Thinking of You

My card's on the Poppystamps blog today!

Thinking of You, and definitely Thinking of Spring!

So many new spring products. Come take a look Thinking of You by Nancy Penir

The Card Concept: Ornate Ornaments

As the Christmas season fast approaches, I'm excited to bring you some 

inspiration along with The Card Concept's Challenge: Ornate Ornaments.

Isn't this photo gorgeous? The aquas and snowy white, all the shiny 

brights are just too wonderful.

I created a shaker card full of mini ornaments (Poppystamps) and a mix of sequins. 

The slim aqua frame is from Poppystamps too. 

It had a snowflake attached, I simply cut it out to enlarge my window.

I cut out the frame 5 times and glued them together to allow the ornaments 

to shake and move about.

The 'Merry' is part of Poppy's Merry Christmas Flourish die, cut apart, 

and I added 2 ornaments to the flourish ends.

I just can't leave backgrounds plain, apparently not in my DNA, (Ha!) so 

I added PTI's Marque frame, which seemed to fit perfectly behind my 

shaker. (Love it when that happens!) And I would say my card is 

Blinged Classy and Elegant style. 

With a photo like this weeks inspiration, I can't wait to see what you all

create! Be sure and check out the other designers' inspiration too.

The Card Concept #124 {Ornate Ornaments} 

Praying

I have a post today for the Altenew Card Challenge, this month inspired by this photo

and colors. 

All stamps and dies, Altenew, with the main bloom from Best Buds.

Best Buds is a line stamp, no color filler stamp at all. Perfect for me 

who loves to color. I started with copics and added some pencil for 

definition.

The Mid-Century Frame die is new to me and it's cut twice from shimmer card stock.

Kinda reminds me of an Autumn sunset.

The leaves and flowers are from Beautiful day, stamped with Altenew's Sand Dunes,

Rocky Shore and Mocha Inks.

Sentiment: Bamboo Rose

Inspiration Challenge

The Challenge ends soon. Check out all the deets on the Altenew Blog.

Have a great hopefully, crafty week!

Boy Card: Wonderful Whittles

Hello Poppy Peeps! 

I have a sweet little card for a guy this morning, (Could be a girl's card too) with an

animal theme. Poppy's new 'whittle' animals!

Whittles Boy Card

All the info on making this card is on the Poppystamps' blog this morning.

Stop by and see all the new dies and stamps, already in the Poppystamps

store. And while you're there, a reminder that there's a blog blitz going on!

Leave comments for a chance to win!!! 

Have a great day!!!

His Promises are Forever

Wednesdays are becoming my favorite day of the week. Papertrey's

new lineup of contests are so much fun and offer a bevy of prizes 

for playing along.

Laurie wants us to choose one of our favorite dies to create with,

and I love her comparison to trying to choose a favorite child. But, like 

I said before, it is possible to narrow it down to a few hundred. (Maybe!)

If you'll pardon a little life story, I'm in the northern part of my state (CA), caring for 

grandchildren (3) while daughter and Son-in-Law are on a cruise. With me are the 

bare minimum crafting supplies I knew I would need for the next 3 weeks. And among

them is one of my PTI 'Plates' binders'. (Notice I said, 'one of my plates binders').

Coverplate: Marquee was among those plates. It is a frame I can't use enough

to encircle sentiments, florals, and just about any special image.

The frame comes with die cuts that hi light the swirls and 

the center piece. I added foam to the frame itself, as well as the 

swirls and little piece, which really makes your image a standout.

Below is a list of the the products I used, the links take you to the PTI

store. And I think everything is still on sale.

Garden of Faith Stamp Set

Botanical Bounty II Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - Cover Plate: Marquee Die

A Watered Garden

Welcome! I'm excited to be playing along with a new challenge at PTI,

Laurie's Fabulous Favorites.

Laurie started things rolling with her favorite stamp set, and challenged

us to pick ours for a card.

Somewhat like picking a favorite child, but I narrowed it down to about

110, and selected Farmer's Market Florals.

Stamps that warm the heart, that's Farmer's Market Florals. Paired it with 

Bold Borders Foliage and Garden of Faith.

We've had a lot of rain so far this year, after a long drought, and it

looks like the roses are ready bud. I know I say it every season,

but spring in our valley is the closest thing to heaven!

A little bit of foam popping, and my card is ready to brighten someone's

winter day.

Laurie mentioned she loves the PTI florals. Me too! And I love the 

multi stamping stamps as well.

Now for the best part of this challenge: 100.00 gift certificate!

Play along on the PTI blog!

MIM with Michelle: Petite Pattern Play

Michelle Leone shows us how to create pattern in our background on this

Monday's tutorial at PTI.

I loved this easy and quick way to make an impact on our cards.

Out came the new Orchid Expressions. I played with the flowers, changing

the colors of the petals. The options are endless!

I think I used every shade of PTI ink! Really easy to stamp with my Misti.

In case you don't know this little trick, here's a way to stamp a bunch of the same images 

quickly and perfectly. 

Die cut the image.

Place it back into the cut cardstock, held in place with your misti magnets.

Line up your stamp,

And... stamp! Replace with next die cut, and the image is stamped perfectly,

over and over and over.

This was my favorite orchid color combo. First stamped with Orchid Allure,

then Raspberry Fizz. The blend of the 2 inks made this gorgeous plum on the die cut.

A left over piece from Pierced Feature Frames provided the rectangle

and I drew the inside lines with a pencil.

The butterfly from Quilted: Summer reminded me of a mini block print,

and lined up well within my masked off rectangle.

So quick and easy, I did a 2nd card using kraft, and the 'thank you' setntiment.

Such a fun technique! Can't wait to 'plant' more orchids!

Friends, I'm sure you've heard of the horrific fires here in California.

They say 20% of our state is on fire. Our home is in a valley near Yosemite, where

one fire is close and hardly contained. 

Our air is so bad, and the heat doesn't help those poor firefighters.

Please pray for containment, relief from the spread of more destruction,

and especially for those heroes on the front lines.

Thank you! 

Orchid Expressions Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink: Orchid Expressions Die

Quilted: Summer Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - Pierced Feature Frames Die

Life is What You Bake It

Getting some time in with things I love, and playing along with Laurie

at PTI and Framing Sentiments and Images.

First time using PTI's Life is What You Bake It. Love the image of that sweet sentiment

in the pile of flour! 

Frame is Double Ups: Rectangles

Thank you for all your prayers and comments for my mom.

The services are over and my time is suddenly empty and open.

I was blessed with an amazingly talented mom. One who showed me how to be a mom,

and how to show God's grace and love to everyone.

Her gift was the Gift of Helps. No one went without if she knew of a need.

After my dad died she managed their 110 acre ranch; horses, fruit trees and all!

As I always do, I searched the scriptures for comfort, and

God gave me this scripture, after she died,  and I'd like to pass it on to you.

"but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,

who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light

through the gospel. 2 Tim. 1:10. 

Thank you Lord. We will see our loved ones again!

Blessings!

Monochromatic Color Pop 'Hello'

MIM at PapertreyInk features Stephanie Gold with a fun technique of 

creating Monochromatic cards with a touch of Color Pop.

My card has a bit more than just, 'pop'. More 'pop, pop, pop'. Well you get the idea.

Once I started with the Aqua Mist, I just loved the contrast against the Stormy Sea,

and popped more color than the challenge calls for.

I do love the effect, and always love the idea of framing my sentiment, the 

way Stephanie did.

Garden Party stamps and dies

Graceful Greetings sentiment

Leaf & Sprigs Frame Die

Hope your week is a great one! 

Make It Monday #294: Monochrome Color Pop