A New Year filled with Creative Potential!

Happy New Year, Bloggin' Buddies!

I hope that all of your holidays were filled with loving memories and that you are once again ready to get inky! I thrive on my "normal" routine, so I am READY.

Here is a little gem to start the year with a sparkle. I made this card for a dear friend who shares my love of mermaids. The sentiment is from Reverse Confetti's "Shine from Within" set. Love it!

The mermaid is an older stamp from Unity designed by Suzi Blu called "Elena Seaside". I watercolored her in an ombre style with Zig Clear Color Markers and a water brush and I added lots of Wink of Stella and Stickles for extra sparkle. Super-artsy, eh? She is mounted on a panel that was watercolored using an emboss-resist technique for which the Impression Obsession "Shells" background stamp was used. Cold press watercolor paper was used for stamping both pieces.

I think this card represents a perfect tone for my New Year - I plan to try to keep it in mind every single day.

Thanks for the visit and welcome to 2018,

TuTu To You!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

In a recent blog post (check it out!), my talented pal Nancy (who I met in card-making classes) reminded me of a really fun "Tutu Toad" stamp by Stampendous. I had to dig her out and color her up. Even though I'm working to eliminate wood-mounted stamps, there are some that are just too special!

This stamp makes me giggle and I'm so glad to see her again. I took a fun twist with her and put her together with some amazing patterned paper and an adorable sentiment from Reverse Confetti ("Shine from Within") for this inspirational and super-shiny card. I just want to dance with her!

Other supplies used: Stitched rectangle dies, Nuvo Drops, Stickles, Black Pearl Pen, Copic pens.

I haven't played in a Retro Rubber Challenge in some time. The challenge is "Anything Goes" and since this stamp is from 2012, she qualifies!

Thanks for the visit and thanks to Nancy for the inspiration!

Rockin' with Ranger!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I haven't done a challenge in quite awhile, so today I'm playing along with Simon Says Stamp.

Side view showing the "Z" 

I made this crazy  "Double Z Card" to celebrate the Fourth of July, a big day in our family. I love using Ranger products and that is what the design team used, so I decided to jump right in.

This card features lots of Ranger products: Distress Oxide Inks, Glossy Accents, Multi Matte Medium and Stickles. What fun!

I also used Tim's "Small Talk - Occasions" and "Crazy Birds" by Stampers Anonymous, an embossing folder by Darice, Nesting Star dies by Lifestyle Crafts and some patterned paper, a tag and an embellishment from my extensive stash.

I am adding this to Simon's Monday Challenge and Simon's Wednesday Challenge - the theme of both is "Masculine".

I sure hope you had a wonderful weekend - I appreciate the visit!

Uninspired

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Yep, that is how I've been feeling lately. When that happens I try to pull out some easy things, such as using  some backgrounds that I previously prepared or coloring up some some ready-made images.

Here are some cards that I recently made using Suzy's Sizzling Series Watercolor Paintable Prints from Simon Says Stamp. I used my trusty Zig Clean Color Markers (I so love them!).

I took some real liberties with the one on the right side. I removed the bottom sentiment (it just wasn't "me") and added a mermaid (from Clear Art Stamps, 2010) for a focal point of interest.

Lots of Wink of Stella, Wink of Luna and Stickles here, also!

The photos is a bit blurry because I used my phone (uninspired again).

Hope you've been having a great August. Thanks for the kind visit,

Ugly Sweater

Hello. Bloggin' Buddies!

I'm wrapping up the holiday cards - sometime I save the most fun for last.

First this was a simple A2 card featuring a favorite (but apparently retired - I can't find it on their website) Art Impressions holiday stamp that I colored with Copics. But the more I looked at it, it just had to be MORE. So I took it apart and made it into a 5" x 7" inch card, adding layers of "ugly sweater" printed paper (cut with SSS stitched rectangle dies), a playful bow (Die-namics) and lots of sparkle with Wink of Stella, Stickles and embelishments.

The sentiment I added inside is "Don't get your tinsel in a tangle". Fun?

The colors are actually much more vibrant - it has been so dark in the house that I had to use a flash.

I made this card for someone very special to us. She motivates us to move, inspires us to be healthy and is a total kick in the pants. She is also very kind, loving and thoughtful. Jeri is our aerobics instructor and we appreciate her so very much! I never dreamed that I would set my alarm for 6 am on Saturdays to exercise, but she makes it SO worth it. Thanks, Jeri!

Merry Christmas, dear readers - I also appreciate YOU!

Last Minute Mix-Up!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

The current Essentials by Ellen Mix It Up Challenge  is to mix products from Essentials by Ellen and Impression Obsession. I knew I had some IO products, but I didn't get to looking for them until this morning! So, I am getting this in under the wire.

This card uses the cutest mermaid stamp (IO "Layla & Ginger" by Claudia Tenorio-Pearl) - and you all know what a mermaid gal I am. She is colored with Copics and has a touch of Wink of Stella for some glimmer.

I have paired her with Essentials by Ellen's "Wold Garden" dies by the amazing Julie Ebersole for my coral and seaweed (yes, liberties taken!). I colored the elements with Distress Ink and added lots of sparkle with Stickles. The fun bubble paper is from Cosmo Cricket's 6 x 6 pad called "Salt Air"

This is kind of over the top, but it is for a very special young Mermaid Princess and it had to be special.

As Julie herself says, "Happy Mundane"! Thanks for the visit!