Blog Hop Fun With The Ton!

Hi everyone and welcome to my blog and The Ton's summer release blog hop!   We're celebrating the release of some great new products that are making their debut in The Ton's online store this week.  There's also an awesome giveaway so be sure to check in at the end of this post to find out how you can win a $25 gift certificate from The Ton!    Are you ready?  Let's do it!

I was so honored when Effie asked me to join her crew as a guest this month to help showcase a few of The Ton's new  stamp sets.   I'm a big fan of all of the gorgeous florals The Ton has to offer.  One of their new stamp sets this month is Wild Cherry Blossoms.  A beautiful set depicting the delicate flowers and branches of a cherry tree.

I worked with the outline of the Wild Cherry Blossoms stamp set to show you all of the amazing little details.  I added just a touch of soft color to the blooms with a little rosie pink chalk.

For this card also I used the following supplies:

Ink: tumbled glass (Ranger Distress), onyx black (Versafine).

Paper: white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah)

Accessories: assorted sequins, light mauve pastel chalk, Wink of Stella clear glitter pen.

Another stamp set that I just totally fell in love with was Darling Flamingos.  It's  an awesome layered stamp set that builds lots of color and shading to form these beautiful, fun, pink feathered flamingos.

Look how big they are!!  These Darling Flamingos will really make a statement on your card whether you stamp one or a whole flock!  Here I paired them with The Ton's Haute Stripes background stamp.

For this card I also used the following supplies:

Stamps: Haute Stripes (The Ton)

Ink: tide pool (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), rosie cheeks, teeny bikini (Simon Says Stamp), tuxedo black (Memento).

Paper:  white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah)

Accessories:  clear sequins, fun foam.

And just in time for the fourth of July we have the Sparklers Alpha set.  How cool is this?  I really love the size of these alphabet stamps and have used them on a couple different kinds of cards to show they can be used year round....not just on independence day!

But first......a whole LOT of  sparkler fun!

For this card I also used the following supplies:

Stamps: Haute Stripes (The Ton).

Ink: pale tomato, charcoal (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), blue jay, duckling (Simon Says Stamp), clear emboss (Versamark).

Paper:  soft navy (Simon Says Stamp), white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah).

Accessories: white embossing powder (WOW), silver Decofoil,  Decofoil adhesive pen, Wink of Stella clear glitter pen, silver twine, silver sequins.

For my final card I thought I'd try adding a touch of all three of these amazingly different stamp sets by The Ton on this little 4.25" square card.  A flamingo silhouette with tropical blue flowers and an ALOHA to you my friends!

For this card I also used the following supplies:

Ink: ripe persimmon, mustard seed (Ranger Distress), tide pool, green hills (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), onyx black (Versafine).

Paper:  white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah).

Accessories: washi tape (Recollections), white Gellyroll pen, masking paper (Inkadinkado), clear sequins, fun foam.

Thank you so much for stopping by.   Now it's time for you to hop on over to see what the amazing Eunji Jung has going on!

But WAIT!  Before you head over to Eunji's blog, make sure you leave a comment here for another chance to

WIN one of four $25 gift certificates up for grabs from The Ton!   You have until 11:59pm  Saturday, June 18th  to hop in to all the blogs listed below and leave your comments.  Each comment is a chance to win so the more blogs you comment on the more chances you have to win!!  Good luck and happy stamping!!

The Ton
Vera Yates
Amy Tsuruta
Emily Midgett
Lisa Harrolle <-------YOU ARE HERE
Eunji Jung <----------GO HERE NEXT
Laura Sterckx
Mayline Jung
Laurel Beard
Jessica Frost Ballas
Ruby Naz
Stephanie Klauck
Keeway Tsao
Kymona Tracey
Michelle Short



Have a wonderful day my friends!  Keep on hoppin' on!!

A quick "Thanks" from the scrap bin.

Hi friends!  Today I thought I'd share a pretty little thank you card that I made with some scraps and an awesome border die 

from Simon Says Stamp.  I am absolutely loving this die.  It adds so much detail even to the simplest of card designs.  Here I just added a single scribble rose that I embossed onto vellum cardstock and then cut out.  I colored the back of the vellum with my copics to give the rose a nice shade of pink with green leaves.

For this card I used the following supplies:

STAMPS: Scribble Roses (My Favorite Things).   INK: clear embossing (Versamark), onyx black (Versafine), alcohol markers (Copics).  PAPER:  khaki cardstock (Simon Says Stamp), white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah).  ACCESSORIES:  Thanks Scallop Border die (Simon Says Stamp), white embossing powder, clear embossing powder (WOW!), Perfect Pearls, sequins.

This little rose actually came out of my scraps bin where all of my "extras" go.  You know how sometimes you make something for a card and then decided not to use it?  You've just spent all that time on it and you know it would just be a waste to throw it away.  You'll use it someday right?  Well, my scrap bin is packed full of things I made, diecut and or stamped but never got around to using.  But I know, just like this rose, someday I will find a purpose for everything.

  

What I really love is when my little niece Rylee comes over and she digs through my scrap bin like she's going through a treasure box.  She squeals when she finds the perfect embellishment and she uses a lot of these items on her own projects.  Nothing is beyond saving in my craft room.  Some call that hoarding, maybe a little frugal but it can also be very time saving to find that perfect pre-made embellishment in your stash.  I whipped this card up in less than 10 minutes.

As you can see there was a little mishap with the embossing powder, which is why this rose probably ended up in the scraps bin in the first place.  But sometimes what is a mistake on one card can just be a whimsical imperfection on another.  Don't throw your little booboos away.  They don't matter so much sometimes.

For all of my StampNation sistahs....don't forget to check out the new challenge that's up over at StampNation this week.  This week Anything Goes my friends!!  There are some awesome cards posted over there and some great inspiration from the designers.  Let's see you get creative!  And for you friends who are not StampNation members yet....what the heck are you waiting for?  Stop on over and check us out.
You'll get all the info you need  to sign up right  ---->HERE<-----.

Let's have some fun!  Here's an awesome sneak peak at this week's challenge:  can you guess which card is mine?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - Florals

Hi everyone!  It's time for another CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  This week we're all about those fabulous florals!




For my card today I used these awesome stamps and dies from CAS-ual Fridays:

      Tin Roof                    Pretty Posies               Tag Buddies             Posies Fri-dies          

     

I absolutely love this Pretty Posies set!!  I used watercolor cardstock and my Zig Kuretake watercolor markers to color these embossed flowers in.  Once the color was down I spritzed them with water a couple times and they blended beautifully.  I love the depth and impact that these large posies have on a card. And aren't those leaves fabulous?!! For the background I used the new Tin Roof background stamp. It was so easy to line up and create this gorgeous pattern to compliment the posies.

I also love the sentiments that come in the Pretty Posies stamp set.  They have a simple handwritten quality to them.  I rearranged this one a little by cutting it to fit a more vertical design.  I embossed it onto the large tag from CAS-ual Fridays Tag Buddies Fri-Dies.

Now it's your turn!  I hope you'll play along with us for your chance to win!

All you have to do is make a card full of flowers and link it up over on the CAS-ual Fridays The Challenge blog by June 14th.----------->HERE<--------------

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I also want to give you a heads up on an awesome summer sale going on right now over at CAS-ual Fridays!  Hurry, it ends soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Let's Go Wild!

YAY!!  It's finally Friday!  Is everyone ready for a fun holiday weekend?   I thought I'd kick off the celebration by getting a little wild!  Today I'm using these great Let's Go Wild stamp set and the On Safari dies by Penny Black.   Super easy to make fun cards with this menagerie!

Check out this birthday card!  I added a little hat to the elephant and the guests have arrived!

For this card I used the following supplies:

Stamps: Let's Go Wild (Penny Black), Cheetah bg (My Favorite Things), Ring in The Celebration (SOA Young at Heart collection/Winnie & Walter).

Ink: pale tomato, wet cement (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), duckling, blue jay (Simon Says Stamp), onyx black (Versafine), Kuretake real brush markers (Zig).

Paper: lipstick red, soft navy (Simon Says Stamp), white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah).

Accessories: Blueprints #15, Pinking Edge Circle STAX (My Favorite Things), white embossing powder (WOW), bakers twine, staples, fun foam.

How about a shaker card using the fun On Safari dies!  This pink elephant looks thirsty.  ;)

For this card I used the following supplies:

Stamps: Unforgettable (WPlus9), Zigs & Zags (CAS-ual Fridays), Ring in The Celebration (SOA Young at Heart Collection/Winnie & Walter).

Ink: onyx black (Versafine)

Paper: black, doll pink (Simon Says Stamp), white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah).

Accessories: On Safari dies (Penny Black), Silly Stitched dies (Lil' Inker Designs), bakers twine, assorted beads and sequins, fun foam.

The giraffe dies are also a wonderful addition to a friendship card.

For this card I used the following supplies:

Stamps: Calling All Sistahs (CAS-ual Fridays), Cheetah bg (My Favorite Things).

Ink: scattered straw, old paper (Ranger Distress inks), wet cement (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), clear embossing (Versamark), tarnished brass (Ranger Distress Spray Stain).

Paper: black (Simon Says Stamp), white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah).

Accessories: On Safari die (Penny Black), Casual Tree die (CAS-ual Fridays), Stitched Mats Rectangles (Lil' Inker Designs), white embossing powder (WOW), natural twine, gold sequins, fun foam.

For all of my StampNation friends I have a new Stamp Clinic tutorial up today over at StampNation and we're Getting Creative With Big, Bold Sentiments!  Be sure to stop by and check out all the different ideas for using your bold sentiment stamps.  I've you're not a member of StampNation yet....heck, whatcha waiting for?  

Click ----->HERE<------ for more information on how to join us.  The more the merrier I always say!! 

Have an awesome Memorial Day weekend my friends.    

Bright Sunshiney Day!

It has been such a bright sunshiney day today, I thought I'd end it with this card.

I'm loving CAS-ual Fridays Sunbeams stamps!  This set has some of the sweetest sentiments and you already know what a fan I am of that smiley face.  ;)

A also mixed in a couple stamps from Penny Black for the little birds and clouds.  I love how well they all work together to make a fun scene on this card.

For this card I used the following supplies:

Stamps:  Zigs and Zags, Sunbeams (CAS-ual Fridays), Nature's Friends, April Showers (Penny Black).

Ink:  onyx black (Versafine), cloudy sky, duckling (Simon Says Stamp).

Paper:  white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah).

Accessories:  bakers twine, fun foam.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great weekend!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - Birthday Boy

Hello and welcome to another CAS-ual Fridays The Challenge.  This week it's all about those boys!

Get out your supplies and create an awesome Birthday Boy card!!

For my card today I used these awesome CAS-ual Fridays stamps:

Whole Shebang        Sassy Smiles        Sunbeams

  

I love it when I can intermix my stamp sets.  I feel like I get a lot more use out of them when the sentiments flow together nicely.  For this one I was able to use the large HB2U sentiment from Whole Shebang along with a cute little saying from Sassy Smiles.

I loved the smiley face so much in the last challenge I just had to add double smiles to my boys card.  A one inch circle punch works great with this smiley face from the Sunbeams stamp set.  I added some awesome shine by embossing the circle with clear embossing powder and then popped them up with dimensional adhesive.

I hope you'll play along with us for your chance to win!

All you have to do is make a birthday BOY card and link it up over on the CAS-ual Fridays The Challenge blog by May 31st.----------->HERE<--------------

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Have a great Friday!

Calling All Sistahs - Blog Hop

 Hello and welcome to CAS-ual Friday's Calling All Sistahs blog hop!  We are supporting our sistahs everywhere and encouraging you all to "check yo self" every month as a preventative measure in the fight against breast cancer.

Today I'm using  these stamps and dies from the CAS-ual Fridays Calling All Sistahs line where 50% of the profits  will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. for research and medical help for our fellow sistahs affected by breast cancer.

Hope Ribbon       Calling All Sistahs      Ruffled Ribbon Fri-Die

    

   And this is just a little reminder to all of you wonderful ladies that YOU matter to me!

For the Hope Ribbon on my card I used Zig Kuretake Real Brush Watercolor Markers.   I colored a few different shades of pink directly onto the stamp and then I spritzed with water to get the colors to blend a little before stamping.

My sistahs, thank you so much for joining in this special hop today.  Please be sure to leave a message at each stop along the way because CAS-ual Fridays will be generously giving away a $15 gift certificate to three people who comment. You have until  May 19th to get your comments in for your chance to win!

Now it's time to head on over to Heather North's blog, your next and final stop on our
Calling All Sistahs Blog Hop.

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps

Archana Bhurke

Nora Noll 

Susan White

Shona Chambers

Bonnie Sharp 

Lori Kobular

Diane Jaquay 

Jeanne Jachna 

Theresa Knopf 
Alanna Moses

Jennifer Ingle 

Joanna Harty

Kristie Goulet 

Kelly Griglione

Kimberly Rendino

Ceal Pritchett

Lisa Lahiff

Lydia Evans 

Lori McAree

Claire Apostoloff  

Vicki Dutcher 

Channin Pelletier  

Lisa Harrolle <-----You are here

Heather North <------GO HERE NEXT!!!

Happy Hopping!

Hot Diggety Dawg!

Today I decided to break out my Copic markers and play a little.  Now, I am definitely not an expert colorist. I'm still learning how to color with my Copics, so I find small images like this are a little easier for me.  I thought this little dog was so cute and he really came to life fast once I started adding color. 

One thing I like about coloring the smaller images is that I only need to use two shades of each color for a good blend.  I have also learned that I don't have to have a perfect blend for cartoon images. I like the affect of leaving a little definition in the shaded areas.  Once I accepted that idea, coloring became a lot more fun for me.  And seriously....who wouldn't have fun coloring this little guy......?

Isn't he adorable?  For the background I did a little light ink smushing with distress ink.  Then after adding the clouds I mounted  the little pup onto the card front  with dimensional tape to give him the illusion of floating.  I thought this sentiment by CAS-ual Fridays was perfect!  I made up a few of these cards and left them blank inside.  This way I could go in as needed and add a "happy birthday" or "congratulations" or any number of different sentiments that would coordinate well with this "hot diggety dawg".

For this card I used the following supplies:

Stamps: Exclamations (CAS-ual Fridays), His & Hers Flying High (Art Impressions).
Ink: onyx black (Versafine), tumbled glass (Ranger Distress ink), Copic markers
Paper: white 140 lb cardstock (Neenah)
Accessories: In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle dies (My Favorite Things), Scribble Clouds dies (Poppy Stamps), clear embossing powder (WOW), dimensional tape (3M)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!!

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm just dropping by today to say Happy Mother's Day!  I hope you all are having a wonderful day.  

I thought I'd share some of my favorite cards that I made this year to celebrate.  Mother's Day had me playing with lots and lots of florals, starting with this Large Peony 2 from The Ton.  I made this one especially for my mom.

I did some embossing with white embossing powder and some water coloring with my Zig Kuretake real brush markers.  Super easy!  I also used the Lattice Frame Die from WPlus9.

This next card I made for another special lady, my mother-in-law.  I used the Watercolored Anemones stamps and dies by WPlus9.  

I also used the The Big, The Bold and The Happy stamp set by Winnie & Walter for the sentiment.

And finally a card I made for my BFF.  I always send her a Mother's day card because well.....she's a great mom!  I used a single flower from Winnie & Walter's Eva's Favorite Flowers stamp set to make this pretty background.

I also used the Striped Backgrounds stamp and Heart STAX by My Favorite Things, Big Scripty Greetings sentiment stamp from Simon Says Stamp, Casual Trees Fri-Dies by CAS-ual Fridays, The Big, The Bold and the Happy stamps from Winnie & Walter and the Bunnies and Bows Die set from Lil' Inker Designs.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - Birthday Girl

Happy Friday and Happy Birthday CAS-ual Fridays!  

It's time for our first inspiration challenge.....are you ready?  

Today, in honor of CAS-ual Fridays 5th birthday we are making  pretty birthday girl cards!

For my girly card I used a whole mix of awesome CAS-ual Fridays stamps:

Stamps: Tin Roof, Pretty Posies, Sun Beams, Whole Shebang
Fri-dies: Pretty Posies, Smiling

Check out that Tin Roof background that I embossed in white on that Doll Pink cardstock.  LOVE IT!

I am totally in love with this little smiley face in the Sun Beams stamp set.  A 1" circle punch fits it perfectly and makes me want to put smilies on everything!

I hope you'll play along with us for your chance to win!

All you have to do is make a girly birthday card and link it up over on the CAS-ual Fridays The Challenge blog by May 17th.----------->HERE<--------------

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Oh.....and one last thing......check out this awesome sale going on right now over at CAS-ual Fridays!  What a great way celebrate Mother's Day!!  Click on the link below and shop 'til you drop ladies!!

Have a great Friday!