Sending Love & Hugs on Your Birthday

Joining a new challenge site this week with Seize the Birthday which looks super fun where you can add toppings to your card as another option. Also, joining the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge with Anything Goes theme as well.

Here is my card:

Both of these challenge sites inspired me to have fun and just create, so my mission was to make a Happy Birthday card. Yes, I know it's not my normal, but it's about creating and have fun in the process so I pulled out my distress ink pads and blending away. (names are listed under supplies)

Also, since I was playing, I added some water and Perfect Pearls in my mister which added a very nice shimmer to the card but so hard to capture in the photo. 

Here I used some new colored card stock again along with the Hearts Cover Up Die-namics. Love the way these hearts pop up. Since the hearts had shimmer, I decided to use my Pearl White Shimmer card stock along with the Horizontal Die-namics to lay across under my sentiment.

I'm sure most or all of you recognize the sentiment which is from Simon Says Stamps and it's the die-cut "Sending" which I used black shimmer card stock. Last but not least, I added the rest of the saying by using the stamp set: Sending and Wishing. 

Again, don't forget to check out these challenge sites if you haven't already.

Supplies Used: 

Stamp Set: Sending & Wishing (Simon Says),
Cardstock: Smooth White, Lush Lagoon, Pearl White Shimmer, Black Pearl Shimmer (Crafter's Companion)

Inks: Black (Hero Arts), Distress Inks (Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Barn Red, Spiced Marmalade)

Accessories: Blueprints 20 (MFT),  Horizontal Stitched Strips (MFT), Sending Die Script (SS), Hearts Cover-Up Dienamics (MFT)

MFTWSC216 - Warmest Wishes

Another weekly sketch over at MFT Card Challenges with MFTWSC216. Finally had some time to play, color, and create something with this cute stamp set and thought this sketch would be perfect for it. In addition, I'm joining the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge with this week's challenge of using texture.

Here is my card:

Here I actually started by using my blending tool and one of the newest MFT colors called Blueberry to create the sky background and added some snow using the Snowfall background stamp along with some white embossing powder. 

Played around with the Stitched Snow Drifts for a winter scene and than grabbed some Lemon Chiffon card stock  and cut a circle using the Stitched Circle Stax .

Colored her in using my Copic markers and than decided to add some hearts falling into the snow using Tag Builder Blueprints#3 set along with a new color called Cherry Crisp to balance the card. As always she is popped up using foam mount along with popping up the base to add some dimension. Sentiment is from the same stamp set: Warmest Wishes.

As always, don't forget to stop over at the challenge sites and see all the wonderful inspiration from the design team and awesome entries. 

Supplies Used: 

Stamp Set: Warmest Wishes (MFT), Snowfall Background
Cardstock: Smooth White, Lemon Chiffon, Cherry Crisp, X Press It Blending Paper (copic coloring)

Inks: MFT Hybird Ink Black Licorice, Copic Markers, Blueberry (MFT)

Accessories: Tag Builder Blueprints#3 (MFT), Stitched Circle Stax (MFT), Stitched Snow Drifts (MFT), Blending Tool (Ranger), Corner Rounded Punch, White Embossing Powder (Ranger), Foam Mount

Sweet Hugs with a Heart

I was so excited to try another card with flowers and my blueprints so went to work on another card and joining the February 2015 Inspiration Challenge by Verve and added some texture to my card to join the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge for this week.

Here is my card:

Loving these blueprints and used one of the sketch designs from the set to get me going. This one is number 14 and has lots of fun elements. Here I used paper and card stock from the Simon Says February kit along with the stamp set: Dream Big by Verve which has amazing flowers and leaves.

Added some texture to the card stock by using Zig Zag Dots stencil along with some Ranger Texture Paste. Foam Mount came in handy again to pop up the layers of the flowers and tucked in the leaves underneath. Added a cute heart from the stamp set: Chevron Love and the sentiment is from the set: Love Notes

Don't forget to check out these challenge sites if you haven't already to see more inspiration and lots of creative ideas.

Supplies Used: 

Stamp Set: Dream Big (Verve), Chevron Love (Verve), Love Notes (Verve)
Cardstock: White, Lipstick Red, Dark Chocolate (SS), Pearl White Shimmer (Crafter's Companion)

Paper: Kiss Kiss (Crate Paper)

Inks: Wild Cherry, Bubblegum, Jellybean Green (MFT)

Accessories: Blueprints 14 (MFT), Scalloped Flowers & Heart (A Cut Above by Verve), Zig Zag Dots Stencil (SS), Texture Paste (Ranger), Foam Mount.

SPDSS20 - Happy Birthday Ready Set Blow

Finally had a chance to sit down and play again and this time joining the sketch challenge over at the Sugar Pea Designs with SPDSS20 and since my grandson loves blues I wanted to focus on coloring this little guy with different blue combinations. 

For the background, I used the Concentric Circles Stencil and embossed it to get a bubble effect and the little dragon was cut out and popped up onto foam mount. 

Also, don't forget to check out the challenge sketch if you haven't already to see more inspiration from their design team and people joining.

Supplies Used: 

Stamp Set: You Blow Me Away (Sugar Pea Designs) 

Cardstock: Smooth White, Blueberry, Blue Raspberry, Berrylicous, X Press It Blending Paper (copic coloring) 

Inks: Black (Memento), Copic Markers, 

Accessories:  Blueprints 13 (MFT), Concentric Circles Stencil (MFT), Enamel Shapes (Teresa Collins), Foam Mount

Inspiration of Love and Pink & Reds

Verve is having a Vivacious Valentine Inspiration Challenge for February which I couldn't resist and I thought to get one more card in for the JUGS#279 and Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge of Red and Pink's.

Here is my card:

Here I decided to make a square card for a change and started with my Blueprints# 14 and wanted to try out one of the four sketches you can download to give you ideas. I pulled out the stamp set Dream Big by Verve since I wanted to incorporate some flowers which I think goes perfect with hearts.

I layered the flowers using foam mount in between to pop them up using Wild Cherry and Bubblegum ink and for the leaves, I used Jellybean Green along with matching dies to cut them out. 

As you can see I used the papers from the SS kit again from Crate Paper called Kiss Kiss. Sentiment is also from the same stamp set: Dream Big and hard to tell in the photo but used White shimmer paper to add a little sparkle to this card. 

Again, don't forget to check out the challenge sites if you haven't already to see lots of creativity and inspiration.

Supplies Used: 

Stamp Set: Dream Big (Verve),
Cardstock: White, Lipstick Red, Kahki,(SS), Pearl White Shimmering card stock (Crafter's Companion)

Paper: Kiss Kiss (Crate Paper)

Inks: Black (Hero Arts), Wild Cherry, Bubblegum, Jellybean Green (MFT)

Accessories: Blueprints 14 (MFT), Scalloped Flowers (A Cut Above by Verve), Coffee Die (little heart) (MFT), Foam Mount

You Are Loved

Decided to make another card and play with the Simon Says February Kit and join a few challenges with Simon Says Monday Challenge of Reds and Pinks. Word Art Wednesday#169 and JUGS #279 (Love).

Here is my card:

I love the papers in this kit (Crate Paper Kiss Kiss) along with all of the goodies inside so I will be playing more with this. Here I started with the Bundle of Stitches Die to create the base using Dark Chocolate. Can you tell I love stitches?

Here I used the Rub on's from the Crate Paper Kiss Kiss for the sentiment and surrounded it by using the Stitched Circle Dies from SS along with paper from the kit. Added Fishtail Flags using Cotton Candy and Kahki card stock and finished it off with adding some enamel dots and heats. The circle is popped up using foam mount.

Don't forget to check out the challenge sites if you haven't already to view more inspirational cards and projects.

Supplies Used: 

Rub On's: Kiss Kiss (Crate Paper),
Cardstock: White, Cotton Candy, Kahki, Dark Chocolate (SS),

Paper: Kiss Kiss (Crate Paper)

Accessories: Bundle of Stitches (SS), Stitched Fishtail Flags (MFT), Stitched Circles (SS), Enamel Dots, Foam Mount

MFTWSC214 - Something to Perk Up Your Day

Another weekly sketch over at MFT Card Challenges with MFTWSC214 and since I've been wanting to use this coffee die set for a long time now, so I pulled it out. Also, joining in with, 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge 

  

Here is my card:

Started with Blueprints 21 and Sno Cone card stock as my base mat which I applied some texture paste using the Scattered Bars stencil. Than using the same blueprint to cut out 2 half circles using Hot Fudge card stock and Pink Lemonade along with pierced dots on the circle. 

Also, from the same blue print came the 3 little dots under the Pierced Fishtail Flags. Than went on to make a cup of coffee using the Coffee Cup Die set. 

The Coffee is made up with Kraft card stock, Smooth White lid and holder along with using the Perk Up stamp set and calorie free. Inside has a gift card to Starbucks as a "Perk Up" card for someone special. 

As always, don't forget to stop over at the challenge sites and see all the wonder inspiration.

Supplies Used: 

Stamp Set: Perk Up (MFT),
Cardstock: Smooth White, Pink Lemonade, Sno Cone, Shimmer White card stock (Crafters Companion),

Inks: Black Ink (Hero Arts) 

Accessories: Blueprints 21 (MFT), Pierced Fishtail Flags (MFT), Coffee Cup Dies (MFT), Scattered Bars Stencil (MFT), Texture Past (Ranger), Foam Mount

Re-inker Background - Happy Birthday

Since I was playing with backgrounds and while I was cleaning up, I was curious to see what would happen if I don't use any stamps and just apply the left over by daubing it over the card stock at random before throwing away my palette and here is the results. Love the way this came out and was so fun and quick to make. 

Here I started with Blueprints 13 again to get the stitched look for my base and than used the Simon Says Stitched Circles to get a stitched look in the center. Colored in these flowers from the stamp set: Happy Place (Verve) and used matching die-cut along with copic markers. 

Popped up the flower using foam mount and added sentiment from the set: Be Blessed (Verve). This goes to show me to think before I throw again. This one turned out to be one of my favorite cards.

Supplies Used: 

Stamp Set: Happy Place (Verve), Be Blessed (Verve)
Cardstock: Smooth White, Neenah White, X Press It Blending Paper (copic coloring) 

Inks: Black (Hero Arts), Copic Markers

Re-Inkers: Strawberry Slush, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party (SU)

Accessories: Blueprints 13 (MFT), Stitched Circle Dies (Simon Says Stamps), Happy Doodles (A Cut Above by Verve), Fun Foam, Glue 

OCC Lesson 5 - Inking Tricks

This was one of my favorite days at Online Card Classes and once again looking at different ways to use what you have. Also, I got my 3 yr old grandson involved with this project....good and bad. This card is based on Laura Bassen lesson Day 5 and her card which I love. 

Here is my take:

Every time I would ink the stamp up, my grandson would push my hand down so quick and all over the place and card, so I gave him a different stamp to use and mimic me instead. Therefore, we ended up with 6 different backgrounds using different stamps. Here is one of the backgrounds. He loved it and so did I.

Added this butterfly from Stampin' Up called: Butterflies Thinlits using Strawberry Slush card stock and Vellum. Finally, gave fun foam a try under this instead of foam mount tape and love it. Plus if you do forget to add a sentiment, it's easy to add afterwards. Sentiment is from the set: Sending & Wishing (Simon Says).

Supplies Used: 

Stamp Set: Sending & Wishing (Simon Says), Plaid Background Builder (MFT)
Cardstock: Smooth White, Neenah White, Strawberry Slush (SU), Vellum 

Inks: Black (Memento Ink)

Re-Inkers: Strawberry Slush, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party (SU)

Accessories: Blueprints 13 (MFT), Circle Die Stax (MFT), Butterflies Thinlits (SU), Fun Foam, Basic Rhinestones, Glue 

OCClass - Lesson 1 - Clean & Simple Embossing

Love taking these classes from Online Card Classes. This one is Clean & Simple card making #4 and and wanted to give it a shot plus it always amazes me how to look at your supplies different. This one is layered embossing technique.

Here is my take:

This is based on Jennifer's lesson of Day 1 and my take on her card, but since I kept have trouble with my powders, only the older ones. I sometimes wonder if that makes a difference. I love embossing and all of the powders I bought this year work great, but older ones (10 years plus) not so great. It shouldn't make a difference, but I do wonder at times.

Anyhow going back to the card, I decided to die-cut the sentiment 4 times and glue them together instead of embossing to add dimension. Hard to tell in this photo, but the top layer is shimmer card stock and since I had some boo boo's, I covered it up with colored card stock I had on hand. I do like the contrast. 

Supplies Used: 

Stamp Set: Patterned Triangles Background (MFT),
Card stock: Smooth White (MFT), Bubblegum (MFT), Shimmer White card stock (Crafters Companion)

Accessories: Many Thanks Die-namics (MFT),  Embossing Powder (Pink & Blue Teal), Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder (Ranger),  Glue