MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #222

Today I'm working on sketch #222 over at My Favorite Things.

I stayed as much on track with the sketch as I could by adding the banners and the stitched circle element in the center.  I just had to busy up the background a bit with this awesome cloud background die from MFT. 

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Cloud Coverup Die-Namics

1st Place Award Ribbon Die-Namics

In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics

Blue Skies Ahead Stamp set

Lil' Inker Designs:

Stitched Mats: Circles Dies

Quilted Stitched Pattern Die

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Inks: Butterbar and Orange Soda

Versafine: Onyx Black ink

Wendy Vecchi Studio 490: Sunburst stencil

Avery Elle: Balloons dies

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend!

OWH Sketch Challenge #251

I whipped up a card this morning using Operation Write Home's sketch #251.

For my card I decided to do some stamping for the vertical stripes.   I added three stripes in my favorite Tide Pool Shadow ink.  I love this color and anything close to it.  It really pops off the black polkadots that I stamped in between.  For the rectangle element at the top I went with a framed window.

I stamped the sentiment on the inside of the card and added just a touch of Butterbar to draw attention.  When the card is opened the sentiment is surrounded  by little hearts stamped in onyx black.  This is basically a one layered card.  It's very flat and should go through the mail like a breeze.  It's nice to give my stamps center stage once in a while.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Striped Background Stamp Set

Friends Like Us Stamp Set

Simon Says Stamp:

Sending & Wishes Stamp Set

Lil' Inker Designs:

Stitched Mats Rectangles Dies

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Inks:  Butterbar and Tide Pool

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Thanks so much for stopping by.  If you're interested in donating cards to our deployed miltary to help them keep in touch with their families, click here ------>   Operation Write Home to learn more about it.  It's an awesome organization! 

MFT Sketch Challenge #221

This weekend I whipped up an Easter card using My Favorite Things Sketch #221.

Lots of great elements in this weeks challenge and I tried to stay true to most of them.  The two rounded corners, the strip across the top, the stitched element in the center and the banner across the bottom.  But of course I had to add a few of my own elements to tweak it a little.  This is what I came up with.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics

Little Letters Uppercase Die-Namics

Celebrate Big Stamp set

Fresh Cut Flowers Die-Namics

Pinstripe Background Stamp

First Place Award Ribbon Die-Namics

Pinking Edge Border Die-Namics

Coral Crush cardstock

Lil' Inker Designs:

Bunnies & Bows Die Set

Anytime Tags Die Set

Border Builders Die Set

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Inks:  Cup O' Joe, Tide Pool

bakers twine

Thanks so much for stopping by!

MFT Color Challenge #18

Working on color challenge #18 over at My Favorite Things.

I have to say it was definitely a challenge for me this time. Orange and daffodil are not colors I use often. For this card I decided to pull out some stencils and put my ink to work to make some sunshine and polka dots.  I inked the sun and then ran it through my diecut machine with the stencil to give the bursts a dimensional embossed look.  I think embossing with stencils is such a great technique.  I stenciled on the polkadots in one color then moved the stencil over and added another color and kept doing it until all four colors were represented in the pattern.  It really filled that paper up with dots.   I love that stencil!

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Stax Die-Namics

Scalloped edge die-namics

Swiss Dots Stencil

Watts up Stamp Set

Berrylicious Hybrid Ink

Lil' Inker Designs:

Stitched Mats Rectangles

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Inks:  Butterbar, Wet Cement, Orange Soda

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Sunburst Stencil

Silver foil cardstock

silver sequins

Thanks for stopping by!

Stretch Your Dies

I'm kinda late to the game but I made these up for Online Card Classes.  Great classes that teach a lot of awesome techniques.  I would recommend them for anyone new to cardmaking for sure.   Here are my final ones, just skating in under the cutoff time.  Lots of fun details so they took me a while.  ;)

For Day 1 Word Dies

I used the background words technique on this one using  the Happy Trio die from WPlus9.

For  Day 4 Mini Dies 

I used a cute little arrow die from a tag set by Mama Elephant for this background.

For Day 5 Coordinating Dies

For this one I used that adorable little Unforgettables Elephant stamp and die set and for the background I used the My Favorite Things Cloud background die as a stencil.  I just embossed the clouds with white embossing powder and it gave an awesome shine and texture.  Then I did a resist technique by blending the blue ink over the white embossed clouds.  Worked great!

For Day 7 Alphabet Dies

I've been wanting to try this technique with the popped up word in the title.  I watercolored the background and thought it looked very dreamy so I pullled out a sentiment stamp set by Reverse Confetti and used little letters dies by My Favorite Things.  I used fun foam to pop up the word "color".  I absolutely love this technique!

Thank to Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner  and all the other awesome designers for coordinating such a great mix of ways to use our dies!

Pablo's Piano Card

Who doesn't like a personalized card?   I made this one especially for my good friend Pablo.  He's in a band so of course I had to work a music theme in there.  It was fun piecing together the piano but I just felt it was too predictable (and boring) to just leave it straight.  I ended up using a wavy stitched border die from Lil' Inker Designs to add some fun and interest.  I've always loved this color combination.  The colors really pop off that aqua blue background.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

Lil' Inker Designs:

Border Builders Die Set

My Favorite Things:

Musical Notes Die-Namics

Little Letters Uppercase Die-Namics

Little Letters Lowercase Die-Namics

I also used:

Hero Arts: It's Your Day stamp set

Versafine black ink

Thanks for stopping by!

Packing up and shipping out!

Today's the day, I'm so excited!  I'm packing up my 60 cards that I've been working on for the last month and sending them off to Operation Write Home.   Gotta meet that Mother's Day deadline! This is such a wonderful organization and I'm so happy that I found it.  I get to do two of my most favorite things, play and share.   And hopefully make a few people smile.

Tomorrow I start on the next box............

LID's Monthly Meetup Challenge and a few more cards just for fun!

Working on some thank you cards today for Operation Write Home and Lil' Inker Design's Monthly Meetup Challenge. 

Here's my card for the challenge using just 3 fabulous dies from Lil' Inker Designs:

CoverUp Die - Pieced Chevrons

Stitched Stars dies

Thanks Word Die

Aren't those colors just gorgeous together?  So crisp and clean.   I used the Chevron Coverup die for embossing the background and then I also used it for the red and white strip along the bottom.   Someone is going to just love recieving this bright, patriotic thank you, I just know it!    I loved it so much I decided to mix it up just a bit for a couple other cards.  This time I changed it out for a super large thanks die from the Many Thanks Die set from My Favorite Things:

Thanks from end to end!   So I threw the word "big" in there using some small letter dies from My Favorite Things.

I also whipped up this one.  I lifted this cute card from one that caught my eye on Pinterest by Lisa A.

I worked the thanks a little differently but what I loved most about the card was the black and white polkadots and bright yellow accents.

I also made this beautiful "missing you" card, a total inspiration by one that Laura Bassen did on her blog.  I love her style and I really loved her version of the orange skyline.

One thing I have been doing with my Operation Write Home cards this time is I've been adding an extra page of cardstock to the inside so that heroes will have a little extra writing room.  I think think it's especially important for the missing you cards and I love you cards.   I also added them to Mother's Day cards to encourage them to write a nice keepsake note to their moms while they're away.

And my last posting is a pretty little card that I made for my niece Lily.  This reminds me so much of her.  She lives on a farm and has a bunch of kitties that love her.  I am practicing with my watercolors and this is my first time painting with this adorable stamp from WPlus9.  It was a lot easier and more fun than I thought it would be.  I can't wait until she sees it!

Well, that's it for today!  Thanks for stopping by!

Operation Write Home - Sketch Challenge #250

I'm almost finished with my box of cards for Operation Write Home so for the last few cards I thought I'd work off  sketch #250 that they have posted over on their blog.

I whipped up a couple more cards that would be good for Mother's Day or for a nice note to mom any old time.  First I made this one:

Then I thought hey.......let's do that again.....same layout, same concept only with a stamped sentiment and maybe a little pattern.

For these cards I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Heart STAX Die-Namics

Friends Like Us Stamp set

Little Letters Uppercase Die-Namics

Wood Plank Background stamp

Scallop Border Die-Namics

Lil' Inker Designs:

Quilted Stitched Pattern Die

Mama Elephant: 

Embellished Tags Confetti Dies

Simon Says Stamp:

Mom Large Craft Die

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Ink:  Cup o' Joe

Silver foil cardstock

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I love sharing my cards with you and Operation Write Home!

MFT Color Challenge #17

Another awesome color combination for My Favorite Things Color Challenge #17!

And here's my card.   Love these colors together!  Especially that Coral Crush!

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Chevron Stripes Die-Namics

Many Thanks Die-Namics

Mama Elephant:

Embellished Tags Confetti dies

I also used:

Silver foil cardstock

Thanks for stopping by!  On to the next challenge!!

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #219

My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #219.

I'm still whipping up those Mother's Day cards for Operation Write Home. So glad to have all these challenges to keep the ideas fresh.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:
Friends Like Us Stamp Set
In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics
Leaf-Filled Flourish Die-Namics

Lil' Inker Designs:
On The Diagonal Die
Sentiment Flag Original Die

Simon Says Stamp:
Mom Large Craft Die

Mama Elephant:
Embellished Tags Confetti Dies

I also used:
Hero Arts Shadow Ink:  Wet Cement
Silver foil Cardstock

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Reverse Confetti March Sketch Challenge #22

I'm giving this month's sketch a try over at Reverse Confetti.

For this card I used supplies from:

Reverse Confetti:
So Very Special Stamp set
Circle Garland Confetti Cuts

My Favorite Things:
In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Die-Namics
Scallop Border Die-Namics
Wood Plank Background Stamp
Swiss Dots Stencil
Pink Lemonade Hybrid Ink

Lil' Inker Designs:
Stitched Mats: Circles Dies
Bunnies & Bows Dies

Mama Elephant:
Embellished Tags Confetti Dies

I also used:
Hero Arts Shadow ink: Wet Cement
Silver foil cardstock
 

Thanks for stopping by!

Festive St. Patrick's Day Cards

St. Patrick's day is right around the corner and this weekend a lot of the festivities will be taking place. We'll be celebrating with that once a year cornbeef and cabbage and green beer.  We'll be heading out to parades wearing buttons that say "kiss me I'm Irish"  and breaking out the green attire because hey...no one wants to get pinched right?  ;)

This year I kept with my tradition of sending my two very special Irish ladies a wish for good luck and happiness in the coming year.  In each card I tucked an Irish blessing.

I just had to use my flash on this card to show off that fantastic shine on the pot of gold.  It looks kind of magical doesn't it?

For this card I really wanted to honor the family name.  Personalizing a card can pretty much assure it will make it to the keepsake pile.   Since I really don't have any St. Patty's day stamps or dies I had to get a little creative with other dies.  The pot of gold is made out of a circle die and a tiny banner die for legs.  The four leaf clover below was made from a small heart die and flower stem die.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a great weekend and a wonderful St. Patty's Day!

A few more cards for OWH.

This week I'm still plugging away at my box of Operation Write Home cards.  I'm having fun using a few new dies and stamp sets that I received last week.  I really love this Wishing die and coordinating stamps from Simon Says Stamp although I was a little dissapointed in the size of the sentiments.  They are so tiny that they remind me I may be needing bi-focals soon. LOL!   I am totally loving the new Coral Crush card stock and stitched word bubble from My Favorite Things too!

Trying to meet that Mother's Day deadline!  I'm doing as suggested and making cards that show love to mom without the words Happy Mother's Day.  This will ensure the cards can still be used if they don't get sent for Mother's day.  I think that is a great idea.

And oh my gosh!  Is this little elephant stamp adorable or what?  This Unforgettable stamp set is a popular one over at WPlus9 and I can sure see why.  I'm not too great with my coloring so I thought these elephants would be perfect to practice on.  At first I was a little worried because they seemed so tiny.  But that is actually a plus when you're just starting out learning about watercolors and coloring.  I am totally in love with these little guys and  I should warn you that there will be many more cards to come featuring them.   I didn't use the coordinating sentiment for this one.  The inside says  "I love you".

That's all for today.  Thanks for stopping by!

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #218 & March ODBD Challenge.

It's sketch time again over at My Favorite Things!  I love their sketches and always try to stay as close to the sketch layout as I can.  I think the funnest thing about working off of a sketch is trying to keep with the integrity of the sketch yet in some way making it my own.  It's fun to see how everyone else interprets the same sketch. Sometimes I think "oh yeah, that's cool, I never would have thought to do it that way".  Other times I just scratch my head, wondering where the heck the sketch is in their interpretation.  But that's what art is right?  There's no right or wrong in art.  Art is one persons expression of how they, themselves see things.  It keeps things interesting.   So, with that said, here is this week's sketch and my interpretation of that sketch.  I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with.

As you can see, in my card I used a bow instead of a circle,  twine and heart die instead of a stripe and I broke off the angled cut on the side with a fishtail banner.  The integrity is still there.  I just changed it up a bit.

And since the focus of this card is the sentiment, I've also entered it into the March ODBD challenge over at Operation Write Home. 

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:
Coral Crush Cardstock
Coral Crush Hybrid Ink
Harlequin stencil
Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX Die-Namics
Hemp Cord

Lil' Inker Designs:
Stitched Mats: Rectangles

Reverse Confetti:
So Very Special Stamp set

Simon Says Stamp:
String of Hearts die

I also used:
Versamark Ink
Ranger fine white embossing powder

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Stamping!

Starting March out right with lots of cards for OWH.

For the month of March I'll be working on a new box of cards for Operation Write Home.   My main goal is to get some together in time for Mother's Day and Father's Day.  As you can see that's not quite going as planned.  I've been having way too much fun with birthdays, thinking of you and I love you cards at the moment.  I'm using this opportunity to use some bright fun colors and to break in my new MISTI stamping tool.  With my MISTI I'm finding it so much easier to make multiple cards of one design.   I'm not going to add a list of supplies used because I'd be here all day,  but I will say they are from all of my favorite companies that have links on the side of my blog.  Here's round one!

This one is my favorite.  I'm loving the way the watercolor background turned out under that fabulous Penny Black background stamp!

This card below was an inspired lift from a card I found on Pinterest by  Melania Deasy.  I loved everything about her card design so changed very little.

Practicing my coloring on this little bee.   Coloring and shading  is one technique I don't seem to be getting the hang of.  

And the following card was inspired and lifted from one that Jennifer McGuire made on her blog.  I was totally loving the color combination.

Just playing around with that cute little sentiment from Lil' Inker Designs.  I put their donut dies to work again for the shape of the egg whites.

And finished off the inside with a little something.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day.......Sunny side up!!