over a year ago.  An auction where I came home with a car-load of vintage Christmas!!!  If you want to check it out...it's on my other blog...HERE.

On another note...I am so disappointed in my pictures lately!  My son took the clip lamp I used for pictures to college!  I need to get a suitable replacement... but since I thrift these types of things, it's taken me a while!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Circle Thinlet - Blue & Silver Christmas Card

Holy cow!  I had no idea I had been away so long again!  I guess I'll let the cat out of the bag...no one is reading, right?  I had a hysterectomy just 5 days ago.  I had been having lots of trouble.  A good friend convinced me to take the plunge.  She had it done with great results, so I went ahead and booked the same type of surgery (with the Devinci robot) with the same surgeon.  I know it's early, but I am so happy I did it.  I am looking forward to not feeling terrible half the month!

So, onto the real reason you're here.  I have a card to share!  My friend, Deb, let me borrow her brand new Circle Thinlet Card Die and test it out.  I've made two, and I will tell you, this one is my favorite.  Hubby likes the other one, so I will have to share it...eventually!

It doesn't show in this picture but the sentiment is embossed silver.  Love the look of that stuff!  The felt snowflake is an old one from Stampin' Up!  It originally was Baja Breeze but I dyed it darker using water and Taken with Teal refill ink.  It coordinates well with the designer papers.

No challenges here...just as well since I'm sharing my medical stories!  Ha! Ha!

Thanks for stopping by today and hope to see you soon!