Another Day at the Beach!

 Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!!

As long as I had the cute MFT Beach Bungalow set and the colored card stock that goes with the current MFT Color Challenge out on my work table I decided to make another (but very different0 card with them. This time I paired up the set with the Beach Bungalow Accessories and the Shady Palm (I love those cute coconuts!) Die-Namics. Once again I used a sentiment from the Itty Bitty Summer sentiment set. I managed to get in all of the colors (Limelight is my very favorite!) plus I added a little black for some punch and some kraft for the tree and the sand.

Rather than using the plain die cuts as I did before, this time I gave them some added dimension with some ink blending, a touch of Copic coloring and some snippets of patterned paper. I sure love the result! I could play with this set all day long!

Have a terrific Summer! Thanks for the visit, 

A Selfie for Spring!

Happy Spring, Bloggin' Buddies!

The current Weekly Sketch Challenge at My Favorite Things inspired me to get out several of my MFT products.  Here is the sketch for the Challenge:

And here is my slimline card:

I used one of my very favorite card stock colors, Limelight and a matching slimline envelope, the Polaroid Shaker Frame die and the adorable Picture Perfect stamp set. Love these fun critters!  I colors them up with coin markers and embellished them with some Glossy Accents and die cut hearts.

You are welcome to join the Challenge.

Thanks for the visit,

A Little Lip-Smackin'!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Today I have a little gem to share with you. I had so much fun making these holders for lip balm. I purchased some lip balm from a local soap-maker and used a new die and stamp set from My Favorite Things. The die makes perfect little holders and the stamp set, "Sending Smooches" is simply adorable! Cuteness?!

I need to run off to do some good works, so I will close quickly. Take care, dear elves. Thanks for the visit,

Wining Again!

Hello, bloggin' buddies!

Hope you have had a wonderful weekend. Stinking' hot here, so some crafting going on! I haven't used my Art Impressions stamps in some time, so I got a set ("Celeste Set") out and got busy.

I like to combine paper piecing and Copic coloring to get some variety and shading. Because this gal is such a focus I decided to keep the background plain and I just added a die-cut flower (My Favorite Things "Gerbera Daisy) as an embellishment.

I particularly love how the couch turned out - it is pretty realistic!

I don't know if any of you have issues with Signa white gel pens.....they are great when they work, but I had to try several before I got one to write......I can't tell you how many of those I throw away every year. No more....I'm going to try (cheap) white acrylic paint and a tiny brush.

Thanks for the visit, have a great week!

Distress Oxydes

Hi, Blogging' Buddies!

I have a Paris-inspired card made with yet another Distress Oxide Ink background (hence the title of this post - I believe that would be how it is said in French - ha!). Layers and layers of color were added to watercolor paper and each was dried to create wonderful depth of colors. Love!

I have a wonderful new exercise class instructor who, besides being full of knowledge and positive attitudes, opens our classes with a little gem of wisdom and inspiration. Last week one of her opening snippets was about the Eiffel Tower, so I decided that I would make her an appropriate card to let her know how very much I already appreciate her.

I used my large Sizzix Bigz Eiffel Tower Die (an oldie!) and I embossed the entire die cut with some Hero Arts Platinum Embossing Powder. The background was stamped with a Tim Holtz/Stamper's Anonymous set called "French Market".

The stamp and die set I used for the sentiment is "Amazing" by My Favorite Things - such a fun and versatile set!

I added some crochet yarn and a charm from my stash and it is ready to go. Since I am such a Francophile, I have lots of products that I have saved over the years that, although they are rarely used, I can't seem to let go of.

Thanks for the visit - Au Revoir, mes copains!

Neck 'N Neck

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

You may remember this card that I posted a while ago using our friend's cute photo of a giraffe. She loved the set I made her so much that she asked if she could pay me to do some more. Well, I explained that I really don't sell my cards - I prefer to share them with those who enjoy and appreciate them. Also, I really don't like to mass-produce.

But I told her that if I could do them at a leisurely pace (no deadlines - I'm retired!) and if I could mix them up a little, it would be a fun challenge.

Over several weeks I produced two each of four designs featuring her cute giraffe photo.

I used Graphic 45 paper, vellum, some camera paper, a stencil (My Favorite Things) and some additional stash finds.

It was a fun project and I was more than happy to do it for a very dear lady.

Thanks for the visit and have a great day!

So Excited!

Hello, bloggin' Buddies:

I have a quick post today to share with you a card I made for our neighbor. She is really into gardening (which I am not, BTW) and likes a good chuckle. This is a stamp set from one of my favorite companies, Art Impressions.

I colored her with Copics (sorry I couldn't get a quality photo), used Nestibilities and My Favorite Things (Gerbera Daisies) dies and paper and twine from my stash.

This is headed for the current Art Impressions challenge which is "Anything Goes".

Thanks for the visit and have a deluxe day!

Stretch Your Dies - Day 6

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

We are coming down home stretch with the fantastic Online Card Class "Stretch Your Dies".

Today's technique, which is all about using border dies to create inlaid designs, is by the so very talented Debby Hughes. If you don't know Debby, you MUST check out her blog - I've been a follower for years. She never ceases to amaze. I love this easy technique!

For this card I used MFT Die-Namics dies, "Chevron Stripes"; Simon Says Stamp "Stitched Rectangle" dies; and, Paper Smooches "Wicked Nauticool" stamps and dies. I again used some of that terrific wood grain textured cardstock that I got at the Paper Garden Boutique while in Sacramento.

Hope you are having a great week. Thanks for visit.

All Aboard!

I am typically the last to hop aboard the trend train. This is no exception. The hot bokeh trend peaked somewhere between the chalkboard and watercolor techniques.

But here I am, now, just loving it. Although I generally do not use (or really like) the color yellow, I am just deLIGHTED with this card. It is difficult to see, but first I stamped the background with the Hero Arts' Starburst Background stamp in Hero Arts Shadow Ink.

Then I went to town with the Bokeh Builder set by My Favorite Things. I actually bought it for the coll sentiments, but I never imagined that I would have such fun with the bokeh. Love it.

I added some silver thread and a black-embossed sentiment which I highlighted with Distress Inks. I added some touches with my Wink of Stella pen to add some sparkle.

Thanks for the sweet visit - I do appreciate it! Hope you are having a great week.

Grand Dame

I am crazy for Art Impressions stamps and I try to play their challenges when I can. The current one is to use flowers - at least five of them - in a card. I just got this cute and sassy Zoo Crew Elephant Set (4191) and knew it would be perfect for a twisted easel card.

She's got flowers on her dress and on her hat and I embellished the card with flowers I made with some yummy felt I got from "My Favorite Things" and their Die-Damics Mini Rolled Roses Die.

Yep, another one that is slightly over the top, eh?


I sure hope your week is going well!

Thanks for the visit!

Stamps: Art Impressions Zoo Crew, "Elephant Set"; Hero Arts "Sending Love"

Dies: Spellbinders Circles, Die-Namics Mini Rolled Roses", Sizzix "Flowers and Leaves", Hero Arts "Small Tag Frame"

Paper: My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found - Blush" 6 x 6 pad

Felt: My Favorite Things

One Poofy Over-the-Top Puppy

There is a great challenge, sponsored by Simon Says Stamp, over at the amazing Lily Pad Cards. Check it out and play along - you have until November 24th. I made this card for my dear friend Antoinette. It is all about using texture.

Texture? For some reason, all I could think about was a fluffy poodle! I haven't used my Sizzix dies in ages, so I got out the adorable poodle dog for this "over the top" card.  Where to start describing this silly card? Let's start with the pooch.

I used two coats of white flocking powder (Reflections from Michael's) for her coat. The base coat is quite flat, but the second coat is "poofy" for added texture and character. I colored her softly with some chalks and used a black glaze pen for her face. The bow on her tail is some hand-dyed silk - I used the bow-making technique on the fantastic Shari Carroll's Hero Arts video (I used embroidery thread instead of twine). This video is wonderful. Finally, she sports some bling from my stash. Fancy puppy - down, girl! She may just have her eye on the adorable Freddie.

Other Key Supplies:

• Stamps - Hero Arts H2141 & CL325, Sizzix 655731
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Fleur de Lys
• DCWV textured cardstock with white core - sanded after embossing to add texture
• Crepe paper (a garage sale find) cut with Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors (these are fun)
• ek success punch
• My Favorite Things Die-namics rolled rose die and felt
• Martha Stewart leaf punch
• Pink party toothpick

Thanks for checking in - hope this brings a silly smile!