Tulips and Textures

For last week's Clean and Simple Challenge at Splitcoaststampers...this sketch by Lisa Lara.  I sure ended up using lots of "stuff" on it, but I meant for it to look simple!

I used lots of textures on this card, including the new Vineyard Impression plate by Papertrey Ink, a small polka-dotted plate from A Muse Studio, and textured paper called Natural Weave by The Paper Company.  You can also see a Penny Black script stamp behind the basket, which was stamped in Antique Linen ink. Used PTI's Vintage Picnic, and colored the tulips with watercolor markers and a waterbrush.  SO in love with the new Tiny Tags set from Melissa Phillips!  My sentiment issues of the past (of stamping the sentiment on the card last and ruining it) may be behind me now!

I see some leaves poking out of our front garden...could the real thing be just around the corner?!

Time for Warm Thoughts

...and time to play!  I have been wanting to use the Sending You stamp set and dies from Papertrey Ink ever since they arrived earlier this week, and finally got the chance to last night.  They are SO much fun! 

Ever since I saw Betsy Veldman's floral background HERE, I knew that I needed this set!  Sending You is such a unique floral set...it reminds me of embroidery.  So I inked my (retired) SU Linen Background in Antique Linen distress ink, and stamped it on Vintage Cream paper.  Then I stamped the flowers in different VersaMagic and Tim Holtz Distress inks over the top.  Some were stamped "off" onto other paper first, so that the impression on the card was faded.  Added some yellow embroidery knots to the center of the main flower because, well, I can't stop making them!

Banner Sketch

Saturdays always mean Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Day!  Here is this week's sketch from Claire Brennan:

Oh so tricky! I didn't have the mojo working tonight, so I only managed to make one banner!

Used the following PTI dies:  banner, Love Lives Here house, and Tiny Tags.  Also used PTI's new Gingham background for the grass, and Musical Backgrounds from Waltzingmouse Stamps to decorate the house. The house is popped up over the heart inside that is coated with Glossy Accents.  Went WAY back on the shelf for my Aida Cloth Background from Stampin Up.  Still love that thing...hope it never "wears" out and doesn't stamp the image!  I stamped it in white ink on the kraft paper. 

While I like the little scene inside the banner, I wish that I chose twine or something instead of that very bold ribbon.  Let's see if this card remains this way, that is the true test.  I usually don't go back to a card once it's "done" but some cards have been known to drive me crazy enough to rip them apart a few days later!

"Knot" your usual hop!

This month's Papertrey Ink blog hop is...ways to use embroidery floss! 

I never knew this "cheap" stuff could be so much colorful fun!

I used to cross-stitch loooong ago, and I always struggled with making French knots.  Now that there is this little thing called YouTube.com, you can learn how to do anything in a flash!  Watched 1 video, and was able to make perfect little knots after only 2 tries.

Used Green Thumb for the flowers, and Guide Lines 2 to make the background. 

Here is a close up of the French knots on the flowers:

And since I was on a roll, I made a simpler card with the Wreath for All Seasons set. 

 I always wanted to try little knotted berries!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Cheery Sketch

Time for Waltzingmouse Sketch #39! 

Here is my card:

For the card I used the flowers and stems from WMS PicNic Patterns, and a sentiment from Sewing Box Hugs.  The little banner die, orange buttons, and gingham paper are from A Muse Studio.    The cardstock and aqua buttons are from Papertrey Ink.

I have been practicing for an upcoming blog hop that challenges us to use embroidery floss.  I have always wanted to learn how to make French knots.  I used to cross-stitch long ago and failed when it came to making knots for little eyes, etc.!  Now there is this wonderful thing called "You Tube"...just visit, type in "How to make a French Knot" and I was able to make them in only 2 tries, yay!  So I used embroidery floss in yellow and aqua to make little knots inside of the flowers!

So much fun!

PS...When I linked this up, I noticed that my card must have been inspired by this cutie by Mischief Maker

Jen Cuthbertson!  Jen, were you sending me subliminal messages during my crafty time last night?  ;)

Waltzingmouse Irish Blog Waltz!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

What better way to celebrate than to join the Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz today...with a very appropriate Irish theme.  As you may know,WMS creator Claire Brennan just happens to live in Ireland!

I hope that my card isn't a cheater!  I made a shamrock for last year's waltz, so I tried a different route this year.  As soon as I heard the theme, the song "Wild Irish Rose" popped into my head.  I remember it as one of the very first songs that I learned in elementary school...can still hear our teacher Mrs. Neale singing it so beautifully.  My WMS "Roses in Bloom" set just happened to arrive in the mail last month, yippee!

Another funny thing...see the background?  I made it with the plaid strips from Faux Fun in pale green and tan inks.  When I started this card, I immediately knew I wanted that type of background for my red roses.  I thought it would make my card look even more "Irish".  Truly, the thought just popped right into my head!

Hmmmm, does it look familiar?  It didn't to me!  Here I was patting myself on the back for creating such a lovely plaid when......I noticed the packaging from WMS stamps!  Honestly, I didn't even mean to do that!  So I'll just call this "Claire Plaid", and give credit where it is due!  The roses are sponged with Tim Holtz Distress inks, cut into 3 separate pieces, and popped up on dimensionals.  Sentiment is from Teeny Trees.

Though I have red hair, freckles, and a name like "Kelly", alas I am not Irish!  But that won't stop me from wishing you "Top O' the Mornin'"...have a great waltz, everyone!

Enjoy today!

For today's Featured Stamper at SCS...bfinlay aka Bridget!  I chose THIS beautiful card of Bridget's to case.

Kept Bridget's general sketch and quilty theme!  Used PTI's Bitty Background Blocks, Blooming Button Bits (vase, stem) and Button Boutique (flowers).  Sentiment is from Amazing Wishes by Verve Visual.  It's so much fun to combine the new button dies and Button Boutique set with all of the older PTI button sets! 

Hugs to Bridget, who has a fantastic gallery full of treasures...I love visiting to see what fancy things she makes with PTI and Waltzingmouse goodies!

PS...Orange, Aqua Mist, and white made me so happy today :)

Holiday Hugs and Sweets

Yay, a Waltzingmouse Sketch!  So excited, I have been missing Claire's lovely layouts.  Here is Sketch Challenge #38:

And here is my card using the sketch:

Please excuse the weird photo...the circle shape card was starting to roll on me, and the sky could not be grayer outside my window!

Used the gingerbread, sentiment, basket, and holly leaves from Bountiful Baskets Additions and the pattern on the bottom from Faux Fun!  I fully intended to put the sentiment more toward the center...but I think I ran out of room!  Used a snippet of my favorite Natural Weave paper by The Paper Company on the basket.  Added some mini twinkle stickers from A Muse Studio and some Martha Stewart coarse glitter on the candy...too bad the photo isn't sparkly! 

And Claire has solidified my need to put Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink on everything...with a little Tea Dye ink thrown in on this one, too!

Moxie Fab...Oh So Lovely

Made time to play the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Challenge this week.  This photo is just gorgeous!  You can enter the challenge and view the other entries HERE!

Here is the gorgeous Trigger photo!

Here is my take...

Oh those colors were just speaking to me!  I love the robin's egg blue chair with it's weathered look and that stunning bouquet of peaches and greens! 

I used the rose from Waltzingmouse Stamps "Roses in Bloom" stamp set, and a sentiment from Papertrey Ink's "Vintage Picnic Sentiments".  The blue papers are a combo of Bermuda by A Muse Studio, and Aqua Mist from Papertrey Ink.  I ran the middle piece through my Cuttlebug with PTI's Woodgrain Impression Plate, and then inked it up with Fresh Snow ink.  The rose was colored by sponging it with Tim Holtz Distress Inks on watercolor paper.  I then cut out several layers and popped them up on dimensionals.

Thanks, Cath for another inspiring Tuesday Trigger!

Rusty!

Time for another "Make it Monday" with Papertrey Ink.  This week's theme is to make a card with distressed edges.  I used an edge distresser and lots of PTI stamp sets to make this card:



I haven't stamped in 10 days and I feel so rusty!  Life has been busy with un-fun things like speech evaluation reports! 

I actually had stamped this Button Boutique button card a few weeks ago, and decided to finally add it to a card.  I made the background with Background Basics: Tin Types and a heart from Love Lives Here.  The sentiment is from Vintage Picnic Sentiments.  Cut the buttons and also the heart shape from the Love Lives Here die collection from coasters.  I popped the center piece up over the heart on the inside that I had coated with Martha Stewart's coarse glitter.

Here's hoping my stamps get some more love this weekend!

You win some, you lose some...

I just got an email on Friday that my FIRST ever card will be published in Paper Crafts Magazine!  Actually, it's my first ever published card EVER!  I did submit 3 for their special "Go To Sketches" call.  Amber is having a great blog hop showcasing cards from your "reject" pile.  I loved this one when I made it, but sadly it ended up with a different fate than my published one.  Into the closet it goes, but not before I share it here first:

 For Sketch #31:

Here is my Snorkel Dude card:

That little snorkel dude and the cool sentiment are from A Muse.  The beautiful blue Bermuda and Ocean cardstock is from their new A Muse Studio line.  I was lucky to be asked in the fall by none other than Julie Ebersole and Heather Meeson to help out with products from their new A Muse Studio line, which was great fun!  I finally can use some of the huge pile of loot that they graciously sent, it's been hard keeping all of that cute stuff tucked away!

More Fancy Buttons

For today's Color Challenge at Splitcoast...Marina Mist, Regal Rose, and Certainly Celery.  While I didn't have those colors, I tried to keep with the pink, blue, and green theme!

Still can't put PTI's Button Boutique and those coordinating dies away!  This time, for something different, I stamped the button card with Year of the Flowers: Larkspurs in black ink.  The card background is stamped with one of the prettiest backgrounds ever made...the Tulle Damask Backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms, stamped in Fresh Snow ink.  (Oh how I miss your backgrounders, Cornish Heritage Farms!) Added some more cotton lace trim, and some twinkle stickers and beautiful ribbon from A Muse Studio!