Poppy Fields

I am still struggling a bit with the new Blogger Dashboard......but, I am determined! There is really no choice, is there?

Today I decided to combine two challenges and continue my quest to develop a "Clean and Simple" design. The first challenge is Virginia's View at Lily Pad Cards, a wonderful source of inspiration. This lovely photo is the inspiration for the challenge.

The second challenge is from Simon Says Stamp and Show, which asks that we use our "favorite word" on a creation. Now, I know many will use words like "inspire", "hope", "imagine", etc. However, I decided that most of the wonderful friendships I have started with a simple "hello", so that is the word that I selected.

My card uses Stampendous H203, called Scenic Poppy, and Hero Arts CL449 and CL493. I stamped the background flowers with Hero Arts Shadow soft brown ink on kraft for a faint tone-on-tone effect. I hope you can see it in the photo.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Somewhere

under the rainbow?

This card was inspired by the amazing Virginia Lu and her "Virginia's View" challenge over at Lily Pad Cards. Check it out and play along!

I love touching and sorting my extensive button collection, which includes new and vintage buttons. Lots of childhood memories playing with Mom's button box. I resist using too many buttons on cards because of the weight they add, but this is a worthy exception!

The great airplane is from Papertrey Ink's "Fly Away" stamp set. I have had it for years and love it, especially for masculine cards. The clouds are made with Die-namics dies and a Swiss dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Thanks, Virginia, for the inspiration for this fun and colorful card. Have a rainbow of a day!

Such Sweet Inspiration!

A dear blogger buddy, Virginia Lu, has been offering up lots of inspiration for a long time. Her blog has lots of beautiful cards, nifty ideas, funny family stories and lovely photographs. Now it is official - she is on the Design Team at the wonderful Lily Pad Cards. There she offers up a monthly challenge called "Virginia's View". Check it out!

This moth's inspiration for her challenge is this lovely photograph. Aren't the colors great? Love them! In addition, this optional sketch was also provided. This was such a fun inspiration.

I used my all-time ever favorite cupcake stamp, Hero Arts F5495. It is so versatile! I love to use it for paper piecing, layering, and all sorts of fun stuff. Here, I coupled it with a sentiment from Hero Arts CL139, a dotted Swiss Cuttlebug embossing folder, an eksucess edger punch and some colorful buttons from my stash. What a bright and happy card, eh? Thanks, Virginia!

It was a glorious weekend in the Napa Valley! I just love our little "Hideaway". We swim in the warm mineral water, relax (no phones, no t.v. and no internet!), ride bikes and just enjoy the beauty. Thanks to you all for all your good wishes - my post-op recovery is going so well. I'm even back in the pool! Thanks for checking in and have a wonderful week!

A Window into my Heart

I am heading out early tomorrow morning, so I'm posting my Monday blog tonight. As I shared with you in my January 23rd post, my blogger buddy Virginia has joined the Design team at the fantastic Lily Pad Cards. She is doing a series of challenges called "Virginia's View". This lovely photos is the inspiration for her first challenge, which is sponsored by Penny Black.

For my card I decided to use one of my most favorite (I love hearts!) and oldest (it's from 2004!) Penny Black stamps (3088C, "Beaded Heart"). Perfect! I stamped it many times, colored it with Copic pens and I raised some of the hearts with dimensionals. My freehand "window" frames the hearts.

I added a bit of shine (Glossy Accents) to represent the window's glass and some thread to echo the twine from which the hearts are suspended in the photo.

This is WAY out of my comfort zone and nothing like my "normal' style - and that's what a challenge is all about! I am just delighted!

Thanks to Virginia and Lily Pad Cards! You have until February 2nd to submit if you'd like to join me. This is also going into the Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes!

I'm liking the photos I can take with my new camera! I still have lots to learn about it, too.

Have a great week!