Wednesday, July 31, 2019

12 Kits of Occasions July '19 Summer Fun


The end of July and time for 12 Kits of Occasions. This month our hostess is Marybeth
Lopez, from Marybeth's Time for Paper. And she sent us a kit full of summer's best!

Let's get right to it!


Lots of fun colorful papers from Echo Park. I fussy cut the word 'COOL' and used
my new frame dies from the Greetery. You'll see a lot more of them throughout my
post.


Nothing says summer like big bright blooms. These are Concord & 9th.


Marybeth sent a pale ink stamped image from Altenew, just perfect for 
the soft look of watercolor pencils.


We got 2 'hello' die cuts from Poppystamps. I popped up this green one onto a weave of the
 pretty EchoPark papers. The black dotty paper is actually Altenew's Washi tape on a piece
 of PTI's Berry Sorbet cardstock.


This one started out with the best intentions. I thought it would be fun to dress up the 
top popsicle to look like it was melting. Glossy Accents would do the trick... 
didn't exactly work the way I'd hoped. Oh well...


This final card is a thank you to Marybeth for a kit full of summer fun!

Enjoy all the posts from the 12 Kits' friends, and enjoy your summer!
Hope it's full of crafty goodness!




Saturday, July 13, 2019

Sweet Birthday Wishes


It seems like it's been awhile since I've posted a card. My summer's been full of family,
trips, chickens and children... with 3 BIG summer parties at our house. 
Phew! I need a vacation. No better place than the craft room!

This card's for Ink to Paper, Laurie's Fabulous Favorites, 
this week's it's Background Stamps.


The background stamp is white embossed within the oval die, Cover Up: Grid,
on water color paper. I then loosely watercolored the grid and fit it inside the 
Pierced Feature Frames: Oval (cut 3 times). 
That's Garden Garland on the outside of the oval.
Laurie's card was full of black and white drama.White on white is my absolute favorite 
technique for drama.  

Ink to Paper Tag Creations: Blooming Indulgence Dies


The many dies in this set are fun to play with. I used colored card stock and the banner 
included in the set, and used a sentiment from Just Sentiments Tagged.

Feels so good be be back in the craft room. I have family coming on Monday.
And we're planning another trip to Yosemite. All's good, and very busy. 
Hope you enjoy your summer, and all the warmth that goes with it.
And especially hope you have some time to create. It just seems to refresh and
restore. 

Blessings!





Thursday, July 11, 2019

Birthday Wishes


Hey there, are you enjoying your summer? Any craft time in the works?
I have some inspiration using Poppy's Spring Pots Shelves die today on
the Poppystamps blog.
Come visit and see how I made this card.
Stay cool!

Friday, July 5, 2019

Tag You're It Challenge #91: Summer Fruit


If you love making tags, the Tag You're It Challenge is for you!
Every two weeks you're challenge with a photo to get you started
with samples from great designers, and a chance to earn a guest
spot on the blog.
The fabulous Marybeth Lopez has selected Summer Fruit as our muse:


Strawberries are a favorite, and so is this set from C9.


I created a tag using PTI's Tasting Tag, and added Concord & 9th's Berry die and stamp
set. Background C9's 
Play along for a Guest Designer spot. Can't wait to see what you come up with!
thanks for the visit, and have a crafty week!!!

Check out our newest member at Tag You're It, Kim Heggins from Cupcakes Cards
and Kim. Welcome Kim!


Sunday, June 30, 2019

12 Kits of Occasions: June 'Summer Fun'


Is it really June 30th? Half the year gone! Well, it's time to celebrate summer.
And our sweet friend Birgit Norton has a summer kit to kick off all things Fun
 in the Sun!
Just a quick note: if you fall in love with anything you see, we have a 
supplies list on the 12 Kits Blog.
OK, let's celebrate summer!


This sweet cutie is enjoying her day at the beach.


The papers Birgit included inspired every card!



Loved coloring this bird with copies.



Also colored this duo with copics.


Talk about tropical flair... love this set from PTI.


Seriously live in flip flops ALL summer!


Had to turn one of the sentiment cards into a shaker, topped with these slices
of watermelon, included in the kit.

6 cards and still more to play with later.

A big thank you to Birgit for an over the top summer kit, And to
our favorite composer of arranging our kit photo, Lindsey, as always
thank you!

Hope you enjoyed our summer kit, and hope you visit all the 
designers and give them some love.

Thanks for the visit!


Saturday, June 29, 2019

Altenew's June challenge: Friends


Altenew's June Challenge has Virginia Lu and this inspiration photo.


Now, I have to admit, this was a stretch for me. The colors didn't inspire, in
fact I almost didn't come up with anything. But Virginia's card was so beautiful,
and I always love a challenge. And then my Altenew order came...


Sunflower Daisy is a multi-stamp and Die set, and was just what I needed to get
creative juices flowing.


I arranged my large and small blooms in a vase from Versatile Vases. 1st stamped with Olive,
then colored with pencils. I penciled in the stems as well.


Sentiment from Shades of Friendship.

Thanks for the visit and hope your summer is full of
crafty goodness!





Thursday, June 27, 2019

Sending Hugs & Squishes


I have a card for the JUGS Card Challenge, ending today. Hope I make it!




My latest order from the Greetery arrived, and among the new treasures was this
summery themed Sea Scene die, just perfect for the challenge photo! 
Sentiment: PTI's Salt Air Sentiments


Lots of Ranger Distress Oxides applied with brushes, foam sponges and sprayed
with water and Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays.
Betsy's raindrops look just like bubbles!

You have a few hours left to play! Better hurry...


Wednesday, June 26, 2019

The Card Concept: Cacti Clusters


Hi there, Card Concept peeps!
Today we are challenging you to create a card using our photo promp, 
Cacti Clusters.


LOVE all succulents! 


I'm a huge succulent fan! Love their hardiness, and variety. And a breeze to transplant.
My inspiration for you uses the Greetery's Terrarium Die with watercolored 
succulents, also from the Greetery. Betsy knocked it out of the park with her 
first release. And if you think that was great, her second topped it all!
The baby tears succulents are from PTI's Super Succulents, and the oval
die is Shape Shifter's Oval: 2. Background is from Super Succulents Patterned
Paper Collection.


This sentiment from PTI was the perfect compliment to my colorful succulents,
 but the words were lined up straight (Happy Trails). No worries. 
I taped the 'you' while stamping the 'color my world', 
then reversed the tape, and stamped the 'you' in purple.
PTI Scalloped Tags Die Set.


Play Along for 2 weeks.
Note: We are taking a break for the summer, and will return in the fall.
Hope to see you and your styled creations in the lineup!

Happy Crafting, and have a wonderful summer!




Thursday, June 20, 2019

You Are So Loved


Today I have a card made for the latest 'Flower Challenge'.


Each month they challenge us to use our flower stamps with an emphasis on different
techniques 'celebrating cards using floral images.' ~LOVE~
Honestly, what brings more stamping joy than using florals?


I hadn't used Vintage Flower Stamp Set from Concord & 9th yet, and loved an excuse to 
get it inky.
1st stamping a large floral image with Hero Arts Wet Cement, and coloring in only the top left
image, then adding a medallion of the floral image, with a few added pieces fussy cut, 
to the top corner. The initial cardstock color is white. A favorite technique is to color in the
 bg with soft grey to make the stamped images stand out. So vintage!


You can see how the corner piece is popped up with foam and a few berries were added


If you love using your floral stamps as much as I do, play along at the 
Flower Challenge. You can enter 5 times, and this month there's a 
prize for the winner!

Enjoy your week! Hope it's full of crafty goodness.




Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Best Wishes


Hello! 

I'm posting on the Poppystamps blog today. Come by and see how I created 
this watercolor card.


So easy with the Sylvan Frame die!

Hope your week is full of crafty goodness!


Wednesday, June 12, 2019

The Card Concept: Summer Swirls


Summer's here (if you haven't noticed!), and The Card Concept is challenging
us to choose a style and do a card for our latest inspiration photo:


The first thing that hit me (should say, SLAMMED me), were those
bright primary colors! 
And from there I did what I love to do most... Quilt!
A SAHM, I had a cottage company sewing baby quilts for cribs. The 
combining of patterns and colors was something I loved. And you know what
they say... 'do something you love, and you'll never work a day in your life.'
At least I think that's how it goes...


Haven't visited PTI's Quilted: Summer in ages, and just knew that's where I wanted
to start. From there, and with 3 ink colors, CP: Rockin' Red, Altenew: Ultramarine,
and CP: Tiara, I assembled my quilt.
PTI's Tag Sale: Quilted, popped up on a Country Fair double cut die cut.
(Betsy Veldman's Make It Market: Country Fair).


You know how some cards just bring you so much joy to construct? 
This is one that was darn fun! Was it the colors? The summery feel?
The pinwheel pattern play? 
~Don't think I'll put this set away just yet~

Hope your summer's off to a great start.
Don't forget to get your fingers inky, and
while you're at it, play along with us at The Card Concept!




Tuesday, June 4, 2019

You Spin Me 'Round


Just Us Girls is featuring Word Week, and the Word is 'Retro'.
Love playing with my MFT Retro Record Player!


My Favorite Things: Stitch, Blooms & Turntable.


The card closes flat and fits inside an A2 envelope with ease. The window gives you a 
peek inside.


closeup of the shimmer cardstock (record) & metallic cardstock (turntable arm).

I used Laura Bassen's measurements and video to create the basic pop-up